#young and dumb and full of (CAR HORN)

[synthwavecryptid]

Okay last time I’ll bother y’all with Titanic AU nonsense but

THE CAR SCENE ✋💦

[sunlitmcgee]

 Hello! This is a ramble-style masterpost type thing about the version of c!Benchtrio that is in my fic “Heal What Has Been Hurt.” It is filled with headcanons, ramblings, interpretations and general behind the scenes things that I’ve had in mind when it comes to how I write them and their various gender presentations throughout the course of the fic.

 I’d like to say that I am a GNC fem-presenting AFAB transman. This is just something to keep in mind when it comes to my thoughts and opinions on the concept of gender, gender identity and presentation. If anything here doesn’t align with your personal experiences, that’s okay! Just please don’t be an asshole, because this is based upon MY experiences with gender identity and is inherently quite personal for me.

 Another thing I’d like to say is that while the majority of what I say here is related to my AU fic, some things reflect my feelings around DSMP canon and my perspectives of the characters 

I always wanna remind that HWHBH!Benchtrio’s relationship is strictly queerplatonic and that anything described here is not meant to be taken as romantic or heaven’s for-fucking-bid sexual. If you think something here is…just….keep it to yourself and don’t say it to me. Pretty fuckin please.

 And on that last note, nothing here is meant to apply to ANY of the CCs who created these characters. This is about the characters and ONLY the characters. This isn’t a place for truthing or whatever. Get the fuck outta here with dat shit.

Don’t be weird, ya dumb piece of cu-

Let’s get into it, shall we!

 For starters, let’s start off with the basic idea that, to me, Mister Author Man, whose opinions on these characters obviously shape the way I write them but shouldn’t be taken as the word of god when it comes to vague stuff that’s more open to interpretation, all 3 of HWHBH!Benchtrio embody a sort of “archetype” of masculinity. A different flavor, one might say. Their presentations and performances of the concept vary, but the core idea of “man-ess” is present in all 3, albeit to varying extents.

 If we want to go in order from “most masc” to “least masc” in terms of traditional ideas/roles, then let’s begin with our darling little draggie goat HWHBH!Tubbo.

 HWHBH!Tubbo is buff.

 HWHBH!Tubbo is fat, muscular, and heavy set.

 HWHBH!Tubbo is short but built like a full-grown bull, horns and muscles and all.

 And above all else, HWHBH!Tubbo is the member of the trio that to me embodies the sort of masculinity that I shall lovingly deem “The Stronk Guy.”

 When it comes to how he’s dressed/often described, you rarely see HWHBH!Tubbo in anything traditionally feminine. He wears tank-tops, button-ups, heavy coats and thick winter pants. He wears overalls,which are a very boyish sort of clothing item commonly associated with the American South and physical labor, usually on a farm. The two sets of horns of his head make up for his generally short stature, making him seem as tall as he is wide, thus increasing the intimidating presence he has thanks to his claws, scales, wings and oh yeah constant smoke that pours out from every hole on his round little face. Round face=wide facial features=square shape. Squares in terms of character design are often used for characters that are sturdy and strong with a big presence in the scenes they’re in. Another very “macho” trait. Manly men get your attention as soon as they are in the room.

 Out of the 3, Tubbo is the one that works out the most.

 He is the one who performs most maintenance-based tasks around the house, such as repairing furniture. 

 He helps with the farms in Snowchester and lifts many heavy tools.

 He’s the one that gets a spider out of the house when it scares Michael when he goes to lay in his little race car bed.

 He picks both of HWHBH!Alliumduo up like they weigh nothing.

 And he is the one that makes Tommy go from “C!Tommy if he had proper therapy” to “stereotypical young teen girl swooning over her popular jock crush in an early 2000’s disney channel original movie” thanks to those burly arms of his. He has a way. With the Tommy.

 Boy could snap you like a motherfucking glowstick-

 Basically, when in regards to his gender and overall presentation, HWHBH!Tubbo is the kind of boy who is best at home in himself when he can go at with his power tools in the lab and go home wiping the sweat from his brow to his two lovely partners so that he can eat dinner, help with all the dishes, take a bath and kiss both his children’s foreheads, then flop himself onto the bed and hug both of his platonic husband’s.

 He isn’t a very girly boy.

 And that is okay!

 HWHBH!Tubbo doesn’t feel drawn to most typical “girly” things. He mostly wears earth-tones along with his coats and leather jackets. He likes flowers, yeah. But everyone likes flowers! And he cannot cook for shit, so in his mind, he really isn’t the “”lady”” of this household.

 (Any usage of words like “woman”, “man”, lady-like or “manly” here are intended to refer to the traditional stereotypical Western ideas behind gender and gender roles. Just as a friendly reminder!)

 But there’s a reason behind heal!Tubbo’s specific brand of manliness that isn’t just his personal preference. Think back to Manburg. Pogtopia era. Think back to the time when c!Tubbo served as a political spy during a time of war against a nation that was ruled by c!Schlatt: a bumbling idiot obsessed with “gains” and protein powder who constantly hurled verbal abuse and beat down on anyone who defied him, be it physically with his hands or politically through various abuses of authority.

c!Schlatt is an almost Comical icon of toxic masculinity. Loud. Harsh. Always quick to Anger. Aggressive and self absorbed. Dismissive of the emotions of others including his own and valuing raw strength and power above all else. On several occasions, there were scenes where he’d directly attack the masculinity of the cabinet members, be it telling c!Fundy(a transman!) that he’ll “never be a man” or talking down to c!Tubbo and calling him weak, soft, cowardly and all manner of insults commonly hurled at people our society sees as men who don’t conform to a rigid binary.

 With hwhbh!Tubbo, he has taken that weakness that an abuser saw in him and Embraced it for the strength it actually is. He is soft. He’s fat with a big round belly! He’s physically strong, yes, again, bulk like a tank. But in terms of his emotions, by Schlatt’s standards, he’s much Weaker than he used to be because of how open and vulnerable he is: and that’s a Good Thing.

 Manliness isn’t toughing it out and beating down on anyone that defies you. Manliness is giving your 2 kids 20 kisses on they little heads as you hold them to your chest and carry them upstairs for bedtime.

Manliness is Softness.

Manliness is Openness.

Manliness is Gentleness.

Manliness can let you Heal.

 Let’s talk about heal!Ranboo. Much like Tubbo, Ranboo has a pretty typically masculine presentation. He wears suits, formal vests, sweaters and button-ups, but has a dash of more feminine apparel with his various earrings and rings and necklaces that contrast to the lone wedding bane and bee-charm bracelet we see on heal!Tubbo.

 Fashion aside, heal!Ranboo’s sheer height makes him stick out like a sore thumb. He’s a tall, thin creature with long, gangly limbs and shiny scales. He’s a fighter! He knows how to handle himself in a scuffle. He prefers to use his words and to avoid fighting via diplomacy, but he is not afraid to use violence(or at the very least Threaten To) when it comes to Clingyduo or his children. It’s best to say he simply has a bit more self Restraint than Tubbo. But only Just.

 heal!Ranboo is the middle child of heal!Benchtrio. Despite this, he is the universally agreed upon “mature one” and often takes the role of the “””straight””” man compared to clingyduo’s goofy mischief.

 With this notable maturity, Healboo, like his counterpart in canon, takes it upon himself to be the household’s main Provider. He’s the breadwinner. The moneymaker. The one who goes out each day to work and toil in the mines to gather resources to bring home. He brings home the bacon! Therefore, he is also the one in charge of the family’s Finances. His name is on the contract for the mansion’s construction. There were many jokes about c!Tubbo being a golddigger, way back when the two first got married. I see no reason to say that there weren’t similar jokes made between the two when they first got together in HWHBH.

 Financial control is a right that’s long been limited to men. Men do the work, pay the bills, own the house and make the Big Choices for a family.

 Going back to the point about his skills in combat, it is traditionally a Man’s job to protect his family. It’s Man’s Work to be tough and fend off the danger. The man brings home the Kill(money and household finances) while the woman cooks, cleans, raises the children and provides whatever Affection her husband may require. Golddiggers, as a concept, are women who specifically seek out Wealthy Men to reap the riches from this(very harmful) arrangement.

 But all of this hinges on the idea that a man is a tough, strong, scary, loud go-getter who’ll lash out at any opportunity to climb up The Ladder ™. 

If not that, then a wealthy man is one who has to be Smart. Clever. Good with his words. A charmer. A suave, dapper figure in fitted clothes with well-kept hair. A man with visible wealth in the form of pretty jewelry. A tall, dark and handsome kind of fella. A princely sort! This type of Man is one you see at gentlemen’s clubs and cashios who most certainly is inclined towards the academics.

 hwhbh!Ranboo is. Basically that. He’s just transmasc. And aromantic asexual. And platonically gay. And riddled with 70 flavors of psychosis that’s worsened by his severe anxiety, paranoia and memory issues.

 (hwhbh!Ranboo is, specifically, a young trans man who had his body hijacked and controlled by an older man in a position of authority who used that control to abuse him and his loved ones. Just a side note to think about)

 Basically, hwhbh!Ranboo has the Aesthetics of the “tall, dark and handsome and filthy Rich suave ladies man” type of manhood…just as a paint over a very anxious, very emotionally-driven young queer boy.

 He spoils his beloveds. He coddles and pampers them. He is a partner who finds joy in showering his qpps with material gifts In Tandum with his physical affection and words of praise. In many “traditional”(read: sexist and fucked up) circles, this would make him someone who is perceived as Weak. He’d be Emasculated for his behavior.

 But ofc, he’d be denied his manhood in the first place in these types of circle, because being trans, heal!Ranboo’s masculinity is one Directly in contrast to the roles he’d be put into on the basis of his birth sex. 

 That makes you think: maybe there’s a reason Ranboo sticks to very masculine dress when he’s out and about, and only wears stuff like dresses and skirts when he’s at home with his two partners. People he trusts. People he feels safe around.

 heal!Ranboo is a breadwinner/provider who turns to those he provides for for comfort and safety.

Manliness is seeking Comfort.

Manliness is not viewing your Fears as a Flaw.

Manliness is indulging in self Expression that makes you feel the most like Yourself.

Manliness is showing Love to those you care for.

Manliness is Caring.

Manliness is Gentleness. 

 Now. Let’s talk about the main character protagonist himself. c!Tommy. The boy. The guy himself. The most character ever of all time in the history of anything.

 hwhbh!Tommy is, to put it simply: A pretty boy.

 He’s very pretty! He’s got long hair that goes well past his shoulders, shiny blue eyes, a lean(for the most part) figure that makes him rather petite next to Beeduo, and a pair of earthy brown wings that have flecks of gold on each feather. He wears skirts, dresses, lace, silk and cardigans. Most of his outfits have either natural earthy tones(greens, blues, browns, etc) or brighter pastels(purple, pink, white etc). He wears jewelry. He had butterfly pins that he bought from Claries. 

 On top of that, he’s got a shit ton of plushies, blankets, pillows and general soft cutesie comfort items. Plushie Henry is a big one.

 He’s got many traditionally girly hobbies and interests. Knitting. Sewing. Cooking/baking. Gardening. He loves to sing and likes to read about the symbolism of different flowers. He’s made a point for there to be plenty of plant life in the Big Innit such as in the lobby and connected cafe. While video games are stereotype as being a “boys’ thing”, one of heal!Tommy’s favorite games is OMORI, which is a game with a very cutesy art style that consists of soft pastel colors and a cute, feel good ost. Again. Very girly, very pretty.

 heal!Tommy is a character that I’ve given a lot of my Personal Gender Stuff as a transguy who found myself leaning into a lot of girly cutesy feminine things when I was first recovering from my trauma. For me, it was a matter of being able to indulge in media/hobbies/aesthetics that gave me a sense of comfort and safety while also further allowing me to explore my gender. 

 For hwhbh!Tommy, it’s a matter of him finally being able to indulge in what gives him the most joy without being hurt for it: loving things, loving people, and caring for them. Being a nurturer.

Who sings to the flowers to help them grow?

Who made a Prime Path and keeps it maintained?

Who inspired Wilbur Soot to make L’manburg, acting as a sibling’s muse?

Who fills the server with music? With song?

Who reaches out and tries to mend broken relationships?

Who forgives?

Who tries his very best to understand, even when it hurts him more?

Who is the person that takes care of the server? 

 c!Tommy is a character who is Driven by Love. Platonic love. Familial Love. This boy loves and he loves to SHOW his love to people by caring for them in whatever way he is able to. He isn’t always the best at it. He is often brash and harsh and loud and blunt and yes, annoying. He’s a little shit.

 He’s weird in a weird little girl way.

 He is also an incredibly caring, sweet, emotionally intelligent person who always puts the needs of others First Before His own, often always to his own detriment. Caring for cWilbur in Pogtopia. Reaching out to cBeeduo during the outpost. Forgiving cEmeraldduo, time and time again. Asking his abuser “why don’t you hurt” while in the prison.

 In my experience as an AFAB individual, women* (*or people society views as women) are expected to 1: keep their own emotions bottled up and tend to the emotional needs of others around them, 2: be quiet, submissive, polite and “ladylike” 24/7 constantly. Or else we will be labeled as annoying hysterical bitches who are just looking for attention.

 Sound familiar?

 In HWHBH, Tommy’s gradual shift from his original masculine presentation of a plain t shirt and pants to his current mix of sweaters, skirts and dresses is a visual way to show his shift throughout his recovery.

At the start of the fic, Tommy was still riding the aftershocks of his near-death in the prison. He wore simple clothes, lived in an empty house, hardly ate, slept and was unable to take care of himself. The entire first chapter is XD watching him nearly freeze to death because he wandered out into the forest without a coat while dissociating. His hair was thin and cut short. He thought that beeduo wanted nothing to do with him. He was unwell. He was alone.

 But look at him now. Long, thick hair. Healthy diet. Gained some weight. (Mostly) healthy sleep schedule. Lots of family members and friends he talks to daily, either in person or over the phone.

He has a garden.

He sings to the flowers.

He sings constantly.

He is always singing or talking or downing something. He enjoys doing chores. He thinks it’s fun.

 Throughout the entirety of the DSMP storyline, c!Tommy was punished for Wanting. For wanting People. For wanting to be Loved. For wanting TO love without having whatever/whoever he cared about taken away. Now he has a child(2 actually, he’s just silly and hasn’t realized it) and a father and 2 platonic partners who love him dearly. He has hobbies and favorite TV shows. He grows his hair out, wears skirts and plays with his father’s make-up. He gets flustered when Beeduo call him pretty or beautiful. He watches Sailor Moon. He made an oc self insert for it. He regularly daydreams about heal!beeduo being tuxedo mask the same way a female lead in a teen romcom talks about going on cheesy dates with her crush. He has a flower cow with buttercups on it. 

 Michael calling him Mummy and Shroud calling him Mimi doesn’t need an explanation, I feel.

 For a character whose main joke catchphrase is some variation of “I’m a Big Man”, cTommy really is very Girl Coded. Hwhbh!Tommy is just the result of me taking that and amplifying it for the sake of comedy and fluff. Mostly fluff. Because I think he’s a character who deserves the softness that can come from “girl stuff” and things we commonly associate with femininity.

Masculinity and Femininity and all forms of gender stuff and gender expression are, at the end of the day, just made up gobbledy gook we humans made up in the same way we made up shit like Money and Language. But I still like to talk about them, because it’s a topic I find to be very interesting and important when it comes to storytelling.

Manliness is Nurturing.

Manliness is Loyalty.

Manliness is the capacity to care for and protect and fight for what you value the most.

Manliness is the attempt, however vain, to understand the people around you(though ofc, there are always times when you shouldn’t because it isn’t Safe for you)

Manliness, like Womanliness, is whatever YOU want to make of it. Same with any other clusterfuck of a queer identity. 

I just think that hwhbh!Benchtrio’s gender stuff is fun to talk about. I hope you enjoyed reading about it :)

[goblin-iz-whack]

Goblin's StEx ocs!

Jay the ore jenny:

My self insert! A genderfluid Ore Jenny who hangs around Flat-Top and Dustin. ADHD in full swing, loves to talk and flap their hands. Gets crushes on a lot of men- They're a bit small for a freight truck and wear goggles due to poor eyesight. Just an excitable lad.

Striker the diesel engine:

A diesel who was born with no wheels and weak legs, needs crutches to walk around. He lives in a yard in Tennessee, married to Trax, the adoptive Dad of Greaseball. A bit of an older guy, the true Dilf. Very caring and kind, but will also wack you if you do something dumb.

Laddie the kiddy train:

The engine of a kiddy train in an abandoned zoo. None of his coaches are sentient, the only reason he's sentient is because he has a small motor. Has heelys instead of skates, uses a bell rather than a horn or whistle. He tries to be optimistic but it's really hard when nobody has visited him in ten years and they took all the animals...

The Pipes/Smokebox the steamer:

A Steam Train who's boiler burst, was left wandering the woods blind, mute, and half deaf because the pipes and the explosion just wrecked him. He's mainly seen as an urban legend that's told to trainlets to dissuade them from leaving the yard, but he's very much real. He wants to find someone to fix him, but everyone runs away when he's near.

Snowy the snow plow:

A huge snow plow that reverse hibernates (sleeps all year until snow falls). Very no nonsense and rough, though also motherly, the perfect blend for an old lady. Has ice skates instead of normal skates and carries a big snow shovel around. Poppa/Momma's sister, they argue a lot though. Famous for having all the muscle and a big chest, ultimate milf. Married to Firebox, he's her malewife, and the mother of Hotspur and Coldsnap.

Firebox the Steamer:

A small steam train who likes to joke and goof off. Mans honestly has like no life outside of his wife and kids- He absolutely adores his giant wife and would worship her if she asked (she does). He spends most days with their sons, mothering them-

Hostpur the Diesel:

The literal embodiment of a puppy. He's Goofy, excitable, and honestly not that smart. Even so, he is lovable and loyal, he has a lot of friends. He was born a steamer, but was converted into Diesel when he grew up. He is a hopeless romantic and has a crush on a Sleeping Car named Virgil.

Coldsnap the Snow Plow:

Basically the opposite of his brother. Small, quiet, and thinks before he does things. He's his Mama's Apprentice, and takes his future role very seriously. When he isn't hibernating, he's trying to keep up with Snowy while simultaneously keeping Hotspur from playfully tackling him.

Gio the electric engine:

A young electric engine who failed as a racer. Gio was conceived in a test tube...but failed to impress his creators. He's a massive nerd and likes to play Sonic. He has a hard time grasping his electricity, often flaring and causing power outages. He has headgear that he has to wear most times, and he's green, so most don't think he's very attractive.

IQ the bay window caboose:

He grew up in a small flock of cabeese that had evolved to not have a voicebox. Eventually, growing tired of the silence, IQ fixed himself and learned to speak. He was kicked out of the flock, but he's fine by his own. He likes to sing terribly and play the accordion.

Nolan the Irish engine:

Hailing from Ireland, Nolan looks like a model engine: strong, handsome, a pretty coach by his side...but he's really unhappy. He's had to stifle his identity and personality in order to appease his yard. Cricket is in the process of breaking him out of all this,

Cricket the Australian engine:

From Australia, Cricket is just a happy guy. He likes wearing dad shirts and going to carnivals. Lately, he's been focusing all this optimism on helping Nolan with his trauma.

Toolbox the Therapy Truck:

Born a repair truck, Toolbox realized he wasn't all that inclined to help with actual repairing and welding and all that stuff. He settled for being Apollo Victoria's one and only therapist, much to the chagrin of his twin, Sprocket.

Sprocket the Repair Truck:

This guy is one word: Grumpy. He takes his job extremely seriously, which makes him a bit less sympathetic to certain things. Even so, this guy is basically like a toasted marshmallow: you gotta get past all the burnt parts to get to the soft middle. He's a secret romantic with a long distance partner, also likes romance novels and bubble baths with champagne.

Chug the Rescued Engine:

Once upon a time, authorities investigated a facility that bred trains and said authorities saw a million violations and shut the facility down. Out of that facility came Chug, traumatized and missing his babies. These days, he's doing a lot better. He lives with Toolbox and their dozen foster kids.

Tally the Ticketmaster:

Not a train, but a ticket machine. Tally sells tickets to human passengers, but he wants more in life. His feet are bolted to the ground, and he desperately wants to leave his post and have fun.

Bernadette the Business Class Car:

An older coach that is a reference/agent for most great racers. She raced with dozens of champions when she was younger and understands all there is about racing now. She has a new york accent, a big tooth gap, a 60s pin curl hairstyle, and loves to smoke and wear a lot of red lipstick.

[taking-over-his-life]

The solicitor and the skinhead

It was 2am when I received a call from the local police station. They had arrested a guy for violent disturbance and he had requested a solicitor. I was on duty tonight and there was no way I could get out of it. ,”45mins” I said as I put the phone down. I didn't need the money but decided to do this as I got to meet some real rough bastards, the type I fantasized over. It was the only way I could make contact with this sort of guy. 

One day I'd find one who would want to fuck me senseless.  I got dressed, white shirt, red tie blue suit black shoes, and picked up my leather briefcase, then onto the garage. The Audi was waiting as I sunk into its leather seats. I thought about what sort of dim witted fucker I would meet and it made me hard. I resented these dumb socialist thugs. Never worked, no morals, little diction. I resented how their bodies had grown so strong, their attitude so belligerent while they contributed little to society, while I had worked hard through school and university to get where I was and those low lives just took.

They looked so hard so masculine everything I wanted, I just needed one who I could get into my bed and fuck senseless, and let him do the same to me rather than the hooray henries I usually picked up.

I got to the station and parked in the yard. I was so sexually charged, probably the spliff I had had earlier and the tiredness. I spoke to Andy on the front desk a hot Latin looking cop, damn I wish I was in his pants, but I have to keep up the pretense.I was signed in and briefed on the job I had to see. Malcolm was his name. He beat a young guy senseless as he shouted abuse at him. I looked at the address a block of council flats, typical scrounger I thought.

I was led into the interview room and again shown the panic alarm which was standard procedure. Ill be ok I said as I sat down opposite my client“Hello” I said, “my name is George Anstey”, I am the duty solicitor. He snarled at me, I looked at him and took in every aspect of his look persona and dress. He has the same height and build as me, He put his feet on the table, red 30 hole doctor martins, worn and dirty from wear. I looked at them, tight on his legs, so tight I could imagine his muscles through them and how they must smell. 

I followed up his legs, white and blue bleachers, so tight on his thighs so muscular and that crotch, stuck up so high so packed, damn I was getting hard I was mesmerized when he said… “like what u see”? I was shocked and tried to speak but had to swallow to get a word out, “what do u mean” I said He took his feet off the table and I felt them rub against my legs under the table. It was like an electric shock I started to speak, as I sheepishly looked into his face. He was smirking. I saw his shaved head and face and his eyes peering at me. The ring in his nose glinted against the light and the swastika tat on his neck gave a strong message. “How can I help u” I said clearing my throat, he just looked at me, and rubbed his thigh against mine, I shivered he smiled an evil sadistic smile. “Got myself a bum boi have I” he said. I went red with embarrassment, “you like rough do u Mr. Solicitor” I did and by this time ii was hard and seeping “Get me out of here tonight and ill fuck, you raw to heaven, bum boi” he grunted.I questioned him at length and found a few procedural errors in the arrest. 

After an hours discussion with the police they released him on bail.I waited round the corner from the station and saw him walking towards the car, he swayed like a gorilla his shoulders huge in the jacket. 

I watched his legs in those tight bleachers as they caught the light. His huge crotch gently moving from side to side. I saw the light from the street lamp reflect off the rings in his ears and nose. His fists were clenched in tight black leather gloves as he moved closer and closer to the car. I opened the passenger door as he approached he didn”t seem surprised to see me.He looked at me and smiled, and instead of getting in the passenger side he pushed me over and jumped into the driver”s seat.I didn”t resist, I just let him. I knew it was a mistake but I was so horned up I was dripping into my silk boxers.“Nice car George boi, thanks for getting me out,” he said, he grabbed my crotch with his leathered hand and pressed; it was as if 50000 volts had gone through me.“Now lets pay the solicitor”, he looked at me and smiled, his nostrils enlarging showing the nose ring more clearly. I watched him as we drove, 4 rings in his left ear two on the top two at the bottom, ohhh what I would have given for piercings when I was young.I could see we were heading to his place into the worst council estate in the area he pulled over next to a block of flats and got out. As he did I saw his arse properly for the first time. Tight bleachers over two tight hard cheeks, fuck he was incredible.“Follow me georgie” he said as he walked in front of me to an entrance. It was filthy, litter all over, the stink of stale piss. I walked being him as we climbed the stairs, concentrating on his ass and legs, every muscle movement I saw I recorded, his red doctor martins moved with his legs and feet, the leather giving way to accommodate the muscle movements. The soles were worn, as was the stitching, I was just mesmerized by the time we reached the 4th floor. He turned around and looked at me. Smiling he said “you want this don”t you,”“ “want what” I said, “me” he replied, I said “very much,”We walked to the last door on the landing he fiddled with some keys and opened and iron gate which was over the door. In we went. I followed my stomach turning with excitement and my dick raging. When we got in he lit some candles. “No leckie” he said.We walked to a filthy kitchen. He got two beers passed one too me, “here” he said, “no I don”t” I said, suddenly he jumped towards me and pushed me against the wall. “I said fucking drink cunt” he said. I drank. The violence had my dick raging and he could see it. He rolled some spliffs and set them aside. “Now solicitor what do u want” he grunted. he grabbed me and started to kiss me, his tongue entering my mouth. “you like it rough eh”? He said. He lit the spliff and put it in my mouth. I didn”t care anymore and breathed it in. I coughed and then my head started to roll.He was all over me his hands in my shirt trousers, undressing me bit by bit. By the time he finished I was naked. He was there smelling my underpants pushed against his face, moaning with delight.I was totally naked, on the kitchen floor of a filthy council house, a solicitor out of my power clothing being controlled by a bigoted skinhead dumb fuck. 

I had my hands on his doctor martins feeling the worn leather. He sat down lit a spliff and that was it. “lick them cunt” he said and pushed my head to his boots. I was in heaven as I licked and licked that red leather.We played all night I woke up He was standing there, sweaty and dirty from our night of sex. His tattooed body got me hard again as I watched him smelling my undies. He looked at me, climbed on the bed, got sitting on my chest his legs either side of me. “I want you to stay here for a while fucker,” he passed me my blackberry, “tell everyone your sick” he said, “what?” I said looking confused, “text them now. Your sick” he ordered, he grabbed my throat and positioned his ass over my dick, smiling at me, “your sick, OK”? I was as hard as iron, and texted work and friends. “Ok Mal” I said.He went to his stash and lit a spliff and made me smoke it all. I was floating. I saw him smell my undies and put them on, then my shirt, “what you doing” I said (Must be honest it was turning me on) “I need to go out boi, need to look right for the car, eh?” “you make a hot solicitor Mal” I said, “go back to wanking skin fucker”” he said to me. He dressed fully in my clothes, and looked good, checked my wallet and left. I lay there in this stinking bedroom, rubber sheet stained with piss and cum the smell was electric and I was horny as hell, the spliff making it betterI saw his stained yellow jock, I reached out to smell it pushing it against my face and nose, to get his smell all over my goatee. I wanted it to linger, then I stood up and put my legs through the holes and pulled it up so it covered my raging cock. I pushed it tight against my dick and balls so they would absorb his smell as I looked around there on the floor was his gear, I saw the bleachers and started to cum, on my own as I picked them up and started to step into them, the feeling was so intense, and I fell on the bed.My cum soaked into his jock, I started to pull the bleachers up over my ass and dick, and managed to zip them up and fasten the button, as my cock rose to full height.I looked down at my legs covered in his filthy gear, damn I felt so good. I picked up one of his cigs and put it to my mouth, I lit up. I didn”t smoke but this was so hot I felt so horny again and picked up his socks, they were grey with dirt and foot sweat, I smelled them again and again wanting the smell to be mine.I pulled one on my left foot it came to just below the knee then the right one. I could feel his stink entering my pours. Then the pista resistance. His doctor martins. Worn red 30 hole monsters, I picked up the left boot and spent 5 mins with my head and nose it enjoying the smell and my tongue licking and tasting the leatherOn it went my foot fitted perfectly. It took me ages to get the laces on, I was out of it, but the fitted so snuggly and tight. Then the right boot, I looked down, damn I was a fucking filthy worthless skin. I could feel and smell who he was, and I was him for a day. I picked up his Fred Perry vest and savored the smell of the pits It was soon on my body snug and tight. I stood up and found a mirror again without any assistance I shot a load in his jock. I found a beer and another smoke and enjoyed his last spliff, if I was to play him I needed to act like, and fuck was it hot.I dozed off, it must have been evening when he came back, dressed in my gear. I heard something but just enjoyed the enforced sleep. Suddenly I felt myself being lifted, “hey” I said. There he was a pierced dirty skin boi in my suit. I smiled“You look fucking hot as a skin boi” he said, “lets make it real,” he laid out some coke and gave me a straw, “enjoy “ he said, I took two lines 

By this time my mind was floating I would do anything. I saw my reflection in the mirror, fuck I was a low life scum skin. I was so horny. “Sit here skin fucker” he said. I did suddenly I heard the sound of clippers and saw my hair falling to the ground, I put my hand up,” noooo” I said. Suddenly I felt a huge punch to my face and felt my nose break, ahhh I then blacked out.It was the next morning when I woke up, I felt something on top of me and realized it was him fucking my ass, the bleachers and skin gear was still on me and he was panting and sweating as he fucked me raw and senseless, my nose was in pain but the thought of him in me got me so hard he was shouting as he suddenly let rip into my guts, I came in his, no, my jock againHe got off me,” how did you like that fucker” he said, I looked up he was naked, tats down his arm back chest legs, fucking incredible. Strange I thought his hair was growing now. I got up and started to kiss him, my tongue deep on his mouth. As I did I caught a reflection in the mirror, two skins one in gear one naked. Fuck I realized that the one in gear was me. I was shaved, shaved head, face, damn I looked hot.He pulled me over to the kitchen fed me and gave me some e tablets. I took two. “Take one every six hours “he said.” Ill be back tonight.” I felt my legs and feet in the skin gear and rubbed my hands on my new shaved head, fucking hell, whats happening I thought. I looked in the mirror, who the hell was it, a thug, broken nose, shaved head, what was happening.He came out of the bedroom after getting changed. He was in my suit, in fact it was another suit of mine, where had he got it from. He walked up to me grabbed my crotch, stuck his tongue down my throat. “Now smoke these fucker” he handed me two spliffs, two e tablets and a pack of 20 ciggs.” Ill be back at 7 make sure u have had them all. It will be so hot tonight so fucking hot for you skin boi”. he looked into my eyes. “You like being a skin” he grunted, I rubbed my hands on my legs and chest, “fuck yeah Mal”, I said. “Lets make it real tonight fucker”. Think of yourself as me” “ Would you like to be me,”? “ wow”i said “you mean I could take your place” I responded, “yeah” he replied, “please “ I said not realizing what I was asking. I was still high.“Tonight fucker tonight” he said and left. I watched him from the balcony as he strutted in my suit to my car and drove off. I pulled out the cigs, sat on the ground with my dm feet on the railing and smoked two of the ciggs. They made me feel sick at first and then the euphoria kicked in. My mind was just racing at the idea of being a low life skin.I lay down on the rubber sheet of the bed and smelled the piss and cum, I was in heaven. I could smell my sweat mingling with his on MY skin gear, it was mine now, not changed in two days fucking hot. I wore his flight jacket and found his rings and gloves on they went along with the dog tags and thick metal chain around my neck.I stood in front of the mirror and just wanked for hours. I took the e tabs as instructed and the spliffs. I got though 18 ciggs before he got back. I could hear him and other voices along with things they were moving.I came out of the bedroom and saw two huge tattooed guys. “Hi Mal”, they said to me, I smiled and liked being addressed like that. They erected two chairs and some equipment.Mal was there again in my suit, he smiled, his hair was starting to really show on his head. “You shaved hour head today Mal ?” he said, “no sir”i said, “do it now while we set up” he said.He followed me to the bathroom. And gave me a razor and soap. He stood behind me his erect dick pushing at my ass through the cloth.“Take these, he gave me two tablets”, and some water,” swallow Mal “he said, “I like being called that” I said, getting on my knees to suck him, “later boi” he said. “Shave” he instructed I shaved, what an erotic experience. When he came out, the big buys introduced themselves, rod and jay. “Now heres whats going to happen” said Jay smoking a cigar. “I will copy his tats” pointing at Mal “onto your body. It will hurt a little. rod will remove them from Mal at the same time so its like a transfer”.“Tomorrow you will be an inked skin boi”he said smiling at me as he felt my crotch. “Ill start with some holes for you new piercings. what should I call u skin boi”? He said. I looked at Mal, “is it ok if I use your name”? I said “Yeah you be me skinboi”, he said. I looked at Jay, “I”m Mal,” I said and smiledIt seemed to last forever, the pain in my ears eyebrows dick nipples, and the sustained pricking on my neck chest arms back and legs. I was so out of it and watched Mal as he had them removed. I fell to sleep. When I woke up I was in bed, bandages where the tats had been transferred. Mal lying next to me in the same condition. I looked at him, “fuck what happened Mal”, he reached over, and squirmed as his back hurt, “I thought we agreed, who Mal was, you changed your mind skin” he said looking at me angrily, “no sorry” I said, “your George, I”m Mal”, “how u doing George” I said. “Ok Mal” he replied. “Here take these” he said and handed two more tabs and I was out.I must have been out for days. I woke up and he was standing there naked, no tats, smoking a spliff and wanking over me. I kneeled and put my lips around his cock and sucked like never b4 it wasn”t long b4 he came buckets in my mouth, pulling my shaved head to his groin. “You like that Mal. Like your solicitors cum, eh”? He said. “fuck yeah sir”, I said in his voice. “Come here” he ordered. He stood me in front of the mirror and removed the bandages from me. We were both stark naked. He revealed my tatts celtic on my legs and chest, wings on my back, my dick responded and was so hard I came without touching it all over the mirror as I looked at the new me“Lets finish this off skinboi” he said. he went to the kitchen. I just looked at the new me, thinner, shaved inked fuck I really was Mal now no one would know the difference, he came back with a bowl and some disinfectant “lets complete this” he said. He pulled out the huge pa from his dick and soaked it in the bowl of disinfectant. “lets see how it looks on you Mal” he said. My dick was erect again, as I wanted it so much. He got the pa and with difficulty pushed it through the hole the tattoo guys had made. He slapped my dick “horny cunt” he said. I looked down and saw his, no my pa I my skin dick, “fucking hell” I said, “is this real?” “Give me them all I want to fucking be you in everyway Mal” I shouted, desperate for every last piece of the real Mal.He took them out of his nips and put them on mine, then his ears, eyebrows, and eventually the heavy thick ring from his nose. “this makes you a skin pig boi Mal” he said, I was just mesmerized at how I looked and felt, I just gazed and gazed at my new reflection. He lit a spliff.” Here” he said. I smoked got high, and laid on my back as he fucked me raw. We were looking at each other as we changed identities.

After an hour of sex, he stood up and went to get cleaned up. I picked up my filthy skin gear and dressed. Maybe I could go out today as Mal I thought, who would know .He came in suited and booted. “Got go get back to my place today Mal” he said. “Here”s the keys to your council flat enjoy” he smiled.” Heres a few quid to get u by”.”Your m8s will be hear at 8 tonight for a skin fuck fest enjoy, you skin scum” he saidI looked in the mirror at a fucking shaved skin scum, Nazi symbol on me neck bleachers doctor martins Fred Perry a fucking dream, pig ring in me broken nose, rings on me fingers thick silver chain round me neck. My crotch was fucking huge as me huge dick stood to attention. I moved around seeing how masculine and thuggish I was.I pulled out the ciggs and went outside onto the landing and looked over at the estate. A neighbor came out a chav guy, he looked at me. “Aint seen u around for a bit Mal” he said. He thought I was Mal, in fact I fucking was, “been fucking busy m8, outa me head” I said. “He sidled up to me”, I offered him a cig as we chatted about nothing in particular. He rubbed his leg against mine. I looked at him, “you want to fuck cunt?” “Fuck yeah” he said. Within minutes we were inside his place fucking like rabbits. Me inside him, him in me, leaving our cum inside each others guts.I finished went outside and smoked two ciggs. time for a walk I thought. I locked me flat, my flat, I thought and headed down the stairs.

Filthy dump I though. I was greeted by a couple of skins and we chatted. Real fucking rough m8s I thought. Women moved outa me way as I came past. I was shocked when I passed the local shops to see me reflection, it was just like the time I saw Mal as he approached my car, my car, what was I thinking, I was Mal now.

[neerasrealm]

AAAAAAAAAAA I LOVED that poly!Slender x reader x LJ!! I didn’t originally request it, but if it’s not too much, can I please request a sequel (featuring the adorable Slendra Jackson?) Ty! 😁😁

Anon you have no idea how happy this request made me- I NEVER get asks about my OCs so you calling Slendra adorable and aSKING TO INTERACT WITH HER??? MADE ME REALLY REALLY HAPPY SO THANK YOU- sorry this ask took a bit to answer, I only got your ask late in the evening so I had to finish it off over the course of my morning. Thank you again for the ask!! I hope you like what I came up with- (put it under a cut since it’s a little long)

‘’More wine, dear?’’ Slender asks you from across the couch. It’s late, and quiet. A rare combination here in the mansion. Somehow, every other person in the mansion is downstairs, in their room or somewhere else. Meaning you and your two boyfriends are free to occupy the couch by yourselves and have a quiet evening, and you couldn’t ask for more. Being curled up against Jack’s soft body with Slender’s arms wrapped around you both. Even Jack is being quiet for once, his face resting against Slender’s chest. He might be asleep- you’re honestly not sure.

‘’Sure.’’ you murmur back, looking up at Slender. He seems to smile despite his lack of face and reaches over to the coffee table, pouring you some wine from the already-half empty bottle sitting on it. A benefit of not being human, you guessed, was being able to drink a lot of the stuff without worrying about intoxication. As you’re taking another sip from your glass a soft, shy voice interrupts you.

‘’Mama? Pops? Dad?’’ 

The three of you look over at the voice’s owner. A short girl with fiery hair and brownish-purple skin. Her eyes are bright and gold, and she has pale red horns and dark red claws that scratch gently against the bannister she’s holding. Your shared daughter- it’s odd, she’s not related to you, she’s adopted like every other child in the mansion, but she’s one of the few that calls you mom. Everyone took fairly naturally to you dating the mansion’s ‘dads’, just treating it like you were dating anyone else, but Slendra? She’s been calling you mom since day one. Not that you're complaining.

‘’Need somefink, luv?’’ Jack murmurs behind you. He sits up a bit. 

Slendra shifts where she stands. ‘’...can I get a bedtime story?’’ she asks quietly. Slender IMMEDIATELY sits up, alert. ‘’I-I know I’m a little old for it but-’’

‘’Ye can’t ou’grow bedtime stories, kiddo.’’ Jack says. Slender nods. You can’t help but smile a little bit at the two’s excitement- though Slender’s is far more obvious. You can’t blame them. Slendra is beginning to hit that- odd phase where kids think they need to act like adults. Except she’s only five years old. Damn demon aging. ‘’Ow abou’ me an’ Slen do i’ fer ya? I’ll do th’ voices an’ ‘e can narra’e. Like when ye were li’le.’’

You look at the two of them. ‘’I want in too.’’

‘’Ye can be th’ damsel in distress.’’

You give Jack an offended look and playfully slap his chest. ‘’Rude. Slender fits the damsel role better and you know it.’’

‘’...I do look good in a dress.’’ Slender says as he climbs off the couch. You and LJ cackle in amusement. Slendra giggles shyly.

The three of you follow Slendra upstairs to her room and walk inside. Her room is like a mix between Jack’s room and Slender’s office. Her walls are a deep lavender with darker swirls running across them. Her bed is round, oddly, and covered in pillows. She has a desk piled high with books and papers for her drawing and writing habits and her ceiling is covered in not only glow in the dark stairs, but music notes too. Her carpet is soft and your socked feet sink right into it. There's shelves on nearly every wall, full of toys, trinkets or books.

The little demon girl crawls into her bed and grabs her favorite stuffed toy- a purple and green dog you tried to win for her at a carnival but...well of course the game was rigged. It was actually her older brother EJ who managed to win it for her. With a little help from his demonic strength of course. She named it Scam, and you’re still proud of her for that.

The three of you all sit down at the foot of her bed. "Wha're ye in th' mood fer then?" Jack asks.

"Can you make a story?" Slendra asks, her eyes shining. A toothy grin curls up Jack's face. 

"Oh, I ge' ta flex me wri'in' t'nigh', eh?" He reaches into a puffy sleeve and pulls out a book. Slendra grins excitedly. You glance at the book's cover. Apparently Jack's homemade bedtime story is called 'The Damsel's Dragon'.

He clears his throat and opens the book. "Once upon a time, there wuz a pre'y young lass named…" Jack holds the book over to Slender. He shoots Jack an annoyed look and sighed.

"Damsel N. D. Stress." He finishes in the most airy, feminine voice you've ever heard him do. The three of you laugh while Slender fixes his tie. 

"Damsel wuz th' pre'ies' lass in th' land. People came far an' wide ta see 'er an' 'er collection 'f antique ties. All th' men in th' land wanted 'er 'and in marriage, bu' she wanted none 'f tha'." You watch Jack hold the book over to Slender again. 

"I hate you." Slender mutters. Slendra giggles. "Oh if only a big, handsome clown would come to admire my ties... if only…"

You laugh so hard you almost fall off the bed. Jack's hand reaches over quickly, his palm against your back, and pushes you back up. You snicker. "Sorry, sorry continue."

"Damsel spen' 'er days in 'er castle, wishin' an 'opin as th' worl' wen' by. Until one day, th' castle began ta shake! 'Er ties fell off th' shelves, 'er wine smashed to the ground!"

"Not the wine!" Slender exclaims in that airy, overly dramatic voice. You snicker again. 

"Th' castle stopped rockin' an' Damsel ran up ta th' top tower ta see wha' 'ad 'appened. When she go' up there, she saw a big migh'y dragon sleepin' on 'er castle's roof!" Jack stops and nudges you. "Ye're th' dragon." He whispers. You grin. 

The book is handed to Slender again. "Mr dragon, whatever are you doing up on my roof?" He exclaims. Jack holds the book over to you. Slendra looks at you excitedly. You're nowhere near as good at voices when compared to Slender and Jack, but Slendra doesn't seem to mind. You clear your throat.

"I'm taking a nap of course!" You growl out. Jack smiles as he passes the book to Slender again.

"Fockin' 'orrifyin', luv."

"Jack!" The three of you yelp. He laughs a bit.

"Sorry."

"Well you can't nap up here!" Slender continues with the story. "This is my castle! You have to go somewhere else!"

You lean over Jack's shoulder to see your next line. "Mmmm…No." You say. 

"Now Damsel wuz'nt tha' dumb. She knew be'er than ta argue wiv a dragon, an' so she wen' back into 'er castle an' began lookin' fer a way to ge' rid of th' dragon." 

"Good to know you don't see me as a total idiot." Slender murmurs.

"Wha' do ya mean? This isn' you, i's Damsel."

"Of course it is."

Jack grins to himself and looks back at the book. "She looked through 'er ye ol' phone book an' foun' somefink ta 'elp 'er!" He looks up at Slendra for a moment. "Th' mos' famous dragon extermina'or in th' worl'. 'Er name wuz Jackie Ardlens."

You force yourself to to 'awe' at the Slendra self-insert. She doesn't seem to have realised the character is literally named after her. 

"Jackie came ta th' castle an Damsel led 'er up ta th' tower."

"It's terrible!" Slender exclaims. "That great big ugly dragon does nothing but snore all day!"

"I don't snore." You retort. Slendra looks at you. You clear your throat. "I don't snore." You say again, this time in your dragon voice. She laughs. 

"Oh dragon," Slender continues with the story, ignoring you. "I've brought someone to drive you away!" You can't help but smile at how much he's actually getting into this role. Slendra is certainly enjoying it too.

"Huh? Drive me away?" You growl back at him. "How am I supposed to fit into a car?"

A grin curls up Jack's face. "Jackie stepped forward an' looked up a' th' dragon." He passes the book to Slendra who looks surprised, but then smiles wide.

"I've come to make you leave this poor lady alone!" She reads. "Why do you want to stay on this castle so bad?" 

"Why the sun of course, it's nice and warm up here. And this castle is the comfiest bed I've ever had!" You read back. 

"Hm…" Slendra cups her chin in her hand, pretending to think. "Well I say we build a new tower for you to sleep on! That way both of you will be happy."

Slender clasps his hands together. "Of course! That can be arranged." He says. Jack takes the book back and turns to the very last page.

"An' so, they buil' a big ol' tower fer th' dragon ta sleep on, an Damsel continued ta collec' 'er ties an' live 'appily ever after." He closes the book and smiles. "The end."

Slendra smiles wide. "I liked that one."

"Good." Jack leans in and kisses her forehead. "Now ge' yer res, swee'pea." He says softly while Slender pats the girls head. 

"Mama?" As you're following Jack and Slender out of the room Slendra calls you. You stop and look at her, curled up around Scam, a bright golden eye looking at you. "I love you."

You swear you can feel yourself practically melt for a moment. You smile at her. "I love you too, sweetheart." You say softly. She smiles, a couple fangs glinting in the light, then closes her eyes and snuggles up under the covers.

[lost-in-sokovia]

Kneel

hi everyone! this was a little soulmate au requested by @andreasworlsboring101 ! i was given the option between loki or ransom, and it’s been a minute since i’ve given reindeer games some attention. so here you are and i hope you enjoy!!🤍 (WARNING: contains plot/spoilers to The Avengers)

Everyone knew that moment you turned sixteen the first words you’d hear your soulmate say appeared on your wrist.

You had watched your clock count down the exact moments until 12 AM the night of your birthday. Sure enough, black scribbles (in your handwriting!) began to fade onto your wrist.

“‘Kneel?’” you asked outloud to your dark room in disgust. “What the hell is ‘kneel’?”

You spent years trying to figure out what the meaning of your word was and who on earth could possibly just say that in casual conversation?

In school you were teased, your schoolmates being convinced it was something sexual. Theirs’ were all basically the same, being something stupid like “Hello” or “Woah, I am so sorry I tripped you!” (That one was your absolute favorite. Like, how much more Hallmark Movie cliche could you get, Lily?)

You would often times wear sweatshirts or long sleeves to cover your words up. Not only were the kids at your school concerned, so were the teachers. It was kind of dumb, to be honest. You’d never forget the one time you got called to the guidance counselor’s office where this lady basically asked you if you were in a cult.

“I’m actually (religion or antheism),” you sneered back defensively. She stared at you for a moment before slowly nodding.

She claimed she just wanted to make sure you were “being safe.” And after you told your parents who threatened to sue for harassment, your words were never brought up by staff again.

You spent years dreading that stupid word, “kneel.” Once your soulmate was found the word would fade and become less bold.

Once you were older, you and a few classmates from college spent time studying abroad in Germany.

Germany was so lovely and you had the time of your life there. Your life also was changed there.

One night you and your friends attended a gala in Stuttgart. It was at a lovely facility full of people dressed in fancy gowns and suits while drinking champagne and chatting quietly. There was a violin orchestra that provided lovely music and guards that provided safety to the attendees.

As you wondered about slowly and tugged on the black glove hiding your word, you saw a man making his way down the marble staircase. He had long slicked back black hair, pale skin, bright blue eyes, wore a black suit with a long suit jacket accompanied by a green and gold scarf. He also held a sort of long scepter. You cocked an eyebrow; he didn’t seem to have a mobile disability of any sort, so what was it for?

Suddenly as he came across a man watching over the crowd on the stairs, he took the scepter and knocked the young man to the floor in one clean swing. People gasped all around you as the seemingly violent man began to make his way through the crowd quickly. Everyone parted from his way as he grabbed an older man by the neck and flung him onto a stone table carved as a sort of bull.

You watched in horror as he pulled out some sort of metal device that he shook and sprouted three separate cone-like appendages . The device whirred as it began to spin and a blue light shined under every cone. Without missing a beat, he plunged the device onto the man’s eye as people began to scream and run in all different directions. You stood in horror and watched the older man squirmed on the table.

The man with the blue eyes glanced around the room and grinned wickedly. He caught eyes with you and you began to slowly back away.

“Who the hell are you?” You blurted to him before following the crowd out of the facility.

You ran as fast as your high heels and fitted gold dress would let you. People pushed past you and ran out into the misty air and wet streets, trying to make a quick getaway. You wondered where your friends were and looked around.

You saw the man with blue eyes strolling out amongst the people with a smirk on his face. And suddenly gold light surrounded him and hid attire changed. Your heart stopped and your jaw dropped in fear and astonishment. This guy was defintely not from Earth, this was pure magic.

He was now wearing shiny gold armor with intricate detailing, a long green cape flowing behind him, and a gold helmet with long horns extending out of the front. He grasped the scepter in his hand as he strutted out in front of the still-evacuating crowd.

You made it across the street and hid amongst the crowd as the man picked up his pace. He walked right into the street when he heard a siren and saw a police car approaching. He jabbed the scepter towards it and a blast of blue light flew to the car. It tipped the car on it’s front as slid across the road sending sparks flying. The man continued to make his way to the crowd as the car flipped on its top.

You looked away and the crowd halted. The man had magically moved from behind the crowd to the front of it. Your heart pounded in your chest as you looked around frantically. He said something to the crowd that you couldn’t hear among the screaming and yelling.

The crowd tried to redirect its path when flashes of golden light circled the crowd. Clones of the man appeared around the crowd and you began to hyperventilate. What were you going to do? Were these your last moments? You’d never even met your stupid soulmate and now you were going to die at the hands of a voodoo man in Germany.

You stumbled around as your eyes darted all around you from one clone to another. You looked behind you and saw what appeared to be the real man walk forward slowly and pound his scepter onto the ground. Blue light shined from all the scepters of the clones and the crowd gasped. You clutched your chest as a tear slid down your cheek.

“KNEEL!” The man yelled furiously. You blinked and gasped quietly to yourself. The whole crowd began to lower to their knees and you followed momentarily. You anxiously yanked off your glove and stared;

“Kneel” was now faded on your wrist. You wiped away a few tears and looked up shakily at the man, who opened his arms and took in the sight with a smile.

“Is not this simpler?” He asked as he walked through the crowd. Though some looked at the ground in fear, others looked from clone to clone, and some watched in fear at the man, you never stopped looking straight into his blue eyes.

Your heart was racing and your hands were shaking. This awful man, this dictator who wanted nothing more than to cause havoc and destruction among the innocent was your soulmate? Another tear slid down your cheek as he walked past you and continued to make a speech to the crowd.

How were you supposed to talk to him? You didn’t even want to be near him with that thing he held. You twisted your glove and glanced back down at the writing.

How were you expected to fall in love with someone like this? What were the soulmate gods thinking? You inhaled shakily and looked up at the cloudy sky.

It seemed that with completing the task of finding your soulmate, came the task of making it out alive from your soulmate’s acts of terrorism.

WAS IT GOOD? WAS IT OKAY?? i’m overall kinda impressed with how i did! it’s been a minute since loki’s got some attention so i’m glad i was able to write this! sorry not sorry about the cliffhanger though. i mean what was i gonna do, have you fight him? i think it’s nice to let your imagination decide how this turns out. thank you for your support, i love you all!🤍

[graveyard-tales]

Road Trip AU

Korra and Bolin are in charge of the snacks. The only reason there are some homemade snacks as well as some healthier options is because Opal had tagged along. 

They have gps but it’s on mute because they kept mocking the tone of the voice. They all agree it sounds so damn condescending. They often forget about it, to the point where they almost stop using it completely. 

Bolin laid claim to the music. It’s not too bad, he has a little something for everyone, but it’s mostly all upbeat tunes. Sometimes something punk/rock/alternative comes on and they all try to guess if it’s Mako’s influence. He never confirmed and Bolin never says that some of it’s in there just for Opal. 

They all sing! Bolin is the loudest of course. Mako is the quietest. He and Opal are the most shy about it but she’s more open to singing louder thanks to Bolin’s praises and Korra’s encouragement. 

Most of the expenses are paid for by Asami and Opal. Korra and Bolin don’t really care, they pitch in a bit. Mako kind of hates it, though he doesn’t say anything. He pays for as much as his and Bolin’s share as he can. 

Mako and Asami do most of the driving. 

Asami can be a little fast but is the best driver of the lot. She grew up building and fixing cars, she learned to drive before she could even get her permit. Of course she is the best. 

Mako follows every rule there is, the car doesn’t move until everyone is buckled. But if there is a long stretch of road and no one is around?? Who's to say if the car is moving faster than it should. No matter who is in the passenger seat, he will do that thing where he puts his arm out to stop them if he has to break suddenly. 

Korra is the worst! She’s full on turning in her seat to look in the back seat. Mako’s yelling at her to keep her eyes on the road, Bolin clutching his seatbelt and Opal, Asami who saw this coming, already has her hand on the wheel. If no one is on the road with her she sways the car to the music. Korra doesn’t drive often and she likes it that way. 

Bolin isn’t as bad but he’s not great either. He has the music going, he’s in the middle of a conversation. One hand is on the wheel, the other is in a bag of snacks. He’s paying just enough attention not to hit the car in front of him. Good thing Opal and Mako are ever vigilant of where he has to turn. 

Opal is more of a cautious driver. Checks the mirrors, makes sure everyone is buckled, keeps the volume of the music down. No one would suspect she’s the most prone to road rage. If the horn is being used it’s most likely Opal cursing out the moron who recklessly cut in front of her.

Mako and Korra are banned from riding in front with each other within hours of their trip. “Korra you just made the wrong turn. It’s gonna take thirty minutes, if not a whole hours to get back to the main road.” “Jeez will you relax, consider this a detour into a nice town.” “This town has “last place a group of friends was seen in” written all over it.” “Judgmental much? Where is your sense of adventure!”

They only attempt to drive through the night once. Asami takes her turn, Mako takes his turn, Bolin takes his turn and they spend an hour the next morning trying to figure out where they are and how to get back to the main road. 

They only attempt to sleep in the car once. One of the boys was hit in the groin. There was a rancid fart that was obviously a crime against nature. Opal kept blinding people with her pen light she used to read with. Asami kept checking her phone. Bolin kept shifting. Korra tried to get them all to tell ghost stories, Bolin protested greatly. After Mako and Bolin (whom can sleep practically anywhere, even all cramped up) were the only ones to get any real sleep, they all agreed they’d splurge for a hotel room. 

Bolin, Opal, Asami and Korra all quietly agreed that they’ll all just squeeze into one room because they didn’t want to make it awkward for Mako. Mako meanwhile is like “this is so much more cost effective.” They generally get those rooms with the two beds and the pullout couch if they can . If they can’t it’s usually Korra, Asami and Opal squished in one bed and the boys in the other. On occasion Korra claims a bed at the Fire Ferret Fortress and crashes with the boys after she makes a blanket fort out of it. Mako has on occasion bunked with Asami and Opal when Bolin and Korra get too rambunctious. 

Bolin “Giant ball of yarn!!!!” Mako “We’re not stopping” Bolin, Korra, Opal, Asami chanting “giant yarn ball” until he finally gives in. They’re bored almost immediately only now Mako is keeping them there. If they wanted to see it so badily then he sure as hell going to learn why the stupid thing was even there in the first place. 

Bolin gets carsick the most, mostly on winding mountain roads. Asami is close behind, neither of them are used to mountain roads. Mako gets carsick once and no one even knew until the last minute because he was quietly staring out the window until he told them to stop the car and had the door open before it was fully pulled over.

They pull into a rest stop and Korra is leaping out and running to the bathroom. Mako nearly pushes Opal and Asami into the bathroom with her because they need to use the buddy system! Who knows what creeps are lurking about, Korra we talked about this! 

Of course It’s Mako who looks away for one second to find Bolin gone. It takes just a panicked second to find him (he’s in his 20’s now Mako, chill). Bolin is talking to a stranger who is standing too close for Mako’s comfort. 

Something goes wrong with the car at some point resulting in having to fix it up on the side of the road. Korra wanted to stand outside with Asami but they all agreed they didn’t want to risk the attention two young women could draw so Mako stood out with his best scowl fixed. Mako also knows more about cars than the other three, most of his knowledge is learned from Asami. (Though most of his mechanical knowledge is for his bike.) Someone still pulls over and asks if they needed help. Mako’s the one that tells him no and puts himself between the man and the car/Asami. Bolin is the only one who thinks he seemed nice when they all are back on the road. The girls blame Mako and that’s valid.

C A M P I N G

Korra finally gets her ghost story time. They all learn that Bolin has good reason to hate this because despite Mako’s generally shit story telling skills, he’s great with ghost stories. And just scaring the shit out of his little brother. He leaves to get something from the car only to appear on the other side at the climax of Opal’s story. He’s pelted with marshmallows for it.

Asami swears she hears something that night. Bolin’s too wired from the ghost stories. Their whispers wake up Opal, which ends up waking Korra. They all get hyper alert. Mako’s dead to the world. They all huddle close to each other, putting Mako between them so he doesn't die separated from their cuddle pile.

They almost crash twice. 

The first time Bolin and Korra were fucking around in the back seat. Opal got elbowed in the boob and Mako got kicked in the head. Mako was the one driving. Asami was the one that had scolded them this time around. Bolin and Korra kissed the back of Mako’s head and apologized. They did not kiss Opal’s boob.

The second time Bolin was driving and a drunk almost hit them causing Bolin to swerve to the roadside. The drunk had enough sense and conscience to pull over and check on them. Korra and Opal nearly launch themselves out of the car at him. Asami’s trying to comfort Bolin and prevent him from hyperventilating. Mako’s just as livid because they could have been hurt and Bolin’s terrified. But he reigns them in because he realizes they are quickly on the path of being the headline “group of young adults beat a drunk man on the side of the highway”.

If Korra is triggered or just has a bad night it’s really hard for her to stay in the car for long periods. So they take a lot of long breaks that day so she can walk out some of those nerves if she can. 

Both Mako and Korra get flare ups, mostly when the weather suddenly shifts.

When her legs are doing bad Korra can hardly walk but it hurts just as bad to keep her legs all scrunched up. So she’s either in the front where she can get the most leg room or she has them stretched across the very back seat or across the lap of whoever is next to her.

Mako’s is a little easier for him to ignore. He can more or less drive with one arm but if it gets too bad it makes it hard for him to concentrate on the road or follow the directions. He still keeps his sling tucked away to help keep it still, but he rarely ever uses it.

Both of them are too stubborn about it and usually don’t bring it up until it’s hurting too bad to ignore.

They drive through a safari park. 

Bolin did not heed the window warning and screamed when an ostrich head was suddenly through the window.  A truck of hay drove past them and a heard of bison walked up to the road.  They got stuck for nearly an hour when a particularly stubborn and lazy Emu parked itself in the middle of the road.  They got lucky with the tiger that was laid right near the fence but could barely see the cheetah across her enclosure.  They spend the rest of the day in the walk through portion. 

They bar crawl in a big city. Mako remains sober, he didn’t really get a choice but he doesn’t mind too much. Asami and Opal don’t get that drunk, Bolin and Korra get smashed. On the way to their hotel, Bolin and Korra try to have a competition on who can lift Mako. They both win much to his disdain and embarrassment. Asami is in her own little world giving Opal a piggy back as they sing to whatever was playing in the last bar. Mako realizes they should have at least done this back home instead of a city they hardly knew. They all agree the next day that it was really dumb.

Bolin and Korra are always trying to wingman Mako. If he so much looks at a girl they’re like “don’t work, I’ve got your back” and he has to desperately try and reel them back. Asami and Opal are much more subtle and successful about it. Mako never keeps any of the numbers. 

The only time Mako gets a number on his own is with a guy he didn’t realize was flirting with him until he was given the guy’s number. Cue quiet day for Mako as he reflects on shit he spent the whole time pushing down as a teenager. (Because Mako knows on some level he just spent so long pushing shit down that it’s second nature. And truth be told he had been thinking about it a lot more since Korra and Asami came out and started dating. Holy shit I’m bi??? He doesn’t mean to say it out loud. The girls are actually kind of surprised. Bolin really isn’t.) He doesn’t keep the number.

They absolutely hit up a beach and camp in the sand. Korra found and caught a crab but Bolin had instantly became attached to it. They end up letting it go. Opal and Bolin go hunting for seashells. Bolin adds many to ever growing collection of things. They nearly all get drunk around the bonfire they made.

Korra pokes and tries to get Mako to open up a little about his revelation in the car but he gets embarrassed and shrugs it off. They tell him they’ll don’t think of him any differently, which, duh. Bolin gets them all started on saying how much they love Mako. They do, of course, but they also all say it because they know how embarrassed he gets. His face is absolutely burning and he tries to walk off into the ocean before Bolin drags him back. Mako knew he would.

They most definitely go to the aquarium the next day. They spend nearly the whole day in there. 

Bolin just wants to share a romantic kiss with Opal with some serene nature background. 

Korra shares this sentiment. 

Mako’s tired of having to take pictures of his friends kissing in nature, he just wants to enjoy the waterfall, guys please, no more pictures. Why do you need me to do it? Why can you take the pictures for each other?

Opal takes the most pictures of nature. Bolin takes the most selfies and gathers the most rocks. He’s got nearly a whole bag by the end of their trip. 

On their last stretch they hit up an amusement park. 

Opal loves the ferris wheel the most. Bolin decidedly does not. He clings to her every time they move and the compartment rocks.

It’s not surprising that Asami enjoys the fastest rollercoaster they have. It is a bit surprising that Mako is right there with her when she tries to drag them back in line for another go. 

They all do the bumper cars numerous times. 

They all have a competition to see who can win the largest stuffed animal. Mako wins. He gives the absolutely giant Ninja Turtle to Opal because he knows she was trying to win it for Bolin. Bolin gives his little jellyfish keychain to Mako in return. He absolutely attached it to his keys. 

They all win as many toys as they can to give to the kids back home. 

When they are finally all back home they agree the trip was one they’ll always remember and treasure. They also agree to never do it again and Asami swears she’ll buy the plane ticket herself if they ever decide to go anywhere again. 

They do the same thing the very next year.

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Book Four: War (Gladiolus x Reader) Chapter Seven

Gladio and (Y/n) headed to Tostwell Grill, which was tucked away in the corner of the marketplace. They sat down at one of the tables and looked over the menu. It was small and only two dishes were being served.

Once reading the ingredients for each of the dishes, the Horseman's brows knitted together. "Neither one of these are breakfast foods. One's a stew and the other's skewers."

"You discriminating against food now?" Gladio asked.

"No..."

"Then pick one."

War told the man tending to their table what she wanted followed by Gladio. While waiting for their meals, the girl crossed her legs and arms as she focused on the shield across from her. "So, what did you want to ask about the nightmare?"

"Oh, right." Gladio recollects what he saw in the nightmare the night before. "After you're killed, water floods the throne room. What's with that?"

"As you're aware, I was also able to call upon the Astrals after earning their favor. Before Gaius could claim Vanaheim for Niflheim, I used my dying breath to summon Leviathan. My final wish was for her to drown the entire kingdom to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. That is the reason why Vanaheim now lies at the bottom of the ocean."

"Damn..." The brute mumbled.

"Was there anything else?" She asked.

"No, only the water was new."

Their food arrived. (Y/n) savored the stew while Gladio ravished the skewers. Halfway through cleaning his plate, he asked, "So, exactly how long has it been since you've ate?"

She lowered her spoon. "You trying to figure out exactly how old I am?"

Gladio picked up on her playful tone and chuckled. "Someone's getting better at messin' around. But in all seriousness, no."

"It's been almost eight months now since my last meal," she confessed. "My sisters and I might not need to eat, but we throw these huge feasts whenever it's one of our birthdays. It's more for fun than satisfaction."

"A huge feasts with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Sounds interesting."

"It's just a normal feast. There's nothing special about it," War stated.

"To you it might not be, but it does to me," Gladio replied. "Sitting at a table with immortals sounds like a helluva feast."

(Y/n) took another spoonful of stew, enjoying the flavor. She noticed Gladio staring at her and lowered her spoon. "Why're you staring at me?"

"Tryna figure somethin' out," he answered.

"And what's that?"

"Who that guy you were talkin' to yesterday was."

"Guy...?" War muttered. "You mean at the outlook?"

"Yeah. You seemed awfully close. Don't tell me you found a boyfriend."

Her eye twitches. "...Are you serious? Did you just hear what came out of your mouth and how ridiculous it sounded? Or do I need to repeat it myself?" She pushed the bowl of stew away. "For your information, that "guy" yesterday was the daemon king himself. He's not my "boyfriend." He happens to be the powerful immortal that resurrected me."

"Well, that explains the horns..." Gladio murmured.

"Haven't you been listening to me? I told you I don't trust mortals." She stood up, anger bubbling inside her veins. "Besides, my personal affairs are none of your business even if I have shared some small details here and there." War left the eatery in order to keep her calm.

Gladio quickly paid the bill and followed after her. He caught up with the Horseman and walked beside her. "Y'know, not all mortals are like Gaius."

(Y/n) stopped in the middle of the marketplace. "I'm well aware of that. You and the others have proven that, but I still have trust issues. The one job I gave you is to show that there is someone on Eos I can trust. Or do I need to find another mortal?"

"Trust me, I can do it," he confidently claimed. "Just wait and see, firecracker."

War pulled up her hood, hiding her face from the shield. "I'm counting on you, Gladio."

The brute was able to catch a glimpse of the smile she was trying to conceal. He wanted to tease her, but decided not to anger her.

The duo walked around Lestallum for a little while, chatting about various topics. Gladio was able to learn a little more about (Y/n) and vice versa. Their conversation was sidetracked when they were soon joined by a bubbly Prompto. The blonde excitedly told them how he ran into Famine and she spent some time with him.

At hearing the news, Gladio glances towards War. "You and your sisters are everywhere."

"We are just trying to do our job," she replied. "These monsters are not easy to find as they are much more intelligent than daemons or normal beasts."

"Guess you wouldn't be having so much trouble if they were, right?" Prompto asked.

"I would be back in the Inner Sanctum by now if they were pretty dumb. Sadly, they're not."

"Well, now you've got us to help you," Gladio stated.

"Oh, I don't think so. It's best you and the others stay as far away from these monstrosities as possible. They're here on Eos because they crave the blood of humans. You all would be a feast for the bunyips and the dullahan."

"I'd rather not be eaten alive by one of those things..." Prompto muttered.

The trio returned to the Leville to check on Ignis and Noctis. Once doing that, they discussed their next plan. Deciding to rest just a little longer, they would remain in Lestallum for the time being.

<-------------<<<<<

Several days later, Gladio told everyone what was on his mind. After having some time to think it over, he wanted to escort his sister to Cape Caem. They left the Leville and headed to the gas station located on the main road. Iris, who was kind enough to fill the Regalia's tank, was waiting for them. When she counted how many people there were, a worried expression appeared on her face. "There's six of us and only five seat."

"Don't worry. (Y/n)'s got a ride," Gladio said, gesturing to the redhead.

Iris looked toward the Horseman. "Are you sure you don't want to ride with us? I can always sit on Gladdy's lap."

"No, it's fine. You all go on ahead. I'll catch up with you in a short bit," she responded. The five climb into the car and depart from Lestallum.

(Y/n) called upon Ares, the flaming steed appearing from a thicket of fog. She promptly mounted his back and entangled her fingers in his mane. The flames danced around her hands, the heat causing her no injury. "C'mon, Ares, let's catch up." The horse neighed, taking off down the road.

Within a few seconds, she caught up with the Regalia. Although she was familiar with the way to Cape Caem, she wanted to stay with the others in case they needed her. Ares ran alongside the car, easily keeping pace with it. Due to the wind whistling in her ears, she couldn't hear what the others were talking about. However, she did catch Iris staring at her in astonishment. The young Amicitia wasn't aware of her status as Horseman until now. From the grin she saw on Gladio's face, she figured he was telling his sister all the details.

(Y/n) reverted her attention back to the road ahead. She kept her eyes forward, making sure Ares kept his distance from the car to avoid an accident. However, her attention was diverted when they were halfway to Old Lestallum. The rancid scent of decaying flesh and the tinge of iron she assumed was from blood reached her nose. Eyes narrowing, she looked around in a desperate attempt to locate the source of the odor. Since it was nearly noon, it was impossible a daemon could emanate such a stench. She also knew no beast indigenous to Eos smelt in such a manner.

Suddenly, Ignis slammed on brakes. Ares followed suit, slowing down and stopping beside the vehicle. War wondered what was the problem until she saw it. Her eyes widen before narrowing into a glare when recognizing the creature blocking the road. "The dullahan..."

"A wh-what?" Prompto swallowed in fear.

"A headless horseman," she simplified.

"Didn't know you had a creepy, headless brother," Gladio teased.

She ignored the shield, her (e/c) eyes glued to the dullahan. It didn't move towards them, but it was wielding its spine as if it was ready to attack. It whipped its spine like a whip, its horse neighing in response. While examining the monster's appearance, she noticed something was missing. "Where's its head?"

"Didn't you just say it was a headless horseman?" Noctis retorted.

"I did, but dullahans always travel with their heads. Something feels off..."

Prompto couldn't tear his fearful gaze away from the menacing creature. "I-Is it really a big deal that it doesn't have its head with it?"

"Without the head, I can't kill it," War stated.

"What will your plan of attack be, (Y/n)?" Ignis inquired.

"This thing has killed and I can smell the corpses. I will keep it occupied and pray to the Astrals I'll be able to find the head," she proclaimed. "You focus on escaping."

"You're not seriously gonna fight that thing all by yourself, are you?" Gladio asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I am." She summoned a bow, a single arrow materializing from the crimson crystal shards. Firing the arrow, she targeted the dullahan's steed. The monster used its spine whip to deflect the arrow with ease. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, War materialized another arrow and nocked it. At the same time, she dug her heels into Ares' sides to urge him forward. She released the arrow and it impaled the dullahan's chest plate. Seeing she had its full attention when it charged towards her, she shouted for Ignis to drive away. The advisor didn't hesitate and drove off.

The dullahan used its whip to try and grab the Horseman. However, Ares manages to dodge and protect his rider. (Y/n) thanked him before commanding him to run away from the main road. The horse did as she commanded, running away from the main road. The monster followed on its own black, hazy steed. Knowing the dullahan was nothing without its horse, she knew fighting it on-foot was out of the question unless it willingly abandoned its steed.

"C'mon, you bastard," (Y/n) hissed, glaring over her shoulder at the dullahan. Ares led them to a large, open area where there was enough room to ride around. The Horseman switched out her bow for a pair of daggers as she and the monster faced off. Urging her steed to charge directly at it, she yelled his name and he took off. Pushing herself into a crouching position on Ares' back, she waited for the perfect opportunity to attack.

The dullahan charged forward, meeting the Horseman and her steed halfway. It used its whip to swipe at the redhead, but it missed its mark when she dodged the attack and leapt onto the dullahan. She tackled it off its horse and buried one of her daggers into its chest plate.

"Where's your damn head, you bastard?" She growled, jamming her second dagger into its shoulder. A black substance dribbled from its wounds, cascading down its body. Once it dropped onto the grass, the luscious green turned into a decaying brown.

The dullahan chuckled demonically. It grabbed its whip and targeted the redhead. It pierced her side deeply, causing her to shriek in pain. She promptly summoned a javelin and plunged it through the monster's abdomen, pinning it to the ground. Shakily, she pushed herself off the dullahan and got to her feet. Yanking the tip of the spine whip out of her body, she tossed it aside. Blood soaked her left side and dripped to the ground.

Before War could strike again, the dullahan ripped the javelin out of its abdomen and stood up. It stood up and summoned its horse. It made a quick escape, but (Y/n) immediately took chase. She pressed a hand against her wound, knowing it would take more time to heal since the monsters from the Inner Sanctum were more powerful than an average daemon or beast. Following the monster, she fought against the wooziness she felt from the blood loss and focused on her target. "Show me where you've hidden your head, you bastard..."

<-------------<<<<<

A couple days later after their infiltration of Fort Vaullery and exploring Malmalam Ticket, the royal retinue and Iris were now resting at Kellebram Haven. Prompto was showing Iris the many photos he's taken since she's joined them. After looking through his new pictures, the blonde came across a picture he took of (Y/n) when they first met.

"Oh, it's (Y/n)!" Iris cheered. "Do you have any more pictures of her?"

"I've got tons!" Prompto flipped through various more photos before coming across more with the Horseman as the main subject. Most of them were of her fighting or chatting with Gladio.

Noticing the pattern, the girl asked, "Wait, does Gladdy get along with (Y/n)?"

"I guess you could say that," he answered.

Flipping to the next picture, Iris gaped in amazement when she saw (Y/n) wielding an array of weapons. "Oh, wow! She's so cool!"

Noctis, who'd been playing King's Knight on his phone, looked up at hearing Iris praise the Horseman. "Y'know, we haven't seen her in a while."

Prompto lowered his camera with a concerned expression. "It's been two days. Shouldn't she be back by now?"

"She's immortal. How much trouble could she possibly be in?" Gladio remarked. "Besides, she mentioned she couldn't kill that thing unless she found the head. She's probably looking for it as we speak."

"Or she's in trouble," he replied.

"I hope she's okay," Iris mumbled. "I still owe her for getting me, Jarred, and Talcott out of the city."

"Maybe we should check on her," Prompto suggested. "You've got that orb she gave you, right, big guy? Summon her!"

"And possibly fuck up her entire mission?" The brute scoffed. "I don't think so. I'll be the headless one if that happened."

"Maybe you could try after dinner?" Iris asked.

Gladio wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was worried about (Y/n). He'd already been tempted to summon her. However, he fought the urge knowing she was trying to focus on the dullahan. But now seeing he wasn't the only one concerned about her, his temptation returned and he wouldn't be able to stave it off this time. "Fine, I'll try after dinner."

Ignis was already ahead of the group. He'd been working on dinner for the past fifteen minutes and it was almost done. Once the food was done, he passed out plates to everyone. They ate the delicious meal around the fire as the chill of night crept around them. The sound of daemons soon filled the dark void of the night. Their shrill cries caused an uneasiness to wash over the group.

Iris lifted her head, gazing out into the darkness. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that. I don't understand how you all can ignore it."

"It took a while, but now we all sleep through it," Noctis said.

"It still freaks me out from time to time," Prompto confessed. He put his plate down and nearly jumped out of his seat when an earsplitting shout came from a daemon close by. "Okay, that one definitely freaked me out."

"It was quite unusual," Ignis stated.

"Our daemon reflector isn't here at the moment," Gladio said.

"Daemon reflector?" Iris parroted.

"(Y/n)," he replied. "Most daemons are afraid of her. Whenever she's around, nights are quieter and it's easier to fall asleep."

"Now that you mention it..." Iris mumbled. "No daemons attacked us the night we were heading to Lestallum. I thought we were just lucky."

"At least she's not a daemon magnet," Noctis commented. "Not sure how I'd feel about that..."

"I'd welcome it. It'd give us more opportunities to train," Gladio said. "It'd also make our hunts easier. Speaking of hunts, you said (Y/n) took down that naga without touching it, blondie."

"Oh, yeah!" Prompto cheered as he remembered witnessing the daemon turn into a pile of ash. "I don't know what exactly happened, but it's like (Y/n) just stared into its eyes and it turned to stone. Then it disintegrated into a pile of ash."

"That sounds...scary," Iris said.

"I was freaked out, but it was kinda cool to watch."

"I wonder what she did," the young Amacitia hummed in curiosity.

"Not sure. She hasn't said," Gladio explained. He fished the summoning orb out of his pocket, remembering what he promised to do after they finished dinner. He muttered her name and saw the orb gleam slightly. After some time, he learned that faint glimmer of light meant it worked.

Looking around the haven, he searched for War. The others followed suit and Iris was the first to spot the Horseman a short distance away. "There she is!"

Everyone glanced in the direction the girl was staring and saw the redhead slowly approaching the haven. Gladio noticed something was wrong while watching her stumble forward. Her form was hunched over and she was having difficulty standing on her own two legs. He stood from his seat, putting the orb back into his pocket. "(Y/n)?"

War didn't answer his call as she dragged her body towards the haven. Her hand was pressed against her side in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. Her vision was splotchy and she was barely conscious. She managed to lift her head when hearing someone approach. Seeing it was Gladio, she tried to speak. "Sorry..." she mumbled weakly as her legs gave our underneath her. Her vision turned to black as she fell unconscious.

[kingsuckjin]

The Enigma of Bunny Pt.2

Pairing: Jungkook, Yoongi, Jimin, Taehyung(later) x reader ft. Namjoon and Hobi

Genre: alternate universe!au, fluff, smut(later), horror, mystery

Warnings: mention of mental illness and possible abuse, eventual yandere themes Kookie is a sad boy in this one

Words: 4.8k+

Synopsis: You find a very sick young man in an alley and out of the bottomless barrel of kindness that is your heart, you decide take him home. only then do you realize this stranger doesn’t speak, but that’s not the only strange thing about him by far. Who is he? Where did he come from? What happened to him? And why can’t he remember anything or even speak?

Prev // next

You stared down at the kitchen floor in slight shock.

You were now very much awake as you tried to take in the mess of cereal, milk and remains of dishes spilled and broken all over the counter and floor.

“Oh no, Bunny.” You whined but you looked up him and his guilty looking face. He was obviously sorry.

“Its alright. I’ll get it cleaned up. You were just hungry I guess. I’ll make you something, okay?” You reassured him but paused a moment as you remembered…

“you spoke though! Good job talking.” Your lips curled into a prideful smile and he mirrored it upon seeing yours “noona” you pointed to yourself happily. You didn’t exactly like the name but you didn’t really mind it either. He was now communicating and that’s what mattered.

He pointed to you still smiling.

“Noona.” He repeated.

“Yes good job!” You cheered him on as if he were a baby saying his first words, but you just couldn’t help it, it just felt so heart warming.

“Bunny” You poked at his surprisingly hard chest.

“Bunny.” He pointed to himself.

“Yes!” You burst with excitement now knowing he understood. He looked elated at your pride for him “so good! Nice job!”

“Bunny nice job!” He yelled excitedly.

You were now so glad you decided to encourage his talking instead of getting on him over the mess that still lay in the floor.

“You’re talking look at you!” You laughed.

Apparently, you guessed, he must’ve learning things from those dumb dramas and from you too of course.

Or possibly he was now starting to warm up enough to you enough to talk or just now figuring it all out again, you didn’t know, but you wished you did.

You looked back down at the mess in the floor to notice some paper towels looking like he had tried to clean it up but he had obviously only succeed on making the mess bigger with more for you to clean up.

You did clean it up though, and it took a while to get all the shards of bowl from the floor and god knows what else.

You eventually gave him a snack before he settled back on the sofa and fell back to sleep.

You got back in bed but it was hard to go back to sleep.

You decided you would definitely have to go back to the store tomorrow, maybe he would help you and you could spend a bit more time with him before taking him to the police station. He seemed like he had made some recovery both mentally and physically since you had found him.

You finally fell back to sleep but woke up to the sounds of the tv going and the morning sun in your room. You weren’t really ready to get out of bed yet, and normally you wouldn’t but you were curious to see if he was awake yet.

You found him watching more dramas on the sofa eating a bag of chips and making a mess of crumbs all over himself, sofa, and the floor looking like he didn’t even realize it.

You sighed as you got out the hand vacuum and vacuumed not only the cushions and floor, but him.

“This is probably why I don’t have children.” You muttered to yourself with a laugh as you vacuumed off your house guest who didn’t seem to mind it one bit.

You got dressed and called for him as you grabbed your bag and slipped your shoes on at the door.

“Bunny, shoes.” You pointed at them and he stood up getting the message and followed your lead slipping on his sneakers before looking to you.

“We have to go to the store. We need more food.” You told him and you made rather stupid eating motions.

To your surprise he simply just nodded. Whether he actually understood or not, you didn’t know, but he followed you out the door regardless.

He trailed along behind you the whole way, occasionally getting distracted by things. You had keep getting his attention to make him keep up with you and to prevent him from getting lost. Sometimes he would jump and grab for you at loud noises or car horns, but you didn’t mind that either, you just reassured him the best you could.

Once at the store you decided to make his muscular body useful so you handed him a shopping basket and he carried it for you with no qualms which seemed too good to be true, especially when he had gone quiet.

You were looking at the juice when you realized he had wondered off.

Your eyes began frantically searching the store and looking down isles hoping he hadn’t taken off out the store.

You looked like that of a nerve wracked mother trying to track down their child who probably just wanted to play hide and seek in the isles. You noticed a few concerned looking women just about to possibly ask if you needed help finding your child when you spotted your grown man.

“Jungkook” you let out a sigh of relief

You found him shoving bag after bag of chips into the basket he carried with an open one that he had been eating from.

The women who were so concerned before were now giving you strange looks as you approached him.

He smiled at the sight of you but you were horrified at him practically stealing in front of people.

“Bunny, hey, no no.” You stopped him and began putting all the chips back. “You can’t open and eat things here.” You scolded him and his happy, carefree expression melted away, he now furrowed his brows looking sad. “I’ll just buy those okay? But you can’t just eat chips all day anyway.” You watched as he took another from the bag and ate it, if you didn’t know he didn’t know better you would’ve thought it was just to defy you. He took you watching him as you wanting one so he took another out and offered it to you, you shook your head and took him gently by the bicep to drag him around the store to make sure he followed this time.

He kept trying to put junk food in the basket and when you put it back and told him no, he would whine but soon accept it. When you finally got done and paid (including for his open bag of chips of course) you kept hold of his upper arm to lead him back home.

“Noona.” He said and pointed to a cat in someone’s window.

“Its a cat.” You glanced over at it, then him.

“Cat.” He replied with his mouth full and a nod. He tried to go over to the window but you pulled him back.

“Cat.” He whined pointing at it again.

“No Bunny, it belongs to someone. It’s in their house.”

“Kay.” He replied with a nod surprising you yet again as he accepted you telling him no and used a new word. It wasn’t a groan or whine in response this time and you were elated. You were beyond happy he was talking today and attempting to communicate.

You were a bit sad though that after you went and put the groceries away that you would take him to the police station, but it had to be done.

He seemed confused at you guys going back out again, but he went willingly and seemed chipper as you both walked along the pavement.

Once in the police station Jungkook seemed confused by the place and looked around as you explained things to the officer at the desk.  He took you back where you went into detail about him as much as you could.

“Well we can take him, run his prints and hold him until we can find where he belongs. Shouldn’t take too long and he should be home by morning. Do you have a number so we can contact you and let you know when hes home safe or do you not want to-”

“I do.” You interrupted quickly and the officer took your number.

When you stood up Bunny did also thinking he was leaving with you.

“No Bunny. I need to leave you here with them? Okay? They’re going to take you home.”

He just looked at you.

“Bye.” You told him sadly as you felt a pang of guilt with your words. When you tried to leave he started after you again but the officer stopped him by grabbing his arm.

“Noona. Noona! No! No leave noona!” He seemed to have just gotten what was going on. You turned around to look at him reaching for you as you felt surprised by his strung together sentence he had made in his panic. It hurt you, but you couldn’t take him back home with you.

“I have to Bunny, I’m sorry. You need to go home.” You tried to reason with him but he was fighting against the officer and you knew you being there any longer would only make it worse for everyone.

“No! No leave! Noona no!” He repeatedly yelled for you. You refused to let yourself even turn around as you left the police station overhearing the commotion he was causing behind you.

He would be alright and you knew it. The police would take care of him now and you’d probably get a call by morning telling you he made it home alright.

But then why did you feel so terrible?

You thought back at how his shiny, big brown eyes looked so panicked and how he was reaching out to you, and desperately trying to speak to you.

It made you question why he wanted to stay with you so badly, why didn’t he want to go home? Why had he been out in the rain that day sick and just left to die if he had a home? Had he run away from it? Did whoever took care of him mistreat him? What if you had just damned him back to mistreatment?

“Oh. Hey.” You heard Yoongi’s voice as you were about a block away from home. “Did you take that weird homeless kid to the police station?”

You looked from him down to your feet.

“Yeah.” Your voice came out quiet.

“You- you okay?” For the first time ever you read slight sympathy on Min Yoongi’s face.

“I guess so.” You let out a long breath hoping it would help cleanse the guilt from your body, it didn’t work.

“Listen… uh… I was just heading out to get something to eat. If you’re hungry too then, you know, you could tag along?” He asked with a shrug.

“I’m sorry, I don’t… I’m not very hungry.” You declined just wanting to go home and feel sad where no one could see you or ask why, because you didn’t really know if you could explain why.

“You sure, it seems like maybe- nah, forget it. Its cool. I’ll see you around… you know, the apartment building I guess.”

“I’m sorry Yoongi, I just-”

“No, it’s fine. I’d rather eat alone anyway, its more peaceful. Later.” He said and walked on.

You shuffled into your building and started up the stairs to your floor when you were being called after and turned around to see Jimin looking amazing in a loose fitting white shirt and black jeans ripped at the knees. Why did you seem to always run into him right after Yoongi lately?

“Hey! I was hoping to see you today.” He said as cheerfully as ever, but you just weren’t feeling it. You thought about telling him that the chances were high of running into each other since you two lived the same building.

“How are things going with your cousin staying over?”

“Oh, uh I just walked him to the train station to meet my aunt.” You lied.

“Oh.” He let out maybe detecting your sad demeanor “You must miss him already, right?” He asked and I nodded “that’s so cute.” Jimin nearly cooed at me with a smile “well hey, maybe I can keep you company and keep you from being too lonely for a while? We could have that movie night? How about it?”

He was so sweet you couldn’t say no plus you thought he looked so amazing with the way he flipped his blonde hair from his eyes.

“Yeah, sure. I can make us something to eat too if you want.” You offered.

“Nonsense. You don’t have to go through all that work and cook for me, I’ll order us a pizza.” His eyes were pure crescents of joy and you couldn’t help but let a little of that seep into you. You could already tell being around him would probably make you feel better, you both did seem a lot a like personality wise after all. He seemed so sweet, caring, kind and positive that he had to make you feel better even if he said nothing at all the whole time.

“Alright.” You agreed even though you felt all the more guilty about just now ditching Yoongi and not Jimin. Yoongi was just… well he was grumpy and most likely a vampire or something.

Besides, if you had taken his offer he would’ve probably just acted like it was a huge burden that you came and he didn’t seem like the type who would be good at cheering people up anyway.

You and Jimin had both finished almost all of the pizza and he had his hand relaxed and stretched out on the back of the sofa behind you as you two comfortably watched a movie in your dark lounge.

“This is so nice.” He said out of no where making you look at him directly instead of just peering at his beautiful face in your peripheral vision. “Having someone to do stuff like this with.” He clarified “although I’m sure you always have someone to do things like this with.”

“I-I don’t.” You weren’t sure if he was saying you must have a lot of friends or a boyfriend or what. You wondered if he was trying to ask subtly if you were single.

“Oh? You and that Yoongi guy in the apartment next to yours seem pretty close. I thought you were friends.”

“No, not at all.” You answered “he’s kind of a loner I think.”

“Are you not a loner?” Jimin asked tilting his head cutely.

“No, I’m just in here working a lot.” You guessed that did make you kind of a loner though, you didn’t really feel the need to socialize much anymore like you did when you were younger. You were bad at it anyway.

“Oh that’s right, you’ve mentioned you work from home mostly. I guess you can’t really do much about that, that’s okay though. We can be fun buddies can’t we?” He looked down at you with his dark eyes twinkling from the movie reflecting in the corners of them.  He was so hypnotic in a way, so pretty that you just decided to agree to whatever he was offering you.

“Yeah, if you want. Its good that you live just right down stairs.”

“Anytime you need me I’m just a text away. Or if you ever get lonely…” He trailed making your heart begin to hammer. His arm that was on the back of the sofa behind you was now resting around your shoulders and his thumb was playing with the short sleeve of your shirt and grazing your skin softly. Goosebumps began to raise and scatter across your skin. His face had some how crept closer to yours without you even realizing it.

“How would you feel about us making this a thing every week?”

You could only gaze at his soft looking lips as your heart pumped yet harder behind your rib cage.

He had to notice.

There was no way he couldn’t notice.

His lips drifted even closer to yours.

But something just didn’t feel right to you.

You were sure he wanted to enclose the space between the both of you.

Yes everything about him was enticing- no- overpowering to you, but you just couldn’t.

“I-” you were cut off by your phone ringing. You quickly fished it out of your pocket and looked at the number you didn’t recognize.

“One second.” You said and he gave you a nod as you stood and hurried off to the kitchen to answer your phone.

“Hello?”

“Yes, is this miss y/l/n?” An unfamiliar male voice asked.

“Yes.”

“This is detective Kim Namjoon.”

“Detective?” You were a bit worried now about Bunny.

“Yes. I was assigned to the case of the young male you found after his fingerprints didn’t match any in our files.” He explained.

“You haven’t found his home yet?” You spoke quietly so Jimin couldn’t hear.

“Unfortunately not and it might take a while. He keeps screaming for noona and I’ve been told he has been since you left. Its all he’ll say. Since you’ve been caring for him and it might take a while to investigate this and find where he belongs, would you be willing to maybe let him stay with you for just a bit longer? If not that’s-”

“Yes.” You cut him off. “I’ll be right down to get him.”

“Oh thank god.” He sighed with a chuckle. “He’s been giving us hell.”

“I’m so sorry.” You were compelled to apologize for his behavior.

“Its alright. At least we know he’ll be nice and safe with you.” His words were almost drowned out by the distraught yelling in the background.

You knew that voice, you hadn’t heard it but just a hand full of times but that was enough to have it ingrained in your head already.

“Shes coming kid, don’t worry.” Namjoon told him before letting out another laugh.

“I’ll be right there.” You said and with that you hung up and headed back into the living room to see Jimin looking at you quizzically.

“I have to go, there’s been a… umm…”

You were at a loss for words for what exactly this was.

“An emergency?” He finished for you, so you went with it.

“Pretty much.” But was it though?

“That’s alright. Our movie just ended anyway.” He replied as he stood and stretched.

You both put on your shoes and you walked him to his apartment downstairs.

“Same time next week?” He inquired and you gave him a nod before hurrying off to your ‘emergency’ that felt more like a kid having a tantrum at daycare.

Honestly you felt rather relieved though on your way to pick up Bunny. It was a relief from the guilt you had felt for leaving him. Mindlessly your legs practically dashed to the police station and raced through the doors where Bunny was waiting on you eating a doughnut along with red haired police officer and a man in black slacks and white button down shirt with a badge neatly pinned to the pocket.

“Ahh you must be noona.” The blonde man in the white dress shirt smiled with his dimples on full display. “Detective Kim Namjoon, we spoke on the phone.”

Bunny looked up at you from his doughnut and dropped it upon hearing the word noona, his eyes went wide before he jumped up.

“Noona!” He yelled before throwing himself at you and wrapping his arms around you so tight it was almost suffocating making the detective and red haired police officer laugh.

“Aww Bunny, I’m sorry I left you here like that.” Your hands went to his back and gave him a squeeze after getting over the initial shock of him flinging himself at you like that.

“Bunny sorry.” He muttered with his arms still locked around you. He leaned over a bit but his cheek was now pressed into the top of your shoulder.

Did he think you leaving him here was a punishment of some kind?

“Its okay.” You assured him and when he released you he still held tight to your arm with both his arms locked around it.

“Sargent Jung Hoseok.” The red head introduced himself. “Its nice to finally see him calm and not eating. All that kid does is eat or cry for you.” He laughed making you feel a little embarrassed.

“Are you sure taking him back for a bit isn’t a problem? It seems he won’t even try to be friends with anyone else.” The detective asked.

“No, its no problem. I’m sure he would just rather be sitting on the sofa at my house eating chips and watching his dramas, it’s probably not even me he wants.”

“Well as long as he’s happy. We’ll let you know if we find anything out.”

You were assured by the detective.

“Thanks guys.”

“No no no. Thank you.” Officer Jung laughed joking about taking Bunny back and off their hands.

“Come on Bunny, let’s get home.” You gave your arm a tug, not to take it from him but to signal him to go… as if he wouldn’t go with you anyway. He kept his arms wrapped around yours as came with you very ecstatically and to be honest you were quite happy about it too.

As you waled down the street lap lit street, you looked over at him wearing the same clothes you found him in. His hair was beginning to look a bit stringey, there were hairs prickling all along his jaw and you wondered if he knew how to bathe himself since he could dress himself and use the bathroom himself. You hoped he could anyway. Getting him new clothes might be a problem considering you knew nothing about men or their clothing or sizes or how they shaved their faces or any of that.You were completely clueless. You decided that if he was willing to learn how to speak and behave and all that then you could learn how to take care of a man, if only just for a while. It had to be nothing compared to what he must be struggling with you guessed.

You stared at him as he held onto your arm and looked up at the stars.

“Noona.” He said and pointed at the biggest star.

“Star.” You named the object for him, but maybe he was just pointing out its glowing beauty to you, he knew you had seen these things before, you knew he knew.

“Star.” He repeated.

With all the mundane things he seemed so fascinated with you always couldn’t help but wonder if he had ever seen them before.

You thought about the poor guy had been locked away or something somewhere and it made your heart ache and your brain feel heavy with sadness.

Once you got home he wanted to sit down and watch tv but you were dragging him to the bathroom to run him a bath because his slightly haggard appearance had guilted you.

He stared at the filling tub curiously and seemed intrigued when you added bubbles, but the bubbles were technically more so for privacy purposes than anything else.

“Get in.” You pointed to the bubble filled tub hoping he would just get it, but he tried to get in with all his clothes on until you stopped him.

“No no Bunny, clothes off.” You said and made gestures of clothes coming off.

He blinked at you a moment, and thought he might like his privacy while undressing until he shamelessly began to undress right in front of you. You quickly turned around and got him some towels as he did so and didn’t turn around until you heard the sound of the water that signified him getting in.

You saw him sitting there with bubbles thankfully above and covering all the most important parts and you crouched down by the tub and grabbed the shampoo. You attempted to wet his hair pathetically and he caught on to what you were trying to do and dunked himself under the water to only come back up covered in bubbles making you laugh. He closed his eyes as you gently scrubbed at his hair. You got him to dunk his head again to rinse the shampoo before making another attempt at washing what parts of his body were above the bubble line.

“Well, I was thinking. Maybe I should give you a new name, you know for when we’re out in public or in front of people. People might get the wrong idea if I just call you Bunny all the time. I need something to introduce you as. A real name.”

You wanted him to feel more like a person and a bath, a name and your plan for getting him new clothes might help. You didn’t think anyone ever deserved to feel like no one, to not have their name remembered. A name was important.

“Name?” He looked at you as he said the new word.

You through out a male name from one of his dramas and pointed at him.

“Bunny.” He pointed at himself.

He just didn’t seem to get it like you hoped he would.

“No. You can be bunny too, you can have a real name.”

“Real name?” He parroted

You said a name of another male from a drama.

“No.” Was his clear reply this time.

“How about…” you thought of another one and you got the same reply. You went through a whole list only getting no’s from him or head shakes.

You gave up and continued on washing him up in defeat. He was pretty silent considering he had just said some new words. Maybe you should’ve praised him, shown him you were proud.

“Alright Bunny,” you grabbed for a towel “lets get you-”

“Jungkook.” He finally spoke again. You instantly recognized the name as an extremely rich, handsome man from a drama. You couldn’t help but stare as he pointed to himself and said it one more time.

You felt a wide grin spread across your face.

He understood. He picked a name for himself, by himself.

“Yes! Perfect.” You nodded making him smile too. You were glad he named himself and he liked it, you were pretty impressed. He had yet to do anything but astound you though.

“Alright, Jungkook. Lets get out of the bath.” You announced noticing the bubbles rapidly decreasing to dangerous levels in volume.

You stood and held a towel out for him to step into and were careful not to look at anything as you fastened it around his waist.

You dried his hair with a second towel and he followed you to your room where you got out some more girly pajamas for him to wear and scurried out before he dropped the towel and began changing.

When he walked out of your room to find you, you couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at how the tight pink pajama shirt barely fit across his broad chest. You had always thought it was a bit silly to see him in your clothes none the wiser and indifferent about it.

“Noona.” He said as he came to sit with you. You already had his drama channel turned on for him and his blanket on the sofa.

“Yes Jungkook?” You decided to use his new name.

“Still…” he seemed to struggle with his words “still…Bunny?” You understood what he was trying to ask.

“Yes. You’re still Bunny. You can be Bunny and Jungkook.”

“Yes. Bunny Jungkook.” He agreed happily.

“Noona.”

“Yes Bunny?” You asked and now he looked a bit sad.

“Noona, no leave. No leave Bunny Jungkook?”

He was asking you not to leave him again and you didn’t want to upset him and you weren’t sure if he would understand if you tried to explain that you had to if they found his home. So you lied.

“No. I won’t leave. Noona no leave Bunny again.” You assured him and it looked to ease the pain in his big brown eyes.

He looked down at your

hand and poked it a few times with his finger.

“Home.” He said “Noona home. Noona Jungkook home.”

You blinked at him as you were sure he had called you his home.

You thought it was… it was sweet, but you also hurt from it. He had a real home somewhere out there.

You began to think about how you didn’t really feel right while he was gone and how excited you had been to go get him. You had really taken to this stranger the past few days and he obviously had to you too. You just had to keep reminding yourself that it was going to end and obviously he couldn’t be here forever. You supposed that that would be something you both would have to get over when the time would soon come.

You looked over at him now asleep on the sofa right beside you. You just looked at his peaceful face for a moment, all the looks of hurt, betrayal, excitement, and confusion of today had been swept off his face. You too decided to go to bed and let it wash away from you too. You felt like you both learned some things today.

[thephantomofthe-internet]

Charming Man

Steve Harrington x Reader

Word Count: 5, 618

Warnings: Cursing, Unwanted Male Advances

Author’s Note: I hit 2K!!! I had no idea I would ever get to such a milestone, much less in such a short amount of time! Thank you to everyone whose joined me on this tour of an ocean of flavor!

Tag List: @hotstuffhargrove @moonstruckhargrove @carolimedanvers @alex--awesome--22 @thechickvic @lilmissperfectlyimperfect @so-not-hotmess @agentsinstorybrooke @sunflowercandie @kaliforniacoastalteens @songforhema @spidey-pal @mickmoon

Steve Harrington was a nuisance. He didn’t know when to quit. If he asked you one more question about the stupid Wham! album, you were going to scream. But there you, with your big, fake smile that made the corners of your mouth hurt, nodding along to whatever Harrington was droning on about. You thought he was still contemplating the choice between the single and the whole record. He had made some comment about only needing the song Careless Whisper off the record and the salesgirl in you had tried to up sell him, suggesting buying the cassette and the single, to ensure that he didn’t need both. It was a terrible idea-singles were in essence, an awful to buy, but so was buying both the full cassette and the single, since it would cost twice as much than just buying the record. But you believed Harrington was just dumb enough to fall for the scheme. You’d gotten smarter boys to buy more than they needed. Last week, you’d been able to convince Keith to buy singles of a bunch of your favourite songs, purely because he was shamelessly trying to impress you. He failed to do so, but you might be getting a mix tape out of it, which wouldn’t be terrible. You collected mix tapes, especially mix tapes about broken hearts or first love. You planned to make an art installation with them, but for now they sat in a shoe box under your passenger seat.

“So, you think I should get the cassette and the single on record?” Steve asked, drawing you out of your thoughts. Your smile dropped slightly, trying to piece together what he was talking about.

You found it fast, nodding too enthusiastically “Yeah! I mean, between you and me, it’s a better deal...” you said, keeping your voice low as if it was a big secret what you were telling him.

“Is it?” Steve asked, crossing his arms over his chest, the record and tape still in hand, each poking out on either side of him. You stifled a yawn, nodding again. You’d been there since seven that morning and the mall was closing in an hour. You were beyond exhausted, but Tiffany Michaels called in sick, again, and so you had to cover again.

“Yeah!” you let your cheery tone fall away a bit, hoping the irritation slipping through would give him the hint to clear off. This interaction had been going on for a half hour now. It had started with him asking for record suggestions, which you took to mean ‘tell me the albums the popular hits on the radio are coming from’ and pattered off the top selling records from memory. You’d sold more copies of Madonna’s Like a Virgin in the past week than you could possibly keep track of, purely because people wanted the album with Material Girl or Like a Virgin or Into the Groove on it. Steve had gotten unsurprisingly interested in the album with Careless Whisper on it, as did most horn dog, wannabe players who came strutting into your store. You were more than happy to sell him the record and get on with your shift, but he wasn’t letting that happen.

“Cause, the full record’s like eight bucks.” He held up the tape “But the tape’s like six, plus three bucks for the single that’s like nine bucks, that’s more than the record.” He grinned, placing the tape on top of the single, handing them back to you as if they were yours.

You felt your face colour, in part because he’d taught you in your lie, but in part because he seemed genuinely proud of that mental math. “You’re...you’re right. I wasn’t thinking, sorry ‘bout that.” You said easily, shrugging as you placed the single back on the shelf and the tape into the plastic shopping basket on your arm. He’d caught you shelving tapes in the easy listening section half an hour ago and you weren’t allowed to shelf while talking to a customer, meaning you were forced to lug them around with you as Steve wandered, asking questions. And those things were heavy all lumped together! There had to be at least a hundred copies of Kate Bush’s Running Uphill and Whitney Houston’s Whitney Houston in your stupid basket!

“It’s cool, no biggie...I think I’ll just get the single, come back for the record if I like the song enough.” He decided with a small nod.

You grit your teeth. You wanted to scream about how singles were a waste of money and how you’d make no money on commission for that. Instead, you nodded “Great! If you just head to the counter, Michelle can check you. Enjoy your record!” you said, turning on your heel and practically rushing out of the stereo accessory section he’d dragged you to. You only had forty minutes to shelf all the tapes on your arm, or else you’d have to stay passed close to do it, which both your closing manager and you would hate.

“Hey, uh wait!” he called, chasing after you. You let out a small sigh, turning back with a painful smile. “I was sort of wondering, well maybe if you’d wanna maybe go out this weekend? They’re showing Dawn of the Dead at the theatre, I’ve heard it pretty good...” he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, eyes drifting to the ceiling instead to yours.

Your brows furrowed. You weren’t expecting this from him. But, of course, he was not the first boy to ask you out while you were at work. It was a distressingly common theme. You assumed that guys liked that you had to be nice to them, or that they didn’t realize that you had to be nice and assumed that you were flirting. “Oh...um I’m working this weekend...” you said, shuffling on your feet. Most of the time, when guys ask you out at work, they seemed so confident and cocky, it was easy to reject them. But Steve looked genuinely nervous and you couldn’t place why.

Steve’s smirk only grew, he leaned in closer, trapping you against a rack of blank tapes “Aw come on, have a little fun,  come out with me instead.” He said. You’d heard this shtick before, Billy Hargrove had tried it on you just a couple weeks prior. Having it come from Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington, made you want to puke. Because you knew exactly where he’d been. With Billy, it was unclear; lots of girls lied about what they did and didn’t do with that boy. But everyone knew who did what with Harrington. You weren’t too interested in being put on a list.

“Yeah, I actually need the money so…no.” you replied, pushing out from under his arm and away from him. Steve stumbled back, shocked and a little mortified by how you’d reacted to his flirting.

Steve’s head dropped, his gaze focusing on his scuffed converse before he looked at you again “Yeah...yeah no that’s cool, no biggie. Some other time then...” he said awkwardly, brushing the singular strand of brown hair from his face. You didn’t say anything, what were you supposed to say? That you thought he was a douche and had zero interest in doing anything with him? That kind of language could get you fired. And you needed this job, you desperately needed a car for next year.

“I’ll see you around?” Steve tried awkwardly, his smile turning into a frown fast as you didn’t respond.

“Yeah sure.” You nodded “I gotta go shelf this stuff before the mall closes.” You headed back towards the easy listening section, trying not to cringe at the awkward interaction you’d just experienced. It was so very awkward! It was more fun to reject assholes who treated you like a well dressed object to leer and gawk at. Sam Goody didn’t have uniforms per say, simply a dress code to uphold; it was encouraged to look cool, hip, and young. As long as your shoes were black sneakers, your hair wasn’t fully in your face, and you could see your bottoms under your tiny apron, you were good. Which meant you chose your clothes carefully. Generally, you went with a patterned button down, which you could pop as many or as few buttons on as you want. That meant that you could be remembered by your male and female customers alike could either remember you by your name or as the chick with the great tits. It worked well.

But it also meant that guys like Steve Harrington talked to your chest.          

And it was weird for Steve to talk to your chest! Especially since you and Steve had never had a conversation. Like ever. If you weren’t wearing a nametag, you’d be utterly shocked that he knew your name. Because he was the proverbial king of Hawkins and you were a nobody. Well, a nobody until someone wanted to use your employee discount. Then, suddenly you were the most popular girl in school. Hell, you should’ve gotten a job sooner, maybe you would’ve had a date to the spring formal last year.

Steve did buy the single. Even though he hated singles. Who wanted to listen to one song over and over again? Even if it had a B-side, it wasn’t worth the price. He bought it, he made sure to say that you helped him, and then he left. The mall was closing down, save the movie theatre, and he wanted to get home as soon as possible. That was so embarrassing. He didn’t even know why he tried, it wasn’t as if she had any pretence to him. All the other girls he’d been hitting on that summer were his age, they knew him and his style. They also knew about the most humiliating moment in his life, a lot of them were even there to experience it second hand. But you had only the rumours of his dickish tendencies to go off of. That wasn’t enough for anyone to work with.

But stupid Dustin had gotten it in his head that he had to get a girl, that Robin was the right girl. But Robin wasn’t the right girl, no way in hell. So he went in harder on trying to get a date. Every girl his age got hit on, he’d nearly got his ass beat by Justin Gardner after hitting on his girlfriend in front of him, but how was he supposed to know Justin was dating? Justin was a benchwarmer who couldn’t get a date if he paid them in school. Now suddenly he could get a hottie? Unbelievable.

It didn’t help that Dustin had a girlfriend now. And yes, it was embarrassing that Steve was jealous of a thirteen year old for having a girlfriend, he would never admit it out loud. But even though he didn’t believe that Suzie actually existed, it was slightly annoying that his dorky little friend could get a girlfriend and he couldn’t. He used to be able to get any girl he wanted! What happened? Did Nancy spread a rumour about him that he hadn’t heard yet? Was it because he lost a fight to both Billy Hargrove and Jonathan Byers? Or was it because he wasn’t going to college in the fall?

He was almost certain it was because he wasn’t going to school in the fall.

That and the dorky sailor outfit he had to wear at Scoops Ahoy!

The dumb Dixie cup hat and sailor shirt were totally throwing off his game. That’s why he was looking forward to going to the mall that day, out of uniform, to scope babes. He didn’t have much success, but he was a little bit excited to see you out of uniform. He’d seen you about a dozen times, all while you were at work, leaned over the counter, sometimes chewing on the end of a pen, sometimes laughing with coworkers or customers. You always looked so...well beautiful. He had to see it up close. And you just a beautiful up close, but it was obvious that you were uncomfortable too. Still, you were cute. He wished that you were a year older, that you already had all the context to his life. But what could he do? He wasn’t going back in there, not with you wandering around with your judgy eyes. It would be humiliating.

And he was already humiliating himself enough that summer.

You finished shelving the tapes in record time, mostly because the shop was empty and Michelle was thoroughly annoyed by your usual slow closes. You wanted to do a good job with your work and not rush the job, whereas Michelle just wanted to leave as fast as possible. After Sean, your least threatening manager, locked up the shop, the three of you all headed towards the exit. You rode your bike to work, since your mother almost never lent you the family car, but at night you felt less and less comfortable riding home. Sometimes Sean would offer you a ride, but ever since he and Michelle started hooking up, the rides got less and less frequent and when they did happen, Sean would spend the whole time complaining about the ambiguity of his relationship with Michelle. You didn’t take the rides home too often anymore. Not that one would be offered tonight, Michelle had latched herself onto his arm and had nuzzled so deep into his neck that you wondered if she could even see where she was going.

“You want a ride, Y/N?” Sean called as you exited into the parking lot. Sean’s burgundy pickup truck was parked so close to the doors and your legs were so tired. But taking the ride home meant that you’d either have to sit next to them on the front seat or in the trunk part with your bike. And neither option sounded too much better than peddling home.

“Nah, thanks though, I’d rather ride home.” You said with a smile, heading over to the bike racks and pulling the key out from around your neck and off your head, jabbing it into the padlock and clicking the lock open, wrapping the chain around the neck of your bike.

“You sure? It’s pretty dark already...” Sean replied, looking around the desolate parking lot, more concerned than he really needed to be.

“Baby, she said she’s fine.” Michelle said, resting a hand on his chest. Sean didn’t argue passed that and you turned on your bright bike light, swinging your leg over the seat and propped your foot on the peddle, pushing off.

You sped home, making it back to your house in record time. Your mother had left you a note by the door, explaining that she’d taken your younger sister to ballet class and she’d be home late. You crumpled up the note paper, tossing it into the waste paper bin by the powder room door, climbing the stairs and heading into the bathroom, turning on the hot water in your tub and letting it start to fill up. You were rifling through the pile of magazines next to your bed, trying to find the latest issue of cosmo you’d nicked from the corner store just a couple days ago.

Across town, Steve was hiding in his room. His father had ripped him a new one. Again. Turns out, his sailor suit was still laughable a month in to him having to wear it. He still wasn’t over the fact that Steve hadn’t gotten into college and he couldn’t get a better job than ice cream scooper part time. His standards of jobs in Hawkins was a bit too high, in Steve’s opinion. Still, his degrading of him at every turn was getting exhausting. He flopped on his mattress pitifully.

“This whole summer has been a nightmare…” you both muttered, you as you slipped into the steamy water, Steve as he kicked off his thick white socks.

Working at Sam Goody had many perks, like not having a stupid uniform and not smelling like spoiled food all the time, but you spent your time surrounded by assholes. You wanted to meet one nice guy. One guy who didn’t leer down your top and talk to your tits, who didn’t smirk at you or call you ‘baby’, ‘sugar’, or ‘honey’. Just one descent guy who’d treat you like a person instead of a sex doll. God, you would’ve said yes to Harrington if you weren’t working, at least at first. Once he pulled the macho, ‘I know you want me baby’ shit you were out completely. But for a second, when he was rambling on about Dawn of the Dead, you felt like you could stomach a night out or two with him

Meanwhile, Steve just wanted to feel like himself again. His whole last year of high school had been hell on his confidence. First, Nancy dumps him, then Billy Hargrove takes over his team and steals all his friends, then he didn’t get into college, and then Scoops Ahoy? It was all too much. He’d never felt like a loser in his life. He used to be liked, he used to be popular. And yeah, being popular didn’t really matter anymore, but for one last summer before everything changed on him, he wanted to be someone again. Just for a minute. And maybe that’s why he was acting like such an asshole. Because he needed some control over his life. He wished he could’ve gotten in under control when he was talking to the pretty girl in the record store, he made himself into such a douche. That wasn’t who he was, but she didn’t know that. God, he wanted to curl up into a ball and die.

You turned your head up to the ceiling, letting your sweaty neck stick to the cold tile behind your head. You didn’t want to go to work the next day, at least you had the morning shift. Tracey Lords would hopefully make into her shift that day. She hated opening shifts, so the pair of you often traded. You’d still have to stay behind if you got a bit of a rush, which you were expecting. Tomorrow was Friday, when the buses filled with the townies from the neighbouring towns and cities, all coming to bask in the free A/C and glorious shopping experiences. You hated Fridays, they always brought in the worst types of people, mostly shoplifters, who totally ruined your sales for the week. You vowed to stop stealing magazines from the Pick n’ Save after you saw your commission rates plummet after last Friday and a terrible group of greedy kids stole up your section.

Steve really didn’t want to go to the mall at all the next day, if only because he didn’t want to see you in his stupid sailor and hat, walking around like the geek of the week. He just wanted to hide away every shift. But the malls back hallways didn’t lead to any bathrooms, so he was forced to wander the mall like an idiot every time he needed to alleviate himself. He didn’t want you to see him like that. His confidence was already so low, he didn’t need to crumble up what was left of it.

Steve fell asleep that night with dreams of a face, undefined beyond a set of eyes, a nose, and a wide smile. No matter what he said in the dream, the person, a girl his dream decided for him, just smiled and laughed. The eyes were so deep and wide, they took up most of his memory of the dream, although he couldn’t even really place the colour of them, just that they looked at him so lovingly. The way he longed for someone to look at him. He woke up the next morning still in his sailor suit, with the eyes following him to work.

Across town, you woke up from a deep, dreamless sleep. You woke up well rested for the first time in weeks, it was as though someone slipped a sleeping pill in your bath water the night before and it sent you crashing into the pillow with your whole body ready and willing to sleep. You went into work happier than ever, high on the endorphins a good night’s sleep gave you.

Both you and Steve left for work at the exact same time that morning, unaware of your paths even crossing. You headed upstairs to meet Toby, who had the keys to unlock the store, and set to work straightening up the shop and opening your register for the day. Kim Rein sauntered in twenty minutes late, fifteen minutes before the mall opened and you tried not to give her too much side eye. Steve started his own open a level below, restocking cones and cups and filling his soap and sanitizer buckets under the counter.

Once the mall opened, you suffered through four hours of stupid people with stupid questions about terrible albums. You sold three copies of Kate Bush’s Running Uphill, which was an accomplishment for you, since her last album was the only popular due to the hilariously weird Wuthering Heights. You were bored by two in the afternoon, when Toby finally sent you on break. All you wanted was a damn Orange Julius and you’d pay any amount for one.

Likewise, Steve was very much over his shift around the same time when Robin finally agreed to let him go on his damn break. He just needed to get out of the stupid shop. He was going to go to the cheap vending machine, the one by the cafeteria bathrooms, to get a can of Coke. Both of you headed into the shopping mall, trying to avoid anyone you knew.

Unfortunately, you ran directly into Tommy Hanson.

Tommy Hanson was an asshole and a bully. He didn’t know how to treat anyone decently.  He stepped all over people. Was it any wonder that Carol broke up with him at least twice a year? It just so happened that Carol dumped him during the summer.

And now he was standing in front of you, blocking your way to the sweet, sweet Orange Julius.

“Y/N, baby, looking foxy as always.” He said, running his tongue over his upper lip. He’d stolen that look from Billy Hargrove and it didn’t work for either of them.

“Tommy.” You replied, skirting passed him and into the short line, keeping your eyes on the board above the shop.

“Why you rushing off, baby?” he asked, following behind you “I just wanna talk for a second…” you didn’t reply, ignoring him as best you could. ”You’re stunning, you know that? Absolutely gorgeous…” his eyes ran over your body like a tongue; his gaze was thick and hot, it made you want to cringe and pull away.

“Thank you.” You said shortly, getting to the front of the line and ordering quickly.

“What’d you say we go into the back, fool around for a bit?” he asked in your ear. You grimaced, glaring at him before moving out of the way for the next person.

“Don’t make me puke, Hanson.” You snapped, grabbing your blended drink from the poor server having to watch the scene going on between you and Tommy.

“Aw come on, don’t be such a bitch, Y/N.” Tommy whined, grabbing your drink from your hands “You know you want to...”

You reached for your drink, but Tommy just pulled it away. God, he was such a damn child. “Tommy, give me back my drink.” You said sternly.

“Come with me, I’ll give it back when we’re done, you’ll need it more then anyway.” He replied cheekily.

Steve saw this scene going down from the vending machine. He contemplated going over there when Tommy first walked over; he knew that the guy had gotten pretty scummy since he started hanging out with Billy. But when he starting grabbing things from you and taunting you, Steve couldn’t help but go over there.

“Dude,” Steve said, grabbing the drink out of Tommy’s hand, hovering over him. “You wanna try to get a decent personality?”

You looked between the pair of them, trying to decide if you could run off while they were arguing. But you paid good money for that drink and you really wanted it. You realized quickly that Tommy wasn’t going to let this go, and you really couldn’t stand the kid as is. You made your move fast.

“Steve!” you gasped with a shrill giggle “There you are!” you walked over to him, taking the drink he offered shyly and wrapping an arm around his waist. “So are you gonna take me out this weekend or not?” you asked, batting your eyelashes up at him. Steve looked utterly startled, but he didn’t react poorly.

“Course, darling...” he cooed. Steve could’ve died; you made such a disgusted face at the nickname he would’ve happily melted into the tile and be mopped up by Larry the janitor. But you didn’t pull your arm away.

“Walk me back to work?” You asked sweetly. Steve nodded, not trusting himself to not say anything embarrassing. You waved to Tommy, letting Steve lead you away from him, taking a long sip from your drink. It was already melting, but it was still sweet and cold, so you didn’t mind. And Steve had helped you out, although somewhat unwillingly, which was certainly an improvement.

Steve looked back only once, but the look on Tommy’s face was priceless. He looked so annoyed and more than a little broken up about his snatching away of you. His ego hadn’t been this inflated since October of last year. He felt like he was on cloud nine, like he was finally himself again. And even when you let him go, he still felt good about himself.

“Thanks for the help, Harrington.” You bit out once you were far enough away from Tommy.

“Sure, no problem. You want me to walk you back upstairs or are you good?” Steve asked, cracking his can of New Coke. He didn’t love New Coke, but it was all the vending machine was serving and he was just desperate enough to drink it.

You sighed “No I’m alright, I’m still on break, so I’m just gonna go hide somewhere.”

“You can hide at Scoops.” Steve blurted. He mentally kicked himself in the ass, it was such a stupid idea. The upstairs stores had break rooms, you didn’t need to hide with him.

You raised an eyebrow, watching him carefully. Steve swallowed, finishing the thought “The place is busy enough as is and if Tommy walks in, well he already thinks something is happened with...us, he won’t try anything else.”

“Won’t your boss get mad if I’m in there, not eating ice cream?” you asked.

“Oh he’s never here. Me and Robin have keys so we switch between opening and closing. You’re totally good.” Steve explained, scuffing the toe of his shoe into the ground, making a black mark on the white and teal tiles.

“Robin...like Robin Buckley?” you asked, stopping dead in the middle of the hall.

“I think that’s her last name?” Steve replied, scrunching up his face in thought.

“Oh I can’t. She hates me. My friend Tammy told everyone in our sophomore year history class that she was weird and avoided her for like a month. I didn’t do shit, but you know, loyalties and shit.” You explained, running your hands through your hair, slightly embarrassed by the memory.

Steve thought for a moment, an idea slowly coming into view. “She won’t even know that you’re there, come on!” he said, grabbing your hand and dragging you off. You gasped, laughing as you ran to keep up with him.

Steve dragged you through the back halls and rooms leading behind the shops. You hadn’t been through the lower level’s back halls and they were much more expansive that the upstairs halls. The whole space still felt eerie, but much cooler than the upper level. Steve pulled you into one of the rooms and you spotted the nautical theming of the shop. Steve rushed and shut a divider themed with dark wood and glass bricks.

“There, she won’t know that you’re here and you can hide from Tommy. Easy.” Steve said proudly, hopping up on the ledge.

“Can’t she hear you talking to someone?” you chuckled, pulling out the awful plastic folding chair and sitting down.

“Eh, we’re busy enough for her to not notice or care. Probably think I’m talking to myself or something.”  

You leaned back in your chair, letting the front legs of the chair raise into the air as you crossed your arms over your chest. “You talk to yourself a lot, Harrington?” you asked cheekily.

Steve shrugged “Only when I’m really trying to break something down.” He replied. You were surprised and a little refreshed by the honesty. You didn’t expect him to be honest with you; you expected him to lie or try to pull some cool line. It was nice that he wasn’t trying so hard.

“What about you? I bet you’re the stone silent type, keeping it all inside.” Steve added, leaning his elbows on his knees.

“You’re not wrong...” you grinned, cocking your head to the side. You let the front legs drop back down to the ground with a tinny smack, your arms unfurling themselves to balance yourself. “But I sing to myself all the time.”

Steve’s grin turned lopsided and you wondered what exactly what was going through his head. “Really?” he asked.

“Yeah...I find it calming. It helps me to focus my mind, sometimes it just a singular line of a song, over and over again until I get whatever I’m trying to do done.”

“Doing a lot of singing nowadays?”

You sighed “Pretty much...you doing a lot of talking?”

“All I do is talk now.”

You nodded to yourself, forcing the chair to turn towards Steve and centring yourself on it, resting your arms on your knees and looking up at him. “Alright, what’s happening with you?” you asked.

Steve turned away slightly “Ah geez...I mean haven’t you heard? I’m like the only guy who didn’t get into any colleges. I’m stuck here for another year, working and trying to get my shit together.” He ran his fingers angrily through his hair, ripping at the strands as if they hurt him personally.

“I mean...that fucking sucks. But you’ll be okay.” You replied “I mean, look on the bright side, you have another year to be something else.”

“What do you mean?” Steve asked, furrowing his brow.

“You get a fresh start in a world you already know. You don’t have to be the jerk everyone in school knew you as. And you don’t have to mope around either. You can just be...you.” You smiled to yourself over that answer. Steve had given you a hard puzzle to solve, and while you couldn’t solve it for him, you were glad to have an answer at all.

Steve chuckled, although he wasn’t sure why, nor did you. “Oh yeah? And who is me?” he asked.

You shrugged “I have no idea. I don’t think most people do.”

Steve’s expression changed to one you couldn’t read. He nodded to himself, leaning back onto the glass. He let out a deep sigh “Honestly? I don’t even know anymore...” That wasn’t a shock to you, but you didn’t say that out loud. Steve cracked a smirk “Who did you think I was?”

“Oh...I have no idea.” You leaned back in your chair, letting out a big breath “I didn’t really know you, just your reputation. I only knew the bad stuff, which made you seem like an asshole.”

Steve’s smile dropped and he looked away “Yeah...you aren’t the only one who thinks that...” he admitted sadly.

“But...I mean I didn’t have any proof till yesterday. That guy was a real asshole.” Steve’s face dropped further, but you didn’t try ease the blow you’d just sent him.

“Yeah...I’m sorry ‘bout that.” He muttered, looking up to finally meet your eye.

You nodded, sighing softly “It’s alright, no biggie. I get it now.” You said.

Steve found a small smile again “What do you think of this guy?” he asked, unashamed of the slightly embarrassing question.

You placed a finger on your chin, raising your eyes to the ceiling to truly think. “Hmm...I think I like this guy better.”

Steve smirked “Yeah?” he hopped off the ledge, inching towards you. You didn’t move, watching him stalk over to you.

“Just a little...” you pinched your finger and thumb together, showing an inch in between. “I’d like you more if you wore normal clothes.” Steve rolled his eyes, his hands coming cautiously to your face, pulling it up to kiss you. You didn’t resist his grab, easing yourself out of the chair, shoving your hands into your back pockets.

“Alright, what the hell is going on in there?!?!” The divider slammed against its sleeve violently and Steve snapped his head around. Robin was staring at you incredulously. She looked more than a little furious, but it melted away when you met her eye.

“Oh god, really dingus? Her?”  Robin scoffed. Steve merely shrugged, turning his attention back to you without a word.

“You mind shutting the divider, Buckley?” you asked “Harrington’s a bit busy...” you grabbed his fake tie, pulling his lips to yours, the sound of the divider slapping shut the only sound left in the room.

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Magnolia

I don’t know much about Magnolia or Paul Thomas Anderson, but I do know that it takes someone paying me to get me to watch a 3-hr+ drama that doesn’t star Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and a really big boat. This is one of my mom’s favorite movies which is why she requested it for me to review. It’s packed with a balls-to-the-wall star-studded cast (Tom Cruise! Julianne Moore! Phillip Seymour Hoffman! John C. Reilly! William H. Macy! Felicity Huffman!) and I’m genuinely excited to see how they all fit together. Cause they have to all fit together in some coherent way, right? Well...

Do you remember in Sorry to Bother You when the Equisapiens came out and things just took like...a real turn? That’s kind of what this was like. Whereas StBY pushed a thought to its most extreme, but logical, conclusion, what Paul Thomas Anderson has done here feels like a magician doing a lot of impressive illusions - sawing a lady in half, making a motorcycle disappear, pulling smaller things out of bigger things - and then for his final trick, walking onstage amidst a grand plume of smoke, dropping his pants, taking a gigantic shit, and then saying, “You’ve been a great audience, thanks a lot and goodnight!” It’s not like you can say the experience was BAD. Everything up to the finale was a really great time! But when you’re left on a note that is that bafflingly odd, it kinda colors the way you’ll remember the whole thing.

Magnolia is the story of one long day in the life of 12 people living in Los Angeles who are all connected via an extensive web from acquaintances to married couples to parents and children to paid caregivers and beyond. It’s a day that has the same kind of ups and downs as any other day until it, well, turns into something else entirely. I’m not sure how else to explain it, but if you want to know more, spoilers will be spoiled below.

Some thoughts:

Patton Oswalt cameo! I am a massive fan and thought I knew his whole filmography and OMG how did I not know that he was in this!!

Ok, in spite of my skepticism this entire opening sequence about coincidence had me hooked IMMEDIATELY. Like, this is some damn good storytelling, if this were a novel, I would not be able to put it down - that pull, that’s what it feels like.

Am I the only person whose encyclopedic memory of character actors/roles gets distracted when they see someone from something that is wildly disparate compared to the role you’re currently watching? For example, I had to pause the movie and confirm via IMDB that I did just see Professor Sprout from HP scream “Shut the fuck up!” at her husband while brandishing a shotgun.

Would people really recognize a grown ass man from being a successful child game show contestant? I’ll tell you the answer, no they wouldn’t, because no one realizes that Peter Billingsley (aka Ralphie from A Christmas Story) is the head of the elf production line in Elf.

I knew this was a stacked cast, but holy SHIT this is a stacked cast. If I had $1 for every fantastic character actor I recognize in this, I would have at least $37, and these are people in the film who have maybe 2-3 lines each. It’s a deep bench is what I’m saying.

This makes me miss Phillip Seymour Hoffman so, so very much.

Watching PSH care for and be so compassionate and gentle with his hospice patient, Earl (Jason Robards),makes my heart ache terribly. All of the people who have been unable to perform this kindness, this type of compassionate care for their closest loved ones as they lie dying in isolation of Covid...it’s overwhelming.

OMG I’m counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Very Good Dogs in the old man’s house!

I know Scientology is evil and he’s undeniably a complicated and morally grey person. I know all that. But goddamn I just love watching Tom Cruise COMMIT. Particularly when he commits to just absolute fucking sleazebag slimeballs. And boy oh boy is Frank Mackey an absolute fucking sleazebag slimeball.

Related - I know Frank looks like Tom Cruise, so he could get people to sleep with him no matter what, but I honestly feel like as a human being, this flesh suit is WAY more attractive balding and fat in Tropic Thunder than he is in this shiny brown shirt/leather vest/long hair combo.

I’m getting an uncomfortable vibe about these black characters being written by an artsy white dude, because I don’t know any young black kids who want to hang around with cops and offer up information about who committed a murder in their building. In fact, the way all of the black characters are treated in this film - as liars, criminals, the disingenuous “main stream media,” and thieves - feels rooted in some racist ass bullshit. We see a lot of nuance in our white characters, but even in a film that has, shockingly, more than one key black role, we don’t get that spectrum or nuance.

There is nothing I would love more than to learn that Frank Mackey is 1) gay 2) impotent or 3) both. He’s so disgustingly over-the-top misogynistic, it honestly feels like it should all be a complete act.

I confess I am on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how all these narrative threads tie together. It’s compelling as hell, even though half the time I don’t know why these people are having these long, meandering conversations. The pacing feels so deliberate, like a puzzle coming together. There’s real craftsmanship in how every scene is plotted to feel connected rather than manic or disjointed.

This pharmacist is being unprofessional as hell. Judgy McJudgerson, mind your fucking business, Julianne Moore’s father is dying! [ETA: ope, that’s embarrassing, Earl is actually her husband.]

NO THE DOG IS EATING THE PILLS OH NO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DOG.

I think I knew this, but this soundtrack is fantastic. All Aimee Mann and Supertramp, and Jon Brion’s score is this thrumming, anxious thing full of strings that underscore all these nervous conversations, and then it shifts into these low, mournful horns when things start to take a turn and everyone is reaching their lowest points.

I love this interviewer (April Grace) who is taking Frank (Tom Cruise) to task. I think it’s particularly noteworthy that she is a black woman, because the kind of misogyny Frank peddles is rooted in white supremacy.

Stanley (Jeremy Blackman) is breaking my goddamn heart here. I think he and Phil (PSH) are my favorite characters.

Jim (John C Reilly) is the perfect example of how even a cop with the best intentions, with absolute kindness and love is in heart, is abusing his power and sexually harassing a woman he encountered in the line of duty, who is eager to appease him because she doesn’t want to be charged with a crime. This movie reads a LOT differently than it did in 1999.

I normally really love Julianne Moore, but she is a screeching mess in this. I can’t stop staring at her mouth and all the contortions it makes as she delivers every line in hysterics. She’s one of the few weak spots for me here.

Listening to Frank go on his whole diatribe about what society does to little boys to break them and victimize them HAS to be the source of where Keith Raniere got at least half of his NXIVM bullshit. Like, some of these points are word-for-word.

Also if Frank makes as much money as he seems to, there’s no way he would drive a shitty Saturn sedan.

It feels like the common thread of this movie is everyone is terrible and cheats on their spouses, and you should come clean when you get cancer so you can die peacefully. Weird moral, but ok.

If Jim is a cop, how does he not see that this woman he’s interested in (Melora Walters) is coked out of her mind?

Y’know for being a quiz kid, Donnie (William H. Macy) sure is kinda stupid.

I confess I’m not taking many notes throughout this because I’m just kind of sitting breathlessly still watching all these conversations unfold because I am on the edge of my fucking seat to find out how all this is gonna come together.

Secret MVP of this movie is the mom from A Christmas Story (Melinda Dillon) who is giving the performance of her goddamn life as Jimmy Gator’s wife.

Did I Cry? On the surface it appears ridiculous, but when Tom Cruise is having his breakdown at his dying father’s bedside, I admit, that really got me. If you’ve ever been faced with that kind of hysterical, I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening, it feels like the whole world is ending kind of shock and hurt and anger, that’s what the crying looks like.

Are those......frogs?? That landed on Jim’s car? It’s raining fucking frogs???? OK for those of you sensitive to frog harm, this movie is going to take a real hard left turn for you, because I swear that came out of NOWHERE.

Um.

What.

Pray tell.

The fuck.

The climax of this movie - is when literal frogs rain from the sky.

And we finally got resolution about the dog, and the dog DID die, and I’m pissed about it. It’s offscreen but still.

I'm sorry - I know I’m fixating. But how is it possible that I knew about all the characters performing a sing-along to Aimee Mann’s (excellent) song “Wise Up” but I did NOT know that the climax of the film involves literally thousands of frogs falling to their death from the sky? How is that something that escapes entry into the cultural zeitgeist? I’m with it, you guys. I have been Very Online for over a decade, and before that, I read a lot of Entertainment Weekly, and like it just seems that this is something that pop culture really should have told me.

I think the funniest moment of this movie might be the credits in which I discovered that not only is Luis Guzman playing a man named Luis, he’s actually playing himself. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop laughing about it. That was a 189-minute setup to one dumb punchline.

I think I loved this movie but I don’t quite know. The frog thing really threw me. What I’m taking away from it is that even when it doesn’t feel like it or seem like it, we are all connected to each other, always, in ways we can’t see or know. As Wife astutely pointed out, it’s reminiscent of the pandemic - we’re all in the same storm, but we each have our own boats and our own experiences within that storm. And it’s kind of nice to remember that right now, that connection still exists even when it feels so far away. Just not if you’re a frog I guess, cause they really got the short end of the stick here.

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[owlsoldwritingcorner]

Honey and Oats (Chapter 2)

Pairing: Agent Whisky x Reader

Warnings/Troupes: Not much rn except Age gap relationship for future. + Enemies to lovers. Two cowboys cant flirt for shit.

A/N: This is a bit shorter cus the next one is gonna be a bit spicy, so i wanted to give more room for that chapter!

Summary: “Mucous membrane.” Eggsy’s face scrunched up at the first thought that came to mind as he looked at the two of you. 

“That’s like up the nose, isn’t it?”

“What the fuck am I gonna to do? Stick my finger up…”

.

.

“It’s not just inside the nose, is it?”

AO3 Link

{First/Previous} {Next} {Masterlist}

And then there were two. 

Eggsy had to say goodbye to his girlfriend and get the tickets from his contact first before the three of you could hit the road. And because that damn cowboy refused to take literally any other vehicle, you were stuck in the trunk like a sack of potatoes. If you fell off the car, it’s your fault for not holdin’ on.

The stretch of silence was long and awkward between you two. You didn’t bother saying a single word to the man. Why would you? Boring holes in the back of his head with your stare was much more preferable. 

Just as the silence was starting to become insufferable, Whiskey honked his horn to tell Eggsy to hurry the fuck up already. Another second and there won’t be any more Statesman agents on the job. Soon after, Eggsy finally came back out. Three passes right on hand.

“Got the passes from my contact. You’ll love Glastonbury.” 

“Well that’s the easy part kid. Take a look in the glove box.” The younger agent opened the compartment to reveal the chip. And here comes the jokes about the finger condom.

“Fucking hell, bruv. Thought everything was supposed to be bigger in America?” Eggsy looked at you both with an amused expression. “Is that why you overcompensate with these massive cars?”

“Well, Whiskey’s dick is the exception to that sayin--”

“Shut your trap, Rum. It goes on your finger,” Whiskey sticks out an index finger to emphasize his point. “The surveillance tracker is on the tip. Apply light pressure for three seconds to release it,” The cowboy then shoves his said index finger in your face. 

“And you. What do you have against Jack jr.?” Before you could say another snarky comeback, Whiskey snapped his fingers and shoved the index in your face again. “You wanna ride ole Whiskey horse don’t ‘cha? Young girls like you always got trouble articulatin’ whatcha’ want.” The whole time, he just kept waving that damn finger in your face! Just right when you were about to chomp it right off, he pulled it quicker than any man’s pull out game.

“Not fallin’ for that one again.” He placed his hands on the wheel, looking at you via the rear view mirror with a triumphant smile as if he’s got you all figured out.

Okay.

You had to admit. Whiskey looked really fucking good for his age. You’ll never say it to his face though. It’d be both a hit to your pride and a major boost to his ego. Any bigger and the old man’s gonna pop. But really? It’s just too fucking bad that all that eyecandy ain’t got a good center to match!

“Now, just admit that all this pent up frustration, is cuz you’re into ‘old man’ Whiskey here?” 

“In yer fuckin’ dreams.”

“You’re right. You’re less of a god damn brat in them.” He muttered as he turned the key to start the car’s engine. 

Ugh. He always acts all cool and oh-so suave as if his back isn’t ready to break the moment he picks something up from off the--

Wait a fucking second.

“Whiskey, did you just-- Oh fuck!” Just as you moved closer to the drivers and passenger’s seat, you were knocked right on your ass. The familiar damn chuckle coming from the driver’s seat. That fuckin’ hillbilly practically kicked the fucking gas pedal just to laugh at your pain!

“You should really hold on kid. There ain’t no seatbelts back there.”

“And whose choice do you think it was to ride this fuckin’ car?! Achhkuot sbanh!”

“Getting the Cambodian out on me already? I’m flattered, querida.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

During the whole trip, Whiskey’s words echoed through your mind.

You’re right. You’re less of a god damn brat in them.

Did… Did he mean for it to sound that way? Like, did he ever actually… Have those kinda dreams starring you? 

You tried to mentally wave it off as him just trying to shut you up, but his fucking voice kept popping up in your head.

You’re less of a god damn brat in them.

That buttery smooth, low voice of his accompanying those words. You couldn’t help but overthink what he said. 

Sure his glances are a bit longer than what’s considered a normal glance, but that doesn’t mean anything!, and when he gives you a pat on the back after  and whenever you’re up in his face, he licks those fuckin’ kissable lips of his like he’s thinking of something he shouldn’t--

Wait.

Did you say kissable?

You meant to say punchable. That cowboy’s face is just… The most murderable, most stabbable, most lickable--

Goddamn it! 

What the fuck’s gotten into you?! The guy admits to having, for all you know, one fuckin’ sex dream about you and you’re just readdy to turn to putty in his hands?

Just as the three of you arrived at the concert, you jumped out of the back of the trunk and quickly headed into one of the porta potties. Eggsy looked mighty confused at your disappearing figure as he got out the car.

“Do they know the concert is this way?”

“Well, considering this is a special kinda mission, I’d just say she’s dolling herself up.”

“Why? The target is straight, so it’s just going to be the two of us doing the work.”

“Yeah. But, she really hates it when she ain’t got nothin’ to do on the job.”

Eggsy just shot him a confused look until he saw you come back out from the porta potty. Then everything just clicked into place like a puzzle. 

Instead of your previous much cuter looking appearance. You were (admittedly) quite handsome after your change of clothes and other fixings. You wore more masculine looking clothes, cleaned up a bit, and you--

Oh.

You did an extra step.

The three of you showed your bands to the bouncers and waltzed right in. 

“According to her Instagram feed, Charlie’s ex-girlfriend is up at the VIP bar. Which one of us is gonna plant the tracker?”

“I say we both make an approach. Whoever gets it on best, goes for it.” You rolled your eyes at the suggestion. Getting a girl in bed really shouldn’t be played like a game.

“Well, it doesn’t have to be a competition, bruv. Why don’t we just go up to her-- shake her hand, pat her on the back, whatever, you know, Job done.” 

“Well, as nice and easy that would be, Eggsy. Last I checked, our hands aren't a mucous membrane.” You sighed.

“Neither is the back. They teach you anything at Kingsman?” Whiskey added with an incredulous tone to his voice.

“What are you talking about?”

“Our trackers are designed to enter the bloodstream.” The agent put up his middle and index fingers and made an… Injection motion. 

“If the trackers were attached on the back or something, that’d risk getting damaged in case the target decides to do the ole’ late night tumble.” You added.

“They circulate harmlessly, providing full audio and GPS.” 

“Mucous membrane.” Eggsy’s face scrunched up at the first thought that came to mind as he looked at the two of you. “That’s like up the nose, isn’t it?” The three of you stop a few feet behind the target.  

“What the fuck am I gonna to do? Stick my finger up…” Eggsy paused once he stuck up his finger, similar motion Whiskey did prior. His face contorting into realization as to where else the tracker can be placed.

“It’s not just inside the nose, is it?”

“No, Eggsy, it ain’t.” The oldest agent let out an exasperated sigh as the British man let out a just as annoyed ‘fuck’.

“All right, I’ll take the first crack.” 

“You sure you won’t croak in the middle of it?” Whiskey finally popped his lid on that final quip from you.

“Know what? Since you’re so sure of yourself, you get first go.” You raised your hands in faux defeat as you walked backwards towards the target. You heard Eggsy give you a little ‘good luck’.

“My pleasure.” You quickly turned around and placed your elbows on the bar top beside the woman.

“I am so sorry to bother you little missie, but I just have to say you are the most ethereal being I have ever seen in my life.” 

“Oh? Is that so?” You’ve gotten her attention at least, she’s skeptical but it’s a start.

“Course! Out of all these stars playin’ today, you seem to be the one outshining them all.” 

“You should get better glasses then, it’s only daytime.”

“Are you suggesting the view is even better at night?” You mentally winched at that one. Yeah… Not your best hit.

“Nope,” She popped the ‘p’ before taking a quick sip of her drink. “I am saying that you are clearly blind. You’ve been looking at the sun for too long.” She then turned her head, all ready to ignore you. You rolled your eyes and looked at Whiskey, who looked more than ready to be tagged in, and signaled for him to come over by moving over to give him some space. 

Whiskey practically had a pop in his step as he waltzed over to take your place. 

He can finally rub a victory in your fucking face! You won’t steal anymore of his targets from him in the future! Take that you sexually confusing minx!

Wait that came out wrong--

“Now, I don’t wanna pester you…” Quickly distracting himself from the confusing thoughts, he got to working his charm.The woman turned her face to the new voice trying to get her attention. “But, I just had to know, what time are you playin’?” She let out an awkward chuckle. Whilst Whiskey kept her busy, you ordered yourself a Blue Long Island cocktail and not so discreetly listened in on their conversation. 

“I’m not in a band-- Oh god, who did you think I was? Please don’t say someone ghastly.” she hid her face in embarrassment at the thought. Great, you can see Whiskey’s dumb smirk loom over you now.

“God damn it, now I feel like a fool.” He got a bit closer to the blond and you shivered at the husky tone his voice switched to. 

He was supposed to be seducing her, not you! Get your head out of the fuckin clouds! 

“I just assumed a woman with your charisma… Well, she just had to be somebody.” 

Well… He tripped the landing a bit. 

“Right. Thank you.”

“No, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to make me feel like a dumbass. So I’ll let you make it up to me by letting me buy you a drink,” Wow, gettin’ a teensy bit aggressive there Whiskey. The blond then rolled her eyes as she stuck up an index finger.

“Follow my finger.” Oh boy. She then swiped her finger to her left twice as Whiskey followed, confused. Wait, was that--

“What are we doin’?”

“Swiping to the left,” You almost let out an unattractive snort. She indeed did what you thought she did. “What, you don’t do Tinder in America?”

“Tinder what?” Whiskey still had a dumb smile on and was as confused as a bat during the daytime. God, he seriously is an old man.

“You know what? I think it’s a generational thing,” Eggsy smoothly cut in and leaned against the bar on the woman’s other side. Oh just in time! 

You were just about to leave from the painful cringing you felt from both Old man Whiskey and little miss Tinder over here.

“It translates as,’Go away, old man’.”

Whiskey paused just before uttering ‘Be good, be cool’. Yup. You could see the biggest hit to his pride on his face yet as he walked off to a sitting bar at this outdoor concert. He just looked so pathetic and sulky you just needed to do something to fix that. Without realizing, you were already right behind the man and Champ’s words echoed in your head. 

“One job together ain’t gonna kill the two of you.”

You mentally wince at what you were about to do for the rest of the day.

You gave the sad man a firm pat on the back, he turned around with hope in his eyes only for that to be extinguished when he saw you.

“C’mon Weepin’ Willow,  I’ll play bartender.”

Taglist: @mxndoscyarika​, @engineeredfiction

[enixamyram]

Hope’s Party

Summary: When Robin discovers that Hope has invited everyone but Alice to her birthday party, she takes it upon herself to stand up for the other girl. And to right a wrong concerning a certain ‘magical pony’ along the way. 

  Emma Swan-Jones was by no means a bad person. She just honestly wanted her daughter to have the very best time for her sixth birthday.

  She had been planning it for months in advance. They had rented the field in the best park in town, gotten there the day before to get it decorated and ready, hired the dwarves to help prepare things, gotten Elsa to have a snow cone station at the ready, Ariel giving swimming lessons in the portable pool David had brought and set up for them, had Cinderella doing everyone’s face paints and even hired Granny and Ruby to prepare all the sweets and treats that were sure to give everyone a sugar high. They had even managed to get Anton and Snow’s help to include a pair of regular horses from the Nolan farm to pull along a carriage as well as the best surprise of all. It hadn’t been easy but Emma had finally managed to get her daughter an actual unicorn (or as Hope called it, a magical pony). They were fairly rare as of late and this one was still young and perfect – a light purple hint to its white coat with bright blue eyes and a light pink mane that rolled down the back of her neck and around the crystal white and sparkling horn sticking out just above her eyes.

  The unicorn was the crowning achievement on the perfect party. Snow hadn’t been very sure when Emma explained that Hope would be keeping her as a pet after the party was over, but as Emma explained, the unicorn was going to be hunted by dark magic users for her horn anyway. At least this way Emma and everyone else could keep it safe. It would live a good long life with Hope. Emma would make sure of it.

  So everything was set, planned, ready and waiting.

  It was all perfect…

  … Except for one thing.

  Alice Jones.

  Alice was Emma’s niece in law (it was actually much more complicated but everyone had adjusted to thinking of Rogers and Killian as brothers so that’s what everyone went with now) and she happened to be the same age as Hope and in the same class as her in school. She also happened to be the only person in the whole of the class that Hope did not want at her birthday party.

  “She’s weird, mum!” Hope had whined, stomping her pink sandal foot on the floor of their kitchen. “She does all this weird stuff! No one even likes her! She always goes and plays by herself and talks to the school hamster and says weird things about him! He can’t talk back to her but she pretends he does! I don’t want her ruining my party! It’s my party!”

  Well… It was her party. As mean as it might seem, it wasn’t right to force Hope to invite someone she didn’t want to be there. The whole day was meant to be about her and what did it even matter if Alice apparently didn’t have any friends? No one would notice her not being there and she probably wouldn’t even know what she was missing. Emma had seen Alice’s ‘weird’ behavior for herself the few times Rogers had asked her and Killian to babysit (though he only asked them if Rumple and Tiana were both busy). She did have a habit of talking to things – animals, plants, pictures – as if they could understand her and as if they responded. No wonder Hope was so upset with her being there. She’d probably spend the whole time having an endless conversation with the horses or the unicorn and take up the time from everyone else.

  In the end Emma gave Hope permission to not invite Alice.

  “But you need to send the invites by mail so as not to hurt Alice’s feelings,” Emma began explaining.

  “I will!” Hope said, not really listening and skipping out of the room, much happier now.

*O*U*A*T*

  The day of Hope’s party, Robin Hood-Mills was doing her absolute best to be as slow as possible getting ready and heading down the street. And it wasn’t just because her mother was forcing her into a lime green frock that had more frills on it than a dog did fur. She insisted on wearing her brown shorts and white vest underneath – fully planning on ditching the dress the second her mother turned her back – and pulled on a pair of brown boots so late that her mother finally gave in arguing with her about them in order to finally get her out the house. Zelena desperately needed Robin to go to this party, even if they ended up being late for it. Her daughter had been spending far too much time with her brother and the Merry Men in the woods and didn’t have any real friends at school. Zelena was determined to change that, whether Robin wanted to or not.

  So despite Robin’s best efforts, she soon found herself trudging down the street with a fat pouting scowl on her lips, kicking every loose object that happened to be lying down in front of her. Zelena kept telling her off, telling her to stop slouching, to smile, to stop pulling at the green ribbons she had put in Robin’s pig tailed hair, but she might as well have been talking to the pavement for all the good it did her. About halfway there she gave up trying, letting Robin sulk and instead focusing on rushing her fast enough that they didn’t make such a disastrous entrance by being too late to even sing happy birthday over the birthday candles.

  Halfway there, Robin happened to glance up and caught sight of a familiar face sitting by herself on one of the local street benches with a thick red book settled in her lap. It was Alice. Robin had seen Alice a lot in school but had always been hesitant to approach her. She always seemed to be enjoying whatever game she was playing and Robin felt very self conscious about interrupting her in case she wanted to be left alone. And while she didn’t want to interrupt her reading, she also saw another perfect opportunity to once again put off going to Hope’s party.

  “Be right back!” Robin declared, darting away before Zelena could stop her and rushing up to Alice.

  Zelena started to call her back, then hesitated and stopped as she saw where she was going. Her daughter was willingly approaching another girl her own age without Zelena prodding her back with encouragement the whole time. There was no way Zelena was going to ruin that!

  “Alice!” Robin said, coming to a stop in front of her. “Are you on your way to the party?”

  Alice looked up and smiled widely right up until Robin mentioned the party. At that she dropped her eyes back to her book and shrugged. “No.”

  Robin blinked. “You’re not? How come?” Had Alice found a way out of it? Could she get Robin out of it too?

  “I wasn’t invited.” Alice shrugged, ducking her head further down into her book so her messy blonde hair fell down and hid her face.

  “What?” Robin frowned. “Everyone was invited!”

  Alice shrugged again.

  “Why weren’t you invited?” Robin pushed.

  Alice finally looked up again. “Hope didn’t want me. She told me. She said she asked her mum if she could not invite me and she said yes.” She looked back down. “She said I’m weird.”

  Robin’s frown turned into a scowl. “Well who needs her dumb party!”

  “You don’t wanna go?” Alice blinked, surprised.

  “No!” Robin pulled a face and stuck out her tongue. “Hope’s annoying! And her party sounds boring!”

  “Even with the magic pony?” Alice said, wide eyed.

  “Roland told me it’s just a unicorn.” Robin shrugged. “And anyway. It shouldn’t be at a party. It should be free in the woods. Roland says it’s cruel to use it as a…” She paused. “I can’t remember what he said. But he said it was bad.”

  Alice glanced down at her book. “I wish I was there so I could set it free to run in the woods.”

  Robin glanced back at her mother, who suddenly was no longer in a great hurry to get Robin to the party now she was talking with Alice. Instead she seemed more interested in fixing her hair and clothes casually across the street. She looked back at Alice and smiled. “I gotta go to the party. Roland there already. But wait here for me, ‘kay? I’ll be real quick.”

  “Why?” Alice asked.

  “So we can play!” Robin said happily.

  She was already turning away when Alice called after her. “You don’t think I’m weird?”

  Robin looked back over her shoulder and grinned. “Yeah! That’s why I wanna play! Weird is fun!”

*O*U*A*T*

  When Robin and Zelena finally arrived, they were more than late. But despite Zelena’s fears that everyone would stare and point at them, the party was such a loud and busy event that no one even noticed their arrival. They slipped onto the field and made their way towards the table where all Hope’s presents were stacked one on top of another. Zelena quickly set down the gift she had brought for her (a cheap coloring set) before she turned to push Robin’s shoulder, meaning to nudge her towards the other kids. However she didn’t get the chance as she was already rushing off towards Hope, Alexandra and all the other girls crowded around a miniature toy car that Emma had enchanted to ride around passing out pink frosted cupcakes to everyone. Zelena smiled, proud that Robin was making a real effort to make other friends, before she turned to find Regina and the other adults hanging around the tables.

  Zelena had faded from view just as Robin reached the girls. She ignored all of them focused instead on Hope. It wasn’t hard to find her. She was dressed in a bright sunshine yellow frock with pink patterns swirling around the skirt and white flowers on the torso, and was the only girl who had a ridiculously large silver tiara balanced in her bright blonde hair. She also happened to have a birthday girl balloon in one hand and a plastic light up wand in the other that she was using to wave so enthusiastically, she nearly took Alexandra’s eye out twice before Robin had even reached them.

  As Robin got close enough she didn’t slow her pace. In fact she sped up, reaching her hands out and charging straight into Hope’s back. Her hands hit her shoulders and threw her forward and with her hands full, she failed to catch herself and hit the ground hard, narrowly missing the toy car whizzing around. The balloon slipped from her fingers, drifting towards the sky and her tiara slipped into a crocked position on her head.

  Robin then stood with her hands on her hips, frowning as Hope spluttered and gasped in shock, rolling and jumping back onto her feet. She rounded on Robin and immediately stepped up onto her toes so as to seem taller than the other girl she was normally nose to nose with.

  “You pushed me!” Hope accused.

  Robin responded by lifting her hands and pushing her again. Hope saw it coming, yet still was unable to stay on her feet, falling back down to the ground for a second time. “Yeah, I did!” Robin snapped, glaring down at her.

  Hope stared up at Robin, sat on the ground for a moment of surprise before her blue eyes began to bubble over. A moment later she threw her head back and screamed and howled loud enough to be heard by all the parents standing by the dinner table. Within seconds they all rushed over, Emma at the lead with Snow, Regina and Zelena following closely behind.

  “Honey! Are you okay?” Emma gasped, ducking and tucking her hands under Hope’s arms, helping her back onto her feet.

  “What happened, sweetie?” Snow asked, leaning over Emma’s shoulder.

  “SHHHHHHEEEEEEEE! PUSHED! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Hope screamed, pointing the wand at Robin.

  “What?” Regina rounded sharply on her niece.

  “She did!” One of the girls said immediately. “We saw. She pushed her.”

  “Robin, is that true?” Zelena demanded.

  “She’s horrid!” Robin snapped, pointing back at Hope. “She’s awful and horrid and dumb!”

  “Robin!” Regina shouted angrily.

  “You apologies right now,” Emma said, frowning at Robin while her hand dusted the grass blades off of Hope’s dress.

  “She should say sorry!” Robin snapped. “She made Alice feel bad!”

  “Alice?” Snow blinked. “Alice isn’t even here, is she?” She glanced around like she might spot the messy blonde running in amongst everyone else.

  “No! She’s not!” Robin snapped. “Cause Hope didn’t let her come! She said she wasn’t invited!”

  There was a brief pause. “Hope.” Emma groaned. “I thought we said we wouldn’t tell Alice so not to hurt her feelings.”

  “Hold up.” Regina said, turning her frown onto Emma. “I’m confused. Why wasn’t Alice invited? I thought the whole class was coming.”

  “It’s a long story,” Emma said quickly.

  “She said Alice is weird so she wasn’t invited!” Robin shouted, fighting to break out of the grip Zelena now had on her to keep her from propelling herself on Hope a third time.

  “Emma?” Snow asked, frowning at her daughter. “I thought you said you were going to have Hope invite either all the girls or the whole class? Why did you let her not include Alice?”

  “It’s her party, okay.” Emma sighed. “She doesn’t get on with Alice very well.”

  “Last time I checked, all or none means all or none.” Zelena snorted.

  “Let’s not change the subject now!” Emma snapped, scowling at Zelena now. “Which is that your daughter was attacking mine!”

  “I was standing up for Alice! My daddy says always stand up for people!” Robin snapped.

  “Your daddy’s dead!” Hope snapped through her tears.

  “HOPE CHLOE SWAN-JONES!” Regina shouted.

  By this point, Emma just looked embarrassed and quickly reached down, scooping Hope into her arms. “I’m gonna go get her cleaned up.” She said.

  She started to walk away and Snow hurried after her. “Emma, seriously! What kind of lesson are you teaching your daughter? That it’s okay to exclude people if you call them names? You can’t let Hope invite everyone but Alice! How do you think the poor girl feels?”

  “Mum, with all due respect, Hope is my daughter and I’ll raise her how I want.” Emma said sharply. “This is Hope’s party and she’s going to have what she wants and invite who she wants.”

  Snow crossed her arms. “And say what she wants as well?” She challenged.

  Emma turned to Hope, still crying softly in her arms and frowned. “No. She will apologies for that.”

  At that, Hope began crying hard all over again. This was her party and now she was in trouble after Robin had pushed her down! It wasn’t fair!

  Meanwhile Zelena and Regina were in a heated discussion of their own back in the middle of the field. The vice like grip that Zelena had on her daughters arm had loosened slightly, allowing Robin to finally slip free and now she hovered, looking up as Zelena became outraged that Regina would even suggest Robin’s violent behavior was from her parenting.

  “You’re in trouble…” Someone suddenly sang into Robin’s ear.

  She jumped and spun around, then grinned at the sight of her older brother. “Yup!” She said cheerfully.

  “What did you do?” Roland asked.

  “Pushed Hope over.”

  Roland snorted and covered his mouth to smother a laugh, then reached over and ruffled Robin’s hair, causing one of her ribbons to become half undone. “Good girl. Anyway, I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “You leaving?” Robin said, her smile dropping hard.

  “This party’s boring.” Roland shrugged. “Gonna go into the woods and shoot some arrows.”

  Robin glanced up at her mother; still so busy arguing about just how much she lets Robin get away with at home that neither she nor Regina had even noticed Roland’s arrival. She looked back at him and grinned when she caught sight of something over his shoulder. “Wait for me. I need to change and I’ll pick you up!”

  Before Roland could ask what she meant by that, Robin had rushed passed him to the nearest flower bed. He looked at Zelena and Regina, then awkwardly began to shuffle away before they noticed him.

  While everyone continued to either party, argue, or hover around, Robin quickly stripped off the dress and threw it carelessly onto the bench. Then she broke into a hard run and dashed across the field as fast as her little legs could take her. She ran straight for the unicorn where it was drifting in amongst greedy children that were pulling poking and prodding its mane, sides and tail greedily. A few were even trying to jump up and grab its horn like it was a game rather than a piece of its body. Robin nearly stopped to push each of them over but knew she only had so long before her mother caught on to wha she was doing. Once she realized that, she would definitely get Regina or someone else to use their magic and drag Robin back to them before she could get away.

  So instead, Robin simply pushed those closest out of her way and jumped up. She managed to grab onto her back and slide her body around into a sitting position on top of her, reaching down and untying the loose rope around her neck that was being used to keep her from running off in the middle of the party. Once she was free, Robin lightly grabbed a hold of some of her long soft hair (it felt like feathers in between her fingers) and leaned forward. She then carefully nudged the unicorn’s sides with her knees and turned her around, directing her around and away from the kids and for the streets.

  Roland had drifted over to the present table, probably seeing if there was anything he could sneak into his pockets without getting caught, and Robin directed the unicorn straight towards him. She wasn’t much of a rider, so had a feeling the creature understood that they were escaping, since she immediately followed every direction and rushed straight over to the table. A few people were shouting after them and Robin heard more than one person scream her name (one or two might have even been adults) but ignored all of them.

  “ROLAND!” She called.

  Roland glanced up in time to see her and immediately jumped onto the table, kicking and scattering presents onto the grass around them. He trampled on a few parcels, no doubt breaking a couple under his heavy stomps, and was laughing when he reached out a hand and caught Robin’s. He jumped and landed on the unicorns back easily and the three of them jumped over the food table ahead of them, ducked around the people rushing around in their way, and shot out of the field and onto the streets.

  “Did they just…” Zelena said, her mouth falling open speechless as she watched their shape disappearing down the road.

  “Yes they did.” Regina nodded slowly.

  Zelena’s body tensed and felt her lips purse furiously. “That. Girl. Is-”

  “Just like her father,” Regina chuckled.

  Zelena blinked, turning to look at Regina for a moment. Then sighed and shook her head, but was unable to stop the smile pulling at the corners. A moment later the two sisters burst out laughing at the mess the Hood siblings had managed to cause after less than five minutes of arriving at the party.

*O*U*A*T*

  Alice was still reading her book on the bench where Robin had left her. She had slipped out the house so her papa wouldn’t see her sad face and ask her what was wrong but now she was even more lonely than if she had stayed inside. It had been nice when Robin had stopped to talk to her, but she’d gone to the party. And even though she said she wasn’t interested in going, she obviously had changed her mind after getting there. Alice had heard about all the things Hope was having and couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy at all the fun everyone else was having there.

  Just then an odd sound reached Alice’s ears. Like a clopping sound on concrete. She glanced up and her eyes widened at the shape that quickly grew larger as it approached. Within seconds she realized it was the magical pony that Hope had been bragging about (though now Alice could see it was definitely just a normal unicorn) and riding on its back was a boy Alice vaguely recognized and… Robin!

  “I’m back!” Robin called, pulling the unicorn to a stop in front of her.

  “Hope gave you her unicorn?” Alice gasped, her book completely forgotten as it slid off her lap and onto the floor as Alice climbed to her feet.

  Roland snorted loudly and Robin elbowed him. “Not exactly. But anyway! Who cares how! We’re gonna go set her free! Wanna come?”

  “Can I?” Alice beamed.

  “Duh! It was your idea!” Robin grinned.

  “Okay but we better go soon before Emma or Killian come chasing after us,” Roland laughed.

  Alice stepped forward and gently stroked the unicorn’s face, moving her fingers over her soft features with care the rest of the kids at the party hadn’t even been capable of. Smile smiled at the creature softly as she did. After a moment, she began whispering and leaning her forehead against the creatures face intimately.

  Roland frowned down at her. “What are you doing?”

  Alice glanced up and blushed slightly, remembering what Hope had said. “Uh. I’m just talking to her.”

  “You talk to animals?” Roland blinked.

  Alice hesitated, then nodded.

  “That’s awesome!” Roland beamed.

  “Told ya she was cool!” Robin said, grinning proudly.

  Alice was surprised by their enthusiasm but quickly found herself grinning back at them. “You think it’s cool?”

  “Hell yeah!” Roland said. “So what is she saying?”

  Alice paused, putting her ear near the unicorn’s mouth for a moment and listening to what Roland would describe as rumbles and huffs of breath. After a moment Alice looked shyly back up at them. “She’d like you to get off her now. She doesn’t really like people riding her.”

  “Oh! Sorry!” Robin and Roland rushed to climb off, each moving around to gently stroke her face and apologies in turn.

  “I’m serious though,” Roland said, glancing nervously behind them. “We should get going. Come on, I know a short cut to the woods.”

  With Roland leading the way, Robin and Alice stood on either side of the unicorn by her head and they began walking and guiding her along together. They moved quickly, very aware that there would be a number of people chasing after them by now, but Roland ducked them in and out of alley ways and behind buildings that kept them off the main street and shortened what would have been a much longer walk.

  “So does she have a name?” Robin asked, looking around the unicorn at Alice.

  Alice muttered to the unicorn, stroking her while she spoke then paused to listen. She looked up and shrugged. “She doesn’t have one.”

  “Should we give her one?” Robin asked.

  “Well you got to call her something!” Roland called back. “Can’t keep referring her as ‘The Unicorn’. What about Blaze?!”

  “Ugh, no! That’s a boy’s name.”

  “It can be a girl’s name.” Roland shrugged.

  “Well it’s not her name.” Robin turned back to Alice. “What do you think?”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you!” Robin laughed.

  Alice fell quiet, watching the unicorn closely for a moment as they walked the long way around the back of the Nolan farm, closing in on the woods. She concentrated so hard on a name that she began frowning and wasn’t quite looking where she was going, causing her to stumble a couple of times, although even that didn’t stop her from thinking hard about names and she barely reacted as she straightened herself back up and kept going. Robin resisted the urge to giggle and instead waited with uncharacteristic patients.

  “I know!” Alice said finally. “Frou-Frou!”

  “Frou-Frou?” Robin asked, testing the name out. She reached up and stroked the unicorn. “What do you say, girl? You like Frou-Frou?”

  In response she gently rubbed the side of her head against Robin and Alice in turn, giving Alice an extra lick along her ear and making her giggle. “I think she likes it!” Alice laughed.

  “Frou-Frou it is!” Robin grinned, rubbing the unicorn face.

  A moment later they had reached the edge of the wood. Roland paused, unhooking an old waterskin one of the Merry Men had given him from his belt. It belonged to his father and now he rarely went anywhere without it. He turned it up and let Frou-Frou have a long drink from it. He didn’t know when the last time she had any water was but no doubt would need some soon. She was in for a long run once she was free to head as far into the woods as she could get. She was smart, and would probably want to get far enough away to avoid any more run ins with anyone who might once again mistake her for a child’s pet.

  “I’m kind of sad to see her go,” Robin said, hugging Frou-Frou around the neck.

  “She’ll be fine,” Roland shrugged.

  “We can always visit!” Alice said excitedly.

  “That’d be fun.” Robin said, then reached over and took Alice’s hand in her own. “Let’s promise! Every day we’ll come here, after school, and see if she’s nearby. And every week we’ll go into the woods and look for her! Roland can help!”

  “Sure, Roland doesn’t mind wasting his weekends.” Roland said, rolling his eyes but Robin ignored him.

  “Okay!” Alice beamed.

  “You gotta promise!” Robin said immediately.

  “I promise.” Alice said firmly.

  “A proper promise!” Robin said suddenly.

  “What’s a proper promise?” Alice blinked.

  “We gotta kiss.” Robin nodded.

  “We do?”

  “Yeah. Cause boys spit on their hands and shake when they make promises. But I don’t wanna spit on my hand. So we can lick our lips and then it’s basically the same thing.” Robin said seriously.

  Roland bit his tongue to keep from laughing or correcting her. Little John had told him off for not letting his sister “have her fun” as he put it and in the end, this was a story he could happily file away for when Robin was older and more easily embarrassed.

  “Okay!” Alice nodded. The two made a point of sticking their tongues out and wetting their lips dramatically. “I promise!” Alice stated with Robin repeating after her before they leaned in and quickly pecked each other’s lips.

  “It’s a forever promise now,” Robin nodded seriously. “We can’t ever break it.”

  “Never ever.” Alice agreed.

  After they were finished, they watched Frou-Frou run off ahead of them, her beautiful light shaded body fading into the dark shadows of the safety of the woods. Roland was already bored, turning his attention towards the town to see if he could spot anyone chasing after them (almost hoping they would be so they could have an exciting chase) but Alice and Robin watched Frou-Frou go right until the moment she disappeared. Their forever promise to visit her often cemented in their newfound friendship.

  A friendship which might one day grow into something more…

[thecorteztwins]

Werewolf Shinobi @esteicy-blog! Also tagging @acaprioglino @shattered-catalyst @sammysdewysensitiveeyes because I think you’ll enjoy it, as it has your chaotic dumbass boy! Shinobi Shaw was not a good werewolf. The first time he transformed, he didn’t rampage, or attack livestock, or eat people. He just had a really hard time adjusting to having four legs and tottered around the house falling all over his own paws, then barked at the mirror for two hours. He then had proceeded to just hide under his blanket with his nose poking out. His next few full moons had not gone any better. And worst of all, got sprayed by a skunk. His human form was just as embarrassing. He got distracted by squirrels mid-flirtation. He was starting to get really into sniffing people at parties. He attempted to run after cars, but still wasn’t in good enough shape for it so he just got worn out and started wheezing and whining and begging anyone he was with to carry him. And while making out with a guy at his apartment, the man’s cat had walked in. Immediately, Shinobi had jumped down to all fours to chase it...only for the cat to beat him up. Needless to say, his pack leaders were not pleased. He was before them now in his wolf form, which looked more like a coyote-sized black fox that anything, slim and silver-ticked with white paws. His tail was tucked, his ears were drooping, and his amber eyes were upturned in supplication towards the trio passing judgement on him from the rocks above that served as their thrones. Emma Frost. Erik Lehnsherr. And Sebastian Shaw, Shinobi’s own father. The representatives of the three most powerful werewolf clans in the territory, and the sternest, hardest-hearted, scariest people that Shinobi had ever met...with his father being the worst in all three categories. It wasn’t just that he was mean, or yelled, or told Shinobi he was a worthless idiot every time he saw him. It was the fact he hit him in human form, and bit him around the neck as a wolf, every time Shinobi disappointed or failed him. Which was often. Shinobi was trying not to cry.

Luckily, it was Emma who spoke, otherwise he might have lost that battle, and no one wanted to see a wolf weep. ”Shinobi Shaw, three times you have been granted the opportunity to prove yourself worthy as a werewolf of the Hell’s Fire Pack. Three times you have failed---and in rather spectacular fashion, I might add.” It had indeed been spectacular. The first time had involved a lake, the second a tanker truck, and the third time....a grand but accidental fireworks display that had frightened off every prey in the area during a hunt. Shinobi still wasn’t sure how any of it happened, but he suspected that the “liquid courage” he had consumed beforehand to “calm his nerves” might have had something to do with it. ”Three chances is traditionally all one gets,” Emma continues, “And it is typically MORE than one ever needs.” His ears drooped lower and he slumped. ”However...” His ears perked up. ”When the three of us assumed leadership of Hell’s Fire, part of the mandate that united us was the belief that some traditions must be torn down or at the very least modified to better suit the modern age and to best serve the pups of this generation. Lone wolves are a risk not only to themselves, but our species as a whole, and we would prefer for such a fate only to be earned by malicious action, not mere incompetence. Thus, for the time being...you are permitted to remain here, though you are still counted not counted as having any rank or truly belonging to the pack. But you are also not counted as a cub either. You are...your own category. Until we figure out what to do next with you.” His own category? He looked up. He was unique! He was special! He was so clever and amazing they had to make a new category just for him! As delusional as that was, it was either that or face the sense of crushing failure that was weighing down on his slim canine shoulders, so he embraced it...and avoided the stony GLARE of his father from on high, silent at Emma’s side, opposite of the other male, Erik. He had a feeling that his father probably had NOT been the one to vote to let him stay. But he would show him! He would show them all! He was just having a rough start, but he would be the best wolf ever! The best wolf the Hell’s Fire pack had ever seen in HISTORY! Bounding off into the woods after his dismissal, ignoring the laughs and taunts of packmates, his slender chest filled with determination, with confidence, with courage! He was going to--- He stopped in his tracks, kicking up quite a few leaves from the forest floor, as he realized, fuck, he didn’t know what to do. How could he prove himself? Let’s see...he had failed three attempts at the Rite of Passage, in which a young werewolf was given a task to prove himself worthy... Aha! That was the problem! The challenges were wrong! He would just have to make his own! And to do that, he needed inspiration! And for inspiration, he needed...BOOZE! So he trotted down to town and went into the nearest bar....and was promptly chased out with a broom by the screaming bartender. Oh, right, he was still in wolf form. He shapeshifted into his human state, and went back in...only to get chased out again, this time because he was naked. Man, some people were so uptight! After procuring some proper attire---meaning he swung by the designer boutique up the street where he had a personal account, rather than just go back to his penthouse to get clothes he already owned---he returned to the bar, told them they had made a huge mistake and he would now take his business elsewhere, and asked if anyone could lend him a $20 for an Uber. No one did. Then he remembered he had a driver he could just call. So he asked if anyone could lend him their cell phone. Wolves really needed to develop pockets in their coats. Eventually, he did manage to get to the upscale club he had in mind, though only by taking public transport like a SAVAGE. But he’d felt unsafe on the subway was a beautiful and affluent-looking human, so he’d shifted back into his wolf form for the trip... Meaning that someone was on a subway car with a wolf that was wearing fabulous sunglasses (at night) and a big fuzzy brilliantly purple haute couture coat. He was probably responsible for a WHOLE lot of people thinking they were either on drugs, or needed to quit them. He shifted back, got into the club, and... That was the last thing he remembered before waking up in the dog pound, in his wolf form again and without his new clothes. Oh, well, no big, this had happened before, he would just--- ”Hello there.” A WOMAN IN A LAB COAT was looking down at him. Something about her reminded him of Emma Frost, and not just because she was an attractive blonde. His tailed wagged and he hoped for pats. ”Don’t play puppy with me, wolf,” she said in a smirking tone, and his eyes went wide. She knew! ”Yes, I know what you are,” she continued, as though she had read his mind, ”Just stay in your current form, and everything will be fine. I’m getting you out of here.” Oh wow, he had found an ally! The pack would be so proud of him! She had on the white coat so she must be a doctor, maybe a vet! That was great! They needed people like her! After she had filled out his adoption paperwork, she walked him back to her car on a leash, something he enjoyed IMMENSELY. Once he was in the passenger seat, he turned into his human state again, to let her see just what a gorgeous specimen she had procured for herself. ”Hey there babe. I’m Shinobi Shaw, and I’m all ready to be your new pet. Or should I say---” ”Oh, shut up,” was the last thing he heard as she sprayed a can of knock out gas at him and he collapsed. When he regained consciousness, he was in a cage once again. A lab this time. Even he could recognize that, with all the beakers and test tubes around with unpleasant looking fluids in them, not to mention the other animals and people---people!---in cages there too. Many of the animals were squeaking or crying in pain, but the people...they didn’t move. And they didn’t look good either. Their naked skin had strange green patches, almost like they were growing algae from their flesh. Skin tags the size of plums drooped at random places. Liver spots were swollen and growing small horns. Teeth were sticking out of places that were NOT there mouths. And some of them were...kinda oozing. It had the antiseptic smell of a hospital...mixed, paradoxically and disturbingly with the smell of rot. Rot, and radiation. What kind of crazy medical kink play had he gotten into?! ”Oh hey babe---or should I say Mistress? Doctor, maybe?” he posed in as sexy a position as he could in the cramped cage as the blonde woman entered the lab. A hush fell over it, the animals too scared to continue their howls and squawks, the people too far gone to speak. As soon as he tells me everything I need to know, I’m wiring his jaws shut and excising his tongue, thought Dr. June Covington. Out of all the supernatural creatures she was studying, she’d expected werewolves to be the most taciturn, thinking they would be more like animals than people....although, in a way, she was right, this guy WAS an animal. And a dumb one at that. “Shut up,” she said simply, just as she had in the car. She unlocked the cage, grabbed him by the neck, and hauled him out. As she expected, he went willingly; it was why she hadn’t used anesthetic on him as she usually did with such creatures. She’d thought that his enthusiasm might wane as the experiments began, and yet, it did not. He clearly enjoyed them, writing around and making kinky innuendo throughout. She finally muzzled him, and he just clearly enjoyed that. She began considering anesthetizing him just so she wouldn’t have to put up with this shit, but she went through a LOT of sedatives, it was unwise to waste it on him if she didn’t have to. She’d hate to find herself facing down a PROPER werewolf without enough sedatives on hand when she needed it. This proved to be a fatal mistake. When she turned him over to insert the thermometer meant to check the temperature changes involved in shapeshifting, that was when things went to hell. Oh, he didn’t resist it, quite the opposite, he was clearly HAPPY about it. Too happy. Though still in human form, his tail sprouted, and he began wagging it. Hard. Very hard. So much so, he knocked over a VERY precious combination of chemicals.... “No!” was all that Dr. June Covington had time to get out before the place EXPLODED. The next thing that Shinobi remembered, he was waking up in one of the caves that the pack used in their meeting place in the wolves, surrounded by the concerned faces of packmates. “He’s coming to!” said one of the healers. “He’s awake!” “He’s going to be alright!”

And then...they started cheering. Shinobi was very confused. More than usual, that is. In a daze, his packmates walked him to the clearing that was overlooked by the rocks on which the leaders perched. He was expecting a scolding, or worse, exile. Instead, what Emma said was, “Shinobi Shaw, you have proven yourself three times over and then some. You discovered, infiltrated, and destroyed one of our deadliest enemies. Dr. June Covington has kidnapped and vivisected thousands of our kind in her foul experiments, but you put an end to it---and for that, you have the gratitude of this pack, and all lycanthropes, all magical creatures, forever.” Shinobi stood there, stunned.

And he realized the best thing about this. It was a good excuse for a PARTY!

[imagine-docx]

overnight [2/2]

Summary:  You and Steve are best friends from young, but you have a massive crush on him. How cliche. But him being the sweet dumb ass he is, tries to let you down gently and doesn’t reciprocate your feelings.

Warnings: A few swear words sprinkled into this

A/N: Honestly, it’s been way to hot to even think about writing. Also, there is a part one to this, so definitely read that before reading this! - Amanda

Part One

You kept working the overnight shift for about two weeks. Steve felt weird knowing that the two of you weren’t talking like you previously were. It also felt weird knowing that he can only see you for a maximum of an hour either through the blinds of your shop or through the computer at work.

Everyday for the past two weeks his mind kept wandering back to you. That you were alone in this bookshop in the middle of Brooklyn in the middle of the night. He knew Bucky was there always watching you and making sure you were safe, but he wishes it was him watching over you instead. 

It gets harder for him to not worry about you, the longer you were there overnight, the more he was worried for your well-being. 

It was brunch and everyone was getting ready to go out. “Steve, you coming?” Luis asked.

“Nah, I think I’m going to stay back,” Steve said.

“Want me to grab you a bagel and coffee?” Luis asked.

Steve brushed him off, because regardless, Luis was going to get him coffee and a bagel. Once everyone left, he decided to look at the overnight footage from your store for the last few days.

He was going backwards and only saw you and occasionally Wanda in the shop, you eating, you picking orders, you cleaning, and many more. He finally got to the footage from two weeks ago on the Monday Bucky went to see you.

He clenched his fist seeing the two of you laughing, and at the end, he noticed the tight hug and kiss to your hair. He was fuming.

His blood was boiling. How could the two of his best friends get together like that? And not tell him. Better yet why was his girl with his best friend. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being jealous of the two of them. Oh and he could kick himself for sending him home with you everyday for the last two weeks. 

He was pacing in the middle of his office, he finally came to the realization that he does care for her, yet he fucked it up the night of Peter’s graduation party when they were on the balcony. 

In the middle of his pacing, his phone vibrated from the desk. He picked it up without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”

“Steve, I can’t make it in for the next few days. Something happened out of state, so I have to go.” Bucky said from the line.

“Of course, hope you sort everything out Buck,” Steve said before cutting the line.

He realized now wasn’t the greatest time to interrogate Bucky, and he had to sort out his own issues. Steve was relieved that Bucky wouldn’t be around you tonight. But then, panic settled in when he realized that you were going to be alone in the shop that night with no one watching you. 

Upon everyone’s arrival, Steve faked his illness, just so he can go home and rest and spend the rest of the night with you in the shop.

- - -

Steve walked up to the shop fifteen minutes before closing. He looked through the window expecting to see you and Wanda laughing away or working. But to his shock, he saw you and Peter laughing and working away.

He walked into the shop and heard the radio playing softly in the background. You and Peter didn’t realize there was someone behind the two of you. You turned around and jumped. Peter was ready to fight whoever just came into the shop.

Upon realizing it was Steve he let out a, “Hi Mr. Rogers.” Peter leaned over to you and whispered in your ear, “If you need me to fight him, I’ll do it.”

You chuckled, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Peter walked to the other side of the shop to start cleaning, and you headed to the door to start locking up the shop. “So why is Stark’s kid here?” Steve asked.

“Wanda couldn’t make it in today. Peter is here all the time, he knows the shop inside out so we asked him,” you said flicking off the ‘open’ sign.

“Do you pay the poor kid?” Steve asked helping you lock up.

“Of course, do I look like I support child labour?” You said jokingly.

“Maybe,” he said joking back.

“So why are you here?” You asked before going behind the register and picking up the bin of books that needed to be re shelved.

“Bucky is out of town for the next few days. So I didn’t want you to be by yourself, so here I am, your honorary bodyguard,” Steve said before saluting. 

You let out a laugh and Steve felt his heart melt, “Alright Captain, there’s a lot of work to be done around here, so I am putting you to work tonight cause Peter is leaving in an hour. Take your pick, re shelving, orders or newest arrivals?”

“Arrivals,” he said.

You pushed a cart full of books that had to be displayed by tomorrow morning before Natasha had your head on a stick. The three of you worked in silence as the radio played in the background and you can hear the pitter patter of the rain on the windows.

Peter was re-shelving, Steve was placing new arrivals out and you were doing the orders. At ten thirty your phone rang, “Hello?” 

“I want my son outside by ten thirty or I’m buying your entire shop,” Tony said from the other side.

“Hello to you too Tony,” you said rolling your eyes and balancing the two books in your one arm, “I will have your son ready.”

“See you then,” Tony spoke before the line cut.

You walked Peter to the street, and shielded him from the rain under your umbrella while waiting for his dad. Tony pulled up to the curb, “Let me know if he tries something, I will fight him,” Peter said hugging you.

“You’re like eight, calm it.” You said before letting a laugh escape your lips.

“Can I come back tomorrow?” Peter asked.

You ruffled Peter’s hair, “Of course Pete, you’re always welcomed here.” 

Tony honked his car horn, “Hurry up, I need my kid.”

“I swear to god Stark, I will key your car,” you said jokingly.

“And I will own the keys to your shop, so try me,” Tony said.

“See you guys soon,” you said waving them off as they drive away. You turned around and saw Steve leaning against the door frame. “Is that your new thing now? Leaning on door frames?”

“Of course,” he said guiding you back into the shop before locking the door behind the two of you. 

The two of you fell back into harmony of working. Him placing new arrivals on shelves and tables and you picking up orders and checking them off. At two, you ordered pizza and wings because you heard his stomach rumble a few times.

You placed the order and were sitting in the back and waiting for the pizza and wings to arrive. “So you and Bucky, huh?” Steve said.

“What about us?” You said taking a swig of your coke.

“Since when did you guys start dating?” He asked, causing you to nearly choke on your coke.

“What the fuck? Where did you hear that?” You asked, in complete disbelief. 

“I saw the footage of you two in this room,” he said.

“What the fuck? No never. He was just comforting me,” you responded.

“But that’s my job,” he said, almost coming off as whining. 

You got up and were leaving the room, “I can’t get reassurance from someone who is causing me all this pain,” you muttered.

“Hold on,” Steve said, chasing after you, and reaching out to you.

He managed to wrap his hand around your wrist, before turning you around. “You don’t like me in that way, why do you care?” You practically spat at him.

“I was an idiot.” He blurted out.

 “Oh I know. Bucky knows. Nat knows, Wanda knows, Sam knows and even Peter knows. Hell, our entire friend group knows.”

“I couldn’t help but shake the feeling you were in danger at night. Then seeing you with Bucky, made me realize I want to protect you no matter what.”

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing, so you searched his eyes and couldn’t help but notice the affection behind it. You wrapped your arms around his neck and his found them to your waist, he gently guided you until your back hit one of the shelves gently.

The two of your lips softly pressed together and remained latched on to each other before Steve broke the kiss because of the pizza delivery boy at the door. Once he got the pizza and wings, the two of you headed back to the back of the store.

“Oh, by the way, delete the footage of our makeout session. Sam would broadcast that everywhere.”

 “I’ll save it for myself before deleting it,” he said grinning, resulting in a punch in the shoulder from you.

He leaned back in for more, you laughed in his face before telling him, “Nope. Food, work, then maybe you can have more.”

[darecruit]

Sneak Peek: Open Arms Ch. 15

Chapter 15: Tension

  Sunday morning found Shelby on the porch swing, nursing a cup of coffee and enjoying the stillness of the early hour. She was the only one up again, something that was becoming a surprising routine. Shelby never would have thought she’d turn into a morning person; being on Broadway had always lent itself to sleeping in whenever she had the chance, but she was starting to enjoy the peacefulness and quiet that the mornings offered. She enjoyed it even more knowing her child was fast asleep in her bed, no longer feeling the need to wake up at the crack of dawn like she had those first few weeks with Shelby. Rachel was learning that she was safe to be a kid with her mom and didn’t have to do anything special in order to have Shelby’s attention and love.

  That was even more true now that Shelby had talked to her parents and siblings and explained their need for a little bit of space. Everyone had been more than understanding and mother and daughter had now had two blissful days with absolutely no interruptions. They were having a great time just the two of them and today would be no different—especially since today was also one of those rare Sundays when the weekly family dinner wasn’t happening.

  Shelby had decided late last night, after Rachel had gone to bed, that they should take advantage of the special circumstances and planned a surprise for her girl. She had been worried at first that the last minute of it all would work against her, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Tickets bought and hotel room booked, Shelby packed an overnight bag for her and Rachel and then went to bed feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve.

  Excitement growing, Shelby checked the time on her phone. 8:01. Time to wake up her slumbering daughter and get her ready for their adventure. She finished the last of her coffee and then rushed into the house. She was so excited!

  By ten o’clock, mother and daughter were ready to get going on their trip to Columbus. Despite Rachel’s incessant badgering, Shelby had only told her that they were going to a matinee in Columbus today. She wouldn’t give any other details, not about the show or that she had booked a hotel room, not even about where they would go to dinner that evening. She wanted the entire thing to be a surprise; the fact that her doing so was driving Rachel crazy was just an added bonus.

  “Baby, just relax and enjoy the adventure! It’s fun!” Shelby laughed as she shooed the girl out the front door.

  “I can only relax if I know exactly what’s happening,” Rachel countered.

  “But then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” Shelby said as she locked up the house. She turned Rachel towards the car and sent her along with two firm pats to her bottom.

  “And that’s more than okay with me!” Rachel said over her shoulder as she flounced down the front steps.

  “Hush, you, or I won’t let you play DJ in the car!” Shelby called after her.

  ���Guess it’s a good thing I like all of the same music as you do then,” Rachel laughed as her mom joined her at the car. “You’re really not going to tell me anything else about our ‘adventure’?” Rachel used her good hand to make air quotes and then giggled at the look her mother gave her.

  “I’m really not,” Shelby confirmed with a shake of her head. “Get in the car, you brat.” She unlocked the car and pushed her kid towards the passenger side, laughing as she did, when the sound of the door closing next door caught her attention.

  “Oh! Hi there!” Shelby called to the two young women now walking toward their own car. “Rachel, come say hello with me.”

  “Mom, we have to go,” Rachel whined and dragged her feet as Shelby pulled her along toward enemy lines.

  “I just want to say hello real quick,” Shelby said. “Hi, Quinn!”

  “Hi, Shelby!” Quinn beamed. “Hi, Rachel,” she offered after a slight pause. She didn’t miss the glare the smaller teen threw her way, but she tried to ignore it.

  Rachel huffed but her mother nudged her, then whispered so only Rachel could hear, “Be nice.”

  “Hi,” Rachel grumbled. 

  Shelby took a breath, making a mental note to talk to her child about patience, then smiled at the two blondes across from her. She extended her hand to the older of the pair and introduced herself.

  “Wow. Hi, Shelby, I—wow. I didn’t believe Quinn when she first told me who moved in but wow,” Frannie couldn’t help gush. She felt her sister elbow her hard in the ribs and nudged her back. “I’m Frannie.”

  The older version of Quinn then turned green eyes onto Rachel and gave her a warm smile. “Hi, Rachel. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Rachel frowned ever so slightly. Frannie was the enemy-by-association, and yet, Rachel couldn’t help but feel more at ease with her. She may look just like Quinn (or rather, Quinn just like her), but there was a warmth and kindness in Frannie’s eyes that Rachel had never seen in Quinn’s—at least, not directed towards her.

  “It’s nice to meet you too,” she finally said, and meant it.

  More pleasantries were exchanged and Rachel was getting antsy; a gentle hand on her back calmed her some, but not enough.

  “You both look stunning,” Frannie complimented, awestruck. Shelby stood there, a literal goddess in her stylish black jumpsuit with a Florentine two-layered top and black peep-toe platform pumps. And Rachel, a younger but just as beautiful version of her mother, dressed in a blue and white polka dot trapeze summer dress; it was mature yet age-appropriate, paired with simple black ballet flats. Their look was effortless—cute, but not too fancy. 

Suddenly, in her favorite, faded denim shorts with the hole forming in the back right pocket and an old Madonna concert t-shirt, her hair pulled back in an extra-messy bun, Frannie felt like a bridge troll. A quick look towards her sister made her think Quinn must be feeling similar.

 Quinn took in both ladies’ outfits. Her sister was right, they were stunning. Shelby would look stunning even in a burlap sack, but Rachel, well…Rachel looked nice like this. Pretty, even. Quinn supposed, if she were being honest, Rachel had always been pretty. The girl was the spitting image of Shelby, for one, and Shelby was gorgeous. Maybe it had always been harder to tell because of how Rachel dressed in school. But there were no plaid pleated skirts or animal sweaters in sight. And okay, it was summer and Rachel wouldn’t be wearing sweaters anyway, but come to think of it, she remembered that Rachel had been dressed normally on Thursday, in a t-shirt and cotton shorts. Quinn didn’t like the annoying, over-the-top Rachel she knew from school, but this Rachel—this pretty, well-dressed, more reserved Rachel—she could get on board with. This Rachel she could be friends with.

 “Oh, thank you—you’re so sweet,” Shelby smiled graciously. “We’re taking a trip to Columbus today, seeing a show…”

 Rachel groaned and rolled her eyes, no longer paying any attention to the conversation. She grabbed the keys from her mother, surprising the woman, but before Shelby could say anything, Rachel was already half way to the car. She slammed the passenger side door shut, leaned over to put the key in the ignition, and turned.

 Shelby sighed and shook her head, turning apologetic eyes back onto Frannie. “You’ll have to excuse Rachel, she’s super excited for our trip. It’s a surprise for her and she’s a bit antsy to get going,” Shelby explained.

 “Oh! Well we won’t keep you. It was so nice to meet you, Shelby. I—um—I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around,” Frannie said, hoping she sounded poised and relaxed. She was anything but on the inside, but she didn’t want Shelby to know that. She wanted to tell Shelby she could come over any time, maybe for a coffee or something, but didn’t want to be presumptuous.

  “Absolutely!” Shelby beamed. “Tell you what,” she added, an idea forming, “Why don’t you two come to dinner—how’s tomorrow night? We can all get to know one another better.”

 Quinn nodded vigorously, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She had been trying to figure out a way to get back into the yellow house for two full days now. She hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Shelby and Rachel since Thursday, and while she had been texting with Lexi since then, she hadn’t seen the blonde teenager over again either. This was the break Quinn had been waiting for!

 “Oh, we’d love to,” Frannie said, and Quinn’s excitement mounted. “But we can’t tomorrow, unfortunately.”

 Just as quickly as it came, Quinn’s excitement was squashed. “Why can’t we?” she whined.

 Frannie rolled her eyes at her sister’s whine and nudged the girl. “We already have plans tomorrow, remember?”

 Quinn frowned and narrowed her eyes at her big sister as she tried to remember what their plans were. “Aw no, Frannie, we can cancel. It’s just Kimmy!” she said, referring to her sister’s best friend and the bi-weekly dinner/movie/game night that she had somehow forgotten about.

 “We’re not cancelling,” her sister said firmly. Quinn groaned; only her sister would turn down Shelby Corcoran’s invitation to dinner to see a friend she sees all the time anyway. The teen had been dying to hang out with Shelby again and her big, dumb sister was squandering that chance and ruining her life! She was just opening her mouth to argue when Frannie then added, “We’re free on Tuesday, though.”

  “Tuesday it is then! Is lasagna okay with you?” Shelby said.

 Quinn beamed and nodded her head vigorously. Things were working out after all. And lasagna was her favorite!

 “That sounds great. I’ll make a salad and bring some fresh Italian bread. Is there anything else I can bring?” Frannie offered.

 “No, not at—” Shelby began only to be interrupted by a drawn out honk of her car’s horn. She turned her head in the direction of her daughter and scowled. “Rachel!” she scolded, knowing the girl couldn’t see her. She could hear her though.

 Rachel huffed and laid on the horn again. What was taking her mom so long? They needed to get going! Rachel may not know what show they were seeing, but she knew they needed to get there early. And her mother wasting time talking to the Fabray sisters wasn’t helping.

 The driver’s side door opened, startling Rachel slightly. She sat up from her leaned over position to reach the horn and noticed the stern expression on her mother’s face.

 “That was extremely rude, Rachel Barbra,” Shelby scolded as she climbed into her seat.

 “Mom, we’re going to be late,” Rachel said as way of explanation.

 “The show doesn’t start until 2pm. It will take us two hours tops to get to Columbus. We’re fine. You need to learn some patience, young lady.”

 “Mom,” Rachel whined, not liking being told off one bit. This was all Quinn’s fault anyway. Quinn and Frannie. Why did they have to choose that exact moment to come outside anyway? If only they had waited a few more minutes, she and her mom would have been happily on their way, and Rachel wouldn’t be getting that look from her mother right now.

 “Don’t you ‘Mom’ me, young lady,” Shelby chided, her tone firm. “I understand you’re excited and anxious to get going, but that’s no excuse for honking the horn like you did—twice. I know you heard me calling your name after the first time.”

 “I was trying to get your attention,” Rachel pouted.

 “I understand that too,” said Shelby as she buckled her seatbelt. “But we have already had a conversation this week about patience and not interrupting conversations, haven’t we? It’s rude, Rachel, and I will not tolerate it. Is that understood?”

 Rachel sighed and lowered her eyes to her lap. Her mom was doing a good job of making her feel guilty—something Rachel didn’t ever want to feel in association with Quinn. “Yes, ma’am,” she relented.

 “Good,” Shelby said as she backed out of the driveway, “Because if we have to go over this a third time, it’ll end in a lengthy discussion with you over my lap. Clear?”

 Rachel couldn’t help the gasp that slipped from her lips, nor the squirming she was now doing in her seat. “Don’t give me that look,” Shelby said, and Rachel only then realized she was gawking, mouth hanging wide open. She shut it with an audible snap and looked away. “I’m giving you fair warning. This behavior is disrespectful and you know perfectly well how I feel about that.”

 Rachel worried her lip with her teeth as she flicked her eyes back over to her mother. She caught that scary raised eyebrow that Shelby did so well and hung her head, shifting uneasily. With a long sigh, she turned her attention out the window, watching the neighborhood pass by as they headed toward the main road; she used that time to collect her thoughts.

 “I don’t actually mean to be disrespectful, you know,” she finally said, casting a cautious glance towards her mom. She was relieved to see that the woman’s expression had softened.

 Shelby felt a pang of guilt at her daughter’s words and realized how true they were. Rachel didn’t mean to be disrespectful, she was just never taught. Same as she was never taught that she needed to ask permission and let Shelby know where she was and who she was with at all times. Shelby would have to do better at remembering that and give her child the benefit of the doubt. She couldn’t fault her for not knowing what she didn’t know.

 “I know that, sweetheart,” Shelby offered her child a small smile and reached over to pat the girl’s knee. “But I need you to work on your patience and waiting to get my attention in a calm, polite manner. You don’t like when our time is interrupted by unexpected visits, right? It’s the same concept here, kiddo. I need you to remember how that makes you feel and then be more aware of others’ feelings too, okay?”

  Rachel sighed and nodded, looking down at her lap. “Yeah, okay,” she agreed in a subdued tone. “I’m sorry.”

 “It’s okay, baby. You’re learning. You’re going to make mistakes, but as long as you try to do better each time, I can’t ask for anything more,” Shelby said, patting Rachel’s knee once more before moving her hand back to the steering wheel. “Now enough of this talk—I have good news. I invited Frannie and Quinn over for dinner on Tuesday.”

 Rachel nearly choked on her own spit at her mother’s revelation and whipped her head up to stare incredulously at her. “You’re kidding!” she gasped. “Mom, we don’t—we don’t even know them!”

 “And that’s why I invited them to dinner—so we can get to know them,” Shelby laughed lightly. “It’ll be fun! And that gives you some time to get to know Quinn one-on-one.”

 Rachel didn’t want to do anything one-on-one with Quinn, unless it involved pushing Quinn off a very high cliff, and she didn’t think her mother would like that response. She’d probably say it was rude, Rachel thought ruefully. Instead, she remained silent and thought up ways to get out of that dinner. Maybe she could play sick, or break another limb—a leg this time, perhaps?