justmoreocs-writing

[justmoreocs-writing]

🤫

When she was nine, she ran away from a clown at a cousin’s birthday party. She didn’t realise how creepy they were until faced with one.

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‘Do we have to?’ Car questioned, watching as the scenery flashed past the window. ‘Can’t we just –?’

‘Literally once a month,’ Len noted, the exacerbation in his voice obvious. ‘It’s not so bad,’

‘You’re only saying that because she doesn’t constantly pinch your cheeks every two seconds.’

‘But you’re her baby,’ Lennox teased, moving to pinch Carmine’s check. His brother moved aside, grateful Len was driving so he couldn’t try too hard.

‘An hour, then I’m walking back if you want to stay,’ Car said, despite how they both knew it was an empty threat. The twenty minute journey with just the two of them was his favourite time of the month. It almost made up for seeing their great-aunt.

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‘Come on!’ Maria pleaded, taking Cassie’s hand and trying to tug her towards the door. ‘You have to come.’

‘I can’t, remember?’ Cassie asked, carefully extracting her hand from the vice-like grip. She looked pleadingly at Saya, who merely shrugged.

‘It’s just a party!’

‘A Legacies party. I could come if I wanted to be murdered,’ Cassie said, moving to drop onto the bed. ‘I can help you get ready.’

‘You wouldn’t be murdered,’ Saya noted simply, standing and moving to the door. ‘You’d stop any attempts.’

Cassie dipped her head, accepting the compliment. ‘Maybe I’ll find my own party.’

‘Oohh,’ Maria practically squealed. ‘That sounds –’

‘We have to go to the school one,’ Saya noted simply, though Cassie spotted the vague look of mischief in her eyes. ‘But we can join Cass afterwards.’

Maria cheered and Cassie couldn’t help but grin. Perhaps she might yet be able to go to another party with them, even if it wasn’t the one she’d hoped for.

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‘Are we taking bets?’ Kipps asked, his voice a low breath against the shell of Violet’s ear.

‘On what?’ she asked, not taking her eyes off Lockwood. It was strange, but in the nicest possible way, seeing him so confident, chatting brightly with the adults in the room who appeared to be soaking in his words. It reminded her of their time growing up together, when he mimicked his parents’ presentations.

‘When he’ll make a move,’ Kipps said, leaning on the window sill beside her.

Violet scoffed, noticed Lucy hovering near him with a small smile on her lips. ‘I’m only taking the bet of “Never” on that.’ She turned to shoot him a wry smile.

‘You’re on.’

‘Are you serious?’ she laughed.

Kipps shrugged, before holding out his hand. ‘End of the month.’

‘Oh-ho,’ Violet chuckled before slapping her hand against his. ‘You’re on,’ she agreed, shaking his hand firmly, not caring that the actual bet hadn’t yet been decided. She’d just be happy to prove Kipps wrong on this.

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Ariel’s eyes lit up as she spotted the bright lights of the arcade. She moved to take a step, but felt a hand on her arm.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ Joey asked softly, and she could see the fear in his eyes even behind the slight glare on his glasses.

‘Let loose a little, Joey,’ she said gently, tapping his hand before resting hers over his. ‘We deserve a little respite before we go out again.’

She grinned, shifting her grip on his hand before tugging him to walk towards the entrance, really hoping things might be distracting enough for them to relax just a little before they went back to work.

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‘How bad does it look?’ V asked, looking at her mother in the mirror. The great Christine Gordon Kirkwell was, for once she realised, speechless. ‘Oh, that bad.’

‘You look stunning, baby,’ she said, moving to close the distance between them. There was a bright smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around her daughter’s waist. ‘Always knew you’d look good as a blonde like your mom.’

V grinned, turned her head to place a quick kiss on her cheek. ‘Thanks.’

‘Those Brits won’t know what hit them.’

V chuckled, glad her mom wasn’t asking too many questions about her seemingly spontaneous trip to England. Hadn’t realised that the strip of film was missing from her collection.

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Castor watched Jelly and felt his chest tighten. Her blasé attitude towards leaving her phone behind had been bad, but not awful, to begin with. And yet now there was a killer after them? It was almost too much to take.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked, snapping his focus to the fact she was actually there, not some photograph that he could stare at without comment.

He blinked several times before offering her a shaky smile.

‘If you ask about my bloods –’

‘Jelly –’

‘I’m fine, Cas,’ she told him softly, getting a test strip from the pocket of her bag. ‘I’ve got these and at least half a packet of jelly babies on me. Even if the noise of the plastic isn’t helpful.’

Castor huffed out a laugh. ‘Don’t think the noise is how he’s keeping tabs on us.’

‘Just as well,’ she noted, tucking the strip back into her emergency bag. Castor just had to trust that she’d keep an eye on all that as well as trying to avoid the killer and finding her father. And if she wouldn’t? Then at least he would try his damndest to stick with her and help.

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‘Why did you do that?’ Lacey asked, grateful for Nick bowing his head closer to hers so she didn’t have to go on her tiptoes to talk to him without the kids listening in and questioning everything.

‘Do what?’ he asked innocently, his attention on the fire pit and the group of kids they were looking after. On the other side of the pit, Kaitlyn and Dylan were chatting idly, attention very much not on their wards for the time.

Lacey carefully pulled the jacket tighter around her shoulders. It was still warm from him wearing it, still smelt slightly like his aftershave.

‘You were cold,’ he noted simply, ‘and I wasn’t.’

She rolled her eyes, both annoyed and grateful that he pre-empted her argument.

‘Thank you,’ she said softly. ‘But if you want it back –’

‘I’ll let you know,’ he assured her, offering a small smile.

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‘Are you really gonna eat all that?’ James asked, taking the seat opposite Harri without invitation.

Petulantly she stuffed a large spoonful of ice cream in her mouth and glared at him. Normally she’d be grateful for the comfort of a summer reunion before meeting on the train platform, or even in their usual carriage. But today she just wanted to wallow in her own self-pity, and eat ice cream.

‘Not that I doubt you could, Feathers.’ James noted, leaning on the table and surveying her with a look she hated, a look she knew meant he was trying to read the truth of her feelings by whatever her face gave away. ‘But –’

‘Can you just shut up for once?’ she snapped, glaring as she shoved another spoonful into her mouth.

James smirked and picked up the spoon on his side of the table. He took his own dip of her ice cream, and Harri merely rolled her eyes. There was no point in arguing with him on this.

Harri swallowed before idly twirling her spoon around her fingers.

‘He’s an idiot,’ James offered through a mouthful of ice cream.

‘Can we not?’ Harri asked, stilling her spoon to take another spoonful. ‘Just, I want to not think about him until I have to face him.’

James sighed, took his own spoonful of ice cream. ‘All right,’ he accepted. ‘But if this isn’t sorted I am locking you in a room together.’

‘Try it, Prongs,’ she threatened, a sweet smile on her face before she put the spoon in her mouth. Perhaps if they finished the scoops together, he might just give her  a little time to gather herself alone before she was confronted by Sirius.

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‘I’m – bumped – earlier,’ AJ said, the words getting lost it the pounding music of the club.

‘What was that?’ Lula shouted, turning to look up at him with a bright smile on her face. The night out hadn’t been planned, and yet she’d desperately needed it. Work had been overwhelming, even if this case was what she’d joined for.

‘I said,’ AJ said, voice raised even as he moved to speak directly in her ear. ‘I’m really glad I bumped into you earlier.’

Lula turned her head, ready to reply, but AJ moved too. Their lips met for the briefest of moments before they pulled away. Even in the pulsing lights, Lula saw the blush rushing up his cheeks.

Alcohol, noise, and the relief of a night off spurred her on. With a small smile, Lula wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, guided their lips together again for an actual kiss. One AJ deepened as he placed his hands delicately on her waist and pulled her closer.

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The gate feels like it’s a much more physical barrier than it really is. That it’s the thing preventing me from entering the graveyard rather than the guilt gnawing away at me.

‘Lu?’ Jason whispers, snapping my attention from the fence to my younger brother. The preteen who’s braver than I am all because he managed to go through the gate earlier. Managed to go the funeral without so much as a squeak of protest.

‘I’m all right, Jay,’ I lie, and from the brief dimming of his eyes I know he doesn’t believe me.

He gives me no time to defend the lie. Instead he practically collides with me in an almost too tight hug. I don’t even hesitate in hugging him back. In reassuring myself that he’s still here. That even with the recurring nightmares that plague my dreams, my baby brother is still safe from the things on the mountain. The things that stole Chris from us. The things I can’t even name in my own head because it hurts too much to remember it all.

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‘Are you all right?’ Robin asked, making Mia jump. Her arms fell to her sides and she sucked in a deep breath as she slowly took stock of the fact Robin was stood by the doorway.

‘I need a dance,’ Mia admitted, moving to perch on the edge of the stage. ‘And Jamie-Anne, our normal choreographer, is off this week ‘cause of illness or something.’

‘And you’re doing it alone?’ Robin asked, moving closer to Mia.

‘Trying to,’ she admitted, dropping down to stand on the floor. ‘But it’s impossible.’

‘I – Maybe – I –’ She heaved a breath. ‘I can help.’

Mia felt her heart skip a beat. ‘You would?’

Robin nodded, a flicker of nerves in her eyes.

‘OK,’ Mia said, offering out her hands. ‘The dance is between a couple.’

‘Fine,’ Robin said softly, taking Mia’s hands.

‘I’ll lead for now,’ Mia admitted, gently guiding Robin into position. ‘But I’ll need to make notes too.’

‘Makes sense,’ Robin agreed, a small smile curving her lips.

‘Thanks,’ Mia said, before moving them together, not sure if she wanted the dance to last forever or to be over quickly so Robin wouldn’t notice how fast her heart was racing against her chest.

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‘Lucinda,’ Isaiah whispered, his breath warm against the top of her head. ‘We should go.’

‘No,’ she muttered, forcing her eyes open. The darkness around them might have been unsettling, but it was nothing compared with what came next. But even her fear hadn’t managed to dispel her exhaustion from the last week.

‘You’re asleep on your feet,’ he reminded her, tightening his hug on her, keeping her steady. Though, his solid presence behind her was more than enough.

‘I have to try,’ she insisted, tilting her head back against his chest so she could look up at him. There was a small smile on his face, but a hint of concern in his eyes.

‘For you?’

‘For who else?’ she countered, feeling the anxiety bubbling in the pit of her stomach. Fireworks had scared her since the War, but she knew Stan and Lia wanted them. She had to do this for Stan, even if she knew he would’ve told her it was fine. Would have been OK with her bailing on the fireworks as long as she was there for the rest of the wedding.

‘Luce –’

‘I have to,’ she insisted, looking away from him.

Isaiah gently kissed the top of her head. ‘OK then,’ he agreed.

She snuggled closer to his warmth, grateful that he was there with her, a physical presence that she could lean on if things got too overwhelming.

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‘When was the last time you slept?’ Gavin asks, startling my attention away from the fuzzy focus of the computer screen. I blink rapidly as I look up at him, and am surprised to see concern pinching his brow. ‘Francine.’

‘Don’t full name me,’ I complain, rubbing my eyes.

‘I’m serious,’ he says sternly. ‘When?’

I exhale slowly, drawing the breath out. ‘Yesterday morning,’ I admit softly. ‘It’s fine.’

‘It’s not fine,’ he says, moving to perch on my desk. For all his bluster Gavin cares about the people he works with. Or, at least, some of them. ‘You should go home.’

‘I can’t,’ I say softly, hating the admittance and yet needing to say it aloud otherwise he won’t drop this in a way I’m comfortable with. ‘Please. I don’t want to be alone today.’

Something almost like shock registers in his eyes, before he gently squeezes my shoulder.

‘Break room?’ With a slight amount of reluctance, I nod. ‘Want me to call the Doc, or come with?’

I nervously chew on my tongue. ‘Can you come, please?’

He hesitates for a fraction of a second before nodding. ‘Let’s go,’ he offers softly and I force myself to stand. To take the offer of a nap in the break room over calling Oskar. Or Hank, as would be his next option and that we all know would make things a lot more dramatic than I can currently cope with.

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Libby watched Charles as he paced the space before her, his hands tapping a nervous tattoo against his thighs. He’d been doing it for the past five minutes and she was done.

‘You said you had a joke, I didn’t realise you meant your face,’ she noted coolly.

Charles’s attention snapped to her. For once, there was a look of almost concern in his eyes. He shuttered it quickly.

‘No chance,’ she said, standing and striding over to him. ‘You asked me here. I’m not letting you clam up like you normally do. Brush it off with a smile doesn’t fly with me.’

He sighed, before perching himself on the edge of the desk, attention not quite on her. ‘How’s Sal? And… Clem.’

The words froze Libby’s thoughts for a moment, before she perched beside him. ‘Good,’ she assured him softly. ‘They’re both doing pretty good now.’

‘Good,’ he offered.

‘You could ask Sal when he comes back,’ she reminded him softly, really hoping he’d do it for all their sakes.

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‘You don’t have to do this,’ Dick offered softly, his shoulder resting almost leisurely against the doorframe. To the rest of the world he would have looked calm, but Teddy knew him too well. Recognised the façade that his friend was putting up, even if he didn’t need to in the Manor. Least of all around Teddy himself.

‘Yes, I do,’ Teddy assured him softly, forcing his attention away from his friend’s reflection and back to his tie in the mirror. ‘Not just for me, but for A.J. too.’

Dick heaved a deep sigh. ‘She’s really not gonna come?’

Teddy shook his head, swallowed the hard lump that had formed in his throat. ‘She can’t,’ he admitted softly, still recalling the broken shell she’d been since Jason had died. Since their family had been torn apart once more. Part of him thought that her going would be a good idea, and yet he couldn’t force her to do it. He just hoped she knew that he’d be there for her when she needed him. That they all would be.

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Hope scowled as she gently smeared murtlap essence on the burn to Cedric’s arm. Her heart was thundering against her ribs, a reminder of her fear despite her best efforts to keep it under control, to remind herself that the new safety concerns for the tournament probably meant he would be all right.

‘H?’

‘No,’ she snapped, though there was less bite in her voice than she had expected. ‘I’m still mad at you.’

The barest flicker of a smirk flashed across his lips before he carefully placed a hand over hers.

‘I’m safe, Hope,’ he assured her gently. ‘Professor Dumbledore has probably checked all of these to –’

‘Make them safe?’ she asked, moving to lift his arm.

‘To make them not deadly,’ he continued gently. ‘They’re gonna be dangerous to make them good. I thought you’d appreciate the show of it all.’

Hope scoffed softly. ‘I’m not mad you’re doing it,’ she admitted, her insides squirming with the nerves of it all. ‘I’m mad you’re…’ She groaned. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Hope Woods, lost for words,’ teased Cedric, grinning before he pulled her in for a tight hug.

For once it didn’t necessarily calm her, but she relaxed into the hug, desperately trying to reassure herself that he was still there at least. That Dumbledore wouldn’t let anything terrible happen to any of those taking part.