#back to mr chomp over here

[lagaans]

perfect representation of thinking gay thoughts..

[year2000electronics]

Looked at your art of Mimi and Mr. L trying to sneak Brobot L-Type “discreetly” and acting like chaotic siblings made me brainstorm more hijnx for them to get up to like Mimi piercing Mr. L’s ears by hand, trying on different outfits, arguing over design choices for L’s robots, doing each other’s hair (long hair Luigi/Mr. L supremacy), trying to come up with a lie/match each other’s stories after getting caught by Nastasia doing something else they shouldn’t.

YESSS i love drawing mr l and mimi doing stupid stuff it fuels me. so here's some now!

i love the idea of mr. l's hair getting long/ratty... like in my mind luigi is the type of guy who forgets to get a haircut but since his environment has a lot of routine in it (when he's not out being a hero that is!) he usually remembers to clip it so it doesn't get too long, but once you eliminate that Routine... well. the long hair groweth

MIMI GIVING L A PIERCING MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD he thinks hes really cool i love that.

and ive always adored the concept of the other minions popping into the repair bay to bug mr. l for fun and sport LOL especially since it must be huge, so all of them are just chomping at the bit to go see the new minion's Big Toy Box. mr. l's prolly gotten used to people coming in and out

and finally, this doodle dump got me thinking- i talk about mr. l and mimi a lot, but i don't think i've ever really given thought as to how they become close when their initial interaction was so sour... and then i thought, what if it started with mimi transforming? i mean, i really like the headcanon that they can relate to each other in the struggle for identity, so why not have mr. l reacting authentically to one of mimi's transformations in a way she's never seen before- positively, and not in a 'you can strike so much terror' way?

mr. l sees HIMSELF looking back at him (and yknow, hes clearly desperate for that self-reflection, look at brobot), and his reaction would just be so GENUINE cos he 100% wasnt briefed on the others that well (considering he immediately mouthed off to them DSFJKSJDGF) and yknow, luigi himself is naturally very curious! and for mimi, whose usefulness to bleck and the gang is that she can be used as a tool, as something monstrous to strike fear into heroes... i think that would make her surprised and maybe even touched JUST enough to give the guy a second chance. that and the count wouldn't be in the room so maybe mr. l wouldn't be so desperate to prove himself haha

[jetblack4realz]

mini moments - carter wheeler

someone wanted more carter content, and i want more carter content, so we might be getting a lot of it in the next few days haha

summary - a ton of little moments within the make yourself at home universe because we're all in love with it i think and i can't make one shots out of all of them so they go here!

also, i think at this point we're gonna consider y/n having graduated high school and moved in with the wheelers? but like she has her own room because rip is still strict-ish... we're just gonna go with that lol

word count: 2.3k

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day to day

it was 4am, the sun barely beginning to peek through the windows in the mid-july morning. carter groaned as he sat up, rubbing at his eyes in an attempt to keep the light away from them.

the door to his room was open, as was rip's policy, and he could see across the hall that the guest bedroom door was open too, and the lamp had been flicked on. he knitted his brows. "darlin'?"

his voice was scratchy and broke halfway through the word. he cleared his throat and tried again.

"baby, you up?"

when he didn't get a response he climbed out of bed and padded out into the hall, knocking on the doorframe of the guest room before peaking his head in. still, you were no where to be found, just your boots by the door and an outfit laid on the bed.

he walked inside the room with a huff and stopped again when he spotted you in the adjacent bathroom, door open, one light on, your hair in a sleep-messed bun, brushing your teeth, and wearing one of his old carhartt sweatshirts.

his heart pounded a bit as a smile creeped onto his face.

you were beautiful.

you met his eyes through the mirror, smiling over your toothbrush before leaning over to spit in the sink and wash the brush. you grabbed a cup from the side and filled it before rinsing your mouth out, finally turning to smile at him fully.

"well, good morning, cowboy," you hummed, crossing your arms over your chest.

he smiled more fully then, walking further into the room as you met him halfway, pressing a kiss to his lips gently. "didn't think you would be up yet."

"i've gotten used to this whole cowboying routine," you told him, arms wrapped around his middle comfortably.

"i can see that," he answered with a light laugh. he kissed you again, pulling back only to brush the strands of hair that had fallen out of your bun behind your ear. "i've gotta go get ready, and so do you."

"yeah," you agreed, a grin pulling at your lips. "don't forget to brush your teeth. your breath stinks."

he rolled his eyes, pulling away from you with a laugh. "alright, alright. get dressed, i'll meet you in the kitchen."

"love you," you sung, grinning still as you turned back to the bathroom.

he laughed, shaking his head. "i love you too, darlin'."

--

work shirts

it was midday, you, lloyd, and carter gathered inside for a brief lunch break before you were to head out and finish your chores again.

you smiled around your sandwich, swallowing before speaking. "nothing better than a good ole pb&j. i appreciate you grabbing the strawberry jelly for me, mrs wheeler."

"there's quite a few things she's grabbed just for you, kid," lloyd laughed.

"well, i appreciate it all," you hummed, smiling at beth as she nodded at you.

"of course, baby," she answered.

carter reached across you for an apple slice, dipping it in a scoop of peanut butter on his plate before chomping the end off. you looked at him with a scrunched nose. "you're a loud eater."

he rolled his eyes, smiling through his food, and elbowing your side. "shut up."

rip pushed through the door then with a grunt, a massive cardboard box in his arms that he set on the counter. beth smiled at him, rounding the counter to press a quick kiss to his lips before nodding to the box.

"those our new shirts?" she asked.

"shirts?" carter asked, raising his brows. "we got more yellowstone shirts?"

rip stared at him. "does it look like we're on the yellowstone right now?"

carter faltered. "well, we don't exactly have a brand for this ranch. our cattle don't even have a brand."

"we're working on that in a few days," rip answered. "but, yes, we do have a brand. well, now at least."

he pulled a pocket knife from his pocket and cut the box open, you sitting up in your chair and leaning around carter to watch rip pull open the box flaps.

all you could see was black, yellow, and brown, before rip tossed a hat on the counter with 'dutton ranch' sprawled across the top. you let out a laugh. "thought you said this wasn't yellowstone merch?"

"it's not."

"real creative," you teased. "took off the yellowstone but left the rest. cool."

"shut up," he said with a deep sigh.

you leaned over to carter, whispering with a wide smirk, "that's another dollar."

your boyfriend laughed as rip rolled his eyes, pulling out the other hats and shirts, a few long sleeves, pearl snaps, jackets, and tshirts in the mix.

"two of each," he instructed, beth beginning to separate them into piles, you grabbing the right sizes for rip, beth, carter, and lloyd.

you eyed the piles as each person took theirs, confused at the variety of extras on the side. "you think they're gonna ruin them all real quick, mr wheeler?"

"well, yes we need extras, but the rest are for you, dumbass," rip huffed as beth pulled out your size from the extras pile, stacking them in front of you with a smile.

you froze for a moment, heart pounding slightly before you lit up and turned to them. "you do love me, mr wheeler."

"well, if you're gonna be working this ranch, i want you repping it too," he answered, waving you off as you grinned at carter.

"we're gonna match," you said happily, pulling the hat on your head before securing his around his curls.

he laughed lightly. "that we are, cowgirl."

--

sick night

you'd woken up to a phone call.

it happened quite frequently, thanks to your habit of sleeping through your alarms and getting out to the barn a half hour later than you were supposed to.

except it wasn't rip's call you woke up to - it was carter's, which was awfully confusing. usually, he just walked across the hall and knocked.

even more unusual was the time: 1:24am.

you groaned, squinting at the screen before clicking the little green phone icon and holding it to your ear as you fell back on the pillow. "what?"

"i'm sorry for waking you, but can you get me some dayquil?"

carter's voice was scratchy and nasally, and then he coughed real hard, pulling the phone away from his mouth so you wouldn't hear so much. you knitted your brows.

"are you sick?"

"no, i just like taking cold medication for the fun of it." cue another cough. "yes, i'm sick."

"i'll be there in a sec. dayquil, you said?" you asked, sitting up and reaching for a hoodie before standing.

"yes please."

"why not nyquil?"

"i need to be able to wake up in the morning for work."

you sighed, pulling the door open and glancing at carter's across the hall. "whatever you say, cowboy."

you hung up, shoving the phone in the pocket of your shorts as you padded quietly into the kitchen, fishing around in the medicine cabinet for the cold medication. once you found the little blue capsules you grabbed him a glass of cold water and returned to his room.

you knocked on the door with a gentle kick to the corner. "you decent in there?"

he didn't answer, so you tried again. "carter?"

and then when you still got no reply you got nervous. "i'm coming inside."

you pushed the door open, surprised to see a very exhausted, very red carter sprawled on top of the covers in old basketball shorts and no shirt, a tissue in hand with its friends crumpled in snotty piles on his nightstand and the carpet in front of it.

"rough night?" you asked, grimacing.

he smiled wryly at you, nodding. "you could say that."

you walked to his side, setting the glass on his nightstand and picking at the foil that kept the pills in their plastic packaging. he squinted his eyes, shaking his head at you.

"i said dayquil."

"you're not going to work tomorrow," you told him as you finally popped the two pills out. "you aren't any help sick and you might infect the rest of us. you just need to get better."

you handed him the pills and then the water, the boy staring at the two gel capsules like they had personally offended him.

you punched him lightly in the arm. "take them."

eventually, he followed instructions, throwing them back with some water before flopping back onto the bed. you raised a hand to rest on his forehead, eyes widening as your hand heated up against his skin. "carter, you're hot."

"why, thank you."

you rolled your eyes, unable to resist the small smile that came from the smirk he was giving you. "not what i meant. you're running a fever."

"i figured," he answered, gesturing to the sweat on his forehead and shoulders that stuck his hair to his skin, the fast spinning ceiling fan, and open window with the crisp september breeze blowing in. "i've been overheating since i went to bed."

"dang, baby," you sighed, rubbing his shoulder comfortingly. "you wanna lay in my room? it's colder than yours."

"no, i'll be fine," he breathed out, reaching up to take your hand as his eyes shut. "you should go to bed. we've got work in the morning."

"i have work in the morning," you corrected. "you're not going."

you grabbed his phone off his nightstand, entering the passcode as he groaned and shook his head. "don't do that." you quickly switched off all his alarms and turned it on do not disturb.

"i'll see you in the morning," you told him, smiling gently as he huffed and settled back on his pillow. "i'll be in to check on you every so often. call me if you need anything."

"i need to go to work."

"no, actually, you don't. you need to go to bed. i love you, goodnight," you said, pressing a kiss to his slightly sweaty forehead and brushing his curls out of his face.

he grumbled out a lame response, "goodnight, i love you too."

you turned his lamplight off again before leaving, keeping the door open and then yours so you could see if he tried to get up or leave.

--

sleeping on the job

"where'd that boy run off to?"

you looked over at him with raised brows, glancing around the space of the arenas before shrugging and handing him a 3/8" ratchet in exchange for the 1/2" he was offering you. "couldn't tell you, mr wheeler."

"you usually know," he grunted as he loosened the bolt above him, handing the ratchet back to you and then the nut that went along with it.

"not this time," you answered, shrugging again and placing them in the toolbox in front of your crossed legs. "i can go find him if you'd like."

"that'd be much appreciated," he told you, nodding in the direction of the barn before ducking his head and slipping back under the truck, continuing his work on the suspension.

you wiped your greasy hands on your jeans as you stood, walking towards the barn. you walked in with knitted brows, glancing around. "carter?"

you weren't met with a response, so you kept wandering around, checking on the horses in their stalls. "y'all seen carter?"

one you'd happily named donut neighed like he did and you smiled. "oh yeah? where's he at, nut?"

he bobbed his head up and down, which got your eyes flashing up to the hayloft. you grinned.

"thanks buddy."

it was a longshot, you were sure, but as you climbed into the space you realized the horse was actually correct.

there was carter, sprawled in the hay, shirt hiked up, and his hat over his face.

you covered your mouth with your hand as you chuckled, immediately fishing your phone from your pocket and taking a few pictures. once it was back in your back pocket, you whispered: carter."

as you predicted, the boy didn't stir, and you walked the remaining few steps towards him before falling into the hay next to him, hoping your dutton ranch ballcap would protect the back of your head from getting hay in it.

he shifted in his sleep as you settled next to him, moving his hat off his face and peeking an eye open lazily. he stretched his arm out to sneak under your waist, pulling you a bit closer and turning to settle more comfortably on his side. "hi, baby."

you laughed gently as he shut his eyes again.

"hey, cowboy. enjoying your nap?"

he nodded, his breathing slowing again as sleep pulled him back into its clutches. you felt terrible as you pushed on his chest gently with a slight downturn of your lips.

"you've gotta get back to work, your dad will kill you."

he just hummed. "he'll kill us."

"i'm not the one sleeping on the job," you laughed lightly.

"yes you are," he answered, squeezing your side. "i saw you."

"liar, your eyes are closed."

"he doesn't know that."

you laughed again, stretching a bit before relaxing into the hay pile again. "i guess five minutes wouldn't hurt."

"wouldn't hurt nobody," he agreed, eyes still shut as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your shoulder, tugging you into him. "goodnight."

you rolled your eyes, still smiling. "goodnight, i guess. i'm blaming you for this."

"feel free. i just want to sleep. with you."

you let out a deep sigh, shaking your head. "i hope your dad really understands that i've no interest in getting naked in his barn, because that statement sounds real off."

carter scoffed. "trust me, babe - you've made sure he knows."

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thanks for reading! leave a request in the comments or message me privately! i love writing, so if you've got an idea you need fleshed out on paper i'd love to be the one to do that for you

masterlist!!

[msookyspooky]

Fours a Franchise

Part 17

wordcount: 8,467

Jill looked at herself in the small mirror she had on her bedside table at the hospital. A small compact she had from her bag she used to repeatedly check up on herself to make sure she looked the part of the poor survivor. Her eye was still screwed up but not as red. Bruises here and there; just not as swollen. What hurt the worst was the stab on her back that asshole gave her. Unlucky for him and collectively for you; it missed major organs but damn did it hurt.

She smoothed her long dark hair with her hands as she did her usual side part with a sly smirk. She just couldn't help smirking to herself. She actually got away with it! She couldn't wait to get home and privately celebrate. Well, not too soon. She still had to look devastated for her friends and mothers deaths. With her Mom dead and her not being 18 for another few months, would she have to live with her estranged Dad or distant relatives or someone else for a bit? Oh well, who cares!

She was going to be so rich and famous that in a year she'd 'go to college' just to keep up appearances, then if she wanted to drop out she could and be swimming in cash. For life. YN this, YN that. Won Court cases, fame, a new paid for house somewhere, book deals. Well now, it was Jill Roberts' turn to shine.

She knew she should be more cautious but today was a good day. She was being discharged from the hospital under police protection tomorrow because soooo many people were chomping at the bit to know about the final girl. Flowers all over her hospital room, cards, even expensive gifts, paid for everything and news stations trying to get in contact with her.

You? Well, it was an easy decision. She still hadn't come right out and blamed you. Trying to play the innocent sweetie pie act a bit longer. Really milk it out. Wait till you got caught. However, as soon as she thought you might be a problem; she was gonna tell the police when they asked for yet another statement that now that her head was more clear and everything 'sank in'...Yes...Yes, it's shocking. YN must have been working with those two men to kill everyone. And they recruited Charlie? But that can't be!...Oh, but it is. Maybe that's why her Cousin and Uncle tried to kill YN years ago? Because she was actually the villian this whole time and they knew her secret. And YN attacked her and YN must have helped kill everyone this time too! The monster deserved to be behind bars boo hoo blah blah what a tragedy. Fake cry. Sniffle a bit.

People will eat that shit up. Especially once the authorities find you with those two. The manhunt for you was most definitely on; considering you escaped the hospital in the middle of the early morning with those two unnamed men after a Deputy was shot by them.

Jill had to not giggle or smirk too much; still in the public eye. The hunt for the 3 of you would be Legendary. Once they find you with those two, who the fuck would believe your side of the story anyways? Jill would be the sole survivor. Any nah sayers locked up or killed. This was in the fucking BAG! Soon, she'd be on the Ellen Show and Yahoo Mail articles and Facebook posts and Tweets and the ID Channel-

Her thoughts of grandeur were interrupted by a short forceful knock. She quickly went to get back in bed acting sore and sad.

"Don't bother rushing. I can see you standing from the window." A female voice rang out.

Jill faltered and had to stop herself from moving too fast. "Oh, it's my...Um, stitches. They want me to walk just not too much." She told the older woman as she entered without even asking.

Gale Riley Weathers whatever the hell her name was...Of course it was.

Gale nodded and closed the door behind her. Back to dressing in her old 'Reporter' style she probably had stuffed in the back her closet behind her robes and casual wear as Mrs. Riley. Stay at home 'writer' that hadn't wrote diddly shit in years.

Jill forced a smile upon her youthful face. After all, the nosey hag was the best in the biz and could get her one helluva a book deal. It's why Charlie spared her.

“Gale, what a surprise.” Jill put on that smile and soft voice, "How's your shoulder? Does it feel okay?"

Gale gave a wry smirk and a slight huff like chuckle. "...It's fine. Good enough for me to go home. Especially since you got a lot more damage and you're going home, right? I mean, if you can have that happen to you and be discharged soon then what a wimp I'd be to stay."

"Oh yeah, matching Shoulder stabs. Twinsies." She jokingly gave that carefree air-head teen act adults seemed to love from her. "And some bruises but nothing I can't handle. I mean, I got it bad but I don't think shoved off a landing and stabbed is anything to mess with...You're tough."

"Yeah." Gale nodded. "Yeah you're a scrapper yourself. Do what you need, do what you want, thrive not just survive...Kinda like looking in a mirror."

Jill forced a slight chuckle at that. The smile not reaching her eyes as a bit of silence stretched between them. Gale moved around the room, heels clacking against the hospital floor as she pondered something. "...Huh."

"Yes?"

She glanced over at the teen. "Nothing just...How funny. Us having matching superficial wounds. What are the odds?"

"Yeaahh....Yeah, pretty lucky." Jill nodded with a reluctant look.

"Almost too lucky." She gave with a wry smile that didn't reach her eyes either. “I swear, it seems like it was almost planned.”

Jill cautiously watched her as Gale acted aloof. ‘Reading’ labels on objects while talking. What was this old bitch getting at?

Gale mused aloud, "I mean, YN gets stabbed in the gut twice and those two, that we are not naming apparently, were shot and stabbed in many places and even almost gutted. Didn't think any of them would live...Trevor got his face peeled off...Coroner said alive while it happened just like YN's old boyfriend in ‘96-"

"I was there. Can we... Not talk about it?" Jill mumbled. "Just makes me uncomfortable. I mean, he was my first love and my…" She trailed off with a strained voice. Not too much, just enough.

Dewey would've been apologizing and comforting her for overstepping. Gale just stared.

The middle aged woman walked about the room a bit. Thinking before replying to the teen girl. "Sorry about that...I guess. But ya know… You'll have to answer to the cops and media about all this in a lot of detail. Over and over. You know how it is..." The silence etched on as Gale looked around while leaning on her good shoulder against the wall. "It's just really bizarre that me and you got wounds that weren't fatal. The final girl and the prize winning journalist that can help the final girl. Everyone else was butchered. Hung like a dead fish, burned, skinned, repeatedly stabbed, gutted, shot…Yet we both only got banged up and shoulder wounds... Daammmnn lucky."

Jill looked uncomfortable at Gale probing as she retorted in a short tone of voice, "Well, we should be grateful to be so lucky. I mean my poor friends...My own Mom…God-" She pretended to hug her face to potentially cry. A tiny forced shaky sucking in of breath as her shoulders shook. “I just…I just can't believe they killed my mother-”

"Cut the shit.”

….

Jill stiffened as Gale coldly told her, “I'm not part of the media anymore. There's no cameras."

...

Jill stilled and looked up for a moment trying to keep the innocent act up. "Excuse...Me?" She drew out shakily.

Gale just stared her down with a raised brow, "Your eyebrows aren't turned up, you're forcing your eyes to water by not blinking this whole time then blinking rapidly, the waver in your voice needs work too and stop sniffling so soon. People don't sniffle till the snot is running down their faces. Interviewed a lot of people including guilty people…I know fake crying when I see it. No Oscar for you anytime soon."

“What are you saying?” Jill just stared at her. "...Are you seriously claiming a girl that lost her friends, mother and boyfriend is fake crying? Are you seriously insinuating that?...Gale?" She said her name with an edge.

"I only accuse or go after the truth. And you?...I feel like maybe you hit your head just a little too hard. You know, what with that giant scuffle that happened. Somehow a teen girl fought off two grown men and a teen boy and now YN too? 4 people at the same time, huh? Things aren't adding up. Especially after YN fled the hospital...Whaddya gonna tell the cops when they ask why?" Gale asked mockingly and folded her arms.

Jill sat on the edge of the bed, body tense and ready to pounce if need be. "I'm gonna tell them the truth. I visited YN and she attacked me and two men attacked me and I was lucky to escape with my life till Dewey showed up. What? You got a mic on, Gale?" Jill's voice dropped an octave to her real voice, not the fake sweet act. "Ohhh…I get it. You want me to say it was Billy Loomis and Stu Macher like Sheriff Riley is convinced? Is that it? Is this some kind of bribe to get your old namesake back by proving something? Or maybe so you and your husband don't look like crazy lunatics saying two dead murderers are alive after such a tragedy?" She mocked back haughtily. “That's sick to do to a victim, Gale. Very tactless.”

"...No." Gale mumbled. "One: I don't have a mic.”

“Sure you don't.”

“Two: of course not. Without them captured; that's career suicide for both of us. They'll label you as crazy or a conspiracy theorist as well as me. I'm not stupid, you lil shit." Gale huffed, "... But you do have to talk, you know. This 'Oh poor me. I'm just a weak fragile teen girl who was victimized.' crap isn't gonna cut it forever. You were in this hospital room when Dewey and I recognized them and by the way you looked…You did too. You weren't surprised it was them. You couldn't wait for Dewey to shoot them so they couldn't say a word.”

“I was stabbed. I just wanted them caught for what they did; I didn't care who they were…And if that meant killing them to spare others the same fate then so be it.” She replied tilting her head and narrowing her eyes in barely contained annoyance at this back and forth between the two.

Gale was quiet for a moment before adding, "They're gonna search your phone too."

Jill sighed with a shrug, "If they find it. I lost it. Need to get a new one. Old one went missing that night and never found it in all the chaos. Couldn't remember my passwords or anything either. My Mom handled all that and I forgot what she said it was. So a new account, card, phone and cloud storage too I guess…I'm really devastated about it. I had so many pictures of me, Olivia, Trevor and Kirby on there.”

Gale scoffed, “It's 2011 and you don't use an email?”

“I'm a kid and schools don't like us to even have phones in class let alone use them for anything constructive. You know, they're bad for our learning. My one teacher had to have a student help her with a password change on her computer…I didn't check any email or password often. Mom did almost everything for me. So, I just plan on getting a new one and having someone help show me. " Jill feigned innocence with such a shitty lie.

"...How convenient." Gale grumbled before she sighed heavily and shifted her stance. "So what?...Get rid of the phone evidence then try and get rid of anyone in your way? All your friends, your Mom, your accomplice. Is YN the enemy now? Had to get her outta the way to get the spotlight? Those two were a surprise to you too I'd say with how things played out and now you're running with it as extra measure to not get caught.” Gale smirked wryly in realization of something. “...You're not giving a real statement because you're buying time to see if they get YN or not."

Jill scoffed loudly, "Listen Lady, I don't know what you're talking about-"

Gale laughed in outrage and smacked her hip with her good arm, "Man, you are really trying to sell it!” She lost her mocking smile, “Seriously, I'm not a bleeding heart like my husband. And we both know…We both know-" She repeated, lowering her volume. "You were not visiting YN in the ICU when she wasn't even awake yet. You had to rip off all your monitors and sneak with all your injuries under cameras and away from nurses just because you were sooooo worried about her…Worried about her ratting you out, more like it. You had to get rid of her when you realized she wasn't dead."

Jill felt her body tense and a slight sweat breaking out on her skin. This goddamn bitch. She should've told Charlie to stab her in the fucking head.

"...I told you, I was worried. The killers were still alive." She clarified once more in a firm tone. “I was attacked by YN then by them. Okay? I was just checking on her. I was scared for her.”

"Oh! So, you snuck in just to see her and got close enough for YN to wake up from surgery trying to randomly hurt you?" Gale mocked. "Are you fucking kidding me? One minute you're worried, then you want her dead and claiming she's involved, now you're straddling the fence to buy time-"

"The bitch attacked me! I don't know why; She panicked or something and then those two showed up." Jill argued with her tone accidentally becoming defensive.

“Oh, but not at the house? You and her supposedly tried to save each other's lives and you held her hand just for her to try and kill you in the ICU when you went to her room when she was just out of surgery? Sneaking too?” Gale demanded. “I still am on the fence with those two involved now…But I know one thing; you're full of shit. You are way more involved than you're saying and we both know it. In fact…Dare I say, YN might be right about you that night.”

Bitch.

Jill sneered, "...I could have your career tanked for questioning a victim like this. AGAIN. All those tabloids dogging you like it's 2000. So how about you back off before you become a nobody.”

Gale stood up from the wall and glared at her, "I'll come back on top; I always do... I think we both know how you knew the type of wound I got without even speaking to me or my husband. We both know you did not leave your house before Ghostface attacked your Mom and two Detectives. We lost two good men on the force... I know you could care less about them when you're the one that stabbed them. And we both know who actually helped Charlie this whole time. It wasn't those idiots. It was you. You and him. He fucking stabbed me in a way that you could keep me alive for your stupid little book idea."

Jill gave a sharp laugh of outrage as her nerves got to her. "Ha! Oh, so the honor roll student, good girl killed people? Killed her wn Mom!? Her best friend's!? You're SICK! You are so fame hungry and sick- I can't believe this! Leave."

She went to press the call button. Fingers hovering over it just a second as Gale spoke.

"-You know they're gonna look through all those snuff films of these murders, right?" Gale quickly rushed out.

Jill scoffed while hitting the call light. "No shit."

"Oh?" Gale smirked haughtily. "So you know...That one of Olivia Morris was recorded from two different angles?"

"Yeah, Ghostface. Ghostface's. And a partner was probably those two creeps in the bushes or something while Charlie killed her. YN was across the street, you know, their accomplice. She almost got me killed on that staircase." She spat with a smartass smug smirk at Gale. Trying to frame everyone but herself at this point.

"Then why was that one video recorded from your bedroom?"

....

....Jill felt her heart plummet. Everything froze as her ears wrang and her palms tingled like the bed dropped out from under her.

“...What did you just say?” She asked in a hushed tone, brows furrowing.

“That second angle of the video was filmed from your bedroom window, Jill.” Gale coldly replied.

. "...What? T-That's insane-" She furiously shook her head with a nervous laugh.

Gale gave the same smartass smirk back to Jill in return. "See, there's no way that video came from anywhere but your bedroom window. You had a clear shot. Are you seriously going to claim it was Kirby? Especially when at one point you can see her left hand in the shot when the video was recorded from the left side of that glass? C'mon! You can hear your voices and she sounded more scared than you!... She didn't have that camera, Jill. Billy and Stu weren't in your room. And YN was actually trying to get into the house from outside to help your friend at the time…No one but you could've recorded that."

“I didn't-”

“You did. Police have it. Got it off a website these murders were posted on. I just saw it in evidence today. But rest assured, they have it.” She chuckled in smug amusement. “Good luck trying to do what Roman did. Police stations, especially during a murder case, are like fort knox to break into.”

“I didn't!” She yelled.

Gale chuckled, “Oh really? Hm. It got uploaded that night…Are you gonna say Charlie did it? You were injured at the hospital, so you never saw Charlie alone and now with your phone mysteriously gone?...How convenient." She drew out and tilted her head in satisfaction at how tense Jill was.

Jill stared with wide eyes, brows furrowed, breath quickening as Gale smirked at her.

…This goddamn bitch. Fucking cunt. Nosey piece of shit. Skinny ass old hag fucking-

The insults in Jill's head were endless as Gale figured it out.

A nurse tried coming in and Gale quickly blocked the door with a chair. Banging persisted as Jill gripped the bed sheet, teeth gritted as Gale smugly told her as quickly as she could in a hush whisper as close to Jill as possible, "That video came from your phone and even if you destroyed it; It's still in the phone records with the carrier you stupid ass moron! They can dig and dig and diiggg-"

Gale jerked back as Jill yelled, "And what would an old washed up Boomer like you know ANYTHING about tech? Huh?! You probably still call it the net and print out pictures of memes and shit off pinterest!"

"I got sources including tech geeks I talked to…And I'm fucking GenX!” She quickly rushed out without taking a breath. “This ‘old hag’ would've recorded the old fashion way on a camera recorder hidden in your friends room and uploaded it using a public computer at the library or at least a laptop with a DPV or VNP or whatever the fuck its called! Not my smartphone connected to everything about me and in my fucking room beside a witness that knows me, you dumbass!" She jeered back as the door slammed open and people rushed in.

Jill felt her heart had been hammering in time with the door banging. Eyes darting looking for something to bash Gale's head in. Seething with anger and fear as she was damn tempted to stab Gale with her fork on her tray and claim she had to defend herself somehow…Until witnesses barged in.

They questioned Gale as Jill felt her world crumbling around her...Everything she thought she was so clever at and it went up in smoke in an instant.

"And when we find YN! She'll fight you! Then this will have to go to court and WAY higher than Woodsboro PD will be involved, sweetheart. It'll all unravel…It's over, Jill!" Gale called over the security guard's shoulder that was shoving her to the exit.

A nurse came in to check over Jill as the teen trembled and breathed heavily. Panicking at the idea of them realizing that particular video's angle was shot in her bedroom. She hid that and got rid of her phone that they'll soon recover calls and text and videos from. She was so focused on getting the video to let people see the murders she never suspected...She never thought-

"Get out...Get out! Get the fuck out!" She screeched at nurses who looked bewildered but complied after Jill stood and threw a tray, "GET OUUTTT!!"

Once alone she started hyperventilating. Grasping her hair and hunched over. Not even feeling the stab Billy gave her on her back, the stitches and pain dulled by morphine and fear.

If they find you with those two? She had a chance. You being with two wanted killers and even if people thought they were dead it would overshadow her…Maybe.

...If they found you alone? And you told the cops the truth? Gale was right...Court. Her phone gone out of everyone else's still on their person; she'd be the main suspect. They'd go to her phone carrier with a waiver to go through records, even videos and calls and texts all deleted but still there on their end. She thought a VPN on the web was enough and deleting evidence then getting rid of the phone! Most of all? Nothing could get rid of evidence that it was recorded from her bedroom window looking at Olivia's room. Eye witnesses including YN and Mrs. Meeks knew she and Kirby were there when it happened. If they find you? It's over! She couldn't even kill Gale, no doubt FBI getting involved in this case if it goes to court. It went from the sole survivor's only word against a bunch of killers to now...It's fucking over.

"Shit..." She tensely gave her voice genuinely shaky now. No more acting "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT, SHHITT!!" She screamed, throwing her tray against the wall.

————————————

You stood in front of Billy's bedroom door. Feeling sick to your stomach…Seriously, you might throw up. Skin clammy and breathing shallow. Debating heavily should you or should you not? Your voice wavered in uncertainty as you forced out, “Stu?...Can I come in?”

“Go away.”

Honestly, his tone alone was enough to make you want to agree and leave him be. Stu proved clear back in 1996 that when this side of him came out; he was dangerous. Maybe even more dangerous than Billy could ever be.

Your fingertips danced over the doorknob. Upperteeth skimming your body lip in trepidation before a sigh escaped you.

Despite his warning, you didn't listen.

Opening the door because you couldn't handle this silent treatment or the unsaid any longer. Not anymore. You had no one but him and Billy in this mess and despite what Stu says about ‘never seeing him again’ he WAS dangerous and he was quite the ‘sore loser’. Billy knew it. Hence his ‘We'll have to sleep with one eye open’ argument after Stu stormed away to the back of the trailer. And what can you say? You just couldn't go back to constantly looking over your shoulder especially over a misunderstanding you knew if he would just listen you could mend…Maybe.

So, you forced yourself to walk inside despite the fear. If he killed you; what else was there to lose? Best Friend dead, friend who was like an older brother to you hates you, can't see anyone, might never go home, the whole Country might soon hate you, you might go to prison…

“Stu.” You softly said his name and gingerly closed the press board style door behind you. He had a lamp on, rereading that letter that you saw he had ripped in half. It crinkled in his hands when you came in; his features twitching in irritation.

He didn't answer you. Just glared down at that paper. You lightly swallowed, trying to find any words you could without him attacking you or Billy getting involved again.

“Stu…We gotta talk. We have to.” You hesitantly mumbled, already getting a headache from this. “We just have to…Please?”

“About?” He mumbled back while not looking at you. His voice was uncharacteristically stern.

“Everything.”

He rolled his lips before smacking the paper. “...This is bullshit.”

You just nodded. “Yeeeaahh. Yeah, I call it bullshit too. Could've saved everyone trouble if he was more blunt.”

Stu scoffed, “So, you want him to admit it? Wow.” He said with a wry smirk on his lips.

You sighed, “Stu, please. That's not what I meant.” You rolled your eyes softly. He was already starting it.

“What do you mean then?” He demanded and tossed the ripped letter aside. “Because why would you keep this if it means nothing to you, huh?” He gave a bitter chuckle under his breath. “Why would you go to him over me? Why?!” He demanded, getting upset all over again. His emotions were like a raging tornado that threatens anything in its path once he gets worked up.

You stayed near the door and replied in a low voice, “I told you, you were passed out-”

“That's not what I meant and you know it!” He snapped. Sucking in a breath as he lowered his voice. “...I left my number there at your cabin for a decade and you didn't call me. Not once.”

Yeah, he had you there. You still argued, “I didn't call Billy either. And you never called me.”

“I was doing what you asked! I left you alone!”

You averted your gaze, “Yes, okay fine… I did want that…I wanted to be left alone at the time. By you and him.” You grimaced at the honest truth.

“WHY!?” He demanded with raised brows in outrage. “Why!? I was already at your house on and off so why the hell did it matter?”

“Stu. Because you're a killer.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, classic excuse.”

“Seriously, Stu! I did not want Randy or Dewey to accidentally see you. They came over randomly, you came over randomly, and I was just a huge ball of anxiety 24/7.”

“Oh please.” He huffed, “I evaded them seeing me for years before you told me to get lost. Nah, there was another reason. Probably some guy. Probably rat boy in there. And you're a rat too so how about you leave me be and both of you go off and have your backstabbing rat life together and get married in a sewer and have your ugly ass rat babies.”

He flopped back on the mattress acting like he was going to go to sleep. You frowned, feeling annoyed that he just didn't get it. Instead he was pouting like a child.

You warily sucked air through your nose and tried to stretch your neck. “Okay… Because I didn't want them hurt by you.”

He huffed with his eyes closed while putting his hands behind his head, “What are you on about, man? I haven't laid a finger on them since we were teens.”

“No but you were planning to. You thought about it and that was enough. You even thought about killing Randy in the barn when he found us days ago. I had to draw my gun out on you and Billy!…All these years later, Stu. And you still think about it when all else fails.” You retorted with a frown. “It's why I didn't want you around a decade ago.”

He shrugged with his eyes still closed, “Eh, but I didn't. And even in Hollywood years back, it was just an idea and you got your granny panties in a bunch over it for nothing. You chicks are all the same. Getting all worked up and holding grudges.”

You gave a mild glare as he was just irking you more and more. “Okay, new one. Because you didn't hesitate to scare the shit out of me in that motel the second things didn't go your way. And I didn't feel like being scared in my own damn house after that. THAT is another reason I went no contact. For my safety and my friends.”

That made him go from pretending to try and calmly chill to jerking up ready to snap your head off . “Hey, what the- YOU had a gun on ME first!” He pointed at you with venom in his voice.

Your eyes narrowed. “Because I felt threatened and you were gonna kill me if I stopped you from killing my friends.” You argued, old resentment resurfacing from a decade ago even if you tried to be calm but it was failing the more he talked.

Stu sneered, “You're nuts and freaking delusional, man! I was not. It was just a scare tactic. We were desperate and lacking sleep and turning on each other and you wanna act all innocent when you threatened me and him-” He pointed to the living room. “With a gun multiple times!”

“There should've been no tactics!” You exclaimed, failing miserably at trying to be calm. “And considering how you both were and how fast shit escalates with you two; what choice did I have?” You jerked your arm to the living room where they had just beat the shit out of each other hours ago. “I mean, damn! You both go from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. I can't take a risk of thinking it's ‘just’ a scare tactic.”

“Oh cry me a river; it was a decade ago. Let it go.” He waved you off in annoyance. “And tonight is different. I've had it.”

You groaned and rubbed your face leaning back against the door. You both ran in circles verbally. Damn him. Doing this at this hour while you felt like shit. Seriously, was it the pills or just exhaustion?

You clicked your tongue and rolled your head back in exasperation. “...M’kay, back to my first and most important point. I didn't want to be caught. There. Billy did not get some special treatment either.” You grew serious trying to make him listen. “I didn't need or want my friends and family finding you at my house even if you didn't do anything. Or the cops of all things or the media. No one needed to know you lived and you were at my house. My secret needed to be kept a secret!"

He bitterly laughed, “Oh and look how good that turned out.” He jeered, giggling out the reply sadistically. “Randy was, ya know, just hanging out! Dewey is probably blubbering like a baby right now that you betrayed him too.” He grinned. “So what good did that do you?”

You felt a deep anger turning in your gut at his mockery of your best friend's death and the situation with Dewey. It was so fresh too. The wounds are still red and hurting to prove it. You wanted to throw something at him, scream at him but somehow you couldn't even move. The anger wasn't hot, it was cold. A chill over you at seeing him for who he was; a cold blooded killer.

“...Wow.” You gave in a lower tone with a heaviness in the air.

“Yeah, wow!” His tone was defensive in turn. He stared at you long and hard with an almost bored expression and shrugged. “Tough. It's the truth. Now, you have no one after all this time. Including me. You blew it more than Monica Lewinsky-”

“I know that, asshole!” You snapped, losing your patience and will to live through this the more you talked to him. “I know the irony. I didn't plan this. I didn't plan for you and Billy to be at that barn, and worst of all…Okay, the worst thing is-” You bitterly chuckled, shaking your head and voice catching.

“- Worst is that these two new killers had no idea you and Billy existed! You both could've stayed out of it completely and none of this would've happened.” You scoffed. No light in your eyes as you still wanted to cry over all this but barely held it together for your pride's sake. “My friend died because of a mistake that could have and should have been prevented. That's on me for life. Everything I tried to prevent blew up in my face. EVERY. DAMN. THING.” You smacked your hand with each syllable. Stu seemed unmoved as you ranted, “Seriously, every single thing that could have gone wrong, did! Are you happy? Is THIS what will make you smile back in your big mansion you claim you have? This gonna make it all better for you while you're with models and preparing for your next big gig or party or whatever?”

Stu raised a brow. A silence in the air for a moment before he mumbled. “You done?”

You stared at him. Pouring your heart out and he didn't care. You…You didn't…Damn, your brain was almost not working!

“...Fine.” Was all you said as you went to turn and he ordered.

“Stop.”

You stopped on command from leaving out of pure instinct at the tone he used.

“No, I'm-”

He cut you off. “I said, stop. You wanna talk? Don't run away the second the fire's on your ass instead of mine. You have bellyached about the same shit for years now it's my turn to be the victim for once. Sit.”

You turned to him in outrage, “I don't owe you shit after what you just said to me! It's…It's not the same thing. Randy and Dewey-” It died in your throat. You'd be venting, sobbing, pacing and heartbroken about this for quite some time. But you only had a select amount of time to clear this shit with Stu even if you both still parted ways permanently. At least he might not try to kill you years from now. You wanted to leave and never look back or even turn you all in but you shoved your fragile heart to the side right now. Either try and convince him for your safety down the road or live on edge for life. Cause vengeance and Stu was…A Casey Becker.

You paused and thought it over. Then nodded and rolled your lips in resignation. “Okay…Okay fine.” You gingerly went to the bed to sit at the edge.

Stu glared at you. “...I treated you well, YN. Better than any skank I've ever been with.”

You glared a bit, opening your mouth and he angrily shut you down. A rant of his own at what he knew you were gonna say.

“Before you say it; Screw Tatum. You knew her for a short part of our lives. Best friend my ass, you knew her for a few months.”

You went to open your mouth.

“I'm talking now. Shut it.”

God you wanted to smack him. You held back digging your nails into your palm with what you knew was a sour look on your face. You old injury from years back hurting as you fisted your hands.

“ I meant what I said. Tatum was a quick fling that didn't mean shit to me. I only dated her as a cover so me and Billy could kill Sidney. Billy's idea, not mine. She was cute with a nice rack so I played along. She didn't mean anything. You did. Alright? You were different…At least I thought.” He used a stern tone you rarely heard from him. “You were so much higher than any girl to me back then.” He raised his hand as if you were metaphorical on a pedestal before smacking his leg. “So much fucking higher, man.”

He leaned forward as you shrank back a bit. His blue eyes full of an emotion you couldn't read. “I gave you EVERYTHING…Everything, YN. My future, my plans, my freedom, my life, my friendship with Billy. I risked it all for you and you broke my fucking heart in half. I tried to save you and you stabbed me in the back. Then I tried to make up for everything after Windsor and you never forgave me after years of me thinking we were finally cool. Then, I had one slip up. Okay? One tiny fuck up and you cut me off like I'm chopped liver. Well, till you need me in our 30's for help…You're a using bitch. Always have been, always will be. You damn me but you're just as sick playing with a guy's heart just to save your own ass.”

You averted your eyes and didn't grip your fist so tightly. Feeling your palms sweating, feeling nauseous from what you inferred was anxiety, feeling bewildered at the emotion in his voice.

He huffed, shaking his head as if trying to find the words. His blue eyes seemed to bore into you as he gave in a hushed tone, “You…You told me you loved me. Do you know how fucked up that was? No girl told me she loves me. My own mother barely said it.” He hissed out. Pain in his voice you rarely got to hear. Always covered by a cocky attitude or perverted joke. “You wanna talk about fucked up? You played me like a fiddle and I forgave you for YEARS. Then you wanna play victim the second I get pissed? Fuck that and fuck you. I deserve to be pissed! FUCK YOU!”

You flinched at the boom in his voice at the last part. Angry Billy; What's new? Angry Stu and hurt Stu was a scary creature to deal with. You looked at him a bit differently as he spoke. What he said was hateful and nasty earlier but what do you expect from Stu Macher of all people? But this?...It made that note with his phone number you kept but never called all these years burn a hole in your chest. Your emotions are in turmoil with fear, anger, shock and hurt and…And guilt.

“Stu…I-” You fidgeted. “Look, I understand why you're hurt and angry.” The words felt uncomfortable to even say.

“Damn right I'm hurt.” Voice a low mumble in his throat; sounding almost like a growl of sorts as he glared daggers at you.

“But the big 3 words and why well…I mean, you were trying to kill me. I was…Kinda desperate?” You reluctantly gave while wincing as it stammered out.

Stu's eyes narrowed, “No excuse.” He grumbled.

“I mean…It's kind of a good excuse.” You tried to smirk and joke but It died in your throat at the glare he gave you. You sighed heavily. “C'mon. Give me a break, even a tiny inch here, Stu... Stu, we were kids! I was scared. You were trying to choke me to death. I was running for my life and trying to save everyone.”

“Did you love me?” He demanded.

“I…It probably wasn't love. Again I was a senior and scared but…I did care about you-”

“Bullshit.”

“I did.” You affirmed. “I don't know what I felt but I know I cared.”

But he just shook his head, “Oh cut the crap. You've never cared about me! You were scared of me or using me as a guard dog; no in-between.” He bitterly grumbled.

You rubbed your face trying to avoid any bruises or soreness from fighting Jill. “No I-...I guess… Yeah. Sometimes.” You reluctantly admitted with a heavy sigh. Your stomach was sinking and turning. “I'm sorry but sometimes I probably did.” You sighed out all the fight in you dissipating.

He stared.

Long and hard he stared at you before scoffing with a wry smirk, “There it is. That's all it was. I forced myself on your life and you were scared of me and just said whatever to save your ass!-” He didn't finish his sentence and flung a pillow in a fit. Thank god it was just a pillow. For now.

“That's not all, okay? I did care about you!” You tried to save yourself like a drowning woman at sea.

“Stop lying!” He yelled getting closer to you on the bed. You expected Billy to burst in at any moment with the volume your voices were reaching.

“I am not lying.” Pivoting on the bed to face him while scooting back. “Stu, you were my friend before you did what you did! Why can't you or asshole out there remember that?”

“Oh that makes it better? You only cared as a ‘friend’! You never cared past your guilty conscious and moral compass. I was your ‘friend’ because I put in the effort while you only knew me from Tatum.”

You groaned, “We had a class sitting beside each other; that's not true.”

“It is. And then you were my ‘friend’ to save your ass years later from me or from Billy or anyone else wanting to kill you.”

“No-”

He laughed in outrage, “Ohohoho, okay. So you cared huh? I loved you and you only cared? You never even cared that much!”

“Stop it, Stu!” You lashed out, finally yelling back. “I cared in High School even when I shouldn't. I really fucking did. When it was so wrong and sick and…Too much and...” You sighed and trailed off.

His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

You clamped up realizing you admitted a bit more than you were proud of. Always claiming to yourself and others you cared about them as friends only but…Who the fuck were you kidding? Even then? It was just too confusing and wrong and then the mix of hating them at the same time for what they did intermingled with that. Maybe not Billy as much until these confusing feelings with this letter happened but Stu had years of you getting to know him without the mask and talking and dinners at your cabin on and off or a chat on the phone…How could you not have some level of fucked up confusion over all that?

“Hey. Talk.” He snapped his fingers and intensely eyed you. “What? Are you trying to tell me… That you…What? You had a crush on me or something?” He taunted mockingly.

You felt your face scrunch up and looked away. “It's not the time for this, okay? I just lost everything. I'm just trying to clear the air about NOW not 15 years back.”

His taunting smirk receded and he looked at you in surprise. “...No, it's the perfect time. Now say it.”

“Stu.”

“Did you like me as more than a friend? I won't kill you, you have nothing left to lose now anyways, Billy will save you, we might all die or go to prison anyway so say it! Did you or did you not want me?” He pressured looking at you with desperate demanding eyes. A glimmer of what you would describe as hope under all that rage.

You didn't answer and he gripped your arms and shook you, “YN!”

“Ow, Stu-” You grimaced at him touching your arms that were fucked up from the last few days.

“I'm gonna hurt you more if you don't fess up! Fucking talk, woman!” He ordered but his action didn't match his words as he loosened his grip

You groaned inwardly and shot him an annoyed look. “...Yes. Okay, fine. fine! FINE!” You raised your voice each word and shoved him off you as you had his undivided attention.

You shakily ran a nervous hand over your head, unsure how to even come back from saying what you've known for years and hated yourself for. “I did. I had a crush on you…I'm not saying love, okay? That is a big word for people like us…I mean, you.” You swallowed. “But I did have a crush, I guess. I know it was probably obvious but clearly not if you thought it might've been just to save myself.”

“You did?” He looked taken aback before he scoffed clearly not trusting you as he leaned back. “Oh suurree. I bet you did on Billy too, huh?”

You frowned and looked away.

“No way.” He grumbled.

“Billy's name with mine; per usual.” He rolled his eyes.

You sighed realizing there was no point in hiding it. “...Well sorry, but it's true. I liked you both in your own way before you got with my friend or...Oh fuck. Before guys attacked me at my parents house.”

“Then why not get with me then?” He demanded eyeing you up and down skeptically. “Why hide it?”

You scoffed a humorless smirk on your face in exasperation. “It was the 90's! I was confused how I could crush on you and Billy at the same time and felt like a slut that you both were taken by my friends. I felt awful!...So, of course I just said it was a fleeting thing that would go away. I never wanted to admit it. I don't want to even admit it now.”

“Did it?” He pressed easing closer.

You rolled your eyes, “...I don't know, okay? Your asking questions that don't matter-”

“Oh, but they do.” He urged.

You rolled your eyes feeling sweaty yet chilled as he was up in your breathing space. “No it doesn't…” When he wouldn't stop staring you groaned and begrudgingly just started admitting it like pulling teeth. Feeling awful and lightheaded. “...Sometimes it did. Sometimes it didn't. Okay? Sometimes the feelings came back then left just as quickly the second you open your mouth.”

He gave a look that was almost a stubborn pout at that. Like a kid not getting the answer he wanted. “Yeah yeah. Then you dated Randy two years later. Why not just be the friend group's bicycle, huh? Maybe all of Woodsboro could have a ride if you gave James of all guys a chance!” He bitterly insulted you. “The horror movie logic? I grew up and realized it doesn't exist. Even you can live.” He grumbled with a triumphant smirk

…But as he said it with that haughty smirk he glanced at you.

At the expression you had; you saw him frown. A slowly forming frown after the words left his mouth. The smirk and sadistic glee left his eyes a bit. He adjusted in his seat and cleared his throat looking down. Rolling his eyes whether at himself or you was undecided.

“Yeah. I'm not too shocked you think like that of me. Of any woman really.” You numbly replied. You felt your chest ache. “I guess I can admit it now. James was a piss poor distraction from how confused I felt and so I wouldn't be the spare tire in the group. As for Randy? Ray and I dated as a fling out of pure confusion. Make no mistake, I was happy for him and Karla. We were young and almost died and he was in a coma after college. We were confused kids. And truthfully? I guess it worked out because you and Billy would've found an excuse to kill whoever I was with. James or Randy. Derek was a distraction too…The one that got away. Got snuffed out, shockingly not by you two, was that Detective...Mark Kincaid was it if anyone had been it and he's dead. He's been dead over a decade.”

You saw the bitter jealousy in Stu at the truth. He tsked in irritation, “...Yeah he was just to save your ass. You knew him a few days and he wanted to bust me and Billy.” Stu grumbled with narrowed eyes the second you mentioned Mark's name.

"He was the only one that understood me without being crazy." You just coldly told him. “But no, that's what you want to think. That I can't care past using like you and Billy are. You're projecting your own personality onto me. I cared at that party or I would've killed you when you got knocked out or let Sidney. I would've turned you in. Shot you at my house. Shot you at the motel. I cared not to ever turn you in; YES! Out of fear but also out of your well being which is way more than a scumbag like you deserves. Seriously, you have tried to kill me, killed my friends, tried to assault me once, tried to kill me, saved my life, then was good to me for years, then tried to kill me again, then came here to save me, now you're insulting me and making me feel threatened again- It is a fucked up conundrum loving someone like you, Stu! Can't you understand that!?” You almost pleaded with that thick skull of his as it just blurted out.

“You are such a whiny victim wannabe, I don't know how I put up with you all these years. Constantly boo hooing! Poor YN, poor wittle YN so pathe-...” He froze as he realized what you said. “Wait…Wait, wait…”

“ME!?” You yelled, still heated. “You ate my food, crashed at my house, threatened me! Who the fuck?-”

His eyes were wide as he shushed you, “Wait, what did you say?”

You blinked. “Huh?”

He looked at you in wonder, “You said you loved me.”

You looked bewildered. Flabbergasted…Mortified even. “I-I did not!”

“You did!” He urged scooting closer. “You said it's a Conundrum loving someone like me? What the fuck does that mean?” He searched your face and huffed. “What? That I'm too messed up to love?”

You stared back with wide eyes, kicking yourself. You usually had more skill than that then to just blurt something like that out. You sighed and looked at him reluctantly. “...Yes, I mean no I-” You softly addressed the elephant in the room. “Maybe if you weren't who you are I would've…I might've…” You trailed off voice shaky and unsure. You closed your eyes with a grunt of embarrassment. “Damn it, why are you like this!? You just have to press; That's you! You have to have your way or you kill or manipulate or insult! I don't owe you anything; this was just me trying to not have you fight Billy or kill me no-”

!!!

You didn't get it out as your eyes snapped open at feeling something bump against your face. Kinda hurt, actually. Your eyes widened as you tried to understand what the hell just happened before realizing you felt his lips…On yours and-

Stu Macher was fucking kissing you. Deeply. Passionately. Stu was kissing you on Billy's bed.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Authors Notes:

Okay, between life just being weird right now. Seriously, I wasn't even excited for Halloween and that is not me...

I had a tiny scene from Scream 4 show up on Tiktok of Jill recording Olivia's death and thought "Wow I didn't see that...Wow, that's stupid of her...Wow, this messes with my plot- OH FUCK!!"

And I redid like 20k words give or take because I had all of Scream 4 done ready to post till I saw that and I just couldn't ignore it PLUS writing my own books (It would be cool if yall bout them once I publish 👉👈... It would be neat of you guys and stuff.) plus life and trying to get a part time job and writing for clients bc a bitch got bills and just...FUCK!

So yeah. That is why this is so late and I've been MIA recently. Ily all for supporting me and your patience I am so sorry but Jill being that stupid in canon is too much to ignore and I lowkey like this plot better even if it's riskier.

I'm gonna try every 2 weeks every weekend now that I think I have a clear plot and have most of 4 done.

[see-arcane]

Worst match-ups for Jonathan in the Classic Vamps Line-Up?

Oh man

Lord Ruthven of "The Vampyre"

Would definitely be thirsty to alternately drink him or torment him because the guy has a kink for making virtuous pretty young things deader, miserabler, and/or insaner than they started. But, all things considered, I think Jonathan would either side step him or relieve him of his head--the Vampyre is shown to be fairly limited in his supernatural juice, preferring to use his own knives to open throats rather than chomping. Jonathan could take him.

Clarimonde

She would be fiending for Mr. Holiest 'I would kill and die and blaspheme in every direction for my beloved' Love so fast. But, seeing as she is not Mina, no sale. Jonathan would scramble out of psychic reach the second he got airdropped a little ;) from her and feel ashamed about daring to think a stranger was pretty. No amount of loving or hedonistic pspspsps will get him back either. Sorry, Clarimonde. (Talk with Mina though, maybe if you get a permission slip you three can work something out)

The Family of the Vourdalak

Good news! No risk of romantic entanglement, also for Mina reasons! No crush on the vampire patriarch's daughter! Bad news. Jonathan's still going to Jonathan and that usually means unwittingly endearing himself to nice strangers he shares a roof with. Someone's going to get attached to him in Gorcha's house -> threat of being targeted by the Vourdalak 'turn who you love' curse. And honestly, unless he kicks into the spontaneous super speed that got his ass through the Carpathians, Jonathan might get got here. These Vourdalaks are sturdy enough to walk off heart impaling and attack en masse as a shrieking tidal wave dedicated to Not Letting You Escape. The narrator of the original short story only made it because he had a horse. If Jonathan was solo? No telling...but his odds aren't good.

Countess Dolingen and the Undead Village of "Dracula's Guest"

Proto-Jonathan made it out of their reach via Dracula saving his ass. Finished Jonathan? It depends on him being Pre or Post-October 3rd. Human Jonathan out on a little nature walk? Probably gets got. Enigmatic Cryptid Jonathan, fresh from lopping off Dracula's head? Dolingen and crew alternately A) Keep their distance of B) Toss him a gift basket (also from a distance).

Carmilla

If she's sticking to her known MO, she's likely not interested in Jonathan. But if it's down to a confrontation, my money is actually still on Jonathan, pre or post-October 3rd. Carmilla is not a fighter. She infiltrates, she drinks a victim to death or undeath, and she ditches. If he makes it to her coffin, it's over for her. (It's over for her much faster if she happened to target Mina or Lucy, but I digress)

Helen Penclosa of "The Parasite"

Somehow she keeps winding up in vampire anthologies despite being more of the 'hypnotism/possession' villain type, but if she's good enough for the anthologies, she's good enough for this list as a psychic vampire. In brief: Jonathan loses. He loses bad. If he does not have outside help or she doesn't helpfully croak out of her own poor health, we are never seeing this boy again because Penclosa is puppet mastering his romantic ass out of sight forever. No contest. RIP. (Don't worry, Mina will handle it. But still. Not Jonno solo.)

[sagesparrow394]

On the last episode of Total Monster Kill, you know what that means, it’s liveblog time

Jin and Lucia’s friendship means so much for me, both refusing to let the other die

“… So do you think Everett has like claws now?” OH BUDDY YOU WISH IT WAS JUST CLAWS

Pebble is a freak dude

‘I got fucked by the cock’ is truly the catchphrase of this campaign

Milo’s reaction to realising it was Lucia’s sister oooh that hurt :((

Pebble popping off???

‘Do you have nuts still? Do you have balls?’ ‘Dude.’ ‘No.’ ‘They neutered him!’

Milo: ‘I’m holding my arms out, as if to hug her.’ Grizzly: *laughs ominously*. Huh??? Mr DM, what does that mean???

Auuugghhh Mary is making me cry this poor traumatised child, she’s such a well written antagonist dude

Bizly’s burping acting as the comedy linchpin keeping this from getting too heavy, I appreciate it

I am so scared Lucia’s attempts to connect with her sister and reason with her will lead to her dying…

MILOMUMBLES AUGH THE ROLEPLAYER YOU ARE

I find it way too funny when they make meta comments in character. “Strike me down.” “It’s not my turn. I can’t.”

One second I was hyped that Jin knocked Everett out, the next face palming at two Nat 1s to save Raven… Damn she seemed really nice, rest in peace :(

‘I should’ve just killed him, dude.’ ‘You should have.’ Damn Grizzly okay. But yeah, Everett’s ‘the heart’, bro probably needs to die to stop this

‘You know when Jin goes for the kill… so no head?’ GRIZZLY-

Condi and Milo’s reactions to the Moon Beast and Bizly’s excitement lmaoooo ‘Charlie isn’t even here dude, he’d be freaking the fuck out right now!’

The Moon Beast is real!!!!

‘You are now on the back of a giant eagle facing off the Moon Beast’ Dude this campaign is so fucking cool

I love how in the other campaigns with a Moon Beast, it’s like a mythical celestial being whose existence and power is tied to the moon, but in this one it’s just a beast that wants to eat the moon

LUCIA’S COMMAND WORKED LETS FUCKING GOOOOO!!!!!

AND PEBBLE GETTING A NAT 20

‘He chomp on my moon beast til I take necrotic damage’ I don’t think I’ve made it clear enough how much I love milomumbles

TWO NAT 20S FROM JIN LETS GOOOO

“TREY… I KNOW YOU WOULDN’T WANT THIS THE MOST. THAT’S WHY I’M ENDING IT HERE FOR YOU. I’M SORRY I FAILED YOU!” Condifiction once again making my heart break

Felipe mentioned, I miss that frog :(

NOOO LUCIA’S DOWN

‘ITS YOU DUDE!!!!!!!’

“Alf… you were a dick. But you were the proudest to be human among us- sHIT I SAID AMONG US! NOOOOOOO”

Grizzly repeatedly saying ‘oh god’ about Lucia being down is scaring me

‘Dude Everett would not pull out’ ‘Sigmas never pull out’

Thank god, Pebble had a potion of healing

This is the most stressed I have ever been listening to maths……. C’mon Jin….. please please please………

IT STILL HAS 8HP FUCK

“Fuck… I FAILED!” AUUUGGH

PEBBLE YOU GOT THIS

Fail…

And fail, fuuuuuuck

LUCIA PLEASE IT’S ALL UP TO YOU

AUGGGGHHHHH MILO MAKING ME CRYYYY

Rolling damage… 10…… Is it enough……?

It was… it’s over…

BEBO NO DONT DO THIS TO ME

NOT EVERETT’S HAND FUCK ME

I’m crying so bad wtf

NOT THE CONSTELLATIONS OF MARY AND HER PARENTS

And it’s over… fuck me dude that shit hurted

It was so good, awesome to see more of Milo, incredible to see more Grizzly DM outside of Riptide

Guess this means I’m starting Judgement tomorrow

[strawberrystepmom]

pokemon trainer au! gojo x f!reader. reader is a fairy gym leader and satoru is league champion and a flying type trainer. a bit of world building! we discuss fairy gym leader and satoru's first meeting and their future plans a bit. wc 2.6k

part one, part two (you are here), part three

divider by @/cafekitsune!!!! 🩵

Unsurprisingly, the news of the current League Champion stepping down spreads like wildfire and you chuckle while spooning cereal into your mouth and leaning against the counter in your kitchen, Skitty eyeing you desperately from the floor below begging for a bite.

You scoff at her and point toward where her bowl lies a few feet away, full to the brim, and she rubs her tail against your calves while you lean over the counter and narrow your eyes at the TV, chomping on another perfectly soggy mouthful while watching clips of Satoru’s recently televised battles as Champion flash across the screen.

“Damn he’s good,” you mutter to yourself as if it’s a surprise. You know very well how good Satoru Gojo is, it’s why you’ve spent the last three years refusing his requests to battle. He has no reason to battle you other than bragging rights and you know his ego to already be overly inflated even if it is rightfully so and you’ve been satisfied with your decision until now.

You’ve spent two days trying to figure out why he asked you on this journey in the first place, stuffing your long forgotten camping gear and various repel sprays and medicinal sprays in the largest bag that you own while pondering every aspect of why. Why you?

Thinking back throughout the years, you remember every interaction you’ve had with the man fondly. Perhaps it’s the teensy crush you’ve always harbored for him painting the memories as sweet or maybe he is simply sweet beneath the brash and arrogant exterior. People are capable of being more than one thing at once, an important lesson you’ve learned in your life. You met him when you were still going to school and he was a member of the Elite Four, your shock seeing the way he and his Sneasel worked together against a schoolmate of yours was enough to catch his attention.

The two of you were the same age back then, fifteen, but on two clearly different paths - he was destined to become Champion and your own future felt undefined but free, something you’ve always craved.

He winked at you that day in response to your wide eyes and parted lips and you’ve never forgotten it. Not that he’d ever let you, the starstruck look is something he manages to sneak into almost every conversation the two of you have had since. Clearly it had an effect on him too and you’ve been quietly smug about it for a long time.

“And now we have a few words from the Champion himself. Mr. Gojo?”

You nearly choke on the mouthful of cereal you’re working on swallowing, holding your chest while Skitty chirps happily at your near imminent demise. You’ve always been certain she’d be the first to eat you if you were to die so you glance down, shaking your head, before gluing your gaze back to the man on the TV with a glistening grin as wide as the screen he’s upon. It’s a surprise to see him, you were certain he’d let his spokespeople do the heavy lifting, and it does nothing to answer the question on your mind of why he picked you.

He would be infuriating if you didn’t find him so charming. His hair flops over his eyes, big and blue and beautiful as ever, and he is wearing a suit which is something you don’t think he has ever truly done before. You know the PR around this must be a nightmare if they’re hauling him onto daytime television in a suit likely designed by the finest designer in Johto and sheer amusement makes your lips twist into a smile seeing him nod politely to each question he has been asked. 

“Thank you for giving me the time to talk about my future plans,” he grins and you scoff, Espeon now joining you by hopping on the counter. You start to fuss at her but stop yourself as soon as Satoru begins speaking again, his head bowed humbly. Whatever he’s saying goes in one of your ears and out the other, your eyes trained on the way his pretty mouth moves instead of what he’s saying, and Espeon chirps at you. You toss her a glance and reach for the remote, turning up the volume to actually listen to the man on the screen.

“How can someone call themselves a Champion if they aren’t rising to every challenge they can?”

Nodding, you’re surprised that’s the public reason he’s giving. Perhaps he won’t mention the travels of the two of you at all and you are his mere escort, someone far more familiar with the routes criss crossing your home of Kanto and the other regions than he is, and if so, you’ll accept that although his pretty mouth looks a little less pretty when you remove the thought that he may have a thing for you as well from your mind.

“I need to challenge myself to be even better, to see this entire world, to experience every Pokemon I can and I’ve invited a friend along with me,” his words fade out when he says your name and mentions Camellia Town, the place you’ve called home for the last five years, and you watch the camera pan back to the surprised expressions of the show hosts. Despite their shock, he continues carelessly and your jaw drops as wide as it did the first day you ever met him.

“If you see us out there, don’t hesitate to stop and ask for a battle! My partner is capable of more than she lets on.”

Almost as if every one of your companions hears him, they all turn toward you and you sigh. Espeon blinks, Skitty begs at your feet, Piplup chirps enthusiastically at your snowy white Vulpix - they’re as ready for adventure as you are and you’ve taken it too easy on them.

“I know, I know.”

Throwing your hands up in surrender, you intentionally ignore the buzzing of your phone on the counter next to you. The screen lights up with messages from your friends and fellow gym leaders, one of your best friends’ names at the top of the screen. You read her messages and snicker to yourself, shaking your head.

Call me now. What do you mean you’re traveling with THE Satoru Gojo?????????

THE Satoru Gojo you’ve whined and pouted over for years?????

Oh this is delicious. I love you. Call me NOWWWWWWW.

Scoffing at the last message, you drag the device to your ear and listen to the dial tone on the other end, only to be met with screeching when she picks up.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” You groan at her words and hear her boyfriend chuckling on the other end, probably making her breakfast in his cozy little Dark type gym in the city. 

Some girls have all the luck and it comes in the form of raven haired gym leaders that think they hung the moon. Others get stuck with arrogant men that have the attention of the entire world on them at all times. You make a mental note to ask her for tips later but for now you play defense, shocked at the tone of your own very best friend in your ear.

“What was I supposed to say? This dude I’ve had a crush on for a decade asked me to go rough it with him?”

“That’s exactly what you’re supposed to say but you don’t talk to anyone about anything ever,” you let her go on a rant and you roll your eyes, pantomiming her words about needing to be better about telling everyone what’s happening with you. 

It’s true, you’re terrible about keeping everyone up to date even your own mother who you’re certain is calling you judging by the beeping you hear alerting you another call is coming through, but you figured by this point in your twenties everyone would just accept it. You’re old enough that you won’t be changed and it’s time for everyone to just accept it.

“Okay, well, next time the man you’ve loved for ten years shows up and asks you to run away with him you better call me. I love you!”

You return her admiration, smooching and making kissy noises into the microphone, before immediately ending the call and watching the screen fade to blissful blackness, no notifications for a moment. The television screen pans back to the newscasters who are still buzzing with your name and you know anonymity on this journey is a dream. 

Perhaps you should have known better from the start that it would be anything but a normal journey to travel by Satoru’s side but you have always been a little bit of a hopeless dreamer.

Your phone buzzes again and you sigh, looking down to see the name on the screen belongs to the man of the hour himself. Discarding your cereal bowl, you scramble to pick up the phone and press it to your ear.

“Did you see me?”

You snort, shaking your head while Espeon crawls across the counter to eavesdrop. 

“I did and you looked great. New suit?”

You swear you can hear how smug he sounds from the other end of the speaker and you roll your eyes for the tenth time in an hour, scooting back from the counter to bend at the waist and press your forehead against it. How are you still reacting to a crush this way at 25?

“Yeah somethin’ stupid they put me in to make me camera ready but I didn’t call for compliments although they’re appreciated,” you hum and giggle, wondering what he could have to say next. “Did you like my little shout out though?”

“No. I’ve been getting calls nonstop for fifteen minutes.”

Gojo chuckles and you want to wrap yourself in the sound like a warm blanket. It drips with his confidence but it’s the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard and tomorrow’s deadline of his arrival to come get you starts to loom when your eyes fall on your half packed suitcase that is spread across the floor of your living room. To get your mind off of it, you switch gears and raise your brows, cheeks puffing out as you exhale.

“Satoru, can I ask you something?”

He hums affirmatively. His mind wanders a bit to what you could possibly ask or if you’re rethinking your commitment to take this journey with him. Was this morning too much? He has been reminded endlessly his whole life that he’s too much and from everyone else, it doesn’t bother him. From you, it would wound. He has always wondered what you really think of him, not just a fifteen year old version of you in a denim miniskirt with her mouth agape at his abilities. 

“Why did you invite me?”

He’s relieved you have no intention of wounding him after all and he plays off his relieved sigh with another chuckle, twisting his mouth to the side in the back of a car driving him from the PokeNews Network headquarters back to his high rise apartment in the city. The last two days have been a whirlwind of nonsense and he’ll be glad when the rush is over and the two of you are finally on the road to wherever the wind will take you next. The city rushes by outside of the tinted window and you wait for his answer, yanking your phone from your ear to scroll through your social media.

“Is it such a crime to want to get to know a pretty girl better?”

That’s the last answer you were expecting and it’s evident by the cough he hears on the other end of the phone. Espeon approaches you and rubs her head against your knuckles and you squint to read the name on the little dark screen.

“If you wanted a pretty girl I’m sure whoever @FlyHighGojo is must be pretty and would love to be by your side for the journey.”

Your eyes scan over the message in front of you eloquently listing out the ways you could never love the former Champion as much as whoever mans this account does and you laugh, swiping the app closed. He tilts his head, smiling despite himself. 

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Your rabid fangirls? They’re currently on my feed in droves and now they know what I look like so I’ll be shocked if I don’t have a crowd outside of my house by the end of the day.”

He sighs, thinking quickly on his feet. There’s no regret about mentioning you, in fact he’s proud he was finally able to do so since he thinks about you all the time, but he does feel bad that the droves are out and seething over it.

“I’ll come get you before they have the chance. Be ready by 5.”

Looking back at your half packed suitcase, you groan.

“Really?”

“Really. We’ll start tonight instead of tomorrow.”

“Okay, but give my question a real answer first.”

Words dance in Satoru’s head yet he struggles to string them together. How can he tell you it’s because he has had a crush on you for ten straight years without sounding utterly pathetic? This is the most powerful man in the League and certainly a figurehead of the culture of your life and that of all humans who love Pokemon, who would he be if he admitted seeing the look on your face that day has haunted him since?

He was in love at first sight, he has just always been too preoccupied to worry about it. Now, it’s all he can think about.

“I’ve always wanted to get to know you better and I’m running out of time to do it.”

He has been League Champion for eight years, unstoppable in every single way, and he’s willing to walk away from it just to spend time with you. Your heart feels so heavy and light at the same time, a lead filled balloon, and his honesty seals the deal.

“Perfect. I’ll be ready for you at five.”

Amusement is all you hear from the other end of the phone, his laughter making you grin. You make him feel so blissfully normal that he forgets to be embarrassed by his slip of his true feelings.

“That’s all you have to say?”

You hum affirmatively, mirroring his own response to your prior question.

“I don’t want to make you sick of me before we even leave so yes, for now.”

Although he thinks it would be impossible for him to ever get sick of you despite the little bit of distance that still remains between the two of you, he appreciates your forethought. This trip is a means to finally win you over, uninterrupted.

“Alright. I’ll see you at five.”

He ends the call with your goodbye and confirmation of the plan and holds his phone to his chest for a moment, shutting his eyes tightly. Most of what he knows about you is secondhand information fed to him by the same friend who just accosted you for your plans with him, the two of them close thanks to her relationship with his best friend. She has filled in every blank he has ever had when it comes to you and he finds himself indulging in imagining you filling in the rest of it during his ride home.

Yes, this is a chance to get to know a pretty girl better but you aren’t just a pretty girl. You’re you. Patient, kind, funny, gracious…he could go on but stops himself, raising a perfectly arched white brow while he looks out the window and into the limitless sky, as blue as his eyes.

It’s time for him to figure out who he is if not Champion and he can’t wait to do it by the side of the most patient person he has ever met.

[its-in-the-woods]

Chapter 2 of down the rabbit hole

Chapter one here chap three

MDNI

Pairing: Walton Goggins x You

Rating: Not much for this, brief mention of SA, mention of alcohol.

Slow build like novel damn length okay, Very Fluffy, Pinch of Angst, Relationship Development, Hurt/Comfort, Older man/ Younger(30s) women, Alternative universe, fictional work (IDK WHY BUT I AM PUTTING IT) Probably more as I go.

Synopsis: Working in film as a make-up artist is hard enough, but then Walton Goggins requests you, well it's way too easy to fall down the rabbit hole.

Note: they are both single, all for fun.

WARNING I do not have this all written out, I do have it plotted out, but it may be a little slower for chapters to come out. Please bear with me. If you know a Beta to edit please send them to me.

*Before we get into things. Thank you 100x for all the love. It means the world to me*

Somehow four weeks have slipped by. As always, TV series runs like a machine on fire while driving through a snowstorm. Long days, and even longer nights. You wonder briefly why you chose a profession that meant you average four to five hours of sleep. But then Walton brings the whole trailer their favorite coffee and you just shrug the thought off. Working with the cast and crew was like being in one big dysfunctional family. One part hated each other, one part was fucking each other, and another part just held on for the ride. You liked to think you were in the last group, but sometimes when you caught Liz glowering at you, you wondered if maybe you were in the first group. 

“Why does she hate me?” You ask Trevor as you try to eat lunch. Fish wasn’t your first choice but it’s what they had had. 

“Who?” Trevor asks, munching on some strawberries, how the man ate as much as he did and remained tiny was amazing. 

“Liz.” You sigh moving your fork around the plate.

“Liz hates everyone, don’t take it personally.” He grabbed a couple more pieces of fruit. 

“Have you seen the way she looks at me? Like, why bring me onboard if she was just gonna avoid me like the plague?”

“She’s jealous of you.”

You turn and raise your eyebrows at him. “What are you talking about?”

Trevor lets out a snort and chomps down on some cheese. “Girl. Don’t play down your talents. You have worked your damn ass off to get here. One of the best makeup artists out there and Liz knows it. Why do you think Mr. Goggins likes you so much?”

You shrug and pick through your food, the fish was not sitting particularly well. “I am not better than anyone else.”

Trevor swats at you playfully, “Shut up. You can wrangle through asshole actors like no one else. You take zero shit from anyone and you get stuff done on time or before they are needed. You’ll be one of the most valued artists in town in no time.” He chuckles and pushes his own plate away. “Just make sure you bring me along with you.”

You grin back at him. Trevor had never jerked you around like most others. He was right, you did a good job and people appreciated your blatant lack of kiss assery. You fiddle with your fork for a moment before deciding that you had enough for the day. 

***

It was Thursday, which meant the week was almost over. The end was in sight and your bed was calling your name. You’d probably sleep the weekend away and indulge in some overpriced Chinese food. Your thoughts about sweet and sour pork are broken when someone announces they are coming in. Liz walks in and looks you up and down. Dear god, that woman has a chip on her shoulder. She went and pulled out a couple of empty totes. 

“It’s going to be you and Trevor tomorrow and the following week.” She says her lips pressed firmly together, as she talks she goes through drawers grabbing different products.  “Walton is here doing some scenes, Laura will also be here but she shouldn’t be on camera. If she is, I've emailed you notes and pictures.”

You nod, not bothering to look at her as you continue to wash your brushes. Liz continued to add to her bin.  “Sounds good.”

“Look, I know we haven’t been exactly- Friendly.” You turn to look at the woman, she is putting the lid on to the tote. Writing info on a sheet of paper on the top. “But, you do a good job. The director has been very happy with everything. “

“Thank you.” You reply, giving her a small smile. “I appreciate that Liz.”

Liz nods back at you and grabs the tote, waddling out the door. It’s probably the closest you’ve come to liking her. You sit there for a moment, taking in the compliment, maybe things are changing for the better. 

***

Friday is here, and you decided to bring some timbits to celebrate the end of the week. The usually bustling studio lot was quiet. Construction and Set Dec had busied themselves with various other needs. It was refreshing to have a little quiet. You had even been able to park your car right beside the trailer. As much as you loved the absolute chaos that was a film set, the calm was a nice balm. You knew that before long you would miss the chaos, and it would be back with vengeance. 

Laying things out you felt like you could breathe. You had put on some gothic country on the stero, something that only you and Trevor really enjoyed. Both of you had moved from rural areas to do your job. It was another reason why you enjoyed his company. Trevor had set himself up on the second workspace, the two of you spreading out a little while the boss was away. 

“Hello. Lady and gentleman,” Walton’s voice shrill as he came up the stairs. The man was a never-ending ball of energy. You were positive you could do a month of night shooting and he still would come in chipper as if it was his first day. 

“Hey Walt,” Trevor said with a grin, it was hard not to be happy around the man.

“Excited for the weekend?” You ask as you drape him with a cape, popping off his sunglasses and grabbing his other glasses off the counter. As he rereads some lines. 

“I sure am. It feels like it’s been an extra long week.” He sighed, rubbing at his hazel eyes before grabbing a timbit. “These things are delicious, I am going to steal the whole box..” 

You slap playfully at his hand.“Hey now! Make sure I get a few” He gives you a crooked smile and holds one up. You don’t hesitate to lean forward and let him feed it to you. He swallows and looks up at you, as the realization dawns on you as to what you just did. 

“Well-Umm- Next week doesn’t look to bad,” Trevor pipes, shooting you a look, his voice squeaking slightly.

“This is true, just the three of us enjoying a few short days,” Walton says, you are desperately trying to move past what just happened as you grab a moisturizer and apply it gently. His eyes follow you.

“I can certainly say I will enjoy not having to drive all over the place.” You reply, trying not to let your cheeks flush. Reminding yourself sternly that you were a professional and for Pete’s sake you’d been working together for over a month now. 

“You have the craziest eyes.” He whispers as the two of you look at each other. There is no way of hiding the fact your cheeks are burning. Trevor graciously comes over and starts to fuss with his hair. 

“Thank you,” You reply, words caught in your throat. Turning to start packing your set bag, anything to hide the fact that you were bright red. You look up to see Trevor raising his eyebrows at you. You look away and finish things up before sending Walton off to set.

“What was that?” Trevor drawled as he slid into the chair, the look on his face made you want to crawl under the counter. 

“What was what?” You try to dismiss things even if your face is on fire. What the hell had just happened?

“He just fed you a damn donut hole and you are blushing all over Goggins?” Trevor pushes fiddling with a comb, and you really want to throw something at him. 

You freeze a bit and look up at him in the mirror. “Don’t do that.” 

“Do what? See the fact that you two have been goggling over each other for the last four weeks. You just ate food out of his fingers. Wait what does he taste good?’

You do throw a powder puff at him. “You. You stop it. I don’t know what the hell I was doing. It just kind of happened.” 

Yes, you had noticed the little things, but really the man was friendly with everyone. He had always been touchy-feely, but maybe there had been more that you had missed, including eating food out of his fingers. You remember him kissing you on the cheek yesterday morning before leaving. But there couldn’t be anything there, there was nothing there you repeated to yourself. 

“Oh give me a break. He brings you coffee and touches, and kisses your cheek every day. The man has been fawning all over you.”

You bite your lip and turn to look at your colleague, ‘He does that with everyone, Trevor. He’s just friendly.”

You’re now madly stuffing stuff into your bag trying to get out of this newly warm trailer. Trevor snorts and puts his things into his bag. You wish he would drop it, but he was never good at leaving things alone. 

“You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart,” He giggles in an imitation Southern drawl. The two of you hop out of the trailer. You aren’t sure whether to smack him or hug him, either way, there is a job to be done. 

***

It was a textbook day, Walton had nailed almost everything. The man could act there was no doubt about that. The character was a belligerent drunk detective trying to solve a cold case. The script was dark, moody, and well horrible. You didn’t shy away from horror, but true crime always made your stomach flipflop. Your stomach also flipped as you watched Walton go from looking like he was gonna bite someone's head off, to all smiles and laughter. 

You, Trevor, and Walton are walking back to the trailer together. It was actually sunny out, a rare moment for the Pacific Northwest. Costumes had been busy with some extras so you decided to start with him and finish with the others. 

“So do you two have any plans for the weekend?” Walton asks, walking in between both of you.

“I think I might have a date on Saturday,” Trevor replied cheerfully. 

“Oooh and who's the lucky fella?” Walton sing-songed.

Trevor looked flush for a moment, “Decon, from props actually.”

Walton chuckles elbowing Trevor “Well that sounds like an excellent Saturday. Man is gonna have some fun.”

Trevor shakes their head and rolls his eyes “He better show or I am going to have to send you both after him”

Walton bares his teeth and growls, which send everyone into a fit of giggles. Decon be aware, there was a madman coming for you. You thought as you get to the trailer opening the door.

“And what about you, little lady,” Walton drawls, that damn southern accent creeping in. 

“Nothing special. Think sleep and Chinese food are calling my name.” You reply as everyone settles in. Really that would be the best way to end the weekend. 

“Oh, Chinese food sounds amazing.” Trevor pipes in, turning on some tunes. 

“Who needs sleep, it's not that important.” Walton chides as you get to work. “I was wondering if you both would like to come to a small bar not far from here. Transport can drive us there and back, a few of us are getting together for some drinks.”

You catch Trevor's gaze, a sly smile spreading across his face. “Oh, I would love that! Little get-together with our mess of a family.”

“What about you?” The lead asks, rubbing your arm. His hands are warm, you’re surprised to feel a few calluses on his fingers. 

“Oh. Yeah sure. That would be good.” You give a small smile, trying not to let your mind wander too far. If you were honest, the prospect of getting together with a bunch of coworkers was low on your want list. But the look on Trevor's face tells you that you aren't allowed to say no. Your stomach clenches as the memory of a wrap party gone wrong rumbles past your mind. You push that down. It had been almost seven years since that happened, these were different people. People you knew and trusted.

“Fantastic, I am excited to have you both there,” Walton exclaims before closing his eyes to let you finish your job. 

Once Walton is released to Costume, you and Trevor busy yourself with cleaning the trailer. Getting extras cleaned up and making sure everything is ready for the early morning come Monday. You can tell Trevor has been watching you but you can't make yourself say anything. Anxiety has pooled in your stomach like a cold stone and you are struggling to shake it.

“What's wrong?” Trevor asks bluntly sitting down in a free chair. You shake your head and keep your hands moving.

“Come on now. I've never seen you get this clammed up over an invitation to a party. To be fair I've actually never seen you go to a party–” Trevor’s words trail off realization washing over his face. “I know you like your peace, and quiet, but what is going on”

You collapse into the other chair with a deep sigh. Trying to find the words, you really didn't want to explain things too much. That said if there was anyone who'd understand it be Trevor.

“When I first got into the industry.” Your mouth feels so dry even at the thought of it. You grab your water bottle taking a swig.“I went to a wrap party. Got drunk and a guy from Sound took advantage of me. So I've never gone to one since.”

Trevor looks shocked, sadness creeping in at the words. “Hon.That is awful.”

“It happened almost a decade ago. It's fine. Just makes me nervous.” You let out a breath. You weren't going for sympathy, despite it being the worst night of your life, all you wanted was understanding.

Trevor comes over and gives you a big hug. You feel tears prickle in the corner of your eyes. As you let yourself sag against him. You were so thankful for this man, that he was understanding and seemed to care about you. 

“Honey, nothing like that is gonna happen to you tonight. We'll go together and enjoy ourselves. And if any man or woman tries to hurt you I will beat them with my handbag” Trevor reassures you with a small smile. You both chuckle at the last statement 

You sniffle a little, grabbing a tissue from the counter to dab at your eyes. “Thank you, Trevor”

He gives you a reassuring nod as you both get ready to go out. You were determined to make it a good night one way or another. 

Chapter three

Maybe.. maybe.. I will post the next chapter tomorrow cause I am too excited not to share it. Likes, comments, and reblogs are so greatly appreciated. Y'all keep this northern person happy.

[scaryscarecrows]

“Whitman,” she finally says. “He’s the only one not here, and I’d bet money he’s another one.”

“Shame. I liked that one.” Cobblepot shrugs, chomps an end off a cigar, and lights it. “Ah, well. Let’s keep this to ourselves for the moment, hm? I need to think of a…fitting punishment.”

She should feel sorry, she guesses. But, y’know, job risks. She doesn’t have that much sympathy to spare right now.

“You’re the boss, boss.”

She’s just taking a sip of her drink when there’s a pounding on the door. Cobblepot sighs.

“What?”

The door busts open. It’s Benny, stupid, stupid Benny, followed by an exasperated-looking Twitch.

“I tried to stop him, boss.”

“Museum’s haunted!”

Oh.

Oh, no.

Fortunately, Benny sounds hysterical and also there’s no such things as ghosts (probably), and Cobblepot gets up, hitches over to him, and slaps a hand on his shoulder.

“My boy,” he says, “don’t be an idiot.”

But Benny is an idiot and as such, he keeps blabbering. 

“Twitch don’t believe me, but I saw somethin’, I did–”

“He heard something in the tanks,” Twitch grumbles. “It’s quiet now.”

Yeah. Yeah, Dove’ll just bet it is. The tanks are reserved for Joker’s crew, the ones that get pushy. And by pushy, she means the ones they can catch. To be fair, they do get choices. Tanks, or Tiny. Tiny’s not always faster. Last one that chose Tiny was in there for three days, because Tiny wasn’t hungry.

“It wasn’t just that!” Benny protests. “I saw somethin’ in the dark, but when I went lookin’, it was gone!”

“You didn’t see shit–” Twitch starts, but Cobblepot holds up a hand.

“Show me where you saw something,” he says tiredly. “We may well have an intruder.”

The path they take leads past Zsasz, who’s furious. The soundproof glass keeps whatever he’s screaming a mystery, but when he sees Cobblepot, he hurls his body against it, making the case shudder.

“Good evening, Mr. Zsasz!” Cobblepot calls mockingly. “Have you seen our new addition, boys? An old friend was good enough to make a donation. I need to record a new tape for him.”

Benny and Twitch look uneasy. Dove can’t blame them for that. Mercifully, they don’t stay long and soon enough, they arrive in the aquarium exhibit.

The waters are dark. There’s lights to turn on, if you want to see what’s in there, but Cobblepot doesn’t bother.

“Well?”

“Well, it’s not here now, boss,” Benny says sukilly. “But I saw somethin’, I did.”

“What was this ‘something’?”

Dove and Twitch exchange nervous glances. Cobblepot’s being far too accommodating to be anything other than Pissed Off. As one, they shuffle back away from Benny, just in case.

“Somethin’ white,” Benny says. “I saw its face, it looked like–” For the first time, he drops his eyes. “I didn’t get a good look, boss, but I saw…it hadda brand and…it looked like Robin. Y’know. The one Joker…got.”

Dove tightens her fingers around her drink and drains half in two quick gulps. There. Much better.

“Don’t be a fucking moron,” she says. “Kid’s been dead for years and you know it.”

“But with all these guys in th’ tanks, maybe…”

“I’m sure Robin would much rather haunt the Joker than you,” Cobblepot says shortly. “Don’t disturb me again unless you’ve actually found an intruder, understand? Miss Marquis, I believe our business is concluded, unless…?”

[aalinaaaaaa]

ROYGBIV Tag

Thanks to @space-writes for the tag!

Premise: Search your story for the colours of the rainbow and post the excerpts :D

Scarlet (red)

In this mingling of antlers, wings and colour, Eshani stood out in her subtlety. Her scarlet dress reached her calves, the bottom part swaying with the breeze. If not for her lush cascade of blonde hair, the mark of her identity would be exposed by a slight cut in the back of her dress, a status which meant nothing yet everything here.

Orange

“So it’s true then? What the stories say happens when the time runs out?” She pushed him, her green eyes prickling and narrowed. “I don’t know, but I’ve no intention of finding out.” Past winding lanes and forest paths, the pair continued further, stopping at a small clearing. The stone ground reminded Eshani of a sunset, pink-orange bricks split by white stones at various intervals, leading to the grand centrepiece that was the Majkra Ljkoren.

Yellow

In a smooth motion he had a dagger to her throat, a breath away from drawing blood. “I’ll give you a different type of freedom if you don’t stop.” She looked straight into his dark eyes, her eyes wavering. “A pity.” Her hand drifted downwards, lingering for a second on his chest. “You seem like a fine man.” Petrius grabbed her arm and shoved her into the nearest reveller, one of her own ilk it seemed. He slipped through the crowd, thankful that Claudia had not been among those to witness that lady’s audacity. Maybe he should’ve drawn blood, it would suit her better than her putrid yellow complexion.

Green

“Eshani Faison,” His voice took a harsher tone, yet wavered. “You have easily got to be the most impulsive, reckless, self-sacrificial person that I have ever met. You are stubborn beyond words, your interference infuriates me, I-“ “Cerigo…” She rose to her full height, eyes narrowed and flaring green in the shadow of the moonlight she blocked. He stood adamant, craning his head all the way up to meet her vibrant glare, the next words making her gasp.

Blue

She rammed the gems on one of his rings into his index finger, digging into his skin. “Stop that.” Her captor swung his other hand around, large fingers aimed for her hands. Chomp. The padding of his fingers, though softer, tasted of flesh and lavender soap. She pressed down hard into him, fearing her teeth would shatter. A drop was all she needed. He screamed. She traced two sharp fingers over the gash, turning it black, and blue and putrid.

Indigo, Violet, Purple

“Who are you?” One of them asked, placing a hand near the Chalice gleaming on the table. “Without getting into semantics,” She sauntered over to the acolyte — her acolyte — placing her left hand on his shoulder and her other hand to his throat. “I’m the lady who will decide this acolyte’s fate right here and now.” “We don’t deal with trespassers.” The same man said, while the other purple-robed man wrote a note and sent it through a gap in the ceiling. “Let him go, or there will be consequences.” The acolyte’s throat moved beneath her hand, the heat boiling from his skin.

—

Sending tags to @kaylinalexanderbooks @druidx @noblebs @frostedlemonwriter @motifenjoyer @thepeculiarbird and open tag!

Obsidian Sapphires, Soulswapped + General taglist (ask, comment, message me to be added/subtracted): @mr-orion @the-ellia-west @guessillcallitart @thereadingfoz @glassstardust22124 @honeybewrites @ashirisu @drowsy-quill @oliolioxenfreewrites @theglitchywriterboi @did-i-do-this-write @threeking @seastarblue @midnight-and-his-melodiverse @outpost51

[d1onysusw1n3]

★ Daughter of dionysus ★

┌────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────┐

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐮𝐬 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ 1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47

"𝓘'𝓶 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼"

"𝒴𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓈 "

└────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────┘

Tw: crazy with a mix of mania, heated make out, and slight sexual themes not the whole Shabang tho. 🦭🍇

You know as the daughter of Dionysus, I wasn't expected to be sane.

"Yo D whaddup!" I lazily smirk down at my dad while dapping him up.

"How's it going favorite." He returns dapping me up with a crisp smack.

Me and him don't have the most normal relationship, but  i'm okay with that, At least it's not like daddy issues over here.

I look over to some curly blonde haired kid with blue eyes, he goes on about wanting to see his father and if Dionysus could help him.

I turn on my heels immediately uninterested, actually i was thinking bout the time i drew a dick on clarisse's forehead with a black paint marker, now that was legendary. Imagine trying to scrub a giant penis off your forehead realizing that it wont budge a inch, dessert privileges were lost, but seeing clarisse with her usual smug smile wiped off and beautiful art work plastered on her forehead, was like a full course dessert table served in front of me on a golden platter.

I walk over to the black smiths to see my friends Jake and Amy, we were known to be the outcasts, we aren't children feining over glory or some bullshit praise from the gods, we were looking for trouble instead.

"Yo Jake" I slide onto the desk he sketches his new weapons project for Amy, the daughter of Hephaestus, Jake hisself was a Hermes boy, not my proudest moment befriending one of them, but he's cool in my book.

You see we're the trouble trio, my charm mixed with Jake's amazing ability to steal and Amy's ability to craft anything we needed for our stupid ideas, we were practically unstoppable.

"Whatcha drawing?" I quirk my head to the side as he quickly scrambles his notebook closed.

"Birthday surprise, don't push it anymore, Mr. D threatened to chop off my toes and feed them to tartarus if i snitched this time." Jake shuddered at the thought of my dad threatening his life. 

"Pshh light work, i would've unleashed tartarus in your room instead" I smirk at his mouth dropping wide open.

"And there goes Astrope, always one upping Mr.D's unstable craziness, somehow" Amy rolls her eyes at our bickering.

I push my wine colored hair out of my face and into a pony tail. My sea green eyes with specks of violet in the iris trails back to Luke Castellan the camps golden boy, He defines the word glory, always trying to prove something to someone, if you asked me, i think he's a garde A loser.

"Who else is gonna carry on the legacy" I say booping Jake on the nose.

"Wow very mature of you princess" Luke rolls his eyes.

"Why thank you, I think I'm rather mature myself pretty boy."

I look over to see him slightly blush and look down.

Cute.

"Anywayyys, I'm throwing a party later, thanks giving and all, who's joining." Amy takes a seat next to Jake leaning her elbows on the table.

"Why thank you for the personal invitation, but you're only throwing this party so you can scout out the new ares boy this year." I roll my eyes at her.

"And so what, the new curly brunette is fine." She says with dreamy eyes.

"Your type is brunette curly hair daddy issues and anger management." I say taking the apple Jake was eating, he prostest me with a small 'hey', but that doesn't stop me as I chomp a fat bite in the middle of said apple.

"Hands off, troglodyte. Getcha own apple" Jake huffs while snatching his apple back.

"Booo tomato tomato tomatooooo" I blow a raspberry at him as we get up to head to dinner.

Luke follows Amy on her trail like a lost puppy, everyone suspected he was whipped for her,what they didn't know was my deep crush for the boy ever since I met him, it's a horrible love triangle.

"Well if you want me to get the goods you're gonna have to distract the camps janitor." I say sitting down at the Hermes table with the three for dinner.

"Huh why?" Luke questions.

"Well Luke, Chiron find alcohol In my cabin, bad." I say slowly shaking my head.

"But if Chiron finds alcohol in the janitors cabin, he'll just think he hates his job or something." I shrug.

"So basically you're saying you hid alcohol in dito's cabin." Jake grinned at the challenge.

"That's his name?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Yeah.. what have you been calling him the whole time.." Luke looks at me crazy.

"Irrelevant.." I roll my eyes.

"So we need a plan we can't just walk into the janitors cabin and grab wine out a hiding place" Amy says munching on her celery sticks.

"Righttttt about that. I hid the alcohol there two summers ago and forgot the hiding place so we're gonna need two on watch out and two on rummage duty" I cringe.

"Astrope I should slap the living shit out of you right now. But in the fear of Tartarus and what Mr D would do to me, you are off the hook." Jake says straight faced with a finger pointed at me.

"Look here goes dito right now." Amy whispers.

"We could distract him now, then three of you can head to his cabin?" Jake said shrugging.

"How are we going to distract him." Luke says with an eyebrow raised.

I chuckle sarcastically then go straight faced looking into his eyes.

"Watch the master do her job." I say getting up from the table and turning around hitting dito on the shoulder on accident.

"OH DEER, IM SO SORR-"

I cut him off pulling a spoon out of my pocket, gripping the back of his head and pushing it to his jugular.

"ARE YOU THREATENING ME, CHUCK." I scream.

This takes everyone's attention allowing the three to sneak away.

"MY NAMES NOT CHUCK.." his voice wavers.

I pull the spoon back pointing it in this face while walking backwards.

"AND DONT FORGET IT." I yell turning around so I could sprint to dittos cabins.

┗━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━┛

I slide the window to dito's cabin open abruptly falling face first onto the floor scaring the three to death.

"JESUS ASTROPE A WARNING NEXT TIME" Jake yells.

"Uhhh warning?" I shrug laying on my stomach kicking my feet back and fourth.

"How bout you get up and help look, you lost it princess." Luke says rummaging through cabinets.

"Right, check the floor I remember putting it in a secret wooden floor board that slides open." I sigh getting up looking under the bed for it.

Instead I find skimpy lace panties and diamond earrings.

"OUU EARINGS." I say dangling them by my head.

Out of no where the lunch lady walks into dittos cabin wearing a skimpy silk robe and.. I don't want to know what's under.

She clutches her heart and gasps.

"DITO GET IN HERE!!" She yells.

"FOUND IT!" Amy screams throwing the box out into the long cushioned grass.

Quick I need a distraction.

I take out my blow torch lighter and fire it over by the sheer curtains hanging by dittos bed.

"YEAH DITO GET IN HERE! SO YOU CAN WATCH ME LIGHT YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE." I scream back at her.

I look around to see Luke scramble out the window so I jump out with him and close it behind me.

Amy takes the box and run with all of us behind her we make our grand escape behind Zeus's cabin deep into the woods where a bunch of the people in on the party we're helping us by decorating.

"REALLY? LIGHT YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE ASTRO?" Jake yells at me waving his hands around.

"Well it worked I didn't see you making a distraction?" I roll my eyes.

Everyone just looks at me stupidly shaking their heads. Jake even started to boo me, followed with a train of boos.

I hop on a log pointing at them all.

"GIVE ME YOUR BOOS I AM NOURISHED, BY YOUR HATRED." I yell.

┗━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━┛

Luke pov

To say Astrope was crazy is an understatement. To be honest I don't know how I even developed a crush on her.

It just happened, her crazy and flirty attitude just draws me in somehow. It's like a drug, you taste some and it's never ending.

To say she was the daughter of the god of ecstasy was an understatement.

She just seems so carefree and untouchable. It's hard to make a move on someone who never takes anything seriously.

┗━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━┛

Astrope pov

Surprisingly the party so far was a success.

even after our scandalous breaking and entering fiasco.

Many people were having fun, except for Amy. The ares boy she had her eye on, and even asked out, had ditched her to talk to a pretty Aphrodite kid.

I see her and Luke talking, him resting a hand on her shoulder for comfort. It kind of ticked me off, but bros before hoes yall.

I sigh grabbing my dagger out of my holster sitting down next to Luke and her by the lake in the sand.

a couple of feet away from the party in the woods. Nobody could really see us, but I noticed her running off and Luke trailing behind her, so I followed.

"Who are we killing. I won't do kids that's a rule. BUT the rule is negotiable if the kids a dick." I say wiggling my eyebrows.

And to my success it makes her laugh, I smile putting my dagger back into my thigh holster.

"How do you do it astrope" Amy sighs looking down.

"If you mean being absolutely funny and the hottest one in the room, don't stress it comes natural babe. Ya either got it or ya don't" I smirk flexing whiling grunting.

"You see that, you seem so care free all the time, I don't know how you do it."

"I don't." I shrug

"What does that mean." Luke questions.

"I just don't, I don't care nor have I ever, I just do me"

"If it was up to me, I'd push the girl aside tell him that I like him and that he can either take all this or shove it." I say with a trashy Jersey accent.

Amy lunges over luke to hug me tightly.

"I don't know what I'd do without you girl." She whispers in my ear. Then hopping on her feat she takes a deep breath and starts walking in her crushes direction.

I chuckle laying down in the sand, a small tide washes over my bare feet as the full moon pushes the river.

"You know you're right princess" Luke says.

I turn my head to see him already looking at me.

"Yeah and what about pretty boy." I whisper sitting up leaning closer to him.

"About caring too much." He sighs looking down.

I frown scooting over to push some of his hair back, he leans his face into my touch. I blush deeply, luckily the moons shine wasn't too bright.

"Princess, I like you." Luke whispers to me, his hot breath dusting my cheeks.

"I like you more pretty boy." I smile.

He leans in closing in the space between us kissing me deeply with need.

The kiss was sloppy and fast. It was heavy with need, not really caring who took control, just needing an outlet for these suppressed feelings.

Laying down as he crawls on top of me. His fingers slip around my throat grabbing hold of my jaw with his finger tips, his other hand sliding up the side of my thigh griping it with such strength I knew bruising would definitely show up int he morning.

I slide one of my hands under his shirt feeling his defined stomach, the other hand snaking around the back of his head to grip onto the back of his curls slightly tugging on them.

He groans into my mouth as I push my hips up into his allowing me to release some built up tension while he marks my neck up and down with sloppy kisses and bites.

"Fuck, princess I need you." He groans panting and sweaty.

I sit up immediately taking his hand leading him to my cabin.

As soon as we get in he grabs me by the back of my thighs. I wrap my legs around his waist slamming the door closed behind us he lays me down on the bed taking no time with slipping our close off discarding them around the room.

"Are you sure about this princess" he says just when he lines up collecting slick from how wet I am.

"Yes Luke jus need you." I whine arching my back when he finally pushes in.

Our groans almost pornographic as I could only see straight stars. I wrap my arms around his back scratching down.

He groans snapping his hips harder with more force.

I'm definitely gonna be sore in the morning.

┗━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━┛

I wake in the morning with Luke laid on his stomach arm wrapped around my waist as I lay on my back.

I get up leaning on my elbows looking at all the scratches left on his back from the previous night. As well as the hickies running up from his jugular down to his stomach.

I smile tracing all of the cute little reminders to all the girls that might think that have a chance, that they don't.

"Morning princess" his deep morning voice grumbles out.

"Morning pretty boy, how'd u sleep?"

"Good" he gets up kissing me on my temple.

"You know sooner or later you have to get up and sneak back to ur cabin before my dad throws a fit." I say tolling my eyes.

"Yeah I know" he sighs getting up slinging on his shirt and pants sitting back down on the bad to give you a kiss.

"See you later princess" He says opening my window and escaping into the back of the cabins.

I sigh not really believing yesterday happened. All of a sudden I hear an obnoxious banging on my cabin.

I get dressed with Luke's hoodie and my shorts underneath. Only to open the door face to face with my father.

"Burn your house down.. really?" He scoffs.

"So you're angry?" I squint, just happy the topics not about a cute tall muscular brunette who just hopped out my window moments ago.

"Where is it." He whispers looking around frantically like someone would hear him.

"What?"

"The alcohol I know you have it."

I shake my head smiling.

"Well halfway into the party Chiron busted us and took it, sorryyyyy" I say slamming the door in his face laying back down to sleep.

It's six in the morning and too early for this, I'll deal with the mess I made later...or never.

Sooo ts is long and messy I'll fix it later.

Words: 2,545

Can you tell who inspired this whole chapter 🤗🤗 guess in the comments lmao.

[t4tails]

MOSHI MONSTER MUSIC RANKED FROM GARBAGE TO MASTERPIECE

19. ponies

theyre just saying ponies over and over again in an autotuned voice. hyperpop for eight year olds except without the charm

18. shishis lullaby

once again the simplicity is its downfall... there is nothing going on here! somebody get shishi a hankey!!

17. bad to the biscuit

i do NOT like how he yells gimme those gummy buttons :/

16. shoney the amazin blazin raisin

shoney is a menace to moshi society. what a nothingburger of a song

15. go do the hoodoo

i actually think this one slaps but the racism definitely knocks it down significantly. i wish they werent like that because dont look now but i think i heard a twig crack 🕺

14. coco loco

gets a groove going and then RUINS it with a BURP joke. STAY IN YOUR FUCKING LANE

13. moshi twistmas

ill freely admit the vocals in this one kind of suck because of the childrens chorus but i think it has charm the ones lower than it lack... its cute

12. the pooky song

EEEEEEEGGGGGGSHEEEELLLLLSSSS 🏳️‍⚧️

11. the moshi dance

okay this one fucks. we are getting into fucks territory. the bangers. this one gets held back by the weird fucking baby lyrics is all... i understand its the joke but i do not want to hear lady googoos voice like that. but then the chorus hits and yessss bitch

10. i heart moshlings

this ones adorable but im not a fan of the soft singing. and the chorus prioritizes the gimmick over rhymes so it feels a little clunky, but the mv is soooo cute ^_^

9. diggin ya lingo

the hip hop genre does not gel well here but once again the chorus is so groovy i cant help but do a little shimmy. a little shakin

8. sweet tooth stomp

im not as big a fan of this as some others but i can appreciate game. and sweet tooth has game

7. head over heels

the worse of zack binspins iconic singles. but this ones pretty hilarious like why is blingo such an asshole 🤨

6. the iggy chomp

i have no excuse for this being so high up. im literally dancing to this like its 2009. sorry

5. the missy kix dance

i never heard this one as a kid but its suoer catchy. missys adorable too. she should stay away from zack binspin. she deserves better than him

4. do the doodle

LETS FUCKING GO MR SNOODLE 😩 hes so real. this unironically bangs it fucks it goes hard do the doodle mr snoodle live ur truth

3. moptop tweenybop

this is the one that personally gets stuck in my head the most but the ones above it have better artistry so it gets 3rd. i wake up at 2am on the regular with this chorus haunting my mind

2. uptown fifi

the STYLE the GRACE the sleekness...! and it tells a story about a cute little diva dog? what is not to love!!

okay not to be predictable but somehow the "villains songs are always the best" rule continues even in moshi monsters. 10/10 thank you moshi for these fantastic songs

1. dr strangeglove

[rosiebeetle]

A night at the carnival, one shot idea from @c0zmo-writes will be posting to ao3 when it's back up!

The car slowly stopped in the grassy field right at the gates entrance of the fair.

“Are you three absolutely sure nobody will suspect anything?” Chuck's gruff voice looked right into the mirror back at the demon and the two ghosts in the back seat.

“Are you really doubting me and scarecrows abilities here chucky? Ain't nobody gonna suspect we're dead” Lydia and Beetlejuice spent hours making the maitlands look as human as they possibly could. With a little help of beetlejuice's magic it worked!

Barbara had her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail wearing short overalls with a rainbow bright t shirt underneath. Her head wound looked like it was just a scar with a little bit of beetle juice.

Adam had his hair more “messy” than he enjoyed. Instead of hair sprayed to all hell it was fluffy and flowy due to Lydia and beetlejuices nagging. His outfit was as “sloppy” as he could handle. A t-shirt tucked into his dark blue jeans and a pair of vans Beetlejuice “borrowed” from the mall.

Beetlejuice looked clean for once. His sickly pale was now more brown and healthy looking, bright yellow eyes now a more calmed down amber. His horrid suit was replaced with a megadeth shirt with holes in the collar, a pair of black and white tripp pants and some spiked bracelets. Oh and don't forget the spiked pitbull collar he totally didn't steal from the neighbors pitty that 100% didn't have fleas. His hair was still that green monstrosity but more curled due to millions of years of grime and grease no longer on it.

Compared to his partners he looked the polar opposite.. Lydia on the other hand looked like his little twin. The same t-shirt, same bracelets but of course with a pair of ripped black shorts and her signature spider web tights.

“No I'm just- never mind. Lydia you remember you call Mr juice if you need anything?” Charles turned to his daughter and got a fast nod in response. “Mr juice, do you remember how to use a cell phone correct?”

“Yes yes I remember hurry up and unlock the door chuck!” He let out an over dramatic sigh as he reached over Adam and started pulling at the door handle. Charles rolled his eyes and clicked the unlock button.

Without much warning Beetlejuice climbed over Adam with a big grin on his face but soon it wiped away from him falling face first into the dirt causing Lydia to let out a cackle.

He quickly got up and wiped the dirt and rocks from his mouth trying to spit out as much as he can. He'd eat dirt anytime but not dirt that people have been doing god knows what on all night.

“Are you alright sweetheart?” Barbara's voice was soft as honey, putting a hand on his chest and shoulder. No matter the amount of attention he ever got from the maitlands they never failed to make his dead cold heart want to explode out of his chest.

“Ew your hairs all pink and shit” Lydia rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him. “Language” Barbara Adam and Charles said in unison causing the teen to roll her eyes again.

“I'm going to put nair into your shampoo, “ he threatened. Of course he never would though. With a quick flip of the bird Lydia was off to go find her friends.

“Please Beetlejuice, make sure she's safe tonight” Charles' voice was quieter, more serious.

Beetlejuice gave a small salute with a big grin on his face. “Nobody's gonna hurt lyds chuck, if they do their hands are gonna get bit off” he chomped his teeth before grabbing the maitlands hands and running into the fair with them.

Charles let out a soft sigh and smile as the 4 walked in. “She'll be ok” he reassured himself and drove back home.

“Adam I will literally shower for a WEEK straight if you get on this ride with me” Beetlejuice pleaded, shaking Adam by the shoulders.

“You're suggesting the worst ride out of this entire fair! I am not going on that monstrosity of a ride!” He huffed and pushed beetlejuice's hands off his shoulders.

The ride Beetlejuice had been hinting at was called the zipper. One of the most dangerous rides a fair can legally get.

“Oh come on A-Dog look that attendent is a perfectly capable adult looking person! And besides, it's not like!-” Barbara put a finger to his lips shushing him since he was being loud. “It's not like you can die” he said quieter to calm Barbara down.

“Beetlejuice, that's a fourteen year old boy, I've seen him when we go to pick Lydia up sometimes and he's not even paying attention, he's vaping in the booth.” Adams' eyes narrowed at Beetlejuice.

“Ok yeah he has flaws but adammm” he whined moving his hands to Adams waist. “Please! I'll brush I'll scrub I'll eat ‘healthy’ shit just go on this with me!” He gently shook Adam again.

A light blush dusted across Adams face and he let out a sigh. “Fine- but if this ride breaks while we are all on it you're doing the full self care works for a MONTH” he looked Beetlejuice dead in the eyes.

“DEAL LET'S GO” Beetlejuice jumped a few times before grabbing their hand and pulling them to the line.

“I think I change my mind i can't i-” Adam immediately regretted his decision as soon as he realized the seat belt was just a chain that went across their bodies and that they hand to stand

“We'll be fine!” Beetlejuice grinned at him and held his hand a bit tighter.

Adam tensed as he heard gears whirring and he wrapped himself around beetlejuice's forearm Barbara giggling at the sight.

Soon the three were being tossed around, Beetlejuice's maniacal laughter rang through the fair, he was pretty sure Lydia could hear it too, wherever the hell she was. Barbara was laughing her own ass off as Adam just yelled about how hard he's going to force Beetlejuice to scrub his teeth as they started to float around in the small metal basket and hit the ceiling and walls.

After about 5 minutes of pure hell to Adam due to some of the teenagers demanding a longer ride it was finally over. Barbara and Beetlejuice stepped out looking perfectly fine but Adam stumbled out looking like he just had a one night stand. Glasses askew, his hair messed up and parted wrong, shirt untucked and he was dizzy to all hell.

“Your- your going to scrub your teeth for 5 minutes and use shampoo- oh dear” he fell into Beetlejuice trying to get his body to work again after being rough housed by an evil carnival ride.

Beetlejuice laughed and picked Adam up bridal style so he didn't have to walk, snapping his fingers and he looked fine again. “Anything you want sexy, thanks” he pressed a kiss to Adam's cheek.

“Oh can we get some food? I've always wanted to try those giant turkey legs!” Barbara smiled and hooked her arm around beetlejuices, already pulling him towards the mass amount of food trucks before he even agreed.

“Oh hell yeah babs!” He flashed her a toothy grin before letting her pull him to the food trucks.

After way too many fried Oreos, funnel cakes and an absolute mess of deep fried monstrosities, tacos, potatoes and a turkey leg they finished.

Beetlejuice let out a loud burp making Adam and barbs face cringe. “Holy shit I forgot how those made my stomach feel”

“Maybe you shouldn't have ate 5 of almost everything bug” Barbara said after swallowing the last bite of her taco. She didn't have as much as Beetlejuice, she had her turkey leg, three tacos and a banana split.

“6 baskets of deep fried Oreos probably wasn't the best decision” Adam agreed as he crunched on his ice cream cone. He only had a taco, a baked potato and his ice cream cone.

“Six baskets of Oreos probably wasn't the best decision” he mocked in a baby voice. “This stomach is a bottomless pit made of iron. I'll be fine it's jus some gas” he grabbed his root beer can and chugged it down before tossing it into the trash can near the table.

“Well now we're gonna have to wait a bit to get on another ride-” Barbara spoke and Adam smiled, the longer he didn't have to go on a ride the better.

“Hell no!” Beetlejuice shot up and slammed his hands onto the table. “I'll be fine! Now c'mon that spinny thing is calling my name-” he pulled Adam and Barbara from their seats and began to walk them over to this giant disc looking ride that spun called the ufo.

After a minute and 30 seconds of spinning him and Barbara stumbled out, Adam who insisted on sitting this ride out already had a plastic bag at the ready.

(EMETOPHOBIA)

“Holy fuck Adam you should have-” he gagged and quickly snatched the bag from Adams hands, puking into it.

Adam groaned as he heard the noise and looked away. Beetlejuice wiped his mouth and

(YOUR GOOD NOW!!)

Vanished the bag away.

“Ok, no more rides for you-” Barbara said in a worried tone.

Beetlejuice shook his body like a dog to get him back to full energy. “No, I'm fine! Just a few more rides babes-”

“Absolutely not, I don't need you doing that all night” Barbara sounded more stern as he stared into his eyes. The tips of beetlejuice's hair slowly grew pink.

“Fine” he said in a quieter tone as he cleared his throat and tried to calm himself down a bit. “There are plenty of games we can do” and like that his big cocky grin was back, dragging his partners to the games.

After easily winning (beetlejuice cheated every time) carney games Barbara and Adam had some smaller stuffed animals in their hands as they walked around.

Barbara was more behind the boys not paying attention until her eyes landed on a giant 7ft green and blue penguin. She gasped and stopped dead in her tracks, dropping her smaller stuffed animals as she looked at the thing in aw. “BEETLEJUICE” she yelled like she was getting murdered.

The boys had walked a bit ahead not noticing how far they had gone from barb, beetlejuice hearing his name being screamed he immediately went into fight mode, rounded fingernails turning into sharp claws and normal looking teeth turning into jagged spikes. He appeared next to Barbara glancing around.

“What? What happened, who where?” He asked quickly, wrapping an arm around her waist as Adam ran back to the two.

“That!” She pointed at the penguin with a bright grin.

“That?” Beetlejuice said in a confused tone, realizing there was no danger the claws and the sharp teeth vanished. “You screamed bloody murder because of that?” He was met with a nod.

He softly smiled at how happy she seemed to be just by looking at the penguin. “I'll get you it, gimme a minute babes” he pressed a kiss to her cheek and walked to the stand.

“Barbara what happened you ok?” He said a bit frantically.

“Yes yes I'm fine! Beetlejuice is winning me a penguin!” She smiled ear to ear and pointed at the giant stuffed animal.

“Barbara you really can't be screaming like that for a-” “WHAT THE FUCK?” Beetlejuice growled out.

Adam looked over and saw the roots of his hair slowly go red. It was just a simple game, throw a basketball through the hoop 4 times and you get a giant stuffie.

“This shits ridged!” “Listen man if you're just shit at the game you don't gotta complain about it.” “Your stupid fucking-” Beetlejuice paused at a hand being placed on his shoulder.

“Beetle it's fine I don't need the penguin-” it was Barbara, she looked a bit upset but her smile was still there. “I can probably get one off Amazon”

“Yeah but you want this penguin so-” he was cut off. “It's fine bug.. Really, let's just go get in line for the Ferris wheel before it gets too long.”

“Yeah man listen to your girl” the carney said with a yawn. He growled and shot a glare at the teenage boy before getting an idea, his angry expression softening. “Yeah fine- I'm gonna try one more time you guys go ahead.”

“Don't do anything stupid ok?” She pressed a kiss to his forehead, the red in his hair being replaced by a soft pink. “Wouldn't dream of it,” he smiled.

Once Barbara and Adam were out of sight he glanced around, nobody was really paying attention. He hopped over the stand and grabbed the worker by the shirt. “Listen you little shit your going to give me that fucking penguin or I'm going to give you nightmares so bad they are going to put you in a asylum.” He growled out, letting his voice distort and his human facade melt away on his face, cat-like eyes piercing into the humans.

The carney quickly nodded and beetlejuice let go of him, the worker scrambled to his feet and pulled the giant penguin off the hook. By the time the carney went to hand it back to beetlejuice he looked completely normal. “Thanks jackass!” He grinned and snapped his fingers. The hoops that had been pressed to ovals were now perfectly round and easy for people to win.

“I wonder what's taking him so long” Barbara thrummed her fingers against the metal gate that was forcing everyone into a line. “Maybe he got lost I can go-” Adam cut himself off at the sight of a giant penguin running towards them.

Beetlejuice lifted it over his head. “BARBIE DOLL! “ he yelled to get barbs ' attention. She gasped and let out a squeal at the sight. Beetlejuice in a surprisingly polite manner made his way to the front of the Ferris wheel line to them and handed barb the penguin. “Oh my god he's perfect!” She said with a big grin. The thing was huge, she couldn't even wrap her arms around it.

They had to leave their items near the front of the line since of how small the cart was unfortunately but they were all on the classic carnival ride now. It was a bit cramped but beetlejuice didn't mind at all. The maitlands pressed up against him. They were both still deathly cold but he swore he could feel some form of heat rubbing off on him.

“Thank you” Barbara said quietly as the cart slowly made its way to the top.

“For what?” beetlejuice pulled his arms out from between the maitlands and wrapped each arm around their shoulders, holding them tight, Adam a bit tighter because he could basically feel how nervous he was.

“For suggesting this, in all our years of living in winter river this is only the second time we ever went to this fair.” Beetlejuice was a bit confused on this, he would have thought they would jump on having a cheesy cliche carnival date every time they got the chance to but then again Adam was terrified of almost ever ride they had put him on even the kiddy rides.

“Well, you're welcome from saving you from having the most boring Friday night of your lives,” he smiled at both of them.

“It's kinda impossible to have a boring day with you here” Adam finally spoke, he didn't seem as afraid anymore once they reached the top. Adam's head rested on beetlejuice's shoulder and his left hand held the hand on his own shoulder, Barbara doing the same. The maitlands hands went to his lap so they could hold each other's hands.

Fuck if beetlejuice was alive his heart would have probably exploded. His hair was so neon pink it practically glowed in the night. He kept his gaze forward, looking down at the carnival's lights as the Ferris wheel came to a stop as they were atop.

“I love you guys” he blurted out. “I love you to beej” “I love you to bug” Barbara and Adam spoke softly.

God he never wanted this moment to end. With a little bit of demon magic the carnival ride of so tragically suddenly didn't want to keep working so it was going to be stuck in this position for a good 20 minutes now. The people in line would be waiting for a while but he didn't give a shit. He was there in a perfect moment with two of the most perfect newlydeads in the world.

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Tuesday evening all :) Another non Chenford ep BUT good separate SL’s once again. After this this won’t be an issue for a long while ha Good scenes with Harper training Lucy for UC. Which I LOVE basically female version of Tim and I love it. Good moments with Nolan and Tim. You read that right haha Nolan still mainly a putz but their scenes are good. Second to last ep of the season. Woo here we go.

3x13 Triple Duty

Tim and Nolan are paired together in this one. Their dynamic changes a little more each time they are paired. Last time was 2x12 when Lucy was with Harper. We start the episode off on lovely note. Tim asking how Henry is? Ugh love this man’s heart. Look at him asking Nolan of all people a personal question. AND he’s being genuine about it. Be still my heart Mr. Bradford.

Tim asks about his interest in T.O. once he’s graduated as well. Look at our boy creating conversation with John. I love it so much. I think it's partly to see his reason but mostly genuine. Nolan asks Tim if he has any advice he could share he would appreciate it. Tim saying ‘Sure’ is the best. Look how he’s grown. Being a fountain of info for Nolan. How times have changed.

Their convo is interrupted by hearing multiple gun shots. Assault rifles from the sounds of it. They pull up to cemetery and are shot at immediately. They follow the guy deep into the cemetery and find his body. Looks like he was shot to hell and couldn’t make it any farther. They investigate more and stumble upon a massacre. I love the look they share as they hear backup arriving. Pretty grim.

Looks like the war that was created last ep with La Fiera has begun. Crazy brutal way to start it but she is a VERY angry grieving mother. She is taking swift action and justice on the late Tomas’s business. His son clearly her target for what happened to Diego. A turf war has begun and doesn’t look like there are signs of it letting up.

Angela shows up on scene to confer with Grey, Tim and Nolan. La Fiera flew back to Guatemala to bury Diego. She has since returned to take care of unfinished business. She is camping out at a hotel downtown. Rented out the entire floor for her time in L.A. Grey tells Angela to go and see her. Cesar has gone to ground and Narcotics can’t find him. Tim says he could ask Mack he worked for his dad. Now that he’s in rehab will have a clearer head to help out. Look at the good that came from him helping Mack out. Full circle goodness already. Good job Tim.

We catch Lucy and Jackson fighting over who’s going to do paperwork. Jackson is winning until Grey calls her into his office. Leaving him with the dreaded paperwork haha When she enters his office Harper is there. Grey asks her if she heard about the mass casualties from this morning? Lucy tells him yes that they expected as much after what happened at the hospital.

Harper then steps in and says this has created an opportunity for them. Saying how when bosses are murdered/die it changes things. UC’s get upended from their covers due to it. She then says it lets them bring new UC’s into the field. We watch Lucy light up like a Christmas Tree. She could not be more excited about this news. Ready to jump in and do whatever Nyla wants to be apart of this.

If Tim could hear all this he would be having a coronary. LOL Lucy is so excited to have another crack at a UC OP. Saying she is so ready to do this again if they need it. Harper tells her not so fast. This won’t be a sting operation like last time. It's going to be be a long term placement instead. Much different than the one time OP she did back in 3x06. Her character remains the same the operation not so much.

Grey lets her know she would be on her own. No backup or surveillance like last time. That he’s told Harper to test her readiness today. That if she doesn’t sign off with confidence it’s not happening. You can tell Lucy is chomping at the bit to prove herself. I do love Grey telling her it’s ok if by end of day she isn’t prepared. No shame in the game. Harper tells Lucy to go get changed they’re throwing her in the deep end ASAP.

Tim gets the info he needs from Mack. Yay good job Mack ha Tim and Nolan roll up to Cesar’s hideout. Tim is confident and leading the charge in the convo. Quite sexy to watch. Telling Cesar if he just honors the deal his father made La Fiera might let him live. Otherwise she’s coming for him hard and won’t let up till he’s dead.

Cesar is pig headed and refuses to do this of course. Saying what belonged to the father will be inherited by the son. Ok but no LOL They warn him if his men believe the deal is legit they’ll bail on him. Leaving him exposed and alone by not cutting this off at the pass. Cesar continues his cocky act. No wonder she ends up offing you my man….Nolan asks Tim what they do from here? He tells him they can only hope Angela having better luck with La Fiera…

In their downtime Angela has assigned Tim the task of cop RSVPs and getting the number down. They haven’t replied so he has to track them down for numbers or if they have to reduce that number. He’s battling with someone with the amount they want to bring. Tim is so over being a MOH LOL Nolan motions for him to hand over the phone. John throws Tim under the bus. Saying he miscalculated the venue cap. That she can’t have a plus 4.

When he hands the phone back my lord. If looks could kill LMAO Asking if he’s proud of himself? Throwing a fellow officer under the bus? John’s reply is pretty solid(even if he's schmuck). Tim can’t even refute it since it got results haha Ballsy of him to do tbh. If you weren’t friends with Lucy... You'd be dead man John.

Angela calls Tim and her ringtone is the wedding march. I love this little detail so much. It's adorable. He asks how her meeting went? She tells the guys she can stop the war. Tim ask how? Angela lets them know through giving her the recording from hospital. She can take control after that. I adore Tim teaching Nolan something during this. Always in T.O. Mode I love it. Basically telling him live today fight tomorrow mentality with this. They keep citizens safe today go after her tomorrow.

We catch back up with Harper and Lucy. Lucy looks ready for her first test. Harper tells her she can’t cram 100 hours worth of training in one day. So all she can do is teach her what she needs to know in order to survive. Asking her the three things she needs to know to make it. Lucy tells her about being aware of the law, always stay in character and can’t remember the last one. Harper fills in the blank above.

Nyla emphasizes how much multi tasking she has to do just mentally. I couldn’t do it personally. She then asks Lucy if she’s worked on her backstory at all? Our wonderful dork says 4 notebooks. Harper laughs. Oh Lucy never change my friend never change. She gives Lucy 5 minutes to get into character before they go to this party. Gah love this dynamic so much. How far we’ve come from the dark days of the sewer.

Harper has invited her to a party with a test involved. Clearly someone tied to her UC life. Wants to see how she does. Lucy is slick af talking with this guy. Talking in double speak about ‘cooking’ and the big orders she can handle. Even calls him out for asking about where she learned to cook. She is crushing it until she see’s Tamara then you watch her demeanor change completely.

Channeling Lucy Chen in this moment and not Nova. Like she’s supposed to be doing. One of the cardinal rules of UC. This guy she is with is laying hands on her. Takes everything in her power not to kill this kid. Lucy plays it off as not liking how he’s treating her. That she can’t stand to see it. He says he can take care of that for her then. To watch the grill.

He walks over and shouts at the boy with Tamara. I love the silent communication between her and Tamara. She takes a step forward and Lucy stops her. He tells him to make his way over. Harper is asking wtf is going on? He tells her Nova didn’t like how the kid was treating that girl. Harper does some double speak of her own talking about how the girl needs some better focus.

The little snot is a cocky putz when he comes over. Lucy tells him he needs to treat her better. Shows him her gun when he tries to be a turd back. He cowers and says won’t happen again. Lucy telling him 'Good now piss off.' Amazing. UC Lucy is always a delight to watch. That confidence radiating off her when she's in character.

Tim and Nolan are waiting on Smitty for civilian clothes and a unmarked car. They need to follow Cesar but can’t in their shop and uniforms. He was supposed to pull clothes from their lockers. He ended up pulling them from lost and found LOL Tim holding up the ‘Hugs 4 life’ shirt is everything. Nolan complains they gave him their combinations for their clothes. Smitty says 'Yeah but he didn't do that' My god. Tim asks why they rely on him for anything? Haha

Their scene follows up with hilarious continuation of the guest list. It’s like Nolan wants to die. Tim has been incredibly chill and patient. More so than he's ever been with him. Maybe don’t test that boundary John. Smh. Always takes it too far. I do like him re-instilling fear in him a bit. He was a little too cocky last time he stood up to Tim about this guest list lol.

Also plain clothes Tim is my fav kind of Tim. Well until we get 'Metro Tim' but that is a long ways off. You think I’m thirsty for him now. Phew lord you all just wait... Tim’s death glare gets interrupted. They see Cesar take off and notify dispatch for backup as they pursue him. The way Tim says ‘Cesar’ hot damn. Take me now sir. *fans self* That inflection he does I can not get over it. Mmm.

We soon find out Harper planted Tamara there as a distraction. Lucy pretends she knew it was a test. Uh huh sure you did.... Protective mama Lucy comes out quickly after. Saying she should be in school. Tamara tells she Nyla wrote her a note. Lucy then asks about the guy. She just walks away from her without a word LOL Nyla's reaction is too cute. Lucy in none too pleased with that reply but doesn't have time to delve deeper.

We then meet the man from the BBQ. He’s another UC an expert in Narcotics. His Name is Shay and Nyla set her up there for a reason. He tells her what a good job she did with the kid. That it was a nice save. He is also an expert in making all kind of drugs while being UC. He tests her and she CRUSHES it. I love the proud face on Nyla. She knows the superstar she has ahold of. Couldn’t be prouder if she tried.

Shay tells her 'Good.' That they’re going to spend the afternoon cooking. Telling her it’s one thing to know what to do when everything is good. It’s another skill set to know what to do when it’s not. That’s what’s going to keep Lucy alive should shit hit the fan. (which it will) That skill will end up saving her life. We will see that in the next episode.

Tim and Nolan roll up and see he’s left his hideout for a booty call. To see his baby mama. No wonder his father has no faith in him. Man is putting this first during a drug war. After he leaves they go and knock on the door to talk to her. Saying they need to talk to her about Cesar and anything he's hiding here. Angela calls Tim saying she thinks La Fiera’s plan isn’t to kill him, but to kill his kid. For him to feel the same suffering she is feeling.

As she says this a car rolls up five shooters ready to go. Tim is sexy af as he talks Nolan through his plan. The plain clothes are adding to said sexiness. But yummy the way he says they’re about to find out how steep the price of admission is. Good god man you truly are sex on two legs walking. The way he exits the house confident as hell. Pass me the ice water. Confidence is an attractive thing on its own. It’s insanely so on Tim Bradford.

I do love the banter between John and Tim in this scene. Definitely found a little groove at this point. Also we got a shot of Tim’s ass in jeans. Wins all around. Talking about how much money they’d need to walk away. They make a joke about being Batman rich. Nolan takes an impressive shot at the main heavy. Yes I complimented Nolan. I must be high off of Tim in Plain clothes being authoritative. Probably won’t happen again.

I do enjoy how the scene unfolds in the house. How Tim and Nolan slowly take apart her crew. Each taking out a couple guys each. Watching Tim in the field being all competent always a delight to behold. The ending scene is pretty cute. Tim may not always like Nolan personally but he respects him as a cop. This is a good bonding moment for them. Tim’s proud of how he handled himself in his knife fight. It’s all over his face. Nolan actually impressed him. There's a first time for everything they say.

We see Lucy at the station waiting on word about the operation. Nyla comes over with exciting news. She got a glowing recommendation from Shay. Saying she is more knowledgeable than most of his own people. Nyla also approves and says Grey has officially given her the go of being in this operation. Nyla tells her to get personal life squared away before tomorrow. No telling how long she will be gone. That she can’t let her guard down ever but to go home for now. To rest up tomorrow the real work begins.

We rejoin the guys at the station. Filling out a mountain of paperwork. Nolan asks if Tim wants to order Thai food? Tim doesn’t answer his question but does say he’s a good cop he will give him that. John looks confused and is like so food? My god Nolan. LOL You’re about to get a serious lesson my good man. I love how passionate Tim is about teaching the next generation. It shows in his training and how he is about it with everyone. He has to make sure he really wants this.

Tim calling Nolan on his crap for being indecisive is AMAZING. He doesn’t want the next generation taught by someone apathetic. Or as Tim says views it as a consolation prize. He takes so much pride in being a T.O. He’s making sure Nolan is doing it for the best of reasons. So very Tim to feel it is his duty to vet anyone wanting to be a teacher. Put them through his paces see if they're worthy.

John has never had a Tim test before. You better believe he’s doing it now for him. To see how he’ll react to him goading him. Pushing his buttons about his intentions. Nolan passionately defends himself and why he wants to be one. You can see on Tim’s face he accepts John's answer. Then it’s the most guy way to end their convo. Tim answering his previous question about food. Nolan says 'Love it' and it’s over. No emotions just food. Men. LOL

Lucy is on her way home when she is kidnapped. I can only imagine the Caleb PTSD she is going through in this moment. Her being overpowered instantly. Her yelling ‘No no’ ugh my heart. She’s brought to a rooftop where Harper is also bound and gagged. She is bleeding profusely from her head.

Lucy holds her own from the jump though. Saying Coco was being tortured so of course she said that. The killer instinct holding up. The one Harper saw in her from day one. She doesn’t let the fact this guy is accusing her, Coco and Harper of all being cops. Then he douses Harper in gas and says he isn’t asking. He knows they are cops. All he wants to know is what the cops know about Salonga and his future plans. That whatever they know will affect future deals.

It’s intense af as he starts a lighter up. It’s then we really watch Lucy dig deep. Rely heavily on that killer instinct of hers. How she walks her way out of this with just her words. That if he sets that fire Salonga is good as dead. Recalling he is in debt to some bad people.

That she’s the only one that can relieve him of that debt. Cook him up a fortune. But if he kills Harper all that goes down the drain and she won't cook him a damn thing. Emphasizing he needs her more than she needs him. That he needs to pull his head out of his ass and let them go. Such a BAMF in this scene. Holds her own with a fiery performance.

We find out it was another test set up by Harper. Nyla having the most Tim-like reply when Shay sings her praises. Lucy is livid and calls him a full service asshat LOL He takes no offense and says she will thank him later for this. (I mean she will...) Lucy is vibrating with anger for the both of them. Like a cornered animal ready to strike at any provocation. She is insanely revved up finding this final test insane.

Lucy goes after Harper pretty hard regarding her PTSD about being abducted. Nyla is on point per usual and says that’s why she did it. I mean it’s a great way to see how she would react. To see if Lucy could push past the PTSD and still function. Stay in character and keep herself and Harper alive. She passed with flying colors. Even if Lucy is raging at the moment.

Harper tells her it’s the last test. Lucy is still full of spit and vinegar in her reply. Saying the last test was the last one. Nyla telling her that’s why she wasn’t expecting this one. Then gets really real with her. Asking if she wants an out? Still wants to do this Even after what she just experienced? Lucy brimming with an immense amount of adrenaline and says ‘Yeah. I do.’ The ep ends there. Hell of a day for our girl my god.

~~~~~~

Side notes-non chenford

Not a ton. It is nice to see Stanton get his come-up in’s after he’s reinstated. That’s about it for non chenford stuff really.

Holy crap we’re hitting the finale next. I swear I just started s3. Blinked and we’re at 3x14 now it’s a shortened season but still.

As always thank you thank you. To all who support these reviews with likes, comments (oh how I love comments don’t be shy ha), and reblogs. Makes all the work I put into them so very worth it. Shall see you all in 3x14 :)

[jujutsukgojo]

We'll meet again

suguru getou x reader

Summary: You want to scream, to kick and punch him for the lack of humanity behind his eyes and the nihilism in his smile. A charming man, the embodiment of evil. Tw: jjk spoilers, getou being himself, mentions of minor character death, may have editing mistakes? an: was minding my business until he choked me out of nowhere, unprovoked.

Everything happens at once. You've woken up to a nightmare, not unlike the one that scared you the night before. The horrendous fear that grabbed you while your eyes were closed has clawed its way to reality. The vision you had in the dark had grown in the day as you woke up late. That relentless terror from your deep sleep robs you of life's light in the noon.

Outside your humble apartment in Mr. Yamamoto's house, you spot the worst thing in your life. It is an absolute massacre. You have no idea what’s causing it. The scene is something out of a horror movie. Things that are invisible are chomping people in half, drilling into them to reveal their innards. These people who you haven't known for very long have screams that will stay in your mind forever, like they will be etched in your heart. 

  It’s like electricity zapped you for a second. Now overcome with numbness, you close the door silently. You walk away from it breathing heavily. Is Mr. Yamamoto okay? Through the side door, you will be able to see the rest of the house. Can you physically or mentally do it? He’s a nice old man. He deserves to be checked on. You slide the door open and see him being dragged. There’s no reason to panic. He’s gone, too. Mr. Yamamoto’s body is disappearing in what looks like gulps.

  

You walk out of his living room quietly, without missing a step, and go through the house. Mr. Yamamoto’s house is large and old. He couldn’t take care of it by himself, so he offered a part of it as an apartment. Since his aging body couldn’t handle all of the strain, he had you work on the upkeep of the place as well as his kimono rental shop that is next door. It’s a popular tourist spot that has been up for ages.

  Is anyone there? Maybe Mr. Yamamoto is there. He could still be in his same old spot, touching the delicate silk of history. He’s probably putting a kit together for tourists to rent. You exit the house and walk a little way down the street to the shop. You step on limbs and what feels like slime. You aren’t brave enough to look down. What you need to do is check to see if Mr. Yamamoto is inside his store and will probably open it up since he sometimes forgets.

  You notice it has a broken window. Crime has been low these days, so it was most likely a couple of kids. It's not something to stress about. Mr. Yamamoto will be ticked off though. You enter the store and try to turn on the light with no avail. The electricity, you believe, was paid. 

 You go into the back room to the left to sort out some of the merchandise. Suddenly, you’re grabbed from behind by something you can’t see. The door of the farthest room in the hallway is open. Your shoulder hurts a little by the shove of the invisible force.

  “Get over here.” You look up and see a man in a bun and splatters of blood on his pretty face. His eyes are slim, and his face chiseled. There is no smile or hint of kindness. He'd be pretty if it weren't for the lack of humanity.

  Before you can talk, he puts his hand up and points to a monk’s attire. Recently, Mr. Yamamoto went to a kimono auction or something and purchased this. You scolded him for it since you rarely, if ever, see a monk. So, who would buy it?

You get up and grab it. “You think I should put that on while I look like this? Where’s your common sense?” 

Silently, you go towards him and undo his clothing. He is stripped down in front of you, yet you aren't embarrassed or anything. It feels like nothing.

In the room is a washroom. You open its creaky door and grab a wet cloth to clean him; mainly his face, neck, and hands which have caked blood on his fingernails. Although a bath would be best to get every area, there’s no tub so he’ll have to settle for this. The man isn’t complaining.

 After drying him off, you begin to dress him. It’s a process and takes knowledge to do it. Luckily, you have done this long enough to be able to do it correctly and efficiently. Mr. Yamamoto is adamant on you learning all about traditional clothing. He holds the culture and art with pride. 

The man doesn’t speak as you work. Every tie and drape go without a word. Somehow, it fits his long legs. He’s tall, so at first glance you didn’t think he’d fit it right. 

  After tying everything together and adjusting all of the parts, he is done. Without asking, you undo his bun and run your fingers through it. It’s silky and long. You try to grab his fringe but it’s too short and slips through your fingers. You gather half of his hair and place it in a bun, letting the rest fall down to its length.

Once you finish, you back away with your head down. He clears his throat and puts out one foot. Ah, he wants the full thing even though he can definitely put it on himself. You leave the room and search in the clear bags that are there for kits. You grab different sizes of socks and shoes. This entire time, you haven’t said a word. On your knees, you go through the socks and sizes. His feet are a bigger size, so you only have one pair of shoes that fit him. Mr. Yamamoto didn’t think that through all because he himself is small.

 Now done with the full thing you stand up again and ignore the ache in your knees. The man comes towards you and grabs your throat, some of his fingers grab a hold of your face. This man’s eyes are cold, distant, and scary. They are void of true life and light and are filled with the same savagery those invisible forces have.

  He appraises you, turning your head in different directions. His eyes trail down to your chest then to the rest of your body. It's creepy and feels disgusting. His entire being is repulsive. If you could run, you'd take off and head to the showers just to scrub off the filthy feeling of his eyes. Still, you don't move or breathe. You make no move at all. For some reason, you lie in wait. Waiting for an instinct other than freezing, something to feel other than disgust. You would settle for tears.

The man who still has a bit of youth to him surprisingly, stares at you. He's thinking. Breathing in every decision to make concerning you. 

He drops you. You manage to land on your feet. He gazes at the hand that touched you with a revolted look. Monotonously, he says, “Juno, finish her. Do it wholly. I don’t want to see a drop.”

You can’t see it, can’t hear it, but you can feel it somewhat. It is a chill that raises your arm hair, that disturbing feeling of anxiety, like something is in the room with you. It’s moving around, fluid and smooth, circling you with ease. Is it a snake? That sensation of a cool surface caresses your arm. Your body is tense with dread, with adrenaline, that realization that something's mouth is open and is ready to bite. 

  Survival instinct? What is this word that encompasses that and fear? You can't think of it, not when all you can really see is that man's back.

  The man is walking towards the door. Finally, that presence, if you can call it that, comes at you. You could swear you could sense that its mouth is open. You can finally feel something. As quiet and quick as a mouse, you open the window and jump out before that fear can come at you again. What is in there? What is that man?

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

Suguru feels a crisp breeze, his fringe moves slightly. He turns around and watches his curse look around, circling the room for a bite of you. Suguru knows for a fact that you aren’t a sorcerer or a window. Is it a higher than normal curse energy? Your fight or flight senses must be better than most. 

He sighs. So close yet so far. It's kind of tragic how close to perfection you are, just to miss the mark and be totally useless. Well, not entirely. You did help dress him without complaint or tears, and didn't make a curse out of fear. Although regular humans have no room or right to this world, you could be the exception for a servant's purpose.

“I’ll be sure to see her again.” 

[noodyl-blasstal]

Can't talk, library's haunted - Chapter 2

Taako goes to the library to get the book back. It should be completely straightforward and nothing can possibly go wrong.

Read below or on Ao3. Missed the first chapter? Catch up here.

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Taako abandons the car at the back of the car park (fuck taking the time to park properly) and tries very hard to look like he isn’t running as he sprints madly for the door (Taako doesn’t exercise in public, there’s a reason he portals to Goldcliff for DanceDanceDance! class). He crashes elegantly through the door and heads straight for the counter. Well, gay for the counter, because he hasn’t been here in a while and the new guy is a definite improvement on Mrs Plunkett.

Although, actually, no. Priorities. First stop the hot library guy getting taken to the spirit plane or whatever, then look into taking him home instead. Taako can do that. Taako can avoid flirting for at least 10 minutes.

“Hey handsome, Taako hears that you’ve stolen something from him and it’s not just his heart.” Taako winks big and smiles big and hopes the guy will be charmed enough to just hand back the book and maybe his number at the same time if that’s not too much to ask for actually?

Hot librarian narrows his eyes at Taako. Narrows them in a way that implies he’s not feeling particularly wooed. In fact, if Taako had to pick a square on the feelings chart, he looks positively huffy.

“I’m sorry, I must be mistaken, because it sounds like you just came into my place of work and accused me of theft. I’m going to be generous and assume I’m wrong about that?” He says with the clipped, overly polite customer service tone that lets Taako know he’s fucked up real bad.

It shouldn’t make him hotter, Taako hates getting told no, he deserves to get what he wants all of the time forever actually, but hot librarian telling him off has apparently awakened something in him… much to ponder later. Right now though, right now he needs the book before it possesses a load of kids or something equally inconvenient. “Sorry Mr… er… Kravitz.” There, Taako can read name tags, he can be real polite when he needs to, probably. “I’m here because there was an incident with a book, a bookcident, if you will.” His portmanteau doesn’t get a smile exactly, but Kravtiz looks marginally less like he just took an unexpected chomp out of a lemon. “My friend Magnus, good guy, real tall, he’s doing this whole thing with sideburns…”

“Oh yes, I certainly remember him.” Kravitz has adopted the now-familiar-to-Taako slightly haunted look which means Kravitz definitely has encountered Magnus and probably had to put a few library displays back together afterwards. “He came in with a short guy.” Oh fuck. That’s going to make things harder, Magnus could definitely have mentioned that on the phone, he would have baked something to apologise.

“Look, Taako can’t control them, he’s tried, trust me my guy. There’s only so much anyone can do in the face of Magnus and Merle, you just gotta trust it’ll blow over, like a hurricane.”

“They have shelters for those, and warning systems.” Says Kravitz drily.

“If you give me your number I’ll warn you next time.” The words are out of Taako’s mouth before he can even begin to think about why now might notbe the best time. Kravitz sputters slightly, but thankfully doesn’t look angry. Maybe it’s fine if Taako scrambles the order of business just a little, he doesn’t argue with opportunity, thank you so much. He doesn’t stop to get the answer, just ploughs ahead “...But really, cha’boy came here to get a book back. One Magnus accidentally returned. You might have noticed?”

“I did, in fact, notice.” Confirms Kravitz who looks peeved again. “I told your friend immediately that it was not property of the library.” Ah, yes, Taako was swiftly remembering quite how many ‘uh huhs’ Lup had made on the phone. “Then he told me that it was definitely a library book and I must be mistaken.” Okay, not great, could be worse. “He suggested that I should check again while the short bearded guy with him, Merle, was it? Implied I couldn’t read.” That sounds about right. Why did Magnus have to bring Merle? Why did he hate Taako specifically and want to do everything he could to cause him misery at every turn? “But then Merle had to leave because a small child appeared in the door, screamed ‘Dad’ at the top of his lungs and flung himself into the soft play shapes in the children’s section.” Oh fucking hell, Mookie was there? They brought Mookie to a library? On purpose? And didn’t put him in some kind of cage first? Taako needed better friends immediately, yesterday, last week in fact.

“I’m sorry.” Taako says and he truly means it. He doesn’t say it often, but he’s always sorry when Mookie happens to the undeserving.

“I explained, politely may I add, that the book had no library stickers, codes, or stamps, and was therefore not part of our stock.” Kravitz continues.

“That’s super good of you, Magnus does just sometimes need someone to explain so he understands.” Maybe flattery will work? He hadn’t complained about any of the flirting Taako had been doing so that seemed to be a viable option too…

“Well.” Says Kravitz drily “... it clearly didn’t work, did it, or you’d have your book.”

“A good point well made.”

“That was when the shelf collapsed.” Kravitz’s mouth is a thin line now, like Taako forced him to chew down the rest of the surprise lemon, skin and all.

“The shelf collapsed.” He repeats, trying to buy himself time to work out how the fuck to get out of this one. If Taako had to pay damages he was never going to let them forget it. Double interest, charged every hour. “Merle’s kid… Mookie, did he…?” Taako trails off lamely, he already knows the answer.

“... he sure did. Then he got stuck on the top shelf because he’d been climbing it and started screaming, and Merle, was it?” Taako nods his affirmation. “He was too short to get him, and apparently didn’t see the three different step stools in the area. Do you know why we put step stools around the library?” Kravitz looks at him over his glasses and Taako passionately hates how into it he is.

“So people can reach things on high shelves?” Getting the answer right will hopefully demonstrate that Taako isn’t like them.

“Yes. Which would have immediately resolved the problem. Do you know what he chose to do instead” Please not plant growth, please not plant growth. “He grew some kind of vine, whispered something to it which I’m 100% certain was not suitable for public consumption judging by his body language, and it pulled Mookie down.” Kravitz’s face is stony again at the memory.

“At least he was safe?” Taako tries, but his heart isn’t in it.

“He screamed the entire time, the plant ruined my carpet, and most of the books had to go to the repair cupboard.” Kravitz looks like he would have been fine with Mookie splatting back down to the carpet as long as he did it without making too much of a mess. Honestly, Taako gets it. He’s been there himself.

“Yeah, the kid’s a lot, a lot, but I’m sure you can understand a father’s impulse to save his imperilled son?” Taako does his best imploring look, all big eyes and dramatic pout. Channels ‘think about kissing these lips’, and ‘stop thinking about the weird plant sex stuff we like to pretend Merle doesn’t do’.

Kravitz sighs heavily. “It would have been a lot of forms if he’d fallen.”

“There we go! That’s the spirit. Anyway, about my book?” Taako raises his eyebrows. He’s doing it baby, little flatter, little flirt, wham bam, return my book, how’s 8pm for dinner? Flawless transition.

“I’m afraid Magnus donated it.” Kravitz, to his credit, does look a bit sorry.

“He fucking what now?”

“Well, he told me to keep it.” Kravitz shrugs.

“And that’s it? He says keep it, and now you own my stuff? Even if I married you you’d only get half.”

Kravitz chokes on his own spit about that one. Serves him right, going round stealing books people give him. “Look, Taako, was it?” He waits for Taako to nod affirmation. Taako does, but really small, so Kravitz knows he’s not speaking to him. “I did try to give it back multiple times. After the shelf thing he told me to keep it, then I tried a few more times, and eventually he yelled ‘cheese it’, grabbed the other two, and literally ran out of the library with one of them under each arm. I’m not entirely sure what you expected me to do in that situation?”

“Give it back to the hot elf who stopped in to get it?” Taako smiles winningly, then remembers he’s not talking to Kravitz and clamps his lips shut again.

“No matter how hot the elf may” Kravitz takes a moment to give Taako a particularly lingering once over. “...or may not be.” Taako laughs indignantly. May not be? May not be? Taako has a mirror. Kravitz would be lucky. “Fine, who are we kidding, may be.” Kravitz rolls his eyes and Taako preens about it. “I did the paperwork and added it to our stock.”

“It’s in the library?” Taako’s back on task now, it absolutely cannot be in the library, there’s kids in the library. This book needs supervision at the best of times, but especially around children.

“Sir, you know what state it was in, there was no way I could put it straight into stock. It’s in the repair cupboard.” Kravitz side eyes him. “Thankfully I have restoration experience because most places wouldn’t even know where to start. Have you been storing it upright? Because that’s…”

“... bad for the spines, I know.” Kravitz looks pleased to hear it, maybe Taako’s winning him round here, surely Kravitz will understand. “Bubbleh, I can guarantee you it has been laid down flat as a pancake, but I also happen to really need it back for one incredibly serious repair which I’m not sure you’re gonna be able to do.” Taako realises his mistake immediately, Kravitz bristles at the concept that there’s anything Taako can do that he can’t.

“Oh, and you know a lot about my conservation degrees do you? About the previous works I’ve restored? Read my resume, have you, Taako?”

Danger, danger! Taako needs to tread carefully, delicately, he cannot escalate the situation.

“Says the guy who looked at me and decided I’m a simple idiot wizard with no idea what he’s doing that you can definitely outperform?” Okay, so maybe deescalation isn’t Taako’s strong suit, but Kravitz is being rude too.

“Sir, you need to leave. You donated the book, it’s part of my stock now.”

Sir? Sir! How very dare Kravitz customer service him. Plus, Taako can’t leave. He might have to say goodbye to Kravitz’s number, but he definitely has to get the book. “Can I see the repair cupboard?” He asks, desperately.

“That was absolutely terrible.” Kravitz laughs for the first time. “You, you thought, I’d? After you? Spectacular. Goddess, you’re the most fun I’ve had all day.”

“I can be the most fun you’ll have all night too if you just gimme the book, kemosabe.” It’s not Taako’s fault that Kravitz keeps setting him up. He only has himself to blame.

Kravitz raises an eyebrow. “Does that work often?”

“I can honestly and truthfully say I’ve never used it before, so you’ll be the only statistic I have to analyse.” Taako needs to stop. He really needs to stop.

Kravitz looks at him for a long moment. Hopefully Taako hasn’t pushed it too far. “What’s the issue with the book?”

“Sorry what?”

“Don’t make me regret asking. The restoration issue that I won’t be able to cope with, apparently.”

“It’s, er, something really complex. You probably wouldn't have heard of it.”

Kravitz laughs and shakes his head at Taako as if he’s some two bit incompetent liar who can’t come up with a convincing story or something. “Atrocious. You couldn’t even say something about gilt tile blocking on cloth spines. ‘Oh but Kravitz, the historical value of my book, it needs to be preserved to demonstrate the contemporary advances.’”

Taako really wants to ask more questions about the words Kravitz just made happen, despite the fact he did it in a terrible impression of Taako’s voice, but he really had to focus on the book.

“Well how was I supposed to know you’d be hot and smart.” It’s not exactly Taako’s fault that Kravitz just knows things, is it? “Look,” he says, and leans in real close. “...I’m gonna level with you, Taako knows when he’s been bested, you can have the truth even though it’s mortifying. I left some journal pages in there, Krav, very personal journal pages, if you know what I mean, and I’ll tell you all about them later over dinner if you just let me get them back.” Kravitz is doing his frowny face again. “I’ll just take it out to my car, whip them out, and head right back in with it. You’ll barely even know it’s gone.” Taako smiles his most reassuring smile.

“Just to check, just to clarify exactly what you’re asking me right now, you want me to give you the book you came here to get back and let you walk to your car with it, but it’s okay because you promise you’ll definitely bring it back?” Taako nods encouragingly. “... and you need to do that because you’ve got what I assume you’re implying is horny journal pages in there?”

“Yes?” Says Taako. Look, it’s not his best work, but he’s been busy. Taako needs a nap, so forgive him for The Horny Journal Pages Defence… on the upside he can add it to his list of ‘bands which don’t exist but I’m making merch for’.

Kravitz stares at him again and looks like he might be contemplating murder. Taako probably needs to fix this. “You can come with me if you want. There’s no one else in here.” He gestures expansively at the empty space.

Kravitz’s frowny face gets frownier. “So now you think I’m incompetent, incapable of fixing a book, and wasting my time being here!” Kravtiz ticks them off on his fingers as he goes and Taako should definitely be focusing on the words, but his flouncy shirt sleeves have fallen back and his forearms are toned and Taako wants to know if the rest matches. “Oh, and of course, stupid enough to be likely to go out to what might be your murder van for all I know?” Oh that’d do it.

“It’s a nissan figaro! It’s pink!” How dare Kravitz imply he’d drive anything blocky and unpleasant. Taako’s all about impractical and fun, baby. Just wait ‘til Kravitz sees the bumper stickers on Garyl. ‘Murder free since 1803’ is on there somewhere, maybe that will reassure him? A bumper sticker would never lie.

“Oh, sorry, my mistake, you want me to go out to your tiny pink murder car with you.”

“I’ll let you hold the book.”

“Yeah, until you snatch it out of my hands and do a runner.”

Taako gasps, how dare Kravitz accuse him of exercise. “My guy, my dude, Taako does not run.”

“I saw you sprinting across the car park. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with windows but they’re big glass walls which let you see in but also let me see out.”

Taako snorts out a laugh against his will, hopes Kravitz doesn’t notice, and leans on the counter in an attempt to look serious. “Look, if you tell anyone about the running stuff, I’ll have to kill you.”

“That is specifically the situation I’m trying to avoid right now.”

“Fuck, look, the book’s haunted, handsome, so unless you want spooks for days all up in this bitch, you need to let me yeet the beastie out of it. I’ll even let you have it back after, can’t guarantee what kind of state it’ll be in, but I have every faith in your ability to repair it.” Taako smiles the biggest smile he could possibly smile, then dims it a bit because Kravitz looks alarmed and he isn’t entirely sure if it’s because of what he just said or the amount of teeth he’s doing about it.

“The book’s haunted?”

“Yep.” Taako nods for emphasis.

“I see why you tried the sexy journal pages first. Goddess, that’s terrible.”

“It’s true, ghost book is what it is, kemosabe. I get that you’re doing the goth thing, but trust me, you don’t want this guy to add to the spooky mystique around these here parts.”

“You’re threatening me with a ghost?”

“No, I’m not threatening you with anything, I’m offering you a free book once I’ve de-spooked it. That’s a bargain.”

“You’re offering me a free book which I already own.”

“Look, I’ve got my proof of purchase, I can show you the book is legally mine and therefore legally not Magnus’ and therefore you can’t have it. I can also show you exactly why you need to give it back to me for like mmmmm 10 minutes.”

“Fine.”

“What?” Taako doesn’t know why that worked, he was throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping for the best. Thank the fates that one stuck.

“Fine, show me the ‘spook book’. If you can convince me it’s haunted then you can have it back for 10 minutes, but I’m sitting in the car so if you try to run away you’re taking me with you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

“Sorry, what?”

“Nothing, don’t worry about it.” Taako flaps his hand dismissively. “Right Kraveroo, show me the cupboard.”

Kravitz doesn’t look like he’s sure if he’s about to explode into glitter or flames. Instead of either he just shrugs and starts walking. Taako hangs back a few steps, you know, for business purposes and not the view.

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Thank you for reading! Find chapter 3 here