#uncle zach is to blame

[sandcatart]

A girl's first successful summoning

[warnersister]

I Remember Everything

bradley ‘rooster’ bradshaw x mitchell!reader

Inspired by the song ‘I Remember Everything’ by Zach Bryan -> you and Bradley were only together back then to piss off your dad.. right?

Flashbacks & song lyrics in italics

top gun masterlist

“What can I get ya?” You ask, back turned to the patron but you could feel their expectant presence behind you. “Rotgut whiskey's gonna ease my mind” your breath hitched in your throat as you recognised the voice, pivoting to the voice you used to yearn for just to comfort your own sanity. “Bradley.”

Yourself and Bradley went way back. Back further than you wanted to admit. You started fraternising with him when you were freshly eighteen, pissed off at your father, Pete Mitchell. And as president of the ‘Pete-Mitchell-Hatred Club’, Bradley was more than happy to oblige. He himself was 25, finally managing to begin his naval training without any support of his surrogate uncle, and he’d just dumped you in California and fucked off to the dessert for annoying some admiral, leaving you with Penny despite your argument that you were old enough now to make your own decisions.

Bradley was at a two month station at top gun, not to train; no he wasn’t at that stage in his naval aviation training yet, but to boost morale and promote dog-fighting initiative amongst the new recruits. To throw them in at the deep end and put them up against the best.

You knew the two of them didn’t get along and you knew how your father yearned for a relationship with Bradley, so it was the perfect was to get under his skin in a way that would truly aggravate him. Being with Bradley.

At first, the reason Bradley even entertained your behaviour because he knew how it would get to maverick and how, realistically, Maverick had absolutely no say in what you did anymore. Because you were an adult making your own choices, and he surrendered any parental ties on Bradley when he withdrew his papers. It was a win-win situation as far as he was concerned, that was until he really started to fall for you.

It was a hot day in mid-July and Bradley had a day off so he opted to spend it with you, honking his horn twice in his Bronco, right outside Maverick’s house as you came running out and your dad shouted after you - regardless of the fact you were always in the passenger seat. You made it to the beach but ended up in Bradley’s military accommodation, as per usual. He watched the way your hair whipped as you observed passers-by, in nothing but a bikini as your beach towel rests on the dryin’ line.

He approached you and rested his head on your shoulder, hands on your hips as he followed your eye-line to where you were watching a couple of golden-coast born boys playing volleyball on the beach.

“Do I remind you of your daddy in his ‘88 Ford?” He asked as you handed him his whiskey from across the bar. You scoffed. “You were like a Labrador hanging out the passenger door” he continued, reminiscing on the way you used to hang your body half out of the window to feel the humid breeze against your skin, a panicked Bradley with his knuckles going white as his fingers grasped at the loop holes of your worn denim shorts to keep you in the vehicle.

The sand from your hair was blowing in his eyes. He’d blame it on the beach, grown men don’t cry. He knew what you wanted out of this: a bit of fun, a dig at your father. And he knew that he shouldn’t be feeling the way he did, a sense of growing adoration for you and your company. Your constant sleep overs and loving attention.

“Do you remember that beat down basement couch?” He asked after the silence and for the first time since you looked at him, you smiled. “God I loved that thing, of course I do Brad” you say in an almost accidentally small voice. “I'd sing you my love songs and you'd tell me about how your mama ran off and pawned her ring” you nodded “I remember,” you began with a steady inhale “I remember everything.”

You worked at the hard deck over the summer while you waited on news from the colleges you’d applied to, Bradley always overstaying his welcome despite you giving a cold shoulder at closing time, before he’d approach you and manage to coax you away from the bar for the evening.

“You were begging me to stay 'til the sun rose” you remembered with a grin, thinking back on all the times you’d given into him. Bradley could hardly muster any sort of words, unable to string a sentence together as he realised you really did appreciate his first summer in North Island; strained words come on out of a grown man's mouth when his mind's broke. Thinking of the pictures and passing time, all these years apart. He wondered if you were married now, if the hard deck was what you actually did for work, if you had a man, a child, a life without him, before you broke the silence with your realisation. “You only smile like that when you're drinking” you tell his dopey grin. “I wish I didn't, but I do… remember every moment on the nights with you” he tells you.

You begin to wipe down the counter, questioning his reiterative choice of beverage. “You're drinkin' everything to ease your mind?” You asked, rhetorically. “But when the hell are you gonna ease mine?” He retorted in question and you creased your brows. He peered around the bar, it still technically closed, being only 4pm, but you couldn’t deny Bradley entrance. Not after your history together. Acknowledging that there was nobody else, he took it in his stride to zip around the bar to you, trapping you against the bar and leaning closer, you could smell the Rotgun whiskey on his mouth. “You're like concrete feet in the summer heat” he tells you with a shake of his head, laughing sarcastically as he throws his head back “It burns like hell when two souls meet”.

You look up at him and trace his moustache with your thumbs, hands cupping his chiselled jaw. “No, you'll never be the man that you always swore” you tell him, reminding him that he was nothing like your father, but you nod to the familiar Bronco in the parking lot “but I'll remember you singin' in that '88 Ford”, you smile.

“Are you gonna give me a cold shoulder at closing time?” He asked “are you gonna be begging me to stay ‘til the sun rose?” You ask in response. “You of all people know that strained words come on out of a grown man's mouth when his mind's broke” he whispers, moving to bury his head between your collar and jaw. “I still think about the pictures and passing time” you tell him, threading your hands into his hair.

You feel his brows raising “what? So I wasn’t just a way to get back at your daddy?” He asked and you shook your head. “What? I thought I was a way for you to get back at him. No, you were everything to me Bradley. Everything. You just happened to be there when I wasn’t getting along with Mav” you tell him and he takes his head from the crevice of your neck to give you a boyish smile as he realises after all this time, his feelings were always requited. “You only smile like that when you're drinking” you tell him. “I wish I didn't, but I do remember every moment on the nights with you” you tell him and he creases his brows.

“Now why’re you tryna forget me, honey?” He asked, nose almost pressed against your own. Almost. “Well you’re probably married now, kids, job, everything.” You say meekly. “And I never moved on.” His breath caught in his throat. “Darlin, I ain’t married. Ain’t got no kids or anything, no girl, no nothing. I never got over you” he tells you. “No one was ever as good as you Brad, no one made me feel the way you made me feel” you tell him as he inches dangerously close.

“Well can I give you something to take the edge off, princess?” He asks, eyes meeting yours after fleeting between them to your lips for the past few moments. “Rotgut whiskey's gonna ease my mind” you tell him as he finally leans into close the gap between the both of you, tasting the bitter sweetness on his tongue and the smell of the liquor on his moustache.

You pull away and become acutely aware of how he’s only in his swim shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, as his beach towel rests on the drying line. “Do I remind you of your daddy in my '88 Ford?” He asks as he leans his forehead against yours and you nod, with a jokingly “Labrador hangin' out the passenger door.”

“Why’re you still in North Island, sugar? Still working the Hard Deck?” He questions as he nips your neck with his teeth. You stop him and pull his head from where it was taunting against your sight. You hold his head in your hands as you shake your head with a serious look crossing your face. “Bradley I’m only helping Penny clean up. I’m stationed here for the foreseeable.” You say, as the obvious dawned on him. He hadn’t seen you since that summer before you started college “you’re in the navy?” He asked “aviator.” You replied and he grinned to pick you up and sling you over his shoulder as you yelp with surprise.

“Bradley! What are you doing?” You ask with a breathless laugh. “Got a lot to catch up on, sugar.” He tells you as you approach his Bronco. “How about an all night revival?”

[cartoondrawer]

I made ship kids, beware that the quality is off because I drew them on my sisters iPad so if they look weird or lighter, blame the lighting since I had to take pictures instead of being sent them😭🙏

Vance

A boy who loves dangerous things..including falling down a damn cliff (that’s how he got his little scar on his face..) his cousin is Vallie, who he doesn’t have a great relationship with. He’s also related to the Paver sisters since Paisley is Zach’s cousin..he loves his dad and wishes to follow in his footsteps..although he doesn’t really like his mom. But Donita tries being nice to him..

Enjoys Savanna Animals

Vallie

A girl who does NOT like being in the crew, especially when she fights with EVERYONE on board..except Piper. She wants to be like her dad, Zach Varmitech but surprisingly has a good relationship with her dad! Also..she dyed her hair to look more like Zach-

Enjoys Rainforest Animals

Hunter

Aviva’s love for inventing had passed down to them, and so was her jacket! His arm was unfortunately ripped off by a bear when they were younger, so Aviva and Koki offered to work together to build an arm for him! He has an AWESOME relationship with both of his moms!

Enjoys Taiga Animals

Coral

She loves the beach, and her mom! Unfortunately she doesn’t know that she had been a villain in the past before..and she doesn’t talk to her dad a lot..but she still loves him. She was the one to alarm Koki and Aviva about Hunters arm!

Enjoys Marine Animals

Pearl

He wants to follow in his dad footsteps but still genuinely enjoys the creature adventures! Although he doesn’t enjoy being around her sister. She usually fights with the rest of the crew, except Piper..

Enjoy Desert Animals

Maxwell

Very anxious and does NOT sleep. Hangs out with Jimmy a lot, and is kinda scared of Gourmand, like..HAVE YOU SEEN THAT MAN? But still loves him. He loves the cold!

Enjoys Arctic Animals

Piper

She is a hyper kid who the WHOLE group is overprotective over and usually gets herself into dangerous situations..Donita made a little bracelet for her! Great relationship with both of the parents!

Oh and Dabio is like that one cool uncle you rarely see at family reunions-

[nostalgic90s]

“Crazy bitch.”

Lila Valeska, who was fully prepared to go home after winning, dragged herself back to the table. She slapped a hand over Terry’s folded cards. “Come again?”

“Oof.” Zach shook his head, something akin to pity in his eyes when glancing over at Terry. “Don’t use the C-word, man.”

Terry snapped his eyes. “So, you’re okay bein’ a cheating bitch? But crazy is where you draw the line?” He shook his head.

Zach tried to warn him, but the stupid fucker didn’t listen. He sighed and casually started collecting the cards to reshuffle for a new game.

Avery and Bert exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew Lila well enough to avoid her triggers.

Lila fake laughed in Terry’s face. “Hah…hah…hah…” She accentuated each syllable by moving closer and cocking her head side to side. Like a snake. Like Shiba – her pet boa “Say it again. I dare you.”

“Bitch” Terry spat, clearly annoyed he lost his money.

“M’gonna take a piss” Bert said with urgency. He scurried out of the tent with Avery following him.

Zach shuffled the deck quietly. Terry was the new guy and he’d only been with the circus for a couple weeks. He couldn’t blame him for running his mouth, but he would soon find out what happened when he did.

Terry crossed his arms and looked up at Lila, sneering all the while he spoke. “Crazy, cunty, fucking, bitch.” He mocked her movements with exaggerated flair.

Zach began dealing the cards out. He figured Avery and Bert were done for the evening and only dealt Lila and Terry.

“Warned ya” Zach murmured.

“What?!” Terry snapped, turning his attention away from Lila.

Big mistake.

Trainers don’t take their eyes off snakes.

The results could be…. Fatal.

Lila sank a pocket blade into Terry’s neck.

Terry’s eyes widened in shock and pain. He tried to look to Zach for help, but Lila shoved the metal deeper into his neck. His flesh twitched and spewed blood all over the table.

Zach watched with feigned boredom, but his heart was pounding inside his chest. He blinked a few times, feeling blood splatter onto his face.

Lila yanked the knife out and stabbed Terry again…. And again. And again. She screamed and rammed it into the poor guys’ eye.  

The eyeball popped like a water balloon and with the pocketknife still buried deep within his eye-socket, Terry sank to the floor. He was on his side, twitching and grabbing at nothing.

Zach scraped a hand over his face, sighing irritably. “This is the third guy this month, Lila.”

“Yeah, and?” She placed her hands on her hips and scowled at her older brother.

She was just as scary as she was beautiful. Zachary grumbled under his breath and placed the deck of cards down on the table. “You gonna help me this time?”

“Maybe.” Lila shrugged.

Movement on the other side of the tent caught their attention.

Lila stomped towards the crate of hyenas and grabbed whoever was hiding behind it-

Jerome yelped fearfully.

“Eavesdropping, are we?” Lila gripped Jerome’s wrist so hard that it had the boy crying.

Jeremiah suddenly appeared behind the cage. He walked over to his mother and placed a hand over her arm. “Please don’t hurt him, mother. It was my idea… I wanted to watch you play cards.”

Lila released her son’s wrist.

Jerome latched onto Jeremiah with a one-armed hug, his wrist aching terribly.

Jeremiah wrapped both arms around his twin and rubbed his back in an attempt to console him. “It won’t happen again. Promise.”

Lila rolled her eyes. “Shut the hell up. I didn’t squeeze you that hard.”

Jerome sunk into his brother’s chest and whimpered quietly.

“Speaking of cards…” Zach gestured to the table where the cards are waiting. “Might as well teach them now.”

“….Fine. Whatever.” Lila stepped over Terry’s now motionless body and sat down on the available seat. “Well? C’mon then.” She pointed to the empty chairs.

Jeremiah and Jerome looked at each other.

Jeremiah nodded.

Jerome went first and took a seat next to his uncle.

Jeremiah sat down next to his mother.

“Texas Hold Em’, that’s the name of the game” Zach said. He dealt an additional hand to Jerome. “It’s all in the eyes. You either got a poker face or ya don’t.”

“And if ya don’t,” Lila said, glancing at her cards, “Don’t bother coming home.”

Jerome and Jeremiah stared at the dead man on the ground, whatever-his-name was.

Jeremiah reached out and tapped his knuckles on the table. “Hit me.” It was a counting game. He had nothing to bet with, but Zach and Lila would probably figure that out later. Those two are scammers, but Jeremiah and Jerome are smarter.

[romana-after-dark]

Ghost of You: Finale

Ellie Miller & Joel Miller

ft. Tommy Miller, Lorenzo and Zach Aleverano

Masterlist

Summary: 16 years after her mom and dad's death, Ellie is finding her place in Jackson, being raised by her Uncle Tommy with the help of her uncle's Lorenzo and Zach. She loves them, but can't help but feel stifled. Soon, she finds out her suspicions were true, and her uncles have been lying to her. Will Ellie learn the truth? Can she trust anyone in this situation?

Takes place after The Wrong Way, but if you havn't read that series (too dark for you, too long, etc) you can read this. Since it's through Ellie's perspective, you can discover the truth alongside her.

DARK FIC! This is a dark!Joel, with canon typical violence and extra on the Joel. Anything discussed or shown in TWW is liable to be discussed here. There will be violence, but no shown sexual violence. Although this Joel is very dark, he is NOT DARK TO ELLIE. None of the things that happened to Ellie's mom are applicable to Ellie, but will be discussed.

Content warnings for entire series, not chapter by chapter unless more is added.

Talk/mentions/discussions of post rape, molestation, torture, violence, branding, forced breeding, major age gap (early 20's to later 40's), death. Child endangerment, major character death, murder, homophobic remarks, minor hate crime, manipulation, identity crisis.

This is it. It's bad, I cried tbh.

**************

Lorenzo was pacing. Zach and Tommy were arguing.

Ellie had never really picked up on tension between the two, if anything occasionally Lorenzo was the one to make a comment, but after Lorenzo’s account of her origins, it seemed like Zach held some anger towards Tommy for not saving her mom.

“I told you!” Zach shouts as Ellie stands to the side of the kitchen. “I fucking told you we should’ve killed him years ago!”

Tommy wasn’t convinced. “That man is absolutely insane! He’s goddamn Micheal Myers when he’s out to kill, there’s no way we’d make it out alive!” 

“You just don’t want him dead because he’s your brother, but how many girls has he raped and totured the last 16 years! That is blood on your hands!” The comments about the girls Joel potentially victimized hangs in the air as all three of her uncles turn to a shaking, crying, Ellie. It was Zach, of course, that approached her, hesitantly placing hands on her shoulders. “Elles… Answer me honestly sweetheart. Did Joel… did he touch you.”

Tearfully, Ellie shook her head. “N-no.”

Lorenzo spoke for the first time in a while, big brown eyes pleading with her for honesty  as the floor cracked along with his gentle step forward. “It wouldn’t be your fault if he did, Ellie belly.”

Tommy placed a hand on her wet face, coaxing her to look at him. “He’s right, honeybun. Even if you didn’t fight, no matter what the circumstances, we’d never blame you, okay? Nothing you could do would make that your fault.”

Ellie swore to them, no, Joel didn’t touch her. She knew how her uncles felt on the subject, never shying away from ‘the talk’ which revolved more around consent than anything.Granted, despite her uncles and uncles being gay, the discussion was surprisingly straight. Old habits and phrasing die hard. She knew that if anyone touched her without her consent she could come to them, and they would handle it. “I told you the worst of it.” Ellie had broken down, telling Tommy about Joel, Jack, and watching the old farmer die, and Tommy had quickly called over Zach and Lorenzo to discuss the next steps.

“Ellie…” Lorenzo began. “What did you guys… do? All summer, I mean. He’s not really a hang out kinda guy”

Ellie shrugged a little, a tad defensive. “I mean… like I told Tommy, he- he wanted me to take over so we would… we spent a lot of time patrolling but we… we fished, and talked and he would cook for me…”

Rolling his eyes, Zach scoffed. “He sure does like to play dad.”

For whatever reason, that didn’t sit right with Ellie. “But he is my dad! I’m not fucking stupid, Zach, and none of this would have happened if you hadn’t all lied to me! He’s my dad and I wanted to get to know him, I just… I didn’t think it was… that he was…” She choked back a sob, hating this disgusting display of vulnerability.

Tommy looked at her, knowingly. “You didn’t think he was capable of all that, did you?” He waited for her to shake her head before continuing. “He’s good at that, you know. I get it. I do. Joel knows how to manipulate. But I also think he loved you, honeybun” Tommy ignored Zach’s scoff in the background, saying the bastard wasn’t capable of love. “I do, it’s hard not to love you, you know?” Smiling softly, Tommy held her gaze. “But everything Lorenzo told you is true, Ellie. I ain’t ly’n to yuh anymore. After all this settles, anything you wanna know about my life before, about your dad, our childhood, being raiders, me and your mom, all of it. Anything you wanna know, it’s yours, the good and the bad. And I know it’s gonna take a long time before you trust me, if you ever do, but I swear to you, I will never lie again… including if I ate the last honeybun”

Ellie gave a soft chuckle, but Zach was back to business. “Elles, does he still live in the old house?”

She nodded. “Yeah, we went out there a lot…” Turning, she faced Lorenzo. “He showed me my moms grave-” Ellie was interrupted by a loud ‘FUCK’ from Zach, whipping her had over to get her uncles palms to his eyes, Lorenzo rushing over to hold him.

“I knew it!” He groaned loudly. “I knew that fucker had her. God knows what depraved shit he did with her body before he buried her!” Sometimes, Ellie forgets that her mom was Zach's biological sister, not just someone he loved. That was family, someone Zach had taken care of for 20 years and feels like he failed.

Ellie watched as Zach cried, held tightly by Lorenzo. For perhaps the first time, Ellie realized how her moms life and death wasn’t just something that affected her, it didn’t exist in a vacuum. Her uncle, her aunts, they all were in pain, only worsened by the fact Jack was dead now, a loss they all felt. Ellie had been privileged, she realized, to not have had the life the others had. It wasn’t just her mom, who all she had known was violence and sexual abuse from men around her, including those she was meant to trust, her only respite being Tommy, Zach, June, Lorenzo, and the little bits of Joel when he deigned to be kind, but the others too. 

Tommy, who had to be practically raised by his older brother after growing up with no money, two parents who worked multiple jobs, Tommy, who joined the military at young age, join the fireflies, joined Joel and saw all the horrors life can give one man, who watched his niece dye in his brothers arms and watched his brother depend into madness. Lorenzo, who grew up poor, watching his sisters get used by shitty men, most of them getting pregnant before leaving high school. Lorenzo, whose ex-wife and every sister and every single niece and nephew had died in the fallout of the outbreak, leaving a man who had only ever known a big, loving family all alone. Zach, who was beaten his whole childhood and tried to protect his sister and her best friend when no one else would, who was shot trying to save her, who lived with the guilt eating at him for his baby sister’s death for 16 years.

“I should’ve fucking done it.” Tommy mumbled, the remorse clear in his voice. “I had the gun pointed him that day and I don’t fucking know why-”

“He’s your brother,” Lorenzo interrupted, still holding Zach. “I can’t say I get it, but I can’t say I understand a lot that’s happened with Joel. He had a hold on both of-”

Tommy wasn’t having it. “But he killed her!” He was shouting at no one but himself. “He killed her and now he’s got my daughter wrapped up in his bullshit, traumatized her, and messed up her head just like her mom.”

Ellie broke through the voices. “It’s not like that!” Every turned towards her. “It wasn’t all bad stuff, he was… he was my dad, he did normal dad stuff like fishing and telling me to go to bed and eat my vegetables, just like you guys do!” Ellie didn’t know why she felt defensive of him, but it was almost biological, the primal urge to protect family. It wasn’t always like this. It wasn’t always violence and murder and manipulation. He was her dad. “He didn’t just walk up one day and shoot someone in front of me, I’m not that fucking stupid!”

“Elles,” Zach began. “We don’t think you’re-”

“He took care of me! He gave me clothes and books and he sang while I played piano, he was a dad first and then, and then, and then, and THEN the other stuff started and it was confusing! It was confusing because I wanted to be strong and make him proud but I was scared! I don’t wanna kill innocent people!”

Zach left his husband’s arms to take Ellie in his as a fresh bout of tears began. She was so confused, so frustrated with herself and everyone around her and she was terrified out of her goddamn mind.

But Lorenzo caught something the others didn’t. “Wait… where did you play piano? Were you at our house?” Piano’s were a rare commodity, Lorenzo getting one from Zach by likely less than Maria-approved methods. 

Shaking her head vigorously, Ellie denied that. “No, we never came to Jackson. It was at the house, I told you we went there, remember?”

“What is it, Ren?”

Lorenzo turned to Tommy. “I don’t remember no piano there. Joel don’t play, does he?”

Tommy confirmed no, his face giving away that he had the realization that Lorenzo had come to. “Only guitar and mandolin.”

Looking back and forth between the two who were having a silent conversation Ellie was growing frustrated. “What are you guys talking about now? Joel said my mom played piano, didn’t she?”

“No, I did.” Zach stood up, facing Tommy. “I tried to teach her like I did you, but she really had no interest.”

“But he said… He said Red River Valley was her favorite. He’d sing it while I played…”

Zach groaned again, griping at his hair. “It was her favorite. But I’d play, she’d sing…”

“She used to sing it while Joel played…” Lorenzo recounted his memory of one of the less disturbing things he heard in the thin walls of that house.

“I can’t have a single memory of her that isn’t tainted by him, can I?”

But Lorenzo was onto something more. “Guys, you know what this means right? Joel knows Ellie can play piano, he got a piano for her… that means he’s been watching her, and pretty in depth…”

Ellie watched as anger filled Zach’s face.

“What? No way he could get in here without someone seeing him. Does he have someone spying?”

“I don’t know”

“He’s gotta right?”

“Who would betray Maria like that? Even Seth respects her too much.”

“Well, it’s gotta be someone, because theres no other way for him to know she plays piano, right?”

The silence was long an uncomfortable before the married couple and Ellie turned to a very guilty looking Tommy.

“Tom. Something you wanna tell us?” 

He looked to be hesitating, like he wanted to lie, cover his tracks, but when he locked eyes with Ellie… he seemed to remember his promise. No more. Lies. “I might have… I might have seen him a few times.”

The room erupted in argument, Zach screaming “YOU’RE SO GODDAMN PATHETIC TOMMY!”

“He’s my brother and that’s his daughter! He cornered me and wanted to know how she was doing!”

Joel found Tommy and asked about her? Tommy saw her dad and didn’t say anything?

Lorenzo lost his cool. “You told a psychopath intimate details about my niece?! How many times did you see him!”

He hesitated again, but eventually admitted to seeing him about every year. Tommy would never search him out, it was always Joel finding him and they’d talk for a bit. Tommy would tell him how she was doing in school, her personality, likes and dislikes. That’s how Ellie found out her favorite joke book came from dad way back when she was 8. Her three uncles arguing with each other about the severity of Tommy’s betrayal, what they needed to do next, repeating over and over again all the times they should’ve killed him, should’ve should’ve should’ve… should’ve killed her dad, a murderer, a rapist, a cruel, disgusting human being who had treated her so tenderly and yet for a year, made her moms life hell

Ellie couldn’t take it anymore, the lights were too bright in her burning eyes, her head hurt from the crying, the long day, the arguing… so much had happened in the last few months, few days, few hours… and many accusations that Joel had no chance to refute. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her uncles anymore, she did. She believed the horrific details of what her mother endured, the circumstances surrounding her premature birth, the things her uncles witnessed and suffered at the hands of the man who made her, but she needed to hear it from Joel. She needed to hear his side. There was no excuse for what happened, but this was the man she came from, and she needed to know his side of the sordid history she’d been unraveling piece, by piece, by piece… 

“Dad?” Ellie called him from the walkie talkie in her room that he had given her that second day. “Can you come? It’s an emergency.”

It wasn’t long before Joel was just outside of Jackson, Ellie running to meet him. He held out his hands, the worried expression clear even in the lack of artificial light. “What’s wrong baby girl?” 

Ellie, despite her better judgment, ran into Joel’s arms. It might be her last chance to, after all.

“What’s wrong?” He repeated. “Tommy do something? Seth? You need me to take care of-”

“No!” Ellie quickly refuted the idea that Joel needed to take care of anything. She’d seen what that meant for anyone who crossed him. She stepped back out of his arms.

“Then what’s going on? Do you wanna move in?” There’s a glimmer of hope so prominent Ellie almost said yes because she couldn’t bear to watch that shine crumble… Almost.

“Dad, I need to talk to you and… it’s important that you listen to me.” She fought the urge to wring her hands, tap her feet, fidget in any way. This was important, and Joel needed to see her as an adult about it, not a child.

He nodded. “I’m listening, Ellie June. Whatever it is, I’m listening.”

Ellie took a deep breath. It was now or never, it was now that she needed to tell Joel, shatter the bubble they’d been living in, end the relationships he had with her father after only a few months. “They told me, Joel. Lorenzo did anyway.”She watched his face shift, realization dawning upon him but not daring to confirm anything lest he be wrong. “About my mom-”

“He’s lying. Always has. He’s a slimy, lying fucker who-”

“No he isn’t!” Ellie yelled, perhaps too loud and too close to town.

Joel took a step forward, reaching for Ellie’s shoulder. “You don’t know him, Ellie, you’re too young, you don’t know what he’s really like, what any of them are really like-”

“STOP DOING THAT!” It was a scream now, backing away from the man who towered nearly a foot taller than the short girl. “Stop telling me I’m wrong, and I’m too young and I’m too inexperienced! Stop making me doubt myself!” She took a few calming breaths, watching Joel watch her. “I know they’ve done things in the past, bad things, but Uncle Lorenzo is not slimy, and he’s not lying. None of them are.”

“I don’t know what they told you-”

“I think you do.”

Joel and her were in a standoff now, largely silent as she watched Joel process the change and no doubt assess his next steps. If he was what Lorenzo claimed, he managed to make her mom fall in love with him despite the horrors. He knew all that and Tommy still held loyalty to him, still telling Joel parts of her life knowing he was the rapist of someone not much older than she was now. 

He took a breath. “Ellie June, it’s not like what they’re telling you” Another step forward.

She tried to move back, but tree bark scratch at the skin exposed by her tank top. “And just what are they telling me?”

“They're telling you I kidnapped her, aren’t they? That I raped her, beat her, tortured her, tried to kill her. That’s not exactly true.”

Ellie couldn’t help but scoff at that. “Not exactly? Joel, there is no good version of that!”

“What I said was true. Her dad was a damn bastard, offered her up to me for sex, selling her virginity. And I took her-”

“What the fuck-”

“TO SAVE HER, SARAH! You don’t understand, you can’t possibly understand-”

“What did you just call me-”

“It was better, I took care of her, I gave her a home, she had Tommy, she had Lorenzo, she had safety” Another step, Joel placing both of his large hands on either side of Ellie’s face. “And all she had to do was give me you, give me you, my precious baby girl. All she had to do was give me my daughter back, and she did.” All Ellie could manage was a whispered ‘what?’ as Joel stroked her cheek. “She gave me you, and now we get to have the life we were robbed of by this damn infection, we get to be a family again.”

“No” A small cry from her lips as her eyes filled with tears again. He didn’t want her. He didn’t love her. He loved Sarah. “I don’t want this, dad, please”

“I know it’s confusing right now, but I promise you, everything is gonna be okay, you’re gonna be okay, I’m gonna get you somewhere safe.”

“Joel-”

“I know, I know I know I know I know. But I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, okay?” Joel touched his forehead to hers, eyes closed shut.

“Dad, please stop-”

“I’m sorry, babygirl, I’m gonna make this better soon.” His forehead was replaced by the barrel of a gun. “Come out where I can see you Tommy.”

Ellie was frozen, back pressed against a tree as the cool end of the gun warmed to her skin. Slowly, Ellie watched as Tommy, Lorenzo and Zach came into the clearing from different sides, guns raised, the crackle of sticks and the forest floor tracked their footsteps where Ellie was unable to keep place. She wanted nothing more than to run into their arms, but she was stuck. She didn’t know how far Joel’s madness ran, and if she was just a replacement for Sarah, that meant she was replaceable herself.

“Let her go, Joel” Zach spoke first, but Joel was having none of it.

“You shut the fuck up, Zach. You couldn’t even protect that little girl when she was being molested, you sure as fuck can’t protect Ellie.”

“You don’t know a goddamn thing about what happened there-”

“And you don’t know a goddamn thing about what happened between me and her mom so how about you just shut the fuck up!” His gun swung to point at Tommy as his brother took a step forward.

“You’re right Joel, but I do. I was there, so was Lorenzo. We saw what you did to her. Ellie don’t deserve a life like that.”

Joel glared at the insinuation. “I would never hurt my daughter. Give me your guns.”

Lorenzo scoffed. “No goddamn way”

“Kick your guns over or I start blasting off Ellie’s fingers, how about that? You think I’d hurt my baby girl? Let’s test that theory.”

To her own disgust, Ellie whimpered, the thought of this insane man before her shooting off her fingers one by one…

“Ellie, look at me baby” Tommy’s soothing voice coaxed her back to reality. “We ain’t letting nothing happen to you, honey. I promise.”

She trusted Tommy. Tommy would make things better. He always did.

Zach’s angry tone made her eyes flick over to him, chastising Tommy as he lay down his gun. “What the fuck are you doing, Tom?”

“Just go along with him for now.”

“No way am I-!” But Zach stopped at the sound of his husband calling his name.

“Baby, just hand it over. It’s gonna be okay, we'll fix it.”

Lorenzo always calmed Zach the way Zach calmed her.

The three men kicked over their guns to where Joel stood, Joel picking them all up before he lowered the gun that was pressed to Ellie’s head. She was too scared to move, Joel stepping in front of her. 

“I’m sorry, Tommy. I didn’t want it to be like this, but you took my baby from me. Now I’m taking her from you”

Tommy left an exasperated sigh. “Why don’t you ask her where she wants to go, Joel.”

“She’s just a kid, she don’t know what’s best for her.”

Lorenzo interrupted them, brutally honest as always. “And you do? Joel you are literally insane, you spent a year raping and abusing that girl-”

“She was my WIFE!”

“SHE WAS YOUR CHILD BRIDE!” 

Joel laughed, loud and cruel and unlike anything Ellie had heard from him before, but from the look on her uncle’s faces they were not surprised. “And Tommy was so much better? He’s only 7 years younger than me. A 20 year old and a 38 year old ain’t exactly clean itself.”

Much smaller than she’d like, Ellie’s voice peaked from behind Joel. “W-what?”

Joel turned slightly to face her. “Oooooooh, they didn’t tell you that part?” He was condescending, and she’d be lying if she said it didn’t hurt. She didn’t like being treated like a child, and she though Joel was someone who wouldn’t…

“Elles, don’t listen to him-”

“It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Your mom cheated on me with my own goddamn brother, Ellie June.”

Ellie’s eyes flicked to Tommy’s, and the look on his face… she didn’t need to ask if that was true.

“Ellie, it wasn’t like that honeybun. She was scared, she asked me, she wanted-”

“Tom, stop, you aren’t helping” Zach’s voice was bitter, an unfamiliar tone to Ellie and she suddenly felt guilt. Everything was falling apart, her family, her uncles, her life. The second identity crisis in one summer and she felt like she was coming undone, unable to keep up with all the twists. She almost wanted to go back to not knowing, just to get her family back… but she also knew ignorance would not help her.

It was dark out, cold, the weather cooling for a Wyoming winter, the only kind of winter Ellie had ever known. Tommy was in his signature denim on denim, a noticeable blue under the moon light above them. This had to end, this had to end somehow, and soon. She couldn’t keep watching this, standing helpless to the side.

“You guys know he fucked her the night before she died too?” Joel sneered. “You stole my wife then you fucked her on a cold floor, 8 months pregnant, that’s probably why Ellie was premature!”

Lorenzo lost his patience with Tommy. “Oh for FUCKS SAKE TOMMY!” He shouted, apparently being done mediating between Tommy and Zach. “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

Tommy, for his part, was trying to keep calm with his eyes closed and voice steady. “It’s not like he’s framing it, I loved her-”

“Joel said he loved her too”

“I’m not like Joel!”

“You sure didn’t do much stop him!”

Ellie watched Tommy and Lorenzo go at it when she heard something she never thought she would. Zach making a dig at Lorenzo.

“Oh, and you did?”

For a moment, Zach paused, letting the words roll off his back before turning to Zach. “Excuse the fuck outta me?”

Zach’s tone was accusatory, pointing a finger at his lover as if his sister's abuser wasn’t right there, watching the men who had come together united for Ellie fall apart at his prodding. “You didn’t get her out either!”

“I literally took her away!”

“After he almost killed her! After she was pregnant from rape! After the worst psychological abuse I can imagine!”

Tommy came to Lorenzo’s defense, or, moreso ready to make a get at Zach. “I’m sorry, but who was it that let her get molested and mouth raped by random men?”

“And now you’re using Joel’s talking points?” 

Ellie watched Joel watching her uncles, smirking as the trio who were once a coopt in the effort of raising her disintegrate, falling apart at the seams after just a small tug of their thread by Joel. He was good at what he did, manipulating people, manipulating relationships, twisting everyone's minds up in just the way he wanted… it was no wonder Tommy was incapable of killing him (and he was, Ellie thought, incapable of doing it). She wanted this to end, needed it to before their relationships became irreparable, before she could never have a semblance of a life like she had filled with love and affection and fun and family. She needed to do something before Joel took her, before Joel killed one or two or all of them, before the killing started a psychotic break and he killed June and Maura or came to Jackson or-

Her jackknife was in Joel’s neck before she realized what was happening.

Red splattered from his neck with the initial impact, getting on Ellie’s face but not much considering her head barely reached his shoulder.

“JOEL!” Tommy screamed, running to his brother as Ellie stumbled back, taking the knife out with her.

She caught the look of horror on Tommy and Zach’s face. “He was reaching for his gun! He was going to shoot-”

“Sarah” 

Joel’s broken and choked voice croaked from Ellie’s feet, Tommy desperately trying to stop the bleeding as Ellie.

“C’mon Joel don’t do this.”

This would have implications later on, Lorenzo and Zach watching on with confusion as Tommy tried to save Joel… but they didn’t get it. They never would. They would never understand what it’s like to love and be loved by him. It was a disease, a cancer that eats away at you until it becomes on with your being, impossible to separate. Only death in death.

“It’s okay baby, we’re safe, we’re safe” Joel muttered, not really looking at anything in particular as Tommy held him. Ellie took a few steps forward, Zach telling her to stop, moving to stop her himself but Lorenzo holding him back. Lorenzo may not get it, but he understands the pull, the deep wound that Joel caused. He knew Ellie needed this. This was between Joel, Ellie and Tommy. Lorenzo and Zach were merely players in the sick game. She knelt by his side, hand on his clean shoulder and upper chest. Joel was her dad, despite it all.

Joel spoke again. “We’re not sick…. We're gonna get you to safety and go back for him, okay?”

Ellie looked to Tommy for clarification, but Tommy shook his head. “I don’t… I don’t know what he’s talking about.” He held his big brothers wound, attempting in vein to keep the blood in.

“Please don’t… Sarah? Move… move your hands baby”

Ellie dropped her hands away, but Tommy shook his head. “He’s not talking to you… he’s talking to Sarah” The realization hit Tommy, and he watched in pain as Joel died in his arms.

“He thinks I’m Sarah.”

“No, he- I know mija, I know, I- He’s reliving Sarah’s death…” Tommy’s eyes welled up with tears, the anguish clear on Joel’s face as he was forced to exist once more in the hardest moment of his life, the moment he likely lost himself completely, the moment that made him who he was.

“I know, baby! I know it hurt, come on baby! Please! I know, baby! I know.”

“Dad-” Ellie reached out again for Joel, this time her hands on his face.

“Ellie, maybe don’t…” But Tommy made no real effort to stop her. 

“I know, I know, I know. Please babygirl, don't do this to me.”

“Tom.” Zach voice was soft, sympathetic to the plight of the pair before. Despite the previous argument and the issue’s they’d had, it was clear Zach felt for Tommy, having spent the better part of two decades raising a little girl together with Lorenzo and having lost a sibling himself. “He’s bleeding out slowly, but he's bleeding out. It’s best just to… end it.”

“Don't do this to me, baby. Come on...N-no. No...don't...please. Please. Please. Please don't do this to me.”

Tommy looked at Zach, then Lorenzo, then Ellie. “I- I can’t. I couldn’t do it before, I couldn’t do it for it her I c-can’t!” Tommy’s voice broke, cracking at the last word. “I know I’m weak, Ellie. I know. I couldn’t stand up to him, I couldn’t protect her, I could protect you-”

Joel continued mumbling to ‘Sarah’ telling her it’d be okay, he’s taking her somewhere safe, he’ll come back for uncle Tommy, please’s and don’t do this to me, occasionally reverting back to the “We’re not sick!”

“Tommy” Ellie reached out for her uncle's hand, covered in her dads blood, blood she spilled. Tommy looked up at her, reduced to tears, he looked so young, so vulnerable… she wanted to stop his pain, but she couldn’t. “We have to do this.” Ellie pulled Tommy’s hand back with her, pressing her knife into it, the knife that used to belong to Joel. “We’ll do it together, okay.”

“Ellie, no, this shouldn’t be on you, you don’t have to-”

“I want to.” It seemed only right, for them to be the ones to do it, to end it all.

With one hand on the knife, her other found Joel’s face. “Dad? Dad, I’m here okay?”

Suddenly, Joel’s eyes found Ellie’s, wide and scared and sad and so, so human. “Sarah?”

Ellie smiled. “Yeah, it’s Sarah. Uncle Tommy brought me to safety. We’re okay. Everything’s okay.”

“T-Tommy?” His breath was growing ragged, heavy and unsteady as his words began to slur. 

Tommy’s calloused hand held Joel’s, together as they had always been. A bond no one could understand, not even Tommy. “I’m here, Joel. Everything’s okay. They stopped the virus, we’re safe, everyone is safe now.”

“You can rest, dad” Ellie coaxed him down. “Close your eyes, dad. It’s okay. We’re safe. Uncle Tommy’s gonna take care of me, just rest.”

Ellie saw Joel squeezing Tommy’s hand. “O-okay. Yeah. Just… just a little rest.”

“Just a little rest, Joel. Then we’ll all be together again, okay? You me and Sarah.” 

Joel nodded, small and weak and barely there as he closed his eyes. Together, Ellie and Tommy sliced through his throat, ending Joel’s 3 decade reign of terror and a splash of blood.

When Ellie fell back, beginning to sob, she found herself caught in Lorenzo’s arms and turned into him, allowing him to comfort her the way he had been trying to. After a moment, Lorenzo coaxed her up, Zach on the other side of the dead body helping a shaky Tommy stand.

Ellie continued to cry quietly looking at her dad, a relationship that came and shifted and changed and left so many times and so fast that she could barely keep up. He was a horrible person, someone she should despise… and she did, to some respect… but there was another side to Joel, a dad who lost his daughter, the most precious thing in his life… and was never the same since. She still loved her dad, even if she didn’t love Joel.

“C’mon, baby girl” Tommy’s voice was beside her now. “Let’s go home.”

Tommy and Lorenzo’s arms helping her, Zach helping Tommy, they began to walk away from what they had all witnessed. The body would be dealt with, Tommy would go to Maria and explain the situation and they’d dig a grave. Maybe Tommy could convince the pastor to say some words… Joel wasn’t really practicing by the end of the world anyway but he had Sarah baptized, and went to the local baptist church for holidays. Tommy would also, as he promised a guilt ridden Ellie he would, tell Maria about the older teen and the children who Joel had orphaned, taking them to Jackson, to safety. Ellie knew this meant the girl would probably tell the whole town who she was, who her father was… but Ellie was prepared to deal with that. This was her reparation.

“Baby, I don’t blame you for not saving her, you know that, right.” Zach said to Lorenzo on the way back.

“Yeah, I know. We all had our chances, but we all failed her.”

“You didn’t fail me.” Ellie spoke. She was starting to realize… her uncles were growing older. They’d spent 16 years caring for her. It was her turn to care for them. “You did right by me, you kept me safe, happy. I think that mattered to my mom more than anything.”

Tommy turned to her. “Ellie?”

“Yeah?”

“Joel was reaching for his gun, right?”

Ellie swallowed, feeling caught, feeling watched as Lorenzo and Zach looked at her. “Yeah, I was scared he was going to hurt you guys.”

None of them looked like they believed her… but it didn’t really matter, did it? Joel deserved to die. No one looked like they were casting judgment.

“I love you, honeybun. Always. We all do, your aunts do… No more secrets. Tomorrow, whatever you wanna know, I’ll tell you.”

Ellie didn’t know if she even wanted to know more… but considering the trouble not knowing brought her before… Ellie was going to learn all the grizzly details. She was going to learn, she was going to stop sneaking out, she was going to be more disciplined in school, take on extra patrols. Ellie was going to do better. She was never going to lead raiders, she was never going to kill innocnet people and terrorize those around her. But she was going to be a leader. She was going to be the one to stop evil men like Joel, and protect the vulnerable like her mom. She was going to do what the men in her life couldn’t.

“I love you all, so fucking much.”

And she meant it. With everything in her, she loved her family. All of them.

************

Well kids, this is it. The end.

I have a few AU's and shit I wanna do just for funsies but this is all I'm commiting to for now. I want to finish out a few series on my main and get me 1000 followers done, then Im working on another dark!joel series, a yandere, dbf sugar daddy joel but a much shorter series.

Anyway, as always, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!!! you kee me going despite the rude anons! I've made pals through this sight and i love yall

please please tell me your thoughts! How we feel about tommy? zach? lorenzo? ellie? and esp joel?!?!?! do you think ellie and tommys reaction was warrented? did ellie do the right thing?

@maura-honey @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @the-fox-den @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog @koshkaj-blog @miraclesabound @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @pimosworld

[bonded-by-love-and-hatred]

Bad boy big brother Jerome and goody-two-shoes little brother Jeremiah

Of course Jerome just loves corrupting sweet things that his mother thinks are just absolutely perfect and can do no wrong.

SO MANY IDEAS

I shall ramble more about one in particular under the cut🙃

(fair warning for incest and horny if it's not already obvious lol)

Give them like three or four years difference. Growing up, Jeremiah is the perfect son while Jerome is outcast and abused- except by his brother. Jeremiah (starting at only two years old) always hung on him, followed him around like a shadow even when Jerome snapped and hurt him. He'd cry, Jerome would get punished, and then Jeremiah was clinging onto him again with pitiful little apologies.

Eventually, Jerome gets used to it and secretly starts to like it. He does sometimes convince Jeremiah to cause trouble to watch him get punished. It backfired a lot.

Jeremiah, by five-years-old, when Jerome is forced to care for him 24/7, has taken on the task of protecting his big brother from the abuse. Whenever Jerome wants to do something he knows they shouldn't, he begs and begs him not to- if it doesn't work, he dives in right beside him. Still, he's hardly ever punished. The blame is always on Jerome. He's the older of the two and should know better. And he's always the one up to no good anyway, dragging his brother down with him. Jeremiah really ought to get away from him before he becomes just like Jerome.

The comments he overhears only make him cling to his brother more. He doesn't think Jerome is bad or stupid or anything the others say. When he got mean it was only to protect him, well...most of the time.

Jeremiah's ten when he finds out you're not supposed to kiss your brother on the mouth. But he likes to see Jerome smile afterwards, so he'll keep their secret.

Jeremiah's twelve when they move out of Haley's Circus and into Gotham. Uncle Zach finally scraped enough together to buy his own diner. And a smart boy like Jeremiah should really be in school where he can expand his knowledge and have a real chance at life (a real chance of making them money).

Jerome hates their apartment, hates being stuck in one place, hates that Jeremiah's at school or studying all the time now. One night, after Jeremiah's fallen asleep curled up against him, Jerome kisses his forehead and leaves without a word.

Jeremiah gets a postcard now and then, a gift on his birthday and Christmas, and nothing else. No letters or explanations or phone calls. Abandoned and alone, all he can do is listen to his mother's thanks for Jerome's absence and throw himself into his studies.

A few days before Christmas, seventeen now, Jeremiah receives another postcard. It's from Gotham. He goes to school, fidgety and in another world as he wonders if Jerome will visit him. Maybe he'd just run into him on the street, if he ever actually went anywhere other than school, the library once in a blue moon, and home.

Now either Jerome comes to pick him up from school or Jerome's waiting at home for him- either way, Jeremiah isn't sure if he wants to hug or slap him. Why not both tho honestly. He doesn't cling the way he did as a child- meaning literally hanging onto him- but he stays in his presence. And tries not to ogle him too much. Can't really help it tho and could you blame him? Jerome lounging back on the couch in a leather jacket with his T-shirt riding up, a cigarette in his mouth and those eyes almost always on Jeremiah like a predator watching its prey and he keeps touching him with his rough hands that could mark and bruise and hold him down and now he's twirling a knife around his fingers like he thinks he's some badass and he is really he's a dangerous predator and Jeremiah can't get enough

Jerome claims his top bunk again (that Jeremiah slept in until Jerome's scent faded and he hadn't touched it since). Jeremiah can't sleep, he just stares at the bunk above him wondering if Jerome was thinking of him too. How often had he thought of Jeremiah while he was gone? Was he even sorry he left without a goodbye? Did he even care that he broke Jeremiah's heart? Did he miss all their secret moments that Jeremiah hadn't been able to forget no matter how hard he tried because it fucking hurt so much why did Jerome leave why did he abandon him why didn't he take Jeremiah with him

Actually I think now would be a better time for Jerome to pick him up from school. Jerome's passed out when he leaves for school and he has a bit of a rough day, but then Jerome comes to get him and all the questions he's been stewing over just come spilling out until he's crying in Jerome's truck after beating on his shoulder for a few minutes.

But of course Jerome missed him. He loved him so much and it hurt to leave, but he couldn't stay. He could barely support himself, how could he have supported Jeremiah too? He just needed to get on his own two feet and then come back to him. And how could he say goodbye to the only one he's ever loved? But of course he missed him, of course he loved him. Jeremiah's his little brother- he'd burn the whole world down for him.

And finally they have sappy, sniffly kisses that escalate into making out that escalates to grinding and marking and stripping-

Now they just have to hide all this from Lila and Uncle Zach during the break

(how that all would end, no idea, I just want them to sneak around having sex while Lila thinks Jeremiah is the pinnacle of purity but really he's a fallen angel corrupted by the lure of the devil)

[l3m0ngal5]

Was imagining we know from Hamilton specifically the part listing the various political figures involved in the song as it is kind of a short trend at the moment but it's Benny listing Zach's friends who are there to chew him out because Zack got injured doing something he thought would earn his uncles approval and they reasonably blame Benny

This makes a lot of sense and would be great for benny's character and face family to see

[hillbillyhippiemusicreview]

THE HHMR ISSUED A STORM WARNING: A NORTHER IS BLOWING IN AS SHANE SMITH AND THE SAINTS ROLL OUT THEIR LATEST RELEASE

Areas affected include: The Heart, The Soul, & Your Tappin’ Toes. Prepare accordingly.

Strong. Fast moving. Cold. Breathtaking. Those are adjectives to describe a Norther or Blue Norther, a storm bringing in fast cold winds from the north into Texas and surrounding states. Those words also perfectly describe Shane Smith & the Saints newest album, Norther. This album hits you hard and fast! Shane, Bennett, Dustin, Chase and Zach put together an eclectic record that, in my humble opinion, is their best work yet, even topping my favorite, 2013’s Coast.

Before I go any further, I will give a disclaimer that this review is biased—for good reason. I have no affiliation with the band; I’ve only met Shane twice, I’ve met the other members each once, and I follow Bennett on instagram (he’s also originally from my adoptive city of Louisville, KY). BUT, they are my *favorite* band! I may have Timmy Ty’s lyrics tattooed on my arm, but there hasn’t ever been a band that puts me in a trance quite like Shane Smith & the Saints. I’ve seen them at: Tumbleweed (LaCygne, KS), the Basement East (Nashville, TN), Headliners (Louisville, KY), Bulls, Bands, and Barrels (Lexington, KY), and most recently for their headline debut at the Mother Church, the Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN). So yes, I am a fan—to say the least. I *may* even fanboy out when they are within a 4 hour drive. That may ruin the credibility of my review in some people’s eyes; however, in others it makes this review even more true and authentic as I have been a fan for 10 years for no reason except for the facts that they make damn fine music, and that they are the some of the nicest artists I have ever met. And to “kind of” quote Uncle Dallas Moore, “there ain’t no one [reading] my shit anyway.” 🤠

Norther opens with “Book of Joe,” a hard hitting ballad with a heavy fiddle presence from Bennett and drums that hit you so hard that your heartbeat matches that of the drum beat. “Book of Joe” repeatedly tells us that “It’s a rich man’s war, it’s a poor man’s fight”—no matter which side of the dollar you are on, this life is always a battle. Next up, we get “Fire in the Sky.” Shane starts out by “deep talking” the lyrics, reminiscent of some of Johnny Cash’s lasts works. But then it goes into a toe tappin’, head banging song that isn’t country, Americana, or red dirt, but in my limited Eastern Kentucky vernacular can only be described as Rock.

We have to go all the way to track number 7 (out of 13) for what may be my favorite song on the album, “Wheels.” One set of lyrics in particular makes this song my favorite…“You can’t blame the memories because they brought you a long long way.” As imperfect humans living in a broken world, we have all had experiences that that have shaped us. Some are great and some we could do without. Personally, looking back at those memories, the good and the bad, they all taught me a lesson or changed my direction; something I am thankful for from the Man up above. And “Just like wheels caught in their motion,” we keep trudging forward throughout this crazy life. Jumping down to the 10th song on the album, “1,000 Wild Horses” gives something to the lover of “real country.” While it may be a little faster and have some great instrumentals, the focus is obviously Shane’s deep voice, the lyrics, and the melody.

Y’all, most albums have one or two of those “skip over songs.” That isn’t the case with Norther. The album has 13 imposing songs, 6 of which were singles starting with “Hummingbird” back in 2022. I’ve already told you once, I am biased because Shane Smith & the Saints are my favorite band for no other reasons except they make great music that casts a spell on me every time I hear it; and that in my few interactions, they are all humble, friendly and down to earth fellas who work as hard as hell to make the music they want to make. So, I know it is only March, but this album has the potential to have my vote for best release of 2024!

Do yourself and the band a favor and go listen to these independent artists right now. Stream them on your preferred platform, check out their merch, and lastly go to the show! I’ve been to a ton of shows over the years, but not one show impacted me the way Shane Smith & the Saints with Justin Wells did at the Basement East. P.S. and that was a show they played with borrowed instruments from Turnpike Troubadours (I think) after their van burned!

-Cheers, N.

Below is the music video for “Adeline,” a track off Norther

[comix64]

soda cans all the way

lollipops

bubblegum

stubborn

still soda cans

tie between grunge and tomboy cuz they both look alike but honestly i wouldnt wear anything coordinated

earbuds make me anxious cuz they fall out too much, headphones

movies

fresh air ( i may or may not have been influenced by a smell marker with this label actually smelling like shaving cream)

blackjack during break :P

cereal

"WH-816" (the unchangable name of my headphones, as i listen to them with a micro sd card in them)

lanyard

skittles?

fahrenheit 451

legs pushed out a little, slouching backwards, neck against chair

cheap blue ones with creaky left heel i got off amazon

rain :P

facing left, left hand near face, right hand closer to knees, legs tucked in

text files (i blame my 2nd grade teacher for not actually teaching me handwriting)

mario

my cool uncle

idk if this counts but whenever i yawn i invoulantarily [sic, dont ask] make an odd sound like a speak and spell stuttering

idk, diamond

nintendo 3ds photo album slideshow music

swim

generally frolic in snow, idk i live in a mostly warm place

New Computers - Girlfriends, The Less I Know the Better - Tame Impala, I Want to be a Machine - The Living Tombstone, Bathwell in Clerkentime - The Real Tuesday Weld, Credits EX - Frums

deal with the bullshit and tell me im giving you bullshit

my desk, local library, MOTHERFUCKING IKEA BITCH!!!!!! IKEA ALL THE FUCKING WAY!!!!! THEY SAY GO TO YOUR HAPPY PLACE GUESS WHAT BITCH IM EATING MAC N CHEESE AND MEATBALLS AT IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the general outfit i wore for some weird day at my school - white tshirt, baggy pants (no seperating me n my baggy pants), fingerless gloves

just go watch a compilation of kevin parry n zach king

idk how to check, probably "ok" or "what" or sumthing

omega mart, you have no idea what's in store for youuuuu!

~11:30pm

i dont remember

suitcase

lemonade

lemon cake

pee on the ceiling of every room

jojo

pants, specifically cargo pants bits cuz nobody will ever suspect you put anything in those

hoodie

lavender?

scifi

you wont believe this… nothing

american (eagle screech)

apple

just keep swimming

the comment section of "Evil beat i been cooking up"

my music teacher is openly homophobic

VCR

typing

N/A

kiki koki

birthday powers

my pet rabbit dying, my parasitic need for attention, and my failing math grades

i can sound like stitch from lilo n stitch, i can sound like a speak n spell, and my teachers think i am smarter than the IT guy

idk something related to scout tf2 sorta

scott pilgrim but im not as shitty as scott pilgrim

the whole paragraph of mispronunciations of Denham's Dentrifice being pounded into Montag's ears in Fahrenheit 451

gooigi, luigi, young neil, sorry i cant keep a train of thought that long

the same five that describe me but sped up a bit

scratch.mit.edu

idk if this counts but there is what appears to be a symmetrical birth mark on my shoulders, on closer inspection one of them is a birth mark the other is from being stabbed with a pencil

dandelion

my deck of cards

dr pepper

there is an actual end of the internet. keep putting in URLS and it will tell you you've hit the end of your journey. then? well it'll save it to your hard drive for you of course! [i can give you the link]

lefty

pebble tile on pools. say goodbye to your toes

math

cinnamon toast crunch + orange juice

7

dont remember

whataburger fries

cactus

i dont drink/eat either but probably coffee

school id

never heard of em

arent fireflies and more violent sounding fireflies the same thing

pc can act as console. console cannot act as pc. pc obviously

drawing (that 2nd grade teacher i swear…)

radio

never heard of a polly pocket so barbie

mythology

cookies

overstaying my welcome

we'd all stop arguing about trivial things, and stop ruining our planet

jojo

passed a test because my handwriting worked like that card dr who has that looks like whatever the viewer wants it to

box

overhead

wallace wells, "ies-nes" (like "yes" mixed with "SNES"), comix, com, mixtape, im making up half of these :P

winter

safari

one of the defaults from KDE, the hexagon one

2, my mom's and 911

i dont know what it's called but one of my steam friends has a pfp of it and there's a template on Apple Keynotes that looks like a leather book and the stock images in there perfectly capture it (see below)

weird asks that say a lot

in

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

2. chocolate bars or lollipops?

3. bubblegum or cotton candy?

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you?

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear?

7. earbuds or headphones?

8. movies or tv shows?

9. favorite smell in the summer?

10. game you were best at in p.e.?

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day?

12. name of your favorite playlist?

13. lanyard or key ring?

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment?

16. most comfortable position to sit in?

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes?

18. ideal weather?

19. sleeping position?

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

21. obsession from childhood?

22. role model?

23. strange habits?

24. favorite crystal?

25. first song you remember hearing?

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather?

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather?

28. five songs to describe you?

29. best way to bond with you?

30. places that you find sacred?

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

32. top five favorite vines?

33. most used phrase in your phone?

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head?

35. average time you fall asleep?

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing?

37. suitcase or duffel bag?

38. lemonade or tea?

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school?

41. last person you texted?

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets?

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket?

44. favorite scent for soap?

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero?

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

47. favorite type of cheese?

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

49. what saying or quote do you live by?

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

51. current stresses?

52. favorite font?

53. what is the current state of your hands?

54. what did you learn from your first job?

55. favorite fairy tale?

56. favorite tradition?

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

58. four talents you’re proud of having?

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

62. seven characters you relate to?

63. five songs that would play in your club?

64. favorite website from your childhood?

65. any permanent scars?

66. favorite flower(s)?

67. good luck charms?

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned?

70. left or right handed?

71. least favorite pattern?

72. worst subject?

73. favorite weird flavor combo?

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen?

75. when did you lose your first tooth?

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)?

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill?

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

80. earth tones or jewel tones?

81. fireflies or lightning bugs?

82. pc or console?

83. writing or drawing?

84. podcasts or talk radio?

84. barbie or polly pocket?

85. fairy tales or mythology?

86. cookies or cupcakes?

87. your greatest fear?

88. your greatest wish?

89. who would you put before everyone else?

90. luckiest mistake?

91. boxes or bags?

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights?

93. nicknames?

94. favorite season?

95. favorite app on your phone?

96. desktop background?

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized?

98. favorite historical era?

[painofhumanity]

"All alone?" Stefan asked with raised brows. "I hear you have a best friend who's a Bennett. I hear you have an adorable little girlfriend. I even hear that you some how managed to befriend Katherine Pierce."

In all honesty he knew the feeling. For so long Damon had also been all he had, and in reality sometimes it still felt like that. Walking away from him had been one of the hardest thing's he'd ever done, and in a lot of ways he blames himself for the person Damon turned into. But there was no reason Tom had to suffer that weight when it wasn't his to bear.

"I think when we only know one thing for so long it can be hard to see everything we've gathered for ourselves over time."

Lexi had been a huge help in his life, someone he really needed, she wasn't afraid to smack him if he took things for granted.

"Despite the reality you were made to believe, you've managed to get yourself a nice little support system all by yourself. Damon didn't give that to you. I'm willing to bet most of them probably don't even like him." He offered with a smile. "Damon may be a large piece of what you have.... but he isn't all of it."

". . .two of 'em, if you count Bonnie," he mumbled with the beginnings of a smile. And Tom felt lucky to have both her and Rue in his life; in many ways, the Bennetts had saved him.

Tom looked up at Stefan--and it really didn't stop being weird seeing his own face looking back at him like that--and tried to hide the trembling in his voice when he said, "He's my brother. . . I mean, I know he's. . .he's not, not really, but it's-- I can't get rid of what he put in my head, Stefan," he said miserably. "And even though I know the truth, now, he's still my brother."

He tapped his foot nervously and fiddled with the zipper on his hoodie. "It's not even like I can actually cut him out of my life anyway. I mean, it's his house." Technically speaking, the house was in Tom's name, as it went to him after Uncle Zach died, but Damon wasn't exactly easy to say 'no' to.

"It's just, I feel. . ." Trapped. Stuck. Powerless. Terrified. "I don't know what to do."

[newcountryradio]

New Country 27e jaargang  #T1245 (S804) (C45) van 9 September 2024  (wk 37) uitzending op Smelne fm & Crossroads Country Radio

Album van de week: Colby Acuff - American Son              

Classic album:  Shania Twain – The woman In Me  Soon            1995

Hits of the Year : 2004

Maandfavoriet : Ella Langley & Riley Green – You Look Like You Love Me     

Maandartiest : Patty Loveless      

Patty Loveless – Blame It On your heart        *maandartiest

Trisha Yearwood – XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl )           #1 30 jaar.

Zach Bryan  ft Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything 

Zach Top – Beer For Breakfast

Wyatt Flores - Dont Wanna Say Goodnight

Cole Swindell - Forever to Me nw

Koe Wetzel & Jesse Murph - High Road.

Troy Cartwright – Wild One

Cody Johnson – Dirt Cheap    #3

Colby Acuff - Scared Of The Dark     Album vd week

 Colby Acuff - How Do I Feel Alive fy the castellows      *Album vd week

Reba McEntire – Little Rock      Entertainer 1986

Keith Urban – You Look Good In My Shirt

Freddy Weller – Games People Play

Merle Haggard –   Going Where the Lonely Go

Ella Langley & Riley Green – You Look Like You Love Me .  . favoriet 

Kenny Chesney – Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven .  sofi

Shania Twain - Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under  classic album 1995

Shania Twain – Any Man Of ine     classic album

The Deslondes – Hold On Liza , .

Martina McBride -  My Baby Loves Me      (3 in 1) 

Martina McBride -  Blessed       

Martina McBride -  A Broken Wing      

Colby Acuff  - American Sun    Album vd week

Sierra Hull – All I Ever Need Is You

Post Malone  - M.E.X.I.C.O  (ft Billy Strings)     #1 album.

Thomas Rhett - I Could Spend Forever Loving You

The Castellows – Sober Sudays  (feat Wyatt Flores )

Sweethearts Of The Rodeo - Sing Me Back Home

Vince Gill - I Still Can’t Say Goodbye

Cody johnson – 18 Wheels   Truck

Patty Loveless – Chains    maandartiest

Toby Keith ft Luke Combs joe Diffie - Ships That Don't Come In  juweeltje

George Strait - To the Moon vw

Colby Acuff - Sizanne     Album vd week

Lainey  Wilson -  4x4xU

Paul Simon and Willie Nelson - Homeward Bound

Robert Weston -  Won't Settle Down   Dutch corner

Cash On Delivery – No More You

Toby Keith – American Soldier       #5 2004

Blake Shelton – Some Beach       #4

Kenny Chesney /Uncle Cracker – When The Sun Goes Down      #3

Gretchen Wilson – Redneck Woman  # 2004

Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying       #1 2004

Eindtune

[kiss-my-freckle]

I love how Stelenas say stuff that was included as part of Damon's storyline later in the show like the Augustine storyline were retcons/sob stories to try to make him look sympathetic but will use Lily being a ripper to make Stefan look more sympathetic. They say Stefan saving Elena in 3x06 was out of love but will lie about his humanity being off in 3x11 to excuse his shit. They are such an immature fandom. I once came across a Stelena on Reddit who got many upvotes generalizing the Delena fandom as being more toxic and saying we're the fandom who does things like send death threats when many of them have done that and percentage wise they're less mature. I found her other social media and she attacks so many members of our fandom and going on their posts to start shit without them even mentioning her, makes personal attacks and condones personal attacks done by members of her fandom, but when a Delena fan responds with a definition of gaslighting talking about Stelena's relationship she keeps getting offended and say she knows what gaslighting means because of her personal life when the other fan wasn't talking about her personal life. She makes personal comments like digs about Delena shipper's careers. She even said that you need to go to a doctor after seeing your post. I hate the fandom more than I hate Stefan honestly. A fandom that claims they're more mature simply because of what they ship is not a good one to be part of.

Augustine wasn't a retcon. While I'm sure they didn't have all the details of the storyline fleshed out until later, they had the basic idea in mind when they wrote 1x5 because that's when they introduced it. Whatever they wrote for that storyline would've had parallels for it in the episode. That's why Zach gets killed. Damon basically blames him for being vervained just as their Uncle Joseph vervained him. I believe they always had plans to explain Damon's actions. A clear -cut view of what happens when two brothers don't have all the answers.

From what I've seen, Stelena shippers cherry pick and contradict that way. Like Elena totally being in love with Stefan even though her humanity is off and she's literally telling him she feels nothing. Stefan feels nothing in 3x6. That's why I laugh when Elena says, "I knew you'd catch me." The entire reason he saves her from the fire and the entire reason he caught her on the bleachers is because Klaus compelled him to protect her, period. That's why Damon makes a point to speak of it when they have Stefan locked in the town's torture cell. If Elena were truly in danger, Stefan would be fighting to leave because he's compelled to protect her.

Lexi and Elena combined couldn't flip his switch. It was Katherine and Damon who did.

[gold-onthe-inside]

thinking about what makes paris/lane/rory/jess as a quartet so satisfying and it’s that common thread between them and their relationships with their parents. they’re all dealing with the same struggle at their core; the fact that they feel unwanted and like they have to make up for their existence.

paris who uses her academic performance as a way to feel validation because she knows she’s difficult and uptight and that it makes her unlikeable. in all likelihood, she probably blames herself for her parents divorcing (most kids do). she can’t make up for it by changing her personality, so she compensates with academic success. for instance, after her debate with rory at chilton, her idea of ‘celebrating’ is by going over their transcript again. because how else is she supposed to spend time with rory without an excuse like studying?

and much like paris, jess gets handed off by his mother to someone who’s practically a stranger. paris probably had her nanny from a young age, especially if she learned to speak portuguese and spanish so fluently. but to jess, luke is his uncle by blood and nothing else. and it’s not like blood ties have guaranteed any care about his welfare in the past. and his perception of love is so tilted where luke pushing him into a lake is considered a fond memory. just to think about what message that sends to him; that i’m angry at you but i still want you around.

and i imagine lane feels the burden of conditional love just like jess does; she will be loved and taken care of as long as she is the perfect daughter, as long as she is christian, as long as she fulfills her mother’s criteria. jess will be sheltered and cared for as long as he graduates high school, and how many more conditions will luke have if he had graduated anyway? and so they both hide parts of themselves away; his need for financial independence and her love of music. lane’s entire identity gets erased because of her mother, and then zach, and then her kids. she’s so busy trying to balance her own identity against the want of her mother that she never commits to either and then loses everything.

and then rory, oh my beloved rory. rory who has spent her entire life to get to harvard. rory who can’t say no to anyone or anything. rory who spends her life trying to make up for the fact that she was a mistake. trying to be the perfect daughter, the perfect granddaughter, the perfect student, the perfect girlfriend. to live a life that cannot be reproached. so scared of changing her mind to go to yale, to go against everyone’s expectations. to be the opposite of contrarian. to never be accorded the responsibility of her actions. to never be seen as anything other than what people want her to be. and through that lens, the person she is gets completely neglected.

and so it’s such a shame we don’t get more scenes of the four of them together, giving each other that unconditional love they crave. paris and rory and lane and jess are all tied by the same thread, of needing to be free of those conditions and expectations.

[itsartsavvy]

Reluctant animal lover Zach my beloved <3

"So, that's it then?"

"Yup."

"You're quitting."

"Mhm."

"You don't succeed one time, so you're giving up?"

"Bingo."

Zach refused to look at Chris. For someone so open about being touchy-feely, Chris wasn't very good at empathizing with him. Sure, he'd had failed inventions and evil schemes before in the past that he didn't let drag him down, but those were different. They were half-assed, get-rich-quick schemes made up on a whim. Besides, the Wild Ratts had been working against Zach all those times. Now, when they're working with him, and he's giving it his all, and he still fails? That's worse. That's bad. This failure actually meant something. This proved it, that he wasn't good enough even when he tried. That's why he hated trying. You can never disappoint if you never actually try. Chris didn't get it. Zach called it a strategy, Chris called it an unhealthy coping mechanism. Tomato tomahto.

'What do you know, anyways? You hug trees for fun.'

'Maybe. But which one of us is actually happy?'

'.... I'm happy.'

'... Sure. And I'm a monkey's uncle.'

'You might be, for all I know. I still don't know how those creature power suits work.'

'Zach?'

'Yes?'

'Shut up.'

He zoned back in, Chris's voice droning on, going in one ear and out the other. Something about 'perseverance' and 'anything worth doing is worth working hard for'. Or something. He didn't know, he wasn't really listening. There wasn't any point, he wasn't gonna try being a goody-two-shoes again. He heaved himself up from his chair with a sigh, shuffling his way to the makeshift area the crew had made for him in the Tortuga. 

Chris's mouth closed softly as he watched Zach move across the room, appalled. Who did this brat think he was?

He stormed over to Zach, who was crouched over, packing his bags.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Packing."

"Well, stop."

Zach gave him a side eye from his low angle. 

"Don't tell me what to do."

"My house, my rules."

Zach scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"You aren't my dad. And even if you were, this isn't a house."

Chris scowled down at him as he continued packing, arms crossed. A devilish grin began snaking its way across his face. He waited until Zach was reaching for one of his items still strewn about, then snatched the closest bag up and booked it. Zach looked after him in shock.

"Did- did you just steal my bag?"

"If you want it back, you'll have to catch me! What're you waiting for? Come get your stuff, Captain Emo!"

Zach made a noise of indignation, even as he scrambled to his feet and took off after Chris.

Chris had a pretty decent head start on Zach, and he planned on using it to his advantage. He hopped on a Buzz Bike and shot down the ramp, kicking up dust clouds as he zoomed away into the wilderness. 

Zach whipped his head around, frantically searching for a vehicle he actually knew how to drive. His gaze fell upon an old mountain bike, half covered by an old sheet. He groaned. He gave one last once-over of all the vehicles stored in the space, but there were none he knew how to work, or had the keys for. He was stuck with the bike. He ripped the sheet off of it, a cloud of dust billowing up around him, making him cough. He kind of hoped he got some kind of weird lung disease, just so he could spite Chris and blame him for it. He threw a leg over and tentatively sat on the cushioned seat. It was admittedly a very nice bike, but that wasn't the problem. No, the problem was Zach hated bike riding, and he was a little rusty. Whatever, that's something you never forget how to do, right? Isn't that what people said? 

He pushed off, starting to roll slowly toward the ramp. He was suddenly not so sure this was a good idea and was about to turn around, when the front wheel slipped over the edge. The bike flew down the ramp and launched Zach down the path Chris had taken, Zach screaming the whole way. 

It was a bumpy ride at first, the "path" having been made by the crew, leading from the Tortuga to the actual path. Once Zach merged onto the main trail, it smoothed out, and was actually a pretty pleasant ride. He wasn't a fan, but he didn't hate it, either. After a few minutes of peaceful gliding, he passed a varmint that seemed to be struggling. He rode by for a few feet before coming to a stop, grumbling to himself.

"Since when did I get so soft."

He hopped off the bike and turned around to see what all the commotion was about. It was a squirrel trying to get to a nut. It had been placed under a glass cup, within the squirrel's view, but too heavy for it to tip over. 

Zach ignored the anger that flared up at the sight. He lifted the cup, and the squirrel snatched the nut before scampering off up a tree. He scowled. Ungrateful rat.

Hopping back on the bike, he continued on down the path. Before too long, he came across another critter in trouble. A bird this time, crying from up in a tree. A nest lay in the ground beneath the tree. Zach didn't hesitate to stop this time, simply popping off and picking up the nest. Looking up the tree, he scowled. He would have to climb it. Luckily it was a fairly easy tree to climb, and even he managed it without incident. He placed the nest in a secure-looking nook, and climbed back down. His hands and clothes were a little dirty, and his cheeks were flushed slightly from the exertion, but he was satisfied. He didn't know why he felt satisfied, it's not like he cared or anything. He continued on his way, peddling a little faster in an attempt to escape the notion of him having a heart as big as one of the Wild Kratts crew. 

The last creature he encountered was when he was nearing the end of the path. A kitten in a tree. It was crying and meowing like its life depended on it. As far as Zach knew, its life did depend on it. He didn't know much about varmints. He rushed over to the tree. It wasn't too high up, the branch about three feet higher than he was. 

'That's not so high, but to such a little thing it must seem scary.'

"Ok, Varmint, I'm gonna help you. But only because you're clearly incapable of helping yourself."

He lifted his hands up. 

"Don't be scared, I'll lift you down. But if you scratch me, I will drop you."

The kitten had stopped meowing and eyed him warily. It looked Zach in the eye, sincerely shining past his frown. The kitten sniffed his hands before gingerly placing one paw on them, and then another. It fit in his delicate hands comfortably, a little ball of purring fluff. He lowered his arms and held it to his chest, feeling its purrs as it rubbed its head against him. 

"Huh. You're… not so bad, really. I mean-", he quickly clarified. "You're not bad, but that doesn't mean I like you. You're still a varmint, and I'm still a bad guy." 

The kitten mewled in response before wriggling a bit, indicating it was ready to be put down. Zach released it and it strutted behind him. He turned around to watch it go, and was met with Chris smiling at him. 

"Zach Varmitech, what was that?"

His face flushed furiously. 

"Nothing! It was nothing! You didn't see shit, Wild Ratt!"

"That wasn't nothing, that was you helping an animal! And you did that one all on your own that time! That's amazing!"

"... what do you mean I did 'that one' all on my own?"

Chris rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"I maybe pretended to be that squirrel. And Martin was maybe the bird."

Zach stared at him blankly. Martin emerged from the foliage and stood beside Chris.

"We just wanted you to feel better! We wanted to prove to you that you can be good, even if you mess up sometimes." He said.

"Turns out, you didn't need us to help you do that. You did it all on your own, with this little guy." He bent down and picked up the kitten, scratching it behind the ears. "He wasn't part of the plan at all." Chris finished.

Zach looked at the kitten, then at Chris. Chris cleared his throat awkwardly.

"So, what do you say? Will you give it another try?"

"We all want you here, Zach. Especially Chris", Martin said with a shit-eating grin. Chris punched him in the shoulder.

"One slip up isn't gonna change that." Chris finished.

Zach sighed. 

"Fine. But only so you'll quit lecturing me about it."

The two brothers whooped in victory, high-fiving for officiality. 

"Now that mission is accomplished, let's go back to the Tortuga. I'm starving", Martin said. "You two can share a spaghetti plate, 'Lady and the Tramp' style", he sniggered.

Zach tried to hide how many butterflies had been stirred up in his gut.

"You're insufferable."

"Yeah, you're the worst and I will kick you in the shins", Chris said, setting the kitten down to scamper back over to Zach. Chris motioned for him to follow them. 

"C'mon, Captain Emo, let's get some lunch."

"Ha ha, very funny. Give me back my bag."

Chris began walking off with Martin, pretending he hadn't heard Zach. 

"Hey! Give me back my bag, Chris! I swear I'll-"

He chased after him, Chris looking over his shoulder and yelping before taking off, Zach yelling after him.

"What's yours is his! It's in the wedding vows!" Martin yelled after them.

They yelled back simultaneously.

"Shut up!"

[ranfordgallus]

Random chris n martin headcanon:

Martin would fart next or infront of chris on purpose just to blame his fart on him

Martin would tell the most insane sex joke to chris, just to leave chris hanging in doubt (or planning to suffocate his brother in his sleep)

Chris would tell THE MOST BATSHIT CRAZY SEX JOKE THAN MARTIN, and leaves martin wondering if chris is still aroace

Chris can't exactly sleep comfortably when his brother isnt around, since he gets nervous (he only sleeps safely when his brother or family members are around)

Martin keeps Chris sane and comfortable by holding/hugging him, hence why Zach is still alive (or else he'll get fucking mauled by chris)

Chris would always complain about martins odd taste for women

Martin slept with Zachs mother, and dated her too....

Chris would complain that martin should not marry Zach's mother because chris doesnt want to be Zachs step-uncle💀

Martin and Chris would talk in German or gossip/whisper in german since they are both half German (half-canon? Since both brothers have kratt on their name and its a german surname, but also their grandfather is german..i guess)

And dats all!...its odd i knoe

[shylittleunicorn15]

here is my au of kwazii's family in my story love in the shallow seas you will know about Vincent and Steven

my story for this au changes about who kwazii's real parents are

one day i write about it being he was adopted by the two males after his parents died

then the next he was made in a lab after a experiment trash zone gone wrong and trans calico jack being Steven's father

but now I've decided how the story goes(story starts after introductions to the ocs you know kwazii and calico jack)

Martha: the mother of kwazii, full orange tabby, she is infertile

Zach: the father of kwazii and son of calico jack, half tuxedo cat half calico, also infertile

Steven: the brother of Martha and uncle of kwazii, a mature full tuxedo cat, he is trans

Vincent: a free spirited wolf who wants to have fun, he is bisexual gravitates more towards men tho

ok now onto the story

Martha and Zach really want a kid to carry on their long line of pirates both were saddened when they realized they were both infertile however Martha has a brother Steven works in a lab with his husband Vincent maybe they could help so off they went once they got there they begged for the two to make them a child although they knew how to the scientist had to explain how it worked after explaining the two pirates said they want a child that can have a baby through any way(how tf does that work idk magic?) anyway the two get to work taking hair samples and puts them in a machine that creates kids(again idk magic?) then its turned on and a baby comes out mostly orange tabby with little hints of tuxedo and calico a heart nose and freckles like their mother's however the little kitten had a blind eye his right eye they named him kwazii and took care of him greatly until.....the war of colliding with other pirates calico jack had to watch in horror as his son and daughter-in-law were killed right in front of his eyes until kwazii was shoved into his arms by another crew member telling him to take kwazii and run and so he did he couldn't help but put the blame on himself the next day Vincent and Steven opened the door to kwazii with a note that read "going far away, Zach and Martha dead, i blame myself goodbye -calico jack" this was the first time Vincent has seen Steven cry but still they took kwazii in and took care of him years pass kwazii only speaks in Japanese going out on their own until they tumbling off a hill and landing in a crate that gets brought aboard the octopod thus bringing them a new adventure