#*camera zooms to a guy eating a bread roll off the floor*

[fauvester]

since I am a completionist i did want to do a tcgf au jackson... roaming the mortal world with his band of fiercesome ghost lieutenants.. carousing and bothering mortals... stealing ceremonial incense and smoking it like a pipe... despite his ferocious reputation he can come off as very gentlemanly and gallant, especially to ladies (in a purely grandfatherly way, of course) but he wears the proof of a hard and violent life proudly

[brelione]

The Goddess Part Two (JJ Maybank x Reader)

Part Three  Part One

The next time he saw you was at the petting zoo.He knew you’d be there but for some reason he was still shocked to see you.You hadnt seen him yet,though.It was before opening hours.He was hiding in the lower branches of a tree,watching as you sung to the goats.He couldnt even understand the words you were saying,just the sound of your voice as it hit unbelievably high notes.It was enough to make his heart thump,his chest to tighten and him to almost fall off of the tree branch he had been clinging too.Suddenly you were all that mattered to him.Nothing else existed.Just you.His eyes were almost like cameras,zooming in on you.You were wearing a white sundress that somehow hadnt gotten any dirt or goat poop on it.Your hair was messy and curly from the salt water you swam in all the time,your shiny jewelry glistening in the sunlight.You snapped your fingers,one of the smaller goats had literally jumped on you.

You giggled,holding a flower out to it.The goat got back down and they ran around their hay covered fenced in area.Your house was a good distance away from the area but it was still within his line of vision.Your family was absolutely rich but you werent kooks.You guys willingly chose to live in a shitty house.It looked shitty from the outside but JJ had never been inside.Your father had payed JJ large amounts of money to mow your lawn every tuesday.It didnt need to be mowed.You could just have the goats eat up the excess grass,or the chickens,or the cows.But little did JJ know that you were behind his weekly job.You knew that JJ didnt have a lot of money and shifted between John.B’s house and his own house,spending some nights at the beach.

You wanted JJ to have a good amount of money for anything he might need.Whether it be gas,a coffee,a new shirt,going to the laundromat.You just liked the idea of him being safe and happy all the time.Thats when he had seen you wearing that lovely sweater.You had come out of your house,placing a small jar of home made jam,a paper bag and an energy drink out on your deck before going back inside.JJ had been watching you out of the corner of his eye,blushing a bit when he realized that you were leaving him a breakfast.You left the fenced in area,the goats trying to follow you out. “Oh,dont act like you dont get all the attention in the world!”You had said quietly to them as they stared up at you.

JJ didnt even wonder how he had heard it from where he was.You were walking towards the tree with a light blue bag.JJ cursed,trying to move higher up in the tree.He hadnt even noticed that he was in the branches above the cows.There were six cows total,two of which were extremely fluffy.When you got to the fence only a few feet away from him you looked over at the tree. “Hey.”You nodded before opening the light blue bag.His eyebrows furrowed,stunned by how casual you were being. “Hi.”He replied,his voice sounding hoarse.He mentally slapped himself,clearing his throat quietly. “You know we dont let anyone pet the goats or hold the chickens until 10.What’s up?”You asked,taking fistfulls of food out of the light blue bag as cows approached you.He rolled his eyes so far back in his head he should’ve been able to see his brain,resting his head against the tree bark.Why did you have to be like this?He actually wanted to talk to you,to have a conversation and make you giggle. 

“I mow your lawn on Tuesday’s,princess.”He reminded you.You raised your eyebrows as you pet one of the cows. “J,its monday.”You huffed as you let another cow eat oats straight out of your hand.He scoffed. “It is not-”He paused to take out his phone,checking the day. “Shit.”He groaned.You smiled. “Its fine,JJ.Have you eaten today?”You asked.He grumbled something. “What?”You asked.He sighed. “I said,why do you care?”He asked.You shrugged,tossing out more oats. “Breakfast is really important for you guys.”You replied,eyes going wide when you realized what you said.He squinted. “What?You mean poor people?”He asked,aggravated.You shook your head. “No,JJ.Thats not what I mean at all.You’re a growing boy,you need to eat.”You explained yourself.He hopped down from the tree,towering over you.

You stared up at him.He stared at you with admiration.Your eyes were slightly puffy from just waking up,the whites of your eyes slightly pink.You smelled like peaches,cookie dough and ocean.It was a strange concoction but somehow it was pleasant.You were wearing cute socks that had winnie the pooh on them.You werent wearing shoes though,just the socks and the dress. “So um...I have to collect the chicken eggs.Do you want breakfast or a coffee or something?”You asked,playing with your bracelets.As much as he hated you-or at least as he pretended to hate you he was really hungry.He wasnt hungry.He just wanted to be around you.He shrugged. “Okay,but that doesnt make us friends.”he pointed at you.You nodded,biting back a smile. “Wouldnt dream of it.”You replied.He followed you to the chicken coop. “Morning ladies!”You exclaimed as you opened the nesting boxes,placing the eggs in an egg carton. “Um….Im sorry JJ,but could you please hold this?”You asked,gesturing toward the egg carton.

He held out his hands and you thanked him quietly,handing him the egg carton.Perhaps if he really hated you as much as he said he did he would drop the eggs on purpose.But he didnt.You apologized a few times for the long walk to the house from the chicken coop.You struggled to open the door,kicking it open.He just followed you to the kitchen.Your house was….it was just kind of beautifully chaotic.Murals across the walls,mermaids,a sunset with beautiful blue waves.Your kitchen had white tiles on the floor,marble counter tops and a white fridge.The table had a white tablecloth that was covered with flower print.You placed the two egg cartons you had been carrying down.You jumped a bit when you moved your elbow,feeling JJ right behind you. “Sorry.”You mumbled,moving out of the way.He grinned at how nervous he was making you right now.Usually it was the other way around.Your kitchen smelled like bread and strawberries.His nose was correct.

He spotted jars of strawberry jam and saw a loaf of bread wrapped in parchment paper. “What do you want for breakfast?”You asked him.He glanced at the bread and jam on the countertops.You turned,getting the message.You told him to sit down at the table and he couldnt help but feel a bit uneasy.He’d never been inside your house before.He looked outside your kitchen window to see your garden.Your garden was kind of famous.Lemon and peach trees,berry bushes,flowers,herbs,garlic and potatoes.People from figure 8 would call your father when they were in need of bread,biscuits,muffins,cakes,jellys,jams,eggs.

Basically anything.A good amount of families had hosted birthdays at your house and you’d help your father bake the cakes,usually making spaghetti or mac and cheese for the children.And now JJ was sitting at your kitchen table about to dine like a king free of charge.He took this chance to ask you some questions about yourself,knowing youd probably answer honestly without thinking about it because you were currently busy. “So like...whats the deal with your mom?”He asked.You shrugged your shoulders as you spread jam across a slice of bread. “She dropped me off at the door then disappeared.”You replied.Youd been over the story dozens of times,no emotions even ties to the story at this point.He nodded. “That sucks.”You giggled quietly at the statement.You really didnt care.She made her choice and your father made his. 

“So what do you do all day in this house?You never go anywhere.You got a lot of boyfriends that come around?”He asked.You sighed as you cut up an apple.You smiled to yourself.That was the stupidest thing youd ever heard. “I go places.”You retaliated.He scoffed. “Where?Where have you gone?”He asked.You blushed from the realization. “I go to the beach.”You replied,looking over your shoulder. “You need to get out more.Half the people on this island dont even know you exist.”He watched how your body moved as you arranged the apples into a flower. “Okay.”Was all you had do say before you placed the plate down in front of him. “You want some coffee?”you asked.He shook his head. 

“Sit down.”He suggested.He was telling you what to do in your own house.That was probably the strangest thing that had happened for you that week.You sat across from him,tapping on the wooden table. “thanks,(Y/N).”He mumbled quietly.You just nodded.He stared down at his plate,not touching the food. “You’re not gonna eat anything?”He asked.You shook your head. “Not up for it,I already had a coffee today.”You replied.He nodded. “You werent freaked out over the fact I was in one of your trees...why?”He asked.You just shrugged. “A lot of weird stuff happens in my life,believe it or not.”You replied,watching him pull apart his bread and stuff it in him mouth. “So...um….are you gonna leave when youre done with breakfast?”You asked.He grinned. “Wow,trying to get rid of me already?”He asked.You huffed. “Its not like that!Im just trying to figure out what my plan is for the day.”You explained yourself.He nodded.

 “Its not like you’ve got any big plans.I think im gonna stay around here just to spite you.”He smiled.You nodded. “Okay.”You replied.He ran his hand through his hair. “Im kidding.”He replied.You nodded. “Right.I mean I guess you could stay here if you want.”You offered.He chewed his bottom lip. “What if you come with me to the beach and surf for a while?Ive heard you’re okayish as surfing.”He smirked.You scratched your collarbone. “Uh...okay.Okay.”You mumbled awkwardly.You couldnt believe you had just agreed to hang out with JJ Maybank of all people.He hated you.You just had to hope that he wouldnt murder you or something.His eyes widened. “Yeah?You’re gonna come over to the dark side with me?”He asked,smile widening.You grinned. “Dont make me regret it.”You mumbled,getting up from the table.He heard you go up the stairs and he let out a loud sigh.He really just did that.

He wiped his palms of his shorts,blinking hard.He was gonna spend the day with you.He couldnt mess this up.That being said you already thought he hated you and he was kind of a bitch to you but now you would get to actually hang out with him.This was his chance to become your friend.He ate the rest of his breakfast as quickly as he could,placing the plate in the sink.He heard you come back down stairs.He turned to send you a teasin remark but his jaw fell,eyes going wide when he saw what you were wearing.That sweater.You had changed out of the dress,now wearing black shorts,flip flops and that sweater that looked unbelievably amazing on you. “Uh-youre ready to go?”He asked.You nodded.The two of you walked out and you stopped to grab your surfboard. “I know a good surf spot.”He told you.You nodded.He took you down some old dirt roads and a small path through the woods.WHen you came out of the woods you were on pale hot sand,shells and small smooth rocks sprinkling across the land. “The waves are kinda small but theyll get bigger.”He said,sitting down. “Thats what she said.”You grinned to yourself.

@xlittlemissydjx​ @lasnaro​

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

Wedding Day

Summary: As requested by: @knfudenski

Here is another edition to my video camera series (Seniors & Making Memories) but for a Reddie wedding! 

Ships: Reddie

Word Count: 1,648 

~REC~

“Richie stop shaking it! The red light is on!” The camera shook as it got a few action shots of Mike and Stan trying to pry it from the other mans hands. 

As Mike caught a steady grip, he focused the shot on himself and gave it a winning smile as he checked himself out. “Bill put me in charge of the camera while it’s in this room so...” Mike glanced up in the flip out screen just in time to see Richie strolling over, swirling a glass of wine. 

“Richie where’d you get that?” Stan’s voice came from the right and Richie smirked. 

“Beverly gave it to me.” He smiled as Stan shook his head and ripped the glass from him, careful to avoid any splashing on his suit. Mike zoomed in on the two of them bickering. 

“Ahhh, nothing’s changed.” Just as he was about to turn the camera off, the door opened and closed. So he whirled the camera around and got Beverly in shot. Half her hair was in curlers and she was in a bathrobe. 

She give a pained look to the camera as it zoomed more tightly on her face. “I though Bill gave that thing away at that garage sale a couple years ago?” 

“Nope!” Mike grinned and zoomed in closer. 

Bev heard the whizzing sound of the buttons and curtseyed. “Yeah, film the parts when I look like this.” She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to just film the wedding?” 

“Yeah but Richie’s nervous, we gotta get that on film.” Stan said as the camera came to face him, capturing his smirk. Richie gasped with offense he most surely hadn’t actually taken off camera. 

And a small appetizer roll came quickly into shot as it thumped Stan on the head. Mike and Beverly laughed from out of shot. “That’s it, Trashmouth I don’t care if you’re getting married-!” 

The camera shook as Stan went to whirl past it, a smirk on his face.

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

-”I don’t know, Bev said it was too dangerous to have in their room- oh hey, it’s recording.” Ben smiled as he lifted the camera to face his bright smile. Bill unknowingly, walked into the background stuffing a bread roll into his mouth. 

“Bill those are for later!” 

Bill turned his head and let the roll fall out of his mouth and into his palm. “Oh the camera’s on.” He smiled, fixing himself. 

“Primping yourself doesn’t work if you’re just ugly, Bill.” Came an irritable voice from the right. Bill gasped and turned, Ben turned the camera. 

Eddie stepped into view, pulling his suit jacket on. “Sorry to the folks at home, Eddie’s a little irritable today.” Ben chuckled as he moved the shot up and down to capture Eddie’s look. 

“Amazing, iconic, b-e-a-utiful.” Bill happily strolled over to Eddie and waved his hands around him, as Eddie crossed his arms with amusement. “My best friend everyone.” Bill smiled and this time Eddie blushed. 

“Shut up.” Eddie rolled his eyes and smoothed his suit over with his hands. Bill took his hands and steadied them. 

“You look great....come eat a bread roll.” Bill smiled and pulled his hands. 

“Hey! You can’t eat those yet!” Ben cried, camera wobbling as he zoomed in on the boys neglecting to listen to him. 

“Eddie’s nervous! Let him eat.” Bill giggled as Eddie nodded behind him. 

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

The camera fuzzed into focus on Mike’s face as he made sure it was steady on the tripod he’d locked it onto. He smiled, pulled at his suit jacket and ran off to take his position again. 

The camera looked over the well decorated hall that was filled with friends and family. Mike could be seen giving his grandpa a high five as he went back out the doors. 

And soon enough, the music began. A soft instrumental version of ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ flowed over the room. 

The losers walked down the aisle in pairs. Bev and Ben first, her long lavender dress glittered in the soft light as she gripped Ben’s arm. Stan and Mike came next, Stan taking his position as best man to Richie.  

And because Eddie spent a long time agonizing over who would walk him down the aisle considering his fathers passing when he was younger, Bill and Eddie walked with linked arms. Bill dropped Eddie off to face Richie as he took his best man position. 

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

“We shall proceed to the vows, Eddie?” 

Eddie was handed his small notes from Bill and nervously fumbled with them as he stood. “Richie, we’ve known each other since we were just kids and I thought my nervous reactions to your teasing was just because you annoyed me.” He paused as everyone let out a giggle. 

“I never would have thought that I wouldn’t be able to imagine my future without your dumb jokes or nicknames that even though I say I hate, you have to know that I....” Eddie closed his eyes, thinking how to finish “love them and you so much.” Eddie smiled. 

Richie almost looked like he might faint. “Eds,” he paused as the crowd laughed. “I’ve known that you were the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with since I was that scraggly hair, buck toothed kid-” 

Everyone laughed once more, the camera seemingly captured the warmth flawlessly. “So I’m gonna make this real short so we can get on with our future together, I love you and any shit we go through is worth it because you’re all I want.” 

The crowd ‘awed’ in perfect harmony and the camera captured their kiss and Stan mouthing a quiet ‘wow’. 

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

Beverly squinted as the camera fuzzed to life, Ben and Mike leaning into her as they studied the shot. “It’s recording!” She smiled and gave a thumbs up to someone out of shot before whirling it around to Stan who was standing.

Stan stood, clinking a small utensil to his glass of champagne. Everyone quieted. “Well, As long as I’ve been friends with Richie, I never knew anyone more suited for him then Eddie.” Stan began nervously, Beverly zoomed in shakily. 

“In fact, Eddie is the only person I know who can make Richie shut up in seconds flat. He is totally whipped.” Stan chuckled and the crowd fell into laughter while Richie reached over and pinched him. 

The camera shook a little and fell onto the table. “Shit! wait wait! I dropped the camera in my food.” Beverly chuckled and wiped it down before pointing it back at Stan who was laughing too hard to finish. 

So Bill stood and raised his glass too. “Eddie and I were the original Loser’s club and he was my first real friend.” Bill was already tearing up, which wasn’t great cause Ben and Mike were going to be set off soon too. 

“And-” 

Bev zoomed in as a single tear fell down his cheek, whispering a quiet ‘Dramatic’ to the camera. Ben giggled from next to her. 

“I’m an ugly crier, so let me hurry this up and say I’ve never had better friends in my life then these six people. And seeing this...” Bill gestures to Richie and Eddie. “Makes me so happy because I set them up on their first real date.” He smugly raised his glass and everyone followed. 

“Cheers”

---CUT---

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

“Rich, where did you get the camera from?” Eddie’s soft voice asked as the camera focused on Richie’s large grin, Eddie swallowing down the last bit of his champagne on his right. 

“Bev gave it to me.” He grinned and set it down on the table. 

“You have to give it to someone, you can’t record our first dance yourself you idiot.” Eddie rolled his eyes as Richie pouted. 

“I love when you talk sweet with me.” He stuck out his tongue and Eddie did the same. Richie picked up the camera, filming himself as Eddie put his chin on his shoulder. They both sort of stared at the screen that showed their own faces. 

“We’re married now.” Eddie said dumbly and Richie glanced down. 

“Guess that means our relationship’s getting pretty serious, huh?” He chuckled as Eddie shoved him. 

----CUT-----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

“The shots shaky-”

“Sorry my crying interferes with the shot, here you film it.” Ben interrupted Bill and handed the camera over to Bill just as the lights dimmed on the newlyweds. 

“Ooh baby I love your way every day. Want to tell you I love your way every day. Want to be with you night and day-”

“Where’d Richie learn to slow dance-?” Beverly asked.

“Guys I’m crying-?” Mike chipped in. 

“Anyone have tissues-?” came Ben. 

“But don't hesitate 'cause your love won't wait. I can see the sunset in your eyes. Brown and grey and blue besides. Clouds are stalking islands in the sun. Wish I could dry one out of season. But don't hesitate 'cause your love won't wait hey-”  

The camera zoomed closer on the  soft beam of light that warmed the couple. They looked as if they were the only people in the room. 

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

~REC~

The camera shook as it captured whirls of the losers on the dance floor, occasionally switching partners and spinning around like nuts with ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ playing in the background. 

---CUT----

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~REC~

The next shot was the losers from the end of a red table as they dug cherry red spoons into ice cream. Bill happily pulled his hand away from the camera once the light turned on and swallowed a spoonful of his ice cream. 

It was the end of the night, Bev’s hair was down, Mike’s tie was loosened and Richie and Eddie were leaning over each other. Mike waved at the camera with his spoon and a lazy grin. 

It was silent for a while as the seven friends ate their Blizzards at Dairy Queen at midnight as they leaned on each other. 

----CUT-----

[holdon-a-minute]

As Time Repeats

Chapter I

A New World

*Present Day*

Shuffling feet, deep laughs, screeching brakes, choirs of songbird, pieces of conversation...each adding to create the loud bustle that loafs through the street. Listening. She slowly raises her eyelids, to only be greeted by the soft morning sun welcoming each body with its warmth.

Shining smiles, trees of chartreuse, paves of stone grey, breeze-caught hair...all merging together to paint one picturesque scene. Watching. She rests back onto the wooden public bench, controlled deep breaths escaping through her button nose.

Mature parfum, strong mowed grass, golden-baked delicacies, polluting fumes, freshly ground coffee beans...scents of good and bad are to be known everywhere you turn. Inhaling.

Now comes feel.

"Ugh..." Renae lets out an exasperated breath in defeat, sitting her elbows on her spread knees and burying her face deep in her dry palms. She tightly traps her airways, holding her breath as the tears threaten to spill from her eyes once again, before she stops herself and forces the words off her tongue, "I do not want to feel this way." She may not be happy now, she thinks to herself, but this is the start of a new beginning. And at new beginnings there is always hope. "Be optimistic..!" she whispers to herself, but Renae knows better than anyone that it's hardest to keep up with your new start when you didn't even want it in the first place.

Standing from the bench, she turns her judging eyes away from the classy lady who had tried to sit down beside her, and soppily strolls down the direction of her destination. Renae pushes herself past—fitted in her signature style of a soft fabric zip-hoodie and a dark leather jacket layered on top—determined to get through the swarm of bodies and make it back to her quiet house quickly. She wanders through Paris as if she's known it all her life now; the street of shops damp and dewy. Wind whistles through her raw ears as they heed the leftover rain that pitter-patters through gutters, down drain pipes and into the city grids.

The screeching, beeping of a pedestrian crossing makes a deafening echo as Renae and a huddle of rushing people cross the cobbled road, instantly zooming her back into focus of reality. Walking through the avenues of France you can smell dozens of different scents everywhere and anywhere. But Renae's favourite of all, she's come to realise, is the trace of a gingerbread man that runs past her. Every time, he calls out, and every time she ends up chasing him to Mr Baker's Bakery. Mmm, the bakery. This is where the baker she's come to know torments everybody with his luscious pies and pastries sitting on display in the window. And when he opens his huge oven door every day, religiously at 10:30, the whole road is filled with the most sensational smell of freshly baked bread rolls.

When her leg starts to vibrate, she reaches into her pocket and answers the person calling, "Hello."

"Ren, how come you're not home yet? You're going to be late."

"I'm on my way now Alice, and I've got half an hour yet. That's plenty of time to get ready."

"Well have you had any lunch yet? You can't go on an empty stomach your nerves will get the better of you."

Renae chuckles, "I'm not that nervous Al, I'll just eat an apple or something on the way there."

"An apple? Alright then, whatever suits you, I'm not going to argue with you on this important day now am I?"

"No, and I shouldn't think so," she teases as a smile plays at her lips and Renae rounds the corner. "Right, I'm round the corner now I'll be two minutes."

"Okay hun, see you in a minute. Bye."

"Bye!"

Renae was now in the neighborhood, the rush of the street of shops (as Renae and Alice call it) now gone, giving way to the open and tranquility of her housing estate. She loves her short over-the-phone conversations with Alice. They always play quite amusingly, and never fail to reveal their bond of trust, love and laughs.

She swings into the hallway of her home, and is almost immediately greeted with a "Hello!" coming from another unlocated room of the two-bed house, as usual. She shouts back a 'Hi!" and rushes upstairs, dodging another of her Aunty Alice's extremely energetic speeches that are supposed to be the best motivator out there. She changes into something a bit more formal, touching up her makeup as she passes the standing mirror, fills her faux leather bag with almost everything from her desk (just in case), picks up an apple and heads back out onto the street, where her taxi is conveniently waiting.

"Good luck!" Alice wails as she watches her niece drive straight into the fate of adulthood.

~~~~

*Ding-a-ling*

Renae steps through the old brown door and enters the café she hopes to call a workplace sometime soon. The space is fairly large considering its compact look from the outside, and it is so beautiful—everything the young photographer in the corner would need for his aesthetically pleasing Instagram page. She lets the soft, welcoming atmosphere envelop her whole as she strolls deeper into the intricate café, the warmth of brewing tea, the fresh scent of lavender, the ancient bookcase lining the wall, the smokey smell of lit candles, the dark brown wooden furniture, all making Renae feel as cozy as you can be in a Paris café. The building has an aged, withering feel, but the dozens of lush green plants dangling from ceiling to floor brought the life back into the room quickly; the pop of bright emerald managing to spark the creativity into any person who might pass through.

She finds her way to the counter, and politely addresses the waitress. "Hi, I'm here for a job interview with the owner. My name's Renae Cruzette, I rang a few days ago."

"Oh chéri, that would be me," the woman speaks in perfect English, but with a French roll to her tongue, "Come with me and we'll have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Green tea would be nice, thanks," Renae replies and finds a small round table for two to sit down.

"I'm Clemence Rosher—founder, owner—of this place, as you will already know."

Renae smiles and does a little laugh, "It's nice to meet you Clemence." The two shake hands as the bleach-blonde woman passes Renae a steaming mug of green tea, the teabag still left in of course.

"Yes and you are Renae Cruzette, you said?"

"Mhm." Renae was waiting for the traffic of questions to come along and preparing herself not to get stuck or lost in them, but they never did, and she finds herself feeling utterly relaxed with the welcoming woman before her.

"So, let's get down to business yes? Why are you here today?"

"I'm looking for a first job actually, and when I heard you were hiring it seemed perfect, because I don't live too far from here and I love baking every now and then, as well as being creative with coffee art. I'm quite the artistic person, you see."

"Good good. That's what I like to hear," Clemence looks into Renae's eyes and gives a shining bright smile, "So are you willing to give your all into this job? I need someone new, someone fresh who will put a part of their soul into my café. I need perseverance, a respectful and capable person. Why would I choose you?"

"I am all of those things and more Miss."

"Madame," she interrupts.

"Right, sorry Madame."

"Who always comes first in my business?"

"The customer does, always!" Renae eagerly answers after not understanding the question for a few seconds.

"Are you good with mathematics? Can you quickly count change?"

"Yes, I graded a nine in my GCSE when I lived in England."

"In England you say? I thought you had a different accent chéri!"

"Yeah I just recently moved here actually."

"Tell me a bit about that then. Why did you move, are you here permanently?" Clemence curiously asks.

"I think I'll be staying here for a good few years now until I have the money to move out and go back to Britain. I've always lived with my Aunty, ever since I was a baby. My parents have never been around, I don't even remember my mother's face, but my Aunty Alice got a promotion, so we had to move here."

"Oh chéri that must be terrible for you, not even knowing your parents!"

"It's fine really! I love Alice so much, she's always been there for me and I respect her with all my heart for deciding to take me in, but she never took the opportunity to become my mother. She's always been my aunty and kept the truth at bay about my parents."

"I see, so is she your true biological aunt then?"

"Yes! She's my father's sister."

"Oh she must be so very brave then, I admire her strength taking in just a child!"

"I do too. You know she is French as well, so it was a delight to her when the company said she'd be moving to their Paris branch. She took me in when she was just eighteen, and we both went to England so she could finish university. It was very stressful for her, and I am so greatful for her determination to not only provide a steady life for herself, but for a child that wasn't even her own too!"

*Snap*

"Yes she sounds like an amazing woman! So how old are you now then?"

"Seventeen."

*Snap*  The photographer guy's camera clicks away

"When would you be willing to start? I'd have to give you some training first of course, but it'd be nothing major."

"As soon as possible Clemence!"

"Okay then how about I give you a call next Monday when I'm ready for you to come down? I have meetings and all sorts until then."

*Snap*

*Snap*

"Perfect, thank you so much!"

"Oh no worries, I have great expectations of you," and she give Renae a wink as they stand and part ways, Renae not knowing yet that it'd be the last time she speaks to the friendly woman who owns a café.

*Snap*

~~~~

Five days later.

"Alice, she still hasn't rang me after three days!" Renae bursts as she storms into the kitchen. A series of transparent patio doors line the back wall of the completely white kitchen, the only colour of the room being the numbers of herbs scattered along the windowsills and the grey laminate flooring below. It reminds Renae of a hospital, and she would very much like to hand some paintings on the walls and colourful flowers, nevertheless it's still comfortable to be in when you've got Alice as company.

"She probably just forgot, don't stress," Alice reassures her.

"I saw her write it in her diary! And she definitely said that she was going to employ me. It's getting ridiculous! Even if she did change her mind about me, a little text to apologise wouldn't hurt!"

"I know, she shouldn't have left you hanging like that, that is very unprofessional," Alice speaks in such a wise, calming manner.

"I really would've liked that job as well," she says saddened now, "It would've met all my needs of a simple first job, but one that I would still enjoy and be easy to settle into."

"I know Ren, but you can't just sit here sulking about it, why don't you go back there and see what's going on with this woman—for your own sake at least."

"What if I make it more awkward though?"

"You won't. You're only going to politely ask when you're going to be set for some training, because you've got other things you need to attend and you can't keep having it delayed or being left in the dark."

"I suppose..."

"Come on, it's not fair on you that she's done this, so go and change out of that old hoodie and get down there standing loud and proud!"

"Okay, thanks Al," and Renae gives her understanding Aunty a bear hug, then rushes upstairs to prepare herself to face Clemence again.

~~~~

The moment she steps out of the front door, an ear-splitting ring starts to sound in Renae's earlobes and an eye-aching migraine begins to crawl into her mind. She should just brush it off, but not matter how hard she tries, Renae just can't shake the bad feeling that drops to the pit of her stomach and the butterflies that flutter up and get lodged in her throat. Renae steadies herself on the doorway for a second, closing her eyes to ease the pounding in her head. She takes a shaky breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, and pushes aside this feeling, ready to take on her plan of action.

Her taxi ride seems to drag on for hours in the stuffy, cramped backseat, the breeze of the day barely noticeable even with the car windows all open. The heat is almost unbearable. Renae can't understand if it's anxiety (which she's never experienced before), or an illness she's suddenly caught that's making her feel this way, but something isn't sitting right in her flesh and bones. Due to the long, unmoving queue of vehicles, Renae decides to just pay the taxi driver now and walk down the rest of the way where café stood stunningly at the end of the road.

She looks about her to see that everyone is busy trying to get to places, and as she strolls further down the street she notices that she's come to a hidden alleyway, "Millbreury Lane, hm." Given her situation and the want to avoid it completely, Renae roams down the alleyway of tall, old-fashioned buildings taking her time to observe her exquisite surroundings.

Right along the bottom of the attached buildings are stores, and they are magnificent to the eye: cafés sit with intricate metal tables and chairs outside; hanging baskets spread throughout are filled with the most colourful, delicate flowers; antique shops showcase their treasures in the wide window each store possesses; and the cobbled floor beneath glows and sparkles as the afternoon sun shines down on the moist puddles and excess rain.

*Chuchak*

Renae stands still. So impossibly still.

The beautiful antique alleyway seems to disappear around her in slow motion as Renae is sucked back into reality and her eyes are met with metal.

Thick, cold, silver-grey metal.

Pointed at her forehead, in-between her eyes, is a slick handgun. For a while she cannot see the person whose hand is slid around the trigger, nor the group of men accompanying them. For a while, it was just her and the weapon, playing a dangerous game in a little world of their own—the opponent not even alive but still taking the lead and winning the girl over completely. She cannot break her eyes away from the metal in front of her, and the hand-held violence cannot take its eyes off Renae.

She feels frozen in her place, barely able to breathe, as the gun wielder speaks, "Oh chéri," before smacking Renae over the side of her head with the loaded gun.

All soon went black.

[snarkysynonymroll]

Philosopher’s Stone: Episode Two

McGonagall and Harry are in her classroom when Dumbledore walks in. McGonagall and Harry are deep in conversation as he approaches them.

McGonagall: (talking to Harry) So Wood will teach you the basics…

Dumbledore: (interrupting) Minerva?

McGonagall: (still talking to Harry) And your broom will be coming soon…

Dumbledore: (interrupting) Minerva? Knock, knock.

McGonagall: (to Dumbledore) I'm talking to Potter.

Dumbledore: I know you are. Knock, knock.

McGonagall: (to Harry) We’re going to go with a Nimbus 2000…

Dumbledore: Knock, knock!

Snape is walking by and notices them. Curious, he enters McGonagall’s classroom as well. McGonagall sighs and finally turns to Dumbledore.

McGonagall: (sighs) Who's there?

Dumbledore: Buddha.

McGonagall: Buddha who?

Dumbledore slaps a slice of bread and a stick of butter on McGonagall’s desk

Dumbledore: Buddha this bread for me, won't you?

Dumbledore and Snape laugh. The Camera zooms in on McGonagall’s unamused face.

McGonagall: Great.

Dumbledore: I, I need something to wipe my hand.

McGonagall: Now there's, there's butter on my desk.

Dumbledore: That was helping. It was classic.

Snape: I got a knock-knock joke.

Dumbledore: No... God.

Snape: Please, please, please, please, please let me.

Dumbledore: Alright.

Snape: Knock, knock.

Dumbledore: Who's there?

Snape: Death Eaters.

Dumbledore: Death Eaters Wh—

Before Dumbledore can finish, Snape slaps him on the face.

Snape: We will ask the questions!

Dumbledore: What the hell was that?

Dumbledore starts to slap Snape.

Snape: What are you doing? Stop it.

Dumbledore: You like that?

Dumbledore continues slapping Snape.

Snape: C'mon. Mine was a part of my hilarious joke.

Dumbledore: Mine was retribution. Ok. No more knock-knock jokes. That's it.

Harry: Ding Dong.

Dumbledore’s face lights up.

Dumbledore: (to Harry) Who's there?

Harry: Death Eaters.

Dumbledore: (to Snape) Snape, get the door.

Snape: I'm not answering it.

Dumbledore: Answer the door.

Harry: Ding dong.

Snape: No way, it's Death Eaters.

Harry: Ding dong.

Snape: I'm not answering that. You answer it.

Dumbledore: I'm not gonna answer it

Snape: I'm not gonna answer it, it's death eaters.

Harry slaps Snape in the face.

Harry: Death Eaters will wait for no one!

Dumbledore laughs. The Camera zooms in on Snape’s face.

Snape: It's true.

[Opening Credits - Upbeat music]

[Hogwarts: A Magical Workplace]

The Camera cuts to Dumbledore and Quirrell inside Dumbledore’s office. Dumbledore sits at his desk, and Quirrell sits in a chair across from him.

Dumbledore: Quirrell is sitting in my office. He has been a teacher here for a couple of weeks now, and he’s kind of gotten the lay of the land a little bit. And now he wants to know what I think.

Quirrell: T-t-the temp agency w-w-ants to know what you th-th-think…

Dumbledore: Shall we? FIrst up, proficiency in necessary skills. E-e-excellent!

The Camera cuts to Snape, lurking in the corridor outside Dumbledore’s office. He looks at the door longingly.

The Camera cuts to an interview with Snape.

Snape: Dumbledore’s in their right now evaluating the temp. He hasn’t evaluated me in years. Everyone thinks Quirrell is so great because he’s the Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, and he’s fought off vampires, and zombies.

Back in Dumbledore’s office, Dumbledore is still evaluating Quirrell.

Dumbledore: Five years from now, what do you want to do? Where do you want to be?

Quirrell: W-w-ell, I’m interested in-in l-le-leadership.

Dumbledore: Oh! Good. Ambitious. Excellent. Want to be a headmaster?

Quirrell: Uh, n-no actually, I w-want to r-r-rule the w-w-world…

Dumbledore: That is Riddikulus.

The Camera cuts to an interview with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore: (to Camera) Quirrell’s about to attend the Albus Dumbledore School of Leadership. I'm like Gandalf and Merlin rolled into one.

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore and Quirrell.

Dumbledore: There are ten rules of leadership that you need to learn. Number one: You need to play to win. But... you also have to win to play.

Quirrell: G-got it.

Dumbledore: And…I will give you the rest of the ten at lunch.

The Camera cuts to Charms class, where Gryffindor students are attempting to use a spell to make a feather float through the air. Ron’s wand hovers above his feather as he recites the spell.

Ron: Wingardium Leviosa.

Nothing happens.

Ron: Why isn’t this stupid spell working.

Hermione: Well, maybe you should try looking into the smart part of your brain.

Ron looks at the Camera, annoyed.

The Camera cuts to interview with Ron

Ron: She’s smart. Talks to me a lot. A lot. Too much. Like a crazy person. A little. Not super crazy... just... there's something about her that creeps me out. I can't really explain it. She’s always up in my bidness. Which is ebonics for "being in my face and annoying the bejesus out of me."

The Camera cuts back to Charms Class.

Hermione: You’re saying it wrong. It’s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa.

Ron: No, just stop. Stop. Stop doing it. You're going to drive me crazy.

Hermione: Fine. Sorry I annoyed you with my friendship!

Hermione turns, lets out an angry yell and punches a hole in the wall. Everyone in the classroom stops working and looks at her in shock.

Hermione: That... was an overreaction… Gonna hit the bathroom.

Hermione runs away and hides in the girl’s bathroom.

After she leaves, Harry and Ron inspect the wall. Harry pokes at the hole.

Harry: Oh my God, that’s half-inch drywall.

Ron: I think we broke her brain.

The Camera cuts to the Great Hall where students and teachers are eating. An alarm goes off. Quirrell bursts into the hall and runs through the room.

Quirrell: Troll — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know.

Quirrell slumps to the floor in a dead faint.

Snape and McGonagall stand up.

Snape: Students!

McGonagall: Okay, everybody.

Snape: This is not a test. Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories.

Draco looks at the camera in alarm. The Camera cuts to an interview with Draco.

Draco: The Slytherin dormitory is in the dungeon…

The Camera cuts back to the Great Hall.

McGonagall: Do not panic.

Snape: Head towards your dorms.

McGonagall: Safety Partners.

Dumbledore gets up and runs out of the hall, pushing students aside to get through. The Camera follows him as he runs through the corridors to his office.

The Camera cuts back to the Great Hall as students and faculty start to shuffle out.

Snape: No, panic is warranted!

McGonagall: Go in single file lines.

Snape: This is not a drill!

The Camera cuts to Dumbledore standing outside his office. He looks at the camera sheepishly.

Dumbledore: Yes, I was the first one out. And, yes, I've heard women and children first. But, I believe treating students like adults. And, uh, women are equal in the workplace by law. So, I let them out first, I have a lawsuit on my hands.

Later, Dumbledore and Snape are in Dumbledore’s office.

Dumbledore: How did a troll accidentally get into Hogwarts?

Snape: It would appear someone let it in.

Dumbledore: Who would do that?

The Camera cuts to an interview with Fred and George.

Fred: What? We did not do that.

The Camera cuts to an interview with Quirrell. Quirrell is barely able to stifle his laughter.

Quirrell: It wasn’t me! Um..it wasn’t me.

Quirrell regains his composure.

Quirrell: It was not me.

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore’s office. There’s a knock at the door, and McGonagall enters, followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

McGonagall: These three were found taking on the troll in a bathroom.

Dumbledore: You took on the troll? And won?

Harry: Yes.

McGonagall: What on earth were you thinking?

The Camera cuts to an interview with Harry

Harry: We found ourselves on the, less prepared side of things when the troll went bezerk. And I knew exactly what to do, but in a much more real sense I had no idea what to do.

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore’s office.

Snape: I’ll go take care of the troll.

Snape leaves.

Dumbledore: (to Quirrell) Okay, yes another rule of business is being able to adapt to different situations.

Quirrell: Yeah.

Dumbledore: Adapt. React. Re-adapt. Act. All right? That's rule number two.

The Camera cuts to Interview with Quirrell.

Quirrell: (To Camera) I don't want to be like "a guy" here. You know? Like, Snape is the "creepy goth guy". And McGonagall has cats. I don't want to have a thing... here. You know, I don't want to be the "something guy".

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore’s office

Dumbledore: Okay, so 10 points to Gryffindor.

McGonagall: Should we really be rewarding them for doing something so reckless?

Dumbledore: Did I stutter?

The door opens and Snape returns, laughing.

Dumbledore: Snape, what is it?

Snape: Apparently in Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, they don’t teach you how to lock a door because some smart, sexy temp left the dungeon unlocked so the troll could get in!

Dumbledore: Wow. Okay. Well, I guess they don't teach how to lock a door in Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons.

Snape: That's exactly what I said.

Dumbledore: Hey, did you miss that day there, Quirrell?

Snape: Were you absent?

Quirrell: I am so-so-so sorry.

Snape: We should call him “Troll Guy”

The Camera cuts to an interview with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore: Hey! I know what'll impress everybody, I'll let a troll in the dungeon. Bad idea, man. Bad idea.

The Camera cuts to an interview with Quirrell.

Quirrell: I can't believe I let the troll in.

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore and Quirrell

Dumbledore: Okay. Rule five - safety first, i.e. don't let a troll into the school. Okay? That should be a no brainer.

The Camera cuts to an interview with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore: Quirrell is book smart. And I am street smart. And book smart.

The Camera cuts back to Dumbledore and Quirrell.

Dumbledore: I'll give you the rest of the ten tomorrow.