#Birdie with a boyfriend just flat out seems wrong

[pajaritafem]

After believing I was a lesbian for 6 years, I’ve discovered than I’m bisexual. Accepting that I’m attracted to men has been a time, I keep crying about it and honestly… valid.

[werepuppy-steve]

promise you forever

steddie ☆ 971 ☆ cw: none ☆ appalachian eddie ☆ ao3

“phone for ya, eds,” wayne chuckles as he comes out of the house to the front porch where everyone’s sitting. “think your boy’s had one too many.”

eddie frowns and stamps down the worry bubbling inside him. steve rarely ever drinks anymore. doesn’t smoke anymore, either. not since starcourt. eddie slides off the porch swing where he’d been sitting with his aunt pep and goes inside to the wall phone in the kitchen, the receiver laying on the counter.

“steve?” he says, lifting the phone to his ear.

“country boy, i love youuuuuuuu!”

steve’s words are slurred, which doesn’t make eddie any less panicked. what happened? was he okay? eddie leaves to visit his family for one week and he can’t seem to escape the horrors that hawkins, indiana seems to breed every day.

“stevie? baby, you okay?” eddie tries to keep his voice from shaking.

there’s a laugh on the other line and steve flat out yells into the phone, “eddie! hi!” yep. he’s definitely drunk. eddie strains to hear any background noise that would give any hints as to where steve is at, but it’s silent.

eddie’s knuckles grip the phone. “where are you, sweetheart? are you safe?”

steve makes a grumbling noise, like he’s talking to someone else and eddie doesn’t know if that makes him feel better or worse.

“i’m fiiiiiine, eds,” steve says after another second of grumbling. “teds. teddy. teddy bear.” he starts listing ever iteration of eddie’s name, and eddie doesn’t want him to stop. if he keeps going, then eddie knows he’s not in immediate danger.

“dingus! stop hogging the phone!”

wait.

“robbie, i’m trying to talk to me boyfriend,” steve whines and there’s sounds of a scuffle and “no—hey—robin, it’s still my turn—!”

“hi, eddie!” robin’s voice is suddenly in his ear and sounding just as drunk as steve. jesus christ, eddie’s never leaving them unsupervised again.

eddie sighs and runs a hand down his face. “robin, where the hell are you? and why are you drunk?” these two are gonna finish what the bats started and put him in an early grave, he swears it.

on her end, robin groans. “dingus!” she scolds steve. “you didn’t remind him?”

“remind me of what, bobbie?” eddie asks. now that he’s sure the two of them are somewhat coherent and probably not in danger, he feels so fucking tired all of a sudden.

“it’s my birthday, doofus!”

well now eddie feels awful. steve reminded him before he and wayne left, but in all the excitement of seeing the rest of his family again, it slipped eddie’s mind.

robin continues, “and you, theodore munson!”

if eddie thought he was off the hook, he’s dead wrong. he’s never hearing the end of this now. it’s not likely, but maybe luck will be on his side for once and she’ll forget this conversation ever happened.

“you owe me a birthday breakfast, lunch, and dinner when you get back. and you have to buy me a present.”

eddie rests his forehead on the wall as a laugh bubbles up out of his chest at the ridiculousness of the situation. “alright, birdie,” he promises. “as soon as i get back, i’ll start right on it and get you the most expensive present i can afford.”

“it better break your bank account, munson!” she threatens, but eddie knows she’s bluffing.

“alright, birthday girl, can you put steve back on?”

robin yells out for steve. “you better not be doing any hanky panky on my birthday, dingus,” she warns before steve comes on the line.

“hi, baby.” he’s definitely still drunk, but he’s quieter, not yelling into the phone like he was a few minutes ago.

warmth fills eddie’s chest and he leans his shoulder on the wall, angling himself away from the door to give himself a sense of privacy in case anyone comes inside. “hey sweetheart,” he says just as softly. “you two having fun?”

he can practically see steve’s nod. “mhm,” he confirms. “miss you, though. wish you were here.”

eddie’s gonna marry this boy someday, just you wait.

“i miss you, too, sugar,” eddie tells him. “wayne said he thinks you’ve had a little too much to drink.”

“no i haven’t!” steve’s voice raises for a second before dropping back down again. “just had one… three… four beers, i promise.”

eddie hums, not bothering to hide the amused grin on his face. “uh-huh. s'at why you sound drunker than a skunk, right now, sweet thing?”

steve huffs and eddie wants so badly to kiss the pout off his boyfriends lips. “m'not drunk,” he says without any real argument.

“alright, i believe you,” eddie concedes. he can’t help but to let a little worry back in. he bites his lip. “can you promise me something, stevie?”

steve’s answer is immediate and almost shatters eddie’s heart. “i’ll promise you forever, teddy.”

eddie takes a breather to calm himself down so he doesn’t jump in wayne’s truck and make the five hour drive back to hawkins. “promise me you’ll call nancy if either of you start to feel weird?”

steve hums in his ear, like a purring cat. “i promise, baby. cross my heart ‘n everything.”

eddie grins and wishes he was there in front of him so he could touch him. “thank you. i won’t keep you any longer, then. i’m sure birdie’s getting impatient.”

“she’s always impatient,” steve huffs. “it’s her best quality.”

there’s no argument there.

“i love you, stevie. call me tomorrow when you wake up?”

steve sighs softly. “i love you, eddie.” he makes exaggerated kissing noises over the phone until he hangs up.

eddie hangs the receiver up. he’s here in his grandmother’s kitchen, surrounded by his family, but his heart has never felt as full as it does in this moment.

🥐☕💕 buy me a coffee? taglist: @yournowheregirl @steves-strapcollection @thefreakandthehair @stobinesque @vecnuthy @tboygareth @starrystevie @inairbinad @flowercrowngods @starryeyedjanai @matchingbatbites @corrodedbisexual @theheadlessphilosopher @sidekick-hero @patchworkgargoyle @sentient-trash @wormdebut @legitcookie @corrodedcoughin @steddieas-shegoes @wynnyfryd

[glitterbootsharry]

chapter one.

taglist 

The wooden door with the famous stain glass mermaid window opens as Harry walks through the threshold, jostling the bell. He’s running late, which isn’t normally like him, due to the fact that he couldn’t decide which overcoat to wear, finally deciding on the tan one instead of the navy. He wanted everything to be perfect when meeting Daphne J. His stomach turns as sheds his jacket and carries the garment over his arm while raking his fingers through his brown messy hair.  

He takes off his black flat top baker hat before scanning the pub quickly, a worried look flashing across his face until he saw her sitting on a stool that has a leg a few centimetres short of the others. She’s jostling the chair as she waits for him. He pushes the through the group of friends that are currently yelling orders to the barmaid. She doesn’t look up until he reaches the table.

“Daphne?” he asks, sliding onto the stool. He reaches out for a handshake, but a wide-eyed look takes him aback. She looks up at him with her honey eyes, and smiles at him quizzically. He is nothing like Daphne imagined. She holds onto the small glass cup between her two fingers. The man thanks her for ordering the pint ahead of time. 

“I’ve been proper shacked.”

Not the best way to start the conversation, but Daphne Jones figured it was the best to talk about the invisible elephant in the room first before they got to the good stuff. Harry sits back in his chair as he watches the blonde with the full figure take back a shot of whatever brown liquor she requested. She had worn what she promised: olive green jumper with her hair in a low side bun.

She had seemed alright given the limited messaging they had fueled back and forth. She insisted they meet in a public place, which Harry understood. She even said that she had brought along a friend in case anything weird were to happen. She had stressed the word weird out like Harry had planned on kidnapping the birdie himself or something of that nature.

Sure, Daphne was easy on the eyes to him. She might have even been his type to chat up if they had been two strangers in a pub on a Thursday night, but they were potential flatmates and crossing the lines would bring disaster upon itself.

“But I want to let y’know that I’ve got first and last month’s rent plus possibly a deposit,” Daphne smiles as Harry mulls over the newly presented fact that Daphne now has no job. “Depending on if I get my furniture back from Stephen.”

“Don’t suppose I need any of that. Just want someone to help with bills and such. Mind if I ask why you were sacked?” Harry takes a long sip of beer as Daphne rolls her mouth in. She looks to Eliza, whose sitting at the bar waiting for the signal. If Daphne blinks twice, she’s ready for action.

“I, erm, told the CEO of the company to stuff her opinion of my presentation that could bring the company thousands where it does not shine,” Daphne pouts her lips out as she looks anywhere but Harry’s green eyes. For a stranger, he had a way of making Daphne feel inadequate.

“Mm.”

“She said it didn’t have enough research to help back my idea up. The trollop has no idea how long I’ve done research. I’ve about done my head in with numbers and shit,” Daphne waves for another drink. Her smile is genuine when she looks back at Harry.

“How long have you been without?” Harry rubs his scruffy chin with his thumb and forefinger. Not quite sure how to take Daphne, he still continues to conduct the interview.

“Just today,” Daphne grumbles. She puts her hands in mid air as if she surrenders. “But I would not have come if I didn’t really want to live somewhere besides my friend’s couch. Got an interview Monday.”

Harry is pleased with Daphne’s work ethic. She stands up for herself which would come in handy. when it came to Harry’s mates. 

“Whose Stephen?” Harry remembers the name Daphne mentioned earlier. “Why does he have your furniture?”

“Arsehole of a boyfriend, I’ll tell you that. Ruddy bloke broke it off with me last week via work email because ‘it wasn’t working out’. Well, it wasn’t working out when he started seeing Miss Slag from Accounting, but he kicked me out and I’m stuck with Liza. Fucking ball-bag.”

Harry remembers Katherine from accounting at his job started seeing a Stephen a few weeks back.

“Does this Stephen work for Smith and Weston?”

“Yeah, that’s him. He’s the assistant manager to God knows and he thinks his cock is Jesus Christ himself. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. Do you cook?” Harry asks, leaning his elbows on the table. The short woman brings out the brown liquor and fills Daphne’s small glass.

“Do I need to take offense to that?” Daphne cocks a brow up before throwing back the shot of burning liquid.

“Sorry, I just...” He didn’t know what he wanted to say. “My mum used to cook, and...”

“Used to?” Daphne holds the small cup, anxiety filling her body. She must have said something wrong. “Is she?”

“No, she isn’t dead,” Harry half laughs. “She’s still very much alive. Just haven’t seen her in a bit with me working in the city and all. She’s out in the countryside running a posh little pub like this one.” Daphne sighs, a burst of wind of relief.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Are you gay? Because it’s cool if you are. I just want to be prepared when you bring someone over.” Harry says, his lips forming a tight line. 

“I’m not gay.” Daphne heaves her brow up before letting it down. She looks over at Eliza again- still waiting. “Should I take offense to that?”

Daphne shakes her head. “No. Few more questions. Are you a serial killer?”

“Does it really matter at this point?” Harry takes a long look at the small black line on Daphne’s skin just above her collar bone that is sticking out from under her jumper.

“No I guess not. You’d kill me by now.” Daphne laughs as Harry’s smile widens. She was starting to feel more comfortable around him.

“What’s the view like?”

“Kensington Gardens. Sunset is quite beautiful.”

“I’m in.”

“Just like that?” Harry asks bewildered. “No background checks? No wondering if I own a sex slave? No deranged friend asking the like?”

“As long as you’re not tossing it in the main room, I do not care what you do. That’s your business. Plus, I’m desperate.”

“Well, alright then, I guess you’ll want to see the place. We can schedule-“

“None of that,” Daphne is beginning to get louder as the alcohol soaks into her system. “A round for newfound roomies.” She waves over the waitress and asks for two new shots. Harry smiles at her and watches Daphne become pissed.

☕︎︎

It was sometime before Daphne got up the courage to ask what was desperately eating at her. “Why don’t you have anyone? You’re quite handsome.” She is currently being walked to her new home after she insisted on seeing the view tonight. Daphne had warded Eliza home after much protest.

“Haven’t found the right one, I guess,” Harry hold Daphne’s arm over his shoulder as they wait for the lift to move. Her face is close to Harry’s neck and as she inhales, she smells the distant scent of expensive cologne.

“Forgot to ask you what you do...for a living,” Daphne burps and she tastes the alcohol again.

“I work at Smith and Weston.”

The lift opens up to a wide hallway as Daphne gasps. The cream walls reflect from the lighting hanging on them and the brown carpet runs along the length of the building. Harry stops at the fourth door on the level. “This is where I die, isn’t it?” Daphne giggles.

“Yes,” Harry laughs as he pushes the door open. The white walls illuminate the tile floor as a chandelier hangs down inside the main room. The view from the large windows is currently being blocked by the gray no-peak curtains blanketing the night sky. The brown leather couch sit perpendicular to the widows with the large flat screen television sitting on the wall that cuts into the hallway. Daphne turns and sees the open kitchen with the small island. The brown and grays suddenly stop where the main room begins. Two hallways on either side of the flat run down to the bedrooms and baths. 

“So,” Harry clears his throat after putting Daphne on the brown leather couch. “Your room will be there.” He points in front of him. “And mine is back here.” The hallway with the television leads to Harry’s paradise.

“Nice,” Daphne stretches out her word before smiling, “I’ll like it here. We’ll make a great team.” Daphne yawns before stretching her body on the incredibly soft leather. “Can I stay here seeing how I’m living with you now?”

“Sure, I can get you a blanket or-” Harry is cut off as Daphne speaks over him. “We can share your bed. I need the extra support.’

Harry thinks is over for a moment. “Okay.”

Harry leads Daphne to his bedroom. Everything has its place Daphne noticed. The large television is propped against the wall as it looks down on Harry’s rather large bed. The quilt looks hand made and is very rich in color. Small pictures are gathered on the funiture, but what takes Daphne’s notice is the small bottle of lotion and tissues next to Harry’s sunken side of the bed.

Daphne giggles as Harry lays her down on the right side. He looks up, eyes wide, his cheeks instantly become hot. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Daphne yawns again as she lays down. Her head hits the fluffy pillow and before Harry could peel off his coat, he heard the soft snores escaping Daphne’s mouth.

☕︎︎

“Daph, you twitch in your sleep,” Harry’s voice thick from his slumber. His knuckles rub the blurriness away; his eyes open at the sound of Daphne sighing heavily. “And you moan.”

“Sorry,” Daphne grumbled. She turns her head to face her bedmate- wild blonde hair sticking out of her messy bun. Harry stops himself from taking his fingers through her tangled hair.

“You sound like a proper sex phone operator. Didn’t know if I should wake you or not. Didn’t want to disturb,” Harry chuckled to himself as he lingered on his last word. Dark circles had formed under his new roommate’s eyes.

“Sod off, Harold. Now isn’t the time for your jokes. I had enough of them back at the pub. My head is ringing and I’m looking at an ugly bloke. Not how I wanted to start my morning,” The last bit hurt Harry quite a bit and he didn’t know why.

“I’m not ugly,” Harry sat up on his elbow. He was pleased that Daphne had made through the night alive.

“Arrogance before coffee,” Daphne rolled out of bed- the clothes from last night sticking to her body. “Just how I like my men.” The tone of her voice was what threw Harry for a loop. This wasn’t the same girl from the pub last night. No, the girl last night threw banter around like a child digging in the dirt. The girl before him was unusually cruel.

Harry sighs as he closes his eyes again. He was in it from the get go. 

[strawberrymarshmallowstories]

Oneshot | City Lights (Jung Hoseok)

Title: City Lights Pairing: Hoseok/Reader Rating: SFW Summary: Inspired by City Lights - TVXQ U-Know ft. Taeyong

A/N: Guyssss, this song is a bedroom jam. Even if you don’t read this, listen to this song. You will not regret it. Seriously.

***

Your eyes met across the floor. You hadn't even realised you'd been looking his way, not until it pulsed down your spine. The realisation, the old what-if's, and the tingling shiver of fear.

You hadn’t meant to look at him. Not now, not ever again.

Jung Hoseok was a campus god who was loved by all, his name a breathy whisper on many lips the second he walked by. Everyone loved him, for he was perfect.

Or was he?

You glanced at the drinks bartender placed before you. It must've been a mistake, Hoseok must've mistaken you for someone else. He couldn't have recognised you.

'Oh god look at him, would love to bite into that piece of ass,' Melly whined, fanning herself as if the mere thought was too much to handle.

Perhaps it was. You pushed over her pornstar martini and raised your own drink, one far less colourful than hers, but it had nothing against the dripping sarcasm in your voice. 'Cheers to your boyfriend.'

She only laughed, the sound free and inhibited as it bubbled out of her. 'He gave me a free pass for Hoseok, even asked if he could join in.'

'How nice of him,' you muttered, lifting the drink to your lips. The sweetness of the lemonade hit your tongue before the heat of the alcohol.

But when it made down your throat, it burned.

'And how about you?' Melly scoffed. 'You who tripped over nothing the second he asked you to be his lab partner?'

'Oh shut up, that was ages ago.' You managed a smile that to anyone else would've seemed polite. Melly would've known it to be one of annoyance.

Yes, he was hot, quite breathtaking in his element - no one would dispute that. But he was too hot, too popular.

And you had enough of that the first time around.

~ The dark night thickened on the first floor ~

~ The city lights spread, and your hair ~

~ In the space between my half-closed eyes ~

~ You shine, yeah I close my eyes ~

'Hey Mels, what are you up to?' A familiar voice brushed over you, with an intimate caress of an old lover.

How strange, as he wasn't one.

Melly raked a hand through her hair and flashed a flirty smile. 'Much better now that I’ve seen you. But I thought this was supposed to be the party of the year?’ A gasp. ‘Wait, are you losing your touch?'

'As if - you're in the wrong room ladies, this place-,’ he laughed, gesturing wide, ‘is for the commoners.’ 

The past year had been good to him. But he’d lost something, his childlike smile that'd first caught your eye. Now his each line and move was as if he was dancing, sensual and rich in texture.

Warmth spread all the way down to your core. Your eyes snapped to his - too easy to imagine that laugh against your lips, the gentlest of a chuckle while his hands wandered over any bare skin revealed.

And you didn't miss the mischievous glint in his eyes. As if he'd just read your mind.

~ In the space between that blurred focus, you draw nearer ~

~ Skin against skin, until we can’t be any closer ~

~ When I feel you with all my senses ~

~ It’s endlessly faraway, come ~

 'Come on!' Melly's voice snapped you out of your thoughts. And before you could protest, she'd dragged you along, through the crowd for everyone to see.

You saw the glances, of jealousy and of despise. You knew it was a thing, a stupid thing, but still a thing. You'd just been called to the party within the party. And the signal it sent was that you were considered inner circle.

One that could get you into trouble. Stupid politics of an elite university.

You'd been there before, had no care for it. 

But you could not deny it was impressive, how all thoughts disappeared under the loud welcoming cheer, the exact moment you stepped through those doors. A completely different world.

All for Hoseok, of course, who got a number of welcome pats on his back and a beer shoved into his hands. He shook his head, but you could tell that was his closest group of friends - his family.

You waved at people you knew, from the first year that now seemed so long ago. Your circles naturally overlapped in places, so you'd made acquaintances. But what had been a start of a good friendship had been ruined by one passionate guilt-instigating night where you used him and he used you.

And the next day you sat on a plane, to fly off for your internship. Just as scheduled many months before, and filed that night away in the box of momentary pleasures of a first-year freshman. That’s all it had been, right?

You'd felt awful, filled with anguished nights that kept you awake. Worst at times when you couldn't wash away the heat of your bodies aligned, his each touch as if perfectly planned, his each word purest silk against your senses.

You took another sip to wash it all out. Melly had disappeared somewhere, but it was too easy to find her blue bob in the crowd. Leaning against the counter, you watched Melly sneak up to her boyfriend.

She loved him with all her heart, and it showed in everything she did.

Would you ever love like that?

Would someone ever love you like that?

'So, how have you been?' You heard, a haunting voice not even dreams could save you from. A little lower, a little darker, a little more dangerous.

You smiled and raised your glass. 'Not too bad, and look at you,' you teased, nodding at the group of girls behind him. 'Lord almighty's here with his fanclub.'

Hoseok flashed them a quick smile before turning back to you. And before you could protest, he pulled you into a hug of surprise. A couple still seconds passed, his breath hot against your cheek. 'You still smell so fucking good.'

'Hi to you too.' You couldn't help the breathy whisper, all while your eyes scanned the room.

All those eyes, on you. Once again. Like on so many days over a year ago. Hidden glances when you walked down the hallway, judging every word you said in Hoseok's vicinity.

This wouldn't do. But with his hands warm on your hips, how could you resist?

'That's enough now, your little fanclub's ready to shoot me.' You intended to push against his chest, but somehow your hand laid flat over his shirt, feeling the lithe body underneath the cotton tee.

He only pushed further into your palm. 'You know what they need, a show,' he joked. But you knew that was no joke.

'Your girlfriend's one of them?'

'You’ve got some false information little birdie, I've got no girlfriend anymore.' He stepped closer, hands in pockets. You took a step back just when his nose touched yours.

'But I like that you enquired after me, makes me feel..' A nip on your lower lip. 'Special.'

~ Like a dirty joke, it’s a night in which I can’t sleep ~

~ You radiate, shine even brighter ~

~ It’s a night twisting in seduction ~

~ Like an instant, and you’ve got me ~

Your back hit against the closed door, the lock clicking into place. As if starved, Hoseok claimed your lips in a bold kiss that had your back arch further, to draw even closer. Every brush against his body, every kiss and every sound pure wild energy waiting to be unleashed and needing to be used.

Thank god there was a wall at your back, for you would've collapsed otherwise.

‘God you’re beautiful,’ he whispered, his lips tracing an invisible line down your neck. Light butterfly kisses - ones you’d always loved, in a way you loved. The way he took his time, each touch a calculated temptation. Ones he wouldn’t even know of, unless he too remembered the night you’d shared.

And while you two had lost the timing for a blooming friendship, you wouldn't deny yourself the pleasure of having him once again.

Without regrets.

***

[theajaheira]

Imperfections (9/?)

guess who made the most of her unbelievably late start & finished up another chapter of imperfections!!! probably two chapters today if i play my cards right

it’s also on ao3!

Faith woke up early, just because, and met up with Giles coming out of Jen’s bedroom. He turned red and started stammering something about how sometimes he dropped in at late hours and how he hoped this wasn’t improper in any way and then Jen came up behind him and said with amusement, “Rupert, just go get some breakfast.” Giles obliged with visible relief.

“He like that all the time?” Faith inquired.

Jen wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “He’s just not used to me having someone else in the house,” she said. “Generally, he’s not as much of a disaster.”

“I heard that,” said Giles from the kitchen.

“I know, sugarplum,” Jen called back, a saccharine-sweet note in her voice.

“We have a guest. Are you trying to humiliate me?”

“Deliberately,” said Jen, and gave Faith a sneaky little grin that made Faith want to laugh. She bit it down. “C’mon, Faith. We get to have actual breakfast now that Rupert’s here.”

“I suppose I’m just a chef to you,” said Giles dryly as they entered the kitchen.

“A cute one,” said Jen, and smiled winningly at Giles when he turned to give her a look.

It was weird how domestic the whole thing felt. Jen and Giles kept snarking at each other through the entire breakfast-making process. Giles asked Faith how she liked her eggs, and Faith felt that same strange ache again, because she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had eggs in a warm, sunny kitchen, off of neatly matching plates.

Faith breathed out, and the words came to her head for the first time. I want this. Somehow, this life had landed in her lap, a reward for something she’d never done. There were other people who should have this life. Other people who did have it. She didn’t want to think about what would happen when Jen figured out that this kind of friendliness wasn’t what Faith deserved from people like her and Giles.

“Would you like eggs?” Giles repeated gently, and Faith realized that she’d never answered his question.

Faith shrugged. At Giles’s questioning look, she said, “I don’t have eggs a lot.”

“Put her down for over hard,” said Jen excitedly, nearly knocking over the vase in the middle of the kitchen table. “Rupert—”

“No,” said Giles, and pointed the spatula at her. “No one likes eggs over hard.”

“I like eggs over hard!”

“I am forever horrified by the fact that I am in love with a woman with such appalling food taste. No. I’m making Faith scrambled eggs.”

“You have to try some of my eggs,” Jen informed Faith. “I’ve got to prove him wrong. More people on the Eggs Over Hard team.”

Faith laughed, forgetting about trying to suppress it. Jen and Giles didn’t treat it like anything unusual—no stares, no pleased smiles at finally seeing her brightening up. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Jenny got into class a little late, partially because she’d been setting Faith up in the library with the punching bag and some snacks. School was mostly slow up until noon, when Buffy found Mr. Platt, the school guidance counselor, dead in his office. That entirely eliminated the possibility of it being Oz mauling people, which was good, but the fact that now they had no leads to go on was significantly less good. Jenny had been jumpy for most of the rest of the day, and actually threw her binder at the door when it opened after class was over.

“Ow,” said Rupert.

“Don’t sneak up on me!” said Jenny indignantly.

“You do realize that there is no indication of—”

“Jeff and Platt have no correlation that we know of so anyone could be coming after anyone with teeth,” said Jenny. “At school.”

Rupert had a look on his face that seemed to be mingled amusement and worry. He stepped forward and kissed her softly, which didn’t really help as much as he seemed to think it might. What did help was when he said softly, “I’m here, and Buffy’s in the library, and we will hear you immediately if you’re in danger. All right?”

“I can fight off a lot of things, but I can’t fight off whatever did that,” said Jenny reluctantly, slipping her hand into Rupert’s as they left her classroom.

They entered the library. Faith was sitting on top of the table, and she gave Jenny a small half smile upon seeing her. “Hey, Jen,” she said.

“Jen?” Willow repeated. There was an injured note to her voice.

“Sorry.” Faith held up her hands. “Should I call you Ms. Calendar during school hours or whatever?”

“I do think we have more important things to discuss than what to call Jen—” Rupert cleared his throat, seeming to remember that they were still on school grounds. “Ms. Cal—um—”

Jenny held back a laugh. “It’s fine, Rupert,” she said. “You call me Jenny, the kids call me Ms. Calendar, Faith can call me Jen since she’s not technically my student. How’s that?”

Willow didn’t look all that happy.

“At any rate,” said Rupert, who had now gone a bit pink, “now that we are quite certain that the murderer isn’t Oz, our task now is to determine what sort of killer we are dealing with. Clearly, we're looking for a depraved, sadistic animal.”

“Present,” said Oz, coming in behind them. Willow’s smile showed up in full force, and she all but pushed past Rupert and Jenny to reach her boyfriend. “Hey, I may be a cold-blooded jelly doughnut, but my timing is impeccable,” he continued lightly.

“But you aren't!” Willow informed him happily. “It's a kill-in-the-day monster! A hundred percent for sure.”

Oz was silent for a moment, before a slow, relieved smile spread over his face. “Okay,” he said simply as Willow put her arm around him.

“Yeah, well, much as I’d like to celebrate, we do have two victims of this guy who don’t seem to have anything in common,” Jenny put in.

“Missing internal organs,” Faith suggested.

The group turned to look at her. “Besides that,” said Rupert.

“Debbie,” said Oz suddenly. As all eyes went to him, he continued, “Well, victim number one, Jeff. He was in jazz band with us. They used to horse around.”

“They were screwing?” Faith inquired.

“I don't think so,” Oz replied slowly, “but he hid her music comp book once.”

“And we know that Debbie knew Platt,” Buffy chimed in. “I mean, she was seeing him and way vocal about not having love for the guy.”

“Add this and stir,” Oz said. “I just saw Debbie a minute ago sporting a nasty black eye.”

“Okay, so pretend Debbie wanted Platt dead,” said Willow. “Maybe he fought back.”

Buffy shook her head. “No. Platt was dead in an instant. He didn't even drop his cigarette.” She paused, thinking. “Now, what if boyfriend Pete's the one doling out the punishment?”

Rupert’s eyes were calculating and worried as he said, “We should find them both immediately.”

“Well, Debbie was in the quad a minute ago,” said Oz.

“Okay,” said Jenny, “Faith, you and me are gonna look for Debbie. Willow, Rupert, Buffy, I think we’ll need more people when it comes to Pete.”

“I could help you guys find Debbie,” said Willow hopefully.

Jenny bit her lip. Normally, she’d want to reassure Willow, who seemed to need it more than usual all of a sudden, but there just wasn’t enough time. “We need an adult and a Slayer on each side,” she said, “and we need you to help if anything with Pete goes down. Strength in numbers.”

“You know I don’t know enough to help in a fight!” Willow objected.

“Willow, we’ll talk later,” said Jenny firmly. “I promise.” She gave Faith a pointed look, and Faith jumped up, following her out of the library.

Debbie was in the girls’ bathroom, quietly covering up what looked to Faith like one hell of a shiner. Jen hesitated at the door.

“What’s up?” Faith asked.

Jen pressed her lips together, then said, “If Debbie’s in any kind of an abusive relationship, she’s not going to want to open up to a teacher. I don’t think I can help her, but I think—”

“You think maybe I can,” Faith finished. “Why, ‘cause I seem like a kid with street smarts?”

“Because you seem like a kid,” said Jen with quiet patience, and tugged at the sleeves of her gray sweater. “And I’ll seem like an adult trying to poke my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Faith shook her head almost involuntarily. Eyes fixed on Debbie in the mirror, she said, “You don’t really give off that vibe.”

She didn’t look over to see the way Jen was looking at her when she strode into the bathroom. Her heart was pounding a little. It was small, but it was the most honest that she’d allowed herself to be with anyone in a long time.

“Debbie,” said Faith. Debbie jumped and turned around. “Look,” she said, striding forward with purpose in her step, “you don’t know me, but there’s something going down and a little birdie told me you know what’s what.”

“Oh boy,” said Jen from the doorway.

“You put me in charge,” said Faith, glancing over her shoulder.

Jen stepped up, placing a gentle hand on Faith’s elbow. Faith tensed without thinking, and Jen let her hand drop right as Faith realized she didn’t mind it there. “We’re not trying to be scary,” she said quietly. Faith felt a little embarrassed, and didn’t like it. “We want to help you.”

“I don’t know anything,” said Debbie, flat and matter-of-fact.

“Faith and I are on a bit of a time crunch,” continued Jen with firm patience. Faith smiled slightly at Faith and I before she could catch herself, and Jen caught her eye and smiled back. Faith felt a weird mixture of resentment and happiness at that. “And normally I’d let you be about this, but people are going to get killed if you know something and you don’t share.”

Debbie hesitated and glanced at Faith. “It’s not his fault,” she said finally. “He’s not himself when he’s like this.”

Jen bit her lip. “Pete,” she said, not quite a question.

“It's me,” Debbie continued with a guilty, sad conviction. “I make him crazy. He just does what he does because he loves me too much.”

Jen looked down. Breathed out. There was a horribly sad expression on her face. “Debbie, can you come to the library with us?” she said. “I don’t know how much time we have, but I think you could do with some tea.”

“He won’t—” Debbie was suddenly panicked. “He doesn’t—”

“It’s okay,” said Jen. She reached out, placing a hand on Debbie’s shoulder. “We’re not going to hurt Pete. We just want to make sure everyone’s safe for today, okay? We’ll talk about the big picture stuff tomorrow.”

“But—” Faith began.

Jen fixed Faith with a steely look, and it was then that Faith realized that Jen was lying.

Debbie hadn’t picked up on this; her face had relaxed slightly. “As long as you don’t do anything to him,” she said softly. “He doesn’t—he really doesn’t mean to.”

“I know,” said Jen carefully. “Come on. We’re gonna get you some tea, and I’ll see if Mr. Giles can find you an ice pack for that eye. How’s that?”

Debbie still didn’t look convinced. “He might—you have to know that he might hurt you,” she said. “He won’t—he doesn’t mean to, he just—”

“Trust me,” said Jen. “We’ll be okay.”

[readmeri]

I’m usually happily and contentedly last in the queue for new SL innovations. It took me ages and ages to take the plunge and get a mesh head and I had no sooner done so then talk of Bento filled the air.

As soon as I heard about the additional bones in the Second Life skeleton, I had been asking around if this would mean that there would be mesh heads we could change to suit our features, but nobody seemed to have an answer. I was patently asking the wrong people because of course it meant that, and now, of course, there are Bento heads.

While I have no burning need to get Bento hands yet – I don’t feel an unfulfilled yearning to flip anyone the birdie or make a heart shape with them – I did feel a responsibility to return to ‘my face’ as soon as I could.

You see, I traumatised Thom. Long time readers of the blog will remember that he was most upset when I got a mesh head, because although it resembled Meri in some ways, it was not her – and Thom has known me since I was six days old. Oh how he railed against it, he protested, he wore a ‘Frank’ head of his own. It went on for quite some time until eventually he acquiesced.

Of course, his acquiescence lined up almost exactly to the time I went and got a Catwa Bento head demo to try out, but he didn’t know that. I spent some time with the demo (having applied my existing skin applier to it) looking at photographs of my old face and trying to replicate it into my shape.

They recommend that you begin with their shape and work on it from there – there’s a good reason for that. You look like an alien when you begin from your own shape, but I thought that was okay anyway, it gave me some clues as to shape and where to concentrate.

I played with my shape for around… *thinks* 4 hours all in, over several sessions. I’m still tweaking. It was at this point I showed Thom. He was really enthusiastic, which made me happy, so I tripped on over to Catwa to buy it (along with the full animations HUD) to find out that they were 5000L$ each. So 10K in all. That’s a lot of pennies in real money.

So I did what any woman without a spare 10k hanging around and who has set her heart on something would do. I had a cry.

Due in part to his enthusiasm and in part to not liking me crying, Thom decided to spring for the majority of this investment himself, which was very nice of him – thank you Thom <3

In summary, yes I recommend Bento heads. I certainly recommend you spending time with a demo to make sure you can make it look how you wish, also, do try all the different ones available and save your money up! I also, belatedly, recommend that you simply buy the head first and contemplate if you really need the extended animations HUD – there is a basic HUD for animations in with the head and so far, I’ve not gone beyond that aside from for a play around.

What to wear in Second Life today?

Visit | The Trace Too Pose | =fashiowl poses= Julia 6 – modified (fashiowl Mainstore) Hair | Lamb. Dream On Light Blondes (Lamb Mainstore) Bag | {Reverie} Travelers Bag Vintage Messenger (Reverie Mainstore : Reverie Marketplace) Socks | Maitreya Dahlia Socks (Maitreya Mainstore) Shoes | Sweet Tea Flat Mary Janes (Sweet Tea Mainstore) Cardigan | Addams Mesh Hipster Cardigan [Mait/2Sli/3Bell] (Addams Mainstore : Addams Marketplace) Skirt | Addams Mesh Hipster Pleated Skirt (Addams Mainstore : Addams Marketplace) Sweater | Addams Mesh Hipster Turtleneck (Addams Mainstore : Addams Marketplace)

About:

Addams seem to be doing a great deal more Mainstore releases of late, I’m telling you this because if you’re only visiting the big events, you may well be missing out on some truly great new stuff. The most recent – Hipster set – comprises an around waist cardigan, a pleated skirt and a lovely turtleneck sweater. You can buy them all, or buy them individually and the textures and colours for the sweater in particular are gorgeous.

I had a question from a reader the other day. Her boyfriend got in touch to say she’d bought this outfit blogged but that the tights showed through the skirt – had I experienced the same issue? It’s worth saying that if I have any issues with anything I blog, I do say so, because I don’t like the idea of fudging anything to mislead folks.

I hadn’t experienced that issue, but on that subject, if you are wearing a mesh body, it is less likely that there will be show through of your applier undergarments to your over clothes. If there is any, use the alpha HUD to hide that part of your body (and therefore also the associated applier). If you are not using a mesh body, it is important to wear the alpha layer provided in the pack with the standard sized item. In this case, Addams Sonia Skirt comes with both body mesh sizes and standard sizes (whereas the one I’m blogging today is just mesh body sizes) and so can be worn by either – but differently. I do hope that helps!

Here’s some close ups and a ‘well lit, no shit’ shot…

And finally, here is my ‘jigging for the rigging’ video – of course, issues with fitting showing up when you move around is the original reason for making these little videos – although I do just enjoy the fun too! In this instance, I had a little trouble with my size 10 Maitreya Lara hands showing through the cuffs of the sweater. Of course, that can’t be alpha’d out, but it was a minor thing imho.

  Second Life Fashion from ReadMeri | Bento Mesh Heads I'm usually happily and contentedly last in the queue for new SL innovations. It took me ages and ages to take the plunge and get a mesh head and I had no sooner done so then talk of Bento filled the air.