As a first, I'll be using the template, "My OC AU Character meme" by DeviantArt user, TXToonGuy1037.
As I mentioned before, when I developed Ozzie Karate as my OC for "My Life as a Teenage Robot", I used my feelings for Jenny as part of my inspiration. But I also took inspiration from Inspector Gadget (live action film counterparts) and Buzz Lightyear.
Like Inspector Gadget, my character says "Go go gadget" when in combat. Though he's half machine in his black belt form, he still can get hurt the same way humans do, just like Inspector Gadget.
Like Buzz Lightyear, I wanted him to have a few mission log entries when he's in his black belt form. He too has a wrist communicator, only, it's built into his arm, which is why Ozzie has to pull up the sleeve of his gi. His wrist communicator can also record audio and video and pull up holograms. I mostly used how Buzz was depicted in "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins" as opposed to the first two "Toy Story" films.
I also took inspiration from Spider-Man too, but I forgot to add him in. I wanted to give my character the same kind of spider-sense ability if something's about to happen.
Credit for this template goes to DeviantArt user TXToonGuy1037
12 year old Kalliope, or Kaylo, moves in with her eccentric scientist father Professor Kukui, who has been searching for tiny humanoid soldiers called Leafmen. They protect the forest that Kukui lives near from wicked creatures called Megabyogens and their malevolent leader King Byogen.
Kaylo as M. K. (Rhythm Heaven, @kayssweetdreams)
Haoyu Chang as Nod (Balan Wonderworld)
Wind Archer Cookie as Ronin (Cookie Run)
King Byogen as Mandrake (Healin Good PreCure)
Batetemonda as Dagda (Healin Good PreCure)
Daruizen, Shindoine, and Guaiwaru as Themselves/Mandrake’s Subordinates (Healin Good PreCure)
Ratchet and Bulkhead as Mub and Grub (Transformers Prime)
Queen Ilenia as Queen Tara (Unicorn Overlord)
Prince Alain as Himself/Queen Tara’s Son (Unicorn Overlord)
Millennial Tree Cookie as Himself/Queen Tara’s Advisor (Cookie Run)
Aristotle as Nim Galuu (Billie Bust Up)
Professor Kukui as Professor Bomba (Pokemon)
Professor Burnet as Herself/M. K.’s Mom (Pokemon)
Waddle Doo as Bufo (Kirby)
Churro Cookie as Finn (Cookie Run)
Rockruff as Ozzie (Pokemon)
Karate Joe as Lance (Rhythm Heaven)
Queen Teatinu as The Marigold Kid (Healin Good PreCure)
Here’s your hint to the next casting (It’s Dreamworks and just got a sequel):
Race: American white person, who can speak Icelandic!
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hyper-fixations: Earthbound, Mother, The Outsiders, The Karate Kid, Eight is Enough, Teachers(1984), Half-Life, Portal, HLVRV, HLVRAI, The Wind Waker, Rumble Fish, Splatoon, Pokemon, Sonic, Ask The Reckoning, Star Fox, Mario(Wario games, mostly), South Park, HellPark, Homestuck, Helluva Boss, Hazbin Hotel, Rivers Edge, Sons of Anarchy, Grease, Willard(2003), MegaMan, ETCETERA!
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B-DAY: June 4th, 2010. (also celebrated on March 1st..) a Gemini! ♊️
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Extra: Greaser, Gamer, Simp/Fanboy, Rockabilly, Artist, AU Maker, OC Maker, Depressed, Jumpy, Overthinker, Anxious, Bi-Polar, Artist(Singer), Hates easily, Scared easily, Therapist friend, An Outsider(NOT A REF PLEAS), Clingy, Jealous, Broken, 60s-80s kid, i make alot of stupud references, EASILY TRIGGERED! Etcetera..
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Triggers: Abuse/parental abuse, bullying/getting jumped, bob sheldon, hate on another character i love, death to characters i like, Socs, buildings on fire(especially churches eveb tho i laugh at them burning besides windrsxville i hate that place. I HAVE REASON AND YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW THW REASON), Persona 4, ME not knowing how to help those in need. ONE BIG VERY IMPORTANT TRIGGER (besides the bullying) is that i start to break down when one of my friends end up hurting themselves and i cant do anything about it.
PLEASE still ask me for help.. i’ll do my best. i dont care about the trigger, i just want you okay🥺
Kid : [He hastily backs up a few steps, Visibly pretty shook] Uh.. Fine, I guess? [A bit spooked from your sudden enthusiasm]
Nugget : [Jumps back and hits his head on a wall.] WH- Nugget does NOT appreciate the Loud Stranger freighting him, Now Shoo. Nugget will be late.
Lily : (Eep!-) O-Oh, you're an asker..? Ah.. well, aside from testing, I'm doing alright, thank you for asking. But, Uhm, I'd appreciate it if you didn't sneak up like on anyone else.. [Slightly Scared]
Cindy : [Screams and smacks you away before you could say anything.] Where did you come from, creep?! Oh.. you're one of those askers, God, I hate this stupid program!! [She Huffs Angrily] I've been just fine, that's all you need, right? Now go away!
Buggs : H- [Reflexes Kick in and You Got Punched, Ouch.]
Monty : Ah- Don't sneak up on people like that..! [Sigh] Well, I'm doing alright, my projects have been developing nicely and testing has been a breeze.
Jerome : [Small Shriek] O-Oh, you're an asker..? Ouh.. [Really Embarrassed] Ahem, I'm doing good.. Thanks I guess.? (Ugh..)
Billy : [Jolts a bit] Um, Hi? You're an asker right? Let's see, uhm.. I'm doing pretty goood, though all these tests are pretty stressful, y'know?
Felix : Oh- [Bit Spooked] My word! Has no one taught you to never startle anyone..?! Oh, an asker.. I suppose I can answer your question. I've been just fine, AppleSoft has been releasing their finest products lately, and I've been very productive at work.
Ted : Aah-!! Oh, you're an asker? How am I doing? Well, I'm a little stressed, that's for sure.. testing has been rough and studying has been grueling.. but, look on the bright side! Summer is right after all of these tests~!
Carla : Eh-?! Jesus, kid! Where did you come from?? Ah, an asker?-- Oh. Well, you asked me how I'm doing, right? Well, tests are going okay, and I've had a few..plans for next year in highschool. (She menacingly chuckled to herself)
Penny : Ah? Hello there! I'm doing just fine! Summer is just around the corner, People are thriving through the weeks, It's getting warmer, what's not to love?
Ozzy : GyAHhAh--!! DON'T- Sneak up on me!! What's do you want from me?? ( You Ask How He's Doing ) Jeez, that's all..? Well, not so good since you almost gave me a heart attack!! And this testing period is stupid.. I just want it to be summer already...(Insert Ozzy Rants)
Madison : [Karate Chops Your Head Before You Could Say Anything] HOoooohmygod! Are you okay?! I'msososososorry-!! [She drags you to the nurse.]
Alice : (Not Very Phased) Eh? Oh, Hello! I'm doing good, testing is very stressful though, especially English.. Math is hard too..
Ron : HwOauhjesus- [Stumbles back] Uh, hi? Sorry, you scared me dude! How am I doing? Ah, well, I'm feeling pretty happy that summer is coming close, me and my dad are going to..[He continues to walk around with you and talk about your summer plans, you both became friends.]
👀 if i can request someone specific then pls do pickles!
OZZZZYYYYYY OZZY HAIII HELLO!!!!!!!!! yes i will doooo pickle :3 I LOVE EVERYONE ASKING FOR PICKLES i hope yall are not annoyed i jusy cannot stfu BEKQHDKWBS THANK YOU OZ ILU 💚
his blood ocean outfit. HES SO FUCKING DUMB. i have this idea that like ... OKAY for those that havent seen the show/dont remember this episode/etc. they basically get this movie deal and the movie is just fuckin awful BDKWJF
like just really stupid and they all kinda have different things going on like toki is dressed like a cowboy at one point and skwisgaar ??? GOES TO SPACE??? like its so fuckin stupid but like...... pickles is dressed like this for the movie and i have the idea that it was him that suggested having karate in the film somehow bc theres an interview where he talks about knowing "the moves from karate kid" so like .... HE LIKES KARATE/KARATE MOVIES .... ITS SO CUTE.
I am unapologetic in my uncool taste in music 😆 I like what I like and I'm always at least three years behind everyone else when it comes to finding new music 🤷 Thank you to @wardingoffevilardingoffevil and @mrsbsmooth for the tag!
This is my top 15 songs of the moment. It changes frequently. Especially because I make playlists for all my stories and listen to songs over and over while I write. Anyway, let's do this!
Osmosis Jones (2011) is Scream WITH TEENAGE BLOOD CELLS WHO ARE ALSO SPIES/DETECTIVES!
Alternatively, it is The Black Cauldron IN MODERN TIMES!
Or Velma (2023) WITH A PG-13 RATING!
It is also described as Buffy The Vampire Slayer AS A WHITE BLOOD CELL!
Ozzy & Drix (2012) is Daria SET INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY!
Alternatively, it is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles AS BLOOD CELLS IN COLLEGE!
Or Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja WITH SPIES!
It can also be described as Detentionaire IN COLLEGE!
Middle School: The Worst Days Of My Life is John Hughes movies SET IN THE EARLY 2000S!
Middle School: Biology Immune is Men In Black and Osmosis Jones WITH MOSTLY WHITE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS!
Alternatively, it is Spy Kids WITH TWO OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS BEING TEENAGED DETECTIVES, THE MAIN HUMAN CAST BEING A BUNCH OF 14-YEAR-OLDS, AND A MOSTLY RAP/R&B SOUNDTRACK!
Middle School: Wild Overboard is Freaky Friday SET IN A ISLAND!
Osmosis Jones: Out of the Body Experience is Romeo Must Die WITH MILES HEIZER AND MILEY CYRUS!
Osmosis Jones vs. The Future is Back to The Future WITH COPS AND A SWEET SIXTEEN!
Alternatively, it is Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure IN COLLEGE!
Ozzy and Drix episodes:
Home With Hector is Grease IN MODERN TIMES!
Reflex is The Karate Kid WITH BASKETBALL!
A Lousy Haircut is The Devil Wears Prada WITH HAIR AND BEAUTY ISSUES!
Street Up is You Got Served WITH A VICTORIAN BLOOD MOON BALL!
Gas of Doom is Gossip Girl WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET TOPICS!
Growth is Mean Girls WITH A MAYORAL ELECTION and Y2K POP CULTURE REFERENCES!
Sugar Shock is Hop BUT FOCUSED ENTIRELY ON CANDY!
The Dream Factory is Nightmare On Elm Street SET ON HALLOWEEN!
Puberty Alert is O'Grady ABOUT PUBERTY!
Tricky Ricardo is Encanto WITH A QUINCE!
A Growing Cell is Good Burger ABOUT STAYING HEALTHY!
A Cold Day in Hector is A Christmas Carol WITH HECTOR!
Double Dose is Freaky Friday (2003) WITH AN ANGSTY-ER CLONE! AND WITH AN ALL-ROCK SOUNDTRACK
Journey to the Center of the Tooth is License to Drive ABOUT TEETH!
Ozzy Osbourne - "War Pigs" WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2022 Opening - Next to Kung-Fu and Karate I love a good match of wrestling. Thank you, OZZY, for making this happen.
I dreamt that I was in some big school auditorium that was almost as big as a circus tent (just without the clowns, animals, and other performers). I remember it being a nightly routine kind of thing where I would dress up in a wing suit, jump off the edge, and fly over the audience (or something like that). Long story short, I was able to fly. I even talked to someone about putting a cannon on the roof of the building to launch me into the sky and see how far I can fly.
In another room, I recall seeing the flight training scene from "Chicken Run", followed by this scene from "Toy Story" where Woody uses R.C. to rescue Buzz from Scud. I went to this bathroom that was connected to the other room, which allowed me to hear what was on the other side, until I found another door in the back of the bathroom that took me into these preschool-like rooms that also had bathrooms in them. Thankfully, I snuck by without getting spotted.
Before those two instances, I think I was shopping and I thought I saw Jenny and my OC, but I don't exactly remember.
Sage with an Gn!Mc who has superhuman strength but not the muscles or build to show for it. Sage and this pretty small petite or slender mc telling him that they're pretty strong, and to prove it lifts him up bridal style like he weighs nothing lmao maybe bounces him around a bit too
Someone starts insulting Sage and you just see a giant table fly across the room and hit the person square in the face. You look back to see Mc who is just like "I didn't like the way they were talking to you"
I HOPE IM MAKING SENSE I HAVE JUST AWOKEN AND IT IS 7AM ALSO ALL UR HCS ARE BANGERS OZZY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
Girl don't you have a key-
No but I absolutely love this idea because imagine you're like 5'3 and smol but you can casually Lift A Fucking Tree Out Of The Ground
GN!Reader
I'm gonna say,, that,, the first one to figure it out is actually Tulsi. You're hanging out with her in the forge and she's busy with something and she asks you to hand her an anvil and then she's like 'oh wait no you're so smol' so she turns to get it and then sees you just lifting it with one hand and gently setting it down and she's like 0//_//0
The first time Sage sees it in action is on one of your bounty hunts! The crook you're chasing managed to slip into a cave and used magic to roll a boulder to block the entrance and Sage is Pissed but can't do anything and then you just,, shove it to the side like nothing and go get your bounty
Sage thinks that maybe you used magic, or the boulder was still enchanted or whatever. So when you say that you're Just That Strong,, he loves you and doesn't want to underestimate you but also you're tiny so- oh look at that you're scooping him up in your arms and giving him a little bouncy-bounce
Big Stronk Sellsword getting carried like a baby??? His tail goes whipping around as he lets out this startled little laugh and let's be very blatant He Is So Fuckin Flustered
Someone,, someone is picking on him,,, maybe insulting him or maybe trying to start a fight or maybe grabbing at him or,,, WHACK! goes the table directly into their face. Knocks them out cold because it's so heavy. Knocks some teeth out too. Sage whips over to look at you and you're skipping over and hugging his arm and mushing your cheek against him and pouting and asking if he's okay and he's just O\\\u\\\O yup uh-huh he's good thanks babe
He passes out drunk and you just pick him up and carry him back to Fathom. You pass by Anisa and Felix and they're just like 'oH OKay then carry on seems like you got it handled'
When Sage wants to mess with you he lays down on top of you and pins you to the bed but you just casually (gently) shove him off and onto the bed beside you and he's all flushed
Sage gets stuck in a tree and you just pick him up and carry him back down
You get into a fight and Sage is about to come rescue you when you just yeet your opponent into the side of a building hard enough to make the wall crumble and Sage is like 'nevermind then you got it'
Training with him?? Pinning him????? He tries to get up and you're just holding him down?????????? Ohohohohoho he has to Roll Onto His Stomach And Hide His Face For A Couple Of Minutes
COBRA KAI BOYS WITH A GLEE CLUB/MUSICAL THEATER GIRLFRIEND
summary 📣: cobra kai boys dating a musical theater girlfriend (or boyfriend i don’t think there are any female pronouns, i’m sorry if there are)
warnings 🚫: none i think
slater’s note 🗯: i’m sorry for being so absent lately, also i’ve set most of my fics their jr. year bc i have no idea what grade they are in in high school 🤷♀️
robby keene:
➪ low-key loves the shit out of you for being a music dork
➪ you sing/hum a lot of your songs a lot of the time when you’re studying with him or just hanging out randomly
➪ at first he low key found it annoying and would tell you to stop for awhile while you guys were studying but as it continues on he doesn’t care
➪ the tune gets stuck in his head and he will end up humming along
➪ at your shows he’ll sing along there too because he basically has it memorized unintentionally
➪ will watch your rehearsals unintentionally
➪ like he’ll come in to pick you up and he’s a little early so he just watches from the audience seats on his phone before he hears you sing and he just becomes enchanted (lmao)
➪ praises you all the time
➪ will feel like your musical director is being harsh and want to step in and want them to lay off but you have to tell him it’s fine
➪ admires you for the amount of pressure you undergo even though he’s literally a karate student and literally fights people in front of other people in competitions
➪ he’ll take you out to eat after your performances
➪ like you guys will go to a diner or something and share a basket of fries
➪ it’s all cute
miguel diaz:
➪ man would low key wanted to join musical theater his freshman year
➪ but now that he has a girlfriend that’s in musical theater, he’s pretty fulfilled
➪ he’s SO PROUD
➪ like overhyped you type of proud and tells anyone and everyone that you’re in theater
➪ he’ll help your glee club hang up poster and flyers about your show around the halls and even rope eli into helping him
➪ miguel is like a manger for the theater just so he can spend time with you
➪ he’ll bring his mom and grandma to your shows
➪ but the best thing is he’ll also rope johnny into one of them, like saying you wanna go to a concert and he gets there and he’s all like, “this isn’t ozzy osborne” or whatever
➪ he’ll help you memorize songs and moves (idk anything about musical theater so pardon me on this)
➪ he’s genuinely there for you on this and won’t give up if you guys mess up steps/lyrics and will be like “let’s try that one more time, you got this”
➪ like i can imagine you guys holding hands, moving side to side as you sing along to a recording of the background music
➪ literally the sweetest and will take you out to dinner after one of your performances
eli moskowitz:
➪ okay so i feel like eli would low key keep you a secret
➪ he would have known you before he was hawk and you guys were decent friends and you’d be one of the only people that brought a smile to his face at that time
➪ you guys would start dating like at the edge of his transformation to hawk
➪ and no one really knew about it and y’all didn’t really find the need to tell anyone since a high percentage of your musical theater group are just a bunch of people who hate people like hawk (aka “bullies”)
➪ so you didn’t find a point in telling them
➪ but anyways miguel would be one of the first people to find out and he would just be *stunned*
➪ like he hangs out with you guys all the time and he never had a clue till he saw eli give you kiss after you dropped him off at practice
➪ “you’re dating y/n?!”
➪ his eyes would widen and he’d be like “keep it down” and it’s not like he’s embarrassed about you, you’re just not the type of person he wants to expose around his friend group
➪ anyways the kids completely in love with you aside from the fact that he unintentionally keeps you a secret
➪ he comes to any of your productions and will be standing in the crowd when it’s over, clapping like crazy
➪ he’ll buy you like flowers and shit
➪ pick you up after your after school practices in
➪ i know this is the bare minimum but he actually genuinely cares (even though he likes to act like he doesn’t) and will ask you questions like how practice was and what you’re working on and what you are doing at the moment, it’s sweet
Wicklow has often been referred to as the garden of Ireland. The founder of St. Bartleby’s had assumed that the sprawling landscapes and fresh air would do the young gentlemen of Ireland’s high society some good — and he wasn’t wholly wrong. There was certainly a great deal less trouble to get into in the middle of a field than there was in the more populated towns.
However, those who are determined to find trouble will inevitably make do, and such is the case on this night, with the overcast spring sky providing ample opportunity to lurk if one so desires. And, let it be said, Jack Lovett was nothing if not a professional troublemaker, in the unfortunate way that sheltered rich teenagers are.
It is true that Wicklow is the garden of Ireland, but even so, there is a smattering of abandoned lots and crumbling alleys. Tonight, Jack had picked out one of the abandoned car parks that he’d evaluated to be the best of the lots, and he currently had parked himself on top of a stack of old wooden crates. His adventuring partner for the night, a first-year university student he’d met at a rather bad concert back in the autumn, was none too happy with their predicament.
However, they’d already argued about the risk factor of skulking about in empty lots on the way over, and both thought it best to save some energy for arguing about the activity later into the night.
There isn’t much to do in Wicklow if you’re a private school student.
***
Jack flicked his lighter on and off, admiring the way it spat out sparks.
“You’re going to break that,” his companion sighed, their mouth pulled into a disapproving, thin line.
Rolling his eyes, Jack made a show of flicking the lighter shut before shoving it in his blazer’s pocket.
Ozzy smiled, leaning their weight against the almost-slick bricks of the old building. “Thanks.”
Scoffing, Jack drummed his fingers against the box on which he was sitting, the noise making a slight echo. After a moment, he looked back at Ozzy. They raised an eyebrow, and he took that as an invitation.
“What do you want to do?”
“What do I want to do?” they snorted. “You’re the one who wanted to poke around weird holes in the wall.”
“It’s not like there would’ve been anything to do on campus,” he said, frowning defensively.
“So you should’ve come up to Dublin instead of making me take a taxi down here.”
“Yeah, true, Ozzy,” Jack admitted. “Ozzy — what’s your name from, anyway?” he asked, swinging his legs lazily from his perch.
Ozzy shrugged. “Poem.”
“What?” he furrowed his brow. “I thought the name was from that rocker bloke.”
“Why’d you even ask, then?”
“Dunno. Although I do admit it seemed like a weird choice and all, considering you don’t even listen to heavy metal. ”
“Well, there you go. That’s a bit stupid.”
“Eh, can’t win ‘em all.”
“Fair,” Ozzy exhaled, rolling their shoulders as they gazed out towards the empty car park. “The story I have isn’t that interesting, to be honest.”
Jack shot them a look. “We’re lurking in an abandoned lot so that I can smoke without one of the head boys giving me grief about cigs. Please, regale me with your poem.”
“Prick.”
“Yeah, so?”
“Fine. It’s basically about the narrator meeting a traveler from a faraway land, and they talk about there being this huge statue of the king Ozymandias out in the desert. The king had it engraved to say things such as that he was ‘the king of kings’ and that his enemies should fear even the sight of one of his monuments. All real braggadocio-type shit. But here’s the thing — the statue is the only thing that remains in that desert since his kingdom is now in ruins. It’s about arrogance and hubris. I can text it to you.”
“Huh,” Jack took a puff from what remained of his cigarette. At this point, the thing was almost only the orange filtration zone. Not that that gave him pause, though. “Cool.”
“I liked the themes,” they shrugged. “Nothing lasts forever, even the powerful die eventually, be careful with where you invest in real estate. Basic stuff.”
“Well, I’m gonna read it,” Jack declared, waving his hand. “So I don’t want any more spoilers.” Tiny trails of smoke formed as he gestured, with the mist making the lit end of the cigarette splutter and hiss intermittently.
“It is cool. Plus, my name makes whoever is talking to me sound like they’re buzzing.”
“The consonants are wicked, yeah,” Jack agreed, grinning. Ozzy grinned back.
Suddenly, Jack froze up. “Shit,” He hissed, flicking his cigarette to the ground and hurriedly grinding it into the wet dirt. Jack hopped off the empty boxes, fanning the air unsuccessfully in an attempt to disperse the smell of smoke.
“Do you have any Axe in your work bag?” he asked, cursing.
“It’s a research program. I’m not really doing any heavy physical labor,” Ozzy snorted. “I don’t bring stuff like Axe to work. That’d be weird.”
“Whatever,” Jack grimaced, and Ozzy craned their neck to see what he was looking at.
Across the gloom of the dusky car park, Ozzy could just about see the silhouette of a sleek, black Bentley. One of the older models, probably. They looked at Jack quizzically, taking a step back.
“Jack,” they began slowly. “There’s a car.”
“Yeah,” he said dismissively, still waving at the air. “Got any mints, at least?” he tried, hopeful.
“Dude, there’s a fecking car parked over there,” Ozzy stressed, eyes darting back to Jack. “No one ever comes out here. I think we should leg it. Now.”
“’S probably why he drove out here, the creep,” Jack muttered under his breath, moving to riffle through Ozzy’s bag anyway. They squawked, moving to kick his hand away from the bag, but he batted their boot away.
“Gross. Orange tic tacs?” he looked up, making a face.
Ozzy shoved their hands into their pockets. “They were out of the tea-flavored ones.”
Jack rolled his eyes as he crunched on the mints. “You should take one, too.”
“ I wasn’t smoking.”
“So? It’ll look weird if only one of us has mints. Take some!”
“What? No, it won’t. You’re mental — look, do you recognize that car?”
“Unfortunately. My classmate’s bodyguard has one just like it.”
Jack huffed. “Shut up. They’re practically inseparable. And my classmate is always blowing off school to do God knows what, so it adds up that he’d try to invade our car park behind the abandoned Foot Locker.”
“The Foot Locker lot isn’t really ours, though. It’s not really anybody’s. That’s a bit of the point of it being our haunt.”
“Yeah, technically — we still got here first, though,” Jack sent a glare off into the gloom. “If Butler comes over here and tells me to knock off smoking again, I’m fighting him.”
"His bodyguard's name is Butler — never mind. Please don’t get into a fight with someone whose job is being able to fight.”
“Fight professionally, maybe. I never learned karate or that MMA type stuff. I learned to fight on the streets. We’ve the advantage here.”
“There… is nothing going on between your ears. Just empty air, blowing around your thick skull,” Ozzy decided, finally cautiously taking a step closer to look at the car.
“Piss off.”
“You piss off,” they muttered back, poking their head around the rusting dumpster.
That was apparently a mistake, as they found themselves making eye contact with the gigantic man stepping out of the driver’s seat of the Bentley. He was incredibly still, like the calm ocean — barely tamed strength that had been forced into a moment of inertia.
Slowly, they felt themself raise up a hand in a small wave.
“Why are you interacting with them?” they heard Jack splutter from behind them.
“They already saw us,” Ozzy said, voice low.
The passenger door to the car swung up and out stepped another figure. He was pale enough that he seemed to glow a bit under the busted streetlight, and he was dressed in a smart, black suit. He must be the classmate, then, Ozzy decided, gaze flickering between the two. He didn’t seem like any secondary schooler they’d ever seen — but money was wont to have a funny effect on teenagers who’d never known its absence. For Jack, it’d convinced him that the world was a lot smaller and a great deal more simple than it truly was. For this other fellow, Ozzy frowned, it had seemed to do the opposite. He had the gait and demeanor of someone who knew the world was all too willing to knock him down, and he had thus decided to steel himself against any future threats preemptively.
Jack had been exaggerating their rivalry. Ozzy was sure of that.
If his classmate had seen Jack as anything more aggravating than a nuisance, it was more than likely that one day, Jack would have simply stopped showing up at the lot to hang out. In fact, it was more than likely that Ozzy would have stopped seeing Jack altogether.
Feeling a presence at their side, Ozzy turned to face Jack, who was lingering nearby. He grimaced, slinging their bag over his shoulder.
“If they've already seen us, then sprinting off will look suspicious,” he explained, hoisting the bag higher. Ozzy shot him a withering look.
“I thought you wanted to fight his bodyguard, Jack. Are you telling me you’re afraid that what, we’ll get chased?”
“Uh, yes, actually?” Jack said slowly, as though explaining something to an infant. “Neither of them understand the concept of fun.”
Their petty squabbling petered out as the two people from the car made their way over.
“Artemis,” Jack said, pursing his lips at the dark-haired young man.
Ozzy made a note of that, furrowing their brow. Artemis. Interesting.
“Hello, Jack. I must say, it’s a bit of surprise to see you out here,” Artemis remarked, tone light. Turning to face Ozzy, he appraised them.
“I’m Ozzy,” they offered.
“I don’t believe I’ve met your acquaintance before, Ozzy,” Artemis quirked his head, extending a hand in greeting.
“You’ve definitely never met,” Jack confirmed, tone somewhat brusque. “They’re a fresher at Trinity.”
Shaking Artemis’ hand, Ozzy harrumphed. “I can introduce myself, thanks. But no, we wouldn’t have met before, I don’t think.”
“Trinity?” Artemis smiled, nodding approvingly. “I gave a lecture on Balkan politics there.”
“Really? Maybe one of my friends saw it. When was it?”
Artemis waved a hand. “I was thirteen. It was some time ago.”
“Oh,” Ozzy blinked. “Good for you.”
“Quite. I must say that you’ve piqued my interest with Trinity. If I might ask: what is your focus on?”
“Classics,” Jack interjected before Ozzy could respond, puffing up slightly with pride at the mention of his friend’s work. “They’re beyond smart. Actually, you should tell Artemis about some of your papers, Ozzy. Lethal stuff.”
“Maybe some other time,” Butler announced, his voice firm, and he looked at his employer pointedly. Artemis must have picked up on whatever he was implying, as the pale young man nodded apologetically.
“I’m afraid it is time for us to part ways with you two,” Artemis explained.
Jack crossed his arms.
Ozzy put a firm hand on his shoulder before he could say something. He scowled at the strange duo in front of them but turning to look at Ozzy, his face softened.
“Enjoy your stupid car park,” Jack muttered, allowing Ozzy to maneuver them both back towards the path that led to the main foot road. He was no doubt thinking he’d got the last word in, Ozzy sighed mentally.
“Don’t think I didn’t see you smoking when we pulled into the lot, Jack Lovett,” Ozzy heard Butler call after the two of them from out in the gloom. They winced, continuing to push Jack forward.
“He’s threatened to tell my mum a few times, “ Jack remarked miserably, no doubt disappointed at his grand exit being ruined. “He knows her from some damn book club group, apparently.”
Ozzy laughed, and he gave them a hurt look.
“I’m living like a hunted man, you know! It’s not funny, Ozzy,” he sulked, and they shook their head fondly.
“You really ought to quit, Jack,” they sighed, inhaling the cool night air. It smelled vaguely of roses, with the pungent smell of tobacco beginning to fade as they walked farther and farther from the lot. It was always worth coming down from Central Dublin to visit Jack in Wicklow, they shot him a glance. Despite how much Jack might complain that St. Bartleby’s was located in the middle of absolute nowhere, Ozzy knew that deep down, he liked being away from the city. Not that Dublin was in any way as busy as some of the cities they’d seen back in London, Ozzy conceded. But even Dublin was too much for someone like Jack. He needed growing room, even at the precipice of adulthood.
“Hm. I might,” Jack stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“Jack .”
“No, I really think I might! It’s getting to the point where my mum would realize when I come home for the holidays, and the last thing I want is to get chewed out for using ‘her money to buy cigs when I should be learning',” he pitched his voice into a breathy falsetto at the end.
“Mum found a few I’d stuffed in my bag when I came home for Christmas. You should’ve seen her — she was huffing and red in the face for about an hour. I really got the business for that.”
“Good. Your dumbass should have realized that bringing cigs home was a monumentally stupid idea.”
“You’re mean tonight, you know that, Ozzy?” Jack grinned widely, shaking his head and knocking his shoulder into theirs.
“Whatever,” Ozzy rolled their eyes. Slowing slightly in their stride, they glanced backward, eyes narrowing to try to make out the silhouettes of Artemis and Butler.
“It… is a bit weird, you know,” they began, voice faltering. “That those two were at the car park.”
Jack snorted. “Weird is on-brand for Artemis. Besides, he wasn’t there for the car park, probably.”
“What?”
“You’d never guess it if you’d just met him, but he’s bonkers for all that like….,” Jack made a vague gesture with his hands. “Ancient aliens type shite. At least, he used to be when we were roommates. He’s gotten more normal since he was 10, but you never know, y’know?”
Ozzy stared at him, stopping in their tracks. “So that’s… a haunted car park, then?”
“Good idea for a band name — ‘haunted car park’,” Jack extended his arm, pantomiming putting it up across a poster. “But no, more like haunted hillfort.”
“There are fairy mounds in the parking lot?”
“Sometimes I forget you’re painfully British. Yeah, there are a bunch all over Wicklow. There’s one in the field behind the car park, but it’s so small you’d never see it on a touristy type guide.”
“Huh,” Ozzy said thoughtfully, looking out at the dimly lit concrete island.
“Huh?”
“Just ‘huh’,” Ozzy confirmed, turning back to continue walking.