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hyacintheros · 3 months

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As The World Caves In

|| (Remus Lupin x Fem!Reader)

Main Masterlist

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: Angst, a little swearing.

P.S: I woke up and craved angst, but is it angsty enough? Let me know!

“Dovey, have you seen the cardigan I bought last month? I’m sure I put it in the wardrobe..” Remus scratches his head, trying to recount his last use of the cardigan.

He ruffles through the wardrobe once more, grabbing at anything that looks remotely similar to the olive yarn. Abandoning his search within the wardrobe, he sets his sights on the dresser, thinking someone may have folded it away.

“I put it in the drawing room yesterday, thought you might’ve gotten cold,” his girlfriend says from the living room, waiting for him to finish up, checking the watch on her wrist. “Darling, we have to hurry! Dumbledore said this meeting’s important,” calling out to Remus, the arms tick closer to a quarter past 8:00 pm.

Remus grabs his cardigan from the room finally, shrugging it on and meeting her in the living room. “D’you have a tissue? Nose is acting up..” She hands him a tissue from her purse, linking their arms together. “Floo or apparition?” He asks, not sure if she’s up for apparating today. She urges to use the floo, grabbing the green powder.

Arriving at 12 Grimmauld Place, they’re greeted by Lily and James on the stairs sharing a goblet of pumpkin juice. They’re followed by Peter, coming down the fireplace behind them, Sirius popping out from the kitchen. “We’re getting the band back together!” Sirius jokes about, rarely ever having the gang together due to the circumstances.

“Will everyone please make their way to the dining room? There are things needing to be discussed.” Dumbledore calls out to them, feeling as if they were all back in Hogwarts again.

As they make their way, the girl falls behind, a portrait of Regulus Black being displayed in the hall. She thinks back to her best friend, a guilty ache in her chest reverberates around.

“Come on lovey, they’re waiting,” Remus urges her to continue walking, his eyes gazing at the portrait, understanding the grief she felt, pitying the poor boy for his situation. The dining room is filled with a thick, sombre air, no one knowing exactly what would come of this meeting.

Clearing his throat, Albus starts, “It has come to my attention, through a trusted source, that we are in knowledge of a Death Eater hideout. Multiple, in fact. We must act fast, locations and words always changing. Please arrange yourselves into pairs, each pair will be given a location to ambush.”

Picking partners has always been easy for the group, having done this since potions in first year, the Lupin couple pairs up, while James and Lily take each other, leaving Sirius and Peter together. Albus comes around, giving them a piece of parchment with an address and an estimated number of people within the area.

Looking at theirs, the couple are tasked with going off to the Cambridge countryside, followed by an estimation of 3 of the Dark Lord’s followers within the area.

Thanking Dumbledore, they walk back to the living room preparing for their departure. “I’m just heading up to grab something, give me a moment.” She pecks Remus’ lips and goes up the stairs, her feet dragging her to Regulus’ room. She knocks on the door, knowing there will be no response, yet still doing so in respect for her friend.

Entering the room, she looks at the way he left it, knowing he left something in here for her. Before leaving, he left her a letter, meant for her eyes only. It had stated that she was to keep the necklace he had hidden in his childhood room, destroying it when he gave a signal she would know to look for.

She scours the room, lifting the books and looking behind the shelves, shimmying through the wardrobe, pawing under the bed. She finds the necklace in his potions set that had been tucked away in the dresser.

She hurries back downstairs, hiding the necklace under her shirt. “The brooms are ready, we should head there now if we want to arrive before midnight, love.” Remus grasps her hand, exchanging their goodbyes with their friends and telling each other to stay safe, not knowing the next time they’ll see each other next.

They mount onto their respective brooms, slowly picking up their pace, flying gently through the night sky. The couple flies side by side, pointing out small things they pass by. “That star looks like you, Rem!” She says, smiling at him. “How could a star look like me??” He asks, confused by her statement. “It just does, don't question it, love,” her eyes look back up to the stars in amazement, never getting enough no matter how many times she’s done this before.

The pair arrive at a cottage 2 hours later, keeping their heads low and their ears open, hiding within the bushes. Lights are on in the small cottage, low chatter emitting from the window. Remus looks at the girl, signalling her to approach with him.

Getting to the back of the home, they enter quietly through a bedroom window, manoeuvring themselves throughout the house. Finally, they bust into the hallway leading to the living room, wands out and at the ready.

“Look who's come to play! Treasure? What are you doing here? You're wasting yourself away with the Order..?” Barty Crouch Jr, her dear friend whom she hasn't seen since graduation stands in front of her, putting down his wand at the sight of her. Evan Rosier, who had been a part of their Slytherin group is positioned next to him, also lowering his own wand.

“Junior.. Evan? What are you two doing here? Don't tell me you're with him…” The girl slowly walks over to them, Remus grabbing her arm to stop her. “Darling, don't go near them!” She rips her arm from him, her chest heavy with confusion at why she feels this way.

“Where's Reggie? Are you both alright, do they treat you well?” She hugs the two boys, terrified at the predicament they were placed in. One boy being forced into this by his family name, the other joining to spite his father.

“We're okay.. Regulus is okay, should be outside scanning the perimeter, we're just stationed here to keep an eye out. You joined the Order- still with the Lupin boy I see,” Evan speaks up, leaning his head to look at Remus briefly.

“Remus, what are we to do? We can't hurt them..” The girl turns back to her boyfriend, wanting his opinion on the matter, knowing how much she values her friends. Remus sighs, thinking about how terribly complicated things just got. He pinches the bridge of his nose, then inhaling greatly.

“We can’t take them back with us, their mark will haunt them, love. Unless they decide they really want to change, we can't do anything for them.” He tells his girlfriend, trying to work this situation in his head for the best possible outcome.

“I will not leave them, not in his hands. There must be something we can do Rem..” She looks at the two boys. “Do you two truly wish to stay and be a part of the Dark Lord’s mission..? Tell me it isn't true.”

Barty looks at her with guilt in his eyes, “We can't leave, treasure, he'll always find us… we'll be okay, isn't that right Rosie?” Evan assures the girl, not wanting to make her upset.

She grabs onto Evan’s shoulder's, begging him to allow her to take them to a safe house, the thought of her closest friends being a part of something so horrid making her heart squeeze.

Remus looks at his girlfriend, his own heart pouring out for her, still doing his best to think of a way out of this for the boys. At that moment, a green cloud of smoke booms outside, the four of them going out of the cottage in a haste, trying to figure out the source.

A dark mark hangs in the air, meaning only one thing. The appearance of the Dark Lord. In a haste, the girl hands off the necklace to Remus, not giving much time to explain why she has it. She pulls him in for a kiss, one deeper than the couple has ever shared before.

“There isn't much time, Remus. Please understand that whatever I've done, I've done for you, for your own safety. I love you, solely and dearly.. when you look up into the sky, please be reminded of how bright you shine, of how dear you are to those around you. Forgive me for what I have to do. There are letters in my dresser, please deliver them.. I will keep you in my heart, forever and always.”

She doesn't give him any time to respond, kissing him once more and holding him in her arms for the last time. Regulus, hearing the commotion, apperates closer, now seeing the guests they have. There is no time for reunions, instead having to take their sides in the war.

“My my… How cute, a small little gathering of sorts! So sorry to be a party crasher, but it seems that someone isn't supposed to be here..” Voldemort turns to Remus, eyes full of darkness.

“Come my dear, it's time to go.” The Dark Lord holds his hand out for the girl to take. She walks up, looking back to Remus with regretful eyes, tears spilling from them. Barty, Evan, and Regulus follow behind them, needing to leave with their Lord.

Remus calls out, desperate and terrified. Why would his darling girl, his angel, walk away willingly with the Dark Lord? His heart physically clenches, cheeks covered in shed tears, hands trembling and he falls on his knees, the necklace she gave him still in his hands.

The group had apperated away long ago, while Remus still sobs on the grass of the Cambridge countryside, shedding away his cardigan due to the pure panic and heat he felt in his body, trying to relieve some part of him. He racks his mind for anything that had happened within the past few months that could have been deemed suspicious, not being able to find anything.

He stays there for hours, running out of tears at some point, staring at the place he last saw her before they apperated. It's almost dawn now, the sun rising and the wind blowing. He can't bear being here, needing to find his way back.

Grabbing the brooms the two had arrived on, be apperates back to 12 Grimmauld Place, knowing The location like the back of his hand for all the wrong reasons. He collapses onto the couches in the living room, sobbing once more.

“Remus! Remus, what happened? Where is she?” Sirius says, referring to Remus’ girlfriend, noticing she didn't come back with him. Remus sobs even harder into Sirius’ chest, hugging him like a vice.

Remus was the last to come back from the mission, everyone else had finished things hours ago, praying to Merlin for the safety of the Lupin couple. Yet seeing only Remus come back terrified them.

He cries and sobs into Sirius’ chest for a few more minutes, finally calming down enough to say, “She went with them.. with Regulus, Barty, and Evan.. Voldemort took them away.. She walked into his arms!”

Anger overtakes him, how could his girlfriend betray them in such a way, claiming to love him, then walking away with the Dark Lord and his followers. Lily hugs Remus, still not entirely sure what to make out of this.

“Before leaving, she gave me this.. What the fuck do I do with this!?” He cries out, confused, heartbroken, and fuming. Dumbledore takes the necklace to inspect.

“It seems to be a horcrux.. Terribly dark magic. Did she say anything else, Remus?” Dumbledore asks, needing to know the lore behind said necklace. Remus shakes his head, trying to make sense of everything. James supports his friend, holding him as he processes.

“She left letters in her dresser.. I need to go and retrieve them-” Remus is cut off by Sirius, “I will grab them, dresser you said?" The boy heads to the floo, calling out to the Lupin cottage.

Remus, still distraught by the whole situation, feels the need to throw up, cry until he passes out, and curl into a ball and sleep it all away, praying this is some fucked up nightmare.

Sirius is back, five letters in hand, addressed to Remus, James, Peter, Lily, and himself. He distributes it to their respective owners, terrified to read it.

Remus practically rips his letter open, dying for some form of comfort and explanation. It reads:

“To My Darling Remus,

What I have done has hurt you, and I know that no matter what I say, it will never satisfy your heart, so I will explain everything the best I can.

Regulus had always confided in me at school, and I couldn't let the poor boy be alone in his situation. We couldn't help him the same way we did with Sirius, so I made the decision to join in hopes to protect Regulus.

The Dark Lord had figured out my relationship with the Order, demanding I make a sacrifice, or else he'd kill you. I couldn't allow that to happen, you deserve to live a life full of happiness, even if that isn't what you believe.

If everything has gone right, I have given you a necklace. Bring it to Dumbledore, Regulus has explained to me that it's a horcrux, holding a part of the Dark Lord’s soul in it. When destroyed, it will weaken him. Tell Albus that the sword must be pulled.

I need you to understand that what we had was real, and I will forever cherish you. Your laugh, your smile, your books, your cardigans, your moon. I love you, Remus. I love you like the sun loves the moon. I love you like a moth to a flame. Please live your life to the fullest, and don't have any regrets.

Forever, your love.”

Remus shakes, his whole body quivering, her tears drenching his cardigan and his sniffles taking over the room. After gripping his tears back, trying to lock them away behind his eyes, he says to Dumbledore, “The sword must be pulled.”

#marauders #marauders x reader #james potterr #sirius black #remus lupin x reader #peter pettigrew #remus lupin #barty crouch jr #evan rosier #rosekiller #lily evans

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man-down-in-hatchet-town · 10 months

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VHSCC OH MY GOD

(no spoilers)

Starkid nation, you aren't ready.

So let's start with the obvious. Look, I spent thirteen years growing up with Starkid. That initial Michigan gang are deeply special to me and I will always miss Dylan, Brian R., and Corey in any show they aren't in. And this one's no different. But just as Janaya came in and took over Belle from Britney so flawlessly, Curt, Brian, and AJ were all WONDERFUL in their new roles. The gentle-but-high-energy, truly decent, romantic himbo charm Curt brought to our Springsteen boy Jim (you all are going to LOVE Jim, I promise) perfectly offset the defiant, sneering anger of Young Scrooge in "That Scrooge." Brian's reactions (particularly to the "rather take my own life" line) were so funny and some of my favorite parts of the show. And AJ... this is now my favorite thing AJ has ever done. And that's saying something. The smaller casting shake-up moments (Joey as Fezziwig, other little line re-distributions) were so fun as well!

The new act 1 is PERFECTION. I was actually surprised by how absolutely hysterical it was? Like, I won't tell you what was up with that clip on Instagram of Brian, Lauren, and Joey doing a freak-out dance, but I can tell you that their whole Act 1 deal threatened to steal the show every. Single. Time. I already mentioned Curt as Jim, but you will also love Della, who is so funny and real and truly carries us through the start of the show (Janaya is a STAR and she Curt have brilliant chemistry). Ali did a terrific job of balancing the sadness and hope that are both at the center of the devastating little Match Girl. And Jamie's Grandma... well, honestly I have no idea how to talk about Jamie's song without giving stuff away.

But the real star of the show in Act 1, as he should be, was our man Clark. I can't emphasize enough how much he nailed the writing of this whole new act. I mentioned that the new stuff is hilarious, but it's also deeply heartfelt, and also sad exactly when it needs to be. Like, the transition after Jamie's song? I can't really talk about it yet, but what that moment does with emotion is unreal. And, as expected, every song is a banger! My one complaint about this show, and it IS a big one, is that there is no cast recording of the Act 1 songs. I want to listen to them all the time.

But the good news is, I CAN listen to Christmas Carol as much as I want! The classic that started it all is back, with so many people reprising the hell out of their truly iconic roles (God I love the VHS Cratchits), and better than ever. I traditionally hate change, and I love the version of VHSCC Live! we already have so much, but I think I somehow loved this version even more? The staging is alive and clever and there are some additions and changes, particularly in "Final Ghost"/"Christmas Day," that frankly blew my mind and somehow managed to elevate the material even further. I can't wait for the digital ticket to come out so that I can talk about them. To put it simply, James Tolbert mastered his Starkid directorial debut like you won't believe. I'm so proud of him and grateful for the larger role he's taken in Starkid since they moved base to LA.

Also, the Ghost of Christmas Past is extra unhinged this year? Jaime pulled out all of the impish stops and it was the BEST.

Basically, everyone more than delivered. I haven't talked about Meredith yet but she rocked it in the band and continued to validate the hell out of my opinion that "3 Spirits" is the dark horse best song in the show.

And a special shout-out to June Saito for continuing to be a costuming GENIUS. I always love her work and this production is no exception. I honestly wanted to give the return of the Bob Cratchit costume its own round of applause.

You know, the world is a mess and everything is pretty much terrible. It's been a hard year in an impossible decade. But every once in a while you come across some art that takes all of that, acknowledges the truth of it, and somehow pulls back the curtains to harness the joy and hope that's still there under the rubble. To me, Starkid in particular has always been about finding and holding onto the hope and the beauty and humanity that allows us to endure an existence that can so often feel bleak. And VHSCC is maybe the most perfect encapsulation of that idea.

So thank you Clark, James, Meredith, Brian, and everyone who worked so hard on this little bit of magic. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Let's make a little light.

#apologies for any typos it is late and I've had a wild day #Also shout out to Meredith for the number of times she teared up while playing in the band #she is so real for that #starkid #team starkid #vhscc #vhs christmas carols #clark baxtresser #james tolbert #AJ Holmes #Meredith Stepien #Brian Holden #Janaya Mahealani Jones #Jamie Burns #Lauren Lopez #Ali Gordon #Curt Mega #Joey Richter #Jaime Lyn Beatty

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galactickle · 11 months

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Jealousy

James Maguire x reader

Summary: reader is jealous of james and katya, and becomes really good friends with david donnelly, but james thinks david and the reader are something more.

Masterlist

“Who is this?” Katya asks, her accent thick.

“Oh, that's just James,” Erin replies.

“You are handsome,” Katya says, “and also sexy.”

Everyone in the room was shocked by this revelation.

“Is her English not great?” Michelle asks.

Katya looks James up and down before getting up and kissing him.

The girls continued to make comments as you all watched them kiss, but you heard nothing they said. You had been secretly crushing on James for a little while, unbeknownst to your best friends, and the sight of him kissing the Ukrainian had you seeing red.

~~~

You were at Brennan's eating lunch with the gang. The girls were all fighting about something or other while you picked at your food silently, when Jenny showed up with her Ukrainian lad.

“Listen, I have a feeling Artem and a few of the others are a bit homesick,” Jenny explained, “It'd be nice for them to spend some time together. So I’m having a soiree at my place tonight. It's going to be great!”

Just then, Erin’s longtime crush and a good friend of yours, David, walks in. You were closer to David than the other girls, as your parents were friends with his.

He looks around the restaurant until he sees Jenny. “Hey, do you have the playlist for tonight then?” he shoots your group a smile and a nod.

Jenny hands him a piece of paper, “I'll need the sound system set up by 7.”

“Is your band playing at this thing?”

“Oh no, I just do a bit of DJing on the side.” he laughs and heads to order some food.

“On second thought, I think this party might be good for Katya,” Erin says to Jenny.

Just then you look up to see James and Katya making out right in the middle of the restaurant. You look down at your food in disgust, then excuse yourself to go to the washroom.

~~~

At the party, the first thing you saw when you walked in was David at his DJ stand, you waved hello to him before going to find your friends.

You mingled at the party a bit before you got tired of Erin freaking out about Katya taking James’ virginity. You found yourself hanging out with David, talking and drinking beer. David was cool and you enjoyed talking to him, it got your mind off of James for a bit… until you all heard a commotion upstairs, you followed David and the others to the stairwell, only catching the end of the argument.

“--How dare you? I am poor Ukrainian, so I must be prostitute!” Katya yells. You raise your eyebrows in shock.

Erin comes to address the crowd forming on the stairs, “Hear me out, first she comes on to James here. What would possess her?” you roll your eyes, “Financial gain, that's what!”

“He attractive boy, Erin.” Katya reasons.

“He's English, Katya.” Erin replies offhandedly.

“I have no problem with this.”

“You should,” Michelle butts in.

Erin continues yelling about the condoms in Katya's bag, and the money the Ukrainians have been giving her all evening.

“How the hell do you explain that?” Erin asks Katya in regards to the money.

“I organize, how you say it, whip round. We like to buy Jenny present to thank her for nice party.” Katya explains in her normal, but angry voice.

“Ohhh, you guys!!”Jenny replies sweetly.

Erin is left speechless, as is everyone else.

“So not only you insult me, but you've also spoiled Jenny’s surprise!” Katya adds.

“I think you should leave,” Jenny states. you sink back behind David in the crowd, not wanting to associate or even be seen by your friends. You could feel their eyes on you though, as they passed by in shame.

“You can still hang with me for the rest of the night,” David offered, you smiled slightly at him and nodded.

You spent the next little while drinking and talking, but David could tell you were a little off.

“So what’s up?”

“What do you mean?” you ask, taking a swig of your beer.

“You seem… distracted, sad even.”

“Nah, it's nothing,” you try to brush it off.

“Obviously it's not, so spill.”

“I… I.. have a wee bit of a crush on James…” you say with a pained look on your face.

David nods and hums in agreement. “So the whole Katya thing…?” he trails off.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.. that sucks, well, if it's any sentiment, he's gotta be into you too, because like every guy in Derry is into you,” He nudges you shoulder.

You laugh, “Yeah, OK.”

“It’s true!!” David chuckles.

“Okay, okay, I believe you!” you look around at the dwindling party, “Well… I should probably get going,” sigh, getting up from your spot on the floor.

“Want me to walk you home?” David offers, getting up as well.

“Yeah, I’d like that, thanks,” you smile at him as he sticks out his elbow for you to take.

The walk home is full of drunken giggles and nonsense.

When you reached your house, you turned to David to say thank you again, and, unbeknownst to you, James was looking out his window watching. He had been waiting to make sure you got home alright, after he realized you hadn't followed the group out of the party.

“Thank you,” you smiled up at David.

“No problem,” he replied, “we should hang out more.”

“I agree,” you laughed. You leant up on your tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek, “Goodnight, David.” With that, you turned on your heel and walked into your house, David yelling ‘goodnight’ after you.

~~~

The next couple weeks, James didn't talk to you, which you didn't mind because you had been ignoring him before anyways. Plus now you were in a good mood due to your blooming friendship with David. It’s not that you had romantic feelings for him, but you did really like him, although you would never do something to hurt Erin.

The whole friend group watched in confusion as you and David became closer friends. After a couple weeks of silence James finally blew up.

“Why are you hanging out with him?” You were at Michelle’s house, you and James were alone in the kitchen getting drinks.

“What?” you asked, genuinely confused.

“David, why do you keep hanging out with him?” James repeated.

“I don't know, he's nice and fun to be around..”

“So are we!” James countered.

“Fine. Why did you let Katya kiss you?”

“I--I..”

The girls had heard the commotion and came into the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” Erin asked.

No one said anything for a second..

“I saw Y/N kiss David Donnelley!” James exclaims. You gape at him.

“What?” The girls gasp.

“No! I didn't! I kissed him on the cheek-- which is a totally different thing! I was just saying thank you for walking me home!”

“How could you Y/N?” Orla asks, cradling Erin's head.

You shake your head, then turn and leave. James follows you outside, “So what? You're just gonna leave?”

“Yeah! Well, it doesn't feel like I’m welcomed there anymore!” you yell back, exasperated.

“Y/N!” you could hear a change in tone in James’ voice, was that desperation? “Wait! I've been a dick, I’m so sorry!”

You slowly turn towards him, “Yeah, you have been.”

“I’m sorry I just.. didn't like seeing you with him,” James reveals.

“How do you think I felt about Katya?” you say quietly.

James looks at you, confused, for a moment, “Wait-- you mean?” you nod in a response, smiling crookedly.

James runs forward, enveloping you in a hug, “I’m so sorry,” he whispers in your shoulder.

“Me too.” And your lips collide in the most beautiful kiss either of you have ever experienced

#derry girls #james maguire #james maguire x reader

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maggieswriting · 1 year

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My Girlfriends in a Band - James Potter

In which the marauders gang get to know the true side of James' rockstar girlfriend

Based off the ask by: @gfrttyuuuuuu

Warning: N/A

Faceclaim: nonsalemwitch on ig

James Potter x fem!reader

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❤️3.5k - liked by marymacdonald, your_username & 3498 others

prongspotter: well done to my amazing girlfriend you absolutely rocked that stage last night, and I hope to come and see more of your concerts in the future.

comments:

marymacdonald: maybe next time we'll come with you if black isn't too much of a pussy to be in the same room as her.

| thebestblack: hey i'm not the only person who's scared of her.

| lilyevans: yeah she can be quite intimidating.

your_username: it's no problems guys i get that quite a lot and i hope to see you again too jamie

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❤️2.1k - liked by themoonguy, your_username & 2098 others

thebestblack: okay so maybe she isn't so scary once you get to know her.

comments:

prongspotter: see i told you she wasn't scary, she just a little ray of sunshine once you get to know her.

themoonguy: your only find that out now, she's always not been scary especially since she brings me cookies before the moon fest.

marymacdonald: yeah black, you only thinks she's scary because she has tattoos and piercings you would never be able to pull off.

| thebestblack: well that's a bit rude

| regulusblack: but its the truth

your_username: glad to hear that, also thank you for the amazing day and taking me to the cat cafe i really had a great time.

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❤️10.1k - liked by prongspotter, lilyevans & 10098 others

your_username: thank you to james potter for showing me the best 2 years of my life I can't wait to spend even more with you, thank you for showing me what true love is and that every girl really does have a prince charming waiting for her out there, so happy two year anniversary to the man who has changed my life for ever.

comments:

prongspotter: no thank you angel for showing me true love that i could've only dreamed of.

|thebestblack: oh shut up you sap

|themoonguy: sirius you are literally crying at this post, i can see you curled up on the sofa next to me balling.

marymacdonald: aww happy anniversary sunshine and even bigger ray of sunshine.

#james potter x reader #james potter x y/n #james potter x fem!reader #james potter x you #marauders imagine #james potter #lily evans #marlene mckinnon #marauders era #remus lupin #sirius black #instagramau #social media au

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eptodaytommorowforever · 11 days

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Events In The History And Of The Life Of Elvis Presley Today On The 11th Of September 1970.

Elvis Presley Plays In Detriot The City Of Motown In Michigan At The Olympia Arena On The 11th Of September In 1970.

Elvis Presley performed at the Olympia Arena, Detroit, Michigan. The whole gang had their own things to attend: Charlie Hodge remained stage manager and general assistant to Elvis Presley providing him with water and scarves. Lamar Fike was taking care of the lighting. Sonny West responsible for the security and Richard Davis controlled the wardrobe. Dr. Nichopoulos was tour doctor and Joe Esposito remained in overall command. The Fat Controller The Colonel Parker always arrived before Elvis Presley and the Band in each city.

That's All Right(Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup cover)

I've Got a Woman(Ray Charles cover)

Amen

I Walk the Line(Johnny Cash cover)

Love Me Tender

I've Lost You(Matthews’ Southern Comfort cover)

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'(Barry Mann cover)

Polk Salad Annie(Tony Joe White cover)

Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)(Eddie Miller and His Oklahomans cover)

Polk Salad Annie(Tony Joe White cover)

Johnny B. Goode(Chuck Berry cover)

The Wonder of You(Ray Peterson cover)

Detroit City(Mel Tillis cover) Elvis Presley briefly mentions its a honor Playing in the city of Motown and does a fantastic version of Detriot City.

Heartbreak HotelPlay

Blue Suede Shoes(Carl Perkins cover)

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On(Big Maybelle cover)

All Shook Up

Blue Suede Shoes(Carl Perkins cover)

Hound Dog(Big Mama Thornton cover)

Bridge Over Troubled Water(Simon & Garfunkel cover)

Funny How Time Slips Away(Willie Nelson cover)

Suspicious Minds(Mark James cover)

Can't Help Falling in Love

Above Set Song List For This Sold Out Awesome! Show.

Rare Candid Fans Unseen Till Now! Photos Of Elvis Presley Arriving At Detroit Airport In Michigan. Also Performing At The Olympia Arena Wearing The White Chain Jumpsuit Red Silk Scarf And Red Macrame Belt Also Rare Olympia Arena Concert Poster From 1970.

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silvermoon424 · 1 year

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I'm WAY overthinking this but

It kind of just occurred to me that the Team Rocket Trio are like, a perfect example of many of the more progressive sociological theories of crime?

Jessie, James, and Meowth really don't seem like very bad people. Yeah, they do bad things sometimes, but time and time again we see them put others' needs before their own, care for the Pokemon they work with, and they even showed up at Ash Ketchum's final battle to cheer him on. In one of the Pokemon manga (the Electric Tale of Pikachu) they literally give up a life of crime to settle down together as a family.

So why join Team Rocket? Because they had basically no other choice.

Jessie grew up as a poor foster kid. James was a runaway. And Meowth was a literal alley cat. It's been forever since I watched the anime, but I think I remember there being episodes about how the trio did try to go on the straight and narrow when they were younger but it just didn't work out. So they turned to a life of organized crime.

This is actually the background of Team Skull in Sun and Moon; the team is made up of disaffected youth who failed their Island Challenges and have been rejected by society, so they decided to band together for safety and companionship. Much like actual, real-life gangs.

Wow, yeah, it's almost like, when given no alternative options and largely shunned by society, poor people often turn to crime huh

#I can't believe I just wrote a crime analysis on Team Rocket #team rocket #team rocket trio #pokemon #pokemon anime #pokemon analysis #analysis #sociology #social commentary #crime

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allmoshnobrain · 6 months

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𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

part 02 of 06 | masterpost

word count: 5,4k | ao3 link | fic's playlist

He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I wondered if he too would be feeling the happiness that sang in my chest at that moment, like a little miracle had just unfolded before us. It was hard to find another word to describe it. He’d found me. After so many years, he’d found me.

✦ on this chapter: james hetfield x female!oc, dave mustaine x female!oc, oc is cliff's cousin, +18, language, slice of life, angst, grief, smut mentioned/implied

✧ Once you told me, "Look for the North Star, then you'll see" / Heavenly, I hear / Found my way to the beach / There were waves over me / I was lost at sea 'til you found me / 'til you found me ✧

May 20, 1984

Settling into the new home my parents had bought for me turned out to be easier than I’d expected, especially since my friends had moved in with me; we all shared the same space and, slowly but surely, it was shaping up to be our own little slice of paradise, buzzing with music, chatter, and laughter as we got everything sorted.

But everything felt eerily still when I arrived home on that Sunday afternoon. I opened the front door, spotting a few moving boxes still hanging out in the living room. I glanced around, puzzled, eyeing the empty space and wondering where the gang had vanished to. That's when I caught the distant murmur of voices drifting from the kitchen.

"You can't just go after him, James. It's gonna wreck our reputation, have you even thought about that?" Lars' voice carried down the hallway, tinged with irritation.

"You think I give a damn about our reputation when he's out there dissing my girl?" James shot back, his voice tinged with anger. I arched an eyebrow, definitely intrigued now as I made my way closer. I reached the kitchen door to find Lars leaning against the sink, his brow furrowed, while James, so much taller, paced back and forth, his fists clenched. "I couldn't care less. Let him yap about us all he wants, but lay off her. I'm gonna beat the crap out of him, then maybe he'll learn to keep his trap shut."

"Hey, guys," I interjected, and James halted his pacing immediately, both him and Lars shooting me a startled look, like they'd just seen a ghost. A knot twisted in my gut as I realized they were probably talking about something they didn't want me to know about. "What's the deal?"

"Nore!" Lars chirped, a bit too brightly, as he hastily snatched something off the table. I narrowed my eyes, noting it was a cassette tape he was awkwardly trying to stuff into his pocket. "Oh, it's, uh, nothing important!"

"What's that?" I inquired, nodding toward the cassette in his grasp. James shot him a pointed glare, and Lars swallowed hard.

"It's, um, nothing, really! Just..." He stumbled over his words as I closed the gap between us, grabbing his arm and snatching the tape from his grip. "Hey!"

"If it's really nothing, then you won't mind me taking a look, right?" I challenged. James shot me a worried look before striding over towards me.

"Nore, hand it over," he demanded, his tone grave, his brow furrowed. I stared at him, torn between defiance and confusion.

"No," I shot back, turning on my heel and bolting up the stairs.

"Nore!" James called out, chasing after me, but I was already too far ahead. I reached our shared room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind me. James pounded on the door, growing increasingly frustrated. "Nore! Come on, give it back!"

"Unless you've got another girlfriend, this has gotta be about me, right?" I challenged, and he grunted, kicking the door in frustration. "You’re gonna start keeping secrets from me now?"

"You don't get it. It's for your own good. Just let me in!"

I brushed off his demand, which only earned me a frustrated growl from him. Fixing my gaze on the tape in my hand, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted the band name: Megadeth. There wasn't much else on the tape besides handwritten song titles on the label. I'd been keeping tabs on the Californian metal scene enough to know this wasn't just any old tape — it was a demo. I couldn't help but wonder how Lars and James got their hands on it, and what the hell it had to do with me.

"Come on, Nore!" James's pounding on the door grew more urgent as the music began to play, the cassette inserted into the tape deck in our room. "You don't wanna hear this. Trust me!"

I stayed silent, my heart doing some churning uncomfortably in my chest as I recognized Dave's voice emanating from the speakers. I blinked in surprise; I remembered he was scouting for a vocalist for the band back when we were together, but I had no clue he'd decided to take on the role himself. Somehow, that made it all worse; I wasn't prepared to hear his voice. I wasn't ready for the flood of emotions that hearing him but not being able to talk to him, see him, or touch him brought crashing over me. I wasn't ready for the fury radiating from his voice, blazing like a wildfire, channeling all his pain into his music. And then, it hit me what he was singing about.

My only love, something I've never felt / Now you've gone to heaven and I'll burn in hell / I loved you to death!

Oh. Was that why James was so adamant about me not hearing the tape? Could that song possibly be...?

And now I'm down below / And what do I see? / You didn't go to heaven / You’re down in hell with me / And now you’re coming back / “baby take me please!” / I really think I would, if you weren't such a sleaze / I loved you once before, you kept me on a string / I'd rather go without than take what you would bring / I loved you to death!

I chewed on my lip, my stomach twisting as the song came to its end, struggling to make sense of everything I'd just heard. Suddenly, it all clicked. I understood why James had tried to shield me from it; Dave's lyrics were harsh, dripping with anger and bitterness, a far cry from the sweet and caring Dave I once knew. For a fleeting moment, I tried to convince myself it couldn't be about me — but who else could it possibly be about?

For months, I'd been wondering what he'd say if I ever found him. Would he listen? Would he let me explain? And for months, I'd been living with this fear — that he'd hate me, that he wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore. But I'd always held onto hope; hope that I could make things right, that I could clear things up somehow. Yet, that song... It crushed whatever hope I had left.

It hurt me more than I could say.

I stood up and swung open the bedroom door, finding James right there, his blue eyes filled with concern. I threw myself into his arms, trying to hold back the tears. He sighed and hugged me back.

"I warned you not to listen," he grumbled.

"And you were just gonna keep this from me forever?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"If it meant not hurting you, then yeah."

"James, I deserved to know," I said, pulling back to look at him. He reached up and wiped away a tear, his touch gentle on my cheek.

"You're right. I'm sorry," he said softly, planting a light kiss on my forehead.

"Where'd you snag this tape, anyway?"

"Our producer gave it to Lars. Said Dave's using that Mechanix song we had on our album as The Four Horsemen..."

"Those were his songs, James. He's got every right to do so."

"Why do you still stick up for him, even after all this?" he frowned, a hint of annoyance in his voice, then sighed. "Sure, he can use his fucking songs. But he doesn't get to pen this garbage about you."

I shook my head with a sigh.

"It's so not fair," I said, trying to push down the shake in my voice. "He jumped to thinking I'd just cheat on him, replace him outta nowhere. Didn't even give me a chance to explain; just up and left. And I..." James pulled me into another hug as my voice hitched, making it tough to keep talking. "I still miss him. And I wish..."

"Nore..." James murmured, squeezing me tight, and I sighed, shutting my eyes. "You miss him that much? Aren’t you happy with me?"

"Course I'm happy with you," I replied, my voice muffled against him, hugging him close and soaking in the comfort of his scent as I buried my face into his chest.

"Then stay with me ," he said, his voice gravelly, stroking my hair tenderly. "I'm here. And I would never hurt you like that. Maybe it's time to... let this go. I can make you happy, Nore. Promise."

"You already make me happy," I murmured, sniffing softly and pulling away from his embrace, wiping away the tears that insisted on falling. James cupped my face in his hands, giving me a gentle, affectionate kiss on my lips.

I loved James. That certainty had grown in my chest over the past few months until it became unbearable, impossible to ignore. But could I allow myself to forget Dave like that? Could I allow myself to move on and leave behind a love that had changed my life? Even if he hated me, my heart still beat for him. Could I allow myself to let go of that feeling?

Could I?

September 5, 1986

Ever since James and I’d started dating, James had always been warm. Warm and cozy, like a lit fireplace on a winter night, enough for me to always want to be around — always there, always comforting. As we lay together, both totally spent after spending most of the night pleasuring each other, he started planting little, lazy kisses on my neck, his hand resting flat on my belly. His blond locks tickled my cheek, his breath warm against my bare skin.

"I feel like something's off with me," I mumbled, and he stopped kissing me, his lips lingering against my neck.

"I’ll stop if you want me to," he whispered, his arms enveloping me, drawing me snug against his bare skin. James had this knack for drawing me in tighter whenever I hinted at pulling away. He just couldn't resist keeping me close, and honestly, I didn't mind one bit. "Just say the word if you need me to back off," he murmured softly.

"No, it's not that," I replied, turning to face him with a sigh. His blue eyes locked onto mine, curious. I let out another soft sigh, leaning in to plant a kiss on his lips. He responded instantly, pulling me closer, his grip firm.

"What's on your mind then?" he asked, his lips trailing from mine to my neck once more. I sighed again, closing my eyes, my fingers tangling in his hair as heat pooled between my legs.

"I don't want you guys to leave," I admitted, and he paused his kisses, pulling back to meet my gaze. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks as I looked away. "I know it's part of your job. I know you've been on countless tours, and this one won't be any different. But... I just wish you'd stay, just this once."

James gave a nod, pulling me into a tight hug and planting a gentle kiss on my temple. The whirlwind of tours and gigs wasn't a walk in the park for either of us. Sure, it had its perks, but the constant movement, the jam-packed schedule that I struggled to keep pace with, and the long stretches of time apart definitely took their toll on our relationship. Especially now that the band was hitting new heights of success; I wanted to be there for them every step of the way, but reality dictated otherwise with my own commitments.

It hadn't been such a big deal in the past; after over two years as James's girlfriend and spending loads of time with Cliff and the boys, I was used to the drill. But this time, there was this gnawing feeling in my chest, like something wasn't quite right. It wasn't exactly that I wanted them to stay or that I wanted to tag along but couldn't; it was more like I just didn't want them to leave. I didn't want them out there while I was feeling this jittery, like something was about to go south any second.

"I'm probably being a bit selfish," I admitted, meeting James' eyes.

"Nah, not at all," he countered, running his fingers through my hair and flashing me a grin, clearly trying to lift my spirits. "I'll make it up to you, promise. I'll bring back souvenirs from everywhere we hit. What do you say? We'll be back before you know it, Nore. Trust me."

I gave a nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. There was no point in dumping all my worries on James; things would work out, somehow. I nestled closer to him, giving him a hug before planting a soft kiss on his jawline.

"Meanwhile..." he started, his lips meeting mine as he settled over me. I let out a soft chuckle, looping my arms around his neck; he leaned back, giving me a smile tinged with mischief, his hands trailing up my thighs in a way that sent shivers down my spine, anticipation building within me. "I think we should make the most of my being here while we still can. What do you say?"

"Hmm... sounds like a plan," I answered, and he chuckled, leaning in to kiss me once more.

March 13, 1987

Backstage used to be my sanctuary, but not anymore.

The buzz, the drinks, the laughter, the pounding music — those were the things that used to make me feel alive. Completely in the moment. But ever since Cliff had left us, the whole scene had just become another stress trigger. It was cruel, how I would still catch myself hoping to spot him any minute, beer in hand or puffing on a cig before hitting the stage, tuning his bass with that grin of his like he was born to rock out. Then reality would hit me seconds later, reminding me that I would never see him again.

That he was gone.

That night’s gig marked my first outing since the accident. I only agreed to go 'cause I knew James was missing me like crazy, especially after everything went down. It stung how Cliff's death had torn us apart, making it damn near impossible for us to even be in the same room despite still loving each other; it was all just too raw, too painful to wrap our heads around.

But I stuck it out for the whole show, even though my heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice seeing the band up there with a different lineup, knowing it shouldn't be that way. Jason, the new bassist, was actually pretty damn good; I knew my aunt and uncle had loved him, and knowing he had their stamp of approval made things a bit easier to swallow. I didn't know him too well yet, but he came off as friendly and laid-back. Plus, his passion for the band and music had me smiling, thinking about how Cliff would've dug having someone with that same fire taking his spot.

Once the show wrapped, I didn't stick around for the inevitable after-party. While James and the guys were all caught up sorting out post-gig stuff, I slipped out the back, lighting up a smoke with a sigh. A persistent headache throbbed away, making me regret coming in the first place.

"Miss you, you dumbass," I muttered to myself, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill over.

If I'd known that accident was coming, I would've done anything to stop Cliff from stepping foot on that bus. I would've volunteered to take his spot, even crawled into the bed he was in when it all went down. I would've traded places with him in a heartbeat, and I would've gone to my grave with a smile on my face. 'Cause living in a world without him was a nightmare worse than anything I'd ever imagined.

And now, all I could do was wish I would wake up back in our cozy home, catching a whiff of the coffee he used to brew up and hearing his gentle chuckle as he teased Leanne about tying the knot some day, all in that playful tone that barely masked his real longing — to live . To start a family, maybe have some kids, buy a house for his folks, and grow old doing what he loved, soaking up the rewards of his talent.

But none of that was in the cards anymore.

And I had remained, an empty, unrecognizable shell of the lively girl I used to be. I didn't know a life without Cliff — he had been my rock since forever. He'd been there since day one — I mean, literally, he was around before I was even born. We grew up side by side, like two peas in a pod, and now what was left of me was rotten, alone, and meaningless.

What was I without him, if he was such a huge part of who I was?

How many more losses in my life would I have to take?

Suddenly, I remembered Dave. The first boy I'd ever really loved, that kind of love that shakes you to your core. Losing him hurt like hell, no doubt about it. But compared to losing Cliff, it was like small fry. Still, Dave was the first real loss I’d ever faced. When all my efforts to track him down hit dead ends, I had to learn to live with the hole he left behind. After all these years, I still thought about him from time to time, but it didn't sting as bad as it used to.

I couldn't help but wonder if the ache in my heart from Cliff's absence would ever dull down like it had with Dave. Or if I'd have to face an even bigger blow, something that'd make this pain seem like child's play in comparison.

After roaming the city streets for hours, I finally headed back to the hotel. When I got to the floor where the band was crashing, I bumped into Jason, standing by his room’s door.

"Hey, Nore," he said, his voice sounding rough, and I gave him a puzzled look. Was he crying?

"Hey, Jason. You all good?"

"I-I'm good," he mumbled, voice low, avoiding eye contact as he sniffled and wiped his face with his hand. Yeah, definitely not okay.

"You're not out there with the guys. What's up?" I asked, and he glanced up, his brown eyes a bit bloodshot, cheeks flushed.

"It's just... It's been kinda rough trying to fit in with the band. Especially with all these pranks they pull..." he trailed off.

"Pranks? What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Oh, it's nothing!" he rushed to say. "You know, just dumb stuff. It's just that it always catches me off guard, like now... I went back to the room to grab a jacket and found they'd messed it all… Up…" He slowly stopped talking as I brushed past him, turning the doorknob of his room and pushing the door open.

I froze in my tracks, utterly stunned by the sight before me. Jason's room was a complete disaster zone — suitcases torn open, clothes strewn all over, mattress gone, and beddings tangled up in the ceiling fan. Furniture flipped over like a hurricane had blown through. I just stood there, dumbfounded. Whoever did this wasn't messing around — it was straight-up hostility, so blatant it snapped me out of my own sadness and fired me up with anger.

"Jason, who did this?" I spun around to face him, my expression blazing, and he took a step back, clearly rattled.

"Nore, it's no big deal, really..." he started, but I cut him off.

"Whoever trashed your room needs to answer for it. This is not okay! I'm going straight to James; he'll sort this out..."

"No, please," he pleaded, cutting me off. "Please, that'll only make things worse! Don't talk to them, I'm begging you…"

I gawked at him, trying to wrap my head around what I was seeing, the pieces slowly fitting together in a puzzle that made no sense.

"Jason," I began cautiously, "did James and the guys pull this stunt on you?"

He stayed silent, which I interpreted as a confirmation. My gut twisted in discomfort. What were they thinking? That wasn't our style. Sure, we'd get a bit wild sometimes, drink too much, goof around — but deliberately messing with someone? It just didn't add up.

Just then, the elevator chimed, and out stumbled a clearly wasted James, grinning when he spotted Jason.

"Hey, Newkid!" he slurred, stumbling over his words as he came over and slung an arm around Jason's shoulders, who shot him a nervous grin. "Check out the new decor in your room, dude! Pretty rad, huh?" He burst into laughter.

"James, what the hell is this?" I demanded, my voice shaky. He glanced up, looking surprised to see me there.

"Hey, babe. You dipped out, what's the deal?" he asked, dropping his arm from Jason's shoulders and stepping toward me. I folded my arms, taking a step back. He furrowed his brow, confused. "What's eating at you?"

"You tell me. What's the deal with this mess?" I gestured to the chaos in Jason's room. James just grinned, shaking his head.

"Princess, it was just a prank... Come on," he said, reaching for my hand, but I shrugged him off, stomping heavily toward our room. "Hey, hold up... Baby!" James called after me, trailing behind.

Ignoring him, I swung open the door and grabbed my bag, hastily scooping up the scattered clothes and belongings. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall — not now.

"Nore, what the fuck are you doing?" James rushed into the room, grabbing my arm. I shook him off, backing away, glaring at him through teary eyes, my breaths coming in uneven gasps. "Babe, what's going on?"

"How can you even ask? What, you think it's funny to be some kind of bully now?" I demanded, my voice quivering. James shook his head, looking utterly baffled by my reaction.

"Nore, chill out! It was just a prank..."

"What kind of prank is this? This isn't us, James. Why are you guys messing with him?" I snapped, continuing to pack up my stuff. "Cliff would never stand for this."

James took a step back, looking like I'd slapped him. His brow furrowed, jaw clenched.

"And how would you know?" he shot back, and I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"You think you knew him better than I did, James? Seriously?"

"Nore, it was just a joke..."

"A joke ? Really?" I shouted, tears finally breaking free. "I can't deal with this, James. What's gotten into you? He's not to blame for what happened to Cliff!"

"I get it. Nore, just try to calm down," he said, coming closer and taking hold of my wrists, locking eyes with me. "Take a deep breath, okay?"

"James, this isn't fair," I choked out through sobs. "Can't you see? We've been falling apart since he left. You're angry, and you're bitter, and you're mean , and sometimes I don't even recognize you anymore, and I hate it! And I feel like nothing — I don't feel like me anymore without him. You don't need me like this."

"I do need you."

"I'm fucking broken, James."

"No, you're not!"

"I am !" I burst out, my voice cracking. "You deserve someone who won't lose it over every little thing like this, James. You deserve better than me. I'm not good for you anymore. I'm not good for anyone, for anything."

"So what's the fucking deal?" he asked, his voice shaky, desperate, his blue eyes brimming with pain. "You’re breaking up with me now?"

I didn't say anything, just locked eyes with him, feeling my heart twist painfully as I realized something had broken right then and there. I loved James, but how could I love anyone fully when my pain consumed me like this, leaving little space for anything else? How could I let myself be loved when his anger kept driving us further apart, drowning out our love in all the noise?

I let out a heavy sigh, my breath trembling, and released his hands from mine.

"I'm heading back home. I'll pack up and catch the next flight..." I mumbled.

"Nore, don't do this," James pleaded, reaching for my hands again, but I pulled away.

"I can't, James. I'm sorry. Just... Please, let me go," I sobbed, burying my face in my hands as I sank onto the bed.

Not too long ago, James would've never left me like this. He would've been there, comforting me, holding me tight and never letting go. But things weren't like they used to be, and the world didn't work the way it should anymore.

So, he just walked away, leaving me alone with my pain.

Over the next few years, James and I attempted to patch things up time and time again — but it was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. We just couldn't get back to where we were before. Eventually, we drifted apart and started seeing other people, searching for happiness in different eyes, different embraces, different kisses.

But it was useless.

The ache in my chest lingered, a constant reminder of the emptiness that echoed in both of us. And no matter how hard we tried to keep our distance, we always found our way back to each other. We never went back to using those labels — boyfriend, girlfriend — but we couldn't deny the pull between us. I always found myself drawn back to James, and he always found his way back to me.

Eventually, I got used to that kind of love, a mix of joy and sorrow that felt like the only steady thing in a crazy world, a way to bury my own unhappiness. Over the years, me and the guys stayed tight, because what other choice did we have? They were my family, and I was theirs.

I tried to tell myself that maybe I'd never feel that same spark of life again, but hey, at least I wasn't totally miserable. Even though I'd lost a lot and sadness seemed to follow me like a shadow, I still had some good things left — maybe with time, I could figure out how to move forward again. Maybe this was as good as it got.

I almost bought into it.

Until Dave found me.

February 18, 1992

In the end, it was him who found me.

After all the failed attempts, all the heartache, all the rage, all the emptiness I'd been carrying around for years without him, it all came crashing down in that moment when our eyes locked. Time seemed to stand still, his hand on my shoulder sending a jolt through my body, making my heart lose any sense of rhythm.

"Dave?" I whispered, and the sound of my own voice seemed to stir something in his eyes, an old and familiar pain, but also hunger, happiness, and ecstasy.

It was really him.

It was really, really him.

"Hey," he said, and the normalcy of his answer made me chuckle. He grinned at my laughter, that old, beautiful smile, and my heart seemed to melt into pure warmth and affection.

How could I have lived so long without him?

"Hey," I replied, a smile stubbornly appearing on my face. " What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Junior's dating that Music Now anchor; she hooked us up with some tickets. David, David Ellefson," he clarified, noticing my confusion. "I ended up calling him that. Can't have two Daves in the band, and I called dibs first, so..." He trailed off, a small grin playing on his lips that I couldn't help but mirror. "Wanna grab a table? You were getting some food, right? We can catch up for a bit..."

"Sure thing," I nodded eagerly. We snagged an empty table and settled in. I poked at my food, but my appetite took a backseat with him sitting across from me. Dave seemed both different and the same, all at once. He was still as good-looking as ever, with his ginger hair cascading over his shoulders, warm hazel eyes, and that familiar crooked smile that always got me.

"So, what brings you here?" he asked.

"Oh, I work here," I answered, grinning when he raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

"Really? What do you do?"

"I act. Just landed my first lead role in a TV series."

"So you ended up in the arts, huh?" he remarked. "I remember you were tossing around the idea of studying something like that back when... Well, back when we were a thing."

I blinked, feeling the flush rise to my cheeks. I was so thrilled to see him again that, for a moment, I almost forgot how our last encounter had been a train wreck for both of us. How the end of our relationship had left us both hurting and confused. How so many misunderstandings had ruined our love beyond repair.

"Dave," I began, my voice faltering with nerves. "I know it's been forever... But there's so much I want to say. So much I need to explain. I—" I trailed off as he reached for my hand, his grasp enveloping mine, so much larger and warmer, sending my heart racing.

"No worries," he answered, his voice gentle as he kept his gaze locked on mine. "We can talk. I reckon doing it here might be a bit tough, huh? How about we pick a day just for that?"

The idea of meeting up again brought a wave of relief to my face. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I wondered if he too would be feeling the happiness that sang in my chest at that moment, like a little miracle had just unfolded before us. It was hard to find another word to describe it.

He’d found me.

After so many years, he’d found me.

We chatted away for the rest of the party, mostly about work stuff. Everything felt oddly familiar yet different at the same time, and we kind of danced around the real thing: all the emotions we'd been through during our time apart, the fights and secrets that tore us apart when we still cared about each other, and whether we still felt the same way. 'Cause, honestly, I could barely look at him without feeling my whole body fill with a wild happiness, feeling alive like I hadn't felt in a long, long time.

As the party wound down, we lingered by the entrance, chatting quietly while Charlie made the rounds saying her goodbyes. We seized the moment to swap phone numbers, sharing hopeful smiles and whispered words. The night air was chilly, sending shivers down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the cold.

"Feeling cold?" Dave asked, already slipping off his blazer and draping it over my shoulders before I could respond. I looked up at him, feeling my cheeks flush, and he grinned. "You can hang onto that. Gives us a good excuse to make sure we see each other again."

The ride home flew by in a blur; I hardly paid attention to Charlotte's excited chatter about the party. Instead, I clung to Dave's coat, feeling its warmth seep into me. His scent lingered in the fabric, intoxicatingly close, like it could drive me crazy.

I must’ve been dreaming, right?

It felt like I was living in a dream. Running into him after all these years, completely by chance, seemed too good to be true. For so long, I'd convinced myself that happiness and hope were out of reach. Turns out, I was dead wrong. I had no clue what the future held — no idea what would come of this unexpected reunion. But the chance to make things right, to clear up the misunderstandings of the past, even just a little bit, felt like a gift too good to pass up.

All I could do that surprising night was hope it wouldn't all vanish by morning. Hope his voice would be there when I called the next day, because I could hardly wait to see him again.

That night, I didn't have any nightmares.

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