#also the ones in the starting ranch escaped back then too and it was another round of hell

[aria0fgold]

Playing a game on an existing save file with so many stuff in it from my previous plays is like being a newbie playing on a pro's savefile, except past me isn't a pro but a mess.

Played Slime Rancher again after months and there's so many cool slimes but also I have an area with 1 slime corral, 4 phase lemon gardens, and a silo with at least 3 slots filled with just 300 phase lemons. You can tell how traumatized past me was with my favourite largo that I have two corrals of, 1 is within that area and another is in the starting ranch. 5 largos in each, the Quantum Hunter Largo.

Their feeder has medium speed too. I love the Hunter slimes the most and the Quantum slimes make em look so much cooler but also that combination was a nightmare for newbie past me but I had to make it work anyway. I remember I had at least 4 corrals of em until I ran out of phase lemons... and I barely had chickens (cuz I also have a single corral with just 5 Hunter slimes)... You can imagine the hell that happened there.

[peachhcs]

trust fall

hughes!sister x will smith au (samy + will)

samy does a small tiktok prank with will while they’re running errands (based off of this tiktok)

words: 1.1k

i saw this tiktok the other day & was inspired to write a little blurb about it. hopefully more posts soon because my spring break is coming up! :) lowkey a blurb lowkey not lol

au masterlist

samy thought her idea was brilliant. she'd been on a tiktok kick lately and the video she stumbled across was a perfect one to test on will as they ran some errands today. when he wasn't looking the girl set her phone up to start recording and catching her while she did surprise trust falls. copying the couple in the video, samy started by making sure will was looking at her and falling backwards. the couple stood in the bread aisle and of course, the blonde didn't understand what she was doing, so samy had to catch herself—a small giggle escaping her lips.

"what are you doing?" will chuckled too, some confusion on his features.

"nothing," samy shrugged, not wanting him to know she was doing it for a tiktok. her boyfriend eyed her suspiciously before going back to what he was doing.

about five minutes later, samy set her phone up again, pretending to look at spices. she glanced over her shoulder, making sure she'd be in will's eye line before positioning herself for another trust fall. the boy saw her body going backwards from the corner of his eye, instinct taking over as he quickly reached out to grab her before she hit the ground.

samy laughed as will got her back upright, confusion still on his features. "jesus, what was that?" the boy wondered.

"catching me means you love me," samy teased. will playfully rolled his eyes, returning his attention back to whatever he was doing beforehand.

the brunette waited until they were in another aisle to do another trust fall. she made sure will didn't see her set up her camera, but two seconds later, his phone buzzed. the girl could hear faint sounds of ryan's voice on the other end as will began listing him off the different kinds of ranches. for a moment, samy debated on waiting until will wasn't on the phone, but she also didn't care and wanted to test her boyfriend's strength and multitasking skills.

she waited until he began walking in her direction and let herself fall backwards. will's footsteps sped up and his one arm had a tight hold on samy's waist a second later, hardly breaking the conversation with ryan, "classy ranch or just the regular one?"

samy giggled as will met her gaze briefly, trying to act annoyed but failing miserably as a playful expression replaced his attempt to be annoyed.

her next one didn't happen until they were in the parking lot after loading the groceries into will's car. she sneakily set up her phone when he was putting the cart away, giggling to herself and watching as will walked back over to her.

"ready?" he wondered, kissing her cheek and opening up her door for her.

samy stood still for a moment, making no moves to get in. will's confusion returned until samy began slowly falling backwards. the boy grabbed ahold of her waist, pushing her back upright again.

"come on, get in," will said playfully, watching as the brunette spun around to grab her phone.

"how many times are you gonna keep making me catch you?" he raised his eyebrow. like always, will reached over to buckle samy's seatbelt. she flushed every time he did that for her despite how many times samy told him she could buckle her own seatbelt.

"however many times i want to," the girl responded, smiling widely. another playful eye roll came from will as he quickly kissed her lips and hurried around to the driver's side.

the ride back into campus was uneventful. ryan and gabe helped will and samy unload the groceries when they were back at the house—the two boys probably only excited for the food the couple bought for them.

samy thought it was another perfect time for a trust fall. as soon as her camera was set up, she spun around and immediately fell knowing will was right behind her. the boy grabbed her, quickly pushing her back up.

the giggles never left samy's lips, watching as will shook his head at the camera. "and i thought it'd stop when we were back home," he teased slightly, eyes falling back to samy.

the girl shrugged, "i like being unpredictable."

not even five minutes later, will was rushing to catch samy again. the girl was a fit of laughter. “you’re killing me, hughes,” will muttered, but samy knew he secretly liked her little game.

“it’s what i do best though, right?” the girl grinned. will didn’t say anything besides the little smile tugging on his lips while going back to cutting up vegetables.

the last time will knew exactly what samy was doing as he watched her set up her phone a few feet away from him and spin around so her back was to him. as soon as she tipped back on her heel, his palm was flat against her back to keep her in place. samy looked back at him, smiling as will slowly took his hand away.

she waited a minute before falling back again, but will was as quick as the first time. his one hand pushed her all the way back to the cabinets, determined to keep her in place and stop falling backwards.

samy’s little giggles brought a smile to both of their lips. will discarded his vegetables for a moment to press his own back against samy’s to keep her from moving. the girl was now squished between her boyfriend and the cabinets, laughing to herself and will being satisfied he found a solution.

not even 30 seconds went by until will’s boyish behavior took over and he reached behind himself to place his hands on samy’s ass. the girl squirmed, quickly grabbing ahold of the blonde’s wandering hands knowing she was recording them and about to put the video on the internet. will tried fighting her for a moment, but let her go with a smile on his lips.

“okay, i’m done trust falling for now,” samy giggled as she ended the video and peered up at will.

“finally. i’m tired of being on edge that you’re gonna fall and i’m not gonna catch you,” the boy mumbled, rolling his eyes again.

“hey, it was funny. you were laughing too,” the girl poked his cheeks. his face flushed, spinning away from her.

“whatever. wanna help me make dinner now that you’re done making your weird tiktoks?” will returned to the counter.

“only if you promise to make this other tiktok with me later,” samy smirked, sliding in beside him.

the video was posted later that night, immediately blowing up with likes and comments.

user1 i LIVEEE for this content

user2 the way he caught her every time 🥹

user3 he caught her with one arm in that one clip 😫

user4 this is so cutie omg

user5 now WHO was trying to buy classy ranch wtf even is that

| ryan.leno_4 only the best ranch in the history of ranches

ryan.leno_4 smitty’s soooo down bad

user6 my favorite couple

gabeperreault44 so that’s what y’all were doing in the kitchen

user7 why are they so adorable stop

user8 my bf fr would’ve let me fall every time

[icarusredwings]

Save a horse...

(SFW, Read the tags. 1/2

Promts: One's on purpose. The other is oblivious. Can you guess which is which?

"..I didn't know that was a gay bar.")

Pov, you're currently a drunk and slightly nervous Wade Wilson - Not Deadpool. Wade Wilson. You know, that guy who's so insecure about his entire body that he covered 100% of it and often times has multiple costumes/masks on because it's a metaphor for how he actually feels on the inside? Yeah. Him.

You are also currently sitting in a midwestern country bar with a shitty luke warm beer waiting for your 'Room mate' to say he's ready to come home. Watching how lit up he gets when around ranch hands and hard whiskey makes you tip your hat in fear you might actually look like there's pepperoni on your face from how red it's getting.

Slouching into your chair further, you start grumbling how the joke wasn't even that funny and that you could make a joke 10 times funnier, but you promised previously to behave yourself. Plus, you weren't doing so hot anyway. This was your 8th one as it was, and already you were watching his every move. How his canines sat when he smirked, how his arm hung over the back of his chair, how his boots crossed under the table, how he used the bottle in his hand as almost a speaking point, making geastures with it as he litsened, responding to their stories with his own. Right now the topic was about fixing fences and Horses escaping, riding horses, etc.

Honestly, he's heard worse. Ten year old girls talk more seriously about horses than these 4 rugged grown beareded men.. it seemed so boring..

Oh god. At this point, you're wondering why you even came. You clearly didn't fit in here, and these jeans did NOT do you any favors in the front. Was this why he was always so bitchy? Because his balls were getting strangled together by denim all the time?

It's not until you hear something in which you perk up. "Wade. Wade! Come're! Tell'em bout tha' there one time, will ya?"

Blinking, you wondered. Did you hear that, right? That beautiful draw and slur in his words calling for YOU of all people?

"Come on boy! We wont bite!" One of the men laughed. You could of sworn you just heard Logan chuckle and say "You better not.." in a tone that was... not firmiliar.

Slowly, You get up and stagger over only to be grabbed by the massive belt buckle and pulled close. His arm wrapping around your waist as he looked up at you with such shiney yet hammered eyes. "Tell'em!"

"Tell them what?"

"Bout the thing."

"Which thing?"

"Ya know the- Oh wait ya weren't there for that. Well shit, sorry...Oh! Wade, thi's Buck, Cletus and Mark. Have a seat."

For a moment, you blink as if he's gone mad. There were no seats left. Only 4 at one table. And as much as you'd love to just sit on his lap, there's no way he'd allow that. Not in front of these guys. Manly men didn't let other men sit on their laps in public. He's learned that the hard way.

"How much have you had, Wolfie?"

"Ah! Nevermin' that! Sit!" As if God himself awnsered your prayers he dragged you down into his lap, keeping you sat sideways and with an arm around you for no reason at all other then to claim dominance? Territory even? Just.. cause?

Either way, you find yourself a bit too shocked to speak, but let's be honest, that never lasts long. Trying to hide your face, You mutter;

"So...new friends of yours?" You ask the beast of a man who's locked his arm onto your hip.

"Cowfolk are usually quite... fond.. of one another." Buck says as if trying to tell you something, but you were far too knackered to get it the first go.

"We got a way of finding each other." Mark speaks up.

"Oh, do you now?" You ask, sounding intrigued.

It was now that you understood FULLY why he brought you to this bar specifically. Or was he even aware? No he couldn't be that dull- well...

Suddenly, you relaxed completely into his arms, wrapping an arm loosely around his neck, fitting into him like a puzzle piece. Like a wave of relief that you could infact show affection in here. It made you wonder if that was why Logan was so handsy or if he was just three sheets to the wind.

"Mmh. It's how we found ol' Logan here." Cletus made the mistake of saying and smiling at the muscly hairy man in a way Wade knew far too well.

Giving a quick, threatening glance, you take off your hat and put it on top of his head while staring them dead in the face. Howlett wasn't the only one who was territorial..

[ampresandian]

I know Rick is like master of creating and ignoring plot holes but like I had serious questions about the botl timeline so I sat down and tried to map it out:

Percy's orientation is on "Monday morning, the first week of June." This is the day he arrives at camp, and the day of Grover's hearing where the council gives him one more week to find Pan. This is probably also the longest day ever??? Percy goes to orientation, takes a taxi to camp, and then the council meeting, cabin inspection, the forges, canoeing, and sword practice all before dinner? I've worked at summer camp that's insane. That night, he gets his first IM about Nico.

Day 2, they have the conversation about the labyrinth, Percy goes to see Blackjack, and they have the war game where Percy and Annabeth find the labyrinth entrance.

Chiron sends them to get sleep. In the morning, they discuss the quest and Annabeth gets her prophecy. They agree to enter the labyrinth tomorrow. Percy gets his second Nico IM that night.

Day 4 they enter the labyrinth. This is at least 3 days into Grover's week already, depending on when the council chooses to start counting from.

At the ranch, Grover sees on TV that "It's June thirteenth. Seven days since we left camp." (This is ten days since the first day of the book, so it must have started on the third of June.) They then go to see Hephaestus and get sent to Mount St Helens, splitting up on the way but still traveling through the labyrinth (so while they feel like it's only a few hours, it's probably closer to a full day).

Percy blows up Mount St Helens and lands himself on Calypso's island, where he stays to recover until Hephaestus comes to visit. He then sails back to camp.

Walking into his funeral, Percy has been gone for "two weeks," which isn't necessarily an exact time but since that's what we're given we'll assume another 14 days, so my guess would be that it's around June 28th now?

They spend that day on camp, and leave for NYC in the morning (June 29th) to get Rachel, stopping to talk to Percy's mom on the way. They reenter the labyrinth, and enter Antaeus' gladiator arena, where they are briefly held up before escaping and making camp for the night.

In the morning, they make it to Deadalus's workshop, where they fight and escape into Colorado Springs. They reenter the labyrinth, stop by San Francisco to see Kronos take over Luke's body, and then go find Grover and Tyson to witness Pan's death in Carlsbad Caverns. They make it back to New York and Blackjack & co pick them up to take them back to camp. Immediately, the Battle of the Labyrinth occurs. Grover lets out the call of panic and Daedalus dies. That night, they hold the funeral for those lost in the battle.

The next day, the council meets to hear Grover's story. Briares leaves for the cyclopes forges, and Nico leaves camp too.

My best guess would be that time moves about twice as fast in the labyrinth, but there's a lot that goes on when they're back in with Rachel--I feel like between Deadalus's workshop and getting back to camp it should be at least a full day? So anyway my guess is that the actual Battle of the Labyrinth happens on like July 1st?

Which I guess fits with "July passed, with fireworks on the beach on the Fourth." But that's like two-three days later, so it seems very very fast to me that they would be prepared with celebratory fireworks? I don't know. But also (again, I've worked at a summer camp) sometimes camp is just like that, and chaos happens and you have to keep going and trying to keep it normal for the campers.

Anyway so technically it works but like it feels awkward to me.

[science-lings]

For a possible prompt: Twilight showing a cat and her kittens to those of the chain who've never seen a cat before like Wild and Wind?

All that knew him, knew that Wild was impossible to keep stationary. He loved to wander and climb things, even when he wasn't traveling he tended to pace or at the very least fidget restlessly in place. Sleeping was always a battle, no matter how exhausted he was, he simply refused to settle down. Usually it took an equally stubborn wolf to pin him down for him to even attempt a nap.

It was a quiet morning in Lon Lon Ranch when Twilight was finally able to find a temporary solution. The day before, he had become friends with the ranch's incredibly friendly farm cat. Once he had gained her trust, she led him directly to a warm corner of the horse stables, where a litter of her tiny kittens awaited their arrival. They were too small to do more than stumble around on their own while crying for their mother, but just on the edge of being too large for her to carry them around by the scruff of their necks.

Needless to say, Twilight was MIA for a while after that.

However, the momma cat gave him an idea. Wild had awoken before the sun had fully risen, despite the fact that they had paused their travels and there was no conceivable reason for him not to take advantage of one of the rare safe mornings to sleep in. Twilight refused to consider that it was hypocritical that he was also awake this early for no reason.

The champion had settled sitting with his back against a tree, seemingly relishing the gentle quiet of the pre-waking world, breathing in the cool morning breeze, but posed in such a way that would suggest that any moment he was going to stand up and wander around. Twilight had to act before the kid had the chance to do so.

Wild was startled out of his thoughts by a sudden weight leaning against his side, he really didn't expect anyone else to be awake. He was about to utter a greeting when he saw what was in his mentor's grasp.

A tiny but strong squeaking noise that reminded him of a fox escaped the mouth of the palm-sized creature. He couldn't help but let out a gasp at the sheer smallness of the animal. His wide eyes snapped up to Twilight in a silent question that was delightfully answered when the baby... whatever it was, was handed over to him. He grinned when he realized that its fur was just as soft as it looked.

"I remembered that you don't really have cats in your time, which is incredibly tragic, so I decided that this is the perfect opportunity to educate you on something very important. This is a kitten."

"Its face kind of reminds me of a Lynel, but cute." Wild let the kitten curl up on his lap using his hand as a blanket.

"I guess a Lynel might be the closest thing you have to a cat..." Twilight muttered with a bit of horror in his voice. Wild merely laughed.

At this point, the mother cat had found them and her stolen baby, though she didn't seem very bothered. She sniffed Wild's bent elbow and rubbed up against him with a surprising aggressiveness. He patted her head, which she really seemed to enjoy. Despite this, she quickly left, seemingly satisfied with the care her child was left in.

Wild was disappointed in her disappearance but it was only for a minute, as she returned soon after with another kitten, placing it beside the first one on a confused champion's tunic.

"What is it doing?" He asked the Rancher nervously.

"She likes you. So much so that she wants you to babysit." He replied proudly.

"I just learned what a cat was, I don't think I'm qualified for this."

The cat left again, and she came back again with another kitten. At this point, Wild had started to get nervous, he wasn't sure he was ready for such responsibility.

"You're doing fine, just keep them warm." Twi raised an eyebrow at how seriously the kid was taking this.

The cat left, and she returned with a kitten. She did it again, and again, and again, until the kittens had all been transferred to their new babysitter.

Once all the kittens were accounted for, Twilight stood up again with a stretch.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Back to bed," he responded as if it were obvious, starting to stroll back to the house.

"You can't just leave me here! Twi! I'm not ready to be a mother!" His voice raised in volume as his brother got further and further away.

The mother cat curled up at his side, and he accepted the fact that he was stuck and wouldn't dare move, in fear of bothering the kittens. With a sigh, he patted the larger cat beside him, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be stuck like this.

Send me prompts?

[hangmanbradshaw]

Have you ever considered writing a Hannah Montana The Movie inspired Hangster AU? Something about the vibe of that movie just screams Hangster to me.

In my head it would be something like Bradley being forced to go his hometown and stay at his uncles' (Mav and Ice's) ranch where (surprise surprise) Jake lives and works. Idk why Bradley had to go there, maybe he's famous and has to escape some kind of scandal? I can totally see him being a famous singer (á la miss Montana) and maybe Mav and Ice used to be famous too but chose to leave the spotlight and settle down on the ranch and now they will show Bradley that there's another way of life. I also think the Mav/Ice & Jake dynamic would be really funny. Like, Jake's parents suck so he left home to apply for work at the ranch, but when Mav and Ice saw him they were just like "welp, guess that's our kid now". And so they make fun of each other (Jake calls them old) but Mav and Ice are fiercely protective of him and will call Bradley out on any bullshit when they start to get together.

There's also the perfect opportunity to include some Taylor Swift since she's literally in the movie! Also Lucas Till's character is named Travis, like, that's too good!!

Oh and the whole "I used to have a pretty big crush on you" "Don't worry it passed" (or whatever the lines are) conversation is SO Hangster coded.

Anyways, I'm sure you would come up with an amazing story so please feel free to steal the idea if you ever feel the inspiration strike!

OOOOH I could so dig this. I'm really enjoying this vibe of country/ranch Jake at the moment, and putting Bradley in that just feels right. Feels good. They have this history from when they were kids until Bradley left, and then he's back and just the bantery bickering as they feel each other out again. Also the dynamic with icemav would be really good, where they're kinda in the middle being switzerland but also Bradley so confused about when they basically became Jake's parents lmao. (I'm gonna have to go rewatch the hannah montana movie now) Anyways this is amazing!!!!! Obsessed. Maybe one day.......ahh.

[lyn-js]

Home Sweet Home | Chapter 3. Reunions

Rhett Abbott x OC Reader

Summary: Sunny Pritchett decides to move back home, but without a reason why. Once she's back she runs into her childhood best, friend Rhett Abbott. Rhett seems very surprised to see her. Not only that, but he sees she has a small child on her hip. Will Sunny try to reconnect with Rhett and tell him the real reason you she's moved back. Or will her past come back and find her until everything blows up.

Warnings: Mental and Physical abuse, PTSD flashbacks, swearing, fighting.

Hello Beautiful People,

Sorry for the late post. I had some personal things to deal with. but I assure you all I will be posting new chapters on Wednesdays (hopefully). But back to the story baby!!

(Bold letters mean flashbacks)

7 years ago

Driving up to the Abbott Ranch was the most nerve wracking and terrifying thing you had to do today.

Stepping out of the car and walking up to the house, you're shaking with fear and scared about telling your bestfriend that you're leaving early to go to your dream school.You wish you didn’t have to go, but this is your chance to leave. Plus this is your chance to live your dream, and become a truly amazing artist. You could also try and convince him to leave with you,you loved him so much, more than he should already know. Maybe after you both leave, you can tell him how you really feel, how you want to be more than just friends. Both of you could finally make an escape. Live in peace. Live with the person you love. Hopefully that can convince him.   

“What do you mean you're leaving early?” Rhett says with his eyebrows pinched. “ The art program I got accepted into is starting early. I can’t miss this” you say. There's a pregnant silence between both of you. Not knowing what the other one is going to say to each other.

“So that’s just it, you're leaving me behind!” Rhett’s loud voice startles you, he’s never raised his voice at you until now.

"I'm not leaving you behind Rhett. I... I want you to come with me." You say with a trembling voice. Trying to keep your tears at bay. "It's just like we talked about. I can be in my art program, a-and... you can become a bull rider-"

"Stop! Just... stop Sun." he says in a defeated voice. "No, I'm not stopping, because a love and care about you and I don't want you to be stuck here too." You say with your chest heaving. You want to say more but your too scared now.

"I can't. You know I can't." you can tell he's getting more annoyed with you keep pressing him. But you need him to hear the truth." "You can leave Rhett. I'm sure your parents will understand." You try to plead with him. A beat passes. Then another.

"You're scared" you say. "You're scared to go out into the world. The only thing you want to do is stay on this damn ranch for the rest of your life and do nothing." You say and also trying to regain your breathing.

"Ya know what. Just go... Just go and leave everyone behind."

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rhett knows how much this art program means to me. Why is he saying this?

“How could you do this to me. To us?"

He steps closer to you, you try and take a step back but he's faster., so now both of your chests are together, both heaving and trying to breath. You can smell the bourbon on his breath. He’s been drinking. He tries not to drink around you. It can go either way. He can be a goofy drunk, which he normally is when he's around you. Or he's an angry drunk. Wanting to start fights with random people he sees. Starts yelling and making more problems than he's already in. Now you can see which type of drunk he is tonight. You wish you didn't want to see this.

What you didn’t know he overheard his mom talking on the phone with your mom, about you leaving early for college. 

“What do you want me to do Rhett? Just stay here and be stuck with nothing to do? I don’t want that” I say with some anger laced in my voice.

“Ya know-” You interrupt him “R-Rhett you're drunk, don’t say anything you're gonna regret.”

“Just go! That's what you do, anyway just walk away like you always do. JUST LEAVING EVERYBODY BEHIND! YOU SELFISH BITCH!" Startled by his yelling, you finally let go and now have tears streaking down your face. You're too astonished to say anything else. How could someone you love to say the cruelest, and most horrid things to you. You back away from the porch and go to your car.

“Sun- I-I didn’t mean it... I swear you have to believe m-me.” He says back you in a weary voice also trying not to cry.

Without another beat you just look back at him and shake your head, with tears streaming down your face. Turning back, you get in your car and just speed away from the Abbott ranch. Looking back in your rearview mirror seeing an angry Rhett, kicking the dirt and walking back into the house. That’s the last you heard from Rhett. Abbott.

Until now.

Waking up on Sunday morning you feel a light weight on your chest. fluttering your eyes open and looking through your lashes, you see your precious baby tapping lightly on your chest. Then you fully open your eyes and you both are smiling ear to ear at each other. 

“Hi baby, how was your sleep?” you say with a groggy voice. and trying to snap out of your sleepy daze. “Hi mama, it was otay.” he says, rubbing his eyes.

Then sit up, and give him kisses all over his chubby face, which makes him erupt into a fit of giggles. You look over at the clock on your nightstand, it’s 7:30 am. You have a couple of minutes to stay in bed, keep having your snuggle party with your baby boy, then go downstairs, and be dragged all the way to church, where you are dreading to go.

A little bit later you finally get Ollie and you dressed. You put him in a t- shirt, and a cute little pair of baby blue jean overalls and put on your usual Sunday attire, and ready to go downstairs and hit the road. You walk into the kitchen with Ollie on your hip and see your mom, and dad talking at the table while drinking some coffee.

“Good Morning sleepyheads, are you ready to go?” she asked while grabbing Ollie and putting him in his highchair and getting food for him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be” is the only thing you can say while putting your diaper bag together, and grabbing everything you need to get ready.

As you walk up to the church with your parents you get nervous all of a sudden. Not only because you haven’t been to church in such a long time, and you need a lot of confession to be done. But also, you are dreading to see the one person you are trying to avoid as much as possible when you're back home.

When you first walk in you see Dept. Sheriff Joy. She greets you and your parents with open arms, and seems to be excited that you showed up. You knew that it was because she has a young daughter with her wife. But you aren’t mad at it at all, you want Ollie to have friends in his age range, this is a new start for him too. And he definitely needs this. The only thing that could make you happy was for your baby boy to have a good life. If he was happy, so were you.

While Sheriff Joy and you mom were making conversation, you and your dad make their way into the church out of the corner of your eye you spot Ceceilia Abbott, talking with her husband Royal. Almost acting in a serious manner when engaging with each other. But, you just keep walking and find a seat next to your dad.

During the service the preacher announces you return, in which everybody takes their eyes all to you. You become very annoyed but also anxious. You hate that everyone's eyes are on you. It almost feels like they are trying to pry every detail out of your body and soul. The only thing you can do is smile and wave at the people who have their cold, dead stare on you. Just waiting for this to all be over. When he returns to preaching, you can feel someone staring at you. You turn your head just a little, and you spot Rhett looking, but he turns away quickly and focuses back on the service.

(Rhett’s POV)

There are a million questions running through your head right now. Sunny moved back, she has a kid? Has she moved on? Why didn’t she tell me? You want to know more. But you’re afraid that you're gonna spook her, and she’s gonna run away. Like at the supermarket.

 The only thing you want to do is just hold her, hold her and say you’re sorry. You want things to be the same before everything happened, how she felt underneath your fingertips. How she used to smile and laugh when you said something that you didn’t think was funny. How she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. You just want that Sunny back. Your Sunny back.

The only thing on your mind is always her.

You just have to sit back and watch her live her life how she wants.

The only time she even looks at you is when she sees you staring at her. You look back to the preacher quickly, acting like nothing happened. Just pretending like you were nothing to her. Just some fuck up that had to ruin the only good relationship in his life.

You also see her with a small boy in her lap, snuggling into her chest dozing off. She seems like a good mom. Always taking care of people. So kind and compassionate with others. You just wish you could’ve had a future with her. Only I could dream.

(Back to your POV)

By the end of the service everybody is up out of their seats socializing and making small talk with others. You walk out to your car with your mom and dad. Only to be stopped by the Abbott’s calling you mom and dad’s names, trying to get their attention. First you see Cecilia and Royal, their coming up to your mom and dad talking.

Then you see Perry with a little girl, who you assume is his daughter. Your mom gave you updates on your little town, including the Abbott’s. She told you the oldest Abbott son Perry settled down, got married, and had a kid. But a couple years after his wife disappeared and never came back.

You felt bad for Perry, you also seemed like you were both in the same shoes. Not only being a single parent role, but also not having your partner by your side. Not really caring about the child. But in your situation, you had to leave or become beaten to death by a bloody pulp.

But snapping out of your thoughts you finally see the person you don’t want to see. Your eyes land on Rhett, and the same back at you. You both stand there in awkward silences wondering who's gonna break the ice first.

Rhett’s the first one to speak. “How have ya been?” he asks in a husky tone that runs a shiver down your spine. 

What you really want to say to him is “ Oh, ya know the past couple of years have been my absolute hell. I had to live and be in a relationship with an abusive asshole, who also doesn’t want to claim his own son. So, I had to run away without him knowing. Mind you I have to be here right now talking to someone who is supposed to be my best friend. But things have changed.”

The only thing you can say back to him was “I’ve been good.” Then you both fall back into silence, not wanting to say anything else to each other

The silence once again breaks between the two of you when Oliie waddles his way over to you with Sheriff Joy’s daughter. “Mama!I'm hungy,” he says. Out of the corner of your eye you see Rhett lift his lips up into a smirk. 

“You have a kid?” He asks. You turn back to him, now but you have Ollie on your hip.

“Yeah, this is my son, Ollie.”

“Ollie, this is my fiend Rhett, can you say hi?”

Rhett was taken back. He didn’t think you guys were friends after everything that you’ve been through. What he put you though. But he knew you were just trying to be polite  around your son.

you try to get Ollie to say hi but he hides inside your neck while you talk.

While your baby boy was on your hip, he was starting to slip out of your hold a little bit. So you put him on your hip. In the process it lifts your shirt up, just to expose a little bit of your skin on your stomach. You can see Rhett look down at the patch of skin that was exposed. He sees a big black and blue mark, it looks about the size of his hand. When you see him staring you tug your shirt down, pretending nothing happened.

You don’t want people knowing what your situation was. Especially Rhett. You knew Rhet growing up. You also know him to have a short temper. If he ever found out what Gabe had done to you. He would be a dead man.

Moving back here to Amelia County was a really good decision, you wanted to start anew for Ollie, and for yourself. You really couldn’t imagine Staying with with Gabe after what you had been through.

“Can I take you to dinner… so we can talk?” He asks you suddenly. “I don’t think tha-” “ Please Sunny, I just want to talk, I haven’t seen you in forever. I’ll take you to dinner, we’ll talk, and I’ll drive you straight home. No funny business.” He says, and also putting his hands up in surrender.

You're hesitant at first. Not really believing him for just wanting to talk. But it would be nice catching up with him. See how life’s been treating him. But who would watch Ollie? Your parents might have a prob-

“Sure, I’ll go. But straight to dinner and straight back home.”

Your thoughts were running so quick, you hadn't realized what was coming out of your mouth.

“Sounds like a date. I’ll pick you around 9?” He says with a curious look, and makes sure you won’t deny his request.

“Sounds good also, but let's make it clear, it’s definitely not a date.” You give him a quick smile and walk back to your car. But you were giving a smirk while walking away. You just don’t know that he’s giving one right back.

That’s what he loved about you, you always called on his bullshit. He just wished you were close again, having that amazing bond that on one else had. He can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Just like old times he thinks to himself.

On the other hand, you're thinking you don’t know what you got yourself into.

End.

(Here is some outfit inspo for Ollie and Sunny.😊)

Pinterest

Pinterest

Reblogs are always welcome. Unless you're under 18. I will block you. You all should be responsible. Also comment if you wanted to be added to the taglist.

Taglist: @callsign-magnolia @roosterforme @angelbabyyy99

dividers are by @saradika

[mrssimply]

WIP Whenever!

SO I was tagged 4 days ago by @bluelolblue about the usual wip game and... yeah. that thing called life? You know.

Anyway, since I'm having trouble finishing the Burning of Rome, and got stalled on the prompts (for unknown reason, creativity is a fickle thing - apparently there are fics I can only work on in the morning or when I have a down time at work, but when I have days off? Nothing comes. Great.) I decided to throw some words on another idea.

That one was prompted by my sister telling me to watch Yellowstone and also because friends IRL and online are pressurng me to try RDR2 again and I'm this close to giving in (it's only a matter of time now). So here you have it, Cowboys Santino and John.

Tank you sweetie for the tag, you can always tag me, just know that there is over 75% chance I'll have nothing to show xD

Others have tried before you.

But I love to be tagged, makes me feel included >:D

Aiden was called the Tracker because he was good at following trails. It came in handy when they lost a sheep or a cow, or even when one of the yearlings decided to jump the fence. He was also good at catching gossip, which amused the guys greatly. Cowboys were no better than fishermen's wives, apparently. It had never bothered John, he might even have said it made for good stories in the evening around a poker game. 

Today though, he was reconsidering.

The Tracker rested a leg on the round pen’s fence where John was unsaddling the mare he’d been working. She was nearly ready to be sold, would make a good cow horse, had a cold temper in most situations and understood her job easily. John would go as far as say she liked it. 

“You know the ranch is bein’ sold?” The Tracker said. 

Caine glanced at him, always interested in gossip. He’d been hard on the kid since he came in, like he rarely was, meaning he was seeing potential, or he wouldn’t have bothered.

“So what? It's only gonna be the fourth time in as many years.”

It was no secret money wasn’t coming like it should. The ranch had been used for laundering money, then it had fallen in the hands of disinterested investors, who’d sold it to the highest bidder, who happened to be one of those millionaires in need of a new pastime. John had seen the guy something like twice. 

It was a miracle the lands hadn’t been sold for parts to neighbors. Word had it that the Tarasovs had been looking into it, which would’ve been really bad news for John. So for once, he paid really attention to what was being said.

“Yeah, but this time I think it’s good news.”

“Yeah, how do you figure that?” Caine asked, turning toward him. 

“And how did you hear ‘bout that?” Marcus pipped in. Straightening from his slouch against the wooden hedge.

“Winston.”

Ok, so this was serious. John got Magnolia out of the pen, the mare following obediently and moving around him fluidly so he could close the gate.

“Alright, spill,” Caine added, rolling a smoke.

“The D’Antonios bought it.”

Not their direct neighbors, but a close one. The land in between was owned by an old farmer who had two daughters he’d put through college. They had no interest in inheriting, they would sell it to the most generous offer in a few years, and the D’Antonio would fight for it to the end.

It was good news, except…

Caine glanced at John and chuckled while Marcus’ face bloomed into amused disbelief.

“Really?” the older man asked, eyes shining like it was christmas before time.

Caine’s chuckle turned into a full laughter.

“What?” the Tracker asked, catching on the fact he was missing something.

John looked down, the tip of his boot scratching the sand. Behind him, Magnolia huffed tiredly. She was too polite to start showing impatience, but she felt it anyway. She wanted back in her pen with her friends. John gently stroked her forehead in appeasement 

Marcus’ smile kept growing on his face.

“Oh, this is fuckin’ good.”

Caine was now holding his sides, howling and slapping his thighs as guffaws escaped him.

John pushed his hat further on his head and started leading the mare away.

“What?! C’mon, guys!” The Tracker complained.

“Oh man, you won’t believe it,” Caine wheezed between bouts of hilarity.

“See, Aiden, John wasn’t always the sad abstinent sod you have here. There was a time he used to fuck his way through the town, wasn’t extra choosy about it either. If it was legal and consenting, then there was a good chance you would find them frolicking behind’s Addy’s bar on saturdays.”

Caine’s laughter had turned into hiccups. 

“Would’ve been fine,” he gasped, trying to find breath, “if he didn’t decide to fuck D’Antonio’s son one summer.”

The young black man turned his gaze on the horse trainer with a gobsmacked expression.

“No way!”

“Yes, way,” Marcus explained benevolently, smugness and mirth clear in his voice, “Nearly caused a shoutout over it, too. Real Romeo and Juliet story, that one!”

John gave him the finger over his shoulder and kept on walking. 

Except for that, it was great news.

(As you can see, I'm back on my Romeo and Juliet bullshit. One day I'll tell you what reading the piece did to me.)

@koda-shoulda-woulda-but-didnt, if you wanna show us some things? RDR2 maybe >:] ?

[sicknessbysalem]

could you make a list of all of your OC’s and their core attributes/characteristics?

i'll be honest, if i were to make a COMPLETE list of characters, i can promise you, we'll be here forever.

what i can do is make a list of characters i am interested in/motivated to write!

below is a collection of my characters and what subseries (aka storylines and potential books/novellas) they are apart of. most of their universes can overlap, with the exception of Curtain Call and Memento Vivere

a lot of these character descriptions are the summaries of notes i have for each character mentioned. if there are specific things you would like to know, feel free to send it my way!

Endzone, Endgame

Novak Daskalov is a single father. Depending on the timeline, he either is a professional linebacker OR a defensive coach for the football team he played for. I write both eras of his life pretty frequently. Novak was a foster kid before he was adopted by his now-mother, Marina. He has a daughter named Elya and a girlfriend named Evangeline (*for those of you who have been around, novak's original girlfriend was named yuliya and i am currently in the progress of changing up those early fics. by time his book came out 'Endzone, Endgame', which you can find here, i had given him a new girlfriend.)

Evangeline Vyachekova is a former figure skater with a past she left her home country of Ukraine to escape from. She has two general timelines with Novak, recreational skater after stepping back from competition and competitive figure skater. Evangeline is very selfless and often assumes the role of caretaker with Novak and her loved ones.

Until the Heavens Fall

*this series is connected to Endzone, Endgame while also standing on its own.

Vanessa McAllister has two timelines I write for her. Both, of course, are with Willow. In one, Vanessa is a bodyguard who typically works night shift. She works as a bodyguard for actors, actresses, models, or their reckless young adult children. She was a police officer before that, before she even moved to town and later moved in with Willow, but quit after a traumatic event. After a few years of bodyguard work, Vanessa went back to the police force part time and eventually full time because at the end of the day she loves being a police officer and helping those in need.

Willow Atkinson is a nursing student, specializing in emergency medicine with a side gig as a sports physician while she gets her clinical credits. Willow adores her job and wants to help people, though she helps people in different ways than Vanessa.

Milan Kovalev-Wang is a close friend of Willow and another medical student. He specializes in pediatric medicine. Milan was disowned from his family when he was eighteen after opting out of an arranged marriage. While Milan wants to work in pediatric medicine, he also does emergency relief work (natural disasters and the like) and enjoys that.

Ballad of the Wildflowers

Meadow Huston is a musician for fun and a bartender for money. She grew up in a family that was all about the high city life. Meadow, however, has always loved the more laid back small town country life as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the city. When she turned 18, she moved to a small town in the Appalachian mountains where she works at a tavern. The family who owns the tavern have taken Meadow as their own. Meadow plays music at the tavern most nights she works to bring in a little extra money but she enjoys what she can do.

Houston Robinson is everyone's big brother honestly. He's a tattoo artist, a bartender, and a cat dad. Houston loves to work but only in jobs that he doesn't hate. He works full time as a tattoo artist during the day and works at the tavern with Meadow part time (as in, pretty much whenever he wants to). He started out as a ranch hand at the Dixon family's farm (the family that owns the tavern) and much like with Meadow, they've taken him as their own too. Houston's life has been filled with bad experiences, so he came to town to start over and he is perfectly content living the life he does.

Kaleidoscope

Saylor Thompson is an art student. Her past is marked by hardship, shaping her into a fiercely independent and resilient young woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself or those she cares about. Beneath her tough exterior lies a depth of emotion and creativity that she channels into her art, using it as both an escape and a means of expression. Saylor is deeply loyal to her close friends, especially Julian, with whom she shares a bond forged in mutual understanding and support. Though she often presents a hardened front, those who get close to her see the vulnerability and fierce determination that drive her.

Julian Avery is a gentle soul with a passion for helping others, especially those in the LGBT community. At 20 years old, he is a psychology student with aspirations of becoming a clinical psychologist, focusing on outreach for LGBT youth. Julian is also a talented graphic and fashion designer, often spending his free time creating intricate digital art and stylish clothing. His soft, wavy blond hair and light blue eyes reflect his kind-hearted nature, making him approachable and easy to confide in. Beyond his academic and creative pursuits, Julian is an accomplished cheerleader, excelling as a flyer in competitive cheer.

Keagan Richards is a figure surrounded by an air of mystery, someone who has managed to weave themselves into the lives of Saylor and Julian, adding complexity to their dynamic. Though details about him are less known, Keagan’s presence is significant, offering a unique perspective or challenge to those around him. Whether through his actions or the emotions he stirs in others, Keagan plays a crucial role in the unfolding stories of the people he’s connected with, shaping their experiences in subtle yet impactful ways. He is a character whose influence is felt deeply, even when not immediately understood.

Mercury Williams was born a month early, so he was held in the neonatal intensive care unit under close surveillance. After his body was ready and capable of surviving with a mother’s care, he was placed into a foster home where he lived for six years. His foster family thought him being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder was too burdening so they transferred him to another foster home. His new family have actually adopted him and are some of the best people he knows. Mercury has always had an interest in space technology and has almost undying dreams to work for NASA. Mercury is a child prodigy and enrolled in college when he was 15 to give himself extra academic challenges.

Memento Vivere

Amancio Sabilline is a vampire and a supernatural mentor. Amancio is a protector of his former hometown, mentor to new supernaturals, and dedicated researcher. Amancio usually opposes the myth of vampires as mindless killers, promotes peace among supernaturals, and is committed to supernatural research. He values knowledge, control, and the safety of those he protects. He is very good at finding newly turned supernaturals (or those who just realized their power) and training them to hone and use their powers in the best way possible.

Seraphina Rossi is also a vampire and Amancio's wife of convenience. Back in their human days, they both knew they were attracted to the same sex. But, given the circumstances, could never reasonably act on it in public. They married each other as a convenience tactic and have remained 'together' ever since. Unlike Amancio, Seraphina is far less peaceful and fiercely protective of women and other vulnerable people, going as far as using her vampire abilities to help those who may be in unsafe situations. She runs a shelter for victims of unsafe situations, but often sends the supernaturals to Amancio and takes care of regular humans herself.

Hemlock Robinson (unrelated to Houston) is a newly turned half-ghost, half-human. He was the son of world renowned supernatural hunters but has always aimed for peace with non-violent supernaturals. Hemlock ran away after he discovered his abilities and has remained a faithful student to Amancio and Seraphina ever since.

Curtain Call

*this project is connected to Memento Vivere but stands alone as well

Cassius Delacroix is a young (well, he's 20) sorcerer whose brilliance shines in the quiet moments spent buried in ancient tomes and spellbooks. His mind is a treasure trove of magical knowledge, far surpassing his years, but his frail body often struggles to keep up with the sharpness of his intellect. Cassius has lupus and an issue with his thyroid which leaves him fatigued and vulnerable. Cassius is deeply empathetic, with a gentle soul that seeks solace in the academic side of magic, where he can exert control and find comfort in structure.

Calypso Delacroix is a force of nature, her magical prowess matched only by her fierce determination to shield her brother, Cassius, from the hardships of their world. With striking beauty and formidable strength, she’s often objectified in the magical performances she’s forced to partake in, yet her true power lies in her unwavering love and sacrifice. The deal she made with a demon to save Cassius has left her with a painful curse—every spell she casts now harms her, yet she continues to wield her magic, driven by a desperate need to protect him. Beneath her determined exterior, Calypso harbors a deep fear and guilt, knowing that her actions, while born of love, have placed her on a dangerous path.

Emergency Exit

*this is a new project, loosely connected to the universe of Endzone, Endgame and such, but stand entirely alone and is (planned) to be a book coming out early next year (which I'm super excited for!)

Celeste Dupont is a master of orchestrating perfection. As a successful event planner, she’s made a name for herself by turning even the most chaotic of events into seamless spectacles. With a warm smile and an impeccable eye for detail, Celeste is the go-to person for clients who demand the best. However, behind her professional success lies a personal life that’s far less orderly. Celeste is often questioned by her parents as to why she has yet to date or do any typical mid-twenty something activities like going out and having fun.

Arcenciel LeCavalier is no stranger to navigating life’s emergencies, both on and off the job. As an EMT, he’s dedicated to saving lives, channeling the empathy born from his own painful past into every call he answers. Growing up in an bad household and later enduring the cold cruelty of unsupportive host families, Arcenciel has developed a deep well of compassion that he draws upon daily. But while he excels in his professional life, his personal one is a different story. Burdened by his family’s demands to conform to their expectations, Arcenciel finds himself trapped between his true identity and the life they want him to lead.

Adrien Marchand is the man who knows how to find the perfect setting for any occasion. With a background in Art History and a keen understanding of architectural heritage, Adrien has carved out a niche as a highly sought-after venue finder. His ability to secure the most exquisite locations for events has made him an indispensable part of Celeste’s team, and his calm, collected demeanor has earned him the respect of everyone he works with. But beneath his polished exterior lies a man in turmoil. Stuck in a relationship that’s more about fulfilling expectations than finding happiness, Adrien is hesitant to disrupt the life he’s built—even if it means denying his own desires.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS IS NOT MY ENTIRE LIST OF CHARACTERS AND THIS LIST MAY CHANGE. THIS IS CURRENTLY THE LIST OF CHARACTERS I AM WILLING TO WRITE FOR.

[danalockhart411]

The Year of the Flood - 1993

I am in the flood, and the flood is in me.

In the year of 1993, the mighty Mississippi River flooded its banks and spread out over 30,000 square miles. It was one of the greatest deluges in its history, second only to the great flood of 1927. By October of 1993, the flood waters finally started to recede—and that was the month and year that I was born.

My mother and father were fishing on the Mississippi River near Louisiana, Missouri during the height of the Flood of ‘93. Of course, this means that my mother was pregnant with me at that time. Before I was even born, I was being gently rocked by flood waters while my parents fished off their old John boat. They camped along the flooded banks in a cramped camper for a week during that summer. Perhaps, then, it is no wonder that I am drawn to the high, muddy water and the sound of the rain. The flood is in my blood.

The river is in my father, and in those that came before him.

The river is in my father's blood, too. He was taken to the Mississippi River at a young age and fell in love with the water and wildlife, and in turn he instilled that in me. Many a summer day was spent boating on the Mississippi, until one day Dad decided that he was tired of the 45-minute drive to get there. He started searching for a small house— “a river shack,” he said—to purchase so we could spend multiple days out on the river without having to camp. Instead, he found a 2600 square foot ranch-style home at an unbeatable price with an incredible view; the closest house to the river in that neighborhood. The nearest boat ramp is a two-minute drive away. A conservation beach along the water stretches almost a half a mile, containing 11 acres, just behind the home. The location was perfect. That home became our River House. I was 12 years' old at the time.

We owned that house during the 2008 flood, which nearly rivaled the Flood of '93. The river came up into our yard, about four feet away from our back porch, and twelve feet away from the house itself. You couldn't get much closer to the river than that. We were able to fish right out of our back yard. Where we lived, the 2008 flood lasted for weeks. At one point, we were worried enough to sandbag around the porch to prevent any damage to it (but it didn't get that far). In 2019, another flood rose just slightly higher than the 2008 flood, but it only lasted a few days.

When I started college, I moved into the River House full time and have been living there ever since. Every day my eyes lay upon the flowing water. It is changing all of the time. For a moment it can be smooth like glass, and the next it is dark and turbulent. There are several places where the current regularly runs backwards along eddies and islands. Floods are common. They don't get all the way up to the yard very often, but over the past decade there hasn't been a year where the river stayed inside it's normal banks all summer. High water records seem meant to be broken. The deluges have become normal now.

A story old as time--great destruction, and great inspiration

Most cultures around the world tell a story of a giant flood that threatened the whole world – The Deluge itself that the Bible's Noah's Ark was built to escape. Even the oldest recorded written story that we have discovered, The Epic of Gilgamesh, has such a tale within it. A flood can damage the land, homes, and people when its banks run over. According to the Britannica, the 1927 Mississippi River flood killed approximately 250 people and further displaced 750,000. However, it also inspired songs, like "The Levee Breaks" by Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie (later covered by Led Zeppelin), as well as "Louisiana 1927" by Randy Newman. The rolling waters are both dangerous and inspiring, capable of both tremendous strength and calm beauty.

They also served as the inspiration for In the Deluge. Like the mighty Mississippi, sometimes emotions can overwhelm us, drown us, and overflow out of us. Sometimes our levees break that we built up to contain them. Our emotions can whisk us away like a river, drag us down like sea serpent, and spin us around like a whirlpool. However, there also is calm, peace, and growth to be gotten from the rain. Life flourishes where there is water. We cannot live without it.

When I first conceived the theme of this poetry collection, I called it "Drowning in the Deluge". Alliteration is my jam, and I'm fascinated by the archaic word "deluge". However, as time passed, I realized:  just because you're in the midst of a flood, doesn't mean you have to be drowning. I simply changed the title to "In the Deluge". It's a subtle shift, but an important one. Whether we ended up here by choice or by force, we are here, in the flood. We might even be underwater, but we are not drowning. It is a lot of water, but we are weathering it. Maybe there are days where it feels like drowning, but maybe other days we're trying to dive deeper. Some days we are floating adrift. Sometimes we're at the bottom where it's so dark we can't see, and sometimes we're so close to the surface we can breach it. We are always in it, and maybe it's even in us.

Come hell or high water, we will weather it.

-Dana Lockhart

[perfectlybriefmoon]

Various fanfic ideas for Walker that I have no real plans to fully write

Stella and Auggie get taken instead of Cordi and Liam which causes Cordi to go feral over the thought of losing his kids Liam also goes feral trying to find the kids seeing how much he adores his niece and nephew

In Defend The Ranch after Stella and Auggie save Liam's life Clint orders Trevor to kill the Walker kids Trevor doesn't and hides them in the barn however the rest of the family believe them to be dead

During the whole Grey Flag fiasco both the Walker family and Perez families are taken hostage and falsely reported to the FBI and Texas Rangers that Cordi and Cassie's families are dead while also having the LAPD/Mid Wilshire officers join in on taking down Grey Flag like having Bradford go undercover with Trey and have Bradford stumble upon Abby, Bonham, Liam and Stella and August Walker and Ben and Grandma Perez (all in different cells Abby and Bonham are in one cell Ben, Grandma Perez and Liam in another cell with Stella and Auggie having their own cell however the adults Bonham, Abby and Liam (are told that the kids are dead so not only do their older son think that they are dead they are also under the belief that their Grandbabies are dead) and Bradford manages to get Bonham and Grandma Perez out (it was too risky to get the others out) and both Bonham and Grandma Perez were not only able to reunite with Cordi and Cassie but they also told them that Abby, Liam and Ben were alive (remember they still think that the kids are dead)

In Search and Rescue while James and Cordi are hiding out after Grey Flag tried to kill them Cordi tries to get in touch with his kids however due to obvious reasons he can't and he starts to freak out however James was able to get through to DJ

In False Flag Part 2 Abby, Liam and the kids are kidnapped by Kevin to use as leverage against Cordi, Trey, Cassie and James while Bonham and Cordi are linked up

In Search and Rescue Cordi gets shot in the arm by Grey Flag and gets rushed to the ER but unknown to him and James Stella and Auggie are currently in a life and death situation and neither Cordi and James can get through to the rest of the family for several hours however because Cordi's wound wasn't to serious he gets sent back to the rental house and he starts pacing trying desperately to get through to the rest of his family but luckily the rest of his family walked through the front door

During the events of Sittin On A Rainbow Cordi and Liam are told that the rest of the family were killed not knowing that their family was alive which utterly shatters Cordi's spirit but Liam isn't as convinced and he tries his best to raise what little spirit Cordi has left and once they escape James and Cassie tell them that their family is safe

During the events of Defend The Ranch Hoyt and Cordi get arrested for the bank robbery by either the APD or the DPS Troopers and Hoyt begs the arresting officers to at least let Cordi go that this wasn't his fault or his choice but his pleas are ignored whether or not the Walker family survives is up to you

In 3x01 and 3x02 it's Liam who is kidnapped instead of Cordi and instead of using his big brother to get Liam to break Grey Flag decides to use the kids to get Liam to break meanwhile Cordi goes absolutely feral to get his baby brother and his kids back

[heartlandians]

Past, Present and the Future (Christmas Fanfiction), part 3/3

Genre: General, Drama, Family Characters: Tim Fleming, few other family members (don’t want to give out spoilers!) Synopsis: Three different snapshots of Tim’s Christmasses of the past, present and the future. * * * * Sixteen years had passed since Tim Fleming’s return to Hudson - and eventually to Heartland. For years, he had dreamed about being part of the Bartlett-Fleming family again and yet somehow now that he was picking up one of his granddaughters and her boyfriend from Calgary International Airport, he was relieved to get a moment for himself.

But in order to avoid making his granddaughter, Georgie Fleming-Morris, think that he was only here to escape the craziness at the ranch, Tim spared her these details and tried to focus more on the fact that Georgie was back from Florida for the first time in a long time. Of course it also felt good to see her and have her home for Christmas, there was no denying that.

Waiting by the exit gate, Tim looked at all the people, rushing in to hug their loved ones after travelling for hours to see them. Even though his family sometimes drove him crazy, he was never not thankful about them, especially after a year like this. 

So much had happened. Maybe that’s why it especially felt important to have Georgie there with the rest of them, if only for few weeks.

Finally, as Georgie and her boyfriend, Quinn, walked through the gate, Tim’s expression changed. He waved at them in order to catch their attention, and when his granddaughter saw the familiar face, she grinned and poked on her boyfriend so he could direct his gaze toward the same direction as well.

“Hey, honey”, Tim said, coming in to hug Georgie. He tried to be gentle, even though every part of him wanted to hold her and not let go for five minutes. Now that he had her there, Tim realized just how much he had missed her. “Good to have you home.”

“It feels good to be home”, Georgie said, even though part of her was slowly starting to think Florida as a home as well. “Can’t believe it’s so cold here!”

“Ah, you’ll get used to it in no time”, Tim figured, squeezing her shoulders and taking a good look at her. “You haven’t gone soft in Florida, have you?”

“Of course not”, Georgie insisted. “I’ll always be true north strong and free.”

Tim smiled in a pleased manner and then turned to her boyfriend. He gave him an acknowledging nod. ”Quinn. Welcome.”

They had a firm, almost formal handshake while Tim gave the young man’s other shoulder a squeeze too. 

“Thank you, Tim”, Quinn said back, still feeling a bit awkward around Georgie’s family. He had big respect for all of them, but at the same time being here, in the cowboy county, made him feel like he had traveled to another planet.

“How was the flight?” Tim then asked from them both.

“Oh... It...” Quinn began, looking at Georgie. It was obvious they had had quite the experience, but right now, being on the other side of that, they figured there was no use in dwelling that.

“It was... okay. You know, crying babies. Someone threw up. The guy next to us smelled. The usual”, Georgie summed up all those little details in a way that let Tim know it had not exactly been pleasant, but those things would make funny stories to tell while they sat by the fireplace at the house later today.

“So, pretty standard then”, Tim agreed, remembering how it had been when he had been travelling with his wife, Jessica, last year. “Oh, let me help with those”, he hurried to get Georgie’s bag. 

“It’s okay. I got it”, Georgie insisted, squeezing the handle.

“Come on, you’re still recovering, aren’t you?” Tim checked, making a nod toward the riding accident Georgie had had earlier this year. It had resulted in a surgery, one that had forced her mother, Lou, her dad, Peter, and her sister, Katie, to travel Florida to see her. Georgie was lucky to survive the accident and come out of the surgery with no complications.

“I’m much better now, honestly”, Georgie insisted. “It’s been months.”

Quinn watched their bickering. He had tried to help Georgie as much as he could, but at the same time Georgie was so stubborn that there was only so much he could do for her sometimes, no matter how much he wanted to be there for her.

While he was more flexible - within his limits - Quinn knew that neither Georgie nor Tim were like that, so he had no idea how this was going to end. Maybe they would still be here, pushing and pulling the handle of the bag, while the year turned from 2022 to 2023.

“Still, I don’t want to risk it. With all the health issues this family has had this year, I rather play it safe”, Tim said, making Georgie back off and hand him the bag.

Since Tim had pulled out The Family Card, Georgie couldn’t deny that this year had been a lot for the Flemings.

“Fine...” she eventually muttered, giving Quinn a look that let her boyfriend know this stay was going to challenge her.

* * * *

Few days later, Tim was at the loft, getting dressed for the family Christmas dinner they were going to have at the ranch house, with few friends added to the mix. He wasn’t sure how they were all going to fit around the table, but the way Lou had been prepping and stressing about this dinner for days, she probably had it figured out by now.

After he had buttoned up his tan shirt on, Tim glanced at his hair. It was messy after wearing a cowboy hat all day.

But also, it was gray. That’s how it had been for few years now.

He stared at his image from the mirror and the lines that told stories about life lived and seen, and realized that someone would have probably dreamed about the days when their skin was not as loose as it was now or their hair was a darker shade of color - but not Tim.

For him, none of these signs of getting old were taken for granted. There had been many times in his life where he had not thought he would see the day where he would actually start to look old. The possibility of him dying in a rodeo accident, overdosing on drugs or just getting caught up in a fatal fight had always been high.

Not to mention, Tim had not thought he would ever see the day where he was actually a grandfather. At first, that title had scared him, but mostly because he had never really felt like he had excelled at being a father and in his mind, being a grandfather was even more of a noble thing.

Maybe that was because Jack had set such a good example with that.

As he was taking his comb from the side table by the bed, Tim heard steps. It was his wife, Jessica Cook, entering the loft.

“Tim, you’re not going to believe this!” she said with such excitement that Tim would have expected from his six-year-old granddaughter Lyndy when she would see all the presents they had under the Christmas tree.

“What?” Tim asked casually, grooming his hair back.

“I think Lou and Peter are getting re-married!” Jessica exclaimed, walking across the loft to her husband.

It took a while for it to register to Tim. “Wait, what?” 

“I was in the house, helping others in the kitchen. Rick, Carl and the baby came, and then Lou pulled Rick on the side and asked him to help her with something”, Jessica narrated. “We had just placed all the extra chairs around the table, but now Lou insisted on moving the table out of the way, so the chairs could be arranged toward the fireplace. I’m telling you, it looks like a wedding reception more than it does look like a Christmas dinner!”

Tim scoffed, not knowing what to say. He knew that after years of being married and then divorced, Lou and Peter finally seemed to be at the stage of their life they had always wanted to be. Still, this was not something he had expected as it seemed like they didn’t need a marriage for everything to work out as they wanted.

But at the time same time, now that he thought about it, it did kind of make sense.

For example, the way Lou had insisted on inviting her assistant, Rick, and his partner and their new baby for dinner too. Of course she would want them there for a wedding. Lou was also an organizer by nature, but thinking back to how she had been so focused on getting everything perfect just for today made Tim wonder if it was because she was trying to make this into the perfect ceremony she had always wanted, but now with a more laid-back approach than 13 years prior when she and Peter had rushed their wedding so they could travel to Dubai for Peter’s work.

Not to mention, Jack and his late wife, Lyndy, had gotten married by that fireplace. Amy and her late husband, Ty, had gotten married by that fireplace. It would make sense for Lou and Peter to now follow that tradition too. 

“Wow... I... I don’t know what to say...” Tim finally spoke.

“I’m so excited for them!” Jessica gushed. “If this is going to be a wedding reception type of thing, I need to change my clothes. I can’t dress up in red for a wedding...” she went on, moving closer to her closet. Sighing, she looked at all her designer dresses. “How do we feel about baby blue?”

“Honey, you’ll look great in everything”, Tim just said, knowing he was the luckiest man of Earth for not only having such a driven, compassionate and smart wife, but also someone who just got more and more beautiful by the day.

While Jessica was changing her dress, Tim was still processing the situation. He had never been Peter’s biggest fan, but he had to admit that the man did have his moments. 

Not to mention, he himself had never been a perfect husband, father or a friend either, no matter how much he had tried. So, who was he to judge? If Lou was happy, he was happy.

Maybe everyone deserved to have their second chance.

Tim knew he was a living example of that as he was here, at Heartland, just where he had always wanted to be.

[readingforsanity]

You Shouldn’t Have Come here | Jeneva Rose | Published 2023 | *SPOILERS*

Grace Evans, an overworked New Yorker looking for a total escape from her busy life, books an Airbnb on a ranch in the middle of Wyoming.  When she arrives, she’s pleasantly surprised to find that the owner is a handsome man by the name of Calvin Wells. But there are things Grace discovers that she’s not too pleased about: A lack of cell phone service. A missing woman. And a feeling that something isn’t right with the town. 

Despite her uneasiness and misgivings from Calvin’s friends and family, the two grow close and start to fall for one another. However, as her departure date nears, things between them start to change for the worse. Grace grows wary of Calvin and his infatuation for her seems to turn into obsession. Calvin fears that Grace is hiding something from him. 

Told from dual points of view, You Shouldn’t Have Come Here is a thrill ride and a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when you open up your house and your heart to a total stranger. 

Grace has set out on a road trip that would send her from New York City to Dubois, Wyoming. Every year, she throws a dart at a map, and she vacations wherever it lands. This year, that is Wyoming and she is staying on a ranch that serves as an AirBNB. The host, Calvin, is a good-looking rancher who prides himself on being an exemplary host. 

He and Grace get to know one another as her vacation goes on. She meets a variety of Calvin’s friends, including Charlotte, who is in love with him. Calvin shows her the ropes of ranch life, including fishing and even what happens after a predator finds their way into the chicken coop. 

It’s clear that there is an attraction between Grace and Calvin, as they’re flirting with each other constantly. Calvin tells himself he isn’t ready for a relationship, as his girlfriend had passed away a year ago in a car accident. But, he says he would make an exception for Grace. The two of them enjoy each other’s company, but the closer the two get, the more Grace realizes that something is off with Calvin and the property. 

Police have come onto the grounds in search of a missing woman. She was supposed to arrive at the ranch for a stay, but had gone missing. Calvin claims that she had never been there, and had never showed up so he had marked her a no-show in the app. The police accept this, though they do come back and search the grounds more. 

Charlotte continuously insinuates that Calvin is off limits to Grace, though Grace defends her position in Calvin’s life, though she doesn’t know what that even means yet. It turns out that Calvin and Charlotte had slept together the night before, which greatly upsets her ex-boyfriend Wyatt, though he’s even more upset after finding out that Calvin’s brother, Joe, also slept with her. 

After a birthday barbeque in honor of Calvin, Grace learns that Lisa, Calvin’s ex, had died in a car accident after Joe had been driving them home the year prior, on Calvin’s birthday. Joe had hit an elk, and the antlers punctured her lung and she died. It was said that Joe never hit the brakes, therefore he had done it on purpose, but Calvin wouldn’t believe that of his brother despite their rocky relationship. 

After a near miss with a mountain lion, and a surprise guest named Albert, Grace begins to figure out that something is amiss on the property. When Calvin and Albert go into town, Grace finds herself in the basement, which Calvin previously had told her was off-limits. She finds a photo of the two brothers, along with a much younger Albert, with him listed as his uncle. Grace realizes now that Calvin has been lying to her this entire time she’s been with him on the property. 

She also finds his guest book, with the missing woman’s name listed as the last person to have arrived, with a check-in date but no check-out date. Grace realizes she needs to get out of there, but her car was having some troubles. Calvin promised to have it fixed, but Grace believes this to be a lie. 

When Joe shows up believing that Calvin had hurt him after finding out that he had slept with Charlotte, he tells Grace that he’s trying to save her from his brother. He begins to set the house on fire. He also confessed that their parents had left Calvin the ranch despite him having left, and Joe remaining to help. But, it was because of their abusive father. Eventually, their mother ended up killing him and then herself, and the entire mess was blamed on a house fire, which is what Calvin had been told. Joe knew the truth because of their family friend, Betty. 

Calvin eventually learns this is the truth, and with Grace leaving, his manic behavior becomes more obvious. Grace begins preparing for her departure, and the morning she goes to leave, she realizes that Calvin is definitely not the person she thought he was. When her car won’t start, he attacks her. When she goes into the house and hides, Calvin finds her but finds himself drugged, losing himself completely and being unable to defefnd himself. Grace murders him. 

She learns that Calvin was really the person driving that night, and that had begun is slow descent into being a serial killer, Lisa being his first kill. He killed her because she was was leaving, not bothering to discuss with him what that meant for the two of them. She was leaving as her assignment as a travel nurse was up, and she was being sent to Alaska. Joe had been in the back seat drunk, but Calvin placed him in the front seat to cover his tracks. Due to a TBI, Joe was never fully aware of this and still has no memory of what happened. She also learns that Briana, the missing girl, was being kept in a shed near the apiary where Betty kept her bees and Albert had been found dead due to a bee sting allergy the day before. 

When she attempts to burn the house down, she finds the heads of three other women in his closet, all the women that had stayed on the ranch within the last year. Two other ones were there as well, but no heads, only the names listed: Briana and Grace. 

Grace finds the missing girl in the shed and frees her, but doesn’t allow her to go along with her as she rescues herself. She begins driving away from the scene of the crime, after having cleaned herself up and dying her hair back to her natural color. 

You see, Grace herself is a serial killer, whose real name is Avery Adams. Every year, she realizes she has an itch that she needs to scratch, and goes to stay at AirBNBs and kills the hosts. She has known that she was different for her entire life, and has finally done something about it. It was just her luck that Calvin himself had that same darkness in him but failed to see it in her. 

She returns to her normal life, in a suburb outside of Chicago, Illinois. She is greeted home by her family, a husband named Daniel, and her two children. She believes that her daughter, Margot, has the same darkness in her, as she recognizes it from when she was a child. She had told her family that she was on a retreat in Seattle, and eventually, she would also take Margot on those retreats with her. 

This one had me guessing the entire time. It was pretty obvious that something was wrong with Calvin, but I really just chalked that up to him being completely obsessed with Grace pretty early on. I don’t believe someone can fall that fast, but apparently, Calvin can. He was just too dumb to see that she was playing him the entire time, now that I know the truth. 

I tried to read another book from this author, and hated it, but I truly enjoyed this one. I never saw it coming that Grace/Avery was basically a Dexter prodigy. IYKYK. 

4/5 stars! 

[bookloveravenue]

Ryker Falls (book 8): We Found Love by Lani Blake

Beauty and the tormented beast

Ford Winter, the oldest, and, according to his siblings, ugliest, is a man with carefully hidden secrets. Outwardly relaxed, laid back, and happy with life on his family’s ranch, Ford takes comfort in the daily rhythms of his life. Under the surface, however, he is battling with the demons of something he will never share with anyone.

Business takes him from his hometown, and when he finds a desperate woman standing outside his hotel room, clearly in pain, he does what he does best. Steps in to help her. What he doesn’t realize is that life as he knows it, from that moment, is about to change after their encounter.

Autumn Harris, the sweet new teacher in town, and woman he rescued, is a single mother and way too nice for the likes of him. He doesn’t want nice and sweet, or a relationship, because at night, when the door to his room is closed, often Ford’s life changes for the worst. Plagued with nightmares from an event that changed his life, he never wants anyone to see his demons. Especially Autumn.

Can their demons be tamed?

Autumn desperately needs a life change, both for herself and her son, Ritchie. So, when she reads about a teaching position in Ryker Falls, Colorado, she jumps at the chance. Finally, she can escape the man who had once held her heart. A man who thinks he can still be part of their lives, despite Autumn’s protests.

The Ryker Falls community welcome her and Ritchie, wrapping them in a secure blanket of love and support. After the hell that she’s come from, it’s like the best kind of dream come true. Right up until the day she walks into Ford Winter again. He’s the man who tenderly looked after her, the man who showed her such gentle kindness when she’d no one else to turn to. The tall, imposing rancher with the easy smile but shadowed eyes.

Autumn senses something is off with Ford. Something dark is plaguing him, his unspoken demons obvious in his manner and rejection. Autumn is both scared yet drawn to an inward struggle she well recognizes, but also knows her heart can never be truly his. Not when she has so much at stake to lose.

Can Ford and Autumn heal each other, or will the past that comes calling and stop them from finding a future together?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128679172-we-found-love

********

April 16, 2023

My Review: 5/5 Stars

We have finally made it to the last Ryker Falls book! At least that is what it seems like seeing as all our favorite characters are finally in relationships. But in no way is it the end of that world. Not with these new characters and new town we are brought to. Plus the end note introducing a new book! But let's back up to Ford and Autumn. These two were such a great pair. Ford has kept a pretty big secret from his family for a long time. An incident back in college that scarred him in so many ways. But he kept it to himself because of what his family was going through at the time and felt it was up to him to protect them. But years later, he is still facing the aftermath with nightmares that leave him unable to sleep through the night. And now, his family are starting to realize that something is off and won't let up until he tells them the truth. And then he meets Autumn on a business trip and becomes her knight in shining armor. Not realizing that their paths would cross again so soon. And Ford starts to realize exactly how his siblings and friends have fallen in love so quick. For Autumn, she came to Ryker Falls with her young son to get away with her toxic ex. She has a job as a schoolteacher and is learning what it is like to be supported in this close knit community. And when she sees the man who helped her when she was ill, she can't help but feel a connection with him. Both will have a lot to face in terms of their pasts, good and bad, before they can truly find their way to one another. Loved their story! I couldn't put it down as per usual when it comes to these books. The characters are always fantastic and so different from one another. We had a lot of twists and turns in this story. Along with some great romance and action. I'm looking forward to the next book from Lani!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[gnomewardbound]

Far Away ~ Hugo&Dominic

weepinglions

Dom’s hand reached out and palmed the lighter, mumbled a quiet thanks to the stranger. He thinks he might hear a soft chuckle leave the man, but he’s also too buzzed to be sure, so he doesn’t think much of it, ears as deceptive as he has to be. He is sure, however, that the man’s Spanish rolls off his tongue as smooth as the whiskey he’s been downing. Dominic’s dark brow perked, and even darker eyes narrowed as he lit the cigarette dangling from his mouth. He uses one hand to shield the flame from the winter wind, and considers the stranger. 

He looks like a Ranch Hand who made one-too-many wrong turns, and somehow ended up on the shady side of a city he has no business being in. Dom very vaguely remembers going to the Spanish Rodeos in Cuba, he was young and all his uncles would make wagers on the Vaqueros till they were piss drunk, screaming and fighting among the dirt and blood. He doesn’t remember them looking quite like the one in front of them, because this one.....seems less rough around the edges; gentle, almost. He’s got soft brown eyes, and his smile isn’t quite as tipsy as Dominic’s, but, it’s the kindest one in the shitty little bar. Dom slides the lighter back across the picnic table, and takes a long, grateful drag from the cigarette. 

“Es Dominic.” He says simply, his name leaving him like a secret he doesn’t quite want to share, but does anyway for the sake of being another lame local at the bar. Dom scratches under his beard, the grey hairs amongst the dark ones stick out and show his aging. His eyes are still on the other man’s and he tries to not make it weird, like he’s not sizing him up, because he’s not, not really. He doesn’t look like a threat, in anyway, but, it’d be rather interesting if it was some sort of test from his buddies in the Org. Dom only nods over at him, and cocks his brow again, always the left one, because the right’s got an ugly scar he doesn’t quite care to draw attention to and answer questions about. 

 “Y tú? Te ves muy lejos de casa.” Dom asks, it’s simple in the way he words it; he just wants to see if he’ll be as eager to give his name as he was to find out Dominic’s, and if he’s really far from home.

"Dominic... Hm.. Soy Hugo." This time the small chuckle that escaped his lips was on purpose, as he rolled his name over his tongue, as if he could taste his desires and--

Hugo blinked nonchalantly, and grinned, taking another swig of his whiskey, unfortunately the last few drops. It was starting to hit him that he hadn't had any alcohol for over 24 hours, and as he'd been trying to save the money he had for experiences not food, he hadn't eaten in the past 5 hours. This gave a wonderfully dangerous feeling of tipsy invulnerability that he knew would get him into trouble eventually.

"I'm not," Huey continued, this time in English. His family, namely Carla, found it fascinating his inability to maintain Spanish conversation while he was drunk. Huey, didn't care. This stranger spoke both, and in this moment, that's all he cared about. "I'm from Montana. Little ranch down in the Southern part of the state. You on the other hand..." Hugo grinned once more, this time feeling it split his face and warm his cheeks, the rye whiskey bathing him in a thick blanket of happiness and warmth. Fuck, I love whiskey. "...you look like you were born and raised here, Mr. Popular."

[zhadodarknezz]

Clouds mozied on by lazily high in the sky. Each one was of varying shape as well as density. This one looked like a kraken, that one a flower, that one started looking like a plane but then turned into a boomerang.

The grass felt good underneath him. The breeze was as gentle as a breath. There wasn’t much that could ruin the mood that he felt while he was in his Sanctuary.

His phone ringing was one thing that would ruin his peaceful mood. Which it did as it went off in his pocket. He declined the call then put the phone on vibrate.

Just as he started to feel relaxed again, his phone kept going off so he pulled it out to check the caller. It was his mom. She only ever spam called like this when there was some kind of dire emergency.

“Damien!” his mother’s voice was hysterical. “Get home now! The barn is on fire!”

Damien hung up the call and whistled for his horse. The animal was a spotted grey mare that stood a towering twenty-one hands.

“You heard mother, Wildflower.” Damien said to the horse as he climbed on her back, “We have to get home as quickly as possible.” Wildflower snorted as she turned toward the house and ran as fast as she could.

Ten minutes later, Damien could see black smoke rising from the horizon. Fear gripped him as he looked on. Wildflower raised her front hooves in defiance of the scene she was looking at. It felt that her speed went up a little bit but he was too distracted with his fearful thoughts to notice.

Twenty more minutes passed before Damien was at the edge of the ranch. Sure enough, the barn was ablaze. Damien slid off Wildflower and ran toward the burning structure to try to put it out. Something hit him from the side. It felt like he was blindsided by a freight train.

“Damien!” he looked up and saw his father’s face above him. “Son! Let it go. It’s too far gone. We’ll just build another.”

When Damien relaxed, his father got off him and helped him to his feet. Damien’s mother and sister waited inside the house. The smell of cooking brought Damien’s hunger to the forefront with a growl escaping his stomach.

Patunia, Damien’s mother, had set a lavish meal of roast beef with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, steamed carrot slices, a shank of lamb, fresh baked rolls with freshly churned butter.

“Creator,” John, Damien’s father, prayed aloud as the family sat down for dinner. “We gather to give you thanks for allowing us the food we are about to eat. I pray that you’ll grant us the ability to raise another barn that we lost today. Thank you, Creator, for all that you bless us with. Aho.”

“Aho.” Everyone finished the prayer.

The light of the day was turning red toward dusk as the family ate and chatted about their day and plans for the future. The doorbell rang.

“Mr. Damien Cloudwalker?” a stern voice called from the front door. Everyone got up and went to the door.

“What do you want, sir?” John asked the man that was standing on the porch. He was of average height but stocky build. The man also wore a brown postal uniform but something looked a bit odd on it. It could have been the dusk light making the suit look off.

“Mr. Damien Cloudwalker?” the postal man called again.

Damien walked up. The man produced a small box and manilla envelope and handed them to Damien then brought out a tablet for him to sign for the packages. After he signed, the postal man turned and left without another word.

Both the box and envelope were addressed to him at the ranch but there was no return address.

Damien and the rest of the Cloudwalkers watched the man disappear down the driveway then went back to finish their meal. Damien left the packages in the living room until after he ate before he took them into his room to figure out the contents of them both.