lifeofbronk

[roseworth]

comic convos with Comic Dudes are crazy bc we are reading these stupid picture books so differently. when we have a “who’s your favorite robin” convo and i say jason or steph and they say “tim because he’s the best one” i know we are looking for completely different things in these books

[post-itpenny]

Part Crasher

@grotesquegabby In which Alex throws a party and Juno is... Juno.

Alex rather enjoyed having so many clubs but even that called for a little variety every once in a while.

It was an empty warehouse, one that had been outfitted several days in advance with a sound system and lights. He had called in a favor from a good DJ a few dimensions over to drop in and a pop up bar was well stocked with anything one could ask for.  

Alex had made it invitation only. He had plenty of regulars from his clubs that knew how to have a good time. The night was still young and already he could tell it was going down as one of the better parties he had thrown that year. 

Alex leaned against the bar with a wide grin. He could already spy three or four possible snacks for when those pesky after party munchies kicked in. But he could also spy something else, a pesky bug.

How she had gotten passed his bouncers Alex had no clue but the girl moved in and out of the dance floor with confidence. There was an arrogance to her, one that seemed somewhat familiar… but from where? 

Alex chuckled and slipped away from the bar, moving into the crowd but just enough out of the way so she couldn’t catch his scent. The girl would eye someone, move in close, and then change her mind. A slight sniff or something better would catch her eye, she was clearly hunting. Alex had to admit he appreciated her boldness but this just made her double the party crasher in his book. A big no.

At one point she turned around and looked Alex in the eye, a sour frown that was just way too familiar.

What was it?

Alex grinned and strolled over, “Well hello there Chica. I gotta say I can’t recall ever putting you on the invite list.”

The girl smirked, “yes well, you struck me as a “more the merrier” type of guy. What’s the matter Home Skillet? Am I harshin your vibe? 

“All I’m sayin Bug-a-boo is you don’t need to be rude now sweetheart but maybe yeah you're ruining the vibe.”

“Maybe you just need a vibe check.”

M̵̡̖͎̗̹͔͕͊̈́̿́̓ä̶̤́̐̇̀̚y̶̢̡̯͕̩͂͗͌̽b̶̳̅̒͑̒̈ē̵̮͔̞͗̄̕ ̴̮̤̑̿y̷̢̥̹̐͜o̵̢̙̤̟̭̦̰͆̒̓̏ṳ̴̢̊̋̀̒̊̆͝ͅ ̷̛̱͉̦̳̋́͑́̈n̷̲͕͓͓̖̳̜͊́̎ḙ̴̭̏e̴̢̧̛̹̝̖̹̒͋̈d̶͍̟̳͓̅̿́̊͆̍̿ ̶̲̇͂̍̈̃̐̐t̶͍̫̘͈͓͐̓́õ̵͓͉̤͓̒̆̔͊͋͐ ̴̤͍͚̍̚ͅs̵͍͙̮͍͉̐̎́́̍ţ̷̹̘͔͎͓̈́̿̐̀e̴̛̬̹͊̈̽͐p̵̡͇̗̾̿̈́͗̐̏ ̶̧̢̬͉̻̱͉̈̂̑o̵̯̾́f̸̖͎̬̤̂̊f̸̦̳̞̬͙̈̇̈̇̀.̸̪̩͋͒̍͋̐͝ͅ

No one else would have heard, but the intention was felt. Several people stepped away, the girl on the other hand rolled her eyes. 

“Oh fuck this is why she hangs out with you. So damn dramatic.”

Alex blinked in surprise, the bug was nervous but too stubborn to show it. She was just as much a pain as…

Oh.

“Oh damn you mean Magpie?” Alex laughed, “oh shiznit you’re too much like your dad Chica.”

Alex slapped a hand on her shoulder, steering the girl away towards the bar. Magpie’s family or not he wasn’t cool with her just using his party as a hunting ground.

But hey, she could stay a little longer.

The girl grimaced, “so you met my dad then… bet that went… swell.”

Alex chuckled, signaling the bartender to mix something up. “Old Peri is not my kind of guy I gotta say but it made for an interesting day. You gotta name?”

“Juno, you’ve met my brother yeah?”

“Mothman? Haha couple times yeah. Dude needs to learn to chillax a little you know what I’m sayin?”

Again, Juno grimaced a little. In Alex’s opinion it seems like the whole family could serve to chillax a little.

The bartender set two smoking concoctions on the counter. Alex grinned and downed his in one gulp. Juno did the same with a smirk.

Ah, so maybe she did know how to roll. 

“Now what brings a Motherina like you-”

“No, hell no. I’m a butterfly if you’re gonna start with the nicknames Homeskillet.” 

Alex’s grin broadened. “Chill now, why so tense? You came to a party right? No need to be trippin on me”

Juno’s forced her shoulders to relax. “Yeah, yeah I get you. Look I’m here because I’m hungry, that's all. You want me gone then cool, just thought I’d try my luck yeah?”

She gave an innocent smile. Alex had to admit she had guts, but wow this girl had some nerve.

“Bug-a-boo I gotta say, Pie’s family or not you gotta learn some respect you know what I’m saying? FYI if you were related to anyone else and I would be mopping the floor with you right now am I clear?”

Juno arched an eyebrow but nodded. “Message received.”

The bartender placed two more glasses in front of them. They both downed the drinks in one gulp.

“So you’ve been so see her yeah?” Juno asked, “she ok?”

Alex nodded. “She’s aiight, more and more Magpie’s coming back. Why not go with your pops to see her?”

“Haven’t spoken to my parents in a couple months.”

Now Alex arched an eyebrow, well that was interesting.

“Do you and your bro know how to get to Adeline’s?”

“I don’t, Vespers went with Red the other day.”

“It’s real easy, I’ll give you the directions.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s all good. By the way, anything important about a cathedral to your aunt?”

Juno thought for a moment, fingers tapping on her cheek. “Yeah actually. There’s this old ruin near my family’s land. Dad said it used to be a church, big one. I remember as a kid Aunt Pie liked to visit it a lot.”

Alex nodded thoughtfully, “I think Pie is homesick.”

“Well she hasn’t been home since…a long time.”

Alex grinned, “she needs a field trip.”

Now Juno grinned, “anywhere new and she’ll love it.”

Juno ended up staying for a few more hours. It turned out she was rather good at manipulating people, breaking up trouble before it started as the party-goers became more and more rowdy. Three times the police showed up for noise complaints and all three it was Juno that got them to leave. How she did it Alex had his suspicions but she wasn’t hunting like he asked of her. If she used her powers to keep things in line then who was he to say no? Girl was a brat and a control freak like her dad it seemed but at least it was working to his advantage.

At one point they met back up at the bar for another round of drinks, Juno turning to Alex with a serious expression.  “Hey I’ve been watching Trouble and the girls for Magpie, just till she gets back and all. You think you could sneak her the dog? Poor thing really misses her.”

“Nah girl, the dog doesn’t like me.”

Juno nodded, “that’s fair I don’t like you either.”

[cherryyharryy]

Chapter 1: Jugular Notch

The Drink You Spilt all Over Me

Voices were blending into one constant whine; once tolerable, but the line was crossed around the time Adeline’s parents reenacted the Dirty Dancing lift. Chatter about Daniel's big home run and Susan's promotion and the approaching snowstorm had slowly slipped away into the sticky heat that had been accumulating all evening.

The house wasn't near as large as it had appeared upon her doomed-from-the-start arrival. Half-empty glasses of forgotten red wine strewed about marked the spots where every soccer mom in the neighborhood had once stood.

All the oxygen in the room had successfully been replaced by sweat and raw body heat. The stench that'd been building up has been in question, but now, hours after a risen moon, it's clear that perfumes only spritzed on special nights have combined to create a unique haze that filled every inch of the place. Deep breaths would only bring her closer to passing out.

A lovely sheen of oil mixed with makeup smothered her face, weighing down her eyelids. She doesn’t even want to guess how nauseating she must look. But as she scans the revolting sight playing before her, she realizes the state of her attraction isn't important, and doesn’t look near as pathetic as Ms. Hardy, who thought five beers would be enough of a confidence boost to catch the eye of the local butcher.

The drumming in her head leads her ears to summon a pulse that normally isn't there. She’s slowed her heart down at least five times tonight, and another round of meditation was well on its way. She’s been huddled in this corner for as long as she could tolerate...because she’s an adult now.

And being an adult means you can go to the Ramsey's party but you can't drink.

Being an adult means watching every self-respecting businessman and PTA member re-live their glory days.

Being an adult, apparently means, dividing your time up between wasteful and pitiful.

She really could use a drink.

On this splendid evening, she learned that darkness is deceiving. It provides a layer between her eyes and the repulsion that's been sweeping 145 east seventy-second street, but delays the warning of bulky watches and worn out heels that consistently invade her space. And 80's music will never be the same; forever tainted with images of shameless middle-aged drones trying to recapture their youth.

She’s decided she’s had enough, well, she had enough three hours ago, but now she’s really done. An escape is needed for sure, that is if she wants to survive. Because being an adult means just that: surviving.

Trying to find a path out of the sea of ripened bodies proves to be a challenge. The disturbing line dance that's forming has Helen taking off her hand-knit sweater while holding in the schnapps that threatens to spill past a closed lip smile and a squeal.

Adeline sucked in her stomach and slid past everyone who'd begun moving in unison to the left. With the back door in clear view, and a new surge of adrenaline in her bones, she wiggled her way through the crowd, exhaling once her hand touched the doorknob.

The cat door swings back and forth a few times before leaving her in complete silence. The moon was hidden, and if she hadn't attended countless barbecue gatherings, Marykay parties, and tee-ball banquets, she’d be nervous. But too many summers were spent shuffling around every backyard in this town for her to worry, having map-like memory of every tree, swimming pool, and swing set for her to fear a star-lit backyard.

She swears there's glitter swirling with her breath in the gelid air. Her heels scrape against the concrete slab as she shuffles in circles, attempting to jump-start her circulation. The sting of frost was soothing for only a moment.

"C lunch?"

Her head whipped around to follow the voice, the rush of air drying her lips out as goose bumps riddled her bare arms.

"C lunch, right?" The raspy voice asks again.

"What?"

"I'm in D lunch."

"What are you talking about?" She takes a step closer to the heap of blankets piled in a lawn chair, tucked into the corner where the garage joined the house, curly hair sticking out from under them.

"I see yeh leavin' lunch every day. You sit by the vending machines. And you’re always writin’ in that old journal. What do you write about anyways?"

His voice is slow, and she doesn’t know if it's due to the hypothermia he's surely gained by being out here, or if that's a natural quality. Either way it's a little too intriguing for her liking.

"Are you aware that you're successfully coming across as the biggest creep I've ever met?" She’s now only a few feet away. The blankets are tempting, and when he starts to unravel the little nest he's created, his choice of clothing makes her jealous. A thick black sweater clings to his body, but not as much as the tight jeans. She looks down at the olive green dress plastered to her skin, observing the effects of a harsh December night on her bare thighs.

"I apologize, love," he picks through the blankets before pulling one out and holding it out to her. "Will this clear my tarnished image?"

She hesitantly grabs it. "For now I suppose."

"Good. I can't have a fellow Edgewood high survivor mad at me."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Told you, m'in D lunch." He leans back in the chair and readjusts the blankets to shield his body again.

"That's not what I mean."

"Right, well, y'should really be more specific with your questions. I'm a lot of things, Adeline. M'smarter than you, tallest in my family, and just last week I was asked if I would be interested in a modeling career. However, luckily for you, I understand your vague request. My name's Harry."

Anger spikes her nerves and all thoughts of being cold are forgotten and replaced with wanting to slap the smug look off his face. Instead of wasting another second on this boy she hastily heads back for the door.

"Oh, whoa, don't have t'leave, I mean no harm.”

Her hand freezes on the door handle. After rolling her eyes she peers over her shoulder, pulling off her best glare.

“I don't bite, love," he smirks. "Well...that's a lie actually." A dry laugh follows his words. He smiles for the first time and a dimple makes its appearance. Of course; he wouldn't be complete with only a chiseled jaw and wind swept hair.

She contemplates her options: She can head back in to watch her respect for everyone in this town disappear forever, or stand out in the cold with some arrogant jerk named Harry.

"Here," he says, snapping Adeline out of her thoughts. He squirms around before pulling a bottle of vodka that's half full from under the blankets. She raises a brow and wraps the blanket tighter around herself.

"Relax. Didn't drink this all tonight. S'been a work in progress." Her brain is being jerked in two directions; one towards Harry's enthralling accent and the other put off by his cocky attitude.

She takes small steps towards him. “So there's no excuse for your ignorant behavior?"

"Ouch, was tha' really necessary?" He pulls the bottle back as soon as she reaches for it.

She huffs and rolls her eyes. "Well you haven't exactly been a gentleman."

"I only speak the truth, darling." He holds the bottle back out, but only because he knows she’ll leave without the incentive.

"You don't even know me."

"I know I was smart enough to dress for the occasion. That dress doesn't look very warm." He nods towards her outfit. "I know tha's been bothering ya, that I said I was smarter."

She avoids eye contact as she reaches for the bottle, this time he allows her to take it. "I would be offended if you weren't so full of yourself." She pressed the bottle to her lips. The sting makes its way down her throat, warming her up better than any blanket could.

"M'just pushing your buttons, love. I've gotten quite bored out here."

She passes it back to him and watches as he throws his head back to take a sip. His hand has no problem wrapping around the entire bottle. "What are y'doing out here anyway?”

"The same as you I'm guessing." She reached for the bottle but instead of complying with her gesture, he pops the cork back on and slips it back under the blankets. "This needs to last me at least through the end of the year. I'll be in this same spot come graduation night if the urge strikes you."

She takes a step back to distance herself from him. Even with a snarky attitude she can't help but feel lured in. They wallow in silence, the only sound coming from the monstrosity taking place inside.

"Ah...there they go," he grumbles. The ill-fated countdown made its way to her ears no matter how hard she tried to block it out. She glanced down at a pair of flushed, green eyes staring back at her. "Growin' up sucks."

"It does."

"Well then how about one more? For the sake of growing old. What do y'say?" He pulls the bottle back out and pops the cork off. “Happy New Year.”

Swallowing in anticipation and yearning for the burn she didn't know she needed, she lets the blanket slip down her shoulders to give her hands better access, exposing her skin to the sharp cold.

Harry stands up, towering over her as the blankets topple to his brown boots. His feet attempt to move but catch on the pile of fabric, causing him to wobble in place before teetering over.

Something crossed between a yelp and a squeal leaves her mouth. The vodka that was supposed to make it to graduation seeps through her dress, dripping its way towards her nude pumps. If her body weren't so numb she would’ve had the energy to cuss him out, but all she does is look up at Harry to see his eyes wide and jaw slack.

"I—I’m sorry."

She closes her eyes and breathes in through her nose, filling her lungs with as much air as she can, speaking through clenched teeth. "It's...ok...was an accident." He makes a noise between a grunt and a cough, and when she opens her lids, the gleam in his eye is evident. "Are you seriously laughing?"

"M'sorry but the look on your face was priceless." He doesn't even try to hold the laughter back now, his eyes squint forming lines around the corners, and every one of his white teeth are on display.

"Whatever, Harry." She tosses the blanket at him only for it to combine with the heap on the ground.

"No wait, lemme help you clean up." His laughter dies down and the red tint on his face begins to fade. His hand on her lower back gently nudged her towards the door. He slipped them inside, up the stairs and in the master bath without anyone noticing.

***

Adeline spared herself the horror of her own reflection, keeping her eyes locked on her shoes against the tiled floor of the master bath. However, curiosity won, and sure enough, the sight before her was disturbing. Black smudges had settled in the creases of her eyes and her lips were dried and shriveled prunes. She looked nothing short of pathetic.

Harry stepped out of the adjoining closet holding a long gray t-shirt and made his way to where she was leaning against the sink.

"Here, think this is long enough. If you’d worn pants you'd have more options.”

She rolled her lips together and sucked in a breath, "I'm not in the mood. And I'm not wearing that."

"Why not?" He inspected the shirt to find what had displeased her about it, looking up in confusion when he found nothing wrong.

"First of all, I don't feel comfortable wearing Mr. Ramsey's shirt," she crossed her arms over her chest and rested her weight on one leg. "And second of all, I don't feel comfortable wearing Mr. Ramsey's shirt, in his house, where everyone in town will see."

"Are yeh serious? First of all, no one will notice," he mocked. "Second of all, who cares? Unless you want to smell like cheap vodka the rest of the night I suggest you put this on."

She ran her tongue over her teeth and steadied her eyes on him. There was no way she was going to walk down those stairs wearing nothing but her principal's shirt.

"Fine," he quipped, tossing the shirt onto the counter. He reached behind his head and began pulling the sweater off his body. Swirls of ink decorated his skin, toned muscles rippled and pulsed. She had to fight to keep herself from staring. He tossed the sweater to her, nailing her in the face. When she removed it he was already sliding his arms through the t-shirt.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"You can wear it. That's wha' most people would do."

She held it out in front of her body to check the length, secretly hoping it would be long enough to wear. "Turn around."

"What, and miss the show?" He ran a hand through his hair as his lips curled up. "Okay, okay, don't give me the glare again." He held his hands up in surrender and turned to face the closet. She waited a few seconds to make sure he could be trusted before peeling her now ruined dress off. The sweater was actually longer than her dress, reaching a little pass mid-thigh. It was warm from being wrapped around his body and she couldn't stop herself from pulling the collar up and breathing in the scent of his cologne.

"You can turn back."

He rolled his eyes and returned his hand to her back, ushering them out and towards the stairs, her soaked dress balled in her hands.

"Thanks," she squeaked, before they started to head down.

"No problem."

Once they reached the bottom, her mother came bouncing towards them with a big smile on her face. "Adeline! I was looking for you, we're leaving now. You'll have to drive though, your father's had a little too much." A giggle slipped past her lips, letting Adeline know she's had a little too much as well.

"Um, thanks again," She said, looking back at Harry as she followed her mom to the front door.

"You're welcome, love. And cute underwear by the way. Pink is your color."