#and leigh’s RATTY!!!

[freak60000]

my ocs :3Hello leigh and marv

[angel-gone-dark]

He's Got His Mother's Hips - 1 [Bus Stop Blue]

Self indulgent ass fic where I'm in South Park because... why not. FT. April because she's the hottest bitch in town <3

CW: Slur usage, swearing. You know how these boys are.

He leaned against the sign for the bus stop, sighing in the cold mountain air. The chill was nothing he wasn’t used to, being from New Hampshire originally. Colorado was almost no different- just flatter. He yawned, burying his face in his phone to read fanfiction as he waited, earbuds filling his ears with his favorite tunes. 

Cartman stuck his chunky arms out, stopping most of his friend group in their tracks. 

“Who the fuck is that??” He scoffed. 

“How would we fucking know?” Kyle snapped. “It’s a public bus stop, fatass, he can stand there.”

“He’s in my fucking spot.” 

“You can’t own a spot, dipshit.” Kyle huffed, glancing at his phone. They were way too early for the bus, as usual.

The short boy bobbed his head to whatever song was in his ears, his half-up half-down hair moving with him. The boys squinted at the stranger, looking him up and down. He had mostly brunette hair framing his jaw, but the tips were dyed blue. His pale face was round and covered in freckles, red cheeks from the cold hidden under crooked and broken silver wire framed glasses. He was chubby, but not in the same way as Eric. Kyle couldn’t help but think it suited him. He was in ratty clothes- worn jeans and a baggy hoodie with holes in it. His shoes were clearly old, the tips of the toes nearly worn through. He caught their gazes, and he gave a half-hearted wave before looking back downwards. His free hand picked at the skin around his nails.

Stan nearly said something until a surprise hug from Butters knocked the air out of him and Kenny. The bleached boy coughed hard, wheezing.

“Christ almighty, Butters, don’t fucking scare me like that!” He shoved his friend lightly. “I almost hit you.”

“Gee, sorry Stan! Oh, who’s that?” The platinum haired fellow didn’t even wait for an answer, bounding with lanky legs up to the new kid. “Hi there!”

His head slowly raised, eyebrows knit together in concern as the hand that didn’t hold his phone reached up and took out one earbud. 

“H-hey..?” 

“Heya! I’m Leopold, but everybody jus’ calls me Butters! Good t’ meetya!” He stuck out a hand, jolly. The small guy swallowed thickly with his nerves.

“...L-Leigh.” He shook Butters’s hand gently. 

“You’re new here, right?”

“No shit, Butters.” Cartman cut in. “You’re in my spot, fag.”

“My bad.” The brunette, now identified as Leigh, mumbled. He scooted away from the signpost. 

“Yeah, your fucking bad, Douchebag.” He huffed, taking ‘his’ spot back. Stan and Kyle rolled their eyes while Kenny attempted to light a cigarette, uncaring.

“Damn lighter.” He grumbled. It was probably out of fluid because of his older brother, Kevin, stealing it for a while. “Huh?”

The strange little guy had, unthinking, lit his own lighter and held it to the cigarette in Kenny’s lips. He briefly noticed that the design was a mouth with bloody fangs, red text spelling out ‘BITE ME’ underneath. He nodded in thanks.

“You smoke?” He asked.

“Absolutely not.” That made Kenny laugh, ending on a wheeze.

“Why do you have a lighter then?” The other boy shrugged.

“Looks cool.” Kenny couldn’t argue with that assessment. 

“What else you got in your bag?” He raised his brow.

“Uhhh, TicTacs, chapstick… stuff…” He swallowed. He perked back up when the bus pulled in, waving at them lightly before rushing on.

“Good.” Cartman huffed. “I don’t wanna talk to him ever agai- OH GOD DAMMIT.”

Butters shook his head, grabbing Leigh’s hand and tugging him up. 

“That’s Eric’s seat, silly. Come sit with me!” Leigh looked up at him in awe, as the blonde tugged him to nearly sit in his lap as he squished in with Kenny.

The brunette squeaked. A tiny girl a few seats in front of them popped her head up and glared at his kidnapper.

“Stotch, you’re scaring the pants off of him. Come sit up here, hon.” She offered, and he gladly moved with a relieved sigh. “Hi, I’m April.”

He smiled lopsidedly as she shook his hand with delicate grace. 

“‘M Leigh. G-good to meet you, thanks for the save.” He expressed, giving her hand a light squeeze, being careful of her nails. They looked good, painted with a practiced precision.

“No worries. Cartman eats every new kid alive, and Leo can be a lil’ suffocating.” Leigh nodded.

“You said it, April.” Having one friend was a relief in this place, at least.

word count: 752

[birdybirdnerd]

New guy just dropped for @queenburd's reset the actors on stage au

It is… not a Stanley. It looks like a Stanley, but that's just because, when it was collapsing in on itself and scrabbling at the shreds of code that remained, the Stanley model was the only one that existed, and so… it looks like Stanley.

What is it?

It's the Parable.

Specifically, the Parable that the programmer Stanley - the one who dragged the RAWTS boys together and started the process of saving Stan's Narrator - escaped from.

His Narrator was just as stubborn as he, and when The Narrator stole his Stanley away, it broke something inside his code. See, the Parable cannot continue without a Stanley. And just like how RAWTS bends around Stanley, how the story changes because of just how much he wants certain things to happen, so does the RTAOS au bend around the whims of his Narrator.

He wants revenge, on the Narrator that stole his Stanley. His Parable just wants Stanley.

But without the requisite parts of the wheel to keep turning, the Parable ends up cannibalizing itself, collapsing in on itself and shredding its code to ratty tatters.

The Narrator is no more- maybe, there are parts of him still in there. Dregs, pieces of his personality. Perhaps this entity born of a program's death throes even talks in his voice, in ripped and stitched-together voice lines. There are pieces of the Curator in there as well, and 432, but all has been reduced to a slurry of code that drags itself to other Parables in search of its Stanley, in search of the Narrator that did this to it.

When it comes across the other Narrators, having gathered to plot what would become RTAOS, they realize that it is the missing piece to how, exactly, they would even get their hands on the fellow. After all, there's still enough of that Stanley's Narrator in there, that reality tends to bend to his will.

At least, enough to reach through the veil and grab an unsuspecting Narrator.

This entity - whom the other Narrators took to calling 'Perry', as referring to it as 'the Parable' simply would not do, let's Leigh's Narrator believe he's the one in charge. After all, their goals are aligned at the moment, and all it wants is for things to be made right once more.

But once he starts acting outside of those aligned goals, it will be made in no uncertain terms who is really in charge.

The only problem is, even if Perry did get its hands back on its original Stanley, that won't… help, anymore. Not at this point.

Because it no longer has a Narrator. In its desperate efforts to hold its bit-rotting code together, it has long since cannibalized what remains of the fellow.

Of course, you'd think that could be solved by kidnapping another Narrator- only, there's enough redundancies in what remains of its code, enough pieces of him left that it keeps catching and tearing, it can't push past with another one can't ignore what's left, but that Narrator is gone he's dead he's dissolved but enough of him is still THERE but it's not enough-

So even if it did get Stanley back, even if it got another Narrator, it wouldn't be enough.

It would never be enough.

It's simply too… hungry, now.

--

And now for something stupid to polish off the horror with:

[malec-ao3feed]

Intruder

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/VbPg1yS by lillyyrzs ratty high school boys, fridge coupons, and a migraine Words: 532, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 2 of Tales from a Shadow World Bookstore Employee Fandoms: Original Work, The Shadowhunter Chronicles - Cassandra Clare, Lockwood & Co. - Jonathan Stroud, Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo, The Mandalorian (TV), His Dark Materials (TV), The Dark Artifices Series - Cassandra Clare, The Infernal Devices Series - Cassandra Clare, The Mortal Instruments Series - Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/F, M/M, Other Characters: Magnus Bane, Original Female Character(s), Original Characters, Original Male Character(s) Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: POV Original Character, magnus bane - Freeform, Alternate Universe - Shadow World Setting (Shadowhunter Chronicles), Shadow World (Shadowhunter Chronicles), Downworlders, Dark Academia, Bookstores, POV First Person, Warlocks, Tags Are Hard, Original Character(s), Gay Panic, Love, LGBTQ Themes, LGBTQ Character, Fluff and Angst read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/VbPg1yS

[andileighwrites]

Little Devil

...

There's a doll in my hand. I don't know how it got there. A miserable-looking thing, with uncombed ratty hair. She wears a velvet dress, that attracted many moths. I tried to sew and patch the worn and tattered cloths. Lips were rather perched into a resentful pout. What made this doll so angry? What was she all about? Then one morning I found her hiding under the stairs. I guess she wasn't grateful of my attempted repairs. It was rather strange at first. Her moving all around. Was I placing and forgetting her on the tile ground? There was a nice old spot on a shelf above my desk. That's where I would put her but she became a pest. The little pitter-patter of her ruby porcelain shoes, Began to terrify me and she would be amused. I'd hear a tiny giggle in the closet in the hall, Or hear her playing and rolling a small glass ball. And finally I noticed in the kitchen a missing knife. Little devil plotting to send me to the afterlife.

...

Andi Leigh

[ao3feed-grishaverse]

Sugarfull

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3kPEihM

by Silberias

It had started innocently—probably innocently—when he was walking into the Lantsov building at the same time she was walking by it. The rain was coming down hard and an errant bluster completely wrecked what little was left of her umbrella’s structural integrity. He’d heard her curse, the little gasp she gave as the wind nearly took her off her feet, and hesitated for only a moment before dashing back into the rain with his umbrella already halfway open again.

“Keep it,” he’d said with a warm smile, taking her old ratty umbrella from nerveless fingers and wrapping her hand around the handle of his.

Words: 4654, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Shadow and Bone (TV), The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Alina Starkov, The Darkling | Aleksander Morozova, Alexei (The Grisha Trilogy), Mikhail, Dubrov (The Grisha Trilogy), Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck, Mal Oretsev, Genya Safin, Nina Zenik, Ivan (The Grisha Trilogy), Fedyor Kaminsky

Relationships: The Darkling | Aleksander Morozova/Alina Starkov

Additional Tags: Pet Names, Alternate Universe - Sugar Daddy, Daddy-free sugar daddy fic, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Aleksander accidentally catches feelings, Alina is stubborn, Author has not and will not read the books, Darklina server bingo event, Zlatan is a racist dick in this fic

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3kPEihM

[johnnytoronto22]

17 Questions

Tagged by: @httpshockeytrash Thanks! Sorry it took me so long!

Nickname: Don’t have one. My name is already short enough!

Zodiac sign: Gemini

Height: 5’9”

Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff

Last thing I googled: Sam Bennett mustache 😂 I needed a picture to show some friends

Song stuck in my head: nothing particular right now

Number of followers: 702

Amount of sleep: It depends. Sometimes I fall asleep at 12 am sometimes 4 am. 🤷‍♀️

Lucky numbers: 3 or 22

Dream job: librarian or historian

Wearing: a ratty old Jonas Brothers t-shirt with a bunch of holes and a pair of black yoga shorts

Favorite song: The Bones by Maren Morris and Hozier or I Hope by Gabby Barrett

Favorite instrument: I don’t think I have a favorite

Aesthetics: pink, bright colors, floral patterns

Favorite author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Leigh Bardugo, Morgan Matson

Favorite animal sound: My dogs running up to me when I get home.

Random: I’m a pretty fast reader. Most books only take me a day or two if I’m focused.

[littlest-xb]

17 Questions, tag 17 people (!!! I don't know that many people!)

Thanks to @electricpentacle for the tag!

Nickname: Shae, "Hey, Stupid!" (Yeah my best friend yelled that at me once and I turned around 🤣)

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Height: 5'1

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Last thing I googled: germanhorsecenter.com (... I was window shopping)

Song stuck in my head: all the songs from the Amazing Devil's new album, the predominant one shifting every 4 seconds

Following: 63

Followers: 69

Amount I sleep: I consistently wake up at 8 AM no matter when I go to bed

Lucky numbers: 7 and 8

Dream job: engineering for films or space program

Currently wearing: a ratty old tshirt and a pair of sweatpants. Quarantine, baby!

Favorite authors: Leigh Bardugo, James Dashner, Andy Weir, JRR Tolkein

Favorite instrument: piano/lute

Favorite songs: WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME THAT. End of Days by my dad (I might be biased about that lol), Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, Horror and the Wild by Amazing Devil, That Unwanted Animal by Amazing Devil, Farewell Wanderlust by Amazing Devil, Behind Blue Eyes by The Who, Sounds of Someday by Radio Company, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, I could continue but this post would never end...

Random fact about me: the first horse I rode was an off-the-track thoroughbred (an ex-racehorse) named Toy (registered Don't Toy With J R), he had no saddle and I was 3 years old. Yes, I was on him alone.

Favorite animal noises: the sound of horses eating. Most peaceful sound ever.

Aesthetic: sundown at the top of my hill, clean leather, fresh hay and horse smell, dewy fields, early morning forest, clear starry night

I tag @teamfreedogs , @watermelonfruitsalad , @vanillaflavour81

And a bit of a callout... @watermelonfruitsalad was the one who said "hey stupid" and made me turn around LOL

[hodgepodge-of-rog]

ABCs tag game

Tagged by @brunetteroger thank you!! Apparently the letter G is missing, so i’ll add my own thing lol.

rules: answer the questions in a new post

a- age: 24

b- birthplace: Grand Rapids, MI

c- current time: 11:06am EST

d- drink you last had: Milk

e- easiest person to talk to: My best friend since 4th grade

f- favorite song: “Follow You Down To The Red Oak Tree” by James Vincent McMorrow

g- greatest fear: Demons

h- horror yes or horror no: Depends on the horror. Silent Hill kind of horror, yes. Paranormal horror? Hell no.

i- in love?: Not at this moment

j- jealous of other people: Unfortunately. I struggle with this a lot.

l- love at first sight or should I walk by again: I like @brunetteroger ‘s answer; infatuation at first sight, love takes time.

m- middle name: Elisabeth. Allie’s middle name is Leigh.

n- number of siblings: 2 older brothers

o- one wish: A better job

p- person you last called: My mom

q- question you’re always asked?: Are you a boy or a girl? Swear to God. I’ve gotten this stupid question since I was 10. I have to puff out my chest because people are so stupid. I don’t even look masculine.

r- reading anything right now?: Queen Unseen by Peter Hince(Ratty)

s- song you last sang: 18th Floor Balcony by Blue October

t- time you woke up?: Not too long ago, but I might go back to sleep

u- underwear color: White

v- vacation destination: Scotland

w- when was the last time you really laughed?: Last night when I hung out with @damnedifivoodoo ❤️

x- x-rays: My abdomen, my neck, and my chest

y- your favorite food: Fettuccine alfredo 🤤

z- zodiac sign: Sun sign is Leo, moon sign is Cancer

I dont like tagging people because I don’t want anyone to feel left out so please do it if you want to!

[seventyfiveapples]

In Transit - Chapter 6

Previous Chapters: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE

Or: The whole enchilada on AO3

Summary: When Officers Jakoby and Ward are hand-picked by the Magic Task Force to transport a dangerous convicted murderer, they must stay a few steps ahead as various enemies, forces of magic, and mistakes from the past complicate their path.

Notes: This was one of my favorite chapters to write, so I hope people like it. If there is anyone following along with this story, I’d love to hear if there are any questions, etc. (the flashbacks: are they confusing? etc.) Next chapter shall contain smut so get ready...

As Nick drove down the highway, Leigh kept trying to loosen her bracelet without anyone noticing. Agent Kandomere just stared out the window. He was trying to think through the call he’d have to make to his agency once they arrived at the safe house. This really wasn’t going as planned.

After a while, he stole a glance at the orc in the driver’s seat, who seemed to be frowning and gripping the wheel a bit too tightly as he drove.

“Something on your mind, Officer?”

Nick nearly jumped. The elf hadn’t spoken since they’d gotten in the car twenty minutes ago.

“Yes, actually. A lot is on my mind.”

“Is any of it relevant to me or this mission?”

“Agent Kandomere,” Nick started, lowering his voice so that Leigh couldn’t hear, “I don’t believe that this prisoner is guilty.”

“Ah.”

“She doesn’t deserve to be…” He seemed to have a hard time finishing his sentence. “executed for what happened back in L.A. It was an accident.”

“That’s really not your call, Officer. A jury of her peers felt otherwise.”

“I realize that. But if she’s in MTF custody now, can’t you-”

“I can’t. Whatever you are trying to ask me, I can’t. Listen, are you sure you aren’t a bit biased here, because of your history?”

Nick slowly turned to face the elf. He felt color rise in his cheeks. “You… knew about that?”

“Of course. We did our homework. We’ve been following her for years. I picked you two for this mission because of your discretion and professionalism with the wand incident, and because of that same professionalism, I thought you’d be able to set certain things aside. If this was the wrong call, well, it’s a little late now. Was this a mistake?” The agent’s tone made it clear that there was no more room for discussion. Nick missed Daryl: at least when his partner was in a mood, he was funny.

“No.” Nick told him through gritted teeth.

“But… you’re right,” Kandomere continued, speaking as quietly as he could. “She is innocent. That obnoxious elf she studied with - Chad - was recruited by the Inferni to turn Leigh to their cause. I don’t know exactly what happened, but he’s the one who killed all of those people on the bus. He made it look like it was her, like she was unable to control her power. He wanted to isolate her, inflame public fear of magic, and get her to lose confidence in her own abilities. That way, she’d have nowhere to turn but him and the Inferni” He shrugged. “For the most part, it worked.”

Nick was speechless. Not only was she truly innocent, she’d been framed, and the MTF apparently knew about everything.

“So… if you knew, why didn’t you testify, help during her trial?”

“Because eventually, she’s going to lead us straight to the Inferni. Right now, they are going to keep coming after her until we get her to a secure facility, but after that, we have options. Sentences can be commuted. But again, that’s down the road.” He glanced at her through the rear view mirror. “She’s very powerful. Even more than most Brights. They’re going to keep coming for her. By the way,” the agent concluded, unfolding a newspaper to read, “she was never even tempted by anything the Inferni - or Chad - promised. The only thing that worked on her was manipulating the people around her.”

Nick grimaced. It was hard to tell if the agent had meant that as a dig, but Nick felt it as one. He drove on in silence.

--

[TWO YEARS EARLIER]

Leigh adjusted her grip on the wand. It still vibrated in a way that she doubted she could fully control. Chad stood behind her, brandishing his own wand.

“That’s it, you’re so close. Just-” He breathed in and out loudly, “Just remember to breathe when you say the spell words.”

She tried as he said, but she had no confidence in her magic. The first time she’d lifted a chair at school it had flown through the roof, causing significant enough damage that class was held outside for a few weeks.. After that, she couldn’t get the chair to levitate more than an inch. Her powers seemed to be all or nothing.

She tried to put that all out of her head and stay in the moment. Slowly, the chair lifted off the floor and rose… and kept rising… until it hit the ceiling.

“It didn’t fly through the roof, oh my gods. It’s working,” she whispered with her eyes fixed on the chair.

“Breathe, Leigh. Keep your focus on the spell.”

As she did, she heard Nick’s keys in the front door. He came in, saw the chair on the ceiling, and froze. He knew her magic had been a bit unpredictable, and he didn’t want to distract her.

It was too late.

“Hi, baby! Look, I- oh crap!” When she started talking to him, the chair had begun to rotate slowly. It was now picking up speed, moving faster and faster. She used the spell words again, but she couldn’t stop it.

“Okay, I’ve got you,” said Chad, rushing up behind Leigh and wrapping his hands around hers. Slowly the chair slowed its rotation and sank back to the floor. From behind Leigh, Chad made eye contact with Nick and winked. “Us Brights have to stick together, don’t we?”

Nick glowered at him from the doorway.

“Thank you, Chad,” she told him. “Ugh, we worked hard today- I’m wiped out! I’m gonna grab some water. You guys want any?” The guys shook their heads no and Leigh went to the kitchen.

“I thought you were going to wrap up early today,” said Nick in a chilly tone.

“We were but, well, things were going well. We lost track of time. You know Leigh when she gets excited about something.”

“Yes,” Nick said, stepping closer to the elf without breaking eye contact. “I do know Leigh.”

“What’s wrong?” Chad said, feigning confusion. ‘You’re not jealous, are you? I thought your relationship was rock solid.” He finished with a smirk.

“Our relationship,” Nick growled, “is none of your business. And I think it’s time for you to leave. Magic practice is over. Why don’t you gather your things and get out of here?”

“Nick!” yelled Leigh from the doorway. “Chad, I’m sorry, he didn’t mean-”

“Nah, it’s fine Leigh. I was leaving anyway. See you in class tomorrow.” He grabbed a ratty backpack and headed out the door. Once he was out of earshot, she whipped around and glared at Nick.

“Leigh-”

“I don’t want to hear it, Nick! He came here to help me, on his own time. You’re always awful to him.”

“Leigh, he’s not who you think he is. He’s lying to you. He has some whole plan that includes getting you injured. I told you what he said at your party last month.”

“You did, Nick, and it didn’t make any sense.  You must have heard wrong. If he wants to hurt me, why would he go out of his way to help me with my magic?”

“Please just listen-”

“You know what? I’m done listening. It’s always the same shit. I’m going out for a while. Don’t wait up.” The door slammed and Nick just stared, feeling helpless.

She would never believe him. That hurt. Worse, there were people around her who meant her harm… and he didn’t know how to protect her.

--

[present day]

Per Agent Kandomere’s directions, Nick pulled down a narrow gravel road that had forked off from a pitted asphalt one. He was about to ask if the elf was sure they were heading in the right direction, when around a corner, a large rustic farmhouse came into view. It would have been almost a postcard if it hadn’t been enclosed by an eight-foot barbed wire fence and an imposing mechanical gate.

“Cozy,” remarked Leigh to herself, forgetting that both elves and orcs had much stronger hearing than humans. Nick snickered a little.

“It doesn’t have to be cozy,” replied Kandomere. “It has to be secure. And it is.”

“Remind me about this place if I ever need somewhere to churn some really top secret butter,” Leigh said.

This safehouse, the elf explained, was created as a magic “dead zone,” and was used in various ways by the MTF: for trainings, as a remote office, a venue for high-level meetings. It was one of the most secure facilities owned by the MTF. Kandomere was glad it had been available.

“From here, we’ve only got a six-hour drive tomorrow to the MTF prison facility.”

Leigh fell silent. While they were driving, it felt so far in the future, but now her reality was catching up to her. She felt a heavy weight settle in her gut.

---

The house was tucked away from view  faced some hills dotted with scraggly desert trees. After they’d settled in, Nick walked out to the house’s front porch and sat on a wide cushioned bench. After the past two days, his head was spinning and he welcomed the quiet. He wondered what Leigh was feeling. He wondered how he would keep his promise to her. He wondered if he’d made a mistake in their relationship, and how things might be different today if he’d done things another way back then.

Back then. He found himself going back to those memories over and over… He wondered if she was starting to feel the same things he was.

“Hey, tomatoes.” He was so lost in thought that he hadn’t even heard Leigh join him on the porch. The night was a little chilly and she stood wrapped in a fluffy blanket. He startled a little at her voice. “Can I join you?” He nodded and patted the bench next to him.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m tired. Scared. Kinda sad. I’m kind of enjoying being able to stretch my arms, though.” Secure inside the fence’s perimeter, Agent Kandomere had given clearance for her to remove her handcuffs. “And I’m really glad you’re here.” Nick wasn’t sure what to say to that. He stretched one arm along the back of the bench.

“Come here, Leigh,” he said softly. She scooted a little closer to him and leaned into his chest. He let his arm drop down from the back of the bench, pulling her into an embrace. The sturdy shape of him was instantly familiar. How many times had they sat this way when they were together? She closed her eyes and breathed him in. For the briefest moment, everything felt just like it had then.

“Nick- I want to tell you how sorry I am. I mean, about… us. Before. You tried to warn me about Chad so many times, and I just… I never heard you. But you were right. About everything.”

“I wanted to say the same thing. I’m sorry, Leigh. I clearly went about things the wrong way back then. I was trying to help but I just pushed you away. I’m so sorry.”

Leigh took the blanket she was wearing and draped it over both of them before relaxing back into him. She drew her legs up beside her and draped her arm across his waist.

“I really loved you, Nick. I loved you so much.”

He didn’t know what to do in that moment but be there for her, but for whatever it was worth, he was ready to do that. He felt her body relax and her muscles go slack against him.

Just as he was certain she was asleep, he craned his neck down to kiss the top of her head, whispering:

“I never stopped.”

---

“Gods dammit!” Chad yelled. He’d lost the signal again. Sarah rolled her eyes. This guy was an idiot and yet somehow her fate was tied to his.

“Pull over. You’re not going to crash this car with me in it.” she told him.

“They went down a small road - here - and then nothing. I think something’s blocking her signal again.”

“You’re sure it’s this road?” She pointed on the map.

“I’m sure.”

“Well, that’s no problem. It’s a dead end- see? We know this isn’t their final destination. We’ll just go down the road until the last place you saw the signal… and wait.”

Next chapter: https://seventyfiveapples.tumblr.com/post/174613881520/in-transit-chapter-7

tags: @itshidingthere

[knivesv]

i wish Leigh would write kaz more....ratty

[buddaimond]

First Media Reactions to 'Good Time' Trailer & Robert Pattinson's Performance

From Indiewire: (...)“Good Time” looks like it will continue the Safdie tradition of visceral, gritty and utterly hypnotic indie filmmaking. It should also be another unpredictable entry in Pattinson’s growing oeuvre. The actor has become an indie favorite thanks to collaborations with David Michod, David Cronenberg, Werner Herzog and James Gray. It’s safe to say working with the Safdie Bros should give Pattinson the opportunity to show off a completely new side of himself.(...) 

From The Films Stage: (...) Featuring original music from OneOhTrix Point Never and Iggy Pop, the trailer shows off Safdies’ intense, on-the-ground style, hinting at quite a performance from Pattinson.(...) 

From Collider: (...)Pattinson has really carved out a fascinating career post-Twilight (same goes for Kristen Stewart). Instead of seizing upon his superstardom and tackling a superhero movie or leading action franchises, he’s opted to work with interesting auteur filmmakers on challenging, often niche films. Just this year he’s coming off of James Gray’s heralded The Lost City of Z, and now we’ve got Good Time to look forward to. In true A24 fashion this trailer makes the viewer very curious about just what this film really is.(...)

From First Showing: (...)This trailer does a nice job of introducing the story and setting up everything, so dive right in. Also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi, & Benny Safdie (as Connie's brother). This looks like it has an exceptional performance from Pattinson, so at least there's that to look out for in here. Enjoy.(...) 

From THR: (...)Robert Pattinson gets a serious makeover in the Safdie brothers’ man-on-the-run crime thriller Good Time, which will have its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25.(...) 

From Entertainment Weekly: (...)The brothers have garnered acclaim for their films Daddy Long Legs (2010) and Heaven Knows What (2014), but Good Time promises to elevate the filmmaking team to another level. Pattinson is easily the starriest actor the Safdies have ever worked with, and early buzz suggests that this new performance is the most complex that the actor has ever delivered. (...) Check out the intense, atmospheric trailer.(...)

From Yahoo: (...) Robert Pattinson has spent much of his post-Twilight career making adventurous films with daring filmmakers, from David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis) to David Michôd (The Rover) to James Gray (last month’s The Lost City of Z). He’ll be continuing in that vein with his latest, Good Time, which is directed by Josh and Bennie Safdie (Heaven Knows What). (...) With a ratty haircut, rough New York accent, and air of sweaty desperation, Pattinson will be the axis around which Good Time’s mania swirls and should further cement his reputation as an actor drawn to unconventional projects. Sure to be marked by the Safdie brothers’ hypnotic, expressionistic aesthetic style, Good Time will be one of the most exciting American films to premiere at Cannes later in May. (...) 

From VMan: (...)Produced by A24 and directed by Ben and Josh Safdie, the film is set to premiere at Cannes Festival in France on May 25th. Following his role in Lost City of Z, there plenty of anticipation for Pattison's performance. The film is being called a career defining moment for Pattison, as well as for the Safdie Brothers. (...) 

From Indiewire: (...)New York sibling directors Josh and Benny Safdie cracked the competition this year with their heist thriller “Good Time,” but it’s likely to attract the most attention for star Robert Pattinson. Now firmly into his post-“Twilight” phase, the actor plays a bank-robbing New Yorker trying to help his mentally disabled brother over the course of a single frantic night. Pattinson, who has been in Cannes competition before with David Cronenberg’s “Cosmopolis,” is well positioned to wow audiences already enamored of his earlier roles with something edgier and more surprising; he could be a strong contender for the festival’s acting prize.(...) 

From Nylon: (...)The last time we saw Robert Pattinson, he was barely visible beneath a giant beard in The Lost City of Z. Now, in the brand-new trailer for the gritty thriller Good Time, Pattinson disappears not just under a mop of bleached blonde hair and a goatee, but under a believable Queens, New York, accent, too. Playing Constantine Nikas, a small-time bank robber who’ll do anything to get his brother out of Rikers Island after he’s arrested, it’s hard to believe this is the same actor who donned fangs as vampire Edward Cullen. It’s yet another example of how far the actor is willing to stretch himself post-Twilight. (...) 

From Monkeys fighting robots: (...)Following his career as a sparkly vampire in the Twilight movies, Pattinson has made it his goal in life to challenge himself in weird and offbeat roles in smaller films. Case in point: A24’s new crime thriller, Good Time. Pattinson is almost unrecognizable here as a crook looking to bail his brother out of jail following a botched robbery, one for which he was clearly responsible on some level. Since Twilight, Pattinson has worked with David Cronenberg a couple of times, he starred in the terrific Australian road thriller The Rover, and most recently starred alongside Charlie Hunnam in the massively underrated Lost City of Z. The guy has the goods, and he may never be recognized for it. But I don’t think he cares. Robert Pattinson is a great actor. There, I said it.(...)

As of 17 May 2017.

*Credits and thanks to Pattinson Art Work for the compilation.

Have a Good TIme and Break a Leg in Cannes!

[leighon]

87.

August was always hot, but rarely was it ever so humid and oppressive. Especially at ten in the morning, where Leigh sat in a tank top and boxer briefs blearily eating a bowl of granola in the dining room. They chewed slowly—the less they moved, the less heat they would generate, and the cooler they would be. All the curtains were drawn, so the only light that filtered in came through sheer maroon curtains in the kitchen and the front door. But, even with the dark, it was still hot, hot, hot. 

Thumping from the staircase drew Leigh’s attention. Ray swung around the corner and poked his head into the dining room. “Morning,” he said, then squinted at Leigh’s bowl. “We have cereal?” 

Leigh swallowed and nodded once. “Yeah. It’s some granola stuff.” 

Ray stepped fully in the doorway, revealing his workout getup—long shorts, a ratty gray “JROTC” t-shirt, and sweatbands on his head and wrists. “If that’s Zoe’s special granola, she’s gonna kill you.” 

Leigh slowly looked down at their bowl and sighed. This stuff’s pretty good too. “Well, fuck. Too bad.”

He twisted his mouth and shrugged. “Good luck with that. When do you work today?” 

“Noon.”

“Wanna run with me?”

“What? No? God no, it’s fuckin’…” Leigh leaned back and squinted into the kitchen. “80? No way dude, I’m trying not to turn into a ball of sweat before I go.” They sat back in their chair, then idly pulled their long blond hair off their back and piled it on top of their head. “’Sides, when have I ever been able to run?”

“You skate.”

“That’s different.” 

“Is…” Ray cut himself off, and glanced up the stairs. “Is it?” 

Leigh cocked their head, letting their hair fall back around their shoulders. “What’s up?” 

Ray glanced over, but said nothing, still listening. Footsteps were creaking the floorboards upstairs. Leigh’s mouth opened as they thought. If Ray’s down here, and the girls upstairs moved out, then that’s…

Their eyes widened. “Leon?” they mouthed. 

The footsteps grew closer and clunked toward the stairwell. Ray nodded, just a jerk of the head, before backing up and out of the way. 

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. 

Leon trudged down the stairs, looking as if he just rolled out of bed. His hair was a mess, and had a sheen of grease on the top of it. His gray eyes were slits, his cheeks and chin patchy with scruff, and the only thing in his gait that seemed to have any coordination was his iron grip of the railing. At least he was dressed, but Leigh had a suspicion that he likely slept in the jeans he was wearing.

“Welcome back,” Ray greeted. “You all right, bud?” 

Leon swung his head over and stared at him. “What…?” He rubbed his eyes. “Yeah. Yup.” 

Leigh bit their lip and exchanged a glance with Ray. Leon hasn’t left his room in two or three days, they thought. Zoe said that if he wasn’t out by Friday, then we’d need to have an intervention. They took another bite of granola, which was beginning to get soggy. Good thing…

“You’re lucky Dave doesn’t have anything better to do,” Ray said, then his shoulders slumped. “And neither do I. You wanna take my shift tonight and close?”

Leon blinked, then lifted his head up and grimaced. “Right. Fuck,” he muttered, then wiped his hand down over his face. “Yeah, I’ll take it. Sorry. What time?” 

“Five. I’m going for a run, so I’ll swing by and let him know.” Ray stared down at his hands as he cracked his knuckles finger by finger. “Glad you’re up and about.” 

He glanced up, gave both Leigh and Leon a thin-lipped smile, then turned on his heel and jogged out of the dining room and out the hall and outside. The door shuttered with a clatter, followed by the alarming buzz of cicadas chattering in the trees.

Leon stood where he was in a daze. Poor Leon, Leigh thought, their heart thrumming in their chest. He’s really been through it. I thought maybe being out of his mom’s house would perk him up, but he still has days where he doesn’t leave his room. 

I want to help him…

Eventually, Leon meandered to the dining room. As he spotted Leigh, he blinked and stopped in his tracks. “Oh…hey,” he managed. “Didn’t…see you there.” 

Despite the obvious fog of depression that clouded his demeanor, there was something Leigh found charming in his sleepy cluelessness. “Morning,” they replied with a smile. “How’re you feeling?” 

He collapsed in a seat next to Leigh at the table, folding his arms and resting his head on top of them. “Tired,” he mumbled. “I’ve been…I’ve been sleeping, but it’s been so damn hot.” 

“Yeah,” Leigh agreed. “Really fuckin’ hot.” They sighed and gathered up their hair again, twisting it into a loose rope before resting it on top of their head, just using their hand to keep it there. “We have to rotate using the AC at night, ‘cause it ramps up the electric bill. It was not my night last night.” 

Leon’s brow furrowed, very slightly. “Does…every room have one?” 

“No, but most do,” Leigh stared at the ceiling to think, and pointed with their other hand as they counted. “Lemme see, so living room, kitchen…my room, Ray’s room, basement…” They whipped their head over. “Does your room not have one?” 

Leon shook his head into his arms. “Not even a fan. I was gonna go buy one at the corner store…thinking about it, anyway…” 

“Shit.” They wrapped their hair rope around their face and positioned it under their nose absently. “Kay must have taken it when she packed all her crap up…Zoe’s gonna be pissed.”

Leigh let their hair go and reached over to pat Leon’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you an AC up there—wait a sec, you’ve been doing that all summer?” 

“Y…yeah?” 

“Dude, you should’ve said something! We’ve got the schedule on the fridge!” 

Leon began to shrink. “Sorry, I didn’t…didn’t think anything…didn’t want to make a big deal out of it…” 

Same guy who slept without a bed for who knows how long, because he didn’t want to ask anyone to get it. Or help with a new one. You got kicked out of your parent’s house, you can ask for something! Leigh moved from just a shoulder pat to rubbing his back, and they scooted their chair a little closer. “It’s okay,” they said soothingly. “You don’t have to sleep in your own sweat all summer.” 

Leon snorted, a half smile creeping on his face. “That’s gross,” he remarked. Then, he reached up and played with the stray lock of hair that hung in the middle of his forehead. “Ugh, I’m gross. I…need to shower.” 

Leigh was inclined to agree, but didn’t mention it. Instead, they giggled. “I should too, before my shift.” They bit their lip and took a deep breath. “Mind if I join you?” 

Leon sat up. “Sure, I mean...if there’s enough room—“ He blinked, then looked over slowly. “Wait. You mean…wait, in the shower?” 

Leigh, despite being overcome by the fantasy of rubbing soap all over Leon, covered their mouth, a “just kidding” ready behind it. However, as they watched Leon’s face turn a brilliant shade of pink, they thought against it. Ah ha! 

“Are you okay?” Leigh asked, feeling warm themself. 

It took considerable effort, but Leon did manage to meet Leigh’s eyes, sheepish and shy. God, he’s so cute! He’s so cute, even though he’s greasy and depressed. I have to ask him on another date. Or I should really jump in the shower with him. Leigh’s face split into a grin, and their hand slipped off his back and rested itself on the table. It was an awkward position, but it was also almost close enough to touch Leon’s. 

“I’m…good…” Leon uttered, still frozen. “Just…um…”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to spring that on you,” Leigh apologized. They found themselves leaning forward. “Ah, I just—“ 

Heavy footsteps interrupted them, this time from below. “You guys are so friggin’ loud,” Zoe complained as she strode through the hall, still in sweats with a sleeping mask on top of her head. “You know I need my beauty sleep.” 

Leigh started breathing normally again. “Uh, it’s almost 10:30?” they said. 

“It’s not that late,” she said, then peered into the dining room. “Oh, look! You’re up!” She wasn’t wearing her glasses, and her pleasure quickly dissipated as she squinted at the bowl sitting on the table. “Hey, that’d better not be my granola.” 

“I-it’s oatmeal,” Leigh lied. 

Zoe pursed her lips, but let it slide and turned into the kitchen. “Leon, if you hole up for days at a time again, we’re gonna drag you out kicking and screaming.” 

“O-oh,” Leon choked, still flustered. He managed to break eye contact to crane his neck over to the kitchen, one arm around the back of the chair. “Don’t…don’t do that.” 

“She would have,” Leigh whispered. “She asked us to help her if you were still in there by tomorrow.” 

Leon’s eyes widened. One of his hands was still on the table, and Leigh took the opportunity to rest theirs on top of his. Leon flinched, just a little, but didn’t motion to move. 

Zoe took no notice, measuring coffee grounds to pour into the coffee machine. “Seriously, you should go to therapy. Or at least see a shrink to get some meds. That shit’s no joke.” 

She ran the faucet to fill up the pot, then poured water into the reservoir of the machine and slapped it shut. “I can help you figure it out, any of us can,” Zoe said, leaning in the door frame. “There’s a clinic that just opened up in the Fens that’s supposed to be youth friendly. And gay friendly.” 

“That’s cool,” Leon replied. “But—“

“Ah ah, don’t give me that,” she interrupted, waggling her finger. “After the shit I’ve seen in guys who ‘seem’ better than you? No way.” 

Leon’s face crinkled, and he stared down at his lap. “Mm’kay,” he muttered. 

Zoe nodded to herself, then glanced over at Leigh, then at their hands on top of each other. She smirked, then turned and went to tend to her coffee. Yeah, he does need some help, Leigh thought, idly rubbing their thumb against Leon’s hand. I’m gonna be there, though. 

For sure.

Just as Leigh resigned themself to him not noticing their touch, Leon sighed and flipped his hand over, loosely holding onto Leigh’s fingertips. Their heart skipped a beat. 

“Hey, um…” Leon said quietly. “Thanks.” 

“Huh? For what?” Leigh asked.

He looked up. “For caring about me.” 

Leigh’s eyes grew wide with surprise. Oh, Leon…

“And, um…” he continued, chewing his lip. “W-we can...I mean, if you...the shower...thing…”

He was so bashful that Leigh couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh my God,” they exclaimed. “I don’t think we have time now, I’ve got to get ready for work.” They leaned over to rest their head on his shoulder. “Another time?” 

“Mmm.” 

Leigh could feel his heartbeat beneath his chin...and unfortunately smell the tang of sweat on his neck. “You still should though.” 

“Yeah.” 

Leigh squeezed his hand, and Leon got up from the table with a clearer look in his eyes. He even offered Leigh a quiet smile on his way out of the dining room. Well, that’ll carry me through my shift, they thought. 

They giggled to themself. Good!