#and this concludes this hours alex posting

[thedeafprophet]

Great Game people who send Alex encoded missives is such a funny in game thing for me to think on. Alex can barely process the regular letters he receives, I promise you he cannot understand a word of what you're trying to tell him

The game keeps trying to drag him into things (twilit smuggler, scheme of the phoniex) and I'm telling you this man's only answer is arson

[mariacallous]

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has hailed the company's new Recall feature, which stores a history of your computer desktop and makes it available to AI for analysis, as “photographic memory” for your PC. Within the cybersecurity community, meanwhile, the notion of a tool that silently takes a screenshot of your desktop every five seconds has been hailed as a hacker's dream come true and the worst product idea in recent memory.

Now, security researchers have pointed out that even the one remaining security safeguard meant to protect that feature from exploitation can be trivially defeated.

Since Recall was first announced last month, the cybersecurity world has pointed out that if a hacker can install malicious software to gain a foothold on a target machine with the feature enabled, they can quickly gain access to the user's entire history stored by the function. The only barrier, it seemed, to that high-resolution view of a victim's entire life at the keyboard was that accessing Recall's data required administrator privileges on a user's machine. That meant malware without that higher-level privilege would trigger a permission pop-up, allowing users to prevent access, and that malware would also likely be blocked by default from accessing the data on most corporate machines.

Then on Wednesday, James Forshaw, a researcher with Google's Project Zero vulnerability research team, published an update to a blog post pointing out that he had found methods for accessing Recall data without administrator privileges—essentially stripping away even that last fig leaf of protection. “No admin required ;-)” the post concluded.

“Damn,” Forshaw added on Mastodon. “I really thought the Recall database security would at least be, you know, secure.”

Forshaw's blog post described two different techniques to bypass the administrator privilege requirement, both of which exploit ways of defeating a basic security function in Windows known as access control lists that determine which elements on a computer require which privileges to read and alter. One of Forshaw's methods exploits an exception to those control lists, temporarily impersonating a program on Windows machines called AIXHost.exe that can access even restricted databases. Another is even simpler: Forshaw points out that because the Recall data stored on a machine is considered to belong to the user, a hacker with the same privileges as the user could simply rewrite the access control lists on a target machine to grant themselves access to the full database.

That second, simpler bypass technique “is just mindblowing, to be honest,” says Alex Hagenah, a cybersecurity strategist and ethical hacker. Hagenah recently built a proof-of-concept hacker tool called TotalRecall designed to show that someone who gained access to a victim's machine with Recall could immediately siphon out all the user's history recorded by the feature. Hagenah's tool, however, still required that hackers find another way to gain administrator privileges through a so-called “privilege escalation” technique before his tool would work.

With Forshaw's technique, “you don’t need any privilege escalation, no pop-up, nothing,” says Hagenah. “This would make sense to implement in the tool for a bad guy.”

In fact, just an hour after speaking to WIRED about Forshaw's finding, Hagenah added the simpler of Forshaw's two techniques to his TotalRecall tool, then confirmed that the trick worked by accessing all the Recall history data stored on another user's machine for which he didn't have administrator access. “So simple and genius,” he wrote in a text to WIRED after testing the technique.

That confirmation removes one of the last arguments Recall's defenders have had against criticisms that the feature acts as, essentially, a piece of pre-installed spyware on a user's machine, ready to be exploited by any hacker who can gain a foothold on the device. “It makes your security very fragile, in the sense that anyone who penetrates your computer for even a second can get your whole history,” says Dave Aitel, the founder of the cybersecurity firm Immunity and a former NSA hacker. “Which is not something people want.”

For now, security researchers have been testing Recall in preview versions of the tool ahead of its expected launch later this month. Microsoft said it plans to integrate Recall on compatible Copilot+ PCs with the feature turned on by default. WIRED reached out to the company for comment on Forshaw's findings about Recall's security issues, but the company has yet to respond.

The revelation that hackers can exploit Recall without even using a separate privilege escalation technique only contributes further to the sense that the feature was rushed to market without a proper review from the company's cybersecurity team—despite the company's CEO Nadella proclaiming just last month that Microsoft would make security its first priority in every decision going forward. “You cannot convince me that Microsoft's security teams looked at this and said ‘that looks secure,’” says Jake Williams, a former NSA hacker and now the VP of R&D at the cybersecurity consultancy Hunter Strategy, where he says he's been asked by some of the firm's clients to test Recall's security before they add Microsoft devices that use it to their networks.

“As it stands now, it’s a security dumpster fire,” Williams says. “This is one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen from an enterprise security standpoint.”

[frost-queen]

Worshipped (Reader x Mattheo Riddle)

Requested by: Anon Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia,  @elllie-does-the-posts, @alex--awesome--22 @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly@denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07, @imagines-by-her, @vviolynn, @melsunshine,  @evilcr0ne, @callsignwidow, @whotfskai, @freddieweasleysgf, @untoldshortsofthefandoms

Summary: Reader is obessed with Mattheo's muscular and veiny arms that she folds like a paper for him.

“Oh yeah!” – Lorenzo outed giving Theodore a low five at the sight of the long dueling platform. – “Now this is going to be fun.” – he followed his friends to a corner of the classroom. Lorenzo glanced around the room recognizing Harry in the midst of it. – “Now that smile I’d like to wipe off his face.” – he elbowed Mattheo in the side with a wink. Mattheo rolled his eyes barely giving him a glance. – “Right?” – Lorenzo moved his attention to Theodore who wasn’t much of interaction too. He gave him a simple nod, before staring back at the office above.

Lorenzo gave up leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. – “Great.” – your friend said when entering the defense against the dark arts class. – “Just what I needed a duel class.” – she sighed out, rubbing her shoulders exhausted. – “You don’t think I can pass an excuse to Mad Eye for being incapable of participating due to a quidditch incident?” – you tugged her along on her sleeve passing past others to get a spot by the walls.

“You don’t play quidditch.” – you replied with a smile. – “I know.” – she whined out. You settled with her on the left side close to some Gryffindors and Slytherin girls. Your friend kept stressing out as you exhaled deep. – “Look you might not even have to duel. He can’t possibly let everyone duel within the span of his teaching hours.” – you concluded to offer some reassurance. – “You think so?” – she responded making you nod with a hum.

She exhaled relieved letting herself fall back against the wall. Across the duel platform she spotted Mattheo and his gang of friends. – “I bet they are eager to kick some ass.” – she whispered to you. – “Whoever is dueling against them will surely end up on the floor.” – she continued. You shrugged your shoulders. – “We might be surprised.” – you whispered back to her. From across the room you caught Mattheo’s glance making you quickly look away. The door shut startling a few closest to it.

From the top office emerged Mad Eye Moody. His wooden leg tapped loudly against the flooring as he made his way downstairs. His thick walking stick leaving a few dents in the stairs. His moving eye looked your way as it felt unsettling to you. He kept staring at you for a few seconds till he let his eye move to look at Harry. – “Class today is simple.” – he outed stepping in front of the dueling platform. An arm resting over his cane. – “Two of you duel against each other. Any spell is allowed.” – he said.

Draco nodded with a wide smirk, high fiving Lorenzo. Draco then looked over to Ron and Harry luring them out. Hermione whispered something to them. Probably to not let them get under their skin. – “So who wants to…” – Mad Eye started as Hermione’s arm shot up. – “Ah a volunteer.” – he said as Hermione shook her head. – “Professor I was just wondering when you said every spell. I’m sure you don’t mean the unforgivable curses as well. For that is forbidden.”

Mad Eye smiled and pointed at her. – “I even recommend it!” – he called out loud with a laugh. You looked at your friend thinking this isn’t such a good idea. Draco already slit his throat across the room to Harry and Ron. Hermione stuck her hand up again. – “Yes.” – Mad Eye sighed out. – “That is out of the question! Dumbledore would never allow such a thing! Do you wish to have the blood of your students on your hands!” – she called out not backing away from an argument. Mad Eye mimicked her words with childish muttering making you roll your eyes at him.

“My hands are clean.” – he joked showing her his hands. You exhaled deep raising your hand as well. – “Yes, you!” – he pointed out as almost everyone turned to look at you. – “Why don’t you offer yourself up as test subject?” – you said with an undertone full of attitude. Some boys around you were astonished by your bold words against the professor. – “I’m sure we’re all eager to learn from you. You could deflect such a spell can you not?” – you pouted your lips a bit to downsize him.

Mad Eye mumbled to himself with some annoyance. He then turned around to drink from a flask. Hermione sought out eye contact, giving you an approving nod to back her up. You nodded subtly back. This was no way to teach people to duel by killing each other. You had no dead wish and presumably many others had not as well. – “Fine no unforgivable curses!” – Mad Eye exclaimed rudely with a throw of his hand.

“Who’s up first?” – he called out as Lorenzo stuck his hand up along another boy. Mad Eye pointed at them, then to the platform for them to get on. They readied themselves as Mad Eye gave the signal to start. Spells flashed around as Lorenzo came out victorious. Two girls were up next as one of them got flung back, rolling over the edge. By the fourth duel had Lorenzo stuck up Mattheo’s arm. Mattheo gave him a cold stare for tossing him in the midst. Mattheo got on the platform, waiting in the middle for his opponent. – “Anyone?” – Mad Eye said as no one stepped forwards.

All afraid to duel against Mattheo. Exhaling soft, you stuck your hand up. – “Ah a volunteer!” – Mad Eye spoke as some students made way so he could see you. Mattheo turned to look at you with shock. Mad Eye smiled beyond himself. – “Oh just wonderful.” – he said as you smile sarcastically at him. A boy helped you up on the platform as you met up with Mattheo. – “I’ll go easy on you.” – he said eying you up and down.

You threw him a witty smile. – “Don’t hold yourself back.” – you answered. – “Okay.” – Mattheo replied with a nod. You turned round to head over to your side. Mattheo glanced over his shoulder back to you. – “Crush her!” – Lorenzo cheered at him. – “Easy win.” – Draco told him as it caught your ear. You rolled your eyes standing with your back at them.

You turned around at the same time as Mattheo. – “Ready your wands.” – Mad Eye said as you took in your position. – “Begin!” – he shouted as Mattheo hardened his gaze. – “Stupefy!” – he called out as you waved your wand around you, blocking his spell with protego. Blue swirled around you as it stopped his spell from reaching you. You smiled sweetly at Mattheo tightening your grip on your wand. He swallowed nervously when your expression got serious. – “Locomotor Mortis!” – you shouted as red flashes of magic came out of your wand. Mattheo’s legs got bound as he struggled to keep his balance.

“Levicorpus!” – you then shouted as Mattheo was just in time to deflect your spell with protego. Still bound he bend down trying to untie his legs. – “Expelliarmus!” – Mattheo’s wand got tossed out of his hand making him look up surprised. Now he was completely defenseless. – “Stupefy!” – you then said as Mattheo got hit in the chest getting flung over the platform dropping to the ground. Your friend erupted in loud cheering as many clapped loud for you. You untensed bowing for your audience.

Mattheo got back up looking over the platform to you as he couldn’t fully pull himself up anymore. He puffed with a smile that you had out done him. You got up with the help of your friend. Mattheo joined his friends, holding his hand against his stomach. Draco nudged him hard. Bickering with him that he lost from a girl. After you another pair went up as class was close to ending. Dismissed started everyone to leave the classroom. Your friend and you left class seeing Mattheo was leaning against the wall outside.

The moment you passed he removed himself from the wall, joining your side. – “Y/n Y/l/n.” – he called out sliding an arm over you. You made some brief eye contact with your friend as she got the hint. She moved away, giving you the space with Mattheo. – “Hope I didn’t hit your pride.” – you told him as he inhaled sharp through his teeth. – “Not yet.” – he answered with a chuckle. You glanced to the side seeing his hand over your shoulder. A bit of his sleeve pulled back revealing his wrist to you. Seeing how muscles and veiny it was made you swallow. Somehow that was very appealing to you.

“I didn’t know you were such a duelist or were you just eager to get me.” – he said making you pull your attention away from his wrist. – “What would you like the answer to be.” – you responded leaning in close to tease him. Mattheo smiled losing his mind over how ravishing that was. His bad boy attitude stroked with sarcastic comments that could make the serotine in his brain release. You swallowed shyly at those eyes he flashed your way. subtly feeling his muscles tense as he moved your neck closer to him.

Your heart started to beat faster as the urge grew to grab his hand and let your fingers go up his arm wanting to feel those muscles. Something inside of you snapped needing to touch him. You touched his chest, moving your hand a bit. – “Still in pain?” – you asked feeling yourself warm up for doing something so bold. Mattheo smiled taking your hand and removing it gently from against his chest. – “Only when you touch it.” – he whispered almost making you weak on the knees. - “Good thing I didn’t hit any weak spots.” – you answered letting his arm slide off your shoulder.

Mattheo and you parted ways as you went to search for your friend. Out of sight you needed a moment to cool yourself down. Never in a million years did you think Mattheo Riddle would hold such a grip over you. Sure he was handsome, a first class bad boy and very picky in his taste in girls but seeing that wrist of his made something snap inside of you. It made you wonder what the rest of him looked underneath his shirt. There was something so handsome of well enough muscles arms. You barely lost control now, you weren’t sure what would happen if you would encounter him again if you saw a bit of skin.

Luckily your friend was waiting for you by the great hall. You entered with her taking a seat on the long tables along some other Slytherins. – “So what did he want?” – she asked curious. You shrugged your shoulders. To be honest you couldn’t remember much of it. If one were to ask you about it, you’d probably just ramble on about his arms and how they were in contact with your body. Words weren’t necessary when his body had you in such a clutch.  – “When you speak of the snake.” – your friend whispered nudging you. Looking up you saw Mattheo enter with his friends.

He came sitting a table before yours, facing your way. He flashed you a devious smile before sitting down. Your friend had to suppress her excitement at how Mattheo was looking at you. Mattheo folded his hands before him as yet again a bit of wrist became visible. You caught yourself stare instantly at it. The scenario in your mind anything but playful. Knee trembling under the table you really had to withheld yourself to not jump over the tables and rub your hands over his arms.

Mattheo caught you staring making him smile. You forced yourself to look away, hoping you weren’t drooling over him. You moved yourself a bit so that your friend was blocking your focus on him. Whenever you accidently looked at him, you noticed he was looking back at you whilst chatting. His attention drawn to you while his mouth was engaged in the conversation. Unable to control yourself anymore you got up leaving with your friend. Mattheo watching your leave with full attention. Lorenzo waved his hand in front of him to snap his attention back.

Your friend and you went outside where you enjoyed some relaxed afternoon under the sun. After a few other classes you went to your common room in the dungeons. The two of you sat down on the sofa as your friend jumped back up. She pulled from underneath her a book. – “How did that come here?” – she questioned looking at the cover. – “Who’s it from?” – you asked as she opened the first page. – “Malfoy.” – she sighed out. She pushed the book in your arms. – “Here you take it to him.” – she said. – “What? No!” – you answered shoving it back to her. She pushed it back your way.

“Do it for me.” – she begged. – “No!” – you answered loudly trying to keep your voice down. – “Do it yourself!” – you forced the book back her way as she fumbled against your grip. – “See it as an opportunity to talk to him.” – you whispered to her knowing of her silly crush on him. She immediately shook her head. – “I don’t have a dead wish!” – she whispered back throwing the book on your lap. You took it, flapping it her way. – “Don’t be a baby and give it to him!” – she moved her hands behind her back, shaking her head.

You threw it in her lap as she squealed loud. Slapping it away like something dirty. It fell back with you as you sighed loud. – “I’ll buy you all the candy you want.” – she said. – “So you want me to overdose on sugar?” – you quirked your eyebrow up. – “I’ll do your homework than? Buy you new clothes? Lie for you? Please I’ll do anything but give it to him with perhaps a good word for me.” – she begged praying with her hands. – “Fine!” – you gave in. – “But you better talk to him one day or I’ll force you into a situation so uncomfortable you’ll hate it.” – she nodded her head firmly as you got up.

Dragging yourself up the stairs you went to Draco’s dorm that he shared with his friends. You knocked loudly waiting for someone to call you in. – “In.” – you heard making you open the door. Popping your head inside, you froze. Instead of finding Draco, you found Mattheo half-naked. His entire chest bare as you had a full pleasure of his muscular body. – “Y/n? What are you doing here?” – he asked holding his shirt. Speechless you moved Draco’s book up to show him.

Mattheo frowned. You entered more; gaze caught on his chest. – “Malfoy’s.” – you managed to get out. – “That idiot.” – Mattheo sighed out coming closer to you. Your eyes widened practically shaking as he came nearer. He plucked the book out of your hand, looking briefly at it. Wetting your lips, you so wanted to go smoothly over his muscles and veiny arms. You had never had such a dirty mind but licking them might have crossed your mind.

“Y/n?” – Mattheo said noticing you were staring lost at him. You hummed softly still charmed by his muscles. Mattheo chuckled making you look up to him. The way he looked at you set you over the edge. You completely lost it. You let your hands slide up his arms to his neck as you drew your head closer. The sensation that overtook you whilst feeling his arms was ravishing.

You kissed him hard feeling his neck. Mattheo grabbed you kissing you back. Your lips followed his pace as your hands went down his arms again meeting in the center of his chest. Mattheo removed your hands from on his chest bringing them up to his neck. Inhaling sharply you kissed him hard again. Heating up at the sensation leaving your brain. Mattheo chuckled when you started kissing his neck and shoulder.

“Easy there Y/n.” – he said at your eagerness. He tilted your head up to him, pressing his lips on yours again. Taking his hands you wrapped them around you, wanting him close. – “You’re so mine.” – he whispered to you tilting your chin up by his thumb. – “I so am.” – you whispered back before kissing him again.

-------------------------------------------

Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!  

[theprismaticvoid]

I've seen a lot of discourse about Gwen in Across the Spider-Verse and whether or not she's trans, and one thing I keep seeing that frustrates me is people calling it "queerbaiting" because they never directly say Gwen is transgender in the film, arguing that it's "drip-feeding representation" and that the creators "should've done better".

It really annoys me to see people talk like this bc it shows that they very blatantly do not know how the entertainment industry works, how censorship boards and studio mandates handle these things.

A few years ago, Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch posted a video showing some of the emails he got from Disney Channel's Standards and Practices board, and some of the completely wild shit they took issue with. They legit demanded that a reference to "spin the bottle" be removed because they thought it implied that the teenagers were having orgies, or that Mabel not call someone a "poopy face" because it came across as a reference to "getting shitfaced" (a slang term for getting drunk, for anyone where that term isn't used). Even a character wearing an animal mascot suit was a point of contention because they thought it was a reference to furries and a character dressing up like a cartoon animal was going to corrupt the kiddies. Things that absolutely no reasonable person would care about were treated with the same level of gravity as if they'd had the kids saying the fuck word and giving the middle finger.

(And that's not even mentioning how Alex wanted to include gay characters in the show but the best he got to manage is the two cops vaguely saying they're "in love" in a way that could easily be read as just them being friends, in one of the last scenes of the final episode, after he'd already decided he was done working with Disney and was jumping ship to a different company after GF was over; at that point, it was just a matter of "What are you gonna do? Fire me?")

Steven Universe had to fight for years to get the Garnet wedding they so desperately wanted... and basically as soon as they did it, they were cancelled and given five episodes to conclude a story arc that was meant to go for at least another season, if not longer. The Movie and Future basically only happened due to the Crewniverse fighting for enough of a continuation to give the series a proper ending + strong fan reception to Season 5; Ian has made it clear on Twitter several times that the crew wants to make more Steven Universe, but the show that got famous for including queer themes being EXPLICITLY queer is too extreme for CN and they refuse to let it keep going.

Am I saying that Spider-Verse is the paragon of representation and that it couldn't possibly be done better? No, of course not. Am I saying people shouldn't want more than little easter-eggs that hint at representation? No, no way, that'd be ridiculous.

But even getting what was in the movie represents the team struggling against censorship and regulations to try and get across what they wanted. Even getting a pride flag in the background with "PROTECT TRANS KIDS" written on it is an absolutely massive thing, and there's not a doubt in my mind that this required hours of email back-and-forths with censorship boards who demanded it be removed.

It just really annoys me to see people say that they somehow should've done more, as if it was just as simple as a script writer writing a line where Gwen says "By the way Miles, I'm transgender." and that being it. It shows a complete lack of understanding for just how difficult it is to get any subject that they think is "taboo" or "controversial" into media meant for children.

And because I know people will bring this up: The stuff about Gwen is nothing even remotely close to Disney's fifteen different "first gay characters". Nobody related to Spider-Verse tried to hype up how Gwen was totally trans and this was a huge step forward for representation. Sony didn't try to use it to get brownie points with the LGBT community only for it to turn out to be a minor thing.

Spider-Verse including trans pride flags in the background and including an arc about her "coming out" as being Spider-Man to her parents is absolutely not comparable to Disney making a big hullabaloo about how Endgame and Rise of Skywalker were going to include gay characters, only for that just turning out to be one character mentioning a husband in a way that could be dubbed over and a three-second kiss between two nameless lesbian Rebels at the end that could be cut out for foreign releases.

[alabasterwasps]

Jay gets the key to Brian’s house from Alex’s place.

In several of Alex’s tapes featuring behind the scenes for his project, there’s instances where he mentions being in Brian’s house while Brian isn’t home, or he’s showering and they’re writing and stuff. It’s canon that Marble Hornets was a project Alex had been formulating since highschool, and based on how well Brian seems to know Alex in his audition tape there’s plausible reasoning to conclude these guys have been friends for ages.

And yes, there’s a shot where Brian is wearing Alex’s white and blue flannel while they’re at his place.

These guys were friends before Marble Hornets was even a film project, and even when Alex is under the operator’s influence he still thinks of Brian.

Brian is his first successful murder, however in the tape where it happens Alex attempted to kill Tim beforehand and first.

With Brian, he doesn’t cut to the chase. They hang out first, they do other things first. This will get into speculation and headcanon but it very much seems like Alex is trying to avoid it. And then, even in the hospital, they just walk around. We never see Alex kill Brian, we simply see the Operator. And we see something else too, Alex disappear. Alex gets taken by the operator numerous times in this series, for hours at a time. It’s easy to guess the Operator does with him what it does with Tim, that torture it drags him through in the woods. The Operator is actively breaking him down, and we see this, and we see it happen with Jay, I digress.

In entry 72, Jay and Tim are going through Alex’s pages.

There is one with the names of all the dead cast member’s crossed off. Brian’s is different though, as his has a little amendment. It says “Sees Me” next to his name.

It’s hard to tell because unfortunately Brian and Alex have the same handwriting when writing big scratchy letters, but it likely is a like… hint at the Brian reveal, one of the many before it happens.

We see in one of Hoodie’s videos that he films that Alex does see him. When he takes his hood off to drink water and Alex bursts in on him, he never puts the mask back on and the whole “wipe that smile off your face” from Alex (mind you it seems like Alex had been looking for him for awhile. These two are in a constant cat and mouse chase)

alex has known that Hoodie, totheark, is Brian for a long while.

So… that page was either an amendment by Alex, like he was in one of his… i don’t know how else to describe it other than an episode, when he gets absorbed in his scribbling and thoughts.

Where he’d written brian crossed off like normal, but then changed it because the two have seen each other.

OR

Brian got to those pages before Tim and Jay did, which is very likely, and he dropped the hint himself.

Since“have you seen me” and “do you see me” and various iterations of it is a question that he asks Jay constantly.

I think it’s a genuine question, most the time, as it’s coupled usually with footage or stills of Brian stalking jay from a spot where maybe jay could’ve seen him but didn’t. But i think see could in this context also be like. defined as “do you know who i am”.

And then, there’s an answer. In alex’s scribbles of his name Brian writes “sees me”, both because Alex has seen him, and Alex knows who he is.

Which if jay had watched the tape uploaded to his channel (which we know Jay watches everything totheark posts, especially on his own channel) then if Jay *caught* on then he could’ve pieced together that hey maybe this is who this guy is. Jay did not though, because he’s a goober.

ANYWAY

Even towards the end, Alex is not at all surprised to see Brian, or to handle his body but I digress.

Even when these two are broken beyond repair they are almost always together. Every time we see Brian before his death, he is with Alex. Or his name is mentioned by Alex. He was Alex’s star role, his lead, his friend. Brian offered Alex to go to dinner with him and Tim and Alex said no and there could be a million reasons on why he lied.

To me, he sounded nervous. He lied about being busy, about having a ton of auditions when Brian was the only one. He wants to be successful and maybe he wanted to sound that way. But it was that night that he saw the Operator, and maybe if he’d gone to dinner he never would have.

thinking about how Brian was allowed into Alex's house whenever he wanted even if he wasn't home and vice versa.

Thinking about how Alex had a spare key to Brian's place.

Thinking about how Alex would just chill there and Brian would go shower.

Thinking about the time when Brian is literally wearing one of Alex's flannels.

[infallible-dreamers]

A million and one ways

a little drabble I wanted to write about Malex post reunion. just a lot of cheese and fluff :P read it on AO3

Everyone wanted to be near Alex once they’d finally gotten him back. Michael was a little annoyed at this because he just wanted to be alone with Alex. He’d missed him for weeks and finally seeing him again, he never wanted to let go. But according to others he apparently had to.

Kyle apparently got first dibs because he needed to check him over and make sure the residual effects from what happened in the pocket dimension would be fade. Kyle concluded that Alex was psychically okay now, but still made Michael leave to make sure the emotional wounds would heal too. 

After the doctor, everyone else pounced, giving them only half hour to shower – they made every use of half an hour – and change before dragging Michael and Alex to the Wild Pony to celebrate the win. Kyle made a toast and Alex was enveloped in so many hugs from all their friends and family, before being pulled into many conversations whilst Michael hung back sipping his beer. But Alex looked for him in the room and would smile when he caught his eyes. Michael couldn’t hide the smile and tears that he wiped with his sleeve, he had Alex back.

After some time, he saw his boyfriend give people another set of hugs before finally appearing at his side. “Let’s go home?” 

Michael nodded eagerly, grabbing hold of Alex’s hand, and intertwining their fingers as they walked out of the Pony.

Alex sunk into the couch as soon as they got home. “I missed you so much.” Michael grinned, taking in Alex, he had to be real, didn’t he? It couldn’t just be another dream he’d had in the weeks he had been gone.

The airman laughed, “You’ve already said that.”

“Yeah but this is for the time I missed you since we got you back.”

“We didn’t get much alone time, did we?” Alex gestured for Michael to join him on the couch, too tired to move elsewhere.

“Uh huh.” Michael placed his Stetson and phone on the coffee table and sat down next to an exhausted Alex on the couch. He leaned into Alex’s chest, comfortable listening to the constant beat, knowing he was safe in his arms. Alex lazily played with his curls and could feel his boyfriend’s hand snake under his shirt, he grinned as he recalled the conversations he’s had with his friends since finally coming home. 

“Can I ask you a stupid question?”

Michael hummed in response.

“I heard you had a million different ways to say you love me.” Michael looked up at Alex who was smirking at the knowledge, “I think every one of our friends has now heard how I’m your soulmate or the love of your life.”

Michael grinned, content that Alex was aware, placing a soft kiss at his sternum that he had exposed, “It’s true isn’t it?” 

He was getting worried when Alex wasn’t responding and calling him out for using telekinesis on his buttons, he still had the same soft smile but looked lost in thought “Is that the question…” 

“Do you only say it when I’m gone?” The alien pushed himself up look at Alex directly shocking him and causing him to retract his statement, “I told you it was stupid! It’s just you never really say those things directly to me when I’m here. I know you feel it, I was honestly just curious.”

“Please don’t disappear on me again. I can say it every second of the day if you stay by my side.” Alex was shaking his head, insisting he was just teasing and he doesn’t have to say it that much.

He placed a hand on Alex’s cheek, “Alex Manes, you are my cosmic soulmate… and the love of my life… the home to my heart… I will never look away… you’re the piece I’ve searched my whole life for, ” Alex laughed as Michael followed every single statement with chaste kiss. “I love you so much.”

Alex smiled realising, of course Michael always had told him he loved him, even without three words, he said it all the time. And Alex loves Michael, he hadn’t been able to say it himself in those specific words but he knew Michael still knew because they told each other in other words, their looks, their touch and in every action, “I love you too.”

Michael nodded and pulled Alex in for a feverous kiss. After a long passionate kiss it slowed and with few pecks Alex found himself reaching for the other as he felt Michael pull away and opened his eyes to see him reaching into his jeans pocket. “I wanted to maybe give you a few days of rest before I put more on your mind…”

Michael brushed his thumb over Alex’s cheek to wipe the stray tear that had started to fall, and finally opened the little black box. It was two small simple silver rings, with a thin strip of small diamonds meeting in the middle at a larger glass gem embedded into the band reflecting purple and pink, the alien glass, more of his console and his way home “Michael…”

“I meant every word I said,” Michael huffed gathering his confidence, “I have never had a place I’ve felt at home since I woke up in the desert, I thought it was another planet I was waiting for, but when I was 17, someone yelled at me at the back of my pickup for stealing his guitar, and I realised my home was standing in front of me. Everywhere I went and everything I did, all I wanted to do ever was to go home with you. Alexander Manes will you marry me?”

Alex smiled through glassy eyes and Michael shoulders relaxed when he heard the soft murmured, “yes.” He kissed his cheek, his nose, his lips as Alex tried to will himself to stop crying. He was grinning into Michael’s kiss, “That was my favourite way.” 

[chilly-me-softly]

Expecting Babies ~ Episodes

Hi everyone, as I said here I am with some other moment with the Expecting Babies series, this will be a regular thing since I have ideas and I hope I can be regular in the posting too. If you like the idea feel free to suggest some of the moments, it'll be really appreciated! In the meantime enjoy this x

First Time Alone

Dominick had arrived on a not too sunny day, not that the others were any different but there had been a few days break from the rain. First she had enjoyed it alone and then a couple of days later Alex had organised a small party to officially introduce him to family and friends. The absence of some people, like her mother, had made her realise even more that she would have to manage things on her own as usual. But she hadn't let this put her off; over those years there had been many other people who had shown her devotion and helped her when she needed it.

She felt good. Finally after so long she could honestly say that she was happy and at peace with herself. Things in the company were going great, she had concluded two new agreements that were to bring new and different target groups to the company. Dominick was a very sweet boy, although her first experience had been with a girl she was also getting on well with the opposite sex although she had to admit that one and the other were very different. And with Ben things were going slowly and without too much pressure. Alexandra still wanted to manage on her own with her son but that didn't mean that Ben couldn't be part of both their lives.

It was difficult to balance everything, several times she had dozed off in unusual places tired without realising it, but she was determined to make it and she would make it.

She tried to devote the right amount of time to everything but of course the unexpected happens when you least expect it. Like in that case when an emergency had come up at one of the out-of-town locations, she had fought endlessly trying to find a solution to a problem so she wouldn't have to travel, but she hadn't succeeded. She had to leave, she could have made a one-day trip to and for there but the journey would have been long and tearing up such a small child would have made no sense. She had a nanny she used to call on when she had meetings or whatever, but it was usually a couple of hours and in that case it would most likely be very late and she wouldn't be comfortable leaving him.

So the person she trusts the most and who is also the closest is undoubtedly Ben. Alex weighs up the request she's about to make when her finger has already pressed the boy's contact on the phone. And she doesn't have time to reconsider because he promptly replies.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Ben I need a favour"

"Tell me"

"Could you look after Dominick for the day? I know it's a lot to ask and if you're busy feel free to say no"

"How could I say no to Mr Smile" a smile escapes involuntarily at hearing the name Ben has now given Dom, a real ray of sunshine that smile all the time.

"Why, did something happen?" he continues and she shakes her head, trying to get back to the conversation.

"Just a mess that I hope can be sorted out as quickly as possible. Can you really? Look I don't want to-"

"How about I'm at your place in half an hour?" Ben interrupts her rant and she takes a deep breath to calm herself.

"That would be perfect" she smiles one last time before hanging up and starting to organise a small suitcase with the essentials she'll need.

Ben arrives before the pre-announced half-hour and Alex and Dominick welcome him as always with great enthusiasm. The little one immediately finds himself in Ben's arms, who wastes no time in reminding him of how much fun they will have together without mummy.

"Ben thanks again for this" the boy promptly shakes his head, stepping one step closer to her.

"Don't mention it, you know you can count on me. I'm not just saying that"

"I know"

"But you could give me something for being available"

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Maybe a kiss would be nice" the girl doesn't let him repeat it a second time and stands up on her toes to leave a sweet kiss on his lips. Ben smiles following her as she gets her feet back on the ground continuing to kiss her again and again. Until she groans pulling away, a grimace of pain on her face.

"Hey, no pulling mommy's hair come on" with a couple of hairs down she manages to get the little one to let go as he amusedly pulls more and more.

The three of them move to the kitchen where Alex gives the last suggestions to Ben, which are readily accepted with a smile and even a bit of teasing. And then it's time to go and, needless to say, she almost doesn't want to leave seeing the two boys so cosy with each other. She wishes to be invisible so she could enjoy that unique view without any contamination, just the two of them showing their true selves.

"So when are you coming back?"

"Late tonight" the look with which Ben looks at her puts her in awe, she knows he wants to tell her something so she goes ahead of him. "What?"

"It's just... isn't it better if you stay the night? I mean while you get there and see what it's all about, I don't want to think of you alone at night in the middle of the road"

"Okay one I have a driver for that and two I don't want to leave you for that long"

"We'll be fine" he reassures her and one look at Dominick's relaxed face could affirm the same thing, but go tell that to her brain! "Take all the time you need to handle this emergency as best you can so that you don't have to deal with it again soon. And if it's sorted out soon, take a walk or something"

"Ugh I'm going to miss you" she gives up, going to squeeze her little one for the last time, enjoying his little squeals in appreciation so that she can get enough of him until she comes back.

-

"What are we gonna do?" Ben puts his hands on his hips as he looks at the baby in his carrier on the kitchen counter. He has already clapped his hands and waved his little rattle he doesn't know how many times, but not even a shadow of a smile. It's as if he has sensed his mummy is not there and is sad.

His chin starts to tremble and Ben's body stiffens before he quickly picks him up trying to save what he can. "Hey no no don't cry... please"

He starts rocking him trying not to let those wails turn into a real cry, heading into the living room in the meantime to look for some baby channels. Maybe some of those silly little songs might do the trick. The tv turns to a sports channel however, and as he lowers the volume so as not to cause further annoyance, Ben realises that the baby is quiet. He lowers his gaze to see him as captured by those images and inevitably smiles.

"She's raising you well" he murmurs as he walks around the sofa and sits down, settling the baby better in his arms.

The rest of the day proceeds quite well, Alex calling him when she knows the baby needs to eat or sleep to check if he has managed to do everything without too much of a fuss and then they stay a while chatting about the trip, the problem, a bit of everything.

He calms down with every passing second, the thing is he recognises it's a big responsibility and doesn't want to disappoint Alex who has thought of him, trusts him enough to leave her child with him for the day. And he compromises with the fact that he doesn't have to entertain the child every minute, but it's okay if he plays alone or not at all and that he can sit and watch tv or his phone even if he is still awake and certainly won't fall down or run away. He can do it, he says to himself, and he's right.

And if Alex disobeys and eventually returns at the crack of dawn, it's not for lack of trust in the boy, the separation anxiety too strong to allow her to enjoy some time away. She prefers to check that her baby boy is sleeping peacefully before crawling into bed and letting her other boy hold her. Maybe, she tells herself, they could be like this all the time if it weren't for her stubbornness in wanting to manage on her own for a while longer. But that she will admit another day.

Episodes

[itsjustjo78]

Final Words for Beetlejuice: The Musical

In times like these, we have no words, we have only each other.

By the time I post this, the final performance for Beetlejuice: The Musical would either be wrapping up or has already concluded. I decided I wanted to write a few words here. This isn't a review or anything like that, just me rambling about this show that changed my life.

The first musical I've ever seen was Hamilton, and to put it kindly there were much better ways I could've wasted two hours. It convinced me that musical theater wasn't anything good at all, a mentality I've carried around for 6 years. Then, a little show titled The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals came around, and became the first musical I ever enjoyed. Despite this. I viewed it as the exception, not the rule. Later I would watch The SpongeBob Musical, and I enjoyed it as well, but I was still not convinced that musical theater was anything special.

That is, until a friend introduced me to Beetlejuice.

Though I was reluctant, I gave it a shot.

That was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Throughout those two hours, I laughed, I cried, I was floored by what was unfolding in front of me.

It didn't take long for me to decide this was my favorite piece of fictional media ever.

I became obsessed, drawing fanart, listening to the soundtrack, even writing a whole script for a film adaptation and a sequel. Beetlejuice was something special. There was only one problem:

The musical closed over a year and half before I watched it.

I wanted to watch this show live, but couldn't.

That is, until that fateful day in September (I think) when they announced the show would be brought back to life at the Marquis Theater in April.

At that moment, I knew I had to go watch it.

As the months passed and passed, I saved up my money, but something always came up, and I was never able to go.

In October, they announced that Beetlejuice would once again close on January 8th, tonight. At that point, I was done delaying my trip. After over a year of being obsessed with this musical that changed my life, I purchased plane tickets to New York and two tickets to watch the January 6th performance.

Those three months of waiting felt like an eternity. It was reported that Alex Brightman had gotten a concussion, and would likely not be able to perform for the rest of the duration of the show, which was devastating, but I was more than willing to watch any of fhe understudies (all of whom are very talented performers), as long as I got to watch the show at all.

At long last, the day came. To my shock and delight, hours before the performance it was announced that Alex Brightman would return starting with that night's performance. It seemed I would see Alex perform after all.

The performance was two days ago as of the writing and posting of this message. It was one of the happiest moments of my entire life. Throughout those two hours, I laughed, I cried, I was floored by what was unfolding in front of me all over again. It was an absolutely magical experience finally having the opportunity to see this story I love in person.

As of the time I'm writing this, Beetlejuice should probably be in Act 2 of their final performance, and before they close for good I just want to give my thanks to this absolute wonder of a show.

To Scott Brown and Anthony King, for taking the basis of the movie and crafting something unique, and in my opinion, superior to its inspiration.

To Eddie Perfect, for not giving up when it seemed like Beetlejuice was just another flop in his resume, and for bringing us so many fantastic songs that will be remembered by everyone forever.

To the fans, for proving that this show was so much more than what it was seen as, for being one of the most amazing fanbases I've ever had the honor of being a part of, for proving that this show deserved a second chance.

To Alex Timbers, for bringing this show to life, for spending 9 whole years crafting the perfect show, tweaking and editing things so that this show could reach it's true potential.

To Kerry Butler, Rob McClure, David Josefsberg, Leslie Kritzer, and Adam Dannheriser, for bringing the Maitlands and the Deetzes to life, from transforming words on a page to living people (despite the fact that half of them are dead) that so many people could fall in love with.

To the remaining cast and crew, for putting your all into this show and making sure audiences are entertained day after day (-O).

To Sophia Anne Caruso, Presley Ryan, and Elizabeth Teeter, for portraying a character most strange and unusual, that so many people, myself included, could relate to, who helped many people feel seen and understood, for showing us all that there is always a reason to keep going.

To the man, the myth, the legend, Alex Brightman, for breathing life into a literal dead person. You are a star, an irreplaceable legend, and you will always be Betelgeuse to me.

This is not the end of Beetlejuice's story. With the ongoing National Tour and the possiblity of licensing in the works, the tale of Beetlejuice is far from over. This may be an ending, but Beetlejuice will forever live on. The show may be dead, but this is just the area where Betelgeuse thrives. And if there's something that Beetlejuice proves, is that even something is dead, it's never truly gone.

Thank you, Beetlejuice: The Musical, for changing my life. Goodbye, I'll miss you dearly, and you will live on forever.

He may he gone, but he's never far away.

All you gotta do

is say his name.

-Jo Pinedo

[aenthroppe]

YES ough I love that lyric as well!! You should make a post compiling instances like that :3c I'd love it the feeling of being very figurative yet visceral is sooo correct and so good! It gives me that feeling of "transcendence" (Idk I wish I'd have a better word for it rn) it untethers me in a really good way without any feelings of dissociation

And aaa hihi I love yapping about the sun :333 bc like -- what is the sun's deal?? (Or what seems to be its deal lmao) And the yappage is real so I've decided to put this under a read more for everyone's convenience :'3

The first mentions that stick out to me are in The White Beyond, in both the opening and Titular track. In "Inside of you in spite of you" there's the lyric »I am the sun before you see me rise« Now – what/who the "I" in that song is could fill a whole other post but I think it's safe to say it is something untethered to any sense of self. It's not its own thing, rather all these different things. Why am I going on about this? In the track "The White Beyond" we have the question »Do you see your own reflection when you stare into the blinding sun?« for the first time drawing a line between any sort of self-hood and the Sun "do you see yourself in the sun?" I included the little aside about IOYISOY bc I think those songs are directly connected in meaning, since "I am in the Air now" is the last line of TWB and the first line of IOYISOY. like two sides of the same coin. (Honorable sun mention from that album: in Come A Time we have the magnificent line of »And when you stare into the sun/do you see the insides of sight itself?« which would lead well into an analysis of visual perception and 'the real" in Alex's music. For another post. OTL)

Let's move forward to SOL - a self-banishment ritual. And-- I mean-- the whole album is named after the sun. And you get tons of visual references to it from the cover art to the icon on the cd and Phantom Limb's music video. However, lyrically the Sun's kinda shy on that record. We have one mention in At The Road's End, in the spoken word part of Alex's »And today, on Friday, February 10th, 2017, I had known my name, I had known how tall I stood, I had known my hands, I had known my eyes, and the color of the sun.« HOW INTERESTING that he calls that out specifically in his little manifestation of himself (bc also -- hasn't he not unspoken his name not even an hour ago in The Unspeaking? Knowing what the sun looks like is as fundamental to oneself as knowing one's own name.)

But that isn't the kicker. Bc again in the last track of the album, Let's Talk About Bones, we get a lyric that seems all too familiar in the second verse »Now you see the sun/where once you saw your own reflection« the devastation this line lead me to feel.it's unreal. The Ritual is supposely concluded (or is about to) and the ambiguity in this line kills me every day. Like- do you look up at the sun and now just see it for what it is? Since you don't have a self to project onto it anymore? Or are you looking into a mirror, expecting your reflection but now you see the sun, something grander, something without a self. (And there's also an argument to be made that neither of these matter, since the next line »So push your face into the mirror till it breaks« proposes shattering any reflection of that self but aaaaa what is the sun. What is its deal. Is it the self? Is it benevolent? Is it a version of one self? Is it a luminous Other? Is it good to see it instead of your reflection? Is it good to see your reflection instead of the sun?)

I want to highlight one last sun mention, again in a closing track, this time of The Birdwatcher's Guide To Atrocity. Bc if the question about what the sun stands for wasn't complicated enough; in comes Celebration Song with »When I hurled the spear it was a million to one/hurrah hurrah hurrah/but from the mountaintop I took down the sun/hurrah hurrah hurrah« COOL. so now Alex poses the a protagonist directly against the Sun. And the take down gets celebrated. And at this point I have no fucking clue anymore of the nature of the sun.

I couldn't even go into these mentions in context of their own songs. But there is a clear through-line. I s2g (or maybe the sun??) if the next album's closing track alluded to the sun once more OTL idk what I'll do but it'd be so fucking funny.

Personally I think the Sun is mainly a stand in for The Self, disconnected from body/conscious; an answer so simple and obvious it's so unsatisfactory to me wfyjykettjoyut

But even then it's so layered. And good. Waugh

Let's do more seeming posting... together 🤝

Any aspect you especially like about the music? What's your favorite album? :3

Hi! I have a lot of meaningful associations with Sol because of the time in my life when I was listening to it a lot for the first time, and it has Stranger on it which is my second favorite song of theirs overall. Also, if it's a concept album with track transitions, I'm already lining up

And it's definitely the lyrics. For most artists I love the music takes priority but tbh Seeming is one of if not the only artist I'm obsessed with not just for the music but also the sheer poetry of the lyrics. Songs I put on loop are catchy but songs that are my all-time favorites are ones with profound or personally meaningful lyrics so I guess you could say I'm a lyrics guy first and foremost and Seeming scratches that itch more than any other band I listen to :> I could probably go through the writing of each of my favorites and say what it is I like specifically but that would take forever...

Although I'm not downplaying how good the music is because I mean have you HEARD Knowledge and End Studies

By the time I'm done here there will be a Seeming fanbase on Tumblr

[fearfully-fiction]

Odd Fellows Home pt.8- Alex Schroeder x Reader

word count:6649

warnings: language, spookies, angst, intense mood switches once again. I do believe that is all!

Summary: Based on season 3, episode 6 of DF. so, all credit to the crew, the show, and the channel. Separating and sleeping alone wasn’t the best idea even if you weren’t truly alone. the episode concludes with the readers shattered pieces waiting to be put back together but knowing she wouldn’t be alone in doing so. 

alright guys! this is the last part of this series! i do hope you enjoyed this insane and slightly confusing ride, because i had an amazing time writing it for you all! also, there be a little something posted right after this as well, so maybe this isn’t the end. we’ll bring back something said in the beginning! I love you to the moon and to Saturn!-M.G. 

(gif not mine!)

“The reason why we are sleeping alone is because we believe when you are alone and isolated, it just brings about the fear. We’ve all agreed on the four scariest locations for us to go sleep. First, we have the Hospital. The Hospital is said to be the most malevolent haunting of the entire property. And then we have the morgue in the Nursing Home. People have reported getting their hair tugged, scratched. Our next two locations are in the Old Folks Home where none of us have been yet and those two are the east wing of the Old Folks Home and the west wing of the Old Folks Home. So, those are our four scariest places.” Dakota said. Alex looked over at you standing next to Chelsea and felt guilty for upsetting you with what he was doing. “Tanner is going to write those out on a piece of paper, and then, we’re gonna draw and that’s where we go sleep for the night.” Dakota finished explaining. “For six hours, a lot longer than normal.” He added. “Much longer than normal.” you agreed and shook your head.

Tanner put the papers into the small bag and shook it. “Ok, so babe, you are going to be sleeping with me, so whatever one of us draws is where we’ll go,” Alex said and looked at you for confirmation. “I think I’ll be with one of these guys tonight,” you told him and everyone’s eyes went wide. “What?” Alex asked, you could tell he was upset, he knew he told you that you could go with anyone else if you wanted but he didn’t expect you to actually do it. “Ok, well choose whoever then,” he said. “I’ll stick with Chels tonight if she doesn’t mind,” you said and looked over at her. She nodded her head. “That’s completely fine with me.” she agreed. 

“Alright then. Who is going to draw first?” he asked, then quickly answered his own question. “Dakota,” he said.  “I’m drawing first?” Dakota asked. “Oh, yeah,” Alex confirmed. “50% chance you’ll be with someone, 100% chance it’s haunted.” Your boyfriend said and you rolled your eyes. 

“Love it,” Dakota said sarcastically, you chuckled a bit.

Dakota took a paper from the bag and unfurled it to read what was on it. “West Wing Old Folks Home.” he read his pick. “Damn, that’ll be fun,” you said. “Yeah thanks, (y/n/n).” he quipped “I don’t know what to think,” Dakota said. “Hey, at least you’ll be in the same building as someone else,” you told him. “That’s true,” he said. 

“Let’s just go in order here. Let’s go Chelsea next.” Alex declared. Tanner made a sound trying to make you guys anxious about choosing. “Don’t make that sound like, I’m already screwed,” Chelsea whined. “You guys are great at making us feel better right now, thanks,” you spoke sarcastically. Tanner just laughed. 

“I’m so nervous.” Chelsea expressed. “We’ll be fine Chels, just think you get to spend the night with the crazy one,” you told her, and she shook her head. “I love this.” she sarcastically said and you chuckled a bit. You were feeling a bit better from being outside for a while, but your anxiety was still bubbling within you. You had a horrible feeling that you would get the Nursing Home and so you crossed your fingers as she drew. She had a big smile on her face. “I smile when I’m nervous,” she said. She grabbed the paper from the bag and opened it up with you looking over her shoulder in anticipation. “Shit, the Nursing Home morgue!” you exclaimed in dismay. “Oh, no!” Tanner shouted out. “That’s terrible!” Chelsea exclaimed. She held the paper up so the camera could see. 

“This is not a good spot.” Chelsea declared. You stood next to Chelsea and you looked at each other in worry. 

“Tanner, do you wanna decide our fates?” Alex asked while holding out the bag towards Tanner. “This is very important for both of us right now,” Alex spoke again, and Tanner chuckled nervously. “Yeah,” he said and Alex laughed. “A lot rides on this man. I either have the best spot or the worst spot.” He said exaggeratedly. 

Tanner reached into the bag to grab the small slip of paper which determined where he would be staying that night.  “Oh snap,” Chelsea said and you chuckled. He unraveled the paper and as soon as he looked at it he shouted. “Go!” You knew from the way he said it he got the worst location to sleep in. The Hospital. 

“No!” Dakota exclaimed. Chelsea let out a laugh and you let a chuckled slip through your lips as well. Alex looked over at you to see a soft smile on your face as you laughed. 

“I got the Hospital!” Tanner exclaimed. “That sucks Tanner, I’m sorry,” you told him while holding in giggles. You turned to look at Alex who was totally just celebrating, and the look on his face made your smile brighter even though you were mad at him his smile to you was ever-contagious. He looked at you and saw you smiling at him, and it made him smile even wider. 

“Why?!” Tanner shouted. 

“Remember when someone was trying to break in?” your boyfriend asked jokingly. “Yeah, I know yeah, I remember,” Tanner said and it made you chuckle a bit. You hated when you were mad at Alex and something he said or did made you laugh. In this case, it was something involving the matter that made you mad in the first place, but just the tone of his voice made you giggle. You hated yourself for laughing at the thing that was upsetting you the most but you couldn’t help it, you couldn’t help loving your stupid boyfriend. Tanner held the paper up to the camera and shook his head. “Dude, honestly screw this,” he said.” Everything about it. Hate it. Don’t like it.” he expressed his intense distaste for the location.  

You felt bad for Tanner and were honestly a bit worried about him being there alone in that specific building. “Hey, Tanner maybe I should go with you instead you know. I don’t like the idea of you being in that building alone. You know, especially that building.” you spoke up. Everyone turned to look at you in surprise. “What? No way.” He said. “That’s where everything started to affect you and someone tried to break in. I know that Tanner would be there and I trust him to take care of you, but no. You cannot be in that building.” Alex said. You looked at him in annoyance. “I am aware of what happened, that’s why I think he shouldn’t be alone in there.” you defended your offer. “Nope.” Tanner jumped in. “Seriously?” you asked. “He’s right (y/n), I’ll be fine ok. You shouldn’t be in there.” Tanner agreed with Alex. “Fine. I just didn’t want him to be alone and have something happen to him in there,” you said with a sigh. Tanner walked over to you and wrapped you in a big hug. “I’ll be ok. I promise, I’ll walkie the boys if I need them ok,” he said. You pulled away and nodded. “You can always walkie us too remember that ok,” you told him and he nodded. You looked over at Alex, “Sorry Al, I just wanted to make sure he is safe you know especially being alone in that building.” you told your boyfriend. He looked at you like you were crazy and your eyes widened in confusion. “Why in the world would you be sorry about that babe. It’s not like I’m upset with you for wanting to keep him safe,” he said. You looked at him and nodded. You took a step back and stood next to Chelsea once again. Alex looked at you with sad eyes, and you sighed. You were beginning to be upset at being upset with him. You knew he was being a jerk but you didn’t want him thinking you only cared about the rest of the group. 

“That leaves me with the East Wing Old Folks Home,” Alex announced. After he said that he looked over at you apologetically, and you furrowed your brows. “Can you come here a minute (y/n)?” he asked. You slowly stepped forward and walked towards him. When you stepped in front of him you looked up at him in confusion. “I love you,” he said and leaned down to press a kiss against your lips. You kissed him back softly before promptly breaking away from him. “I love you too Al, even though I think you’re an idiot sometimes,” you told him with a small playful grin. He chuckled and pulled you into a hug with one arm since his other hand was occupied. 

“Well, I’m gonna be even more of an idiot right now, so one more kiss before you want to punch me,” he said and leaned down one more time to kiss you. You pulled away and looked at him in confusion. “Damn it Alex. what are you going to do now?” you huffed and tried to walk away from him. He kept his arm wrapped around you and held you close. 

“This is really awkward, but now would be a bad time to bring up my real challenge,” he said. You tensed in his hold, scared of what he was going to say next. You shut your eyes tight and held his arm. 

“Your real challenge?” Dakota questioned. “Real challenge?” Chelsea also questioned. 

He loosened his hold and you stepped away from him. “It’s more of a two-part challenge,” he said and you sighed heavily. You already had shit to be scared of and now he was adding more into this. You were horrified because you had no idea what was coming, and you were scared that it would affect you even worse. 

“This might actually piss every single one of you off a lot,” he said. Everyone looked at him in fear and confusion. 

“But I’m gonna need your flashlights,” he said. You looked at him in complete disbelief. “You’re fucking kidding me, Alex,” you growled out, and everyone turned to look at you. They could see how pissed off you were. They were just as equally pissed off as you were. “I only get one location and I’m not just trashing all the plans I made for this,” he said. “You’re right. I do want to punch you, right in the damn face you asshole,” you said angrily, they could practically see you seething. Everyone looked at you in surprise. Alex couldn’t say anything he was a bit scared he had never seen you this angry before. 

Before anyone could say anything you walked away. 

“Shit. She’s gonna break up with me isn’t she?” He mumbled to himself. Everyone let out heavy sighs. “She won’t break up with you Alex,” Chelsea said. 

“But really Alex, someone came on to the property. And you’re gonna not only make us sleep alone for twice as long but now you’re taking away our only light source.” Chelsea said her piece.

“Let me ask you this? Why? What, is there a reason for this?” Dakota questioned him. Before Alex answered he just looked over at you standing a bit further away from them. “The reason we sleep alone is because it brings about the fear. Taking away the light is only going to increase that.” Alex finished his reasoning. 

“I think we’re doing just fine with the flashlights,” Chelsea said. 

“You’re a real piece of shit,” Tanner stated. “To be honest after what we experienced right away in the Hospital this is probably a terrible idea, but again. I only get one location and it’s time. It is time to do it.” Alex said. 

“Alright, hand them over guys,” Alex said and held out the bag. Chelsea pouted as she dropped her flashlight into the bag, Tanner dropped his in and so did Dakota. “Here you go, here’s the flashlight,” he said. 

---

You were further from the group but close enough to hear what was going on and it made you want to cry. You were so upset with your boyfriend, you didn’t even notice the tears running down your face. Your back was turned to the group so luckily they couldn’t see you crying, you had to try so hard to keep yourself quiet. You stood there for a while, trying to focus on what they were saying while trying to stop yourself from crying anymore. When you heard that Dakota had given his flashlight over to Alex, you straightened yourself up and wiped your tears as best as you could, and took a deep breath before turning around and walking back to them. 

They heard footsteps and turned around to see you walking over with a neutral gaze before stepping up to your boyfriend and placing your flashlight in the bag that he was holding. You were trying your hardest to keep the tears from making your eyes glassy as you stood in front of him. 

He could see the shimmering in your eyes underneath the lowlight that illuminated from above you all. His heart broke at the sight and he wanted to take it all back but it was all done he couldn’t back out now. 

“Now, you’ve got a bag full of flashlights Al, what next?” you asked coldly. He took the bag and threw it away from you all. 

“I fucking hate you right now,” you said and turned away to stand with Chelsea once again. She reached down and grabbed your hand. Alex looked at you with hurt clouding his eyes, how was he going to make this up to you. He felt like crap, you wouldn’t even stay with him, and it was obvious you didn’t want to be near him right now either.

“We don’t have flashlights now, guys,” Alex said trying not to sound hurt. 

“Well, this is great,” Dakota said sarcastically. 

“Alright, well, let’s go get our cots.” Dakota sighed. “I want my flashlight back,” Tanner said in disappointment. Chelsea continued to hold your hand as you walked off to get your things. 

“I know Alex is being a jerk, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t worried you know?” Chelsea said as you walked together. “I’m just hurt, and I’m scared. We have no light and we’re gonna be there for six hours. After everything that has happened, I don’t want anyone hurt. I don’t want him hurt. I don’t want to feel crazy anymore and I’m scared that this will make it all worse.” you expressed your fears to your best friend. “I know sweetheart, but everything will be ok. You won’t be alone I’ll be there to make sure nothing happens to you, and the boys are a walkie away if something does. And the boys have each other, Tanner can call them whenever he needs them and you know they’ll be over there as fast as possible. Everyone will be ok, I promise.” she comforted you, and you nodded.

 “Thank you Chels. I really love him, I love him more than anything I guess I just don’t get it,” you said and shrugged. She could hear your voice break. “Don’t cry (y/n/n), everything will turn out fine, and I’m sure this place is just affecting you and making you like this. I know things are shitty right now, but it’s most likely more amplified than it would be if you weren’t feeling the way you are.” She said. “Yeah, you’re right. Do you think I should talk to him?” you asked her. “Yeah, I think that would be a good idea,” she said and squeezed your hand. “Gosh this is such a dramatic turn from before, my emotions are everywhere and it’s like I’m in and out of anger and sadness every few seconds. I feel so bad for you all, he probably thinks I’m a freak with how I have treated him from one second to the next. Fuck, I hope I didn’t ruin everything.” you said and your voice shook.  “He loves you, and he’d never think of you as a freak for something you can’t control. You two will be just fine. Go talk to him ok.” she said soothingly and nudged you towards him. 

You shyly fell into step with your boyfriend, he noticed but paid no mind. “Alex. I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done tonight. I’ve been between anger and sadness, switching between them in seconds and I just- I just hope you know that I’m sorry and I love you. I don’t hate you at all, I love you so much and I don’t know what I would do without you in my life. I don’t think I could even live my life if you weren’t here. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done, and everything I might do. I’m so sorry Alex, and I love you so much.” you said, you were crying now. You didn’t even know that Alex had pulled you both to a halt right outside the gear room and gave his camera to Tanner while they all walked into the gear room.  

“Baby, hey, look at me,” he said and held your face. You looked up at him, “I know you’re having a hard time right now, I know this place is having a horrible effect on you and this isn’t you. I know you don’t hate me, although I wouldn’t blame you if you did right now. I love you so much, and I don’t think I would have a life if I didn’t have you. I’m sorry for everything, I really am. I know I’m stupid and a jerk but can you please forgive me?” he asked. You reached up and wrapped your arms around his neck and he moved his hands from your face so he would wrap his arms fully around your waist. He rests his forehead against yours and sighs heavily. “It’s ok Al, it is pretty stupid but Everything will be ok. You said you won’t let anything happen to me and I trust you, I trust you, Alex. I love you.” you said and moved up on your toes to press a kiss to his lips. He pulled you closer and you ran your fingers through his hair. His grip tightened around you and just as things were moving along you were interrupted. 

“Glad you guys are ok now, but can we please hurry this up. I want to leave this place.” Tanner said from the door. You blushed and smiled softly, “You guys seriously ruin every moment don’t you?!”Alex exclaimed, “It’s not our fault you give us moments to ruin!” Tanner called back. You laughed, he looked down at you with a smile on his face, “I missed that sound.” he said softly and leaned down to press a kiss on your forehead. “I missed you, and I’m sorry for acting the way I did. I know I said that already but I’m saying it again because I really am so sorry,” you said and looked up at him with doe-eyes. 

“Don’t be sorry anymore babe, everything is ok. Everything will be ok. I missed you too but hey, when this night is over everything that happened here will be left here, and we’ll get to just be together ok.” he said. You nodded your head. “Ok,” you said softly. 

“Oh my gosh! Please, you two!” Tanner called again and you chuckled. “Alright, alright. Calm down Tanner!” you called back. He stuck his tongue out at you. You shook your head and grabbed Alex’s hand. He gladly laced your fingers together and let you pull him into the building. 

You all gathered your things and were set out to go to your sleeping arrangements. “Are you sure you don’t want to be with me?” Alex asked you. “I think being with Chelsea will be good for me, and her so she won’t be alone either,” you told him, and he nodded. “Alright, but if you need me you walkie me ok. I’ll be right there,” he said and kissed your head. 

You and Chelsea parted from the boys and went to get settled. You had gotten your camera back for obvious reasons such as you needed to film and see where you’re going without a flashlight. On the way to the morgue, you and Chelsea weren’t very quiet, which isn’t new for you two but at this moment Chelsea was so happy to talk with you like normal. 

“I can’t see shit Chelsea,” you said and she chuckled. “Neither can I so if either of us falls it’ll probably be game over and we’ll just have to lie where we land,” she said and you laughed. “No joke though we are going to struggle tonight,” you said. “Probably, although with our teamwork I think we’ll just barely manage to survive,” she said. You kept on walking when all of a sudden your foot got caught on something and you stumbled. “Ah, shit!” you yelled when you almost fell. Chelsea screamed when she heard you scream. “Are you ok!?” she asked in a panic. After you realized what happened you burst into laughter. “What are you laughing at?” she asked. 

“I almost fell, and we’re not even twenty minutes into sleeping alone,” you laughed. She sighed heavily. “Crap (y/n), you scared me!” she exclaimed and you chuckled. “I’m sorry Chels,” you breathed out. “Let’s just get to the morgue and please try not to die,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll do my best,” you said and continued walking. 

Eventually, you got there and set everything up. You carefully sit on your cots making sure not to fall off of them. You were in pitch black and so you couldn’t see each other at all. 

“So, you and Alex seem ok now huh?” she asked. You could hear the smile in her voice. “Yeah, we’re ok now. I’m just glad he knows that I love him and I’m sorry you know,” you said. “Yeah I totally understand,” she said. “And, I can’t say sorry enough to you and the guys. I feel horrible, I’ve been acting so irrationally and crazy this entire night and I’m so sorry Chels,” the sincerity in your voice was almost heartbreaking because she knew that you really haven’t been yourself all night. “I know, and again, it’s ok now. This conversation is not happening again ok, because we love you and we understand that it hasn’t been you tonight,” she said and you sighed heavily. “I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you guys in my life,” you told her. “I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have you either,” she said. 

---

You and Chelsea had set up the music box, and so she decided to speak up about it. 

“This is not something I want to say, but I know my brother would want me to say this. But there’s a music box on the ground turned on.” She said. You kept quiet trying to hear for anything strange or out of the ordinary. You were still scared you had to admit that, especially being in the place where something pushed you and whispered your name. You were better than before, but you had no idea if that would last knowing how fast your mind and emotions could flip.

“You can turn that music box on by stepping in front of it. But feel free to not, that is totally fine too,” she said and you chuckled. “I think we’d actually prefer that,” you spoke. 

You and Chels continued to stay silent for a while. You heard her shuffling around and assumed she was lying down. “Ok, I’m gonna at least try to get some sleep, but knowing how this usually goes I won’t get any,” Chelsea said. “Alright Chels,” you said. “Hopefully you do get some rest cause I know tonight has been insane,” you said. “You should try too,” she said. “I guess I should, alright then,” you said and got as comfortable as you could. “Let’s see how this works out,” you whispered to yourself and closed your eyes. 

---

You had been lying there for a while when you felt something heavy settle around you. You were getting that feeling again, and you just felt completely helpless. You tried to settle your mind and think of Alex’s heartbeat to calm your down. The feeling only intensified when you opened your eyes to look around you. You sat up slowly and placed your feet on the floor.

All of a sudden you heard that whisper again, your name, and felt a nudge to your shoulder. Chills went up your spine and made you shudder. You tried to look around in the dark but saw nothing, but you could feel something close to you as if it was right behind you. Again it whispered your name and you completely froze, your hands began to shake and your mind was getting foggy. You had no time to react before everything just seemed to stop. Everything faded out and you felt as though you had no control of where you were going or what you were doing. 

Without Chelsea noticing you got up and slipped down the hallway. You had no light, your camera was left behind, and it was just you making your way through the dark vacant building. You were just being taken wherever your legs decided to go, and you had no idea why. You were so scared, you couldn’t even call out to anybody, you were stuck. You were completely and utterly unaware of the steps you were taking. 

Your feet carried you further into the dark and decrepit building. All you could hear were whispers and the sound of your shuffling feet on the dirty ground. 

“(y/n)... you’ll be just fine… just keep walking.” you heard the whisper in your ear and it echoed through your mind. Though it was dark it seemed like your body knew the entire layout of this place rubble and all. 

You were crying now, you couldn’t stop and you had no idea what was going on. All of a sudden you felt yourself come to halt and something hold you in place. It felt like hands on your shoulders keeping you still. “Don’t move.” you heard. In your mind, you were shouting for help hoping by some miracle that they would hear. 

“Chelsea! Chelsea please, I’m scared. Help me!” you shouted. You heard faint laughter, “just stay still, stay quiet.” you heard and you began to cry even harder. You didn’t even know if you were physically crying but you knew you were in your mind. 

“What the hell is going on?!” you shouted. You suddenly felt another shove. “I’m just having some fun that’s all.” you heard whispered in your ear. “It was fun, wasn’t it (y/n)?” You were then pushed to the floor, this time you could feel your body make contact with the cold hard ground beneath you. Your mind blurred out, and everything was gone in a matter of seconds. 

You suddenly woke up just to find yourself on the floor, with nothing but the dark around you. Abruptly everything flashed in your mind, you let out a sob and just sat there crying. Having no clue what way to get out, you had no flashlight, or camera and you were horrified. So you did the only thing you could think to do. You started shouting for anyone. 

“Chelsea!” you shouted, your voice was strained. You got to your feet and felt a rush of lightheadedness. You immediately reached out for a wall to balance yourself and to your surprise, you were able to find stability again. You held onto the wall trying to feel your way around. 

“Chelsea, please! Can you hear me, Chelsea?!” you cried. 

---

All of a sudden the music box went off and Chelsea sat up immediately. 

“No! Stop.” she said hurriedly. “Oh my gosh. The music box just went off,” she said into the dark, not noticing that you weren’t there anymore. 

“Hello?” she asked who was there. 

“(y/n), that just woke me up. Did you hear that?” she asked to the vacancy that was your cot. When she didn’t get an answer her heartbeat began to speed up and panic set in. 

“(y/n)?” she questioned reaching for you just to feel that you weren’t there at all. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” she whispered in fear and anxiety. She grappled for her walkie, and when she got it she immediately called out for Alex and the boys. 

---

Alex and Dakota had just finished walking the perimeter of the Hospital to check for any signs of someone being around and found nothing. Just as they headed back to their places Chelsea’s panicked voice comes screeching through the walkie. 

“Alex! Alex, she’s gone!” they both heard and their eyes widened. In an instant, Alex was taking off in a sprint toward the Nursing Home, with Dakota close behind. “Alex, seriously you need to get here now!” he heard her frantic voice. “We’re on our way right now Chels, we’re almost there!” his voice was scratchy from how loud he was but she heard what he said. 

As soon as she was going to walkie him again she heard footsteps running toward her. “Where is she Chels?!” she heard Alex yell from down the hall. She immediately got up and grabbed her camera. “I have no fucking clue, we closed our eyes for a while and when the music box went off she was gone.” Chelsea breathed heavily. “Shit! We have to find her right now.” Alex said in a panic. “Do you have any clue as to where she could be?” Dakota asked. “No, not at all. I didn’t even hear her get up and leave.” Chelsea explained. Alex had already set off in one direction not caring to wait any longer. He could hear that Dakota was calling Tanner to get over to them. 

“Babe! Where are you?!” Alex yelled. His heartbeat was so loud he could hear it. He got no response from you. So he just kept walking as carefully and quickly as he could. 

He heard from behind him the rest of the group calling for you and catching up with him. 

“(y/n), where are you?!” Dakota yelled. 

And little did they know, you were already on the floor, about to wake up and relive that moment in your mind.

---

You called once again. “Chelsea! Damn it! Chelsea where are you, I can’t find you!” you cried harder. You fell to the floor again and just sat there and cried. Cried for anyone to hear you. 

“Alex!” you sobbed loudly, fear rushing through you. You were so scared it was going to come back again, for something even worse than just using you as a ragdoll, a plaything for it to manipulate. 

That fear completely overtook you and you just screamed as loudly as you could. 

“Please!” 

As they continued to make their way down the halls and further into the building, they looked into every room. Searching for anywhere you could be when all of a sudden they heard a scream. 

“Please!” they heard your voice almost as shrill as a siren, completely heart-wrenching and filled with fear. 

“I don’t want it to come back!” you shouted. Alex took off in a clumsy sprint trying his hardest not to trip and fall. 

They all had tears in their eyes as they looked for you, they followed the sounds of their best friend’s horror-filled screams. 

Alex could tell he was close because of how much louder you became. “(y/n)! Babe! Where are you?!” Alex yelled into the dark. 

You heard his voice cut through the ringing in your ears. “Alex!” you cried. “Alex, please, I’m so scared. I don’t know where I am!” you called with a broken voice. 

His heart shattered and his eyes were glassy with tears as he ran down the hallway. He saw you through his screen curled up in a ball at the end of a hallway and ran to you. 

You heard loud footsteps run toward you and it made you curl in on yourself and scream, crying harder. You felt hands trying to pull your arms away from covering your head. “Let me go. Please, I don’t know why you chose me but please please leave me alone.” you sobbed. The group watched on in horror and utter sadness at the scene before them. 

Alex trying desperately to help you. “Babe, It’s me. It’s Alex, it’s just me. I won’t hurt you, c’mon (y/n), look at me.” Alex tried to coax you out of your panic though he was in a panic as well. 

As soon as you heard his voice your head shot up, you couldn’t see him but you felt him. Once again you knew it was him because his touch wasn’t threatening it was protective and sweet. 

“Alex?” you questioned through cries. “It’s me, baby, I’m right here, we’re all here,” he reassured you. Your scared cries mixed with cries of relief knowing that he was there with you. You felt out for him and when you got a grip you threw yourself into his arms. He held you tighter than he ever had before. 

“It said it was just having some fun, it was messing with me for fun. Fuck, I was practically a plaything, I was a toy it could play with. I don’t even know how I got here. I was in my head while my body was being told what to do by something else.” you explained through tears. Their eyes went wide and filled with fear. “You’re ok now sweetheart, we’re here nothing will happen to you now. Nothing, I’ve got you and I’m not letting you go,” he told you and pressed your palm to his chest. “Breathe babe, just breathe,” Alex told you. You tried to focus on breathing instead of the things that just happened. You tried to focus on Alex. Just Alex. 

“Let’s get you out of here right now,” he said and helped you stand.

The walk out was careful but quick not wanting you to have to stay in that building any longer. 

When you got outside the sun wasn’t up yet, but it was close. Alex set his camera down on the steps leading up to the building and tugged his mask off before doing the same to yours. He then pulled you into a hug holding you there for what felt like hours as you just clung to him. You were still shaking. He moved his hands to the back of your thighs and without you having to be told you jumped up so he could hold you closer. Your legs wrapped around him and your arms wrapped around his neck. Everyone watched on in pain. 

“I was so scared. Please don’t go. Please don’t leave me.” you said and he kissed your shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere, you’re with me the rest of the night. I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he told you and you nodded eagerly. He set you back on the floor and moved to hold your face in his hands. He wiped your tears and leaned down to press a kiss on your lips lovingly as if promising to never let you go.

You broke away and leaned into his chest one more time, before turning around just to see the others standing there with teary eyes. You stumble over to them and Chelsea wrapped you in a hug, followed by Tanner and Dakota. Alex then joined in and you all just held each other. 

---

The rest of that night went by surprisingly quickly. When the sun came up Alex looked down at your figure curled up against him and sighed. He felt horrible, this location was actually hell for you. He couldn’t believe the things you went through and it made his heart ache. He felt you stir and held you a bit closer. Your eyes fluttered open but then cringed at the harsh light they were exposed to. 

“It’s over babe, we can leave now.” you heard your boyfriend say quietly. You felt a wave of relief wash over you. You were completely drained and could barely stand up when you began to pack everything up. When you got outside everyone was ready to go, you could see in their eyes how exhausted they were. 

Once Alex put your sleeping stuff away he went to grab you in a hug, swaying you from side to side gently. “We made it baby, you made it,” he said and you clutched him tighter. “I wouldn’t have been able to if you weren’t there,” you told him and he kissed your head. “You’re strong enough to do that. You could do absolutely anything even if I’m not around. I’m so proud of you.” he said and you looked up at him with a tired smile. He leaned down to kiss you softly, his hands rested on your hips and yours rested on his chest. When he pulled away his eyes were shimmering. Seeing him like that gave you butterflies and before he could say anything you pulled him in for one more kiss. You stood on your toes, and he broke away from you just barely. “Let me help you out,” he mumbled and you softly grinned. He picked you up and kissed you sweetly. His lips were soft against yours and his hair was soft through your fingers, his tongue moved with yours slowly and when he pulled away it was on your own terms. No one interrupted your moment and for that, you were more grateful than anything. He set you on your feet and ran his hand over your hair. “I love you, sweetheart,” he said. “I love you too Al,” you responded. 

“Why don’t we finish up our monologues and get out of here,” he suggested and you gave him a nod. He handed you your camera and you thanked him. You both walked in opposite directions to film. 

“Well, last night was probably the worst night of my life. I never thought I would be so affected in this place. All I have to say is, I’m glad to never come back here, and I’m glad that I even came out of here alive. Please let my experience be a testament to the fact that you always need to be careful in places like these and never go alone.”

That was the shortest monologue you’ve ever done and it was incredibly draining, thinking back on everything that had happened. You were ready to move on, and get some rest without being in fear. 

---

 You all entered the RV and fell silent, no words were spoken and no words were needed to be said. You all knew that you needed time to put the pieces back together, and they would be there to do help do that. 

You looked at your boyfriend and sighed before tucking yourself closer to him and holding the arm that was wrapped around you. He looked down when he felt the cold metal of the arcade ring on your finger, and couldn’t help but think how excited he was to put the real one on your finger when you got home. He smiled down at you content for the first time in a long time in his arms and he couldn’t wait to have you forever.

---

Taglist:

@jaziona92

@beautybyfire

@thefandomthings

@kippykasey

@kristin813

@katelynanna​

[frost-queen]

Shadow walker (Reader x Kaz Brekker)

Requested by: anon, Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers @merlieve,  @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly,@denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07, @melsunshine, @panhoeofmanyfandoms, @venomsvl, @the-uncoordinated-house-cat, @rosecentury, @imagines-by-her,  @evilcr0ne, @vviolynn

Summary: Vampire!Au. Kaz has been around for a very long time and decides to tell someone his story. His eyes fall upon you a famous writer in Ketterdam. You become infatuated by his story. After his story you take your space from Kaz, yet he is always around. Lurking in the shadows for his heart yearns for you.

A gush of wind blew behind you, startling you. It made you gasp loud having turned around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary till you saw the window frames thud shut and close. The curtains blowing up by the wind had gone in. Furrowing your brows you wondered how the window had opened itself. The candles on your desk got blown out, dimming your room in darkness.

You went around the desk to your window. Taking a hold of the frame, you had to use all your might to keep it in place. You quickly locked them. Brushing your curtains afterwards back in place. With a soft breath you took a step back. The soft creak of a wooden floorboard made you jump out of your skin. Someone was in your house.

Turning around you were pushed back in your previous position a gloved hand pressed against your mouth. Your eyes widened staring back into the eyes of a man. The gloves deafened out your scream when he pressed his hand harder on your mouth. His other hand behind your head to keep you in place.

“Calm down.” – he said as his pupils seemed to change sizes. Your muscles untensed as he slowly lowered his grip on you. With a simple nod he wanted to ask if you were okay. You nodded brief back unsure why you felt at ease around him. – “How did you get in?” – you asked as your voice didn’t match the panic in your head. Your head was screaming with terror at the stranger in your house, yet your body language was calm and eased. – “Take a seat Y/n.” – he suggested, motioning to one of your stools.

With a gentle touch on your elbow, he gestured for you to do so. Funnily you did. – “How do you know my name?” – you questioned as he clicked his tongue with a sway of his finger. He undid himself from his black long coat, laying it neatly over his arm. – “I have a story to tell.” – he simply said. You watched him hang his coat on your coatrack in the corner. Your room spacious but small. You practically lived and breathed there.

He then pulled a stool back across from you. It made you frown as you figured he would take a seat in your big chair behind the desk. The place where you would normally sit when working on the stories. Now he sat with you on the other end. The people’s side one would say. – “You have a hunger for stories right?” – he phrased with well picked out words. You hummed nodding your head. – “But office hours are…” – you started motioning with your hands as it was beyond your working hours that you met someone to interview.

The man turned his head to look at the night sky. – “I have unusual hours.” – he commented. – “Fair enough.” – you responded. The man’s stare was intense making you swallow nervously. – “What… what is the story about?” – you asked curious. The man looked briefly at his side as you followed his gaze. Against your desk stood a cane with a crow’s head on top. You hadn’t really noticed too occupied with the stranger in your house. Yet seeing the cane made you aware of who the stranger was. The man grabbed the cane, laid his gloved hands on top to lean and looked back at you.

“You’re… you’re Kaz Brekker.” – you concluded seeing him pull a smirk. – “So you have heard of me.” – he replied. You laughed once and loud as if he was telling fables. – “Heard? Sir you are most famous around  the Barrel. You sir have a reputation, Dirty hands.” – you pointed out. Kaz smiled. – “I do my best to keep it up.” – he said back. His comment made you chuckle as it took his attention. – “You… you said you have a story to tell? What is it about?” – you asked. – “Me.” – he spoke. – “Precisely about how I became the monster I am.” – he phrased making you quirk your eyebrow up.

“Monster? Sir?” – you asked to verify. He reached for your desk pulling your notebook and pencil closer to him. – “You’ll need paper to write.” – he offered it to you as you accepted it with two hands. You placed the notebook on your lap, curious to what he would say. – “I have done things I can’t speak off, Things I tried to wash off but can’t.” – he started. – “Sir, this is Ketterdam, we’ve all done things in order to survive.” – you responded. Kaz quirked his eyebrow up. – “But have you killed?” – he asked.

Your eyes widened as you took a hard swallow. – “Do not worry Y/n.” – he began seeing the fear in your eyes. – “I won’t harm you. You have to write my story so I still need you.” – he held his hand up to show you how innocent he was. – “And on that note call me Kaz. If I am going to tell you my entire life story, we can skip the formalities around here.” – he smirked as it made you look flushed away. Something about that smile that made him more attractive. You gestured for him to begin as you settled in. Kaz turned his head towards the window, taking a deep breath. His mind drifting away back in time to when he was younger.

The sky was grey. The rain had passed but a gloom was still in the air. Ketterdam smelled as bad as it did now, or perhaps a bit better. Young Kaz with an innocent mind toggled along after his brother Jordie. Jordie took a deep breath, hands on his hips. – “I can feel it Kaz, this will be a new start for us.” – Jordie said making Kaz roll with his eyes. Jordie noticed it. – “What are you laughing at your brother?” – he teased going with grabby hands at Kaz.

Kaz jumped around when Jordie tickled his stomach hard, making him laugh. – “Stop!” – Kaz laughed out trying to sound serious. – “People are …watching.” – he  panted out jumping away from Jordie’s tickling hands. – “Who cares!” – was Jordie’s response. – “I care.” – Kaz replied setting his jacket well. – “Come!” – Jordie called out, motioning with his head.

“We’ve got work to search.” – Kaz came jogging after him to join his side. The first door Jordie and Kaz knocked on got smacked right back in their faces. The second door opened. Jordie cleared his throat. – “Good sir.” – he said taking a bow. Seeing that Kaz wasn’t bowing made him elbow Kaz in the side. He groaned in pain, lowering to a bow. The man in the door opening grunted loud with a huff.

“My good brother and I are looking for an employer. We are handy, fast and will come in handy to help out.” – Jordie spoke advertising themselves. The man laughed loud, his stomach shuddering with him. – “You two are to puny to do any lifting.” – he answered. – “Good sir we are not!” – Jordie insisted on. The man turned a bit inside the house, appeared back and threw a large thick sack at Jordie. Jordie caught it, bend through his knees as they wobbled.

He tried to stay upright but the weight took him under. The man laughed louder when Jordie was on the ground, the sack right on top of his chest. His arms flopped up trying to get up, but it was no use. Jordie helped Kaz to roll the sack of his chest. The weight released as he shot up, gasping for air.

“Like I said puny.” – he mocked with a laugh. Kaz helped his brother up to his feet, glaring at the man. – “Don’t worry Kaz.” – Jordie began ruffling his fingers through his hair. – “I didn’t want to work here in the first place.” He swung his arm over Kaz’s shoulder, leading him away. The next three, four, five doors were pointless. Each time they received a hard no. The door slammed in their face to turn them away.

By midday had Jordie half given up. He let himself slide against the wall down, landing on his bottom. – “This is harder than I thought.” -  Jordie said with a loud huff. Kaz kicked some tiny rocks away with his feet. It was then that his stomach growled. He noticed Jordie looking, trying to make it appear as if nothing had happened. Jordie wanted to speak when his own stomach growled too. He grabbed for it, laughing loud. – “What’s funny?” – Kaz asked. – “We’re starving an no one wants us!” – he proclaimed.

Jordie got up, placing a hand on Kaz’s shoulder. – “We’ll find something.” – the two of them went on. More doors slammed in their faces on their search for work, a housing and food. No one seemed to want them. Standing in an alleyway was Jordie exhaling loud. Kaz’s gaze drifted away to the commotion he was hearing.

A man being thrown onto the ground. A man, clearly a figure of authority simply snapped his finger when two men started to punch the man. They kept punching as the man was defenceless. Their knuckles coloured with blood. The man with clear power snapped his head at Kaz. It made Kaz gasp loud, stumbling a bit back. His gaze alluring even from this far.

He said something to the two man as they stopped. Cracked their neck and made their way over to Kaz and Jordie. Jordie who wasn’t paying much attention felt Kaz bump against him. – “What’s going on?” – he asked looking behind Kaz. Eyes widening at the two broad-shouldered men running towards them. – “Run!” – Kaz called out pulling Jordie with him. Kaz and Jordie ran in the alleyways.

The fog swirling up to their ankles. Looking over his shoulder, Kaz saw that the men were still chasing him. While they were running noticed Kaz a shadow on the rooftops. It was too dark to see who it was, but their posture was enough to cause him fear. Kaz pushed Jordie in another alleyway to try and confuse the men after them.

Passing a passage way, Kaz noticed the same figure from on the rooftop standing in a crossing. He pushed Jordie in a street to the side. How come he was this fast? Jordie came to a stop making Kaz lose his balance and nearly stumble forwards. Kaz’s eyes widened hearing loud footsteps on the cobble stone. From the fog appeared a figure, swaying a pocket watch in the air.

Appearing under a lantern, they could get a good look at him. – “Hello boys.” – the man said as Kaz’s eyes widened. It was the same man he saw before ordering the man to be handled. He leaned in closer to Kaz with a smirk. Kaz noticed two of his teeth were sharper than his others. – “I’ve heard you boys are looking for work.” – he said. Jodie swallowed hard. The man drew his hand, offering it to shake. – “Pekka Rollins.” – he introduced himself.

“Pekka Rollins!” – you called out.

“Yes.” – Kaz sighed out. – “Can I continue?”

You nodded giving him the room once more. Kaz took a deep breath taking a moment to be off from where he was.

Jordie shook Pekka Rollins hand.

“Big mistake.” – you interrupted with a snarky comment.

Kaz cleared his throat with a stern glare at you. You zipped your lips, sealing them to not interrupt anymore. Kaz sighed again before beginning where he set off.

“I’ll hire you.” – Pekka Rollins said (Kaz quirked his eyebrow at you, just to warn you not to interrupt) “Great…” – Jordie answered as Kaz elbowed his brother. Jordie chuckled sheepishly telling Pekka Rollins to give him a second. Kaz and Jordie turned around speaking in hushed voices. – “What is wrong?” – Jordie asked. – “I got a bad feeling about him.” – Kaz responded. Jordie took a deep breath.

“He’s offering us work Kaz. It will be perfect, just you wait.” – Jordie turned back around as Kaz didn’t felt done with talking. The bad feeling about this man still vivid. – “We’ll work for you.” – Jordie spoke. – “Excellent.” – Pekka Rollins answered with a grin. Kaz swallowed nervously, the bad feeling increasing by the second.

Pekka Rollins wrapped his arms around Jordie and Kaz, guiding them back to his house. So Jordie and Kaz were hired under Pekka’s name. They both signed a contract. The work was hard, but it provided them with food and a roof above their head.

For several years everything was normal. Till near the end of the year all changed. Jordie was working in the compound. Bringing in a new delivery that had come from the docks. Jordie was humming a tune whilst carrying a heavy sack over his shoulder. He dropped the sack with the others inside the compound when he heard voices. It intrigued but didn’t make him lose focus.

He began to whistle making his way back outside to the cart to bring in the next sack. It dropped down with a loud thud as the sound of a body being pushed against a metal structure made him lift his head. He heard more commotion. This time he was curious as it sounded like a fight. One where the other was nearly defenceless against his opponent. Jordie followed the sounds coming closer. He came to a stop, going in hiding when he saw the fight. Jordie couldn’t recognize them at first till a clear view made him widen his eyes. Pekka Rollins.

He grabbed the man holding in front of him. Keeping him still by his chin. Pekka laid his head back, opening his mouth. Lowering his head as he bit the man’s neck. He squirmed and shuddered as blood drained down his neck. Jordie gasped, clasping his hand before his mouth. Out of shock he had pulled back, but his action made a bucket clatter to the ground. He turned round looking in shock at the bucket. He hoped Pekka hadn’t heard it so he dared to look back.

Yet Pekka wasn’t around anymore. Only the body of the man on the ground. Jordie felt a gush of wind from behind making him slowly turn in terror. Pekka grinned making Jordie jump back against the wall. – “Noisy boy.” – Pekka said. – “Now I’ll have to kill you.” – Pekka continued. – “I’ll keep your secret.” – Jordie blurted out in an attempt to save himself. – “Jordie! Jordie!” – They both heard. Jordie’s eyes widened as Pekka smirked devilish. – “Oh you will.” – Pekka answered.

He grabbed Jordie, revealing his teeth. – “Jordie, Jordie!” – Kaz kept calling out in search for his brother. Jordie groaned in pain when Pekka’s teeth sank into his neck. He felt Pekka suck the blood out of his veins as he wanted to scream. Pekka covered his mouth with his hand to deafen it out. He then retracted his teeth with a refreshing gasp. Jordie grabbed for his neck as the blood kept dripping out. Staining his hands with the dripping wetness. Pekka then bit his own wrist.

Blood dripped out as he brought a finger to his lips, disappearing before Jordie’s eyes. Jordie already feeling weakly blinked with a lot of effort. – “Jordie!” – Kaz cried out running up to his brother. He immediately saw the blood. – “What happened? Who did this?” – Kaz wanted to know. His brother collapsed as Kaz knelt down, pressing his hand down on the wound. – “Help! Help me!” – Kaz shouted out. His cries for help interrupted by a force pulling his head back. Jordie tried to warn him but it had no advance.

A blooded wrist got pushed against Kaz’s mouth. It was so sudden he swallowed some of it. Unable to not taste it on his tongue. Kaz was choking on it. He was released as he fell forwards, setting his hands. Spitting out the last of the blood out of his mouth, in vain as the blood had already been swallowed. The blood made Kaz dizzy. His heart pumping faster then ever. Looking at his hands they appeared like a vibrating image. Jordie coughed as it caught Kaz’s attention.

He saw the blood between his fingers as it made his veins pulsate. Appearing as if he was slowing down or time, it was all unclear. The blood made Kaz lick his lips eagerly. – “Ka…Kaz…” – Jordie breathed out hoarse feeling his life slip away. Kaz had no ears for it. Hearing Jordie’s heartbeat loud in his ears. A drumming that was fading out. The smell of blood was overwhelming to his senses.

He looked at his own hands having the desire to lick the blood off it. Something was going on with him, yet he didn’t know yet what. – “Kaz…” – Jordie begged with tears in his eyes. Kaz moved his trembling hand down to his brother’s head. He closed his eyes for what he was about to do. It had become to overwhelming. Begging to be stilled.

Jordie’s hand faltered. Kaz printed his teeth in Jordie’s neck, sucking his blood. It filled his mouth with taste. Jordie was punching Kaz on his back for the pain he was causing he. He was rough and brutal. Kaz’s had no power to break it off. He kept drinking till he bit hard enough giving the final strike to Jordie.

Jordie’s hands stopped punching as they slid off Kaz’s back. Kaz lifted up his head, blood dripping down his lips. His eyes met up with Jordie’s lifeless eyes. – “Jordie?” – he said soft. – “Jordie?” – he touched his cheek for a response but none came. Wiping his mouth and seeing the blood on his hands made him suddenly aware of what he did.

What monstrosity he had performed. – “Jordie!” – he called out taking his body in his arms. Overcome with disgust and guilt. – “Nooo!” – he screamed out, sobbing loud at the loss of his brother. His dearest brother.

Your pencil dropped to the ground in shock. Kaz moved in his position, bending down to pick up your pencil. He carefully laid it on the notebook on your lap, full with scribbled words. Page after page. He looked away not sure how repulsed or frightened you would be. – “He…he did this to you. Pekka did this to you out of pure sport!” – you outed getting frustrated with anger.

Kaz turned his head back with curiosity to you. This was not at all the reaction he had foreseen. – “I knew he was the devil in man’s clothing but this tightens the crown.” – you spoke. – “So am I Y/n.” – Kaz answered. – “No!” – you called out. – “No! You are not! He took advantage of you and set you to his hand. That is different. You didn’t choose this but… he… he did.” – you went on. Kaz curled up a faint smile admiring you. He knew he had come to the right writer.

A beam of light fell on your wrist, making you turn your head to the window. The first signs of daylight coming through. Kaz saw it as well, yet he remained in darkness. – “I will continue tonight. I don’t want to keep you from your sleep.” – he spoke. – “I don’t need sleep when you have a story to tell.” – you responded.

“You are an ambitious writer but please Y/n.” – he placed his hand on yours. – “Tonight.” – you nodded dozily at his words. Looking at the window again, you took a deep breath. – “Ton-“ – you started but stopped seeing you were all alone. So it went on. Each night Kaz appeared in your house telling you more of his story. You learned a great deal of his character as he did of yours.

Sometimes you would interrupt him again in your enthusiasm or writer’s curiosity. The more you did it, the more he accepted it. Finding in a way cute and unique to you. By the end of the month you had his entire story written down in a chaotic mess. All that lasted was writing it to it’s full glory. Kaz and you had no contact anymore as he had nothing more to say. He had given you his story.

Regardless of the absence he was close by. Not for you to see, but he was there. Each night you went out, he was there. Watching you from the dark corners or from rooftops. Unable to keep away from you. Having been with you so intense for a month stirred up feelings with him. Not wanting any harm to come to you. Someone would just have to dare go near you or Kaz would handle them for you without your knowledge. Close, but not close enough. Afraid to ruin your pure heart with his devilish heart.

------------------------------------------

Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!  

[camslightstories]

Tolerate it - Part 4

Notes: Here is the part everyone waited for. I have been receiving so much love from you guys, and I don't know how to thank you. You guys are completely utterly amazing, and I cant wait to give you guys more of this story. I think i can write part 5 in a day, idk, but I will try my best for you guys. 

Thank you so much for your love, it means the world to me. I receive any type of feedback, comments or request, I posted a prompt list so you guys can have a little idea for your request but if it is your own then I have no problem writing it.

Thank you again for reading, I hope you like it.

Lena Luthor x reader, Kara Danvers x reader, Alex Danvers x reader. Baby Danvers.

24 hours before

The raindrops overwhelmed the streets of National City. The overwhelming sound of the rain falling was heard all around the city. The way the cold breeze moved the trees. The light of the posts illuminating the city during the cold and rainy night.

You were happily cleaning the decoration table, as you hummed to the melody that has been in your head the whole day. JJ, your boss came walking laughing when she saw your mood. “Why is my favorite pastry chef so happy may I ask” 

“First of all, I'm your only chef, and well like you know I finally cracked it. The lemon pie cake recipe, Lena loves so much. It was a success boss I made four cakes and they are all gone, third I got Lena's favorite flowers and favorite pastry, fourth I don't know, I think that is it” You stopped cleaning before showing her the flowers you had gotten earlier that day, and then the other box with the cake while smiling widely.

The blonde looked at you before sighing, you had worked with her for 5 years now, and she had seen you in the past with Barry and now Lena. She cared about you in her own way, you were her principal chef and somehow you became her friend. The blonde said as she closed the register walking to get her things.“Never change, Danvers.”.

You nodded and kept cleaning and organizing your workspace. Lena never leaves your mind, you knew you had to talk to your sisters and your girlfriend soon because it had been two weeks since the school decided to fire you since they found a better fitting music teacher.

The fact that you worked your ass off in the school, so the children could have the best of you, wasn't enough for them, and it hurt you. What other things have you done, are doing, or will do that are not going to be enough?

Like the time you worked on a project for 6 months straight, not taking care of yourself, working in three jobs, going out of line to make sure the movie sample was perfect. Trying to achieve your dreams, only for the executive director to call you one morning to tell you, they had found some else, someone better. 

It scared you to think about the fact that Lena may find someone else, you knew she deserved everything she wanted and needed it, she deserves someone who was smart, stable, powerful, someone strong who can give her anything, someone without trust or abandonment issues, someone perfect for her, and you had a long way to be that person for her. 

But every time she had seen your insecurities, she had come and reassured you every single thing, she had made your insecurities go away. She had made you feel worthy and perfect for her. But your insecurities had always been a part of you and somehow Lena worked in every step of the way with you.

Your boos whistle pulling out of your thoughts, before making you look up as she threw the store keys for you to close before she concluded “You are way too deep kid”

You murmured as you looked at the raindrops. “How could I not? she is my everything”

The rain covered you completely as you rode your bicycle, the coat on your basket covering the pastries boxes and the flowers. The way your cold shirt cling to you, and your socks getting wetter every time you passed through a puddle. Your soaked hair taking over parts of your face, as you felt the cold breeze hit your face, your breathing became stronger when you started to feel the freezing temperature.

Before entering the lobby of the large building, you tried to get rid of the extra water from your clothing, but it seems impossible. Grabbing the things you entered and smiled when you felt the warm temperature. You watched the clock and noticed the time it was 8:35 PM, meaning it took you over 10minutes to get there. 

Mr. Simmons, the doorkeeper of the penthouse chuckled at you, you were too stubborn to take a taxi or let Lena’s driver, Mr. Smith, to drive you even when it is dangerous outside, you had always preferred to ride your bike. 

After Jeremiah, your dad died, and you felt your world crashing down, you didn't want help. You kept quiet about your feelings, trying to comfort your loved ones, every time you felt you need space to open up alone, you rode your bicycle to the beach and sat for hours thinking, and crying. After a time your bike was the only way you went to places alone, it was the way you remember it was okay to be alone and to be hurting as long as the ones you love are okay and happy.

“Ms. Danvers, good evening,” The man said as he called the elevator for you.

You rolled your eyes at your name, before speaking “Good evening Simmons, we have talked about this call me Y/N, we have known each other for 3 years” 

The old man responded as he chuckled, maintaining the elevator open for you.“Yes miss-...Y/N, I hope you don't get sick”

You mention as you walked inside, giving him boxes with various types of cheesecakes smiling.“I hope so too, Simmons. Here this is for you ” 

“Thank you Y/N, have a great night,” The man said waving at you.

You yelled when the door began to close, the old man nodded and smiled at you. “You are welcome! good night and say hi to your family for me”

Each floor of the building was elegant, classy, and minimalist. The soft LED lights on the top and bottom corners of the corridors, the way the blue and gray color made pop up the white vintage doors. 

You took the key chain out of your pocket, putting the security code in, waiting for the green light meaning you could put the key card in. The keychain was simple, it had the keycard and a polaroid photo of you and Lena, the day you moved in. Lena was laughing at something and you were looking at her as if she had brought down the moon for you. 

You entered with difficulty at the apartment trying to not let anything fall as you spoke before you stopped completely when you saw your girlfriend in one of the bar stools drinking wine.“Baby, I'm home! Sorry it took me a while but it was raining and I tried my best on the bicycle, nut that is not important, what is important in that I have something for you, you are not going to believe me when I tell you that after 3 years of dating you and knowing your favorite cake, I cracked the recipe- ”

You didn't even think about anything else, you immediately turned to her side, putting all of the things on the kitchen aisle, as you asked worriedly while checking her for any types of injuries.“Lee? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did something happen? Do you want me to take you to the hospital? Do you want anything?-”

“I need to tell you something” Your girlfriend interrupted with a tone, you swear you have never heard from her. It was cold but at the same time vulnerable. She glances at the wine glass, not looking at you.

Pain and worries flashed through your eyes when you felt the sudden change of attitude. You felt the wall she had put between you guys when you entered the apartment, no greeting, kiss, or hug. It felt like you were nobody. That morning everything was perfect. Why is this happening now? Why the sudden change?.

You started to say before stopping, taking her in. She was not okay and she needs you now. It didn't matter if you would wake up tomorrow sick, what matter was that Lena was okay.“Lee do you mind if i- you know what that doesn't matter, you are first.”

You quickly went to one of the bar stools and sat down facing Lena. You went to grab her hands, and she quickly put them away from you. There was the moment you knew the hurt in your eyes could be seen by everyone.

You cleared your throat, shaking away the tears that were overwhelming your eyes before speaking, as carefully and softly as possible.“What's up? What did you want to tell me, Lena?”

“Kara told me she loves me” After a few seconds of silence, she took another sip of her glass before admitting.

Your stomach drops. Your throat was caught. You stopped breathing. You felt the world fall down on you. You saw how every piece of the future you had imagined left in the late nights. You knew what was going to happen, just because you studied film doesn't mean you can't solve a simple riddle. You knew the other shoe was going to drop.

You whispered incoherently, still not being able to think or speak “Ohh- i...I didn't- Ummm”

When Lena cleared her throat and her glance and yours connected waiting for an answer. You whispered softly not figuring out what to say “I didn't know”

The silence overwhelmed you. You felt your chest tighten. Your sense of cold and wet clothes in yourself became uncomfortable. The smell of the wine made you nauseous. The way you felt your mouth to go dry. Your eyes blinked away the tears, but the hurt in them couldn't go away. Your hands closing tingly almost cutting blood with your nails. You knew you had lost her, but did you lose her if you never really had her.

“Can you say something?” Lena said with anxiety in her voice, you could see her walls slowly coming down. 

You pulled away from her glance, painfully looking around the apartment not wanting for her to see the pain in your eyes. As your eyes ranked around the apartment memories of the two of you came running through your head as you responded quietly, pained and hesitant of the answer ”Do you...?”

You went, you heard her sigh again, you knew everything was over. You closed your eyes hoping it was all a nightmare, that this wasn't happening, that Lena loved you, and that she wanted to be with you, not someone else, someone better.“Somehow, deep down I felt the same, and that came crashing down”

When the words finally fell out of her lips, all you felt was pain and emptiness. There wasn't anything else but it. You knew you had lost everything, your light, your heart, your world. Right there you had empathized with Kara’s feelings after leaving Krypton. 

You kept your eyes closed, putting yourself together knowing that if you did or said the wrong thing, Kara and Lena would not be happy. And how selfish of you could be, to make two of your favorite people in the world to hurt. You wouldn't do that, to anyone less to your sister and the love of your life.

You knew Kara was better for her, Kara had a stable job, a great personality, a status that can be compared to Lena’s, She had superpowers, she is Supergirl, She was out of this world literally. For Rao’s sake how could she not want her instead of you, she was perfect.

You who was only a 24-year-old woman. You who studied film school but weren't good enough to get a job in your field. You who played soccer and basketball in high school but weren't good enough to make it to college. You who could barely survive in National City with two jobs. You who the school fired because you weren't a good enough music teacher. You who worked at a bakery as the pastry chef. You with trust and abandonment issues. You who had some much baggage because of your past relationships. You who were scared of the dark as a grown woman. You with self-esteem issues.You who were broken. 

You wouldn't be good enough for anything and less Lena Luthor, the good Luthor, a genius, the CEO of one of the most important companies in the world. How could you ever be enough for her?

You took a deep breath before opening your eyes, to see the two eyes you felt more in love with every day staring at you, waiting for your reaction. Lena had thought she was subtle but you saw the fear in her eyes, as tears overwhelmed them. There was the border, you would never want Lena to cry, or Lena to be other than happy and okay. 

You whispered as you slowly got up from the stool putting it back, taking her in, one last time. The weight of the world in your shoulders as you did. “Okay” 

Your eyes examined her hair, as you remember how many times you had comfortably run your hand through her hair after a long day. You saw her nose and remembered how many times you had softly leaned in, sharing an Eskimo kiss. You looked at her eyebrows as you remembered every time she had raised them, when you did something childish funny, before laughing with you. Her cheeks made you remember every time you would make her laugh as the dimples came out. Her lips remained you of every kiss, every time she would ground you with only one breath when you were panicking.

“You know, you two deserve the whole universe, and I know Kara will give it to you, as you will do with her. I know she will give you everything I couldn't, and that she is the better option. I mean we are talking about Kara, she is perfect. What isn't it to love?”Lena was perfect for you, but you knew you had to let go, for her and Kara to be happy. You concluded before walking to the door not bothering to take any of your belongings.

Lena watched you as you walked away in silence, her glance burning in the back of your neck. It was a second before grabbing the doorknob, with tears threatening to come out and a hitched breath you spoke with a sad smile.“You deserved all the happiness in the world, I will come for my things tomorrow morning, I wish you the very best Miss. Luthor”

The moment you closed the door, the world came down on you. Everything was gone. You didn't know what was going to happen to you, you knew you wouldn't go to Alex and any less Kara. You couldn't blame your sister, it was Lena you were talking about. She was perfect, she was the person you fell in love with after 3 months of dating. And you couldn't blame Lena for not wanting Kara. She was royalty, she was perfect, she was the sun, and you were not.

You just knew you had to be okay...for them.

[mouse-fantoms]

Wisdom Teeth

This is completely bc of @blush-and-books post, this is comepley your doing Julie gets her wisdom teeth out, Luke sticks around to help her, somethings are said

“What’s the plan for today boss?” Luke asked Julie when she came into the studio.

“Well,” she addressed her band, “looks like we’ll have the week off from practicing together since I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out.”

“Ick!” They all shared the same disgusted expression.

“Oh!” Even though one could not forget that her band mates were ghosts, it slipped her mind about their pasts. They did have lives before meeting her. They had become so improtant to her in the present that the past slipped her mind. None the less, whenever their past was mentioned, she was curious. “You guys have had them taken out?”

“Couldn’t do anything for about a week.” Luke groaned, remembering the experience.

“And Reg helped you ‘learn’ guitar because you thought you didn’t know how.” Alex input.

“Why’d you ‘help’ him?” Julie’s eyebrows knit.

“He was heartbreaken! I couldn’t just leave him to think he couldn’t.” He explained. “And then Alex was-”

“Oh if you think I compliment you all time,” Luke looked to Julie, “if Alex is under anesthesia oh he will not hold back.”

“I was out of it. My head was in the clouds.” He recalled.

“You still mean what you said about me having a perfect smile?” Luke flashed his said smile.

“Okay but I was nothing compared to what Reggie was like.”

“Oh come on guys.” He looked down, not wanting them to bring up the embarrassing memory.

“What happened?” Julie asked curious.

Alex explained, “We helped walk him out of the building and he started flirting with the cars.”

“...it wasn’t flirting.”

“You said ‘That’s a lovely shade of red, you should wear it more often’ to a convertible.”

“Okay all of us were pretty out of it.” Reggie concluded.

“Well, you guys won’t have to worry about me because Dad will be taking care of me.”

Her statement turned out to be particularly true. Julie however, might have topped Reggie’s ‘flirting with a car’ wisdom teeth story.

~~~

“How long as it been?” Luke wondered. “Since she left?”

“Please tell me you’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do.” Alex could tell right away.

“What?”

“She’s only been gone 30 minutes.” Reggie answered Luke’s previous question.

“And how long did ours take?”

“She’ll be out of it. She won’t be making sense.” The blond knew that wouldn’t stop him.

“I’m sorry that I’m concerned about the well being of our band mate.” Luke put a hand on his heart excusing his actions.

“Our band mate being Julie.” Reggie added how she wasn’t just any band mate.

“Fine you guys can sit on your butts while I go see how she’s doing.” Neither stopped him from poofing our because there would be no talking out Luke Patterson from checking on Julie Molina.

After poking his head in a few rooms, he finally found where Julie was after seeing two people in scrubs leave alongside someone in a white coat. He entered through the door just before they closed it. The chair was in the middle of the room, the back towards the door. He saw Julie’s head rested on her shoulder, she hadn’t waken up yet. There was a set of two chairs against the wall on the right. He took a seat in the chair that was closest to her.

Once he sat down, she started to move her head. The classic ‘I-probably-should-get-up-but-I-don’t-want-to-get-up-yet’ move. She moved her head to the center of the head rest and her eyes opened. Feeling the throbbing pain in the back of her jaw she went to feel it.

“You just got your wisdom teeth out, remember?” He reminded.

“Luke,” she said endearing, speech slurred, her head turning to him, “I’m glad you’re here.”

Wow. He was so glad Reggie or Alex weren’t in the room to see him blushing like crazy.

“Me too.” He finally found the words. “They probably went to get your dad. They’ll be back in a little.”

“It hurts.” She said in reference to her mouth.

“It should feel a little numb from where they had to take them out. You might be swollen later.” He remembered his experience. “But maybe you’ll get ice cream later that helps with the pain.”

“Ice cream!” She perked up. “Will you get me ice cream?”

It was hard not the resist the eyes that had stars in them. “I mean,” he breathed, “yeah if you... if you want me to.”

“I only want you.”

Wow! She must have been under some serious anesthesia. 

He hesitated, “You don’t,” he fidgeted in the chair, “mean that.”

It was just the anesthesia talking. Obviously.

“Of course I do.” She put her right arm down on the arm of the chair. “Why else would I decline a date with Nick?”

“...a what now?” His mouth a gap from shock.

“You and me connect in some many ways. Flynn has no idea what she’s talking about by saying you’re ‘just air’.”

He didn’t know whether to be offended or taken aback with the words coming out of her mouth, probably a bit of both.

THAT ANESTHESIA WAS REALLY TALKING!

“You and I dance way better than him.”

“...dance?”

“Yeah, when you came through the mirror when Nick and I were in dance class. Your hair all pushed back, looking goofy.” He couldn’t tell if her smile was from looking back fondly on the memory or laughing at him. “Our song was-”

“Our song?” Either the anesthesia was making her really really looping or he was hearing something he probably was never met to.

“I had to write it down considering how amazing it was. We truly are in Perfect Harmony. I put it in my dream box to get it out of my mind. Even though I don’t get why I would.” She laughed at herself.

Before he could ever find the words to say, the door opened and in came the specialists along with Ray. He poofed away into the garage feeling like he found out something he was never supposed to know.

~~~

It had been some hours later since Julie had gotten home from getting her wisdom teeth removed. It had also been a few hours since the anesthesia had worn off.

“Do you need anything?” Luke asked, hands in his pocket, at the foot of Julie’s bed.

“I already told you I’m fine.” She said, gauges in her mouth. “Dad told me to text him if I need anything.”

“But I’m asking you if you need anything. Do you want that ice cream yet?”

She blinked. “What?”

“You asked if I could get you ice cream later after I said that’s one thing that helps with the pain.”

She had a vague memory of seeing Luke when she opened her eyes.

“Just wanted to check and see how you were doing.” He excused.

“What else did I say?” She asked curious.

“Oh you know... the usually loopy things you say on anesthesia.”

“If you do get it will that make you stop asking if I need anything?”

His smile was her answer.

“Fine,” she rolled her eyes though smile appeared too, “I’ll take the ice cream. Make sure Dad doesn’t see floating ice cream.”

She watched as he poofed away. He poofed into the kitchen, first checking to see if anyone was nearby. Once making sure the coast was clear he opened the freezer and spotted the tub of ice cream, he grabbed it then opened the silverware drawer and took a spoon out setting it on the lid on the container.

However, before he poofed back to her room, he had a sudden idea. He poofed to the garage, ice cream in hand slightly forgetting about it. He set the tub down on the coffee table.

“Not for you,” he told Reggie who was sat on the couch, “for Julie.”

“So that’s where you’ve been.” He heard Alex say from his drums.

He didn’t respond to the comment and instead made his way up to the loft. “Do you mind if I look for something in your bag Reg?”

“...guess not?” He replied confused.

He watched as Luke took his black backpack and upzipped the small pocket. “Ah ha!” He exclaimed pulling out a comb.

Alex moved away from his drum set in order to see Luke up in the loft.

“Wow... a comb.” He said clearly amused.

They watched as he used it.

“How do I look?” He put down the comb and extended his arms for effect.

“Like a goof.” Alex let out.

“...interesting.” Reggie answered.

“Perfect!” He went down the ladder, grabbed the ice cream on the coffee table and poofed to Julie’s room.

“Voilà!” Julie saw the ice cream container be placed next to her on bed from the corner of her eye.

“Tha-“ she looked up to thank him but was caught off guard. “Luke,” she addressed, “what are doing?”

“Was just seeing something.” He played off as he russled his hair to return it to his forehead. As he did, Julie had a sudden thought.

“...you know about Perfect Harmony don’t you?”

“I may or may not know of the existence of a certain song that’s in your dream box.”

She put a hand to her head, not believing that she let it slip.

“Also perhaps may or may not know of you declining a date with that Nick guy.”

“Did I say anything else?” She wondered if she embarrassed herself even more.

“No that was pretty much it.” He said rather quickly. “Also if you could tell Flynn the ‘just air’ comment is a little insulting and I’d rather not be referred to as that.” He said before poofing away.

Something told her that the next songwriting session between them would be a little bit different to say the least.

[lambourngb]

“It was supposed to be a regular, boring morning shower”

First line tag

A million years ago, an anon sent me this ask for the first line meme. I woke up possessed and wrote “stuck in gravity, clawing for some bravery” in 10 days.  This story is complete, 23,000 words. I put the first two chapters up on AO3 early in honor of the news of our show coming back. The rest goes up tomorrow.

beta thanks to the wonderful @tasyfa

Pairing: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes, Alex Manes/Forrest Long, Michael Guerin/Maria Deluca (past) Kyle Valenti/Maria Deluca (implied/mentioned)

Tags: Starts Forlex ends in Malex, Getting back together, Nebulous Season 3, Angst,  Pining, Alien Soulmate Bullshit, Emotional Infidelity, Communication, Emotional Hurt/Comforot,  Explicit Sexual Content, Dirty Talk , Telepathy, Handprint Sex

Summary: A year after Crashcon, Michael knows three things for certain. 

1. He loves Alex and he probably definitely always will.

2. Having Alex as his best friend makes everything in his life better.

3. Knowing, thanks to his bullshit alien biology, that Alex still fantasizes about his body regularly while dating someone else for a year, well, that is a little more difficult to navigate. 

It’s fine. It is all just fine. 

Author Notes: This content is probably not appropriate for review by a college writing class on tumblr, just saying but you’re welcome to leave a kudo if you like it. 

*****

It was supposed to be a regular, boring morning shower for Michael. 

His first Sunday off in over three months deserved a little self-care, he had decided. The summer had brought an abrupt uptick in work at the garage with increased summertime driving leading to more careless accidents and stranded motorists to tow to safety. While Walt would deny it to the end, Michael couldn’t help but notice the old man had slowed down in his work. Between doing his best to keep Sanders’ in business and taking shifts at the Crashdown to fill in for the still-absent Liz so Arturo and Rosa could have their own break, taking the time for more than a perfunctory late night wash down felt luxurious to Michael.

There was a point to staying busy, with filling every hour inside an engine or on a different project around the junkyard with his trailer and that point was distraction. Distraction from the awareness that everyone was thriving. Max and his new-found ‘cousin’ Jones were reconstructing the history of their people’s language and literature together. Isobel had recently celebrated her three-month anniversary with Monica, an artist who shared the same studio space as Rosa. Maria had made exploring her alien-rooted abilities the focus of her life outside of the bar, combining her knowledge of yoga and meditation to crack the ability of moving forward in time. With that success, she had managed to bring back the answer to saving her brain from damage from the future. Her work with Kyle in developing the treatment for her and Mimi had led a new romance there. Then there was Alex, the true focus of Michael’s need for distraction, marking a one-year anniversary with Forrest. 

It was fine. All Michael had ever wanted was for Alex to be happy. The distractions he had filled his life with helped soothe the edges of knowing who was at the root of Alex’s new-found peace.

In the last year, Michael had built a permanent wooden deck out in front of his Airstream, transforming his fire pit into an outdoor brick barbecue oven, before moving on to recycle discarded auto glass into window panes for a small greenhouse complete with a rainwater cistern off the rear of the trailer. The actual interior boasted its own changes, an expanded shower stall and more of a kitchen set up than a hotplate and kettle with a small split-level stove and expanded countertop. The next task was building a canopy to shield the deck from the elements. At some point, Michael had acknowledged to himself that each piece he had worked on had turned his portable, transient can-go-anywhere Airstream into a stable fixture at Sanders’. 

A home with roots. 

A home without Alex and he had accepted that, respecting Alex’s choice of partner. They were the right people for each other, but were always meeting at the wrong time. For a while, he had waited patiently for things to end with Forrest. He had been happy enough to work on being Alex’s friend in the meantime. Then, once they were truly friends sharing every stupid moment of their days via a text message or over a beer at his trailer, he had felt the betrayal of his selfish thoughts keenly. What kind of friend would root for a break-up? What kind of friend would wish heartbreak on the other?

The asshole kind, he had concluded. 

As the hot water from the shower head poured over his head though, the acceptance he had about Alex moving on was just a little farther from his reach because Alex was currently thinking about him. They weren’t platonic friend-thoughts either.

A ghost sensation of a hand skirted down Michael’s body, lingering over his chest hair, and fuck, Alex had really loved to card his fingers through it. His mind was awash with impulses not his own, hot anticipation and the thrill of pleasure dropped down his body like the free-falling crest of a rollercoaster. Michael closed his eyes, soaking in the feelings. A gasp escaped his mouth, heard by no one in his trailer. Good God, Alex was really ready, waking with morning wood or to someone — Wrapping his own hand around his hardening cock, Michael stroked himself in time with Alex’s thoughts, pushing aside his own. It was best to just give into temptation and enjoy the moment. 

It was something he had learned to embrace with varying degrees of eagerness over the last few years. 

The connection with Alex had formed apparently sometime after the shed, but it had taken him over ten years and Alex moving back to Roswell to realize what was going on between them. The summer they had turned eighteen, they had barely been able to keep their hands off each other in the desert, and when Michael was alone, all he could think about back then, was Alex. His head had been a complex swirl of emotion, slingshotting him from the highs of seeing Alex to the lows of facing his own aborted future. There was the longing for Alex, the sadness that he knew their time was limited because Alex was going to go places, and he was stuck in Roswell watching over Isobel, but in the background, of what he thought was a relic from Jesse’s attack, was always a sense of sick fear, of being caught. Again.

Then over the last ten years, Michael would experience this awareness, and suddenly all he could think about was Alex. How it felt to touch him, the wickedness of his mouth, the burn and the stretch to accept Alex’s cock as he took him inside with a bitten lip- Michael thought it was just his mind, giving him a touchstone to happiness and the remembrance of being loved briefly by Alex. Nostalgia. Afterwards as he caught his breath, with his chest splattered with come, the sadness would seep in again, stealing whatever light that was made by those memories.

It wasn’t until after the drive-in, when Alex had spent almost two months avoiding him in person, that Michael had realized that those moments, late at night or early in the morning, were tied to Alex. It took falling into his bed one night, after visiting Isobel in her pod to finally piece it together. His face had hurt from crying on the drive home and the urge to sleep and never wake up again had been so incredibly strong that it took a moment for him to realize he was thinking about Alex. His cock hadn’t even been on his radar, but suddenly all he could think about was getting sucked off. 

Fuck, he hadn’t wanted it then, too sad and scared about Isobel to feel much connection to his body for the purposes of pleasure, but the sensations and feelings that had overtaken Michael were too intense to fight that night. Later as he panted, open-mouthed and staring at the ceiling of his Airstream with distant thoughts of cleaning up, his phone rang once. Only the once. Then a ding of a text.

Alex -is home: Sorry pocket dialed.

The rush of self-loathing that hit Michael as he read the message had been so strong he had dropped the phone on the floor of the trailer. That’s when he knew it wasn’t his feelings in his head because in all the years of knowing Alex, of loving Alex, he had never once felt disgust toward himself for his feelings for Alex. From the moment across a borrowed guitar, Michael had accepted the tilt of his axis toward Alex Manes as a fundamental fact, like force equalling mass times acceleration.

Alex hadn’t shared that comfort, and the more Michael tuned into what was going on in Alex’s head, the more his heart broke. Two things became clear to Michael over time; the occurrences were sporadic enough for him to know that he only felt them when Alex was specifically thinking about Michael when he jerked off, and the post-orgasm feelings of disgust and self-loathing were not isolated incidents for Alex to feel afterwards.

“Sometimes things end in a whimper, Guerin-” and Michael had numbly accepted that as proof that while Alex might enjoy thinking about his body, about the ways he had pleasured Alex in the past, Alex had no desire for anything more from Michael. The sex was epic, fodder for a late night fantasy, but Michael himself? He was not someone that Alex wanted to want. 

He had changed Alex’s name in his phone from “Alex -is home” to “Alex -is a bad idea” after that and then cursed himself for the trick of alien biology, doomed to be forever aware that he was an example of backsliding to Alex. When Maria had reached for him that night in Texas, he had welcomed her because she seemed at least self-aware of the fact she didn’t want to want him. There was zero chance of a misunderstanding between them that night, even as he kicked himself for still following after people who swore to him that it would never happen again.

For a long time after Caulfield, he had thought perhaps the grief of losing his mother had broken the link with Alex, setting them both free in the wreckage and dust of the prison. The dying psychic screams of his people had rolled over him, scorching his thoughts into cinders as that last connection to love and hope burned out in his mind, his mother’s life extinguishing under the thunder of Semtex and C-4. Then one night shortly after moving his trailer to the Wild Pony, it had happened again. The same overwhelming feeling of need, of longing, but this time the self-loathing afterwards had been accompanied by a crippling feeling of guilt. He had laid there in the twilight of the Wild Pony’s loft, having silently come into his palm while the sound of Maria’s breathing brushed against his ear. For the first time, he had joined Alex in that feeling of self-hatred. 

It was past the time for him to flip the switch from ‘tortured lust’ to some semblance of friendship with Alex, if he could and so tentatively, he agreed to work on uncovering his mother’s past together with him. He updated his phone again with that decision in mind to “Alex -sup bro”.

After Maria had learned the truth about Rosa and sent him away with betrayed eyes, he experienced a moment of weakness for Alex after the visit they had made to the Long Farm. There had been a lightness in how Alex had moved that day, his steps had been considered but committed as they had explored the last place his mother had felt at home on earth. Inside of Michael’s heart, he had been able to feel the pieces moving together while he had stood in a place where Nora had had a family, next to a man who had always represented that promise to Michael. The openness of Alex’s smile as they had waited for Forrest Long to reappear had had Michael thinking dangerous thoughts again about a future with him.

What if.  What if Alex were ready to take a step toward him without the weight of the past? 

That tenuous hope had lasted until the night after Alex had given him the piece of the ship’s console. Standing in his bunker near two am, he had been examining the new piece of his ship, of his past, puzzling over why it wasn’t bonding with the rest of the console when he had felt the awareness of Alex creep into his cells, into his DNA. Eagerly he had opened his jeans with both hands and had fisted his cock, letting himself go with the pull of Alex’s desire. In the aftermath, he had found himself on the floor of the bunker, with come dripping off a fallen drawing of a ship’s engine, but near tears with the knowledge that nothing had changed for Alex. It had still been the same fear flooding his veins, still the same anchor of tortured longing and deep shame weighing his limbs down even as he had been left wrecked by how good his body had felt.

It had been madness for Michael the next few months as he had fallen in deeper with Maria, while the connection with Alex had kept tugging at his soul. There had been little rhyme or reason to when it had happened. Weeks would pass where he apparently hadn’t crossed Alex’s mind once, and then there had been a week when every night Michael had been hit with the same mix of love, lust and bottomless need. Thankfully it had matched with the week-long retreat Maria and Mimi had taken together, saving Michael the work of explaining to her why he was wearing out the washing machines at the Fluff N Fold with his dirty sheets.

The self-torment Alex had felt about him had slowly lifted, to the point when Michael had found out the truth about Walt Sanders, he had called Alex without hesitation. The contact in his phone had changed to ‘Alex- best bro’. If he had finally become a measure of comfort for Alex to remember in his most personal moments, then perhaps Alex could also become a comfort to him, without the mire of their trauma holding them frozen in place. 

He had been fooling himself completely in the aftermath of Alex’s abduction that friendship would ever be enough for him. The wounds from his breakup with Maria had still been bleeding below his skin when he had stepped into the Wild Pony to hear Alex singing about him. About them. Then he had been hit with the connection, blossoming open for the first time ever in Alex’s actual presence under the spell of his song. 

There had still been a ghost of darkness in Alex’s feelings for him, as he had sung about fighting battles but for the first time in a long time, Michael had felt that there was hope that Alex was finally finding peace with Jesse dead. Despite Isobel’s prodding him to stay and make a move, he had known that it wasn’t their time yet. There had been too much grief and regret swirling in his head, and not just from Alex, but he could be patient for them both for the right moment. The connection had never felt more alive between them that night on the promise of a future.

At least that was what he had thought, until time had kept passing yet here he was, standing in his shower with his hand on his dick a year later, while Alex was across town in someone else’s bed but clearly thinking about him.

Michael watched as his seed dripped down the fiberglass walls, the shower spray sending it down the drain in an eddy of his own frustrated longing. His body was calm, at least, and his mind was buzzing with happiness from Alex. He concentrated on the euphoria floating between them in particular. Alex had soaked up pleasure this morning, pursuing it with a greed that Michael couldn’t help but admire, and then he had let himself go without any hint of shame. God, it felt good to know that Alex had finally found that comfort with himself.

He breathed in and out, counting the seconds down until the connection faded. Once it was over, he gave himself five more minutes under the hot spray, letting whatever was welling in his eyes, slip unseen down his face. He cursed his stupid alien biology in the same breath that he clung to it for giving him Alex again, if only briefly. 

After he was dressed for his brunch plans with everyone, he checked his phone before he left, to find a text from Alex. The contact had been updated one more time, six months after the Crashcon, from “Alex -best bro” to “Alex -bf”. Isobel had been way too excited to see that notation, until Michael had patiently explained it had stood for ‘best friend’. Maybe in another universe it was ‘boyfriend’, just not this one.

This wasn’t crumbs, he had argued to her, Alex was still a feast for him in whatever way he could have him. He read the text with his mind still working to box up the feelings that lingered for Alex, “Tell everyone we will be late- overslept”. The ‘we’ was what puzzled Michael the most about the whole situation over the last year. Why was Alex still thinking about Michael the way he did while he was with someone else?

AO3 link for more

[join-the-joywrite]

You are the music in me (part 1)

(mostly) juke soulmate AUs no. 1

Special thanks & shoutout to @endless-navigator and @i-spit-on-fire for helping me with my first juke soulmates au post, you guys are amazing!!

Suggested by the lovely Endless: AU where soulmates are musically connected, so whenever the one is playing music, the other hears it in their head (Everyone Is Alive AU, Trevor and Bobby are not the same person I know it doesn't make sense shh)

First of all, I love this au and my co-writers

Second of all, let's just pause for a moment to imagine Alex suffering out hours of Justin Bieber's pop music because that was Willie's playlist at one point. Alex retaliated by starting a rock band and that's the real story behind Sunset Curve, shhh

They all go to the same school & the entire grade is very aware of Julie & Carrie's rivalry for top spot in music, dance and drama. So far, Julie has music, Carrie has dance and somehow, Flynn accidentally got into drama due to an admin error in eighth grade and she's been rocking it ever since. But Julie and Carrie are best friends, don't doubt that. It may seem a little suspicious, but they do love each other.

Luke thinks Julie is a hotshot and finds Carrie super arrogant. He tolerates Flynn. He expects his best friends to do the same but Reggie adopted Flynn as his little sister and partner in crime, and Alex regularly sleeps over at Carrie's for spa night and boy gossip. Luke is very betrayed when he discovers this.

Once, Alex was over for a Dirty Candy recital and spent the next day singing the song they were performing and when Dirty Candy performed it, Luke and Reggie were Very Confused -- but half an hour later, Alex was singing Justin Bieber under his breath again.

Anyway back to the juke I initially started this for

Perfect Harmony

Luke doesn't really like Julie but he's the first to admit she's actually really talented. Julie has no idea who Luke is.

When Sunset Curve started up and found their sound, Julie decided that she couldn't wait to meet her soulmate because she was going to strangle them on sight. How was she supposed to get her homework done when all she had every afternoon was rock music???

They once independently went to the same concert and after realizing that the music wasn't bad, they were just hearing double, both got excited that their soulmate liked the music they did.

Julie wrote music with Rose a lot and often, she'd be the one singing. Luke often thought about penning down the unfamiliar lyrics to search it up later but he always forgot, getting lost in the beautiful music his soulmate listened to.

Eventually, Julie grew accustomed to the constant rock and decided to Google the lyrics in her head. After coming up blank everywhere, she concluded that her soulmate was making original music. So she had a talented soulmate. Didn't mean they weren't annoying.

Perfect Harmony

Julie still can't wait to meet her soulmate. Maybe she won't kill them on sight but she sure as hell will beat them with a cushion for the one calculus test she flunked after spending all the study time with loud music in her head.

Luke and Julie write music together

I love Luke but he's dumb and he doesn't even notice that he's writing music with his soulmate. Julie does, but only because her soulmate has a very distinct voice and any music that comes from her soulmate shares that voice and even though it's so very different to her own, there is an undeniable complimentary aspect.

Julie has like 8 duets locked away from her family that she co-wrote with her unaware soulmate.

Perfect Harmony

Sunset Curve has ballads now and then. Bobby, Reggie and Alex know why but they're not gonna tell Luke. They're just gonna share knowing glances and pretend like nothing is different. They have a bet going with how long it'll take Luke to realise.

Luke is falling in love with his soulmate because music is life and his soulmate has GREAT music taste. Unlike Julie, he hasn't yet figured out that the music in his head is original music.

P E R F E C T H A R M O N Y

Endless, Sun & I thought about killing Rose but we threw that out the window pretty quickly. Instead, we decided upon a year-long coma. In which Julie loses music.

Luke is absolutely distraught. He thinks his soulmate died. Reggie, Alex & Bobby don't think so for sure but the longer the silence goes on, the more convinced they get. It affects Luke's music too. Sunset Curve doesn't shut down like Julie did, but they do get softer.

Luke spends more time writing, singing to himself. If by some miracle, his soulmate isn't dead, then he's singing to them. Hopefully.

One day, Sunset Curve performs for Julie. Well, they don't specifically perform for her. They'd have to know her for that. Sunset Curve throws a small gig and "this song goes out to all of you who feel hopeless, like you'll never be able to wake all the passions you used to have up again."

Flynn decides Julie needs to start living again and drags her to the small mini concert because it's small and why not.

Julie goes through the entire evening in a daze, but after Flynn leaves her house later that night, Julie feels a little fuzzy, like something's wrapping her in a big warm hug. And the next day, Julie absolutely obliterates Wake Up.

A week or so after, Rose is concious again.

Now that the serious moments are done, let's get to some funnies.

Luke, distracted and bored: you with the sad eyes

Julie, trying to do her homework: W H Y

Luke, oblivious: don't be discouraged

Julie, squishing her scrap paper: >:(

Flynn finds this amusing and asks what's up. Julie growls, "he's singing Trolls."

"So sing back. Duh."

And then she does. Luke's singing gets less lazy and more energetic. Julie actually really likes Trolls music and she has to admit singing Poppy's lines are fun. Flynn is super tempted to record Julie and call it blackmail stock. Alex, Reggie and Bobby actually act on the temptation.

They do this often. Julie will be doing something mundane and then all of a sudden, there's a duet playing in her head and it's her idiot soulmate covering the song akd hoping she joins in. Thankfully, Julie is mostly alone but she wonders if her soulmate is acting a fool in front of other people just for the sake of hearing her voice. Endearing.

P E R F E C T H A R M O N Y

Julie needs some practice on her dance recitals okay, so randomly, she has the track playing on her headphones and bops her head along. Sometimes she's cleaning the kitchen and dancing with the broom pretending it's her dance partner. No I don't do that haha

It has been WEEKS of this.

Luke has developed brain cells. He now knows his soulmate is helping him write music. So he starts penning down a new song. Both of them know it's a duet. They've even had some joke practices together with no music and things like that. Julie doesn't know the music that goes with it because Luke is careful not to play it. Ever.

And so one night, Julie's down in the studio -- it's dusty and needs a little cleaning -- and pops her earbuds in and she's doin her lil dancy-dance as she listens to her the music for her dance class recital.

Luke: GUYS GUYS GUYS ITS TIME ITS TIME SHE'S PRACTICING GUYS GUYS

Alex: IT'S FINALLY HAPPENINNNGGGGGGG

Reggie and Bobby: so should we leave you two alone for a minute or--

Luke: NO YOU WILL STAY HERE AND YOU WILL PLAY THE NOTES I GAVE YOU LAST WEEK I HOPE YOU NERDS PRACTICED

Bobby: you know we're gonna silently make fun of you the whole time

Luke: I am aware but you guys love me and you'll do this for me now shut up I have to time this perfectly

Julie is hearing double. At first she thinks maybe she never plugged her headphones in or maybe Flynn or Carrie are nearby listening to it too or -- no wait hang on a minute that doesn't sound like the track she's supposed to dance to.

Taking out her earbuds confirms that the music is in her head.

Off topic, speaking of music in her head, Luke definitely thinks I Got The Music is a Bop™

Its soft, its sweet, it's just guitar. There is no way in hell her soulmate is listening to guitar instead of playing it. She knows that much.

So now Julie has forgotten about cleaning the studio up and is pretty much standing in the same spot, just holdin on to the broom that did just two short sweeps

"Step into my world"

"THE BASTARD WROTE A SONG"

"Bittersweet love story bout a girl"

big gasp "THAT BASTARD IS PLAYING OUR DUET"

"Shook me the core"

Julie's brain: singggg,,,,, Julie: I'm afraid, ,,, Julie's brain, in Flynn's voice: S I N G

"Voice like an angel, never heard before"

Julie, before she can back down, "here in front of me"

Luke's eyes get so wide and so happy. Bobby takes a pause to snap a photo. When they finally find Luke's soulmate, they're gonna have so many dorky pics to show

Y'all it is the most beautiful separated duet of all time. I mean, not for the guys, the pauses are really weird but hey, at least Luke seems to be enjoying himself.

Post duet: "Mija are you singing to yourself"

Julie: (screams and throws broom) no?

You know what maybe this needs to be split for a part two...

[thatsjustjk]

Cruel Summer│JJK

Summary: When summer comes around, all you think about is how much of a dread your upcoming camp’s going to be, well, it turned out to be the opposite.

{strangers to lovers}

Pairing: Popular!jungkook × popular!reader

Genre: fluff, comedy, romance, young love

Word count (so far): 1.3k words

Warnings: none!

Note: Yes, the title is based on Taylor's iconic song, I've been in love with it for a long time now( ꈍᴗꈍ) This is basically one of those feel-good stories which you'd wish happened to you. It's one of those stories that probably wouldn't happen in real life but it did! Not to me though haha, to one of my closest friends, but of course I altered it here and there to make it more of a story.

I'm gonna keep updating it and not post part by part just to keep it all in one place. But I'll put in dividers to make it easier! Hope you guys like it

July 16th                                           

10:49AM

How convenient is it that I had a train to catch in about 15 minutes and yet we were stuck in traffic? It wasn’t convenient at all, it was bogus. Why did the streets have to be so crowded at 11:00 in the morning on a Sunday? God knows.

I really didn’t want to go to this camp, but my parents thought it was going to be educational or whatever.

Some people may say I’m crazy for dreading summer camp but I was supposed to have a big family trip that month and I was really looking forward to it cause’ I hadn’t seen my cousins in so long, god, I missed them.

Anyway, we arrived at the station, thank god, I didn’t want to sit in that car shaped oven for longer. “Y/N! here!” I heard my friends scream from the other side of the track. “The train’s almost here, come on” they said again as I walked over to the stairs quickly, my dad right behind me.

“Okay sweetie, be safe, get along with everyone, and call me every day.” My dad says as he pulls me into a tight hug while the train makes a loud appearance.

I rush down the stairs to reach the other side to where the rest of my campmates and teachers stood. "I'm so sorry I'm late, my dad assumed there'd be no traffic today" I explain in a rushed manner as my teacher in charge- my science teacher struck off my name in a small notebook, keeping track of who's here and who isn't.

Just as the last of us were about to climb in, a voice shouts from the staircase- "I'M HERE, I'M HERE" The voice belonged to a boy with dark, slightly wet hair who sported grey sweatpants and a loose band-tee. I think his name was Kook or something, I've only seen him playing basketball before so he's definitely not in my grade, I concluded all while staring at the boy who made a new appearance.

"Guess I wasn't that late after all" I remark to my friend who was struggling to pull her luggage up with her. I would've usually made fun of her but our suitcases were truly heavy, we were going to a hill station and most of our clothes were just sweaters. After I help her with her suitcase, I was about to haul my suitcase up but another set of hands helped me with a push, what do you know, it was the guy I was staring at. Don't get me wrong, I don't like him or anything, I just daydream when I think about something.

"Thank you! I'm Y/N by the way" I introduce myself briskly as he hauls up his own suitcase. He seems strong, he'd do well in the camp I think to myself when he finally replies "I know who you are Y/N" he says, taking me aback "you're pretty popular, you know" "well, I know your name too, it's kook isn't it?" he chuckles before saying "It's Jungkook but you're free to call me Kook if you want" "Kook! Y/N!" a familiar voice from inside the train calls out to both of us. It was Jimin, I knew him from Spanish class. Oh yeah, he and Kook are on the same basketball team.

I wheel my suitcase towards the busy compartment but just then our teacher interjects "Boys and Girls are supposed to be in separate compartments, sorry guys" she shrugs "We all know you're gonna be together throughout, I was just told to inform you about the sleeping arrangements that's all" I smile to Jimin before wheeling my suitcase forward to the compartment the rest of the girls were in.

The trip was starting to get better than I imagined- I knew most of the people already (since this was a school trip anyway) and made friends with the ones I didn't.

"How many crushes have you had so far?" The rest of us groan. It was 3am and we were supposed to be awake by 4. We had stayed up talking and playing stupid games like Truth or dare and charades. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom" I get up and slither through the small crowd. "Hey, me too, I need to go to the baño too" Jimin appears from behind. I giggle at his attempt to incorporate Spanish into his sentences like I told him to. "So, what's up? How do you like the trip so far, even though it's just started" "I've been having so much fun, everyone seems so nice" I say as we checked which of the bathrooms were vacant. "Yeah, I've been looking forward to this since the day our club announced it, and most of my friends from basketball are here too so" he shrugs with a grin. "I actually didn't need to go to the bathroom, my leg just fell asleep" I disclose, "ME TOO!"

"FANCY YOU 지금 너에게로 갈래-" "oh my god shut it off!" I shout out to no one in particular. I don't know why anyone would want to wake up to a song like this. Again- don't get me wrong, I love Twice, I know the entire choreography of fancy. "Girls wake up, we're almost there" the familiar voice of my science teacher wakes me up from my slumber fully. I kind of forgot I was on a train.

"you kind of look like a chipmunk in the morning" mina, my friend says as she examines my droopy face. "oh my god! how dare you?" I act overdramatic as I place one of hands on my forehead. I hear someone giggle and I see Jungkook from the side of my eye "What are you laughing at you bunny?" His eyebrows shoot up as he looks at me with a confused but betrayed look "When did I come into this conversation? and me? bunny? don't be ridiculous" he huffs. "Okay, kids! this is the last stop so don't worry about rushing and check for all of your belongings before getting down"

After the teachers confirm that all of us have gotten out, we all trudge along towards the parking lot and then onto our bus. Mina sat with her boyfriend, Seokjin- I never really liked him, mainly cause me and Mina can never spend time together like we used to, and also I never understood his jokes. Jimin sat with his other friend from basketball, Hoseok- or also known as my ex, but it was very casual, we thought we liked each other but we decided we'd rather be friends. But yeah Hobi is a sweetheart, we're still friends but not as close as we used to be, it bothers me sometimes but it was inevitable.

Everyone had found their seats already since I'd been one of the last ones to put my luggage in the trunk "Hey, there's an open seat here" Jungkook calls out to me from the end of the bus. He's sitting with Namjoon, Yoongi, Sona, Taehyung and Rya. I grin as I walk over to the small lot "Are you sure I can fit in here?" I question "Yeah! Of course you can, there's plenty of room for one more person" Taehyung says as he scoots over and motions for everyone else to do the same. I thank him as I quickly plop down next to Namjoon.

"You like Selena too? me too! I've been there since she started wizards of Waverly place!" I scream quietly since half the bus was asleep. We were listening to Jungkook's playlist, and turns out we have the same music taste, he loves all of my favorite artists. "Me too! I loved Alex! She was basically my first crush" he says while scrunching up his nose. "Y/N, please switch seats with me" a groggy Namjoon pleads while looking at me. "Oops, of course, I didn't realize we were being that loud"

After a few hours of listening to music and drooling on my make-shift pillow a.k.a my bag, we arrived at the campsite we were going to be spending the rest of the trip.