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crowdvscritic · 3 years

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round up // JULY 21

‘Tis the season to beat the heat at the always-cold theatres and next to fans set at turbo speed. While my movie watching slowed a bit with the launch of the Summer Olympics on July 23rd, I’ve still got plenty of popcorn-ready and artsy recommendations for you. A few themes in the new-to-me pop culture I’m recommending this month:

Casts oozing with embarrassing levels of talent (sometimes overqualified for the movies they’re in)

Pop culture that is responding or reinterpreting past pop culture

Stories that get weEeEeird

Keep on-a-scrollin’ to see which is which!

July Crowd-Pleasers

1. Double Feature – ‘90s Rom-Coms feat. Lots of Lies: Mystery Date (1991) + The Pallbearer (1996)

In Mystery Date (Crowd: 7.5/10 // Critic: 6/10), Ethan Hawke and Teri Polo get set up on a blind date that gets so bizarre and crime-y I’m not sure how this didn’t come out in the ‘80s. In The Pallbearer (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10), David Schwimmer and Gwyneth Paltrow try to combine The Graduate with Four Weddings and a Funeral in a story about lost twentysomethings. If you don’t like rom-coms in which circumstances depend on lots of lies and misunderstandings, these won’t be your jam, but if you’re like me and don’t mind these somewhat-cliché devices, you’ll be hooked by likeable casts and plenty of rom and com.

2. The Tomorrow War (2021)

I thought of no fewer movies than this list while watching: Alien, Aliens, Angel Has Fallen, Cloverfield, Interstellar, Kong: Skull Island, Prometheus, A Quiet Place: Part II, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith, The Silence of the Lambs, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and World War Z. And you know what? I like all those movies! (Okay, maybe I just have a healthy respect/fear of The Silence of the Lambs.) The Tomorrow War may not be original, but it borrows some of the best tropes and beats from the sci-fi and action genres, so much so I wish I could’ve seen Chris Pratt and Co. fight those gross monsters on a big screen. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 6/10

3. Dream a Little Dream (1989)

My July pick for the Dumb Rom-Com I Nevertheless Enjoyed! I CANNOT explain the mechanics of this body switch comedy to you—nor can the back of the DVD case above—but, boy, what an ‘80s MOOD. I did not know I needed to see a choreographed dance routine starring Jason Robards and Corey Feldman, but I DID. All I know is some movies are made for me and that I’m now a card-carrying member of the Two Coreys fan club. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

4. Black Widow (2021)

The braids! The Pugh! Black Widow worked for me both as an exciting action adventure and as a respite from the Marvel adventures dependent on a long memory of the franchise. (Well, mostly—keep reading for a second MCU rec much more dependent on the gobs of previous releases.) Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7.5/10

5. Liar Liar (1997)

Guys, Jim Carrey is hilarious. That’s it—that’s the review. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 7/10

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6. Sob Rock by John Mayer (2021)

It’s very possible I’ve already listened to this record more than all other John Mayer records. It doesn’t surpass the capital-G Greatness of Continuum, but it’s a little bit of old school Mayer, a little bit ‘80s soft rock/pop, and I’ve had it on repeat most of the two weeks since it’s been out. Featuring the boppiest bop that ever bopped, at least one lyrical gem in every track, and an ad campaign focused on Walkmans, this record skirts the line between Crowd faves and Critic-worthy musicianship.

7. Double Feature – ‘00s Ben Affleck Political Thrillers: The Sum of All Fears (2002) + State of Play (2009)

In The Sum of All Fears (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7.5/10), Ben Affleck is Jack Ryan caught up in yet another international incident. In State of Play (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10), he’s a hotshot Congressman caught up in a scandal. Both are full of plot twists and unexpected turns, and in both, Affleck is accompanied by actors you’re always happy to see, like Jason Bateman, James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Jeff Daniels, Viola Davis, Morgan Freeman, Philip Baker Hall, David Harbour, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, and Robin Wright—yes, I swear all of those people are in just those two movies.

8. Loki (2021-)

Unlike Black Widow, you can’t go into Loki with no MCU experience. The show finds clever ways to nudge us with reminders (and did better at it than Falcon and the Winter Soldier), but be forewarned that at some point, you’re just going to have to let go and accept wherever this timeline-hopper is taking you. An ever-charismatic cast keeps us grounded (Owen Wilson, Jonathan Majors, and an alligator almost steal the show from Tom Hiddleston in some eps), but while Falcon lasted an episode or two too long, Loki could’ve used a few more to flesh out its complicated plot and develop its characters. Thankfully, the jokes matter almost as much as the sci-fi, so you can still have fun even if you have no idea what’s going on.

9. Double Feature – Bruce Willis: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) + The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

Before Bruce Willis began starring in many random direct-to-DVD movies I only ever hear about in my Redbox emails, he was a Movie Star smirking his way up the box office charts. In the third Die Hard (Crowd: 10/10 // Critic: 7.5/10), he teams up with Samuel L. Jackson to decipher the riddles of a terrorist madman (Jeremy Irons), and it’s a thrill ride. In The Whole Nine Yards (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10), he’s hitman that screws up dentist Matthew Perry’s boring life in Canada, and—aside from one frustrating scene of let’s-objectify-women-style nudity—it’s hilarious.

10. This Is the End (2013)

On paper, this is not a movie for me. An irreverent stoner comedy about a bunch of bros partying it up before the end of the world? None of things are for Taylors. But with a little help of a TV edit to pare down the raunchy and crude bits, I laughed my way through and spent the next several days thinking through its exploration of what makes a good person. While little of the plot is accurate to Christian Gospel and theology, some of its big ideas are consistent enough with the themes of the book of Revelation I found myself thinking about it again in church this morning. (Would love to know if Seth Rogen ever expected that.) Plus, I love a good self-aware celebrity spoof—can’t tell you how many times I’ve just laughed remembering the line, “It’s me, Jonah Hill, from Moneyball”—and an homage to horror classics. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7/10

July Critic Picks

1. Summer of Soul (…or, When the Television Could Not Be Televised) (2021)

Even director Questlove didn’t know about the Harlem Cultural Festival, but now he’s compiled the footage so we can all enjoy one of the coolest music fest lineups ever, including The 5th Dimension, B.B. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder, who made my friend’s baby dance more than once in the womb. See it on the big screen for top-notch audio. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 9/10

2. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Robin Williams takes on the bureaucracy, disillusionment, and malaise of the Vietnam War with comedy. Williams was a one-of-a-kind talent, and here it’s on display at a level on par with Aladdin. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 9/10

3. Against the Rules Season 2 (2020-21)

Michael Lewis (author of Moneyball, adapted into a film starring Jonah Hill), is interested in how we talk about fairness. This season he looks at how coaches impact fairness in areas like college admissions, credit cards, and youth sports.

4. Bugsy Malone (1976)

A gangster musical starring only children? It’s a little like someone just picked ideas out of a hat, but somehow it works. You can hear why in the Bugsy Malone episode Kyla and I released this month on SO IT’S A SHOW?, plus how this weird artifact of a film connects with Gilmore Girls.

5. The Queen (2006)

Before The Crown, Peter Morgan wrote The Queen, focusing on Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) in the days following the death of Princess Diana. It’s a complex and compassionate drama, both for the Queen and for Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen, who has snuck up on me to become a favorite character actor). Maybe I’ve got a problem, but I’ll never tire of the analysis of this famous family. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9.5/10

6. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)

This month at ZekeFilm, we took a closer look at Revisionist Westerns we’ve missed. I fell hard for Roy Bean, and I think you will, too, if for no other reason than you might like a story starring Jacqueline Bisset, Ava Gardner, John Huston, Paul Newman, and Anthony Perkins. Oh, and a bear! Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 10/10

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7. New Trailer Round Up

Naked Singularity (Aug. 6) – John Boyega in a crime thriller!

Queenpins (Aug. 10) – A crime comedy about extreme coupon-ing!

Dune (Oct. 1) – I’ve been cooler on the anticipation for this film, but this new look has me cautiously intrigued thanks to the Bardem + Bautista + Brolin + Chalamet + Ferguson + Isaac + Momoa + Zendaya of it all.

The Last Duel (Oct. 15) – Affleck! Damon! Driver!

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Nov. 11) - I’m not sure why we need this, but I’m down for the Paul Rudd + Finn Wolfhard combo

King Richard (Nov. 19) - Will Smith as Venus and Serena’s father!

Encanto (Nov. 24) – Disney and Lin-Manuel Miranda making more magic together!

House of Gucci (Nov. 24) - Gaga! Pacino! Driver!

Also in July…

Kyla and I took a look at the classic supernatural soap Dark Shadows and why Sookie might be obsessed with it on Gilmore Girls.

I revisited a so-bad-it’s-good masterpiece that’s a surrealist dream even Fellini couldn’t have cooked up. Yes, for ZekeFilm I wrote about the Vanilla Ice movie, Cool as Ice, which is now a part of my Blu-ray collection.

Photo credits: Against the Rules. All others IMDb.com.

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cxplqnce · 4 years

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Behrad Tarazi - Naked

Based off Naked by James Arthur

Word Count: 1597

Hey, you there

Can we take it to the next level, baby, do you dare?

Don't be scared

'Cause if you can say the words, I don't know why I should care

Your relationship with Behrad was interesting, complex and difficult to explain. You had been a close friend of the Legends for years before joining them after your trip to Earth-X. You had met Behrad a few times but hadn’t really interacted with him about anything outside of superhero stuff.

One of the reasons you had joined the Legends was because you had been through a pretty bad break-up and Star City just wasn’t a good place for you anymore. You had hundreds of bad memories, of your family’s deaths and almost dying yourself so you thought it was best to leave. You were going to leave the superhero life all together, travel somewhere and work through your problems but when you were offered a place on the Waverider as the team’s newest scientist, you couldn’t refuse.

That’s when you started getting closer to Behrad. You became friends with him and didn’t even consider him as anything more until Nate mentioned how much you and Behrad acted like a couple on one of his trips over from the Time Bureau. You had chickened out of telling him about your feelings for weeks, until Heyworld. Nate almost died and so did Ray, you knew that it could be you or Behrad in that position at any time with your line of work so you told him after you got back on the ship.

Your confession ended with the two of you in bed together, but that’s all it became. The next morning, Behrad was acting like it never happened and when you asked him about it, he told you that it was a mistake and never should’ve happened so you agreed to forget it.

Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. It was obvious Behrad didn’t share your feelings and you weren’t going to push him but it hurt. You had completely fallen for him and after your last relationship; it had taken you a long time to trust yourself enough to want a relationship with someone else.

Hey, get out

I've got nothin' left to give for you give me nothin' now

Read my mouth

If you ever want me back, then your walls need breakin' down

After you guys had taken down Bugsy Siegel, you were headed to the lab to retrieve the blanket you had left in there when you heard Nate and Behrad talking. You were going to interrupt but stopped when you heard Behrad mention your name.

“What the hell am I supposed to do here, Nate? I was a complete dick to Y/N and I’m pretty sure she hates me now.” Behrad huffed, plopping down on the couch with his head in his hands.

Nate sat next to him, “Just tell her how you feel. Be honest with her.”

“What if she just wanted our night to be just that?” Behrad asked with a saddened look on his face.

“Well, you won’t know until you talk to her, like I’ve been telling you to do for the longest time.” Nate said, before getting up to leave the lab.

You immediately moved and hid around the corner from the door and once Nate had left you decided now was the time to talk to Behrad about everything. Unfortunately, the team was called by Gideon to deal with the next Encore.

'Cause here I am, I'm givin' all I can

But all you ever do is mess it up

Yeah, I'm right here, I'm tryin' to make it clear

That getting half of you just ain't enough

Gideon had informed the team that the next Encore was a guy named Freddy Meyers, a serial killer from 2004. Most of the team had gone down to try and find Freddy at his class’ high school reunion. You were coming out of the kitchen when you bumped into Behrad, who was heading in there. “Hey,” You said simply.

“Hi, Y/N. You didn’t go with the team?” He asked.

You sighed, awkwardly, “No, I am QB-ing today. With you, apparently.”

“Cool. Well, I’m gonna grab a burger.” Behrad said, moving past you. You turned to leave as well but quickly changed your mind.

“I heard you.” You started, Behrad turned back around to face you, “I heard you and Nate talking in the lab earlier when you mentioned my name. What did Nate mean when he told you to tell me how you feel?”

Behrad’s face lost all colour. What was he supposed to do now? You clearly didn’t feel the same way as he did and he was scared that if he told you, your friendship would be ruined forever. “It was nothing, just I didn’t want that night to ruin our friendship that’s all.” Behrad lied, well, it was more of a half-truth. He didn’t want it to ruin you friendship but he wanted way more than friendship to begin with.

“Oh.” You started, your heart breaking at his words, “Well, don’t worry, we’re all good, B.” You smiled, stuffing your feelings inside of a locked box and burying them six feet under.

I wanna give you everything

You cried that night, so much that you began to get a splitting head-ache so at around one in the morning you left the safety of your room to go to the med bay, stopping off at the galley to grab a glass of water on your way.

Once you got to the med bay you notified Gideon of your situation and she prescribed some painkillers that you took with your glass of water. Since you knew you wouldn’t sleep now you decided to go to the lab and play some video games.

However, a certain someone had had the same idea.

I'm not going to wait until you're done

'Cause you pretended you don't need anyone

'Cause you see that I'm naked (naked, naked)

Oh, you see that I'm naked (naked, naked)

I'm not going to try 'til you decide

You're ready to swallow all your pride

I'm standing here naked (naked, naked)

I'm standing here naked

Behrad saw you before you could scurry away and you knew he could tell that you’d been crying by the concerned look that washed over his features. He stood up from his place on the couch and came over to you, “Have you been crying?” He asked, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“Yeah, b-but it doesn’t matter. I’m fine.” You lied.

“It doesn’t look like your fine. And whatever it is you were crying about had to matter because it made you cry, what’s wrong?” He asked, pulling you in for a hug. You couldn’t stop the tears from falling again as you stood wrapped up in his arms. You desperately wanted to yell and scream at him that you were crying over him – over the feelings you had for him but you couldn’t form the words. “Whatever it is, I can help but only if you talk to me.”

“I can’t.” You snapped, a little too loudly, pulling away from Behrad. “It’s the one thing that I can’t talk about with you.”

Behrad’s face held a look of utter confusion, he didn’t understand what had gotten you so upset and so riled up, “What? Why can’t you talk to me about whatever it is?” He argued.

“Because it’s about you!” You cried, instantly regretting the words that came out of your brain. It was like the filter that was between your brain and your mouth just broke for a few seconds.

“You were crying… because of me?” He asked, his voice was soft and quiet like he felt guilty and was wondering what he’s done to make you so upset. “What did I do?”

“It’s not what you did, it’s how I feel.” You admitted, you’d already sprouted the seed so now you had to continue, “I like you, B. And after we slept together – you called it a mistake and it hurt so bad… and earlier, you said you were worried about our friendship. I was literally friend-zoned by you… So, I’m standing here, in all my stupidity, telling you that I like you and I want to have a relationship with you because you make me feel so happy and so safe and I like you.”

Behrad stared at you intently, you didn’t know exactly what he was feeling since his facial expressions were a bit ambiguous and hard to understand until he smiled, standing closer to you, “I said those things cause I thought you only wanted to be friends and I didn’t want to lose you by admitting how I really felt about you. I like you too, and that relationship thing… sounds real good.”

“Perfect.”

#behrad tarazi #behrad tarazi x reader #behrad tarazi imagine #legends of tomorrow #legends of tomorrow imagine #legends of tomorrow x reader

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unblot · 3 years

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[ From @twisted-legacies. Sorry about the Anon. It's a sideblog. ]

I'm wanted to ask this for a while, actually! What's Salem's thoughts on Bugsy, his father's with with the demon and only having a year to live in general? Does it depress him? Or does he not think about it too often?

meta questions // always accepting

oh my goodness thank you for the ask! bugsy is actually another oc of mine i haven’t really talked about here! he’s not completely developed yet & i haven’t decided if i want to write him here yet but! basically bugsy is twisted from oogie boogie hence the minor connection to salem.

bugsy actually teaches at night raven college so salem does eventually meet him. were it not for this factor, salem wouldn’t know about the deal at all as their father had kept it a secret from them. bugsy unfortunately is the type to manipulate & blackmail so this reveal came in an extremely unsatisfactory way. basically bugsy blackmailing salem with the information & threat that he’ll expose their dad for performing a magical taboo.

salem overall is very afraid of bugsy so most of the time they choose to avoid him. which isn’t the easiest thing to do considering he’s a teacher, but they still try.

in terms of salem’s thoughts on the deal, it’s kinda a mix of conflicting emotions. on one hand the knowledge does make them consider that perhaps their father really does love them & value them as a person. but on the other there’s a sense of betrayal & anger because salem never asked for this & is generally very unhappy in this half life. i think over time the latter feeling would grow more prominent. & salem would eventually come to resent their father ESPECIALLY after they graduate & their father’s treatment of them becomes more severe.

i haven’t actually thought about the terms of franklin’s deal with bugsy & if there actually was a certain time he was meant to die. if there was he still had a few years on him but would ultimately go to “the bad place” in the afterlife. i say this mostly because it is in salem’s canon that they poison & kill their father in their 4th year when their living situation & the abuse they faced was too much for them.

while they do get away with it notably people at night raven college are questioned after franklin is found dead because officials & the general public were under the assumption that salem was at school at the time (he was not & in fact was trapped at home while his father lied to the public) & was nowhere to be found when officials came looking. a semi important factor of this is that when questioned bugsy lies & covers for salem despite having a good idea of what happened. this isn’t necessarily done in fondness for salem but they did do bugsy a favor killing their father. plus bugsy generally likes to fuck with police.

so overall salem doesn’t really know or understand their father’s actions & why he went so far to bring them back to life. it’s always going to be a complicated situation for them because they are happy to be alive, especially when they’re able to find true life again. but the time before that was not an ideal one & they were forced into it due to their father’s own selfishness. & when it comes to their father’s fate it is something they feel a great deal of guilt & grief about but in the end they don’t regret their choice as it was the only way they could have freed themself.

#asks.#headcanon: salem.#headcanons.#thank you SO MUCH for this #i can't even say how touched i am that people outside my close friends want to learn more about my ocs #abuse //#death //

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domidextrus · 4 years

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Only just caught up with episodes 4-6 of Epithet Erased. Here’s my general spoiler-y thoughts:

Well, what I predicted for Mera’s character arc didn’t come to pass (at least not yet) before she exited the picture along with Indus. Molly did make the suggestion of using the amulet to remove her own epithet, but Mera rejected it because it would make her training pointless. A fair assessment!

Okay, so there’s another inscribed character with electric-based powers who apparently works for some super secret shadow organization. We only have a few episodes to go, so maybe that could be setup for a new season?

I wanna say this one more time in case Episode 5 is the last we see of her: Molly is such a frickin' cinnamon roll and I want to hug her so badly!!

OMG Giovanni even has a sports car bed, just like Papyrus!

I’m starting to like Percy quite a bit. Her epithet’s a bit confusing, but I still dig it.

Sheriff Gorou. Just... Just Sheriff Gorou. What can I say? He’s a cute idiot.

Bugsy & Arnold are basically the Bulk & Skull of this series. I really liked seeing these guys gloat and later get humiliated.

Ramsey is both a figurative and literal rat. Plus, he deceived Percy into making him her partner, which gets extra red flags from me, and even lied to her about his past. He better not hurt her, so help me god!

Howie is... Hoo boy! Hell hath no fury like a mundie carpenter whose stats can outclass even the strongest inscribed and knock you out cold with a wrench bent into a boomerang shape by his insanely strong hands.

Zora is so goddamn cool! Also, she can freeze bullets in their tracks, and she also turned Bugsy into a baby... Her epithet must be something related to the passage of time.

Again, for those who watched it on VRV: please don’t spoil me on episode 7! I’m following the series from JelloApocalypse’s YouTube channel, where the episodes are uploaded with a two-week delay.

#epithet erased #spoilers

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early20thcenturynerd · 5 years

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“Margetta Hirsch Doyle ’45 was a regular student at William & Mary. Her friends called her 'Getta' and she was a Kappa Delta. Doyle kept a diary and wrote about her philosophy quizzes, described how much she enjoyed making Red Cross surgical wrappings and mentioned hours spent spotting airplanes from campus buildings. Doyle was a student during World War II.

During the second World War, William & Mary became a predominantly female campus. While many college-age males fought abroad, women kept up the war effort from Williamsburg. In between their studies and social life, students volunteered with the Student War Council and the American Red Cross. Along with other service work, they, like Doyle, made surgical dressings and spotted airplanes, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone.”

Margetta Hirsch Doyle's Entries for May, 1943:

MAY 1

Happy May Day! It was Saturday and so we didn’t do much. Cary, Beth, Mrs. Dalthud and I went marketing and made out pretty well. Cary and I made the first major mistake of our careers as housekeepers. We bought birdseye fish for dinner (no points) and naturally thought we should keep it frozen in the ice box. By the time Lizzie and Flora arrived there were just so many chunks of ice lieing there. We all howled hysterically over it and had a vegetable plate dinner (I hope the fish will thaw by Monday!) This afternoon Cary and I went down town and to the Wigwam. I wrote some letters, changed the bedding on my bed and generally wasted time - worked tonight. I received a card from Bill Brennan - his 29 day training is almost up.

MAY 2

Such an unusual little day! We slept unusually late and then Beth, Punchy and I dressed to go to church. As we came out of Bruton, Joy Allen pounced upon Punchy and me saying Cary had walked by with two ensigns and a lieutenant j.g. and wanted us to walk up to the Lodge and meet them. Bewildered, we looked at each other with a what-the-heck attitude and walked on up. Sure enough, there was Cary with three naval officers! We soon became acquainted and had loads of fun drinking champagne cocktails and eating dinner. After awhile we came back to the house and played the vic. It was really a terrifically pleasant afternoon. Cary, Punchy and I pored through the want ads and I wrote six or seven letters of application to see how the land lies. I tried to phone Bill Brennan to wish him a happy birthday but couldn't get the call thru.

MAY 3

Things may seem “awfully dismal” at times but I’m really so very lucky and the bright spots of life are so nice. Tonight - brazen hussy that I am! - while down at work I placed a call through to Bill Brennan again. It wouldn't come, but the little operator kept trying (pull!) and finally just after I got back to the house the phone rang and a voice said “Boy! This is wonderful!” Ya huh, ‘twas Willy and gosh it was super talking to him. It wasn't at all like a typical long distance conversation - we just said dumb old things and deep things and you’d have thought we were both in Hollis rather than in Billsburg and Atlantic City respectively. So nice! Oh I forgot to mention that I got a perky letter from him too. I’m beaming obnoxiously. I wish…….. My life has a mysterious element too. This evening while I was out two darling marines came to see me, one of who “was a very good friend of a girl from home.” Vague, but I hope they come back!

MAY 4

I’ve still glowed all day from last night’s phone call, and even now nice things keep happening. At lunchtime the package man came bearing a gift for me: a lush "bon bon" spoon with an awfully sweet note from “Mom” Brennan -- I was so tickled with it, and love her good. We rushed today informally - Betty Marie Ellett for lunch and two other girls for dinner with the usual accompanying intra-sorority feeling. Initiation for Jinx Richardson, Ann Wilson and Eleanor Ramsdell was last night and so we had a cup service at seven o’clock this morning - then classes, marketing, fun and work. I received real nice letters from Mother and Daddy and a faintly perky one from Bill Boyd. He is trying to stall off his furlough until June when I’ll be home. Gosh, I hope it’ll work. I’m so lucky! Flat Hat mentioned Punchy’s & my badminton defeat.

MAY 5

This morning was the annual convocation for the tapping of the members of the junior class chosen to be Mortarboard and ODK. It was very impressive and full of suspense, since supposedly noone knew who was to be selected. Fran Pendleton was one of the five girls to get Mortarboard and we’re all very thrilled about the whole thing. The other girls were Margie Lentz, Katie Rutherford, Marion Ross, and [Lebe] Seay. Mary Wilson Carver is the new president. Punchy, Carolyn Harley and I went up on Barrett roof sunbathing and got faintly tanned. Then we went shopping for Mother’s Day gifts and had our pictures taken at the telephone office. Per usual when having our pictures taken, Punchy sneered and I had “my fixed look” sat on the camera, but we’re celebrities anyway. Beth & Marty won badminton matched over Gamma Phi.

MAY 6

“Rabbit - rabbit” really worked this month cause things keep getting better ‘n’ better. Today was a usual Thursday: marketing classes (Econ outside in the Sunken Gardens), archery (I’m off the 30 yd line at last) and swimming. After that we went downtown to the official dedication of the U.S.O., with music and speeches, including one by John D. Rockefeller, ‘Jr. ‘Twas sort of impressive. Yearbooks came out today and it’s the best Colonial Echo in years. We spent considerable time in poring over it, laughing and "ohing" and "ahing". Remember the marines I wrote about Monday night? Well, Warren Ripley came back this evening and is awfully nice. He knows Mary Claire Willard from St. Mary’s and she gave him my name. -- small world. He, a goon, Mavis Bunch and I went to the movies (”Truck Busters” was horrible) and then to the Lodge coffee shoppe

MAY 7

I’m awfully tired, and in a bad mood though still awfully happy about everything. Such a nice life? Nothing exciting happened today. I didn't go marketing, but instead went up in the Library tower for two hours - once with Cary and once with Midge - spotting airplanes. I managed to get a bit of studying done for my philosophy quiz which I sleepily took. (B- on last week’s) I went over to the office to get a social card for Warren and ended up talking in Louise’s room; then I wrote letters to both Bills and fooled around. Holly Rickis has come back for the weekend - it’s natural to have her here. Work was bitter - everything went wrong and the time dragged. A “nice voice” called me up and chatted and a sailor walked us home. Such a masculine life as I’ve been having glimpses into. I can’t get over it! Floyd wrote me from Hunter Field, Georgia

MAY 8

The weekend has come and I’ve resolved to purely have fun - and how it has started! This afternoon Beth and I went downtown to do our weekly shopping for odds and ends and then she Punchy and I went sunbathing by the practice house with Danny and Eleanor Ramsdell, It’s really hot too! Warren came by with two other marines to tell me that they were going to Richmond and he mightn’t be back right on time for our date tomorrow night. Seeing the other two marines I promised Beth & Punchy dates tomorrow night - and I dood it. Every few minutes, after we were all together I would say “Do you really want to do to Richmond?” and finally we talked them into staying for a howl of an evening. We saw “Air Force” one of the best pictures I’ve ever seen, and went to the Lodge. Ray and Dick kept wanting to be in Richmond, and kept making all sorts of classic remarks! Such fun!

MAY 9

Happy Mother’s Day -- and what a day! Being hot, we lazily relaxed around the house and didn't quite get to church. I wrote home and Bugsie, changed the bedding on my bed and dressed for dinner. In the middle of it Warren (who wasn't supposed to arrive until late this afternoon) came with Ray, and thus began the second day of my truly unusual experience. Since there isn’t much to do with a date here on Sunday afternoons we went for a walk through the woods and then sat and watched people playing tennis, after which we went to the movies and saw “Air Force” again. Then we went up to the Lodge for champagne cocktails and a howl of a dinner - amusing (!) episode about the time and the tip. What a boy! Mother phoned tonight - and then Harold from Camp Peary phoned me. He sounds nice but you can’t tell. He phoned the telephone co.

MAY 10

Nothing at all new again. Classes, marketing and quite a lot of studying this afternoon! I actually did some English Lit and then typed away on an interview for Psychology, letting my imagination run rampant with information. I really did get from Warren on the subject “Alcohol and You”. This evening there was the last W.S.C.G.A. meeting of the year, and then we went to an Economics makeup, disturbed by retreat’s being blown from the naval chaplains in our right ears. After that, we had song practice and sorority meeting, made vivid by stirring remarks about the state of the treasury and the consequences of not paying fines and the like. We had a dreamy serenade by Eddie Anderson and two other boys complete with guitar and drooled out the window at its romanticism.

MAY 11

I went to classes, and then as usual went downtown with Cary to do the marketing - was amazed that some boxes of puddings had arrived in town - it made our housekeeping have a bright spot for the day. Archery was nice in that I got off the 40 yd line in one try. I must have just been jinxed by the 30 yd line - I have a new lease on life now though. On the way back from archery, I stopped in to see Holly, Kay and Louise and talked to them for awhile before coming back to the house and getting ready to have my picture taken again for the Transmitter, the Telephone Co. periodical. Speaking of pictures, the Flat Hat came out today with our crummy picture and the writeup. Punchy and I are celebrities! Mother phoned about Daddy’s maybe coming down and to say she has the measles - imagine! Harold also phoned me!

MAY 12

Another awfully nice day! After classes and marketing I did my philosophy and then Beth and I rolled bandages for the Red Cross with Mrs. Pomfret. Beth and Punchy played badminton intramurals with Theta and won - I silently stood by and cheered. Warren was here when we got back & stayed till I had to go to work. He wanted a date tonight and Friday night too but I work both nights and so I got out of it very easily. He’s a nice fellow but a little too eccentric to be very enjoyable. In the mail I got a “big” picture of Bill Brennan in uniform. He looks good and it’s interesting to compare it to the other big picture I have of him. He’s so neat and how I’d like to see him! He enclosed a note as did his mom.

MAY 13

Gad! I’m weary! Today was another one of those days where nothing noteworthy happened but little thing after little thing kept piling up till I haven’t got much energy left. Why do I bother to mention classes, marketing and my athletic afternoon? I’m stuck on the 50 yd line in Archery and in swimming after I emerged from the pool, I slipped, leaped into the air and fell completely flat on my back -- I’m sore and my posterior hurts! At work everyone seemed irritable (probably just because I was) and things didn’t seem to get done right. It’s being paycheck night was the one bright spot -- by the way, with my remaining checks I’ve decided to pay for my $25 room reservation fee besides my ticket home. Then I’ll feel I’m doing something worth while and useful with my earnings.

MAY 14

Life keeps getting better ‘n’ better, excepting for some things of course, the chiefest among which being a meeting of two representatives from each sorority to which I went with Dr. Pomfret, Miss Wynne Roberts, Charlie Duke and Vernon Nunn all about eating in the dining hall next year and reductions (?) in rent, involving all sorts of amazing involvements. The fur was flying as we got in truly deep discussions. There’ll be another even hotter meeting next Monday evening. All the things that keep happening! Such a nice thing happened at work tonight! A Mr. Curyea, who has been calling New York to his wife quite frequently from Camp Peary asked me my number and when I came back from my relief a lush box of candy was waiting for me with a card which said “In appreciation of the service that I have received in my calls to New York City”. It was one of the sweetest things anyone’s ever done for me. Bugsie comes tomorrow! Life can’t get much nicer!

MAY 15

Such a beautiful life. Bugsie was supposed to come this morning but got lost through connections and finally arrived at 3:00 P.M. on the bus; Gosh! It was super seeing her again! We came back to the house and then walked around campus -- had a screwy time at dinner and afterwards getting dressed for a mass blind date - eight couples. It was super with us walking to the Lodge, Chowning’s, Rexalls #2 and going to the dance in Blow Gym with eight army lieutenants. It was a crazy evening but loads of fun, and I hope Bugsie had a kick out of it. Other lovely events: a cute letter from Jimmy Mooney and a perky one from Bill Boyd signed “All my love”. (slurpy, huh -- I’m so glad!) News that Bill Brennan is stationed at Hamilton College, N.Y. Oh things can’t get better

MAY 16

My poor feet! We crowded so much into this little day! First we went to Bruton for a service made completely memorable by the presence of British Admiral Pound, General Wavell & others. It seems that General Marshall and the other important allied military leaders have conferred in Williamsburg about future campaign tactics. As we prayed in church (all of us) it made me realize how insignificant I am in the powerful drama being enacted now. After church Bugsie and I went to the Lodge for dinner and then went sightseeing at the Capitol and Governor’s Palace, stopping at Lavery’s on the way. We went over to see Dossie and had supper with her in the dining hall. We had a typically crazy evening together in the house - Kay came over and we walked her home. Whee - so much done this weekend.

MAY 17

Still everything keeps on happening! Bugsie and I went downtown and did some marketing before I saw her off on the morning train - it was so swell having her here! This afternoon I attempted to do some studying and ended up by writing letters and indulging in bull sessions - also became a bit dreamy over a card and six page letter from Bill Brennan from Hamilton College announcing that things look awfully good so far as our seeing each other once or twice this summer is concerned. (Lovely thought!) This evening Becky and I went to the sorority representatives meeting for setting the rent problem with the administration. They’ve made concessions but even with having 2 extra girls in the dining room our individual room & board will increase about $25 a semester. Oooh! Touching last sorority meeting of the year.

MAY 18

Ooooh! I’m tired! Punchy and I slept through Philosophy, and I got up for the marketing sort of sleepily. In Economics I hesitantly began to read my report on Agriculture (1940-1942) and Doc Heidingsfield said it was one the best: therefore I love him good. This afternoon I graduated from the 50 yd line in archery and was happy to go in swimming on account of its being so very hot. At work tonight there were too many of us to record so I just sort of sat and was errand girl - terrifically boring - it’ll be sort of good not to work anymore. Mother called tonight to tell me that Daddy’s coming down this weekend - it’ll be swell and I’m awfully glad, but I can’t push off studying for exams much longer!

MAY 19

Today was the day when my conscience finally pushed me to the point of doing some studying - English Lit. - and I really got quite a bit of it accomplished, considering all that I have to do. So much work all at the end of the year (I know: it’s my own fault!) at 3:30 P.M. Beth, Punchy Carolyn and I took time out for trek towards the Wigwam for milkshakes and tin roofs to brighten our dreary outlooks on life. At work tonight I learned Rate and Route and that’s all the news there is about me. Mimi Jardine became engaged to MacGregor (a lieutenant in the navy who seems swell). Gollee - that’s the third in one little week for the KΔ house. Carolyn Harley agreed to take George’s miniature on her five hours off “campus” with him Saturday night, and Marty and Tommy are finally all set too. Such romance!!

MAY 20

No more classes or anything, ceptin’ exams - I still can’t believe it -- Honest! ‘Tis all over but the shouting and I’ve even made up my double gym. Archery, with a tournament, was terrifically hot, and so it was super indeed to go swimming even though we didn't have a regular class. Now I can go on towards being a Junior (depending on my exams natchally!) I got a letter from the New York office of the American Tel and Til Co. telling me to come in, in June to see about a job. At least it’s something definite that I can look into to see what they have to offer instead of wandering around completely aimlessly. Mrs. Dalthud took over the marketing today; and we’re really elated about it. Three cheers! I washed my hair tonight and am comparatively smooth! So much studying to do and so little time to do it in.

MAY 21

So many things have happened again today. I went downtown and then paid my $25 room reservation deposit out of my savings. At ten o’clock the train came in and Daddy got off after a hectic trip. He, Cary and I went to the Lodge and found he’s rooming with a Marine major who is quite a character and has wild parties each night. Poor dad - he came here for a rest too! We had lunch in the dining room and then I read over some philosophy notes, just for the heck of it. More relaxing and then Punchy and I went to work for the last time. I’m glad it's over in a way cause it’s getting sort of boring not to be doing anything new, but we’re going to miss the neat gang down there. A senior party back at the house with lush lovely reminiscences, singing, munching on candy bars, punch and lollypops. Such wonderful girls!!!

MAY 22

Day after day, things pile up! I went up to the Lodge and met Daddy for lunch, then coming back to campus for an Economics Review class. Warren Ripley and his mother (down to see him) came over to the house and then they went to the movies with Daddy and me to see “American Empire” one of the corniest Westerns I’ve ever seen. - ‘twas horrible. Beth and Punchy went up to the Lodge to meet us and we had a hysterical evening, including a yummy STEAK dinner, a trek to the major’s room, (meeting him and some of his gang.) and chatting with Chuck Gondak and other interesting people. We laughed and laughed together and really enjoyed ourselves. Marty became officially engaged to Tommy with a lovely ring. Mmmm! Perky letter from Floyd.

MAY 23

Another day at the Lodge! Carolyn Harley and I walked up to Bruton to meet Daddy for church. Reverend Wood, from Toronto, Canada, preached the sermon which was one of the best I’d ever heard (personification of the Cathedral in Coventry and St. Paul’s in London - most unusual but stirring!) Kay, Lou Holly and Danny came up to the Lodge for dinner and more idle chitchat. Kay, Lou and Holly left soon after dinner to do some studying. but Danny stayed and the three of us relaxed in the sun. We had a bite (a bite, I say?) to eat in the coffee shoppe and then I came back to the house and dove into my English Lit. - my mind’s bleary as it always becomes at this stage of the game (and I haven’t even started to study yet!) Harold called tonight!

MAY 24

All morning I grinded over English Lit till I could scream - I’m so sick of the darned stuff! Daddy came up to the house to meet everyone and then we had a sandwich in the Greek’s. This afternoon we went back to the Lodge and sat around talking. Oh, and yes, I did some more English Lit. Dossie Hostetter came up for dinner and we reminisced some more. All the gals down here are so neat! I said Goodbye to Dad till a week from Thursday, and then came back to the house to cram some more. Such monotony! I received another cute letter from Bill Brennan and mail from mother.

MAY 25

Dad left this morning on the morning train but along that time I was hibernating in Wren with my English Lit. exam. Twas really a corker - most of it was fair, but as always I met my Waterloo on the spot passages. At least the darned thing is over and I’ll never have to think about English Lit. again. (one exam down and four to go: Eureka!!) This afternoon I stopped at Barrett with a birthday present for Holly, went to the Wigwam and eventually settled down to studying Psychology of the interview, rather halfheartedly. My brain can’t stand too much concentrated studying all at once. Gee, I’m living and breathing for a week from now when it’ll be all over. Such fun as it’s been though. A postcard from Harold.

MAY 26

Apologies, Diary, for the monotony of these entries but the fact remains that I’m a study bug and nothing else. My only communion with the outside world was a trek to Casey’s for shampoo with which to wash my hair; and after that I returned to Philosophy and Economics. Such a broadening intellectual viewpoint as I’m developing! Much excitement over Jinx Richardson! Supposedly she spent the night in town with Bill Lugar already married and is being shipped. Rumors are spreading fast and furiously. ‘Tis a shame cause she really is a neat girl inspite of all the confusion in which she’s been involved. Letters from Mother and Bugsie, saying she has to have her wisdom teeth dug out of her jaw. Poor gal! Also packages & empty cartons from Dad.

MAY 27

Another day of pure studying! I’d much rather have exams day after day, than sit and cram Psych., Econ. and Philosophy into my head at the same time and then wait to find out how much I don’t remember. I can picture me writing Psychological answers on my Economics exam! All morning and part of this afternoon I spent over at the Practice House reviewing Econ. (see! I said I was in a rut!) with Danny. It helped to see the various emphasis placed on things. Then this evening inbetween perpetual feasts (from boxes à la Hollis) and a phone call from Mother, Beth, Punchy and I rambled over Psych. I got a card from Bill Boyd - he’s been on maneuvers and is going out again - doesn’t lead to a very satisfactory correspondence; but when the real time comes……

MAY 28

My brain just keeps on getting wearier and wearier. This morning I had my Psych exams, and this afternoon Econ., both of which were entirely different from what I’d expected. Unless Doc Heidingsfield is terrifically lenient - there goes my A! Good and amazing news though: I got a B as my final grade in English Lit. Dr. Crane mustn’t have counted all my mistaken spot passages very much. I love him dearly for it. - for bringing my C up to a B when I hadn’t expected a C definitely. Then too, I learned I’d gotten B on my last Psych exam (taken weeks ago!) So, excepting for what I did on my exams today, scholastically life’s looking up. After supper, Beth, Punchy and I took a longish bike ride and it was such fun! Twas my first actual ride and rather long too. A letter from Colbie and cards from Dad.

MAY 29

All my stiff exams are now over. Three huzzahs! Philosophy this morning was completely fair and one of the nicest exams I’ve taken this period. Now there’s only Spanish left. This afternoon we were fed up with the utter filth of the room (I’m not kidding either.) and so again moved beds, dusted, vacuumed, and rolled the rug in moth balls. Then the trunks were moved in and the room looks like a confused mess of the nth degree. I thought I’d lost my keys of the trunk and called home; Mum is sending down the duplicated and “All’s Well that Ends Well” We packed, sold our books in the Wigwam (only collected $2.55 for three books though!) and revisited the telephone company.

MAY 30

The last day of studying and working a la intellect until September - I can scarce believe it yet!! We didn’t go to church but personally improved ourselves, while I did Spanish and Beth and Punchy finished packing their trunks. Then Janie Beth Punchy and I ran a final hasty comb through our hair and went to the Lodge for claret and dinner. It was smooth and we had a lovely reminiscent time, catting and chatting about people. Gad, how I’m going to miss the super Seniors. I’m not at all anxious for the end of the year to come. It’s all been one continuously mellow feeling full of laughs and a few almost-tears which have made Kappa Delta and all the super gang in the house so near and dear to me!

MAY 31

Such a snap of a Spanish final with translations of sentences like “How are you?” - would that they all had been like that! Anyhoo, it’s over and I’m beautifully and blissfully free. This afternoon I pulled open drawers; dumped things on my bed; and by a process of elimination, packed my trunk. I love to pack, and really enjoyed it. With frequent trips to town for returning extra board money and doing last minute shopping, the afternoon sped by till time for Cary, Janie, Mimi Boone and I to see “The More the Merrier,” a howl of a movie about the Washington housing problem, starring Charles Coburn, Jean Arthur and Joel McCray. Darling. Letters from Daddy, Audrey and Bill Brennan.

#1943 #1940s #history #diary #diaries #journal #historical diary #william & mary #womens history #long post

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devilsknotrp · 5 years

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Congratulations, Ruby! You have been accepted for the role of Connie Romano (FC: Natasha Liu Bordizzo). My God, you understand Connie perfectly. Everything, from your writing sample to your headcanons, fundamentally demonstrated how much thought you’d put into her and how she will relate to the other characters in play. I think you emphasised her softness - and though it would have been too easy to make her too gentle, you struck just the right balance between her sensitivity for others and her quiet resolve. Connie might be uncertain, but she’s not always a pushover. You also dealt with the theme of peer pressure really well. We’d love to see her continue to struggle with that as the group develops, especially because, at some point, she will have to make a choice... Altogether a wonderful application. Please have a look at this page prior to sending in your account.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Name: Ruby Age: 19 Pronouns: She/her Timezone: NZST Activity estimation: I’m enrolled full-time in university so my workload fluctuates week-to-week. I don’t like to really estimate activity because I can’t make promises that it will always remain the same. But I do strive to be active to some extent at least once a day. Triggers: [Redacted]

IN CHARACTER

Name: Connie Denise Romano constancy // devoted to Bacchus // from Rome Age (DD/MM/YYY): 20th of July 1978. CANCER sun, AQUARIUS moon, SCORPIO rising, VIRGO venus. Gender: Cis female Pronouns: She/her Sexuality: Bisexual. Connie has uncomplicated feelings about her sexuality. It has always just been something that has existed within her, devoid of complication, unlike much else of her psyche; she is constantly plagued by complicated feelings about everything else. But she has always known she’s had crushes on girls and on boys. It’s not something she’s ever come out and said to anyone, but she thinks she’d be at peace with it if it came out, or if she dated a girl. It doesn’t seem like a secret that needs to be hidden, but she hides it anyway. She hides a lot of things.

Occupation: High School Senior; aspiring NYU theatre applicant – eventually she wants to be a theatre actress, possibly film but she has no real overwhelming desire for the need to be seen like that. She definitely wants to venture into filmmaking and screenwriting; she has hoards over unfinished manuscripts stuffed in her drawers, most are roles she writes for herself.

Connection to Victim: Brian Goode had always been a bright kid. Connie remembers him in snippets: riding his bike down the street, or down at the arcade, or talking with David. That’s the real thread of connection she has to Brian. David. Connie has always liked David. He’s always kind and she sits next to him in a few of the classes they share together. She had only seen him as a sort-of-maybe friend until he asked her out. Taken by surprise, she had awkwardly turned him down, fumbling her way through an excuse. Connie had still felt too new then, too hurt by everything that had gone down, and David was sweet; she wasn’t ready for sweet. But then it was like he was everywhere, and now she can’t help but look for him in every crowd, or think about what he might say about something. It’s only a small crush, but it makes her feel young and alive and a little shy. Now she feels like they share something. There are moments since Brian’s disappeared that she’s thought about telling David she understands, but that would mean opening up about the gruesome crime, and that’s the secret she holds closest to her chest. Instead, she bakes cookies for his family and has spent time trying to be there for him. As a friend. But she can’t shake the feeling that Brian’s disappearance is connected to her own family’s murder. She’s terrified of what it all means, and she’s determined to help discover what really happened.

Alibi: What were they doing the afternoon Brian Goode disappeared?

Connie had been in the theatre room when Brian Goode disappeared.

“What were you doing?”

“I was practicing my monologue. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte.”

Pause. “It’s Catherine’s bit. You know, I wouldn’t be you for a kingdom!”

“Was anyone else there?”

“It was just me.”

“And what time did you arrive? Did anybody see you? When did you leave? Can anyone confirm that you were there?”

“I must have gotten there at around 2? I’m not sure, sorry. I think I got home around 8? My brother saw me. Em. He was there when I got home. I don’t know if anyone else saw me,” Connie shrugs, “maybe a teacher? I’m sure someone would have been working.”

Connie had been on a bus back from Sioux Falls. Two days earlier she had lied to Emilio and told him she was going to be staying at a friend’s house, throwing out Kelly Shah’s name. Then she hopped on a bus and headed back to her hometown. In the mail she had received a curious post-card, a simple I’m so sorry, baby in sloppy handwriting she could only guess was her mothers. Her bones trembling she had made the snap decision to go back to Sioux Falls. It had her grandma’s old address scribbled as the return address. Her mom must want her to come home. And Connie needed answers, security, her mom.

But Sioux Falls didn’t provide any answers; just dead-ends. Her mom wasn’t there and all that lingered was an air of misery. She walked around the block she grew up and bought a milkshake from Bugsy’s and cried behind her school’s old shed. It felt like a million years ago that she had lived there. And it felt like just yesterday her parents had been brutally slaughtered.

She had gotten on the first bus back to Devil’s Knot after that. She was never going to know what had happened to her parents. She was never going to know where her mom went. She was never going to fully belong to this world. But she could go home and laugh until her stomach hurt with Em.

Her bus had pulled up in Devil’s Knot at around 6PM. When had Brian gone missing again? Connie hadn’t gone home straight away. She got off the bus and headed out to “The Clearing” – she had been to countless parties there, fooled around with boys she wasn’t interested in, spent hours practicing her scripts. The creepiness that lived there felt safe to her, somehow. It felt like a loose connection to her own trauma. She couldn’t visit the site her parents had been murdered at, but she could find solace in the space another gruesome crime had taken place. She was a little entranced by the mystery of the case, wanting desperately to be able to bury herself in the facts and knowledge of the Silverman legend since she couldn’t know the details of her own.

Connie didn’t spend long there. She sat on one of the couches and cried until she felt okay enough to clip on her happy, cheerful, popular girl façade and she went home. All the lights were off by the time she returned to their little suburban home. Em tried. But sometimes Connie just wanted to scream out at the absurdity of trying to build a life while they ignored their past. He wasn’t home. He didn’t see her coming in. But it didn’t matter, he’d protect her.

Connie doesn’t know why she lies but she can’t take it back once it’s out of her mouth. Maybe it’s to protect her mom, or maybe it’s to protect her past, or maybe it is to protect herself. Wouldn’t people see her differently if they knew the truth of where she had come from? Couldn’t they suspect her? She knew how mass hysteria worked. She was an intelligent girl.

Faceclaim: Natasha Liu Bordizzo

WRITING SAMPLE

Connie’s got her legs splayed out on the floor of the drama room. Her knee jutted out at an awkward angle, her thigh starting to cramp. Fingers raking through sheets upon sheets of discarded scripts. All the words are blurring together. Either she can’t concentrate or she’s started to cry. Connie feels so detached from her body that she couldn’t tell you which one it is.

It makes her feel a little sick, being squashed up in this room. It used to be her sanctuary. If Devil’s Knot was starting to overwhelm her, the past sneaking up in her mind, her friends starting to drive her stir-crazy – she could always escape here. An easy lie tossed over her shoulder, ‘You know I have to practice!’ and then she’d indulge herself in reading scripts, curled up in the disgusting bacteria-ridden green couch in the corner. The room was nearly always empty, save for a few other theatre kids who’d come and go from time-to-time. But Connie had started to learn the hours in which they came and went, always aiming to be there by herself. From 11am to 1PM was usually a safe bet if she wanted some time for herself.

But now she’s sitting on the cold floor and her stomach is doing somersaults. She’s almost certain she’s going to be sick soon. Her breakfast making its way back up. She can’t stop thinking about Brian. That cute little kid just gone. His name on the tip of everyone’s tongues, the stifling silence around his disappearance, the haunted clutch-hold his presence has had on this town. Connie knows all the rumours about the past tragedies, she had studied up on the Silverman case as best as she could before arriving, and then the gaps had been filled in by eager classmates ready to divulge all the sick, twisted mysteries Devil’s Knot had to cough up.

She sees her Dad’s mangled body. Her stepmom’s headstone. Her mom’s own vanishing from her life. Connie knows all about tragedies and mysteries and satanic ritual cult bullshit. Part of her feels like a bad luck magnet. She’s been reading the same line on the script Mrs Rubens had written for her for half-an-hour. Fed up, she crumples it up in her hand and throws it across the room. Some days she wishes it was acceptable to screech until her lungs hurt. Connie has this sudden overwhelming desire to douse herself in gasoline and sink under water. To throw her body across the room and see how it lands. But instead she presses her lips together and lifts her body up off of the ground. Does a quick stretch to release the tension building in her muscles and fetches the screwed up piece of paper from across the other side of the room.

She just hopes Brian isn’t suffering. She wonders if it would be better if he was found dead or alive. Is he being tortured? She’s read all the books on satanic cults. She’s not sure if she believes in any of what they say – the sex orgies and torture and animal sacrifices. It was all started from puritanical religious ideologies. But part of her does wonder. She wasn’t allowed to see the case files from her parents murder but she knows it was something satanic. Connie shakes her head in an effort to rid her head of the thoughts, threading her fingers through her hair and brushing out any knots that have gathered. Shut up, brain! She wants to yell. It’s always going too fast for her liking. Her brain is still stuck on Brian as she goes to twist open the door to leave. He was such a sweet kid, and even if he wasn’t, no-one deserves to go missing. It’s horrific.

She checks the time on one of the clocks hanging up on the wall before she leaves. If she hurries she might catch some of her crowd still at Patsy’s Diner. She doubts she could keep any food down, but they’re all expecting her. Connie doesn’t know if she can handle having to talk about the case like it’s an enthralling gossip fest tonight, sometimes she wonders if her friends have any hearts at all or if they’re all made of ice. But she plasters on a bright mega-watt, charming smile and works herself into a happy state of mind.

It’s easy to pretend. But she wonders how long she has left until she falls apart at the seams she’s meticulously stitched herself together with. It’s starting to feel like any minute this wild wolf within her will be unleashed. The days are become longer, more tightly coiled around her, and there’s still no sign of a missing child. It’s not normal. Connie isn’t sure how to act like everything can still be the same when something so sinister has taken place…again. In this town, in her life.

She pulls a piece of gum out of her bag, a simple black square shoulder bag she’d picked up as a treat for herself last week, before all this chaos had been unleashed. Carefully she unwraps the mint flavoured piece of gum and pops it in her mouth, throwing the wrapper away in the nearest bin. The act of chewing soothes her nerves, the pop of flavour giving her something more interesting to taste than the rising vomit trying to push itself out of her.

ANYTHING ELSE?

NOTE: Since a lot of Connie’s life is entwined with Emilio’s, I’ve taken a lot of liberties in imagining what her childhood and present day living situation etc. looks like! This would be fleshed out better in conjunction with Emilio’s player & story, obviously, if I was accepted.

BIOGRAPHY.

BEFORE.

Connie Denise Romano was born on the twentieth of July, 1978, as the clock struck a quarter past three in the afternoon, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her parents were on the brink of a divorce, Grease was still on top of the charts and the stage had been set for her arrival.

Her birth mom was a loose cannon, a firecracker, a live-wire. Connie remembers being enamoured by her, wide-eyed, watching her mom flit around their living room in her dressing gown, belting out Call Me by Blondie, drenched head to toe from the rain outside. But she also remembers the screams in the middle of the night, the long periods of time where she’d disappear for, the terse fights between her parents in their living room at one in the morning. By the time Connie was six her mom, Annie, had left for good.

Emilio will never understand that part of her: the sliver of Annie that lives underneath her skin, that aches to come crawling out on the middle of the stage, the screeched monologues where she shuts her eyes and channels the energy of the woman who’s DNA runs through her. Emilio’s mom is lovely, he’ll never wonder if she was responsible for the murders. It haunts her at night sometimes, a bubbling question mark underneath the surface of her skin. Her memories are clipped, dream-like, half the time she wonders if Annie wasn’t even half the nightmare she remembers her to be; sometimes she’s curious if she was worse, and sometimes she swears these bursts of anger that flare up within her are from her.

It was just Connie and her dad for a while then. He was her best friend, her confidant, her hero who could do no wrong. He tried to teach her to be fierce and resilient in the face of danger, strong and confident and sure of herself, but that’s just not the kind of kid she was. Connie was shy, she was bright and personable around the right people, but she always fit in better at the adult table than the kids table. Clinging to her Dad’s leg at parties, mumbling her name when asked, declining the offer of a birthday party. He enrolled her in drama classes to help ease her out of her shell, or maybe, because he was scared she had that same pent up energy bubbling under her and he wanted her to have a healthy outlet to channel it into. It didn’t matter, she fell into the role of theatre like she was born for the stage.

He remarried when she was ten. Connie had craved a mom so badly, she had spent every night praying at the altar of her bed to stars for one. This intense, sensitive desire that ran through her to be loved. Julia was kind and she took her shopping and they had movie dates, just the two of them, together on the weekends but Connie could still sense the distance. Julia was marrying her Dad, not her. She liked being an easy kid, knew even then how to shut up and play the right part. She went along with being tolerated and not loved. It was an easy role to play.

Her journey into adolescence was rocky. Connie didn’t know how to fit in at first. Her mind has always jumped miles ahead, inquisitive and adept at reading her own emotions. She struggled through middle-school, teetering on the edge of a million different friend groups, playing the shy girl, the weird girl, the outcast girl, the friendly girl, the popular girl; she kind of knew everyone, and no-one ever really knew her. It wasn’t the way she preferred it, her bones ached for settlement but all she could find was restlessness.

In her first year of high school she had no-one. She struggled to make friends in Sioux Falls. The same people she had known her entire life flitted in and out of her life like revolving figures in a play, she reached out to grasp them and they all just slipped away. Her friendships grew away from her, their common interests and shared histories fading into oblivion to make room for those awkward silences of knowing there’s no mutual understanding left anymore. It had left her sad, but Connie always moved on from everything without pushing it, a smile on her face. It was all for her to digest silently, not in a fit of rage.

She made friends in her sophomore year: a bad crowd, her dad had called them. It had been her rebellious stage. Connie had quietly embarked on a journey of destroying herself for fun. It was the year she began to detest everything inside of her. Her insides recoiled and she couldn’t stand to look at herself in the mirror. Every morning she woke up fatigued and nauseous with the thought of having to exist in the world. She had met Peter in one of her drama classes. He was older, and he smoked, and his friends liked to go out to the woods late at night. He kissed her and she felt like she was permanent, her feet stuck firmly on the ground. Then he’d go days without calling her and she’d let herself go stir crazy inside her own brain. They never got up to anything wild. It was never that sort of rebellious phase. Connie would just hang out past her curfew with them, smoking cigarettes she hated the taste of, laughing along when the boys wrestled on the ground.

But by junior year they were gone and she was stuck with herself again. And then her world got shifted upside down.

DURING.

They are hazy memories she can’t quite recollect. A bad dream she tends to forget about. Connie liked to buy the cover-up of a random attack. It goes down better for her. Peter had called her afterwards, to ask if it was satanic, he talked her ear off about the occult. Connie didn’t care. She pushed the event to the back of her brain and reworked herself into a new woman. This would not define her. It would not become her. It is always on her mind.

Police officers. Lawyers. Social workers. God, the fucking social workers. Connie remembers them all in bits and pieces, like watching a film she’s only half interested in. The open mouths, the silent words, the folded up case files she couldn’t look at. The funeral. The faux sympathies from her classmates. The rancid vomit she would throw up every night.

Emilio filed for custody of her and they moved to Devil’s Knot to start a new life.

Connie made herself a list of rules before leaving: no-one was going to know about what had happened, she was going to find herself with a group of friends, she was going to stop thinking about her missing mom and her dead dad, she was going to stop hurting herself for fun. Her life was going to become easy, despite everything.

AFTER.

Emilio is all she has left. He’s quickly turned into her best friend, the only person in the world she thinks she trusts, but it still makes her stomach twist and turn when she remembers he’s responsible for her. He’s overprotective sometimes, and she’s gotten good at lying to even him. It just doesn’t feel like this is her life sometimes.

It would have been easy to fade into the background. Connie has been doing it her whole life. She’s too quiet, sometimes, and her head is always racing too far ahead. She’s always caught up in her own little world. Entering Devil’s Knot she thought she’d immediately fall in with the outcasts. That’s where she belongs, right? But instead she was easily swept up by the most popular kids in school. She doesn’t know how it happened. One minute she was nervously getting ready for her first day, freaking out, and the next she was being pulled along by Kelly Shah.

It had been nice at first, to belong somewhere. There are moments she genuinely appreciates her friends. Then there are moments she feels like such an imposter it makes her want to scream. They don’t know the first thing about her and Connie doesn’t see the point in putting on appearances, it’s starting to wear her down. All she wanted was to live a normal, boring life. But she’s starting to see it’s going to be very hard to achieve that.

Especially with Brian now missing. It feels like only the start of something deeply sinister.

HEADCANNONS.

i. Connie’s wardrobe consists of lots of turtlenecks, solid colours, lilac cardigans, lots of miniskirts, chunky boots that hit right under the knee, navy track pants with stripes down the side, lots of sweater vests, mood rings, flower and butterfly charms and hair-clips, empire waist dresses, low heels, plaid patterns, her favourite cream and baby pink floral long skirt, cropped chunky cable knit sweaters, floral patterns. Her main colour combinations are: black, lilac, peach, navy and red.

ii. Her top artists of the year have to be Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls, The Smashing Pumpkins, TLC, Oasis, No Doubt, Aaliyah, Hole, Jewel, Bikini Kill, Madonna, Fiona Apple, Modest Mouse, Bjork and Belle and Sebastian.

iii. Connie is a major fan of The X Files. The week Brian Goode went missing was the first episode she had missed since her dad’s death.

iv. Her other staple favourite shows are: Seinfeld, the newly airing Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Beverly Hills, 90210 (she’s a secret Brenda Walsh fan; like she just gets it), Party of Five, The Nanny, Melrose Place and My So Called Life.

v. Connie had been a feverish reader in her youth, devouring all the books she could get her hands on. Her dad had said her mom used to love to read. It had bought her closer to her somehow. But then she hit fourteen and couldn’t stand the sight of words. It’s only after her dad’s death that she’s been getting back into reading again.

vi. Connie hated hiking before her parents died. Now it’s one of her favourite secret hobbies.

vii. She loves to bake.

viii. She had been obsessed with the O.J. Simpson case the year before.

ix. She had bought all the Satanic ritual books she could grab her hands on right after the murder. Everyone wanted to shield her from the truth but she needed to know. Nobody would tell her anything so she had to find out for herself.

x. There is something about ‘The West Memphis Three’ that unsettles her. She has to look away every-time they’re brought up.

xi. She’s a social drinker but a secret smoker. It’s only habitual, a stress-reliever, the only tie she has left to Peter and his crowd. Em has no idea.

xii. Her day-to-day life has been very boring lately: school, theatre practice, listening to what everyone else is doing and going along with the crowd.

EXPANDED CONNECTIONS.

i. EMILIO: It’s funny how quickly tragedy can bond you. Connie has always looked up to Em. He’s her big brother, how could she not? They were as close as they could be, considering the age gap and the intervals of missing time between visits. He was still her big brother and she still wanted him to like her and he still annoyed her constantly. But now he’s all she has left in this world. Her very best friend. Her guardian, now responsible for her well-being. It’s like walking a tight-rope with him sometimes. She loves him and she hates him all in the same breathe, and then she feels bad when she knows he’s just doing the best he can.

ii. HEATHER: Heather is unlike anyone Connie has ever met before. There is just something about them that draws Connie in. It’s electric. Their determination, drive, commitment…Connie envies and admires all of it. She thinks the world of them. The brightest part of her day is when they have debate or are studying together or Connie catches her eye from across the room. There’s just something about them that makes Connie glow warm and happy, inspires her to strive to be a better person.

iii. ELIAS: Connie immediately felt a connection to Elias as soon as she met him. He seems to be the only like-minded person in this town to her sometimes. He’s her trusted confidante when it comes to the arts. Some of the rumours about him have limited her from being able to develop a deeper friendship with him the way she wants, her group would just never allow it, but she always feels at peace in his presence and wishes she could just ditch her friends some days and hang out with Elias.

iv. DAVID: He hadn’t really made her radar, other than he was nice and new like she was, and they sat in the same classes together. But then he asked her out, and she turned him down, and now she can’t get him out of her mind. It’s only a small crush, not anything near what she feels for Heather, but it’s there all the same: blossoming in her chest. Since he’s asked her out, she feels like they’ve grown into better friends, and now with Brian missing…well, she’s been spending a lot more time with him.

v. KELLY: Kelly is probably the closest thing she has to a best friend here in Devil’s Knot. Connie both loves and loathes her. There are times where she swears it’s just the two of them against the world, a genuine, real friendship. And then Kelly goes and does something that completely makes Connie pause and wonder who the fuck this girl is. But at the end of the day, her arm is gonna be slung around hers, and they’re gonna giggle at the back of class together, and go shopping together, and Connie is gonna spend her weekends curled up in Kelly’s bed. There’s so much pressure that comes with being friends with Kelly Shah. It always feels like too much sometimes, like Connie is gonna mess up and get kicked out of town.

vi. HOMER, SAM: As much as Connie feels uncomfortable by being in the same group as the popular kids – there comes an immense amount of pressure and responsibility and anxiety with the job – she genuinely does like both Homer and Sam, even if sometimes she feels not good enough in the group or she questions what they’re doing, she thinks the two of them have good hearts and she finds her friendship with the two of them mostly an easy ride.

vii. MILTON: Connie secretly hates Milton. She can’t stand him. He makes her blood boil and rise and she has to bite her tongue every time he speaks. She doesn’t understand why Kelly is still with him at all.

PLOT POINTS.

I’d love to see Connie somehow get tied up in the Chapter business through Em; I don’t see her being truly a part of it, but I think it could be fun to explore maybe her opposition to it and how that affects her relationship with Emilio.

An exploration of the Sioux Falls drama and how that ties into Devil’s Knot’s mystery, if it does at all.

Her complicated relationship with her birth mother – possibly going to see Karen Shah to deal with it or going to see Karen Shah regardless, actually. I’d also love to see Connie trying to find a mother figure through some of the other women in town. It’s something that she’s always desperately been searching for.

I can definitely see her getting involved and trying to figure out what happened to Brian since her own past is still a mystery. It’s going to be easier for her to try and get the truth out of a situation she’s removed from while still feeling like she’s gaining peace of mind from her own trauma. I can see this leading her to work with the younger kids or some of the past generation that was involved in the Silverman case.

I’d also really love to see some sort of connection to Pete Silverman. I think they’d both be characters who carry a lot of guilt. Pete, for his past. And Connie, for the past she’s hiding. Somehow they’re very different but feel similar.

I’d also love for her to get involved in Brian’s disappearance through her lie about her alibi – did someone see her on that bus? Did someone see her out in the clearing? Does someone know about Sioux Falls? I’d love for her past and her lies to come unravelling.

I think a lot of constant themes have popped up in this app with Connie – her past, her commitment to theatre and the arts, her sense of being lost and not belonging, curiosity / avoidance about satanic rituals, her need to belong somewhere, guilt / regret / avoidance / overthinking, her ties to her different family relationships, the friendships she’s made here – I think these are all important parts of her that will be explored in various different ways and plots. I think my overarching goal for Connie as a singular person, not involved within the mystery, would be for her to find a true sense of belonging and confidence rather than playing the role of whoever is wanted from who in that moment. Connie needs to discover who she is.

#dkaccepted #accepted #connie romano #literate rp #new rp

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cannockweb-blog · 5 years

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Rent Cannock Hotels

Cannock is the largest city in the Cannock Chase District within the county of Staffordshire. The town is positioned 32 km north of Birmingham. Cannock was identified for coal mining, Click here for Blog so the ambiance was conducive to the expansion of a number of industries. Also, as a result of its proximity to the Black Country, the city turned more dynamic and prosperous.

Cannock hosts a collection of cultural events for the mass. Cannock occasions are a part of individuals's lives. The town has an enormous city heart with renowned road names. The long array of public leisure services comparable to nightclubs, pubs, bars, and swimming swimming pools reveal the vitality and enthusiasm of the people in Cannock. Probably the most famend nightclubs are Silks and Stones. Other common nightclubs in Cannock include Forge, Piques, Academy, Bar 77, Ubar and Bar Spot. Maymies, Cannock's largest nightclub, was shut down in November 2005.

Apart from these clubs, Cannock also has obtained loads of entertainment facilities unfold across the town. They embrace swimming pools and an ice rink, generally known as Silverblades. Town additionally has out of doors and indoor markets and an enormous purchasing heart. Buying can be energetic in areas like Longford Island Industrial Estate and the Orbital Industrial Property, which are away from the town. A multiplex cinema hall is because of be constructed. The venture has gained approval from native planning authorities. Cannock affords you a wholesome meal as effectively. The town hosts various restaurants, which also embrace indian eating places.

Cannock events gain extra recognition during summer season holidays. These occasions give a aid to oldsters and kids from the weariness of summer time and provide them a cool break before they start their new session. A number of these activities Wikipedia here are particularly designed for youngsters. An example is the Bugsy Malone - Summer Workshop at Prince of Wales. Important upcoming music concerts embody Stars in your Eyes at the Ramada, Saturday Evening Fever Night time, and 80's Night.

Cannock is connected to close by cities with an extensive network of native buses offering service to and from Cannock town heart. Arriva Midlands is the primary bus operator in Cannock. Cannock railway station, which was closed in 1965 as a part of the Beeching Axe, was reopened in 1989. It is now part of the Rugeley - Cannock - Walsall - Birmingham line operated by London Midland and runs two trains per hour from Cannock station to Rugeley, Walsall and Birmingham.

There are many motels in Stafford which means that guests can stay for a few days and discover what the realm has to supply. There is something for everybody in Stafford from shops and theatres to castles and gardens. Situated within the West Midlands region of England, Stafford is effectively served by the M6 and is inside a short distance of Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent. The Trentham Estate and Gardens make a perfect time out for the family with procuring, eating places, a monkey forest and a excessive ropes adventure course and Shugborough Estate permits families to step again in time and enjoy the history brought to life by costumed characters. There are plenty of outdoor pursuits in Staffordshire that visitors can take advantage of including strolling and cycling and for extreme there is snow sports activities and driving experiences. Inns in Stafford also put their company within herniate sights resembling Stafford Fort and Historical High House.

These staying in lodges in Stafford can enjoy the award-profitable Trentham Property and Gardens. The Trentham Property is one of the nation's best garden estates and prime visitor locations boasting a variety of issues to see and do. For individuals who love the outside, the Gardens are a should see as they are absolutely gorgeous, even Alan Titchmarsh described them as 'one of the UK's must see gardens!' The Buying Village offers a mix of style, art, outside, health and homeware shops and likewise provides a variety of cafes and eating places. Children www/cannockweb.co.uk/ will fall in love with the Trentham Monkey Forest, set in 60 acres of gorgeous Staffordshire woodland and meadows. There are one hundred forty monkeys and visitors can enjoy hourly feeding talks and guides all through the forest. Also on the grounds is Aerial Extreme, a high ropes adventure course. Set throughout the Estate, Aerial Extreme is a superb household day out and no expertise is needed in any respect! There are numerous exciting events held inside the Trentham grounds throughout the year together with Halloween, Fireworks and Christmas events.

Booking motels in Stafford means that company have the chance to participate in quite a few outside actions in Staffordshire. Peak Pursuits in North Staffordshire offers an important time out for everybody with fun challenges and journey in a ravishing setting. Climbing, raft constructing, abseiling,Cannock Web canoeing, cycling and archery are simply among the actions you may take part in right here. Nearby in Cannock Chase lies Go Ape, a tree high journey for all the household. Positioned in forests everywhere in the UK, the distinctive adventure experience permits guests to deal with tree-prime excessive wires, crossings, ladders, bridges and ropes and at the similar time, enjoy the breath-taking surroundings. Snowdome in Tamworth provides the final word snow, ice and leisure experience from tubing and ice skating to tobogganing and sledging. Accommodations in Stafford will put visitors within simple attain of a memorable day at Snowdome stuffed with enjoyable and laughter.

It's a must to make a little bit of an effort to get to this very enticing little village on the Grand Union Canal. Moor by bridge 32, (Furnace Lane Bridge) take the track by the bridge, (opposite the wharf) and take the road into the village. It's a nice stroll, past a stables and enticing houses. The village is centered on the green a few basic shops/newsagents, a butcher and hairdresser. The pub, the Forrester Arms, overlooks the green. For those who walk previous the Forrester Arms, and take the subsequent turn left, you'll come throughout the very nice Rising Solar. Here's a delightful thatched a typical outdated England feel inside. Properly well worth the effort.

On the Shropshire Union, Brewood took us a bit unexpectedly. Beautiful winding streets, pleasant, very helpful locals, The Admiral Rodney Lodge, (one of many high pubs we've been in) and the friendliest hairdresser for miles. There Social Profile Here are a terrific range of shops, grocer, publish workplace, baker, and newsagent overlooking the outdated sq.. Gracious properly stored buildings make Brewood as good a spot as you'll find on the system. Idyllic moorins as properly!

The canal city of Braunston, on the oxford and Grand Union Canal junction has much to offer the canal traveler. Its delightful essential street, the Old Plough, the mariner, and lots of good mooring spots. The very best spot we cannock hotel apartments reckon is tucked in between bridge 2 and the mariner entrance. From right here one can watch the comings and goings on the mariner, wander right down to the Mill House pub by bride 91, or cross the Bridge and stroll into town.

One other traditional canal town. The moorings at Great Heywood have been assisted by the opening of the mariner close by. The spot we like is overlooking Shugbborough Hall, just below lock thirteen. A really pretty outlook, and near the village of Nice Heywood, and the walks round Cannock Chase. Leighton Buzzard We simply needed to go to here to see what a town with such a name seems like! It is an important place, plenty of good moorings, plenty of shops, and a Tesco's right on the canal. Some good pubs, including Roebucks, off Market Sq..

You most likely will not find Milton Keynes within the "Should See" listing of many canal travelers. I suppose we might by no means have ventured there had our boat not been moored at Blisworth for a couple of years. But enterprise to Milton Keynes we did, and we have been pleasantly shocked. It's a gorgeous cruise into the realm, by means of Nice Linford, Campbell Park, etc. and there are nice mooring spots alongside the way in which. Milton Keynes itself is a wholesome however never boring walk from the canal, and has every thing anticipated in a contemporary procuring space. The camera shop there helped us out twice; there are department shops, meals retailers and banks galore. But one of the best half is the area's to stroll round. Great Linford park, the lovely Nags head pub saved us amused for a couple of days.

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bugsy-maria · 9 months

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the thoughts of creating a graphic novel instead of writing because writing is too hard but god graced you with 0 artistic ability is a different kind of pain :(

#bugsy lied again #fyp

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eternalglacies · 6 years

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RULES : share four songs / pieces of music that represent your muse. REPOST. DON’T REBLOG.

“Once Upon a December” - Anastasia : “Someone holds me safe and warm, horses prances through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully across my memories. Far away, long ago, glowing dim as an ember. Things my heart used to know, things it yearns to remember...and a song someone sings. Once upon a December.”

“All the King’s Horses” - Karmina : “Run with my hands on my eyes. Blind but i’m still alive. Free to go back on my own- but is it still a home, when you’re all alone? Is it still a home- when you’re all alone? All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put me back together again.”

“There is a reason i’m still standing! I never knew if I’d be landing... and I would run fast, outlast everyone that said no.”

“Human” - Christina Perri : “I can fake a smile. I can force a laugh. I can dance and play a part if that’s what you ask. Give you all I am. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. But i’m only human, and I bleed when I fall down. I’m only human, and I crash and I break down. Your words in my head, knives in my heart, you build me up and I fall apart, cause i’m only human.”

“I can turn it on. Be a good machine. I can hold the weight of worlds if that’s what you need. Be your everything. I can do it, I can do it, I’ll get through it- but i’m only human, and I bleed when I fall down. I’m only human, and I crash and I break down. Your words in my head, knives in my heart, you build me up and I fall apart, cause i’m only human.”

“Warrior” - Beth Crowley : “You fascinated me, cloaked in shadows and secrecy. The beauty of a broken angel. I’ve ventured carefully, afraid of what you thought i’d be, but pretty soon I was entangled. You take me by the hand, I question who I am.”

“Teach me how to fight, i’ll show you how to win. You’re my mortal flaw, and i’m your fatal sin, now let me feel the sting, the pain, the burn under my skin. Put me to the test, i'll prove that i am strong. Wont' let myself believe that what we feel is wrong. I finally see what you knew was inside me all along.”

“That behind this soft exterior lies a warrior.”

TAGGED BY: no one TAGGING: @fabulance @pkmnsdarkqueen @destinedpower (Bugsy), @kxkuko @mcgatama @infragments (clair)

#fabulance #pkmnsdarkqueen #destinedpower #kxkuko #mcgatama #infragments #Status Report {Dash Games}

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bobbymooreuniverse · 4 years

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An Overview Of Anastasia Global On line Dating Web site

This number of murders, which numbered over 100, was also called "The Children From Brooklyn." With Anastasia being the exception, Kill Inc. was made up of primarily Jewish killers, including Abe "Baby Twist" Reles, Allie Tannenbaum, Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss, and Gurrah Shapiro. It was projected that below Anastasia and Buchalter's way, anywhere from 500-1000 murders were committed through the entire country, and merely a handful were ever solved. While figures were piling up throughout America, Anastasia was ostensibly functioning a straightforward job. The company card he generally carried in his chest pocket claimed he was a "sales representative" for the Convertible Bedding Business in Brooklyn. In the late 1930's, Murder Inc. blended when it prime killers were caught, attempted, and convicted on numerous kill changes. With Reles and Tannenbaum accepting to testify as a swap for a lighter phrase, several Kill Inc. perpetrators were melted in the Sing Sing Electrical Chair, including Buchalter, who was simply the only real crime supervisor ever performed by the government.Anastasia avoided prosecution for some time, until it absolutely was found that Reles was collection to testify regarding Anastasia's and Bugsy Siegel's engagement with Kill Inc. Reles was under 24-hour authorities protect at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island. Authorities were stationed to protect Reles, even though he was paul i of russia . On the nights Nov 12, 1941, Reles was allegedly under authorities protect and sleeping in his space, when inexplicably he dropped to his demise from his 6th history window. The official record said Reles died while "trying to escape." Decades later, Luciano stated that Joe Costello, in order to save yourself Anastasia and Siegel's cover, paid law enforcement $50,000 to check the other way, while Costello's guys flung Reles from the window. Other reports stated that the cops did the flinging of Reles themselves. In any event, based on Region Lawyer Bill O'Dwyer, "His event (against Anastasia and Siegel) went out the screen with Reles." In 1936, Luciano was caught, attempted, and convicted on a trumped-up demand of prostitution, and provided a 30-year jail sentence. Luciano stated he had been setup by Specific Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey, and there's evidence that Luciano might have been right. The witnesses against Luciano were all pimps and prostitutes, who later claimed they lied on the watch stay, as opposed to being cast in jail by Dewey. In 1942, with Luciano languishing in jail, Anastasia , with the aid of his brother Tony, developed a system to spring Luciano. It had been in the middle of World Conflict II, and the plan Anastasia hatched was on the basis of the old mafia "safety racket." With Tony handling the docks, it absolutely was rather easy for his guys to sabotage vessels on the New York waterfront. And that's just what they did. Following a few ships were bombed and burnt (the many famous being the German Luxurious Ship S.S. Normandie, which was being changed into a troopship, when it had been burned and capsized in New York Harbor), Anastasia provided assist with the United States government, to safeguard the waterfront from saboteurs (from themselves, of course). The payback from the us government was when the conflict finished, Luciano was to be introduced from jail, as cost for waterfront protection services rendered. And that's was precisely what happened, when in 1946, Luciano was launched from prison, and deported back once again to Italy, where he ran his offense household till his demise from a heart attack in 1962. Anastasia had labored successfully as Vincent Mangano's underboss for 30 decades, when in 1951, Anastasia instantly got ambitious. Over time, Mangano had developed resentful of Anastasia's closeness to Luciano and Frank Costello. Many times, Anastasia bypassed his manager Mangano and had, for one purpose or still another, gone directly to Luciano, or Costello. Repeatedly, Mangano literally infected Anastasia , that was a foolhardy transfer, since Anastasia was young, and stronger, ultimately causing Anastasia defeating up his own supervisor in self defense. Points in the Mangano family weren't going effectively for Anastasia , when Anastasia requested permission from Costello, today the major boss with Luciano in exile in Italy, to whack Mangano. On May 19, 1951, Mangano's brother Philip was riddled with bullets and slipped in a swamp in Sheepshead Bay. Later that same time, Vincent Mangano disappeared, and his body was never found. In several days, following he was certain Mangano was certainly lifeless, Costello appointed Anastasia the top of the former Mangano offense family, thereby creating Anastasia the main five-man Commission

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strawberrymilkgeorge · 3 years

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Part Fifteen. “eyes eyes eyes.”

word count: 5.9k (not including pictures) warnings: swearing

behind the screen (irl dream x f!reader) series masterlist ultimate masterlist

A/N: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you know? anyway uh....... hope you like this... a lot is kinda going on in this part... but more details will come in the next chapter don’t worry i’m not scamming you

_____

"I can't believe you," Dream scoffed from the other side of the phone, which was displaying only his eyes and up as Y/n's phone laid face up towards her ceiling. She didn't mind; he had pretty eyes and his blond hair poked out wildly beneath his hoodie and it was enough to make her only half focus on their conversation about her newest Minecraft build.

Y/n smiled as she glanced back at her phone to see him squinting at his screen in confusion even though there was no face on the other side, then looked back at her monitor. Neither of them were streaming but were bored so they decided to wander around on the SMP, continuing their all-day FaceTime call instead of transferring to Discord. They were on their fifth hour of FaceTiming at this point. Y/n had suggested multiple times switching to voice call instead since she wasn't showing her face, hoping he would say no so she could see him still, and each time he denied it because he claimed it felt more real when he could see her ceiling. Whatever that meant.

"I don't know what to tell you, bud. I'm just playing the game."

"But..." he pouted, she could tell by his voice... and by the eyes that were still glued to the call. "How are you so good?"

"Magic."

"I knew it."

She giggled and looked back to Minecraft, where she was looking at the massive hideout Sam had helped her build, complete with secret doors and tunnels and a whole lot of redstone. "Sam did most of it."

"Bullshit. Look at that," he said as he looked away from the phone and his green avatar punched the side of the build. "That has 'Bug' written all over it. You did that."

"Okay, I did do that part, but the cool parts like the secret doors and stuff are all Sam."

"Stop downplaying your skills. It looks good, Bug." His voice was clear and genuine and sent chills down her spine. For someone who want physically affectionate, she really wanted to give him a big hug. And... well... other things.

"Thanks, Dream," she whispered.

"You're welcome," he whispered back childishly.

"What in the..." Y/n said as she turned and saw a familiar Minecraft character with a white and red shirt in the distance. She pressed the zoom hotkey and stared at him as he filled her screen. "What is he doing?"

"Oh, speaking of Tommy," Dream started, clearing his throat as his avatar ran back and forth between the door of her hideout and a tree about ten blocks from it. "Um, I had an idea about, uh, the lake thing? The New Years' trip?"

"What's up?" she asked, turning to face him as she listened.

"Well, it's only about three weeks away and I was thinking—"

Dream was cut off as Tommy ran over to hit him with an axe a couple of times before running away.

"What the hell?" Dream grumbled as they watched Tommy sprint and jump in the direction he came from. The young boy paused when he realized neither of them were following, just looking in his direction.

<TommyInnit> did I scare you guys <TommyInnit> I did, didn't I <TommyInnit> I am very good at scaring people

Y/n laughed and typed her reply

<BugsyGames> not one single bone in my body was scared, tommyinnit <BugsyGames> try harder next time ig :/ <TommyInnit> JOIN VC RIGHT NOW <TommyInnit> VC <TommyInnit> VC <TommyInnit> VC <TommyInnit> VC <TommyInnit> VC

"Oh my gosh, he's so annoying," Dream mumbled with a small laugh but made no effort to do as the younger told.

<BugsyGames> idk if i really wanna HEAR you curse me out bc you already have over text multiple times <TommyInnit> VC <TommyInnit> VC

"Are you gonna join?" she asked, opening Discord on her other monitor.

"Hell no," Dream scoffed before his voice turned worrisome. "Are you?"

"Yeah, he's entertaining," she said. "And he won't leave us alone until one of us pays attention to him."

"Oh, you wanna be left alone with me, Bug?" he teased and she couldn't help but smile widely in embarrassment.

"Whatever you want to think I said, Dream." Y/n laughed, making Dream pout.

"Buuugg... just say you love me already," he whined jokingly.

Since she couldn't ignore the overwhelming butterflies in her stomach, she ignored him and opened Discord and looked at the voice channel Tommy was in. "Oh, Tubbo and Ranboo are there too, so it's worth getting cursed out," she told Dream before sliding on her headphones and joining. She moved one side off of her ear so she could still hear Dream over FaceTime if he spoke to her, seeing as he wasn't going to join the Discord call.

"Hi—"

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?" Tommy started yelling quickly. "I'M NOT AFRAID TO FIGHT A GIRL, I HAVE FOUGHT MANY WOMEN AND HAVE WON EVERY TIME."

"Uh... geesh Tommy, no hello?" Y/n asked. "Why do you get in so many fights with women?"

"They question my manliness."

"Hm. Maybe work on making it less questionable?"

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"What is... happening?" Ranboo asked.

"I don't really know. Tommy came over and punched Dream and then made me join vc so he could yell at me, I guess."

"Oh, that's where he went!" Tubbo said. "I had no idea, he just disappeared."

"I HAD TO GO HIT DREAM BECAUSE HE'S TALKING TO A FEMALE AND I WANTED HIM TO LOOK BAD IN FRONT OF HER."

"What is he saying to you?" Dream asked from the phone on the desk. "He's yelling at you?"

"No, it's just Tommy being Tommy."

"W-What?" Tommy asked.

"I was talking to Dream," she explained.

"I can get on and tell him to stop if you need me to," Dream offered before his keyboard started clicking. "Should I? Do you want me to?"

"No, Dream, it's okay. I'll just fight him."

"YOU'RE WITH HIM??" Tommy accused.

"No! We're on FaceTime."

"YOU'RE FACETIMING HIM?"

"Yup," she stated before quickly changing the subject since Tommy and Ranboo were both streaming. "What are my sons up to?"

"We're just trident-ing around talking about whether or not my or Tommy's accent is worse," Tubbo said. "He says 'grass' weird."

"Tommy's," Y/n voted, wanting to piss off the youngest more. "You have the voice of an angel, Tub."

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that Bugsy and Dream are FaceTiming right now?" Tommy asked in a calmer, more mumbled but still frantic voice. "Cause, I mean, I just think it's a bit strange is all but if we're just going to breeze past it, I mean... you know? The two faceless Minecrafters are staring into each other's eyes while we all talk on Discord like nothing is happening."

"We aren't 'staring into each other's eyes'," Y/n corrected.

She paused when Dream giggled and said, "I bet you're staring into mine, Bug." She glanced down to see his full face beaming up at her with a playful smile. He had propped his phone up on his monitor so she could see where his elbows met his desk all the way to the top of his fluffy hair. Her cheeks and neck burned hot as she looked at the boy cuddled up in his hoodie once again. He folded his arms on his desk and placed his chin on his forearms, looking impossibly cuter as he stared at the camera. "There's no way for me to know you aren't."

"Shut up, Dream," she mumbled before speaking to the others again. "We're not even showing our faces," she lied. "Dream sorta is but not really."

"No need to lie to everyone," Dream said, still smiling, sitting up from his position. "This is my entire face. What, you don't want people to know you get to see me whenever you want? You have VIP access, baby, the people should know."

An abrupt laugh escaped her lips at the nickname. "Can you guys hear Dream?" Y/n asked the boys in the voice channel nervously.

"No, why? Is he telling you dirty things?" Tommy laughed evilly.

"Nope. Just wondering." Her face was on fire. She hit Dream's character in-game and watched him focus back on his computer with a goofy smile. He returned the favor by hitting her character back once even though she was continually dealing damage until he had half a and begged her to stop.

"He's probably flirting with her like he does when we're on call but, like, worse because no one else can hear him," Tubbo proposed before all three of the young boys gagged and yelled over each other.

"GROSS!!" Tommy shouted.

"Ew!! Mom, is there a dude flirting with you? That's disgusting," Ranboo gagged.

"I cannot stand you guys," Y/n laughed, making her voice as confident as possible so they couldn't detect her lies. "That's not what's happening."

"Do my words mean nothing, Bug?"

"Dude," she mumbled to Dream again. "I wish you could see how hard I'm glaring at you right now." He laughed in response.

A knock on Y/n's door snapped her out of her conversation and she quickly muted on Discord. "Come in!"

Naomi poked her head in and quickly put her hand up. "Oh, sorry!" she whisper-shouted. "I didn't know you were streaming."

Y/n shook her head and smiled. "I'm not. What's up?"

"TUBBO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Tommy screamed, making Y/n deafen also.

Naomi stood taller and dropped her hand to her side. "I'm just bored and want to do something."

"I do too, actually," Y/n admitted.

"You're bored?" Dream scoffed. "Bug, I'm offended!"

Y/n smiled widely and turned back to her phone to see the blond boy frowning. "I've talked to you all day. Can I not go hang out with my roommate?"

"No! Tell her to fuck off."

"Dream! She's literally right here, she can hear you!" Y/n covered her phone screen with her hand to hide Dream's face as Naomi walked closer, laughing.

"Naomi?" Dream asked.

"Yeah?"

"Fuck off."

Naomi laughed as Y/n gasped. "DREAM!" Y/n grabbed her phone and held it up to show one eye in the corner of the screen so he could see her glaring, but he wasn't looking.

"I'm just kidddinnnggg... obviouslyyy..." he dragged out. "Unless you do steal Bug away from me, in which case I'm not kidding."

Naomi was silent with her hand over her mouth, not wanting to freak out and make Y/n back out before Dream could see her eye. It was a small thing, but a huge deal.

The silence caused Dream to look down and his jaw dropped. "B-Bug!!"

"You see this?? I'm glaring at you. How dare you talk to Naomi that way," Y/n reprimanded teasingly, trying to hide the shakiness in her voice.

"WHAT? Is this how you felt when I showed my face just to prove a point?"

"Probably."

"You're doing the exact thing I did! You're just proving a point!"

"Yeah, but I'm not showing my whole face like you did, idiot. Just enough so you can see the glare."

"Oh my gosh. Okay, yeah, I see you glaring, stop glaring!" he giggled and Y/n's camera went back to only showing her ceiling as she smiled. "I'm sorry, Naomi!"

"You can't just joke like that to someone you hardly know," Y/n scolded as Naomi continued laughing. She knew Naomi had that kind of sense of humor, but Dream didn't.

"Who said I'm joking?" he asked.

"Oh, shut up. I can't stand you."

"I'm kidding! I'm sorry, Naomi. I was just kidding."

"I know," she reassured. "It's all good, don't worry. I know you love your Bug too much to hurt her friends."

Y/n saw Dream quickly pull his phone away from his face after he smiled shyly, and she liked to imagine that he was blushing at Naomi's accusation.

"Yeah, I guess she's nice to have around," he mumbled.

<Ranboo> bugsy? you still there?

"Wait, both of you quiet for a second," she told Dream and Naomi before unmuting and undeafening on Discord. "Yeah, sorry, what's up? I was defended and muted."

"You were so cryptically silent, it was a little scary."

"Sorry, my roommate is talking to me. I'm gonna head off, actually."

"Aw, but we hardly got to play with you!" Tubbo pouted.

"We'll play soon! I promise! But not you, Tommy. I don't like you."

"I DON'T LIKE YOU FIRST, YOU EVIL WOMAN."

"Bye, Tommy."

"Bye, Bugsy," he grumbled.

"Goodbye, mother," Ranboo said as Tubbo laughed out a, "Goodbye mom," making Y/n's heart shed a proud tear.

"Goodbye, my sons. Be good. Be safe."

"Bye!!"

She left the Discord and then left Minecraft. "Okay, sorry, continue," she promoted Naomi.

"I think it's so cute how you talk to Tubbo and Ranboo," Dream cut in. "It's adorable."

"It is," Naomi agreed. "Tommy, too. I know you pretend to hate him but we can tell you want him to be your son too."

"Never," she murmured, making both of them laugh. She slid off her headphones and grabbed her phone, careful to keep it pointed away from her face as she walked to her closet.

"Anyway, I just wanna do something. It's really nice out today, do you want to go to the park or ride bikes or something?"

"Yeah, sure." She ripped a hoodie off the hanger with one hand, making the hanger ricochet and clank against the closet ceiling.

"Yeah, sounds fun," Dream agreed from between them.

Y/n laughed. "Sorry, bud, not you."

A deep frown etched onto Dream's face and Y/n laughed. "What are you going to do there that I can't join? You can just prop me up on a tree and sit next to the phone."

"If we ride bikes, I can't hold you. And if we go to the park we usually skate. Besides, we want to talk about how much we hate you anyway so we don't want you there."

"Bug!" he pouted. Dream paused before saying, "Can you give the phone to Naomi real quick?"

Y/n hesitated but handed the phone to her friend. She used her free hands to slip on the hoodie before tuning back into the conversation.

"You don't have to show me your face but I want you to look into my eyes and promise me something, Naomi," he said.

Naomi held the phone up to her face anyway and Y/n could see both of them looking at each other. "What's up?"

"Promise me you won't let Y/n fall and scrape her knee or something," he requested and Naomi laughed.

"I promise not to let your Bug get hurt." That was the second time Naomi referred to her as 'his Bug' and she was not opposed to the sound of it.

"Thank you very much."

"Great," Naomi said before her voice turned teasing. "Now that that's settled, Y/n, you're right he is cute!"

Naomi was a pot-stirrer. Always was, always would be. She knew what to say to make tension rise in the room whether it was between people who hated each other or people who secretly liked each other. Or whatever Dream and Y/n were.

While Y/n's face grew warm, Dream laughed.

"Hey, you're pretty cute too, Naomi. Should I tell George or does he already know?" Dream fired back, trying to embarrass her as much as she embarrassed Y/n.

Naomi's evil smile fell before a confident one took its place with a raise of her eyebrow. "Oh, he knows."

Y/n laughed abruptly and grabbed the phone back from her friend. "Okay, I'm hanging up now." Before I lose self-control and show you my whole face right here, right now, she thought to herself.

"Boooo," Dream whined. "Will you call me back later? Please?"

"Maybe," she teased. "Depends on if I'm clumsy enough to fall and break everything like you think I will."

"I don't think that. I just want you to be safe."

He needed to stop being so sweet. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm a pro."

"I believe it. Still, though."

"I'll be safe. I promise."

"Also, Bug, um..." he paused shyly. "You have really pretty eyes. Just... thought I'd tell you."

Heat rose to her face again and the look on Naomi's face said she could tell.

"Thanks, Dream."

Naomi nodded her head towards her Y/n's door. "I'll be in my room," she whispered and Y/n nodded.

"Sorry," Y/n said to Dream with a short laugh. "I don't know why I did that."

"It's okay," he reassured. "I appreciate it. I know it was just a small part of your face but it still means a lot to me that you showed me because I know you haven't shown anyone."

"I want to," she blurted out. "I really, really do."

"Want to what?"

"Show people my face." She squeezed her eyes shut and walked to her bed, setting the phone face up towards the ceiling. "Specifically you."

He paused. "Then... why don't you? I'm not pressuring you, I just don't understand. If you want to, then what's stopping you?"

"It's not that simple, Dream," she responded softly. "I'm scared."

Dream was silent for a few moments. "That's kinda what I wanted to talk about earlier before Tommy came in."

"Really?" she perked up. What was he going to say? That she seemed too scared so he didn't what her to go on the trip?

"Yeah, uh, I know you're nervous about meeting everyone and Sapnap and I were talking and– well, okay, so I assume you, Karl, and Naomi are going to go to Georgia together?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, so, yeah, what if– only if you want, obviously, but, you guys could come down to Florida and hang out with us for a few days and then, like, the five of us could go up to Georgia together? That way you meet two people first instead of everyone at once. So, like, since you haven't shown anyone, it'll be like dipping your toe in the water and if you meet Sapnap and I and absolutely hate it you can go back home before meeting everyone else." He finally concluded his proposition and Y/n's heart was so warmed. He was so sweet it was killing her.

"I'll still pay for all the travel stuff for you guys to fly down here," he added with a shy mumble at her silence, "and it's only a four and a half hour drive from here so Sapnap and I were just going to drive up and we could just rent a bigger car to fit comfortably. But obviously you can say no. Just a thought we had."

"Dream," Y/n started softly, her voice coming out way more fondly than she intended but she did nothing to fix it.

"Yeah?"

"You're the sweetest damn person I've ever met in my entire life."

"I just want you to be comfortable," he said softly.

"I think..." she paused. "I think that would be fun. I'd like that. I'll see what Naomi and Karl think."

His voice perked up slightly. "Really? Awesome. You guys can come down whenever. We're going to leave on the 26th to get there that night but whenever you guys want to come, you can. You could even spend Christmas with us if you want to come a few days earlier. Might be hard to find tickets this late since it's the holidays but I can see what I can find."

"That would be cool! The three of us were just going to hang out together so we don't really have plans for Christmas. I'll ask them but I think they'll like that too."

"Cool," he breathed. "If you want to say no later, you can."

"I don't want to say no, Dream."

He paused and his next word had his smile laced clearly through them. "Okay."

"Thank you–thank you for thinking of me," Y/n fumbled out. "It means a lot to me."

"Eh, it might be a little selfish of me, too. I just want to spend as much time with you as I can."

She beamed and bit her lip to not laugh with pure joy. "I'm probably selfish too because I'm going to make Karl and Naomi agree even if they don't want to go."

"I have no problem if you need to use physical force," he joked.

Y/n laughed and shook her head. "I should go save Naomi from her boredom."

"Okaaayyy..." he sighed. "If you must. Thanks for talking with me today."

"I had fun! I'm surprised you didn't bore me to death," she teased and he scoffed.

"Well apparently I did since you're ditching me!"

"Nooo, you could never bore me."

"Hmm... sure."

"Dream," Y/n dragged out and he laughed. "You're so clingy."

"Ugh, I know," he joked. "It's almost like I like you or something."

Y/n froze before mentally scolding herself. He was obviously joking, but it still made her heart skip some beats.

"Almost," she mumbled. "Alright, I'm going to go. I'll call you later if you're free and want to hang out on call more or something."

"Yeah, I'd like that," he said. "Have fun with Naomi! And don't get hurt."

She laughed. "I won't get hurt. Bye, Dream."

"Bye bye, Bug."

Y/n finally hung up and threw her phone on her bed with a small external scream. Naomi came back into the room a few moments later with a smirk on her face and leaned against the doorframe. "Done with the call?"

"Naomi..." she said dreamily. "He's... too freaking cute."

Naomi laughed. "Come on, lover girl, you can tell me all about it while we go outside. Bikes or skating?"

"I haven't gone biking in a while, let's do that."

"Perfect, I found a new trail recently I've wanted to try out," Naomi said as she grabbed her keys off the front table. "Let's go."

"OH, and then," Y/n recounted her story with Dream in detail (per Naomi's request) and she swerved on her bike a little in excitement."Then he said, 'it's almost like I like you or something'! What does that mean??"

Naomi laughed brightly and looked over her shoulder at Y/n. "Maybe it means that he likes you."

Y/n scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Don't get my hopes up."

"I mean it, Y/n. I know you think it's not possible, but just think about it. Do you really think you didn't like him until you saw him?"

Y/n looked up into the treetops that provided shade on their trail. She dreaded that question. She had thought about it so many times, tossing and turning countless nights asking herself the same question over and over. When did she start liking Dream? She had always had interest in him but when did her starstruck admiration and wanting to be his friend turn into wanting to hold his hand and kiss him good morning? When did that change happen? Could it have happened before she knew what he looked like? It would go against so much that she believed, so much she had been told, but... maybe it was true?

"I don't know," Y/n admitted softly. "I really don't know."

Naomi's heart broke for her friend, knowing her internal battle was killing her slowly. "Hey," Naomi said in a lighter tone than she felt. "It'll all work out. I promise."

"What if it doesn't? What if he really doesn't like me and won't ever like me?"

Naomi shrugged. "Then... then he missed out and someone better will eventually come along."

Y/n nodded, wanting to talk about something a little happier. "So... I showed him my eye."

"You did," Naomi said cautiously. "I wasn't going to bring it up, but, damn dude. How do you feel?"

"Good. Great. I know it's small and insignificant but it doesn't feel that way."

"I don't think it's insignificant. It definitely shows you trust him a lot."

"He said I have pretty eyes," Y/n whispered excitedly, making Naomi laugh.

"You do! You really do."

"Speaking of thinking things are pretty, George knows?? What does that mean? Have you guys video called or what? I've been so stuck in my pity party that I have no idea what's going on with that!"

Naomi turned pink but her confident smile never faded. She slowed down and Y/n followed suit, both taking drinks from their water. "Can we sit for a minute?" Naomi asked as she nodded towards a large tree trunk. Y/n nodded and they sat down together, bikes haphazardly thrown to the side of the trail.

"So?"

"So," Naomi started. "George."

"George," Y/n prompted. "What's going on?"

"I like him a lot. And... he told me he likes me."

Y/n raised her eyebrows and beamed at her friend. "Really? Naomi, that's great! That's so awesome, I'm so happy for you!"

Naomi let out a small squeal before blushing. "I know. We're both a little worried because of long-distance but we decided to not think about it until after the trip. Then we'll work out how often we want to see each other and stuff."

"Wait, so, are you guys, like, dating?"

Naomi hummed. "No? But I have joked about how I'm going to kiss him as soon as I see him and it always makes him turn bright red and he just laughs and is like, 'you're an idiot', so that's a good sign."

Y/n laughed. "Yeah, sounds like George."

"Sorry I haven't told you sooner. I just feel like since you're so confused about everything with Dream that it would be like I'm bragging or something? And I didn't want to make you sad that I'm talking to this boy so much and—"

"Naomi," Y/n smiled and grabbed her arm. "It's okay. I'm not upset by it. I'm so so happy for you, really."

Naomi let out a breath of relief. "Thanks, Y/n. You're a really good friend."

"You make it easy to be a good friend to you," she said with a smile and a scrunched nose. "You're the best. I love you."

"I love you too," Naomi giggled and threw her arms around Y/n, forcing a hug even if she didn't want it. Y/n accepted it anyway, hugging her friend back tightly.

"Alright, break's over. Let's finish this thing. How much more do we have to go?"

Naomi checked the map on her phone. "About a mile. Think you can manage not falling off for another mile?"

"What?"

"I promised Dream I wouldn't let you get hurt."

Y/n rolled her eyes fondly. "He's so stupid."

"Maybe, but you like it."

"Who on Earth knows why? Oh! That reminds me," Y/n said as she got back on her bike and rode slowly next to Naomi. "I forgot to mention a huge detail."

"Ugh, you never stop talking about him," Naomi teased. "Just kidding, what happened? I want to know everything."

"This involves you and Karl. How do you feel about taking a detour to Florida before the trip?"

______

When Y/n got home, she showered while Naomi made them dinner. "Today was fun," she said as she sat down at the kitchen table. "We need to hang out more, just the two of us. Thank you so much," she added as Naomi handed her a plate off food.

Naomi nodded. "Agreed. But when do we ever have time when you aren't streaming and I'm not doing school or working?"

"Hmm, true. For a job with a flexible schedule, I don't feel very flexible. Maybe I should promise to join less streams."

"But then I can't join streams," Naomi joked with a laugh.

"Just ask George. I'm not your closest streamer friend anymore apparently," she fake pouted and Naomi blushed.

"He wants me to join one of his streams except neither of us want anyone to know so he thinks it'll be suspicious if it's just him and I."

'Wait, no one else knows you two have been talking?"

"Well, Dream does based on his joke earlier but you're the only person that either of us have told that we're, like, actually talking."

"Oh, I feel so special!"

Naomi laughed. "Good. You are."

Y/n smiled and looked down as her phone vibrated on the table.

"Boyfriend calling?" Naomi teased with one eyebrow quirked.

Y/n stuck her tongue out. "Wouldn't you like that?"

"I would like that. Date him."

"Oh, shut up," Y/n said with a laugh. "But actually, Dream invited me to get back on and hang out."

"So I was right?"

"No."

"Well, go ahead, I won't stop you."

"Thanks, Naomi. I had fun today, thanks for forcing me out of my room and for dinner."

"Anytime dude," she giggled. "Put that sponge down, I'll clean up."

"But you made dinner. Let me help."

"No! Go, your boyfriend is waiting for you. I got it."

Y/n ignored her and started cleaning dishes and putting them in the dishwasher.

"You're the worst. Love you."

"Love you!" Y/n called back as she walked to her room. She got on her desktop and opened Discord while she waited for Minecraft to load.

"Who just joined?" Tubbo asked in a tired voice. "Oh, Bugsy, hello again!"

"Hi!" she greeted back. "How's everyone doing?"

"Good, good, good. How was your, uh, thing? Bikes... or something?" Ranboo asked.

"Yeah, I went on a bike ride with my roommate. It was fun! The weather was super good today so it was good."

"Is it the roommate who's coming on the trip with us?" Tubbo asked.

"Yup," she replied. Ranboo fake whined and Y/n's heart hurt a little. "Ranboo I wish you could come."

"Me too. It would be fun but also very scary," he chuckled and Y/n nodded. "But I'm busy anyway."

"I'm terrified," she admitted. "So I fully understand."

"It's going to be good, Bug," Dream reassured softly, sending butterflies to her stomach. "I promise."

"Why are you terrified?" Tubbo asked.

"Um... just... you know... showing my face to everyone," she said with a small laugh. "Kinda weird." Though, admittedly, she was much less nervous than a few hours ago before she showed Dream her eye.

"Well, Dream has seen you, hasn't he?" Ranboo asked.

"No, what makes you think that?"

"He hasn't?" Tubbo spoke up. "I'm shocked! I could have sworn he had."

"What, why? Dream asked.

"You guys are just super close so I guess we assumed," Tubbo explained.

"No, we are close, Bug is just a tease," Dream joked and Y/n scoffed.

"Oh, whatever. You've seen more than anyone else."

"What?" Ranboo asked with a slight panic in his voice. "What, uh, what does that mean? Oh gosh."

"She showed me her eye today!" Dream announced like it was a huge deal. Which, it kinda was. "But she's a tease because that's all she showed."

"Why do you want to see her so bad, huh Dream?" Ranboo teased. "Hmm???"

"So I can call her pretty without her yelling at me that I can't know," Dream stated bluntly.

Y/n buried her face in her hands, the Minecraft welcome screen long forgotten, and laughed. "I cannot stand you, Dream."

"Awe!!" Tubbo cooed. "Bugsy, give the poor man a break, why don't you show him?"

When she normally would have taken that sort of comment to heart and would have beaten herself up about not showing him, she lifted her head to look at her screen. 'Give the poor man a break'.

"No, Tubbo, she doesn't owe me anything," Dream said with a nervous laugh. "Don't pressure her!!"

"I'm not! I'm not pressuring her to do anything!" Tubbo defended. "I was just joking! But it would be so easy to just send a picture of your face."

"But she doesn't want to and I respect that. Ranboo, are you still on the SMP? Where are you?"

Y/n tuned out the conversation, which had quickly changed topics, scrolling right to the picture she found the other day of her sitting on her bed. She didn't think twice. It just felt right.

Sent

"So, the next manhunt is going to have five hunters or what? Like what's changing?" Ranboo asked. "I think it's super cool that you're continuing the series."

"Yeah," Dream started to explain. "I'm trying to see who would be the best to have as the fifth person to make it—"

Y/n's heart pounded in her ears as she listened to the new silence, waiting for some verbal indication from Dream that everything was okay. That he saw the picture and that everything was still okay.

But he was dead silent.

"Dream?" Ranboo laughed. "Uhhhhh...."

"Uh.." Tubbo laughed too. "Did he break? Dream?"

Y/n bit down on her hoodie sleeve in anticipation and excitement, surprised that there were butterflies in her chest instead of raging thunderstorms of fear.

A loud sound banged through her headphones and her eyes darted to the Discord to see it came from Dream's mic. "Dream?" she asked softly. Did this man just knock something off of his desk?

His regard for them being on call with others completely evaporated. "Holy shit, Bug," he breathed out. "I-Is that you?"

"Sure is," she hummed.

"What the hell?!" he shouted, joy and surprise laced in his voice.

"Wait, what happened?" Tubbo asked before sounding excited. "Did you actually send him a picture of yourself?"

"Mhm," she hummed. "Maybe."

"AHHA! YOU BROKE HIM!" Tubbo laughed.

"Error: Dream.exe broke," Ranboo teased. "Man's files broke at the sight of Bugsy Games. Headlines tomorrow: Bugsy Games murders DreamWasTaken with a selfie."

"Oh, shut up," she breathed.

"Text me back right now," Dream demanded.

Y/n giggled as the other two teased Dream but she picked up her phone and found his one-word response.

Seconds later, Dream's voice was back in her ears. "Uh... I'm gonna get off. I have a lot to process."

Tubbo and Ranboo laughed loudly. "A lot to process?? HAHAHA! Just say you're in love with her and move on."

"WhaaAATT?" Dream yelled. "I-I'm not in love with her, what the hell is wrong with you, Tubbo?"

Y/n laughed, agreeing with him even though it kinda hurt. He didn't have to sound too shocked at the accusation.

"Have fun processing," Ranboo said. "Are you staying Bugsy?"

"Nah, I'm gonna get off too. I'm pretty tired."

"Are you going to be in Big Q's stream tomorrow though?"

She hummed. "I don't know. I didn't know he was streaming tomorrow."

"Oh, I thought he invited you?"

"Guess not. He just lost points."

Dream laughed. "Good."

"Well... we should stream together soon," Ranboo said. "I think that would be really cool."

"I do too! We definitely should. If you have any ideas or anything let me know, okay?"

"Yeah, I will!" he promised. "Talk to you later."

"Bye guys," she said before disconnecting. She noticed Dream linger in the call for a little bit even though he said he was leaving and she decided to get ready for bed, turning off her computer and walking to her closet. She was stopped by some texts though. Priorities.

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#real person fiction #rpf #dream x reader #mcty x reader #dreamwastaken x you #dreamwastaken x reader #dream x y/n #dreamwastaken x y/n #dream smau #dreamwastaken smau #social media fic #dream social media fic #social media au #mcyt x y/n

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littlemeangreen · 6 years

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A trumatic first pet

Right. I don't think I've ever told this story but this is the story of my first pet...and how my dad murdered it.

So as a little girl, I had one cat (I was four so had yet to get my other ones until I was six) that belonged to my parents called Jaffa. Jaffa was the sweetest cat to live, he'd hiss away insects from me, he'd cuddle me all the time and apparently he lick me to give me a bath when I was a baby.

Anyway, I wanted a pet of my own, something I could call my own, something I could take care of so my dad did what he thought was best: he got me a fish from a fairground. It was even in a see-through bag.

I was in love with this goldfish and named him Detective (I watched a lot of crime shows) and I'd spend hours watching it swim in his bowl which strangely had no filter or anything a tank is supposed to have.

Then tragedy struck.

I'd gone out with my mum, leaving my dad, who I should mention fishes for a hobby (he never hurts the fish, he cried when he found one dead once), alone with Detective and Jaffa.

Now, for some reason I'll never understand, he decided that "Hey the fish could use some sunlight" and put Detective, who was in a glass bowl, on the kitchen counter.

Under the sun.

Years later, when I spoke to my dad about this, dad had thought that since the carp in the lake like sunshine, why wouldn't my fish? Well I'll tell you why. Because the bloody carp in the LAKE can swim deeper in the water and AWAY from the BURNING SUN. And who COULDN'T swim away? My fish that was TRAPPED in a GLASS BOWL UNDER SAID BURNING SUN.

Long story short, my dad burned my first ever pet alive. And do you know the worst part? I didn't even find out until I was thirteen. My dad lied to me and told me Jaffa ate Detective so I spent nine years thinking my cat ate my goldfish when my dad was the true culprit.

On a dark thought, Jaffa died when I was nine so I spent his death thinking that he killed my first pet. (He lived to be twenty one so it's a good life for a cat who we found out to be half blind. He's my header picture btw)

So yeah, never trust your parents if they tell you that a pet is dead and they refuse to show you the bodies kids. Because chances are they killed the pets themselves. An even worse part is that dad threw Detective behind a bunch of trees in my garden, he didn't even flush him like you're supposed to do!

I did get two more fish a few years later, called Glitter and Mark (screw me, I was seven), but my other cats, Bugsy and Mouse ate them and my dad ended up climbing a tree only to rip a fish in half from my pets jaws.

So yeah, pets, never again will be a fish.

#story #stories #childhood story #childhood stories #funny #funny story #funny stories #fish #cat #cats

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aers-radio · 5 years

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YEAAAAAAH P1! \^^/ *** Well done to Tenou-chan for holding off Team7! Thank you so much to the team for inviting me to be a part of this exciting weekend! Too busy partying right now to say more, I'll just reblog the report!

>Ryuugazaki Rei - YES NAGISA KUUUUUUUUN! I loved every minute of watching you drive today and I love you! >Yamazaki Sousuke - Congratulations from Gou, Rin & me, Nagisa! >Hazuki Nanako - Wooop, you've done it again, lil bro! >Nitori Aiichirou - Fantastic race, Nagisa-kun & Tenou-san! Really tense and entertaining! Congratulations from Momo-kun and me! >Hazuki Nagisa - Thanks everybody! And... lol you've been drinking, haven't you, Rei-chan? >Tachibana Makoto - He has. XD Great race, Nagisa, we're really proud of you! >Nanase Haruka - Bravo Nagisa! >Ryuugazaki Rei - SO WHAT IF I HAVE? YOU'RE A LEGEND NAGISA-KUN!!!!

Hazuki and Tenou win wet Imola Race 2

The #6 SMC Racing entry has taken its breakthrough victory in the second premier class 75-minute Sprint race of the season, leading a triumphant 1-2-3 for Dunlop-shod Volkswagen W12s. Guest driver Nagisa Hazuki made another impressive start, benefitting from a higher starting position to yesterday to join the leading group, then Haruka Tenou succeeded in soaking up the pressure from her Team7 and Team Kanto stablemates to take her first win in the AERS in fresh and wet conditions.

Two major challengers, yesterday's victorious Sonic Racing Jaguar and the #3 Digimon Peugeot, collided going into Tamburello on lap 1. Everyone behind managed to avoid the pair, although several drivers, including Arnold Shortman, took to the gravel in doing so. Directly following the incident, Nagisa Hazuki passed without leaving the track and immediately lined up a move on Jessie in the #35 Team Rocket Maserati at Tosa. A trio of cars, Naruto Uzumaki in the Team7 Volkswagen, Hazuki and Jessie, went on to dispose of Brock in the pole-sitting #8 Kanto VW and break away from the pack.

Surprisingly, the leader Uzumaki made his pitstop early, at the 33-minute mark. "I was sensing the guys behind getting racy, so I decided keep the tyres in good condition for Sakura by handing over straight away", he explained. The move backfired however when an off for Jessie ended the Maserati's challenge on its home circuit. This left Hazuki to end his stint unopposed, and the guest driver for SMC Racing pressed his advantage, setting the fastest lap of the race thus far before handing to Haruka Tenou. The #6 machine emerged in the lead, Tenou managing to hold off Sakura Haruno into Tamburello. She quickly found her rhythm and didn't look back, driving flawlessly to lead her car to a narrow victory over Uzumaki/Haruno, even as the #9 Team Kanto entry of Gary Oak and May closed on the duo in the final laps.

The #16 Chrysler, which Arnold Shortman had taken rallycrossing on lap 1, stormed back through the order to finish fourth, with Gerald Johanssen overtaking Virgil Tracy in the #11 International Racing Shelby, and setting the fastest lap of the race once through. Meanwhile, Virgil resisted Ash Ketchum, and the #8 that had started on pole had to settle for sixth. At the end of a multi-car scrap, Alex Vasquez (#30 Totally Spies Peugeot), Bugsy (#12 T-Rex Shelby) and Syaoran Li (#13 SMC Racing VW) took the remaining points-paying positions down to ninth, with the Team Titans Maserati completing the top ten ahead of the Turnabout Team Genesis.

Haruno hints at letting Tenou off the hook to bank points

Haruka Tenou was never safe from an attack from Haruno, but the Team7 driver applied pressure inconsistently during the final half-hour. During the press conference, she recognised that "with rival cars not scoring, we had to assess the risks involved when overtaking, and passing is quite tricky at this circuit". Make of that what you will, but it's a fact that winning the race would only have yielded two more points, with ten at risk if things went wrong. It's also a fact that Team7 scored the highest this weekend, looks firmly in control of the championship after two events, and continues its streak of podiums, 4 in a row since Suzuka last year, and could set a new record at the next round.

This did not dampen the mood at SMC Racing however, and Haruka Tenou certainly felt that she had earned the win. "It was a super-hard stint! We know Team7 are quick and consistent, especially in the wet, and to win, I basically had to match that. Perfect laps, no mistakes, slides or anything, while pushing extra hard for 35 minutes... I had to call on all my experience racing the rain with touring cars and single-seaters to achieve that, I'm really glad I pulled it off!" She also heaped praise on her guest team-mate, Nagisa Hazuki, thanking him for a "productive weekend". "Nagisa's enthusiasm has been refreshing for the squad, and his efficiency in adapting to a new car is remarkable." Hazuki was, until Sonic Racing's win yesterday, the only driver to have won races overall for two different manufacturers, and with today's result, he's gone one better, winning for a third. "It was in my mind but it was never a goal", he said. "Of course, if you give me a shot at it, I'll take it! I'm just happy we were competitive, and I had a good time with the team this week."

Hazuki will return to SMC Racing at the Montreal Sprint (7 July), but meanwhile, the squad will revert to its endurance line-up of Tenou, Usagi Tsukino and Makoto Kino for the 6-hour race at Road America on 23 June.

#Free!#Motor Racing AU #Nagisa's Guest Drive #nagisa hazuki #hazuki nagisa #tenou haruka #rei ryugazaki #sousuke yamazaki #makoto tachibana #haruka nanase #aiichirou nitori #naruto uzumaki #sakura haruno #brief revival #3/3

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forbidden-creepypasta · 7 years

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Wampus Collection: Forest Demon

Another story that should be credited to that Wampus chick. Nothing has been changed. ------------------------------------------------------------------ More often than not, Art and Max found themselves serving as liaisons between the insulated world of the circus and the volatile invaders from the outside. Max’s large frame could easily settle unruly disputes between roadies and rubes, and Arthur’s soft words were enough to guide even the most distraught woman from the horrors of DuMonde’s exhibits. While bother had charms enough to manage rocky guest relations, they certainly specialized in distinct areas. Enough so that Art felt vaguely inconvenienced when he was pulled away from an impromptu juggling performance to usher out a possible drunk from the psychic tent. Rebecca the psychic was a native of Chicago, and unlike many in her trade, she had never been tempted to take up a fake name or hide behind a mysterious accent. Her tent and wagon were draped with enchanting artifacts and lit by candles to help set the mood, but otherwise she was more likely to light up a cigarette and predict a mark’s death than feed any lies about love or money. She never dealt in vague predictions or generic horoscopes. Arthur could never tell if she were simply too lazy to put on a decent show or if she was too real to be bothered with it. Given that the Doc continued to humor her, he figured he had to give her talents some sort of credit. “Bugsy tells me you have a guest problem,” Arthur greeted as he approached the psychic smoking outside her tent. Bugsy was a worker who I assume had Down syndrome or something much like it based on their descriptions. Most people sent the young man to deliver unpleasant messages they were too scared to handle themselves. “He’s a loon,” Rebecca grunted. “He says he’s possessed by a forest demon.” “Is he?” Arthur asked, somewhat intrigued. Usually they just had to kick out customers asking for their money back. Rebecca gave him a hard look typically reserved for the audaciously stupid and flicked some ash in his general direction. “Just get him out of here,” she sighed. “He’s holding up the line.” Arthur didn’t bother arguing and ventured into the tent to assess the situation. The psychic tent was always much colder than the outside, even during the heat of summer when every other area felt like a sweat lodge. Arthur shivered and allowed his eyes to adjust to the candlelight before making any sudden movements. He’d dealt with enough drunks to know better. A young man sat patiently across the small table, a bit disheveled but otherwise calm. He looked like he’d seen a few sleepless nights, but there was no smell of alcohol on him, and he stayed silent as Arthur swung into Rebecca’s chair, ignoring the smell of stale cigarettes and heavy perfume that puffed out from the cushions. “Sir,” Arthur greeted. “I think your time is up. We’d appreciate it if you let some other customers have a turn. I don’t think Madame Rebecca can tell you anything else.” “She just doesn’t want to,” the young man replied. There was no emotion in his voice, and his eyes never lifted from the table center. He wasn’t dead or sad or anything like that. He just spoke as though the words tasted bland in his mouth. “I know she can help me. She just won’t.” “As someone who lives with Rebecca, I can tell you, she’s not really the helping type,” Art admitted. “Maybe you’d like to speak with some of our medical experts? We have all kinds of remedies around here.” “This has nothing to do with the body,” the man said. Arthur rubbed his neck awkwardly and shrugged. “Then I’m not sure there’s any way we can help you. Certainly not Rebecca.” “She can help me. She understands me. I’m a demon of the forest, and I need her. Please bring her back inside,” the man said. Now this left Arthur in a strange position. Nothing about the man was threatening or suggested he might snap and become violent, but Arthur wasn’t so naïve as to think it wasn’t possible. He eyed the man up and down before rising from the chair in a smooth flourish. “One moment. We may be able to assist you, sir.” Arthur knew next to nothing about the Bible, ghosts, goblins, or the supernatural. Demons were well beyond his scope of expertise. The power of suggestion, however, was something he understood well, and the performer returned in a flash with a pilfered necklace he was sure the bearded lady wouldn’t miss. She hated getting dressed up for shows anyway. With a majestic slight of hand routine, Arthur presented the trinket to the seated man. “Madame Rebecca says that this necklace was blessed by a native shaman. It belonged to a gypsy before that and before that it was a gift from a long dead Catholic priest, Good Lord rest his blessed soul. She assures me this will sooth the ache in your heart and ward off the evils from your soul.” For once the man looked up from the table and turned his gaze to the necklace. Arthur had a strange feeling the mark wasn’t really seeing the gift so much as pantomiming interest, but the ghost of a smile fluttered across the man’s face. He reached out and took the necklace as though it were a lost treasure, and Art couldn’t help but notice that the fingertips that had brushed against him were cold as ice. “Do you really think this will help me?” the man asked. “Sir, we offer no guarantees, but I myself have poured prayers into this necklace. If this doesn’t help you, your answer just isn’t here.” The man looked up and locked eyes with Art. A shiver ran down the performer’s spine, and he felt the hairs standing up on the back of his neck. Because Arthur had a hard time describing this man’s eyes, I’m also at a bit of a loss. According to the notes, they were like being watched from behind a mask. They were not so unnatural to be considered alien or dead enough to be called doll-like. There was just something there. Something deep down in the dark hollows of his pupils, and while Arthur watched, his eyes expanded to the point where the iris was all but consumed. The faint smile peeled away into something that should have been a grin, had it been more than just cheek muscles contracting and lips drawing away. “You really would pray to help me?” the man asked. It took Arthur a second to force his tongue into answering. “We do what we can when we should,” was all that came to mind. Later he would curse himself for sounding so stupid. The man rose stiffly. He pocketed the necklace and nodded his head in Art’s general direction. “Thank you,” he said. Then he exited without fuss and walked straight out of the circus without incident. Arthur made sure to watch him leave and informed the clowns, roadies, and otherwise unoccupied sideshow performers to keep a look out for a young man claiming to be a demon. Just in case, he told himself. Just in case. That night Arthur had a hard time falling asleep. It was too hot in his trailer, Max’s snoring was too loud, and the chill from the strange man’s eyes refused to fade. What little sleep he managed was fitful at best, and he finally gave up to go wander the camp before dawn. The show didn’t have a midway exactly. There weren’t enough tents and games to warrant one. Instead it was a maze of colored fabrics and bright lights. The unused trailers and wagons were a few yards away yet strangely removed from the whole scene. Maybe it was propriety that kept the customers from snooping about, but Max had always believe that most people were more afraid of what the Doc wasn’t showing them. Which was ridiculous. To his knowledge, DuMonde had never passed up a chance to put everything on display. His own office was an attraction after all. Art was checking to make sure the few prizes they did have were securely locked up when he became aware of a presence behind him. He rationalized that his acrobatic training made him hyper-spatially aware. Maybe he subconsciously heard something or smelled something that alerted him to the man behind him. He refused to believe that the chill down his spine had come creeping back up again. The young man stood a few yards away. He said nothing and seemed focused on a tent peg between them. Arthur finished what he was doing to buy himself some time to think. That time proved wasted, and finally his manners won out. Sure the man might have been a lunatic, but Arthur refused to let himself be rude. “Mr. Forest Demon,” he greeted. “I think you’re a little early.” “Mr. Circus Worker,” the demon answered. “I’m not here for a show. I need your help. The necklace did nothing.” The man took three steps closer, bringing him into the fading moonlight. The bags under than man’s eyes were much more pronounced. His cheeks were sunken, and his hair was now matted and greasy. In a matter of hours, the man had become terminally ill. He looked gaunt and wasted and just generally shuffling right to death’s doorstep. Arthur was worried the man might actually be physically sick, and that was never good for a small traveling group for many reasons. “I’m sorry, but I told you. There’s no more we can do for you. I’m sure in town a doctor might help you, but Madame Rebecca has offered her best. That’s it.” He was trying to keep his voice steady and calm, wondering if there were any impromptu weapons about and how long it would take someone useful to come running if he yelled for help. The bird girl was closest, but screaming and crying probably wouldn’t do him a lot of good. He remained still and kept his eyes firmly on the stranger. “I don’t need doctors. I don’t need the psychic. I was wrong. She can’t help me. You can. I need your help.” The man took a few more steps closer. He was shambling along in a strange way, as if something were pulling him along from behind his neck. From this close, Art could see his chest heaving up and down, trying to shrug off some enormous pressure. “If they can’t help you, I know I can’t,” he replied. “I’m just a grunt around here. I juggle some. I can do a few tricks. I don’t think that’s what you need though.” “Please. Please!” the man cried. It was the first time his tone had wavered in the slightest. Still lacking emotion, the words were simply forced out harder. “Please! PLEASE!” The man’s eyes grew wide while remaining unfocused, and his hand reached out like a child begging for candy. The louder the pleading got, the more Arthur swore he could hear a other voices in the mix, yet he write this off as the odd effects from a sick man’s throat. Despite trying to seem strong and hold his ground, Art decided this might be a good moment to start backing up. “There’s nothing I can do!” he shouted over the racket. “Sir, I’m sorry! There’s nothing I can do!” The commotion woke up the nearby parrots whose squawking in turn alerted Carl’s many yapping dogs. Combined, the animals woke up half the camp. At some point in the middle of everything, the man disappeared, though vanishing into thin air just wasn’t the right word for it. Though Art only caught it out of the corner of his eye, it seemed like the man was flew around the corner and out of sight, not gracefully but rather in a yanked, twisting mess of limbs and clothing. By the time people came around to see what all the fuss was about, a very shaken Arthur was completely alone. The last day at that stop was uneventful, unless you count Arthur being paranoid out of his mind. He could hardly juggle right between scattered glances around, and he had to avoid the crowds due to constantly seeing the man’s face between slack-jawed gawkers and the usual ilk. He had never been so glad to pull up the stakes and the road, but when Max asked him what was wrong, he only waved his hand and told him it was nothing. Max knew better than to ask. Privacy was a precious commodity when shoved into a trailer together for months at a time. The important thing was that with the town fading into the distance and transforming into another dot on the map, Arthur was able to get a much needed, very deep sleep. Until someone woke him up a few hours later. The woman was lovely. She had tanned skin, dark hair, and breasts threatening to flow right out of the plain dress she was wearing. Her long, bare legs stretched out for miles on either side of his hips, and her dainty hands ran smoothly along his chest. Arthur was almost convinced she was a very, very welcome dream even with the weight of her pressed against him, but as her hands reached his bare shoulders the froze cold of them was a harsh wake up. It was then that he noticed her seemingly demure, averted gaze was far too familiar for his comfort. “You may want to explain yourself,” he stammered. “Don’t you like this?” she asked. What should have been a sultry voice was once again bland. There was nothing behind it. Not even the instinctive lust that should have accompanied her skilled hip movements. “Not exactly,” Arthur answered. “I’d just rather know what’s going on.” “I can bring back a man, if you like,” she replied. “Or a boy. Or anything that might suit your tastes.” “As much as I appreciate the offer,” he grunted, trying to slip out from under her. “I just wouldn’t feel right when I still. Can’t. Help. You.” He accentuated every word and forced himself to grip her frozen wrists. He wasn’t sure what to make of this bizarre situation, but he knew nothing good could come of it. As if his suspicions needed any more confirmation, the woman’s head snapped up so hard her hair flew back. Her face remained emotionless, but those eyes were just the same. “I will find a way,” the demon promised. “No matter where you go, I will find you. I will make you help me.” It was entirely too hard to ignore the heaving of her chest, especially when her dress was falling farther away. Before Arthur could gather an answer, the woman went limp. He breathed out a sigh of relief (refusing to call it a grunt of disappointment) and once he was sure she wasn’t going to float off like the man had, he began to wonder how he would remove the poor woman from his room. Of course, that answer came to him in the form of terrified screaming in Spanish, several slaps to the face, and Max demanding to know what the hell was going on. Neither one of them spoke a word of Spanish, but they managed to convince the woman that she wasn’t about to be raped. Mostly this involved a lot of apologizing from Arthur and Max opening the door and pointing. The poor girl ran off into the night, taking one of Arthur’s blankets with her to cover what he now suspecting was a nightgown. “Arthur,” Max began. “I don’t even know,” Art admitted. “I’d rather get some sleep.” Max was presumably too tired to argue, but while snores soon echoed from the top bunk, Arthur was left sitting up in his bed, staring at nothing in particular. At breakfast while Arthur sat silently shuffling oats across his plate, Rebecca took up a seat across from him. She wore a floral print robe and a pair of mud stained boots, the uniform of choice for the women not yet in performance attire. A cigarette curled smoke between her fingers, and she got straight to the point. “I heard you had a visitor last night,” she greeted. Arthur looked up but stayed silent. He preferred being the sullen, miserable victim in this case. “You know, I wasn’t going to say anything when you gave that guy the necklace. Which Ellen was asking about, by the way. But I wanted you to see for yourself what a dumb idea it was. You never give them personal items. That’s just asking for trouble.” She paused to take a drag from her smoke, and Art’s jaw moved up and down as he tried to find the right words of outrage. “Don’t be a baby,” she muttered around the cigarette when his croaking threatened to actually form words. “It’s not like we can change things now.” He bit his tongue and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. “How can we make it go away?” he asked. “It says it wants help, but I don’t know how to help it.” “Who cares what it wants?” she shrugged. “The best thing to do is get that necklace back and make sure it can’t follow us.” “I care,” he mumbled, but she was already gone. That evening when the last customer had been ushered through the gates, Arthur told Max not to wait up for him and made his way to the psychic tent. Rebecca was waiting for him, browsing a catalogue in her chair. The candles’ flickering reflected off the yellowish fluid in the glass jar on the table. It was a familiar sight, but the creature inside still make Arthur cringe a bit. The fetus was almost as large as a newborn baby, making him wonder whether it had lived very long or been stillborn. It had one eye and tiny mouth. Its hands had naught but stubs for fingers, and its ears poked out just a bit. “What exactly do you plan to do with that thing?” he asked. “Just watch it awhile,” she sighed, not bothering to look up. “And leave the flap open so it knows to come in.” Not two minutes had passed and Arthur already had doubts about this plan, but what else could he do? The performer tied back the entrance and resigned himself to an evening of staring at a deformity while practicing his juggling. The night wore on achingly slow. Moonbeams sent silver streaks into the tent, and the candles wore down to puddles of wax. The pair said nothing, and Art had actually started juggling some minor relics with one hand. The other served as a rest for his chin while his eyes glazed over. While he might have been staring in the general direction of the jar, his thoughts had wandered back to the Mexican girl from the night before. At least she had two eyes, he reflected. Just as he was about to ask Rebecca if there weren’t some way she could speed this up, incense smoke signals or tarot card calling, the fetus’s single eye blinked. It was so unexpected, Art half believed he had daydreamed the thing. He rubbed his own eyes and sat up a bit. Not a minute passed before the thing began to move. It made jerked motions as if trying to swim inside the jar. “Rebecca,” he grunted, giving her a gentle shove beneath the table. She looked up and stared at the creature for a moment, watching it struggle. Its mouth was working, though its jaw seemed to be straining against the skin covering what should have been wider lips. “Don’t be stupid, Arthur,” she said. “Let it out of there.” Arthur was about to argue, but he realized doing so wasn’t going to help matters. For better or worse, he was stuck taking orders. His only option other than being hounded for the rest of his life by a supernatural being was to open up the jar and grab the waxy, icy, squirming monster. He tried not to gag as he reached in for the thing, but its sudden movements startled him. He jerked his hand back and the jar went tumbling off the table and onto the floor. The harsh chemical mixture spilled everywhere, and he groaned as he quickly dumped the thing out and left it in the dirt. The fetus wallowed like an unearthed grub, waving its arms and rolling its eye about. For a few moments it bleated out cries that were some cross between a starving Siamese cat and a baby goat, but this didn’t last long. The creature grew still, and Arthur was half afraid they had re-killed it. He almost spoke, but Rebecca had already taken charge. “Demon,” she said. “We don’t care what you want or where you come from. Give us the necklace back and remove your hold on Arthur.” Her voice was firm and held no room for questions. The fetus’s head lolled in her general direction. “I have no business with you, psychic,” it said. Though the voice definitely originated from inside the child, he had a feeling the voice box wasn’t the culprit. For one thing, there was no way it could have managed to make such clear words with that body. “I know you say you want my help,” Arthur said. It was much easier to stay calm when the thing wasn’t grinding on him. “I just don’t know how. I don’t even know what you want exactly.” “I am a demon from the forest,” it said. “I am sick. I need help. Please help me.” “Arthur,” Rebecca warned, giving him a sideways glare. “We need that necklace. Nothing else.” “Why are you sick?” he asked. He ignored her for the time being. “You’ve got to tell me more than that.” “Please!” the fetus wailed. “Please!” “You’re not giving me much to work with,” he grumbled. “You took my blood,” it sighed. “You took my body. You took all that I had. I have nothing else. Please help me. I have nothing left.” An idea must have struck Rebecca. She stood up and leaned into Art’s ear to whisper, “Keep it talking. I’ll be back.” “What do you mean?” he asked it, trusting her as implicitly as any good acrobat stuck in midair. “Please. There is nothing left of me. I have no more. I am sick. You must have a way to help me. You are the only one who can.” Rebecca returned momentarily with a canister of gasoline and a pack of matches. She shoved these into Art’s lap and stood over the creature with her hands on her hips. “Are we inviting it to a cook out?” he asked. “It’s a demon of the forest,” she replied. “And it’s sick. We took its blood, its body, and everything else it had to offer. Think about it. That town was getting pretty big, Mining, logging…” The demon let out wail that made his stomach do a somersault and his ears ring. “The only thing it has left is pain and your necklace,” she continued. “My prayers,” he murmured. The demon continued to wail. “That means it’s up to you to end this. It’s a demon of the forest. Burn it down and finish the job.” Arthur stared dumbly at the canister and matches in his hands. He looked back to the unholy thing writhing in the wet dirt. Piece by piece, the reality of the situation (surreal as it was) fit into place. If what they said was true, and he had no reason to believe otherwise, his people had destroyed this forest spirit’s domain and left it broken and lost. So thorough was the rape that they’d even taken its ability to die off with dignity. “Isn’t there anything else we can do? Isn’t Dr. Fu some kind of shaman?” he asked. Dr. Fu was their acupuncture expert. “Just do it, Art,” Rebecca softly commanded. “You’re all it’s got.” As Arthur poured gasoline on the creature, he couldn’t help but remember an old German Shepherd he and Max had had growing up. The dog got into it with a raccoon and gotten rabies. Their father and Max had gone out to shoot it shortly after the first symptoms started, but Art hadn’t even been able to say goodbye. He’d been too busy blubbering into their mother’s apron. Now he was stuck convincing his too steady fingers to just strike the match already. “I’m truly sorry, Mr. Demon,” he told the thing. “We do what we can when we must. Sometimes that’s not a very good thing, and well… I hope you’re happy where ever you go.” With that poignant eulogy spoken, he dropped the match onto the fetus. Even with the wetness of the body, the flames burst immediately, lapping at the rounded belly and spreading to all four limbs. The creature silenced and remained still, but even after the single eye had melted from the heat, Arthur couldn’t help but feel like the thing was still staring at him. They let the flames die out on their own, watching as the body curled up into a charred husk. Rebecca patted the poor man on the back. “Good work,” she grunted. “I know it’s a demon,” he said, “but will it go to…to heaven?” “How should I know?” she shrugged. “It probably just blinked out. That’s pretty much what we all do. Don’t be naïve, Arthur.” She left him to sweep up the remains, which he managed to do only gagging once. The smell, after all, was ungodly. The next morning he apologized to DuMonde, who shrugged it off in a strangely knowing way. He assured Arthur that the performer would find a way to repay him. If not, he had plenty more jars stashed about somewhere anyway.

#creepypasta #horror microfiction

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