#calli will get her best work done in here

[bobnewbie]

an office for her

[trippinsorrows]

with me + part twelve

authors note: you guys are seriously the nicest and most supportive. the comments always make me stupidly smile and laugh cause not a single one of ya'll is gonna let bdj die off. 😭 also, i know a couple of people have commented and asked about the backstory with joe and jadah, and i promise it'll be explored deeper. there's a subplot i'm working towards unveiling here, and it's nearing the reveal part, but we're not there yet! i promise, though, it's gonna be touched on!!!

i also had to chop this chapter in half, because it's honestly so much stuff, so the next update shouldn't take as long cause it's almost done.

the next two are gonna be so fun. maybe some shit will go down too. we shall see.

status: in progress // masterlist

warnings: fluff, language, some angst, suggestive themes

song inspo: with me by destiny’s child

words: 8k

taglist: @pixiedust4000 @yolobloggers @southerngirl41 @msbigredmachine @wanderingreigns

“So let me get this straight, in the time that I’ve been gone, you and Joe told Callie he’s her dad, you found out Amir and Mariah been fucking behind your back, and you had a semi mental breakdown after running into your father and, plot twist, long lost sister.” She counts each off with a finger, then asking. “Did I miss anything?”

Nodding, you take a scoop of your ice cream before adding, “Joe told me he loves me.”

In true Alexis fashion, she randomly arrived in town the night before, completely unaware of all that transpired in her absence. So, you take this time while Callie sleeps to catch her up. 

“Did I miss anything that I didn’t already know?” You give her a look, and she rolls her eyes, also eating some of her Rocky Road. “Come on, Y/N. Ray Charles could see that man is in love with you. You’re the one being stupid by not reciprocating.” Before you can push back against her, even if she isn’t entirely wrong, she switches topics. “Now when are we gonna go beat Lieriah’s ass? I told you it was something about that girl. She’s a snake.”

Typically the one to defend your friends, it’s hard to find it in you to come to Mariah’s aid. Nevermind the fact that she knows the shitty things Amir has done to you over the years, it’s the fact that she’s supposed to be your best friend but is messing around with same ain't shit ex? You would never do something like that to her, but maybe your loyalty to her has always been stronger than hers to you.

“I’m not worried about him or her. They’re not worth it.” That’s partially true, but the sting of betrayal is slow to pass and even slower to heal. You’ve always had mid to low expectations for Amir, but Mariah? That’s a crushing blow. “I have more important things to figure out.”

She studies you, leaning back against the headboard. “Your sister.”

“Bianca,” you correct. It’s too uncomfortable referring to her as such, even if that’s exactly what she is. 

In the weeks since the big fireworks show—both metaphorically and figuratively—you’ve tried to slowly return to your sense of normalcy. Focusing on Callie—who is an entirely different issue in and of itself that you really need to talk to your mom about—being more on top of things at work, and navigating your relationship with Joe.

He hasn’t been back to visit since Christmas, but you figured as such. Wrestlemania season has arrived, and you know better than anyone how crazy that time is, especially with him main eventing. 

But the one thing you haven’t really allowed yourself to think too much about is Bianca. You’d sent her a vague apology text a few days after your mad dash and explained that you were dealing with some things and just needed time to sort through them. That you’d reach back out when you were ready.

That still hasn’t happened, and it’s entirely intentional. 

“I remember you mentioned that you always wanted siblings?”

“Yeah, cause we have so much to bond over,” you mutter, bitterly.

“Well, you actually do have a lot in common. She’s a teacher, like you. She has a daughter, like you—” 

“You know what we don’t have in common?” You interrupt, feeling the agitation growing again. It’s not directed toward Alexis, just the situation in general. “A father who loves us.”

You were done referring to that man as your father. A father shows up. Like Joe. That son of a bitch isn’t even in the same universe as Joe. 

Her expression softens. You didn’t tell her everything, just enough for her to get the gist that he’s a piece of shit. And you definitely did not tell her about the time you went to see him. You’ve never told anyone that story. Joe is now the only one who knows, and you’d like to keep it that way. It’s just….it’s just too painful. “I had no idea that was the situation there…..I’m really sorry, girl.”

“It is what it is. I don’t need him.” And you’re not too sure if you need Bianca either. “I’m just trying to figure out if I should power through this for Callie’s sake. You should have seen how she and Taylor clicked. I would hate to take that away from her.”

“I get that,” she acknowledges. “You have to make the decision that’s best for the long run, not necessarily how you’re feeling right now.” That’s very easy to say and nearly impossible to do. “Even if you just allow the girls to interact while you keep some distance with Bianca.”

You’re partially intrigued, spooning some more cookie dough. “How would that work?”

“They don’t live here, right?” You nod. “Maybe the girls can talk on Facetime or even play some game on their tablets. That won’t cause you to interact much with mom outside of coordinating virtual playdates, and Callie still gets to spend time with her cousin, or, not cousin."

You sit on her words, not expecting to be as open to the idea as you are. It’s a pretty genius compromise. “You really do give some great advice sometimes, you know that?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” she smiles mischievously, and you just shake your head. “Now, who’s gonna knock this bitch Mariah over the head with a steel chair? Me or you? Or should we hit her with a bus, Regina George style?”

“Alexis!”

________

You clearly don’t love yourself because you decided to do both yours and Callie’s washday on the same damn day. A Sunday, at that. Meaning, you have no choice but to get it done because you have work the next day.

And Alexis being in town would be even more of a benefit than it already is if she actually knew how to do hair. Natural hair. She can lay any wig down better than Tae, but caring for coils and curls is another story. It’s why you declined her offer, and she lays knocked out in your bed, while Callie is fast asleep in hers. 

Thankfully, you have an insanely generous and sweet man who’s offered to talk to you while you power through this debacle, noodle arms, sleep deprivation, and all.

“Oh, before I forget again.” You grab the bottle of leave-in to apply more to the next section of hair. Shingling may give you the most definition, but it also gives you the most discomfort. “Can you be here May 8th?” A smile falls on your face. “Our baby is graduating preschool, and I know she’d want you there. I do too.”

“Shit, they have preschool graduations?” He seems genuinely taken back before answering. “But, of course I’ll be there.”

“I know. I used to think they were stupid, but now it’s my kid, so it’s the best thing ever. Her cap and gown should come some time in March, so I’m gonna have one of my old teammates who’s a photographer take professional photos of her.” It’s literally just preschool, but that’s still something she’s accomplished, and you want to commend the occasion the best you can. It’s been years since you’ve had professional photos of her taken anyway. Not since she was first born. “And yes, I’ll get extra for you.”

“How much—”

“Anyways, let me show you the tattoo.” Joe has already done so much, the least you can do is cover the photo costs. Even though you know him well enough to know he’ll find some way to contribute. Thankfully, the side of your hair that still needs to be shingled is clipped at the top of your head, so all you have to do is turn around and push down the thin strap of your shirt to reveal your latest ink. “He did an amazing job.”

“Shit, he did.” Joe’s agreement and approval somehow makes you even more satisfied with the outcome. Your Christmas gift to yourself was finally getting that Moana tattoo Callie has wanted to see on you since you told her you were getting one damn near a year ago. It’s on the back of your left shoulder, a black manta ray, some blue ocean-like coloring with one of your favorite lyrics from the movie: I will carry you here in my heart. You remind me, that come what may, I know the way. 

It’s one of Callie’s favorite songs but also feels like an ode to your grandma as well. 

He then asks, “do you want more?”

Readjusting your shirt and turning back around, you answer, “of course. More Disney but also….” This discussion triggers something for you, something that seems a little out there, but also maybe not. “I saw this tattoo on Pinterest that I want to get for Callie.” You grab your phone. “Let me send it to you.” It’s saved in your favorites folder and thus an easy send. Placing the phone back on the counter, you wait for him to receive and see it.

“I like it.” It’s a baby’s footprint with the name written in cursive and date of birth in print right underneath it. You’ve always wanted Callie’s name on you but couldn’t settle on a design until you came across that one. Something about it just resonates with you. 

Licking your lips, you suggest, “why don’t you get it with me?” Couples getting matching tattoos isn’t something you’re entirely against, you just don’t agree with it for people who are only dating and not married, if marriage is the goal. You remember when Amir once suggested you do so, and you literally laughed in his face. You’d soon rather get branded with a tramp stamp than have that man’s name permanently burned into your skin.

But, matching tattoos for the child you created together with the man you love. That is something you could get behind. 

And apparently so can he.

“Let’s do it.”

“Really?” You’re not sure why, but the ease of his agreement shocks you. It’s not too far-fetched when you think about it. He loves his daughter, and you’ve always known Joe to only get tattoos that have meaning. He could give you a detailed explanation for every piece of ink on his body. 

“Yeah.” There’s almost a sense of excitement in his voice, like he’s eager to have her name on him, to share this with you. “Same location?” At that, you make a face. He laughs. “Inner bicep does hurt, I’m not even gon’ lie to you.”

Yeah, you’ve definitely heard as such, and considering his entire right side is tatted, he’d know. “I don’t know. I have to think about it. I might need to squeeze your hand the whole time, or I’ll end up punching the tattooist.”

He laughs, “you can squeeze my hand.” Joe then asks, “when do you want to get em’ done?” You start to think about it logistically, as well as financially. Tattoos aren’t cheap. “Do you want to go to the Super Bowl?”

His question surprises you because it’s such a change in topics but also….what? “Yup. And Hawaii and Puerto Rico. And then maybe if we have time, stop by Alice in Wonderland.”

He’s too good at matching your sass, retorting, “I can make the first two happen easily. The last one may be a stretch.” Rolling your eyes, you grab for the gel. “I’m serious though. My tattoo artist is based out of Vegas. The game is in Vegas this year. It’ll let me see Callie too, cause I’m having a hard time finding a gap to visit.” As he continues to speak without laughing or chuckling, you realize he’s dead serious. “I’ve been meaning to ask you to go anyway but kept forgetting.”

You need extra clarification. “Like this year's Usher concert where there’s apparently a game too?”

He rolls his eyes, providing the guest list. “It’s me and the twins, their family, some other fam…..we have a whole section, cause you know it's a bunch of us.” It’s still hard to sit on the fact that this man really just invited you to the fucking Super Bowl like it’s dinner at Golden Coral. His eyes soften. “I wanna see her. I wanna see you.”

Joe’s closing statement, so true and vulnerable, is what breaks you from your temporary state of shock. You get the sense he misses ya’ll just as much as you miss him. “Of course, we’ll go. I’m sorry, I just—I wasn’t expecting that.” And it’s true, you weren’t. “How will we get fl—”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of everything. I just need you to show up at the airport.”

That seems to be such a recurring theme with this man. He does everything he can to make things as easy for you as possible. It’s tremendously appreciated and doesn’t go without notice. 

“This is the first time she’ll be meeting the twins,” you realize aloud. Hell, his family at all. 

Joe nods, chuckling. “Yeah, they’ve been on my ass about that anyway. They want to meet her.”

Pinning down the section you just finished, you take down the next. A little over halfway done now. “Whoever you want her to meet is fine with me, Joe. I don’t even really have a say in that. She has every right to meet your family just as much as she’s had to meet mine.”

And it’s true. Unless it could present some harm to Callie, you don’t really feel like you have the right to object to things like that. You have zero desire to interfere with Joe and Callie anymore than you already have. 

“I know. I just wanted to tell her the truth before introducing her to anyone else. Less lies.” Makes sense. Thinking about Callie meeting more family brings a small smile to your face. It’s what she deserves. Family members who actually want to be in her life.

The conversation brings something else to the forefront of your mind, partially due to Joe’s confession to you on Christmas but also a question you’ve wanted to ask him for much longer than you’d like to admit. 

“So….” This shouldn’t be as nerve wracking as it is. “There’s something I want to ask you, but I don’t…..I don’t want to overstep.” If he were to tell you that he’d rather you not, that’d be fine with you, one less stressful thing on your plate. But, of course, he’s silent, meaning he’s not going to object. So….you decide to bite the bullet and go for it. “What happened between you and your wife?”

You’re certain he wasn’t expecting that to be what you asked, but to your surprise, he answers. “We were young and got married for the wrong reason. I was 22. She was 21.”

Unsure but taking a big risk regardless, you ask in a small voice. “What was the reason?”

His answer isn’t what you’re expecting either. “She was pregnant.”

It takes a second for you to process what he’s saying. Your stomach is suddenly in knots, chest feeling tight. There’s no way he’s kept something like that from you. No way in hell. “Wait, does Callie have—”

“No.”

And just like that, you know. He doesn’t need to explain. It’s painfully obvious, especially as he looks away from the camera. You have a feeling you've unlocked a painful memory he’d most likely kept tucked away. 

“I’m sorry.” It feels so stupid and unhelpful to say. What does that do for him? It doesn’t take away that experience, that loss that you can’t even begin to imagine. But, it’s all you can offer. “Just—forget I asked, let’s change the subject.” Do you have more questions? Of course. Like, why was there such a gap between their loss and the divorce? But, this is understandably a difficult and sensitive subject, and the last thing you want to do is trigger him more than you already have.

You know better than anyone how awful that can be. 

He agrees with the subject change, going along with the transition of topics, clearly grateful for your understanding. But, in the back of your mind, you can’t help but think about the fact that this man lost his firs child before he could even meet the them, and the child he had who did survive was kept a secret from him for nearly five years.

There’s a sudden sickness and disgust you feel. And it’s not towards anyone but yourself. 

Joe had every goddamn right to be furious with you about your subterfuge.

He still does. ________

“Mama, something is up with Callie.”

You’re thankful Alexis agreed to keep Callie preoccupied in the living room while you have this conversation with your mom, because Callie had another incident just this morning, slamming her door when you told her she needed to pick up her toys.

She’s never done that.

But she has done other things in the past two weeks or so, rolling her eyes or pouting her mouth at you when you say something she doesn’t want to hear, beyond typical tantrums. 

Your mom stops her stirring at the pot to turn around and look at you. “What do you mean? Is she sick?”

“No,” you answer and then realize you’re not entirely sure how to explain it. She’s not being bad, per se. Just….difficult. “She’s just been…..off.”

Genuinely intrigued, and partially concerned, you watch your mom turn the fire on low as she joins you at the kitchen table. “Tell me.”

Shaking your head, you explain. “I thought it was just me, that I was just being overprotective and hyper-vigilant, but when I picked her up from preschool yesterday, her teacher pulled me to the side and asked me if she’s been having sleep problems. I told her no and asked why, and she told me Callie has been irritable. With staff and other kids.”

“Callie?” Your mom seems just as taken back as you were hearing these words. “That doesn’t even sound like her.”

“I know, and that’s what I said at first, but then I thought about it, and she’s been crabby with me too. It’s not horrible, but it’s unlike her.”

A small part of you wonders if it has something to do with you running off on her on Christmas. It would make sense. She was doing absolutely fine before then, but it’s the timing that throws that theory off. You’ve noticed this change only in the past two weeks, well after Christmas day passed, so why the delay?

“What does Joe think it is?”

“I haven’t told him.” It’s not that you don’t want to. You’d just like to have a better grasp of what it is before doing so. Have more actual information to provide him.

“He hasn’t seen the behavior for himself?”

You shake your head. “She’s fine with him. Matter of fact, after his calls, she’s like a completely different child.” It’s watching your mom’s face settle into a look of realization that makes you ask, “what? What is it?”

“Honey” she starts with a soft chuckle. “She’s missing her daddy.”

Her answer catches you by surprise, painting your face with confusion. You’ve had a lot of theories, but that definitely wasn’t one of them. “What?”

Reaching across the table, she places her hand over yours. “Think about it. How would she react if you were gone as much as he is? She’d be a mess, cause you’re her mama, and she has a strong attachment to you. Look how easily she attached and connected with Joe. It’s always been there. Except she knows the truth now, so her attachment is even stronger.” You heed to her explanation, wise and sensible. You hadn’t even thought of it that way. “And isn’t this the longest he’s been gone without her seeing him? She’s acting out because she misses him and probably doesn’t know how to verbalize it, so it shows in her behavior.”

As relieved as you are to have an explanation that makes sense, it’s an explanation that makes you incredibly sad for your sweet child. You know how hard it is for Joe to get away right now, you understand it. It never crossed you that she wouldn’t. 

Devastated, you ask, “what do I do?”

“Talk to her. Try to help her understand. It may not make a huge difference, but it’s something.”

You nod, so so grateful for her, for all that she does for you, for Callie. For all that she’s done. Reaching across the table, you hug her tightly. “thank you, mama.” As much as it devastated you to not have that man in your life, your mom made sure to go above and beyond to make sure you knew you were loved. She played both roles beautifully, and you’re not sure you’ll ever be able to make her understand what that meant to you. 

You still haven’t really sat her down and explained everything that happened Christmas night, nor has she asked, but you know it’s because she’s trying to respect your space. It’s appreciated, but you also know you’re gonna have to eventually tell her.

Just not now.

Right now, you’ve gotta take care of your baby.

________

Even the energy in Callie’s playroom feels off.

You’re so used to walking in and finding her with that million dollar smile that makes your entire day better. Instead, you walk in and she doesn’t even acknowledge your presence. She just continues to color. 

“Hey, baby….” Disappointed, but refusing to show as such, you welcome yourself in and approach her table. “Is it okay if I color with you?” 

She still doesn’t say anything, just nods, and you do your best not to hide your sadness. You hate seeing her this down, it’s so unfamiliar, and you’ll do just about anything to fix it. 

Sitting down in the uncomfortable seat, you take a couple of her pages and pull out a crayon. “I have an idea.” At that, she looks up, slightly intrigued. “Why don’t we draw how we’ve been feeling lately? I draw me, and you draw you.” 

You scold yourself for not selling it to her better, for not telling her it’s something you sometimes do with your students. Some level of innocent peer pressure. However, she surprises you by agreeing with a simple “okay.”

It takes a second for you to register that it was really that simple. Step one is done. Now for step two. 

Grabbing some crayons, you don’t really concern yourself with skin tone, just getting something out on paper. The two of you color in silence, and you start to offer to put on her favorite playlist but decide against it. 

You want her to really think about what you’re asking. 

It’s when you see that she’s placed down her crayon and is just staring at her picture that you ask, “you done?” She shakes her head, but her eyes are on the table in front of her. “Is it okay if mommy sees it? I’ll show you mine too.”

Handing you the page, you expect an influx of emotions, but actually seeing her literal representation of how she feels is simply heartbreaking. 

She’s drawn herself, frowning, surrounded by broken hearts and a blue tear leaking from her eye. Callie did what you asked. You just wish it didn’t have you feeling so helpless.

“This means you’ve been feeling sad, huh?” You hate how your voice gives away your emotions. This is about her, not you, but it’s so difficult for you to not be impacted. No mother wants to see her child hurting, and Callie currently is. It kills you. “Callie….” Moving up from your chair, you move across to kneel in front of her, taking her hands in yours. “Have you been sad because you miss your dad?”

All you need to hear is one sniffle, and instantly, you’re reaching for her, holding and comforting her.

“It’s okay,” you soothe, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay, baby.” She cries into your chest, and you have to hold back your own tears.

“Why doesn't he come back?” She asks in between tears, wiping her eyes. “He’s been gone a really long time.” It’s only then you realize that she’s not entirely exaggerating. Joe was last here for Christmas. It’s now the end of January. For a child like Callie, that must feel like an eternity.

“He would if he could, Callie. I promise you he would. Daddy just…he gets really busy with his job this time of the year, and he can’t leave or he’ll get in trouble.” It’s so difficult to explain this to her. WrestleMania season is inarguably chaotic and stupidly busy. Even back in the day, Joe’s trips to see you were most far and few in between during this time of year. And that was before he even had a title. You can’t even imagine how busy he must be as the literal fucking face of the company.

Enough to keep him from being able to come see you and Callie. 

You’ve just gotten so used to the dynamics of him being away for periods at a time that it never occurred to you Callie hasn’t had the same experience. That at the end of the day she’s still a little kid who just wants to be with her dad. 

It’s then that a thought crosses your mind.

“What if…..what if we went to see daddy?” For the first time since you stepped into the room, her eyes actually light up and you notice her tears lessening. “Instead of him coming to us, we go see him?”

“Really?” There’s the faintest smile on her face, and you know then that you’re going to make this happen. You don’t know how or in what way, but it will be a reality. No matter what it takes. 

“Yeah,” you answer, brushing away some of her tears. “You can go see him at his show. He’d love that.” Not as much as she clearly loves the idea alone. “Now, we’d only be able to stay a day or maybe two but—”

“Please,” she interrupts, and you get the sense that she fears you’re going to find a way to say that you couldn’t or shouldn’t go. “I’ll be a good girl. I promise.”

“Baby, you’re already the best girl.” You push back some of her hair, resting your hand against her cheek. “Mama’s gonna make it happen, okay? I promise.”

If you have to sell one of your kidneys, then you’ll just be less one organ, because you’re getting your baby to that damn show. Matter of fact, you don’t say anything to her, but you’re wondering if you can make it to this week’s upcoming show. It’s only Sunday, and that gives you a couple of days to make arrangements and secure tickets. It’s doable, but you don’t want to get her hopes up, so just in case, you say nothing.

And yes, in the back of your mind, you know she’ll see Joe in a couple of weeks for the game, but that’s too long. Your child is hurting. You need to do something now. She can’t wait that long. 

“Thank you, mommy!” She wraps her little arms around you, and just like that, you see the spark and joy that fills your days with light and laughter. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby.” Kissing her temple, you release her, realizing something else. “Now we can't tell your daddy because we’re gonna surprise him, okay? Can you do that for me?”

She nods, happily, unaware of the real reason. You know that you can’t tell Joe about this. Well, not now at least. This is not something to be discussed over the phone or even video chat. And if you tell him you want to take her to see him as soon as possible, he’ll know something is up. 

So, you have to move in silence. 

Coloring with Callie commences for a little longer as you value and cherish your time with her, but as soon as she’s down for her nap and before you wake Alexis from hers to tell her the news, you need to do something. It’s in that time bonding with her you realized how you’re going to make this happen.

You’re suddenly immensely grateful for that random conversation you’d had with Joe a while back regarding the fact that he and the twins have had the same phone number since they were in high school.

Pulling out your phone, you scroll through your contacts until you land on the one you need. You type, backspace, and type some more, only sending out the text once you’re fully pleased with it.

You: Hey, Jon. This is Y/N. Can you call me when you get a chance? Preferably sooner rather than later. I need your help with something. And please don’t tell Joe. It’s a surprise. 

________

God clearly wants you to bring Callie to see Joe. 

There’s just too many things that have lined up perfectly for that not to be the case. The discussion with your principal went well, though that wasn’t entirely surprising. You’ve always had a cordial relationship and know she respected your grandma. The whole school system in your town did. That was just her level of impact. But that respect has slid down to work in your favor as your principal told you to take as much time as you need.

“You’ll always have a job here.”

While not a huge concern, it’s reassuring and not entirely unsurprising. Again, your grandma’s impact definitely granted you a level of nepotism. You were slightly surprised when she actually encouraged you to take more time off, pointing out how in the almost nine years you’ve worked there, she could count on one hand how much PTO or vacation time you’ve used. And, it’s true. It was really only when Callie was sick and your mom couldn't help or you wanted to stay home and nurse her back to health that you called out. For the most part, you had damn near perfect attendance.

But, that’s certainly about to change, and you’re thankful you have a job that’s flexible enough to accommodate the change. 

And then there’s the actual getting there. You should have known when Alexis was asking questions about when you and Callie were leaving that she was up to something. You naively chalked it up to her planning her flight out, as there was no way you expected her to wait around for ya’ll to get back. Instead, she was busy buying not just her ticket to come with ya’ll but yours and Callie’s as well.

You instantly felt bad when she forwarded you the itinerary information. You couldn’t see the cost, but you weren’t stupid either. Getting flights out with such short notice had to be expensive as all outdoors. You were just going to put the bill on your credit card and work to pay it off. And, of course, when you offered to pay her back, she nearly cussed you out. As if such an offer was insulting. 

“What good is a trust fund if you can’t spend it on your college roomie and pretend godchild?”

So, while you still felt slightly uncomfortable, you were able to push it to the backburner for the sake of Callie. This is all for her, and you don’t care what it takes to make it happen. Even if it means sucking up your pride. 

And deep down, you know if Alexis didn’t do what she did, Joe would somehow find a way to compensate you. The same way his ass somehow got his card on file at the hospital and covered all of Callie’s medical bills without ever even asking you if you needed help.

You still haven’t talked to him about that, not really having or finding the right time, but it also feels a bit bitchy and ungrateful to be upset with the man for covering his daughter’s medical expenses. 

Then there’s the actual show itself. One thing you were initially concerned about was if Joe has a match lined up for this upcoming week’s show. You two have only had a couple of discussions about it but still enough for you to learn that he’s extremely hesitant to expose Callie to his wrestling persona. 

“I don’t want her seeing me like that, thinking that’s who I am.”

And you understand him fully. Roman may be a fascinating character, but he’s equally narcissistic and ruthless as he is intriguing. The complete opposite of Joe and who he is. 

Still, you’ve worked to help him understand that talking to Callie, explaining to her that he’s playing a “character” could help her understand better. You both are in agreement that she’s too young to watch actual matches, especially his as they tend to get brutal, but she can see certain promos. And she does. You let her watch a couple where the dialogue is safe enough to go over her head. And truth be told, she’s so focused on watching Joe that she's not really paying attention to what’s being said anyway. 

Needless to say, you were massively relieved to hear from Jon that Joe doesn't have a match lined up and his promo is reportedly tame and safe enough for Callie’s eyes and ears. He didn’t give specifics, but from one parent to another parent, you trust his judgment. 

And the most important thing of all is the fact that Callie has done a complete 180. She’s no longer as irritable, just the usual attitude when she’s sleepy or hungry. Just like her mama. And there’s that spark of joy in her eyes. She’s even started packing what she wants to bring with her. She knows you’ll only be there for one night, but even that can’t seem to dim her joy. 

It makes your heart swell. 

All of this brings you to your conclusion that you’re doing exactly what you should be doing. 

“Ahhh, and here it is.” The old woman’s voice breaks you from your inner dialogue as she walks toward the counter, returning from the back. “Sorry about that sweetheart.”

“No worries, Mrs. Ella.” Your eyes light when you see the item in her hand, even if it’s covered by a cloth bag. The fact that it’s ready is more than enough to make you smile. “Thank you so much for agreeing to this.”

She waves off your concern, offering a warm smile. “Your grandma was one of my best friends. As far as I’m concerned, anything you need is a done deal.”

That warms your heart. Mrs. Ella has been the town seamstress for longer than you’ve been alive but doesn’t look a day over 50. She’s not lying either. Your grandma always cited her as one of her “life” sisters. 

“Why don’t we take a look to make sure it’s alright?” She offers, removing the item from the garment bag. She takes the hoodie and turns it over so you can see the back.

In awe, you acknowledge, “it’s perfect.”

Among the many things Joe has gifted Callie, WWE apparel hasn’t really been included in that list. You’ve chalked it up to his hesitation about familiarizing her with his Roman persona. However, you know that girl loves her daddy and will support him in all the things, so you took it upon yourself to pick her up a few items over the holidays. One of those things being a black hoodie with Roman’s picture on the front with him wearing one of his head of the table shirts. Wanting to make it special and personal, you had the idea of customizing it. Thus, asking Mrs. Ella to add to the back, Acknowledge my daddy!, and she did a fabulous job. It looks like that was the original design. 

Pulling out your wallet, you ask, “how much do I owe you?”

“It’s on the house.”

Your eyes snap to her. “Mrs. Ella, no, this was a rush—”

“Don’t argue with your elders, child,” she scolds, and you smile warmly. “Just show me a picture of her wearing it, and we’ll be even.”

Moved by her generosity, you offer your gratitude again. “Thank you, Mrs. Ella. Seriously. Thank you.” 

Hand over yours, she just nods and then ushers you out the door, “well, you better get a move on child.” 

With a small laugh and one more thank you, you leave out with the hoodie, excited to show Callie and even more, to see Joe’s reaction when he sees her wearing it.

“Y/N?”

Fuck. You’d know that voice anywhere, have known it since you were five years old. 

That doesn’t mean you have to heed to it.

You keep walking. 

A stupid decision, because the footsteps behind you become louder and faster as she asks, exasperated, “would you just talk to me?”

You spin around, suddenly pissed at her repeated question. “Why? Why should I talk to you?” 

You’ve dodged and ignored her texts the same way she did yours, so what’s the issue now? Being on the receiving end must be one hell of an unpleasant experience for her. Not that you give two shits. Mariah is the last thing on your plate right now.

Mariah seems taken back, and that just pisses you off more. How can she not see her wrong in this situation? “You’re my best friend, Y/N. We’ve been friends since we were in kindergarten. Does that mean nothing to you?”

“Did it mean something to you when you were fucking Amir?”

Something you can’t identify flashes in her eyes followed by apparent hurt. “Are you serious right now? You’d really believe him over me.” It’s hard to tell how sincere her watery eyes are or if they’re performative. You’ve never known her to be fake, but then again, maybe you’ve never really known her at all. “That’s fucked up.”

Finding some level of compassion and understanding for the woman you called your best friend for almost your entire life, you try to offer her the benefit of the doubt. “Okay, let’s say you’re not fucking him. At the very least, you’ve been telling him my business while ignoring my texts and calls. Like, what the fuck, Mo?” 

She shakes her head. “He came to me, worried about you—”

“He came to you nosy and upset because I cut it off with him, and you fell into his trap.” How she can possibly fall for Amir’s bullshit is beyond you. She knows how he is. Hell, she’s been right beside you, up until recent weeks/months, dealing with his bullshit. So, her excuse is just that—an excuse. “And even if he was, as my best friend, you should know that’s still girl code violation.”

It feels almost silly citing that, but the morals behind it still ring true. You would never talk to Caleb about things going on in her life when you know they’re not on good terms. And you damn sure would never fuck him. 

“Girl code?That’s funny coming from you, because you didn’t seem to to care about girl code when you were fucking another woman’s husband and had a whole ass baby for him.”

Her words stop you dead in your tracks. Any facial expression you may have been showing is dropped and neutral. Even your voice is softer, less accusatory. “Excuse me?” 

For her to say that to you, knowing how sensitive a subject that is truly takes you by surprise. Truly. 

It doesn’t stop there though. “I mean, forreal, Y/N. You’re up in my face about Amir, but aren’t you still fucking Joe? Shit, how many niggas do you need?” It’s hard to believe the words coming out her mouth, so angry and hostile. But, even her volume rising has you stumped. It’s like she wants to draw an audience. “It’s not enough to be one man’s whore, but you still gotta have another on the side?”

Truly baffled, all you can ask is, “where is this coming from?” 

She sucks her teeth, just as irritated, if not more by your question. “It’s always been this shit with you. You do whatever the fuck you want and don’t care who you hurt or betray in the process!”

And now you’re just straight up confused, because what have you ever done to her? Cause that’s what it sounds like she’s implying. Like you’ve done her wrong. Like you’ve been doing her wrong. “What are you even talking about?”

“You got Joe. You got Amir. Shit, when is enough enough for you?” She scoffs, and it’s hard for you to even look at her let alone listen to all the hurtful things she’s spewing. “Like damn, find a new hobby. Focus on raising your kid—”

And that…..that is the moment that you’re no longer confused, or hurt, or saddened to hear your best friend say such awful things. You’re pissed. Cause one thing no one can convince you you’re not, is a good mother. You’ve dedicated your entire life and being to taking care of Callie, making sure she’s straight. That’s always been your priority, and for her to suggest otherwise….those are really fighting words. 

You step toward her, finding all of the will in the world not to shatter her jaw. “You and I have so much history. It is the only reason I’m not whooping your ass right now, but know this, Mariah. This was your freebie. Fuck with me again, speak on my child again, and I’ll bash your fucking head into the nearest wall.” It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. “Stay away from me, bitch.”

You don’t give her time to respond or even yourself the chance to lay her out, you instead rush to your car, locking the door and speeding out of the parking lot. 

Your knuckles are nearly white with how tightly you’re gripping the steering wheel.

It’s been a while since you’ve been this hot. Years maybe. Amir would piss you off, sure, but never to the extent of your emotions in this moment. It truly took all resolve and imagining Callie’s disappointed face at not being able to see her dad  because you got yourself locked up for aggravated assault to keep you from beating Mariah’s ass. She knows better than anyone that you don’t play about your daughter, so for her to include Callie in her mud slinging is not only repugnant but hurtful.

She’s supposed to be Callie’s godmother. 

But beyond that, you’re having a hard time reconciling with the rest of the things she was saying. It didn’t feel like something that’s been building up over the past few months. No, this was different. Much…..deeper.

Regardless, you don’t have time to deal with this shit. You need to put your focus on preparing to bring your little girl to see her dad. 

Mariah can fuck off. 

She’s always been all bark and no bite anyway. 

________

“Mommy.”

Callie doesn’t even have to say anything else for you to know a request is to follow. 

“What's up, sis?”

She climbs on top of where you lay on the sofa, you and Alexis watching some random dating show she swears up and down is the best thing since Love is Blind. So far, you’re entirely unimpressed. Granted, reality shows of any kind have never been your cup of tea in the first place. 

Your YouTube history is mostly crime documentaries and Bloodline videos. 

She climbs on top of you, throwing her arms up and shouting, “dance party!”

Of all her typical requests, that’s one you haven’t heard in a while. 

You’ve always raised Callie with music, even back when you were pregnant, you would take your Beats and place them on your belly. It’s seemingly worked because this child loves music, so much so that you two would have random “dance party’s” where you’d blast music and dance around, no care in the world, just the two of you.

You haven’t had one in a while, but seeing Callie so happy, a stark contrast from how she’s been is more than enough to get you up and on your feet. You look over at Alexis. “Come on, Lex, it’s dance party time.” 

She feigns a gasp, looking at Callie for approval. “Do I get to come to this party?”

Callie giggles and jumps on the sofa. “Of course! Everyone can come to dance party!”

What’s also ironically funny is the fact that you and Alexis used to have dance parties all the time in your dorm, just often with much more explicit Travis Porter, Speaker Knockerz, type music and a lot of ass shaking.

“Well tonight, it’s just the three of us,” you laugh, grabbing your phone and opening your Spotify to figure out what will be your kickoff song. It’s when your eyes land on that one though, you know you’ve found it.

Connecting your phone to your Bluetooth, you confirm the connection and hit play. 

We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea

But as long as you are with me, there's no place I'd rather be

“My favorite white girl song ever!” Alexis shouts, starting to dance with Callie who’s just as excited about your selection. Together, the three of you dance and sing when the iconic chorus hits. 

If you gave me a chance I would take it

It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it

Know with all of your heart, you can't shake me

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be

At some point, Alexis grabs your phone, recording and capturing the laughter and joy you experience dancing and being silly with your very, very best friend. Callie’s laughter could revive any soul, and it’s so genuine. Even more, you know a large chunk of it is her excitement to see her dad in a couple of days.

And that makes it all the more special. 

Eventually needing a break and time to catch your breath, you laugh as the song ends and the next one starts. Lex and Callie immediately go at it for round two, spinning around and dancing to Dance the Night. 

You take a second to check your phone, seeing that you have a Snapchat from Joe. Frowning, you open the message confused as to why he’s using that and not just text. He only has the damn app because you made him get it. He’s not very big on social media outside of occasional Instagram posts. 

Swiping it open, you see why he was messaging you on there.

Because your wonderful best friend sent him the video she recorded of the three of you dancing.

Joe: How do I save this?

Joe: Fuck it. It’s too confusing. Just send it to me.

Laughing, you chew on your bottom lip and type out a reply.

You: You’re such an old man. 😩 

You: But yes, I’ll send it, even if I didn’t know Alexis was recording to send it to you...

You: Callie loves “dance parties” lol 

Joe: I love her laugh. She looks so happy…

You: I know. ❤️ She loves music. Def my kid.

You: Skillet is next on the queue, btw. 🙃

Joe: Don’t know what that is, but if I had to take a guess, it’s some rock shit.

You: You know me so well. 😊

Joe: Of course, baby.

Leaving his thread, you realize that if she sent it to Joe, she probably posted it to your private story as well, which is fine. You only have people on there you know and trust to keep the contents within that space.

But, it’s in checking the views that you see Mariah not only watched but screen recorded your story. It’s strange, normally you wouldn’t think twice about it. She’s always screenshotted and screen recorded stuff you posted, and you did the same with Micah. 

But now…..

Now, it feels wrong to share these moments with her. She’s lost that privilege. 

Moving to your contacts, you ignore her old Snapchat name she never uses anymore and instead just block her primary one from seeing your stories, and that includes close friends. And interestingly enough, when you check your texts, you see one from her muted thread that momentarily causes you to pause.

Mariah: Kinda stupid to ice out the one person who knows everything about you. 

But the pause comes and goes, Mariah always says shit, and that’s where it stops, the saying. She’s always been the mouse of you two, and that shit ain’t changed.

Closing up the app, you switch back to Spotify and focus on what’s before you and not behind you.

You have all the people you need in your life. 

Mariah can fuck off.

[stone-stars]

Transcript:

Murph: You see a giant figure attempting to push open a door. Before anything else, you recognize the giant greatsword on his back. Howl. Your mother's sword. Calder: Need a little help? Murph: Gowan turns around. Gowan: What are you doing here, Calder? Calder: Looks like you're struggling with that door. Just wanna make sure you know you can always ask for help.

Calder: What can we do for you? Command us. Gowan: With all due respect, Calder. I always thought you would've made a great ranger, but… you are not a ranger. You left. So, the most I can ask of you is to please look out for mom and dad. But, I'll talk to my rangers and I'll figure out a way to take care of this. Thank you all for everything.

Murph: He… looks away from you. Gowan: I already have help. There's nothing you can do for me.

Calder: I-- no. No. I don't wanna be protected anymore. I wanna help.

Calder: Well. You're my brother. The least you can do is let me try.

Gowan: Calder. I'm proud of you. You've gone out on your own, and you've met people who seem like great friends. And you braved the tundra, you came out, you warned us, and we appreciate that. But again. You chose not to be a ranger.

Murph: Gowan starts to walk towards you. Gowan: Alright. Can you make a hard choice here? Calder: We can make a choice together, that's what we can do. You don't have to do it yourself. Gowan: I made a deal with Alexandrite, Calder.

Calder: What are you worried about? Gowan: I'm just-- I'm worried about everyone. I don't know how Mom did it. It feels like everyone who died, died on my watch.

Gowan: She told me that she'd already snuck replicants into the village, and that she'd take out everyone one by one until I gave her the Ice Knife. She can't get in here. Havoc won't let her. And to prove it she killed my best friend, and told me if I told anyone, Mom and Dad would be next. She replaced our neighbors. Have ya talked to any of our neighbors? Because they're watching the house. They absorbed Ingrid. And then you told me she's bringing in more from the lake. She knows everything, Calder. She's everywhere. Calder: Yeah. Yeah, we might be fucked. But we can be fucked together. We can-- we can go down fighting, or you can-- or you can sacrifice yourself like some martyr. But that's not gonna help us. Gowan: If it was just sacrificing myself, I would gladly do it, Calder. But what would you do in my situation?

Murph: Calder, as you are battling with Ultrus here, it feels like the world is being pulled apart as Glen is trying to remove this helm from your head. You see like, cracks. As you look up into the sky, you see the battlefield projected. You see that Callie is missing, you have no idea where she is, and you see that Sol is bleeding out on the ground.

Gowan: Knife to Mom's throat, what would you do? Murph: And he pushes you.

Calder: Ultrus! Make a deal with me! I will let you go. I’ll let you choose your side in this war. Just… don’t let Glen hurt my friends. Ultrus: You would give up yourself? Calder: If that’s the choice you ask me to make.

Calder: I might've done the same thing. I might've done the same thing. But you have to understand that somebody coming in this thing with fresh eyes, somebody who's seen her up close, you don't know the duplicity that she's capable of. You're acting on intel that you got from Alexandrite! Gowan: The intel that I got from you was that Gregor was compromised! And that just meant I stayed around until she killed Ingrid! Calder: So she wants us not to trust each other. She wants us not to work together. She wants us fractured and weak, like this. Gowan: We are fractured and weak, Calder! She's here already! Calder: So circle up with us!

Gowan: Well, if there's one good thing about being a leader in a time like this, it's-- it's that I'm really glad I got to make you a ranger. Calder: Yeah. And… and Gowan I think we're gonna have… we're gonna have a long time together, fighting side by side. Gowan: I hope that we could be so lucky.

Calder: You are my brother, aren't you? Murph: You see the bloodlust kind of leaves Gowan's eyes, and he looks down, and he goes Gowan: Yeah. Yeah I am. Okay.

[foxaftershocks]

First off I wanna say I love your writing!

So basically the read would of had been haunted by the ghost of their childhood best friend after the had accidentally coursed their house to catch on fire (they would been 5 when this happened) and every since they have been trying to find a way to help them move on, especially since the friend does not understand that the fire was an accident. they have by some miracle kept this a secret from everyone but after they get called to a abandoned wearhouse the secret is revealed, the friends ghost tries to hurt the reader after separating them from the group but lars manages to save them and fianlly they come clean about it all.

I hope how I've formatted this makes sense:)

Thank you!!!! It made total sense and I really hope you like what I did with it.

Fog was rolling across the huge expanse of the floor. It didn’t feel real, like a movie set with the shadows and the fog and the swinging chains as you passed. Your heart was hammering in your chest, loud in your ears. Your breaths were unsteady and you could feel yourself tremble in the cold air. Gripping your proton gun harder, you took a hesitant step forward.

“Careful,” Lars said, a large hand closing over your shoulder.

“This isn’t my fist rodeo,” you said, glancing at him over your shoulder.

He was staring at something in the distance, squinting behind his glasses. You tried to see what he was looking at but it was all roiling shadows and darkness reaching out. Or maybe that was what he was looking at so intently.

“Alright, you guys take upstairs and we’ll sweep down here,” Callie said, turning her head as she took in the whole abandoned warehouse.

On quiet footsteps, you and the younger Spenglers made your way up to the upper levels of the warehouse, peering down into the wide expanse below you. The teenagers peeled off, leaving you with Lars to prowl through the offices.

You’d been with the Ghostbusters for a few months now, having shown up on their doorstep one day demanding a job. Your experience with ghosts got you through the door, your refusal to say no keeping you. And yet guilt dogged your every step.

You hadn’t told anyone why you were so desperate to work with them. Your late nights were less about your passion for the Ghostbusters and more about your need to find answers. Answers you thought only they would have.

Lars’ shoulder brushed against yours, walking beside you towards the first door. Maybe there was another reason you wanted to stick around too.

“Ladies first,” he said, motioning to the door for you.

“Coward.” You smirked at him.

You pushed the door open, gun raised, sweeping the room. He followed behind, watching your back, calculating gaze investigating the shadows. Checking under the desk, you let out a relieved breath.

The call had come in the middle of the night. Weird noises and ghostly spectres in the warehouse. Loud noises had been scaring the night watchmen in the area, a few even quitting after being chased from the building. Being awoke in the night, groggy and unsure, Callie telling you to gear up, was hardly normal and yet it was hard to hate it. Excitement around every corner and all that.

“Clear,” you said.

You straightened, taking a step back from how close he was. You hadn’t been expecting it, thinking he was on the other side of the room. A hand shot out, grasping your elbow before you could lose your balance.

“Next room?” he asked.

“Sure.”

You only got a few steps before you heard something shifting in the darkness at the end of the hall. A flash of a familiar face faded into the shadows. Your heart stumbled before pounding hard against your ribs. Taking a deep breath, you schooled your features.

“How about you do this room and I’ll do the next one and then we’ll be done in half the time,” you suggested to Lars.

“We’re not meant to split up,” he said, “in case something happens.”

“It’s the middle of the night. Don’t you want to get out of here quicker?” you asked.

He considered you for a moment before he gave a slow nod.

“I’ll only be next door. Scream if you get attacked,” you said.

He rolled his eyes but you could see the way he was trying to suppress a smile. You waited until he’d slipped through into the next room before high tailing it down the hall on tip toes. Gaze darting around the hall, you tried to find her.

“Lizzy,” you hissed, trying to stop any of the other Ghostbusters from hearing you, “I know you’re here.”

An echoing giggle lured you further, chasing a ghost. Darting from shadow to shadow, gun held in your hand, you hoped this would be the time you could finally help her move on. It had taken so long to realise that when you saw Lizzy and no one else could that it was because she wasn’t really there. Your parents had been so worried when you insisted Lizzy wasn’t dead because you could see her, standing at the end of your street or following you around school.

Eventually, after the first time she’d scared you, you realised something wasn’t right. That your parents had been right. That she had died that awful night and you were being haunted by her ghost. That she wouldn’t move until you could help her.

Another giggle drew you further into the shadows. This was your chance. You’d spent months working with the Ghostbusters and this was the first time she was letting you get close again. You could help her. She could move on if she would only get a chance.

At the end of the hall, the familiar figure of Lizzy floated, a few inches above the floor. She looked exactly the same as she had that night, a young girl, caught in amber, nothing but a memory torn from your childhood. You took a shuddering breath in.

“Lizzy,” you breathed.

On hesitant footsteps, you approached. Any time you’d gotten close to her, she’d erupted in anger, always ending with you cowering in a corner, begging her to leave you alone. But you were stronger now. You were better. You could fix this.

“Hi,” she said in that sweet little girl voice that was burned into your brain, “this place is kinda scary.”

“That’s okay. I’m here. Nothing’s going to happen to you,” you said.

“But something already has happened to me,” she said, so matter of fact.

Your breath froze in your chest, the air growing colder again. You held out a hand to her, wanting her to trust you. Wanting her to believe you.

“I’m so sorry, Lizzy. I can fix this. I promise I can fix this.”

A few more steps towards her and you thought you might freeze. It was so cold and every drag of breath hurt. And yet the hope kept you going.

“How?” she asked, sounding so lost.

“I can help you move on. We just need to figure out what your unfinished business is,” you said.

“I know what it that is,” she said.

You knelt down in front of her.

“What’s your unfinished business?” you asked.

“Making you pay for doing this to me.”

Wind slammed into you from behind. You fell forward, your hands coming up to catch yourself before your face could slam into the floor. Rolling onto your back, you found her floating above you. You scrabbled for the gun you’d dropped but something stopped you. This was Lizzy, your best friend, you couldn’t do something that hurt her. Again.

You scrambled back, scared as her face began to morph into something from your nightmares. Elongating, teeth growing, eyes flickering like fire, no longer was she the sweet little girl caught in your memories. Before your eyes, she was turning into a demon, fuelled by rage and revenge.

Your hand came down, expecting to feel more floor but only finding empty space. Turning, you found broken off railing, the hall hanging over empty space, the concrete floor of the warehouse so far from you. Another gust of wind slammed into you, pushing you closer to the edge. A low moan came from deep within your chest and you found Lizzy floating closer.

She swooped down at you, a scream bursting unbidden from you. Raising your arms to cover your head, you felt yourself teeter on the edge. Another scream. You knew you wouldn’t survive that fall, smashing against the concrete like a broken door.

“I’m going to hurt you like you hurt me,” Lizzy said, her voice high and sweet, such a difference to the words coming from her.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” you babbled, gasping for breath.

Tears were streaming down your cheeks. Another crash of wind slamming into you. You teetered, before falling backwards. It felt slow motion in your mind. The knowledge you were about to die was all you could focus on.

Then a hand grasped yours, holding on so tight you thought your blood supply might cut off. You cut off a sob, grasping onto the warmth, almost burning after the chill of the air. Inch by inch you were dragged back up, the metal walkway the greatest thing you’d ever felt.

“What happened?” Lars asked.

He was crouched next to you, still holding on while you panted, gasping for breath, the sobs not abating. You shook your head, not able to answer. The truth too much to spill.

“You’ve made a new friend.” Your eyes squeezed shut at the sweet voice, “that’s not fair.’

Lars was slow to look up, attention shifting from you to your ghost. You whimpered, crawling further from the edge, fingers curling into the back of his uniform, clutching at it hard enough for your knuckles to turn white.

“Don’t hurt him. Please,” you begged.

“You mean like you didn’t hurt me?” A high childish giggle, “I don’t think so.”

Lars grasped his gun, pulling it free. Levelling it at Lizzy, he was slow to stand, pulling you with him. Standing close, you wanted to stop him but you were terrified she was going to hurt him.

“Alright, there’s no need to get aggressive,” Lars said, clearly trying to calm the situation.

“She hurt me,” she said, “now I’m going to hurt her. And then she’ll be with me forever just like she promised.”

He raised his gun higher, keeping himself between you and her. She rose higher, then, using the same move, swooped down. He didn’t hesitate, firing the proton stream at her. It wrapped around her, holding her in place. The enraged scream that came from her hurt you, like a brand burned on your inside.

“I need the trap,” he said, glancing back at you.

Sweat was beading at his temples as he held her and you felt frozen. Her anger was so visceral, struggling against the proton stream. Her scream was pure rage.

“Hey.”

He finally caught your attention, his voice softened as he looked at you from behind glass.

“Trap,” he said.

You fumbled with the trap hanging from your belt. Sliding it along the floor, you looked up at Lizzy, knowing this would be it. She wouldn’t move on. She’d be trapped, kept in storage to be studied by people like Lars. And yet you had to, if you wanted to keep her from hurting the people you cared about.

“I’m sorry,” you said to her.

His foot slammed down on the trigger, opening it. Her rage was like a physical thing, her struggle increasing. And she looked like a little girl, scared, terrified, of where she was being forced into. Lars dragged her down until the trap’s vacuum sucked her in.

It closed with a snap and you were left in silence. You fell, knees slamming into the metal walkway, your sobs loud in your own ears. You pressed the heel of your palms to your eyes, trying to stifle it all.

A large hand landed on your shoulder, offering the stability you didn’t have. Lars was kneeling in front of you, ignoring the smoking trap behind him, his eyes focused completely on you. You took a deep shuddering breath in, trying to stop crying. He waited, patient until you were calmer.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, eyes sweeping over you.

“No.” Your voice was so small.

“This ghost seemed to know you,” he said.

You gave a small nod, scared what admitting your past crimes would do. It terrified you.

“You’ve met her before?” he asked.

You gave a wet chuckle. His thumb gently brushed the tears away.

“Lars, I created her,” you said, “I did that to her.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

And just like that the whole sorry story tumbled from your lips, words tripping over themselves in their haste to be told. The fire when you were five, consuming the house, burning it to the ground. Lizzy caught inside, you pulled free, your best friend gone. The fact you caused the fire. Your haunting. Every attempt to help her move on and the anger at your part in her death. The resentment in the assumption you’d done it on purpose. The guilt you carried with you every day. The fear of who you were, if you were a monster, if you were an awful person.

And once the words had run out he did the one thing you couldn’t have expected.

His lips were soft when they pressed to your forehead. You froze, not sure what to do, heart fluttering. Large hands cupped your cheeks, forcing you to look at him.

“It was an accident. You’ve been trying to help her move on. You’re not a monster. You’re trying your best to make it up to her,” he said.

You fell forward, sinking into him, face pressed into his shoulder. His arms were hesitant as they came up, circling your body.

“I couldn’t save her,” you said, muffled against his shoulder.

“We’ll help her move on,” he said, “I promise.”

You pressed harder against him, hugging him tight, surprised by how light you felt after your confession. A problem shared was a problem halved. His lips pressed to your temple, soft and comforting and making you feel something addictive.

“I promise,” he whispered.

You turned your head, nose brushing against his. He froze, those beautiful blue eyes looking at you, something in them different. You lent forward, pressing your lips to his for a moment. It might have been the wrong time, but you’d almost died that night and you needed him to know. You drew back, worried about his reaction but the look on his face was like he’d just been let in on all the secrets of the universe. Like he was full of wonder. Like you’d given the greatest gift in the world.

He pulled you closer again, lips brushing yours with a sweetness that made your heart squeeze. You sighed into his mouth, clutching at his uniform. He was so warm under your hands and he was so beautiful and you couldn’t work out why you’d taken so long to kiss him.

“Oi, what’s this?”

You startled, pulling back from him. Trevor was looking less than impressed at the two of you, glaring down the walkway to your bodies curled into one another.

“We’re doing all the work over here and you’ve snuck away to hook up. Typical.” You could just tell he was rolling his eyes.

“I almost died. Give me a break,” you called back at him.

Lars froze in your arms. He pulled away, standing up, offering you a hand to help you to your feel. Your knees still felt unsteady, his arm around your waist helping you along. Plucking the smoking trap from the ground, he attached it to your belt.

“I promise,” he said again, confirming he wasn’t going to be spilling your secrets to the others.

You offered him a small smile, your first since the attack. He pulled you closer, another kiss pressed to your temple. You could have just melted from it.

The extra squeeze he gave you was exactly what you needed.

[mrsarcherofinfamy]

●Will Ospreay x Reader●

Summary: You are Kip Sabian's younger sister. You grew up with Kip and Will. You watch Will return to AEW to become a full time member. Kip invites him over after AEW.

@saramusazzi99

_________________________________________

*Y/N's POV*

Sitting on the couch in me and Kip's living room, I have AEW on for me to watch. Kip is currently at the arena hoping to get a match. I am currently at home recovering from a broken arm. It is fully healed but I have to wait until I get cleared to come back. I grab my bowl of strawberries and start eating them watching the TV. Tony Schiavone is out in the ring talking about how they are going to be making something official right now. I look at the TV eating my strawberries.

"Welcome to AEW, Will Ospreay!"

My jaw drops hearing his music hit and him walking down to the ring. I giggle at him motioning for a hug from Tony. Tony announces that Will is now All Elite. Will announces that his obligations in New Japan are done with. He is now here for full time work. I smile hearing that. I grab my phone and text Kip real quick.

"Did you know Will was going to be there tonight?"

I set my phone down and watch as the Don Callis family comes out to the ring. I roll my eyes, grab my empty bowl and walk to the sink. I put the bowl in the sink and walk back out to the living room. My phone chimes and I pick it up off the coffee table.

"Yeah! Wanted it to be a surprise for you! I also have one for you when I come home!"

"Okay! See you when you get here!"

I set my phone down on the coffee table and lay down on the couch covering myself up with a blanket.

_________________________________________

*later in the night*

I am laying in bed scrolling on my phone when I hear the front door open and two people talking. I get up, head out of my room and start walking down the hallway.

"Y/N?!"

I start walking down the stairs rubbing my eyes.

"Kip, what surprise did you get...... WILL!"

I run down the stairs and jump into his arms. He catches me as I wrap my legs around his waist.

"Y/N! How are you?"

"I'm great now! I missed you!"

"I missed you too!"

He squeezes me than puts me down. I smile looking over at Kip.

"Thank you for my surprise. It's the best."

"Of course. You guys wanna watch a movie or something?"

"Yeah. I'll go get some drinks."

I walk into the kitchen grabbing some waters out of the fridge. I kinda hear Kip talking to Will in the living room so I take a little longer getting the drinks.

"Are you gonna tell her? You just gotta admit it man. I promise she feels the same way about you. She tells me all the time."

"Really? She does?"

"Yes she does. She literally doesn't want anyone else but you. I promise that."

I grab the waters and walk out to the living room acting like I didn't just hear the whole conversation.

"Here ya go boys."

I set the drinks on the table and sit down on the couch next to Will. Kip is sitting in his recliner next to the couch. I pull my blanket up around me and lean against the back of the couch. Kip puts a movie on and we all watch it for a little bit. I start feeling my eyes getting heavy and I slightly start leaning over towards Will. I lay my head on his shoulder and he leans his head over putting his ontop of mine. I start falling asleep on his shoulder.

_________________________________________

*next morning*

I move my head a little feeling an arm under my head and another wrapped around my waist. I slightly open my eyes seeing Will sleeping next to me. I smile a little, put my hand on his side and snuggle the side of my face into his chest. He leans down a little, pressing a kiss on my forehead causing me to smile more.

"Good morning love."

"Good morning."

I look up at him as he places another kiss on my forehead. I start rubbing his side looking up at him.

"Y/N... there is something I need to tell you."

"Will.... I heard everything between you and my brother yesterday. And everything Kip told you about me is true. I do have a crush on you. I do only want you. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Will puts a finger over my lips shushing me.

"Y/N. I love you."

I look up at him smiling a little feeling my eyes tear up.

"I love you too."

"I really really love you. I've fallen in love with you over all these years. I was just to scared to admit it. Your brother has been pushing me to admit my feelings to you. I was just scared you wouldn't like me back."

I grab his face and kiss him hard. He wraps his arms around me kissing me back. He pulls back looking at me and I look at him smiling.

"I've been waiting to do that for a long time."

"Don't know why you waited so long."

[crispysoupwonderland]

~It Will All Be Ok~ (3)

William Afton/Dave Miller x Nb/AFAB reader

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Notes: kinda proofread, (art by other me again used base)

Cw: smut (kinda), kidnapping, non con

part 1, part 2

Read on Ao3

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

It’s been days since Callie died, it's hard to get out of bed in the mornings. However, you can’t give up on your job, your mom still needs you, you need to act like an adult. You try to get along with your co-workers the best you can but all you can form is a superficial surface-level relationship at most. 

Everything seemed normal, boring, to be honest. But you were still grateful to be making at least some money. Every time you went to work you always felt like someone was watching you though. The only abnormal thing that you could think of was a bright flash in the corner of your eye every once in a while. I think this place is making me go a bit crazy. 

One closing shift the kids seemed to have made a bigger mess than usual. There was birthday cake smeared all over the floor and walls, it had been completely massacred. You look in your usual cabinet where the cleaning supplies are kept, this won’t be enough for that mess. 

“ Do you know where the ‘heavy duty’ cleaning supplies are?” you ask one of your coworkers walking by.

“Um.. I don’t know,” she says uninterested,” maybe look in the basement?”

“Erm.. ok thank, where would that be.. I didn’t even know that we had a basement here”

She rolled her eyes, clearly just wanting to leave. “Um, I think the key would probably be in the boss’s office…” sarcasm is in her tone

You pressed your ear against the door and it was quiet. You open his office door and the room is empty, thank god, a small feeling of relief trickles through you. After the encounter where he asked you on a date, you didn't want to be alone with him due to the potential for awkwardness. 

You crept further into his office and towards his large wooden desk. His computer sat on the desk, along with some nicknacks, and a mess of scribbled notes. You start to casually open each drawer of the desk in search of the key, going from the top to the bottom. The first mostly contains more notes and papers. 

The bottom drawer requires more of a pull. You grasp the handle and yank it, it bursts open, and small white pieces of paper fly out. You pick one of the pieces up and turn it around, it's a photo. A photo of you. 

You pick up another, and another, and another. More photos of you seemingly taken without your knowledge. In fact, the whole drawer is full of photos of you.  How would someone even get these!? There's me at work, taking a walk, even, at my house… There was even one of me getting changed. HOLY SHIT. This is bad. 

You frantically pick up the photos and stuff them back into the drawer. All you could think of is the horrifying thought of him coming up into this room and being alone with you. You slammed the drawer and darted out of the room, shaking with fear. You made it back down into the main room, comforted by the presence of other people in the room again. Afton was nowhere to be seen but you trembled in possible anticipation of his presence. Dear god, what was all that, fuck, what am I gonna do?

You sped over to your coworker and she noticed the panicked look on your face.

“ Hey what the hell's going on with you? ” she asked, you were surprised that she actually cared. 

You slowed your breath in preparation for a response, “ ha…has the boss ever done anything weird to you or any of the other workers?” you ask with a desperate look on your face.

“What? No, I mean, he's a weird guy but he mostly keeps it to himself” she replied, “now go clean up that mess you were talking about before, i'm not doing your job for you.”

This is it, this is the last day of working at this place. I don’t care, I'll find another place to work, it’s not worth it. I’m sorry mom, I don’t mean to let you down but I’m honestly scared and really freaked out. 

You storm into work giving out an angered aura, you co-workers just glance at you instead of saying ‘hello’. This is the last shift I’m ever working at this shitty place, you check the schedule. FUCK. Why am I on the closing shift? I was supposed to leave a bit earlier today. 

You angrily grab your stuff and start your shift. Time goes by at a crawl. This shift lasts forever. 

Finally, the last customers leave and you finish your mopping. You put your stuff back and grab all your stuff from your locker. You feel a bit bad for not telling any of your co-workers that you're quitting, especially with such short notice. You go and knock on Mr. Afton’s office door, your heart is pounding, you don’t like confrontation and he scares the shit out of you. 

“ Come in” he mumbles in a monotone voice. 

You slowly turn the knob and enter his office, his face seems to have a surprised expression. 

“ Can I help you doll?”

“ I told you to stop fucking calling me names, I’m quitting”

He stands up and puts his hands on his desk, “What do you mean? Don’t you need the money, you can’t just quit without telling me, it's too short of notice.”

“Why the fuck do you have pictures of me in your desk”

At that very moment, he drops the facade, his face turns blank and his eyes cold. His eyes were dark, like the sky before a storm. His lips twitched, almost into a smile, which then quickly disappeared. 

“What do you mean darling?” there is something very off with his voice. 

“I fucking saw them, in your desk”

He just looks at you blankly, “BAHAHHAHAHHAHHAAHH!” 

Your face turns pale, what the hell is going on with this guy? 

“Darling, that's me showing my love for you, you don’t like it? After all I’ve done for you, you don’t like it? Why? You’re going to leave me, when you can fix me? I know that you can fix me. I’ve done horrible things but you can make them all go away. You can fix me, you can fix me…” he rambles on. He slowly stands up, his fists tightly clenched. He towers over you. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” You start to make your way to the door, your back facing it as you keep eye contact with him while you fiddle trying to find the door knob.

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you leave me…”

You turn around to find the door knob. You feel a cold sensation on your head, then it turns hot. It burns. Everything is turning black. Your body feels too heavy. You fall to the ground. 

“ Don’t worry my sweet, it will all be ok.” 

Your eyes flicker open, you’re in an unfair place. It’s cold and damp, there’s a strong mildew smell in the air. 

“You’re finally awake darling, sorry my sweet I didn’t want to hurt you,” he chuckles to himself “So doll, I patched you up but I just want to make sure that you can’t get away so I made sure to tie your hands extra tight…” 

You feel bandages neatly and tightly wrapped around your head. You clench your teeth and riggle your hands to try and get them loose, your attempts are fruitless. 

“Darling don’t try and get away, you’ll only hurt yourself more”

“L-let me go w-what the fuck a-are you insane” You can’t seem to keep yourself from crying and choking on your tears.

He reaches his hand out and wipes a tear from your face, he then sticks out his tongue and licks your tear from his finger. He smiles. “Y-you’re d-delisous” he holds his cheeks with his hands. 

You spit on him. “FUCK YOU LET ME GO YOU CRAZY BITCH!”

His eyes turn dark, and he angrily grabs your face. “My love, my sweet, my darling, if you want to leave me I’m going to gut you like a fish, don’t spit on me again.”

You realize that being aggressive will get you nowhere, you have to give in to him. 

“Y-yes, s-sorry Mr. Afton..”

“That’s it darling, good pet~, Now I know you were a binder so let me help you take that off. You’re not meant to be wearing it for too long of a time you know.”

“W-wait d-don’t touch me”

“It's ok love, I’m helping you, now I’m going to untie you and you are gonna put your hands up or-” he pulls a knife out of his pocket.

You look at him, eyes wide and glassy, filled with fear. You nod your head yes quickly and he cuts the binds holding your hands in place. You reluctantly and slowly raise your arms above your head and your face turns bright red. He lifts up your sweater and begins to take off your binder. You can’t help but turn your head to look away from him.

He watches your chest closely as he slowly takes it off and moves his face closer, you can feel his breath on your skin. He licks your nipple and you wince and jump a bit not expecting the stimulation. 

“W-what are you doing”

“What does it look like I’m doing whore?”

[king-mera]

Considering her very complicated, negative for half of Afterlife, feelings about her father, I was pretty surprised Callie was going to be a Ghostbuster. It felt a little forced, maybe I can see trying to understand Phoebe (and maybe even Egon) more but I’m not sure…

Thoughts?

This is really interesting to think about and I think there's several factors at play here:

Even though Callie is Egon's daughter, I think in a lot of ways she was written as a revised take on Dana Barret. Like Dana in the original movies, she gets possessed by Zuul and sees her child (or rather, children) in danger. Unlike Dana, she takes a more active role in saving the day very quickly. After being freed from Zuul and given a very rushed explanation to what's going on in the final battle of Afterlife, she immediately asks what she can do to help and goes on to activate the trap field in front of the house. By the next movie she's donned the suit and pack as a fully fledged Ghostbuster herself. This isn't meant as shade towards Dana, btw. She's a fantastic character in her own right who responds to situations in a way that is natural to her. However, I think there's always been the lingering feeling that she could've done more (I could do a whole separate ramble on her, but that's another topic).

In regards to her relationships with Egon and Phoebe, that is a pretty good explanation you've come up with! It would make sense for her to learn the tools of the Ghostbusting trade as a way to get closer to them. She barely got to know her father when he was alive, but knew he loved her deeply from the wall of her pictures in his study and the fact that he trusted all his belongings to her in his will. Phoebe is passionate about science, a subject Callie avoided because of the association with Egon, but now she has the opportunity to make up for lost time and get to know her daughter better. There's also to more obvious, practical reason to become a Ghostbuster, which is protecting her children! Throughout most of Afterlife, she lets Phoebe and Trevor roam as they please, which lands them in a lot of danger. I think she realized that there was no stopping them from pursuing the supernatural, so the best thing she could do was join them.

Finally, I suspect there's one more reason Callie became a Ghostbuster, and that's because of criticism from certain vocal parts of the fanbase. I remember when Afterlife was announced there were a LOT of complaints from people who hated the idea of kids being Ghostbusters. Never mind that they were great characters who would grow up as the series progressed. It seems that Sony chose to course correct by throwing more adults in the mix, and Callie just happened to be one of them. I agree that it would've been better if they included more explanation on her choice to become part of the team. The Dark Horse midquel comics had the opportunity to do that, but didn't. Callie's just a Ghostbuster now and we're supposed to accept that from the jump. I would still recommend reading those comics if you'd like to see more of Callie as she's written very well there. She has a much healthier relationship with Phoebe and actually cares a lot about making sure the family has good communication and teamwork (This makes the friction between Phoebe and Callie in Frozen Empire all the more frustrating, but oh well).

I myself have been working on a fanfic that addresses Callie having to use a proton pack for the first time… Remind me to get back to work on that soon lol

[tabithatwo]

HONEST QUESTION by why do u think no one (until shauna did at their fight) ever called jackie out on being oblivious to other people’s feelings? Like we all know jackie is never mean on-purpose nor does she ever want to cause any harm but there are times where she has no idea that she is indeed doing so.. or is somehow influencing that.. And its like why has no one else ever tried voicing this out to her? BC we can clearly see she would’ve done something to change her behavior if it was pointed out. I just dont get why no one tried to other than the fact that it was probably just pretty privilege or people just being too scared to say so

WELL okay this question really got me thinking lmao my answer is sort of twofold so walk with me here…I don’t fully think jackie IS oblivious to other peoples feelings and I don’t think people have any issues calling her out when she misreads tone. The people who do tend to snap at the others when they say stuff that annoys them—off the top of my head shauna (obviously lol), tai, nat, mari, and van—all do at jackie at some point.

I think in canon, with the group as a whole, jackie is actually very in tune with their emotions. She corrals them at the kegger and they genuinely react positively. I think she’s honestly extra in tune with people’s emotions, perhaps partly because has to work a little harder at things. I think that’s why she’s captain.

When I say “off” in my original post, I mean that I think people can sense the way that someone picks up on and addresses behavior (aka loading time/processing/trying to problem solve when that isn’t what’s desired/etc) more than I mean that jackie is saying shit that upsets people regularly. I think that, other than shauna, jackie doesn’t upset them much more than anyone else until later in the season when things get bleaker.

Once they’re in the woods, jackie has lost her entire social script. It’s funny to me how people say she was the enforcer of society, because really I think society has kicked her ass and she’s simply learned how to exist within it and doesn’t know how to adapt to change. This isn’t the setting she’s used to, she doesn’t know how the people she’s learned and adapted to will react to these things, because who the fuck does?? It’s now unpredictable and she’s just really lost in a compounding way. We see her actually cheer people up again when things fall back into a script that she has access to—the seance, doing mistys makeup for her, etc.

As far as shauna goes, she has NO problem letting Jackie know when she’s upset with her lol. She just gives her no clue why. Shauna doesn’t communicate her feelings with anyone really and she certainly doesn’t delve into big picture things. (There’s a tai shauna tangent here that I’ll go on one day but besides that relationship, shauna is really just closed off and expects people, especially jackie, to read her mind.) Shauna snaps or gives the cold shoulder and Jackie adjusts and readjusts, until she’s fixed it the best she can.

I think that shauna’s reaction to being called out for cheating with jeff is something that greatly colors a lot of peoples’ views on jackie, when really it says a whole fucking lot more about shauna herself. Shauna is a horribly fucking unreliable narrator. We see her get confused and forget what her own lies are when she’s fessing up to callie about adam. She was writing her own narratives and letting resentment build even before the crash. So to me, taking what shauna says during that fight at face value, over what we actually see of jackie and their relationship, is a mistake. Shauna’s backed into a corner. She’s caught out. Little miss I’m with homeland security, first panic instinct is to lie is going to make shit up. She was trying to hurt jackie. That was the goal. For a myriad of reasons—I love shauna shipman don’t get it twisted lol. (And we see jackie realize shauna is tying to hurt her. Jackie tries to hurt back for a bit and she sucks at it lol and then she slips back into shocked hurt.)

So anyway, yeah. I think shauna clearly felt overshadowed, but she just does. In general. All the time. We got to see that in 2x09 when she spells it out for us in her journal lol. So using this scene to read jackie as someone who actually does the things shauna is accusing her of feels like a big jump to me.

Shaunas feelings were real. But I don’t fucking think shauna hated soccer. I don’t think jackie ever actually pushed her into her shadow, unintentionally or not. I think that jackie couldn’t navigate shauna’s emotions in any way other than placating when she could and trying to cling to her, because she was constantly terrified that shauna would leave her. Why did jackie expect shauna to go to rutgers? Probably because that’d been their entire fucking plan and jackie had no way of knowing that shauna didn’t want that anymore. I’m gonna talk more about their fight one day when it isn’t a tangent on a different topic lol, but basically I think reading what shauna says in the fight as truth is a common and inaccurate take.

To the last point, I think prettiness definitely impacts a person’s life on like every scale and makes people overlook things they might not normally, but I don’t necessarily feel like jackie got off with no feedback basically. And I don’t think she was actually that hurtful. I’ve talked about the nat situation here and how it’s unique, but that isn’t jackie being oblivious, that’s jackie trying to get an outcome. She is clearly oblivious sometimes (when she tries to give a pep talk post insane leg breaking lol, when she tells travis about who nat has hooked up with, when she is pragmatic about things like rationing food) but really she rarely says overtly hurtful shit, even on accident. She does less so than the other girls.

So I think it all comes back to that thing that a lot of viewers do—view jackie as fake. The fact that she doesn’t really give any evidence of meanness sort of was my point. Even when there is nothing bad said, general social awkwardness can be taken as an indication of insincerity. I think this is sometimes especially true when someone is overall decent at masking, at least enough that they’re superficially seen as well liked. Because then people see a hiccup (which is really an adjustment to new input) and take it as an intentional behavioral change.

(Grain of salt, I am someone who had a keen fucking interest in being as pretty as possible at her age lol, to the degree that when I was asked how I got so good at “beauty stuff” I said “well, you can be weird if you’re hot enough!” Until I learned that was actually NOT the answer people were looking for of course lmao so I am close to the subject of performative attractiveness to skate by and I also know that it only tends to cover more superficial likability—aka homecoming queen, but you’re only got like 1-2 close friends and your teammates have no issue giving you bizarre looks when you miss the mark lol)

Thanks for the ask, clearly it got me thinking. Like a lot. Many tangents and I’m not even sure how well I addressed the questions lol but I don’t feel like going back and making it more focused so this is the ramble we get!! <3

[thegreatobsesso]

Writing share tag // PITCH (!!??)

@winterandwords tagged me to share some writing and I did get distracted drawing fanart of her characters but now I am fulfilling the tag with what I'm currently working on, WHICH IS a PITCH for The Insuppressible Callie Ray.

Feedback is welcome!!! At the end of the month I'm going to be submitting it for a professional critique and actually pitching it to a couple agents at a virtual conference, so, like, it's go-time. 😱

Callie Ray is an urban legend. A cautionary tale. Tucked away in a snow-blanketed castle, Simon Bennett assures his students they’re safe at Delaney School for Magicians. Everyone knows he failed to protect his friend, Peter Silver, from her twelve years ago and her name still haunts these halls as much as Simon’s guilt-wracked dreams. He’s a telepath, for god’s sake - he should have seen her coming. If anything helps him sleep, it’s knowing she’s locked up, her abilities suppressed. Callie Ray is a killer. Riley Silver can use that. Somewhere wholly off the grid, Rileyis closer than ever to stripping her own magic out of her body. She’s using the same method Callie did to extract her brother’s magic, except without the killing part. Which no one’s ever done, but Riley will. When it’s over, she won’t be a medium anymore; won’t have to listen to the constant cries of the dead. Callie Ray is a wrecking ball. Riley will be a syringe. Keeping that power out of the hands of people who want to eradicate magic is a problem for another day, and that’s just pragmatism. One thing at a time.  And miles off the coastline, the sun is shining, seagulls are singing, and the waves lap against barnacled steel under Callie Ray’s window. It’s a beautiful day for a prison break. Sure, they’ve got her loaded with enough suppressants to kill an ox. But she also happens to be the only magician alive capable of burning that shit off like carbs, and it’s high time the world knew it. Because here’s the thing: an ancient artifact of unparalleled power waits deep in the caverns below Delaney.  It’s only the most expertly fortified castle in the world. Piece of cake. Callie loves cake, and she knows every inch of Delaney, every flickering enclave, nautilus stair, and ivory-carved constellation adorning its soaring ceilings. And before you mistake that for nostalgia or anything as saccharine and unproductive, know that she’d raze the place to the ground to get that orblex and the power it holds into her unrepentant hands. Because if Callie Ray is anything, she's the fucking end. The Insuppressible Callie Ray mixes parallel redemption and corruption arcs for two messy nightmare women with one nice guy stuck in the middle, trying his best. Enemies-to-family, twisted queer feelings, cinematic magic fights, and unapologetically bombastic dialogue were liberally dumped into the cauldron and stirred long enough to form a thick, spicy duology. It is my debut.

[irenespring]

TV characters and their mentors

I have realized as I watch TV and find myself liking a character I also start considering who their mentor in @lorata's THG District Two system would be, almost as a personality test. I've put too much thought into it to not publish it somewhere. So, here is a very niche character analysis. TV characters and their District Two mentors. If you are a fan of these shows and have no idea what I'm talking about because you don't read Lorata, do it now. I haven't read the Hunger Games since middle school but I return to Lorata's District Two every few months.

The Mentalist:

Patrick Jane: Callista. The way this fits is actually one of the reasons I decided to actually write a post. He considers himself immune to the rules. He hates authority. He is charming and manipulative, with only fleeting indications he has a conscience. A chaos agent. Exactly what Callista looks for. He would absolutely break up the career alliance early because he decides he doesn't want to kill the youngest tributes if he doesn't have to for his survival and he would rather kill his "allies." It gets Callista in hot water with the other alliance mentors but she is just like "he's excellent."

Teresa Lisbon: Brutus. Lisbon is actually a lot like what Petra would probably become in twenty years. Still hot-headed, still stubborn and rules-focused, still wanting respect at all costs... but a little more chill about it. She's a pretty easy choice for Brutus because she gets things done and doesn't resort to the flashy nonsense of certain Calli tributes. Speaking of... Jane and Lisbon kind of work as an inversion of the classic "back-to-back Victors are a wild girl and chill boy" and would probably hate each other at first before slowly becoming closer as time goes on.

SVU (this is a weird case because I've published a THG AU, but lets just say all of them are Two in this case):

Alex Cabot: This is the hardest of all of them for me, but I'm going to say Devon. She fits the dreamer archetype of always wanting to make things better for everyone (even with the weird season 18 twist SVU pulled, Alex is still fighting for what she perceives as justice). That twist however does rule her out for most of Brutus' branch because it's coloring too far outside the lines. She's very charming and witty, but is focused on trying to do right in the world, rather than the more self-focused goals of Callista or Misha (my runner up for this character).

Olivia Benson: Brutus. Pretty much for the same reasons as Lisbon. She is very closely tied with the rules; even when she disagrees with them, she never really thinks about leaving. She is District Two in the AU I published, so I'm to promote myself and say for more insight into how she views the Games as a Career, go read that.

Rafael Barba: Lyme. The essence of a Lyme tribute. Abusive childhood, attachment issues, using flash to cover for insecurities, depression, and ambition. Has a very tough time in early recovery because he has difficulty squaring the horrors of the Games with his motivation for volunteering---a Claudius-esque (though less intense) desire for family and acceptance.

Sonny Carisi: Tough to decide between Devon and Emory but I'm going to go with Emory. He bakes for everyone. He tries to be a good person even the face of horrors. He has no real desire to do violence to people except when under massive amounts of pressure. He didn't even necessarily need to be volunteering, he just did his best, tried to make friends, and figured they'd tell him to stop when he failed.

Bones (this is another interesting case because I have written a THG AU but have not posted because of how much it uses Lorata's characters in the absence of mentor characters in Bones, and in the AU Temperance is from District Nine, but they will both be Two in this case):

Temperance Brennan: Artemisia. She isn't really sorry about anything from Career training, viewing the Program as the only rational choice given the Capitol's governmental system. She often insults other candidates on accident, because she is the best according to the rankings so why do they take offense when she points it out? She avoids serious injury because she really is the best. It cracks Misha up just reading the file. After it becomes clear in recovery that many of her nightmares come from the foster family that she was sent to after he parents and brother abandoned her, Misha tracks them down to make sure they...understand her displeasure.

Seeley Booth: Emory. He is Two in the AU I'm writing so I've thought this through at length. In the show, he is very pre-occupied with being a good person despite having killed people, and Emory is described as the most decent of the Victors. I've thought of an argument where as Lyme is to Claudius, so Emory would be to Booth growing up in District Two. He also has a habit of pushing all his emotions down because he views them as unimportant, something Emory is shown to have a very good way of countering as a mentor. Emory and Misha meet up to talk about how their Victors are clearly infatuated with each other, Emory dismisses it because Misha had a crush on her, but Misha is like "no this is different." They wager a batch of cookies (Misha's would be baked by Devon). Misha accepts her cookies at Seeley and Temperance's wedding.

ER:

Kerry Weaver: Lyme. A lot of the characters I like have similar vibes, so the explanation for this one is kind of similar to Rafael. She has a harsh persona that is used as a cover for someone struggling with abandonment issues and wanting to belong. As a District Two candidate, she likely would be a lot like Petra (quick to anger, sensitive to being disrespected or not taken seriously), but with less regard for duty and more personal investment. She cares about the people of her district, but she wants to win for herself and the family she would be promised. I've almost written an essay on Kerry and how she behaves and her mental health while she thinks she has a shot at fitting in to ER's found family, and how it declines after she realizes that they will never accept her around season 7 and 8. She really, really wants a family, and Lyme is drawn to those types of tributes.

[jobrookekarev]

could you potentially do a prompt where arizona mentions alex (to jo) when she returns? i’m interested to see your take on that, especially now that she’s with he-who-shall-not-be-named

AN: i loved this idea and may or may not write about Jo going to New York. 🤷‍♀️

It’s Nice to Have a Friend

Words: 2,244

Summary: Arizona comes back to Seattle and works with Jo before trying to fix her and Alex’s relationship, despite how Jo has moved on. 

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy.

Relationship:  Arizona Robbins and Jo Wilson, Alex Karev/Jo Wilson (Mentioned), Arizona Robbins/Callie Torres, (Mentioned)

Characters: Jo Wilson and Arizona Robbins, Carina DeLuca (Mentioned) 

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences.

Additional Tags: Cannon, Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship,  Deviates From Canon, LGBTQ Themes, One Shot, Happy Ending, Fluff and Angst, Drama, Friendship/Love, LGBTQ Character, Domestic,  Angst with a Happy Ending, 

Read at AO3

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14334605/1/It-s-Nice-to-Have-a-Friend

…………………………………………………………………

Of course, Jo was avoiding Arizona.

The second Jo heard that she would be visiting she planned accordingly. Arizona was there to teach the interns about the work at the Robbins-Herman Foundation, and both Surgery and OB residents and interns were required to attend. Carina thought she would be excited, as she was excited to see Arizona, but Jo wasn't.

Therefore, she was unable to escape it, even by trying to fake an emergency. Arizona wanted her up front to help her present and Jo did her best at trying to remain back especially as she and Carina talked. She ultimately ran away the second the presentation was done, avoiding all small talk with Arizona. 

She had strategically stacked her schedule with a general surgery she knew was outside of Arizona's specialty.

She didn't want to see Arizona, she didn't want to talk to her, to hear the word she would say, she didn't even want to think of her being in the building. Until Melina went into labor. 

Jo had promised Melina she'd be there to deliver her daughter as she had a cleft palate. She worked really hard to get a report with her and get her to trust her and the hospital. Melina's previous baby had died because of a medical error and up until her baby had been diagnosed with a cleft palate she had refused to deliver in a hospital. 

So Jo of course stepped in the second Melina was in labor. 

“You're doing great Melina, just a couple more pushes and your baby is going to be in your arms,” Jo said to her as she sat between Melina's legs. The head had been peeking out and Jo was ready to catch the baby. 

“I want to feel her head, I want to know she’s okay,” Melina said, reaching forward as her husband held her up, and Jo took her hand and guided her down to feel her baby’s head. 

“She’s got a lot of hair, can you feel it?” Jo asked her as she smiled.

“I can feel it,” Melina said as she cried with happiness. 

“Okay, push, push,” Jo said as Melina pushed and the head was delivered. “Okay Melina, just give me a second, pause and breathe.”

“You're doing so good, my love,” her husband said as he focused on her, holding her up and as he leaned in and whispered words of encouragement to her. 

Jo assessed the baby's cleft palate, as she cleared their airway. It didn’t look as bad. 

“Okay, I have to push again,” Melina said as she felt another contraction coming. 

“Okay push, push, and your baby's going to be here,” Jo promised her as Melina pushed and out popped and Jo caught the beautiful baby. 

They let out a cry, as Jo held them up for Melina and her husband to see. Melina cried with happiness as her husband stood there in awe. 

“It’s a happy and strong girl,” Jo said as she placed the baby on their chest as Melina held her baby. 

“She's beautiful,” Melina cried as she cradled her baby. “Dr. Wilson, her cleft isn't that bad is it?” 

“Let’s take a look, Jo said as she waited for Melina to hand the baby over. 

She did reluctantly and watched intently as Jo took the baby girl over to the baby warmer. Jo suctioned her mouth as the baby cried and grabbed her flashlight. She looked in the baby’s mouth and lip to see the palate and couldn't stop herself from letting out a breath as she saw the large open cleft palate. The entire roof of their mouth was gone. 

“Let's page the on-call pediatrician,” Jo said as the nurse next to her nodded and one of the other nurses ran out.

“Alright, I'm just going to take the baby to get them measured and weighed,” Jo said, turning back to give Melina a small smile. 

“What do we have?” Arizona's voice shocked her and Jo nearly jumped back. 

She didn't say anything as one of the nurses explained the case to Arizona as she assessed the baby. Jo stepped back and looked over at Melina. 

“I have to push again.” 

“Okay, let’s deliver the placenta.”

“What about my baby?” 

“She’s got a severe cleft palate, but Dr. Robbins is the best pediatric surgeon I know, she’s in good hands.”

While she let Arizona focus on the baby, everything was in slow motion as she helped Melina. Jo listened to Arizona as she treated the baby giving her an assessment and before the baby calmed. Jo disposed of the placenta and Melina’s bleeding was under control as Arizona placed the baby back in Melina's arms.

She said a lot of things about the cleft lip and palate and her plan for the baby, but she also reassured them that they still had a happy healthy baby. 

“You're lucky Dr. Wilson is one of the best.” Jo was quick to catch this Arizona as beamed over at her, but she could only manage a forced smile and a nod in agreement. 

“I'll leave you two to get to know your baby,” Jo said as she quickly escaped the room, but Melina and her husband were too enthralled in their baby to notice. 

“Jo wait,” Arizona called after her, but Jo was halfway down the hallway. 

She didn’t wait or stop to look back as she started to run down the halls looking for any escape. She didn't realize how nervous she was until she stopped at the elevator, pressing the buttons on repeat before deciding she should take the stairs. She quickly ran and opened the door, but before she could escape into the stairwell, Arizona caught her arm. Arizona pushed her forward as they both stepped into the stairwell.

“I have to go, I have another case in the ER,” Jo said as she quickly tried to run down the stairs and escape the impending conversation she knew was about to happen. 

“Jo wait please just let me talk to you for a moment,” Arizona said as she tried to plead with her and kept her grasp on Jo's elbow.

“Well forgive me for not wanting to talk about the man who fucken left me!” Jo yelled as she escaped Arizona and ran down the stairs. 

“He only told me a week ago!” Arizona said in defeat as Jo paused, she didn't turn around, but Arizona went on. 

“Up until then, he had told me that you both were still in Seattle, happily married and that both of you had adopted Luna. I mentioned that I was going to Seattle and that I was excited to see you all and he broke down until told me everything. About Izzie and the twins and Kansas and everything. I was so angry with him so much that I took a pit stop in Kansas just to yell at him. Then I saw how miserable he is out there.” 

“I don't care,” Jo said, cutting her off and turning around to face her. “I'm glad he's miserable, he made his bed now he can lie in it. I rebuilt my life without him. I'm an amazing general surgeon and I'm at the top of my class for OB. I have a family, a daughter, without him. I rebuilt everything without him. ”

“I know,” Arizona said softly, as Jo let out her anger in a breath. 

“When Callie and I divorced, we had the most bitter custody battle. I literally went to war with Callie over our daughter. And looking back I regret the way I handled things we both do. After I moved to New York,  we managed to repair our relationship and fall in love again…”

“Just because Alex is your baby brother and I'm bisexual doesn't mean that our relationship is anything like yours.” 

“Okay hold up,” Arizona said, holding your hands up as Jo paused and huffed, crossing her arms. “I had no idea you were bisexual, so we're going to have to revisit this later. But I'm not trying to play matchmaker.” 

“Oh really?” Jo asked, raising an eyebrow at her. 

“Okay maybe a little bit but Alex is brother to me and you're family too, anyone who works at Grey-Slone is family to me. And I want my family to be happy. Callie and I had the worst divorce and now we're getting married again! and I love you and I love Alex and I'm not trying to take sides in this, but I am saying that there is a chance that you could repair your relationship.”

“Arizona, no.”

“Yes, because you two were so in love! Out of all the couples at Gray-Sloan you guys were the one every rooted for. I remember your third year residency when you and Alex, broke up. I thought you'd never forgive him then, but you did! You were so much in love that you repaired your relationship and came back stronger. I just want you and Alex to have the same happiness that Callie and I have.” 

Arizona reached out and put her hands on Jo's shoulders, but Jo shook her head pressing her fingers to her head as she rubbed her forehead. 

“You don't understand,” Jo said, looking at Arizona and begging her to listen. 

“Alex and I didn't just divorce, he left me for his ex-wife and his kids! And I understand why he did it, but he still left me. It was a choice that he made to end our marriage, instead of trying to work it all out and be honest with me. He chose our divorce. And yes, I still love him, deeply. But I can never love him again because of the trust that he broke. If we ever get back together there will always be a part of me that will question if he's just going to leave me again. I can't live like that and I won't raise my daughter in a relationship like that. Luna doesn't deserve that, She deserves to have parents who love and support each other. Alex and I will never have that.” 

“Is that why you're with Link?” 

“Yes, Link is my best friend and I love him,” Jo sighed as she thought about the life she and Link had together and the ring he had in his drawer for her. 

Arizona was silent for a moment. She looked away from Jo's eyes and nodded, before she pulled Jo in for a hug. “I know I'm sorry I didn't mean to over step.”

“Thank you,” Jo said, as she smiled and relaxed.

“I know that you have a life here in Seattle with Luna and Link, but I'd like to accelerate your studies and offer you a fellowship in New York. You are so talented and I've seen you handle tricky situations that most third year residents would drown in. Carina said that the two of you have transformed the maternity ward here in Seattle and cut the maternal mortality rate from 30% down to 3%. I want to implement those changes in New York and bring those changes to every single hospital in the US.”

Arizona beamed a smile and Jo stood in awe of the offer Arizona had given her.

“But you should also know that I've also offered Alex a job in New York and I think he’ll take it.”

“You can't play matchmaker, Arizona,” Jo said as she sighed and shook her head. “I know that it's only been a few weeks for you, but it's been three years for me. My daughter is the best thing that's ever happened to me and it never would have happened if he hadn't left me. And yeah, maybe we would have adopted her together, but it doesn't change the fact that he left. I'm alone and nothing you or him would change that. He made the choice to leave and I made the choice to stay away from him.”

Jo looked up at Arizona, pleading with her to accept this and she finally nodded. “I understand, but I'm still hoping that you'll at least come to visit New York, let me show you around the Robbins-Herman Foundation, please?”

Jo looked down but smiled. “I'll consider it.”

“Great,” Arizona said as she reached out and wrapped Jo in a hug. “Now tell me all about this research you and Carina are doing on intrauterine scarring.” 

“Well, Carina and I have started researching how to use the uterus's ability to shed its lining and discard tissue to shed the scar tissue and completely rebuild the walls of the uterus again.”

Jo smiled as they started to walk downstairs together and Arizona hung on her every word. It was clear to Arizona that Jo was passionate about her work, and she was proud of her. It took a special person to succeed in this field and Arizona was so happy to have Jo be a part of this. They talked for hours, meeting after work at Jo's Penthouse where Arizona was able to meet Luna and she absolutely doted on her. Arizona was able to convince Jo to come to New York, at least for a conference and to look around the foundation. Yet, Jo didn't want to accept her offer of a job. Still, they promised to keep in contact and Jo felt good about having her friend back in her life.

[some-creep]

Tumblr doesn't let me @ you because it's the website ever. However.

--------

She closed her eyes, head resting on her hand as she let the smell of coffee do its best to try and wake her up. Her laptop sat open in front of her, the screen long since dimmed from lack of activity. Ten in the morning was just too early for Marie's brain to start working. Though, by now, it was closer to 10:30. She whined to herself, rubbing at her face to try and rouse herself before she dozed off at the kitchen table. She told herself if she did that, the coffee Callie had made for her would be cold, or worse, room temperature. She willed herself to take a drink before shivering at the overly sugary liquid. Callie insisted the sugar would help wake her up, but Marie was pretty sure she just wanted to steal a drink or two from her cup.

If Callie was here, Marie might have a better chance of staying awake. No such luck today. Callie had an early appointment with a photographer for a makeup advertisement she was in. This left Marie alone to try and get something done. By herself. So early. With no one to nudge her awake.

Marie figured she'd dozed off for real when she heard the front door opening. Callie was back early. Probably. She opened her eyes and tapped on her laptop's spacebar to turn the screen back on. It wasn't even eleven, meaning she hadn't slept for long. Maybe Callie had forgotten something? Marie yawned, listening to footsteps shuffling into the kitchen.

"Hey, you're home early, did something…happen-" it wasn't Callie, though it wasn't anyone she felt the need to straighten up for either.

She leaned back in her chair, stretching. "Hey, Four."

Agent 4 stood a few steps from the kitchen table, holding a folder in her hand. Her posture was straight and her expression unusually serious.

"Is Callie here?" She asked, glancing around the room.

"Uh. No? She's at a job. Why?" Marie paused. "How did you get in here anyway. Wasn't the door locked?"

"You gave me a spare key, remember?"

"Not really." She shrugged. Marie wasn't that concerned. She'd probably given it to her when Callie was missing and forgotten about it. It wasn't as if she was thinking clearly at the time.

Marie took a drink before speaking again, "so what did you need Callie for?"

Agent 4 shifted, looking at her feet before back in Marie's general direction but ultimately avoiding eye contact. "I didn't really want to talk business with just you."

"Business?" Marie repeated, grinning. "Since when do you talk 'business'?" She leaned forward, watching Four avert her gaze once again.

"Since now. Can I sit?"

Marie gestured at one of the empty kitchen chairs, leaning back. She tried to imagine what business Four wanted to discuss. Maybe she wanted free promotion on music she was working on. Did she even do that? Marie didn't really know, though most Inklings seemed to have some interest in music. Maybe she wanted to do work for them? Or just Callie? It made sense she'd want to look for work and connections as a student. Or had she graduated by now? Either way.

She placed her hands on her keyboard, looking at Four, amused by her nervousness still. "Alright. I'm ready for business time."

"This is serious, Marie."

"Serious business." She nodded.

"I mean it."

"Okay, okay, fine. What's up?"

Agent 4 placed the folder on the table, pressing her hands against it to keep Marie from grabbing it. Of course, this only piqued her interest. Four bit her lip, staring at the back of Marie's laptop. "I want you to pay me." She said, voice trembling.

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Pay you for?"

"For the work I did for you. For *Callie*."

"Huh? What work?"

"The work I did for Squidbeak. It's not cheap living in Inkopolis, y'know? I think my roommate has someone to help support her, but I don't, and it's hard to find work that actually pays enough to cover rent, let alone everything else and-"

"Nah. Agents don't get paid." She said, not giving it even a moment's thought. Four's rant was depressing, but it really wasn't her problem.

Four pressed her fingertips into the folder, still not looking at Marie. "I saved the Great Zapfish. I saved *Callie*. I risked my life for you guys. Isn't that worth anything to you?"

"You volunteered."

Four was silent for a while, hands balled into fists. Marie had told her already there were no parades for secret agents. She wasn't really sure what the point of all of this was. Four hadn't been this insistent after Callie came home, so why now?

"Was that all your serious business, Four?"

"I've got a real name, you know. Do you even know what my real name is?"

"Where's all this coming from?"

"You don't, do you. You act like you know everything about me but you don't actually know anything about me as a person! Was I just someone for you to take advantage of because it was convenient for you? Because you thought I didn't know any better?"

"I didn't 'take advantage of you', you volunteered, like I said."

Marie was sat straight up now, a stony expression on her face. She wasn't going to let Four sit there and accuse her of things that weren't true. She never made Four do anything. Not once.

"You really think this is the best way to beg for money?" She laughed humorlessly. "You thought you'd just come in here and yell at me because you're, what, late on rent? Car broke down?"

"I saw something I don't think I was supposed to." Four said, looking up at her. Marie backed down, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Dunno what that could be."

"Yes you do."

Marie couldn't be sure, but she thought that, ever so briefly, Agent 4 was looking at her in disgust. She was probably just imagining things. Four hadn't said anything concrete, and Marie wasn't going to give anything away.

"It's pretty sick if you ask me. I don't think I would have 'volunteered' like you keep saying if I knew."

"I don't know what you're even talking about anymore."

"I thought you guys were my friends. Callie at least. But after this? No. Still, I really didn't want to have to do this. I don't *want* to hate you guys but I can't even look at you after all of this. I gave you a chance to do things the easy way."

"Still don't know what this is about." She could feel herself trembling and held her breath to try and stop it. She did know. But she didn't know to what extent.

Four held up the folder keeping it pinched closed. "You. And Callie."

Marie felt her body go cold. She said nothing.

"After you used me it's the least you could do to help support me. Otherwise…" Four fanned the folder back and forth, as if taunting Marie.

"You're bluffing."

"Is that really what you think?"

Marie froze before she tried to speak, mouthing words with no sound and no meaning. She couldn't force a coherent thought, let alone a sentence.

"Are you gonna listen to me now?"

"What d… what's in…there."

"Are you going to listen to me?"

Marie nodded weakly, feeling distinctly as if her life was officially over.

Four opened the folder, pulling out a printed copy of an all too clear image of her and Callie at Tentakeel Outpost, hiding, or so they thought, next to the shack. Marie had her back pressed against it and Callie stood in front of her, kissing her. She felt herself crying, though she still didn't move.

"I have the -rest- of it, too."

"You can't…"

"Give me a reason I shouldn't."

"I… Four–"

"That *isn't* my name."

If she ever did know Agent 4's name, she had no chance of remembering it now. "I'm sorry."

Four pulled out another picture, seemingly just to torment her now, of Callie kneeling down in front of Marie to…

She couldn't look. She felt sick. She felt violated. "Please don't tell Callie about this."

"You're using her too, aren't you."

Marie's head shot up at the accusation. It was one she'd often grappled with herself. Sometimes she did feel like she was just using Callie, despite Callie insisting otherwise. But Callie depended on her so much that it wasn't hard to consider the idea that she only went along with Marie's perversions in order to be taken care of.

"Please don't say that. I'm… I'm not. I wouldn't do that."

"So you're above using people?"

"No– yes– I don't know. What do you want!"

"However much you think this little secret is worth."

Marie blurted out the first response she could think of, body in survival mode. "Ten. Ten percent. Of everything. From today on. Bank accounts. Sales. Appearance fees. All of it."

"Ten percent! Maybe ten percent can be what you keep. Unless, you really don't think this secret is life ruining and you're just being dramatic~." Four was enjoying her first taste of real power over someone a little too much. She seemed as if she'd already forgotten her original intentions for coming here. Things were getting out of hand.

"I - fine, fine fifty. That's my half of everything. The whole. The. The whole brand. The-"

"Aren't you retired? Can't imagine your brand carries much weight anymore. Especially not after this."

"After what? You didn't tell anyone did you? You won't tell if you get what you want, right? That's the deal. Four. This is serious. This is my life we're talking about, it's not just my brand. What do you want, just tell me."

She liked to hear Marie beg, that much was clear by her expression. But Marie was beginning to realize her begging was only spurring her on and making things worse.

"I want you to start by calling me my name."

"I don't know your name!" She said, slamming her hand down on the table, "I never knew your name because you didn't tell me and I. I didn't really see a reason to ask because I thought you were fine with Four. I thought it was. I thought it was just a nickname between us or. Or something I don't know. I thought you liked the agent thing. Three likes the agent thing."

"Bet you don't know Three's name either."

Marie shut up. She didn't know Three's name.

"You're really selfish, y'know that?"

She nodded.

"Everything has always gone right for you, hasn't it? Miss Superstar."

Marie nodded again. The accusation wasn't true, but now wasn't the time to argue or try and correct her.

"Maybe it's time something doesn't go your way. Money's only good for so long, and you have so much of it I'm not sure it'll even matter if you lost some to me."

"Please–" she begged. Maybe she'd wake up from this bad dream soon. "Do you really want to hurt Callie this way too?"

Four shrugged. "Can't be helped."

"Didn't you just say you thought of Callie as your friend? I know I'm not your friend but. But. There's gotta be something. You don't understand what'll happen if you tell people about us."

"Okay, okay, fine. Transfer me…say. 5,000g to start."

Marie only just fought back the urge to say, "that's it? all of this for that little money?" Instead, she fumbled to unlock her phone to give in to Four's demands. She considered doubling it but she feared offending her further by giving off the impression that money really didn't matter to her at such small amounts.

"It's done. Do you promise to stop now?"

Four set the folder down, taking her hands off of it. Marie grabbed it, clutching it to her chest like a stuffed toy, rocking gently with it in her arms to try and calm down.

Agent 4 stood up from the kitchen table, looking down at her with disgust. "Hey, Marie."

Marie didn't answer, seeming to no longer process what was going on around her. Four continued anyway.

"Should have bought the camera from me instead."

[maria021015]

“We've got an explosion at the Sheriff’s station!” Sheriff Stilinski called out into his radio for backup. They had arrived too late - the bomb had already gone off. “Multiple officers down! We need an ambulance ASAP, on the double.”

The station was littered with soot and rubble and groaning bodies. Bodies that included Xander Callis. Noah rushed to the young deputy’s side. His injuries were by far the worst of everyone. His uniform was torn and stained with dark blood that spread from the fractured beam protruding from his torso. “Xander? Xander, can you hear me?” Stilinski questioned, and Xander’s chin dipped slightly in a shaky nod.

“Scott? Scott!” Stiles’ eyes landed upon the sight, calling the werewolf over through the chaos to where the young deputy lay in a pool of crimson. Scott faltered at the view of Zaida's brother, his head cocking as his ears picked up on the sound of Xander’s heartbeat growing weaker amid the cries of the injured reverberating through the dark space.

Chris backed away from the young man who had once been his prodigy - the man he had taken under his wings and taught how to be a hunter - to allow Scott to take his place. The werewolf kneeled by Xander’s side next to the Sheriff, who shrugged off his jacket and rolled it into a makeshift doughnut bandage. Noah wrapped it around the base of the beam emerging from Xander’s stomach to staunch the blood flow. It was hard for Chris not to feel that twinge of guilt in his gut - it had been his plan to remain at the station to see what the Nogitsune was up to by bringing them there. Xander could have gotten away unharmed, he’d had enough time after the phone call to get to safety. Instead, he’d turned back to free them. Chris knew it was partially his fault that the young deputy was lying there clinging onto life three feet away from him, and he probably would have been right next to Xander, had Derek not shielded him.

“Derek…?” The hunter turned to the werewolf beside him who was staggering weakly. Gripping Derek’s shoulders, Chris helped him to stand upright.

“I'm okay…” Derek gasped through short breaths, wincing in pain. Chris realised with a jolt that the werewolf’s back was a ruined canvas of glass shards and blood.

“You saved my life.” Chris acknowledged, his eyes widening in surprise. This was the werewolf whose entire family Kate had murdered in cold blood. The werewolf whom Allison had attempted to capture and kill on multiple occasions. Derek had no reason to have protected Chris, and yet he’d done it anyway. Perhaps what Gerard had told him about the nature of a werewolf was as wrong and twisted as everything else he’d been taught by his father.

“Can you do something?” Void Stiles looked up at Scott with hopeful, pleading eyes, knowing the werewolf wouldn’t resist. “Take his pain? Anything to make it easier?”

Scott nodded with tearful eyes, gripping Xander’s hand and embracing the deputy’s pain. Agony rolled up his arm as blackened veins spread towards his chest, but Xander’s screwed-up expression relaxed as he slipped into a comfortable state. “Thank you,” Xander’s words tumbled from his lips in a deep sigh of relief.

“Scott, we gotta get him outta here. I’ve got an ambulance that’ll be out the back in minutes,” Noah ushered the two teen boys away from Xander as Parish and Clark carried over a stretcher.

“Scott…my sister…” Xander grunted as he was shifted onto the fabric structure and hoisted into the air.

“Don’t worry about Zaida, we’ll find her and we’ll find a way to help her,” Scott promised, determination gleaming in his brown eyes as Xander was carried away.

“Scott,” Stiles’ voice drew Scott’s attention back over to his best friend only to find him looking at the girl rushing into the room and weaving through officers.

“Kira-” Scott began, briefly wondering how she’d gotten to the station and what she was there.

“The Oni - they're coming.” She huffed, her chest heaving and hair dripping wet from the downpour of rain outside. “I heard my mom talking to my dad at the school - she’s the one who's been sending the Oni after the Nogitsune, and she just sent more. Stronger ones.”

“Stiles, we gotta get you outta here,” Scott’s head whipped towards his best friend in alarm. “If Zaida’s been working through you by some telempathic connection…the Oni might be able to sense it. They might be able to sense her - or the Nogitsune - through you.”

“And if they do,” Kira added with a grim expression. “They’re gonna kill you.”

This time when Void Stiles’ face dropped into a look of fear, it wasn’t fake. “Alright, let’s go,” He agreed and the trio left the station in a hurry, not so much as glancing back at Chris and Derek. Stiles led the way to the Jeep, unlocking the vehicle and clambering into the driver’s side.

“Where are we going?” Kira questioned, leaning forward from the back seat to pop her head between Scott and Stiles as the Jeep sped out of the parking lot and across the slick roads, rain bucketing down around them.

“We’re going to the place where I work,” Scott answered, and Stiles looked at him in surprise, having thought there would have been somewhere better to go.

“Don’t you work at an animal clinic?” Kira’s brows drew together in a frown of confusion.

“Yeah. The place is lined with mountain ash, just like my house.” The werewolf explained. “It will buy us some time.”

“But they can get through it?” Stiles reminded the boy of how the Oni had broken through the Mountain Ash barrier at his house only just the other night.

“Eventually…” Scott admitted sheepishly but didn't offer any alternatives, because truth be told, there were none.

“Nobody's got any better ideas?” Void glanced around the car, his lips thinning in frustration when he did not receive an answer. “Okay, sure. Animal clinic.”

“Why has no one been answering their phones?” Allison’s voice blurred through Scott’s phone as he answered the huntress’ call and lifted the device to his ear. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve all been really busy running around trying to stop Zaida,” Scott answered as Stiles took a sharp turn and the Jeep’s tyres almost gave way before he regained control of the vehicle.

“So you’re sure it’s her?” Lydia spoke up from the other end, sounding defeated. Through it all she’d held out hope that her best friend would turn up unharmed and entirely herself

“Yeah, we’re sure. Stiles is with me right now - and Kira too. We’re headed to the clinic. There are more Oni out there.” Scott explained regretfully. “A bomb went off at the Sheriff’s station - Xander was hit. Bad. There were a bunch of other officers hurt too. They’re being taken to Beacon Memorial.”

“Oh my God, is Xander gonna be okay?” Allison gasped at the news.

“We don’t know yet, I’m waiting for my mom to let me know.” The werewolf answered solemnly. “Where have you guys been all day?”

“Well, we found out where Derek and Peter disappeared to after they drove Cora back to her old pack.” Lydia drawled. “Turns out they got themselves captured and interrogated by Mexican hunters while trying to steal back Talia Hale’s claws. Peter gave me some information about my powers in exchange for me telling him about a memory Talia took from him before she died.”

“What was the memory?” Stiles chimed in curiously, leaning over to be heard through Scott’s phone.

“You remember Malia Tate?” Allison questioned rhetorically.

“Yes, of course we all remember the coyote we turned back into a girl after eight years, that’s kinda hard to erase from memory.” Stiles shot back sarcastically.

“Wait, you mean the coyote that almost ate me? That was a werecoyote?” Kira piped up, blinking in shock. “I know I’m new to this, but Scott, you can’t turn into a full wolf, can you?”

“No, not a lot of werewolves can. It’s a rare ability, and I’ve only heard of it happening twice before Malia,” Scott shook his head.

“Well Malia Tate, is not a Tate at all. She’s actually Malia Hale.” Lydia’s voice blurted through the speaker and all three teens looked towards the device with wide eyes.

“A Hale?” Void repeated in disbelief. Even he had known of the Hale family from his time - a lineage of werewolves in Beacon Hills that was hundreds upon hundreds of years old. “How is she a Hale?”

“Peter had a daughter that Talia hid from him - we can all probably guess why.” Allison clarified. “Which is why we’ve decided not to tell Peter - or anyone, for that matter.”

“You know that actually makes sense.” Scott finally tilted his head in realisation once the rudeness of the revelation subsided. “Talia Hale and her daughter Laura could both turn into wolves, and Peter could turn into that beast thing. Malia can do it too. Maybe it’s a genetic quality.”

“But then, why are they all wolves, and she’s a coyote?” Kira wondered aloud.

“...I don’t know,” Scott shrugged after briefly contemplating it. “Sometimes the shape we take reflects the person we are. Maybe that’s the case with Malia?”

“Whatever the case may be, we can’t let Peter find out about it,” Lydia repeated Allison’s earlier sentiment.

“Okay, we’ve gotta go, we’re almost at the clinic. Get somewhere safe and stay inside,” Scott instructed the girls and hung up on the call as Stiles pulled into the back parking lot. He parked the Jeep and they all got out, immediately being drenched to the bone by the downpour of rain falling from the sky. Stiles pulled his keychain from his pocket, fumbling with the metal until he found the one that fit the lock.

“Stiles!” Scott yelled out to caution his best friend as silver-mask-wearing figures materialised from smoke behind them. His knees bent and his claws flew from his fingertips as he prepared himself to hold them off. “Get inside!”

With a loud growl, the werewolf attacked, spinning and dropping below swipes of straight-bladed swords to slash at the Oni. Void’s fingers moved faster, pushing the door to the clinic open and crossing the threshold into safety. He whirled once he was in the clear, holding the door open and calling out to the Kitsune - the Kitsune that had the potential to lock him away just as her mother had all those years ago. The kitsune that managed to survive Barrow’s attack - the attack he had orchestrated.

“Hey, Kira! Get inside! Kira!” Void Stiles screamed over the sounds of the storm, but the Kistune did not retreat. Instead, she joined the fray, fighting against the Oni by Scott’s side.

Giving in to her fox’s instinct, Kira found herself exhibiting skills she’d never known she had. Void’s gaze darkened as he watched her display of raw talent and power. Perhaps she would be more of a threat than he’d originally anticipated. The two shapeshifters seemed to be holding their own against multiple Oni, until Scott slipped up and a sword sliced straight through his stomach, lodging there.

“Scott!” Kira screamed out, catching the werewolf as he began to fall. Carrying the brunt of his weight, she stumbled backwards towards the clinic’s entrance, the weapon still jutting out from Scott’s body.

“All right, come on! Get him inside!” Stiles cried out, stepping to the side to allow the Kitsune to help Scott indoors. “Get him inside!”

Once the two crossed the Mountain Ash barrier, Stiles shut the door behind them and took Scott’s other side. Void helped Kira carry the werewolf through the short corridor and into the main surgery room where it had all started for him - exactly where the door to Stiles’ mind had been opened to him. They propped Scott up against one of the metal benches lining the side of the red-brick room.

“Oh my God!” Kira gasped at the sight of the ninjato protruding from Scott’s torso, and she reached to grip the handle with both hands. Before she could attempt to pull it out, her body stiffened. The Kitsune’s brows drew together in confusion as she tried to move only to find there was an impossible force preventing her from doing so. Slowly, finger by finger, her hold on the tsuba was released and a lilting laugh echoed through the space over the dull pattering of rain.

“Zaida!” Scott’s eyes opened wide in warning, catching the girl’s scent before she emerged from the dark shadows as fast as lightning.

She’d crossed the room within the blink of an eye and gripped Kira’s long and loose black hair from the roots, pulling her away from Scott. The girl didn’t have time to react more than a squeak of panic between being grabbed and having her head slammed down against a metal table. A surge of satisfaction hummed in Zaida’s bones as she watched the Kitsune fall to the ground, completely unconscious.

“Stiles, run!” The werewolf urged his best friend, preparing himself to face Zaida. Only the hands that replaced Kira’s on the handle of the sword emerging from his body were not the Naiad’s.

“Aww, you thought it was me?” Zaida chuckled in amusement, sticking her bottom lip out in an exaggerated and mocking pout. Stepping back, she watched Scott’s face drop in complete and utter shock whilst staring at who he’d believed was Stiles.

Void dropped the charade, thrusting the weapon further into the wolf’s body until it was buried right to the hilt. Scott grunted in pain - both from the aggravated injury and the betrayal. Reaching out to grip Scott’s shoulder, Void then twisted the blade, revelling in the agony it caused.

“This whole time…” Scott’s mouth parted with a sharp instead of breath. “It was you?”

“Oh Scotty boy, so golden-hearted - so naive,” Zaida crossed her arms over her chest, circling the scene before her like a shark corralling her prey. “So easy to manipulate.”

“Please, don’t…” The werewolf grunted as white-hot pain bloomed in his gut at Void’s efforts. “Stop.”

“It’s okay,” Void cooed in Stiles’ soft voice. “Does it hurt? Hey, look at me.”

Void’s hold shifted from Scott’s shoulder to the back of his neck, forcing the werewolf’s sagging head to face him. “Come on, Scotty. Focus,” Zaida hissed, forced to restrain her own desire for bloodshed, even though craving for it gnawed her insides raw. The faster Void finished his little Shakespearean villain’s monologue, the faster her hunger could be appeased - but never sated. She would always need more. They would always need more.

“You should have done your reading, Scott.” Void shook his head. It had all been so disappointingly easy, but the outcome would be the same nonetheless. “See, a Nogitsune feeds off chaos, strife, and pain. This morning, you took it from Isaac when you visited him at the hospital, then you took it from Coach, and then from Xander. All that pain...You took it all. Now…give it to me .”

Scott was speechless in shock, barely able to form a coherent thought let alone a sentence. Void gripped his face doublehandedly, and he felt his own pain combined with Isaac’s, and Coach’s, and Xander’s, all rising to a peak before it was drawn from him. Zaida was enraptured, feeling the rush of power flood her blood as she looked upon Scott’s blackening veins. Void’s eyes rolled into the black of his head in euphoria as he consumed the sweet fruit of their labours. As the almost dizzying wave of exhilaration subsided, Zaida grew uninterested in the exchange. She’d gotten what they’d come here for, and the beats in her belly quietened its roars - for now, at least. Her heeled boots clacked against the floors as she moved away towards the shelves lining the walls. Her eyes roved across jars upon jars of strange substances and most were foreign to her, until she landed upon bright yellow buds encased in glass. The mere view of it stirred a pang of fear in her chest, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. Ferula Communis, he’d called it. Giant Fennel. A searing inferno spread over her skin at the memory of what she’d endured in that place, and it was enough to burn through the blissful numbness she’d coveted.

“You really have to learn, Scott. You really have to learn not to trust a Fox.” Void was humming, but none of his words registered to her. Had that plant always been there? So within reach? Had Deaton known what it was - what it could do to her? “Know why? 'Cause they're tricksters. They'll fool you. They'll fool everyone.”

“Not everyone.” It was as if the thought of the veterinarian had summoned him, and Zaida whipped around at the sound of his voice to be faced with the doctor sticking a long needle into Void’s neck.

The Nogitsune wheezed as he lost consciousness, falling to the floor and landing with a loud crash right beside Kira’s body. In sync with him, Zaida felt her muscles seize and her blood turn to liquid fire as her vision spun. Her body felt weightless and her eyelids heavy. Darkness engulfed her before she even hit the ground.

“What are you doing?” The familiar voice of Lydia Martin sounded from behind Stiles, and once upon a time, it would have made his heart jump and his brain melt. Now it did nothing but serve as a painful reminder that whilst he was himself again, the same couldn’t be said for the redhead’s best friend.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” He shot back sarcastically as he shoved more clothes into a duffel bag. “I’m packing.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. Why are you doing this?” Lydia entered his bedroom without asking for his permission, planting her feet firmly into the carpet by his side so that he had no choice but to face her.

The walls that had been plastered with papers and pinned with red string were almost entirely cleared now. He’d torn them all down in an outburst the night before when he arrived home after waking at the animal clinic and regaining control of himself. They hadn’t let him see Zaida, and now that he’d calmed down, he was grateful for it. What would he have even said to her? Or rather, what would he have said to the thing residing in her body? He hadn’t told the others, but Void had allowed him to remember everything he had done to her. Every. Single. Thing.

“You know why,” His words left this mouth in a dry croak. He could barely bring himself to think about it let alone say it. Zaida’s agonized screams echoed off the walls of his mind. Every time he blinked all he could see were the tears dripping from her pained eyes, melding with her own sweat over blistered skin. He’d hurt her, and if he could hurt her - the girl who made his heart sing and settled the storm in his soul - then he could hurt anyone.

“Running away isn’t going to solve anything,” Lydia insisted stubbornly. She didn’t care what she had to say if it would get him to change his mind. She’d do anything to get her best friend back, and right now, Stiles was their best bet at doing so. “Zaida needs you.”

“No, Zaida needs to be safe from me.” Stiles retorted, guilt clawing at his ribcage painfully.

“Zaida needs to be safe from the Nogitsune,” The redhead corrected forcibly. “And you’re her anchor, Stiles. You’re the one who can pull her back.”

“I can’t,” He shoved his last jumper into the bag and zipped it shut in frustrated, jerky movements.

“What do you mean, ‘you can’t’? Stiles, please -” Lydia begged, imploring him to change his mind, but it was already made up.

“I can’t!” He repeated and slung the bag strap over his shoulder, forgetting about his pillow in his haste, he paused to make eye contact with the redhead on his way out. “I can’t see her. You understand? I just…I just can’t.”

Pushing past Lydia, he headed for the driveway where his father was waiting in the already-running car. With a frustrated huff, Lydia pulled her phone out of her back and dialled Scott’s number, holding the device to her ear.

“Why didn't you tell me?” Scott pulled his helmet off his head, hanging it from the handlebars of his dirt bike as a trail of disturbed gravel recorded his path before his sudden stop. He'd found out about the whole plan through Lydia, who had gone to talk to Stiles only to find he was getting ready to leave.

“Because we wanted to avoid something like this…” Noah Stilinski sighed heavily as he stood beside his son at the same entrance gate he’d found himself at only nights before. The old rusted metal loomed over them, and cast in iron letters far above was the name of the dreaded establishment. Eichen House.

“It's only seventy-two hours.” Stiles defended, shifting from one foot to the other uncomfortable under. Even in the dim light of the moon shifting through clouds above, he could see the worry etched in his best friend’s features.

“This is the same place where Barrow came from - the guy who had a tumour inside him filled with flies.” Scott pointed out to the Sheriff, trying to scare him away from the place. “You don't know everything yet-”

“I know enough. Nogitsunes, Kitsunes, Oni, or whatever they're called…” Noah listed the newest supernatural beings to join the chess board.

“Wow, that was actually all surprisingly correct.” Stiles blinked at his father. It was certainly progress.

“Scott, I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's...and it terrifies me.” The Sheriff explained. Whilst he was now aware of the supernatural, he was still a man deeply rooted in fact, and he had seen the results of the scan with his own two eyes. It was not something that he was going to ignore. “I'm headed down to LA tomorrow to talk to a specialist.”

“Then why are you putting him in here?” Scott questioned, believing the man to be behind it.

“He's not - it's my decision,” Stiles admitted and the werewolf immediately turned his please directly to his best friend.

“Stiles, I can't help you if you're in here…” He shook his head, his voice as quiet as a whisper.

“And I can't hurt you.” The boy added solemnly. “Or anyone else.”

“Deaton's got some ideas...Argent's calling people...We're going to find something. And, if we can't-” Scott ran through all of their options - all of the resources they were currently exhausting in the attempt to find a solution. The Lichen that Deaton had retrieved from the Kumicho’s death site in Japan had only been enough for one potent shot. It would not poison the Nogitsune and hold his control at bay for long, and when their time ran out…they could lose Stiles for good.

“If you can't…” Stiles took a step closer to Scott, lowering his volume so his father wouldn’t hear his request. “If you can't, then you have to do something for me, okay? Make sure I never get out.”

With those parting words, Stiles pulled away and stepped through the iron gate, onto Eichen House's grounds.

[pbandjesse]

I am ridiculously tired today. I don't even know why. I am just really struggling this evening and I cannot wait to turn off my phone and sleep.

I didn't even sleep poorly. I woke up a few times but I felt rested when I woke up for real. And the morning would be fine. I feel very introspective today. My brain feels quiet but like I'm contemplating something. I would get up and get dressed and made the bed. It was a beautiful day outside.

I would go downstairs and had some of the deviled eggs James made me last night. My sense of taste still felt off. And everything seemed really salty. But it was fine. Still good.

I chilled for a few minutes but pretty quickly it was time for me to go.

I wanted to go and walk around second chance before camp. And I did a really good timing the whole thing out. I gave myself a half hour to walk around the store.

And it was fun. I got over there and I was looking for two things specifically. Plastic boxes for putting in sweetp's enclosure and a metal fire pit.

I would actually find both things but I did not get the fire pit. It wasn't cheaper then at target for a new one. So I will continue to keep my eyes peeled. I did get a plastic shelf thing for Sweetp and I would find a small shoe rack I'm going to use in the studio closet. And I got to use some of my birthday gifts card so that was nice.

I left at 1120 and went right to camp. And arrived right at noon. Which was perfect because I was meeting Celia to give her some fish tank filters before she left to go to Vermont for the eclipse. I hope that she has so much fun.

The open house was not as crazy as the last one. Which was great because I was tired. And I kept gagging. I think it's like acid reflux or something but I was going through it. Alexi did bring me a parfet from dough run and it was really good. And helped me feel a little better.

And I did really enjoy giving tours. I just didn't feel as on my A game as last time. I still really enjoyed being a tour guide and it was just really nice interacting and talking about the good stuff. It made me happy.

I also got compliments on my puhtok fanny pack that I have with all the beading and embroidery. I actually think I'm going to embroider the new hip pack I got too. Maybe as an activity on our flight. We will see!

It was a lot of tours. But I also had some quiet moments. Like when I first got there and I had to find where my laptop and TV were hiding. Someone moved it into the kitchen broom closet?? And Charlotte was there and she smiled real big and came up to me and I was really surprised but it made me happy.

But at 4 when the tours were over I was very excited to leave. I walked to the office with one of the councilors that came to work today to show her where the secret extra fanny packs were and she was so excited. So that made me feel nice. Happy to help.

I would head home. I would stop at 711 and got pizza. And some candy. And has a nice conversation with the nice woman at the counter who made the pizza fresh for me

What a sweetie. A guy came in and bought a gallon of milk and 4 pints of ice cream and I was like. Milkshake party?? And he said yes basically. Pregnant wife. So cute.

I got home at 445. And I was so happy to see James. We opened up the backdoor and the windows and it was so nice out. And pretty quickly after that Callie was here!

She wanted to go over all the things for taking care of plants and animals. But also I was just happy to see her.

It didn't take long to explain everything since she has done it for us before. Because she's the best. And then James asked if we all wanted to take a walk to the park.

And it was a little more walking then I wanted but I still had fun. We walked to the pond. And enjoyed the birds and plants and the breeze. We talked and laughed and it was just really lovely.

When we did finally get back to the house Callie headed home and me and James cuddled on the couch for a long time.

I started feeling a little unwell. Stomach hurts. But mostly just really tired. I would go take a bath. And fell trying to get out of the bath and hurt my elbow a little but mostly just upset myself.

So now I am hanging in bed. Feeling very tired. And very ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow we have our appointment with passport health for our trip. Getting vaccines and things. I am nervous but it's going to be a beautiful day. And then the eclipse!! I have an alarm set and I am ready. I will probably make a pin hole viewer or something. I hope we get a good sky.

Let's hope my energy is better tomorrow. Sleep well everyone. Be safe. Be well. Goodnight!

[jedinightsister]

spoilers

also keen to see how river/sid is done in the show! in the books it's kind of like "here's a pair who have a very vague flirtation" to boom undying love when she shows up again lol. saw someone post an interview with the showrunner on reddit where he was asked if they're going to do anything with river/louisa and people were VERY against that lol. while i don't love it there might be more of a basis for that in the books that river/sid (...until river/sid actually happens). they're like the only 2 who seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company (since we were robbed of an emma/louisa bestie era :( )and there's some throwaway lines like louisa wondering how she should feel about river choosing to stay with sid, and if she had a right to feel anything, etc. anyway i'm good with anything as long as olivia cooke comes back, i know she's booked and busy but can't imagine a recast working as well

My response under the cut to avoid spoiling from the books!

first of all...BIG SAME TO LOUISA/EMMA BESTIES ERA please. She was one of the best parts of the books, and they did that really cruel cold open in Joe Country that led to...well... 🥲🥲🥲

Cuz I really like when the Slow Horses have interactions among each other, but also outside of it. And I love that she is the more uhm "stereotypical" beauty type (at least as described in the books) but she is so much more than that.

Emma Flyte my love 💖

You officially have me even more excited for s4 now 😆 (She and JK Coe are the ones I'm looking forward to most. I hate Claude but I am keen to see him because of James Callis haha)

Okay,,,, back to the topic at hand.... I also agree with the book hinting more of the River/Louisa bond, and truthfully, when I read those parts, I can't decide if I ship it romantically or platonically, or maybe both idk??? But I just like that they are both the "capable" and "level headed" and closest to normal in Slough House haha. I think this is especially highlighted in London Rules, when they attempted to have that "stable" "normalcy" by having River go with JK and Louisa with Shirley. I literally cannot get over the pairings in that book, actually, but maybe I should reserve that for a different post haha

I absolutely hope we get Olivia back again! Considering s5 has been greenlit, and we get our first hint of her being alive in this book, there is a lot of ways they can setup her reappearance. I certainly think it will help boost our chances for a season 6 if we get a powerhouse like her return to the show 😅🙈

They also have a potential (if they really want to establish some kind of romance on the show) to have a better build up for those two. The only thing I gripe about it, it is they weren't able to sprinkle some of that in River for s2&3. I wish they did, but you're right anon, Liv is booked and busy, so I feel like it can go either way...

All in all tho, I'm just really happy at how the show adapted the books. They don't necessarily have to keep each story detail beat by beat, but they really captured the essence of how "useless" they all are, but still somehow manage to be involved with, and even solve, the biggest MI5 cases, not even the Park can handle 😆

Thank you so much for the fun question!! It makes me so happy to talk to someone who loves both book and show like I do 🥰💖

[ohmym1stake]

infodumping about my grey's anatomy blorbos: edition #2

this time around i am midway thru season 10.... my #1 blorbo is about to leave and im worried and scared because of some spoilers i read. but anyways here is my current analysis!

BLORBOS

- meredith grey. we started off rocky but i love and support her wholeheartedly now. has done the least stupid stuff as a doctor! bonus points for that. has gone through so much more than she deserves.

- derek shepherd. has done a lot of stupid shit and is a very stupid and reckless man. but underneath all of that he is a good man who wants to do good and help people. an amazing father!!!! and husband.

- cristina yang. the closest to perfect. i wish she would stop making awful relationship decisions. in my world she is happily married to a woman. a nurse, maybe.

- george o'malley. my perfect perfect son. ohhhhh my son. i am so sorry you died. i wish you had gotten to be happy with callie and have a great little family together and be an amazing surgeon.

- callie torres. brilliant surgeon brilliant woman. a little stupid at times. but i think her strengths are all way stronger than that.

- mark sloan. also very stupid! but in a very charming way. was amazing to watch him grow and change.

- lexie grey. deserved a better exit from the show wtffff. got used as an extra trauma to throw at meredith or something like damn. she was amazing and excellent in her own right. justice for lexiepedia.

- april kepner. BABYYYYYY. amazing and deserves the world, honestly. i have nothing but admiration for her i think.

- heather brooks. AAAAAAGH?!!!!! she was so cute and fun and brought an energy to the show nobody else has! deserved soooo much better.

HALF BLORBOS.

- alex karev. has done too many messy and problematic things to be a full blorbo but like derek he is ultimately a good man who wants to do good. amazing peds surgeon. can't wait to see him as a dad i bet he'll be a little league coach.

- miranda bailey. now normally she would be full blorbo but she's been bothering me a little lately! amazing surgeon! amazing woman! but she needs to get her life more under control or something.

BLORBO BY ASSOCIATION

- jackson avery. i was gonna put him in "it won't work" but it could eventually idk. he's great for april and a good doctor! i don't like his face tho and mostly he kinda bores me

- reed adamson. i think i would have loved her so much if she got to live longer. i think about her and april a lot.

PARTIAL BLORBOS

- addison montgomery. i think i just don't see her enough to be a full blorbo. excellent character tho.

- teddy altman. i think when she comes back on the show she'll get an upgrade but right now she's away and not on my mind. she was pretty damn good tho.

- stephanie edwards. she's really great but right now her plot is kind of just avery. i hope to love her more soon!

EX BLORBOS.

- izzie stevens. used to be my favorite.... she was so great. honestly i blame cancer for everything. Except the denny lvad thing i think that was precancer. but the romance with george that she dropped so fast? and then doing all that crap to alex? unforgivable. i hope she finds happiness in a new life with new people but i want her far away from my blorbos.

IT WILL NEVER WORK BUT I DON'T HATE YOU

- owen hunt. i DO hate his pro-life stance. treated cristina awfully there. but he is also the best love interest she had. and he's a great trauma surgeon, and the best chief i have seen! we just have too many differences to ever truly blorb together.

- arizona robbins. Honestly? most of the time i Do hate her. but i also respect her too much to Anti her. especially her growth after losing her leg! but it fucking sucked for callie. i think if the show had kept mark alive i could have gotten along with her more but she has been awful to callie way too much.

- leah murphy. Mad respect for her crazy but her emotions are also what ruined her. i hope she has a good career elsewhere.

- ben warren. sometimes he's good for bailey sometimes he makes her worse. but i respect him.

I DON'T KNOW

- jo wilson. uhhhh..... she just kinda exists i don't know. sometimes she's good for alex. but i am not very interested in her. does not spark joy.

- charles percy. i think we would have had a very rocky relationship had he lived but i think the way they killed him was very artful? it was one of the best death scenes i have seen.

ANTI BLORBOS.

- richard webber. he has done too much fuckass shit and acted insufferably FAR too many times. way more tolerable as a general surgeon and not as chief but still incredibly irritating.

- preston burke. took advantage of cristina in so many ways and never once truly considered himself and his own actions. selfish, awful man.

- erica hahn. Too bitter. involved emotions in her work in a way i disliked? i think she was never meant to be a main character.

- shane ross. Bruh what the fuckkkkk. he has done way too much wrong. maybe someday if we actually tackle the fact that he kinda Killed heather we can be at least partial or something but ..... i don't want him on this show.

- ellis grey. Noooooope. don't even care about all her groundbreaking work or her disease or whatever. i want nothing to do with her.

- adele webber. i hated her so much and there was no reason to make her so evil and irritating so much??????? the show would have been way more interesting and webber might have been more redeemable if she had been Good.

- sloan riley. this girl pissed me offffff like she went thru it she was having a bad time but ultimately she just ruined shit for mark and lexie and that sucks.

- catherine avery. whenever shes around and is rude to jackson he becomes a temporary blorbo. he doesn't deserve the shit she puts him through. frustrating character overall. But! mad respect to her work as a urologist she always brings interesting cases to the show!