#got to witness the turn two crash right in front of us

[raspberryspace]

9/10/23 - Indycar Laguna Seca

[rafesteddy]

since you said you haven't gotten anything about fight club rafe ima start it🤭…can we see one where we go watch him fight and after we wrap up his hands and cuts yk kiss his bruised up knuckles yk cutesy fluff😚

🤭🤭🤭 ahhhh hi bb thank you for your ask 💕🩷 introducing frat/fightclub!rafe

ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍɪᴀᴍɪ • ꜱɪɢ ᴄʜɪ • ᴅᴏᴜᴄʜᴇ ʙᴀɢ • ʟᴏʏᴀʟ • ᴀɴɢʀʏ • ꜱᴘʟɪᴛ ʟɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ • ᴋɴᴜᴄᴋʟᴇꜱ ʙʀᴜɪꜱᴇᴅ • ʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱᴇx • ʜᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴀ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴ 4 ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ • ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ

𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓽/𝓯𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓫!𝓻𝓪𝓯𝓮 𝔁 𝓯𝓮𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻

+18 -> 𝓯𝓵𝓾𝓯𝓯

c/w: violence, blood, alcohol use, pet names, weed referenced, language, flirting, pining, implied illegal activity (fight club)

2K

You didn’t expect much when you got paired in a group project with Rafe Cameron. You assumed he’d be the type to disappear the second things got serious—a tall, tanned frat boy who coasted on charm and barely skated by on C’s. The kind who rolled in late, half-baked, reeking of beer and some drugstore cologne he thought made him smell expensive.

He was late, of course. But when he finally walked into the library—well over six feet tall, slouched in a faded hoodie and a backwards cap—his smile undid every sharp remark you had rehearsed in your head.

His blue eyes had that lazy, half-lidded look that somehow still managed to cut right through you. His hair was all sun-lightened and messy, like he spent most of his days outside and only wandered indoors when he absolutely had to. And then there was his voice—low, slow, that soft Southern drawl curling around your name like he’d said it a hundred times before. It sent a flutter straight through you before you could stop it.

The worst part? He wasn’t dumb. Not even close. He was sharp—quick with numbers and even quicker with his wit. He made jokes just to see if he could make you laugh, and when he caught you smiling down at your notes, he smirked like that was the prize he’d been chasing all along.

Now the two of you are texting. And that, honestly, is the real problem.

He’s charming—genuinely charming. Not in that rehearsed, frat-boy way, but in a way that feels warm and effortless. The kind of charm that makes you reread his messages twice, smile once, and bite your lip before you even realize you’re doing it.

As soon as you pull up, you have to do a double take. It’s not a regular house—it’s a mansion, straight out of a movie. Palm trees line the front, windows lit up like a stage, and the bass is already thudding in your chest before the music even reaches your ears. Luxury cars are parked all along the circular driveway, and as soon as you step out, you’re hit with the scent of weed, cologne, and overpriced liquor bought with someone else’s money.

Inside, it’s somehow even more insane. The ceilings are massive, chandeliers catching the light, and the whole place is wall-to-wall people. Red cups slosh. Sweat clings. The music crashes down like a wave, too loud to think over.

You barely get past the front door before someone’s calling your name.

“Ayy, sweetheart—Rafe’s down in the basement,” a guy shouts over the music, nodding toward the far end of the hall. “He’ll be up in a sec. You want a drink or somethin’ while you wait?”

Wait?

Something about his tone makes you pause. The casual shrug, the way he angles his body slightly—subtle, like he’s trying to steer you back toward the kitchen without making a scene.

“Rahhhh…”

You hear commotion over the pounding bass, cheering seeping from under the door in the direction you were headed.

“No, I’m good,” you smile, sugary sweet as you turn on your heels. His hand closes around your wrist as you step away. Not hard, not rough, just firm enough to let you know you shouldn't but you yank your hand back.

The hallway stretches before you, smoke already slipping under the door, fading into the chaos behind you. You walk toward it, one slow step at a time, heart picking up with every cheer that rises from beneath the floorboards.

The second the door creaks open, everything changes. The music down here is deeper, bass vibrating through the stairs as you descend. A sharp scent hits you—smoke and weed—that thickens with every step you take.

You squint through the haze. Shapes blur together at the bottom of the stairs, shadows dancing in the dim, pulsing light.

And Rafe… Rafe’s in the middle of it.

Your stomach sinks, wide eyes rounding the ring of bodies packed shoulder to shoulder, the air thick with sweat and smoke. Fistfuls of bills flash through the dark, voices barking bets over the music.

Rafe stands tall, chest heaving, sweat glistening on his tanned skin. His shirt’s long gone, tossed somewhere in the haze, and his torso is slick with sweat—every ab cut sharp, v-lines disappearing into a pair of weathered jeans. His stomach tightens with every breath, blood trickling from one nostril as he casually brushes his thumb across it. His sharp jaw flexes; biceps swelling as he tightens his fists.

His stare locks on you through the smoke, a wild look flashing in those blue eyes. His lips twitch like he might say your name but his opponent lunges, making you gasp.

A punch cracks across Rafe’s jaw, sending his head snapping sideways. Blood sprays from his split lip, and the crowd erupts. You flinch, hand flying to your mouth.

And then he snaps.

Rafe lunges, fists a blur. The crowd closes in, a wall of noise rising as his opponent staggers, arms barely lifting before Rafe strikes again. One blow sinks into his side, the next snaps his head back—a clean, punishing hit that feels less like a fight and more like a performance he’s perfected. The guy hits the floor with a sickening thud, and Rafe doesn’t let up until he's physically pried off him.

The whole place explodes with shouts and applause, cash thrown, falling to the seedy basement floor, floating through the fog like rain.

They grab Rafe’s wrist and throw it in the air, marking the winner. His chest heaves from the effort, every muscle strung tight. His skin gleams with sweat, his pretty face smeared with blood.

His eyes lock on yours again, the blues of his eyes almost gone, pupils blown wide. His eyes fall down your body, raking up nice and slow as his tongue glides along his bottom lip, catching some blood and soothing the sting as his lips curl into a smirk.

He holds out his hand, and the ring master drops a thick stack of cash on top.

Rafe starts toward you like the fight never happened—like he didn’t just leave someone broken on the floor for a pile of cash.

The crowd parts around him, hands slapping his back, voices shouting his name, but he doesn’t slow down. Doesn’t look away.

His hand finds your waist, and before you can get a word out, he’s already steering you toward the stairs. His palm settles against your hip, thumb dragging slow over the curve as he leads you through the smoke and noise like you’re the only thing he gives a damn about.

Back upstairs, the world keeps spinning; music blasting, party raging on like nothing happened beneath their feet.

Rafe yanks an old frat t-shirt over his head, before running his fingers through his damp, sweaty locks, tugging on a backwards hat. A golden boy disguise… And if you had shown up a few minutes later, and he had a moment to wipe that fresh blood off his face, he would have kept playing that role. “You want a drink?” He asks casually.

You glance up at him, wide-eyed, still trying to piece together who the hell this guy actually is.

His eye’s already swelling—puffy, bruising fast, the lid twitching halfway shut as he talks. Blood drips ruby-red from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, catching the collar of his shirt.

You smile, letting out a breathy chuckle in disbelief, making him return a similar look at your reaction. “We should get you cleaned up,” you murmur, your voice soft enough to draw him closer.

He grins down at you. One side only. And fuck if he isn’t the most handsome thing you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Rafe grabs your hand this time, nodding toward the stairs. The two of you move through the house. Every step you take turns heads. Girls bend to look—some with confusion, most with pure envy. You catch the flash of a few whispered comments, a tight smile from a girl who was clearly hoping to be the one in your place tonight.

His grip on yours tightens for just a second, pulling you down the hall and into a bathroom, shutting the door behind you with a solid click.

The noise cuts instantly. Like you just slipped out of one world and into another. Before you say a word, he steps in close—lifts you effortlessly, like your body fits where his hands were always meant to be.

A quiet laugh escapes you as he sets you down with too much care for a guy with blood on his face. His hands stay on your thighs a beat too long, just enough to make you hide a smile.

“Fuck, you’re pretty,” he mutters, not really looking at you as he turns and heads for the cabinet. He flips it open, shifts his hat like he’s thinking, then starts sorting through what’s inside. Rubbing alcohol. Band-Aids. He pushes a bottle of Advil out of the way and pulls down the whiskey instead.

He shuffles over, his eyes studying you where you sit. Rafe sets the supplies down beside you, not saying a word—but in the way he looks at you, there’s a quiet ask: stay. fix me. please.

“Mmm?” You question, through a flirty little hum as you grab a rag.

“Mhmm,” he mumbles back. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Warm water rushes out of the tap. You soak a towel, wringing it out, turning toward him.

“Did I tell you you look pretty?” He whispers. “You look so damn pretty,” his words are, barely audible as he steps between your thighs.

“You did…” You smile as your cheeks burn hot. Neither of you says a word about the fight. About what you saw. The silence buzzes between you like a live wire. “So do you,” you smile.

Rafe blushes ever so slightly, the rosy hue bleeding into the purple bruise blooming on his cheek. “I look pretty, huh?” Grabbing the bottle of liquor he twists the cap off and lifts it to his mouth, eyes pinched shut as he takes a long pull.

You start with his cheek. The cut’s not deep, but it’s angry—red and raw across his cheekbone. You press the damp towel to it gently and he leans into you, wincing but barely.

“Tough guy,” you tease, giggling as you swipe your thumb along the uninjured side of his face.

He doesn’t answer—just watches you, eyes skimming over your features: the sparkle in your eyes and the soft curve of your lips that part in concentration as you press the small bandage, carefully over the cut.

“What was that?” You murmur, the question trembling on the edge of curiosity and concern, lifting the towel to his mouth now, wiping at the mess trailing from his lip. The blood is thick and dark against the white cloth, and still, his eyes don’t leave yours.

More specifically, your mouth. His gaze lingers there like he’s weighing the cost of kissing you with busted lips.

You tilt your head slightly, waiting. “Rafe?”

His eyes lift to yours, heavy with the tension brewing between you both. “We don’t talk about that, pretty,” he mumbles, voice rough and deep.

“What if I wanna know?” You whisper, not missing the way his breath hitches slightly.

His broad shoulders shrug, crooked smile tilting again. “Well, it’s exactly what it looked like. Fightin’. Exchanging money. Winning a shit ton of it.”

“And?” You press him a little further. Clearly intrigued by the man before you.

His eyes narrow just slightly, devilish now. “And no one can know. Well, no one that’s gonna do shit about it. Understand?”

There’s no menace in it. Just that cocky, conspiratorial charm of someone who knows he’s trouble and loves being it.

You adjust on the counter, thighs spreading a little wider as you tilt in. “Depends,” you murmur, lips close enough to feel his breath. “You always this easy to bribe with a towel and a smile?”

“Only when the girl’s as pretty as you,” he says, voice smooth and smug.

Your nose scrunches, lips pursed in a playful defiance like his answer doesn't quite please you. You press the towel to his lip again, slower this time. “So you do this often?”

He shakes his head, eyes still locked on yours. “Nah. Not really… Never really met a girl as pretty as you.” It doesn’t sound like a line. Not with the way he says it.

“You’re sweet,” you giggle as his hands settle gently on your thighs.

“I can be…”

Rafe’s knuckles are bruised and busted, dusted with dried blood, and adorned with rings that glint under the bathroom lights. A flashy watch sits heavy on his wrist, ticking steady as his thumbs brush absent circles against your skin.

You dab away the last smear of blood, brushing his bottom lip with the towel. Then you look up at him—at the cut, the bruises, the softness buried beneath it all.

“Thank you,” he murmurs, voice low, lips so close now they’re almost brushing yours. “Well… What do—” You steal the words off his lips, tilting in to steal a kiss, tender and sweet.

His lips press into yours with a kind of care that makes your heart trip over itself.

One of his hands finds the small of your back, steady and warm, while the other lingers at his side, like he’s holding something back even now.

The air around you thickens. Your fingers brush the hem of his shirt, curling there before you even realize what you’re doing. His body doesn’t tense. It welcomes you.

He exhales into it, barely pulling back before murmuring against your lips, “I could get used to this.”

You smile into him, your lips curving against his as his hand moves behind your back, drawing you closer. “So could I.”

new tag list in my pinned post

@rafesthroatbaby | @ietss | @lilithblackkk | @rafesheaven | @rafecameronsfavourite | @my-name-is-baby | @urmotherlvr | @forgiveliv | @barnesboo1967 | @wtfisastiles | @k4yr14 | @taliescapes | @rafesbuzzcutseason | @sky-44 | @biascriptum | @vanessa-rafesgirl | @lolasangelz | @st8rkey | @lhhlver | @slut-4-rafey | @gri959 | @prettybabyyyy | @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account | @maybankslover | @littlelamy | @buckybarnessweetheart | @angelicameron | @lover-girlyy | @rcameronlova1 | @rafesbabygirlx | @mayanqueenxx | @bimbob1tch | @dylsdaily | @blair-bears-blog | @akobx | @countryclubwhore | @esmerai-artemis | @jkmylove97 | @wtfdudesblog | @livie4lifestarkeyblyth | @yasmin-oviedo | @queen-cs | @floredaqueen | @alexxavicry | @aerie717 | @cokewithcameron | @premiumshitt | @rafecameronlova1

[grabby-smitten]

Pinky promise

Subjects: Bunny Hybrid!Xavier x Human F!Reader

Word count: 2.9K

Content: Hybrid AU, fluff mostly, domestic stuff, sprinkles of angst here and there, no beta and not edited, commas placed everywhere, gender-neutral for this part(i think), idk… let me know if i missed anything. Second part has smut and will be posted separately.

A.N: Happy late birthday Xavier and Halloween especial… I guess xD. Two birds one stone?

Your local shelter was always overflowing. new hybrids coming in each week, at least according to their social media updates. It was heartbreaking watching the shelter on your work commute, multiple sounds overwhelmed that side of the street, strong smells on the pavement and everything you witnessed trailed after you to work and back home.

But not once did you step foot on the shelter. Were you scared? Probably. From what your coworkers said, it was extremely hard to care for a hybrid. Very complicated creatures. And expensive. you could barely take care of yourself. Not to mention that you hated social environments and from what you read on the internet; hybrids are social creatures. Alone you were fine… or so you thought.

Yet, you couldn’t just let the older hybrids get— well, you know what they do in most shelters when nobody adopts.

So here you are, waiting in line to fill out some forms and get your first hybrid. Sweat running down your back, and your feet hurting from standing in the same position for far too long. How long has it been since you first stepped in the line? two hours? Three? and the line barely moved.

Leaning to the side, you watched the attendants at the counter seem tired, and their hair sticking to their forehead confirmed your suspicions that the air conditioner wasn’t working as well as it should.

You had enrolled in the adoption program as soon as new spots opened for this term and just your luck with a spot on the special campaign. Besides, trying to speak yourself out of it hadn’t worked. You would give it a try and if things didn’t work out— then you would find a solution.

Today, the shelter was holding that special adoption campaign. Something about not charging the usual fees, the first year of medical expenses free and just one written evaluation to the future owners.

A couple came out of the visiting room with a young dog-hybrid. It was jumping around them and wagging its tail so enthusiastically that it kind of scared you. What if you got a hyperactive one? Your worlds would crash and the inevitable would happen.

Soon you heard your name being called out by one of the shelter workers and it snapped you out of your tragic daydream.

“Hey, Y/N, right?” He asked while reading the papers on his clipboard.

“Yes,” you replied while nodding.

“Okay, let’s see…” the shelter worker skimmed through his papers not really looking at you, “with what you filled the form with, this should be a good match. He’s a bunny hybrid and…” he trailed off, “that’s all we know,” he started to walk and you assumed it was a sign to follow him.

As you walked after the shelter workers, you passed some cages. A few were empty while others were full with more than a pair of hybrids in them. Your hands in fists, not being able to handle seeing such a scene, but you repeated to yourself that you were already doing your part to help fix this broken system. Adopting is a good way to help, you kept chanting in your mind.

“Sedentary lifestyle, doesn’t use much space and no noise, yeah. This should do.” Again, you were snapped out of your thoughts by the shelter worker. Turning a deaf ear to how he described the bunny hybrid, you noticed the door in front of you had the word abnormal painted in red bold letters.

“Hey! Xavier! A cute lady has come to visit you!” The worker banged his clipboard on the door making you jump in surprise.

“Please don’t do that.” The coldness of your voice came unexpectedly. As a reflex, you even raised your hand to try and stop the worker’s movements.

“Sorry, but it’s alright.” He pointed to the inside of the cell-like door. “He never says anything.”

His comment infuriated you to no end. Your insides were burning with rage, but you kept quiet. The faster you’re done with this, the faster you can go home.

You watched him open the door and the acid air from the inside hit you first. The smell triggered a wave of helplessness within you. how could all these be alright to a living creature? You couldn’t… you shouldn’t… but what other things could a normal civilian do to change the new world and its fucked up system?

In all truth, you knew, you dreaded this very moment when everything came crashing down on you, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. You were here and it wasn’t gonna change the whole world but you would, indeed, change someone’s world.

Once inside you grimaced at the unsanitary state of the room. Old food scattered everywhere, a lump of sheets and cloth in a corner, and… no hybrid?

“Ah, he must be under all that,” you heard the worker speak and he began to move towards the big ball of sheets at the corner.

“It’s fine, I’ll do it.” You didn’t want him near the hybrid more than necessary.

Making sure your steps were loud and clear, you approached where you guessed the hybrid would be hiding.

It all happened so fast. One moment you were reaching for the lump of sheets, and the next your hand got pulled under and a stinging sensation palpitated in your palm.

Did… did he just bite you?

Just as fast, you snatched your hand back, cradling it against your chest as you swallowed the yelp you wanted to let out.

“Hey, Xavier?” You managed to sound as calm as possible, “I probably startled you, right? I’m sorry for that… uhmm…” You proceeded to tell him your name, internally praying that the guy outside wouldn’t interfere.

The lump of sheets moved and hope struck you. A blue eye adorned with long dark lashes peeked from a small opening in between the sheets and your heart instantly softened. You saw fear clouding his striking pupil. Forgotten was the small, almost nonexistent, injury in your palm. All you wanted was to calm that vast raging blue ocean in such a small eye.

“I get it,” you said softly, “I practically had you corned and you reacted. I’m not mad, promise,” and you showed him your pinky finger.

Xavier wasn’t sure what to think. What he knew was that you were not one of the usual workers at the shelter and that you didn’t smell like… danger. You actually had a nice scent, different from everyone he had ever met in his long life— nothing overwhelming, it was almost soothing. That’s why he instinctively went straight for your hand. He didn’t even realize when his teeth had nibbled at your palm.

A pinky? That’s what you were offering. Still under the tons of sheets, Xavier wondered what was he supposed to do.

“You can lock your pinky finger with mine if you want,” you explained, seeing his eye suddenly frown and look perplexed at your gesture. “It means a promise has been made.”

The sound of fumbling cloth raised your spirits. Then a pale hand came from under all that and his pinky finger intertwined with yours. He had relented to your words… because it was the first time he was offered a choice. Not forced. Not bribed. No threats.

Convincing Xavier to come out was another ordeal. One that you achieved eventually, after negotiating with a second pinky promise of fresh food.

What actually left you with your mouth hanging open was his height. How come someone so tall was a bunny hybrid? well, the white ball of a tail and his ears sticking from his head were a dead giveaway. But still… he was taller than your average person.

The walk back home wasn't hard. Nothing eventful took place, just two jumpy individuals trying to make it back home without tripping with their own two feet. What a peculiar pair.

Less than an hour of meeting Xavier and you were already protective of your bunny hybrid. Your step might have faltered but your grip on his hand didn’t quiver. You made sure he knew you were taking him somewhere safe and that you didn’t hate his presence.

Such intention was hard to convey, especially when you tried to get him to bathe. Leaving him alone in the bathroom was a waste of time, it only made him panic and built a lump of towels.

So here you stand, in shorts and an old shirt trying to help Xavier shower.

“Xavier, please, just— wait! The water!” And with a push from the bunny hybrid, you came toppling down into the bathtub. Splashing the soapy water everywhere.

He saw your head dive in first as your arms attempted to stop your fall.

“I’m fine! It’s okay!” Moving the wet hair out of your face, you smiled sheepishly at Xavier.

He was taken aback by your reaction. He expected anything but a smile.

The first few weeks went like that. Food? The same. Xavier would panic and throw half of what you prepared to the ceiling and walls and then the rest on you. When you finished cleaning, you would find him under a pile of blankets in the kitchen.

And yes, almost no sounds came from the bunny hybrid. His blue eyes shone with a hurricane of emotions but his voice never expressed them.

You told yourself you had to be patient. All the incidents weren’t really directed at you but at whatever ghost that kept hunting him. Remembering the word painted in red on his door back at the shelter reaffirmed your resolve to give Xavier the chance he never got before.

Weeks became months and things slowly but steadily improved. Xavier no longer had those unexpected reactions and he stopped hiding under blankets and towels— well, almost— he still built those forts once in a while. He seemed more comfortable around you, so much so that he began talking to you.

The first time you heard his voice you almost screamed bloody murder. You still remember it as the night you nearly died of a heart attack.

It was a stormy night, and the electric storm was rampaging for hours now. All lights had gone out, but you were comfortable in bed reading a book with a flashlight. When a deep but soft voice you have never heard before in your life interrupted your night reading. You heard your name come from your door and it slowly opened.

You practically jumped out of the bed, one foot getting caught by your covers and your forehead hit the ground with a thud and a cry. Quickly, your eyes hovered over the side of your mattress searching for the owner of the voice, when your eyes landed on Xavier standing at your door.

“Xavier?” Gathering your thoughts, you realized the voice calling your name in the middle of the dark was his. “I-is there something you need?”

Of course, you were stunned by this new development but you knew that if you didn’t handle the situation accordingly, you would lose this opportunity. Calm and collected were the words you mentally chanted as you slowly stood up with your heart beating wildly in your throat.

“Can I…” he felt his hesitation rising as the hands of anxiety began to squeeze Xavier’s insides.

You send him a look full of warmth, encouraging him to keep going, and the sudden nails digging into his stomach slowly evaporated.

“Can I stay here?” His deep but melodic soft voice traveled to your ears and you felt like crying, but you held everything in. This was about him.

“Sure, Xavier. Let me get you more blankets.” You smiled, storm and the almost-heart attack left in the past. “I know how much you like them.”

A few blankets later and a bunny hybrid wrapped in them like a burrito, you went back to your book. you expected Xavier to just fall asleep. But oh, boy… he had different plans.

“Why are you so kind to me when I have been nothing but trouble to you?” Xavier’s whispers broke the silence in your room.

Closing your book and leaving it on your bedside table, you turned your attention completely to your bunny hybrid who rested comfortably on the pillow next to yours.

“I promised, remember?” You lifted your pinky, “aaand do I need a reason to be kind? Maybe it’s an instinct to be this way, just like you with your blanket forts or I just don’t know how to be mean.” You lightheartedly joked with the last part.

A while passed after your words and you thought your answer had satisfied Xavier. So you got cozy in your bed and closed your eyes, assuming that your first-ever chat with Xavier had come to an end.

And again, he was a bunny hybrid full of surprises. Your assumptions were wrong because that was not the case. Xavier had ambushed you once more. Out of nowhere, he began to speak again.

“That’s not true. I remember you verbally berating the neighbors the other day.” He casually mumbled.

You widened your eyes, startled by his words. “No— that’s— Xavier, they were being too loud and you got scared!”

“I know,” he then turned around and went to sleep. Just like that. Leaving you all dumbfounded beside him.

More than a year together and things were good until they weren’t. Xavier began to behave weirdly around you and it just kept getting worse. He presented fevers, cold sweats, and very abnormal noises at night.

And so you did what you thought was best and called his doctor.

“His heat? Wha– what do you mean his heat?” Your phone nearly slipped from your hand and your eyes almost popped out of your skull at what the doctor was telling you. “But–but the shelter said he never had one before! That he’s too old! I don’t— yes, I understand but—” you couldn’t believe what you were hearing. “What do you mean the first heat could last about ten months?”

You did not sign up for that… that was… how would that even work?

“Okay, thank you.” A couple of more suggestions from his doctor and you finally ended the call.

Hunched over the bathroom sink, you took some deep breaths before coming out to look for Xavier. You would ask for his consent first and foremost. What the doctor implied in the call sounded awful but you had little to no options. Ten months, the first week should be the worst and then the rest should be manageable with what? Get him a prescription? Suppressant? A mating partner? Gosh… your brain was fried.

“Hey Xav? Are you awake?” You said softly as you opened the door. He had been taking more naps than usual to keep… to keep whatever was happening with his system under control.

He grunted a response from his bed, once again the blanket forts were back in place.

With a heavy heart, you told him what the doctor had said, and instantly you got a strange growl in response.

“Do not use that tone with me,” you lightly reprimanded followed by a soft chuckle on your part. “I get it, really. I didn’t like the options either.”

“The others,” he began to say, voice a bit muffled under all those blankets, “at the shelter, they could withstand their heat. I can too.”

He sounded so sure, but you? From what you heard the doctor say? You doubted it. After all, Xavier was a late bloomer. For whatever reason, be it trauma or lack of nutrients, or feeling unsafe, his body didn’t allow him before. Now, that he has a safe environment? That was a different story.

Needless to say, you were right. Things got out of hand pretty fast.

“Chain me,” Xavier demanded behind his closed door. Blocking your path to his room.

“What? No! Xavier, I can’t—“You banged your fist for the hundredth time. “Just let me in! We’ll find something!” You were desperate. He meant the world to you and vice versa. Both grew to be the one thing each other needed.

“Chain me! That’s what they did with the others.” He kept insisting. “It’s for your own good! I can withstand the week! Just go get them!” Xavier shouted, a desperate look clouded his delicate features.

Your heart broke for him as his pleas traveled through the door. He had never raised his voice before and as tears ran down your cheeks, you made up your mind, nodding, and with pain constricting your chest you went straight to buy a collar and a set of chains.

Hours became days and you couldn’t step into Xavier’s room without breaking into a sobbing mess. You didn’t get the chain, that was too much. Instead, you got just the collar and a harness which did the work just fine.

It was almost done, you told yourself as you paced back and forth outside his door. Only three more days and he would be less affected by his hormones.

Click here! Smut inside! pls be aware! -> PART 2

[lordprettyflackotara]

hitchhiker || the proxies || prologue

tw: mentions of murder

“Son of a bitch!”

Masky’s voice was hoarse under his mask, the muddy slope under him making him slide forward. A rough hand grasped his forearm, keeping him from falling. He glanced over his shoulder, Hoodies gloved hand wrapped around his mustard jacket. He glared at Toby as he slid down the muddy slope with glee, splashing mud onto his already tattered jeans. Masky’s eyes narrowed as he heard the familiar quiet giggles coming from under Toby’s mask.

“W-where are we?” Toby questioned. The three looked around, Masky’s memory the most hazy out of the three. Him being elected the leader made the least sense sometimes, considering how scrambled his brain was. “The butt fuck of no where is my guess,” Masky huffed. Hoodie looked in front of them a two way road the only sign of civilization. He turned to Masky, who was about five seconds away from a rage fit. “We need to find our way back to the mansion,” Masky sighed. He began walking along the side of the road, assuming Hoodie and Toby would follow.

“You’re not seriously proposing we walk back to civilization are you?” Hoodie asked plainly. Masky gritted his teeth, annoyance washing over him. “You got a better idea?” He snapped. Toby skipped in front of Masky, turning around to face him as he walked backwards. “We c-c-can hit-tchhike!” He said cheerfully. Masky and Hoodie exchanged looks, watching as Toby raised his arm by the road. He raised a thumb, his signature bloody axe thrown over his opposite shoulder.

“Anyone who willful picks us up has got to be a lunatic,” Hoodie muttered. A set of headlights appeared over the clearing, the older men’s eyes narrowing at the sight of your car. “Looks like we got ourselves a lunatic,” Masky grumbled.

“L-l-let me do all of-f-f the talking gentleman,” The younger proxy said. Toby skipped to the front of the car, Masky and Hoodie watching dumbfounded as you rolled down your window. “Do you think it’s because she thinks the kids cute?” Masky asked his partner. Maybe he hadn’t been around women so long that they overlooked blood soaked axes if someone was attractive enough. Hoodie elbowed him. “It’s Halloween, that’s why she’s not bothered,” Hoodie replied quietly. How could Masky have forgotten? Thats the entire reason they were able to complete their mission to begin with.

“You know the rules we can’t have witnesses, no matter how cute,” Hoodie whispered. Masky eyed you carefully, noticing your doe eyes and plump lips. You seemed to be wearing some sort of fairy costume, one that made your breast sit upright. Masky sighed. “Of course. We get in the car and let her drive for a bit. Gives us a break. Once we come to a stopping point we’ll make it short and sweet,” Masky told Hoodie. He gestured his head to the revolver in his jacket pocket, the outline shoving just ever so slightly. Toby came back around the car, waving for them to join him. “Dibsss o-on shotgun!” Toby cheered.

As Masky approached the car he gently shoved Toby towards the backseat. “Yeah right kid, take a seat,” He huffed. Masky slid into the passengers seat of the car, your lips curling into a bright smile. “Hi i’m y/n,” You greeted. Masky gave you a brief nod, the three of them settling into the car. You noted their silence, deciding to change the conversation. “So, where you guys needing to go?” You asked. You started the car again, driving down the windy road. It became apparent that you were intoxicated, your perfume not able to conceal the smell of alcohol. Masky would’ve questioned your ability to drive, if he cared to survive a possible crash.

Death would be a pleasant surprise, if Slender didn’t have EJ bring him back in time. The healing process would be a bitch. “Just back to town. We got lost partying in the woods,”Hoodie answered quickly. Every so often it impressed Masky how quickly his partner could lie on the spot. You nodded. “Well i’m glad I found you guys, Halloween can get pretty crazy,” You slurred. Masky watched cautiously as your eyes flickered into the rearview mirror, looking at Hoodie and Toby. If it were up to him he would have you drive the entire way, so he could relax his never ending storm of a mind.

“What are you three dressed up as? I’m Tinkerbell as you might’ve guessed,” You giggled. Unfortunately your talking and questions were starting to get on Masky’s last nerve. “Y-you ev-ver see the purge? We’re dressed like them!” Toby replied, his neck twitching ever so slightly. Masky refrained from audibly sighing. Toby’s neck only ever twitched like that when he genuinely enjoyed talking to someone. He needed the kid to not get attached to you. Would only make the disposal process harder. And trust him, no one chops up a body like Toby does.

“Thats cool, definitely unique masks you guys have. Can I touch?” You asked innocently. You reached over to Masky, your fingertips threatening to graze his mask. The brunette could feel himself growing angry, his mask the one possession he could not allow to be touched. Hoodies loud coughing stopped your motion, your hand frozen as you glanced back in the rearview mirror. “Are you okay?” You asked cautiously. Masky sighed in relief as you retracted your hand. Hoodie continued fake coughing, giving you a thumbs up with one of his gloved hands.

The games and chit chat were growing old. Maybe if they were normal men, who actually were coming from a Halloween party, you’d be enjoyable. Maybe one of them would be lucky enough to take you home and fuck your brains out in that slutty Tinkerbell costume of yours. But they weren’t normal men and none of them were lucky. “He’s fine, just has bad a-a-asthma,” Toby explained, patting Hoodies shoulder. Masky could see Hoodie subtly cringe at the sensation of physical touch. He despised anyone touching him. “I have asthma too! Hang on I think I have an inhaler in the glovebox,” You replied.

You made a slow left on the windy road, the city lights slowly coming into view from a far. “Hey do you mind grabbing the inhaler from the glovebox?” You asked Masky. He did as instructed, clearing his throat as he handed the inhaler back to Hoodie. It was a subtle signal that they needed to get on with disposing of you. They were close enough to the city now. “Welllll you guys don’t seem like big talkers so i’ll play some music. Is that okay?” You asked. Toby nodded profusely. Music always made the kid overly excited. Masky began to reach in his coat pocket, his revolver always loaded and ready to go. He could feel his metal wrapped around the metal, itching with anticipation.

Your fingertips pressed the center console, turning on a tune Masky hadn’t heard in a long time. The Smiths filled his ears, the lead singers voice soothing. He glanced in the rearview mirror, Hoodie’s head beginning to twitch to the left. Shit, Brian’s gonna be fronting. Masky’s gaze landed on Toby, whose leg was jumping up and down front excitement. This band reminded Hoodie too much of his previous life, triggers like those allowing Brian to front earlier than expected. Masky sighed as the chorus came on, his jaw beginning to clench as an all too familiar pounding began in the front of his temple.

Brian could see Masky’s switch, his hand rubbing his temple as it always did when Tim was about to front. Tim blinked a few times, his breathing feeling suffocated under his mask. His hand slid out of his jacket, leaving his revolver inside. He quickly shoved his mask off, fear washing over him with the realization as to what he just did. Not only could they not have witnesses, but they most certainly could not let anyone who saw their faces walk away alive. Tim shot Brian a worried look, Brian quick to shove off his ski mask. As The Smiths played in the background Tim cleared his throat.

“I’m Tim by the way, and he’s Brian,” He said. He pointed at Toby with him thumb over the seat. “And I’m sure Toby has introduced himself,”

How could they get out of this without killing you?

How could they get out of this without killing you?

How could they get out of this without killing you?

You smiled drunkenly, Tim noticing your slight curve when driving. “Do you guys want to stop by waffle house?” You asked. Toby went to immediately agree, Brian’s hand flying over his mouth. “Maybe some other time, we have uh, work tomorrow,” Brian answered. Toby shoved his arm away, Brian struggling to keep his hand over the younger man’s mouth. “Bummer. I should probably go home too. Works such a bitch,” You sighed. Tim was trying to listen to you, he really was. But all he could think about was how he was going to have to order your execution. To arrange your meeting with death himself.

His brown eyes flickered to Brian’s in the rearview mirror, who were silently awaiting his instruction. Tim knew his partners expectation, but as he looked over at you, he just couldn’t do it. As you drove into the city you hummed along to the song, your fingers tapping along the steering wheel to the beat. Tim couldn’t put his finger on why exactly he was determined to let you go. Maybe it was his morality that surfaced when he immediately switched. Maybe it was how tired he truly was. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept. Whatever it was, something about you called to him. That calling involving you being alive.

The city lights were mixtures of purples and yellows, illuminating the inside of the car. “Can you pull over at the gas station up here? We live nearby,” Brian interjected, ruining the silence. You nodded, turning on your blinker and driving over to the right lane. Tim didn’t want to leave just yet, resentment of Brian’s words washing over him as you parked the car. “Well here we are,” You say. It wasn’t hard to see you were still drunk, your eyes glazed over. Tim couldn’t help but conclude your intoxication was the only reason you were so calm.

“Thanks for the ride, appreciate it,” Brian said, sliding out of the backseat. Tim listened to the car door slam, slowly taking off his seatbelt. Toby followed his lead. “B-b-bye beautiful!” He said, retreating from the car. Tim gave you a brief glance. He was doing the right thing by sparing your life, right? He slid out of the car, grabbing his mask and shoving it into his coat. You rolled down your passenger window, giving them a wave. “I’ll see you guys around, right?” You asked. Something about the ominous three men was intriguing, a mystery seemingly dying to be solved.

“Most definitely,” Tim replied. He leaned down, propping his arms on the passenger door as he peered down inside of your car. “Seriously, thanks for the ride. If we run into each other again we’ll make up for it,” Tim offered. You smiled, the faintest flush of pink highlighting your cheeks. “I’d like that a lot,” You replied. Tim leaned away, giving you a wave.

“Goodbye Y/n.”

“Goodbye Tim.”

With that you drove away, leaving Tim standing beside Brian and Toby. “You let her go?” Brian questioned. Tim dug into his pants, digging out a box of cigarettes. “Just like that?” Brian continued to questioned. Tim shrugged, bringing a cigarette to his lips. “No sense in killing her. She did us a favor,” He replied blandly. He began digging around for a lighter, Toby furiously jumping in between them. “What?!?! Y-you guys-s-s wanted to kill her?” Toby gasped. Brian rolled his eyes. “Dont be so naive, she’s a witness and we leave no witnesses behind,” He informed him. Brian shot Tim a dirty look and added, “Especially after they’ve seen our faces.”

Tim was aware he was breaking about twenty different protocols by letting you go. He was also more than aware Toby could’ve taken care of you entirely, he wouldn’t have needed to be involved. But he wanted you to live. It was an odd sensation he had never truly felt before, raw craving for someone that came across their path to walk away scratch free. “How long are we stationed here?” Brian asked. Tim finally found his lighter, igniting the end of his cigarette. Once he inhaled he replied, “About another three months.”

Brian crossed his arms, both him and Toby trailing behind Tim as he began to stroll down the sidewalk. He exhaled through his nose, ignoring Brian’s dirty looks. “How exactly do you propose we avoid her for three months?” He asked. Tim rolled his eyes. “For starters there’s the entire possibility she’ll be too drunk to remember us anyways,” He began. He watched as Toby galloped ahead, his axe slung over his shoulder like always. Tim brought out his pack of cigarettes again, gesturing for Brian to take one.

“Besides her meeting us was a mistake. A girl like that doesn’t belong in our world. She’ll never see us again. We’ll be a drunken memory,” Tim insisted. Brian took a cigarette, a gesture that meant he was going to try to trust Tim on this. Tim flickered the lighter, igniting the end of Brian’s cigarette. Once Brian inhaled, the two continued walking.

“You just let her go because she’s cute huh?”

“Dude shut up.”

—> chapter one

[willowed-wisp]

to the winter wedding (part two) [ ghost ]

part one

Growing up you had fated encounters with Simon Riley that would continue into your adulthood. You a combat medic and him, the one you ended up treating.

“Mum, I look like a dusty grape… I can’t go to that wedding looking like THIS!” The dress was sleek, as you hoped. However, it made you wholly self-conscious. It was just a spaghetti dress, long line lilac dress. But you hated yourself in it.

Though your mother objected, “You are ridiculous… you look better than I ever did in it. And besides, it’s not about you… Beth is the bride, you’re a guest…” That was what you needed to hear, it wasn’t about you. People weren’t going to be looking at you…

Everybody but Simon Riley…

You would be fine…. That was until you sat outside of the venue in your car, stalling to enter the church. Why did you feel like that? Simon wouldn’t even look at you like that, he would have made a move on you years ago if he intended to.

So taking a deep breath, hands leaving the wheel of your car. You left the vehicle, locking on the key. At just the right moment for the air to be knocked out of your date; your hair down and long lilac dress that matched his tie down to the fabric. His tawny eyes wide- more expressive than you’d witnessed previously, “Fuckin’ hell…”

That concerned you, “Does it look horrible? I told my mum I didn’t look good…”

He remained gobsmacked, “You’ve got nothing to worry about…” His arm looped, hooking your arm through.

Butterflies constant in your stomach that night: eyes on you and Simon arm in arm and managing to catch the bouquet- looking instinctively at your date. Wishing alcohol was in your system, unable to shake that overwhelming weight on your chest. Worsening when his hulking frame stood in front of you, “Need some air, ya comin’?” Nodding, passing the bouquet to a random bridesmaid. Following the man who stood out like a sore thumb to outside of the secondary venue.

Without hesitation, he brought his lips to yours; seeing if you tasted how he imagined. It’s all he had thought about the entire night… many nights… flutters in your middle were numbing. The slightest smile drawn on his lips while you were sure his hands, rested at your waistline were there to stabilise.

One intended peck turned into a series of kisses. Your eyes finally opened, meeting those of molten russet. His lips ghosted over your own, barely there but that warmth mixed with his laboured breathing. "Please say this isn't a dream..." Your breath tickled against him.

His eyes spoke numerous emotions; shock, longing, gratitude and adoration. Your breathing slowed while his heart beat grew furious under trembling fingertips. "I'm right here, Y/N… want t’ go to my place?”

Crashing against his front door, his mother still present at the reception while Simon’s tongue was down your throat. Breaking apart from you, “I’ve waited too long to do this…”

Whipping off the jacket from his structured arms, “You have no idea,” claiming him in a starved kiss. Your fingers in his thick hair, his hands spreading your legs.

His cheek to yours- a whisper in your ear, “Jump, love,” Hooking your legs around his waist; a groan slipped from your throat each step he took up the stairs. He could imagine why, not able to restrain himself with your legs draped around him- grinding against the tent in his trousers. An ache in you building by the second, no alcohol in your system. It was pure desire and fuck did you need him.

Your body caught air for the slightest moment, body on top of neatly made bedsheets, the moonlight loomed through the curtains. "You’ve been driving me crazy, Y/N…" Your name rolled so easily off of his tongue- wondering what other uses he had with it. The shirt that hung on his shoulders found its position at the base of the bed, before the weight on the bed shifted- Simon’s frame shadowed your fully-clothed body. His mouth tickled your neck until that sweet singe of pain, your head coaxed onto the pillows of the bed. Breath hitching every nip he took.

Unable to take action, as he was in full control. Pinning your hands with such delicacy to either side of your head as he laid waste to your arching neck; acute snappy breaths each graze of his teeth. Simon worked down the length of body- across the dress just leaving delicate pecks. All a euphoric blur.

Before you knew it he was hilted in you, every duty and purpose you had ever burdened put on the back burners. This was you and Simon, not the frontlines of a war. Shared breaths of laboured passion the only thing lingering in the world. Your head fuzzy with desire, nails scraping along his scarred, muscular back. A moan strangulated as his back dipped, hand coiling further and forceful in your hair. “Simon…” Fallen from your full lips, tickling the hair curved at his ear. The man kissed your temple.

His name fell from your lips again, shouting da curse. Scrapes along the blades of his shoulders and fingernails indented his neck while he took care of your bare chest and clavicle- love bites scattered north to south of your pretty body, just as your back arched before his eyes.

You weren’t thinking- the only thing you knew was his name, ripping a spasm through your core. An insatiable grumble from Simon- so light in the air, not like his usual rough tone.

Blood drawn from his neck, your grip like a vice back lifting off the bed. Simon’s cock lburied all the deeper, and your voice was crying out. Vision clouded in the bright haze by his chest then how he chewed at his lip slamming his hips into you, a sight enough to quiver at; dripped in sweat and flopping hair stuck to his forehead. His lips agape towering you. All but a glimpse as he devoured, a warm wave of salted sweetness.

It did little to smother the noise, it just made that craving for him peak- perched in his lap all while he throttled upward. Arms slack over the broad set of shoulders, left panting into his soft neck. Avoiding the fresh scars you had treated, so mindful of them even in the throes of sex.

Worlds apart to what you’d been used to. Nobody had fucked you out like this man, how could someone be so abrasive but so forgiving in the same moment.

You had never such peace, in a vintage dress on the naked lap of Simon Riley. His arms holding you close while sharing a fairytale kiss, holding his shaven jawline.

Resting at the side of him, rubbing circles onto his defined chest. Following old stab wounds, Simon’s nose buried in your messily clad hair, “Have you ever wanted to get married?”

You were caught in a daydream, “Well… I’ve never met the right guy. Never had luck with that,” You turned to look into those gorgeous eyes, “Have you?”

His face unreadable, though his hand rested around you, “I’m 25 and I’ve been in love with this one woman…” His warmth was scalding, or it might have been the jealousy running through your veins. Until the pin dropped.

“You don’t mean…” That knowing look intent on his smirking face, “You mean me?”

Fingers twirling in your hair, “You looked at me like there was something worth looking at… every time you ran into me…” His scarred, much larger hand fitted around yours- lacing his fingers. “You also saved my life, so that goes a long way…”

You were rendered speechless, at ease in the silence while in the safety of Simon’s body. “Don’t let me go… please…”

“Like I ever could…”

And he never did.

Stood in that same church a year later, this time you wore white and Simon in his military formals.

————

I hope I did a good job on this… and thank you for reading xx

————

cod m.list | request guidelines | ghost m.list

[gainahan]

naruto driving headcanons

Naruto - definitely not licensed. debatable whether he actually knows which one is the brake pedal. as long as Sakura is alive he will not be allowed behind the wheel of a car. unknowable/10

Sasuke - also not technically licensed, but all things considered a pretty decent driver. probably started driving well before he was legally old enough to. 7.5/10

Sakura - road rage extraordinaire. swears up and down she goes the speed limit but in truth goes at minimum 10 over. “speed limit is a suggestion” more like speed limit is a challenge. at the very least she gets them where they need to go. 5.5/10

Sai - never learned to drive until he met team 7. between Naruto and Sakura’s influences, he won’t be getting licensed for at least the next 6 years. good luck/10

Shikamaru - truly cannot be arsed. if asked to drive he claims to not have a license, but he definitely does. another unknowable/10 but I like to think in a pinch he’d be pretty good at it.

Choji - reliable driver but has a tendency to be late. gets stressed out when he has more than a few passengers. 6/10

Ino - wants to be a passenger princess soo badly. unfortunately for her, she’s the best on her team. being good at driving is her curse. woefully, 10/10

Kiba - team 8’s designated driver, believe it or not. he is…not good at it, per se, but better than the rest of them. having two sets of eyes on the road tends to help. 6.5/10

Hinata - gets so stressed out she forgets how to brake. she’ll be white knuckling the wheel going 50 in a residential while her passengers pray for their lives in the backseat. -2/10 her dad’s insurance is through the roof

Shino - morally opposed to driving. he hasn’t confirmed why but the running theory is that a swarm of his bugs faceplanted into the windshield once and traumatized him. unknowable/10

Neji - doesn’t believe in right-of-way. refuses to use his mirrors. whole heartedly believes he is god’s gift to the interstate. by some miracle has never gotten into a crash, but if any of his passengers are sensible people he is banned from the wheel. 0/10

Tenten - makes Sakura’s road rage look like divinely inspired patience. honestly she’s not even mad she just enjoys it. has to be actively talked down from brake checking people. banned from the wheel 0/10

Lee - while technically a perfect driver (obeys every speed limit, never makes an illegal turn, maneuvers like butter), having him in the front seat is such an intolerable experience he’s also banned from the wheel. those unfortunate enough to have witnessed it don’t speak of their experience, but rumors involve something along the lines of a custom-made Gai inspirational quotes driving playlist. 0/10

Temari - grew up driving her brothers around. Absolutely hates it. when she’s in a car she’s got her feet up on the dashboard and always has the aux. if she were to drive again, 9.5/10

Gaara - an…extremely calm, level headed driver? side effect of RBF is that everyone is always waiting for him to snap and run someone over. he never has. probably listens to calming classical music or something while in traffic jams. 10000/10

Kankuro - I find it funny to believe he’s the actual passenger princess. unknowable/10

[rorylovesmatt]

all over her - matthew sturniolo

part 2

summary: Matt and y/n get invited to a party but she catches him cheating on her with her best friend

warnings: arguing, cheating i think that’s it

word count: 773

a/n: should i make a tag list? i really need requests so if you guys have any i’ll gladly accept 🙏🙏 *NOT PROOFREAD!*

Y/N stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of her dress for the hundredth time. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness for tonight's party. Matt, her boyfriend of two years, had insisted on attending. Their relationship had been a mixture of highs and lows, but tonight, she hoped for a high.

"Y/N, you ready?" Matt called from the living room.

"Just a minute!" she replied, taking a deep breath. She grabbed her purse and headed out to join him. Matt looked handsome as ever in his white shirt and jeans, his dark curly hair perfectly styled.

"You look amazing" he said, giving her a quick kiss.

"Thanks" she smiled, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that had been lingering all day.

The drive to the party was filled with laughter and light conversation. Y/N's best friend, Emma, had invited them. Emma and Y/N had been inseparable since kindergarten, and Matt had fit right into their dynamic from the beginning.

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Music blared, and people were dancing and chatting. Emma greeted them at the door, her eyes lighting up when she saw Y/N.

"Y/N! Matt! So glad you could make it!" Emma hugged them both, leading them inside.

They hung out with friends, danced, and indulged in the festive atmosphere. After an hour or so, Y/N felt the need to use the bathroom. She excused herself, leaving her friends by the makeshift bar. Matt had disappeared not long ago but she just assumed he found his friends.

As she made her way through the crowded house, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She reached the bathroom and found it occupied, so she decided to use the one upstairs. She climbed the stairs, the noise from the party fading slightly with each step.

As she approached the upstairs bathroom, she heard voices coming from a nearby room. The door was slightly ajar, and she recognized the voices immediately, Matt and Emma. Curiosity got the better of her, and she inched closer, peeking through the crack in the door.

Her heart stopped.

Matt and Emma were sitting at the edge of a bed their lips pressed together in a passionate kiss. Y/N felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her best friend and her boyfriend, the two people she trusted the most, were betraying her in the worst way possible.

She stumbled back, her mind racing. She wanted to burst into the room and confront them, but her legs felt like lead. Instead, she turned and fled down the stairs, the sounds of the party drowning out her sobs.

Y/N found herself outside, the cool night air hitting her like a slap. She leaned against the side of the house, trying to catch her breath. The reality of what she'd just witnessed crashed over her like a wave. How could they do this to her? How could Matt do this to her? And Emma, her “best friend” how could she?

After a few moments, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Matt, his face flushed and his eyes wide with guilt.

"Y/N, wait," he said, reaching out to her.

"Don't touch me," she spat, backing away. "How could you, Matt? How could you do this to me?"

"Y/N, I'm so sorry," he pleaded. "It was a mistake. I—"

"A mistake? You were kissing my best friend!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "How long has this been going on?"

Matt looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "A few weeks," he admitted quietly.

Y/N felt like she had been punched in the gut. "I can't believe this. I trusted you. I trusted both of you."

Just then, Emma appeared, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears. "Y/N, please, let me explain."

"There's nothing to explain," Y/N said coldly. “I don’t ever want to see either of you again”

With that, she turned and walked away, her heart shattered into a million pieces. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she needed to get as far away from Matt and Emma as possible.

As she walked down the quiet street, the sound of the party fading behind her, Y/N realized that she deserved better. She deserved someone who would love her unconditionally. a part of her still loved Matt and didn’t want to leave but she knew that their relationship wasnt healthy and if he truly wanted to be with Emma, then she could have him.

[theartkid15]

Clinging onto the hope that school is gonna be over soon. Soooooooooo

Ramshackle character hc for a summer slasher or paranormal type film since horror movies are peak.

And like SUMMERWEEN 🎃🍁 ☀️🌻

(Tw: main talks about horror, character death,brief mentions of alcohol that stuff, turn around now if that triggers you or makes you uncomfortable, take care of yourself)

Okay so slasher type film! 🔪🩸

So maybe the setting is at a Halloween party, or abandoned haunted house, maybe cabin, that none of them should be in. I dunno, but the setting could be where the most recent murders if the Ramshackle killer took place or something.

Now, what roles or character tropes would the group fall into?

Cen and Rigel: the little $h!ts that suggested the idea to go there in the first place. Either ends up getting got right away, or makes it surprisingly far before getting killed off. And playing into them being twins, in the end they sort of end up dying together. Also, if they did make it very far, they taunted the hell out of the killer.

Vinnie: sorry to every other character, but she is our final girl. Out of everyone, she had the highest chance of surviving a situation like this, she has the ability to fight, street smarts, resilience, the odds are more in her favor.

Tre: the coward. The nerdy wimpy coward that tries saving his own skin by running away or even making a deal with the killer to save himself. Either way it doesn’t work and he gets got swiftly and easily ( it’s okay I still love this nerdy cop). Or like he tries figuring out what the killer is and gets really close to finding out who, and gets killed.

Ditch: the a$$hole jock type character. He keeps scaring people in the group or saying the killer is just a myth. After the first kill he isn’t easy to be around, insanely stubborn and temperamental. Most people want him gone quickly but he just keeps surviving due to his own strength. At one point probably is heavily suspected to be the killer but ends up dying in front of the group.

Avrille: scream queen type deal if that makes any sense. Like the very prissy, cvnty, almost skeptic, bratty character. Nobody knows why she was invited to the hangout, maybe she saw an opportunity to get high or something and took it. Everyone is sick of her and start making her leave or she’s taunting the killer and ends up being killed first by like a trap or long distance attack.( sorry to all my Avrille lovers)

Stone: also the skeptic about the killings and the killer but also trying to figure it out at the same time. Once his sister gets killed he just goes into shock or has a full blown crash out bc, honestly he deserves to crash out after everything. Out smarts the killer a few times actually and ends up finding a way of escaping or getting help. But in a moment of being distracted, like trying to get an old outdated rotary phone to work or getting a abandoned car to start, in his brief moment of not using logic, he gets tragically killed.

Skipp: sooooooo two ways this could go. He has been the killer all along. Why? Because I love the trope of the sunshine character being evil the whole time or the innocent character no one suspects because it’s a funny plot twist.

I don’t know a true motive, maybe he was just sick of all his friends or the way he was being treated by his friends. Like there would be small moments where he is ignored, brushed off, or maybe he almost gets killed by his own traps and his friends have to save him, and get angry they had to save him a few times. Or like Skipp was planning on getting rid of Ditch and Avrille only, because they were just problematic and causing Stone and Vinnie stress. But things got messy and he couldn’t afford any witnesses and gaslit himself into thinking getting rid of everyone was mercy.

The second way is that he is the person who goes investigates the noises because he is optimistic that nothing could go wrong. And then in fact, everything goes wrong. Probably the character you end up screaming at not to go into certain rooms or into the basement.

Maroon: she is the person who is the noble sacrifice. She protected everyone she could and saved as many as she could till her final breath. Sorry to all my bitter sweet shippers but once Avrille was killed off, she lets herself mourn and break down before gathering her wits and protect the other in every way she knows how.

She is the first to obtain a weapon that gives them a chance to take down the killer. Now it doesn’t matter if Skipp is the killer or not for the story. Skipp could unmask himself as the killer or Skipp could end up dying in front of her. Either way she is stunned at seeing what happened to her cousin and in that moment of weakness, she ends up dying.

That’s all I can think of for a slasher type movie…so now Paranormal 👻

Location could be in a graveyard or like an older location in Ramshackle that is suspected to be haunted but is protected for historical purposes.

Stone: He is the character that ends up getting possessed completely against his will. Mainly because whatever the hell got summoned feeds off negativity, depression, and weakness. And Stone happened to be the perfect host. So unfortunately, he is going to be the main one doing the killing or hurting. There could be a way to get the demon/ ghost out without hurting Stone. He could live or end up dying either way, it wouldn’t be too vital to the story, but I like Stone so for the sake of happiness, he lives, not without trauma.

Cen and Rigel: again, the little $h!ts that brought all the Ouija board or summoned the demon on purpose as a joke or a prank thinking it wouldn’t work. ( spoilers, it does in fact work)

Pebble: He is the ghost/ demon that haunts and terrorizes our crew. Because that’s what he already does in the series. So he can do it in this AU too. Though he is a lot more menacing and deadly than in the original source material. Probably thinks his pranks and scaring and shenanigans are harmless when in fact, it’s getting people killed.

Tre and Maroon: both paranormal investigators or detectives, maybe historians trying to uncover the mystery behind the graveyard or historical mansion where many mysterious deaths/ freak accidents happened. Just happened to be in the area at the same time and begins helping out cast, maybe they make it to the end and defeat Pebble. Or their efforts are useless and end up getting killed protecting our cast.

Ditch: probably considered or actually gets possessed for a short period of time. But ultimately Stone was chosen. Calling back to the previous hc he still falls into that jock type trope. And taunts and instigates fights with the demon and ghosts to try and prove they are a myth and ends up causing his own demise because of it.

Vinnie and Skipp: being Stones’s best friends, they are the reason they are/can be able to save Stone and defeat Pebble. Because they have such a deep bond through the three of them. They are the best duo in the scenario , like they are the team you root for the entire movie and are such a power duo. Skipp or Vinnie go off screen and you hear a struggle and you probably think one of them died only until they show up towards the end and aid in the final face off with Pebble.

Avrille: she was probably the next to die after Ditch. Pebble might’ve gained access to Stones memories and aw the life he lived at home and so ended up killing Avrille in the process and gaslit Stone into thinking it was his fault. Avrille still is prissy and a harsh skeptic of the whole demon and ghost thing, but starts showing worry and concern the more Stone deteriorates and gets worse. And Stone snaps on her when she tries getting him to talk to her.

So that’s all I got, I really hope I wasn’t too graphic or gory with anything. I just really like Ramshackle and horror and wanted to combine the two. And I’ve been sitting on this idea for awhile. You can add your own suggestions of characters or oc’s if you want, I love hearing everyone’s ideas and opinions about everything.

That’s it for now-💜🪻🪐🌙✨💫⭐️☀️🔮

[serenofroses]

wip to my purely self indulgent canon divergent ptn writing. it's not 100% finished nor make sense.

A/N: implied pre established relationship between oc x canon character, oc x canon ship, violence fights. Seren's limited vocabulary and repetitive words.

tagging @bardic-tales

--

“Ambush ahead, turn back!”

Amelia’s warning came too late. The driver’s quick reflex to dodge the tall white-haired woman who stood waiting in the middle of the road failed as the contact of the woman's fist collided hard at the car's front.

The car spiralled overhead and wrecked across the deserted road.

A few moments had passed, Amelia found herself alone near the wreckage, she surveyed her surroundings. There was no sign of the driver nearby, Hella and Hecate were on the other side to recuperate their strengths. With a sharp inhale, she mustered what little of her strength to crawl away at a safe distance, smelling the leakage of oil about to engulf in flame. Ears were ringing and head pounded rapidly, and pain swelled upon her body. Amelia made a wince grimace as she made little effort to move her body.

Everything went by a blur, barely grasping the situation. She glanced over to find the same tall woman approaching her–the Legion fleet behind her eventually caught up in time. Amelia struggled to keep her energy up as her eyelids twitching… feeling light headed from the crash.

Sleep sounds good right now…

The sound of expletive words and the beast's loud roar snapped Amelia back to reality in time to witness an ongoing fight between the three. But the fight wasn't going well—lasting a mere second.

Which confirmed the woman’s status to her… a Sinner. A dangerous one, according to Ted.

Neither Hella nor Hecate were any match for the Sinner's brute strength. Nightmare was thrown upon the impact carelessly and vanished. Hecate was weakened and tried to intervene until Hella was shoved towards her as the two stumbled backwards onto the gravel.

The Sinner seized Hella's pipe and broke it into pieces by her own hands, and turned her attention back to Amelia. Before the two of them could recover to their feet, a couple of Legion members came to restrain the two and dragged away to one of the trucks.

"I've got no quarrel with you."

The two teenagers were kicking and screaming and cursing.

“Stop! Leave her alone!” came Hecate’s pleads.

“Fuck off!" Hella snapped angrily, "Get away from her!”

Amelia startled as the Sinner began to advance towards again. She sputtered out a cough, body exhausted with no energy left in her to escape. Her head’s hurting so bad. She braced for whatever fate that awaited her.

There was a smile on the woman's face.

She was getting closer… Amelia's heart thumped in fear. Blissfully unaware the shackle mark began to glow and tugged her towards the Sinner.

Her amber eyes locked with the icy eyes. An unsettling familiarity.

“Quite a chase, huh. You really kept us on our toes all night.” she spoke with a chuckle as she crouched down, lifting a single digit of her claw to brush against Amelia's cheek “I don't mind the thrill of this chase… a wolf catches her prey.”

Amelia flinched from the cold contact, “What do you want from me?”

The Sinner tilted her head, “You really don’t remember? Hmm. Looks like we have a lot to catch up on.”

Amelia could feel her vision drift closer to the darkness with passing seconds she slipped in and out of consciousness, self-aware that her body was carried within the strong grips of the Sinner’s arms. The intoxicating scent of tobacco and cologne was too much for her to stay awake and buried her face into the Sinner’s chest.

“Let’s get you back home, Amelia.”

[madamegixxysticks]

Do Loons Dream of Electric Sheep? PT 1

Most would say a night like this is a perfect one to take a stroll unadulterated by city lights…

Stars littering the vivid night sky, splotches of violet as an underpainting…

Along with the calm air, all was peaceful here…

Well, it would be if it weren’t for a rather bizarre monster rampaging.

The beast was launching pillows that detonated like bombs, destroying the beautiful land around, and ram minions soared like reindeer on Christmas Eve.

Soaring like a wicked witch within the otherwise beautiful sky, it flew up in front of the moon to make its presence more obvious to any spectators below.

This monster wasn’t going to be unopposed for much longer, it had no clue who was going after it from behind.

If it was paying even just a tad more attention, it would’ve noticed the bunny that snuck herself among its minions.

A rain of psychic blasts from above just like rain made the bunny’s introduction, even if that also resulted in the minion she was standing on being destroyed, having her fall to the land below…

Thankfully, that was when a Tasmanian devil dressed in purple caught her mid-air.

“Thanks alot.” Lexi smiled as Slam landed on their ride like a pro.

“You two alright?” Tech asked.

Who came along was another bunny in yellow this time, accompanied by a duck who looked… SLIGHTLY less competent than the rest of them to put things nicely.

“Heads up!” Lexi called to the duck as she sent another psychic blast coming his way.

Seemingly out of character, Duck conjured up a “mirror” of water to reflect the blast towards the beast before following up with a fireball.

Slam caught some of the debris in a twister of his creation, each stone thrown to make a barricade to block the beast's rampage.

It soared the other way to avoid crashing into that, that little moment of it turning around was just enough for Ace to blast a few lasers.

And that was when a roadrunner in red made his entrance into the battle.

“Ya got dis, Rev?” Ace cheerfully asked. “We got him where we want!” Duck added as he summoned bubbles of water for him to traverse on.

Bubble by bubble, leap by leap… Rev didn’t take long to launch himself high enough for what he had in store for this one!

As soon as the beast looked up to see the road runner, a star was launched right at it…

Rev had dealt the final blow to this freak, its body turning into layers of sparkles in front of the heroes.

And just like that, it was over…

~~

The morning sun gently welcomed a road runner to a new day, snuggled up in blankets and pillows. The change in light made him unconsciously turn to his side, slowly coaching him out of sleep's clutches.

Finally, his eyes finally got the strength to blink, adjusting to the morning sun. “Morning already…?” He yawned, embracing a pillow.

Hoping out of bed, he sported an oversized red hoodie and loose pants as he fixed up his bed, brushed his choppers, washed his face… In just a few minutes he was ready for the day. As soon as he walked out of his bedroom, he witnessed everyone else already in the kitchen. He was sure they weren’t usually up this early, though… Maybe they just wanted a headstart on the day he thought.

“Mornin’ guys! You’re all up early how’d ya all sleep? If ya guys want I’ll go and make breakfast WITH super-booster-wake-me-up shakes if you want that too or I dunno we could chat about stuff-”

“Slept horribly last night.” Lexi drowsily answered, still in pink pajama bottoms with a loose blue shirt.

“I kept waking up nearly jumping out of my bed all night!” Duck complained without a provocation, even he didn’t get changed from that orange jumper and nightcap just yet.

“Rahh bae.” Slam had his chin resting on the table, looking gloomy in dark purple jammies.

“Maybe I could use a cup of whateva Tech drinks…” Ace spoke to himself, he looked only slightly better-rested with just a tank top and shorts.

“Perhaps I should lay off the coffee…” Tech was just as tired as the other four, looking at his cup like someone snuck something in it. This morning he was in loose black shirt with “Genius” written with periodic elements

“Huh? None of ya slept much last night? Did any of you watch a scary something or maybe that guy earlier this week was THAT scary or was Duck playing video games all night like that one time he got that one weird candy game where you blow ‘em up?”

“Eh, none of those Rev…” Ace answered.

Ding-Dong!

“Oh! Mail’s here!” Rev zipped over to greet the delivery fella.

“Let’s see here… Ace me Lexi Lexi Duck Tech Duck again Tech too!” Rev zipped each package over to whoever ordered what, while gently placing the one thing he ordered on the counter.

“And… Huh? No label? Hey, whoever you are you got us a no-label which honestly how does that even happen don’t all things going through the mail need a label in case something happens like wrong thing or even-?” The delivery person already left while he was sorting out their things.

“That’s not ticking, is it?” Tech looked over, Rev held up the box to his obviously hidden ear and didn't hear any suspicious sounds.

“Nope, notta sound unless you count my own breathing as sound.” Rev responded. Tech scanned the box with one of his many gadgets after that response… Nothing concerning showed up. No EMP, no explosives… It seemed completely normal. “Perhaps it was simply a mix-up? But I would consider it strange that it came without a label.”

Carefully opening the box thankfully didn’t reveal any explosives, what was inside was…

A pillow? A mixture of relief and disappointment emanated in the room. “Just a pillow? Was that delivery guy a narcoleptic?!” Duck nearly burst out laughing.

“Duck.” Ace spoke sternly.

“What? Be glad it’s not a bomb!” He cackled like a hyena about the whole thing.

Rev brought the normal enough looking pillow over to the living room and gently placed it on the couch.

“It looks normal enough.” Lexi commented. “Maybe it really is just a mix-up.”

Rev layed down on the couch, with that pillow resting beneath his head.

“Wow, you guys GOTTA try this pillow it has to be the best one I ever laid my head upon it’s not TOO soft yet not TOO firm it’s right there in the middle just like Goldilocks with beds and porridge eww porridge this thing’s puffy enough to sleep on your side without any problems I think! And is that a lavender and camomile scent too?”

“When you’re done, hand that over to me, Motor Mouth.” Duck rolled his eyes

“Perhaps you could go back to bed?” Tech sarcastically suggested to the mallard. Before Rev realized it, his blinking eyes grew heavier and lazier as the moments went by, letting out a soft yawn… Normally, even he would’ve found this fastly growing drowsiness off putting, yet, an incredible sense of relaxation overcame him before that feeling ever got the chance.

This was a first for him, was it? It was like his body was steadily falling asleep with him still awake and aware… 

“Aww man, I could take a nap right now with no regrets even though I just woke up…!” He spoke softer and softer. “Didn’t sleep that well either, didn’t you?” Lexi asked. “Na, I’m pretty sure I slept just fine the night before…” Rev drowsily responded.

Everything felt more and more like a dream too, which didn’t make much sense, he was still awake, right?

Glancing around even in this state didn’t reveal anything strange, which only made it feel stranger.

What did Tech call something like this? Hippo… Google?

No, no… Hypnogogia, was it? The muscles in his limbs refused to move, yet it wasn’t even a bit unpleasant. In fact, it only made that feeling of relaxation sink deeper with every breath he took… Maybe if he thought about something exciting like a train ride with a monster chasing it, he’d convince his body that he was only… Before he could at least turn to his side to tell his brain he wasn’t gonna sleep just yet, his eyelids finally gave up and closed, and his thoughts faded away into the darkness…

Serenity had taken him over at this point…

“Now he’s out?” Lexi was slightly taken aback on how quickly Rev went from chatting sentences in a minute to being fast asleep. “Eh, leave him ‘dere, Lex.” Ace casually dismissed. “If he didn’t get any sleep, might as well let him have dis shot.”

Yet, what stood out was that it seemed unlike the rest of them, Rev seemed his usual cheery self, without any sign of sleep deprivation or severe nightmares.

“That’s rather unusual…” Tech spoke a thought out loud. “Eh, maybe it’s just you and Lexi, Tech. His brains always seem ta be on fast forwerd.” Ace snickered a bit about those last words from his mouth.

“Rev or not, do you find it strange that he fell asleep in under five minutes?” He put his cup on the table. “He’s not tossing and turning either.”

“Yeah, and it looked like he slept as usual last night.” Lexi butted in.

“I suppose while we’re talking about last night, did any of you have rather unusually severe nightmares?” “I did.” Lexi was the first to answer. “Rahh too!” Slam joined in. “Me too…” Duck laid his head on the counter.

“Same for me.” Ace joined in. “I’d ratha not talk about mine.”

This couldn’t be a coincidence, severe nightmares from thin air? And Rev seemed to be the only one who didn’t wake up with a fright in the middle of the night.

But, what were the chances somebody was going after them psychologically?

What if someone built a machine or gained the power to enter the dreams of others? That was Tech’s theory about what might be going on. It sounded silly, but again there’s fiendish foes like Black Velvet, Time Skip and several others with rather notable powers so it might not be too much of a stretch.

Then something took Ace’s attention away from the conversation, some very gentle tugging from Slam.

“What is it, Slam?” he looked.

“Thagh!” The huge marsupial was pointing at what looked like a miniature light show in the living room where Rev was. “Thagh raht dae!”

“Eh, don’t worry about dat, Slam. Dat’s just… Wait a minute,what is dat?” Ace took another look, realizing its presence and the others followed suit.

Whatever was going on, this strange college of light gently floated just above Rev, the pastel lights didn’t seem to even remotely stir him from sleep, in fact, as if seemingly contradictory, the lights kept Rev’s eyes shut.

And it couldn’t be just any one of them, right? But they could hear some strange yet oddly not ominous sounds too… “Okay, who turned on that stupid galaxy projector?!” Duck looked for any sign of said atmospheric gadget. “Stupid hunk of junk must be turning itself on again!” “This doesn’t happen everyday, does it?” Lexi was flabbergasted.

“Thagh’z peewe weird.” Slam added. Tech’s scientific mind got the better of him as he approached the surreal light college, there was no way this could be just that ���stupid galaxy projector” according to Duck.

If it was that gadget, would it clearly display a starry sky at least? It couldn’t make these noises and everybody would’ve been able to see where the projection was coming from.

The galaxy projector was innocent here. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist if it was that.

“Uhhhh, Tek, Idummo ef you shoo git cloosa.” Slam commented. “Yeah, who knows what dat is.” Ace spoke up. “There’s gotta be a mundane explanation to this…” Tech looked to see if there was something else that could be the culprit.

Come aboard, and welcome…! A faint voice caught Tech off guard, from what his ears could tell, it was coming from this projection.

“Did any of you hear that?” He looked up to it. “Hear what?” Duck replied, either he wasn’t paying attention or he couldn’t hear it from where he was. “I… Heard someone.” Tech’s voice grew soft. “Eh, I didn’t hear anybody make a peep.” Ace answered. “Great, now he’s hearing things!” Duck sarcastically concluded. “And… I dunno what that voice is welcoming me to…”

Before he realized it, the delirious lights struck him with a wave of calm, daydreams that became so vivid silenced any thoughts of stepping away at least.

Subconsciously, he lifted his hand as if doing so might allow something to happen. He felt no need to resist, he didn’t even feel concerned.

“Tech! Get away from that!” Lexi moved to try and get the seemingly entranced coyote away from whatever this was.

Before she could get her hand on his shoulder, Tech was whisked into the light collage by the hand as if a supernatural force took him like Peter Pan to Neverland, he didn’t seem to even realize that moment. “RAH?!” Slam reached his hand out. “Tech!!!” Everybody else except Rev who was still fast asleep cried out, each running over to the bizarre portal. “We gotta jet after Tech!” Ace looked intensely at it before turning to the now wide awake team. “Lexi, Slam, you both come with me into that portal and help fish him out!” “Got it.” Lexi gave a thumbs up.

“Yeahaha!”

“Duck, you stay here and keep an eye on Rev!” The bunny gave an order to Danger Duck. “Awwww WHAT?! Why do I have to babysit him?!” He protested, which fell on deaf ears as the trio already dived  into the portal after their coyote. Duck resigned, sitting on the sofa not too close to Rev. 

“Is this because I called that galaxy projector stupid!?”

~~

Tech never felt like this before, drifting throughout this technicolor space without even a trace of gravity being present.

He knew he’d normally probably freak out about being in… Whatever this was, but that was paradoxically pleasantly not the case. His body felt limp as a doll, light as a feather, but he chalked it up to the lack of gravity.

It felt like an eternity just… Floating, his mind normally as noisy as Acmetropolis with thoughts, ideas, and the occasional fantasy was quieted down to just his inner voice for the most part. And each breath he took only deepened this chronic feeling of drowsiness. He felt like his consciousness was going to slip away at any moment, yet he was almost paradoxically wide awake.

Maybe if he closed his eyes for just a few minutes… That wouldn’t hurt, right?

Don’t you dare close your eyes, you have no idea what this place is!  That thought broke its way into his awareness, snapping him out of his own labyrinth of reveries the very moment he fell on something, gravity crept back up on him without him realizing.

Sitting up, he noticed he was on a bed much to his seemingly rare luck, and a brief look out the window revealed he was on some vintage train heading… Somewhere?

The terrain outside looked normal, yet the sky was that limbo before settling down to a tamer consistency mainly dominated by blue, with clouds that looked fluffier than cotton candy.

“Where am I…?” He got himself off of bed and exited the sleeper car.

Everything in the train seemed normal at first, the pale crimson seats looked neat, the drapes of the windows only complemented the polished wooden structures…

Even the lantern style lighting gave this train a welcoming atmosphere.

He was nearly fooled by the flooring’s quilted appearance, obviously it was carpeted but still.

“Wait a minute, didn’t I just leave this car?” He realized when he walked into one room he was only brought back to where he was before in this car.

And the more his mind got out of hypnopompia, not only he mentally ripped himself a new one for his decision to come closer to that… portal, but the more the strange features of this train and just outside stood out to him.

Some curtains were upside down or even sideways, he witnessed a 16-hour clock seemingly going counterclockwise… Even the windows were misplaced in some areas! 

From the corner of his eye, somebody caught his attention, a road runner, one who looked like Rev. And he was just sitting at one of the many seats with a table.

But upon turning around, it only took a second for him to realize it wasn’t Rev, but his younger brother, Rip. What immediately stood out to Tech was his attire. Instead of that jacket, blue shirt and jeans, he instead had an oversized long coat that seemed to have a bluish silver trim that gave it a gilded flake look, with little moon shaped buttons on the cuffs. The shirt underneath looked rather light and complemented the jacket, and the pants he had were adorned with silvery chains and had a bell cut. 

And the finishing touch was a pair of fingerless blue arm warmers.

“Did you get taken into this… Train dimension too?” Tech asked, taking the seat across from him. “Taken into this train dimension?” Rip raised an eyebrow “What are you talking about?”

“W-Well, I… Was stupid enough to get close to this portal.” Tech admitted.

“You got on here via portal?” Rip’s eyes lit up.

 “That had to be so cool! What was it like?! Were you soaring through a tunnel?!”

“It was more like I was floating in some… Strange space.” Tech answered.

“I even lost track of time and felt like I was gonna fall asleep yet I was wide awake at the same time.” he continued.

“You experienced hypnagogia?” That sounded about right. “Or I guess a state like Yoga-Nidra?”

“It was… Pretty much like that, yet I was stuck in it until I fell onto a bed.”

“Cool….!” Rip’s grin was a bit bigger.

“And… You’re aware that these doors and cars don’t lead to where they logically should on this train?” 

“At least they don’t take you to random places.” That statement from Rip’s mouth felt contradictory.

“Try that one behind me. It took me to the next 2 cars down and there’s this red vase that caught my eye.” He suggested. Tech wanted to see if Rip was fibbing or not, and once he tried the door it seemed to be correct… He skipped an entire car, and there was a red vase!

He couldn’t believe he found SOME sense behind this train. “Told you.” Rip was behind him, nearly startling the coyote.

The one thing that clinged onto his mind was… How did Rip get here? And how long enough to be aware of the doors disobeying common sense?

None of this could be real. It was like he was in a dream and fully conscious in it. And since that strange portal was above Rev’s head, the conclusion was easy to make; he was sure even Duck or Slam could figure it out easily. He somehow got transported into Rev’s subconscious mind, didn’t he?

And now here he was, wandering around in his dreams trying to find a way out or at least the reason why he ended up in said dream in the first place.

“... Do you know where Rev is on here?” Tech spoke up, turning to this imaginary Rip. “I don’t. But I have the feeling he’d be the one who’ll find you.” he replied.

“If you want me, I’m gonna be where I was.” the bird headed back.

Now the other thing that stood out to Tech was the fact he himself was seemingly put into a hypnotic trance upon gazing upon that portal after hearing that voice.

And that he only snapped out of it when he landed on that bed. He theorized something about that, perhaps his lack of quality sleep due to strangely severe nightmares the night before must’ve made him more susceptible to… Whatever caused the portal to manifest? Or rather, at least drew him closer to be taken in?

CRASH!!!

Something rammed into the very car he was in! Thankfully none of the luggage and the likes hit him, much to his fortune. “W-What was THAT?!” Tech blurted out loud, turning to the window the collision came from…

Outside the train he witnessed a bizarre, dragon-like monster soaring after the train. Besides glittery black skin not too similar to the night sky, it had strange patchwork like… Patches on its skin like it was a living ragdoll, disembodied wings, no hind legs, and the strangest thing was for some reason, it had a witches hat.

“What am I going to do about him!? If I’m in Rev’s dream, that monster might be able to injure me for real!”

Running into another train car, he was brought into one behind this… Creature, but what stood out to him was the feeling that somebody was behind him, his ears picked up somebody else’s footsteps too, which further solidified that feeling.

Turning around to see if his ears or mind were playing tricks on him at the worst possible time, a moment of relief washed over to see nobody was there besides himself.

“It was just my imagination…” He breathed a sigh.

Scanning the body of the dragon-like nightmare to see if he could spot any sort of weak spot at least, there wasn’t anything obviously soft looking, despite the doll-like look.

Taking the courage to take another door to who knows where on this train, that feeling was back in full swing as soon as he stepped foot in the car. But before Tech had the moment to take a look this time, he felt something almost embrace him from behind, a yelp more so out of surprise came from his mouth as he nearly tripped over himself. …. What was this? He somehow felt stronger now? He swore it took him a bit less to compose himself too.

Now he had the feeling he himself was partially possessed by something… Make that someone, actually.

Looking at his hands didn’t reveal any noticeable differences in his appearance, other than what seemed like a color shift like glow at the tips of his fur.

This time, the cars went where they should logically, which both made Tech’s day a little better yet dumbfounded him almost paradoxically.

“Could I take… Whatever that thing is on now?” Tech asked himself. Now that he realized it, there was a hatch on this car he hadn’t noticed before, and of course took it up to the roof of the car.

The beast didn’t take long to notice he was up here, roaring just like… Well, whatever a weird dragon-like-witch-hat-wearing nightmare monster would sound. “Do you think terrorizing trains is entertaining to you?” Tech confronted the freakshow of a monster with a stern tone.

The creature made the first move, shooting teddy bears from the palms of its claws, before Tech realized it, he zipped out of the way with incredible speed.

“WOAH!?” He nearly fell off the edge of the roof, but thankfully got on his feeting. “W-What the?!”

This battle was going to be… Rather unusual, and that wasn’t just because of his opponent.

~~

Slam was the first to land from the portal, it took only seconds for the two rabbits to follow suit as he caught both in his arms and set them both on the floor gently.

“A train of all things?” Ace raised an eyebrow at the illusion of normalcy.

“Thaug e woo be weirdaa.” Slam looked at their surroundings like an innocent child.

“I don’t think this is a normal train…” Lexis' ears turned like satellites, as if she alone was picking up something the boys couldn’t perceive.

“Rahh wha?” Slam asked.

“Like… This entire thing isn’t exactly real.” She answered.

“Come on, Lex. How weird could this be?” Ace rolled his eyes as walked to the next car… Only to come back from the car behind them. “...Huh?”

“... Try going back into that door!” Lexi suggested. “Dis is only goin’ to get weirdea…” Ace headed to the car behind…

This train was like a labyrinth, which on a vintage train like this shouldn’t even be possible. What should’ve taken them to a car went to the wrong one, and sometimes looped.

And that wasn’t even mentioning the strange inconsistencies.

“I’m hopin’ ladders don’t do whatevea’s dis on here…” ~~

Tech never thought his morning would be like this, with one of the first things he did being fighting a bizarre creature in Rev’s dreams.

Dodging explosive teddies, flinging whatever he could at this thing…

But the stranger part was that from what he could tell, whatever he threw struck harder than it normally would!

“Whatever happened to me seems to amplify my powers…!” He wasn’t sure what on this train could be responsible for this, it had to be what “jumped into” him.

Someone whistled for Tech, upon looking when he had the chance he realized it was Rip watching the whole thing from another car.

The road runner held out his arms as if he was Peter Pan.

“Try this if he knocks you off!” He shouted.

A blast from a teddy bear sent the unfortunate coyote off the car, he let out a shriek, expecting his face to get totaled, without a thought he held his arms out like Rip was…

…

…..

…….

…Wouldn’t he have landed face first in the ground right about now?

One eye got the courage to open to see if…

The ground was still going by below him, and he could see his own shadow…

He… He was flying! He couldn’t believe it! Despite his awareness of being in somebody else’s dream, this felt incredible!

He had no idea how flying without a jetpack would feel like a thrill!

Taking a brief look at the train he swore he saw something big looking at him…

“Tekz fi-in’ ou thua!” That was Slam’s voice!

“What’re you talkin’ about, Slam?” Ace’s voice responded.

Oh come on! That portal lured them both in here too?!

He had to defeat this thing before it could get its bizarre hands on either one of them. He didn’t want to even think about what would happen.

Tech flew back up where he was before with a boost of determination, whatever happened to him, it would give him an edge against this thing.

“Did you miss me?” Tech smirked at the confused creature, putting his hands on his hips.

That was when he felt something in his pocket… Did he forget something from the real world?

Pulling it out revealed it was none other than a Retro-fire Master Blaster! This had to be the one time forgetting something was a good thing.

“Good thing I forgot this was in my pocket!... Hopefully.”

~~

“You saw Tech flying out there, Slam?” Lexi questioned the big guy.

“Yeahah!” “Did he have a jetpack?” “Nuh-uh!” “Eh, Slam you know he… What?” Ace didn’t believe that last bit. “He DIDN’T have a jetpack?”

“Yeahaa! No Jit-pok!”

“... How could dis get any weirder?” That was quickly shown by explosive teddy bears being sent flying away from the train. “... Who’s gonna pinch me?”

Chipping away at the monster’s forces, blasting away teddies… Somehow at times whatever he threw seemed to be multiplied, like someone who could clone objects was aiding him… Eventually Tech stunned the monster with one of its own explosive bears!

“Now’s my chance!” Taking a dramatic leap into the air like a movie star, he aimed the Retro Fire Master Blaster  at the monster…

And at that moment the monster got out of its daze to look up at the coyote…

“Now eat this, sucker!”  he fired. He swore one of these could only fire ONE blast at a time, yet about six more of them joined it somehow. And judging from the slight angle variations, it was like out of nowhere, six more people who somehow had their own came to his aid!

And just like that, the monster disintegrated into waves of colorful light that glimmered more than glitter… With the hat the last thing to go.

Tech smiled in relief as he landed back on the train with the elegance of a ballerina, this bizarre brawl was finally over. “And that’s the end of that, nice one there!” He fist bumped Rev, getting back down into the train through the hatch with the road runner follo-

Wait a minute…

Taking another look behind himself, his eyes and hand weren’t tricking him this time around, Rev really was there with him! “What the… REV?!” He nearly jumped. “What? We took that creep down, didn’t we?” ‘Rev’ smiled. Yet, there was something different about this Rev, just like with that imaginary Rip.

Instead of that red and black jumpsuit that was uniform, or any of his wardrobe that he was aware of, this guy had a jacket with a curious trim and cut, elegant knee shorts that had a starry pattern at the trim…

And the feathers he had looked softer and looked like they glittered at the tips… That reminded him of the color shift like glow HE had.

“A-Absolutely…! But uh… Are you Rev Runner?” Tech stopped this lookalike’s rambles. “Of course I’m Rev Runner! Why wouldn’t I? I mean, how could I be someone other than myself which seriously how would that be possible if I’m not a ghost or even some split personality guy like Jekyll and Hyde?” “Then you must be his dream self!” Tech concluded.

If it was Rev’s dream ego who “possessed” him, that would’ve explained how he could fly if he held up his arms like he would… And perhaps provide an explanation of those six additional blasts that helped take down that monster too!

Now, perhaps with his help he could get out of his subconscious?

“And did ya hear Slam on one of those cars after that guy tried to knock you face first into the dirt?” “Do you think we can find him?” Tech asked. “Find him? I think he can be an easy find here!” Rev took the coyote by the hand as the two went to make sure hearing Slam wasn’t a figment of either of their imaginations.

~~

“What even WAS dat thing out dere?!” Ace couldn’t believe his eyes when he witnessed the defeat of that monster outside.

“Thagh ist rahmos weird thii I revea seen.” Slam blurted.

“I’m starting to think this is a dream.” Lexi spoke up.

“If dat’s the case, who's?” Ace questioned.

“Naa me.” Slam looked around to find the possible dreamer.

First the cars leading into the wrong ones, then that weird dragon thing… Slam didn’t want to think what would happen next, he didn’t wanna jinx a thing! He casually walked by a coyote and road runner together-

“Found ya!” The latter of the duo beamed.

Slam nearly yelped, this couldn’t be right! How was Rev here? Wasn’t he asleep back home?

“Blahroo back hooe?!” He blurted. “Yeah, he is asleep back in the real world.” Tech answered.

“Slam? Everythin’ alright in there?” Ace peeked only to be startled to see Rev there with Tech. “What the- REV?!” He blurted out just like Slam.

“Heya Ace good to see ya! What’s that look on your face it’s like ya seen a ghost right where I’m at!” “How did you even get here if you’re asleep back at-”

“This is the persona Rev takes up when experiencing REM sleep, mainly shaped by his imagination and subconscious.” That only got more confused looks mainly from Slam, Rev just gently rocked back and forth.

Tech sighed. “This guy’s his dream self?”

“How am I not surprised?” Lexi rolled her eyes with a smirk, she heard the explanation. “Somehow I knew this had to be a dream when Slam saw you dealing with that weird looking monster earlier.”

“You saw that?” Rev smiled. “I helped, you know that right? I mean, yeah I guess I kinda was possessing him but not like I had total control I just glomped him and-”

“I believe you made me partially imaginary.” Tech interrupted the road runner.

“And that I believe allowed me to take that thing down.”

“Likka spoopy ghloo?” Slam asked. “... Sorta but not quite.”

“Canna trii?” “Didn’t you come here to fish me out?” Tech smirked.

“Ooh yeahah…”

“Hey, where’d imaginary Rev go?” Ace noticed Rev wasn’t with them anymore.

Something caught his curiosity, the road runner went closer to the head of this train out of pure instinct… Opening the door to the very front didn’t lead to the room he was expecting, it felt like it took him to a completely different place… A sense of dread filled him, as if he walked into something that can easily go south if caught.

“That was AMAZING.” A voice unknown to him spoke, unaware of his presence.

“Scaring those nobodies pantsless will never be beaten by a roller coaster!”

Huh? Scaring who pantsless?

Slowly taking a few steps closer, Rev peeked from behind a ominous rock, trying to get a better listen.

“Once I turn every single dream into a nightmare in Acmetropolis, NOBODY will have the energy to stop me!” The mysterious fiend cackled like a wicked witch. “I could rob and bully all I want!”

Rev couldn’t find the courage to confront whoever this was, he knew he’d normally would but…

Maaaybe if he just turned around and-

CRACK. Looking down, he realized he stepped on a glass stick.

“Huh?! Who’s in this with me?!” Whoever this was turned around, discovering him.

“Ah-! One of the so-called Loonatics?!” He didn’t expect visitors. Shadowy demons flew at the poor bird without any command from whoever it was. “You know… You wouldn’t be able to interfere if you don’t even remember me saying it!”

At the last moment before they could strike, Rev’s eyes sprung open with a loud gasp. THUD!!! Sitting up quickly, Rev discovered everybody there in the living room… On the floor, to be exact, as if they were flung like ragdolls except for Duck who Slam landed on.

“G-Guys?! Are you okay?!” Rev stood up to help whoever he could up on their feet. “What happened?!” “Y-You wouldn’t believe any of us if we told you…” Lexi felt her own heart in her throat.

“You’re killing my spine…!” Duck squeaked from under Slam, the gentle giant got up quickly. “Ow…!”

“What happened you guys? Did some new supervillain throw you around or was it Duck messing with another one of Tech’s things that he shouldn’t even be in the same room as?”

Tech took the chance to examine the pillow Rev was fast asleep on before waking up with a fright, none of this happened before it showed up… And this could be the answer.

Taking another scan with a different gadget of his revealed… Exactly what he expected, some technology within the pillow. “This is no ordinary pillow.” He concluded. “It was THAT thing all along?!” Duck’s eyes and eyebrow were a mile high. “Hahaha! Ghai new it!” Slam grinned. “What about that pillow Tech did ya find some weird electronic stuff in it I mean why would they stuff that in a pillow aren't they supposed to be soft with nothing else in ‘em cuz’ I’m sure if they do that it’d be like that princess story with a pea but without the royal outcome and more sci-fi stuff!”

“Rev, do you remember your dream?” Tech asked. “Umm lemme think…” Rev looked up at the ceiling for a few moments. “Oh yeah I was on this train and you guys except Duck were in it I was helping you Tech beat up this weird dragon monster and once we grouped up…” “Continue on, try to recall what you can.” “I went to the head of the train and… I think it was a nightmare when I opened the door… Oh man I felt so scared I was sure my heart would bust out of my chest just to find a spot to hide and… There was this guy who was short and talking about some plan…” “Do you remember what he was talking about?”

Rev stopped for a moment. He struggled to remember that part. “... Something about nobody having the energy to stop him from robbing and bullying all he wants.” He recalled. “And.. It felt like I wasn’t meant to be there.”

“Is that all you remember from that nightmare?” “Yeah… That’s all I remember.”

Now what he suspected was improbable became a probability.

Those severe nightmares everybody BUT Rev suffered the night before might be someone’s doing after all.

And this technology embedded pillow unintentionally allowed Rev to enter into the culprit’s dreamscape for a brief moment.

What if he could replicate this somehow and set up a trap for whoever this possibly imaginary fiend was in their sleep?

He wasn’t sure what would be worse, Black Velvet putting him under her spell that one time or…

Black Velvet… Why was his mind drawn to that memory…?

….

On that day he was shown how to meditate by Ace… And Black Velvet later on put him under….

Ah-Ha! Tech, you genius! You’re gonna do it again!

“I got an idea on how we’re going to deal with this.”  Tech spoke up.

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

WOOOHOO my first ever Loonatics thing!

And man this thing is about 23 pages long according to Google Docs. XD

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (9/20/2024) Episode: Bad Habits Die Hard

“Hey – I need to talk to you!” Luigi called out to the Papparazzo who had just taken the unsavory photos of his family.

Stowing her camera, she turned to him with a put-upon look “What do you want Mr. Lawbourne, and can you make it quick? I’ve got places to be.”

Luigi took a deep breath before responding: “Those photos you took of my family, it would mean a lot to me if you would delete them. My wife and grandfather are very private sims, and my boy is too little to have his image floating around randomly on the web.”

The photographer just rolled her eyes. “Occasional embarrassment is the price you pay for fame. You and your misses are flaming hot right now. Add your reclusive granddad into the mix? That’s gold right there! There’s no way I’m deleting anything, so you can just go on and get out of my face.”

Luigi, infuriated by her harsh words, lost all control of his temper and his only chance to negotiate with her to use the least embarrassing photos. “You paparazzi are the worst!” he cried, “Bottom feeders harassing sims smarter and better looking than you for an easy simoleon! I hope you get eaten by a cowplant!”

“Shove it, you plumhole!” the pap replied “Just for that I’m going to call up my friend at SimNation Weekly. Your little family drama will be splashed across the front page, and any other skeletons in your closet are about to become relevant news.  We’ll see how much better you really are then!”

Luigi stood shell shocked by her spicy retort as she strode away towards the market, pulling out her camera to look over her catch again.

Her mention of skeletons immediately made him think of his early relationship with Beau and their long-ago fight. His friend wasn’t nearly as famous as he was, but he didn’t think it would be good for either of them, or Rainy Day, to stir up any new controversy so soon after the mouse incident. Desperate to find a way to fix things his vision refocused on the camera the Paparazzi had foolishly exposed.

In a flash of fury, Luigi lunged forward, quickly catching the pap from behind and trying to wrestle the device, and its poisonous contents, away from her.

“Get off!” she cried, fighting him with more strength than he’d anticipated.  “Delete the pictures!” he responded, pulling back harder.

The camera, stressed between them, made an ominous cracking noise and she let go with a look of horror. Suddenly released, he stumbled back, throwing a hand wide to catch his balance. At the same time his prize slipped from his grasp and went crashing to the ground.

The fight went out of Luigi as he gazed at the clearly expensive, and just as clearly broken, piece of equipment on the pavement. What had he done!?

He turned back to apologize and offer to pay for the damage but as he opened his mouth the wind was knocked out of him by a punch to his gut.

Doubling over in pain, all the remorse he’d felt flew out the window. If she wanted a fight, he’d give her one! Luigi came up swinging and in no time the two sims were battling it out amid a sea of interested spectators, including a few other paparazzi who’d come running from the busy market.

In the end Luigi proved stronger than his adversary and sent her reeling. While she was collecting her wits, he looked around frantically for the camera that had been at the center of this whole torturous debacle. Somehow, it was no longer anywhere to be seen.

Only then did he realize that similar, but still fully functional, cameras were busily recording his every move, held by paparazzi who had captured his fight with one of their own.

“You arrogant little woohoocker!” the women he had beaten but clearly not defeated spat out. “You may have cracked up my gear, but a gamer like you knows that data doesn’t die so easily. All your epic little tantrum did was make the images on my data card even more newsworthy. Don’t think this is over. Mark my words, you’re going to regret being such a raging plumhole for a LONG time to come.”

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[cazzyf1]

Quotes I wrote down for my dissertation from the book 'Mon Ami Mate' by Chris Nixon

"When Mike phoned he was asked if he was going to England to see his father. Mike said 'No I am going to Le Mans. Why should I go to England?' Then the Reuters man told him that his father had crashed and was badly hurt. Naturally, Mike was in a terrible state, but I took him to orly and the journalist Bernard Cahier managed to get him a seat on the last plane for London. While we were waiting, Mike called the garage at Farnham and was told that his father had died." - p87

"He had a tube up his old man, draining into a bottle and he told me it was very painful 'because every time you walk into the room I get an erection. It's agony!"' - p104 (this had no relevance to my dissertation I just found it funny)

'Mike was never short of visitors and Moi (partner at the time) was one of the most frequent. "I had long hair in these days and Mike would spend hours brushing it while I sat beside his bed'" - p104

'"He was tottering'", Macklin told Mark Kahn, 'He stood behind me at the table, put his arms on my shoulder and said, 'oh my god Lance, I'm terribly sorry. I bloody near killed you and I killed all those people. I'm really sorry. I'm certainly never going to race again." - p127

'Mike was, indeed, taken to the caravan, where he was looked after by Rob Walker and Tony Rolt's wife, Lois. Rob's memory of Mike's arrival is still vivid. "His first words - and I'll never forget them - were 'It's all my fault, It was all my fault! I wanted to get into the pits before Fangio went by!" Lois and I said "Don't talk such nonsense!" And we put a large brandy down him." - p127

"Mike returned to England and appeared on BBC-TV to talk about he disaster with Rudolf Whlenhaut of Daimler-Benz, the telecast was an unhappy experience for Mike. As Moi Kenward recalls - 'He had to face the music. He came round to my flat afterwards and he was really in a terrible state - he was in floods of tears' - p131

'Leslie Hawthorn blamed himself for all of Mike's National Service troubles. "Will you help me about Mike?" He asked Cardew. "The boy is miserable and pretty bitter. He is never really happy abroad and we have got to settle this call-up trouble, will you write an article in the daily express and let people know the whole story. Blame me for this mess, I advised Mike all along from the time he was sixteen. The boy was always keen to do his national service but I have spent my life in racing - motorcycles in the TT and sports car races - and I thought his future lay in that direction, rather than driving lorries for the army" - p203

"At London Airport he bravely faced the press and TV cameras and gave his eye-witness account, tears running down his face, as the Daily Mail recorded. 'There was a dip' he said, 'we went into that. There was a sharp, short right-hand bend and Peter took it a little too wide and didn't turn into it soon enough. I don't know how fast he was driving. There was just a bunch of us. Tony Brooks was in front. Peter was second. As a driver he was the best, definitely. As a friend...he was my best friend, and that is that." - p227

"Hawthorn could hardly speak. He was asked 'Will you race again?' 'If Ferrari wants me to I will. I am due to race in the Portuguese GP in two weeks, but personally I am not very intrested' Massive, fair-haired Hawthorn crammed a handkerchief against his mouth, 'Dam silly of me' he said, 'So sorry...' He walked blindly along the corridor, took Louise Collins by the hand and drove away." - p228

"The doctor pulled back the sheet and there was Peter, like he was asleep. Mike took one look, turned and went out into the corridor, where he leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. He just sat there, saying nothing." - p336

"For the man who had just become world champion, Mike was decidedly lacking in excitement immediately after the race 'He was quite strange - he didn't want to know anyone,'" - p348

In the future I will either buy this book or rent it from the library again and copy up more quotes because this book is a gold mine for information on Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins. But for now I am going to try and reread some of my Mike Hawthorn books and copy up quotes from them.

[anotherwvba]

Learning on the Job pt. 3

The WVBA Gym was abuzz with activity, as it was every Wednesday morning. Von Kaiser’s thick German accent and authoritative voice boomed as he worked with the children’s class. On the other side of the gym, a hip hop beat played loudly as Disco Kid’s “Grands’ Glove-Up” boxercise class for senior citizens was in full swing. And amidst all of this, boxers and hopefuls alike trained hard with their coaches, either for upcoming fights or hoping to get the opportunity to compete in the WVBA’s rings.

Beside one of the many rings in the gym, Gemma, Skye, and Mika were running through a ladder drill to hone their footwork. Skye’s coach Vanessa and Gemma’s stunt coordinator Dudley watched on closely, Vanessa providing most of the feedback and encouragement. 

“C’mon, ladies! Smooth like butter, slick like ice,” Vanessa called out. “If the other girl can’t hit you, she can’t beat you.”

Skye circled from the front of the line to the back, “Yes, Coach!” As she started her next lap through the ladder, Skye saw Gemma struggling with the swift and precise movements, “You’ve got this, Goldie! Let’s go!”

“C’mon you blasted…” Gemma muttered to herself, her face turning red, more from frustration than exertion.

Mika, in line behind Gemma in the drill, saw Gemma’s awkward movements and whispered to her, “Gemma, you can do this. Deep breaths and relax. Don’t overthink it.”

“Left, right, back, quick quick, slow… Argh!” Gemma exclaimed, her aggravation coming through clear as a bell.

“You’ve got this, Goldie,” Skye encouraged, noticing Gemma’s frustration. “Find your rhythm, girl.”

“Oo, take it easy,” Mika chimed in, “One step at a time.”

Despite the encouraging words, Gemma found herself stumbling over the rope ladder and her own feet. She tumbled forward and crashed to the floor, knocking the wind out of herself. Mika took a knee at her side as Gemma got to her hands and knees, gasping for air, catching her breath.

“Dammit to bloody…” Gemma whispered to herself as she regained her wits. Breathing slow and deep, she saw a pair of clean and neat black boxing boots come into view. They were accompanied by her stunt coordinator’s refined British accent.

“On your feet, Miss Golden,” Dudley said with a steady voice. “Focus and start again.”

Mika helped Gemma to her feet and Gemma glared daggers into Dudley. “If it’s that bloody easy, Mister Dudley,” Gemma snapped, irritation lacing her voice, “why don’t you show us how it’s done? I don’t understand how a dance routine is going to help me punch someone or, more crucially, keep from getting punched?”

Dudley was silent as he calmly knelt down and tightened his shoelaces. As he stood, he held Gemma’s gaze, “Coach Maxwell, if you please.”

“Sure,” Vanessa answered, moving to face Dudley who had taken up position at the front of the ladder, his back facing it. “Ready when you are, Dudley.”

“In your own time, Coach Maxwell.” Dudley settled into his wide boxing stance, hands in a peak-a-boo guard, his base as a power puncher evident.

Vanessa smiled and snapped into her own stance, arms in a half-guard position, a light boxer’s bounce finding rhythm. Then… jabs flickered toward Dudley’s face that weren’t just fast, they were sudden. With every jab, Dudley fluidly and deftly moved back out of range, speed and grace his size shouldn’t allow. Vanessa pressed forward, jabbing at a persistent pace, but without pattern.

A broad smile formed on Skye’s face as she watched alongside Mika and Gemma. “Look at ‘em go! They’re amazing!”

Mika nodded and leaned close to Gemma. “Watch their feet, not their hands,” she whispered.

Gemma cast her eyes down and focused on the two coaches’ footwork. Not only were they flawlessly executing the same footwork drill that the girls had been running, Dudley was doing it backwards! “Impressive,” Gemma whispered with genuine admiration.

“Each drill is a piece of the puzzle,” Mika said. “We learn the skills one by one, but that’s so that we get comfortable enough with each one that we can use them all at once in the ring.”

Skye chimed in, “Can’t dance if you don’t know the steps, Goldie.”

With eyes on them from throughout the gym, Dudley and Vanessa finished the drill. Von Kaiser even had his kid’s class watching, “Meine kinder, a round of applause for ze excellent demonstration.”

Clapping sounded from around the gym causing Vanessa to blush slightly and Dudley to give a polite and stoic nod to those applauding. “My thanks, Coach Maxwell” Dudley said as he extended his hand, “I greatly appreciate your assistance.”

“Any time, champ,” Vanessa shook Dudley’s hand and smiled.

“Miss Golden,” Dudley turned to Gemma, fixing his gaze on her, stern but supportive. “The art of boxing is far more than simply punching your opposition. Further, a real bout involves a great deal more than simple choreography. One must anticipate their opponent’s movements, be prepared to improvise their own, and have technique honed to the point of instinct.”

“It’s kinda like dancing with some random person in the club,” Skye said, resting a reassuring hand on Gemma’s shoulder. “You don’t know their moves or their rhythm. You’ve got to read their dance moves and anticipate where and how they’ll move next to keep up the dance with them.”

Vanessa smiled, “And if you are a good enough dancer, your rhythm takes over and you start leading the dance, not reacting to it.”

“You’re doing way better than you think, Gemma,” Mika said, placing a reassuring arm around her shoulders. “Relax and keep practicing. Soon enough, it’ll be instinct.”

Gemma politely removed Mika’s arm, something Mika didn’t expect and that took her aback. “A question, Miss Mika. There’s something I don’t quite understand. Why? Why help me learn when you could easily defeat me Saturday? You’ll likely defeat me regardless, but why give me any opportunity?”

Mika took a deep breath, “Because boxing isn’t about beating someone up.”

“That seems rather contradictory to the objective of the sport,” Gemma said flatly.

“It does,” Mika chuckled, “but it’s true. Boxing is about testing yourself, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The mental test is chess in real time, anticipating and outthinking your opponent. The physical test is bringing your whole body into focus to execute the blows and defenses. The emotional test is the pain, the excitement, the crowd, the win, or the loss. And through all of that, if the test isn’t hard…”

“... it isn’t worth taking,” Gemma finished. “Like performing Hamlet with a classically trained Shakespearean actor. If you bring all your skills and talents to every scene, you’ll see where you stand and it’ll drive you to improve.”

Mika smiled, “Well, I’m not an actor, but that sounds right to me.”

Gemma returned the smile, “Well I’m not a boxer, but I hope to provide a suitable test.”

“You are not a boxer… yet,” Dudley spoke clearly from the ring. “But we will strive toward that goal. For the picture and, perhaps, for yourself.”

Skye and Mika both nodded their support and approval, bolstering Gemma’s spirits and her resolve.

Vanessa sat down on the ring apron, “Enough lollygagging, ladies! We ready to get back to work?” Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, a suddenly serene look came over Gemma, as if something suddenly clicked. They are my castmates, she thought, and the cast is only as good as its weakest member. Mika, I’ll not let you down. We will put on a two-woman show for the ages.

Star Mika is an OC belonging to @cyrah-is-cool101 and is used with permission.

[thghtcntrl]

Ladybug Week Day 8

Shadow Petals

The hulking creature crashed through a clothing store, people running from the chaos it was causing. While everyone was running away from the beast, two girls ran towards it.

The two girls stopped right in front of the monstrosity and began to gauge the situation.

“Well, there goes date night!” The shorter one said, dark brown and red tipped hair covered some of her face.

“I know but right now we need to take this thing down before anyone gets hurt!” the taller one said, black hair that had a purple shine waves a bit from a gentle breeze and at the top of her head was two cat ears.

“Right, ready Blake?”

“Ready, Ruby!”

The two girls made sure the area was clear of any bystanders and witnesses and once they were sure. They began their transformation

“Crescent Rose!” As Ruby called out a large Red wolf appeared by her side

“Gambol Shroud!” Blake called out and soon a large Black panther appeared at her side

“LINK UP!” they two shouted and with a flash of red and purple. Once the energy dissipated the two girls had transform into different outfits

Ruby now had a Red Cloak with a head and was wearing black form fitting jumpsuit with brown knee high combat boots and silver bracers with fingerless gloves.

Blake had something similar to a ninja suit and armori. She wore a black yoroi with a purple sash wrapped around her waist and black hakama pants that were split on the side, as well as light armor on her shins and feet and arms and a white cat mask with red markings that covered her upper face.

The Beast looked over at the two warriors that dared to interrupt its rampage.

Ruby pulled a large red scythe while Blake pulled a katana. The young women took a fighting stance as the beast decided to take its aggression out on the two.

“What’s the plan Ruby!” Blake asked.

“We each take a side and wear it down!” Ruby said with a smile and a wink.

Blake smiled back and nodded and with that the two charged the monster. The Beast brought its fist up and down but the women were faster dodging it at the last second. The duo then took a swing at the monster's knees. The monster fell forward but caught itself and turned and looked at where its targets had gone. Ruby stared down the monster as it lumbered forward towards them, her mind thinking multiple strategies that would be useful against the beast.

“It’s tougher than it looks,” Blake said as she looked at Ruby.

Ruby simply nodded. “It's not if this big guy was gonna go down that easily, but we do know where its weak spots are and I think I got an idea!”

Blake gave Ruby a look of concern. “It’s not to reckless I hope”

Ruby chuckled. “Phiss nothing to worry about!”

Blake gave Ruby a harder look of concern “Ruby…”

Ruby was a bit surprised “No I mean it, there's nothing to worry about!”

Blake nodded with a smile “Then I’ll follow your lead!”

The two looked at the monster as it began to pick up its pace.

Ruby then called out. “I’ll keep it busy while you bind its legs! NOW LET'S GO!!!”

Ruby charged forward with Blake behind her.

Ruby, using her arcana abilities, turned into red petals and flew in front of the monster's face. The creature was caught off guard by the young girl's sudden appearance but regained its composure when she slashed at its face. She then transformed into the red petal cloud and moved to another angle before the monster could even swipe at her. Ruby continued to play tag with the monster while Blake pulled out a chain sickle and dug it into the ground and ran to wrap the chain around the beast's legs. Once she was down she took her katana out and dug it into the ground with the chain wrapped around it.

“Ruby done!” Blake shouted

Ruby nodded and dashed towards the opposite side where Blake was.

“HEY GRIM BOY, OVER HERE!!!” Ruby shouted which caught the beast's attention.

As the grim tried to move Blake pulled her sickle out and , with the momentum of the monster's charge, was able to slice the beast's legs. As it fell forward, Ruby ready her scythe and leapt up and sliced off the monster's head, the beast had fallen.

Its body soon began to disintegrate and revealed a man with silver hair.

“Cardin… I should have known.” Ruby said with a frown “He must’ve given into the Grim taint. I honestly thought he was stronger than that… better.”

“I thought so too… but this just proves the grim taint is getting worse.” Blake added

The two were then interrupted by the sounds of police and ambulance sirens

“We should make our exit!” Blake said with Ruby nodding.

The two made their exit with Ruby looking back with disappointment. As the two left, a young boy with dark chocolate hair and freckles popped out from his hiding space. All he could say was “Blake and Ruby?”

After some time the two women were back in the normal clothing they were wearing before the fight.

Blake stretched out and noticed Ruby’s worried appearance.

“Ruby, what's wrong? If you’re worried about Cardin, you know that once someone is freed from Grimmifacaton they only get a headache, that's all.

Ruby shook her head “It’s not that… will be a little but it’s just… earlier, it felt like you didn’t trust my plan!”

Blake, taken back and her cat ears flattened against her head. “Oh… that… I’m sorry about that, it's just… The last time

Ruby interrupted. “Blake, that was a miscalculation and I said…

Blake interrupted Ruby this time. “No, I know… I should be more trusting…

It was Ruby's turn to interject. “No Blake, it’s okay! I appreciate your concern! I promise to be more careful, I will!

Blake smiled and closed the distance between the two of them. “...And I promise to be more trusting!

Blake pulled Ruby into a hug and after a while the two shared a sweet kiss. The two know what they were getting into when they joined the arcanian hunters and Together they will face any danger together while saving the world.

[the-trinket-witch]

@twst-the-night-away on main here!

Violetta has always wanted to go to the Airborne Afternoon! She finally got a chance this year and she's so excited ... except she's also a little nervous, as she's going with Ace. The two of them are double dating with Joker and Deuce (who my pal has sent in another ask).

She's packed a lovely picnic for the group to share on the grassy hillside as they watch the kites sail by, and is all decked out in her very best frilly summer dress and straw hat. (Think a steampunk-adjacent country lolita look!) And she loves to fly, so she won't say no to a broom ride for two where they can get an even better look at the kites.

My inner steampunk phase is so pleased by this whole thing :D it's a lovely event!

"Ehhhh, that line's super long," Ace sighed. He lent in on Violetta as they both stood in queue for a air-scooter rental.

"Sorry-I should have had us come sooner, but-" Violetta started.

"What're you sorry for? You didn't make the line long. You still wanna fly or do you wanna see if the others wanna start the picnic early?"

She thought about it. The City was known for all its flying contraptions and there were plenty of stalls for renting such equipment. There were just as many stalls, too, of memorabilia, food and activities. She let her gaze wander as she turned the question in her head until...

"We just wanna fly, right? Doesn't have to be fancy?" She posed.

"Not if you don't want it to," Ace replied. "What's got your eye?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In much shorter order, the pair had procured a double-seater broom. While he would have normally took the front portion to steer, something told him otherwise. Violetta was the first girl he thought he could get back into this whole 'dating' thing with. It certainly helped that he actually found her a lot more interesting. She could cook, she could fly with the best of 'em, and while he wasn't a 'High Art' guy, he couldn't say her art was anywhere near bad.

"Ace, are you ready to take off?"

In his bout of contemplating, he'd found himself having already been placed in the second seat, with Violetta commandeering the front.

"Uh...Yeah-ready to launch, Specs."

The two took off like a shot. Ace was sure the chinstrap holding the straw hat she'd been wearing all day would give and send the thing crashing into his face, but as they slowed to a more reasonable speed and altitude, he got to witness quite the view.

"Isn't this great?" She asked. "You can see everything from up here. The Birds, the Stars, and everything in between."

And there was a lot to take in. Below were kites pulled taut on their strings, tourists busying themselves with treats and trinkets, Balloons floating by, the sun beginning to set off into the sea. It still had the strength to streak through Violetta's hair, the strands looking like amethyst filament. Her smile beamed just as bright, and Ace was thankful, if only out of selfishness, to be the only one there to see it.

"Hey, I think that's Joker and Deuce. They must be ready to have that picnic. Let's get going."

You can see everything from up here, Ace thought. Man, what a sight.

[episodicnostalgia]

Spider-man: The Animated Series, 102 (Feb. 4, 1995) - “The Spider Slayer”

Teleplay by: Stan Berkowitz Story By: John Semper Jr. Directed by: Bob Richardson

The Breakdown

Hoo boy, lots going on with this one! Let’s dig in.

Spider-man gets attacked by explosive drones with the most 90’s paint job I have ever seen.  Spidey manages to evade his animatronic pursuers, but without any evidence he’s left to wonder what that was all about.  We discover that the drones are run and operated Spencer Smythe, a brilliant scientist/inventor who was testing Spidey’s abilities.  Why?  He’s building a giant robot-spider to capture Spider-man (because of course) for his mysterious benefactor, mega-rich Norman Osborn (of Oscorp Industries), who wants Spider-man out of the picture.  Why? Because he is being coerced by the EVEN MORE Mega-Rich Wilson Fisk aka The KINGPIN OF CRIME! *Gasp* Why? Because we need to introduce Spidey’s Boss villain!  Now on to the good stuff!

Meanwhile Peter Parker has been assigned to a charity ball where he is CRUSHING IT with total-babe Felicia Hardy.  Sick of being thoroughly cock-blocked, ass-hat Flash Thompson enacts a flawless plan to make Peter look the fool. Dressed AS Spider-man (who is obviously not Peter Parker), Flash intends to threaten physical violence on Peter, in front of numerous witnesses, as a hilarious prank!  Unfortunately Smythe (with the aid of his Paraplegic son Allistair) crashes the party with his Robot-Spider mistaking Flash as the real Spider-man!  What a conundrum!

Anyways, Spidey has to go save Flash and destroy the Black Widow-bot, upsetting Osborn & Fisk’s schemes in the process.  Sadly Spencer Smythe perishes in a climactic explosion, which really pisses Allistair off. And since he’s newly motivated to seek out revenge against Spider-man (literally the one dude in all of this who never wronged him), Allistair agrees to join and serve The Kingpin; setting events in motion that will span across multiple seasons…

Thankfully it’s safe to say this is the last we’ll see of the Spider Slayers…

NEXT EPISODE: Return of the Spider Slayers!

The Verdict

SO MUCH happens in these episodes.  I’d forgotten how packed-to-the-seams the story telling is.  The downside is that certain emotional beats get rushed or glossed over, but it sure is fun.  Plots, schemes, secret enemies, and tons of other solid world building. This episode really leans into the promise of follow up, and that something more will come from the events of this story, which historically hadn’t been that common in kids cartoons.  I’d be lying if I said that I don’t find some of the plot lines much sillier than I remember as a kid, but one can’t let things like growing up ruin the fun.

3.5 stars (out of 5)

Additional Observations

Aunt May wants Peter to go on a date with her neighbour’s niece “Mary Jane”, but Pete’s not feeling it.  I bet when they finally meet a he’ll be ugly and boring.

With all due respect to Sam Raimi, one thing I always thought his Spidey films got wrong was how they depict Peter around women, where he always seems awkward and clueless. Meanwhile here we are two episodes in and Felicia’s picking up what Pete’s laying down. That was a full proper kiss right there, nothing coy about it.

More Eddie Brock. Spencer Smyth hires him to record his capture of Spider-man (because that would make it legally legitimate somehow). The whole thing backfires when Eddie unmasks Flash Thompson-in-the-costume, all on live television  (which Eddie apparently can do without informing Jonah first).  In turn, Jonah fires Eddie for making the Bugle look bad. I bet he’ll use this as a wake up call to clean up his life, and become a more ethical reporter, all thanks to Spider-man’s public example.