#honestly seeing my henry smile like that is surreal to me but hey. he gets to smile a few times okay. he's not fine all the time in the au

[north-noire]

father-daughter duo but with their usual expressions swapped.

[whatissleepeven]

Heya! Hope you're doing well! Just wondering if I could request the Obey Me brothers (maybe just Satan, Luci, or Asmo?) With an MC who proposes at the same time as they do? Remember to stay hydrated and take some time for yourself! Enjoy your day :)

Hi! Thank you for your kind words, I haven't been drinking a lot of water lately and this helped to remind me! I hope you have a good rest of your day as well!

(Of course I'll do all the brothers! I used 2nd POV, if that's alright - )

The brothers' reactions to an MC who proposes at the same time as them

Lucifer

It was all set in place. He invited you to his study to drink tea and chat, his brothers should be asleep at this time, and you two had been together for so long that he couldn't imagine a life without you. Today marked your anniversary, which was the perfect time to pop the question.

(No he was not nervous, Lucifer did not get nervous what are you talking about - )

Once they arrived and got settled, Lucifer cleared his throat to get their attention. Straightforward and honest was the most efficient approach, and he will not back out of this. "I have called you here because there is something I wished to tell you. Will you m- "

"Lucifer, will you marry me?"

There it was. The words he wanted to say, but directed at him instead with his own name falling from your lips. His eyes widened, the tiny box gripped in his hands as his eyes zeroed in on the box in yours.

"Looks like I beat you to the punch!" You laughed, the sudden but bright sound filling the room, and even though he felt annoyed at being cut off, he couldn't help but smile. You truly were one of a kind, weren't you?

"...So it seems. Now, come here; I need to put this on your finger."

And honestly? He finds it endearing that you had the same thoughts as him

He doesn't let it show though, and instead treats you to the rest of your date in his office

"Now that we are engaged, you will be the one to tell Lord Diavolo how the proposal occurred at our wedding."

"Wh- Lucifer!"

(Won't admit that he was nervous concerned for a hot second there)

Mammon

This was it. He was gonna do it.

Mammon had taken you for a night stroll throughout Devildom (getting kicked out/chased from casinos along the way), the two of you coming to a stop in front of a fountain sculpted in Lord Diavolo's image. He was nervous to the point that you had noticed, brushing your hand with his to get his attention.

"Mammon? Is something wrong?"

Mammon refused to look at you, taking your hands into his own. "When you first came here, I didn't want to associate with ya. You're just a human, after all, and why did I have to babysit ya?"

You snorted, holding back a laugh at the obvious direction this was going, but let him continue.

"A-And, somehow, I became your first. Not just for your pact; I became your first for lots of stuff."

He got to a knee, not realizing that you mirrored his actions with an amused look on your face. His own cheeks were a dark red, and you were proud of the courage he was displaying.

"I...want to keep being your first from here on out. S-So, will ya ma- "

"-rry me?"

Mammon blinked as your voice finished his sentence. He looked up to see - yep, you were proposing to him too.

This boi is all over the place after that

"YOU WERE PROPOSIN' TOO?!"

He then proceeds to yell at you of all things, but you're too busy laughing at the chaos of it all

Takes you by surprise when he slips the ring onto your finger with gentle care, a smile on his face as he puts your ring on by himself. "Stupid human, tryin' to outdue me...you're lucky I'm sayin' yes."

Leviathan

It took him a while to muster up his courage to tell you.

It made perfect sense to Levi: even though you were a normie, you were an amazing, attractive, and endearing human, while he was a disgusting otaku who barely left his room in favor of playing games. You were the one who initiated most of the romantic gestures, and he wouldn't admit it but he felt bad about it.

Still, though...this was one thing he wanted to do for you.

You two were playing Mononoke Land together, the overall quiet of the room being filled with the chimes from your devices as you farmed for xp.

"Hey, you know that you're the Henry to my Lord of Shadows, right?"

The question caught you off-guard. You raised a brow as you nodded, worried that Levi would start talking bad about himself again.

"Well, to me you're more than that. You've done a lot for me and my brothers - yeah yeah, "my brothers and I", stop laughing! - and go through the trouble of hanging out with me through the good and the bad."

He stands up, missing the blatant affection in your eyes for the demon in front of you as he fishes around his pocket. He, actually went out and bought it with Asmo, who was all-too-delighted to do so, and pulls it out.

"Thanks, for everything. Will you be my Player Two?"

"Will you marry me Levi?"

The phrases were said at the same time. Levi was shocked to see you holding a box of your own to him, and oh god is that a ring -

...Let's just say that he's still a tomato when dinner rolls around, unable to look at anyone or anything in favor of silently asking the higher beings to strike him where he sat

He feels ashamed. He feels like he's on cloud nine. Is that normal? Either way, you love him all the same.

Overall, a dorky yet endearing confession (which you still chuckle at to this day as you remember it).

Satan

"Well, this certainly is an interesting turn of events."

It was one of your stay-in dates at the library. You were fiddling around on your D.D.D., looking nervous for some reason, and Satan was contemplating the best way to bring up his proposal.

"Satan, I - "

"There's something - "

You both paused, chuckling at your timing. Satan had found out early on that one of the qualities he loved about you was the way your face dusted pink in embarrassment, a shy smile adorning your face.

The urge to carry out his plan at that moment grew stronger, but he was also curious about what was troubling you.

"Shall we say it on the count of three?"

You nodded. Satan couldn't help but smile at your bashfulness.

"1, 2...3."

"Will you marry me?"

You both stared at the other in shock. It was silent for 7 seconds before Satan's laugh, which was gentle and chimed like bells, filled the void.

"It seems we know each other a little bit too well."

You couldn't help but stare in awe. His laugh was precious, and you...you wanted to hear more of it.

You smiled. "I'm not hearing a no?"

Satan chuckled, slipping the ring onto your finger and letting you do the same to him. "How could I ever say no to you?"

In short? You both propose in a quiet spot at the exact same time, word for word, and he laughs because he knows he's so utterly in love with you. It makes retelling the whole ordeal at your wedding less embarrassing to do.

Asmodeus

To be honest, this man (demon) has never considered marriage before you came into his life.

He preferred to have no ties in relationships, but something about you makes him want to stay. You were good to him, and looked past his naturally alluring (and flirtatious) self. What more could he ask for?

He wanted to make you his, and his only. And, maybe...wanted more of that domestic life you brought to him and his family, where every day brings something new.

He set it all up. You two would go shopping at Majolish, then get a manicure, then on the way back to his room he'd propose. Today was a special day, after all; it marked the anniversary of when you first formed a pact with each other.

"Asmo? Hon, what's wrong?" You asked, carrying your bags as you turned back to look at him.

Asmo blinked. "Oh, sorry about that luv! I spaced out for a bit there. Here, let's take a break okay?"

He didn't wait for your input, dragging you over to a bench situated at the entrance of a park. Despite it being eternally night in Devildom, it was peaceful; he decided to finally pop the question.

"Babe, do you remember when we first met?"

You raised a brow. "When I first arrived, yes? Or do you mean when we formed our pact?"

Asmo smiled. You caught on quick, as usual. "Ever since then I've found you intriguing, and I never thought there'd come a day where a human could keep up with my shopping and then some. Dating you has made me so very happy, and I want you to know that I love you."

There were tears in your eyes. If you hadn't known him for as long as you did, you would've thought that he was only joking around, but the soft look in his eyes erased any doubts you might've had.

You were going to marry him.

"Asmo - "

"Will you marry me?" He interrupted, clasping your hands together. "That way, you can continue to look at me and only me, and I'll try to fight off anyone who wants a piece of this delicious body."

He winked, and you giggled. "Funny you say that; I was going to propose to you today."

Asmo stilled for .2 seconds but quickly recovered, immediately whipping out his D.D.D. to contact his brothers while giving you a chaste yet searing kiss. Be prepared to have a lavish wedding early!

Beelzebub

If he had to pick a point where he fell in love with you, it was probably when you held his hand in comfort.

You were just...so gentle, so kind, and so patient with him. You cared about him, and he wanted to give you the world.

When you two first started dating, it felt surreal. Quickly, though, he began to feel like he was on cloud nine every time he looked at you and thought "I was chosen out of all of my brothers. I get to have this experience all to myself."

And he wanted to be with you forever.

He had stumbled upon the idea of marriage on accident, but it made him euphoric to know that there was a tradition that let them be together forever. He decided to act once he got advice from both Asmo and Satan, currently watching you bake brownies with a hum.

"You look happy."

You turn to him with a smile. "How can I not be? I'm here with the most amazing boyfriend in the world. What more can I ask for?"

...When I tell you he is SOFT -

"About that..."

He wrings his hands, nervous. You seem to come to a realization, reaching up to kiss his cheek.

"Beel, you know I love you, right?"

His eyes widened. Wait...were you seriously...?

He dug into the pockets of his pants, watching you do the same in a bit of a stupor. You both pull out a small box at the same time.

No way. No way.

He sweeps you into the biggest bear hug ever, relieved that you had the same idea as him. He can't stop smiling, either, his chest warm and face aglow at the thought of just how lucky he is to have you in his life.

"I love you so so much."

Seriously though, he's so pure so please marry him

Belphegor

Blankets? Check.

Pillows? Check.

Clear view of the night sky? Triple check.

You, by his side? Quadruple check.

You both had decided to watch a meteor shower from the Observatory, a pile of soft blankets and pillows surrounding both of you on the floor.

You had been dating for a...longer time than he thought you'd be. After the whole "I-killed-you" thing, he assumed that you hated him, and for a bit you did. However, you forgave him, which is more than he could ever ask for, and somehow that led to the unbreakable trust you have now.

The past was the past; he wanted you to remain in his life, no matter what happened.

"I know I can be a bit much," He murmured, catching your attention, "But I really want to stay with you."

You smiled, pure and ethereal. "The feeling's mutual, Sleeping Beauty."

It was a nickname that, unfortunately, had stuck. He gave you a half smile at that, leaning in closer until your lips were barely brushing.

"No, I meant it in a different way."

You connect the dots. With laugh as you push him away, scrambling to explain once you see a flash of hurt in his eyes.

"It's funny you say that, 'cause - "

Something slid onto his ring finger. He looked down.

A...ring?

He pulled you in for a kiss, putting every euphoric emotion he was feeling into it. "You're to good for me," He whispered once he pulled away, resting his forehead against your own.

You lightly punch his shoulder. "Dork. It looks like you're stuck with me for life."

He snaked an arm around you as you both turned to look at the streaks flitting across the sky, fading fast but burning bright.

He glanced over at you, your face glowing in the low light of the stars and illuminating the childlike wonder in your eyes.

You are beautiful, he thought.

He kissed your temple, leaning against you. "How pissed do you think Lucifer will be to hear that we're engaged already?"

[morethanithoughtofficialblog]

Chapter 15: Things will change, I promise.

In which you decide this is enough.

*Your POV*

I was floating in the middle of a dark place which had no beginning and no end. There's nothing I can see except for myself, which I surprisingly can see clearly, defying the logic of the darkness itself. Does my body emit a certain light that only covers me? I don't know. I only feel like floating, and the only thing I'm sure about is that I'm alone, like every day. I don't let out a scream of fear, because I know perfectly where I am. I've been here one thousand times before and is all the same. It'll always be.

Suddenly, images start to become closer around me, leaving me with no possibility of escaping. I recognize those bright colors immediately because those are images from my memory. From my past. From my soul. My eyes focused on the lively eyes I had when I was a child, and the genuine smile I'll never have again. I don't try to close my eyes, because I've seen all these things before, and there's nothing I don't know about them.

Then some whispers filled the silence, soonly becoming shouts of desperation, pitiful laments, and heartbreaking cries. Some of them scream my name out loud, while others are coming from my own. They were so loud that my ears felt like bleeding and threatened to make turn deaf. I, however, don't try to cover them, because I knew there's no use trying.

It all disappeared before I could become mad. The once unbearable sounds were now replaced by a dangerously deafening silence, and my eyes were not used to the newly found darkness just yet.

Before I could process anything, there was a child in front of me. Not any child, but one I'm familiar with. How not to know who you once were? How not to recognize them? That child was (Y/N) (L/N), the first of all my personalities. Shy, reserved, happy, and sweet. A laid-back girl with an optimistic attitude. I tried to reach her, even if I already knew it was useless. I wanted to tell her that, whatever obstacles the life may bring, she needed to continue strong. That, of course, she never heard it. She disappeared shortly after coming, her enthusiastic smile leaving me behind.

I stood there, alone with my thoughts. I became afraid, like every time this happened. I was scared of not knowing who I was now, or who I'll ever be. I know me because I've spent too much time on my own, and the only thing I have in this world is my body. My past, my future, my present... all of those things have disappeared. They are not real. Only my undecent hair, my sad eyes, my marked arms, and my pained back are real. Only my body is here with me.

But I?

Oh, I've never been here.

And I'll never be.

Because I have lost myself a long ago.  

It popped up, then, a fifteen years old girl. It's not difficult to decipher what she's feeling. The nostalgy is present in her eyes, the bruises on her arms are more than evident, and how she hugged herself revealed the fear about how uncertain the future will be to her. I didn't try to reach her, because I already knew it was too late. And, with tears rolling down her cheeks, she disappeared as well. And I was left alone. Again.

I gently landed on a surreal "floor" that was just as dark as the rest of the world. Except for the dark red liquid that my feet were touching, that was as clear as the rest of my body. Then, like a deadly videogame, the blood started to fill the "room". Blood of the neck, of the arms and of the heart. My blood and theirs. Blood expressing suffering. Blood expressing pain.

The liquid was covering now most of my body, only leaving my head out of it. Once it started to cover my face, I closed my eyes and smiled, knowing the nightmare was going to end there...

And it did.

...

...

"Mmph!" I covered my scream quickly as I changed my position that once was laying on the bed, and now it's all sat up and scared. I relaxed curiously at knowing I was in my apartment and not somewhere else, then tears were starting to make their way into my eyes. Not again.

I got up from my bed and went to the bathroom, not sure of what I was hoping to see in the mirror. My hair was a mess, the bags under my eyes were awfully dark, and my position wasn't straight at all. The same insecure adult I've known for what it felt like ages remained there, and I almost screamed out in desperation. I don't think I'll ever change, but just watching myself go downhill every day makes me feel... like I'll never be who I once was.

I...

I really miss feeling like that.

I was that typical kid that all teachers adored by the mere fact I never brought problems and I always had the highest of grades. They would say I was super talented, with a bright future and endless possibilities. I only wish I knew by then that life wasn't perfect...

I...

No.

I closed my eyes then got out of the bathroom, then checked into my clock alarm. 3:17, not surprising at all. Knowing that going back to bed would be no help, I went to the "living room" and sat on the couch, not before turning the lights on. There was a black notebook on the table, with a pen on its side. I took it and noticed it was all empty. I then realized that this was supposed to be a personal notebook with all the things I wanted to improve.

In that night, I felt like I was good enough to put goals in my life.

And so I did.

I took note that the last time I went to the psychiatrist was five months ago, me too scared to go back after not taking the pills he prescribed me. I literally bought them, put them in one drawer, and never took them again.

Maybe I should go with another one and start all my rehabilitation again. Start from zero, you know? It would be better for me than continue like this.

I went and included more things to the list, making it be really long. And with that, I mean three pages (the two sides of each) long.

I was determined to get better for their and my sake.

Starting... later.

You really can't do anything really progressive when it's three in the morning.

And so I, miraculously, head back to bed and slept peacefully, finally with a smile on my face.

That, until my alarm decided to get up.

"OH MY GOD, SHUT UP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, while I threw a pillow to that fucking thing. It didn't stop.

I got up with a groan and turned it off, then picked up the pillow and returned it to its original home: my comfy and beloved bed. I sighed and head to change my clothes, which I did as fast as always. Then I went and took my briefcase with all my documents, reminding myself what I was going to do.

You have a job interview to attend to, you fucking idio-

Shut up, don't get distracted.

I got out of my apartment and head to the subway, my daily transport. I could always use the bike, but I didn't want to get all sweaty when I'm about to do something important. And so I did what I always do: put my earbuds on until the ride is over, ignoring whatever is happening outside my little old world.

And before I could realize, I was there, walking with a man towards the place which the interview was about to start. I was about to get nervous, but I quickly loosened up and let all things go the way they are supposed to go. This wasn't the end of the world, neither the end of myself. This was, more than anything, a huge opportunity. And I took it.

Long story short, I was admitted quite easily. I got one of the higher ranks in Department A, the "Department of the Smart People", as they call it. I was surprised when he said he saw huge potential in me, not only because he has seen my job as an "activist" (and, well, ambassador of the monsters, of course). He says that the key to success is now kindness, which is something not currently found in huge businesses. He also states that, if we can show more morality than all of those companies, people will trust us. And our job will be much better.

My job, however, is to orientate and give small ideas to the lead heads of Department A. I'm experienced enough to don't have to follow rules exactly, but I'm not becoming a leader just because I exist. In order to get to the top, I will need time. Well, that's what he told me. He said he's taking young talents to become apprentices and, soon, start working professionally. So this place, "Chemistry for People" co., it's technically a place where beneficial treatments are made in order to help "common" diseases. And with common I mean the usual problems society is having, like how trendy cancer and some other illnesses have become in the past years. Hearing someone saying "my familiar passed out from cancer" is not rare anymore. Overall, it's kind of scary. Most of the old people see their final days dealing with chemotherapies and suffering. And honestly, I'm not rooting to let more people end like that.

I really like how... unique this place is. It has more common sense than the Congress, that's for sure. Besides, I didn't study biochemistry for anything. Since I was a kid, my dream was to become a scientist, or a "good scientist", how I liked to call it. Besides, the owner- name's Henry Robinson- is an innovative man. He gave me his point of view of the people I defend as an ambassador, which was highly positive. He is actually willing to test how magic could contribute to chemistry, and how it could help humans. So yeah, he's open to having monsters in his business: either to tutor them or to have them as direct workers.

In any case that the magic that is going to be tested out, he invited me to supervise how this process is going to work and to notice any hints of work abuse. I like this idea because he seems sincerely accessible to do things right. And isn't this a way to show the world improvement can be made if we all work together? I've been truly enthusiastic about all of this, and now that I'm going to be a worker and also a tutor, things couldn't get better. I'm finally going to work with a lab coat instead of a suit. This is what I always wanted, and I'm really proud of being able to have it!

Sans: hey

Sans: are you free?

Huh?

You: Sure, sure

You: Is there anything you need?

I just hope something bad didn't happen, or else-

Sans: eh, not that much

Sans: is more like a question, actually

You: Bring it on

Sans: ok, so papyrus wants to see u today

Sans: have a cooking lesson with you and such

A cooking lesson? What the fuck?

You: Cooking lesson?

Sans: papy tends to test friendship by having a cooking session with his new friend

Sans: it won't hurt ya, believe me

Sans: he just wants to see how good you are cooking, that's all

You: I can barely cook

You: I just hope I don't disappoint him

Sans: you haven't tasted his cooking, right?

Sans: i don't like offending my bro, but... he's not the best chef in town

Sans: he'll momentarily be tho

You: I bet

You: So when do you want me to go?

Sans: i... don't think it matters

Sans: as long as you come

You: Good, then I'm heading up

You: Just give me five minutes, ok?

Sans: k

Wait a min-

You: Sans, I have a question

Sans: spit it out

You: If Papyrus is the one who wants to see me, why he didn't text me?

You: He does have my number, after all

You: We have chat multiple times

Sans: he's in the store, kid

Sans: buying like, a million of ingredients to do a ton of things

Sans: mostly spaghetti

Oh.

I don't know why I was thinking I could kink-shame this guy. He, after all, did so when he just met me. But I haven't been able to take my revenge, and just now that bothered me.

There has to be a way.

You: I see

Sans: welp

Sans: and how ya been, kiddo?

Hmm...

I should probably have taken this chance to kink-shame him, but... he's probably asking about my mental illnesses, and I don't want to be rude...

I sighed.

You: I'm... improving

You: I actually just got a new job

Sans: really?

Sans: you're leaving the congress?

Oh shit, I know where this is going.

You: Yep, but I'm keeping my post of ambassador

Sans: how so?

Knew it.

You: It has become more like an... out of work project

You: Is more like a personal project, tibia honest

Answer that now, skeleton

Sans: wait, so you're not getting paid from being the ambassador?

You: Nope

Sans: why?

You: I already told you, Sans

You: Is a personal project, not an official project

You: Let's just say that I'm a nonprofit social activist

Sans: wow

Sans: guess you've been working down to the bone

Oh, I knew he was going to do that!

Sans: but in all seriousness now

Sans: that's really brave from your part, y' know

Sans: you deal with all the looks, discrimination and bullcrap without getting anything in exchange

Sans: wait

Sans: should i give you something?

Sans: i'm starting to feel bad with myself

...

I almost lose my parade by being really dumbfounded. I knew he would say something like that, but not that deeply...

He's literally willing to give me something for a work I offered myself to do.

How can someone be so uncommonly nice? I have sacrificed a couple of things, yes, but it's not like I sold my soul to the devil in order to help them.

You: You don't have to give me anything, really

You: You guys being free is enough reward

Sans: i don't think some monsters being happy are enough to pay bills, kid

Sans: or to buy a car

Sans: or even food

Savage.

You: Well, I do have a new job now, and its pay is quite good actually

You: I mean

You: I'm not working in a fucking McDonald's

Sans: what are you going to do then?

You: Have a role of a tutor in chemistry and as a scientist

I received then a call from Sans, which I hesitantly took as I was walking through the streets. Before I could even give him a proper greeting, he started rambling all over the phone, asking things like "since when you are a scientist?" and things like that. Even the dumbest of people could identify that he was freaking out badly, and I tried to calm him down multiple times, but he didn't listen.

"i mean, dude, you like science then? do you like science fiction as well? or any stories involving science stuff? ooh, have you seen this series called- wait, no. forget i said anything, it's just-"

"Sans..."

"don't judge me too harshly, please! i'm just happy i can find a science lover who isn't a freak! or that it actually hates me, hah..."

Wait- does he mean Gaster? Dude, that's sad.

"Hey bud, I don't judge ya. I just want you to calm down and breathe. I'm not even able to process every single thing you are saying to me"

He took a deep breath, then laughed nervously.

"sorry... do you like science fiction?"

Jesus Christ, how desperate is this guy to find a science nerd?

"Yep, one of my all-time favorites"

"nice! how long has it been since you are a scientist?"

"I finished my biochemistry specialty when I was twenty..."

"oh, and that was...?"

I remembered then that I have never told him my age, which made feel pretty stupid. I have told him I have depression, anxiety, PTSD and insomnia... but I'm not able to tell him how old I am? How stupid. But thinking back at it, he has not told me his age either, so...

"Two years ago. I'm twenty-two"

"huh, how curious. i'm twenty-two as well, and i haven't done half of the things you have"

"Don't compare yourself with me, Sans. You can be one thousand times better, I can feel it... in my bones"

I just heard that deep chuckle I'm beginning to like more and more. Actually... I do like his voice. Like, a lot. It's really deep, smooth like butter, and it has a lot of profundity it's hard to imitate his accent. He doesn't speak that much like an American- more like a person coming from another country, but that learned English at a young age. It's understandable but different, and not in a bad way. If I could compare his voice with a singer, it would probably be a combination between Freddy Mercury and Elvis Presley. Which it's just lovely.

I wonder if he can sing.

"heh, i should give it a shot then. do you think i should go to college?"

"You'll have a better job that way. Hell, you can become a science master if you want to. You just need to study, bud. But I don't think that's a difficult task to ask you, Sans. You are really smart, I know it!"

"thanks, kid"

"Sans, aren't we the same age?"

"eh, you're still a kid to me. every young human is a kid to me"

"I should call you like that as well, then?"

"nah"

"Ok then, bucko"

"what the-"

"I'm almost there, Sans. You can tell me whatever you want in the house"

"no but wait-"

"Nope, shut up. You tell me there, bye!"

I laughed way louder than I expected when I saw a ton of messages from Sans being sent, complaining about me being the kid and not him. When he was sending me the twentieth message, though, I was already at the door.

"HUMAN, HELLO!"

"Hi Papy-"

"(y/n) what the fuck?! you don't have the right to call me 'bucko'!"

I laughed while Sans groaned in desperation and Papyrus tilted his head out in confusion, which made laugh harder. After a while though, Sans joined my laughing by smirking at first, then bursting out into a laughing fit.

"SANS! HAVE YOU TURNED THE HUMAN INTO A DORK?!"

"nah bro, she" he took a pause while laughing "was already like that since the beginning. we just noticed"

I gasped in fake shock and indignation, then playfully hit his shoulder. He laughed louder and I being stupid, made me laugh like crazy as well. Papyrus, on the other side, was starting to become mad out in confusion.

"I DIDN'T INVITE THE HUMAN TO COME AND BE STUPID WITH YOU, SANS! WE HAVE A COOKING SESSION PENDING AND FOR PUNISHMENT, YOU'LL HAVE TO HELP!"

"oh hell naw"

"HMPH! WHATEVER! HUMAN, FOLLOW ME INTO THE KITCHEN! WE'LL HAVE OUR SACRED AND ONLY-FOR-HIGH-SOCIETY-PEOPLE SESSION IN THERE!"

I followed him sheepishly while Sans mouthed me "good luck", then winked. I considered returning him the wink, but I noticed that it was a stupid idea. And so I let it be.

"HUMAN! WE SHALL BEGIN OUR SESSION NOW!"

Then I noticed that the whole fucking kitchen was filled with ingredients, books of recipes, and any cooking instrument that a chef would need.

This should be interesting.

And without hesitation, I put an apron he brought me and prepared myself mentally.

Here I go...

[thatthingcalledfate-phff]

Chapter 13

Welcome to the Alps

Meghan Markle had been an angel in disguise for both Harry and Bella.

 It didn’t take long after Meghan left Isabella Clarke’s clinic for Harry to receive a call from the doctor asking him to meet up at The Ivy for dinner that night. To say that the prince was ecstatic is an understatement as he panicked while on a call with William.

 “Calm down.” Prince William, Prince of Wales, reminded his brother who’s obviously going through his closet in a storm. “Just pick normal clothes. You know, for date nights.”

Harry sighed throwing a striped shirt he hadn’t worn for too long at the pile on his floor. “This is different.” He mumbled. “And her friend invited me to the Alps.”

 William sighed, positively giving up on calming his own brother. “And you’re going?”

 “Of course.” Harry answered pulling a grey sweatshirt from his closet and looking at it closely. “I have to go.”

 “Does Isabella know you’re going?”

 And Harry’s hand dropped to his side at the realization. Maybe Bella wants to talk to tell me that I shouldn’t come with them. He thought going quiet for a few seconds before being pulled out of his thought by William clearing his throat. “Maybe. I mean, her friend was specific on me going. Something about giving Bella a reason to actually go with them.” He answered before looking up at his closet once again. “I have nothing to wear.”

 “Seriously?” William’s voice sounded aghast. “You have nothing to wear?” He clarified only receiving a hum from his brother. “I can’t believe I’m doing this just for your date but I’m coming there to help out.”

 And, like he said, William had helped Harry picked out his outfit. “Don’t I look too casual?” the ginger asked obviously tense.

Prince William laughed and joked, “I think you should go have a wank before you meet her. You know, so you stop being a sissy.”

 Isabella Clarke sat on a corner table in The Ivy fiddling with her fingers as she waited for a certain ginger haired prince. She had come before her nerves can take her rationality over and stop her from coming. She’s scared. Honestly, she does not know what to say to the prince or how she can start everything. She looked up when someone sat in front of her and in that moment, she felt the familiar leap her heart does when she sees Harry.

 All she wants is to hold him.

 And they sat there, not talking. Just staring at each other; both hearts racing at the mere sight of each other. No matter what happens, as they realized at that moment, their feelings never changed. And she smiled making the prince smile as well. All is well. It felt like nothing happened. It felt like parts of their souls had come back.

 “I missed you.” She whispered and he could not take it.

 Prince Harry stood up from his seat and walked the few steps in between him and the doctor before cupping her face and leaning down to kiss her tenderly. It was fire. How her lips felt on his made his head spin. And he felt out of breath when he pulled away, resting his forehead on top of hers for seconds with eyes closed. “God.” He breathed out pulling away and looking at her intently. “I missed you too bad.”

 It was like nobody else existed but them that night.

 For weeks, the two are almost attached at the hips. Everything felt different the second time around- different in a better way. The saying love is sweeter the second time around always ran through Harry’s head as he stared off into space, luggage around him as he packed for their weekend in the French Alps with Bella’s friends. For weeks, he had felt so sure of one thing.

 He does not want to be away from Isabella Clarke anymore.

 “So, you asked for me?” Prince William suddenly appeared at his doorway, successfully snapping Harry out of his thoughts. “What for?”

 “I want to marry Bella.”

 And William blinked back at his brother. “I had seen it coming.” He responded nodding his head and stepping fully inside Harry’s room, closing the door behind him. “When do you plan on asking?”

 “Well, not this weekend.” Harry answered figuring out that a weekend with Isabella Clarke’s friends is not the proper way or time to do it. He wanted it to be private. Heartfelt. “I’m still figuring out the right time.” He continued in deep thought, a smile stretching on his face. He felt happy. Surreal. He’s not going to let go of the girl. “I want it to be special.”

 William nodded, “Well..” he breathed out smiling. “Congratulations.”

 “I still don’t have a ring.” Harry suddenly said. “I can’t exactly buy out unnoticed.. With the press following me around, I can’t buy one unnoticed.”

 And William had to laugh, “It’s good to hear that you’re more worried about the whole buying a ring ordeal rather than the part where you actually have to ask her.” He said making Harry smile and run his hand through his ginger locks. “I’ll take care of the whole ring ordeal. I’ll schedule for a goldsmith or something.”

 Isabella Clarke is far from ready for their trip in the French Alps as she needed to stay back in the hospital due to one of her patients giving birth. Not that she minded. Thankfully, she only needed to put her things inside her luggage when she gets home. She sighed and took a quick glance at her wristwatch. 8:54pm.

 “Here you go.” Meredith Grey said sliding over the forms Isabella Clarke had to sign. “I hope you enjoy the Alps, doc.”

 Bella smiled and uncapped her pen. “Thank you, Meredith.” She said signing the form and she looked up curiously when the nurse station’s phone suddenly rang.

 “Yes, she’s here.” Meredith Grey answered sending a glance towards the doctor who mouthed ‘who is it?’ at the nurse. “Ok. I’ll tell her.” The nurse said before hanging up the phone. “A woman is in a car accident. The woman is critical and pregnant. We’ll need you at the OR.”

 Prince Harry looked up at his clock to see that it’s already 11 in the evening. He furrowed his eyebrows before taking his phone off his night stand to see if Isabella Clarke had messaged him. None. Frowning, he sat up on his bed before dialing Bella’s number.

 “Hey! Please leave a message!”

 “Hey, babe.” Harry said licking his bottom lip. “Are you home already? Can you call me? I’m getting worried.”

 And he stayed awake waiting for her to call.

 Isabella Clarke walked back in the operating room in a daze. Her ears are ringing, her hands are cold, and her mouth dry. She gave out a shaky breath as she washed her hands- the warm water suddenly feeling a lot colder. She had just broke the news to the family. The mother is dead. She could not save her. The mother of the newly born healthy baby and it broke her to pieces.

 Given that death is normal in her profession, Isabella Clarke hoped that no deaths cross her.

 For a while, she stood inside the changing room just staring off into space before a knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. “Yes?” she called out, her voice cracking. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

 However, when she came back to her office, she felt tears started to fall from her eyes and a sob escaped her lips. A patient just died in her hands. She could not do anything. And even though she knew she had done everything in her power, it still affected her terribly. She remembers how her mother had dealt with her first death, and it was stronger than how Bella is dealing with it. She sniffed and grabbed her phone that’s laying on top of her table.

 A few rings and he answered, “Hey.” She sniffed.

 Harry can hear the tears and he frowned. “Hey. Are you ok? Is everything ok?” he asked thoroughly concerned and he heard her suddenly sob. “Bella? Where are you?”

 It didn’t take long before Harry came inside Isabella Clarke’s office and envelope her into a hug. “It’s ok.” He mumbled kissing the top of her head. “You did everything you could.” He continued rubbing her arms.

 “I could not save her.” She whispered shaking her head. “I did everything I could and I could not save her.”

 “I know.” Harry comforted and he kept her in his arms until he felt her calm down. “If you want, we can skip the whole Alps-“

 Bella chuckled, finally getting a hold of herself. “No. Ginny will kill us.” She whispered pulling herself away from the prince and looking up at him. Their eyes connecting. “I love you, you know.” She whispered.

 Harry smiled, his thumb wiping away a tear left on her face. “I love you too.” He whispered back before leaning down and giving her a kiss on the lips. “I love you a lot.” He whispered again. He wanted to ask her at this time. He wanted to ask her to marry him. It felt so right to be with her.

 And her ring-less hand intertwining with his, made his heart jolt.

 Thankfully, they were on time for their flight to Geneva, Switzerland. “Ah. You didn’t run!” Ginny hollered as Bella and Harry walked towards her hand in hand. “Nice to meet you, princey.” She continued nodding towards Harry who smiled and offered his hand for a handshake. “Oh fuck off. You’re like her.” Ginny quickly dismissed the handshake and went over to give Harry a hug.

 Prince Harry gave Isabella Clarke a quick glance just to see her shaking her head at her friend’s antics. When Ginny pulled away, she gave Bella a look. “You know, little bitch, you actually helped into fulfilling one of my childhood wishes.” The redhead said.

 “Oh mate. I’m having serious Harry Potter deja vu right now. Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley.”

 The three turned and saw Abigail Simons walking towards them with Henry Cavill in tow. “Fuck off, Zabini.” Ginny said venomously making Harry and Bella laugh.

 “They’re Harry Potter fans.” Bella whispered towards Harry.

 And, for the first time, Harry is face to face with the man who apparently had been there for Isabella Clarke during their break. Harry, tuning out the conversation between the three women, watched as Henry Cavill watched Isabella Clarke with a smile. However, Isabella Clarke does not notice and tugged on Harry’s hands to pull him to the boarding gate because Ginny suddenly pulled the doctor.

 They sat on one row. Isabella Clarke sat by the window; beside her is Harry then on the center are Abi, Henry, and Ginny. “Are they ok?” she asked Harry referring to his two PPO’s sitting behind her three friends. “They look like they don’t have enough leg room.”

 “They’re fine.” Harry answered kissing Bella’s hand making her smile.

 But on the back of his mind, during the entire flight, he could not shake off the image of Henry Cavill smiling at Isabella Clarke. He does not want to look like some insecure boyfriend- hell, he does not want to act like one. And besides, he’s not sure if his sudden jealousy towards the actor is rational.

 After a few hours, they arrived in Geneva, Switzerland and as they stood waiting for their bags, Henry Cavill went over towards Harry and Bella. “Hey.” He greeted the doctor who looked up at him smiling.

 “Oh Henry!” she smiled. “I haven’t had time to introduce you two a while ago.” Bella continued stepping beside Harry. “Harry, this is Henry. Henry, meet Harry.”

 And the two men shook hands.

 Ginny watched the scene, her eyebrows arching. Bloody naive, Clarke. She thought. Ginny can see the tension shoot off the men’s eyes as they shook hands and Prince Harry suddenly wrapping a possessive arm around Isabella Clarke’s waist- and Henry Cavill’s eyes briefly looking at said arms. I smell trouble. She thought bounding towards the three. “So, who’s ready to get drunk?”

 When they got to the Williamson Chateau, Ginny is already formulating plans on how to keep the prince and the actor away from each other. Even though the two had been civil towards each other, Ginny knew that one or the other might break during the weekend. As he led Henry Cavill to the bedroom in between hers and Abi’s, she sent a glance towards the actor before saying, “You fooled me a few weeks ago.”

 Henry gave her a smile, “I apologize.”

 But the redhead narrowed her eyes at him, “You love her.” She stated making Henry look at her feigning a confused look. “Oh don’t act stupid with me.” But the actor did not say anything to prove her suspicions making her roll her eyes again before going out of his room without saying anything else.

 And that day, even though Isabella Clarke remained on her and Harry’s room for most parts sleeping, the tension is extremely palpable in the chateau. Both men, even though not saying a word towards each other as much as possible, knew to stay away from each other as much as possible.

 It just worries Genevieve Williamson too much that she drank half of what she usually does while she hoped that nothing bad will happen during their two days in the Alps.

 And as she watched Henry Cavill look at Isabella Clarke and Prince Harry kiss during a game of Truth or Dare that night, Genevieve Williamson knew that there’s going to be a shit show before their trip ends.

[patrickube-blog]

(h x r)

[i honestly feel really strongly for this piece of writing i did about two years ago, it never fails to make me emotional. a lot of the stuff i wrote in the past has identifiable influences – like a movie i’d just watched, a book i loved, a game i just played, or some real life personal thing that happened to me. this story bemuses me because i don’t remember how i even came up with the entire idea, or the weird structure of it. but i think it’s quite lovely and skeletal, so, i hope this gets you feeling something as well,  my nonexistent followers!]

–

The Beginning

We had English after lunch. All of us were caught in a mad, exuberant flurry of motion, scuttling around like schools of fish to finish our essays on Romeo and Juliet.

The sun was smoldering, the clouds whisked briskly into hiding, the breeze faint and whispery. We sat in our customary, rickety red bench, the table-top scrawled with adolescent blather. There were lyrics to hit songs; prancing stick figures; crude swear words; male genitalia of different sizes; names etched inside swollen, crooked hearts, then scratched out and blotted with angry ink.

There was five of us then. We grew together, then grew apart. I remember Travis, always joking, always coy. I remember Lila, sharp as a tack, harsh, slim from weekly track meets. I remember Henry, foppish and vibrant, good-hearted. As for Rose, was the smartest in our group. Naturally we sought her assistance that day. She glowed under the attention. She set about patiently correcting grammatical errors, pointing out muddled sentences, indicating softly which areas needed elaboration.

I noticed Henry was sitting alone during this time, scratching his head, furrowing his brow, staring at his essay in concentration. Travis was teasing him.

And then, like a guardian angel come from the golden gates of heaven, Rose left her gaggle of students and sat beside him. Henry smiled. Nervous, tentative sweat slicked his forehead.

We laughed about it then, me and Travis and Lila, but deep down we were jealous that the inevitable shifting of our group’s dynamic had taken place, and none of us were a part of the equation.

The Middle of the Beginning

“I think I like her,” Henry said frequently afterwards when it was just me and Travis with him. “I think I do. A lot.”

We sniggered collectively, played along. It became a game. “What do you like most about her? Are you gonna marry her?” we would ask with false sincerity.

“Everything about her, I like,” he’d reply importantly, “And, yeah. Maybe I will marry her.” We all laughed. There was no doubt in our minds then that poor, hapless Henry was dreaming up this big romance, borne from Rose’s simple kindness.

“I’m going to ask her to dance,” Henry said one day, out of the blue. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask her.” We grinned. Travis nudged his shoulder boyishly. Someone else who happened to be sitting with us that day made up a bet on whether or not Henry would pull through. I just smiled. Poor, hapless Henry mistook our amused, youthful mockery for pride.

The following week, the dance took place. We gathered in our little group excitedly, flashing smiles, pretending that we couldn’t care less. The gym was bedecked in fluorescent neon lights, strips of flashy, glittery gold paper wrung from the ceiling, music pumping from the domed roof. Lila bragged about how much of it was all thanks to her creative ambition, since she was a part of the dance committee. The girls were resplendent in their skimpy dresses. We wore our flashiest, priciest clothes.

Henry showed up late with Rose in tow, causing quite the fuss. His brown eyes were bright. Rose’s smile was small and shy, her honeydew hair glimmering amidst the neon lights. We stared, pointed, bobbed grins and cheeky laughter across the hall. Travis spat out his drink. Lila arced an eyebrow. We were collectively in awe. Hapless Henry had turned a new leaf.

The girls fawned all over them; we resorted to a thumbs-up.

The Ending of the Beginning

Henry went to a different high school than the rest of us. He moved house early in the year we all started a new chapter in our lives. I wasn’t to see him for years. I was too caught up in the difference of high school to contact him.

In my second year, I dated Lila. She was vivacious, a fresh breath of air from the old days. We laughed about our middle school-selves. I asked her constantly if she knew anything about Henry and Rose, whose quiet popularity in middle school devolved into anonymity. She frequented the library and acquired a new circle of friends, long-legged girls with swathes of hair. I only had to glance to know they took her for granted, accepted her only for the gleam of her blond hair rather than the understated perception of her mind. Lila told me that the last she’d heard, she and Henry had split. I felt duly crushed. Those two were akin to glowing, golden idols from a better, simpler age. Like the rest of us, they’d succumbed to change and rust.

Three shitty parties, one pregnancy test, and two ‘break ups’ later, Lila and I split. “All you ever talk about now is ‘those old days’ as if they were years ago, as if they were amazing all the time. They weren’t. God, get a grip on yourself, you’re pathetic,” she’d said at the argument that ended it. After that, brilliantly angry and youthfully, foolishly bitter, she spread the rumor that I carried STDs. I remember Travis laughing in my face the day after. He made a quip about girls being bitches, about how he was taking Maria Henderson to a party that weekend, about how I should come and use the STD-thing as a sob story to get laid.

I skipped school for a week, pleaded sick to my blank-faced parents. Days were spent staring up at the billowing, far-away clouds from my bedroom window, lost in thought. Escapism. All I wanted was to envelop myself again in the golden warmth of the before, not the now, with stressful deadlines and assessments and new social pressures and angry ex-girlfriends.

The Beginning of the End

-During my final year of university, an unregistered number called my phone while I was walking to a class.

It was Henry, though I still didn’t make the connection when the voice said, “it’s Henry, hey, it’s me.” He had to awkwardly introduce himself twice more. He sounded tired. He asked how I was doing, what I was up to, what university I attended, inquired about assignments, deadlines, and my parents. He confessed, with sheepish laughter, that he’d gotten my number off of Lila, who Rose still saw every now and then. He added in serious undertone, that he never for a second believed those old, filthy rumors.

I had a multitude of questions clamoring in my head. For one thing, I did not appreciate him bringing up the STD-drama. Also, what was he calling me for? After years of silence, hearing him speak while I weaved through other students staring into their phones was a surreal experience.

There was a new, tense quality to Henry’s voice that I’d never heard before. He suddenly apologized, for falling off the radar, for being too busy to keep in touch. Things with Rose were rocky, he admitted quietly, in a resigned sort of way. Before I could ask when they’d gotten back together, he quickly slipped in that he loved her. A lot. They’d gone on-and-off a number of times.

“Look, I know this is…weird, since we haven’t spoken in years,” Henry said shakily. “But you were always the most considerate of the guys. I know that you’ll help me.” There was a long pause. I waited. “Rose is pregnant. We didn’t plan it. She’s totally against, ah, abortion. And, I mean, so am I! She says we have get married…quickly. Fast. She doesn’t want the kid to be labeled a bastard, and I guess she just…” Henry trailed off. “I think she just doesn’t want to be alone.”

He sighed, sounding older than he really was. I didn’t know what to say, or what exactly he was calling me for. “Please,” he went on. “I need your help. Her parents hate her for all this business, and my dad…you know how he is, ever since we were kids, always just…sorry. Ah, when are you free next?”

The Middle of the End

I helped arrange mostly everything. I found a reception hall in town. It was a small, humble, exquisite building that didn’t make a big deal of itself. Henry, Rose and I went down there a few days after he called. I skipped my afternoon lecture.

I did most of the talking. Henry was taller, a bit leaner, though jittery, his smile nervous. There was a new tentative energy in him, the sadness in his eyes never quite going away. Rose, though, was very lovely. Refined, cool and calm. The gaggle of loud, unappreciative girls that used to surround her in a stifling circle were nowhere to be seen. I wondered where they’d gone. Her belly swelled under the blue blouse she wore.

They chose a day, a time, talked over some meaningless technicalities. We had coffee afterwards. It seemed like the decent thing to do, though I could tell both of them just wanted to go home, retreat back into whatever form of shelter they had built for themselves upstate. I felt out of place meeting these two old friends I didn’t actually know anymore. My brain was momentarily confused, attempting to re-arrange itself; I remembered Henry as a flushed, messy-haired youth with gangly arms and a hapless grin. On the last day of school, he’d hugged me tightly and rather desperately, only letting go when Travis shoved a pencil up his ass. The day before he moved, we hung out in the arcade and then the beach. After everyone had gone and the sun began to vanish in the horizon, my mother had dropped off Rose first, then Henry. The three of us sat in the backseat, making small talk, and as we neared Rose’s house, Henry had grabbed both our hands without preamble. Even after Rose left his hand kept clutching mine.

Now he was suddenly taller than me, dressed in a modest suit-and-tie. He had never been solid and leery like Travis, always floppy, but sitting in that café, there was a solidity about him.

The youthful vivacity that was in Rose once was gone; it was replaced by a wide void, reduced as she was to a politely-smiling, well-mannered, chagrin adult. She used to get all the boys’ attention, even in high school. Mature and level-headed, Rose hardly ever went to parties, but when she did, she always vanished upstairs, swallowed up by the inky darkness of the stairwell. I always assumed she and Henry’s split was official. Their hastened marriage date said otherwise.

The café was small, but busy, bustling. Its homey interior and cream walls watched as we slowly took a sigh of collective relief, our stress and tension melting away gradually, mingling with the steam of mochas and lattes.

Henry sincerely apologized for all the sudden fuss, asked again what I was majoring in and when I’d graduate. He asked after my parents and what they were getting up to. He shared some funny stories, but Rose never laughed, she only maintained her frozen little smile. She herself congratulated me for my academic successes, sympathizing with me on how Lila acted all those years ago, affirming she was different now and still asked about me, sometimes. I told them how well they looked, how happy I was for them, what name they were considering for the baby, and did they know yet if it was a boy, or a girl? I didn’t get to pose the questions I really wanted to ask, since I could tell they were both terribly tired of things. Whether it was from work, or each other, or the baby bombshell, or all of the above, or some hidden factor they kept to themselves, I still do not know.

What I knew: they were only alive by the love they shared, weakly binding them together. It was quietly, tragically beautiful.

The End

-Their wedding day fell on a midsummer, lukewarm Friday afternoon.

Henry and Rose invited only a few people, less than a handful: Geraldine was the bride’s sister. Carlton was her boyfriend. As for Lila and I, one could say we were close in school, but Travis wasn’t invited. Was Lila merely a sop for me? Was it a feeble, girlish, chick-flick attempt to get us back together? Was Henry and Rose’s social circle just that closed-off? Were they afraid and ashamed of others knowing about their marriage and Rose’s pregnancy? Had they alienated themselves that much? Like many things about them, I don’t know.

Geraldine picked up the girls, while Carlton and I were put in charge of Henry. It was quite a beautiful day. Sunlight dappled the trees lining the sidewalk, while buildings reached up into the unfathomable sky. There was not a cloud in sight.

We got to the reception hall first. Henry, in a sharp blue suit, paced back and forth erratically in one of the rooms the kindly receptionist directed us to. I had helped him get ready in my flat. Carlton could tell we had history and he was destined to be a mere footnote, so he politely complimented Henry, made some light jokes which we responded to politely, and then he left before we did, saying he’d meet us at the hall. His car was parked in the lot, four spaces from mine. He was browsing through his phone when we pulled up. I thought it prudent to wait for Geraldine to arrive before calling out to him.

While Henry paced, I mused aloud how the girls were faring. Perhaps Rose had cried a little, then switched to happy laughter while her hair was done up artfully.

He was implacable, in that small window of time when it was just us two. I attempted small talk: why his father or her parents weren’t invited (the look he shot in my direction was, I guess, the only answer I needed.) Did they not want anyone else to come, any other friends? That didn’t provoke a response, but I filled the silence with noise anyway. I spoke wistfully of the increasing difficulty of my university assignments, about Travis, about the beauty of the afternoon. Henry was unresponsive, curt. It took me awhile to accept that I simply did not understand the entire situation, and I left him alone with his own thoughts for a bit. Happy nervousness leaked from his every pore as he walked back and forth, back and forth.

He wouldn’t stop pacing. Without a word, I placed a hand comfortingly on his shoulder. The effect was electric. Henry spun around, looked at me with wide, trembling, damp eyes and kissed me. I only began to respond when he drew back again, as fast as he’d leant forward. He was flushed. “I doubt the baby’s mine,” he said abruptly, absurdly. Then, “I love you. Thank you for being here. I mean it. I love you.”

There was a knock on the door, and Geraldine asked how things were coming along. I could have addressed what Henry had just blurted out and the way he’d kissed me, but I didn’t. His eyes met mine, and without flinching, I told Geraldine we’d be right out and that Carlton was in his car. Her heels faded away into the warm afternoon. Before we left the room, Henry kissed me again. I let him, not reciprocating this time.

Rose was a vision of loveliness, a divine apparition. Her back was facing us as we walked up. Daisies were wrung prettily in her hair. When she turned, her face wore an expression that I couldn’t read. The corners of her mouth were upturned, but I wouldn’t say she was smiling. I saw her rounded belly, remembered Henry’s suspicions, his desperate kisses. But I could not harden my heart against her. How could I, with her standing there, her white dress whispering as it danced across the floor in time with the wind?

Geraldine walked in with Carlton and Lila in tow.  “Shall we?” Lila announced with theatrical grandeur. She shot me a glance. The lot of us had dinner a few nights beforehand, a perverted version of the five our original group had, plus Carlton, very handsome, very respectful, shaking my hand firmly over glasses of wine. Geraldine, I knew slightly growing up, a stately, assertive girl who had none of Rose’s subtlety. As for Lila…she was much the same. Harsh green eyes, a smirk instead of a smile. The only thing of note was a tattoo of a pale lily on her thigh. I told her that it was really clever and witty, when we had sex in my flat that same night. She said that I’d gotten myself a nice pad, and allowed that she missed our middle school days sometimes, especially the science lessons where we were partners, fucking up all of our tests. I took that as her apology for the STD rumors. We didn’t mention it.

The sunlight spilled in from the doorway and doused Henry in soft brightness as he stepped forward and took Rose in his arms. She was crying. Her small shoulders trembled demurely. He whispered words to her that the rest of us didn’t hear. Geraldine patted her back. Carlton shifted in place. Lila linked her arm with mine.

There was a small wait inside a depressingly-clean room where no-one really said anything. Shortly, a middle-aged man donned in priestly garb approached us, calling for “Mr. Henry and Ms. Rose.”

It happened so fast. The designated room was jarringly empty. Geraldine, Carlton, Lila and I crowded the front seats, the chairs behind us devoid of any life. The girls had, in an attempt to spruce the state of things, blown up a few listless balloons and scattered a handful of daffodils on the aisle. It was beautiful in its own doomed, sad way. I imagined the lily on Lila’s thigh blooming open for me. Sunlight alighted on each flimsy white petal of the flowers in Rose’s hair.

When Henry and Rose kissed as man and wife, melting into one, trembling, Geraldine let out a sob. Carlton clapped earnestly, then hugged his girlfriend with one arm. Lila touched my shoulder. Her eyes leaked mascara-stained tears. My throat became constricted with emotion.

“I never saw this coming. Never. I mean…not like this. Did you?” she asked me, her green eyes softening, causing me to almost fall in love with her all over again.

The makeshift priest watched as the six of us left, Henry and Rose leading the way with damp cheeks. His sad eyes were full of hopeless love, and he’d given me a look pregnant with apology and confusion as he walked past; he reached out as if to touch my cheek, but instead clasped my arm. The bride’s honeydew hair was aglow, blinding us all.

In the parking lot, Henry and Rose leaned into each other and so did Geraldine and Carlton, shadowing them. Lila kissed my cheek, and I remembered Henry pressing his lips into mine, not once but twice, his suit clinging to his slim frame, his shoulders set. It seemed to have happened a million years ago. I like to think that we were all, in that moment, happy. The waning afternoon sun embraced us and congratulated our exit.

But I suppose that deep down I knew it was temporary.

X

-Lila called me well over a year later.

We’d kept in touch after the wedding, making half-hearted attempts to reconnect, to start over. We had sex two more times afterward, but the second time, I made the mistake of asking her why she did it, all those years ago in our second year of high school. When she feigned sleep, I touched her lily tattoo and waited until she was actually slumbering. We were in her flat, so I left. Taken away from the pale, sentimental magic of that reception hall, I noticed that her green eyes had hardened again. I realized: I did not love her anymore, if I ever really did. I didn’t bother maintaining contact, and neither did she.

We were there, however, for the sake of appearances, when Henry and Rose left on their honeymoon to Florida. I remember Rose waving a lavender handkerchief at us as Henry drove them away. Carlton took me home, doing the same for a friend of Rose’s who’d been invited, some girl co-worker. He asked how things were going with Lila. I said that things were definitely going. He shook my hand when we reached my flat, and I wondered what he would do if I kissed him in the semi-darkness of his car. Later that night I hit up the girl co-worker whose number I’d procured at some point, and drove to her place and had sex on a pull-out bed. She was ensconced at a friend’s for the moment because of personal issues I did not care to divulge in because I had enough of my own, enough of Henry’s, enough of Rose’s, so I fucked her again before she could open up.

I wasn’t present when Rose gave birth five months after, but I was at their infant girl Victoria’s one-month celebration. She was an exhilarating, lovely thing, but she had brilliant blue eyes. Neither Henry nor Rose had blue eyes.

Lila was there, too, but she didn’t look at me once. The girl co-worker arrived late with a guy who I thought at first was Travis, and I was so shocked I dropped the small sandwich I was eating into Victoria’s crib. Carlton told the guests about the promotion he’d received, and Geraldine gushed over her niece, imploring to her in sickly-sweet coos that the girl would have a cousin in due time. Henry never left Rose’s side once, and when I said goodbye, his hand was sweaty. He lingered a second too long, just like at our last day of school, his scrawny arms nearly suffocating me.

When Lila called almost two years after, she did so with a dead voice. Henry had shot himself in the mouth, in the upstairs bathroom of the Victorian-style house he and Rose had bought a year prior.

Lila told me Rose had come home to hear Victoria’s wail of irritation and hunger from bedroom on the second floor. She’d rushed up the stairs, and saw the bathroom door closed. Blood leaked from the space underneath, staining the fresh carpets. And, somehow, Rose had known. I asked what Lila meant by that, but she stuck by what she said. Somehow, Rose had known.

So, she went back down and sat in the living room, called her sister to come over as soon as she could, and remained in the couch for almost an hour, listening to her child’s pitiful, escalating wail, letting her dead husband drown in his blood in the upstairs bathroom.

When Geraldine arrived, everything came undone.

I hung up after telling Lila I’d make it to the wake.

I remembered his warm and perpetually melancholic brown eyes, the lovely honeydew of her hair, the way he kissed me twice in that warm, fuzzy, almost pastoral waiting room with dust dancing in the space between us. I remembered how their initials were etched onto the red bench outside our old classroom. “HxR.” There, forever. ♦

[placetobenation]

Andy in the middle of the ring at MSG.

It was January 16, 1996. I attended a house show at Madison Square Garden. I was there with my friend Steve and his friend Shawn. We had pretty good seats, first row off of the floor. If it was a hockey game, we would’ve been in the front row. I was 23 at the time and I actually didn’t own a wrestling shirt to wear to the show. So, since we were going to MSG, I decided to wear my Brian Leetch NY Rangers away jersey. It was hockey season and we were going to their home arena so I figured it would be okay.

        We grab a few beers, a couple of hot dogs and a WWF ice cream bar (man, I miss those.) We get to our seats and the show is about to begin. At the time at some house shows, they’d have a master of ceremonies, so to speak. This guy’s job is to pump up the crowd and keep them interested and engaged in the show in between matches. So, he comes out (I honestly don’t remember his name) and starts making announcements about the card and some of the giveaways that are going to happen that night. He also says that they will need some volunteers from the audience as well:  a guest flag bearer for Lex Luger, a guest manager for The Bushwhackers and a special guest ring announcer. I thought that should be fun for whomever they pick. I would assume that the guest manager would probably be a kid since it was for The Bushwhackers. As for the other two, I really didn’t give it much thought.

        The show begins, I don’t remember the order of the matches, but here is the card courtesy of The History of WWE.com:

WWF @ New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden – January 16, 1995 (7,500; 5,400 paid)

Included Jeff Jarrett as a guest of Shawn Michaels’ ‘Heartbreak Hotel’

Aldo Montoya pinned Steven Dunn

Duke Drose (w/ Dick Murdoch) defeated Timothy Well (w/ Steven Dunn); prior to the match, Murdoch cut an in-ring promo about being in MSG and his plans to win the Royal Rumble; moments later, Well insulted him; after the contest, Murdoch beat up both Well & Dunn

Henry Godwinn pinned Bob Holly

WWF Women’s Champion Bull Nakano pinned Alundra Blayze with the leg drop off the top

The Undertaker pinned Tatanka with the tombstone; after the bout, King Kong Bundy and Bam Bam Bigelow attacked Taker

Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a no holds barred match via submission to the Sharpshooter; after the bout, Bret kept the hold applied until several referees came out to pull him off; after releasing the hold, Bret then briefly reapplied it

Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith defeated King Kong Bundy & Bam Bam Bigelow via disqualification

WWF World Champion Diesel pinned Jeff Jarrett (sub. for Bob Backlund) (w/ Shawn Michaels) with the powerbomb; after the bout, Michaels hit the superkick on Diesel, threw the world title belt down on him and spat at him

        I’m sitting there with Steve and Shawn (I think the Henry Godwinn / Bob Holly match was going on) when all of the sudden the master of ceremonies guy comes up to me and says, “Hey, you want to be the special guest ring announcer?” I was caught completely off guard, so I stammered an “um, um.” Shawn says, “I’ll do it.” I snap out of the sudden shock and I say to him, “Hell no, he asked me.” So I say yes to the guy. He proceeds to lead me backstage. Now if you’ve ever been to an old school show at MSG, the entrance aisle isn’t on one end of the arena, but in the middle. It wasn’t that far from our seats so it was a short walk. I go down the stairs and through the curtain and the guy introduces me to Howard Finkel. He was a super nice guy. He asks me how to spell and pronounce my name and I tell him. He then hands me a waiver which I have to sign in order to participate. At this point, I’m starting to get nervous and I sign it, of course. I have no idea what it said at the time. I’m guessing it had to do with an injuries or using my likeness in any videos or photos taken while I was out in the arena. Next, a backstage worker comes over with a WWF Go Ahead… Make My Wish Tour t-shirt.  I ask if I can put it on over my Rangers jersey and they say okay. While I’m standing there, Shawn Michaels walks by all decked out in his HBK gear. A moment later The British Bulldog walks by in the other direction. Of course, I was getting awe struck.

        Howard hands me a yellow piece of notepad paper which has the copy I was to read on it. He then leaves for a moment to go introduce the next match, Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano. I look down at the paper to see which match I would be the ring announcer for and I was a little disappointed. It was the Aldo Montoya vs. Steven Dunn match. I thought, “hey I’m about to announce a match at MSG, who cares who’s wrestling.”  As I’m reading a few more people are walking around the backstage area. I try to stay out of the way, but I want to check out the woman’s match that’s going on. Howard walks back through the curtain and asks how I’m doing; I say that I’m great. He tells me in a few minutes he’ll have to go announce the winner of the current match and then he’ll come back and bring me out to the ring. I say okay. I go back to watching the match through the curtain. The next thing I know, Lex Luger is standing next to me watching. Bull Nakano was on offense at the time. Lex turns to me, “F*ck that Japanese girl is good.” I nod my head and I think I said yeah? He turns and walks away. The midget wrestlers involved in the Jerry Lawler vs Doink The Clown feud walk in.  They were the happiest bunch and having a good time, ribbing each other back and forth.

        Back in the ring, Bull Nakano hits her top rope leg drop finisher and gets the three count on Alundra Blayze. The bell rings and Howard announces the winner. As soon as I heard that, my heart sinks and my nervousness is turned up quite a bit. Howard comes through the curtain and says, “Ready Andrew?” I nod my head and we walk through the curtain. From this moment forward, it was a surreal experience. As I walk, a few kids hold out their hands for me to slap, so I oblige them.  We get to the ring; Howard walks up the steps first. He sits on the second rope and holds the top rope open for me. I enter the ring, tried to be as cool as I could be. I’m just glad that I didn’t trip and fall on my face. I take my first step and it was like walking on a mattress. I did a few small bounces to see how the ring really felt under my feet. Howard announces me, “Ladies and gentlemen. At this time, let me introduce our special guest ring announcer, from Bronxville, New York, Andrew Atherton!” The entire crowd proceeded to boo me and I loved it! He hands me the microphone and I stand in the middle of the ring. Howard cues me. I say, “The following contest is scheduled for one fall.”  He gestures to me to wait for his next cue. Van Halen’s “Right Now” starts playing. I had no idea that Steven Dunn was using that as his entrance theme? I guess only at a house show could they get away with it. Steven comes through the curtain and Howard gives me the cue. “Making his way down the aisle, one half of the team Well Dunn, weighing in at 225 pounds, Steven Dunn!”  Steven gets into the ring, plays up to the crowd for a moment and his music fades down. Aldo Montoya’s music starts and Howard cues me again. I say, “And his opponent, from Lisbon, Portugal, weighing 215 pounds, The Portuguese Man-O-War, Aldo Montoya!” Aldo gets in the ring and plays up to the crowd as well. To be honest, neither guy got much of a reception.

        Howard then leads me out of the ring and we sit ringside and watch the match. This wasn’t a televised event, but it was being videotaped. The camera kept coming over to us, so I kept having to smile, wave and give the thumbs up. The match itself was fine. I have to be honest, the thought did cross my mind to “turn heel” and interfere in the match when Aldo went up to the top rope for his finisher. But I am a normal human being and I didn’t feel like spending the night in jail and getting banned from future events at MSG. He hits his finisher, the ref counts three and the bell rings. Aldo’s music starts playing and Howard gives me the cue to stand up and announce the winner. I say, “The winner of the match, The Portuguese Man-O-War, Aldo Montoya!”  After the wrestlers make their way to the back, Howard walks me to the curtain, shakes my hand and he heads back down to the ring to announce the next match.

        I return to my seat to a standing ovation. Shawn is still pissed that they picked me. Steve is still bewildered and shocked at what just happened to me. A few people shook my hand and gave me some feedback. They told me that I sounded good and I tried not to let the boos bother me and that I was visibly nervous. Wouldn’t you be if you were announcing a match in the middle of MSG in front of thousands of people? Of it being 1996, there were no cell phones or social media at the time or else I would have a complete video and it would’ve been all over my Facebook and Twitter feeds. Luckily, Steve had his camera and took a few photos of me in the ring, so I do have proof that this happened.

        Later that night, I go to the bar in the bowling alley I used to work in to meet up with a few people and a couple of my friends, Gary and Lil come up to me. Lil says, “We saw you in the ring tonight.” I had no idea that they were at the show as well. They were on the floor on the other side of the ring from where I was sitting. Lil worked in a stamp shop and her boss also worked for Coliseum Video at the time, so she used to get hooked up with tickets from time to time. She actually appeared in a video with Mr. Perfect. He was on a search for “perfect things” and Lil helped him find the “perfect stamp.”

        Being a wrestling fan in the Northeast Tri-State area, I’ve been pretty lucky with the amount of big shows that I’ve been able to attend over the years. In addition to the shows at MSG, I went to two Summerslams at the Meadowlands Arena; a couple of ECW shows in upstate New York; a RAW at Nassau Coliseum and a rare WCW show in the Northeast at the Meadowlands arena as well. Although, I did take a number of years off while I was still married and having kids, so most of these experiences happened in my 20’s and early 30’s. I do have a few more stories to tell, although it will be very hard to top this one.