#i totally kin annie | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

apocalypseornaw · 3 years

Text

Always be Yours-15

Word Count: 5,048

Story Summary: follows Dean and the Reader through season 9 into season 10

Chapter Summary: In the midst of the battles happening in heaven and hell Jody calls for help when a case involving a teenage girl and a nest of vamps falls into her lap

Warnings: Cursing, violence, the usual

After discovering Metatron had in fact ordered the kill on Kevin along with dozens of angels that dared to oppose him and seeing Cas’ reaction to the mark on Dean, you were eager to work a normal case. One away from matters of heaven or hell that might have a chance of helping Dean to focus on something besides the pull that the mark was trying to dig its claws into his psyche with.

You were half asleep when you heard a phone ringing so you blindly reached out for the side table and wrapped your hand around the nuisance “Agent Collins?” you answered and heard a familiar laugh on the other end “Y/N, it’s me” “Jody?” you shook Dean gently as you sat up “What’s going on?” she explained that a case had quite literally fallen into her lap and that she needed some help. Dean nodded and leaned up to speak into the phone “Give us enough time to wake Sam and grab our gear and we’ll hit the road” “Thanks you two” she replied before hanging up.

You looked over at Dean who gave you a sly smile “Well sweetheart when you say you want to find a case you just manifest that shit don’t ya?” you shrugged “I’m good like that” and couldn’t help but laugh when he grabbed you by the hips to pull you over on top of him “And yet you want an asshole like me” you popped his chest playfully and shook your head “Don’t make me kick your ass Dean. We don’t have the time considering we told Jody we’d wake Sam up then hit the road” He was staring at where the buttons on your nightshirt had come loose and licked his lips slowly “Can I at least get a raincheck on that ass kicking then?” you rolled your eyes and leaned down to leave a quick kiss on his lips “Of course”

------

When Dean pulled into the Sioux Falls sheriffs departments parking lot you spotted Jody standing next to her patrol car. You smiled as soon as you climbed out the impala “You three are a sight” she greeted with a smile of her own.

“How’s the shoulder?” Sam asked, causing you and Dean to exchange a guilty look. She laughed “Only aches when it rains. How have all of you been?” “Peachy” “Touch and go” Dean and Sam replied so she cut her eyes at you. You shrugged “Good days and bad”

She nodded “I know the feeling” “So what you got for us?” Dean asked, steering the conversation towards the case at hand. She stepped over and unlocked her trunk so you peeked inside to see the decapitated body. “Can I?” you asked motioning towards it and she nodded “Feel free” you leaned in far enough to push the upper lip back and check the gum line. The moment you pushed down a fang slid into view “Yup. That’s a vamp all right”

You straightened up then looked back at Jody as she slammed the trunk. “I don’t know Sammy, Y/N..looks like Jody might not need our help anymore” Dean teased and Sam added “Oh they grow up too fast don’t they?” you let a small smile slip onto your face at seeing the two of them like that again. Jody shook her head “Joke all you want, there’s more where this came from” “More?” you questioned so she nodded “My men brought in a runaway last night. There’s no i.d. On her, nothing on her actually except for a bus ticket out of Nebraska. Total Jane Doe she won’t even give me her name. Girl’s basically feral. She’s got zero manners, didn’t even thank me for saving her...anyhow this thing went to plenty of trouble to get at her. And to hear him tell it the others will want her at least as bad as he did”

“Sounds like a nest” Sam offered and you nodded as Dean agreed. “Nest?” Jody echoed then added “guessing that’s not half as cute and cozy as it sounds?” “Afraid not” you replied with a shrug.

------

You leaned against the wall close enough to intervene if need be while Sam checked the girl to ensure she wasn’t a vamp under the pretense of getting a dna swab. She looked between the three of you before scoffing “Wilson, Fisher and Monroe? If you three are feds then I’m Taylor Swift” you cocked your head to the side as you waited for her to elaborate and she did just that “That wasn’t a dental i.d. That was a fang check. You’re hunters”

You looked towards Sam then towards Dean who shrugged “And you’re alive because hunters trained the sheriff. I think the first words out of your mouth should be a thank you” She looked down without saying a word so you asked “Well who were you to that vamp? Hmm what’s so special about you to make him go through the trouble?” “Is there a nest?” Dean asked and the girl turned her head just far enough that you saw what appeared to be scars from fang punctures. Sam followed your line of vision and when she noticed the two of you looking she immediately turned to cover that side of her neck the best she could.

Before you could point the scars out to Dean Jody opened the door. “Sorry to interrupt but we got a match on her DNA” you nodded then looked back at the girl before following Dean and Sam out.

------

Jody handed each of you a missing child flyer “Annie Jones. Reported missing outside of Kenosha in ‘06. Raised by an elderly grandparent, no living kin” she lowered her voice before asking “You think the vamps are the ones who took her?” Dean spoke up first “Eight years is a long time for a human to live with vampires without getting killed or turned” Jody sighed “You’re the experts but there was something familiar about the way this vamp talked to her” “Jody’s right Dean. She has scars on her neck, feeding scars” you said and Sam nodded in agreement “They’re layered scars, as if they’ve been built on for years”

“So she’s a blood slave” Dean reasoned and at Jody’s confused look explained “We’ve seen it before, vampires keeping people as pets. Human feedbags” “Sometimes the slaves stay loyal to the captors” Sam added. “So.. this girl’s not talking because she’s got a case of vampiric Stockholm syndrome?” Jody questioned so you shrugged “She’s protecting the nest. We’ve got to get her to tell us where they are. If they’d try to kill their blood bag no telling how many others they’ve slaughtered” You followed Dean and Sam back into the room Annie was sitting in.

------

Dean pulled out a chair across from Annie and glanced at you, asking if you were gonna sit down. You shook your head so he sat down then Sam sat next to him. Jody was standing by the door so you stayed on your feet as well.

“We get it, you feel like you owe a debt. They took you and raised you” Dean started so you added “Loyalty is a very powerful thing Annie” she glared up at you “My name is Alex” “No it’s not sweetie. Your name is Annie Jones”

“Those vampires stole you. They’re monsters Annie” Dean tried but she snapped “Alex!” “They didn’t love you Annie. They loved your blood, they fed on you!” you spoke but she raised her chin defiantly “I fed them. My choice. My brothers brought me food when I was hungry so when they struck out on a hunt, I fed them. They’re my family” jesus christ this poor girl was really traumatized.

You cut your eyes at Sam as he started to speak “Ok, you care about them but Alex there’s a reason you decided to run away” “It was time to move on and get out on my own” Dean nodded “How do you think that decision is gonna sit with the rest of the nest? One of them already pursued you, you think when the rest of them find out that you left that they’re just gonna shrug and cut their losses?” “Alex, you lived with them for years. They’ve tasted your blood. They have your scent down cold. How far can you run and for how long?” you asked softly and saw tears start to form in her eyes.

“You didn’t think this out, did you?” Dean asked and she finally met his eyes so he continued “What would happen, who might get hurt. Your uh brother for one” “His name’s Cody” Alex said then looked over at Jody “And she killed him” “Because of a choice you made” you reminded her getting her anger off Jody. Dean motioned around “These are the consequences”

“You got two options. Them or you” Sam offered so you added “We can help you. We can keep you safe but you have to help us” “Where’s the nest?” Dean pushed. Alex shook her head “I can’t. After what happened..mama finds me, she’ll kill me” You looked over at Jody who looked just as torn for this girl as you felt.

------

With no other option Sam decided to use Alex’s bus ticket as a means to try to track where she’d come from. You stood next to the desk he was sitting at looking over his shoulder at the computer screen. Dean walked back over with a cup of coffee and bumped your arm holding it out. You took it from his hand and took a few sips while he asked Jody “Mills, you ok?”

Jody had been in deep thought until then but she finally said “No wonder she didn’t thank me. That creep was her brother” you handed the coffee back to Dean after drinking enough of it then Jody nodded “I’m fine, just thinking about the name. Alex and Annie..they’re so close already why change it?” “Maybe a connection to mama?” you considered and she shrugged “Maybe”

Sam looked up from the screen “Well we know from her ticket that Alex hopped a bus out of O’Neill Nebraska right?” “Uh huh” Jody said so he motioned to the screen “Obviously it’d be better to go in with a firm location but the town ain’t that big. They’re no caves or other natural hiding places” Dean looked at the map “All right, so we go in canvass it cold” Sam held up a small list “I’ve got a list of possible nest locations. Uh there’s an empty fire station, four or five derelict homes. Nothing we couldn’t hit in a day” “Ok” you said grabbing your jacket off the back of Sam’s chair and slipping it back on.

Dean looked in the room Alex was sitting in then back at Jody “You sure you’re all right to babysit by yourself?” Jody shrugged “Oh well, girl’s a flight risk. Not exactly friendly but I think I can handle babysitting detail” Sam glanced around before saying “Station’s been made. It might be worth heading up wind for a while. I mean vamps are trackers” “Well I’ve got an old family cabin outside of town” she suggested so you replied “That’ll work”

Jody sighed “Shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows. Me being gone for a day” “Maybe you uh sure you don’t want backup?” Dean asked and Jody shook her head “You want me to enlist my men in a protection detail against vampires? Frank’s still in the dark about what hit him last night, that guy still has nightmares about the barn episode of walking dead. They’re good cops, they’re just not ready for this” “Jody in your late night reading did you come across anything about dead man’s blood?” Sam asked and when she shook her head he explained “It takes vamps down like a horse tranq” She crossed her arms with an appreciative look “I would not say no to some of that..I mean not that I’ll need it. You three are gonna get the jump on these vamps and be back here before they even realize their kin’s missing right?” Dean and Sam shot her a smile so you asked once more before following them out “Sure you don’t want help keeping an eye on her?” she winked “Go with your boys Y/N” you smiled and said “We’ll be back before you know it” before heading out after Sam and Dean.

------

Once you reached O’Neill the task at hand was to check each possible nest location. The first few places were a bust but when you went to check the last house on the list it seemed like you’d hit paydirt. Evidence of multiple people squatting there was left behind in the house. “This is a foreclosure isn’t it?” Dean asked as you pushed a mattress to the side with your foot “Yeah just like the rest” he nodded “Well, somebody’s been squatting here”

Sam shined his flashlight towards one of the windows “Blackout windows” you shined across to the other windows and they were all blacked out. A loud buzzing noise started so you glanced towards the guys who nodded. Dean took the lead with you in the middle and Sam close behind you.

The three of you followed the noise around to the back of the house where a man well vamp was feeding a body into a woodchipper. Dean motioned at you and Sam to take other sides so if he ran then walked up behind him “HEY! YOU NEED A HAND WITH THAT?” you gripped your machete tighter when the vamp turned the woodchipper off and turned to face Dean. You saw Sam out the corner of your eye pick up a shovel and whistled to get the vamp’s attention and when he turned Sam connected solidly knocking him out.

Sam looked back at you so you nodded towards the vamp “Sammy you’re like a solid foot taller than me, I ain’t picking him up” Dean cracked a smile “Well you heard the woman Sam!” You followed the two of them back into the house and stood to the side while they tied the vamp up.

------

Only a few minutes passed before he started coming around so you sat on the table with Sam while Dean stepped in front of him “You go out with the family, bring home a nice dinner. How do you get stuck doing the dishes?” The vamp glared at Dean as he said “We all have our roles to play” “Yours being destroy the evidence yeah?” Sam offered so you held up the wallets Sam had found “Nice job on that asshat. Let’s see we got Ralph Hedges, Stacy Kepler. Any particular reason you targeted them?” he looked up at you “Yeah. Hunger” then chuckled.

Dean stepped up to partially block the vamp��s view of you then glanced around “And so the family’s what? Out taking a nice after dinner stroll?” The vamp shrugged “Oh, I’m sure they’ll be back real soon” you watched Dean with an infatuation you knew you shouldn’t have been feeling at the moment when he walked over to the vamp and grabbed him by the hair at the nape of his neck forcing him to meet his eyes “What I asked was where are they?”

The vamp started laughing in response. You raised an eyebrow at him “Please tell me we didn’t find the short straw in the family. Did they leave you behind because you’re a liability?” He looked up at you and winked despite his current predicament being trapped by three hunters “Come a little closer sweetheart and find out” you went to stand up to do just that but Sam’s hand on your arm stopped you.

Dean punched the vamp hard in the stomach “You don’t wanna tell us what we want to know? No skin off my back. Cause you see, a blood sucking,body-chipping vamp that’s bad enough. But vamps that kidnap kids? Well I’m going to enjoy putting you down” the vamp spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor at Dean’s feet “Of course, I knew this was about Alexis..I warned mama that girl would screw up everything for us one day.” “Mama? As in one vamp turned all of you?” Sam asked. The vamp shrugged again “Well, all of us but little sis. She was uh..too good to turn” he chuckled humorlessly “Mama couldn’t bring herself to,no matter what we said. No matter how bad Alexis got”

“Bad?” you questioned standing up next to Dean. The vamp looked between the three of you “Let me guess none of you ever had a teenage sister?” at being met with silence he clarified “Dragging her heels, whining, near constant about everything but more and more about the blood. Like she’s somehow above it, Like she’s better than us cause she don’t feed on people”

“She is better than you dumbass” Dean challenged. The vamp scoffed “Her moping? That teenage crisis of conscience crap? It’s annoying as hell but it’s just an act. When the chips are down she’ll always choose us over humans” he laughed again before asking “How do you think we stayed off your radar all these years? Pretty, young lost looking thing like her? Irresistible, especially to the kind of man few would miss. I mean sure we’d hunt sometime for sport but it’s a lot easier and safer to get delivery”

“She’s your lure?” you asked and he smiled “Best a vamp could ask for and you better believe you don’t get that good at it unless you enjoy it. In her own sweet way that girl’s as bloodthirsty as any vampire” you felt your stomach drop when you realized where the rest of the nest was headed “Dean..Jody”

------

When Jody didn’t answer yours nor Dean’s calls Sam called the local p.d. to run the victim’s names. Turned out they both worked at the bus station Alex had left out of. “So they killed them for Alex’s location?” you asked Sam who nodded. Dean’s phone started ringing and you breathed a slight sigh of relief to see Jody’s name light up across the screen.

You only caught Dean’s end but when he hung up Sam asked “We moving?” Dean nodded “I’ll meet you two outside” you started to walk out behind Sam but glanced back at Dean “Be quick” he nodded so you headed out behind Sam.

------

With Dean behind the wheel the drive from O’Neill to Sioux Falls went by quickly but it still took too long. The sun was already up when you pulled up to the cabin and when you spotted Jody’s still form you were out of baby before Dean was able to put her in park.

You slid to your knees next to her “Jody! C’mon!” you quickly checked her over and cursed in relief to find no fang marks. You slowly helped her to her feet “C’mon I got ya” Sam and Dean moved to help as well. “Where’s Alex?” She asked so you replied “You tell us” She shook her head “They came and I tried to stop them” “And you got knocked out, happens to the best of us” Dean assured her once she was standing on her own.

“Just lucky you’re alive” Sam added. “Think they went back to the nest?” Dean suggested so you nodded “Of course they would. Why wouldn’t they?” “Question is what are they gonna do when they find their brother dead?” Sam said and you shrugged “Then we go back”

“Ok, I’m coming” Jody announced. You weren’t going to argue with her but Sam stopped her with a hand on her shoulder “You’re hurt” Dean reminded but she shook her head “I’m coming” “We can handle the nest on our own” Sam assured her so she looked towards you “I don’t give a fuck about the nest. That girl was under my protection.” You cut your eyes at Dean who argued “That girl can’t be trusted. She’s a lure. She’s a honey trap. She’s been feeding people to those vamps!”

Jody stood her ground “I don’t care. Whatever she did, she did because they made her” “Oh and that’s a reason?” Dean asked so you spoke up “She’s a kid Dean. If we can save her, we should try” Dean looked a bit put off at you arguing on Alex’s behalf “Baby, she’s a kid that’s been playing vampire murder since before she was in braces. You know better!”

“At best her loyalties are screwed” Sam argued and Dean quickly added “She’s been baiting the hook for an entire nest for eight years Y/N. You know yourself she’s got more blood on her hands than most monsters we kill” “Are you saying she’s on your list?” Jody asked so you quietly said “Not yet but Jody I want to side with you I really do but with hunting monsters comes harsh truths. If it comes down to Alex or Sam, Alex or Dean, Alex or You? I’m killing her. No second thought”

Sam held his hand up to stop any further talking so he could ask “What is this really about? You barely know the girl?” You met Jody’s eyes and begged “Give me one reason I should risk my neck for her Jody. Please I don’t want to go gunning for a kid but I need to know why you think she’s saveable” Jody met your gaze head on “She screamed for me Y/N. She was terrified” you held her gaze then slowly nodded “Ok. Get in the car and I promise you unless it comes down to one of us or her Alex will be safe” she patted your shoulder “Thank you”

Dean turned his eyes back towards you “Y/N do you know what you’re doing?” you nodded towards the impala “I trust Jody and I know you trust me. If it comes to our lives or hers we choose us but if we can save that kid, shouldn’t we?” he shook his head then said “Ok” “Ok” you agreed and leaned up to press a quick kiss to his lips before heading to climb into the backseat next to Jody.

------

Dean stopped a ways from the nest so all of you could gear up. You and Jody slipped through the woods to check that they were indeed there. When you walked back up to the impala Dean handed you a machete and Sam handed Jody one. “So, We’re walking right into it” Sam scoffed, handing out syringes of dead man’s blood. Dean shrugged “We’ve faced worse odds.”

Jody started to walk off but Dean called her “Jody! This is a raid. Tread lightly and stay close. Priority is clearing the nest. Alex comes second you got it?” Jody cut her eyes at you but when you glanced away she simply said “Got it” Dean nodded “Y/N sweetheart you go with Sam, Jody you’re with me” you bumped Sam’s shoulder “Let’s do this”

------

You moved close to Sam as the two of you cleared the first room then the next. Dean looked around the corner so Sam shrugged. When you found stairs Dean nodded up towards them so Sam nodded then glanced back at you. You nodded then slowly followed him up.

Dean went one direction at the top of the stairs and motioned for you and Sam to go the other direction. You walked into a room behind Sam and you both froze when you heard a shotgun. “Drop the blades” you glanced at Sam before throwing your machete down. “Now let’s find the other one” you glared at the vamp who was holding you and Sam at gunpoint “You’re really gonna regret this” he shoved the barrel hard into your side “Move”

You slowly walked into the hall and called Dean’s name. When he looked up you could see the anger in his eyes. “Drop it” the vamp warned so Dean let his machete fall to the floor, his eyes never leaving yours.

You spotted another vamp coming behind him and shouted “Dean!” but couldn’t get the rest out before you felt something hit you behind the head and the world went dark.

------

You woke up tied back to back with Sam in two chairs. You immediately jerked at your restraints but the vamp shoved a gun into your face “Uh uh little lady” you glared up at him then glanced over your shoulder at Sam “You good?” he nodded but the vamp smacked you across the face for talking “You know it’s a hell of a thing to come home to. Your brother lying dead on the floor” and slammed the butt of the gun into Sam’s stomach to emphasize his point “You son of a bitch” you bit off and Sam groaned “Don’t”

The vamp looked at you “We had no idea it was a Winchester that had killed him. So which one of these fellas was it?” When you didn’t answer he pointed the gun at Sam’s head “WHICH ONE TOOK OFF MY BROTHER’S HEAD?” “It was me asshole” you lied knowing you’d catch the fallout but not willing to take the chance of them killing Sam or Dean. The vamp smiled “Love a woman with some kick to her” then chunked the gun to his brother who was standing over Dean.

He then walked over and grabbed a couple buckets and some tubing off the counter “This was a pretty good home to us before the three of you ruined it. Now we have to hit the road, find a new one and when we hit the road we like to pack a lunch” he held up the needles and you glanced over your shoulder at Sam. They planned to bleed the two of you and what? Shoot Dean? Fucking great.

------

You could feel yourself getting dizzier with every beat of your heart. You glanced down to see the bucket sitting next to you quickly filling with your blood as the one next to Sam was filling with his. “Dean” you called weakly when the vamp at Sam’s face said “These two are tapped. Prep the other”

When the vamp leant down to turn Dean over he drove a vial of dead man’s blood into his heart. The one crouched in front of you stood to attack and managed to get a solid hit in on Dean knocking him backwards across the table. You and Sam weakly pulled at your restraints but it was no use. You’d lost too much blood.

You’d never felt more helpless than watching Dean fight with a vamp and not be able to do anything. You could only see portions of the fight considering you were facing the opposite direction. You could hear Dean’s grunts as he struggled against the vamp and found yourself flinching at every blow you heard being passed. When you heard Dean say “Look at me..LOOK AT ME BITCH” you let out a ragged breath when the sound of a head hitting the ground quickly followed.

You let your head droop back against Sam as Dean quickly worked to free him and stop the flow of blood then was at your side. “Are you ok Y/N?” you nodded as he tore your restraints then helped you and Sam both stand up. “We gotta get to Jody”

------

By the time the three of you made it down the stairs Jody was beheading the mama vamp. You slowly lowered yourself to sit down on the stairs next to Sam’s legs. “Alex? You ok sweetie?” you asked softly and she shook her head “No, but I think I will be”

------

After a trip to the hospital, giving Alex the cure for vampirism and squaring her and Jody away at the cabin, you and the boys headed home to Lebanon.

You ended up falling asleep across the backseat and woke up when Dean leaned in to gently shake you once you were back at the bunker. “Wake up sleeping beauty, we’re home” you smiled at him as he helped you to stand out next to the car. He eyed the bandage on your neck where the needle had been “Sure you’re ok?” you glanced towards his right arm where the mark was hidden beneath his jacket “Are you?”

He sighed “This about what Sam said?” you shook your head “I don’t cast no blame in taking pleasure in doing our job, I just want to make sure it was Dean enjoying it and not the mark” “They knocked me out and almost bled my little brother and the woman I love dry. Mark or no mark I would’ve enjoyed that kill” you smiled and let him pull you into his arms “Well in that case want to head to bed with the woman you love? cause she’s still a little drug out” “Gladly” he replied leaving a gentle kiss on your lips before the two of you headed inside.

Tags: @facadeformyrealblog @akshi8278 @brilovesdeanwinchester

#spn fanfiction #supernatural fanfiction #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester fanfiction #dean winchester x female!reader #always be yours

42 notes · View notes

jackie-talks-about-starkid · 3 years

Text

Black Friday (Rewatch #12 [last one!], 11/30/2020)

YouTube publish date: February 29, 2020

Number of views on date of rewatch: 1, 788, 310

Original Performance Run: October 31 - December 8, 2019 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre in Los Angeles

Ticket prices: (x)

General Admission: $45

Priority Access: $75

Digital Ticket: $15

Rush Tickets via TodayTix: $20

Director: Nick Lang

Music and Lyrics: Jeff Blim

Book: Matt Lang and Nick Lang

Cast album price and availability: $14.99 on iTunes

Release date: February 29, 2020

Parody or original: an original sequel to The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals

Funding: funded by a Kickstarter jointly dedicated to the StarKid: Homecoming concert celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the company and Black Friday (x)

Goal: $155, 000

Total (combined): $547, 439

Backers: 11, 704

Main cast and characters

Lex Foster - Angela Giarratana

Hannah Foster - Kendall Nicole Yakshe

Tom Houston - Dylan Saunders

Becky Barnes - Kin Whalen

Linda Monroe - Lauren Lopez

Uncle Wiley/Homeless Guy - Joey Richter

Wiggly/Gary Goldstein - Jon Matteson

Ethan Green - Robert Manion

Man in a Hurry/General MacNamara - Jeff Blim

President Howard Goodman - Curt Mega

Frank Pricely - Corey Dorris

Sherman Young - Jaime Lyn Beatty

Xander Lee - James Tolbert

Musical numbers

Act I

“Tickle-Me Wiggly Jingle” Characters: Uncle Wiley and Ensemble

“What Tim Wants” Characters: Tom Houston

“CaliforM.I.A.” Characters: Lex Foster and Ethan Green

“What Do You Say” Characters: Tom Houston, Becky Barnes, and Ensemble

“Our Doors Are Open” Characters: Frank Pricely, Lex Foster, and Ensemble

“Feast or Famine” Characters: Ensemble

“Monsters and Men” Characters: General MacNamara, Pres. Howard Goodman, and Ensemble

Act II

“Deck the Halls (of Northville High)” Characters: Ensemble

“Take Me Back” Characters: Tom Houston, Becky Barnes, and Ensemble

“Adore Me” Characters: Linda Monroe and Ensemble

“Do You Want to Play” Characters: Becky Barnes and Tom Houston

“Made in America” Characters: Uncle Wiley, Pres. Goodman, General MacNamara, and Ensemble

“Black Friday” Characters: Lex Foster

“Monsters and Men (Reprise)” Characters: General MacNamara

“If I Fail You” Characters: Tom Houston

“Wiggle” Characters: Linda Monroe and Ensemble

“What If Tomorrow Comes” Characters: Hannah Foster and Company

Content Analysis:

Black Friday is monumental for the theatre community. While The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals was the first in the Hatchetfield series, Black Friday solidified that StarKid has created a theatrical universe of horror-comedy musicals that are all interconnected. There have been sequels to musicals before (including the infamous Phantom sequel Love Never Dies and the Annie sequel), the only group of titles that have come close to creating a theatrical universe a la Marvel is William Finn’s Marvin trilogy which encompasses In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland, the last of the two often performed as the two-act musical Falsettos. Even then, Finn’s work doesn’t equate to StarKid’s latest and theatrical project; whereas Finn intended his works as a group of one-act musicals to be viewed in succession and continuing the same storyline, StarKid’s Hatchetfield series revolves around the town of Hatchetfield and the growing cast of characters within it as the audience witness different apocalyptic scenarios in alternate universe connected by a singular entity.

Where The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals was the introduction to the universe, Black Friday was the introduction to the extended Hatchetfield Theatrical Universe’s lore. The introduction of this universe’s version of force-sensitive children, Lex and Hannah, perfectly weaves together the growing plot and alternate-universe characters the audience is already familiar with, such as General MacNamara, Emma, and Paul, and adds so much more depth to Black Friday’s predecessor, providing so much potential for StarKid’s future Hatchetfield projects. When viewing it as a stand-alone musical, Black Friday holds its own because of the strong writing, creative story, and excellent characterization, but it would be a disservice to this individual story to only view it as such. Considering that it’s a part of a currently-growing larger theatrical work, the only way to fully comprehend the complexity and creativity of Black Friday is to view it in tandem with The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.

The book is a perfect companion for The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals because of its great writing and each actor embodied their character so well that I would say the greatest performance throughout the show was given by the ensemble as a whole. An interesting difference between the two shows, however, is the tone. The overall tone for the show feels heavier and the plot bears much more significance to the characters, as well as the audience. A lot of that is largely due to the lighting and set design, provided by Sarah Petty and Corey Lubowich respectively. Even when viewing the production from a screen, I feel like I’m trapped in an enclosed space that increases my sense of impending doom the longer I take in the dark complexities of the plot.

Yet, story-wise, the plot is a lot darker because the consequences are higher and less laughable than being stuck in a musical. Black Friday does not shy away from its message that capitalism will eventually be the end of us all and is not afraid to say that if America continues its self-serving ways, then it will be a major, if not the sole, reason for the beginning of the end of Western civilization. Ignoring the fact that the entire show is about the poisonous effects of money in modern capitalist society, the running thread of the interpersonal disputes and internal struggles within the main characters revolve around selfishness and material gain. Our protagonists, Lex and Tom, spend the entire show trying to repair their relationships and make life better for their loved ones, but they bet their entire future happiness on a doll (who happens to be an evil being from another world set to destroy Earth but that’s beside the point). Granted, a lot of personal issues can be fixed with money - housing, food stability, education, healthcare, etc. are all dependent on a person’s finances. But, as Black Friday argues, people can withstand the worst of tragedies life throws at them as long as the people they love are close by and emotionally available.

#@TeamStarkid #black friday #black friday musical #hatchetfield theatrical universe #hatchetfield universe #hatchetfield #htu #team starkid #starkid productions #starkid musicals #starkid #musical theatre #musicals #theatre

23 notes · View notes

werewolfannie · 3 years

Note

thought on community characters as tma fears? 👀 (u can take slaughter annie from my cold dead gay hands)

first of all, i want to thank you profusely for asking this question. i’ve been waiting for an opportunity to talk about this for such a long time sfboiidfnv

second of all, i want to preface my thoughts with a disclaimer that i think all members of the study group (except for britta and troy) are in one way or another fitted for the web, but for the sake of unique answers, i’m only assigning it to the one i think works best

let’s get on with it shall we

jeff: the lonely. if anyone from the study group were to kin the known edgelord petey lukas, it would be jeff. aloof loner who took a chance on friendship, but still finds it hard to get used to it. now, i know jeff’s pursuit of solitude is most likely a defense mechanism, not a deep-seated desire, but it’s still something he actively tries to draw his power from. and that’s just what the fears are waiting for

britta: the corruption. i struggled with britta, cause she is so undefined and mutable by the show’s own admission, but i think corruption fits her best. evidence no. 1: she loves worms. evidence no. 2: she’s definitely vulnerable to romanticising toxic love and to getting fully corrupted by someone who’s using her.

shirley: the eye. i don’t think shirley would be a good target for any of the fears due to her principles, her firmly established boundaries, and the importance of faith in her life (she shares those traits with adelard dekker i think. she’s not gertrude bc she’s a good person actually disvusfvi sorry gertrude stans), but her love for gossip and her fear of other people’s perception of her definitely put her on the eye’s radar.

troy: the dark. troy’s need for guidance and the perpetually lacking sense of direction make him a perfect match for the dark, which promises spiritual fulfillment through a lack of total understanding. i think he’d really vibe with manuela’s statement and its praise of the unknown. he’d also love the “the monument” episode and its critique of academia but that’s by the by

abed: the web. okay, i’m a little behind on tma, but from what i do know, the web is the brilliant and inconspicuous puppeteer that really digs visual media and, well, what’s more abed than that? abed, just like the web, has the ability to contrive intricate plans whose details remain unknown to anyone but him and which (almost?) always succeed. plus, he definitely gets a kick out of pulling the strings (although, as we know, he’s never outright cruel and has tons of love and compassion, which the web most likely lacks).

annie: the hunt. while i can certainly see annie being assigned to the slaughter, her determination in pursuing her goals combined with her fierce loyalty make her a textbook hunt avatar. in my opinion, her violence is rarely senseless, and almost always directed at something very specific.

pierce: the desolation. i wasn’t sure whether to assign him to the slaughter or to the lightless flame, but i ultimately decided that his acts of destruction are enacted with a specific goal in mind — to kill what’s important and meaningful to others. yes, his reasoning is vengeance, not unadulterated pleasure, but it doesn’t change much in my opinion (and he definitely does like hurting people for no reason).

#really thank you... best ask i've ever gotten <3 #i put off answering it for so long cause i wanted it to be good but then i said fuck it and wrote this in a few minutes so...#sorry if i disappointed vsdjivndjd #askies #anonymous #community #long post

6 notes · View notes

anorakofavalon · 5 years

Text

The Best of Mergana Fanfiction According to a Veteran

Foreword:

So, for context, this all comes from an email I sent a friend in which I talked about the nature of fanfiction for 14 pages (sad as that is). I felt that two fandoms in particular were extremely well-rounded and hyper-representative of the fanfiction community. Those two fandoms were Harry Potter and Merlin.

Since 2012, I have "favorited" (which does not take into account the various ones I did not favorite nor the various re-reads of the ones I love) 276 fics. This leads to a grand total of 29, 704, 142 words read (approximately 74, 590 pages worth of stories).

And because of all that I think I've managed to categorize Fanfiction into 5 basic types / purposes. If you want to know about those, I'll make another post. But I marked which categories these fanfictions in the list are. You can ignore that.

Moreover, almost all of my fics are long. And by long I mean upwards of 150,000 words on average. The lower extreme is 80,000 words, and the upper is 750,000 words. for reference: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is 87,223 words long. Meanwhile, War and Peace is 561, 304 words long. What I mean is, some of these are very long. But make no mistake, they're all terribly compelling.

And as you probably know, most of Merlin fanfiction is somewhat...steamy. Sorry, not much I can do about that. But the stories are amazing.

Without further adue, here are my top 8 of all time. (I can extend the list since I have 87 more I love but these are the best of the best)

---

1. Title: Throw Out the Script

Categories: 2, 4, 5

Description: Destiny says they go one way. They say they go another. Merlin/Morgana, 2x03 Divergence AU.

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 157,000 words

Note: This was my first ever exposure to Merlin fanfiction. Amazing. I read this because I couldn't handle the events of Season 2 Episode 12. Perfect segway into Merlin fanfiction.

2. Title: The Coins Saga (Two Sides of the Same Coin)

Categories: 1, 2, 4, 5

Description: Arthur is certain someone is standing in the shadows, assisting them with magic. Will Merlin be discovered? Bromance! Reveal! Spoilers for episodes up to 5x04 "Another's Sorrow.

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 3,000 words (in this particular fic. Other parts of the series are much longer.)

Note: I can not tell you how amazing this series is. It adopts some major elements from the old folk tales, poems, and Arthurian myths and imports them into the TV Show. It's one of my favorite literary series' of all time.

3. Title: The Sorcerer's Bride

Categories: 2, 5

Description: AU in which Merlin is a prince, Morgana isn't evil, and they're forced to marry to secure a peace treaty between their kingdoms. They try to make the best of their situation, and maybe they'll even find love in the process.

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 190,000 words

Note: Total AU.

4. Title: Bound by Fate

Categories: 2, 3, 5

Description: Sequel to Morgana's Servant. AU. Set after season 4, but before season 5. Explicit. Redemption fic. Some Arwen. Camelot rejoices as it's most dangerous foe is captured and put in chains, but Merlin is finding himself drawn to her once again. Magic calls to magic and they are each other's destiny. Complete.

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 318,000 words

Note: Okay, I've tried to avoid this, but the fact is that this is a fantastic story. One of the best. However, it is rated R. Hard R. And the fic that comes before it, Morgana's Servant, is basically just erotica. But it turns into an amazing plot in this fic. If you're uncomfortable with that, then you can skip this one. Again, I must stress, this is an R rated story. R. R. R. So, very very very inappropriate.

5. Title: The Destiny Trilogy (Forks in the Path to Destiny)

Categories: 2, 5

Description: A magical group called the Order of the Bear has appeared. It seems they strive for what Merlin is working for: Peace between magic and nonmagic people. Now Merlin's loyalties are being divided as Arthur himself has choices to make on the users of magic. Will it all lead to war especially when there are those that desire it? Post S4. Warning: Camelot bashing

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 156,000 words

Note: This Trilogy is amazing (and less R rated than Bound by Fate), but be warned, this first book will piss you off. It pissed me off. They just bashed and bashed and bashed Camelot. But it gets better. Legendarily better.

6. Title: The Warlock's Quickening

Categories: 4, 5

Description: Merlin might have come to Camelot to master his magic, not to end the Purge, but he's not going to sit idly by while his kin suffer. Oh no. Whether it's releasing a chained dragon, smuggling sorcerers out of the city, or trying to change Arthur's mind, he's fighting back. Now. Series rewrite beginning after 1X02 featuring Proactive!Merlin. AU.

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 139,000 words

Note: First book in a series. The second book is a work in progress, but the author updates consistently. Beyond perfect. The definition of a Fix-It! story. I love it. It's hilarious and enthralling. How the show would've gone if logic was used.

7. Title: A Challenging Hostage

Categories: 2, 5

Description: Young Merlin's magic is observed in Ealdor by Queen Annis, and he's offered adoption and the throne. Merlin learns what it means to be a prince and an enemy of Camelot - til the day he's captured by Prince Arthur's border patrol. Uther holds a prisoner with magic that he can't afford to execute, and Arthur meets a rational sorcerer for the first time. No slash.

Ship: Merlin/Freya

Word Count: 127,000 words (and counting)

Note: It's fantastic, thus far. But also a work in progress.

8. Title: Change of Heart

Categories: 2, 5

Description: Starting with Morgana's cure in "The Crystal Cave," what happens when she "sees" who cures her and confronts him? What happened to her that changed her from kind to killer? And does she want to change her heart again when she realizes people aren't what she thought they were? Continues through the rest of S3 and goes a bit AU. Mergana and Arwen included

Ship: Merlin/Morgana

Word Count: 64,000 words

Note: Part of a trilogy. Good!

#merlin x morgana #mergana #bbcmerlin #colin morgan #katie mcgrath #mermor #bbcmorgana #merlin #morgana #fanfiction #fandom #ficrec #my fic recs #bbc merlin

86 notes · View notes

rabbitttart · 5 years

Photo

My Love - Cat and Lili

Chapter 1. Intro Where does a Vampire meet a Succubi? In the dark muddled streets of course. Cat, a soft outcast seeking out life sustaining blood under the veil of night. Lili, a hardened tool serving her only purpose leading humans to folly after folly. Many times they would almost meet, passing through the same streets again and again. After finding Lili's easy prey they would become a steady diet for Cat, no messy fights. Peeks and glances at one another turned into long distance crushes; "who are they really?" Lili picks up on marks as if knowingly taking care of Cat; "what do they stand to gain?" "What's up?" Lili waited this time to Cat's surprise; "You're a vampire aren't you? - I just kinda guessed since you're not in it for the wallets and jewelry and stuff." Lili remarks "Yeah..." Cat replies shamefully. "I...Um, is there a chance you wanna go get some coffee? - ...Like, after you're done here. Obviously." Lili asks. "...Okay..." Cat says rather confused. Not that Cat can taste coffee but the mutual interest should take care of that...right? Chapter 2. Coffee Seated at a center table for two in a dim red neon lit diner, the server saunters over comfortably "What can I get'cha today?" they ask, "I'll have my usual and um...they'll have a stuck coffee?" Lili responds "Heh, yeah I think we can handle that. I'll go get started." they reply before tapping the table and walking off. Lili breaks the silence "I'm Lili, what uh- what's your name?" "Cat." "Cat...Cat. Have you ever met one of my kind?" "No." Cat replies. "Well we aren't so different, we just suck souls to make a living so it's still survival in a way." Cat leans in and whispers "...What's a stuck coffee?" "I don't know, but it's all I've ever heard your people order." "My people?" Cat replies sharply before noticing the server returns with a plate and two cups "Alright, you two enjoy." "Thank you." Lili says before grabbing a large plate full of a fluffy white substance and scraping it all off into her cup. Catching Cat staring Lili responds "Oh come on, don't look at me like some kind of freak. It's just whipped cream - it's kinda my thing, half hot cocoa half coffee. They have shitty coffee but the best cocoa you can get 24/7 so I deal." Cat arches back in her chair staring at her cup then slow leans in as if about to pounce it. "Gonna kill it?" Lili teases Picking it up Cat takes a large sip of the Smokey Topaz liquid before...letting it all fall back out "Blehhh. It's pig. It's pig!" Grossed out and surprised Lili starts laughing terribly, Cat growing visibly embarrassed squeaks "I can't stand pig's blood..." "I'll remember that for the future haha." Lili responds, "Hey don't worry about it, it's not like can control what you like." "Look I...I should just go." Cat says before standing up. Lili stutters "W-Wait! Please...don't. I just wanted to get to know you. - We...don't exactly make many acquaintances in our profession...I know you're probably used to your kind but I want to try." Cat, now shouting "What kind!? I don't know how it was for you but I was shat out and left to fend on my own no "my kind" - just me, in the forest, doing whatever I had to to survive!" Lili confused asks "What about your teacher or school or kin?" "What school? In case you haven't noticed I don't exactly 'fit in' with humans. The library is it, once I finally got to the city - Books, movies, games, they're all I've had" Cat trails off. "I'm sorry...I was told your kind went to a special school..." Lili replies. Lili stands, offering her open hands to Cat "Hey...It's okay you know? There's nothing wrong, you had it rough but you're okay." Cat accepts and places their hands in Lili's. "We can work this all out, at our own pace. Give me a chance." Lili reassures. "Awwww. That was so cute. Are you two a couple?" The server says before a cup full of Smokey Topaz liquid crashes beside them. Chapter 3. Burn "Stop it." "I'm not." "Stop it." "I'm not! I'm just looking in your direction while thinking, that's totally different." Cat and Lili argue Cat laughs "Okay sure you are. What are you thinking about?" "Just...how different everything is becoming." Lili puzzles "It must be super to be able to get high, but for those of us that /can't/, you're just driving me crazy." Cat says playfully "No I mean...who we are, what we are, it's so different than we when we met and...Cat let's just go. I have a nest egg let's use it - let's not pay for the apartment and just go like get in my car and go on a journey. This city is just killing us and no one cares." "Lili...Lili what the hell are you talking about? Are you going Jack Torrance on me? Say no to the crazy!" Cat says shaking Lili's hair. "No I-" Lili chokes and spits repeatedly pulling back hairs "I just think we need to run away to face our problems. We're too comfy here." "What's wrong with comfy?" Cat says stretching out across their sofa, "This is the best it's ever been for both of us, why throw it away?" "You make a terrible partner, give me that ring back." Lili slurs, "Hey hey I don't think so, till death motherfucker we in this now." Cat replies Cat holding their ring finger up high wiggling it, Lili flops over half-heartedly trying to take the ring before giving up slumped over Cat. Lili sighs, "If that's true then do this with me, let's stop being society's bitch and go take what's ours. Our freedom, our rights, eggtoast." "Eggtoast?" Cat asks, "You just...You just don't understand the sensation of egg white in the middle of toasted bread it's so smooth and-" "Okay, okay...I don't because I can't but I'm just gonna take your word for it Method Man...You really think we should just leave?" Lili jumps up, falls down and stands back up again, "We need to do this because...you need this. I am tired of holding you back." Cats scratches their head frantically before standing up, "...Okay sweetheart, let's sleep a bit and talk about it in the evening okay?" Cat tries Lili nods wrapping her arms around Cat as they head off to bed. "You're kinda cute for someone that's dead. You smell nice..." Lili mumbles The sun setting, the soft dark washes over the city as a bright full moon now lingers on the horizon. Suddenly, an old Chevrolet sparks alive. "Wow! I honestly had no idea this thing still worked. I guess I really did luck out; don't ever play cards with a demon by the way." Lili remarks Cat laughs gleefully "I can't believe we're doing this. Where are we going? Hollywood?" Lili laughs, putting the car in drive and pulling away "Somehow I don't think we'd get along with greater demons, let's just start running. I've already got some place in mind anyway." Hours and miles pass before suddenly they're in unfamiliar lands racing without end. "So uh...Did you bring the stuff?" Cat asks nodding "The weed?", "No!" "Downers or uppers?", "Come on, the pig's blood! How am I gonna survive?" Lili grabs something from under her seat "Oh, yeah here ya' go. Whole back floorboard is full of it.", "Loose!?" Cat yells, "Ew no, what? No! In thermoses ya' sicko." Lili says rolling her eyes. Cat wanders off staring at the sprawling mountains...Are they familiar or do all mountains just look the same? Cat sits silently thinking it over. "Cat...I know you aren't gonna like this but please just do this.", "You're gonna break my leg aren't you? I always knew you were Annie." Cat jokes Lili turns on to a dirt road heading towards a forest, "I kinda got the feeling the place you described growing up was a little too familiar - when I was still getting shipped around to be fucking destroyed mentally as a child I got ended up in this little craphole town in the mountains." Lili lights another rolled paper, swerving just in time to avoid hitting an opossum "Damn adorable trash cats.", "Lili-", "Shhh let me tell you." Lili cuts in "Okay so I'm pretty sure this is us- We both came to this forest and we both lost any chance of being normal here and I think it owes us." "Lili, what happened to us is fucked up but it's just a forest, it's not like the forest itself hurt us. Well, maybe me...Fuck that tree." Cat replies Lili shakes her head "We're going, we're gonna stand in it, we're gonna think about it and we're gonna decide then. I already have the lighter fluid." "That's why you brought that? I thought that was for the grill...Why the fuck did we take a cooler full of steaks then?", "Oh shit I forgot about that - Wait...Think, WAIT! We throw the steaks /in/ the forest fire and we can have steak and justice.", "Lili I'm not burning down a forest.", "Just wait." Now deep in the hilly forest Lili stops the car, "So...This look like your forest?", "I don't know it's a forest, how the hell should I remember?" "Well get out and see!" Lili commands. Cat begrudgingly hops out before concluding...this probably isn't the forest. "I don't think so.", "Seriously? - Go look at that tree over there, that's totally not the one you ran into thinking you could fly?" Cat inspects the tree and finds gashes in the bark. "Maybe..." Cat mumbles, "What!?" Lili yells, refusing to leave the car. "What if it is huh!? What good would killing all these animals and their home do!?" Lili grabs some cans of lighter fluid and jumps out the car before walking up to Cat, "I don't recall that mountain lion asking that before trying to eat you." "That's nature, it's dumb, that doesn't mean we /have/ to kill nature for being dumb!" Cat shouts angrily, "Well I am." Lili says throwing lighter fluid around. "Stop it, what the fuck?" Cat grabs for the can of fluid, Lili being taller just holds it out of reach prompting Cat to wrestle Lili for the can, and losing. "Cat...Cat. Okay you're a lover not a fighter calm down baby.", "No!" Cat bats Lili a few more times to no effect, "...Okay...But you can't just do this." "We didn't deserve anything that happened here and I don't want to keep living knowing more might be getting hurt here Cat.", "People did this to us - not a forest, not these animals except that mountain lion I would kill that fucker if I saw it, but not the other animals. Just other people Lili." "...Yeah maybe...I just wanted this to be something we conquered together...Something that brought us closer and let us move on you know?" "Lili, you're the reason I have moved on from all this. I finally came to grips with the fact I don't have to be alone or live in the dark...mentally anyway." "Sigh...I think I might have- What the fuck is that sound?" A huge stampede of animals come out of the nearby thick running away from it, some on fire. The fire catches up to the edge of the forest near the road, "Hey, fuck you I was gonna burn this down!" Lili yells, "What? I thought you were over that!?" "Uh...yeah.", "Maybe we can still save it?" A deafening guttural growl escapes the forest causing Cat to jump back, "Fuck it!" Cat exclaims before running away. "Wait Cat, the car! THE CAR!" Lili says before giving up and laughing. Another heavy shaking growl from the forest "Eep!" Lili finally runs off to follow Cat. This? This is either an epoch or my fall right here. Five days nearly wholly dedicated to this, hours upon hours spent listening to The 69 Eyes, writing, thinking about and working on this. I fell madly in love with these two, I expect no one will appreciate this very much but this is a feeling I haven't ever had working on an art project...ever. I wanted to write! I like writing but not character making, but somehow I just wanted to be in the presence of these two and tell their story and just...yeah. Fuck mountain lions. Bad writing? Maybe. Fun? YES YES YES. See you in hack writer hell, fuckers. Writing and pretty much everything else practice. Stocks: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1286870 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1015826 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/233 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/81485 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/942487 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/876687 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/748395 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/71774 https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1173 https://pixabay.com/en/portrait-girl-glasses-eyes-face-1152472/ http://fav.me/d1o6rih http://fav.me/db26jfs (Mine) Brushes: http://fav.me/d1j7fpk by https://falln-stock.deviantart.com/ Credits and copyrights go to original artists/owners.

#my art #rabbitt art #original #photo manipulations

5 notes · View notes

awake-and-strange · 5 years

Link

This obituary by Janis Ian about Anne McCaffrey is very A Passion for Friends:

There've been so many mentions of Anne McCaffrey in the post below, I thought to post this homage I wrote for Locus Magazine when Annie died. I miss her, a lot. I kept a few of the most precious books she gave me, but last time I opened one I burst into tears... I feel fortunate to have loved someone so wonderful, to have been loved in return, and to miss her this much. From Locus Magazine: THE MASTERHARPER IS GONE "I have a shIelf of comfort books, which I read when the world closes in on me or something untoward happens." —Anne McCaffrey I miss her fiercely, more than I have any right to miss her. I remind myself of this whenever I run into her at the library and am stricken with tears. She was not kin, was not connected to me by family ties, not even a distant cousin. Not even Jewish. I have no right to miss her this much. And once in a while, when I chide myself for my silly sentimentality, the sudden lightning that pierces my heart gives way to a duller, deeper pain. One I can live with, perhaps. Like today, waking to a terrible cold, with headache and foggy brain I reach for solace. Put on my red flannel comfort shirt, add my favorite PJ bottoms, then a pair of fleece-lined slippers. Make my favorite tea, cover myself with an old patchwork quilt, and reach blindly for a book on my “comfort shelf.” Of course. I can’t escape her. Hours later, still miserable, I finish "All the Weyrs of Pern" for the umpteenth time, and scold myself for the tears that fall – first, because she is gone, and second, because I never really succeeded in telling her just how much she meant to me. I’d never heard of her when I stumbled across for "The Ship Who Sang" at my local library. I wrote to her, saying that it had moved me profoundly, wondering how a prose writer could have such a clear understanding of a musician’s soul. Being one myself, I said, a musician that is, and would like to send a copy of my last record in gratitude. She responded with a laugh that she had never heard of me but oh my, her children had, and could we trade books for recordings? And so, we began. I raced through everything she sent – such generosity, so much that it took two large boxes to ship it all. She, in turn, told me that while she appreciated the beauty of my “Jesse” and the clarity of “At 17”, she was writing her current novel to the beat of my one disco hit, “Fly Too High.” I laughed aloud because it made an artist’s sense to me – dragons flew, and Anne flew with them, regardless of the beat. It was the third or fourth email that she began with the salutation “Dear Petal,”. Petal. Me? I responded that of all the things I’d been called, no one had ever dreamed to name me “Petal”. She answered briskly that obviously, they’d never seen me bloom. From that day forward, I was her Petal, and she my Orchid. We corresponded ferociously, both all-or-nothing no-holds-barred types, Aries to the hilt. Weekly, daily, sometimes hourly. Dropped out at times when one of us was “on tour”, came back to it as we could. The time passed. Her beloved agent died. My parents passed away. She got a scathing review; I sent a few of my own. She was stuck on a chapter, I was stuck on a verse. We got unstuck, stuck again, and through it all we talked, comforting one another as only a “good hot cuppa” can. She picked me up herself in Dublin, leaning on a cane, nervous to meet in the flesh until I ran into her arms and smothered her with hugs. She drove between the hedgerows with complete abandon, a total disregard for ruts or speed limits, while I clutched the seat and wondered who’d get the bigger headline if we crashed. Annie, I decided, for she was truly a two-column, bold print kind of gal. By then, she was always “Annie” to me, or “Annie Mac”. My larger than life friend, who consorted daily with dragons and starlight, her own luster never dimming beside them. Once, after she showed me the rock cliffs of the Guiness Estate and explained that Benden Hold looked just like that, she asked if I would write a theme for it. For the movie? I said. “Yes”, she said, “A theme. Because if Menolly came to life, it would be with your voice.” I say this not to brag, but to indicate the trust between us – such trust that when I got home, with no film in sight, I began sketching out some notes for “Lessa’s Song”. I wanted it to be haunting, the way her words haunted me. I wanted it to be sweeping, like the thrust of dragon wings. I wanted it to be everything I could bring to her, a gift for someone whose words took me out of my world and into hers. As she said herself, “That’s what writing is all about, after all, making others see what you have put down on the page and believing that it does, or could, exist and you want to go there.” I hope someday to finish that melody. I hope it’s good enough for a MasterHarper to sing. I hope she regarded me worthy of the title. Because that’s what she was for so many of us – the MasterHarper, singing in prose, songs that reminded us of where we’d been, and what we could become. She came and stayed with us in Nashville, bringing a broken shoulder and trusting me to care for her. We visited Andre Norton, Annie insisting I not just drive but sit with them and listen to “a bit of gossip”. These two women—one writing at a time when pseudonyms were necessary for a woman to get published, the other cracking the New York Times bestseller list with, of all things, a science fiction book, and by a female at that!—talked of publishers, rumors, scandals old and new, while I sat as silent as an unopened book, wishing I’d thought to bring a tape recorder. At first, as her health declined, she bore it cheerfully. “I’m bionic now, Petal, complete with metal knees!” she declared. “Better than ever, and no pain.” She kept to her writing schedule, doing what she could to help her body retain its youth. Swam every day, bragged about her granddaughter’s accomplishments at school – “First prize, don’tcha know!” and commiserated over our various surgeries. We sound like a couple of old Yiddishe mamas, comparing whose surgery was worse! I laughed, and she laughed along with me. Neither of us reckoned on the psychic toll. “Old age is not for the faint of heart,” she quoted, as her energy began to leech away. How is it we artists always forget just how hard it is to write? how much work it is? How can we ignore the vast psychic drain that accompanies every act of creation? We both knew it from her Pern books, when going between enervated even the hardiest of dragon riders. But somehow, we never expected it in “real” life. It’s only when we lose that effervescence, through age, through illness, through sheer attrition, that we realize how necessary it is to our work. How fundamental to our beings. “I can’t write.” She confessed the shameful secret to me not once, but dozens of times, as if repetition would prove it a lie. At first, playing the friend, I tried to reassure her. Then don’t! Take some time off, Annie. Restore your body, and the brain will follow. Talent doesn’t just disappear, you know – it lies in wait. But she knew better. “I'm still not writing. I think I know how Andre Norton is feeling, too, because I suspect that she's finding it very difficult to write, as the wellspring and flexibility that did us so much service is drying up in our old age. And no false flattery. AT 76 I AM old, and she's in her nineties. It takes a lot of energy to write, as much as it takes you to keep on adding flavor to your song presentation. Sorry to blah at you but you're one of the few people who does understand the matter when an artist questions their output.” I responded in kind. "No worries talking to me about not writing... I sure as hell know the amount of energy it consumes. Every time you sit down to write, it's a performance. Only you don't have the luxury of props - no lights, sound, other actors to step behind when the inevitable fatigue hits. Heck, Annie, I'm feeling it more and more now, and you've got a quarter century on me. I notice it mid-show; two hours used to be a piece of cake. Now I feel myself flagging at 45 minutes, and I really look forward to that 20 minute intermission, if only so I can have some water and sit for a few minutes. "Same with writing, for me. Used to be able to sit and write for 6 hours at a stretch. Now I'm good for two if I'm lucky. Part of it's my back, but most of it is - I fear - just that I'm older. It sucks." And she wrote back. “Must write. There are IRS problems. You wouldn’t believe. Mouths to feed, people depending on. Advances already spent and gone. Must write.” And so, she wrote, but for a while there was no joy in it. Still, I loved what she wrote, and told her so. I was proud of our friendship, not because she was so damned famous, but because she was so damned good. She even used my name in a book – Ladyholder Janissian in Skies of Pern – and roared with laughter when I admitted I’d been so wrapped up in the story that I hadn’t even noticed. But she knew – as artists always do – that while her ability to plot continued apace, the actual writing of it was becoming an endurance contest she couldn’t hope to win. “Turn more of it over to Todd,” I argued. Her son had a real knack for a sentence, but it was hard for Annie to let go. Of course. What artist can? “His words may not sing the way yours do – yet. He doesn’t have your lyrical grace – yet. But he will, Annie, you’ve just got to let him breathe!” I said it and said it and said it, to no avail. Then came a day when, 25 years younger and an ocean away, I finally lost patience and angrily berated her. “Damnit Annie, quit complaining and just stop! By God, you have created a mountain of work, an incredible legacy that will endure and be read by zillions of people long after both of us are gone – so quit whining about what you cannot do and start looking at what you have done. It’s time, Anne. Take this unbearable weight off your shoulders and stop!” I sent the email off and waited for her response, fearing I’d gone too far. A day. Then another. Finally, sure I’d lost a friend, I called to ask just how angry she was with me. Oh, no, not at all, she’s “in hospital.” She took a fall. She’d write soon. And she did, quoting me and saying “I knew you, of all people, would make sense.” A sweeter absolution I’ve never had. We continued our friendship, bitching about our bodies, menopause, the inevitable “drying up” of everything that comes with the feminine mystique. You cannot imagine the luxury, for me, to have a compatriot a quarter-century older. As an artist, I admired her work. But as a woman, I was relieved to have someone relentlessly honest about what was to come in my own life. We traded constantly. I sent her Lhasa de Sela, Sara Bettens. She sent stories about her animals, and the garden. One spring she changed my salutation to “Dear Crocus Petal – there are eight coming up now!” We planned to visit Prague together in September ’01, but then came 9/11, and I chickened out. To be brutally honest, I was afraid to fly. Annie gently took me to task, then went off with someone else instead. I will regret that for the rest of my life. She went into the hospital for the last time while I was touring the UK – just a ferry boat and an ocean of commitments away. Knowing how out of touch she’d feel, how fretful she’d be, I tried to call every day. We fell into a pattern – I’d wait until I was in the van, then phone her up and tell an off color joke, a bawdy story, a bit of kindly gossip. Sometimes about people we knew in common, Harlan perhaps, or Scott Card, whose work she admired. Sometimes just a silly series of puns I’d found on line. Whatever it was, I wanted to make her laugh, because I loved to hear her laugh. She died while I was on vacation, just days after the tour’s end. I’d brought a copy of Dragonsinger with me because on vacation, I always brought a few “comfort re-reads.” I’d fallen asleep over it, waking to an email from Gigi. Please keep it quiet until I can reach everyone, she asked. My older brother Alec is still in flight, and we don’t want him seeing it in the paper before I can reach him. I called with sleep still in my eyes and heard the hum of people behind Gigi’s answering voice. It was fast, it was painless, it was everything Annie had wanted. No lingering. A “good death” for her. But not for me. It’s hard to open my computer knowing there will be no “Dear Petal.” It’s hard, after knowing such a warm and giving shelter, to go without. Sometimes I run across a sentence that sings to me, and jot it down to show her. And sometimes, when she leaps out at me from the cover of a book, I remember she is gone, and it hits me like lightning, fast and lethal and completely unexpected. It stops my breath, until I remind myself that she is gone, but I am still here. When the lightning hits, I comfort myself with this. The beauty of Anne’s writing is that she makes it all seem, not just possible, but normal. For men to go dragonback. For women to become ships. For young, unwanted girls to become MasterHarpers. For brains to pair with brawns, and sing opera under alien skies. And for an unlikely friendship to bloom, a pairing no one could have imagined, between a petal on earth, and an orchid in flight.

#a passion for friends #janis ian #anne mccaffrey #petal and orchid

1 note · View note

ncumenia-archived · 5 years

Text

📱MOBILE-FRIENDLY RULES📱

OTHER LINKS:

lore

bio

headcanons

exclusive ship list

Since English is not my mother language, I apologize in advance if there are some grammatical errors or I use wrong words to describe an action. If something is not clear to you, just let me know, I’ll fix it as soon as I can.

Roleplay Rules:

TAG DUMP HERE!; (NSFW too)

Mun&Muse are both 21+. This blog is selective, 18+ exclusive, canon divergent, duplicates crossover, AU, fandomless, etc… friendly!

Besides the obvious fact I won't rp smut or ship with minor muns/muses whatsoever, do not follow me if you're underage. This because I feel uncomfortable interacting with minor muns due to the huge age gap that might be between us. (Mun is currently 25 as I write this) Please, don't take it too personally, it's just for my own comfort. Furthermore, if your rules and age (mun is 18+, mun is 23, mun is of age and so on...) are not present on your blog I won’t rp with you at all. Lying about your age will result into a permablock and reported. The same applies if you're underage or your age is not stated and you dare to interact in any kind of NSFW way with me (This also includes liking/commenting my nsfw posts or sending me nsfw asks)

I refuse to ship/interact with: aged up muses (Nunu, Annie, Zoe etc…) and only smut-oriented blogs since they both make me uncomfortable. So, please, if you’re one of these blogs do not follow me.

No godmodding. If our muses are fighting, I’d like to discuss first with the other mun, in order to avoid it as much as possible;

I don’t like “follow for following me back, and if you don’t follow me I’ll unfollow you“ philosophy because I find this kinda disrespectful. I’m also available to interact with you even if we’re not mutuals! Usually, the reasons why I unfollow you are these: spamming too much without using a proper tag, talking shit about other people here on tumblr, spreading useless drama or rumors, posting stuff that makes me uncomfortable or if I somehow assume you’re not interested to interact with me.DMS are always open for plotting!

Currently available verses: Canon, Odyssey, Modern/Academy, Bloodmoon, Deity Please, before interacting with my muse in one of these verses make sure to read the lore and, if something is not clear to you, dm me anytime!;

I’ll try to match length more or less, so don’t worry about that. And please, TAKE YOUR TIME to reply. I have a life too, so don’t worry I’m not the one who runs after others! I tend to easily forget threads, so if I didn’t reply to our thread for like a couple of days dm me!;

I do believe in reblog karma, it’s your choice to send me a meme, but please reblog it from the source and not from me if you don’t want to send me one. If you reblog a meme from me without sending me one for more than once, I’ll block you. I’m sorry about this rule, but after some time this becomes quite annoying;

Any kind of hate toward a nationality/gender/sexual orientation and so on will result in a report and permablock. I believe everyone should respect a person, regardless of their gender/ethnicity/sexual orientation. If you don’t, you’ll get permablocked. Period. The same goes for every kind of insult or anon hate toward me, a ship or a friend: not only you’ll be ignored, but, if it is necessary, I’ll report and permablock you.

This blog is against any kind of fake/unfounded rumors and drama. I'll only reblog callouts that provide evidence about the problematic individual, and mostly about extremely serious topics (like minor hunters, abusers or if someone who is seriously in danger) I'm not afraid to callout people if they have a problematic/gross behavior or if they support/justify problematic/disturbing/traumatic topics.

I won’t rp and tolerate extremely disturbing topics like incest, rape (non-con/dub-con as well), pedophilia, child/animal abuse, and similar. The same goes for every kind of ship where these themes are involved. Mentioning these topics during a thread is okay (For example if you’re talking about your muse’s past), but I’d rather talk with the mun first so we can plot things properly.

Any jokes about child death, rape, racism, disability, sexism and so on are not allowed here. If I see one of them, I may go to your dms and telling you that’s not okay writing these things because they’re harmful, and to stop with that stuff. If you’ll ignore/insult/make fun of me you’ll be permablocked. [Added: 09/07/2019]

This blog may contain triggers such as blood, angst, smoke, drugs, gore, mental health etc. I’ll tag everything and I’ll use “read more”. (I’ll tag my triggers using, for example, “tw: blood” without air quotes) Before rping this stuff with you, I’ll always ask you if you’re okay with it, so do please tell me if you have any triggers or I should tag something specific in my blog! For example, my muse, when she’s overwhelmed by certain feelings or recalls what happened to her kin, she bleeds from her mouth and sternal scar. Please, if this makes you feel uncomfortable don’t be afraid to tell me it; Regarding sexual content, it will also be present, especially during Sinday, but I will always tag everything accordingly and put everything under read more.

Please, tag these two topics: needles and stepping on people. I feel extremely uncomfortable regarding the latter because it's heavily connected with animal abuse, and it makes me feel so sick I start to panic. I only ask you to tag these two topics.

I’m a human being, and sometimes I make mistakes too. If I made something that offended you/made you feel uncomfortable, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I want to learn from my mistakes.

Shipping rules:

Even if I’m more than aware of the fact an 18+ mun is legally an adult, I realized I feel more comfortable shipping with both muns/muses who are 20+, especially in the case there will be some nsfw. That’s my personal preference, and this is NOT negotiable and it will NEVER be.[added 06/05/2019]

If you don’t want to keep our ship going on, that’s TOTALLY OKAY. I will NEVER get mad at you, neither asking you the motivation. If you don’t feel comfortable anymore, that’s okay and I respect your decision!

This blog is multiship exclusive, that means I'll only ship with one muse/au of that muse. Furthermore, I'll be highly selective with whom I ship with, and I mostly prioritize people I've been friends with for a long time. [EXCLUSIVE SHIP LIST]

I state in advance I don’t ship my muse with Diana, since she sees her as a mother-like figure. So… This basically would be incest, and I feel very uncomfortable with it. Furthermore, I won’t ship with Taric, Leona, Aurelion, Soraka, Zoe (But this is almost needless to say since she’s a minor, but prevention is always better than the cure), and yordles.

Even if I’m extremely fine with a platonic/non-sexual relationship, I’m also okay with some smut and that may occur with a serious plot, and ONLY if I feel comfortable and I trust my rp partner enough. Unfortunately, I don’t feel very comfortable rping it on Tumblr, and I’d rather rp it on Discord. [Please check the smut rules here] DON’T FORCE IT WITH ME, otherwise the ship will be deleted and probably I’ll block you too.

My muse is a revenant (I’m talking about her canon verse. In Odyssey! and Modern! she’s a living being) and NO, shipping with her is NOT necrophilia (She’s NOT a lifeless, nonsentient, smelly and rotten body who cannot give consent. She has revived thanks to Targon/Moon’s magic, and she’s ABLE to consent and she doesn’t smell bad, she’s not rotting and so on). I’m writing this because I’m kinda sick of this subject because “Shipping with Ernye/Pyke/Thresh/Kalista/Yone is necrophilia1111!!1!!”, and I’m more than sure these people are the first who fall in love with a vampire. If I receive any anon asks about this stuff in which there’s written I cannot ship her with anyone or other offensive things toward me or my muse (both ic and ooc), I’ll ignore and permablock them. No matter who’s the person who sent this. Again: I’m sick and tired of this stuff because basically there’s no problem in shipping with a psycho who can basically kill/abuse you any moment, meanwhile, GOD FORBID a revenant/vampire and stuff like that. So, better safe than sorry. If this bothers you so much you can unfollow me.

Respect my right to say “NO” if I don’t want to ship with your muse. So, don’t force it or I’ll block you.;

About the Mun:

You can call me Silkie, and I’m 25 years old;

Discord for mutuals only;

Pronouns: she/her (They/Them is also fine, if you feel more comfortable with it, no worries);

Chickens, cats, chinchillas, and Castlevania addicted;

I consider myself as a friendly person, so if you wanna know me or rp with me just send me a message! I suffer from diagnosed GAD and depression, so I really need time to open up to people and my activity may be sporadic because of this. And, please: if I make/say something that makes you feel uncomfortable TELL ME ANYTIME since I never mean to hurt anyone here through my words or acts;

Remember Muse ≠ Mun. Ernye’s actions don’t reflect my personality, or what I think about you;

Please DON’T FLIRT WITH ME, it makes me extremely anxious and uncomfortable due to many awful experiences I had in the past, and also because rp is a hobby and I want to have fun, and I’m not looking for a romantic partner. If you ignore my warnings I’ll permablock you. And yes, this also applies to every NSFW question about me. If you dare to do so you’ll get immediately reported, permablocked and the whole chatlog saved. I will also NOT tolerate any kind of NSFW anon ask about me.

The cringy art you see on my profile is made by me unless stated otherwise. Constructive criticism and bits of advice are more than welcome and encouraged ♥

[ If you have read my rules send me “Has the killing moon come for them?” That’s optional, of course, you don’t have to send it to me!]

#mobile friendly rules #the sun is rising (ooc)#oh boy i’m moonstruck again (spamalot)#when I'll make a decent promo post about my blog I'll use this post!

4 notes · View notes

mycasandstarrs · 6 years

Text

SPN 9x19: “Alex Annie Alexis Ann”

THEN: Vampires. Sheriff Jody Mills, a hunter in training, and the trauma she went through.

Our first Wayward Girl.

“Hey, don't leave me. Please.” Did she know they’d be coming for her?

Oohh, I just now realized: Jody was already on her way to the station.

“You can't get me in here.“

*Cody holds up the keys to the door*

Spoke too soon.

“I keep telling you – you can run and you can hide, but we will always find you.” Cody’s last words.

RIP Cody. Killed by Jody.

“Looks like Jody might not need our help anymore.”

“Oh, they grow up too fast.”

“Don’t they?”

Hardy har har.

“Wilson and Fisher? You two are FBI, then I'm Taylor Swift. That wasn't a dental I.D. It was a fang check. You're hunters.” Exposed them right away!

Annie Jones. I often forget Alex isn’t her actual name.

“So she's a blood slave.” Close, but no cigar.

“My name is Alex.”

“No, it's not. Your name is Annie Jones.”

Alex (the name she goes by), Annie (her birth name).

“They fed on you.”

“I fed them. My choice. My brothers – they brought me food when I was hungry. So when they struck out on a hunt, I fed them. They're my family.”

She’s come a long way.

“Alex... There's a reason you decided to run away.”

“It was time... to move on and get out on my own.”

“And how do you think that decision is gonna sit with the rest of the nest? One of them already pursued you. You think when the rest of them find out that you left that they're just gonna shrug and cut their losses?”

“You lived with them for years. They've tasted your blood. They have your scent down cold. I mean, how far can you run and for how long?”

She didn’t think this through; she must’ve been desperate to get away.

“I'm just – I'm hung up on the name. Alex and Annie – they're so close already. Why'd they change it?” Jody’s motherly/detective instinct kicking in.

“You guys are gonna get the jump on these vamps and be back here before they even realize their kin's missing, right?” Jody had total faith in them.

“You haven't seen Alex around, have you?”

“Uh, your sister. No, I can't say I have. Sorry.”

“Huh. So you didn't sell her a bus ticket out of town?”

“Did I help your shut-in kid sister get away from her weird, scary-ass squatter family? Answer's still ‘no’.”

“So you're saying Ralph lied to us? 'Cause he said...that you sold her a ticket...right before we killed him.”

Oh, damn it. She’s gonna die.

RIP Stacy. Killed by vamps.

I wonder if Jody took Claire to this cabin, if she’ll take the rest of the Wayward Girls to this cabin.

I hate the idea of someone poking around my place like that.

“This your family?”

“Yes.”

“Where are they?”

“....”

“Oh. Dead.”

UH, SHOW SOME RESPECT.

“You must be exhausted. I know for a fact you didn't sleep last night.”

“I’m fine.”

“It's no problem. I can make up a bed.”

“I’m fine!”

Claire wasn’t the only pseudo-daughter to give Jody a headache.

“Hey! Hey, you need a hand with that? *Sees dead hand sticking out the woodchipper* Oh. I guess not.” Ha. Gotta love that joke.

Alex was the golden daughter.

Alex Annie Alexis (what her “brothers” call her).

“How do you think we stayed off your radar all these years? Pretty, young, lost-looking thing like her? Irresistible, especially to the kind of man few people would miss. I mean, sure, we hunt sometimes for sport, but it's a lot easier and a lot safer to get delivery.”

I know Alex isn’t in any real danger, but I am thoroughly creeped out and nervous for her.

“Come on, sweetie. Aren't you gonna give me a name?”

“It's...Ann.”

Alex Annie Alexis Ann (the name she’d give to the men she picked up).

Alex was their bait.

Alex learns of her grandmother’s passing. And she has no living family...

“I just ran the victims' names through local P.D. They both worked at the O'Neill bus station.”

“So they killed them for Alex's location.”

Also because they helped her.

“They’re here.” Oh crap.

“We moving?” Yeah, you’re hauling ass!

RIP Dale. Killed by Dean.

Oh no oh no oh no

Jody was out there all night, damn.

“Jody, we can handle the nest on our own.”

“I don't give a fig about the nest.”

If only they were allowed to swear. It’d be “I don’t give a fuck about the nest.”

“How do you even know she wants to be saved?” They didn’t hear how desperate she was when they took her.

“She's got more blood on her hands than most monsters we kill.“

“Are you saying she's on your list?”

“No, we're not saying that.”

“Well, not yet.”

Don’t y’all dare.

“You have any idea the mess you made? Hunters raided the place while we were out, tortured and killed Dale. Our home's been made. We're gonna have to move again.”

“Mama, I-I never meant –”

“We will all find our way. Things got screwy...but you're back now.”

This is some Mother Gothel/Rapunzel manipulation.

“I couldn't take it anymore. The blood and the death, the sounds of their screams. I just... I can't do it anymore. And the way I feel afterwards, the guilt...I'd rather die than feel that way again.” Alex has a good heart.

Sam and Dean got caught.

Alex was turned.

Sam really tried to wiggle his way out of the chair.

“Clearly, Sheriff, you got issues, some hole in your life you're using my Alex to fill.” TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.

“I have fed her, clothed her, loved her going on nine years. You think motherhood's just about blood? You don't know the first thing about it.”

“Maybe not, but I know what it isn't. And it ain't about forcing her to be like you the second she becomes inconvenient.”

Put her on blast!!

Damn it, Jody was recovering from a shoulder injury. Now she’s got a broken leg.

This is Sam’s third time getting bled out?

Dean was fucking prepared!!

“Alex! Was that her name? You named her after someone. Was it your daughter? I couldn't figure out why you changed her name. I thought maybe you were ashamed of your theft, but you have no shame. You said that I was using her to fill a hole in my life, and you're right. I am. You are, too.”

Jody’s hunch ties in.

oOOHHHHHHH. My sister was in the room with me when I first watched this, I didn’t/wouldn’t have known how to explain that to her.

“Dean.”

“Yeah, I know. You wouldn't have done the same for me.”

Alex saved Jody.

“Don't watch this, sweetheart.”

RIP Mama. Killed by Jody.

“Nice work back there. ‘Look at me, bitch’?” It’s hilarious when Sam says it like that.

“And? Well, sorry for not putting on a hair shirt. Killing things that need killing is kind of our job. Last I checked, taking pleasure in that is not a crime.”

Yeah, but it’s starting to get alarming.

“My judgment was clouded. You know, working this case, it brought...feelings back. Feelings I've been trying to bury for years, you know, buried it under work, religion...even dating. We know how that worked out. But, you know, it was still there, you know, underneath. The grief. Don't know what that means for me, just that I've been – I've been fooling myself to think that I could ignore it.”

Alex is the third person to be cured of vampirism.

“If you want, I'm here. But what you've been through the last 48 alone, losing your entire family, everything you've ever known or loved – no one can understand that.”

“You can.”

And that’s how a family was born.

#supernatural #spn summer rewatch #spn liveblog #spn 9x19 #alex annie alexis ann

2 notes · View notes

onestowatch · 3 years

Text

appleby’s 'While You Were Sleeping’ Is a Siren Call to Home

Photo: Annie Rhodes Kane

We’re all trying to find our way home. For many of us, this is a fictional place: a dream state of infinite love and understanding, the warm embrace of family and friends, where every laugh is mirrored and every tear quickly patted dry. Regardless of how this may have been denied to us, we share an ineffable understanding of what home is, its siren call to return, shedding our fears, pain, and neurosis in the process.

If there could be a musical equivalency to this journey home, appleby’s While You Were Sleeping is like a map, a travelog of prior experiences embedded into the journey of a Black man, a spiritual hymn to healing. Encapsulating all the hurt and healing of the past year but moreover diving deep into the vulnerabilities left unresolved—the struggle with male vulnerability, specific to Black identity in particular, and the foils of love that finally found their appreciation. In its totality, While You Were Sleeping is a self-taught lesson in “being present, in the moment and participating,” a love letter to young Black men finding themselves.

The first steps of this journey may have begun in a bedroom of his youth, in Elgin, Illinois, a room to which he credits “becoming an artist,” while FaceTiming his love interest several states away, adjacent to the Atlantic. But the real foundation was in the months leading up to it. Upon settling into L.A. full-time, purposeful on his path to being an artist, he hit a wall. A creative’s dread, a loss of direction, a footing without traction. Despite the weight of Instagram proverbs, the origin of a quest is rarely one bodily movement; it is the coaxing realization of your path from an external source. In this fashion, it was a lonely DM from a fan who spoke about the power of appleby’s music, how it helped her through a tough time, brought her back to herself, gave her hope. The best validation of where we are heading is who we meet on our path, the faces that light up, the laughter dealt across a room, and most often just listening. And so the pilgrimage begins…

youtube

Musically, While You Were Sleeping is emotionally aerobic, a poetic exercise that pulls you across a spectrum of feelings with brilliant precision. The deliberateness of the composition speaks to another of appleby's talents, tennis. A former high-level player, you can hear the physics of creativity that game allows for, always bound to laws but rewarding open-mindedness and spontaneity. Opening with “You’re My Home,” a beautiful near-ballad about the evocative comfort of a relationship, the breadth of the EP is put on immediate display. Layered pianos and staccato hi-hats are all balanced with a lyrical harmonious presence that perfectly display appleby’s vocal range. The second single off the EP, “Enough,” follows as a more uptempo gesture of faith in a partner once under-appreciated, balancing a zesty polyrhythm with longing, loving lyrics, crescendoing into a beautiful backdrop of a distorted gospel singalong.

Not satisfied with any consistent genre definition, “Heavy Metal Spaceship” is an angsty, flange-pumping song about a nightmare that left appleby floating into space, looking back down on our round globe wondering if kin and kind will remember him (this dream state must have telekinesis properties as it leaves you feeling like you’ve had this dream too). The original single that started the party, “Half Life” is a song about feeling lost and without oxygen, balanced in a pleasant awkwardness over a drum ‘n’ bass rhythm that gives the feeling of asphyxiation in the most dance-affirmative way.

“Navy Blue” is arguably the most poignant narrative on the EP, a turbulent lonely plea from a young man trying to engage with his father, who was riddled with drug and alcohol dependencies. appleby’s lyrical talent and depth of emotive appreciation are delicately balanced here, a song more soothing as it plays out. Finally, it's all bookended by “Heat,” where a sultry, chunky hi-hat-laden beat plies through an eternal plea to be understood, to have mercy, on a melody so strung out it feels like the reckoning of the EP itself.

Where will While You Were Sleeping land appleby amongst the meritorious storytellers of this generation? For all men like him, and for all the women struggling with men formerly like him, I hope it lands him at the front. For appleby has so perfectly eroded that male legacy of being given everything but nothing at the same time, the illusory power of strength left shattered by lack of communication and self-concern. Difficult to convey as much as it is to come to that realization but even more difficult to pronounce in such a beautiful work, one that is so effortless in its ease of listening, you can feel the wounds stitching themselves shut with each lyric, note, and beat. Heal up and get home everyone, this journey is our measure of love, and a lot has happened while you were sleeping.

Listen to While You Were Sleeping below:

#appleby #while you were sleeping #album reviews #indie #R&B

0 notes

imaginesnkdorks · 7 years

Note

Can I have Reiner Braun as a family man?

Reiner is not like a regular dad… He’s a cool dad. 😉

Provider: Reiner does his best to be able to provide for his family. His goal isn’t to be rich, it’s to make sure that everyone would have what they need when they need it

and being a healthy as he is, he sure can do work to provide

Protector: Almost everyone from the 104th training squad would agree if I say that Reiner is a strong man.

He is someone who can fight to protect his kin - and being the great man that he is, he can protect not just physically

Teacher: Remember when he tried to teach Eren to teach Annie a lesson? Yeah, well he does that at home, too.

He is willing to share with his family his knowledge of surviving in a titan infested world

Friend: Because he isn’t like your regular dad at all. Eren himself looked up to the man, I’m pretty sure any kids he’ll have would look up to him as well

not only because he’s a great father, but because he could also be a friend who always has an ear to listen

Treats his wife like a queen. Need I say more?

He lives totally faithful to his s/o, and never miss to show how much he love and care for them

#headcanons #snk headcanons #reiner braun #reiner braun headcanons #mod max

157 notes · View notes

rubberhoseddown · 6 years

Text

━━━━━━━━ ☾ ━━━━━━━━

ANOTHER KIN MEME!

made by @.plko on vent, don't remove

━━━━━━━━ ☼ ━━━━━━━━

♡ BASIC ♡

01. What kintype/ID are you doing for this meme?

↳ peacock – skullgirls

02. What was your gender in canon?

↳ cis female

03. What was your orientation/sexuality in canon?

↳ bicurious

04. What was your strongest platonic relationship in canon?

↳ avery and i! we were always together no matter what

05. What are three emoji that remind you of your kintype?

↳ 📺🎞🔫 (what the gun used to look like before the emoji update)

06. What is one thing the fandom gets totally wrong about you?

↳ i don’t grow up and i’ll never grow up. even if i did, i wouldn’t have Eyes or that overly sexualised body

07. If you could have one possession you owned in canon again, what would it be?

↳ my parasites! of course i need to have both of them. one’s useless without the other

08. Do you experience astral body parts with this kintype?

↳ sometimes but that’s like. really rare

09. If so- what's the weirdest astral body part you've felt?

↳ sometimes i get this pressure in my eyes and it instantly reminds me reminds me of the Incident i had

10. What's the best thing about being your kintype?

↳ i’m a complete badass and i love it

11. What's the worst thing about being your kintype?

↳ the fact that i’m uuuuuhhhhhh pedo material apparently and people supposedly can’t stop drawing porn of me :/

━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━

♧ NOW & THEN ♧

12. Do you currently go by the name you used in canon? Are there any nicknames you like?

↳ yeah, i still do! i go by any forms of patricia and peacock like pea, patty, etc. i love nicknames

13. Do you share any physical characteristics with your kintype now?

↳ no aaaaaa don’t invalidate me

14. Have you ever cosplayed your kintype? Would you like to?

↳ cosplays of me don’t really work out well

15. What kind of aesthetic describes this kintype? Do you still like it?

↳ old cartoons like betty boop from fleischer studios. i prefer betty over mickey. i love love vintage stuff as well like music boxes or gramophones. swing and jazz always gets me in the mood.

16. What kind of music did you like in canon? Do you still like it?

↳ swing, jazz, that cartoon music. i still like it! it always puts me in a peacock mood. just listen to shenanigans and goings ons and you’ll understand

━━━━━━━━ ♧ ━━━━━━━━

♢ APPEARANCE ♢

17. What was your body type like?

↳ short and skinny with the help of the lack of limbs

18. What was the one (physical) thing about you that you always wanted to change?

↳ maybe uhh get eyes back? that would help because i don’t want to be completely useless without argus or avery but really they would get in the way of me pulling things out of my eye and smoking

19. What was your favourite physical attribute?

↳ uh fuckin everything dude. i was a badass. nobody could mess with me

20. Did you dye your hair? How often?

↳ nope!

21. Did you wear makeup?

↳ that would be very difficult and even if i could, no. it’d be hard with the constant worry of my eye sockets and gloves

━━━━━━━━ ♢ ━━━━━━━━

♤ MEMORIES ♤

22. Share a fond/soft/gentle memory

↳ being around the lab. they were all so nice to me

23. Share a bitter/ugly/regretful memory

↳ how i ever became peacock. back when i was just patricia.

24. Share a brilliant/exciting/lovely memory

↳ fuckin ending the medicis my dude!

25. Share an impactful/important/life changing memory

↳ ending marie...

26. Share a memory of someone who never failed to make you smile

↳ avery! of course, he knew everything about me but that didn’t matter. he knew everything to cheer me up.

27. Share a memory of someone who always brought you down

↳ that stupid slave trader. i’m so happy marie killed him. it’s his fault i’m the way i am but i gotta give him a little credit, he started what became the strongest asg!

28. Share a memory of your favourite person(s)

↳ aahhh, whenever i’d watch annie, leduc would sometimes come by and sit with me. he wasn’t very talkative when i’d make comments but it was okay, i understood him. he was...aah...my crush...i had a big fat crush on him.

29. What was your relationship with your family like? (can be blood-related or not)

↳ lab 8 was the best family i could ever ask for. even if i act like a little shit in front fo everyone, i still love them with all of my heart and i would do absolutely anything for them. they are the reason i am who i am today!

30. Did you have any really important romantic relationships? What were those like?

↳ i didn’t have any romantic relationships but i did have a big crush on leduc. it happened over time when i was staying at the lab. it just kept building, more and more and i paid more attention to him than any other kid in the lab. he was an amazing fighter and he was...so cool. we became friends but gosh, i would give anything to know more about him. i know he had a crush on me too because hive would be meaner to me whenever he was around me and i caught him starting a bunch when we watched tv together but i didn’t say anything. as much as i liked embarrassing people, i didn’t want him to feel bad

━━━━━━━━ ♤ ━━━━━━━━

thanks for playing! please don't

edit format or remove questions.

tagging: anyone

#; shenanigans and going ons [p]#; personal post

2 notes · View notes

retroreaderr · 7 years

Text

Go Steady With Me? (Remus x Reader)

some fluff for my husband, Widow because he can always do with a little more Remus fluff in his life. (Lowkey don’t have any clue how to write Remus so this is almost 5K words of t r a s h)

Words: 4838

Tagged: well guess what no one has asked to be tagged in Remus fics whOOPS

Thursday 25 May 1978, just a few more weeks of school until sweet, sweet freedom. The marauders could practically taste that decadent, untouchable fruit that is Adulthood, where they’d go out into the world and make something of themselves. Though, to be quite frank, deep down all of them were scared out of their wits to be thrown into the real world and have to make their own doctors appointments and shit so they’d been deliberating a way to take the edge off, just for a little while.

Sirius burped under his breath, ruffling his own hair before reaching over to his bedside table and flipping the record. He smiled, closing his eyes as the familiar sound of a slow bass riff came from the record player, Pink Floyd’s legendary album “Dark Side of the Moon” blessing his ears with “Money”. The teen relaxed back on his bed, arms behind his head as he tapped his toe to the music.

“Does that actually help you think?” Remus sighed, casting a glance over to his friend.

The marauders sat pondering existence in their dorm room, James sitting on the floor polishing his broom, Sirius atop his mate’s bed, his feet pressed against the headboard and his head at the foot of the bed. Remus lay on his own bed, half finished homework on his lap, Peter was lazily going through the newest edition of “Wizard Weekly” on the floor by the heater.

“Of course it does, Moony,” Sirius quipped with a smirk, rolling over onto his stomach. “It gets my brain waves flowing, ya know?”

Remus merely chuckled in response.

“Well if it get’s them flowin’, oh wise paddy-kins,” James teased, looking up to his mate. “Then what should we do this weekend?”

“Let me think, sometimes it takes a minute for the waves to reach maximum capacity.” Sirius closed his eyes and put a finger to his temple, concentrating really hard.

“We could go camping,” Peter suggested, not bothering to look up from the magazine.

“Exactly, Wormtail!” Sirius shouted, starting James a bit. “That’s exactly what I was going to say! We should totally go camping!” Peter chuckled, shaking his head and going back to figuring out who he should date based on his wand core.

James nodded along, looking to his werewolf buddy with a shrug. “Sounds cool with me. Moons ya think you could get the Lovely Minnie Magoo to let us out?”

“Ah, well, I don’t know Prongs,” Remus winced, not really wanting to go outside and making up an excuse to not go as fast as he could. “I mean, best mates or not, four lads hanging out alone in the woods sounds a bit...”

His voice trailed off and they caught on. “Yeah, it does sound a bit fruity, doesn’t it?” Sirius sighed.

“Why not bring some girls along then?” James suggested, the answer seeming pretty obvious. “I mean, I’ve got Lily, and uh.. well I’ve got Lily.”

A lull once again took over the room when Peter spoke up once more. “I hear (Name) fancies Moony,” the rat turned the page. “And for you, Sirius, well you can go Stag- no pun intended, Prongs.”

“Wha-” Sirius gasped, looking offended. “Why do I have to go stag?”

“Because you’re scared of commitment?” Remus chuckled, reaching over into his nightstand and pulling out a bar of chocolate.

“Because you can’t hold down a serious relationship due to the aforementioned fear?” James added on, holding out his hands for Remus to toss him a piece.

“Because-”

“Alright, alright,” Sirius groaned, catching a piece of chocolate that Remus had tossed to him out of habit. Peter got a chunk too. “I’ll go stag but I’m not sharing a tent with Peter, sorry mate but you have the night sweats.”

“It’s fine, I’ve actually got plans anywho,” Peter sighed, stretching his arms out. “I, your beloved Wormtail, have a date.This weekend. With Marlene McKinnon.”

“Good for you, Wormtail!” Sirius congratulated, giving a few claps in appreciation. “So where are you taking her?”

And on the night went, the four lads chatting and having some bants.

“So, is Madam Lovely on board?” James asked as Remus exited McGonagall’s office.

“So long as a prefect-” he pointed to himself with pride. “Is there, she feels there is nothing to fear.”

“Then let’s get our ladies and get scootin’!”

“Never say that again, mate.”

“So, do you think you’re up for it?” Sirius asked, crossing his arms and leaning against a post in the Gryffindor common room. Lily stood in a similar pose before the trio of troublesome twirps, her potions partner (Name) beside her.

“Out, in the woods, with you three, and bugs, for two days?” Lily raised a brow, pausing every few words to emphasize how stupid this sounded. “Why don’t we just so swim with the giant squid and hope we get poison ivy while we’re at it?”

“Actually- Lily- you.. You can’t really.. Get poison ivy while swimming,” You piped up from beside your friend, almost instantly regretting it because now you’re that person. Lily was looking all cool in front of her boyfriend and his friends and now she looks foolish. Great job, (Name), A+ for you. “Sorry, I just-” Taking a deep breath you look to the redhead. “I’ll go if you do?”

Lily shrugged, “Sounds cool to me,” looking to the marauders, she smirked. ‘But we’re going this my way- the muggle way.”

Cue a symphony of groans from the boys.

“How- Sirius move your hand over- No not there- Remus!” James huffed angrily and threw his hands up in the air, looking sharply over to his girlfriend.The group of teens had hiked into the woods near a muggle village, nowhere close to the Forbidden Forest. It was just a normal forest, with normal creatures and lots of bugs. They’d found a clearing big enough for that they needed, and started setting up camp.

“Lily!”

“Yes, dear?” Said redhead reclined with her gal pal by the campfire, their tent already pitched and ready to go. “Are you boys having a bit of trouble?”

James merely whined in response, slumping his shoulders. “Why did you make my leave my wand again?”

“Because this is a muggle experience, James,” Lily chuckled, looking very smug herself. “Look, Remus has the hang of it,” she gestured to said werewolf who, now that his friend’s had given up on “helping” was doing pretty well fixing up the tent. “He really knows how to pitch a tent, eh (Name)?”

You looked away from the fire towards the object of your affections who was very focused on his work. “Yeah, he is pretty-” your words cut short when you realized the innuendo. “Lily Evans!” You shouted, grabbing a hot dog from the bag at your feet and throwing it at her.

“Hey guys!” Sirius shouted, laughing at the scene. “Evans just took a weiner to the face!” The punkass lil hoe howled with laughter before pointing to his friend with a quizzical look.” Hey James, isn’t that your job?”

“Okay, you know what-” James tackled his friends, the boys playfully wrestling on the floor.

Remus merely sighed and pulled the almost erected tent away from their brawl.

Within an hour or so, three tents stood erect in the clearing, all surrounding a beautifully roaring campfire. A few logs the boys had found sat around the fire as seats, Sirius claimed one for himself, James and Lily sat on another totally canoodling, so that left Remus and you on your own little log. The sun was nearing the horizon, and the Scottish woods didn’t provide much warmth.

“Geez,” you muttered, leaning closer to the fire and rubbing your arms. “It’s getting pretty chilly.”

Sirius cast a quick, reassuring glance towards Remus who hastily used the encouragement to remove his jacket and place it on your shoulders. “Here, take my jacket.”

Chuckling a bit shyly, you smiled at him with a thanks that he awkwardly nodded to.

“Yeah, James, it is getting a bit cold.”

“Well damn, Lily! I can’t control the weather!”

Cue a prompt punch to James’ shoulder. “Geez, I was only kidding!” James laughed, rubbing where she punched before removing his jacket and wrapping his beloved in it.

Sirius stretched with a groan. “Well, I don’t know about you guys but I’m getting hungry,” he reached over to Lily’s bag and pulled out the bag of hot dogs. “Now would be a good time to have our wands, ya know.”

“Go find a stick,” Lily teased, scrunching her nose. “Fetch, doggy.”

Sirius looked open mouthed at her, looking genuinely hurt. “James-”

“BURN!” James shouted, holding one hand up to his mouth and giving Lily a high five with the other. When Sirius looked at him with a “dude really?” look of defeat, James merely shrugged. “What man, I can’t deny a good burn!”

“I’ll go look for some sticks, but you-” he pointed to Lily, “Don’t get one.”

Lily shrugged, snuggling up to James.

Sirius came back with enough sticks for everyone- but Lily of course. James however was being all gooey and in love and let her use hs and said he could wait for her to get her fill, going so far as to pull out a blanket for the two of them to cuddle up under. #goals

“Are you enjoying yourself, (Name)?” Remus asked timidly as he handed you a bun for your hotdog.

“Yeah, actually,” you smile at him, scooting a bit closer to him- for warmth of course. “It’s.. nice here.” You closed your eyes and rested your head on his shoulder, not noticing the way he stiffened up at the touch.

With eyes wide, he looked to Sirius across the fire who gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. Grinning broadly, the Gryffindor got up and hurried over to his other half, whispering in his ear excitedly. James nodded smugly, whispering to Lily as Sirius went back to back to his log.

James stretched, yawning dramatically. “Well, I think it’s time we all go to bed, don’t you think, darling?”

“Yes, dear, I do think so,” Lily chorused, standing up and wrapping an arm around her hubby’s torso. “(Name), would you mind too terribly if I slept in James’ tent tonight instead of yours? I almost forgot, tonight is our three month anniversary and um.. he.. ya know.” She winked with a smirk.

Retracting yourself from Remus’ side sheepishly, as though you’d been caught doing something naughty even though it was completely innocent- adorable even. “Oh well, sure, that’s fine Lils, I’ll just sleep in the singular-”

“Actually!” Sirius interrupted, jumping over the shrinking fire and running to it. “This is mine, sorry (Name), I kinda peed on the back earlier thinking it was a tree. Don’t think you’ll wanna be sleepin in there, eh?”

“Ew,” you muttered, sighing and looking to the only other tent with realization, turning to the werewolf at your side with a mildly apologetic look. “Then, I guess..”

“We can share a tent,” Remus offered fidgeting a bit with awkwardness, gesticulating more than he should have. “That’s... uh, that’s fine with me, as long as... em, as long as you’re- you’re okay with it?”

“Oh, well, yeah, it’s fine with me, I mean...” You scratch the back of your neck and look towards your friends shaking your head and shrugging too dramatically than necessary. “Why, uh, why wouldn’t it be?” You clapped once, just to keep your hands from moving more than they already were. “Yeah.”

“Yeah,” Remus echoed, nodding along, his lips pressed into a line.

James and Lily had retreated to their tent, it appears Lily was a hypocrite because she brought her wand along and used a silencing charm on the tent. (They legit were just cuddling and being cute and domestic but they had to play it up ya know, for effect.) Sirius was taking a leak in the woods, so you thought it best to go ahead and get ready for bed.

Remus was finishing off a hotdog when you excused yourself, heading into the tent to change into your pajamas. The tent was small, even for muggle tents, the opening small enough for you to have to crawl into it and hardly tall enough for you to sit up comfortably, unless you were in the dead centre.

You discarded Remus’ jacket and put it on his side of the tent and had just started to unbutton your flannel when the tent flaps opened and a fluffy head of mousy brown hair emerged.

“Hey, (Name), where’s your sleeping-” His eyes met about 8 inches below your eyes where your flannel was open and then shot up to your eyes, his mouth dropping open. Your hands flew to pull your shirt closed as you bit your lip and looked away from him.

“Um, I uh-”

“Oh wow, I uh, I mean, not wow, I mean not that it- you, aren’t- I mean-” Remus tensed up, his face going red as he stumbled back over his hands. “Bye.”

One hand kept your shirt clasped together as the other went to your mouth, your teeth anxious nibbling on your thumb nail. He totally saw my boobs, Merlin's beard! You thought as you rushed to change into your pajamas.

Oh Merlin, I totally saw her... oh Merlin, Remus thought as he sat outside of the tent, his knees in the dirt.

“You okay, Moons?” Sirius questioned as he reentered the camp sight, wiping his hands on a leaf before dropping it to the ground.

Remus stood and rushed over to his friend, fidgeting and anxious. “She was changing and I sorta...”

“Oh dude nice!” Sirius exclaimed, prompting Remus to clout him about the head. “Well, did you see anything?” He inquired in a more hushed tone.

Mouth open and eyes wide, Remus shook his head sternly. “No! Of course- Okay maybe.. Merlin.. just like, like a little but not-”

“You totally saw her rack, didn’t ya mate?” Sirius chuckled lowly, biting his lip and nodding appreciatively. “Up top,” he raised his hand for a high five.

“No!” Remus pawed down his friend’s hand- no pun intended. “I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know- no lingering, there, there was no lingering, mhmm, none.”

“Aw, come on man!” Sirius groaned, bending his knees and gesturing with his entire body to the campsite. “You’re gonna be with her for the entire weekend! You know she has the hots for you, and you totally think she’s beyond rad-”

“Sirius, please stop talking like a muggle.”

“”And besides!” Padfoot went on, ignoring his friend’s complaints. “That’s the whole reason we brought her here! For you two to finally shack up and stop pining after each other!”

“Just… be cool ok,” Remus pleaded, still red in the face and a bit breathless. “I’m just going to head to bed, okay. You get some sleep too.”

“As long as you two lovebirds don’t keep me up all night,” Sirius winked and headed towards his tent with a spring in his step.

Remus had taken a breath or two to settle his nerves before finally turning towards the tent. After giving a side-glance to the embers of what used to be the fire, Remus swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing his jitters down with it. He strode towards the tent and kneeled down, whispering “(Name)?”

“Yes?” Came a sleepy voice.

“Are you decent?”

“Mhmm.”

Remus hesitantly opened the tent flap and peeked in, seeing your sleeping form cuddled up in your sleeping bag, your back facing the middle. Guess I’ll sleep in my clothes then, he thought with an internal sigh.

Feeling inept, the werewolf crawled into the cramped tent attempting to find his preplaced sleeping bag in the faint light. He stumbled, feeling with his hands as best he can, though that wasn’t the best idea.

Suddenly, your head shifted towards your tent mate. “Um… Remus?” Your voice was squeaky and faint.

“Yeah?” He responded, his voice just as high, if not more.

“You’re hand is… it’s kinda grabbin’ my boob…”

“Merlin’s beard, oh!” Remus exclaimed, jumping backwards and hitting the top of the tent with his head causing the middle rod collapse in the middle. “Oh Merlin,” he sighed, the tent falling atop his head.

Struggling to get your arms out of the sleeping bag, you found yourself laughing louder than you should be. “How did you-?” Your laughter mixed with Remus’ as he realized how ridiculous that must’ve looked.

“I don’t even know!” Remus managed between cackles as he held the tent up so he could see you too busy laughing to pull the tent up yourself. “Merlin, (Name),” Remus chuckled, reaching over and tugging down the zipper of your sleeping bag so you could get out easier.

“Thanks,” you chuckle breathlessly, pulling the tent up over your head. As soon as you and Remus locked eyes, your hands over your head attempting to hold the tent up, you both broke into another fit of giggles. “You lift this, I’ll crawl out and try to put the rod back in place.”

You attempted to move forward, but soon realized that having him be the one to get out- being closer to the entrance and all- seemed like a better idea.

Within ten giggle filled minutes, the tent was back up and you were once again settling in for sleep. “G’night, Remus,” you muttered, your back facing the werewolf.

“Good night, (Name), sleep well,” Remus responded, curling up in his sleeping bag and settling in for sleep.

Morning rose and brought with it a layer of dew on any and everything at the camp site. Remus was the first to wake, the early morning sun beaming through the thin layer of polyester of their tent and waking him. He knew it would be difficult to weasel out of the tent without waking you, but as he looked over to your sleeping face, he wouldn’t dream of disturbing such serenity.

Gentle as he could, he shifted out of his sleeping bag, noticing how you shivered slightly with the gentle breeze that wafted in through the opening in the tent. Letting out a small chuckle, he unzipped his sleeping bag all the way and laid it over top of yours, gently tucking it around you. The added warmth was almost immediate, causing a content expression to cross over your sleeping face.

Smiling at your adorableness, Remus realized how awkward it’d be if you woke up to having him staring at you while you sleep. So, taking up his jacket from the night before, Remus squirmed out of the tent and went over to the smouldering remains of last nights fire.

One by one, everyone joined Remus by the campfire, indulging in a mediocre breakfast of lukewarm hot dogs and weak coffee. The day was spent doing boring camping stuff; hiking, splashing about in a river, looking (in vain- unless you count James in animagi form) for wildlife and playing hide and seek in the trees.

Sirius seemed a little too excited when nightfall came. He had good reason, an ace up his sleeve would prove interesting very soon. “Alright everyone, pack in!” The sly dog announced after cooking up some hamburgers over the fire. “I have a surprise waiting for everybody down at the lake!”

Lily gave her beau a suspicious glance to which the goofy stag merely shrugged in pure confusion, grease from his burger dripping down his chin.

Half an hour later, you and Remus were the last following the pack through the woods towards the lake. “Any idea what’s in store?”

Remus sighed, shaking his head. “Knowing Sirius, probably something involving nudity and/or minor law breaking.”

And our beloved anxious boy was right, boy was he right.

“Take off your clothes,” Sirius instructed simply once everyone had caught up to him. Unfortunately for everyone else he had already followed his instructions (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it- no innuendo intended.)

“What the bloody hell are you goin’ on about, Pads?” James screeched, covering his girlfriend’s eyes. You simply chose to enjoy the half-moonlight instead, Remus was a bit flustered about the whole ordeal to say the least.

“Skinny dipping, obviously,” Sirius gave an overdramatic shrug, “Why else would we go camping?”

“Um, to hike and get out of the castle?” Lily responded, moving James’ hand off her eyes. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Childhood trauma. Now get naked.” Without further word, Sirius turned on his heel and ran towards the lake with abandon. It was truly a sight.

Meanwhile, on land, James was stripping down as fast as possible and urging Lily to do the same.

You turned to Remus with a panicked expression, biting your lip. “Eh, Moony, wanna head back to camp and not get hypothermia and possibly a lake-dwelling parasite?”

“I would love to,” he said a bit too hastily, shaking his head at his friend’s antics. “I wonder if they realize we didn’t bring any towels?”

“Prolly not,” you chuckled, shrugging. “Have fun guys! Remus and I are going to save our recklessness for another time, see ya back at camp!”

They waved as the two of you walked off, the obligatory sex joke from Sirius’ part being a fond farewell. Halfway back to camp, you bumped Remus’ shoulder. “Thanks, by the way.”

“For?”

“This morning, your sleeping bag,” you glanced up at him, a small smile dancing on your lips. “Thanks.”

“Oh, oh, you’re welcome,” Remus stuttered a bit, your smile proving contagious. “Actually… since you brought them back up, I think I have an idea.”

“Could you just grab that end real quick?” Remus instructed, holding up yours and his sleeping bag at one end. You did as asked and he smiled at the product. “Perfect.”

He’d managed to zip one end of your sleeping bag to his to make a jumbo sleeping bag; with it splayed out open, it made a comfortably large blanket to sit on. “I saw this place not far away, do you trust me?”

“Enough,” you teased, taking up your end of the sleeping bag and following Remus past a few trees and down a hill. He led you to a beautiful valley with tall swaying grasses and the occasional shy bud of a flower. “Woah.”

“I thought so too,” Remus beamed, gesturing for you to help set out the blanket.

“Why didn’t you mention this place when we were scouting campsites?” You asked, splaying out the sleeping bags.

“And let James and Sirius destroy it?” Remus chuckled, fixing the corner before letting you get comfortable on it first. “I know they’re my best mates and all, but they can both be a down right git sometimes. They have habits of making messes, you know.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” you sighed, relaxing back on the makeshift blanket, your hands behind your head. “Remus, look! The stars are coming out!”

Remus lay beside you, his hands clasped on his stomach. You were right, the stars were shimmering high in the sky, the bright hustle and bustle of Hogwarts and the cities far from here, allowing the stars to bless the ground below with their unpolluted brilliance. The moon sat hardly a half crescent, yet still outshining even the most glimmering star.

You and he sat in awe, enjoying the stars in silent admiration. Faint in the distance, Padfoot howled, antagonizing the local wolves into their own howling fit, causing a chuckle to rumble through you. Remus was less amused by the persistent howling of wolves. A cricket chirped nearby, his sound constant and oddly comforting; not far away an owl hooted calmly, the rustle of leaves insinuating he’d caught his dinner.

“Do you know any constellations?” He mused, not looking away from the sky but still leaning his head towards you to show his attention.

You thought a moment, looking at the sky in attempt to find any. “Well, you see those three?” You pointed up vaguely, gesturing to the heavens. “That’s Orion’s Belt; and that star right there, that’s Sirius, and if you join it with those over there, you get Canis Major.”

“You’re making all these up aren’t you?” Remus chuckled, looking to you with an amused smile.

Lowering you arm, defeated, you groaned. “I had hoped you wouldn’t notice.” You turned to him, rolling onto your side with your bicep under your head as a pillow. “What gave me away?”

“For starters, Sirius is on the opposite side of the sky,” Remus chuckled, pointing to said star. “Having known the man for seven years, he made sure I could find him in the sky.”

You and he shared a laugh, going back to looking at the sky.

You had closed your eyes to enjoy the gentle breeze of the early night when Remus spoke up. “(Name)?”

“Yes?”

“I was…” He paused, obviously choosing his word choice. “Actually nevermind, it’s ridiculous.”

Sitting up, you huffed in an amused manner. “You can’t just leave it off there, Moony, now I’m curious!”

Remus sighed, his eyes tracking a silhouette across the sky as he sat up. “I just heard something earlier… about you, and I was going to ask about it but it’s-”

“What did Sirius say?” You groaned, knowing that playboy gossip always had something juicy on the end of that silver tongue of his.

“He possibly insinuated that you might… fancy me?” Remus seemed as though the words were uncomfortable in his mouth. “I almost told him to sod off, you know. Such nonsense, you liking me? Honestly, it’s pretty preposterous don’t you think?” He gave a chuckle, lowering his head and scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “Poor sod probably just had too much firewhiskey that night, was dreaming things.”

“I don’t think so, Moons,” you muttered, nibbling your bottom lip with worry. “It’s not totally ludicrous.”

“Of course it is!” Remus exclaimed, tossing his hand up in the air. “I mean, look at you!” His eyes glanced over you, a bewildered smile on his face. “You’re absolutely stunning, with more brains than you know what to do with, and… you’re an absolute delight to be around, you’re breathtakingly witty and clever as the devil.”

Your lips fumbled to create words, your eyes wide as dinner plates as they searched the blanket for a response. Remus meanwhile, had continued to go on.

“And look at me, a mess beyond correction.” He slumped his shoulders as he continued. “I hardly sleep, eating is the last thing on my mind half the time. I’m not sure how I made it to Prefect, I never study and I always feel like I’m behind in class because… well, because I am! And for you, to possibly like that, is indeed ludicrous.”

“I have a different opinion,” you shrugged, looking up through the bit of hair the wind had pushed to your face. “I do like you, believe it or not.” You hesitantly reached your hand over to his, he flinched at the contact. “I don’t mind all those things, Remus, because… well, because they’re wrong.”

“They-”

“Wrong, Remus,” you insisted gently, finally looking him in the eye. “You’re the smartest person I know, James and Sirius would’ve been expelled by now had it not been for you. You keep them together, you keep them from killing themselves, or others. You’re responsible for your entire house, you’ve been given that title because you earned it, Remus.”

His lips were parted, words forming at the tip of his tongue yet swallowed down by his nerves.

“You’re clever, cleverer than I am, cleverer than anyone in Hogwarts,” you took his hand in yours, lifting it up. “And you’re the strongest person I know. All of this,” you gently ran your thumb over a scar on his hand. “I… It’s admirable, I am in constant awe of how strong you are.”

“Look at me, (Name),” Remus whispered, shaking his head. “Look at me, scars and scrapes and cuts and bruises and-”

“And the brightest eyes, and the softest hair and the sweetest voice,” you continued on, placing a hand on his cheek. “Remus, you’re really, really awesome, you know that?”

“You’re one to talk,” Remus chuckled, leaning into your hand. “You’re insane for thinking all of this, you know?”

You sighed, tracing your thumb over a scar on his cheek. “Oh well, but it’s not going to go away.”

“How can I make it go away?” Remus murmured, his breath hitching at the feeling of your thumb on his skin.

“You can try kissing me.”

Remus’ breath hitched, his mouth falling open and his eyes widening. “I… uh, I don’t… not that that I mean I-”

“Remus,” you interrupted, smiling at the flustered boy. “Here.” You slowly leaned in, kissing his cheek, right on his newest scar. “Go steady with me?”

#remus x reader #remus fluff #remus lupin #remus imagine #remus #marauders era remus #mod emerald #mod emerald writes #mod emerald rants

100 notes · View notes