#im just spamming criminal minds shit now

[bastardsonofday]

The Wilting Rose Job

Chapter Three: Down the Rabbit Hole

sooooo im finishing up chapter four of this fic and just now realizing that I never updated chapter three onto here so here it is :)

this chapter was styled in the way of a leverage episode bc of course this whole story is based off of leverage. 

warning: drugs

ao3  masterlist

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Alfred Hybern liked galas and money. He liked doing what and who he wished, and he wasn’t lacking in either of those things. Alfred loved going to galas, not that he liked the charity aspect—he was required to pay a little for these things—however, this was where he met new investors and more investors meant more money, and more money made him happy.

So Alfred sat through the charity dinner, schmoozing with potential clients. The woman he was seated next to was gorgeous enough that he wasn’t offended to stay near her for six hours. Blonde hair that was tied up artfully around her head, a long red dress that clung in all the right places. Expensive and shiny jewelry.

“I’m Andromache Nyxton, Mr…?” The woman introduced herself, holding out a perfectly manicured hand.

“Mr. Alfred Hybern.” He said, taking it. He gave the back of her hand a gentle kiss. He saw the smile that flickered on her carefully aloof face. He resisted raising an eyebrow. Poker face was what would win him clients. Never show how intrigued you were. The smile meant that she was either charmed or liked him or both. Good, he could pluck her like the chicken she was. Or peacock—pretty enough, he guessed.

“So,” Andromache Nyxton said, “what are you in?”

“Stocks. You?”

Andromache shrugged. “Imports and exports. You know.”

“Import/exports? At a charity?”

Andromache laughed. “What can I say? The big boss wants some good press. I’m the Prythian associate.”

Ah, imports and exports, of course it was international. Foreign investors… different laws… tricky business. “Ah. I see.”

“And you? Here for the grilled chicken?”

“I chose the steak myself.”

“Wise choice.” Andromache said, smiling kindly. She leaned over and bumped his shoulder with hers, as if sharing a secret. “So did I.”

Hybern was beginning to like her.

~~~

Alfred Hybern liked Andromache even more when she managed to secure the head of the Subburg hospital for IV bags, a man Alfred knew from experience who could not be convinced by just a pretty face. Alfred had sent his best, and Amarantha had been turned away. Points were to be awarded to Andromache. She slid smoothly in the minefield of galas. She effortlessly navigated through the intricacies of who sat next to whom and who owed money and favors to whom.

It was like she was made for this. Born from it and wrapped in red and glittering negotiations. It was slightly stunning. Alfred narrowed his eyes. Almost too stunning. Something about her was just… too perfect. Too by the book.

And she said she’d chosen steak over grilled chicken. What woman with her figure did that?

Andromache, flushed from dazzling the crowd and getting far too many business cards for any normal charity gala, leaned over to Hybern. She pressed a crystal glass to her blood colored lips. “You know,” she said, “as fun as these pigeons were to pluck, I’m interested in some bigger game. What about you?”

“Leave a gala early? It’s for charity.”

“What can I say?” Andromache grinned wickedly. “I’m just bad like that.” Then she took a sip of her water without looking at him. As if she hadn’t mentioned anything at all.

“Plus, I’ve already paid my good Samaritan points, and we’ve been here a good four and a half hours. So, what do you say? Up for a midnight snack that doesn’t come in a tiny portion?” She gave him a conspiratorial wink.

“Why me?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve had more successful men than me fawn over you all night. And I’m pretty successful. So why me?”

“Because you’re not boring and you’ve been my gossip buddy all night long.” She said, toying at her napkin. She shrugged. “Plus, you’re the only person here who hasn’t handed me a business card. For some reason I like that.”

Alfred snorted into his wine. A silence greeted him and he looked up at her entreating expression. She was serious about going. Huh.

Why not?

“So, what were you thinking?”

“Here’s how it works.” Rhysand explained. “A holdings company does one thing and one thing only, it buys stock. Once a holdings company buys stock it can do one of three things, either it can take the money it makes from dividends, it can use its dividends to buy more stock, or it can make money by selling its shares and buying new stock. Almost all holding companies use their dividends to buy more stock, but they don’t technically have to. This leave a lot of disposable money for them, and hopefully, for us.

“We’re going to base the con off of one assumption: that we will be able to convince the CEO of Hybern Holdings to use a portion of his dividends in interstate or foreign criminal activities. Which shouldn’t be hard if he is so greedy that he skims money from a holdings company of all places.”

Feyre looked confused.

“CEOs of holding companies can get very rich, very easily by doing things legally.” Lucien explained quietly. Feyre nodded.

“Now, to be charged with RICO one must be guilty of at least two of the thirty-five possible charges.” Mor said.

Feyre’s eyes went wide. “Thirty-five?” She mouthed to Lucien.

Lucien shrugged. Lucien was aware of the RICO act, but wasn’t an expert. He knew a basis of the laws, as he needed to as CFO. He had to admit though, the Inner Circle did seem to know what they were talking about. He’d never assumed that Tamlin would ever be arrested on gangster charges.

“We’ve decided on these two to set the CEO of Hybern—Alfred Hybern—on. But if he wants to commit some other RICO charges,” Mor smiled, “we won’t object.”

Azriel pulled up some pictures of Alfred Hybern. “We’ll be focusing on money-laundering, and drug-running and smuggling.”

“How will you get him to do that?” Lucien asked. “I assume you can’t just walk up to him and offer him cocaine and ask him to send it across state-lines.”

These ‘midnight snack’ dates, as Mor had come to refer to them in her head, had started to take a toll on her shoes. The first night Mor had brought him to a club and they’d drunk and danced (with a bit of convincing on Mor’s part, but she could tell he liked how she flirted with him and pushed him). Then a week later, they’d happened to have been at another function together. Then another, and then, thanks to Azriel, yet another. Every night, Mor convinced Hybern to come out with her and party. Slowly, she amped it up. First it was alcohol, then a slightly more sleazy club. Slowly, slowly, she pulled Hybern to the edge.

Then it was time.

The night started out with them meeting up at a mixer for the opening of some law firm or another and Hybern was making subtle eyes at her all evening. Then, midnight came, and Mor excused herself and subsequently, like a lamb to the slaughter, Hybern did as well.

And when she met him by his car, she smiled at him because sometimes, it was just too easy.

Cassian was waiting for them when they made it to the club. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” Mor whispered to him, pulling off Hybern’s tie.

Hybern’s eyebrow quirked. His carefully maintained poker face he used for business beginning to slip. Mor grinned, way too easy.

Mor pulled him to the bar, and sat down, watching Cassian work behind it. “Your usual Andy?” Cassian asked.

“Thanks honey.”

“That is where Mor and Cassian come in.” Az explained.

“And yes we can get him to do just that, well I can.” Mor said with a wink. “Besides, we’ll have a good backstory to sell it. And maybe I’ll cozy up to him a little.”

Cassian nodded towards the half-line of sugar on the table. Mor grinned and snorted up the fake-cocaine. Hybern’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.

“Give him a line?” Mor asked.

Cassian grinned conspiratorially and pulled out a dime bag. “It’s gonna cost.”

“Put it on my tab-”

“Nu-uh.” Hybern said. “I don’t do that shit.”

“Oh come on, Alfie. Sure you do. And this is the good stuff too-”

“Drugs are out of the question.”

“But Alfie...” Mor whined, swinging an arm around his shoulder. She pressed a pair of lips to his ear. “It’s not fun if I’m the only one doing it.”

Alfred Hybern narrowed his eyes.

“Besides, no one will see us. Devlon won’t tell anyone. Will you, Dev baby?” Mor hummed, running a finger up Cass’ forearm.

“You know me, baby. Quiet as death. Besides, what’s the point of selling you out?” Cass asked. His sleeve rid up a little which let his Nightmare Court tattoo show. Mor could tell that Hybern’s eyes went down to the tattoo. Therefore, he knew. And thus, the bait was set. Mor let the string of her dress slide off of her shoulder and expose the matching tattoo on her back.

Hybern’s eyes flickered over to it, and he frowned.

“Come on, Alfie. Have a little fun. I won’t tell.” Mor begged. “Besides, I’m paying.”

“You can’t pay for your own stuff, Andy.” Cass corrected.

Mor laughed, and threw back her head. Hybern’s eyes dragged up her front.

Cassian moved to put the dime bag back in his pocket. “Wait.” Hybern said. Mor grinned. Hook, line, and sinker. “Let’s have a little fun.”

“Okay, so how does Tamlin get involved?” Feyre asked.

“First, we need an investigation to get started, thanks to Rhys, the cop of our choosing, and… you.”

“Me?”

“I hope you don’t mind, Feyre. But we’ll require you to help us rope in the cop.”

“Okay, so what do I need to do?”

Vassa Russel frowned when she received a text from a number not in her contacts. She was about to delete it, assuming it spam, when she saw the contents.

I need protection, help me and I’ll report a crime

Vassa cocked an eyebrow. “Uh, Goldie?”

Regina Goldson looked up from her desk. “What?”

“You recognize this number?” Vassa asked. Detective Goldson walked over to Vassa, peering over her shoulder.

“No.”

You know knowledge of a crime without reporting it is a crime, itself, right?

Vassa snorted. She pulled up 411.com. This was probably some kid, cases didn’t fall into peoples laps like this. Just to make sure, Vassa added: If this is a hoax, you realize that this is also a crime. You can get jail-time.

The real question was why Vassa? How did this person get her private phone number?

The 411 search came up empty.

Vassa expected for the number to never reply, but she didn’t block it. Just in case.

Loud yelling brought her back to the moment. Vassa glanced over to the Captain's office where his latest rich guy was having a tantrum. As a side effect of the many large and rich companies having their bases in Subburg, seeing rich men in the Captain’s office having conniptions was common. Usually though, it was the Vanserra patriarch, while the son in trouble in question would smirk at Vassa from across her desk. She would inevitably be told to let him go as the charges would be dropped somehow.

Vassa hated them.

This time it wasn’t Beron Vanserra behind the Captain’s doors. Instead, it was Tamlin Rose. Vassa’s ears perked up as he stormed out. The Captain right behind him.

Tamlin Rose had only come to the police on one matter before, as far as Vassa could remember, when his girlfriend went missing a few months ago. She’d ended up being at her sister’s. Vassa hadn’t been on the case but she’s remembered it being all over the office.

Tamlin Rose, it was said, was one who liked his privacy. Rare, among these types. Last time, his girlfriend’s bout of forgetfulness (the story was that she’d been needed home quickly and forgot to tell Tamlin in the craziness) had made the papers, but only just.

This time it seemed, something he didn’t want the papers to know was happening. Tamlin Rose’s voice lowered suddenly when he stormed into the bullpen, a hand curling a paper into a ball.

“Mr. Rose,” the Captain hissed, to keep the low voice, “this is highly irregular-”

Tamlin Rose’s eyes flickered across the bullpen. Had Vassa done like her coworkers and look away—terrified of incurring the man’s wrath—she might have been spared his attention. But as it was, Vassa wasn’t one to back away. Ever.

Tamlin Rose pointed at her. “That one.” He ordered and then stormed back into the office, door slamming behind him.

The Captain made an expression of exasperation and anger, letting out a strangled groan along with it, and then gave Vassa the two finger beckon (which, for anyone keeping score, was much more dangerous than the one finger beckon).

“Ooo~” Goldie hissed behind Vassa’s back as she stood to walk to the office. “Someone’s in trouble.”

Vassa wasn’t in trouble. At least, she couldn’t think of any reason she would be. She just gave Goldie a rude gesture without breaking her stride.

The Captain’s door clicked closed behind her.

“Sit down, Detective Russel.” He sighed. He rubbed his temples, as if to abate the headache of Tamlin Rose. If Vassa was being honest she’d never want to be Captain or Commissioner here. They didn’t let these rich men flounder like the other folk. They didn’t hold them accountable for the horrors they’d helped contribute to. So what if they donate a million or so, when that is barely a full hour’s work for them. All of them were born into their money anyway, not one worked a day in their lives.

Though, Vassa supposed, if she had to pick one to support it may be Tamlin Rose. After he’d taken in that Lucien Vanserra… from what Vassa had heard Tamlin had saved the youngest Vanserra life. Though, he certainly hadn’t done anything significant for the community since then.

“Detective, the matter Mr. Rose and I have to discuss with you is one of delicacy and importance-”

Vassa stopped listening to her Captain as he continued fluffing up the situation. Instead she studied Tamlin Rose. His eyes were bloodshot. His nails bitten to the quick. He was shaking. Actually shaking, as his arms rested against the chair. His knuckles were white. Even those surrounding the thing he clutched in his fist. His long hair was tousled in the unintentional way.

“She’s gone again, isn’t she?” Vassa asked, halting her Captain.

Tamlin Rose’s wild eyes flickered to her.

“Have you called her family?”

“Of course I have.” Rose snarled. “Maybe I chose the wrong one. Get out.”

“Hey, it wasn’t that crazy a question.” Vassa argued, hands up in surrender. “You didn’t last time-” the glare she got from Rose should have silenced her. But it didn’t. Vassa’s best talent was pissing people off, and she was always up to a challenge. Vassa smiled in a way that was too close to baring her teeth. “-I mean really. Who wouldn’t have checked there first?”

“She had a bad relationship with her family.” He explained shortly. “But family emergencies bypass all discontentment. Don’t they?” He narrowed his eyes, as if he dared her to disagree.

Vassa shrugged. “Leaving twice without telling you… sounds like she wants to be gone to me.” The Captain beside her gasped in mortification that she would say something like that.

“Feyre is… flighty.”

“That doesn’t sound like someone you want in a high position in your company.” Vassa felt like this conversation was more of a battle than a simple talk. She had a feeling that Tamlin Rose felt similarly.

“She wanted a job, so I gave her a job.” Rose shrugged in a fashion that was meant to say the job itself meant nothing to him or her. But his shoulders were too tense for it to be believable. “Lucien does-” He froze, as if he’d forgotten that he wasn’t supposed to say something. Then he continued, more carefully, “Lucien did most of her work anyway.”

“Where’s Lucien?” Vassa asked, voice cold. If Lucien was gone too…

Rose shrugged again, as if his friend was unimportant. “Probably with Feyre. She kept mentioning before she left that she wanted to go on vacation, and when I checked our room, some of her clothes were gone. Same with Lucien. I checked out financials and a few plane tickets to random vacation spots were placed. But when I called the airports said the tickets were never validated. I’m worried that Feyre dragged Lucien out on one of her whims and something… happened.”

He looked entreatingly at Vassa. “Look, I just want to know where she is and that she’s safe. If so, I’ll stop bothering all of you. Promise.”

Something about the fact that he seemed to only care about Feyre Archeron rubbed Vassa the wrong way.

“I’m not missing persons. I’m financial crimes.”

“Which was why Mr. Rose here picked you. He-”

“Last time Feyre had a fit of flight, I went to the missing persons unit here. I was promised that they would keep my privacy. The tabloids got ahold of the story anyway. Now, I’m going a new way. Don’t tell anyone about the details of this case or I will ask you to be removed from it.”

Vassa didn’t like being ordered around. So why she agreed she wasn’t sure. Maybe for Feyre’s sake, although why she felt that Archeron and Vanserra needed her protection, she wasn’t quite sure either.

“I’ll send you the necessary information.” Tamlin Rose said. He stood and turned, walking out.

“Thank you for not being… yourself, Vassa.”

“What?” Vassa asked bitterly. “Were you afraid I would scare him away?”

“Vassa… just do what he says. Please.” The Captain begged.

Vassa stood and waved to the Captain on her way out. “No promises.” She had work to do.

It was only once she’d left the Captain’s office that she checked her phone, surprised to see a response from the unknown phone number.

I must keep my anonymity for my safety.  The crime I am going to report is one committed by Tamlin Rose.

Okay, Vassa thought, now I’m interested.

“Then what?”

“Then, we make up some emails, fudge some details, hack a few things...”

Lucien scrolled through Azriel’s computer files. He’d said he’d work on convincing Hybern to launder the money he received as payment for smuggling by working him. Leaving ads and other subliminal messages to control him. He said con artists used them all the time, that Mor in fact was doing it right now. That she had mentioned that her favorite season was spring and that she loved roses. The color red which she always wore. It was all part of the act.

Lucien was distinctly reminded that everything these people did was calculated. No words were out of place, no sentences unmeant.

Lucien felt wrong. He felt-

“Don’t open that file.”

Lucien jumped about a foot in the air.

“What?”

“Don’t open that file.” Azriel said. He came up from behind Lucien and pulled up a chair to the giant moniter-table. “It’s one of the ones for Hybern. It’ll try and convince you to put stock in Spring and Co. So, you know, I wouldn’t.”

A wry smile graced Lucien’s face, just before he made eye contact with Azriel and then dropped it. Lucien slid his mask back into place.

“You’re really going to send that to him.”

“Yup. Half the work in these cons is me.”

“Wow.” Lucien tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut. Half of Tamlin’s work was Lucien too. Without him, Tamlin may not be lost but he’d certainly have to recover quickly.

All those people… out of jobs.

What was Lucien doing? What was he thinking? He had to go back! If he went back now, maybe Tamlin would-Maybe Tam would forgive him. Maybe-

Azriel put a hand on Lucien’s. “Don’t even think it.”

“But-”

“He hit you Lucien. He hurt you. He abused Feyre. You’re better than him, Lucien. Trust us. We’ll deal with the repercussions. We always do. Somehow, Rhys always comes up smelling like roses—good ones—and he always brings us with him. He’ll bring you and everyone in our wake too.” Azriel squeezed Lucien’s hand. Lucien’s eyes dragged down to his fingers, which are gnarled and nail-less from some long ago burns.

And again, Lucien doesn’t feel so alone, only this time he didn’t want to go back. Lucien pulled his hand back. Azriel leaned back.

“You want to stay? You can see what I do. I have a nagging feeling you’ll like it.”

Lucien let himself smile. Azriel didn’t look at him, as if he knew that eye contact would make it worse. Instead, Azriel just began to work, and Lucien watched.

“You know, the usual,”

“And voila: we’re golden, baby.” Rhys said. He leaned back against his chair proudly, a sly grin on his face. “Our inquisitive cop will check into Tamlin’s financials, find the inconsistencies. Dig a little deeper. And finally, he’ll go to jail.”

“And what if that doesn’t work?” Lucien asked.

Az glanced at Rhys. Cassian snorted. “It always works.”

“Until it doesn’t.”

“Foxy, you worry too much.” Cass said.

“It’s a fair question, Cass.” Az said. “Would it help if I told you that this is only Plan A?”

Lucien’s eyes widened. “Only Plan A? How many ‘Plans’ do you have?”

Rhys shrugged. “Enough.” He said. And that was the end of that.

Azriel fiddled with the fake mustache he’d donned to help him attempt to stay unrecognizable. The janitor uniform Cass had found for him was too small, but it would have to do. He was halfway to the server room when he saw her—her burning red hair impossible to miss.

Azriel, as inconspicuously as possible, snapped a picture of her and sent it straight to Rhys.

What is she doing here?

The response was quick.

Hang on

Lucien says that Tamlin hates her, she shouldnt be there

Lucien knows Amarantha?

Says she’s Hybern’s chosen associate to deal with Tamlin

Azriel dropped his phone into his pocket so he could pretend to be busy with cleaning while Tamlin and Amarantha stomped by him. Of course. Of course their luck would mean that Hybern’s contact with Tamlin was the most notorious fixer alive. And a complete sociopath at that.  Tamlin was hissing like an angry cat while Amarantha seemed slightly amused.

“-none of your business-!” Tamlin snarled.

“Darling,” Amarantha flipped her hair over her shoulder, her cruel eyes narrow despite the amused curl to her lips. “Everything about this company is by business.”

They stormed down the corridor and turned, footsteps echoing.

Azriel pulled out his phone. Whatever she’s here for… it can’t be good.

Rhys’ response was quick. Agreed. There was a pause, then: okay, i’m calling everyone in. We need to regroup. We go to plan C for now

Azriel dipped his phone back in his pocket. Plan C it was.

[duelingdestiny]

☠ ♥ ♦ ♢ ✮☄ ☯ ☀ ☁ ☂ ☢ ☣ ❀ ✧❥ ❦ ❧ ✖ ♒❣

☠ What does someone have to do for an instant unfollow from you?

Start public shit on my dash. I literally cannot handle it. I don’t want to be involved. I don’t want to see it. I’ve been a part of it before. I’ve screwed up and started it myself before, and at this time in my life I’m avoiding it like the plague.

 ♥What's the WORST thing that has happened to you rp wise?

Oh my god. Uhhhhh. Wow so okay the thing I actually regret rp wise is losing one of my favorite partners due to something really stupid that could have been handled WAY better on both sides but it’s really helped me to handle things better as a person. Still, I regret losing that person as an RP partner, and I probably always will. 

♦ What was a mildly annoying thing that has happened to you rp wise?

I mean the really big thing that messes with me is because of character bleed. When people just leave Atem. It really messes him up. Or when any relationship he’s in just ends. It’s like he has no closure and it messes with me to have to deal with his pining ass. 

♢ Has anyone ever tried to steal your blog? Your headcanons? Icons? All that jazz

In short Yes. I’ve been around possibly the longest at the point and I’ve seen a lot of my hcs migrate to other Yami/Atem blogs, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m flattered, besides most of them aren’t so far fetched that people couldn’t come up with them on their own. I will however flip shit over my icons Masaya90 made them for me as a commission and I will absolutely fight someone over them, but you know how I feel about stolen art anyways

✮ Have you managed to stay away from drama?

AHAHAHAHAHAHA. I’m sorry give me a moment. Honestly yes. Other than the drama I have caused for myself in the past? All and all I am very careful about who I interact with. I just don’t deal with it. I ignore the “discourse” and just do what I’m here to do. That’s all I can do. 

☄ Have you ever been in the middle of drama?

Yes. I have been in the middle. And I’ve handled being in the middle badly, and I’ve tried my best to rectify my mistakes which is all anyone can do. I’ve made amends to the people I feel like I needed to make amends to and as a general rule I just ignore drama altogether now. 

☯ Have you ever tried to bring peace to a situation?

I have. Sometimes I succeed, others I have failed miserably. I’ll tell you this. I will generally always try to bring peace to things. I don’t like being at odds with anyone. It’s too much work and I’m too lazy to hold a grudge. 

☀ What's your rp pet peeve?

Oh this is a tie, between people just putting Atem in a situation he would NEVER be in, in a starter (without discussing it with me prior) or people who don’t cut their posts and use mobile as an excuse. I am on mobile some times and I just make a new post and mention my rp partner in it so we don’t clog the dash. It’s not rocket surgery. 

☁ Have you ever forgiven a partner when you shouldn't have?

I don’t think so mainly because if two people can work through something I think they should. I used to not think that but I’ve learned a lot and some times people just fuck up you know? So no. I don’t think I’ve ever forgiven someone when I shouldn’t have because everyone deserves another chance. 

☂ Have you ever been forgiven when you knew you shouldn't have been?

Again, see post above

☢ What fads/trends are you so over?

CONTAINER BLOGS!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I have fucking unfollowed people for this shit. I understand that you want your blog to be pretty, but holy shit. Just font that’s a size 7 and I have to blow up the page like 9 times in order to read anything and most of them have the practically non existent scroll bar and AUTO PLAY fucking terrifies me. Like just please know every time I have to go on your blog and music starts out of no where you are giving me a HEART ATTACK. Just I know you think it looks pretty but before you decide on the things like that go on your blog and look at it. USE it. User friendly is a REALLY important thing guys. 

☣ Have you ever rp'd with someone you knew for a fact was abusive but tried to give them a chance/to make up your own opinion on the roleplayer? Did they change or did you understand what people were talking about?

Due to past personal experiences I like to make up my own mind about people. Honestly the best relationship came from that. Making up my own mind. A lot of really good friendships have come from that so yes, I always try to give people a chance no matter what I’ve heard, because what you hear is probably only half of the truth to being with. 

❀ What has made you completely lose your chill?

People being shitty to others on the dash publicly. And yes before anyone points a finger, I have been in on that once and it was an awful stupid idea. It doesn’t help anything. It literally doesn’t. Tearing someone up in public makes you look like a giant asshole. We have Inboxes and IM systems and a plethora of other social media so if you have an issue with someone you can talk to them like they are a person and explain your grievance and if it’s THAT big of a deal just unfollow them and block them if you need to, but there’s no reason to be Captain Asshole on the dash. No one really wants to see it and it makes everyone’s experience really uncomfortable so bottom line? Just don’t call people out publicly. 

✧ Do you agree with reblog karma or is it forced interaction?

I’m up in the air with this. I have WAY too many followers and it’s extremely frustrating to reblog a meme get 30 reblogs off said meme and get literally not one thing in my inbox from said meme. But I remind myself timezones, and maybe people don’t feel like that will work for our muses but here’s the really easy thing that you can do if that’s the case. REBLOG FROM THE SOURCE. Then people don’t get the hit that basically looks like “I don’t WANT to interact with you.” and it makes everyones lives a little better. But I REALLY support sending memes in. I have days where I will just make a post that is MEME HOUR which is if you post a meme as long as I think Atem would be down, I will send you in an ask for it. It’s really fun and it makes up for the times when I’m not on to spam peoples assboxes. 

❥ Has someone ever ruined an FC or character for you? 

Honestly someone has ruined every character for me at one time or another lol but FC I’ve got a good one. Now it wasn’t from RP but Gina Torres who is one of the prettiest people imho was RUINED for me by the show Angel. Because (SPOILER ALERT) She’s a giant pile of maggots okay? And she’s in some of my fave shows: Firely, Any Day Now, Suits. But I cannot unsee her face on Angel. She just shows up in shit and I scream. She popped up on Criminal Minds once and I just shut it off. She’s in Hannibal and I REALLY want to watch that. DAMMIT. 

❦ Has someone been jealous of you? 

Maybe, but I wouldn’t know why...I mean I’m just me. Oh! Maybe when I go to cons and meet awesome people? I’d be jealous of me then too. 

❧ Have you ever been jealous of anyone? 

Yes. There are people I get jealous of. People who get more interaction, people who are here all the time, people who are in a better time zone. So yeah, happens. 

✖ How has Tumblr RP changed since you started?

Like I said before, I think I have been here longer than most in this fandom at least the rp side and HOO BOY, things have changed a lot. Remember when we had to tag a post on the side? Remember when Missing E was the extension we all had? No? That’s because I’ve been here forever. Before this I was in the SPN fandom. So yeah. I feel like I’ve stuck around a lot longer than a lot of people. What kills me is that things have changed but not really improved? When are we going to be able to lock a post so people’s art can’t be stolen? When are we going to be able to delete a post and all clones of that post are deleted as well so someone who made a mistake 6 years ago and LEARNED from it doesn’t have to wake up with hate in their inbox every morning? 

♒ Thoughts on the fandom you're currently rping in?

I actually really love both the fandoms I’m in right now, though both have some issues. Voltron is fucking unhinged about some shit I won’t get into because no one really cares in this fandom but HOO BOY I’m glad we don’t have that here because we literally have the same thing going on here. HA! I just thought of that. But yeah age gaps man. Just fuck everything about it. Okay done ranting about this before I get my first hate mail

❣ How salty are you feeling right now?

Ask Sophie she’s had to listen to me rant for the last hour about everything on this list. I just screamed about the SPN fandom confusing reality with porn for 20 minutes and then the Josh Keaton thing with his kids so yeah, pretty fucking salty that people can’t just get the fuck along. 

[toastmgoats]

I feel like this needs to be addressed.

If someone has on again, off again activity on the internet, either monthly or even over a year, with close to 0 warning or announcement about the sudden absence (or even just a quick "hey gonna disappear for a while idk how long, later"), please try treating the issue gently, if they're a close friend of yours or you've got bad anxiety, or whatever the situation is. The issue may be completely out of their control.

For the past 4+ years, I've had that unstable activity on the web. This is mainly due to my parents (who truly do care for me) not being comfortable with me communicating to strangers through IM or places like Tumblr, anywhere that has the slightest possibility of communication with someone malicious (like a middle-aged pedo or something). Now yes, I sometimes didn't make smart decisions online, that's expected, but at the same time, I knew the risk and I was willing to take it. I took some precautions ahead of time. This didn't matter to my parents regardless of the extent, and this has resulted in having my phone taken away for months or years at a time.

And that was my only means of online interaction, besides using school library computers, borrowing friends phones, and sneaking through the house past midnight to go to a device I could use. My anxiety became mortifying as I had to resort to acting like a sketchy criminal/dealer just to see if my friends have posted another meme or need emotional support. I couldn't use a computer or a phone (unless for random google searches when I'm wondering how the fuck to grow tomatoes, after asking to borrow my parent's phone). In terms of accessibility to the internet, I was unplugged. Completely. And sneaking online felt like stealth missions that could easily get me killed.

So I would be active for weeks, practically spamming memes, or blurting out headcanons at some ungodly hour—for an hour each day— and then absolute silence. Not even a notice that I'd be travelling or whatever. And with the majority of my friends having the same shitty anxiety I do, most of them would jump to conclusions, messaging me at least once a day, asking if I'm ok. I wouldn't respond for God knows how long, because I'm struggling to find a way to sneak online without getting my emotions torn apart by another punishment.

To this day I am still going to specific websites in secrecy, despite having my own phone that shockingly doesn't have a parental monitoring app installed. I've gotten smarter, sure. Installed an app-hider, opening private tabs, etc... But dammit, doing this every day is eating me alive. I went through hell trying to get a better compromise out of my parents with the help of my counselor, but it wasn't enough, and never will be enough until the day I get to live my own life and move out. And I'm still too embarrassed to talk about this with any of my friends, online or offline. I mean, shit, I act like I'm an addict and can only talk to my dealer through the internet, people might as well think I got caught watching freaky illegal porn or overdosing or whatever.

So please try to not assume the worst in someone that suddenly gives you dead silence, at least for your own peace of mind and mine. Who knows, the other person might be trying their damn hardest to reach you again. They just need more time. Sure, they might just be another internet pal that drifts off over the years, or another weirdo that decides to quit the internet for the hell of it. But they might also be developing mental ailments that won't stop growing, clawing their way back to you to let you know they're ok, they're not dead, but also remind you that they're so thankful for having a friend like you. And yet they can't, not now, not yet. Maybe some day. Hopefully soon. But they're trying.