#it was a fairytale. max had arrived.

[blorbocedes]

In his own words: Christian Horner on world champion Max Verstappen

Verstappen won another world title on Saturday.

written by: Christian Horner, originally published on The Independent, 08, October 2023 [x]

I remember raising it to Helmut Marko – Red Bull’s motorsport consultant – that this kid looks the real deal. Helmut watched him at the Norisring in Germany and he was convinced.

There was interest from Niki Lauda and Mercedes, but Red Bull could take him to Formula One immediately. So, he came to us a very young age. He was 16. And I remember in his very first outing for us – a demonstration run in Rotterdam – he took the front wing off the car! But you could tell in the seat fitting the confidence he had for a young guy was exceptional.

All of the drivers that came through the junior categories learned their trade out of the spotlight, but Max became the youngest driver in Formula One ever. He was only 17. Every move and every mistake he made was scrutinised.

Jean Todt, who was the FIA president at the time, changed the regulations to ensure someone as young and inexperienced as Max could not enter F1. There will never be a driver that moves so rapidly from karting to F1 again. But the way he dealt with it mentally made him a standout character.

It was obvious in his first full F1 season when he drove for Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso, that he was an emerging talent, and at the beginning of 2016 he was performing beyond the capability of the car.

Daniil Kvyat was struggling, and there was a lot of interest in Max. We made the decision to move him to Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Mercedes did their thing when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed into each other on the first lap and Max, who started fourth which was already stunning, made the one-stop strategy work to win in his first Grand Prix with the team. He became the sport’s youngest ever winner, aged 18. It was a fairytale. Max had arrived.

He won races in 2017 and 2018, and in 2019 he became the team leader following Daniel Ricciardo’s departure to Renault. He grew up, and it was a transformative year for him.

In 2021 we had a car and an engine that could take the fight to Mercedes, and that season will go down as one of the most competitive sporting duels the sport has ever had.

From the first race in Bahrain through to Abu Dhabi, Max and Lewis were like two heavyweights going up against each other. Max was a dog with a bone. He wouldn’t let it go. And you couldn’t script that they would head to the final race tied on points.

Max was very cool. He put the car on pole, and we took our opportunity under the final safety car. Max had one lap to get the job done. I don’t think Lewis expected Max to attack in the corner that he did, and people overlook that he still had to beat Lewis. He still had to win the race. It wasn’t about two unlapped backmarkers. It was about Max reacting to the circumstances and getting the job done. And under the most intense pressure he did just that. He sent it down the inside and the whole place went bananas.

To see him and his father, Jos, celebrate was a very special moment because it was the culmination of all the effort that his father had put into him at a very young age. Max achieved his goal, and anything after that was the icing on the cake, because for him, it was all about becoming a world champion.

Max has still got all the tenacity he had when he got in the car as a 17-year-old, but he now marries that with experience. Outside of the car, he is a normal guy, too. He has his feet on the ground and he hasn’t had his head turned by fame and fortune. He still loves racing, and he has got good, grounded principals.

He is competitive and wears his heart on his sleeve. He is very honest. He will give you everything, but he expects everything in return.

He can go on to achieve so much more. We are riding a wave at the moment, and we want to continue riding that wave for as long as we can.

Will Max be in Formula One for a long, long time? I don’t think so. He has ambitions beyond F1 and beyond racing. And at 26, 36 seems a long way away.

We have a long-term agreement with him until 2028, and he has always said he will be happy to start and end his career here, but motivation will be a crucial factor.

[russo-woso]

How could you? | Alessia Russo

"Baby, stop it. You know we've got training." You said, giggling as your wife pressed kisses all over your face and nose.

"We'll make up an excuse. I just wanna stay with you today." Alessia mumbled into your neck, and you stroked her hair.

It had been harder recently, your relationship had been tested.

Alessia played for Arsenal, and you played for Chelsea.

Both teams were definitely not a good mix, but you and Alessia were.

You had been together for three years.

Both of you had met when Alessia moved to Manchester United. Within just a few weeks of knowing one another, you were already a power couple.

You'd asked her out for dinner after two weeks, and the following week, she asked you to be her girlfriend.

Before long, you became the power couple in women's football.

Everyone you knew would say you have a fairytale romance.

Meeting at perfect times in your life, falling in love with each other after only three weeks, and then getting married. It really was like you were in a fairytale.

Over the summer, you both made the decision to leave Manchester United.

You were offered a place at Chelsea, whilst Alessia was offered a place at Arsenal.

It wasn't ideal, but you wanted to play for Chelsea, and she wanted to play for Arsenal.

You learnt to deal with it though. Yes, you barely saw each other, but you made up for it on days off.

It was hard though, you couldn't deny it.

Sometimes, just like this morning, you wanted to just stay cuddled up to her, being as close as possible.

"Five more minutes. Please." Your wife looked up at you, pleading with her eyes.

"Five more minutes. I need to shower before I go to training so five at max." You tell her, placing a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear.

————————

"Y/N, can I talk to you quickly?" Sam asked you, clearly hesitant.

You looked at your captain, wondering what she wanted to talk to you about.

Sam was like a big sister to you, she had taken you under her wing when you joined Chelsea.

"Of course." You replied, getting up from your seat and following her outside the room, getting a bit more privacy from your teammates. "What's up?"

"Over the international break, I overheard Kyra talking to mini about Alessia. I'm so sorry, Y/N. I wish I didn't have to tell you this." Sam looked down at the ground. It was as if she couldn't look you in the eye.

"Sammy, what is it? You're worrying me." You said, thoughts clouding your mind.

"Kyra said she slept with less. I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what Kyra said. I'm sorry, Y/N/N." Sam revealed, resting a hand on your arm, rubbing it comfortingly.

Tears ran down your face as you stood there in silence.

You didn't know what to do.

How could Alessia, your lessi, your wife, do this to you?

You walked away from Sam, you walked away from your teammates, jumping in your car before driving home.

You were fuming.

Once you arrived home, you entered your house. Your house that already held so many memories of you and Alessia.

In the hallway, was a framed photograph of you and Alessia on your wedding day.

The anger took over your body and you threw your keys at the photo, the glass shattering, just like your heart.

You sat down on the sofa, emotions taking over as tears streamed down your face.

The familiar white merc appeared on the driveway, and the sound of keys in the door echoed through the house.

"Baby, I'm home!" Alessia shouted through, but she was welcomed with silence. "Baby? Where are you? And why is there glass on the floor? Y/N, you're scaring me. Where are you?"

"How could you?" Your voice broke, as you appeared in the hallway, facing Alessia.

"How could I what? What's wrong, love? Why are you crying?" Alessia moved towards you, immediately wrapping you in a hug. You tensed at her touch, hating the fact that you couldn't hug her back.

"Kyra? You said she was like a sister to you. You cheated on me less. You slept with Kyra." You said, realisation appearing on Alessia's face.

"Baby—" Alessia began but you quickly cut her off.

"—Don't call me that."

"Y/N, we didn't mean to. I was drunk, she was drunk. It was a drunken mistake. I regret it so much. Listen to—" Alessia tried to explain but her words went in one ear and came out the other ear.

"—Was this the night you said you stayed at Leah's?" You asked her, curious to see if she had lied to you.

She gently nodded her head, and you shook yourscin disbelief.

"I can't fucking believe this. You didn't think to look down at the wedding ring on your hand. Fuck you, Alessia. Actually, fuck this. This is over. I'm going." You took your wedding ring off, handing to Alessia, who stood there, tears running down her cheeks, and stormed up the stairs.

You began packing bags, before a small knock was heard.

"Y/N, you have to believe me. We were both so drunk." Alessia attempted to justify her actions.

"It's all bullshit, Alessia. If you regret it so much then why did you do it in the first place. I fell in love with you because you were kind, you were generous, you were loyal. I guess I was wrong about that last one. Niamh said I could stay at hers. Have fun with Cooney-Cross." You told her, walking past her, towards the stairs. "Oh, and Alessia, just so you know, you've really fucking hurt me. I just hope the sex was worth it."

"Y/N, please—" Alessia tried to stop you as you opened the door.

"Bye, Alessia."

[harmonictechnicality]

Eddie's Memory Log: Day 59

part 1 here | part 2 here | part 3 here | part 4 here | part 6 here (ao3 link here)

Steve spends an obnoxious amount of time in front of the mirror. This isn’t breaking news. If he were in that fairytale with the evil witch and her Mirror Disciple, the mirror would be so sick of Steve’s vanity by now.

The surprising part is that Steve has been in front of the mirror since five in the morning. He couldn’t sleep, his mind is one channel full of reruns. And unfortunately, people don’t have a fucking remote control to turn off their brains, so he’s just stuck reliving Saturday morning over and over again.

Here he is. Just staring blankly at his reflection. Yawning. The reflection yawns back. Flipping his hair to one side, thinking about Eddie. Flipping his hair to the other side, thinking about Eddie. Spraying the flyaways down, thinking about Eddie. Steve has to splash his face with water so much that he’s going to show up to the hospital looking like a shriveled-up sponge.

He’s nearly satisfied with how it’s shaping up when Steve is smacked with a thought. A rewind in his rerun. A loop.

It’s Eddie’s voice, that scratchy morning one that made Steve’s toes curl up in his sneakers. All he can hear now is that voice repeating the same syrupy sentence:

‘Feels like cashmere now…’

Steve listens to the phrase till his knees start to wobble. He reaches up into his hair, just to experience what Eddie experienced that day. Instead, all Steve feels is hardened strands. All of it holding a sticky residue. Not soft at all. And definitely not cashmere. 

Before the loop can start over for the umpteenth time, Steve strips off his meticulously planned outfit and hops into the shower. The water bursts out, directly onto Steve’s nearly satisfactory styling job. It breaks his pride more than his heart, washing all his hard work away so easily.

Steve never really goes out in public with unstyled hair anymore. Not after the time in eighth grade when Hailey Barnes got gum stuck in his hair mid-make out. Steve had to cut it the shortest it had ever been in his whole life. Led to a full blown Samson storyline for the rest of the school year. He still dated, sure - but barely any second dates.

Steve shakes off his biblical trauma and blow-dries for a good fifteen minutes. Look, if he can’t style it, he can at least dry it out. He’s not a complete heathen for christ’s sake. 

It’s weird, staring back at an unstyled Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington. But this might earn him more scalp massages. Potential kisses. Potential memories. So if Eddie wants cashmere, Steve’s gonna fucking give it to him.

He’s probably gonna be late for visiting hours, but he’s hopeful that Eddie will forgive him once he gets his vein-busted hands into Steve’s hair. Driving over the speed limit is not exactly necessary and certainly not legal, but fuck it all.

Fuck it all with the windows down.

It’s a gross habit, but Steve starts chewing on his nail as soon as he reaches the door to Eddie’s room. He’s gotta kick these nerves in the ass, pull his charisma out with a rope or some shit. 

There’s no reason to be nervous, not after Eddie verified that Steve was reading the situation correctly. That should be confirmation enough to make Steve stop his nasty nail-biting and boost his enthusiasm to max volume.

So that’s exactly what he does. Steve swings the door open, pointing directly towards Eddie upon arrival. “You have some serious explaining to do, Munson.”

“Quite the entrance you got there.” Okay. Less enthusiasm than Steve, for sure. Not even half-volume enthusiasm.

“I mean, just leaving me hanging like that?” Steve lightly smacks Eddie’s shoulder.  “You really are the worst eye candy employer of all time.”

Eddie’s eyes narrow as he nods along. “Sure…”

The enthusiasm is dialing down to fucking mute. At this rate, Steve will have to skip the sly banter, go straight for the obvious. His dignity would be damaged if he weren’t so wired.

“Oh come on!” Steve shoves Eddie’s shoulder a bit harder this time. “You’re not gonna say anything about my hair?” Steve runs his hands through it, movie slow-motion style. Then he shakes it out, flounces the ends. Anything for some sign of life at the moment.

“It’s… different.”

No shit, it’s different. It’s certifiable fluff right now. Sort of like angel food cake without the icing. 

Steve has to shift gears yet again. Maybe the straightforward path is too basic for Eddie’s liking. Maybe he prefers the smooth lines. Steve can do smooth. Smooth is his fucking specialty.

“Free cashmere doesn’t come around like this everyday.” Steve sits next to Eddie on the bed, messing around with his heart monitor cord. “So touch it all you want, Eds.”

“What’s gotten into you?” Eddie’s face goes siren red. He scoots away from where Steve is sitting and laughs somewhat nervously. “Was it drugs? Did you finally raid my lunchbox?” 

“No. No drugs. Just…” Happy to see you. A little wounded that you’re not as happy to see me. But still… happiness overall.  “A rare good mood, I guess.”

“I’ll say.” Eddie scoffs. "You are mighty chipper today.”

“Well, yeah.” Steve gets off the bed. He’s clearly making Eddie uncomfortable and he doesn’t know why. His energy is the same as it was Saturday morning. A little heightened, sure, but Eddie thrives off intense shit. Well, he usually does. “I mean, considering what almost happened Saturday.”

Eddie holds up both hands. “Wait. Time out. Saturday?” 

“Yeah.”

“This Saturday?”

“Yeah.”

“You were here on the weekend?”

No. No, this can’t be happening. This is Eddie scribbling Steve-related notes on his arm all over again. The trap door in Steve’s stomach drops, all of his insides feel like they’re plunging down to his feet. The blush that had settled in Steve’s face, is now being whipped around, right up to his forehead. He feels sick. He feels a migraine forming. He feels fucking robbed.

“Please. Please tell you didn’t forget.” Steve’s voice is small.

Eddie doesn’t respond immediately, just studies the grim expression on Steve’s whole face. “I need you to be specific with what you’re talking about, Steve.”

“Do you remember Friday?”

Eddie looks up at the ceiling as if his memories are stored somewhere up high. “You came over. We talked about your mixtape. Bubblegum shit. See a dentist. No insurance, yada yada.”

So far, so good.

“We watched the Home Shopping Network for four hours.”

Three, but Steve lets that one slide. Probably felt like four hours.

“The doctors gave me new medicine for… something, I don’t know.”

“That part is important.”

“Yeah well, you try being on more medications than you can count on your hands.” Eddie barks back.  “See how many ridiculously long latin names you can remember.”

Look. Steve is a patient person - hasn’t always been that way, but the unexplainable circumstances over the last three years has Miyagi’d the shit out of his patience levels.

Five days a week, Steve sits here. Patiently dealing with whatever unpredictable mood Eddie is going through that day. Five days a week for almost three months. Steve doesn’t wanna sit here and do the math because he knows it’ll be depressing numbers. So many days, hours, minutes, that he spends being the Patient Guy.

But with Eddie snapping while Steve is trying to process how such an amazing moment can simply vanish like a demented magic trick? No. Steve is no longer proficient in the art of Patience.

“You know I didn’t mean that…” Eddie mumbles, fiddles with one of the wires attached to him. Not exactly an apology.

“No please, continue to use me as your emotional punching bag. It’s one of my life’s greatest joys.” Steve leans against the wall, all casual and relaxed. But his words bite just as hard as Eddie’s did. The way he looks and sounds are total contradictions to each other.

Eddie rubs hard over his eyes. “Shit, Steve. I’m being an asshole.”

Fucking christ, that’s still not an apology. “Whatever. Just tell me what you remember after the doctor gave you the medicine.”

Eddie sighs. Looks back up at the ceiling while he talks. “I got really sick…”

“Yeah.”

“You were here.”

“Per usual.”

“But I passed the fuck out once the fever went away.”

“And then…” Steve motions his hand for Eddie to keep going.

“And then?”

Goddamnit. “You don’t remember.”

Eddie stays silent. Searching the whole room now for memories that do not exist. Memories that have expired. Memories that are one-sided.

“You don’t remember any of it.” Steve whispers to himself. 

His impatience gets distorted with all of his feelings for Eddie. Everything is barbed-wire sharp, cutting up his throat. He doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, the answers are too unfair. The reality is too bleak. Steve doesn’t deal with his own mental hurdles most days - he can’t add new psychological pitfalls to his life.

Steve is holding his forehead, urging the headache to go away with fingertips and delusion. He opens his eyes momentarily to see Eddie staring back. He looks worried. Powerless.

That makes two of them.

“Steve.” Eddie is almost whispering. “Whatever it is… I’m so sorry that I don’t rem -”

“Don’t do that.” Steve interrupts. “Don’t apologize for having head trauma, Eddie Munson.”

“Alright. I won’t.”

Steve crawls through the barbed wire, gets muddy and messy with the truth. “Look, there’s a lot of other shit you should feel sorry for. Like lashing out at me all the time. And never asking how I’m doing with my… life and shit.”

“There’s a vending machine down the hall that you could fill with all the reasons you should feel sorry. Might as well make a fucking profit off of your remorse.” Steve tacks the dark joke on at the end because he can. Because it’s Eddie.

“But your recovery process is not one of things you should ever feel sorry for. Okay?”

“Yeah.” Eddie gulps. Nods. “Okay.”

Steve is standing at the foot of Eddie’s bed, hands gripped around the plastic railings. His knuckles are the same sterile white as the rest of this god awful room. Steve has become a chameleon to this place that somehow manages to feel haunted by more than just lingering mortality.

“I think I’m gonna head out.” Steve says it without even trying really. The words just stumble out.

Eddie’s mouth opens, forming an ‘oh’ in reply, but no sound comes out with it. 

“Yeah this just isn’t… I don’t know.” It’s a lame thing to say but it’s true. Steve has no fucking clue what to do anymore. “I don’t think I can do this today.”

Eddie doesn’t look at him. “Got it.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

Steve takes those few painful steps to the door. His limbs feel heavy. Like guilt and confusion are weighing him down.

No words fit this moment. This departure. So Steve throws a few out there in hopes that it’ll be enough:

“Just… hang in there.”

It’s not enough. Not even close. 

“Will do, Harrington.” Eddie still doesn’t look at him.

The door shuts, but Steve thinks he feels it slamming all the way down his spine.

Day 60: 

Steve doesn’t go to the hospital today. 

It’s Tuesday.

Day 61:

Day 62:

Day 63:

Day 64:

Day 65:

Steve hasn’t really talked to anyone since Monday, not even Robin. She called him once on Wednesday to see if he wanted to grab dinner with her and Vickie, but he politely declined. Didn’t even bother fabricating an excuse. Just stuck with good old-fashioned ‘no.’ Why reinvent the wheel with rejection?

He’s in dirty clothes and watching an Andy Griffith marathon, when the phone rings. He almost ignores it - except he needs to get more onion dip from the fridge anyways, and the phone is on the way there. Might as well pick it up.

“Harrington residence.” His voice drones. “Steve speaking.”

“Shit.”

Shit. “Eddie?”

“Yeah. Hey, man.”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay?” Apparently, Steve cannot switch off the caring portion of his heart.

“Everything is…” Eddie holds out the ‘s’ sound for a while. “I just needed to apologize.”

“Right.”

“And to thank you.”

Steve lowers his eyebrows. “For what?”

“Being here… when you were.” Eddie’s voice sounds dried up. Like he hasn't spoken much in days. “I know you haven’t been back for a few days, and that’s my own damn fault.”

Most of the behavioral stuff is his fault, yeah. But the icing out bullshit that Steve is pulling is cowardly. He’s not doing anything productive with his free time. He’s deadlocked. Stranded in uncertainty.

Eddie continues. “But for all the days you didn’t give up on me… I guess I didn’t know how much I needed that. So thank you.”

“That’s…” Steve is about to say ‘unnecessary,’ but decides against it. Dismissiveness solves nothing. “You’re welcome.”

“Even when I was being Kathy or Hyde or Grendel or whatever else you managed to come up with behind my back.”

Steve didn’t. He thought up a lot of spiteful shit, but he never said any of it out loud. Okay, maybe some it slipped along the way. He’s not perfect.

“I wouldn’t blame you for never coming back to visit me.” Eddie is talking faster now - which is basically normal Eddie speed. “But if you did… I have something I wanna to give you.”

Steve groans. “Not a mixtape, right?”

“Nah, I’ve tortured you enough with my own vocal ridicule.” Eddie snickers, Steve joins him. “It’s nothing much, but yeah. It’s here if you want it.”

“Okay… yeah. Thanks.”

Steve smiles, very briefly. His mind reminds him far too soon that nothing is fixed. Sure, he’s not pissed off at Eddie. The apology was genuine. Beside, it takes way too much brainpower to hold grudges. 

But Eddie doesn’t remember what Steve will never forget. That’s still very real.

“Hey, Eddie.” Steve checks again. Just to be certain. “You really don’t remember Saturday?”

There’s a pause. “I really am sorry, Steve.” 

Yeah. Sucks just as hard as it did on Monday.

“I know you said not to be sorry for my memory, but I am.”

Well… Eddie remembers their fight.

“Glad you remember that part.” Steve finds the positive. Even if it tastes bitter, it’s positive-ish. “Thanks for calling, Eds.”

“Thanks for not hanging up.”

“Oh, there was deep contemplation about hanging up.”

Eddie lets out a single snort. “Good. At least you’re consistent.”

“I figured there would be lots of bad karma for hanging up on a dude that’s bed-ridden in a hospital.”

“Undoubtedly bad karma. They’d put you in karma jail for such actions.”

“Glad I decided against it then. I’m way too pretty for karma jail.”

“You’re way too pretty for any iteration of jail, Steve Harrington.”

The conversation becomes a stream of easy jokes and harmless insults. Steve prefers it this way, feelings or no feelings. He likes the relaxed discussions that he can have with Eddie. He likes how Eddie will run wild with a topic, so that he can just listen. He likes that Eddie will gladly shut up if Steve wants to interject.

Steve just likes him. Likes Eddie.

They talk until Eddie takes his nighttime meds, promptly falling asleep. Snoring into the phone speaker. Steve stays on the line a little while longer. Waits until he hears the heart monitor beating out a steady rhythm. 

He hangs up and heads to bed himself. Forgets all about his onion dip and the Andy Griffith marathon.

Day 66:

It’s six in the morning. The sun is gradually hitting the horizon, but Steve is wide awake regardless. He’s a fairly competitive person, but Steve definitely shouldn’t be competing with things like nature, goddamnit.

He picks up the phone, the same one he used last night to talk to Eddie. Swears that it’s still warm from being pressed to his cheek for hours.

He calls Robin. It’s inconsiderate as hell to call this early, but she’s the only one of his friends that might answer at this hour.

Might being the key word. There’s no answer.

Steve sucks in a deep breath. Decides to be extra annoying and calls again.

“Hello?” Thank god it’s not her dad.

“Morning, Buckley.”

“Bye.”

“Wait!”

Robin swears under her breath a few times. “Why? Why must you insist on having the sleep schedule of a farm animal, Steve?”

“Trust me, it’s not by choice.”

“I don’t trust anyone that calls me before noon.” She yawns the last few words of her sentence. “Something must be wrong with you.”

“Nothing’s wrong with me. Nothing you didn’t already know about anyway.” Steve does want to chat and get his mind off of things, but he also needed to hear his friend’s voice. “Just wanted to check in.”

This is what they do now. They have to. No one else is going to check on them because no one else even knows that they literally threw flames at a demonic entity. So they call or show up whenever they can.

They have to.

“I’m hanging in there.” Which is seemingly better than ‘I’m here.’ That phrase is an emotional grenade. “How about you?”

Steve laughs, then sighs. “Obviously sleep is a fuckshow. But yeah. Hanging in there too.”

They shift to lighter subjects. Movies they’re excited to see. Plans to try the new Italian restaurant on Main Street. All the petty town gossip they can think of.

Robin talks about Vickie too. Apparently, they have the same top four favorite novels. She mentions that three times in the same breath, so that must be a pretty big deal. Steve can hear her smiling through every ordinary detail she shares, which makes him happy. He’s glad his best friend has found someone that makes the ordinary shit seem like an adventure.

It selfishly makes him think of Eddie though. How badly he wants to bring him up after every other sentence. How random words remind him of something stupid Eddie said or did.

He’s doing so well with holding back, until Robin asks. She says his name, and Steve fucking shivers at hearing it. Eddie’s name, right in his ear.

“Haven’t seen him in a week…” Steve tries to toss it in there casually, despite how un-casual it is.

“Does that mean his memories are back?”

“Not exactly…”

Robin hums into the speaker, catching on quickly to Steve’s un-casualness. “Well, the coffee is already brewing. Might as well tell me what the fuck happened.”

He goes over everything in random order - whatever hits his mind first. The argument, the spending the night, the arm scribbles, the almost-kiss, the phone call. Steve sounds just like Robin talking about Vickie. Very little breaths and stupidly smiling over all the good parts. 

He doesn’t really elaborate on the fact Eddie is a guy and that he’s attracted to him anyways. There’s so many other complicated factors, that part has seemed secondary since the beginning. And honestly, he’s sort of grateful for that. Steve doesn’t want to overthink this. He just wants to see where this will go.

It’s painfully quiet for a while once he gets through everything, even the weirdly erotic hair-massage bit. He’s starting to think they’ve lost connection when he hears Robin crunch her breakfast. Loudly.

“So…” Steve urges. “What do you think?”

She’s chewing her toast even closer to the phone. “About you being in love with Eddie? It’s weird.”

“I’m not in love with Eddie.” 

“I’m sorry - you just told me that his heart monitor beats to the rhythm of a song while he’s sleeping.”

“Patiently.” It's Steve's favorite Journey song.

“Pop the champagne and prepare the gondola, my friend.” Robin exclaims. “Cause that is love.”

“Whatever.” Steve grumbles. Sort of despises how valid her point is. “Can’t believe he doesn’t remember.”

“It’s not like he’s cherry-picking his memories, dingus. This wasn’t on purpose.”

Steve clings to that fact. Robin is hardly ever wrong and he loves that about her. “Can’t believe he mentioned Scoops… that fucker.”

“Oh I can believe it.”

He holds his breath for a few seconds. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Eddie was there loitering samples as much as baby Sinclair.”

“No, he wasn’t.”

“Uh.” She sounds totally annoyed with him. “Yes. He was.”

“I think I’d remember seeing a frizzy-haired hyena at Scoops fucking Ahoy, Robin.”

“You’re so wrong about this, my friend.” Robin is giggling now. Steve never knew a giggle could sound so villainous. “Eddie only came to get samples while you were scooping at the back counter.”

“Okay…” Steve says.

“You know… to enjoy the show.”

“It’s too early for this.” He huffs. “Just spell it out for me, Buckley.”

The villainous giggle returns. Might be more evil this time. “Pretty sure the middle-aged divorcees nicknamed it the Below Deck Viewing Party.”

Steve finally gets it.

Oh fuck. “My ass had a fan club?”

“Afraid so.” Robin says. “And Eddie Munson was one of its most loyal admirers.”

Steve feels like running in circles. Doing burpees or jumping jacks. Maybe he’ll just start clapping over this brand new information that’s illuminating the horniest parts of his mind.

“How have you never told me this?” Steve questions, still sizzling with energy.

“And make your big head even more insufferable?” Robing drones. “Ugh. Gag me.”

That checks out. Steve is going to be so intolerable now, especially when he wears those laundry day khakis that Eddie pretends to hate. Maybe Steve should wear them today, just for the hell of it.

They chat until Robin has to head out to work. Neither of them call much attention to the fact that Steve is crushing on a guy, so Steve assumes his brain was right along.

It’s not a big deal. There’s so much more pressing matters at hand - like the fact that his crush doesn’t remember holding his hand all night long.

That’s way more pressing than crushing on dudes.

Eddie isn’t in his hospital bed.

Eddie isn’t in his room at all.

Those realizations clog Steve’s lungs until he feels them caving in. His mind is flooded with the time that Max wasn’t in her hospital room months ago. The time she coded and nobody fucking knew until they were all standing there in a Max-less room.

Steve slumps against the wall, the weight of his lungs and his premonitions are too heavy for him to stand straight. 

He’s about to crouch down, get his blood-flow to restart, when two nurses and Eddie walk through the door. They’re guiding him on either side, although he seems fairly stable on his own.

Steve is so relieved. Almost as relieved as the time Max came back after coding. Almost.

“You’re back.” It’s bordering on a question - the way Eddie says it.

“I got him,” Steve waves off the nurses. He takes Eddie’s left arm and holds it tight. Balancing both of them in entirely separate ways. The nurses thank him and he starts directing Eddie to the side of the bed. “Weird to see you standing again.”

He hasn’t seen Eddie upright since… 

Steve clears his throat. “You definitely look…” Hot. “Taller than I remember.”

While that’s vaguely true, it is definitely not at the forefront of Steve’s mind. He's touching Eddie again, not in a bed and not to detach all his hospital machinery. He’s just touching him, keeping him steady with his arms, and it’s so fucking nice.

They take a few more steps and the sleeves on Eddie’s hospital gown slips off his shoulder. Steve cannot look away. There’s a gray-ish bruise right on top, extending down to Eddie’s shoulder blade. It’s been healing for months and it’s still discolored. Steve is fixated on the shadowy hue, how Eddie’s pale skin almost glows underneath it. 

If Steve’s hands weren’t busy being helpful right now, he’d touch it. Watch the colors ripple under the pad of his finger.

“Well… glad to refresh your memories then.” Eddie tugs the sleeve back up, covering the patchwork skin that Steve couldn’t stop staring at. “But isn’t that your job? To refresh my impoverished frontal lobe?”

Steve redirects his focus. “Impoverished Frontal Lobe would make a good band name.”

“Shit, you’re so right. Dibs.”

“You already have a band, dumbass.”

“True - but every lead guitarist needs a backup band name. Everyone knows that. Fallouts are a disease to the music industry.”

Eddie remembers he plays guitar. Not accordion.

“You can have Impoverished Frontal Lobe if I can have Hometown Slut.” Steve shrugs to one side.

“Can’t have what’s already yours, Stevie.”

Steve finally releases Eddie’s arm, no reason to still be holding it. No medical reason anyways. He catches himself smiling at the natural return of their banter. Even though Steve left, his attraction to Eddie didn’t budge one goddamn inch.

Picking up the visitation routine is easy. Steve settles into the same well-worn chair, turns on the same daytime tv shows, chews the same minty gum that Sam leaves for him at the check-in desk. It’s all the same. As things should be.

Where Steve is supposed to be.

“It’s good to see you again.” The phrase - Eddie’s words - it all reminds Steve of holding shells up to his ears at the beach. “Sorta got used to you being here.” If Steve listens close enough, there’s an I missed you somewhere inside.

“Same.” There’s an I missed you too inside Steve’s words as well.

“And since your back…” Eddie does a drumroll over his thighs. “I can give you your gift.”

“You didn’t mention on the phone that this was a gift.”

“Thought it was implied.” Eddie bends down, drags a basket out from under his hospital bed. He pushes it over to Steve’s chair. “Here.”

Steve is beaming right away because it’s so tacky and gaudy, all synonyms that relate to Eddie. The basket is painted gold, sort of cracking around the splinters of wood. It’s oversized - much bigger than it needs to be for the items sitting inside of it. The clear plastic around it has a silvery glint and it’s so fucking noisy when he moves it around.

It’s not something Steve would’ve ever picked out to give as a gift. But the whole thing screams Eddie Munson, which makes it perfect.

“Yeah yeah, I know. It’s just one of the baskets from the hospital gift shop.” Eddie gestures broadly around the present, smacking the crinkly plastic a few times. “But I emptied out all of the lousy shit. Even replaced it with all of your vending machine preferences.”

It’s a gentle jab at Steve’s vending machine metaphor from last week. The basket is stacked with Steve’s favorite chips and candy - the ones he still chooses week after week.

Eddie remembers that Steve loves Utz potato chips and Junior Mints.

There’s a few sodas thrown in there too. The bottom layer is littered with the sugar packets that Steve hoards for his cafeteria coffee breaks.

But underneath all the snacks and sugar and sodas, there’s a card. It says ‘Feel Better Soon’ on the front.

“Oh yeah, that came with the basket.” Eddie flicks at the edge of the card. 

The greeting card hits Steve harder than it should. Eddie has no memory of all the monstrous fuckery Steve has witnessed. So, he can’t even begin to know how much Steve needed that silly little reminder. That Steve needs to get well soon, feel better, hang in there. All of those corny sayings, Steve needs all of them.

“I did write something in it though.”

Steve’s eyes shift up to Eddie. “You did?”

Eddie nods. “Didn’t know if you’d wanna talk to me again after last week.”

Eddie still remembers Steve storming out on Monday. (It’s the first time Steve wishes Eddie would forget something.)

Steve opens the card, but Eddie leans over to grab it out of his hands.

“Don’t read it here.” Eddie fans himself with the card. His hair wisps around, reminds Steve of a windstorm. “Even the freak is susceptible to the occasional embarrassment, okay?”

Steve gives Eddie a thumbs up and looks back over the items. None of them are expensive or luxurious or anything like. It’s all stuff Eddie could scavenge around for. But all of it is thoughtful. Significant. 

“So… how are the memories?” Steve asks.

Eddie fills him in while they munch on their mountain of goodies. Music is still the strongest remedy. He tells Steve that if finishes physical therapy, he’ll be approved to play his guitar. Both of them are hopeful that will help unlock his past even more.

Steve pokes fun that Eddie always skipped gym class. He bets Eddie twenty bucks that he’ll play hookie at least once.

Eddie says ‘make it fourty.’ They shake hands on it.

They catch up and get stomachaches from all of the artificially sweetened crap they just ingested. Or maybe they just feel sick from laughing at all the stupid infomercials on tv. Whatever it is, they’re both sore and smiling by the end of the day.

“Guess I should head out.” Steve can already see the gears turning in Eddie’s head, wondering if he’ll be back. “Cool if I return to my usual schedule?”

Eddie’s chest falls. His shoulders relax. “As long as it’s not out of pity.”

“I don’t pity you, Eds.” Steve says. “The nurses, however…”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “Alright, alright. You’ve made your point, dickwad.”

Steve can’t bring himself to hold Eddie’s hand, not really sure why. Things have been mended, but maybe not enough. Maybe it’s all still too fresh.

Instead, Steve rubs the material of Eddie’s blanket. He smooths it out between his fingers, imagining that it’s the material of Eddie’s hospital gown.

Steve’s eyes stay on the fabric in his hands. “If you remember anything after you took that new headache medicine… you’ll tell me, right?”

Eddie knocks his knuckles onto Steve’s hand. Steve lets the fabric go. He looks at Eddie, who is happier now. Warmer.

“Definitely.”

“Good.”

Steve doesn’t wait to read Eddie’s letter. He flips open the card as soon as he gets in his car.

The handwriting is pretty terrible, similar to all of Eddie’s arm scribbles. But Steve must’ve developed an overnight supernatural ability to decode Eddie Munson’s illegible penmanship because he can read every word perfectly:

Steve, The card says ‘Feel Better,’ but that seems insufficient. Just better? Nah. That doesn’t cover all the bases (look see? I threw in a sports term just for you, champ). A trust-fund catalog model that spends the majority of his week with a metalhead who has an affinity for nerd shit? No way. That kind of person deserves so much more than feeling better.  You deserve to feel worthwhile. Yours truly, Eddie/Kathy/Hyde/Grendel/HSN Conspiracy Theorist ps. Sorry I’m so bad at simple apologies. Everything has to be torturously difficult with me, which you already know. pps. Well shit. I never even said it properly.  I’m sorry.

Steve is overwhelmed by all of it. Even Eddie’s little doodles on the back cover are causing him shortness of breath.

It’s a sloppy skyline of mixtape-skyscrapers. The tallest one is directly in the middle. Sprawled across the bottom is the word ‘Munsonopolis,’and in quotations underneath it says, ‘featuring the Ed-pire State Building.’ There’s an exaggerated amount of arrows pointing at the one in the middle - just in case it wasn’t clear which one is the featured tower.

Not subtle, that one.

Steve is vibrating with energy the whole drive home. Eddie made so many references to past memories in that letter. Some were running jokes, sure. But others? The trust-fund dig? The sports joke? Steve has so many bullet points to add to the binder. So many things to notate. So much fucking progress.

But he doesn’t write down any of it. Instead, he staples the card to the notebook paper labeled ‘Day 66.’ Everything he’s ever needed to know is in that card. That ironically perfect card.

And it the faintest penciling, Steve writes one bullet for himself:

Robin was right. Definitely think I’m falling for him.

Day 67:

“Apology accepted, by the way.” Steve tosses a jello cup onto Eddie’s table. He snagged one at the cafeteria on his way in - just so Eddie doesn’t wrongfully assume he wanted pudding yet again. 

Is it cheating to give away the answers? Yeah. But Steve is falling for this guy, so he’d buy an entire fucking factory of gelatin if Eddie requested it.

“So you read the card?” Eddie viciously tears open the jello lid. Sniffs it. Weird.

Eddie remembers writing Steve the letter.

“Read it. Marinated on it. Read it again.” Steve automatically moves the chair close to the bed. Fuck distance. “Maybe I should make deep annotations on my upcoming reread.”

Eddie grumbles. “Is this how it feels when I tease you about jock shit all the time?”

Eddie remembers their banter. Huh.

“Sure does.” And I’m totally obsessed with it.

“Are you willing to change topics?”

Steve peers over to examine Eddie’s mixtape collection. A sideways grin takes over his face. “Wanna tell me why my mixtape is at the top of the pile over there?”

“Uh…” Eddie whips his head over to the tower. “You know what - the apology card mockery wasn’t so bad after all.”

“Oh really?”

“In fact, I enjoyed it.”

Steve teases Eddie for the rest of their visit, completely unforgiving about it. Payback for two months of this.

He’s pretty sure Eddie likes it more than he does.

Day 68:

Eddie is in and out of the room for physical therapy today. Steve is unfazed by the lack of quality time because any time Eddie does return, Steve gets to help him to his bed. Gets to touch Eddie’s arm, his back. Sometimes his shoulder. 

It’s becoming Steve’s hospital equivalent to the whole, ‘yawn and stretch’ move from all those movie theater dates.

“You don’t have to do this, Steve.” Eddie says it every time. “I can walk eight feet on my own.”

“Just in case…” which directly translates to, I want to do this.

Steve asks the same question at the end of every visit now:

“Call me if you remember.”

And Eddie always assures him that he will.

Day 69:

They are playing cards when Eddie brings it up. “What if I never remember?”

“Remember what?” Steve discards one of his cards to the pile. Grabs a new one from the deck. 

“The thing that makes you all twitchy at the end of every visit.” Eddie does his best twitchy-Steve impression. It’s insulting, at best. “What if it doesn’t come back?”

“It’ll come back.” Steve is so sure of it. Easygoing.

“How do you know?”

“I just do.”

“How original.”

Steve flips his cards down on the table. He reaches down to the binder that’s an extension of his determination these days, flips through the pages. Pages full of breakthroughs. Even on the lousy days, even when Eddie occasionally backtracks. The pages are still full.

“This is how I know.” Steve holds Eddie’s eye contact after shutting the binder. “I see the progress. It’s not linear, not all the time… but I see it.”

Eddie reaches out. Runs his fingers across the binder, back and forth. Steve stops him the third time, places his hand over Eddie’s. There’s a hitch in Eddie’s breathing when he does it, so Steve slides away, doesn’t linger too long. He listens in to the heart monitor’s cadence for insight on the mood they’ve created.

Not the same as last Saturday. Not the tempo Steve is looking for to take initiative. Not yet.

“I win, by the way.” Eddie announces, flipping his cards over. Smiling that bonus type of smile.

“Damn right you do.”

Day 70:

Eddie is singing one of Steve’s mixtape songs, using his thermometer as a microphone. It’s purposely off-key and he’s implemented some exaggerated accent to it. 

This isn’t the first time he’s done this demented-karaoke routine. In fact, Steve has had to suffer through Eddie butchering pop classics since Day 26 of these hospital visits.

He always does it to get Steve to crack - lose his temper or threaten to leave. Steve usually humors Eddie with one of these reactions because it’s fun. It’s a lighthearted habit that they formed after hard days. Pain infested days.

But this week has been good. Surprisingly adequate. Steve is back and Eddie hasn’t thrown up, not once. He only complained about the flavorless cafeteria food on Tuesday, instead of every other day. That alone is an immediate call for celebration.

So today… Steve doesn’t stomp his foot or swear under his breath. Today Steve claps. Encourages the mediocrity of it all.

“Oh, so you like it when I vocally murder your precious pop tunes?” Eddie laughs. Constantly making himself laugh.

“No, I don’t like it.” Steve folds his arms into his chest. Eddie’s laughter is contagious, Steve catches it as he speaks again. “I like you.”

Eddie’s mouth clamps up. His expression drops. His heart monitor skips two beeps in its pattern.

“Can’t believe I finally found the off-button on you.” Steve glides over to the bed. The upperhand is making him fucking fearless. “Only took me seventy days to find it.”

Steve swipes his thumb under Eddie’s jaw, watching his throat muscles tense at the pressure. Eddie gulps, barely anything goes down. Steve can feel that.

“I…” 

“Don’t tell me what you think I wanna hear.” Steve checks the clock. Visiting hours ended four minutes ago, and he doesn’t need to get himself into another spending the night incident. As much as he enjoyed the wake-up call, Steve fucking despised the aftermath of reality.

“Steve…” The way he says Steve’s name - as if someone took his vocal cords and dipped them in sweetener.

“I gotta go.” Steve reaches down and squeezes Eddie’s hand one more time before releasing it. “Call me if you remember.”

He turns around to leave, but Eddie hooks his finger into Steve’s belt loop, tugs rapidly on it. Steve’s cheeks flush right away, he can’t even hide it.

“What if I call you anyway?” Eddie plays along. “Memory or no memory?”

Steve removes Eddie’s hand. He’s about to set it back down when the last bit of caution is finally thrown out the window. Steve lays a quick kiss on Eddie’s middle finger, the finger that’s most injured. He squeezes his palm once, then returns Eddie’s hand back to him.

“Maybe I’ll call you first, Munson.”

He leaves before getting a good look at Eddie’s reception to the hand kiss. Steve has never kissed another dude’s hand before, and there’s a good possibility that he might’ve been laying the charm on too thick. Smearing it all over the moment like goddamn jelly. 

But the whole thing was just too irresistible. And Fully Flustered Eddie is a rare sight to behold, so Steve had to do something charismatic. His self-discipline hasn’t improved that much since high school.

Eddie ends up calling first. He calls nine minutes after Steve gets home.

Clingy bastard.

“Beat you to it, Harrington.”

“Not everything is competition, you know.”

“Is that so?” Eddie’s sarcasm is heavy. “Huh. Guess you do learn something new every day.”

“Easy for you to say. Your mind still has the training wheels on it.”

“Touché.”

Day 71:

It’s Saturday morning. Steve sleeps in - well, Steve does his version of sleeping in. Which basically means, the sun is fully up by the time he wakes up. Small victories.

His phone and alarm clock go off almost simultaneously. Which one: freaky. And two: annoying.

He walks over to his desk, eyes half-open, and picks up the phone.

“Hello?” Steve’s voice croaks into the speaker.

There’s no response, just a few heavy breaths.

Steve is more alert now. “Who is this?”

“I remember.”

Oh fuck. “Eddie?”

“You told me to call when I remember.” Eddie repeats. “I remember, Steve.”

“Holy shit um… okay.” Steve rubs the last bit of sleep from his eyes. Searches around his room for his keys or clothes or fuck - he really doesn’t know what he’s searching for. 

“You coming to see me or what?”

“It’s Saturday. Henderson comes to see you on Saturdays.”

“Call and tell him to take a raincheck.” Eddie demands. Rightfully excited. “Cause I fucking remember.”

“Okay, okay.”

“I remember!”

Steve is cackling at the excitement. “I fucking heard you!”

“Get your ass over here before I say it again!”

“Alright alright!” Steve hangs up. Never gets ready so fast in his whole damn life. Almost forgets to put on underwear or style his hair.

This is what he’s been waiting for.

Eddie remembers.

It’s the first time Steve feels anxious walking into the room. He’s keenly aware that both of them are in on the secret. No more whispering around the unrequited attraction. Steve is entering a space that is laid bare. No curtains or subtle implications for either of them to hide behind.

As soon as he opens the door, that’s all in the past.

“Oh shit.” Steve isn’t expecting to see Eddie in the chair when he arrives. He’s wearing gray sweatpants under his hospital gown. Steve is pretty thankful for that - not sure the effect that Eddie’s exposed thighs would have on him in this detrimental state.

“Took your seat.” Eddie is all smug. Head to toe smugness.

“I see that.”

“You can take mine, if you want.”

“I’ll pass.”

Eddie winks. “Hope that’s the last time I hear you say that today.” 

“Oh yeah?” 

“Yeah.”

There’s a stool that the doctors use in the corner of the room. Steve takes a seat on it and rolls over towards Eddie. He stops right in front of Eddie's knees and leans his face in his hand. Tries to downplay his anticipation as much as possible.

“Wanna tell me what you remember?”

Eddie takes a deep breath. He swings his arms out to the side and lets all of his air out in one go. “My tattoos - I remember when I got them.”

Steve’s shoulders drop. Shrink.

The tattoo thing happened several days before the almost-kiss. Day 52.

“Am I wrong?” 

Steve doesn’t really say anything. That’s confirmation enough.

Eddie smacks the top of his head. “Shit, I’m wrong. Made you drive all the way out here to be wrong, jesus christ.”

“Hey, hey.” Steve murmurs, keeps his voice kind. “Not entirely wrong.”

His heart feels likes a crunched-up soda can, but whatever. Yeah, Steve’s hope were set way too high, but he can’t blame Eddie for that. Eddie regained some crucial memories - that should be a good thing. It is a good thing.

“Tell me about the tattoos.” Steve rests his hand over Eddie’s knee. It’s been bouncing incessantly, but stops the second Steve touches him. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and uncover all of it by talking through it.”

“Seems stupid now.”

“Hey.” Steve is stern. “Gaining bits of yourself back is never stupid. That’s your fucking history, goddamnit.”

Steve doesn’t mean to use his coaching voice, but he does. 

It works though. Eddie stares at him for a long time before admitting that Steve is right. He gives a long sigh before continuing. “I know where and when I got all of them.”

“Fantastic.” Steve gets as comfy as he can on this small, metal stool. He flips open the binder, clicks his pen. He flips it into the air - just cause.

“Tell me all about it,” He says, catching the pen with ease.

Eddie starts out pretty deflated. He starts off in chronological order, which Steve is impressed by. Steve even tries to cheer Eddie along any time he recalls specific details like locations and dates. 

The support seems useful. Eddie stops frowning long enough to retell the story about getting a fake ID, just for tattoos. Not for drinking or for getting into clubs. Eddie wanted to be the only sophomore with tattoos.

Steve has never been interested in getting tattoos, there’s nothing he’s ever liked enough to prick needles into his skin. However, he really likes seeing them all over Eddie. All the dark lines and the passionate stories that go with them. 

They take a lunch break and snack break, both of them equally improving Eddie’s crabby mood. Eddie gets sort of winded after talking for too long, so Steve helps him to the bed.

“You don’t have to do this.” Eddie says, sticking to his usual response.

“Thought it was obvious” Steve pulls the cover over Eddie’s arms, fluffs out the sides of his pillows. “I want to.”

“Didn’t know you were such a gentleman.” Eddie observes. “Courting the sickly is a weird move though.”

Steve takes his seat back, moving it next to Eddie’s bed. Always closing more distance than he did the last time. “Good thing you’re not sickly then.”

“Courting the freak is still a weird move.”

“Well, say the word and I’ll lay off.”

Eddie mimes zipping his mouth shut, tossing the invisible key into the trash bin.

“Looks like we’re all done with your tattoo summaries.” Steve glances over the bullet points, folds the binder shut. “Anything else you wanna do?”

He’s waiting for Eddie to take his turn. Steve has been leading the affection for days, so he’s cautious about any further touching. Needs physical permission to continue.

“Actually…” Eddie shakes his head. “We’re not done with my tattoo summaries.”

“We’re not?”

“I have six tattoos, Stevie. Not five.”

That can’t be right. Dustin told Steve all about Eddie’s tattoos weeks ago. This must be Eddie’s mind messing with him.

“My memory isn’t faulty, not this time.” Eddie taps over the binder before yanking it away. “I do have another tattoo, Stevie. You’ve just never seen it.”

This dirty chess game just got way more interesting. 

There’s no point in playing it safe now. Both of them are taking risks, playing offensively. All guards are down, miles away from Indiana.

“Prove it, then.” Steve’s cheeks warm up. He can feel the blood all over, in his ears, in the tip of his nose. “Show me.”

Eddie’s teeth look sharper when he smiles this time. Like Steve’s dare has turned his bones into blades.

“Are you gonna wig out if I lift this stupid gown up?”

Yes. Steve would never admit that, but yeah. Internally, he’s wigging out so fucking hard right now.

“You’ve puked all over me, dude. If I didn’t haul ass after that, I’m not gonna haul ass after seeing your skin.”

Eddie glares at him. “Could’ve just said no, but whatever. Be a smart ass.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Eddie twists onto his side, bunching up the material and settling it under his arms. Right over his rib cage, is the sixth tattoo.

It’s a birdcage, one that’s been mangled. The metal bars are all crooked and the cage door is wide open. One of Eddie’s demobat scars goes diagonally through the body art, like those creatures were the ones to slash it open. Destroying Eddie’s body in a multitude of ways.

Steve wants to touch it, feel the healing claw marks that look so much like his own, but deeper. He hides his own scars every day with sweaters and jackets, so it’s easy to forget how connected they are. How much pain they are forced to wear. Mutated skin and mutilated minds.

One battle with death and darkness has made them more alike than society ever would have.

“Where’s the bird?” Steve finally asks, mainly to stop his hand from reaching over, brushing the black lines and red scars.

“Didn’t have a chance to get it done.”

“No?”

Eddie contorts his face. “I got this part done back in January. And I was planning to get the bird inked up on the opposite side once I graduated…” 

The last word gets all strangled in Eddie’s throat. Steve barely hears it, doesn’t really need to hear it though. He figures it out by the way Eddie’s hands become fists. How he screws his eyes shut, refusing to let the anger fuel his tears.

Steve gets it. Most of his anger turns to sadness these days too. He knows he’s not a weak person, he knows that. But when those two emotions whisk themselves into a twister, Steve feels puny. Pathetic.

He lets his fingers circle the birdcage design on Eddie’s ribs. A cage on top of another cage. He’s pretty sure Eddie did that on purpose - the guy is obsessed with wordplay. Steve makes a spiral shaper over Eddie’s skin, letting the pattern get smaller and smaller as he reaches the center of the design.

Eddie just watches him do it, Steve can feel the stare, the attention. His breathing is shallow, almost stopped. Almost like he’s holding his breath until Steve finishes whatever he’s doing.

“It suits you.” Steve says, moving his palm over to the scar now. Letting the damaged parts of Eddie receive just as much recognition as the tattoo. Eddie didn’t choose to have these markings, but it doesn’t matter. They’re here now. May as well acknowledge them. Engrave them into his history.

“The tattoo?”

Steve looks up. “All of it.”

“Steve.” Eddie tugs on Steve's arm, nails digging in harder than they need to. He almost makes the gesture feel like a question.

Steve answers it. He sits on the edge of the bed and settles one arm over Eddie’s body for support.

This is exactly where they were one week ago. Sharing the same breath, sharing the same tension.

But the resemblance to their sleep-driven moment from last week stops there. They’ve constructed something new, better. There’s anguish from the past and there’s breakable desire for their present. Last week was surreal, dreamy. This week is unrefined.

Steve can’t comprehend why he likes the rawness of today so much more.

“Am I reading this wrong?” Eddie’s hand lifts up to Steve’s cheek, thumb stroking the corner of his lips.

Steve chuckles, whisper-level laughter. “You’re stealing all of my moves here, Munson.”

"What moves?"

"I said the same thing last week."

“Wait.” Eddie’s huge eyes somehow defy science. Get bigger. “That wasn’t a dream?”

“What wasn’t a dream?” 

“That really happened?”

Steve is only half listening. “What are you talking about?”

“Well.. almost happened, I guess I should say.” Eddie is starting to ramble. "The nurses told me that I was having batshit crazy dreams all weekend long. I just assumed there was no way that could've been real."

“Can you please tell me what we’re talking about?”

Eddie is grinning, bouncing in the bed like a spring-loaded toy. “I can’t believe I thought it was a dream this whole fucking week!”

“For the love of god, Munson. Just tell me what happened in this stupid dream!”

Eddie cups Steve’s face and pulls him into a kiss. Kisses the glower right off Steve’s mouth. It only takes a split-second for Steve to react, leaning into it. Steve controls the pace to keep everything soft for Eddie’s sake. Calm hands, smooth lips, slow movements.

There’s a small cut on Eddie’s upper lip, Steve can finally feel it now. He opens his mouth enough to lick over it. Pay extra care to the fragile parts.

Eddie whines a little, his hands dropping to Steve’s collar, dragging him into his chest. Steve lets him, lets the kiss get rougher. Sloppier.

It’s clear that Eddie does not share Steve’s careful approach. He’s so grabby, so possessive. His teeth mash into Steve’s bottom lip. He takes the opportunity to bite and tug, makes Steve yelp. Teeth and kissing is usually a turn off, but god, Steve is obsessed with how Eddie does it. How greedy he is.

Steve dips his mouth in, opens up enough to let Eddie bite and lick as much as he pleases. Be greedy. His free hand is planted on Eddie’s waist, just above his bird cage tattoo. 

“Come here.” Eddie’s breath is warm, tinged with the chocolate they had on their snack break. He’s pulling Steve harder now, never breaking the kiss for long.

Steve scoots another inch, slides his hand all the way up to Eddie’s neck. “If I get any closer, I’ll be on top of you.”

“I know how physics works, Harrington.” 

“Your super-senior status says otherwise.”

“Please, shut up.” Eddie kisses him harder. His skin is extra pink everywhere Steve has pressed against him. For someone that kisses so madly, he looks so soft. Fresh-laundry soft. “Closer, baby.”

Steve sucks all of the air out of the kiss, totally startled by the nickname. He makes a sound, hopefully nothing too whorish or breathy. But Eddie definitely heard it because he’s smiling against Steve’s lips. 

Getting closer isn’t really an option with all of the wires and the unlocked door. So Steve drags his lips under Eddie’s jaw, down his neck. Improvises a way to feel closer, explore deeper.

“Holy shit, you’re good at this.” Eddie hisses, tangling his hands into Steve’s hair. 

Getting compliments on his kissing technique makes Steve preen, has to fight the urge to mark up Eddie’s already bruised neck. Explaining fresh hickies to an army of doctors would not be a pleasant task. So Steve flattens his tongue, runs it diagonally across Eddie’s collarbone. Pecks kisses over all the wet spots.

Eddie’s hands drift down to Steve’s chin, lifting his focus back up. “Steve.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re just…” Eddie’s eyes dart all over Steve’s face. He's breathing hard, his heart monitor and his pulse are at war right now. So many rhythms in their shared space. “You’re very pretty.”

“You think so?”

“The universe thinks so.” Eddie kisses Steve’s cheek - feels like tiny embers over his skin. “I’m just confirming it.”

Steve smiles, takes a minute to catch his breath. He’s finally realizing how little he’s been breathing for the last few minutes. His lungs ache the way they would after swim meets.  Rattled and burning.

"I like you too, by the way." Eddie kisses Steve’s other cheek, makes it even. “Just to clear things up.”

Eddie remembers Steve spilling his heart out yesterday.

“Consider things clear.” Steve laces their fingers together, under Eddie’s blanket. Each of them staring at the connection, both highly aware it means so much more than helpless support this time.

It means absolutely everything.

Steve’s back in the stupid chair that will never be close enough to Eddie. They lower Eddie’s bed so that Steve can rest his elbow on the side, play with Eddie’s hair just like he did with Steve last week.

He’s infatuated with how different their hair textures feel. Eddie’s hair is all frazzled and knotted. Still soft, but not like Steve’s hair. If Steve’s hair is cashmere, Eddie’s hair is woven wool.

“So you thought last Saturday was a dream, huh?” Steve questions.

“I have some crazy vivid dreams.”

Steve shakes his head. “But all that stuff I said to you. Why did you act so confused?”

“The headache medication knocked me out.” Eddie explains. “I thought you heard me talking in my sleep… saying embarrassing shit and you and your hair.”

“So you thought I was mocking you?”

Eddie hums. Very hushed.

Steve untangles his hand from Eddie’s head and sighs. “You should’ve just told me what you were thinking.”

“I know that now.”

“We could’ve been making out all week.”

“Guess we should make up for lost time then.” Eddie hooks his index finger into Steve’s sweater, tugging him closer. Always tugging.

Steve angles himself to meet Eddie in the middle, kissing him sweetly this time, less urgency. Eddie’s lips are still puffy from Steve sucking on them. He wants to do it all over again, keep them puffed-out and swollen.

The kiss is so slow and so good, that Steve only breaks away when his neck muscles start to tighten up. Too many awkward kissing positions in this hospital room - Steve wants to get Eddie into his car or his bed. The floor might be good too.

“So,” Steve threads their hands back together. “Care to fill me in on your little ‘later, sailor’ comment from last week?”

“You did work at the finest ice cream chain to ever grace Hawkins, did you not?” Eddie retorts.

“Yeah. But of all things, how did you remember that?”

Eddie pokes to the top of Steve’s head with his free hand.

“My hair?”

“Your hairspray or product or whatever you use.” Eddie ruffles it and Steve tries not to become liquid at the touch. “Apparently smells can trigger memories almost instantly.”

“Woah.” Steve makes a mental note on that.

“Very woah.”

“And what about… the club?”

“What club? Hellfire?”

“No, not Hellfire.” Steve playfully pinches the inside of Eddie's palm. “The Below Deck club.”

“Fucking hell, you know about that?” Eddie covers his face. “Somebody please, end my suffering. I can’t go on. Not like this.” 

Steve is cackling now, keeling over in his chair, almost tearing up from how much he’s laughing. And each time Eddie tells him to knock it off, he laughs harder. This is a better ab workout than he’s ever had at the gym, he should just cancel his fucking membership.

“All I’m hearing is that my ass is unforgettable.” Steve wipes a laughter-induced tear from his eye.

“Cruel.” Eddie mumbles into his hands. “This humiliation is cruel.”

Steve flips back onto the bed, yanking Eddie’s wrists away from his face. “It’s hot.”

“Drooling over an ice cream employee is hot?”

“You drooled?”

“Dear god, stop this madness.” Eddie grabs the tv remote and aims it at his face.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to rewind my mouth from saying stupid shit.”

“Eddie, chill out.” Steve takes the remote, hiding it behind his back. “I’m just glad you remember me. Even if my ass is the most memorable feature.”

“These are pretty memorable too.” Eddie smushes Steve’s cheeks, forces his lips to pucker out.

“Oh yeah?”

“And these.” Eddie squeezes Steve’s biceps. Steve rolls his eyes and wraps Eddie���s arms around him. 

They fall back into a long kiss. Visiting hours are about to end, and Sam is off on the weekends. No one is here to let Steve stay the night. So he kisses Eddie like time isn’t a factor. Steve kisses him slow and nice. Eats up any sugary sounds that leave Eddie’s mouth. Whispers how crazy he is about him any time they come up for air.

“I wish you could stay.”

Steve’s heart rips around the edges hearing Eddie say that. Christ, he wants to stay too. So fucking badly. Wants to stock up on chapstick and water so they can make out all night.

“Maybe I can come back tomorrow?” Steve suggests. “Give your bandmates the day off?”

Eddie nods, nuzzles into the crook of Steve’s neck. “Hey, Steve?”

“Yeah?”

“What if I forget about this?”

Steve hugs Eddie tighter. “Don’t say that.”

“It could happen.” Eddie peers up at him. “Fuck, I don’t want it to happen, but it could.”

“Hey hey, stop it.” Steve clicks their foreheads together and closes his eyes.

He can’t lie. He can’t tell Eddie that forgetting is impossible. But Steve can keep his eyes closed and savor every minute of today. He can hold Eddie’s kiss-warm cheeks and just hope that everything will be okay tomorrow.

Steve opens his eyes. He sees the Hawkins senior-class ring on his hand, and it gives him an idea.

“Here.” Steve plucks the ring off of his left index finger. He leans over and places it in Eddie’s drawer, right next to his dice collection. “If you remember what happened tonight, you’ll know where that ring is. Put it on tomorrow, so I can visually know that you didn’t forget. So I know it’s okay to come in here and kiss you stupid some more.”

"Like this?" Eddie kisses Steve noisily and they laugh, ignoring the shitty alternative for just a minute longer.

“And if I come in and you don’t have it on… well, I’ll be on my best behavior.” Steve gets up from the bed, crosses his fingers over his heart. “No surprise make out sessions or lewd comments, I swear.”

“You’ll be okay with that?”

That’s a tricky question, Steve doesn’t have a ‘yes or no’ answer to it. He’ll be disappointed, that’s undeniable. But he’s so far into this with Eddie. The notes and the recovery and the feelings. Everything is netted together. Steve couldn’t separate it even if he tried.

“I meant what I said yesterday. I like you, Eds.” Steve puts on a brave smile. 

“So yeah. If you forget, then it’ll be a pleasure to restart with you.”

Steve swipes Eddie’s bangs to the side so that he can give him a kiss right in the center of his forehead. Kissing the place where all of Eddie’s memories are tucked away, even the lost ones. Wishing and aching for the memories of tonight to lock into that place, stay safe and secure. 

Just stay.

Don’t get lost in there.

Please.

[archiveikemen]

Liam Evans Main Story: Chapter 23 (Crazy Love)

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection. I do not own any of the original content. Please support CYBIRD by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

❥･• Warnings and FAQ

I turned to look at Max’s seat, only to see that it was empty.

(... He’s not here!)

William: He likely just left his seat not long ago. He might've gone to reflect on his foolishness, after watching his son’s performance. 

(Foolishness? By any chance—)

Kate: Before the play started, did you tell Max that he had been deceived by the group of people pretending to be members of “Golden Butterfly”...? 

The look in William’s red eyes confirmed that I was right.

William: Kate, I shall leave the final scene to you and Liam.

Kate: Me and Liam…?

William: “Bid farewell to the bonds of the past”. This is an order from Her Majesty.

William: Little Robin, this is your final mission that marks the end of your month as a fairytale writer.

…

After the performance ended, Liam and I left the theatre to run after Max.

William speculated that he would be headed for the belfry — and that was sure to be right.

I rushed up the stairs of the bell tower, this time with Liam by my side.

Liam: …

(By the time we reach the top of these stairs, Liam will definitely have made his decision.) 

Everyone with connections to Golden Butterfly were to be eliminated — therefore, Liam will do that with his own hands.

(All I can do is…)

Kate: … Liam.

Kate: There’s only so much I can do to help. But… you’re not alone in this, okay?

Liam: … Kate, thank you for saying those words so beautiful that I’m undeserving of them. 

And so we climbed the last few steps and arrived at the belfry together.

Max: London bridge is broken down, broken down, broken down… ♪

Max: London bridge is broken… ah… it’s you… I can't believe you came after me all the way here.

Max’s figure emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the pale moonlight. 

(The atmosphere feels somewhat… different from before.) 

His eyes, once burning with hatred, now possessed an empty look. They were completely devoid of light, unlike those of a regular person. 

Having been deceived by Golden Butterfly must have extinguished the roaring flames of revenge inside him.

Liam: …

Max: The leading actor chasing down the disgraced man after the performance. … Pfft, haha. So I’m the villain now, aren't I? 

Max’s lips curved into a cold smile.

Max: “People can be easily imprisoned by their dark pasts and the ill intentions of others”.

Max: “It leads to them forgetting to live in the present.”... Is that it?

Max repeated what Liam said during the encore.

Max: My son. If people are such foolish creatures that easily get trapped by their past… 

Max: I…

Max: Just what on earth am I being trapped by?

Liam: If there’s something trapping you, it's definitely something within you.

Max: … Within me?

Liam: You always seemed lonely to me. Because your wife never reciprocated the feelings, no matter how much love you showered her with.

Liam: You knew better than anyone else that mother couldn’t forget her past lover. 

Max: … 

Liam: You built up your company from scratch and made it successful, in hopes that your wife would smile. But even after you did that, mother never smiled.

Liam: And to rub salt into your wound, selfish people started swarming to you like ants being attracted to sugar, just because they wanted to benefit from your success.

Max: … What do you know? You were only a mere child back then.

Liam: I understood. Because of the way you “educated” me… you were always so violent towards me.

– Flashback Start –

Young Liam: Ue… uwaaahhh… I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

Max: Why… why isn’t this working? I… I love her so much… 

Max: Why does she grow more distant the more I love her…!? 

– Flashback End –

Liam: Even as a child, I was always thinking about saving you from your misery. 

Max: … You… saving… me…? 

Liam: Yeah, that's why I never resisted whenever you beat me. I wanted to die. I thought that as long as I could save you, it was worth dying. 

Liam took a deep breath.

Liam: Father, I was sure that I wanted to love you.

Max: … Love?

Liam: Watching you seek love that you never received, I wanted to give you that “love”.

Max: … 

Max limped towards Liam and grabbed him by the collar.

Max: Is “love” the reason why you kept quiet and let yourself be beaten, possibly to death…?

Liam: … Yes.

Max: Why…!? 

Liam: Because I’m your only son, I guess…?

(... This is too cruel.) 

While starving for love, he broke Liam, who tried so hard to love him. 

Max: … Haha… does that mean that all this time, I’ve been pushing love away from myself? 

Max: … ggh

Max: … Where did I go wrong… how should I have lived my life…? 

He let go of Liam’s shirt and fell to the ground.

Max looked remorseful and sorrowful, and at the same time like he was finally set free from “something”. 

He smiled.

(...?) 

Liam: … Father…? 

Max: … Damn it, this world is a living hell. 

Max: I begged desperately for love, suffered burns all over my body, and ended up being deceived… some kind of one-man play this is. Pfft… haha… 

Max: My son… living might be harder than dying. 

Max: …

Max: In that case, I—

Max moved away from us, dragging his injured leg.

He went towards the spot where Liam jumped off that night.

Liam: Father… what are you…

The wind blew Max’s hood off, revealing his burnt face.

Max: You must keep living, my son. Live in this hell and endure the suffering.

Max: That is the most fitting punishment for you, the son of a sinner. 

(... No way.)

(Is he going to kill himself—) 

The pistol Max pulled out of his pocket gleamed under the moonlight.

Liam: Father…!

Kate: Max…! 

Max: Don't move. One more step and I’ll blow that young lady’s head off.

Liam: …

Max held the pistol to his head.

Max: … I have no right to talk about “love”.

Max: … See you in hell, Liam. 

— Bang.

Liam: … Father! 

The pistol shot a bullet through his temple, and before we could run up to him — Max’s body fell into the deep river below the tower.

Kate: …

(...)

(This sort of…)

(No one… deserves this ending…) 

Liam: … 

Kate: … Liam

Liam watched as Max’s figure vanished and stared into the darkness. 

He let out a sigh, knowing that his father was gone for good. His lips trembled slightly.

Liam: … We’re not biologically father and son.

(... What?) 

(T-Then, could it be…)

Kate: You were the child of your mother and her former lover… 

Liam: Yeah… . She found out after he left her that she was pregnant, but she hid it and married my father. 

Kate: … And Max was unaware? 

Seeing Liam nod in response gave me an irritated feeling that I couldn't put into words. 

He hid the truth from Max and continued putting up with the abuse, it was definitely because—

Kate: You kept the truth a secret from Max because you didn't want him to get hurt any further… right? 

Liam: … Yeah, that's right.

(...)

Liam: I always dreamed that there would come one day where we could laugh happily together.

Liam: And if that's impossible… I thought it made sense if I were to put an end to this by myself.

Liam: I became determined to take his life and finally bring him relief, and yet… 

(... Ah. Just as I had expected.) 

(It wasn’t resentment, nor was it pity. All Liam wanted was to make the kindest decision possible till the end.) 

And yet, a life was lost so cruelly before his eyes.

Liam: … Kate. Is it… all over now…? 

Liam: Is this… alright…? 

Kate: … Liam

(What exactly went wrong, what went right… and what should have been done?) 

Those were questions I couldn't answer for Liam. 

While standing stock still like he was holding something in, Liam smiled. 

But that smile fell almost instantly.

Liam: Wh… what? Haha… I… I can’t bring myself to laugh. 

Liam: … 

Liam: Kate… as expected… living is so… painful…

Kate: …

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him. 

I hugged him tightly, like I was stopping a shining star from fading away at dawn. 

(... P-Please don’t disappear. Don’t go anywhere.) 

Liam: It hurts… so much… why does it feel so warm to be hugged…? 

Liam: Why… is my heart shaking at a time like this…? 

Liam: Why am I… why am I feeling happy at a time like this…? 

(Liam…?) 

The body I held in my arms was trembling.

I gulped when I pulled away to look into his eyes.

His rose-coloured eyes shook, tears welling up. 

Kate: Li… Liam… 

All I could do was watch as the tears overflowed and rolled down his face, like an idiot.

Liam frowned as tears streamed down.

Liam: … I got hurt, and I also hurt others… I thought that I should just give up, because I don't have the right to ask for anything. 

Liam: And yet… right now… I’m being saved by you, who’s here right in front of my eyes… 

Liam: Why do I live like this… not knowing what to do…? 

– Flashback Start –

Liam: W… Why…

Liam: Why… why are you doing this for me—

Kate: Isn’t it obvious! I… I’m here to save you because you're someone who's precious to me!

– Flashback End –

(... That night, I held on to Liam’s life with these hands of mine.)

Because he was alive, he was suffering from so much pain and crying before my eyes.

(But…)

(On that very day, I already decided.)

(I will never, ever regret grabbing Liam’s hand.) 

(And therefore, I—)

A feeling that was like being swallowed by a pitch-black darkness overwhelmed me once again.

The darkness whispered to me. 

— Go any further than this, and you can never turn back.  

(... That’s fine by me.) 

— Are you really willing to throw away the peaceful and ordinary life you once had? 

(... I’ll throw all of that away.) 

— Really? 

I forced away the last feeling of anxiety left in me. 

(Really.)

(... As long as I can keep living with Liam, there’s nothing else I need.)

I wholly accepted the darkness. 

And so I opened my eyes and gazed back into Liam’s tearful eyes.

Kate: Listen, Liam. This world may have been cruel towards you for the longest time. 

Kate: Even at this moment… you’re still in so much pain.

Kate: But, despite that… I want you to continue living. 

Liam: … 

Kate: I want to keep living alongside you. Therefore… please stay alive.

I cupped his wet cheeks in my hands and looked into his eyes.

Kate: Please… live by my side. 

Liam: ah… ah…

Liam: ue… uee…

Liam: uwaaaahh…! 

Standing in between life and death, I held the man I loved in my arms as he screamed and wept. 

I accepted every tear that fell from his eyes.

Forever and always. 

[asshlyyyy]

Fairytale

Series Warnings: Language, fake relationship, lying, drinking, major depressive disorder, mommy issues. Mentions of occasionally sexula interactions/ wording. Maybe eventual smut. Individual chapter warnings will appear as needed.

Masterlist | Previous Part | Next Part

Chapter 8: Wedding Shower

Everything was… well, it was almost perfect. You felt like it was missing something. Besides the food of course. Austin was on his way to go pick it up now. Everything was out, the decorations were on point… You just felt as if it wasn’t done. Maybe that was because it wouldn’t be perfect in your mother’s eyes. Mia would love it… your mother on the other hand.

“There’s my lil sister.” You turned towards the voice and saw your brother. A smile found its way onto your face. He was a few years older than Mia. About two years older in fact. 

“Max,” you smiled and walked over to him. You two shared a quick hug before he quickly asked the burning question. He was the only other main family member that hasn’t met Austin yet. You knew he was most likely going to give him the brother talk. 

The brother talk is, in your opinion, much worse than the dad talk. They tend to… well, how do you put it. Threaten them much more. Every boyfriend you ever had got the, “If you hurt her, I will kill you. That is a promise.’ Well, Maxwell hasn’t been arrested yet for murder! So, that’s a positive. 

“So, where’s your boyfriend? I am dying to meet him.” Max held a playful smile. It was like he was hinting that you wouldn’t bring him. This might have been true, but Austin agreed to help. So, you didn’t have to go down that path. 

“Oh, he’s just out picking up the food.” You answered with a smile.

“Still making up excuses I see,” he ruffled up your hair. You knew he was playing with you, but still, it hurt a bit. 

“I’m serious,” you laughed gently and pushed away his hand. “He’s also getting ice for the drinks.”

“Mhm, we’ll see about that,” he teased you. You rolled your eyes and saw his wife, Kenzie. You smiled and made your way over to her with your hands out.

“Kenzziieee,” You said with a light squeal. Kenzie smiled at your sight and matched your energy.

“Y/n/nnnn.” She smiled. You pulled her into a tight hug, only to let out a gasp at the much bigger stomach. You pulled away and looked down at her rounded stomach.

“Oh my gosh! No way!” You exclaimed. You were going to be an aunt! Sure you knew this day would come eventually, but soon!? 

“Yes way,” she smiled, “due in July.” She answered your unspoken question. 

“Well, I promise you I will be here.” You told her with a smile. You didn’t know if by July your fake boyfriend would be real. You didn’t know if you were going to come clean beforehand. Nonetheless, you were going to be there for them.  

“Well, they can’t wait to meet their cool aunt either.” She said as she rubbed her bump. 

“Do you know the gender yet?” You asked as Max made his way to Kenzie. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. 

“We could if we wanted, but we wanted to wait. Be surprised you know?” Max answered. 

“A surprise, I like it.” You smiled. You continued to talk with Kenzie and Max. As time went by more and more people started to arrive. Family members, and friends of Mia and Nick. 

You heard your phone going off and pulled it up to your face. You answered the call quickly once you saw Austin’s name.

“Hey, what’s up? You almost here?” You asked him.

“Yup, I’m down the road right now. Might be hard to find a parking space though.” He chuckled lightly. 

“I told ya we should’ve put a chair to reserve your spot.” You rolled your eyes lightly and headed inside. “Not to mention, there are still more people to come.” You made your way to the front yard.

“I’ll pull round front okay? Help take the food in and find somewhere to park.” Austin explained to you.

“Okay, don’t be too long though, I think I see my aunt’s car. I do not want to be alone with her.” You said as you spotted her loud obnoxious blue Lincoln navigator. 

“I’ll be there soon, don’t worry. Bye,” Austin reassured you.

“Bye,” you pulled your phone away and hung up. You slipped your phone back into its pocket and waited there for Austin. You were hoping and praying that when your aunt got out of her car… he would be pulling up. That way, you would be too busy to converse with her. 

You tapped your foot against the driveway in anticipation. Well, it was more in nerves than anticipation. You were actually surprised your mother hasn’t pulled you to the side yet. Her opinion should not matter. It doesn’t matter in fact. All that matters is your sister’s and Nick’s opinion. 

They were the bride and groom. Who cares if your mother doesn’t like it. She isn’t the person you threw this whole wedding party for. She had her wedding party years ago. She’ll probably use the, ‘I just want everything perfect for my sweet baby angel’. God, it made you gagged. If it wasn’t clear… Mia was her favorite. So, when Mia picked you as her maid of honor, your mother saw that as a pick fest. 

If one thing went wrong and you made your sister cry. Well, you wouldn’t hear the end of it. Maybe your depression was because of your mother? The more you think about it… When you were younger and you would take Mia’s toys or steal some of her food… You would get punished. Screamed at even. 

You shook your head and took in a deep breath. “Shove those feelings deep down, Y/n. Today is not about you.” You whispered to yourself. You smoothed out your light green dress. It wasn’t much longer until Austin was pulling up. 

You walked over to the car, which he parked in the middle of the street for the time being. He got out of the car and you couldn’t help but smile. He still needed to change into his party wear clothes, but he still look amazing as always. 

“No issues?” You asked as you walked around to the trunk.

“None at all. All the sandwiches and cookies were prepared, and transported safely.” He smiled as he opened the trunk. He wasn’t crazy, he saw how beautiful you looked. He just wanted to find a moment where you were both alone to compliment you.

“Good, I do not need anything disastrous happening.” You commented and picked up the box of cookies. Austin grabbed the two boxes of sandwiches and you two made your way inside.

“Nothing bad will happen,” Austin reassured you.

“I know, I just… I can’t help but think it will end in fire.” You replied as you placed the box down on the kitchen counter. 

“You did amazing okay? Celebrate it, and have fun with your sister. Now, I gotta move the car before someone gets mad.” You nodded and watched as he rushed away. You let out a sigh and opened the boxes. You had to get these on a tray and outside before the bride and groom arrive. 

“Need some help?” You turned at the voice and forced a pained smile onto your face.

“Aunt Eliana, how wonderful of you to offer, but I must decline. You should be out in the back.” You told her. 

“Oh please, and miss spending time with my niece who I hardly see? Oh please,” She placed down her glass of champagne, which you have no idea how she got. You guys are serving water out of mason jars- the ice. Oh my god, Austin still has the ice-

“You okay there hun? You look like you just saw someone get killed.”

“Oh no no,” you chuckled lightly and shook your head. “Sorry, just got a lot on my mind.”

“I would imagine so. Say, where is that boyfriend of yours? Your mother has been telling me… quite a lot about him.

“He’s parking the car. He just dropped off the food.” You answered as you finished up one of the trays. Now you just had to do three more. 

“Right,” she hummed and nodded. It was like she didn’t believe you. You don’t blame them, yet it still hurt. You couldn’t figure out why it hurts, you just knew that it did. First, it was your brother, and now it was your nosy aunt. 

“Aunt Eliana, I just need to do this on my own. Please enjoy refreshments, though you seem to have brought yourself some alcohol-”

“Oh, I never come to a party without bringing alcohol. We’re all adults here, no harm… right?” She smirked gently. Was she hinting that you were acting like a child? You paused in your traying and turned to look at her.

“Look, I have been very busy, as I am right now. I am making sure my sister has the best wedding party among other events leading up to her wedding. Now please, we can talk later, but for right now, leave me alone.” You told her off. She held a face of… disbelief. 

She couldn’t believe that you just told her off. Not many people dared to in fact. So, when some young niece of hers decides to throw at her… she doesn’t know how to act. She just nodded and left. You were finally alone. No one was in the house, everyone was outside. 

Once you finished up the trays you took them outside one by one. You placed them over on the empty tables and placed out the plates and napkins. You let out a breath and smiled at everyone as you went back inside. 

“Hey,” you found Austin. You smiled at his appearance. He has since changed into something more formal, but still casual. You walked over to him and flatten out his shirt.

“You look good,” you whispered gently.

“Well, you look beautiful. Blew me away when I got out of the car.” You blushed at his compliment and shook your head.

“Thank you,” you said softly. Austin wrapped his arm around you and kissed the side of your head. 

“When’s your sister coming in?” He asked. 

“She should be in soon. She said a bit after four.” You told him. Austin nodded in response and the two of you headed outside. You looked around for your brother so that you could finally introduce him to Austin. 

“Come on, I spot my brother.” You said and pulled Austin over to Max and Kenzie. 

“So this is the mystery boyfriend, huh?”

“I’m AUsitn, nice to meet you,” Austin said as he held his hand out to Max. He nodded and took Ausitn’s hand in his.

“Nice to meet you two, now… we need to talk.” Max threw an arm around Austin and the two walked off.

“Great.” you wished and shook your head. Kenzie let out a light laugh and shook her head. 

“You should be lucky to have a brother. Sometimes you don’t want all the attention on you.” She explained. You shrugged your shoulders.

“I don’t know. No one really wants to hear that they will be killed if they hurt me.” You told her. 

“He cares a lot for you. It shows he’ll be a great father.” She smiled at the thought. You looked over at her and matched her smile.

“You both are going to be great parents. I just know it.” You said. She pulled you into a hug and let out a comforting breath.

“Thank you, Y/n. It means a lot.” She said as you returned her hug. 

“Can I… can I be honest with you?” You asked her once you two pulled away.

“Of course, you can tell me anything.” You looked around and grabbed her hand. You pulled her inside and to the bathroom. The only place where you two would be alone. “Um… Can I-”

“It’s not weird I promise I just… I need to get this off my chest.” were you really about to tell Kenzie the truth? Yes. Maybe it was because she wasn’t blood-related or… you didn’t know, but htis lie was slowly eating you up alive. 

“You aren’t going to confess your love for me are you?” She joked lightly.

“No of course not. Austin and I aren’t really together.” You said rather quickly. Kenzie raised her eyebrow in confusion.

“I’m going to need you to slow down. Just a bit.” She said softly. 

You let out a breath and looked down at your feet. “Austin and I… we aren’t really together. I made up this fake boyfriend four years ago, and then this wedding happened, and… now I’m in love with him and I just…”

“Wait… you two aren't together? You look like you’re together.” She looked at you shocked. As you imagined anyone would look. 

“We just planned it very well.” You shrugged. 

“Honey, anyone can fake a relationship, but you can’t fake the way you look at someone. You two are madly in love with each other.” She explained. You started to shake your head. If what she’s saying was true, then she was implying that Austin was in love with you. Which he can’t. There was just no way someone like him can love you. 

“Austin doesn’t love me. He can’t love me.” You shook your head.

“Why not?” She asked.

“It’s a long story, but there is no way he loves me.”

“You won’t know unless you confess.” You shook your head nd let out a breath. 

“I rather just not say anything at all. We just have so much longer, and then we’ll cut off all contact.” You said as you walked out of the bathroom. 

“But then you’ll be wondering what if? And it will eat you alive.” She pointed out. You let out a sigh and nodded. She was right. You would be wondering what if? 

“I just don’t want to think about it,” You shook your head.

“There you are, I was looking for you,” Austin broke you two out of your conversation.

“You were?” You looked at him confused. You thought he would’ve just continued talking to your brother, but somehow he managed to get away. 

“Yeah, thought we weren’t gonna leave each other's sides.?” He chuckles lightly and grabs your hand. 

“Sorry, I was talkin’ to, Kenzie.” You smiled softly and gave his hand a squeeze.

“I saw your sister and Nick pull in.” He told you. You smiled softly and went out to the front with him. You watched as your sister got out in her cute white dress.

“Oh my gosh, Mia! You look so beautiful!” You squealed and walked over to her. She smiled and grabbed your hands in hers.

“Thank you, you look just as beautiful. Now, let’s see this party because I am dying to open presents.” She admitted. You chuckled lightly and shook your head.

“Come on, let’s get you to that party.” You took her over to the party. 

The party went amazing, dare you even say perfect. Everyone enjoyed the sandwiches and the cookies. Then, of course, Mia and Nick loved their presents very much. Your sister spoke highly of you, and you were generally just overall happy. 

Your mother didn’t speak to you. Your crazy aunt didn’t talk to you again. You would pretty much call that a win. You just spent all your time with your sister and your brother. And of course your in-laws. 

You were now back in your room taking off your shoes. Austin was downstairs taking the last of the trash out to the can. You sat down on the bed and started to take off your earrings. One event was done, and now you had a few more left to go. 

Maybe you should talk to Austin about the whole… falling in love with him. No no… you can’t do that. This was a whole fake thing. Neither one of you was supposed to fall in love. It was a simple helping a friend out. Nothing more, and nothing less. Though… you two were kissing more than needed. 

“Hey, you did amazing,” Austin said as he came into the room. You looked at him and smiled. 

“Thank you, I had my amazing boyfriend to help me.” You complimented him. He returned your smile with one of his own. 

“Yeah, we make a great couple.” He said softly and sat down next to you. You looked over at him and nodded in agreement. 

“Yeah,” You looked down at your hands. “Yeah, we do. I just wish… I wish it was real.” You muttered under your lips.

“You wish it was real?” He asked you.

“W-well,” you quickly look at him. “Not with you of course, I-I, with someone else who actually loved me- w-we are just friends of course so-”

He cut you off by closing the distance between you two. His lips on yours, and yours on his. “I want it to be real.” He muttered against your lips. 

“You do?” You whispered lightly and looked into his beautiful eyes.

“I do. God, I do.” He pushed you gently onto the bed. You had no idea what was to come, but god you knew one thing for sure. You wanted it. You wanted him. You wanted his love. You wanted his comfort. You wanted his everything. 

I just want to thank everyone who is still here. I appreciate every like, comment, and reblog who heartedly. I want to be able to get back to rebloging some of my favorite fics. I want to be able to expand my writing.

Don't get me wrong, I still have so many ideas for Austin and Elvis. I think I would want to get this whole list done first before I go ahead and start in a new fandom.

Mutual Taglist: @darlinboypresley @emmymaehereeeeee @venus-haze @austinstyles

[selenitesdawn]

Silenced (pt.5)

pairing : max mayfield x reader

warnings : angst, curse words, abuse

summary : max and y/n have been best friends for years, although they are quite the opposite from one another when it comes to communicating. y/n has always had the habit of talking a lot. which usually has never been a problem for max. but sometimes all it takes is the wrong moment.

words : 2.2k

notes : this was a request <3

previous part

Sunday

“And I regret everything I said that-, I regret what I-…. I- Come on Max, get your shit together.. I am more than sorry for what I said to you but-, no, no but.”

Max had been practicing her apology back and forth as she made her way towards y/n’s place. And she would have already been there more than an hour ago, if it wasn’t for her frayed nerves. Because when she finally stood in front of y/n’s home, her courage had suddenly left her. Ultimately she decided to go back and stroll around the neighborhood for a little longer before confronting her best friend. Since one thing she didn’t plan on doing, was messing this up.

Her head was filled with a hundred different thoughts, which she had all written down on a piece of paper. By now it was crumbled inside her fist, since she’s been holding onto it like her life depended on it.

“I cannot live without you y/n and no mat-…..god no, that sounds so manipulative. Again… I cannot imagine a life without you… yea that’s better.”

But the redhead’s mind was also filled with doubt about the entire situation. She thought about just going back to her trailer multiple times in the past couple of minutes. Worrying about whether y/n would be able to forgive her, she tried to prepare herself for the worst outcome.

About an hour later, Max finally stood in front of y/n’s door. She quickly folded her note again and put it in her back pocket. It took her a few minutes to collect herself but she managed to overcome her fears and pressed the doorbell after all. While she was waiting for someone to open the door, she kept practicing her first sentences out loud.

“Hey y/n, I was wondering if you have time to talk? To me? No, that sounds so stupid. Hi y/n. Do you by any chance have a minute or two for me? No. Hey, could we maybe talk?… God, why does-“

Her practice was soon interrupted as someone surprisingly tapped her on the shoulder.

“Max?”, a familiar voice asked from behind her.

As Max turned around she saw y/n with a half-smile on their face, standing awkwardly in front of her. They put their hands behind their back and stood as straight as possible.

“Oh uhm-.. hey y/n.”, Max greeted them, obviously embarrassed.

“Hi Max… Uhm, lucky for you I do have one or two minutes.”, y/n declared, trying to ease the tension a little.

Understanding that y/n had heard Max’s rambling, a red taint started spreading across her face. It wasn’t like y/n had never heard Max practice her sentences before. They knew exactly how she behaves in similar situations, nervous to say something that comes across different than she intends it to. But still, it just hit a wrong nerve in that very moment.

“Well we’re off to a good start. Great.”, she whispered to herself.

Already sorry for making Max uncomfortable, y/n’s smile dropped quickly. They always secretly admired their best friend for her efforts to find the right words. And they admired her right now. It just wasn’t the right moment to admit to it. As the two of them just stood there in silence, y/n decided to take the lead.

“Shall we sit by the oak tree? To talk?”, y/n asked in a soft tone.

Max just nodded in response, following y/n as they started walking towards the tree. It was actually one of their favorite places in Hawkins. The oak tree looked like it came out of a fairytale, old and mystical. Sitting underneath it just felt like entering a different realm, but an exceptionally magical one. Also, they would sit there often, as it is the only bench in the vicinity of like five miles.

When they arrived, y/n sat down on the old bench and patted the spot next to them. Hesitant about where exactly to sit, Max sat down at the other end of the bench.

“Okay so. There is no easy way to say this but..”, the redhead started off saying.

She fumbled inside her pockets until she found the almost completely demolished note she‘s been carrying around. Looking over to y/n, Max saw their eyes widen.

“Don’t judge okay, there is a lot to say and I don’t want to forget anything.”, Max mumbled, still unsure of how to approach this situation.

Y/n shook their head, also unsure of what to expect. They were still a little hurt by Max’s words. Her voice was still replaying in their head now and then, reminding them how upset they felt in that situation. It was probably the most hurtful thing someone has ever said to them. They didn’t mind random strangers or people at school insulting them anymore. But hearing it from your own best friend? That just hits in a different place.

Nevertheless, y/n missed Max badly. More than they have ever missed anyone. It was weird going about their every day life, knowing that Max wasn’t there to vent to. Spending no time with her. Not knowing what was going on in her life. Ultimately, y/n knew that they were the one who actively decided to isolate themselves and cut Max off. But god, how much they wished things to be different again.

“Me judging you? Never. I’m all ears.”, y/n replied honestly, focusing their gaze on Max.

“So uhm… as we both know I made a mistake.”, she started off saying while unfolding the piece of paper. She then took a small pause, waiting for y/n’s agreement.

However, y/n showed no reaction as they kept on waiting for Max to continue. The redhead focused her attention back on her paper and cleared her throat.

“And on that day, I said the words that I said and there is no excuse for that. However, I would like to explain why I was an asshole in general on that day.”

Max’s mom had the habit of drinking too much. Well, that’s at least the more innocent way to describe it. After all, she was what people would call an alcoholic. Coming home each day and not knowing what exactly to expect wasn’t easy for Max. Although she was supposed to be a carefree teenager, it felt like she had to be the mom in the household.

When Max came home last Sunday, her mom was asleep on the couch, a half empty bottle standing right next to her. Since Max didn’t have the energy to wake her mom up, she simply emptied the other half of the bottle and put it away. After that, she covered her mom in a blanket and went to bed herself. It wasn’t the first time for a situation like this to happen and it surely wouldn’t be the last time.

But the next morning, Max’s actions had a different outcome. Usually her mom would barely remember the night before. But on this monday morning, she came storming into Max’s space.

“Where is my bottle Maxine??”, she shouted almost incomprehensible.

Max, who was barely awake, opened her eyes and looked over to her enraged mother.

“Mom I-, I don’t know.”, she replied, not knowing how to estimate the situation.

“Don’t act stupid young lady. Where is it??”, her mom shouted out again, walking over to her half-asleep daughter.

Max didn’t answer quick enough, still confused by her mom’s sudden outburst. In response, her mother grabbed her by the wrist and continued shouting at her.

“Where the fuck is it??”, she spit at her.

“Mom let me go!! I threw it away okay! Now let me go!”, Max demanded desperately, trying to free herself from her grip.

Her mother just starred at her in disgust, her anger still owning her.

“I wish I never had you Maxine Mayfield. Next time you touch my stuff I won’t be as nice to you.”, she replied sternly, letting go of Max’s wrist.

After Max was finished with her explanation of the certain monday morning, y/n couldn’t say a word at first. They just starred at Max, unsure of what to say. The redhead noticed that y/n was overwhelmed with her confession, so she tried to ease the tension and play it down a little.

“But let’s not make a big deal out of it. Facts are, I lied to your face when I said you’re annoying just to get my anger out and I tried to hurt you because I can’t deal with having people around me that actually care about me and-“, Max tried to carry on.

“No Max, stop. Don’t. It is a big deal and I can’t believe that happened to you. That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.”, y/n interrupted Max. They scooted closer to her and put their hand on hers, trying to show support.

All of a sudden, the physical affection and y/n’s words made Max get emotional. Tears started forming inside her eyes, as she took y/n’s hand and pressed on it. This was the first time she told someone about what happened. By now she had almost forgotten how hard it hit her, how horrible it made her feel.

Not saying anything after that, Max started crying hardly. All her bottled up emotions about the situation just started spilling, especially since she wasn’t able to tell y/n about it until now. She planned on doing so, but then things got ugly.

Y/n took Max inside their arms and held her close until her sobs got quieter. It was relieving for both of them in a way. They let themselves linger in the moment, enjoying each other’s presence to the fullest. Max’s note slipped out of her hand without her even noticing, slowly drifting away to wherever the wind took it.

“I’m so sorry y/n. I really am. I hate myself for the way I treated you. You know I would never agree with those bullies. Ever. You never annoy me, I just-… I was an asshole.”, Max whispered softly, still cuddling into y/n.

As she pulled away, y/n wiped Max’s tears away. For a short moment they just admired their best friend. The way she’s been handling things over the past years that no one else could even imagine amazed y/n to the core. It always has but it became so normal to Max to live under such conditions, that it became normal for y/n too.

“You are always there for me y/n. Even when I’m being a pain in the ass. And you know it means the world to me. You’re caring and kind. You’re always listening to what I have to say. And everyone who calls you annoying simply doesn’t deserve you… I don’t deserve you.”, the redhead spoke out with a broken voice.

“That’s bullshit Max. You do deserve me. You deserve everything good the world has to offer.”, y/n replied in a soft tone as they put a strand of Max’s hair behind her ear.

“But I hurt you y/n and I wa-“, Max tried to say before y/n interrupted her.

“Yes Max. I won’t lie to you, I was hurt. It hurt really badly. But I forgive you and I do understand where you were coming from now. I’m sorry for not being able to be there for you.”, y/n admitted.

Once again, Max was the one to have a small break down. She collapsed into y/n’s arms, but this time she broke down from relief. Max knew how much of an asshole she was, and still y/n was able to forgive her.

“You’re not supposed to be the one to apologize.”, Max complained in a muffled tone, as her face was pressed into y/n’s shoulder.

Y/n patted her back softly, as they rested their head on Max’s head.

“I’m… sorry? For apologizing?”, y/n slowly spoke out, making Max look up. She softly giggled at her friend’s response.

“You’re such a dork y/n.”, she replied, making y/n giggle. The redhead just starred at y/n after that, admiring them. “And you’re the best person I know… You’re the only one that ever truly cared about me. And you’re supportive, attentive… loving…”

Max got lost in her thoughts as her gaze kept lingering on y/n’s lips, which were forming a small smile. She didn’t know what struck her in that moment, but before y/n could even react, Max pulled their best friend closer to her face and placed her lips on theirs.

Both of their mind’s just went blank, y/n too startled to kiss back at first. But just before Max was about to pull back again, y/n placed their hand on her cheek and moved their lips against hers. The kiss was soft and gentle but intense at the same time. Max’s hand pressed on y/n’s arm softly, scared y/n would slip away again any moment.

It wasn’t only the closest act of intimacy they had ever shared, it was the reunion of two people, who had been feeling lost for a while and now finally returned home. Who found each other again.

After the two of them let go of each other, they put their foreheads together, their noses slightly touching.

“Promise, I won’t ever let you go again. And I won’t ever hurt you again.”, Max whispered softly, making y/n’s already bright smile even brighter.

Y/n took Max’s hand in theirs, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles.

“I know.”, they replied quietly.

A/N: I know this took a loooong time but I’m moving out soon and things are stressful. Also there might be a few mistakes, my brain is lazy atm. So with that being said, I hope you still enjoy this part and you’re happy with the ending 🤍 also my tumblr doesn’t find most of yours tags for some reason 😫 sorry </3

taglist @alonezz @incorrectbriiiii @yourssincerelyj @sadiesgf69 @fromthedt @hoeforthemarauderss @blooping-you-again @sun-soda @supertigerdestiny @robinbuckleyluvr @maxmayfieldsirlwife @immadowhateva

[renegades-garbage]

Finding The Truth

So i haven’t posted any content of my own on here in literally forever so sorry for that but here’s a fic. (:

This is basically what I think would have happened if nova found out the truth on her own before the end of supernova. I’ll prob do a part two of her actually telling them about everything but I didn’t want this to be too long.

i don’t think the anarchists actually cared this little about her in the story it’s just for the angst lol.

This is set in the beginning of supernova after max tells adrian that nighmare didnt try to kill him but before she goes to jail lol. Those two things overlap im pretty sure but we are going to pretend they dont.

Im also pretty sure she has danna trapped in a jar at this point but we can all overlook that for now.

Anyways, hope you enjoy, love you bye (:

Finding The Truth

When Nova arrived back at the house on Wallowridge after her less-than-relaxing day at HQ, all that awaited her were empty rooms and a note on the kitchen table. 

Visiting Ace,  be back soon 

-QB

Nova rolled her eyes at the little crown above the initials and the kiss mark left on the corner of the small piece of paper. As her eyes scanned the note a feeling of dread settled in her stomach. Nova hated when the anarchists visited Ace without her. She didn't like being gossiped about, especially to Ace, rather than being treated like a member of the group.

Knowing they should probably discuss plans going forward after her most recent mission, and needing the walk to clear her head she decided to go down to the catacombs and join the meeting.

–

Walking through a hallway full of rotting skeletons was never an enjoyable experience for Nova but she understood Ace's need for the dreary hiding place. Just as she was nearing the entrance to Ace’s dwelling she heard muffled voices through the curtains of bones.

“I didn’t save her for nothing Honey Harper!”

The angered voice belonged to Ace. Nova’s brow furrowed, not knowing who he was talking about. 

“I know Acey, and she’s been very valuable but I think it’s time we accept that she’s too far gone. She cares too much about the Everhart boy.” Honey's voice dripped with disgust at those words. “I’m starting to think you should have let her die with your traitorous brother.”

They were talking about her. Nova’s breathing quickened as she tried to stay quiet. Her mind raced as she tried to comprehend the words. 

“Well, we can’t just abandon her.” This voice was Leroy’s and somewhere in all the confusion, she was thankful for him.

Ace spoke again. “Well if she truly becomes a threat to us becoming the kings and queens of all of this I suppose we could…. get rid of her.” He sounded reluctant to say those words but not in the way Nova would have expected. No, he spoke more like that would be too much of a chore. Her stomach churned. Her mind reeled trying to make sense of everything.

“Right,” Leroy said, and Nova could practically hear the eye roll that accompanied his words. ”Just like you did with the rest of her family.”

Nova’s breath hitched as tears filled her eyes.

“Well it’s not exactly ideal,” Honey drawled “It would be a shame to lose our little nightmare, but it seems like she’s getting ready to switch sides…..”

“We could use her death to lure the boy right to us,” Ace suggested.

“Oh a big hero act, how romantic. Maybe he’ll even race in dawning his sentinel armor. Like a fairytale.” Honey said it all like a joke. She seemed delighted by the idea, like they were pawns in a game. Honey began to laugh even more. “And we can have Phobia push him off a building so he can die just like his mother trying to save the Artinos.”

–

Stumbling around in the darkness of the night, Nova felt like she couldn't breathe.Tears were streaming down her face. She had run up to the surface when she decided she couldn't listen anymore.

She needed to get out of there before the Anarchists ended their meeting, but she didn’t know where to go. She certainly couldn’t go back to the house on Wallowridge. Snippets of what she had heard were still swirling around her brain as she tried to steady her breathing and think straight.

I didn’t save her for nothing. Very valuable. Dawning his sentinel armor. Your traitorous brother. Just like you did with the rest of her family. His mother. Get rid of her. The Everhart boy.

Adrian. Nova thought back to the night of the gala. Holding Adrian as he cried. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in his arms and let herself be comforted by him, but she couldn’t go to him. Could she?

Of course not. She thought to herself, but the pain was becoming too overwhelming. Still not quite thinking straight, and knowing she had to get out of there as soon possible, she began to make her way to the Mayor’s mansion.

–

The walk to the Everhart residence was a blur, it was almost midnight and it had started to rain pretty heavily by the time Nova got there. Her tears had all but subsided on the walk over. 

As she went through the security system dread settled over her. She really shouldn't be here, it was so late, not to mention these people would probably gladly throw her in prison given the chance.

By the time Nova had come to her senses enough to realize she should absolutely turn around, she was standing on the porch watching as one of the huge doors swung open.

To her dismay, it was Simon who opened the door. He was dressed in a bathrobe and slippers looking like he had just tumbled out of bed.

“Nova it’s the middle of the night, what are you-” he cut himself short upon seeing that she had been sobbing and was soaking wet with rain. His brow furrowed with worry.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” no “Um is Adrian home.”

“Yeah, he is. I’ll go get him, I think he’s still awake.”

Just as Simon turned around to get his son, they heard a voice.

“Nova?” Adrian.

Nova’s whole body relaxed upon hearing his voice. Adrian was looking at her with so much worry she had to fight not to break into a sob, though she wasn’t very successful.

Simon seemed to take this as his cue to go. “I'll be in the kitchen,” he said, giving her one last sorrowful look before walking away.

“Nova,” Adrian said again coming towards her, and this time her knees buckled. Nova fell into Adrian’s embrace and sobbed.

[robthegoodfellow]

snippet from next chapter of That's All Folks!

For context: in the Upside-Down afterlife everything operates according to Looney Tunes logic. Eddie is the most recent arrival, and the denizens are preparing to fight Vecna in order to save Max. Eddie's job to ensure Steve, Nancy, and Robin make it safely to the gate in the Munson trailer in order to escape.

The shriek of Heather’s whistle bounced off the GYM walls. “Again!”

Eddie groaned, so tired he went full noodle—arms dangling boneless from his shoulders as he drooped to the ground on legs bendy as spaghetti.

“Let’s go,” Heather bellowed into her megaphone. “One more, then we’ll call it a day.”

In response, Eddie let out a long descending whine, a gusty fart of a noise, and his body deflated like a punctured balloon.

“Aw, don’t be like that, man,” Patrick called from his perch atop the metal crate that represented the Munson trailer, his crown askew from the rough landing. He had been playing Steve for the duration of the exercise. Chrissy, sitting pretty by his side, the first to have made it to home base, had drawn freckles on her cheeks to assume the role of Robin. “You almost got all three of us that time.”

Dangling upside-down from the ceiling, hand on head to secure his brown Nancy wig, Fred nodded encouragingly. He was wrapped chest to knee in the creepy sentient vines Heather had unleashed, a swarm of blind boa constrictors that had spelled their doom mere feet from the finish line.

Heather had insisted that getting into character was essential, and thus had been tormenting—or “training”—Eddie for hours with a grey raisin face horrifically at odds with her pink track suit.

If Vecna personally comes after us, we’re screwed, Ed had pointed out, but she was undeterred. Barb had donned a flower costume, the petals hanging limp from around her neck. I’m a Demogorgon, she’d explained, expression flat. So far, she’d mauled Eddie twice and Patrick once.

Maybe it was therapeutic, given how she’d died?

Barb sat out the last round, content to chill among the writhing amputated vines Ed had been furiously hacking to bits, windmilling a pair of machetes. He would’ve gone tornado mode, but they’d limited him to tactics that wouldn’t stretch plausibility so far as to paralyze his human cargo with alarmed confusion.

Which was really cramping his style, honestly.

The metal doors clanked, and bright daylight clashed with the harsh fluorescents. Eddie flopped his head to see Billy approaching, back in his workout clothes.

…Back in his workout clothes, only he’d swapped out the muscle shirt for a black crop top.

“Already a puddle?”

Heather nudged Eddie’s hose arm with her foot. “He was like this before you got here.”

Billy crouched, eyes sparkling, tongue between his teeth. “What’s up, Ed?”

“This isn’t gonna work,” Eddie mumbled, downcast, and Billy tsked.

“Not with that attitude, it’s not.” He grabbed Ed’s hand, raised it till his breath gusted against skin, and for a wild second Eddie thought he was gonna kiss it like a fairytale prince.

Then plush lips closed around Eddie’s thumb—an abrupt switch from good day, my lady to let’s set off some fireworks—but before Ed could do more than squeak, Billy’s cheeks puffed out, and he blew.

With a pop, Ed resumed his normal dimensions, fully inflated, and their audience cackled—except for one.

“Uhm, could you—let me down?” Fred asked.

Billy craned his head, considering. “Give ‘em a tickle,” he suggested, and soon enough Fred came crashing to the ground.

[realityparty]

Title: Thin Lines Pairing: Eddie Munson x OC Summary: Accidents sometimes happen.  Warnings: Pregnancy Link: [Stranger Things Masterlist]  Being careful didn't stop accidents from happening. She and Eddie were careful. She was on the pill. Eddie always wore a condom. They both had been through the awkward sex talk. They were told to be responsible. Be safe. Jensen thought they were. 

However, she should have known that luck would have not been on her side. There were accidents of course. Broken condoms and sometimes forgetting to take the pill. The pull-out method and Plan B pills were something that was rare occurrences. They weren't too stupid. Maybe she was a little more stupid than Eddie for not realizing her cycle was late. 

3 weeks late to be exact. 

She probably would have not even noticed if Max hadn't made a comment that they were out of pads. It wasn't until she was standing in the aisle looking at the boxes of pads that she realized she hadn't gotten her period. She wasn't even spotting. 

As she clutched the box of pads, she could only think of how her womb might not be empty. The pregnancy tests only a few feet away mocked her. Talk about great placement. Pregnancy tests next to the sanctuary napkins were a great way to make someone grateful for their period. It was clear she and Eddie were not ready for a baby. They never even talked about kids or even marriage. The only thing ever referenced about their future was to graduate high school. She snatched the pregnancy test off the aisle. 

Grateful that Max decided to stay home while she made the emergency run.  She didn't understand why there were so many different brands for a plastic stink to hold a small ounce of pee. She wasn't sure if there was a preferred brand, but she grabbed the first box and rushed to the counter. 

Maybe the gods were giving her some reprieve as it was Joyce Byers at the counter, but then again maybe not. Joyce knew her and was aware that she did hang out with her sons and their friends. She suspected that Joyce would then tell Hopper. They would conspire and theorize about this predicament. She was sure there would be discreet looks at her stomach while they waited for the announcement. Maybe it was worse it was Joyce that had scanned the pregnancy test, pads, and the box of condoms.  

Yet, if it was her high school counterparts, as soon as she was spotted looking at pregnancy tests, rumors would have made their way all around Hawkins. 

Joyce only gave her a smile and slid a chocolate bar discreetly into her bag. It was small moments like this that made Jensen miss having a mom. 

Susan, of course, was a great mother figure. Her arrival into her and her dad’s life was welcomed. She knew her father needed the company - a companion not of his adolescent child. Jensen’s father had been the only parental figure in her life. She had no real solid memories of her mom. She didn’t have any idea what a mom was supposed to mean. Her knowledge of mothers came from fairytales. Those stories painted a picture of her life she knew she wouldn’t get. There was no use in craving something she would never have. Her care came from her father. 

And when Susan entered her life, the redhead had respected this unsaid boundary of wanting to be her friend and not her mother. Not to say she didn’t recognize Susan as her mother figure. She did, but it wasn’t the same as how her dad had easily assimilated into being a dad to Max. Heck, Max even called him dad. She thought maybe it was the fact that Susan took the role of a friend than a mother that sort of altered the expectation of a parental relationship. 

So it wasn’t until she really met Joyce and even Karen Wheeler she really experienced the care of a mother. Especially through Joyce and it's why she felt the twinge of disappointment as she shoved the pregnancy test into her bag. She kept it separate from the bag with the pads she would give Max. She supposed if the test came out positive she knew where she could turn to for help. 

She resisted the urge to scream and cry as she drove back to the house. 

She tried to feel if her body felt different. She had this notion that maybe her body was telling her it was pregnant outside of the missed period. She placed a hand on her lower abdomen. She tried to gauge if it felt full, but all she felt was her flesh. No indication of anything taking residence. 

She debated if she should take the test with or without Eddie. If the test was negative he wouldn’t ever have to know. No harm or foul was done. Why trouble his mind with something like this? But if it was positive, she wasn’t sure how she would react. She didn’t know if she would be angry or sad and would be too worried about Eddie’s reaction. But she didn’t want to take the test alone. Maybe she could hold off taking the test. If Max was on her period, she may be starting after her. It gave her a window to get her thoughts together and figure out a game plan. 

Max was appreciative of the pads and Jensen barely caught on that Steve called to say he would pick her up. Jensen was confused as to why Steve would be picking her up. It was then she remembered it was Tuesday. Corroded Coffin played their gig and their small group of friends came out to support them. She didn’t know how she was to going to try to show her genuine enthusiasm when her mind was a jumble of nerves. 

She did slap on some makeup. Just some mascara, clear gloss on her eyes, and some brown lip gloss. She slid on her homemade Corroded Coffin shirt. Jensen did stand in front of her full-length mirror trying to spot any changes in her body. Yet, the thought of her stomach expanding had her pushing down her shirt. 

She grabbed her bag and walked back out into the living room. Max was sitting on the couch engrossed in her TV show. 

“Do you need the heating pad or anything?” She asked her sister. 

Max shook her head. “No. You staying the night at Eddie's?”

The familiar beeping of Steve’s horn informed her that he was there. “Oh, maybe, we’ll see.”

Max scrunched her nose. “Have fun and be safe.”

“No sneaking Lucas in!”

Max snorted. 

. . . 

Even with the small crowd, every time Eddie was done playing a show, he was just a ball of energy that couldn’t be contained. 

Before they were together romantically, he would rush off the stage. A smile on his lips made her cheeks hurt. She would be smushed into a hug. Her face squished against his chest. She would feel his heart pounding against his chest. The smell of sweat would overpower his cologne that was supposed to chase away the stench of his cigarettes. He would be laughing and talking a mile a minute. He still did that now, his hands just roamed more freely over her. 

Back then, what seemed to chill him out a little was a joint and despite how much he tried to deny it, she knew there was the occasional girl he would entertain. 

Now, he would push her into the corner of the Hideout. His lips would trail over any visible space of skin. This was all foreplay and they both knew it as he would whisper in her ear about what he wanted to do to her. It would be minutes before their friends would shoo them off. Eddie would make the mad dash to his van and drive crazily back to his trailer. Like now, his hands were cradling her face as his lips were pressed against her

. He was driving the air out of her lungs as he moved her back to his room. And for a moment, she was lost in the sensation of his lips, his warm hands, and despite the callouses on his fingers, she loved the feel of them trailing down her body. And she wanted to get lost in the sensation of Eddie because as much as he did use his words, he was better with his actions. And Eddie knew her body. He would probably be the only man to know her body in this way. 

His feet blindly kick his door shut. He removed his grip on her face to push his jacket off his frame. Their lips were still connected as his jacket dropped to their floor. She felt his smile on her lips. Jensen was so lost in the kiss that she forgot her bag was still hanging off her shoulder and as his hands went to the buttons of her jeans, the bag fell and she froze. 

This what they were doing was what got them in this situation of why her period may be late. Eddie felt her stiffen and he immediately pulled away. She cursed Eddie for being able to read her so well. 

“Everything okay?” He asked. 

His pupils were wide and his lips were swollen. He pulled back from her, his chest heaving. Brown eyes scanned over her and then they zoned in on the bag on the floor. It was weird how everything seemed to move so fast but slowly at the same time. Eddie bent down to grab her bag and of course, what didn’t fall out, exploded like a volcano. The pregnancy test of course had to be the cherry on top. Eddie’s fingers grabbed the unopened box. He didn’t say anything as he scanned the box. 

“Eddie…I…shit -” She collapsed on the bed. She felt her throat tightening up and she did not want to cry. 

Yet, she was crying. 

Eddie had moved next to her. His hands cupped her face forcing her to look at him. His thumbs rubbed her damp cheeks. His expression was unreadable as he stared into her eyes. But it was too painful to look at him. She pressed her face into his shirt. The metalhead pressed a kiss to the crown of her head as he held her. He let her cry before it turned into some hard body hiccups. 

Jensen heard the dog barking next door before Eddie opened his mouth. “The box isn’t opened.”

Jensen took a deep breath. “I bought it today.” She told him. “I was going to tell you, but…I…” Jensen paused before she shifted and looked up at Eddie. “I’m late.”

Eddie blew a raspberry. “I figured.” 

Jensen couldn’t tell if he was scared or mad. “Say something.” She pressed. 

“What do you want me to say?” He asked. 

Jensen pulled back. She removed herself from his hold, but he immediately latched onto her. “Don’t do that.” His voice was soft but firm. 

“I need something, Eddie. I’m losing my freaking mind.”

“How about you take the test and we can go from there?” He told her as he grabbed the box. He opened it for her and took out the plastic stick. It was remarkable how simple plastic held so much weight for their future.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. 

“But you’re not alone. I’m here.”

Jensen grabbed the test and made her way to the bathroom. Eddie followed her. She didn’t even mind that he joined her in the cramped bathroom of the trailer. If she were pregnant, he would be seeing a whole other side of her as well. 

She peed on the stick and washed her hands. Eddie had moved to sit on the toilet seat cover and pulled her into his lap. The test felt like a ticking time bomb. Yet, she knew Eddie was nervous as his leg was bouncing and his fingers couldn’t stop tapping “Master of Puppets” against her thigh. 

“Do you want kids?” She asked him. 

“I don’t know,” he told her. “Do you?”

“I don’t know,” she repeated. 

Eddie snorted. “Don’t we make a lovely pair?”

“It’s just living in the trailer park, it’s more so about not being able to afford them, ya know. Before we got together, I used to think about it a lot.” Eddie revealed. “Who would they look like.”

“They? As more than one?” 

“Yeah. A boy and a girl. Have to make it even. A girl first and then a boy.”

Jensen looked at Eddie with wide eyes. There was a lot to unpack there. “Did something change with this fantasy?”

“No, not really. We are just young and it’s not like I want kids straight out of school. I know we want to do things, but at the same time, I’m not like in a rush for it. I am happy to be with you.”

“You’re such a sap, Eddie.”

Eddie gave her a wide smile. “You love it.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Eddie replied. 

Jensen smiled and pressed a sweet gentle kiss to his lips. 

Eddie pulled back and pressed a kiss to her nose before he grabbed the test off the counter. “You know whatever this test says, I am going to support you either way,” Eddie told her as he passed over the test. 

Jensen took a deep breath. Eddie looming over her shoulder, Jensen read the test.

<<Prev. Blade of Grass>>

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 31/12/2022 (Christmas Garbage. Just Christmas Garbage)

This week included Christmas Day and surrounding days into its tracking – as cool as it would be to send off 2022 with a week of returns and new arrivals, it’s still holiday season on the charts so before we usher in the new year... let’s talk about Christmas music. Because of course. “Last Christmas” by Wham! is #1 once again and welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

The sheer amount of holiday streaming this year meant that this week is home to many a new peak for a Christmas song. The only non-Christmas song in the top 10 barely counts because it had a Christmas-adjacent Amazon Original remix which is pushing it here. Talking about that top 10, since it’s this week, I may as well crib the format from the last. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams is at #10, “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl is at #9, “Someday at Christmas” by Lizzo is at #8, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms is at #7, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé is at #6, “Firebabe” by Stormzy is at #5 thanks to the aforementioned Amazon version, “Rockin’ Around by the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee is at #4, “Merry Christmas” by Ed Sheeran and Elton John is at #3, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey is at #2 and of course “Last Christmas” takes the top spot.

Now, pretty much all of this chart is related to Christmas one way or the other because ACR rules don’t mean squat with the sheer amount of streams they get. It’s probably more interesting talking about the holiday songs that didn’t make the top 75, which is what I cover: The Darkness, Sam Smith, George Ezra and even Queen couldn’t really breach the canon this year, not that those songs aren’t valid holiday celebrations. The Darkness’ “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” should get a bit more play, especially if we’re going for wacky and melodramatic Christmas songs, which aren’t really my favourite. In earnest, I prefer the miserable ones. Not only are there eight new Christmas songs on this chart, but many of the old ones hit brand new peaks. Joy. Just to humour this nonsense, I’m actually going to try my best to list them here. Outside of the top 10, those reaching new peaks include “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson at #12, “Let it Snow” (three times) by Dean Martin at #20, “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano at #21, “Sleigh Ride” by the Ronettes at #22, “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Bublé at #23, “Snowman” by Sia at #28, “Let it Snow” (three times) by Frank Sinatra at #33, “Santa Can’t You Hear Me” by Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande at #34, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole at #35 (that’s a classic), “Jingle Bells” by Sam Ryder at #41 (that’s not), “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives at #42, “Christmas Without You” by Ava Max at #43, “Let it Snow” (one time) by Michael Bublé at #44, “Together this Christmas” by Maisie Peters at #47, “Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson at #50, “Cuddle Up Cozy Down Christmas” by Dolly Parton and Michael Bublé at #57 and “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry at #62. Got all that? There’s more.

Several of those were songs that returned to the top 75 for this week and pretty much this week only until next year. Other songs first returning to the top 75 this year – and therefore gone the next week – include “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses at #73 (which has always been one of my favourites), “Mistletoe and Wine” by Cliff Richard at #71 (which hasn’t), “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Perry Como at #69, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen at #58, “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley at #56, “Santa Baby” by Kylie Minogue at #54 and probably my personal favourite Christmas song of all time, “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders at #51, reaching its highest chart placement since 1984. Finally, they see the vision.

Now finally, I suppose we should cover our notable dropouts, right? Songs exiting the UK Top 75 – which, again, is what I cover – after five weeks in  the region or a peak in the top 40 are considered “notable” and oh my God, it was a bloodbath. And there’ll be another one next week. For now though, both of our Christmas #1 novelty debuts from last week, “F the Tories” and “Food Aid” are gone, but the rest... well, we say farewell – for pretty much this week only I imagine – to “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” by Metro Boomin, Future and Chris Brown, “Rocket Science” by Clavish and D-Block Europe, “10:35” by Tiesto and Tate McRae, “Nobody Gets Me” and “Shirt” by SZA, “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, “golden hour” by JVKE, “Lionheart (Fearless)” by Joel Corry and Tom Grennan, “Hide & Seek” by Stormzy, “How Do I Say Goodbye” by Dean Lewis, “PSYCHO” by Anne-Marie and Aitch, “Forget Me” by Lewis Capaldi, “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha and “Mockingbird” by Eminem – because of course it was on the chart last week, it’s still 2022 after all.

Of course there aren’t any non-holiday gains. What a stupid question for you to definitely be asking. Now, we have a grand list of eight new arrivals, all of which are holiday singles. I’m writing this on the 30th. All festivity has been sucked out by this point, but for now, I suppose it’s Christmastime for another hour or two.

NEW ARRIVALS

#72 – “What Christmas Means to Me” – Stevie Wonder

Produced by Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua

I’d say that the gloves are off for this episode – I have no room to be nice on a post-Christmas Christmas week – but that’s after this one because I’ve always considered this in the upper echelon of Christmas songs, even if it’s a bit of a sleeper. Plus, it’s Stevie Wonder – when do I get to talk about Stevie Wonder on this show? I’m not going to waste this chance being mean. I will try and keep this one and the next few very short though. Again, I’m not putting in the time or effort for this week of all weeks. Whilst this song may fall into the overly festive crop, the bombast is somewhat limited by the not-so-great mixing you can expect of 1967 that gives it an almost lo-fi feel when it comes to the choir. It helps that Stevie’s belting his heart out too, he’s never not been a convincing performer, and he’s selling very genuine content. Sure, it’s littered with clichés but they’re well written and cute, co-written by Marvin Gaye himself so it’s unlikely they could ever go wrong. What surprises me is that this wasn’t a single and didn’t actually chart until 2021 where it debuted at #97. I have no idea why this one didn’t catch on sooner.

#70 – “Last Christmas” – Lauren Spencer-Smith

Produced by who cares?

You know the deal by now. It’s an Amazon original, it doesn’t get reviewed – and Lauren Spencer-Smith, really? Your pop career is a year old. You’ve yet to put out a good song let alone an album. Who in their right mind would try and listen to any other version of this song other than George Michael’s original? He wrote those lyrics perfectly to fit his voice and cadence: anything else is a poor imitation. Naturally, Piran suggested “Take me home” by PinkPantheress. I’ll keep it short but I don’t like this all that much, which is disappointing, since PinkPantheress tends to hit more than miss. I really don’t like the awkward chorus on this one and whilst I like the lyrics about maturing, they come off a bit on-the-nose when she delivers them this way and without a true emotional climax to the song, which may have a second verse at least but lacks a real bridge apart from an instrumental section which repeats much of the same warping synthwave-drum and bass combination which does feels a bit stock. Sorry, not a fan, and especially not a fan of the cheap slowed-down trap beat in the outro, why is that even there? They also suggested “DESPECHÁ” by ROSALÍA, a song I much prefer, even if through the obnoxious Auto-Tune, some of the personality is lost, but for a song with such a stiff feeling rhythm, I don’t really mind. The minimalism of it all doesn’t come off as a surprise from ROSALÍA considering her recent work, and it leads to a song that feels very laser-focused on its aim in making a simple dance song, to the point where there isn’t even a build up as much as there are just synth passages and for whatever reason, it clicks with me.

#68 – “My Only Wish (This Year)” – Britney Spears

Produced by Joshua Schwartz and Brian Kierulf

Jive Records released a Christmas compilation in 2000 and since Britney was on that label, we get her addition to the Christmas canon, which was recently re-released in 2020, charting first below the top 75 in 2021. Let me be clear: these are the dregs. These are songs that nobody actually wants to listen to – they have their fans but these are radio filler songs and streaming playlist fodder added by some kind of label bribe. Spears’ slippery voice does not work on such a peppy sleigh-bells instrumental that feels very much in the fashion of Mariah Carey, and she is completely unequipped for organic production, really, and I’ve pretty much always felt that way. The more electronic and alien she gets, the better she is, and this is about as far from that as you can get, so unless you really like Disney cheese and pointless vocal riffing with sickly sweet writing, this probably will be on the low ranks of your December playlist turnaround.

#67 – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Frank Sinatra

Produced by ???

There are many versions of this song, originally sang by Judy Garland, but Sinatra’s 1957 version gets some attention nowadays and whilst the man could sell any content with his voice and charisma, the choir tends to sound a bit ghostly nowadays, and it’s not really as warm-sounding as it should be. I’m not surprised this one took until 2019 to even chart at #100 because with the choir, the echo on Sinatra’s vocals and the oddly tense strings, it seems a bit... creepy if anything. It’s not a bad rendition, but sometimes songs aren’t released as singles on release for reasons not unknown to the audience. Doesn’t Phoebe Bridgers have a version of this? With no disrespect to the classics, can’t we make that chart instead?

#64 – “All I Want (for Christmas)” – Zoe Wees

Produced by who cares?

Zoe Wees is a German singer mostly known for her 2018 song “Control” which was a sleeper hit in Europe. It never charted here, so her chart debut is an Amazon original. How embarrassing. Callum suggested “Heal” by Jason Allan, which apart from an awkward synth line and a pretty cool guitar solo, is your absolute standard pop punk song and is just completely serviceable. It gave me nothing to say, so Jade suggested “Rely on Me” by Sigala, Gabry Ponte and Alex Gaudino, which is... just a house song. It has your typical diva vocal, your typical 90s pianos and is completely serviceable other than a slightly unique and catchy vocal refrain but not much else. An anonymous suggestion from Basildon gives me “Werewolf” by Absurd, a Nazi black metal song. I may need to find better suggestions.

#61 – “Under the Mistletoe” – Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge

Produced by Jesse Shatkin and Aben Eubanks

Brett Eldredge? At this time of day? At this time of year? In this country, localised entirely within #61? Apart from the novelty of a B-list country singer even getting close to the UK charts, this is one of your typical bombastic, fake-sounding modern Christmas songs, and that melody in the chorus is particularly grating, as Kelly sells it all without much emotion as much as there is just volume, which leads to a really tough listen when that chorus comes around with the standard swell and horns that sound genuinely terrible, kind of like they came from Pokémon Emerald. Brett Eldredge goes for a low-key delivery for the most part... you’re singing with Kelly Clarkson, man, what are you thinking? I like both of these artists fine most of the time but Christmas music is not their lane. At least it’s an original track so they’re not butchering anything, I suppose. Also for some reason, I thought that these two were married, but turns out that they are not and I was mistaking them for Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton... who somehow have even less musical chemistry.

#57 – “Little Saint Nick” – The Beach Boys

Produced by Brian Wilson

Oh, come on, I can’t complain about the Beach Boys in the 1960s. This 1963 tune is in the canon in the US but has only just found its way across the Atlantic, and I’m pretty happy that it has, since whilst it’s definitely not essential: it’s 1960s Beach Boys. The harmonies are great, the vocal inflections are youthful and charming, the jingle bells didn’t yet feel like a cliché, and it’s incessantly catchy with hooks coming out of the wazoo, in a surprisingly subtle way also, in a way that the Beach Boys weren’t yet at this point in their career. They spend half the time gushing about how cool Santa’s sleigh is and describing it as if it were a sports car, how can you not at least take kindly to this?

#49 – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Priya Ragu

Produced by who cares?

Priya Ragu is a Sri Lankan singer based in Switzerland who is making her chart debut, though she has charted on the UK Asian chart before, with yet another Amazon original. Again, how embarrassing. Listen, it’s the end of the year: I’m not ending with a bang but the most pathetic of whimpers and you’ll have to live with it, damn it. Callum suggested “Bloodline” by Sam Tompkins and that may just be the most least impactful song I have ever heard in terms of production and a grossly possessive one lyrically... and it’s from the less important of the two guys on that “To the Moon!” song because... sure. It even goes for an intense drum crash at the end but it just sounds so stagnant because there are no stakes. He then suggested that I write Spider-Man vore so I’m blacklisting him from suggestions. Dillon suggested “Righteous” by Mo Beats, an instrumental rage cut with a really sprawling drizzle of video game-esque synths. It sounds like a SNES and whilst it may have the fuzzy mixing of a rage beat and is a bit too unchanging to work perfectly, I’d love to hear someone rap over it and it’s definitely a lot more unique than anything Yeat has ever touched. He also suggested “Da Rant” by Morray, an expectedly earnest cut from Morray who brings all of his passion into a freestyle over a slick enough soul loop and trap beat, wherein even his off-the-cuff freestyles end up sounding like they have all these soulful, calculated melodies and backing riffs. The delivery is great, the rhyme schemes are nice, and whilst the content is nothing new for Morray, it’s an honest rags-to-riches story. It may feel a bit too off-the-cuff though, as Morray tends to switch the topic back to flexing too much than he should given that he sometimes starts off a conscious idea and just... never comes back to it. Also, “the world is cold, Russians” is just... stupid. Regardless, for inspirational trap-rap in the Rod Wave lane, Morray pretty much clears anyone I’ve heard, and I’m excited for that next project. Thanks to everyone who suggested a song this Christmas season to help with my boycott against Jeff Bezos.

Conclusion

Well, three of these songs are Amazon originals and therefore not real songs, so that leaves the other five. Best of the Week is going to the Beach Boys for “Little Saint Nick” – it’s far from my favourite in their catalogue, but they were a once in a lifetime group in terms of talent. The Honourable Mention goes to Stevie Wonder for “What Christmas Means to Me” for many of the same reasons: a legend making a damn good festive track just a bit before their prime era. I said all the soppy end-of-year crap last week so I’ll cut it straight: Worst of the Week goes to “Under the Mistletoe” by Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge, with a close Dishonourable Mention to Britney Spears for “My Only Wish (This Year)”. As I said, these are mostly the dregs, and the purge next week where we start anew with 2023’s pop music will be refreshing. For now, thank you for reading and I’ll see you – literally – next year!

[kandadiff]

As The World Falls Down 2

~

The relationship between Max and Damien was a complicated one. They grew up as close as brothers. Under the infamous Morningstar family in Italy. But a tale as old as time, a woman, interfered with their closeness for a while. And for a while the boys were in a unspoken completion against each other for her affection and attention. 

It took them years to resume their friendship, even with the unresolved tensions that bubbled just below the surface. They were actually hanging out together, in Hogan’s bar, with Mimi and Penelope when Damien received a call from me. 

“Hey” he said feeling his heart beat faster at the call. It happened every time he spoke to me, his grandmother told him it happened with soulmates. A stupid fairytale but he remembered it every time. 

“Hey” He frowned, I sounded out of breath and distracted. 

“Whats up?”

“Are you with Max?” I asked and he sighed looking over at Max from his spot at the bar. Mimi was smiling at him, running her fingers through his brown hair. 

“Why is he not answering the phone?!” I shouted and he could tell I was driving. 

“Want em to give him the phone?”

“Can you both meet me at Negans house, please.” It was less of a question and more of a statement. 

“When?” Damien asked slipping the bartender a fifty for Mimi’s and Penelope’s drink. Hopefully, this will soften the blow for the two girls when he told them they had to go. 

“15?”

“I’ll be there.” he said walking back to his group. 

“Thank you.” I said and he smirked. Peneople mistakenly thinking it was for her. 

“You’re welcome hurricane.”

~

I knew after the party we threw for Negan on Wednesday he left to Vegas to handle some business and thinking about it on my erratic ride to his house, thats probably why he wasn’t at the party. Not because he didn’t knew, he knew. He had to know. Joker was Shawns godfather - another secret he tried to keep from me. A secret I found out a few months ago, his apology promising me again to keep me away and protect from the man who ruined my childhood. If only. 

I arrived to Negans manor in five minutes, using my key and tossing it haphazardly on the floor - I wouldn’t need it anymore. I made my way to Negan’s room - pausing to look in the mirror and see just how disjointed I looked. My dress was still soaked with blood vomit on the bottom, the cut on my arm just started healing and my hair was fuzzy and out of place from a speeding Shawns car here. I stopped at Negans room. 

He was fast asleep on his bed and didn’t wake when I grabbed his nearby cup fo whiskey he had before bed that rested on the night stand. I went to the attached bathroom, poured out the whiskey and filled it with water. Then I went back to the bed and tossed the water on him. “WAKE UP, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” I shouted and he jolted awake. He let out a frustrated shout as he shot up and rubbed his eyes, calming a bit when he saw it was me. 

“WHAT THE FUCK?” He shouted and he looked at me, his brown eyes wide, angry and confused. but I didn’t respond instead just stood there feeling the rage in me grow. Here he was sleeping peacefully and iu was forced to drink fucking blood! “WHAT THE FUCK" he lowered his voice “what happened to you?”

“What happened to me?” I laughed in spite of myself. “WHAT HAPPENED? I YOUR FUCKING BEST FRIEND KNIFED ME” I shoved up my cut arm “AND FORCED ME TO DRINK A CUP OF BLOOD!”

He looked at me confused and angry. “Who?” I shook my head “WHO?!”

“Who?! Who?! What are you, a fucking owl?!” I spat at him. “Joker! The fucking joker! He’s back you fucking idiot! But you already fucking knew that!” I threw the cup at him. It hit him square in the chest and I went back towards the door. “I’m done!”

He got up from the bed following me. “What happened?” I ignored him instead heading down the stairs. Simon was up now, I could see his light room now on and he wandered out onto the hallway. “WHAT HAPPENED?” Negan grabbed my arm, yanking me back and hurting my shoulder. 

“YOU LIED!” I shouted the anger inside me bubbling up and erupting like a volcano out of my mouth. “You promised! You swore on your fucking life! you’d never ever let him do anything to me again! And he knifed me and Robin and fed us his blood! AND YOU KNEW HE WAS BACK! AND YOU KEPT SILENT!” M hand shot out before I could stop it. My handprint left a welting red mark on his face, cutting a bit where I wore my ring. 

“I KEPT SILENT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU’D LEAVE IF YOU KNEW HE WAS BACK!” He screamed back at me. 

“THATS NOT UP TO YOU!” I screamed at him, feeling hot tears falling down my cheeks. “Its not! Thats up to me to deal with! I told you the truth every time you asked me!” I screamed at him and I felt my voice going raw. “I told you, if the joker ever comes back you need to tell me! you need to let me know but you didn’t you are a fucking liar! what did you think was going to happen? Were you going to sell me to him like a fucking steak on a plate?” I went to slap him again but he shoved me harsh against the wall. His large hand on my neck and I stared at him, my heart beating quick but I was too angry to be scared. 

“I SAVED YOU!” He screamed at me. “You were a scared little girl one fucking step from being a full fucked up little mess! You would cower in you fucking boots if you know all I fucking did for you! Who I fucking got out of your way! WHO I FUCKING KILLED FOR YOU! And I still let you be a little whore and pretend I don’t fucking know all you do! I know everything! AND I’M A FUCKING LIAR! YOU DON’T HAVE TO FUCKING WORRY ABOUT J! HE WON’T FUCKING TOUCH YOU AGAIN OR CHASE AFTER YOU AGAIN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT FUCKING LEAVING ME!” He kept me in that position for a moment, probably to calm both of us down a bit. But it didn’t work.

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?” I shouted as soon as he released me. “YOU DIDN’T SAVE ME! I’M ON MY OWN!”

“You’re on your own?!” He shouted grabbing me roughly and picking me up “FUCK YOU!” he slammed me on the floor of his room. Simon rushing over calling for him to calm down! and my head bounced off the wooden floor. It made my head pound and for a moment I saw stars. He ordered Simon to get my room ready while Simon tried to stick up for me. Telling Negan to just let me go. 

I took that opportunity to quietly crawl away, heading for one of teh secret compartments that Negan used to hide his Glock. He didn’t even realize when I grabbed it only stopping shouting at Simon when he heard the gun click. 

I stood up shooting at the space between Simon and Negan. The bullet whizzed past both of them and they both jumped, looking at me with wide terrified eyes. “Next time, I won't miss.” They both looked at me unmoving. Negan started towards me but I trained the gun at him. “I’m leaving. I’m sorry Negan.” I got past them and managed to get out of the house.

Max and Damien were in Damiens red sports car and I threw down the gun as I approached them. "Just drive please.” I said attempting to fix my hair. Damien did as he was told but Max continued to ask me. “Joker is back.” I said and I was unprepared for Damiens slam on the breaks. 

“What the fuck? Why didn’t you open with that?” Damien asked.

“Where is he?” Max asked “Did he try and contact you?”

“Oh yeah.” I said ordering Damien to turn right. “He sure fucking did. Negan knew.”

“Really?” Damien asked and Max put his hand on mine.

“Are you okay?”

“Yup.” I lied and sighed seeing the building the party was in coming back into view. “He wants Ace back? Well she's gonna come back with a bang?”

“What are you going to do?” Max asked worried and I smiled at both of them. Motioning for both of them to pull over and wait in the car. 

“You’ll see.” I got out the car and disappeared back until the building before they could follow or stop me. I headed towards the kitchen grabbing a few dish towels and bottles of liquor. 

~

[mikauzoran]

Lila and Adrienette: Catalyst (One-Shot)

This was written for @miraculousfanworks Snippet July event.

@logen123me requested Lilanette. I give you Lila and Adrienette. ^.^;

Summary: When Marinette gets paired with Lila in science, she knows there are going to be explosions. Good thing Adrien is there to defuse the situation.

Read it on AO3: Lila and Adrienette: Catalyst

Marinette resigned herself to her doom the minute Madame Mendeleiev announced that she would be partnered with Lila for the lab assignment.

Things were going to literally explode without the intervention of an akuma, and, somehow, Marinette knew that she would be the one blamed while Lila played innocent and got away with it.

Marinette’s fears were confirmed when, once they’d arrived at their lab stations, Lila whispered, “I would rather fail than cooperate with you,” ever so softly in Marinette’s ear.

Marinette shrugged, pretending it didn’t faze her even as she screamed on the inside.

Suddenly, Adrien’s hand shot up. “Madame Mendeleiev? Could I please work with Lila today?”

Fifteen pairs of eyes went wide in surprise.

“Lila’s been out so much due to her illnesses, and I want to help her get caught up,” Adrien continued with a beatific smile. “Absolutely no offence meant to Marinette, but I think I’d be a better tutor, since I’m second only to Max in this class.” He nodded his head at his assigned lab partner.

Madame Mendeleiev pursed her lips as she considered this request.

“…Very well,” she finally decided, feeling unusually generous. “But I better not catch you two goofing off. You’d better be productive.”

“Yes, Madame. Of course,” Adrien assured, holding out a hand to Lila. “Come on, Lila. Let’s get you up to speed.”

Lila shot Marinette a triumphant sneer.

Meanwhile, behind Lila’s back, Adrien winked.

Marinette’s mouth dropped open several centimeters.

There was no way Adrien had overheard Lila’s comment and intervened on Marinette’s behalf…was there?

She didn’t have time to puzzle over the matter as Max joined her at her station.

He nodded politely, seemingly unbothered by the partner switch. “I guess we’ll be working together.”

“Looks like it,” Marinette replied, mentally doing a victory dance because she’d missed her fair share of Mendeleiev’s classes due to akuma attacks, so she was a little shaky on the course material herself.

It was a windfall scoring Max as a lab partner.

 When the class broke for lunch that day, Marinette made a point of catching Adrien on the front steps.

“H-Hey,” she called tentatively.

He turned and beamed at her like a soccer stadium light. “Hey. What’s up Marinette?”

She swallowed and balled her hands into fists resolutely. “What you did today in Chemistry… I’m not sure if you meant to or not, but you really helped me out by taking Lila off of my hands…so…thanks, Adrien.”

“Absolutely,” he assured, scooping up her hand and pressing the lightest of kisses to the back of it. “I couldn’t just leave you hanging like that. …Have a nice lunch, Marinette.”

With another glimmering smile, he squeezed her hand and then released it, turning to head for his waiting car.

Marinette stood there on the steps, watching him go and feeling like a hot mess.

She was never going to get over him when he regularly acted like a fairytale prince.

[facialteeth]

This is my masterpost for @shadowhunterbingo​. Thank you so much to everyone who ran this event! This was my first year joining and it was so fun.

Mundane AU | Magnus is a very recently single father. Alec is Magnus' new bodyguard | Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Single Parent | That was one good thing about having a difficult teenage son. Magnus knew that Raphael would put any of his romantic partners right to the test, even if Magnus wished he wouldn't | Malec, Magnus & Raphael, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Fake Relationship | Simon had only been a shadowhunter for a few weeks when he asked Jace to sneak out and help him break into a police station to steal something for his friend | Jimon, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

New Years Eve | Jonathan was not meant to be loved. Sebastian was not meant to be dead. Both could be true. If something that was not meant to occur had to happen, Jonathan would choose the one in which Sebastian had not died for no reason | Jonathan/Sebastian, MCD, Dead dove: Do not eat | Ao3, tumblr. 

Spy AU | When Alec adopted a warlock, he expected that people would be watching him closely. He didn't expect the High Warlock to follow him while he was running errands | Magnus & Alec, Alec & Baby Max, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Mates | Alec thinks about the people he loves and he thinks about how differently he loves them | Magic (Meliorn/Alec/Magnus), gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Summoning | Jonathan summoned Raziel to beg for help but when the angel finally arrived, Jonathan found that he could not speak at all. Still, the angel heard him and Jonathan heard the angel, kind of | Jonathan Shadowhunter/Angel Raziel, NSFW, Consent Issues | Ao3, tumblr. 

Rivals | The rivalry between Magnus and Ragnor was the gossip of the downworld and really, who were they to deny the downworld a show? | Ragnor & Magnus, Side Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Christmas Fic | Magnus wasn't quite sure how he was going to spend his Christmas but struggling to close a rift in the middle of an icy hellscape as a sweet surprising shadowhunter offered him assistance wasn't quite what Magnus expected | Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Reverse Verse | When Valentine decided to take his children and leave, he'd done so because he knew that Jocelyn was far beyond saving | Valentine/Luke, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Halloween Fic | There was something in Alec's apartment and he was pretty sure it was trying to seal him inside | Malec, Demon Magnus | Ao3, tumblr. 

Royalty AU | Being an orc, Magnus knew that the primarily nordic people of his village did not like him but Magnus didn't realize just how deep that hatred went | Malec, mature for violence | Ao3, tumblr. 

Free Space | Jace didn't go to the bar to watch Simon sing but when he realized Simon was on stage, he could think of nothing else. Afterwards, Jace knew he needed a distraction and he needed it now. Thankfully, Maia was more than willing to shove every thought right out of his head | Onesided Jimon, Jace/Maia | Ao3, tumblr.

Omega/Omega | When Alec presented as an omega instead of the alpha he knew he was supposed to be, he knew his life was over. Magnus was an omega and two omegas could never be together | Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr.

Tentacles | Magnus finds out that Ragnor has another warlock mark, despite Ragnor's best efforts to hide it | Magnus & Ragnor, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Fairies Made Them Do It | The Clave was offering Alec a chance at a life he'd never had but choosing that life would mean leaving everything Alec had ever known behind - including Meliorn | Meliorn/Alec, gen | Ao3, tumblr.

Vampire!Alec | With Magnus busy on a plane, Alec knew that it was up to him to plan he and Magnus' costumes for the party later. Thankfully, he had twitter to help him come up with ideas | Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Fairytale AU | There was one simple fact about Jace’s life. He could not live without Alec. So, when Alec was taken out into the ocean never to break the surface again, Jace knew that he had to follow him, no matter what it took to do so | Jace/Alec/Magnus, teen | Ao3, tumblr.

Sex Club | Sex clubs weren't exactly Raphael's thing but Simon liked them, so Raphael tended to go to make sure he was okay.On one of these occasions, Raphael happens to get lucky... for Simon | Simon/Raphael, implied Simon/Raphael/Izzy, mature for sexual location | Ao3, tumblr. 

Warlock!Izzy | When Isabelle Lightwood first realized she had magic, she'd gone to Magnus Bane for help. She didn't expect to meet a girl there, a girl who regardless of how many times they met, did not remember her | Izzy/Clary, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Soulmate AU | When everyone heard that Andrew and Lorenzo were soulmates, the entire school had assumed that it was a joke. They show everyone fairly quickly that it is not a joke | Reyhill, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Hurt/comfort | For a long time, Jonathan thought that Sebastian was just being nice to him to get something from him but at some point, Sebastian managed to convince him otherwise | Jonathan/Sebastian, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Truth Serum | Alec would have complimented Magnus if they were in any other situations - if Magnus hadn't been about to rip the words from Alec's throat that would mean the end for his people | Malec, teen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Ragnor Ships It | When Magnus woke Ragnor up in the middle of the night to give him the horrible suit he'd found, Magnus had truly expected that to be the end of it. He assumed he'd never see Ragnor actually wear the suit - until Ragnor showed up at Magnus' wedding, wearing it | Ragnor & Magnus, side malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

Accidental Marriage | In which Alec and Magnus got married when Alec marched down the aisle and kissed Magnus, unbeknown to them both | Malec, gen | Ao3, tumblr. 

[maysshortmoviereviews]

The Defeated (also known as Shadowplay) (2019-)

Police officer Max McLoughlin arrives in Berlin in 1946 to establish a new police force in the wake of the war, and hopes to find his brother who is presumed dead.

📝 This is one of the most original, engaging shows I have seen in a while. It's full of rich characters and storylines and it's set in post war Berlin. It's a mix of history and German fairytale.

I have read a few historical and historical fictional novels and this show really brought the Berlin after the war alive. It's exactly how I had imagined it. I loved every episode and I cannot wait for season 2.

I also liked it that the show didn't have any unnecessary violence and nudity. I am not a prude but sometimes it feels like those scenes are there just as a filler. Here they didn't need anything like this because it's a great written show. Check it out and let me know what you think!

[jordanlahey]

Devilish (1/?)

Pairing: the lost boys x demon!reader (there isn’t an exact romance pairing just yet.)

Summary: You heard that Max and his boys were killed by amateur hunters but you knew that wasn’t true. However there is now word that others are coming to claim their territory whether they are alive or not.

Word count: 1859

A/n: I’m no good at the summary cause i just had an idea and wanted to start writing so forgive me if it drags on a little longer than it’s supposed to but I have a general idea on what I’m wanting!

It's not long after the sun goes down that the monsters come out to play but not the monsters that your parents tell you about in stories like the big bad wolf or big foot. No, the ones that feed off human blood if you unfortunately catch their eye, the ones that cower in the dark during the day but they forget the other kind of monster that looks seductive to the eye with their lips dripping with sin ready for another taste, The monster that's as old as time itself, one that feeds off sins and the lust for souls of the poor and unfortunate. No one is ever warned about making deals with the devil, they don't believe in all that stuff but they'll believe in fairytales. Humans. Poor pathetic people.

You hadn't been to the surface in so long maybe around 86 years? You had heard that a certain coven of vampires have been eliminated but that was hardly likely, you tend hear a lot when you're down below. It was boring down there surprisingly, you all had a job to do you got the job of collecting souls but even then it takes 5 years or more for you to collect them. If you were lucky a certain demon would let you collect some souls on their behalf which is exactly why you are here anyway. Making your way through the boardwalk you can point out all they needy ones ready to make deals, you walk past a certain video store first not that you had any interest in buying or looking more likely the person who had owned it.

You strolled into the store looking around until you spotted who you were looking for. Max smiles at the customer as he bid them farewell, his smile dropped when he saw you walk to his counter.  "I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"Oh don't be like that Maxy." You pouted and leaned against the counter "I'm here on business not for you yet." You smirked but he kept his stoic expression causing you to sigh. "I heard you and your boys were no longer...undead shall we say?"

"You should know that we can play a lot of mind tricks on people Y/n." Max narrowed his eyes, he was no fun.

"I thought as much, how are the Emerson's?" You could tell that comment struck a nerve, you knew after they whole fiasco that Lucy drove herself and her sons elsewhere. "but while I'm here I might as well warn you, others think you are dead and will try claim your territory." You picked up a lollipop from the bowl and unwrapped it, Max just looked at you unbothered. You really weren't getting much out of him. "Come on Max, why do you not like me anymore? Long ago you considered me a daughter to you. What changed?"

"You changed Y/n." You rolled your eyes, course you changed that's what happens when you giver in to your instincts. Even if you could change you still wouldn't be the same.

"You of all people should know what giving into temptation is like." With that you left, you weren't gonna argue with him, you had people to see, your night was already planned: find the ones who's time is up, go make more deals, have a little fun messing around. Very, very busy. Max will come around when he wants to know about he's coming to make Santa Carla theirs, you also wouldn't mind getting your hands a little dirty.

Motorbikes roared as they speed down the walk ways and people screeching to get out the way, the bikes came to a stop and off came the four boys. The night was young and so were they, beautiful as they come but deadly as they are. They were also on the prowl for a meal as well as for to cause chaos around the boardwalk, as per usual the boys would head to the carousel for the start of their long night, this time the Surfer Nazi's know to steer clear of the lost boys they won't be their target tonight. However, after they leave the ride they all catch sight of a girl they've never seen before leave the video store, she looked good enough to eat and the boys would be happy enough to pass her around.

You made your way through the crowds to the bar where a man sat all by his lonesome, he fidgeted nervously his this hands and kept taking long gulps of his drink. It was obvious that this was the man you were looking for, walking slowly towards the table you joined him and a smile played on your lips as you batted your eyelashes at him in a seductive manner.

"You must be her? I got told that it would be someone different." Oh, so they hand out memos now? How mundane, the man dabbed a tissue on his forehead a few times before taking one more long swig of this drink. "I have a favour to ask." You chuckled at him, who is this man? Does he not know basic deal rules?

"A favour? And what might that be?" You looked over at the bartender and you silently asked for a drink, the man before you fiddled with his tie before clearing his throat as he tried to muster u[ the courage to spit out whatever he wanted to ask. People rarely ask for second chances from a demon, the ones that know better and are ready to face the consequences of their actions. Humans get 5 years with whatever their deal was however, depending on said deal and how easily you can persuade the demon before you, you can be given more than 5 years but only on the day of the meeting and NEVER after the deal has been made.

"I.." Your drink arrived and you swirled the straw around the glass waiting to hear this favour, resting your head on the palm of your hand. You lift the drink to your lips before he blurts out what he wants "I would like to make another deal!" You almost choked on your drink, this guy actually asked you for a new deal? That's the favour? How rich.

"Tell me something, haven't you heard about the rule 'no wishing for more wishes' in the presence of a genie? This is the same thing you cant ask a demon for a new deal when your time is already up my friend." You smiled darkly at him, however he is brave enough to ask but it was the dumbest question in your opinion.

"Wait! I can get you more souls! Err...my wife's, a colleague, my brothers! Any that you want!" You rolled your eyes, humans really are cruel. They'll do anything to get what they want. Greedy, selfish bastards, you look forward to sending this one to Hell he'll go straight to the fourth circle. You get up to leave knowing he's going to follow you whether he wants to or not, probably best to head down the alleyway to avoid more mundane eyes for this. "Wait! Where are we going? I want 5 more years! I'm not ready to go just yet." When you reach the bottom of the alleyway you pin the poor man up against the wall, your face now showing the anger you held back.

"Who do you think you are demanding 5 more years!? You don't get to ask for more with no soul. You belong to me now, your soul is mine for eternity. You never made a Deal with the devil if you are not prepared to pay the price." With that you snapped your fingers and the man was no longer there, nothing but a small piece of glowing blue light that flowed into your body. That's what a human soul had looked like.

David and his boys had split up trying to look for the girl they had seen leaving the video store, they lost her in the crowd and she didn't have a scent or at least they didn't get close enough to get one from her. David was starting to get annoyed was gonna give up and find his brothers until Dwayne had sent him a telepathic message that he had found her heading into woods, David chuckled and met up with all of them by the bikes and off they went.

You knew you were being followed, they were going to catch up in no time so why not have a little fun? You started running, slow enough for them to still see you. You were taunting them making this a game of cat and mouse, now tonight was starting to get interesting they were Max's boys definitely but he didn't set them on you no no, they are hungry and you will be their meal for the night or so they thought. You take a sharp turn away from the dirt path to go further into the woods so that they pull have to abandon their bikes and go on foot or fly if they must, if this was going to be a game might as well make it as fair as possible. The boys do as you planned they go on foot running faster to the point they were already catching up, you could hear Paul;s taunts he was the closest behind you, now if you played this out right you could lose them just a little further.

The boys skid and come to a stop, you had vanished from their sights and they had lost your scent again, Marko and Paul growled in frustration while David and Dwayne were trying to figure out how you out ran them, now you knew about them but they knew nothing about you and that's what made it so fun. It you were still there with them watching them as they circled the spot you left them in, you planned to stay at watch them a little longer but you couldn't wait any longer.

"Yoo hoo up here boys." All them them turned to look at you siting on a tree branch. "Looking for me?" You smirked down at them.

"Hey pretty lady, why don't you come down here and do this the easy way." The glam rocker known as Paul called up to you, you thought about it for a moment and you know Paul would be the most fun one to play around with. You shrugged your shoulders and got off the brunch but as son as you got down David already had his hand around your throat and against the tree you were just in, it shocked you but you chuckled bitterly.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at." He sneered however he has a slight smirk on his face too.

"You must be David no doubt." You looked at the others "Marko, Dwayne and Paul." You pointed to the boys as you said their names.

"How do you know that?"

"I know everything." You reply.

[squid-rp]

River Jones

Angry Blind Werewolf living off of a modest fortune that was shrewdly invested. Respects his alpha (is the most loyal but isn't going to say it openly without good reason), adored his mother and sisters, having to deal with his great-niece showing up out of the blue with her five-year old daughter and keeping them safe on top of everything else going on.

Looking for: His great-niece (just left a bad marriage, has some vague knowledge of the supernatural. Is probably just human, but I'm open).

Bo Brighton

A Regular Ol' Human Hunter in the Circle of Orion, Bo is a diamond in the rough from a midwestern town with a genius intellect who had the misfortune of falling in love with the girl next door when she broke through all his logic and theories of the world with a charming fairytale about falling stars. Vera ended up moving away when her parents divorced, but she and Bo exchanged letters all throughout the rest of their childhood and adolescence . While he didn't look like traditional hunter material in his late teens, Bo was scouted by a set of Hunters who crammed his genius brain chock full of lore of the supernatural and taught him how to fight for himself. He ended up joining the Circle of Orion right as letters from Vera stopped, leading him to wonder if the Supernatural was behind her disappearance.

He's too smart for his own good, tends to ramble, has piss poor social skills at times and has a bunch of knicks and cuts and burns from trying to cobble together some sort of new invention... or make the perfect soufflé (or both).

Looking for: Because I'm terrible, you know full and well that Vera's a GD supernatural. Whoever picks her up gets to pick what she is.

Sarina Corwin

Brackish Siren turned during an adolescent summer afternoon by the river gone terribly wrong. Sarina's sudden change of both diet and demeanor led to great tragedy, leaving her ostracized and out of touch and struggling to learn the ropes on her own. Years spent learning on her own and avoiding hunters has led her to Colorado, where she relishes helping bby supernaturals without a clue find their way in life, while also keeping them safe from hunters.

Looking for: Her concept is still formulating, so she doesn't really have any want ads at this time.

Neriah Hanlon

The Petal and Vine Shop has been a staple of Crow River since the town's inception, all operating out of a dreary-looking Victorian manor owned by the Hanlon family who seems to pass the business and the property from Mother to Daughter throughout the years. These days, the shop is owned by Neriah Hanlon, a Changeling who has secretly been running the shop the entire time. Neriah is something of a town darling -- always willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it, and who would literally give you the shirt off her back and knit you a whole closet if she felt you needed it. In truth, Neriah helps people forget when needed, and as a neutral agent, has probably offered her services to many of the factions within town provided that she gets proper payment of... a secret, a story, a little trinket that has some sentimental value -- anything with meaning.

And for anyone who would threaten her, she'd like to remind you that oleander is such a beautiful bloom, but can be so very poisonous.

Looking for: Still an evolving concept. I kind of want her to be a Mom friend to people, but who can also snap into being TERRIFYING if trifled with. Give her employees at her floral/tea shop/parlor. Give her people she's helped in the past. She's SUPER OLD, and has probably known some of these characters since they were knee high to a grasshopper.

Genevieve Thorne (Née Durand)

Born to a prominent and well-respected family of New York old-money sorcerers, Genevieve was born out of a magically political union and was expected to do the same. While her magical talents were not neglected, Genevieve was always thought of as "less than" when it came to her older brother, even when she proved more capable, more ambitious, and more willing to learn and be more. When the time came, Genevieve ended up showing up to her marriage ceremony, only to end up murdering the groom and most of the wedding attendees (including her own family) with the help of a Vampire that she had fallen head over heels for. While the pair officially tied the knot later, they would refer to that instance as their true wedding.

Genevieve has arrived in Crow River arm-in-arm with her husband, and has made powerful friends to gain a foothold in the city (it does help that Ariana is rather charming and useful) and to gain knowledge. Genevieve's true goal is to find some magical way to render herself immortal while still retaining her magic. Lord only knows if she'll actually find it.... and god help everyone if she does.

Looking for: Her husband, namely. It might also be fun if someone were coming after her for that wedding fiasco.

Everly O'Reilly

A curious creature from her earliest days, Everly had a habit for constantly being underfoot and eavesdropping on everyone's business as a child, which didn't earn her a lot of friends, but did leave her with plenty of time to read and soak up as much knowledge as she could about random subjects during her childhood. As she grew older, Everly became less of a pest and more of an it-girl with an Instagram following to match. She was her school's prom queen, but also the Valedictorian, and she was a shoe in for going to school on a scholarship for journalism. Instead of taking that road, Everly decided to be her own boss and became a Podcaster for things dark and strange and twisted that most people would have balked at investigating. She gained a huge following and her work enabled her to travel the world...

Which is how she ended up in Crow River. Crow River was going to be a quick stop on the way to something greater, but Everly ended up seeing something she shouldn't have seen, and one moment she was snapping a photo... and the next there was darkness...

And then she was literally clawing her way out of the grave in the woods she had been tossed into, newly reborn as a Vara Vampire.

Looking for: She's got "her Yoda" as she likes to say, but I would like to figure out wtf Everly saw that she really shouldn't have, and if anyone needs an accidental Vara bby fledgling that they didn't mean to create, hit me up!

James J. Jamison

A few years ago, James would have said that he was the most unordinary of the unordinary folks. A supernerd to the max (complete with the comic book collection and fondness for dungeons and dragons), James grew up being ostracized by most of his peers because he was VERY HANDS FLAILING ANIMATED LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS THING I LOVE. Cue toilet swirlies in the bathroom during recess and lunch. James made friends with another nerd aficionado in elementary school, but said aficionado never learned a healthy way to heal from the psychological trauma of bullying and turned mean instead, quickly becoming a bully himself once he and James reached high school.

And everything would have been all hunky dory had James not pulled his best "What would Lara Croft do" moment and stood up to his ex-best friend, which ultimately earned him the beat down of his life, but earned him a sea of friends who respected him for what he did.

Flash forward a few years, and James was studying to be a graphic artist and was supporting himself in Portland, Oregon by being a pizza delivery driver...

The last thing he saw was the grill of his ex-best friend's car heading right for him... and the next... being cradled in someone's arms, the wet rain, and then... fire and smoke and ash and...

Confusion. James reawoke as a Phoenix and has been trying to piece things together ever since. Luckily, his parents put out a missing person's report for him and he was quickly picked up by a patrol car. After a few weeks of confusion and therapy, James decided to try and go back to his old life, even if he couldn't remember most of it...

But then a letter beckoned him to Crow River, and like Frodo leaving the Shire, James set off on his quest.

Looking For: I would love it forever if someone wanted to be the person inviting James to Crow River. Like, we can hash out that plot together, but I need it like breathing.

Levison Harding

I admittedly do not know too much about Levison beyond a vague concept of him being a native son of Crow River, and a werebear. He left some odd years ago to do things, and just came back after being captured by a group of individuals who hunted supernatural creatures to make a black market of parts for magical rituals, Vampire blood, etc. I think they originally captured Levison for vampire blood and didn't know he was a werebear until he broke out and murdered the lot of them, taking all of the captives with him in the process of escape.

Now seen as the leading figure for a group of Supernatural refugees, Levison has returned home to try and figure out what his next steps are for both himself and the small group of a misfit found family that he's become the head of.

Looking for: Give me the black market group that he's run afoul of now, and give me his found family. There are no alternatives.

Maira Joshi

Another prominent Crow River family, the Joshi's have been present in Colorado records as early as the late 1800's, and they gained a strange notoriety of mostly having daughters within the family. The current head of the family, Faria, hides her status as a seer in plain sight by offering psychic readings and "mediumship" skills to those who aren't in the know, and her abilities as a seer to those who do. Maira is the youngest of her granddaughters, and showed little affinity for magic and happily went along to become an elementary school nurse. She would have stayed that way had she not started having ominous visions all swirling around Crow River, prompting her to take a position in Crow River and move in with her increasingly ailing grandmother for further instruction. Maira -- by her grandmother's own description -- is a sweet and empathetic soul, more likely to slip into someone's dreams to drive away natural nightmares or induce states of calm on the panicked and suffering. Between her growing skills as a Seer and her knowledge of first aid, her true goal is to help where she can, and to stop the terrible future she occasionally still sees from coming to pass.

(SHE IS VERY SOFT Y'ALL.)

Looking for: Other Joshi seers? IDK, I'M JUST EXCITED.