#it was a near certainty that she made the last days of some guy w/ the big c EVEN WORSE

[soysaucevictim]

I love people dunking on Ji/lly Juice.

I just can't help but think "this is how you completely botch making kimchi or sauerkraut." :I

[shadowofthelamp]

So, I'm introducing little Beatrice (my Billford kid) with a Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained! She came through the portal with Ford, and this was my first sketch but what she's wearing probably looks a bit more like Ford's goggles with the 'reveal' in NWHS.

She was co-created by Emmie/Fanart Anon!

Dipper holding up a sign: Welcome back to Dipper’s Guide to the Unexplained! Anomaly number 64: Aunt Beatrice. She arrived with Great-Uncle Ford, and she says that she’s twelve, but she keeps talking about things that Great-Uncle Ford said happened years before that as if she was there, and she refuses to take her goggles off that cover the upper half of her face, even when she sleeps. She also doesn’t seem to like leaving his side for long. A quirk from being raised dimension-hopping, or something stranger?

Mabel: Maybe she’s just heard lots of stories! I know I forgot that I didn’t go through Dream Boy High one day after a week’s worth of crazy dreams about it!

Dipper: But what about the goggles? Besides, I heard her talking about science-y equations at the table with Great-Uncle Ford after dinner last night, so she's smart- I don’t think she’d just forget she didn’t do something.

Mabel: Or maybe she’s just lying! She said she’s never really been around other kids before, right? Maybe she just wants us to like her. And it’s working! On me at least, you’re just-

Dipper: Mabel, I’m trying to be scientific about this, that’s all!

Mabel: Come on, Dipper, I think she’s just a little awkward. It has to be a little weird to have somebody Grandpa Shermie’s age as your dad.

Dipper, rubbing his arm: I wouldn’t mind having Great-Uncle Ford as a dad.

Mabel: That’s because you’re both nerds.

Dipper: Not the point! Anyway, right now, my theory is that she was part of some sort of hivemind, and the goggles hide bug eyes, the last piece left from her original form. She also really seems to like honey. Maybe Great-Uncle Ford helped to rescue her, and that’s why she still looks like him, because she modeled her form after him and now she sees him as her new queen! I’m going to show her the beekeepers near the petting zoo on the side of town and see how she reacts.

___

Dipper: And here we are!

*Camera cuts to Beatrice, wearing a yellow sweater with black stripes that Mabel made her*

Bea: Oh, insects! They’re so much smaller than the ones I’ve seen before. And they make Earth-honey?

Dipper: Don’t you want to take your goggles off to see the better?

Bea: Nah, I can see them just fine.

Dipper, glancing over at the camera: Anyway, what do you mean, you’ve seen them before?

Bea, stepping closer to the hives: Oh, Papa and I ran into a hive like these in a different dimension, but they were ten times the size and the hair on them was purple, since that helped them to blend in the with local flora. They were friendly if you brought gifts, though, and even let you trade for some of their honey if the gifts were sweet enough. One of them taught me to speak their language.

*Beatrice clears her throat before a buzzing sound emanates from it. Several bees land on her outstretched hand, curious.*

Bea: Look, they like me! Hey, Dipper, do you have any enemies? I bet I could set them loose as a favor for helping me yesterday!

Dipper, considering: Well, there is this one girl-

Bea: Just say the word! C’mon, little guys, you’d strip somebody down to the bone for me, wouldn’t you?

Dipper: I don’t think bees can do that.

Bea: Oh. Right. Maybe just a lot of stings? *She makes more buzzing noises, but as she finishes the last one, the bees begin to swarm* What did I say? What did I say?

Dipper, dropping the camera’s view to the ground as bees fill the screen: Whatever it was, run!

___

Dipper, as Mabel rubs lotion on his swollen cheek: This concludes today’s episode of Dipper’s Guide to the Unexplained. We still haven’t figured out exactly what’s up with our new aunt, but I think we can say with some certainty that she’s just as awkward with the local bees as she can be with the rest of us.

Mabel: But she looked really cool smacking them with that glowing whip thingie she pulled out of her pocket!

Dipper: ...Yeah, she did. This does require more investigating, but I'll get the board out once we're done with the-

Bea, popping her head into the bedroom door: Hey, what are you guys doing in here? Do you need more lotion?

Dipper: Nothing!

*Video ends*

[dancingthesambaa]

The Smell of Plum Blossom Tea Ch 7

Summary: Just like a butterfly wing, a single act of kindness can change the course of the future, it certainly did for MK as a black-furred monkey put out a hand towards him

Rating: Teen and up

Chapter 7: Hero Born From The Shadows

“Selfie!” Mei posed as she took a picture of herself once she won the race.

“Mei!” MK excitedly said as he laid down flat on the ground with his arms raised high.

“MK!” She cheerfully picked him up, “Man that was one wicked race!”

“We almost died,” he weakly said.

“That’s life!” She joked, not understanding he was serious, “now how about we play some Monkey Mech! You can even invite your friend over!”

“Mei, he tried to kill me,” he said once more.

“Okay in that case,” she took out her phone and had an eerie red button right on the screen as she said with a wide smile that promised retribution, “Where does he live?”

“MK WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!!” The trio yelled in laughter at MK's joke.

“I’m not kidding!” He jumped up and down as he carried the staff, “this is the Monkey King Staff! I’ll prove it to you!”

“Okay, how?” Piggy crossed his arms.

“Ummm,” MK held the staff closer to his chest as he began to nervously play with it, when suddenly it retreated inward then suddenly extended all the way to the table Tang and Mei was sitting at and crushed it.

There was a silence as the unbelievable just happen then Tang wildly sputtered out.

“HUBABABABABA Monkey King staff!” He rushed over to MK arm that was carrying the staff and held it up high, “I knew it all along! It is the legendary staff that was used to seal away evil!” Then he paused as he realized the implications and looked to MK, “wait a minute, why do you have it?”

“Okay I’ll bite, if the staff is here, where is the Demon punk now?” Pigsy questioned as he was still iffy on this entire thing.

“He’s at the shoe store,” Mei cheerily stated.

“What?” They all walk to Mei with her phone out.

“This better not be one of your dog videos.” He can’t even tell how many times she shoved that phone in his face when she was coping at that drooling menace.

“Ha! There’s always time for a puppy video, but no he’s trending,” she showed them a picture of a large Bull demon and a familiar flame head boy, “like #DemonBullKing.”

“Holy shit, this ain’t no joke,” Pigsy jaw dropped.

“What do we do?” Tang hesitantly asked

“…I have to go to Flower Fruit Mountain,” they all turned to look at MK. “If the only one who was able to stop the Demon Bull King was Monkey King then I need to go there.”

“Are you hearing yourself?” Pigsy stomped over to him, “we’re talking about a mountain that is surrounded by fuck tons of dangers. Have you not heard of the flaming mountains? It’s the reason why no one has been able to get close to the mountain in the first place?”

“Then what are we supposed to do?!” MK took a step forward, “Monkey King is the only one who is able to stop Bull King back then and the only one now.”

Mei opened her mouth to say something, but decided to close it and just wait.

“Kid look I know this is all a bit scary, but why do you think that you have to do this?”

“Well I have the staff and I can carry it, for some reason,” he whispered the last part then he put on a more determined face, “but more importantly someone needs to.”

Pigsy stared him down as the boy did the same, then the pig demon sighed as he picked up his car keys “Everyone go to the car, it seems we’re taking a trip.”

“Yes!/Roadtrip!/Flower Fruit Mountain!” The trio of humans all cheered as they made their way out, though Mei did slow her steps so that she could match MK.

“So when is Mackie getting here,” she abruptly said.

“Huh?”

“I mean he must have definitely heard your screams by now and I’m not even including the sounds of terror that everyone must be doing right now. We both know that he would already be on his way,” she added.

“Oh, um actually funny thing. He is currently not anywhere near the city right now,” he wilted at Mei’s dumbfounded look.

“What.”

“Yeahhhh he had a call for a medical emergency and he is kinda days away from here,” he scratched the back of his neck.

“Oh my god, talk about bad timing,” she dragged her hand over her face, “well you should definitely call him and let him know what’s up.”

“…you know, I was thinking that maybe, and hear me out here, maybe we don’t call him,” he squeaked out.

“MK I love you like a brother, but what kind of nonsense are you saying,” she stopped the two of them and put her hands on his shoulder. “We’re talking about the same crazy brain worry of an immortal demon monkey that would fret over every last injury if you let him and you're telling me you're not even gonna say anything?!”

“I mean we can wait until he gets back, I just don’t want to bother him when he’s working.”

“But it’s even worse when you don’t say anything! MK you have to-,” she was cut off by Pigsy yells.

“Hurry it up you two! Fate of the world and everything!”

“Oh well looks like we got to go,” MK hurried out of her grasp and quickly went to the car.

“This is not over!” She yelled as she chased after him.

“Lalala! I can’t hear you!”

“Save it for the road,” the pig demon called out.

“Where exactly are we going anyway?” Tang asked, “Can’t exactly get to Flower Fruit mountain by car.”

“I know a guy who can help us out, he is one of the meanest, toughest demons that I have ever met. If anyone can help us get there it’s him.”

Pigsy was lying on the ground in total defeat as everyone was all sitting in Sandy's living room as the big bad demon happily talked about some of his relaxing hobbies and activities.

“He sure is tough,” Tang smirked as he sipped his tea.

“Shut up,” moaned the demon.

Sandy stopped in the middle of his talk when he felt a small tap on his hip as the small pigtail girl began to beg with glistening eyes.

“Oh great Sandy sir, we could really use your help getting to Flower Fruit mountain,” she clasped her hands together.

MK quickly joined her as he went on his knees and began to plead, “please, the fate of the world depends on it.”

“Okay,” he nonchalantly said.

“Really/That was easy,” both teenagers questioned.

“Anything for Pigsy and Mac. I can get you there, but it ain’t a pleasant trip.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” They cheered as they jumped around, but stopped in midair as what he said fully hit them. “Wait, you know Dad/Fuzzbutt?”

“Yeah, we have tea together sometimes,” the gentle giant smiled.

“Dad has a tea time buddy?” MK blinked a few times.

“Honestly not the most surprising thing about him,” Mei added. “He regularly hangs with Ní when he wants to take a nap.”

“…I hope they're going to be okay,” MK said as he thought back to all of the animals, creatures, and demons living in the forest. “I’m a bit worried.”

The twenty year old girl snorted, “I’m not, have you seen them? They can tear down groves of trees because they couldn’t share their favorite tree.”

“True,” not only the demons or creatures, but also the animals know how to put up a fight. He even once saw a chipmunk bite off the finger of a hunter before.

“Besides they have BaBa and ain’t no thing or demon is going through her,” she said in complete certainty.

“Yeahhh, she's pretty awesome.”

“Alright let’s get moving,” Sandy said as the two talked to one another. Then he looked towards Pigsy, “I’m telling you now old friend, if things get hairy I’m not the same demon as I was before. I don’t go around picking fights.”

“…ahhh, things have changed haven’t they,” he sighed, “We seriously need to have a talk later.”

“Speaking of talk, has anyone told Macaque about this?” The historian raised his eyebrow.

The two stop short as the pig demon slightly blanches as he whispers out loud, “hold shit, Mac is gonna kill me for bringing his kids into this.”

“Don’t think like that,” Sandy tried to comfort him, “I’m sure that he will be perfectly reasonable about all of this once we explain what went down.”

“Oh he’s not gonna kill us,” Tang said as he slowly began to get color back on his skin.

“Yeah, you're right-.”

“He’s gonna kill the Demon Bull King,” he bluntly said.

“…,” Pigsy had no words for that.

“Oh yeah, yeah he might be a tad bit angrier with him,” Sandy nodded. “Well let’s get this show on the road, Mo initiate the launch sequence!”

“Launch?!” They all questioned as they saw a blue bat leap up from his shoulder and next to the wheel where a big red button was and the car happily pressed it.

Everyone was startled as the whole ship began to shake and various noises rang out, they all ran outside to see that the ship was now supporting a few new features, one of them being three large turbo boosters.

“Onwards to Flower Fruit mountain!” Sandy called out as then the ship took out in a flash as they sped across the ocean.

“Oh yeahhhh!”

“Thank you so much for your help,” the Panda demon bowed lowly as the rest of his students did the same, “without your aid, I feared they all may have not survived.”

“Yeah, I thought that I was holding Yama's hands for a second there,” a crane, one of the students, joked.

“Just try not to take on anymore poisonous elephant demons for a bit, I rather not have to come back here and do this all over again,” Mac said as he adjusted his hold on his bag.

“Oh believe me, we won’t,” a tiger demon nodded.

“Whatever happened to him anyway?” a hippo student asked.

“He won’t be bothering us anymore,” they all look down to see the sheep demon smile at her friend’s serenely.

“W-what does that mean?”

“He won’t be bothering us anymore,” she repeated herself with the same tone.

“I’m not touching that with a ten foot pole,” the tiger muttered under his breath.

“I still can’t believe that people still think that’s she the harmless one,” a large dark wolf said as the rest of them nodded.

“It’s kinda hilarious,” the monkey smirked, he still remembered walking in on her, when he used to make deliveries, and saw her standing on top of a pile of unconscious demons. “Well, I have to head out now.”

“I wish you safe travels on your journey back,” Po smiled.

“Thanks, hopefully my kiddos didn’t get into too much trouble.”

“Have some faith in them, I’m sure they are just fine.”

“AHHH!” They all screamed as they scattered away from the fireball heading towards them.

Luckily, both MK and Mei managed to nimbly land on their feet despite the surprise attack, Pigsy was less than lucky as he fell on his back.

“Pigsy!” They yelled out and helped him up.

“Hahaha,” the wind demon lightly chuckled as she held out her hand, “I’ll be taking that staff now.”

The teenagers got into position as they glared at her, “this belongs to the Monkey King, there is no way you’ll take it!”

“Awww, playing to be a hero, sorry to disappoint but playtime is over.”

Mei and MK looked at one another and without words being shared they split off onto either side running.

“Kids!” Pigsy worriedly cried out as he tried to follow after them, but was stopped by a burst of lava emerging from the cracks.

“Aww, cute,” Princess Iron Fan smirked as she kept her eyes solely on the staff, “you think you stand a chance.” Then her eyes widened as she felt a small aura behind her and she quickly used the wind to push it back, it did little as she dodged a blow to her head.

“Ha! You call that wind? I know a vulture that can easily surpass that for her morning fly,” Mei mocked as she began to swipe at the demon with her sword.

“Little girl, you know not of what-,” she quickly dropped down as she felt a small gust of wind aimed towards her and she was only grateful that she did as she saw that Sun Wukong staff was aimed at her head.

“Don't you dare underestimate us!” MK yelled out as he backed up.

“You little-!” She winced as she felt a blow to her side.

“Should have kept your eyes on me bitch,” Mei grinned as she drew her glowing sword back and went for another.

“That’s enough,” she calmly said, though if one were to look carefully they would see that her fists were curled up in a ball as her eyes glowed a dull red. She then held out her hand, which transformed into the same glove that removed the staff, to block the staff aimed towards her.

“What?” That was all MK could say before he was blown back far away past the mountain.

“AHHHHHHHH!”

“No MK!” Mei screamed with tears in her eyes, not noticing a certain demon freeze up at the name, as she attempted to follow her brother.

“Mei, we got to go,” Pigsy choked out as he rushed to her and picked her up to run as the teenager struggled over his shoulder. “I’m sorry kid.”

Princess Iron Fan was silent as she looked to the two mortals running away from her then to the ocean where she blew the child mortal away. She said nothing as she tightly gripped the staff in hand then vanished away, she needed to go to her husband after all.

The boat was silent as it gently floated along the ocean as the remaining occupants tried to swallow what just happened.

“I’m sorry MK,” Pigsy whispered out as he looked down to the clear water, he didn’t even flinch when a familiar hand touched his shoulder.

“Pigsy,” Sandy quietly said.

“There was nothing we could do,” Tang said with his back turned.

“Nothing? Nothing! I could have done something!” Pigsy marched over to the human with rage as he grabbed his shoulder to see Tang's sorrowful face, “I could have-I should have protected MK! I made a promise to not only Mac but to myself that I would! And now…,” he trailed off as his whole body went slack and let go of his scarf. “It’s over, there is nothing we can do.”

“It’s not over,” he turned up with tears in his eyes to look at his friend, “MK may be lost, but we can make sure no more lives are lost. Make sure that his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”

Pigsy could only nod as he wiped the tears in his eyes as Sandy put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Someone has to pay,” the trio looked over to Mei who hadn’t said a word till now. “Someone has to fight.”

“Mei?”

She quickly wiped her face as she continued with her backs to them, “that demon bitch is going to,” she turned around with a forced smile on her face as they all felt an ominous presence among them as lighting and thunder roared in fury, “pay.”

They all nodded as a determination filled them all as they mentally and physically got prepared for the battle arising.

Mei looked out to the ocean once more and gripped the rails tightly.

‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you MK, but I’ll make damn sure we’ll end this. This is for you…by the gods how am I gonna tell Makkie?’

“Ugghhh,” MK moaned out as he slowly came to consciousness, he felt two furry hands in his hair even with his eyes still closed. “Just five more minutes Dad.”

“Ooo?”

His eyes snap open as he realized that this wasn’t his Dad as he awoke to a white furred monkey standing on top of his stomach, “uhh hi?”

The monkey tilts his head.

MK gives a small smile as he remembers the times when a monkey back home would climb onto him, “this feels familiar.”

The monkey eyes then glint as several more appear with the same glint.

His face falls, “nevermind this seems more familiar,” he says as he quickly rolls over from the monkeys’ attack and stands up.

All of them looked over to him and it looked like they were about to give chase before they paused and tilted their head as they recognized a familiar smell on him, but then they saw him stand up so that thought exited quickly as they all scurried off.

“I swear, what is with monkeys and my hair,” he grumbled as he then turned to see the ocean in front of him with the volcanic plain just bordering.

“Wha-gha!” He clutched his head as memories of what happened travel all throughout his head. “Right, that…where am-,” he cut himself off as he turned around to see a beautiful mountain towering above him.

“Flower Fruit mountain.”

He gazed at it for a few moments before he got his hearing back and began to rush to the mountain.

“Hello! Monkey King!? You in here!?” He called out as he stepped into the magical cave inside the magic waterfall, which also held magical drawings that came to life. “Can really use your help? Things aren’t looking good!”

He stopped as he waited for an answer, but as he stood there, nothing replied back. It was only him and a small house in front of him.

“GHA!” He kicked over a rock in frustration as he began to look around. He was not about to give up that easily though he did pause when a small butterfly approached him and landed on his nose. “At least someone here,” he jokingly said with a small smile.

“Yep I am!” It replied.

“AH!” He screamed as he flailed his arms at the unexpected response.

“Yes yes it is I,” the butterfly said once more as it fluttered to the ground, “the great monkey-oof!”

“Is it dead?” He questioned as he slowly lifted his foot, he was not about to take any chances, especially not with what happened last time he met with a small talking bug. He and Tang can still feel the icky grossness crawling up their spines, they can never unfeel what has been felt.

Then the bug began to glow.

“What??”

It grew bigger, its form was fluid as it didn’t take shape at first, but then it transformed into a hawk then it soared high and landed as it tiger then the tiger began to stand on its legs as it transformed into a bear until finally, it transformed one last time into a monkey.

A very familiar monkey.

The first thought that entered MK's head when he saw the monkey was that he was taller than he expected him to be. In fact, he even thinks that he’s taller than his Dad.

The second thought was acknowledging that the Monkey King was standing right before him.

“Yep the one and only,” he stood tall as he looked around the room. “Sooo, where’s my staff?” He took a step back when he saw the kid's eyes well up with tears.

“I am so sorry!” He began his rant as he tried to explain what happened and how he messed up royally when he heard laughter.

“Look kid, I have to come clean,” he looked up to see that the Monkey King was kneeling as he put his hand on his shoulder. “I’ve been kinda watching you.”

“Huh?” Then his eyes widen as he remembers all the times he has seen the strange occurrences appear. “Wait what?!”

“Pfft! The look on your face is perfect!” He laughed out loud.

“Perfect for what?!” He was making absolutely no sense right now.

“To be my successor!” He started with a deep voice as he crossed both his arms.

“Uhhh what have you been drinking? Are you sure you’re the Monkey King? I think you may have a brief stint with insanity due to the isolation. I have some herbal remedies that can help with that,” he poked and prodded at the monkey. He felt a tail wrap around him and place him down, he had to stop the sudden urge of twisting the tail hard to let him go, he still remembers all the times Dad did it to him during training. He flew so high up.

“Listen kid, you fought demons and you didn’t die,” he casually said as he opened a bag of chips. “And you made it here, not anyone can lift my staff, but you did.”

“But what about DBK?” He urged him.

“Pfft, what about him,” he summoned his cloud as he laid on it while eating said chips, “you can handle it.”

A small part of MK really wanted to throttle the Monkey King at that moment, but his desperation and anxiety outweighed his irritation as he stumbled upon his words, “but I-I can’t…ahhh.”

This made the monkey pause and he gave an exaggerated sigh as he walked over to the kid and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, “look if you can lift the staff you can use it. Just believe in yourself, even a smidge makes all the difference.”

MK looked up at him and gave a small smile, he may not have the best self-esteem, but he damn well is not gonna stop.

“Now then,” he dramatically began, “the staff was taken from you, take it back.”

MK's smile then turned into a wide toothy grin, “alright.”

Wukong gave a smile to his new successor, but something in the back of his mind nagged him that MK grin reminded of someone, but he can’t quite put his finger on it.

“Ughhhh,” laid a collapsed Red Son as he groaned in pain at the jet impact.

Everyone else was in shocked silence as they watch MK slowly crawl out of the wreckage.

“Man, that was worse than the time we tried swinging from the vines for the first time.”

“MK!” Mei rushed over to him and gave him the tightest hug, “I thought you were-you know and I saw you blast off in the fire, but you are here and alive! I am so glad I don’t have to tell fuzzbutt about your death. Wait, how'd you get a jet? Wait! Is Monkey King here?!”

“Well no, he said it’s up to me…us,” he smiled slightly at her.

“Well that was anticlimactic and sorta stupid,” she muttered the last part under her breath. Then they all felt the earth shake beneath them and looked up to see an oversized Demon Bull King.

“And how are we meant to fight that?” Tang incredulously called out the question on everyone's minds.

The teenager looked at the towering menace and back to his hands and gripped it tight as he pulled his hair into a tighter ponytail, “we believe in ourselves.”

BOOM!

The ground shook once more.

“…somehow.”

“A jet would have been nice right about now,” she mused as she kicked the pile of rubble. Then out of it slowly emerged a smaller, but still very cool looking, motorcycle.

“That will work!” He said as he hopped on the bike.

“Go get him buddy!” She cheered for him and he gave a quick nod before zooming off, leaving the rest of them behind.

“You know how I said before about Mac killing us and the Bull King,” Tang suddenly said.

“Wait what?” Mei raised an eyebrow at the absurd topic.

“Yeahhh?” Pigsy drawled out.

“Well I think we can safely assume that the Monkey King is now on that list.”

“Oh yeah/Most definitely,” both pink and blue demons respectively said as the pigtailed teenager couldn’t help but laugh.

“Fuccck that hurts,” he moaned out as he attempted to free himself from the rubble.

“You thought you could defeat me!” The Bull King laughed as he made his way towards the mortal. “I will not let a little thief take victory from my grasp.”

MK, who was panicking, quickly tried to find ways out of this, but then he heard a faint noise and looked up to see the arcade sign slightly glowing.

“Just believe in yourself, even a smidge makes all the difference,” he couldn’t help but think back to the Monkey King’s words, but there was also another.

“It will be hard, no doubt.” He heard his father's voice echo through his mind as the pain slowly subsided, “and at times it may seem like the whole world is against you, but know that you still have tomorrow waiting for you. So keep your head held high and look towards the stars, cause that right there is your limit starlight.”

And he does, he is looking past the arcade sign and looks towards the stars that make the faintest appearance among the darkening sky.

Only one thought was clear in his mind when those words combined as he slammed his staff down.

‘I can do this.’

Then an amalgamation of parts from various buildings, streets, and other places began to structure itself together to make a red and gold mech suit with a violet headband and cape.

“It’s time for your family to be brought to justice,” MK yelled out as he pushed the mech forward as he dived bomb down to the demon. “Here comes Monkie Kid!”

The giant staff impacted the demon with a loud burst of energy and sound.

BOOOOOMMMMM!

BOOOOOMMMMM!

Six ears suddenly perked up at the unexpected noise as the owner of said ears' eyes widened as that was coming from the same direction he was heading.

He picked up his pace.

“And I was all like, ‘I have to finish this once and for all’ and I started glowing!” MK excitedly said as he gobbled down another bowl of noodles.

“And then what!” Tang and Mei excitedly asked.

“And I cut a building in half and dropped it on him!”

“Coool!”

“I still can’t believe that happened,” Pigsy snorted as he ate his bowl, “scratch that I can’t believe that all of this happened.”

“I can, it just happened in front of our eyes,” Sandy joked.

“Seeing is believing…I guess,” he threw his hands in the air as he winced as he felt a sharp pain, “fuck.”

“Are you okay?” Tang had noticed Pigsy winces and went over to his side to examine.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered as he tried to focus on anything except the warm hands against his neck.

Sandy didn’t comment on just how fast Tang shot to the pig demon side and instead stood up, “I’m going to look behind back, you still keep your bandages underneath the second drawer?”

“Yeah, but I think I ran out,” he answered, “used it up when some maniac decided to throw water over the counter in a fit of anger and landed right on the handle of a boiling pot of water.”

“Yikes, well I can see what I can find.”

“You know at times like these I wish Mac was here,” Tang said as both Mei and MK nodded.

Boom

Everyone then jumped up at the sound of the door slamming open and turned to see the one and only Macaque looking at all of them with shock.

“What in the hell happened?!” He almost screamed out as when he first walked into the city he could hear the sounds of screams and destruction emitting everywhere. The scenery was no better as buildings collapsed, streets were uprooted, and people were all hiding or unconscious in various states. He rushed over to find his kid's heartbeat and then sighed in relief as he heard their voices and booked it over to them as fast as he could. Though before he could say anything else as he looked at their disbelieved, bruised, but still very much alive appearance before he could let a smile form, his eyes happened to lock onto a familiar bo staff in his son's hand.

“What the fuck?” He whispered out.

“Guess what Dad! I met the Monkey King!” MK excitedly said as he waved the staff around excitedly.

“What the fuck?” He said a little bit louder.

“And I’m the Monkey King successor!” He added on not knowing that the sentence almost gave Macaque psychic damage at the sheer revelation.

The monkey could only stare as he felt his eye twitch, he then took a deep breath to calm himself down, it did not work as well as he hoped. “What in the actual fuck did I miss?”

“Oh yeah, so the city totally got terrorized by the Demon Bull King and his family after the staff was pulled out, so we kicked some ass and MK here saved the day,” Mei proudly stated.

He can almost feel a migraine coming on as he began to rummage through his bag and brought out rolls of gauzes and various small bottles, “okay first, all of you sit your asses down and let me check the damage, and once that shit is over, you will tell me the what the fuck went down when I get a drink.”

“Plum Tea?” MK said.

“Gonna need something a little more stronger than that for this can of bullshit,” he whispered to himself. “By the gods what the actual fuck Wukong?”

“What you say?” Tang asked.

“I said sit your asses down!”

“Dad we’re all f-”

“Just by a glance I can see that some of you are suffering from some second degree burns, lacerations, bruises, and all types of other shit. So you either sit your asses down so I can fix you up or I will knock you unconscious and take it from there,” he threatened.

They all immediately sat down, even Sandy who plopped himself on the floor.

“I swear, can’t even leave for two weeks without shit happening,” he grumbled as he made multiple shadow clones to help make the process faster.

The moon shone high in the sky as many people were laid to rest. Some wounded, some crying, some joyful, some mourning, and some dead. No one still knew exactly what happened, but those thoughts could wait until tomorrow. For now, after the terror and agony they all suffered, it was time to close their eyes and let the nightmares encompass them or a blank passage of nothingness if they're lucky.

The same was said for the ones who helped stop the malicious terror that had once plagued the city, they all lay sleeping in a cozy apartment living room.

Sandy was happily snoring on the floor with Mo as he then was slightly lifted to place a pillow underneath him and a blanket draped over as well.

Tang and Pigsy were snuggled next to each other on the couch, with the pig demon head tucked underneath the human head, as another blanket dropped from above.

Finally, the youngest was curled up with one another, Mei having one arm around MK’s shoulder, leaning against the couch. Their loose blanket was brought back up as it was meticulously tucked then two furry hands softly ruffled both of their heads as they only slightly shifted.

Macaque looked at them with only sheer fondness as he fixed them up. Then his eyes narrowed and couldn't help but linger on their neatly wrapped bandages on both them and everyone else.

He made his way to the window.

“What happened today will not happen again,” the Bull King growled out as his body slowly healed itself. He is still not back to full strength yet, even when his powers had increased tremendously due to the no staff. After all, one couldn’t easily rise from the grave in full health without the assistance of miracle medicine.

“Of course it won’t, we were merely…unprepared after all,” Princess Iron Fan said as she silently stirred her drink. “You have just woken up from imprisonment.”

“Imprisonment heh, that is one way to say that damnation,” he huffed.

“But next time we will be prepared father,” Red Son confidently said.

“Hmph,” he grunted out as his mind was still racing as he thought back to the small mortal boy, “who was that little thief who claims to be the successor of Sun Wukong?” He snarled the last part out.

“Oh he is just a noodle boy who got lucky,” the flame demon huffed as the wind demon stayed silent.

“Well that luck seems to let him wield the staff, so there is some truth in his foul words. Either way, while he is no threat, he is a nuisance and you know what we do with pests” he stood up and his shadow seemed to grow in intensity with each and every word he spoke.

“We crush them,” the boy grinned savagely.

“Under our feet,” he stomped his large hoof in emphasis.

“Yeah, I have a bit of a problem with that,” a voice rang out and before anyone could react, the Bull King was suddenly pinned down by a large violet one-eyed form that emerged from his shadows.

“What is this!?” He yelled out as he struggled to break free, but it proved to be tough as his injuries weren’t fully healed.

“Father!” Red Son began to rush over but was stopped by his own shadow as well. “How dare you! Get your peasant hands off of me!”

Princess Iron Fan, the only one still free, barely reacted as a form from her own shadow began to come out, but instead of capturing her, it turned around to face them all.

“I was too naive to think it was merely a coincidence,” she sighed as the shadowy form revealed itself a very familiar simian face.

“Hey Flicker, Raki,” Macaque casually said to Red Son and Iron Fan as his eyes glinted a hostile violet, “it seems that we need to talk.”

“Six-Eared Macaque!” DBK stilled his movements, no matter how much the urge to break free, as he looked to the medicine monkey, “what treachery has overcome you that you dare make a move against us?”

Red Son couldn’t say a word as he looked at the demon, instead, his eyes were blasted open wide in confusion.

“Usually nothing,” he shrugged as he took a step towards them, “I don’t get up all in your shit when you swing by for some medicine and you don’t short change me.”

“It would be foolish,” Iron Fan said as she set down her cup with a small clink.

“Tell that to some demons,” he said as he took another step forward, “usually you guys are no problem, but now you became a problem.”

“You never interfered with our plans before, what makes this time so different,” he spat out.

“When you attacked my kids,” he bluntly stated with a snarl on his lips as his eyes glowed a bit brighter.

This stilled both father and son, but not the mother who pinched her nose.

“I was afraid of that.”

“You should be,” he sneered out as the shadows all around grew in intensity as they crawled up the walls leaving the area there in almost total darkness.

“Wait kids?! Do you mean noodle boy and biker girl?” Red Son asked as he flinched as the eyes locked onto him.

“MK and Mei, I know I told you about them plenty of times,” he drawled out.

“I didn’t realize they were the same ones,” he horrifyingly whispered out.

“Apparently not many do, so here’s what’s gonna happen,” he said with an even tone, “unless they have attacked you first, you will not lay a fucking hand on either of them, cause if you do, well I won’t be very…kind,” his voice echoed throughout the caves. “Do we have a deal?”

“Deal,” the Queen said first.

“Deal,” the Prince agreed next.

“…Deal,” the King lowly said.

“Good,” the shadows vanished in a poof and both Bull King and Red Son were freed and the cavern walls were once again illuminated by the soft glow of light, “I’m glad we can come to an agreement.”

“Will you still supply us?” She asked as she got down to business, he may have just threatened them, but he is currently the only demon nearby, and most experienced, with not only knowledge of medicine, but can acquire precious materials.

“Same charge,” he waved off as he began to walk away, “and Flicker, Sandy really?”

“It didn’t occur to me he was there until after I attacked,” he winced as he voiced his embarrassment, he didn’t notice his therapist was there until all was said and done. He should probably be grateful that Sandy usually goes with the flow, else he really would be screwed.

“Good luck on the next session,” he smirked, “Also, Daiyu wants a spar sometime, she misses having to fight against a fire demon,” he said. Daiyu has some issues going on in her mind, but that ain’t any of his business. He absolutely does not want to know what goes on in there.

Red Son blinks momentarily as she stands up straight and begins to boast, “As if she can hold her own against me! Tell her I will meet her in due time and she best be prepared.”

“Will do,” and like that he merged back with the shadows and vanished from sight.

“So what do we do now mother, father?” He looked towards both of his parents.

“We will honor the deal we made,” Iron Fan stated.

“Of course,” he didn’t even have to think to agree with that, even without the deal he still wouldn’t have attacked anything Macaque had claimed.

“And we will get stronger,” DBK finished as he stood up and began to walk away. He had no trifles with the Six Eared Macaque, even now when he wishes to wrap his hands against the monkey's throat for his words against him and his own, but he won’t. The two may have strict business relations, though the same can’t be said for his son and wife who seems to be on more…friendlier terms with him, he has a smidge of respect for the medicine monkey. He has heard the tales, both myth and reality, and he can acknowledge that the demon strove to his power through sheer cunning and wit, even if he had to stick to the shadows to achieve that.

So no, he will not go against the monkey deal, he has more integrity than that, but he will not show mercy if those mortals attempt to go against him.

“We will be unstoppable,” Red Son grinned as he made his way to his workshop. He had some inventions he’s been meaning to build.

Princess Iron Fan silently watched both her husband and son go in opposite directions. She gave a small sigh as she picked her cup back up and held it into her hands.

“It seems that the winds have changed once more, I wonder which direction it will blow.” She asked herself as she took a sip of her tea, then she scrunched up her nose at just how cold it was.

Oh yeah, I’ve been keeping the two of their reveal in my back pocket for this moment XD Props to anyone who may have figured it out along the way!

[kileyrose-2003]

Dan Torrance x Fem! Reader Part 3

A/N: Hi lovelies! Here comes another one of my extremely angsty psychological dive into Rose and Crow’s relationship. Lol. Very, very emotional write for me. Some of you might be wondering after you read this on just how exactly and I will simply say one thing: The relationship between Rose and Crow is very explicitly written and there while as in the film it is implied. In this AU I wanted there to be a reason why Rose and Crow seem more distant, hence why I am taking my own spin to them like this.

Anyways, I love you guys! I know there are a lot of people on Tumblr right now as well as myself dealing with the affects of COVID-19 in our every day lives. If you ever need anyone to talk to, my DM’s are always open. I might not be a therapist but I am willing to help :) I hope you all have a wonderful day and stay safe, lovelies!

Link to intro is here , pt. 1, and Pt. 2

Enjoy!

Warnings: Trigger warning for mentioned/implied child abuse, child death, baseball boy scene, blood, gore

“..Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me and especially don’t fucking touch me.”

“Crow-”

“No, Rosie! This is your fault. Not her fault, it’s yours. You hurt her! You hurt our baby!” In a rare display of emotion, hot tears were streaming down Crow’s face.

Rose chose her words very carefully before speaking. “..She is not our baby. We did not birth her into this world. She never belonged to us in the first place. And, no. I don’t hate her. I am not jealous of her either and I am not entirely to blame for all this. While maybe your way of thinking on this not being her fault may be correct, you are part of the reason to blame.” Her tone was calm and diligent like a mother trying to keep a tantrum prone toddler calm. “I told you from the start, that I didn’t think it was a good idea for her to be here. In general, our way of life is not fit for any child.”

“I-”

“Don’t talk! Just listen. You however insisted at keeping her here when I told you it wasn’t fair to her to live like this. Once she seen what we did, I did not want her to live like this. Had we of just-”

“Rose, I wasn’t just going to send her back to where she came from! Because-”

“Because you grew attached to her! When I told you not to get to fond of her too quick because it was supposed to be a trial thing. We don’t give affection to rubes, Crow. It’s a rule of thumb. That’s what we gave to her though. Not just you, but me too and I will admit with that I was wrong but yet you fail to recognize the reason I brought her into this in the first place was to make you happy and whether you think it’s right or wrong to do what I did to make you happy: I don’t care. To knock some sense into her was the only option. That was the only way she was going along with the whole thing though. So I did what I had to do, even if I didn’t like it. None of that would of happened though had you just let her go.”

Crow sat there on the ground, staring at the falling leaves around him while he processed every word that Rose said to him. “Comments?”

He had none. Yet. His head felt like a over boiling tea pot waiting to just spill over and burn the person closest to him. In that case, Rose. It wouldn’t be the first time he killed one of his lovers. His rage was infrequent but when it came out, it was a force to be reckon with like a blazing fire. It was what he related to most. It was the only thing that had passion that burned and grew as quick as he did until he met Rose. Rose burned as bright, if not brighter than he did. Crow wanted to kill Rose right then and there and she felt it. They all felt it.

Rose was quick to step away despite of her certainty he wouldn’t kill her. Yet something gave her the maybe, just maybe, he would one day. She’d make sure to keep that under control though and keep her dragon tamed.

Just like it wouldn’t be the first he killed a love, it wasn’t the first time he was a father either. Though that time was as far from him as the setting sun was near his finger tips, the memories though old and a little wishy washy, were engraved into his mind. The smell of smallpoxs immediately entering his nostrils at the thought of it. Just like he hadn’t forgotten the name and face of his own child, he was sure he wasn’t going to forget yours either. Or the way it made him the feel the last time he got to speak to you.

You felt stuck and he was stuck too. Except unlike the first child he lost, you didn’t feel scared to leave him. You felt almost relieved. Like you could breath now while the other felt like they were drowning in fear and pain. It was in that moment he realized you were scared of him. You were afraid he’d hurt you at one point

‘No, I wouldn’t hurt her,’ He told himself over and over. He would of never intentionally tried to make you scared of him or put you in a position where you felt uncomfortable. You adored him and he loved you just as much, if not more, than you loved him. You were his baby, even if it meant he had to kill to have you.

Finally he had his comment and the words came out full of fury and rage. “..Bullshit. You all fucking lie!”

…

He wouldn’t touch Rose for months let alone look at her until she forced him too and even then, that was a battle. He wasn’t the same after that. He became more cynical, more distant. Almost an empty shell of the person he was.

Any out spoken nature he had and was replaced by soft spoken snarkiness. There was no more The Irish Rose and her Crow. Only the remnants of a broken past and flings that occurred in the event of their primal feedings. Nothing more and nothing less.

While the stars shined down on you and Danny brightly as you were yet again acting out your passions in the privacy of your own home, Crow Daddy stood in the darkness of the abandoned ethanol plant in Bankerton, Iowa as he sharpened the blade of his knife. The only lights shining on him were the glares of The True Knot’s RV’S nearly blinding him.

He felt soft hands rub up and down the bare skin of his upper arm and a head press against his shoulder. Rose. “I’m excited. It’s been months since we’ve done our thing, you know?” She nipped the cartilage on his ear and fought the urge to push her away. “Sure,” He grunted.

Rose furrowed her brows. “Aren’t we testy tonight?” Crow fought the urge to laugh in her face. “When am I not lately?” She bit her lips. “You’re really going to do this. Right now?”

“It’s not like what’s been between us is exactly a secret to anyone in the family, Rosie.” She pulled away from him slightly repulsed and stretched her arms. “I’m ready.” The reply was snappy and quick and Barry was quick to obey.

'The boy is going to be the one to suffer for that reply but who am I care?’ Crow thought to himself as he looked at the bite mark the Baseball Boy left on his hand. 'The little bastard deserves it.’

“No! No! Please don’t! No..” The first couple of times he had to bare witness and participate in the unholy act after you left, he could hardly take. There was a slight lapse of faith and for a while he thought maybe he just didn’t deserve to have children. Now was different though. He felt numb.

After being in constant agony for over 20 years his sympathy began to decrease and soon he felt nothing for anyone. As Rose knelt down to Bradley Trevor’s level he took his position behind her, standing tall. To child on the ground, he was terrifying but the rest thought nothing of him.

Rose gestured for the knife and he handed it over immediately. “A-are you going to hurt me?” The reply was husky and menacing. “Yes.”

There were screams of protest but Crow took no mind to them. “Pain purifies steam. Fear too. So now you understand.” The Baseball Boy let out a scream of protest before Rose stabbed deeply into him.

…

Meanwhile as you laid in bed next to Danny who was in a dead coma, you felt someone poking at your mind. “Danny, stop it.” You elbowed him. He grunted and slapped your ass cheek. “W-wha?”

“You’re poking in my head again. Stop it.” He rolled over onto his side and shoved his face into the pillow. “I’m trying to sleep.” You rolled your eyes and as you went to wrap your arms around him, you felt the poke again. Accept this time it hurt. Like an electric shock.

(Hello?! Hello! Please tell me you can hear me.)

You paused before responding.

(I can hear you.)

(Good! They’re hurting him and they won’t stop.)

(Who is they?)

The response terrified you.

(The woman in the hat.)

All the sudden you felt nauseous and you gripped at bed sheets. You knew what was going to happen and you were terrified. The room began to slant on an angle and you gripped onto the head board tightly.

“Babe! What are you doing?” Dan sat up in bed and his face went flat at seeing the expression on your face. “Honey?”

You tried to respond to him physically but couldn’t so instead you turned to the person in your head.

(You’re mine and my husband’s pen pal, aren’t you?)

(Yeah.)

(Are you comfortable with telling me your name?)

(Yeah, it’s Abra.)

(Well Abra, can I ask you to do me a favor?)

The room began to tilt on an angle and you felt your grip on the head board becoming lose.

(Anything.)

(If I get stuck in here, tell Dan I love him.)

Your fingers lost their hold on the frame and you began to spiral down into a dark hole. 'This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.’ You prayed, silently hoping Abra was wrong but something told you she wasn’t. The dark hole began to reach it’s end and you had enough time to see trees and a sign that read 'NO TRESPASSING: BANKERTON ETHANOL PLANT’ When you felt the spiraling of your body stop.

Your astral body hit the ground hard and you had to spit the dirt out of your mouth. “Ugh, gross.” You attempted to reach forward to try and find something to grip onto that way you could stand up but your hand connected with human skin.

“Oh shit!” You scrambled back at the sight of Barry and you felt your body beginning to levitate upwards. “No! No! Please, please! I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to see it!” Your body wouldn’t move though. You had to look. Unless you were going to get stuck here and hesitantly you opened your eyes. “Oh my god! Stop! Stop! Please stop!”

Your body began to lower and suddenly you felt eyes on you. One of them heard you. “No! No! No! No!” A hand ran itself through your long locks and you trembled.

“What is it?” You knew that voice and you didn’t have to open your eyes to know who was infront of you.

(Look at me.)

You shook your head but felt fingers lifting your head up to force you to look at them and slowly you opened them to see Rose. Her hands covered in blood and her eyes full of steamy lust.

(Well, hi there sweetie!)

Panic began to rise inside you and you reached out to Abra.

(Ru-)

Before you could even finish your thought, Rose plunged the knife back into the Baseball Boy and you let out a scream. “Holy shit! Holy shit!” You screeched feeling his pain.

(Funny how things come around isn’t it, Y/n?)

“Stop! Stop! Rose, please stop! Just stop!” Just as Danny was about to lay back down he jumped up in bed and gently shook your shoulders. “Y/n?! Baby? What’s wrong.”

(You got a friend there, Y/n? I want to see him.)

As Dan leaned over to caress your cheek, you pushed him back. “Y/n!” You could feel the rise Rose was getting out of your pain and it made you mad. You wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of getting kicks off your pain. “Get away from me, Danny! Get away!”

Instead of now just seeing Rose in your eyeshot all of them were in eyeshot with those haunting blue eyes staring at you and you slammed your head against the back of the bed. “Make it stop, Danny! Make it stop!”

This time when you tried to push him away, he held your arms down against your chest that way he could try to wake you up. “She’s going to see you Danny!”

(Yes, Danny. I am going to see you. That your little friend you made down in Florida?)

“Shut up!” You screamed. “Who’s going to see me?!”

“No!”

“God damn it, Y/n! Who do you see?”

BAM!

The room shook and Danny landed backwards onto the hardwood floor. Now he was pissed, not at you but whoever it was he couldn’t see. He grabbed your wrist to stop you from pushing him away. “Leave her alone!”

As Dan continued to shake your body and beg for you to wake up, the astral world around you began to slide. This time you were hanging upside down as you fell and as you did, yours and Crow Daddy’s eyes unintentionally interlocked though he would be aware enough to know it.

As you slammed back into your physical body, you rolled off the bed and hit your head on the dresser. “Oww!” You screeched and started sobbing. Dan tried to pull you into a hug but you kicked at him. “No! No!”

“Y/n-” You let out a scream. “Just leave me alone!” Danny backed away and you let out a sob. “What happened?” He asked gently as he scooped you up into his arms like you were a child. Normally you would protest said act but for right now, you didn’t care. You needed the comfort and that’s how he was giving it.

“They killed him..” You sobbed and you felt Danny let out a sigh as he ran his fingers through your hair. “They killed who?”

“That poor little boy!” You let out a screaming cry and buried your head in his shoulder. “Okay..okay.” You choked on your own sobs and nuzzled closely to him. “It’s alright.”

…

Meanwhile thousands of miles away, the lights of RV’s shined brightly in the darkness of the Iowa night on Crow and Rose as they buried the baseball boy.

As Rose finished throwing her scoop of dirt over Bradley Trevor’s glove she paused for a moment and looked at the ground. “We had a looker.” Crow stopped what he was doing and for the first time in years she actually seen a glint of what she would like to think was excitement in his dark eyes. “Tonight?”

“Yeah.” Rose dropped the shovel on the ground and Crow did the same. “East Coast, I think.” He furrowed his brows. “You’re saying someone looked in from I’ve 10,000 miles away?”

“Could of been farther. Could of been up in Canada, but it gets better. She wasn’t alone either.” Rose smirked slightly. “Y/n was with her.”

They say a picture is worth 1000 words but in that moment Crow Daddy’s face had an expression of infinite emotions. He tried tracking you down a few times after you ran but he honestly wondered what good it would do. He didn’t have to be in your mind to you were petrified of Rose and he figured you probably would want nothing to do with him. His mouth went dry and he felt like he wanted to throw up. “What?”

“Oh yeah and she wasn’t happy to see me either. The second she seen me stab into the kid she was out of there so fast and back to her man friend.”

“Man friend?” He looked boggled. “Oh yeah. Danny is his name. She wouldn’t let me get a look at him though..or the looker but I swear Crow Daddy, I haven’t felt power. Raw power like that off the looker than I’ve felt in so long..”

“Then do you think we should look into it? The sooner the better. Before her parents send her to a psychiatrist. Put her on pills. Muffle the steam and make her harder to find.”

“No, giving paxil to this kid is like putting a piece of saran wrap over a search light. And when either of them come back and trust me, I’ll know they’ll be back, I’ll be ready. Oh I’ll be ready..”

Crow dreaded the prospect though. He didn’t want to see you older. A little bit younger than him. It served as a reminder that time went comes and goes fast and there was no buying more of it. For the rubes at least.

“Besides,” Rose straightened her posture as if she was reflecting back on another thought. “What is tied can never be untied.” As Crow raised an eyebrow Rose met the look with a smirk.

…

Your hands shook as Danny handed you a cup of tea. “There we go.” He wrapped you up with a blanket from behind and hummed appreciatively “Thank you.” He nodded and there was an awkward moment of silence as he stared at the REDRUM on the wall in the next room. “So you going to tell me now or never?”

 "Danny,“ You begged and he shushed you. "Just listen to me. I think it would help if you told me about it though.”

“There’s a reason why I don’t talk about my childhood, Dan.” He squeezed your hand. “I know.” You kissed the tops of his knuckles. “It’s painful.” Your voice started to crack.

“If you’re afraid of me thinking differently of you, I would never. I love you for you. Whatever they did, it’s not on you. Please baby, I know it’s hurting you. Just let me in.”

You sighed and looked down at your kitchen counter. “You remember when you met me all those years ago in Florida?” He nodded and rubbed the tops of your hands. “I was only there for a brief amount of time. I moved around alot as a kid. For a while I never really understood why.”

“You mentioned your family was pretty nomadic but what does this have to do with anything?” Dan asked softly and continued to caress your skin. “The people who raised me, they were special like us. They shined maybe as much, if not more than we did. There are things out there, dark things, that hurt people like us.” Tears started to well up in your eyes. “Y/n-”

“They make people like us never be seen again and they warned me about the dark things and told me to stay away from them but I didn’t know I really didn’t have to worry about them at the time.”

Dan wiped one of your tears away, trying to ignore the hairs sticking straight up on his arms. “Why?” Your teary eyes interlocked with his. “Because I was living with the dark things that hurt people like us.” His posture stiffened and he slowly let go of your face. “What?” You ignored his question, continuing to ramble on.

“They always looked the same. It was the strangest thing. My grandpa went from having a limp in his leg to walking without a cane over night and sometimes when they were near me, my one uncle always looked at me like he was hungry. I was nine and we were staying long term in Georgia for the winter because I was sick. It made my mom a nervous wreck, so she’d stay with me every night while I slept and the one night I woke up over night and she wasn’t there so I panicked and I just remember hearing these screams. They were awful. Like these husky barks and even though I was supposed to be in bed I got up to look for my mom and when I got up she was on top of this little boy and she was-” You choked up a little bit. “She was gutting into him like he was a fish and they were eating him.”

“Like Hannibal Lecter eating him or-” You shook your head. “His shine. They were drinking his screams and pain too.” Dan looked so upset. “Honey.” Your body wracked itself with sobs. “And I’ll never forget the look on his face! Like he was being violated.”

“W-what did they do when they seen you were there?” You tried to wipe some tears away but they just kept pouring rapidly. “Most of them didn’t care or notice at first. My dad on the other hand looked so mortified. I can’t remember if it was him or my mom that picked me up and kept telling me over and over again it was out of survival and that I wasn’t supposed to see it. That it was all for the better. That way they could live longer and be healthier and that they wouldn’t hurt me. They could never hurt me like that.”

“Please don’t tell me you believed them.” His tone almost sounded judgemental and you became defensive. “Dan! What was I supposed to do? They were my family and it’s not like I had any where to go to. Despite what they did, I still loved him even though part of me was scared of them.”

“Sorry! Sorry! I’m just trying to wrap my head around all this.” He kissed the top of your head and you had to supress the urge to just shove him away. “Could you live like that? Live a lie?”

“I kept my mouth shut, Danny and if you were in my shoes you would of done the same. For about 7 years we went on like that until my dad left for business for about a week and I finally couldn’t take it anymore and then truth came out about everything.”

You let out a screaming sob as Rose threw plates around you. “..They would of never of been able to provide for you the way your father and I did! Those rubes pigs were selfish and given the chance, they would of used you and abused you even more than they already did.”

You shook your head feverishly, trying to block out Rose’s word. “You were so desperate to have someone love you, that I barely even had to wipe your mind. You were so touch starved that we practically did nothing but hold you the first couple of weeks you were here. We loved you when no one else did! Not even your fucking mother.”

You choked on your own sobs and slumped down to the ground, not caring if the broken glass on the ground cut into your fragile skin. Rose knelt down to your level and began to pull some of the shards. “But don’t worry though, honey. Daddy fixed that issue.”

You felt your blood run cold and you tensed. “W-what do you mean?” Part of you knew the answer to that question though and you dreaded hearing it come out of her mouth. Rose reached up into a nearby drawer and pulled out an old Polaroid photograph. “Does that answer your question?”

“OH GOD!” You screamed and broke back into hysterics. “He never did it to hurt you. You wanted her dead. Trust me. It was all out of love, my sweet. Every single piece of it was out of love.”

"T-that’s not love!” You stuttered. “No?” Rose’s tone was cynical. “No!..”

“Y/n-”

“14 years, Danny. 14 fucking years, I let them scare me into thinking all people were bad besides them and I thought they were my family the whole time yet it was all just a lie!” Dan wrapped his arms around your waist and planted a kiss on your cheek, trying to process it all. Your water works started up all over again and Danny sighed. “Y/n..Y/n, it’s not your fault.”

“It is Danny! It fucking is! And then she started hitting because she knew I despised her for the truth and it hurt so bad because we went from being so close to so far apart.”

“Baby-”

“My trust with the rest of them too was so torn because they all knew what she was doing and they hid. Over two years I had to lie my dad because I didn’t want to make him upset because he was the only one of them that I trusted and then I let him kill my mother..”

“You were a child, honey. You couldn’t of known. It’s not your fault and that’s all over now. I’m here.” He rocked you back and forth as you cried into him. “And the worse part is that even after everything they’ve done to me, part of me still loves and misses them sometimes.”

Dan’s mind drifted back to his own father and he tensed, understand what it was like to still love the abuser even though they caused more damage than could be repaired. “I know, baby..I know. It’s a fucked up cycle.” You nuzzled close to him.

“Don’t leave me, Danny!” You begged. “I won’t..it’s okay.” As you wept into him, Danny looked off to the side room that had the ominous REDRUM scrawled on the walls and hugged you tight.

“We need to keep that little girl away from them Dan. They’ll hurt her.” He pulled away from you. “We? No! No there is no we in this. If anything, we should stay out of this.”

“Dan! You’re being selfish. We can’t just abandon this little girl.” He shook his head. “It’s not abandoning her if I tell her to keep her head down.”

“That’s the exact opposite of what we should do!” Dan huffed and you placed a kiss against his cheek, cradling his face in your hands. “Look, just listen with an open mind. Okay?”

He nodded and your eyes interlocked with his baby blue ones. “I know they work, Danny. That’s why they took me. To use my shine to find people. They’ll prey on people who put their heads down because it’s easier for them to seem like the good guys. It’ll make her more of a sitting duck. To make her hide this, all of this, it’ll just kill her self esteem and her herself. You have to encourage her.”

“Why me?”

“Because besides me, you’re probably the only person that hears her Dan. Who understands her. She knows you more than me because she turned to you first. You’re the only one who probably interacts with her the way people like us can.” You held his hands in yours. “Do you remember how lonely you felt being younger? We can’t let that happen to her.”

“And I can’t let you get hurt either. If these people, whatever the hell they’re called can find that little girl-”

“Abra. Her name is Abra,” You corrected but Dan only rolled his eyes. “-They probably can find you and I just-”

Dan visibly shivered. “I don’t want to even picture in my mind what things they’d do to you or what would happen you if they found you.” He cupped your face and took in all your features. “I-i’d never be able to live with myself, knowing I could of prevented it. I can’t- I won’t let them hurt you. They’ve done enough damage.”

“So that’s it? We’re just abandoning her?” Dan rubbed his face. “I wouldn’t call it that just..cutting ties for a while.” You pushed away from him and rolled your eyes. “Y/n, I’m sorry but I don’t want you getting killed!”

“Just don’t talk to me right now, Danny. I want to be alone.” You went back to yours and Danny’s bedroom and locked the door before he could get it. “Y/n..come on baby.”

“I told you I want to be alone.” You sat down with your back against the door and Danny did the same from the other side. “Okay..Honey?”

“Yes, Dan?” He laid his hand against the woods barrier between the both of you. “I love you.” Despite how mad you were, you smiled slightly and did the same. “I love you too..now go. Please.”

Dan did as you asked and as he made his walk to the guest room in the second floor of your house, he stopped at the spare room. Staring at the REDRUM on the wall before picking up a piece of chalk and scrawling a quick message. 'Abra: I hope you’re okay and you have a better day tomorrow. Your friends, Dan and Y/n.’

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #280

“this is the place in our mind with a crooked crown / we came to execute its own perfect shutdown”

Do you have a strong local accent? No. Do you prefer green or red grapes? Red, but either is fine so long as they’re crisp. Can you stand on your hands unassisted? pffff Who was the last person to knock/ring at your door? Pizza guy. How old were you when you last went trick or treating? No idea. Have you ever been bobbing for apples? ”No. That’s a gross game lol you’re dipping your head and mouth into water other people are dipping their head and mouth into.” <<<< This. What’s your most expensive piece of clothing? No clue. What’s the last thing you took a picture of? Guys I actually took a selfie bc for once in my goddamn life, I felt really pretty with the makeup Summer did on me. She's working towards a degree in cosmetology and is so talented with it. What’s the last thing you drew a picture of? A meerkat pup. Have you ever been on a pogo stick? Omg, yes. I got one for I think Christmas one year as a kid and I got SO into it. I learned how to do it really well. Can you down a pint (of anything) in one? Probably not without throwing up. Have you ever been banned from a public place? No. Have you ever been in a newspaper? A couple times, I think. I know once in elementary school for when I was in chorus; we went somewhere for a small Christmas show. Then I believe I was in it for another school thing? Idr. What football team do you support? I don’t care for football or sports in general. What did you want to be when you grew up? My phases included paleontologist, vet, movie director, author, game designer, aaaand I know I’m forgetting one. But my current and long-term goal has been to become a photographer. Being an artist as a free time “job” has always been an aspiration, too. Have you ever tie-dyed your own clothes? In school, yeah. How often do you buy new clothes? Very rarely. Usually just around Christmas or my birthday from gift cards I get. Are you reliable? In some ways yes, in other ways no. Are you proud of yourself? No. If you could ask your future self one question what would it be? If she’s ended up happy. Do you hold grudges? Nah. Do you decorate the outside of your house for Christmas? Mom does pretty much last minute, but only sometimes when looking at the past few years. Can you solve sudoku puzzles? Sure, they’re fun. What’s the most unusual conversation you've ever had? Who knows. Are you much of a gambler? Not at all. I don’t fuck around with money, especially when just $5 makes you feel great. Have you ever been to Disneyland? I’ve been to Disney World. Do you sing in the shower? Very rarely. Almost never now that I don’t play music while I’m in there. As a child did you ever suck your thumb or fingers? I mean probably? I do know I loved my pacifier and was SO upset when Mom’s doctor or someone playfully told me I was gonna have to give it up because my upcoming baby sister would want to steal it, and guess what? Nicole never fucking used a pacifier so I was tilted lmao. What time do you usually go to bed? Lol BRO it can be as early as 7 PM on bad depression days to as late as like, 2-3 AM. I’d say the average time is like… 9:30. What's your favorite animal? MEERKATS hngggggggggggggggg Have you ever been in marching band? No. Do you have any enemies? No? At least I don’t consider anyone to be. Have you ever been a cheerleader? As a kid, Mom wanted me to so I could do something with my sisters, who were actually interested in cheerleading. She certainly didn’t force me to or anything, I just agreed to it despite not being into it. We were with this Christian sports group for a long time doing various sports all the while being taught lessons in Christlikeness. I’ve actually got warm memories of it Did you ever date anyone on the football team? No. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No, not that I’m against the idea tho. The plushy would just have to be very special to me and also comfortable to hold. How many consecutive days have you ever missed of school? I missed an entire week when I learned about Mom’s cancer. I could barely function. With how much school stressed me, I would NOT have managed. Have you ever been pregnant? No, not in my to-do list. When was the last time you wanted to speak out, but couldn’t? I’m sure it was recently over Facebook; most times, I keep my mouth shut over political things on there that might get me fired up because I’m afraid of confrontation. Are fingerless gloves awesome? I love them. Wore them daily in high school. I still have some of my favorites, though I’m doubtful they still fit my hands… Would you rather be cannibalistic or die in the wilderness? Okay so I’m gonna actually go kinda in-detail, so the squeamish be warned. Realistically, I think I’d choose to die. ESPECIALLY if I was the one expected to kill another person; then, there’s no question. I wouldn’t be able to do it either if I knew the person. If it was some stranger someone else killed and cooked, I don’t know with absolute certainty; starvation really can make animals out of people. I do know for sure I’d vomit. I far more heavily lean into still preferring to die, because I just believe some things aren’t worth living after they’ve been committed. I’d hate myself. I’d rather die feeling clean of conscience. Would you survive on a deserted island? Hell no. Have you dyed your hair eccentric colors in the past? Yeah, I want to do it far more often… What size drink do you usually get at fast food restaurants? Medium, sometimes small. What do you think is the best thing in life? Love, both platonic and romantic. Have you ever sold anything online either on Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, etc.? If not, what is your website of choice like any of the above for buying things? We sold our previous dog over Craigslist, and I sold my iguana there as well. I know Mom has used eBay and Amazon, but idk for what. Have you ever seen an animal give birth? Have you ever had a pet give birth before? I’ve seen old pet cats give birth many times. What is something you want to try to accomplish within the next year? I want a job that I’m content with and can mentally handle. Oh, and I REALLY want to make strong progress on recovering from the muscle atrophy in my legs. What’s the most unusual kind of pizza you’ve ever tried? I have no clue; I’m not that adventurous with pizza or food in general. If you were given the chance to decorate an entire house the way you wanted, with no limit to cost, how would you decorate it? GOTHIC AS A MOTHERFUCKER WELCOME TO THE GOTDAMN ADDAMS FAMILY. What’s one of your favorite things to touch/feel? My cat. :’) How often do you wear tights? Ew, never. Has there ever been anything you’ve become interested in much later than other people? I guess Instagram, but only as a viewer. I don’t have a personal one, just for my photography that I only rarely post. Have you ever had a veggie burger? Yeah, during my vegetarian streak. Burger King’s really aren’t that bad so long as the patty is made well. Do you like candles? Yeah, sure. When was the last time you wore a sports bra? Forever ago when I was doing Wii Fit. Where did you get the shirt you’re currently wearing? I think Hot Topic? It’s an oversized Umbreon shirt. Who last messaged you on Facebook? My friend Summer when we were planning our lil witch photoshoot w/ friends. Who last walked you home? lol you don’t just have someone “walk you home” here. Bundles of homes are way too far and in-between for reasonable walking distance. Did you make any new friends lately? If so, what are their names and how did you meet them? Not really recently, no. Would you rather see your favorite band/artist in concert with 2 other people or have a free $20,000 shopping spree to Walmart? Seeing Ozzy with my mom would be a DREAM, but to be realistic, I’d take the shopping spree pretty damn quickly. $20k? That would do WONDERS for us, especially as we’re about to move into a new place. When was the last time you threw up and why did you? A long time ago when I started a new medication. Do you want revenge on the person who has hurt you the most? … I’m gonna be REAL honest. For the most part, no. But ngl there are times I’m like “I’m gonna work on getting back in shape and become H O T” like a petty bitch lmao this is embarrassing to admit. Has anyone ever claimed that you saved their life? Yes. Did you ever have that near-drowning experience? No. Have you ever performed on stage? For dance, yes, but I never did a solo. Are you a jealous person? Not jealous (usually), but I’ve come to realize I’m a pretty envious piece of shit. Morning person or night person? I’m in my best mood in the morning because I have the “it’s a fresh start” ideology. Then I repeat exactly what I did the day before. :^) Have you ever written a poem for someone? Numerous times. Do you meditate? No, but I wish I could without it only causing more stress. Do you like cranberries that they serve for Thanksgiving? EW I hate cranberries. What don't you understand that frustrates you? Finances. Do you plan on going to college? I’ve tried college three times and dropped out each time. I’m done trying with school. Do you believe the governments hide technology and information from the public? AbsoFUCKINGlutely. Which is your favorite Pokemon? Ninetales! What horror fiction character scares you the most? What’s the name of the villain in the Scream series? Ghostface? I don’t feel like looking it up, but he TERRIFIED me as a kid, and I still think he’s mega creepy. Were you part of the Brownies/Cubs/Scouts/Guides etc? I was in Girl Scouts. Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink? No. Do you have any family secrets? Don’t think so. Do you often read your horoscope? Never. They’re bullshit. Have you ever had a proper Tarot reading? No; also bullshit. Have you ever milked a cow? No. Do you love or hate rollercoasters? They’ve always scared me because I’m afraid of throwing up. Now with how dizzy I get, I absolutely refuse to try one because I WILL faint with all the movement. What’s your favorite sportswear brand? idc Who’s your favorite superhero? Does Deadpool count? Who’s your favorite villain/baddie? If we’re still in the comics/superhero universe, the Joker. Have you ever won a giant-sized cuddly toy from a fair? No. What would you say is your favorite album of all time? Black Rain by Ozzy Osbourne. I fucking adore it; it was my introduction to metal, and still after all this time, every track S L A P S. I deadass played that CD so much that it scratches at a few points. Do you dislike hairy people? lol fuck this question. I’m guessing you’re asking if I find them attractive and not as if people I “dislike” them, but in both cases, it’s no. We’re mammals, who the fuck cares how hairy you are. Do you like your own name? I actually do really like my name. My first one, anyway. Would you ever sign a Prenuptial agreement? NOPE. Want one? You’re gonna have to find someone else willing to, my man. How long has your longest ever phone call been? No less than two hours, but I know more. I have three instances in particular where I talked with either friends or Jason for SO long. Could you ever have an affair with a married person? Hell no. What is your family Christmas like? Nicole comes here so she and I open presents with Mom, then we spend the day at my older sister’s to be with the kids. We also try to squeeze visiting Dad in there the same day, but sometimes it has to be a different one. If you met a genie who offered you three wishes, what would you wish for? (more wishes does not count) Just three is hard… but #1 is indisputably world peace, and then uhhhh the end of poverty and maybe the cure for cancer. I’d have a super hard time picking a third; so many things matter to me. Have you ever had your national flag painted on your face? No, not in my plans. Do you have any strange body things? Well, define “strange,” I guess? Nothing like, really strange. What fairy tale character would you most associate with? Can I be Snow White and attract cute critters like moths to a flame? Also I would 100% take a Good apple. If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing? It would depend on the person and our bond, really. Is there a cherished song between us? What is our relationship like? There’s no umbrella song I can think of. Is your dad an embarrassing dancer? GUYS!!!!!!!!!!! My sister’s wedding, okay? Father/daughter dance? He actually has MOVES and it was incredible man, never gonna forget that. What if any unusual objects have you swallowed? Nothing, I think. If you were stinking rich, would you only go to places other rich people went? Hell naw, man. There are plenty of great, affordable places in all categories. I could be a millionaire and you’d still see my ass in McDonald’s ordering a burger and fries lmao. Have you ever owned a slinky? My sisters and I had multiple as kids; those were d o p e. Teenage parents, good, bad, or indifferent? An AWFUL idea. A teenager is physically, most likely financially, and mentally unprepared to raise a child properly. It can seriously affect the kid, and of course the parent. What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever broken? I’m unsure. Pirate downloads, good or bad? It’s bad… yet plenty (myself included) have/do do it. Democracy, good or bad? Good. It’s very important to me that rule should come from the people’s majority versus a small coalition of rich guys. While the majority is not always right, it seems like the best option to me. Communism, good or bad? Okay so to be totally honest I actually don’t entirely understand what communism outlines. Like I just read multiple definitions and small articles and I’m still kinda like “????”, though judging by the countries listed as those governed by communism, I would guess it’s bad? Have you ever been electrocuted? On an electric fence, but it wasn’t too bad. Have you ever been hit on by someone of the same gender? Yeah. The war in Iraq, good or bad? Get the fuck out of it. To start with, I’m a pretty fierce pacifist, and just… killing and killing and killing for YEARS is so goddamn pointless and is just a massacre. The war in Afganistan, good or bad? jfc ^ Have you ever appeared on YouTube? LET’S NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS lmfao Have you ever eaten anything prepared by a celebrity chef? No,, but that’d be dope. Have you ever been on radio? No. Do you prefer male or female singers voices? ”Their gender doesn’t matter, but their talent does.” <<<< Do you have a list of things to do before your ‘x’ years old? Goals should not be judged by age. I’m bad at this and have to remind myself of it a lot. A goal is a goal regardless of a number. Celebrate for *you*. Are you proud, comfortable or ashamed of your body? Very very much ashamed. Do you know html? Super poorly. Have you ever flown first class? lol hunny What are better, violins or pianos? Violins. How old is your oldest blanket? As old as me. My baby blanket is stored somewhere. Do you take enough vacations? lol hell no. I’ve maybe gone on three vacations in my entire life. Have you ever been sick on your birthday? Yup. Then one time I was recovering from a wicked stomach virus but went to Olive Garden anyway lol. I was fine though, and it’s actually a sweet memory because Jason (he worked there at the time) got the staff to do the whole “happy birthday” thing. I got a bombin’ brownie. Who is your favorite person? Sara and my mom. What do you do to stay healthy? lol you assume I’m healthy. What is your favorite form of exercise? Swimming. Do you like going to church? I never did. As a kid, I would cry when/if Mom decided we were going to mass after Sunday school lmao. It’s always been boring and too long to me, even when I was religious. Have you ever fallen asleep during a sermon? Probably as a kid. Do you like to pray for others? No. I don’t believe anyone hears them or will intervene somehow if I ask anyway. Have you ever witnessed a miracle? No. I don’t think I believe in those anyway. Have you ever been the recipient of a miracle? Definitely not. How did you or whoever come up with the name(s) for your pet(s)? I thought “Roman” was a majestic name for a male cat, and Venus has the coloration that the planet does. Who did you last walk a dog with? Sara and I walked Buster the last time I was there. It was windy as SHIT so we didn’t get far because my ass was absolutely freezing, all the while Sara was used to it. Ride bikes with? Wow, good question. I haven’t ridden a bike in many, many years. Hold hands with? My friend Summer did yesterday when she was trying to reassure me of something. For what reason did you last high five someone? Ryder and Aubree each caught Pokemon in Pokemon GO. :’’’’) I was watching them in the car while my sister/their mom was doing something at work, and they wanted to play it; they’ve come to learn that between my phone and DS, I’m the Pokemon provider, lol. I was the proudest fucking aunt ever bc they did SO GOOD after getting the hang of throwing the ball like Y’ALL. When Ash came back to the car, I gave ‘em each high fives before getting back in. What color and type is your vehicle? Don’t have my own car. Looking to upgrade or add any time soon? I doubt I’ll have my own soon. What animal do you have the most possessions *of*, or featuring? Like, décor or stuffed animals, things like that? Not the actual living creature? Easily meerkats, holy shit do I have a collection. What do you use to wash your dishes? Gain soap. Last thing you measured? Uhhh idk. Last thing you weighed? Myself. Last song you danced to? *shrug* What do you remember from your dream last night? I just remember it was a nightmare about Dad being angry. How old were you when you got your first credit card? Lol I don’t have one. Do you talk to your parent(s) [almost] every day? Mom, yes. Dad, no, because we don’t live together. What does your shampoo and conditioner smell like? I just started using a Dove brand shampoo targeting dandruff, so I don’t think it has a specific smell. I don’t use conditioner, just adds grease to your hair, plus mine is short anyway. Last person to tell you that you smell good? Idk. Last person you told that they smell good? I also don’t know. If you smoke marijuana, what is your preferred or typical method? I’ve never touched it. Last person you ran into unexpectedly? Ummm idr. How many plants can you see right now? There’re none in my room. Last compliment you received on your appearance? HA On your character/personality? That I was a loving sister. Do you remain friends with anyone you met at your first job? N/A Who have you hugged in the past month? My mom, Summer, sisters, niece and nephew, Dad… Newest musical discovery? 3TEETH is great. Like, I'm obsessed. Their cover of “Pumped Up Kicks” snagged my attention, despite actually being iffy about it at first. Guess what I’m listening to this minute lmao. Last thing you cleaned? A cup. What exactly do you carry around all your stuff in? A purse. What do you carry around, typically? Phone, keys, wallet, hand sanitizer, and my iPod are items of note. Where is your newest scar? It’s on the palm of my left hand from Roman playing with me. Where is your oldest scar? Idk. Last thing you disposed of? The milk carton. What was the last picture someone sent you? Mom sent me a gif from Hocus Pocus to fit the witch photoshoot Summer, her friend, and I did. Did you hear a siren today? No. What do you typically drink? I would rather not pretend I tend to drink soda lmao Last bad news you heard? My aunt’s brother committed suicide a couple days ago. Last good news you heard? I don’t really know. How far away is the closest cinema from your house? It’s like, 15-ish minutes away. Have you ever been to the emergency room? Many times. Are you one of those people who can’t go without their morning coffee? Y’all know me and coffee. But in place, I have my morning Mountain Dew, rip in fucking pieces. Have you ever worn fake eyelashes? No, though I’m honestly curious what I’d look like. Do you know the story of how your parents met? If so, tell me? They were coworkers; that’s all I know. What is your favorite Chinese food? I love pork fried rice. Do you live far from your parents? I live with my Mom. I live around 20 minutes or so away from Dad. What was the last hot food you ate? I’m assuming you mean spicy as opposed to just hot as in temperature. In that case, probably hot wings. Have you ever seen a meteor shower? No. Describe your current position: I’m lying down in bed, just kinda perked up by my two pillows. Have you used a microwave today? Yes; I had a Jimmy Dean breakfast bowl. Do you prefer going out for coffee or brewing your own? N/A Have you consumed caffeine today? If so, in what form? yikes- Do you know anyone who follows a raw vegan diet and lifestyle? Not that I know of. Have you killed a bug this week? Yes; we’re dealing with a lovely mix of gnats and fleas. What was the first food you learned how to cook? Scrambled eggs. Or maybe pancakes with Mom’s assistance. Idr. Do you have a Bachelor’s degree? If so, what in? No. How many email accounts do you have? Two. Can you go see a doctor alone or do you like to take someone with you? I like my mom to be with me. How long is your average shower? 15 minutes, maybe? It depends on the routine I feel like doing. When’s the last time you had a headache? Yesterday. What woke you up this morning? I think I woke up naturally? A rare occasion nowadays. Who was the last person you cried in front of? Summer, yesterday.

[shinidamachu]

The Moment I Knew

Summary: very married Inukag (and drunk Mirsan) reminiscing their teenagers-in-love days.

DAY FOUR! GIVE IT UP FOR DAY FOUR OF @inukag-week! The prompt is “affection”.

Word Count: 2456  Genre: I-Was-Feeling-Romantic.pdf  Fandom: InuYasha  Pairing: Inukag Format: oneshot  AO3 Link: 🌹  Fanfic.Net Link: 🌹

The night pulsated alive with the sound of their muffled giggles

Inside of the modest hut Miroku and Sango shared, the bottle of liquor emptied slowly and Kagome realized how much of an western caricature they were right then, drinking like teenagers in the parking lot of some american movie.

Except for her husband. His refusal to go anywhere near alcohol since the Master Of Potions incident remained strong after all these years, which the rest of the group agreed it was hilarious.

However, with Shippo snoring on her lap — after strongly claim he wasn’t sleepy at all — and the kids sleeping next room, it was actually a good idea to have a responsible, sober adult around. Specially since her cares were casted aside from the first sip.

“Okay, I have another one.” Kagome put her cup down and smiled devilishly to a cherry colored Sango.

“No, no, no!” She shook her head eagerly, but the amused expression never left her face. “Kagome-Chan, you said that was your last question!”

“Come on! This isn’t fair! I didn’t get to see you marry and I missed your children’s birth. I deserve this, at least.”

“Kagome-Sama, you can’t use this to get your way forever.” Miroku interfered, his enjoyment with her pleading statement way too evident while InuYasha muttered just fucking watch her under his breath. “Besides, I don’t think my wife could possibly get redder.” Sango nodded and took her cup to her lips.

“Please?” Kagome knew she had won when the demon slayer drank the content all at once, rolled her eyes and cleaned her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Fine!” The word came a bit groggy and followed by a smile. Kagome clasped her hands in excitement.

“When did you guys know you were in love?” The couple shared a long complicity look before Sango broke the mood.

“You first.”

“That’s easy!” The monk spoke with certainty, then grinned. “The first time I caressed her butt.” Before Kagome could protest, Sango hit him hard on the shoulder.

“Miroku!”

“You have three children, you know?” InuYasha commented, narrowing his eyes at their friend’s lecherous ways.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” He put his hands up in defense, then sighed. “I guess for me it would be... the time we spent on that lorde’s castle. Kuranosuke Takeda, was it?” Miroku looked at Sango for confirmation. As soon as he got it, he proceeded. “Well, he was in love with Sango and, as you recall, he asked her to marry him. Even though parting ways saddened me, I knew it was her best chance to have the life she deserved. It was at that moment, when I realized her happiness was more important to me than my own, that I knew I was in love.”

Kagome exhaled her content then addressed Sango, whose eyes still glittered with her husband’s reply.

“What about you, Sango-Chan?”

“The first time I caressed his butt.” Her answer caused Miroku to choke on his drink and not even Kagome was immune to the giggles that followed.

“Three children.” InuYasha reminded the couple.

After a short laugh, Sango paused and took a deep breath, then the words Mt Hakurei left her lips. Kagome would jump on her seat if it wasn’t for Shippo, still using her as a pillow. She always wondered what happened back in Mt Hakurei. InuYasha himself seemed to grow interested beside her.

“Really?” Miroku raised an eyebrow. “That long, huh?” The question earned him a cocky smile from the demon slayer.

“You were such a womanizer, there was no way I’d make it too easy for you.”

“That’s fair.”

“Enough teasing!” Kagome rushed them, her voice painted in childish enthusiasm. “What happened?”

“I got injured and he used the Kazana to keep me safe, even though there were Saimyosho around. We were surrounded by yokai and Miroku couldn’t move, so he told me to leave him behind.”

Sango shook her head as if to reinforce the idiocy of the idea, which Kagome could easily relate to — more than once InuYasha had put her on similar situation and she reacted with the same indignant disbelief.

“As if I ever would!” The pinch of exasperation was replaced to a much softer tone when Sango continued. “I knew I was in love because for a moment there I really believed I was gonna lose him and the thought of my life without him in it... it was one of the scariest things I have ever felt.”

Their answers weren’t what Kagome expected at all, especially for what was supposed to be a fun drinking night, but as she watched Miroku placing kisses on each of Sango’s hands, she didn’t regret asking it one bit.

“Not to brag, but I knew you guys would end up together from the start.” Just when Kagome thought they were too caught up in the moment to notice her smug comment, Sango turned to her.

“When did it happen for you?” Now she regretted it. Kagome should have seen this coming — because of course it was — and she owed them the same honesty they have been giving her all night. Besides, she had no problem with opening old scars.

It was with InuYasha she worried about.

“It’s not my happiest memory.” Kagome argued, but judging by the way InuYasha’s ears flattened, it was the wrong choice of words.

“Neither were ours. It’s only fair.” Miroku pointed out and Kagome bit her lips. He was right and she hated it. After a quick side glance towards InuYasha, her decision was made.

“I saw them together.” No explanations were asked, nor were they needed. “When he looked at me, I could tell he had made up his mind and I didn’t wanna hear it, so I ran home.” While her audience awaited, flashes of that day plagued into her mind — the absolute resilience on his eyes, the burning sensation on her lungs as she fled, the feeling of losing something irreplaceable escorting every step of her way. Kagome brushed them off the best she could. “I had no idea it could hurt that much, but… ultimately, my need to see him again, to be by his side, was stronger than anything else. Then I came back. You know the rest.” She finished with a shy shrug.

InuYasha opened his mouth but no words were able to come out, so Sango was the one to break the silence.

“I’m glad everything worked out.” She inclined towards Kagome to refill her cup.

“Me too.” Kagome let her head fall on InuYasha’s shoulder, happy to feel the tension he had been holding gradually melt with the contact. “I just wish it had been a little less upsetting.”

“Perhaps it’s an universal thing.” Miroku suggested. “All romantic realizations are fated to be painful.”

“Mine wasn’t.”

All eyes drastically fell on the half demon and he shrunk at the sudden attention, horrified to have spoken out loud what was supposed to remain an inner thought. Miroku, however, acted like his favorite show had just started.

“And when was that?”

“Just drop it.”

“Fine! Don’t tell us. We’ll just guess it.” Sango announced, with the confidence that was so inherent of her.

Kagome couldn’t help but feel torn. She knew InuYasha wasn’t one to talk about his feelings so openly and she wanted to respect his space. On the other hand, curiosity was killing her.

“I’m sure it was after that battle against Sesshoumaru, when we got our first real clue about Naraku. InuYasha was so worried about Kagome-Sama’s safety that he took the fragments away and trapped her on the other side of the well. I recall t-”

“He did what?” The second Sango shouted, a cry made its way through the room and a very confused Shippo jumped to consciousness. Her hands flew to her mouth when she remembered, a little too late, that she should have kept her voice down.

“I got it.” Was all Miroku said while he promptly rushed to his youngest.

“It’s okay, Shippo-Chan. Go back to sleep.” Kagome reassured the kitsune, who showed no sign of putting up a fight this time.

“Where the hell was I?” Now with a way more moderate tone, Sango remained puzzled.

“We hadn’t met yet.”

“It doesn’t matter. Miroku is wrong.”

“Right! Because it definitely happened at that time we almost died.” Her words made Kagome frown. Giving the impressive frequency in which someone or something tried to kill them, the possibilities were plentiful.

“Which one?”

��The one the three of us got poisoned.”

“Of course!” Miroku returned and if the lack of noise was any indication, the mission of tranquilizing their baby back to sleep was a success. “The way InuYasha cried as he held her... it has to be that one.”

“I didn’t cry.” He lied. “And you’re not even close.”

“How about that time back in my bedroom? You said such beautiful things and then we almost-”

“It was way earlier! Just how fucking dumb do you think I am?”

Kagome chuckled, amazed that after all these time — with a wedding in between, nothing less — the simple mention of that episode still puts a heavy tone of pink on his cheeks.

“Sorry. You don’t have to say anything, it’s alright.” And Kagome meant it, undoubtedly so. Which didn’t change the fact that she would always wonder about it, now that her curiosity had been stirred. “I just… it would be nice to know.”

Not wanting to give away how much it actually meant for her to know, Kagome put her hair behind her ear, hoping to come off as nonchalant as possible. She realized it didn’t work when a clawed finger lifted her chin to demand her focus.

“It was shortly after yours.” For the first time that night, she felt sober — as if his words had injected cold water into her veins, fresh attentiveness taking the place warm torpor once was. Still, Kagome looked at her husband without comprehend.

“W-what? How?” The more her mind played the phrase back, the less it made sense. She was there. It was years ago, but she remembered every second vividly. How could something like that went by unnoticed?

“I never thought I had a choice, I knew what I had to do. But I just couldn’t bring myself to let you go. At first I figured it was because I didn’t want to see that sad look on your face again. It was only when you came back that I understood the real reason.”

Suddenly, Kagome was taken back. She could almost feel the wind caressing her hair and hear the birds singing as she sat on the edge of the well waiting for him.

“I had finally summoned up the courage to go after you, but when I got to the Honekui no Ido, you were already there.” Kagome blinked, idly wondering if he was as lost on the memory as she was. “You asked me to stay, and to this day I can’t tell how relieved — or grateful — I was that you did.” InuYasha smiled. “Then you took my hand and in that moment I knew... that in the end of the day, I would always let you take me wherever you wanted.”

“InuYasha…” Nothing Kagome could say would do justice to the way she felt. Maybe it was the liquor, or maybe it was the way the gold on his eyes seemed to be liquefied, inviting her to drown in it, but she had never wanted to kiss him so desperately. Kagome leaned in slowly, delighted to notice his parted lips and held up breath.

Before she could go any further, though, Miroku cleared his throat and the spell was broken, tossing them back on reality, where they were not alone and to behave accordingly was probably a good idea.

“Keh.” InuYasha looked away and crossed his arms. “Now you know. Happy?”

“Yes!” Sango replied.

“Very much so.” Her husband agreed at the same time.

The rest of the night passed by in a blur. No matter how hard Kagome tried to focus on the present, her thoughts inevitably kept coming back to the things InuYasha said. It didn’t take long for her to caught herself remaking her footsteps on her mind, from the day they met to now, trying to fathom what other signs she had missed while absorbed on her own feelings.

Then they finally decided to call it a night.

“Shippo-Chan, wake up, we’re leaving.” The kitsune grumbled and turned about, but didn’t get up.

“Should’ve known the brat would make me carry his lazy ass all the way home.” InuYasha grunted. It was hard not to laugh of his facade. Shippo barely weighed anything, even if InuYasha hadn’t hanyou strength.

“InuYasha, why don’t you just leave him here? He is more than welcome to spend the night.” Miroku suggested.

“The twins love when he is here.” Sango added. Nevertheless, InuYasha declined their offer with a shake of his head.

“If he wakes up and Kagome is not there I’ll never hear the end of it.”

There was no counterpoint, no condescending comment, just silent understanding. From time to time she would get glimpses of the wounds her three years absence caused and it never ceased to break her heart a little.

Way more gentle than his previous tone suggested he would be, InuYasha picked Shippo off her lap, nesting him on his arm, and after an affable exchange of thank yous and goodnights with their hosts, they walked through the door.

A million questions still burned on her head. Why didn’t he tell her about his feelings then? Why didn’t she noticed? Wouldn’t have been better if they hadn’t wasted so many time? If they were then the people they are now?

Kagome knew the answers would remain a mystery, but as she contemplated her husband under the moonlight, starting to lead their way home, she realized it didn’t matter. Kagome would have gone through everything again, as many times as necessary, if she knew her life would become exactly what it is now.

InuYasha stopped a few steps later and turned, making Kagome note she has been wonderstruck in the same place when she should had followed him.

“Kagome, are you alright?” The genuine worry on his face got her nodding a emphatic yes until InuYasha got convinced. “Come on.” He held out his free hand.

Then you took my hand and in that moment I knew... that in the end of the day, I would always let you take me wherever you wanted.

And without thinking it twice, she took it.

A/N: yeah, you guessed right... Shippo is only on this so I can have some Inukag Parenting™ time and I regret nothing.

Anyway... I really had fun writing this! Do you guys agree with me or think they fell in love in some other moment?

[morningfears]

Mutual

Rating: M | This is smut. No one under 18.

Summary: Fratboy!Shawn | You’ve been friends with Shawn since you started college. You’ve wanted him almost as long. Now, you’re learning that the feeling is mutual. (Also: “You’re cute when you’re jealous.” + “This hug isn’t over yet.” from prompts.)

Word Count: 3.6k

A familiar scent, the combination of cheap weed and even cheaper beer, crashes over you like a wave the moment you step foot into the fraternity house. You can feel the pounding of the bass beneath your feet, can feel it thumping in your chest, and you find yourself smiling at the sensation. It’s been months since you’ve stepped for into this house, even longer since you’ve been inside for a party, and you find your smile widening as you catch sight of friends lingering about the crowded living room.

You no longer feel claustrophobic, no longer feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people packed into the house, as you wade through the sea of party goers. It’s second nature now, almost automatic, for you to return greetings and embraces, shouting over the music to be heard. You allow the sea of people to push you along like an ocean current and, in no time, you reach the makeshift bar just as you’d intended.

The scene in front of you feels familiar, almost as if it’s where you’re meant to be, and you relax against the wall as you survey the crowd in search of the most familiar faces. Being back on campus, back in the swing of things, feels like coming home and the thought almost makes you laugh.

Two years ago, the thought that you would be standing in this very spot would’ve made you laugh. You had no intention of ever attending a frat party, let alone making them a regular part of your semester, but life is funny that way. It gives you things that it knows you need rather things that you think you want.

The same, you think as you spot a familiar mess of curly brown hair, can be said of people.

Shawn cranes his neck and makes eye contact with you over the head of one of the other brothers, eyes shining with happiness when you offer him a smile, before he begins making his way through the sea of people to get to you. You catch flashes of him through the crowd and you can feel the excitement swirling in the pit of your stomach.

Two years ago, you’d had no intention of becoming friends with Shawn or anyone like him. Upon first glance, you determined that he was just the kind of guy that you wanted to avoid. He looked the part of your stereotypical frat bro, the ones that you always see in movies and love to hate (still does, actually, you think as you catch sight of his outfit). He can party with the best of them, can go harder than most of them, actually. And he carries his guitar with him no matter where he goes (you can’t help but laugh as you remember your first time meeting Shawn. You drunkenly yelled, “No one wants to hear your version of Wonderwall, jackass,” at him and he immediately dissolved into a fit of laughter because he hadn’t even taken his guitar out of the case yet).

But despite your early judgement and initial reluctance, or maybe because of it, you and Shawn have managed to become incredibly close.

Although you and Shawn are the closest pair in your group of friends, your relationship is hard to define (even to the two of you). You’re not dating, not friends with benefits, but you’re more than just friends. You both know that there’s something between you, something bubbling just beneath the surface, it’s just a matter of it not having boiled over yet.

But as Shawn emerges from the sea of partygoers, a grin on his lips and his arms open wide for a hug, you decide that you’re tired of waiting. You’re tired of stepping around the subject and hesitating. You believe, with near certainty, that what you feel for Shawn is mutual. So, you decide that you’re going to jump.

You just hope that Shawn is there to catch you.

Shawn wraps you in a hug, arms tight around your shoulders, and cheers, “You finally made it back!” He holds you close to his chest, leaves no space between the two of you, and you can feel the vibration of his voice in his chest as he continues. “I was getting worried. You’re usually the first one of us back into town.”

“It just seems like I took longer because you didn’t go home for the summer,” you point out with a laugh as you wrap your arms around his waist and melt into the embrace. “My move-in wasn’t until yesterday. I would’ve come back sooner if I could’ve but only band kids and Greeks got early move-in.”

“See, you should’ve gone Greek,” Shawn teases, “look at the perks.” You roll your eyes but laugh at his reasoning as you attempt to pull away from the hug. Shawn groans and tightens his arms around you as he huffs, “No! This hug isn’t over yet. I missed you, honey. It’s been three months since we’ve seen each other.” You laugh at his clinging but relent and let him keep you pressed against his chest as he continues, “How does it feel to finally have a place all to yourself, no more nightmare roommates?”

“Feels so good,” you laugh as you bury your face in the soft material of his t-shirt. “You should come visit sometime,” you suggest as you sneak a peek at his face, “no more nightmare roommates to kick you out at midnight or wake us up if we fall asleep on the couch.”

He’s grinning, cheeks flushed from the heat and the alcohol, and his hair is a curly mess but you’re reminded of why you fell so hard for him in the first place. “I will,” he nods, a laugh rumbling in his chest as he begins swaying the two of you from side to side. “You know the first place I’m going is your bed, right? You’ve been talking about how comfortable it is for two years. I have to see it to believe it.”

You don’t even give yourself time to think as you quip, “You’re welcome in my bed anytime, Mendes.”

“That’s good to know,” Shawn returns, no longer swaying the two of you but still not letting you go, “I’ll remember that for later.”

You don’t respond. Instead, the two of you stand, soaking in the too-loud music of the party around you. Shawn’s staring at you, his eyes locked on your form, as you stare out at the crowd. It’s been too long since he’s seen you, too long since he’s held you, and he doesn’t want to let go any time soon. But he knows that he needs to because., despite whatever feelings linger between the two of you, nothing is official. While the two of you are usually fairly touchy with one another, the embraces rarely linger this long in public and he’s not quite sure where you draw the line.

So, reluctantly, Shawn releases you from his arms (but not without one final squeeze) before he sighs, “I’m glad you’re back. It was boring without you here all summer.”

“I’m sure,” you laugh as you grab two cups of beer from the bar and hand one to Shawn. “You got to spend the summer living in a frat house with the guys, drinking and playing guitar. It had to have been the worst. Wanna go outside so we don’t have to yell?”

Shawn nods and grabs your hand to lead you through the sea of partygoers. He intertwines his fingers with yours, unable to help himself, and you try to hide your smile at the feeling of his hand in yours. Once outside on the patio, Shawn takes a seat on the steps and gestures for you to take a seat beside him. “Some of the summer was fun,” he relents, returning to the conversation seamlessly as he wraps his arm around your shoulders and pulls you into his side, “living with the guys, mostly. But the rest of it sucked. Those presentations at orientation? They were the worst.”

“Oh, I forgot you had to do that,” you hum absentmindedly as you tap your fingers along his thigh. “I’ll bet. I heard the freshman class is huge this year. But I bet it would’ve been nice seeing you in those slacks they make you wear. You stopped putting effort into dress up days last semester and, frankly, you should be ashamed, Mendes. Robbing the world of seeing you in those pants, what a dick thing to do.”

Shawn laughs loudly at this and shakes his head at your teasing but you can see the light dusting of pink on his cheeks when you glance at him out of the corner of your eye. “I’ll be sure to put more effort in this semester,” he promises, “just for you.”

“That’s all I ask,” you nod, unable to maintain your serious facade as you giggle at his expression.

Shawn finishes the rest of his beer, hesitates for a moment, before he asks, “So, what did you do this summer? You never really said when we talked.”

“Wasn’t much to tell,” you shrug before you follow suit and down the rest of your beer with a grimace. “I worked, mostly. That ice cream place I was telling you about? It sucked, in case you were wondering. I helped my mom around the house when I wasn’t working. That’s about it. Nothing exciting like, oh, I don’t know. Being followed around by a group of incoming freshman?”

“Ugh,” he groans, tossing his head back with a frown, “they told you about that? Those assholes.”

“Oh, don’t blame this one on our friends,” you laugh as you nudge his side. “My cousin was among the incoming freshman that fell in love with you. Sorry about that, by the way.”

Shawn groans even louder and moves to bury his face in the crook of your neck. “Changing subjects,” he breathes as he finally picks himself back up and settles back into an upright position beside you, “anything happen with that guy Britt said you went out with?”

“Ugh,” you huff, “she promised she wouldn’t say anything. No. He’s someone my mom set me up with. She wouldn’t stop until we went out. He was nice but I wasn’t interested. Why?”

“Just curious,” he shrugs as he grabs your hand from his thigh and treats the rings on your fingers as if they’re the most interesting things in the world. He does a poor job of concealing his jealousy and you can’t help but grin. 

“You’re cute when you’re jealous, Mendes,” you laugh. Before Shawn can retort, you’re shrugging off his arm and standing from your seat on the stairs. You hesitate for a brief moment, wonder if this will ruin your friendship, before you decide, fuck it. You might as well.

“You have no reason to be jealous,” you hum, “I wasn’t interested in him because I’m interested in you. I’m going to get another drink if you want to come.” Shawn stares for a moment, blinking in disbelief at the space you’d just occupied, before he’s scrambling up from his seat on the steps and shoving through the crowd after you.

Shawn catches up to you as you stand at the edge of a dense crowd that’s formed around the bar. He stands behind you, his arms wind around your waist, as you frown at the crowd and ask, “What’s going on?”

“Body shots,” the guy to your right informs you with a glance at the two of you. “You guys should go for it!”

You think for a moment before you shrug. You’ve already jumped, why not keep falling. So, you turn your head toward Shawn and ask, “Are you okay with body shots?”

He looks at you for a moment, gauging the look on your face, before he nods. “Hell yeah,” he agrees, even more readily than he would have before now that he knows how you feel about him. And that’s enough for the tipsy brother beside you to begin nudging the two of you toward the makeshift bar.

You’re jostled through the crowd, Shawn’s arms loose enough around your waist but tight enough to keep you close, for a moment before you’re standing in front of the makeshift bar just as the previous couple is finishing up. You bite your lip to keep from laughing as one of the girls complains about her skirt sticking to her skin while the other complains about the accidental blow to the head she’d taken when her partner sat up too quickly.

“I promise I won’t hit you in the head,” you laugh as you glance back at Shawn, “just try to make sure I’m not completely covered in tequila, please.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Shawn agrees with a smile as he helps you up onto the not-so-sturdy surface and reaches for the hem of your shirt. “Can I?”

“Go for it,” you nod as you lean back and attempt to keep your hair from touching the sticky surface.

Shawn nudges your top up and bunches it around your ribcage as you take the lime between your lips. You can’t see what’s happening (when you attempt to better position yourself to see Shawn, he nudges you back down with a, “I thought you didn’t want to be completely covered in tequila. Lie back.”) and it’s driving you crazy as you brace yourself.

“This okay for the salt?” Shawn asks as he grabs the salt and brushes your collarbone with his fingers.

You nod but remain silent. He searches your face for any sign of hesitation before he repeats the motion and leans in.

As you feel Shawn’s tongue brush your skin, you want to thread your fingers through his hair and pull him into a kiss but you refrain. Instead, you clench your hands into fists and struggle to keep your breathing even as he nips at the skin teasingly before he moves to lap at the tequila.

The wolf whistles surrounding you fade into background noise and the lights above the bar are no longer blinding as you focus on the feeling of Shawn’s tongue lapping at the sticky tequila coating your skin. He spends a moment longer than necessary, drags his tongue over your heated skin, and places a barely there peck just above your hipbone before he moves to bring his face to yours.

The moment you meet his eyes, it’s over. The usual warm brown is gone, replaced by an almost black, and you can’t help yourself as you give in to the urge and reach up to tangle your fingers in his curls. His lips brush yours as he takes the lime and you find yourself resisting a new urge, the urge to toss the lime away and pull him into a kiss right then and there.

But you manage, you untangle your fingers from his hair and close your eyes to get him out of your head, and allow him to step away from you. He gives you a moment to breathe, a smirk on his lips as he begins to realize the effect he has on you, before he tugs the hem of your shirt down and helps you off the bar.

Shawn doesn’t give you much time to gather yourself before he’s tugging you back through the crowd and toward the stairs. You can hear the wolf whistles of friends behind you, can hear the cheering of strangers, but you pay them no mind as you allow Shawn to tug you up the stairs behind him.

He doesn’t stop until the two of you are safely in his room, the door closed and locked behind you. You half expect him to say something, to mention the conversation you’d walked away from outside, but he doesn’t. Instead, he pins you against the door and leans in to capture your lips in a searing kiss. His hands are on your hips, fingers digging into your skin, and yours are tangled in his hair as you melt into the kiss.

Actually feeling his lips on yours after what feels like ages of imagining what could be has you lightheaded but you refuse to pull away. Instead, you press yourself impossibly closer and tug at the strands between your fingers as he nips at your bottom lip.

“I’m into you, too,” he breathes, the moment he pulls away, “felt like you should know.”

“I figured,” you nod as you tug at the hem of his t-shirt, “but thanks for telling me, anyway. Good to actually hear it.”

Shawn grins and places just enough space between the two of you to tug his t-shirt up and over his head before he’s back, pressed against you and staring at you with lust blown eyes. “Fuck, I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he breathes as he slips his hands beneath the fabric of your shirt. “Can I?” he questions as he grips the hem of your top.

“Please,” you nod, “do whatever. I’ll tell you if I want you to stop.”

“I wanted this to be different,” he breathes as you begin pressing kisses to his exposed chest, “wanted this to be better.”

“We’ll just have to keep trying until it’s perfect,” you offer before you place a teasing nip to his collarbone, “maybe at my place? I did give you an open invitation to my bed.” Shawn groans at your words but before he can retort, you add, “But for now, just fuck me, please.”

“Gladly,” he nods before his fingers pop the button of your jeans. The moment you’re out of your jeans, the moment they’re kicked away to the depths of his room, Shawn’s hands are on your ass and he’s breathing, “Jump,” against your skin.

You wrap your legs around Shawn’s waist and begin trailing kisses down the column of his throat as he carries you across the room to his bed. He groans at the sensation, stills for a moment to feel you nipping and marking his skin, before he drops you unceremoniously onto the mattress. You watch, feeling almost too eager, as he shoves his own jeans off and climbs onto the bed to join.

His lips meet yours once more and you decide that kissing Shawn is your new favorite activity. And as you kiss, you focus on the feeling of his body pressed against yours. You can feel the heat of his skin so clearly, can feel the pleasant weight of him against you, and it’s bordering on overwhelming. It takes a moment for you to gather yourself but when you remember what you’d rushed up the stairs to do, you delight in the fact that you can feel every muscle in his body tense as you dip your hand past the waistband of his underwear.

But your joy doesn’t last long as Shawn matches your enthusiasm and nudges your panties to the side. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me already,” he breathes against your lips as you break the kiss to catch your breath.

“Want you,” you breathe as if it’s the most obvious thing, “fuck me, please.”

The next few moments are a blur of movement as Shawn shimmies out of his underwear and helps you out of yours. Your bra is hanging off a lamp, your underwear lands squarely on his desk, but neither of you care as his hands roam your overheated skin. You want to cry out in relief as he slots himself between your thighs and you feel his cock against your skin. He doesn’t make you ask again, doesn’t give you the chance, as he reaches for a condom in his nightstand.

The moment he finishes rolling it onto his length, he’s coating his cock in your wetness and positioning himself at your entrance. “You sure?” he questions, one final time.

When you breathe an affirmative, Shawn nods and begins to sink into your heat. The moment he’s fully inside you, he buries his face in the crook of your neck and you can feel his breath against your skin as he attempts to calm himself. It feels incredible, having him inside of you, and after a moment of adjustment, you give him the okay to move.

He’s mesmerized by the sounds that leave your lips as he sets a moderate pace and slips his hand between your bodies to rub your clit. He lifts his head to watch your face and his heart is pounding in his chest as he wills himself to last but it’s so overwhelming, being inside of you after wanting this for so long.

It’s almost embarrassing how quickly he manages to make you fall over the edge but he’s glad for it as he follows shortly after. He stills inside of you for a moment, chest pressed against yours and mouth open as he buries his face in the crook of your neck once more.

“That wasn’t how I imagined this happening,” he informs you as he settles onto the bed beside you and pulls you into him.

“Still good, though,” you shrug as you rest your head on his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he agrees quickly, “so good.” He pauses for a moment before he adds, “I really am into you, you know. Obviously, I want to do this again, but I want to take you out.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” you hum as you tilt your head to meet his gaze. “Want to get breakfast in the morning?”

“Sounds good,” he nods, “and then maybe I can take you up on that invitation into your bed?”

“Sounds even better.”

Author’s Note: It feels like it’s been ten years since I’ve written actual smut. And, I mean, this isn’t actual smut. It’s smut adjacent. Which is why I labeled it as smut. I don’t know. Anyway, I was just feeling fratboy!Shawn. This is my first time writing an actual fic for him and it was fun. I’m here for it. Okay, I’m gonna go read for class (the reading I should’ve done a week ago) now.

[argylemikewheeler]

Flown Home

|| this came to me while I was delirious at 4am because we deserve Nice Dacre and Steve deserves a good adult, male (boy)friend.

Stason having a delightful day together [Steve Harrington / (non - PR) Jason Scott] ||  ao3

Steve had picked him up from the airport right after work. Which meant he was standing outside the terminal in his goddamn sailor outfit, the most easy to spot dork in the whole crowd. But, Steve had to admit, embarrassment or not, it was nice being told right off the bat that he at least looked cute. It had been a long day and this definitely helped– hell, it was the only highlight.

The uniform of course sparked questions, ending with the conclusion that he had to see where Steve worked. Steve happily obliged even though he had just gotten off a long shift. He’d do anything for him– and some discount ice cream.

They got a table and a sundae to split, and Steve had some jeans and shirt to throw on in the employee bathroom to attract less attention. It had been a few years since they’d seen each other in person and Jason’s voice sounded so much nicer in person than through six states and static of a telephone.

“So, did you ever pass that big History exam?” Steve asked, pulling the spoon down and out of his mouth. The hot fudge stuck to the metal in streaks, only some getting on his tongue and lips.

“I did!” Jason nodded with a quiet laugh. “I’m actually applying to Franklin to become a History teacher.”

“Franklin? Isn’t that like–”

“Two hours from here? Yes. I checked.” Jason grinned, reaching over and tapping Steve’s spoon with his own. “Better get used to me, Harrington.”

Steve wanted to properly express his excitement with some shouting and possible embarrassing jump-hugging, but instead he smiled and stretched his foot out under the table, nudging Jason’s leg.

“That’s awesome! It’s gonna be great. This is gonna be so great.”

“So what about you?” Jason never liked talking about himself too much. Well, directly, at least; Steve would need to share something first before Jason felt it was appropriate to share his own. “Where’s this Party you keep talking about?”

"They’re typically here is the funny part–” Steve said, turning in his seat and craning around the shop. His back and neck cracked after hours of being slumped, standing at the counter. Across the way, near the window, Steve saw a high ponytail held up by a neon green scrunchie. “El! Over here!”

Her head turned and so did five others. El smiled at first, and so did Will and Dustin, but Lucas and Mike’s faces stayed in stilled confusion. Max looked seething mad. She shot up first, cutting the Party off before they even finished waving. She held her skateboard like a bat, read to swing as she stormed up to their table. Jason placed his hand on the table where Steve’s hand had been– it was currently up trying to shield his nose from being broken again.

“What are you doing? What– what are you doing?” She wasn’t entirely shouting yet, but she was getting close. Only one stranger turned to look. They weren’t impressed and went back to their ice cream. “Who are you?” She asked Steve rather than the literal stranger across from him.

“I’m your goddamn babysitter.” Steve said shortly. “What is your problem?”

“My problem?” She gripped the board tighter. “What have you done to the real Steve?”

“R-Real Steve?” Jason echoed, his eyebrows furrowing. He’d only been caught up on half of the whole story so far. Although, Steve wasn’t sure where he’d encountered any body snatchers– maybe that was something else he repressed.

“Quiet you!” Max snapped, pointing at Jason. The Party was slowly emerging behind her, trying not to cause suspicion to the rest of the shop.

“Hey, watch your tone-”

“You better tell me one fact that only our Steve would know!” Max held the board higher, giving her more leverage for a firm swing down onto his head. She wasn’t kidding.

“Uh, I don’t know… Your favorite color, at the moment, is yellow?”

“Not good enough.” Her elbows bent back.

“Okay! Okay! Uh, last week I spent most of my shit-ass paycheck buying you better pads because your mom stock piled a type you hate.” Steve said, holding hands over his face. “And you threatened to kill me then too if I told anyone about it. But… I’ve got nothing to lose I guess.”

Her board lowered slowly and her face crumpled in somehow further confusion. The Party reached the table. Lucas stood the farthest away.

“That’s really sweet, Steve. I’m assuming this is… Wait which one is this?” Jason finally reached and grabbed Steve’s hand, quickly sliding to just touch his wrist.

“You know who I am.” Max pointed a finger at him, gritting her teeth.

“I really don’t.”

“Alright! Alright! Max, cut it out. This is my pen pal from California… And this is the Party. The Party apparently in Fight Mode, but this is the Party.” Steve waved out to the crowd, pointing at each child. “You’ve met our Mad Max, she’s our Zoomer. You’ve got Dustin over there, our favorite, don’t tell anyone. Our darling El, sometimes goes by Jane, but we’re working it out, right, kiddo? This is Mike– Nancy, I told you about her, right? This is her brother– you can kind of see it right? And Will… Where’s Will– there he is. We’re waiting on a growth spurt. And last but most certainty not least we have our Commander in Camo, Lucas!”

“Nice to meet you all. I’ve heard so many great things from Steven.” Jason whipped out the full name if only to embarrass him in front of children who think teasing is a great pass time.

Except no body even flinched. They stayed staring at Jason, Lucas clenching his jaw and fist like he was moments away from lashing out.

“Lucas, he’s not gonna bite. He’s nice! And human, I checked.” Steve laughed forcefully, hinting for Jason to do so as well, despite not quite getting the point.

“Steve, are you fucking stupid?” Mike said flatly.

“Language! Don’t make me tell Karen you’ve got a sailor’s mouth on you, Mike.”

“That’s pretty funny coming from you.” Jason still smiled and made a joke, reaching over to poke at the neckerchief Steve had tucked under his shirt from his uniform.

“I asked you a question.” Mike cut their moment off, grabbing Steve’s shoulder. “Are you fucking stupid?”

“Excuse me? I-I’m so sorry, Jace, they aren’t typically like this.”

“Jace? W-What are you talking about?” Lucas finally spoke and his voice was rattled. “That’s Billy.”

“Who?” Jason leaned in toward Steve, suddenly not knowing a player in the game.

“Bil– no.” Steve turned to take in his pen pal with new light. He didn’t see it. “No, they look nothing alike, guys. What are you talking about? This is Jason.”

“You’re joking.” Max laughed coldly. “That’s the Monster with a haircut!”

"Who are we talking about?” Jason asked the table, looking to Max.

“YOU!” Max lifted her deck again. “I’m gonna clock you into next week, Hargrove, if you think for one second I don’t see what you’re doing you slimy piece of–”

"If you finish that sentence I’m gonna start making you do all your homework before the arcade trips, do you understand me?” Steve stood and grabbed her skateboard, pulling it out of her hands. She let go easily, eyes still glowing and hair practically aflame.

“B-But that’s Billy! It has to be!”

“I don’t mean to disappoint, but I’ve been on a plane for the past few hours…  And living in California for the past nineteen years. There’s no way I’m anyone you know, Max– It is Max, right?”

Her face fell into a more relaxed state of confusion. She begrudgingly nodded. “Yeah. Call me Maxine and I’ll cut your ears off.”

“Noted. Definitely noted.” Jason laughed and reached a hand out to shake hers. Everyone cowered back. “It’s just a hand shake… We don’t have to.”

“S-Sorry, you just. You look like Max’s dickhead step-brother.” Lucas said, stepping up beside Max, arm around her shoulders. Steve didn’t scold his language. “He’s kind of quick to uh… anger, I guess is the word.”

“He’s always angry.” Mike quipped.

"Oh, wait, Steve, is he the one that–” Horrified realization crossed his face as he turned to him. The mailed polaroids of his beat up face probably appearing quite nicely over his face, Steve imagined. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can, uh, definitely see now why you almost cracked my skull open.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.” Max reached out and carefully took his hand. “It’s nice to meet you… Jason.”

“The same to you. And who else do we have? It’s Dustin, right?” Jason held a hand out to him. It was taken eagerly, Dustin’s now-toothed grin greeting him.

“Steve’s mentioned you a few times!”

“A few times?” Jason pretended to be offended, quirking an eyebrow at Steve. “We’ve been friends for ten years.”

“Sorry you aren’t the center of my world, Jace.”

“You’re forgiven this time, Harrington.” Jason turned back to the kids and faced Lucas, extending the same hand slowly. “It’s an honor, Commander.”

“Oh this so isn’t Billy.” He laughed, grabbing his hand with a slap. “It’s cool Steve’s got friends his age.”

“Ouch.” Steve laughed, covering his face. “You guys are brutal.”

“I thought Mike was the one with the quick insults.” Jason said, scanning and pointing to one of the two boys left for Jason to identify.

“I try. Lot of practice from Ted.” Mike reached forward to shake Jason’s hand before he offered. “I’m getting better though.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.” He said. Jason leaned on the table to find Will half blocked by Mike’s shoulder. “The cool Byers, right?”

“Don’t tell Jonathan I said that.” Steve muttered, nudging Will. “He’s already got it out for me because I got Nancy a better birthday gift than him.”

“It’s really good to see you, Will. That snow storm you guys had last winter slowed my letters to Steve right as he was giving me updates on you. I was so worried. I’m really glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” Will reached out and shook his hand, his wrist looking like it could snap.

Lastly, El stood in the center of the group, having been quiet the whole time, with a single stream of blood running to her lip. Jason looked alarmed, grabbing a napkin for her. As soon as he touched it carefully to her lip, her eyes came back to life. She nodded, turning to Mike. “It’s him. I checked.”

“C-Checked?” Will asked, peering around Mike to look at her.

“Yeah.” She offered no further explanation. Steve really loved that cryptic child, he really did. “Hi, Jason.”

“Oh, she’s really cool.” Jason laughed and held his hand up for her. “Up-top for bitchin’ extra-curricular brain power.” El high-fived Jason quickly and harshly, almost pushing him back. “Oh, she’s really freakin’ cool.”

“I told you. I have the best friends.” Steve held an arm out, Will stepping in and leaning into his side for a hug. “I’ll introduce you to Nancy and Jonathan later if you want.”

"They’re going to come pick us up in like, fifteen minutes!” Will said. “Taking us to the arcade– or was it the movies?”

“We didn’t decide yet.” Lucas said. “I still think we should go and see Back to the Future.”

“You’ve seen it three times, Lucas.” Mike said with an annoyed look. “Is it really that good?”

“It is!” Will piped up.

“You just think Marty’s cute.” Dustin teased, reaching to playfully poke Will. He froze and Dustin’s touch nearly tipped him over. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, looking like he was falling through reality. It was a familiar look for Will, honestly. But in a far different way, Steve knew that look too. He panicked to quickly paint over the accidental admission by Dustin. The words jammed on his tongue, Steve only about to reach out and brace Will upright.

“He is though.” Jason said with a nonchalant wave at Dustin. “Will, I agree. Hundred percent.”

"That still doesn’t help us.” Max said.

“I want to go to the arcade.” El said, miming playing at a machine. “Let’s go to Palace!”

“How about Jason and I take those that want to go to the arcade? You guys can go with Jonathan and Nancy to the movies. I know Nance has been trying to go and see that new James Bond for a while– that alright?”

“Fine by me if they’re okay with letting me in their sacred Palace.” Jason laughed, holding his hands up.

The kids looked between each other, silently deciding if the trusted this stranger– one that apparently looked like a deranged sibling to them. Lucas nodded first, scanning the crowd with a pointed finger before looking at Steve with a thumbs up.

“Does everyone have enough quarters?” Steve asked, digging for cash in his pocket. “I can use the register and get you some.”

“You really spoil them, huh?” Jason said quietly. He took a spoonful of their ice cream, pretending that he hadn’t just forced Steve’s hand back to his side when he reached for his wallet to pay for their sundae.

Steve stood and shoved Jason’s shoulder across the table, ignoring the smirk curling around the spoon. The kids parted and allowed Steve to swing around their booth to get to the counter and register. He got five dollars in quarters and split it among the kids that said they’d be going to the arcade: Mike, El, and Dustin.

"Is everyone set?” Steve asked, holding hands out over everyone’s head, silently counting them. “I also have money for the movies if anyone needs it.”

“We’re fine, Steve.” Max said, nodding between her and Lucas. Will gave a thumbs up as well, still anxious and silent. Steve didn’t know how to show Will that it was okay, that he was okay, without making the outing worse.

"It’s nice out, let’s wait in the parking lot, huh?” Steve said, roping the kids into his open arms and gently guiding them out of the ice cream parlor. Jason was placing his tip on the table and sliding out of the booth. Dammit, Steve wanted to beat him to it. He was 0-2.

The group slotted and parted into their usual couples and sections. Lucas and Max were already talking about their favorite parts of the movie they wanted to see again; El and Mike were counting the quarters between them, El also getting a small lesson in US currency (again); Dustin, as always, stuck himself to Steve’s side, even silently so, and walked alongside him; and this time, Jason was on Steve’s right, their shoulders bumping every time they took a step.

Steve did a quick count again.

“Hey, where’s Will?” Steve turned his head and saw him loitering behind them, staring at the window displays as they passed. “Hey–”

“I’ve got it.” Jason touched Steve’s wrist again before stopping. “So, Mr. Cool Byers– can I call you Will?”

“Yeah?” Will’s head whipped to face Jason, startled by the company. “Uh, sure.”

“Will, how many times have you seen Back to the Future?” He asked, changing his strides to walk beside Will evenly. Steve held the door for them as the exited the mall. Jason thanked Steve but never took his eyes off Will.

"This is the third.” Will said sheepishly. “I just think it’s really cool.”

“Oh, definitely. And you know what? I kind of want to learn how to skateboard now, don’t you?” Jason laughed, holding his arms out and turning to the side like he was keeping his balance on a board. It looked more like he was surfing, but Steve wasn’t going to critique him. Steve was well aware he knew how to do both skate and surf board. He’s from California for Christ’s sake. He’s the coolest person Steve knew– would ever know.

“Yeah! Max says she’s going to teach me!” Will cried, grinning brightly. His hands timidly clasped in front of him with excitement.

“I’ll join you, then! I’ll bring the knee pads.” Jason placed a hand on Will’s shoulder as he pretended to trip off his imaginary board– and maybe a crack in the uneven asphalt as well.

“Get your hands off my brother!” They heard Jonathan before they saw him. Steve looked away from Jason and Will to see Jonathan walking toward them quickly, Nancy hurriedly behind him.

“Steve, what is wrong with– Oh.” Nancy stopped and titled her head as Jason came into closer view. “Billy?”

“You’re the seventh person today. But no. I’m Steve’s friend from California, Jason.” He held out a hand again for a handshake. Both Jonathan and Nancy stared at it before going back to his face.

“What… What the hell is going on?”

“Is this for real?” Jonathan said, face twisted in uncertainty.

“El says he’s not anything weird. Except a weird twin.” Mike said with a shrug, already opening the door to Jonathan’s car and grabbing his bag sitting in the back.

“Are you sure?” Nancy was standing with her feet apart and planted; any moment she could cock her arm back and swing.

"I’m one hundred percent positive it’s not Hargrove. Please, trust me.” Steve sighed. “We’ve been friends since I was eight. And there’s no way they’re the same person. The worst thing Jason does is, like, eat ice cream while being mildly lactose intolerant.”

“It’s actually gotten better! I’m not too bad now. Eat it all the time.” Jason added with a pleasant shrug.

“Yo that’s awesome! We’re definitely going to grab some different flavors on the way home at Big Buy so you can try some.”

“That’d be great.” They high-fived and Steve couldn’t hide the cheek-splitting grin practically hurting his face.

“Yeah… that’s not Billy. Either that or a delightful possession.”

“Can we stop acting like possession is a positive experience!” Will said with faux annoyance. “Some of us really hated it.” Nancy and Jonathan hesitantly looked to Steve, unspoken truth dangling in their extended silence.

“Oh, don’t worry, he knows. Oh he knows.”

Steve couldn’t remember how many hours were logged between the payphone outside the local Fair Mart and Jason’s home phone. During his late night, insomnia-induced drives, he’d sit in the parking lot with a pack of strangely off-brand saltines and listen to Jason talk him back into his skin. After the first five calls, Steve realized he had to start telling him at least some of what was happening. He penned careful letters and sent them off pressed behind the backs of picture frames and pressed between book pages. As much as having his home base in Hawkins helped him resolve some issues, having Jason, a safe, uninvolved third party, was great in making sure he wasn’t coming unhinged. He was the one person who always promised Steve he wasn’t.

"The kids want to split, half go to the movies and half to the arcade. We’ll take these three to the arcade if you take them to see Back to the Future again.”

“Again?” Jonathan said, shaking his head. “Who’s idea was it?”

“Lucas.” Will said, holding his hands up to prove innocence. “I’m just going along with it!”

“Fine. Fine. We’ll take you.” Jonathan said, placing his arm around his brother. “Thanks, Steve… and, uh, Jason.”

“Yeah, thanks, man!” Dustin found no hesitance in his gratitude. He clapped Jason on the arm as he walked past Jonathan’s car to Steve’s. “You better watch your score, Max. It’s on.”

“You’ve been saying that for over a year, Dustin. Give it a rest.” She called back over the hood of Jonathan’s car. “You can’t beat me.”

The two of them playfully bickered as the rest of the group split between the cars. Nancy and Jonathan blinking at Jason for another full minute before deciding to let them part and get into their own vehicle. Will waved at them through the back window and Max seemed to smile through many conflicted urges to grimace. If she was being truthful about the likeness, Steve completely understood. He was just glad Jason smiled back. Steve didn’t see his smile often, but when he thought about it, hearing it in Jason’s voice over the phone, they were healing.

“Alright, hooligans. Palace?” Steve said, sliding into the car and clapping his hands. “Or do we have a new hangout?”

“Palace is the only good place in town.”

“Okay, then away we go! Everyone buckled in?”

“Yes… and yes!” Mike said, reaching over El to help her get the middle buckle out from under Dustin.

“Yes, my lord. Ready to go!”

"I’m all buckled, Steven.”

“I swear to God, I’m gonna unbuckle you and send you through the windshield if you keep that up.” Steve joked, placing his hand on the back of Jason’s seat as he turned around. He backed out of the spot and pretended he couldn’t see the look of playful suspicion on the kids’ faces.

After pulling away, the car ride was quiet. Not awkwardly so, but still quiet enough to hear the old engine of Steve’s car cough when he changed gears. He was sure the kids were just staring out the window, or quietly talking to each other, but part of him was sure they were hyper aware of the hand resting near the stick shift. The one waiting to be held by Steve’s, tightly gripping the wheel and afraid to move.

They didn’t notice. They didn’t care. But Steve still was afraid to do it in front of the kids. This was still his person, his secret. Keeping him hidden was like keeping him safe– even though that’s truthfully what Jason did for Steve.

Before Steve had even parked the car, Dustin was swinging his door open. The three kids climbed out while Steve was still checking his mirrors. He called after them, straining his voice in vain. They opened the door and slipped inside without a single glance back.

“Absolute hooligans.” Steve muttered, checking to make sure everything was straight– with the car at least.

“You’re really good to them.” Jason said. His hand finally found Steve’s, only his fingers touching his upturned palm. “I didn’t know you were such a great brother.”

"I wouldn’t say that–”

“Well, I’m saying it.” Jason slotted their hands together and squeezed before pulling away. He opened the car door as they started to notice passersby peering in curiously. “You’re a great babysitter.”

“Now that’s what I’m saying!” Steve cried. Jason rolled his eyes before walking up to the front doors.

Steve opened his own door and got out, quickly hurrying around the hood to meet up with Jason. Jason held the door and let Steve in first, knowing he’d want to see where his kids were. He did a count: all three. It wasn’t always easy to relax, but seeing his full set of smiling, familiar faces was a comfort. It was one of the things Steve always tried to remember when he felt himself slipping.

“Want to play something? I’ve got a few quarters.” Jason dug into his pocket and held out a palm of coins. “Come on, let me kick your ass in Paper Boy.”

"No, please. You’re too good at that fucking game.” Steve groaned, grabbing Jason’s sleeve with quiet resistance.

“Which is surprising because you were a paper boy.”

“It’s not the same.”

“It’s exactly the same.” Jason teased.

Steve was pulled along to the open machine, making sure he could still see Mike, Dustin, and El. The view was clear over the shorter machines– and he very clearly heard Dustin shouting at Mike about his technique at Pac-Man. He allowed his ears to track the kids while his eyes returned to Jason.

He’d changed so much from the last summer he was there– back when they were fourteen– and from the last picture he saw of him– a polaroid of Jason in his Sunday best last Easter, looking absolutely miserable (if only playfully so for the photo-op). His hair was slicked down, but still allowed for its natural curl to swoop in the front. Sunday best was replaced with a plain gray t-shirt and contrasting yellow flannel. The collar was half popped by accident and part of the t-shirt was caught behind his belt buckle. Steve felt himself smile; he didn’t know flying someone in would mean making everything else finally feel like home.

“I’m really glad you’re here.” Steve muttered, leaning against the side of the machine. He let his head rest against it, slightly looking like he was swooning. Only slightly.

“I told you to get used to me, Harrington. I’m not going anywhere.” He shifted his stance and let his foot nudge Steve’s. “I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

“Do what?” They’d begun unpacking his anxiety consciously after Steve was nearly eaten by the Earth, but he was in a good place. He was going to be fine. He was then after all. “I’m okay.”

“Steve, you’ve broken your nose how many times in the past two years?”

“That’s out of my control. I’m never the one breaking it.” Steve nearly squawked. “Blame Jonathan and Billy!”

Jason stopped for a moment, the next level screen flashing and offering him a reprieve. He sighed and looked at Steve with unwarranted guilt. “Do I really look like Max’s brother?”

“Step-brother. And no, I don’t see it. Not really.” Steve shrugged. “I don’t think I could ever love a face that’s nearly killed me.”

“Love, huh?”

“Oh shut up.” Steve muttered, playfully kicking Jason’s foot. "You know what I meant.”

“Yeah yeah.” Jason laughed, still looking away from the screen. “Love you too, Steven.”

It was a public arcade, and Steve knew he was recognized– and maybe Jason falsely so– but he didn’t hesitate to meet the coy smile teasing him. The kiss was short and barely caught an eye, but the joy wore evidently on Steve’s face as he leaned away. He placed a hand on the back of Jason’s neck as he peered in to watch him play.

“So what flavor of ice cream do you want to try tonight?” He asked, trying to pretend their small talk wasn’t flirting.

“I’ll let you pick.”

“No, no, you’re the guest.”

“But I’m buying it.”

“Jason, I swear to god–”

“When are you gonna get it through your thick, luscious mane, Harrington. You supply the housing, I supply the ice cream.” Jason nudged him with his elbow and dipped his head toward his shoulder. It only rested on Steve for a second, but it was enough.

“You aren’t sleeping on the couch this time, you know that right?” Steve muttered, afraid they’d be overheard. A passing kid looked at Steve’s hand with confusion– or was it disgust. “We can share mine, if you want.”

Jason nodded, but nervously shifted under Steve’s hand. “You know, I brought someone else with me.”

“Someone?”

“Remember that stuffed shark you bought me when you went to–”

“The Shedd Aquarium! No way!” Steve gasped, hand dropping and resting on Jason’s back. “You still have it?”

“It’s my only connection to you all the way over there. Of course I kept it.” Jason was quiet, admitting something without any prompting. “I miss you all the time, Steve. All the time.”

“Well now you’re here. For the rest of the summer.” Steve rested his chin on Jason’s shoulder, hand now resting on his waist. “I’ll buy you something else to take back before you move for college. I’ll buy you whatever you want– and don’t try and stop me. I’m doing it.”

Jason turned and looked at Steve, biting back a bright grin. They got to look at each other without any overexposure or bad developing. They got to hear each other’s laugh without any interruption or cutting out. Steve got to see Jason’s smile, and got to be the cause of it.

“I love you, Jason.”

“Love you too, Steve.”

And God, it sounded so much better to hear that in person too.

[galwednesday]

@chibisquirt: Do you ever do soulmate stuff?  How about a soulmate take on Steve/ (somebody of your choice)?

I saw this and had to laugh, because at some point when I opened prompts a year ago, you sent me an All Caps soulmate prompt that I wrote this ficlet for, after first getting an idea for a much less silly fic that wanted to be MUCH LONGER, and guess what one of the many WIPs I’m procrastinating on is? In lieu of a new ficlet, here’s a chunk of that WIP:

Sam didn’t know what the driver was seeing, had no idea what he was thinking or feeling. As soon as he’d lost sight of the man wearing the Captain America costume, doubt had crept in--it was a trick of the light, Sam was coming down off a combat high and his emotions were clouding his judgment, it was a deliberate deception by SHIELD, anything and everything except the man really being Steve Rogers. It couldn’t be real, couldn’t be him. His whole life, Sam had known that his soulmates were dead.

But Sam didn’t jump out of the car. If there was a chance, even just a chance, that Steve Rogers was alive, Sam needed to know.

(continues beyond the cut)

The car stopped in the garment district. The driver turned to look at him, her face calm, the authority in her voice absolute. “Stay in the car.”

“I was a soldier, you know,” he told her.

“Are you currently armed?”

Just with the knife in his boot. He’d gotten into the habit of carrying it overseas, less for combat and more for the assurance that he could cut through a soldier’s uniform to reach an injury, or through his own flight harness if he crashed and got tangled up in the wreckage. Sam shook his head. That wasn’t the kind of armed Hill meant, and he knew he was being a dumbass, anyway. SHIELD had always been clear that the only reason they weren’t surrounding him with 24/7 bodyguards was that obscurity was a more effective defense than personnel. He was just tired, all his nerves frayed, and it chafed to be treated like a civilian when he felt like he was suddenly back in a warzone.

“Then you need to stay in the car.”

Sam sighed and slumped back, fighting for the self-restraint to not kick the seat in front of him like a frustrated toddler. Whatever role Hill had played in the invasion, it was a safe bet her day had been longer and worse than his. Giving her a hard time now wouldn’t get him anywhere, and probably none of this was her fault.

It was hard to be fair about that with Steve Rogers is alive still ringing in his ears. It could be a lie, a manipulation, but if it was, it was going to be transparently obvious the moment they put Sam in the same room as the imposter. Soulmate bonds couldn’t be faked.

Hill came back a couple minutes later and opened the door. “They’re ready for you.”

She escorted Sam through the doors of a textile showroom, the bolts of colorful fabric looking ludicrously vibrant after a day spent sifting through concrete dust. There were two agents standing at the foot of a staircase leading up to an office on the second floor. One of them went ahead of Sam, one falling in step behind, while Hill took up the guard position on the staircase.

When the man opened the door to the office, Sam saw it was already occupied. Fury was there, and a handful of agents, and that was all Sam had time to see before his eyes locked onto the man sitting on the edge of the desk, looking at Fury with wary annoyance. He was blond, broad-shouldered, wearing a too-tight shirt emblazoned with the SHIELD logo. His face was unmistakable.

Sam had spent a lot of time pouring over archival footage of Captain Rogers, and this man was either him, or his clone.

“Glad you could make it,” Fury said. Sam barely heard him. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Steve Rogers.

Steve only glanced at Sam and the agent who’d come in with him before his gaze settled back on Fury. His clothes were clean and his hair was wet, like Fury had pulled him out of the shower for this meeting, or told him to clean up before it.

“Captain Rogers,” Fury said, “meet Sam Wilson.”

Steve’s head snapped around to face Sam, his eyes wide and utterly shocked. Sam had been braced for a my soulmate is black? double-take, but this was way beyond that, and Sam realized Fury hadn’t warned Steve about who was coming to see him.

“Hi,” Sam said, hopelessly banal. “It’s good to meet you.”

Steve was sure looking at him now. He still looked stunned more than anything, but when Sam reached out a hand, Steve stood up to take it, his movements jerky and too fast. “You’re Sam Wilson?”

“Yeah.” Sam had to remind himself to let go of Steve’s hand. They stood a few feet apart, staring at each other, both at a loss. Sam hadn’t expected meeting his soulmate to be so damn awkward.

Steve opened his mouth, then shut it. The shock was easing into the same hard wariness he had worn when Sam first came in the door. The realization almost made Sam laugh; Steve didn’t believe him.

Fury was looking as mild as you please, but the other men in the room weren’t as good at controlling their faces. The ones behind Steve had their hands near their holsters. Fury, what the fuck have you and SHIELD been doing to this guy?

On second thought, what had Steve done to them? One of the men in the room, the one with his hand actually on the grip of his gun, had a big handprint bruise along half his neck, mostly faded, too old to be from fighting during the invasion. How had Steve reacted to crashing in wartime and waking up in unfamiliar hands?

Sam felt the familiar irritation of going into an op with bad intel, and carefully set it aside. He’d had practice at this. Treating this like a mission helped him calm down enough to think things through.

Who’s hurting? Steve. What’s he need?

Sam looked at Steve, thought about how disorienting it must have been to wake up alone in a strange new world, and the answer came easy.

Someone to trust.

Sam’s awareness of the other people in the room, all of them watching closely, made his skin crawl, but there was no help for it. Steve wasn’t going to believe Sam was his soulmate without proof. Sam pushed up his sleeves and started undoing the cuff buttons.

“Director Fury,” Steve said sharply.

“We’ll be outside,” Fury said, and just like that, everyone else in the room filed out, Fury closing the door as he stepped out last.

Sam waited until the door shut to start moving again. He unbuttoned his left wrist cuff first, folded the fabric back to his elbow, and held his arm out to Steve. It was the first time he’d shown his mark to another person since the day it had arrived.

Steven Grant Rogers. Steve looked at it for a few seconds, then took a deep breath.

“Could you--may I see the other one? Please.” Steve’s whole body was rigid, his hands clasped behind his back. Sam wondered if they were shaking. Sam’s hands weren’t; his whole body had reverted back to combat mode under the force of the adrenaline, and combat medics developed steady hands.

Sam peeled back the other cuff, revealing James Buchanan Barnes in much neater handwriting. Steve stared at the name for a few frozen moments before his face crumpled. His hands flew up to cover it, his shoulders hunching forward.

“Oh, hey--” Sam couldn’t stop himself from reaching out, lightly touching Steve’s arm. “Fury didn’t tell you I was coming, did he? I’m sorry to spring this on you, man. I know it’s a lot.”

“It’s fine,” Steve said, his voice a lot steadier than Sam expected. When Steve dropped his hands, his face was already back under control, although his eyes and nose were reddened. “Sorry. Thank you for showing me.” His hand hovered over Sam’s left wrist. “May I?”

“Be my guest.”

Steve traced his name on Sam’s skin, all the breath shuddering out of him as his fingers made contact. “Sam,” he said, voice raw. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Hey, I wasn’t waiting,” Sam said. “I thought you were dead.”

Steve huffed something that might have been a laugh. “I don’t know if that’s better or worse. Oh, sorry. Here, let me just--” He pressed his thumbs to each of his wrists, the matte black material of the cuffs suddenly interrupted by rectangular blue panels showing 0 - 9, like a PIN screen, running down his forearms. Steve tapped a ten-digit code into each cuff. The cuffs split down an invisible seam and fell aside.

“Wow,” Sam said, staring. “And I thought SHIELD was paranoid about my marks.”

“It’s some kind of nanotechnology, I don’t know, Stark made it. All the active duty agents wear them. Everyone told me not to go without them unless I was in the shower. I didn’t get what the big deal was.” Steve held his arms in front of him, inviting Sam to look. “I thought you were gone already, that we’d lost our chance to find you. Never thought I’d get a second chance at this.”

Steve’s James Buchanan Barnes looked exactly like Sam’s. Sam ran a thumb over it just to acknowledge it, acknowledge him, their missing third. Steve didn’t say anything, but he stopped breathing, and didn’t start again until Sam’s thumb lifted off of his skin.

Sam touched the first S in Samuel Thomas Wilson on Steve’s other wrist, then flinched away from the sudden tingling heat in his fingertip. “Woah.”

“You’ve never--of course you’ve never.”

“No,” Sam said hoarsely. Steve and Bucky might have touched each other’s marks every day for all Sam knew, but Sam had never had this.

“Go ahead,” Steve said, his voice weirdly gentle. He held his arm out, patient and steady.

Sam touched the W in Wilson, braced this time for the sensation, which was like pins and needles mixed with the wash of a hot shower, a rushing, vital feeling of energy and connection. He knew what it meant now that soulmarks couldn’t be faked. The feeling he got from touching his name on Steve’s skin was one of absolute certainty. He and this man were made for each other.

“Hey,” he said softly, not really paying attention to what he was saying. Steve was smiling at him, his eyes still a little red at the edges. “There you are.”

“Yeah.” Steve wrapped his fingers around Sam’s wrist and sighed like a man sitting down after being on his feet all day, relief and pain and comfort all in one. “I’m here.”

[new2otomelol]

Zyglavis: Amnesia with a Twist

I’m definitely not a writer, but figured I’d give this a shot.  I recently became addicted to otome games, lol, so here’s my first ever fanfiction.  You can laugh if you like!  Sorry if this sucks!

Amnesia with a twist MC: Elora

Zyglavis and I were happy together after all that we had been through.  I continued working and attending to my things while he continued his work for the Punishments Department.  We would meet up when we had free time and enjoyed each other’s company…..perfect…..until it all changed one fateful day.

ELORA POV: It was a Thursday when I woke up, groggy and still tired …. It was one of those days when you wake up and ask yourself, where am I?  what day is it?  Do I still have brain cells this early in the morning?  Realizing that I had to work and had to hurry to get to the observatory, I pulled myself together and began to stand….I felt so dizzy and tired, I just couldn’t understand it; however, the ground beneath me began to quake and I soon realized, I wasn’t the only thing that wasn’t steady.  I immediately ran to my bathroom and took shelter in my bathtub as the tremors began to take on more force.  I couldn’t believe it!  I was about to go through an earthquake…..my heart was beating wildly and I felt helpless, so much so that I forgot that I could at least make a wish for one of the guys to help me, but before I knew it, everything started shaking harder and pieces of lumber from the ceiling became loose, the walls split and I could see outside through large gaps where walls use to once stand.  Things seemed to dissipate a little and I tried to move, however, the bath tub I was in suddenly moved as the floor caved a little knocking down a wooden beam just above me that fell and hit me so hard on the head that everything faded to black.

MYSTERIOUS SAVIOR? I had been walking by an apartment complex one early Thursday morning when the ground suddenly began to quake.  I immediately knew what was going on and did my best to keep myself safe as I jumped from one part of the breaking street to another…..when things started to calm down and the quake was dissipating, I noticed the apartment complex had completely been destroyed, however, I could see an unconscious woman with blood coming from an open wound on her head almost dangling out of a bathtub of what appeared to be the second floor of the complex.  I immediately ran to her and carefully pulled her out to safety.  I could hear sirens all around the city and people screaming everywhere, but I remained focused on her.  Her breathing was shallow but she managed to open her eyes for a brief second, these eyes that shocked me to my core as I could see beautiful sparkles like the stars in the sky.  She was no ordinary woman and I found her to be an interesting test subject.

ELORA POV: I woke up to a sharp pain from the back of my head…..I could feel bandages and suddenly became aware of my surroundings.  I was in what seemed to be a lab and was lying in a hospital bed in a far corner of this place.  I could remember my name, Elora, but could not recall my last name or much of anything to say the truth.  I felt scared and sick to my stomach with a sudden urge of nausea……I began to shake and cry not knowing what to do….it was at that exact moment that an older gentleman, probably in his 50’s appeared before me and began to calm me down.  He said “it’s okay dear, you’re alright, do you know who you are?”  I timidly answered: “my name is Elora, but please help me, I don’t know anything else…”  the man said, “my name is Rogers and I am a doctor, please dear child, please do your best to relax, you are a young expecting mother, you don’t want to stress yourself any more than you should.”  

Elora: “w-what?!  Oh my goodness, wha? O-ow, I feel so strange doctor….”  Rogers: “Elora, I’m not sure of your story, but I can tell you with certainty, that you have been through much.  You see, there was a terrible earthquake two days ago.  I found you, saved you, and brought you to my lab to take care of you.  I know that it seems weird, but all the hospitals were full with victims ….and….your case is special.  There’s something about you that makes you special in a medical sense and this pregnancy seemed to be taking a toll on your body….it’s as if the fetus needed more of your energy in order to make it.”  I open my eyes widely in pure shock and cannot begin to fathom everything that Dr. Rogers is saying…..I begin to shake more and tears fill my vision…..Dr. Rogers hugged me to comfort me then pulled away and softly spoke to me again: “my dear, in order to save you I had to inject you with a special serum I created.  You see, human evolution seems to have stalled a bit in the genetics department and I found a way to help unleash our full potential for evolution…”

 Panic quickly set in as I tried to digest the onslaught of these news; however, contrary to my reaction, Dr. Rogers continued… “I’m not sure what things may change in you eventually as the process takes time, but I can tell you with certainty that your body is healing in an unprecedented state, your child is growing stronger and safely and you my dear seem to be getting stronger….please don’t be frightened of me, I only did this for your sake and that of your child….I’m going to take care of you both…”  

I almost could not believe the situation I was placed in and wanted so badly to run away, but where to?  I couldn’t remember any family; who was the father of my child? Can I leave?  Is this Dr. going to use me? No, too late for that….he already did….  What do I do?......I tried calming down and eventually decided to put a bit of trust in Dr. Rogers for the moment, I had no other alternative.  Seeing my expression, Dr. Rogers gently smiled and continued: “ I will not harm you and I apologize for using an unknown substance on you, but it was all I could do to save your life…my dear Elora, let me protect you and keep you safe until we find out what other effects your newly unleashed genes can form…I myself don’t have much left to live due to this wonderful spreading cancer I was recently diagnosed with, but I want my work to at least help one person out….then I’ll destroy my research… I know I shouldn’t meddle in such things, but I’m curious and just had to do it…please be patient with me, stay with me in my lab for the time being and I promise you all the safety and security for both you and your child.”

ZYGLAVIS POV I was working on paperwork in the heavens one Thursday late in the morning when Icthys burst through my door in a panic… “ZYGLAVIS, SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED, HURRY, LET’S GO TO SEE THE KING…” I couldn’t suppress this terrible feeling inside and quickly set off with Icthys…. We made it to the King’s room and all the gods were present…the King of the Heavens spoke:  “as some of you are aware, there has been new dark activity unleashed and as a result, an earthquake of immense magnitude hit Tokyo….please do your best to take care of the situation as best as you can… Zyglavis, I need to speak with you alone…”  I could feel my world crumble before me, but I had to hold it together… the other God’s left and the king continued … “Zyglavis, I cannot locate Elora, I can sense that she is alright now, but I cannot locate her, none of the other God’s can as well…we’ll have to wait for her to make a wish so that we can find her.” I lost all of my strength and fell to the ground, my world, my reason for living was lost… the King kneeled next to me and said ….  “in all of my wonderous existence something like this situation has never happened….have faith young one… we will locate her….something in her has changed and for some reason I cannot find her, but she will surely make a wish soon, do not give up hope and assist the other gods, they will help you find her as well…”

I had to continue for her sake…..I worked without end …..7 months passed by and I looked like a shell of a god that I used to be….I was tired, felt defeated, lost and couldn’t stop thinking of her.  The other gods worked hard to suppress the new dark energy and were successful in defeating the resurrection of the Dark Lord, peace had come again, but my Elora was nowhere to be found….Until Karno one day burst open my door and with an excited look on his face he yelled “WE FOUND HER, SHE MADE A WISH”

ELORA: 7 months have passed since that fateful day I awoke in Dr. Roger’s lab.  My baby has been growing beautifully and looks to be very healthy from what I can see in the sonogram pictures  the doctor provides me with.  I haven’t been able to leave the lab because the serum used altered my physical appearance slightly, I apparently sprouted wings!  Just like an angel would….it was painful, but I love the feel of the wings against my back, they are tall and drag behind me as I walk….the wings were not the only changes to my body… apparently I heal exceptionally fast and according to Dr. Rogers, I have become “immortal” in the sense that my cells constantly re-generate and I do not seem to age.  It has all been a shock for me, my amnesia, pregnancy, the serum, all of it…..I had slowly started to regain some of my memories….memories of my job, friends,  family, but it was all still too fuzzy….the one thing I wanted to remember the most, I couldn’t….who is the father of my child?  Was I important to someone?

Over time Dr. Rogers had become sickly….he told me he did not wish to live almost on a daily basis…he said he had much to atone for and that his cancer was his punishment….I tried to understand him as best I could with the information he would confide in me with, but eventually I just accepted him as a friend and assisted him as I could.  Today, Dr. Rogers was prepared to die, his body could no longer handle the pain and his last breaths were near…I felt sad and lonely, but had to help him at least to see him off peacefully, until he closed his eyes and with his last breath spoke “you’re free my beautiful angel.”  My vision blurred as I shakily closed his eye lids for the last time.  

The Dr. had provided me with so much during my stay in his lab that I felt grateful, but I had to carry on his wishes and burn it all down so that no one could discover his research….I took my already packed suitcase, put on a coat to cover my wings and did my best to conceal them, rubbed my belly and mentioned to my little girl: “it’s you and me against the world my little flower”  … as I stepped outside, I saw the beautiful night sky for the first time in what seemed like forever.  I had not known, but our location was basically in the middle of a forest, not much else around for a couple of miles….perfect location for his “experiment.”  I took a match, lit it and threw it into a puddle of gasoline that lead to the lab…. The fire and smoke filled the night sky….I stood there wondering where to go next….money was of no consequence thanks to the doctor providing me with a large sum to live off of, but I felt lost….I took a moment to myself, looked up to the night sky and did something I had not done since this entire ordeal began….I began to wish…. “I wish for someone to help me and my child, I wish I had my memories back…..”

In just a few moments, 12 oddly dressed men appeared before me….their faces seemed so familiar to me, but my shock won and I stood there with my jaw open not knowing what to do……they did the EXACT same thing…it was almost comical until one man in particular, with long hair and beautiful features ran to me and hugged me tight……so many tears filled his eyes and for some reason I began to cry as well…..the man suddenly pulled away as my baby began to kick in excitement and he was able to feel her through our hug….his eyes widened and suddenly spoke to me “Elora my love, you’re alive, you’re actually here…..is ….is this our child?......Elora…..Elora…”  he kept repeating my name as he began to hug me again and sob uncontrollably … the other men stared, some with tears in their eyes, others still in shock….I could no longer stand as I felt so many memories rushing back….my head began to hurt and my vision slowly darkened until I lost consciousness…

ZYGLAVIS POV: I stood there with the other gods as I watched my Elora standing near a place that had just been set on fire….she looked beautiful with her now long hair that traveled below her waist….I wanted to take in more of her beauty, but I ran to her and immediately hugged her…….I knew the other gods said that she might not remember me because she had wished for her memories to return, but I could not stand back and watch her any longer…. I could not control my emotions and hugged her, my world, my everything….I verified her existence, and felt something kick me in my gut for a bit, I pulled away and realized that Elora had a baby bump…..I couldn’t contain myself again and hugged her again….I could not believe it, I knew it had to be mine, I almost yelled and said “Elora my love, you’re alive, you’re actually here…is…is this our child?  Elora…. Elora….I love you, I love you so much…..”  I pulled away for a bit as I heard the other gods tell me to calm down and noticed that Elora had passed out in my arms with tears in her eyes and for some reason she was covered up with a coat……her body frame seemed different…the other gods helped me and we immediately snapped ourselves to the heavens….I laid Elora down on my bed as soon as we reached my place and snapped my fingers to take off her coat when to my complete shock two beautiful large wings suddenly were revealed…I could not believe it….

TO BE CONTINUED

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #206

“have you ever wished for death and prayed all night for your last breath?”

Do you always read the book before you see a movie based on a book? No. When you’re out with friends, do they ever encourage you to spend money you should be saving? 1.) I don't hang out w/ anyone now, 2.) but even when I did, they all knew I didn't make money. Is there anything you’re trying to save up money for? What? Perpetually tattoos, I want a PS4 super badly to play a novel of games I've been dying to play (SotC and Spyro trilogy remaster, I'm @ing you so hard), I need a car soon as I plan to at least try and get my license in the near future, I'd love to always have enough to immediately go to Sara's in case of an emergency, a trip to South Africa... but those are gonna take a good while to complete. I have my priorities straight for when I get a job. Have you ever watched a movie you didn’t really want to see just because a friend asked you to? Yeah. Did you end up liking the movie, anyway? There's been many cases of the above situation, so I'm sure in some instances I have. Heard any great songs for the first time lately? What songs? Hmmm, quite a number. "Radio" by Rammstein is great, and I love "bury a friend" and "bad guy" by Billie Eilish. What is your favorite urban legend? m o t h m a n and the joysey devil. Probably top two. GAH I love so many though????????????? Like Skinwalkers?????????????? And WENDIGOS????????? Have you seen all the cool shit?????????????? Do you remember the last nightmare you had? What was it? No, thankfully. Have you ever hopped on any bandwagons? HAHA. Freshman year, high school... I "liked" screamo or alternative-type bands I'd barely ever listened to or even enjoyed to fit in with the emos aldkjfalkwejr. Are you an elitist (even a little bit) when it comes to anything? What? Definitely not a complete one, but I can get pretty annoyed if in WoW we're in a heroic dungeon and people don't know the mechanics you should have already learned + read new ones that're right there in the goddamn journal laksdjfaoweir and then some people just totally ignore your advice and alskdjfwleiruwqoeif x2. Then again I've been that confused asshole in a couple raiding situations BUT LOOK they're harder and I had too much to catch up on okay. Still no excuse by WHATEVER. Have elitists on a fansite ever intimidated or talked down to you? I don't believe so. Is there anything you swear you will never do again? A few things with certainty. How late do you usually stay awake? I can literally go to bed as early as 7 to as late as 11 or rarely later. I do NOT have a schedule. Started months ago, and at first it frustrated and stressed me out quite a bit, but by now, I've just accepted it for me. Do you have pets? If so, how did you choose their names? Teddy: sister named him, but I'm sure it was the "cute as a teddy bear" type thing; Bentley: no clue; Roman: it sounded majestic, cats are majestic; Venus: pretty, and her coloration is similar to the planet; Kaiju: totally badass for an iguana that's gonna grow to be a big 'ole scaly boy; and Mitsu: I had a theme of giving my rats cutesy "M" names. Do you ever buy special treats for your pets? Occasionally. Is just being fond of something enough, or does it take more than that to be a ‘real fan’? Did a middle school student write this? If you're pretty fond of something, there you go, you're a fan. Sure, some are more intense, but that doesn't make the more casual ones not "real." What type of fabric is most comfortable for clothing? Idk, I don't pay attention. If you wear one – bras with or without a wire? Christ, without. If you wear one – are you able to find cute bras in your size? HA. No. It is RARE I'll find a cute one, and that's always only online. Make pretty ones for plus-sized women a normal find, jfc. Idk why, but I am very picky with bras. Like good fucking luck seeing me without a shirt, so like,,,, why do I bother????? What length do you like your shorts to be? UM you will NOT see me in SHORTS. Have you ever cut off jeans or other pants and made them into shorts? Perhaps Mom has when I was a kid? But I have no memory of this ever happening. Have you cut the sleeves out of T-shirts to make tank tops? I don't think so. Have you ever modified a piece of clothing and hated how it turned out? ^ What was the last disappointing movie you saw? Ah jeez, what's the last time I even watched one. Idk. What was the last disappointing book you read? And I haven't read a book in even longer. Is there anything you’re really excited about? JOB. OPPORTUNITIES. Do you ever watch compilation videos? Of what? Vines, like shit dude. I can go on massive binges. What was the last thing you rolled your eyes about? I don't recall. What would you consider the greatest song ever recorded? Why? Yeesh, that's a big thing to decide. I recently discovered "A Reason to Fight" by Disturbed though, and it is. Incredible. Just read the lyrics to refresh my mind, and yeah, goosebumps. Do you like Hellboy? If so, do you prefer the old movies or the new one? Never seen any. Favorite Disney character who isn’t royalty? Dory, probably. But man, there's too many to choose from. Last thing you purchased just for fun? *shrugs* Do you even like behind-the-scenes stuff or does it ruin the magic for you? IF I'm real into the product, I love that stuff!! I've seen like every little BTS Silent Hill thing there is, probably, multiple hours' worth. What is your favorite thing about Mac computers? They're small and lightweight. What is your favorite thing about PCs? They generally hold much more memory. What are some errands you need to run soon? I don't have "errands" yet. Have your parents ever tried to convince people there was something wrong with you, when their “diagnosis” wasn’t accurate? No. List 3 of your best memories, times you wish you could go back and repeat. In no order, just as they come to me: 1.) First hug with Sara when we met at the airport; 2.) THE LOOK ON SARA'S FACE when she saw me in her room on her birthday (probably fave memory of all time, actually); 3.) seeing meerkats for the first time at the zoo. Ohhhh or maybe the true realization I was happy without Jason. But idk, that was SUCH a gradual process where I didn't feel ecstasy in like one moment. What color was your high school graduation gown? Ew, it was this obnoxious red. The majority apparently voted for it, while I was on the navy team. Are your parents’ dreams for your life different than your own? Mom's pretty dead-set on me being a vet, but she doesn't try to push me into it or anything. I know she just wants happiness for me. I haven't got a clue about Dad. Have your dreams for your life changed? Of course. What are your dreams now? HAPPY, stable job that I thoroughly enjoy, well-off financially (I don't aim to be rich, just "safe," you could say), healthy marriage, own my own home, travel to a few places, did y'all think I was gonna forget "meet Mark???"... stuff like that. What was your dream as a child? It changed plenty of times, but my earliest goal was to be a paleontologist. Do you feel safe in your country? Sure, I guess. Safer than most places. If applicable, do you feel safe at your school? N/A Would you ever want to learn sign language? It'd be cool, sure, but it's not something I'm interested in pursuing. How many meals do you eat a day? 2-3. Sometimes just one "real" meal. Do you own any succulents? No. What color are your walls? A hideous puke green. Why. What color were the walls in the bedroom you grew up in? I don't remember at all. What was the last song you listened to on repeat? "Love Falls" by HELLYEAH. What is your favorite style (or styles) of dance? Modern. Have you ever performed a solo dance in front of a crowd? No. Have you ever sung a solo? No. Which insects are you afraid of? Most, really. Do you think it’s silly to be afraid of an insect, when it’s so tiny? It depends on the insect, of course. Even if I do know what it is and it's "safe," I'll still typically freak if it surprises me. When was the last time you had a deep conversation with someone? Hmmm. Sara, I believe? What are you waiting for? Jesus FUCKING Christ on a bike a job. What do you usually feel like doing the most at home? Stuff on the laptop. What grade were you in when you had your first crush? I don't remember... For "puppy dog love," I believe maybe the 4th grade, but I may be wrong. I'd say my first *real* crush was on a guy named Sebastian in my freshman year of high school. Shit man, did a lot go down my freshman year. I'm just reminiscing and crushes jumped between like five dudes 'til Jason won. At what age did you start experiencing sexual attraction, if any? Some time in middle school, I think? Like that's when I had my first bisexuality crisis: 6th or 7th grade. Have you ever split open a rock with a hammer, to see the glitter inside? No, but FUCK I WANNA. What type of tree do you see the most of where you live? There's a pine tree outside my window. Oh, and there's a pine tree in my back yard. Oh, what's that across the road? Woods of pine trees. Where do all birds in NC live? In pine trees. What does our air smell like? Pine trees. Where is your favorite place you’ve lived? My previous home as far as location; house itself, where I am now. It's got its issues, but it's cozy and a perfect size for just two people. What states have you lived in? Just 'ole North Carolina. Take me awaaaaaaaaaaaay- Do you wish you were someone else? Sometimes. What is your favorite thing about the month in which it is now? Literally just flowers. That's it. It. Everything else can suck a legion of dicks. Who were your best friends in high school? Hannia, Girt, Jason (if he counts), Alon, Maria... I had a few "best" ones. ^Are they still your best friends now? Girt is my closest thing to a "best friend" if you don't include my girlfriend. Do you live near the mountains? No, they're on the opposite end of the state. ;___; Do you live near a beach? We're like, two-ish hours away. What is your favorite beach that you’ve been to? Idk and idc, beaches aren't my thing. Do you collect seashells? Not seriously, but I'll keep a cool one if I find one. If you were to start a new collection, what would it be? If I was not ashamed of looking like a 23-y/o pre-teen in love with Just Bieber, I'd have more Markiplier merch than you'd fucking believe. (One of my biggest regrets in life was not buying the tasteful nudes calendar; I will eternally smite myself for being too embarrassed to have to explain why I would have that hanging above my bed rip.) If you had to pick one year and describe it as the best year of your life that you want to relive again, which year would it be? 2017 was fuckin litty titty. Is your world view the same as your parents’? In some ways with Mom, and I do know Dad and I differ on a few things. Well, if I learned more about his more political beliefs, I feel I'd probably disagree with most. What color are your glasses, if applicable? Black. Are you the person you thought you’d be when you were younger? No. Are you a confrontational person, or the peacekeeper? I'm a massive peacekeeper. I avoid confrontation like the PLAGUE. Do you like to read? Not nearly as much as I used to. Like all I ever read nowadays are RP posts as I obviously have to reply to them, but if they're long, it is common I procrastinate on reading it... ;_; Do you sleep too much or not enough? Probably too much, especially when I go to bed early. Although, I do wake up throughout the night and sometimes officially pretty early. Then some days I have a 1-2 hour nap, so that just adds to it. Who is your best friend? Sara. <3 How did you two meet? YouTube. How did you meet your current bf/gf? ^ How far away is your closest family member? Well I live with my mom, but she's at work atm. The last time you did something with BOTH of your parents was? BOY OH FUCKING BOY. My mom's the most bitter witch towards him, so even for family events, Dad usually only stops by to avoid creating a goddamn wreck, such as at birthday dinners. I think the last time they were in the same house was for my nephew's birthday half a year ago, I believe. What’s your favorite holiday? Halloween!!! Now that I have a niece and nephew who grasp the concept of Santa, Christmas is also really special to me. I don't want kids, but watching those sweethearts get so excited over their presents is magical. For me personally, the holiday has grown more and more about celebrating family, especially as we continue to branch out/go our own ways. So I guess I like the idea of Halloween better and would enjoy it more if I actually had something to do, but as far as joy goes, Christmas. Do you like pumpkin pie? I hate anything and everything pumpkin-flavored. The last time you went to the doctor, what were you there for? It was the see my psychiatrist. Do you take any medication regularly? Yeah. Is there any particular view you have on insane people? I see "insane" versus "sane" as far more of a gradient shift instead of a direct split; there're levels. I actually do legitimately think I at some juncture in the aftermath of the breakup qualified as slightly insane, yet I wasn't dangerous or entirely out of touch with reality. So if you tell me someone's actually insane, I'm going to fear them being the explosive, entirely unpredictable and loopy kind, but I know the person may be calm and somewhat stable on the outside, too. You gotta consider the severity. Do you believe in any conspiracies? 9/11 was orchestrated by the government and you cannot change my mind. I'm not totally sold on this one and lean more towards "nah" (I think), but the "we live in a simulation by a future civilization" is not that far-fetched at all if you actually look into it. It's very interesting, whether or not you're sold on it. Hell, Neil deGrasse Tyson firmly believes in it. Out of your friends, who is the funniest? Girt makes me laugh at the snap of his fingers, it seems. Anything you need to get rid of? I'm sure somewhere... Do you have any wasted talents? Animal knowledge and compassion, probably... I know I could make a fantastic rehabilitator for animals, among a plethora of other animal-related preservation and protection actions I could actively engage in. Well, I'm going back to school for zoology, but even now, I want to do more. There is a wildlife rehab place I may be able to volunteer at soon, tho! Mom's talking to a guy at work about me helping there. DAMN, livin a dream. Do you let the little things get to you? The issue could be as small as a single cell and it could still bother me. How often do you cry? Maybe once in a week, possibly longer. I don't know if you mean like really cry or just tear up/lightly cry. The latter is pretty common, but the other, not so much. Even if I want to cry, my jaw just entirely locks the hell up and I physically can't get it out. Is there anything you’re trying to prevent? I mean besides the common sense things everyone takes action to avoid, hm. I feel like there's so much, yet nothing is coming to me? Well, actually, it's usually a daily struggle to prevent at least one OCD cycle. When was the last time you were told you were cute? *shrug* When was the last time you were truly, completely happy with your life? It's been quite a while... At least over a year ago, when I began to get antsy with wanting a job and later going back to school. It just all started when I realized I was healed from the breakup and ready to move forward in life, but I wasn't. Do you miss the way things used to be between you and someone else? Multiple people. What colors has your hair been? Dirty blonde, brown, red, and purple. I've had red and purple highlights, and I naturally have blondish ones, too. I'm ready to dye it again, jfc. Most attempts are failures because my hair does NOT take color well whatsoever. It's only ever worked perfectly with the brand Splat, and my hair soaked in the dye for a LONG time before washing it out. Have you ever gotten burnt by a cigarette? No. Do you and your parents like any of the same bands/singers? We share interest in plenty of the same bands, Mom especially. Is there any food in your bedroom? What? No. Do you know anyone who has road rage? Who? MY LITTLE SISTER. Haven't seen the woman in three years, but I can promise you Jason's mom still has it to a legendary degree. How expensive is too expensive for a pair of shoes? I haven't looked for shoes in so long that I don't even know the average price. What kinds of cereal are in the cupboard? Honey Nut Cheerios, normal Cheerios I think, and we have a little bit of the chocolate chunk Special K cereal left over. It's got to be stale by now (it's not even closed fully); I need to remember to toss it. What’s the last thing you spent over $10 on? Ummm I'm not sure. Over $30? I think my tongue piercing was $40? Maybe even lower? Or slightly higher?? I don't remember. Do you know who lives three houses down from you? I think so. The one time I was locked out of my house in the snow with Teddy and I waited like a fucking hour until I broke down, absolutely freezing (I was in my pajamas, dude), and walked down the road to try and get help (I needed to call my mom, obviously, and I didn't have my phone), I believe it was the third neighbor who answered. Turned out being a retired deputy who was super intimidating yet kind at the same time; he let Teddy and me stay in his house (mind you, Teddy is incontinent and didn't have his diaper on, which I warned him about) while Mom was on her way home. He gave me a jacket and some water, even when I said I was fine, but you could tell he wasn't totally sure about trusting this random, sobbing girl at his door because he asked me a thousand questions about my story and quizzed if I really did live in this area. Obviously a good cop, but after a day like that, I was just terrified of an old man who appeared a bit gruff. But thankfully Mom got there to save the day and I am forever grateful for that guy. WOW what a story for a simple question. Is there a bulletin board in your room? No. Is your mom a big health freak or your dad? Or neither? "Health freak" seems a bit extreme for both of them, but Mom is more concerned about health in general. Do you know anyone who wants to be the president one day? No. What kinds of chips are in the cupboards? We just have tortilla chips, I think. I try to keep snacks out of the house to avoid temptation, and who eats plain tortilla chips. Do you have your mom's or dad's hair? Mom's. What’s the first thing you see when you walk into your bedroom? Most would probably notice my Nightmare Before Christmas poster first, being as big as it is and on the wall opposite the entrance. Do you prefer the truth, even if it’s harsh? YES. I NEED to know this kinda stuff, even if the truth is really hard to hear. Do you have any friends who have naturally red hair? I don't think so. Have you ever cried when a teacher retired? I think I did when my very first band teacher did. EVERYONE loved him. Like, the entire school. Does your kitchen look like it was designed in a completely different decade? No? When’s the last time you wore heels? Great question. Probably not since my sister's wedding in '16. Do you have your mom’s or dad’s eyes? My grampa's on Mom's side. What’s the best date movie? Probably a rom com? Have your parents ever been out of the country? No. How many pairs of jeans, all together, are in your house? Zero. Do you swear and yell while playing video games? I'll swear under my breath or seethe in frustration, but I never yell. Is there any alcohol in the fridge? No. Has a best friend ever ditched you for a girlfriend/boyfriend? Pretty much. Whenever she starts dating a guy, she dips, and whenever/if ever we talk, she rambles absolutely endlessly about him. Do you know anyone who has grossly skinny eyebrows? I couldn't possibly care less about how your eyebrows look. Do your pets chase after bugs? Roman and Bentley sure do. Bentley is a Professional Fly Moncher, specifically. When’s the last time you were so excited you couldn’t sleep? Why? Uhhh good question. Probs the night before Sara got here for my b-day. What is your mom’s favorite movie? Hm, good question! I'd ask her, but I don't want her to ask me why I am lmao. What TV family reminds you of your own family? Probably none. Did you ever really believe that the stork brought babies? No. I don't remember what I thought, but I know it wasn't that. Do you have any relatives who really spoil you? No, I think? Well Dad gives my sisters and me way too much money for Christmas and always tells us to ask him if we need anything, but I pretty much never ask him for said things, so I don't know the extent he'd go. Are there any drawers in your house that are just filled with junk? Pretty much. Is the last person you spoke to in love? That's my mom, so I doubt that with all I know. Do you know anyone who has security cameras in their house? I don't believe so. What was the last movie to make you cry? I think the last was Coco. Moana may have made me tear up, but I can't remember... Has anyone you know ever pulled the fire alarm in school, joking around? Not to my memory. What time do you usually go to sleep at sleepovers, if ever? I haven't been to a sleepover in God knows how long. Who was the main character in the last book you read? Alice Liddell. Who are the last people you saw kiss? Via YouTube, Jeffree and his boyfriend. Irl, I don't know. Have you ever posted a fan fiction on a website? No. Do you ever fantasize about your future wedding? Who’s the bride/groom? Not very much. Like I've had brief daydreams about it, sure, but it's not something that's on my mind a lot. Still got a long time before that happens. What was the last unpleasant thing to wake you up? My cat not knowing how to keep his mouth shut. Would you rather look at clouds or stars? Stars. Well, it depends; stars if we're in a completely isolated area where you can see them crystal clear or the clouds are boring, but otherwise, clouds if their design and colors are cool. Do you have any relatives who are expecting a baby really soon? No. Do you ever wonder what the opposite sex do at sleepovers? No. When you get married, who will be the maid of honor/best man? My mom, no questions asked. When’s the last time you broke plans? Why? I wasn't feeling well. I was supposed to see my VR coach that day. Have you ever been in a wedding? What were you? Yes, my sister's. I was a bridesmaid. It was an absolutely awful experience because I was hot as fuck, it was triggering as HELL with me still grieving Jason, and I felt positively hideous in a dress when I was at such a horrible weight. I wish so dearly I could redo that day; I fell like I put a serious damper on my sister's big day. Would you feel safer with an alarm system or security cameras? Hm, depends on the scenario... I guess an alarm system? Like security cameras will show a murderer climbing through my window, but they're not gonna wake me up to save my ass. Does it matter to you what kind of shampoo you use? So long it smells nice, isn't watery, and doesn't only add oil to my hair, I don't care much. Has a stray dog ever tried to bite you? No. When riding a bus, do you prefer to sit in front, in the back, or in the middle? Hm... idk. When I took the bus home with Jason, we always sat in the back, and that's really the only time I took a bus regularly. I think otherwise, I'd prefer the middle, closer to the front? I think I usually did that on occasions like band competitions and such. Have you ever been on a cross-country train ride? No. Are you normally a person to tell people off? No, that's rare. Is there any TV show that ended that you wish hadn’t? Meerkat Manor. Though I would hope they'd lessen down on the false story-telling. Stick to the true KMP events. When you feel stressed, do you take things out on the wrong people? Sometimes. Do you even wear any jeans other than skinny anymore? I don't wear jeans period. What did you talk about at lunch today with your friends? N/A Are you sensitive to caffeine? Definitely not. My system's too used to it, probably. How do you usually get around? Mom drives me. I'm 23. :^) Which languages do you wish you could speak fluently in? German. Have you ever been accused of being too clingy? SURPRISINGLY no, at least to my memory. Do you like Vitamin Water? Never tried, don't want to. What was the last thing you took a picture of? Dad and me on his birthday. Do you know anyone that uses Sprint as their phone carrier? Idk. Well, I think. When you go to McDonalds, what drink do you usually get? Coke. Do you have a Kindle or iPad or neither? Neither. Would you rather read or write? Write. When was the last time someone took a picture of you? Sometime during Bobby's visit literally days ago. I already forgot who took it... and who else was in it lmao. Do you own a pair of slippers? Yeah, two. A meerkat pair and then a far less extra pair that're closer to socks. I think they have cats on them? I got them for Christmas I think and haven't worn or seen them much. Would you rather see Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood in concert? Not a fan of either, but Carrie Underwood is more tolerable and even has a couple songs I enjoy. Name something negative that you hate about yourself: I'll jump to a conclusion within .02 seconds of something negative happening. Or not even "negative" or something that's purely in my head. Is your house currently hot, cold or just right? The house itself is fine, and my room is just right because I have my fan on. Is there a Dead End road near where you live? I can't think of one off the top of my head, but it's likely, really. There's lots of those here. Growing up, did you see your cousins often? No. We live many states away on both parents' sides. Where was your first job at? GameStop. Who are you tired of seeing in the news a lot? (Celebrities) It's been like two days and I'm over seeing the James Charles/Tati drama everywhere. You can't be interested in the YouTube community without being drowned in that shit right now somehow someway on any YT-coverage page and YouTube itself. Have you ever had to call and complain about a product you bought? I personally haven't. Would you date someone who’s shorter than you? I very openly and severely judge you if fucking height means that much to you. Do you mind being the third wheel? Not really, no. I'd only feel uncomfortable if they were getting pretty intimate. Has a kiss ever made you weak in the knees? Um I didn't know that was actually a thing so no. Do you feel comfortable buying condoms? Never been in that position. Have you ever dated two people at once? No. Have you ever been tested for STDs? No. Well wait, that time I gave blood I probably was just out of safety protocol. Have you ever run into your ex with his/her new sweetie? No. Have you ever felt guilty after doing something sexual? When I was in that "wait does this break the abstinence rule" phase, yeah. God was I technical. Have you ever had a condom break during sex? N/A Do your parents know if you’re having sex? Well considering I'm with a girl and she lives states away, that answer's obvious. Do you eat chips or crackers more? Chips. Would you rather be a singer or a dancer? A dancer. Would you rather be a musician or a painter? A painter, maybe? If I could play the electric guitar, though... idk. What social media sites do you visit the most? Facebook. What did you hair look like in high school? Long, thick as fuck, brown (or dyed black) with some sort of highlight, and it was split to the left with the hair swooped over my right eye. Basically "I want the emo swoop but my hair is too fucking thick to obey hairspray." :^) Which dollar store do you shop at? Depends on what's closest, usually. We rarely ever stop at one unless it's for candy to bring into the movie theater, seriously lol. I think usually Dollar General? Do you prefer candy corn or conversation hearts? WE DON'T KNOW EITHER. Skeletons or scarecrows? s k e l l y b o y s Has anyone ever given you the silent treatment? Yep. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever had in your mouth? I learned on that day I hate giving blowjobs. Has anyone ever threatened you with a knife? No, thankfully. (If you’re a girl) Has anyone ever called you ‘shortie’ instead of girl? BOY I would fucking cackle. I hate that word. No. Do you ever watch The Simpsons? No. Have you ever sent an embarrassing moment of yours into a mag to be printed? OH MY GOD I remember that!!! But no. What IS your most embarrassing moment? Too lazy to go through the novel of 'em to pick the worst. Do you think you’re more cute or sexy? You assume I find myself either. Do you own any mini skirts? I don't own any skirts period. Do you draw little hearts and stuff with eyeliner next to your eyes? No. What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever lost? Idk. Has your mom ever lied to you? I'm sure she has before. Do you have a deep voice? For a girl, yeah. When’s the last time someone made breakfast for you? *shrugs* Exclusively for me, probably never. Do you do something new with your hair practically every day? No, it's the same everyday. When someone knocks on the door, who do you think it is? Delivery guy. Has anyone ever licked your foot? Ew no. Do you play games with boys/girls, like ‘hard to get’? I'm not 15. Has a guy ever quoted a romantic Shakespeare line to you? No, and I'm glad, as I'd cringe into another realm. Is there a Sonic where you live? Yes, I LIVE- Do you smile with your teeth? Usually. I look less high, at least. What did you eat for lunch today? A pb&j. What do you like on your pizza? Pepperoni, jalapenos, or meat lovers. What is in the back seat of your car right now? I don't own a personal car. Mom has a a load of stuff in the back of hers, at least I think... That's super rare, but she's been so ungodly busy idk if she's had time to clean it out. I haven't paid attention so can't recall. What was the last thing you threw up? Idr. Menthol or regular cigarettes? I don't smoke and never have, so idk. What is your favorite episode of Friends? I don't watch it, and I haven't seen many episodes at all if for whatever reason I was in a room and it was on. Does anyone have any blackmail on you? No. Have you been to a strip club? No. What’s the last sporting event you watched? Hell if I remember. It had to either be my 16th birthday when Jason's family was all together watching the Super Bowl, or a hockey game with my dad. Last person’s house you were in? Besides my own, my sister's. Who is the last person you sent a message to on Facebook? Nicole. Ever go to camp? No. Were you an honor roll student in school? Yeah. Do you have a tan? HA no. How old do you want to be when you have kids? I don't want kids. Are you someone’s best friend? Yeah. Favorite gemstone? Dragon's breath opal. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Drive thru, almost always. Does your first memory involve your dad? No. When was the last time you went swimming? Last summer at the beach. Holy fuck the water was so perfect. Has your luggage ever gotten lost? No. Have you ever thought it would be cool to smash a guitar? No. Like... just why. Do you ever get flu shots? No.