#jacob x staci

[starlightreign]

Seed family glow up part 3 : Jacob and Staci

[dadtron-3000]

Something about this portrait looks off-putting...

[empgus]

I'll just send it here.

[pande-monty-um]

Felt like drawing something cute. Enjoy <3

[derputy]

Far Cry 5 as Community (with terrible closed captions) Because I'm Running Out of Ideas & I Thought It Kinda Fit || @racheljo47 @ms-rampage @i-am-the-balancing-point

[imgnnafurgf]

Jacob and Staci literally:

[buzzyb33]

Page rules!!

Requests are currently on!

MASTERLIST

I Will not write incest, non-con, yandere (like kidnapped), period sex, pregnant sex, pedophilia or detailed gore.

I will write fluff, angst, smut, legal age gaps, parent x kid, sex pollens, head cannons, sfw, full fictions and shit posts

Wary about threesomes, suicide/ sh

I’m really sorry about my writing, still rather new to it! But I’ll try.

I am mainly writing for my YouTube section right now and please please please request me anything you have in mind, also if their isn’t a YouTuber you want on the list ask that in a request!!

My master list is here.

Fandoms I’ll write for:

Spider man characters.

🕷️🕸️🤘🏽

Have fun with this one! I enjoy writing supernatural things!!

YouTubers:

mainly writing for these right now.

(That’s why they’re here and not in a different post)

All 7 sidemen

Beta squad

ChrisMD

James Marriott (lit my fav)

WillNe

Memeulous

Alex Elmslie

Angry ginge

Jack manifold

George Clarke

Niki Nihachu

Jschlatt

Ted nivison

Karl Jacobs

Lazarbeam

Lachlan

Deji

Angry ginge

Danny Aarons

Callux

Chippo

Most of the other brits 🙏🏽

[socially-awkward-skeleton]

Chapter 54: Like Arrows in the Hand of a Warrior are the Children. Blessed is the Man Who Fills His Quiver with Them

Summary: Family drama continues for Kit and the kids at Saint Francis, but the decision is finally made to let them remain

Apologies for the nearly 2 months wait for another chapter, but I'm back with another installment with only six chapters to go from here.

Warnings for this chapter: general Kit instability warning, child endangerment, violence, mentions of past child abuse

[cheeseisyummy56]

in most fandoms, there's usually a character that a lot of people simp for, (Ex: Hobie Brown, Jax from TADC) which i don't have a problem with, BUT like..can people who post ROMANTIC and/or SMUT of a character please stop tagging platonic sort of stuff in their posts?? Because it's very irritating to look up "Hobie Brown platonic headcannons" and get smut results, TAGGED with "platonic hobie x reader" or smth. It's not just Hobie even, it's literally EVERY character I look up. I get that some posts might slip through, but that could be WAY less common if people actually payed attention to what they tagged. It's especially annoying since most of my family figures are the most "simped-over" characters, and there's barely any platonic stuff written anyhow. It makes it way harder to find fics I like, which other people might not have an issue with, since they see the character romantically. It's just annoying.

[aboyshapeddog]

WIP ⚠️

Jacob Gives Staci The Boyfriend Treatment

Relationships: Staci Pratt/Jacob Seed

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Drug Use, Smut, Unhealthy Dynamics, VERY Dubious Consent, Dom/Sub dynamic, Bliss = Slutweed, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Intox Kink, Dark, Massages, Rough S*x, Daddy Kink (kind of), PWP, Violence

Staci wasn’t allowed to consider refusing the Seeds, ever; the thought alone was in a territory his brain was no longer wired to reach. So when the Herald of the whitetails offered him a lit joint (what the fuck), his only questions were internal.

“Finish this for me will you?”, Jacob’s grumbling voice brought him to focus, the thing hadn’t been touched. Staci couldn’t remember the last time he’d smoked either. The familiar and just as unfamiliar smell filled his chest, it made his stomach twist. “Yes Sir.” Staci agreed like his words meant anything, then he reached for it, whatever the fuck it was.

“Aht aht aht.” His hands were both held still by one of Jacob’s own, whose movements always seemed to be a step ahead of his somehow. Instead the larger man pinched the burning piece between two fingers and brought it directly to Staci’s lips.

His voice was low, “Show me you know what you’re doing first, Deputy”. Staci didn’t hesitate, he leaned forward, wrapping his lips around the end of it, looking down as he took a sharp pull, to save himself from the intimacy of connecting eyes. He coughed into his hand, and smoke puffed out through the spaces between his fingers. Jacob smiled and let out a short laugh, “Been a while?” the personable part of Staci wanted to smile too, he didn’t. The joint was pressed back against his lips, he caught Jacob’s eyes this time; they were calculating, observant in the same manner he used to track deer, fowl, and rabbits; prey.

When Staci inhaled this time it was long and slow, like a well deserved drag from a cigarette; his mother would be sick at the sight. He was reminded of the D.A.R.E. t-shirts she’d gotten them both after attending a program at his high school. The smoke curled in his chest, he let it idle there before blowing it out of his nose with practiced grace. Sorry Mom. Jacob’s grin then was something Staci recognized too - wolfish, wild, and fucking ecstatic, the cat that caught the canary, he could be sick.

Jacob released the deputy’s hands and moved to his large oak desk, grabbing a clipboard off the top and clicking a pen. he motioned with one hand for Staci to approach, and Staci, like a good dog, silently took his position beside and behind Jacob.

The large man scribbled on the sheet in front of him, every once in a while pausing to think . . . creating a brief permeating silence before the scratching would continue. Jacob held the joint in his left hand, lifting it into Staci’s space with one hand while the other continued to jot notes. Pratt had to lean down to get his mouth on the thing, so he leaned.

As he took another long pull, Jacob turned to look at him directly; eyes like dissection pins, the thoroughness of the examination made him falter. Staci coughed again, and Jacob scratched another note on the clipboard. They locked eyes and Staci felt a nail through his gut, Jacob was studying him.

Knowing Jacob, this could be like his own personal project ARTICHOKE. Staci’s thoughts were already racing; jumping off the springboard of paranoia, and here he was, anonymous test subject PEACHES directly under Jacob’s thumb. No, that’s what angels were for, come on Staci. He took another big hit. Jacob hummed to himself “Only You”, glancing back at Pratt every once in a while. Staci stared straight ahead.

The nervousness clawed at his gut like it could tear out of him and save itself from whatever fate awaited its owner, he couldn’t stop himself, “What’s in that?”. His voice was hoarse from the smoke and disuse but he kept it steady, he cleared it and continued “uh, Sir.” Jacob ashed it before turning to face the deputy, “Worried about something?” He chuckled, only waiting a moment before standing to his full height and sticking the blunt between Staci’s parted lips. “It’s a personal blend, a gift.” He spoke with the same nonchalance he used when noting ration cuts and delivery schedules. “You’ve been promoted to my personal food tester, Pratt.”

Jacob sparked the lighter underneath it again, watching the cherry turn bright red as Staci hesitated. Exhaled. Then inhaled.

They stood in silence, the sound of the second hand of the old clock on the wall struck like thunder in Staci’s ears. “Tell me, how are you feeling?” What kind of question was that. How should he be feeling? He was lonely, tired, hungry, he couldn’t remember being anything else since his arrival. “Sore.” Oh yeah, that too. Somehow while he was stuck in his own head, Jacob had closed the distance between them again, staring down at his deputy and taking in every minute expression. “Sore.” Staci said again, his words seeming less and less of his own volition.

The redhead turned his partner around, pulling the small man’s back to his chest, and firmly running his hot hands down the younger mans sides “Here?” he asked. The sensation sent shivers down the deputy’s spine, he could feel his muscles twitch under the contact. “Umm, no actually. More near my uh neck, and shoulders.” Jacob released his hold and went to note something on his clipboard, Staci charted every movement. Then Jacob’s hands were on his shoulders, thumbs digging into his trapezius, the pressure, pain, and relief almost made his knees buckle. Jacob noticed “Right here?” his question was more of an acknowledgment, but Staci answered anyways. “Y-yeah. Right there” his voice was as low now as it was rough, jesus did he really sound like that.

He should stop, he thought to himself, really, but god his mind was racing. When was the last time somebody had touched him like this, when was the next time anyone would take care of him again, if there was a next time. “Stop thinking so much Pratt, I can smell the smoke coming from your ears.” Was he that obvious? Staci relaxed into the other mans touch, taking another drag of the “personal blend” and letting his head loll to the side. The deputy allowed himself to be completely hypnotized, eyelids fluttering shut, and taking deep, heavy, breaths.

Jacob worked silently, a silence the deputy had come accustomed to, diligently massaging the tight tissue; stretching and kneading the others tan skin under his fingertips. Staci let out a breathy groan, shocking himself out of his trance. He shot up to perfect posture. Only to be shoved down into Jacob’s chair, “I said relax, Pratt.” And he did, taking another hit, fuck he was already so high he was laying back nearly boneless in the Herald’s arms. “Now-“ the older man started, continuing to massage as he spoke, “How are you feeling?”. Staci sighed deeply. Warm, fuzzy “Good” he breathed out, “A little uh lightheaded, and uh”, horny- his eyes flitted open. Not now, not with half a mind in front of Jacob. Mot like he could help it but holy fuck now was not the time. “Good?” Jacob responded, running his hands up and down the younger mans sides. Staci tried to ignore the way it tingled in his gut “Yes Sir, Good. Thank you, Sir.” Jacob smiled. “Good.” He removed his hands from Pratt, who promptly began tensing and relaxing his closed fists on his thighs, while Jacob made another quick note on his board.

He was back, again, in the blink of an eye, now sitting on his desk across from Staci. The mountain before him leaned down slowly, taking the brunettes ankle in his hand and unlacing a boot, then sitting himself back upright, bringing the socked foot into his lap. “How about here Pratt, this sore.” His voice was lower now too. “Yes Sir.” Pratt answered too quickly, wanting needing Jacob’s warm hands on him again. Jacob smiled. “Alright Pratt, that’s good, i’ll take care of you.”

Jacob slipped off the man’s jeans and continued his slow methodical journey of tenderizing every bit of meat on his body; cracking toes, and rolling his ankles, then firm squeezes up around his claves to the pits of his knees. Staci was in heaven. Sinking deep into his seat still smoking like a chimney, he was reduced to muted gasping and groaning through a fist over his mouth, while the joint burned down to the filter. Jacob, ever the observer, took hold of it when the stoner started burning paper, casting it aside to his pristine ash tray before getting right back to work. “How are you feeling now, Staci?”Jacob’s voice tickled in the deputy’s ear, he smiled and puffed out the last bit of smoke he’d been holding through his nose, “I’m-“ he interrupted himself with a short laugh “I’m excellent.” He smiled wide before adding “Sir.”

Jacob smiled back, nowhere near as lighthearted. “Excellent?” he asked, and Staci knew that smile; he’d been on the receiving end every time a food can had been placed just far enough out of reach. But right now, body and mind singing praises for the earth Jacob walked on, he cherished it. His body seemed to follow his thoughts without filter, leaning closer to the Seed as he nodded “mmhmm.” Jacob let him, leaning even closer so he could whisper in the younger mans ear. “Well isn’t that nice. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s true, Peaches.” He slid a firm hand slowly up the muscle of Staci’s thigh, inching his way in to press his open palm hard against the fat bulge in the Deputy’s briefs. Staci gasped loud, shutting his eyes as a wave of pleasure crashed over his body, “Fuckin- mierda.” he choked. “You’re telling me you don’t want any help with this, sweetheart?” Jacob tutted, grinding the heel of his palm against Staci’s hard cock. “Dios mio, please.” Jacob loved it when he begged, with those wide brown cow eyes, long dark lashes, and pretty pink lips always a little wet and raw from being chewed on.

“Oh don’t you look pretty.“ He admired with clear condescension. “I’m gonna need you to use your words, Staci; ask me to take care of you.” The poor kids mind must have been a soup, Jacob knew it. The way he blinked slow, his eyes seeming to get stuck on one thing or another for too long. But now, he was pink, in his cheeks and his fingertips, panting with his legs spread wide for Jacob; his eyes practically crossing as he made contact. “Take, take care of me. Please, Sir.” Perfect. “Atta boy.”

For Staci it was a blur, hot hands everywhere, manipulating his drunk feeling body. For Jacob it was tying his own neck with a lobster bib, pulling the smaller man’s briefs down and spreading his knees over his own. Jesus, Jacob thought, the poor mutt was leaking already. He didn’t hesitate, sliding his hand over the top of Staci’s cock, and twisting his fist over the dripping head just so- “Ahnnnn fuckingh Jake-” there it was. “That’s right, i’m gonna make you feel real good.” Pratt really knew how to whet his appetite. Jacob spit directly on Staci’s cock, and used his free hand to squeegee saliva straight from his tongue. Staci just took it, lying still while Jacob violated his mouth, it made Jacob hungry.

He pulled his wet fingers out of Staci’s mouth and coiled them in his hair, wrenching his head back so Jacob could lick the inside of his mouth. Staci stuck his tongue out for good measure. “You fucking whore.” Jacob panted wet breaths into Pratt’s mouth, “You take off your pants for every man that gives you a joint?” Staci kept his tongue out. “This is all it takes to get you swallowing my spit and humping my hand, a little brain buzz and a few minutes of the boyfriend treatment. You are pathetic, Peaches.” The Herald ground his cock against his the other man’s ass as he spoke. The deputy’s wordless whines dripped drool on his uniform shirt.

Jacob used his larger size to keep Staci pinned in place, one arm holding him tight, and the other jerking his cock at a torturously slow pace. Staci begged and bucked his hips, dizzy with endorphins, but his cries fell on deaf ears. Well, not literally. Jacob heard every halted “oh god” “feelssso-“ “mierda” and reveled in it. “please, uhn- Jay“ Oh he was perfect wasn’t he. “Jesus you’re a fucking mess.” The herald chastised like it didn’t turn him on even more.

“You like it when a big man takes charge of you?” He lined up a slick finger with the smaller man’s hole “Hmm Staci?” and shoved it in deep. “Yes. Yes, Sir.” Staci would be mortified at the degradation if he weren’t on the verge of exploding. Jacob thrust his finger in and out of the deputy, switching their positions again so he could slip in a second. Now he had the younger man balancing on tiptoes, bent over his desk, hard cock hanging over the edge. Staci’s legs locked at the knees to present his wet hole like breeding stock. The deputy pressed his forehead against the cool polished wood.

Jacob fucked two fingers in, curling them as he slowly pushed in and out of Staci’s tight heat. “Alright, yeah. I’ll be your Daddy.” Jacob grunted, starting to work his own cock with oil and line it up with his partner’s entrance. Then so slowly, pushing the head in. “oh fucking God.” Pratt whimpered, and Jacob just as slowly rolled his hips, fucking deeper into the smaller man with every motion. Staci whined when their hips met, gasping, and hiding his face deeper in his arms as the clap of Jacob’s hips against his ass echoed through the room. Fuck this was so dirty.

The herald started picking up his pace, and force, the kid had his fun, now it was Jacob’s turn. He grunted with every thrust, leaning down to squeeze the deputy’s cock as he bottomed out, slamming deep against his prostate. Moans were pushed out of Staci’s lungs now, with every connection of their hips his back curled, shoving his body forward like dead weight. Jacob was so deep it almost hurt, “W-wait can you, uh Jay-“ a hand was thrown over Staci’s mouth “Not now sweetheart, it’s Daddy’s turn” he sounded as sympathetic as he could manage as he pinned into the other man with reckless abandon. A gargled moan with drool slipped through his fingers, he smiled wide, and pressed a kiss to the deputy’s back. He fucked into Staci like a toy, gripping his hips and pulling them hard against his own. Staci’s legs trembled, switching from one foot to the other to keep his ass high enough for Jacob’s liking. “That’s a good boy.” Staci whined again, causing more drool to pool beneath Jacob’s hand.

“Just like that.” And just like that Staci was cumming, choking out a moan and fat white puddles between Jacob’s uniform boots. His legs trembled and he fucked into nothing as he eked out the last drops.

This was overwhelmingly ignored, save for a low whistle Jacob let out at the sight, and it sure was a sight. Staci collapsed in from of him, hair slick to his face from tears, sweat, and smothered drool. Jacob fucked him mercilessly, still tugging at his pink cock as it dangled between his legs. “Please Jacob it’s too- it hurts, please I can’t.” In lieu of a verbal response the other man bit him, hard at first, before licking and nibbling his neck and shoulders; it mixed the sensitivities excruciatingly. Then Jacob was growling right in his ear, “I’m gonna get every last drop out of you, then i’m gonna breed your little ass”. It was all so much. The larger man fucked continually, hard and deep, pin pointing his sensitive spots with every thrust. His hand too, twisted around the head of his cock, teasing the over sensitive slit like he meant torture another orgasm out of him. “Please, I-“ his mind went completely blank, knees folding and collapsing again into Jacob’s arms.

It wasn’t long before Jacob joined him, thrusts becoming more sporadic, and harsh before “Fffuck.” Jacob panted, now directly into Pratt’s neck as he crushed the poor man beneath him. Staci could feel the warm semen dripping down his thighs, it made him shiver. He felt disgusting, truly, but Jacob all over him and inside of him it felt so so good. The older man grumbled above him, lifting himself off of the deputy slightly, and slowly pulling out his cock. More cum on the floor, now dripping directly out of his ass and Staci could feel it.

Staci made to stand up himself but Jacob pushed him back down, and said“Stay.” So Staci stayed, until Jacob came back with a damp cloth, wiping him down thoroughly with a gentle hand. Staci didn’t dare utter a word.

They were both dressed in no time, Staci itching to run and hide in the nearest shower or cage for eternity. “Before you go..” Jacob started, “Yes, Sir” Staci was too eager again, “How are you feeling?” The question felt heavy without the lip loosening that the drug had given him, he really couldn’t say, he really shouldn’t say . . . “Sore, Sir.” came out again, and he was. Jacob scribbled down another note on his clipboard, seeming to finalize whatever assessment he’d been conducting. “Good.” In his experience, Good could also mean Dismissed; Staci walked to the door before turning around, and pausing, “I think the blend is good, Sir. If you want to try it yourself. Sir.” They locked eyes, reading one another for what felt like minutes, and there was that hunters look again. “I’ll make a note of that, thank you, Pratt.”

[trench-rot]

WIP WEDNESDAY

going with general tags this week- dropping an official wip taglist to start using HERE

tagged by: @socially-awkward-skeleton @wrathfulrook @inafieldofdaisies @shegetsburned @direwombat @adelaidedrubman over the last few weeks [tysm I appreciate you]

tagging: @henbased @derelictheretic @wrathfulrook @jacobsneed @florbelles @locustandwildhoney @twistedvyxen @vampireninjabunnies-blog @g0dspeeed @chaoskrakenuwu @cassietrn @inquisitors-grave and anyone else who has something to share! (open tag-no pressure as always!).

painting for chloe is coming along, lots to keep building on- general color base/proportions are where I want them

wip sketch for a prompt in my ask box👀 zoomed in bc im going feral over the hand sizes. proportions are not final, adjusting left to do

plastered chloe and staci karaoke??? sketch wip to go with a fluffy one-shot I've got brewing

[kill-bill33]

Staci: suck a dick, Jacob.

Jacob: Alright, come here then.

Staci, whisper-shouting: WTF! John’s in the other room!

*Silence*

John: Jacob, I’m disgusted with what I’ve just heard. I’m disappointed in you-

Jacob: …

Staci: …

John: -how could you miss out on a perfectly good ‘no you’ opportunity?

[pande-monty-um]

Just a lil WIP

I might be a little obsessed with these two.

[harmonyowl]

5 7 Song Playlist Tag! (Blythe Paige Edition)

So I was tagged by the lovely @direwombat! So thank you so much again hun, I love doing things like this! 💜 If you’d like to do it I will be tagging @deputyash, @strafethesesinners, @schoute, @calamitycowboy, @teamhawkeye, and @theuwuscrolls and anyone else who wishes to do this is welcome to tag me! ☺️

Blythe doesn’t actually have a set pairing, I just write her with whoever I get the idea or inspiration for so that I don’t end up having 252738 different oc’s lol. So I’m just picking one song for 7 of the possible au pairings she could have, you’re welcome to do it this way if you’d like or you can do it the original 5 otp way!

My Prayer - The Platters ; Jacob Seed

My prayer is to linger with you / At the end of the day / In a dream that’s divine / My prayer is a rapture in blue / With the world far away / And your lips close to mine / Tonight while our hearts are aglow / Oh tell me the words, that I’m longing to hear

Running Up That Hill - aeseaes ; Joseph Seed

You don’t wanna hurt me / But see how deep the bullet lies / Unaware, I’m tearin’ you asunder / Oh, there is thunder in our hearts / Is there so much hate for the ones we love? / Oh, tell me, we both matter, don’t we? / You, it’s you and me

Arcade - Duncan Laurence ; John Seed

I’m afraid of all I am / My mind feels like a foreign land / Silence ringing inside my head / Please carry me, carry me, carry me home / I’ve spent all of the love I’ve saved / We were always a losing game / Small town boy in a big arcade / I got addicted to a losing game / All I know, all I know / Loving you is a losing game

Work Song - Hozier ; Faith Seed

And I was burnin’ up a fever / I didn’t care much how long I lived / But I swear I thought I dreamed her / She never asked me once about the wrong I did / When my time comes around / Lay me gently in the cold dark earth / No grave can hold my body down / I’ll crawl home to her

Train Wreck - James Arthur ; Joey Hudson

Hey, should I pray? Should I pray? / To myself? To a God? To a saviour who can / Unbreak the broken / Unsay these spoken words / Find hope in the hopeless / Pull me out of the train wreck / Unburn the ashes / Unchain the reactions / I’m not ready to die, not yet / Pull me out of the train wreck

The Night We Met - Lord Huron ; Staci Pratt

When the night was full of terrors / And your eyes were filled with tears / When you had not touched me yet / Oh, take me back to the night we met / I had all and then most of you / Some and now none of you / Take me back to the night we met

From Eden - Hozier ; Eli Palmer

Honey you’re familiar like my mirror years ago / Idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword / Innocence died screaming, honey ask me I should know / I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door / Babe, there’s something wretched about this / Something so precious about this / Oh what a sin

[imgnnafurgf]

Pratt: I think Jacob likes me.

Deputy: what? Why?

Pratt: he called me a dog and he loves his wolves.

Deputy:

Deputy: Staci, this is not-

[socially-awkward-skeleton]

Tagged by: @ishwaris​​ (last week, thank you again) @chazz-anova​​ @eclecticwildflowers​​ and @clicheantagonist​​  thank you all so much!

Tagging: @strangefable​ @direwombat​ @adelaidedrubman​ @roofgeese​ @confidentandgood​ @derelictheretic​ @strafethesesinners​ @shallow-gravy @blissfulalchemist​ @henbased​ @florbelles​ @trench-rot @inafieldofdaisies​ @jacobsneed​ @voidika​ @v0idbuggy @detectivelokis​ @madparadoxum​ @nightbloodbix​ @nightwingshero​ @josephslittledeputy​  @marivenah​ @josephseedismyfather​ @cassietrn​ @neverthesameneveranother​ @kyber-infinitygems​ @aceghosts​ @wrathfulrook​ @vampireninjabunnies-blog​ @g0dspeeed @poetikat​​ (and I feel like I’m missing others so anyone else I missed as well - no pressure of course)

Technically it’s still Tuesday for me but what the hell...

A little wip art from an upcoming scene in American Beasts where Kit finally gets to take care of the old man instead of him patching her up

And a snippet from Staci’s confession (this chapter is killing me, why can’t it just write itself)

This wasn’t going to be easy no matter which route he took, but he had to say something. "Um, well from the moment I was taken from the helicopter I've had my mind on a few things."

John smiled, the orange light reflecting off his eyes like the eye shine of a nocturnal beast. "Go on."

Staci licked his lips nervously, though his mouth was so dry he barely coated them in saliva at all. “Some thoughts are stronger than others. There are certain people in my life who affect them in particular.”

“Mmhm,” John hummed, raising his brow. He didn’t probe, he simply let silence settle until Staci felt forced to continue. 

“Kit – being one of them.” Brown eyes were narrowed to slivers as Staci winced, waiting for the blow back of this reveal. He was sure she wasn’t one of the Baptist’s favorite people especially after how much trouble she’d caused him. 

“Ah, Kathleen…” John started to pace, a half smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth as he forced his hands behind his back to keep himself from fidgeting. “She is quite something, isn’t she?”

The way John’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of her name made his stomach drop. He had reason to believe Kit and Jacob had some sort of personal relationship, but seeing another Herald reacting this way over her – and being trapped in his basement – put Staci on edge. 

“Being at the Vet Center – staying close to Jacob, hearing the radio transmissions, collecting the reports, seeing the footage. The things she did…continues to do. I just – I don’t know how she does it. If our roles were reversed...I don't think I'd have been able to do half the things she’s accomplished, and she’d still do better than I did while under the Herald’s care.” Staci said, his voice cracked and wavered.

His eyes fell to his lap, embarrassed by who he was, by his failure. If it had been her who was taken and he was left to fight, Hope County would have fallen in a week and he’d be somewhere bleeding out – alone.

“I spent time in the cages, I took part in the trials – somehow I survived. Something in me wouldn’t let me die, like it had something to prove. Seeing the desperation of the recruits kept there, seeing how fast we all broke, and how badly they all wanted to be saved – just a glimpse at  the badge had them reaching out to me like I was some hero when I was no better than any of them. They treated me like I was a fuckin’ saint. That feeling buries itself inside you, you start to crave it. I guess I understand why she fights so hard, but still –”

“So what are you more envious of then, Staci? What she managed to do or who she is and why she fights?”

“I’m envious of what they both are,” Staci said, choking out his response.

“Both?” John's eyes widened, giving him a look of innocence.

“Kit and Jacob. They’re strong. Stronger than I’ll ever be, but goddamn am I willing to try.”

John turned to roll his eyes at the mention of his eldest brother and strength. He'd heard the same thing said by so many of Jacob's recruits it had become tiresome to him to say the very least. He gave a quiet sigh and turned back to the table where the tattoo needle sat, snatching it up into his hands. He began to pace once more, long strides back and forth in front of the former Deputy like a metronome. “What about your relationship with Kit?”

“What?” Staci’s brow furrowed at the insinuation. He was one of the last people anyone would or could ever think she’d have something to do with.

“Nancy – in the information she gave us – she mentioned you used to flirt with her. Do you two have a history together? Or was this more just a one sided desire on your part?"

“Fuckin’ Nancy,” Staci muttered, shaking his head. “I don’t have a relationship with Kit, I mean sure I’ve thought about it, hell sometimes it was a nice warm thought to keep me alive in the cage when I was covered in my own piss and other people’s blood, but no…her and I — never gonna be a thing.”

“But you’d like it to be?” John tilted his head and cocked his brow, squeezing every last bit of information he could get from his newest toy.

“Not if I don’t want my neck snapped by the Herald.”

“I’m sorry. What was that?” John’s tongue clicked against his teeth as he fought to keep the smile on his face, his brow furrowing deeply.

“I don’t know for sure, they try to keep it quiet, sometimes there's hints…

John’s eye twitched, the whites of his eyes expanding as he stared at Staci like a deer caught in the headlights, his smile becoming ever more manic.

“She’s been kept with him in privacy a few times now and for someone who doesn't talk a lot she gets…” Staci looked around the room, his gaze floating up to the antlers that hung above him, suddenly feeling like the axe hanging above his head on a chopping block. But he’d started and couldn’t leave John hanging now. “Vocal. Kinda starting to think there’s something going on there between them, you know?”

Chuckling quietly, John puffed himself up like the preening peacock he was. “Between Cross and my brother? My brother, Jacob?”

“Yeah?”

John’s jaw tightened, clenching as his molars crunched against each other, squeaking as the teeth scraped against the other. A forced smile crept across his lips, pulling against his tightly clenched teeth, making the corners of his eyes crinkle with how hard he was trying to hide the real emotions.

“I know Jacob isn’t big on the religion, so he doesn’t follow all the rules, but they seem to be –”

John held up his hand to stop the flow of words that seemed to spill from Staci’s mouth like a river now that he was given the chance to speak. “That’s quite enough, Pratt. Thank you for opening up to me.” Stomping around the room, the vein in his forehead throbbed violently and his face turned red as he bit back on his rage. Pushing his hand through his slicked back hair, John exhaled as if he was forcing out the scream that now lay buried inside his ribs as he took his position standing in front of Staci. “For the acts that you’ve confessed to. I’ll be marking you with Envy and Lust. Coveting is a very unhealthy mindset, Staci. Are you sure being at Saint Francis is the right place for how you feel?”

Staci lifted his chin and took a deep breath. He’d never been more sure of anything in his life. “It’s where I want to be. I want to be strong.”

The Baptist’s smile crept back along his lips, no longer the madman fretting over things out of his control, he slipped back into the form he liked to present to the world as the man who had it all together. “Very well”

Still gripping the tattoo needle tight in his hand, John placed it back down on the table and bent over Staci, ripping open the same Deputy uniform he’d been forced to wear for weeks covered in blood, sweat, dirt and the stains of his tears. Staci’s breath hitched in his throat when the cold, recycled air blowing through the vents hit his bandaged chest. The wounds below only freshly starting to heal began to prickle and burn, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

“Well, Jacob didn’t leave me much to work with.”

Stopping to stare at the bloodstained gauze on Staci’s chest and abdomen, John pulled open the rest of the buttons until Staci’s shirt was hanging off of him. A cruel sneer pulled at John’s lip and he grabbed the sponge and water from the table, slapping the soft, wet material against Staci’s trail of hair that led down to his belt. “Consider this a reminder when you’re starting to feel lonely again.”

Placing the sponge back into the bowl with a splash, John quickly swiped the tattoo needle back up into his hand, turning it on with a loud buzz that made Staci’s teeth ache like being at the dentist. Kneeling down between Staci’s legs, John smiled and his bright blue eyes seemed to flash with something dark. “Take a deep breath.”

Staci sucked in as much air as his lungs could hold when the needle touched his skin and ripped through it with a million little pricks. It lacked the fluidity of the knife Jacob had used against him. Biting down into his lip, his eyes rolled back into his head as John continued to scrawl into the sensitive skin of his pelvis.

Pursing his lips, John blew cold air onto Staci’s new tattoo when he was finished with his handiwork, and grabbed the sponge to dab at the blood that was bubbling to the surface through the broken skin.

Half expecting words of praise, telling him he’d done a good job, that he took it well – something warm coiled in Staci’s belly and he felt nauseous. This wasn’t Jacob, this wasn’t the trials – this was a whole other beast. John merely ignored him and carried on with his work, tugging the sleeve of his shirt down his arm to expose the flesh of his upper bicep. Smooth hands traveled over his skin, finding the best place to drop the needle and Staci’s lip quivered in response to the gentle touch.

Wiping the skin down, droplets of water following the curves of what little muscle Staci was getting back, and John grabbed the needle once more. Tearing through layers of skin to mark it with the word ENVY, he showed little remorse as Staci started to groan with pain.

“There. Marked with your sins for all the world to see.” John leaned in, his nose nearly pressed to the former deputy’s. “Are you ready to atone, brother?”

Hot breath fanned over his face and Staci struggled to swallow. There was no fight left in him, he’d do whatever was asked. “Yes.”

The way John smiled at him, it was like he’d made the man’s dreams come true.

“Then let’s begin.”