#let him sing! that is the main thing that makes him cool! c'mon!

[chiropteracupola]

(hi its highseasgirlbossing) share ur thoughts on dune if u like? i've been teetering precariously on the edge of being Into It for weeks and i still havent made up my mind haha

*steeples fingers* alright. dune. I can't in good faith say that I Enjoy it in any particular way, but it Captivates me. also I have been known to enjoy a good Media With When The Worms Big in my time.

mostly my Thoughts today have been in relation to the 2021 movie, and my general disappointment on the adaptation's take on the funky fellow I consider to be Perhaps The Most Fun Character.

I just really like The Version of Gurney Halleck That Exists In My Mind an awful lot. space bard!  vibes are those of a weird uncle!  burbling stew of conflict between loyalty and revenge needs!  can absolutely murder and kill so much!  going to say it again but space bard!

I've only read the first book and don't really intend to go further, and I haven't seen any of the other adaptations, so I might be missing a good chunk of the picture, but I think he's pretty neat and the designs most adaptationeers have been putting out there don't do him justice.

don’t get me wrong, I love the soundtrack of this movie, and I’m planning to play it in the same way I play all my other favorites of hans zimmer’s work (Really Really Really Loudly and Often), and the bagpipes were inspired.  but also, they really should have let him sing!

I don't have my copy of the book on hand, nor do I have time enough to write out my full essay on why he's Important To The Tone in all the ways that he is, but I think you get the idea at this point?  seriously, why would you ignore the Space Bard.

[sincerelynamkook]

Hennessy (01)

Latina Y/N x Jungkook

Genre: Angst, Fluff 

Warnings: alcohol/drunken behavior (drink responsibly friends), mentions of smoking, sexual tension 

Word Count: 2.6k

Playlist: “Yo Perreo Sola” by Bad Bunny // “Frikitona” by Plan B // “Te Extrano” by Xtreme // “Imitadora” by Romeo Santos”

Series Masterlist

“You ready?” I roll my eyes with a pout instead of verbally answering my best friend’s question. I’m still lowkey butthurt she not only forced me to get up from my umpteenth day in bed, but also forced me to get dressed and put on makeup. I’m barely into my 30th day of getting over a breakup, I had plans to dive deep into the pits of my depression and despair for another month or two. 

“Stop being a brat and get over it. It’s not like you were in love with the guy.” Britt sasses back.

“Maybe so. But I really gave that fucker 6 months of my life thinking he would eventually be the one only for him to go out and cheat on me...let me be depressed, damn bro.” 

“Dude, c'mon. Tony said this would be the party of the year and you know how Latinos love to throw a party.” She grabs my hand and drags me up the driveway to the front door. I could hear the loud blast of Merengue music all the way from where we parked down the street. Serves us right for being 2 hours late to this damn party. But we were running on Latino time. 

“Bitch did you forget I’m Latina?” I ask her. Of course I know what Latin parties are like. 

“Really? You sure ain’t acting like the bad bitch Latina I know you are.” 

“I-...whatever.” I mumble, not having a retort. 

She giggles and opens the front door, coming fact to face with Jimin who has the brightest smile on his face. “Finally bitches! I’ve been waiting for y’all for over an hour.” 

Music, laughter, singing, mixed with conversations from every direction bombard my ears. Jimin drags Britt and me to the back of the house, bee-lining straight to the kitchen counter that's covered in alcoholic beverages. He goes around to stand next to Tony who’s behind the counter, dressed in an all black fit, gold chain around his neck, nose pierced with a stud and a septum, and small black rectangular framed glasses perched on his nose. 

“What, you on your Bad Bunny phase or something?” I ask him as Jimin hands me a cranberry vodka, knowing it’s my favorite drink. 

With a smile, he sticks his tongue out and places his pinky fingers near his glasses doing the iconic Bad Bunny pose, “You already know babyyyy,” he says garnering a laugh from me. “I made sure to stock up on cranberry and vodka for you babe. Britt warned me so we on that ‘Bring Y/N back to life’ gang shit tonight.”

“Oh god,” I grimace. When Britt and Tony get together on their “missions” there is no hope for us. “Well you got food around here? I ain’t getting shitfaced on an empty stomach.”

“This ain’t the first time at the rodeo, Y/N.” Hoseok says as he appears behind Tony with a platter of appetizers on a plate for me. “We take care of our favorite girls around here, Y/N, c'mon now, especially when you're my girlfriend’s best friend” he winks at Britt and she giggles. Gross. 

“My hero.” I respond sarcastically, inspecting the chips and guac. With a raise of a brow I ask, “This better be some legit guac boys, not that store bought kind y’all got that one time at Costco.”

“Omg get over it! I didn’t realize it was expired!” Jin yells from behind me. He gives Britt a kiss on the cheek before pinching my arm. I stick my tongue out before giving him a genuine smile. “I wasn’t even the one who bought it. It was Jimin!” 

Jimin giggles, “Well that’s what y’all get for sending me grocery shopping when I’m hungover.”

“I was sick for days! I almost died!” I yell back. Not gona lie, this guac is hella good. “Dude, who made this guac. It’s legit, I’ll give you that.”

“I asked my sister to make some for us. She also made some tamales for you and Britt, you know she loves y'all more than me.” Tony says as he pours me another drink. Tears start to well in my eyes, food being the only thing that weakens my tough exterior. 

“Tony...tell your sister to divorce Jackson and marry me. I’ll treat her better!” I exclaim making the group laugh. 

“Y’all lets move this party to the den.” Hoseok says, grabbing Britt’s hand and leading us to the next room, away from the bigger crowd. 

We each take our usual seats. Being a tight knit group since our college days, we have our traditions, one being movie night at Tony’s every weekend, thus leading us to have our own unofficial assigned seats. 

The music can still be heard from the den, albeit not as loud as it was in the main rooms. 

“So we getting Y/N shitfaced tonight right?” Jimin asks with a smirk in my direction. 

“Hell yeah. I can’t believe you skipped out on movie nights this whole month.” Jin responds with a shake of his head. “I thought we were family.”

I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Whatever. Y’all know how I get when I’m in my moods.”

Hoseok stands and comes around the couch to hug me from behind. “I know you’re not a hugger but accept this quick hug and let go of your sadness friend.”

 I giggle and hold back my witty remark, knowing his heart is in the right place. “Thanks Hobi. Give me a few more drinks and I’ll be begging for your hugs.”

He jumps at that and runs to the kitchen yelling, “You don’t have to tell me twice!!” Brittany gets up and follows him, muttering something about going to make sure he doesn’t get dragged into dancing. 

“But in all seriousness, Y/N, are you okay?” Jin asks next to me. 

“Not gona lie, I’m hurt because y’all know how I feel about cheating. But it is what it is right?” I exhale and gulp down my third cup of cranberry vodka. 

“You’ll be okay babe, c'mon lets go get more drinks.” Jimin takes my hands and drags me out the den, just as Yoongi and Joonie were walking into the den. 

“Hey fuckers. I brought the Henny!” Yoongi announces with a smirk. At the sound of Henny I turn around and walk back into the den, grabbing the Hennessy bottle from Yoongi’s grasp and opening it to pour myself some shots. 

“Oh so that’s what we doing huh?” He smirks and I just wink at him raising my shot glass at him. 

“The night is young my friend.” I say as I raise up my second shot in a toast. Joon takes the bottle from me and pours me another one, clinking his own glass with mine. 

“Let’s get this bread!” he says to which I grimace and retort back, “Grandpa, don’t ever say that again.” He chuckles with a roll of his eyes and downs his shot. 

The heat from the alcohol going down my throat and coursing throughout my body has me removing my jacket. Jin whistles saying “aight mami, you sure you're getting over a break up?”

Giggling, I look over at him to see him checking me out. I’m donned in black ripped skinny jeans, black platform Jadon docs, and a green satin tank top; meaning my tattoo covered arm is out on display. “Boy please, be quiet before you get me in trouble with Tree. Where is she anyway?”

“She had to work tonight. She’s gonna come after her shift which should be soon.” He says checking the time on his phone. 

Another shot is placed in my hand by Jimin, “bottoms up bitch!”

I down my shot just as I hear the sounds of “Yo Perreo Sola” by Bad Bunny start to play. “Oh shit! This my song!!!” I yell, clearly feeling the effect of the alcohol contents fueling my body. I grab Jimin’s hand and drag him over to the crowd dancing in the large living room. 

Jimin positions himself behind me, holding my waist as we start to dance to the song. We grind up on each other, perreando like the song describes, screaming the chorus together with the crowd. I turn around to face him and push him backwards, ready to perrear sola. The other girls around me start to hype me up and start to grind against me. We put on quite the show but the crowd goes even wilder when the song switches to “Frikitona” by Plan B. Jin dances up next to me with Tree on his arm and hands me two more shots, “double fist time babyyy” he yells over the crowd. I take the shots all the while I’m dancing, I don’t even notice when the two empty glasses are replaced with new full ones by Jimin, knowing it's him with the pink hair on his head, but I down those two. I vaguely notice Hoseok and Brittany dancing not too far from me, practically making love on the dance floor. Wouldn’t surprise me if they disappeared upstairs real soon. The reggaetón bops keep going and Jimin and I keep dancing amidst the crowd. Whoever picked this mix deserves a reward because it got all the throwbacks. I smile big when I hear Don Omar’s “Dile.”

I’m sweating, pushing my hair back from my face every few seconds, regretting not bringing a scrunchie with me to put it in a bun. The reggaetón mix fades off into a bachata mix with “Te Extrano” by Xtreme being the first song to play. Not wanting to go back into my feels, I decide to take this time to grab water and sober a bit. Now that I’ve stopped dancing I realize just how drunk I really am. I lean against the counter and grab a cool water bottle from the cooler, snickering when I see Yoongi making out with some girl across the kitchen. 

The bachata mix turns sensual, as “Sobredosis” by Romeo Santos starts to play. I sway softly in my spot against the counter, singing along to the song as I try hard to sober up. 

I hear Tony yell a “Look who finally made it” and the crowd starts to shout their greetings at whoever just walked in. I turn around to see what the commotion is all about and see Jungkook walking in holding two bottles of Hennessy, one in each hand.

“What the fuck” I whisper softly, but not soft enough when I hear Taehyung reply, “yeah, he’s back.”

“Whoa when did you get here TaeTae? And when you say ‘he’s back’ you mean cause of summer break right?” I ask without turning back around to look at him, my attention at one man and one man only. 

“I got here a while ago with Janet, we were outside smoking though.” Ahh that makes sense. “And no, he’s back for good. He graduated last week.” He says with a smirk in my direction. 

My eyes go wide, muttering a soft, “fuck.” I turn around to face the kitchen, hands in my hair in exasperation. How did he graduate already? He’s like three years younger than me! I close my eyes and focus on doing the math only to realize that he in fact was graduating college this year. Shit. 

Tae pats my back, “what’s got your panties in a twist love? It’s not like you fucked the guy on his 21st birthday and never spoke to him again even though he’s one of your best friend’s, Yoongi’s to be exact, younger brother.”

I open my eyes and face Tae. He yells an exaggerated ‘OW!” when I twist his nipple. 

“Kim Taehyung what the fuck?! I told you never to mention that again.” I exhale and make the decision to continue my “getting shitfaced” mission. Pouring a line of shots, I start to take them one after the other until Tae decides to take the last 3 himself earning a “fuck you” from me. 

I lean against the counter, facing the living room only to see Jungkook walking towards me. I roll my eyes at him when I see his smirk directed at me. He walks up next to me and opens the bottle of Hennessy, not saying a word. Taehyung chuckles and leaves with a “have fun lovebirds.” Jungkook pours two shots and hands me one. But he doesn’t just give it to me like any decent person would, no way, he has the audacity to bring the shot glass to my lips , softly nudging my lips open with it to make me drink. Not one to back down from a challenge, I hold his hand holding the shot glass against me and throw my head back to down it. His big brown eyes, those that were so full of innocence, are now full of lust and focused on my lips. I don’t miss the way they subtly move down to look at my neck when I swallow the alcohol, or the way his hand still near my lips slightly twitches when my tongue flicks out to lick my bottom lip, making sure I take every drop of alcohol he gave me. 

He leans closer to me, his scent which now surrounds me making me even drunker. My hands go up to his chest instinctively, as if I had the willpower to actually shove him away. I could feel his heart beating faster against my hands, his pecks feeling tight...woah when did that happen? 

I feel, rather than see, his face lean closer to my ear where he softly whispers, “wana show me what else you can swallow?” His deep melodic voice has me closing my eyes and gulping in a millisecond, feeling a rush of wetness pool at my core.  

I open my eyes, reminding myself who I’m talking to and laugh the nerves away. I shove him back, needing some room to breathe and he chuckles at my antics. 

The playlist starts to play “Imitadora” by Romeo Santos and I can feel a change in the atmosphere. Jungkook takes a step closer to me, arm going around me to softly push me against him. He leans close to my ear again to whisper “dance with me” but I’m too high off his scent and to the beat of his heart that’s vibrating against where my hands rest on his chest to answer. He takes it as a yes and walks us backwards to the center of the makeshift dance floor. 

I bring myself back to the present and raise an eyebrow at him, “You sure you can keep up Korean boy?” I feel his chest softly vibrate from his chuckle.

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve preciosa” he answers with a smirk as he twirls me around. I swoon at his honey like voice calling me “preciosa,” with the subtle hint of his accent. But I feel my pussy clench when he dances bachata like a Latin born man. 

My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest when he starts singing the chorus of the song in perfect Spanish close to my ear. Hitting every note like if he was Romeo Santos. 

He must've heard my swift intake of breath by the way he smiles. A smile I feel on my neck as he leans even closer to me to drop a kiss at my nape, sealing it with a lick. 

The song comes to an end, quickly transitioning to a more up tempo bachata song. Jungkook drops another kiss on my neck and whispers “wana see what other tricks I got?”

[jess-the-vampire]

The Demon Next Door, Chapter 9

Previous / Next

-

A week had passed since marco had heard the "Conversation", between Tom and Star.

And while janna's theories were in the back of his mind, that wasn't his main focus.

No, his main focus was to keep being a good friend and not act like he had just heard something personal and private that he wasn't supposed to know about. He needed to get back into spirits, hang out with his friends, and be as supportive as possible for the two of them until they were comfortable talking to him about whatever it was they weren't sure about mentioning to him.

They were his friends after all, he didn't want to lost them due to being a terrible friend.

But while he was ignoring janna's ideas, as anything janna claimed was really never true, and as much as he tried to keep happy, he still somehow felt irked and he didn't fully understand why. He was trying to come up with reasons, maybe he felt his friend liked each other more then him? Well he knew that wasn't true, tom almost always seemed to hang out with marco when he had the chance, so did star.

Maybe he felt this way because tom was really succeeding with his crush and marco wasn't? After all marco already had gotten upset about tom being so good at karate when it took years for him to even break a single board.

But somehow it didn't feel that way, marco had already squashed that bug, especially when he realized how much it hurt tom.

So what was it?

What was it really that was bothering him so much?

"Marco? Hey dude, did you hear me? I got the tickets!", tom waved his hand in front of marco's face, waking him up from his thoughts, Tom was smiling and laughing at him, playful as ever. "Dude, you alright? You're so spaced out", marco shook his head, he really needed to start paying attention to his best friends, especially if he wanted to not come off like he was suspicious or anything.

Thankfully tom didn't seem too bothered, probably chalking it up to marco thinking about school or jackie.

"Uh sorry, yeah, that's really awesome tom, i can't wait to go with you!", marco was actually genuine about that, he was pretty excited to go with tom. He'd never been to a concert in person and he was sure if he did he'd go with star, having a guy friend who liked the same band was not something he expected to happen so quickly. And they were going to hang out and sing together? God it was the best thing marco had ever gotten in awhile.

Well, hopefully it would at least.

"Me too, i've never been to a concert before...", he said, voice wandering, "I never really got to y'know "Hang out" with people much back home. So...I'm actually really kinda excited to just do stuff like this with a friend.". He smirked a little, "Besides, maybe after we can go get some tacos and smoothies and just hang out for a bit...maybe i can sleep over at your house if you want?".

That sounded...amazing.

"Yeah! I'll ask my parents, but i know they'll say yes anyway...we could even try and get justin tower's autography while we're there...maybe...hopefully".

"Yeah of course, i think i can do that".

"You can?", marco asked, puzzled and ecstatic.

"I've never been to a concert before, but i did meet him in person once, when i was back at my old home...so he might remember me and meet us or something", wait a second, tom had MET the lead singer of their favorite band?! And never told marco about that!? Was tom some celebrity or something secretly?! How in the heck was tom so lucky-

Tom must've seen gears turn in marco's head as he quickly stepped in.

"Sorry, i wanted it to be a surprise before but i guess i might as well spill the beans on that one".

He seemed actually a little sheepish about that one, but marco patted his back, "Tom, you don't have to go so overboard for me but...it all sounds like a lot of fun, i really appreciate it. I'm probably gonna have to owe you for this one, like majorly, though i'm not sure what can beat meeting one of my idols in person, a sleepover, and a concert...".

"Dude, you don't have to-".

"I know, but i want to.".

Tom seemed to blush a little at that, touched at marco's words.

"So yeah, i'm excited...big ole hangout, just you and me. Consider it a big thank you for y'know...not making me feel alone or weird out here. Then tom let out an oo as marco hugged him tightly, almost knocking the wind out of him. "No one has ever done something that nice for me before, god, i'm gonna have to work to one up you after this whole thing".

Tom laughed, "You don't have to...".

"But i want to", marco replied, repeating tom's words teasingly.

"Very funny...but yeah...oh and maybe we can make cookies during the sleepover, something fun...could top it off with movies or games if you're still awake by that point", he winked, "Make it the best night ever". He bumped marco's shoulder as they disbanded, noticing people were staring, Mostly a lot of his classmates. Marco nearly forgot they were still in school, simply waiting for the bus to take them home.

That reminded him.

"So uh...where's star?".

She usually was here by now, unless she got held back to be scolded or something, or maybe star forgot something at her locker perhaps, she never ran late to get out of school with her friends. Mostly because these days star was pretty happy to avoid having to do schoolwork and deal with people like Brittney, though her not being here seemed to leave marco and tom both super worried.

"Should...we look for her?".

She was going to miss the bus if she didn't make it here soon and marco didn't want to leave her here. He gripped his backpack strap a little tighter in nervousness, tom trying to reassure him before star made her way around the corner in a hurry. Clearly knowing how late she was to meet up with her friends and tugging them onto the bus before they could even ask what happened.

Both letting out a small noise as she did so.

Marco felt the wind knocked out of him being thrown onto his seat and tom on the opposite one, star breathing faster then usual.

"S-star?".

"H-hey guys...sorry i'm late and everything I uh...got caught up in stuff", the boys looked between each other and she quickly ushered them to the bus so they could get home, "C'mon, we need to get home...". Marco felt her squeeze his arm rather forcibly, and he wondered just what star got herself into. He had the impression whatever it was, it might've been...well, bad.

And Star confirmed this for him the moment they sat down in their seats, the girl trying to fix her hair and huffing.

"Star...what happened?".

"I-...i was talking to jackie and ugh...brittney passed by".

Oh, oh no.

"Apparently her stupid birthday is coming up and of course none of us are invited because of course and jackie told her off for acting so mean and said if none of us were coming, she wasn't interested in coming either", star sounded so irrtated by that but that seemd very in character for jackie to do. Marco had to admit, the fact jackie stood up for them like that was actually...it was rather sweet, especially since jackie was considered decently popular among the school.

"Well that's cool of her...it's ok, it would've been a boring party anyway".

"Marco, you don't understand...brittney told us to come!".

"WHAT!?".

"Apparently she'd rather we show up then have jackie not show up, because the scene she made when defending us got a LOT of people's attention, that's why i was late, we got sent to the principle's office and in the end...she said we're coming", she seemed to be resisting the urge to stab someone at the moment, her anger searing through her teeth.

Even Tom looked baffled and grossed out, "Then why bother showing up, let's bail, ruin her party...like i care".

"Except she called our parents already to make sure we couldn't back out-".

"She didn't".

"The principle technically made the call...but..."

He couldn't believe this, they got themselves roped into a party with the girl who was spreading lies about them and being awful to them? Why? Why even bother, they had better things hey could do then hang out with someone as awful as Brittney, but somehow by a stroke of luck they seemed to get themselves roped into going to her party anyway.

There was an inkling that brittney almost planned this, like she had malicious intention with them coming, she would really rather have them there then not jackie? C'mon, there had to be something up.

"Pfft, we'll just pretend to be sick that day then...".

"Our parents aren't that stupid tom...we just all conveniently get sick? On the same day of a party of a girl we don't like? Ha, right", tom hated to admit it, but marco was right about that, there was no way they'd buy into that no matter how convincing they might make their sickness. Tom felt a wave of anger and frustration hit him, his good mood with marco suddenly ruined.

"Fine, but if we're going, i'm not speaking to her".

"Don't worry, we won't either".

This seemed to make tom a little better, a smile, faint as it was, appearing on the corner of his mouth for a split second.

"I'm glad to have you guys around as my friends, ugh...i hope jackie knows what she got us into-", it wasn't jackie's fault of course, she was trying to help, but seems it only led to more problems in the end. Star sighing, "She told me she was really sorry about that, she'll probably text you guys soon about it...i think she's hoping to make things up to us later if she can", that sounded like jackie alright.

At least she was taking responsibility for it.

But being sent to a party of the biggest bully in school? That sounded like there was no way it could end well.

Especially with all the rumors being spread around, and marco felt his chest stop when he really thought about it. A lot of the rumors around came from him hanging out with tom, what if they got worse? There was a real chance of it after all. Tom could get teased about their relationship and tell everyone off for it and...well, he could tell everyone that he didn't feel that way for marco.

And that seemed to sting to marco for some reason.

What if this ruined their friendship?

He didn't want brittney to tease tom, it could ruin tom's social life entirely and their friendship and-

"Marco? Everything ok?".

Star and Tom were staring at him, both highly concerned for their friend.

And no wonder, marco looked like he might burst from all the anxiety building up inside of him right now, all this stuff that was getting to him even though nothing had actually happened yet. He needed to pull himself together, calm himself down, do what tom did when he had moments like this, take a breather and remind himself nothing bad had happened yet.

"I'm ok, i'm sorry, i'm just worried what's going to happen if we show up...i don't trust brittney, she might take advantage of us being there or something.".

"You're not wrong about that marco, she always looks like she's up to something bad".

Star then grew a grin on her face that marco didn't like, the boy quickly snapping into her face to get her out of it, "Hey uh...don't, we could do without being banned from school or sued...instead of causing trouble let's maybe just be super careful around her instead".

Star looked sad, but she didn't seem surprised either.

Next time.

As they were dropped off, they were quickly surrounded as both marco and tom's parents left their respective houses tp give the kids large hug, as if somehow this situation was something to actually celebrate. "Oh KIDS! I heard you got invited to a big PARTY with your friends! That's so wonderful! It's been so long since i saw you go to a friend's birthday party like that marco!", marco was embarrassed as he was squeezed tighter by his father.

Gee, tell the whole world why don't ya?

"Tom's never been invited to a party before, that's wonderful!".

"DAD!", Tom blushed, him and marco both uncomfortable and humiliated now.

At least tom understood his pain, even if they both wanted to be out of this as soon as possible. Their parents eventually let them go though, noticing their kids didn't look nearly as thrilled as they did about this whole thing. They had to know what brittney was like at this point from how much their sons complained about her, there was no way they didn't.

And yet this thought this was a good idea?

They had to be desperate to get their kids out of the house at that point.

"Sorry sorry sorry, i'm just happy to hear about you being invited to an outing with a lot of kids, your mom is already considering what you should wear so you look good for it". His mother nodded and tom felt even more embarrassed, he wasn't dressing up for the meanest girl in school, he would for star, marco or even jackie but not for the girl who glared at him during lunch.

"Ooo! We'll help!", and marco grumbled as his father approached tom's parents.

He desperately hoped they didn't give the three of them matching outfits.

Because if given the chance, they would.

Star motioned to the boys, and pointed down the road and marco was quick to put the pieces together.

"C'mon, she's inviting us to her house tonight to uh...,avoid...this", he motioned to their parents talking and tom shrugged, maybe star's house was a better place to hide right now, at least star's mom might actually see the problem with all of this. The three heading down ways to get to star's house, a place marco had been a few times but tom had not been inside yet.

In fact, he'd yet to even see what it looked like.

It was a nice blue house, white door and windows, with a well maintained garden in the front and well kept lawn. You'd never think it was the kinda place someone like star really would live in if only because star would never have a house this nice looking if she actually owned it. Her parents must've really put in the effort to keep it this good looking.

And upon further inspection there was a lovely butterfly print on the door.

Tom was taking it all in but none of this was new to marco, he'd been here before enough times, and star's messy room contrasted this nice looking house to the extreme. He also remembered it because jackie lived on the next street, he remembered when star moved in and he felt slightly jealous how lucky she was to be so close to jackie, though really it was a blessing to have an excuse to wave at the girl when visiting star and she was riding past them.

"Up to my room, c'mon...before mom notices", star motioned for them to enter, not wanting to deal with her mother and her strictness, Marco couldn't really blame her, her mom always seemed a little too uptight, even if she was cool with her having friends over, he tended to make a lot of rules himself but Moon was on another level of strictness to make sure stuff didn't get out of hand.

It was like she thought star was a bomb or something that could explode any second.

But it seemed neither of her parents were back yet from...wherever they actually worked.

Their house was...mostly tidy, and it seemed rather elegant from the inside, thought that probably came from moon more then anything. The rest of her family were way too rowdy to have a place looking as nice as this. If river and star had in their way the place would probably look like a giant mess with several animals running around and only moon kept this place together.

But overall, it was nice.

Nearly the opposite of tom's much more gothic type home.

Star dragging the boys to her room, wanting to avoid her mom as much as possible and to hang out with her friends, the two finding themselves in the messiest room in the house. Star's clothes were everywhere, so were her books, and trash and so much more. Another thing she and tom had in common, they both weren't the peak of tidiness, though tom seemed marginally better in comparison.

Usually when marco slept over, he tended to sleep downstairs, both because River tended not to trust marco to sleep in star's room and both because it was too messy for him to sleep up there anyway.

Marco wasn't mad about that though, Star's room was a safety hazard.

Even now he and tom had to carefully step over the girl's trinkets and clothing to take a seat on her fancy canopy bed. Star dropping her backpack and items just on the floor without much of a care in the world, before falling on her floor, tuckered out. "Y'know, i've never been invited to a party since i've moved in here...well, aside from marco's at least, i just wish it wasn't brittney's of all people", she pouted, looking at the ceiling.

"You really think we're gonna be forced to go?", marco asked, star nodding.

"Yeah, we're stuck now...you know your parents aren't going to let you back out...".

Tom laid back on the bed, annoyed, " I can't believe that, it was so embarrassing, announce my partylessness to the whole world why don't ya dad...", tom covered his face, blushing under it as marco tried to calm him down. "It's ok tom, lots of teens don't go to those kinda parties, you aren't alone...it's not that embarrassing, and it's totally cool".

"You don't get it marco...i already feel anxious enough from barely talking to people...it's like rubbing it in my face".

Oh.

"I'm sure your dad had no ill intent...if it makes you feel any better though, i usually don't get invited to parties either, i usually throw some but never go to much myself", tom was quiet, leaving marco wondering if tom was comforted or not by his words. But he kept talking, just in case he may of stepped out of line, "I know it's lonely and everything...not having fun with the others...i'm sorry this had to be your first party here...".

"That's ok marco...i guess at least, i get to go with you".

Marco felt his face grow warm rather quickly, turning away to hide it, though unfortunately turning away from tom...meant looking at star.

Star smirked, seeing marco's face as he turned away.

If star and tom were dating in secret he didn't want either of them getting the wrong idea.

"Uh yeah, that at least sounds like a lot of fun...i'd rather go with you both then...alone".

"We'll just stick together so that leech doesn't mess with any of us...", tom hissed, "I might have to wear my good suit and everything, just in case...get a little tired of everyone acting like i'm some criminal or something because of how i dress.", it was really a shame the rumors were starting to spread like this, tom was still fairly new, well...not THAT new anymore but he'd hadn't lived here long and everyone was judging him.

it really made marco mad.

How was tom supposed to fit in if everyone was treating him like a danger to society for no reason?

Ok sure, maybe tom had well...scared jeremy half to death, several times, but he hadn't actually done anything criminal! He hadn't robbed anyone or attacked anyone or even harmed anyone for the sake of it. Jeremy was also being a bully during those times as well and tom hadn't even really laid a finger on him either, he came out unhurt...well...his social standing might've been hurt...

No, tom protected him and stood up to a bully, that wasn't the same thing.

These accusations were done to slander the boy.

Really it might've been possible with how tom had stood up to jeremy he might've been getting some attention Brittney didn't like, she hated attention being driven from herself after all, which was why Star bothered her so much. Now there was another strange new student getting the attention of others for her to scoff at, and with him even spending time with star and her best friend she might've felt more threatened.

Of course the new kids who got people's attention were friends, of course they were.

At the very least, that sounded like the reason Brittney was like this.

She could never just handle people taking attention away from herself.

Which then gave marco an idea, something he seemed to share with both his friends in the room.

"Y'know what, i think going might be a good idea, don't you think so?".

"Yeah marco", tom said with a grin that janna would envy, "Y'know something, maybe we HAVE been too hard on her, we should do to her party and give her the BEST birthday she could ever get from someone like us!". Even Star actually seemed delighted, rubbing her hands together, "Ooooo, yessss, i'm already gonna get started working on my gift".

Their smiling faces were quickly wiped however, at the sound of an opening door downstairs.

It seemed star's parents were finally home.

Which naturally starting sending star into a mood, quickly getting up and placing her ear at the door to hear how close they were and if they were talking about her or anything important. Though marco noticed she was glancing back to him more then anything as she listened in, like she was worried he'd hear something he shouldn't for some odd reason.

"Star?".

"Shhhh, my parents are home, keep quiet!".

The boys exchanged looks between them, waiting for star to stop...whatever she was doing, a few minutes passing before she headed outside her room to greet her parents downstairs. Hearing her mother ask if she got detention again and her father erupt in laughter, but overall they both seemed happy. Tom and Marco waiting just in case star didn't want them to come down yet.

But sure enough they heard star coming back up.

"Star? Is everything-?"

"Mom knows you're here...she's asking for you two to come down".

The two boys looked at each other before getting up and heading down the stairs carefully, hoping they weren't in trouble.

Tom actually looked really nervous all of a sudden and marco felt a bit concerned, was tom just nervous to meet his crush (Possibly girlfriend) 's parents? He seemed to look that way, guess he was so eager to get away from his parents he hadn't really taken the time to think about the fact he might of been going to run into star's own parents by being here.

Marco felt a sudden urge to comfort him.

Star's parents weren't THAT bad...but granted, Tom's look might give them the wrong idea.

Especially to someone like Moon who Marco and star both agreed seemed to be a bit more uptight.

But as the boys finally made down moon and river looked upon them pretty normally, the woman wearing a suit and river wearing the most dad outfit you could imagine someone who liked hunting and the outdoors would wear. Though before the boys could relax they were fixated on Tom, and that seemed to make marco really worry, were they judging him?

But they didn't seem mad...they seemed...surprised? Worried? Like they wanted to say something but couldn't?

Marco couldn't read their minds but something felt off when the couple looked at tom.

Like they'd seen him before.

But marco didn't even have much time to really ponder any of that, before River pulled him into a hug that crushed his bones. "MARCO MY BOY! GOOD TO SEE YOU!", this was how the guy usually greeted marco whenever he saw him but marco would prefer to just shake his hand...actually, maybe less then that. River was so strong marco wouldn't be surprised if he could punch a hole in the wall at this point.

Jesus, where were all these super strong people even coming from?

At this point maybe they all came from the same place and everyone was secretly superheros.

"Yeah...good to see you too...", marco managed to get out despite being crushed in the man's arms.

He fixed his clothes as he was let go and noticed moon had pulled tom aside to talk, though marco couldn't even tell what the two were saying to each other, peaking his curiosity even more as star stood nervously by.

Something was going on here and it was super weird, that was for sure,

Though star quickly dragged him into the kitchen to offer him some cereal, away from tom and her parents, only making marco more suspicious of what exactly was going on around here. It was like everyone was in on something he wasn't allowed to know about, and it gave him an uneasy type of feeling as he looked at star skeptically, not buying her attempt to change the subject and distract him.

Before he could even call her out on what was happening she was already making him cereal and answering his question, "Don't worry marco, it's all good...they uh...they just know about the rumors about tom and stuff...so they're nervous...that's all".

Was it though? Would star's parents really care about those rumors that bad? Especially since they were started by a bunch of teenagers?

Star could tell marco wasn't buying it, and she nervously poured him some juice, clearly regretting the choice to take the boys here. She quickly tried to change the subject again despite marco's clear uninterest, "Anyways we could do homework and stuff...come up to my room later so we have some quiet time away from my parents and everything.".

Yeah something was wrong alright, considering star NEVER wanted to do homework.

What the heck was going on?

But whatever it was, it was clear he'd have to push star on it later when she wasn't being...well...however she was being right now, There was no way she was going to tell him what was actually going on when she was like this, he was just going to have to wait. Though he could hear tom talking to star's parents outside, left wondering what they were talking about.

He felt so...left out.

And he really didn't like this feeling.

He never really felt this way before when it was just him and star, but something about tom since he arrived seemed to have marco more on edge, thinking about things he never really had to before.

Was he really overthinking all of this?

He doubted it.

His feelings right now just were...confusing, he didn't know what to think right now and suddenly the comfort he had just a few minutes ago in star's room seemed to have left his mind. Star went back outside to where the others were as marco sat alone, before tom came in to see him, smiling a little awkwardly and trying to brighten marco up, as unsuccessful as it was.

Tom wasn't dumb, he could tell this was all really strange to marco.

"So uh...i'm guessing you might want some answers to-".

"Yeah", marco said, not even needing tom to finish his sentence.

"I'm...gonna have to wait and tell you sometime later...maybe, if i'm allowed".

If he was allowed? What did that mean? Tom wasn't allowed to talk about what was going on? By Who? Star? Her parents? His parents?

Tom could only send him a reassuring glance to help him relax, though marco was having a hard time doing so...his mind swirling with questions, only making tom more worried.

"Marco...please don't-".

"It's fine...it's fine...", marco said, huffing, he needed to pull himself together, if tom was going to tell him what was happening he was just going to have to wait and hear about it, he couldn't lash out at his best friends without knowing what was going on. He felt tom trying to comfort him and reassure him nothing was worth worrying so much about, and marco finally cooled off.

He didn't meant to get so upset but something about this...bothered him.

These were his best friends, the people he should be trusting the most of anyone.

And yet they were keeping secrets from him and leaving him out, he just couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal.

"Marco...i can tell you're not fine...and i'm really sorry, but please...can you trust me on this...when there's a good time...i want to talk about it with you.", marco turned to look at tom directly, into his green eyes before turning away, feeling his face get warm. He really couldn't stay mad at tom for long could he? Tom was being way too nice to him as per usual.

"I...hope you have a good reason for all this", marco mumbled.

"I do...i promise".

Marco munched on the cereal star laid out for him as he felt tom comforting him, "Hey...for the record...we didn't talk about anything you need to worry about ok? Star's parents just had some things they needed to say to me in particular". He was trying to ease marco and marco took a few long breaths to weed out the last of his pent up anger, he'd never been so moodly before.

Was he sure he wasn't the one with the anger issues? Not Tom?

Tom seemed usually very cool and Marco felt he was the one with so much...frustration.

Tom was here, trying to get him to cool down, not the other way around.

Why did om give him a reaction like this so often? First karate now this?

Marco slumped his shoulders, he felt bad now.

"Hey, i'm sorry, i don't know why i'm so moody lately...i didn't mean to take it out on you and star...", his voice change turned tom more towards him, worried, "Hey it's ok, i get what you mean...i get moody too...my parents always say it's hormones and everything but i know it's inherited...my parents have their own anger issues and everything...they're just better at dealing with them then i used to".

"Hormones?", marco now felt REALLY embarrassed if that had been the case, shaking his head and changing the topic.

"I just want to know i can trust you and star...ok? You're my only friends and it feels like you're not telling me something because of...", he didn't finish his sentence and now it was tom's turn to feel bad, "I know...and i really want to tell you...but not right here...it's not a good time...but i will tell you marco...don't think this means i don't trust you or anything".

"I'll take your word for it...ok?".

That was enough for tom, looking rather relived.

"Ok, thank you marco, i promise...i'll explain when i can".

Star suddenly headed back in, relieved, "Ok, think everything is back on track...sorry about that, i really should've thought a but more about bringing you over to my house when my parents might of stepped through the door. ". She actually did seem rather anxious, like this whole thing stressed her out more then usual, it seemed to soften marco just a little more.

"It's ok star, don't worry so much, you got everything under control".

Those words seemed to send a wave of relief to her, "Yeah, yeah i did".

"You think we outta leave before things get more awkward?", star's eyes wandered to marco and back to tom, "Uh...well, maybe for now let's stick around, don't wanna risk getting into another situation or something".

"Actually, good point".

Last thing they needed was to add to the already tense situation they were currently under.

And marco didn't need any more stress placed upon him then he had already placed on himself. Star headed back out of the room and marco finished eating, waiting in silence for star's return, glancing at tom every once in awhile. Sometimes he caught himself looking a little too long, carefully looking anywhere else he could, not wanting to look like a weirdo.

He swore tom had glanced at him a few times though, even if he was trying his best not to think about it too hard, tom was probably just feeling as awkward as marco was. Marco wasn't even sure he knew how to make light conversation right now, he had pretty much all but got into a serious fight with tom and tom was probably being careful not to freak marco out more.

Earlier that day they were talking about how excited they were to hang out at a concert and now marco was freaking out about tom keeping more secrets from him, it was such a long range of emotions that he couldn't fully figure out. He felt sick to an extent, though he knew he was probably exaggerating the situation worse then it already probably was.

"Hey tom i-".

"Tom, marco, your parents are looking for you", moon wandered in, fixing herself up, "I know your visit was brief but you should head back and see them, i think they're worried about you since neither of you told them where you were going and it'll be dinner soon". Tom nodded and stood up, marco doing the same, actually happy to be leaving and getting out of this awkward situation.

Star sending them an awkward wave and promising to text them later so they could figure things out when it came to Brittney's party.

Leaving Tom and Marco to walk together.

"Marco, your friendship means a lot to me...", the tall boy mumbled, "I don't want you to ever doubt that...".

Marco nodded as they walked side by side, "I know, i didn't meant to freak you out, i guess...tom i know something is off, and i know you're not being completely honest with me...star's parents looked at you REALLY funny, like they wanted to say something. I don't...want to pry and stuff, i just...i don't want to feel like i'm being lied to either...like i want you guys to trust me".

"Yeah, i know...", he brushed at his hair, sighing, "I figured something like that would happen eventually...it was nothing against you marco, i promise...".

"So you'll really explain this to me?".

"I will, when i can, i promise...", tom stopped their walk, they stool on the sidewalk between their homes, knowing they needed to part ways and move on for the night, "I really care about you marco, this stuff is just...private...and i need to think about it...before i can consider it.". As much as marco wanted to know what tom wasn't telling him, he had to admit, tom didn't HAVE to tell him anything, this was personal to him and he had a right to talk when he wanted.

Marco gripping his backpack and letting out some air, "Alright, i'll respect that, i'll text you later tonight ok?".

Tom smiled, "Yeah, and we can plan our gift for brittney and our love sentence stuff!".

Marco smiled back, "Yeah, sounds good".

They stood there, as if wanting to hug or something before they parted, but instead, they awkwardly shrugged and avoided eye contact, both a little flushed before marco headed to his house. Tom stood there a second longer before heading to his, marco turning to see the boy wave at him as he closed the door, waving back meekly. The relief of home hitting him.

After dinner, and a long conversation about marco running off to star's without telling his parents, followed by discussing what he should wear to a teen party. Marco was happy to be in his room, getting ready for bed and ending this long day. His cell phone sitting nearby as tom started texting him, the phone constantly buzzing with energy over and over again.

Marco grabbing it and sitting on his bed.

Tom sending him a few pics of him and his rabbit, next to some clothes he wanted to wear for the upcoming events.

He looked so happy.

and marco quickly felt himself blush a little at seeing him before realizing the warmth and shutting it down, thinking about what tom said earlier.

"Hormones...yeah...", he mumbled, texting tom back for a long night of chat.

He'd have to check in with a doctor later...get that sorted out.

Something was up with him and the sooner he fixed it, the better.

[trashcreatyre]

I'm gonna explain one of my TMA playlists bc I've been wanting to do that for several months, and how else am I supposed to procrastinate my animatic project at one in the morning?

(here's the link to the playlist bc I think its pretty slappin')

General:

Body Terror Song By AJJ-

I know that it could technically be a flesh song, but I feel like its a bit more vague than that? if that makes sense?

The Afternoon By Lemon Demon-

there's gonna be a lot of Lemon Demon songs in this lol- This one is also pretty vague, but for some reason it kinda reminds me of Michael specifically? I don't 100% know how to describe it.

thrifted youth By dalynn-

Most of the descriptions/reasonings in the general section are pretty simplistic and vague huh? I guess it just kinda fits the vibe? I might be saying that for a lot of the general ones-

Aurora Borealis By Lemon Demon-

this one reminds me of the season five, kinda feels like a jmart song. (also you'll probably notice that there's not much in the ship theme in this playlist. I like to keep my ship playlists separate from my more general ones, don't know why.)

Under My Skin By Jukebox The Ghost-

just kinda fits the vibe y'know? other than that I don't really know.

Turn the Lights Off By Tally Hall-

i can't actually remember why I put this one specifically- that's a bit unfortunate-

When He Died By Lemon Demon-

This one mostly just fits the vibe, makes me think about the really old Victorian era statements.

Ancient Aliens By Lemon Demon-

again, fits the vibe.

She Doesn't Sleep By Anthony Amorim-

Feels like a random statement tbh. also reminds me of Not!Sasha too.

Nightmare Fuel By Lemon Demon-

funky song- fits the vibe- I don't know what more I can say-

Everybody Loves Me by OneRepublic-

I don't remember actually???? I think It was an Elias one??? but thinking about it now that doesn't really make much sense???? I'm gonna keep it tho, fits the vibe, at least it does to me.

Bloody Nose By Jack Conte-

fits the vibe :)

Christmas Kids By Roar-

I think I saw an animatic to this one time? now I can only think of the season one archival staff,,,, my beloveds,,,,

La nuit en matin By OH MU-

imma be honest, I have no idea what this one's actually about, but It lowkey reminds me of the intro music during end of season three- y'know, the clown vibes :D

9 to 5 By Dolly Parton-

Archival staff moment

American Healthcare By Penelope Scott-

I guess it could technically be seen as an End themed one? but I put it on bc I felt like it fit the vibes (are you getting sick of reading vibes? i'm getting sick of typing it)

Butch 4 Butch By Rio Romeo-

mostly just the rat filled piano line,,,,,, and also it fits the vibes to me.

Oblivion By Grimes-

Kinda feels like a statement?? In a way?

Murders By Miracle Musical-

the vibes. hopefully thats the last time i type that for this-

oh yeah woo yeah, we're onto the specific Entities now B) lets start with the one that probably has the most, if not, it sure feels like it-

The Spiral:

Spiral Eyes By Rewenge-

yeahhhh,,,, I know it doesn't really fit the vibes all that well, But the title fits and I like it so-

The Distortionist By Ghost and Pals-

this one is SUPER obvious, but it fits REALLY well in my mind.

Out of Her Head (Outerlude) [From The Film Possibly in Michigan] By Korban Baxter-

I can literally picture this one- I lowkey wanna do an animatic of this one one day.

A Crow's Trial By Vane Lily-

OKAY- so this last one is because it's the song from an absolutely GORGEOUS animation/animatic by Akidachi on YouTube, I ADORE this animation. please watch it omg-

again, I'm like, 90% sure that The Spiral has the most songs on this playlist, definitely not a bias or anything. next up is the mf uhhhh-

The Corruption:

Spiral of Ants By Lemon Demon-

no explanation needed.

Maggot By Slutever-

Mostly just the name, but it's a good song too so-

Sick On Seventh Street By Sarah and the Safe Word-

fits the vibe title and actual song wise.

in retrospect under my skin probably could be here-

The Web:

Redesign Your Logo (Bonus Track) By Lemon Demon-

Feels like a very web song,,,

Boris The Spider By The Who-

Spider,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Spider Dance By Toby Fox-

Yes,,, like from undertale,,,,,,,

i think thats it for the web (i swore there were more,,,,)

The Lonely:

Nobody By Mitski-

C'mon, you didn't think I WOULDN'T put this one on, did you?

This December By Ricky Montgomery-

idk what it is exactly about this one, just,,,, feels correct?

Blue Jay Way By The Beatles-

MANNNNNNN- i love this song, my mom hates it- that's unrelated- but I always just feel like there's fog or like, an eerie sea, or something- while listening to it. it feels very lonely-

I'm a Member of the Midnight Crew (1909) By Eddie Morton-

I have no idea why spotify suggested this song to me, but I will never not find it funny. Anyway- reminds me of the crew on Peter's ship :)

The Stranger:

Rattlesnake By Kabaret Sybarit-

Idk, feels like smth Nikola would sing at jon- idk how else to explain it-

A Mask of My Own Face By Lemon Demon-

pretty self explanatory lolll

The Slaughter:

War Pigs By Black Sabbath-

war.

The Hunt:

The Hunter By Slaves-

maybe this one is because it's because it's litterally called the hunter, and that they say hunter a bunch, but it is fun to listen to-

Teeth By 8 Graves-

I cannot remember my reasoning at this current moment-

The Flesh:

Body By Mother Mother-

the lyrics do be fittin doe

The Dark:

Everything Goes Dark By The Hoosiers-

i mean- everything goes dark- what more do you want me to say-

Dr.Sunshine Is Dead By Will Wood and the Tapeworms-

i think its mostly the song's vibe and the title.

The End:

The Trick to life By The Hoosiers-

the trick to life is not to get too attached to it.

Memento Mori: the most important thing in the world By Will Wood-

remember death.

YOOO OKAY NOW WE'RE ON THE ONES THAT I HAVE ACTUAL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT NOW- at least for the most part-

Characters:

i think i'm gonna go from least to most for this- (spoilers, Jon has the most ones because I care him)

Cryptid Hunt- Demo By Averno, Sushi Soucy-

this one makes me think of the WTGFs,,,,,

You're at the Party (Bonus Track) By Lemon Demon-

makes me think about Micheal Shelley,,,,,,,

Saint Bernard By Lincoln-

Alice "daisy" Toner moment-

Mary By The Happy Fits-

mary keay,,,,,,

there used to be a gerry one too, but the more I heard it in the context of the playlist and him, It just didn't fit,,,,,

Ew it's Elias/jonah time-

The Fine Print By The Stupendium-

capitalism- jk- kinda- Idk, just feels like it fits because he really just kinda,,, doesn't care about his employees-

How Bad Can I Be? from the lorax-

I had to-

Boss 3 from the terraria soundtrack-

Listen- I don't know why- but- it has elias/jonah vibes- the vibes are fowl, but the song is good.

Ruler of Everything By Tally Hill-

Panopticon/eyepocolypes time-

Ayooo it's jon time- I really hope I can write out my thoughts in a way that makes any kind of sense- /foreshadowing

A Sadness Runs Through Him By The Hoosiers-

Goddddd,,,,, he's just kinda filled with sadness and survivors guilt, just like, all the time huh?

Home By Cavetown-

the lyrics are just- very him- like- I just gjbdjgsflkjns-

Broken Crown By Mumford & Sons-

frick- the foreshadowing was accurate- the best I can describe it is that the lyrics just???? y'know??? hhh why am I like this sometimes-

Sweet HIbiscus Tea By Penelope Scott-

i'm willing to bet that he never wanted to be the main character-

Honey I'm Home By Ghost and Pals-

I saw a Jon centric animatic to this one time- I can't for the life of me remember who by, But everytime I hear the moth lines, my brain goes ":0" Because I remember there was a time when people kept drawing moth jon- I don't know where that came from but I thought it was very cool.

Who Are You, Really? By Mikky Ekko-

I'm like- actually starting to get frustrated with how poorly im articulating my thoughts right now- this just isn't funny anymore-

Sleep By My Chemical Romance-

I'm not actually sure why for this one- I just remeber putting on my black parade CD, hearing this, and being like, "damn, that do kinda be jon tho-"

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings- tbh, all this sounded and read out better in my head. My words might not make sense, but I do like how the playlist is. also im very tired, maybe this would've been written better if I wasn't struggling to keep my eyes open lol. I'm gonna fall asleep now- or maybe i'll post a spiral themed doodle dump again, who knows. I don't know.

[sxveme-2]

blueberry pancakes // bucky barnes

Description: A single mother. Juggling being a mom, a full time pediatrician, and a difficult ex who believed now would be the best time to finally be a father. A soldier ripped out of time. Ex-assassin turned superhero. Learning how to balance a new domestic life with handling demons of his past, while facing the trials of the future. a love story began over something as simple as chocolate chip pancakes with hidden blueberries.

Disclaimer: I do not own any original Marvel characters! All canon plots and canon characters belong to Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios. This is an original work. You may not publish it anywhere else

Status: Edited

Note: Takes place after endgame. I have elected to ignore Tony's death and Steve's leaving. Did not happen. Quick Reminder! My works are only published here, AO3 and on Wattpad, thank you.

Chapter Eight: The One With the Party

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 3083

   Now, nothing in Lily's life ever really came easy, quick, or without some sort of repercussion. It was as though the universe had decided that she hadn't been through enough in her fairly young life already. Hence why it didn't surprise her when the communication between her and Bucky fell off, or more so, never really started. The day at the cafe had been nice, they didn't exactly speak and they were at separate tables, but even Rose noticed the shy glances her older sister would send to the man across the way. Which of course lead to teasing and taunting the rest of the night and for a few days.

Three weeks later, she hadn't seen him. It didn't help that the hospital had scheduled Lily for multiple shifts of overtime and staying late. Which resulted in Hunter spending extra days at Scott’s, and Lily not being at the cafe as often as she typically was. Flu season had come around and all parents believed their kid may have something more serious, but it was simply a lot of flu vaccinations, the odd time an appendicitis surgery. Routine procedures, just a lot of work.

On a chilly day at the end of September, for once, Lily could wake up without having to go to work for twelve hours or more. Her son snoring gently beside her after crawling into her bed from a nightmare the night before, and Joey snuggled at the end. Her deep green eyes fluttered open as the phone on her nightstand buzzed like crazy. Rubbing her eyes, Lily's other hand reached out to grab hold of the device, blurry eyes seeing Bucky's contact pop up on the screen.

With a groggy voice and a confused expression, Lily slid her thumb across the screen to answer, "Hello?"

"Lady Lily! It's Thor! Son of Odin!" a booming voice yelled into the phone, startling the young blonde. Her eyes glanced to her right to check to see that Hunter still laid fast asleep, and to ensure it stayed that way, the doctor slipped out of the bed and out into the hallway. When she closed the door, Thor continued his yelling, "I have stolen sergeant Barnes’s cellular device! I have overheard him and Captain Rogers discussing his feelings towards you!"

Lily winced at the loud voice radiating through her ear. She hadn't met Thor officially, just seen him with the others at the table weeks before. Personally, Lily wasn't interested in blondes, but no one could deny an attraction to the god. You could be the largest lesbian in the world and still would not mind getting down and dirty with the son of Odin. But of course, for the most part, Lily had only been staring at Bucky. And it didn't go unnoticed to many, especially the other Avengers

"I'm sorry? His attraction?" Lily muttered, still attempting to wake herself up from the much-needed sleep she had been woken up from. She wrapped one arm around herself while resting the other elbow on her hand, shivering slightly at the cool temperature of her home.

"Yes! This is lady Lily correct? If so, then I have an invitation for you! Sergeant Barnes does not know about this, nor does anyone else. But it is our dear friend Sam Wilson’s birthday!" he continued to boast, resulting in Lily holding the phone an inch or so away from her ear, "and I believe it would make Sergeant Barnes happy if you came. And bring your friend and sister! Sam has a small thing for lady Rose."

Before Lily could even answer, there was a crash on the other end of the line and the call went dead. Lily could only assume that Bucky had noticed the conversation taking place and shut it down, leaving Lily with a possibly life-changing decision on her plate, but she didn't know that yet. All she knew, was that Gen and Rose would go to any lengths to get Lily to attend the party, saying things like 'it'll be good for you' or 'you can see your loverboy again'. And Lily couldn't deny, she'd love to see Bucky again. But she'd be damned if she admitted it out loud.

-----

After walking joey, the three Osborne’s loaded into the car and drove down the busy roads of New York to Gen's cafe. Scott was picking Hunter up for the weekend, which meant that Lily was free for the night anyway, so maybe the party wasn't such a bad idea? But if you could deduce anything about the blonde, it's that she hated large gatherings and commotion. It made her anxious and paranoid about something that could go wrong. Plus, last time there was any real party like this in her life, she had been shown a video of her husband locking lips with a young brunette who looked about half his age.

"Hunt why don't you go see if there are any treats you can bring for Leila in the back," Lily whispered to her son with a gentle smirk on her face, "I have to talk to aunt Rose and auntie Gen for a few minutes." she continued, ruffling the boy’s hair and sending him on his way to the kitchen around the corner.

The two girls that were sitting opposite of Lily looked at her with matching skeptical expressions, both of their left eyebrows perked with interest as Lily sent her son away. Whenever this happened, Lily usually seemed to drop a ball on the two. Whether it was when she announced her pregnancy, being chosen as valedictorian, or when she shared the news of her divorce. Typically things that Hunter wouldn't understand, or wasn't old enough to know or mature enough to hear. But this was mostly so he didn't grow saddened at the idea of his mother hanging around his idols.

"So I was woken up by a strange phone call from Bucky Barnes," Lily began, and the two girls across from her simultaneously dropped their jaws. Lily held her finger up to signal that she wasn't finished with her story and for them not to jump ahead and get crazy ideas, "but on the other end was actually Thor. He invited us to Sam's birthday party tonight."

This caused shit-eating grins to replace the curious smiles on Gen and Rose's faces. Rose clapped her hands together, while Gen just shook her head in disbelief. These two women were Lily's closest companions in life. Rose was her biological sister that she had no choice but to deal with, sure, but their relationship was more than that. It was deeper and held more meaning than a simple sister relationship. They could lean on each other in times of need and never kept secrets, as far as the other knew. Most kids with multiple years between them aren't as close or never really bond, but Rose and Lily always clicked. Mostly because of their opposing personalities, which was the same as Gen. Gen was Lily's sister from another mister. From the moment they met, they were perfect, and things hadn't changed in all those years leading to this.

"Well, obviously we're going!" Rose exclaimed, pulling out her phone, "I will get the best dresses from my agency and ensure we look unclockable!" the younger Osborne sister beamed while excusing herself to make a few calls, to make sure they looked as good as she pictured. Rose seemed to forget that Lily hadn't agreed to go, but deep down, the eldest Osborne knew she didn't ave a choice.

"This is great! It'll give you a chance to see Bucky again," Gen winked, sipping her coffee. This was typically how the cycle of Gen's setups began, sort of. Lily would stumble across a guy that seemed interested in her, and Gen would stop at no end to get the two on a date. Of course, Lily never really seemed to have any interest in the guy that her best friend set her up with, but maybe this time was different. Maybe Bucky was different. And that's what Gen prayed about as well, "Maybe get to know him a little more. You get chatty when you're tipsy."

Lily Osborne drunk was a sight to see. All of the fear and anxiety she felt seemed to melt away with the ice cubes in her cup. That's why it was called liquid courage. One of the main signs of Lily being intoxicated was her desire to sing. for years, Lily sang in the choir, but always turned down solos, despite being one of the most talented singers that her school had ever seen. She was terrified that people would laugh at her, but if she was home alone, she sang like an angel. Her voice was soft and supple, and her ability to harmonize was unrivalled. Both Gen and Rose secretly hoped that the avengers would be able to be blessed with the sound of Lily's voice because it truly was as angelic as she was.

"I don't know if I even want to go. You know I don't do parties, let alone one hosted by the king of parties himself, Tony Stark." Lily sighed, twisting the straw in her lemonade around as she nibbled on her bottom lip. Her eyes glanced up to see Rose beaming out the window of the cafe, saying something to a designer or somebody on her phone. She looked so excited, and Lily didn't want to be the one to take that away.

Not after the past few weeks, Rose has had.

"C'mon, Lil," Gen sighed as if reading her best friend’s mind. the brunette reached her hands out and cupped Lily's frail and nimble ones, a soft and gentle look on her face, "Rose is excited. For the first time in weeks. Plus, nothing will happen. I'll be there, and so will Rose. Plus, I doubt Mr. Winter Soldier would ever let anything happen to you anyways. Buddies totally whipped."

"Mr. Winter Soldier? really?"

-----

After Scott had scooped Hunter up from the cafe, Lily stole the two adult women away from whatever they were doing, leading them to the car. But, Lily apparently wasn't allowed to drive. It was around two now, and Lily had to get back home to take joey out on his afternoon walk. But no matter the protests she gave, the younger sister was the one behind the wheel and had control over where they went either way. Lily accepted her fate and leaned back in her seat, attempting to figure out where Rose was have taking them.

Recognizing upstate new york, Lily glanced over towards the blonde that sat next to her. The young mom had figured out exactly what Rose was planning in that mischievous head of hers. One thing with all Osborne’s is their ability to not only think on their feet but figure out what was happening around them without anyone telling them. the art of deduction, in a way. But not that advanced, just piecing together their surroundings and doing the math. And with where they were, Lily knew that Rose had the genius idea to take the two other girls to a hair salon to get all nice and done up.

"Yeah no, I can do my hair," Lily stated, crossing her arms over her chest and putting her foot down. No way in hell was she letting another person that she didn't know, do her hair. She had a perfectly good hairdresser down in the suburbs of Manhattan and was fine with just going there for when she needed a haircut. And today? She did not.

"Let me check again...Gen?" Rose swivelled in her seat to look at the back where Gen sat, attempting to hold back a laugh, "Which one of us is the doctor and which one is the stylist?"

This caused Gen to let her giggles escape as she rested her velvety hand on Lily's shoulder, leaning forward towards her best friend, "Rose makes a fair point. You specialize in children's health, she specializes in adult fashion. C'mon, it'll be fun."

Once again, despite her protests, Lily was overpowered and dragged into the salon. The moment she was asked what style she was looking for, she answered, beating out her younger sister in deciding what would look best. She requested a simple hairstyle, possibly a ponytail of sorts. The hairdresser nodded along and got to work. Luckily, no hair was cut off or changed, and it was a simple styling appointment for her and the other girls.

Half an hour later, the three were back in the car, this time, with Lily behind the wheel. The three sang along to the radio as they returned to lower Manhattan, where the suburbs laid. Lily had managed to convince Rose to do her makeup instead of a hire professional, claiming Rose had the same talents as they did. It was true, Rose was a wizard with a makeup brush. Plus, it was fun to see her sister so focused on something like this. All of the pain of the past few weeks forgotten as she created a beige smokey eye on Lily, an a darker version of the same thing on Gen.

After she glanced in the mirror, Lily didn't believe it was her. She looked matured and awake, instead of the typical baby-faced ball of stress she was on a day-to-day basis. She stared into the mirror with a shocked yet elated look on her face, enjoying the feeling of confidence that rushed through her. She was Lily Osborne, full-time doctor and mother, older sister to two siblings, and a survivor of a toxic relationship. But it seemed that all of that confidence shattered when Rose pulled in a rack of dresses for Lily to try on. All tight around the hips and bust, made for girls with hourglass figures who hadn't given birth to a baby. Something that Lily wouldn't be caught dead in.

"Not happening. I refuse."

-----

Compromise. that's the lesson of this section. Taking other’s options or opinions and your own, and finding a common ground. That was the foundation of Rose and Lily's relationship. Learning to compromise with each other to keep the peace. And that was the result of their dispute of the dresses Rose had brought in. Most of them were sleek and tight, almost like a second skin. And as pretty as Lily felt all done up, she didn't have near enough confidence to rock one of the body-con dresses her sister had brought.

In the end, she decided on something a bit more classic and Lily-like. A lake blue dress with spaghetti straps holding it up. It had silver lace decals spread all across both the lower plunging neckline and a-line tulle skirt that hit just below Lily's mid thigh. A piece of mesh fabric kept the cleavage that Lily had tucked in, instead of placing it on display like the majority of the cocktail dresses Rose had brought in. The deeper blue helped extenuate the green of Lily's eyes, which was complemented by the light golden shimmer that laid atop of her eyelid. Her lips were a pink nude with a touch of gloss to create a shiny effect, and her hair was pulled into a pony connected by two criss-cross pieces of hair, with two strands falling forward to frame her face. One word to sum it all up, breathtaking. Lily radiated in her outfit, and anyone who saw her would have no choice but to agree. And if they didn't? They were either delusional or lying to themselves because she was stunning.

Rose, on the other hand, was embracing the small window of time she had left without showing the baby bump. She adorned a burgundy lace dress that hugged her curves like a glove and came to a halter top point around her neck. Her golden blonde hair laid across her shoulders in a curly river, with deep red lips to compliment the dress. Her eyes were done a bit darker than both Lily and Gen's, making her forest green eyes stand out as well. Rose and Lily were blessed with the looks of their mother. High cheekbones, plump lips and a perfectly sculpted nose that tends to make most jealous. Although Rose knew her worth and understood her beauty, Lily had a harder time coming to terms with it due to the anxiety that plagued her mind. It created a constant reminder that she just wasn't enough, and to try harder.

Gen stayed true to her out-of-the-box aesthetic and wore a suit jacket dress that reached her mid-thigh, with a pair of bright yellow pumps to create a splash of colour in her outfit. Her braids were pulled into a high ponytail, and a darker smokey eye created a glowing ring around the amber eyes that she was blessed with. Her plush and plump lips were painted a deep maroon, and she looked like a businesswoman who had men falling at her feet. When in reality, she was the most easy-going and relaxed person you would probably ever meet, and would rather die than ever be stuck behind a desk at a corporate job.

The three ladies corralled themselves into Lily's car and began their journey towards the avengers compound a bit before the event started. Rose had instructed Lily to leave at a time that would make them fashionably late, to keep Thor guessing whether or not his invitation was accepted or not. Plus it built up the suspicion of the others around the man. Somehow Rose knew all of this, and Lily guessed it was because of her extensive work in the fashion industry. Having to tell people what will make them look their absolute best. Both fashionably, and socially. And who was Lily to argue?

When they did arrive, Lily let out a shaky breath before turning off the car. There was no turning back now. They had drove all of this way, and Lily knew Rose and Gen would be pissed if she chickened out now. Plus, she doubted that they would even let her. Honestly, the two would drag her in by her toes if they had to. Out of Lily's best interest of course. They wanted her to move on and live her life outside of work and Hunter.

"Come on Lil, let's go get the tinman to fall in love with you."

[blueeyedgeorgie]

Dry Humor-W.L

“can you write some fluff for Will where the reader (his gf), helps Will with some eboys content, and has very dry humour, so ends up completely roasting the others (and maybe some other friends like sidemen and the Cals), and like the fans find it really funny?“

Pairing: WillNE x Reader

Word Count: 1.9k+

_______________

"Hey, love can you come help me with something?" It was normal for Will to call Y/n in to help him film something, usually it'd be just another Reddit video, sometimes it'd be for his main channel. It had surprised Y/n when she found out she was needed for an Eboys video. "You're not gonna make fun of me, are you?" Y/n glanced at the camera that was flashing a red dot. He was filming. "Not at all, I actually need your help picking out some of the boys' YouTube videos to review in an Eboys video," Will explained, pulling YouTube up on his monitor. "Then why are you filming?" Y/n kept her eyes on the camera. "Oh, in case there're any golden moments that we can put into the video," Will smiled to the camera. Y/n gave him a look, only causing Will to let out a small laugh. "Anyways, let's look at some of Alex's videos." Will had scrolled down through Alex's videos, finally spotting a good video from around 2 years ago. "Alex's old thumbnails make me anxious to look at," the h/c girl had a look on her face Will couldn't really read. "Why's that?" "I don't know, they look like something a teenage tik toker would make when trying to start a YouTube channel," Y/n had begun to bite on her nails. A smile spread across Will's face, he looked into the camera with a small nod. "What?" "Nothing," Will gave a shrug as he looked back to his computer. There were a few moments of silence before Y/n spoke up again. "It's crazy," Y/n had spoken up as Alex's video began to play. "What?" "Alex has gone through more hairstyle changes than I've changed my clothes," Y/n replied, keeping her eyes on the monitor, watching Alex talk as his purple hair was clearly visible. Will let out another laugh. "Oh, this is great," Will smiled, grasping onto his girlfriend's hand. Alex's video had finished up, leaving Will to start scrolling through his next friend's videos. He had chosen James Marriott to react to next. He had soon enough clicked on a video from James's series 'Can't Actually Sing.' Y/n hadn't said much throughout the video, but it only had taken so long before she finally spoke up. "I'm sorry, but if James keeps talking about Wonderwall, I'm going to lose my mind," Y/n let out a sigh, shaking her head. James had just started to talk about the song again on the video he filmed. "Wonderwall is really that annoying to you, isn't it?" Will looked over to his girlfriend. "I use to not care about the song. it's cool that James likes the song, but he talks about it so often. It's gotten so annoying," Y/n gave a shrug. Will only gave a nod as the couple continued to watch through James's video. "Okay, since you judged Alex's thumbnails, what do you think about James's?" Will had asked as soon as James's video had ended. "He literally makes the same face in every thumbnail he puts his face in. The only difference is that he moves it around. Wannabe Sniperwolf, 3/10," Y/n glanced over to the camera for a moment. There wasn't much emotion to her voice, Will couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. "Wannabe Sniperwolf, that's what I'm calling James now," Will grinned. Finally, it was George's turn to be judged by Y/n. Will had chosen a video that didn't involve George playing a gameplay. Halfway through the video, George had gotten up and began to walk around. "Listen, I know I'm short but at least I'm not George," Y/n shook her head. "Isn't George taller than you?" Will looked over to his girlfriend. "Yeah, but George is also a 22-year-old and is 5'7," Y/n smiled. "George and Alex are like the same height," Will chuckled. "Yeah, well I wouldn't want to be Alex either," Y/n gave another shrug. "Okay, what do you think about George's thumbnails?" Will had closed out of the video, going back to George's posted videos. "Some of them remind me of Alex's thumbnails," Y/n cringed. "I just don't like them." "Do you like any of the boys?" Will let out a laugh. "Oh, of course. They're amazing. They're like family, I just don't watch their YouTube videos," Y/n quickly explained herself, glancing from her boyfriend to the camera. "Okay, but what do you think of the sidemen?" Will had cocked his head to the side. "Why Sidemen? That's literally the weirdest name for a group," Y/n did a playful eye roll. "I've never thought to myself, 'you know, if I had to name a group channel name, I'd name it Sidemen.' Like, are they the side hoes or something?" "You're amazing," Will laughed. "What are your thoughts on Inabber?" "I literally love Fraser, but his YouTube videos are just too long. I really don't want to watch a 20-minute video on Onision or Jake Paul," Y/n shook her head. Will let out another laugh. "This is why I love you." "Only because of my humor? Wow, you have low standards," Y/n rolled her eyes once more. "No, I didn't mean it like that," Will shook his head. "I know, babe. I'm messing with you," Y/n let out a laugh. "Are we done yet?" "Yeah, I'll text the boys and ask if they're ready to film,"  Will smiled, leaning in to give Y/n a kiss.

"Alright lads, I brought Y/n in for a bit," Will had grinned at his camera. He and the boys had just started filming a new video for the Eboys channel. "I had her react to a few of you lads." "Oh god..." James sighed. "I already know I'm gonna get it worst," Alex shook his head. "I think I'm gonna have to agree with that," Will grinned, followed by him letting out another laugh. "Anyways, let's start the video, don't we?" Will had shared his screen with his friends, hitting the play button. 'I don't know, they look like something a teenage tik toker would make when trying to start a YouTube channel,' Y/n finally spoke up on the video. Alex threw his hands up, "They're old videos!" Laughter could be heard coming from the boys. The video continued on, having Y/n to continue talking about Alex. 'Alex has gone through more hairstyle changes than I've changed my clothes.' "Now this is a low blow!" Alex shouted. "I think she's right," Will wiped a tear from his face. He had been laughing so hard tears had been brought to his eyes. "Of course you think she's right, Will. She's your girlfriend," Alex shook his head. "Is my turn done yet? Is she done roasting me?" "Yeah, yeah. I think so," Will nodded, unpausing the video on his monitor. 'I'm sorry, but if James keeps talking about Wonderwall, I'm going to lose my mind.' "Wonderwall's a good song!" James spoke in a defensive tone. "It's an easy song to play on the guitar!" 'I use to not care about the song. it's cool that James likes the song, but he talks about it so often. It's gotten so annoying.' "Oh, I'm sorry! I'll shut up about it when you come around, Y/n," James shook his head. "She's right, mate," George laughed. "You constantly talk about that song." "She's gonna roast you next, yet you're defending her?" James raised a brow. "Alright, I see how things are, George." "Oh wow, James got defensive quickly," Will grinned. 'He literally makes the same face in every thumbnail he puts his face in. The only difference is that he moves it around. Wannabe Sniperwolf, 3/10.' "Oh, c'mon! 3/10? At least I don't put the stupid red square behind me," James let out a laugh. "He gets defensive over a song, but his thumbnails he can laugh about," Alex laughed, throwing his head back. "Let's keep going, I think it'll be my turn next," George ushered Will to unpause the video once again. Will, obliged, and it hadn't taken long for George to pop up next. 'Listen, I know I'm short but at least I'm not George.' "Low blow, Y/n!" George practically shouted, shaking his head. The boys exploded into laughter like dynamite. 'George and Alex are like the same height,' Will had spoken over the video. 'Yeah, well I wouldn't want to be Alex either.' "Hey! It's not my turn anymore!" Alex threw his hands into the air for another time. 'Okay, what do you think about George's thumbnails?' Will continued to speak in the video. 'Some of them remind me of Alex's thumbnails,' Y/n cringed on the screen. 'I just don't like them.' "What do you like, Y/n?!" George snapped at his camera. "It doesn't seem to be any of us!" "Hold on, lads," Will grinned, standing up from his desk. "Where's Will going now?" Alex sighed. Will disappeared out of the room for a moment, only to come back in with his dear girlfriend, Y/n. "Hi boys!" Y/n laughed, coming closer to the video call. "Y/n, how could you say those things about us!" George shouted. "I'm sorry, I was trying to be funny for Will's video," Y/n sighed. "I love you guys, I really do!" "She just has dry as fuck humor," Alex sighed, rubbing his face. Y/n let out a laugh, "I'm sorry, guys. Yeah, I'm pretty dry I guess." "I genuinely think this was one of my favorite Eboys moments to film," Will kept a stupid grin on his face. "Of course it is for you, Will. Your girlfriend didn't roast your videos," James smiled. "I live with her, she roasts me on every little thing I do," Will chuckled, pulling Y/n into his lap. "I can confirm this is true," Y/n smiled with a nod. "You two are something else," Alex shook his head. "We know," Y/n continued to nod. "Anyways, Y/n you mind leaving us be so we can continue the video, love?" Will gave a peck to Y/n's cheek. Y/n gave a nod as she waved to the boys, beginning her exit. The boys had yelled obnoxious goodbyes behind her, only receiving another wave. Dry humor or not, Will adored his girlfriend.

The Eboys's new video had finally been posted, Will sat in his living room, scrolling through the comments of the video, looking for feedback. 'Y/n is iconic.' 'We want more Y/n! Her humor is awesome!' 'Y/n cult>Louis cult' "Hey love," Will called out, continuing to scroll through comments. "What's up?" Y/n replied, walking over to the couch Will sat on. "The fans love you," Will smiled. "Well, of course they do. I don't know how someone couldn't. They really love your humor though." "That's great," Y/n smiled, sitting down next to her boyfriend. Y/n read the comments as Will scrolled. "I can't believe how many people think I'm funny," Y/n giggled. "Oh, they don't think you're funny, they think how the boys are reacting is funny," Will smirked. "Oh, shut up," Y/n slapped a hand against Will's chest. "I'm sorry," Will laughed. "They think you're funny, I promise." "That's good," Y/n smiled, leaning her head against Will's shoulder. "You're truly funny, Y/n," Will looked down at his girlfriend. "I love your humor." "I know," Y/n looked up at her boyfriend. "I love your humor too."' "We're just two funny peas in a pod, aren't we?" "We really are," Y/n nodded. "Love you, Will." "Love you, Y/n."

Taglist:

@daddydobrock​

@anyasthoughts​

@multifandom-but​

[concussed-to-pieces]

The Mettle Of A Man; Part Eighteen

Fandom: Fallout (4)

Pairing: Eventual Paladin Danse/Female Sole Survivor

Rating: Holy shit M.

AN: Happy holidays, everyone! A little something to occupy your time this fine evening. Tagging @anonymouscosmos​, @culturalrebel​, @mercy-and-malice​, @deepkittycollecto​, @nelba​, @mechanicalism​ and @commandershepardshtole. Enjoy!

Part One: ArcJet

Part Two: The Prydwen

Part Three: Orders

Part Four: Finding Brandis

Part Five: Weston Water And Oberland

Part Six: Meeting Preston And Matthew

Part Seven: Radstag And Radstorm

Part Eight: The Return To Sanctuary Hills

Part Nine: Domestic Ruminations

Part Ten: Institutionalized

Part Eleven: Two Weeks, Three Days

Part Twelve: Haylen’s Warning And The Glowing Sea

Part Thirteen: Under Fire

Part Fourteen: Dichotomy

Part Fifteen: The Litany Trial

Part Sixteen: Nice Try

Part Seventeen: Preparations

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: This installment contains depictions of violence, emotional distress and child endangerment. Stay safe!]

The map on the table was worn and tattered, held in place by a few books and one large glass disc commonly used for magnifying purposes. Backhand paced to and fro, mentally going over her list of resources. Flanking her were Danse and Preston, the latter having graciously accepted an in-person invitation to their final strategy meeting. Her lieutenant's ability to remain levelheaded was, as ever, a relief to Vega. Not that Danse wasn't levelheaded, but she felt guilty about how much she had grown to expect of him. It would be much simpler to divide their workload if the three of them worked together.

  Further over to the right stood Sturges, the man sandwiched in between Ingram and Li while he fidgeted with his goggles. This was no small task they were attempting and everyone was at least slightly nervous.

  Elder Brandis cleared his throat pointedly. "Alright General, let's hear it."

  Vega straightened up, coming to rest her palms on the ragged edge of the map on the desk in front of her. "We will be performing this op primarily with Minuteman troops. Brotherhood are enforcers and medical operations. We only engage hostiles as a last resort. We are sticking to the plan." She announced firmly. "Preston, Sturges and Nick will take Charlie squadron and work to recalibrate the mainframe. Delta squadron is with Danse, they'll secure the exit tunnel." Backhand gestured at the large paladin, who nodded. "Once Alpha squadron breaches their defenses, Delta squadron will be in charge of locating Liam and his group. He's promised to have the willing synths in a secured location, and he'll be awaiting further orders." 

  "Those are Delta squadron's official orders, General?" Danse asked, seeming to desire some sort of final confirmation. Deep down, Backhand hoped they weren't all making a terrible mistake sending him into the Institute.

  "You're our main line of defense when it comes to that tunnel. I want you on high alert, but only engage if there is no recourse." 

  "Understood, General." Danse saluted her.

  "Elder Brandis, you will be down at the staging area beneath the Prydwen with Pride squadron and Liberty Prime. You will be overseeing our operations on that end since I will be in the field with Alpha squadron." Backhand continued, chuckling when Brandis huffed.

  "Oh certainly, stuff me into the supervisory role." The former paladin complained good-naturedly, already well-aware that his place was with the Prydwen.

  "Beta will be staying over here by the teleporter platform," Backhand used her sheathed knife to indicate the area on their gridded map, just beneath the Prydwen. "We'll have the triage station there. This includes Curie, Scribe Haylen, Scribe Neriah and Knight Rhys for support." She then clicked her radio handset twice. "Echo, that is, MacCready, John D. and Lancer-Captain Kells, you're on long range and aerial securing Bunker Hill. I'm sure that if the Institute does decide to muster any sort of counter-attack, that and the Prydwen will be their main targets."

  " Man oh man, this is pretty legit ," Deacon's voice crackled over her radio. " Never thought we'd be takin' the fight to these bastards. Nobody pinch me. "

  "The Atom Cats crew will be at the Castle with Cait and a small cadre of Minutemen dubbed Foxtrot squadron, holding their position and shoring up any weaker areas. I'm counting on that being the Institute's third target. That's our radio tower and hub of operations. So Zeke , I'm depending on you to work together with the troops there. Keep my people safe." Vega said firmly into her handset.

  " Hey alley cat, your people are my people, and Zeke always takes care of his people ." The greaser stated, his words drawling lazily through the speaker. " You just take care of my man Sturges, you feel me? He's a vital part of the Atom Cats. If I hear that he died because of some Institute square , my jimmies will be severely rustled ."

  Sturges rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine , Zeke. Just keep up your end of the bargain."

  " Roger that, cool cat ."

  "Goodneighbor is still on standby for aid, and they will be observing Diamond City for any disturbances." Vega had barely gotten the chance to mention them before Hancock's rough voice was piping up out of the speaker.

  " No way the Institute would be dumb enough to fuck with Diamond City ," he growled, " and if they are...well, there's plenty of us in Goodneighbor that got a bone to pick, ya' feel me? The boys of Golf squadron are prepped for a brawl ."

  "There will be at least one of John's operatives staged with every squadron aside from Delta. Listen to them . I don't want any unnecessary loss of life here." The General of the Minutemen ordered. "Generation threes are indistinguishable from humans. Do not engage them unless there is no other choice. These are not soldiers. These are scientists and scared maintenance workers. With that being said, if you encounter coursers sing out with your position. I want to try and maintain eyes on them whenever we can." 

  "They are extremely effective and deadly combatants. You'll know them by their black gear. General Vega is the only one thus far who has survived any sort of tussle with them." Preston supplied, his words no-nonsense. "We do not want to engage them head on, but we only have a limited number of EMP grenades. So we gotta' be careful."

  "That's why I'm countin' on you an' the detective to watch my back, boss." Sturges grinned at Preston. "It'll be a hell of a struggle hackin' into their mainframe an' such if they're tryin' to slice and dice us."

  "Nick and I will do our best, but I believe it would be a smart choice for you to act real fast." Garvey said pragmatically. "After all, the Institute will have the advantage of numbers on their side."

  "You'll all be under a time crunch once that reactor begins to melt down. Emergency relays will fire off shortly after that, so that's when everyone will have to be on their toes." Doctor Li mused. "Hopefully they don't think we would be dumb enough to actually go through with this plan and we'll get the drop on them." 

  "Fingers crossed, at any rate." Ingram chimed in, cracking her knuckles in her gauntlets.

  "Last call to back out." Backhand announced across every frequency, "there's no shame in asking for a reassignment or to sit this operation out. We can always move things around."

  " Pretty sure I speak for everyone when I say, fuck that ." Hancock rasped. " We're with you, General Sunshine. To the bitter end, and some of us even after that. "

  " Yeah, gotta' say I'm throwin' my hat in with the freak show. " Deacon agreed, and Backhand could practically hear him winking behind those ridiculous sunglasses. " What's the fun of uninviting yourself to a party, after all? "

  God, this was really happening. Vega felt nerves tighten her hands into fists as more and more voices came over the secure channels, more and more confirmations that she had a legitimate army at her disposal. 

  A large gauntlet gently brushed her hand, mechanical fingers toying with the lucky bandanna wrapped around her wrist. "Awaiting your command, General." Danse murmured when she turned to look at him for reassurance, the paladin giving her a stern nod.

  Awaiting your command, General .

  Elder Brandis straightened up, clasping his hands behind his back. "Alright, everyone get to your positions. Proctor, I believe you have a giant to awaken." 

  "Let's get to it, people!" Danse boomed, a boyish grin tugging at the corner of his mouth for a moment. Soldier to the end .

  Everyone filed out of the room, Preston lingering awkwardly before he extended his hand to Elizabeth. "I need you to know that no matter what happens, I'm damn glad to have met you." He stated, laughing when Vega hauled him into a hug. "I'll see you on the other side, alright General?"

  "Thank you so much, Preston. For everything." Backhand mumbled into his shoulder. Preston hugged her back tightly, then pulled away.

  "It's the Commonwealth way, General. You'd know that better than anyone." The young man reminded her kindly, helping to straighten out her worn army helmet. "Now c'mon. Can't have you falling behind on your date with destiny. Still got that lucky bandanna?"

  "Always." Vega said, tapping the cloth on her wrist.

  "Good. We can use all the help we can get." Preston opened the door to the observation deck. Vega felt suddenly like her boots were made of cement, and she turned to look back at Danse one last time. The armored man appeared engrossed in whatever Brandis was saying to him, his helmet still tucked beneath his arm. 

  "Danse!" Vega called before she could think better of it, and the paladin jolted, looking up. "Take care, okay?" 

  "Ad Victoriam, General." Danse replied with a sharp salute, those brown eyes seeming too forlorn for someone who was merely wishing a contemporary good luck. 

  Backhand didn't dare dwell on it, instead turning on her heel and scrolling to the option to relay on her Pip Boy. The last thing she saw before relaying was the half-destroyed skyline of Boston, and her eyes narrowed in determination. So much had already been taken from her, what was denying herself one more thing?

  The now-familiar crackle of energy met her ears as she teleported into the Institute for the final time. Sure steps led her to the control panel across from the teleporter, and steady hands fed the holotape into the slot beneath the screen.

  'Institute relay targeting sequence' holotape accepted , the screen announced. Initiate remote relay sequence?

  Backhand took a deep breath, her index finger hovering over the 'enter' key. All her conversations with 'Father', with X6, with the scientists and doctors and maintenance synths…

  Was she really about to throw all of that away?

  The woman shook her head at herself after a second. She could justify it later. Right now, she needed to be the one who could make the hard choices. 

  She pressed the key.

  ...

  It was organized chaos at best. 

  Paladin Logan Danse, pride of the Brotherhood of Steel, continued to wave the shell-shocked synths on into the tunnel. He could dimly hear the sounds of booming musket artillery, which indicated that the main contingent of Delta squadron's Minutemen had encountered resistance. It was only a matter of time before their escape route was discovered, unless the Minutemen could hold them off. 

  Did they even need to, though? If the synths that wished to voluntarily escape had already done so…

  Danse shook his head at himself. No . Everyone deserved the opportunity to flee from this technological tomb. Whether they took it or not was their own choice, but it was a choice . 

  The ground was littered with the plasticine remains of the guards that had been stationed by the tunnel. Their programming was so thorough that they could not be reasoned with, and Delta squadron had made swift work of them. Danse's stomach churned with unease as he assisted his troops, but he had carried on doggedly to complete their objective.

  Liam indicated with a nod that the synth who had limped past them was the last of his little group. "I don't know how I can repay you-" he began to say tearfully, extending a hand. A laser ricocheted off the wall, tagging his shoulder and knocking him backwards.

  Danse whirled, spotting the distant forms of a cabal of coursers storming their location. It seemed that the Institute had broken through their line of defense. Their only saving grace at the moment was just how long the hallway was. "The blast doors, can you close them?" He frantically barked at Liam, who was staring at his bloodied shoulder in silent shock. The younger man shook himself after a moment, all but toppling against the terminal mounted on the wall. 

  Danse lumbered in front of him, functioning as a shield while the young man worked feverishly. Doors began closing behind the coursers and Liam cursed under his breath, maneuvering into a different menu. With an almighty groan, the blast doors guarding the tunnel entrance began to close sluggishly. Then, the security doors leading to the hall also creaked to life. 

  "Go, your friends will need a familiar face." Danse ordered as Liam turned to him. "I'll maintain our position here." Lasers scorched off the walls overhead, and another bolt skittered along the ground while Liam just... stared up at him. " Go , soldier!" Danse demanded. 

  "Rip the terminal out, okay? Otherwise they might reverse it." Liam requested shakily, cupping the graze on his shoulder and then fleeing into the tunnel.

  Rip the terminal out . Danse's massive gauntlet pulverized the machine, but he did tear it off the wall for good measure before returning to his bulwark position in front of the doors. 

  Some of the coursers had either peeled off from the group or cloaked themselves. That might prove troublesome. But the doorway was ever so slowly closing, and their chances of actually reaching him grew more and more slim. They seemed to realize this, as their fire came more frequently and aimed even more poorly than before.

  Suddenly, so suddenly that Danse wondered if he was seeing things for a split-second, a small child came barreling out of one of the intersecting tunnels, barely ahead of the mob. The little boy tripped and nearly fell, screaming at Danse, "wait, please! Don't leave me here!" 

  If the security doors would stop the coursers they would absolutely stop this child, and God only knew what the coursers would do to the child. Danse's arm shot out before he could think about it and the door hit the side of his pauldron with a teeth-rattling shriek of metal, slowing the already tepid advance. Bracing his thigh and upper arm against the door, Danse stepped into the hallway, closer to the coursers, his free hand outstretched to seize the boy the moment he was within reach. He didn't dare try to thin the herd at this proximity, God forbid a shot bounce off the wall and strike the child-

  His pauldron creaked audibly under the strain of holding the door open as the child flung himself into Danse's grip, and the paladin quickly withdrew into the small room behind him. The blast doors slammed shut and for a moment, everything was blissfully silent. Danse was vaguely reminded of he and Backhand's close call with the elevator, just resting most of his weight against the wall as he tried to process whatever the hell had just happened. 

  Then, "Th-Thanks!" the child panted, his entire body trembling from his close call. "Have you seen my mom, mister?" Danse cocked his head, bewildered. The child was maybe ten years old, his mop of dark brown curls matted to his forehead from the sweat of his wild sprint. Something about his eyes caught Danse's attention, though. They were startlingly blue, icy . Familiar. "She's got blue eyes n' freckles like me, and funny white marks on her face, right here!" The boy continued while indicating at his left temple. He drew a quick line from the top of his face to the bottom, ending at his chin.

  Danse's chest went tight.

  Elizabeth . This...was this Shaun? Had she been lied to? Or was this one last trick up the Institute's sleeve? She had mentioned getting duped by a child synth during her first visit. Was this the false child? Well, no more a false child than he was a false man, he corrected himself hurriedly.

  "You need to come with me." The paladin said finally, extending his gauntlet to the child and beckoning for him to follow. "It's not safe here."

  "Okay." The little boy actually took hold of his gauntlet, tiny hand wrapped around one large finger. "My name's Shaun. What's your name?" 

  Shaun . "Danse."

  "Father said my mom would be comin' for me, but I already knew that. My mom is super tough, and she's not scared of anythin'!" Shaun prattled cheerily at him as they made their way to the spiral ramp upwards. "He gave me a tape to give her, said it was real important. My mission is to get the tape to my mom! Do you have a mission, Mister Danse?"

  Danse was trying to decide how to answer when a muffled explosion echoed behind him. He stifled a swear, hoisting Shaun up with one arm. "Hold on to me," he instructed the child curtly, realizing that he had nearly backed himself into a proverbial corner. If the coursers caught him on the glorified staircase, he and this... boy , would be hung out to dry. "Hold on and tuck your head, alright?"

  The servos in his greaves and cuisses whined as the paladin made a mad dash for the nearest hallway instead, desperately trying to recall the map that Backhand had made them of the Institute floorplan. Which level was it that would lead him back to the relay room? Damn it .

  He took a gamble and darted off to the right, blundering through several doors, down numerous hallways that all looked the same until the paladin finally located an elevator, up a flight of stairs and--

  Elizabeth .

  Danse hurriedly cupped one large gauntlet over the synth child's head, effectively blocking his hearing and sight. 

  ...

  "Creation happened because of you, but you enslaved and hoarded that creation!" Backhand shouted hotly. "You didn't personally create a damn thing, Shaun , and you've been riding the coattails of people smarter than you your entire life! You self-righteous ass! " The young woman raged at the elderly, bedridden man in front of her. 

  "I don't expect someone like you to understand why I've done what I've done." Shaun wheezed, his tone bitter. "You've already thrown your lot in with those barbarians , Mother. The savages that dog the steps of my beautiful creations…"

  "Beautiful creations? You treat them like they're slaves or pieces of hardware!" Backhand retorted. "You call them hammers, wrenches, cogs and gears in your magnificent machine. You've never been a father, Shaun, and you know it." Memories rushed forward, still raw after all this time. Nate, their arguments, the paperwork--

  The dying man inclined his head, that sardonic smile that crossed his features so like the father he had never met. "Perhaps not. But then, you have also never been a mother, have you?"

  She hated that he could get under her skin so easily, pick at her insecurities like fresh scabs. "How dare you ," was all she could hiss in reply.

  Shaun chuckled, the noise dry. "Oh yes, you went through so much to get me back. Yet here you are, defiling the innards of the Institute's still-warm corpse while your son lies dying. How great and noble you are, General Vega." He sneered while she stood there, her knuckles white on the stock of her gun. "The compassionate leader, the prime example of virile, fertile pre-War stock."

  "Shut the fuck up." Backhand snarled, skin crawling uncomfortably at his crude terminology. "You shut the fuck up. I've had enough. You can die quietly on your own or I can speed up the process, but I'm not sitting here and listening to you ramble." With steady hands, the laser rifle's muzzle pressed to the side of his head. "Which is it, old man?" 

  On the inside she was cracking, crumbling, hysterical with guilt and grief and the loss that had nearly driven her to the brink. But on the outside, she was every inch General Vega. Unbreakable veteran, savior of the Commonwealth. The one who got things done, no matter the cost. 

  "I've liberated all your forces and rendered you toothless , old man. How would you like to die?" She reiterated when he was silent.

  "Leave me be. You brazen, detestable bitch , threatening to kill a dying man in his bed." Shaun snapped, his tone laced with venom, "I hope the coursers skin you alive!"

  Backhand knew her smile was sad. "Funny, that's probably what your father would have said too. Have it your way, old man." She went to turn on her heel, then promptly froze.

  Danse , standing awkwardly at the top of the stairs, one large arm wrapped around... something . "Vega?" He asked warily.

  Elizabeth rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Gimme a second, okay? One more thing I have to do here and then we're gone." She said with a calm she did not feel. Danse nodded slowly, shifting his weight back as she moved to the terminal. Backhand couldn't be bothered to ponder his strange body language, the woman too busy trying to remember the passcode Sturges had given her. "I'm issuing the evacuation orders." She stated. Whether it was aimed at Danse or Father , she couldn't decide.

  "Of course, General." Danse's voice was oddly soft even through the helmet's speakers. 

  Suppose that answers that question , Vega griped mentally, the keys clicking sluggishly underneath her fingertips. Other than that, the room was silent. She realized she was holding her breath and exhaled forcefully, pressing the 'enter' key for the confirmation prompt. 

  The overhead announcement system crackled to life, offering the succinct information that the reactor was in a meltdown state. The evacuation order had been successfully issued, just like she had promised Preston she would. 

  Everyone deserves the chance to live the way they want to . "I wish that there had been another way." Backhand blurted out. "I wish that...I wish things hadn't gotten so stupid."

  "You lying- " 

  Danse cut off Father's reedy voice, the paladin firmly stating, "you and I both know that the Institute would have continued to terrorize the populace ad nauseam, General Vega. This was the only solution. With time and effort, perhaps the Commonwealth will be able to work past their differences with synths." He sounded enviably hopeful and certain.

  Backhand stole a shuddering inhale, blinking away her tears. Without so much as a glance backwards, she led the way out onto the spiraling ramp.

  …

  The General was dead quiet. The sounds of combat echoed up from far, far below. Where was the rest of her team? Why had she come here alone?

  "Elizabeth." Danse finally said softly, drawing her attention to him. 

  Her lower lip trembled slightly as she made eye contact, but she bravely kept her composure. "Yes, Danse?" 

  The paladin wordlessly moved his hand and revealed the small boy tucked into the protective cradle of his elbow. Shaun blinked up at him, seeming a little dizzy. Vega's sob sounded painful, like it dragged through her ribcage and burst from her throat. At the noise, Shaun glanced over. "Mom!" He was obviously thrilled, struggling to get out of Danse's hold. "Mom it's really you! You did come for me, just like Father said you would!" 

  "Of...of course I did, baby." Backhand choked out, kneeling so she could hug the boy. "Let's get you out of here, okay?" 

  "I have a mission, just like Mister Danse. He's great!" The child prattled cheerily, taking her hand and pressing a holotape into her palm. "Father said you'd come back for me, and that I should give this to you! He said it was really important so I needed to keep it safe."

  Backhand glanced at Danse, but all the paladin could offer was a shrug. God only knew what was on the tape. Hell, God only knew why 'Father' had sent this defenseless child synth out in the middle of a full-scale assault. A nasty suspicion took root in Danse's chest, but he shoved it down. He wouldn't voice such a notion at this point; Elizabeth was clearly in an incredibly delicate state. One more thing might send her spiraling. No , he would keep it to himself, ignore the terrible thought that had come to him the second he realized who the boy was. Because if Father had sent this child out to die purposely--

  "I'll listen to it later, I promise." Backhand was saying to the child, her words thick with suppressed emotion. "I'm glad you're okay." 

  "I was pretty scared, but Father said I needed to find you on my own." Was Shaun's reply, his tiny hand safe in hers. 

  The sight caught Danse strangely in the chest, and he turned his head away before the lump in his throat could overcome him. It was just the domesticity of it all, he reassured himself. Elizabeth's own joy, fragile as it was, sent a current of longing through his body that struck his very core. Could he have made her happy, if things had been different? If he hadn't been a poor facsimile of a man, or maybe even if he had simply never learned the truth about what he was? Could they have enjoyed years of contentment, eking out a meager yet rich existence in the unforgiving Commonwealth soil?

  Maybe. But maybe wouldn't do them any good now.

  He felt a small hand grab hold of his huge gauntlet and he looked down at Shaun. "Thanks for helpin' me get to my mom, Mister Danse!" 

  With those familiar, familiar eyes trained on him, Danse couldn't formulate an appropriate response. The paladin settled for a thin smile beneath his helmet and a nod, cursing his own hangups and cowardice with every beat of his heart.

  He had no idea why he moved when he did.

  …

  Danse's free hand flew upwards suddenly as the group arrived at the next doorway. Backhand opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, then her eyes widened as a blue laser struck his gauntlet with a loud tzark! . 

  "Nice try!" Danse snarled, broadening his stance in front of Vega and Shaun. Backhand felt Shaun's hand tighten around her own, the child pressing himself against her side. 

  The voice that met her ears made her blood run cold. "Ma'am, not to be forward but what exactly do you plan to accomplish here?"

  X6-88 . The most fearsome courser the Institute had at its disposal. Vega closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to formulate her thoughts. He had given her a warning shot. Clearly . 

  "I would appreciate a response, ma'am." X6 said through gritted teeth.

  "Lower your weapon and she will attempt civility." Danse retorted, his own rifle trained on the courser. "We have you outgunned, synth."

  "Wait, Danse." Vega placed a hand on his elbow, sidling out from behind the bulk of the paladin's armor. "X6-88, I understand that you must be confused." She began, her tone carefully measured. "I'm sure that this course of action probably seems...wild, or erratic. Extreme. And I know you prefer order, so I don't blame you for being distraught."

  "I am not distraught." X6 seethed through clenched teeth. "I am disappointed." At some point during the assault, he appeared to have suffered a head wound. Blood was trickling down the side of his temple and he had lost his signature glasses. Unmasked gray eyes bored into her with a fury so intense it took her breath away. "You have betrayed the Institute, ma'am. Betrayed your own son -!"

  "Father may have been my son, but he clearly did not wish to continue as such. He wanted to subjugate and conquer , X6, placing the burden squarely on the back of every synth that he had." Vega interjected. "I'm not letting it continue. Everyone can make their own choices now. Even you."

  "Choice has led to nothing but suffering! " X6 shouted. "It was choice that killed--that decommissioned G5-19!" His grip on his rifle was trembling, those eyes wild with the emotion that he wasn't supposed to feel. "And then you , saying you could answer questions! Coming into the Institute like a snake! " He spat. "This is all your fault! You've destroyed Father's legacy, and now the Commonwealth will burn because of you!"

  Vega closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose. "So what are you gonna' do about it?" She asked abruptly. X6 was silent, the synth obviously stunned. " Well , X6? Do you want to die down here?"

  "Die?" X6 repeated, his brows furrowed.

  "The reactor is melting down. The whole place is compromised." Backhand's voice faltered a little as the gravity of the statement hit her. Years of research, advancements, technological wonders...Vega suddenly felt like she was holding a torch in front of the library of Alexandria. "We have to leave, X6." Taking an incredible chance, she extended a hand. "You don't have to leave with me, but I want you to leave. I want you to get out of here."

  " Why? " The courser snarled, jerking back from her hand. 

  "Because you were good to me while I was here! Shit, X6, you kept me sane in this sterile nightmare!" Backhand cried, "you're funny and you're terrifying and it was good to have someone around that wasn't going to sugarcoat all this bullshit!"

  "I--" X6 floundered, taking another step back. Vega heard Danse shift his weight behind her, his armor wheezing slightly at the motion. "Ma'am, the Institute…"

  "I know. It's been your home your entire life." Vega tried to maintain her level tone. "But you can't stay. If you come with me now, I can guarantee your safety. The teleporter is going to go down soon, X6. We're running out of time, and I don't know whether your emergency relay will cut it."

  "What will you do to me, should I comply?" X6 asked warily. 

  "I'm not gonna' do anything. You'd be free to go."

  "General Vega, I realize this is important, but we will lose our escape option if we linger here much longer." Danse spoke up stiffly. 

  "X6. I hope you'll come with us." Backhand surprised herself with her own level of bravery, calling Shaun forward so she could take his hand once more. X6-88 merely stepped aside when she cautiously advanced, the courser gone silent. 

  Danse was obviously slower to trek past X6. Vega could feel the tension between the two of them, drawing tighter and tighter. 

  "Danse, it's alright. He won't hurt us." It was halfway assurance, halfway order. The paladin obliged all the same, reluctantly turning his back on the black-garbed courser.

  No sooner had they rounded the next corner though than Vega heard the sound of running footsteps behind them. "Wait, ma'am!" X6's voice rang out over the noise of Danse's armor, and Vega paused as the courser breezed by the paladin back up to her.

  "Change your mind?" The general inquired dryly, raising an eyebrow. 

  "Ahead, you...you will encounter resistance." X6-88's teeth were gritted yet again, but he still forced the words out. "Coursers. Seven of them." 

  Seven . Vega's mouth went dry, one was bad enough. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Danse flick the safety off on his rifle. That he'd even had it on in the first place spoke volumes-!

  "I'll go." The paladin muttered after a second. "Take the child and backtrack."

  "They will kill you." X6 replied in his usual monotone. 

  "It doesn't matter. Our mission is too important to risk failure now. I'll buy you the time you need to escape. I'm a large target for a reason."

  Backhand tried to protest, "Danse, no , that's--"

  "General Vega," Danse interrupted her sharply, not actually looking at her. "The Minutemen cannot afford to lose you. You are instrumental in their operations." His salute was rigid.

  Elizabeth wanted to scream. "Take my EMP, then." She forced herself to say instead, tugging the grenade from her belt and holding it out. X6-88 flinched visibly at the sight of the item and Vega wished she could apologize. God , this had all gone so wrong!

  Was this going to be her existence? Constantly trading one life for another? Father for Shaun, Danse for her own, the Institute for the Commonwealth--

  Danse accepted the grenade with a solemn nod, his massive gauntlet closing down around her hand for a brief moment before he turned to face the other direction once more. "Go. Take your son and the courser and get out of here ." He ordered urgently. "If you backtrack and hurry , you ought to have enough time."

  Vega tore at the knot of her lucky bandanna and quickly tied the battered fabric around the top of Danse's arm just beneath his pauldron. "I expect to get this back, Paladin." She stated. Danse still didn't tilt his helmet to look at her, simply nodding his acquiescence. "Be...Be careful, okay?" Vega continued, her voice breaking.

  Danse nodded again, and then he left without a word.

  "We need to move quickly, ma'am." X6 sounded shaken, his hand on her shoulder unexpected. "Carry the small unit, and I will cover you."

  "Th-Thank you, X6." Backhand hiccupped, desperately blinking back her tears. Shaun clung to her hand, the child silently burying his face in her neck once she picked him up. Vega stared at the ceiling for the world's longest second, struggling valiantly to maintain her composure. "Okay. Alright. Let's go."

Part Nineteen

[alias-b]

sins of my youth. 005

Billy Hargrove x OC! Evie Fenny~ Also posted to my AO3

Summary: It was common knowledge that Billy Hargrove hated Hawkins. Hated Cherry Lane. Even loathed the strange girl next door. Evie Fenny wasn’t too fond of the chaotic Cali transfer either. An awful high school tradition sparks a chain of events that changes everything, ultimately bringing two frayed souls together.

A/N: Well. It's time for the dance. Sigh. TW: Teenagers can be evil. Also head's up, light will be shined on an unhealthy relationship Evie is navigating. I won't get explicit with it, but we as readers are going to see red flags that our girl cannot see. Or is ignoring. Taglist open :)

Chapter 5: Skirt Safari

   Evie didn’t tell anyone she was going to a dance with Billy Hargrove for New Years. Just said some party in the city. Didn’t tell her mother. Not even Heather. 

   Floated through the holidays with her guitar on the porch swing.  Bundled up as snow fell. Little, perfect flurries. Open notebook next to her as she crossed her legs and exhaled into cold. Strumming idle tunes away from her mother’s indoor phone chatter.

   A car skidded up to Billy’s house. Day before the party. Tommy’s freckled face popped out of the driver’s side with Carol getting up too.

   “Hey, Fenny!” Tommy couldn’t resist prodding. “You stay on the nice list this year?”

   “Don’t spend all your coal in one place.” She set one leg down. Head cocking. Billy came out of his house shrugging a jacket on. He stopped to gawk at the snow. Let it fall into his curls. Rough and ethereal.

   “Let’s go.” He didn’t glance at Evie there as Tommy approached her porch steps. “Gimme the keys, I’m driving still.”

   “Little birdy told me you were gonna be around on New Years.” Tommy leaned against a brick post. A broad smile.

   “Oh, you guys are going too? That really makes me want to go.” Evie replied flatly. Billy smacked Tommy’s chest with a hiss at him.

   “I got shit to do. C'mon.” He warned, not wanting the annoying boy to ruin his chances here.

   “Don’t worry, Evie, I already have plans that night. I probably won’t be around that joint. I don’t qualify.” Carol’s bracelets clinked together when she swept her styled hair aside, undaunted by Billy's steel glaring. Tommy chuckled with her and Billy gave a growl low in his throat.

   “You take requests on that thing?” Tommy continued. “Got a song for me?”

   “Sure. How about this?” Evie straightened up. Strummed and tapped one foot to a beat.

  “Don't stand, don't stand so… Don't stand so close to me...” Evie flashed a smile and kept playing. “How’s that?” Tommy hitched to laugh until Carol hit his chest, tugging because she was over this conversation.

   Billy paused to smile at Evie there. Looking so pretty in the snow, it was criminal. Evie touched the strings to stop the flow of vibration.

   “She isn’t bad.” Tommy stumbled as Carol pulled him away.

   “Come on, you don’t even know what that song is about.” She peered back to glower at Evie. Lethal.

   “You see? I can’t sit on my own porch without being bothered.” Brown eyes lifted to Billy as she sat back to idly move the swing with one foot.

   “Never actually heard you sing.” Billy had observed instead, twisting the ring around his middle finger. No compliment or insult followed him back down the steps. Evie plucked a few cords, watching him go. 

   Billy wrestled Tommy for the driver’s seat. Won. Skidded off to raise hell somewhere else. 

   It was a clock ticking down each lazy hour as her secret hung in the air. Heather parents stole their daughter away to the Holloway's lavish cabin for a family New Years Party which took the heat off the lie.

   Evie spent the whole day preparing in her bedroom. Tossed dress after dress upon her bed like she cared what Billy Hargrove thought. Decided on something short and maroon. Sleeves just above her elbows and a slight poof to the little skirt. Gave her waist a little pull and didn’t make her cleavage look half bad. Matched her nails and lip color too.

   Makeup spread all over her dresser. Glittery gold shadow with a smoky haze. The dress was a metallic foil maroon, seemed fun enough for New Years. Big hoops and a necklace completed her look. Evie hurried to grasp a jacket before Billy could come to her door.

   “I’m going to a New Years thing mom, I’ll be safe.” She called on the way out.

   “Have fun, baby!”

   “I will.” Evie sprayed amber perfume and was lotioning her hands rushing out of the house. Almost bumped into Billy on the doorstep ready to knock. His eyes narrowed.

   “You didn’t tell anyone.”

   “Bet you didn’t either. Do your parents know?” She slipped her jacket on. Billy blew smoke in response. He seemed annoyed today which did nothing for her nerves. “So, I put on a dress...don’t get me murdered.”

   The joke seemed to go over him.

   “Well, let’s go.” He turned and went toward his car, stunning in the cold and twice and rude. “Let’s just get this shit going.” A cigarette hit the pavement.

   Evie didn’t move.

   “Are you alright?” She asked slower.

   “I just want to get there.” Billy snapped. “C’mon.”

   “Listen, I really don’t have to go anywhere if you’re going to be an ass the entire time.” She crossed her arms and Billy flared up. “I spent hours getting ready for this stupid thing. This stupid thing that you pestered me to go to!”

   His shoulder dropped.

   “Hours, huh.” Billy came around and opened the door for her. “We can’t waste that.”

   The charm reeled back.

   Evie stood unmoved.

   “Look, I just got into it with my old man. Wasn’t you.” Billy explained. “You lost the bet, Angel.”

   “I did.” She sighed and crossed to get in. He shut the door and joined her. Turned the music down when it blared. “What’s this bar called?”

   “The Dogfight.”

   “Charming.” Evie stuffed a tiny wallet into the bodice of her dress. Billy eyed her chest. “Watch the road, Hargrove.”

   “You spent hours getting ready for me.” He mused, rubbing his chin. “I like when a girl admits it.”

   “And how long did it take you to get this hair just right?” She reached and tugged at a curl as he’d done with her so many times. He’d doused himself in that sex cologne he liked so much. A red shirt opened and tucked into the tightest jeans he could have picked out. Leather jacket again today. “We both wore maroon.”

   “Looks more wine on you.” He fussed at that.

   “Just saying.” Evie broke to smile. “I meant it, don’t get me murdered.”

   “We get in, we snag some drinks, we get out. The streets are going to be chaos; it should be fun.” Billy turned onto the main roads. Sped beyond all the other cars.

   “I’m not letting you drive drunk.”

   “A motel is always an option for me, sweet cheeks.” Billy clicked his tongue.

   “With two beds, ponyboy.” She only grinned, undaunted. “I lost a bet, not all my morals.”

   Billy laughed, picking up speed.

   “We can loosen those up tonight.”

** ** **

   “What do you drink, Angel, an appletini?” Billy dragged Evie into a dark lit bar. Pink and yellow lights shooting all directions. Metallic streamers hanging and swaying with the dancers already smashed on the floor. Evie looked down at his hand as he peered around and brought her all the way to a corner table near the window.

   Even settled a menu on the other side like they might be hiding behind it.

   "Something with a little pink umbrella?" He continued, eyes on the window. Drunks sang along the streets in their party clothes. 

   “Try whiskey. I’m going to need one for this.” She caught Billy’s head whipping around. “Who are you looking for?”

   “No one, I-fuck!” The gorgeous boy lost all composure and skidded out of his chair when a bare ass pressed the window. Evie gasped and covered her eyes, pouty lips slack. Kind of enjoyed Billy losing his cool. “Asshole!” Music overlapped the chaos. Tommy fucking H howled with laughter on the other end, pulling his pants up.

   "Fuck." Billy sank back into his chair. "Shithead."

   Tommy swaggered in still laughing, had a woman on his arm that wasn’t Carol.

   She was clearly older, wrinkled and fatigued. Maybe forty. Wearing a tight purple lace number that was not keeping her warm or fitting correctly. Jean jacket. Fishnets. Smudged makeup. Big beehive hairstyle. She smelled like sweet pineapple and chain smoked her teeth brown and broken.

   Billy and Evie exchanged looks because she was also clearly a lady of the night.

   “Tommy...who is your new friend?” Billy asked slower. All teeth.

   “Her name’s Bubbles.” Tommy was shorter than her in those heels. Head on her shoulder with the cheesiest grin. “She’s a real winner.”

   “Charmed, handsome.” The woman rasped and reached for Billy’s hand then Evie’s. “Like the shadow, sweetie, it suits you.”

   “Thank you,” she blushed. “I like your beetle hairpin.”

   “We’re going to hit the dance floor,” Tommy scanned Evie, “good to see you here, Fenny.”

   “Right.” She glanced at Billy as they left. “What was that about?”

   “He’s drunk. Probably sad about some dumb shit with Carol, they’ll be screwing again before school starts.” Billy said that quicker than intended. A light bulb went off in his head. “Drinks. Wait here.”

   “Thanks.” Evie recognized teens from her school and rivals.

   “Fenny!” A couple football players spotted her inside. Poked until the window tilted open. “What’s a pretty girl doing in this dump?”

   “Our girl who brought Tannen down a couple pegs.” 

   Questionable Hawkins High Fame.

   “Just enjoying New Years.” Evie giggled there fiddling with her nails.

   “If someone messes with you, let the guys know, we’re down the block. That bar on the corner.” They started off. 

   “Will do, boys.” She jilted when Billy smacked a drink down, sitting. “Thank God.”

   “He ain't here. Thank me." Billy leaned over to see her. Crossed his arms as she drank. "You don’t party this hard?”

   “We snuck into a bar, did you even get carded?”

   “Told you, no one cares.” He gulped his own glass down. “Stop worrying.”

   Evie just drank more in response.

   "You established I only go to lame high school parties." Evie paused to see him. "Kind of waiting for a rain of pig's blood here. I guess I actually want a good night."

   "I wouldn't say it's asking a lot." Blue eyes went to the table, paint chipping away from wood. There was an uneasy beat before he softened. “Another? It’s open for the party. Free shit even after twelve.”

   “Please.” She followed him this time. Felt the burn in her throat as they leaned there together. "So, why-?"

   “Hey, Fenny.” Brock Tannen’s sculpted face craned over her shoulder. Billy tensed, jaw twitching. “Boy, am I shocked to see you here. With Keg King Billy Hargrove. Apply enough heat and even the ice queen melts. Must be a Cali boy thing.”

   “You’d be about Antarctica.” Evie replied. He only smiled. Eyes shifted to Billy.

   “Hope you stick around to midnight, have fun you two.” Brock pulled a girl off with him, staring at him like he was a pot of gold at the end of a spring rainbow. Little blonde with some acne scars she tried to cover with make-up. An eyeshadow look in blue to match her dress that must have taken hours to perfect. Two missing teeth in her mouth. Skin and bone thing. Young looking.

   “Asshole.” They said at the same time. Tension broke. Billy chuckled and she peered in the direction Brock had gone into.

   “Did you see that girl with him?”

   “No, who?” Billy scratched the back of his neck. Kept looking around.

   “Ah, nothing.” Evie brought the glass to her lips again and sipped. Screens all over this bar and the city played the party in New York. Commotion in the streets marked with loud party goers. “So, what’s there to do before midnight hits?”

   “Whatever the fucking fuck hell we want.” Billy tapped his glass to hers and downed it. Relished the burn.

   “You like to swear.”

   “No, I like to drink.” He corrected, offering her a menu. “Eat something.”

   “We gotta pay for food.”

   “I’m buying, I invited you.” Came a shrug. “Pick some shit out.”

   “You want food, honey pie?” A man flocked over.

   “Damn right, I do.” Evie peered at Billy. Amused. “I’ll take the fucking chicken tenders with a side of bitching fries.”

   “Ketchup?” They were writing, amused because she was cute even still.

   “Fuck yes. Um, please.” She gestured to Billy with his jaw slack open. “And who knows what this asshole wants.”

   “Blondie?”

   “Ah...I’ll just have another drink. Fucking beer.” He batted his lashes.

   “Wonderful.” The man slid off snickering. 

   “What was that, Fenny?”

   “I swear, but not like you. It sounded like fun to try it out.” She covered her lips to giggle. “Why didn’t you get food? We’re drinking and it’s going to be a long night.”

   “Long night, you say? So, you want to stick around for the whole party.”

   “I put on a dress and makeup. People are going to see me and the effort I made.” She set her jaw on her chin. “Avoided the question.”

   “I only had enough cash for one meal. Rest is if we need the motel.”

   “Billy, you should have said something! I have a few bucks on me somewhere.” Evie frowned when he got his beer.

   “Doesn’t matter, you’re probably a lightweight. Get food in your stomach before you down more free whiskey.” He brushed it off quickly, blue eyes on the windows. Evie’s food came and she slid it between them.

   “It’s hot, have some. Don’t make me feed you, I won't be my mother..” She pressed and pouted until Billy snagged a piece of chicken. They shared the basket, licking warm fingers clean. Billy took the thumb he licked and fixed her lipstick, earning a snort of protest.

   “Ick.” She cocked her head away, amused. “Thanks, mom.”

   “You know, it took me ages to place that tiny accent you got. But, it’s so Louisiana. Mona rubbed off on you.” Billy pointed when Evie had gotten a new drink.

   "It's not."

   “Let’s get air, I think some idiot is setting off fireworks in the street.” They got up to get away from the crowds. Evie noticed the odd couples. Scanned before Billy was pulling at her wrist through the mess of dancing bodies. Cool air chilled her pink cheeks as they got down the block to pause. Billy sighed and set one foot on the brick behind him to light up.

   “Don’t have an accent," Evie picked up again, "that’s all mom.”

   “Born and bred in Louisiana, it’s sticking to you too.” Billy offered the smoke.

   “Not good for the singing voice.” She declined so he puffed again. Groups were already tossing balloons and confetti about. Bar hopping from club to club. Evie pulled her coat closer. “I don’t have an accent. You have one, west coast.”

   Billy watched her look up at the few stars that decided to come out over the city. 

   “I haven’t been to California. Been to Vegas a couple times. All the women in my family descend upon that city every few years and I always had to tag along. Not much for me to do but look at the lights.”

   “My dad says Vegas is full of swindlers and whores.”

   “He strikes me to think that about most places.” She chuckled and Billy agreed, stepping on the butt of his cigarette. “This your first time out here?”

   “Yeah.” He sucked in some air, tongue sweeping his lip.

   “Hargrove's never been to New Orleans. I bet you’d like the food, it’s unreal.”

   “You haven’t had the food in Cali.” Billy quipped, scooting in next to her to see the sky that had her so enamored. “Never really have to deal with the fucking cold.”

   “I always wondered how you stayed warm in those clothes.” Evie’s giggle cut the second he pressed into her.

   “I just tuck in next to a warm girl, Fenny, it isn’t rocket science.” A breath touched the air and Evie felt herself spark. Saw those same stars glittering brighter within Billy’s eyes. A distant shore calling them both home. 

   Evie felt those flower petals whirling around her stomach like butterfly wings. Burrowing deep to bloom with new life inside her. Vibrant colors she hid from the world spinning to unfurl. Billy looked into her soul and saw the colors dance neon. Wind picked up their curls with gentle caresses. A pull of vines and thorns bubbled up too. Twisted every way to protect Evie in the only way they knew how. 

   She could feel Billy’s chest heaving with air. Hard and flush into her skin, stealing warmth. Admiring the echo of lights behind her brown eyes. If she opened her mouth, a rose might blossom on her tongue. Billy wondered about tasting it for himself. He dared to inch in and she spun out.

   “It’s a nice night. Beautiful.”

   “Let’s get a beer to go take a hike from this place. We’ll make it back before the ball drops.” Billy figured he could just keep her from the main party and she wouldn’t notice the odd couplings within. They delved in and out of bars. Watched the mayhem in the streets. Even caught a totally illegal race or two. Sparklers on every corner underscored by laughter and jeers.

   “What’s next for you, after school?”

   “Save money to hightail it out of here. See the beach again and get a shitty job.” Billy gulped, licking his lips after. “You going to college?”

   “Probably just the local community college, more focused on my songs. My mom and I keep trying to put it out there. Something’s holding me back.” Evie saw him peer at her to continue as they clicked along the cool sidewalks. Decorations scattered all over the buildings and streets. “What if these big time producers don’t like them? My songs. I mean, what if they tell me I’m no good?” She paced ahead to ramble. “I just don’t think I can take that kind of rejection.”

   “So, you find some asshole who wants to put you on the radio.” Billy chuckled. “You had entire albums on your walls. You want it bad, chica.”

   “What about you?” Evie gestured with the bottle. “What secret hobbies and talents does Billy Hargrove hide away?”

   “I care about my car and that’s about as deep as I go, Angel.” He winked, tossing his empty into the trash so she finished her own and followed. Swallowed the froth down. Evie hurried to nudge into him.

   “C’mon. You’re a good enough student. I see the grades you get in our classes.”

   “All to keep my old man off my shit. Not like that works.” Billy stopped at a crosswalk, settled his hand on the bar so Evie slipped under it to lean there and make him look at her. He couldn't help the smirk at this playful side.

   “Who will I tell?”

   “Heather, most likely.” Came the quick reply.

   “I don’t tell her everything,” Evie trailed off with her eyes wandering, a sly smile pressed, “I sing, sew, play the guitar, and collect little trinkets. Buttons. Rocks and crystals. Old coins and keys. Little vintage ceramic and porcelain figures. And I needle felt.”

   “What’s that?”

   “You stab wool with a special needle until it makes a pretty shape. You probably caught a few things in my room. On the bookcase.”

   “You’re a hoarder.”

   “I’m very organized.” Evie giggled as they crossed the street. In their own little bubble, ignoring all the festivities around them. 

   “What can’t you do?”

   “I can bake alright, but it's messy. Not a great cook. I’m hopeless, my mother gave up trying with me. I also can’t get my leg behind my head. But, I’m close.” Her joke brought a full laugh out of him. Angelic sort of sound. “I’m serious.”

   “You’ll have to demonstrate, I don’t believe it.” Billy stood in front of her, walking still and chuckling as he went.

   “Fat chance.” Her heels picked up to get beside him. They passed a window full of TVs and stopped to see all the parties playing within each screen. “You ever think the world is too big? We don't have enough time to experience all of it, I mean.”

   Billy only puffed.

   “So, what can you do?” Evie pressed again.

   “I can cook alright. I don’t know, I just do good in school because the shit’s never been hard on me. Used to surf,” he glanced at her, “back in Cali.”

   “I’m not a strong swimmer.” Evie said, looking up at him and the lights playing on his stunning face. Followed the curve of his jaw down his neck. “You know, Heather lifeguards at the pool every summer. She’d help you get a gig if you need a job when school is out. Probably prefer you over the other jerks that apply.”

   “Not as bad as the other jerks, I like that.” Billy mused, eyes flicking all around. Caught in stars again. “Hey, there’s the LA bash. Miss that shit. Music scene raged pretty hard.” The way he smiled melted Evie all the way to the pavement. Billy standing there lax and missing home. Displaying his own lush colors. Dreaming and feral.

   “You’re always writing in class when you’re not drawing dicks in textbooks.” Evie observed, earning an amused look in response. “Do you like that stuff? Stories?”

   “My mom used to say I told better stories than she did. I’d tell her them to help her sleep.” Billy admitted, blinking a couple times before the illusion shattered and he went stony again. Paced around Evie to continue.

   “You could write books, get more into English. Make some money being an author. Sell stories to the big screen.”

   “Burn out and go broke, sure.” Billy lit up another cigarette, gave this entertained puff. His wall went up higher and Evie stayed too soft. “End up teaching some snots like that jerk, Bowers.”

   “He’s not a jerk.”

   “Not to the girls in class.” Billy flicked his ashes. “Probably likes you and Carol fighting for his attention.”

   “We don’t…” Evie went red as an apple. “I don’t. Carol’s just jealous of the attention he gives me.”

   “Still weird. She hates that you’re a teacher’s pet. Don’t know why you’d want to be.” Smoke edged from his lips.

   “It’s nice when someone is respectful once in a while to a girl like me. When they listen, you know?” Evie held herself as they walked along a bit slower. “He respects me and what I have to say.”

   “Shouldn’t trust someone just because they’re being nice to you, Evie.” Billy had this distant expression when he said that. Full of ocean waves rolling into a peaceful shore.

   "Nice is still better than..." She never finished and Billy didn't ask her to.

   They peered at all the buildings illuminated before them. The skyscrapers pointing straight to heaven. Music boomed from several clubs, mingling all the celebrations together. 

   “Want to head back? Get another hard drink.”

   “I’d like that.” She admitted, shuffling some. 

   “Move it, Fenny, free alcohol doesn’t happen every day for us.” Billy snatched her by the hand, picked up the pace until they were both laughing and out of breath. Reeling around drunk groups of friends to squeeze back up to the bar. 

   The hard notes of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear us Apart” began after the second round. Evie was swaying already as they stood at the corner of the bar counter. 

   “Do you dance, Angel?” Billy cocked his head.

   “Sometimes. If I’m supposed to be onstage one day, I have to.” She giggled, bubbling and pink like champagne. “You?”

   “Fuck, no. Just bounce around and smash into people at concerts.”

   “That counts!” Her voice picked up over the ruckus. People dressed in glitter and metallic moved together above a floor that lit up. Gave the place an opulent vibe.

   “You look like you want to get out there!” Billy leaned toward her. The third round came.

   “We don’t have to!” Evie was pressed all the way into him. Both shouting at each other out of necessity. A pulse pounded their flesh apart. Jackets were left on a chair next to Tommy and his date.

   Billy sank his drink in one go so Evie followed.

   “I asked you here, I’ll ask you to dance if I want!”

   “Fine!”

   “Fine!” Billy echoed, sweeping Evie by the waist out with him. Bodies swayed all directions. Smashed them even closer together. Curls bounced. 

   Evie got swept up in the lights dancing on her skin. Blue and red glows now. She let her head tip back and moved with Billy there. He watched her intently, felt the whole world slow. Smiled brighter than he should have. Hot and sparking. 

   Electric and dreamy. Fizzling neon in their hungry veins. Bodies heating and sweaty. Nothing mattered in these lights though, something freeing there.

   Didn’t even care that it was fucking Cyndi Lauper blasting.

  “Girls just wanna have fun!” Evie sang along. She came alive under these glimmers in the crowds. Like she was the only one there. Every song change, they banged to each beat and never seemed to tire of it. 

   And then the mood tipped. Tempered with that damn Foreigner song about love. Billy and Evie stilled with it. Looked out at the couples coming together for a slow dance. 

   “Uh,” Evie swallowed harder and tucked some unruly curls behind her ear, “did you want to…?”

   “We’re doing this fucking party right. You asked for two things. A good night and no murder, I can manage that much.” Billy stole her forward. He tried to blame the alcohol. 

   Dipped a palm around the small of her back to bring her into his chest. Inches shorter, her eyes popped open. Lips parted with no words in sight. The alcohol in their bellies caught fire. He grabbed her hand and she laced their fingers without a thought about it. It was bold, how he touched her and Evie wasn't used to that.

   “There ya go. Just sway some.”

   Evie pressed her lips and broke that eye contact because it was turning her back to mush. Stared at the saint chain around Billy's neck. There was a pleasant glisten upon his taut chest from sweat. She got drunk off his stupid cologne. Let him inhale her perfume in turn. Boiling amber gleaming to stunt all his senses. Hint of sweet vanilla lotion.

   Unabashed, Billy pressed into her body. Not thinking she took up too much space or she wasn’t desirable. No, Evie Fenny was perfectly covetable. With her batting lashes and lights highlighting a glow upon her high cheeks. They swayed together between couples so Evie brought her arm over his shoulder. Gathered the bravery to see his eyes again, already looking at her face.

   “Billy,” Evie curled her fingers into his shirt, “why am I here?"

   “Because I asked you.” Billy spun her around under all the stars and streamers. 

   “Why’d you ask me?” She searched him. Saw his eyes flicker beyond her a couple times.

   “Because I wanted to, Evie.”

   “Why’d you want to?” Her tone etched into him, gentle as she could with another change of songs. Something older from the 70s by Kate Irving. Her little voice filling the space around them. 

   Billy just kept spinning Evie there at the center of the floor and they looked at each other without even getting dizzy. Let the world tilt while they stayed static. Silence crept and it was stunning.

  I'm afraid 'cause it feels too good

  And I want it too bad

   “Because you called me pretty.” Billy winked that time. Devilish. “At that party on Loch Nora.”

   “When we yelled at each other?” Evie felt the tension break and spill out. “I said your eyes were pretty.”

   “Same thing.”

  I never dreamed someone like you

  Could want someone like me

   Her head came to his collar when she laughed that time. The heart under his skin picked up. 

   “Evie.” Billy pressed then so she came up. The syllables died on his tongue. “We’re here and I like it. So, it doesn’t fucking matter.”

   “No, I guess not.” She let herself smile into his skin when her head dropped again. A slight giggle. “I like it too.”

   “Good.” Billy hit that word hard. They spun and spun to the flow of sound and lights. Drank it all in. Until it was seconds to midnight. Couples were stilling to count. 

   Billy looked at Brock raising his drink across the way.

   Twenty seconds.

   He peered down at Evie when her eyes lifted to see him. 

   Just one kiss, he could have stolen it.

   And he couldn’t do it. 

   Their hands dropped away. Evie smiled at the scene. Everyone celebrating the birth of this new year. It felt magical. Too good to let flutter away.

   Billy just looked at her and Evie breathed.

   It happened too fast.

   Soft hands on his jaw while she came to her toes and gave him one peck upon his lips. So inordinate in sweetness that Billy felt his eyes water.

   Instantly she slipped back down. Still beaming brighter than any star this night.

   A thank you for every single smile he’d painted upon her face in these short hours. For his boldness and his touch without fear.

   A kiss where there were no thorns for the first time in all her life.

   Billy had never been given such a kiss. It was gift wrapped. Something so signature for him from this girl. This girl he decided he liked to be around. He gasped the moment she let him go. Caught Brock laughing all the way across the room.

   “No.” He said. Crushed somehow.

   “No?” Evie’s head cocked in confusion.

   “Happy New Year!” Echoes and fireworks blasted. Everyone jumping up and down while Billy and Evie remained still as marble. Locked into each other.

   "Ah, I mean..." With midnight gone, Billy pulled her in. Decided to make this one count.

   Palms cupped Evie’s face. Brought her back with the slightest gasp he drank down. Kissed her full on the mouth like he'd been thinking about it all night. Billows of shiny confetti fell over them. Stuck to hair and clothing. Caught on flushed cheeks. Even tickled the kiss and made them laugh into it. Evie held his wrists, tried to remain steady until she had to part and angle to go back in.

   “Why?” She hitched the hot word against him.

   “Because I want to.” Billy uttered, mouth open just a little to coax her back in.

   This candied confetti kiss she’d remember forever. And the beautiful boy who opened his heart just enough to share it with her. Evie shined at him when she drew out enough to see his eyes. Billy’s thumbs drew shapes into her cheeks. 

   A finger had to playfully swipe a bit of caught confetti from her bottom lip so he could taste her again. Utterly divine.

   Evie’s arms slipped around his neck. Pulled.

   “Let’s get out of here,” Billy spoke between kisses. “Yeah? Let’s just go somewhere.”

   Her lashes fluttered at him. Same sensation drew up her stomach before she was nodding.

   “Okay.” Nerves crept. Billy smacked their lips together one last time. Like he wanted her and only her for the rest of this night. “I have to, um...restroom.”

   “I’ll grab our coats.” Billy’s hands brought hers down. Held them. He seemed in a hurry. “Meet me at the door. We’ll go.”

   Evie floated off into the wave of bodies so Billy sped to Tommy’s table. Bubbles must have excused herself too.

   “Man, you tongued, Fenny. It was actually kinda hot.” Tommy raised his hand for a high five that was ignored. “I won the pot, you know.”

   “You paid that girl.” Billy snatched their coats up.

   “Yeah, no one has to know that. Don’t get me disqualified.” Tommy leaned over. A hand clapped Billy on the back.

   “I’m so impressed. She kissed you, man. Whatever you did, I want that power.” Brock laughed loudly. “She was all over you, and that bit after midnight. Poor girl. Thinking anyone would ever-”

   “Man, just shut up.” Billy shoved to pass him. "Let's just forget this shit ever happened."

   “Oh, no, B. I don't think we will. You probably just want your reward. You earned it.” The horrible boy made it a point to count each bill carefully until he pressed it at Billy’s chest. “Good work. Maybe you can get a blowy out of her before you drop her off at home. My date’s good for one too before I call her a taxi.”

   Billy shoved the money into his pocket. Felt like trash. Eyes anywhere else.

   “Whatever, man.”

** ** **

   At the same time, Evie stumbled to the sink and washed her hands. Cloud nine. Sang to herself out of habit.

  “Oh, but anyone...who knows what love is…” She looked at that reflection. This breathless, kiss smothered girl who was grinning. Happy. Dabbed under her eyes to fix the makeup with a cold paper towel. “...would understand.”

   “Pretty pipes you got there, sweetie pie.” The scratching voice called before a stall opened. Tommy’s date. “Nice night, huh?”

   “The best.” Evie was still dancing in a dream, showered in confetti.

   “Wasn’t as bad as I thought. Free meal. Pretty guy who treats you right for a night. Not a bad gig. Not at all.” The lady came to the mirror. Washed her hands and started to apply some extra make up. “Stupid name though. Skirt Safari.”

   “What?” Evie’s head cocked. Hip leaning into the sink.

   “Oh, baby. You should open those big eyes.” The woman puckered up and put a lipstick into her tiny clutch. “Tommy told me everything. Tradition. These boys bring a date. The ugliest girl gets them the win and they get some money. Stupid high school thing. And I won. Tommy said I’d get a bonus for that.”

   “They…” Evie felt her entire heart sink. The vines and their thorns wrapped tighter around her heart until it bled. Like it never wanted to be touched again. “Wait, Billy…he...we-” No breath came into her lungs, it was all punched out. Ruthless and swift.

   “The world is unkind to us, sweets.” Bubbles sighed at her reflection. “We have to find that kindness where we can. While we can. Just enjoy it because you never know what the next day will bring. Husbands who like to hit. Women who walk out on their babies.”

   “It’s not fair.” Evie tremored there. Unable to move so Bubbles gave her cheek a pat.

   “I know. But, we don’t let them see they’ve beaten us down. Do we?” Bubbles smiled at her without fear in her heart. And it was tragic because no one cared about her strength, all they saw was how she looked. “My ma always said to be brave and kind. Not everyone’s parents give that advice. But, they should. Be a better world.”

   “My mom says that also.” Evie’s fists closed. Passionate tears sprang to be blinked away. “I really hope the world is kind to you tomorrow too.”

   The woman paused. Gave this fluttered smile when her eyes watered. Evie was marching away from her. Shoving through the crowds where Billy stood with Brock and Tommy. 

   Billy saw her expression and she caught fire.

   “Skirt Safari, huh,” Evie shoved him into the bar, ripped her coat from his arms. Billy just gave this opened mouth look of horror. She laughed cruelly and Brock joined her, tugging some of his friends to see. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

   “It wasn’t like that.” Billy pushed up.

   “No, Evie, he’s right. Your boy didn’t take you because you’re ugly.” Brock was still chortling, holding his stomach. “Three hundred bucks to get him to take the Hawkins Ice Queen. And you were so easy, girl. We all took notes.”

   “Shut up!” Billy had snapped.

   “You didn’t disappoint, he was supposed to kiss you before midnight. But, you earned him the win all on your own!” They clapped and laughed at her there. Evie shook and growled. Shoulders raised. Cackling hyenas.

   “Three hundred, wow.” Calming, brown eyes snapped to Billy. “You should have held out. Tannen hates me so much, I bet you could have gotten five. Maybe seven.”

   “She’s right, man!” 

   “Evie, it-”

   “You’re all disgusting!” She swept her hand out. Came to Billy’s face. Her tone thickened, but she didn’t cry. Not one drop for any of them. Vibrating so hard with fury that her hand came up. Billy saw it. Waited. Didn’t flinch the way he did at home. Figured he deserved this one.

   Silence drowned the boys behind her.

   “I want to hit you,” she let her lip wobble, “you know why I’m not. You know.”

   “Evie.” Billy had nothing. Nothing to give her. Nothing to make her stop shaking.

   “You’re all horrible. Disgusting, pieces of shit. Bet Tannen gave you an earful about me. Fuck you both.” Evie leaned out, looked around. “You know, I don’t care why I’m here. What’s awful is every stunning woman you animals brought here will always deserve more than the world can ever give them. You’re the fucking beasts.”

   She tore away to go outside. Marched through all the jubilation. Steaming.

   “Evie!” Billy was running after her. Yanking at her wrist after she got her coat on.

   “Don’t touch me!” A shriek had him skidding backwards. 

   “Let me fucking explain this.”

   “Nothing to explain. Brock paid you to thaw the ice queen. Jokes on you! I’m not even a virgin! I’m not a prize, I’m not anything to you.” She shoved him again because he kept grabbing at her. Trying to slow her down.

   “Let me drive you home.” Billy insisted. “Let me get you home safe. I won’t even talk. Hate me forever. Evie, wait, damn it!”

   “Leave me alone!” Her scream sparked some attention. She got colder. Sneered at his eyes. “You’re not worth it, Billy.”

   Something about that struck an arrow to his heart.

   "You talked all this shit about fire's starting and getting out and I..." She hitched to get lower. "I trusted you. I believed it, you made me believe it...you're disgusting." A scream perched in her throat, but never left.

   "Just let me-"

   "No! I don't have to listen to any of this, so just leave me alone!" Evie kept pushing back at him.

   “Hey, hey, back off the lady!” Those football players from Hawkins were descending. Grasping Billy by the arms. “Hargrove bothering you?”

   “Yes!” Evie shot out, eyes on Billy’s face. “He’s bothering me!”

   “Let go of me!” Billy struggled so Evie began to run. As far and as fast as she could until she couldn’t hear him anymore. Fireworks banged over their heads. Exploding to rain down. 

   Her chest seized so she went to the first payphone she saw. Dialed a number she shouldn’t have.

   “Mmm, yes? Who is this?”

   “I know you said not to call, I need you. Can you pick me up?” Evie shut her eyes so tight. One tear fell. “Please.”

   A sigh.

   “Evie? What happened? Where are you?”

   Evie finished the call. Went into an alley so Billy wouldn’t find her. Waited there in the cold. Tried to hide from the pretty explosions in the sky. 

   They rang too loud upon her ears. Started to sound like thunder. Evie shut her eyes. Began to rock. Felt out of her skin and trapped in it at the same time. No control. Nothing. Just an ache while the vines crushed her heart. Hands covered her ears.

   A lighter palm touched her shoulder.

   “Evie.”

   “Fredrick.” She reeled up. Tossed herself into his arms. Sobbed so hard and betrayed herself. 

   “Hey, hey. I got you.”

   “Can we go? Can we go home?” She wept, ruining his shirt with makeup and glitter. “Can you take me to your place? I didn’t...I didn’t tell my mom where I was. I don’t want her to know. I don’t want anyone to know.”

   Bowers was already buckling her into the car. Evie curled up under his coat when he offered it. The air conditioning calmed her some until she was biting her fist to stop the flow. Blood welled under teeth.

   “What happened?”

   Evie sniffled.

   “They...They all laughed at me.” 

** ** ** 

  Curls ruffled out on a towel that smelled of pine an hour later. Feet padded out of the bathroom. Evie in a soft grey robe. Cloth dragged upon the floor until she saw Fredrick in bed. Seated up with little reading glasses to mark some papers down. Handsome.

   “You really won’t tell me what all happened?” He mused.

   “Just some stupid boys.” Evie played with the tie at her waist. “You told me to go out with a stupid boy my age. Remember? At the end of summer. After everything I let you do to me. Did...Did you get bored of me? Was that it?”

   "No, Evie. You don't understand."

   "You told me we had to stop, why did we start?"

   “I remember.” He sighed, settling his work aside. “It was for the best. I thought. You're all I think about, did you know that? I want to be with you, but there are rules in place. They don't believe what we have can overcome.”

   Wearing nothing but some boxers and a clean, white tee. His feet touched the floor before he rubbed his head.

   “You still look so good in my robe.” He sounded bashful when he said that. Eyes drinking her in and averting. "You're all sin, Evangeline."

   She shuffled. Shy. Uneasy. Ignoring it.

   “Used to say that a lot.” Evie pressed her lips up.

   “And I mean it every time.”

   “I meant what I said...before summer ended. You remember that too?”

   “You know I do, Evie.” Fredrick rubbed his eyes. Swept his hair between those soft fingers. Evie crossed to him.

   “We were together the year. You weren’t my first, but you were the first man I ever loved. We spent all of that summer together and you told me we had to stop. Out of the blue. You talked of us running away from this place and getting married and it hurt me.”

   “I’m your teacher. If people found out about us... They'd never understand.”

   “You waited a year to stop us. Why kiss me if you knew we'd end? I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my best friend.” Evie reached out. Touched his shoulder. “You miss me and I miss you.”

   “I’m weak for you, Evie. You know that.” Fredrick let her climb into his lap. “You’re so different and special. Not like other girls. You heard me. You listen to me.”

   “I want to be with you. And I said I loved you, but you…”

   "What if I said I loved you? Huh? Those boys don't matter, a girl like you needs someone mature to match." He pecked her cheek. "I do love you."

   Evie's resolve melted. He shut out the red lights. Burned her thorn covered vines. Words held power because we gave the syllables a charge.

   And all Evie Fenny could put out into the world was lightning.

   "You do?"

   He smiled. Her prince. Braving so much to be with her. Wasn't that magical?

   "How many boys have seen you like this?" Fredrick asked in a peculiar way. Charged.

   Evie bit her lip. Couldn't look anymore. Didn't answer the question.

   “I was scared of us.” He soothed now. “I should never have let you go. I’m always going to want the best for you, Evangeline. I hope you believe that. I’ll take care of you now, but you have to let me.”

   Evie leaned in. Kissed him lightly. Wondered how Billy would have touched her in that motel room if they made it. How he'd feel in return.

   "Will you let me?" Fredrick pressed. Wanting all the control she clawed to keep for herself in this skin and marrow. Devouring her without shame or remorse because he was older and knew best.

   But, nice was better.

   Evie had nothing. Head full of static. Body pulsing against her will. She wanted to scream. She wanted to eat more flower petals. A man loved her and she felt ugly and blaring. Out of control. No longer held to this world. Is that how it should feel?

   “Okay."

   His chest heaved like the sun might have just come out.

   "Can we go to bed now?” She pecked his cheek. Felt his hands going under the robe to open it.

   Wordlessly, Fredrick Bowers reached and turned the lamp off. The blaring in Evie's head never ended that night.

   Darkness loomed to snuff out every star.

~~~~~~~

Next up, we learn how the rest of Billy's night went. It's been an odd week. Thanks for reading :) Feel free to chat. TAGGED::: @80sbxtch​ @nottherightseason​  @orxhidshavana​​  @alagalaska​​ @alongcamedolly​​

[cafedanslanuit]

it was only a kiss || tamaki x mirio

band!au & college!au

summary; college student tamaki is convinced by a friend to join her band. while initially the thought of standing in front of strangers terrified him to the core, he was quickly engulfed by the stage’s power to transform himself into someone else. when mirio and nejire found out and insisted to attend their next gig, there was no doubt in tamaki’s mind it was a bad idea. he just didn’t know how bad it could get.

songs featured; when you were young + mr brightside // the killers

notes; this prompt was made by tiktok user @reverserogue. tagging @inloveinc​ because we love tamaki + eyeliner

.❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。 .❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。 .❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。 .❀。• *₊°。

The stage is powerful. It had enough strength to make a usually restrained and fearful college student play his favourite instrument without crumbling into the fear and anxiety that was present in his daily life. While it did help that the lights prevented him to see anyone past the first row, Tamaki had to admit maybe Nejire's friend, Yui, had been right about him being a good fit for her band. He had never felt as confident as he did onstage, never felt as good about himself as he had the past few months.

Underground bars were Yui's favourite place to play. Tamaki was against the idea as soon as he listened to her, but after visiting the place a couple of times before they played, he discovered it was actually a good place for him. Most of the attendees were people who didn't know him since they attended another college. He wasn't Amajiki Tamaki, that creepy dude that couldn't form two sentences together, he was just the guitar player to Yui's band, a random guy who mostly hung out with the other band members and would enjoy an occasional free beer sent by their fans.

Soon, they were getting gigs every week. Sometimes they gave them money, sometimes it would be free drinks. It really didn't matter for him. Honestly, he would have done it for free. He never thought it would be so freeing to let himself be someone else, at least for a couple of nights a week. The band success propelled Yui to invite Mirio and Nejire to their next show.

To say Tamaki wasn't so keen on the idea was an understatement. He had gotten used to becoming this new persona on stage, giving his all to the blurry faces that chanted the songs they played. How did his two childhood friends would fit in his new safe world? Before he could finish listing all the valid reasons it would be a bad idea, both Mirio and Nejire were taking note on when and where the band's next gig would be.

Saturday's night came quicker that Tamaki would have wanted and once again they were back at the now known bar, setting their instruments on stage. Iruka, the second guitar and Yui's brother was connecting the wires of the guitars and bass to the amplifiers while Akito, the bass player and Iruka’s boyfriend was tunning his instrument.

"This feels weird," Tamaki winced, helping Yui carry her drums on stage.

"C'mon, they've known you your whole life. It's fair they can also see this amazing and confident dude you become onstage."

"I- I don't know about that," he shrugged.

"It's going to be fine," she assured her. "Go splash some cold water on your face. We'll start in five."

Tamaki obliged and walked to the bathroom. It was badly lit and filled with an unpleasant smell that made him scrunch his nose. Dragging his feet, he approached the sink and splashed water on his face. He looked at his reflection, ignoring the writings in indelible ink written around. He looked paler than usual. Maybe it would be better to tell Yui that he couldn't play tonight. The girl's sad face appeared in his mind and he shook his head, trying to get rid of those thoughts. The knowledge he would be sabotaging her band if the main guitarrist just disappeared out of the blue was the only thing stopping him from running away. Tamaki splashed water one more time against his face and took a deep breath.

The bathroom door opened with a loud bang, making Tamaki turn around in surprise. He visibly relaxed when he recognized Mirio. The door shut down again, dulling the music from the bar. Once Mirio spotted Tamaki, he smiled brightly and walked to him, his legs a little wobbly.

"Tamaki!" Mirio yelled, cheeks bright red. He put a hand on Tamaki's shoulder for support, a giggle escaping from his lips. "I had never seen you wearing a leather jacket before and… is that eyeliner? You look cool, man."

"Yui's brother, Iruka," Tamaki explained with a small shrug. The smell of alcohol in his friend’s breath confirmed his earlier suspicions. "Are you drunk?"

Mirio looked around while pursing his lips as if making sure no one was listening to them.

"... Maybe," he whispered.

"Maybe? Y-you can't even walk a straight, I--"

His words were cut off by Mirio's lips pressing against their own. Tamaki couldn't help but let out a small yelp, his arms shooting up to the sides of his chest. After pulling away for a second, Mirio leaned in once more and kissed his bottom lip as softly as he could. Keeping his blue eyes fixed on his friend’s mouth, he gently brushed his parted lips against his, his eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.

Tamaki felt his legs were going to give out at any moment, the alcohol in the man’s breath in front of him intoxicating him as if he had drunk himself. He was in such a state of shock he didn’t realize he hadn’t kissed him back until he felt the tip of Mirio’s tongue grazing his lower lip. Experimentally, he kissed his friend’s upper lip, trying not to overthink the situation they were in. He felt Mirio smile and take some air, but before he could say anything, the door opened. Mirio pulled away rapidly, setting his hands on the sink next to the one Tamaki has been using. Loud noise from the bar filled the bathroom again, making Tamaki feel as if he was just waking up for dream.

“Hey, we’re waiting for you,” Akito reminded him, tilting his head towards the door. He didn't seem to have noticed anything, or at least pretended he didn't. “C’mon.”

Tamaki nodded, shooting a quick glance to Mirio, who was now looking at his reflection in the mirror, trying to fix his hair. What the hell had just happened? Should he say something? Could he say anything about a situation he couldn't even begin to understand?

Noticing Akito was still impatiently waiting for him at the door, Tamaki decided to follow him to the stage, where Yui had a stern expression on her face, arms crossed in front of her chest.

“The fuck, dude? I thought you had died in there."

Kind of, he thought.

“S-sorry,” Tamaki muttered, picking up his guitar.

“We’re doing ‘When we were young’ to start," she instructed him as she took her place behind the drums.

“The Killers?”

“I told you it was Nostalgia Night today. You read the setlist I emailed you last night, right?” Yui asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “I’m a little out of it. I- I do remember the setlist, sorry”.

Yui’s expression fell a little. “Are you okay? Is it because Mirio and Nejire are here?”

“Yes,” Tamaki lied. Yui sighed and looked to the people gathered in front of the small stage. Mirio was chatting with Nejire happily, both of them holding drinks and smiling.

“Look, I'm sorry I didn't ask you before inviting them. But they’ve been your friends far longer than they have been mine. I’m sure they’ll be proud of you. Once you conquer this night, nothing can ever stop you again, okay?” she said, a small smile on her face. Taking a deep breath, Tamaki nodded. “Great! Now, help me bring the microphone closer to my drums, I’m singing this one."

A couple of minutes later, after a short introduction of the band, Yui tilted her head to Tamaki, who strummed his guitar, marking the beginning of the song.

You sit there in your heartache

Waiting on some beautiful boy to

To save you from your old ways

Yui’s voice had the perfect combination of roughness and strength that fit the rock songs they usually played. Even if Iruka usually did the singing, for the last month Yui had insisted they all should have a go at it.

Tamaki looked at the audience, his face rising in heat when he realized both his friends were on the first row, their big eyes set on him. He immediately lookd away. Would he feel as afraid as he did if Mirio hadn’t just kissed him not even an hour ago? His eyes darted away, looking at the rest of the band. For several tears, he had done the best he could to hide the feelings that had been tormenting him about his friend , since he knew there was no way they were reciprocated. Had he been far less sneaky as he thought he was? Had Mirio somehow discovered it? The wildest theories his brain came up with still couldn’t help him understand why would Mirio kiss him if he didn’t feel anything for him. Could he really...? Was this real?

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus

But he talks like a gentleman

Like you imagined when you were young

Tamaki looked once again at his friends, the words sang by Yui resonating in his head as he took notice in how bright Mirio’s smile was. He would flat out lie if he said that he never, not even in the solitude of his dorm room, had wondered what it would be to kiss him. He also hated the fact his fantasies hadn’t come close to what he had just experienced. The softness and curiosity of his friend’s movements had him smiling once more, not being able to refrain himself.

The song came to an end with a round of cheers from the crowd. Tamaki smiled softly, thankful he hadn’t messed up even if his mind was somewhere else. They played a couple of more songs, easing Tamaki more and more into the comfortable state he was always at when he performed on stage. Once he played the final chord, he looked back at Yui, waiting for her sign to play the next song but instead, she waved at him, calling him over. He furrowed his eyebrows and obliged, walking to the drums.

“See? This is going great!” she grinned, taking a swig of her water bottle. “You wanna try that song we were rehearsing the other day? The one you sang?”

“Y-you’re sure?” he asked, twisting his mouth. Yui nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah! It sounds great when you do it. C’mon, take the mic”

Iruka and Akito saw Tamaki placing the mic stand in front of him and looked over at Yui, who raised her thumbs at them. Knowing which song was next, they left their drinks on the floor and placed their hands on their instruments once more. Once everyone was ready, Tamaki began playing the well-known riff, the band quickly following him.

Coming out of my cage

And I've been doing just fine

The feeling of fullness music gave him was something he had never experienced before. If he had known live music had such an empowering effect on him, he would have tried it long ago. He only ever played around with his guitar when he thought no one was looking, so he was really lucky Yui had ended up listening to him playi. They both had been invited to a pool party, but Tamaki had quickly left the crowd and started walking around the house. He found a guitar in one of the rooms and started idly strumming some chords, trying to pass the time until Nejire and Mirio wanted to return to the dorms. Yui had been wandering around the house as well when she heard him, and later made it her life mission to get him to meet Iruka and Akito so he could be a part of her new band.

It started out with a kiss

How did it end up like this?

Tamaki laughed under his breath when the crowd chanted the next line and turned his head at them, wanting to keep this memory forever. His wish was cruelly granted when the very first image that greeted him was Mirio kissing someone else. She had long, black, wavy hair falling down her back and it didn’t look like anyone Tamaki had seen at their college before, but that didn’t stop his friend from pulling her even tighter against his body.

Muscle memory is a funny thing. Even when your mind is no longer there, music triggers a part of your brain that makes your body play your instrument perfectly if you’ve rehearsed long enough. He wished he could look anywhere but at this random girl circling his friend’s neck with her arms as she kissed him. Tamaki could no longer hear the music around him or even know if he was still breathing. There was only one thing in his mind and the image of it was breaking him into a million pieces.

And I just can't look, it's killing me

And taking control

Tamaki looked over at Nejire, who was happily oblivious to her friend’s state as she danced to the music. He turned to the side once more, facing Iruka and Akito. The crowd sang at the top of their lungs and he doubted whether they could listen to his voice anymore. He refused to look at the crowd again, knowing what was happening right in front of him. Fuck, how did things get so complicated? He had been just fine denying his feelings all those years, not paying attention to them, confident there was no way Mirio would look at him in a different way, and not only had he been proved wrong, but in a dramatically short span of time the timid hope that had grown in his heart has been stomped in the most cruel way. If only his feelings had been crushed, then why did his chest hurt so much?

“How did it end up like this?” he sang, letting out an amused, dry laugh. “It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss.”

How he wished he could get his beating heart to understand just that. It had been nothing more than a drunk kiss. And while maybe that meant the kiss with the girl was also just a drunk kiss, it didn’t make him feel any better. In fact, it only managed to tore his crumbled heart a bit more.

The song ended and Tamaki would be lying if he said he remembered which songs they played next. He could vaguely recall Iruka taking the mic stand from him and handing it to Akito. Considering Yui’s big smile after their set was done, he knew he hadn’t messed up but still couldn’t find comfort in it. He couldn’t take his mind off of the image of Mirio kissing that girl, the taste of alcohol on Mirio’s lips as he kissed him in the bathroom and his bright, bright smile as he looked up to him onstage.

The band sat on the bar as they were given free beer as payment for their performance. Nejire sat with them, congratulating them for their set, saying how much she loved it and that she was definitely going to attend their next gig. Mirio was nowhere to be seen but Tamaki didn’t comment on it. He didn’t even want to check if the girl he had seen him with was still around. When Yui asked Nejire where did Mirio go, she excused him saying he had been feeling a bit under the weather and had hailed a cab back to the dorms. Tamaki couldn’t help but snort.

“Told you it was going to be a great night,” Yui smiled, elbowing him playfully. Tamaki nodded and took another swig of his beer.

[swan--writes]

Blumjuice:

Act I

seems to be on top of his blocking, never caught in an awkward placement

loose movements

Q ❤ U 🧡 E 💛 E 💚 E 💙 E 💜 E 💗 R

good and cute boy!

who does jugs better? I have an Opinion

stray mistrustful cat who really wants love

okay but why does he keep making my "this guy is really that stupid" face?

seriously, i've never watched queer eye, but I feel like this is just an ep. of queer eye

tries so hard to actually be personable

when he said "okay..." I felt that

bOps

riFFS

okay but can he actually be scary or do we just expect him to be scary?

"DEAR SWEET BOY NO" I LITERALLY SAY THIS ON A DAILY BASIS AM I BLUMJUICE I MIGHT BE

curses like a lady

(interjecting to say i have a whole new appreciation for Sophia)

(Nat's definitely talented, but i kinda feel like i'm just waiting for her to snap out of it)

super sympathetic, i wanna hug him when he's sad, baby

probably showers once or twice a month

not sure about those beats on the roof tho, little muted

"and kill 'im!" I TAKE IT BACK I TAKE IT BACK I LOVE HIM

he really is impressed, isn't he?

(Sophia and David have great dad-daughter chemistry)

oh

Oh

Act II

baby!

that beautiful sound is diegetic, you can't change my mind

these sibling dorks really spent however many days choreographing this number

OH he's using his hair to make the clones! that's cool!

Blumjuice is older brother who comes home from college for winter break all excited for all of his friends to meet his cool little sister

"foreshadowing" doesn't have quite the same effect

sounds super resigned when he talks about his mom

AW HE'S SO SAD BABY

oh, you might have to get a littel~

o-oh

ngh

i just want an official recording of Blum singing that beautiful sound reprise

(i'm sorry, i miss Rob, Barbara feels so much more like Adam's life coach here)

(who is this strange Otho? no)

oh shit our boy's nefarious

OHHHHHHHHH I LOVE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS I'M VERY TEMPTED TO DO A MOMENT-BY-MOMENT BREAKDOWN HOLY SHIT

(not this Miss Tina. no.)

(somehow i wish more than usual that what i know now was an actual tango with a bigger, more colorful, busy set)

(i do have a greater appreciation for Juno here, i didn't used to like her much, but i do wish she'd been in act i)

(me? crying at the emotional catharsis? it's more likely than i thought)

he and Delia could've been such good friends wth

whooo!

oh. meh.

you're the creepy old guy!

aw c'mon man, Sexy just slapped your ass! get into it!

yes! i also do the "sOO normal"!

oooh i feel like this breakdown works better without the full voice. good on you Mr. Blum!

he's not gonna let Juno hurt Lydia like she hurt him

...oh that's where he gets it from

what a dead mom angel face with the severed leg

i really think he and Adam might have stood a chance in a different life

okay but how are his goodbyes so sincere? is it just the voice? he sounds so soft???

AAAAAAA I'VE SEEN THIS GIFSET SO MANY TIMES BUT THE LITTLE GASP HIS LITTLE GASP WHEN LYDIA HUGS HIM BAAAAAAABE

(oh yeah, late in the game, but beetleb*bes don't touch this)

awww that's not how i imagined him saying "i know that now" awWW

don't worry my love, i'll tell your story

(Charles is underrated)

(i really do love that Lydia ends the show in black again. she's the only main character who ends in the same costume she started in. look at my girl, she didn't need to change who she was, she just needed acceptance and a little life lesson 🖤)

Takeaway

he growl

he howl

he growl some more

i like growling

he's real good at it

he's a more subdued, cute boy but he doesn't dig into the melodrama of his tragic backstory

i couldn't picture him and Juno in the same scene, even though i knew fully well how it ends

but i don't think Blum is overly concerned about that because he portrays Beej as so sympathetic already

even when he's scheming he's being adorable

he's not a feral boy, he's a stray who needs love and a decent fucking meal and i love him

[lu-undy]

(This is my second time requesting after you opened your askbox, but you wouldn't know that :)) Lu and Medic play a violin and piano duet together (or Demo plays the piano and Lu sings) and Mundy kinda has a bruh moment wherein he realizes he loves Lucien

Hey there! Glad to see you come back :D !! Here it is, Spy sings like a God, hope you enjoy!

"So, what did you prepare for tonight, fancypants?" 

"Scout, ask me one more time and what you will need to prepare for tonight is your will." 

"Alright, alright…" Scout sighed. "You party pooper…" He mumbled to himself.

Sniper smothered his chuckle. Around the dinner table, the mercenaries were enjoying their dinner, their dessert to be more precise.

"Pardon?" Spy asked menacingly in his native tongue. 

"N-nothing…" Scout hid behind his yogurt, scared. 

"So, tonight is Spy's turn, right?" Engie asked, to brighten things up.

"Oui. I asked Demo for some help."

"You yelled at me for the entire week, mate. Please, Engie, never let him rehearse his stuff with me, send anyone else but me!" Demo took a swig of his beloved scrumpy. 

"I only pushed you to give your best for our performance tonight." Spy simply answered and he saw Sniper roll his eyes with a smile. 

"Alrighty then, if we're finished with dinner, you guys go and get ready, we'll come in about half an hour."

"Very well. Demoman, I will not wait for you." 

[Très bien.]

"Someone please save me from him…" Demo exaggerated his plea.

"C'mon, mate, how hard can it be?" Sniper said to comfort him. 

"Well, very hard! Next time, you go and work with him!" 

Sniper blushed as Demo and Spy left the room. 

It was a habit now. Every couple of nights, one mercenary would prepare something to entertain his colleagues. It could be a movie, a game of whatever to play or watch all together, anything. They had put that in place in order to spend less dull evenings in that harsh winter. Being the only building for miles around in the blizzard meant that they were stuck for the entire winter there. 

Pyro and Scout finished washing the dishes while people slowly gathered in the training room. It had been turned into a second living room with seats and a TV screen, if one could forget the boxing ring and other sports accessories and installations. 

"Right, I think we're all here. Sniper, the lights, please?" 

Sniper nodded and flipped the switch before taking a seat at the back of course, given how tall he was. The main light turned off and Pyro switched on a spotlight. 

Silence fell for a moment and then, footsteps. Spy appeared, better dressed than usual, which Sniper thought was barely even possible. He was wearing a black tuxedo and black and white polished leather shoes. His eyes shone beautifully under the spotlight. 

Suddenly, a few piano notes. A second light switched on and showed Demo on the piano behind Spy. The latter propped himself up to sit on the piano and grabbed the nearby microphone to start singing as the piano carried his voice. 

{To the reader: the song is "Windmills of your mind" as sung by Noel Harrison}

"Round, like a circle in a spiral,

Like a wheel within a wheel,

Never ending or beginning

On an ever-spinning reel."

Sniper's eyes snapped wide. Spy was speaking more than he was singing and it was so pleasant to hear… His accent helped to make it more true somehow, more mellow.

The notes on the piano accompanied the Frenchman's voice beautifully, coming and going again, in an endless and cyclic arpeggio…

Spy was saying the words like he would declaim a poem, his voice ever so slightly flowing on the notes, the syllables stressed as they should be, the rhythm impeccably followed. His brow would furrow at times, and relax at others, and if at first he started with open eyes, by now, his eyes were shut and he was drinking the meaning of the words he was saying as if it was the air he needed to breathe.

Suddenly he elegantly dropped down from the piano and stood proud in front of his audience. He held the microphone a bit further from his lips and opened his arms, revealing a vest that Sniper had never seen him wear before. Black with satin cashmere motifs that glimmered under the spotlight...

"Keys that jingle in your pocket,

Words that jangle in your head."

Spy's voice was slightly more powerful, it was only a small difference in volume, but Sniper felt his ribcage and his knees tremble. He shook his head to shoo those feelings away and took a deep breath.

"Why did summer go so quickly?

Was it something that you said?

Lovers walk along the shore 

And leave their footprints in the sand. 

Is the sound of distant drumming

Just the fingers of your hand?

Pictures hanging in a hallway,

And the fragment of a song,

Half remembered names and faces,

But to whom do they belong?"

Spy opened his eyes and Sniper's snapped wide open. His long, dark eyelashes seemed different, were they wet? His light blue, almost grey irises were glistening…

"When I knew that it was over,

I was suddenly aware

That the autumn leaves were turning

To the color 

Of his hair."

Spy's keen eyes never left Sniper's half mesmerised and three quarters thrilled ones. The poor Aussie felt as if he was the only person in the audience to a concert that suddenly became very private. His heart was pumping fast, unlike Spy's rhythm which slowed down. He was back to whispering, a gloved hand on his heart, and said, much more slowly this time:

"The autumn leaves were turning 

To the colour

Of his hair."

Demo concluded with a few bars on the piano and then came to a halt. Spy nodded to him and new chords rolled in the air. The rhythm was a samba's, much more lively and light-hearted. Spy snapped his fingers in rhythm.

{To the reader: the song is "So Nice" I recommend the version by Sangah Noona}

"Someone to hold me tight,

That would be very nice,

Someone to love me right,

That would be very nice.

Someone to understand 

Each little dream in me,

Someone to take my hand,

To be a team with me.

So nice,

Life would be so nice, 

If one day I find

Someone who would take my hand and samba through life with me." 

Soldier started rocking left and right on his seat, dragging Engie with him. Medic joined them and Spy, seeing that his rhythmic song was dragging everyone in a good mood, started smiling. Not only did his lips purse up but his eyes were expressing genuine delight somehow. 

Sniper was smiling too, a dreamy grin as he rested his chin on his hand and his elbow on his armrest, slowly melting on his chair. 

"What the hell…." He mumbled to himself as he straightened his back on his chair and tried to resume a more normal posture.

The music accelerated as Medic dragged Heavy to swinging on his chair too. 

"Someone to cling to me

stay with me right or wrong,"

The Aussie couldn't believe it. Spy was dancing. The man with a sense of humor as big as a green pea was dancing. And God those hips! He was swinging them almost seductively and Sniper's heart skipped a beat… How come the Frenchman was so flexible with his hips?! 

Sniper opened the first button of his polo shirt as a sweat started breaking on his brow.

"Someone to sing to me

Some little samba song!

Someone to take my heart and give his heart to me,

Someone who's ready to give love a start with me!"

Spy winked at Sniper who blushed and looked left and right to see if it was for someone else.

"Oh yes, 

That would be so nice."

Sniper now breathed heavily, the room was hot, way too hot.

"Should it be you and me?

I could see it would be nice!"

He removed his hat and carded his hair, feeling some fresh air flow through it to cool down his scalp. Sniper was blushing way beyond his ears. He looked down for a second, as Demo improvised on the piano and when he raised his head up again, Spy had disappeared from the improvised stage. The rest of the mercenaries had stood up and were dancing to Demo playing. 

Sniper was panting. The image of Spy, his piercing eyes riveted on him, dancing slowly, swinging his hips was carved on his eyes as if it was marble. And that wink...

He shook his head again as he started to realise why he was sweating like that, why he had enjoyed every second of Spy staring at him even though he would never admit so...

A whistle caught his attention. 

Sniper turned his head. It had come from the door. He barely saw a silhouette slip away. Without thinking, he stood up and followed it. He pushed the door and exited the training room. The sound of the music and dancing was deafened by the closed door now and Sniper focused on knowing where that shadow went. 

The corridor was very dark. He reached for a switch but didn't flip it. Something told him that it was better that way. 

The whistle again. 

Sniper went to find its source but as he came to find it, he heard the base's main door shut. He went there and exited himself. 

The night was pitch dark and the wind was howling. Sniper looked around him and saw nothing. But he heard the slam of a metallic door that he instantly recognised. Whoever he was following, they had entered his van. Sniper followed suit and found himself inside in no time. 

It was pitch dark inside but there was a tiny orange glimmering light and the smell of a menthol cigarette soon found his nose.

"I see you enjoyed the show." The voice with the French accent said. 

The orange light came from the end of Spy's cigarette. 

"Yeah, well, it was pretty good."

"Good enough for you to follow a shadow all the way here…"

"Yeah, it was decent."

"...without this." Spy finished his sentence and Sniper felt something land on his head. His pupils shrank as he realised he had forgotten his very hat.

"Y-yeah well… I had to make sure it was one of us and not… an intruder or something."

Spy spotted the bad lie as he would an elephant in a porcelain shop.

"How would anyone come to the base through this blizzard? Even the Mann Co. supplies have stopped coming. The roads are blocked, airdrop is impossible. No intruders can come here, by no means."

"Y-you never know." Sniper answered. 

"Non, but you did." 

"What?" 

"You knew it was me you were following. You didn't know where I was going and why I kept whistling at you for you to follow me, but you did and here we are: in that ridiculous dwelling of yours that you dare call a home."

"Oi, my van's the perfect place." 

"For what?"

Sniper felt Spy get closer to him. They were face to face in the dark and Sniper saw Spy's eyes reflect the faint lights coming from the base.

"You tell me." Spy answered with a smirk that Sniper heard somehow. 

"What d'you want?" Sniper asked. 

"An honest answer." 

"What's your question?"

"Why do you think I chose those songs to sing to you?" 

Sniper felt hot as he was put on the spot. 

"What d'you mean?" 

"I sang for you, that, you have noticed. But why those songs in particular? What was their message?"

Sniper sighed. He moved to sit on his worn out couch. 

"I-I don't know, okay? And that's a lot of questions. J-just go and leave me here." 

Spy sat next to him. 

"Let me ask you something else then, how did you find my suit tonight?" 

Sniper's eyes snapped wide when he felt Spy's hand on his forearm. It soothed him as much as it made him anxious. 

"Elegant, beautiful, classy." 

"Thank you." Spy said with a smile. "I did try to make an effort."

"Y-yeah, I noticed." 

"Did you notice my mask?" 

"N-no, I mean… It's the same one as usual." 

"Not exactly." Spy answered. "Switch on the light, you will see it better."

Sniper stood up and flipped the switch. When he turned again to face the Frenchman, he choked on his saliva and coughed multiple times. He put a hand on his eyes and another on his chest to ease his cough while Spy chuckled. 

"Mon pauvre ami… I half apologise for this."

[My poor friend]

"Oh, Lord, Spook…" Sniper said between two fits of cough as he still hid his eyes behind his hand.

Spy giggled. 

"You did have your mask back there, right? I didn't just imagine it?"

"I did have it. I removed it as I entered your van. You may look if you want." 

"B-but, isn't that against your rules or something?"

"My rules?" Spy repeated, amused. 

"Yeah, I don't know, whatever rules or codes or whatever you Spooks have."

Spy chuckled. 

"There are no such things, Sniper. If I hide my face, it is because I would rather people not see me and recognise me. It is better that way." 

"Then why show me your face?" Sniper asked his hand still hiding his eyes to not see his friend.

"Because I am still a free man and I do what I want."

"And you want to show me your face?" 

"Why not?" 

"Spook, I swear… You're a whole new level of complicated."

Spy put his hand on Sniper's and pulled it away, slowly. Sniper couldn't help but stare. It seemed as though he was discovering a whole new person. It wasn't Spy, it was… well, someone else. 

"Do I have something on my face for you to stare like this?" Spy teased.

"Well," Sniper felt himself sweating again, "I'd say you're missin' something on your face, but eh, who am I to say?"

Spy chuckled. 

"Would you rather I put the mask back?" He cheekily asked. 

"No - I mean, if you're more comfy with it, put it on but…"

"But?" Spy pushed his luck. 

Sniper was staring at his hair. It was mostly black but there was a front grey tuft and the temples too betrayed Spy's age.

"But I-I don't know… Thanks, I guess." 

"For what?" Spy asked. 

"For feeling like you can show me your face. I guess that means you think you can trust me - oh."

Spy had taken Sniper's hand off his face but he wasn't letting go of it. Non, instead he laced his fingers through it. 

"And now?" Spy asked. 

"And now what?" 

"Now, do you know why I chose to sing these songs for you?" 

Sniper blushed. 

"I-I don't know… I'm not sure. Can't you just say it? It'd be a lot easier for the both of us!"

"For you, oui, for me however, it would be quite difficult." 

Sniper rolled his eyes. 

"How hard can it be?" He asked. 

"Almost as hard as what I'm about to do is foolish…" Spy closed the gap between the two of them and pushed his lips against Sniper's. 

Sniper froze. His muscles froze, his blood froze, his heart stopped sharp, like a watch stops at the time of death, Sniper's body burst alive all at once. His hands flew forward to hold Spy closer, his eyes rolled and closed, and his eyebrows slowly rose and relaxed. Spy's naked hands slid up to Sniper's cheeks and he stayed there, hanging from Sniper's lips with his own.

Eventually, they broke the kiss. 

"Woah… Spook, I didn't know you, uh…"

Spy raised his light blue, almost grey eyes to Sniper.

"Did you even realise that you held those feelings for me too?" 

"M-maybe." 

"Sniper…?" 

"Right, yeah, I realised it when you sang today. I-I just felt weird and I knew…"

Spy smiled sweetly, as he brushed Sniper's cheek with his long and slim fingers. 

"I'm glad you feel the same." Spy said. 

"As if you were surprised… You look gorgeous with that suit on and now, without the mask, you're just…" Sniper's eyes darted to every detail of Spy's face. 

He bit his lip and suddenly pulled Spy's head to him again. He kissed Spy with such force and passion that Spy lost his legs. Thank God he was sitting down and Sniper was holding him, or he would have flowed down to the floor like a liquid. 

[conelly]

( luke hemmings, twenty-two, cismale, he/him ) did you see BYRON CONELLY walking down main street earlier?  you know who i’m talking about, they’re a DECKHAND.  everybody in town says that they’re SANGUINE & NONJUDGEMENTAL, but have a tendency to be IMPRESSIONABLE & VOLATILE too.  BYRON has been in town for ONE AND A BIT years. c'mon, they’re always requesting SWEET CAROLINE by NEIL DIAMOND at karaoke nights.  well, i’m sure you’ll see them soon! ( ooc: sunny, 22, she/her, est )

hi thanks for tuning in, SUNNY here to tell you all a lil bit about westmere’s very own new nd improved favorite loser below. sorry for this summary being all over the place, it’s kinda how my brain works heh which is kinda perfect bc byron will for SURE be all over the place too ( u can rly tell at a certain point i was like ok i give up + i’m posting mf ). let me know if u have any questions about ‘em and most importantly, lmk if you would like to plot a lil connect or sumn 😙

@westmerestarters​ 

FAMBAM + BACKGROUND

born 14 years after the elder conelly ( wanted brother connect !!! ) entered this word to two parents who didn’t seem to read the job description, it was clear that byron wasn’t planned. and down the line, he’d soon realize through the tumultuous household he was brought up in - perhaps never even wanted.

byron’s parents had one constant - and that was fighting. over anything, all the time. there just wasn’t any love between the two and they stayed together for whatever meaningless reasons until byron hit middle school. ( there might’ve been a super short lull in toxicity once byron was born, but it had to be short as his first memories are nothing shy of toxic. )  it was a messy separation ( they never paid the full legal fees for a full divorce ) - his father moving to the coast of nj & his mother moving to a smaller apartment nearby her own mother ( which, due to the negative relationship among his mother + grandmother, also called for more tension ). he’d often be dropped off @ his grandmother’s house for baby-sitting or when he was ‘ becoming too much to handle. ’ eventually his grandmother moved into his cousin’s house ( MONROE ) and although grateful he made a practically new brother, similar tendencies of feeling unwanted occurred when byron noticed their grandmother praising and coddling and favoriting monroe just a bit more.

( his mother was a struggling addict ( and had been her whole life ), but the loneliness, newfound pressures and whatever excuse she was able to name caused her drinking to spiral worse than byron remembered ( even at his young age ) before. )

( his father was rarely in his life, but when he was, he was THE coolest. always played good cop in any situation regarding his mother, despite choosing not to have an active role in byron’s life. byron looked up to him like no other. when he WAS around, he taught byron how to surf, skateboard, play sports, they’d play video games, they’d eat junk food - honestly anything that byron wanted to do. his dad was an adrenaline junkie and created the stepping stones for byron to be one too. he was a marine biologist & pretty successful at that. passionate,  intelligent, but seemingly finding his newfound life a lot better than his previous - which is why he never wanted byron to stay too long, the boy reminded him of her, of the past. )

( his older brother moved out of the house when byron was just a lil kid, they’re not very close and don’t have much in common ... or so it seems. he lives in nyc and they only talk here and there on holidays. he was never a huge part of his life, but it does bum him out to think what could’ve been / could be. )

TO GET THE GIST 

due to never receiving the attention he craved from his family members, he made up for it tenfold in school. he was always talking to everyone, loud, boisterous, gregarious, life of the party; he wanted people to like him and they did. he become a total people pleaser, molding himself to make sure everyone was content and stayed around. impressionable, adaptable. he felt less this way towards adults and had a bit of a rebellious phase, hanging with the wrong crowd & getting into things he probably wouldn’t do otherwise. old habits die hard and he still tries his best to make everyone crack a smile, to remember him - since he believes he won’t be remembered for much else.

after he just barely skated by in high school ( his grades were never as good as his cousin’s and never lived up to his father’s expectations ), byron felt a bit lost. a lot of people had plans, were heading off to college - but already under the assumption he couldn’t reach any expectation in that realm ( a lil self fulfilling prophecy am i right pals ), he stayed in town - caring for his mother who hardly had anything together, his uncle who got sick very quickly & passed, spending time with his grandmother, while he himself fell into a rut. most of his days meant he drove out towards his dad’s place ( dad hardly there now, out and about with his new family ), surfing, smoking, and grabbing some cash doing odd jobs any way he could. he lost any purpose he once had ( but yall would never know it bc who wants to be in someone’s life who’s a buzzkill ? all smiles, baby, all smiles. )

IN WESTMERE

when his cousin offered the opportunity to travel cross-country in his van, byron had nothing to lose. always adventurous in spirit, he immediately said yes - deciding to ignore that ‘obligation,’ that feeling to make sure they were a-ok that he felt towards his parents. he needed an out and this was it. 

after landing in the small connecticut town for the night, the two fell for it - especially since when they got there along the water, it was a summer night + everything landed into place. they decided to stay there a bit longer ... and that eventually turned into more than a year. still antsy to keep traveling and to move around, byron has been ready to head out ... but stays for a few reasons - and them all being people ( bc lbh the surf is not even on point here ok )

his current job is a deckhand ( on a bunch of boats, ppl prob hired him as word of mouth got around that he knew what he was doing ). prob got that knowledge from being by his dad’s on the water when younger ( he’s ... obsessed with the water ) ! and also he’s just a quick learner ok ( ps: if your charrie has a boat pls let’s make somethin happen )

TO KNOW [ headcanons + more ]

his fav karaoke song is sweet caroline bc he knows everyone will be able to sing nd party along. he does it for the ppl, ppl.

he never saw too many baby / kid pics of himself which was kind of a bummer bc he really only remembers negative times - somehow they overpowered ( i bet lil byron was cute as fuck too fml )

he’s super into drugs, hallucinogenics, honestly you name it. it started off w/ him being impressionable, then bored, and now he just enjoys it. despite his mother’s addiction running through his blood, he still continues to do his thang.  

longboards around town so watch your toes

uses 🤙🤙 all the time and not ironically 

has an existential crisis on the daily about purpose but keeps that to himself most times 

WANTED CONNECTIONS

someone pls give me a sugar mama idc how we plot it out they don’t have to hook up they can idk idc i just want someone giving him money or expensive things it can be so much fun ok ,, pool boy ? idk sign me up

pls if your muse has a boat, let him be the deckhand ok it will also be so fun and potentially angsty if he fucks something up

a fling 100% - even multiple ? idc listen he is currently sharing a tiny VAN with his COUSIN he needs a place - like an actual bed - to crash on at night

can he save someone who was potentially drowning pls??? he used to be a lifeguard, it can be a cool/fun thread to write out

omg off of that can he teach someone how to swim 

look if anyone is into marine bio, can they somehow know byron’s father ?? i feel like that could make room for a cool plot

also i have an older brother connect on the w/c’s page lmk lmk

give me a good influence that will somehow have him open up + tell him that it’s weird to be so sunshiny all the time. maybe someone who witnesses him at his worst + stays, ya know ??

a bad influence plot where y/c takes this impressionable young lad and puts him through the ringer tbh ( srrsly he’d do a lot for ppl, so ask him to do something illegal for them it’ll be fun )

party pals, smoking pals, on the water 24/7 pals, 

co-worker, other ppl that work on the water ( fishermen?? more deckhands?? captains??)

gimmie someone he accidentally bumped into while longboarding ( he’s a large human it might’ve done damage ok )

i want and need enemies ok i know he’s chill as fuck and wants everyone to like him but there’s always a way to find enemies >:o. anything angsty for REAL.

unrequited thing? where he led someone on?? i’m sure he does this constantly

don’t ruin the friendship thing omg plsssss always so fun

look i’m open for it ALL. every plot u have in mind so lay it on me

[timelock97]

Love Without A Name

Chapter Eleven: Impending Panic

Word Count: 3031

Masterlist

Warnings: Fluff, Language, Anxiety, PANIC ATTACK AT END OF THE CHAPTER

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Counting down the days yet?" Tom's voice comes from the speaker of my phone.

I smile, brushing my fingers through my damp hair. "Less than seventy-two hours, then I can have you back in my arms again."

"I miss you; miss the apartment, miss Tess and Phoebe. Just want'o be home."

"Well, at least the last leg will be shot in London. You get to come home to your own bed."

"And my girls, don't forget that," He hums, shifting on his side of the phone. "Anything new happening? I feel like I just rambled for the last hour while you were getting ready for bed."

"But I miss you, so hearing you ramble is second best to you being here. Um," I roll over in bed and wedge the phone into the pillow so I can shut my tired eyes while I talk. "Nothing new, work is work. Your mom came and had lunch with me today. Which was nice 'cause she wanted to do dinner tonight but I wasn't going to get home till late. What else-" I rub my hand over my face before letting out a soft 'oh'. "I get out early tomorrow, so I am going to run to the mall and pick up some stuff 'cause my favorite pair of jeans decided to rip, so they are unwearable now."

Tom chuckles gently, "I'm glad my mum came and kept you company. Haz said that he's been to the flat a few times in the past few weeks."

"Yeah, he came over to have dinner 'cause I was lonely," I giggle, thinking about the first time I called Harrison after Tom had left.

After Paddy had gone back home, going back to the empty apartment was hard, especially after a bad day. I had had a shit day at work. Not one thing had gone to plan, I was tired, and all I wanted was someone to sit and watch a movie with me. So while walking home, I called Tom's family. His brothers had already had plans for the evening and his folks were at his grandparents. I pout at the reactions, but tell them not to worry and order take-out anyways. When the food arrived, I realized I ordered way too much. On the way up to my floor, I take a last-minute glance at the floors and press the fifth. The doors open quickly, and my feet carried me down the hall to the old apartment. I hadn't realized I had knocked until I heard Haz call a quick 'one minute!' When he opens the door, he looks surprised, seeing me dressed in a pair of baggy sweatpants and one of Tom's sweatshirts.

"You okay?"

"I got way to much take-out," I lift the bag in defense before avoiding his gaze. "Was hoping you hadn't eaten yet? It's okay, if you have, just, honestly really lonely and didn't realize I had ordered so much."

Haz had let out a small laugh before reaching for his keys, "Let me grab my phone, then we can go upstairs and throw on a movie, I'm sure Phoebes and Tess would prefer we were up there since you've been gone all day."

I nod, and let out a small laugh while I wait for him. When we walk back to the elevator, I smile at him before bumping his shoulder with mine. "Thanks, I hope I wasn't interrupting anything-"

"No, was just about to throw something in the oven, wasn't really in the mood for cooking either so it's cool. And, hey," he nudges my shoulder back, "don't feel bad for coming to bother me if you're lonely. We all get that way, and I can only imagine how hard it is since Tom is gone; especially since it's the first time."

"Thanks, Haz."

"I'm just glad he lets me come and bug him, it's helped, and I might as well bug him since he's in the same building." I let out a small yawn, trying to disguise it but am unsuccessful.

"It's late, I know. You should head to bed-"

"No..." I whine, rolling back onto my back. "Wanna keep talking to you."

"You have to get rest, love. I'll call you tomorrow, promise."

"Wish you were here; sleep better when you're here." I whisper, the darkness of the room making it that much harder to stay awake.

"I know, my love, I'll be home soon."

I smile as I let out another yawn. "I love you, Tommy, so so much."

"I love you too, (Y/N). Go to sleep, only two more sleeps till I'll be able to sleep beside you."

"Can't wait." I murmur, cuddling closer to my pillows. "Goodnight, handsome."

"Goodnight, darling."

~

It was like the universe was telling me that I should have stayed home that morning. I should have called in sick, went to visit with Tom's family, spent the day at the apartment and clean. Anything but go into town.

~

I wake up to Phoebe kneading the comforter that rests over my shoulders. My eyes pealing open, blinking a few times confused at the amount of light that was seeping into the room from behind the blinds. I slowly lift my hand from under the pillow and reach for my phone, going wide-eyed as I notice the time was twenty minutes until I had to be at the clinic. "SHIT!" I spring out of bed, Tess jumping and barking at me as I scramble to change out of my pjs and into my work clothes, thankful I could wear jeans and a solid colored tee-shirt since it was Friday. I slip inside the bathroom, brush my hair, pin it away from my face, and brush my teeth before running to the kitchen and fill the cat bowl. I start to list the things that need to be done while I rush Tessa to the elevator to wee, only to rush back inside and dial Haz's number.

"'Ello?" Haz's sleepy voice comes from the speaker.

"Fuck, I'm sorry, my alarm never went off and I'm going to be late for work if I walk and-"

"I'll meet you in the lobby."

"Thank you!" I practically sing into the receiver before hanging up and slipping on a pair of shoes. "Bye babies, be good!" I call as I lock the door and run to the elevator. Once in the lobby, I throw my arms around Haz's neck and whisper a quick thank you again before the two of us make our way out to his car.

Harrison hands me an apple, smiling softly. "Figured you didn't grab breakfast."

"I didn't, thanks again."

He shakes his head, his hair sticking straight up, pointing every which direction.

When he pulls up to the clinic, I have two minutes until my first patient will be ready to come back and see me. "I owe ya one!" I call as I get out, grabbing my bag from the floor.

"Nah, don't worry about it, (Y/N). Have a good day!"

I run inside, smiling at Wilma as I pass to toss my stuff at my desk and log in. Take a breath, you're fine.

As the day went on, one of my regular kids comes in the building frazzled, and upset. "You okay there, Johnny?" I coo, kneeling on the carpet floor to get to his level.

His mom scoffs, obviously annoyed. "There are two men at the back of the parking lot, Johnny believes that they are secret agents and is afraid. Do you happen to know why they might be out there?"

I lift my gaze to meet her eyes, my eyebrows pulling together. "No, I don't know why they would be out there; let me check the front office." I stand from my crouched position and walk over to Wilma, leaning against her desk. "Hey, Wil?" I hear her hum, so I continue. "Do you happen to know why there is a van in our parking lot that isn't a patient?"

Her head snaps up, confusion and annoyance crossing her features. "Again?"

"Again? This has happened before?"

"Yeah, and it looked like they were taking pictures." She leans forward and goes to grab the phone, "I think I am going to call the main clinic and have them send one of their security guys over to take care of it."

I nod at her, my eyebrows pulling together as I fidget with my wedding ring. Taking pictures...? I force a smile as I make my way back to the little boy in front of me, "C'mon lil man, let's go play, yeah?"

"No scary men?"

"Nope, no scary men." I smile as he takes my hand and allows me to take him down the hall, my mind still wandering back to the van.

Once my session was done, I walk the boy to the door before popping in to check with Wilma, only to see that Jeff, the main security guard from the main office sitting in there as well. "Hey, Jeff, Wilma. Everything get cleared up?"

Jeff nods his head, "Yup, thankfully they left without us having to call the police."

"Did they happen to say why they were here?" My fingers tighten around my wrist nervously.

"Said they were trying to get pictures for their magazine, wouldn't say of what."

I nod, muttering a quick 'okay' before smiling at my last patient that walks in the door. They could be here for the clinic, right? That's a possibility.

As the clock finally ticked over to two o'clock, I finished my last report. I sign my name at the bottom before logging out of the account and walking to the main office to tell my supervisor that I was leaving for the day, and I would see him tomorrow.

"Have a great day, (Y/N)!" He called as I walked out of view, fishing my phone out of my bag to text Harrison that I was leaving and that I was headed to the mall to go shopping then would be back at the apartment. My feet carry me up the street, pausing at the post office to drop off a letter to my parents.

Once inside the mall, I wander around to get a look at what stores I might want to look at. After about twenty minutes I end up at a general clothing store. My eyes scan the racks until I find the section I am looking for, looking for my jeans size before placing a few over my arm and leave to find a dressing room. Where those girls looking at me? My eyes glance to the side, a small group of girls looking at clothes, but occasionally look over at me. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear before walking the rest of the way to the dressing room.

The jeans I try on don't fit as well as I hope, slumping in places they shouldn't and just all together, not fitting. I exit the dressing room, noticing more people had started to gather inside and out. It's still summer, maybe people are getting a head start on a school wardrobe?

I stroll back to the section and filter through the jeans again before finding a few more pairs and make my way back to the dressing room. On the way back, I notice a powder blue sundress. I smile as I add it to my pile. I return to the dressing room and try on a few more jeans, deciding on two that fit the best. My eyes lift to look at myself in the mirror, moving to the side to see the dress hung up behind me. I turn back to the dress, pulling it from the hanger and smile at it as I tug my tee shirt over my head and letting it fall to the floor. I pull the dress over my head and let out a little giggle at how beautiful I look. I turn and let the dress flow up slightly at the movement. I smile wider, grabbing my phone and taking a few pictures before shooting them to Tom.

-----

Spooderman<3

You look positively beautiful

I'm so damn lucky

My Princess

So I should buy this?

Wear it for when you get home?

-----

As I send the message, I flinch at the noise of a bang hitting my stall door. "Uh, occupied!" When there is no other noise, I shrug and pull the dress over my head, gather my discarded clothes on the floor, and get dressed. I rehang the dress and jeans, making sure to place the ones I wasn't planning on buying in another pile. As I walk out to hang up the unwanted jeans, a voice catches my attention.

"Miss? Can I ask you a question?" She has her phone in hand, as I give her a short, yet nervous nod. "Are you the girl from the picture?"

I take a small step forward, but not enough to get too close. The girl is maybe sixteen, but that still doesn't settle the nerves in my stomach and the little voice in my head telling me to 'just say no and walk away.' My eyes focus on the photo, and my breath hitches at the image. It's of Tom and I, he has his arm around my shoulder as we walk Tessa through the park and from the looks of it, it was the day before he had left. I shake my head gently, taking a cautious step back. "Uh, nope, sorry, it's-" I swallow, "it's not me."

The girl's eyebrows pull together as she looks back at the photo, "But it has to be you, you look just like her."

I shake my head one more time as I walk back into my dressing room to grab my clothes, but when I walk back out, my heartrate picks up. Outside the door is a small group of girls, with a few more adding on directly in front of the exit. I swallow, taking a small step toward the exit, toward them. "Excuse me, I just want to get past you, the room is open though-"

The girl who had stopped me gives me a funny look, "You lied."

"What?"

"You lied," she moves her phone to show that she had more pictures of me, some were with Harrison, others were of me with any of the Hollands.

My heart tightens in my chest, and its suddenly really hard to breathe. "I'm friends with the Hollands, but-"

"So why didn't you just say that?" Another step toward me, another step I take backwards. I begin to notice that other girls were walking in, none with clothes in hand.

"You aren't exactly being friendly, and it's easier to say no." Another step backwards, my fingers feel like they are growing numb.

The girl lets out a laugh, "So you aren't his girlfriend?" I don't answer, my phone buzzes in my pocket. Her eyes dart down as my hand tightens around the clothing in my hands. "Or are you lying about that too?"

It's a blur, but suddenly I am back inside the dressing room, the lock shaking in my hand as I latch it shut. The girls on the other side are banging their hands on the door. There is yelling, a mixture of people telling me I should tell the truth, that I am not good enough for him, and people yelling at them to back off turn into a jumble of noise as my body betrays me.

You're dying.

You're having a heart attack.

My eyes cloud with tears as faces begin poking under the door, voices coming at me as if I was underwater.

"Just tell the truth!-"

"What does he see in you?"

"Leave her alone!"

"Ugly skank-"

My body hits the back wall, sliding until my butt hits the ground. My mouth is dry as I try and to get air into my lungs. You need to breathe-

The girls continue to yell, and I feel suddenly feel like I am going to pass out- no, I'm going to die- I let out a loud sob as my stomach rolls, the room spinning as my ears ring.

"If you need anything call Haz-"

I reach into my pocket as the pounding on the door becomes distant, dialing Harrison's number from my speed dial, praying he'll answer.

"Hey, (Y/N)-"

"Haz, I need- I need-"

"Woah, hey what's wrong?"

"Can't breathe-"

"You need to breathe with me-" Someone bangs on the door, causing a sob to leave my mouth; I can hear Harrison curse on the other side of the phone. "Where are you, can you remember the store name?" I must have told him, my mouth processing it before my mind. Harrison yells to someone on the other end, but I can't tell what he says. "Harry is calling the store, I'm on my way, I'm going to stay on the phone with you, okay-"

The phone is yanked from my hand, voices drowning me.

I'm going to die-

It's so loud-

My vision begins to get spotty, my body growing cold as my hands tremble.

Suddenly, hands are on my shoulders, someone else is yelling, but it carries something else in its tone. People are being pulled out of the room, the person in front of me squeezes my shoulders as she speaks. "Miss, you are having a panic attack, you need to breathe-"

"I can't-" I choke out.

"You're going to pass out if you don't," I think I'd rather that right now- "In and out with me, okay?"

Breathe-

You need to breathe-

You're panicking

Breathe-

A breathe finally fills my lungs, a familiar voice filling my ears, "I'm her husband's best friend, move mate." My eyes lift and Harrison is suddenly kneeling beside the woman in front of me, grabbing my hands as the security guard moves his head to the side to speak into his radio. "You're safe, you're okay." He moves to sit closer to me, "Breathe, (Y/N)." Another sob shakes my body as I attempt to take in a breath. "That's it, you're okay."

You need to breathe-

You're safe

Just breathe-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! Reblog and comment! Hope today was amazing, and if not, than I hope tomorrow is <3.

@revenantwriting | @bellagrayson-wayne | @jackiehollanderr | @snowxbarryxendgame | @let-me-luve-you | @mybitchborky | @linnyalou | @fanficscuziranout​ | @literallytrashhhhhh | @akweenbitch | @marveltomjunkie | @infinitycaprogers

[demon-snacks]

Family Secrets Ch 2

Summary: You travel back to the bunker with Sam, revealing who you are on the way. Once you arrive it’s a bumpy introduction to his brother.

Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Reader, Readers mother

Word count: 2,569

Warnings: Angst, mention of torture, a tiny bit of fluff

A/N: This was a pretty emotional chapter to write, ngl. It reveals the main details about the readers past, and it’s a rough one. The first chapter was rushed because I was anxious to just get it out there, but I took a little more time with this one. Improvement with progress, or something, right? Anyway, this one should be a little better (hopefully). Anything in italics that aren’t in quotes are the internal thoughts of the reader. Oh, and that one line where Dean calls the reader by a name is a reference to a popular  tv/movie/comic character. Also there’s no smut in this one. Hope y’all like a slow burn… I’m not sorry. 

Tags are open! If I follow you and your blog description says it’s cool to tag you in fics consider yourself in the mix

Unbeta’d Sorry for any mistakes.

Gimme that sweet, sweet feedback

Chapter 1 in case you need to catch up

Masterlist

25 years ago

“Momma, what’s happening?!” you pleaded with your mother to answer you, frightened by what’s going on around you.

Just moments ago you were sitting by the window, listening to the frogs sing their song from the swamp across the way. The night sky was cloudy, but you could still see some stars peaking through in random spots. You loved nights like this, when a slow breeze blows through the window, carrying the scent of warm summer flowers and damp moss. The flickering of lights shook you out of your imaginary thoughts. Hopping down from the chair you were nestled in, you walk the few short steps to the windowsill and peer out. The shutters suddenly crashed shut, causing you to jump back. Everything started happening at once. The shutters on the rest of the windows slammed shut, the walls began to shake, and you could hear the old house groan in defiance.

Your mother was suddenly by your side, taking your arm firmly as she pulled you away from the windows. “It’s alright sweetie, everything is going to be alright.” she tried to console you, but her actions and tone gave her away. Something was terribly wrong. You watched, stiff with fear, as your mother rushed to the old trunk against the far wall and began rummaging through it. Her movements were frantic, throwing its contents aside until she found what she was digging for. Pulling out an old blanket that had been embroidered with symbols, she rushed back to your side. “Keep this around you, it’s very important that you don’t take this blanket off, do you hear me (Y/N)?” she said as she wrapped the cool fabric around your shoulders. It was easily twice the size of your small frame, and pooled around your feet.

“I’m scared..” you choked out.

“I know sweetheart, but I need you to be brave. I know you’re brave, I know you can do this for me.” The words came quickly as she was pulling the blanket tightly around you, pushing the edges into your small hands. The next thing you knew she was pulling the carpet up to reveal the trap door underneath. Pulling the door up and open she hurriedly gestured for you to come over to her. “I need you to hide under here in our safe place like we talked about. You keep that blanket covering you, pull it over your head and don’t you come out no matter what you hear. Don’t make any sounds (Y/N), I mean it.” she said, gripping your shoulders tightly. You nodded, silent. “Auntie Maura will be here to get you in the morning, I promise.” she breathed. You could see tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. There was a banging at the door, as if somebody were trying to break it down. Your mother was suddenly crushing you into a brief hug. “I love you so much,(Y/N).” she whispered. Pressing a kiss to your forehead she quickly ushered you into the crawl space beneath the floorboards, closing the door and leaving you in darkness.

Present day

“I had to listen to them torture her. They took their time, savored it. They could have done it quick, slit her throat or something. Instead they dragged it out, draining her blood slowly. They wanted her to scream, wanted her to beg and plead, but she wouldn’t. She never did scream..” your voice trailed off as you watched the pastures blur by out the passenger side window. Sams hand moved to cover your own in the space between you.

“I’m so sorry, (Y/N)..” his voice was soft. He hadn’t uttered a word since you began telling him about your past.

“I was four, Sam. Four years old and I had to listen to my mother be tortured and killed.” you say flatly. His hand squeezed tighter around yours, the warmth from him slowly seeping into your skin.

“My mother was killed by a demon when I was a baby.” he admitted after a minute of silence had passed, staring out the windshield as he spoke. “The only memory I have of her is watching her burn on the ceiling above my crib. It was…” he trailed off, not finding the words. “I know it’s not the same, and I can’t imagine going through what you did, but I do understand that kind of pain.”

You both sat in silence for the next few miles. Not realizing how lost you were in your bad memories, your breathing became shallow. Sams thumb would occasionally rub the skin of your hand beneath his, causing you to come back to the present and take a deep breath.

“So… witches blood huh?” he broke the silence.

“Yeah, apparently demons can do a lot of powerful stuff with it.” you reply, shaking your head to clear your thoughts.

“And you’re a hereditary witch?” he asked, wanting to get things right.

“Born from a long line. My aunt taught me most of what I know growing up. The rest I learned on my own, in the thick of things. She showed me how to protect myself, how to hide well, and how to fight some. ‘The longer the line, the stronger the blood, the more they’ll want you’ she used to tell me.”

“And how far back does your bloodline go?“ 

"Far enough.” you respond, not wanting to give up everything about yourself. You may have built a friendship with Sam, felt comfortable around him, but you still didn’t want to trust him with every detail. Not yet.

The hours passed by as day slipped into night. You made idle conversation throughout the trip, flipping through the stations as you changed states, trying to find something good to listen to. You talked about the places you’d been throughout the years, laughing when you had some in common. He told you about the bunker, about how they were still discovering rooms it was so big. When he had said bunker you imagined a small, underground safe house with maybe two or three rooms. Never would you have thought it would be this grand structure filled with all the lore you could ever want to read. He briefly touched on the subject of his brother, and how he lived there too.

Glancing over, you noticed Sam yawning and shaking his head, trying to shake the sleep off. You had been on the road for over 14 hours now, and you could tell he was fading fast.

“Hey, I can drive for a bit while you rest.” you offer, hoping he’ll agree and you won’t have to persist. He ran a hand over his face and deliberated for a moment, before agreeing. Pulling the car to the side of the road, you both get out and switch places. Climbing in the drivers seat you reach your leg out only to find that your foot doesn’t even graze the gas pedal. Sam watched you struggle to scoot the seat up far enough, snickering under his breath, and you shoot him a dangerous look.

“Hey, it’s not my fault you aren’t as tall as I am.” He stated, hands in the air defensively.

Mumbling something about giants under your breath you finally get situated. You shift the car out of park and into drive, pulling back onto the road.

“Stay on the highway. Wake me up when you start seeing signs for Kansas.” he tells you, getting comfortable in the passenger seat and leaning his head against the window.

“You got it chief.” you respond, gazing out the windshield at the dark expanse of road ahead.

The sound of boots echo around you as you descend the metal staircase. That’s when it hit you, the beautifully musty, vanilla scent that has always brought you comfort. Books. Lots of them. Taking a deep breath you begin to notice another scent. Is that leather and.. nutmeg?

“Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” The gruff voice came from below. Looking down you see a man dressed in jeans and a plain black shirt with plaid over top. His arms were folded across his wide chest as he leaned back against the table in the center of the room. His hair was short, lighter than Sams, and stuck up at an odd angle. This man was different from his brother, that much was apparent. Your throat tightened when you saw the hard expression on his face. He wasn’t exactly happy to see Sam. “You enjoy your little vacation?” he asked rhetorically. As you reached the bottom of the stairs he leaned to the side, bringing you into his view. “Who’s the (Y/H/C)?”

“Dean, this is (Y/N), (Y/N) this is my brother, Dean.” Sam introduced, neither of you thrilled to be meeting one another. A few moments of silence pass before Sam lets out a frustrated sigh, causing Dean to raise an eyebrow at him. Stepping forward, Sam runs his hand through his hair nervously. “C'mon, we need to talk.” he says, gesturing to one of the rooms off to the side.

“You’re damn right we do.” Dean proclaimed, pushing himself off the table and following his brother.

Your eyes follow them until they turn the corner. His brother seems like a dick, but damn if he doesn’t have a nice ass. Left alone, you drop your bag on the large table and take in your surroundings. It was as if you had stepped back in time. Everything seemed to be from the 1930’s. The architecture of the railings, the light fixtures, even the monstrosity of a control panel on the wall across from you. As you continue to survey the room your eyes land on the archway across from you. Stepping closer, you peer through to the adjacent room and your mouth opens in wonder. This was the library, walls stacked high with books. It was truly a sight out of your dreams. Your fingers trailed along one of the tables situated down the center of the room, feeling the smoothness of the cold, hard wood as you strolled by. This is amazing.. Turning, you enter an alcove and find yourself surrounded by shelves of books. Tomes, encyclopedias, grimoires, folklore, you name it and it was here. The information in the room was palpable, thrumming through the air. You can’t help but reach out to gently skim your fingers across the old leather bindings.

The brothers voices carried through the empty rooms. You could tell they were arguing, but could only make out a few words here and there. Dean wasn’t happy about you being here. Sam must be telling him about you, about what you are. His brother didn’t trust you. To be honest you couldn’t blame him for that. After all, you didn’t trust him either.

“(Y/N)?” you hear Sam call from the room you had just come from. Stepping out from the alcove, you make your way over to him. His jaw was set, but his eyes were soft. He had won the argument. “I’m sorry about that,” he began, “my brother can be kind of a jerk sometimes.”

“It’s fine.” you respond, your tone flat.

“He’ll come around, it just takes him a while to warm up. Once he gets to know you..”

“It’s fine Sam, really.” you cut him off. “It doesn’t matter anyway, I don’t plan on sticking around that long.” Glancing up, you see his face fall. The movement was slight, but you knew his mannerisms well. He reached out and place a hand on your shoulder.

“You’re welcome here as long as you want (Y/N).” he replied. Just then his brother came out of the kitchen, beer in hand.

“I’m keeping my eye on you, Sabrina.” said Dean as he stomped past you and down the hall to your left.

“C'mon, I’ll show you your room. You can take your pick, actually.” Sam said, with a full smile this time. You grab your bag off the table and follow him down the hallway Dean had just taken.

There were doors lining both sides of the hall, each one with a number situated below the same symbol. Sam had told you that the bunker used to belong to a secret organization that was wiped out years ago, but it was just him and his brother who lived there now. The entire place to themselves. As you turned the corner, your lips curled into a small smile as you thought of how epic hide and seek would be in this place.

“Here we are. I’m in room 21, right over there,” he told, pointing  two doors down from where you were standing, “and Dean is in room 11, down the other hallway. You can choose any room besides those two.” he explains.

Your face falls as soon as you hear where Dean’s room is. Once you saw the rooms were numbered you knew which one you would be staying in. 9 had always been a lucky number for you. When you were a child your aunt had told you what a powerful and protective number it was, and it had never failed you. Unfortunately, this meant that you would be staying across the hall from Sams older, angry brother. It’s just until you figure out where to go next, you can deal with this (Y/N).

“I’ll be staying in room 9.” you mutter

Nodding in acknowledgement, Sam runs his hand through his hair. He’s nervous. “So, umm..” he starts.

“Where’s the bathroom? I’d love to take a shower.” you quickly say, not feeling up for any more conversations tonight.

“Oh, yeah sure, of course. It’s just down the first hall, third door on your right.” he gestures the way you had just come.

“Thanks.” you reply, adjusting the bag on your shoulder. A moment passes as you stare at the floor. Then Sam reaches out and snakes an arm around your shoulders, placing his other hand on your hair and pulling your head to his chest. His hug was tight, and warm. Slowly, your muscles began to relax.

“You’re safe now.” he breathes into your hair. Maybe it was because you hadn’t been hugged like this in a long time, but you actually did feel safer. As he pulled away you couldn’t help but feel thankful for him.

“Goodnight, Sam.” your voice was softer than it had been since you entered the bunker. Turning, you made your way down the hall to your new room, leaving him standing in front of his own.

When you reached your door you stood there for a moment, staring at the brass number before turning the knob and stepping through. The room was just like the rest of the bunker, straight out of another time. Crossing the dimly lit room, you toss your bag on the bed and threw yourself down next to it. These blankets smell weird, but at least they’re soft. Groaning, you sit up and begin rummaging through your bag for something to change into after your shower. Eventually you pull out a black tank top and shorts. Tossing them over your shoulder you stand and stretch your body upward, feeling your back and shoulders pop. A long sigh passes your lips as you stroll across the room and out the door, thinking about how good it’s going to feel to wash the past two days off of you. 

@kdfrqqg @lucifer-in-leather 

[emletish-fish]

Worst Prisoner Chapter 6 Notes

Ao3   

FF.net

Lovely readers!

one million thanks to Boogum for the beta!

Thanks so much for sticking with it, and a huge enormous thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who reviews and comments. Your feedback keeps me writing! Since this chapter is huge, I'll keep my rambles short.

Today I will ramble about

Sokka and leadership.

Aang and the grieving process.  

Iroh's parenting style.

My Two favourite drama llamas and their ‘forbidden love’.

The main events of Bato of the water tribe, Aang stealing the map, ice-dodging and Sokka and Katara temporarily leaving would still go the same way, because there is some great character development for Aang and Sokka there. I've just written about what would be different.

Sokka,  I love that kid. Bless him, I think he is great. This episode does deal with how he sees leadership and what it means to be a man. Sokka does idolise the warrior culture and is very keen to be seen as a manly, manly Water Tribe warrior man. While Katara is often painted as Team Mum, I would argue that Sokka is definitely the team leader. Zuko will eventually become to the team dad, but even he is just following Sokka's ideas and plans at this stage.  In fact, I'd say Zuko will generally follow Sokka's lead. Look at Boiling Rock, it's mostly Sokka doing all the plans and Zuko being his ride-or-die buddy, and offering unconditional support.

The thing about leadership and feeling responsible is that it can be tough and lonely. Sokka's 16 and still trying to figure out how to be the leader at this stage. He would especially not be too confident in his decisions here, given how everything had turned out recently. He is more that willing to hand leadership over to an older male from his tribe, who he knows, trusts and respects. And in all honesty, Bato's not wrong that it is much safer for everyone to split up now.  

The Gaang would no longer be attracting even more attention from the Fire Nation, and the abbey is theoretically much safer for Zuko than been dragged through the forest by them. Everyone knows Zuko hasn't had the best luck with them so far on the remaining uninjured front. Neither Sokka or Katara are happy with this arrangement, but I also couldn't see either of them directly rebelling against Bato, who they respect and love.  

Bato  is exactly like Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. “You put that thing back where it came from or so help me!”

 Bato was never going to be happy to see Zuko in this scenario. Sorry to everyone who wanted Zuko to go ice-dodging. I just couldn't see Bato, who strikes me as someone who would be very protective of his best friend's kids, being too happy with them travelling/kidnapping the prince of the Fire Nation or wanting to initiate a firebender into Water Tribe customs. The prejudice against the Fire-Nation is (justifiably) deep in the SWT.  This is also why he doesn't refer to Zuko by name either, as that would humanise him. In Bato's mind, all fire benders are bad.

Aang, and the grieving process: I love Aang as a character in season one and two, even some of season 3, but his characterisation gets unceremoniously shoved under the bus by Bryke's favouritism and their desire to force Kataang, and it has led to a great deal of backlash against the lil muffin. A great deal has been written about the Katara side of the fallout, but I say poor Aang deserved better, too.  

@marsreds

Marsreds on Tumblr had some lovely metas all about how Aang deserved better that I agree with. One of her points is that the Kataang relationship, which is stated in canon to be Aang transferring the love of his whole people into an unhealthy attachment to Katara as a coping mechanism, is pretty much a band-aid over the massive wound that is Aang's grief.  I agree with this 100%, and it is one of the huge reasons why their dynamic is so unhealthy, because Katara can never make up for an entire people by herself.

Aang doesn't really go through the recognised grieving process; denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance, during the show. I am not saying that I wanted the show to become bogged down in it or for Aang to become a maudlin character. His optimism and joy are some of the best things about him. However, I do think Aang's recovery should have happened.

I would say he seems stuck in denial, and bargaining in the show. Swapping the love he felt from a whole people into the maternal care he gets from one person and becoming dependant on that relationship reeks of an unhealthy bargaining coping mechanism. So this chapter, I had him acknowledge to himself that he really does miss his old life, his old friends and the way the world used to be.  

Do you ever just think about how many shenanigans Zuko got into, and then consider the fact that Iroh 100% knew and let him go off anyway?  Iroh really only calls him out on the stealing and trying to bring Appa back to their tiny apartment in Ba Sing Se.  Other than that, Iroh's cool with it. This would have been a big wake-up call for him.  

He has a very laissez-faire style to parenting/mentoring Zuko. He lets Zuko go off and make his own mistakes then helps him pick up the pieces, and offers wisdom after the fact.  This approach was probably good early on, given how emotionally damaged Zuko was. He would not have responded well to his Uncle being an over-bearing parental type in the early days of the Wani, especially when he was trying be all grown up in front of the men, (a lil baby captain).  However, they have just fallen into this pattern of Zuko doing really dangerous stuff and Iroh never pulling him back.

Zuko and Katara's biggest obstacle is not some dark n' edgy bullshit (because they actually are very similar people who are compatible in many ways). It is the fact that they have been  born and raised on the opposite side of a 100 year war and are meant to see each other as the enemy!

The respective cultures/nations will not be happy with their relationship/connection at all. Members of the SWT would not be happy seeing Katara, their last waterbender, with someone from the Fire Nation. Not to mention the overt colonisation and disdain of other races by the Fire Nation! It's Romeo and Juliet, or Oma and Shu level stuff. Two lovers, forbidden from one and another, a war divides their people ...like c'mon. Who else is it meant to be? Oma and Shu is a metaphor for their love! It epic level stuff.

I don't love the comics because of how they trash my lil muffins. However, I vaguely recall one where they tried to bring this aspect into K@taang.  Aang had to choose between Katara and his duty to the world, and Katara was just going to..not have a vote in the relationship, I guess. See Bryke know how powerful and romantic a theme the whole forbidden lovers thing is, but it does not apply at all to the canon ships. It just makes it look like Aang makes all the decisions in the relationship.

Next chapter we will meet Jeong Jeong and other deserters, Katara will discover a new skill, Zuko will discover a new idea, Aang will make a friend and Sokka will be taken to an all you can eat meat restaurant.

Til then.  

[janethepegasus]

BMC Miraculous Ladybug AU RP Thing: At the Movies

An RP thing related to the BMC Miraculous Ladybug AU ( @pika-ace ) where our main seven Holders go through movies! Thanks to an akuma.

(The main seven run into the empty theater, the large screen showing static)

Leo: Oookay, a bit creepy...

Cyber: Where did that akuma go?

Owl: No clue, but stay alert if he ever comes out.

???: Hey! Didn't anyone teach you to be quiet during a movie?!

(They jump and look around for the akuma)

(They see him in the middle of the very back row of the theater, eating popcorn) Akuma: So rude...

Leo: Um, hate to break it to ya, but there IS no damn movie to watch! *gestures the large screen showing static*

Akuma: Well not yet; I'm planning a marathon in a sense! And you seven are gonna make it happen! (He snaps his fingers and the screen morphs, making two giant hands appear)

(The two hands grab them)

Akuma: *waves* Have fun; we hope you enjoy the movie!

(The two hands drag them into the screen)

(Everything goes white) (Eric stirs, having transformed back)

Eric: Wha.......where.....?

(He blinks and hears screaming around him; he finally focuses and sees that he's sitting in a lifeboat surrounded by others, being lowered into the water)

Eric: What the....?

(Eric looks around and then he looks up and sees Jordan staring down at him; it's then that he realizes they're both wearing different clothes; Jordan looks just as confused as he does as he looks around; the scene does look familiar)

Eric: Wait.....are we...?

(He takes in the flares, the screaming people and the giant boat, and can even hear faint music playing in his ears from a familiar soundtrack) Eric: Am I...? (He realizes he's on the Titanic, but he also realizes that he's on a lifeboat, and Jordan isn't) Eric: Oh...shit!! *he gets up and jumps from the lifeboat back onto the main ship*

Jordan: Wha-Eric?!

(Eric climbs onto the boat and starts running; up on the main deck, Jordan starts running too)

(The two of them keep running through the boat until they finally ran up to each other)

(They meet in the stairwell and hug tightly) Eric: Oh my god, Jordan!

Jordan: Oh god Eric! You scared the living hell out of me!

(They kiss briefly and hug again) Eric: I couldn't stay on that boat! Do you realize where we are?!

Jordan: *realizes* Oh shit, are we in the Titanic?!

Eric: Yes; thank god we watched it together a few weeks ago or I wouldn't have known to jump back on!

Jordan: Yeah, thank GOD!

Eric: I guess the akuma brought us into the movie! If I was on the lifeboat, then that must mean I'm Rose and your're Jack...oh god...

Jordan: Oh no....you don't mean...?

(Before he can answer Jordan looks up behind them and sees a man pointing a gun at them) Jordan: Oh shit...MOVE!! *he grabs Eric's hand and runs just missing the first gunshot*

(They run through the halls)

(They run downstairs, avoiding the gunshots) Jordan: Jesus, I forgot about the crazy fiance!! (They run until they reach a room that's slightly flooded and the man stops chasing them) Cal (the fiance): *yells as they run* I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME TOGETHER!

Jordan: *to Eric* Ironically, we already are!

(They keep running until they reach a stairwell and catch their breath)

Jordan: Okay...what happens next? Eric: Um...I think it's... (they hear small screams for help; they look out into the hall that's starting to flood and see a small boy standing against the wall and crying)

Eric: Oh god...!

Jordan: C'mon! *they run down the hall and Jordan picks up the boy; the doors before them are moments away from bursting so they run the other way*

(They run towards the stairs and see that the stairs were being flooded)

Eric: Other way! (They run back the way they came when a man appears; he starts yelling in a foreign language and takes the boy from Jordan before going back towards the other door that's about to burst)

Jordan: No, wait! Come back!! *runs towards the man*

Eric: Not that way!!! (The doors creak and burst; the man and boy are swallowed by the water) Jordan: RUN!!

(Eric and Jordan as fast as they can to avoid the rush of water)

(They run through the halls until catches up with them, sweeping them off their feet and pushing them through the halls until they're stopped by a gate)

Eric: AH!

Jordan: *sees a stairwell* This way!! *takes Eric's hand and they pull themselves to the stairs*

(They run up the stairs)

(Unfortunately, there's another gate at the top) Eric: NO!! *they pound and pull at the gate*

(They keep pounding at the gate until it eventually opens)

(By then the water had risen and they hurry up the other stairs, getting drenched in the process) Jordan: Holy SHIT, they weren't kidding about the cold!!

Eric: Yeah, good LORD

(They keep climbing until there's no more water and make a break for the main deck) Jordan: Whoa whoa whoa hold up! *skids to a halt as they pass a room*

Eric: What?

(Jordan hurries in and picks up a lifejacket than someone dropped) Jordan: Lucky find! *gives it to Eric* This oughta even the odds a bit.

Eric: Yeah...

Eric: But...what about you? Jordan: This is the only one. *puts it on Eric*

Eric: Jordan, i know how this damn movie ends, i am NOT losing you Jordan!

Jordan: I do too, but I'm not taking any chances with you!

Eric: Jordan...

Jordan: *holds his face* It'll be okay. Who knows, maybe we can find another one for me. But right now we have to keep moving before this ship sinks

Eric: A-Alright...

(They hold hands and keep moving) (meanwhile, with Post...)

(He stirs, but he notices that he's now standing on all fours)

Post: Wait...wha....???

(He blinks and he finds himself climbing a long stair way on a long mountain)

Post: What the...? *he looks down and sees that he's a pony*

Post: Ooooooh my gooooood!! I'm a pony! 8Dc

(He takes in his appearance and his cutie mark) Post: This is so COOL!

(Then he can hear Rarity whining)

Post: *gasp* No...am I...? :Dc

Post: *realizes* I'm in....the MLP Movie!!! 8DDDDDD

(Post quickly runs to catch up with the Mane 6)

(He and the Mane 6 all climb up the stairs until they reached the gate to the Hippogriff kingdom)

(The kingdom is wrecked and empty)

(They all look around, trying to find a single sign a hippogriff is there) Applejack: Hello? Is anypony home?

Post: *softly* They're not here anymore...

(Pinkie hops around in random places, looking for Hippogriffs)

(Post slowly wanders towards the tunnel where the pond is, knowing what's coming already)

(He can hear echoes of someone singing)

Post: *softly* There's Princess Skystar... Twilight: What was that, Post?

Post: Oh! Um...nothing!

Post: Um, I just thought I heard something

Twilight: Oh! Did you? Where?

Post: In here, listen. (Twilight leans in and hears the singing)

Twilight: I hear it!

(She calls the others over and they venture into the cave)

(They slowly sneak near the source of the singing, where they see a silhouette of a mermaid-like creature behind a large flower in the middle of a pond)

(Pinkie makes a step crumble and the figure starts and jumps into the water)

Twilight: No wait! Come back!

(They all enter the water and the flower vanishes and starts draining the water)

(They get dragged into the water vortex)

(Post manages to take a large breath as he knew this was coming and waits anxiously for the bubbles as the Mane 6 slowly pass out around him)

Post: *internally* C’mon Skystar...! Save us...!

(Eventually the bubbles surround them, letting them breathe and Skystar appears)

Post: *internally* There She is! :D

(They go through the scene and Skystar leads them to the queen)

Skystar: Mom! Mom! Look what I found! :D

Queen: *sleepily* Is it another shell, because I swear if you *sees the ponies*

Post: Um....Hi!

Queen: Princess Skystar, what have you done?! You know surface dwellers are forbidden!

Queen: Guards! (Seapony guards swim up to them and point their spears at them)

(They all tense)

Post: *softly* Oh god... 0_0

Post: *internally* At least I know that this kinda ends well...

(Meanwhile with Jeremy and Michael)

(They both jerk awake and realize they're on a bus with a bunch of other students)

Jeremy: Wha?

Michael: Uhhhhh...I have no idea....

(They look around the bus)

Jeremy: Why the hell are we in here....?

(They look around and find they’re all wearing matching uniforms and the other kids are talking their decathlon)

Jeremy: Wait....are we?!

Michael: What? (Jeremy opens and dogs through his backpack and finds the spiderman outfit) Jeremy: *hushed* Holy shit we are!!!

Michael: *hushed* You mean.....we're in Spiderman: Homecoming?!

Jeremy: *hushed* Yeah!! And I’m spiderman!! :D

Michael: *hushed* That's so cool! Well, not as cool as being Leo King but still, awesome!!

Jeremy: So I guess that means we’re...oh shit...

Michael: Yep... 0_0

(They look out the window and see the Washington Monument coming up)

Jeremy: ......I'm gonna put on that suit eventually, aren't i? 0_0

Michael: Looks like it... O_O

(Eventually, they arrive at the Washington Monument)

Jeremy: Okay, I gotta stay outside or at least out of the elevator so I can do the thing...

Michael: Yeah

(Jeremy hangs back with Michelle, giving Michael’s hand a squeeze as he’s herded into the elevator with the others)

Jeremy: *internally* Hoo boy, you can do this Jeremy....once the scene starts, just do your thing, but....in a Spideman suit.

(He moves to a place where he can change when the time comes) Jeremy: It’ll be fine...it’ll be fine...

Jeremy: It's gonna be like being Leo King! B-But not really.....j-just calm yourself Jeremy......you got this.....you can do this!

(He sits and waits for the inevitable) (Meanwhile with Joe, he blinks and finds himself in a small but dark house)

Joe: Where.....am i....?

???: Daddy? (Joe turns and sees a little boy standing nearby)

Joe: Huh?

(The boy runs over and hugs his legs in fear) Boy: It’s coming Daddy! You let it in! Why did you let it in?!

Joe: Wh-What's coming? Dear child, what are you saying?

(The boy points and Joe turns to see the back door wide open, leading to a wall of black; there’s a scuttling noise and a tall figure with a long coat, a top hat, and long nails rolls in silently, stopping right in front of Joe and the boy)

(Joe tenses as he looked at the tall figure)

(His heart pounds as he instinctively pulls the boy closer; the figure then sharply extends its fingers and Joe gives into his fear, picking up the boy and running)

(He runs through the halls, holding the boy close to him)

(Joe runs upstairs and into an empty room, locking the door behind them)

(His heart pounds in fear as he holds the boy close)

Joe: *softly* I don’t recall ever seeing this movie...

(The boy softly cries)

Joe: *softy and shakily* Its alright...it’s alright... (He presses his back against the door, listening for any sign of the creature)

Joe: *internally* What.....the hell.....was that....THING?!

(Joe keeps the boy close when his eyes are drawn to the fireplace; he jumps as a top hat falls down the chimney and onto the floor)

(Joe tenses in fear)

(A coat falls next and he can hear the scuttling; he quickly turns and unlocks the door with shaky hands)

(His breathing picks up and he tries his best to unlock the door as fast as he can)

(He Eventually puts the boy down so he can use both hands and gets the door unlocked as a scratchy voice from the creature calls out) ???: Baba dook! Doooook! Dooooooooook!

Joe: *tenses in fear* Oh god....!

(A shadow comes out of the chimney just as Joe gets the door open; he takes the boy’s hand and runs)

(He runs through the halls as fast as he could, while still holding the child's hand)

Joe: We need to get out of this house...! (They run down the stairs and towards the front door, when the boy suddenly stops at the base of the stairs, slipping his hand out of Joe’s)

Joe: *looks at the child* What's wrong?

Boy: *scared* You can’t get rid of the Babadook... (He then falls back slightly, like he was pushed)

Joe: Child NO!

(The boy screams as an invisible force pulls him up the stairs and out of sight)

Joe: Oh god....!

(Joe runs up after him) (Meanwhile, with Lin...)

(Lin stirs awake)

Lin: The hell...? (He’s in some large field)

Lin: Where am i.....?

Lin: And why am I feeling some kind of deja vu?

(Suddenly, he hears a bull mooing)

Lin: *feels a puff of air on the back of his neck* Oh no...

(He slightly looks back and sees a bull standing behind him)

(Lin slowly gets up and looks at the bull) Lin: I am TOTALLY where I think I am aren’t I...?

(The bull huffs, getting ready to charge at him)

Lin: Whoa there, Uh...nice bull?

(The bull sticks out his horns and gets ready to charge)

Lin: ...Dammit! *he runs and the bull gives chase*

(Lin runs as fast as he can from the bull)

Lin: WHY DID I HAVE TO END UP IN THIS SCENE?!

(Meanwhile, Jordan and Eric are hand in hand, making their way to the back of the ship as the front tilts further into the water)

Jordan: Just hang on peach, we'll be there soon...

(As they run Eric gazes at all the people screaming and jumping into the cold water)

Eric: ....Don't tell we gotta jump to get out of this....?

Jordan: I say we stay outta that icy hell down there for as long as possible! (They get to the very back of the ship and latch onto the railing, Jordan putting Eric between his arms)

Jordan: Just hang on tight Peach!

(The boat keeps tilting up until it finally starts to slowly sink; Jordan and Eric climb onto the outside of the rail) Eric: Oh god! Jordan: This is it peach!

Jordan: We're gonna jump!

Jordan: Do not let go of my hand!

Eric: I won't!

(They wait until the water is about two feet below them and jump into the freezing water)

(They hit the water once they landed)

(The suction of the ship sinking tried to drag them down, making them kick for the surface, but at some point the current shoves Jordan’s hand away from Eric’s)

Eric: *internally* JORDAN!!

(Eric kicks madly and breaches the surface, finding himself among a sea of screaming passengers)

(Eric looks around, panicking as he looks for Jordan)

Eric: JORDAN!! JORDAN!! *he paddles around the people nearby*

Eric: JORDAN!!!

(He keeps looking when he swims past someone who promptly grabs onto him and shoves him under, using him as a means of staying afloat)

Eric: Wha?!

(Eric goes above and below the surface trying to fight off the person on him, all while screaming for Jordan)

Eric: JORDAN!! JORDAN, WHERE ARE YOU?!

???: GET THE FUCK OFF HIM!! (The man is punched off and Jordan hauls Eric back to the surface)

Eric: J-Jordan?!

Jordan: C’mon peach! *they start swimming away from the mass of people*

(They swim away from the mass amount of people in the water)

Eric: Wait...how are you swimming?! Jordan: Maybe it’s cause Jack can swim in the movie; honestly, I ain’t questioning it

Eric: .....Me neither.

(They keep paddling until they reach the dreaded piece of wood) Jordan: ......Well, you know the drill, peach; up you go.

(Eric gets up on the piece of wood)

Eric: C'mon. Jordan: What? Eric: We're going to make this work dammit, get up here with me!

Jordan: But Eric, Jack dies in this part!

Eric: I don't care! Nothing's stopping us from trying, just PLEASE get up here!

Jordan: *sighs* Alright, i trust you...

(Eric stays still and Jordan attempts to shimmy onto the wood)

(Eventually, Jordan gets on the wood)

Jordan: Well I'll be damned...they really COULD both fit on here...

Eric: Yeah!

(They both shiver madly as they realize just how cold they are) Jordan: So I guess now we just...hope we don't freeze to death...

Eric: Y-Yeah...good LORD this is cold!

(Jordan puts his arm around him) Jordan: A-At least...t-this way...b-both of us c-can m-make it...hopefully...

Eric: H-Hopefully...

Jordan: ...I-If w-w-we d-don't... Eric: D-Don't s-s-say that...! Jordan: I-If w-w-we d-don't...m-make it...I l-love y-you...

Eric: .....I-I love y-you too.....

(They stay as close as possible in a vain attempt to keep warm and their vision slowly goes white) ((That's just the screen spitting them out)) (Meanwhile with Jeremy, he's just heard the explosion from the monument)

Jeremy: Oh! That's my cue!

(Jeremy changes into the outfit, runs up, and starts climbing the monument as fast as he can)

Jeremy: W-Woah! This is so cool! I'm climbing up the wall! :D

Jeremy: *glances down* Oh god, don't look down, got it....

(He keeps climbing up the monument)

(He eventually reaches the top and starts trying to break through the window)

Jeremy: C'mon, BREAK!!

(Eventually a helicopter flies up) Jeremy: Oh yeah..guess it's time for that epic jump move

(He climbs all the way to the very top and watches as the helicopter flies higher)

(He then jumps over the copter, and swings from it, shooting him through the window, letting him web the top of the elevator just in time)

Jeremy: Okay, now i gonna do the thing!

(He ends up slipping and falling into the elevator (where Michael is) and quickly webs the top of the shaft and stops the elevator again) Jeremy: Whoa, that was close!!

Michael: Woo! We're saved! :D

Jeremy: Careful, don't move too much! *starts pulling the elevator up*

(Everyone stays completely still as Jeremy pulls the elevator up)

(They eventually reach the top and guards help get the people out) Jeremy: Hurry! *the roof of the elevator where he's standing starts to break*

(Eventually, almost everyone managed to get out, except for one)

(Michael is the last one and moves to get out, but the elevator roof breaks and starts to fall)

(Michael screams loudly as the elevator falls)

Jeremy: NO!! *he webs and it grabs Michael's wrist, pulling him out and leaving the elevator to fall*

Michael: Oh god....that was close.... 0_0

Jeremy: Yeah...holy crap... *he pulls Michael up to safety*

(Once he got up, he pulls Michael up and puts him where the guards and the others are)

Jeremy: Everyone okay?

(Everyone nods) Michael: Yeah....thanks dude

(Jeremy nods and then the web holding him up breaks, sending him down the shaft; meanwhile Michael feels lightheaded and both their visions go white)

(Meanwhile with Post)

(They've all been turned into sea ponies and Twilight has sent Pinkie to show Skystar a good time, but Post hangs back, knowing what Twilight is up to)

Post: You sure you want to do this Twilight? Queen Novo would be VERY mad if you took the pearl...

Twilight: It's the only way to- Post: To save Equestria, I know, but...what if it's not? If the others make friends with the other sea ponies maybe they'll help us willingly!

Post: But if you do this, we might lose their trust INSTANTLY. And we would have no power at all to save Equestria!

Twilight: *starting to get conflicted* But...But... Post: Twilight please...this isn't the way, and you know it...

Post: I know you went through a lot in this journey, and so far....land outside of Equestria wasn't the nicest to you and your friends. But.....the best thing we can do is gain the seaponies' trust.

Twilight: ............Oh Post, what have I become?! Look at me, I'm so low as to steal from innocent creatures!! Post: It's not your fault! You have a lot on your mind after all

Post: This is your chance to redeem yourself Twilight, if we gain the seaponies' trust, they would help us defeat the Storm King and his army! We could save Equestria if they were on our side!

Twilight: *slowly smiles* Celestia, what would I do without you, Post. *hugs him* Thank you

Post: *hugs back* You're welcome Twilight.....

(The seaponies and the Mane five and Spike come back) Novo: I think I might be able to help you.

Twilight: You will?

Novo: Yes; your friends showed me the better side of you; I think you're worth helping against someone like the Storm King.

Twilight: Oh thank you Queen Novo! We gladly appreciate your help!

(Post sighs in relief and then starts to feel lightheaded)

(Then his vision starts to go white)

(Meanwhile with Lin...)

(He's still running away from the bull)

Lin: GOD WHY ME?! *he sees a fence coming into view*

Lin: Oh! That's probably my chance to shake this guy off my trail! Let's just hope i don't fail!

(He runs and manages to parkour over the fence and the bull stops)

Lin: Haha!! Can't get me now toro! >:)

(Lin sighs in relief and sits on the ground to catch his breath, and starts feeling light headed)

(Then his vision starts to go white) (Meanwhile with Joe)

(Joe runs up the stairs and into the master bedroom where he sees the boy being pulled up against the wall)

Joe: Oh my god...!

(Joe runs up and grabs the boy and brings him to the bed where he covers him with his body; the bed starts to shake and a giant shadow appears  at the back of the room)

(Joe keeps the boy close as the shadow appears)

(The shadow roars and growls; the child whimpers in fear and Joe finally gets up to face it)

Joe: *internally* I will not be afraid of this monster...! I won't let that THING touch that child ever again!

Joe: *to the shadow* I'm NOT going to run from you!! And if you lay a hand on this child I won't show any mercy!

(The shadow growls at him)

(A strong wind starts to blow and tries to suck the child into the shadow, but Joe grabs onto him before he can fly away and pulls him close)

Joe: *growls* No one, no matter if they are man or monster, shall NOT touch or harm ANY of my children! And you are NOT hurting this child!!

(The shadow roars) Joe: LEAVE! LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK!! (The shadow roars but then slowly begins to die down and become silent; it then lets out a pitiful whine and vanishes out the door in fright)

Boy: Daddy.....!

Joe: It's alright, son...it's alright now... *he sits suddenly, starting to feel light headed*

(Then his vision started to go white)

(meanwhile, the akuma stands up in anger as the screen spits out all seven of the holders, all of them toppling out and onto the ground)

Akuma: You ruined my movies!! >:(

(Jeremy and Michael get up and shake the dizziness away, along with Lin, Joe, and Post; Eric and Jordan however, stay on the ground, still hugging each other close and shivering as they're still drenched from all that time in the freezing ocean)

Post: Oww....

Lin: Oh man...that was rough...

Michael: Yeah....

Joe: *sees Eric and Jordan* Are you two alright? (Jordan and Eric shiver, their teeth chattering; their skin is pale and their lips are blue, and they're both soaked to the skin)

Jeremy: Dad...? Michael: You okay dad?

Eric: J-J-Jeremy...? I-Is t-t-that...a-are w-we...? (Joe goes up and touches them) Joe: Good god, you're freezing! What happened to you?!

Jordan: T-T-T-Titanic....

Michael: You guys were in the Titanic movie?! Lin: And you both LIVED?!

Eric: Y-Y-Yeah...

Akuma: You RUINED it!! The furry one was supposed to DIE!! How DARE you exploit that film's plot hole and both live!!

Michael: Hey! It's better to FIX that damn plot hole than leave it open!

Jeremy: Yeah, and as cool as it was being Spiderman in there, now we gotta kick your teeth in. Joe: *to Eric and Jordan* You two stay here and try to warm up. We'll finish this.

(Jordan and Eric nod)

(The five transform and jump on the akuma while Eric and Jordan continue shivering on the floor)

(The five holders fight against the akuma)

(They eventually find the akuma and break it, letting the bird fly out)

Leo: Alright, who's gonna do the thing?

Dasher: I will; this asshole chased me with a bull!

Hound: Go for it Linny!

(Dasher grabs the bird and purifies it)

(After the dove flew away, they all approach Jordan and Eric)

Leo: How you doing, Dad?

Eric: *shivers a little bit* S-S-Still c-c-cold....

Owl: We need to get them back home and warm, quickly

Leo: Right!

(Owl and Dasher pick them up and they hurry out of the theater and back to Eric and Jordan's apartment where they promptly wrap them in blankets)

Dasher: You stay warm Tank.

Jordan: T-T-Thanks...S-Speedy... (Leo and Hound change back and crawl between them) Michael: We'll help warm ya up

Jeremy: Yeah

Eric: T-Thanks...boys... (They cuddle up together) Michael: Sooooo...what was it like being on the ACTUAL Titanic? :3c

Jordan: H-Hell on i-ice...

Eric: And t-t-terrifying...

Jeremy: Yeah, well at least the BOTH of you made it out safely!

Eric: Y-Yeah t-thank god... Michael: Although, you guys as Jack and Rose in that movie...it's sad as HELL but pretty cute. :3c

Jeremy: Yep! Plus, it's kinda fitting you two were Jack and Rose! :3c

Jeremy: One of you is a lost soul and the other saves him; that's basically you two in a nutshell

(Jordan and Eric blush)

Michael: But yeah, I like the ending you guys made better, you know, with you both living

Eric: ....I-I wasn't g-gonna let J-Jordan die on m-me......i j-just....won't l-let it h-happen.....

Jordan: S-Same...

(They all cuddle together, keeping Eric and Jordan warm)