#me being a crazy cat lady reveal

[matchalovertrait]

Mi bebito, Tigre, is all ready for Le Chat's Birthday Party! Tigre is so excited because he loves hanging out with other cats. He plays, snuggles, and shares his food with them. However, don't argue with him unless you're prepared to lose because this cat talks back and he wins every time. Not only is Tigre part of the Sassy Man Apocalypse but he's also quite spoiled. He complains about every minor inconvenience. Overall, he's vocal about everything but at least he won't ever let you forget how much he loves you ♡

Check out @akitasimblr's account if you haven't yet :)

[idyllicwillowtree]

Smitten Kittens

Genre: Eddie Munson x fem!reader; fluff

Summary: Eddie helps out a very special cat who turns out to be yours. 

Word count: 3.3K

Warnings: light drug-use, swearing, illusions to bad parental relationships/toxic parents, reader is called ‘Ms. Y/L/N’ at one point, Eddie-centric, Eddie being a crazy cat lady

Author’s note: Loosely based off of me and my cat <3 ; pictures found on pinterest

Main Masterlist

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4:37. Every morning Eddie’s body wakes him up at 4:37 and no matter how long he lays in bed or how late he stays up he can’t go back to sleep. He could have his eyes closed, unmoving for hours and still his mind would not allow him anymore rest. 

That’s where his little friend Mary-Jane comes in handy.

His uncle, Wayne, is usually still at work at this time so Eddie doesn’t bother being gentle as he swung the front door open, a joint dangling from his chapped lips and a couple cans of tuna in his hand. 

Stepping out of his muggy trailer, he took a deep breath of fresh morning air as goosebumps emerged on his skin. In preparation for the sun to rise, the night sky became a dark blue mixing with the yellow street lamps, light enough for Eddie not to use a flashlight. He plopped himself down on his front steps, his sock covered feet avoiding the dewy grass below by setting them on the last wooden step.

He lit up his joint, taking a deep inhale and enjoying a short moment alone before gently tapping the tuna can with his lighter.

“Purrrrow?”

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie clutched his chest before turning towards the noise, “Oh, there you are Ozzy.”

When Eddie started using weed to help him sleep in the middle of the night he slowly made some new furry friends. Once he set a precedent that the stray cats could come to him for a snack, he became the unofficial cat-guy of the trailer park. 

Something about taking care of the mangy little beasts of the neighborhood made him feel important. Knowing there were four starving cats out there that turned to him for comfort filled him with a sense of purpose. Something he doesn’t always get with the people in his life.

As he starts filling the large dog dish he leaves outside with the fishy treat, the rest of his cat gang arrives, greeting him with quiet chirps, excited purring, and vertical tails. 

Ozzy was the leader, a short-haired tabby that was pure muscle. He usually sported an intimidating glare as he watched over the other cats, keeping them protected and in line. His right-pawed man was a skinny gray cat Eddie named Dio. He was the only one who let Eddie hold him, never clawing to get away, but still preferring to keep all four paws on land. Then there was Dungeon and Dragon, two orange cats attached at the hip and always getting into trouble. Dungeon was very talkative while Dragon was the most affectionate. 

Eddie continued smoking his joint, blowing the smoke in the opposite direction of the eating cats. He listened as their loud smacking and happy purrs echoed in the dish.

Ozzy abruptly stopped eating, eyes zeroed in on something under Eddie’s trailer porch to his right. The cat’s back immediately puffed, fur standing up on its own. He let out an aggressive hiss followed by a yowl that sent a chill down Eddie’s spine. The rest of the cats perked up in curiosity. 

“Please don’t be a raccoon,” Eddie mumbled to himself as he leaned over to get a better look.

Suddenly, a tentative black paw emerged from the shadow of the porch. The most beautiful cat Eddie had ever seen revealed herself, delicately sniffing at the fishy morning air.

Ozzy was not about to share his food with this new cat, making it known through his loud yowling that Dio soon joined in on. Dungeon and Dragon’s ears were pulled back, hissing at the new arrival.

Eddie watched as the cat timidly backed up under the porch again, not wanting any trouble but still eyeing their leftover tuna. 

“Alright guys, that’s enough,” Eddie began gently shooing the clowder of cats away. They all snapped out of it and scampered off to do whatever it is they usually do when they’re done with their breakfast. Not before Ozzy could send one last hiss in the direction of the black cat.

 “Yeah, yeah, we get it. You’re a big tough guy. Go on.” 

Pleased with himself, Ozzy trotted away in the direction of his pack. Once they were gone, Eddie finally got a good look at black cat who, once again, was making her way out of hiding.

In comparison to the rest of the cats, this one stuck out like a sore thumb. While the others were matted flea-covered strays, this cat had perfectly groomed long hair that looked particularly soft and fluffy. Her neon green eyes were clear and bright and her ears remained pointed and intact. 

After she made sure all the other cats were gone, she immediately perked up and began approaching Eddie with her fluffy tail pointing towards the sky.

“Meow?”

“Hi there,” Eddie said gently. “You’re new.”

Eddie slowly lifted his hand, pointer finger stretched out towards the feline. She sniffed at it attentively before dragging her cheek across his short nails repeatedly. Eddie got the hint and started scratching behind her ears and down her spine, watching happily as she leaned into his touch before getting distracted by the leftover fish. 

She was even softer than he imagined.

Eddie knew she didn’t belong out here, she’s too healthy and social to be an outdoor cat or a stray. His heart ached at the thought of someone out there looking for this sweet and loving companion. He knew he needed to help her find her home.

“In the meantime, I bestow upon you the title of ‘Sabbath’. Pretty metal, huh?”

“Purrrrow?”

“Exactly.”

Eddie cautiously scooped her up, pleasantly surprised by how easy this was for her. She immediately settled in his grip and turned to wrap her paws around his neck, nuzzling affectionately into his long hair. 

Eddie took a moment with her, enjoying the feeling of her vibrating purrs against his chest, before heading back inside and to bed. The purring heals his heart a bit, it’s nice having someone around who offers their love to him without needing anything in return.

As soon as Eddie sets her down on the comforter, she spins around a couple times before passing out, Eddie falling asleep not long after.

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Eddie was sitting in class hunched over his notebook, planning out the next Dungeons and Dragons campaign for Hellfire. He was so focused he didn’t even realize the rest of the class packed up their things and left already.

“Mr. Munson, class is dismissed,” the teacher pointed out tiredly.

“You sure you want me to go, Mr. K?” Eddie said slyly, knowing Mr. Kowcheski hates the nickname, “we could talk about our feelings? Who have you been crushing on these days?”

Mr. Kowcheski deadpanned at the delinquent for a long moment before looking past him.

“You too, Ms. Y/L/N. Class is over.”

Eddie turned around, noticing you were still there for the first time. You sat slumped in your chair with a slack expression and wet dull eyes as you stared at the linoleum floor. You jumped slightly and blushed from the attention, eyes jumping around the room.

“S-sorry Mr. Kowcheski,” your voice wavered as you shakily gathered your things and made a break for it, Eddie following close behind.

He’s not sure what possessed him to approach you, but he knew he needed to make sure you were okay. 

 You never gave Eddie a reason to hate you, always sending him shy smiles and letting him borrow a pencil whenever he asked. You were a breath of fresh air in a school full of stale and rotten posers who made his life a living nightmare.

Everytime Eddie’s eyes wandered to you in class, you were always paying close attention and absorbing the lecture through taking notes and asking questions. He always admired that about you. That’s why it was so strange seeing you so zoned out that you didn’t even realize the bell had already rung.

“Hey, you okay?” Eddie said, catching up to you in the hallway.

“Huh? O-oh hi Eddie. What’s up?”

Now that Eddie was closer, he could see your red-trimmed eyes and dark bags as you avoided his gaze. Your usual up-beat tone of voice was now scratchy and tired. Eddie felt sadness and worry flip through his stomach at the sight.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see if you were okay,” he tilted his head, trying to catch your eye, “You don’t seem like your normal self.”

Eddie could tell by the way your eyes widened and your breathing stuttered that he caught you off guard. Once you gather your bearings, you offer him a shy smile that comes as quickly as it goes.

“Thanks, Eddie. I’m fine,” you looked down at your shoes, shaking your head solemnly. “It’s…it’s stupid. But thanks anyway,” you said, voice breaking along with Eddie’s heart.

You walked away before he could press any further. 

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Now that school was out, Eddie could finally head home and brainstorm ideas on how to return Sabbath to her rightful home.

 Eddie sauntered through the trailer door, shopping bags full of canned cat food in tow, as he shook the rain from his wet hair like a dog. He turned to Wayne, lounging in his usual spot on the armchair, only this time he wasn’t alone.

“Boy, if you don’t get this damn cat off of me…”

Sabbath looked perfectly happy, stretched out on Wayne’s jean covered legs. Blissfully unaware that he wanted her off of him. Or maybe she just didn’t care. She sent Eddie, what could only be described as a smile as he walked over and delicately scooped her up. She protested a little with a long closed mouth “mew”, then settled into his arms, hugging him around the neck once more.

Wayne looked up at Eddie, ocean eyes flooded with disapproval.

“I know, I know. It’s the last time I swear,” Eddie defended.

His Uncle stayed silent.

“I couldn’t just leave the poor thing, she wouldn’t have survived. She’s a lover, not a fighter!”

Wayne's face stayed the same, only lifting the corner of his brow at him.

“I’m looking for her owner, I swear. She definitely belongs to someone.”

At that, Wayne lifted himself from his armchair with an “old man grunt”, as Eddie liked to call it. His Uncle gave him a loving pat on the shoulder as he walked past him, heading to the bathroom to get ready for his night shift at the plant. 

Eddie spent the rest of the evening making posters out of cheap printer paper, writing on them with a giant black magic marker. 

“Found Cat

Black, long hair, green eyes”

Eddie added his phone number and called it good. It wasn’t much to go off of, but he figured there couldn’t be too many missing black cats out there in Hawkins.

Eddie flicked the pen cap towards Sabbath, watching as she swatted it off the edge of the table and chased it around. Soon she riled herself up so much that the zoomies overcame her, running from one end of the trailer all the way into Eddie’s room and back again. He found himself completely entertained just by watching this cat do cat things that a couple hours went by without him even noticing.

Eddie was hoping the rain would subside but this was Indiana, the weather never did what you wanted it to do. He wanted to get the word out sooner, but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Not that he was complaining. Fondness blossomed in his chest as Sabbath trotted over to him and rubbed the top of her soft head against his chin. Then she settled on his lap for the rest of the evening.

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6:14. This morning, Eddie managed to sleep in. Although he would’ve much rather slept longer, he was pleasantly surprised to have a couple extra hours. 

That was until he realized why he had woken up. Sabbath was meowing continuously, barely stopping to breathe. Jumping back and forth from the pillow Eddie was resting his head on, to the top of his dresser that was set in front of his bedroom window. When she leaped up, sliding a bit on the smooth surface, she scratched at the window overlooking the front yard. Eddie sluggishly pulled himself up and out of bed to see what Sabbath was getting so worked up about.

You were riding your bike in the soft glow of the morning, tires crutching in protest as you slowly pedaled. You kept your eyes and head moving, scanning the area diligently. In one hand you gripped the handle bars, in the other you held a small bag of cat treats that you were shaking every few seconds. Hope lightens your eyes at the sound of Dungeon’s meows, but it dissolves instantly when he’s not the one you’re looking for.

Eddie watched as Sabbath propped herself up on her back legs and began scratching at the single paned glass window like she could dig her way through. When she looked back at Eddie, begging him to understand her pleas, he patted her head softly and moved towards the front door.

By the time Eddie stepped outside you had stopped your bike and were silently sobbing in the middle of the road. Your back was partially turned to him but he could tell by the quivering of your shoulders and the slouch of your neck that you were overwhelmed with emotion.

“Hey Y/N!” Eddie greeted, louder than he intended.

Eddie cringed slightly as you jumped three feet into the air, dropping the open bag of treats in the process. The clowder of strays devours the fallen snacks in seconds before running off into the woods. Not before Ozzy could send Eddie a look that portrayed his disappointment in him for not feeding them earlier in the morning.

“Ah, shit. Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, no it’s alright,” you sniffed hard and vigorously wiped your face before turning to Eddie, playing it off like you weren’t just weeping.

As Eddie got closer he noticed the plastic cat carrier zip tied to the back of your bike and the pile of clothes in the basket attached to your handlebars. You watched him scan your bike, his eyes sparkling with what you misinterpreted for judgment. 

“Sorry, I’m just looking for…for my cat,” you sent him a tightlipped smile and sniffed back your tears. 

“She must be some cat, huh?” Eddie couldn’t stand to leave you hanging for any longer, watching your face crumple as you nodded. He smiled softly, “she wouldn’t happen to be a fluffy black cat, would she?”

Your head snapped up, eyes wide and hopeful. The last remnants of your tears sliding down your cheeks as you blinked owlishly at him. Your mouth was agape in an attempt to respond, but all you could manage was a frantic nod.

Eddie walked backwards slowly and smiled playfully, dimples on full display as he wiggled his eyebrows at you. He swiftly spun around before jogging up his front steps to open his front door. You watched him curiously before you noticed what emerged from his trailer.

“KITTY!” a sob ripped through your throat as you lurched forward, bike clattering to the ground in the process.

“Kitty?” Eddie mumbled to himself incredulously.

He watched as the relief you were feeling had a physical effect on you. Your knees wobbled, feet crossing over each other as you ran forward. It would’ve taken you down had you not been so eager to reach the feline. Whimpers cracked through your chest when you finally met in the middle, ‘Kitty’ being just as excited to get to you. You expertly scooped her up and let her snuggle into your hair as you clung to each other. The way you held one another reminded Eddie of how a caring mother would hold her child.

Watching this reunion was something special. Seeing these two beings who were unconditionally in love, coming together after days apart sent a warmth through Eddie’s heart. He felt a bit selfish for being proud of himself for making this happen, but quickly shook it off. That cat definitely wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for him and you would still be heartbroken.

“I was s-so w-worried about you, Kitty,” you blubbered as you pressed kiss after kiss on her soft little head. Your happy tear-filled eyes blinked up at Eddie, “t-thank you so much, Eddie. You have no idea what this means to me, thank you-” before you could back out you gently held Eddie’s face and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. 

Eddie’s face tingled with heat as a blush crept up his neck. He was just standing there, dumbfounded, not expecting the affection but not hating it either. He moved to touch his burning cheek to savor the feeling, but it made you cringe seeing the moisture you left behind.

“S-sorry,” you said with a wet laugh.

“Don’t apologize. I should be thanking you,” Eddie said, still in a lovesick daze.

“What? You’re the one that saved my cat!”

“Yeah, but you’re the one that kissed me!” Eddie would like to say that his flirting was smooth and intentional, but really he was just flabbergasted that someone as sweet and pretty as you would give him any sort of attention. 

You barked out a surprised laugh as Kitty moved to nuzzle her face into the other side of your neck. You wiped at the tears and snot still caked on your face, suddenly feeling embarrassed by your emotional outburst.

“Sorry,” you apologized again, “I feel kinda stupid for crying so hard over a cat.”

“You keep saying that,” Eddie said with a smile and a soft head shake that made his curly hair float around his shoulders.

You sniffed, “saying what?”

“That your emotions are stupid. Like it’s some offense to be sad and worried about the greatest cat in the world.”

Eddie’s words surprised you. You scanned his face, looking for anything that would suggest he’s teasing or making fun of you. Luckily, it wasn’t there.

“You…you think she’s the great cat in the world?”

“Yeah! What’s not to like? She’s affectionate, entertaining, and really fucking cute. I’d probably lose my mind if I was the one to lose her. I mean, she’s a cat that hugs. What’s better than that?”

You gasped dramatically, turning to look at the cat still in your arms, “you hugged him? What a little traitor! She usually only hugs me,” you giggled.

Eddie was shocked, yet flattered. “She must be a good judge of character,” he said with a smug grin.

“Yeah, that explains why she hates my parents.”

Eddie erupted in laughter, catching you off guard. You didn’t mean to make a joke but it was kind of funny. Your chortles mixing together and echoing throughout the quiet trailer park. 

Your cat pulled back from your neck so she could look back at Eddie and send him a grateful “meow” and a slow blink. Eddie reached out to stroke behind her ears lovingly. It made you tense for a second, scared she’d take a swipe at the metal-head but instead she leaned into his touch.

“You like that, don’t you Sabbath?” he cooed, the pitch to his voice raising an octave.

“You named her Sabbath?”

“Oh, uhh y-yeah,” Eddie said, scratching the back of his neck bashfully. “Yeah, it was just a placeholder name until I found her owner.”

You nodded slowly as a knowing smile slithered across your lips, “Black Sabbath. Very clever.”

Eddie could have proposed to you right then and there. Instead, he would have to settle for dinner and a movie.

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Thanks for reading!

main masterlist

[georgiapeach30513]

I'll be honest, while Deuxmoi always and still does post a ton of BS, thanks to the development of this never-ending saga...I'm starting to really feel like she's been used intentionally to push this narrative along all the way from the very beginning. Aka 2021.

A very out there theory but hear me out: Early on, the fandom had the general consensus DM was BS. Especially in regards to CE. Because DM was the one that first started spreading his super secret GF nonsense back in 2021, right before the introduction of Soba Saga. Her almost nonsensical rants about her having legit sources on this secret GF - while doing weekly podcasts where she insisted she never got any intel on him because his circle was so tight knit (interesting how that suddenly changed out of nowhere when someone showed up) - just made her seem like crazy cat lady gossip conspiracy Marjorie Taylor Greene on steroids.

She was the first to post that "dating Soba for over a year and everyone in PT/her circle knows about it" in early 2022.

They go public in late 2022. 2023 There's some Sunday Spotted (I could be wrong) vDAY post about CE and "fiancé" being seen in town at dinner (sounds very similar to the most recent vDay sighting). That was about 10 months before the super secret wedding and there had been no announcement of being engaged, minus the Tumblr blogs and random third rate tabloids and troll twitter accounts passing on the rumors. DM starts spreading around the same time some Tumblr blogs get the intel about secret engagement, wedding, rift in the family, people on his side not liking Soba, etc. Eventually it is revealed DM was right all along???? In a complete turn of events her credibility goes from zero to 1 (grudgingly of course, while she continues to spill BS daily)

Meanwhile, DM gets the first RPatz sighting with Scarlett and crew at dinner. Nobody believed it - as Nancy mentioned, it just seemed too farfetched with the way that restaurant was set up.

Then in early 2024 we get an actual RPatz sighting with with Soba/CE, and separately, sightings with Scarlett and Colin. Now there's more "credibility" to that random other sighting even if it still can't be proven.

Now...possible project with RPatz and CE's name circulating. Maybe just gossip fodder, maybe some truth to it. Time will tell. Coincidences once again.

DM gets the sighting of CE in LA with Russos. He actually confirms that one himself a month later.

Simultaneously, DM gets random sightings of CE doing other stuff where soba is not mentioned. Nobody knows really what to believe anymore.

But for every 15 BS things she posts, she actually gets 1-2 right. It starts to completely make her a hit or miss source but enough to get people riled up and worried if/when she gets something related to CE/Soba.

In a way, this strategy, if it were to have any salt to it, is kinda interesting. It also sort of enforces the idea of possible foul play. Because if CE is truly in such a happy, private, loveful relationship, why use somebody as uncouth as DM to throw out breadcrumbs? Especially since, in the past, his fanbase and most Tumblr blogs believed it was only legit if it came from someone like People Mag (his team's go-to). Ironically, Page 6 has been getting most of the exclusive scoops this time around, in addition to weird low rate tabloids that eventually make its way to the top.

I know I sound like crazy qanon conspiracy theorist, but I guess people see what they wanna see. But for the people who believe this relationship isn't as genuine as some want to believe, it kind of tracks that somebody's PR team pushing this out in ways to sort of make you wonder, question, and push back on the validity. Just enough to make you think, maybe, maybe there's something going on BTS that they're not saying but they're kinda telling. But you'll never know what the truth is. At least not for now.

I do find DM’s role since 2023 to be very interesting indeed. You missed nothing. Not one thing. She’s made herself be credible enough during this, but also, she’s questionable. So of course, take everything she says with a grain of salt.

I made this comment a bit ago to someone else, he still uses People. Who got the Jinx articles first. Think about that for a moment. He. Just him.

As far as the last paragraph, what I will say is celebrities need to be talked about. Good or bad, they need the press. They need to be in the front of people’s minds. What better way to have them in people’s minds, and to have fans talk about something long past their expiration date than by playing a game. PR has become such a hot topic word, and I think very few people even understand it. But to me, if you’re having to play so many games, what really is real? Live your life. Isn’t that what we continue to be told they’re doing?

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

tyvm for 8k+ followers!! 😭

Ignore the crazy number of drafts I have—

WEHHH 🥺 You guys keep surprising me time and time again! Like I always say, thank you for the support!! Each and every one of you has been such an integral part of this journey.

At the 7k follower milestone, I revealed seven NRC dorm uniform designs for Miss Raven (my TWST OC and blog mascot/muse!). For this milestone, I’ll do the same, but for RSA and NBC uniforms 🎵 They’re just sketches, but I hope you find them interesting all the same! I designed them with the prompt of "what if Raven ended up at a different school than NRC" in mind. How would these new environments and students shape her as she learns and grows?

Royal Sword Academy

The hairstyle for RSA!Raven is similar to NRC!Raven, but with the pigtails lifted much higher to represent a shift in her place and role in the world. It's crazy how just the pigtails being higher makes her look so different... almost kind of resembles Hatsune Miku! You'll also notice that it's not actually a single large chunk of hair curling in each pigtail; it's meant to look sort of like two segments intertwining (think like OMGkawaiiAngel from Needy Streamer Overload, but with thicker hair; it looked weird when Raven's hair wasn't thick).

RSA!Raven's look is a mixture of what a tomboyish, active princess would wear and what a more traditional princess would wear. The base look is very Snow White-inspired, since that's an important and historical film for Disney. She has a little red bow clipped to the center of her hair, puff sleeves that resemble the ones on Snow White's dress, and her collar is high and poofs out similar to Snow White's. The bow also appears on her boots, which are high and come with a stable sole for trekking around.

Raven's jacket is long and boasts a flamboyant train that flares out, and with the sash repurposed to her waist and the pleated skirt, it gives the illusion of a dress. On top, she wears a frilly blouse and a cravat of raven feathers. Cinched as an accessory atop the cravat is her magestone inlaid in an RSA brooch. She wears a pair of safety shorts under her skirt so she can run and climb without worry. What if there's a cat stuck in a tree or an old lady that needs help crossing the street?! Have no fear, the tomboyishly heroic Raven-san will come help!!

This version of Raven is much more upbeat and outgoing! Since RSA is a place that promotes teamwork, she's now the type that's eager and willing to fight for her friends and to help those in need! Raven's still ever the curious intellectual, but at RSA, where her wishes and hopes for the future are planted, watered, and left to bloom, she's much more open about sharing her dreams and confiding in others. No trust issues here! In fact, maybe she's a little too trusting (much like how she initially started off at NRC). Even though she may have girlish dreams and small stature, you shouldn't underestimate her! She can pack quite a punch with her small fists and loudmouth. RSA!Raven is a classic bright, doe-eyed do-gooder that would surely piss the NRC boys off. When she's not writing a story, she's going around with Chenya and seeing what fun new things lie in store for her. (It's rare that you'll find Raven cooped up in a room!) She's also the first to admit wrongdoing or defeat if she's done something wrong or stepped out of line. RSA!Raven is just honest to a fault, and it's usually Chenya who has to talk her out of apologizing for everything. "Mmm? What's the big deal if we sneak onto NRC campus? Sure, they may not like us, but there's no rule against paying a visit to old friends! You should come along~ I bet it'll be real fun!"

Noble Bell College

NBC!Raven doesn't have too many outrageous modifications (like, no super short skirts here) to her outfit because in my mind, the school is pretty conservative and wouldn't stand for that. There's a ribbon tied in her beret, as well as another at her chest to secure the diamond-cut magestone there. Usually the shawl NBC students wear is all cloth, but I layered it so there's cloth over Raven's usual feather shawl. The sash coming from her shoulders is also longer and cut a little differently to help signal that she's an anomaly within the student body. Her collar is also a little looser to help her breathe. Last but not least, Raven decided to personalize her uniform a little bit by tying a loose piece of fabric over the longer robes underneath. It has golden beading along the hem, which resembles a piece on Esmeralda's own skirt. Raven wears strings of pearls on her waist in her original NRC outfit, so I thought this would be a neat parallel for her NBC look.

I wanted Raven's hair here to be simple, so it's let down and falls in natural loose waves. Some of it is over her shoulder, but the rest is behind her back, so this helps to slightly differentiate it from the other hairstyles she has worn before. I think it helps to give the impression that she's a studious scholar, but there's a cute and quirky side to her too.

If you thought NRC!Raven was an introvert, hoo boy 😅 you haven't seen anything yet! In the quiet solace of Noble Bell's untarnished halls, peace reigns supreme. Under the watch of the Bell of Salvation, Raven has blossomed into a quiet, stoic, and innocent flower. She does her due diligence sweeping the floors and washing the gargoyles (greeting them every day with a soft smile), then writes stories by candlelight. In the afternoons, she likes to observe the townspeople from a seat at a cafe, or even from up on high, at the tallest tower in the city. Raven respects authority and the rules, and, above all else, believes that justice and equality should be upheld. As expected of someone growing up with the tales of the Just Judge!

If the bad influences of NRC aren't around to be bad influences on her, then surely Rollo will get the job done for them. Thing is, we don't see him acting out in the presence of his peers. This will, naturally, lead to Raven foolishly thinking that he's an excellent role model and thus strive to be just like him. She follows him around like a lost puppy and shyly asks him for advice on various things. Maybe she'd even be a member of student council (secretary?) and hope that her contributions will bring her ever closer to reaching the pinnacle that is the president. With the vice prez and aide, they form the Rollo Fan Club!

... And yet, even though she admires him so deeply, there's a part of her that suspects that Rollo-senpai isn't telling his whole story. She's incredible empathetic and good at reading people (after all, she talks to the stone statues around campus too!)--and her senses tell her that behind Rollo's calm demeanor and dependableness, there's something dark eating away at him. "I wish he would trust us enough to let us know," she says. But maybe someday he will open up to her. (ie Raven is so totally going, "I CAN FIX HIM!!")

[krispyalpacaduck]

Game Night

Morbius x Reader

A/N: This is a suuupppperrr long one-shot lol I will be updating Rescue Me in the coming days. Apologies for the delay!!

Warnings: Some language

“Vamos! ¡Mueve tu culo! (*Let’s go! Move your ass!* I apologize if that’s the wrong translation. I was using google translate)

~~~~~~

“Hey hey hey! Guess what night it is?” Martine said, poking her head around the corner.

“I don’t know, but I bet you’re gonna tell me.” You say, smiling up at her through your eyelashes.

Walking into the doorway of your office, she struck a pose.

“It’s game night!” She said extra cheerfully. 

“Yippee.” You waved your arms in nonexistent excitement.

She dropped her arms and gave you that look.

“No matter how many times you look at me like that, the answer is always the same.”

“You can’t just sit here and work. You have to have fun sometimes.”

“This is fun.” You said, gesturing to your work.

She gave a fed up sigh. Walking over to your desk, she grabbed the book you were referencing and the notebook you were writing in. Pointedly stuffing the notebook into the book, Martine slammed it loudly shut. 

“Hey!”

“You’re coming.”

She stared at you unwaveringly, eyes widening by the second.

“Vamos! ¡Mueve tu culo!” 

“Martine, you know I don’t do well in social situations.”

“Relax. You’ll be fine. Michael and I will be there.”

You jerked your head back. “You got Michael to come? Dr. Michael “Me, Myself and I” Morbius to come to game night?”

She bit her lip and gave you a smirk. “He pushed back at first, of course. Like you…until I told him you were coming.”

“Why would Michael care if I was coming or not? We’re colleagues.”

“Psh girl! You can’t tell me you don’t see the way he looks at you?”

“...Like one colleague looks at another?” You said, completely dismissing what she just told you.

Grabbing your hand, she said, “You’re hopeless! Come on. Let’s go shopping cause you ain’t wearing that!”

Looking up and down your scrubs, you said, “What’s wrong with this?”

She gave you another look. “It’s a game night…not a doctor convention. You know? Fun, drinking, dancing, Spin the Bottle. Fun!”

“Spin the Bottle sounds dangerous…” You said cautiously. “And we’re not teenagers anymore. You know how some of the wards are… I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

She leaned in, looking sincerely into your eyes.

“You had to grow up too fast, didn’t you?”

You didn’t answer her. 

“We’re dedicating tonight to stupid teenager fun.”

There was no talking Martine out of something once she had her mind set. She was pushy sometimes, but she meant well.

~~~~~~

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Martine gasped with wide eyes as she stepped out of the dressing room in a cute salmon colored crop top and black jeans. 

You stood in the mirror, looking at yourself dressed in the short, form fitting, black mini dress.

“I think I’m going to go for the pantsuit.”

“Turn around.” She asked, making a circle motion with her finger.

You did as she asked, feeling uncomfortable.

“Yes, Queen!…You clean up good! Gonna make it hard for me tonight with everyone looking at you!”

“Martine, this isn’t a hookup. I thought this was just a game night? And the wards won’t look twice. All they do is make fun of me for being a bookworm. Do you know what they call me?”

“Mouse?”

“Mouse.”

“Don't you dare change! You look absolutely incredible.”

“Isn't it too much? I’ve always dressed conservatively. This is…” You gestured to your dress. “Overly revealing.” 

Taking your hands, Martine said, “Stop overthinking it. You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing. Besides, maybe this is the chance to get them to think differently of you.”

“I don’t give a damn what they think of me. If anything, I like the way I dress because it makes them think I’m some crazy cat lady or spinster. They don’t exactly give out respectful affection.” 

Placing her hands on your shoulders, she tried to make you feel better.

“I’ll be right there. Nothing will happen to you…” She got that devilish look in her eye. “That you don’t want to happen to you.”

“Martine! What kind of girl do you think I am?” You said in surprise, not liking where her thinking was going. 

“The kind that’s had a stick up her ass too long and needs to have some fun! You’re like a librarian that’s been at a library for too long. Shhsh! No talking! Quiet! No talking and no fun!” She acted like she was cracking a whip. Cupping her hand around her ear, she said, “What is that? What is that sound? Laughing? Bah!”

Through laughter, you said, “You’re the little latina devil that sits on my shoulder, you know that right?”

She pulled her hands up under her chin and blinked innocently. “Just doing my job!”

“Fine. I’ll keep the dress. But I’m wearing shorts underneath.”

She gave you a look but didn't say anything.

~~~~~~

After you’d finished shopping, you had gone back to your apartment to get ready. Martine helped you with your makeup and hair. When she was done, she stood back and admired her handiwork.

“Excuse me? Have you seen Dr. Y/N? Because all I see is a sexy bitch!”

“Oh, stop. I’m still me.”

“Uh huh. Tell that to the guys who probably won’t even be able to talk because their jaws will be on the floor.”

You looked down, consumed by nervousness again. Martine clicked her tongue and got down to her knees in front of you, grabbing your hands.

“Listen. I know I joke a lot but I’m serious when I say you will be okay. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. Plus, I think the reception desk ladies will be there, too. ”

“I know and I know you’ll make good on that promise. I just feel so…naked.”

“I know. But honey…you are drop dead gorgeous.”

You hid your face as you blushed and she pulled you into a hug. You hugged her back, careful not to smudge the makeup. When she pulled away, you looked at her.

“You’re one to talk! Look at you! My sexy Latina spitfire.” 

She licked her finger, touching her behind and making a sizzling sound. “You know it! It’s about time to go. I say we should wear our regular shoes until we get there and then we can change into our heels.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Alright then. Le’ go!”

~~~~~~

“Great. They’ve already started drinking.” You said as you and Martine walked into the research and development building, picking up on the loud noise and cacophony of voices that was carrying down the hall.

Martine squeezed your hand as you inched closer, feeling your palms get sweaty. 

“If I’d have known it was in here, I wouldn’t have overdressed.”

“Girl, please. When do we ever get the chance to dress up? Plus, I quite like seeing them drop their jaws and forget how to talk.” She said with a wicked chuckle. “Makes a girl feel empowered and sexy don’t you think?”

You gave her a look, thinking she should already know the answer to that.

Stopping just outside the door to a large lab, she turned to you. 

“You are strong. You are fierce. You are a queen. You’ve got this. Ready?”

With a deep breath, you pushed open the doors and walked in right on time with the chorus beat of Darkside by Neoni. It was surreal, like you were walking in slow motion. You caught sight of one of the wards tap one of the other guys on the arm, motioning with his head towards you. 

What Martine said was true. With her on your arm, you did feel empowered. As you got closer to them, they were trying to figure out who you were. Someone turned the music down and one of the wards was looking you up and down, rubbing his hands together.

“Who is thi-.” His eyes shot open in realization. “Holy shit… Mouse?!”

Every single head snapped up in that lab. Martine was right… again… their jaws practically hit the floor as they eyed you up and down. 

“Spinster Mouse? No way, dude…” He said, biting his fist in his mouth. 

Eyeing you up more slowly, he made a “Mm, mm, mm!” sound. 

“Hey! Her eyes are up here!” Martine suddenly snapped, pointing to your eyes. 

She waited for his eyes to drift up to yours before making an “I’m watching you” gesture. The other wards gathered like sharks waiting for the first sign of an open wound to attack.

“Have you seen Michael?” She asked the ward.

“Ugh, you invited him?! Boring, plain as rice, Michael?”

Martine’s upper lip snarled as she gave a warning glare. Walking you away from them, she whispered,

“I’m so sorry but I have to go check and see what’s keeping Michael. Will you be okay by yourself?”

Your eyes went wide and you shook your head. 

“I’ll be 5 minutes.” 

“You do see the way they’re looking at me right? Like goddamn sharks waiting for blood.” You sighed heavily, then said, “Fine. But please be quick.”

You watched her walk out of the lab before walking over to a small locker wall to set your bag down. Looking at your heels, you decided to keep your flats on for now. Someone entered your peripheral vision, leaning against the lockers. 

“I didn’t know there was so much women under there. If I had known…”

Turning to the ward that had started calling you Mouse with a flat expression on your face, you said, “What would you have done?”

“I’d have taken you home…” 

“Are you always this charming?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“Wow…How does it feel to be so ignorant?”

“I’m giving you a compliment.”

“And how is that supposed to make me feel?” You asked.

“Hot.”

“I could run circles around you, neanderthal. You do know what that is, don’t you?”

“They were like cavemen or something, right?”

Patting him on the arm, you said, “Good for you. You actually know something.”

He pulled his head back, eyes narrowing.

“You’re insulting me, aren’t you?”

“Does this sad excuse for courting actually work on every woman you approach?”

“Every time.”

“They must not have very high standards. Fortunately, I do.”

As you moved to walk away, his arm came out to block you.

“You’re running your mouth for someone who barely talks. I’m sure I could occupy it in a different way.” He said, extending his arm out to touch your face.

Slapping his hand away, you said, “You really are thick in the head, aren’t you?”

“Thick somewhere else too.”

You made a face like you were about to throw up. Ducking under his arm and walking away from him, you heard him yell,

“You know I could rock your world all night long!”

“Disgusting pig.” You murmured under your breath. 

Someone yelling, “Whaaaaat!” drew your attention. It was Janice the receptionist making a beeline for you. 

Putting on a bright smile, you said, “Hey Janice!”

She met you in the middle of the lab, absolutely losing her mind over how you were dressed.

“Girl, I thought I’d never live to see the day you were dressed like this! You look amazing!”

“Thanks. It’s drawing some unsavory attention though.” You nodded your head toward the ward that had trapped you against the lockers. 

She waved her hand at him. “Chad is a skirt chaser. A woman looks a little bit decent and he’s all over her like a vulture on a carcass.”

“Tell me about it.” You said, rolling your eyes. 

She raised her arms and moved her hips to the beat of Thunder by Gabry Ponte that was playing. “I am ready to get my game night on! Been looking forward to this all week! Let’s go get a drink!”

You followed her to the makeshift booze cabinet.

“Why didn’t we just do this at the bar?”

“Screw bars. They’re so expensive. We just bring our own stuff and make a night of it.”

She picked out some Tequila and took 2 shots, holding the shot glass up to you. 

“No thanks. I’m good. I’m gonna make a mixed drink. Let’s see…” You said, looking through your options. “Ooh! Someone brought stuff to make Tequila Sunrises!”

“What’s that?”

“Oh Janice, it’s so good! It’s Tequila, grenadine and orange juice.”

“That sounds amazing! Can you make me one?”

“Of course!”

Grabbing two small, thin beakers, you made both of your drinks, marveling at her face at seeing it actually looked like a sunrise.

“It’s almost too pretty to drink!”

“The trick is not to stir it after you add the grenadine so it has those distinct layers.”

Taking a sip, Janice’s face lit up. “I think I just found my new favorite drink!”

“Right?”

You stood around and talked for a little bit, having a few more drinks.

“You still dance?” Janice asked, shuffling to a pop song that was playing.

“Wouldn’t we look weird being the only ones dancing?”

“Who cares? And I’ll take that as a no. Shame. I remember we were good!”

“When do I have time to do choreography, Janice? And I’m not exactly dressed for that.” You said, laughing. 

 “Hang on. I’ll get one for a warm up!” She yelled over her shoulder as she jogged to the DJ booth. 

You stood there, shaking your head, hands on your hips. 

“Come on! It’ll be fun! Or do you not have enough alcohol in you yet?” She said as she got back to you. Stopping for a minute to look at you, she popped up her eyebrow and said, “You still wear shorts under your dresses?”

She knew you too well. 

“What did you pick?”

“Monster by Lumix.”

“Ooh, a shuffle one! Haven’t done those in a while.”

“Like I said, a warm up!”

As you waited for the beat to start, you went over the moves in your head. Pulling up your dress and holding it behind your back, you and Janice started to jump to the music as it built up. As you moved around, you realized a few people had joined you and were shuffling along. 

After the song was over, you both turned around and clapped for those who had danced with you.

“Another! Another!” Someone in the crowd yelled. 

We Like to Party by the Vengaboys came over the speakers and the crowd cheered. You looked over at Janice who gave you a big smile. You smiled back, happy that she was here. It had been such a long time since you had danced.

As the crowd clapped, Janice looked pleased with herself. 

“See? All everyone needed was some shuffle music. Now this place is jumping! You’d better be ready.” She plastered a devious smile on her face. “The next one isn’t a shuffle dance. I want to see you dance, you sexy bitch!” She said playfully. 

“With you, this could mean anything.” You said, anxious to see what song she chose. 

Taking the ponytail off your wrist, you tied your dress back just as Jennifer Lopez’s Ain't Your Momma came through the speakers. 

“I love this song!” You said excitedly.

“I knew you did!”

With every step, the music filled your bones with vigor, becoming a slave to it. You knew the dance was sexy, but you felt sexy. For the first time in a long time, you enjoyed feeling like that. 

(31) Jennifer Lopez - Ain't Your Mama - Choreography by Jojo Gomez - #TMillyTV ft. Kaycee Rice - YouTube

Janice gave you a double high five after the song was done. 

“Goddamn girl! I would’ve never guessed you had taken a break!”

“I have a good memory.” You said laughing, taking the time to catch your breath.

“You good for one more?” She asked as DJ Snake by Taki Taki started.

“This one will draw some attention.” You stated.

“Didn’t the last one?” Janice said with a chuckle.

You and Janice danced together in perfect sync, garnering more cheering as more people had arrived. You enjoyed feeling lost to the music, knowing that the high would probably come crashing down later tonight.  

(31) DJ Snake - Taki Taki ft. Selena Gomez, Cardi B, Ozuna - Dance Choreography by Jojo Gomez Ft. Nat Bat - YouTube

You both took a bow as you finished the routine. Untying your dress, you smoothed it back down over your workout shorts and went to get a drink. Thankfully, someone had the sense to stock water and not just straight booze. 

A hand provocatively moving up your rear end made you stop, Chad’s voice drifting into your ear. 

“Goddamn… why would you hide that body underneath all those scrubs? You are so se-ow!” 

Chad suddenly yelped. You both whirled to look behind you to see Michael lowering one of his canes back to the floor. Looking from you to Chad, he said,

“That’s not appropriate.”

“What the hell is your problem, man? Don’t know why you were invited anyway!” 

“Somewhere out there, a tree is tirelessly producing oxygen for you. I think you owe it an apology. Next time, I break it. Go on.” He said, pointing to the other side of the room. 

“Man, forget you.” Chad said, stalking off pissily.

Michael turned back to you and winked. 

“Um, excuse me!” Martine balked. “Why did I not know that you could dance like that and Janice could?! I could’ve used a backup partner at the club!”

“It’s not an active thing, Martine. Janice happened to present the idea and I kind of ran with it.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you having fun at the very least since I had to bully you into coming. I’m gonna make a drink. You two stand here like the wallflowers you are.” 

Michael inched closer to you as you both watched her walk away.

“So she roped you into this too?” 

Sighing, you said, “Yeah. She can be… very persuasive.”

He chuckled. “Tell me about it. She’s like a tick when she’s got her mind set on something.”

“She means well though. Doesn’t want to see us waste away in our offices. Still, it was nice to dance again.”

You saw him look at you out of the corner of your eye.

“You’re very good.”

“Thanks.” You said with a smile, feeling yourself blush.

“Dr. Morbius?” Someone called from the throng of people.

“Excuse me. It seems I am being summoned.”

“Sure.”

You watched Martine walk up, giving you that eyebrow look.

“What?”

She waited until Michael was out of earshot, then turned to you, hands ready to speak with her.

“He. Could. Not. Take. His. Eyes. Off. You.”

“Oh, come off it.” You said, waving a hand in front of your face.

“I’m not kidding, Y/N. That’s probably the first time I’ve seen that man speechless.”

You made a sarcastic, “Yeah, okay” face. 

“I’m serious! Why would I make that up? Have I ever lied to you?”

You turned your head to think for a minute and before you could open your mouth, she said, 

“Other than the ice cream.”

“I’m still miffed about that, you know.”

“Oh, get over it! I’ll buy you another pint.” She said playfully. 

You both looked over at Janice still getting her dance on.

“Where does that woman get all of her energy from?” You marveled.

“I don’t know, but it’s infectious!” Martine said, pulling you onto the dance floor. 

“I’m good for now.” You said, trying to plant your feet in the floor.

“Nah ah. You’ve been holding out on me so I’ll take my dues owed right now.” 

“Martine, you are impossible. But this is the last one. Told ya I should’ve gone with the pantsuit.” 

“Who knew you were actually going to let yourself have fun tonight?”  

Fifth Harmony’s Worth It started to play and you smiled. 

“Come on, Y/N!” Janice called. 

“We need you!” Martine yelled.

Several voices from the crowd joined in.

“Come on, Mouse! Get out there!”

“Go on!”

Figuring you might as well pull out all the stops tonight, you shuffle moonwalked out to Martine and Janice, taking the lead in a triangle formation, laughing at their shocked stares and hearing “Ooh, did you see that?!” from the crowd. 

“Yeah, there she is!” Janice yelled.

As your eyes scanned the crowd, you found Michael standing against the wall talking with another colleague. He did a double take and his mouth opened slightly. You popped your hip out along with the song, giving him a wink and a smile before turning your eyes. 

(37) Worth it - Fifth Harmony ft.Kid Ink / May J Lee Choreography - YouTube

As the track ended, you made a sawing motion at your throat to say you were done. 

“Oh, come on! The night is still young!” Janice cried. 

“Three is enough for me. Maybe later.”

Janice clicked her tongue. “Alright.”

“Whatever happened to this being game night anyway?”

“Hey, whatever happens, happens. I’m just here to go with the flow and have a good time.” She said as she moved her arms in a wave motion. 

You saw Michael looking at you again and walked over to join him, picking up another water bottle on the way.

“Hey, Michael. Are you having a good time?”

He looked around at all the people, then back to you.

“It’s not really my cup of tea but it’s fun watching you dance.”

“They have unlimited energy, it seems. I’m good for the night. I’m not as young as I used to be.” You said, laughing.

“Age is just a number. You’re only as old as you feel.”

“Oh, we’re getting the fortune cookie Dr. Morbius tonight.” 

He laughed at the joke, biting his lip. 

“It would be fun to join you someday.”

The comment went straight to your heart. Putting your hand on his shoulder softly, you said,

“You will, Michael. You will. I know it.”

He put his hand on top of yours.

“That’s very kind.” 

“Don’t lose hope. There is a cure out there. It might just come up when you least expect it.” 

 A very inebriated Chad came stumbling over, laughing like an idiot.

“I bet you wished your junk still worked, huh? Those ladies are hot, hot, hot!” He made a bucking motion with his hips on the word hot. 

Sighing, you opened your water bottle and dumped the whole thing on his head, then pointed to one of his buddies who was looking over at the three of you. You pointed at him, then pointed at Chad, and then at the door. 

“Is it raining?” Chad slurred.

Grabbing the collar of the friend who came over, you pulled him in close and said, “Get him the fuck out of here before I do something worse than pour water on his head.” 

Jerking him back, he actually hurried to get Chad out of there. 

“Well, color me shocked. He actually listened. Amazing.”

You turned back to look at Michael, who had an impressed expression on his face.

“What?”

“Remind me to never piss you off.” 

“I can’t stand guys like him. Skirt chasers who think they’re the greatest gift to women and look down on men who they deem less than themselves. He’s not going to ruin what actually turned out to be a fun and enjoyable night by being an asshole.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. I could’ve taken him though.”

“Yeah, sure you could’ve...” You joked as you went to take a drink of water. “Right…empty. Thanks, Chad!”

Exasperated, you went over to make yourself another drink, just in time to see Janice finish the rest of a Tequila bottle.

“Hey guys…” She said in a sing-song manner. “Empty bottle..You know what that means!”

A chorus of voices rang in the air. “Spin the Bottle!”

As you turned to head towards the lockers, someone grabbed your hand.

“Nuh uh, you’re coming too!” Martine said.

Groaning, you let her pull you to the middle of the lab where everyone had gathered. 

“I haven’t played this since I was a kid!” Someone said excitedly. 

“Alright, the rules are simple: we’ll decide who spins the bottle first and go in a clockwise motion. Whomever the bottle lands on, you kiss.” Janice explained. 

You groaned quietly, feeling Martine bump your shoulder. 

“Relax. At least Chad’s not here.”

Rolling your eyes, you focused on the bottle in the center of the circle.

“Alright, who wants to go first?” Janice asked.

“I will!” One of the other receptionists called out. 

“Yeah, Joelene!” Janice cheered.

The bottle landed on a cute male intern. Blushing, they moved towards each other and gave a short peck on the lips before settling back quickly on the edge of the circle. 

The game continued, each person getting their turn. Some of the kisses were steamy, complete with clothes starting to come off.

“Alright, alright, alright!” Janice said, breaking the two up. “Get a room.”

You and Michael had exchanged a few glances throughout the game, wondering if the bottle would land on either of you. Oddly enough, it hadn’t.

“Knowing my luck…” You said quietly to yourself. 

It was Michael’s turn now. You held your breath as he leaned up to spin the bottle to the best of his ability. He landed on Janice.

“Aww, come here sugar!” 

Janice scooted in close to him and he gave her an awkward kiss on the cheek. You couldn’t help but giggle at the look on his face. Martine was dying next to you, laughing at Michael.

“It’s not the plague, Michael.”

He cleared his throat and looked away. 

“Come off it. He’s nervous.” You said defensively.

“Why would he be nervous? Unless…” Martine started.

You shot her a quick warning glance. She put her hands up in defense. 

“I’m just sayin…”

After Janice, Martine and a few of the other hospital staff took their turns, it was unavoidably your turn.

“It’s your turn, Y/N.” Martine said with a smirk on her face.

“I’m aware, Martine. Thank you.”

Sighing, you got up on your knees and spun the bottle, not taking your eyes off of it. As it started to slow down, your heart started to race. When it finally stopped, you followed the direction the bottle was pointing in… straight up to Michael’s eyes.

“Called it.”

“What?” Michael asked.

“Just a little inside joke.” You said nervously. 

“Oh yay!!” Martine laughed and clapped. 

Eyeing you, she said, “Come on…we’re waiting.” 

All of the stares unnerved you, but knowing you weren’t getting out of this, you moved closer into the circle. Michael looked nervous, looking down at the ground and shaking his head before looking back up to you. 

You made a “what are you gonna do” face and leaned into him. Your eyes closed just as Michael’s lips touched yours, bringing a hand up to cradle one side of his face. 

You broke the kiss at the same time, eyes still closed. When you opened yours, he was staring right at you breathing unevenly.

“And that’s called progress.” Martine said as she got up with the others and moved to another corner of the lab. 

You barely heard it as you and Michael stared at each other. Suddenly, he started to laugh with you joining in. 

“Is this what being a teenager felt like?”

“More or less.” 

“It’s so nerve wracking when people are staring at you expecting to kiss. But it’s such a silly thing because it’s just a kiss.”

“Oh my gosh, I know, right? Like, you’ve seen people kiss before. It was like this as a teenager too. You say you like a certain boy or girl and the next thing you know, one of your friends is screaming down a hall that you like so and so.” You said, laughing. 

You looked down at the floor, inching your hand closer to him.

“I usually don’t give much thought to things like this…love…kissing…romance. It’s not really in the cards for me.”

“That’s bullshit. If you find someone you have a genuine connection with, that you might want to have a relationship with, you should go for it. Time is finite. Hell, any of us could get into a bad accident tomorrow and die. Your condition isn’t an assured time limit, Michael.”

He made a thinking expression on his face, then turned back to you.

“That is a good point, however, I couldn’t live with myself if this condition killed me shortly after meeting an amazing person and then knowing they would have to live without me.”

“It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” You said, smiling at him. 

“That’s debatable.” Michael laughed.

Helping him up, you both walked out of the lab and into the hallway. 

“I’m probably going to head out soon. It’s getting too late for me.” You said, checking your phone for the time. 

“Yeah, same here.” Michael echoed.

“I’m going to go get my purse and say my goodbyes. I’ll walk with you.”

As you went to turn away, you felt his hand grab your hand. Turning back around, you met Michael’s eyes, watching him close the distance between you. 

“I was too nervous in there to give you a proper Spin the Bottle kiss with everyone watching. May I?”

You nodded and met him halfway, your lips sealing in a gentle, yet passionate kiss that made your toes curl. 

As he pulled away, Michael said with a chuckle “I could get used to that.” 

Feeling cheeky, you said, “Play your cards right and you just might.”

Tags:

@lex-the-flex @nekoannie-chan @autisticbrie @lehuntsworld

[jaxteller87]

my little empath 4

teenage years

I had just rolled my wheelchair through the door of my mentor’s quaint little metaphysical shop. Located on the quieter side of downtown, it was a nice little place where she not only curated mystical wares but also offered insightful tarot readingsthat I’d grown accustomed to.

“Hey, Amber,” the older lady greeted me with a warm smile that always made me feel welcome. I know that’s how she greeted everyone, but something about the way she did it just made it feel magically personable.

“Hey, sweetheart. I know I’m a little early; I just couldn’t resist browsing the shop before our lesson for the week,” I explained. “There are just so many amazing things here; I could literally get lost for hours amongst all this great stuff,” I recalledhow the rain had unexpectedly soothed my empathic soul earlier that week. 

“Of course, my dear, browse to your heart’s content,” Megan smiled. “How’s everything been since the last lesson?”

“Amazing! You know— it’s funny how certain practices seemed trivial until I tried them, especially after our conversations about empathy these past months,” I chuckled. I tuned out for a few seconds as my eyes became drawn to a shimmering crystal on the counter.

“That’s wonderful to hear, dear,” Megan replied.

“Thank you again for your patience these last few months,”I finally settled at the table and watched her as she gathered thetarot cards.

“No trouble at all, Amber. I’m always here for you,”Megan reassured me with her sparkling green eyes. “So, what’ll be?”

Opting for something light and playful, I asked her to inquire about the presence of a romantic soulmate in my life. It felt a bit weird— even corny, perhaps, but why not? They always say there’s someone out there for everyone; there’s a ton of fish in the sea, everybody has a soulmate— the list of romantic couple cliches goes on and on. Why not see if there was something in the universe’s master plan for me?

As Megan revealed the cards’, my jaw dropped to the floor. My soulmate was apparently someone with the last name Teller. How on earth could she know that after a few short lessons with me? I thought.

“Holy cow,” I exclaimed, utterly flabbergasted. “Forgive me for asking, but how did you manage to get a name? I’venever so much uttered a word about him or our situation,” I genuinely could not believe it. It was at that moment that I realized Megan possessed an extraordinary gift—an innate ability to uncover the hidden truths of the universe. She spoke words that resonated with my innermost being, confirming what my heart had quietly known all along.

With my mind literally blown over the revelation, I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t stop asking her about how she came up with his name— I knew I sounded like a broken record. The crazy thing was when I got here this morning, I was excited, but I couldn’t wait to leave to see Jax. Now that I’m here and the cat’s out of the bag, I feel like gossiping to Megan about how right she was. However, I had plans, and she had customers, so I thanked her a few more dozen times, and then I purchased somestones and incense before heading home.

Later, in the comfort of my room, I had just laid out my purchases and was going to start examining them before adding my new haul to the rest of the collection when I heard a knock at the door.”

“What’s got you grinning?” Teller asked with a smirk. Those eyes of his caught me off guard, and I momentarily flaked on how to respond.

“Uh, one sec—” I partially shut the door, careful not to slam it in his face. I quickly wheeled back over to my bed andconcealed my belongings. I know this spiritual stuff I was into is a popular hobby for a lot of people, but I know just as many think that it’s stupid. I knew Jax wouldn’t say anything to my face regarding the stones and tarot stuff, but I was still hesitant to share my private life with him as I didn’t know how he really felt about it deep down.

“What are you up to tonight?”

“Oh, nothing much,” I replied, shuffling everything back into the bag and hiding it under my pillow. “Aw, shit,” I whispered, realizing my whole room looked suspicious with all the stones and incense burners out.

“You okay in there? Something smells nice— is that— is that sandalwood?”

How the hell did he know what sandalwood smelled like?“Uh— actually, it’s Champa, but yeah, I’m fine- one second; I’ll be right there.” I probably wouldn’t be bringing him into my bedroom, not unless the love spell I was thinking of casting on him somehow subliminally worked (joking of course). Don’t be crazy, Amber, just through a blanket over it and join him in the living room already.

So, that’s what I did.

Many Years Later

I found myself in the living room of my childhood home when I stumbled upon a box filled with my spiritual relics—crystals and tarot decks from my teenage years. Back then, I immersed myself in these practices regularly, but as life unfolded, those hobbies gradually took a backseat to adulthood, as most things that brought us joy did.

However, recently, I started to play with the concept of trying to take my understanding of spiritualism to the next level.With my growing knowledge of empathy, I had come to believe that I no longer required the aid of crystals. Nonetheless, a smile tugged at my lips as I heard the familiar rumble of my husband’s motorcycle pulling into the driveway.

“There you are, my love,” he greeted me, spotting me surrounded by my rediscovered treasures in the living room.

“What’s all this?” he asked as he settled down beside me.

“You promise not to make fun of me?” I teased, shuffling the tarot cards in my hands.

“Scout’s honor,” he replied, picking up a shiny amethyst I always liked.

“Alright, one tarot reading coming up! But go easy on me. It’s been years,” I chuckled nervously, laying out the cards.

Taking a deep breath, I began the reading, each card revealing glimpses into the inner workings of Jax’s life— if you believe the cards, that is. “The Fool,” I announced, laying down the first card. “It seems you’re on the brink of a new journey, one filled with endless possibilities and untapped potential.”

He smirked, “The first card you pull on me is the Fool— that’s accurate enough right there.”

I laid out the next card in his reading: The Lovers. “This card signifies deep connections and choices. It seems there’s a profound bond in your life, one that brings harmony and unity.”

“Card two is the Lovers, huh?” Jax said, puffing out his bottom lip. Unless you’re rigging the deck, this is feeling specifically accurate— kind of creepy, too, if I’m being honest,” he chuckled.

“That’s how it works, my love.” Our eyes met briefly, and I felt my heart skip a beat. “And the final card, The Chariot. Here we have determination and victory,” I declared, “It appears you have the strength and willpower to overcome any obstacles that come your way.”

Silence lingered in the air as Jax absorbed the revelations. “Chariot—Harley. I mean, come on, did you get goosebumps too?” The excitement in his voice was real. He held his arm out next to mine, and it was riddled with bumps.

“Pretty crazy, isn’t it? Teenage Amber spent countless hours reading up and practicing this stuff. I don’t know why I ever gave it up.”

“Honey, thank you for this. Seeing you so passionate about something you believe in—it’s truly special. A little creepy that it was as accurate as it was— but remarkable nonetheless.”

As we reached the end of the reading, I glanced up to see tears glistening in his eyes. “Honey, don’t cry,” I comforted him, cupping his face in my hands and planting a gentle kiss on his forehead.

“I’m not,” he laughed, hastily wiping his cheeks, “You’re crying!” He let out a forced laugh to try and snap himself out of it.

“This stuff always fascinated me,” I kissed his head again and then started reshuffling the deck.

“You know,” he began, “seeing you light up with a passion for something is truly heartwarming. I just wish you felt comfortable sharing these parts of yourself with me back when we were kids.”

“Well, I guess I was apprehensive. I was afraid that if the word got out, everyone would think I was some sort of wannabe witch or something. I had enough bullshit to deal with— I didn’t need to go adding any more targets on my head if you know what I mean.”

“First of all— fuck anyone that prevents you from being yourself. I never would have thought that. I may be the rough and tough badass biker who lives the life of an action star, but you, Amber— you’re my hero.”

“Jesus, Teller,” I scoffed, “You want some butter to with that corny ass comment?”

“Yeah, that was kind of bad, wasn’t it?” Jax threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“It’s okay, babe; I still love you,” I leaned over and kissed his lips.

“So, did Donna know about this?” he asked.

“Oh, she most definitely did. I used to give her readings all the time. We made moon water, dandelion wine, mixed some potions, held seances, danced naked in the woods, and sacrificed some goats to the devil.”

“My little tarot card reader,” Jax smiled affectionately, “Wait— what was that last part?”

I laughed, “I’m kidding! We didn’t sacrifice any goats.”

“Not that,” he said, wearing a pervy grin, “the dancing naked part.”

[riverdale-retread]

Riverdale S7 E 11 (Chapter 128) Halloween 2

Jughead has found some sort of closure with the death of Rayberry though no answers yet about his potential murder, so he’s back to narrating.  Except - you know how Veronica said that his storytelling had troubling sexual politics (i.e. misogynistic)? Well, he disappointed me by casually using the very unexamined & cliche misogynist phrase “crazy cat lady” about that woman who wanted to know if there was some milk she could borrow.

He is not showing his usual acumen at sussing out the weird.  Because her obsession with filching milk from the associates of a known suicide is very intriguing.  Some questions, such as:  Is  this area some place that is impossible to get milk delivery? Has she ever seen the milkman or is this a place the milk man never came and suddenly showed up for Rayberry?  Is this residence in a food desert where getting basics like milk is difficult? Jughead is usually sympathetic to the underprivileged and yet- 1950s Jughead casual misogyny!  #disappoint.

Anyway, after failing to follow up on that potential lead, he nevertheless goes charging over to Sheriff Keller’s house to bother him in the middle of a not great work month  to tell him he’s doing his job badly.  Unsurprisingly, Keller’s reaction is not amused.  Jughead thinks that the milkman is important - “a killer milkman at large”  he says, even though he doesn’t like saying it. He literally cringes at himself (decade upon decades ahead of his time) in having to say the words A, Killer, Milkman, At, Large.  His hands are up in a very defensive, hands-up pose,  begging Please don’t kick me out and Please don’t think i’m crazy.   Keller is being very courteous.  He says it’s already established that Rayberry suicided - which Jughead vehemently disagrees with. 

It’s very hard to get law enforcement to redo homework they’ve already turned in.  Keller is not at all an exception to this rule. He wants Jughead to produce someone who actually SAW a milkman, before he opens Rayberry’s case again. He tells Jughead to stop being annoying, trying to give him work and such, then segues immediately into exposition for this episode:  Halloween is “not for teenagers looking to make trouble,” so he wants Jughead, a known trouble maker in Keller’s eyes because of his obsession with making Keller do proper policework, to remember “our ban.”

He has Jughead all wrong, does Keller, and always has across all universes.  Like, the narrative shows that Jughead liked, at minimum, and probably adored (for unspecified reasons) Jason Blossom but Keller accused Jughead of somehow obtaining a gun, shooting Jason at point blank range in the forehead and then transporting his body all the way to the river to dump it there.  Jughead for the past several episodes has been entirely isolated from anyone who does anything social in Riverdale right now (Archie, Reggie, Betty, Veronica), is trying to nurture a romantic friendship with Tabitha Tate, and is also revealed to be someone who has milk as part of his nutritionally complete breakfast - he’s as buttoned up and wholesome in his daily habits as anyone can be, in short - but Keller feels compelled to tell him to not get into trouble on Halloween.

We’re at the very fancily done traincar (Seriously, is that ceiling really like that or is that clever trompe l’oeil hollywood magic via Veronica??), where Jughead, who still manages to sleep with his felt crown without crushing it, contemplates a very full bottle of milk like it’s the skull of Yorick before smelling it then pouring it down the drain.

Many questions again - Does Jughead’s *train car* get milk delivery service?  Also he has a drain? It connects to a sewage system somehow?  (I also wonder this all the time about the OG Universe Dilton’s Bunker which has a flush toilet.)   In any case, he just pours what he thinks might be poisoned straight into the sewage system. 

While Drac’s Back (the song) is playing, Veronica is having breakfast at the Babylonium, which has on its marquee “Science Fiction Double Feature.”  I have long black hair and bangs.  Why can’t my hair look like that? How does she do that?   She’s excited because she’s going to wear a whole dominatrix witch outfit to school.  

Veronica’s outfit is EYE POPPING.  Super high heels, large-gauge fishnet stockings, a boudoir chiffon skirt over a gem encrusted bodysuit, bare shoulders and arms, studded collar, an excellent broom prop  and a fantastic witch hat.  Her lipstick is black even.  Everyone is completely agog, then it turns a bit mocking. As she walks down the hall, Veronica realizes these people don’t do Halloween costumes at school.  At all. 

When she enters the student lounge, her appearance is greeted with a record scratch sound.  Betty can’t stop smiling about how hot Veronica looks to her (“You look- [grin grin grin] everything PLUS.”) Everyone’s reactions are so funny.  Dilton is startled but can’t not stare at Veronica’s ass as she walks past him to talk to the people who count.  Betty as I’ve said is very happy.  Veronica glows so hot Reggie can’t actually keep looking directly at her.  Archie is googly eyed with happiness.  Why Betty and Archie look at each other to confirm that Veronica is indeed looking very fetching is the question that should launch much speculation about their respective sexualities. 

In any case, Archie, then Cheryl, then Toni provide some context rules:  Riverdale is uncomfortable about Halloween unlike Greendale which actively celebrates it, to such an extent that teenagers have to observe a sundown curfew.  When Archie explains finally that a bunch of teenagers died in a tragic car accident on Halloween a few years back, Clay also looks intrigued.   Veronica is bereft about not being able to do anything much on Halloween. Also nobody is allowed to say “hell” - Archie says “raising Heck” and Kevin says “raising Cain.”    Reggie won’t even miss it - he’s never celebrated Halloween. 

Veronica gives a little speech about all the ways Halloween can be liberating - for sexual exploration as well as to “honor the dead.”    When Veronica says “back in Los Angeles” and describes what sounds like a normal Hollywood party, Cheryl has a really bad reaction.  Why is Cheryl so enraged every time Veronica talks about Los Angeles?   In any case, Veronica says the Lodges had “a family altar” where they lit candles for the dead.  Im’ curious about the insane amount of Halloween related decorations that are up in this room anyway  - no fewer than five carved Jack O Lanterns, a witch decal, more pumpkins, a couple skulls and ghosts and bats.  

Veronica announces that nothing shall hold her down. She also uses the word “gatekeepers” and I don’t know if that means anything.  Just in time to her saying, “Just when you think this town couldn’t get any kookier” in comes Jughead.   Who immediately starts freaking out about milk.  He starts screaming to NOT DRINK FRESH MILK ANYMORE.  He slaps Dilton’s milk carton right out of his hand.  He advises everyone to Drink Powdered Milk.   Veronica is so tired of his silliness.  I wonder if she’s going to do anything about it, because she is the only who is shown having a reaction. 

We cut to Ethel, on the phone next to a very overbearing Mother Mary statuary AND a crucifix on the wall, telling Jughead she’s OK.  Ethel says she misses Jughead (aww) and she misses school but this all just sails right over his head because he is still in his manic episode about the milkman.  He tells Ethel, incarcerated in an insane asylum for claiming a milkman killed her parents, that he doesn’t want to upset her further but then directly proceeds to tell her his theory that his favorite author (which she knows! Because they’re actually really friends!) was murdered by “a” milkman at the very least.   Then she has a great insight- that it would be useful to talk to whoever wrote the originating Killer Milkman comic.  Just as Jughead is about to exult about this idea, Ethel hurriedly says that she has to go because the nun is giving her the evil eye, ending with a meaningful “hopefully I will see you soon.”  Jughead wonders what she meant.

At the shop class facilities at school, Archie has successfully involved himself in Betty and Reggie’s twosome project to make Bella a usable car.   Reggie and Archie are wearing matchy-matchy his-and-his T shirts smudged just the right amount with gunk (Reggie in white, Archie in green).  The two of them flexing their muscles side by side doing car fiddly things makes Betty, who is dressed like Rosie the Riveter but with a pink paisley bandana that leaves most of her hair free, falls immediately into an erotic fugue.  Her fantasies are really very specific - a threesome when the two others have eyes - and lips - only for her.   Archie wants to give Reggie a “real Halloween” because all he’s ever done is cowtipping.  

Betty defines a real Halloween as 1. trick or treating, 2.  visiting a graveyard and 3. necking in a haunted house.  Archie is familiar with 1 and 2 but she just made up No. 3, I think, because his eyes are bugging out of his head.  He looks over at Reggie to see if he’s into it.  Reggie is all about it.  

Meanwhile, Veronica is flipping through the scrapbook of the Babylonium’s events of the past.  There was in 1942 a Halloween Ghost Show at this theater, where a Phantom Polka Dancer would “appear in person” for “one night only.”    The phantom polka dancer looks a lot like that possessed girl from The Exorcist.   Veronica wants to recreate this ‘Halloween Ghost Show’ but before she can complete her smirk of satisfaction she hears thudding from what should be the empty projection room. 

Very bravely, she goes to investigate.  In it she discovers the gays necking.   Clay pretends he left keys in the room.  Veronica wants to do a 1920s glam themed ghost show for a Halloween night indoor event for the teenyboppers - staying with the letter of the law in order to flout its spirit.   She’s so ambitious - it’s gonna be “monsters, movies, burlesque” ending with a “raising of the dead at midnight.” 

Is Jughead even going to school anymore or does he just pop in and out of the publishing house at lunch time?  In any case, his editor in chief keeps zero track of who has written what, so he doesn’t know who wrote the Milkman comics.  But he does invite Jughead to the staff party for grown ups. 

I guess Betty has completely subdued the school principal as well as his child psychologist boyfriend because the sheer amount of school real estate that Veronica’s promotional activities for her business is allowed to take up in its halls is astonishing.  For a town that supposedly has a lot of trauma about four teenagers that died on Halloween, the booth she’s erected is enormous and spectacular.   Clay and Kevin shout things like “There will be mayhem” but there isn’t a single disapproving  adult in sight.   Veronica is brazen. She promises that the four dead Riverdale students will “return from the dead before your very eyes.”

Later, Toni approaches Cheryl to show us that she’s back to her old bullshit. Here she is, drawing Cheryl ‘out’ again, to participate in a gay-backup-dancers-only floor show  choreographed by Veronica.  Cheryl isn’t so sure about any of this, and in any case, she has Vixen duties.  After giving Cheryl (and only Cheryl) an inexplicably hard time about race dynamics, now Toni brings up the need for LGBTQ solidarity in order to force Cheryl into doing something that Cheryl isn’t sure about, that will also cause her to renege on an obligation she feels is a “tradition.”  “People like us” is what Toni says.  She is so manipulative. 

At the end of basketball practice, Uncle Fucking Frank wants to make sure that none of his boys is gonna “go out wilding.”   The locker room is also festooned with Halloween paraphernalia.  Who put it up and why?  

Julian starts to immediately make trouble.   He has a little towel draped around  his lower half, and I wonder if he’s in the same erotic fugue about Reggie and Archie, because he unnecessarily spread his legs to put one foot up on the bench to show both of them his junk as he invites the two to go ‘wilding’ with him.  Reggie says no.  Julian starts bark-hooting to get the other boys riled up after announcing that the ‘wilding’ is going to begin in the school parking lot after sundown on Halloween.  Archie disapproves, turning  his back on everyone to open his locker.

WE HAVE A VERY COOL LOCKER TO LOCKER TRANSITION as Archie closes his locker which then turns into Veronica’s locker door in the girls’ locker room, which she opens.  She and Betty are talking about Reggie’s virginity (about Halloween) and how unbelievable that is.  Veronica knows that Betty has the hots for someone, so she asks about it.  Betty confesses that she has the hots for both Reggie and Archie.  She advises Betty to use Halloween night to figure out which one makes her clit tingle more (“figure out which way your love compass is truly pointing”).  Veronica’s skin in this game is that she wants to be told all about it the next day. 

At the Blossom mansion,  Penelope is drinking some red liquor. Her hair is amazingly ridiculous and it looks like a bitch to maintain it so it looks that exact degree of wrong and unflattering. Omg she’s so hot. Anyway.  She thinks that Cheryl is less likely to gayly molest the other cheerleaders if they “decamp” the sleepover to “the grand hall.”   Julian apparently is fully aware of what is being discussed, enough to object to his mother putting images of his sister engaging in “hanky panky” into the dinner conversation. 

Adult supervision finally catches up with Veronica just as she’s putting the final touches on the decorations for her Halloween show.  Alice Cooper appears, bristling with insecurity about the new competition in the Halloween entertainment of Riverdale of which she’s had a monopoly so far (“It’s not going to affect our ratings.”)  Hence the whole Halloween taboo is partially revealed to be not so much about lowering teen mortality nor in honor of the dead.  It’s about ratings & eyeballs on advertisers.   Alice says that she will “allow” the event to proceed, but tells Veronica that she has been “put on notice.”  About what?  That Alice disapproves of Veronica?

After stocking up on Powdered Milk, Jughead hears someone walk directly up to his (very insecure) residence.  He’s immediately terrified. He hides after grabbing some sort of hammer or poker or something.  

It’s Ethel!  She’s all smudged with dirt, wearing a very disheveled inmate uniform.  

Jughead wants to know how she escaped from the asylum.  She says that she’d heard about the escape tunnels, so she spent all her time looking for them.  Having located them, it was her truncated call with Jughead that “gave me the push I needed to make a break for it.”  Because she is alone that absolutely nobody ever calls her (not Betty, not Alice, not Dilton, not Ben) that she clung on to the one slight indication she was entirely forgotten!   The two of them exchange a tender look.  I like them together.    Ethel says her keepers were cruel and abusive, so she just needs to make it a “couple months” until she’s 18.   Jughead wants to invite her to stay with him, but it’s not safe.  He offers Rayberry’s apartment, because Rayberry had the very useful foresight to pay rent through to the end of the year.  

Jughead is just the nicest.  He is concerned that she might be too afraid to stay in a dead man’s apartment, but Ethel is stalwart. He also invites her to a party her first night sprung from jail.

In the bathroom at school, Midge seeks permission to not have to go to the slumber party from Cheryl.  Cheryl responds at first with the party line - the slumber party is “a Vixen tradition” and “the center must hold.” Midge folds immediately. 

Cheryl is, I will note again, incredibly powerful in this timeline.  Archie really, really didn’t know what he was talking about when he said people don’t listen to Cheryl.  He’s simply protected from her wrath by dint of having the ginger gene. 

But then, Cheryl realizes she wants to go to the Veronica-led event, so she comes up with the idea to let Evelyn (“that witchy witch”) to host the slumber party instead, so she and Midge can go to the Babylonium instead.  The two girls (the gay one and the pregnant one) sweetly affirm to each other how discreet each of them are, and promise to reveal a big secret on Halloween night. 

So even though he allowed (or was powerless against) Veronica to do whatever she wanted in terms of her commercial activities, Featherhead and his boyfriend still have hard-ons for giving Jughead Jones a rough time.   Jughead is subjected to questioning by the pair as well as Keller and Sister Woodhouse about the missing Ethel Muggs.   Being a smart boy, Jughead has learned all the right lessons from Rayberry about how to deal with these people’s pressure tactics.   He responds with sarcastic amazement that they’ve essentially ‘lost’ Ethel - that is, he avoids lying but simply neglecting to answer an unstated question.  Then when Keller threatens him with another home invasion, Jughead directly asks him not to ‘trash’ the place with a smile, which he wipes from his face immediately to demonstrate his disdain.  As he takes his leave, a very Halloween ghost cackles for him as part of the soundtrack transition to the next scene. 

At home, Archie and Reggie are putting themselves into the costumes created by Mary Andrews (who can’t stand to be seen now that there are THREE men in the house.)  Reggie and Archie discuss Betty.   The boys boast to each other about “getting vibes” from Betty.  Archie suddenly wonders if Betty might want to “make it” with one of them this night.  Made entirely of cheekbones, pouty lips and pecs, this causes Reggie to very homosexually get super close to Archie to say that it wouldn’t surprise him if Betty had such horny plans, since “she ain’t blind.”  

It’s very ambiguous actually if he means only himself, or Archie, or both of them.  In the mirror, he’s looking at himself frontwise, but he’s also looking at Archie’s sculpted arms and chest and the rest of him in the all american white T and jeans.   Archie either genuinely doesn’t (he is just not smart in this universe) or pretends to think that Reggie meant only himself.  So they stand shoulder to shoulder in the mirror, because that’s a very heterosexual thing to do, while Archie says that “she might wanna get with me, Reg.”   Having been thus rejected,  Reggie walks away from him.  Unholstering his big gun, Reggie suggests that if either of them get the feeling that Betty has chosen either one of them, the unchosen will “vamoose.”   Archie agrees, which leads to the two of them pointing their guns at each other. Twice. 

Ethel and Jughead arrive at the Halloween party.  I wish I knew what they were dressed as.   Jughead is wearing a huge stovepipe hat. Ethel is in the mask that Jughead promised her.  The extraordinarily elaborate costumes that all these comic book industry people are wearing would put a lot of cons to shame.  Bernie screams for Jughead, launching himself into an embrace.   Jughead looks extremely happy to be embracing Bernie.  Bernie says “It’s gonna be a crazy night” so Jughead and Ethel enter the fray.

While her parents are hamming it up on tv, Betty’s three suitors (Reggie, Archie and for some reason Dilton) are waiting for her to appear at their home.   When Archie and Reggie (meanly) imply that Dilton is there as a form of hero worship for the two of them in his role as “the water boy,” Dilton stands up for himself to let them know that Betty invited him in particular to be here. 

When she appears, Betty’s cleavage looks absolutely amazing.  It brings Reggie and Archie  to their feet.   Dilton is so agog that he doesn’t know what she’s supposed to be.  Betty has really thought of everything about this entrance, from the costume to the perfect thing to say.  She’s Goldilocks because “she couldn’t decide on a bed so she tried all three.   Dilton has a really huge pumpkin head as his costume. 

Reggie is having the best time trick or treating. He cocks out a hip and deploys his dimples to maximum effect.   Of course, the good times can’t last.  The four of them witness Julian and others bashing pumpkin decorations with baseball bats as they drive by, hollering.  Of course, the cops are nowhere to be seen when it’s Julian Blossom flouting the rules and causing actual property damage.  Dilton wisely decides he’s had enough, and goes home. 

At Veronica’s event at the Babylonium, things look very “Cabaret” to me, which is 1930s not 20s, but it doesn’t matter.  People look very sexy here.   The costumes for this are eye popping as well - one girl has a whole 3 foot tall headdress and everything.   As soon as Cheryl and Midge enter, Toni is all over Cheryl.   

I was so happy they didn’t make me listen to Fangs singing at his big gig, but Riverdale betrays me by forcing me to listen to him at this party. 

At the Pep Comics party, workaholic artists gonna art, apparently because sketching is going on - with Ethel participating!  Jughead interviews a series of very interestingly wonky-looking people.   One guy in a silk top hat who says he doesn’t know who wrote the Milkman story but is seething with jealousy over it.  Jonah, in smudgy eyeliner, doesn’t think it was that great.  Then Jughead talks to the devil, who tells him that it was “Ted Sullivan, a journeyman writer.”  (Ted Sullivan is on the writing staff at Riverdale, and wrote among others, the “Killing Mr. Honey” episode.)  After saying his name four times, Riverdale drops the bomb that this Ted is dead, died the same way as Rayberry, because he didn’t think he could live up to the masterpiece that was the Milkman Comic.  Then the devil launches into a speech about “the enemy is here, at home” and “we’re the enemies.”  Jughead is very startled.

After lighting a truly huge number of candles at the graveyard, Reggie and Bettie are howling at the sky.   Reggie says he knows a lot about wolves because he’s a fellow alpha who grew up with them.  His way of showing off is so cute and so dumb.   “Is that what you think you are? An alpha?” Betty asks in a butter soft voice.

I know they’ll deny it, but Riverdale writing team has read at least some of those werewolf-Serpent fanfics, because this set up - howling together ‘as a joke’ in a graveyard on Halloween then having Reggie and Betty talk  like this is almost a fricking prompt for some Retty/Beggie werewolf AUs to be drafted.

What could be a very interesting alpha-omega discussion between this pair is interrupted by Julian and a couple Bulldogs still whooping it up as they cruise around town being a nuisance.   Seeing Julian breaks the mood between Reggie and Betty, causing her to go seek Archie out.

Of course, Archie is sadly contemplating his father’s gravestone.  Betty starts to apologize immediately.  Even though he clearly isn’t, Archie reassures her that he’s fine and that it’s ok and it’s fine.  Then he demonstrates how haunted he is by this father’s absence -he immediately launches into a memory.  The two used to do a lot of trick or treating together as kids, even doing Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher.   Then I realize that I fell for it - THIS WAS ALL A PLOY.   Archie’s plan was to tug at her heartstrings so he could bring up that he was the OG hotstuff.  Well dang, Archie!

Reggie tries to interrupt but his face already admits defeat.  He asks to be taken to the haunted house.  The three of them go to the murder house.  Betty is not at all spooked, so she wanders further into the house to look for “eleven up.”    

Reggie is really the most honorable, because he takes this time to discreetly tell Archie that he’s going to vamoose as he originally proposed.  Archie is nice too, telling him he doesn’t have to do that, but Reggie is a man’s man (and a genuine ladies’ man) because cock blocking out of spite is just not something he’s willing to do no matter how enticing the girl.   Betty comes back with orange sodas.  Archie grants Reggie a good enough exit, by telling Betty that Reggie was tired.  Betty, despite her earlier threesome fantasy, doesn’t much care which of the pair she gets.  She smiles at Archie.

Veronica so loves giving speeches and hosting events. She looks so happy in her black lipstick, standing in front of four coffins. I still can’t believe that this event is going to go forward in this way.  This is so callous it’s kind of funny.  Anyway, Veronica is going on about the midnight feature, dropping the fact that Boris Karloff is her godfather.  

The music number is from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Which is very timeline busting. So are we doing like a backwards-reverse Back to the Future thing where instead of a fictional white guy taking credit for a real-life black musical invention from his past ( Rock ‘n’ Roll) we have a fictional Latina woman taking credit for a real-life musical written by a white man in her future?   The twisty turny of all this is also breaking my brain because the singing in the actual movie of the real musical (Rocky Horror Picture Show) was very very imperfect except for Tim Curry and Meatloaf, and intentionally so.  The singing in the musical numbers of Riverdale also have this same trait - it’s intentionally imperfect except when Josie and Kevin were singing.  The overall technical quality of the singing is better than in that musical film (Susan Sarandon can barely sing, which places the Cheryl, Betty, Veronica and Archie actors in a higher competence category).  But for some reason (oh fine, because I love Rocky Horror Picture Show) this marmoreal smoothness of the singing by everyone involved is very very horrifying to me.  I’m getting literal shivers of distress.  There’s just too much camp happening.   When it meets the airbrushed camp of Riverdale, the rough-around-the-edges camp of Rocky Horror evaporates, leaving only raunchiness.  Riverdale has highly sexual teens, and always has, but at the same time it gets very coy with how it describes sex, sexuality and sexual activity, so I was a bit startled at Clay belting out “orgasmic rush of lust” like that.

Kevin calling for “mommy” when we’ve never seen her but has caused him to be, well, how he is by calling him fat one time because he actually was and he never got over it, is a lot.  But then they pan away as he sings “what’s this? Let’s see” as he starts to look at his own crotch I REALLY WANT TO KNOW what the choreo was implied to be. Did he look into the contents of his own crotch  pouch? Why is the audience reacting like that??

Cheryl then comes out with the most on the nose bit.  She scream-sings:  I feel released/ Bad times deceased - and so on. Cheryl has ballet training, and again the technical competence which doesn’t at all cover up the extremely clunky nature of the steps she’s being made to do is horrifying.   At the end of her number, she pulls Toni close to kiss her in front of everybody. 

We cut to Veronica doing Frank’n’Furter which is a bit like Nicole Kidman being made to sing Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.  There are certain songs that can never be sung by anyone other than that one singer, and “Don’t Dream It” is really one of those songs.   The topsy turvy un-doing and re-doing continues, because for a woman (and a very cis, very pretty one at that) wanting to be “dressed just the same” as Fay Wray has zero subversive energy compared to Tim Curry as the transsexual alien doing it, so there’s a neutralizing of the power of that song. In order to make up for it, they put Veronica in a Marlene Dietrich tuxedo-for-girls from Morocco (where Dietrich sings a floor show and then kisses a girl on the mouth in front of everyone to general delight and applause).   It’s not fair to pit Veronica’s Riverdalian version of this song (and the screechy belting they make her do given the key choices) against the true blue one by Tim Curry, but it must be said:  There’s nothing sensual about the way Veronica is saying things like “give yourself over to absolute pleasure.” Everything she’s doing  - the volume of the singing, the thinness of the voice, the effortful meaninglessness of the choreography - is the opposite of giving yourself over to anything. 

Into all this, Alice, looking like a bomb has hit her, enters the theater. She reacts with horror. I don’t know if the horror is supposed to be about the nature of the song she’s hearing or it’s from being turned on by Clay dancing gayly in just his shorts.   Kevin articulates her shellshocked reaction with yet more exactly on the nose misappropriation of the lyrics (“It’s beyond me/ Help me Mommy”). 

All the extra give the hardworking main cast of Riverdale a standing ovation.

Elsewhere, Reggie is walking home all lonesome along  the deserted road when very ominously, Julian and two others in death masks stop beside him.   Julian says that Reggie should “join the fun unless you’ve got something better to do” because he is “going across the bridge to Greendale to raise some hell.”

OOOH HE SAID THE FORBIDDEN H- WORD!!  Was - was the strange word choices in Raising Cain and Wilding and all that leading up to this moment? 

Reggie isn’t going to make it with Betty today, so he hops into the car of destruction.  

At the haunted house, Archie finally makes a move to Betty, telling her he wants to kiss her.  She says she feels exactly the same way.  Unfortunately, they are cockblocked by a milkman who peers in on them.   Betty is smart - she isn’t afraid of no ghosts, but a real-life white guy being creepy is very good reason to run the heck away. 

After the event, Clay and Kevin are cleaning up like the good theater people they are.  Veronica wants to do a weekly midnight event at the theater that is “Fun and Campy.”  We are being extraordinarily on the nose today.  Anyway, the gays are worried about Veronica’s homelessness after parental abandonment, leading to her having to live in the movie theater.  Veronica lies about all of it (“everything’s peachy”) because she can’t stand sympathy or pity from others. 

At the Diner, Midge and Fangs have told Cheryl and Toni their big secret (her “honeybun” in the oven).  Midge then remarks on the fact that Cheryl and Toni have effectively come out to all the teenagers who were there at the Babylonium.  Toni is so glad that they’ve all put away their masks.  

I don’t know how loud they were speaking or if Evelyn just has superhuman hearing capacity, but she is there at the diner (somehow? why? how? isn’t she supposed to be hosting the sleepover? Is she there to pick up a midnight snack??)

Archie and Betty are safely back at home.   They tell each other that they had the “best” time ever.  Now, they are cockblocked by Alice, who takes out her distress at finding Clay very hot by yelling at her daughter in front of the whole neighborhood.  

With a quiet moment to herself, Veronica lights a votive candle to… Rudolph Valentino. Why is he on the altar with her grandmother?  Where’s Boris Karloff??  There’s a Jughead amount of candles lit in her small living area she’s made in the movie theater.  Veronica sleeps with a photo of herself with her parents.  Oh the poor baby. She’s very upset.

Jughead has walked Ethel to Rayberry’s apartment. Jughead is not wearing any sort of headgear - no crown, no jokey hat.  I - I feel like he’s en déshabillé.  Unable to resist the hair,

Ethel invites him in, using a tone of voice that sets all my shipping urges tingling.  Except -oh poor Ethel.  This is the universe - THIS IS IT! - the one where she could totally have a thing with Jughead, but there’s Tabitha!  Tabitha the Real is out there saving all of the multiverse and Tabitha of this world is out there on the bus tour against racism.  No dice.  Jughead says he’s tired and that he needs to feed the dog.  Sigh.   Ethel totally reacts like this is a rejection of her invitation to an assignation, but she’s nice about it.  But come on Jughead, live a little!  (Sorry, Tabitha, but Ethel was here - in my heart - first.)

As soon as Ethel enters the Rayberry apartment, dun dun dun, that weird guy in the milkman outfit is totally in there waiting for her.

Jughead is walking out when he gets accosted by that very plot-important lady obsessed with forcing her neighbors to make a milk donation to her cat.  She says, “Oh I thought you were the milkman” because she heard the bottles again.  There’s both a Dutch Angle AND dolly zoom happening as Jughead puts it all together, before rushing back to the Rayberry former residence shouting for Ethel. 

Jughead breaks down the door!  He falls faceforward into the apartment, only to make direct eye contact with the corpse on the floor.  “Jeepers” he says and - seriously, truly, this was wonderful line delivery.  I mean it. 

Ethel is having HER MOMENT.  She’s so super tall to begin with, so she looks totally magnificent, holding a bloody knife, standing victorious over the dead milkman, as she passionately tells Jughead, “I told everyone it was a milkman!”  Jughead looks so scared.

Archie is woken up in the middle of the night by Uncle Frank, who seems very upset.  He says a carful of Bulldogs went over the bridge into the River.  Archie stares upset at Reggie’s very empty bed. 

If they made Reggie die in the racist’s car I will be pitching a FIT.

[jennagrinsoverml]

⛽️👶🏻🥰🍭✏️

⛽️ Name a fic that you got energy from after reading.

I’m not entirely sure what this means, tbh. Maybe a funny fic like œuf ouch owie since I tend to get energy from laughing?

👶🏻 First fic you remember reading?

Answered here.

🥰 Your comfort fics that you can re-read several times and still love them?

Oh gosh. So many. I download all of my favourite fics as epub files onto my ipad and, especially when I'm tired and don't have the energy for something new, I'll just go through and read the same fics over and over and over again.

By no means an exhaustive list, but all of the fics off my Must Reads rec list, A Secret Worth Keeping, The Prescription and Super Fan by @gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights, Operation: Bisou and most of @ghostlyhamburger's smutty one-shots, i think it’s time i told you (i’m a fan of your universe), tell me what you want so we can do just what you like and the Hey there, hot stuff~ series by @clairelutra, Bad Week by @ominousunflower, Banter series, Stars series, A Cat of Their Own, Bet, Jealousy, Enthusiasm and The Open Line by @sariahsue, A Nice Matching Set by @bridgetinerabbit, The Pole Kit and Kaboodle by @chatonne-rousse,  rumour has it by @settledownsummer, twists and turns and your lips are meant to be kissed by @zimtlein, (Emergency) Boyfriend by @nomolosk, Maintaining a Professional Distance and Off the Mark by @buggachat, pretty lady, look at how he's smiling, our hands would not be taught to hold another's (literally just reread this Thursday night for the umptieth time) and Me, My Best Friend, and Her Cat by @ladyofthenoodle, and of course after reading that last one I have to read the sequel, A Miraculous Reveal: Locked in a Closet by you (and of course all your reveals but I linked those already in the Must Reads post) and The Five Minute Adventures of Snake Noir.

Also my own stuff because it's all written exactly to my tastes lol

Favorite fic trope?

M U T U A L P I N I N G ! ! !

I go absolutely wild for two people being absolutely stupid in love with each other and thinking their feelings are unrequited and pining away. Far and away my favourite trope! (Honourable mentions go to fake dating and identity reveals.)

✏️ Ever gotten inspired to write your own fic after reading someone elses?

Experimental Kisses by @komorebirei. Basically Ladybug agrees to kiss Chat because it's not fair that he doesn't remember his first kiss. She sets some ground rules including that it doesn't change anything or mean anything. Except that after she experiences "what it feels like to be kissed by someone who loves you with all of their being" well....it affects her.

There's some fantastic flirting and banter, and then Ladybug leaves and the fic ends. And it's wonderful! But I'm obsessed with what happens next.

In my head, that kiss keeps her up at night for weeks until she finally caves and asks for more. I just love her not being able to stop thinking about it. And it driving her absolutely crazy. Because she wants to kiss him again.

But she can't, obviously. Of COURSE she's not going to kiss Chat again. But she wants to.

It's all she can think about. She's distracted in class, distracted out with her friends (she was so distracted she even missed Adrien greeting her once! Alya thought she was sick)

But the worst is when there's an akuma attack or they have patrol because Chat is RIGHT THERE and she knows how easy it would be to kiss him again and she wonders if it would be as good as she remembers or if she's built it up to something bigger than it was in her mind

And then one night she lets something slip, maybe asks Chat if he's kissed a lot of girls before or something like that. And he catches on right away: "you're still thinking about it!" Excited. Hopeful.

And she tells him to shut up but her cheeks are on fire.

And then he's like "we could kiss again, you know. If you want."

And she should say no, right? This is a terrible idea. She never should have said yes the first time.

But.... she can't stop thinking about it. Maybe one more kiss will help her finally put this out of her head.

She agrees.

And he kisses her again, gently but insistently like before, but this time SHE KISSES HIM BACK.

And it's EVEN BETTER.

And then I'm imagining like weeks of ladynoir makeouts...and that was as far as I got!

I've also got a partially written fic playing in @buggachat's Bakery Enemies AU, but giving Adrien's POV.

(For the Fic Readers Ask Game)

[sachiko1309]

A dangerous game

Summary: Jasira, an elemental witch and girlfriend of Jasper as well as the Cullens get invited to Aro anual ball. Things quickly rise in tension, when Aro and Jasira are caught up in a deadly dance discussing their past entanglements. Jasira still full of hate for Aro, because he killed off her brotherhood in the late 1800s is not giving in to the sweet talk the Volturi king is giving her.

This will be a part of my story "Bloody desire - A Jasper Hale love story" on Wattpad and Ao3 (account names in tumblr description). So everyone who is interessted is welcome reading it.

Word count: 2532

Warnings: generally none, slight threatening with weapons, double meanings, dark tension, but nothing crazy

Again, the monstruous pompousness of the Volterra castle rendered me speechless. Wrapped up in my floor length coat, I trailed behind Heidi. The rest of the Cullens securely walking with Bella and myself in the middle. Aro had invited us all to his annual ball, with the underlying impression of not being able to deny his offer. So, here we were. The guys tucked into neat black suits, a little handkerchief of the color of their mates dress sticking out of the front pocket.

Rosalie wore a long silvery pink dress, that fanned out around her ankles in soft layers. Esme was dressed in a dark royal blue, accentuating her golden eyes with blueish grey eyeliner. Her dress was simple, but had a high slit on her left side, showing of her leg that was glittering with the golden garter and Carlisle initials. Alice dress was a deep forest green off shoulder, that ended knee length in the front to then flow to her ankles on the back. From her ears two delicate sliver chains with pearls on the end were swaying with every turn of her head. Unlike the rest Bella was wrapped in a floor length baby blue dress. A simple cut with an embroidered top that originally had a low plunge neckline. But she forced Alice to sow it higher to not show off too much of her neck. Over her shoulders she wore a thin white woolen vest, tightly wrapped around her to give her at least some warmth in the cold castle hallways.

My ears were decorated with little diamond earrings, a silver garter glittering from my left leg, while my fingers were showing of a few silver rings of mine and Rosalies collection. Sheathed in two black leather sheaths I wore two daggers. Coated with diamond and vampire venom as my main piece of jewelry. I hadn’t fully restocked my wardrobe so, me buying this new revealing dress wasn’t something Jasper would have spent lots of time thinking about. I made sure that I would get dressed alone, not showing anyone what I was about to wear.

With my heels clacking on the stone ground, we arrived at the entrance hall of the big ballroom. Aro was waiting on the side, flanked by Felix and Demetri. As soon as he saw us, he walked over to us, his guards neatly following him. He greeted the Cullens an Bella with a short nod, before focusing all of his attention on me. “It is unusual for you to be this covered up.” His soft voice sent shivers down my spine. The cat like fixation of his eyes trained on my face. Stepping forward I opened my coat turning around to let him take it off.

As soon as my dress was revealed, the Cullens took in a sharp breath, clearly not expecting me to wear something like that. Behind me, I could hear Aro giggle slightly, while Felix hid his laughter behind a cough. Demitri just took on a sharp breath. Letting Aro turn me around, I offered a sly smile, ignoring the second wave of surprise that shuffled through the Cullens. Offering me a cold hand, Aro guided me towards the door. “I see you came armed, my lady.” Not looking at him, but keeping up the stiff interaction, I answered: “Isn’t everyone?”

My comment had Aro break out in another short giggle. “Tongue as sharp as always. Tell me, tigrotta, do you really believe your daggers are more than a piece of jewelry?” I turned my head to look him in his piercing red eyes, that didn’t dare to hide the hunger in them. “Tell me, Aro.” I put a slight stretch to his name, observing the twitch washing over his body. “What happened the last time you underestimated me?” Not hiding my threat, I tilted my head. “I believe we have something called a stalemate. Besides, we still have a truce, do we not?”

“Of course, tigrotta. There was no underlying intent on my part.” He answered dunking his voice in so much sweetness, I was about to throw up. When we reached the edge of the dance floor, I wanted to let go of his hand, but Aro kept it in a hard grasp, causing Jasper to slightly growl behind me. He was quickly shut down by Felix puffing himself up next to me, causing Aro to wave him off annoyed. Hearing the music change from a waltz to a tango, I knew what was about to come. “Offer me a dance, principessa. It has been a long time since the last one.”

Letting him guide me to the middle of the dance floor, I vaguely noticed the other vampires clearing it. Leaving Aro and me alone by ourself. That meant nothing good. It was his way of strategically removing me from any security, but I decided to play along and see what the evening would bring. If shit was about to go down, I had Jasper and Emmett at my side in an instant. Putting on a fake smile I answered his question hanging in the room: “60 years if I am not mistaken.”

A low hum rumbled through Aros chest, when he placed one hand on my lower back, while the other held my right arm rigidly straight. He was quick to guide me over the dance floor not caring to throw another glance at anyone else than me. “60 years and you still sway like a goddess.” He commented, grinning when he saw Jasper fuming behind me. Emmett had his hand casually on his shoulder, but I knew he was holding Jasper back from doing something stupid.

“There are things one does not simply forget.” I dished out another stab. Earning a slight scold from Aro. “One also does not simply walk into a ball armed with deadly weapons.” His hand slowly wandered from my lower back to the place the handles of my daggers rested neatly against my bare skin. He wrapped one hand around a dagger, pulling it out with so much speed and throwing it against a wall, that I was nearly unable to stop it from shattering against the stone. Twirling me around with his left hand, he ripped the other dagger out of his sheath holding it playfully in his hand. The other one still hovering inches away from the wall, purely held by my silent airy grasp.

“Good handywork.” He murmured, taking a deeper look at my weapon. With the twist of my left hand, I let the second dagger flow to it, twirling it loosely through my fingers. “They indeed are.” I answered. Now pulling Aros attention back to me. With the turn of his hand, he rotated me back to him. Chest touching my back. Then he pressed the metal of my dagger against my skin, not daring to put pressure on it. His eyes were now trained on Jasper, who was about to break out from Felix hold. The rest of the Volturi guard silently looming over my family.

But I didn’t react to Aro threatening my life. Rather the opposite. “You are playing a dangerous game, Aro.” I said, still letting his step guide the way of our dance. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Twisting me back to face him, bending me backward with the light pressure of the dagger against my throat while the music came to a sudden height of tension. We had stopped dancing by now, completely focused on each other. Both having a dagger against each throat, the other hands still entangled in a deadly grip.

“Would I not?” He asked coyly.

“The better question would be ‘should I not?’.” I simply answered, not moving my weapon.

He was the first to react after seconds of us staring deeply in each others eyes. Taking the dagger from my throat he pushed it back into its cover, soon followed by mine. Again, we picked up our dance where we had left off. “Still as cold blooded as ever.” He praised me, an honest smile plastering his lips.

“The times where I was easily scarred are long gone.” I hissed, this time not caring to hide my open disliking towards him. He chose to ignore my piercing eyes, still smiling like a cat who just found the fountain of milk springing from her garden. “Like the times you came unarmed to my ball.” He retorted, again, bending me over his knee to then swirl me over his arm. I landed gracefully, slowly stepping around him to the beat of the music. “Like the times where you honored our truce.”

“There are rules I need to hold up. Humans are not meant to know about us.” He snarled. I was getting under his skin. Good. “And yet you fail to end my existence. Why is that, Aro? Are you getting lousy in your executions? Or is it hard to find good participants?”

“Do not anger me, woman.” He whispered against my ear, letting my frame crush a little too hard into his chest, knocking the wind out of my lungs. I just smiled, letting my hands come to a hold around his neck, while he was now indecently grabbing my waist to roughly handle me over the stone floor to the rising beat of the music. “I do not intend to anger you, Aro.” I mewled, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He was obviously seeing through my act, but chose to ignore it, or better, play along with it. “You would make such a good representant for us. That’s why I spared you. You are always welcome to join us.”

Letting out a deep sight, I tilted my head mockingly. “Spared me? You killed my family. My brothers, while keeping up a false diplomatic truce. Then you failed to hunt me down, sending out troops after troops to kill me. And still, I am breathing. You simply cannot admit that you are no match for me. Keeping up the shiny façade of good relations while plotting the next attempt to kill off my loved ones, trying to persuade me to join you. Isn’t that right?”

To my surprise he didn’t correct me. “At least this time you would get to keep your lover. Jasper would be another great asset to the court. Maybe I will take Edward and Alice, too.” Letting his eyes wander over my family he hummed. “Ahh, maybe only Alice. I do not need another telepath. I would rather take the open place to collect Theodore as well. He might not be gifted, but keeping my greatest jewel happy, would make my life a lot easier.” Aro had now completely refrained from hiding behind his well kept, innocent façade. Showing his true colors once again. His eyes were hungrily scanning my body, then wandering over to the Cullens that were now threatened against the wall of the room. Letting my eyes wander I could see a lot of red Volturi eyes looking at the conversation happening in the middle of the room.

I took a deep breath, stopping the dance and taking a step back. “In that case, you should weight your options, Aro.” My voice was sharp. “I do not fear another war rising, as I myself are clearly able to take out a third of your guards. You know I am. I already did that. And if you really dare to attack us, be aware that I have resources and connections to witches who are far older than I am. Older than you.” Taking the step back towards him, I lowered my voice. “And if we are already threatening each other so openly, I might as well ask for your wife, Sulpicia. She I wonderful isn’t she? A sweet gem to hold onto. It would be a shame to lose her, would it?”

“You will not harm her!” Aro growled, cowering down, ready to attack me. I just shrugged. “Who talked about harming her? I was merely wondering how she would react, knowing you would start a war against an innocent witch. Especially if said witch does keep regular contact with her. Isnt that right, Sulpicia?” I called out into the room, not drifting my eyes from Aro. But I could hear the soft clacking of small heels on the ground, showing Sulpicias arrival. Aros eye darted to his wife, visibly showing his confusion. “What is she talking about, cara mia?”

“She is right.” Sulpicias angelic voice was easily shutting down the murmuring in the room. “I have had enough of you starting wars with innocent people. She and her brotherhood did nothing wrong. Quite the opposite they made sure to keep the human population safe from the wrath of mislead vampires. A thing you swore to do as well. So as long, as Jasira and the Cullens do not break any of our rules, they are not to be bothered.”

“Two of them are mated to humans. They are already breaking one of our most important laws!” Aro let out, but was shut down by his wife immediately.

“Jasira is not to be viewed as normal human. She is immortal like us, possesses a gift like us, is sworn to secrecy like us. And as far as I heard, Bella is to be turned. There is nothing unrighteous going on. Don’t ruin this ball with your anger, as I do not wish to be strained like that.” Sulpicias voice was strong yet soft, cradling Aro in her hold.

I could see he was fighting the desire to give in to his wife, but after a few seconds he sighted. “Of course, cara mia. I am sure the Cullens will honor our laws. And since Jasira chose a vampire as her mate, she will as well. Am I right?” He looked at me with sharp eyes. I just bowed my head. “As long as there is no corruption and ambush brewing, I will gladly honor your laws.”

“Well then.”  He put up his softspoken demeanor. “Let us carry on with the ball.” Clapping in his hands he hushed the guest back on the dance floor.

[cammie-morgan-goode]

What's your favorite scene/scenes in each of the book?

Hi friend!

Here’s my favorite scene/scenes in each book! Spoilers!

LYKY: when Joe Solomon walks through the doors of the Grand Hall and sits down and says “sorry I’m late, Rachel.” When Joe Solomon is late to the first CoveOps class and tells the girls that he is preparing them for life outside in the field. “Get good, ladies. Or get dead.” Meeting Macey McHenry for the first time. “Tell Suzy she’s a lucky cat.” “For the first time in a long time, when thinking about my father, I felt like smiling, too.” Macey and the girls finally being friends. And anytime Joe Solomon talks about his bestie Matthew Morgan.

CMH: (this is gonna be long because this is my fave book) the girls trying to break into Rachel’s office. Finding out that Joe went to Blackthorne. The trip to DC. Flirting. Zach. Guggenheim Academy. “They say you’re a real pavement artist.” The ball scene. “Zach knew me.” The CoveOps final. “I always finish what I start.” Zach dipping Cammie in the middle of the foyer. The kiss. Just all things Zach!

DJGC: Macey’s cover! Cam seeing Zach everywhere. Meeting Aunt Abby for the first time. Preston. Abigail Cameron flirting with Joe Solomon. “You gonna let me up now?” Zach jumping out of the moving train. Abby talking about Matt. Zach calling Macey “McHenry” and her distracting the officer on the train. “I take it that’s the man in your life.” Macey disappearing. Liz sticking up for Macey. The girls finding Macey. Just the whole end of that book!

OGSY: Cammie and Zach talking about his jacket. Meeting Townsend even though we kind of hate him. Joe being protective of Cammie. Zach being protective of Cammie. Matt’s handwriting. The journal. Zach being Zach. The Blackthorne adventure. “We’re leaving her with you.” “You’ve got your cover, Gallagher Girl. We’ve got ours,” the catherine reveal. Finding out Zach was okay and that Joe was alive. “When he kissed me, it was hungrier somehow…”

OSOT: Rachel stepping off the chopper like a woman on a mission. Cammie talking to Joe while he’s in the coma. Abby talking to Joe and Rachel taking care of Joe. Cammie kissing Joe’s head and then falling asleep next to him. The towel scene. “We’re not mad because you left. We’re mad because you didn’t take us with you.” Matthew’s hiding spot. “You could have died, Cammie.” Zach and Townsend bonding. “Crazy. I went crazy.” More Cammie and Joe bonding. Joe talking about Matt. “I found it, daddy.” Ugh the feels.

UWS: All of it. Seriously. But! Them saving/kidnapping Preston. Rachel playing nurse to Joe. Zach sleeping in Cam’s bed. “You were gone for so long.” “I’m back now.” “Don’t go again.” Cammie showing Zach her favorite secret passageway that she’s never shown anyone else (the beanbag one). “Leaving can’t be nearly as hard as being left,” Professor Buckingham and the Code Black. The entirety of the cave scene. Grant and Jonas showing up to the rescue. Rachel and Joe running and the whole website thing. Zach frying bacon without a shirt on. In just jeans. Bex “being a spy is in my blood” Baxter. The Townsend reveal. “You had Joe.” The entirety of Cammie finding out about the proposal. “Joe Solomon loved me.” The entirety of Liz’s graduation speech. And the entirety of the epilogues.

“And now we are at the end of our time at school, and the one thing I know for certain is this: A Gallagher Girl is whatever she wants to be. And, most of all, she is my sister.”

[clumsiestgiantess]

I have a bunch of short stories and WIPs that I’ve collected over the years, as well as the stuff I’ve already begun posting here.  Point being, I have a bunch of things I want to share, and I would love to see what interests people the most.  Here’s a good list of some of my writing, the winner will be posted after the poll.

(All synopses below poll)

Other-world Universe - (there are three planned arcs) end of arc comes with a bonus chapter rewritten in Erica’s POV (y’all can decide which chapter)

Miniature Cabin - I’m planning for this to be a four part series, so only half is out now

Horror series - Lore for the DNAliens, featuring: Tselani: Valiant protector of her human village, gets a bit desperate after it’s attacked by her ex out of spite. Aethra: A crazy cat lady but if the lady were a pink/purple luminescent tendril alien, and the cats are her little humans. Jactol: Rough guy who hunts predators for sport, also Tselani’s ex. Vremonol: A student studying Earth’s desert ecosystem only to stumble across ancient Egypt. Tserem: Snake man who is being held prisoner in a cave by an awful king, forced to eat human sacrifices. (more to come)

You Get What You Wish For - An angsty/whumpy short story I wrote on a whim and only read when I’m in that kind of mood

Language Barrier (2nd addition) - After finding out everyone in her camp had frozen to death, Hannah struggles to figure out what to do next

Winter’s Everlasting - A fantastical world of creatures including humanoid wolves, fairies, ice men, giants, and dragons.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Yeah, they exist.  And guess who decided to tamper with them?  The government.  (Technically not g/t, but idk I like the vibes)

The Walls Won’t Be There Forever - Borrowers’ existence is revealed to the public, which creates quite the controversy.  (People who don’t like the pet trope probably shouldn’t read, though I do try to show via the story that it’s not right)

Enchantment - Inspired by the live action Beauty and the Beast and the music video for Shatter Me by Lindsey Sterling

Thanos Snap Doomsday Scenario - Basically this post

MINI Fridge - Inspired by episode 16 of Gravity Falls, Carpet Diem, and episode 3 of Love Death & Robots, ICE AGE (btw Love Death & Robots is a really good horror show!  Definitely recommend to people who like shows like the Twilight Zone and the Black Mirror. ALSO there’s a few different episodes with g/t and some similar themes)

Don’t worry if what you want doesn’t get chosen, I’ll eventually put most of these on here anyway. Poll winner has priority, though.

[lea-panthera]

Hello world!

It's been a while but hey, SCHOOL'S FINALLY OVER!

Being an upcoming high-school junior, I still have plenty of work to do this summer, but I have some goals to meet.

Firstly, though I will mostly be focusing on my works on AO3, I'll be popping in on Wattpad to update every now and then. I'll post here whenever I make an update.

Secondly, there are a few fics I need to finish by this summer, notably 'Our Love Destroyed the World'(which I haven't touched since...DECEMBER?!?), 'The Defection', and 'Three Crazy Days'. Also, I'm planning to write a sequel to 'Head Scratches'.

For those of you who have no idea what fics I'm talking about:

-'Our Love Destroyed the World': a Cat Blanc AU fic where Cat Noir goes to the alternate timeline with Ladybug

-'The Defection': An AU where the final battle between Monarch and the super duo happened after Multiplication and Adrien died(DjWifi children are protagonists)

-'Three Crazy Days': Marinette has to babysit her future daughter for three days, leading to surprising revelations and identity reveals

-'Head Scratches': Just that. Cat Noir getting head scratches from his lady.

Thirdly, regarding 'A Demonslayer's Tale', I've revised my original plan for the story and realized that with the new changes I've made, the story will be too long for a single fic, so it will be split into two volumes. I'll continue updating over the summer.

Finally, I'll be trying my hand at art this summer and trying to get better at drawing, so I might post art here, both Miraculous-related and non-Miraculous-related. Bear with me because currently I'm a terrible artist, and I'll be open to any drawing suggestions you guys have.

I'll probably be updating a few fics tomorrow, so stay tuned!

[cleoenfaserum]

CHOLOLATE CREAM MURDERESS

There is no mystery here. We know the whodunit. We also know why she did it, and I am going to let the cat out of the bag, she was crazy bananas or bongas. So what the hell, what piqued my interest was how she went about it which is what is being told and where she ended up.

But the following article which I came across by chance was what set me off to write this blog which I hope you enjoy.

Broadmoor archives go online, revealing the story of its most crazed inmate | Daily Mail Online

This is her ... as she was pictured...

About Christiana Edmunds character... (Wikipedia)

785-1 https://youtu.be/T3u5NRaveIE

READ: The Case of the Chocolate Cream Killer: The Poisonous Passion of Christiana Edmunds – Women's History Network (womenshistorynetwork.org)

A BBC Radio adaptation of John Fletcher's play about Christiana Edmunds, the "Chocolate Cream Killer", who carried out a series of poisonings in Brighton in the early 1870's. When people start falling ill all over early 19th century Brighton, everyone thinks it's cholera due to the lack of proper sewers. Little do the police know that it's actually the work of a middle-aged spinster who, thwarted in love, its taking her revenge on all of the citizens of Brighton with very special montelimars and pralines. Obsession, bad drains, royalty, murder and chocolate all play their part ...

785-2 https://youtu.be/TUvG2dm5eVQ

The Great Chocolate Murders : John Fletcher : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The Great Chocolate Murders : John Fletcher : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

READ: A historical murder: The Chocolate Box Poisoner - Robin Stevens (robin-stevens.co.uk)

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley Ep 11 - Christiana Edmunds: The Case of the Chocolate Cream Killer Lucy Worsley looks at the crimes of women from the 19th and early 20th centuries from a contemporary, feminist perspective.

Lucy explores the story of Margaret Garner, an enslaved mother in 1850s America, who commits a murder that transforms her into an icon of tragedy and resistance. Her life inspired Tony Morrison’s Pulitzer-winning novel Beloved.

To explore Margaret Garner’s remarkable story and its contemporary resonances Lucy is joined by Nikki M Taylor, Professor of African American History at Howard University in Washington DC and the author of Driven Towards Madness: The Fugitive Slave Margaret Garner and Tragedy on the Ohio.

Margaret Garner and her small four children are owned by a farmer in the slave state of Kentucky, and they live a tantalising 16 miles from Cincinnati in the free state of Ohio. Margaret and her husband Robert, who is enslaved on a nearby farm, decide to risk their lives, and the lives of their children, for a chance of freedom on the other side of the Ohio River. On the night of 27th January 1856, in temperatures close to -20 degrees celsius, the family escapes on a sleigh and, against the odds, they evade capture and make it across the frozen river to what they hope will be freedom and safety. But their owners are hard on their heels, and soon Margaret will have to give a terrible answer to the question ‘is slavery a fate worse than death?’.

Lucy wants to know what life was like for Margaret as an enslaved woman, wife and mother. How can we hear the voices of enslaved women when they left so few records of their lives? What does Margaret’s story tell us about the lives of black women in America today? What effect did her story have on the abolitionist movement, and how can her story inform the fight against slavery and sex trafficking today?

785-3 https://youtu.be/W4si-Wpu_kc

11. Christiana Edmunds – Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley (australian-podcasts.com)

READ OR LISTEN... Broadmoor revealed: The Victorian asylum | The National Archives

READ: Victorian Broadmoor revealed in free online book - BBC News

Broadmoor is Britain's most notorious hospital prison for the criminally insane, whose infamous inmates have included Ronnie Kray and 'Yorkshire Ripper' Peter Sutcliffe. Currently Broadmoor houses 400 of the most difficult, disturbed and dangerous people in Britain. With material from inside the hospital, this film offers a unique insight into how a civilised society treats those who are both bad and mad. Originally broadcast in 2002.

785-4 https://youtu.be/-4BaCt5tlgI

[theadventuresofgarlandodra]

The Adventures of Garl and Odra Manyboots- The Underdark

Prev.

The Underdark was nothing like Odra thought. For one thing, it wasn’t as dark as people thought it was, with phosphorous green rocks serving as torches. It cast some very interesting shadows on everyone’s faces.

“You used to live down here?” Odra asked.

“I mean, not in the tunnels- you’ve never been to the Underdark, have you?”

Odra shook her head no.

“You’re gonna love it.”

And the moment the tunnel opened up to the city of Isath Dorei, Odra knew that Garl was right.

Right past the gates that were just carved out of the cave itself, they entered a marketplace. Lavender, blue, and yellow light motes that resembled fireflies danced around the air. Odra tried to catch one but her fingers just went right through it. Stalls sold all sorts of things, spices, silks, and jewelry made of the shiniest gems. Most everyone around was drow, with a few hobgoblins and beastfolk that resembled rats or black cats. If they were merchants or business owners, they were women. If they were runners or hard laborers, they were men.

Odra frowned as something occurred to her. “You knew I’d like it because there’s a bunch of in charge hot ladies,” she accused Garl.

Garl smirked but didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.

The leader of the drow shooed her comrades away before she turned to the adventuring party. She pushed her goggles up to her forehead, revealing her rose pink eyes. “Right. So your human told us what we needed to know.” She nodded at the gargoyle on the cart. “Normally this wouldn’t be a hard task, but we have to go see Queen Rillana first, for reasons that’ll be clear once we speak with her. I am Lydia, my house is right there. You may leave your dead comrade there,” she said.

Garl twisted his mouth. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay with him,” he said.

“Of course. You can’t bring him into the throne room though. If the floors gets scratched, we’ll be hearing about it for months.”

Garl looked grumpy but he nodded. Lydia nodded before she turned back forward. “Let’s keep going then.”

The city itself was beautiful. Buildings were seamlessly carved out of the ground, and the palace itself looked like it was made of a thousand stalagmites, reaching to the ceiling of the underdark cavern. The guards were all women as well, each nodding at Lydia and tipping their heads at her.

“You important or something?” Odra asked.

“I’m one of the most respected sorceresses of the Underdark, yes,” Lydia said.

Damn. Odra brushed off her cloak and tried to seem casual as she said, “That’s cool, cool, coooool… are you single or…”

Garl snorted as Lydia turned her face to avoid letting Odra see her smile. “I appreciate your confidence. But I am not single, and although my wife is polyamorous, I am not. I must say, I’ve only met a few goblins who speak Common, and you speak it very well. I’m impressed,” Lydia said.

“I’m talented. Soooo, who’s your wife? Think she’d be into short ladies?”

Lydia quietly giggled but said nothing as they entered the throne room. Garl parked the cart next to the door, patting the still gargoyle on the shoulder before he followed after her with the rest of the party.

Lydia gestured forward to the throne, made of obsidian and bone. “Ladies and your men, Queen Rillana, Ruler of the Northern Underdark.”

The queen sat tall, her ivory hair ornately braided around her moonstone circlet. Odra nearly tripped over her feet when she saw the queen had a third eye tattooed onto her forehead that seemed to look around with her actual ones.

Dullahan nudged Odra. “You have to talk, she’s not gonna listen to me or Garl, and Sylvia gets anxiety just talking to the bartender at the guild,” he whispered.

“What?!” Odra looked up at Dullahan like he was crazy. “I’m a goblin! Who listens to goblins!?”

“You’re a female goblin. The matriarchy is total bullshit, I know, but you’re the best one to go with. Lydia just listened to me because I said I was your go between, so start being charming.”

Greeaat. Odra gritted her teeth but chose to hold her head high as she nudged her way to the front of the group. Queen Rillana had five men kneeling around her throne, three of her fellow drow but a gnome and a gray skinned dwarf were amongst the number as well.

The Queen eyed the group, barely passing her eyes over the men before she focused on Lydia. A small smile played on her lips. “Lydia, good to see you back safe,” she said softly, gesturing her forward.

Lydia practically skipped up the steps to the throne before she knelt to the ground. “My queen,” she gestured to the party, “we found these adventurers not too far from one of the hidden entrances. They appear to be skilled warriors, and they were dealing with the problem we’ve been struggling with over these last few months.”

“The undead?” Queen Rillana guessed.

“Yes, your majesty.”

The Queen glanced among the group, narrowing her eyes at Garl. “Some of them seem to not know their place,” she said in a clipped tone.

Garl glanced to see Dullahan already kneeling. Ignoring that immediate urge to whack the human on the head, he just hesitantly knelt down on the ground. “My apologies, your majesty. I don’t find myself in royal courts often,” he grumbled.

The queen smirked as she leaned forward. “Mouthy. But the mouthy ones are more fun to tame,” she noted aloud.

Odra finally found her voice. “Your majesty!” She yelped, immediately regretting how high pitched her voice went. “Q-Queen Rillana?”

“Hmmm?” The queen’s gaze shifted towards Odra. “So, the goblin’s the speaker of the party? How interesting. Are you a woman? I can never tell with your kind.”

“I guess? I mean, yeah.” Odra swallowed, feeling her heart race in her chest. “Listen, it’s great that we get to talk and all, but why did Lydia bring us here? We just need to take this gargoyle body back to where he died, respect for the dead and all that.”

Queen Rillana gave her that same gentle smile that she’d given Lydia and Odra felt her knees turn to jelly. “Brave. I rather like goblins, you know. It’s a pity I’ve never found a male one suitable for a harem… too… smelly.” The queen shuddered at the thought. “Lydia brings you and your party forward for a request. If you are going through our kingdom, I can tell you where the nearest nest of gargoyles are- which I presume is your destination?”

Odra perked up. “Really?”

“Yes, but unfortunately for everyone involved, there’s the matter of getting there.”

The queen tapped her fingers on the arm of her throne as she frowned. “How many undead were up there?” she asked.

“Um, I lost count, but there was a zombie ogre and like a dozen zombie humanoids?” Odra scratched the back of her head. “Is that what you’re talking about?”

“Indeed. We have a necromancy problem.” The queen gestured out. “You see, I’ve had a bit of conflict with my twin sister. I was born first so the throne is rightfully mine, but I only beat her to it by a few moments. This has caused a bit of strife, and now she’s taking it out on me by hiding outside the city and raising the dead. It wouldn’t be a problem… except we can’t find what hole she’s hiding in, so she keeps sending hoards out. It’s affecting our trade and our livelihoods. The main attacks happen on the path that you’d take to the nest.”

Garl shifted. “I know I’m speaking out of turn, but how are the gargoyles?” he asked.

“I’d love to put a gag in that mouth,” Queen Rillana shook a finger at Garl and for once, Odra saw her friend was completely speechless. “But the question is a fair one to ask. From what we can tell, they are perfectly fine. They’re able to repel the undead, and my sister has no quarrel with them, so they’re safe from her powerful magics. However, until my sister is arrested and brought back here, she will continue to blockade the city with her guerrilla warfare. So, adventurers- how would you like to handle a bounty?”

Odra grinned. “I think I speak for all of us when we say- we’re one hundred percent in. You got any hints to make the search easier to find your sis?” she asked.

Queen Rillana laughed quietly. “I love your enthusiasm. It’s exactly what I need. I can give you a map of the area, her most likely hiding places, but I only ask you bring her back alive- she’s a nasty woman, but she is still my sister. In return, not only will I send an escort to take you to the gargoyle nest, but I’ll give you all a personal reward. Now, go and rest. I’ll have the servants prepare quarters for each of you.”

Yes! Odra fistpumped and turned to the gang. “Let’s get ready to smash some ghouls’ heads in, guys!” she whooped before remembering that she was in the presence of royalty. She sheepishly turned around, expecting to be scolded…. only to see the queen was now distracted by Lydia now sitting in her lap, the two nuzzling noses and giggling like lovebirds.

Queen Rillana noticed Odra gaping and quickly composed herself. “Yes, um, smash those ghouls. You may leave now,” she shooed them out.

Odra bit the inside of her cheek but she bowed before leaving the court with a surprising lack of sass.

Garl allowed himself be led to one of the quarters set up for him. It was a lovely room, a plenty large bed, a private bathroom with running water (thank whatever artificer came up with that), and even a light outside the glass windows that seemed to resemble the moon. Overall, it wasn’t bad.

But Garl wasn’t alone.

“All right, come out, right now.”

A soft laugh echoed off the walls of the room and the queen appeared out of nowhere, a smirk on her face. “What gave me away?”

“Just a hunch with how you were looking me over in the throne room.” Garl crossed his arms. “I’m not gonna sit pretty and be one of your little boy toys, your majesty. No offense.”

“None taken. I would never attempt to permanently restrain a creature as yourself.” Rillana crossed the room, fearlessly looking the gargoyle right in the eye. “Those wings might not carry you far, but they still need to beat free in the skies above the dark I call home. That, and I think if I separate you from your little friend, I will have quite the riot on my hands.”

“Just because she’ll be jealous of me.”

Rillana laughed again before resting her hand on Garl’s bicep. “I have no doubt. But, and I’ll be straightforward, have you wondered what it would be like? To be… restrained, for the night?” Her fingers slid over to his chest. “Bow to the knee, serve a queen?”

Garl lost the ability to speak momentarily as the drow drummed her fingers lightly. “Um… are you making a pass at me?” he asked.

“Obviously. You’re cute.”

Rillana flicked his nose before she backed up. “Consider it your special gift, if you’d like. A night with me.”

“… And your boy toys and wife won’t mind?”

“On the contrary,” Rillana grinned before she slowly faded from sight. “If my hunch is correct, I’ll be entertaining all of them with stories of what happens for days afterwards.”

The door briefly opened and shut and Garl was left standing there, presumably alone. And very obnoxiously turned on.

A bit direct, but who said that was a bad thing? And nailing a drow queen would be a new experience, to say the least.

Next

[dollycas]

#FlashbackFriday featuring The Tell Tail Heart: A Cat Cafe Mystery by Cate Conte #Review #Giveaway

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.

The Tell Tail Heart: A Cat Cafe Mystery Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Setting - Island off Massachusetts Minotaur Books (June 25, 2019) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250072085 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250072085 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07J4SZ293

Welcome back to the charming New England coast, where Maddie James’s cat café is at risk of becoming a crime scene for the purrfect murder. . . Maddie is hoping to have some downtime during Daybreak Island’s off-season to tackle her to-do list. Her grandfather’s house-turned-cat-café is under construction and she’s also scoping out places to open a juice bar on the island. On top of that, her relationship with adorable dog groomer Lucas has taken a pawsitive turn. But easy is getting harder every day for Maddie, especially when a big-name writer who’s on the island working on a new project winds up floating in the canal. This, on the exact same day an eccentric woman shows up at the cafe claiming Maddie’s cat, JJ, is hers. As the investigation into the dead writer picks up, Maddie realizes that even the neighbors she’s known all her life might be keeping secrets that go deep into the heart of this small seaside town. Meanwhile, a killer remains at-large...and on the prowl. Dollycas's Thoughts A dead author, a crazy lady, and a big storm really throws Maddie James's life off kilter. The person who she now knows is a famous author had been coming into the cat café for days working quietly with a cat on his lap. Then a strange woman comes in, has weird eye contact with him, and then proceeds to tell Maddie that her cat JJ, the face of JJ's House of Purrs, belongs to her. So she has lost one of the few paying customers she has during the off-season, she has to protect JJ from being stolen, she has to run the café while the renovation continues, and the Nor’easter coming could shut down the ferry and wreak havoc on the island. Oh, yes there is also a murderer on the loose. Maddie's sister Val is busy too planning a huge Thanksgiving celebration for an island legend who also ropes her in an investigation of their own. They even get Maddie involved.  Both investigations may be connected which could make things on Daybreak Island very interesting. I am so happy to return to this series. It is really character driven with Maddie, her former police chief grandfather, sister Val, and Ethan, Maddie's business partner, and now Val's boyfriend. They all usually work together like a well-oiled machine for the most part. Maddie inherited her grandfather's zest for investigations but this time he is keeping her out of the loop. This adds a whole different dynamic to the story. I felt for Maddie because of the strain created by her grandfather holding back and keeping secrets. Maddie's boyfriend Lucas was away for most of this story too which made the strain even harder. I really enjoy that a character mentioned in previous books took a bigger role in this story. We were able to learn much more about him and his past and how he fits into life on the island. The mysteries were all tangled together along with just a bit of real-life happenings. The book flowed nicely with several twists and red herrings. I knew early on who I wanted the guilty party to be but it took time for all the clues to fall into place to make my wishes a reality. It was fun to follow along with Maddie but I missed the closeness of working with her grandfather. She has a vivid imagination and theories that don't pan out but when the clues start to come together and facts are revealed Maddie's stubborn streak reared its ugly head which sets up a very dramatic ending that could have gone so wrong, but I liked it :-) . You would think Daybreak Harbor would be quiet in the winter with hardly any tourists or businesses open but Cate Conte proved that wrong. She whipped up quite a mystery and through in a Nor'easter to top it off. The Tell Tail Heart was an entertaining read with a very satisfying ending until you reach the final sentence. Yes, a cliffhanger. That just means I need to read A Whisker of a Doubt soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Cate Conte writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in Connecticut with her rescue pals.

Coming August 22, 2023

Also by Cate Conte

Written as Liz Mugavero

I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of The Tell Tail Heart The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End June 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Read the full article

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

✩✩✩ COVER REVEAL ✩✩✩

The Panty Thief

By Naomi Springthorp

USA Today Best Selling Author

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/105736272/

Cover Designer: Irene Johnson

Release Date: March 23

Hosted by DS Book Promotions

Apple | Kobo | Nook – Preorder

Amazon will be available on release.

Blurb:

From USA Today Bestselling Author Naomi Springthorp comes a romantic comedy with heat, a cat, and a hottie named Truck.

I’ve always had my best friend. She’s the sister I chose and with me for life. She’s also the only roommate I’ve ever had. Everything was perfect—until she popped out a baby. I have to move out. I can’t sleep in my own bed and I’m waking up everyone in the house when I get home from the club. Nobody wants to hear a crying baby at 3am. Especially when I just left my conquest for the night begging for more. Crashing at my ex’s while I apartment hunt is only a temporary solution. Now, my bestie is forcing me to have a house warming party—and if I know her at all, she has an ulterior motive.

There’s a new hot chick in my building. She’s put together and her attitude is off the charts. I didn’t expect her to be a cat lady. I’m not into her. Women are trouble. Her scent lingers in the hallway and drives me crazy. Hitting it in my own building? Not going to happen. It’s hard enough to hide being the owner from the tenants. That’s extra drama I don’t want or need.

The warm sunbeam every afternoon. My favorite treats. They fed me well at the rescue house and the other cats learned I was in charge early on. The woman with the screaming infant who picked me up was not ideal. However, my new maid and I will get along just fine. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Join the tour event here:  https://forms.gle/Hq5woPofJizwrimGA

About Naomi Springthorp

USA Today Bestselling Author Naomi Springthorp is a born and raised Southern California girl. She's a baseball freak who supports her team all season long and blatantly admires the athletes in those pants. Music has always been part of her life and she believes everything has a soundtrack. She loves her two feline fur babies, though they're not quite sure what to do with her.

She writes Baseball Romance, Romantic Comedies, 90s Throwback, and Contemporary Romance--all with heat and sometimes a little sweet.

#coverreveal #thepantythief #preorder #comingsoon #romcom #bookish #booklove #naomispringthorp #dsbookpromotions

@Naomi Springthorp @DS Book Promotions