#my drafts surprise me sometimes because huh. this is not that bad for 6 years ago

[mishy-mashy]

Hi! I noticed you bring up fanfiction every once in a while, so do you have an ao3?

I DO

But the stuff I post here isn't actually written out and posted anywhere else, and my ao3 (posted stories) is pretty bare. Like, I only touch it to read other people's stuff at this point

Everything I do write is OC stuff though, and that's not everyone's jam

The stuff I do post here all comes from my notes for said fic ideas. They're all fleshed out enough that I can write them into proper stories. Like, the whole plot is figured out, I know where to end, character perspectives, all that jazz. I just don't write them out, since I don't have that motivation, and the stories would end up huge

I don't like posting the actual stories either. People have asked for updates on the new chapters I just put down, and I've run into a lot of copy-pasters. Even the few things I have on ao3 is having a mimic somewhere. So I otherwise keep everything to myself, or post little things here

I've been going through my past stuff lately to reorganize. It's fun. Even if they're old (some are over 5 years old), I find little gems that surprise me like these

(Unordinary; Re:Zero; BNHA)

Like- they aren't that bad. That's surprising. How old are these things???

[scandeniall]

good & the bad [11/12]

| song 11: the good & the bad | good & bad masterlist | prev | next 

pairing: osamu x reader

summary/warnings:  Hang on to the moments when you're flying, he moments when you're crying. Hang on to the ones that hold you down./ straight up manga spoilers lol

wc: 1868

“Samu,” his name comes out barely above a whisper as you enter the dimly lit room shutting the door behind you. “Atsumu let me in. He said you haven’t come out at all today.” You softly say as you make your way deeper into his room, until you're standing at the space next to his desk where he’d been hunched over for the majority of the day. He still hadn’t said anything as you eye the content covering the surface. Lots of numbers. You notice the way he relaxes just the tiniest bit as you rest your hand on his shoulder. “You ok?”

“No.” The shortness of the answer doesn’t come as a surprise given, what’d he’d most likely been working on. You only nod, noticing the way he slides his chair back enough so that you could seat yourself sideways on his lap. “More shop plans?” Your question is only met with a nod. 

You remember when you met the twin. It had been during his second and your first year of university. The two of you crossing paths by mere chance. Essentially being in the right place at the right time. You met at an obscure cafe that you both tended to frequent, just never at the same time. It had been a place that had such few customers, that everyone wondered how it was still in business. However, it’d had the best damn yakitori you’d ever had. It had actually been one of the waitresses who introduced you two. Saying you were the only two people who ever ordered it from there, and that if it wasn’t for you two they’d considered taking it off the menu.

From there the friendship and eventual relationship blossomed. You found out he was in school for culinary arts, with a minor in business in hopes of opening his own food shop, eventually settling on Onigiri. That had been two years ago, and as a recent graduate he was ready to get it up and running. A process that proved to be a difficult one, causing his current stress. 

“I’ve been running these numbers and looking for suppliers all day. Kita said he can help with rice, but there's still fillings, and seaweed, and packaging. And now theres a problem with my location and actually pay for workers if I’m struggling now—fuck. Maybe I should have gone pro with Tsumu.”

He let out more than he’d initially intended and he blames the feel of your fingers massaging his scalp for the word vomit. It feels much better than the tugging he’d done at his scalp as he eyed the dizzying numbers for the millionth time. “Hey. Don’t say that. You know you wouldn’t have been happy doing that.” His gaze shifts from you to the papers covering his desk as you continue talking. “Besides, who the hell said opening a business was easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it-”

“Well it's obviously not,” your hand goes to clamp around his mouth so he wouldn’t interrupt again. “As I was saying. It's not easy, but you’re doing it. And in 80 years when you end up as the happier twin it’ll all be worth it. I know it’s stressful now, but that’s where your superhero volleyball strength should kick in. The same mental strength I’m sure it takes to get through games, physically pushing yourself past your limits is what you need now. It’s The mental strength to see this through Samu. You’ve got it, so just hang in there through the good and the bad.” The quietest of sniffles causes you to let out a laugh. “Wait are you actually crying right now at my stupid speech.”

Your boyfriend’s hands go to try and fail to push you off as you continue laughing. “It’s the hunger. I haven't eaten in hours,” Osamu counters as you roll your eyes. “Yeah, Alright. Come on let’s go get something. My treat tonight.” Hands tighten around your waist as you lean down to press your lips to meet his. The kiss is soft, lips ghosting against one another as you fight yourself smiling. Before you could push it further he pulls away a lazy smile on his face. “You said you were gonna treat me to dinner.”

Your annoyed groan does nothing but amuse him, but as you go to get up you find that his hands don’t loosen. “For someone who wants food you don’t seem to be making the effort to let me go.” Osamu only shrugs. “Thank you. For having my back.”

“Just remember, hang through the good and the bad. And stop being afraid to ask for my help. I’m here, always.”

——

‘I’m outside,’ your eyes gloss over the text before you start packing your backpack. Bidding your friends goodbye you quickly make your way down the steps of your school’s library before slipping into Osamu’s passenger seat. You eagerly accept the quick kiss he offers in greeting. 

“So you think this is the place?” 

“Hopefully. I’m ready to sign a lease already.” You nod humming along to the radio. Right now he was going to take a last look at the potential shop location before hopefully signing for it. You’d offered to go with him since you didn’t have any late classes for the day. Ever since your conversation a month ago he’d been just the slightest bit more accepting of help from others. 

“Oh, my friend gave me some of the logo drafts today. They look pretty good, you might have a winner there.” His hand goes to gently squeeze the skin of your thigh in appreciation. You had a friend majoring in graphic design who was more than willing to gain experience designing a logo for a business. Osamu was grateful for it. That was one last thing he had to worry about. 

“When i decided to do this, I thought i'd be on my own. According to so many people I was letting my talent go to waste going into food instead of sports.” This time your hand goes to offer him a comforting squeeze. “But— I’m thankful. For you, shitty Tsumu, Kita and everyone else helping me. But don’t ever mention that to my brother.”

You can’t help but laugh, swearing to secrecy. You remember how Osamu half told you that him and his twin got into a nasty fight about him quitting sports back in high school. It ended in them betting who would end up the happiest at the end of their life. Thankfully the two got over it as they grew into men, and now Atsumu acted as his brothers ‘official and professional taste tester.’ He’d even gotten some of his teammates to do taste tests for more opinions. 

—-

6 years later

“Thank you for all being here. I wanted to give a special thank you to the person who has held me down and kept me sane from the beginning. At least for the most part, sometimes they’re annoying.” Your jaw drops in a mix of amusement and shock at Osamu’s words. The mid size crowd around you laughs, even more as you go to push the man who doesn’t even falter. 

“The first Onigiri Miya shop opened 6 years ago. And today we’re here to celebrate the grand opening of the largest branch yet here in Tokyo. Thank you for being here, and enjoy.” Osamu quickly bows before cutting the ribbon open to the new shop and allowing people inside. 

As the last person trickles inside your left outside with your boyfriend and his twin, who was looking at you weirdly. He had a stupid smile in his face that seemed unusually genuine. “Would you stop looking at me like a weirdo. Let’s go inside” your walk is stopped by a hand grabbing yours. Your confusion is just marked by Osamu grabbing both of your hands. “Samu— what’s up?”

“This is weird. But not really,” You notice the twin starting to break his usual deadpan persona, even glancing at the blonde counterpart for a moment before taking a deep breath. A thought of what's about to go down briefly crosses your mind, but only for a point of a second, because there's no way. 

“A few years ago you told me to hang on through the good and the bad. To this day, I don’t even think you knew what you were really saying. But you said it, and I did it. I stuck through the long nights where I wanted nothing more than to pull my hair out and give up. At the beginning when everything was going to shit. When I was spending more to run the shop than I was making. When my first shop caught fire and nearly burned to the ground-”

“All about you huh. Way to be self centered Samu,” both of you shot a glare at the blonde. Osamu for the interruption, and you for- well you didn’t even know. You only bit back that maybe he was learning from him, causing a smile to tug at Osamu’s face.

“Anyways- but I also stuck through with the good. From getting enough money saved to open a shop, getting approved for the starter loan, to finding the best vendors and having the chance to sell and grow at professional games. Then I opened up my second, and third and now fifth branch.” You can’t help but smile at the memory as you nod.

“I couldn’t have done it without you. Your love, kindness, and everything that makes you, you. You hung in there with me as you went through your own life. You graduated, started working at your dream company, and started working your way up. All this while supporting me endlessly. You even went as far as putting money down for me, and working at the shop for free. You were there through every step of the way. 

You always told me to feel and don’t be afraid to ask for help, but the help you gave and continue to give is more than anyone could have ever asked for. During one of our midnight talks, you told me to hang on and love the ones who continue to keep me ground. You’re one of those people. The name of the shop. Onigiri Miya always had a nice ring to it.” Your eyes went through several emotions: confusion, realization, and now shock, as your boyfriend took a step back now getting onto 1 knee. You almost feel like you’re going to pass out as your mind runs blank. 

“I love you a whole lot. So, (Y/N) will you make the name on the shop yours as well and marry me.” You don’t even remember the words yes coming out of your mouth or even nodding. Apparently you did because you're met with metal sliding on your finger and obnoxious hollering from a twin who you didn’t even notice was recording the entire time. Arms that circle around your waist and a failure figure hugging yours breaks you out of your state of shock.

“Here's to handling the future together. And sticking through the good and the bad.”

a/n: this series is NOT written in song order which is why the prev/next buttons dont work and wont until its applicable. This is the 3rd installment and my first time writing osamu so this shit seems mad OOC but i also dont know his character that well, but this song made me go to this idea so?????? Also reread and take a shot every time i reference the fucking title god i hate myself

[raywritesthings]

Bird in a Storm 6/17

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Tommy Merlyn, John Diggle, Malcolm Merlyn, Thea Queen, Roy Harper, Anastasia, Hank, Female OC Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen Summary: The confrontation between the Hood and SWAT on the roof of the Winick Building goes differently, altering the course of Laurel’s career, relationships and efforts to save her city forever, the shockwaves of such an altered path making themselves felt throughout her family and friends. *Can be read on my AO3, link is in bio*

Malcolm had never been interested in idle gossip, and even less so now that the Undertaking was nearly within sight. Only a few more months before Unidac was set to complete the earthquake machines. Then it would simply be a matter of setting them up beneath the Glades, to be triggered at his whim.

Even with his mind preoccupied, he’d hardly missed the hostage crisis involving his son’s girlfriend and the Hood last month. It had all been resolved before he had decided whether or not to involve himself, which was just as well. Miss Lance was a good person, driven by all the same ideals and passions Rebecca had had when she’d been alive. It would have been a shame to lose her so senselessly just as Rebecca had been lost.

It took far longer for the other rumors surrounding Laurel Lance to reach his ears. That she had been forced out of CNRI, that she and Tommy had separated. Considering her previous apartment had been Tommy’s last known address until recently, he thought it was high time he checked in on his son again.

Malcolm therefore found himself in the position of visiting the Verdant in the Glades. He never came out to this neighborhood if he could avoid it. Too many bad memories.

Tommy was standing behind the bar, his head buried in a binder with what looked like the finances. Malcolm felt the odd stirring of pride in his gut to see his son at work on something for once, and he hesitated to interrupt. But eventually, Tommy sensed the presence of another person — far too slow, really, he would have easily been dead if Malcolm had had those intentions — and looked up.

“Dad?”

“Hello, Tommy. I was wondering if you had some time tomorrow. I’d like to try catching up again, just the two of us. I know our last dinner didn’t exactly end well.”

Without the buffer of Laurel Lance between them, things could go that way just as easily. Then again, perhaps it was time they had a talk man to man.

Tommy hesitated. “What’s the catch?”

Malcolm held up both hands. “I promise, there’s no ulterior motive. I just heard you were going through a rough time. I thought maybe I could listen.”

His son considered him for a long moment. “Okay. I can get tomorrow evening.”

Malcolm smiled, and it was at least close to reaching his eyes. “Wonderful.”

The next night found the two of them sitting down to dinner. He’d picked somewhere with what would be considered American-style cuisine, if gourmet. Tommy had never had much tolerance for spices. He ordered a bottle of red for the table and thanks to a lack of small talk to begin with, they each had decided on their food fairly quickly as well.

“How’s, uh, the company?” His son asked eventually.

“Doing well as ever. I’m sorry your relationship ended.”

“Okay, cutting to the chase. Should’ve expected that.” Tommy set his wine glass down and shrugged. “We wanted different things, I guess. Or saw things differently. I don’t know.”

“And Laurel has left CNRI?”

“She had to. Said it was better for her clients, but I don’t see how. If a hooded killer is so important to them, I’m not sure why I’d bother.”

Malcolm paused, in thought and to allow the waitress to set their respective meals down. 

Tommy was bitter, of course, that he had been deemed less important to the lawyer than her work. It didn’t necessarily speak of any deep-rooted conviction. But there was the seed of an idea in there, a thought that had occurred to Malcolm himself in the years after Rebecca’s death.

“Sometimes,” he began carefully, “people look to outlandish solutions rather than solving their own problems. They believe the Hood is here to save them, but in reality, they’re no better off than they were before he started.”

Tommy was watching him, his head bobbing in an unconscious nod.

“In fact, they might even be worse off. There’s nearly been a gang war over the business with his temporary partner the Huntress.”

“Yeah. Yeah, Laurel mentioned that guy Vanch she had to shoot only got out of prison because of all that,” Tommy was eager to agree.

“I’m not surprised. The truth is, Tommy, one of the reasons I chose to close your mother’s clinic was because I was worried for the safety of the employees.”

This was a half-truth. He was reasonably sure the clinic would have been perfectly safe up until the Undertaking, but he wasn’t about to sacrifice hard-working doctors and nurses to it needlessly.

Tommy’s entire posture changed, less closed off. His expression was far more considering as well. “I hadn’t thought of that. You know, I’m hiring at the club now, and do you think — wow, look at me asking you for advice.”

Malcolm felt something in him warm. Perhaps it was his heart. “I’d be happy to give it.”

Tommy pushed a bite of steak around on his plate. “Well, do you think I should hire additional security?”

“It never hurts. Moira certainly did the right thing hiring that bodyguard for Oliver.”

“Well, she really cares about her kids,” Tommy said, only a little less pointed than usual.

Malcolm set down his knife and fork. This was the real test, and one he had brought on himself. “She does. I’ve always admired that in her, the same as I admired it in Robert. In fact, I’m forever in their debt for everything they did in raising you.”

Tommy was staring at him now, his food forgotten, hanging onto his every word. Malcolm suspected he’d been waiting to hear this for years. Perhaps decades.

“I haven’t been the best father to you, Tommy. Part of that, when you were older, was frustration on my part. I wanted you to take things more seriously. To see the mature young man in front of me now makes me happier than I have been in a long time.”

“Yeah.” Tommy didn’t quite manage a smile. “I guess you cutting me off really was for the best, huh?”

Malcolm glanced down. “You’ve succeeded in spite of my lack of support, Tommy, not because of it. And I couldn’t be prouder.”

He could tell Tommy didn’t know what to say. Neither of them were good at expressing themselves this way; where he covered it with either cordial restraint or coldness, Tommy deflected with humor. But his son didn’t do so now.

“Well, thank you. I’m still trying to be better than I was, in spite of everything.”

“Of course.” Heartbreak was doing Tommy good, if anything. It always did; it forced a person to decide what was truly worth fighting for.

Malcolm requested the check and was soon standing and buttoning his coat. “My office door is always open to you, Tommy.”

“Okay. Hey, and this was… good. I wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime.”

Malcolm smiled. “I feel the same.”

He left the restaurant in good spirits. Tommy had exceeded the expectations he’d settled on for him this past year. In time, he could well be a worthy successor. And after all, that was the goal.

Malcolm was not Ra’s al Ghul. He did not have a steady supply of the waters of Lazarus to keep his life going indefinitely. The world he was attempting to build would one day be inherited. Tommy, Oliver, Thea, Amanda — those children and more were the driving force behind everything he, Moira, Frank, and the other members of Tempest did. This plan twenty years in the making was for their benefit as well as the city’s, not that they knew it yet.

For that reason alone, it was time to bring Tommy back into the fold. He wanted to be close to his son upon the launch of the Undertaking. He wanted Tommy to know the loss of his mother would never be in vain. Her ideas of improvement in the Glades would soon be brought to fruition the only way Malcolm knew how: liquidation.

---

Thea hadn’t thought community service could get any worse. Sure, she’d complained and dragged her feet the whole way there the first couple of days, but she’d gotten used to the routine easily enough. And she’d honestly liked having the time to spend with Laurel, sort of woman-to-woman in a way she’d never really been with her mom.

Of course, then Laurel had gotten fired. That’s when things really took a turn for the worse.

Thea drafted yet another email declining Anastasia’s services on a civil suit against Dagget Industries, the phrases and language used in these sorts of things nearly second nature to her now. The couple who wished to bring the suit was claiming that Dagget’s products had damaged their daughter’s skin and wanted money to cover her medical bills. It seemed open and shut to her, yet Anastasia had forwarded it along to her with the instruction to notify the family that CNRI would not be representing them.

In fact, Thea had three more of these kind of emails to draft before the end of the day. One against Stagg Industries and two against Nickels, a landlord in the Glades.

Seriously, they couldn’t even win a lawsuit against a guy who worked out of the Glades? Enough was enough.

Thea stood and made her way over to her new sponsor’s desk, clearing her throat to get the other woman’s attention since she was busy scrolling through her phone.

“Hey, you finish those emails?” Anastasia asked her in a bored tone.

“Not quite. I was wondering if you wanted me to write any approval emails today or if we’re just going to continue doing nothing like the rest of this week.”

“Laurel really got to you before she was sent packing, huh?”

Thea bristled at her sponsor’s amused tone. “So what if she did?”

The other woman set aside her phone and leaned forward. “Let me offer you some free legal advice, kid. Pick your battles.”

“Okay,” Thea said slowly.

Anastasia sighed. “Here’s an example. Take the case against Dagget Industries. Dagget has the firm I usually work at on retainer, meaning we represent them in court on occasion. Meaning it would be very bad for the firm I usually work for if they are brought to court and lose, even over something as small as a little girl’s acne problems.”

“I’m pretty sure it was scarring,” Thea felt the need to point out.

“Whatever. The point is, my firm could lose Dagget as a client, which would mean a lot of money walking out the door and probably leading to layoffs. Considering I’m on sabbatical already and would be the one responsible in this hypothetical situation, you can see what kind of position that might leave me in.”

Thea was silent.

Anastasia seemed to take that as permission to continue anyway. “Now I still want to have some friends at my firm once I leave this sabbatical behind me, not to mention a job, so I’m going to be very careful which battles I pick. You understand me?”

“Yeah, think so.” Thea backed away and went to her desk. It had taken everything in her to keep the sarcasm from leaking into her tone.

This sucked. Sure, she hadn’t wanted to be an office gopher when she’d first started out here, but at least when Laurel had been her sponsor she had felt like the little things she was being asked to do would eventually add up to something. What was going to happen to all the people they were turning down? Wasn’t this like their last resort?

She still didn’t fully understand why Laurel had chosen to step down, or what good the Hood was for in these cases. Maybe if Thea could show her friend that the slack was not being picked up in her absence, she’d reconsider her decision and come back. Things could go back to normal.

With that in mind, while she waited just inside CNRI’s doors for Ollie and Mr. Diggle, Thea put in a call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Laurel, it’s me.”

“Thea? How’ve you been?”

She could hear some cars rushing by in the background on Laurel’s end of the line. The other woman was out somewhere then.

“I’m good. Well, mostly. Is this a good time to talk?”

“You caught me on the way to the gym,” her friend told her. “So I can give you about fifteen minutes.”

That probably wasn’t going to be enough to deliver her argument. And she thought she could see the car arriving anyway.

“Then could we meet up sometime, say tomorrow? I get a lunch.”

“Uh, I think — yeah, I’ve got that day off. Did you know where you wanted to meet? There’s a food cart that does good wraps about a block and a half from CNRI.”

“That sounds good.”

“Yeah. I’ve missed Hank’s food,” the older woman admitted. That sounded even better. Maybe Thea could lure her back to the office with the promise of more wraps. She’d be totally fine buying.

The horn beeped outside. Mr. Diggle must have thought she couldn’t see them.

“Okay, great, I’ll see you at 12:30!” Thea hung up and rushed out to the car.

Oliver was waiting in the backseat for her. “You busy today?”

Thea couldn’t hold in a snort. “Hardly. But I’m hoping that’s gonna change soon.”

If he heard her confident tone, he didn’t choose to comment. That was just fine. Thea wanted to keep her plans to herself for now. Once everything was okay again, then Ollie could know.

And he would owe her big time for sure

---

To say Laurel had been surprised when Thea had reached out was an understatement. She’d assumed her younger friend would want nothing to do with her after the Hood’s visit to Mrs. Queen. But she’d missed her a lot and wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity to catch up.

She left her house early the next day. CNRI would be a bit of a walk, and she didn’t exactly have it timed down to the minute. 

“Laurel, hey!” She turned at the call to find Anita standing by the back of her and Jerome’s place. She was pinning up a white cord. “You headed to work?”

“No, just meeting a friend.”

“Great. Think you could help me hang this line up for a minute?”

Laurel walked along the path and met her neighbor. “Sure. What’s it for?”

“Laundry. Just tie it around that loop Jerome nailed to the fence post. You see it?”

Laurel nodded and took the other end across the yard, tying it as Anita asked so that the line was taut. “I didn’t know they let you air dry in our neighborhood.”

Anita pulled a face. “It’s not a hundred percent legal, but it saves on the bills. Just make sure your lines are down every first of the month when the landlord inspects.”

“Ah, gotcha.” She headed back over to her neighbor so they weren’t discussing criminal activity so loudly. “Ordinances can be a pain sometimes.”

“Yeah, it’s not just the cost,” Anita said. She began taking things out of a basket she had sitting by her feet and hanging them. “The dryer messes with my embroidery, you know?”

“You do your own embroidery?”

“Mm-hm,” Anita nodded. “Avó taught me. That’s granny,” she added for Laurel’s benefit. Her neighbor held up a shirt that had a flower pattern all along the v-neck collar.

“That’s really nice.”

“I could show you sometime. Sewing and stuff, too. I know it sounds like girl stuff, but you’d be amazed how much it saves.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Laurel smiled as she kept studying the flowers. Pam would probably love something like that. Maybe on an apron.

“Well, I won’t keep you longer from your friend. Thanks for the help!”

“It was no problem.” Laurel went back down to the sidewalk and began her walk, at a faster pace to make up some of the time. Fortunately, Thea was only just getting out of the building as she drew up alongside it. Laurel hung back by the side rather than go up to the door. She wasn’t sure she wanted anyone catching sight of her in the sneakers and old jeans she’d thrifted.

Thea spotted her and hurried over in a cute little pea coat and purse. Laurel felt herself smiling already.

“Hey!” Thea stopped short of a hug, something they hadn’t really done since after the Gambit. “Thanks for coming out here.”

“It was no problem.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “So, wraps?”

Laurel led the way over to the food cart, Thea walking in step with her.

“Laurel, hey!” Hank greeted with a surprise smile. “Your usual?”

“Make it two, Hank. And I’m paying,” she added to Thea. Her friend started to protest, but Laurel was already handing the money over. Hank didn’t take cards, and she doubted Thea carried much in small bills anyway.

They took the wraps and started walking.

“How’s your community service going?”

“One hour at a time,” Thea answered. She sounded almost as unenthused as when she’d first started, and Laurel frowned.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yeah. It’s Anastasia. She’s not doing anything.”

Laurel had had some worries about that. The woman had made it very clear she wasn’t at CNRI by much choice and would be counting down the days when she went back to her corporate firm. “You mean she’s not taking cases?”

“All she’s agreed to take on are some civil suits involving individuals and not corporations, and a few name change petitions.”

“Well, those are important,” Laurel pointed out. “For a lot of people, it means all the difference to have the name they truly want recognized.”

“Yeah, okay,” Thea admitted. “But we could be doing way more. Maybe if you were there?”

Laurel sighed. She should have expected something like this. “Thea, I was fired. I can’t exactly walk back through the door whenever I want.”

“Well, could you still say the thing they wanted to hear about the Hood?”

Laurel shook her head. “I was serious about that, Thea. I’m not going to denounce him to make a few corporate executives more comfortable. You know, if it weren’t for the Hood people like Sommers who hired the Triad to attack me would still be out there. That dealer who made Vertigo would be, too.”

Thea’s face scrunched up in thought. “I mean, okay, the Hood stops some bad people. But he also attacked mom and took you hostage. If you want to say he’s doing some good, fine, but he seems to be going about it in the wrong way.”

Laurel sighed. “I don’t agree with every action he’s taken, but it’s hard to know what kind of choices you have to make in the heat of the moment.”

Thea shrugged. “Agree to disagree. So—”

Whatever Thea had been about to say was cut off when a boy in a red hoodie knocked into her friend and grabbed the expensive purse hanging from her arm. Laurel could curse herself; she should have never let Thea come meet her out here looking this rich.

“Hey!”

The boy kept running, and without even thinking Laurel took off after him. Enough was enough.

A package wrapped in foil whizzed past her head and missed the boy — Thea had thrown one of the sandwiches. They were closing in fast on a fence blocking off the end of the street. But the thief jumped off some boards against the wall and started to climb. Laurel grabbed a handhold around the iron pole and leveraged herself up to snag his ankle before he could get over the top.

He struggled, leg swinging wildly. “Let go!”

“Give it back first!”

He kicked out with his other foot unexpectedly and caught her nose. Laurel felt and heard something crack, but there wasn’t immediate pain. Instead the shock caused her to yank sharply on his leg, sending first him and then herself toppling off the fence to the ground.

The bite of concrete was harsh on her hands and the side of her face, and the landing left her winded. Not as much as the would-be thief who was sprawled on his back while the purse sat a few feet away.

Thea’s heeled boots clopping against the pavement announced her arrival, and Laurel watched her bend down to scoop up her stolen property. “I’ll take that.”

“Have it. Jesus,” the boy groaned.

Laurel sat up and started to push herself off the ground, wincing at her skinned hands.

“Laurel, oh my God!” Thea gasped. “You’re bleeding!”

She reached up to touch her nose — or tried to, but winced at the slightest brush of her fingertips. “It probably looks worse than it is.” She looked down at the boy, who had tucked one of his arms in towards his chest. “What about you?”

He glared up at her. “I’m fine.”

“Is it your wrist?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Laurel, we have to get you to a hospital,” Thea insisted.

She pulled a face and then winced when that hurt. “I don’t have health insurance anymore, Thea. I’ll just try and make a splint at home.” Or maybe call John and ask for his help.

But Thea shook her head. “No way. I can cover it. We’ll go to one of those clinics — don’t the Merlyns have one in the Glades?”

“Uh, no. At least, I think it’s closing soon. Glades Memorial would be better.” Laurel said. It’d be just her life for Tommy to find out she’d wound up a patient in his mother’s clinic because of a scuffle in the street. And she wasn’t sure if Mr. Merlyn had gotten his way about those closing papers.

She looked down at the boy again and sighed, reaching down to haul him up by his good arm.

“I don’t need help,” he spat.

“You need that wrist looked at. Come on. I’ll cover you.”

“Thought you didn’t have the money.”

She didn’t even flinch at his biting tone, much less rise to it. “I broke the wrist, I buy the cast. Let’s go.”

Thea eyed the boy uncertainly for a moment, but walked along on her other side.

“What’s your name?”

“Roy,” he answered after a pause.

“Well Roy, I’m Laurel.”

---

Roy didn’t really know what to make of the situation he’d found himself in. But that was always the risk when committing a crime, he guessed.

At least there weren’t any cops. Yet.

The two women brought him along with them to Glades Memorial and sure enough he got his wrist looked at.

“It’s a sprain, fortunately,” the doctor told him. “You’re going to want to rest it.”

Sure, like she thought he had the money to sit around doing nothing for a while. At least she gave him some pain meds to go with her advice. Those would be more useful; he could get a pretty good price for them.

Roy sat out in a hallway. The younger girl, Thea Queen as it turned out, stood a few feet away, arms crossed and glancing at him occasionally. He kept his expression sullen. Who was she to judge him when she’d never had to work an honest day of her life either?

A door down the hall opened, admitting the third member of their group. Laurel, he thought she was called.

“Good news, my nose isn’t broken.”

When he looked up, the woman was wearing a sort of splint over it.

“Lucky you.”

“How about your wrist?”

“Sprained.”

“Well, that’s manageable at least. So, Roy, let’s talk.” She pulled the other chair over closer and sat in it. “Why’d you try to steal my friend’s purse?”

He rolled his eyes. “Why do you think? I need money.”

“Your paycheck not enough?”

Roy looked away.

“You don’t have a paycheck,” Laurel guessed. “What’s stopping you from getting a job, Roy? You’re young, fairly strong by the looks of it.”

“What, so I should be out there breaking my back on hard labor?”

“Better than breaking it stealing,” Thea Queen snarked. He scowled at her.

“Look, Roy, I don’t think you’re someone who steals for the thrill of it, or to get rich,” said Laurel. “I think you’re just trying to make ends meet.” Under her tougher getup, she sounded just as well-meaning and patronizing as the social workers that had visited him every so often growing up.

“Yeah, well I’ve found a way to make them meet. Lot easier than trying to get hired with a rap sheet, unless you know somewhere.”

Laurel turned to her friend, a meaningful look on her face. Thea Queen stared back. “Seriously?” She gave a huff. “Fine. My brother’s club is hiring. I could put in a word for you.”

“Because I want to go to work for the rich and powerful in this city? Clean up their vomit and piss for them? No thanks.” Roy stood and made to walk out.

Laurel’s chair scraped back and hit the wall with a sharp bang, and the next thing he knew she was hauling him back around by his good arm.

“You think you’re proving it to someone just because you have an attitude and know how to take whatever you want? You think you’re better than the rich who steal from people in this neighborhood just because you’re from here?” Her look was piercing, and he found himself taking a step back. “No one is going to fix the system for you, Roy. You can either be part of the solution or part of the problem, and if you’re going to take the easy route then I think you can drop the sanctimonious crap.”

“She’s probably got twenty other purses just like that at home!”

“Then keep it.”

They both froze as the bag landed at their feet.

“You’re right. I don’t need it,” Thea Queen stated. “So if you want my money instead of someone else’s in the Glades, I’d rather you take it.”

Something churned unpleasantly in his gut. “I don’t need your charity.”

“No, you’d rather just steal from me instead.” She scoffed and started walking away. Laurel backed up a couple of steps as well, face impassive. Roy looked down at the purse and his beat up sneakers.

He scooped it up and jogged down the hall, pushing it into the younger girl’s arms. “Here,” he said gruffly.

She looked at him with wide eyes, and he swallowed once. Then Roy turned and shoved his good hand in his pocket, shouldering his way out of Glades Memorial.

He’d be damned if he owed them anything. Already bad enough he was feeling guilty. Why should he care about making things better in the Glades? Nobody else did.

Did they?

[maikatc]

Black Sun Tale | A Monochrome World

sorry for being a few minutes late! i took more time eating dinner than i expected, in all honesty. but this chapter is emotionally wild for me mainly because this chapter and the next chapter took 6 months to write out of the past year and a third i have been writing this. 

remember that this is a first draft with only minor edits, but enjoy! comments and reception are always heavily appreciated.

- 

He carried a bag of bread in his hands; his mouth stuffed up from slabbing some inside. As he strolled along an abandoned streetway, the evening sky darkened early with the Fall. 

A gentle breeze blew against his cold figure. Posters dawned over him without any movement, staring at his lonesome walk. ‘Open’ lights illuminated from store shops but flickered at every step. 

Ayu sighed from the cold silence. His eyes stared blankly at the ground while his feet made a pattern with his steps. 

He bit off of the bread in his mouth, chewing, “November 16th, 201X: It’s a Friday so Annette’s busy with a life. Everyone was at school so nobody really visited again.” 

He glanced back at what he carried, cringing. 

“I was… getting kinda hungry again.”

The only reply was a pigeon’s squawking. 

He was tempted to squawk back at it, but passed it off to not get attacked by one again.  

He changed his subject back. “What would it be like if I was still in school…?”

Maybe I’ll be as busy as Annette, “but wouldn’t that steal time for what I’m supposed to be doing,” he questioned. Might as well have that 1% chance of getting a monster anyways. 

He turned a street by routine. “I can stick to art or something… even if I suck… Same goes for monsters though so fuck.” He groaned, “Shouldn’t have asked in the first place.” 

He delved into another bite. His failures passed through his views. And after glimpsing the mistakes and mishaps, a single truth was formed from his choices. “Nobody notices that I’m gone… or exist so,” he wondered. Shrugging, “If I die or something, it wouldn’t matter.”

But the truth stopped Ayu’s steps while he chewed on his bread. He squinted his eyes against the truth. … Can everything just undo itself?

The boy whined, “Damnit, that’s actually a good thing.” He kicked a can. “But what if it just continues,” he asked a passing bird. 

It ignored him. 

His mouth lowered. He grumbled to the bird, “I’m not doing anything else, I guess. It’d still be my fault but… that’s just running away from the problem.”

He cringed at the thought. Then, he breathed in and out, tapping on an irritated ankle. “You really did start to bruise up, did you?” 

At least the mark on his face disappeared. 

A stifled laugh chimed in Ayu’s ears. “Very interesting. Reckoning about dying, I see?”

The boy’s entire mood transformed to irritation. Bored again, Akeldama?

Red eyes rolled in front of him. “You can say so. It’s just that you caught me by surprise.”

Ayu scoffed, “Of course, you go and read my mind…”

“How are you companions doing?”

“Everyone’s lives still suck.” He grabbed another bread roll from his bag. As he chewed, he questioned, “You’re the one who made Oliver like that, right?”

The answer took longer. “Now then… That’s more complicated, I suppose. But regardless, he was unintentional.” He chuckled, “Misfortune is a given for me after all.”

Ayu glared. “Then did your misfortune caused all of this?”

“No,” Akeldama answered, “that was from your naivety and folly-ness all the way from when you trusted me.”

He took a final turn, gritting his teeth as he growled, “Get out of my head.”

“Don’t worry, I will,” he purred. “Besides, you have a guest.”

Ayu entered the alley, mumbling with his bread, “A what? - Oh…” He gripped on his bread bag with hesitance, pausing on his next bite. 

Oliver sat beside the alley wall, seemingly waiting in patience by twirling his hair. His eyes shifted back to Ayu and blinked back at him. 

Ayu hid his bag despite Oliver’s eyes already on it.  He gnawed on his cheek. 

Oliver’s face flattened. “You know you could’ve just told me you wanted some food.”

Blinking around, Ayu shook his head and placed his half-eaten bread back in the bag. “You haven’t been here since last weekend.”

He sighed, “Fair point.”

“Besides, it’d be annoying to beg for food and water all the time, mainly since I would’ve been asking from a single person for some years.”

“But to the point of stealing?” Oliver gave a smirk. 

“First off,” Ayu retorted, “no offence but you’re the one saying this.”

Oliver scoffed. 

“Second,” Ayu raised a finger without thinking. “Yes, I feel bad for it either way but nobody even notices.” 

The opposed argued, “I try my best not to do what I have to, thank you very much.” He shuffled an item he hid with his coat. “That and you’re lucky now. I can give you food whenever.”

Ayu raised a brow. 

“Including this stuff.” Oliver carefully placed his items in the center between them: a jar of pineapple cubes and a small container of something Ayu couldn’t read. “You had a bruise… so I looked it up what could help.”

Ayu stared at the goods, surprised at the idea. 

“Luckily, I already had the aloe vera,” he swept away from his stare, “but I’m kinda hoping you can borrow it-.”

“Thank you.” Ayu touched back on his previous injury; it had already disappeared from the few days. “Thanks…”

“Oh,” Oliver pinched up. “You heal quick.” He tilted his head down, pulling the bangs of his hair back. 

“No, it’s fine,” Ayu blurted, “it can be good for… my ankles.”

“Your ankles?”

“Yeah, my ankles.” Ayu pointed down at his legs, focusing on his bruise marks. “I kick ‘em sometimes without thinking about it when I’m walking. But I’m just dumb with it.”

“Not so much dumb,” Oliver mumbled. “They don’t look well, now that you pointed it out.” He already began opening up the aloe-vera. 

“Ng- you don’t need to do that right now!” Ayu backed away from Oliver’s hands, glossy from the gel he scooped up in a mere second.  

The redhead leaned into a crawling position. “What do you mean? Your ankles are almost purple now that I can see it!” He grunted his last words as he grabbed a bruised wound with a pounce. He applied it in an instant; making Ayu’s spine run cold. 

Ayu hissed, “Shi- why does that feel so weird?” His ankle froze in place to resist the urge of kicking Oliver back. 

“It’s just cream, Ayu. And it’ll help you not have shitty health.” Oliver grabbed another handful for the other leg. “And don’t try to kick me out or something; I don’t wanna deal with an injury I don’t know how to hide yet.” 

“That sounds like something to worry about inste– seriously, how much do I need of this?”

“Just enough to make a nice solid shield with the aloe,” Oliver chuckled. 

Ayu cringed. “Stop. Please.” 

“Come on, it’s almost done.” Ayu groaned in discomfort; Oliver then let go and closed off the cap. “There, that was quick, wasn’t it?” 

Ayu huffed, “Shut up,” as he tossed his bread to the side and pulled up his hood. 

“This wasn’t even what I was here for,” Oliver stood up and pulled off Ayu’s hood immediately. “I talked with Alice and she said you can come with me this time.”

“You’re telling me this now?”

“Yeah and we’re going now,” the boy dragged off from the alley’s view. “I gave her a specific time and this just made us derail from it; she’s waiting.” 

Ayu scowled from Oliver’s behavior. Though, the concept of getting more answers still tugged over his will. He shook his head, setting himself to forget the previous two minutes that unfolded. “Alright,” he toned out, exiting from the alley and passing Oliver, “let’s get going.”

“Ayu?” He turned back to find Oliver pointing the opposite direction. “It’s this way.”

“… Damnit-”

***

“So, continuing on with our conversation-”

Oh god, Ayu groaned in his head.

“Did you say something?” Oliver turned with a confused face. 

“It’s nothing,” Ayu quickly brushed off. And Oliver walked on without a second breath after.

“I wonder, did I just see a command or-”

What do you want, Akeldama?

“Oh, not much,” he clicked, “But I’ve been meaning to ask: how do you think of your companions?”

Why would you want to know?

He giggled. “There can be a million reasons why, Ayu. You can never know what it could be with one’s feelings and words. Too contradictory.”

You have feelings? 

Akeldama never answered the question. 

“I want to know how you’re doing with your relationships. A simple thing of the heart.” 

Ayu sighed, Annette and Oliver are cool, that’s it.

“… What about Oliver, after what you’ve discovered?”

Ayu held his breath. I don’t want to answer. 

“Alright,” he calmly replied, “why don’t you then?”

I- I don’t know what to think of him.

“Ah, a flight of feeling I see-”

Why are you making me answer questions when you won’t give me any when I ask?

“Oh,” Akeldama replied. “So that’s what you want, huh? -”

Don’t make it a wish, I swear.

“Relax, I wouldn’t waste a wish like that.”

Good. You’re never useful with the wishes anyways. 

“So, you’re saying it wasn’t useful of me to save you from death?” Akeldama laughed at the question.

Depends on how you think about it- Arg! Ayu screamed inside. Can’t you just give me something to work with here? 

“… Something?”

Yes, something. 

A tinge of silence lurked as Akeldama’s reply disappeared. Until, “Well, I suppose I can give you something.”

Ayu blinked. Really?

Akeldama hummed a nod. “Now listen closely,” his cheeky tone began to linger. Though, Ayu focused more nevertheless. “Have you ever heard of demons?”

Ayu shook his head, a baffled face on him. What? What do you mean by that?

“No, no, no,” he repeated, “That’s all I’m giving you.”

Ayu scoffed with a stomp. You little fuck, that doesn’t solve anything! He would have continued though his stomp caught his own attention to worry about Oliver’s. 

However, Oliver continued to walk along with him. Relived, thank god, he didn’t notice.

“You’re welcome.”

No, you don’t get a ‘thanks’. You didn’t help.

“You simply told me to give you ‘something’, so I did just that.”

Something useful! –

“For future reference,” he finished. 

Ayu kicked a rock in frustration, but the momentum caused the stone to bounce back and hit his leg. “Shit,” he hissed. Akeldama laughed at him. 

You’ve never been useful.

“Come on, I always try to be,” he pouted. “Even if it’s just for myself.”

You’re terrible. 

“Yet you put up with me,” his tongue slurred at the ‘you’. “Contradictory.”

I can’t even get away from you without solving anything else. Ayu’s words laid lethargic. 

“Then do something about it,” Akeldama told him. 

How?!

Akeldama nipped on what to say. “Well, being more assertive is one thing.”

Ayu scoffed. Don’t even know what you mean by that. 

Akeldama sighed. “Simply asking and begging for answers isn’t going to get you anywhere. You have to be firmer, more aggressive to get what you want.”

I…-

“Just imagine holding someone by the throat; threaten them. It’s that easy, even with me.”

I, Ayu’s heart sank in fear, I can’t do that.

“Of course, you can. Give it some time and it wouldn’t take you a second.”

I could never do that. His hands formed gripping fists. Glass that never existed broke against his fingers.

Akeldama’s voice grew vacant in Ayu’s head. A short silence loomed upon him waiting for the being to mock him or leave once more. However, a short, stifled laugh choked out of him. “Oh, oh really?” His voice rang in aggressive sarcasm. “You’ve already tried to kill so many monsters and allowed so many to die.”

Stop.

“You- you beat Oliver without a second stop of breath-”

I SAID STOP! Ayu screamed. 

The world froze for a greyish moment then. All while Ayu panted from holding his breath. Movement cricketed without Ayu’s notice. However, once the boy relaxed his bones and mind, fear stroke him again as he was greeted with monochrome. 

“Wh-what?” He breathed. He turned around and round, blinking in disbelief of his surroundings. Dead silence deafened him and his eyes stroked tears from no walking, no car fumes, nothing. Akeldama, stop this right now.

Reminded in a flash, Ayu bolted his head to Oliver with widened, vermillion eyes. The redhead stood frozen along with everyone else in the crowd. “No,” Ayu gasped. 

The boy stood at the peak of breaking down, almost crying next to Oliver out of a new disaster. Akeldama, please stop this-

“Oh, there she is.” The world breathed in color once more as Oliver pointed outwards in the streets. 

Ayu blinked with his eyes burning in red. The city life had returned to normal in the second of his crying breath. 

“I… What-?”

“Hey, Alice,” Oliver called out. He waved his hands towards an opening crowd. He walked to a certain woman in the crowd who stared aimlessly at the streets ahead of them. 

The redhead managed to grab her attention though it took time in the matter. However, once she’d quip her eyes to the two, she greeted them, “Oh, Oliver! Forgive me but your mobiles are always fascinating to observe.” 

She smiled at an ambulance tracking down a car crash. Oliver eyed the cars while Ayu caught up his mind to his own confusion. 

“Right…” Oliver said. “Nice to see you too.” 

The boy nudged Ayu forward as he whispered at him to smile, but Ayu stared in distraught. “So, Alice, this is Ayu.” Oliver mumbled, “As you already know.”

A glimpse of a glare was caught by the black-haired boy from Alice. His paranoia was not of help at the moment either as he stared back in worry. 

“It is nice to be of acquaintance with you,” she spoke down to him with a smile. Her knees wobbled in hesitance of something or other while she greeted him by hand. “You want knowledge, correct?”

He nodded akin to her knees. “Yeah…”

Trust her, a voice said. 

But I don’t want to, he thought back.

“And you’re gonna give me lessons, right?” Oliver brought himself to attention again. 

Alice replied back to him in a rush, “Of course! I was simply checking if I called the right college for the boy.”

“Just making sure.” Oliver patted Ayu on the shoulder. Only to then whisper to him with an eye on the distracted woman. “Don’t worry, Ayu. This probably won’t go wrong.”

“Probably?”

“They’re murderers. But I am too so there’s not much to expect.” 

“I…” The bluntness of the situation kept Ayu with no words.

Alice asked them, “Are you two ready to go now?”

“Sure but,” Oliver directed throughout the entire area, “how are we getting there anyways?”

The woman left a finger on her chin. “Oh right, you’ve only ever gone to Fowls unconsciously.” 

She stepped deeper into the streets, excusing the city-folk walking by. Snatching a book from her dress-pocket, she opened the tiny leather cover. 

Ayu squinted to see the book from a distance, to no avail of only tiny scribbles of words. However, to his surprise, a door appeared in front of her. No magic word nor smoke of a ‘poof’, the door merely stood at the edge of the sidewalk with no wall or house attached. The door itself held rough edges; its carvings rounded about like a simple drawing yet shaved in splinter points. From flowers to spades, the entrance reveled in its old, wooden state. 

“Woah…” 

“Uh Alice?” Oliver raised his hand from the side. “Nobody here’s seeing this, right?”

Alice turned back at them, hiding away the book yet again. “Yes, we’re nonexistent to them at the moment.”

“Isn’t that what I wish for,” Oliver muttered. 

Ayu chuckled, “Isn’t that a shitty wish?” 

Oliver cocked his head to Ayu as he shook his head. “Ayu, are you a telepath or what?” 

“Huh?” 

“Boys, we mustn’t waste too much time here.” Alice opened the door to reveal another area entirely. 

Oliver growled at her demand. Though, he walked on ahead anyhow. “I’ll tell you about it later,” he told. 

Ayu nodded back, without a clue of his question, and joined him. 

The boy entered into the new world with a dry gulp. Not needing to adjust his eyes from the grey skies, he gazed at the wide view ahead of him. So, this is where Oliver’s been, he thought. A field laid before him carrying layers of long and short grasses that glistened with a desert green hue. An endless valley of trees ran down the horizon up ahead. No sound tickled the boy’s ears and instead tickled his legs from plants below. The grey skies must have left room for fresh rains that would drip over his messy hair and water the vast land of unknown. He pondered if any fruits and berries grew, or if there was a house that would carry any sweet smoke from the forest ahead-

“Ayu, are you listening?” Oliver poked him by the side, making Ayu jolt. Ollie shifted his eyes to Alice, who walked ahead of them on a lecture. 

Ayu blinked. “She was talking?”

Oliver rolled his eyes. 

“I didn’t know she was talking,” Ayu searched for excuses in his head. 

“Yeah, I noticed.” Oliver smiled, almost seeming to laugh. “You had a kinda space-y face.”

“No, I didn’t,” Ayu retorted. “I just thought this looks… cool.” A tint of red darkened onto his face. He tugged a chunk of his hair in the process. 

Oliver moved his hand from pulling on his hair, carefully so. “Suit yourself,” he noted. 

He shook his head from the conversation to focus on the woman for once. A glance of Alice while she talked caught Ayu’s attention more than her speaking. Her fair skin with blonde hair seemed peculiar. Back to Oliver was the same. 

“You guys look nothing alike,” he stated. 

“I know, right?”

“Well to be precise,” Alice finally stopped with her ramblings. “Oliver gets almost everything from his father.”

Oliver spoke back, “Oh really?”

She continued, “he was exactly as I hoped to be truthful. Though I admit there were some errors in the process.” She lifted her hand to almost make contact with Oliver’s head, though he pushed it back. 

“Don’t touch, please.” 

She hesitated to put the hand down, but did so willingly. “It’s nice that my son is in his image, isn’t it?” She walked a few steps forward and changed the topic. “Eilwen will be here any minute, Ayu… Unless she’s hiding around here.”

“Hiding?” 

“Eilwen, show yourself!” She turned back at the boys, “Forgive me, she isn’t quite… fond of new people.”

“How,” Oliver queried. 

“She likely,” Alice dotted her fingers together, “has been watching us.”

A rustle came from the long grasses ahead. Some crinkled and fell over from age with empty impact. Though, the grasses moved along as if they were curtains, revealing the figure behind them. 

“Now, you didn’t have to word it like that, Cecily.” Her voice did not chirp like Alice’s. Rather, she spat with a nasally tone.

“Oh, Eilwen, come over here!” 

The new woman trudged her way over to them. The view of her cleared the closer she came over. A baggy, oversized coat of a brown plaid covered up her whole body past her knees. Sleeves dangled over her nimble, gloved hands. With those hands, she then adjusted the bell-shaped hat against her short and messy hair. Her appearance was more apparent than Alice’s typical beauty.

Once she arrived, she matted her coat, swatting some grass flakes in the meanwhile. 

“This,” Alice started, “is Eilwen, Ayu. She’ll be the one to tell you anything you’d like to know.”

Eilwen greeted him with a stink-eye. She crossed her arms as she huffed, “It’s a pleasure to be of service to you.”

She brought more of a threatening presence than Alice, that is for sure. “Nice to meet you too,” Ayu stuttered. 

Eilwen tilted her head, “Come with me.” A door appeared right beside her, a darker wood than the previous one. She opened the door as it shared a peek of a dark abyss of a room. 

“Don’t be a show-off,” Alice murmured. 

Eilwen began entering. “Now, it’s not my fault that you don’t memorize.”

“It’s a part of my magic!” She argued.

Oliver tapped Ayu yet again before they separated. “Okay, so she might be giving you a death glare but you’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

“If not, you can always punch her or something,” Oliver shrugged at the suggestion. 

The advice made Ayu squirm at the violence. Nothing seemed comfortable at the moment. No help matted the situation. All there was, was a deep breath before he stepped into the chamber. A soft goodbye could be heard in the distance but his attention arrived once the door slammed behind him. 

Ayu jumped at the sound but whisked his head back around after shaking a tad. The room was small and dark. Black shaded the walls and floor, creating white outlines that were the corners and creeks. In the middle carried a single table unable to hold one’s food but instead a flamed light to illuminate the space. 

“Now,” Eilwen started, “you don’t know anything from what I recall, yes?”

“I- What do you mean?”

“Akeldama, of course.”

Ayu gasped with the tiniest air he had. “So, I was right!”

“It appears you were,” she slides in, “–with how obvious it was– but how much do you know of magic?”

“Huh?”

“How much do you know of him? Or anything of his motives?”

“Uhm…” Ayu twiddled his hoodie-string. “I don’t know? I just know he’s an asshole?” 

“Oh, we all know that,” she threw a hand. “The question is why are you the one he prioritizes, but even you don’t know anything of it.”

“Yeah? That’s why I came here.” Ayu stated, “I want to know.”

Eilwen sighed to then rummage her hand through her big pockets. “Alright then,” She raised up a pocket watch out of it. “This toy will show visions of the past to help guide through what I can show.”

“Really?!” Ayu’s face lit up and moved over to view the tiny watch. 

“Yes– really.” She moved her arm up, now out of his reach. Her face showing signs of irritation, doubled. She grumbled in her words, “I hope to be of help.”

-

Ten Dollars | Bread and Water | Red Eye | Crimson Capture | November 1st | A Mother | A Demon | A Child | The Wolf | Bloody Fingers | Next >>>

[lyledebeast]

Gertrude

@gingerpilotevents  Day 6

Read here or on Ao3

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Finn said.

He never should have brought up the kriffing kitten.

He had gone home with Poe to have a beer after work, after being reassured that Hux would be at work late finishing a project.  One beer turned into two, and Finn had found it impossible to contain his excitement over the surprise he was getting his girlfriend for their one-year anniversary.

“Rey has always wanted a kitten, and one of my recruits’ cats had six a few months ago.  I’m going to pick ours up next week, right before she gets back from her mission.”

“Are there any more?” Poe asked, his eyes lighting up.

Finn felt his buzz dissipate.  “What?”

“You said there were six kittens, right? You’re getting one for Rey; who is getting the others?”

Finn reached for another beer, trying to change the subject.

“This is good! Where did you say you got it?”

“Come on, buddy.  Are there any kittens left?”

Finn sighed as he pried off the lid.  Why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut?  “Why do you need a kitten, Poe?”

“Well, you probably didn’t know this, but Armitage’s birthday is next week, too.  It’s actually the night before Rey is supposed to be back.”

“Oh.” Finn frowned.  “You’re still coming for dinner though, right?”

“Oh, yeah.   As long as the date doesn’t change, I mean.  In case she gets back early.”

“No, I . . . we’ll keep it the same.”  It wasn’t that Rey and his invitations didn’t extend to Hux as well, but Hux hadn’t shown much interest in socializing with Poe’s friends, and for his own part, Finn hadn’t put his heart into convincing him.

“And I’d feel better about leaving Armitage on his own for the evening if he had a little friend.”

Finn couldn’t resist rolling his eyes at that.

“Come on!” Poe pleaded. “You know how much Armitage loves cats. Remember last week?”

Finn took a long gulp of his beer.  He certainly did.  

He had seen them from a distance and considered crossing to the other side of the road before Poe saw him and waved him over.

When he got there, Hux was on his hands and knees, in spite of the snow on the ground, reaching for a cat that was lying under a bench on the side of the street with its paws tucked under it.

“Are you cold, baby? It’s okay, don’t be scared,” Hux cooed.  It was the most bizarre thing Finn had ever seen.  After all the screeching he’d heard during his years as a stormtrooper, he didn’t know Hux’s voice could be so soft.

“There’s a cat,” Poe had offered when he saw Finn staring.

“Yeah . . . that’s not what worries me.”

About then, the stray had thought the better of the situation and run off.  Hux had gotten up, red-cheeked with embarrassment when he noticed Finn, and given him an awkward greeting.  Their greetings were still always like that, even though he’d been living with Poe for six months.

“Don’t you think it’s a little . . . early for you and Hux to be thinking about getting a pet?” Finn asked when Poe refused to let the subject drop.

He laughed at that. “Oh, come on, Finn! It’s not like we’re having a kid.  I had been thinking about getting a pet even before Hux moved in; I just haven’t had a chance before now.”

Finn shrugged.  “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I don’t know; you really ought to think about it more.”

For a moment, Poe was quiet, frowning.  “He’s had a cat before.  You remember Millicent.”

He remembered Millicent. How could he forget? “Yeah. That’s what I’m thinking about.”

Poe’s eyebrows went up. For the first time, he looked concerned. “What do you remember?”

Finn took another drink. “Well . . . he used to make these tiny little mouse droids for her to play with.”  He remembered them with a shudder.  Sometimes they would escape Millicent and get into the stormtrooper’s quarters.  Finn had to admit, they were pretty cute.  

And then he had seen Millicent catch one.

The corner of Poe’s mouth turned up.  “Oh, wow, mouse droids.  He’s a real supervillain, making toys for his cat!”

“He programmed them to scream when she caught them!”

“Oh.” The eyebrows went up again.  “You mean . . . human screams?”

Finn’s eyes widened. “No.  No, they were little mouse squeaks, but still.”

Poe smiled and sighed with relief.

“Good.  You almost had me worried for a minute.”

“They still screamed, Poe! Don’t you think that’s disturbing?”

“I think it’s a good thing you’ve never seen a cat kill an organism mouse.”

Finn shook his head and gave up.  “Okay. If you insist . . . I think there may be one or two kittens left.”

* * *

Poe couldn’t believe how much it cost to bring home a free cat.  The recruit and her husband had been so happy that Poe Dameron wanted one of their kittens, but even the list of “minimum requirements” they gave him was daunting.  And that was even before the vet visit.

“I just hope Armitage likes you,” Poe told the kitten.  “That’s all I can say.”

She yawned and scratched one of her ears with a white hind foot, completely unimpressed.

At least she’s calmed down, Poe thought to himself.  He had taken BB-8 along to help him choose, and over the course of the day she had worn down even the droid’s energy.

The sole orange kitten had been the first to find a home, they told Poe, much to his disappointment. Indeed, there had only been three kittens left: this grey and white that the owners had said was a girl and two solid greys they told him were boys. Poe could see no difference between them; what had made the girl stand out was her boldness. She hadn’t run at the sight of BB-8 as the other kittens had.  Rather, the girl walked straight up to him and batted the appendage he stretched out to her, making him beep delightedly and roll in a circle, the tiny kitten bounding after him.  

Well, Poe thought, at least one of us is sure about this.

The kitten had screamed from her carrier all the way to the vet’s office, drawing distressed beeps from BB-8, and then refused to come out.  The vet had told Poe that the vaccinations might make her drowsy, but so far there had been no such luck.  She had taken off as soon as he opened the carrier to let her explore, but soon she found her way back to him and would not let him get anything done. Eventually, he had given up on his paperwork to play with her.  It had taken most of the afternoon to wind her down, and that had been enough to make BB-8 put himself in low power mode.

Of course, it wasn’t until the kitten had fallen asleep under the sofa that Armitage finally made it home.  The weather had grown bleaker as the day went on, and it had started to sleet soon after Poe got home.  He knew the cold bothered Armitage less than himself, but he couldn’t help worrying that he might slip on the ice and injure himself during his long walk home.  By the time he heard the door open, it didn’t matter that the kitten was nowhere to be seen.

“I apologize for being late,” Armitage grumbled as Poe helped him take off his coat.  “We stayed late finishing a draft of the plans because, yet again, General Kent had concerns.” The last word came out as a snarl.

Poe sighed.  “You know he just wants to be thorough, Hugs.” He wanted to add that he was sure Armitage had been every bit as much of a pain in the ass to his subordinates, but the scowl on his face made him think the better of it.  Armitage was positively grouchy.

“I know that he doesn’t trust me, not even now.  He should know all this . . . supervision is unnecessary.  I was the project leader from the beginning on . . .”

“On Starkiller Base?” Poe ventured.

Armitage stopped mid-rant to look at him.  Then he sat down by his side, and put his face in his hands, groaning with exasperation. “If he thinks I could build another superweapon with the meager resources he’s given me,” he muttered, “you would think he might treat me with more respect.”

Poe put an arm around Armitage and lay his head on his shoulder.

“I know it’s hard, babe. Working under another engineer and having to meet his approval.  I wouldn’t like it either.”

He could feel him relaxing already.  Sometimes all he needed was someone to whine to for a little bit.  Poe sometimes wondered how much he had gotten of that before they met. “It’s not just that,” Armitage went on.  “I knew that I was starting over when I came here.  And I knew everyone hated me.  I couldn’t even blame them, really.  But I would have thought that, by now, that would have started to change.”

As Armitage spoke, Poe could feel tiny, sharp claws digging into the back of his trouser leg.  “Uh huh,” he replied, distracted.

Armitage shot him an annoyed look.

“If you had defected to the First Order, do you think you would manage any better?”

Poe felt the claws again, higher.  “Nope.” It came out almost as a yelp.

“I am doing good work for them,” Armitage went on, defensive.  “I do not understand what they want from me.”

Poe opened his mouth to answer, but the sound that caught Armitage’s attention was a tiny plaintive mew from underneath the sofa.

“Was that . . . ?”

As his speech trailed off, the kitten jumped up on Poe’s knee with a meow that grew into a needy bellow.

Armitage gasped and his green eyes went wide.

“It’s a . . . it’s . . . “ he stammered.

“Happy birthday, Hugs!”

“You darling thing,” Armitage whispered, and for a moment Poe didn’t know whether he meant him or the cat.  Then he tentatively reached for the kitten.  

As she sniffed his fingers, a thought occurred to Poe that never had before.  What if the kitten didn’t like Armitage?

But some signal must have passed between them, unreadable to Poe, for when Armitage lifted the kitten onto his lap, she butted her tiny head against his belly.

“So . . . you’re happy with her?” Poe asked.

For a moment, Armitage could only stare at the kitten, lips parted in disbelief.  But when he looked up at him, his eyes were shining with tears. “Oh, Poe . . . do you really have to ask?”

Poe grinned, his cheeks warming with pleasure.

“I wanted to get an orange and white one.  You know, to match the rest of my family.  But she just had a lot of personality, and I knew you’d like that.”

Armitage stroked the kitten gently, his hand covering almost the whole of her body, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.

“Was Millie that tiny when you got her?” Poe asked.

Armitage wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.  “No . . . um. No.  She was an adult already.  When I found her.”

His voice came out thick with emotion, but Poe knew it would only embarrass him if he called attention to it.  Talking about his old cat wouldn’t stop his tears, he knew, but it might distract him. Besides, he had never heard that story before.  For several reasons.

“Where was she?”

Armitage sniffled.  “She was on some trash planet.  I can’t even remember which one.  We were testing explosives there, and some of my troopers reported that they a cat was getting into their food supplies.  Phasma was in favor of executing her, but I . . . I had always wanted a cat.”

He looked down at the kitten, which was purring loudly, and smiled.

“The troopers thought she was vicious, but I thought she might just be hungry, so I got some canned fish from the provisions reserved for officers and took that to her.  She was so skinny and filthy, but as bold as anything. She made it quite clear that she wasn’t afraid of me.”

Poe smiled.  He had chosen well after all.

“So, it was love at first sight.  Or bite, rather.”

Armitage smiled up at him. “Not quite.  It was a big adjustment for her, living on a star destroyer.” Poe noted that he sounded more like himself already.

“Finn told me how you kept her occupied.  Squeaking mouse droids, wasn’t it? Clever.”

“My subordinate officers didn’t seem to think so.  The used to grumble about the ‘waste of resources, sir.’”

“And I’m sure that put a stop to it,” Poe replied, grinning.

Armitage gave him a mischievous smirk.  “Oh, I paid it the attention it warranted, which was none.  Officers were permitted recreation, and I’m sure I indulged in less than most of them.”

Poe was sure of it too, if the way he overworked himself now was anything to go by.  In spite of the smirk, there was an unmistakable note of bitterness in Armitage’s voice.  He might complain about General Kent now, but it was clear that he had never gotten along with his fellow officers, not even those who worked under him in the FO. Millicent was, almost certainly, the only friend he’d had.

“I’m sorry about your cat,” he said abruptly.  In truth, it was the only thing about the destruction of

Starkiller Base he regretted.

Armitage looked up at him. Despite the sad smile on his face, Poe noticed that he was holding the kitten a bit tighter.

“You know I don’t blame you for that, Poe.  We were at war.  Anyone can be a cas . . . OW!”

The kitten had turned her head and buried her tiny sharp teeth in the side of Armitage’s hand.

“No, it’s fine!” he exclaimed when Poe reprimanded the kitten and reached to take her.  “It was my fault.  I scared her.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Poe sat down, chuckling.  “It looks like I picked the right cat for you, huh?”

Armitage beamed at him. “Poe, she’s perfect.”

He wiggled his fingers back and forth on his thigh until the kitten pounced, grabbing one between her little white paws and biting him again.  His smile only grew wider.

As he watched him, Poe couldn’t help feeling a little sad.  He knew that Armitage cared for him, whatever doubts others might still harbor, but he didn’t think he’d ever seen him so happy, in such an uncomplicated way.  Even when had moved in, he was glad and thankful, and eventually he had begun to relax. But he was still anxious sometimes, as though he feared even Poe’s acceptance of him was conditional.

“What will you name her?” Poe asked, banishing the thought for now.

Armitage’s brow furrowed. He looked down at the kitten, who was finally settling in his lap, as though she would tell him the answer.

And, apparently, she did. A few moments later, Armitage looked up with an air of finality.

“Gertrude.”

Poe gave him a fond smile. It was as stuffy a name as he could have expected, and already he was thinking of modifications that would, not doubt, annoy Armitage until he resigned himself to it.  Just as he had with Hugs.

“’Gertrude’ it is,” he said as he got up and turned towards the kitchen.  “Now, if you’re sure you’re safe alone with her, I’ll get our dinner ready.  It’s a good thing I went shopping before I got her.  She’s given me no rest since I brought her home.”

Armitage didn’t even look up, his attention absorbed by Gertrude yawning and stretching on his lap.

“Hugs?”

Armitage turned and looked at him over the back of the sofa.  “Poe, come here.”

He took a step forward and bent down to let Armitage kiss him without disturbing the kitten.  Finally, she seemed to be falling asleep, though who knew how long it would last this time?

“Thank you, darling.  I love her.”

Poe smiled.  Whatever aggravation she caused, and however much of Armitage’s attention she took, it would be worth it.

“You’re welcome, Hugs.”

[go-training-english-pro-blog]

S1E2

0:13 - OLDER TED: Okay, where was I? - You were telling us how you met Mom. 0:16 - In excruciating detail. - Right. 0:19 So, back in 2005, when I was 27, my two best friends got engaged. 0:24 And it got me thinking, maybe I should get married, 0:26 And then I saw Robin, She was incredible, 0:30 I just knew I had to meet her, That's where your Uncle Barney came in, 0:34 I suggest we play a little game I like to call, "Have you met Ted?" 0:37 No, no, no, no, we're not playing "Have you met Ted." 0:40 Hi, have you met Ted? 0:42 So I asked her out, and I know this sounds crazy, 0:45 but after just one date I was in love with her, 0:48 which made me say something stupid, 0:50 I think I'm in love with you. 0:51 What? 0:52 - Oh, Dad. - So then what happened? 0:57 Nothing, 0:58 I mean, I'd made a complete fool of myself, 1:00 So, a week went by and I decided not to call her, 1:03 So, you're not gonna call her? 1:05 You went from "I think I'm in love with you" 1:07 to "I'm not gonna call her"? 1:08 I wasn't in love with her, okay? 1:09 I was briefly in love with the abstract concept of getting married. 1:13 It had absolutely nothing to do with Robin. 1:16 - Robin? - Hey. 1:17 Look who I ran into. 1:18 Since when do you guys know each other? 1:20 Oh, since about here. 1:23 Lily recognized me from the news... 1:25 - Hello, sailor. - They just got engaged. 1:29 Well, I should get back to the station. See you guys. 1:35 - Nice seeing you, Ted. - Yeah, you, too. 1:37 Thanks. 1:39 - Damn it! - What? 1:41 - I'm in love with her. - No. 1:43 As your sponsor, I will not let you relapse. 1:46 - You blew it. It's over. Move on. - I don't know. 1:49 I just have this feeling she's the future Mrs. Ted Mosby. 1:53 Lily, you squeaked? 1:55 She said something about me, didn't she? Come on, spill it, Red. 1:59 Fine. 2:00 So, what do we think of Ted? 2:04 Ted's something else. 2:05 Huh? 2:07 I'm gonna spin that as good. 2:08 Lots of guys are something, I'm something else. 2:11 He comes on a little strong. 2:12 But that's part of my charm. 2:15 - But that's part of his charm. - Oh, totally. 2:17 I mean, he's sweet, he's charming, he's just looking for something 2:20 a little bit more serious than I am. 2:22 I mean, the most I can handle right now is something casual. 2:26 - This just stays between us, right? - Are you kidding? 2:29 This flapper, Fort Knox. 2:32 Oops. 2:34 She wants casual? 2:36 Okay, I'll be casual. 2:38 I'm gonna be a mushroom cloud of casual. 2:41 You know why? 'Cause it's a game. 2:43 I wanted to skip to the end and do the whole happily-ever-after thing, 2:46 but you don't get there unless you play the game. 2:49 - So you gonna ask her out? - Yeah. No! 2:51 I can't ask her out, because if I ask her out I'm asking her out. 2:55 So how do I ask her out without asking her out? 3:03 Did you guys get high? 3:05 I got it. I don't ask her out. 3:08 I invite her to our party next Friday. 3:11 - We're having a party next Friday? - We are now. 3:14 Casual. 3:15 Yeah, 'cause nothing says "casual" like inviting a hundred people 3:17 over just to mack on one girl. Oh, and Lily, that's my leg. 3:23 You waited five minutes to tell me that? 3:27 - All right, so call her up. - No, calling's not casual. 3:30 I just got to bump into her somewhere. 3:32 Now, if only I knew her schedule, I could arrange a chance encounter. 3:35 That's great, Ted. You'll be the most casual stalker ever. 3:41 Now, ever since Marshall put that ring on her finger, 3:44 Lily had been, well, extra affectionate, 3:48 Baby, no. 3:50 I have a 25-page paper on constitutional law due Monday. 3:54 I've barely started. 3:55 Hey, I'm just sitting here wearing my ring. 3:59 My beautiful ring. 4:03 Kind of makes wearing other stuff seem wrong. 4:06 My shirt. 4:08 Kind of don't wanna wear my shirt anymore. 4:12 Or my underwear. 4:15 That's right. I'm not wearing any. 4:20 - No underwear? - Not even slightly. 4:23 Guys. 4:26 Boundaries. 4:29 - There she is. - Thanks, Bill, 4:31 I'm reporting from the Razzle Dazzle Supermarket 4:33 on 75th and Columbus... 4:36 75th and Columbus. 4:38 Game on! 4:40 ...where four-year-old Leroy Ellenberg 4:42 has climbed inside a Grab-A-Prize machine and gotten stuck. 4:49 And all in the pursuit of a stuffed, purple giraffe. 4:53 For Metro News 1, I'm Robin Scherbatsky. 4:56 PRODUCER: We're clear. ROBIN: Thanks, Don. 4:59 Ted? 5:01 - Robin? Wow, what are the odds? - What are you doing here? 5:05 Oh, you know, just shopping for dip. 5:08 I love dip. No, I don't love dip. I like dip. 5:12 As a friend, you know. 5:14 So, hey, you reporting a news story or something? 5:16 Yeah, a kid stuck in a crane machine. How sweet of you to call it news. 5:20 Wow, kid in a crane machine. 5:23 You just had to have that toy, didn't you? 5:25 Couldn't play the game like everyone else. 5:27 You're all sweaty. 5:29 Cute kid. 5:31 You know, it's so funny I should run into you. 5:33 We're having a party next Friday if you feel like swinging by, 5:35 but, you know, whatever. 5:37 Oh, I'm going back home next weekend. 5:40 - It's too bad it's not tonight. - It is. It's tonight. 5:43 This Friday. Did I say next Friday? Yeah, sorry. 5:45 I guess I've been saying "next Friday" all week. 5:47 But, yeah, it's tonight. The party's tonight. 5:50 But, you know, whatever. 5:58 - Hello? - Hey, am I interrupting anything? 6:01 No, no, I'm just writing my paper, hitting the books. 6:04 Yeah, well, you and Lily might want to put some clothes on. 6:07 We're throwing a party in two hours. Okay, bye. 6:15 So, Gatsby, what are you gonna do when Robin shows up? 6:17 Okay, I got it all planned out. 6:20 She steps through the door, And where is Ted? 6:23 Not eagerly waiting by the door, 6:26 No, I'm across the room at my drafting table 6:28 showing some foxy young thing all my cool architecture stuff, 6:32 So, Robin strolls over, and I casually give her one of these, 6:36 "Hey, what's up?" 6:38 She says, "Hey, nice place, etcetera, etcetera," 6:42 And then I say, 6:44 "Well, make yourself at home," 6:45 And I casually return to my conversation, 6:48 Then, an hour later, 6:51 "Oh, you're still here?" 6:54 I say, like I don't really care but it's a nice surprise, 6:57 And then, very casually, 7:00 "Wanna see the roof?" 7:03 - The roof. - The roof. 7:05 I get her up to the roof and the roof takes care of the rest. 7:07 What's so special about the roof? 7:09 Oh, the moon, the stars, the shimmering skyline. 7:13 You can't not fall in love on that roof. 7:16 We do it up there sometimes. 7:19 - Solid plan, my little friends. - We're the same height. 7:22 But may I suggest one little modification? 7:26 BARNEY; That foxy young thing you were chatting up? 7:27 Take her up to the roof and have sex with her, 7:29 - Crazy, monkey-style... - That's not the plan. 7:31 It should be the plan, I mean, look at her, Ted, look at her, 7:34 - She's smoking, - Thank you. 7:37 - Yeah, - But she's not Robin. 7:39 Exactly. 7:40 Ted, let's rap. 7:42 Statistic. 7:43 At every New York party there's always a girl 7:45 who has no idea whose party she's at. 7:47 She knows no one you know and you will never see her again. 7:50 Do you see where I'm going, huh, with this? 7:54 Barney, I don't think so. 7:56 - Scoping, bip, scoping, bip. - Man, you're a dork. 8:01 Bip, bip, bip, bip. Target acquired! 8:04 And now it's time we play a little game I like to call, 8:06 - "Have you met Ted?" - Oh, come on, not this. 8:08 - Hi, have you met Ted? - No. 8:10 - Hi. - Hi. 8:12 - You know Marshall, Lily? - No. 8:14 - Do you know anyone at this party? - I work with Carlos. 8:17 Excuse me. Anyone know a Carlos? 8:20 - No. - No. 8:21 On a silver platter. Bon appétit, 8:25 I don't think so. 8:27 Your loss, her gain. Excuse me, can I show you the roof? 8:31 - It's magical up there. - Sure. 8:33 Wait, wait, wait. Hey, I got that roof reserved. 8:35 - Dude, Robin's not coming. - Hey, she's gonna show up. 8:41 She'll show up. 8:43 OLDER TED; She didn't show up, 8:46 At least, it was a great party. 8:48 I ate like four whole cans of dip. 8:51 You always know what to say, old friend. 8:58 - It's Robin. - Answer it. 9:00 No, no, no, not right away. I gotta seem casual. 9:05 - Hello? - I'm so sorry I missed your party. 9:07 - Who is this? Meredith? - Robin. 9:10 Oh, Robin. 9:12 Hey, yeah, 9:14 - I guess you never showed up, did you? - No, I got stuck at work. 9:17 But they finally got that kid out of the crane machine. 9:19 - Did he get to keep the purple giraffe? - Yeah, they let him keep all the toys. 9:24 He was in there a long time and little kids have small bladders. 9:28 I wish your party was tonight. 9:32 It is. The party's tonight. 9:35 Yeah, it's a two-day party, 'cause that's just how we roll. 9:40 So if you wanna swing by, you know, it's casual. 9:43 See you. 9:48 - So that was Robin. - What are you doing to me, man? 9:51 - I got a paper to write. - I know, I'm sorry. It's terrible. 9:54 - I'll buy more dip. - Ted, Ted, wait! 9:57 Get French Onion! 10:03 Can you believe this guy? I got a paper to write. 10:07 Okay, fine. But it's gotta be, like, super quick. 10:11 - And no cuddling after. - I'm the luckiest girl alive. 10:19 Oh, you were so right about the roof. 10:26 That girl from last night, I took her back to my place, 10:28 then this morning took her outside, spun her around a couple times 10:31 and sent her walking. 10:32 She will never find her way back and there she is. 10:36 - How did she get here? Did you invite her? - I have no idea who that is. 10:38 She said she works with Carlos. Who's Carlos? 10:40 I don't know any Carlos. 10:42 - Hi, you. You're back. - I sure am. 10:49 - Come on, sweetie, I need a drink. - Sweetie. Really? 10:53 Help. 10:56 Whoa, whoa, rabbits. 10:57 Come on, I got that roof reserved. 11:00 All right. 11:02 So, it's over between me and Works with Carlos Girl. 11:05 - Oh, that was fast. - Yeah. 11:08 I was trying to think, what's the quickest way 11:10 to get rid of a girl you just met? 11:12 - I think I'm in love with you. - What? 11:15 - Thanks, bro. - Glad I could help. 11:19 What the... No, no, no, no, come on. 11:22 Sorry, Ted. 11:25 Great. What am I gonna do when Robin shows up? 11:28 She'll show up. 11:30 OLDER TED; She didn't show up, 11:32 All right, we threw two parties, everybody had fun, 11:37 everybody Wang-ed, everybody Chung-ed. 11:40 Now the kid has got to get to work. And the kid is not to be disturbed. 11:44 Repeat after me, "I will not have sex with Marshall." 11:47 - I will not have sex with Marshall. - I will not have sex with Marshall. 11:53 It's Robin. 11:56 - Hello? - Hi, Ted. 11:58 Amanda? Oh, Denise, sorry. You totally sounded like Amanda. 12:02 - It's Robin. - Oh, Robin. 12:04 - Hi. - I totally wanted to come, 12:07 I got stuck at work again. I feel like I live there. 12:10 Sorry I missed your party, again. 12:12 Hey, ain't no thing, but a chicken wing, mamacita, 12:15 Who am I? 12:17 I guess there's no chance your two-dayer turned into a three-dayer? 12:22 It did indeed. The party continues tonight. 12:24 Yeah, last night people were, like, 12:26 "Keep it going, bro! Party trifecta!" 12:29 Wow, okay. Well, I'll be there. 12:32 Great. See you tonight. 12:37 So that was Robin. 12:40 OLDER TED; So I threw a third party for Robin, on a Sunday night, 12:45 Oh, this is lame. 12:48 Lame or casual? 12:51 - Lame. - Or casual? 12:54 Hey, law books. Ready for a little 15-minute recess? 12:58 Sorry, baby, I gotta work. I need all my blood up here. 13:02 Has anybody seen An Introduction to Contract, Tort 13:05 and Restitution Statutes from 1865 to 1923? 13:10 - Anybody seen a big-ass book? - No. 13:14 WOMAN: Hello, Barney. 13:16 Of course. 13:20 You look well. 13:22 Is it weird they invited both of us? 13:24 Who? 13:27 Who invited you? No one even knows who you are. 13:31 I understand you're hurt, but you don't have to be cruel. 13:36 Carlos was right about you. 13:39 Who is Carlos? 13:41 Hey, where the hell is my... 13:43 Oh! 13:48 Okay. 13:50 An Introduction to Contract, Tort and Restitution Statutes 13:53 from 1865 to 1923 13:56 is not a coaster! 13:58 Ted, I'm jeopardizing my law career so you can throw not one, 14:01 not two, but three parties for some girl that you just met 14:05 who's probably not even gonna show up! 14:07 I mean, where is she, Ted, huh? Where's Robin? 14:12 Hi. Hi, Robin. 14:23 So, you threw all these parties for me? 14:27 No. Oh, you thought that... No. 14:30 Okay, yes. You got me. 14:32 One of the reasons I threw these parties was so that I could introduce you 14:36 to this guy. 14:40 I figured, you know, since it didn't work out between us 14:42 and now we can just laugh about it. 14:45 - Well, anyway, Robin, this is... - Carlos. 14:54 She's still talking to Carlos. 14:57 I can still win this. It's not over. 14:59 Okay, buddy, time for the tough talk. 15:02 Robin seems great, but let's look at the facts. 15:05 You want to get married 15:06 and right now there's a million women in New York looking for exactly you. 15:11 But Robin ain't one of them. 15:12 She's not just one of them. She's the one. 15:15 Yeah well, "the one" is heading up to the roof. 15:21 What are you gonna do? 15:23 Nothing. It's a game. I gotta just 15:26 keep playing it. 16:07 ROBIN: Hey. TED: Hey. 16:09 - Carlos, can you give us a minute? - Hey, no sweat, hombre, 16:13 See you. 16:18 Robin, look, I didn't throw this party to set you up with Carlos 16:22 or the one before that, or the one before that. 16:26 I threw these parties because I wanted to see you. 16:30 Well, here I am. 16:33 There's something here. Look, unless I'm crazy. 16:36 You're not crazy. 16:40 I don't know, Ted. I mean, we barely know each other 16:44 and you're looking at me with that look and it's like... 16:46 - What, like what? - It's like, "Let's fall in love, 16:50 "and get married and have kids and drive them to soccer practice." 16:53 I'm not gonna force sports on them unless they're interested. 16:57 It's a great look, but you're looking at the wrong girl. 17:00 - No, I'm not. - Yes, you are. 17:02 I don't want to get married right now, maybe ever. 17:05 And if we go out together, I'd feel like 17:08 I'd either have to marry you or break your heart 17:13 and I just couldn't do either of those things. 17:16 Just like you can't turn off the way you feel. 17:22 Click. 17:23 Off. Let's make out. 17:25 What? 17:26 What? That was the off switch and I turned it off. 17:30 I mean, look, sure, yes, I wanna 17:33 fall in love, get married, blah, blah, blah. But, on the other hand, 17:37 you, me, 17:39 the roof. 17:42 - There's no off switch. - There is an off switch. 17:47 And it's off. 17:49 No, it's not. 17:51 Yes, it is. 17:53 - No, it's not. - Yes, 17:57 it is. 18:07 Oh. 18:12 No, it's not. 18:14 You're right. There's no off switch. 18:18 - God, I wish there was an off switch. - Me, too. 18:28 So... 18:31 What do we do now? 18:35 We could be friends. 18:39 Look, I know it sounds insincere when people say that 18:43 but we could. 18:47 I don't know, Robin. 18:48 I made such a jackass of myself here, 18:50 we start hanging out, every time I see you, it'll be like, 18:52 "Oh, that's right, I'm a jackass." 18:55 You're not a jackass. 18:57 Look, I'm sorry. I only moved here in April, and I'm always working. 19:02 And I just haven't met a lot of good people so far. 19:06 But I understand. 19:09 Well, 19:12 maybe in a few months after it's not so fresh we could all, 19:16 you know, get a beer. 19:19 Yeah. That sounds good. 19:23 I'll see you, Ted. 19:30 Or, you know, now. 19:36 We could all get a beer now. 19:41 I'd like that. 19:45 My friends are gonna love you, like you, you know as a friend. 19:51 Jackass. 19:55 Unbelievable. 19:57 That's just a recipe for disaster. They work together. 20:00 - You jealous? - Oh, please. 20:02 - What does Carlos have that I don't? - A date tonight? 20:06 Stop the tape. Rewind, play it again. 20:09 A date tonight? 20:12 I'm not sure I like her. 20:14 Hey, don't you have a paper to write? 20:16 - Dude, you're talking to the kid. - I know it. 20:18 I'm gonna knock back this beer, I'm gonna knock back one more beer, 20:22 I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna write a 25-page paper, 20:25 I'm gonna hand it in and I'm gonna get a "A." 20:27 My name is Rufus and that's the Troofus. 20:31 OLDER TED; He got a B-minus, 20:32 But, still, 25 pages in one night, B-minus? The kid was good, 20:37 At least, let me buy you a beer. Come on, I'll buy everyone a beer. 20:41 I'll help carry. 20:47 - You know something, Ted? - What? 20:48 You are a catch. You're gonna make some girl very happy. 20:53 And I am going to help you find her. 20:55 Well, good luck. 20:57 I mean, maybe, New York is just too big a town. 21:00 I mean, there's millions of people in this city. 21:02 How, in all this mess, is a guy supposed to find the love of his life? 21:05 I mean, where do you even begin? 21:10 Hi, have you met Ted?

[thecruciblegavemeyou]

swim au

im on a fucking rolllllllllll 

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

ao3

Simon

I shuffled back and forth as Agatha twisted the lid off the soup while Penny argued she could do it herself.

“Si, stop fidgeting and just sit!” Pen hissed, glancing at me from her bed.

I slunk over to Trixie’s desk on the other side of the room. “Sorry. How do you feel?” I asked, spinning in slow circles on Trixie’s desk chair.

“Oh, just peachy. I love being on lockdown with my insufferable roommate for thirty six hours straight.” She moaned.

Pen’s roommate Trixie was… interesting. Penny got frustrated with her because she’d walked in on Trixie and her girlfriend Keris fooling around 100 times too many.

“I don’t have a problem with their relationship , I have a problem with them fooling around on my bed .” Penny explained, frustrated enough for wild arm movements.

My roommate might be out to kill me, but at least he didn’t bring girls back to the room. Sometimes we could hear the boys below us messing around. I don’t think the ceilings are as thick as the boys think they are (I wish that they didn’t enjoy narrating it so much).

I was always surprised that Baz never brought girls back. Maybe he does, but only when I’m not there. But I would’ve caught him at least once, I think. Every girl in our class is in love with him, it’s not like he’d have any trouble with it. Maybe I’ll ask him later. Or maybe not. We might still be fighting from this morning. I wonder what would happen if I asked him about girls. He might finally take me out.

“What’d she do this time?” I indulged her. She liked complaining about Trixie as much as I used to enjoy complaining about Baz.

“She just… she tried to read me a book, and her and Trixie took turns acting it out,” She shuddered,  “acting is not a talent either of them possess.” I could see them now. They were a colorful pair.

Agatha laughed softly. It wasn’t quite giggling, but more light and airy. Like a butterfly. But it didn’t make me blush the way it used to. I dug my fingers into my palms and watched Penny and Agatha as she tried to force feed Pen the soup, only managing to pour it down her shirt. Penny shrieked and Agatha rushed for the tissues.

“Penny, have you finished that assignment for drawing and painting yet?”

“No, and I still can’t believe you convinced me to take that bloody art class with you.”

Agatha smirked. “It’s fun.”

“It’s a waste of time.” Anything that didn’t involve books was a waste of time to Penny. She read more than any person I’d ever met. I promised her when we were little that if I ever became rich I’d buy her the biggest library in the world, “ My personal Library of Alexandria. ” She’d said. I still don’t know what she meant by that (must be a big library).

“It’s good for you. Art is relaxing.” Agatha argued. She was a decent artist. She really liked doodling other people. When I first met her, I thought the portraits of our classmates in the margins of her notes were creepy (they were still a little odd) but they were so good that you couldn’t help being impressed.

“Art is annoying, it never looks the way you want it to.” (Penny was not an artist).

I listened to them babble for awhile before I tuned them out.

Agatha peeked at the clock. It was only seven. We’d been here an hour already, and I’d barely said a word. I wasn’t talkative usually, but I could see Penny eyeing me. She knew something was up (she always figured me out).

“Merlin, I’ve got to go start my homework. I’ve got a paper due.” Agatha sighed, getting up and making her way to me.

My stomach flipped as she leaned over to give me a kiss (just on the cheek). I could smell her perfume, she was so close. Her lips pressed into my cheek, leaving a cold impression of whatever chapstick she was wearing. I could feel my face heat up as she walked out the door and Penny had a knowing smirk on her face. I wiped off the chapstick smudge.

“Are you two really back together again? I thought you weren’t going to ask her out again.” Pen scolded (she loved us both, but she thought we kinda sucked as a couple).

“But she asked me out this time. I was too shocked to say no.” I mumbled.

She rewarded me with a look of pure shock for that. “Would you have said no?”

I didn’t look up to meet her eyes. I don’t know what I would have said. I don’t know if Agatha and I are endgame. I don’t know anything anymore.

“Si?” She asked, coughing up a lung in the process. I was half-tempted to open the window, wondering if the fresh air would do her any good.

“I dunno, Pen. Everything’s so- and then the phone- also under the bed… Baz and Agatha… the team- what do I do?”

The room was silent for a minute, “You might have to elaborate on phones, beds, and Baz and Agatha before I can help. I don’t really see the connection.” She said, reaching for the tissues. I got up and locked the door, and then tossed her the box of tissues before she fell out of bed trying to get them. Stubborn.

So I explained everything; David, the money, Agatha, Baz being pissy, having to quit the team… I still hadn’t told her about Baz and I becoming kinda friends. I don’t think I want to. Hanging out with Baz in the mornings still felt like a dirty little secret (has he told Dev and Niall?).

“Firstly, you don’t owe your dad a cent. Just ignore him. He can’t do anything about it.”

I gulped. She had no idea what David Snow would do to me if he didn’t get what he wanted. I never told Penny what home was like. She’d worry too much over her summer vacation, and she already worried enough about me during the school term.

“Secondly, Baz is always pissy. What do you care this time?” I felt my face heat up.

“Yeah, I’m just… sick of arguing all the time, I guess.” She gave me a half-hearted sympathy-smile.

“Third, you definitely shouldn’t quit the team. I know Baz drives you crazy and you probably don’t want to mess up with Agatha this time, but you love swimming. You should see your face when you talk about it. And I want to see you compete this weekend.”

“But-”

“And lastly, Agatha. You’ve wanted this forever. What’s the problem now? Come on, Simon. Maybe she’s really over her bad boy phase.” Penny sniffled, blowing her nose for the tenth time in five minutes.

My heart skipped a beat. “Huh?”

“When she dumped you for Baz?” Penny shrugged.

“She dumped me for Baz.” I whispered.

Penny’s eyes went wide and moony. “Oh, Si… I thought you knew.”

“I’ve got to go-”

“Si!” she yelled after me, but I was already gone.

It took me ten minutes to find Agatha’s room in the maze that is Watford’s girl dormitory, but I found it. I FOund it, and I found her humming along with her music.

“Agatha.” I huffed, slightly out of breath (you’d really think I was in better shape by now).

“Oh, hey Simon.” She smiled, pulling out a headphone. I looked into her eyes. They were soft and brown and she looked like she had no idea what was coming.

“Why’d you ask me out again? I thought you said you were done. You owe me an explanation.” I demanded.

“I wasn’t ready for a serious relationship before. But I missed you; talking to you, our inside jokes, I missed you. A lot.”

“But why now? Did Baz reject you?” I snapped. I knew I was being cruel. I knew I was ruining this. It was unnecessary, but a life with Agatha is all I’d wanted since first year. That, and a new roommate. And she’d dumped me to chase after my roommate, the boy who’d been out to get me for years. And when that didn’t work out-

“Excuse me?” Agatha looked horrified. And a little pissed. But I wasn’t backing down now. This argument was years in the making. Even before our breakup made things tense, we never confronted each other about things. We never talked.

“You dumped me for Baz.” I swear the room dropped a few degrees. A draft floated in through the open window and I shivered (still wishing I’d thought enough to bring a jumper).

I could see the muscles in her jaw tighten, “ Penelope .”

So she really did. She dumped me for Baz, and she had the nerve to tell Penny.

“Seriously, Agatha?” I asked. My voice cracked. I thought I’d finished with that by sixth year, but apparently not.

She wouldn’t look me in the eye. “Simon… we weren’t working out, and I know you hate him but Baz and I always got along-”

“You dumped me because you would rather be with him.” I said. My voice had never sounded so cold.

“But we’re together now-” She whispered.

“That’s where you’re wrong. No, we’re not.” I finished. I ignored the prickling heat behind my eyes. Losing Agatha was too much for me. Especially after the past two days I’d had. This was the cherry on top of the sundae.

It surprised me that the thing I wanted to do most was go to the pool with Baz, to our little world inside of the Watford natatorium where nothing else mattered.

[clownn-townn]

Alright, so one of my friends had posted on facebook asking for people’s paranormal experiences and I thought, hey, maybe I should share mine on Tumblr and do something similar. So, here are mine. Feel free to reblog with your paranormal experiences! I’d love to read them. I’ll be keeping up with the notes.

Alright, so I’m going to start with the most recent one and go in no chronological order, just this one happened in my freshman year of college and the rest happened in high school. 

Freshman year of college. I'd already had plenty of experience with the paranormal. Done my own ghost hunts, used oujia boards on a regular basis, lived in haunted houses, avid fan of Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters, nothing surprised me. Next to our tiny college town is an even tinier town called Gurdon where there's a tiny deserted cemetary next to some railroad tracks. Down those railroad tracks at night you can see a mysterious light called the Gurdon Light (that had long since been debunked as the train light reflecting off of swamp gas, yet remains a strong part of that towns folklore). Some idiot fellow freshmen decided that they we're going to go see the Gurdon Light on the night of a full moon. No way was I going to let these inexperienced idiots go alone, especially after asking "What are you going to do if you piss off a spirit?" And they answered with "There's a baseball bat in the trunk". Like... Friend... Buddy... Pal... The fuck? So I went with. After watching them freak out over every firefly and rustling leaf, I turned toward the car to get a better look around and off in the clearing just past the cemetary I saw a solid black crouched figure. It didn't seem friendly. I turned back toward the three idiots and saw that one of them, let's call him Justin, was staring straight towards that crouched figure. "You see it too, huh?" I asked him and he just nodded. "Look at it..." He said and I turned back towards and the crouched figure was slowly standing up. It was probably about 6' tall, taller than any of us there. "Car, now." I said and Justin immediately started heading to the car. The other two didn't seem to hear me so I repeated myself louder and we all hauled ass to the car. The other two who hadn't seen it saw it as we were leaving toward the dirt road that lead to the main road. They asked me what it was and honestly I have no idea what it was, whatever it was didn't want us in that graveyard.

There was another time, I had just moved into a new house and my best friend since 7th grade, let's call her Ashley, and I had a tradition every time we moved into a new house. We would draw our own Ouija board and we would figure out exactly what's in that house and what we need to watch out for or what we need to expect ect. Because we've both always been pretty sensitive to paranormal stuff. So as we sat in my room with the door open doing this Ouija board we finally contacted a spirit. It was a young girl, native American if the name and year was anything to go off of, and as we we're being led in circles in the answers to the questions, my bedroom door slowly started to close. We both look up at it. I explain to Ashley that my door doesn't do that. The door was heavy enough to where it didn't close because of gravity or anything and it took more than just the house settling to move it. The air conditioner was also off and no windows were open so it's very unlikely that there would've been any draft strong enough to move the door. So we decide to get up and look around. We were home alone because my siblings were visiting my grandparents and my mother was out doing grocery shopping, so the house was eerily quiet. The first room we go to is my siblings room, right across the hallway from my room. We stand in there and listen for a minute cause we're both getting weird vibes from the room and then suddenly the air conditioner bangs loudly, it never is that loud kicking on, and Ashley screams and shoves past me and runs out of the room and out the front door. I quickly follow after to make sure she's okay. I ask her what happened because I figured the air conditioner scared her and she took a moment to catch her breath before responding with "I saw a girl. She had two long, dark braids and a white dress". Very characteristic of a native American girl from the time era of integration, which was the time era that the spirit we were contacting was from. We go back inside, say goodbye on the Ouija board, and apologize for bothering her.

A rather funny one happened in that same house. This ones pretty short. I was practicing for a choir competition, if you're familiar with a competition called All Region then cool if not then really there's not much to know other than it's an audition for a special choir that can get you all sorts of bragging rights and scholarships. So to practice it, I would sing into my crappy laptop microphone, play it back, and see what parts exactly that I needed to work on and what I was good at ect. After a few rounds of singing a particularly difficult part, playing it back, then repeating, something strange popped up on the audio. I listened to that part a couple of times and determined that it wasn't the TV in the living room (my bedroom was the closest to the living room and it was a trailer so the walls weren't the most sound proof) because, well, after going through all the previous recordings, there was not even a hint of sound from the living room on any of them. So I went back to the strange recording and listened to it to try to determine exactly what it sounded like. Upon closer inspection, it was a male voice saying "You're really bad at that". Thanks, Mr. Ghost.

This one is really sad, and comes with a trigger warning of possible child abuse, the ghost being the victim of it. So, as with the past story involving Ashley, this story begins with her moving into a new house. This new house had a strange layout. The first floor was fairly normal; small kitchen, big open living room, and a hallway with the kids bathroom and the three bedrooms, there being a smaller bathroom in the master bedroom. Though, the height of the living room was two floors because above the kitchen there was a large loft type area, the stairs to it by the front door in the living room. That loft area was made into a video game room and basically the kids room, as much of a kids room as you can have for a 13 year old and a 16 year old. In it was a small closet where we stored the Rockstar guitars and drumset along with a ton of board games, the tiny closet had no door, it was just a tiny closet in a very inconvenient space in the middle of the part of the loft that overlooked the living room. Then on the other side where there was the actual wall, there was another door leading to a small room. Was it intended to be an extra bedroom? Strangely placed for that. It had a window on each of the three walls without the main door, one overlooking the driveway and two overlooking the surrounding woods. There was also a ceiling fan in it. The family used it as a storage room for just a bunch of random junk. Everyone dreaded going into that room, even Ashley's younger brother who was a bit too stupid to fear anything. This kid would rather jump off the loft onto the couch (about a 10-15 foot drop) than go into that room and he actually proved it. So, me and Ashley sat outside that room after taking a few months to gather up the courage and debate whether we should or not and we did the Ouija board. Every time you went into that room or even near the door, there was a heavy sense of dread. Dread, fear, nausea, migraines, all of it came from that room. So, we kind of assumed there was a demon in there. We braced ourselves as we started with the 'hello' and waited before I asked the first question. What we had gathered was that this was a kid from when the house was first built sometime in the mid 1900's, his name was Zach and he had died when he was just 15. He spent most, if not all of his time literally locked in the room. His father, maybe step father, we couldn't get a clear answer on that one, was a very not nice man who seemed to hate the boy, very little about his mother was found out because he was very vague and dodgy about questions about his mother. His father basically locked him in that room and barely let him leave, it was questionable as to whether he even went to school or not. His father beat him, starved him, and eventually he ended up dying due to the abuse and neglect. By then the emotions in that room were becoming too much for me and Ashley to bear and I said goodbye suddenly before going into the room, Ashley going to stop me but being too slow (she was still wary of it possibly being a demon who was lying to trick us because, well, us edgy teenagers thought everything was a demon), and I locked the door from the inside to keep her from getting in to stop me. She sighed and waited patiently outside the room. I sat in the middle of the room, cross legged, and honestly felt like I was going to either burst into tears or puke my guts up. I braved through it. I told the boy about my own abuse and neglect when I was not much younger than him, I told him that I understood and that it was okay to let go because the past couldn't keep you dragged down like this. He didn't have to spend his entire life in that room and that his father was no longer there to keep him in there. I told him that the events were in the past, and even if it still hurt, it was okay, because he wasn't alone. After that talk, it took about 15 minutes at the most, there was a metaphorical sigh of relief from the room. All the heaviness, all the dread, all the fear, it just...disappeared. The room was no longer painful, the room was now genuinely empty. I actually helped a spirit move on... Even Ashley felt it because as soon as he was gone, she asked very quietly if it was over and I unlocked the door and came out of the room and started crying. Even though the lighting hadn't changed at all, the room still seemed to glow a bit brighter from the sunlight. That's probably one of my favorite ghost stories to tell.

There was the time that I had a dream that I was by the school and saw a plane go down in the distance, shortly followed by a giant splash of water from where the plain would've landed in the distance. A few days later I watched the news and found out about Flight 370 going down. A similar premonition I had was less of a dream and more of a Final Destination sort of thing. I was sitting in the back seat, my boyfriend at the time (let's call him Gabe) was in the front passenger seat, and his best friend (let's call him Mark) was driving. Next thing I know my forehead was bloody, half of it mine and half of it not quite mine, and Mark was freaking the hell out. Then, just like in the FD movies, I was standing outside the car and we hadn't even left yet. I begged Gabe to sit in the back with me because I didn't wanna be lonely and he said only if the aux cord reached. Luckily it did. So he sat in the middle and I sat behind the passenger seat. We were going about 10 above the speed limit and a truck suddenly stopped in front of us. Mark slammed on his brakes about 30 feet behind the truck and, unfortunately, due to balding tires we skidding right into the back of the truck, causing the front end of Mark's brand new car to go under the back of the truck, push the engine into the car, and the passenger side airbag to deploy. After realizing what happened, we all exited the car. The only injury was Mark breaking his hand because he got so pissed about his brand new car that he punched a nearby stop sign. After taking the car to the mechanic to get it inspected for insurance purposes, it was revealed that I had saved Gabe's life. In the front passenger seat there was a ton of shrapnel that had shredded the front of that seat that would have definitely been at the right angle and height to shred Gabe's vital and vulnerably placed blood vessels.