#new chapter monday :)

[chainsawseesaw]

Chapter One

The Chase

❥❥❥

“Next, our last mission that I’ll be handing out today,” The sheriff looked up from the paper he was holding for a moment, glancing around the room. “Sargent MayFord,” 

My eyes glance from the whiteboard behind him to the officer in front of me; his shoulders are broad, and horns adorn the top of his head. 

“I’d like to speak with you alone.” He gestures softly to the rest of the room. “Everyone else has their assignments; be on with it. I want everyone back by nine o’clock.” 

I haven’t done anything out of the ordinary lately; its been nothing but the usual patrols. We work in a pretty small town; there isn't much crime to thwart here. 

Watching as the other members of my group leave the room for the day, I take in the abundance of diversity. A while back, this would have bothered me, but as I've aged, I’ve done my best to relax my stuck up attitude as much as possible and to be accepting. I feel my tongue sweep over my front teeth; it would be nice if everyone was as willing to broaden their horizons. 

“Klara, I’d like to see you in my office.” 

I nod and stand. I find myself scanning the sheriff up and down, and I note that, on average, he must be quite intimidating. What with the broad frame and standing around 6’6” if I had to guess, but having a whole two feet or so on him has me rather underwhelmed as I look at him. 

My feet carry me forward as I duck to enter his office. He’s already seated himself, and I do the same, my hand finding its way to my face as I itch beneath my missing eye. 

The sheriff, or, I suppose I could call him by his name, Duck, straightens the file in his hand before turning to look back at me. 

“There've been reports of vampyre attacks all around the northern part of Sunworth County. I’ve had a few other detectives on the case as well, but I can’t seem to get any of them to find any damn evidence.” 

“You want me on the case?” I respond, hearing my own accent strongly contrast with his mild drawl. Having lived in Cheswich my whole life, I suppose the accent has come on strong. 

“MayFord, you’re the best detective I have. I reckon that no one else could’ve solved this case if they tried, and oh boy, my guys tried.” He leans back in his chair before standing and walking over to his oh so stereotypical cork board. “Care to join me?”

I nod and walk over, glancing over the red lines and photos, observing the Polaroid in the centre of it all. My eye blurs for a moment as I glance down at the nearly indistinguishable photo of a man. He’s hovering over a sheep, his face smeared with crimson. I can’t tell this from that in the image, not even the colour of his hair. He has one defining feature, however, a large eye in the middle of his forehead, a cyclops. 

“This is the only photo we’ve gotten,” Duck says, pointing at the Polaroid. “He’s incredibly slippery.” 

Tracing the red string I see photos of different attacks, animals, people, gutted, and gored. I feel my stomach turn ever so slightly, despite my years on the force. 

“How many victims have there been, Sheriff?” 

“Thirteen people—most of them happen to be elves. And we stopped counting the livestock.” His eyes flit back and forth between the images, dates scrawled in red ink at the top of each. 

“Do we know that it’s all been the same vamp?” I say, turning to look down at Duck as he looks back and forth between the evidence. 

“We’re pretty damn sure, though some of these corpses are rather inconsistent in how theyve been mutilated, they all have the same tooth pattern.” 

I nod, following as the sheriff walks back over to his desk and takes a seat. He hands me the file as he lights a cigar.

“My trust is in you, Klara; you’ve got to catch this monster.”

I take a deep breath and clutch the file close to my chest, walking out of the sheriff's office and closing the door on my way out. 

Sitting down, the file flits open, showing me that the last place our Vamp was seen was in Wesline Forest, a rather long ride from our department. I stand again, deciding to get a head start, knowing I won't be there till sundown. 

❥❥❥

I hop off my horse, landing on my feet with a gentle thud. I look back towards the west at true as it dips below the horizon. Making my way into the forest, I click on my flashlight. Apparently, there’s a farm not too far into the woods that has had repeat attacks each night. This is my best shot to find this vamp. 

After a few minutes of walking, I wander into a clearing. A barn looms in the distance, and a fence surrounds it. I can hear the shuffling of scared animals, and I know that I’ve found him immediately. 

“Jackpot.”

My boots tread thickly on the newly fallen leaves that scatter across the forest floor as I pick up speed into a jog. My hand rests on the fence as I look into the pasture, already having clicked off my light before I made my way over. The tale-tell slurping and bleeting makes my ears perk up, and I watch the figure in the dark. He looks up, and I see his large eye glint off the remaining light in the sky, though there isn’t much now. His head ducks back down, and the awful slurping continues. I flash my light at him in an attempt to get him to stand, but he simply sits up, slurping up an intestine in a single swallow. Its disgusting and awfully impressive. 

Blood coats his wide grin and slowly drips down his chin as he cocks his head at me. His hair is a wild mess, but I can make out its bright orange colour in the remaining light. 

“I need you to come with me.” I shout at him as he stands, wiping his hands on the remaining white parts of the sheep to clean himself. I start to hop the fence, but as I do, he bolts back around and into the deeper parts of the woods. Fuck.

I decide hopping the fence isn't worth it, and instead I trek into the woods as well, following the sounds of running. I’m grateful the gods blessed me with long legs as I catch up with the lanky man before me, but as I try to grab him by the shoulder, my hand slips, and I watch as a rabbit runs into the brush.

Confused, I continue moving forward, following the amber rabbit’s path. My uniform continually snags on branches and thorny underbrush, a routine annoyance that happens when I find myself in the woods over and over again. As I bend to tuck my navy pant back into my combat boot, I see it again. The rabbit in the middle of a clearing, sitting atop a log. It cleans itself using its back leg. I know its him due to the blood staining around its mouth. 

I crouch down further, moving into the clearing as quietly as I possibly can so as not to disturb him as he shifts back. Bones and cartilage crack together as his body reforms into the man from earlier, his long marigold hair framing his pale, slender body, and as the moonlight hits him, he looks strangely beautiful. From his long, bloodied claws to his tongue that cleans around his crimson coated lips. Mesmerised for a mere moment by the movement, he touches the tip of his chin and licks down his chest with the appendage, lapping up the spilled viscera. His form is unnatural in a way that isn't entirely unappealing. 

He stands, glancing around himself but not noticing me. Thank the gods. He begins to walk towards the nearby river, and I wait for him to vanish before I follow suit. He steps on a stick, and I see him jump slightly, his tail standing on end. This must be why no one else in the department could catch him. It seems as though he has superhuman hearing, not unlike myself. The vamp lets out a relieved sigh, his breath clouding in the air. As he continues walking forward, the sound of running water greets my ears. 

Leaning over, he scoops up water between his thin fingers. He looks almost as though he doesn't eat, his bones nearly showing, though I assume its from all the time spent alone and running through this part of the woods that he doesn't see much food aside from the sheep and people he mauls. 

His fingers tuck beneath his white tank, and he peels it off his body, slick with sweat and almost glowing pale in the moonlight. He glances around himself again, his eye lingering over my space in the underbrush. I find my hand over my right side, above my misplaced heart, thumping rapidly beneath my skin. He must be able to hear it. Shit. I panic a moment, my heart accelerating further. Its not like I can move now, so I focus on my breathing, looking down as I allow myself time to recoup my body. For the love of the gods, I do not want to compromise this mission. 

I watch as he trails along the side of the river, and I find my chance to rise from the underbrush, hiding behind the thickest of the trees. He slings his tank over his left shoulder, humming softly to himself as he walks towards the waterfall at the end of the river. He has no shame. Blood still clots in his orange ringlets and stains down his gaunt chest, covered in brown freckles. 

Large spottings of brush and bushes coat the surrounding area of the short waterfall, and I watch as he tucks through the brush onto the other side, slipping out of my sight. I step out from behind my tree, glancing down at my watch. I know that I'm going to be home awfully late, but it will all be worth it.

I follow his tracks through the brush, allowing myself to track him much easier by the six toed bloody footprints. I spot him there, sitting in his shorts, dipping his feet into the water beyond the fall. He doesn't see me; thank the gods. 

He stands a moment, his back turned twoards me, and as he leans down, I see his spine protrude from his back. I sigh and slip my head back behind the rock that I find myself pressed against. My ears perk up as I hear the familiar zip of a zipper, and I glance around again, watching as his shorts fall to the ground, his back still turned to me. I find my eyes wandering down, and I note that he isnt wearing anything underneath, This man- I hide again, cursing my aching chest as I am racked with a feeling of deja vu, almost as though I am in his shoes and that he was once in the same position as I am. Odd. 

As I slip back out, I see him dunk below, combing through his hair with those spindly fingers. Blood rushes in droves through the rushing water, and he sings softly to himself. His voice is high and angelic in the most alluring way. A siren almost. He glances behind his shoulder, and his pupil dilates at the sight of me. I panic, clinging to my safe space

“You don’t need to hide, angel.” He murmurs in that singsong tone. 

 My breath hitches in my throat, and I make my way forward, glancing back to make sure he doesn’t see me again. Who cares at this point? He knows who's hunting him already. I hope to be the one who kills him too, not that any of my department's other vampire hunters have gotten any kills aside from me. I take one last look, and for a god forsaken moment, our eyes meet, and he smiles—a nasty blood soaked smile. 

I begin deciding that I’ll bring wooden stakes with me on my next hunt, and he won’t make it out alive. 

❥❥❥

I fiddle with the file in front of me as I listen to Duck hand out the cases for the day, and as I was expecting, he calls me up last. 

“Take all the time you need to prepare, Mayford. I’ll be in my office when you’re ready.” 

I simply nod, finishing the paragraph I was jotting down and capping my pen, preparing for the rehash I’m going to have to give the sheriff. 

As I sit down across from Duck, I slide over the file, its tan edges covered in spilled ink from my writing the night before. 

“I did my best to write down all that I saw." Well, maybe not all. “Everything I found essential is there.” 

“Wonderful,” he rasps, opening the folder and glancing over my cursive. “You’ve written a lot; you must’ve been on quite the chase last night." 

I nod, sliding my wedding ring on and off of my finger. My eyes trace the corkboard, and I sigh, hoping to complete this case fast and easy, though it almost never ends up that way.

“Did you come across anything that could prove why this man has been so elusive?’ He speaks softly, his eyes still scanning the document in hand. 

“Well, he has impeccable hearing.” Duck nods as I speak, glancing up to look at me. “He almost caught me several times.” 

I find myself standing, looking down at the sheriff. As I speak, I am excited to have found evidence no one else has. 

“But the main reason I believe he has so easily slipped between our fingers, sheriff- He’s a shapeshifter.”  

[trixree]

The brain worms are ON ONE tonight folks I am thinking about Cody/Maul/Obi-Wan post order 66 living on tattooine together

like what if Maul sought out Obi-Wan's Commander shortly after O66 to get obsessive freaky closure about how Obes died (feels robbed of the kill, generally mentally ill about it, etc.) and is like "he is useless to me with all this fucking Imperial programing in the way" and does Force Stuff to break Cody's chip and what if Cody Wakes Up and goes "I can use this fucked up little guy to get to my General, who I believe survived, and then I'll just kill him easy peasy and live happily ever after with my husband" so he tells Maul that Obi-Wan is probably alive, actually, and cue a really violent road trip of them retracing Obi-Wan's steps in the hours after O66 via Imperial intel and hyper competence on both of their parts and

OH NO WHAT IF THEY START TO FALL IN LOVE like the forced proximity of it all...LISTEN TO ME. the intimacy of fighting alongside someone and having a functional partnership that's turned Dependency on both of your part's because you were both Traumatized in surprisingly similar ways (raised as a tool of violence for someone else's purpose, same guy actually!) and also have a similar goal via your mutual obsession with this one guy and actually, he's not that bad for a sith/clone, and by the time they get wise to Luke's existence and gun it for Tatooine, Maul is like "if I kill Kenobi this is going to upset Cody. That is Unideal. Can i live with not killing Kenobi?" and Cody is like "I cannot kill him afterall, I like him too much, how the FUCK am I going to explain this to Obi let alone any of the mind control & sorry i tried to kill you shit"

and what if Obi-Wan kept Luke because Reasons and is just so goddamn thankful for some extra childcare help (Luke's in his terrible 2s and he's force sensitive -- Obi's more sleep deprived than he ever was during the clone wars) that he really doesn't give a shit at all that it's his ex that tried to kill him for some mystery reason and motherfucking Maul on his doorstep. help is help 🙏 and they bang and stuff of course okay I'm only human

[darlingsart]

I LOVE your patrochilles family. If you're up for it, would you draw Achilles and his bump?

Aw, I’m glad you like my patchilles family, they mean so much to me so thank you!! 🥹❤️

Here you go!

+ A Modern AU shitpost bc I didn’t know which AU you’d want to see ^^

[illiana-mystery]

28 is looking really good so far! 😁🥳🎂

[sam-loves-seb]

I’M SO EXCITED FOR CHAPTER 3 of I’m not the way I was!!!!! Can’t wait for you to write a book someday you are SLAYING bestie

oh this is so sweet 🥹🥹🥹 thank you so much anon, you have completely made my day 💙💙💙

i’m pretty excited for chapter 3 too 😏

• new chapter will be up monday 3/4 •

[espithewarlock]

For anyone who read my first Nymph!Pierre / Violinist!Charles story, the first chapter of the sequel is now up!

Trials & Tribulations

Pierre Gasly/Charles Leclerc, T, 2.6k (Chapter 1)

“I will be back after the winter, maman,” Charles quietly promised. He knew that he made an unusual sight for someone who was traveling, nothing but his heaviest wool coat and his violin case in his arms. His mother smiled and pushed a stray curl of hair behind one of his ears. “I’m happy for you,” she murmured, smiling softly. Charles smiled back. It was clear that his family understood that something was going on with him, had been going on with him ever since Jules and his father passed away. Doubly so ever since Arthur miraculously recovered from the guaranteed death sentence that was Juniper Disease. Yet none of them had ever asked. There were no inquiries on why he disappeared so frequently into the woods with nothing but his violin. No questions when he would hum a new tune under his breath while working in the kitchens. Not a single comment about how neither scalding nor freezing water seemed to impact him. There was only love and trust from his family, and Charles greatly appreciated their implicit acceptance. Not that he could even begin to explain Pierre. Not when he himself understood so little. He knew that Pierre was a water nymph. That he had given Charles his heart to save his brother. That Charles had given him his own heart in return. His body had changed that day. He was still himself, but he was also a part of Pierre. Inseparable. As soon as the weather began to turn colder, he knew that it was time to leave. Pierre never stayed on the Material Plane for the winter. He couldn’t, really. Not with his pond freezing over. So he always went back to his home in the Feywild until the world defrosted. Charles was a part of him, so Charles was going with him.

[onlyshestandsthere]

hi :) now that bmm is (sadly) over, will you be updating these walls come tumbling down weekly?

I will not, no. I was able to keep up with the weekly schedule for BMM pretty easily, but I have a lot more on my plate this year so I don't have as much writing time. I also want to get another fic up and running so I'll have two projects to work on, so some time will be devoted to that.

So basically I'll still be updating it regularly, just not so consistently that you can set your watch to it. Maybe every couple of weeks, that kind of thing. I'll have to see how it goes.

[bardic-inspo]

Last Line Tag!

Rules: in a new post, show the last line you wrote (or the last wip you drew) and tag as many people as there are words (or however many you like).

Tagged by the wonderful @totally-not-deacon <3 (and later @molliehaswords, thank you!!)

Uhh. Someone's monologuing and I wasn't sure where to cut him off. Not gonna tag for every word. But how about @bleumanouche, @twosides--samecoin, @wishbonemotel, @nomamonster, @thedomesticanthropologist, @peaches-n-screem, and @fayeriess if you'd like to share a line of whatever you wrote last! No worries if you'd rather not!

From Chapter 4 (title TBD) of Midnight Chimes (Astarion x Cursed!Tav).

“You thought the sunlight would burn it out of you. You thought your goddess could still save you. You’re on the road to Baldur’s Gate now with the hope, oh, the hope that the city will drown it out of you. Or, drown you for good. Which do you wish for more, I wonder?”

[chainsawseesaw]

Chapter Two

A Messy Weekend

❥❥❥

The sun slips in rays through my black curtains as prime dips above the horizon. Normally on an Extou I would sleep in as I don't work weekends, but the light seems to wake me early anyhow.  

I slip my bra over my shoulders and clasp it behind me as I make my way downstairs, starting the kettle and making my breakfast. Two eggs into a shot glass, whatever meat I have available into a pan, and coffee from the kettle into a mug. 

Creaking stairs greet me as I make my way back into the bedroom, setting down my meal on my dresser as I pull open my closet. I flip through my options before I decide on something simple, slacks, a red turtleneck, knee socks, and boots. 

Swigging back the shot glass of raw eggs, I feel the slimy texture greet my throat. I used to find it disgusting, but I’ve grown accustomed to the feeling. I slip a white trench coat over my outfit and tie my boots as I open the door and step out onto the porch. Abandoning the rest of my breakfast in favour of heading to a nearby cafe. 

The wind runs a chill through me, and the trees rattle, sending red leaves down across the yard. My fingers trail along one of the decorative pillars on my porch as I make my way down the stairs. My notebook tucked beneath my arm, and my cassette player tucked into my pocket. One earbud hangs around my pointed ear. 

The neighbourhood is quiet as I trail my way through it, walking slowly so as to breathe in the air of mid fall. My eye follows the horizon up into the clouds, prime barely making its way into the middle of the sky, showing me that folks should start to rise any moment now. Mesis should be making its appearance in the sky as I walk. Abandoning the neighbourhood and following the dirt trail instead of the more favoured paved path that cuts through town.

 The scenic route calls to me today, and as I duck into the familiar wooded arena, I lose sight of Mesis, hoping that when I emerge, I will find it no longer kissing the horizon.

 I begin to ignore the music that plays softly through my head as the birds and animals make their own chorus known, and I pause to simply take it in. I don’t get much time to myself to think anymore. Not since I've thrown myself into work full force. Since I lost enine, I-

My fingers dance around my wedding ring, worn on my right these days instead of my left. It’s been a few years now, and I still find my chest aching. 

Carrying myself off the dirt path and onto the main road, I find more stirring than I did before, a few waggons here and there, and a few other folks, not unlike myself, woke earlier than expected and took this morning for themselves. 

Few shops open before our second sun meets the second quarter of the sky, but my favoured cafe does, and for this I am deeply grateful. I find it funny that the place calls itself Jumpstart when it is often empty. Or home to folks like me who have trailed in before the day has started. 

Either way, as I make my way in, I am greeted by the usual quiet; however, I don’t recognise the barista as she calls out to welcome me. Must be a new hire. I take my usual seat at a table near the back bay window. 

I lay my notebook out on the table and start to note down the happenings of the week. Most of it passed by in a whirl that I barely remembered. Simple cases, simple days. 

A stolen horse was the biggest standout, aside from him. The vampire. It floods me for a moment—the memories of the hunt that I swore I could have finished if he wasn’t a damn shapeshifter. 

“This one is going to be difficult.” I mutter as I flip through my logs for the week before happening on a blank page. My thoughts blaze faster than I can write, and I once again find myself caught in the flurry of ink and paper as I tear through frantic page after frantic page. 

When my recount is complete, I find my wrist aching, and I lean back into the cushions nestled into the window nook. I glance around, noting that the other patrons seem to have both ended up here to read. Sipping lightly on cups and mugs, lost in their own worlds, unaware of the danger that prowls just below their noses. 

Steady cloud cover coats the suns outside the window, painting the rest of the morning in a dappled grey that makes me shiver. Longingly gazing out the window is doing me no favours at all, so I stand and make my way over to the counter. 

“Hi! What could I do for you?” The barista greets me in a singsong voice I don’t recognise, though it's uncanny how familiar it feels. 

“Um,” I glance her up and down for a moment. Her green eyes are just a bit too large for her face, and they seem much too vibrant. Looking at her makes my head hurt. "Sorry." Glancing down, I shake my head. “I just got the most odd feeling of deja vu.”

“Mmm,” The woman purrs a soft tune as she takes in my words, and as the vibrations hit my ears, I feel my feet shift back and forth. She purses her lips as she looks me up and down before shock threads its way through her features, though in a flash it disappears. “Odd.” 

“Yeah, um,” As I look up at the menu, I feel her gaze trail upon me, and my stomach spirals. “Can I just get an Americano? No, no food for me today.” The floor below me swims and threatens to knock me off my feet. What is wrong with me? 

She nods enthusiastically and responds with a simple “Mhm!” Her voice alone makes me queasy; something is off about this woman.

“I’ll bring everything to your table when it's done, alright?” She smiles just a tad too wide, and I take note of her razor-like teeth. 

“Thank you,” Before I can finish speaking, she giggles softly and walks into the back, leaving me alone with my strange unease. 

Sitting back down, I find that my nerves have already calmed. I find my pen back in my hand and start sketching, sketching down this odd woman. Though the lines pass in a blur, my hand carries itself without input from my brain as the face takes shape. The slender shoulders, the long ringlets, the sharp nose, the piercing green eye. He’s too similar to her, too odd. His face takes shape on the page instead of hers.

I sketch the woman out too, putting their faces side by side to confirm my suspicions. Same flex of the jaw, same barely pointed ears, same lips, same goddamn eye. Though the pair of them seems odd, could he really change his whole appearance like that? I suppose I shouldn't doubt his abilities. I’ve never dealt with a shapeshifter before. 

The barista makes their way over to my table and hands me my mug, but as I glance up, I realise it's a different person. The man I’m used to here. His long dreads tied behind him in a ponytail. 

“Hey, Ash.” 

He simply nods in return. 

“When did that new girl get hired?” 

“Oh, just a few weeks ago. She’s a real oddball, that one.” He responds, not really making eye contact with me as he gazes out the window. 

“She made me feel so uneasy.” I say, my voice wavering slightly. 

“Yeah, almost everyone here feels that way. She’s uncanny, always smiling.” He started. “Marissa in the kitchen says that she swears she sees Sam fluctuating, if that makes sense? Like her form changes. Though no one else has seen it happen.” 

I feel my brow furrow as I look back down at my sketchbook. “Can I talk to her?” 

“She just went home." Ash glances at my notebook, and I see him chewing on his cheek. “I’ll have her visit you.” 

I nod as he walks back into the kitchen, not remembering to mumble him a thank you as I shoot back my coffee as fast as possible. Packing up my things quickly, but not trying to draw attention to myself. 

My mug clinks as I slide it back onto the counter and make my way out the door and onto the street. A few people are still wandering about, umbrellas propped on their shoulders. I have no hood to protect myself from the rain, and instead I feel the water dribble down my neck and back. I’m thankful for my trench coat, though, as it keeps my notebook from getting wet as I tuck it into my chest. 

Fumbling with my keys makes me realise what a silly hurry I'm in. There’s nothing wrong; nothing has happened. But despite how easily my nerves calmed in the coffee shop, I now feel like every part of me is on fire. 

Slipping the key into the lock and twisting it with a click helps my heart just a little to be safe inside my home. I drop my notebook onto the counter and sit down on the couch, waiting for Marrisa and for Monday, when I can finally tell Duck what I saw. 

❥❥❥

A knock at the door startles me awake. My coat rests over my body like a blanket. As I sit up,the knock rattles my door again, and I make my way over to it. The woman who stands on my porch is short and stout. Her dark fawn hair slung over her shoulder in a thick, messy braid. I know this woman to be Marrisa, the cook at Jumpstart. 

“I didn’t expect you to be here today." A small chuckle escapes my lips. “Come in.” 

“I’m sorry, officer. I thought we were in a rush; Ash made it sound that way at least.” She said, fidgeting with her hands. 

“I’m not on the clock; you don’t need to be formal with me, and as for the rush, I guess you could say so.”

She glances around nervously for a moment before stepping over the threshold of my home and settling herself in my entryway. 

“Could I get you anything before we get started here, maybe tea?” 

She nods. “Tea would be great.” 

“Feel free to get comfortable as I put the kettle on.” I say as I make my way through the open entryway into my kitchen. 

Marissa nods and walks over to my couch, settling in and taking off her coat. She seems so distraught. It’s odd, to say the least. This case isn’t well known yet, but I wonder if my suspicion is correct and she’s been working with this monster. 

She takes the cup of tea and smiles softly, taking a slow sip before setting her cup down on the coffee table. 

“So Ash was telling me you've seen some strange things from your new coworker, Sam?” 

Her eyes flit around the room, out the window on a rainy day, at the archway to the kitchen, and then back to me. “Uh, yeah. It’s hard to explain.” 

“Just start with the first odd thing you saw.” I say, flipping through my sketchbook to the page with the newest sketches. 

“Well, when we first hired her, she was fine, though she did make most of the staff a bit uneasy. Her smile is just too wide.” 

Ink flows down onto my page as she talks. I attempt to write down everything she says word for word, and since she’s speaking rather slowly, I find the job quite easy. 

“As you already know, I work back in the kitchen; usually I’m the only one back there as Viv has a pretty spotty schedule. I’m used to it, though. Anyway, the first odd thing I saw was when Sam was on break. The break room is right next to the kitchen, and usually we keep the connecting door open so that it's easier for us to come and go. She was sitting around the table that we have in there; her back was turned to me, and it looked like she got taller? Like her body stretched out to how it was supposed to be.” 

My brow knits as she says this, and I find that she seems confused as well, though I assume it's for a different reason than myself. “How tall would you say she seemed to be?” 

“Um, around seven feet?” She ponders, tapping her foot on the floor. 

“Interesting.” I add in, thinking back to the height of the man in the forest. There’s no way these aren’t the same people. “Any other odd occurrences?” 

“Well, I have seen her face change, though it's always very minor.” She went on. “One of her eyes will be closer to her nose for a moment and then move back, or her neck will seem to get longer and shorter. They are all little things, but they are still noticeable. It's freaky. I don't want to work with her any longer, but she hasn’t technically done anything wrong, so it's not like we can fire her. We are just kind of stuck until she decides to leave on her own accord.” She glances back at the door again, still tapping her foot. 

“I think that's all I need from you, but I'll keep in touch if that's okay?” 

"Yeah, that's fine. Sorry if I seem a little peeved. I'm just glad someone else noticed this. Is it for a case?” 

"Well, it's not exactly public knowledge yet, so I can’t really tell you much, but yes, it's for a case.” 

“Good, I hope we can fire her.” She chuckles and stands up. “Well, I'll get out of your hair now.” 

I stand too, walking her to the door. “Take care of yourself; things are tough out there right now.” 

“I know, I know. We are all doing what we can.” 

I lean down and wrap my arms around her, and she does the same. We wave simple goodbyes as she leaves my home, and I head up to my study, hoping to make sense of what she’s told me.  

I find myself working much past my usual hours; the ticking clock is my only company. But I'm determined, despite my drooping eyelid. 

The matches strike with a familiar sizzle as I light a candle next to my work station, illuminating my papers and wax. God forbid that I fall asleep as I work. 

Firelight greets my eye as it flickers back open, taunting me as I struggle to rise from sleep. I wipe away the ink from my stained face in a futile effort and continue to write. Attempting to finalise what I want to say to Duck has been a pain, but I know I need to finish it in time for the sunrise, which I can already see slipping through the curtains. Time passes too quickly when you have a deadline. 

I struggle through paragraphs, wiping my tired eye, hands covered in ink. It's awful working this way, but it’s the only time I’ll have this weekend. My pen shakes in my hand as  I finish off the final sentences, thanking the gods that I can finally find some rest. 

Not bothering to change out of my day clothes, I lay down on my bed. The moment that the pillow meets my ink stained cheeks, I wink out, my dreams clouded with eyes and faces I don’t recognise but find familiar all the same. 

❥❥❥

“MayFord?” The sheriff utters, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Why are you here?” 

"Listen, it's urgent.” I urge, stepping forward towards him. “I’ve found new developments on the case, and you need to know now.” 

“Its late; you should,”

“Mesis has already risen.” 

Duck sighs and shifts to the side, letting me into his home. I take in a deep breath as I step through the entryway. His house is decorated like a beach house, and I figure it's to remind him of his home back in Argytos. 

He walks forward, his baggy pyjamas hanging limply off his frame as he sits down on the couch, gesturing for me to sit down across from him

His hospitality isn't great, but I suppose I should expect that from a man who has been woken in the early morning by a knock at the door. I’ve always had a bad habit of bothering him too early or too late, but this is a new low, even for myself.

“What have you brought in?” He asks, leaning back and turning to the side, letting a yawn escape his lips.

“I know where the vamp is working.” 

He turns back to me and leans forward on his knees, gesturing for me to tell him more. 

“I went out yesterday morning to take notes, and I saw him there, disguised, of course; he's smart.” Duck nods as I speak, his eyes scanning the space above me. I assume he is noting down what I tell him in his head. “He’s working down at Jumpstart. I talked to their cook, Marrissa, about what she’s seen. Apparently he’s been shifting on the job; if we could get anyone else's statements, we could maybe try to interview the vamp ourselves.” 

Duck looks sidelong at me for a moment before leaning forward once more. “Did you catch the vamp's name?” 

“Sam, though I'm sure it's an alias, there's no way it isn't.” 

He nods and leans back again, as though asking me to continue.  

“Sadly, that's all I have. Though I think it's a good start, I plan to go back and ask to talk to her. The only other thing I could think to mention is the odd feeling of deja vu he gives me, though I think it may just be a strange side effect of the shapeshifting.” 

“If that’s all you have to offer me, I would like it if you could leave my residence now.” Duck stands and walks towards his staircase, gesturing for me to leave. 

“But, aren't you going to write anything down? Shouldn't we discuss this further?” I retort as he walks up the stairs. 

“We can continue on Primtas when you come in for work; go take a break, Klara. I know you tend to overwork yourself.” He says as he walks upstairs, his back turning as he turns into his room and shuts the door, leaving me alone in his foyer. 

I stand and brush myself off, despite the complete absence of dirt, and I continue forward to the front door. Out on his porch, I take in a deep sigh and start my walk home. Deciding to take the rest of this weekend to myself.

[the-silence-agenda]

IT’S FINALLY HERE, The Silence Agenda Ch 1-3 drops tomorrow, 4/10/23!

It’s taken a bit longer than expected to get this project off the ground, but I am so so so excited to finally be sharing this with the world! Tomorrow, I will be dropping the first THREE chapters of the book for you all to enjoy! After that, regular updates will take place Wednesdays/Fridays/Sundays until the book is complete!

https://www.wattpad.com/user/WinFletcher

Nyx is a trained assassin. Avery is a struggling grad student. When two strangers move in together to save on rent in Seattle, they are determined to stay out of each other's lives. Avery isn't looking for a friend; they just want to finish grad school so they can start their life for real. Nyx is just trying to take out their latest target without arousing suspicion, and it could be their chance to get out of the murder business once and for all. Some things just aren't simple. Tensions immediately run high and Nyx and Avery soon find that you can only share a small apartment for so long before secrets start to slip through the cracks. Some of them may be deadly.

Over the next couple of months, I will be slowly releasing this book, a few chapters a week, until the entire book is available to read on Wattpad! Once the entire book is up, I’ll take it off Wattpad to publish as a regular e-book. Which means that RIGHT NOW, during its time on Wattpad, it’s COMPLETELY free! It also means it’s kind of in beta stages still, and subject to possible changes before it is actually published. Which really means you’re getting to read a sneak peek!  

Any support you can give is welcome, whether by reading, dropping a comment or two (or fifty) on Wattpad, messaging me to yell about it, or interacting with me on other platforms! Currently, The Silence Agenda is completely free to read, but you are more than welcome to drop support on my ko-fi at https://ko-fi.com/win0813 ! Also follow me here, or on my Instagram, @ winsketches_ for more information OR join my mailing list via my website https://prfletcher.weebly.com/

Tumblr hates links so please spread the word if you can! And thank you again for reading!

[pinkrelish]

Predictions based on Pinterest:

1) Adrie loses her first tooth and Miss Mouse has to make it extra cute & over the top

2) Adrie gets ahold of the scissors and gives herself a haircut (as I did at that age lmaoo)

3) is this marathon occurring on Valentine’s Day because 👀

4) pregnancy (scare???)

5) Adrie gets a hyper-fixation on McDonald’s after one happy meal and an hour in the ball pit. Maybe even their first family outing.

oooo, some interesting predictions in here!

[cosmically-powered-starscream]

Noone:

Average Seeker enjoyer:

[allylikethecat]

https://x.com/cryingstarfish_/status/1756306631996899425?s=46 sorry for spamming you with tweets but im creasing shshshhshdhshshshshss ducklings propaganda is strong

I'm dying 😂 Fictional!Matty says don't get any ideas Fictional!George he is ONLY HAVING ONE OKAY?! I love how we're finding ducklings references in the wild now though lol thank you so much for sending this in! (The link to the Tweet is HERE) Also I apologize for the delay in response- I've been out of town and I'm not really a fan of trying to answer / formatting asks on my phone. Not that I do anything special with the formatting I just... I'm a millennial I like doing things on the computer lol

Hopefully I'll be able to get back into the groove of writing now that I'm back home! (I also feel like I've missed so many tour happenings?! I haven't really been online and when I have been I have temporarily returned to my internet roots as a raging sports girlie lol If anyone wants to catch me up on the highlights I would be forever grateful...)

Thank you so much for sending this my way! I'm so flattered that you saw it and thought of me and my little fic 🥰 Thank you for reading and have a FANTASTIC week!

❤️Ally

[hazelmaines]

ch. 17: long road to ruin

just what i needed / haladriel modern bible camp au / rated e / 76k words

It's emergency contraceptive time at Bible camp. And Hal has nightmares about the lake of fire, because who wouldn't?

[espithewarlock]

HI! Just wanted to say tbat take me with you is so so good 👌🫶

I love it so much and the dynamics between them all is so wonderful

Even if I do want to kick Danny's ass lol

Wondering as this seems? To be a series

Will there be like a follow up?

Cause I need Danny to get his shit together and that they (maxiel) kind GET a Happy ending but only if Danny is not a dickhead, I hope he has a good reason lol 😤😤😅

I am also so curious about alex,geroge, and lewis whole thing. Like can someone just sorta push them into a closet lol

But seriously everything I get a notification this fic is updated, I basically drop everything and is reading it as fast as I can 🫶🫶🫶

Love it and can't wait to see how this whole thing evolves 🫶🫶🫶

Hello!! 💚 I am SO thrilled every time someone tells me they're enjoying this story and, don't worry, I want to kick Danny's ass too. (He's being very annoying, isn't he?)

Not to spoil too much, BUT a lot of your concerns will start to be alleviated in the next chapter! (and Max literally pushed Alex into Lewis in the chapter that was posted today so...😇)

To answer your series question - yes!! This is a series, but the next fic will look backwards into the Piarles relationship. It covers how they get together, shows a little more of how omegas are treated in the world outside of their pack bubble, how the pack gets formed, and more! It'll start posting after Take Me With You is done and I hope everyone who likes that fic will join me for this one too!

Outside of that, I don't have anything planned for this universe. However, I am incredibly suggestible and will accept any prompts that people drop in my inbox here on Tumblr! (Once Take Me With You is done posting, of course!)

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this lovely ask in my inbox!! 💚

[boinin]

*screaming*

HIOOOORIIIIIIII 😫😭😆😁🥳🔥⚽

*confused, normal volume*

Sendooooou? 🤨🤔🤷‍♀️🥳🍣

*quietly*

Kiyora 😔