#one crack rock for you *charges you $200 and tosses it in your window*

[absolutely-not-my-main-blog]

Another s16 crack "theory" totally real totally legit not clickbait: Mac’s long distance bf is a catfish, but it turns out to be Cricket because Mac was also catfishing, pretending to be someone rich and famous, and when they were supposed to finally meet, Cricket was just gonna rob the guy blind, (but then when it turns out to be Mac, maybe at first they're like okay let's just pretend this never happened, but then they're like unless... and the first guy Mac ever ends up sleeping with (on screen) is Cricket).

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

One Night🌙10

Warnings: noncon sexual acts, angry Andy, hormones

This is dark!Andy Barber and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: One night changes your entire life.

for @kittykatlow​‘s 200 Follower Celebration

Note: Another update? Who is this bitch actually trying?

Hope you enjoy it. Thank you. Love you guys!

Please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

The bus chugged down the city streets as you sat closer to the back. You stared out the window and watched the grey sky of Nelson hanging overhead, a cloudy backdrop to the smoking city. 

You sighed every now and then, trying to forget the beeping and when it stopped. You still felt Andy’s hand on your back and the suffocating silence of the drive home. The burden of the dead woman on your shoulders.

It was as if it had been years since you saw the slightly crooked pole that held the bright sign. The bus stop was as desolate as ever, the dirty bench marked with spray paint and the shelter glass cracked. You set off around the corner past the house. Each was familiar but not comforting.

Your hips hurt from the stiff ride and you rubbed your stomach. You wore one of Andy’s hoodies under your open jacket, the zipper of the latter no longer meeting. You stopped in front of your parents’ house. You hadn’t asked permission; not from your mother, your father, or Andy. There was no courtesy phone call so you hesitated, afraid you might be sent away.

It was noon. Your father would be in the garage. He always had some project going. That was his work. He was cheaper than any other mechanic in the city, he just did it all from home. He could recycle parts from the junkyard and charge half price. They usually did better than the newer parts sent away for down at the Jiffy.

You walked up the driveway, the garage door was only halfway open, the bite of the late autumn, rather the early winter, mingled with the warmth flowing under the metal. You tapped on it with your knuckles, “dad?” you called.

You stepped back as his oily hands gripped the bottom and he hauled it up entirely. He tilted his head at you but couldn’t hide his smile. He looked at your stomach and you dropped your hand. He drew you to him before you could react. He hugged you tight and rocked you.

“Your mother’s gonna be mad you didn’t call before you came,” he let go of you and looked you over again.

“Mad that I’m even here,” you remarked.

“No, she might act like it but…” he waved you into the garage and rolled over the little stool he sat on when he was working. He helped you sit and put his wrench on the plywood table against the wall, “she missed you. We both did.” he wiped his hands on his jeans, “you could have called us. You know how she is. She feels before she thinks.”

“She kicked me out,” you felt precarious on the little rolling stool, “you let her.”

“So why’d you come back?” he asked.

You hung your head and hugged your stomach, “well, I’m having your granddaughter. I didn’t want you to find out from anyone but me.”

“It’s a girl?” he grinned.

“Sorry, wish I could give you a boy to get all filthy in this place,” you shrugged.

“You never minded getting your hands dirty,” he neared and grasped your shoulder.

“Yeah, guess it doesn’t matter too much, she’ll be as curious as any kid,” you said.

You were quiet as you looked around. Your dad’s rolling chest of tools was dented and rusted, the same one he’d had your whole life. The place hadn’t changed, only the car sitting in it.

“That’s not the only reason you’re here,” he said. Your father was a simple man but he wasn’t dumb.

You frowned and felt a prick in your eyes. The hormones, you told yourself, they were getting to you.

“I need you guys,” you said quietly, “is that so bad?”

“I missed you, you’re mom did too, she’s just stubborn. Think that’s where you get it,” he turned his hand over and held it out to you, “but she won’t turn you away.”

“You sure?”

“I won’t let her. Not this time,” he bent and took your hand, “now come on.”

You let him help you to your feet and he led you through the side door into the house. You heard your mother’s old Patsy Cline CD droning from the box speakers on the shelf as she muttered to herself. 

Your dad kicked the dirty off his boots and you slipped your own off. You followed him and peeked over his shoulder as he went to the living room. Your mother was wiping down the framed picture from your high school graduation.

“I got a surprise for you,” he announced as he stepped aside and beckoned you in alongside him, “and she’s got a surprise for you.”

Your mother turned and froze. Her lips formed a straight line and her eyes pierced you. She didn’t say anything as he stared at you then tossed the dusting cloth onto the table beside the lamp. She looked down at your feet.

“You remembered to take your shoes off,” she said.

Your lips parted and your chest gripped. She was still mad.

“You remembered us,” she swept over to you so quickly, you flinched. She hugged you and her middle met yours. She let go and looked down at your stomach. Her eyes were sad but not angry, “I’m…” she lifted her head and met your gaze, “I’m not good at saying it but I’m sorry.”

You watched her for a minute. She was still her mother as nasty as she’d been. You could see her regret and it coupled with your own. It didn’t fix everything but for her, it was a lot.

“I’m sorry too,” you breathed, “it was… me being stupid started all of this. I just didn’t know what to do.”

“You gotta tell her,” your dad intoned.

You glanced at him then back to your mom. You gulped, “we found out yesterday, it’s a girl.”

“We? And where is… he?” your mother bristled.

“Working,” you said.

“We went to the diner, they said you quit. The café too,” your mom batted away lashes, “please, sit.” She touched your stomach, “you’re so big.”

“Five months, I think,” you said as you let her take you to the old floral sofa, “and the doctor recommended I take it easy so I had to… leave.”

“Oh? Is something wrong with the baby?” she picked up her cloth again and resumed her dusting. Your father quietly excused himself.

“No, just me,” you leaned against the arm, “but they said my blood pressure is getting better, just have to check it now and again.”

“And that man? The least I can say is at least he’s taking responsibility, even if he is married,” your mom hung the picture back on the nail.

“It was a mistake,” you said, “but you know, I think it’s taught me a lot. Not that it was worth it.”

“I don’t mean to rag on you, but… it’s just not how it should be,” she went to the television stand and focused on the edges.

“You think I don’t know that. Mom, I didn’t come here to argue my morality. I came here…” you paused as you felt your phone buzz. You slid it from your jacket pocket and checked the ID; Andy. You ignored it and dropped it back inside, “I just wanted to see if you had any interest in your granddaughter.”

She spun back and her face wrinkled with sadness. She twisted the cloth and retreated to the rocking chair and sat. She chewed her lip and looked at the floor. When she looked at you again, her brows crinkled.

“I’m trying,” she said, “but what you did, I don’t know if I can’t get over that. That man, everyone knows him, and when it comes out, with his wife still in a coma, you don’t think about what that does to us.”

“Well,” your throat constricted and you held back the hot tears bubbling behind your eyes, “she’s not anymore.”

“What?”

“She… she passed last night,” you sniffed, “and I’ll admit that I came here as much for me as you. I just needed… needed to get away. Just for a little.”

Your phone went off again and you grunted as you pulled it out and swiped away the second call from Andy. You kept the phone in your hand and rested it against your thigh.

“I just need time,” your mom leaned back heavily.

“Well, it’s quickly running out,” you replied, “she’s gonna be here soon enough.”

“I know,” she said grimly, “I know.”

There was another silence and your phone twitched. You turned it over and checked the message on the screen; ‘why don’t you invite your parents for dinner if you’re not gonna answer me?’ You let the phone slip between your legs and slowly raised your eyes. How did he know?

“I can go, if it’s too much,” you said, “I didn’t expect to get past the front door, honestly.”

“It’s not-- you’re still my daughter,” she uttered, “and even if it’s not the best situation, you got my granddaughter too.”

Your phone began to shake between your legs and you huffed, “sorry,” you stood with effort as you snatched the phone up, “just a second.”

You went into the dining room and answered. You hissed into the phone, “what do you want, Andy?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going there?” he asked sharply.

“How do you even know? You following me?” you kept your voice low.

“I know, that’s all,” he retorted, “it is… surprising.”

“They’re my parents,” you scowled at the tabletop as you leaned on a chair.

“Mine, too, right? Considering--”

“Andy,” you warned, “come on. Let’s cut this out--”

“Invite them for dinner. You’re right. Our kid will need her grandparents,” he interrupted, “I’ll get off early and help.”

“I don’t think--”

“Invite them,” he demanded, “and don’t take the bus back. I’ll send you the money for a cab.”

“Jesus, I can take care of myself--”

“No, you can’t, which is why you’re sleeping under my roof. And this isn’t about you, it’s about the baby,” he exhaled and you heard a squeak of metal, likely a chair, “Now I want you home by two. I’ll be there shortly after.”

He hung up before you could argue. You closed your eyes and forced down the angry bile in your chest. You shuttered and tucked the phone back in your jacket. How did he know you were there?

🌙

Your parents agreed to dinner. Your mother wasn’t subtle that she was curious to see Andy’s house. Her judgement was always her driving motivation and you were certain she could find something to hate, even in the suburban utopia. 

You took the bus out of defiance and brewed with anger as you got off just outside the cul-de-sac. You walked the single block to Andy’s and paced like an angry lioness inside.

He arrived at three, just after. Your anxiety boiled with anger and you stopped to face him as he entered. You watched him put down his briefcase and hang his long black coat. Your nostrils flared as you braced yourself for the onslaught ready to spill forth.

“So, you weren’t following me?” you challenged.

“I was working,” he said quietly, “to pay for all of this…” he pointed to the ceiling, “and that,” he pointed to your bump.

“No, Andy, you don’t get to do that every time,” you snarled, “how did you know?”

He didn’t answer and brushed by you. You followed him into the kitchen as he went to the coffee machine and pressed the buttons bluntly. You watched him from a foot away, your hand on the cold marble.

“You can’t just ignore me. How did you know I was there?”

“Because…” he grabbed a mug and filled it with water. He poured it into the machine and snapped the lid shut, “because you have my baby and I have a right to make sure you don’t take it from me.”

“That’s not an answer,” you sneered, “Andy, I have done everything you’ve wanted. I have stayed here, I have quit my jobs, I have kept this baby for you, and you… you’re what? Tracking me like a dog?” You reached into your back pocket and slammed your phone on the counter. You slid it over to him, “when did you do it?”

His jaw ticked as he put a pod into the machine and hit start. He tapped his fingers on the counter and let out a long breath through his nose. He turned to you and crossed his arms.

“After you stayed out that night. I couldn’t worry like that again. I had to know,” he said staunchly, “because I’ve had a wife go out and not come back. A child--”

“I’m not your wife and I won’t ever be. This child is all we have in common,” you rebuffed, “even after last night. What you did, that doesn’t change things.”

You nearly tripped as he marched towards you. He had you against the far wall, his hand planted on either side of your head as his anger rippled across his forehead and set his jaw square. You pressed yourself against the pure white wall and tried not to wither.

“I did that for you,” he breathed, “I’ve done everything for you. Don’t act like you’re the only one doing shit.”

“Andy, get away--”

“No,” he punched the wall and you gasped, “my wife is gone. Jacob is gone! This is all I have; you, my daughter…that’s everything and I will be damned if I’m going to let you take any of it away from me.”

“You’re scaring me,” you wisped, “Andy, please--”

“No, you shut up and you listen. This is the last time we have this conversation. Your parents are coming and you’re going to be good. You’re going to wear something nice, you’re going to cook something good, and you’re going to smile. You don’t let them see you crack, not once.”

“You can’t--”

“Enough!” he hit the wall again and you heard it crumple under the force, “if you don’t, they won’t be around. Ever. Do you understand me?” you gaped up at him and trembled, you shook your head in disbelief. He leaned in and spoke softly to you, “Understand that I will make sure you and no one else ever sees them again.”

“You… wouldn’t…”

“I could. I will. You’re fucking bitch of a mom deserves it,” he hissed, “so, honey,” he growled the second word, “what’s it gonna be?”

Your lip quivered and you searched his face. The rage had his blue eyes alight and his breath rasped out like animalistic snarls. You thought of Laurie, of how blank he’d been when they stopped the machines. And that smile, after. What was that?

“I’ll… be good,” you murmured, “I will.”

His lips twitched and he shoved himself away from you. He stomped over to the fridge and took out the light cream. He added it to his mug of fresh coffee and stirred. You stood straight shakily and looked up at the hole beside your head.

“Well,” he said, “better figure out what you’re making for dinner. Our guests won’t be long.”

[ginnyzero]

Completely Harmless Ch. 54

Completely Harmless An SSO SilverGlade Re-imagining Story (Or Fix it Fan Salt fic) By Ginny O.

When Lily and her friends wanted to buy horses and were directed to the Silverglade Manor and its myriad of problems, they didn’t expect to start a revolution. They were just a bunch a stable girls. Completely harmless. Right?

A/N: Things are only canon if I say they’re canon. Pre-Saving the Moorland Stables compliant for the most part. Posted in its entirety on my website. Posted in 2000 to 4000 word bits here. Rated T for Swearing Word Count 177,577

Chapter Fifty-Four CHILL-ax during Happy Horse Week!

The decorations were approved by other clubs while the few votes against them were roundly ignored. It helped that gave everyone a goodie bag and had a snack table set up with their treats and cups of apple cider mixed with ginger ale. The marble balloons had been turned into arches and pillars. She’d borrowed the flag banners from Jorvik Stable to show off what things would look like complete with hay bales.

The Councilman hadn’t been too happy about the hay bales, but Kate had promised to clean.

Everyone was relieved that Lily was okay. And they were more than willing to take shifts at the council house in order to help make the decorations they needed between breaks in training. Training that was more important than they realized.

In fact, it was Herman that clued Lily in as she waited her turn to run through the show jumping event set up in the Arena.

“Really looking forward to seeing all you girls at the County Fair this year,” he said with a big grin on his face. Leaning against the fence of the riding arena he looked almost lazy as he watched the girls.

Lily looked down at him and put a hand on her horse’s neck. “Herman, I think you’re forgetting that most of us have never lived here before. Or should I be asking Linda or Pauline?”

Herman glanced up, the grin didn’t fade. “Didn’t forget. Didn’t know you didn’t know.”

Lily rolled her eyes. Her stallion tossed his mane.

“There’s an eventing contest held at the County Fair every year. It’s the first qualifier for the Claymore Challenge. Every club comes and tries out. Course, last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, was just the Bobcats and the Bulldogz. Be nice to see them have a bit of competition.”

Lily’s brow furrowed. “But we’re collecting ribbons,” she said slowly drawing it out.

“Gotta train your horse and get it into condition so it knows what it’s doing. Practice is one thing, Lily girl, doing exhibition is another. The lights, the crowds, you don’t know how your horse is going to react. Depends on the crowd too.” Herman sucked his teeth. “Yep, some mighty fine riders in practice can’t make it through exhibitions.”

Lily pressed her tongue to her back teeth and looked off to the side as her brows furrowed. “Qualifiers,” she said after a few moments and not coming into any conclusions.

“Yep, helps me winnow it down. I know you’re all doing well in your ribbons. You can’t all go to the Claymore Challenge as much as I’d like to send you all. One Club per county. Thems the rules.”

Lily looked down at him. “I wasn’t given any rule list when I made the club. How many members are we allowed to have maximum anyways?”

“Fifty.”

Lily blinked. There went the plan to merge clubs to get around that pesky rule. “Well, we’re a bit beyond 100 people, Herman. I think we’re hitting closer to 200.”

Herman grinned. “And you wouldn’t believe how proud I am of that, all of you choosing to leave Moorland and form clubs to help out the district. Brings a tear to me old eyes, it does.”

Lily snorted. She shifted her attention. Tracey rode around the track keeping her posture upright as her stallion took the turns.

“You’re doing good things,” Herman rocked back and forth on his feet.

“If you say so,” Lily glanced back at him.

“You don’t think so?”

“I think I’m doing what needs to be done whether it’s good or bad, I can’t say.” Lily gripped the reins in her hands turning them over between her fingers. “I’m doing the best I can or we are, or I hope we are. One never knows. You have a lot of things you don’t tell newcomers, like, qualifiers being at the County Fair.”

Herman chuckled. “You’re revitalizing this county.”

“You didn’t need me for that, you just needed to act.”

“Mrs. X of CHILL wants to meet you,” Herman said.

“Fancy that,” Lily said in a dry voice. “I’m not surprised.”

“Alone.”

“Of course,” Lily murmured. “Because what other way do you meet the leader of a secret organization that,” she paused. “What does CHILL do?”

“Put nails in the road for G.E.D.,” Herman said.

“Your horse idioms are so lovely, Herman,” Lily said. “Where is she?”

“Observatory 12 in Epona.”

Lily backed her stallion away from the fence. “And let me guess, she wants to see me as soon as possible.”

“You know how this works.”

“Way too many crime shows, way, way too many.”

Herman laughed.

“How cliché can you get?” Lily muttered and nudged her horse into a trot. The nearest transport to the Observatory was in Crescent Moon Village she thought. Hillcrest and the Dews Farm in Epona were getting transports set up still. Hillcrest’s was in need of a major repair since someone had tried to use the truck to ram the wall. (It hadn’t worked.)

She took the transport to Crescent Moon Village and went directly down the road through the Marsh and up the side of the mountain to the Observatory perched on the edge of the Cauldron opposite of Hillcrest.

Dismounting, she opened the huge doors of the observatory a crack and slipped inside.

It wasn’t as dark as she’d thought it be. Sunlight streamed in through the small windows illuminating the place.

“I’m glad you came,” Mrs. X said from the middle of the room. She smoothed the skirt of her ankle length green dress, but a deep hood obscured her face.

Lily stepped closer. Mrs. X’s face was also covered with a mask. Crossing her arms, Lily stopped. “I don’t deal with people who hide their faces.”

“My identity is a closely guarded secret, one I’d like to keep that way.”

Lily pressed her lips together. “You’re either trying to recruit me. Or, you have a message for me. Spit it out one or the other.”

“You’ve impressed me.”

“Funny, you don’t sound impressed.”

“You’ve interfered with a major operation. Hillcrest is only a small part of the G.E.D.’s plans for the Harvest and Epona Districts. You’ve set me back months of work.”

“You, lady, are a vigilante.” Lily lifted a finger off of her arm. “You run around in the shadows not sharing information with the authorities, and causing more problems than you solve because you won’t work within the boundaries of the law.”

“The law has failed us.”

“So, Bernie Winterwell didn’t want to leave his house and was happy to be bribed. Was it a moral failing? Or is House of Winterwell in dire straits? Or is there another reason? I don’t know. I don’t care. If Baron Winterwell isn’t doing what you need to do, you go to Count Marchenghast.”

“He’s ill. The Countess is overwhelmed. They’re too young and inexperienced to handle the G.E.D.”

Lily’s lips parted. “Really? Because, Mrs. X., I’m what, sixteen, and I’ve handled them just fine by oh, seeing that they don’t have the proper paperwork or you know, put people in actual danger and taken this to the people in charge like the Rangers and the nobles who run this county and they’ve managed to take care of things with the information me and my girls have provided them. I do not feel that the people of Hillcrest are an acceptable sacrifice so you can try to stop the grander scheme and get the higher ups.”

“You are too young to understand.”

“I understand that right now you’re no better than the druids, most of whom, also wear hoods and also, who I will not have anything to do with unless they show their faces. Here’s my message to you, it’s the same one I gave to Elizabeth Sunbeam. You lead and take action instead of observing and waiting. You follow. Or you get the hell out of my way. The people of Hillcrest will not thank you for standing by and watching.”

“Jarlaheim is in great danger. You don’t understand how great.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Yes. We know. You remember Mayor Elaine. She was in Hillcrest. She knew what Ms. Drake was up to. Ms. Drake has been arrested. Given her lawyers, she probably won’t be in there for long. But it’s a good way to stall them and give time for Mayor Elaine to recover and take control over Jarlaheim.” Lily turned on her toe and grabbed the door. Pulling it open, she looked over her shoulder. “Come out of the shadows, Mrs. X, and into the light.” She walked out shutting the door gently behind her.

“People,” she said to her stallion.

He whuffled.

Lily mounted and turned him around down the mountain. “Vigilantism, peh.”

He nodded his head.

“Jarlaheim is in great danger,” Lily mocked. “Gee, you think? I mean, there aren’t four dig sites around the place, probably illegal dig sites, run by the G.E.D. if it’s not in great danger. Like, I don’t have girls in every stable and town and farm in this county by now. And do you know what we teenage girls like to do?”

He knocked his ear back seemingly interested.

“Share information. People might call this gossip. Because they only hear about who is dating who and who is fighting and what embarrassing thing happened to so and so this week. But there is important information among the trivia.” She patted his neck. “Sometimes, if the mare is fat, it’s not that she’s actually fat, she’s pregnant.”

He whinnied.

“Exactly, you get it.” Lily let him trot down the road. “Diabolical corporations. Aliens. Witches. Ghosts. Aliens running diabolical corporations. Druids. Chipmunks and squirrels as spies. Magic horses. Now vigilantes.”

He nodded his head.

“Nahnahnahnahnahnahnah, Batman!”

Her horse whinnied again.

She quieted as she got out of the marsh and into the village. She hummed “Spider-man, spider-man, does whatever a spider can,” under her breath as they passed Hayden’s house.

She took the transport back to Jorvik Stables.

When Herman asked her how it went, she replied with, “It went.”

--

The decorations were ready in time for Happy Horse week, if barely. Barney had helped them by using the vinyl wall art to make plywood versions of the horse silhouettes with his wooden scroll saw. He’d also made them horse heads to vary up the horse shoes and hang their smaller horse garlands from. They weren’t allowed to touch his saw. They could lose fingers if they weren’t careful. Plus, he was making the silhouettes five or six at a time to save time. Each stable and town had at least one of each galloping, show jumping, and dressage silhouette. Carney Summers had been busy making race signs for everyone.

But everything was painted, glittered, glued together, whatever needed to be done in time to decorate for the week. Metal and plastic buckets had ribbons and bows on them. Plastic helmets also had bows and rhinestones and gold trim. They wrapped fancy striped ribbons in Jorvik national colors around every extra haybale they were strewing about for decorations. (And handy seating for the tired parents.)

So, the day before Happy Horse Week was also busy instead of training, they were decorating and making sure everything was out and just so. They’d put together plenty of snacks for the tables and had decided that mint candies went in predominantly blue favor cones, and granola went in predominantly green favor cones.

Putting together the selfie walls had been a bit easier now they were at the third time around. They used the triangular and horse shoe garlands to drape the circle. Put plenty of championship ribbons on the upper left hand side. Put together a pillar or arch out of marble balloons and made sure there were hobby horses and stuffed plushies (fresh from Fort Pinta) out for people to use as props.

Agnetha has pursed her lips at the arches of balloons in front of the rose archway and on each side of the bandstand, but she hadn’t said anything dire.

Thinking ahead, they set up the pavilion so people could decorate their own buckets and helmets if they wanted to do so. They even had championship ribbons for name badges.

They had to rearrange the jumps in the riding arena. (That gave them time to decorate it.) Though the Rose Arches remained firmly in place. And put together the special race tracks for the cross country races through the grape fields.

It was a good thing that they had extra decorations and banners, because just in time for Happy Horse Week, the Silverglade Oval Track was ready to open and it needed to be decorated as well.

Pia and Ingrid sent pictures of the Art Show and Flea Market respectively. Everything was horse themed! Pia had plenty of exclamation points. She never asked for it to be that way!

They had to help transport the cake from Ma Anna’s Pastry Shop in Firgrove all the way to Moorland. They transported it in separate tiers thank goodness, but they still wanted an escort for some reason. When it was put together, the bottom three tiers were sold colored, there was a blue tier, a green tier, and a white tier. Then the top two tiers, one had stripes, and the smallest was white with green and blue polka dots. They stuck a large golden harp in the top of it as a topper.

The tables for the Moorland feast were set out. And there were extra tables so they could set out the grab bags, horse masks, party hats, and horse ears for the kids. The Farmer’s Market bustled with happy people who were more than happy to put up another tent for the Carnival games of bobbing for apples, pig pen, horse shoes, hobby horse races, and pin the tail on the horse. They had a special spot for the pinatas (and plenty of them.) And a booth all set up so everyone could get their face painted.

Realizing they’d forgotten prizes for said games, Kate and her club ran to Jorvik City to get more of the prizes like they had in the grab bags. (Because why not try to collect them all, according to Regina. She was roundly reminded, again, that this wasn’t Pokemon!)

The Timber Wolves escorted Andy’s petting zoo down and helped him set it up at the same time they brought down the cake.

It was quite the whirl of activity.

No one was sure who exactly hid the Golden Horse Shoes, only, that they were hidden.

So, everyone was excited the first day of Happy Horse Week, despite the fact that they’d had to make a schedule so there were people minding the races, giving beginning riding lessons, doing the lunge informational event, the craft pavilion, and the snack booth.

“Where do we want to go first?” Was the biggest question. Firfall was having a jousting demonstration at their medieval fair. There was the County Fair to check out too with all the food, and booths, and games, and they had to keep an eye on the competition up there with the eventing qualifiers. Or, they could go to Moorland and get a slice of carrot cake or apple spice cake (or both) and go straight to the Farmer’s Market to do games there. Or, they go to Fort Pinta and grab Token Takes Jorvik, buy a horse plushy if they didn’t already have a stuffed lovie of their own and start on the different challenges, plushy vacation pictures, Andy’s Geocaching, and Hayden’s Spider Hunt.

More than a few of them though were bowing out of Hayden’s Spider Hunt.

“No thank you,” they said.

They knew they’d see all of it. It was a matter of did they want to watch a pie eating contest at the County Fair or not? There was going to be a demonstration of a flat track oval race too that sounded interesting. They all agreed that they wanted to see the horse rubber duck race. That sounded too funny not to see.

The last day was the Light Ride.

It was with light hearts that they made their schedule and took to explore the county during Happy Horse Week. (They had Golden Horseshoes to find!) The first place they had to go was the Silverglade Oval Track ribbon cutting ceremony!

--

Loretta shifted her weight on top of her white stallion, the pink of her showjumping jacket setting off her fair complexion. Lily cynically thought that was the reason why the Bobcats colors happened to be pink. Loretta looked good in it. Loretta glanced over at her. “What are you doing here?”

Lily tugged down the sleeves of her own showjumping jacket, light purple. (Thought she’d the option of a dark purple or mulberry color.) “Same as you, I suspect. Claymore Challenge qualifiers.”

Loretta’s eyes widened. “No. No. You can’t. Your clubs are too,” she trailed off.

“Too what? We’ve qualified. We’ve earned the ribbons.” Lily looked down her nose at her. Had Loretta forgotten about the fact that more clubs meant more competition?

“You haven’t been around long enough to train your horses to be competition ready,” Loretta curled her lip. “You’ve been too busy doing other things.”

Lily leaned forward a bit resting her weight on her folded hands. “Not for the last month, month and a half. You don’t want to train for more than a couple hours every day and risk hurting the horse.”

“But you couldn’t have earned enough ribbons.”

Lily smirked at her. “I did.”

“That’s not right.” Loretta frowned.

“Take it up with Herman.” Lily shrugged. She tilted her head.

The Announcer’s voice rang out. “President of the Bobcats, Loretta.”

“You’re up,” Lily told her.

Rattled, Loretta nudged her stallion into a trot to take the arena.

Lily narrowed her eyes and watched. Either Loretta wasn’t as good as she claimed to be or Lily’s appearance as the next competitor after her had truly rattled her. She missed several jumps knocking down the bars.

When Loretta came off the field she looked furious. She stopped her horse by Lily. “If someone like you who isn’t even from Jorvik keeps me from going to the Claymore Challenge again,” she started.

“Again?” Lily raised a brow. “Last I checked the rules, Jorvik citizenship wasn’t required to compete, only belonging to a Riding Club in Jorvik in good standing.”

Loretta sucked her cheeks in and trotted off. “I won’t be defeated.”

Lily watched her go and put a hand on her horse’s neck. “And President of the Silverglade Equestrian Center’s Silver Drakes, Lily,” The Announcer said.

Lily squared her shoulders. She had an event to do. She could wonder who had beat out Loretta last time. Lisa. Linda. Or Anne?

FOR THE ACCOMPANYING IMAGES PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE MY WATERMARK AND CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. I get it. Some of you might get excited and want to see this stuff in the game, especially the clothes, tack, and pets. However, the only way I want to see this in the game is if I get paid for it. If I see it in the game and I’m not paid for it, there will be hell to pay. You think I’m salty. I’d be angry. Personally, I’m not going to send this info to SSO. If you do, leave my contact information there! Don’t give them any excuses to steal.

Now, I’ll know you haven’t read this note if you leave me comments about how ‘salty’ I am about the game and if I hate it so much I should do something else. I am doing something else. It’s called Mystic Riders MMORPG Project. Mystic Riders however is a very baby phase game. You can check out our plans on the game dev blog. (Skills, Factions, Professions, Crafting, Mini-Games, 25+ horse breeds!) If you know anyone who would be interested and has money or contacts about game making, direct them to the blog.

[solarbird]

"A motion blip," Sombra said. "Got him. North. Just over 400 metres, moving erratically, but mostly away - further north."

Amélie nodded, and checked with everyone on her team. "All secure?" She asked, verifying, breathing a sigh of relief as she received a chorus of affirmatives. "Gabriel?"

"All good here," he said, as Laticia nodded. "North?"

"Yes. He must've been making his way out from us the whole time."

"Abandoning his friends, again," Lacitia growled. "Running, again."

Venom heard the growl, and knew that anger, and sympathised. "Yeah. Sorry, luv. I guess you've learned for real, now. It's what he's always done, once they're not useful anymore."

"Bastard."

"Got that right."

"Pursue?"

On the far side of the link, Lena sucked in her breath, as Amélie looked at her, expectantly.

She's ... she hasn't really had a shot, has she? Fuck, I want to be the one t'do him, I owe him, but... She shuddered, a little. ...so does she.

"Track and pursue. We'll take care of Ana. Don't approach, but... if you get a good shot... take it."

Angela glanced over at Lena, surprised again, and managed a little bit of a smile, and a little hint of not even so much as a laugh, but a pleased huff, and made sure Lena saw it, and Lena did, and her grimace softened, just a bit.

"Yeah," the assassin mouthed. "I know."

"I will call in a retrieval ship," Amélie said, quietly. "We can hold Ana in Algeria. When we do finally let her go, she'll find it easy enough to get home."

"Thank you," Angela said, reaching out to Amélie, and Amélie smiled, taking her hand, and squeezing it.

"It is nothing. She is no longer important, in our way - only in yours."

"In Fareeha's, eventually. I think."

"That is everything I meant."

The Widowmaker looked out, through the windows. "There is a useful clearing half a kilometre away, to the west, where I can trigger the beacon. He's still moving north?"

Sombra nodded. "I'm about to lose his signal, but yeah."

"It will do," Amélie replied. "Let's get moving."

"Yeh," Venom said. "This has gone on way too long. Let's just get this done."

-----

Jack felt the damper field take hold, again, and tried to shift to ghost, again, before it could, not getting there, not in time, not quite in time, and felt sicker for it. He hadn't been entirely able to keep himself together, ghosting in and out, since he'd recovered from the last time.

About half a kilometer, he thought. Got to find, got to find, got to find a way out. Got to find a place, a place, to rest. Hide out. Until.

He'd seen the ship coming down, fast, and did not hear it land, but saw it again as it climbed away. He'd assumed either reinforcements or evacuation, and now he knew which.

He heard a rustle, to his left, and spun, almost firing, before seeing Laticia Delgado step out of the foliage, and he paused.

"...Laticia?" he asked, his voice thick. "How'd you..." Then he saw the look on her face. The anger. The betrayal. "You didn't, did you. You're one of them now."

"They're about 200 metres away, Jack. I got here first, but they're faster than me."

"I know. I can feel the, the, I can feel it. But you're warning, warning, me. Why?"

"Because that's what I want to know. Why?"

Jack shook his head, trying to shake the buzzing out of it, the confusion. Spain. Switzerland. Wreckage. What. Why. "Why... why what?"

"Why'd you run out? Venom says it's what you always do. You run. You ran in Geneva, you ran in Mozambique, you ran when I got captured in Guatemala, and you ran here. Every time anything gets too close, you just abandon everyone else, and run. Why?!"

"I didn't want to lose you, Laticia," he managed, finding some focus. "You were good, before they got their hands on you. They..."

"They didn't do anything, gringo!" she shrieked. "You did. You ran. And you killed Ara! She was my last family and you didn't even have the guts to tell me. You pretended you didn't even know what happened to her, and it was all. Just. You." Her hands shook, her rage overflowing into them. "Why?!"

"Okay. That's fair. Not killing Araceli," he corrected, quickly adjusting his response. "That wasn't my fault, I, I, didn't even know it'd happened. Not for a long time. But..."

"But why?!"

"I have to stay alive. I have to."

"What makes you better than everybody you've left behind?"

"Because I'm the one who counts! I'm the one who knows, and I'm the only one who can ever prove it!"

"You son of a bitch. You weren't worth her." Lacitia raised her machine pistol, finger on the trigger. "You aren't even worth..."

"I am. And that's all that matters." Jack raised his rifle, so quickly, so impossibly fast, and fired, just as a crack resounded through the air, sounding not like a gunshot, but like thunder. The helix rocket he'd triggered exploded as it left his rifle, and he and Laticia both fell back, buffeted by the concussion.

"I think not," the Widowmaker said, coldly, from a branch high in one of the taller trees, as Angela flew in beside her, Venom appearing below and nearby. Gabriel, running hard, bolted over to Delgado, to check her for injuries, and pull her out of the line of fire. "It is over."

"You," he snarled, at the Devil herself. "It's always been you," Jack spun to face the medic and the sniper. "Hasn't it? From the very beginning. I finally got it figured out. You." Certainly and sarcasm mixed in his voice. "The angelic Angela Ziegler. The first and deepest Talon mole."

Angela, in her scarlet and yellow, frowned, sad, not even caring he'd blown the pretense of her cover. The dampener field, and all the shifting, it had been wearing at him, more than just at the edges, she could tell, and she shook her head at the soldier. "No, Jack. It was Amélie and Gérard. I had no idea, and neither did anyone else."

"Gérard? You expect me to believe that a fine man like Gérard would do... would cause... any of this?"

"You... we... knew nothing about him."

Morrison roared, and fired again, this time at Angela, the shot intercepted, again, by Amélie, who fired a third time, knocking the rifle from his hands, and as Morrison attempted to bring up his tactical visor, he shifted, somehow, and Angela gasped as he slumped, momentarily losing his form - whether despite the dampening field, or because of it, she didn't know.

"This... really is what you are now, isn't it, Jack?"

"I'm the one who matters!"

"Yeah," snarled Venom, done with waiting, done with it all. "Y'are. T'me." She laughed. "I've been waitin' for this for a long time, you motherfucker. Come at me!"

Morrison rallied himself and charged Venom, the closest on the ground, who grinned wildly, and didn't even pull her pistols, but swung, instead, throwing a teleportation-aided roundhouse right at his skull, a single punch full of so much rage and anger and sadness and regret that it staggered even her...

...even as it passed through his head, hitting nothing solid, his body slumping, not ghosting, but dissolving into a raging, semi-formed man-like mass, occasionally reaching out, striking nothing, holding onto nothing at all.

Lena shrieked and teleported back, terrified she'd be absorbed, but found herself alive, and almost as importantly, fully intact.

"You were right," Angela whispered to Amélie. "It is over."

The Devil flew down, looking at the shifting mass that Jack Morrison had become. He screamed, an incoherent noise of frustration and blind rage, formless, and void.

"What th' hell..." marvelled Venom, shaken, and more than a little repulsed.

"Oh man," Gabriel said, quietly. "That is not right." And Laticia, for her part, looked, and after a moment, said, "...no. That's exactly right." She tossed her pistol aside, and did not bother fighting back tears. "That's... all he ever was. A big, shifting... nothing."

"NO!" shrieked Venom, running back forward again, punching and kicking at the wraith, at what had been the last of Jack Morrison, all to no real effect. "I was supposed to... he was mine! I was gonna get... t'get... to... for me. For everybody back at Overwatch. For everybody he..."

Lena Oxton punched at the fallen, writhing form, twice, three times, hitting nothing but the ground, nothing but dirt, and rock.

"...I was... he was mine," she said, sobbing, as Amélie lowered herself to the earth and walked over, pulled her away, and held her tight. "He was mine."

"Not anymore," the senior assassin whispered. "Not anymore. Let him go. Please. For me."

Angela looked at the controls of the device in her hand. This... wasn't supposed to kill you, Jack. It really wasn't. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

She studied the readings, carefully, and nodded. Stability failure. System integrity failure. A runaway cycle of quick decay and repair, endlessly repeating. The worst-case scenario she'd worked out, years ago, and repaired, in later versions, in herself.

She could, just maybe, fix it in him, still. If she shut down the field, his form would stabilise. If they called in an emergency retrieval and got him to the right medical facility, it was just possible, if they moved quickly, he could be saved.

But then her mind's eye flashed, unbidden, to the sight of Lena Oxton, on the ground, struggling not to bleed out through the helix-rocket-sized hole in her chest.

The doctor focused down the field to just to the mass, maximising its strength, and keyed in the emergency nanite shutdown commands.

"I'm sorry, Jack," she said, almost meaning it. "But this is how it has to be."

She triggered the kill switch, and the last remnants of Jack Morrison scattered into dust.

[torontoseoulcialite]

The Workshop & Hidden Cellar (Itaewon/ HBC)

If you’ve been paying attention to the HBC/ Itaewon group or the Restaurant Buzz Seoul page on Facebook you’ll already know that the Workshop and Hidden Cellar in the Haebangchon area of Itaewon has been busy.  With the renovations finished, a new brunch menu, drink specials, and live music several nights a week I thought it was impossible for Reza (WS/ HC owner) to dream up anything else.  How wrong I was!  Fast for a couple of days, hit the gym, open up that 2nd stomach, then do what we did: taste the entire new burger menu at The Workshop or Hidden Cellar in one night.

The Workshop & Hidden Cellar – New Burger Menu

When I saw that the new menu at the Workshop was primarily burgers I was actually a little disappointed.  Everyone in Seoul seems to be doing “craft” or “artisanal” burgers in Itaewon especially.  I feel like it must be really hard to get burgers right in Korea as they’ve not been very impressive thus far.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to test out Royale with Cheese (KRW 11, 000), The Saffa (KRW 12, 000), Federale (KRW 11, 000), and the Gorgonzola Burger (12,000).

The burgers on the new menu at the Workshop in Haebangchon have a few things in common.   They’re all homemade, incredibly messy (perfect fry dip), well crafted, and are great value.  They’re full of high quality ingredients, too – like fresh buns from Le Chien Blanc and the Workshop/ Hidden Cellar’s 200 g homemade burger patty.  Scroll down for intimate details on each burger personality!

The Burger Patty @ The Workshop & Hidden Cellar

Each burger is 200 g and is 70% ground chuck and 30% brisket.  This seems to be the optimal burger to bun to topping ratio.  They cook their burgers medium-well to err on the safe side due to the recent McDonald’s fiasco.   When I get a burger, I don’t want the toppings to overwhelm the essence of the dish.  The heart and soul of a hamburger is the burger patty itself.  If you’re only providing a 125 g – 150 g burger patty I’ll still feel like I need to order a 2nd burger to be satisfied.  I’ve had burgers at a popular spot with a brand new location in Hannam and just felt cheated by the wicked-tasting (and wickedly small) burger.

For KRW 11,000 or KRW 12, 000 you get your massive, loaded burger with a reasonable side of fries (ignore the KRW 3,000 on the menu – Reza says it’s not worth the charge).  The value at the Workshop/ Hidden Cellar is excellent, eh?   Not only are they a great size, each patty is batched to match the flavour palette of the 4 burgers on offer.  1, 000, 000 points to Gryffindor – er… The Workshop & Hidden Cellar.

Burger #1 @ The Workshop/ Hidden Cellar: Royal with Cheese

The Royale with Cheese is a cheeky little nod to Pulp Fiction.  It’s topped with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, muenster cheese(KRW 11,000 – served with French fries) , tomato, lettuce, onion rings, and the Workshop’s secret spicy mayo sauce.  The night we visited to taste test the burgers they had a new cook on the grill.  He rocked the big picture of each burger, but smaller elements could use some attention moving forward.  I like the idea of the onion ring, but next time it should have less coating and should be fried longer.  This is already a fan favourite because it’s such a fatty Kathy burger.  The cheesy couple hugs the burger with that special spicy mayo.  This is the kind of burger you want to eat before heading out on a night where you know there will be shots.

Burger #2 @ The Workshop/ Hidden Cellar: The Saffa

While there are plenty of South African people in Korea, Saffa food isn’t exactly plentiful.  In the summer, there are braais a-plenty, but if you’re craving a bunny chow, boerewors, or potjiekos, you’re hitting up Braai Republic (Itaewon or Pyeontaek).  The Workshop/ Hidden Cellar have teamed up with Braai Republic on The Saffa burger (KRW 11,000 – served with French fries).  This 200 g beef patty is topped with biltong from Braai Republic, seasoned sour cream, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce, and a base on the bun of mayo and dijon mustard. 

The biltong adds an amazing gamey taste and saltiness to the burger which is balanced by the sour cream.  The bun is nice and soft.  I could see some people wanting their bun toasted, but I loved squishing the whole burger and letting the drippings make a mess all over my fries.  It’s not pretty to eat, but damn does it ever taste good.  While I appreciated every burger on the menu, I would suggest giving this one a shot as it’s different from anything else you’ll find in Seoul.

Burger #3 @ The Workshop/ Hidden Cellar: Federale

Federale (KRW 11,000 – served with French fries) comes topped with caramelized onions, bacon, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and secret sauce.  This burger, while fantastic, was probably my least favourite.  Due to the guacamole completely sans cilantro but full of zingy onion it left me a bit underwhelmed.  If I had had a little more oomph to the guac I’d have been thrilled with the bacon/ guacamole pairing. 

With this burger I could taste the cracked black pepper a lot more.  I was prompted to ask whether each burger patty is made to match the toppings.  Turns out the Workshop/ Hidden Cellar actually does pay attention to that awesome customization.  If you typically go for the Mexi-burger at your local, give Federale a try.

Burger #4 @ The Workshop/ Hidden Cellar: Gorgonzola Burger

The Gorgonzola Burger (KRW 11,000 – served with French fries) is one for the foodies.  My dining companion wasn’t quite sure what to make of the Gorgonzola burger – a 200 g beef patty with bleu cheese, homemade tomato jam, onions, tomato, lettuce, and sauce.  When I read the ingredients I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to make of it either.  I mean, gorgonzola tends to be the bold flavour that steals the show.  Toss some roasted garlic buds on a burger with gorgonzola and I’m in heaven.  With this burger you practically get your money’s worth in the gorgonzola alone.  There are giant chunks of it all over this rich, luxurious burger.

Tomato jam had no place mingling with bleu cheese – or did it?  If you’re a die-hard gorgonzola fan, don’t shy away just because you see tomato jam.  It was actually ridiculously refreshing to have both bold flavours caressing the beef.  While it was a little sweet for my taste, the jam recipe (and the entire menu in general) is a work in progress – it is a Workshop, right?

I’m always looking for something new when it comes to burger toppings, so for me it’d be a real toss up between The Saffa and the Gorgonzola Burger.  Hungover, I’ll want to throw a fried egg on Royale with Cheese and call it a day.  I’m always pretty hesitant to recommend a burger, especially a burger in Seoul, but I can honestly recommend those at the Workshop/ Hidden Cellar.  The passion that Reza puts into his food is starting to make me feel like The Workshop & Hidden Cellar might be the new locale for restaurant tastes rather than pub grub.  It’s just an exceptional bonus that the drinks are so cheap.

The Vibe @ The Workshop

The Workshop (and Hidden Cellar) are my local haunts for an after work social in Seoul.  They have really reasonably priced drinks and are almost always playing some rugby game or another.  With the over-sized windows and open concept layout I’ll pretty consistently see someone I know there on my walk home.

The Workshop is kind of like Cheers.  The staff are friendly, know the locals, and crack good jokes at your expense if you let ’em.  If you’re looking for fine dining then this ain’t the place.  The menu is surprisingly spectacular.  I still daydream about their deep-friend brie with cranberry sauce.  Is it a great date spot?  Sure – if you want your love life totally on display (I mean, it is still Itaewon!)  Either way it’s a great place to meet other expats in HBC.  Head over to play some darts, catch a game, or go downstairs for live music.

This article was written in unpaid partnership in exchange for honest feedback of the new Menu at The Workshop and Hidden Cellar.  TorontoSeoulcialite.com only features places, products, and services I genuinely adore and would repurchase again and again.  Candidly, I’ve blown enough paycheques at The Workshop to warrant a few free burgs!

Seoul Food: New Burgers @ The Workshop & Hidden Cellar (HBC) The Workshop & Hidden Cellar (Itaewon/ HBC) If you've been paying attention to the HBC/ Itaewon group or the Restaurant Buzz Seoul page on Facebook you'll already know that the Workshop and Hidden Cellar in the Haebangchon area of Itaewon has been busy.