#so i guess i'll have no housing once i arrive in town

[obsessedwithpedritoofc]

Oᴜʀ Wɪɴᴅᴏᴡ (Jᴏᴇʟ Mɪʟʟᴇʀ)

ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘: Joel Miller × Male Reader.

𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥: 4,3 k.

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪: After saving Ellie, Joel and her went back to Jackson. They established themselves pretty quickly —actually from the very first day after they arrived, Joel was already going on patrol. You were one of the many friends they made, or at least you were friends until the day Joel invited you to have a drink at his place.

𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤: 10ish age gap (i guess?), awkward flirting, teeth rotting fluff, mentions of alcohol, smut, fighting for dominance, masturbation, blowjob, riding, rough sexy joel, no physical descriptions of reader (just slight allusion to him being shorter than joel), no use of Y/N. (lmk if i missed any).

𝔸/ℕ: im so bad at writing smut pls dont hold that against me :( and well happy bday to me. enjoy <3

𝕡𝕥 𝕚: 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨

𝕡𝕥 𝕚𝕚: 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨

𝕡𝕥 𝕚𝕚𝕚: 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

"I'll go see you when Ellie and I are back".

"Right. See ya tomorrow".

"See ya".

You replayed the conversation you'd had with Joel the previous night once more, his voice sweet as honey resounding in your head as you searched down a house you and Ellie had found on your patrol. She could tell you weren't paying attention to anything, too absentminded to even care about patrolling. She had already told you to get your shit together and search things down properly.

"Yeah, sorry", had been your answer. But you were too busy thinking about Joel and what awaited you that night. So Ellie was constantly behind you, calling your attention when you missed something and picking it up herself when she got bored of that.

They had been living in Jackson for more than half a year, and Joel and Ellie had already made a name of themselves. Especially Ellie was very liked in between the people of town, while Joel just did his job and tried to keep her safe —though she was doing pretty much everything on her own— without attracting much attention, which made many people in town talk about him and his low profile. Maybe that was something you ended up liking of him as well: his only purpose was to protect his daughter. It was actually one of the things that made you like him back before breakout, and the fact that he was still just as a caring father as before, despite having grown cold and a little depressed, touched your heart in a deep, beautiful way.

The first days you talked with him when he got back to Jackson had been a little uncomfortable, since you were just starting to know each other. He tried to be funny, and he was, but when you tried to be funny you seemed to touch something inside him that he didn't like too much. That was until he told you about Sarah. You already knew some things of her from what Tommy had told you, and Joel told you how her loss brought him to a point of wanting to end his life... And then he told you that he didn't tell anyone about that part of him, that he trusted you enough as to keep it between you two and never use it against him.

He trusted you with his life.

Looking back to all that, you thought there was no way you didn't know he liked you. You were the only one —aside from Ellie and Tommy— who he talked, really talked with. Seriously, how could you have been so blind?

From that day on, he started taking your jokes a little less seriously and laughing with you. He also told you a lot of things about how Sarah was and how they had their life back in Austin.

Shit, is this kid really dead?, you used to think. You could see how Joel talked about her so happily, and you would've liked to meet her. In times like this you regretted the most not introducing yourself to them the day you moved to the neighborhood.

You also went on patrols together —from the very second day he and his kid came back, actually. You usually spent your patrol time immersed in a comfortable silence. Many times you even sat to eat and drink something together as you admired the landscape. Especially this time of year it was all more beautiful, covered in snow. It was one of the reasons why you loved winter. And getting to enjoy it all with him gave you the most satisfaction you had ever felt. If only you could get what you wanted most and feel his heat in the midst of all the cold—

"Hey", Ellie called you again. "Ammo", she tossed a box of rifle bullets in your direction. You almost didn't catch it.

"Shit, thanks".

I'll leave those thoughts for tonight, you said to yourself.

After that, you were finally able to put an ounce of actual concentration into patrolling and started searching the house thoroughly. Ellie looked proud, as if she had done all the job by herself, and as if getting you to finally focus had been her doing. In part it was, but you wouldn't let her get away with it and tell Joel that the mission had been a success thanks to her because you had been all the time thinking about him. Maybe, just maybe, you would affirm it if things got further that night.

"It's getting late", Ellie said when you exited the house after a while, looking at the sky getting darker. "Maybe we should go back".

"Yeah, you're right", you looked at the sky as well. "Wanna take the reins this time?", you smiled at the girl.

"Fuck yeah!".

She ran to the horse and saddled him immediately after you said that. She patted his neck a couple times to make sure he was ready to trot back to Jackson. Then you mounted and held onto the girl's arms for some support. She was able to take you both back to town, riding the horse like you had taught her earlier that day. Man, you had never felt so proud of something.

It was almost completely night dark when you finally got back to Jackson. You accompanied Ellie to let the horse back into the stables and made sure she got home safe, then you went straight to Joel's.

You had to knock on the door a couple times before he opened. His hair was even messier than usual and he could barely open his eyes.

"Gosh", you blurted out almost automatically at the surprise. "Mornin', princess", you laughed. So did Joel.

"Sorry", he tried to fix his hair as better as he could and rub the tiredness off his eyes. "Couldn't sleep tonight, was doin' it now".

"Too excited to try out that wine, huh?", you mocked at him.

"Sure, yeah", he chuckled again, leaning on the doorframe. "How was patrol? Did Ellie behave herself?".

"Y'could say that", now you chuckled. "She tells ya anythin' 'bout me bein' off, 's not true", you gave him a sly smile.

"I'll give ya the benefit of the doubt", he smiled back. "Wanna come in? Y'look like you're freezin' ".

"Nah, 's good. Gonna go take a shower n' then we can go grab dinner. Sound good?".

"Yeah. Can ya get home on your own?".

"I think I'll manage", you said with a mocking tone. "Though it'd be nice havin' ya make sure I make it to the canteen later", you crossed your arms.

"Gotcha", he smiled at you.

You found yourselves again immersed in a comfortable silence. None of you said nothing for a while, as you were both staring into the other's eyes and scanning your features. When your eyes met again you realized this had happened before, but it was no longer uncomfortable, so you smiled at each other once more.

"I'll see ya later", Joel was the first to speak.

"Yeah", you stepped away from the door. "See ya later", you smiled at him one last time before walking away.

The first thing you did when you got to your house was taking off your clothes and stepping into the shower. The hot water burned your freezing body for a moment before feeling nicely warm. You let out a heavy sigh, your hands and legs shaking in anticipation. You were so happy that things with Joel had gotten better, and you only hoped they wouldn't get worse that night.

You put on the most decent clothes you could find —which weren't too hot, but it was the best you had. Deep inside you, you were hoping Joel's clothes wouldn't be much better than yours, though you knew he'd look good anyway.

A knock on your door made you jump for a moment. You finished putting on your pants and immediately went to open it for Joel. 

Man, did he look better than you expected.

He was wearing the same green plaid shirt he had on when he first came to Jackson a year or so ago. He had fixed his hair a little, not losing its usual subtle dishevelment. He had put on the pair of boots you had given him a couple days before and some jeans that made him look even better.

"Wow", the word escaped your lips involuntarily. You immediately realized and cleared your throat. "Wanna come in? Gotta put on my boots n' I'm ready to go".

Joel seemed too busy inside his own world —in which he was scanning you and thinking of taking all those nice clothes off of you— to answer when you first asked.

"Joel?", you called him again. This time he looked int your eyes and cleared his own throat before coming inside.

"Sure, sorry".

You sat on the couch and started putting your boots on.

"Didn't think you'll take that wear somethin' nice shit so seriously", you chuckled nervously. You tried to hide the way your hands were shaking at the fact that Joel was in your house, and you were later going to be in his.

"You're not bad yaself", he leaned back on the wall and crossed his arms.

"Fuck, I feel like a teenager", you whispered to yourself. "Doesn't that happen to ya?".

"Yeah, been feelin' like that all day", he chuckled. 

"Ain't that a bit stupid?", you looked up at him.

"I dunno. I mean, we're just havin' a drink, but... If we're both feelin' the same, then it can't be that stupid, right?", his logic made you laugh.

"Alright", you checked your boots before getting up from the bed and looking up at him. "Then I won't feel stupid", you walked towards the door. "D'we go?".

"Sure", Joel nodded. Hell, he liked you even more than he thought.

This time, you spent the whole time —walking to the canteen and eating dinner— talking with each other. In fact, Ellie had to come to you two to say goodnight even before you were halfway through your food. Neither of you gave it much importance and just kept doing your thing.

After dinner you went straight to Joel's, like he had said the night before. You took a seat beside him on the couch as he opened the first bottle of wine. You clinked your glasses and took the first sip together. You both had the same reaction: your noses crinkled and you pursed your lips before swallowing. Then you looked at each other as if saying "It's not that bad". Joel took it as a sign to pour one more glass for you both, and you gulped it down again.

"I prefer Tommy's whiskey, but this ain't half bad", he said.

"Shit, Tommy", you covered your face with both of your hands. "Forgot to talk to him today", you grunted.

"What happened with Tommy?", he looked at you with frowned brow.

"Uh... 'S a long story, jus'...", you stopped talking. "Can I ask ya somethin'?".

Joel nodded.

"What made ya wanna ask me to come have a drink at your place?", you leaned back on the couch.

"Um...", a light was turned on inside his head. "Tommy talked to me", he chuckled in disbelief. "I see where this's goin' ".

"That fucker...", you laughed and crossed your arms. "Well, long story short, I gave him shit for tellin' ya...", you stopped again and cleared your throat. 

Joel didn't say anything, once again. You both knew what you were doing there, but didn't say a word to not make things uncomfortable.

But that is why you were there. To push things further, as uncomfortable as they could be.

You left your glass on the coffee table in front of you and turned to Joel. He looked scared for a moment, but then looked back into your eyes, leaving his glass on the coffee table, too.

"Can we stop bein' awkward n' talk 'bout what we're both thinkin'?", you said with all the seriousness you could pull out. "D'you like me, Joel?", you tried to say it slowly to not give him a stroke. Joel thought for a moment.

"S' it weird if I do?", he held back a smile. You chuckled.

"Well, 's it weird that I like ya?".

"A lil' weird, yeah", he chuckled as well.

"Then yeah, 's a lil' weird that ya like me", you laughed together. "Luckily for you, I like weird", you smiled at him.

"Luckily?", he chuckled and sat closer to you. "You're the lucky one for havin' me to protect your back".

"Y'mean the way ya did back at the village a couple days ago, when you almost got bitten at that cabin? Or before that, when I had to warn ya 'bout infected up ahead 'cause you're too deaf to hear?", you also sat closer to him.

"Ya ain't lettin' go o' that, are ya?".

"Well, you almost got yaself killed that day, so—".

He stamped his lips on yours to keep you from talking any more, his hands moving up your arms to reach your face. You grabbed his shoulders in an attempt to steady yourself and stop shaking, fighting against the rough beating of your heart. But it all went down when his tongue inside your mouth made you melt even more, and you couldn't help but to moan at the feeling. You hadn't kissed anyone in so long, it felt... good. Soothing. Warm...

"Shit, I didn't mean to get ya goin' like that", Joel's voice brought you back to reality. It took you a moment to process what he had said, then you realized your pants were starting to get a little too tight.

"Fuck!", you whispered. You also realized you were sitting on his lap. You tried to move away. "Goddammit, I'm sorry, didn't mean t—".

"Hey, 's okay", he grabbed your hips to pull you back onto his lap. "I'm the same".

You gulped. Your hand moved on its own until reaching his pants. You touched his groin in curiosity, then you felt it.

He was hard. And he was hard because of you.

"God...", he threw his head back. "Don't ya think we gotta do somethin' 'bout it?", he stared into your eyes. You couldn't hold back a smirk.

"How long's it been for ya?", you started undoing his jeans.

"Hey now", he grabbed your hands before you could go any further. "This couch is so hard, we should go somewhere more comfortable", he smirked, too.

"I like how ya think", you got off his lap. "Lead the way".

You didn't expect him to grab your hand to lead you to his bedroom, your heart jumping at his touch. Still, you returned it with no hesitation.

As soon as you entered the room, he grabbed you by the jaw and kissed you roughly, his tongue attacking your mouth and tearing another moan off your throat. He groaned as well and threw you onto the bed somewhat softly.

"Ya make such sweet sounds...", he grunted before kissing you again. You grabbed his arms and rolled on top of him.

"I thought ya said somethin' 'bout solvin' your problem".

"I said—", he rolled back on top of you. "We should do somethin' 'bout it", he started undoing your pants. "Been all night wantin' to take these damn things off o' ya".

"Damn, your old man libido's gotta be hella high if you're—".

Joel's hand inside your underwear made you gasp loudly, half in surprise and half in pleasure. He smirked, taking that as a sign to keep going. He slide your pants and underwear down your legs and tossed them somewhere on the bedroom's floor. His fingers wrapped around your hard dick, making you gasp again. That gasp turned into moans as soon as he started moving his hand in slow movements. You found yourself clinging to his arms with nails and all as your hips bucked into his touch, seeking more of it.

"How long's it been for ya?", he repeated your question from before.

"Too... Too long", you managed to say between moans. Joel chuckled.

"Good thing's not gonna be too long anymore", he leaned down to whisper in your ear. "Told ya you're lucky to have me, didn't I?", he quickened the pace of his movement.

"Joel...", you thrusted you hips farther into his hand, your head thrown back in pleasure.

"Don't get too ahead of yaself".

He moved his hands away to give way to his mouth. His lips wrapped around your dick and his tongue swirling over the tip gave you goosebumps. Your fingers tangled in his hair and pressed him lower onto your member with a loud moan. You shut your eyes closed when your head was again thrown back at the sudden pleasure. Joel stopped his ministrations and grabbed your jaw to put your head back down.

"Eyes on me", he ordered. You didn't dare to disobey him, his voice —though sweet as honey, like it always was— being too intimidating and demanding for you to even think about it.

It didn't take long until you were begging him for release. His darkened eyes never left yours as he kept bobbing his head and swiping his tongue around your dick. You tried to take control of the situation, take his head and thrust into his mouth, but he didn't let you. Instead, he grabbed your hips to keep you still and moved his head even faster. He only had to groan once to send vibrations up your body and make you cum as hard as you never had.

That was the best blowjob someone had ever given you.

You stayed laying on the bed, trying to get some air back into your lungs. Joel, in the meantime, laid next to you and started leaving small kisses all over your face. If there was something you never ever expected in you entire life was Joel being such a cute lover. Damn, he'd been giving you the best fucking head of your life a minute ago, even giving you orders! How come he could turn into such a sweet thing in such a short time?

"You okay?", he asked. You nodded, still half dizzy.

"Yeah, 'm good", you looked at him. "You're a fuckin' beast".

Joel chuckled.

"Thought I'd be way more tired", he wrapped his arms around you and kept giving you little kisses. "Been a couple years since I did anythin' like this".

"First time with a man?".

"First time with a man".

You grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it, looking intently into his eyes.

"It wasn't half bad", you smiled at him. "That was the hardest I've ever come in my life".

"Fuck, really?", he laughed in disbelief. "Can't fuckin' believe it...".

"Maybe I should return the favor", you positioned yourself on top of him, your dick getting hard again.

"Hell, man. Can't take a break for a couple minutes?".

You palmed his groin with firm grip and lowered yourself until your mouth was leveled with his ear.

"I wanna have you inside me", you whispered. Your words immediately vibrated through his body and straight to his own dick. If he was already rock hard, now he was sure he was going to explode at any moment.

"Fuck", he groaned. He put himself up and started taking of his shirt. "You better get ready 'cause—".

"Stay down", you pushed his chest down onto the mattress. "You've just put me under ya. I think it's only fair if I do the same", you continued what he was doing and took his shirt off. He looked up at you with eyes full of enthrallment.

"Alright ", he managed to say, even though he was already too lost inside his thoughts —which consisted on you riding him down to town as well as you rode your horse. You smiled at that.

"Good boy", you whispered involuntarily.

You undid the rest of your clothes, discarding them to the floor, and got ready for the action. You made sure you two were fine and clean before you actually started. You gave Joel the beginning of a blowjob to make sure he would slip inside you with no problem, and since there was no lube nearby that was the best you had.

You positioned yourself over his dick. Looking into each other's eyes, you both nodded to give green light to the other before you slid down on him, his member entering your hole in one smooth thrust. A moan escaped from your mouths at the same time. Joel's eyes rolled back into his skull as he felt your tight, warm walls enveloping his manhood. You gripped the sheets tightly between your fingers to hold back the need of destroying yourself with him, trying to fight the incredible sensation of pleasure mixed with delicious pain. He looked up at you to make sure you were fine. You just nodded.

After a short while of getting used to having his length inside you, you started moving slowly. It didn't last much, your desire too much to bear for you to keep going so little quickly. So you started riding him, really riding him. Your walls clamped down onto his member, as if trying to milk him dry. His tip hit your prostate constantly, each time deeper and giving you more pleasure. He tried to reach out and grab your own dick, but you grabbed both of his hands and didn't let him move.

"S... Stay down", you repeated, this time between moans and heavy breaths.

Now desperation was killing him. Being inside you felt too good. He was going to come at any moment if you kept it up. But still you were going way softer than what he wanted. And you wouldn't let him move... That was fucking hell for him.

In an attempt to calm his desperate need, he started thrusting up into you, meeting your movements halfway. You liked that way too much for someone that was trying to establish some sort of dominance over Joel, but you didn't complain either. You just kept going at it, doing your thing as he did his. Though, as a response for what he was doing, you contracted your hole, your walls clenching down on his dick even tighter. He let out a loud moan at that.

"Fuckin' hell", he chuckled between more groans. "G'nna kill me if ya... Holy shit...".

"Inside... Do it inside...".

Your words sent him over the edge. He thrusted up even harder, chasing his release with wild desire. His dick kept hitting your insides in just the right spot and didn't leave you time to breathe before pleasure took over you. 

Joel was the first to come, and you kept riding him until you spilled your cum all over his stomach. He chuckled at the warm feeling, almost tickling him.

"Shit", you breathed out, laying beside him. "Y'all grandpas are somethin' else", you looked down at his cum dripping down your thighs. "Got a towel or somethin'?".

"Bathroom", he pointed to a room on his right, inside the bedroom. You got up and walked to it as well as your shaking legs allowed you to. You grabbed the only towel you saw and wiped Joel's cum off your thighs, then went back into the bedroom to wipe yours off his stomach. He smiled at you. "Thanks".

You tossed the towel to the floor with the rest of your clothes, then laid back next to him. He immediately wrapped his arms around you once again and kissed your forehead.

"I'll get it washed for ya tomorrow", you kissed him back.

"What, the towel? No need, I'll do it".

"Shut the fuck up, I'm takin' it to my place tomorrow. I'll let you borrow one o' mine until I have yours cleaned".

Joel chuckled.

"Fine, dad", he mocked at you.

"Who ya callin' dad? You're the one with kids here, grandpa", you turned around to look at him. You saw something that caught your attention on the wall behind him.

"Grandpa my ass", he laughed. He saw you lost on your thoughts and looking behind him. He turned around to see what you were checking. It was a handmade calendar.

"Ya count the days?", your eyes fell on the only day that wasn't marked with an x —December thirtieth.

"Uh, Ellie does. Then she made me do it, too —did that thing for me. She said countin' days is fun and that I should keep track of how time goes by, also to know how much of a grandpa I am", he laughed. "Why?".

A smile appeared on your lips and you looked at him again.

"It's my birthday", you giggled in excitement. Joel turned to look at you, then back at the calendar, then back at you.

"Shit", he frowned. "Didn't get ya anythin' ".

"Ya kiddin'?", you looked at him in disbelief, your smile still plastered on your face. "Ya got me some alcohol, fuckin' confessed to me n' gave me the best fuck of my life", you stopped to breathe. "If that's not one hell of a birthday gift, I don't know what to get ya for yours".

He laughed and hugged you once more, giving you a sweet, slow kiss. You grabbed his shoulders, wrapped your legs around him and pulled him closer to you.

"Happy birthday", he whispered. You chuckled.

"Thanks, Joel", you whispered back.

You stayed in each other's arms until you two drifted off to sleep. After many sleepless nights for the both of you, that one night you could finally sleep soundly. For once, Joel had no nightmares and he didn't wake up once. As for you, you couldn't think of somewhere better to be.

That had been the best fucking birthday you'd had in more than twenty years.

[judysxnd]

can we plz plz get more reader and pedro dating?? 😭 i love it so much!

I don't really know if you mean dating in general or going on a date? So I guess I am going to do a going on a date one, since it's a part of dating in general (don't know if it makes sense, but in my head it does).

——————————————————————————

Ever since you started to date Pedro, you've never been on dates so much. In the first two months of dating the number already exceeded the number of fingers. It's a good thing, don't get me wrong. It made you feel so special, loved like you've never been. You always thought it was Pedro's love language, taking you on dates. He always loved spoiling you in every way possible.

Tonight was no exception. But he decided to change things around. Instead of going out, he decided to bring the outside, inside. And by that, he needed the house to himself, so he gently.. yes.. kicked you out for the afternoon. He told you to come back for 7:30pm. You didn't really know what you would do in the meantime, so you wandered in town, buying some nice chocolates to eat in front of a nice movie, and you decided to buy a bottle of wine. Pedro probably took care of that too, but whatever, it won't go to waste either way.

You arrived home for 7:30pm. As you parked, you saw Pedro walk outside the house. He didn't leave you time to get out of the car, opening the door for you. He was wearing a nice black suit.

"Hey baby" you had a big smile. "Looking handsome" you said adjusting his jacket. He gave you a quick kiss on the lips before handing you what looked like a blindfold. "You're going to blindfold me in my own house?" you both chuckled

"I need you to get to the bathroom without seeing what I prepared"

"Should have given me the outfit before I left"

"I- well no comment" you laughed. He put the blindfold on you. You grabbed his arm and let him guide you inside the house. Once you entered, you were met with different smells. You could smell the dinner getting ready in the kitchen, you could smell the burning of candles, some sweet vanilla, your favourite scent. "we're taking the stairs" Pedro warned you. You lifted your foot, but still almost fell.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea Pedro" you joked

"I'll take care of that" was all you heard before Pedro took you in his arms, climbing the stairs, walking into your bedroom, finishing in the bathroom. He put you down slowly and nicely. "I've prepared a nice outfit for you, I'll let you get dressed, and once you're done, put the blindfold back and call me okay?" He said.

"Yes sir" you joked. You heard Pedro laugh a little. He kissed your cheek before leaving you alone in the bathroom. Once you heard the door closing, you removed the blindfold. You looked around still a little confused, finding the mirror and looking at yourself. You smiled as you shook your head, still not realising what was happening. He always managed to surprise you. After 2 years in the relationships, after hundreds of dates, he was still here surprising you.

As you looked at yourself in the mirror, something sparkly caught your attention. You looked at it through the glass, seeing something dark green, sparkling. You turned around walked to the drawers. You grabbed the clothes, naturally unfolding as you took a step back. It was a very nice sparkly dark green dress. Once again you were impressed. He even bought you a dress. You quickly put it on, looking at the mirror.

Damn. He really knew you, your taste, your body, your size. The dress fitted perfectly, and it was absolutely magnificent on you. There were a pair of heels next to the dress, so you wore them. Those were from your wardrobe, you recognised them. You still laughed at the view, he did say, quite a lot, that they were his favourite pair of heels. You rapidly brushed you hair too, letting them fall on your bare shoulders. You didn't have anything left to do, so you put the blindfold back, and called Pedro.

"Woah" You heard him say as soon as the door opened.

"Right choice" you said, making a pose. You smiled.

"Agreed" you felt his hands on your arms. "Now let's have dinner darling"

"Yes, because I'm starving"

"I'm going to carry you again" Pedro hold you once again, carrying you down the stairs. Barely there, he put you down, removing the blindfold. Once away, you finally opened your eyes. The entire house was lit up by candles. There were rose petals on the floor and now there was music in the background.

"Woah, Pedro!" You looked around, amazed. "You didn't have to do all of this, you must have been working non stop to do this"

"It's all worth it for my princesa" he said looking at you. You looked at him with complete heart eyes.

"I love you so much" You put your hands on both side of his face.

"I love you more" You kissed passionately. After a few, you both pulled away. "Shall we?" he asked you, asking for you hand to guide you to the kitchen. You held his hand, nodding and smiling.

You entered the kitchen to find the dinner table lit up with candles two, with nice flowers and decorations. Pedro really put his soul into it and it showed. It was beautiful.

"You're more talented than me for decorating the table, so unfair" you joked as he pulled the chair for you.

"I had help" he admitted

"You did?" you were surprised

"You think I suddenly know how to decorate a table and cook?" he laughed as he opened a bottle of wine.

"I don't know, maybe!" you laughed too. "By the way I bought chocolate and wine too, but I left it in the car"

"We'll grab it later"

Pedro served you the nicest and tastiest dinner. Even if he had help or hired someone to cook or even ordered something, it didn't matter. He made everything for you, for the both of you to have a nice dinner date at home. You don't always need to leave the house to have a perfect date, and tonight was the proof. You had fun, talking about random things, reminiscing about some other dates, thinking about the next ones.

[themultifandomgal]

Can you do a Jay Halstead one where she gets hit on at a bar and Jay gets super jealous and protective?

Jay Halstead- Waste Of Time

I arrive at the bar waiting for my boyfriend Jay to finish work

"Hey YN, whats your poison?" Gabby asks me as I sit down

"Just a beer tonight. I'll get one for Jay as well, he'll be here any minute"

"No problem" Gabby turns around and opens up 2 beers. I text Jay to let him know I'm here and I have a beer waiting. Work has been tough for us both, with me working double shifts at the hospital and him working overtime at PD, we haven't had much time with each other. It will all be worth it though when we finally get out dream house

“So when do you think you’ll be able to move?” Gabby asks

“Not sure. With us both working overtime we’re hoping by the end of the year, but I guess anything could happen” I give her a shrug and take a sip of my beer

“I’ll be back in a minute just need to serve someone”

“Sure” I give her a smile and she walks off. Not even 10 seconds later male voice starts talking

"What's a pretty girl like you doing alone?" I look up at a man I've never seen before

“Just having a beer after a long day” I say trying to be polite but not as wanting to get into a conversation with this man

“How about we get out of here. I know a place down town” he then leans into me “I know where we can have a good time” I chuckle shaking my head

"Not interested sorry. I have a boyfriend who will be here any moment so I suggest you leave me alone before he sees you"

"Well I can’t see him, so where is he?"

“On his way” I say blandly at the man now getting really annoyed

“Come on, no girls turned me down before. He doesn’t have to know” Gabby walks over to us

“Your just wasting your time. She’s very committed to her boyfriend. Now she’s asked you to leave her alone”

“I’m just having a little fun” I roll my eyes and try to move past him but he grabs my wrist pulling me into him. That’s when I spot Jay walking into the bar. He spots me and doesn’t look happy

“My boyfriends just arrived. So I suggest you let go because he’s a….” before I can even tell the man that Jay is a cop Jay approaches us

"Get the fuck off my girl" Jay attempts to say calmly

"He’s your boyfriend?” The man laughs “you could do so much better”

“What like you? Not thanks. Now please let go of me”

“Oh but we were about to have to much fun”

“No we weren’t. Get off your starting to hurt me” I say as his grip on my wrist gets tighter

“Let go of her now”

“Or what?” The man challenges

“You asked for it. I’m arresting you on charges of harassment and assault”

Once Jay has done his arrest he returns back to Mollys. I hand him a beer while I’m holding an ice pack on my wrist that Gabby had given to me

“Thanks” I say

“Don’t have to thank me. You ok though? Can I look at your wrist?”

“Erm yeah think it will just be bruised” I show Jay my wrist which is very red

“You want me to take you to Med?”

“No, don’t be silly it will be fine. I can move it, don’t worry”

“But I do worry”

“I know but I’m fine. Why don’t we finish our drinks and head home”

“I like that idea” Jay places a kiss on my forehead and takes his beer in his hand.

[monsterswithimagines]

Undisclosed Desires - Part 25

Joe Goldberg x female!Reader

Summary: Twenty minutes before he would have met Guinevere Beck, Joe meets you instead. You intruige him, but it will soon become clear that there is something off about you.

Words: 1356

Masterlist

(I swear I've used every Joe gif I could find...)

Four days in The Netherlands, and I've learned a few things.

One: You don't eat in front of your grandmother. Mostly you don't even try, but the few times you do start to eat something, she will make a comment - though I can't understand what she's saying, I can tell by her expression it probably isn't something nice - and you will quickly put down whatever you were bringing to your mouth. When I ask you about it, you just shrug and say something about old fashioned views.

Two: Your grandfather is very intelligent, even in a language he barely has a grasp on. Also, you get your love of reading from him. All the books in your grandparents' house (there are many) belong to him.

He also knows how to restore old books. He spends about an hour showing off his tools to me after I mention my love of old books. I'll have to show you my own equipment when we get home.

Three: Your grandparents really are like your parents, which makes your aunt and uncle more like your siblings. You try to involve me in your conversations but mostly, when you talk to them, you devolve into fits of giggles and can't get the words out to translate for me what's so funny.

I don’t mind, I'm just glad to see you happy.

I'm sorry to say it this way but luckily, we don't spend all our time with your family.

When I first arrive, you let me sleep for fourteen hours, and then you keep telling me to take it easy. You’re taking care of me, and I don't know why that surprises me. I just can't remember the last time someone bothered.

But with all that alone time we have together, you still don't tell me anything about Mitch.

You take me on a walk past your ‘old haunts’ and he never comes up. Not even when we walk past your high school! It's getting to a point where I just want to ask you about him, (Y/n), but then I'd have to tell you how I know he exists.

On the Saturday before Christmas, almost a week after I arrive, you take me to the old town square to meet up with Nadia.

Even though technically, I've only briefly met her once, she greets me like we're old friends and does her best to involve me in the conversation. She insists the three of us go ice skating on the rink that's set up in the middle of the square, and the two of you laugh at me when I fall flat on my ass.

“I’m glad you two are enjoying my pain,” I complain. Really, I'm not in pain at all.

“I'm sorry,” you say when you're through giggling, skating up to me. You offer me your hand. “Are you okay?”

I pull you down on top of me and Nadia devolves into even more laughter while you just stare at me with wide eyes, our faces inches from each other. This could be a scene from a movie, (Y/n). That's how perfect this moment is.

Still, no mention of Mitch. Even Nadia doesn't bring him up, and I was really hoping she would. I was thinking she might ask you if he's still bothering you in front of me, so I could jump in and ask what's going on. I guess not.

I'm beginning to suspect you must have told her not talk about him, but then we go over to her apartment - which is smaller than your little room in New York - for dinner the next night, and suddenly she says::

“Did you hear about Mitch?”

You tense.

I look between the two of you, acting confused.

“Mitch?” I ask.

“Some guy we went to high school with,” you say, waving me off. You look at Nadia. “Can we not talk about this right now?”

“He killed himself, (Y/n).”

Now, you're all ears. Your back straightens and your eyes become alert and you snap: “what?!” only I think you might say it in Dutch. The words sound basically the same.

Nadia begins to rant at you in Dutch, and I am clearly not a part of this conversation.

That bothers me.

I went through all this trouble for you, (Y/n). And you still won't tell me what's going on.

It wasn't easy to convince you I wanted to go on a walk by myself last night. But what could I do? You went to take a shower and you told me to answer your texts if it was Nadia. I guess you didn't think I'd bother to translate texts from a stranger.

But there were so many. Hundreds since the last time I checked, and you hadn't even responded once.

Some were nice, if taken out of context. He'd ask you how your day was going or what you were up to. He'd even ask about me: is your new boyfriend enjoying himself here?

But others… others were horrible. He threatened you. He told you if you didn't respond, he was going to find you, hurt you, hurt himself.

I knew something had to be done.

And I stand behind it. He was a danger to you.

But you don't look happy that he's gone. You don't look sad, either. Mostly, you look angry. Finally, after ten full minutes of Dutch conversation that I can't follow, you turn to me.

“Sorry, didn't mean to exclude you.”

Sometimes, you're a liar.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Something very sad happened,” you tell me. Maybe you don't remember that Nadia said the part about Mitch killing himself in English. “I need a minute.”

You go onto the balcony and close the door behind you. Nadia's windows are covered by foil that blurs the outside world, so I can only see your silhouette. 

I look at Nadia, who sighs.

“Sorry, Joe. I probably ruined your entire evening, telling her that.”

“Who's Mitch?” I ask.

And she says: “he's - he was - a fucking stalker.” She pauses. “You don't seem surprised.”

Shit. I'm so eager for her to tell me more that I forgot to make myself look like that was news to me.

“I saw some texts yesterday. I… put the pieces together. I didn't think it could be that serious since (Y/n) hasn't mentioned it at all.”

“It's pretty serious,” Nadia says.

She tells me the story. In high school, Mitch was in the same grade as the both of you. He got bullied relentlessly, and nobody did anything about it.

“Except (Y/n),” Nadia says, looking out at the shape of you through the window. “She couldn't just stand by. She stood up for him all the time. Of course he developed a crush on her.”

“Of course,” I agree.

It seemed innocent at first. He'd follow you around at school, or sometimes he'd show up when you and Nadia were hanging out in town.

“It got worse, but (Y/n) didn't tell me that at first. It got to a point where, like, he'd show up at her house.”

I shake my head like I don't know what to say.

“He wrote her these long letters, saying he was in love with her and he couldn't live without her. Then this one night, somebody threw a brick through her bedroom window. Of course we knew it was him, but we couldn't prove it. The next time he showed up outside her house, I convinced (Y/n) to finally call the police. I told her to say he was threatening her so they'd actually respond. And, I mean, basically he was.”

“Where was her mom?”

“I don't know, with some boyfriend,” you say, slamming the backdoor closed. “Nadia, what the hell?”

“You wanna just lie to him and act like this didn't happen?”

“If I wanted to, I can't now,” you say, and turn to me. “What do you know?”

“That Mitch stalked you in high school, and you eventually called the police.”

“Right, well,” you say. “Obviously, it didn't end there.”

[moonchildreads]

small town

Chapter 22 - Let's Dance

IN THIS CHAPTER: Matching outfits, a parking lot talk, and Hellfire does Prom [10.5k]

WARNINGS: underaged drinking (no one gets drunk), mentions of teenage delinquency, Eddie being an unreliable source of info about Hawkins' recent oddities, shitty former friends and partner

A/N: so. this chapter was supposed to come out last week but i got food poisoning, which turned into me taking a day off work because i felt like shit and when i returned, it got insanely hectic to the point where i did three extra hours today. life is lifing, friends! in order to keep myself sane (i cried at work again today, it's not looking good folks) i'm gonna throw away the update schedule and post whenever i feel like it. i'm still gonna aim at one chapter per week though! i just won't make promises on dates anymore because nothing is working out irl at the moment. anyways, enjoy the chapter and i'll see you when i see you (soon, i promise)!

masterlist - prev - next | playlist

Put on your red shoes And dance the blues

Friday, June 6th - 1986

On Thursday afternoon, Eddie Munson made the mistake of not telling Dottie Burke - his girlfriend that wasn’t actually his girlfriend because he hadn’t asked her out yet - why he couldn’t drive his friends to Donny’s family restaurant for dinner before prom. They’d been lounging on her bedroom’s window seat, radio playing at a low volume while they lazily kissed and cuddled, taking full advantage of the fact that her Dad hadn’t arrived from work yet when Eddie mentioned having to run an errand with Wayne on Friday after school. He said he was probably going to arrive late to the gathering, so they should make plans without him and he’d meet them at the restaurant whenever he was done. The metalhead noticed how Dottie freezed in his arms, lifting herself up from her comfortable position on his chest and put a little distance between them, but since she didn’t inquire further, he simply left a few hours later without ever explaining himself, leaving her to sink into a spiral of self-doubt and very familiar anxiety that left her equal parts jittery and exhausted.

That night after dinner, Dottie called her Auntie Rachel to ease the pang of rising panic, desperately seeking reassurance from the older woman who was always plenty eager to provide a pep talk to her favorite niece whenever she needed one. Everything will be fine, Rachel had said while nursing a glass of red wine all the way in her apartment in New York, her kids already tucked into bed and a newly acquired romance book waiting for her on her bedside table. Stop worrying about it, bug. Senior prom will be the best prom of your life. But as much as she tried to help, Auntie Rachel hadn’t been made aware yet of the change in her niece’s relationship with the older boy, so her advice rang hollow in Dottie’s ears, and the teen had ended up having a pitiful and unsatisfactory sleep before what was supposed to be the most exciting day of her senior year up until that moment.

Still, Eddie had behaved completely normal on Friday at school towards her and their friends, which had eased her nerves slightly. He didn’t make any comments about being anything less than happy to attend his first and hopefully last senior prom, and once he’d dropped Gareth off at his house, he’d lingered in Dottie’s driveway for ten long minutes. Eddie let himself enjoy the feeling of her mouth against his while a gentle drizzle hit his van windows before she finally headed into her house and he sped away towards his mysterious errand. Her best guess that the reason he had never really explained himself was because he was off to do something that was private to his uncle, and she hoped it wasn’t anything health related; Wayne wasn’t exactly old, but he also wasn’t young, and she didn’t like the idea of him having to go through any kind of medical emergency or invasive treatment. And so Friday evening found Dottie at her desk putting the finishing touches on her makeup look, and Eddie on the other side of Hawkins pleading to the stars above his head that his not-yet-girlfriend would understand his weird need for secrecy by the time the night had ended. Hopefully.

“How are you feeling, honey?” James asked, leaning against Dottie’s door frame as she took the last rollers out of her hair and sprayed her curls into place.

“Excited? Honestly a little bit terrified,” she confided in him. “I keep thinking that I’m gonna look around at some point and everyone will have gone home without me.”

“I really don’t think the guys would do that to you, but if they do or you want to leave at any point and for any reason, you can call me, okay? Don’t come home alone.”

“No, I know,” she smiled at him, but it looked more like a nervous grimace than anything else. “I promise I’ll call, I put coins in my purse just in case.”

“Great,” he came to stand behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. “But don’t go in there expecting the worst either. Everything’s gonna be great, honey, you’ll see. Just have a little faith.”

“I really hope you’re right this time, Dad.”

For the next few seconds, each of them were lost in their own painful memories from barely a year ago; James vividly remembered sitting down on their old couch with a can of beer in his hand and a rented movie in the VCR before a younger Dottie barrelled through their front door, shoes dangling from her fingers and black mascara streaking down her cheeks, running towards her bedroom where she locked herself into for 12 straight hours. In turn, all Dottie could think about was how she’d never gotten to see the inside of the gymnasium that was supposed to have been transformed into a fairy wonderland. Her Dad squeezed her shoulders with a comforting touch, dislodging the dark thoughts from her mind before dread overtook her and left her paralyzed once more. She picked up her Mom’s wedding earrings from her little jewelry box and quickly put them on, completing her outfit. Dainty gold pieces secured in place at her earlobes, she rose from her chair and twirled once to show off her full look, fluffy dress glinting as she moved.

During their weekend visit to Hawkins, Aunt Mary Elizabeth had put her sewing skills to good use and shortened the floor-length gown until it reached Dottie’s calves, the golden metallic heels they’d gotten at that heaven-sent Indy thrift store perfectly on display on her feet. She felt like a movie star, ready to walk down the red carpet with a handsome date and be adored by her fans, camera flashes blinding her as she glided effortlessly through a crowded room like she’d always belonged there. Except there were no fans, no paparazzi, and no handsome date either, just her Dad helping her into the front seat of their car so they could pick up the first of her friends for what was surely going to be a night to remember.

Their first stop of the night was at Gareth’s house. James hadn’t even put the car into park before the poor boy was jogging down his front lawn, trying to escape his mother who had been obsessively taking pictures of him in his rented black tux and bright red bowtie in various places around their home. Much to Gareth’s dismay, James insisted on saying hello to his parents before they left, so while he chatted amicably with dad Gavriel, Lydia made her son and his best friend pose in front of her bushes as a backdrop to fulfill the role of nosy journalist in Dottie’s movie star dreams. As much as they complained, the two teens hugged each other and smiled for photos until their eyes were wet from the flash going off and it was finally time to wrap up the shoot and head to their next stop.

The scenario repeated itself at Jeff’s house. His mom, Tricia, prompted Dottie to stand between him and Gareth in the middle of the living room, her son’s white suit jacket with black lapels contrasting nicely with his friend’s black jacket and white button up. As the two boys crowded their friend and planted big wet kisses on both of her rosy colored cheeks while the flashes kept going off, their vision for the night started to become clear: Dottie’s red dress, Gareth’s red bowtie and Jeff’s red Chuck Taylors and cummerbund were difficult to not notice, their club colors proudly and prominently on display leaving no doubts as to whom they belonged with. There might not have been a fancy date à la Rob Lowe or Ally Sheedy to walk hand in hand with into the packed Hawkins High gym, but the Hellfire Class of ‘86 didn’t need any of that to face their prom night - they just needed each other. Tricia promised James she’d get copies of all the photos printed for him and so the teens packed once again into the car and drove away to their final destination.

Donny’s family restaurant wasn’t as fancy as Enzo’s, but in their opinion, it was definitely way more charming. With its big sign spelling Giulia’s in cursive and a homely feel that could be experienced since before they had even walked in, big flower boxes decorated the outside and stereotypical checkered tablecloths were visible from the huge front windows. Donny had been waiting for them at one of the booths near the counter, flowers on every table and tea candles setting the mood for all the couples and groups of friends stopping by to have some authentic Italian pizza or pasta before dancing the night away in their heavily decorated school gymnasium.

“Hey, Don! Looking sharp!” James exclaimed from the driver seat when he pulled up to the restaurant as Donny rushed to keep the front door open for his friends.

“Thanks, Mr. Burke!” he beamed, blue eyes twinkling under the streetlights. “You wanna stay over for pizza?”

“No, thank you, you kids have fun, okay?” he turned to his daughter who lingered in the co-pilot seat. “Take care, honey. I love you.”

“Thanks, Dad. I love you too,” Dottie said, giving him a big hug.

James was so thankful she’d never gone through an I’m ashamed of showing my parent affection in public phase. He watched how Jeff hurried to catch the door when Donny left his post to greet Dottie, spinning her around once and making her laugh, her anxiety visibly melting as the boys made her feel more cared for and loved than she’d ever thought a friend could make her feel in her life. They all waved James goodbye as he drove away, his eyes glossy at the knowledge that his baby was rapidly growing and would inevitably stop needing him, but also incredibly proud of not only her but Donny, Jeff, and Gareth for being such good people to one another. It almost made him wish they’d moved back to his hometown earlier if it meant he’d see his daughter smile as bright as she did every day now.

“Hey, welcome!” Donny’s dad Angelo shouted from the door to the kitchen, his white apron stained with red sauce and his balding head covered with a stripy black and white bandana. “Thought you had gotten lost on your way over! Everyone likes margherita, right?”

“That the one with anchovies we had last time?” Gareth asked as they seated themselves into the booth, ignoring the looks they were getting from the other guests as they talked loudly over their heads.

“That’s the romana,” Donny said, going through the big beverage fridge at the back of the counter where his older sister Isabella was fiddling with the register. “Margherita is sauce, cheese and basil.”

“Oooooh, I love basil,” Dottie said, caging Jeff between herself and Gareth.

“We’re good with margherita, papà!” Donny placed glass soda bottles for everyone on the table and plopped himself down besides Dottie. “You look really pretty, by the way.”

“Thank you! You clean up nice too,” she smiled at him, and he chuckled shyly, not used to all the attention.

“Angelo, why didn’t you say the kids were here already?” Bianca, Donny’s mom, said coming out from the kitchen carrying pasta dishes for another table.

“They just arrived, cuore mio,” Angelo said, kissing the side of her head as he walked past him before he returned to the kitchen and busied himself with more cooking.

“Let me see you, boys, you’re looking handsome!” Bianca beamed at Gareth and Jeff, the two rowdy teens she’d known since before they could tie their own shoes. “And this is Dorothy, right?”

“Just Dottie is fine, mamma,” Donny corrected his Mom.

“Isn’t she a doll! Donatello said you’re interested in joining us for the summer, is that right?”

“Yes, ma’am, I’d love to work for you,” Dottie said, ignoring how her friends were snickering at the mention of Donny’s full first name.

“Do you have any experience?”

“Not as a waitress, but I was a babysitter back in New York since I was 13. I took a Red Cross course and everything. And I have CPR and First Aid certification if that helps.”

“We’ll talk more after graduation, but job’s yours if you want it,” Bianca said with a kind smile before hurrying over to attend to a customer.

“That was the quickest job interview I’ve ever seen in my life,” Jeff laughed.

“If we’re all gonna have money in our pockets, summer’s gonna be fucking awesome,” said Gareth, and everyone couldn’t help but agree with him.

By the time only pizza crust and empty cups of tiramisù remained on the table, everyone was feeling ready for some good old teenage fun on a sweaty dance floor. At some point during the dinner, Donny’s older sister Isabella had brought out a camera and taken a couple of snapshots of the group, wanting to preserve the memory of her little brother going to his first ever high school dance. Donny was acting like a peacock in his maroon suit with a matching black button up and tie; he’d even gelled his curls back, his stud earring glinting in the candlelight whenever he turned his head. As their classmates started leaving but their group remained behind, Dottie began to worry once again. Where in the world was Eddie, and why hadn’t he shown up yet? When she excused herself to the bathroom to reapply her bright red lipstick in an attempt to hide her nervous breathing, the boys huddled up in the booth, voices dropping to a low mumble, heads close together above the table.

“Where the fuck is he?” Gareth hissed.

“He said he was gonna be late, but this is too much,” Jeff said.

“You think he chickened out?”

“No way,” Donny said, confidently. “He was really excited about the surprise, he wouldn’t flake on us like that.”

“Well, he better show up or I’m beating his ass,” Gareth said. “Dot doesn’t deserve to go through another sucky prom.”

“Fuck, I didn’t even think about her,” Jeff’s eyes went wide. “She’s gonna be devastated if he doesn’t come.”

“He’ll come,” Donny nodded. “He’s not gonna stand her up. Like, if anyone knows how much this means to her, it’s probably Ed. They tell each other everything.”

“Okay, I’m ready to roll,” Dottie said, making their heads snap up at her voice. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah! You wanna get going now or do we wait for a bit longer?” Gareth asked.

“I… I dunno, guys. I don’t think Eddie’s coming,” she said, resigned. Jeff and Donny looked at each other.

“I’m gonna call him,” Donny decided. “You guys wait here.”

He shouldn’t have called, because when he returned to the table and said no one had picked up, the way Dottie’s face fell was enough to make them all feel incredibly guilty about something that wasn’t even their fault. They watched her school her features, masking the disappointment behind a friendly smile while she gathered her purse and slid out of the booth like nothing was bothering her. They said their goodbyes to the Vitale family, nonna Giulia coming out from the back to see her only grandson off (and pinch all their cheeks), and finally headed towards Donny’s car with a false sense of cheeriness but the best intentions at heart. The boys weren’t gonna let anything ruin the night for their friend, insisting on opening doors for Dottie and taking turns to offer her their arms to hold onto. Donny was unlocking his car’s doors when a very familiar brown van pulled up behind him, Eddie spilling out hurriedly without turning it off first.

“Jesus Christ, fuck, I’m so sorry,” he breathed out, jogging to catch up with his friends.

“You jackass, where the hell were you?” Jeff scolded him, but his words lost all edge when he pulled the long haired boy into a side hug.

“I’ll tell you later, but fuck man, I really thought I wasn’t gonna make it,” Eddie laughed, turning to hug Gareth.

“Is Wayne okay?” Dottie asked.

“Yeah, he’s fine, don’t worry about him,” he turned around and felt his soul leave his body when his eyes rested upon her. “I, uh- wow.”

“What’s wrong?” she said, looking down at her dress with a frown.

“Nothing! You- you look really nice,” he couldn’t hide his smile even if he tried, and he didn’t want to.

“Oh. Thank you, you look nice too,” she smiled back.

“Let’s take a picture before we leave now that we’re all here,” Donny said, waving through the window at Isabella, who immediately understood the assignment.

“We should take the camera with us,” Gareth proposed, and Jeff nodded in agreement.

Isabella had a few stern words towards Eddie for being late, but when she made them pose on the street, the light spilling out from the inside of the restaurant illuminating their happy faces, she couldn’t stop a fond expression from gracing her features. Donny hadn’t had an easy time throughout his school years, but it was this group of kids in front of her that had made everything better for him. She remembered the summer barbeques in the backyard with a younger Jeff, that one time Gareth lost a tooth munching too harshly on a cannoli, and that first day Donny brought Eddie over. She had asked her boyfriend (now husband) to help her keep an eye on the older boy throughout his visit, worried about what a junior could possibly want with her little brother. They’d talked about Lord of the Rings and played checkers for hours, and she’d heard Eddie warning a freshman Donny about certain teachers and how to avoid getting on their bad side, which softened her attitude towards the lanky teen considerably.

Truthfully, Isabella wasn’t one to judge quickly, but she had been worried about Dottie when Donny first began dropping her name in conversations at family gatherings. Girls had never been particularly nice to her brother while growing up, and as the eldest Vitale sister, she could be a little overprotective when it came to her siblings, especially towards her only brother. But here Dottie was, huddled up between Gareth and Donny, head resting lightly on her brother’s shoulder to be captured in a picture forever and looking happy about it, and Isabella knew this new addition to the group had been good for everyone. They were all wearing matching formal outfits, for Christ’s sake! After Isabella returned inside and everyone started heading towards Donny’s car again, Eddie grabbed Dottie’s wrist and stopped her from following their friends.

“Hey,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “Ride with me?”

“I, uh…,” she turned to look at the rest of the guys who were waiting for her a few steps ahead.

“I kinda wanted to talk to you about something important.”

“O-okay,” she said, heart sinking into her stomach. “I’m gonna ride with Eddie, guys.”

“Everything okay?” Jeff asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’ll tell you later,” Eddie said. “Meet us in the parking lot?”

He guided Dottie towards his van with a hand on the small of her back, holding her little gold purse for her as she climbed inside and clicked her seatbelt on, their friends slowly driving away without waiting for them to catch up. Once she was seated and her skirt was out of danger from getting caught in the door, Eddie closed it, jogged to the driver’s side and jumped inside, turning on the van and heading towards Hawkins High School. They stayed quiet for a whole block and when Dottie moved to turn on the radio to fill the awkward silence, he caught her hand in the air and brought it to his lips for a quick peck, the loving gesture helping her relax into her seat.

“I’m sorry I was late,” he said. “I had to do something important and it took me longer than I thought it would.”

His hair was still a little bit damp from his hurried shower, and he was wearing a black button up shirt with the sleeves barely rolled up, his good black jeans without holes in them with the chains on the side, and black boots. Chrissy’s birthday gift was the only pop of color in his all black ensemble, the red tie carefully ironed and knotted at the base of his throat.

“You look really handsome,” Dottie muttered with an airy tone, interlacing their fingers.

“And you look stunning,” he smiled softly, glancing at her before he turned his eyes back to the road. “Kinda took my breath away when I saw you.”

“Was worried you weren’t gonna show up,” she admitted.

“And leave my girl hanging? I’d never,” Eddie said, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand. My girl. She could get used to that. “I should have just told you what I was up to, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

“Surprise?”

“Check the glove box,” he said, pointing to it with his chin.

Dottie retrieved her hand from his grasp and opened it as instructed, pulling out two envelopes from the inside: one was white and looked like it contained a letter or a folded piece of paper, the other one was big and brown. She looked at him warily with a million questions in her eyes; he grinned mischievously in return.

“Open the small one first,” Eddie said.

Curiously, she opened the white letter and unfolded the single sheet of paper, finding in her hands a copy of Eddie’s school transcript. At the bottom, written in what she recognized as Ms. Kelly’s handwriting after seeing it for almost six months straight during their check-ins, were Eddie’s final grades for his third senior year. Not quite believing what she was seeing, she read them again and again, the information in front of her eyes staring back at her impassively.

“Stop the van,” she said, her gaze still stuck to the paper.

“What?”

“Fucking pull over, Ed!” she clicked her seatbelt off and threw the papers towards the dashboard, barely waiting until he’d hit the brakes before throwing herself onto him and planting a kiss on his lips.

“Wait, wait-” he laughed loudly, pulling her out of her seat and into his lap, her poofy dress covering his legs.

“I’m so- fucking- proud of you-” Dottie said, kissing him over and over, not caring if her lipstick was transferring onto his skin.

“Yeah? You are?” Eddie asked, giddy. “I had a meeting with Ms. Kelly today,” he began explaining, and she stopped kissing him to hear his story, her hands dropping to his shoulders where she played with his hair as he melted under her touch. “Dropped you off and booked it back to school. Last two times she called me to her office a week before graduation, she told me I wasn’t making it so I kinda shit my pants there for a minute but I knew I did good this time, I could feel it.”

“You did, babe, you did so good,” she grinned at him with hearts in her eyes.

“We did it,” he pressed a noisy kiss to her cheek, making her giggle. “We’re graduating together.”

“Hell yeah we are!” she moved to kiss him again but he dodged her, leaning to the side to get the other envelope from his dashboard.

“Hold on, that was only half of the surprise,” Eddie said, offering the papers back to her. “Open this one next.”

“Is this gonna say you got a full ride to come to Michigan with me or what?” she joked, pulling out the documents. “Oh, a job application! You mentioned this the other day-”

“Turn to the second page.”

“Holy shit! You got it?”

“I got it!”

In her hands, was a copy of his filled out job application and an informal looking contract, but a contract nonetheless. It was missing Eddie’s signature at the bottom, but that was merely a formality: she was looking at Thatcher Tires’ newest employee, with his starting date stamped as Monday, June 16th, the day after graduation weekend. It was only a part-time apprentice position, but it came with the promise of being promoted to assistant and eventually to full-time if he did well, and it was so much more than anyone else had been willing to give to Eddie before. Dottie looked at him with wet eyes and so much love inside her she didn’t know what to do except scoop him into her arms and squeeze him tightly against her chest like she never wanted to let go, lest he thought she wasn’t as equally over the moon about the news as he was.

“I’m just… fuck, Ed, this is huge,” she pressed her nose to his neck and he wrapped his arms around her, breathing in deeply.

“I know. It feels huge,” he chuckled. “Never thought I’d graduate and get a real job, y’know. Wayne cried when I told him.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah,” he sniffed. “I decided I’m not gonna deal anymore either. I’m just selling what I have left now and then I’m done with that shit. Forever. I… I wanna be good for you, darling. I wanna be the kinda man you deserve.”

“Ed, you don’t have to change who you are for me,” she lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him, her hands coming to hold the sides of his face tenderly. “I fell in love with you like this, I’m not gonna change my mind all of a sudden. I’m so sorry if I made you feel like you had to be anything different than who you are, I-”

“No, no, that’s not it,” he said quickly, hands settling on her waist. “I’m just… You deserve a good man, Dot, and I wanna be that. I wanna be a good man. I- I just didn’t think I could be good before, y’know? Everyone’s always talking about how I’m so fuckin’ stupid, and how I’d never do shit with my life, and I guess at some point I started believing they were right, and- I dunno. I don’t wanna be useless and I don’t wanna end up in jail with my asshole Dad like everyone in this shit town thinks I will. And- and when I met you and you were all like you’re really smart, Eddie, you’re just lazy, you were right, darling, you were so fuckin’ right. You always are,” he was looking at her with so much intensity she had to close her eyes and lean forward, their foreheads resting against each other’s. “I wanna look at myself in a mirror and see what you see. I wanna be good.”

“You are,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his nose. “You are so good, Eddie. You are the best thing in this whole town and I love you so much.”

“Say that again, please.”

“I love you.”

“One more time?”

“I love you, Edward Munson,” Dottie kissed him sweetly. “I love you.”

“Shit,” he grinned. “You really love me.”

“Of course I do.”

“I love you too, baby. So, so much.”

They stayed like that for a few seconds, Dottie sitting on his lap, her thighs bracketing his, his thumbs rubbing circles on her sides and her hands cupping the sides of his jaw, noses pressed together. They didn’t kiss, because it didn’t seem enough to express what they were feeling right at that moment. It almost felt childish to do so, like kissing was something they usually did for fun and the real intimacy came from just existing in the same space, breathing the same air, feeling each other’s warmth under their hands and just how alive the other felt when skin was pressed against skin. A truck full of rowdy classmates that were clearly somewhat inebriated sped down the street, the loud music coming from their speakers breaking their fairytale bubble and bringing them back to real life. With a shy smile, Dottie collected all the documents strewn around them before moving back to her seat and clicking her seatbelt back on while Eddie tried to wipe her lipstick from his face with a tissue he’d stolen from her purse and water from an old plastic bottle. Once she’d reapplied her makeup and he was sufficiently clean so as not to raise suspicions, Eddie pulled back into the road towards the school, holding Dottie’s hand in his for just a few more minutes.

“You know what I realized the other day?” he said, stopping at a red light. “I didn’t used to be scared of jail when Chief Hopper was still around.”

“Really? Why not?”

“Because Hopper didn’t give two shits about me selling. He busted me a couple of times, gave me a talking to and dropped me off back home. I think he knew I was just doing it ‘cause we needed the money, I wasn’t gonna become a career criminal or some shit like that. He was cool.”

“And the new chief isn’t?”

“Powell’s useless,” Eddie scoffed. “He’s still trying to convince everyone he has what it takes to be like Hopper and no one believes he’s got it. And Callahan is a fucking moron. You know those handcuffs I’ve got in my bedroom?”

“I’m guessing you didn’t get those in a magician’s kit,” Dottie joked.

“They’re Callahan’s,” he grinned. “He caught me buying when I was like 15, put the cuffs on me and everything. Took me to the station and when Hopper saw me at his desk, he turned around and called him a drama queen, told him he was “wasting police resources” over nothing. It was awesome. I swiped the cuffs before Hopper took me home. Wayne wasn’t too happy about it though, he grounded me for like a month but I thought it was worth it.”

“So you stole a police officer’s cuffs? And just… hung them in your bedroom like they were a dreamcatcher?”

“Yeah, pretty much. At first I kept them ‘cause I thought they made me look badass,” he turned into another street, their final stop looming closer and closer. “Now I look at them and kinda get chills. I think Wayne would die if he saw me in those but for real this time. Like, I think he’d actually have a heart attack or something. Can’t do that to my old man, he doesn’t deserve that.”

“And Hopper didn’t know you took them?”

“He absolutely did, he just didn’t care,” Eddie laughed. “As far as cops go, Hopper was pretty cool. He actually gave a shit about us when it really mattered. I mean, yeah, he could still be an asshole when he wanted to, all cops are, but he was pretty chill most of the time. Kept to himself a lot. It kinda pissed me off how everyone started pretending like he was their best friend after he died.”

“Nancy told me he saved people in the Starcourt Mall fire.”

“Yeah. A true American hero: Vietnam war vet, died heroically saving children from a fire during the Fourth of July… doesn’t get more patriotic than that.”

“You said Dustin and Mike were there, right?”

“Yeah. And Erica.”

“What?”

“They were all in the cinema, I think. Dunno much about it, the kids never talk about what happened. Just know they were there ‘cause they mentioned it on the news. Nancy was there too, she didn’t tell you?”

“Oh,” Dottie said, like something had clicked in her head. “Well, that makes more sense now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought it was weird that Nancy’s boyfriend’s mom just, like, adopted the Chief’s daughter after he passed away, but it makes sense. They must have been friends.”

“What are you talking about?” It was Eddie’s turn to be surprised.

“Nancy’s dating a guy named Jonathan-”

“Yes, Jonathan Byers. I know him. Fellow weirdo,” he raised an eyebrow pointedly.

“Well, his mom adopted Hopper’s daughter before they moved to California last year. She’s dating Mike, he told us about her, remember?” Dottie explained. “So she must have been in there with Mike and their friends if Nancy and Jonathan were there too.”

“Hopper didn’t have a daughter. I mean, he did have one but she died when she was a kid,” Eddie said.

“Nancy said he didn’t know he had a daughter until recently, maybe her Mom passed away or something and she left her with him. She was here all summer with Mike and Dustin, she’s really pretty!”

“Yeah? How do you know?”

“They showed me a picture! She’s taller than I expected, has brown hair, brown eyes. Looks a little bit like an elf actually, she has, like, sharp cheekbones?” Dottie pointed to her own round cheeks that looked nothing like the girl’s face on a Polaroid currently stuck to the inside of Dustin’s locker.

“Well, damn,” he chuckled. “Look at Wheeler go, totally thought he was lying about that one. Hey, uh, did Nancy tell you anything about the Byers?”

“About Jonathan, mostly. I know he has a brother that’s friends with Mike and Dustin too.”

“Will.”

“I think so, can’t remember his name. I know Mike’s girlfriend is named Jane though.”

“So she didn’t tell you about all the weird shit that happened a few years ago, huh?” Eddie eyed her curiously as he pulled into the school’s street, the building waiting for them just a few blocks further.

“Define weird shit for me, please.”

“This town is fucking cursed, babe. That Will kid went missing in the woods and then the feds found a random body in the quarry and thought it was him. Everyone thought Mrs. Byers was insane because she kept saying that the body wasn’t Will, but she was right - Hopper found him alive a few days later. It was a huge mess, like, they had held a funeral and everything and now the kid is back like nothing happened?” Eddie shook his head in disbelief. “I thought maybe Nancy would have told you because around that same time, everyone thought this girl named Barb that was best friends with her had run away but actually she died from getting exposed to some weird chemicals from that lab in the middle of the woods where Will went missing and there was a whole conspiracy to cover it up. And also y’know, the fire thing last year.”

“Those are like a lot of strange as fuck things to have happened in such a short span of time,” Dottie frowned.

“I know, right? And Mike and Dustin are always in the middle of it somehow. Must suck.”

“Poor kids,” she said, sadly. “It’s probably hard for them to deal with all that and have to pretend everything’s normal.”

“People get crazy good at hiding things they’ve been through, especially when they were fucked up,” he shrugged.

Eddie finally pulled into the school’s parking lot, quickly locating Donny’s car and their friends standing around waiting for them. He honked the horn twice to call their attention and they waved at him to hurry up. Dottie looked at the boys through the windshield and thought about what Eddie had just said. He was right and she knew this because she’d gotten pretty good at pretending things were okay when they weren’t, not looking for pity or compassion because she’d simply assumed others would judge her for it. Being around Eddie had helped her open up, but there were some secrets that were buried too deep to unearth so casually, particularly when they filled her with shame. But maybe it was about time she stopped doing that. Maybe she owed it not only to her friends, but to herself, to stop feeling sorry for something that had been out of her control and such a special night seemed like the perfect moment to tell them the things that had been eating her from the inside out for a year now. But for now, Eddie was offering her his hand to help her get out of his van, and her friends were grinning at her like the cat that got the cream, so the truth would have to wait until later. There was a prom to attend first, and she was determined to enjoy this one to the fullest.

Gareth Coleman had never been known to be particularly patient about anything throughout his goddamn life. He was always eager to spill the beans, and he always wanted to spill them now, so the fact that he’d managed to keep this specific secret for almost a week had been impressive. Him, Jeff, and Donny had discussed Eddie’s weird behavior while on their way to the school, and they were all equally curious as to what was taking him and Dottie so long to arrive. Donny had already smoked a cig and Jeff had checked the bag in the backseat thrice by the time those two finally rejoined the group, looking a little bit suspicious and plenty cozy with one another. The boys didn’t have too much time to ponder on why though, because immediately upon arrival Eddie revealed that the reason he’d been late for dinner and why he’d stolen Dottie away for a private chat, was that he’d seen Ms. Kelly after school and had gotten confirmation that he’d finally be graduating high school with his friends. Hellfire Class of ‘86, baby, he’d said, pulling his friends into a huddle as they cheered and hollered at what was probably the most anticipated piece of news they’d gotten in a long time. However, Gareth was still impatient as ever, so he quickly peeled away from the group hug and dove into Donny’s car to retrieve their final surprise of the night and keep emotions running high.

“Since we’re all here and in a good fuckin’ mood,” he began saying, making everyone turn to him. “We have something for you, Dot.”

“For me? What did I do?”

“Well, it wouldn’t really be prom if you didn’t have one of these, so… here you go,” he pulled a white box from inside the bag and extended it to her; she accepted it curiously before peering inside.

“Wow, this is…,” she said, taken aback. “You guys! You didn’t have to buy anything for me!”

“Yes, we did,” Jeff said, moving forward to help her get her surprise out of the box.

In his hands, he held a very special corsage they’d all pitched in to buy for her since she didn’t have a formal date to the event to get it for her. The flowers were bright red, with the ribbon in black and gold; he slid it over her fingers until it sat prettily on her left wrist, her eyes filling with heartfelt tears at their thoughtful gesture. She didn’t have time to thank them, however, because soon enough Gareth was pulling smaller boxes from the bag and giving one to each of his friends.

“Could you help us with these?” Donny smiled, opening his box for her to see what he was holding.

Each of them had gotten themselves a boutonniere, two different styles but all in matching colors. Jeff and Eddie had chosen red flowers with black and gold ribbon much like her corsage, but Gareth and Donny had white flowers with red and gold ribbon. Between wet laughs, she pinned all decorations to their chests, wondering how she’d gotten so lucky to have these four men in her life who were all so eager to make every moment count when it mattered the most. Dottie tucked herself between Eddie and Jeff, and Donny turned his sister’s borrowed camera towards the group, blindly taking a picture and hoping he hadn’t accidentally cut any heads out of it. After checking on each other for the final time, the five teens turned towards the gymnasium doors and headed inside to get the party started.

The Hellfire Class of ‘86’s big entrance had been something to behold. No one had really been expecting the freaks to show up, much less dressed to the nines and arm in arm with that one girl that had moved to Hawkins a few months ago right in the middle of the school year, but there they were, and they demanded to be seen. Their matching outfits made them stand out in a sea of bold colors, pastels, and satin fabrics, but the fact that they moved like a cohesive unit anywhere they went was weirdly fascinating. First, they headed to get their picture taken and the photographer had been happy to capture what looked to be a healthy group of friends instead of awkward looking couples that would probably not make it anywhere further than a few months beyond graduation. Then, they lingered at a corner of the refreshments table when Chrissy Cunningham excitedly greeted them and chatted with them for a few long minutes, gushing over Dottie’s vintage dress who in turn couldn’t stop telling the blonde how beautiful she looked in her baby pink gown.

It was silly, really, how the most non-conformist friend group in Hawkins High had found some sort of genuine amusement in participating in what was probably the most stereotypical event in the life of any high school student, but they’d long ago stopped trying to explain themselves to others. Prom to them was a celebration of their friendship, a culmination of four shitty years (or six, in Eddie’s case), and the hope of a better future that felt as equally glorious as every moment spent together. They sipped on cheap vodka from a hip flask Gareth had smuggled in, they pestered the DJ to play Black Sabbath, Metallica, or even some Mötley Crüe to no avail, and they danced in a circle until their feet hurt. Dottie excused herself for a bit to dance with Chrissy to a Queen song, and then she’d stolen Nancy away from her friends for a few minutes, but she stayed pretty close to her boys all night, and in turn, they never left her alone. She’d been twirling around the dance floor with Jeff while Gareth escaped to the bathroom for a couple of minutes when Donny came to stand next to Eddie, who was watching her from the side with the most lovesick expression on his face known to man.

“Might wanna be less obvious with the staring there,” Donny nudged him goodnaturedly. “People are gonna notice you’re drooling.”

“Don’t really care if anyone sees me,” Eddie admitted. “Now that we’re all getting out of here I’m gonna ask her to be my girlfriend, so I don’t give a shit about what this lame ass school thinks about me anymore.”

“Damn, good luck, man,” he looked at him, impressed. “I mean, she’s totally gonna say yes but still, good luck.”

“Thanks, Don. You’re a good friend, you know that, right?”

“Been told once or twice but it’s always good to hear.”

“I should tell you more often,” Eddie smiled. “We’re all best friends, but… I dunno. I feel like you always got me the most.”

“Always thought you got me the most, actually,” Donny said, smiling back at him.

“Hey, Eddie!” Chrissy called, hurrying towards him all giggly and secretive. “We're up next!”

“Shit, already?”

“What’s going on?” Donny asked, looking at the blonde.

“I'm his Best Man," she said, like that explained everything before grabbing Eddie's hand and pulling him towards the dance floor.

Without having to squint too much, the gymnasium didn't look like the sweaty room the majority of the school's populace hated with a passion anymore. Chrissy and her fellow Prom Committee members had worked really hard to turn it into a different place, from the red carpet and fairy lights at the entrance to the golden streamers obscuring the bleachers to the sides, all the way to the myriad of rented mirror balls hanging from the ceiling; everything came together to create a portal to a world where Hawkins’ senior class could pretend like they were movie stars for a night. The theme was perfectly captured in the décor, and Eddie found it very fitting that the Hellfire Club's colors matched it so well - it made everything that much more special and movielike than they had intended when they agreed to display their club’s allegiance so blatantly.

Chrissy maneuvered them past several people towards where Jeff and Dottie danced to Falco’s Rock Me Amadeus, immediately joining in and not caring that classmates around them were looking at her like she'd grown two heads. She had worked her ass off so everyone could have a wonderful night and if she wanted to dance with the freaks, she felt like had rightfully earned her prize. After all, Eddie had said she was a freak too once and she took it to heart, considering it might as well have been the biggest compliment she had ever received in her 18 years on planet Earth. Jeff was still wary of Chrissy, not having had a full conversation with her in all four years of high school but he knew Eddie thought of her as a friend, and Dottie seemed to like her as well so he followed their lead and danced along with her, making both girls spin at the same time in tune with the song.

"Are you having fun?" Chrissy asked Dottie, holding onto her hands.

"So much fun! I voted for you, by the way."

"You did?! Oh my god, thank you!" the blonde beamed at her. "I'm so nervous, I hope I get it!"

"Are you kidding me? We all voted for you, you're totally gonna win," Dottie said with honesty, because there was no other way the night could end without Chrissy Cunningham winning Prom Queen.

"Don't jinx it!" she laughed, as the final notes of Rock Me Amadeus played out.

"Alright, alright, Hawkins High! Is everyone having fun?" the DJ asked over the music; everyone cheered in response. "Let's slow it down a little bit, shall we? This one's for the lovers in the room, but remember to leave space for Jesus in the middle, okay? Don’t want any teachers getting upset."

Dottie laughed at the DJ’s silly joke while the next song began, head whipping around to find Eddie who was already turned towards her and, dare she say, looking mighty sheepish. Oh, darling, please believe me, crooned Paul McCartney as the dancefloor became a little bit less crowded and couples began partnering up to share a sweet moment with one another. Eddie offered his hand to her and Dottie looked at their friends before taking it, but there was no need - Chrissy was fulfilling her Best Man duty to perfection, already swaying away from them with her hands on Jeff's shoulders. He looked mighty confused as to why a pretty cheerleader was slow dancing with him instead of going to find her jock boyfriend, but he was enjoying the small talk about what colleges they'd attend after graduation and Chrissy seemed to be having fun too so beggars couldn't really be choosers. Dottie let herself be pulled closer to Eddie and he held her in a way that didn't look entirely platonic, but they both silently agreed that they’d deal with whatever teasing they could get in the future. Right now, being in her not-yet-boyfriend’s arms while The Beatles played in the background was probably one of the happiest moments of Dottie’s life and she was going to enjoy it as much as she could without overthinking it.

"Got any other surprises up your sleeve I should prepare myself for?" Dottie asked, eyes shining under the disco balls.

"This was the last one for tonight, I promise," he said, fighting the urge to cradle her head into his chest; Mrs. O'Donnell was standing to a side looking for students who didn't leave space for Jesus and he didn’t want to risk it. "How are you feeling, princess?"

"Like this is the best prom I could have asked for."

"Yeah? Is it how you dreamed it would be?"

"It’s so much better. I'm lucky enough to be dancing with the prettiest boy in the room, what more could I ask for?" she smiled.

"Don't know, I'm dancing with the most beautiful girl in the room so I'm feeling pretty lucky too," he smiled back at her, his dimples on display.

“God we’re corny. How did you get the DJ to play our song?”

“I thought our song was Hot Patootie.”

“We have multiple. Answer the question, Munson, Donny and I asked him to play some Bruce Springsteen earlier and he said no.”

“I have friends in high places,” Eddie said cryptically, but undermined the mystery by looking at Chrissy who was laughing at something Jeff had said.

“You totally told her about us, didn’t you?” Dottie asked, but her grin told him she wasn’t mad about it.

“She’s gonna be my Best Man, I had to,” he shrugged, making her snort and shake her head.

“Already thinking about the wedding and he hasn’t even asked me out yet. You’re getting awfully cocky,” she raised an eyebrow, and he had the decency to look shy about it.

“I’m working on it, darling. Just give me time to make it special.”

Eddie pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear as they danced, not realizing that both Donny and Gareth were watching the pair like hawks, smirking at how obvious their affection was in a sea of couples that ranged from uncomfortable to loving. They, however, looked downright sickening, like they had been plucked from a cheesy coming of age movie where the two leads finally came to terms with the fact that all they’d ever wanted had been right in front of them all along.

“He’s totally head over heels for her, isn’t he,” Gareth said, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Absolutely,” Donny said, taking a sip of his spiked fruit punch. “But she’s not far behind either.”

“Yeah,” the wild curly haired boy turned to look at his friend. “Wanna bet on how long it’ll take for them to get together?”

“I say twenty for graduation day.”

Nearing the end of prom night, their feet hurt from standing for so long and they were all starving for some salty junk food. Chrissy had, of course, ended up winning Prom Queen; Hellfire had cheered for her extra loud which hadn’t made the basketball team very happy but they couldn’t retaliate when there were so many teachers around. Besides, Andy’s eye was still very much purple and no one wanted to be sporting a face injury in their graduation photos. Jason Carver had won Prom King too, but much to his dismay, rumor had it that he’d barely beaten the football team’s captain for the title. Nonetheless, the newly crowned couple was dancing in the middle of the gym surrounded by other partnered up classmates when Eddie proposed what was probably the best plan of the night: leaving early and going to get fries and milkshakes at a cheap diner.

Dottie went in the car with Donny and Gareth this time, trying to avoid alerting their friends to her and Eddie’s blossoming relationship anymore than they’d already had, and the teens spent the entire ride gossiping about things they’d noticed had happened during the event, like how this girl from the swimming team had very publicly broken up with her boyfriend in front of everyone or how their History teacher had been dancing with the pretty Science teacher every freshman (namely, Dustin Henderson) had a crush on. When they arrived at the diner, Eddie opened the doors of his van and they sat in the parking lot to eat their fries and share various flavors of milkshakes, debating on which one was better. The boys were rowdy as they always were, Gareth fighting hard for peanut butter versus Jeff’s chocolate and Donny’s orange creamsicle, when Eddie went to grab more fries from the basket he was sharing with Dottie and noticed she was staring at her corsage, a blank expression on her face.

“Hey,” he said softly, trying not to startle her by rubbing the back of her hand with his pinky finger. “You okay? Wanna go home?”

“No, I’m okay. Just thinking.”

“Wanna tell me? I’m a good listener.”

“I know you are,” Dottie afforded him half a smile. “I… there was something I wanted to tell you but don’t wanna bring the mood down.”

“Uh-oh,” he pouted dramatically. “Am I in trouble already?”

“Shut up,” she shoved him lightly. “No, it’s just… it’s about New York and- I don’t know, we’re having such a fun time. Feels like I’m gonna fuck it up. It’s fine, I can tell you guys some other time.”

“Tell us what?” Jeff asked, making her notice that all the boys were quietly looking at her.

“You don’t have to tell us anything if you don’t want to,” Gareth hurried to say. “-but we’re always down to hear you if you wanna, like, get something off your chest or whatever.”

“Yeah! You’re not fucking anything up, we’re just talking,” Donny said.

Dottie looked around at her friends who were waiting to follow her lead whatever that may be and knew that if she was ever going to say anything, then this was it. This was the moment where she let them all in, where she let them see just how truly damaged she was, and they’d have to decide whether this baggage was something they wanted to help her with or if it was too much for them to handle. Eddie’s ringed hand sneaked behind her, caressing her spine back and forth on top of her dress for support. She took a deep breath and set the basket of fries to the side.

“I, uh- you know how I said my junior prom sucked and that’s why I kinda didn’t wanna come tonight before we made plans?” she began, and they all nodded. “So, there’s actually a pretty big reason for that.”

“You said you didn’t have a date for junior prom and you felt bad so you didn’t go. That’s why I said we should all go together,” Gareth said, making the other teens turn to him in surprise. He clearly knew more about it than they all did and he hadn’t said anything.

“I lied. I did go and I did have a date. I had a boyfriend actually,” she said grimly.

“Oh.”

“How long did you date that guy?” Donny asked, sparing a glance at Eddie who was staring at her nervous hands playing with her Mom’s engagement and wedding rings, spinning them around her left middle finger.

“Around six months. His name was Tyler, we went to school together. He was… nice, I guess? I really liked him,” she muttered. “And like, not to overshare but he was my first real kiss, you know? My first everything. And he made me feel special for a while.”

“What happened?” Jeff asked, frowning and shifting closer, his hand coming to rest on her ankle.

“We went to prom together. Flynn, his older brother, took us and the whole ride was so awkward because he kept trying to talk to Tyler and he would just stare ahead, like he was angry or something. He wouldn’t even look at me.”

“Flynn or Tyler wouldn’t look?”

“Tyler. Actually, Flynn was pretty awesome, best older brother ever. He was pre-med, just… a really cool guy. Kinda miss him, he was fun to be around. He had wild stories about college, but not like drunk wild, just general weird things that happened around campus,” Dottie smiled, remembering the nice older guy that gave her advice on how to apply to colleges.

“He sounds nice,” Donny said.

“He was! Honestly, I think the best part about dating Tyler was that I could hang out with Flynn a lot.”

“So… what happened at prom?” Donny prompted her to continue.

“Um, Flynn dropped us off and Tyler said he wanted to talk before we went in. I thought he was nervous, y’know? I mean, I was nervous too. But he basically said he didn’t wanna date me anymore because he was gonna go to this science whatever camp during summer, and we were gonna be so far away and he just couldn’t deal with long distance so it was over.”

“What?” Eddie’s eyebrows raised on his forehead until they were hidden completely by his bangs. He was prepared to wait for her all four years of college and this fucking guy couldn’t handle being two months apart? “That’s such bullshit!”

“That’s what I said!” she exclaimed, getting angry again at the memory. “But then he said that he didn’t like me anymore because I didn’t put in any effort, and that other girls got pretty for their boyfriends and- and that hurt because he knew that I hadn’t been able to get a dress I liked for prom, so a friend’s sister let me borrow an old one from her.”

“What a fucking douchebag,” Gareth said, scoffing. “You always look pretty, what was his deal?”

“Wish I didn’t know, but, um, that one hurt way more when I found out,” she said, tears starting to form along her waterline. “Because I obviously went home after that, right? He didn’t want me there, and I didn’t want to be there either, so I got on the first bus I saw and that was it. I didn’t show up for the final week of school, and then I went to see my grandparents and stayed away from everyone all summer.”

“What about your friends?” Jeff asked.

“My Dad returned the dress for me and I called Tracey to say thank you, and that was it. She didn’t ask about what happened and no one else called.”

“You mean that no one cared you went missing for months?” Eddie’s face dropped.

“That’s kinda how summers were like for me in New York anyway,” she admitted, and he moved his hand from her back to her hip to bring her closer to him and into a side hug. “I was sure that everyone knew and that’s why no one called. Like, what would they even say? It would have been so awkward. But then school started again and I found out what happened during the holidays and everything made sense.”

“Why? What happened?” Gareth frowned. “What did they do while you were gone?”

“Tyler went to his dumb summer camp two weeks after school ended and got together with my friend Jeannie,” Dottie said, fat drops finally falling from her eyes. “God, why am I still crying about it? I don’t even care about them anymore, I’m pathetic.”

“Fuck that! You’re not pathetic, they are!” Jeff exclaimed, gripping her ankle tighter to get to look up from her hands. “What a bitch, how could she do that to you?”

“Okay, I’m gonna kill both of them,” Gareth deadpanned. “We should totally kill both of them, right, guys?”

“Hey, come on, don’t cry,” Donny said, shifting closer until he was on Dottie’s other side, squishing her between himself and Eddie. “Do you want us to kill them? Because you know we would. I’ll bring the shovel, Eddie has the van, we can make it happen. Just say the word and we’ll be there.”

“I know you would,” she managed to chuckle through the tears. “It’s fine, I just… I never really told anyone this other than my Dad. The only reason my family knows is because he had to explain to everyone why I was locking myself in my room to cry all the time and wouldn’t leave home. I worried everyone a lot those days.”

“You were keeping this one really close to the chest, huh?” Eddie said, things clicking into place for him. Her sudden desperation when he mentioned Chrissy’s name mid freakout, her willingness to hide her own heartbreak if it meant they’d still be friends, the way she kept to herself all those months before she joined them. “Can I ask… did someone tell them anything? Did your other friends know?”

“They all knew. Tracey and Benji said they were sorry but that was kinda it. And all of them sat during lunch with Jeannie, who kept bringing Tyler over to our table and literally fucking sitting on him every day so I had no friends for six months except for Mrs. Randall.”

“Who’s Mrs. Randall?” Eddie asked, vaguely aware that he’d seen that very same name signed at the front of her well-loved Anne of Green Gables copy.

“The school’s librarian. I had lunch with her every day and she helped me write the essay I sent to UMich. She’s awesome, honestly. Dunno what I would have done without her.”

“I’m so sorry you went through all that,” Jeff said. “You didn’t deserve it, and I’m glad you aren’t friends with those assholes anymore.”

“Yeah! You have us now!” Gareth smiled, throwing himself over Eddie’s legs to join in on the hugging party. “We played D&D together which means we’re bonded for life. Can’t get rid of us anymore.”

“He’s right, princess,” Eddie added, hand coming up to brush her tears away. “It’s in the Player’s Handbook. You signed a blood contract.”

“I love you,” she said, looking at him earnestly before turning to her other boys. “I love all of you. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything before, it was just so embarrassing to admit and I didn’t want you to know I’m the biggest loser on Earth and decide you didn’t want to be friends anymore.”

“You’re not a loser,” Donny said. “And those people weren’t your real friends, they were shitheads. That’s not on you, Dot. And we love you too, or else we wouldn’t be wearing suits right now.”

“Everything you guys did today… thank you. I’m gonna remember this forever, you have no idea how much it means to me.”

“We know,” Gareth said, looking at all his friends. “That’s why we did it.”

In the back of Eddie’s van, with the doors open to the empty parking lot waiting to be filled with teens looking for a snack, Dottie shed yet another layer of fear and anxiety. The air smelled vaguely of weed and fries, their forgotten milkshakes sweating rings onto the hard floor, but no one made a move to get themselves out of the puppy pile they had sunk into, five sets of legs and arms tangled with one another and the calm understanding that physical comfort was something they all needed at that moment. They had all been outcasts, freaks, easily disposable and replaceable throughout their lives, but here, in this van, they were invaluable and unique. Here the Hellfire Class of ‘86 was home, and there was nothing in the world that could convince them otherwise. Here they belonged, and birds of a feather flock together after all.

taglist (comment below or send me an ask if you wanna be added!): @munsonology @kurdtbean @every1lovesanunderdog @eg-dr3amer3

[dib-thing-wannabe]

The Evil and The Genius

Chapter One: Interruption in the routine

As the sun was rising in the early morning, it peaked through the window of the sleeping boy genius, known by the name of Jimmy Neutron. The sunlight hit his resting eyes, causing them to flutter open after a few seconds. He groaned in annoyance as he rolled over to his side, where the sun wouldn't hit his vision, still wanting to sleep. Though Goddard didn't allow it to continue for more than a few more seconds before tugging at the blanket covering him, growling as he did so.

Jimmy lets out another tired groan before sitting up, rubbing his eye. "Alright, alright, I'm up boy. I'm up." He let out a small yawn as he looked at the clock on his side table, it reading 8:05 am. Thankfully for him, it was a Saturday without any plans, so there wasn't any need to rush.

"Go downstairs, boy! I'll catch up to you after I'm all dressed!" Jimmy spoke in a tired tone, though he tried to make it seem a bit more excited so that Goddard would listen. Effectively, this worked as intended, as his robotic dog wagged his tail and let out a few excited barks before rushing out of his room.

Jimmy sighed before getting out of the bed, stretching as he did so. Lately, it's been the same old, same old: He wakes up, goes to school despite him not technically needing to, fix the townspeople's problems that are honestly accidently his fault more times than not, gets back home, stays up later than he should be to continue working on his latest inventions, then goes to bed at around 4 am. It's tiring, but it is what it is, or at least in Jimmy's mind. Besides, at least he hasn't needed to fight against any villains for awhile now, so that's something for him.

Once fully dressed, he met Goddard downstairs, who is sitting next to his mom, Judy, who's currently making breakfast.

"Oh, hello Jimmy! I hope you were able sleep decently, since your father decided to have a one-man movie night again, and you and I both know how he likes his tv! Nice and loud!" She said with a slight chuckle, turning towards him as she held a pan in her hand.

"Yep, I know exactly that! But yes, I slept quite well despite that." Jimmy lied through his teeth with what he tried to make look like a genuine smile, simply not wanting his mother to either worry about him or punish him. It's not like he meant to stay up until 5:34 am working on a power blaster, it just sorta happened!

Judy, unaware of what really happened last night with Jimmy, smiles warmly back at him. "That's good! Now, what would you like for breakfast?"

"Oh, no need for that, dear mother. I'm not hungry." He told her, walking past her to grab a drink for himself in the fridge.

"Oh, come on, Jimmy! That's, what, the fifth time you didn't eat breakfast this week, correct, young man? C'mon, it doesn't have to be much, it can be simple , like some buttered toast!" She told him sternly, holding the pan in one hand and her hip in the other.

Jimmy let out a soft and quiet groan before turning towards her with a drink in his hand, knowing that she's just simply worried for his health. "Fine, I guess I'll have some toast. Please and thank you." This caused Judy to smile at him before turning away and walk towards the toaster. " Alrighty then! Toast, coming right up!"

After around 5 minutes, Jimmy exits the house after eating some toast, with Goddard quickly following behind him. Normally, Jimmy would head straight for the shed and into his lab on days like this, but sadly he needs overall more materials to continue on with his current projects and they had yet to arrive. So for now, he's just walking around town, seeing if there's anything he could do.

"Jimmy!!" A familiar voice called out to him after a few moments of wondering and looking around. Jimmy turned to see where the voice was coming from, and gazed his eyes upon Sheen waving at him with Carl following behind him, playing with a couple of plush llama's. "Ah, hello Sheen! Hello Carl! How are you two doing this morning?"

"We're doing good, Jimmy! Though we may need to be careful due to all the new rumors that's been going around." Carl said in his usual timid tone as Jimmy approached the two. "Rumors? What are these rumors that you are speaking of?" Jimmy said, not being able to recall any that would need anyone to be careful.

"Oh, haven't you heard? There's a lot of strange things that have been happening since yesterday, though it hasn't been anything that bad yet." Carl responded, still playing with the llamas.

"Yeah, like their shoelaces being tied together while they weren't looking, or their drink being moved further away from them! Nobody has been able to see who or what's been doing this, so for all we know it could be anyone, even multiple lizard people!!" Sheen added.

"Hmmm... well, I'll believe it when I see it. Sounds like a lot of people are just being paranoid." Jimmy said in an unamused tone, as if he doesn't believe it to be anything of importance as of right now.

"Sure you will, Jimmy! Say, wanna come to my place and watch a few movies with me and Carl? We have allll day to do it!" Sheen said in his usual loud and cheerful tone, pointing his thumb towards the direction of his house.

"... Honestly, yes, I would like to, Sheen. I don't really have anything else to do anyways. That is, if nothing important comes up and interrupts it." Jimmy chuckled softly to himself after he said that.

"Oh please, nothing bad ever happens to kids on Saturday! Anyways, we are doing this thing where we each bring two movies of our choice that we haven't seen, got that?" Sheen told Jimmy.

"Yeah, I got it.. though it might take me a couple minutes to get them. Just set everything up at your place while I go grab my share of the movies, okay you two?" Jimmy stated to his friends. There's basically no movies in his house right now that he hadn't watched at some point in time, so he needed to go buy them himself to be able to do this with them.

Sheen and Carl each gave him a thumbs up before walking towards Sheen's house as Jimmy also walked away from them and towards the center of the town, where all the stores primarily are. As he walked closer and closer to the nearest DVD store, he began to notice that more and more people look as if they have just been pranked, and yet don't know who exactly pranked them. Like this man who had silly strings everywhere on him, or this older woman that kept swearing that someone had switched her lemon water with a lemon-lime soda while she wasn't looking. Very minor and harmless things, but little by little, it became clear to the little genius that maybe the rumors that his friends told him about weren't as big of a hoax as he originally thought.

"Goddard, is it just me who thinks that maybe Sheen and Carl were right about the rumors?" Jimmy asked his robotic dog friend as they passed by one of the many alleyways, who in response barked at him and nodded his head. "I thought so. Maybe we should be a little extra careful about our next moves while whoever is doing this is still-"

Suddenly, in the dark alleyway he had just about passed by, Jimmy heard laughter. Quiet, hushed, and more importantly, familiar laughter.

"There's no way that's who I think it is." Jimmy thought to himself, turning back around to look in the alleyway where the laughter came from. "There's no why that it's-"

He silently stood in shock for a few seconds as he laid eyes on the source of the laughter. It was his clone that only went by the name Evil Jimmy. The very same clone that he had placed in what is known as the dark matter dimension, that of which he thought he would never escape from. And by the laws of science, he still hasn't changed how he looked one bit during that time.

Evil Jimmy, who looked just as surprised to see Jimmy as Jimmy was to see him, proceeded to give him a smug grin as he leaned against the wall. "Heya there, Whippy-Dip. Missed me at all?"

Jimmy let out a few stutters before being able to say anything, or rather yell anything, that made sense. "I- how- You! Were you the one who's been terrorizing everyone in the town since yesterday?!"

The clone shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't know, despite his face saying otherwise. "Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. There's no real way to know."

"Oh please! It definitely was you, and you can't even try to deny it!!" Jimmy shouted as his clone gave him a smirk. "B-besides, how'd you even escape that dimension in the first place?! I ran all the possiblies of you escaping and there were practically zero chances of it happening!! So explain yourself!"

"How aboooout I don't? Yeah, let's go with no. I don't feel like telling ya how I did it, and it's not like you can make me tell ya!" Evil Jimmy said smugly as he walked closer to Jimmy, causing Goddard to start barking at him as he stood in front of Jimmy.

Lately, Jimmy's patience has been in an all time low due to his lack of sleep and having to constantly fix problems in short periods of time, which meant that quickly his fear and confusion turned into pure annoyance, and it showed. "Tell. Me. Now." Jimmy told him sternly as he stepped forward, having the two of them now be face-to-face with one another.

"I. Said. No." He said in a mocking tone while cockily grinning at Jimmy.

Jimmy let out a soft sigh before suddenly grabbing his clones ear tightly and started dragging him by it back to his lab with a fast pace. His clone let out a yelp as he started getting dragged.

"OW OW OW- HEY- LET GO!-" He cried out as he struggled to break free from his grip, trying to pry Jimmy's fingers off of his ear.

"Quiet down, will you? You're only making an embarrassment out of yourself by being so loud." Jimmy told him harshly, still dragging him to the lab. In all honesty, he just doesn't want people to see the two of them, immediately recognize the clone, and start freaking out about it. That'll only mean that people would start putting even more pressure onto him as to get rid of him, as if the fact that he's back wasn't enough already.

Thankfully, Evil Jimmy listened to the best of his abilities and try to keep quiet, still letting out sharp breathes and small exclamations of pain every once in a while. Quickly, or in Evil Jimmy's case, finally, they made it to the lab, thankfully without being spotted by anyone either. As they entered the lab, Jimmy pushed him to the ground as he closed the door behind them both.

"Now are you willing to tell me how you managed to escape? Or do I need to do some more convincing?" Jimmy said as he looked down at him as Evil Jimmy rubbed his sore ear.

"Fine, fine, I'll tell! I made a dimension traveling bike with a bunch of tiny scraps lying around, which is how I got out of that dimension and back into this one!" He hissed at his blueprint of a human being, being annoyed at the position that he was currently in. He was the evil one! He was supposed to scare Jimmy, not the other way around!

"Hmmm... okay, okay, good to know.." Jimmy muttered softly, placing a hand on his chin as he started slowly pacing back and forth. Okay, he now knows that he can't just put him back because if he could build it once, he could definitely build it again. But what should he do with him now, since that was the case?

After a few moments of silence between the two, Evil Jimmy stood back up and leaned against a nearby metal pillar. "Whatcha thinking, chief?"

"Thinking about a way to get rid of you, obviously. It's not like I can get rid of you the same way that I'd usually get rid of other villainous people. You are a clone of me after all, so you have a much higher IQ than most of the foes that I have dealt with in the past."

Evil Jimmy chuckled softly. "Oh really? What are a couple of your ideas of making me go away then?"

Jimmy stopped pacing for a moment and looked him directly in the eyes. "Well, I could put you at the bottom of the ocean in a glass box with a limited amount of oxygen. Or I could shoot you up into space, maybe even send you to planet Zeenu, and you definitely wouldn't like that. Trust me on this, the residents there are more unintelligent than Sheen's shoe and their rulers are absolutely terrible at their jobs and their morals." He then started pacing back and forth again, as if those ideas still weren't good enough for him. I mean, he is a clone of him after all, and if Jimmy could easily and quickly get out of those situations, then of course he would as well.

Evil Jimmy continued to watch Jimmy for a moment, listening to him mumble to himself as he tried to come up with a plan as to what to do with him. When he suddenly had an idea himself.

"Hah, well, what's stopping you from doing any of those plans of yours?"

"Two things. One, I'm very low on materials to be able to do that. Two, for some reason, those would now be considered 'immoral' of me to do to you, despite me having done way worse!" Jimmy told him with a frustrated look as he continued to pace, as if these things have been a problem for him for a few months now. "But they would still basically never let me off the hook if I were to effectively harm you to the point where you're immobile or dead. So I need to scrap most of my ideas if I want to not have to deal with anymore of that."

Evil Jimmy mumbled in agreement with Jimmy's statement. He definitely has done worse than most of what he had just described. He did see him literally kill all of the other clones, with him being the sole survivor out of them. And to be completely honest, he's definitely the one who deserved to be killed despite that.

"Well, chief, I myself have an idea as to what you could do with me." The clone said in a soft voice as he checked his nails.

Jimmy stopped pacing again and raised an eyebrow at him. Though it would definitely be a bad idea if it was coming from Evil Jimmy of all people at the current moment, he couldn't help but be at least a little curious about what it could be.

Evil Jimmy looked up at him and gave him a gentle yet sly grin before speaking. "Maybe you could try and reform me. Lead me away from my evil ways."

Jimmy stood there shocked for a moment, I mean, this had to be some kind of trick, right? There was no way that he's genuinely wanting to be reformed. He was definitely just planning on using this as a way to trick the others into some kind of betrayal against Jimmy. ".. And why would I do that? You were literally terrorizing everyone in the town just moments earlier."

"Oh please," Evil Jimmy flicked his wrist at Jimmy as he turned his head away, "I never harmed anyone with those pranks!.. At least, I don't believe I did. C'mooon, chief, just one crack at it?"

Jimmy groaned as he put some thought onto it. It definitely wouldn't work, at least not very easily, especially if the villain was the one who had the idea in the first place. But Jimmy didn't have any other ideas that either had the physical parts to do it or without him being bashed by everyone. Besides.. he could just imagine the praise he would get if he even just simply tried to reform him. And if he just kept a close eye on him constantly, he just might actually be able to keep him out of trouble.

Jimmy let out a sigh before speaking again. "Y-you know what? Fine, we can try to reform you. But you have to be compliant! Got it?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die, chief!" He said while making a cross motion on his chest and having a triumphant smile on his face, though had his fingers crossed behind his back as he did this.

"You better hope to die if you ever decide to push your luck too far." Jimmy told him sternly, when he realized something. ".. If we were to start though, we would need to give you an actual name."

"Hm? Why though? Wouldn't it just confuse everyone who already knows about me?" He asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"... You're current name is literally 'Evil Jimmy'. It'll be kind of hard for anyone to even begin to think that you were a better person if evil is in your name, wouldn't it?" Jimmy told him, causing the clone to have a look on his face that's clear that he feels dumb about not realizing it right away. "Besides, I'm sure it would be nice for you if people wouldn't be able to tell that you're a clone of me right away because of your name."

"... Alright, makes sense." He said, soon getting lost in thought. There was a lot of things he had thought about doing once he escaped the dark matter dimension, but an actual name for himself? Never even crossed his mind once.

"... Jack."

"W-wha-?" The clone snapped out of his train of thought as he suddenly heard Jimmy speak. "What, is there someone named Jack around here that I didn't know about? Are they going to be a problem, or-"

"No. I said Jack because you were clearly having troubles coming up with a name for yourself, so I threw it out there as a suggestion. Maybe have Jack as more of a nickname with Jackson being a full name for you. Does that sound good to you?"

He sat in silence for a moment before responding. "Yeah, that sounds good to me."

"Good, that's good. Now, Jack, what do you think we need to discuss next?"

Next>>>

[justm3di0cr3]

Alrighty then ignoring that first accidental post @midnightmah07

Happy Accidents

"And you're absolutely certain you want to stay?"

"Mhm. I'll be fine,I promise. Don't worry about me so much."

Trein sighed, eying Daisy one last time before walking off, muterring goodbye along with a 'Take care and call me if you need anything'. Daisy waved to him and shut the door once he was out of her sight.

As it so happened was that Daisy's step sisters had a event coming up that required parent or Guardian's attendance. Trein offered to take Daisy along but she had denied it as to not bother him.

She was to only stay alone for a day and a half anyway and would maintain the house while her stepfather was away.

Another bonus was that there was a ball being held in the Kingdom and she wanted to attend it. Not for any man, heavens no!Not that her stepfather would approve of any guy anyway. It was just an excuse to spend some time with her friends.

The day sped along rather quickly and before she knew it, she was all dolled up, wearing a soft blue dress. After some hassle,she made it to the castle, and my was the place gorgeous. Glass Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, light reflecting off then with golden hues. The place glimmered and would leave any normal person awestruck at its sight. It was a bit overwhelming frankly as she tried to locate her friends in the massive crowd of people,as they chatted along with one another, indulging themselves in what the ball room had to offer. Atlast she spotted familiar figures and moved to join her little friend group.

The hours ticked by as they entertained eachother with their own humors. that was until.....until a certain realization hit.

"I forgot to lock the back door..."

Daisy's face morphed into panic and she quickly said goodbye and parted ways, rushing along to make her way home. Her mind clouded with panic, she didn't hear the someone call her.

"Hey!"

As the sound finally reached her ears, she turned around to see a guy around her age holding something...wait...WAS THAT HER NECKLACE?!

"I've been running after you for a good minute y'know. You dropped this. Better be careful, guys around here aren't as nice as me to return something this expensive looking shishishi"

"Oh- thank you."

Daisy extended her arm to grab her necklace back looking up at the stranger. He had dirty blonde hair with grey eyes and was fairly tall and clearly a beastmen.

"What are you doing this part of town anyway? By the way your dressed, your clearly not from here."

Daisy gave a puzzled look and looked around and oh my god...when did she become this careless?! Had she taken a wrong turn?!

"Woah Woah!! Geez, you looked so worked up. Let me guess, your lost and have no clue how to get back, right?"

"Unfortunately yes. I was in a bit of a hurry that I must've switched to a different route unintentionally."

"Well lucky for you,I know this entire town like the back of my hand and will help you out for a small payment."

Daisy sighed. Of course this was expected. She contemplated her options and agreed. Anything was better than stumbling around like a headless chicken.

So the two ventured, chatting along the way. The guy was surprisingly nice. Eventually after their stroll, they arrived to Daisy's house. The guy let out a whistle.

"You looked rich but damn this is a nice place you got."

"Thanks. But now back to the agreement, you want something in return right?"

"Nah."

Daisy's eyes widened and she parted her lips to question on the change of mind.

"Your house wasn't that far and I needed to get something from this side of the town anyway. So I'll overlook this favour."

Daisy gave a small smile as the guy walked off before calling out to him.

"Hey wait! I never got your name."

"Hmm? Oh. It's Ruggie. Yours?"

"Eléa!"

Ruggie blinked a couple of time while Daisy just chuckled.

"Just call me Daisy."

"Alright well it was nice meeting ya I guess."

And with that he walked off, his figure fading in a distance and daisy went to check the house for anything array.

Finding nothing,she retired for the night, lying in bed and just before she lost her consciousness to the land of dreams, a soft smile graced her face. Maybe if Fate allowed it, She'd meet Ruggie again.

And then her eyes widened. She hadn't seen her necklace once after the encounter....

[returnnofdamac]

It was a good day Pt 1

Max Mayfield x Y/n Harrington

The nice warm air of summer flowed through max's bedroom window, waking her up in a good mood.

Y/n rose from her bed quickly, sweating from the sun beating right down on her face since her bed was right infront of the window.

Max showered in warm water, then got ready before heading out to meet the party at Mikes house.

Y/n went to shower and there wasn't any hot water, 'Steve must have used it all'. When she was finished she got ready and headed out but noticed that her board was wobbly. As she skated, the board slipped from under her feet and she landed on her back, knocking the wind from her as a truck drove right over her, trying to come to a stop as the tires screeched. Y/n shakily climbed from under the truck and headed to the curb, still shooken up that she almost died. The driver was asking if she was okay, checking her for any injuries. She assured the man she was okay and picked up her board, walking to mikes instead of skating. She made it in 20 minutes, knocking on the door. Nancy opened the door, smiling widely when she saw the younger harrington. "Hey, Y/n. You okay? You're bleeding." Nancy noticed that Y/n's jeans were ripped on the knee from the truck scraping it, blood seeping out the cut. "Im fine Nance. Is Mike home?" Nancy shook her head. "No they left to the mall a while ago. Come in, we need to wrap that." Nancy dragged Y/n in and cleaned the cut before wrapping it. "You want a ride to the Mall? It's my day off and I dont mind?" Nancy offered to which Y/n agreed.

After the oldest wheeler sibling dropped y/n off she headed back home. y/n went straight to scoops and saw steve at the front. "Hey, Steve." "Hey, your friends just went through the back. You can catch up to them if you run." Steve informed her to which she shook her head. "I think im gonna stay in the back with you and rob. Not feeling too good." Steve nodded and turned back to the customer, scooping whatever flavor they wanted. y/n went to the back and saw robin listening to a cassette tape, probably some language she was learning. "Hey, Rob" She said, waving at the older girl. "Hey, Harrington. What's wrong with you?" "I dont know. Just a bad day?" Y/n sighed and sat, putting her arms crossed on the table to rest her head. She slowly drifted off to sleep as she listened to Robin repeat whatever language she was listening to.

"y/n

Y/nnn

Y/N!"

Y/n woke up quickly, looking up to see Steve standing with his jacket on and Robin reading some magazine. "Come on, let's go home." He put his arm around her shoulders, as a kind of hug. "Eddie munson coming over?" Y/n asked, Steve had been sneaking the Munson freak into the house when their parents were out of town. "Nope. Not today. Just Rob." Y/n nodded and entered the back of the car, letting robin sit in the front. Steve and Robin talked about the customers that seemed to bother them and how robin almost fought a girl who slapped steve.

Once the three arrived, Y/n went straight to her room. Why did today have to be such a shitty day. Suddenly, the house phone rang. It was answered by steve and Y/n listened to whatever was being said. "Hello, this is the harringtons residence, Steve speaking...Yeah...Max? Yeah Yeah hold on. Y/n! Phone!" Y/n looked at the phone in her room and picked it up, putting it to her ear. "Hello?" The voice on the other side spoke. "Max? What's up?" Y/n responded, laying down. "Hey. Just wanted to talk to you i guess. Didnt see you today and kinda missed you, stalker." Y/n blushed and smiled widely. "Missed me?" "Yeah. Dont tell the others though. Anyway, do you wanna hang out? maybe have a sleepover?" Y/n smiled wider, if even possible. "Yeah! i mean..yeah. At mine or yours?" "Mine. Nobody is home so its just gonna be me and you." "Alright i'll be there in 10."

Y/n waved off Steve and Robin who waved back, as he drove away from Maxs house. The young harrington knock, a quiet 'coming!' heard behind the door. It was then opened by max who quickly engulfed y/n into a hug. "hey, maxine." the redhead punched y/ns shoulder and dragged her inside before closing the door. "Dont call me that!" Max said with a smile. Y/n laughed and followed the shorter girl to her room. She admired the posters and look of the room. y/n wasnt really invited over due to her brother and billys rivalery and he just didnt like y/n due to her skating in the street and being hit by his car, bending the hood.

Max and y/n had watched different movies while eating pizza and max had grown tired. "Ready to sleep?" Y/n asked. "No no, we can finish the movie." "Max," Y/n pointed to the screen," its been over. Thats the credits." Y/n laughed at max who was already snoring. Y/n stood from the bed and laid on her sleeping bag, which was on the floor next to the bed. She had decided to put it next to the window instead of the door, so when billy entered he wouldnt be able to see her sleeping in the room.

"Max i know shes here somewhere!" Billys booming voice woke up Y/n who realized clothes were thrown on her to make it look like she wasnt there. Billy walked out the room, "If shes not here, whos board is this?!" shit. y/n knew she wouldnt see that board again but if she didnt take it home, steve would ask where it was and if she tells on billy, shes dead. Once billy exited the room again, arguing with max, y/n slipped her shoes on and flannel before getting off the floor, spotting her board on maxs floor. She approached it and grabbed it, looking forward to see billy at the end of the hallway. "Got you!" He began to run, to which she slammed the door and locked it, running to the window before diving out, landing on her arm and a loud snap being heard. y/n quickly stood and ignored the pain, sprinting off the lawn and down the street, billy behind her. y/n kept running, max skating behind billy to catch up, shouting for him to stop. y/n ran towards a tree and climbed it, Billy following her anyway. "Fuck off! Leave me alone!" Billy laughed, "Im going to hurt you real bad harrington!" Y/n climbed a branch and tried to jump on a roof of a house but billy shook the branch, making her fall, barley grabbing onto the house. She pulled herself up and got on the roof, running and hopping down and heading down a different street. She looked behind her and noticed billy was gone so she stopped to catch her breath. a loud engine made her head snap backwards to see billy driving quickly down the street with max in the passenger side. "Fuck Youuuuu!!" Y/n shouted, jumping over another fence and running into woods, billys shouting being heard. Y/n reached a farm and tried to run through without being noticed but a loud gunshot made her drop to the floor. She wasnt hit but it was a warning shot. Footsteps approached her and they were the boots of Jim Hopper.

"I'm telling you, i fell on it!" Y/n said, referring to her arm. "Alright but who were you running from?" Y/n looked at hopper who had a stern look on his face and she just said, "a dog" Y/n had went home with steve who lectured her and told her she was grounded. She had also gotten a cast for her arm since it did break. Once home, Y/n laid in her bed, tired from running. Y/n heard something hit her window so she looked out to see max and dustin, waving at her. she opened the window and they climbed in, dustin to check on y/n and max to apologize. "Look, im sorry max but i dont think i can hang out with you anymore unless we are here. I dont want billy killing me." Max nodded, understanding that billy was a pain in the ass already. Dustin offered some comics for y/n who took them. "Can i talk to you alone?" Max asked, pointing to her bathroom. Y/n nodded and headed to the bathroom with max. once the door closed, max began to sob. "What happened?" Y/n asked, concerned. "Its billy. He said hes gonna make sure i dont see you again. The only reason i can right now is because hes out with neil. But he will kill you, hes crazy." "What are you saying?" Max looked into y/ns eyes and gave her a cheek kiss before opening the door and heading out, telling dustin it was time to leave. "Wait, max!" but she was already leaving, dustin waving at his best friend. Y/n watched her walk away and slammed the window.

[snakegorl212006]

Chapter one(pt 1)

The grounds quake on sight of the large serpent rising from below. The sky turns to ash waiting for his arrival. The serpent stairs at me with a piercing gaze. It's terrifying but felt so familiar .It hiss loudly, causing  me to stumble back,tripping over my own tail. “....mother ” I mumbled.As if satisfied with my answer it lowers its head down, smirking lightly. Then swiftly without effort she coils around me covering the sky above, leaving me in total darkness………….

“Angela…..”

                                    “It's time to wake up”

WIth a flash I opened my eyes to be greeted by trees and nature.My heart raced within my chest  as I tried to reclaim the air I lost from the shock “You must have some dream waking up like that” I turned to the sound “oh Lloyd.. I'm sorry I had a nightmare”  I spoke he chuckled “Again! Geez isn't this like the second time this week” he spoke showing a slight concern “i guess” I said using my scaled hands to gather myself up. I grabbed my long cloak to cover the rest of my tail. I brushed my long back skirt from the dirt that was on the ground “You ready” Lloyd asks, nodding slithering forward.  After an hour of walking/slithering we reach a village. Lloyd smiles triumphantly “ finally some place to start our conquering and we could get some candy” he said pumping his fist in the air i smile “ Ya lets get this show on the road” I said clasping my hands together he turns at me and smiles “Now once we get to the village i need you to hide somewhere I don’t want you to get hurt by anyone nor seeing what you are yet” he spoke “ok call me out if you need me  and then i'll show that village the might and power of a serpentine” I spoke punching the air. We both laughed and went into our positions. Lloyd was behind the fountain. Before anything could happen there was a thump from behind. Out of curiosity I looked behind the house I was hiding just to see four ninja chattering amongst themselves. Then the screams. It seems Lloyd has already begun his plan so I head back to position. He starts laughing evilly which echoes throughout Jamanakai villege. He continues as he steps out from behind the fountain “ IT IS I LLOYD GARMADON” he yelled as he hopped up on the fountain “I demand ALL THE CANDY IN TOWN, OR ELSE!" He threatened as he pointed at the villagers. He paused slightly. I'm guessing he saw the ninja. “GIVE ME YOU CANDY OR ELSE I RELEASE THE SERPENTINE ON YOU!” he shouted but a bit nervously this time. The crowd started booing at him telling him to get out. He tried to use a can that had toy sephents to think he would scare them into submission but it soon backfired as the villagers started to throw vegetables at him “Unh! No, WAIT! I wanted candy not vegetables! I HATE VEGETABLES” he yelled, throwing the can at the crowd. He tried to dodge the vegetables as well as he could but then he got broged by the food. I couldn't help but laugh a little. The ninjas from earlier showed up and grabbed Lloyd by the waist and started to carry him away. “ UNhand me” he yelled at them “Sorry folks, Nothing to see here” the ninja in black said as he carried him along with the others. ‘I couldn't just watch him get carried away. I have to do something’ I thought. I turned and grabbed the closest object which was a pineapple. With a plan in mind I rushed towards the light and yelled “ HEY PINEAPPLE HEAD”  . I managed to get the attraction of the red ninja and as he turned he was greeted by the pineapple I just threw at him. The pineapple hitted his face which made him fall backwards dropping Lloyd and giving him enough room to run towards me “ thanks i owe you” Lloyd said grabbing my hand “ya you can thank me later we still have Ninja to get away from” I said taking his hand and slithering swiftly out of here “YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS MARK MY WORDS NINJA” Lloyd yelled back as we made our escape from Jamanakai. After a while we were in a icelandic area where the winds ragged passed us and the cold stabbed at my skin. Lloyd still angry at what happen back at Jamanakai stomps through the snow “stuped ninja” he mumbled as he kicked a rock “I’ll show them who they are dealing with” he mumbled again. I tugged my cloak to cover myself more due to the cold. Then I heard a clung of metal.

[wolgerrswraith]

Okay, so. I wrote a thing.

I will now post the thing and leave it here for anyone who wants to look at it.

The Robber Bride

"I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell,

To die upon the hand I love so well."

― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Once, in a certain country, there lived a powerful Lady in a great manor house overlooking the crashing waves of the sea. How exactly she had come by her title was something of a mystery, but her immense wealth and striking beauty were usually enough to silence anyone asking questions about her. A single look from those dark, piercing eyes would quiet any wagging tongue instantly.

Many rumours followed her from her homeland to the manor looking over the waves; vicious, evil rumours about a string of young husbands all dying mysteriously, of wealth obtained through dowries and thievery, and of bloodstained chambers with arcane symbols scratched out on the floor to summon fallen angels to do her bidding.

Whether or not any of these stories were true is not relevant to the story at hand. All you must know is her manor house was only her latest home, and that she had lived in that country for only a year. The people of the nearby village still considered her a newcomer, even though she had long before settled into a weekly routine of visiting the village, and had become friends with several of the merchants there.

In this same village there lived a young man who was called Constant, so named because of his deep and unwavering dedication to whatever task he set his mind to. He was an orphan, and lived in a small room over the pub in town, paying for his bread by working in the fields during the day, and manning the taps for the pub owner by night.

The Great Lady came into the pub four times each month for a drink, speaking little and refusing any company. Those who tried to strike up conversation would be spoken to softly, so no one would overhear, leaving the pub afterwards deeply disturbed by the things she would say to them. They would not repeat her words to anyone, no matter how many times they were asked.

Constant was her favorite server, and she would always request his presence when she came to the pub for her drink, refusing anyone else to serve her. She spoke to him while she dined, going over humorous incidents from the great parties she threw, and salacious gossip about her acquaintances. Constant delighted in the attention she lavished on him, despite the secret tremble of horror deep in his chest.

Somehow, long before it happened, Constant knew that the Great Lady would ask him for his hand, her intentions all too easy for him to guess after those first few visits to the pub.

"I can make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams," she said to him one particular night, her smile coy. "Rooms after rooms full of gold, chambers of the finest clothes. All of it, yours. All that you must do is say yes."

Now you must know that Constant was no fool: his life was simple, and he had no great joys. But he still had his youth, and his wits, and knew better than to turn his nose up at a chance to better himself. The Great Lady was offering a world he could have only imagined in day dreams, a life spent in luxury and splendor.

She also offered mysteries upon secrets, a house of forbidden knowledge begging to be exposed to the light and looked over carefully. The truth behind the many rumours was hidden in those halls, behind those locked doors, awaiting his arrival.

All he had to do was say,

"Yes."

***

It was a simple wedding, held at the church that very same evening without any delay. The Great Lady had gone to her home long enough to change into something more formal, meeting Constant at the altar in a wondrous scarlet gown of rich silk and glittering gemstones, a long veil hiding her features. She had with her an ancient maid, back bowed from many long years of service, hair the same silver white shade of mirror mercury, to act as witness to the marriage.

The priest had seen many hurried weddings among young people wishing to elope, but never had he seen such an arrangement between a woman of the Great Lady's station and a common pub worker. He opened his mouth to make a comment on the strangeness of the pairing, and of the urgency of the ceremony, but he fell silent at a hard frown from the maid, who seemed to possess more wits than she let on at first.

Constant was to learn three things about his new bride that day during the ceremony: that her given name was Rosamund; that she knew the wedding vows perfectly off by heart; and that she seemed to permanently smell faintly of lilac and rose, the scent clinging to her cloyingly wherever she went.

Her maid's name was Danvers, and she would take no orders except for Rosamund's. Even something so simple as asking for another blanket during their long, chilly evening carriage ride went ignored until Rosamund spoke up on his behalf.

"Now, now, my dear, you shouldn't put Constant out so," she lightly chastised the old servant.

"He is to be the master of the house from here on out. You listen to him as you would me."

"Yes, mistress," Danvers replied flatly, but her gaze never left Constant's face, eyes narrowed and piercing in that deeply lined face. Constant did his best to suppress the shudder that came over him, watching the land outside the window turn desolate and bleak. Rosamund had mentioned that her manor house was far out in the countryside overlooking the waves after their hasty wedding, but he had assumed the landscape would be bright and airy, with beaches of white sand and crushed stone, the waves lapping against the shore rhythmically.

Instead the ground was barren, burned into a rough crust by the unrelenting sun. The few trees Constant could see scattered across the wasteland were withered, blackened into twisted spires that clawed at the air like bony fingers reaching out from the grave. A low fog drifted slowly in from the distant foothills, adding to the bleakness of the view.

Ahead, on a crag perched high above the cold, tossing waves was the manor. Three stories high, made of a dark stone coated in vines, the manor house cast a massive shadow over a brown lawn and dead flower beds, a fountain in the shape of a mermaid sluggishly trickling water into a green basin.

"It needs a lot of work," Rosamund said softly. "A year is really such a short time when you think about it, and I've had too much going on to work on the upkeep."

Constant swallowed thickly, deciding it was best to say nothing: Rosamund was clearly embarrassed over the sorry state of her home, but a certain sort of fallen grandeur remained beneath the intense layers of grime. The lawn and gardens were certainly too much for Danvers to tolerate, but Constant was young, and more than used to outdoor work. The house was to be his, as was his right through marriage to the Great Lady, so at the very least he could get started on the lawn as soon as the weather permitted.

Danvers helped the Great Lady step down from the carriage once it had come to a stop, seeming to let the door close in Constant's face purposefully. He had but one bag with him, containing the scant few personal belongings he had to his name. Constant would not have trusted Danvers with it, regardless, leaving him more than happy to bring it inside the manor himself.

***

Once inside the manor, Constant found himself somewhat shocked by the state of things, of how run down the furnishings really were. Cobwebs coated the once grand chandelier in the main hall, dust laying thick on nearly every surface. The walls were bare plaster, the furniture worn and greatly in need of replacing. The boards creaked and groaned under him like dying things breathing their last.

"I do apologize," Rosamund said in a small voice, like a little girl scolded for breaking her mother's best china, "for the state of things. I do try, you know, but..."

Constant wondered what Danvers was even there for if she didn't clean, but perhaps she was only a ladies maid, and did not have enough skill to keep the house in check. A flimsy excuse, looking back on it much later, but in that moment it made nearly perfect sense to him.

Despite the fact this was to be their wedding night, Rosamund carefully explained that she needed to freshen herself for that evening's dinner in her rooms, and that Danvers would show Constant to his own chambers.

The ancient maid hobbled up stairs coated in grime that creaked and groaned beneath every step she took, leading the way to the manors upper floors. Constant could not help the thrill of horror that bloomed in his chest at the state of decay that lay over everything, at the dust thickly coating the surface of a splintered side table, at the holes worn through the runner on the floor. The boards creaked just as the stairs had, if not louder, announcing every footstep in the silence of the hall.

Danvers wordlessly threw open a door part way down the hall, her impatience clear in her expression, and in the foot tapping against the worn floorboards. Constant slowly took in a breath, telling himself not for the first time that marriage was an adjustment for everyone involved, and that happier times were to come.

Another prickle of unease slid across his mind upon seeing the door, more precisely, upon seeing the lock: the bolt and chain were well oiled, and appeared to work perfectly. Except, traditionally, locks were on the inside of the door, not the outside. They were meant to keep people out, after all.

These were meant to keep someone in.

***

Dinner was a simple affair, held in a great dining room that had once been very grand and was now faded and dusty. The table stretched across the width of the room, but only three chairs were in position around it, grouped together at the end nearest the fireplace. It allowed Constant, Rosamund, and unfortunately Danvers to sit down to eat the evening's meal, which consisted of well roasted lamb in a tasty sauce and a rich vegetable soup. A small fire was slowly dying in the grate, the coals sizzling as heat left them.

"The food really is delicious," Constant said softly, trying to spark a conversation. "I hope you didn't go through all this trouble just for me."

"Never," Danvers replied, with a tight little smile, sipping her soup.

Constant decided it best to ignore the slight, picking up his goblet to drink some of the sweet summer wine within. It was spicy, and oddly comforting after the long day he had had, with the journey to the manor house and their hasty wedding weighing heavily on his mind. His eyes roamed the room, taking in the tattered furniture and ragged wallpaper, the balcony railings above them that were broken in a dozen places, one section dangling like a hanged man just over the table. He could not pretend the house was perfectly liveable in this condition any longer.

"My... my love?" he asked softly, risking the pet name as he spoke, "you said you have only lived here a year, did you not?"

Danvers shot him a look over the rim of her goblet, saying nothing.

Rosamund nodded, setting down her drink and offering a smile. "Yes, a year," she said, preening slightly at his words, clearly pleased. "I require being in the crisp sea air for my health, you see, and this house is so very large. Plenty of space."

"But, surely, someone of such means could have found a home in better shape?" Constant asked bluntly. He knew no other way to phrase it. "There is so much dirt and damage... surely there were other options?"

The smile never left Rosamund's face, but Constant saw her knuckles whiten as her hands gripped the tablecloth, the bones creaking audibly. Danvers remained silent, as always, but a smirk had crept across her lips.

"Yes, well... this one suited my needs like no other. Space, peace and quiet, a view of the ocean. Surely all of that is worth ignoring a little dust and dirt?"

Her tone was bright, bordering on loving, but there was a sharp edge to it, a darkness daring Constant to question her further, to disobey like a petulant child. Danvers sipped her own wine, watching Constant as she slowly cut her meat into smaller bites, blood oozing across the plate. For the first time since dinner had begun, Constant noticed his cut of meat was cooked to perfection, but Danvers and Rosamund were both dining on raw meat, red blood staining the white china.

For reasons he could not quite understand, Constant felt a shiver of unease creep up his spine, as he wondered what exactly he had gotten himself into by accepting the Great Lady's offer for his hand.

***

Danvers did not deem it worth her time to show Constant to his rooms that evening, leaving him to wander in the hopes of finding them on his own. Perhaps unavoidably, he found himself lost in the halls of the house, every turn looking identical to the one before it. Doors were sensibly shut, and each one he tried was locked. The tattered wallpaper was lined with portraits that perhaps once depicted family members or landscapes, but now they showed nothing but pale smudges, time and lack of care coating them in a bed of grime.

"Two turns to the left," Constant murmured to himself, trying to keep track of where he was in the halls. "Or was that two turns to the right?"

Constant began trying doors, hoping one of them would at least lead back to the main hall so he could find his bearings. None of them opened, but one particular door gave him pause: a large stain had soaked deeply into the floorboards just outside it, deep brown in color. Constant frowned, reaching for the knob to see what lay beyond the door.

A hand gripped his arm, sharp nails digging into his flesh. Constant yelped, taking a step back from the door as if burned. His arm stung, pinpricks of pain seared into his skin. Rosamund stood besides him, a look of barely restrained fury in her eyes.

"You are not to try and open this door again," she said, her voice echoing in the stillness of the hall. "Do you understand me? Never again."

"Of course, my love," Constant said softly. "I got lost in the halls trying to find my rooms... I- I do apologize."

The fury smoldered in Rosamund's gaze, but her lips softened into a smile. "I'll see to it we mark the right path for you. Perhaps a new carpet? Then you would never be lost again."

Constant smiled in a way he hoped came off as conciliatory, allowing Rosamund to guide him away from the door and back down the hall to his rooms. She spoke softly to him as they went, apologizing for the confusion and begging Constant forgive her for the misunderstanding.

Constant of course promised her he did, and perhaps he did mean it. But his mind circled back to the mysterious stain by the door, and how it so closely resembled the blood stains soaked deep into the barn floor of his childhood home, left from slaughtering days when the cows and pigs met their maker before the snows came. Those stains never scrubbed out, turning a deep brown as they dried.

***

The next few days passed in relative calm, with Rosamund warming up to Constant more each day, while Danvers became openly hostile towards him. Doors to things like the washroom and the great hall would mysteriously become locked, forcing him to seek out Rosamund to be let back in. At dinner, Rosamund's helping of lamb chops would be cooked to perfection, while his were either overdone with blackened burn spots or undercooked enough to still be oozing blood. His wine would be watered down, and Danvers always found a way to over salt his mashed potatoes.

If Rosamund noticed all of this, she said nothing to the ancient maid, bringing up how much she doted on the woman whenever she was in the room, much to Constant's continued disgust and overwhelming annoyance.

He began to notice other things as the days marched onwards; the scent of thick rot that filled the house; the way his supposed wife would not so much as hold his hand, let alone allow him a kiss; and how a dreadful looking storm was coming, visible far off across the waves, darkening the distant horizon.

"Yes, we often get storms this time of year," Rosamund replied when Constant brought it up to her one morning over breakfast. "They are nothing to worry about, my own. Do not worry yourself over it."

"The house will not fall into the sea, if you're worried about such things," Danvers said primly, sipping her morning coffee. "Solid as a rock, I tell you."

Constant wasn't worried about the house slipping into the sea: he was worried about what might happen to him when the rains started, potentially leaving them all stranded inside the manor.

***

It did not take long for the storm to arrive. The following morning Constant awoke to clashes of thunder, his room lighting up as lightning flickered through the skies. The dull pounding of the rain followed him through the halls as he went downstairs, the great hall dimly lit by flickering candles in rusted holders set about the room. Presumably by Danvers, who as usual did as little as possible when it came to her work in the manor.

Constant opened his mouth to call out for Rosamund, but soft voices coming from a door left carelessly open a crack drew his attention to the side of the hall. It was a door he had never found reason to open before, assuming it led to one of the many disused rooms scattered throughout the manor. It seemed to lead to a study, and someone was inside speaking softly.

As it was fairly easy to assume who was speaking, Constant felt no guilt about moving closer to listen in. Rosamund and Danvers had their little secrets, he knew, and it would be interesting to be involved for once. It still felt like he was an outsider in his own home, despite being Rosamund's husband for almost two months at that point.

Looking back much later, he would wonder how things could have gone if he had kept to his own business and moved on, telling that small voice deep within his thoughts that urged him to disobey unspoken social rules to be silent for once.

Constant edged closer to the door, stepping carefully so as not to make the floorboards creak and expose his presence. He could feel the intense heat wafting through the room from the fireplace, the light flickering, casting strange shadows.

"...a week or less, mistress. We can not wait any longer. You know this."

Danvers, her tone urgent and chiding. A shocking way for a servant to speak to her mistress, but Rosamund merely sighed. Her heavy skirts whispered across the floor as she paced, her shadow waning against the wallpaper like a living thing.

"I know, I know," she said, her shoes clacking on the floorboards smartly. "We can not pretend this was anything but a marriage of need any longer. Sacrifices must be made, we know this. We have done it before."

"The usual methods, mistress?" Danvers asked, unrestrained glee in her tone. "The ax worked so well with the last one. His blood flowed so beautifully."

"No, not this time," Rosamund replied with another sigh. "A quiet death for this one, if you don't mind. Poison his meal this evening, then we shall do what needs to be done with his blood after he passes."

"You shouldn't get so attached to the livestock, mistress," Danvers replied smartly. "But it will be done. The evening meal will be Constant's last."

His breath stilled; his blood turned to ice in his veins, refusing to flow. Rosamund and Danvers were going to kill him, and had killed perhaps countless others before him. Something about blood, and a need for sacrifice.

Footsteps strode quickly across the floor, forcing Constant into motion: he ducked into the faded confines of a tapestry hung in front of a storage alcove, holding his breath against the sudden cough threatening to bubble up in his throat. The heavier, quick footsteps of Rosamund passed by briskly, followed by the plodding, steady step of Danvers. For one horrible moment, the footsteps paused before the tapestry, making Constant's racing heart skip a beat, but they soon moved on.

"The evening meal will be Constant's last," Danvers had said; dinner was in four hours, the precise time Constant had left to live. Unless he did something, something drastic to save himself. The mansion was far too remote to hope for salvation from neighbors, and they would not have believed him even if there were any nearby for him to plead for help.

No, Constant was on his own, and time was running out. He knew three things now, and those three things were; he had a single afternoon to leave the mansion or his life would be ended; that his bride was a two faced snake; that he must, regardless of his fear, find a way inside that locked room with the mysterious stain, and expose the hidden sins of the Great Lady for all to see.

No real pressure, he thought with a slightly hysterical scream of laughter.

***

The halls were disquietingly deserted, leading Constant into an almost false sense of safety. He knew what he had listened in on was not a joke at his expense, as Rosamund and her treacherous maid had not known he had been aware of their little meeting. They were somewhere else in the manor, yes, but that did not mean Constant was safe.

Thankfully, living amid the rowdy patrons of a somewhat seedy pub left him with some talents unworthy of a gentleman, but perfectly adept for his current situation.

One of those unsavory skills was lockpicking, which simply required a strong needle, and some patience. A set of sewing needles were scattered in one of the drawers of the bureau in Constant's room, leaving only his patience as an obstacle between him and the mysteries of the locked, bloody chamber.

He knew whatever lay beyond the door would be both upsetting and enlightening, the truth behind his hasty marriage to Rosamund, and what exactly Danvers had meant when she mentioned "livestock".

Three needles later, the lock finally gave, the door creaking open slowly on its own, as if eager to share the secrets within. A thick stench caused Constant to gag; a horrific mix of fresh copper and rot, rising thickly in the stale air of the sealed chamber. The stain peeking out from under the door proved to be massive, nearly covering the entire floor.

Sightless, sunken eyes gazed at Constant as he timidly stepped into the room, his heart hammering in his chest. Twelve bodies lay about the chamber, some only skeletons, some fresh enough to have passed only a day or two before. Each had been stripped, and each bore deep wounds that spoke of evil intent Constant could not begin to imagine.

A bloodied axe stood at the ready on a great chopping stone in the center of the ghastly collection, glinting in the pale moonlight shining through the broken window. It had tasted blood many times before, and Constant knew it was hungry for more. This was to be his fate, sealed since the moment he gave in to the Great Lady's demands for his hand in marriage.

But... why? Murder and chaos were never entirely without reason. Danvers and Rosamund needed the young men in the dark chamber to spill their blood for some reason, and Constant was to be next if he did not escape.

Husbands to keep her youth and beauty

Blood to keep her strong and eternal

Our lives for hers

She will not stop... you will not be the last

Voices whispered to Constant in the darkness, male voices in all different ranges. Young voices, old voices, frightened and tired voices. They call to him in the stillness, escaping the shattered bodies littering the floor to whisper warning.

"What must I do?" Constant asked softly. "I'm just a pub boy, not yet five and twenty summers. What could I possibly do to save myself?"

It will not be simple

The Lady can be ended

But you must go through the ancient one

"Danvers?" Constant couldn't help but scoff. "I doubt she has the strength to drown a kitten. She wouldn't be able to stop me."

Do not assume age means weakness

The ancient one is stronger than she wishes you to know

Deal with her first, then the Lady

Constant nodded, swallowing back his fear. "You will all be avenged. I am sorry she ended your lives like this, in cold and heartless blood. You have my deepest gratitude for this important advice, my fallen brothers."

The bodies were silent, the spirits now gone. All that remained was decay and silence, the thick stench of spilled blood in the air making his head swim.

He did not bother trying to lock the door again: Constant no longer cared if the Great Lady knew he was aware of her schemes towards him. Perhaps it was better if the villain knew her would-be victim had no intention of going down easily.

***

A storm had begun as the afternoon came, the manor locked in a black shadow as the light faded away completely. Thunder echoed distantly, the waves crashing against the rock as if determined to pull them down into the depths.

Rosamund did not come looking for him, and for that he was grateful. If he were to meet her face to face now, with all that he knew, Constant could not be sure he could keep himself from attacking her, from rending her limb from limb as savagely as she had done to her previous husbands.

They whispered encouraging things to him now, their voices much fainter than before, as if they had grown weak. Their words gave Constant hope, and with that hope came stories, names.

Pedro

Alan

Fredrick

Marco

Men who had come from different walks of life, from different places throughout the world. Each one had fallen into the trap the Great Lady set out, and each had found his end at her hands. Some loved her honestly, some loved only her money. They had no reason to lie: they were dead, nothing could harm them anymore.

Pedro, a baker. I loved the artistry of making fresh bread.

Alan, a bard. I sang songs of heros and gods.

Fredrick, a clerk. I kept the money in check for a large firm.

Marco, a journeyman. I traveled from place to place.

Conant heard these echoes as he slowly crept down the hall, each of the twelve bridegrooms telling their stories to the only ear willing to listen.

Andrea, a worker. I carved beautiful things out of marble.

Salvadore, a painter. I created wonders on the blank canvas.

Mathias. Gregory. Donovan.

Etienne. Timothy. Joshua.

The voices fell silent as Constant eased open the door to his chambers, their stories told. They would help him, that Constant knew. But they would not speak of themselves any longer, as their stories and their lives were over.

His rooms were icy, the air chilled as if in the dead of winter. Constant shivered as he locked the door behind him, fumbling for the switch to bring up the gas lamps. He was not alone.

Danvers sat in the high backed chair by the fireplace, watching the cold grate avidly as if flames flickered there. Her hands were folded neatly over the handle of a golden dagger, the blade stained with ancient blood dried a deep black with time.

"You are trying to leave," she said simply. "You know I can not allow that."

"I care not for what you do and do not allow," Constant replied, relishing the rancor that colored his tone. "Do as you wish. I will not be staying."

He did not turn away from Danvers, knowing exactly what she would do. The old woman sprang to her feet like a girl of five and ten summers, the blade clutched tightly in her gnarled hand. She lunged, but Constant merely stepped away, letting the momentum carry the wicked woman forwards into the window.

For a moment, Danvers stared at the glass in shock: the dagger tip had penetrated the windowpane, sticking out into the salty early evening air. The moment seemed to stretch on forever, as Constant and Danvers both watched the glass spider web around the dagger. It gave, making a soft tinkle sound as if too ashamed of itself to make a fuss over shattering, sending glass flying. Danvers fell forwards, and then was gone, crying out softly as she met her end.

That particular window faced the sea, jagged rocks below ensuring the wicked woman met her swift end as the tide swept in, washing her remains out into the depths. They were then lost forever in the darkness below the waves. It was no great loss, truth be told.

***

The end came quietly, as Constant descended the grand stairs to the main hall. The candles flickered as he passed, casting twisted shadows against the walls. Rosamund stood by the front doors of the manor, radiant in a crimson gown with a high collar. Her eyes were locked on Constant, hardly seeming to blink.

"I will be leaving," he said, surprising himself with how assured he sounded. "Danvers is dead. You can rot in this house with the ghosts of your sins for all I care, but you will not prevent me from leaving it."

Rosamund was silent for a long moment, her eyes shining in the faint candlelight. She seemed small and weakened, no longer the Great Lady he had married but a timid little child caught in a lie she was unable to talk her way out of.

"You know I love you," she said softly, her hands reaching out as if to take his. "I love you so very much, my beloved."

"You love me," Constant repeated, not bothering to keep the rancor from his tone. "You love me, as your servant called me names and made my life a living hell. You love me, as we did not share a bed, let alone a kiss."

He paused, giving thought to his next words. "You love me, knowing full well that you married me with twelve bodies rotting in your bloody chamber upstairs."

Rosamund flinched, Constant feeling a sick sort of pride. "You mustn't leave me," she said, taking a step forward. "I will make it easy for you, painless. You will sleep, and dream beautiful dreams forever."

"You mean I'll die," Constant spat. "You will drain my blood, and cut me into pieces like the others. Well, I refuse, do you hear?"

The Great Lady stepped closer, one hand sliding behind her back. Constant knew she was pulling a dagger from her skirts, foolishly assuming he had not noticed her subtle movement.

"My beloved," Rosamund whispered huskily, slowly lifting the dagger. The blade curved wickedly, the handle a brightly polished bit of bone. Likely taken from one of her previous husbands belongings, or worse, made from one of them, knowing her. The blade glinted in the half light as she took another step forward. "I need your blood, I need your skin. To keep me young, to keep my life everlasting. Is that really so wrong, to do what must be done to keep yourself alive?"

Her eyes glimmered dreamily, long fingers gripping the handle. Her step was steady and sure, her gaze locked onto Constant. She did not see his hand slip stealthily into his pocket, nor did she see the peas he had taken from the kitchen earlier that day scatter across the tile floor with a casual flick of his wrist.

Rosamund's shoes slid out from under her on the peas, her arms spread wide trying desperately to regain her balance. The dagger flew from her hand, skidding across the tiles to be lost somewhere in one of the deep pools of shadow beneath the candelabras.

Constant did not move a muscle to help her: he had no reason to save his would-be killer, even if she was supposedly his wife.

The Great Lady finally pitched over backwards, falling against one of the golden candelabras. The decorative spikes along it pierced deeply into her, forcing her breath out in a shuddering gasp. A single long barb speared through her heart, poking free of her gown. Viscous red poured free like a wine bottle uncorked.

"I...loved you," she whispered, lips stained a deep red. "You were the only one... I ever truly loved. I did not... lock your door as I did with the others... I...loved..."

"Love does not kill," Constant replied simply.

Rosamund's eyes fluttered shut, and she lay still. Her body slowly flaked away into black ashes. They scattered across the tile in a draft, as if wanting to be forgotten by everyone present. At long last, it was over, for Constant and for the previous husbands.

Constant stood for a moment, listening for the husbands to whisper to him again, to thank him for ending their killer, to say goodbye. But he realized they would say no more, because they were no longer trapped in this mansion of death. Rosamund's end had set them free.

There was little left for him to do now: he wanted nothing to do with the many chests of gold the Great Lady had showed him, knowing the money was indeed blood money obtained from dowries. He also wanted nothing to do with any gifts Rosamund had granted him during those long weeks, preferring to leave them all to rot.

The bodies in the chamber...

No one would believe him. The entire courtship had been dramatically whirlwind, but he had told no one about the engagement. The priest would say nothing of course, likely paid off by the Great Lady to keep silent about the whole affair. Constant had no family, no one to miss him. Even his few friends were merely acquaintances, who would not miss Constant if he suddenly vanished from their lives.

There were no ties, nothing to pin him down. He could leave everything behind, with no regrets.

All that was left to do was...

***

Morning was breaking as Constant walked the dusty path leading through the mountains, the land to either side deserted, blighted. He felt no fear, knowing there were no wolves or coyotes thanks to the deep silence in the night. The only killer in that land was now gone, leaving behind the quiet stillness of decay.

Behind him, the manor burned brightly against the backdrop of dawn, the flames eagerly devouring the dry timbers and rotted shingles. All it had taken was kicking over one of the candelabras, the dry timber of the floor going up instantly.

The dreadful sins of the Great Lady and Danvers would be fully consumed by purifying fire, the husbands spirits finally given lasting peace as the flames reduced their remains to ash.

Constant watched the sun rise over the hills ahead, the road stretching on seemingly forever. The memories of the past day would haunt him, this he knew, but they would not kill him. He was young, and he would endure anything life threw at him.

And above all else, Constant would never again take at face value a pretty offer from a beautiful face. After all, beauty hid dark intentions, and you never knew what hid behind a friendly smile.

"Turn back, turn back young maiden dear, 'tis a murderer's house you enter here"

-The Brothers Grimm, The Robber Bridegroom

[dayumbxxch]

Frozen Secrets of Twilight pt-4

Pt-1 Pt-2 pt-3

Life feels like a blur just five seconds ago I was showering now I'm outside running? I never run. Yet here I am voluntarily running after having claws in my legs at that.

'I just need to get out this extra energy I guess'

Before I knew it I was at that hill I didn't dare step into the forest. I just stand on the opposite side of the road from where I ran. Nothing felt real about it, everything feels like a lucid dream.

A car horn snaps me back to reality and I step out of the middle of the road. "You crazy or something? Why are you just standing in the middle of the damn road!"

"Dad isn't that the girl in the woods?"

Even though the boy whispered I could hear him clear as day. "I think so. Are you that one girl who got mauled by a bear?"

'Yeah right a "bear" as if'

I slowly nod and look at the boy driving before walking towards home. "Weird kid"

The truck creeps slowly behind me as the two argue and I don't care enough to listen in.

"Hey! Do you need a ride?" I glance as the truck stopped right beside me once again. "We can't take you all the way but we can get you closer if you're going home anyway." I turn towards the two in the truck.

"I'll sit in the bed."

"Don't be stupid. I mean you're injured." The boy steps out of the truck and motions me to walk over. It was dumb but I got in the back seat of a strangers truck.

"I'm Jacob and this is my dad Billy. We were the ones that found you. Well I found you and he called the cops." He glances in the rearview mirror and we make eye contact.

"Thanks." I mutter while looking out the window as the forest slowly disappears into a town. "What were you doing that far from your house anyway?" 'Billy' asks and I just shrug.

"Running."

"Right after you just got out of the hospital?" I nod, 'it's not like I have anything else to do.' I contain myself to my thoughts as we arrive in Forks. "This is as far as we can go." 'Jacob' says while putting the seat down so I can get out.

"Thank you."

"No problem!" His pearly whites show as he smiles. Something about him eased my undying anger but I can't place what it is. "You owe me twice over now!" The corners of my lips turn up slightly. "Maybe next time."

Counting the journey home was easy, my faint smile never left my face. I thought of his dark brown eyes and black hair the whole walk home.

[akariray]

#iwaoi #mafia

Oikawa Torū, a well known volleyball player encounters his childhood friend and past lover who just happens to be the leader of a dangerous mafia group.

Oikawa POV:

Hi there, I'm Oikawa Torū, currently 18 years old. As you all know I'm a famous volleyball player. I'm walking home back to my house after practice with my team. While walking I heard people talking near the alleyways. Wait what? People talking near the alleyways? There shouldn't be anyone here since these areas are close. Oh wait, I'm here but nevermind that. I got curious so I walk closer to the sounds of whispers.

"Oi, when are they supposed to arrive?" "I'm sorry boss, it seems they are in a traffic jam right now." "Tch tell them to hurry I'm getting impatient." "Yes boss!"

Geez bossy much? The man said boss, are they the people who killed those victims? I heard on the news that a group of mafia are now in town and were found killing people near alleyways. Omg, I'm scared. Mommy pick me up! Oikawa focus! They are mafias, get out of here first! As I was about to speed walk out of there I heard something unexpected that made me stop.

"Iwaizumi! Sorry we're late, there was a traffic jam." "Geez you're so loud, what if someone heard you, you idiot." "Sorry sorry. Anyways, are you heading to the base straight away or do you want to go somewhere else before we go back?" "I'm going to-" "Hm? What's wrong?" "Whose there! I know someone's behind the wall, come out before we drag you out!"

Shit! I need to get out of here. I put my jacket on and pull the hood over my jacket so they won't know who I am. I start running as I hear footsteps coming closer. I hear them yelling for me to stop but I keep running as my head keeps going back to what the other person said. "Iwaizumi? As in Iwaizumi Hajime?! You've got to be kidding!" I shout as I reach the beach since it was close. "Iwa-chan, my childhood best friend and my past lover is the leader of the mafia group?!" I shout in my head. I lay down on the sand, not caring if it was going to enter my clothes or not. I couldn't believe it, my best friend is in miyagi and a mafia leader.

Flashback: 3 years ago

"Oikawa, I'm going to the US for high school." Iwaizumi says to Oikawa leaving the older boy shocked. "Wha-what? What do you mean? What about me, us?! You promised that we're going to the same school right?!" Oikawa shouts as tears begin to fall to his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Kawa but I have no choice. My parents already arranged this for me so I can't tell them to just forget about it." Iwaizumi answers trying to calm Oikawa down. However, as he tries to go near his boyfriend to wipe the tears falling from his eyes, Oikawa kisses him and runs away leaving behind his "final" message "Fine, goodbye then, Hajime."

Flashback ends.

"Fuck, only now did you come back? You're so mean, Iwa-chan." I get up and brush off the sand and walk back home. "I'll think about this later, I guess." My parents are currently out of town for the whole month so I'm living alone at the house. I arrived at my doorstep, got my keys out of my pocket and entered the house. I locked the door behind me and started heading to my room. Once I entered, I quickly put my bag on my desk and went into the bathroom. After I took a bath, I went downstairs and into the kitchen.

I looked for something to cook in the cupboards and quickly chose the ramen. I started boiling the water when I heard a knock at my door. I went to the door and opened it slightly to see who it was.

"Atsumu?! What are you doing here?!" I say shocked that my best friend from Hyogo is here in Miyagi. "Hi, Kawa!! I'm staying the night here so open the door bestie." I open the door to let Atsumu in and he does "So, what's going on?" He asked while sitting down on the seat near the counter in the kitchen. As I turned off the boiling water and got another ramen for Atsumu, I answered back "Huh? What do you mean?" "Don't play with me, Kawa. My gut told me earlier that something happened while I was on the train." I chuckle at the thought that he really cares for me. I look him in the eyes and put the ramen in front of him. I told him about the incident, about Iwa-chan.

"Wait- hold on." He pauses and takes a deep breath before saying "Your childhood friend is a mafia leader?!". Ouch my ears hurt, but I guess I don't blame him. I just nod and there is an awkward silence that followed after. As I was about to speak, I heard a knock on the door, and went to open it but only to regret it after.

[maribatz-2k]

Day 5: Shot(s)

Note:

Welp. This was longer than expected but there was soo much detail and ideas behind this that I wasn't sure where this would go. Wasn't too sure if this was a Mature Rating or Teen and Up so for safety I put Mature.

----------------------

At 18, Marinette was finally able to go to bars and drink with her friends without parental advisement. Now at 21 and living in America with her said boyfriend. He was a musician and he reminded her a lot of Luka, but he wasn't. He was an American guitarist, named Mickey, she met at a bar that her college friends dragged her to. He was playing cover songs on a single stage, siting comfortably on a stool in his white Tshirt and ripped blue jeans and black and white converse. They had locked eyes during one of his many songs. Marinette couldn't look away and her friends elbowed and teased her all evening. Eventually he had walked over and they got to talking. Exchanged numbers and a date and more later they were a couple.

He had convinced Marinette to go with him to his gig at a bar in the semi high-end side of town. She reluctantly agreed despite it being her birthday and her boyfriend said thag he had a surprise set up for her just wouldn't say when or what. She dressed up in bed nice comfortable clothing, grabbed her purse, locked her apartment extra right, then met him down at the main door of her apartment complex. He pulls up in his black Toyota Camry, window rolled down and looks at her.

"Mmm hey sweet thing. Need a ride?" He tried to sound sexy and cool. Marinette raised a brow then shook her head before leaning down pressing her elbows on the door.

"Sorry sir, but I don't think my boyfriend would be so keen to me taking rides with strangers." She winked twirling her raven hair around her finger.

"Ah lucky guy. Then I guess I'll have to ask this boyfriend of yours for permission." He smirks before pulling the visor down and look at himself in the mirror. "Alright sir. So I want to take this pretty lady here at my window out for a good time. You got a problem with that? No? Well good." He closed the visor and turns his attention back to Mari.

"He said yes?" She asked teasingly shifting her feet to not hurt herself in the stupid heels she put on.

"Indeed he did. Let's go." He unlocked the door and waited as she opens it and climbs in. Once buckled they drove off into town for 30 minutes. No one spoke on the way, but they enjoyed the wind blowing through the car. When they arrived, Mickey got out opened the back seat and removed his guitar case. Marinette waited a minute or two before deciding to just get out of the vehicle herself. She examined the area, finding motorcycles and cars all around this place. The building was almost the side of two bedroom house that had good bones but lots of wear and tear. It wasn't dark like all of Gotham but it had a more of a homey feel to it. Mickey took her hand and pulls her inside, where she meets with the smell of sweat, alcohol, cigarettes, and food.

Marinette felt out of place. There were men and women everywhere. Tables were full, the center of floor was filled with dancing women and a few men who decided to take a chance, and a stage sitting out in the back to allow space. The bar was tucked over where the one would assume was a dining room at one point that elad into the kitchen. Taking a better look around, the inside of the building was more modern and luxurious feel. Men and women were dressed almost formal and yet casual. Some women were even too underdressed in Mari's opinion. She moved around to find a seat at to watch her boyfriend on the stage. He finds a position he was comfortable in and began to play.

A few songs in excited screaming and shouts from the crowed of women near the front later, Marinette decided to go up to the bar to order a drink for herself and Mickey. The bartender, a very handsome brawny type asked for her ID. She handed it to him and watched as he examined the card to see if it was fake. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't mentally drooling over this man. He was kind of tall, dark, and handsome. His blue eyes moved across her card and back to her face if they stayed on her, she'd probably melt right then and there. God I'm such a Hoe I have a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend. She mentally thought to herself. But the man was built. Like could probably lift her up like she was just a sheet of paper built. Her mind let loose images of naughty things she would like to do with him, but then stopped as he handed her back the card.

"Happy birthday little lady." He says giving her a charming smile.

"Oh thank you!" Marinette says blushing red as she remembers her thoughts and now mixing them with his strong honey like voice. "What can you recommend for a good first birthday drink?" She asked.

"Mmm.. shots. And I know just the ones." He smiled and turning around to pick up his mixture of flavors. The music stopped catching Mari's attention back to the stage. Seeing her boyfriend taking a drink of a beer. He looked up and waved it at her then begins to sing another song. It was one of their songs they sing in the car she listened to him but then began to sing along. A two shot glasses clink to the surface next to her arm but she refuse to stop singing until it was over.

-

Jason had been managing this bar for a long time now. He has seen too many dip shits and whores to even give a damn anymore here. As long as there was respect he didn't care what anyone did. So when Tim suggested doing open mic there, to bring in some actual people outside of street urchins, he gave it a shot. A year from today and it has been a success. Many people of different sides of Gotham has visited and he was making enough to revamp the place now exteriorly.

Tonight a loner guitarist had signed up for two nights with a couple other bands. Keeping it timed to allow them to rotate. It was around 1900 when the guy walked in holding his guitar case, behind him was a small woman no more than 5"2' maybe? It was hard to tell with her blood red, can those toothpicks even be considered heels, like heels. She wore a tight pair of blue skinny jeans that emphasizes her muscular toned legs and round ass. She had patches of ripped fabric randomly placed along her legs. Before he could completely eye rape her further, a customer came over requesting for more drinks.

Tim had decided then to show up sitting there on on his barstool sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Come on. You're in a bar. Drink something other than caffeine." Jason remarked.

"Hey, leave me alone. I'm a paying customer." Tim scowls.

"Paying customer my ass." Jason retorts and shifts his attention only to the crowd. His eyes scanned the room looking for the female from earlier to no avail. He gave up for now listening to the musician singing a couple cover songs. After his fourth song, someone stepped up to the bar to order two drinks. Jason looks up seeing the small woman from the door and blinks. He looked over at Tim who was still focused on his cup not once looking over yet and smiles. Perfect!

"Can I see your ID?" Jason asks. She pulls her purse up and pulls out her ID from her wallet. Looking it over purposely delaying giving it back, he takes this chance to look at the woman more. Her hair was in a messy bun and with strands of hair falling all around her face and some caressing her bare skin around her neck and shoulders. Marinette was wearing a dark red top that rested off her shoulders exposing a small amount of cleavage unless she leans over. Which is what she did. She was adjusting herself on the stool and as she waited. He handed her the ID back leaning over be heard.

"Happy birthday little lady." The raven haired woman was blushing. He had caught her eye raping him too. He could imagine the thoughts she was probably having. He'd be lying too if he said he wasn't.

"Oh thank you!" Her voice let out a squeak in her excited tone. "What can you recommend for a good first birthday drink?" This excited Jason.

"Mmm...shots. I know just the ones." He turns around to begin getting his mixtures of flavored alcohol, juice, and garnishes. He preps the different flavors into a shaker then pour into two different shot glasses. He can see Tim's eyes look up from the cup to see the glasses then to the female who is now singing. Her voice was very sweet and smooth, nearing the end with a hum. Tim was watching her with a soft smile then leaned over to whisper into her ear. The woman straighten up and blushed more earning a chuckle from Jason's little brother. She turned around looking down at the drinks Infront of her.

"Ooo these looks colorful." She smiled then reached for one. Jason went to grab for the other one but Tim grasped it earning himself a scowl of displeasure from Jason. Tim just smiles and Salute to Marinette and downs the shot with her. Jason's mouth just dropped watching the scene. Marinette did the same and downed hers with ease and tipped the small glass upside down on the bar.

"Oh my God I want another." Her smile was radiant.

-

Tim was glad he decided tonight he'd finally go back to Jason's bar. Sitting there drinking a decent cup of coffee. Yes, I know coffee in a bar. He thought. He sat at the bar with his brother behind it serving out drinks and food. Tim doesn't really care of the people around him, though it doesn't help that he was tired too. He didn't expect to find a little French woman sitting next to him and celebrating her birthday here of all places. He knew full well that his brother only did the two shots for himself and her. But Tim just said fuck it and took it. Surprisingly, it was smooth. What was smoother was the woman's radiant smile.

God she looked like a freaking Angel. Her skin was smooth and barely tanned. It was hard to tell if this woman was even real until her skin across her cheeks were flush. Jason put down another set of three shot glasses and filled them up with different set of mixtures. Neither moved to grab a glass as they watched the other to see who grabs first.

"Birthday girl first." Jason said.

"I went first last round." She whined with a giggle.

"Then I'll grab first." Tim went to say only for Jason to swipe the glass away from Tim's reach. Tim scowls and reaches for the one in front of the ravenette. She blinked then grabbed the one in front of Jason. With a group Salute, the three of them took the drink as one and gasped out. They slammed the glasses down on the bar. Tim didn't like the flavor of what turned out to be whiskey and cranberry juice. The little woman gave a sour face sticking her tongue out on the side as she decided on what to say.

"So missy, what's your name?" Tim asked curiously. Jason did another set of shots listening. She must be a light weight because she began to fall into a flushed giggle fit.

"Marinette. But my friends call me Mari." She reached up and touched her cheeks. Tim reached over and moved her hair from her face then gently placed his hand on her knee. Mari had turned her attention away looking back at his brother but not acknowledging his hand on her leg. Tim took this chance to look over this woman Infront of him. She was gorgeous, something about her just seemed different than the women that he had once been with. He wanted to pull her into his lap as they continued to take shots. Wanting to cover her exposed skin in kisses and marks from his lips. Tim took a glance over to his brother, watching Jason give the same expression as his own. Desire.

-

Marinette watched the two men who continued to share shots with her. God how did she get this lucky to have two hot men serve and drink with her. They shared another set of shots filled to the brim. Mari continues enjoying herself which hasn't been this good in a long time. She watched the two men around her, taking in their desired sexiness that she underestimated until the third shot set in. The last drink with whiskey and cranberry juice did not taste so good but refused to spit it out. Luckily the man next to her didn't like it either.

"So, do I get to know your names?" She leans forward pressing her chin on the back of the hands accidentally causing her shirt to open around her chest area.

"I'm Tim, your bartender here is Jason. My brother." The man next to her said with a wide smile. Mari turned her head to look up at the bulky handsome man in front of her.

"Mmm... seems almost fitting." She smirks watching the man accidently drop the cup he was fixing. She let out a chuckle. "excuse me gentlemen, but Ill be back for some more celebratory drinks." Mari slides down and walks through the crowd disappearing near the back right corner. She found the sign that says restrooms and slips in. Marinettes mind was wheeling over Tim and Jason. Picturing them wearing her newest designs, measuring them, and just even leaving them there practically naked. She got a glance at her reflection in the large wall of mirrors behind the row of sinks. Her face was flushed and she had a smile present on her lips. She had a feeling she forgot something, something important. With a shrug she went to handle her business and return to wash her hands. It wasn't until she was drying her hands with the paper towel and fixing her hair that she remembered. She completely forgot about her boyfriend.

Marinette quickly runs out of the bathroom bumping into a couple making out near the restroom. She apologized then walked toward the stage trying to find her boyfriend. He wasn't anywhere near the front. She looked around through the crowd until she finally spotted him, wrapped around another woman near the bathroom. Without another thought Marinette goes back to the bar next to Tim and ordered four more shots. Jason applied with only two and waited until she was done to ask.

"What happened little lady?" Tim leaned over again running her thigh out of comfort. She leaned into him but then laid her head on the bar almost defeated.

"I just need to drink. My (now ex)boyfriend was just making it with some woman by the restroom." She huffed out fighting the tears. Tim gives her thigh a squeeze when Jason rubs her hand with his.

"Well, you know how to fix a bad situation. With a good one. And it's still your birthday until midnight. So let's continue to celebrate." Jason says. "Hey Michelle, you'll take over for me? I gotta go home." A woman that was sitting at the other end of the bar glares at him then climbs over the bar and gets behind it to prepare the now asked for drinks. Marinette watched confused as Jason moves out from around and lifts her off the chair like a princess. Tim leaves a tip for the drinks and follows them out. All Marinette could do was blush and cover her face into the man's stern warm chest.

-

Jason put Mari on his motorcycle then climbed on In front of her. Tim placed his helmet on the girls head and button it up before he left to get onto his. Marinette squeaked and hugged onto Jason's waist as he started it up. She let out a fit of giggles as they drove out the parking lot and speeding through the empty roads of Gotham. The two raced to their destination with Mari just laughing and squealing with excitement. There was even a time she let go of Jason and held her arms up in the air trying to catch the air between her fingers. They parked their bikes in the parking garage and dismounted them. Tim helped Mari off after removing her helmet. He didn't want to let go of her waist when he set her down but reluctantly he did letting her follow Jason to the elevator. Tim stayed behind them though, he wasn't complaining, he had a hell of a view.

Arriving to their floor and into the apartment, Jason kicked off his shoes by the door, Mari and Tim following suit, then offered the couch. Jason went to a liquor cabinet he had pulling out three whiskey glasses and a full unopened bottle of bourbon. He filled up the three glasses a shot full as he offered a game.

"A shot for every loss."

"Alright, what are we playing." She asks.

"Mm....what would you like to play?" He asked her.

"Mmm cards." She says. Jason grins and looks to Tim who gets up and grabs a deck of playing cards and began to shuffle them. They were lost in the games and drinking that eventually the whole bottle of bourbon was gone, clothes were all over the living room leading toward a giant king bed and three bodies laying in it passed out. Mari in the middle and held by two strong arms on either side of her.

-

Mari woke up to an empty bed the next morning completely naked and rubbing her very sore and pounding head. She looks over to find a bottle of water and a couple pills of Tylenol sitting on a end table. She reached over and took them then leans over grabbing a random shirt and put it on. Mari makes her way to the kitchen almost tripping over her own feet as she runs her hand through her bed head of hair, pulling it into a over the shoulder ponytail and yawns.

"Wow, so that's what a sexy woman looks like in my shirt." An almost unfamiliar voice speaks from her kitchen making her freeze in place. She looks up and takes in the sight. Two men stood in her kitchen both drinking coffee as one was cooking breakfast. Then it clicked. Her night of events and remembering that two most sexiest men alive bringing her home. Her face grew redder than ever.

"She does look ravishing Tim. But I think we should hold off at least until after breakfast." The man, Jason said as he placed a plate down with eggs and bacon in the empty seat next to Tim.

"Just no more shots. Please my head is still pounding." Marinette says with a huff, forcing herself to get over her embarrassment and goes sit down only for Tim to pull her into his lap and press his face into her neck making her squeak.

"I'm okay with that. Though, you're about wild when you drink." He says wth a soft chuckle and a kiss to her skin making her blush once more.

@maribatserver

[dzthenerd490]

Tales: Get Out

A police officer was driving down the long road, he absolutely hated driving down this road, but he had not choice today as he had to go to a report a car crash with a deer. He was hoping he wasn't going to encounter who he knew drove down this road almost every month. He got close to the car and slowed down though as he got out of the car, he saw who it was and instantly glared in disgust. The girl sighed as she recognized him, but he didn't care, he continued to glare at her and the guy. He didn't actually have anything against him but he knew the guy was in trouble if he stayed with the girl, so he stayed hostile to encourage him to leave. They explained the situation thought for him it was all going into one ear and coming out the other. 

"Alright, alright, I got the jist of it. You, I'm going to need to see your ID."

"He wasn't driving."

"I didn't ask who was driving I asked him to give me his ID!"

"No hold on you can't do that!"

"Rose its fine."

"No, it's not fine you-"

"YOU SHUT THE HELL UP!" Both of them backed off in fear after he shouted at the girl with such hostility. 

"Now you! ID! Now!" The man then gave him the ID he forcefully took it out of his hand and reviewed it. It was legit and not expired but he didn't care about that, for he knew this guy was alright its the girl he was worried about. Once he was done pretend looking, he just flicked the ID back to the guy who barely caught it and looked at him in confusion while the police man did feel guilty but continued to glare with hostility. 

The two of them then got back in their car but the police man stopped the man from getting in. He knew where the girl was taking him and though she had no evidence he couldn't let it happen again. 

"You listen here, boy!" His stomach folded in cringe and self-hatred at the way he said "boy" but right now he needed to play all his cards to scare this guy out of here. 

"YOU drive this time, YOU turn around, and YOU get the hell out of here and never come back! Your kind is not welcome here." He really hated himself right now as he sounded no different to those dumbass KKK clowns, but he needed to scare this guy away. It seemed to work but not in the way he hoped. They got in the car alright but kept driving down the opposite end to that awful house where none of the others came back front. He sighed as his head leaned back in disappointment, he just made himself out to be a bigot for no reason. Worst off that guy will just end up like the others missing and that girl will just drive out and go get another one. 

"Tch, fucking bitch, I'll get you one day."

***

The next day the police officer was called to another incident on the same road though this time it was from someone else. Still, he grunted in frustration as he really hated this road, he wished it didn't exist at all. Finally, he arrived at the scene where like before there were two people. One white and one black thought what really shocked him was that it was an old lady and a young man. 

"Huh... everyone's got their tastes I guess." He slowed the car then exited the vehicle and walked up to them. 

"Alright what seems to be the issue?"

"We apologize officer, Logan just got a little woozy while driving home and my back is bad so I can't drive. We'd hate to trouble you, but could you please drive us back to town?" The Police officer blinked in both shock and annoyance as he couldn't believe their unbelievable request. He just sighed and nodded and went for the driver's seat but then noticed that he recognized the guy. 

"Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?"

"Hm, I don't think so, sir."

"Hmph, sorry pal. You just look familiar for some reason."

"Well, I guess we all look alike huh?" The officer looked at Logan in shock, the way he said it wasn't like a normal black man mocking the police for their bigotry. Instead, it was more like he agreed with the bigotry and thought it was a little funny. The police officer then took another careful look Logan clearly making him uncomfortable, but the officer didn't care. 

"Hm... Holy shit! Now I know you! You're on the missing posters!" The officer then pulled out his cuffs, quickly got behind Logan, and placed them on his hands. 

"Aaah! What are you doing to my husband!" The officer grabbed another pair of cuffs, ran over to the old lady that tried to run away, and cuffed her as well. 

"Husband?! You mean sex slave, you crazy bat! I know you people were doing mess up shit to black people in that house, but this shit is fucked in all the worst ways! And now thanks to your stupid fuck up I got proof!"

"No, no kind sir please! I'm not a slave or anything I really am just her husband."

"Oh, right as if anything you say is credible at this this point." The officer walked up to Logan again and pushed off his hat. Thought by doing this he saw the scars around his head and backed off in shock and disgust. 

"How the hell do you explain that shit huh? Huh?!"

"... I was already honest with you kind sir, I am her husband. Even if I'm in a new body I still have the same brain and desires." Before the officer could comprehend what he just said Logan suddenly attacked him and tried to beat him with his shoulders. The old lady then ran around and grabbed tried to grab his neck. The officer struggled but not to get out of their grasp, instead he was trying to reach for a remote in his pocket. Thankfully it didn't take him long to get to it and once he did, he pressed the button.

Suddenly the cuffs revealed blue lights on them, the both of them were forced to the metal of the car through the magnets of the cuffs. Finally, the officer was able to get out of their grasp and breathed though he was in pain from their efforts. Still, he didn't need his strength anymore he just needed to make a report. First, he got out his officer radio to contact the station. 

"Officer Bobby reporting. The couple just had a bit of car trouble, nothing else to report. Just going to stay with them for a till they can drive again."

"Copy Bobby, don't complain about it okay? We got no one to help you anyways."

"10-4." The couple looked at the officer in confusion wondering why he didn't report it. Though he then put his radio away and pulled another device they didn't recognize, and he pressed a button. 

"Agent Ryan reporting, I got anomalous activity here, there's a young man claiming to be the husband of an old woman."

"Everyone has their tastes, Ryan."

"He has a scar all around his head almost like someone cut off the top of his head to mess with his brain. He even told me he got a new body, possible brain transplant participation. That falls under anomalous surgery particles violation, unless someone invented it yet? Over."

"... Have you any other evidence to confirm this?"

"I am aware of the location they are doing it and can confirm that several young people have entered the area and never left afterwards. Furthermore, I have two witness one of which is the young man I described earlier, both tried to attack me as if they were trying to hold a secret worth killing a police officer for. Also, this might not be important, but all the victims are black. Requesting immediate storming investigation. Over."

"... Understood great work Agent Ryan. Please collect the two and send them to the Nearest Foundation Area for confirmation process, coordinates are being sent to your map now."

"Oscor, Romeo." Agent Ryan then put away his communication device and smiled at the strange couple.

"Hahaha! Finally, you weird fuckers are getting what you deserve."

***

That night Agent Ryan was smoking a cigarette smiling as he had already sent the odd couple to a Foundation area. What he had been saying all this time was finally confirmed true, it was some kind of human trafficking and best of all it was anomalous. Well, that's not good since it was a dangerous surgery that transplants brains without damaging them, but it was good on the fact that the Foundation could deal with it. Now all that was left was for the cavalry to arrive and take down those sick freaks once and for all. 

"Ha... It is a shame that man form earlier will have to bite it, but hopefully he'll be the last. Ha... Still, sorry my dumbass brain couldn't think of a way to save you man." Ryan looked at the distance of the house in pity but reminded himself that it was impossible to save everyone. However, suddenly he heard gunshot noises form the house, and it was more than one shot. He quickly got into his police car and drove to the scene as fast as he could.

***

He made it to near the end of the road to the house and saw the girl and the man there. The girl was on the ground raising her hands for help while the man was on top of her, strangling her. Once he noticed the sirens, he raised his hands up in surrender, the Ryan exited the car and pulled out his gun. and at first pointed it at the man, but then smiled as he pointed it at the girl.

"Haha, Hey! How's Karma taste bitch? I was hoping to lock you in a cage for life but now you can just bleed out on the road like the fucking vermin you are. BITCH!" Ryan then kicked her in the face making her spit more blood and cry out in pain. The man looked at him in confusion and even more so when Ryan extended his hand to help.

"Come on man, let's get you out of here."

"Why- Why are you helping me?"

"... Look I-" Suddenly Ryan heard more sirens and saw another police car driving towards them.

"Aw shit! Carla said there wasn't supposed to be any backup! Okay hurry! Get up! Get up and get into the forest I'll distract them."

"Wait, why are you helping me?"

"God damn it man go! They're going to kill you!" The man was still a little untrusting of Ryan but still he ran into the forest not having a better choice. Ryan then ran over to girl and kicked her again, this time to knock her out. He quickly got out a small spray can with the Foundation logo on it and sprayed it on her face. This released a bacterium that quickly healed the injuries, so it looked like she was never kicked in the first place. The second police car was quickly pulling in, so Ryan ran over to it and raised his badge while slowly placing his gun on the floor. Then the car opened and came out a man in glasses he had never seen before. 

"Look I... I... Wait who the fuck are you?"

"Uh... Hi? My name is Rob. I'm uh... I'm a TSA Officer... Airport division!" Ryan let out a sigh as he rolled his eyes put his badge away and picked up his gun.

"Airport Security?"

"Uh, well the correct term is Transportation Security Administration Offi-"

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! Why the hell are you here?!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm here to find my friend Chris."

"Who- Who the hell is Chris?"

"I am." Ryan turned to see Chris exiting from the forest. Ryan then looked back at Rod and sighed as he signaled Chris to step forward. Once Chris and Ryan were side to side Rod smiled in relief at first but then looked at Ryan with concern. 

"Your uh... you're not going to arrest him, are you?"

"What the- no you idiot! Look if you're really his friend then let him into your car and get the hell out of here!" Chris looked at Ryan confused but before he could say anything Ryan grabbed his shoulder and looked him dead in the eyes.

"And I swear, don't you dare tell him anything about what happened here today. Alright, as far as the world is concerned, this never happened, and these people don't exist. okay? Let us handle them."

"What's going to happen?"

"I already got evidence, so we're going to storm the house and find every fucker involved and lock em all up. But to the rest of the world, it will be like they stopped existing."

"You still haven't told me why you helped me."

"... Because you didn't deserve this shit, neither you nor the other people I saw that girl take to that fucking house. The only difference now is that I could finally bust her. Still, I'm sorry I couldn't help you out man. All I could do was scared you off by acting like a racist inbred fuckface, but uh. That dumb ass plan of mine didn't really work now did it?"

"... Thank you." Chris then got into the airport security car with Rod and the two left the scene. After about an hour an SCP Foundation investigation squad and clean-up crew arrived at the scene to get rid of all evidence and find clues relating to all parties involved in the incident. Agent Ryan was also debriefed on the incident since it seemed like a conflict happened before the crew arrived. Though he claimed he didn't see anything or anyone.

***

Agent Ryan lied about not meeting with anyone.

Chris and Rod where their names yes? Send memetics to Rod to have him forget anything related to the incident you know put them in junk mail like always. 

And Chris?

No, don't erase his memories. Pick him up and give him the offer under Protocol Sole Survivor. 

How do you know he contributed?

... Some questions are best left unanswered Doctor. 

Understood. But what would you want with Chris anyways? 

I'm thinking Ryan could use a new partner. 

[echantedtoon]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch24 The Months Between

-SEPTEMBER-

Days passed as you all traveled more and more by train. Resuming your routine of sleeping on the seats during the nights and talking or watching videos during the day with your friends. Victor keeping track of your all's travels with his regional maps as you did. Days were a blur with all of you keeping up the routine and eating from your food rations and taking turns walking up and down the aisles between the train seat to keep up exercise. Silver seemed content to sleep the days away on the table between you four not that you all minded too much. You weren't sure exactly how much time had flown past since you all had left Hammerlocke. You had felt guilty for a bit after your encounter with Raihan. You....did find him somewhat annoying for how he acted towards you, and maybe you should've apologized for the hoodie attack and technically threatening him with Silver, but at least now you seemed to have made up with him and he seemed to understand your stance of 'No' with him. You would apologize to him next time you saw him, which was most likely at the Championship matches at the end of the year if you did ever see him again. Just to keep the peace and give you no lose ends to fix once you leave at the end of the year. You'd feel better once you made sure there wasn't any problems you would've caused....Even if this world was fake and just a dream...Oh. Speaking of which, you still had one lose end to make sure to tie up before you left.

Which is why Gloria blinked at you now from what you asked. "Whatcha mean by that?"

"Well....I was thinking of leaving at the end of the year after the Championship Matches are over," you explained, "And where I'll be returning too...It's not suitable for pokemon for...a lot of reasons I don't want to get into. So I need too know he'll be taken care of if I do end up leaving." You didn't want to explain that in your world there WAS no pokemon beyond toys and video games and Silver most likely wasn't going to be coming with you. But you wanted to make sure he'd be taken care of if you did left, even if nothing here was real and just a dream. Asking Gloria to take him seemed like the best option. She used him to battle before and would take good care of him in your place. "You're the only one I can trust to take care of him if I do go. His pokeball's always in my bag, so if I leave you can just take him.....Can I count on you to do that for me?"

".........I guess so! Tho I don't understand why ye can't take 'em with ya."

You were relieved that problem was taken care of. Again you were against leaving things unresolved. It wasn't until about three days later when you all were almost out of food did you four FINALLY arrived back in Postwick. How did you know? Well the familiar town and the farm houses with flocks of wooloo the shepherds were herding in the fields as you all went past gave it away before you arrived around noon at the train station. Gloria was first to excitedly get up from her seat and run to the entrance, followed by Hop and Victor with you with Silver at your feet bringing up the rear. The fresh air with the scents of flowers and freshly cut hay filled your nose again as you walked out of the stuffy train car. Thank goodness. You were starting to feel like you would never stop traveling like that but it felt good to arrive back in Wedgehurst Station for the moment. The beautiful lush green and small town was just what you needed for the moment. Walking through the station after the three of them you nearly bumped into Victor outside the station as he took in the town as well. Oh. That's right! Gloria mentioned Victor had started traveling around before she did so he must've been away from home for longer. It'd make sense for him to wanna take it all in.

"I see nothin's changed," he commented with a knowing smile looking at the surroundings before stopping up the path and hill heading up back towards his mother's home. "I wonder what Ma's up to?"

"Why don't we go find out?!," his sister piped up excitedly before turning and pushing Hop's shoulder making him wobble. Before like a rapidash she took off running away from them both. "RACE YA!!"

Hop blinked. "HEY!!" Before he raced after her. "THAT'S CHEATING, MATE!!"

Victor laughed a bit before jogging after them up the path towards Mrs. L's and Mrs. G's houses. You only sighed and with Silver at your feet just slowly walked after them. Taking in the beautiful nature around you..but you couldn't help but notice differences now. The grass around you seemed a paler green, the air seemed a little cooler, and the trees' leaves seemed to dawn an orange-yellow tint to them...Almost like it was fall time-..Wait....How long had you been traveling?! Your mind wracked for the answers as you walked, the others running ahead of you and quickly disappearing up the corner with the stone bridge leading to Gloria's house. ...Must've been traveling for most of the year actually and almost fall time. Everything seemed to go by so fast but feeling like a long time ago at the same time. You followed the dirt path up the hill along the stone fence up towards the stone bridge. Crossing it as the stream underneath you gurgled out. Silver gave a curious chirp as you crossed and looked over the side as you passed. Passed the Welcome To Postwick sign and right up to it. A cottage like in a cliche fairytale greeted you as well as leaved vines hanging all over from the roof hanging down from it. The front of the house consisted of potted plants and flower bushes, a wheel barrel with a few gardening tools inside, and a small space of fertile brown dirt surrounded by a ring of stones filled with more plants. You walked until you could fully see the front of the house and smiled at the sight. Both the twins were hugging a woman who they hadn't seem for almost a full year. Their mother. Mrs. G was standing there, happy tears streaming down her face with her bright smile, and one arm around each of the children. Hop was standing off to the side smiling but not interrupting the happy reunion. You slowly caught up walking up the steps to the front of the home and stopping just in front of the gateway with a smile on your face. Mrs. G looked exactly the same except the knees of her overalls were dirty and so were the pink floral gardening gloves she was wearing. Around her feet and near the flower beds were some fresh bags of dirt and a couple gardening tools. She must've been gardening when you all arrived.

"OH MY BABIES!!," she cried and pulled away with the biggest smile on her face. The twins smiling and looking almost on the verge of tears as well. One of her pink gloved hands reaching up to rub her teary eyes....which left dirt streaks on her face not that she cared looking at the both of them a small choked smile reaching your ears...and despite it being a happy sight....you frowned. ...You couldn't help but picture the parallels between them and your own mother...she wouldn't have hugged you or greeted you like that. She scowl, scold you, and asked what took you so long to respond. After all she wasn't gonna be around forever and she put all this work into raising you. You owed her at least a phone call after all- "I watched your matches on the telly." she said smiling and gently placed a motherly hand on her children's cheeks with pride. "You did so well. I'm so proud of you for making it this far!" Heh. Your mother would've just asked you why it took so long and again why you hadn't visited her sooner. And then criticize everything she thought you did wrong or could've done better. And THEN said you should've tried harder.

"Aw Ma! Sttoooopp," Gloria faked embarrassment and lightly waved her hand. "Yer embarrassin' me."

"Did you see my blogging updates?," Victor asked hopefully.

Mrs. G then quickly turned her smile to her son's excited face and his bright smile became wider when she nodded. "Yes! Yes I did! You caught such beautiful imagery! And those pictures you sent me of Gloria's battles are already hanging up on our wall." You couldn't remember the last time your mother praised you actually for your efforts. "You're getting so good at it!" 

He smiled prouder. "Actually it's become really popular since I've been capturin' the stories of two Gym Challengers!" He pumped a fist with a determined look. "AND ONE DAY I'M GONNA BE A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER N' WORK FOR POKE-WRITES!!" 

This finally seemed to snap you out of your sad daze with a blink...and rose a confused brow. "What the world is Marco Cosmos?"

Hop turned to you with a smile. "Ha! Only THE number one media corporation in Galar! The company's made up of news reporters, move directors, show producers, actors, journalist, writers, photographers, and all kinds of other people in careers. They're also the ones who broadcasts the official pokemon matches and producing the magazines that Nessa usually stars in. Vick's been pinning to be one of the top photographers there."

"And I WILL be!!," Victor said determined, "All I have to do is keep on going and one day land a job there!"

Mrs. G finally noticed you all there as well and smiled in yours and Hop's directions. "Well if it isn't you too!"

You waved and Hop greeted her. "Hey Auntie G! Miss me?"

She chuckled and reached over to ruffle his head. "Yes I did, Hop. You've been doing a great job as well. I'm sure your mother and grandparents will be so proud! Have you went over to see 'em yet?"

Hop shook his head. "Not yet! But I bet they'll be excited to see me huh!?"

She chuckled. "Why don't you go over and say hi? Oh." She blinked as an idea flashed over her face before holding up a finger. "A better idea! When you go over tell them you're all invited to dinner! We can have a small dinner party and catch up on what you three's been up too!"

Hop lit up at the idea and nodded. "That's a great idea! It's been so long since we all got together anyways!" he turned and you had to quickly grab Silver and move aside as Hop ran past you. "I'll be right back!" And finally Mrs. G seemed to notice you and smiled.

"Y/n!," she greeted you and you blinked looking up at her, "I thought you wouldn't be too far behind. Victor's been telling me all about the trouble you've been helping to keep her out of."

......Gloria tossed her brother a scowl as he looked away and you sighed with a chuckle. Silver looking up at you within your arms. "Yeah...Well I can't say it wasn't an interesting experience." You slowly placed Silver back onto the ground before leaning back and crossing your arms. "Certainly had it's ups and downs. But overall it was certainly a fun adventure." You admitted with a smile because honestly...it really much was. Other than your Spikemuth incident, and the few run ins with Oleana, and what happened with Bede. But you knew Bede would be fine. After all he becomes Ms. Opal's successor after the end of the game and all. "But I see you've been well." You said gestured to her gardening tools and she chuckled.

"Well around here you have to prepare your soil for all the snowfall winter brings. It's good to get it done in early fall," she explained also confirming your suspicions, "That way you don't have to do too much during winter."

"Fall already huh? Which month is it exactly? I haven't been keeping track too well."

She chuckled. "September fifth actually. But don't worry too much about it, it's understandable you would get distracted by it all. I suppose you're all here to wait out until the finals in December?"

You nodded again. "Yeah. I mean there really is nothing else to do until they face off against Leon right?"

"You mean after they decide who gets to face off against him." You gave a small huh and she chuckled. "Silly me. You must've not know. Before the finals there's a show down between the final challenges until one comes out victorious, then the Championship Cup takes place a few days after that."

"Oh! That makes a lot more sense. Uh...Hey. Can I borrow your shower and laundry room? I could sure use it right now."

She gladly nodded and gestured to the home. "By all means. I think you all should go unpack and wash up before dinner. We'll certainly be hearing a lot from you all."

You smiled and you, Victor, and Gloria all went inside. All excited not just for dinner but for you having a small break from traveling for a moment. As Gloria and Victor went to unpack in their rooms you obliged and used the shower and then borrowed the washer and dryer for your clothes. Having to wrestle Silver's hoodie off of him to wash real quick. If it was becoming fall and then eventually winter then he'll certainly need it being a water type but you weren't just going to allow him to wear a dirty jacket. You also decided to wrestle Silver into the shower once you were dressed and ready waiting for your clothes to dry up. He was easier to bath than a cat as he liked water and didn't really move a lot when you rubbed soap on him until it was his face. Then he squirmed and chirped annoyed .....But after you promised him all the food leftover in your bag (there wasn't a lot left anyways. Just maybe two or three days left of food.), he reluctantly conceded and let you wipe his face clean with a small cloth. You were glad he was clean at least....but it did back fire a bit on you. After you were done and wrapped him in a towel...he didn't move when you got up looking at you expectantly. When you didn't immediately pick him up he flopped onto his side and let out a loud yell until you did. And with a scowl walked out with him wrapped up like a swaddled baby in your arms. And you were spotted.

"Hey Y/n what was that-...." Gloria blinked seeing your frowning form and Silver peeping out from the towel....before her cheeks puffed out. "PFFFTT!!! AHAHA!" 

"Oh ha ha. Very funny."

You somehow managed to get Silver to get out of your arms long enough to retrieve your things from the dryer and stuff them back into your bag with what little belongings you had. By the time you were done Mrs. G had come back inside and was taking off her garden gloves to find you and the others sitting down on the couch and talking. The muchlax and Toxel Gloria had sent her mother asleep in the small bed in the corner. You all continued to chatter, well the twins did as you sat there letting them talk as you finally got the chance to relax, as Mrs. G went ahead and started getting dinner ready and on the way. You weren't really too sure how much time had passed as you were in peaceful rest listening to them talk answering every so often when they asked you something, before the door rang. Gloria jumped up so fast Silver fell off the couch spook with a chirp as she raced to the door to answer. And on the other side was four other people. Hop, Mrs. L, and Hop's grandparents who also seemed very happy to see all of you. Many greetings were exchanged and hellos were said before Mrs. G directed Gloria to show them to the couch. You opted to pick up Silver and move to sit on the floor with Hop allowing the older couple to sit on the couch with Mrs. L. And they began speaking more. About their battles with the Gym leaders and what they were like. You personally thought Allister and Piers was the nicest but then again this wasn't your journey. At one point both challengers brought out their Badge Circles to show off all of their winnings. Gloria having two extras from insisting on battling every Gym Leader at least once, Gloria showing off all the pictures of the curry and poke dex challenge she was doing, she was almost done with them both too as they were both nearly all the way full. You were proud of their progress! And so was everyone else who listened with smiles on their faces as they both let them talked about their achievements, and Victor wasn't left out either! Being complimented for the fabulous pictures he took and the popularity his blog had been and you couldn't help but agree. Gloria was going to be a great champion. Confident, always jumping in to lend a hand, maybe a but oblivious but she always seemed to be able to bounce back like a rubber ball. And Hop was going to be a great professor! Smart, always thinking even without realizing it, eager to do more. And Victor would be a great photographer. Patient, always looking for the best out of anything, and level headed. Great to have in his future line of work. Everything would be falling into place soon. Which meant that very soon you'll also be able to head home soon.

"Is this the same Drizzle you two used in those battles?" You blinked out of your thoughts and found Mrs. L looking at you and Silver half laying in your lap. "Oh wait a minute. Wasn't he a sobble at the beginning of the year?"

It took a moment of just sitting there and blinking to figure out she was asking you but you did eventually speak. "Huh?.......OH! You m-mean Silver! Yeah." You embarrassedly replied. Feeling a bit silly taking so long to respond. "Yeah. He's a big boy now." He seemed to take this as a compliment and smiled from where he laid on your lap. "Wouldn't be here without him!"

"I see. So are you staying in town then?," she asked politely just making small talk.

And at this you paused.....before shrugging with a small frowned. "Uh......Kinda?" she blinked at you in slight confusion as you sighed. "I mean....I guess I would be sleeping on their couch for at least three or four months...but at the same time I don't wanna just be a freeloader y'know?" Yeah. With how hard you had to work in school, and taking on all those jobs to just help your mom pay bills, you weren't exactly one to want to go on free rides without having any work to pay the toll. It just felt...wrong. Sure you accepted a few free things on your journey like a couple meals and clothes, but those were for survival reasons and you did pay it back in one form or another other than money. "I guess I could just borrow Gloria's tent and sleep in one of the fields or in the yard or something?? I've done it before and it's fine. I mean I have a sleeping bag too."

At this Mrs. L looked at you like you were crazy. "You want to sleep in a tent? With winter and snowfall right around the corner? Child, you seem to be having a hankering for a death wish or seem to believe you're some ice type pokemon. Surely there's something else." By now everyone else seemed to turn to you as well as you shrugged.

......You shrugged. "Like I said I really don't wanna freeload or just take up someone's space and food and...and well other things without paying them back. It's...." You looked away under all the intense gazes squirming like a worm. A guilty feeling bubbling up. "I-It's how I was raised." A small silence coming from yours ....before Hop piped up.

"Hey Ma." Mrs. L turned to him with a hum as he smiled and pointed. "You moved all the storage in the basement to the shed right?" She nodded again and he brightened more. "Ya said you were thinking of renting it out to your friend. But since he changed his mind.." He glanced between you blinking totally not believing his words and his mother. "I dunno. Maybe you can rent it out to someone else? Maybe someone who's responsible and trustworthy?"

"And really helpful!," Gloria added catching on with a smile, "And nah cause a bunch of trouble!"

"And someone who helps keep these two outta trouble," Victor added with a mumbled. Causing both his sister and friend to scowl at him.

Mrs. L hummed actually thinking dawning a thoughtful look.....before turning towards your still disbelief self as you blinked. Wait...Did they just?...What were they .....HUH!? Did they just offer- A hum silenced you of your thoughts as you snapped up blinking at her. Mrs. L regarded you with narrowed golden eyes as she pondered and you found yourself gulping feeling oddly small under the older woman's gaze. Reminded you of your mother's disapproval stare at...at...well anything you did-

"Have you ever worked?" She asked and you flinched blinking.

"H-Huh?"

"Have you ever worked?," she asked casually but seriously leaning back onto the couch, crossing her arms, and crossing her legs too with the same studying look. "As in have you ever had a job?"

O-Oh. That. You shakily nodded with a gulp. "Uh...Y-Yeah I-I've worked before."

"What kind of jobs?"

"Uh....Well when I was thirteen I used to b-babysit a lot." Mostly for your mother's friends and she made you but then started making you get other more serious paying jobs when she realized you could actually help pay bills. "And I was a dog-..Uh pokemon walker." You couldn't say dog walker here when dogs weren't a real thing here. "And a bunch of odd jobs kids do. Mow lawns. Rake leaves. Shovel drive ways. Y'know that kinda stuff. Then I got a part time job at a bakery in my town for a while until I couldn't work there anymore." You really liked the job but it started to affect your school study time so your mom made you quit in favor of another much more ....stressful retail job dealing with Karens. But that's besides the point. "And my last job before I came here was working at a small convenience store for a bit."

Her pose and expression didn't change as she hummed again. "Have you ever rented a room before?"

......With another sigh you nodded. "Yep. My mother started charging me rent once I turned eighteen." Yep. As soon as you turned eighteen your mother started charging you fifty dollars a month for rent on top of using the paychecks you earned anyways to pay bills, groceries, and other things. So it's not like you haven't experienced that before. "And I've stayed in motels before and paid so it's not like I haven't ever paid for a room to stay in."

Mrs. L blinked for a moment but then looked to everyone else as the children looked hopeful, and then back to you as you watched with nervous anticipation. There was no way she was just gonna agree to this would she- "Well if I do rent out to you, I hope you realize I would expect help with the chores."

....You blinked. Wait. REALLY!? You nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less."

"And rent would be a hundred fifty dollars a month. I wouldn't want to fight with anyone on the matter of money since I'm not asking a whole lot. That should be more than enough to cover your part of the bills."

Your eyes widened....ONLY A HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH!? THAT WAS A FREAKING STEAL!! YOU WERE LIKING THIS IDEA A LITTLE MORE! You nodded eagerly. "Yes! I completely understand-" You froze...Money.....Oh well of course she would ask you for money for living in her home and using her things. But that was the problem. You didn't have a hundred fifty dollars let alone enough for four months!! Hell. You didn't even have most of what Leon gave you. Paying for five meals plus tips twice had drained you of most savings and only had about seven dollars and some cents left. Barely enough for a small pizza. "But...I don't really have a job or really a lot of money on me. So I wouldn't be able to pay you. Not to hassle you for your already generous offer." You clarified holding up your hands. "I'm just saying how my situation is at the moment."

"That fancy clothes store up the way there is hiring," you blinked over to the new male voice and found out it came from Hop's grandfather who rubbed his chin, "She could get one there if she really wants too."

"....T-That sounds like a great idea!," you perked up smiling. "I can see if I can get a job there sure!"

"The I guess it's settled," Mrs. L said finally breaking the stiff pose and smiling. "Go get yourself a job and we can talk about getting you settled in."

You nodded in agreement and smiled. This was great. Maybe things were finally starting to look up for you. At that moment Mrs. G had walked back in with a smile. "Hey everyone. Pasta's ready. Come eat!"

That night you had borrowed the couch after dinner and Hop's family left back to their own home. The next morning for once getting up bright and early, only cuz you heard Mrs. G cooking in the kitchen, and forced your tired self to get up with a yawn. Getting dressed and finding Mrs. G in the kitchen cooking up some kind of omelet with Silver tiredly yawning at your feet and trudging behind you with a giant yawn himself.

"Good morning!," the older woman greeted you from the stove with a smile flipping one omelet, "How did you sleep last night?"

You yawned before waving your hand. "Good thanks. It was a change from sleeping on a train at least. Where's everyone else?"

She chuckled. "I can imagine. Oh those two? They're taking the chance to sleep in. Are you planning on going job hunting?" You nodded and she picked up the fully cooked omelet with the spatula moving it to a plate. "Well here. Eat this first. It's chilly and it would do you good to go out with a full stomach."

After politely eating the omelet and grabbing Silver something to eat as well, you bid Mrs. G good bye and went off into the chilly morning towards the fancy store you remembered Lee getting you those new clothes, went in, and as politely and professionally as you could walked right up to the front clerk desk. There was only one person in there and you recognized her as the manger! So when you walked up to her with a smile and asked her about the job positions....She turned you down....WHAT!? Well it turns out the new position of cashier was already taken just a week prior and they had/didn't need any new openings. Well this was JUST GREAT!! But never the less you thanked her for her time and ended up leaving. Well now what!? Once again fate decided to throw a curve ball at you. Sigh. Oh well. Maybe you could work something else out with Mrs. L or Mrs. G? It was when you were passing by the small grocery store on your way back past the train station did you get a stroke of luck. Silver had spotted something yummy displayed in the windows he wanted and literally death gripped your pants let an chirped loud enough to wake the dead until you looked at him. Like a toddler he excitedly look between you and the window and pointed to it! You looked over...and groaned realizing he was pointing at some fruit displayed in the window.

"But you JUST ate breakfast before we left!" He puffed out his cheek and tugged on your pants leg again. "Oh alright!"

Reluctantly you gave in and trudged to the window. You had some spare dollars to spend anyways, and you could afford to buy him at least one fruit so he'd settle down. You needed to think in order to figure out what to do next and him busy eating would help. So you tired and annoyed walked into the familiar store with silver at your heels excitedly and a bell going off above your head. The inside was cool, and it looked exactly like a regular convenience store with a bunch of shelves with things labeled with prices and a few freezers stuffed with more foods. Taking a look at the aisles they seemed to stacked with the regular food you'd find in stores like back where you came from as you stood there taking it in until a small noise made you look over towards the register. You looked over to a counter and a middle aged man with dark brown hair and mustache smiled from behind the register. A thick sweater and cap sitting on his body as he smiled. Oh hey! It was the store owner from earlier this year.

"Mornin'!," he greeted with a wide smile, "Welcome to Postwick General Store! Is there anything I can help you with?"

You smiled back politely and pointed to the window and the small crate of fruit on display. "Yeah. I saw some of the fruit there and was wondering how much it costs?"

"Oh? You mean the payapa berries!" You nodded and he smiled. The berries were a purple-pink in color and shaped kinda like pears. "There was a surplus of them and we got overstock, but 'round here we don't waste anything. So they're on sale for fifty cents a fruit." He shrugged. "If I don't end up selling them I can always turn them into food for my lil furfrou at home...Are you interested in buying some?"

You nodded. Yeah! You'd be able to buy a few. You decided to grab four of them out of the basket and with Silver eagerly watching at your side you brought them up to the counter to pay for them. After all you'd only lose around two dollars then. "Just these thanks!" You said placing the fruits on the counter as the man took his time counting them up on the register.

"So what brings you out here this early in the morning?," he asked making polite small talk.

You decided to humor him and shrugged. "Well I heard there was a job opening in the clothes store but...Eh. Turns out someone else got it before I could.''

"Oh I see. Sorry for your loss then. That'll be two dollars." You reached to dig around in your pockets for the money and he turned to you to wait patiently....before he suddenly blinked and gazed upon your y/f face and f/c eyes and f/c hair....And hummed. "My memory ain't what it used to be when I was just a wee lad but you look vaguely familiar. Have I perchance seen you before Young lady?"

You nodded pulling two dollars out of your pocket. "Yeah. Earlier this year with Leon." His expression lit up in realization as you handed him the money. "Here you go."

he gladly took them from you. "Ah! You were that young lady with our undefeated champion. You two must be good friends."

You shrugged. "Well what can I say? He is a really good guy." And began passing the fruit from the counter to Silver's chirping eager self who took them from you.

The man hummed watching the exchange between you and Silver...before smiling. "Young Lady." You blinked up at him with a hum. "You said you were looking for a job here?"

"Well...only temporary. I'm planning on leaving here when the Champion Matches start."

"I see." His smile widened. "Have you ever worked in retail before?"

"Yes I have. Why?"

"The winter months are always the busiest around here. I could use someone to help this old man with the cleaning and heavy lifting around this place. How would you like the position?"

And you had gawked at him. Not really believing what the man was offering you.....but you had smiled and happily accepted. Agreeing with him to start later that week! It was perfect! When you got back the twins were already up and groggily eating breakfast and you found Hop with them too. Turns out they had been planning on going out to some of the nearby fields and trying to catch a few more pokemon and practice battling with one another. After all Hop said they'd need all the practice they'd get and you agreed. Later that day you had gone over to Hop's house finding Mrs. L working on the soil around the flower beds near her front door. She was happy to see you and greeted you politely. After greeting her back you explained the events from that morning and agreed you could go ahead and come in after gathering yours things and Silver. And you did. Politely following her inside as she gave you a small tour of the big house that you had only been in once.

"Down there's the kitchen," Mrs. L explained to you pointing to your left side to the kitchen as you stood in the door way holding your big bag and making sure Silver didn't wonder off from you. Then she pointed down to the right towards the living room where you could vaguely see Hop's grandparents watching something from the couch. "That's the living room down there. Up stairs is mine, my parents, and my sons' bedrooms. Those are off limits unless I ask for some help cleaning." She then walked over to the wooden door right next to the stairs that you had originally thought was a closet and opened it to reveal a not so scary pair of stairs leading down to the basement. "And this is the basement. Follow me please."

"Ok."

You followed Mrs. L down the stairs with Silver behind you and downstairs was a...completely empty and very dusty room with one or two electric outlets here and there and one other door that might've been a closet. At the bottom of the stairs Mrs. L look half embarrassed back to you. "I apologize for the mess. After my friend dropped out last minute we haven't really used it. We don't have much storage so it was easier to clean out the shed and move everything into there." She shook her head and pointed to the door. "But it has a completely working bathroom with a shower. "

"No no. It's fine," you assured her with a smile. "It's a lot better than sleeping outside in a tent. I don't suppose I could borrow a broom and duster?"

"Of course. Come on. I'll give you a hand."

That's how pretty much most of the month went from then. You and Mrs. L took too sweeping, and mopping and dusting the room and basement stairs until it was all cleaned up. And you borrowed some different cleaning supplies to scrub down the bathroom provided for you and the place was up and ready for you and Silver. That night spending your first night sleeping there, using your sleeping bag for a bed. That weekend you started your new job at Mr. Frederick's store and it was...pretty peaceful. Every day from Nine A.M to six P.M you'd go and help Mr. Frederick with anything he needed. From restocking and carrying things around to sweeping and mopping the floors to wiping down the shelves to even manning the register and closing some days when Mr. Frederick had to run out or wanted to spend time at home. And it was nice to be doing something with your time, earning retail wage but it was worth it! Even got the weekends off. When not at your job you were helping Mrs. L or Hop's grandparents with anything they needed. Babysitting the grandpa's purrloin, helping to do dishes, or just cleaning in general. It seemed to be going well. The only problem was that Silver sometimes butted heads with the mischievous purrloin but both were easily sated by food. Speaking of which you couldn't have him running around after you all the time so you came up with an idea. Hop and Gloria (and Victor to keep an eye on them-) would go out each day to practice battling or go pokemon hunting, so you ended up stopping Hop one day to ask him a favor of taking Silver with him from now on when he went out with the guys.

"Huh? But why?," he asked you totally confused.

"I can't keep an eye on him all the time between my job and helping your mom. Besides, this way he'll be able to be helpful if you need to use him in battle and keep him out of trouble when I'm not around."

Luckily for you Hop did agree and although reluctant Silver didn't fight back when you told him to go with them every day when you worked until they came home with Silver usually tired and just flopping himself at your feet demanding attention from you and sometimes food. The whole system was working out for you really well as the days flew past, the trees and plants dawning a variety of oranges, yellows, browns, and reds as fall came in full swing and it started to get chillier and chillier. And at the end of the month (had to keep track of days in order to pay Mrs. L the rent each month) you paid your first lump sum of rent to your...technically landlord you guessed. Things were actually starting to go well.

-OCTOBER-

Days passed, and it was pretty much the same routine day by day and you were enjoying it. The small freedom of space and privacy, a nice work environment, nice people to live around, friends, and absolutely no pressure or anyone breathing down your neck it was...nice. In fact you didn't realize it until one day in the middle of October you had just given Mrs. L the rent for that month and before you could leave she asked you to help her get some decorations from the shed. And you were so confused.

"Decorations?," You asked her raising a brow and crossing your arms. "For what?"

Mrs. L chuckled at you. "For Halloween obviously. The town's not really big enough for the traditional trick or treating so every year we have a small Halloween party here for family and friends. Considering Halloween is a week away now I could use some help decorating the house."

Oh. So that was it. You forgot some holidays from your old world existed here as well. You agreed seeing that it was a week away. WOW. Time was flying past when you were occupied. You followed her and Hop's grandfather out to the shed and opened it to lots of boxes. Wow lots of boxes. How'd they get so much stuff to fit in one tiny shed. Box after box you helped take out and lug on over to the house. Around ten in total and all were filled with various items such as plastic skeletons, various ornaments shaped like various ghost pokemon, plastic pumpkins, and a whole lot more. A bubble of giddy excitement entering you at the very thought that would be free to help them decorate! You hadn't been this excited since....since....the plastic pumpkin you were holding in your hands lowered as you stared blankly at it.....You....You couldn't actually remember the last time you actually celebrated.....anything! Your birthday, Easter, Halloween, Christmas!! Your mom always said you all couldn't afford anything and you shouldn't be distracted from your work or studies. Not candy or gifts or even a small piece of cake. You didn't need materials to celebrate but even a small card would've been nice. In fact this might've been the first time you'd actually be celebrating an actual holiday for a long time...How much have you MISSED!?!?

"Y/n?"

"Ha!" You jumped at the sudden voice snapping you out of your thoughts and your head snapped over your shoulder to Mrs. L. The woman had paused in her task of hanging up a spooky orange and black garland on the wall from her step ladder noticing you had stared off into space. The plastic pumpkin dropped back into the box in front of you with a small thud.

"Is everything alright, Dear? You looked lost in space."

"Uh..." You quickly smiled and held up a hand nervously. "Course! Sorry about that! I was just lost in thought for a moment."

"Hm...Alright then. If you say so. Would you be a dear and come help me hold this up?"

"O-oh. Sure! Not a problem!"

Hop was pretty delighted to see how you all decorated the place when he arrived back with Silver ever tired in tow and you were proud of your work. Not going to lie you were pretty excited about this small party too, Mrs. L assuring you were more than welcome to join. More days passed and you got more and more excited with each passing day you worked getting a chip in your step from the anticipation you were feeling. Until the spookiest day of the year finally arrived. Mr. Frederick was nice enough to let you have the holiday off and in turn you got to help with everything! Mrs. G, Mrs. L, and Hop's grandmother were delighted to have another lady around to talk to while making the food and you were....Having the absolute time of your life making food while Hop's grandfather started setting up some of the party games! Caramel apples! Popcorn balls! Pumpkin Pie! Home made pizza! And of course candy! It was just some random brand bought from the grocery store you currently worked at but it was good enough for you! Of course the food you made specifically came out a bit sloppy looking or a bit burnt as you weren't the best cook, but it was all in fun! There was also so much other stuff that was to be had. Hop's grandfather set up a few things. A pinata shaped like a haunter filled with more candy. A small tub with water that beheld bobbing for apples. And a few other things. So imagine everyone the teens' shock and delight at seeing everything set up and ready to go!!....Well almost. At one point while you all were waiting for the Pizza to cook Gloria took you aside and found her in what was a headband with Eevee ears attached to it and upon your confusion produced one similar to hers and slapped it over your head. You blinked for a moment...but laughed and rolled with it! It was one holiday you could dress up anyways. Turns out you two weren't the only ones either as Hop wore a plain wooloo mask and Victor adored a pair of stantler antlers.

IT. WAS. A. BLAST!!!

So much happened. Some basic spooky sounds played from somewhere as you all enjoyed the time. Victor managed to wack the pinata open blindfolded grinning like a man who won the lottery. You attempted to try and get an apple from the tub but failed and ended up sputtering on some water hacking and coughing earning a few laughs. Mrs. G tried it too but had to stop in order for Gloria to fish her mother's glasses out from the tub which you did tease at. The only one able to get an apple was Hop...and then Silver when he used his tongue to literally snatch them all from the water to eat it. A small pumpkin carving content you also decided to join cuz hey...When was gonna be the next time you would be able to carve a pumpkin? Might as well enjoy these freedoms while you have them before returning home to your mom's and college's rules. Your jack-o-lantern's face came out lopsided but you didn't a bit. You had fun! And then the food was great too! Won't bore you with the details but it was absolutely delicious! The night went on until it was nearly midnight and everything was winding down...Til Gloria decided it was a good idea to tell a ghost story.

"HEY!," she piped up all of a sudden as Victor yawned. "I gotta idea! Let's tell a ghost story!"

"Glory, it's late," Victor grumbled, "N' I'm nah in the mood ta 'ere one of yer ghost stories 'gain. If it's bout that girl with the letter from Hammerlocke again I swear I'll drown in boredom!"

"HEY! She was TOO a ghost!"

"Ye got no proof-"

"How about the story of the mysterious ghost pokemon of Slumbering Weald?," Hop suggested to keep them from fighting again. "You know. The invisible pokemon that aren't really there but haunt the deepest most foggiest parts of the Weald." Hop dawned a creepy smile holding up his hands." People say if you run into them you're never seen again!"

"Hop pal. We've heard that one SO many times before I know it word for word. And it's not Ghosts. Some people were probably just spooked by some wild ghost type pokemon and made up the story."

"What about you Y/n?" You paused in the middle of eating some kind of chocolate candy as Gloria looked at you. "Have any ghost stories from the Kalos Region?"

You perked up they turned to you. "Who? Me?"

"Yeah! Tell us a ghost story from the Kalos Region!"

Oh crap. You didn't know any ghost stories from Kalos let alone any story from any region!! .....Quick. Use a story that you've heard from your own world. Straightening up you smiled brightly. "I don't know any ghost stories from there." They looked crestfallen. "But I do remember this one ghost story I heard when I was a kid. The Headless Horsem-... Ahem*. The Headless Rapidashman."

"Ooh. What's that bout?"

"I wouldn't mind hearing a new tale myself," Hop's grandfather chimed in happily.

You smiled. "Alright then. *Ahem* Once upon a time a long time ago there was a Man called Ichabod Crane who was as skinny and looked a lot more like a gangly scarecrow. He was a traveling teacher and one day came to the town of ...uh..Poke Hollow."

You told them the story as the adults smiled amused at the semi terrified looks on the three teens faces as you acted out and hammed up your Pokemon twist on the story of The Headless Horseman.

"The next morning the remains of a smashed pumpkin were found by the old bridge's entrance. But no signs of the old schoolmaster. Only his hat found by the pumpkin's remains surrounded by hoof prints of a rapidash that mysteriously led no where. Some say Ichabod fled to another region fair away from the hollow but the locals knew that he was yet another poor soul caught by the Headless Rapidashman. Never to be seen again."...You suddenly half lunged arms up. "BOO!"

They all screamed and Victor even fell off the small footrest he sat off with an 'Oof' landing on the floor as everyone chuckled at their reactions. Even you despite their frowns. BEST. HALLOWEEN. EVER!!

-NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER-

Days passed and things went back to normal around there. Silver went with the others as you either worked at the store or helped Mrs. L around the house with anything she needed. Eventually helping to put away all the Halloween decorations some time later after the spooky holiday. November felt like a blur as everything passed, you almost asked about Thanksgiving but figured they wouldn't celebrate it let alone even know what it is. The days got colder and colder with December approaching and with it the Champion Matches and your trip back home. To your mother and your trip back to college. Oh your mother was going to flip when you suddenly showed back up after being gone for nearly an entire year....and you were dreading that outcome. What would she do? Yell at you that's for sure. But what if she decided to kick you out because she thought you 'ran away' or something?! The downward spiral of what if scenarios and thoughts made you feel queasy but shook them off. No matter. What ever happens happens. You'd deal with it when the time came to deal with it. Sometimes you'd even chat with Hop before he headed out with the others.

"Good luck shiny hunting today. And thanks again for taking Silver."

Hop nodded. "No problem. It's like Raihan said! We'll need all the time we can get to prepare for the finals!"

You blinked confused. "When did Raihan say that?"

"When he saw us off at the train station remember?"

Oh yeah. You forgot he did end up seeing you all off at the train station before leaving for Postwick. Gloria had been running ahead of you guys and Hop was right behind here with you all.

"HURRY UP!," she called back towards all of you running towards the station. "We'll miss the bloody train!"

"Wait up, Gloria! I'm coming too!", Hop called after.

"Yer both bloody nuts you are! The t-train won't come for 'nother hour!," Victor huffed with you in tow. Until you all reached the station at around eleven in the morning.

Once you all got to the station is when you all got a chance to sit down and catch your breaths. And chat since you had a good hour before the train actually came. So you opted to ask Hop how his Battle went.

"I had Raihan beat in no time!," he beamed, "Once I got my head on straight and stopped doubting every decision I made that is.." he gave a nervous chuckle. "Heh. But it was a real good show down! I couldn't stop smiling through it all!"

''And you never stopped nattering on through the entire battle. You're pretty different from the Champion in that." ......You groaned as they looked over and slowly you did too. You knew that voice, and weren't really surprised to see the Dragon Boy again walking into the station smiling lazily. Oh what now? "But your strength is genuine. As proven by the dragon badge you won from me. You came at me with the force of a raging storm and even I was blow away. "

"You?," you asked raising a brow, "What are you doing here?"

He chuckled and waved a hand to you. "Hey there, Miss! I just came to some of the actual few challengers I've had this year off. No biggy. And see how the sass master herself was doing without me.~"

You deadpanned. "Uh huh...Well with that aside, what did you wanna tell them?"

"Hm?...Oh right!" Then he turned his attention onto Hop and Gloria. "Ok. Listen up you two. Battle your way through the Champion Cup tournament to face Leon. One of you ought to. "

"I reckon I'm still the favorite to win but I'm up against my true rival, Gloria!," Hop spoke confidentially, "So I'll wring every last thing I learned during my battle with you Raihan to beat her!" Before whirling around and pointing at the girl's chuckling face. "So get a move on, Gloria! The train's waiting!''

"Hop the train's not gonna be 'ere for 'nother hour!"

....Hop blinked and slowly put his hand back down. "Oh yeah...I forgot."

Raihan chuckled also flashing one of his signature smirks that had many fans swooning. "Be sure to keep your head on your shoulders. And take all the time you can to prepare. After all Lee's called the 'Unbeatable' and 'Undefeated' Champion for a reason. You'll need as much of a chance as you can get against him."

The rest of that convo before he left was a blur and you couldn't remember all of it, but did remember you did try apologizing to him for the Hoodie incident. And technically threatening to soak you with water gun. But he just laughed it off and seemed to forgive and forget...making a joke if you really wanted to say sorry to have dinner with him before you declined sternly again and then resumed waiting with the others until you did end up leaving Hammerlocke again and coming back to Postwick. Small world huh? But anyhow, life went on. As November came to a close you gave Mrs. L the rent for that month and next month in advance since you weren't really sure when you would be leaving...Until one of the guys told you they'd be leaving the sixteenth.

"Wait. Really?"

"Yep!," Hop replied, "It's gonna take us a couple days to actually get to Wyndon City even by train, and there's a strict deadline we have to meet or else we'll be considered forfeit." He sighed sadly and reached up a hand to rub at his neck a bit. "Man. It's a shame we won't be able to spend Christmas with Gramps or Gran...Or Mum. Or even Lee. But I put so much hard work into this." He gave a determined look. "I just know I can't lose if I try my best!"

"That's the spirit! Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end."

And you were pretty sure it all was going to. After all. You played through the game before....Although you couldn't help but feel like you were still forgetting something VERY important...Oh well. You were going to be home soon enough. You already had enough to deal with worrying about what was gonna happen once you get back, so you shouldn't worry about what was going on in the game world too much as soon you wouldn't be a part of it anymore. Hopefully. Having already given Mrs. L the rent for both months you'd be staying, you also gave Mr. Frederick your two week's notice in advance explaining your situation to which he gladly understood you wouldn't be working for him for too long. Never the less you still worked hard despite having to leave soon as a means to keep your mind of when you'd finally go back. Helping Mr. Frederick to stock up on plenty of supplies for the holiday rush. Helping Mrs. L and her family decorate and carry the Christmas decorations from the shed. And planning ahead with Victor before going and buying the supplies you all would need for the trip to Wyndon City. It would take a good seven to ten days by train to get there so it was best to plan ahead and get the supplies all bought and separated ahead of time. Had a hard time keeping Silver out of it though. By the tenth of December the first snowfall of the year had fallen at last blanketing the town of Postwick in snow and you all were awoken to Hop's excited whooping of joy. Groggily getting up and going to the source of said commotion in your Pjs with everyone else to see what it was all about. And you under stood why when Hop lugged what was a box about the size of a small coffee table into the living room area beaming with complete awe at it.

"What *yyaawwwwnn* is that?," you asked yawning and pointing to the box.

"Lee sent us presents early!,'' Hop shouted already prying the cardboard box apart with his bare hands to get to the inside. "He sends us a package every year when he can't join us!"

"Huh. He sent it early this year. The dear must've known you all would leave soon and wanted you to have it," Hop's grandmother reasoned and it seemed to make sense. Leon was a considerate enough guy to do that.

You watched with a smile on your face as Hop dug into the box, gasping and almost squealing in delight at pulling out other smaller things wrapped in shiny wrapping paper as the family received their gifts. ....Couldn't remember the last time you even received one gift- You shook you head. NO! Now's not the time to be thinking about those sad thoughts right now Y/n. Especially when they were in a good mood.

Hop gasped again tearing open his to reveal a....book?? He held out to show everyone. "I DON'T BELIEVE IT!! IT'S THE LIMITED EDITION OF PROFESSOR MAGNOLIA'S DYNAMAX THEORISM ENCYCLOPEDIA!! IT HAS THE ENTIRE HISTORY AND LORE BEHIND THE DYNAMAX AND GIGANTOMAX PHENOMENON!!" He immediately opened it and flipped through a couple pages before stopping at one. "And it's even SIGNED?! These sold out completely last year! Where did Lee get one of these?!"

Ah! So a book on pokemon lore. Makes sense Leon would gift Hop something like that. It's right up his little brother's ally. The rest of the gifts seemed like perfect matches for the rest of the family too. Hop's grandmother got some of her favorite cookies. Hop's grandfather received a pretty cute sweater with a purrloin on the front which he seemed to adore. And Mrs. L got one of those self pampering kits. And you soon found out they weren't the only ones who received a package as well from the next time you ran into the twins and Mrs. G. Mrs. G having some kind of small handy gardening tool kit, Victor with a brand new water proof camera, and Gloria who ran up to you excitedly with her FULLY completed curry dex book all full with at least one of every known curry. Apparently Leon heard about her trying to complete it and had graciously sent her a whole bunch of pictures of curries and pokemon she didn't have yet. Good! She was almost done with both dexes then. Wouldn't be too long before she got that all done as well. You also found out it was a habit of Leon's to send them gifts like this every Christmas. And not just them too. Sonia and her grandmother would usually end up getting something mailed to them as well as his gym leader friends. Like you said before Leon was a very considerate man. While you were a bit sad at being left out, you were happy non the less that the others were all very happy-

"Y/n! There's a package for you!" You were snapped out of your daze when Hop beamed at you and held up a smaller box that had been delivered separately from their own gifts. The small box Hop held was just an ordinary square box that looked no bigger than a toaster. On the side of said box was your name as well as the address of Hop's house. "You didn't think Lee would forget about you did ya?"

You continued to stare at the box as every one watched, until you slowly reached over and took the box from him. The plain cardboard felt light in your hands and when you shook it, you could hear something lightly shaking from the inside. Leon..sent you an early Christmas gift as well? Well you certainly weren't expecting that. It was really nice of him but again he didn't have to do anything this extravagant. But your curiosity got the better of you so you decided to open it and look inside. F/c eyes going wide at the sight..before you slowly reached in and pulled out a scarf. A blue scarf and right with it was a matching blue hat perfectly knitted that looked like an adorable sobble, and under both of those was a small tin of chocolate chip cookies. 

"Aw. That's adorable. What a thoughtful gift," Mrs. L cooed seeing the little gifts in your hands.

You however still stared at the gifts..before smiling. Happy tears coming to your eyes at your first proper Christmas gift for in a long, long time. After that things were still peaceful. Until the day finally came that you all would leave for Wyndon on the sixteenth. And like the other three who were giddy with excitement, you made preparations. Going to the store to help out with cleaning down practically everything and restocking as much as you could before leaving for good as a thank you to Mr. Frederick for helping you out and going back at the end of the day as you had a few other things to do. The first thing being when you got back to shower and afterwards borrow some cleaning supplies from Mrs. L to deep clean her basement and it's adjourned bathroom as a last thank you as well. And after all you didn't want to come off as a bad roommate to the family that showed you so much kindness. Having paid for this month in advance you weren't worried about paying for December rent. When all was said and done, you did the last few tasks of helping out Mrs. L if she asked for anything of you and repacking and making sure you had everything of yours ready to go, as well as making sure Silver would have enough room in your backpack to sit in again. He could use a break from the cold from you making him go out with the guys all this time. By the end of it all you were absolutely exhausted, and easily fell asleep into your sleeping bag. Dozing off for your trip tomorrow....Which...came sooner than expected when you suddenly found yourself woken so early in the morning by someone relentlessly shaking you like a dumb maraca!

"Y/N!! WAKE UP!!," someone shouted really loudly into your ear shaking you harder than a leaf in a tornado.

"AH!!," you ended up wrenching yourself up blinking and half expecting it to be your mother which caused the mild panic you felt...before deflating with a groan when you realized it was just Hop smiling before you. He was already wrapped up in a winter coat, scarf, and other things to keep himself warm. "Darn it, Hop..*yyaaawwwwnn*" You mumbled reaching an arm up to wipe at your eyes. "What time is it?"

"Five in the morning." You stared at him. "......What?"

"FIVE in the MORNING!?," you asked gobsmacked. You must've look a sight all tired eyed and messy haired. "Hop, the sun's not even out! For what reason are we having to get up THIS early?"

"You need to wake up or we'll miss the morning train out of town," he explained like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"Train? Train to where?"

"To Wydon City of course! If we wanna make it to the matches on time we have to leave!" He lightly tugged on your arm to get your still half awake self up. "C'mon! The others are already waiting for us at the station!"

He turned to run off leaving you sitting there for a long pausing moment blinking tiredly at the wall as Silver groggily got up next to you...Before your eyes suddenly widened at the slap of realization. OH CRAP!! THE TRAIN TO WYNDON CITY!! THE CHAMPION MATCHES!! YOUR TICKET H O M E!! DUH!? And it was about to leave! Quickly scrambling up you scrambled around to throw on a pair of clothes that weren't pjs and a coat. Rolling up and packing away your sleeping bag. Silver let out a loud chirp when you picked him up and practically shoved him into your bag before hoisting him over your shoulders. Wobbling a bit not used to the added weight after so long. After all you hadn't carried him like this since Circhester. Making one last sweep around the place you made sure you had gathered everything and everything was in it's place before leaving back up the stairs. Finding Hop and Mrs. L decked in her own winter wear waiting for you.

"There you are Y/n. Are you ready to leave?" You nodded. "Oh good. Let's all be off then. I'm seeing you all off. "

Flashlights in hand being your only light other than the other buildings against the early dark morning as you all left through the snow, cold hit your face as soon as you stepped out the door, and snow crunched under your feet as the three of you left off carefully trudging down the roads to the station. Being careful not to slip down the hill as you all walked down it and across the bridge over to the station. Snow clinging to your bodies as you all walked up to the door and went inside. The inside wasn't really any warmer than the outside having an open area for passengers to just bored and get off the trains at will. And in there on some of the benches were the twins and Mrs. G decked out in winter wear and ready to go with their bags full. Having turned their heads towards your light when the door opened.

"HOP! Y/N!," Gloria greeted with a big smile on her face standing up. "You made it."

Hop nodded before turning his attention to the clock on the wall. "...Five fifty four. Almost time for the train to arrive! OH MAN!! IM SO EXCITED!!" 

"I KNOW!!" Gloria held a fist up. "I'm so pumped ta be goin' ta the finals and showin' all I can do out there! I know we can do it-"

Your mind clouded out the rest of what everyone was saying as you stared off into space. So this was it huh? All the work you did with traveling and helping them avoid danger and even on a couple cases winning battles like with Raihan with Silver's help. ..And all of this would all be ending just at the very end of this month. That was about two or so weeks and then...Back to walking on eggshells around your own Mum, no more celebrating holidays, and going to college working a bunch of jobs to hopefully pay your student debt for a degree you came to conclude you didn't want. And possibly losing your home and having a big fight with your mum if this somehow wasn't a dream and you've actually been teleported to some world for a real long time. You were lost in thought and didn't even notice the loud noises of the train coming in or the good byes the mothers were giving the guys. Even if you did notice you would've most likely had only felt sadness.

"C'MON Y/N!! THE TRAIN'S 'BOUT TA LEAVE!!"

That finally snapped your attention back to the present blinking. A loud train horn sounded off startling the four of you into turning to the train, then you happened to glance at the clock hanging upon the wall and noticed that it was six in the morning. As the mothers waved good bye, the four of you went towards the gate and watched as Gloria slipped a single dollar into the slot of it. It made a ping noise and you guess it unlocked because the three of you easily slipped by and towards the train. The grey and yellow train's doors slid open with a whoosh sound as the three of you entered just as another horn sounded off startling you a bit. Inside was who you assumed to be a train conductor who gestured for you all to exit through another door to the right which lead to the passenger cars and other people who happened to be on the train with you three. There was about fifthteen other people with you so the four of you had to go to one of the back seats. Yellow painted metal bars were everywhere along with Blue seats with a table between the two of them. Above each pair of seats was a small area to put luggage. You three sat down just as the train was starting off. Looking out the window and waving their goodbyes even though you were sure their mothers couldn't see them anymore. You sat there with the reality all laid out on the table for you to look at ....and you inhaled deeply before exhaling. This was it. The champion matches. The final endings of the game. Gloria would become the new Champion and then the game would come to it's final conclusion and then after that. Surely....SURELY!! You would wake up from this dream. Back to your mother. Back to your college plans. Back to normal reality. You were going home.

.....But then......

Why didn't the idea of that make you happy?

[murdercouple]

Another old fanfiction of mine. It's about how Chucky and Tiffany got back together. Be clement, i was 18 when i wrote these... 😅

_____

Together Again

L.A., 4:00 p.m.

Chucky let out a sigh as he caught himself in the mirror. "The f*cking première is in ten minutes. I wish i had a co-star, i've been doing this sh*t for three years. It was fun at first, but now the whole thing is getting quite boring"

Then he had a brainwave.

"Tiffany! An old flame and accomplice of mine! She's a born actress! I need to get to her"

Tiffany Valentine was a tall, blonde, beautiful woman who lived out west of town. She once was his girlfriend and henchwoman. They were almost teens when they first met in a rainy afternoon. She was his one true friend.

Suddently Chucky's director called him, interrupting his thoughts.

"Chucky! What are you doing? Don't just stand there, everything is ready!" He said.

"Sorry buddy, i can't today. I have to go somewhere, it's something very important" he replied.

"Man, you must be kidding me! The première is about to begin, and you leave!? Your schedule must not make you lose sight of your duties, and remember.."

He got no further, for Chucky's short temper mastered him.

"Bu****it! I'll be back as soon as possible, ok!? Now lemme go and stop bothering, before i cut your tongue out!" he returned, slamming the door.

Then he got out of the building without a word to anybody and left towards Tiffany's house, careful to go unnoticed, expecially by the cops that garrisoned the streets. When he started making movies, he and the crew had a bargain: if they kept their mouths shut about him ACTUALLY being a living creature, no harm would come to them.

When Chucky arrived at the door he knocked on it. After a few seconds the door opened revealing Tiffany, who, after an initial shock, recognized him.

"Chucky!?" She exclaimed, looking down with an astonished face.

"Surprise!" he grinned.

"I can't believe this.." she stuttered "You're back! I thought you had forgotten me. I'm so overjoyed..." she said, her charcoal eyes filling with tears despite her attempts to fight them back.

"Jeez Tiff, if you start with melodrama i'm leaving at once!" he chuckled, sarcastically.

"Can't help myself, i'm too happy. I would have sold my soul to see you again, even if for the last time" she said, a delicate, manicured finger drying her eyes.

Then she let him in.

He looked around..

"It didn't change that much... except that i was taller at the time!" He grumbled.

The woman giggled, getting a dirty look in return. He hated to be made fun of.

They spent the whole afternoon chatting about this and that: he told her about how he escaped death, about his raids.. Tiffany listened to him patiently as she mended his worn clothes and arranged his disheveled red hair . Then it got pretty late.

"Oh look! It's about seven o' clock in the evening! How 'bout we dine together? I'm making swedish meatballs! You love them, don't you?"

"You know i do, sugar"

"Come on, then! Let's celebrate this reunion properly!"

{ONE HOUR LATER}

"Jeez Tiff, what a cook! My compliments!"

he exclaimed.

"And it's all thanks to mother Margaret, who taught me" said Tiffany, proudly.

Chucky looked around

"Man, i'm feeling more and more funny. I remember celebrating my birthday here, with you, Eddie and company. And not even all the cigars i smoke can erase this familiar scent. I..."

"Speaking of the Eddie" interrupted his former girlfriend.

"how is he? I haven't seen him in a decade!"

"I don't wanna talk about it!" was the harsh reply. In fact, that question set his teeth on edge a little.

"Oh man, i guess i hit a nerve. Let's change the subject" She thought to herself.

"You know Chucky, i still can't believe you're back. It feels like a dream"

She said while swinging her long leg.

"Yeah.. i can imagine that"

He would never say openly that he missed her, too. His pride wouldn't allow it. But the way he was looking at her said it all.

"But, what prompted you to get back here after so many years?" she asked.

"Oh! Be prepared, i have great news for you " he said.

"Ooh, what is it?" She asked, sounding excited.

"I'll tell you at once: under the pretext of what happened to me, i started a movie series called "Child's Play". I suppose you heard about it, haven't you?"

"U bet'cha!"

"Well, i want YOU to be in it! What do you say?"

"...wait a minute, that's it!?" She asked, sounding quite irritated.

"How come 'that's it"!? Ain't ya happy?" He asked, raising one eyebrow and tilting his head a bit.

"Forget it!" She said, letting out a heavy sigh.

She clearly expected him to ask her to get back together, and she was so disappointed he didn't.

She couldn't care less about the movie thing, she wanted to be with him. He being now an ugly cork wasn't going to stop her. She gave zero damns about such superficial things.

It is my private belief that both of them were looking forward to get back together, but both Chucky and Tiffany were stubborn and excessively proud individuals, so that their self respect would never allow them to beg for love. But it was just a matter of time before one of them gave in.

"Da hell did i do this time?"

He muttered to himself. Then he caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall.

"S*it, it's so late! Tiff, i have to go" he exclaimed.

"But where are you going at this time of night?"

in an anxious tone of voice.

"Ah, no worries, i'll figure out a place. At the very least i sleep under a bridge"

he shrugged.

"Pooh, don't be ridiculous! We're sleeping together!" she said with the usual mischief in her merry dark eyes.

He didn't require to be invited twice. A few moments later they were already laying on Tiffany's bed.

"Goodnight Chucky. Tomorrow morning i want you to taste my cookies"

"Don't even think about it! You're not planning on poisoning me, are you?

Well, goodnight Tiff" he said, patting her butt.

"Stop!" She shouted angrily.

"And mind you, if you start snoring, i'll push you off the bed, foot to face!"

"You're the usual ass*ole!" He said, trying to refrain from laughing and failing entirely.

Then both of them fell asleep.

CONTINUE...