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Personal QSMP design hcs and interpretations (PART 2)
9. q!Maximus
human. probably.
more or less the CC in the blockman-cubito's clothes
Ordo Theoritas symbol is on his headband he usually wears
a friend and follower of Sapo Peta, through him learning the ability to charm people into perceiving him differently (Biden) as well as perform minor shapeshifting (Valentina). This comes with the price of occasional possession by Sapo Peta himself (see JuanaFlippa trial)
has tattoos that mark this connection that glow whenever he exerts significant stress. can only otherwise be seen under blacklight (like in Las Casualonas!)
Max paints matching markings on Trump everytime they see each other to bless his son with protection. After Trump's death, he permanently marked his son's gravesite.
Actually he has a habit of doing this to things dear to him. He has debated placing said markings on SOFIA but decided against it just in case
keeps dandelions in his pockets in honor of Trump
Has sustained scars after being attacked by the binary entity
10. q!Philza
quite literally an angel of death. one of Goddess Misstrixin's many dedicated servants. in this universe they're in an open marriage
winged humanoid. has pointed ears, kaleidoscope irises, and a voice he can magically augment and shift to his will (speak w/ increased reverb)
he wears those beachy, vacation silk kimonos in his signature dark mint green color, alongside a matching bucket hat. under that is a sleeveless black swim suit with enchanting table embroidery
his wings are bird-like, black with a few iridescent feathers that glow red when he goes full angel. he's had carved emerald piercings placed on them for decoration and tribute to a friend long gone after getting clipped. if he cant properly fly for now, he might as well indulge a little
magical carved rubies are all over his person, shaped to resemble hardcore hearts. these glow when he fights or is about to do something powerful
Chayanne has one of these hardcore heart rubies and has incorporated it in his wear to match his papa
11. q!Forever
humanoid of unidentifiable species. perceived as human
Looks human minus the pointy ears and visible canines. Also demonstrates superhuman stamina and endurance, so uh
Dyed his hair blonde for the cosplay, with brunette roots showing
He has a rainbow of beach shorts and casual slippers to wear
very hairy man, refuses to shave
has an organic and extensive skin care routine; Richas likes the hugs from his soft skin
his tears are full of glitter and taste like soda pop
12. q!Baghera
anthromorphic duck person; the vibes are disney ducks crossed with big bird from seasame street
has a large messy feathery floof on her head stylized to resemble the CC's own hair
MC skin's hat + matching athleisure fashion. she is always drippy
some of her feathers are dyed to match the colors of her hat as accents
smells like the artificial fruit smells found in candy
Gave one of her feathers to Pomme as a token of remembrance
13. q!Missa
player equivalent to a skeleton. is a mismatched arrangement of regular bones and wither skeleton bones.
the mismatch is why he can be quite clumsy
under those robes, he is being held together by raw magic and wither rose vines. he has short black hair.
his bones have flower and butterfly engraving that glow aurora borealis colors under blacklight or when he's about to fight
fond of somewhat street hoodies and sweaters over draping robes.
there are sneakers under those robes, wander over yonder style
a lot of the drapery is held together by armor, an aesthetic Chayanne picked up for his own wear
the spaces between the bones double as extensions of his natural inventory space; they make good spots for hiding secret weapons!
14. q!Fit
human man who has seen it all. a mortal with the soul of an immortal
he is covered in scars from his previous adventures in 2b2t
currently in his clean shaven era, which includes not only being bald but shaving the most of his body hair to the point where his muscles sparkle like his head
A practical dresser but is a slut for fancy animal furs. Ramón shares this love for furs as well
Works out in his gym and is visibly getting more swole by the day
Loves showing off, especially if it involves Ramón's own work
15-16. q!Tazercraft (q!Pac & q!Mike)
Both human. Do not separate!
Pac and Mike are soul-bonded but they forgot they about it upon coming onto the island. (they also forgot the magical perks that come with that) This doesn't negate their package-deal relationship in anyway
Experimentation in the QSMP Chume Labs has made them increasingly susseptible to Murphy's Law for some reason. The island itself is not helping either
Pac likes to dress up while Mike will literally pick up the nearest piece of clothing. On occasion they will swap clothes
Despite the above, Mike is usually in safety gear more often than Pac during labwork, especially after the sting of Richarlyson's first life loss
They both have a picture of Richas in their pockets to look at whenever they're at work
They have telepathic communication powers but only with each other. Sometimes they can be caught just staring at each other when they are really arguing in each other's heads
17. q!Etoiles
anthromorphic cucumber!
the pattern of green on his body is composed of tiny little stars that are galaxy-like
has hair, a beard and glasses cartoon character style. He also has rubberhose limbs that can muscle up when he's fighting
under the glasses, his eyes are smudged over with a smoky powder that extends to resemble a blind-fold bandana mask thing. The eyes glow white during fights
wears the clothes of the blockman-cubito + armor
His armor is engraved with star shapes and space imagery
While in love with the thrill of adventure, he loves talking culture with Pomme just as much
part 1!
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I need to make a tattoo rant so here I am.
I got a list of tattoos I want most to least and other random things.
1. Jazzpunk tattoo thats going to be on my full calf and knee area half sleeve. I want it to start with the game title on the back of my leg and then on my knee I want an eye that shines down to show one of the lil fellas in the game under the eye. One more thing, I want the background for this tattoo to be scenes from the games opening and with black light ink all over that puppy. Its going to be great my guess is its going to be like 1000 or like 800 dollars not sure though.
2. RAT TATTOO, a two tailed rat tattoo that is going to be on my chest thats it, like a very cartoonish style rat, with bright colors and all, I love my self some colored tattoos.
3. My gay bird sons, Sir Chad and Samuel on my ankle will probably be my first tattoo and I want it to just be small and with basically no detail, other then the hat and Samuel’s colors.
4. A small doom one themed tattoo under the rat or on my heart area, a simple pixie art tattoo on my belly or chest area.
5. My lil pups, my small little dogs lil girls, on my arms just as a line tattoo would be fun.
6. Ok Adventure Time tattoo but just, the Golb from the Marcy and Simon comic just the laying down Golb after getting punched would be so funny, MORE RED TATTOO.
7. I just thought of this one, but a YouTube horror series sleeve on my left arm or something like that maybe some blacklight tattoo ink, but probably not or maybe the only color is red in it and the rest is black and some grey wash possibly depends.
8. A Faith tattoo (Faith the game), and my lil fella Gary but realistic maybe on my leg with the Jazzpunk tattoo.
I got no more ideas but I might just get some flash tattoos of Halloween and ghosts on my extra space like my back or a blackout with white ink over it because those tattoos are fun.
Thats it I needed to rant.
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The stars/planets/etc only visible with blacklight
#space tattoo#galaxy tattoo#space uv tattoo#space blacklight tattoo#galaxy uv tattoo#galaxy blacklight tatoo#uv tattoo#blacklight tattoo#tattoo#tattoos#cstattooland
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We’re live [Gamer!Jungkook x Reader][M]
Pairing: Jungkook x female!reader
Warnings: Smut, profanity, semi-public sex, protected sex (reader is on birth control), mentions of reader needing reading glasses, oral m receiving, drooling, handjobs, orgasms male and female, f and m orgasm denial/edging, big dicks, body worship (kinda), tattoos/piercing's, mentions of sex in other locations, minor hair pulling, mentions of disapproving families/hiding things from parents, mentions/descriptions of reader having a large chest, reader is kind of bratty, usage of the word cock, voice kink if you squint
Genre: Smut, some angst, streamer/youtuber au, college au if you turn on a blacklight
Word count: 4.7k
Summary: You and Jungkook have been living together for a little over a year now, a big decision after your previous several years of dating. He, of course, brought his job with him- a full gaming set up, which you happily let him set up in a spare room. Your boyfriend was a pro-gamer. This job usually kept him busy, his focus on his screen rather than you for a majority of the day. You normally didn’t mind this at all, since you were usually out during that time anyway. Today, however, was different. You were home, attempting to study as he worked in order to give him the space he needed. Except, you were missing him in a way you hadn’t in a while, and the only way to get rid of this frustration would be to get him away from his work.
{A/N: This work is completely unedited, so apologies for any typos.}
----
You could hear him yelling through the door.
The laptop sitting in front of you was beginning to dim from lack of use, the loud shouts from the room a bit down the hall further ruining your already destroyed concentration. Your glasses slid down your face as you lifted, the feeling causing you to pull them off. Flopping tiredly against the back of the chair, you took one final look at the multiple windows you had open on the screen as the screen finally went black, leaving you with nothing but your reflection on the screen. Your hair was messily tied back, strands and chunks falling around everywhere from where they escaped from your hair tie. You looked away from the sight of your own face, burying your face in your hands as your elbows came to rest on the shiny, hardwood table; you slamming the device shut as your hand lowered, your fingers pulling the skin down along with it. You sighed in frustration, letting your head flop back against the chair as you slid down, your butt now hanging off of the seat.
His voice practically bounced off the walls, each full-concentration shout of sudden frustration ringing through the house. Each time caught your attention, snatching you quickly from your exhausted daze. He seemed to be having fun in-between moments of what you assumed was either interacting with the chat or moments where it sounded like he lost- or rather, almost lost. You could already hear him coming out in a few hours, bragging about he remained undefeated in a game you couldn't remember the name of, a large, bright grin present on his face, his own pulled back hair messily sprawled in every possible direction.
You sometimes watched his streams and videos while you worked, at least you used to. It always ruined your concentration when you did, as it was now, but they were admittedly entertaining. He never knew you did, you showed little interest in his job, and you'd rather keep it that way.
Sitting up, you lifted your hands to adjust the straps dangling uncomfortably down your shoulders, adjusting the rest of your top in the process, pulling it up from where it slid down, at this point revealing almost everything. It appeared to have shrunk given how tight it was and how easily it slid down, but it wasn't like it would be anything your boyfriend hadn't seen before in the instance you failed to notice and flashed him. The tank top you had on usually did well with covering everything, but knowing that lately, for some reason, it wasn't, made you frown. It was comfortable and nice to wear around the house; you just felt irritated adjusting it constantly.
You stood up, moving toward the various loud sounds coming from the room. The door clicked as you turned the knob, pushing the large wooden object open, the many lights strung on the walls greeting you as you stepped inside the large room. The whiteboard he had hanging on the wall was full of writing and multiple expressive doodles- a few piles on the floor from a few other random activities. It was dark aside from the many lights hanging from the walls and ceiling, your boyfriend well illuminated by the glow from the multiple monitors sprawled in front of him.
Turning to face him fully, you closed the door behind you, leaning against it for a moment as you paused. He hadn't noticed you yet. You felt odd about walking in like this. You had never interrupted him while he was working unless he needed something, in which case he usually just came to get you. You honestly didn't even know if any of his fanbase knew he was in a relationship at all-; you both usually just kept to yourselves. Aside from him eventually coming upstairs to meet you in bed to sleep, coming out to eat, or the occasional 'date'- which was just running errands together or him coming with you to watch a movie you were pretty much already leaving for- you both didn't really spend a lot of time together. At least you hadn't recently.
The sight of his wide eyes and pouty expression made your heart melt, and you couldn't help but smile. He was sitting in his much-bigger-than-him gaming chair, his legs crossed with his knees near his chest as he leaned forward, his expression serious despite the generally cute nature of everything else about him. His way too big shirt swallowed him easily, and it was only at this moment that you realized he had borrowed one of your hair-ties. The pale purple band was more than familiar, and there it was, tightly holding his long black hair neatly in place.
"Jungkook-" You started as you moved close, his head instantly lifting in order to meet you, his serious expression quickly growing soft. He seemed a little confused seeing you in here but still happy about it nonetheless.
You suddenly panicked slightly, watching the screen nervously in the hope you didn't appear in the camera too much, mostly attempting to keep your face out of frame. Gently, you leaned against the back of the chair, his teeth quickly appearing in a wide, excited grin. "Do you need anything?" He asked, his bright, wide eyes meeting yours. You could feel the excitement radiating from him, his lips and cheeks pink in the light from the lamp as he spoke. "Just missed you." You admitted, crossing your arms against the back of the chair as you leaned slightly forward.
The chat on one of the monitors suddenly sped up, you noticing it from the corner of your eyes. A loud mix of emotes and words in all caps filled the screen, zooming by before you could read any of them. You watched Jungkook slide his headphones off, letting them rest on his neck as his legs uncrossed, his socked feet flopping against the carpet. "Here, you can sit with me and watch." He chirped, quickly pausing whatever game he was playing and scooting over to make as much room as he could. You shook your head.
"No, I..." You trailed off, pouting a bit as you lift your arms, moving your hands around your face in a way you hoped emphasized your unwillingness to be on camera. You knew they could see your body just fine, but you were on your computer all day and hadn't slept well, so showing your face was definitely out of the equation. Jungkook simply let his head fall slightly to the side in confusion, letting out a small "But you look fine.".
You pouted, watching as he quickly stood up, the chair rocking slightly as he slid out of it. "Here, I know just the thing." He quickly shuffled near the back of the room and over to the closet doors, pulling them open. You watched quietly as he began to shuffle through a box, the already present pout on your face growing stronger. You recognized that box. That box was from your senior prom. You already knew what he was looking for.
He quickly pulled out a black mask, the very one you had worn years ago. Why he had kept it this long, you didn't know, but you still found yourself sighing as you realized it would still work. You didn't really want to remember that masquerade themed prom, especially considering neither you nor Jungkook had fun during a majority of it. It had its moments, but you had hoped you wouldn't have to go near that specific costume again.
"Sorry, it's all I've got." He whispered, gently placing it in your not-very-eagerly awaiting hands. Taking a deep breath, you slid the mask onto your face as Jungkook scoot past, flopping once again into the large chair, his voice loudly sounding as he began to interact with the apparently very excited chat.
Once again adjusting your top, you moved over to where your boyfriend was sitting, plopping down next to him as one of his muscular arms wrapped around your waist as you settled against him, your thighs touching. You shuffled, wrapping your arm around his waist as well, your legs bouncing from where they hung off the seat as Jungkook pulled the chair forward. You felt the tension in your crossed legs relax as you realized you'd only be seen from slightly above your waist.
His hand slid around you, grabbing onto the controller resting on his thighs. Your arms flopped to the side, resting against your boyfriend's thighs in an attempt to keep them out of the way. Your fingers gripped tightly onto his sweatpants, your head coming to rest gently on his shoulder. Jungkook grinned, his teeth shining through his lips the more comfortable you became.
You could feel his voice vibrating against you as he spoke, the sound making you feel warm inside, a soft tingle running from your head to your thighs. "What're you playing?" You questioned, leaning against his strong shoulder, enjoying his warmth. His face slowly contorted slightly in thought, a pout forming on his lips as he noticeably racked his brain for the answer. "Astrotech." He finally responded, his expression moving quickly back to the way it was, his cheeks noticeably a bit pink.
Various loud booms and screeches flooded from the headphones around his neck, which he had turned up for you to hear. You didn't know what was going on it, but the sight of him expertly doing whatever objectives or maneuvering the obstacles in the game was somewhat fascinating to you.
He suddenly squirmed under you as you adjusted yourself, the sudden movement surprising until you realized your hand had just accidentally rubbed along his thigh in the process. Your lips pressed together in thought, realizing just how sensitive he seemed to be. Deciding to see if that was truly why, you cautiously ran your hand along his thighs, feeling him once again squirm under you. The barely audible groan of protest as you slightly ruined his concentration made something in your brain just click.
You knew why you were so distracted earlier.
Slowly, your hand moved along his leg before sliding inwards towards the warmth where they met. Before he could squirm again, you gave a soft squeeze to his strong thighs, enjoying the slightly surprised noise that escaped. He seemed annoyed that you were attempting to distract him, but his lack of any indication for you to stop or any sort of 'no' from him gave you the willingness to continue.
Your hands moved further up, sliding along the space between his legs and up towards his stomach. He had stopped moving aside from the slight tremble of his thighs as you made your way along. His legs slightly parted, allowing you to continue on your way, the outline of the package you were searching for soon starting to appear in his sweat pants. You licked your lips gently, tracing the outline with your fingers, enjoying the sighs you heard from his weak attempts to keep quiet.
"Alright, well, I guess I'll see you when you're done." You suddenly spoke. "I just came to visit because I missed you, but you seem pretty busy with work." You added, pulling your hand away as you stood, sliding out of the chair as you moved quickly towards the door. Thoughts ran through your brain as your hand grabbed the doorknob, opening it before gently shutting it immediately after. You turned to look at your boyfriend still sat behind you, biting your bottom lip in thought.
Slowly and quietly, you dropped down to your knees, crawling on the ground over to the desk as you swiftly slid under it. Leaning forward, you grabbed the tops of his pants, slowly pulling them down as you felt your eyes grow wide at the sight. You had seen it before, but it was still a pleasant surprise each time.
Your hands moved along his legs, swiftly grabbing the still mostly soft length, pumping them quickly as Jungkook once again squirmed under you, his legs spreading. You could feel him continuously growing under you as you moved, the sight and feeling causing your thighs to tingle.
Licking your lips, you moved forward, licking the tip of his eagerly awaiting cock, listening as he tried to stifle a pleased hum. Before he could fully react, you took the full length in your mouth before sliding down, bobbing your head with vigor, enjoying the soft noises that escaped as a result of your movements. Your hands continued to slide quickly, making up for what you couldn't reach.
Your boyfriend sighed above you, doing his very best to act as normal as he possibly could. The soft clicking and tapping from his controller continued, you only drooling as your head continued to lower, taking in as much of the steadily hardening length as you possibly could. Pawing at him for the bit you had the chance to seemed to work, not quite in the way you had hoped, but you were fixing that just fine. A soft slurp sounded as you suddenly lifted your head, the noise causing you to pause as you hoped no one had heard the sinful action going on under the desk. The conversation between him and the on-going chat seemed to be normal despite his occasional deep sighs. His fingers ran through your hair, giving a slight tug as you continued, closing your eyes as you attempted to savor the moment- still being careful to make as little noise as possible.
A sharp tug to your thick hair pulled you upwards, your breasts practically in his lap as your arms lifted, grabbing onto his thick black hoodie in an attempt to keep yourself steady. You hummed a bit in surprise, the action causing his strong hands to increase their grip on you as your head only continued to bob. He was gasping now. Loud pings and sound effects rang from the screen from what you assumed was possibly the hundredth donation of the night. You increased your speed, enjoying the strong but more gentle tug that followed with each movement of your salivating mouth.
You were only wondering how he was managing to hide this so well.
Your gaze slowly moved upwards, checking his expression. His face was flushed, his teeth on display as he bit his lower lip in a last attempt to keep quiet. His expression was otherwise unchanged aside from his noticeably dilated pupils, his face still stern with concentration.
With a loud pop, you finally pulled away, quickly using your knuckles to wipe away the strand of saliva that followed. Swiftly pulling his pants back up, you shuffled from under the desk and over to the door. That would be enough for now. After all, you didn't actually want to get caught.
You could feel him watching you as you stood up and quietly opened the door. How upset he was that you didn't finish could be felt from where you stood, but you knew he'd get you back later. He always did. It didn't matter if you just ate his food or if you pulled a small prank, he always got you back, and this time you could say you looked forward to it.
---
The door flew open with a loud bang, you jumping with surprise at the sound, nearly dropping your phone in the process. Your head lifted to meet the sight of your boyfriend standing in the doorway, his hair messy as he loomed over you. "What was that about?" He questioned, his eyes darting to take in your form.
"What was what about?"
"You know what."
You felt your cheeks warm but decided to continue pretending you didn't have a clue what he meant. "No, Jungkook, I don't know what."
His lips pressed together, his eyes narrowing. He stepped forward, closing the door behind him, a soft click sounding as he slowly locked it. You watched quietly, biting your lip as you knew what would happen next. He wasn't usually this quiet.
"Thankfully, I was able to continue normally without much issue." He plopped on the bed next to you, the weight of his larger form causing the mattress to sink under him. The force was almost enough to cause you to slide along with it.
"But you must think I'm a fool if you think you'll get away with sneaking under the desk like that."
By then, he had leaned close, his voice low as he spoke. His tattoos could be seen poking from under the dropped neck of his shirt, your eyes slipping down the closer he leaned. You flopped forward, your gaze meeting his as your hands came to rest on top of his own. "And what are you gonna do about it?" You teased. This wouldn't at all be your first time with each other, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
"You're not even ready. I could hear you taking care of it yourself before you came up; you're not as quiet as you think."
His hand lifted quietly, curling under your chin as he held your head still. "Alright, smartie, what're you gonna do about that?"
"You're usually the horndog in this situation. What am I gonna do about it?"
You were suddenly shoved against the bed below, the thick blanket warm under your body. He placed a soft kiss on your lips, his hair draping around his face as he leaned over you. "You'll have to wait to find out, huh?"
"Damn, you must really be upset." You teased without even a second of hesitation. "Man, I really wonder what you'll do. Oh, how long must I wait? Forever? Years; Centuries of waiting just to punished in the end! Just end me, as waiting is its own punishment." You whined dramatically under him, your arms lifting as your hand sprawled against your forehead, your eyes closing as your head flopped back in exasperation against the mattress below.
Jungkook laughed. "No, you won't have to wait very long. You know I wouldn't do that to you." He grinned, his teeth bright and shiny behind his lips. "Remember when we were younger, and I still lived with my parents, and you came over to study?" He asked, his noticeably strong hands trailing over your body, their attention quickly focused on your chest. You opened your mouth to speak, only to get interrupted as he continued.
"We waited until they left to run some errands, and we decided to try and be super quick." He paused to laugh to himself, you barely listening as you bit your lip, your nipples beginning to poke through the fabric his hands continued to glide over. "We started getting way too loud near the end and almost got caught because we didn't hear them pull in. The only reason we were able to clean up and everything was because you happened to finish before they walked in and could hear what we were doing. Man, what an adrenaline rush that one minute was as we scrambled around listening to them slowly come up the stairs."
By then, you were moaning under him, the fabric rough against your extremely sensitive chest. His strong fingers continued running along, teasing the hardened nubs as he moved on with another story, seemingly unaware of what he was doing. His hands snuck under your shirt, his hands warm as he grabbed as much of your breasts in his large hands as he could. "Sorry, I was talking." He apologized, taking the moment before you responded to swiftly yank your shirt over your head.
In your moment of distraction, you had become so hot and bothered that you hadn’t even noticed how long he had been rambling. You could hardly hear his reminiscing over your increasingly more desperate moans. The feeling of the cold air hitting your already erect nipples made you squirm slightly, you only coming back to reality to a soft warmth on your neck. Your hands lifted, gripping with white knuckles tightly onto his thick hoodie.
You lowered your gaze, the sight of his face resting on your chest greeting you. His hair messily covered his eyes, the deep brown underneath shining in the light of your bedroom. His lips were pressed softly together into a pout, his tattooed arms lifted to lay across your shoulders, wrapping under your head. “You’re not paying attention!” He whined, continuing to pout as he shuffled to lean over you, the mattress squeaking ever so slightly as his knees rested on the bed.
He paused to pull the thick fabric free from his body, letting it thump to the ground as he leaned over you once again, the thick ink on his arms dancing as his muscles flexed in the process. Your eyes widened as his face approached yours, your noses quickly touching, the pout still present. “You didn’t hear my story.” He whined again, softer this time, the shine still present in his wide eyes despite the shadow he was casting over you. “You weren’t even listening.”
“Honey, you were rambling.” You responded, hoping he couldn’t feel your racing heart. He flopped down, his hips straddling your own as he sat up, his strong arms causing the bed to sink in as he continued to lean over you, your thighs tingling at the slight bounce that followed as he grew comfortable on your hips.
“I was telling a story.”
He lowered himself, his lips coming into contact with your own, your hands lifting to grab on the thin white t-shirt that remained. His teeth ran softly over your lips as he pulled away, his hands once again moving to slide under your head. Your thighs burned and tingled with each movement he made.
You were beginning to sweat as you continued gripping him tightly, your hips wiggling to wrap your legs around him. His lips once again moved into a pout, the shine is his eyes disappearing as his head came to rest on your chest once again. He definitely felt you move.
His legs slid around you, his knees moving under your hips to lift them up, pressing his now noticeably tight sweatpants against your shorts. He once again lowered to kiss you, more gentle this time as his hands lowered to remove his sweat pants, leaving nothing between you but your shorts- which already barely covered anything. Your own hands lowered, grabbing onto the hard length poking between your legs, pumping slowly as he sighed into the kiss. Your shoulders ached as his hands pressed against your shoulders, pressing you into the mattress. You sped up your wrist movements, listening as he groaned into the continued kiss.
Suddenly, his hands shot down, levering your legs open and lifting his hips to practically rip your shorts free of your body as he finally broke the kiss. His legs slipped off the bed and onto the floor with a loud thud, swiftly yanking you close to the edge. His fully flexed arms caged you in, his lips coming into contact with your exposed neck, his breathing soft and warm against your skin.
“Roll over.” He huffed, moving to kiss along your chest and shoulders. His face was now a soft pink, lifting to watch you intently as you rolled onto your stomach, letting out a noise of surprise as you were yanked yet further off of the bed, your feet now touching the floor. Kisses once again returned to your neck, an occasional moment of cold causing you to shiver with delight as his tongue traced over your warm skin with each mark he left behind. Your still erect nipples dragged softly over the sheets under you, the cool mixture of the sheets and his tongue piercing causing you to moan loudly under him.
Your face slammed softly against the mattress below, his strong arms pressing against your shoulders to hold you in place, your hips lifting in the process. Of all the times you’ve done this, he wasn’t usually this rough, but you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t exciting.
“Fu-” You moaned, burying your face in the mattress at the stretch that followed. “-ck.” Your hands gripped onto the sheets, the feeling of his teeth and tongue reaching every inch of your neck making you whimper. He had always been taller, but it wasn’t until now that you realized just how much stronger- and bigger than you he was. You could hardly move with the grip he had on your shoulders, your head the only thing able to move freely. He had you where he wanted you, and it’d probably be a while before he’d free you.
Each thrust ruined your hopes of being quiet, drool beginning to fall from your lips as he continued- each thrust more intense than the last. Your eyes were soon rolled back, your mouth open as saliva dripped from your parted lips, the sharp tugs to your hair adding to the overall ache. Your legs, hips and shoulders were growing more pained with each lewd slam into you, each second bringing you closer to the edge. You were silent, the ache taking your breath away, a loud gasp escaping as he freed your shoulders, yanking you upright by your hair.
His arms wrapped under your chest, freeing you from the bed entirely as he held you in place, your arms contorting behind you to hold onto his now moist t-shirt. You were trembling, your chest burning as you gasped for air. “Jungkook...” You managed, your voice hoarse as your head flopped backwards against his muscular shoulders. You could feel the mess you were already making in your excitement, awaiting the finish you were mere seconds away from, only to groan as you felt him stop, your chest bouncing as he adjusted you.
“No...” You whined in complaint, taking the time to catch your breath only to catch yourself moaning with each exhale. You continued shaking as he kissed along the back of your shoulders. “Don’t stop...” You continued, wiggling your legs slightly to get him to continue. He groaned with your wiggles, grabbing your thighs to keep you in place. “Stop moving.” His voice was soft and gentle, your head rolling around on his shoulder as he placed another kiss on your aching neck.
“You’re so pretty.” He complimented, letting you fall forward with your hands hitting the mattress, his arms firmly gripping your thighs to stop your hips from moving from their position. The little eyeliner you had on had started to run, your hands gripping the sheets in anticipation as you wondered what about you with messy makeup was pretty.
You cried out, your voice still hoarse as the edge approached faster than before. After a minute you were trembling under him again, the ache returning as you tipped closer and closer to the edge. You were reduced to a shaking, squealing, moaning mess in a little over a minute, your legs struggling to hold onto him as they shook.
Your face once again slammed into the mattress, a loud groan felt against your back as his hips sputtered slightly, his large hands grabbing onto your hair once again as he attempted to keep himself steady as he finally tipped over the edge. His breaths were rough and quick against your back, you too busy attempting to catch your own breath to notice his hands had lowered.
You gasped, pleasure coursing through you once again as his fingers moved with renewed vigor. “Ju-Jungkoo-” You pleaded, struggling to even get his name out as his strong hands made quick work of your clit, you finally reaching your release with a sudden, violent shake. He pulled away, the emptiness that followed allowing you to fully fall against the bed, your legs weak as you attempted to stand. His arms wrapped around you, gently laying you down.
“Too much?” He questioned, taking in your exhausted form, his voice dripping with concern. His eyes widened slightly at the black smeared along your cheeks, pouting as he gently wiped it off, not seeming to notice his still wet fingers. “Too much.” He lowered to place a gentle kiss on your forehead, running his fingers through your messy hair. “Definitely too much.”
---
[A/N: Sorry that this came out so much later than I promised. Hopefully it was worth the wait.]
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The bookstore q got me thinking. If you wrote a book, someone working in a bowling alley or something, and your agent asked you to do more with that (maybe it's a creepy place to have the MC chased) is this kind of common feedback? And is it good - does it mean they like your book, just think you could do more with a setting? Do you see editors give your clients this kind of feedback or do you yourself? Makes you wonder sometimes when agents see more potential in a setting than the writer did!
I don't know if it is common feedback or not, actually, I'm not sure I've ever really thought about it. Like, I can't REMEMBER having given that exact feedback per se, but it sounds like something normal to say, so maybe I have?
I don't think it is a "good" thing OR a "bad" thing. (Just like if we say "I'd like to see more ABC", or "maybe pull back a bit on XYZ" -- that piece of feedback alone doesn't mean we like your book OR don't like your book generally speaking -- it just means we think that there could be more ABC or less XYZ, that would potentially make it even better.)
I *do* think that a great setting is important. IT can be just so revealing of where we are in time and space, what kind of values and interests people have, and it's just FUN to see what makes this place specific and special. Like, don't just set your book at A SCHOOL. Set it at a SPECIFIC SCHOOL with its own feel and vibe and look. Every school, and every classroom, is different - so what is THIS one like?
If you set your book at a bowling alley, don't just say "yeah it's a bowling alley. I work there." and call it a day -- what does THIS bowling alley look like, smell like - what kind of food do they serve, do they do like "disco-bowling" with glow-in-the-dark balls blacklights and a DJ and cocktails and tattooed purple-haired hipsters renting shoes, or is it an old-school orange-and-brown with a lot of weird old men huddled around and the only food is suspect "nachos" and hot-dogs from a dirty glass display where they have potentially been sweating since 1972? If the person works there - what is that LIKE? What do they have to wear? What does it smell like, and does the smell linger on their clothes after they go home? What do they have to do for their job, what do they like about it, what do they hate? Do they secretly love being on "shoe duty" because it means they don't have to talk to the guy behind the hot-dog machine? Do they have ridiculous banter with a certain delivery driver that they always look forward to? Or what?
Further: What do they know about the building that an average passer-by WOULDN'T know? Like where do the balls and pins GO? Is there a secret room in the back where you can access the machines? Is there a basement or some way to get UNDER the machines? IF somebody was hiding in the bowling alley - where could they hide? If there was a clue or a gun or something hidden somewhere - where could it be, where the person who NEEDS to find it could find it but nobody else could? If you wanted to make out with a delivery driver there - where would you do it where you wouldn't get caught by the manager or customers but you could still see the lanes if somebody needed you -- does the manager's office have monitors, and can you access it? If somebody wanted to do a crime there - what kinds of crimes would be possible, and how would they get away with them?
Seems like a cool location to me. :-)
Basically - - I think ANY location can seem cool, if you make it specific rather than generic. I'd urge any writer to think about ways in which THIS SPECIFIC SETTING can forward your story and/or let us know more about the characters, the neighborhood, etc.
And, importantly: I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS AT LENGTH OR SLOW THE STORY DOWN GETTING MIRED IN DETAILS. Specific, memorable sensory details and the like can be woven in without slowing the story down! I have a client who told me once that he knows the exact blueprint layout of all the locations in his books - how many steps to the sink, etc -- but *almost none of that info is in the book* -- HE JUST KNOWS IT, so when he says something, it's SPECIFIC.)
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Part 9. Slowburn? Don’t know her ~
The parlor is a hot mess even at the best of times, but tonight the chaos has reached a whole new level. Amity walks in and is immediately accosted by a guy in a werewolf costume. “Hey, hot chick,” the clearly inebriated man starts, and Amity is ready to take out her mace and turn this guy into a snivelling mess. He surprises her by continuing with ��my boyfriend doesn’t think that Jason Voorhees could beat Michael Meyers, but I say that’s bullshit. What do you think?”
“Um,” Amity says, taken aback. “Michael Meyers is difficult to beat, but Jason is more persistent, so I think you’re right.”
“YES!” Werewolf raises his hand and Amity tentatively gives him a high five. He walks away, screaming “I TOLD YOU, KEVIN!!!”
With that auspicious start to the party, Amity ventures deeper into the parlor. It’s decorated incredibly, Amity has to admit. Compared to her shop, which she decorated for fall but not for Halloween, the tattoo shop is practically a haunted house. There are skeletons everywhere: lounging on chairs, hanging upside down from the ceiling, giving Amity the middle finger from behind a potted plant. It’s dark, too- someone (probably Luz) has changed all the lightbulbs with blue and purple ones, giving the room a creepy bruised look. It works for Halloween, even if Amity can barely see two feet in front of her.
“Hey Amity!” she hears, and she turns around and sees Luz heading towards her and oh no, oh god oh fuck.
Luz is wearing a bat costume. And here’s the thing- it isn’t even a sexy bat costume, the thing is practically a onesie with wings, but Amity’s heart doesn’t care because it’s screaming “SHE’S CUTE HAVE YOU NOTICED SHE’S CUTE” and Amity’s brain is trying to respond but all it can get out is “uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh”.
“Amity?”
Right. She hasn’t said anything in, like, two minutes. She shakes her head. “Hey, Luz, sorry about that! Just spacing out a little.”
Luz smiles at her, a smile Amity’s seen a million times, but something about tonight is different. Something about the way her teeth are shining in the blacklight that Amity has just noticed is hanging on the wall, something about how dark it is, something about how Luz looks so completely in her element- something is making her feel things. More than usual.
“It’s cool,” Luz says, completely oblivious to Amity’s discomfort. “How do you like the decorations? I made them myself! Also, I love your cat costume!”
Amity blushes. She’d barely put on a costume, really. She’d thrown on a black dress, some cat ears, and, at the last minute, painted a few whiskers on her face. But Luz isn’t making fun of her- her face is shining, and she looks like she really means the compliment.
“Thanks,” Amity says. “Your bat costume is awesome.”
“Aw, thanks!” Luz says, and if Amity didn’t know better she’d think Luz was blushing herself. “I actually made it!”
“Wow,” Amity says, and then completely runs out of things to say.
It’s quiet for a second, and while Luz looks fine, Amity is starting to sweat. How did she used to talk to Luz? How was she ever normal in front of this girl? Before she can make up some sort of excuse to leave, Luz says “Do you wanna get a drink?” and Amity nods, relieved.
They head over to the snack table, where there is an honest to god punch bowl, like they’re at a school dance. Luz ladles some punch out of the bowl and into a cup for Amity, then grabs one for herself. Amity takes a sip and recoils. Vodka. She hates vodka. But she glances at Luz, who is brushing some hair out of her face, and realizes that this is the only way she’s going to get through the night.
So she chugs.
Here’s the thing about alcohol: it doesn’t taste as bad after you’ve been drinking a lot of it.
“Okay okay okay, what is……your least favorite flower?”
Amity feels the sting of annoyance, even under the influence of several cups of punch.
“Gypsophila,” she says darkly.
Luz blinks, clearly surprised that Amity had an answer ready so quickly. “Gypso….what?”
“Gypsophila,” Amity repeats. “Baby’s breath.”
“What’s wrong with baby’s breath?”
Amity scoffs. “What isn’t wrong with baby’s breath? First of all, it smells like ASS. Second, it smells like ass, and third…..wait what was my first one again?
Luz giggles, and Amity’s entire body goes warm. “Okay, another flower question! If I was a flower, what would I be?”
Amity seriously considers this. Maybe Sober Amity would lie, but Drunk Amity has never been good at that, and besides, it’s becoming harder and harder for her to lie to Luz.
“Sunflower,” she says.
“Sunflower?” Luz asks. “Why?”
“Bright. Sunshiney. Beautiful.”
Luz looks like somebody punched her in the stomach, and maybe Amity should care about that, but right now she can’t remember why, exactly, she’s pretending not to like Luz. So, yeah, if she wants to call Luz beautiful then damnit that’s what she’s gonna do.
Amity takes another sip of punch, staring impassively at Luz over the rim of her cup. She waits.
“You…you think I’m beautiful?”
Luz’s forehead is scrunched up in the most adorable way, and she looks like she’s trying to solve a particularly complicated math problem. Amity doesn’t understand why this is so difficult for Luz to comprehend. Of course she’s beautiful. Has she ever looked in the mirror?
“Yeah,” she says simply, and watches Luz internally implode.
This is getting fun.
“Oh. Uh. Wow.”
“So anyway,” Amity starts, but Luz interrupts with a rushed “I think you’re beautiful too!”
Amity feels as though she’s been shocked by a pure bolt of electricity. Her wide eyes take in Luz’s flushed face, messy hair, and adorable bat wings. Luz is staring back, eyes just as wide, and Amity wonders if maybe she’s imagining what’s happening, but then Luz’s eyes dip down to Amity’s lips for a fraction of a second, and Amity’s heart starts doing a one woman tango in her chest, and it’s so dark and crowded and the room starts to spin and Amity worries that she might float right out of her body but then.
Amity doesn’t know who leans in first.
Luz’s lips anchor her to the bench, firmly pressing against hers, reminding her that she’s real, Amity is real, Luz is real, Luz is real and she’s kissing her, and Amity, so help her, is kissing back.
This was not supposed to happen.
But Amity is drunk and feeling rebellious and Luz’s lips are so soft, and she no longer understands why she spent so long avoiding this because it is, quite frankly, the best feeling in the world.
It’s over before it starts, though, because suddenly Luz is pulling away. She backs up almost comically quickly. “I’m- I’m so sorry,” she says, still attempting to scramble away. “I didn’t mean-”
“It’s okay,” Amity says, because it is, it’s more than okay, it’s perfect, but Luz is still backtracking and stammering, and Amity’s heart drops.
This was a mistake.
Luz didn’t mean to kiss her. It was the heat of the moment, and they’re both drunk, and the signals got mixed.
Luz doesn’t like her after all. Amity is so, so stupid.
She has to get away. She has to get away right now, because her eyes are suddenly filling up, and she refuses to cry in front of this girl. “I’m sorry,” she manages, before turning tail and running.
#lumity#the owl house#writins#flowershop au#this is early today bc im busy tonight#only one part left to go babey
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#swipeleft | i am so so grateful to have had the opportunity to be tatted by @_____tukoi_____ while she was visiting LA! thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏼• • • • • • #UVink #UVinktattoo #tylerskaggs #outterspace #space #aliens #ufo #tattoos #tattedgirls #tattedbabes #tattedup #tattooideas #universe #blacklight #blacklighttattoo #angelstadium (at Sang Bleu Tattoo Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz17VlcnDj1/?igshid=1cjhlby5aeaes
#swipeleft#uvink#uvinktattoo#tylerskaggs#outterspace#space#aliens#ufo#tattoos#tattedgirls#tattedbabes#tattedup#tattooideas#universe#blacklight#blacklighttattoo#angelstadium
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Whenever Danny went to the past and was seen by others, the moment he came back to the present there were these weird threads sticking to him. they didn't seem to do anything and nothing bad was happening - heck he felt stronger every time he saw new ones actually. Still, he was curious as to what they were.
It started when Danny first came back from the Infinimap event. He felt the tug and pull of something on his core, some kind of… tingling? He wasn’t sure how to explain it. But among the whole ‘the Infinite Realms both do and do not exist at every feasible and non-feasible point in space and time across the whole multiverse’ revelation it wasn’t exactly something that Danny was focusing on. Instead, he was making sure Sam and Tucker’s heads didn’t explode with jokes to distract them. “Thanks for eating your veggies for the first time in your whole life, Tuck.”
Tucker rolled his eyes and elbowed him in his ribs. “Yeah, you owe me for that. I’ll take all your best copies of videogames.”
“How about you name three videogames and I’ll get them for you,” Sam countered. “You really did save our butts back there. And so did you, Danny.”
“Yeah yeah, who else is gonna do it if I don’t?” They laughed, there was ribbing, and the day went on.
After that, however, Danny found himself stumbling through natural portals more and more often whenever he went into the Zone. they lead to the past, often, and he found himself helping people out as much as he could before another portal could be found and he could find his way back to the Fenton Portal or at least to Frostbite or Dora or wherever he’d been planning to go. Tucker and Sam, of course, got caught up in it too. That wasn’t even the weirdest part though.
Every time Danny returned to the present day after a time-traveling shenanigan he felt stronger. As soon as he set foot on Earth, blue and silver threads of light reached out from him into the world, pulsing with energy, and Danny felt less tired, less weighed down by everything. He’d explained it to Sam and Tucker and saw that he even had these threads leading to them, though the strands leading to them were different. Tucker’s was golden and silver and UV orange, while Sam’s was green and silver and black. There was even one leading back to Jazz, violet and white and blurple. Sam said Blurple wasn’t a color, but Danny said that she couldn’t see in Ultra Violet so she didn’t get to name the colors in the spectrum. She bought a blacklight soon after.
The oddest thing, however, was when he saw people in the street walking to the Nasty Burger or to the library or park that the strings connected to. Usually, the blue ones, though sometimes it was the silver ones. When he passed by one such person, a guy in black pants and white jacket with sunglasses on, Danny reached out to wrap his fingers around that thread between them and narrowed his eyes when it felt like a tangible thing. So he pulled on it. The man stumbled a bit, lifting his sunglasses to look around - mostly up at the sky - and Danny snickered. Once he was a distance away from the man he started tugging on the other strings, gently at first but then he got curious. One of the blue threads held an extra green sparkle to it, and Danny weighed his choices and options carefully, making the most educa- he yanked on the glowing green invisible string coming from his core out into the world to see what happened.
The air in front of him twisted, light shifting around until it was purple and green and everything in between and a guy with pale green skin, oily purple hair and bright green eyes fell through the portal, floating over the sidewalk in an outfit befitting the 70s more than it did the millennium. The portal hovered open behind him and everyone on the sidewalk stopped, staring at the ghost, who was staring at Danny slackjawed and wide-eyed. “I’m gonna ask that you please go back into the Realms, I really don’t wanna deal with this right now.” More gazes shifted to Danny for that but really, he had to try to solve his problems with words at least once or twice, right?
The ghost looked down at the thread between them - wonderful, ghosts could see that, that was just fanfreakintastic - and then back up at Danny. Then he nodded, seemingly in shock, and floated backwards into the portal from whence he came. It snapped closed behind him and Danny blinked a couple of times. “I didn’t think asking nicely would work. I’ll have to tell Mom about that.” Now, Danny simply had to perform the task of becoming metaphorically invisible instead of literally. This proved difficult, however, as everyone ID’d him as The Fenton Kid pretty easily. He pulled out his phone, dialed Tucker, and ignored the stares best he could.
After the mishap in the streets, Danny noticed a new thread form in real-time, blue and sharply visible, as though daring him not to see it. When he got to school the next day, he saw that it lead back to Dash fucking Baxter of all people - who was showing off something as usual. When the trio made it through enough of the crowd to see what Dash had done that connected Danny to him like that, they saw a tattoo of Danny’s DP symbol inked onto reddish-pink raw skin. Danny let out a hum and wrapped his fingers around that string, tugging gently and watching as the tattoo glowed bright enough for everyone to see it. “Holy shit, I just felt that. It’s like Phantom pulled on me!”
“Whoa, dude! What if like, wearing Phantom’s symbol connects you to him somehow?” Oh, how Danny hated that Kwan was so much smarter than Dash and yet so easily lead by him. “Oh, hey, maybe you can like, pull back?”
“Perhaps if I get a tattoo myself then my ghost boy will always know where I am so that he can find me for a date!”
Danny would’ve paid any mind to the rest of the chatter around Dash had he not been floored by a tug from the other side of this newfound and unwanted connection. Warmth appreciation caution excitement echoed like words in a cave, searching for someone to hear but not close enough to truly communicate. Danny took a deep breath, holding onto Tucker’s shoulder for support, and carefully pulled his attention away from Dash trying to get it. “Save me.”
“They’re gonna start a cult,” Sam said with poorly concealed mirth. “Oh my gosh, this is going to spiral disastrously out of control and it’ll be hilarious.”
“Sam, I’m about to have a bunch of jock thoughts beamed into my head, and you’re laughing at me.” He sighed, rolling his eyes. “With my luck, they’ll try and make an official religion around me.”
Tucker snorted and shook his head, tapping away at his PDA. “Ya know what’d be really funny? What if all those extra threads are like, cults that worship you?” Tucker laughed at the idea, and Danny did too for a moment, elbowing him gently in the side. Sam, however, was not laughing, and once Danny noticed that he stopped laughing as well.
“Sam?”
“You said that you first saw these threads when we went time traveling around, right?”
“Yeah, every time we go to the past and someone sees us do stuff there’s more weird strings. They don’t pop up when we come back and didn’t get caught though.”
“So when you and Vlad fought over Rome and burned it down, and fought in that one temple and near destroyed it…”
“Oh, holy shit. Hold on Sam, I gotta check.” Tucker tapped away at his PDA at speeds that Sam informed Danny were not normal. He wanted to pretend he didn’t understand what they were getting at, revel in the bliss of ignorance and all that, but he was getting less oblivious these days - he was he swore.
“Guys, the cult joke isn’t going too far now, is it?” Tucker hummed at him, and Sam started walking toward class, dragging them both behind her. “Guys, this isn’t funny anymore!” Honestly, Danny had every right to be whiny about this. He fought eldritch abominations every day, he didn’t need to have a cult to deal with too.
“Wow, that’s a lotta results. You’ve been seen in the past by a lot of people - me n Sam too. Maybe that ghost you summoned was like, one of your cultists who died?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Sam half sang. “Someone’s gotta hold a seance and ask a ghost a question.”
“Sam, please, we’ve asked enough ghosts enough questions without dragging them here from their afterlives.” His friends were laughing at him now, which lead to yet pettier whines. “What would I even do about this if I have a cult?”
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001. MEET JULES
FULL NAME: jules antoine beauchamp. PREFERRED NAME: jules. NICKNAME/S: jul. DATE OF BIRTH: november 13th, 1999. GENDER & PRONOUNS: cis male & he/his. ORIENTATION: hetero. RELIGION: non-practicing christian. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: in a relationship with noémie leroux. OCCUPATION: full time university student. RESIDENCE: flatiron district, new york city.
002. CHECK JULES’ BACKGROUND
HOMETOWN: saint tropez, france. NATIONALITY: french. ETHNIC BACKGROUND: french and italian. LINGUISTICS: french which is his native language and english and italian in a fluent level. EDUCATION: he studies mechanical engineering at columbia university. CRIMINAL RECORD: clean. BIRTH ORDER: second though he’s now an only child. FATHER: françois pierre beauchamp, born on june 6th, 1970 in rennes, france, currently residing in montecarlo, monaco. he is a businessman and the owner and CEO of rocamadour spirits group. MOTHER: vivienne giulia del vecchio, born on september 14th, 1974 in sicily, italy, currently residing in montecarlo, monaco. she is an italian billionaire heiress, writer and the owner of del vecchio oil group. SISTER/S: none. BROTHER/S: guillaume maxime beauchamp, born on april 17th, 1997 in saint tropez, france, passed away on july 16th, 2000 in saint tropez, france. SIGNIFICANT OTHER: noémie leroux. CHILDREN: none so far. OTHER RELEVANT FAMILY: none. EX/ES: none, he didn’t have any solid relationships before noémie. PETS: moon, a cavalier king charles.
003. GET UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
HEIGHT: 6′0″ or 183 cm. WEIGHT: between 171 lbs or 77.5 kg and 175 lbs or 79 kg. BODY BUILD: as someone who has exercised and been involved in sports from a young age, jules has always been what would be described as fit. though he’s not obsessed about his diet or his routines, he prefers to eat clean and keep up a 5 to 6 day a week work out schedule. this being said, he has an overall athletic frame with particularly defined abs, toned legs and arms. EYE COLOR: brown. EYESIGHT: his eyesight has no problems. HAIR COLOR & STYLE: he has blonde, lighter during summer, darker in winter months and usually he has his hair shorter on the sides and longer on the top so a very low maintenance look that isn’t particularly hard to style. DOMINANT HAND: right. NOTABLE PHYSICAL TRAITS: his smile which, following most people’s opinion, seems to make him seem even younger than he is. overall, if it could be considered as such, the hint of youth, often mistaken by shyness, that his features portray. as the opposition to it, the amount of tattoos scattered all over his body are a standout, as is his athletic frame. SCARS AND MARKS: on top of the usual every day little scars and marks, jules has some which are courtesy of all the exercise he does on a daily basis. otherwise, there’s nothing that is particularly notable or that stands out. TATTOOS: he got a shhh… on the underside of the index finger of his left hand — reference. his following piece consists of a cross with wings on the back of his neck — reference — something that symbolizes his faith and personal beliefs, and definitely the one tattoo he doesn’t like to expand much on for it’s a touchy one. soon afterwards, when one of his best friends - gabrielle - decided she wanted to get inked but was reticent since it would be a first, jules ended up going with her and getting a matching piece ; gabrielle’s micro tattoo reads we’re all in the same game; just different levels split into two parts in a cursive kind of font and is placed on the inside of her left wrist, whereas jules’ completes it and reads dealing with the same hell; just different devils. - his is also split in two, the same font, except it’s placed on the inside of his right wrist. as a consequence of a night where him, léo and henri got completely plastered, he has a smiley face tattooed on his toe. later on, and as the fulfillment of something he really wanted, jules proceeded to get the first piece of what would soon become a half sleeve on his left arm. he got a roaring tiger to symbolize his independence and free spirit while at the same representing strength. a little above it, and completing the half sleeve, he has a blooming rose which has more than one meaning to him - it was chosen to complement the tiger because despite the power and strength, he wishes for balance within his life but more so, and the primary reason why he acquired it back in the day, it’s because, atop of being one of noémie’s favorite flowers, roses can symbolize hope which, truly, translated into, back when he got it, him hoping for the best and hoping they would get together one day. next to the rose and above the tiger, he has a treble clef simply to symbolize his love for music. atop of his half sleeve, on the back of his left arm, he then got two fists bumping, another matching tattoo he got with gabrielle when he was visiting her in kailua. he has a distortion clock, dali’s style, merged into the back of his half sleeve, a tattoo he got soon after noémie started dating mathis and he got his heart broken. clock tattoos often represent an endless love, the meaning stands for his, the distortion only adds to the meaning by representing how heartbroken and helpless he felt at the time. towards the end of his half sleeve, and on the inside of his left wrist, he has the geographic coordinates both to where guillaume - his older brother - was born and where he passed away. he has a diamond, also merged into the back of his sleeve, something he has gotten when he was going through a rough patch as a reminder to focus on the positivity and be strong. additionally, within the half sleeve, you’ll find some more pieces like a G., the initial of his deceased brother’s first name; an anchor, something he got randomly but that also reminds him to stay grounded and a micro tattoo saying côte d’azur meant to represent his home. lastly, merged into the back of his half sleeve, he has a blacklight tattoo that’s otherwise invisible to the eye, reading six septembre, noé’s birthdate. he has the world map with a plane flying in between continents and a compass next to it, on the inside of his right bicep, something that he got soon after realizing he wanted to see more of the world and that he wasn’t willing to, eternally, stay in south of france. as for more recent tattoos, he has gotten the quote peace of mind on his left upper arm which he has begun to shade, and thus begun to extend his half-sleeve into a proper full-sleeve tattoo. higher above the two fists bumping he’s gotten with gabrielle, and complementing the tattoo with some additional shading, he has two keys crossing over each other with a V on one of the keys and a F on the other, representing two key people in his life - vivienne and françois, his mother and father respectively and next to it, he has a tiny sashimi roll tattooed, not really meaning much other than his love for food and sushi. likewise, merged into the others with the shading and all, he has a endless knot on the back of his arm. he has the sentence mon mond fou on the right side of his ribcage, in white ink. along his left hip, he has the quote il vaut mieux faire que dire meaning doing is better than saying, which resembles the whole actions are better than words, something jules avidly believes in. on the underside of his ring finger, he has a N’s - not-so-subtly meaning he’s noémie’s - followed by a micro dix juin - which is when he and noé officially started dating. he has the quote mind over matter is magic along the outer side of his right foot, a note to self more so than anything else, and on his right side, often covered up by his arm, he has the sentence la famille avant tout vertically tattooed in micro, cursive font. PIERCINGS: none. VOICECLAIM: fabio quartararo. ACCENT & INTENSITY: though he spends a good chunk of his time speaking english and has been immersed in the new york environment for nearly a year, there’s no hint of a new yorker accent. from his words down to his enunciation and the way he carries himself as he speaks, you can tell he’s french. the little twists and quirks attached to the words make the south of france accent peer through and the fact his closest friends and girlfriend are french as well, help keeping the accent and its intensity intact. ALLERGIES: apples and cashews. PHOBIAS & FEARS: being stuck in the same place - he’s not claustrophobic but the idea of being confined to a space, no matter how small or how big, it tends to send him spiraling into a state of utmost anxiety. MENTAL & PHYSICAL ILLNESSES: none so far. ALCOHOL USE: sometimes, mostly on social situations. SMOKING: he doesn’t smoke. NARCOTICS USE: no, he doesn’t use drugs. INDULGENT FOOD: it’s not something jul does very often. SPLURGE SPENDING: very rarely. GAMBLING: no, never.
004. DIG DEEPER
CAN THEY DRIVE? yes, he can drive. CAN THEY COOK & BAKE? yes and yes. CAN THEY CHANGE A FLAT TIRE? yes. CAN THEY TIE A TIE? ish. CAN THEY SWIM? yes. CAN THEY RIDE A BICYCLE? yes. CAN THEY JUMP START A CAR? no. CAN THEY BRAID HAIR? badly. CAN THEY PICK A LOCK? no. EXTROVERTED OR INTROVERTED? extroverted. DISORGANIZED OR ORGANIZED? in-between. CLOSE OR OPEN MINDED? open minded. CALM OR ANXIOUS? calm. PATIENT OR IMPATIENT? patient. OUTSPOKEN OR RESERVED? in-between. LEADER OR FOLLOWER? in-between. OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC? optimistic. TRADITIONAL OR MODERN? modern. HARD-WORKING OR LAZY? hard-working. CULTURED OR UNCULTURED? cultured. LOYAL OR DISLOYAL? loyal. FAITHFUL OR UNFAITHFUL? faithful. NIGHT OWL OR EARLY BIRD? a mixture of both depending on the days. HEAVY OR LIGHT SLEEPER? not heavy, nor light. an in-between. COFFEE OR TEA? coffee. DAY OR NIGHT? night. TAKING BATHS OR SHOWERS? showers. COCA COLA OR PEPSI? neither. CATS OR DOGS? dogs. NETFLIX OR CINEMA? netflix. SHOWS OR MOVIES? shows. LAPTOP OR GAMING CONSOLE? gaming console. HEALTHY OR JUNK FOOD? healthy food. ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT? frozen yogurt. PIZZA OR HAMBURGER? pizza. LOLLIPOPS OR GUMMY WORMS? neither. BEACH OR POOL? beach. SNOWBALLS FIGHTING OR ICESKATING? snowballs fighting. LITERATURE OR SCIENCE? science. HISTORY OR ART? art. CHOCOLATE BARS OR COTTON CANDY? neither. XBOX OR PLAYSTATION? playstation. FACE-TO-FACE OR PHONE INTERACTIONS? face-to-face interactions. DRAMA OR SCI-FI? both. HORROR OR COMEDY? comedy.
005. JULES’ FAVORITES
FAVORITE ACTIVITY: working out. FAVORITE ANIMAL: lion. FAVORITE BOOK: thinking, fast and slow by daniel kahneman. FAVORITE COLOR/S: green. FAVORITE CUISINE: italian. FAVORITE DISH/ES: pissaladière, pan bagnat, gnocchi, profiterole, bananas foster. FAVORITE DRINK/S: pumpkin spice latte and plain iced water. FAVORITE FLOWER/S: roses. FAVORITE GEM: emerald. FAVORITE MOVIE: green book by peter farrelly. FAVORITE SONG: mile high by james blake and travis scott. FAVORITE SCENT/S: citrus, jasmine and musk. FAVORITE SHOW/S: brooklyn nine-nine, how i met your mother, f.r.i.e.n.d.s, the office, fresh prince of bel air, the big bang theory, new girl, the simpsons & rick and morty. FAVORITE SPORT/S & TEAM THEY SUPPORT: soccer, he supports as monaco and juventus fc, motogp, he supports yamaha moto racing, formula 1, he supports mercedes amg petronas, tennis and cycling. FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR: summer. VACATION DESTINATION: banff, canada and anywhere in croatia.
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What do you usually eat for breakfast? Scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese. And coffee, duh. When was the last time you seen your best friend? I see my mom everyday, all the time since we live together. What was the last good movie you watched? I recently rewatched Endgame and Aladdin (the new live action one), both of which are really good. Especially Endgame. Still gets me in the feels. Do you rent movies at a store or on your tv? We sometimes rent from Redbox (the red box thingies with DVDs at grocery stores. I think there’s also Bluebox, too, in some places), but usually we watch on Netflix or rent from Amazon Prime. Have you ever thought about getting Netflix? We’ve had it for years. What do you order on your sundae? I haven’t had a sundae in years, but I liked to just get vanilla ice cream with strawberry syrup. I don’t care for sprinkles. Do you like whipped cream and nuts on it? I like whipped cream and some nuts in general, but I didn’t put either one on my sundaes. *shrug* I’m a simple gal.
How often does your family have cookouts? We did them a lot when I was a kid. My dad used to BBQ quite a bit during the summer and my extended family all got together for BBQs quite often as well. We haven’t done that in years, though. Does anybody in your family have cancer? My papa and one of my cousins both had skin cancer, but they’re fortunately both in remission. What is one genre of music you refuse to listen too? I don’t outright refuse any, but I don’t like techno/EDM/Clubhouse music type stuff. Who is your favorite singer? I don’t have one particular favorite. There are many artists and bands that I enjoy. What is the title of the last book you read? It’s still Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter, which has been my answer for months now. I keep meaning to start reading again, but it hasn’t happened, yet. I go through phases where I read a lot and knockout several books and then go awhile without reading at all. I love to read, so I don’t know what my issue is. Do you even read? I do, I just haven’t the last few months. Is your Bzoink account profile decorated? I don’t have one. If so, what’s the backround of? Do you drink Mcdonalds sweet tea? I used to. I haven’t had it in probably almost 10 years, though. Do you like melted cheese on your eggs? Yessss. What do you eat on your popcorn? Butter and salt are absolute musts. Also, this one theater I go to has garlic parm seasoning stuff that is SO good. What do you do on a sunny day? I don’t do anything different, I just do them while complaining about being hot and feeling miserable from the heat. I’m not a summer or outdoorsy person. Do you moisturize everyday? No, but I really should. How long does it take you to get ready for your day? If I’m going somewhere then I just fix my hair (or throw on a hat), brush my teeth, change my clothes, put on deodorant, and put on my shoes. Bam. Done. I very, very rarely bother with makeup anymore or doing anything with my hair other than braid it, put it in a pony tail, throw a hat/beanie on. Do you ever have lazy days? Everyday? But honestly, it’s more that I don’t have energy or motivation to do much of anything. I own up to the fact that I can be lazy, but that’s not the main reason. It seems like laziness on the surface, but it’s deeper than that. Is your bedroom clean right now? It’s a little cluttery right now and it’s driving me nuts. I need to find the energy and motivation to clean up a bit and get rid of some stuff. That’s my main issue with my room I just have too much stuff and not enough space for it. What is one simple word that you usually can never spell? I don’t know if it’s considered “simple”, but for some reason I can’t ever get “omnepoenia” on the first try. <<< That’s my attempt and it’s way off lol. “Onomatopoeia“ is how you spell it. I don’t know why I can’t seem to remember that. I guess maybe because it’s a word I never use except for when I’m asked this question, ha. Do you flip the pillow over for the cold side? Yeah. Do you always have to sleep with a blanket? I haven’t used a blanket most of this summer. What are some things you do before you go to bed? Listen to ASMR and do some surveys. Do you like late night phone conversations? I don’t like talking on the phone at all. Does your room have a blacklight? No. What color are your walls? White. Do you heat up your syrup when you have pancakes or do you like it cold? I just pour it right from the bottle. It doesn’t taste cold to me, but maybe that’s cause the pancakes are the warm. What do ever add anything to your pancakes/waffles? Just butter and syrup. What is your favorite candle scent? Autumnal ones. Are you on any types of medication right now? Just a pain medication. Have you ever suffered from depression? I do suffer from depression and have since I was about 12 or 13. It’s definitely been at its absolute worst these past 4 years. On average, how many surveys do you think you take a day? A lot. haha. Ya’ll already know. Does your town have flea markets? Yeah. What is your favorite sport? None. Do you like to talk on the phone? Nope. Who do you text the most? I rarely text at all, but when I do it’s with one of my parents or my brother. Are you out of school yet? I graduated college back in 2015. Are you watching anybody graduate this year? No. What are your school colors? What makes you smile more than anything? My doggo. If you could change one thing about the past, what would you change? So many things... If you could only eat one thing every single day what would it be? I’ve had a sandwich everyday for lunch for the past 3 months. Do you like spicy things? I used to be obsessed, but I can’t eat spicy foods anymore. D: Do you ever go to Starbucks? Yeah, pretty often. What is the most expensive thing you own? My laptop. What kind of car do you drive? I don’t drive. How long have you had your license? I don’t have my license. What grades do you usually get? I got As and Bs. Do you swim or lay out when your at the beach? I just relax and soak it all in. I love just looking out at the ocean or closing my eyes while listening to the waves crash in. Do you ever get drunk with friends? I used to. I don’t drink anymore, though. It’s been 6 years since the last time. What was the craziest moment of your life? There’s been a few of those moments I’d say. Have you ever spent the night in a hospital? Yeah. I’ve had to stay a few months in the hospital. Is love really that hard to explain? I have a hard time really explaining it. It’s just something I know and feel, but have a hard time putting into words. Describe what your wearing tomorrow: Probably the same thing I’m wearing now, ha. Describe the weather right now. It’s currently 75 F with 12mph winds. If you were having a baby boy, what would you name him? I’m not having children. What is your favorite cuss word? I don’t have a favorite. Do you have a mannnnn? Nope. If so, what’s hiiiis name? Oh by the way, what’s yours? Stephanie. What is on your feet right now? Socks. Do you hate your feet or are they cute? I don’t like them. What does your room look like? It’s a bit cluttery right now. There’s also a lot of giraffe stuffed animals around the room, ha. Do you ever stick your leg out of the blanket when you sleep? I do that with my arms. Do you have any tattoos? Nope. Are you patient or impatient? I’m very impatient. Everybody has that one friend who really isnt there friend, who is yours? I don’t have any friends. Do you ever hang out with somebody just for a ride? No. What time do you wake up in the morning usually? Lately it’s been 10ish, sometimes 11. What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Check the time. Do you eat right away or do you have to wait awhile? No it takes like an hour for me to finally drag myself outta bed for coffee. Then I like to just drink my coffee, read my daily devotional, and check social media for awhile first before I eat. Who makes you smile, no matter what? My doggo. What do you do when your sad? So what do I do everyday: Tumblr, surveys, watch TV, watch YouTube, check social media, sleep... Reading, coloring, listening to music, and playing my Nintendo Switch get thrown into the mix sometimes as well. Where do you spend most of your time? In my room on my bed. Do you ever watch scary movies by yourself? Yeah. It’s so funny because a few short years ago I would never. Like, I wasn’t even really into scary movies because I was a big scardy cat. That changed in recent years; though, and now I love ‘em. Do you drink energy drinks? Just Starbucks Doubleshot. Describe what’s on your floor right now. A stack of some medical supplies. Do you have any pets? Yes, I have a doggo. If so, what are they doing right now? She’s sleeping on her couch. Is there anybody in the room with you? Nope. Do you like chicken snack wraps from Mcdonalds? I’ve never had one. Do you drink coffee fraps? [yuck] I like frappes, but it’s been awhile since I’ve had one. Where are you from? California. Have you ever moved? To a different city for a short time when I was a baby, but that’s it. If you mean houses, then I’ve moved like 4 or 5 times, but only once that I’m old enough to remember. What is your favorite youtube video? I have a lot. ok, 90 questions .. is that enough? Sure. Siiiiike, I foooled you - Can you take a joke? I’m not bothered by the fact there’s not 90 questions so yeah I don’t care. What is your favorite song from the 90’s? I have many. If you could meet any celeb who would it be? Alexander Skarsgard. Which celeb would you like to smack in the face? I don’t want to smack anyone. Lady Gaga : creep or badass Why would she be considered a creep? lol. Anyway, I like some of her music and she seems pretty cool. Do you have a poker face? In certain situations. Have you ever played texas hold em - If so, did you like it? I’ve never played. What do you do to pass the time when your bored? I’ve already listed recently all the things I do each day and it’s the same whether I’m bored or not. Are you ever bored or are you easily entertained? I get bored, but generally I’m content doing my usual things I do each day. Somedays; though, even those things just don’t cut it and the days seem to drag extra slow and I’m not in the mood to do anything at all. Which friend is most like you? I don’t have any friends. Do you have a lot of things hanging on your wall? I have a few things. Do you think your pretty or ugly? rate yourself 1-10. I think I’m pretty ugly. ha. Because, you know every guy is looking for a dime piece, right? Not every guy is only concerned with looks. Was you a ugly kid back then but banging now? I thought I was a cute kid until middle school. HA, I’m definitely not “banging” now. Are you a rude bitter person? I can certainly be bitter. Sometimes I do get short or snippy when I’m in my moody moods, but I wouldn’t say I’m a rude person in general. What color is your house phone? One is white and the other is black. Do you have a answering machine if so, what does it say? Yeah. It’s just one of the automated ones that was already programmed on there. How do you like your toast? Browned, but not burnt, with butter. How many candles are in the room that your in? 4. That’s a lot for someone who never lights candles lol. Does your bedroom have a computer in it? Yep, this laptop right here that I’m on. What color is the computer your using right now? It’s silver with a rose gold protective case. What is your favorite muffin? Banana (without the nut), blueberry, and lemon poppyseed.
Do you ever drink kool-aid? I did when I was a kid. Do you consider yourself healthy? No. Do you take all your vitamins daily? No. I’m supposed to... What is something you use everyday besides a bathtub etc? My laptop. How many times do you brush your teeth a day? Once. Do you think you have a pretty smile? No. Are you confident? No. Well, I am pretty confident and this survey is over :) Okay.
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🚼the twins and Harry and Gaia pls
send me a 🚼 and a ship I’ll use a doll-maker to design what I think a child between our two muses would look like@peacemaking-gunslinger
Cassie and Zelda were both named by their fathers. Souji.... just kinda went with it. Cassie is every bit of Saidani’s child, snarky, smart as a whip, and interested in space. She’s currently working at the Telescope Array in Chile. Saidani is incredibly proud.
Zelda is the perfect mix of Souji’s looks and Ryoma’s personality. She’s become an idol, modeling and acting with a large number of fans. She also has a blacklight tattoo of the triforce on her hand, appearing black except for the triforce of wisdom.
Austin is really smart for his age, and nearsighted so he needs glasses. It doesn’t seem he inherited Gaia’s “gift” of sight, and when she realized that she broke into tears out of relief. He’s destined for great things. He’s gonna be the smartest hunter there is.
#across the multiverse;; (Gaia & Harry)#of stars and satellites;; (Saidani & Souji)#we mend each other's hearts with gold;; (Ryoma & Souji)#peacemaking-gunslinger
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CHARACTER SHEET repost. do not reblog.
Basics
FULL NAME. Nick Monroe NICKNAME. Nicky, blondie, sweetheart, “shut the fuck up, that was horrible.” GENDER. Genderqueer trans guy HEIGHT. 6′3 AGE. 41 ZODIAC. Scorpio/Sagittarius cusp. LANGUAGES. English, ASL, PSE, triggered out parts of him can speak more because they have a minor form of the gift of tongue. Like a part of him knows Enochian, and another part knows an infernal tongue. Sometimes his mind translates people’s human languages without warning and he can understand things he can’t speak. But he can’t speak it, and if he’s the one speaking it, he can’t understand what he’s saying.
Physical characteristics
HAIR COLOR. Blond EYE COLOR. Blue SKIN TONE. Fair BODY TYPE. Tall, thick, some weird middle ground of muscle and pudge. He’s thicker tho. ACCENT. More like a lack of accent, but does fall into a vague white, middle class Baltimore accent when he’s tired. Starts calling people hon. VOICE. Probably Markp’s voice. DOMINANT HAND. Naturally ambidextrous. He has no dominant hand, and can write with both at the same time. But he probably goes with his right a lot of the time because it’s what’s expected. But he could easily switch to his left without much issue. POSTURE. Bit of a slouch. Sometimes depends who’s fronting what the body posture is like. SCARS. Lucifer burn scars on his face and in patches all over, self destructive scars on his thighs that are faded, scars on his hands from punching things, two vertical parallel scars between his shoulder blades where wings could have been, jagged stab and drag scar on his lower right side where his appendix would be if he still had one. (he got stabbed, it ruptured his appendix so he got that taken out), small little scar on his forehead under his hair from being shot with the colt when with Lucifer. TATTOOS. Tattoo of a snake wrapping up his left arm (looks a little like this if i had to pick a size and style comparison, nick’s is a tiny bit smaller and has some blue color in it, but it’s close X), Alligator thing on his left shoulder (can be compared to this in aesthetic X), a tiny cross tattoo on his right index finger ( X ), this on his left palm ( X ), floral half sleeve on his right arm from his shoulder to his elbow (kinda like this X), 2 carnations on his right shoulder with Sarah and Toby’s name and birth and death years as a tribute to them, anti-possession on his inner left ankle in blacklight ink. Eye of Horus on the other side of his left ankle, A bouquet of sunflowers up his right calve, actually an undecided leg sleeve on his right leg in general too, undecided sternum tattoo, others in various places I haven’t decided yet. But he’s a tattoo artist, so he’s pretty covered.
((**note that most of these tattoos aren’t exactly what his look like, they are just the comparisons as close as I can imagine them as someone who can’t draw.)) BIRTHMARKS. N/A MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE(S). Facial scars, Tattoos up his arms, maybe the sunglasses, his height. god he’s so tall.
Childhood
PLACE OF BIRTH. Baltimore, MD HOMETOWN. Baltimore, MD BIRTH WEIGHT. 6 pounds, 7 ounces. BIRTH HEIGHT. 18.5 inches. MANNER OF BIRTH. Natural. FIRST WORDS. 'no’ SIBLINGS. Eden Monroe (eldest sister; alive), Lacey Monroe (older sister; alive), Elijah Harrison (half-brother; alive) PARENTS. Robert Monroe (father; alive), Aria Monroe (mother; alive), Scott Harrison (biological father; deceased) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. They were there to a degree, but distant emotionally for a number of reasons. He struggled to properly get their attention for a good number of years up into his teens, and even into early adulthood because they were all working through things.
Adult Life
OCCUPATION. Tattoo Artist CURRENT RESIDENCE. New Haven, CT CLOSE FRIENDS. Jan Song, Kennie Rhodes, Chev, and the people he works with in his tattoo shop. RELATIONSHIP STATUS. Verse/interaction dependent. But default single. FINANCIAL STATUS. Middle class DRIVER’S LICENSE. Yes. Had one since he was 17. CRIMINAL RECORD. A surprising no. VICES. Alcohol
Sex and romance
SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Pansexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION. Queer. PREFERRED EMOTIONAL ROLE. submissive | dominant | switch. PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE. submissive | dominant | switch. LIBIDO. Hypersexual, but he’s working on being better about it. TURN ON’S. Humor, people who know what they want, kindness, he loves people with dark eyes idk, also hands, listen he’s not picky he likes a good personality. can be a serious personality or a humorous one. but if you’re kind and thoughtful and willing to learn from mistakes there’s a solid chance he’ll like you regardless of anything else, though. TURN OFF’S. Blindfolds, people who are rude, bigoted people of a lot of intersections, close-minded people, people who don’t try to understand him, and people who push too hard too fast to know things about him. He requires patience and if you start asking too many things he’s likely to try and push away. LOVE LANGUAGE. Nick is an extremely touch driven person. So to show him love, he enjoys physical touch. Can be as into it as something sexually intimate, or as simple as patting his shoulder. Or if someone’s not really touchy, a smile does it too. He considers it an affection of sorts. Giving he’ll usually also be a bit touchy feely if he’s given the permission to be, but he also really tries to read other people’s love languages so that he’s giving people the right type of love. It’s sometimes difficult because he’s got a huge urge to be touchy, but he does try. RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES. He is someone who will talk to you first often times. He’s extremely flirty, but can tone it down if someone seems uncomfortable. He loves taking people he likes on little adventures. He’s an extremely affectionate lover, he respects boundaries. But if you give him permission to be affectionate he will be affectionate as hell. He is out to try and make his partner(s) laugh and feels accomplished when he does. If sex is on the table, he’s very good in bed, and he will show a bitch a good time.
Misc.
CHARACTER’S THEME SONG. I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons HOBBIES TO PASS TIME. Drawing, reading, doing little artsy things, hanging with friends, watching Netflix if he’s alone, occasionally dancing if he’s cleaning stuff and there’s music playing. MENTAL ILLNESSES. Dissociative Identity Disorder, other dissociative issues, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Alcohol addiction sometimes, Anxiety, insomnia and nightmare disorder, common sleep paralysis. PHYSICAL ILLNESSES. Meniere’s disease LEFT OR RIGHT BRAINED. When he’s the one fronting, he’s right brained as fuck. PHOBIAS. Being alone, being a failure, not being enough, the dark, the devil, god, butterflies, closed spaces, the cold that seeps into his bones when he sleeps, himself. SELF CONFIDENCE LEVEL. Outwardly high, but when alone it’s very back and forth. VULNERABILITIES. I’m not sure how to answer this one.
TAGGED BY. No one, I stole it from @thickcrskiin TAGGING. Whoever wants to.
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My mom and I are thinking about getting space themed blacklight tattoos! The one on the left is hers and the other one is mine. The comet and the squiggly line will be blacklight only and the stars and planets will be filled in with blacklight
Those look amazing! I didn’t know you could do blacklight tattoos!
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Soapberry Pride 2018
@ephrampettaline | @charliesfins | @gracevilliers | @ianncardero | @rydenbolt | @scarlettxruby | @mayaparker | @ashcaplan | @lilo-el-lobo | @thisbrutalbelle | @cassiegermaine | @bumblingbrujo | @freddiewatts | @monsterbyamile | @danisavin
The parade had gone off nicely without any hitches, and Ephram’s officers had dispersed afterwards to meander around town and participate in the festivities (while still being cops, of course; they were never really off-duty). He’d opted for Erzebet’s because it was familiar and he was curious what in the hell a black light party was in the first place.
Charlie prepped a set of neon paints at their station inside Erzebet’s. They’d volunteered to do some body painting. That didn’t meant Charlie planned to stay on the sidelines. They’d worn an all white suit and planned to loose the jacket for dancing and paint fighting, especially since they’d heard rumors of paint twister. Charlie was ready for a good time and planned to be wearing every color BUT white by the time they left.
The Soapberry cops were kitted out in black t-shirts and jeans with white wings painted on the back and rainbow beaded bracelets, and Ephram realized with a start as he entered the club that he was a little out of place not being painted up like most of the dancers. Sidling out of the way of the crowd, he fetched up next to a table with a bunch of paints and an extraordinarily handsome person presiding over it, and asked haplessly, “…so is this normally what these sorts’ve things are like? People out there lookin’ like goddamn ghouls.”
Grace wore a black bra under a sheer blouse, showing rather more skin than she normally would have done, but it was Pride, and it wasn’t as if she had to worry about getting cold. Her blonde hair was highlighted with pastel colors, a mixture of rainbow flag colors and pansexual flag colors but nothing too bright. She got some paints at the door and painted something of a bedazzled pattern on herself in the mirror before putting her blouse back over it. She got a drink and headed to the bar. The chap who’d had the argument with Fane was behind the DJ Booth, which she supposed would keep him out of trouble.
Iann told himself it would be a ‘good experience’ and 'broaden his horizons’ which even as he said these cheesy phrases to himself, he wanted to rebel…against himself. But it was true - a black light party was normal fare (as far as Iann was concerned) but a supernatural blacklight party? Would that include seafolk bioluminescence? Atronach rune illuminations? Vampires with glow-in-the-dark blood? Fairies and witches with magical glowing awesomeness? It was hard to resist. Plus, it was at Erzebet’s and Iann knew places he could retreat and Bellamy would totally indulge him. Besides, he still had a goal to recruit people for the talent show. With that in mind, he figured a plain white t-shirt and white baseball cap would be glowy enough under the black lights. Iann beelined for Erzebet’s bar first, not because he wanted a drink but he wanted to see someone he knew. When he saw Grace, Iann blinked for a moment and then leaned in closer. “Your Ladyship?? That you??”
Charlie looked up at the sheriff sidled up to their table. Chuckling at his comment, Charlie shrugged. “It all depends. When you only get to be this crazy once a year, I guess some people can go a little overboard. Or just on board enough, depending on your perspective.” They scanned his outfit, wondering if he was allowed to cover a temporary uniform with paints and such. Then again, he was probably the one who had picked them out, so Charlie figured he could do what he wanted on the subject. “Were you hoping to add some dazzle of your own?”
Ephram scrunched his mouth to the side, considering. “Weellllll,” he demurred, “reckon it ain’t such a bad idea to blend in. I don’t wanna look like no narc, do I?” He grinned and touched two fingers to his hairline in introduction. “Ephram. And since it seems like you’s the artist in charge of makin’ folks look good instead of like somebody sneezed silly string all over em, would you be so kind as to colour me up nice?”
Grace lifted her head at Iann’s voice. “Well, at least you didn’t call me Gracie,” she teased, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Charlie let out a laugh. They were pretty sure most people could recognize who he was around here, and while he was a pretty good sheriff, he wasn’t exactly known as a narc. They’d heard of an exploit or two, but Charlie wasn’t about to ask if they were true. “Charlie. And that is my job, so to speak. I do tattoos over at Needle Point most of the time.” A little free advertising never hurt anyone. “What are you thinking you’d like? I can do something a little more surreal and just get the color everywhere or a more specific design if you’ve got some ideas.
"You can teach an old dog new tricks,” Iann grinned back, now prepared for the kiss on the cheek for a greeting, as she’d done it before at Ash’s party. “I wasn’t even sure it was you! Jesus look at you, lady.” Iann leaned back and gave what he considered a very appropriate wolf-whistle at Grace, given the venue and festivities around them. “It’s like you’ve been dipped in a leprechaun’s hot tub. In, y'know, in a sexy kinda way.”
Ephram looked more interested and less bewildered as Charlie offered their name and mentioned Needle Point. “Oh, hey! I been by that place a couple times.” Holding out his left hand, Ephram showed Charlie a somewhat uneven blue stick-and-poke tattoo of the name 'Edith’. “My great grandmaw,” he explained. “Did this when I was thirteen and she passed on. But it’s startin’ to git a mite raggedy – wonder if you’d be able to fix it up without makin’ it look, y'know, fixed up?” He offered a hopeful smile, finally answering the colour question with a drawling, “somethang simple’s fine, no need to slap makeup on a pig.”
God, he actually missed this. It’s been a while since Ryden’s party days, when the young wolf picked up a few odd jobs in a few clubs and underground joints, either bar tending to impress for tips or DJing on stage while the crowds went wild. He liked his vantage point right now, as the large space started to fill up and a random playlist played in the background while he prepared, fine-tuning the set. The shock of electric blue hair made him stand out above the crowd, the skull-shaped make up on his lower face eerily matching his unnaturally white grin. He took another glance over the room, predatory eyes reflecting the light in that odd, spooky way, accented by the black light. The crowd was building up and Ryden figured it was as good a time as any. He picked up the mic. “PARTY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEEEE~” It boomed across the room, drawing attention. “YOU READY TO GET WILD WITH ME??? I SAID, YOU READY TO GET WILD WITH ME!?” There was a roaring response as people began gravitating towards the dance floor, a sea of neon colors. “LET’S DROP THAT BASS YO.” And then, there was a boom of noise and not even a minute in, the crowd went positively wild, especially when enchanted mist machines blew in a pack of colorful, glittery wolf wraiths to meander about, exploding color and glitter whenever they’d bump into someone. A huge panel lit up behind the stage with explosions of color on the display one probably shouldn’t stare at for too long.
Grace quirked her brow. “Are you calling me an old dog?” she teased, but she knew she looked good, so who was there to deny it? “I like to shake it up every now and then. I’m not as stuffy as I seem sometitmes, you know.” It was a special occasion. She wasn’t that much of a Pride person usually, but it was nice when you had good friends, a partner, and were in the mood for a good time. “I’ll take that as a compliment. How are you?”
Ruby was fairly certain being back at Erzebets was on her list of 'things she would never do again.’ But well… fuck it. This was her last week as a human, and she intended to have as much fun as possible. So the moment she stepped inside the building, she put her mind in 'fun mode’ and didn’t think about anything else. Having opted for a fairly simple outfit: black laceup shorte, white tank top, braided back glittered hair, she made her way towards the first familiar face she saw. “Hey!” she called over the thump of the music, grinning at Grace and Iann as she sidled up into their space.
“I’m the old dog–!” Iann protested but then realized Grace was teasing him and burst into laughter. It was still surreal, even in this surrealist of events, how well they got along. Iann still couldn’t understand why, but some mysteries were best left to be enjoyed. Grace Villiers never ceased to surprise and titillate Iann’s mind. He tried to shimmy his shoulders (it came off more like a jiggle). “You like to shake it up a bit?” he repeated with his little dance, and was about to get a drink from the bartender when the DJ booth exploded in energy-raising noise and heart-pumping demands from the DJ, who the dance crowd completely went wild for. “Let that bass drop, your Ladyship,” Iann smirked at Grace, leaning against the bar. “Hey I know that kid! The one DJing. That Ryden kid, wow. He’s…talented.” He heard another call and looked over at…jesus it was hard to recognize people with all the paint and the glowing and the black light. “….ahhhh….Ru….Ruby? That you?”
Charlie leaned forward and studied his tattoo, flinching slightly as Ryden’s mic picked up and blared his voice across the room. “The party has begun,” they mused, already adjusting to the new noise level. They looked back up at Ephram. “You’d have a few options like a straight touch up or covering it with something larger and working her name back in in a different place. If you stop in later this week or next week, we could talk about it further. For tonight, I could do something more traditional on your face like a demon mask, zebra stripes, or a dot design.”
Maya had considered just skipping the entire black light party. After completely losing her shit at the parade she’d rather not embarrass herself further. But she had wanted to go that morning and still kind of did. She felt a little better too after talking with Fane. When she arrived she’d swapped her causal parade clothes for shorts, a rainbow bandeau and some canvas sneakers she’d painted herself. Her skin she’d hand painted, which had helped calm her significantly, and it might remind a World at Night map. Upon entering she spotted a small group of people she knew, but opted instead to head to the bar first. Glancing up at the DJ stage she had to look for a moment before recognizing Ryden. She smiled in spite of herself before sighing and turning to the bartender to order a drink.
Grace chuckled. “That I can believe.” She loved the drinks at Erzebet’s. They made drinks specifically for vampires, and though she had to say her girlfriend’s were better for loyalty’s sake, these came close. She sipped on a blood Martini, swaying casually to the music. “I’ve been alive a long time, Iann,” she chuckled. “I lived through the flappers and the sixties. I know how to party.”
“Who else would it be?” Ruby asked over the music. “Didn’t think I"d see you here. Didn’t seem like your kinda thing.”
Ephram flinched when Charlie mentioned a possible demon mask, tucking his hand back into his pocket as the music seemed to start thumping physically against his back. “Uh,” he said, “well, now – I always saw myself as more of a giraffe than a zebra, to be honest, so I reckon I’ll give that there dot design a whirl. Even though I got no idea what that is.” He looked around. “Should I sit down somewheres? Or do you got a stepstool you could use? Or I could jes lie on your table I guess…” Ephram was grinning again now, shoving hard to get that demon chill from his bones.
“It’s not,” Iann replied to Ruby with a grin and a wink. He reached out and held both their upper arms, leaning in to talk over the music. “But since I got you both here - has Savin already asked you two to volunteer for the talent show? Open Mic night? Any talent you got. I’m helping with the recruiting and I’m sure you two lovely ladies have oodles of talent just bursting at the seams to show off to an adoring crowd.”
Grace nodded. “I’ve already been coerced into it,” she said with a sigh. At least she’d gotten a beautiful set of knives out of it. “Hi Ruby,” she said with a smile. “Nice to see you again.” Was it just her, or did Ruby smell different?
“Talent show?” Ruby said, scrunching up her nose a bit. “No… he hasn’t yet. All I got is singin’,” she told Iann. “Hey Grace,” Ruby smiled, looking the other woman over. “You too. You look real nice.”
It wasn’t hard for Ryden to notice Maya, being that the bar at Erzebet’s was pretty much right under the stage and he had the best vantage point out of anyone in here. Hell, he could recognize that girl in whatever crowd she mingled. A pang of guilt washed over him as he remembered the incident at the parade earlier and how he’d just slipped away without a word so things wouldn’t escalate with Fane. Reaching for a chug of beer he had set aside, he eased into an ABBA remix, kind of winging it. Just to get her attention, he picked up the mic again. “A cute girl told me ya can’t be sad listening to ABBA, so SING ALONG WITH ME PEOPLE~” The Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie chorus began, the crowd picking up on the well known lyrics and Ryden grinned at Maya below at the bar, motioning her over to join him on the stage.
“Is it dancing, Grace? Please tell me it’s dancing,” Iann said, motioning to the aforementioned dropped bass thumping hard around them. “C'mon give me some dance moves. The Charleston or the Mashed potato or something…” And when ABBA came on, Iann couldn’t help but bop as well. “Ruby, singing is literally a talent that can be performed in front of an adoring audience. You didn’t know that?”
“I can do giraffe,” they said. He seemed slightly more uneasy than a moment ago, but Charlie chalked it up to the music starting and throwing him off. They gestured to the backed chair they’d commandeered for the occasion. Charlie had a stool for themself, though they started out standing for now. They paused, contemplating paint colors before settling on a florescent orange to do the spot patterns. “If you’ve got any wiggling to do, get it out before I start. Give me a few minutes and you’ll be ready to party like nobody’s watching.”
Grace scoffed. “It is not dancing,” she answered emphatically. Grace could dance, but alone on a stage in front of other people? No chance. “I only dance in crowds,” she joked.
Maya thanked the bartender as the beginning of Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie played over the speakers. She looked up, trying to figure out if that was indeed what she was hearing. Ryden’s words then confirmed it and she looked up at him with a smile. While she wasn’t happy with him for clearly antagonizing Fane earlier, nor was she happy with Fane for his behavior, she wasn’t angry with Ryden for disappearing when he did. It would be easy to believe that attempting to help her in that moment would get him only in more trouble. When he gestured for her to come up on stage she hesitated, only because she never liked being on stages. After only half a moment she picked up her drink and joined him on stage. “You should’ve held out,” she said, “I was going to offer to blow you in exchange for playing ABBA.”
Ryden leaned in, just so he could hear her better over the noise, hands never leaving the board. His eyebrows rose and a huge grin stretched his lips “Well SHOOT! Can I get one anyway??”
Ruby gave Iann a withering look. “Yes. I’m aware singin’ is doable in front of folks. Just I"m sure there’ll be a hundred others doin’ the same thing. What about you?” she asked him. “You have a talent?”
Ash loved a good party, and he loved Erzebet’s, so being able to show up to a blacklight party there for pride was pretty much the best idea anyone could’ve had. He turned up with a bare chest, paint all over him, jet black hair and what could only be described as a half jacket, half cape, covering his shoulders with black and gold. He already had a drink in his hand when he spotted Ephram. “Hey Officer Sexy,” he said with a wink and a smile. “What, no handcuffs and hotpants? I’m gonna file a complaint.”
Maya snorted her laughter. “Considering ABBA’s already playing and earlier, probably not today,” she replied with only a little edge to it. She wasn’t happy with what had happened, but it also wasn’t about her. Despite how she’d been affected by it. Although that wasn’t Fane or Ryden’s fault, not really.
“You can dance now, this music’s actually good,” Iann said, taking Grace’s hand and then Ruby’s wrist and shuffling them away from the bar, towards the dancefloor where the crowd was. He bopped along still and shrugged carefree-like at Ruby. “Yeah, but you’ll be the best one out of the pile,” he replied breezily. “Yes, my talent is to not be on stage and kill the audience’s buzz.”
Ephram snorted at the mere idea, saying, “Now do I look like the wigglin’ kind, Charlie? I’m a man, not a nightcrawl–” Naturally, Ephram’s left shoulder started to itch in one barely accessible spot and as he contorted to try and scratch it he also sneezed three times in succession. “I don’t think that counts as wigglin’,” he said to Charlie. “Or at least, don’t tell nobody.” He leaned closer, voice dropping for confidentiality. “Cain’t maintain my dignity as Sheriff if folks know I’m prone to wrigglin’ and wigglin’.”
Charlie laughed at his expense for a moment before leaning in to start painting. They quickly had to comment as Ash appeared behind them with a scathingly quippy comment. “But that wouldn’t go with a giraffe,” they said, feigning annoyance.
Ruby looked up at the stage as movement caught her eye. She saw Ryden with Maya joining him, the wolf smiling at his new companion. Ruby smiled a bit to herself, though she suddenly felt strange and had to come back to Iann and Grace. She made a small 'oop’ sound as she was snagged away from the bar and onto the dancefloor. “If this is you sayin’ you wanna dance, Iann… all you have to do is ask.” She grinned at him, doubting he’d enjoy it if she starting dancing with him, but tempted to try anyway.
Ephram was pulled out of his comment by Ash’s arrival, greeting him with a half-hug and then pulling back to admire the young man’s outfit. “Good Lord, boy,” he hooted, re-situating himself for Charlie’s paints. “You look like you’re trying out stripper costumes. Not that I’m complaining. Or getting out my handcuffs.” Ephram snickered, then said, “You two know each other? Charlie, Ash, Ash, Charlie. The pair of you pretty as sugar pie.”
Ash beamed at the compliments. He lived for this shit. “Thank you, sir,” he said with a nod. He wasn’t exactly looking to hop right back into bed, but there was nothing wrong with a little flirting, especially at Pride. “Charlie and I are buds. Hey babe,” he said, wrapping them in a little hug. “You look incredible.”
Grace joined Iann and Ruby on the dancefloor, not being given much of a choice but also not complaining either. “Iann always has a round about way of asking for things, and it’s always the long way,” she snickered. She took Ruby’s hand to dance with her. “You feel warm,” she commented, curious. “Warmer than usual.”
Ryden noticed the edge to Maya’s tone, painted lips pressing into thin line. Guilt poked at him again. “Yeah, well, I figured.” Was the only thing he said about it before a grin was back on his face again. “Hey, wanna try this thing?” He guided Maya by the hand so she was between him and the DJ set, explaining how the things worked into her ear. “So here’s the volume, the pitch bend, ya change the cue here~ Let’s try somethin’ huh?” He guided her hands over the board, to press this or that, to slide something up or down and alike, each action adding a little something to the music blaring out of the speakers.
Iann was totally content to let the ladies dance together, trying to get into the song and dance more. Because he loved ABBA and because he did kind of enjoy raves, 'back in the day’…but this seemed to just be skipping a beat and a syllable or something and and after a while it started to drive him nuts. Kids these days and their music! “HEY! HEY YO MISTER DJ!!” Iann cupped his hands to his mouth and hollered towards Ryden. “Play Super Trouper! But nothing fancified, just straight-up!”
Charlie leaned in to reciprocate the hug, holding their right hand away from their body to keep Ash from adding any unintentional paint when he looked so planned. “We’ve met a time or two. He loved to get his ass kicked in Mario Kart.” They knew those were fighting words, but they didn’t mind much. “Sheriff, you can talk a little, but try not to move too much with it.” They leaned in to do the giraffe spots on his forehead. Normally they’d be a bit pickier, but this was much less at stake with paint than a tattoo. Plus, it didn’t seem like he intended to be a picky customer.
Maya knew that now was not the best time to talk about it. If only because of how loud it was. Plus she thought she saw a bit of a tail between his legs look on Ryden’s face, which meant he already felt guilty. “Suppose I can’t blame you for trying,” she shrugged with a smile. “I’m not sure that’s a good…” she started to say as he pulled her in front of the board. She listened and nodded as Ryden explained how it worked. Understanding which buttons did what was very different than being any good at it. Luckily before he made her try it on her own Iann shouted that they should play Super Trouper, the classic version. She turned her head to Ryden with a bit of a smug smile, “You heard the people. And when the people are Iann you gotta listen.”
Ephram hummed his assent to stay mostly quiet, but that didn’t prevent him from murmuring with teasing mirth in his voice, “Oh, yeah. I know a lil somethang bout how Ash loves to get his ass … kicked.”
Ash cocked his head at Ephram, giving him a playful little nudge with his shoulder. “Aw shucks, big guy. You’re gonna make me blush. And if you weren’t so damn muscular I just might kick your ass too.”
Charlie let out a strangled choke. So that had happened. They did seem to remember the two flirting during Ash’s party on the beach, so it wasn’t the biggest surprise in the world. “Did you see how he’s dressed?” they teased, knowing he could hear everything. “I think he’s definitely the kind that wants more ass kickery.”
Ryden snorted at Iann, chuckling when Maya supported him. Picking up the mic, he answered to the request. “LAAAAME~~~" The familiar melody did blare through the speakers but it wasn’t a straight up one, it was still a remix but one easier to dance to.
Maya laughed, completely unsurprised when instead of playing the original version of Super Trouper Ryden played some techno remix. "But I think the real question is, are you sad right now?” she asked, grinning.
Ephram snickered at Ash and Charlie bantering, enjoying the particular pleasure of being around people who genuinely liked each other and didn’t mind sharing that easy congeniality. Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Ephram mumbled, “He’s a lil minx, this one, puttin’ on this half an outfit and then makin’ a beeline to me all poses and purring. But did you hear that?” He sounded highly indignant now, waiting for Charlie to finish a few strokes around his mouth before continuing, “he wouldn’t kick my ass on account of I’m bigger'n him! After all the boasting on how he normally could do either.” Ephram finished this overblown complaint with the wisdom: “Ain’t no man who says he could do either who don’t immediately give in to bein’ bottom.”
“Not if you aren’t~” Ryden spoke into Maya’s ear, working on the remix around her, chin resting on her shoulder and body moving behind her so that she’d have no other choice but to move with him to the rhythm of the song.
Iann hopped, flipping Ryden the bird when he drawled out 'Lame’ from his microphone but he played the song anyway and it was exactly what Iann wanted, sounding so retro and old school. “Oh yeah! THAT’S THE STUFF!” Iann clapped for Ryden and angrily elbowed some other nearby dancers to clap for the DJ as well, which they did half-assedly before Iann just started jogging in place backwards to the music, totally getting into it.
Maya turned back to look at the crowd as Ryden spoke into her ear. She smiled as Iann’s dancing caught her attention. “I mean, you do see Iann’s dancing right? That plus ABBA, how could I be sad?” she replied as she moved with him.
Ash flashed Charlie a grin. “Hey, I thought this was a progressive town. A guy can look sexy without necessarily wanting to get smashed,” he teased, then looked at Ephram with a chuckle. “Honestly, if it led to sex every time I flirted with someone I’d never get anything done.”
Ryden snorted at Iann, picking up the mic again. “WATCH OUT FOR THE MAN WITH THE MUSTACHE, HE FARTS IN PUBLIC.” Attention turned back to Maya and he grinned at her. “Good. Wanna go down? I’ll take a break in a bit and join ya?”
“Am I?” Ruby said to Grace as they started to dance. “Do I smell different? God I wonder if I taste different too…” Though the last bit was said mostly to herself.
When Iann started getting a little too enthusiastic his back had something to say about it. A warning twinge in his spine and Iann held the small of his back and paused, tugging his baseball cap so the rim was back to the front (somehow it had migrated backwards). The song was segueing anyway, and regardless of Ryden’s taunts, Iann gave him two thumbs up anyway and then carefully headed back to the bar. Well. At least he’d convinced Ruby to sing (maybe? He’d make sure Fane would double down on her, just to make sure).
Grace chose to ignore whatever was going on with Iann and the DJ, just dancing without a care. “You do. And I’d take a bite, but… we’re in company,” she joked with a snicker.
Maya raised an eyebrow, “Is this you trying to ask me to dance because we both know I’m very bad at that. And I’m not magically high like I was this morning.” She gave him a smile, “But if you want to buy me another drink I’ll let you do that.”
Charlie felt a little like dying of laughter. They stepped back for a moment both to survey what they’d done so far and to give themselves a pause to laugh. “I can believe that,” they said to Ash. They heard Ryden on the mic again and looked over. Sure enough, the man with the mustache in question was Iann. What wasn’t he in the middle of? They stepped forward to add a few more strokes around Ephram’s jawline. “Would you like any other colors to be a giraffe? It’s simple but effective right now.”
“Awww! A'ight, drinks are fine. I’ll need to take a breather anyway.” Ryden let Maya step away from him, helping her off the platform real quick before getting back to his DJing duties for now.
“Is it a… good smell?” Ruby wondered, glancing at Iann and wondering how he had survived as long as he had. Ruby shook her head, watching as he moved back off to the bar. “So… how’s Alia? And this is Erzebet’s,” Ruby grinned.
Maya protested, “You’ve seen me dance. I’m not good at it and I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one day.” There was no edge to her tone this time. She was smiling as she said because she knew that after a couple more drinks she’d say yes. Ryden helped her off the platform and they towards the bar.
Grace pondered Ruby’s question. There was something going on that was bigger than just a change in scent. It was the reason behind the change. “It’s… a little like how a werewolf would smell.” If Ruby chose to elaborate, then so be it. “Alia’s good. She’s here somewhere…” Grace glanced around for her. At least she knew she didn’t have to worry about Alia misconstruing anything. It had been over six months since anything had happened with her and Ruby, and they were all friends, at least so she believed.
Ephram laughed, shaking his head as he straightened from the stool. “Nice 'n simple does me fine,” he declared, regarding himself in the mirror on Charlie’s table and exclaiming when he actually saw their handiwork. ���Shit, darlin’ – if that’s what you call simple, you must got some real chops on you when you’re workin’ in earnest.” Ephram half-hugged Charlie, saying, “Thanks for this. I din’t know how to fit in here and this helped plenty,” before half-hugging Ash and planting a big, showy, smacking kiss on the naga’s mouth. “Shameless,” Ephram chided him, flicking at the half-cape. “Saucy-pants.” Grinning at them both, Ephram readjusted his bracelet and handcuffs and walkie, saying, “Gotta git back to commingling with the crowd, now I’m properly attired.”
Ephram nodded at Charlie and Ash, moving off through the crowd to leave a request at the DJ station for – what else – Cotton Eye Joe.
Ryden: Once Maya was off the stage, Ryden stepped up his game now that they practically had a full house. Other special effects joined in as the music got super hard core, the bass practically making the entire room vibrate. Confetti exploded from the ceiling, the lights flashing to create a stop-motion effect, spilling color over the walls and the people gathered on the dance floor. Elaborately painted dances went up on the stage, riling up the crowd.
Ruby nodded. “Well… you’re not wrong. I got bit so… that’s what I’ll be in a week. Fun times hm?” Ruby’s voice was mostly matter of fact. Though there was a tiny undertone of fear and perhaps a bit of uncertainty there too. Though she’d become more comfortable with telling people. “I"m glad. I like her alot.” Ruby had no romantic intentions towards Grace, t hough she did enjoy teasing the other woman a bit. Especially because she truly did like her a lot.
Charlie grinned. “I’m glad you like it.” They accepted the hug and snorted at the display between Ephram and Ash. As Ephram walked away, they raised an eyebrow at Ash. “Is there anyone you don’t have wrapped around your finger?” If you say yes, I won’t believe you.
When Cotton Eye Joe came on, Iann perked up, but he knew dancing too much would just get him in trouble. “AW MAN!” he yelled out instead, realizing it was the Sheriff who’d requested it. Iann threw up his hands at the tall witch. “Of course you would. Of course you would!” The worst part was how would Iann be able to resist dancing to this??? He opted to just semi-mosh instead, but as sedate as possible. In the meantime, he kinda hoped Pettaline would jig or clog or whatever yeehaw thigh-slapping dance those mountain men did.
“Oh,” Grace answered. She wasn’t sure how Ruby felt about it, and she wasn’t sure if this was the place to ask. “Well, that explains it then. I’ll take you for a coffee some time and you can tell me all about it,” Grace offered. “What the bloody hell is this music?” she scoffed. “The nineties were a terrible decade.”
Ash didn’t really blush any more but if he did it would be Ephram who made him do it. “That man,” he said with a little swoon, wiping his lips. “And that was some nice artwork. We’re gonna have to schedule another session soon. Feels like I haven’t been inked in forever.”
Charlie smirked before sliding slightly into business mode. “Definitely. I would love to give you more ink. Have something particular in mind?” As they spoke, Charlie leaned against the table to survey the dancing crowd. Iann was flaying around a bit, and while Charlie was tempting to join the crowd, they figured they should stay at their paint station a little longer. “God, this is a fun night. We should do this stuff more often.”
Maya made her way towards the bar. She enjoyed watching other people dancing although she really had no intention of joining them at the moment. Taking a sip of her drink she smiled to herself, glad that she’d decided to come out after all.
Ash sipped on his drink, something multi colored and sparkly, befitting the event. “You know I never have anything in mind. If I didn’t tip so well I’d be a terrible client.” He scrunched up his face at the music. “This DJ is Chaotic and I dig it.”
Ruby gave Grace a smile. “I’d like that, thanks.” The fact that people weren’t making a huge deal out of it when she told them helped tremendously. So Ruby let the conversation move on, looking up as the music changed. “Cotton Eye Joe,” Ruby said. “Ephram must be here,” she grinned, looking over as Iann exclaimed out loud.
Grace arched her brow, still in distaste at the choice of song. “Some sort of inside joke?”
“ALRIGHT YA’LL, KEEP IT LIT, YA’LL! QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT B'FORE WE BACK WITH SOME MORE FINE TUNES FOR YA’LL, THE TWISTER BOARD IS UP, ANYONE WHO’S FEELIN’ BENDY, GIT YER SWEET BOOTY RIGHT O'ER THERE AND LET’S SPIN THEM COLORS!” The music dimmed down to something more generic as Ryden made the announcement, giving some more instructions although they weren’t exactly necessary. Then he took a chance while the Twister event was up to take a break, the large screen panel playing a little video in his absence while the playlist rolled on to keep the music going.
Charlie “Chaos is good,” they said. Charlie eyed the bar. “I want to drink, but I also feel like I shouldn’t get shitfaced if–” They paused as Ryden made an announcement. “Scratch that. I’m going to leave the paints here for people to do what they want. I am playing twister.”
“He just… likes the song,” Ruby shrugged. “Oh my gosh… come on… we should play twister.” She tugged Grace by the hand. “I bet Alia would be great at this game. All bendy and stuff.”
Grace was definitely out of her element tonight, but she sighed and let Ruby drag her. “Alia will definitely be better at it than I am…”
Ash snickered and followed Ruby. “Oh, are you tryna play Twister with a naga? Honey, you got a big storm coming…”
Maya turned to have a better view of paint Twister, but didn’t move to join in. Again she had embarrassed herself enough for one day. As she watched she picked up her very pink drink and took a sip from it.
Ruby grinned back at Grace as she let herself be pulled along. She grinned even wider as she saw Ash join their little duo in heading towards twister. “Honey, you might be a naga, but you’ve never played Twister with me.”
Charlie arrived at the paint Twister station totally ready to play. It looked like they weren’t the only one interested in the game, and that meant a lot of opportunities for fun.
Able to take a break now that the Twister competition was up, Ryden headed for the bar where he knew Maya would be waiting. Finding her, he took up a seat next to her. “Phew, the crowd ROCKS t'night, yo~ How you holdin’ up, babe? Havin’ fun?” He waved the bartender over. “Whachoo drinkin’ there?”
Maya glanced over at Ryden as he came to sit next to her at the bar. “I’m good, less freaked out than I thought I might be,” she replied. She shrugged, “Not sure it was on special.”
Ruby stopped at the twister game, looking around to see how many others would be playing. She saw Charlie and gave them a wave. There was Grace and Ash. “No tails,” she said to Ash. “Doesn’t count.”
Charlie nodded. “Definitely. If my tail can’t give me an advantage. You can’t used yours. The rest of us won’t be able to reach the dots if you’re both slithering around like that.”
“Huh.” In the end, Ryden decided to just get a beer. He got drunk once on some questionable liquor when he DJed. Never again. Sitting close so he could easily lean over and talk to Maya, he took a sip. “Don’t like the crowds, huh?”
“What’s the winner get?” Ruby asked, unsure who was going to be calling the game. “Braggin’ rights? Free drinks? Good snog?”
Maya shook her head, “Not when I know a bunch of them. Perks of growing up famous in a small town.” She couldn’t help but sigh. Even though this town was nothing like the one she’d grown up in. And perhaps most importantly she was hardly famous in this town, not the way she had been. “So how long have you been DJing?” she asked, not eager to talk about her past. Especially not when it had caused such an issue earlier.
Charlie “All of the above, pending who wins and how impressed others are?” Charlie suggested.
Ruby laughed out loud. “Sounds good to me.”
Ryden: “I feel ya.” Ryden grinned over the rim of the neon yellow plastic cup that held his beer. “Uhh, ever since I was legal enough ta go to clubs I guess? Happened completely random, turned out I was good at it so I do it occasionally.”
Lilo was bobbing his head in some corner, or the closest he could get to one. He was interested in the dj, werewolf music, but he was beginning to think maybe he was too old for this sort of scene.
Maya added, “Not that I think I’m famous in this town.” She was certain she wasn’t and had no interest in being so. “And that’s younger than here right? In the US you aren’t supposed to be able to go to clubs until you’re 21,” she said supposed to because she had been to a few long before her own 21st birthday.
Ash threw an arm around Ruby’s shoulder with a grin. “Hey beautiful, long time no see.” He scrunched up his face at the no tails rule. “I guess that makes sense. Can’t do right and left leg when you got a tail. But I’ll still win.”
Iann headed out of the washroom, intending to head out for the night but instead collided with a shorter man. “Hey I’m walking her– oh it’s you. Hey Lopez. Uh…welcome back,” Iann added. “You here for the party?” As if Lilo would be here for some other reason. “You don’t strike me as a….Pride kinda guy.”
Ryden: “Hey, I’m a fan, so I guess ya kinna are~” He threw an arm around her. “Well… Legal was a loose term in my case.” He grinned.
“Butterin’ me up won’t make me go easy on you, no matter how sexy you look,” Ruby grinned at Ash. “But its good to see you too. Though there’s no way you’re winnin’ this.”
Lilo was just about shoved to the side when someone shoved him aside. “Ayy, fuck there watch where you are going…” Iann of course– getting a good look at him now, Lilo sighed and regretted his earlier jump to frustration. It was tough being a shorter guy among the giants that seemed to populate Soapberry. “Yeah, hey Iann. I like this party. I mean, what do you mean I don’t seem that kinda guy?”
Maya rolled her eyes, “C'mon there’s three hundred year old vampires and witches with more power than I’ll ever have. I’m just me.” She had to smile as he admitted that he hadn’t exactly been legal either during his early clubbing days. She lifted her glass in a salute, “Yeah, I feel you on that.” Pausing to take a sip she considered for a moment before asking, “So are you going to tell me what was up with you and Fane earlier?”
Cleared his throat over and over, tugging at the collar of his shirt absently. He couldn’t look at Lopez as he replied. “Y'know, I - you just don’t seem like thatkinda…I mean you know. What with. Anyway. Look at that–!” Iann pointed at the giant Twister map, literally a hasty attempt to distract Lilo from the previous topic. “It’s like a game or something. I thought it was just for kids, Twister right? Now that I’m seeing it, I’m thinking maybe it’s better as a game for adults, not kids.”
“But, apparently, their old butts are not as cute~” He gave her a little squeeze with the arm around her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at her question though. “He didn’t talk to ya about it?” He figured he would and Maya would hate him because she got only one side of the story. He sighed. “We had a fallout durin’ that blob thing. I crashed his car and he wrecked Princess. So… yeah.” He didn’t have anything against Fane personally - he didn’t even know the guy - but his attitude was just… rubbing Ryden in all the wrong ways. Wrecking his precious ride aside, the guy just acted so high and mighty, even when Ryden tried to fix things and apologize. So Ryden was just responding to that, although that probably wasn’t the right way to go about it.
Charlie looked around. “Do we have anyone to spin the thing? Seems like everyone over here just wants to play. There needs to be some kind of placement caller.”
Lilo narrowed his eyes trying to make sense of Iann’s words and his discomfort. He almost got it but then his attention directed elsewhere “Oh huh, ayy, yeah that’s twister!” He brightened. “Hah! I remember that at parties, nothing past when I was thirteen though, that was when we thought it was lame and didn’t need some board game excuse to get all kinds of close to somebody. hah, remember those days Iann?”
Iann laughed. “No, I don’t remember. I didn’t have friends. C'mon,” Iann nodded for him and Lilo to approach it if only to watch. He heard Charlie’s question though and raised his hand. “Oh, we’ll announce the spinny thing. What do we have to do?”
“Drat,” Grace said. “I was going to volunteer.” Mostly to get out of playing. “Iann, I think you need help. So many people, we must have two referees…”
Lilo found himself tagging along with Iann again, somehow. Too interested in all the excitement to say no, and now he had a fellow old man with him he felt less like an odd one out. “Oye, didn’t have any friends though?” Just couldn’t let that one go. “Referees? I can do that.”
“My buddy Lopez here can referee, easy. Nah, Your Ladyship, you get to do all that bendy-stuff,” Iann flourished a bow at Grace, smirking all the while.
Lilo blinked at the lady, far more put together then he felt. “Ohh, but uh… I mean I can just watch? I don’t want to get in the way of anyone’s fun.”
“Have you seen all their butts though? Can you really be sure?” Maya asked with a smile. She took another sip from her drink before nodding. “Yeah, we talked about it,” she admitted easily because they had, “But both of you were out of line, so…” She shrugged, not sure how to say that there were at least two sides to every story without it sounding ridiculously cheesy. As she listened to Ryden tell his side she nodded. At the end she sighed, “So, should I just expect you two to antagonize each other whenever you’re in the same room?”
Iann shook his head at Lilo. “Well….not like friends my age. Do Aunts count as that kind of friends? I wouldn’t play Twister with them…but we did play Parcheesi.”
Lilo tried not to look like felt bad for every shitty thing he said to Iann after that question, tried very hard. “Uh, no, aunties count only as Aunties friends. But Parcheesi is nice yeah… Sooo, this twister? Is that paint stuff?”
“We fall, we get paint splattered,” Charlie explained. “It also makes the mat and our limbs slickers, so it’s harder but to keep a good balance.”
“No cheating!” Ruby said to Iann. “No weird positions that you think’re funny.”
“Maaaybe~” But Ryden’s grin faded a bit as Maya insisted on the topic. “Look, I ain’t sayin’ sorry twice. Not a reason why we should be in the same room. Not like you gonna invite me home for dinner or anythin’. I’ll steer clear and keep my mouth shut. Cause whatever, I’m just passin’ by, and he’s yer dad and of course you’ll take his side. So whatever. Let’s just forget about it.” He downed almost half of his beer. “I gotta go take a piss.” Obviously sort of miffed, though not at Maya directly, he stood up.
Iann listened to Charlie’s succinct summary of the rules. “Nice! And I promise, cross my heart and let a werewolf eat it,” Iann crossed his fingers and blinked innocently He spun the thing that spins, just to see if it was working. It spun happily, slowing eventually on a colour and symbol and he called out at random. “Hot pink, right hand!”
Grace exhaled. She didn’t know the person Iann was talking to, but Ruby seemed to really want her to play, so she didn’t push it. “No, I’m sure you’ll both to an impeccable job,” she said, getting ready to get into position.
Iann nodded in agreement at Lilo. “Aunts are only Aunts. Hey - if one of them fucks up, you can throw the paint at them.” Iann looked at the little pots of paint, brightly coloured lined in front of them. This was oddly…comfortable. Iann was surprised, considering he was with Lilo Lopez but this actually wasn’t so bad. “You know hombre, I really thought I’d be more of an asshole to you. But I’m not….hah!” Iann clapped Lilo on the back. “I’m so great.”
“Do you seriously think that?” Maya asked, hurt by the implication, “That I’ll just take his side out of some blind loyalty to family?” She set her drink down.
“Ahah… yeah… that was? Thanks?” Lilo didn’t really know what to make of all this but he nodded at the lady Iann had talked to and the nice person that explained the rules. Looking to see if he could do anything referee like before dipping into whatever was this conversation. “Hah, yeah all that slippery stuff probably not that best for me.” He wiggled his prosthetic leg, not that it didn’t shine brightly under the blacklight already, but people were in all sorts of getups and it was hard to tell.
Charlie knelt to put their hand on the pink circle. It was positively radioactive in the black light. Charlie managed yo position for one of the end circles, which they figured would give them more room to start.
Iann was getting into the logistics of this game now, and earnestly shook his head. “No, you wont have to step onto the Twister board, don’t worry. We’ll…” Iann looked around, then pulled one of the large posters off the wall and lay it on the floor next to the Twister board. “There, that’s where the losers stand when they need to be splashed with paint. All you have to do is take one of these paint sticks, swizzle it about in the paint and just like…fling–” Iann demonstrated, accidentally slapping paint onto Maya’s back. “Whoops! My bad!” he called out to her.
When Charlie got themselves situated on the giant mat, Iann hustled back to the thing and spun it with more gusto this time. To Ruby, he called out, “Left foot, acid green!”
Ryden looked down at her, giving a little shake of his head. “What, you’re actually gonna ask him to be nice to me or somethin’? Psshh. He thinks I’m trash, I’m not stupid. I can figure out that much. I don’t need no one bein’ nice to me cause someone told 'um to. I didn’t do it on purpose, yo! A fuckin’… jello-shot hit me on the head and I was trippin’ balls! But nooo, Ryden’s a jerk, he–” and then Maya got hit by a splash of paint accidentally. Ryden couldn’t help but snort a little. “…. that aim, yo. Dangerous.”
Lilo nodded at Iann’s instruction, looking a bit more serious then he wanted too. When did young people’s fun complicate things so much. “Okay, okay, fling paint. Losers get to stand on the shame poster and get more painted… yeah…”
Some part of Lilo couldn’t help but sort of wish he could get in there and win the challenge, it was sort of a shame for him just to twiddle his paint stick.
Maya stood, “Yeah, actually that’s exactly what I did. And I said that much to him as well. That its hardly fair to blame you for something you did under the influence of magic, but more importantly that he should get over it because you and I are friends.” There had been more to the story she knew from talking to Fane himself, but didn’t feel it was hers to tell. She was distracted from her mini speech by paint hitting her in the back and Iann’s voice calling out an apology. “You owe me a beer Iann,” she called back, not angry with him. Seeing as she’d done the painting herself her back wasn’t as good anyway.
Iann couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. “Shame poster…” he repeated in high amusement, and for a few seconds Iann’s eyes shone with that same level of geeky admiration he’d held for a Lock Lopez, werewolf cholo gangbanger, from over 15 years ago. He had no clue what was really going on in the werewolf’s mind.
“Whew I’ve been out of this scene for a while… you seem to know everybody though Iann. You got a lot a friends now huh?” Lilo nodded at Maya, the girl with more paint on her back who seemed engaged in a very complicated discussion Lilo couldn’t over hear but imagined it made twisting even harder.
Iann nodded congenially about the owed beer for Maya and then shrugged lightly. “I mean, it’s useful to know people,” Iann defaulted to his usual reason. “People are useful and all that.” He looked over at Lilo, “You know me, always on the lookout for an opportunity, hm? You settling back into small-town life okay again? Back at that University daycare?”
Ryden groaned audibly at Maya’s words. Seemed like this will be their first little fight. God, this was so frustrating, this whole situation. “I said, I ain’t sayin’ sorry twice. I like you but I don’t gotta like him and I ain’t gonna.” He said his final words, looking away from her. When it comes to stubbornness, Ryden could rival a mule.
Lilo shrugged. “I mean I am settling in mostly yeah. The team at sprouts is a little miffed I have been gone so long my Ms. Ramsey has my back, she knows what it’s like.” Iann sighed, on the lookout for cheaters who let their hands leave the colors and tired to shrug it off. “Ayy ayy! stay in position now.”
Bella had been in the kitchen for much of the night, and then her office as she was slowly becoming concerned that Ryden had let the party be free - and therefore exceptionally crowded - but finally brought together as much of herself as she could to come downstairs, her platform marc jacobs boots easily lifted by the vampire but admittedly very loud. “What on Earth is happening?” Bellamy asked as she approached the ridiculous twister game that seemed to be happening.
“I’m not asking you to like him, I just…” Maya cut herself off and looked down at the floor. She took a deep breath. “I’m just scared I’m going to lose one of you over it and I don’t want that,” she wished she wasn’t blushing, but since she was she didn’t look up from the floor. “I’m sorry,” she added, “It just really freaked me out.”
Ryden snapped his mouth shut. Again, there was this insufferable pang of guilt he shouldn’t feel. “It’s got nothin’ to do with you, babe. Not yer problem to fix. Don’t worry about it.” He sat back down, deciding not to leave after all, at least not yet. “Hey…” He pinched the tip of her chin, trying to lift her head up. “We’re cool. Ain’t the first daddy who tried to chase me away. But I’m like an undead cockroach. I keep comin’ back~ No matter how big his slipper is. He can swat at me all he wants.”
Iann was impressed by Lilo’s referee vigilance, clearly he was the right person for the job. “If you couldn’t do that, what would you do instead?” Iann asked, trying not to make that sound like an interrogative question an older brother might ask the fiancee of his younger sister. Nothing like that at all. He could almost hear Bellamy before he saw her, in those shoes, and turned to goggle at her. “Belle! Hey! It’s giant Twister…wait. You didn’t plan this?” Iann asked, somewhat in shock. He assumed all of the events in Erzebet’s was planned or at least authorized by her.
Lilo clammed up, fortunately the big lady boss arrived just in time for him to avoid answering life and career questions. Unfortunately he felt as if he was now caught red–hot pink–handed doing something in the bar that wasn’t sanctioned.
Bella shook her head at Iann and pointed over to Ryden who seemed to be dealing with some kind of personal thing, way too intense for her to be willing to approach. “Ryden’s idea. Do you really think my idea of a party would be giant twister and paint? If I had planned things it would involve much less clean up after. But how could I say no to a puppy?” Really whatever Lilo was doing didn’t bother her though. Lilo was perfectly sweet and it amused her that he and Iann had such an odd relationship.
Lilo: “Ayy, uh, hello Ms. Miss… Bellamy. You know if you need help cleaning up after I mean… I did accidentally fling some paint around. I would feel bad just leaving it this way.”
Iann waggled Lilo’s shoulder to reassure the werewolf, because he looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Ahhhh I don’t know. I don’t know what you kids find fun these days,” Iann teased Bellamy. Lilo piped up then and Iann motioned to him. “Look at that! What a good guy. Looks like you got all the puppies eager to get in your favour, mija.”
Maya spoke softly, “I know.” The not worrying she wasn’t particularly good at, but she could try at least. She let him tilt her chin up, still blushing and feeling stupid and guilty for making it about her. She nodded, “Okay. But can you not call him daddy? It kind of makes me want to vomit and no one wants that.”
“Oh no, obviously Ryden will solely clean this all up,” Bella joked, giving a little giggle as she cuddled herself in the furs she wore. “Why was paint being flung around though? Did I miss something?” she questioned before batting her eyelids. “I am obviously the mother of wolves, all adore me, as I like it.” Lilo obviously didn’t but she enjoyed the light playfulness.
Cassie double checked the posters about DJ Howl before ending up at Erzebet’s. It was busy on a good night, but it had a totally different vibe with the party going on. She could hear the music and feel the vibrations just from standing outside. She took a deep breath and entered. Cassie squeezed between people, glad to see that a fair amount of people were on stage playing some sort of weird twister. Lilo, and several other people she recognized were there. “Having fun?” She called out to specific person in particular.
Ryden: “BWAHAHA okay, yeah, it kind of grosses me out too, just did it cause it annoyed him~” Cause at least Ryden made if very obvious that he was not a mature adult and was very up front about it. Looking up, he noticed that Bellamy was in the house now. “Gotta report to the boss, babe. Be right back.” He scooted away, going through the crowd to reach the teal puff of fur that was Bellamy. “Yoooo~ And here’s our gorgeous host~ Heya baby girl~ Lookin’ goood!”
Lilo laughed awkwardly at Bellamy’s joking. “I mean we flung things, only at the losers though…” Then his eyes were drown over to the door, he couldn’t quite make out what Cassie was saying over the music and the multitudinous conversations but he waved from where he was at the stage. Hoping his bright smile was enough.
Bella raised her brows as Ryden approached, a little amused by his sudden arrival. “We’re the hosts,” she smiled, the skeletal make-up on her face looking exceptionally odd as her own perfectly pearl teeth came through. “Who are both exceptionally beautiful,” Bella assured. “But standing next to Iann aren’t we all?” she teased her Pa. “As long as they were losers,” Bellamy said, turning to see what he was looking at and smiling as she saw Cassie’s dark tendrils in their beautiful curls. “The attack must have been warranted.”
Maya rolled her eyes at his admission. She picked up her drink too, taking a sip from it. “Fine, go be responsible, see if I care,” she replied, smiling again. As for herself she decided to stay at the bar for a few more minutes. She needed at least one to gather herself.
“BWAHAHAHA right, right~” Ryden barked out a laugh, the bottom part of his own skull make up kind of matching Bellamy’s. “Ya’ll guys havin’ fun?” He asked other people gathered there. “Hi Cass~” He gave the she-wolf a little wave.
“Uh I think everyone’s done for the night,” Iann said, when he realized he hadn’t spun the thing in a while. “Unless you guys want to start a new game, I guess.”
Lilo waved again a little bashfully and leaned in close to Iann. “Oye, cabron. Who the heck is that guy in the skull makeup that seems to know Cassie?”
“What other games are there?” Bellamy asked, looking to Ryden for a suggestion while they all waited for Cassie to approach their small collective.
“Full body paint on the stage, color wars aaaand unicorn jello shots drinkin’ game~” Ryden updated Bellamy real quick.
Maya walked over to the game of Twister after a moment. She stood next to Iann and asked, “So, how’s the game Master Spinner?”
“Unicorn shots!” Bella happily requested, linking arms with the large wolf and giving him a grin. “Are they just unicorn in colour and sparkliness or magic too? Iann have some with us. I hardly ever get to see you drunk.”
“Hello! Hi! My name is Lilo nice to meet you. I am Iann’s friend Lilo.” He smiled and extended his hand to Maya as an introduction, trying to be more cheery than awkward. He really was off his game lately.
Iann’s eyes flicked from Ryden to Lilo. “That lobo. Eso es Ryden,” Iann replied to Lilo. “He’s just a kid,” he supplied, but then again maybe Ryden was older than Cassie? Iann couldn’t be sure, werewolves’ aged differently. He looked down at Maya, and wiped a hand down her back. “At least it washes off. I think. Apparently Ryden was in charge of this, not Bellamy. You know Bellamy would look after details like that but Ryden’s like - ” Then Lilo barged in and Iann grinned, getting a weird vicious glee from Lilo’s awkwardness. He was usually so cool and social, ha ha sucker. “This is Maya, this is Lopez. Lilo, Lilo Lopez.”
“I got no clue~ But I caught a glimpse and they sure look pretty~” Rydenadmitted, tucking Bella’s arm more comfortably under his.
Cassie hurried to the stage when she got not only a wave from Lilo but a greeting from…Ryden. She just needed to get a little bit closer to realize it was him. “Hi!” She waved, speaking a little bit louder than normal. She smiled at Bellamy, standing closer to her when she first stepped up towards the group wrapping up their Twister, “Unicorn shots? They don’t have actual unicorn do they?” She asked playfully, somewhat laughing at herself. “I bet I could win a drinking game.” Cassie mused.
Iann looking over at Bellamy, Iann shook his head. “Oh hell no, I’m not drinking tonight, mija. Go get drunk! I’ll hold your hair back when you’re puking and Ryden’s singing ABBA in the bathtub, totally plastered.”
Maya shrugged, “I’m sure I’ll figure it out. And if all else fails, magic,” she replied, not worried about the paint Iann had gotten splattered about her other than to tease him about it. When Lilo introduced himself she smiled back, “Name’s Maya.” She switched her drink to her other hand in order to shake Lilo’s hand. “Nice to meet you too,” she added.
Miguel had been doing his behind the scenes things. But people were playing now and he didn’t need to be behind a table or ushering people anywhere. So when he was Iann having fun and hangout out with people he figured he might as well go say hello. Miguel walked up to the group a little nervously, he was in his blue and pink T-shirt that said “trans dad” on it - hawthorn has given it to him to thank him for helping with the event. “Hey! Iann and friends.”
“How exactly are they a drinking game then?” Bellamy asked, before happily smiling at Cassie, glad the werewolf woman felt happy being close to her. After baking breast cakes together they were definitely friends. “Oh, don’t get Iann started about unicorns, they couldn’t possibly because according to him they don’t exist. But hee should drink anyway,” she said, frowning at him that he’d said no. “Doctor!” she let out with a grin when Miguel arrived, squeezing Ryden’s arm in the process.
“Unicorns do not exist!!” Iann called out randomly, only because he heard the word unicorn and felt compelled to proclaim this. “Hey Miguel - wait.” Iann read the t-shirt a couple times over. “Ayyyy I didn’t know you were a father! Unless you mean you’re a daddy in which case that’s none of my business.”
“Excuse you, old man, I sing Bonnie Tyler when plastered.” Ryden glanced down at Bella. “Oh, ya get your hands tied behind your back and ya get timed how many ya can drink without spillin~”
Miguel chuckled and waved, still a little sheepish. At least he recognized her and the man on her arm. “Bellamy,” he said with a nod. “Student,” he said at the young wolf whose name he never actually got.
“Or is it his business?” Bellamy winked at Miguel, smirking happily. “I can definitely do more shots than you without spilling, even if I was human I could drink you under the table,” she assured. “Anyone else want to join?” Bella asked, figuring they’d have to move closer to the bar to give the game a go.
“Holy shit, abuelo do you ever shut up?” Miguel rolled his eyes but playfully pushed his body into Iann’s side. “Hawthorn made it for me. Because I’m a dad friend or a father figure I guess.” He was blushing just a little.
“Wait, if we’re playing a drinking game I’m 100% in,” Maya piped up.
“Iann’s too grumpy for drinks.” Cassie crinkled her nose at Iann after he refused the idea. Not that it shocked her or anything. Cassie didn’t drink, but she really never saw Iann drink either. She laughed openly again when Ryden explained the drinking game. It was very college-esque. But then, Cassie had never taken part of it. “I’ll give it a whirl.” Cassie shrugged.
“Oh sorry, Bright Eyes,” Iann called out to Ryden, then motioned at Maya. “Hey that’s the spirit, all of you drink and I’ll referee, go on.” And when Cassie volunteered to join in, Iann was truly surprised. “Cassandra Margaret Germaine!”
“Unicorns do exist…” Ruby said to herself, though she would never convince Iann even though she and Alia had SEEN one. “They do exist Iann!!”
“Hi doc~” Ryden snorted at the 'student’ part, looking down at Bellamy to explain and kind of brag. “I been doin’ my homework~” But then he had to wiggle out of Bella’s grasp. “Ya’ll, gotta pass on this, I’m workin. You have fun, mmkay?”
Lilo had taken a step back from the conversation once introducing himself to Maya, wouldn’t want to be rude, but he sort of just enjoyed being around people and talking again. Leirsurely and friendly like, he missed this. “Ayyy, that is my beautiful wife! Ah, almost wife.” He smiled at Cassie enjoying herself.
“Dad friend, okay okay,” Iann chuckled at Miguel, waving him forward too. “I’ll accept that. Hawthorn knows how to treat a parent-figure.” He whirled and wagged a finger at Ruby. “They do not exist!”
“You have to work?” Bella raised a brow. “Fine, be responsible.” She rolled her eyes before happily attaching herself to Cassie, grabbing Maya with her other arm. “We shall have to show the boys how it is done as they are all clearly aware we’ll beat them.”
“Laaaaaame,” Maya replied when Ryden excused himself on the reason of work, imitating perfectly the tone of voice with which Ryden had earlier mocked Iann. She didn’t say more than that about it though.
Ruby hung back from the game, pulling up a seat beside Iann. Not because she didn’t want to play, but because she didn’t want any lingering awkwardness between herself and Bellamy to make the game weird. “They do exist…” she said again to Iann. “But not like you think. Ask Alia…”
Freddie wandered up, already slightly tipsy - fairy biology at its finest - just in time to hear his partner admonish his ex-wife, and he sighed dramatically. “Are we on unicorns again? Or is this something new you don’t believe in?”
Lilo nodded at the newcomer Miguel. “Oye! Sorry friend,” he moved forward to shake Miguel’s hand. “I’m Lilo, Lilo Lopez. Iann’s friend.” Sort of, mostly less antagonistic these days but that was better left out especially in front of Cassie.
Charlie remained crouched as they waited for everyone to take their turn. “I’ve heard a lot of big talk. Can any of you live up to it?”
Miles This sort of party was definitely outside of Miles’ comfort zone. He didn’t think he’d been to a party like this since college, and even then this was definitely ten times more intense than any of the college parties he’d been to. Not to mention so many people had face paint or glitter or overall strange outfits and hairstyles, and the lights were strobing and there was either a smoke machine or someone was throwing powdered paint in the air. He pushed his way through a throng of dancing people, trying to find a familiar face.
Lilo slapped Iann on the chest, lightly and with the back of his hand. “Ayy, spin the spinner guy. People are waiting to win.”
Iann harrumphed. “I already talked to Alia and all amount of talking ain’t gonna make them any more real. It’s not that I don’t believe you, Ruby,” Iann said in an indulgent way, smirking at her. He pulled a chair backwards and hunkered down on it beside Ruby. “It’s that I don’t believe any of you wishful thinking delusional liars. And I mean that in the nicest way, I swear!”
Miguel shook his hand and grinned. So that was his other werewolf neighbor, and the other Chicano Iann has mentioned. Miguel just had to wink at him. “You’re the other Chicano in Soapberry Iann mentioned. We’re neighbors!”
“Freddie!” Ruby grinned, reaching over and snagging his arm to pull him closer. “Tell him unicorns exist. I saw one, remember? Telll him and he’ll believe you,” she mock whispered. Which was meant to be a real whisper but failed.
Cassie nodded in agreement with Bellamy, “That’s right. Lilo!” She called turning back to see him still lingering with Iann and Miguel, she was going to ask if he wanted to come watch but seemed well distracted. She leaned in and told Bellamy, “They’re clearly intimidated.”
Freddie’s mouth fell open in mock offense, and then he laughed, the drink in his hand sloshing a little. “Oi - I’m a very grounded liar, I’ll have you know…” He felt a hand on his arm and stumbled a bit as he was tugged sideways, but lit up when he saw who the hand belonged to. “Hello, love,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek, “You look gorgeous…” But he shook his head. “He won’t,” he said firmly, “Iann’s bound and determined to think they’re a fairy story…” Freddie grinned again. “As opposed to a fairy reality.”
Iann watched Miguel and Lilo talking and it felt weird to see them, but not in a bad way. Just in a way that suddenly felt like strings being pulled from the back of his throat. But then a tipsy fairy tottered over looking all sparkly and cute, as Ruby pulled Freddie closer. “I won’t believe anyone, I keep telling you! Some people don’t believe in ghosts though. Now that - that is absolutely loco.”
“I mean why wouldn’t they be? Lilo and Iann are obviously total light weights,” Bella agreed with Cassie. Freddie being tipsy and approaching was almost enough to distract the vampire when Miles showed up, likely unable to recognise her with the make-up adoring her face, but not quite enough. “Miles!” she screamed with excitement, letting go of the two women she had attached herself to and grabbing him, pulling him towards the collective. “You’re not working!” she beamed happily, planting a black lipped kiss on his own.
“Are we?” Lilo smiled in surprise. “Well I should be more neighborly It would have been nice to meet another Chicano! All I’ve had to deal with was this guy.” He nodded back to Iann, teasing the man as he got deep into unicorn discourse.
“I’m sorry we haven’t met sooner then.” Miguel rolled his eyes in Iann’s general direction. “Abuelo, unicorns exist. I had to lure one, slay it, and use its blood, bones, and horn for a spell when I was a preteen.”
Bellamy dropped Maya’s arm when a man that Maya did recognize came up to the group. It seemed they might not actually get to the drinking game. She wasn’t too worried about that though. Instead she was content to listen as Iann argued that unicorns were by no means real. Given his knowledge about the supernatural she was liable to believe him. Of course it wasn’t particularly pressing as far as issues went.
Grace had eliminated herself from the twister as soon as possible and managed to avoid any paint baths with stern glares and quick movement. She started mingling again, noticing immediately when Freddie had walked into the room thanks to his very Freddie energy. “Where are your short-shorts?” she asked, tssking.
“Nooo, no tell me you are joking.” Lilo was aghast at Miguel, fully forgetting what he’d been up to as a teenager. His eyes darting this way and that, distracted a bit by all the colorful outfits to get a good read on the crowd.
Cassie blinked at Bellamy’s sudden burst of excitement but quickly found the source. Miles. She’d spoken about him before, and Cassie smiled with a silent little wave that he may or may not have seen. Cassie was glad to know him and Bella were still doing well. “Are you going to come watch us drink unicorn shots?” Cassie called to Miles next.
Ruby looked back at Iann, the motion jostling Freddie where she still had her hand wrapped around his arm. “You’re like… fucking Mulder but without the… I wanna believe part. I’m gonna… bring you a unicorn and then… theeeeeen you’ll believe me.” She pointed at Iann, though her aim was off and she ended up pointing out into the crowd a bit.
Lilo will forever live with the shame he missed Grace with the loser’s paint and accidentally hit two innocent party-goers as she darted out of the way I am sure.
Freddie turned when he heard Grace’s voice in his ear, and grinned at her. “Wore them earlier, didn’t I?” he teased. “Thought I’d show off some other assets tonight.” He leaned in and bussed her cheek. “You, however, put me to shame, you gorgeous thing. How are you?”
Grace wrapped Freddie in a hug, kissing his cheek as was her usual greeting. “And what wonderful assets they are. Were you in the parade?”
“We’ll play with just girls,” Bellamy said to Cassie as Miles said he would watch, figuring that was a fine enough reason for Miles to join the rest of the men in not attending. “Maya you still going to join? Ruby?” she asked, looking towards the other woman she didnt know, they all seemeed pretty focused on Iann’s discussion about unicorns existing or not though and Bella didn’t want to insert herself too much with Freddie there, especially since it was such a rare occasion they were at the same event.
In the sea of smells and sounds, Miles barely registered that someone had called out to him, but realized fairly quickly that Bellamy had grabbed him and dragged him towards a group of moderately familiar people, “Yeah, I got someone to cover my beat,” he returned her kiss with a smile, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He nodded his head at Cassie as she waved, and said a quick, “How’s it going?” As a general greeting. “Unicorn shots? I didn’t think that sort of thing existed, but sure, I’ll watch.”
Iann made it like he was listening keenly to Miguel’s claim of knowing a unicorn, nodding in interest until he proclaimed, “Nope, you were fooled by a fake-corn.” He grinned when Rubby said she’d bring one to him, rubbing his hands in glee. “Ahhhh now we’re talking! Bring me a unicorn. Because you know the mere presence of me next to a unicorn would supposedly cause it huge agony. That’d be hilarious.”
Freddie laughed. “I was a bit, yeah. It was smaller than I’m used to, but good fun all the same.” He winked. “Bit of magic in the air makes all the difference. Did you and Alia attend?”
Maya nodded, “Yeah, I’m still in.” This was especially true seen as she had nothing to add on the subject of the realness or lack of when it came to unicorns. Plus she had been in plenty of drinking contests at Pride in New York and saw them as part of the fun.
Charlie almost slipped and fell as they maneuvered on the Twister mat. The group was getting smaller, but it was also becoming more entangled as they continued to play.
“Ayy, gee Iann you are such a stand-up guy.” Lilo raised his eyebrows, giving Miguel a nod, then peered out to wave at Freddie. “Oye amigo! You look shiney and good. Having a fun time?”
Cassie rolled her eyes at the group huddled debating unicorns. It had been a joke when she asked, but apparently the topic was too hot to let be. “Okay, but do you have any idea what kind of alcohol it is?” Cassie asked Bella, wanting to know at least somewhat she should expect. She waved Maya over silently so the girl wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.
Miles leaned his head to kiss Bella’s cheek, but she had so much makeup on and he didn’t want to mess up what no doubt took hours to accomplish, so he planted the kiss to the top of her head and whispered into her ear, “You look beautiful.” Then he responded to Cassie suddenly, “No no no, you’re not supposed to know what sort of alcohol it is! That defeats the purpose of getting drunk.”
Ruby smiled as Freddie saw her and gave her a kiss. He seemed a bit drunk, which was hard for him to achieve, but seemed happy. That was good. Happy was good. For everyone. “You look beautiful too. And you have to convince him because it’s true.” Grace came to greet Freddie them and she turned to Iann as the two embraced. “What do I get if I bring you a unicorn? Oh… yeah, sure. Okay…” Ruby was a bit unsure as she got up, snapping h er fingers at Iann and gesturing between the two of them with an 'i’m watching you’ gesture before going over to the game.
Charlie wiped out and completely biffed it, smearing paint all over their white pants. That had been the goal, though, and it wasn’t the first paint smears of the night. They stood up and looked around. Spotting Iann and a few others in a clump, Charlie headed over. “What mischief are we causing over here?”
Ruby squeezed in beside Maya, looking around to see what they’d be drinking. She was good with tequila, not so good with whiskey and vodka.
Cassie smiled somewhat lopsidedly at Miles when she scoffed, “What? They could serve me rubbing alcohol and what fun is that!” She raised her hands in defeat though, “But fine, to be fair you don’t have to tell me.”
Bella happily leaned against Miles side, pulling his arms so they were wrapped around her middle. The whisper in her ear making her cheeks grow with a flushing, especially since in their environment at least half the people could still hear what he’d said with some kind of supernatural hearing. “Exactly!” she agreed with her partner. “Plus Ryden didn’t mention anything beyond unicorn and he was sort of in charge of this thing. It’s definitely not poisonous…” she rolled off. “You know, beyond alcohol being generally alcoholic.” With that Bellamy dragged Miles over to the bar, assuming anyone who wanted to join would follow, requesting one of the bartenders to line up a bunch of the shots.
Grace had another drink in her hand, probably her third or fourth that night. She wasn’t drunk, but she was in a pleasant and relaxed mood, in spite of the crazy music that had been playing. Definitely not her usual taste. “We were! We had a lovely time. I saw Ephram around.”
Ruby silently wondered if she would have any sort of…. pre-shift advantage over anyone. That would be neat, her brain though idly. "Iann should play because he DOESN’T BELIEVE and how can you get drunk off somethin’ you don’t believe in…“
Freddie realised belatedly that someone was waving at him, and, squinting slightly, not entirely sure who it was, he waved back. Though when he noticed the wolf on the bloke’s shirt, and the word 'amigo’ finally permeated, the fairy smiled broadly, no longer confused. "Lilo! Hello, darling,” he called. “It’s been ages…” Freddie glanced down at his bare chest, gleaming silver, and smirked. “And I suppose I am a bit shiney, yeah - but it’s been a good day. Good party, too. What about you, love? Having fun? Where’s your missus got to?”
Cassie followed right behind Bellamy and Miles taking a seat at the bar and adjusting her dress before she leaned an elbow on the table. “So what did Ryden say? Whoever drinks the fastest? And I guess whoever falls off their stool last wins?” Cassie went to clarify.
“Magic is mostly belief,” Miguel said with a smirk. “I’ll play if Iann plays.”
Miles wasn’t too sure what sort of unicorn conversation was going on in the sidelines, but he laughed as Ruby tried to convince Iann to join their proposed drinking game. “The shots seem real enough but I doubt there’s any actual unicorn essence in them.” He helped hand them out but he, of course, wasn’t going to partake himself.
Maya made her way over to the bar. She flashed the bartender a thank you smile. “I think it was most shots without spilling in some amount of time,” she replied, “Oh and no hands.” As she said the last part she put her hands behind herself as if they were being cuffed. She didn’t sit though. Standing gave her a better angle.
“Uh huh! Yeah I feel like I haven’t seen you since the ring thing! That worked real well tho!” Lilo smiled and pointed to the love of his life Cassie who was barreling forward into a drinking contest to get herself plastered as all get out. He sighed, a bit stary-eyed, “Ay there she is, about to drink this bar under the table, or fall right on her face.”
“Iann doesn’t believe in unicorns,” Ruby said to the person she didn’t know. “He’s just chicken I think…”
Freddie beamed at the mention of his husband. “Did you? I haven’t found him yet. He had some police business that needed seeing to,” the fairy smirked, “-so seeing to me will have to wait for a bit.”
“You drink for me, hermano,” Iann said to Miguel, and laughed when Ruby called him out. “I am a chicken! Look guys - the sky is falling down!”
“Exactly what Maya said,” Bellamy nodded, knowing that it was at least the three of them and Miles watching. He wasn’t exactly an unbiased judge. “Anyone else?” she asked, checking to see if Ruby and Miguel were joining them.
“Oh…” Cassie nodded along with Maya, placing her hands behind her as well and looking to the other women along the bar to know when to start.
“I’m in,” Ruby said.
Miguel shrugged. He had done his work for the day. Might as well have a little fun. And he was a sucker for alcohol. “Alright I’m in.” He stood next to Bella with his hands behind his back.
Lilo turned to look back, nodding at Miguel’s answer, and addressing Freddie directly. “I am having tons of fun… uh.. I seem to be under-dressed though.” He looked down in regards to his radical wolf tee and khaki shorts. “Everyone else seems so prepared for this, uh, pride thing.”
Charlie sat down beside them ready to go. “Count me in for strange drinking games. Just explain to me what we’re doing.“
Miles clapped Iann’s shoulder, "Guess we’ll be the sober judges.”
“Miles? Miles! You look so…” Iann looked the man up and down. “…Straight.”
“Iann come drink and you can video me next week in your cave pit…” Ruby had no idea how that might sound to others that didn’t know the details, but she really coudln’t be arsed to care.
“Shocker of shockers…he might possibly be…straight,” Bellamy turned to Iann with wide eyes before nudging Miguel. “You’ll let me win right? To curry favour with Iann? I am his prized child.”
Miles nodded, “What clued you in? Is it the jeans?”
Freddie clapped Lilo reassuringly on the shoulder. “There isn’t a dress code for Pride, love,” he smiled - albeit a little drunkenly. “I promise you’re fine.” The fairy grinned. “Though I can glamour you something a bit sparklier if you like.”
The bartender gave each of the players a myriad of the glittering unicorn themed shots, enough for each to make it through the minute with more to spare. Looking to Iann and Miles the bartender counted down, girls putting hands behind their back. Finally he let out a “Go!” and the game began.
Lilo laughed, a bit bashfully out of his normal character. “I mean, I’m good. Thank you for the sparkle offer but really. I mean, I’m fine not drawing too much attention to myself. But hey, aren’t you sparly enough to rub off on everyone tonight?” He joked back to Freddie, slowly edging closer to the bar to see his fiance compete.
Grace nodded. “I think he was in uniform, or at least a version of it.” Not that they seemed to have needed the police so far. The town was pretty chilled out. Even the almost fight between Fane and Ryden hadn’t escalated to anything involving violence.
Ruby leaned over and wrapped her lips around the shot glass, stopping the flow of brightly colored liquid with her tongue as she tipped her head back and swallowed. Christ it was sweet. She sat the glass back down and moved on to the next, repeating the motion one after the other.
Charlie grabbed the first one and nearly gagged just from how sweet it was. They’d been expected sweet with a name like unicorn, but maybe not that sweet. With only a momentary pause, they grabbed the next to keep drinking.
“Ruby, I am drinking, technically,” Iann said, nabbing some club soda from the bartender. “So now I get to film you in the sinkhole. Booyah.”
At the sound of go Maya picked up the first few shots with her teeth and easily tilted them back into her mouth. On the third one though, the glass slipped out of her mouth and shattered across the bar. Luckily they were spread out enough that the flying shards only injured her. But she did get sliced by a piece under her rainbow bandeau. “Oh fuck,” she said, immediately making sure that it wasn’t stuck in there. “First aid kit?” she asked the bartender.
Muscle memory from med-school kicked in and Miguel started drinking shots like a well oiled machine.
Miles grabbed a wad of napkins from the bartop when one of the shot glasses fell and broke with a shatter. “Careful there,” he offered the napkins to the younger woman.
“Whoa whoa whoa! What kind of violent game is this??” Iann said, because he hadn’t really understood the game until one of the glasses shattered and Maya was asking for a first-aid kit. “Miguel’s a doctor. But also maybe this isn’t the best game for increasingly drunk people to play if one of you is gonna start bleeding for it. No game’s worth that,” Iann intoned in surprise.
Lilo began enthusiastically clapping his hands. “Whoo! Go Cassie! Ay! Show them how a real lobo drinks. I am behind you and I will hold your hair all night mi tesoro.”
Ruby nearly lost her third shot as well. Her tongue was tingling from the sheer volume of sweetness. Which was perhaps a bit ironic considering the unicorn she’d seen had been a half-rotten, zombieish sorta thing. On her fifth one, she looked over to see the new face keeping up with her and the others.
Maya waved off Iann’s concern, “Don’t worry about it. I’m just a dumbass.” She took the man she could only guess was Bellamy’s boyfriend with a “Thanks,” and started cleaning up after herself. It was a shallow cut, certainly not the worst she’d had. Mostly she just felt annoyed that she was the first one out of the game.
Cassie was careful with the first shot glass, but as soon as the alcohol poured over her tongue and she realized how sweet the concoction was she smiled to herself, moving faster and a little more confident with the other shots handed out. It was almost like liquified sugar, and that Cassie could handle. Lilo’s cheering definitely helped too.
Freddie nodded, a small smile playing on his lips at the thought of Ephram in uniform - even today’s rather whimsical version of it. “He can’t be too far off,” he said, “I heard Cotton Eye Joe play not long ago, and I’d bet my arse that he’s the reason why.” Glancing around for a moment, he turned back to Grace. “Is Alia here somewhere too, love?”
If Ruby could drink Ephram’s moonshine, she could drink more of this unicorn fizzy sugary… stuff. She had a hell of a sweet tooth, but seven shots in was making her doub herself. She didn’t feel sick, but as she looked over at Cassie and saw the progress the woman was making, Ruby didnt know if she could keep up.
Iann looked over at the bartender, not convinced that Maya being a 'dumbass’ prevented danger. He knew the bartender was a witch and so Iann asked, “Hey, can you charm these glasses not to break? And do you know a healing spell?” The bartender nodded and used a few spells to clean up the shards as well as break-proof the glasses.
Grace glanced at Ruby. Whatever she was drinking was incredibly intoxicating. “Hm, yes. Ruby said he must have something to do with it… An inside joke?”
Miles helped the bartender clear up the broken shot glass and wipe down the bartop. “Damn Bellamy, you go babe!” He cheered her on as she knocked back shot after shot.
“Whoo! Magic! Pride! Drinking!” Lilo was getting a bit too enthusiastic getting wrapped up in all the excitement.
“Oh my god I thnk I’ve got diabetes…” Ruby said as she took a small breath before readjusting her stance and wrapping her mouth around the next glass. IT went down smooth and she coughed just a little bit as she put the glass back down.
“Maybe we should line up some water after this,” Miles wondered aloud.
Charlie picked up the next glass without really looking and didn’t quite get a good grasp on it. “Shit!” they said as they almost dropped it. Thankfully Charlie managed to catch it before it hit the counter, but it still spilled everyone. “Guess that’s me.” They’d had enough that the sugar was threatening to overwhelming them, but the alcohol hadn’t quite hit yet. Not hard anyway.
Bella was drinking rather easily, she didn’t exactly have a technique so much as she was acting how she did as a teenager, and admittedly she loved sugary sweet things as Miles had seen from the dessert spreads she had done, still she smiled happily as he cheered, wishing she could nudge the wolf and share a happy moment they had two wolf-dads egging them on.
Lilo clapped his hands on this guy Miles’ back. “Water! That is such a good idea amigo! Party, but with responsibility and smartness- uh, niceness. you know what I mean. being responsible.” Lilo smiled again and nodded to a bartender to get a club soda of his own. “This is a wild drinking game. I got to say when I was a kid there were no unicorns. It was just beer and liquor and the game was to see who got drunk quickest.”
Miguel’s soft baby esophagus started to get worked up and he made a really terrible noise before running to the bathroom.
After a bit, your mouth and throat just sorta go numb, so as the contestant got weedled down one by one, Ruby wondered if she just might be able to win despite most of her talk being of the smack variety. Though if she /did/ lose, at least she was technically human against a wolf and a vamp as the only other guy that was left suddenly made tracks.
“Ooooh, eeeeh,” Lilo sucked in air through his teeth sympathetically as he watched Miguel run to the bathroom. Practically hearing the rough noise of defeat.
Iann burst out laughing. “Miguel!! Are you okay?!”
Freddie laughed, shooting a glance at his ex-wife. “Sort of,” he chuckled. “For whatever reason, that horrible song always puts Ephram in the mood - so, now it rather puts me in the mood too.” The fairy rolled his eyes at himself. “But let’s have another drink, yeah? And then you can tell me something mortifying about yourself in order to level the playing field again.”
Cassie side-glanced over at Bellamy down the bar and arched a brow with a curled grin at the corner of her mouth. It was just short of smug, but in competitions Cassie could get cocky and she and Bella were doing well.
“Yeah, water’s a good idea,” Maya agreed with a hopeful nod to the bartender. Satisfied that she wasn’t bleeding too much she turned her attention to the remaining contestants. A moment later she had a water glass and this one she was more cautious with. She drank nearly half of it in one go though, knowing that the sugar would make her hangover that much worse.
Miles nodded pointedly at the man who had been cheering on Cassie, “Yes, exactly! It was just plain ol’ vodka shots or tequila shots back in my day.” He sounded like an old man. Then one of the contestants made a strangled sort of noise and ran off, to where he assumed the bathroom was. “He’s going to need to eat something. Maybe get some food going around after this too.”
Bella’s idea of…well, not really having a technique didn’t work out for her. Picking up the glass and the scent of blood in the air finally hitting her nose her fangs descended and the glass slipped from her mouth, happily bouncing off with the bartenders spell before she laughed and turned to Miles. “Do you have a glass of water for me to help my awful breath?”
Grace didn’t know whether to laugh or cringe, so she did a mixture of both. “Oh, bloody hell. That’s hilarious.” She glanced around at what she could only assume was a drinking game going on. “Can fairies hold their booze?”
Surprisingly, Bellamy fell out of the game, leaving just Ruby and Cassie. She glanced over at the other woman who was doing shots like they were water. There were worse ways to lose. “Can I get a kiss if I beat you?” she asked Cassie as she turned back another shot.
Miguel walked back to the game slowly, running his face with paper towel. He felt gross. It was so easy to make him vomit, and it was getting worse as he got older. He should have known better than to play a drinking game. “I’m okay,” he said and then leaned on Iann.
Lilo excitedly clapped again. “Ayy, I mean. Like greasy food yeah? Food like that is good for drinking right friend?” Lilo nodded over at Miles, happy to induct more people into his growing circle of friendships this night.
Charlie reached around Maya to grab another glass of water for themself. It was definitely a good idea, but they figured it was too little too late to stop a hangover. Starving off the worst of it seemed like a positive note, though, so they gulped down the water and asked the bartender for more. They were still in “speed mode” from the shots.
“You poor thing,” Iann said sympathetically, and handed Miguel a glass of water. “You need anything else papito? We can go get some fries after this or something.” Iann always liked downing boatloads of crappy food after his old drinking binges.
Iann nudged Charlie as well, “Honestly my money was on you.”
Maya “Did someone say fries?” Maya asked, turning in the direction of Iann’s voice, “We should definitely get fries.”
“Yes man, gotta get some shit fries or some chips and dip.” Miles’ attention was distracted though as Bellamy lost her grip on her shot. “Yes baby,” he grabbed a filled glass of water off the bartop for her. “You did good.”
Charlie blinked in surprise before a grin spread across their face. “I mean I am great, but I have to admit this isn’t really my typical. I’m all about the scene, but I tend to be more easygoing with my drinks. Give me a glass of scotch over this marathon of sugar any day.”
“Papito comiendo papitos,” Miguel said with a chuckle. “Please. I need the salt.” He grabbed one of the many bottles of water and drank it slowly.
Freddie laughed and shook his head. “Not even a little. Fairies are the first ones under the table-” he winked, “-and under the host.” Freddie laughed again, his tipsiness shining through a little more strongly. “Or at least I am, any road. Whereas vampires, I know, barely feel a thing.” His eyes sparkled. “Unless you’re the exception to the rule.”
Bella took the glass from Miles, sipping it gently. “Ah well, I’m exceptionally beautiful, I can lose at other things,” Bellamy shrugged, wrapping a free arm around his middle and leaning onto him. “You guys getting burgers?” she asked the collective of Dad-Bros.
"Fries it is! I know a great place that uses beef tallow. Or like…something vegan if you’re vegan or whatever.“ Iann nodded at Charlie. "Yeah, the sugar is really what kills, these drinks are nuts. Come get fries!”
Cassie was sort of startled to see Bellamy drop out of the game and looked over at Ruby when the other woman spoke to her. Cassie didn’t know what to say. Her mouth hung open for a moment and all she could say was “Uh…” Before she tried to take another shot, but now Cassie was unsure of herself, and the glass slipped spilling alcohol out on the bar and it trickled down onto the skirt of her dress. Cassie jumped up wiping at it frantically, “Shit, shit.” She hissed before running off to clean it in the bathroom.
Ruby hadn’t intended what she said to distract Cassie, but apparently it did and CAssie dropped her shot. Ruby swallowed the last of her (last) shot, and grimaced as seh looked around. “Did I win?” she grinned. “Because that was… awful,” she laughed, wiping purple foam from her lips. “Did I seriously win though?? Holy shit…”
Lilo’s mouth dropped open. “Ooh oh shit.” Lilo grimaced at the mess on Cassie’s dress know this wasn’t goin gto be an easy night. “Oh, oh, lobocita, mi tesoro are you okay? Oh honey.” He rushed to her side, willing and ready to comfort Cassie in her loss.
“You cheated! And it was great,” Iann simultaneously accused and congratulated Ruby.
Grace nodded. She didn’t know much about fairies but not everyone could be immune to the effects of alcohol. “Shame. I suppose I could have tried to beat them, but I think Ruby is having a good time.”
“Sounds like it. Burgers and fries are happening.” Miles kissed the top of Bella’s head once more and then slid a glass of water over toward the victorious Ruby. “You did! Congrats!”
Charlie smiled. “I would totally get fries with you, but I think I should probably head home. Devon is making me head in to work tomorrow, so I don’t want to be up too terribly late. I’ll see you later this week, though, right?”
“No rules against talking to each other,” Ruby shouted back happily at Iann.
“Oye! Cassie baby, you okay in there,” Lilo called into the ladies bathroom hanging just outside it.
“Thanks,” Ruby grinned up at MIles, both for the water and the congratulations. “I think I’m turned off to sweets forever now. Kudos to whoever mixed that up… ugh.”
Grace turned to Ruby, giving her a congratulations pat on the shoulder. “Well done. What the bloody hell was that? It seems to have sent half the party to the bathroom.”
“For the talent show yeah! I’ll text you, Ariel,” Iann said with a clap on Charlie’s back, before he pointed at them. “Lots of water. And Gatorade, you need electrolytes. You could probably just down a glass of sea-water, now that I think about it.” Maybe that was a common merm cure for a hangover.
Maya gestured towards Ryden up on the stage, “I think that’s one you have to take up with DJ Howl.” She took a sip of her water. “And congrats, although we’re definitely having a rematch with real drinks.”
Charlie nodded, waving briefly to say goodbye to everyone before slowly ambling toward the door. It had been a fun night, and they were definitely looking forward to the rest of the week.
“I have no idea,” Ruby said to Grace, sucking a bit of sticky off her fingers. “But it tastes like liquid cotton candy times infinity.”
“I’m down for burgers and fries,” Bella grinned, unsure if they meant here or if they were going to make some kind of awkward half drunk-half sober group trip to a local burger joint. Finishing off her water she placed it down, waving goodbye to the person she had just competed with.
Dani was quite fond of the dance floor. It was the perfect place to channel the energy they’d built up all day long - and a powerful distraction against thoughts of earlier events. With a bob of glowing hair that was impossible to miss, they finally escaped from the crowd to grab a drink. Nothing alcoholic, for the moment. Just something to allow them to recharge for whatever they got up to next
“I’m fine!” Cassie called, quickly popping out of the restroom wiping at her dress with a wet paper towel, “I just don’t want this to get ruined. I could have kept going. Spilling is a stupid way to win anyways.” She grumbled, Cassie was not a good loser.
“Well technically this place just serves fries, but…lots of fries.” Iann looked over where Freddie and Grace were. “Confetti, are you coming for greasy food?”
Ruby grinned at Maya. “I’ll have to thank him properly later.” She glanced up at Ryden behind the booth, grinning a bit more before turning back to Maya. “You okay? Did you get cut
"Well it’s okay baby! Plenty of other people at the bar lost that way. besides you got so close!” Lilo brightened, smiling at her. “I mean, runner up isn’t so bad?”
Ruby: “Did you get cut on your glass?”
“I can be a doctor,” Miguel said around his water bottle. “I’m sober enough.”
Maya shrugged, “A little bit. But chicks dig scars.” She smiled, not wanting anyone to worry. Besides it didn’t turn that bad. “Jury’s still out on whether or not dudes dig scars, but I’d be happy to do some scientific study on that one,” she added, “You know, for science.”
When Freddie heard Iann’s voice, he turned in his friend’s direction, realising a bit belatedly that he’d lost track of Lilo Lopez when he’d been talking to Grace and feeling a bit badly about it. “What?” he asked. “Chips?” Freddie wrinkled his nose a bit, “I could do, I suppose… Where?”
“Words patients don’t want to hear from their doctor!” Bellamy called out to Miguel as though she were playing jeopardy.
“Mmmm science is good. I used to have… a whole shit ton of scars,” Ruby said, gesturing a bit drunkenly with her hand. “Big one…. right here.” She swept the finger up her right cheek. “That shiny as fuck fairy right there fixed me allll up.” She pointed somwhere towards Freddie.
Miguel nodded. “I dig scars.” He nodded some more. “But like… I dunno they have to be strategically placed. “For 500!” He said to Bellamy, a little too loud to seem very sober at all.
Freddie noticed Ruby pointing at him and grinned. “Me? What have I done now?”
“He digs scars,” Ruby said, pointing towards the man she didn’t know.
Lilo tried to placate his no doubt disappointed fiance, knowing her competitive streak was strong. “I mean I know you could have kept going, I mean they could have probably run out of drink before you even got too drunk. Which is probably a good thing you spilled. Ruby would have really hurt herself trying to keep up with you.” He shrugged. “Honestly you probably saved a life tonight.”
Bella grinned widely as Miguel got her joke, quite pleased with herself, watching as the more humanoid of the group that had drank were clearly getting quite drunk. Fortunately for herself, and likely Cassie, it wasn’t really enough to get either of them drunk.
“Doesn’t sound very sober to me,” Miles laughed. “Alright, we gotta get some food in these people.”
Maya laughed, “Okay, the doctor is definitely drunk. But I am still taking his survey response for science.”
“Just tellin’ Maya how you fixed me up that one time. ’s good stuff… good stuff… don’t worry…” Ruby said to Freddie.
“The Big Fry,” Iann announced cheerfully. “It’s a couple blocks down from here, we can all just walk.” It was still super-busy outside anyway even though it was so late, but - this was Soapberry. And Pride. So no one was sleeping. “Vamanos, people!”
“Lilo,” Cassie started, “Runner up is the worst.” She sighed and then waved her hand in dismissal, “Whatever. Did you find out what everyone was up to before you came over here?” She grumbled again when Lilo commented about Ruby and nodded, “Yeah, someone better make sure she gets home alright.”
Freddie leaned over to Grace, and murmured, “Did Iann say he’s taking us to see Stephen Fry, or have I missed something?”
“Uhhhh….” Lilo stared at her blankly, then glanced at the group which seemed to be gearing up for something. “No, no I did not. Was I supposed to? I just kinda wanted to check on you.”
“Dani!” Ruby exclaimed as she saw her friend sidle up to the bar. “Dani, where have you beeeennn? WHere’s Sam? ARe you here alone? Have you meet my other very pretty friend Maya?” Ruby slid off her stool as she said all this and wrapped her arm around Dani’s shoulder, turning them a bit to point at MAya.
At Iann’s request they leave Bellamy looked to Ryden, unsure if she should leave the party when they were meant to be hosting. The place was full though and he was quite focused on his music. She’d either return later that evening or the next day to help with things. For now she was happy to cling to Miles and get fries with her friends. “Lead the way, Pa,” she told Iann, heading off in the same direction as him, still leaning on Miles as she walked. “You going to dress this nice for the auction?” she teased him.
Cassie shrugged, “No. But you know it’s easy to lose people in here, that’s all I was thinking.” Cassie took his arm, “Thanks for checking on me and cheering for me though.” She stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek, “You’re the best.”
Maya smiled as Ruby slid off her stool to try and introduce her to Dani. “Yes, we’re kind of sisters,” she replied, which she mostly only said because she was definitely buzzed by now. The fact they had earlier learned that they were eskimo sisters helped a little too. “Now,” she stood herself, “Lead me to fries please Iann.”
Iann kept company with Bellamy and Miles, motioning for others to follow if they wanted. “Is Miles going to be in that auction thing? You’ll be the only one betting on him though,” Iann stated plainly, right in front of Miles as if he was merely commenting an uncontested and inoffensive fact about Miles.
“Wait what?” Ruby said, frowning a bit as she looked between the two. It took her a second to put it all together, but once she did she snapped her fingers. “Ahhhh because Fane’s your Dad. Cool.” Ruby blinked. “I miss my sister…”
“Oh the auction I’m in it! You’re bid on me right, abuelo?” Miguel winked at Iann as he clung to his arm.
Lilo smiled at the kiss. “I know that I am, and so are you.” He wrapped arm around Cassie’s back. “Lets go see what these drunky drunks are up to!”
Miles went along with the group of people heading out, he kept an arm around Bella’s slim shoulders as they walked. “This isn’t that nice,” he was just wearing a plain button up and jeans, “I’ll probably wear a suit for the auction, unless you had something else in mind.” He wasn’t bothered by what Iann had said, in fact he nodded his head at him, “That’s probably true, at least the proceeds will go to a good cause.”
Ephram caught up with the group just as they were headed out to forage for fried potatoes, face wiped clean of the giraffe makeup that Charlie had put on him earlier. He bumped against Freddie, grumbling, “I been on my feet all day. Feel bad for me.”
"You comin’?“ Ruby asked Dani as everyone started to head out for fries. Ruby was quite suddenly starving.
Cassie nodded, walking with Lilo back towards the bar. But just like she thought, most of the seats had been cleared. Everyone was on the move. “Shoot…” She muttered. But she suddenly saw Ruby who was lingering a bit behind. “There!” Cassie pointed, hurrying through the crowd and pulling Lilo along, “Hey!” She called to Ruby before getting up next to her, “Where’s everyone going?”
Bella gave Iann a frown of disapproval. Even if Miles didn’t think anyone would Bellamy still wanted to defend him and his handsomeness. "You could wear nothing? Perhaps then you’d get some bids,” she smirked, knowing Miles would never, though part of her considered wearing less than her usual dress. “I’ll bid on you no matter what you wear. And apparently Tuah is going to be fine with you bidding on the doctor,” Bellamy’s words moving from Miles to Iann. Her eyes moved back, spotting Ephram catching up with Freddie and giving him a little wave before returning to Miles, Iann and Miguel. “Anyone else catching your eye, Miguel?”
Dani blinked when their name was so excitedly called from down the bar. It was so loud that they weren’t able to make out the owner of the voice until she made her approach. Once they recognized her, an effortless grin brightened their features. “Ruby!” They wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed, a glass of water in their second hand. “We’ve been dancing,” they laughed. “He stepped out a bit ago. We’re supplying all of the flowers for gay prom, so he wants to get some sleep and get an early start tomorrow. The sooner we get them done, the better.” When proclaimed them as 'kind of’ sisters, ignoring the other sister identification they shared, Dani felt a faint, warm sensation swell in their chest. “Yeah. Kinda sisters.” They bumped Maya’s shoulder harmlessly with their fist and then turned back to Ruby. “Why not. Lead the way, love.”
Freddie lit up when Ephram appeared beside him and he slipped his arm around his husband, leaving smudges of fairy dust everywhere they touched. “My poor darling,” he sympathised. “You’d best lean on me then, yeah?”
Maya smiled softly like candlelight when Dani agreed that they were kind of like sisters. She worried a good deal that while Fane had no problems taking her under his wing the rest of the family might not be so excited about it. It seemed at least when it came to Dani those worries were unfounded. Something especially needed to hear today.
“For fries,” Ruby told Cassie. “You two coming?” she asked. “I mean… you so woulda beat me if I hadn’t distracted you, so I know you could use some carbs.”
“Oh I dunno. Maybe Milo will. I think he’s pretty cute.” Miguel shrugged. “Not that I think Iann is cute. He’s like my brother or my cousin!” He bumped into Iann again for good measure. “Or my old grandpa,” he added.
“Ayy, this is like a scavenger hunt! Find the group of aging drunk people huh?” Lilo teased, anyone and in general as he was on the move. Just sort of giddy to be out late for once, and with Cassie on his arm as they played around with the good time group at pride. “Late night snacks? That sound good to me. I like these people, they seem fun.”
“Responsible Sam,” Ruby smiled at Dani as they all started towards the door. “I don’t know if I’m gonna go though. Depends on if I can get a date. Though it’ll be real embarrasin’ if no one bids on me,” she snorted.
“So you’re in the auction too huh? I’m going to bid on everyone,” Iann said cheerfully and then added in a gracious way, “Even you, Miles. But especially you, Miguel. Anything for Doctor Cursebreaker, who else will I go to when I get cursed and need help, huh?”
“Hey,” Ruby said across Cassie to Lilo. “I’m not 'aging,’” she laughed. “Just… refined.”
“He is like a grandpa,” Bellamy acknowledged of Iann. “And Milo is cute, I would offer to suggest he bid on you but I don’t think I have sway with him.” An 'aww’ came out of her mouth as Iann said he would bid on everyone. “Will you bid on me, Pa?” she asked, big grin on her face.
Iann paused and waved at where Cassie and Ruby were. “Hey, hey! Come on! The Big Fry, we’re going to The Big Fry!”
Ephram took Freddie up on his offer immediately, continuing to grump, “–used to be I could work a double shift and then go put back a few at the bar on my feet the whole time! I’m gettin’ soft, Freddie.” He looked around at the group, taking in familiar faces with a sigh of contentment. “I din’t even see you this morning, lookit you.” Ephram took in Freddie’s attire (or lack thereof) with grateful appreciation as he half eavesdropped on the others’ conversations.
Maya fell to the back of the group as they discussed the auction. She’d seen it advertised on one of the event flyers and didn’t even think about going. The idea made her uncomfortable. It was for charity though so she said nothing.
“Fries!” Cassie gasped, looking up to try and see Iann through the crowd, “And he didn’t even wait.” She grumbled, but hardly taking it to heart. “Lilo-“ She wagged his arm in her hand but smiled when he happily agree. “Yes of course. We gotta catch up.” Cassie glanced back over to Ruby, a slightly guilty quirk in her mouth. “That’s alright. As long as you think you’re feeling alright? That was a lot of shots for a human.”
Miles noticed that Cassie and Lilo had rejoined the group. “You put up a good fight there, Cassie. And I don’t think I caught your name before,” he addressed Lilo, offering out his hand for quick shake. “I’m Miles.”
“Hi Miles!” Miguel said. Because the face and name were new. “Are you Bella’s boyfriend?” He asked, because when he was drunk he had even less of a filter.
“Now I’m a grandpa, greaaaaaat,” Iann groused, but he didn’t seem that displeased. He just liked to gripe whenever he could.
“Yes that’s me, Bella’s boyfriend,” Miles returned. “And you’re the not sober doctor.”
“Of course you are, abuelo. Listen to you complain about everything!” Miguel smiled at Miles. “Yep that’s me!”
Ruby raised a hand to Iann. “We’re comin’… skeptic.” She turned to Cassie. “It’s because he’s a nonbeliever. And yeah I feel pretty okay… a little bleck. But mostly okay. Oh!” she said suddenly. “I;ve been meanin’ to call you. Look.” She held out her bare forearm, the one with the wolf bite. “Imma be a wolf in a week or so. Wanted to call and tell you.”
Dani returned Ruby’s smile and squeezed her arm. “You should! Why don’t be just bid on each other, hm? Then neither of us will have to shoulder potential public shame and embarrassment.”
Lilo moved with Cassie to catch up with the group, happy to do so. “Ayy, Ruby, I just mean… well how none of us are mischief-ous, mishchiving, misch- none of us are teens that go out and get drunk and be silly anymore.” Lilo cleared his throat and tried to shake of the mispronunciations, he wasn’t even drunk. “Nice to meet you miles!” He moved forward to give Miles’ hand a good gripped shake. “I’m Lilo, Cassie’s guy. You might not have seen me around lately but I’m back.”
Ruby snorted at Dani. “Sounds good to me. Though I’m poor so you might go for like… twenty bucks if no one else bids?”
Freddie smiled at Ephram’s grumbling, making soft soothing commiserative sorts of noises as they walked, happy to take his weight. “Well, for what it’s worth,” he said, “I happen to think your stamina’s quite something. Soft or not.” He leaned up and kissed at Ephram’s jaw before grinning, “And you didn’t even see my morning outfit. This is number two.”
“We’re doin’ it now aren’t we?” Ruby smiled at Lilo. “But nah, I get it. Adult responsibilities and all that stuff. But I mean… you guys… you got kids… how great is that??” She gestured between Cassie and Lilo.
Bella frowned at the two men who acknowledged themselves so simply. “Miguel says that he can break curses, he broke Iann from being an eight year old boy, reverted him back to grandpa state, and Miles works for the sheriffs department pretty much all the time, so you each can be contacted by dialling nine one onee” she told each of them so there was a little more for each of them to go off.
Lilo eyeballed Ruby, then back at Cassie. Completely caught off guard. “Ayyy… so… huh. Welcome Ruby? Um to, the wolfhood?”
Ephram waved back to Bellamy, scrunching his face at her in their old way and doing a quick observation of what she was like with Miles there. They seemed so relaxed and at ease with each other, more than he’d ever seen Bellamy with any boyfriend and sure as hell more than he’d ever seen Miles at work. A worried little knot in Ephram’s chest unraveled, and he nudged back at Freddie, feeling a little more buoyant with both his husband’s attentions and his friend’s happiness. “Say,” Ephram asked, “you gonna do that auction thing?” He raised his voice, hollering over the others. “WHO ALL’S GONNA DO THE AUCTION THING??”
Iann gave an impressed whistle. “That’s a great summary, Belle. Nice work there. Now describe yourself!”
Dani chuckled and offered up a hand as if they were forging a genuine business deal. “Twenty bucks it is.” But then Ruby held out her arm and proclaimed some rather shocking sudden information. “What?” Dani reached out to take Ruby’s extended arm in both hands, allowing their eyes to roam over the sight in a wild mix of concern and curiosity. And maybe the slightest bit of hurt for not having heard of it sooner. “Since when?”
“I tried-“ Cassie shrugged at Miles, “Thanks though. Nice to see you again. It’s been a little while.” Her attention was bouncing between people and it landed on Ruby again. She smiled kindly at the woman, that is until she saw the faint bite mark that Ruby held out with drunk pride. It made Cassie’s breath catch in her throat, “Jesus Christ. Ruby-“ She hissed taking her arm for a closer look, “Oh Jesus Christ.” She panicked, trying to hide most of the nervous reaction. But it was difficult. “Ryden was talking about you.”
“Thanks,” Ruby nodded at Lilo. “Was pretty ticked about it at first but now I"m like… okay cool.”
Dani raised their hand with an enthusiastic wave at Ephram’s holler. “Me!!”
Lilo looked from person to person. All geared up to make friends with Miles, have some guy time or Chicano time with Miguel when he wasn’t so green around the mouth, maybe tease Iann some more. But Ruby’s revelation stunned him. “Dios, I need a drink.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, uh, good for you for… making the best out of a situation.”
Ephram’s cute face to her had made Bella smile, turning back to Iann. “If I described myself it would just be me going on for hours about how exceptionally beautiful and gifted I am,” she answered. “I’m doing the action too!” she called out to Ephram, squeezing Miles arm. “You biding on me?” she asked Ephram. “Give Miles someone to compete with?”
“What auction thing, sweetheart?” Freddie asked, his pleasant drunk making his thinking meander a bit. “Are we selling something? Or should we be?” He chuckled. “I’m a bit lost…”
Lilo tilted his head down to Cassie. “So Ryden knows this?” He’d been meaning to ask her about, what had Iann called him, some young lobo.
“Mmm… couple weeks?” Ruby said to Dani. “My idiot brother. I told your Dad couple of days ago. Well, I mean… sort of. He could smell me, so… but it’s fine. It’s really fine,” she said to Dani, giving them a bit of a squeeze. Then her attention was back on CAssie as the other woman took her arm. “Ryden? Did he talk to you? I like him, he’s a real nice guy. Reallll nice,” Ruby grinned to herself. “But hey… what’s wrong? Its really fine.”
Iann nudged Maya. “You okay kid? Is there still glass in you? You look like you sucked on a lemon.”
“Okay cool?” Cassie repeated in disbelief, “Why didn’t you tell me before! Oh my god you’re drunk.” She stomped her foot, “Shit I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. And Ryden was being all hush about it after I helped him. Unbelievable. ‘Okay…cool’.” She threw up her hands in frustration, looking back to Lilo, “I just want fries. /Now/.”
Ruby raised her hand as well. “ME!!” she said loudly. “What’re we doin’?” she asked Dan, then nodded again at Lilo. “I like wolves. Every wolf I know is just… fantastic, so…”
Maya gave Iann a smile, “I’m fine. Glass free. It’s just been a long day.” She’d already managed to make enough things about her today. There was no need to mention her personal discomfort with the Date Auction, especially since she was handling it.
“Woah,” Miles had overheard Ruby’s casual announcement that she was now going to be a werewolf and looked over at her. “Well damn.” He wasn’t sure what else to say about it though, especially since she seemed to be okay with it. “I think it’s just up ahead,” he said, nodding toward a building coming up on their left. “Alright, try not to make a mess in here everyone,” he said to those who were listening, holding the door open so people could filter in, and feeling very much like he was herding a group of ducklings.
Lilo “Fries yup, they are good. I sure like wolves…. So! What is everyone doing for this pride thing? Auctioning off?”
Finally working out what exactly the auction in question entailed, Freddie’s face settled into a small moue of distaste at the idea of Ephram bidding on Bellamy Barnes, but he didn’t object, just said, “I honestly haven’t given it any thought…”
Ruby glanced over at Cassie. “Cant do much else bout it, can I? Was gonna tell you, was /still/ gonna tell you before hand… just… you got a family and kids and… I didn’t want you to feel obligated since we’re friends and all.” Ruby gave a small shrug. “Rein was mad too.”
Ephram looped his arm around Freddie’s waist, lifting him slightly as he jogged the fairy up and down. “Babe! It’s some sorter date auction thingy what’s happening. Folks can sign themselves up to git auctioned or they can bid on the auctionees.” He drew out the eeeeeee for a while, liking how it felt in his mouth – there was a good chance Ephram was a little tipsy himself, on tiredness and the occasional special Pride drink – and then bellowed back at the others, “Well shit! Reckon I might jes have to bet on alla y'all to keep things fair!”
Freddie laughed when Ephram bounced him a little, announcing that he’d bid on everyone, and said, “Well, then you’re going to need my credit cards, aren’t you?”
Bella stayed next to Miles as he let people in, not allowing herself to get involved with what Ruby had said. It felt exceptionally like the thing about Ruby that had always upset her and therefore she did not want to get involved, and admittedly she didn’t want Miles involved but that was his choice. “You and Iann will be battling it out then, he intends to do the same,” Bella told Ephram as he and Freddie entered, assuming that they would remain merely silent and in orbit of each other.
Ruby didn’t notice that Miles overheard her, but honestly at this point what did it matter? She worked with him, just like Ephram, so he should probably know. He was a wolf too, though he was also Bella’s man, and Ruby didn’t want anyone thinking bad things about her.
Iann nodded and said, “Well, okay,” because he really shouldn’t be asking Maya questions anyway; it was a slip-up on his part. Fortunately they were at The Big Fry and Iann motioned her to go in. “Go get yourself fries. There’s so many to choose from.”
“Lilo!” Cassie hissed, giving him a tug as the restaurant came into view, “Let’s go.” She didn’t even want to look back at Ruby. Of all the times to announce such a thing. And being drunk wasn’t an excuse. Cassie just wanted to have a good time, and Ruby dropped that piece of info on her? Other people might not care, but Cassie fretted about it more than most people.
Lilo was tugged along and know well enough when to take a hint. He was sure Ruby would be the center of some dinner table conversations in the future. “Going lobocita!” He didn’t even want fries that much, but damn did they seem a better choice now. “Sure do love fries! Didn’t know there was a shop that only made fries. So are they like special? Or regular but just a whole lot?”
Ruby felt a bit less chipper as she filed into the diner with everyone else. Should she still be more upset about what had happened to her? I mean… everyone else seemed to be. Was that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Or was it just… a thing? They could feel how they wanted, but Ruby certainly didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. It was what it was.
Ephram turned his attention back to Freddie, noting the little pinched expression, and hid his smile until his fairy brightened again. “Oh, I can afford it,” he exclaimed loftily. “Or I can always run out on my debts or offer some sorter trade, couldn’t I?” His fingers stroked lazily along Freddie’s side as they moved into Bellamy’s periphery, and Ephram rolled his eyes at the mention of Iann. “WELL,” he said in a huff. “If Cardero’s already gonna bid, I won’t git tangled up in it. You know he’s gonna whip out a fossilized sasquatch eye or somethang to pay for it, I cain’t beat that.”
“Depends on what you order,” Miles replied to Lilo. “They got some poutine as well if you want to go for something a little dirty.”
Maya smiled, “You’re a true American hero, Iann. Don’t let anyone tell you different.” She slipped into the diner and made a beeline for the counter. Fries first, catching up with the conversation second.
Ruby headed towards the counter and ordered a large batch of plain bacon cheese fries before moving back to find a spot with everyone that was sitting around.
“What are you thinking of going for, babygirl?” Miles asked Bellamy, rubbing her shoulder as he glanced at the overhanging menu.
Lilo “Ahh, so let’s just say for the sake of, reality.” Lilo laughed, looking over at Milo once they caught up. “What is poutine?”
Miles: “You don’t know what poutine is? Aw man. You haven’t lived. It’s fries, smothered with gravy and cheese curds.”
Iann made a face. “Why’re you insulting me like that, Maya,” he complained as he followed her in, intent on getting so much curly fries. So so much, all curly.
“Pretty sure he’s just going to steal one of my cheque books, or maybe your beau’s,” Bellamy said, unsure how Freddie would feel about being mentioned. Either way she moved in with Miles, raising her brows as he suggested something dirty for Lilo, maybe it was pride week but that sounded flirty. “I’ll try whatever you like, just get double so there is enough for both of us. Ooooh and get drinks. And a bunch of sauces, I’m going to drag Cassie into the bathroom to help me get my weird make-up off,” Bella told him, finding the wolf woman in the group. “Help me with my face?”
After Ruby explained, vaguely, what had happened, Dani released her arm and sighed. They weren’t going to show that there was a slight sting to hearing their own father had found out before they had, but that didn’t make the wound any less real. “Right. Okay. As long as you’re alright. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me, yeah?” When she asked what they were shouting for, they covered up the dip in their feelings with a chuckle. “Nothing. Ephram was just asking who was in the auction.” Once they had all settled down at their destination, Dani sat rather quietly, listening to the conversations of others. They weren’t feeling very hungry at the moment.
Lilo’s jaw almost dropped before he broke out in one of the biggest smiles. “Oh, they can do that?! Cause I want that thing, the thing with the gravy.” He looked to Cassie, grinning. “I’m getting some gravy fries baby, what kind do you want?”
Maya frowned. “I’m not?” she replied, “At least not intentionally. Would you rather be a true Canadian hero?” At the counter she ordered garlic fries, a large order. It wasn’t as if she was likely to make out with anyone tonight anyway. Plus garlic fries were the bomb.
Iann scoffed even more. “That’s twice the insult! Keep the American part, and lose the hero. Unless you’re talking about a sandwich, of course.”
Cassie stubbornly looked up at the menu, motioning few options to Lilo, “Looks like they make all kinds. Want to split some curly ones with cayenne pepper seasoning?” Cassie asked, though really the more moments passed the more she wasn’t particularly hungry either. But the fries would keep her busy from being so angry. She couldn’t even pinpoint much of why at the moment, but Cassie knew if she didn’t start to relax her eyes would change to yellow, and that was embarrassing on its own. Just as she was going to suggest finding Bella and Miles, the vampire appeared. Cassie let out a breath and nodded, “Yeah sure, let’s go.” She could use a bathroom break, for sure. “Get gravy too then!” She called out to Lilo as she walked with Bella to the restroom.
Freddie enjoyed the slow gentle stroke of his husband’s fingers on his bare skin, looking up with a playfully raised eyebrow. “And what will you be trading, Sheriff? And with who? Charities generally frown on that sort of thing.” He looked back over his shoulder at Iann, and called, “And on sasquatch eyes!” The fairy turned back to Ephram, explaining with a bit of a happy slur, “Whatever he’s told you, we’ve only got one more of those bloody things, and it’s for a guest.”
Ruby picked at her own fries, eating a few before sliding a bit closer to Dani. “You okay?” she asked a bit more soberly. “’M sorry I didn’t tell you…” Ruby huffed a bit, but not unkindly. “Everyone’s mad I didn’t tell them… shoulda sent a mass text I guess…” Ruby poked a fry through her cheese, frowning a bit.
Maya laughed, “Iann you are a true American sandwich and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” She handed her cash over to the cashier, who didn’t even appear to register that she was painted all over.
Miles ordered a double portion of poutine for himself and Bellamy to share, and he wasn’t sure what sort of sauces would go well with it, or that she’d be interested in, so he just got some of all them, then as an afterthought he added to his order a portion of pastrami fries.
“Cayenne, gravy. Yup!” Lilo was totally paying attention, god he was so good at hearing everything and paying attention to his future wife he was going to order the best fries. “So you normally eat this sort of stuff with a fork right?” He leaned into Miles to ask the question. Trusting the wolf-man and his fry wisdom.
“I am the only person here with a skeleton face and it’s super weird,” Bellamysaid to Cassie as she linked arms with her like they had earlier. Each woman still exceptionally sober. Really though Bellamy had heard Cassie try and escape things that had come out a bit…suddenly. Honestly the surprise didn’t shock Bella but it seemed silly that Cassie’s night be upset by it, especially when it was meant to be such a nice week. “I’m glad Lilo was able to come, I haven’t seen him in ages. Who has Addie?” she asked, hoping the other questions would distract her from how she was feeling.
“That’s more like it,” Iann approved of being a sandwich. Really, anyone who wouldn’t want to be a sandwich would need a good friend to help them through their troubled times. The cashier was half-naked and mostly just in a rainbow loincloth, so they didn’t bat an eye at anyone’s outfits as they took everyone’s orders. “If you were a sandwich, which one would you be.”
“You can fork it,” Miles responded, grabbing a wad of napkins, “Or just use your fingers if you don’t care about getting messy, but fork is usually the best option to get some of everything in one bite.”
Maya considered for a moment as she picked up her fries. “I’d want to be grilled cheese, but I don’t know if I really /am/ grilled cheese, you know?” she replied before laughing again and adding, “Alright. I’m officially drunk.”
“Okay good! As long as I don’t look like some silly poutine-ing first timer.” Liloreached for some plastic forks, knowing that Cassie wouldn’t be too happy with more messes tonight.
Since Freddie was happy-drunk, he either didn’t register or blithely ignored Bellamy’s comment, which was good enough for Ephram. “Listen, you,” he growled at Bellamy with a quick grin at Miles, “I can afford my own reckless bidding! Unless I cain’t and then I rob one of yous after.” Not trusting Freddie to know how to properly order a glut of late night french fries, Ephram stepped up to the counter and briskly rapped out, “Extra-large one'a them poutine things, extra-large steak fries with chili and cheese, and extra-large them tots you got back there, make em all taco-flavour.” Ephram overheard Maya collecting her fries at the counter and made an aggravated bumblebee noise. “Gawd dammit, Maya!” he complained. “Now I got a hankerin’ for a grilled cheese. I’m gonna be thinkin’ bout that all night now.”
“Welcome to the rest of my life, dude,” Maya replied with a grin, “I’m always thinking about grilled cheese, at least 10%.”
Lilo started to walk back to the group, where he and Cassie might sit when she was done with Bellamy in the bathroom. “Y'know I am happy and all, this is a good pride, proud of my lady. I just kinda wish I got a little messy you know? Maybe a little sloppy drunk, or a little painted up from twister, but ayy. I’m probably too old for this, too many responsibilities man. But at least good old fries are here for me.” He said to no one in particular.
“Oh yeah? What does grilled cheese mean to you?” Iann said, bypassing all the youthful glory of drunkenness. She should enjoy it now, while she still had that stamina and it made for cool stories. He was interested (for funzies, not for any serious reason) about the sandwich comparison. “Please don’t tell me you’re just bullshitting, I’ll be disappointed.”
Cassie chuckled and reassured Bella, “It might be weird, but be comforted by the fact that you’re the only one here who can also pull it off.” Cassie settled in front of the mirror when they got into the bathroom, leaning her back against the sink, “Lilo? Yeah me too, he got back in town about a couple weeks ago. He’d been with his mom who was in an accident uh…” She trailed off for a moment before giving another small smile, “Addie’s with my mother. She’s visiting. We’ll probably take her to the puppet show tomorrow. I got her this cute little dress and everything.” Cassie brushed back a piece of hair before adding, “I don’t think I’ve seen you and Miles together in person before. You’re cute.” She leaned forward saying a little quieter, “We also had the best cheerleaders.”
Iann swat Ephram away in annoyance. “Get out of here, go on git!” Iann said, as if trying to chase away one of Pettaline’s fowls.
“That’s okay, you’re probably not the only poutine virgin we got here.” Miles also grabbed some forks and brought all the things over toward a booth. He sidled into it and already started digging in. “You know where has the best grilled cheese? It’s called Cheese Meats Bread, and it’s the best. Literally all sorts of grilled cheese.”
Dani glanced over at Ruby before looking down into their lap and sighing. “No, no– it’s not your fault. Something that drastic… you have every right to keep it to yourself. I should know better.” Because there was something rather drastic in their own life that they had neglected to share with all but a few choice individuals. Now they were almost debating whether or not they should share such details with others. But instead, they shook off the thought and bumped their side against Ruby’s. “It’s just that you got hurt. I’m guessing you weren’t carrying a sword around at the time, were you?”
Ephram grunted at Iann, picking up a straw and jabbing him with it. “Clear out, quit clutterin’ up the place.”
Ruby listened idly to all the conversations going on around her. She saw Cassie and Bella going off towards the bathroom, arms linked like besties, and couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place. A bit… not unwelcome, but just an awkward wheel.
“Ban the straw, man. Ban the straw!” Iann tugged the straw away, waving it and totally using his hippie voice.
Maya shrugged, “Officer Baer used to make them for me whenever it was a shit day. But like with three kinds of cheese. I guess I just associate it with being safe and warm. Plus its delicious and I would like to be delicious.”
“You don’t think that Iann and his beautiful mustache could pull off a skull face?” Bellamy smirked as she turned on the faucet. Whatever was happening with Lilo’s mother Bella figured wasn’t much of her business but family was as good a reason as any to need to go away. “Aww, that’s cute,” she said of Addie. “I’ll have to pop by to see her in it. Not really sure puppet shows are my thing though, puppets are super creepy.” Bellamy flushed with a smile when Cassie commented on seeing her with Miles, she knew Iann found the man to be a little dull but Bellamy didn’t and she felt particularly special to have someone who would show up to something that was by no means his thing, buy her fries and, as Cassie noted, cheer her on. “Right? We might not have actually won but we are doing quite well that we can’t possibly be losers,” she grinned, getting some soap and rubbing it and water on her face to remove things. “You okay?” she asked while she cleaned.
Freddie rolled his eyes fondly at Ephram. “Oi,” he teased, “-I just had you out of your sulk, and now you’ve slid right back in. I’ll make you a bloody grilled cheese when we get home, yeah? But first, you have to promise to explain to me just what exactly it is that you’ve ordered before I’ll put any of it in my mouth.” He peered up at the menu, mystified. “I mean, did I hear you say tots? And taco-flavour?”
“The night is still young,” Miles said to Lilo, stabbing a thick cut fry with his fork, “You got time if you want to crazy things up a little.”
Lilo set the fries he ordered down, settling among this rowdy group and leaving space for Cassie beside him. “Ayyy what in the hell are you yelling about now! Iann! you’re gonna wake the drunkies up!”
Iann laughed suddenly. “Officer Baer, making grilled cheese. I’m just imagining a grizzly holding a spatula and wearing an apron.”
Ruby looked over at Dani. “I was just… shocked at first. I got… attacked. By my brother. After some stupid shit went down between him and a friend of mine. I think he was after my friend. Got me instead.” Ruby leaned into Dani, appreciating their friend’s proximity, especially with all the couples sitting around so close and comfy. “I didn’t mean to not share, it was just….” Ruby shook her head. “I didn’t know /what/ to do…”
Iann motioned widely around the little take-out joint. “All the drunkies are here!! Okay maybe just Ruby’s a drunkie. Everyone else seems okay.”
Maya laughed too. “Nah, he was a werewolf though,” she replied, “But he was the officer who found me the night my parents died and he did his best to take care of me over the next decade.”
Lilo looked worriedly to the group, eyes falling to Maya, Ruby, and Dani in differeing orders. “Hey, Iann’s not drugged huh?” Then he directed his attention straight to Iann. “I dunno, isn’t that Miguel sleeping soundly on you amigo?”
Ephram rocked on his heels. “Back in Apple Fall,” he informed Iann, “we never used plastic straws. We used possum guts pulled out reeeeaaaal thin and dried. If you did it right then the meat taste faded after like, a week.” Turning to Freddie, Ephram gave him a resounding kiss at the promise of grilled cheese, and explained, “Tots. A staple of American casseroles and school cafeterias. Lil gumdrop-lookin’ nuggets of potato deep fried and covered in everthing you would put on a taco.” Ephram thought for a moment. “And not like, a fancy taco with slaw and whatnots.”
Ruby threw a cheese covered fry at Iann. “Hush, you. I"m not as drunk as you think…” Though she was pretty drunk.
Lilo looked up from his food and didn’t say a word to Ephram, just looked fully offended that the man would bring up dried possum guts while people were trying to eat.
Ephram rudely didn’t notice a damn thing and wouldn’t care if he did
“Iann?” Cassie scoffed, still smiling because just the thought was laughable. “Please.” Cassie rolled her eyes, turning to take a quick look at her make-up. “Puppets are creepy.” Cassie agreed, “But babies sure love them. And it’ll be a little more low key than tonight.” Which Cassie knew she needed. She raised her brows when Bella asked after her, “Me? Yeah I’m fine…why was it obvious?” Cassie pressed her fingers below her eyes, wondering if they changed without her noticing. “I don’t know why I got so mad. I usually don’t but…ugh just now I’m going to be thinking about what Ruby said all night.”
Miles just sort of glanced at Ephram and shoved a forkful of gravy loaded fries into his mouth.
“No, no… you gotta… you gotta use the hollowed out bone that comes in a squirrel tail…” Ruby said across the way to Ephram. “They’re bendy… Also, fuck squirrels.” “Not… like… in a sexual way, but like in a … hit 'em with your car on purpose kinda way…”
“Yeah, I remember you telling me,” Iann said to Maya, then shook his head at Lilo, “I’m - drugged? What the hell are you talking about?” It was true that Miguel was slumped, standing, asleep. He grinned and pointed at him. “I’d say let’s draw a moustache on him, but….” Then Pettaline had to make it all twangy backwater Southern American gothic to add to Maya’s tragic past of tragic woe tragedy and Lilo’s general awkward weirdness and Iann threw up his hands. He turned his attention to Ruby and opened his mouth. “Throw another fry, into my mouth.”
Dani’s expression softened as Ruby explained further. “Hey, it’s okay.” They placed their hand over hers. “We all get a little lost sometimes, but you can’t really find your way until you’ve gotten a little lost. At least in my experience,” they smiled. The woman’s toss of a fry at Iann earned a snort, followed by a highly raised eyebrow as she and Ephram began chatting about their own version of straws.
“I got it.” Dani smirked and snatched up a fry from Ruby’s order to toss it in Iann’s direction.
Lilo looked down at his fried and just sighed. Totally not being awkward and weird no matter what Iann thought, he was a normal smooth guy and not some old dude who doesn’t know how to party anymore when it’s not for a five-year-old. He shoved a forkful of gravy fries into his mouth.
Miles then looked at Ruby. What the fuck. “Dude, just don’t use straws. Straws are only good for one thing. Making a fool of yourself when you go to drink from it cause it moves and instead you just poke yourself in the face with it.”
“Thanks. I um… still feel kinda lost, but… I’m gettin’ there.” Ruby squeezed Dani’s hand and gave her another bump before tossing a fry towards Iann. It almost made it, getting caught in his mustache instead. “Soembody lick the cheese off…”
Maya nodded when Iann mentioned that she’d already told him that. “Cool, I’m going to sit, eat these garlic fries and be 75% less depressing,” she said to no one in particular before snagging a seat next to Dani.
Ephram finally realized he’d drawn some attention with his claim and looked around at them, bemused, even as Ruby added her own two cents. “Well, hellfire,” he spluttered. “Cain’t you Yankees even tell when I’m talkin’ bullcrap?”
Iann half-caught the fry in his mouth and threw his head back like a seal to capture it. But he pointed at Dani as he did. “Dani Savin! I didn’t realize you were here. You were so tiny I mistook you for a stool.”
Ruby snorted, knowing full well that Ephram was as full of shit as she had been, but enjoying the horrified looks all around nonetheless.
“I dunno Officer Ephram, with a twang on like that when your drunk Imma believe whatever white nonsense comes out of your mouth.” Lilo couldn’t help but joke back between bites of gravy and curds.
Ephram snorted a laugh at Lilo’s jibe, holding up his hands in defeat
“True, much more low key. Ryden clearly wanted to go all out,” Bella smiled, really it was nice. Usually when it came to Erzebet’s it was just her but with Ash’s party and Ryden doing this it felt like people were more open to doing things at her establishments. “I mean, I don’t think super obvious but you sure did dart away pretty quickly and I mean, I can hear a bit better than normal, stuff like your heart rate,” she reasoned with a slight shrug. “Try to just enjoy being out with people,” Bella said as she got the last of her make-up off. “I mean, you have a babysitter and have had some drinks, you deserve to focus on fun. It sucks it pissed you off. Ruby is…still learning how to share her stuff with people in a way that works, I think.” With her make-up down she started to head out from the bathroom to the restaurant. “But its your night too.”
Miles just kept shoving gravy fries into his mouth and was about half way through it when he remembered he should save some for Bellamy, so he started on the pastrami fries.
Lilo nodded in mild triumph and nodded to Dani and Ruby. “Good shot there friends! You keep that up you can take the show on the road. Iann the marvelous man who eats things!”
Again, Ruby snorted. “They make movies about that sorta thing you know…”
Dani grinned at Maya when she slid up to their side, glad to have their two favorite girls in town beside them. Iann Cardero, on the other hand, received a mildly grouchy narrowing of their eyes. “Hey, I’m not that short. And I’m far to colorful to be classified as a piece of furniture, thank you very much.”
Freddie kissed back, rumbling a little growl of contented satisfaction, but wrinkled his nose slightly at the description of taco tots when it came. “If you want me to eat any of that, you’re going to have to feed me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “Turnabout’s fair play.” But he laughed out loud when he realised that some of the others had taken Ephram’s possum nonsense seriously, leaning on his witch with a grin.
Cassie “You’re right.” Cassie couldn’t help but agree. And while she was slightly embarrassed Bella had noticed her mood, it was slightly comforting too that she took the time to say something. She followed the vampire out of the bathroom and said, “Honestly, I think just some fries will get my mind off of it all for a little while.” It was rare when she got to go out like this, she didn’t want it completely spoiled. “Hopefully the boys saved some fries for us, huh?”
“I hear there’s biiiiig money to be made….” Ruby waggled her eyebrows at Iann. “I’ll toss things in your mouth for $10k a pop…”
Bella laughed as Cassie pointed out Lilo and Miles might have already devoured everything but as she took her place next to Miles she smiled that he hadn’t, kissing his cheek quickly. She probably looked a little funny to everyone else since she rarely went anywhere without her face done up but crashing at Miles place he had seen her lack of lashes and the light pink shade of her lips before. “What did we miss?” she asked him and anyone else around. “Other than half of the food,” she pointed out, grabbing a fork and picking up some poutine.
Another fry from Ruby whanged him in the face and Iann peeled it off, wagging it at Ruby. “Okay, I deserved that one,” he said peaceably, then laughed at Lilo’s words as well. “Do you hate being short, or do you like it?” Iann asked Dani. When Ruby made an offer Iann looked at her in surprise. “Wait, I missed a part of this conversation. How’re you making bank again, Ruby?”
Lilo laughed a dropped the next big forkful back into his plate. “Ayy, that sounds like something crazy rich perverts would pay for. Pretty women tossing food into their mouths. that is wild.”
Ephram huffed at Freddie’s terms, rumbling, “How is that even remotely a hardship on my side’ve things?” he asked, collecting the tray packed with variously adorned potatoes and shuffling them over to sit with the group. “Only thing we gotta worry bout is folks who don’t care for this sorter sappy behaviour in public.” Ephram leaned in a little, lips brushing the pointed tip of Freddie’s ear, and added, “Good thing most’ve em are drunk outta their gourds.” He didn’t bother with a fork, just picked up a tater tot piled with salsa and sour cream and guacamole and held it up for Freddie to sample.
Cassie slid into the open seat next to Lilo grabbing a few of the fries she ordered and eating them. “Pretty women tossing food?” She repeated at him before smiling and glancing at the rest of the table, “What did we walk into?”
Ruby had leaned back and was picking slowly at her fries again, her other arm stretched out on the seat behind Dani. “Hm? Oh… well, I sold my yacht which gave me a pretty good bit of savings. Then I was doing little part time stuff here and there, still working at June’s House of course… and then I’m workin’ as dispatch.”
“Your fiance is starting to get into weird fetishes, Pegs,” Iann informed her soberly. “Better watch out.”
Ephram caught Ruby’s list of jobs and interjected loudly, “–and we’re damn lucky to have you!”
Miles scooted over to give Bellamy more room, “Apparently now there’s money to be made by throwing food at Iann,” he tried to clarify it as succinctly as he could.
Dani mused for a moment over Iann’s question before shrugging. “I mean, sometimes it’s a little frustrating, but it makes me harder to catch, so I’m not complaining.” As an afterthought, they sported a smirk and added, “Besides, the husband seems to have fun with it. Gives him something to tease me about and makes him feel slightly less height-conscious himself.”
Lilo held up his hands in defense, most of the fries uneaten– okay half of them there still. “Ayyy, lobocita I was just joking! I’m not into anything weird!”
Iann “No money is to be made by throwing food at me! Just do it for free!” Iann demanded, fists rested n the table on either side of his curly fries.
“But I’m gonna tell ya…” Ruby leaned forwards, pointing a fry at Iann. “For enough money… I’d do porn. I mean… why not?” She grinned over at Cassie as she came back to the table. “Food porn,” she said. “And thank you, sherrif,” Ruby said to Ephram.
“I mean, I’ll throw food at him for nothing,” Bellamy said, picking up one of the fries covered in graving and throwing it in the direction of Iann. “This is good though, not as good as my poutine but good,” she reasoned.
Cassie scrunched her nose playfully back at Iann, “Well I mean if it has to do with food…” She trailed off before laughing. Cassie patted Lilo’s arm to show him that she really wasn’t worried about it and continued to pick at the fries. “Was the gravy that good?” She asked motioning to just the little bit left on the plate. Cassie dropped her head slightly, ignoring Ruby who was in a sort of drunken ramble.
Iann “Ahahaa yeah! Because Sam’s a shorty too. Almost as tall as Lopez here. Almost.” He nodded at Ruby. “I had an Aunt who did porn. Out there it’s not so great, but in Soapberry, I heard it’s lucrat…wait didn’t we have a conversation about this before?” Or was he imagining things? He knew he was talking so someone about supernatural porn recently.
Lilo “Hey, hey, hey, who brought up porn? I wasn’t bringing up porn. I didn’t mean any of that… I’m just gonna…” Lilo shoved a forkful of fries in his mouth enjoying them loudly and motioning to Cassie’s fork he set out for her. “Soo, hey! I’m not that short! I mean am I?”
Miles was about to throw a pastrami fry at Iann but was distracted by Ruby saying she would do porn, and then added on it would be food porn. “What even is food porn?”
Maya commented, “I knew a girl who auctioned off her virginity. Made a couple hundred k.”
Freddie eyed the little potato monstrosity skeptically for a moment, then leaned closer and took it from Ephram’s fingers, eyes widening in surprise as he groaned happily while he chewed. “Fucking hell,” he murmured once he’d swallowed, huffing out a laugh, “-I must have drunk more than I thought, because those are really bloody good.” The fairy looked over at Iann. “It was me you had that converstion with, love. I was considering it.”
“Lilo’s plenty tall for me,” Cassie scoffed simply.
“Oh yeah? Well mainstream I hear isn’t that great,” Ruby said to Iann, agreeing with him. “But here?” She shrugged a shoulder. “And I think we did. In passing. Was it you?”
Freddie turned to Miles. “Food porn’s just what it says on the tin, darling. Pornography that food features prominently - in all sorts of capacities. It’s a fetish, yeah?”
Bella looked at Miles, raising a brow that basically said everything. 'Do you need to know about porn relating to someone you see everyday?’ Because Bella watched porn, but she didn’t watch porn with people she knew in it. “Everyone is tall for us, Cassie,” Bellamy pointed out to her friend who she was almost exactly the same height as, though her platform boots did hide that tonight.
“Food porn… I mean… what do you wanna see?” Ruby said. “And what he said.” She gestured at Freddie.
Iann snapped his fingers and pointed at Freddie, grinning. “Right! Right, right, you’d be so fucking good at it too. No pun intended.” He looked up at Miles, blithely eating fries. “Food porn is when there’s food involved, in porn. Eating, or…putting food places. Or sexing the food. Or letting the food sex you. Stuff like that, Miles, c'mon you’re a cop. Google it and call it research.”
Bella was actually ready to do something when Ruby asked what Miles wanted to see but ground her teeth together quite firmly instead trying to focus on what she had just told Cassie.
Lilo nodded with conviction that Cassie gave him. “See I am plenty tall! Iann is just freakishly tall” Lilo cleared his throat, dying to get the conversation on something else. “Soo, hey, everyone have good plans for this pride week? It’s my first one I am really involved in. I am excited. How about everyone else, huh?”
Ephram grimaced at Maya’s story. “That’s disturbing,” he said, before turning back to fully enjoy Freddie’s shock at his own liking the fried morsel. “See?” he said triumphantly. “All’s you gotta do is give things a chance. Especially when you’re all swizzled and adorable.” He sat back, lazily eating the poutine, and waved his fork at the current conversation. “There’s porn what features food in it, like Cardero said. By the way –” Ephram gestured with his fork pointedly at each person, “–there’s a feller in town what looks sorter like me who does porn, so don’t git the wrong idea if you come across it.”
“Gross,” Iann grunted at Pettaline, as he chawed down more fries.
“Shit. Like, willingly?” Dani raised their brows at Maya. Turning back to the group and the unexpected rise in porn conversation, they threw in their own comment. “I might have done porn once…” they blinked as if trying to summon a memory, “but I was way too wasted to be sure. Or to remember the specific details.”
Miles instantly felt like he was getting himself into some hot water with Bellamy. “No. I didn’t mean I’d watch it. I don’t even like eating in bed,” he wrapped an arm around Bella’s shoulders, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Ruby looked at Maya. That /was/ slightly… disturbing. Not the same as what Ruby thought of as something that could be fun and possibly lucrative, but to each their own, as long as it was consenting.
Maya shrugged and said to Dani, “Yeah,” then turned to Ephram to ask, “Disturbing that she’d do it or that she’d make that much money? It might’ve been only like tens of thousands. I don’t remember exactly. She bought a house with the money I think.”
Lilo picked up on what Ephram said more quickly. “Oh, hahah, that’s such a coincidence. Weird how thinks like that can happen.” In went another mouthful at fries, slowly infringing on Cassie’s share. Then boggled a little at Dani’s own revelation. “That doesn’t sound that good at all. I mean, not about you, about whatever operation that was. Eeesh.”
Iann paused in eating and blinked at Dani slowly, the young human’s seemingly offhand comment a complete shock to his system. The virginity thing, Iann didn’t blink an eye, so long as the girl was legal and knew what she was doing, but Dani being drunk and engaging in sex she didn’t even remember? Iann felt his throat tighten in anger. “That was wrong of whoever allowed that.”
Ephram looked highly indignant at Iann’s contribution. “Ain’t like I commissioned it, christ!” He looked shocked at Dani’s comment, repeating, “You was wasted? And don’t recall for sure?” His gaze slid over to Lilo, innocently eating french fries in his dad shorts, looking every inch the responsible suburban father; Maya’s reply broke him out of his reverie. “Disturbing that she thought to do it and extra disturbing that there was men in a rush to pay.”
Freddie grinned at Iann. “Course I would be,” and then he pulled a face at Ephram, chucklingly protesting that he gave all sort of things chances before nudging his husband in the direction of the tots. “And I’ll have another of those, thank-you.” It occurred to Freddie as the conversation drifted on that he would have sold his virginity in a heartbeat if he’d only understood at the time that it was an option, but by then the tone of things had shifted and he thought it best not to put in his two bits.
Iann paused in eating and blinked at Dani slowly, the young human’s seemingly offhand comment a complete shock to his system. The virginity thing, Iann didn’t blink an eye, so long as the girl was legal and knew what she was doing, but Dani being drunk and engaging in sex they didn’t even remember? Iann felt his throat tighten in anger. “That was wrong of whoever allowed that.”
Cassie scooted closer to Lilo resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. Across the table she watched Bella tense and Miles jump to defend himself. Cassie didn’t say a word, she was just glad to know her prior irritation wasn’t unwarranted. She pulled her plate slightly away from Lilo and muttered, “Relax. I want some too.”
Lilo stopped his assault on the fries. His tension relaxing under the gentle weight of Cassie’s head on his shoulder. He smiled at her. “Ay, of course lobocita, so sorry I am getting caught up and forgetting myself.” He set his fork on the table so he wouldn’t be tempted to stress eat, or shove fries in his mouth as distraction from it running again.
Maya was less phased by Dani’s admission than the rest of the table seemed to be. It was not the first time she’d heard a story like that. “Like professional porn or like amateur porn?” she asked calmly. The answer to that question would inform her level of concern about it and also whether or not if she’d offer to kick someone’s ass.
Miles arm moved around her shoulder, resting in the fur of her jacket as Bellatried to loosen the tension in her mouth. At least Freddie’s answer had been succinct, it certainly hadn’t bothered her but Miles didn’t need to think about Ruby like that, even for a second and this was probably the first time Miles was actually able to witness her jealousy beyond the passive way she had tried to be when he was dating around. Still, her jealousy seemed a lot less dark than the other part of the conversation, Bellamy agreeing with Iann, so she focused on Miles. “You wouldn’t try any food in bed?” she asked.
Miles: “I don’t know, probably not. It’d get the sheets all messed up, wouldn’t it? Then I’d have to do a load of laundry or change the sheets,” and he wouldn’t want to do all that afterwards.
Ruby looked at Dani, wanting to ask about the maybe porn comment, but feeling like maybe it wasn’t her business, especially as Dani elaborated. Which made Ruby feel awful. She glanced at Miles and Bella, who seemed to be in some sort of tiff now… and then Ephram was upset too. Iann as well. And Cassie seemed irritated. It was all just… “Um… sorry for… bringin’ it up… I’m just…” She felt entirely absurd now. For dismantaling the good mood because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “I’m just… gonna go home now…” she said, moving towards the edge of the booth.
“Oh, no no– I didn’t mean it like–” Dani swallowed trying to piece together a proper explanation, but when people were phrasing it like that… “It wouldn’t have been with some random stranger or anything. I knew the girl, but…” scratching the back of their neck, they looked down into their lap. “It was a different time. I was– kind of a mess.” They glanced up at Maya. “Oh, amateur shit, for sure.”
“I mean, don’t get me wrong. I won’t be shaming anyone for making money how they need to though,” Lilo added his two cents, just in case anything was misconstrued. “Work is work, huh? No matter what kind it is… Sooo, just, anyone showing up to the puppet show?”
“Eating in bed is fun,” Cassie spoke up looking to Miles. “Breakfast in bed? Like a treat.” But then Cassie also just really enjoyed eating.
Ephram kept scrutinizing Lilo, mouth curling from side to side as he tried to place a memory in his head. “Maya,” he said, a little bit of a warning tone in his voice. “Maybe that sorter question ain’t the most useful.” He continued to feed his husband, taking comfort in the intimate caretaking of the motions, especially when Dani explained what Ephram supposed they thought were mitigating factors. Sighing, he said, “Well, cain’t say we ain’t all been a hot mess at one time or another, eh?”
“Crumbs in bed though,” Miles protested to Cassie.
“Exactly!” Bellamy agreed with Cassie until she realised Cassie just meant generally eating, though that was good too. “If I did the laundry afterwards would you?” she asked him, fondly recalling their first kiss and how he’d tasted just like ranch. It wasn’t exactly a 'sexy’ taste but it made her happy.
Lilo quickly remembered Cassie’s remark about making sure Ruby got home safe, and felt suddenly guilty she seemed to feel pushed out of the group. “Hey, hey, Ruby! Hold up where are you headed so quick? At least have another drink of water huh? Then let one of us walk you home maybe?”
Freddie slid his hand up Ephram’s back to play idly with the hair at the nape of his neck, nodding his agreement. “Some of us for a very long time."
Iann had heard many, countless stories like what he’d thought Dani’s was as well, but he refused to be desensitized to it, because as a man he shouldn’t just brush it off. Besides, his anger simmering and steady, but serious because it sounded serious. However Dani’s elaboration made his shoulders relax slightly and when Pettaline spoke up, Iann just looked away out the window. "Yeah I should head home too,” he said when Ruby got up. “I’ll get you to Tuah’s.”
Lilo smiled at Iann, the drunk whisperer and commendable human being he was being right now. Then turned his attention to Miles. “Ayy, I don’t mind waking up lightly breaded if my woman is happy! Breakfast in bed can be nice.”
Maya glanced over at Ephram and gave a look that sort of said, you’re not entirely wrong but I’m asking it anyway. Her concern though dissipated when Dani explained further. It wasn’t exactly a good story, but it wasn’t all that unusual. “I’ll still kick her ass if you want me to,” she offered.
Cassie “An easy fix.” Cassie began, but motioned to Bellamy when she clearly shared the same thought. Lilo’s comment made her laugh heartily and held his arm again. “Lilo knows how it works.”
Freddie turned to look at Maya, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Is that something you offer to do regularly, love?” he asked, “Because it rolled off the tongue a bit easily.”
Dani: “Well, if you guys are headed out, be safe. Pride makes some people crazy.” They leaned over to place a small peck on Ruby’s cheek, leaving behind a neon green mark. “And tell Tuah I said hi.” Turning back to Maya, they shook their head. “It was years ago, and certainly not in this country. Not worth it.”
“I’m just… tired,” Ruby lied, giving Lilo a smile as best she could. “And I will,” she said to Dani before she got out of the booth. “I don’t wanna… make any more trouble tonight. So…“ She gave a small wave and turned to go, resisting the urge to just run away, though Iann’s offer didn’t fall on deaf ears. She waited outside a few minutes to see if he would actually come to take her home, otherwise she’d call a cab.
Ephram let out another sigh, this one satiated and grounded as he leaned into Freddie’s fingers. He returned Maya’s look with a flat, horselike disapproving stare but didn’t reprimand her any further. At the moment, he was distracted by Freddie and that simple comment that spoke to both of their experiences. "I wouldn’t of been able to afford you,” Ephram murmured to his husband. “But I wouldn’t of had to pay, would I.”
Freddie shook his head gently, eyes only for Ephram. “I’d have given myself to you the moment you asked.”
Lilo sat a bit taller in his seat, despite being one of the shorter people present, at all the praise from Cassie. “Hey I am a cool guy. I get it. You know I used to beat up people easy too! Not so much anymore.” He nodded to Cassie, assuring her.
Iann marched outside briskly, walking a few steps ahead of Ruby, before stopping and turning around to look at her. “What’re you waiting for? C'mon.” Iann said, stuffing his pipe and lighting it as he kept walking. “My van’s up the block,” he stated curtly, trying to work out the anger running in his veins. He turned to look at Ruby. “And what the hell are you talking about? Making more trouble…? I’m confused.”
Miles quickly felt like he was going to lose this battle about food in bed. “Maybe,” he said to Bellamy, but didn’t really say much more cause talking about his sex life while out with a bunch of people wasn’t really something he was comfortable with. “Maybe I’ll make you some breakfast in bed one day though. Something that doesn’t leave crumbs or gets you all sticky.”
“I’m probably supposed to say no that, but I would be lying and I’m kind of shit at that,” Maya replied when Freddie asked if she often offered to kick someone’s ass regularly. She gave Dani a smile and replied, “Well offer’s still on the table.” She didn’t expect Dani to actually take it, but the offer was more about having someone angry on your behalf. She knew how much that could mean.
Ruby was pulling out a cigarette when Iann came outside. She took a drag before following. She snorted. “Everyone at that table except for like… two people… was upset or irritated because of me. I’m surprised Bella didn’t chew me out because her fucking boyfriend looked in my direction. CAssies ill with me. You got upset second hand…” Ruby shrugged.
“Cantaloupe is a pretty good breakfast,” Lilo supplied helpfully. He took the entire food in bed talk much like Cassie, completely on surface level. “Not too sticky, and the fresh ones are delicious as well as good… but uh…” It began to dawn on him. “Not the most nourishing I think for a vamp lady.”
Ruby (outside to Iann): “So did Ephram… this whole… good vibes thing broke down because I can’t be fucking quiet…”
Cassie When Lilo happily announced he used to beat people up all she could do was shake her head and finish up her fries. Her gaze lifted and she noticed Iann and Ruby gone outside. Her focus on ‘breakfast in bed’ was mostly dissipated.
Bella pouted but she knew how he was and didn’t intend to push things with so many people around. “Well I’ll make you breakfast in my bed and it will be very sticky,” Bellamy responded, popping poutine in her mouth. She didn’t mind being this way around people, though hearing Ruby outside made her look at Cassie who could likely also hear her. Ruby would hopefully realise soon enough, when she really was a werewolf, that you definitely had to get further away from supernaturals for them not to hear you.
Ephram smiled against Freddie’s cheek, flowing along with the notion. “And then lie to whatever fucker figured he bought your cherry. Lil trickster.”
Iann lit Ruby’s cigarette for her with a snap of his zippo and snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was angry at something that had nothing to do with you, Ruby. You weren’t a part of my anger.” He slowed slightly thought, puffing for a bit. “So you feel more bad about the Bellamy thing, or the Pe - the Cassie thing?”
Lilo was mostly wishing he couldn’t hear Ephram and Freddie whisper sweet nothings to each other. Not that he held anything against the two but he did feel like some dirty eavesdropper when he honestly was trying to pay attention to anything else. Supernatural hearing was a chore sometimes.
Iann shook his head. “And I’m pretty sure whatever Pettaline was feeling had nothing to do with you either.” Not from what Pettaline said to Maya, and then to Dani. Ruby didn’t factor into that at all.
Miles snorted at Bella’s comment that she would make him an extra sticky breakfast in bed. “Guess I’ll have to stay over at your place more often then,” cause lately she’d been going over to his most of the time.
Ruby (outside to Iann): “Alright. Well. What’re /you/ mad about then? But I"m not even interested in Miles. He’s a nice guy. A good cop, but… I"m not gonna watch what I say just because he might… glance towards me. I mean… and why is everyone getting so mad with me because they didnt find out the second I got my arm nearly chewed off??” she sighed. “Maybe not,” she said about Ephram. “I’m just… I"m fucking tired, Iann. Of always… always feeling selfish and stupid and… the odd one out no matter what I do…”
Lilo: “Okay, so, I take it Cassie and I are the only ones going to the puppet show? I’ve also planned some kids activities and stuff if anybody here has kids coming to pride?” Lilo made one last ditch attempt at the subject before he was going to drop it.
Freddie turned slightly into the little nuzzle, with a smirk. “As many times as I could, if there was money in it,” he confirmed. “And you wouldn’t have me any other way.”
Lilo: “Puppets are weird right?”
Ruby was rambling a bit, she knew, but her thoughts were all over the place. IT had been such a fun night, and then to have it just… fucking tank on her… was disconcerting. Though maybe it was all just in her head.
Ephram (to Freddie): “Not true, kitten. I could have you any way I fuckin’ well want.”
Iann laughed. “So don’t, jesus. Stop letting other people’s precious feelings make you feel bad. They’re not your fucking responsibility. You’re not a tool that’s designed to make others happy. Enjoy being odd, it means you’re different. And selfishness is self-preservation. The stupid one I can’t help you with,” Iann smiled over at her. “But everyone’s stupid about something. Yes, yes even me and I’m brilliant.”
Cassie finally took Lilo’s bait about changing the subject and sat up slightly, “Bella said she might stop by, to see Addie. Right? You can’t blame most people for not coming.” Cassie pouted at him, “Only babies like puppets. Literally.”
Bella snorted a laugh, a little surprised by his respond, leaning on his shoulder before giving it a quick kiss. “Speaking of places, where are you looking at moving to?” she asked him, unsure of where he��d really been looking for a place. Still when Lilo asked about the puppet show Bella turned to him and shook her head. “Yeah, I’m gonna come, I wanted to see Addie’s dress. Plus I want to avoid the mess that is Erzebet’s.”
Dani patted Maya’s arm in a rather sister-ly fashion. “Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” Their eyes then drifted to the two men across the table and Dani couldn’t resist the wistful sigh that fell from their lips. “Gods, you two are so adorable.” Did their interaction spark a longing in them to return home to their no doubt slumbering husband? Yes, but for Dani Savin, the night was still far too young for proper sleep.
Freddie grinned, leaning in to kiss Ephram again, not particularly caring what the rest of the table thought of it. “Well, when you put it like that…”
Iann he slowed and even turned to walk backwards, facing her has he gesticulated. “Not that you shouldn’t vent. A good venting-fest like this is good, but once it’s over you should feel better, not stagnant, hm? That’s what venting is for, letting out the steam and resetting to normal.”
“I think my kids are bit too old for puppet shows,” Miles said to Lilo apologetically. He had one entering her teens and the other wasn’t too far behind. “Oh, I actually found a place. It’s pretty much in the same area I am now, and Iann said it was just a few blocks down from yours, so we’ll be closer.”
Maya yawned. She’d almost finished off her fries, just a few sitting cold at the bottom of her tray. “I should probably head out too,” she said as she stood and cleared her place, “Before I pass out on you all.”
Lilo snorted a laugh of his own. “Yeah, ay, puppets are a little this concerning.” He meant disconcerting but he was Lilo, and it was late. “But Addie is sure to look cute, and ay, puppets aren’t the only youth thing. I’m gonna make some rainbow shirts with the kids. Tie-dyes and paints and stuff. You know look as fashionable as everyone out there.”
Ephram took his time in kissing Freddie, pulling his husband in close afterwards to continue feeding him. “Might come to this puppet show,” he declared, “if the lil’ gingersnap’s in it.” He nodded over at Dani with a lopsided grin, saying, “It’s all this one. He’s the adorable one between us. I jes provide shade in the sun.”
It was best Miles daughters couldn’t come, because then Bellamy wouldn’t have been able to go and see Addie. “Really?” Bellamy asked, a smile on her face as she found out he would be closer to her than he was now. “When are you moving?” she continued before Lilo spoke of Addie’s cuteness. “Make me a shirt? I could wear some cute tie dye once in a while,” she smirked. “And Cassie definitely needs some hippie shirt.” It wasn’t Cassie’s style but it would be very amusing to see the pair of them in them when it was so unlike them.
Ruby (outside to Iann): “But if I don’t care… then I’m just some… heartless bitch. If I do care… I’m a pushover who lets other determine how she feels.” She gestured towards him. “I know that… I get that. I’m the only responsibility I have.” She gave him a small eye roll at the stupid comment. “Yes, I know, I just….” She ashed her cigarette, kicking a rock on the sidewalk. “It doesn’t matter…” She took a breath and looke up at the sky at they walked. “What the fuck is normal though?”
Ephram watched Maya get up, halfway wanting to talk to her and halfway figuring he should just let her head out as she wanted. “We should make plans to see each other at one'a these things, girl,” he called to her. “Maybe this puppet show?”
“Not a bad idea,” Dani smiled at Maya’s yawn. “I’ll see you around soon, yeah?” They grinned back at Ephram. “Maybe, but everyone’s got a little adorable in them somewhere. It’s unavoidable.”
“It’ll all be plenty of fun. Kids deserve some good PrideFest stuff too.” Cassie was practically praising, but she only did so because she felt it was warranted, “You’re just the man for the job. They picked well.” Her mouth fell open slightly in fake offense at Bella’s suggestion, “No. No way no tie-die for me. I look awful in that stuff.”
Lilo moved his arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “I think you will look beautiful in whatever you want to wear.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. It was only slightly gravy flavored. “It is getting a little late lobocita, we’ve had a big night. You want to head home soon mi tesoro?”
Maya shrugged, “I might sleep in tomorrow. Is it okay if I just text you in the morning?” She gave Dani a nod, “Yeah, you text me too? I’ll probably be in and out of stuff all week.”
“Uh….so?” Iann asked Ruby. “What does it matter if some asswad thinks you’re a heartless bitch? Let them, who cares what they think, that’s what I’m saying. People who give a shit about you won’t think that, get it? You’ll be surprised to learn who your real friends are the moment you stop being a pushover. It may be less than you think but that’s not a bad thing.” Iann opened the passenger door for her, pausing to admire Ryden’s handiwork as he went around the van and got in too. “Whatever your normal is. And if you still don’t know, well when the full moon comes at least that’ll give you some definition, hey? Bright side.”
Dani: “I could help out with the shirts, if you need it,” the professor turned toward Lilo. They couldn’t help but think of Noel and how much he would have loved the vibrancy of Pride. “I’ve got nothing else on my schedule in the morning.”
“I got another month before my current lease is up, and then I can move out.” Miles hadn’t started packing yet, and likely would keep it that way until the last possible moment. “If tie-die shirts are going to be made, I think I might bring my girls. Ellie would probably love it.”
“Wait-” Freddie said, his forehead wrinkling in confusion as he turned to Lilo, “-is the baby in the show, or just attending the show? And has she ever seen a puppet? They might bloody horrify her…” The fairy settled a bit heavier against his witch, happy to be talked about, before beaming at Dani. “Aren’t husbands wonderful creatures?”
Cassie nodded at Lilo’s suggestion, “Yeah sure. It’s going to be an earlier morning anyways and then we have to pick up Addie from the farmhouse.” She grabbed her purse, “You paid already right?”
Lilo beamed at Dani. “Ay really? That sounds awesome. Most of this I arranged by text with that Miguel guy, who’s uh, out now… But I think he’d be fine with it. The more helping hands the merrier huh?” He grinned. “Besides you can probably help the kids with designs more. You got way more of an eye for style it looks like.”
Bella smirked as Cassie objected. “Not even if Addie made it for you?” Bellamy laughed, watching as Lilo kissed her cheek, assuring her she’d be beautiful. The suggestion to leave not shocking, it was getting late. “Want me to help?” she asked Miles of his move, unsure if his kids would be there for it, it seemed they would be coming to do shirts though so Bellamy made a note to avoid that area when the time came.
Dani nodded back to Maya. “Sure thing. I’ll be around at pretty much everything, so just keep an eye out for a short person with rainbow hair. I won’t be that hard to find.” At Freddie’s response, they smiled warmly. “Yeah. They’re pretty astounding. Half the time, I’m amazed mine puts up with me.”
Ephram nodded. “Sleep in however long you want. I ain’t goin’ nowhere,” he assured Maya as she left. Tuning back in to Freddie’s concern, he asked, “I thought youn’s liked puppets? Them Punch and Judine ones, that’s English, right?”
Ruby got in the van, tossing her cigarette in the nearby ashtray first. She waitied until he got inside to buckle up. “What if I don’t have any friends after that?” Ruby said, blinking over at Iann, looking slightly downtrodden. OF course Ruby would have friends. A few at least .There was Fane and Dani. Tuah. And Iann, even though she didn’t think he considered them friends. Probably Ephram since he already knew her prety well. Freddie. Fuck… that was a fair few people. “I just… wanna get it over with. So I can… get on with things.”
Cassie looked back at Bella and narrowed her eyes slightly, lips pulled in a curl, “Oh…you’re tricky.” She let out a huff before she admitted, “I guess if Addie ran up and said she’d made it especially for me. I couldn’t refuse.” She glanced to Miles, “Aw, I hope we’ll get to see one of your girls.”
Lilo turned back to Cassie. “At the counter my love, it’s one of those kinda places.” He nodded to the group still left at the table and those slowly leaving. “It was real great to hang out with you guys again, and meet you for those I did not know before.” He nodded to Miles and held out a hand for another too manly ™ handshake. “We should hang out sometime man, you look me up okay?” He saluted Dani. “I will be on the look out for my rainbow-haired saviur when all the kids bombard me tomorrow. You stay good guys. Officer Possum guts. Everyone else!”
Maya smiled, tiredness creeping into her movements, “Okay. See you all tomorrow.” She waved before tossing her garbage and heading out into the night. She planned just to grab a cab since walking seemed a bit excessive given her current state of dress and the late hour.
Freddie chuckled across the table at Dani. “Same, darling; believe me,” before goggling affectionately at Ephram. “Have you ever /seen/ Punch and Judy puppets, sweetheart? They’re what nightmares are made of.”
“Of course,” Dani grinned at Lilo. “I know Miguel. We’re sort of, uh– fellows doctors in supernatural science?” At the mention of an eye for style, they chuckled. “I guess. I wouldn’t say it’s a hobby of mine, but I can’t deny that I was raised by several very fashion-oriented individuals.” As he got up, they saluted in return. “Sounds like a plan. You too!”
“If you want to, yeah,” Miles said to Bella, smiling at her. “And you need to help me pick out some furniture for their rooms, just not another one of those giant princess house things you got them last time. One is enough.” He turned toward Cassie, “Hopefully you’ll get to see both of them,” and since they seemed to be leaving he took Lilo’s offered hand and gave it a good shake, “Definitely man, I’ll give you a call or something.”
Lilo: “Oye! Freddie, to answer the question. I am pretty sure Addie is just gonna be watching.” He looked at Cassie. “Right?”
Iann laughed as he started the van, loving the grumbly thrum under foot. “That’s it, wallow in the self-pity. You might as well indulge right now, it’s late and you’re drunk and you’re gonna have a wicked hangover tomorrow so you might as well enjoy this wallow.” Because honestly, sometimes it just felt good to have a good pity-party, in Iann’s opinion anyway. “Yeah I’ll bet. And when you go werewolf, it’ll be interesting to see if you’ll look back and wonder why you didn’t enjoy your last human hours to the fullest. Frankly, I hope you don’t, but you never know.”
Ruby: Get on with whatever her normal was gonna end up being. Get on with… being alone. Being clueless. Being someone that no one would notice if they left and never came back. They were idle thoughts, and alcohol induced. Ruby wouldn’t truly think them in the morning, but right now she did. A bit. She laid her head against the window as they drove, watching the streetlights go by in a blur of light.
“And I will then see you in amazing tie-dye,” Bella told Cassie with a smirk. “I promise to only shop at IKEA,” she teased him, figuring if she spent a lot of money that could end up making him a bit uncomfortable too. “But no more princess castles…even though they’re amazing.”
Ephram waved goodbye to the exiting throng before looking suspiciously at Freddie. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “Youn’s got them other things too, them shows at Christmas where actors dress up as twelve-foot-high princesses or the like. It’s gotta be an English delight.” Ephram looked at Dani, trying to enlist their help. “You must of been to England before, right? They love their freak puppets?”
Lilo took Cassie’s arm and excited out of the diner, ready to find there way back and enjoy the rest of their night.
Freddie followed suit as Ephram waved at the departing masses, then turned his attention back to Lilo first as he and Cassie stood to go. “Well, stick close, Dad - just in case,” before back round to Ephram and Dani. “Pantos aren’t the same thing at all,” he argued good-naturedly, “Dani, back me up, yeah?”
“I’m not wallowing…” Ruby groaned, turning her head to look at Iann. “I’m… not… okay, maybe a lttle bit. BUt I was doing so good. So fucking good. I was.. happy. Ish. Better. Which is why I just blurted shit out there tonight like an asshole.” She rubbed her forehead. It was laready starting to hurt. “I’ve got some blood tabs that’’ll fix anything…” She turned back to teh window. “WEll, I was until tonight…”
Miles gently nudged Bella’s side, “You wanna go make tie-die shirts with me and the girls?” This was kind of big for them cause Bellamy hadn’t actually met his kids before, but he figured that since they’d been seeing each other for a while, it was about time they met.
Dani shrugged at Ephram. “Yeah, I lived there on and off as a kid. Can’t say I ever paid much attention to freak puppets, though. I was usually busy getting into trouble while my father was busy dealing with whatever work he was up to.”
Iann (to Ruby, driving home): “That’s called moods! Indulge the wallow. You had fun, now you’re feeling like shit, then tomorrow you’ll feel different. You don’t have to keep forcing yourself to be one mood and only one perfect unflawed mood anymore. Moody-moods.”
Bella knew she felt a little…upset when it seemed like Cassie would meet them first but ultimately she figured that it wasn’t that big of a deal. Cassie and Lilo were sweet and they had a kid and they weren’t…dangerous. “Maybe we should talk to this somewhere people can’t hear,” Bellamy suggested, knowing if she could hear Ruby then there was every chance others there could easily here them. It might not have been the sweet reply Miles wanted but saying yes like she wanted wasn’t quite so simple.
Ruby crossed her arms petulantly. “’M not moody.”
Iann: “It’s not a critique. Moody isn’t a negative word.”
Freddie followed suit as Ephram waved at the departing masses, then turned his attention back to Lilo first as he and Cassie stood to go; telling him “Well, stick close, Dad - just in case,” before circling back round to Ephram and Dani. “Pantos aren’t the same thing at all,” he argued good-naturedly, “Dani, back me up, yeah?”
Ruby: “Maybe.”
Iann: “Definitely. I’m moody. I’m not slamming myself.”
Ruby: "Not right now.” Then, “You deflect.“
"Oh, yeah. 'Course it’s not the same,” Dani tagged along with Freddie. “Puppets are a bunch of fake figures on strings. Pantos are more like comedic plays, and such. But geared toward kids rather than your usual theatre crowd.”
Freddie grinned. “Which isn’t to say they aren’t horrors in their own right - they’re just the sort of horror you think fondly on.”
“Pantos,” Ephram repeated firmly, although he had no clue that it was short for pantomime. “Hey, you cain’t claim Dani! Dani’s on my side!” Ephram reached across the table to fold Dani’s hand in his own. He intended to keep up the banter, but instead found himself asking, “You and your daddy wasn’t close back then?”
“Sure, I guess?” Iann shrugged and looked over at Ruby. “Are you trying to put me in my place or something? You’re the one who’s hating yourself. I don’t hate you.”
Ruby: “I don’t hate myself. And no I"m not trying to put you in any place. It’s just an observation.”
Iann: “So it is.”
“Exactly,” Dani grinned at the fairy before the witch took their hand, and a quiet giggle resulted. His question, however, caused them to blink. “No, we were still close. He was just extremely busy. When we were over there, it was typically nobility stuff he was dealing with, which awfully complicated and frankly boring for a child who would much rather roll around in the mud than learn proper manners for elite festivities.”
“Sure,” Miles returned, “Yeah, no problem.” He finished off the rest of the pastrami fries and then wiped his fingers clean with a napkin. Since people seemed to be slowly filtering out, Miles glanced at his watch and did see that it was getting late. “I got to go, babygirl,” he said to Bella. “Are you going to come over later?”
“Makes sense, yeah. Mr. Savin’s got plenty of nobility stuff and scholar stuff to attend to.” In truth, Ephram didn’t know much about Fane other than his scant (and largely unpleasant) interactions with the man. And it was good to have Freddie with him for the conversation, so Ephram could demand his husband’s interpretations later, in private. Ephram valued Freddie’s perspective on these things very highly.
Bella worried she had upset him, taking one of his hands in hers once he had wiped it off, squeezing it gently. “I /want/ to meet them, I promise,” she assured him. “You working tomorrow?” she asked of him leaving. “Yeah, I will probably head back to work for a bit to make sure everything closes okay but I’m definitely staying over.”
Miles pressed a reassuring kiss to her lips before he scooted out from the booth, “Yeah I work tomorrow. I’ll see you later then.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek and whisper lowly into her ear – though likely others with heightened hearing would still be able to hear him, “Love you, babygirl.”
For his part, Freddie thought being too busy with the trappings of nobility and his sense of his own importance seemed like Fane Savin in a nutshell, and he wasn’t surprised in the slightest - in fact, what had always surprised him the most about Fane was that his child was as lovely as they were - but he stayed quiet, choosing to only smile politely along with Ephram’s assessment, popping the last tot into his mouth. “Not quite so nice cold,” he mused after he’d swallowed.
Bella kissed him back simply, knowing he wasn’t into anything intense so publicly. “Love you,” she said back, watching as he left and said goodbye to everyone else. If he was upset then she knew that when they talked all would be well so she didn’t worry. Instead she began finishing off her food before heading over to Ephram. She knew he was a bit busy with Freddie and stuff but she didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye, moving behind his seat she kissed the top of his head. “I’m headed back to work. Stop by before you miss all the fun. Maybe arrest anyone who has vandalized the place.”
Miles waved and nodded a few quick goodbyes to the rest of the people.
“Thankfully we don’t have to deal too much with it anymore.” Dani waved their hand as a gesture. “Occasionally something will come up– an invite to a party or a hopeful suitor, which I no longer have to bother with either.” As Bella and Miles headed out, Dani waved their hand goodbye. “See you. I know I’m likely to stop back in at some point, so long as the party’s still going.”
Freddie glanced up at Bellamy, expression inscrutable, gaze level, and shifted just slightly in his seat; his body language just a bit more noticeably possessive and protective, though he didn’t say a word. Waiting until Ephram had said his goodbyes before leaning closer to his darling’s ear to murmur, “What about us, love? Nearly time for bed do you think?”
Ephram leaned his head back when Bellamy came over, demanding another kiss on the forehead. “I would say you’re workin’ too hard, but I know you don’t need sleep.” He laughed at the idea of arresting anybody, and said, “If anybody insults the venue, maybe. Goodnight, sweetpea.” He petted Freddie’s back, forking the poutine over like he was pitchforking a field, and suggested, “Try that one. It’s like, molten hot forever.” Going back to Dani’s reply, Ephram said, “Heh – a benefit of gettin’ older. You don’t gotta do things you don’t have to. Or like.” His husband stirred, suggesting that they retire, and feeling tiredness seep back into his bones Ephram wasn’t inclined to argue.
Bella kissed his forehead as requested by his movements and smirked at his comments. “Night,” she happily said as he moved back to Freddie. It felt like a fairly successful interaction with Ephram while Freddie was around. Not perfect by any means but it didn’t seem like either of them had done anything to make Ephram feel put out which was what she presumed each wanted. Now to just see what had happened with the black light event.
“I’ll see you roundabout the place, Dani,” Ephram said, standing with Freddie bundled against him and grabbing the poutine container with one hand so they could tote it home with them. “Right now I better take the love of my life home and tuck his tipsy but cute ass into bed.”
Dani chuckled at Ephram and nodded. “That you will.” They smiled at the pair, stepping out from the table themself. “Sounds like a plan. I might stop home briefly as well… If I don’t show up, just expect I’ve been dragged into bed by a grouchy florist.”
“Oh no,” Freddie interjected, smiling as he cuddled into Ephram’s side, “-not tonight. This one’s coming to bed with me. But tell Sam hello, love, yeah?”
“By expect you mean imagine, right?” Ephram snickered, giving Dani a one-armed snug before they parted ways.
Dani laughed and returned Ephram’s squeeze. “Whatever you fancy, I suppose.” To Freddie, they gave a peck on the cheek and nodded. “I’ll pass it along. Good night to you both.”
Ephram ended up eating the poutine on the way home. But in a way that was all right, since the warm food got him hungry for something else, too.
#sbsevent: soapberry pride#p: ephram#p: charlie#p: grace#p: iann#p: ryden#p: ruby#p: maya#p: ash#p: lilo#p: cassie#p: miguel#p: miles#p: dani#p: bellamy
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Superheroes with Secrets: Sprogling (Fic part 87) (Set in 2001)
Around 2000 Words. 18+ in places.
please inform me if you wish to be tagged/untagged from posts
Tags: @piratewithvigor
‘Giantess’ Kirby Roussimoff x Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms (Circa 2001)
Reference Posts: Shane ‘Hurricane’ Helms
Kirby ‘The Blacklight Bandit’ Roussimoff
Notes: The story is set in 2001, which would make Helms 27 and Kirby 31. This story also blends Kayfabe and Reality. Certain people speak in different colours, Mainly: Helms is Green. Kirby is Orange. Kane is Red. Undertaker is Purple. Big Show is Blue.
Other members of the BSK are also in purple.
Other women are in Pink.
DX Members are also in Green.
"Think every baby does that to their mom."
"You say that, I've seen some mothers hate their children, first look at their fucking sprogling and it's 'eww, no, that's not my child' when it clearly is." Kirby murmurs.
"But they all make them emotional messes during pregnancy."
"Probably did, but if they rejected their sprogling, then their bad mothers for not accepting their child the way they were made. The way God intended them to look."
"That's how some mothers are..."
"I don't plan on being one of them, I plan on being kind and caring and loving. I will not reject my children ... my child... my potential baby."
"Thank you." He whispers.
"I would never, and will never reject any of our potential children, no matter what happens or how they look."
"I need you to swear that... imagining our kids going through what I did is too much for me."
"Shane, I promise you, I will love our children and never reject them, nothing could make me love them any less than I love you or any less than André loved me..." Kirby takes a deep breath in, "dad would have loved them so much." Kirby whispers, wiping away a few tears.
"That's what every parent thinks... and then they decide that a couple piercings and an accident is worth losing their child to."
"Look at me, Shane, take all of it in, the tattoos, the piercings, everything. I will love our children unconditionally, forever."
"Holding you to that."
"Feel free to, because it's true, now, you wanna go anywhere in particular, daddy?" Kirby asks gently, kissing him softly before sitting back.
"Thinking maybe somewhere kind of relaxing. Know where there's a pool around?"
"I could take you to the beach I did the photoshoot at." Kirby offers.
"Oh man, that does sound nice."
Kirby smirks as she starts driving them to the beach the photoshoot took place at, the journey takes about ten minutes before they get there.
"Gosh, this place really is nice."
"It felt so bad being away from you all day, Shane," Kirby parks the car and gets out, grabbing her bag from the seat behind her, "babe, should we put the back seats down, get a little more room in the car?"
"I mean, we've got all this space now; why not?"
"Good point," Kirby puts the back seats down, sliding them forward to get more space in the back, "so, Hon," Kirby says as she closes the boot and locks the car, "we can do anything we want here, all day."
"Mm, damn right we can."
"So, mon mari, my Hurricane of a husband, my heroic badass, what do you wanna do with me?" Kirby asks, not realizing how dirty the question sounds.
"We're on a private beach, just the two of us... think I wanna screw your brains out and then go skinny dipping."
"Uh, oh, well I uh," Kirby stutters, her face bright red
"C'mon, no one's around." He grins.
"I wasn't objecting to the idea, I've never had sex in such a public but private place before." Kirby explains, trying not to stumble or stutter over her words.
"You can today if you wanna."
"Yes ... please, Shane." Kirby whispers, pulling Helms into a gentle kiss.
"Good. Strip down for me?"
"I'd rather you rip my clothes off me, Hero." Kirby purrs.
"Or I could just pull your skirt up and fuck you senseless."
"You could, do you want me to lay down for you, mon sauvage?"
"Yes please."
Kirby obliges, laying down on the beach, she's already slightly wet at the idea of Helms dominating her. He pushes her skirt up to her hips and pulls her panties to the side, practically examining her pussy.
"You okay there, Sherlock?" Kirby jokes.
"Just looking over the most perfect little pussy on the planet. Thinking of how best to use it."
Kirby smirks as she gets comfy, incredibly tempted to start playing with her clit.
"What do you think I should do?" He chuckles.
"Something, before I get myself off." Kirby half-jokes.
"Mm, how about this?" He smirks, bending down to start licking her ravenously.
Kirby moans in response, "oh fuck, Shane, yes."
"Mm, that's my good girl."
Kirby goes to play with her clit, wanting more pleasure in any way possible.
"Mm, you need it even more than this?"
"Yes, please, don't hold back." Kirby almost begs.
"Take my pants off."
"Yes, sir." Kirby murmurs as she complies with his request.
"Good girl. Remember the safe word?"
"Yes, sir." Kirby nods.
"Good." He slides into her quickly and easily.
Kirby moans in response, biting her lip to quiet her sounds of pleasure.
"Ain't anyone around, babygirl. Scream all you please." He smirks.
"Don't want to risk it." Kirby murmurs.
"You sure?"
Kirby nods in response.
"Then kiss me when you feel like screaming."
Kirby pulls Helms into a heated kiss, weaving one hand into his hair. He kisses her back as he begins to up the pace hard.
Kirby pulls away just as he starts going a bit to hard and fast for her, "lilies, Shane." She whispers.
He backs away and pulls out immediately. "You okay, sweetheart?"
"Oww, fuck. Fucking muscle cramp in my thigh." Kirby murmurs.
"Need a massage on it?"
"No, it's alright, I just need a break, to breathe and walk it off."
"Okay, whatever you need."
Kirby sorts herself out and struggles to find her feet, her legs trembling slightly as she stands up. Helms watches her cautiously, not staying more than a few steps away. Kirby limps a little before putting more weight on her weaker leg, grabbing her bag and rifling through it to find some pain meds.
"Do you need to head back to the hotel?"
"No, I'm fine, just need to soothe the pain in my legs, It's a giant thing, you probably wouldn't understand." Kirby murmurs as she finds the orange pill bottle.
"Comes from growing too fast, I know."
"End up getting fucked up knees because your legs can't take the stress, if left untreated eventually being a giant kills ya, if I didn't have corrective treatment, I would have around nine years left to live." Kirby explains.
"Read about that too..." he murmurs, looking away.
"Giants don't usually get to live long, the part of the brain that develops growth hormones is the same part that develops reproductive hormones, so most giants don't have kids or don't have a lot of kids."
"That's why this baby is so damn special."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, I may be a giant, but I'm a pregnant giant." Kirby half-jokes.
"Exactly. There's more normal in you than you think."
"You know, I've never considered it that way, always thought I was weird, kept trying to convince myself that weird is good."
"It is. But when you call yourself weird, or anything that makes you feel different from a regular person, you just push yourself away from people."
"Shane, I've always done that, every single day before I met you, I thought I was a freak of nature who didn't deserve to feel human." Kirby explains, looking away from Helms.
"And you shouldn't anymore. For the sake of your own mind." He pauses a little. "What if our kid turns out to be a giant, would you want them hating themselves?"
"I don't want them to go through that pain, the bullying and the torture, not without knowing that I love them, I don't want them to feel like a freak." Kirby whispers.
"Then set the example. To teach them that giants are worthy of just as much love and compassion as anyone else, teach them self-love first. Show that by loving yourself."
"Shane ... I ... I don't know how to do that." Kirby admits softly.
"Then learn. For the sake of our baby, let me help you learn to love yourself as much as I love you."
"Alright, I will let you teach me to love me." Kirby looks at Helms, it's clear she's moments away from crying.
He pulls her into the tightest hug he can muster, caressing the back of her head gently.
Kirby hugs him back, kissing his neck softly and whispers, "Shane, I'm gonna try and be a better person, for the baby mostly, but also for you."
"Don't exclude yourself from that list. Do this for you too."
"I'll do it for me as well, I love you and the baby, and I want to love me. I want to be as normal as I can, I know it's technically impossible, but I want to try."
"That's what I like to hear."
Kirby pulls away to look Helms in the eyes, "Je t'aime, mon mari, mon seul et unique."
"I love you too, sweetheart. Above all others."
"From now on, it's gonna be you and me ... and the baby." Kirby murmurs, still a little nervous about the life growing inside her.
"That's right. Our little family all together."
Kirby pulls Helms into a heated kiss, "I still can't believe we're gonna be parents." Kirby whispers against his lips.
"Neither can I. It's going to be incredible."
"Until then however, we have work to do, and tag team stuff to sort out."
"It's probably not safe to wrestle pregnant, is it?"
"Not at all, but only a few people know I'm pregnant and Molly goes easy on me anyway because she's scared of angering me."
"We'll have to tell Vince to work something out. Maybe have you get fake-injured in the ring. Takes you out of commission for a couple months. Maybe a fake broken leg."
"Shane, I will be fine for the next few weeks, just long enough for the tournament." Kirby reassures.
"You sure?"
"Shane, it's me, I've proved myself the female locker room leader, I'm tougher than I look."
"It's not just your life you're responsible for now."
"Do I look pregnant? No, I don't, please Shane, let me do my job, it's the only thing I know."
"I'm not stopping you from it. I just want you to be more careful. Hits that may not hurt you too much may hurt the baby a lot."
"Then I'll be as careful as possible. I just want to do my work, Shane, I love you, alright, I won't do anything to hurt the baby, if I feel like I can't do something then I'll tell you."
"Thank you. That's all I want."
Kirby opens the car door, sitting in the driver's seat but not wanting to leave, "Shane, I'm not gonna be as insane as Jeff, alright, I may be a blonde weirdo, but I'm not as insane as a Hardy."
"I trust you on that."
Kirby smirks as she looks at Helms, "you worry about me so much, but, more pressing matters, what do we do, as in tag team shit, do we enter together, separate? Do we use your music or mine?"
"Together for sure. And I wouldn't mind using your music."
"Or, secret third option, we enter together with a completely new song?" Kirby asks gently.
"Think we could rustle up a new song in under a day?"
"I forget you don't know all the family tricks, my Aunt, Ata Johnson, Dewey's mother, she's an amazing singer and songwriter, we call her, ask her advice, go from there."
"Let's call her up." He grins.
Kirby calls Ata, putting her phone on speakerphone, "Hi Auntie Ata, it's Kirby, I'm here with my husband Shane, we need your advice."
"Aloha my baby, and welcome to our Ohana, Shane, what do you two need?"
"Well, we're starting as a tag team tomorrow night and we were wondering if you could rustle us up a new theme to share."
"Ooh, why don't you go for something that has an upbeat vibe, something that makes the crowd jam out with you?" Ata suggests.
"I was thinking something the same. Want to get them pumped for us."
#Kirby Roussimoff#Shane Hurricane Helms#Blacklight Bandit#Orange and green - the perfect team#Superheroes with Secrets
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Archeron Ambrosia
This is my first fanfiction, but I love writing and write a lot and couldn't get this idea out of my head so if you guys want more holler at me about it. But I’m just gonna leave this here for all you Nessian, Feysand, Elriel lovers looking for a Bakery/Tattoo Shop AU. Enjoy!
Chapter One
Sugar, butter, flour; the three ingredients that can transform into a myriad of edible delicacies. Nesta loved the way she could take any of these three, and with precision and accuracy, could replicate any number of recipes from her tattered old cookbook. She loved that if you followed the directions, every time the same dish would come together, with the same flavors, texture, and consistency--no surprises, you get what you put into it. The recipe book, handed down for three generations, was one of the only good thing to come from her father, and she had baked every recipe at least a dozen times for her family. For her sisters, Feyre and Elain. Now, after years of hard work, reliable recipes, and a degree in business and pastry arts, she was finally ready to open the doors on Archeron Ambrosia--a bakery for the whole family.
Finally, there was a place where the talents of all three sisters could come together to make amazing gifts for the world--beautifully constructed cakes, cookies, and other delectable sweets for every occasion. Nesta baked the fluffy, velvet-like cakes they were famous for, and piped designs with a militant-like precision. Feyre, who was in her sophomore year of art school, took care of painting amazing scenery on special order cakes as well as air brushing some of the more extravagant designs. Elain, who was hoping to open her own floral shop but fell in love with the freedom of fondant flowers, was a master of edible (and non-edible) floral arrangements that couples loved to adorn their wedding cakes. The team they created would meet the needs of every customer under Nesta’s tutelage, and soon customers would be flooding their storefront instead of crashing their online site every other week with orders.
The only problem was the location. With large ovens comes a large bill, and an even larger gas and electric bill, so their storefront was in an edgier part of town. A black-light bowling alley sat catty-corner from the store, with a dive bar next door. Two streets over was a local college, with coffee shops on every corner and small eateries, but the price for rent went up a grand the closer to the college Nesta had looked. So she settled in to the empty store next to a popular tattoo parlor--Illyrian Inscribed. Nesta appreciated the alliteration enough next to her own, and the front looked black, sleek, and clean, so she hoped its presence next to her own store wouldn’t discourage her usual clientele from approaching.
When she bought the store, her sisters had thought she was crazy. It was a fixer-upper, to put it modestly, but Nesta knew that was what she wanted. Control over the paint, the floors, the windows--just like with her cakes, she wanted a clean slate to work from and make her vision come to life. Dark wood floors were laid, a soft blue-grey was painted on the walls to match her eyes, and soon every other piece fell into place. Small cafe tables sat under windows with flowers Elain had arranged. Artwork from Feyre’s latest installation, Night Sky in Solidarity, was prominently displayed surrounding large mirrors to make the space seem larger. And most importantly, the cake display was the center of attention.
A clean, golden display with curved tops, and different shelving spaces--some towering towards the ceiling and some at waist height--gave room for displaying anything from a dozen chocolate cookies, to a six-tier wedding masterpiece. A vintage cash register sat atop the counters, and gave a rustic feel to the entire place. It combined old school elegance with new school clean lines and precision--exactly Nesta’s aesthetic.
After grueling hours of work to place everything where it belonged in the store, and filling the case up with fresh treats for all to enjoy, Nesta was finally able to open the shop. It was a bright Tuesday morning when she walked up to unlock the doors, Elain bouncing on her heels in excitement.
“I really think we should bring goodies around to the other shops, Nesta! I mean, most of the people who are going to buy from us are the local people. And then they’ll tell people and word will get around and it’ll help business.” Elain followed Nesta inside of the building, and helped flip on lights and the cursive sign that blinked OPEN.
“But that’s going to cut into our profits if we just take merchandise and give it away to everyone in the block. I mean, how many people do you think work at,” Nesta squinted out the window to properly read the sign, “Helion’s Blacklight Balls and Pins?” She shook her head afterwards, dismayed at the name.
“Well, at least to our immediate neighbors. Illyrian Inscribed probably doesn’t have many people. I mean, don’t most tattoo places only have like, five artists hired at a time? Maybe with an apprentice or two?”
“Why do you know so much about tattoo parlors, Elain?”
She blushed. “I just watch tv, okay?”
Nesta sighed and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Fine. We can bring them over a bite sized cookie sampler. It’s from the leftover batter anyways so it won’t hurt our profit too much. You can do it, and I’ll get started in the back. We still have to finish that five layer wedding cake before Thursday.”
“Which one? The one where every layer is a different flavor for Ms. Alias or the floral one for the Spring Court Commissary?”
Nesta audibly groaned as she wrapped her black and pink floral half-apron around her waist. “Both. But I’m trying to finish Alias’s today, and the Spring Court one tomorrow. You’ve got to get going on those flowers. Five layers, five different types of flowers.”
Elain jumped behind the counter and started grabbing cookies from all over, ruining Nesta’s display. She swatted Elain’s hand, and once the sister backed up, she began arranging a plate herself.
“I know. Daisies, roses, baby’s breath, marigolds, and lilies. Who requests baby’s breath for a cake anyways? Those are strictly filler flowers and have no business surrounding a middle tier on a cake masterpiece.”
“I don’t know,” Nesta finished the arrangement, and handed the now full tray back to Elain. “But regardless, it has to get done. So go next door, dazzle them with your doe eyes and magnetic personality, and tell them to come get lunch from here and actually pay for something.”
Elain laughed and began to walk to the door, straightening out imaginary wrinkles in her floral, knee length dress. “Who knows, maybe there’s a handsome fellow over there to sweep me away.”
“Wouldn’t that be grand? They could sweep all of us away,” Nesta said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Elain sighed, “Yeah,” she walked out the door. “It sure would be…”
Chapter Two
#my fanfiction#nessian#elriel#feysand#acotar#acomaf#nesta#cassian#feyre#acowar#rhysand#azriel#elain#@tragicallybroken#i did the thing#archeron ambrosia
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