#the way they dress and present themselves sets em apart kinda

[marmarblesz]

Page two completed!!! I love these dorks sm (fanfic is called [Data Recovering] by @manofthepipis!! :3c

Also, for the third panel, Spamton says this: “YOU ALL ARE A [[Pipes burst? Call Now]] LEVEL OF [adware]! EAHAHAHA!! IF SOMEONE [took loving care] OF YOU ALL ONCE AND FOR , ALL OF THIS WOULDN’T BE [Broadcasted daily]. WHO THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE?? [The answer may surprise you]!!” (Idk why but I have a head canon that if Spamton talks for a long time with too much passion and emotion, his words become more glitchy, and kinda have a ringing effect LMAO)

Anyways I hope you all enjoy!! :3 Stick around for page 3!!

[fuzziemutt]

Headcanon Background

These are my headcanons following the world of “Do You Understand?”

This is just extra world building and character stuff that I didn’t want bogging down the main story or have established in there for future reference. Some of these headcanons are inspired by fics I’ve read btw. I might add onto this in the future.

WARNING: Minor Spoilers ahead - I do suggest reading this after the story is complete.

-this mostly covers Connor, Nines and Hank because they’re the ones I most often deal with. If anyone asks for the others or I think of some for them I might add em.

MasterList

World:

This is Post Pacifist route and everyone lives (best ending)

The actual events of the game take much longer, the revolution doesn’t end until towards the end of December to January.

Some events of the game went a bit differently since the time is stretched and because mister Cage is dumb. Like Markus can’t do the weird look deviation thing for funsies. And Alice is human (even if not shown). And there were more revolutionary events that aren’t discussed but happened.

Androids are also much more open about their inhumaness, they often act more human like around humans. However, while alone, androids tend to talk via their internal networks most often (some choose to outwardly speak only too, it’s just preference) and refer to themselves in less human manners.

Okay ngl I’m not gonna get into how to fix this mess of a world Cage made, I’m going to idealize some things in this fic (like I made a landlord nice and not much ACAB- or really any cop stuff), this is merely for fic purposes. I ain’t gonna play moral battlefield with Cage’s dumbass for what started as a vent fic. Just know I don’t agree with a lot of the decisions Cage made for this game’s plot.

Connor RK800:

The RK800 model was made with less articulations in his face so as to cut corners given he was meant to just be a trial. -He needs to consciously run facial expression programs and they can be quite awkward.

Same vein, Connor’s constant calibration, while also a stim, lack of tear ducts, and blinking glitch are also due to Cyberlife cutting corners

Connor Has ADHD because I do so he does too

He also stims by pacing or running, but he tends to do this in absolute private.

He likes to change his hair color quite often to differentiate himself from Nines (He would change his eye color if he could), he does have Bryan’s curly hair but he still consistently styles it to the game style.

His wardrobe style consists of button ups (black, white and floral), turtlenecks, a dark grey blazer, knee length black coat, black jeans, and dress shoes (often Cyberlife ones since they’re just slip ons essentially)

He has killed/hunted way more deviants (and humans) than in game Connor. When he isn’t with Hank, Cyberlife ordered him to simply hunt down and dispose of any deviants he could find. (they wanted results they just played nice with the law for show)

While he wasn't cruel and let all deviants he met with Hank go (except Rupert), any deviants he found while "off duty" did not receive the same mercies (some would even be found mangled beyond recognition). Hank really amplified the humanity in him but only when present. It was also easier to ignore orders when he had a scapegoat.

He also remembers all prior iterations of himself; while the corruption in memory is still there, it was used to condition him in “right” from “wrong”.

He spent a lot more time with Amanda especially during early trials as well so his loyalty to her is very deep and she is like a mother figure to him.

This is Connor model -54. Past 3 models deactivation: Fell with Daniel while protecting Emma (Successful mission); Success w/ Carlos’ android, but he still self destructed and got shot in the interrogation room when trying to stop them; Stratford tower kitchen but the deviant crushes his thirium pump before running leaving him unable to be saved.

He did go up to the roof and saw how Simon was left behind, but he thought about how Hank would be displeased if he killed this android in front of him, given prior results, so he left back to the kitchen last second. Simon knows he left him alone but he doesn't know why.

*pats his head* this boy can hold so much unprocessed trauma

Also this Connor is not an “uwu soft boy”, he is a bastard man. A nice bastard man, but a bastard man none the less. He will sell you to Satan for a single corn chip (/j). He is severely touch-starved though.

He is very bad at expressing and showing his true emotions in a way that makes sense since he’s spent the last, however many, iterations putting himself in a tomb of denial, fear and anger in order to survive. He often expresses nothing or in a manner that he feels will benefit him (arguably manipulative but he is in constant survival mode still). (unless he gets too overwhelmed by his own emotions like hella overwhelmed)

He wasn’t necessarily “deviant” when a machine, his social relations and general programming just saw the act of being more emotionally expressive as giving him a higher chance of not being killed by his handlers. Basically “if they think I’m like a cute roomba, they won’t kill me as easily”. He still experienced frustration, fear and other emotions he ignored, but he was under command (with code and external pressures), his own AI just got fucky and advanced without anyone realizing it (from trauma).

The books in his apartment are random books hes bought from a thrift store, but there are some mystery books and a sea creature encyclopedia in the mix. - The manta ray plush is a gift from Hank, the Whale is a gift from Nines.

Connor (Nines) RK900:

He looks and sounds exactly like Connor. Height, build, face, voice and everything is the exact same except he has blue eyes.

Arguably Nines’ system name is still registered as “Connor” but he just never felt the need to change it since he just goes by Nines anyways.

He has more articulations in his face, even more than the average android, and he tends to take advantage of this. He does feel bad sometimes after being a walking reminder that Connor meant nothing to Cyberlife, but they both tend to not want to talk about that and just ignore it. He doesn’t know how deep Connor’s jealousy goes though.

Given he activated deviant, he really isn’t sure what being a machine is like or having to follow orders. This sometimes is a disadvantage as he doesn’t get sometimes why androids, like Connor, would lean so heavily onto their old programming.

This also means, he’s very expressive and open about his emotions. They were free so why would he try hiding what he felt ? (This can sometimes get him in trouble)

Where Connor changes his hair, Nines wears very loud and vibrant clothing, if he finds a shirt that screams ugly he will wear it. His usual get up is asymmetrical colored button ups, whatever pants he grabs that morning, dress shoes (don’t worry they’re ugly too) and his favorite highlighter neon yellow and orange hooded jacket. He also tends to change into more comfy wear when at his room in New Jericho.

He is partnered with Gavin Reed, but those two really aren’t friends and never will be. Nines can handle him just fine at work but he would never invite that man anywhere near him after it. He is friends with most of the DPD. People find him really friendly and enjoy talking to him.

He also owns a cat named Clem, not much is known about her because she’s really shy.

While he still has access to the base zen garden program, the program is not connected to anything and never had the Amanda AI implemented yet. Since he was never rolled off the press properly and Amanda was set to change connections to the new model set when Connor was done, it never happened.

He was released from Cyberlife storage due to an agreement between them and Markus that all remaining prototypes would be released and androids would have access to the tower in order to produce biocomponents and parts (Cyberlife still owns the building arguably and has access to any info/security there though). He’s honestly not that close to the Jericho leadership despite everything. He talks to them every once in a while but he doesn’t actively talk to them.

Arguably yes he is one of many RK900s, but for sake of story, he is the -84 model of the series and the only one we will see.

Hank Anderson:

After the revolution, he offers Connor a place to stay out of worry. He won’t admit it, but he had a gut feeling con man wasn’t doing well (he was right)

He does work on his drinking problem, but he still has a lot of issues and sometimes relapses. He’s slowly getting better.

He’s like a dad figure to Connor but he isn’t his dad. He gives guidance, but he also gets that Connor is arguably a full grown adult even if he is emotionally like 1 years old. He kinda is a dad to Nines too, but this isn’t as focused on in the story. While he is a bit less grumpy (aggressive) enter Connor, he still a bit of a sour boot most of the time. He just is sober while doing it now. He started wearing a ponytail after the revolution to keep his hair out of his face. He lets Connor trim it every once in a while, but he can’t bring himself to go back to the short style. This Hank adopted Cole as a baby after finding him at a crime scene. He never got married. (He jokes about having an ex-wife out of a sense of compulsory heteronormativity and because it’s funny to him) He used to treat Gavin like a son of sorts before Cole’s death, but practically dropped him afterwards which is why Gavin is doubly hostile towards him. The house he lives in now is not the same house he lived in when Cole was alive. He also got rid of a lot of Cole’s stuff when moving (The toys and clothes he kept are in a box in the garage).

[emotionally-imbruised]

🎬, you know it.

Ok, I hate myself for this. I’m sorry idk where this came from, but here you are 😂 I also tried so hard to have this written and posted actually on Valentine’s Day, but it turned out way longer than I was expecting, so my baaaad. 

Anywho, here’s my whack at a rom-com au (kinda) from this list of Valentine’s Day prompts

Greased Up Valentine’s Day

In which Harry and Y/N don’t have a regular movie night.

Word count: 12.2k OF NONSENSE

“Hurry up H, it’s starting,” you call to your boyfriend from where you’re sat on the couch. He mumbles an incoherent response from the kitchen where he’s finishing up popping a bag of popcorn, and you roll your eyes before focusing back on the animated intro of Grease that is starting to play on the TV. You hum to the sound of Frankie Valli’s voice as it booms from the television speakers while reaching for one of the chocolate-covered strawberries you picked up from a nearby grocery store to yours and Harry’s shared apartment and take a bite out of it; sighing pleasantly as the flavour envelops your taste buds.

The little old lady selling them at a stand near the grocery stores entrance earlier today lit right up as you approached her and was so excited to talk to you. She seemed very intrigued when you told her your Valentine’s Day plans consisted of a simple night in with the love of your life while watching some of your favourite movies, rather than making a big deal over the whole day. She frowned when you said that though and went into detail about the so-called magic that surrounds the day of love, and how you’ll understand that very soon. You listened to her spiel but didn’t really take any of it to heart as you mentioned you needed to get going so you could beat Harry home. 

After stating you’d like to purchase some of the delicious-looking strawberries she was selling, she didn’t let you take one of the packages she had out on display, but rather rushed to the back of the stand where she reached into a cooler and pulled out a completely different container of the chocolate covered fruit to give to you – saying it was her special batch and could “make people fall even more in love by granting their wishes;” to which you couldn’t help but chuckle at. She insisted that you didn’t pay, but you refused to walk away without giving her something for them; so, when she waved goodbye and looked away, you set a ten-dollar bill onto her table before briskly walking away from the stand and blending yourself into the crowd of people headed into the grocery store.

Once you were done buying all the groceries for yours and Harrys dinner tonight, you went back outside half expecting to be sassed by the sweet, yet odd older woman for leaving her money; but to your surprise her and her stand were gone without a trace, as if they’d never been there in the first place. You glanced down at the strawberries you’d packed into one of the bags and shook your head, feeling as if you were going crazy as you made way to your car and called Harry to tell him about what had just happened as you drove home.

Fast forward a couple of hours to present time where you and Harry have already finished making and eating the pasta and salad you bought once he’d gotten home from the studio and are now ready to start your movie night.

“We’ve seen this movie, so many times love, I don’t think it’ll be the end of the world if I miss a bit of the beginning,” Harry’s voice snaps you out of your trance as he appears in front of the television.

You scowl at him as you finish chewing on the piece of strawberry that still fills your mouth, while he chuckles and tosses a piece of popcorn at you. “Hush, and get your butt over here.”

An hour or so later, the two of you are still curled up on the couch, and you find yourself feeling rather sleepy. You fight to keep your eyes open as Frankie Avalon’s presence takes over the screen while singing Beauty School Dropout to Frenchy and lean your head onto Harry’s shoulder, cuddling up against his warm body as you somehow become even more tired. He glances down at you affectionately and smiles to himself as he shifts to wrap his arm around you, pulling you in even closer before reaching for one of the remaining strawberries and taking a bite of it; humming to himself in satisfaction. “What is with these things? They’re so good.”

“Don’t gotta tell me,” you mumble with a small smile dancing across your lips, before allowing a loud yawn escapes your mouth. You snuggle into the blanket that’s wrapped around the two of you even more before abruptly sitting up straight a little bit so you can get a better look at Harry. “Ever wonder what it’d be like to be in the world of Grease?”

“What?” He asks you incredulously as he chuckles at your words. “You feeling alright there, bub?”

He reaches to place his palm against your forehead, but you swat it away; rolling your eyes as his laughs become louder. “Oh, shut up. Breaking out in songs like Summer Nights and We Go Together or having a love like Sandy and Danny would be unreal, and you know it. I wish we could experience it, I think it’d be cool.”

“Whatever you say Y/N,” he jokes and with another sarcastic eye-roll, you allow yourself to lean against him again to watch more of the movie, and soon enough your eyes begin fluttering shut. Soon enough, the two of you eventually pass right out while cuddled up on the couch together.

You’re not sure how much time has passed since you fell asleep, but when the noise of multiple voices surrounds you; you think that maybe it’s time to wake up. You slowly open your eyes and let out a loud gasp when you see you aren’t laying on the comfy couch of yours and Harry’s apartment, but rather in the backseat of a car with three girls you’ve never met before.

“Christ Y/N, what was that for?” The brunette with short curly hair in the driver’s seat speaks up as she glares at you in the rear-view mirror.

“She was probably busy daydreaming about seeing her beau Riz, cut her some slack,” the girl sat beside you with longer light brown hair speaks up as she stares at herself in a small compact mirror and finishes touching up her lipstick.

“W-what?” You trip over your words as all three girls look at you now is if you’ve grown a second head, and that’s when you notice it. These girls aren’t just any girls, they’re Rizzo, Marty, and Jan; better known as The Pink Ladies in Grease, and they’ve even got the matching pink jackets to prove it. A surprised breath leaves your mouth as you glance down to see that you’re wearing a similar ensemble to the other three with your pink jacket, soft pink tank top, black pencil skirt, and fancy pair of black flats. Alarmed, you reach over to grab the compact mirror out of Marty’s hand so you can look at yourself and are taken back when you see your reflection. Everything about your face is the same, but with the way your hair is pulled back into a high ponytail with a long pink ribbon wrapped around it, and the soft pink eyeshadow that covers your eyelids; it’s just so different from how you’d dress in real life and it’s throwing you right off. “Oh my god.”

“I wasn’t done with that,” Marty grumbles as she snatches the mirror back and glares at you.

“This, this isn’t real.”

“Real?” Jan questions as she looks over her shoulder and takes a bite of an Oreo she’s holding. “Life isn’t real sweetie.”

“Can it, Jan,” Rizzo snaps before glancing back at you. “And to think we thought you were a normal one of us, but French might have you beat now. What’s gotten into you?”

“I don’t know,” you whisper mainly to yourself as you glance out the window and a large building with a sign saying Rydell High School in front of it comes into view and can only think of one thing…Holy shit, you’re actually in Grease.

None of the girls say anything as Rizzo turns into the parking lot and pulls up to a vacant space. They each climb out of the pink car and start walking away as you take it all in. This is by far the weirdest dream you’ve ever had because it just seems so real, but before your thoughts can carry you too far away; you snap out of it and rush after The Pink Ladies. 

You hear them talking about being seniors and instantly know what scene of the movie you’re in once you catch up to them, just as Marty reaches over to smack Jan and says, “Jan that is so adolescent!”

“We are adolescents,” Jan giggles as she continues nibbling on her Oreo.

“We don’t have to flaunt it,” Rizzo adds before looking back at you. She grabs your arm and gently pulls you between her and Jan to continue walking with them.

“This is going to be our year isn’t Y/N?” Marty asks from the other side of Rizzo.

“Uh, I guess…”

Rizzo just smirks in response to this before slinging the pink jacket she’s carrying over her shoulders, and looking at all of you before strutting forwards a little bit. “Okay girls, let’s go get ‘em.”

The four of you make way through the front doors of the school, earning gazes and particular looks as you all walk past everyone – looking as if you own the place. Everything about this feels so weird and you want nothing more than to just pinch yourself so you can wake up, but just as you consider doing that; an all too familiar British voice speaks up from down the hallway, and your eyes widen.

Leaning against some of the lockers is five boys all wearing different coloured leather jackets with a large T-Birds logo printed on the back. With them, standing awkwardly away from the lockers but looking fine as hell, is a sixth boy that you’d never seen in the movie before but are quick in recognizing to be your boyfriend of many years. You pause slightly and shake your head at the thought as you stare at his greased back curls and shiny leather jacket he wears, one that’s similar to what the other boys are wearing. The dimples that you’ve grown to love so much make themselves known as he smiles at something one of the guys have said, and you have to blink a couple of times to make sure its actually him you’re seeing. “Harry?”

At the sound of your voice, Harry snaps his gaze to yours and his striking green eyes widen once he sees you. Without even thinking, he steps away from the boys and makes way towards you; pushing through The Pink Ladies despite the whines and comments they make at him. The closer he gets, the more relieved you can tell he is to see you as he shakes his head and speaks up. “Y/N? What- you’re here to? I thought this was some weird-ass dream, but now I’m-.”

“Just as confused as I am,” you whisper, and glance at the group of people staring at you over Harry’s shoulder. You bite down on your bottom lip and slowly let your gaze fall back onto your boyfriend before letting out a huff. “Harry, what the hell is going on?”

“I wish I knew love, I just remember us watching the movie and now we’re in it? God, did we take some type of drugs or something?”

“Not that I’m aware of!” Your hushed voice rises as you continue taking in just how obscure all of this is. However, before anything else can be said; the bell rings to indicate that school has started. You look to Harry for an answer because there’s no way in hell that the two of you – two full ass grown adults are expected to go to a high school class; however as Marty marches her way over to you and starts pulling you down the hall and away from Harry; you don’t really get the chance to plan your escape to try and figure a way out of this all. You glance over your shoulder at Harry as he’s surrounded by the other guys, and he soon disappears out of sight as you turn around a corner. You look to Marty; who has now let go of your arm before starting to dig through her purse, and you shake your head again. “Where are we going?”

“Homeroom,” she states as if it should be a known fact and looks at you oddly. “Geez Y/N, are you sure you’re not sick? You’ve been acting really weird today.”

“Uh sorry, yeah I guess maybe I am.” Right? That’s the only logical explanation for all of this.

“Well I’d sure say so,” she mumbles as the two of you reach a door and she pushes it open to strut her way inside, you following right after. You both take a seat at one of the many long tables that fill the classroom and she isn’t long in speaking up again. “So, what’s with you and Styles, huh? I thought you were trying to patch things up with Danny.”

“Danny?” You ask skeptically and think back to how he was amongst the other T-Birds leaning against the lockers watching you and Harry moments ago. “There’s nothing between Danny and me, isn’t he with Sandy? Oh wait, he doesn’t know she’s here yet, does he?”

You feel as if you’re finally adapting to how this entire dream is going to work out and end up just like the movie. It has to, and ideally, by the end of it, you and Harry will be out of this weird alternate universe. As you think about how the entirety of the movie plays out, and how you and Harry are going to wake up from this as if nothing ever happened; you can’t help but sigh in relief until you look over at Marty to see her staring back at you with a confused expression. “Who is Sandy?”

“Danny’s girlfriend…”

“No, you’re Danny’s girlfriend.”

“Pardon?” You ask disbelievingly. “No, I’m not.” Danny isn’t real, you think to yourself, none of this is – but yet, everything else that has happened so far has proved you wrong; so you know it is brave of you to assume otherwise.

“Ok well maybe, not technically,” she agrees but isn’t long in justifying her argument. “But you’re the one who broke his heart at the beginning of summer, remember? I don’t know why though because literally, everyone wanted to have a relationship like the two of you had.”

“Marty, I actually have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Ok, then I’ll show you,” she responds before standing up from her seat and walking towards the back of the room. You watch as she goes up to one of the bookcases and grabs one of the many yearbooks that line the shelves. Once she finds the one she’s looking for, she takes it off the shelf and walks back towards you; tossing it on the table in front of you with a loud thud, before sitting back down. “There’s last semesters yearbook, take a look for yourself.”

You look at her skeptically before sliding the yearbook towards you and opening it up. Amongst the first couple of pages you see pictures of many familiar faces of the people you know as the main characters of this movie; however, pictured with them is you and Harry, and in almost all of them you’re cuddled up against Danny Zuko’s side while he has his arm draped around your shoulder. As you flip through the pages, there’s even more evidence of what Marty said to actually be true, and it’s freaking you the hell out. This dream you thought you were living is turning to be much more than what you bargained for, and with that; you start panicking. “There’s no way.”

Without another word, you slam the book shut and begin pinching yourself. Marty clearly seems to think you’ve gone crazy by the look that’s written across her face, and quickly reaches over to grab onto your wrist so she can stop your actions. “Y/N, what are you doing?”

“Trying to wake up,” you mutter as you move your free arm to start pinching your opposite shoulder again. “Maybe if I pinch hard enough, it’ll work.”

“Can you stop?” Marty hisses and grabs ahold of your other hand. “You’re not dreaming, this is all real and people are going to think you’ve damn near lost it.”

“Well, I pretty much am feeling as though I have Marty,” you snap, and she lets out a huff.

“Let’s just drop it then,” she states with a defeated sigh and moves away. “Class is starting, can you at least try to act normal? People are looking at us weird.”

You mimic her tone under your breath as more people file into the room, and Sonny — one of the T-Birds, makes his way to the two of you and strikes up a conversation. You unintentionally drown out his voice as morning announcements start sounding over the PA system, and glance down at the yearbook; deciding to flip through it once again.

The way you and Harry look so naturally positioned in the pictures with everyone else truly blows your mind. Some of the photos show the two of you at school events, him working in the school’s auto shop, you sitting at lunch with Rizzo, Marty, Jan and Frenchy, and even your class picture amongst everyone else that is apparently in your grade.

This is all becoming so confusing. With all the times you’ve watched Grease before — you know that with everything that’s happening, it doesn’t add up to how the actual movie goes, and that has you wondering. Before you know it, you’ve mindlessly reached the end of the yearbook and are on the pages where students would normally sign their autographs; but this one doesn’t have any. Instead, it’s has only one message scribbled across the whole page in very unique writing.

“An alternate universe is what you wished for, so an alternate universe is what you’ll get. But make sure the story ends the way it’s supposed to, or else it’ll be something that you soon regret. – A friend.”

You stare at the page blankly and silently read the message over and over again, until you soak it all in. Was this some kind of sick joke? When the hell did you wish for something like this to happen? There’s just something about the message that makes you think it was specifically written for you to read, and that thought alone makes you anxious.

Your mind starts thinking back to when you and Harry were cuddled up on the couch watching this movie and you said that being in this movie world would be unreal before technically wishing to be in it. Is that why you’re here now? But why? How? Clearly, this isn’t a dream, this is really happening; but how are you supposed to get back home? All of these thoughts are racing through your mind, but before you know it; the bell rings again to indicate that class is over and you are unable to dig much deeper into the thought of it.

Apparently, the majority of your morning classes are with Marty, but there’s also one you share with Jan, a couple of the T-Birds, but none with Harry. It seems like time is flashing by and you can’t keep track of it. Those classes however, come and go in a whirlwind and soon enough… it’s time for lunch.

You and Jan take a seat in the outdoor cafeteria as you wait for Marty and Rizzo, who are still waiting in line for their food. Jan immediately starts digging into her spaghetti, whereas you just push the noodles around your plate instead of eating any of it. After taking in all that has happened, food is the last thing you’re thinking about at the moment and you remain silent until two familiar voices start singing from a few feet away. You look over to see Rizzo and Marty approaching the table, shimmying as they both finish the little song they’re singing and take a seat next to you and Jan.

Without missing a beat, Jan looks at the two and is the first to say anything. “Hey, did you guys get a look at Zuko this morning? Looking pretty good this year, huh Riz?”

The way she moves the sunglasses that cover her face up and down suggestively makes you recognize the exact scene from the movie that you’re now in, and you know exactly what’s to come after.

“That’s ancient history,” Rizzo states before glancing at you. “That was before him, and Y/N were an item.”

“Well, history can repeat itself,” Marty pipes in and nudges you with her elbow. “Besides, Y/N wants nothing to do with Danny anymore, she’s already moved on.”

“With who?” A voice gasps and your gaze snaps up to that of a girl with dyed ginger hair, and a blonde-haired girl trailing right after her; who you instantly recognize as Frenchy and Sandy.

“Harry,” Marty states and all the girl’s ooh.

“Well that was fast,” French responds and motions for Sandy to sit down.

“It really wasn’t,” you grumble to yourself while thinking of how long you and Harry have been together in real life, which luckily no one hears.

Frenchy starts introducing the four of you to Sandy and going off about how she had just moved here from Australia, just like she does in the movie. You watch the scene unfold in front of you and are too shook to say anything as they all continue on their conversation word for word, all while you’re here living it with them. Everything down to Rizzo sassing Marty about her glasses, and Patty Simcox coming up to excitedly explain how she’s been nominated vice president is the same and you just can’t help but stare. 

Patty invites herself to sit down next to Sandy and lets out a scream as she sits down on an apple left there by Jan, while the four other Pink Ladies huddle together and motion for you to join as Frenchy asks if you all think Sandy has what it takes to be a Pink Lady.

The entire scene has you wondering where in the hell Harry could be in all of this, but if your memory is correct – which it is; he has to be on the bleachers with the T-Birds eating lunch and… oh god, they’re going to break out in song any minute.

As if on cue, Frenchy speaks up again to ask Sandy what she did this past summer.

“Oh, I spent it on the beach, I met a boy there,” the blonde responds, and you press your fingers to your temples as it feels like your mind is about to explode.

“It’s happening,” you whisper as Rizzo makes a comment about Sandy being ridiculous for being so strung up on a guy she met on the beach, and Sandy dismissing her while stating how romantic it was. A distinctive guitar riff starts playing from God knows where and right after, Sandy starts singing her part of one of your favourite songs from this damn movie; Summer Nights.

In some type of crazy unnatural way, you can hear Danny’s voice in the distance as he sings his part of the song and you slowly stand from the table and back away as all the girls in the cafeteria join with Sandy for the musical number… 

This is it. You’ve officially gone crazy and this dream world has become a nightmare. You watch in complete awe as the whole girl’s part of Summer Nights plays out in front of you, and only one thought plagues your mind; you need to find Harry and get the hell out of here now.

Without a second thought, you take off in a sprint away from the commotion just as Marty asks Sandy if this guy – who you know to be Danny, has a car before continuing on with the song. You shake your head as you struggle to run in the long pencil skirt you’re wearing and earn dirty looks from the people you rush by. It doesn’t take long for you to become confused as to why these people are so taken back by you running past them, but unfazed by the random song that just broke out and can seemingly be heard from wherever you are in this place? Bullshit, absolute bullshit.

You’re not really sure where you’re going seeing as you don’t know the layout of the school, but get a pretty good feeling that you’re going the right way as the boy’s voices grow louder, and the girls become a little quieter. A moment later, you turn around a corner and reach a part of the school that overlooks the track field, and sure enough, in the distance is Harry standing on the bleachers with all of the guys looking shocked and unsure of what to do.

With a quick breath, you try to make it down the stairs towards the field as fast as possible without falling, so you can get across the field to your boyfriend and try to figure something out. You watch as all the boys – minus Harry, move across the bleachers in a perfect sequence of one another, and think of how normally you’d appreciate this part of the movie; but right now, you’ve got more important things to worry about.

Some boys who are running on the track look at you oddly as you crash through the gate at the bottom of the steps and mumble a quiet ‘sorry’ as you weave through them. Someone… that you think to be Coach Calhoun yells at you in the distance to get off the track, but you ignore them as you get closer to the bleachers just as Rizzo’s voice sounds in the distance saying how the guy they’re singing about sounds like a drag, and the boys break out into the shoo-bop-bop part of the song while they start shuffling across the bleachers in unison.

You finally reach the bottom of the bleachers and think you’re close enough to get Harry’s attention now. Although you have to lean against the fencepost to catch your breath for a moment, you’re quick in calling out to your boyfriend so he can realize he’s not alone in all this craziness. “H! Harry, over here!”

His green eyes snap to yours instantly, and he wastes no time in rushing over to where you’re standing. A small sigh relief leaves your mouth as he reaches you and immediately pulls you into his chest for a tight hug, smiling as you melt into his touch while he starts muttering some words. “Fuck, I didn’t even know where to look for you in this place. All of them would look at me as if I was crazy for wondering where you were… m’just- I don’t know what to do in all of this Y/N, this is a lot to take in.”

“I know, but we’re going to figure this out together,” you tell him reassuringly as you move away slightly and grab ahold of his hands. You look over his shoulder as everyone on the bleachers keep dancing away, and start pulling him away from them. “Come with me.”

You lead him around the side of the bleachers and move underneath them so you two can talk in private without getting noticed by any of the T-Birds. Once you’re both out of sight, you turn around to face him just as he’s pushing a hand over his slicked curls. “Y/N, I feel crazy for even thinking about it, let alone  saying it out loud but this movie… it’s the same, but different. Like there’s something completely off about it all, and I’m not talking about the part of how we both magically appeared here. It’s just not adding up and God, what the hell is all this?”

“I’m not sure, ok?!” You unintentionally yell at him; regretting your words as you feel the tears prick your eyes almost immediately, and start feeling bad for taking your frustrations out on the last person who deserves it. With a sigh of defeat, once you see the hurt expression that flashes across his features, you start looking anywhere but his eyes before speaking up again. “I-I’m sorry H, I just- I  don’t know… But I’m more than positive that all of this is happening because of me – it’s all my fault.”

“Hey, hey, hey, Y/N- love, there’s no possible way this is your fault,” he tells you soothingly, but a choked sob still manages to escape your mouth. He watches as the tears begin streaming down your face before stepping towards you and wasting no time in lacing his hands with yours so he can gently pull you against his chest again. You instantly melt into his touch as he begins rubbing soft circles on the small of your back and can feel you yourself starting to calm down. “It’s insane that we ended up here yes, but it’s just the movie, right? Maybe all we have to do is make it to the end before being sent back to our real lives.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy H,” you tell him as you move away from his embrace. 

“And why is that?”

“Well, like you said, the movie itself is the same… but it’s also different,” you begin to explain while he looks at you curiously. “We changed it by showing up here.”

“We couldn’t have changed it too much bub,” he states with a slight smirk. “Everything that has happened so far goes perfectly along with the movie, right down to the random breaking out in song during unnecessary times.”“Not everything is the same though Harry, and I think that’s our key in getting out of here.”

He looks at you skeptically before letting out a breath and running a hand over his grease slicked hair. “Alright, you’ve officially lost me.”

“When I was in class with Marty earlier, I found a note,” you explain, and he nods as if silently telling you to continue. “It was in the back of a yearbook and it basically said if the movie doesn’t end the way it’s supposed to, we’re gonna regret it.”

“Ok, but what does that mean love?” He asks with a slightly aggravated tone. “Like I said, the movie has been pretty on track so far… It mustn’t be too difficult to make it stay that way.”

“But that’s the thing H, it may not to stay on track and that’s what we have to worry about. We’ve altered everything just by being here, who are we to say more won’t change the longer we’re here? There might be setbacks we’ll have to face because of it.”

“What kind of setbacks?”

“Well…” You trail off slightly as you think back to what Marty said about you and Danny, as well as all those pictures to prove it. “Apparently I’m the ex-girlfriend of one of the main characters who broke his heart before summer, and now everyone is expecting us to get back together; including him.”

He doesn’t say anything as he stares back at you with complete and utter confusion until a small smile dances across his lips and he lets out a sarcastic laugh. “That’s funny.”

“It’s not meant to be a joke, Harry, I’m serious.”

“How can you be serious when none of this is real, Y/N?” He snaps, and you find yourself flinching at his tone. You stare at him with wide eyes and see how he already feels bad. “Wait, I didn’t mean to snap I-.”

“If none of this is real, then why are we still here, Harry?” You ask through gritted teeth. “Why aren’t we at home where we should be hmm? This isn’t how dreams work, this is actually happening, and I’m going to figure out how to get us out of here whether you help me or not.”

“Babe, you know I’m going to help you regardless. We’re in this together,” he reasons with you and reaches out to grab your hand. “I just- m’not a fan of hearing there’s this other guy that’s gonna try to take you away from me… Even if he isn’t real, it all still rubs me the wrong way.”

“There is nothing for you to worry about H, I’m all yours. Have been for a really long time now and even a young seventies sexy has hell John Travolta acting as one of my favourite characters in one of my favourite movies can change that, ok?”

“Ok,” he replies with a soft smile before leaning down to catch your lips in a sweet kiss. You melt into the feeling of his lips attached to yours, and hum in satisfaction. That’s always something you’ve loved Harry for being able to do. It doesn’t matter how crazy or stressful the situation is, he always knows what to do or say so that the two of you can keep a level head and not take it out on each other. After a moment he pulls away and smirks down at you before mumbling something else. “Just had to throw in young John Travolta being sexy didn’t yeh?”

“Well of course,” you tell him with a smirk before standing on your tip toes so you can peck his lips again. “But that’s beside the point because I haven’t gotten the chance to tell you how good you look in that leather jacket yet.”

Your boyfriend smirks and goes to respond, but before he can say anything else, someone clears their throat from nearby and both of you snap your attention towards them. You were both so caught up talking with each other that you didn’t realize the song had ended, and your bickering was more than likely to be heard; which just with your luck, has now attracted the attention of all the T-Birds as they have now made their way behind the bleachers to see what the commotion was all about. Harry gives you a sideways glance before straightening out his posture a little bit and speaking up with a nod. “Boys.”

“So, it is true,” Danny speaks first, causing you to cringe slightly as you can sense a bit of hostility in his tone. “The two of you really are a thing.”

“Geez Styles, you sure wasted no time in swooping in on that one,” Kenickie mutters as he puffs on a cigarette and leans his elbow onto Danny’s shoulder. “Thought you and Danny were going to work on things Y/N?”

You can’t help the sarcastic laugh that leaves your mouth at his comments and have to roll your eyes as all of them, except Harry, stares at you with rather dirty looks. “Oh, come on, you can’t seriously think I’m a bad guy in this situation. Danny you literally just sang a whole song about a different girl you wanted to bone all summer.”

“Bone?” Doody asks confused, and you mentally smack yourself because there’s no way these guys would know what that means.

“Wait, that wasn’t about Y/N?” Sonny chimes in.

“Well… no,” Danny responds sheepishly, and all you can think is – you fuckboy. “It was a girl I met on the beach, but it’s not like I’ll ever see her again.”

“Wouldn’t be so sure about that lad,” Harry mumbles from beside you, and you send him a warning glare as all of them look at you confusedly.

“What Harry is trying to say,” you start with a forced smile. “Is that anything could happen… even the craziest of things that you’d never expect in a million years to happen, like getting sucked into a movie; but you know, that’s life.”

“What?” All five boys ask in unison, and you grit your teeth for letting yourself rant about your current predicament like that.

“Nothing. But anyways, Danny what I’m trying to say is I moved on, and you should most definitely keep your options open and allow yourself to do so as well, maybe your dream girl is right around the corner.”

“Ooh well played,” Harry whispers loud enough for only you to hear.

“Doubtful,” Danny grumbles. “Doesn’t matter anyways, let’s go guys.”

All the boys start walking away and wave for Harry to join them. He looks at it hesitantly, but you just nod as a way to tell him you’ll be fine on your own. “Go with them and just make sure everything stays the way it’s supposed to, I’ll make sure nothing more changes with the girls either and we’ll be out of here before we know it… hopefully.”

“Ok,” he agrees softly and places a kiss to your temple before stepping away. He makes it a few steps before glancing over his shoulder and winking at you. “You look hot in fifties clothes by the way.”

“Get out of here,” you tell him with a broad smile before letting out a huff and making way back towards the school.

If there’s one thing you’ve managed to pick up on by being in this movie, it’s that time really doesn’t matter. Things that would normally consume a good amount of time in your reality passes by in a matter of seconds here, and it’s quite dizzying. That being said, after meeting up with all the girls after leaving Harry and the boys; the rest of the day flew right by.

It’s now the evening and you’re sat on the back of Rizzo’s car with her, Frenchy, Jan and Marty as you all watch Sandy cheer in the school’s pep rally. After spending the day with all of them, you’ve gotten to know the girls pretty well and find that it’s actually kind of fun experiencing the whole movie world with them – but you also know that this can’t last forever and yearn to be home even more with each passing minute.

You’re fully aware of the plans Rizzo has to take Sandy to where Danny is with Harry and all the other boys as a surprise, and you just can’t help but sit back and watch in awe as every little thing happens the exact same way; just with you part of it. Once Sandy joins the five of you,  you all make way to where the T-Birds are. You think of exactly how the next few minutes are about to play out and are less than impressed by how Danny is a complete asshole to Sandy after realizing they are in the same place again, just like he is in the movie.

You watch with pursed lips behind the girls slightly as it all unfolds but snap out of your daze once Harry steps beside you and nudges your shoulder. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” you tell him just as Sandy storms away upset after being treated like trash by Danny and the boys start praising him for being a jerk. You look at Rizzo – who just smirks to herself for planning all of this, and you know it’s just part of the movie, but man does it sucks seeing someone get treated like that. So, you feel like you need to speak up about it. “Actually no, I’m not. Hey Danny?”

“Yeah,” he responds arrogantly and turns around to face you.

“You’re a real dick, you know that, right?” You snap on him, and everyone looks at you in surprise. Your gaze moves to all the boys standing behind him, and you start going off on them too. “You guys as well for feeding him on like that. Oh, and you too Riz, it’s pretty pathetic that you go out of your way to do something so mean to a person. Geez, grow up – you’re all high school seniors for fuck sake.”

They all stare at you blankly as you let out a huff and grab hold of Harry’s hand so you can storm away with him in tow. You make it a couple of feet before he lets go to rush in front of you; causing you to almost full-on crash into his chest because of how unfocused you were on him. “Woah, hey, that was… that was really brave of you to stand up to them like that Y/N. M’really glad to see you’re still the firecracker I fell in love with, even here.”

“Yeah, sorry for your loss.” You smirk as he wraps a hand around your waist and pulls you closer to him.

“What do you say we get out of here, hmm? Clear our minds up a little bit.”

“How do we plan on doing that?”

“Turns out I have an old cool car in this world too,” he tells you with a wink. You look up at him with a soft smile before nodding in agreement and allowing him to lead you towards a nice-looking black car waiting at the back of the lot. Some voices sound to your right and you can see Frenchy consoling Sandy a couple of feet away, smiling to yourself again when she tells Sandy she could use a girl’s night.

“You’re lucky, I love you. I’m missing out on seeing Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee and Hopelessly Devoted To You in person now because of you.”

“But I’m hopelessly devoted to you my love; and would much rather spend my night alone with you, isn’t that any consolation?”

“Yeah ok smartass,” you murmur jokingly and pull him in for a kiss, before climbing into his car and driving off. You and Harry spend the majority of the night sitting in the diner drinking milkshakes and just talking – mainly about how much you’re both missing your lives at home. It was nice spending time just the two of you, but neither of you knew exactly where to go afterwards seeing as you don’t actually live in this world; so you both settle on sleeping in Harry’s car on the oddly comfortable backseat. You start the night off cuddling but that soon escalates, and before you know it, you’re waking up to the sun beaming inside of the car. The rays dance over the small blanket that covers both of yours tangled legs, up to where Harry’s T-Bird jacket lays to keep from showing off too much of your exposed upper body and chest; causing you to groan to yourself slightly. 

“Another quick round before school?” Harry asks suggestively from beside you with his deep sleep-filled voice. You scoff in response but with the way he starts peppering your neck with kisses – you’re not long in succumbing to his advances.

“As long as we find a place to shower afterward.”

About an hour and a half later, you and Harry walk out of gym locker room showers in at school while trying to act as normal and casual as can be without drawing too much to yourselves; before setting out the rest of the entire crew. You brush out some of the wrinkles of the new top and skirt you wear with your Pink Ladies jacket that you conveniently found in Harry’s trunk, just as everyone in your group seemingly comes bursting through the doors at once before whisking you and Harry away from one another.

Later in the day, you and Frenchy are walking to class together just as some familiar voices sound from down a hallway, and you pause to listen to them. Frenchy stops a few feet ahead of you after realizing you’re no longer beside her, and slowly shuffles back while looking at you curiously. “You ok there, Y/N?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” you tell her with a smile as you look between her and the hallway the voices continue coming from. “Hey French, what’s down there?”

“Oh, that’s the auto-shop. The boys are probably there now.”

“No way,” you exclaim as you know that the boys are about to start singing Greased Lightnin’, and you want nothing more to see Harry take part in that. Without a second thought, you grab hold of Frenchy’s hand and start dragging her towards the source of the noise.

“Where are we going?” She asks between some chuckles as you continue pulling her.

“Oh, you’ll see.”

The two of you reach the end of the hallway where you push open a door and walk to a railing that overlooks the whole auto-shop. Frenchy looks down at the boys and is about to say something, but you shush her just as the boys break out in song again.

You’re still unsure of where the hell the music comes from but brush it off as you and Frenchy watch in pure amusement while the guys dance around singing about what they’re going to do to Kenickie’s car; including Harry. Small laughs leave your mouth as you watch Harry dance alongside Putzie, Sonny and Doody to the entirety of the song; showing off the dance moves he knows just by how much you’ve made him watch Grease. Frenchy seems to be enjoying herself too as they finish up the song and you quickly start pulling her out of the shop before any of them realize that the two of you were there. 

The next few days er-weeks in movie time are spent just letting the film play itself out. Although you’re starting to get tired of sleeping in the back of Harry’s car every night and using the school showers to clean yourselves off, you’ve slowly started adapting to this world and what it entails. You learned that every day without fail, a new outfit just magically appears in Harry’s trunk for you each to wear; and you’ve gotten to the point where you’ve stopped questioning everything and are now just letting it happen because you will probably go mad while thinking of how something like that is remotely possible.

You and Harry have agreed to just go with the flow of the movie and only stepping in to make sure things stay on track if need be. You’re both just sitting back and relaxing, watching everything unfold and being quite entertained by it all; especially after witnessing Danny’s attempts at picking up on a sport in order to win Sandy over again and get her to go to the school dance with him. You’ve both even become friends with all of the characters as well. Harry tells you about what he did that day with the guys each night, while you tell him how you’re really getting along with the girls and feel as if you’re able to confide in them; especially Frenchy.

Soon enough, it’s the night of said school dance; one of the best parts of the movie, and one of the most dramatic. Harry is pretty adamant on not dancing whatsoever, but you egg him on about it until he finally agrees to the two of you slow dancing together to the version of Those Magic Changes the band plays and taking part in the dance line to Tears On My Pillow alongside all of your friends.  

As the song comes to an end, Principal McGee and Coach Calhoun make their way to the stage to discuss the expectations of the dance and how it’ll all be filmed on national television. Principal McGee explains how she will not be judging the dance competition that’s about to happen, but rather the infamous celebrity in the world of Grease; Vince Fontaine. Everyone erupts in excited cheers as they know they’re about to see this huge celebrity, and you casually glance up at Harry with a smile before elbowing him gently until he looks down at you. “Vince is the movie equivalent to you in real life.”

“Shut up.” He rolls his eyes at your comment, but you notice the arrogant smirk dancing across his lips.

Once the rules of the dance competition are explained and the television cameras start rolling in order to film it all, you drag Harry to the dance floor where he has no other choice but to dance along to Elvis’ Hound Dog with you. Despite his complaining, Harry is quick on matching the steps of the people around you and seems to actually be having fun.

You glance to your right to see Frenchy and Doody laughing while dancing together, and the same coming from Jan and Putzie to your left. Marty is to the side, ignoring Sonny, while Danny and Sandy dance their way next to you; sending wide smiles as they do so. Vince Fontaine goes on the stage and starts talking again before the band starts playing Born to Hand Jive, and you and Harry decide to sit this one out.

The two of you stand on the sidelines watching as your friends dance their hearts out to this particular song and can’t help but laugh a little with how offended some of them get by being eliminated from the competition. Harry smirks at you while you find yourself smiling and dancing to the music, however, a slight movement from the corner of your eye catches your attention and you quickly glance over your shoulder to see what it was. Standing behind the crowd observing everyone while dressed up like a janitor much to your surprise, is the old lady who was selling the chocolate covered strawberries outside the grocery store on Valentine’s Day.

“Who are you looking at?” Harry asks while turning to see what it is that’s grabbed your attention.

“That lady,” you tell him and shake your head disbelievingly. “The janitor, she’s the one who sold me those strawberries back home.”

“The one that said all those weird things about Valentine’s Day?” He questions and you nod frantically. As if being able to hear your conversation, the lady’s eyes widen once she sees you and Harry both staring at her before spinning around on one heel and disappearing down the corridor.

“C’mon let’s follow her,” you say before taking off after her; Harry right with you as you go. The two of you enter the hallway to see her shuffling away as fast as she can – watching as she jumps slightly when you call out to her. “Hey, wait!”

She slowly comes to a stop before turning around to face you, smiling as she does so. “Hello, dear.”

“You… all of this is happening because of you, isn’t it?” You question and cautiously step towards her. “It all makes sense now. The strawberries, the whole Valentine’s Day spiel, the being sucked into a freaking movie for fuck sake… it’s all because of you.”

She lets out a breath before nodding her head in agreement. “You caught on a lot sooner than I anticipated.”

“What- how can you even say that?” You snap and feel Harry places his hand on your back as a source of comfort. “You-you just stepped in and messed with my life. I didn’t ask for this, I don’t understand why-.”

“Do the two of you love each other?” She cuts you off, and you squint your eyes at her.

“What?”

“Do the two of you love each other?” She repeats and steps towards the two of you.

“Well yeah, of course, we do,” Harry speaks up. “I love Y/N more than she’ll ever know.”

“Good. And what about you, dear, do you love him?”

“More than anything,” you state as a smile dances across the lady’s mouth. “But why does that matter?”

“The two of you were just put through a major test that many people would be at each other’s throats about by now,” she explains. “The concept of being sucked into a fictional universe is so obscure and unrealistic that many would freak out at even the thought, but not you two. The both of you worked together to make the most out of hand you were dealt, adapting to something so surreal to you, but not letting it effect those who don’t know any different from what rights in front of them.”

She’s talking about your friends, and your heart drops at the thought of it. The T-Birds and Pink Ladies have been completely oblivious to any of this because this has become their reality, a reality that you and Harry are very much a part of now. You shake your head at the thought before looking back at the lady and letting out a chopped breath. “But why, why us?”

“I thought you could use some Valentine’s Day magic,” she responds before turning around and beginning to make way down the hallway again. You watch her make it a few steps before stepping forward yourself and speaking again.

“But how do we get home?”

“Make it to the end of the movie,” she states with a shrug. “Get the ending back on track.”

“It’s already on track,” Harry explains. “Nothing has happened that could possibly change the movies ending now.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she replies before tilting her chin upwards to motion behind the two of you, before disappearing around a corner.

You and Harry glance at each other confused beyond belief of what to do next, but before you can even think up a plan; a soft familiar voice speaks up from behind you. “Guys?”

Your heart plummets into the pit of your stomach as you and Harry slowly turn around to face your friends staring back at you with hurt expressions.

“What do you mean home?” Doody asks first.

“You guys lied to us?” Jan adds in as well, and you feel your heart sinking even more. “Who are you two?”

“Jan we’re still us,” you desperately try to explain as you feel the tears pooling in your eyes. “We’re just not… we’re not the Harry and Y/N you think we are. We don’t belong here.”

“And where exactly is it that you belong then?” Sonny speaks up.

“Far from here,” Harry starts. “You would never believe us if we told you.”

“Try us,” Putzie challenges.

“W-we’re from a different universe,” you explain and feel even crazier as you do so. “This whole world we’re in isn’t our own. Harry and I live in a reality where this is a movie to all of us who live there.”

“So, you’re saying we don’t exist in your world?” Marty asks, still looking confused as ever.

“The actors that play you do, but this,” Harry says and gestures to your surroundings. “This is all part of the movie world.”

The six of your friends that stand in front of you start talking about how ridiculous that all is, and you feel a pressure building on your chest as you watch it all unfold and Sonny finally speaks up again. “Maybe you both should just go back to your little world then seeing as you care so little for ours.”

“That’s not true,” you plead with them and feel the tears streaming down your cheeks now. “You guys have become our friends. This whole thing has been bearable because of all of you, we wouldn’t have been able to figure anything out if it weren’t for you guys letting us in.”

“Well, you can figure the rest out on your own,” Putzie states. “Have a nice trip back to wherever you two are going.”

You watch with a heavy heart as they all send you one last hurt glance before turning around and going back towards the dancefloor; all except Frenchy. A soft sob leaves your mouth as the girl who you’ve become closest with looks back at you with watery eyes. You wipe a tear away before stepping towards her but cringe slightly as she steps back. “French, please let me explain.”

“What is there to explain Y/N?” She asks with a shaky voice. “You lied to us. What did you plan on doing when you reached the end of the movie, huh? Just disappear with no explanation of why? A real friend doesn’t do that if we were actually friends, maybe you would’ve asked us for help.”

“Frenchy, it really isn’t that simple-.”

“Save it Y/N. I hope you guys get back to wherever home is safe. It was nice knowing ya.” And with that, she sends you both a sad smile before disappearing around the corner with everyone else.

You stare at the now empty hallway for a moment before Harry pulls you into his chest and starts rubbing your back while choked sobs leave your mouth. “H, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know bub, but we’ll figure something out,” he tells you soothingly all while feeling rather shitty about this whole thing as well. “C’mon lets get out of here.”

You and Harry go the next few days/weeks… you’re not sure; without any communication from any of your friends. They all go out of their way ignore the both of you in the hallways, at the drive-in, everywhere and it becomes increasingly difficult to not be able to speak with those who helped you adapt to this world, but there isn’t much you can really do.

The day of the big race at Thunder Road; the race all the boys were fixing up Kenickie’s car for, comes up very fast and you can tell Harry is a little bummed he’s not going to be there to watch his friend win a race with the car he helped fix for it. You watch silently as he pushes around the food on his plate while the two of you are sat in the diner and let out a huff.

You both decided to skip school for the day to clear your minds about everything, and just with watching him quietly sulk to himself; you relate more to when he said comfortable silence is so overrated more than ever. You bite down on your lip as you start feeling sorry for him, before reaching across the table to lace your fingers with his. “H?”

He hums in response but doesn’t make eye contact before some loud, obnoxious voices speak up from a couple of tables away from yours. The two of you glance over at the guys sitting nearby discussing the race at Thunder Road, but these aren’t just any ordinary guys – they’re The Scorpions; the rivals of the T-Birds.

“When they show up, I’m gonna distract them,” the leader of the group tells the other guys. “And then when they’re not looking, I need one of you guys to cut the breaks on Kenickie’s car. Can’t have them winning on our own turf.”

“H, if they do that… Danny won’t win the race,” you whisper to your boyfriend, who gives you a knowing look. “If that happens, Danny could get hurt but-.”

“It also changes how the movies could end,” he finishes for you, and you bite down on your lip again. “Fuck Y/N, we need to warn them. Not only could this be our last chance at getting home, but that’s also our friends out there.”

“I know,” you tell him with a nod before standing up and pulling him with you. “Come on, before it’s too late.”

The two of you rush back to Rydell High, but much to your dismay; everyone has already left to get to Thunder Road. As you and Harry look at each other unsure of what to do next, you see Sandy talking to Rizzo and are surprised when Sandy lights up once she locks eyes with you. “Harry, Y/N, are you two going to Thunder Road by chance? I really need to talk to Danny.”

“Yeah,” you respond and earn an eye roll from Rizzo. “But we don’t know how to get there, Riz do you?”

“Why would I tell you? Haven’t the two of you done enough already? Also, why would you care, this isn’t even your world.”

“Actually Riz, we just overheard The Scorpions plan to cut the breaks on Kenickie’s car; so yeah, you may all hate us – but at least we’re trying to make sure no one is hurt,” you tell her firmly and in all the time you’ve spent in this movie; you see Rizzo speechless.

“Sandy knows how to get there,” she responds, and you nod. “You guys stay safe out there too.”

“Come on we don’t have much time,” Sandy speaks up and starts walking towards the parking lot.

Harry grabs onto your hand to lead you towards the car, but you pause slightly to look back at the leader of The Pink Ladies. “Thanks, Riz, also I know what people are saying about you around the school. Don’t take it too much to heart… you’ll know why soon enough.”

“I forgot about the whole everyone thinking she was pregnant part,” Harry mumbles into your ear as the two of you head after Sandy.

“Yeah,” you tell him softly. “Rizzo means well, as a friend… I don’t want her to beat herself up, you know?”

“I know,” he replies and places a soft peck to your temple before breaking away from you so the three of you can hop into his car and get to Thunder Road.

There’s already a good crowd of people gathered once you get there, and it’s clear that Kenickie and Danny are arguing with the Scorpions in the centre of it all. Away from the commotion, a lone Scorpion is sneaking around the back of Kenickie’s car with a pair of wire cutters in hand and you’ve never seen Harry floor it as hard as he does in that moment. The car skids to a stop once you’re closer to the group and the two of you are quick in climbing out of the vehicle in order to stop the guy. You’ve caught everyone’s attention at this point, but don’t let it faze you as you walk right up to the guy crouching on the ground, still out of sight from everyone else and snatch the wire cutter out of his hands. 

“I’ll take those,” you state with a sarcastic grin as surprised gasps and voices sound from around you.

“That guy was going to cut the breaks,” Doody speaks up, and more chatter rises.

“Yeah, and I would have gotten away with it,” the Scorpion snaps, before standing up and glaring at you.

“Doesn’t matter,” Harry steps in, before looking him up and down. “Now step away from my girl and get out of my face.”

“Wow, these guys really are rubbing off on you huh,” you say to him quietly as the guy marches back over to his group.

“Whatever,” he replies with a laugh. Soon enough, the two of you are surrounded by your entire friend group; minus Sandy and Rizzo and they all stare at you with wide eyes.

“You two just saved Danny’s life,” Marty is the first to say something.

“Boy are we glad you guys decided to show up,” Putzie adds before gripping onto Harry’s hand and pulling him in for a bro hug.

You watch as all the guys huddle around Harry and smile to yourself fondly as they all greet him like an old friend. You’re about to step away and let them have their moment before Jan speaks up.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” She asks you with a raised eyebrow.

“Well I-,” you ramble as Marty grabs onto your hand and pulls you towards one of the many cars nearby.

“You’re gonna watch the race with all of us, right?” The brunette questions with a smile.

“Of course,” you respond as Jan and Frenchy join the two of you.

You look at your orange-haired friend before she sends you a broad smile, before giving you a sideways hug. “Glad to have you back, Y/N. The Pink Ladies felt empty without you.”

With a small smile to yourself and a knowing wink from Harry; you feel better than you have recently with everything that’s gone on. You didn’t really think of it all that much before, but you really are going to miss all these people when you have to leave… If you can leave.

Not much else is said as everyone gets into position, and the race starts. The race plays out just as it does in the movie with The Scorpion leader playing dirty, but Danny turning it around and beating him. Everyone rushes to Danny’s parked car to congratulate him for winning once it’s all done, but you and Harry find yourselves standing back from them.

“Looks like we’re going home soon now, huh?” Your boyfriend asks.

“I guess so,” you respond while scrunching up your face. “Kind of bittersweet.”

“I know, but this isn’t our life to be living in anymore.”

“Can you stop being right all the time?” You start dramatically while he just laughs. “It’s annoying.”

“Can’t, sorry,” he tells you with a shrug, and you swat his arm. “Let’s get out of here though, the carnival scene awaits.”

The next day you’re sitting in class with Marty as Principle McGee is giving her announcement over the PA system to the graduating class. It absolutely blows your mind how everything that has happened took place over eight months…. When really, it’s only been about an hour and thirty minutes in real-time. God, if you don’t get out of movie time soon, you swear that you’re going to get a whiplash or something.

After the announcement is over, all classes are dismissed; therefore, you and Marty start making way out to the football field to meet up with everyone else. The two of you reach the bottom of the stairs and part ways almost immediately. You find yourself wandering around for a few minutes alone before you almost run straight into Rizzo and Kenickie.

“So, you’re leaving after this, huh?” Rizzo asks and looks at you with an unreadable expression.

“Uh yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, this place is going to suck without you and Styles here to mess everything up,” Kenickie adds before him, and Rizzo pulls you in for a group hug.

“Are you two trying to make me cry?” You ask as you hug both of them back, letting out a sigh.

“Is it working?” They say in unison.

“Definitely.”

You pull away from the two, and they say their goodbyes before heading off in a different direction. Just as you’re about to start wandering around again, a strong pair of arms snake their way around your waist and pull you against them. There’s no point in guessing who it is because you’d recognize those ring clad fingers anywhere and have no time to comprehend anything before Harry’s spinning you around in his hold and crashing his lips against yours.

“Ready to finish this up and get home love?” He mumbles against your lips after a moment of making out.

“More than ready,” you tell him and start pulling him towards where you know the rest of your friends are.

You reach everyone just as they’re finishing up singing, You’re the One That I Want, feeling a sudden wave of sadness… You’re going to miss the ridiculously random breaking out in songs like this.  

“Oh look, the whole gang’s back together,” Frenchy says as the two of you approach.

“We’re sure gonna you guys when you leave,” Doody chimes in, and everyone falls silent.

“Try not to forget about us when you go,” Jan adds in as well, and everyone mumbles sad ‘yeahs’ in agreement.

“Nah that’ll never happen,” Danny says while sending a wink your way as you nod in agreement.

“How do you know?” Sonny asks, getting in Danny’s face slightly.

“What do you mean, how do I know?” Danny challenges and pushes him backward. You watch as he falls back onto the high striker game all of you are standing beside and the weight reaches the top with an obnoxious ding. With a loud laugh, you place your hands over your eyes just as Danny says the opening line for the very last song of the movie. “Wop ba-ba lu-mop!”

“Wop bam boom!”

Everyone around your group breaks out in dance to the sound of We Go Together, and you can’t help the giant smile that stays plaster on your face. The fun and happiness radiating off of everyone around you is contagious, and the matching dimpled grin that stays on Harry’s face lets you know he feels the same way.

As much as you really don’t want to join in on the dance, you find yourself busting a move to the catchy tune just as you and Harry get dragged away from everyone by Sandy and Danny. The couple doesn’t say anything as they take you away from everyone to an awaiting car; but not just any car, the car Sandy and Danny fly off in at the end of the song.

The couple doesn’t say anything as they take you away from everyone to an awaiting car; but not just any car, the car Sandy and Danny fly off in at the end of the song.

“What’s this?” You ask them and send a sideways glance to Harry.

“Your way back home,” Danny states.

You feel your heart swell as they both pull you and Harry in for a quick hug and have to take a deep breath to keep yourself from crying. Once they pull away, Sandy looks at you and smiles gently. “Thank you for taking care of us all and making sure our story ends the way it’s supposed to.”

“It was my pleasure,” you tell her before getting pulled in for one last hug.

“Ready to go home, Y/N?” Harry asks softly as Sandy and Danny take off towards the others.

“You bet,” you tell him and pull him down for a quick kiss before climbing into the passenger seat of the car.

Harry gets into the driver’s side and revs the engine a little bit, wrapping his arm around your waist to pull you closer to him before inching forward. The crowd of students starts breaking away to create a path for the two of you to drive down, and you continue smiling like an idiot.

You reach the end of the crowd, and the car lifts off the ground, just like it does in the movie with Sandy and Danny. You glance at Harry; who just smiles, before turning around to wave at all of your friends – watching them disappear as you and Harry are consumed be an extremely bright light.

The annoyingly loud ringtone you have set on your phone awakes you from your deep slumber as you slowly blink your eyes open to the sunlight-filled room. The tone goes silent, but you couldn’t care less as you let out a loud groan and stretch out your very stiff body. You remove Harry’s arm from around your waist and slowly sit up on the couch, rubbing at your tired eyes as you glance at the date displayed on your phone; February 15th.

“Oh my god,” you gasp and look down at your still sleeping boyfriend. You start shaking him and chuckle as incoherent sleepy words leave his mouth. “H wake up, we’re home.”

“We’re what?” He asks before finally opening his eyes. Another soft laugh leaves your mouth as he sits right up and looks around your living room. “Holy shit, we are.”

He looks to you, and as soon as your eyes meet, you tackle him back onto the couch with a hug. “We did it!”

You lean down to connect your lips to his and moan when his hands start roaming your body in a new soft and intimate way; different from how he touched you in the movie while being worried about someone seeing the two of you in the back of his car. After a few moments of doing this, you find yourself breaking away from the kiss and chuckling slightly. “As much as you’ve already managed to turn me on, don’t you think this would be much better in our bed? I miss that thing.”

“You read my mind,” he replies with a laugh before gripping onto your ass tightly and sitting up straight so that you’re straddling him. He connects his lips to yours once again in a quick kiss, but it ends as fast as it started. “Weirdest dream ever, huh?”

“Fuck, don’t even call it a dream; it’ll mess with my head too much. That all seemed so real.”

“Oh, I know,” he tells you before glancing over at the few remaining strawberries that are still in the pack from being left out overnight when you two fell asleep on the couch. “Think Jeff will believe me if I told him what happened?”

“Hell no,” you state firmly.

“Ok, but what if we got Mitch or Gemma to eat the rest of those strawberries?”

“Nope,” you tell him as you scramble off of them and make a dive for the fruit before he can. “These are going in the garbage.”

“You’re no fun,” he whines as you walk over to the kitchen and toss out the container.

“Oh, grow up,” you sass as you walk back into the room. Just as you’re about to say another witty remark, you glance at the television screen where it’s paused on a picture of all eight of your friends from the movie. A smile dances its way across your lips as you look to Harry and gesture for him to look at the screen as well.

He stares at it for a second, before shaking his head and turning back to face you. “I actually miss them.”

“Me too,” you agree and send him a wink. “Guess we’ll have to watch it again so we can see them.

“I think the fuck, not Y/N. I don’t need any more Grease in my life for a long time.”

[tenyatrash]

Day 3: The Body in the Bay

This is my entry for Day 3 of the BNHA Noir Week 2019. Tumblr hates my ao3 links so let’s try this instead. @bnha-noir-week Mystery, Harbor, Songbird

In which Nedzu calls in Tokoyami to investigate a murder on the docks. Can he find out what Aoyama died to hide? And what happens if he does?

Ships: None

Characters: Tokoyami Fumikage, Aoyama Yuga, Minor Nedzu and AFO

Rating: Teen (Descriptions of a body/violence)

Word Count: 1673

Tokoyami roams the darkened streets of the city like a man slowly succumbing to fate. Once, he’d have run from it, but now...he trudges along, more out of habit than anything else. He doesn’t want to die, exactly, isn’t looking forward to the big sleep...but he also isn’t much of a fan of the way the world is going, isn’t eager to see more young lives and big dreams ground under the wheels of this city of machines. He's just tired, is all, like a truck all rusted over and dented with hardly a memory of being shiny and new. Still, he’s got a purpose at least, ugly and dark as it is.

He’s got an appointment to keep, and if a man don’t keep his appointments, what kind of man is he?

---

Time was, the Mustafu Industrial docks were a place of promise, a gleaming behemoth that worked at all hours bringing in shinies for the growing city and the folks who moved there, looking to strike it big. But entropy has a way of burying hope, and now the docks are a dismal and limping thing. Scattered boats thump against peeling rubber pier guards and half-hearted waves lap against barnacle-scarred pilings. There’s a few dim lights casting world-weary yellow glows against the rusting warehouses and rotting wooden planks, unaware of how futile it is to try to bring light to this place. The whole damn operation screams dereliction and desertion.

Maybe that’s why they drowned him here.

---

Private detective Tokoyami flicks open his tarnished cigarette case, tapping out a clove one as he inspects the scene. Nasty business, this. Real cops will be here any minute, that’s what the call coming in from Old Man Nedzu said, anyway.

“Just come and take a looksie, will ya? Boy’s going to get swept away with the tide, otherwise.”

A favor, he called it.

Tokoyami takes a long drag, letting the smoke fill his tarred lungs as the broken body fills his vision. Kid couldn’t be outta his twenties, all dressed up in fine clothes and a fresh face for some night he was never going to get to have. Poor sucker probably got rolled by some pretty and dumped here when he didn’t play ball.

He pulls a silver pen outta his pocket and flips out a worn leather-bound notebook. Both graduation presents from a different life, a time when the world weren’t so dingy and blue. Or maybe it had always been this way, and he’d just been too young to notice.

Just like the kid.

He takes the pen and rolls the body. Hell, Nedzu’s right. Tide’ll carry him out 'for the bulls pull themselves on over. Tokoyami sighs and takes the notes he can before crouching down and hoisting the dandy from the frigid waters. He grunts at the way bits of spilled oil and litter cling to the kid’s white suit, every part of the scene just screaming out that this world was no place for innocents or dreams.

He fishes around for a wallet that don’t exist no more, though whether the waters or the robbers took it, who knows? Still, it’s just procedure. Nedzu was real clear on who the sad sack would be, and the kid matches his hurried description:

Yuga Aoyama, who made it through twenty-one years of life and three years of the finest university education before that all ended in the dirty waters of this dock.

Tokoyami don’t know the kid, but he knows the type. Cause if Nedzu is mixed up in all this, it means the kid had a future, maybe. A talent that the old man thought he could mold into something real shiny and fine, maybe even into a way to save this damn world.

And this is how it turned out. All those dreams just choking in lungfuls of black-pitch ocean and saltwater tears. Tokoyami wonders when Nedzu will learn. Probably never, but just how many half-baked heroes is he gonna run through before accepting that there’s no salvation to be found, not in this city, and not in the kids who come through it?

Tokoyami used to be one of those kids. Before the war. Hell, even after it, least for a bit. Even when he got sent home, with a couple tin can medals pinned like shrapnel to his chest and a locker full of bad memories...even then, he still had hope. Still thought he’d seen the worst of it.

But then the city tore him apart, showed him that the real war wasn’t on some distant battlefield with screaming planes and exploding shells. No, the real war was here, in the sickly beating hearts of the city and the dark secrets they hide. And lord, but he was tired of fighting.

Nedzu wants to know what happened. Probably already has a pretty good idea, given that he’s the one who called it in, but old fool wants proof. Wants some face to place, some neck to hang. As if he’ll get anyone but a fall guy, assuming he gets anyone at all.

Tokoyami shoulda said no, but kid’s got a family somewhere, probably. Maybe even a sweetheart waiting for him to come on home.

The scarred man continues his investigation. Pockets empty, eyes wide and unseeing, lungs full o’ water that sloshes and sputters when he’s rolled. Kid saw it coming, all of it. More’s the pity.

There’s nothing under his nails but his own blood and bits of shell. Must have been drowned right here then, musta clawed against the metal and barnacles of the dock in some desperate bid to raise himself up and fill his lungs with something other than briny blackness.

Still, if this Aoyama kid is one of Nedzu’s he must have been smarter than he looked, even in a white dress suit that screamed easy mark. Tokoyami starts to feel at the seams of the jacket and the waistband of the trousers, looking in all the places Nedzu taught ‘em about back when he thought they’d be big damn heroes, G-Men and spies.

Jackpot.

There’s a bulge in the waistband that shouldn’t be there, well-disguised by an extra button, sewn in as if the boy was expecting to drop weight. Smart crooks would realize no one in a suit that fine needs to have it altered so clumsily, but the wiseguys in this city have never been all that bright. Sure, they’re effective, but that comes down more to money and numbers than any real ingenuity on their parts.

Tokoyami flicks out a penknife and opens the seam, palming the treasure before standing up and heading out. He can hear the sirens now, and there’s no telling what kinda copper is going to respond.

Sure, there’s decent ones of the force. More than a few. But there’s finks and muggs and chislers too, and Tokoyami isn’t willing to take a risk on the boys in blue. He gives the corpse one more once-over and makes a hasty sign of a cross, sentiment clawing it’s way out for just a second.

“Bad luck kid. Hope there’s something waiting for you on the other side.”

He slips through a cut in the fence and heads back to his two-bit offices, situated real respectably right above a dingy bar. He takes the fire escape up, not willing to flap jaws with Mina or whatever lushes are still at their drink this late in the night.

Up the ladder, across the rusty grate, through the window. Tokoyami slides outta his trench coat and fishes the clue out of his pocket, rolling it over in scarred fingers as it falls to the weather-beaten desk he inherited from the last gum-shoe to call this slice of dilapidation home.

“So, this is what got you killed, huh?”

Sitting on his desk, all pretty and outta place, just like the kid had been, is a miniature golden lark. Looks a bit like jewelry, or maybe some rich-kid nursery toy. There’s emeralds --or paste, he can’t tell-- set in the eyes and filigree across folded wings. It’s gotta be more than this.

He pours some cheap scotch and fiddles with the gilded songbird, feeling for hidden springs and secret clasps. He twists and turns and listens and tries, and just when he’s working on his second drink and thinking about giving up, the little birdy sings.

Pops open the reveal a scrap of paper, dry even after all that time in the bay. Tokoyami unfurls it real gentle-like before his eyes widen.

“Aw shit kid, just what did you step into?”

In an elegant yet hurried hand someone (had to be the kid) had scrawled out a list of addresses and numbers, maybe for safety deposit boxes? And on the other side, the bit that really makes his blood run cold.

“Calls himself AFO. Real deal, one we’ve been looking for. Don’t think he suspects. Find Tomura, find him.”

Tokoyami goes ahead and pours a third drink. He remembers whispers about the cat. Stories and half-remembered truths in darkened back rooms and secret meetings with all the players in the city. Nedzu had tried to get him in on it, back in the day, before he’d clued in on just what a rabbit-chase it would be.

Before he’d come home to find his Shadow dead, a single calling card left behind. A warning not to take the bait, not to follow the leads. It was a warning he’d heeded. Kid hadn't. He must have thought he was slick.

“Sorry, Yugo. Game was rigged long before you sat down to play.”

Now the question was, just what should he do? Kid died to get that intel, died to further the cause. Could Tokoyami do the same? After all, just what kinda life was he protecting, here?

There’s no helping it, now. He copies down the information and hides it just in case he’s next, just in case some tail followed him back. Stretches back and caresses the oiled barrel of his revolver, just as a shadow darkens his door.

He pulls back the hammer and waits.

[knights-of-itania]

When in Doubt, Blame the Gnomes

...in continuation:

The caravan stayed overnight in Arlis, and when they got up in the morning they discovered a slight - problem.  The wagons, and all their contents, had somehow been shrunk to half their size over night, and all the drivers were missing.  Rokath immediately started to ask questions, only to find that the answer was quite possibly the worst of all the options;

"It's a holy day," Derm said with a roll of his eyes.

"It's the holiest of days!" Peregrine practically spoke over Derm, beaming.

"Prankster's Day!" Stefanee said brightly.  Rokath stared at the halflings for a moment, then sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face - his patience with pranks had been thoroughly exhausted during his childhood in the Dawnwood.

"And, who did this?" he asked wearily, motioning to the wagons.

"Iunno," most of the halflings replied, shrugging.

"Look to the sky, spin around five times, then point in a direction. There's a 50/50 chance you found the culprit," Derm told Rokath.

"I would much rather simply clear out of this settlement before any other pranks are played on us..." Rokath replied with a sigh. "Considering they've now technically attacked a guarded relief caravan."

"Attacked is a strong word!" Peregrine protested.

"Modified!" Stefanee suggested instead.

"Besides - we gotta find our drivers, first," Peregrine said, motioning out to the town at large.  The up side to all this was, of course, that this was a human town, and most of those who celebrated the Prankster's Day, they'd brought with them.  Still, they were being paid to make haste, which meant that they really should track down the drivers.  The group split up and headed out, each with their own ideas of how to find their errant gnomes.

Stefanee made off to the general store, finding supplies to make paint balls in order to tag their drivers.  Some quick construction later, she headed off, sneaking around and trying to spot the gnomes to peg them with the paint balls.  Rokath simply walked through the town, hoping to spot them, while Peregrine asked the local townsfolk.   Neither had much success with both the townsfolk and Rokath coming to the same conclusion: the gnomes had obviously been here, because the fountain in the town's center had pink water, and many of the outside doors on public buildings had been flipping so they were now on upside-down.  At most, these pranks were mild inconveniences, but it was enough to have the townsfolk sighing in resignation - humans, after all, only know when Prankster's Day has come around when they have gnomes or halflings in the area. This Prankster's Day, they had both.

Yvresse decided to check the drivers' rooms, and found their gear still present - clearly they intended to return.   After an incident with a horse in a tutu, Rokath opted to return and transport the gnomes gear to the wagons, at least, so they could be better prepared to leave the moment they found the drivers.  He'd only just finished moving their gear when his hands began to itch - apparently, the gnomes had booby-trapped their supplies in case of thieves in their absence.  Or perhaps in case of well-meaning half-orcs, who knows with gnomes?  At that point, Rokath decided that, since the gnomes were also being well-paid to make good time with their cargo, they would likely show up sooner than later, so he washed off the itching powder and settled in to wait.

Peregrine continued to look, and unhelpfully discovered that the buildings with their doors reversed were in the shape of a very familiar moustache - a moustache that one might see if they walked into a temple to the Prankster, perhaps. Giving up on tracking them through straight-forward means, Peregrine headed off to a tailor to buy a human-sized dress, a rush order that cost triple the standard price to have adjusted on the spot.  Virux left the others to their hunting, and headed off to the market to enact his own prank for the day - slipping one of his business cards into everyone's pockets. As shifty as he was acting, with his hands going into everyone's pockets, it was inevitable that the guards eventually caught him, but Virux was able to talk himself out of any potential trouble without much trouble.

Around noon, their gnomes came trotting back to town, an eleven-foot pole stretched between them, from which was hanging a full morning's worth of freshly caught fish.  They proceeded to hand out the fish to the humans, to soothe any lingering annoyance from their pranks.  As they did so, the wagons returned to normal size, and the group got everything ready to head out.

"Right, now that the river's down enough to cross, let's go!" one of the drivers declared as they returned.  They headed off, finding every annoying travel song they could to sing along the way.  Yvresse also gained a small following of stray cats, that followed her out of Arlis, weaving in and around D'Art's legs and making travel difficult.  Eventually, she had to stop and try to shoo them away, only to have them jump up and try to take her spot in the saddle.  D'Art had enough of this, and dropped down, rolling over to remove the cats.  This barely deterred them, and Rokath opted to aide Yvresse by casting create water over the largest collection of them, scaring them off into the bushes. Yvresse started investigating, and eventually discovered that her saddlebags had been laced with catnip. Reginald was quick to take the saddlebags off with profuse apologies, promising to have them cleaned up and catnip free post-haste.

Other than that, their travel was relatively calm for being Prankster's day.   More pranks were discovered as they set up camp that night, with wooden snake models hidden in the group's bedrolls by the gnomes.  The gnomes themselves found that their bedrolls had been liberally, and colourfully, dyed with paints.  They had a few last laughs about the day, exchanging stories and laughter, and continued on the next morning towards Fish Point, their next major stop before Thereshelm and Sarn.  They had some brief trouble with some Tatzlwyrms after a few days, but were able to not only defeat them handily, but gained a bonus for the trip in the form of the Tatzlwyrms' hoard of treasure, which Rokath took control of to sell and distribute to the group at their next stop.

When they arrived in Fish Point, they opted to stop briefly for the afternoon. Rokath and Yvresse went to the markets to sell the Tatzlwyrm treasure, while Derm and Virux headed off together, heads together and discussing alchemy supplies.  Peregrine, meanwhile, set off with Stefanee and Monty to find his brother Martin, in the hopes of finding more information on the situation in Sarn, and their chances of getting a boat or a barge over to cut down on their trip time. Martin was fairly easily located, renting a bachelor pad above a bakery, and they knocked on his door, much to his surprise.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Martin goggled.

"Oh, right, I wrote Matty, not you," Peregrine said thoughtfully as they filed into the small apartment. "Sorry about that.  Look, um -"

"You wrote Matty?  Did it get through?" Martin asked sharply.

"I don't know if it did.  D'you know what's goin' on over there?" Peregrine responded.

"Can you tell us what's goin' on over there?" Stefanee piped up.

"Have you heard anythin?" Peregrine concluded.

"Well, suffice it to say that when the Baron's Men are deputized, shit's going down," Martin responded with a frown as he looked between his three unexpected guests.

"Alright, we need a barge or a boat or somethin -" Peregrine started.

"Yeah, good luck with that, the docks are shut down," Martin interrupted with a snort. "I assume you're talking about Sarn that is - ours are fine."

"Yeah, we got tasked with sending them some relief gear," Stefanee agreed.

"We've got arms, armor, supplies -"

"If you go by boat, it's not gettin' where it's supposed ta," Martin said with a shake of his head.

"How close can ya get us?" Peregrine tried.

"If you're sendin' a decent amount of supplies, it ain't gonna be able to be unloaded.  There's no proper docks near enough to Sarn," Martin replied patiently.

"Fuck," Peregrine muttered.

"Can't we just sail up to the Sarn docks and board them aggressively?" Monty asked curiously.

"I mean, you can try, but if the military can't take the other docks..."

"Wait, take the docks?" Peregrine and Stefanee chorused.

"Martin - what are we gettin' into," Peregrine asked seriously.

"Far as we know, we're just guardin' some wagons to take stuff there," Stefanee said.

"Yeah - to the gates.  You're not goin' by the docks," Martin retorted.

"Oh," Stefanee said, seeming taken aback. "See, we were told to get it to Sarn as fast as we can."

"No one knows what's goin' on down south," Peregrine said. "Word's not gettin' through, refugees aren't gettin' through - what's goin' on?"

"It's kinda spotty?" Martin said, frowning.  "You take a city, and you have a city guard needing t'clean up a mess, and then y'have their mage's magic suddenly stop working in the middle of it, and the muscle have to step in and finish the clean-up. What happens?"

"Y'have muscle doin' things, and the brain-types organizing?" Stefanee asked blankly, and Martin flashed her a wry smile.

"All the less-than-savoury folks go 'hey, wonder why the mages aren't doin' nothin? Oh hey, their magic's not workin'! Oh hey, we can take 'em!'" he said in answer to his own question.

"Whoa," Stefanee replied, and Peregrine swore again.

"Is it all magic's that doesn't work?" Monty asked curiously.

"We don't know the specifics," Martin said with a shake of his head. "We know the guards' magic stopped working, Spellshine Tower exploded and fell over -"

"Oh, that's not good," Peregrine interrupted.

"No, not really," Martin agreed.

"I wonder if the two are related?" Monty mused.

"- and right before all this happened, the Dean crashed again."

"Well, that's kinda normal," Stefanee pointed out.

"He hasn't done it in 250 years," Martin corrected - while the stories of the draconic Dean of Spellshine Academy crashing were well known throughout the areas around Sarn, few knew that it had been part of his learning to fly, and had long ago stopped happening as he became used to a draconic form.

"Ooooh," Stefanee and Peregrine replied.

"Gnomes?" Monty suggested thoughtfully. "Is magic working on Gearspin?"

"That would be real fucked up," Peregrine replied with a shudder.

"Oh, yeah, there's a lot of people blamin' th'gnomes for this one," Martin said with a snort. "So there's been a greater than proportional response from the Gnomian Parliament. Some people are sayin' it's guilt money, others are sayin' they're just trying to throw off any suspicion."

"Alright, have you heard from Jess or Tess at all?" Peregrine asked. "I hear their...thing's floatin' around."

"There's a lot of crazy shit goin' down," Martin said with a shake of his head.

"Alright," Peregrine decided. "You know where I'm goin', I'll see who and what I can get out, and good luck."

"To you too, you're goin' to the fun spot," Martin said with a snort.

"You sure you don't wanna come?  It'll be a fun one," Peregrine replied.

"If half the rumours I'm hearing out of there are right - nah," Martin said with a chuckle.  They finished their goodbyes, and the trio headed out, leaving Martin to get back to his day.

They spent the night in Fish Point, resting up and buying supplies for the rest of their journey, then headed out in the morning.  Given their growing knowledge of the depths of the problems in Sarn, it was unsurprising that the roads were crowded as they continued. Within their borders, Iad had regular military patrols along the highway around Sariz Lake, and it felt more like walking down a city street than travelling through the countryside.  The city of Iad itself had closed its gates to non-residents, having been flooded with refugees early on.  Rumours flew amongst the travelers, just as ridiculous as they'd been in Argona, though some facts became more consistent - Spellshine Tower falling over being one of them.

They finally reached Sarn, the evidence of its troubles visible far before the city itself, as smoke drifted above the horizon.  The slums outside the city had expanded into a massive tent city, and the huge gates that only ever closed in times of war were shut tight.  The palace and surrounding keep were visible beyond the walls, but as expected, the outline of Spellshine Tower was gone.  Of more concern was the fact that as they neared the city, their magic began weakening, magical gear turning off, weakest to strongest, until none of it worked - Rokath's spells down to Peregrine's hat no longer functioned by the time they reached the start of the tent city.

Regardless, they had a mission to complete, and began looking for any sign of where they should go.  The caravan they'd passed on their way back to Argona wasn't visible, so they made for the gates, intending to find the captain of the guard.  Their path wasn't quite as simple as that, however, with the refugees in the tent city spotting the arrival of supplies and crowding forwards, stopping the caravan from proceeding.  Rokath attempted to have the crowd police itself, picking out the stronger fellows in it and offering payment - and while he was distracted doing that, Yvresse decided this wouldn't do, hopping up on the front wagon so she could be seen and speaking loudly to the crowd.

"We have supplies for the aid of your fair city - the sooner we get this to the guards at the gate, the sooner they can distribute the food to you and the weapons to themselves to they can take back this city that belongs to you from those unscrupulous dishonourable ruffians who would seize it from you! Let us pass, and we shall help you reclaim what is yours!"

Directly on the heels of Yvresse's inspiring ultimatum, Virux piped up: "Don't forget to buy Tuggled firearms!"  Despite his poor timing, however, Yvresse's words calmed the crowd, and they moved aside to let the caravan pass.  The group proceeded up to the nearest gate, an escort of guards meeting them about 2/3rds of the way along, ensuring their arrival.  As soon as they stopped, Yvresse turned to one of the guards in the escort.

"I wish to speak to the Captain of your guard - Minoff?"

"Yeah, good luck with that," the guard replied with a harsh laugh, then motioned to the massive city gate. "He's somewhere on the other side of that gate.  Maybe."

"Is he currently in battle with the members of the uprising?" Yvresse asked with a frown.

"Who the hell knows?" the guard replied, shrugging.

"Who's in charge on this side of the wall?" Peregrine tried.

"That would be Lieutenant Tavares."

"Bring us to him," Peregrine requested, and the guard smirked faintly.

"She is over in that big tent," he said, pointing to a tent near the gates.

"Ah!" Peregrine replied.  They set about the logistics of handing off the caravan of supplies to the guards, then headed off towards the Lieutenant's tent as a group, one of their escort leading the way.  He showed them in, introducing them as a new relief caravan from Argona.  The Lieutenant looked up from a map of Sarn, focusing on Yvresse as the obvious leader almost immediately.

"Oh good.  We already ran through the supplies that came with the Silver Flash.  How many wagons did you guys bring?" she asked.

"Four," multiple party members replied as one, and the Lieutenant looked a little taken aback.

"Only four?"

"That is all that was part of the caravan we were hired to guard," Yvresse said dismissively, her interest focused on another topic for now. "What is the situation with the city and the uprising that has taken control of the docks?"

"A bunch of criminals and ruffians, taking advantage of a moment of weakness," Tavares said with mild disgust, then turned back to the map, dismissing the group. "Alright, well, thanks for the supplies anyways, you can be on your way."

"Don't forget to get her to sign the sheet so we can get paid," Stefanee prompted Yvresse quietly, and the noble halfling nodded, remembering.

"Oh, yes - we need to deal with a small matter of finances," Yvresse said apologetically.

"Oh, right, that bullshit.  Not used to this bureaucratic paperwork," Tavares said with some disgust, and motioned them to bring it over.  She signed off on the piece of paper that said they'd delivered the goods as promised, then handed it back to Peregrine, pausing and frowning at him. "You look familiar."

"I'm sorry m'love, but you don't," Peregrine offered with a charming grin.

"Eh, I'll figure it out," Tavares muttered, attention returning to the map.  Peregrine, in a flash of inspiration, realized what she was probably seeing.

"I have a brother in the embassy," he offered, and Tavares glanced up again.

"Oh! Oh," she mused, then finally gave the group a good look, gaze sweeping over the four halflings, a gnome, a dwarf, and a half-orc. "You know, you're an awfully motley bunch of caravan guards."

"We were paired together during the adventuring competition.  We turned out to work very well together," Rokath offered.

"Adventuring competition, you say," Tavares mused, considering.

"That's why we were in Argona," Rokath confirmed with a nod. "We took care of some business for the Captain there afterwards, and so he hired us to protect the caravan."

"How much of the city do these rebellious types currently hold?" Yvresse changed the topic as she observed the map on the table.

"We assume the palace is held, and the military is - maybe - holding their sector," Tavares said with a sigh.

"So they've taken control of the majority of the city," Yvresse said with a frown.

"Yep," Tavares confirmed.

"Let's take it back.  It would be the perfect demonstration of Tuggled Firearms," Virux muttered to his companions.

"I'm with the gnome.  How do we get in?" Peregrine said boldly, looking to Tavares.

"You want in?  There's a gate I can let you in through, but if you're going in, you're not coming back out unless you take a sector," Tavares replied with a half-shrug.

"Other than the relief aid, has King Lucian attempted to approach foreign powers to request aid?  Or is he organizing a local force," Rokath inquired curiously.

"I don't know the king's mind," Tavares replied with a shake of her head.

"So you haven't received any messages with a timetable as to reinforcements arriving to retake the city?" Rokath frowned, and Tavares let out an aggravated sigh, pinning him with a stern look.

"Sarn is the capital of Thereshelm, it is the head of our military, it has several martial orders in it, and it has a very formidable city guard, of which I am a part.  If we can't retake the city and hold it?  What's the point of Thereshelm," she said firmly. "The king is not going to ask for aid, not in my opinion, and I haven't heard anything to counter that.  The main problem right now is adjusting to the lack of magic - we are a magic-based nation.  Iad would have had no problem with this, but because it's us, we're floundering."

"Of course.  Our apologies, Lieutenant," Rokath apologized, and the group excused themselves, letting the Lieutenant get back to work as they went outside to converse amongst themselves and plan.  They went round and round in various plans for several minutes, and as they spoke, Monty slowly slunk off.  Making his way back to the Lieutenant's tent, Monty was stopped by the guards at the front this time, who wanted to know what his business was.

"Oh, I was wondering if she assigns mercenary contracts for reclamation work inside the city.  We are a surprisingly competent group," he offered charmingly.  The guard went to answer, but then frowned, clearly realizing that he didn't actually know the answer to that one. Instead, he poked his head inside the tent, calling out.

"Hey Lieutenant, can you do adventuring contracts?"

"No! Who wants to know?" Tavares replied, sounding irritated at more interruptions.

"Some mercenaries!" Monty offered brightly.

"Is that one of those halflings?" Tavares demanded, pushing aside the flap to frown down at Monty, who waved cheerfully.

"Before we started mucking about on our own, we thought it might be prudent to see if you could use the services of some fully expendable operatives to go and achieve some tactical victories inside in a small area," he supplied.  Tavares gave him a brief once-over as she considered.

"Well, if you're volunteering, I can deputize you," she said slowly, thoughtfully.  "It's not an adventuring or mercenary contract, it would only come with deputy pay and benefits...but if you found the captain - if he's still alive, which gods know, he's probably not - he can write up adventuring and mercenary contracts for the city, as well as assign bounties. And if you find him dead, that power passes down to one of us Lieutenants."

"Excellent!" Monty said brightly, and Tavares smiled.

"I still have a stack of deputy contracts from Captain Minoff's attempts to press-gang the Baron's Men into work.  You show up with a decent group of people, anyone who wants to can sign, and you can go in," she said, and Monty thanked her and bid her good-day again, then scuttled back to the rest of his travel companions to give them the good news.

To be continued...