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nelllraiser · 3 years

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those magic changes | eddie & nell

TIMING: before nell was yoinked into the hellscape. LOCATION: gallows grove. PARTIES: @specterchasing & @nelllraiser. SUMMARY: eddie and nell have some much needed post-highschool catching up while a spawn tries to catch them up. CONTAINS: sucidal ideation (eddie’s general disregard for his life).

The Bend, also known as the bad part of town, also known as Eddie’s favorite part of town, looked particularly derelict the day he and Nell decided to meet up. The sun hung low overhead, threatening to swap places with the moon at any moment. Meanwhile, within the depths of the sewers, an especially hungry vampire awaited the transition with rapidly diminishing patience. His sire botched his shot at immortality, making him a mindless spawn but, what he lacked in brains, he made up for in brutality.

Eddie parked outside a stretch of abandoned homes only a few blocks away from the spawn’s location. He took a sweeping glance at his surroundings, but there was no one in sight. His hand slipped into his back pocket and retrieved his phone before texting Nell in search of an update.

[Text to Nellspawn]: It’s 7:46 and we agreed on meeting at 7:45.

[Text to Nellspawn]: If you hate me, say it to my face, coward. ):

Nell crept up to Eddie’s car like a cat, making not a single sound as she ducked below the side of it- for once grateful that she was shorter than was ideal. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she smirked as she read the illuminated words on the screen. In the blink of an eye she was jumping from her hiding spot into Eddie’s window, slamming the screen of her phone against the driver’s side window of Eddie’s car as she yelled out. “I got your text!” Hopefully he’d at least jump a little. Or maybe she’d be so lucky as to get a small little scream that she could mock him for.

Out of nowhere, Nell popped into Eddie’s peripheral vision and his heart leapt into his throat. He jumped in his seat, clutching his chest with wide eyes. “Holy fucking shit,” he breathed. As he gradually calmed down, his expression of terror turned into one of utter disdain. Eddie rolled down the window, glaring up at Nell. “Hey, could you do me a favor and stand in front of my car for a second?” he asked. “I promise I’ll make it quick.”

Nell practically cackled as she watched the fear very possibly shave a few years off Eddie’s life, sticking her tongue out at him through the window. “Surprise! I could tell you’re really happy to see me. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone look like that since the time I saw a toddler witnessing their first boggart going in on the peanut butter aisle of the grocery store.” Just in case he didn’t pick up on what she was insinuating, she made sure to rub it in. “Get it? I’m comparing you to a toddler. A small child.” Rolling her eyes she took a step back from the car door, giving him room should he choose to open it. “As if your car would stand a chance against me. I’m made of steel.” For a moment she flexed her arms in the classic pose, though you couldn’t begin to see anything past the looser sleeves of her jacket. There was simply something about seeing Eddie that made her feel as if she were as careless as the day she’d left White Crest. As if all the terrible things since then hadn’t come to pass. He was clean- a slate that wasn’t marred by being present for any of the atrocities of the past year or so.

Eddie willed himself to continue glaring at her, but the truth was that it felt good to hear her laugh again. Like most, Eddie viewed high school as hell on earth, but drama class with Nell gave him a sliver of hope to hold onto each day. “You’re three feet tall, you don’t get to call me a toddler.” Eddie rolled the window up and stepped out of the car. “It might take a few tries, but you know what they say about wills and ways,” he said, finally giving in to the urge to grin. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw her—graduation, maybe. Those years were more blurs than memories at this point. “Fuck it,” he said before taking a step closer and pulling her into a hug.

“I am not!” Nell stomped petulantly against the ground, not entirely helping her case. “I’m just saying if the toddler stroller fits you- who am I to argue?” Nevertheless her own grin was still bright on her lips, feeling lighter by the second the faster she and Eddie fell into old ways. It’d been..shit- it’d been almost six years, but it felt all too easy to pick up where they’d left off. “Yeah- they say Penelope Vural has the strongest will and the best ways, and no car’s ever gonna stop her.” Her laugh was lighter, less sharp as he stepped forward for a hug, and she embraced him back without hesitation. “I can’t believe you’ve gone soft on me, Carridine,” she teased before her gaze flickered over his shoulder to the nearby cemetery. “So you’re still stupidly bent on getting yourself snacked on in there?” One of the things that she and Eddie unfortunately had in common was that they were nearly impossible to sway once they’d made up their minds to do something idiotic. And she wasn’t keen to watch while White Crest swallowed up the friend she’d only just reunited with.

She hadn’t changed, not from what he’d seen so far. It felt like stepping out of a time machine and reliving a period in his life when the most pressing issues he faced revolved around timed tests and peer pressure. “It’s your fault for leaving me, Vural,” Eddie replied, giving her a tight squeeze before stepping back and shoving his hands into his jacket’s pockets. “It’s not stupid if you film it, then it’s art,” he said as he backed up a few steps closer to the rear door of his car. He turned on his heels and pulled the hand before ducking in to grab his filming equipment. “Besides, we might not even run into anything worthwhile,” he said with a shrug as he pulled the bag’s strap onto his shoulder.

The physical scars Nell had gained since seeing Eddie were tucked away under layers of clothing, always prone to the cold. Thankfully it seemed the scars on her soul had seen fit to fade into the background for the moment being as well, leaving her to freely bask in the warmth of Eddie’s company. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about going to cry in a Subway again,” she joked dryly, folding her arms over her chest. “I’m pretty sure that makes it more stupid, actually.” If this had been six years ago she most likely would have been all for diving headlong into a cemetery, and she’d still do that if it was only her going in. But there was another life at stake here as well, and it wasn’t one she was willing to risk. “Yeah- we’ll see.” She was too jaded at this point to feel optimistic about not running into something lurking in the cemetery, already knowing vampires loved to lurk in their shadows. She’d brought a stake just in case, more than ready for if things went south.

“Don’t knock it ‘till you try it,” Eddie advised in response to her comment about shedding tears in sandwich shops. His hand raised and mimicked a flapping jaw at her next comment. Whether or not his plans were stupid, it wouldn’t stop him. His already poor decision-making continued to deteriorate with each passing day. He told Bex he would be careful but, as much as he didn’t want to disappoint her, he didn’t know the first thing about showing caution. And, frankly, he showed no interest in learning. Eddie’s outlook on life made being alive out to be more of a chore than a priceless gift.

“You wanna do an intro for the channel?” he asked, digging out his camera. “Or did you somehow become the type of person who values anonymity?” Eddie’s brow raised at Nell as he walked passed her en route to the cemetery.

“No- I don’t think I’ll be trying it, thanks. I would, but it makes it a little hard since I have something called dignity. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t expect you to be familiar with the concept. I will keep knocking it, though,” Nell teased, that same playful glint still making a home in her eyes. “Wow!” The word was stretched out as long as she could make it last, offense plain to see in the way her eyebrows had raised towards her hairline. “I can’t believe you just admitted you don’t watch any of the TikToks I make for the newspaper. You think I’d be doing that if I valued anonymity?” She still wasn’t sure how she’d managed to land the job, reveling in the pay and benefits for the minimal amount of work she did.

“You’d be lucky to have me in your intro!” In another moment she was parroting the old intro she’d seen on his channel the times she’d tuned in, letting the words fall none too sweetly as she poked fun at him. She was pretty sure the camera wasn’t even out yet- but that didn’t have her hesitating.

“Dignity,” Eddie mused, sounding as if he were trying to dredge up the definition from deep within his memory banks. “You’re right, I’m drawing a blank. Is dignity the reason you got drunk at Hayden Dane’s house party and asked everyone for soap to appease the bathroom demon? Yeah, I don’t think I have that.” He shrugged all the way up to his ears. It didn’t occur to him that a demon actually did take up roost in Hayden’s bathroom, explaining why his house burned down two days later. Eddie knew a lot about ghosts and decidedly less about infernal imps.

“There’s a pretty big difference between newspaper TikToks and showing your face on a YouTube channel exposing White Crest’s supernatural underbelly,” he replied with a glance. “Most people don’t want to be associated with it. I actually watch your content all the time. It’s… kind of how I learned you were back in town and had been for a while.” A year of radio silence. No point acting like it didn’t sting a little.

At the sound of Nell repeating his old intro back at him, Eddie clutched his chest in despair. “No,” he whined, turning to face her again. “Let it stay dead, Nell. I’m not that person anymore.” The camera in his hand raised in her direction. “Here’s your chance at YouTube fame. If you embarrass me, I’ll get your house haunted.”

Nell rolled her eyes fondly at the memory of the little Bannik that she’d found in Hayden’s bathroom, having been utterly thrilled to stumble across a demon in her drunken state. It had been in the midst of her beginning to acquaint herself with the demon species and portals— so of course she’d been all too eager to find some soap for the little creature. “You’re lucky I was there to appease the bathroom demon. You all would have been long gone if it wasn’t for my quick thinking.” Were Banniks actually all that dangerous? Absolutely not. But Eddie didn’t need to know that.

“Mhm- White Crest’s supernatural underbelly,” she repeated dryly, still not all that pleased that Eddie had made it his life’s mission to single handedly crack open supernatural secrecy. “You know that’s a great way to get people killed, right? What you’re doing with your videos and stuff?”

Stepping through the threshold of the cemetery, Nell’s mouth was already propped open to give her next quip of a reply when a chill ran down her spine. Whether it was the product of being attacked from the shadows one too many times, or an actual premonition- she was suddenly quiet. She began to scan the tombstones with a sharp eye, as if something might be lurking behind them. Then...a low snarling sound, and Nell realized she’d been right to have come as Eddie’s personal bodyguard. “Shut up,” she hissed, already trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from, a hand slipping one of her hidden stakes from its hiding place.

Eddie eyed Nell skeptically. “Uh-huh,” he uttered. The likelihood of Nell being right about the soap-loving fiend was actually pretty high, but Eddie didn’t care to admit that. He much preferred giving her a hard time, and the feeling seemed mutual enough to dissuade any guilt.

“You know what else is a great way to get people killed? Keeping them ignorant,” Eddie retaliated without missing a beat. “So long as I try to avoid outing individuals, I’m pretty sure I’m in the clear.” This was an argument he knew well, the beginning of it anyway. People didn’t usually bother trying to correct him once they knew how firmly he stood his ground. They saw him as a lost cause, he saw them as uninformed.

Nell seemed on-edge, which Eddie didn’t understand. As much time as he spent in graveyards, he never developed a sixth sense for danger. Mostly, out of lack of interest. “Yeah, that’s a great intro,” he deadpanned. The sight of a stake made him lower his camera. “What are you doing? Now’s not the time to showcase your Buffy cosplay.” He didn’t hear the growl over his own voice.

Nell had never backed down from a fight, argument, or otherwise in her entire life, her stubbornness and determination matching Eddie’s in a way that hadn’t been fully explored quite yet. After all, they’d agreed on most things in highschool, but as was often the case with the supernatural— things got far more complicated when it entered the picture, and relationships were no exception. So she was more than ready to fire back a retort before another growl pierced the night air, and she shushed Eddie once again. “I said shu-” But her words didn’t meet and end as the spawn finally leapt from the shadows taking advantage of her momentary distraction to begin its attack.

Rolling in a smooth and practiced maneuver, Nell clutched the stake like a lifeline in her hand staying low to the ground as she readied her magic should she need it. “Don’t move,” she gave Eddie another command as she tried to draw a large circle around the spawn with her footsteps. But the thing had taken one look at the stake in her hand and decided to go for the easier target. In the blink of an eye, the spawn had shifted course, turning towards Eddie with bloodlust in its eyes.

Eddie let out a startled laugh at the sight of the vampire, his usual reaction to imminent danger. He instinctively raised the camera as Nell momentarily outsmarted the beast. Asking her where she learned a maneuver like that would have to wait.

“Gonna have to deliberately disobey that order,” Eddie said once the spawn locked onto him. A familiar surge of adrenaline flooded his system and Eddie jouked to the right, an outstretched hand commanding a small cross to fly from a nearby grave into his grip. He was lacking in the faith department, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Fuck off, fuck off, fuck off,” he chanted as he waved it in the spawn’s direction.

The raising of his camera wasn’t lost on Nell, and she shook her head in disbelief as the spawn tore after Eddie. Really? Even now Eddie was trying to get a shot? “You can’t upload a video if you die, dumbass!” Nell yelled, already hot on the spawn’s trail while it flew after Eddie like a bat out of hell. Which...wasn’t actually all that terrible a description of the lesser vampire when Nell thought about it. At least her friend had enough sense to arm himself with some religious memorabilia, though the spawn had yet to spot it while being far too intent on having its next meal.

The creature was faster than Nell could have ever been without a hunter gene or otherwise, but thankfully she had her own tricks up her sleeve. Casting one of her oft-used spells when it came to fighting, her speed was instantly buffed, and she became a blur even quicker than the spawn. The burst was enough to get her on top of the spawn and send herself barreling into the side of it, trying to find purchase with her stake. She was by no means all that large of a projectile standing at only 5’2 and having a slight build, but the momentum she’d gathered was enough to shoot the spawn off its path. The spawn was quick to recover, snapping at the hand that held her wooden point and clamping its jaws down on her wrist. With a curse falling from her lips, the weapon was forced out of her hand.

“What the fuck?” Eddie exclaimed when a Nell-sized blur collided with the vampire. Questions piled up, giving him a reason to outlast the encounter. The spawn recalibrated with deadly quickness, and blood subsequently flowed from Nell’s wrist. As much as Eddie liked to pretend situations like this fit his laissez faire narrative, he couldn’t stand idly by while someone he cared about bled for his mistakes.

His camera hit the ground while his feet carried him to Nell’s side. With little regard for his own wellbeing, Eddie pressed the cross to the side of the spawn’s head. It sizzled against the wrinkled skin, sending the creature reeling backwards with a shriek.

“You dropped this,” Eddie said breathlessly as he floated the stake to Nell’s uninjured hand, hoping she would take hold of it. He stayed next to her, holding out the cross to hopefully keep the beast at bay long enough for Nell to plan out her next move. But it looked hungry and Eddie couldn’t imagine it had much patience.

Nell grimaced while she did her best to ignore the injured wrist, giving Eddie a grateful nod as she caught the stake he’d floated in her direction. She couldn’t deny that she was enthralled by the encounter with the spawn, and she would have been enjoying herself even more if Eddie hadn’t been involved in the crossfire. Not for the first time, she felt like she was back in the Ring, fighting for her life and the winnings of those who’d bet on her. She couldn’t deny that she missed the rush of battling for her life, and the roar of the crowd.

The cross move had been smart on Eddie’s part, and Nell supposed she should at least count herself lucky that he knew enough to know what had the ability to ward off vampires. “Just go-” she began to say, unwilling to risk Eddie’s life any further. She didn’t wait to see if he’d obeyed, once again rushing forward with a speed she shouldn’t have possessed. The stake in her good hand plunged forwards through the spawn’s chest, but her efforts were fruitless beyond making the creature even angrier. At the last second it’d darted to the side, shifting just enough for the point to miss its heart.

With a growl of frustration, Nell decided she was done with trying to hit a moving target. She kicked a leg into the air to hook it behind the thing’s head, using her momentum to swing herself up by the crook of her knee until she’d sat herself on the spawn’s shoulders, hands placed on either side of its head. “Just gotta bring the inside out,” she reminded herself as she gripped her magic tight. She could feel it’s sludge-like blood responding to her will as it’s head began to fill with more than it could hold. Pulling her hands from the creature’s head, she tugged on the blood she’d pooled, bursting the spawn’s head in an explosion of brains and viscera. With the remains of the spawn painting her front, she slipped from it’s twitching body, catching her breath while she looked to see where Eddie might have gone.

Nell told him to go, but Eddie couldn’t look away, let alone move. She climbed the vampire with precision and put a bloody end to it. He went momentarily slack-jawed. “What the fuck?” he breathed, sounding like a broken record. Eddie trudged towards Nell, remembering a final obstacle stood between him and the answers he wanted so badly. He placed the cross in his back pocket, making a mental note to return it to its rightful grave before they left, and reached out for her injured wrist.

“Can I take a look at it?” he asked timidly, wanting to make up for the harm he caused her. “Or do you have some kind of spell for that, too?” He eyed her curiously, fine with either answer. If she had a handle on her blood loss, he would need to figure out a new way to make tonight up to her, but he could work with that. “I think the best I can do is a band-aid, anyway.” He offered her an apologetic shrug.

Nell fixed Eddie with a disapproving look the moment she realized he hadn’t actually moved an inch since she’d told him to leave. “You know- usually the best way not to get killed is to listen to me.” Mindlessly, she let him take her wrist, not entirely having expected him to ask for it, but offering it nonetheless. Her head tilted in amusement as he mentioned spells, realizing he’d already pegged what was going on. “You mean you’re not buying the whole- I just got really buff after highschool or something like that?” To be fair she had gained more muscle, but it was of a leaner make than anything a bodybuilder might have.

“Well- it’s not really...a spell but-” As he eyed her wrist she willed the blood to clot where the skin had been broken, once again flexing her bloodkinesis as the wound scabbed over. “I can just do that for the most part. I never really learned a lot of healing.” She gave him a smile anyway, coming down from the high of the kill slowly but surely. “You can still put a band-aid on it though, if you want,” she teased, though thankful for his concern.

“Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” Eddie replied flippantly. For Nell’s sake, he kept his indifference towards death light-hearted. Whichever way the wind blew, Eddie didn’t mind much. Either he lived another day, or he didn’t. In his opinion, both options seemed eerily similar. “We can play pretend, if you want, but I’d rather pick your brain about magic.” He knew another spellcaster, Bex, but she didn’t seem as advanced as Nell. “God, how did it take me this long to figure it out?”

Nell healed herself, in a sense, and Eddie’s eyes widened with delight. “So cool,” he said, catching her gaze again. “You don’t have to coddle me. I get it, you’re all tough and scary now. Way beyond band-aids.” As he spoke, he meandered back to the grave he’d stolen from and returned the cross with a quiet apology. Ghost or not, they deserved more respect than he’d given them.

Returning to Nell, Eddie knew better than to think they’d walk back to his car without a good lecture. “I’m fully prepared to be scolded now, by the way. Hit me with your best shot.”

Eddie might have thought his jokes about dying were landing decently, but Nell’s face didn’t so much as twitch into a smile as he spoke the words. After the last year...after the last six years she knew that death wasn’t a joke. She supposed it made sense that Eddie would have a skewed vision of it as a medium, but that didn’t mean she had to encourage him. Maybe he’d feel differently if he’d watched someone he loved die, woken up covered in her blood with her headless body lying next to him on the ground. Shaking her head to dispel the dark memory, she simply sent him another stern glare. “No fun in dying, really.” She wasn’t going to entertain his frivolity when it came to his life. But magic was easier to talk about, and something that wasn’t tainted by her trauma. Her voice grew lighter again, curious to know what he himself was curious about. “Sure- what do you wanna know? Or how much do you know already? It probably just took you so long cause you couldn’t see around your giant hair,” she teased, leaning on an old laugh.

Another little smile crossed her face while she watched his reaction to the magic, always thinking it endearing the reactions of those who were less acquainted with it. “Actually I’ve always been scary and tough, thank you very much,” she joked with a wrinkle of her nose— even though she’d gotten in more than her fair share of fights in highschool.

Picking up his busted camera from the ground, Nell thumbed some dirt from it’s lens before taking a closer look, trying to figure out if a simple repair spell might have it back in working condition. He’d asked for a lecure, and she was left wondering when she’d become the kind of person who doled them out. “This isn’t a game, Eddie,” she began seriously. She should have known the levity of the start of the evening wouldn’t last. Not in a place like White Crest. “You can’t just waltz into supernatural infested areas without protection. And you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”

Nell didn’t laugh, but that was nothing new. Eddie understood that most people took death more seriously than he did, and he knew they had their reasons. On the other hand, their solemnity didn’t invalidate his indifference. He preferred not caring, it made life easier. The subject-change suited him just fine, however. “The conditioner I use doesn’t help either, eats at the brain cells, y’know,” he said, going along with her joke. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know much. Magic’s fascinating, but I’ve always been satisfied with the whole telekinesis thing, so I didn’t do much digging. So, feel free to talk to me like I’m an idiot, not that you need my encouragement,” he teased.

“Taking on a vampire is a little different than maiming Cindy S,” he playfully corrected her. Eddie knew Nell had never been a push-over, but this was groundbreaking as far as he was concerned.

As expected, she provided words of warning. He nodded along absently, his eyes fixed on the camera in her hands. If he kept up at this rate, he wouldn’t be filming for much longer, anyway. Lack of equipment meant lack of content. “And, why is that?” he asked curiously when she finished bending his ear. He figured he knew the reason, or at least the jist, but he wanted to give Nell the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, her reasoning wouldn’t be as boring as everyone else’s.

“We both know that’s a lie because you don’t have any brain cells to eat,” Nell commented dryly, wishing they could have stayed in the sun of their earlier conversation, the lightness of it having been reminiscent of simpler days. But these weren’t simpler days anymore, and apparently the spawn and whatever bullshit this town would toss out next hadn’t wanted her to forget that for more than the half an hour it’d taken for her and Eddie to get here and get into the cemetery. “You know telekinesis is basically just another form of magic,” Nell supplied, remembering saying something similar to Blanche. An ache of longing shot through her as she thought of her best friend, wishing they could be physically closer, but knowing that Whtie Crest had essentially sapped the flush from her friend’s cheeks, and the joy that was meant to color them. “It’s cool you can work with it though since not all mediums can.” She assumed he knew as much. “But magic…it’s built on a few core things...intention, will, focus…” She didn’t know if this was the best place for the conversation the more she looked around. For all they knew there could be another spawn lurking, or a fully fledged higher vampire who was thirsty. “We should talk about this somewhere else, though.”

“Cindy S fucking deserved it,” Nell joked in reply, honestly having half forgotten the way she’d broken the snotty girl’s nose while in highschool until Eddie brought it up. “And she was already halfway to being a bloodsucker with the way she acted.”

Nell’s annoyance grew as he seemed more preoccupied with the camera than herself. “You’re not even pretending to listen,” she accused, the displeasure plain in her voice. “Because you’re either gonna end up dead or have someone else end up dead or get hurt.” She waved her wrist as a reminder, not above using it in a moment like this. “And maybe you don’t mind being a ghost, but it’s not fucking fun for the people who care about you.”

Hearing Nell refer to something he possessed an innate knack for as ‘magic’ brought a grin to Eddie’s face, a grin that grew larger when she called attention to how rare of a gift it was. Telekinesis wore him out more often than not. Even now, he felt the dull throb of an oncoming headache making itself known. But, despite the pain and exhaustion, Nell’s opinion made him feel proud. “Yeah, it can be a little tricky,” he admitted, thinking back to Willow propelling him across her living room. “Right, right, totally. Time and place, I gotcha.” Eddie wouldn’t have minded loitering in the cemetery until daybreak, but Nell was the one recovering from a vampire bite.

“Yeah, well, all busting her face accomplished was convincing her parents to let her get a nose-job.” Eddie pursed his lips at the resurgence of long-ignored memories. Present day left a lot to be desired, but nothing could convince him to relive high school.

Eddie opened his mouth to assure Nell he usually went on these adventures alone, but her next comment caused him to immediately slam his jaw shut. His brows knitted together as he considered her. He wanted to argue, to insist that no one cared about him enough for it to matter. He would’ve used her as an example, calling attention to how long it took her to reach out to him. If people cared so much, they would act like it, and he wouldn’t feel so alone. But, admitting to feeling that way would’ve made him sound pathetic.

“I’m not gonna die, don’t be so dramatic,” he said, turning away to start walking towards his car. “I’ll try to be more careful.” Eddie hoped she wouldn’t call his bluff. “Do you need a ride?” he asked over his shoulder, eager to change the subject.

“A new nose job, and the satisfaction of leaving me and my friend alone,” Nell jokingly corrected. Cindy had been one of the ones to make fun of Blanche and the way she seemingly spoke to herself at times when addressing a ghost. She wasn’t necessarily proud of the temper she’d had in highschool, and referring to it as past tense was most likely generous— but she liked to think she’d improved from the even more violent youth she’d been. Besides, she’d break someone’s nose for Blanche any day.

“You don’t know that,” Nell rebutted instantly, still annoyed at how lightly Eddie seemed to be taking everything. “You know White Crest loves to eat people up and spit them out.” How many people had gone missing or been killed in their highschool class alone? Too fucking many. Perhaps she was leaning a little too hard on her personal feelings when it came to the matter, tired of watching people she cared about die, but if it made Eddie live another day she wasn’t opposed to tough love. “There’s a thousand and one things out there that could kill you, and you’re throwing yourself at all of them. I’m not being dramatic.”

After years of separation, Nell couldn’t tell if his words of being more careful were sincere or something he’d said to placate her, but she figured this was another conversation they shouldn’t have in the middle of the cemetery with beasts potentially lurking in the shadows. “I’m not done with you,” she clarified, not wanting him to think he’d gotten out of this. “But I’ve got my bike that I need to take home. Thanks for the offer, though.”

White Crest’s history didn’t bother Eddie. He coped with his surroundings by romanticizing how capricious the town was rather than fighting against the inevitable. When people questioned him, he often wondered what made them so certain they knew how he should live his life better than he did. Whatever it was had yet to be explained to him in understandable terms. He didn’t want to argue with Nell anymore.

“I said I’ll try to be more careful,” he reiterated.

Eddie stopped when Nell politely turned down his offer and turned to face her. It only felt right to pay proper attention to their goodbye. “Don’t mention it,” he deflected. “It was good seeing you again, Nell. Fingers crossed, next time will be a little cozier.”

#// BLESS FRANKIE for being so goOD #ch:eddie #wickedswriting #chatzy #those magic changes #suicide tw

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kaikiky · 3 years

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Mini rambling essay on being "gifted"

I don't know how it is for other people, but I know that for me, growing up as a "gifted kid" really ingrained in me a desire to impress other people, not just with how smart and accomplished (and thus, correlatively, superior) I am, but by how advanced I am. So like, it wasn't enough to be smart compared to everyone in my grade, I had to be smart compared to even people older and more experienced than me. I got so addicted to praise and recognition for how smart I am that I felt compelled to pursue activities that would showcase how advanced I am for my age. Which in practice meant I would prioritize school-related activities over hobbies I genuinely enjoyed, or if I enjoyed something, I would incorporate it into my academic life somehow so I could use it to impress grown-ups.

I couldn't detach anything I did from the pursuit of acknowledgment for how smart and mature and advanced I was. And I was even to some level aware that this was my motivation, which meant I felt kind of artificial. But at the same time, I still felt superior to other kids my age who watched cartoons and did hobbies that were just purely for fun. I thought they were wasting their time accomplishing nothing. I wanted to be one of those kids who got held up on a pedestal for accomplishing so much before even going to college. That was my goal. I always wanted to be compared to a cohort far above my own, and deemed better. Because that's how it was when I was little and I was used to it, and it felt good to be praised (even when it also felt awkward and uncomfortable to be in the spotlight, shy little bean that I am). And stopping to reflect on that, of course now I see how toxic and stupid that is. I've stopped living my life as a competition in pursuit of praise and acknowledgment, but I can still sometimes feel that unconscious desire wriggle around inside me, because it got that deeply ingrained into my unconscious. And I'm also realizing that jumping ahead like that to try to rack up all the advanced smarts and accomplishments actually made me miss out on learning things better if I had slowed down to meditate and dig into the subjects more. Like, as a kid a knew a LOT, and in high school I knew a LOT and was capable of a LOT, but looking back, I feel like it wasn't the depth of understanding I really wish it was, the kind of depth that would have stuck with me better over the years and been more useful. I knew what I needed to know to impress people and graduate in the top 5 of my class, but I wish I had learned it all more to be able to incorporate the information into my life and lifelong bank of knowledge. If I wanted to use now the information I used to have of art history, world history, calculus, linguistics, etc., I would have to go back and refresh my memory, and then still learn more. Because I had to drop a subject once the next semester started. I was so busy trying to soak up everything I needed for each semester that I didn't have time to really let things settle, and there were always new classes to work on right after so I couldn't take time to go back and continue learning subjects that genuinely fascinated me. They were in the past. I had new exams to study for and ace. I guess what I'm saying is, I wish I hadn't been so determined to win a Smartness™ certificate and instead had allowed myself to delve beyond what the class wanted me to learn so that I could really become more of an actual "expert" in the subjects that mattered to me. I wanted to be recognized as smart more than I wanted to be usefully smart or specialized in anything. And I resent that the competitive culture pushed me to be that way, because I could have such a deep understanding of so many things by now, but instead I was racing to learn too much for the frivolous purpose of being impressive.

(Oh and to pull capitalism into the horror landscape, my motivation even in middle school was to be impressive enough to win a big impressive scholarship that would cover all my college expenses, saving my family from the burdensome cost. So if I hadn't been worried about the price tag on a college education, I also might not have been so focused on doing everything I could to compete in national exams that would win me a full ride. So there's that.)

And I wonder how many people go straight from high school to college then grad school just because that's the track that makes you impressive, because wow! you're getting a PhD when you're so young? You must be really really smart!! First of all, why is that the measurement for smart? Second of all, why is that what's impressive and not so many other things people can accomplish outside of a big degree? I'm rambling again.

I just keep thinking about all the things I could have a genuinely deep understanding of if for all this time I had allowed myself to pursue them to my heart's content rather than rushing to be at a basic level of knowledge that people five years older than me would have if they were smart.

And I'm much more attuned to the performative manner "smart" people speak in, like their primary motive is to show off in order to get the praise and approval they're used to getting as gifted kids. It doesn't work.

That kind of performativity was always obnoxious and cringey, even in elementary school kids, but hearing an adult do it is worse because it shows they never grew out of it. They're trying to sound advanced and impressive but instead they just sound childish, like a toddler going "Look at me! Look at me! Look what I can do!" and hoping to get their seniors to clap.

I'm sure even a shy kid like me managed to pull off a few cringey moments seeking adult praise, but I got over it. I don't understand how grown ass adults aren't embarrassed of themselves when they go on monologues full of jargon and unnatural rhetorical flourishes. And it makes me wonder, is that the real reason you're here? in this university? because you want that Pavlovian response where you say something above your reading level and the adult in the room goes, "Wow, you're so smart"? That's the only thing I think when I hear that kind of bs.

When I hear those people, they don't make me want to be around them. They don't make me want to learn from them. They don't sound like they would be a good source of information, they just sound like they want to lecture at you so you'll stare in awe and think they're so smart.

And the more I hear it, the more I think the world would absolutely be a better place if society didn't cultivate that kind of behavior, if it didn't promote competition in general smarts but encouraged the passionate pursuit of knowledge no matter what the subject of interest is, even from a young age. I would rather be in a world full of little scholars who can talk for hours about the things they love rather than listen to pedantic, condescending nonsense from ~aCaDeMiCs~ who love feeling superior and compete with people in their fields for who knows the subject better.

I want knowledge to be fun, and scholarship to be collaborative, not a fight to prove your research deserves attention because you surpassed the understanding of whoever came before you. I'm tired of academic writing being, "Here's what so-and-so said, and here's why they're wrong," or "Here's what so-and-so said, but here's where they're lacking in something that I, the insightful genius, have come to fill in." It's such a juvenile pissing contest dressed up in professionalism and fancy rhetoric. It's embarrassing and pathetic.

I used to think people getting a PhD at 25 or something was so cool and impressive, but I have so much more respect now for someone who has lived through a lot of experience and appreciates learning in a way that gifted kids rushing to be impressive don't.

I respect people who are secure in themselves and come to university looking to learn and absorb, and I feel sorry for people like me who came to university intending to perform smartness. I feel like I could have used my time so much more wisely if I had had a better understanding of what I could get out of college itself rather than using it as a means for racking up achievements and honors.

#Ky says #I've been thinking about this a lot and I finally decided to get my thoughts down somewhere

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escapingpost · 5 years

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The Heartbreak Club (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4: Non-antagonistic Antagonist

previous: chapter 3

The antagonist is just as important to the story as the main lead characters. Not only do they add suspense and an opposing force, they can make or break the story. Sometimes, their mistakes cause a ripple effect to every other character in the story. When you take out the antagonist, what happens to the plot?

More importantly, when the motivation is gone and the secrets are forgotten, what is their end goal?

In the end, you were barely able to convince Seungwoo not to walk you back to the dorms. You dig through your memory to remember the next plot point in the drama:

Devoured by pride from the night of the gathering, Kim Hana, the real one, decides her first phase of creating chaos. Unfortunately, blinded by her rage, she seeks out the wrong person.

Kim Wooseok.

With a sculptured face and eyes like a deer, Kim Wooseok was type of character that attracted with just one minute on screen. He has only had eyes for one girl ever since he met her. Kim Wooseok was the second male lead that would pin for the girl until the very end. In “The Heartbreak Club”, the difference in the main lead and the second lead was not timing. The Wooseok on the inside was different from what you saw on the outside.

You enter the office for your major and sign in to see a counselor to help with your current situation. You are in deep thought of how to tell them you needed to leave the major you were currently in until you feel a light push on your forehead.

“You’ll get wrinkles faster if you always look like your in pain.” Wooseok took a seat next to you and comfortably stretched out his legs.

You look at him in surprised and hold your forehead, “Oh, I was just thinking about something.”

“I’m assuming you got home safely yesterday?” Wooseok asks.

You nod.

Wooseok looks down at you, “Why are you here?”

You shake your head, “I want to change my major.”

Wooseok has a small look of surprise for a few seconds and slowly nods. He glances at you, “Can I ask you why?”

“I want to go for something that I can enjoy. I’m just not cut out for engineering.”

Wooseok mockingly laughs, “Are you being modest or just fishing for compliments? You’re one of the best students in your year.”

And again, you are reminded that you were still Kim Hana. “I might be, but I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Wooseok looks down at his lap and then back at you, “Where do you want to change to?”

“When I lived in the hospital, all I did was sketch for a hobby. I want” You pause your sentence and come to a realization.

“You lived at the hospital?” The features on Woosek’s face gets softer as if he was releasing all tension in his expression.

“It wasn’t for very long.” You quickly answer. “Why are you here, Wooseok-sunbae?”

“For personal reasons." Wooseok answers. His stare lingers on you for a few more seconds until he looks down at his phone.

Talking to a counselor about changing your major with grades like Hana’s was an interesting conversation, but in the end, you could not change your major mid-semester. You agree to stick out in the major, but will comeback towards the end of the semester to change it.

Just like that, a normal week passed. That is, if normal was being completely lost in class and facing an identity crisis.

You slowly change Hana’s dull room into something more lively. Her bare beige walls now had fairy lights illuminating the darkness of the night. You also bought a medium-sized pin board to post up pictures. So far, you only had one picture of a cat that hung around your dorm’s building.

The gray bed sheets and comforters were now changed into a lilac purple, your favorite color. The color gave you a feeling of assurance and warmth.

Throughout the week you noticed Hana’s source of finances came from a joint bank account with her father. Feeling uncomfortable in using her father’s money, you started looking for a part time job.

Speaking of her father, you remember his supporting role in the drama. He was what you would call “a fool for his daughter”. He was Hana’s pillar, her weakness. It seemed like every time she talked to her father, her words were rough, but was filled worry.

He had only sent you one text message ever since you became Kim Hana.

To which, you did not reply to him. You felt uncomfortable fooling Hana’s father. But that same night he sent the message, you turned off your fairy lights in your room and let the moonlight become your source of light. He reminded you of your real mother. And you wished you treated her just a little better.

“Do you want to check it out? Its free.”

You turn around to the source of the angelic and cheerful voice. A petite girl stood behind you carrying a huge canvas.

Her crescent shaped eyes when she smiled finally revealed who she was, Kim Chaewon.

This was the thing about “The Heartbreak Club”. It was not only the main lead’s story, but the college life of several students. Kim Chaewon was a supporting female character. She had befriended Kim Minju because birds of the same feather flock together. Automatically, she was the spunky small bean who would go on to cheer for Minju’s plight for Han Seungwoo. Naturally, Kim Chaewon was pulled in her own small love triangle with two other male supporting leads.

When you did not answer, she smiled, “Don’t just stand outside, the fourth years made some really great pieces for this exhibit.”

Walking down the campus, you had found yourself going inside the Art’s Building for the first time.

You slowly nod, “Do you need some help?”

Chaewon shakes her head, “I look scrawny, but the canvas isn’t that heavy.” she giggles.

“Hey, small fry!” A male voice calls out.

You turn your attention to the person running over, ‘Seungyoun?’

“Hana? What are you doing here?” Seungyoun stands next to Chaewon, grabbing the canvas from her.

“She came to see the exhibit, right?” Chaewon gives you a cheeky smile and locks arms with you, pulling you through the doors of the exhibition room.

As soon as your enter, your mouth gapes open at all of the paintings fitted into the room. Your eyes light up at all the wonderful colors and unique art expressions.

Chaewon has a proud smile on her face and grabs the canvas from Seungyoun, “I’ll be right back.”

You slowly make your way to a particular painting. It was a watercolor painting of a bouquet of lilacs. You stare at the painting and a memory of your mother placing lilacs on your bed side table flashes through your mind.

Aren’t these great?

I guess.

This girl, you’re never going to see the brighter things in life if you choose to gray scale your vision.

I like them a lot. Thank you.

You close your eyes and almost hear your mom say your real name.

You turn your body away from Seungyoun when you feel a drop fall down your cheek, “Wow, these paintings are great.”

However, Seungyoun’s already seen the lone tear that escaped.

Cho Seungyoun was probably one of the very few characters with a more normal backstory. Wearing a heart on his sleeve, he is set to pursue his dream to become a music producer. However, he did not expect it when he slowly became interested in a small girl that was always carrying too much art supplies and that his music take form in the shape of his newly found interest, Kim Chaewon.

“Are you crying?” Just like the straight-forward character that he was, he does not miss a beat to ask you.

“I think its just the fresh paint fumes.” you quickly wipe the tear and sniffle.

“Right.”

“I have to go.” You give him a weak wave and start to leave.

“Hey! Come back again.” Chaewon says from across the room.

You look at Seungyoun, then at Chaewon and nod.

Everything was catching up with you at a fast pace. You wonder what happened to your old life. If this was your second chance, then does this mean you do not exist in your past life?

All the questions floating in your head frustrated you, but you kept calm. Other than completing your bucket list, was this going to last forever? You were in someone else’s life, living their reality.

Another part perplexed you. You knew the background stories of all, if not most, of all the people around you. Were they actually part of your reality?

Deep inside, you were just a weak and sick ridden person with little to no knowledge of life outside your hospital bedroom.

But, little did you know, the story that you once knew was slowly changing its course.

A month passes by as if nothing happened. You were still having trouble in your computer classes, while you were barely surviving general education classes. You got a part time job near your school at a cafe.

You also kept your distance from all the characters you knew about. Yohan was the hardest to keep away from because of his interest toward Kim Hana, but you successfully avoided him. It was the best for them to follow the path they were destined to follow.

Syntax error

You let out deep sigh and lightly slam your fingers on the keyboard. You see a shadow creeping up behind you and you jump in surprise.

Hangyul looked at the screen on your computer and scrolled through the code using the keyboard. “You forgot to define this. It won’t work if you randomly insert it with no formula or integer.”

Opposite of Cho Seungyoun, Lee Hangyul was a student of secrets. Not much was known other than the fact that he was adopted. He was just Cho Seungyoun’s best friend. The love triangle between Seungyoun, Chaewon, and Hangyul was an obvious endgame. If Kim Wooseok’s pain did not cause second male lead syndrome, Lee Hangyul’s did.

You watch him type something and successfully run the program. “Thanks.”

Hangyul takes the computer next to you and leans on the table of the computer, “Don’t take this to offense, but are you sick?”

Wary of his suspicion, you give him a confused expression, “What are you talking about?”

“That day of our midterm, I carried you to the health office.”

You point at him, “It was you?”

“After that happened, you changed.” Hangyul says quietly. “I was just gonna ignore it because we’re not close or anything.”

You wait for him to continue.

“But, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Hangyul pauses, “Because a situation changed.”

The Heartbreak Club Episode 7

“I don’t need this from you, Hana.” Wooseok got up from the chair.

“You like Kim Minju. I know you do.” Hana slowly makes her way closer to him. “I’m just saying we should work together.”

Wooseok scoffed, “You’re a real work of art, you know that?”

“What are you guys doing here?” Seungyoun’s raises his eyebrows.

“We’re on a date.” Hana states. She looks at the petite girl next to Seungyoun.

Chaewon slowly raises her hand, “Hey, I’m Chaewon.”

Seungyoun looks at Wooseok in confusion.

“Lets go, Hana.” Wooseok grabs Hana’s wrist and pulls her out of the exhibit room.

“Chaewon is one of Minju’s closest friends. It won’t be long until she tells her.” Hana tells Wooseok as he pulls her farther from the building.

Wooseok finally stops in his tracks, “So?”

“I’ve known Minju for years and she won’t stand anyone else getting attention other than her.”

Wooseok shakes his head, “That’s what you think.”

#x1 #x1 imagines #x1 scenarios #x1 fanfic

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leelee10898 · 6 years

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For you: Chapter 8- Take you home

Summary: The gang heads to Pennsylvania to Aria’s home town. Leo meets the parents, will he be greeted with open arms? Maxwell has a run in with a certain Baseball Mascot

Master list

Author Notes: This Chapter was part of a NSFW Prompt challenge. @bobasheebaby gave me “ I didn’t know you were so flexible.” the others are just random choices.

Rating: Mature, NSFW, Fluff

Chapter inspiration:

They walked hand in hand along the moon lit streets of Rome. They had just had a romantic dinner and truth be told the only thing on Aria’s mind was getting back to Leo’s hotel room. They had finally had sex the night of the fundraiser and she wanted more. The man was a sex god, somehow she felt like he was just getting started. “I really want to kiss you, right now.” Leo breathed into her hair. She felt the warmth tingle her body “then do it.” She muttered, breath caught in throat. He spun her around, lips crashing down on hers, their tongues tangle together, fighting for dominance. He walked her back, pushing her against the wall. His one hand extended pressed up against the wall, the other exploring her side. “Leo” she moaned. “Come here.” He pulled her into a dark alley. Capturing her lips again in a heated kiss, his hand stroking between her thighs. “Oh. Oh my god.” She moaned “You’re so fucking wet, and I haven’t even touched you yet.” He huskily whispered.

He hooked her panties sliding them down her legs. He un buttoned and un zipped his fly freeing his rock hard cock, grabbing her ass lifting her up against the wall. “Try to stay quiet, you understand. ” his bright blues met her chocolate brown, all she could do was gulp and nod yes. He lowered her down slowly onto his thick, long length. She gasped at the large intrusion. Once he felt her walls settle he pulled out slowly, then slamming into her. “Oh.” She moaned loud. “Shh love, I’m gonna make you cum, bite me if you have to. But don’t you dare make a noise.” He demanded as he pulled out slamming back into her again and again.

He lifted her ass up and down meeting his thrust. She lifted her leg up hooking it around his shoulders. Leo let out an appreciative growl. She bit down on her lips, trying to silence the screams of pleasure that were bubbling to the surface. She felt the coil tightening with each thrust, the urge to scream becoming to great, her nails digging into his back, silencing her moans as he pounded into her throbbing center. She silently begged for her release, the pleasure was overwhelming, the coil stretched dangerously. She could feel the strings snapping one by one, by one, until she bit down, screaming out onto his shoulder. Her eyes rolled back into her head as a gush of her sweet nectar flooded his cock dripping down his legs. A few pumps and Leo thrust deep into her spilling his creamy ropes of cum inside of her.

She gasped for air as he steadied her down to the ground, he had to hold her up, her legs like jello. “I didn’t know you were so flexible love.”H e leaned in kissing her forehead. “That was just the appetizer,love. You’ll get the main course when we get to the room.” Aria felt the fire ignite again. A sense of wild desire filled her body. She had never craved a man before nor did she want to. but Leo, he was like a Drug, and she was addicted.

"Aria, wake up Love we will be landing shortly.” Leo gently nudge her. she smirked as she woke up, pulling Leo in for a steamy kiss. He pulled back slightly and grinned “what was that for? Not that I mind.”

“I just had a great dream.” She sighed, still waking up. She wasn’t sure what brought that memory back, maybe it was the fact they were heading to Italy after a few days in Pennsylvania, or maybe it was the fact her sex drive was in high gear lately. The plane landed and the group gathered their luggage. They got separate cars since Aria and Leo would be staying with her parents. Liam,Drake, Maxwell, and Ellie would be staying at a near by hotel. Aria gave the group the address to her parents as they all planned to meet a little later.

“Keys Rhys.” She demanded. “Since when do you drive love?” He chuckled. “Since were on my turff, and I don’t need gps to get me where I am going. Now, keys.” She held her hand out. Leo reluctantly placed the keys in her hand and got in the car. He was always the one to drive if they were together, this was going to be interesting. Aria effortlessly maneuvered the twist and turns and hills of the back roads, Leo relaxed in the passenger seat, she was a good driver but he preferred to drive. They turned off pulled into a long driveway a large updated farm house sat at the end. “So this is where you grew up?” Leo asked as he took in everything. “Its no palace, But this was home.”

“Its nice, lots of land.” He grinned taking her hand.

The car rolled to a stop Aria turned to Leo. “My dad may still be bitter about the past. He’s really a softy. But just be prepared.” She warned. Leo cupped her face “I understand, but we are together now and I will do everything in my power to prove to him that I will never hurt you again.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips “ready?” He asked. She nodded. Just as they exited the car the front door to the house flew open. A short brown haired lady who looked exactly like Aria,came running out. “Oh my god, you’re here your really here.” She ran up hugging Aria, she placed her hands on her stomach “look at you. You’re glowing sweetheart.” “I missed you too mom.” Aria chuckled. “Mom this is L..” “Leo, nice to finally meet you.” Her mother cut her off, wrapping Leo in a hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you too Mrs Hale.” His voice like velvet. “Oh my god, that voice. No wonder my daughter is obsessed with you. And that face. Whew.” She cooed.

“Mom!"Aria blushed. "Enough of that Mrs Hale stuff, call me Linda. Come on you two.” She lead them into the house. Aria grabbed Leo’s hand as they walked into the living room. “Spunky.” A tall man, around Leo’s age came rushing out of the kitchen. “JJ.” Aria threw her hands around his neck. “Where are the kids?” She asked. “Out back with pops.” He answered Aria turned to Leo “JJ this is Leo, Leo my older brother John Jr. We call him JJ.” Leo held out his hand to shake it.“Nice to meet you.” JJ grabbed it and smirked. “You too, your’re practically family now, we hug around here.” He pulled Leo in for a hug, patting him on the back. So far so good Aria thought to herself. Her mom went to the sliding glass door calling for her husband. A tall stocky man entered with two young boys in tow. The boys came in hugging Aria. Johnny was 6, and Jacob was 4. “Princess.” A warm smile spread across the mans face. “Daddy.” Aria ran to hug her father.

“Daddy, I want to to meet Leo, Leo this is my dad John.” Leo extended his hand to John. “Oh yeah, the one who broke my little girls heart and now Knocked her up.” He shook Leo’s hand. “JOHN!” Linda shouted. “Daddy. That was a long time ago. I forgave Leo for that. Now its time you do too.” Aria cooed, trying to diffuse the situation. “I’m sorry pumpkin, Leo it’s good to finally meet you.” Her father gritted his teeth. They were interrupted by a knock at the door, and Ellies voice bellowing through the house “were heeeeere.” Aria introduced everyone to the group. John approached Liam. “So you’re the king? Such a proud, noble,brave man. I would have been proud to have you as a son in law.” John shook Liam’s hand his eyes never leaving Leo, as his words stung like salt on an open wound. “Well, we need to get going. Ellie and I are taking these guys to a Phillies game. They have never been to a baseball game.” Aria spoke up. They said their goodbyes and headed out.

Once they arrived at citizens bank park the found their seats and sat down. Aria was able to score amazing seats, being a Duchess now, and from the area had its perks. 1st base line, right behind the dugout. “This is amazing, thank you for bringing us here Aria.” Liam smiled. “You’re welcome. You know you can see the field from every part of this place.” She informed. “Well I don’t know about you but, there’s a tony Lukes cheese steak and some crabby fries with my name on it.” Ellie butted in. “Oh god yes, we cant even wait.” Aria rubbed her belly. “Whats a cheese steak?” Drake asked. “Leo chuckled "I have been to Philly a time or two. Trust me you will love it.” “Well some of us haven’t been all over the world pretty boy.” Drake grunted. “Well, I wanna go explore so I’m going with you guys.” Maxwell jumped up.

Aria, Ellie and Maxwell took off to get food. They ordered the crabby fries first “oh. My. God. These are amazing!” Maxwell looked like a kid in a candy store as he munched on his fries and then he spotted him. In all his fuzzy green glory. “What is that?” Maxwell’s eyes lit up pointing to the furry green alien? Monster?. “That’s the Phanatic babe.” Ellie grinned. “He’s the mascot.” Aria informed him as they watched the Phanatic jump on a 4 wheeler and take off on the field. They grabbed 5 cheese steaks, a few orders of crabby fries and a few beers for everyone but Aria, and made their way back to their seats. Drake eyed his sandwich suspiciously as Liam dug in. “Drake! fis is, you haf to try it.” Liam spoke with his mouth full. “Wow, slow down Li. What would Regina say if she seen you speaking with food in your mouth.” Leo chuckled. “Oh! How rude of me forgive me everyone.” Liam blushed. “Liam, he was just teasing. Here you’re just Liam.” Aria giggled.” You can speak with a mouth full of food and we won’t care.” “Well in that case” Liam bit a huge chuck from his sandwich chewing sloppily.

They enjoyed a few innings with Aria and Ellie getting into the game. Leo watched her, the way she jumped up and cheered when a home run was hit. They were having a great time, and then the Phanatic jumped up on the dugout. Thrusting his big belly and dancing, pointing to members in the crowd to copy him. Maxwell jumped up a determined gleam in his eye. “Hey, you Phanatic. Watch this” he hollered gaining the Phanatics attention as he busted out a few moves. The Phanatic shook his head bewildered and twirled around throwing his hands in the air, as he jumped into the stands heading straight for Maxwell. He pushed on Maxwells chest, tossing his hands about shaking his head like he was talking smack. Maxwell stood his ground “oh yeah? How about it Phanatic you and me, Dance off!” The Phanatic stopped instantly whipping bis head to Maxwell, stepping back as he shook his head in agreement. Maxwell was taken to the field, his face plastered on the Jumbotron. The Phanatic started moving his feet and swaying his body to the beat of the music pointing to Maxwell to take his turn. Maxwell started moving his feet, popping his arms, shoulders and body, gaining cheers from the crowd. The Phanatic threw his hands up in the air throwing himself on the ground into the worm. Maxwell laughed hysterically as he pop, locked and dropped into the worm before spinning on his head ending with a side ways pose. The crowed erupted in cheers as the Phanatic waved his hands to Maxwell, bowing down admitting defeat. Maxwell was given a free Phillies shirt and hat and sent back to his seat. “That was awesome Maxwell.” The group cheered as he sat down. “Tell me you got that petunia?” Maxwell turned to Ellie. “Of course babe, already uploaded to you tube.” She grinned. The rest of the game flew by, the Phillies won and Aria and Leo headed back to her parents, while their friends went to the hotel.

“So your dad hates me.” Leo broke the silence that had settled over the car. “He doesn’t have you, he just.. hes guarded. He came and got me from Paris, he seen everything I went through after, well you know.” Aria tried to beat around the bush. “I know, and I am so sorry love. I wish-” “No! It’s in the past. One thing I know about my dad is he can hold a grudge, but if someone owns up to their mistakes, it goes a long way with him.” She squeezed his hand.

Once they arrived back at the house they took their luggage inside since they never got around to doing so. Her parents were already in bed for the evening so Aria took Leo up to her old room. “Don’t laugh.” She said as she opened the door and flicked on the light. The room was a light purple, with trophies and metals, and various other awards all over. Photos of Ellie and Aria hung and framed. “Over achiever?” Leo joked. “You get a trophy for participating here in America.” She laughed. He walked around reading the different sports and events of the awards. “Baseball, softball, cheer leading, dance, Singing..”

“ok, ok that’s enough. How about I show you where the bathroom is so you don’t get lost and wander into my parents room in the middle of the night.” She giggled. Once they settled into bed Aria began running her fingers up Leos arm. “What are you doing love?” Leo murmered half asleep. “Well, I thought maybe you could put me to bed properly.” She cooed. Leo propped himself up on one arm looking at her. “Baby, you know I am always down for fucking you sensless. But we are at your parents house, and you don’t know how to be quiet. Plus, I am trying to get on your fathers good side.” He pleaded with her, it took everything in him not to take her right there. “You’re right. I do want you two to get along. I love you Leo.” She kissed him softly. “I love you too Aria. Now get some sleep, tomorrow is a big day, we find out what we are having.”

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azvolrien · 8 years

Text

Night Words

Part three of Pirates of the North Atlantic is in progress (read: I got distracted and forgot about it but have actually been working on it again), but in the meantime here’s an unrelated thing. Bit of a character piece, that being writer-speak for ‘nothing really happens’, but I had some fun writing it.

I just like writing conversations

~~~

Wygar slowly opened his eyes, felt the chill on his face, and pulled the blankets up to his forehead. His bedroom was cold; clearly the College’s furnace had been banked for the night, and the steam pipes concealed within the walls of the building had cooled without its heat. With a grunt, he rolled over beneath the heavy quilt and flung his arm across – nothing. His hand bumped down against the mattress.

He sat up. He was alone in the dark bedroom. Frowning, he swung his legs out of bed and stood up, pulling on his dressing gown as he let himself out into the main room. It was no warmer there.

Tiger-formed, Fayn lounged on one of the broad, padded windowsills, her nightdress draped over her back as she gazed out at the night.

Wygar detoured to stir the embers in the hearth before joining her by the window. “Are you all right?”

Fayn nodded, but didn’t turn away from the window. Wygar absently brushed his fingers through the fur on her shoulders and leant in to see what she was looking at.

A heavy snowfall had joined the previous day’s frost, coating the College grounds in a blanket of white. Even the pond had frozen over.

“I wonder if it’ll stay?” said Wygar. “Usually the snow here melts by about lunchtime, but it’s been colder than usual this winter.”

Fayn sat up and shifted to human form. “It’s beautiful,” she said, shrugging on her nightdress. It wasn’t a particularly warm one and goosebumps appeared on her bare arms, but if she felt the cold, she resolutely ignored it.

“I suppose it is,” said Wygar.

“You suppose?” said Fayn, smiling.

He shrugged. “Spending the best part of a winter in the Dragon’s Teeth rather reduced my fondness for snow,” he said. “Now I can’t look at it for too long without imagining how much more inconvenient it’s going to make everything.”

Fayn laughed. “I didn’t see much snow in the forest,” she said, drawing a circle in the condensation forming on the glass. “It did get cold enough up in the northern reaches, but it wasn’t usually heavy enough for much to get through the trees.” Her eyes took on a faraway look. “Sometimes if I was up that way at the right time of year, I’d climb up to the canopy and look out at the snow covering the branches. It was like being above the clouds.”

“Do you miss it?” asked Wygar quietly. “The forest.”

Fayn fell into a contemplative silence. “There are things I do miss,” she said after a while. “Travelling around, watching the animals. The general lack of responsibilities,” she added, making Wygar chuckle. “But there are so many more things I don’t that I’d say it still balances out to a ‘no’. Starving. Having to either dig a burrow or build a nest every night. Always looking over my shoulder. Fighting off animals just to get something to eat, either when hunting or because they wanted whatever I’d foraged. Never being quite warm or comfortable enough…”

“Fleas,” supplied Wygar.

Fayn froze, her eyes widening. “…Did Rhona tell you!? That little- She promised she wouldn’t!”

“Whoa, hey, hey!” Wygar held up both hands. “Rhona didn’t say a word. I worked it out for myself.”

“How?!”

“Well, partly because since you’d spent twenty years living a feral existence in the uncharted wilds, it was only reasonable that you’d have picked up a few passengers along the way… Aaaand partly because you gave them to me. Must’ve happened on the journey back, when you were riding behind me on Rathus.”

Fayn made a peculiar strangled sound in the pit of her throat.

“I won’t say I was thrilled to find out,” said Wygar, “but it was nothing a fine-toothed comb and a thorough scrub with the right soap couldn’t fix.”

One of Fayn’s eyes twitched, before humour finally won out over mortification and she burst out laughing until someone on the floor beneath shouted for her to be quiet. “Gods,” she muttered, scrubbing tears from her eyes, “it must be true love if I gave you fleas and you still married me!”

“I certainly don’t have many romantic illusions about you any more,” said Wygar, and briefly nuzzled her hair. See, no fleas was the unspoken reassurance. “Just romantic observations.”

“Oh, stop,” said Fayn, half-heartedly elbowing him in the stomach. She sat back against the wall and sighed. “At least there was nothing to let you work it out about the tapeworm.”

“The Healers have a lot of practice with parasites,” said Wygar after an only mildly horrified pause. “Some of the apprentices come from very deprived backgrounds. They come here from all over the country, and some of the more isolated settlements up in the hills-”

“I get the idea.” Fayn slid an arm around his waist and hugged him against her side.

Wygar lightly traced the scars on her left shoulder with his fingertips. Most of her scars – and there were many of them – were smooth and silvery; even the ones on her face were barely noticeable from a casual glance, gained from countless scrapes and scratches over her years in the forest. In contrast, the three on her shoulder were stark and ropy, reminders of deep wounds that had been inflicted by the claws of an angry bear and had healed slowly and poorly. Wygar shivered, returned her hug tightly, and abruptly changed the subject.

“How did you get out of bed without waking me?” he asked.

Fayn laughed again, more softly. “You’re a heavy sleeper, and I’m very stealthy.”

“A useful skill in a librarian.”

“Oh, yes. The apprentices never hear me coming. Of course, that’s easier if they’re being noisy. I suppose it’d be useful for a warmage as well, but your fighting style doesn’t really lend itself to stealth.”

“No, it certainly does not.” Wygar sat down on the other half of the window seat with his back to the glass. “Have you given any more thought to what we should look for in a house?” he asked, drawing one knee up to his chest and folding his arms around it. “While I’ve generally enjoyed my time at the College, we can’t live here indefinitely. They won’t take these rooms off me as long as I still work here, but they weren’t really furnished with a couple in mind, let alone a family.”

“Hmm.” Fayn stretched her arms above her head, arching her back. “Not much about the house – I don’t know much about houses, come to that – but I’d like to stay in Magetown if we can. Ravenswood, Windstone and Seacourt are all a bit… penned-in, if you know what I’m trying to say-”

“I do.”

“And I doubt we’ve saved up enough to live in Craglee or the Barracks.”

“We haven’t.”

“Magetown is less cramped, and it’d be more convenient for the College.”

Wygar nodded. “Cheaper, too – a lot of people are wary of living too near the College, so it drives the house prices down. Not that the College’s wards let most of the apprentices’ accidents leak out, but… Well, they have in the past, and the city has a long memory. Anyway, my parents have promised to go in with us on the cost, wherever we decide on. Sort of a late wedding present.”

Fayn nodded thoughtfully and looked back out of the window. Wygar glanced over his shoulder as a fox ran across the outdoor training court, leaving a trail of prints in the otherwise undisturbed snow, but decided that Fayn was the better view.

“Did you ever imagine yourself getting married?” he asked.

“I never really imagined the future,” she said after a moment’s pause. “Though there was one time…” She trailed off.

“Hm?”

“I’d forgotten about it until you said that. I could only have been about four or five. There was a wedding in the village, and they let me in past the boundary stones for once so I could come to the feast. I don’t think I really understood what was happening at the time – I just thought it was an excuse for a party – but when Una was taking me back to my hut I asked her if I was ever going to have a wedding. Sethuk – the village priest – overheard and said nobody would risk getting that close to a ghost-marked.”

She said this in an entirely casual tone and with no hint of self-pity; merely relating a childhood anecdote, not fishing for sympathy in the least. Wygar became dimly aware that his mouth was hanging open, and closed it again before Fayn turned back to him.

“We showed him, didn’t we?” she said. “What about you?”

“Huh? Oh. Honestly, no – I’d never imagined it until you came into the picture.” Fayn cocked her head, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve… been with a lot of people,” Wygar explained. “Enough that once I’d got to know you a bit – this is going to sound terribly soppy – I… quickly realised that you were the one I wanted to spend my life with.”

“You’re right,” said Fayn, smiling. “That was soppy.” She reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear, trailing her fingers over his cheekbone. “So it wasn’t just my ethereal beauty?” she teased.

“No, but I won’t deny it was a factor.”

“Good answer.” She sat back and shifted one foot slightly to rest it against his hip. “Do you remember all the people you’ve significant pause been with?” she asked curiously.

“Some in more detail than others,” admitted Wygar, “but yes, certainly. Do you want the list?”

“You can list them?”

“Mm-hmm. Not in chronological order, but including more, er, casual arrangements and a couple of teenage partners I never actually slept with as well as the more serious ones…” Wygar took a deep breath. “Rhys, Sian, Gareth, Angharad, Rilla, Aeron, Wynne, Awena, Evan, Iorwen, Nye – not your colleague, a different one – Sioned, Arkadiy, Katya, Tamara, Ebba, Alrik, Ingrid, Eilidh, Fionnula, Lorna, Cameron, Lenka, Alonzo, Carina, Gaetano, Elia, Cyrus, Inara, Safara, Arno, Rosine, Morgan, Arianna, Gwenno and Rhodri.”

Fayn blinked. “Wow.” Wygar shrugged helplessly. “Mostly women, right? I can’t tell from some of the names.”

“About two-thirds women, yes, though more from the numbers of potential partners than any particular preference of mine.”

“…Huh.”

“Does… does it bother you?” asked Wygar with some hesitation.

“No,” said Fayn, completely without hesitation.

Wygar sat up slightly. “Really?”

“Should it? You’ve never been unfaithful to any of them – why would you start with me?” A wicked grin appeared on her face. “Look at it this way,” she said. “Means you’d had plenty of practice by the time you got to me – and that’s a lot of people I can swap notes with if need be!”

“What a terrifying thought,” said Wygar faintly, recalling a whispered and giggly conversation Fayn had had with Rhys a couple of days before the wedding. He still wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what the subject had been.

Fayn smiled again, less wickedly. “Who would you say is the better fighter?” she asked. “You or Wynne? She certainly drank Calburn under the table at the wedding reception.”

“Depends, cariad. I’d say I have the edge where magic is concerned, both in power and technique… but in melee I’m reasonably sure she could break me in half. Spent a lot of time training with Master Kendrick – maybe you should try sparring with her the next time she’s around.”

“Kendrick suggested that as well. Maybe we could drop in on her if we’re ever passing through Northold.”

“It’s a thought,” said Wygar. “I don’t know the city too well, but I think she mentioned something about a famous burial mound near her flat. There can’t be too many of those.”

Fayn stared at him. “A burial mound? In a city?”

Wygar shrugged again. “Like I said, I don’t know Northold much. But while we’re on the subject of visiting places – the Midwinter break is coming up in a couple of weeks. What would you say to getting out of the city for a few days? It would be good to have a holiday together that doesn’t involve either of us getting kidnapped by pirates.”

Fayn sniggered. “The Sunset Islanders were very apologetic about the pirates,” she said. “Apparently they almost never have trouble with those. Still, you’ve got a good idea there. We can look for a nice hotel in the country or something.”

“Not-” Wygar broke off to yawn enormously. “Not right now, though.” He looked back at the bedroom door and wrinkled his nose. “The bed will have chilled right down by now, you know.”

Fayn stretched again, linking her fingers above her head and cracking her knuckles, and stood up. “Come on,” she said, lightly tweaking one of his ears between thumb and forefinger. The point was freezing. “Think I’ve kept you awake long enough. The bed will warm up once we’re back in it.”

~~~

The School of Healing takes responsibility for, er, decontaminating incomers to the College, whether new staff or new students. Accordingly they keep the infirmary well-stocked with flea powders, vermicides and other similar medicines.

Some require more decontamination than others.

#az writes stories

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