#oh Gerald hush now

[mabonsdad]

Oh Gerald, hush now, the pizza won’t be ready for another five minutes.

#oh Gerald hush now #my own art #eldritch #digital art #ai artwork

[silent-raven13]

The One Chip Challenge

(Ya'll know the One Chip Challenge 😝 let's do punk flower reactions)

Gabriella happily got the boxes she order from the website being super excited. The twelve year old giggles, "Papá! Papá! It finally came! Can you let Miles know?" She shows her box filled with Paqui Chip Challenge.

"Gabi, mi vida... what did you order?" He lifts one of the boxes, "Spicy Chip... Carolina Reaper..." He looks at his daughter.

"I made a bet with Billie, Mayday and Gerald! We're gonna see who will win and the winner gets a big bucket of candy!" Gabriella happily said. "Please, call Miles and Peter! We made bets."

"Your not planning to eat this?"

"No way! It's super spicy! We were gonna make Miles, Tío Peter, Tía Jess try it!" She answers. "But I'm gonna win because he can handle spicy food!"

"And who would that be?" Miguel asked.

"You Papá!" She reaches her hands out as presenting him, "You can do it!"

Miguel isn't one to let his daughter down, then he gave a soft smile, "Alright."

"Yay! Now, call them!"

"Alright!"

At the cafeteria everyone set up for the One Chip Challenge. Mayday bounces with laughter, "I can't believe we trick them into doing this."

"Shh! They can't find out!" Gerald hushes her.

Billie happily wore her brother's Spider-man symbol shirt, "Go hermano!" The kid happily jumps up and down.

Miles sighs sitting on the table where the sign is placed, A lot of Spider-heroes came by to watch. "I hope I can do this." He said to himself.

"Don't worry, luv. I'm here for moral support." The punker grins at his boyfriend.

"You sure you don't want to try?" His Sunflower asked him.

Hobie eyes on the chip challenge, then Billie mocks, "He won't do it. He's chicken! Bak! BAK! BAK!" She teases him, "he's a scaredy cat, Miles!" She went over to snuggle her big brother.

Hobie frowns, "Luv, your gonna let her talk to-" Miles picks up his little sister to snuggle her, "Your right, Billie." He casually mocks his boyfriend, "The Hobie, I know wouldn't back down a challenge." Their big eyes battering at Spider-Punk, it hit a nerve.

"Alright, good manipulation tactic. Both Morales tryin' to get me to join, eh?" The Punker grins widely as he sat next to his boyfriend, "But let's make it interesting, Sunflower. A bet between me and you."

"Oh?" Miles snorted, "What is it?"

"Winner gets the loser to do whatever the winner wants." Hobie smirks widely showing off his teeth.

Miles rubs his chin, while Billie rests her head on her brother's chest. She gasps, "Miles! Miles!" She waves her hand for him to lean over for her to whisper, "Papá been wanting someone to clean the closet!"

"Ohhh, right." Miles giggles along his sister, "I do need someone to clean some things."

"Now, that's bollicks. I was hoping you would prefer some romance." Hobie frowns then grins, "No matter, I'll win. I've been wanting you to try on a certain piece of fabric..."

"Oh god, bae!" His boyfriend scoffs, his punker had sexually intentions, which isn't surprising.

"OHHH! The One Chip Challenge! I've been wanting to try it!" Pavtri happily sign up, "Come on, Gwen! Try it!"

"Ehhh, I don't know if you guys know, but I'm white..." She eyes at the challenge, "Spicy food doesn't work-" The four looked at each other and shouted, "CHICKEN! BAK! BAK! BAK!" Billie folding her arms to mimic chicken wings.

Gwen scowls, "FINE! But if I die, I'm haunting all of you jerks!"

"Yay! Gwen is joining. Wow, Gerald, you're so smart. how did you know?" Gabriella said to her friend.

Mayday nodded, "Yeah, how?"

"Easy. Chain of reaction! Since they're friends, they like to do things together." Gerald fixes his glasses with a smirk.

Jess finished setting up, "Okay, everyone ready?" She wore a white shirt with red words printed on, 'Keeping it Spicy'. Miguel and Peter came by wearing the same shirt over their Spider-man suit.

The younger Spider-heroes looks at them. "What's with the shirt?" Gwen asked.

"Awe, I want one!" Pavtri pouts, "It's so cute!"

Sun Spider came by handing them out, "Anyone want one? Ben made these and Petra had printmaking classes. So we got a lot." The young Spider-heroes got their shirts.

Hobie ripped his own into slashes and ripped sleeves. Miles had his oversize. Gwen tied her oversize shirt to a side bow knot on her hip. Pavtri got a shirt that perfectly fit him to show off his buff body.

"Billie, your not gonna wear yours?"

"No, I want this on." She pointed at her black shirt with her brother's red Spider-man symbol, "Mimi."

"Awweee, Billie. You're my number one fan! I love you so much, Boo-Boo!" Miles snuggles and kisses his four year old sister's cheek. "So cute!"

"Hahaha! I am!" She grins widely at Hobie.

The Punker pouts as he leans over, "LUV! WHAT ABOUT MEEEE!" He whines wanting his boyfriend to show him love.

"Okay, everyone gather around!" Lupe got the microphone, "We have some brave Spider-heroes trying the one Chip Challenge. If ya'll don't know, the One Chip Challenge is a spicy chip made from Carolina Reaper peppers, and Naga Viper peppers- Jesus, that's spicy." She read her note cards. "Anyway, the goal is who ever last for five minutes without food or drinks is the winner and they win... what do they win?" She looks at them.

"Aye, Pendeja, didn't you read the last note?" Miguel 660 asked out loud at Lupe.

Miguel 928 face palm at the two, he shook his head as he sat down next to Peter. The row went from left to right; Miguel, Peter, Jess, Pavtri, Gwen, Miles and Hobie.

Lupe scowls at the redhead Miguel O'Hara, "Where? It doesn't say, and don't call me, stupid, jerk." The variant went over to read it.

" It said right here! Puta, vieja! Can't you read? They win a month off of Graveyard shift and get first dibs on Level one missions!" He said out loud. The crowd Oohed at the prizes.

"Ohhh! No way!" Miles' eyes gleam, he misses his sleep. To skip a month of graveyard shift would be amazing.

"Finally a win, i can get behind." Hobie grunts.

Jess said, "Now, that's the dream."

"Great idea, Mig." Peter said to his friend.

Miguel crosses his arms, "It's something worth wild, instead of burning our stomachs." Then he turns to find his daughter happily giving him a thumbs up. Well, that was enough for him.

Billie pouts as her brother put her down, "No! Hugs!" She whines.

"Boo-boo, the challenge is gonna start."

"Yeah, lil Boo. Don't worry, I'll take care of him." Hobie smirks at her.

"No! Only me!" She frowns.

Miles kisses her on the cheek, "Don't worry. When this is over, I'll give you all the hugs you want!"

"Yay!" She happily went over to her friend being excited. "Go Miles! GO!"

Lupe and Miguel 660 were arguing with each other already on each other nerves. The Spider-woman did a head lock on the redheaded Miguel, "Hilo de su puta madre!" He curses at her. She flips him over as the two were already wrestling with each other causing another crowd around them.

Miguel 928 stares at them being so annoyed, "Seriously! AYE STOP IT!"

Sun Spider took the microphone, "Uhhh, ignore that!" She nervously chuckles, "Um... anyway, one three Ben will ring the bell and the challenge will start. Ready?"

"Oh gosh, I hope they'll be okay..." Billie 1613 said to Gabriel 660 who was embarrassed by his dad fighting like a child. "That chip sounded so spicy."

"Yeah, it does-" He stops when he saw his dad being flipped again and Lupe jumps as she elbows his side. "OH SHIT! DAD!"

"I'm good!" Miguel grunts in pain as he grabs Lupe having to head lock her.

"Set!"

All the variants watching, "Oh I can't wait to see who'll win!" Peni said.

"Right. I'll be cheering on Gwen." Margo giggles, "She needs the support."

"Team Pav." Peni hums, "He can handle spicy food."

Miles 43 said to Miles 2020, "This is gonna be fun." The triplets watching having to be held by their parents.

Miles 2020 nodded, "Right." He holds two of his kids while his husband holds one.

"Oh maybe, we should try it, bae!" Deadpool said to his Spider-man.

"No way! Spicy food doesn't do well for both of us, Wade!" Peter 616b said.

"GO!" Ben ring the bells having the Spider-heroes sitting by the white table with the one chip in front of them. The chip had a dark unnatural color to it, and it had a funky smell. Everyone that's involve with the challenge quickly ate their chip while the crowd around them cheer them on.

"WHOOO!"

"Go MILES!" Billie cheers for her brother.

"Go MOM!" Gerald shouted.

Mayday screams, "Go dad!

"GO PAPÁ!" Gabriella cheered.

They all ate up their chip, then they waited. It wasn't long till the spiciness of the chip left a hot burning sensation on their mouths. They all sat in place trying to handle the first seconds. Jess inhales and exhales, "Wow, that stuff is hot!"

"Ohh, that-that- burns! Oh god," Peter stuck his tongue out as he waves his hands, "Oh my god! Oh my god, that's really burning!" Sweat started to show on his face which surprised Jess.

Miguel had his arms crossed trying to maintain his composure, "A la chigada!" He mutters not expecting it to be so hot, he thought he could handle it.

Pavtri happily smack his lips, "Mmm, it got a smokey flavor!"

Gwen shaking her legs trying to focus on anything but her burning mouth. Her pale face already turning red like a cartoon would, sweat droplets form, and her lip quivers. She breathes heavily, "Shitshitshit! This shit is fucking hot!" She stomp on the floor feeling the peppers burning like sharp gashes and the spicy taste didn't settle well with her stomach. In fact, she's breathing faster, heart beating very fast.

"Go GWEN!" Margo claps as she cheers her on, "You got this, baby!"

Miles gave a hiss like inhale with his hands fidgeting together, "Shit, man. This is so damn spicy!"

"Not bad..." Hobie merely mutters lowly.

His boyfriend quickly look at him, "Really?"

"Yeah..." The punker didn't say much words, which is very weird and so none-brand of him.

Pavtri giggles, "Are you guys doing good? It's slowly getting to me." He smacks his lips feeling unbothered.

Gwen felt like she's about to claw her tongue off. SunSpider spoke on the microphone, "We got cold milk, ice cream, soda, water, and ice!" She reminded them of the other booth where Ben and Kaine had the items for them.

This made Gwen to fidget on her seat, snot coming out of her nose. "Gwen, you okay! You don't look too good..." Miles said with worried.

"This shit is worse than graveyard shift! Fuck this!" She got up in a hurry, "I need ice cream! ITS BURNS!" She screams.

"ME TOO! I CAN'T HANDLE THIS! OH GOD! OH GOD! MY MOUTH IS ON FIRE!" Peter already dripping in sweat with tears running down his face. Mouth drips of salvia as he fumble out of his seat almost knocking Miguel out of his own seat. "MOVE MIG! GEEZ!"

Jess burst out laughing trying to focus on Peter instead of her mouth being tortured. Miguel glares at Peter.

The two Spider-heroes rushes over to Ben and Kaine having to fight over the tubs of ice cream and galloon of milk. Gwen shoving ice cream into her mouth while Peter chugs a gallon of milk. The two ate very messy letting their shirt get covered by ice cream and milk.

"AHHH! AHHH! UGHHH! AHHH!" Peter tries to shoot it off, he shakes his head trying to have some control.

Gwen freaking out, "ITS NOT WORKING! ITS STILL HOT! I NEED ICE!" She shove ice into her mouth having tears coming down her cheek.

"I need more ice cream!" Peter freaking out.

Mayday laughs, "Dad, are you gonna be okay?"

"Yes, honey! Daddy is just questioning his life choices." He shoves ice cream into his mouth.

Some of the crowd laughs at the scene. "Oh I hope they're okay. I heard you lose your taste buds that way." Kitty said to Maria 982.

"They'll be fine." Maria grunts, "They should've known better to try a ridiculous game!"

Lupe came having her suit a bit tussled, "Hey, what did I miss?"

"Hehehe, why you and Miguel 660 had to fight?" Kitty giggles.

"He started it." She pouted then whines, "Maria hold me! I need a strong independent woman!" She snuggles Maria with her face in the muscular Spider-woman's chest.

"There. There. Miguel 660 is always starting shit." She sighs at her fellow Spider-heroes.

Miguel 660 got a bloody nose from being punched, but it didn't hurt. He went over to the other Spider-men, "What did I mess?"

"Geez, you two need to stop fighting." Petie winced.

Alpha grunts, "Your gonna get killed."

"Dad, you okay?" Gabriel asked his dad.

"Yeah, just minor hits."

They all look at him confused.

Back at the main five, they were trying to maintain their sanity. Jess claps her hands together, "That stuff is hot! Oh my god." She could feel sweat coming on to her.

"We have four minutes left." Sun Spider watches the timer.

Jess claps her hands again, "Oh my- Ohhh, Ahhh!" She felt the linger taste making her sharply inhale.

Miguel started to cough, it's like the longer they wait, the worse the spicy tastes last. He felt his eyes watered, "Ahh!" He breathes out trying to shake it off.

"You got this papá." Gabriella cheers him off.

He smiles at her, then he tries to relax by reciting the number pi. Miles' legs shakes again while his eyes watered, and nose drip with snot. "Ugh! It's so hot! AHH! Fuck!" He said.

Hobie sat with his arms crossed, with a few words, "Tis not hot." He mumbles.

His Sunflower looks at him sweeten, his whole face glisten with sweat. "Bae, it's spicy!"

"Nah, its-" Sun Spider said into the microphone, "Three minutes and forty seconds." That made Hobie head turned so fast, he thought it was already two minutes left.

"Nah, weh yuh seh?" Hobie's Jamaican accent coming out as he got up trying to focus. "Bumbo, mi mowth is burnin'! Tis nuthin' like peppers I grew up, mon."

Miles giggles, "Bae. Bae, calm down. Your going full Jamaican on me."

"Boonununus, yuh got a lot of nerve to teh mi to calm down." He spoke at his Sunflower, he holds onto the metal chair leaning forward trying to ease his focus.

"Mi amor, it's okay! Come sit back down." At least this made Miles focus on his man instead of the flavors lingering in his mouth. He sniffles feeling his snot coming down.

Pavtri giggles then inhale slowly, "Yeah, I'm feeling it. It lingers on the throat to." He clears his throat.

Hobie already coughing as he sniffs fighting his own demons. "Bombaclaat! It's ha-ahtt-er than peh-pur!" He could feel his eyeliner running, his hand wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Miles sat in spot with his leg shaking and his hands together, "This shit is built different! Ahh!" He sticks his tongue out trying to ease the heat.

"Go Miles!" Billie cheers on him.

Jess shook her head as she got up with her fingers wagging, "Nope! I can't." She let out a cough already sweating and trembling from the amount of heat burning her tongue. "Mm-mmm! It's too hot!" She rushes over to the stand to get herself a cup of crush ice to eat.

Gwen and Peter on the floor looking like they passed out from the stress of the spicy chip. They were still sweating from it. "Can we get a medic for these two?" Jess chews on her ice.

Mayday went over to check on her dad, "He'll be okay! He gets like that when he over eats pizza!"

Miguel got up to start doing push ups feeling sweat dripping from the side of his face. Hobie moves back and forth cursing up a storm, "Yuh tell mi one mor thing- Bombaclaat! Suck yeh mudda!" He mumbles as he walks back and forth.

Miles had tears coming down his cheek, "Ugh, the chip is so damn- Argh!" He felt his nosy running, went to grab a napkin to sneeze. "Ugh!" He coughs feeling the spicy specks ticking the back of his throat. "Shit I'm sweatin'!" He fan himself with his right hand.

Pavtri mainly sway side to side not being bothered, "It's getting there." He could feel the spicy tingles on his tongue.

Meanwhile, Hobie did a jog back and forth trying to focus on anything. Jess chewing ice while her son hugs her leg. "You okay, mamá?" He asked being worried at how his mom kept chewing ice and drinking cold water.

His mother rub his back, "I'm okay, papa! I'm worry about these two." She slightly lift her hand that's holding her cup of ice at Hobie and Miguel. The two men were working out trying to focus anything but the spicy food.

Gerald looks back at Gwen with a medic while Margo holds a tub of ice cream lecturing her, "Now, you know damn well that you can't handle spicy food? Why did you do this challenge?"

Mayday fanning her dad, who's still cherry red as he had a medic checking his breathing while he had ice in his mouth. "It's okay daddy. You can't handle spicy food."

Billie and Gabriella chewing on their relatives. "Go big bro!" Billie claps with her tiny body jumping up and down.

"You can do it, Papá!" Gabriella smiles happily.

Ben whispers in Kaine's ear, "Miguel, doesn't look too good."

"I know. I was thinking the same thing." He agreed, "Rest in Peace to those toilets... the same way it comes in, it's the same way it's gonna come out." Kaine winced at how KO his fellow Spider-heroes looked.

Sun Spider hold the microphone, "Three minutes left."

That made Hobie turns around, "No-NO! Yuh chummy! Ain't no wey dats bloody three minutes! Bunch of Bollicks! Bombaclaat!" He wipes his sweaty face with the white ripped t-shirt leaving eyeliner and black lipstick stains.

Miles took his boyfriend's hand, "Bae. Bae." Being in a calm tone, "Relax. Your..." He giggles, "Your speaking British and Jamaican all around." It's funny to see how quick his boyfriend's accents are jumping around.

"Nah, luv. This is bloody worse than giving up smokin'." His nostrils flare having snot coming out. "Bloody hell! Sunflower, how are you okay?"

"I'm not... I'm slowly dying inside." Miles maintain his bright smile while mentally screaming to himself.

Pavtri giggles, "I'm okay!"

"Yes, we know!" Hobie shouted out loud as he looks over at Margo handing Gwen a tub of ice. "I don't even like milk!"

"Awe, bae. Gonna quit?"

"Nah, I got this!" He saw the way Miguel sat back down trying to focus.

"Nah, this shit is built different." Miguel's brother Gabriel 928 came by to watch,he took a piece of chip to sniff. It had a funny smell like funky and savory.

Miguel snap at his younger brother, "Don't eat it!"

He tries it, then started coughing. "Hilo de la CHIGADA! PUTA! Yoooo! Miggy, we Mexican but we ain't that kind of Mexican!" Gabriel kept coughing, his eyes water. "OH shit! Our ma didn't raise us eating chili like dat bro! Shit- *COUGHS! COUGHS!*" He grunts and clears his throat, "Shit, I took a small piece too."

Lupe try one, "Mmm, it got a kick." She dared MIguel 660 to try one, the redhead finally took a piece form the same chip.

Maria shook her head, "Stop trying it!" The three were coughing and panicking at how spicy it is. "Ugh... why?" They rushes over to the stand to get their own cold treat to calm down the heat.

Miguel sighs in annoyance, "Gabe, pinche pendejo!" His tongue felt like it's gonna fall off, his stomach wasn't sitting too well. The burning spicy feeling felt acidic in the middle of his chest, it made his a bit nauseous. He saw the way Gabriella's eyes on him being so proud, he wants to win for her. "For mi niña!" He thought to himself.

Hobie breathes through his mouth being dramatic, "Ahhh!" He tries to maintain his composure but he felt lightheaded. The panic, stress of dealing this level of spice is getting to him. "Boi! I'm dead!" He mutters with his Jamaican accent popping out again. "GEE-ZZUS CRIST!" BOMBA!" He grunts at the spicy inch in the back of his throat.

Pavtri giggles at Hobie and Miguel, "I think Hobie is next to quit." He hums.

Miles said, "Oh really?"

"Yup!"

"Two minutes and fifty seconds!" Sun spider hums.

"What!" Hobie and Miguel shouted they were already having sweat all over their face, and started to feel dizzy.

"Nah, I quit. No mor! Dis is da last time I'ma do this bloodclaat thing!" Hobie uses his shirt to wipe his face again then wipe the snot from his nose, then he drools, "Nah! Sunflower, yuh got me fucked up!" His accents being mixed up again. He quickly went down from the stage to get himself a cartoon of cold milk.

Miles and Pavtri burst out giggling and coughing having to watch the Punker chugging a whole carton of milk. "ARGH! UGH! I don even like milk!" He let milk drip down from the corner of his mouth.

Lupe suckling some ice chips, "Hobie drink the strawberry one. It's better."

"Nah, your suppose to- BLARG!" Miguel 660 throwing up in a bucket after he swishes some milk to spit out from the spicy taste, "Ohhh, my gastritis is killing me!"

Peter on the floor being out of it, "I need more milk!" He burps having to get another one.

Jess crackling up, "Who knew this stupid challenge would kick our asses." She chews on some ice.

Lupe snickers, "I only took a small piece! Ya'll ate the whole thing."

Deadpool took a piece from Gabriel's little bag while his Peter Parker shouted, "WADE!"

"Ohhh SHIT! SHIT! SHITSHITSHIT!" Deadpool panics at his mouth burning up, "Where's the ice cream!"

"We have popsicles?" Kaine pointed out seeing Lupe grabbing out to chew.

Hobie had his hands on his knees with milk all over his lip and tear coming out his eyes making his eyeliner run. He breathes heavily, "I don't feel right. My chest... my heart... OHHH! Bomba!" He stuck his tongue out like a dog letting spit drip out of his mouth.

Peni broke out laughing with Spider-Ham at the group. "This why I don't do stupid challenges." She hums.

Billie saw her brother sweating look worry. Oh no, will her brother be okay? Even gabriella looks at her dad being worry, "Papá, you okay? You don't look too good?"

"I'm fine, mi hija! Just..." Miguel winced feeling his chest hurting and stomach turned- Hell, his heart racing by the wave of panic he had in his mouth. "Aye!" He tries to last but felt uneasy at the burning acidic in the back of his throat.

"Papá, it's okay if you don't win!" Gabriella looking very worried, she frowns, "I don't want you to get hurt."

Gabriel came by with a carton of strawberry milk, "Aye, bro! Drink this shit, man. Shit built different! I know you're fucking lying, you're gonna get stomach problems like that other Miguel over there. El estas vomitando!" He shoves the cartoon on Miguel's face. "Stop being macho! I know you bro. Shit gonna give you explosive diarrhea! You don't even eat chili like that."

Gabriella's eyes peeking over the table looking worried, "Papá, it's okay. I don't want you to get sick!"

Miguel wipes the sweat and tears from his face then sighs, "Fine. I'll quit." He took the carton of milk feeling the sugary cool milky taste, it ease the pain from his chest.

Miguel 660 grunts wiping his lip feeling uneasy, "I need a medic!"

"Dat Irish gene is kicking your ass, huh?" Lupe chuckles.

Miguel 928 had to lay down feeling a headache coming. Gabriella got a wet towel for his forehead. "It's okay, papá! At least, you tried and you have fun."

"Gabi, I didn't have fun. No mas challenges. You're gonna kill me and I'm too old for this." Miguel grunts having to give a small smile when his little girl burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, your funny papá!" Gabriella giggles.

Gabriel got himself a cold can of beer to drink, "Mm, you good bro? You don't need beer?"

"I'm fine. Just need to wait it out..."

Pavtri and Miles sat next to each other, while they were cracking up. Miles' face flustered with sweat all over his face while his friend sniffs from a running nosy. "Look at your man!" Pavtri snickers.

Miles laughs at his Hobie still walking in circles while drinking milk with one hand and the other hand a milk chocolate popsicle. "Bae, you good?"

His punker looks up at him then scoffs, "Neva gon listen to yuh, eva again!" he mutters as he shoves the popsicle in his mouth.

Pavtri giggles, "Look, it's just me and you! I didn't know you can handle this level of spicy?"

"Eh, when your friends with a Korean, you're gonna have a lot of spicy dishes." Miles chuckles then felt his stomach twisting like he's gonna throw up. "Tho, this is waaayyyy too much for me. You?"

"Ditto! I grew up with my aunty's curry and spicy dishes. She would make her sauce so red from chili peppers, and it would be so spicy!" Pavtri chuckles at his childhood memories, he sniffs a bit more.

Little Billie went over with a popsicle to place on the table with her two visible Afro-puffs peeking over the table, "Miles! Eat!"

"Awe, your baby sister is worry." Pavtri giggles.

Miles sniff and slurp inhale trying to cool his mouth before saying, "Boo-Boo? What's wrong?"

Billie sniffles, this made her older brother worried, "Did you try the chip?" He got up to lean over to find her tearing up with worry.

"Hermano! No more! No more! I'm scared!" She saw how Miguel 660 was throwing up like no tomorrow and Gwen looking knocked out. Her eyes watered, "I don't care if you don't win!"

"Awe, Boo-Boo! I'm-" He coughs feeling the spice on his throat.

Sun Spider said, "One minute!"

Gabriel 928 curse, "HIJUEPUTA! That timer is cheating. Ain't no way there's one minute left!" A medic went to check on his older brother's heart rate.

"THAT'S WHAT I BEEN SAYING! BUNCH OF BOLLICKS!" Hobie shouted out loud.

Deadpool chewing ice cream, "Yeah!" He nodded then shove shave ice into his mouth.

"Who does this?" Miguel 660 grunt having to drink a whole bottle of water.

"This game could kill someone." Jess said feeling a bit calm from suckling ice.

"Miles!" Billie cries being so worry, she holds a quarter tub of strawberry ice cream being scared. What if her big brother get sick and it was her fault? She didn't mean for him to get hurt from the challenge.

"Awe, Boo-boo!" Miles looks at Pavtri then sighs, "Okay, I'll quit. Besides, I got the feeling we would have to eat another chip if we tied."

Sun Spider gasps, "How did you know? Gabriella said they would eat death peppers noodles or a chip with hot sauce?"

Hobie's eyes widen from shook, just like everyone else. "ARE YOU MAD? Just dis bloody damn chip got all of us fucked!"

Gwen snap out of her consciousness to give a big fake laugh, "HA! You're joking?"

"SHEEESH!" Gabriel cursed under his breath. "You hear dat bro? You were gonna eat some spicy ass noodles or chip with salsa."

"No jodas!" Miguel rolled his eyes as he drinks water with crush ice, "My stomach doesn't feel good."

Miles went over to carry his four year old sister, then took the carton. "The winner is Pavtri!" Sun Spider said out loud.

Pavtri grins widely, "Light work!" He stood feeling okay, the spicy taste passed him with ease. It didn't hurt him or got him sick. "I can't wait to tell my girl about all the free time I'll have!"

"Hahaha, you deserve it, man." Miles chuckles.

Billie lay her head on her brother's chest while sucking her thumb. "Awe, mi vida. it's okay. Look." Miles open the lid of his ice cream and start to eat. "Mmm, see. I'm okay."

"Eat more!" She demanded.

Hobie went over to snuggle his boyfriend, "Luv, I need your love to heal me!" He buries his head into his left shoulder.

"Yeah that stuff was spicy. I'm never doing that again." Miles eats his ice cream having to swish it around his mouth. "Don't ever try it, boo-boo."

"Okay, I won't!" She nodded, then points at Hobie, "Obie lost Mimi!"

"I know, can't wait till he helps our dad clean the house." Miles hums making his boyfriend's tensed up his muscle.

"Luv, whyyy! Can't you see I'm in pain?"

"Well, you lost the bet. I last longer." Miles kisses his boyfriend's cheek who grumpily snuggles him. Miles and Billie watches Pavtri getting his picture taking with the Spider-heroes for winning the challenge. Then they saw their fellow friends slowly recovering from that chip challenge.

"What are we gonna do with all of these?" Gabriella saw the box she order have some left over.

"You order way too much." Mayday said.

Gerald said, "Give it away as novelty?"

"You right." Gabriella agreed. Then Ultimate Spider-man, Peter chuckles, "It can't be that bad?" He took a chip to try.

"NOOO!" Peters shouted at him.

The Ultimate Spider-man's face turns red in seconds and went over to the cooler for anything to eat or drink. Gabriella ended up giving away the One Chip boxes, many didn't dare to try it but to keep it in their homes as novelty items.

#miles morales #hobie brown #punkflower #spiderman #across the spider verse #spider verse #flowerpunk #fanfic

[lady-charinette]

A Spy Among Us - Spy x Family

Warnings: mentions of blood, Mission 67 Spoilers!

This will probably have a part 2!

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

“Hello? Is this the state security service? I’m calling from Berlint General Hospital.” Director Gorey whispered, eyes glaring at a single point.

“Yes, are you calling to report suspicious activity or people?” the fist lieutenant of the secret police grabbed his pen, sliding a blank piece of parchment in front of him to write down any important information the caller might reveal.

Cigarette smoke curled around the receiver in his hand, a distant drumming in the background signaled the interrogation in the other room was still underway. Yuri must be having quite the fun interrogating the Ostanian traitor they captured two days ago.

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve discovered a spy on my staff.” The chief medical director’s words made the lieutenant move his pen closer to the paper, ready to jot down the identity of another traitor.

“What is the identity of this spy?”

Tips and calls have been coming in abundance recently, perhaps another politician or gambler from Westalis ready to infiltrate their security to gather more intel for the war.

The name the director uttered made the cigarette fall from the lieutenant’s mouth. “Dr. Loid Forger, he’s working under me as a psychiatrist.”

The lieutenant wrote down the name instinctively, but his lips turned down into a frown. “You’re certain of your intel? Making the state do work for false leads only wastes resources, director Gerald Gorey.”

There was an audible gasp and swallow on the other line, until the director gathered his wits about him and spoke in hushed tones. “Y-Yes, I’m very-very certain it’s the truth! He’s been acting suspiciously with one of my staff for months now!”

The officer rose an eyebrow, “Oh? And this staff of yours doesn’t appear suspicious?”

The director spluttered. “N-No, no! I assure you officer, my staff is trustworthy! Except Dr. Forger!”

How curious.

The lieutenant rubbed his chin, curling his fingers around the receiver. “Thank you for the tip, we will investigate this thoroughly.” Before he hung up, the lieutenant issued a warning: “Oh and director? I hope for your sake this intel is correct, there is a penalty to be paid for deceiving the state security service.”

“M-My information is correct, officer!”

The officer grunted, hanging up without hearing the nervous mumblings of the man to the end.

His office was once again silent, eyes transfixed on his handwriting on the piece of faded beige paper on his mahogany desk.

Loid Forger.

He underlined the name, eyes moving to focus on the door as audible footsteps neared it. He could tell who would enter from the pace of the footsteps and something settled heavily into his stomach.

The door swung open with a jolt and an eerie creak, the squelch of heavy duty boots stomped on the ground of the facility as one Yuri Briar entered his office, leaving moist, red imprints behind him.

He was cleaning his hands, holding one black glove while his other hand cleaned it, the once white handkerchief covered in splotches of red. It was a hassle to clean good leather once the blood dried on it, after all.

“Second Lieutenant Yuri Briar reporting!” he saluted, relaxing as soon as the older man nodded. “I’ve managed to extract the information we need out of the Ostanian traitor, he’s in the infirmary wing now, the camera has been shut off as per protocol.” Yuri’s gaze fell down to the piece of paper in front of the first lieutenant, eyes alight with a familiar twinkle. A thirst for blood, for traitors of their country. “Another one already? Who is it this time? Jonas Wellman?”

A heavy silence settled on both men, the first lieutenant’s gaze moving to stare at the open door, motioning for Yuri to close it with a wave of his hand.

He glanced back down at the name he wrote as he if needed to double check, to be certain of the turmoil and pain this name might give his younger colleague, and the changes to the young man’s future it could bring.

There was an easygoing grin on Yuri’s face, until his colleague opened his mouth and uttered a name Yuri had simultaneously hoped and dreaded to hear in his line of work.

“Loid Forger.”

Thanks for reading!

#spy x family #sxf #loid forger #yuri briar #sxf mission 67 #mission 67 #spy x family manga #spy x family manga spoilers #sxf manga #sxf manga spoilers #yor briar #yor forger #state security service #sxf sss #spy x family fic #sxf fic #my fic #my fics #anya forger

[headinthestaticsky]

The Dusk Calls for me: Jasper Hale x My OC Fleur Swan, Chapter 7

AUTHORS NOTES: None of the characters in Twilight belong to me. All rights go to Stephenie Meyer.

“I'm afraid to go outside So many people rule my mind, I Can't escape, where is the line? Chained ourselves to overdrive.”

NICE OUT: By Kilo Kish

I didn’t know where I was again, It seemed I was observing a man sitting in a speedboat with his headphones on. I couldn’t see him clearly enough to a identify him at first. I then saw that man again, with the long blonde hair this time, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. I didn’t see the second man though I wondered where he was and why was I with this person again. My “body” began to move toward the man against my own will. I finally noticed it was Waylon but instead of terror, I was filled with thirst and eagerness. Waylon seemed to of heard a deep growl coming out of “my” throat and took his headphones off.

“Hello?” 

My figure zoomed past his line of sight, he stood up quickly, stumbling a few feet to the front of the boat.

“Gerald? Gerald?”

When he didn’t get a reply, he got too unsettled and started the motor to the boat. Before he could take off though “I” stopped the boat from moving forward. He looked back in shock at me before greeting me.

“Hello” He stuttered.

The man with the long blonde hair then jumped down.

“Nice Jacket.” He said in a sinister tone.

“Who are you?”

“I” started to move closer to him, like an animal after it’s prey.

“It’s always the same, inane questions. Who are you?” 

“What do you want?” I said in a completely different voice.

“Why are you doing this?”

Finally the other man that I had seen zipped down from his hiding place, he looked quite bored.

“James, let’s not play with our food.”

As soon as he said that I kicked Waylon to the floor of the boat before pouncing on him.

I finally woke up shooting up from Jasper's chest panting again holding in a scream. I was even more freaked out than the previous dream I had before. This was someone I knew, someone I had fond childhood memories with. Why was I dreaming about killing him?

“What happened? Are you okay? What’s wrong!?” I heard Jasper ask his voice laced with concern.

Tears filled my eyes before spilling down my cheeks, I couldn’t talk it was as if I was paralyzed in fear. He pulled me in, hugging me and rubbing my back.

“I-I had a terrifying nightmare. I felt so real Jazz... I...” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. He hushed me just holding me and trying to comfort me.

“Do you want to talk about it?” 

“No, not right now.”

We sat in silence for a bit and I surveyed my surroundings. The weather report had lied, it was as cloudy as ever looks like Jasper and everyone else could go on that field trip after all. Our silence was then interrupted. 

“I’m sorry to leave you like this but, I have to go. Your sister is about to come up.” He said in a hushed voice he kissed me before leaving through the window. My door was opened a minute later Bella had entered the room.

“Hey, did you plan on... are you okay Fleur, you look terrified?” Bella asked.

“Yeah I’m fine, I just had a nightmare... I knew I shouldn’t of watched those horror movies last night.” I lied.

“That sucks...I was just coming up here to ask if you planned on going to the Greenhouse today. You still haven’t gotten your slip signed.” She said.

“Oh yeah, I completely forgot, could you bring my slip down to dad? I have to get dressed real quick.”

“Sure no problem.”

I slowly raised myself up from my bed, the grogginess of last night sleep still lingered on me. A black t-shirt and blue jeans would have to do today. I grabbed a red sweater since I knew it would be freezing today. I grabbed my boots and rushed down the stairs trying not to trip.

“You always were the one to wait til the last minute for things to get signed weren't’ you?” Dad asked playfully.

“You should know me by now dad my motto is “Better late than never.” I replied.

“Well you two better hurry up in eat or you won’t have enough time to like last time. I have to get going early so I’ll see you girls later on today” Dad said.

“Okay, love you dad.” I said.

“Love you dad, be safe.”

Bella  and I both ended up eating a fruit salad finishing around the same time. We both head towards her truck since I left it at school yesterday.

“I cannot wait to get my car back! I miss my baby.” I said.

“You love that car way too much you know.” Bella interjected.

“I may love it too much but, it’s still my baby.”

She shook her head while chuckling. The rest of the car ride was mostly quite, but the radio was on. I was surprised it worked, her truck was from the 50′s... We pulled up to the school and I got out of the truck, looking for Jasper right away. Bella seeing this nudge my shoulder before telling me to go after him. I hugged her and thanked her for the ride to school before jogging my way toward him.

“Hey darlin, seems your doin better this mornin aren’t you?” He asked.

“Yeah, I feel a lot better, thanks for earlier.” 

“No problem love.” He said before attacking my face with kisses. I giggled before playfully pushing him back. I then turned my head to see Edward glaring at Bella and Mike. He seemed jealous and was intently listening in on there conversation. Bella and Mike had a quick exchange by the end of it, Edward was smirking before making his way onto the bus. I followed in with Jasper after him.

The greenhouse was nice, the different plants was very interesting to me. Jasper and I stopped by a bundle of Yellow Iris’s, my favorite flower. I looked up from the flowers to see Bella and Edward talking.

“What do you think he’s saying to her?” I asked Jasper.

“Probably something stupid.” He replied jokingly.

I sighed... “Just like Edward... to go and something stupid.” 

“Yep, pretty much, Darlin.”

Suddenly it seemed the conversation went south, Bella’s face furrowed in anger and then tripped over he own to feet. Edward didn’t look very happy either after catching her and maintained a scowled on his face. Bella stormed off tired of whatever he was saying.

“Did we jinx it? It seems he actually did say something stupid.” I said.

“I think we did love, Edward’s people skills are extemely rusty.” 

“Yeah, they definitely are.”

As we made our through the greenhouse, Edward started to follow Bella out of the building. They stopped in front of the bus we were riding in.

“Hey, are you going to join us?” Alice asked.

“Yeah I think we have some room for one more.” Dean said.

“NO, this one’s full.” Edward said curtly before banging on the school bus door. As soon as it opened he stormed inside, Alice and Dean following quickly behind. Jasper and I ended up at the front of the bus.

“I’ll see you at home.” I said.

“Yeah see you later.” Bella replied.”

When we arrived back in the parking lot I made my way to my car. I bid Jasper a goodbye before driving home quickly, I wanted to know how Bella was doing. When I entered the the kitchen Bella and stormed out of the kitchen, I could tell she wanted to be alone so I didn’t bother her. The next school day was pretty uneventful until lunch, Bella had asked me if I wanted to go with her, Angela, Ben, Eric, Tyler, and Mike to La Push beach. I accepted the invitation, it had been a while since I had visited around that area. When Bella went off to get her lunch I decided to tell Jasper where I was going. He was always reluctant for me to go down to La Push for some reason. He never really told me, I understood. I had a feeling it was just a secret he couldn’t tell and I completely understood that, I was in the same situation after all. I wasn’t going to pressure him into telling me anything he didn’t want to. I approached the table, the other Cullens were happy to see me.

“Hey Jazz, you’re going to have to come a bit later tonight, I’m going down to La Push with Bella and her friends.” I said.

I could tell he was uncomfortable with that idea but, he knew how stubborn I was. If I was going to go somewhere, no one was going to get me to change my mind.

“Just be careful, Fleur. It’s a bit dangerous down there.” I heard Rosalie say.

“Don’t make Dean and I come down there and beat someone up Short-stack.” Emmett said while cracking his knuckles.

Alice had nodded in agreement with Emmett.

“Okay, darlin, be safe.” Jasper added.

“I will, you know since I’m here I should probably tell you... Bella’s getting suspicious about you guys. She hasn’t outright said anything about you guys being a vampire but... she might find out soon.” I explained.

Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper all looked uncomfortably at each other. Alice on the other hand, didn’t seem phased at all.

“Thank you for warning us Fleur, we’ll try to be a bit more careful with what we do.” Rosalie said.

“If she finds anything at La Push, I’ll let you guys know.”

“Thank you.” Rosalie said.

The school day came and went quickly and soon enough I was driving my way to La Push. This was going to be one interesting visit.

#jasper hale x oc #jasper hale #rosalie hale #jasper hale x reader #edward cullen #alice cullen #esme cullen #emmett cullen #carlisle cullen #bella swan #twilight #twilight saga

[quicksilversquared]

Papa Bear

If there's one thing that Tom Dupain will not stand, it's threats against his daughter. So when Mr. Agreste demands that Marinette and Adrien break up or else, Tom isn't about to let that stand. So he makes a call that ends up setting off a chain of events that no one could have expected.

a Chat Blanc rewrite

(links in the reblog)

Mr. Dupain was steaming as Nathalie and her tablet- with Mr. Agreste still on-screen- sauntered out of the bakery, as cool and unaffected as when they had entered, despite the crying girl they had left in their wake.

How dare they tell Marinette that she and Adrien had to break up. How dare Mr. Agreste say that she was negatively impacting his company image. And how dare he threaten Marinette and say that he would pull Adrien out of school and away from his friends- and his girlfriend if Marinette didn't end her relationship with Adrien. That was- that was just cruel.

What, was Adrien not allowed to have a happy relationship just because Mr. Agreste couldn't, because his wife was missing? That was dumb.

Tom would show him a negative effect on company image.

"I- I guess I have to do that, then," Marinette sniffed, wiping her eyes, and Tom pulled himself out of his plans for a street fight, maybe, or going to Madam Chamack and having her run a story on Mr. Agreste's interference, and looked to her daughter. Despite the shock, she was clearly trying to pull herself together. "A-Adrien loves school, and it's not- we weren't dating that long. M-maybe we can try again l-later, if Mr. Agreste changes his mind-"

"We are not bowing to Mr. Agreste's delusional demands," Tom told her, his eyes catching on the camera that was installed in the corner of the bakery and his anger abruptly receding as a plan hit him. The camera was a newer addition, one that Sabine had insisted on after several attacks had taken them out of the bakery, leaving it unstaffed. They hadn't had any problems with thievery, but they didn't want to take that chance. He caught Marinette's shoulder, turning her towards the camera and pointing. "You know, I was a little unconvinced when your mom insisted on getting a camera with audio recording as well because it was far more expensive and I didn't see the use, but I'm glad she did now. We've got evidence of Mr. Agreste's threats."

Marinette sniffed again. "I- what?"

"We won't let this stand, Marinette," Tom told her. "That threat of his, of pulling Adrien out of school if you don't break up with him- that is so out of line. It isn't tolerable, and could very well be an indication of more issues at home."

"I'm sure of it," Sabine finally chimed in. "There's been so many things that Adrien has told us about his home life that- well, some of it just doesn't sit right with me. And this- this is just the cherry on top."

Marinette nodded, jerky and tearful.

Tom patted her shoulder, steering her towards the back. "Why don't you go upstairs and text Adrien about what's going on. Don't break up with him, okay, sweetie? I'll get everything sorted out."

"But- but what if Nathalie is going straight to the school to pull Adrien out?" Marinette asked, clearly anxious. She was picking at her fingernails, a clear indication of how nervous she was. "And Mr. Agreste is just at home waiting to see if I break up with Adrien fast enough? I- Adrien worked so hard to get into school, and his father keeps threatening to take it away."

...so this was a reoccurring threat, then. Mr. Dupain was even less impressed.

"He can't possibly expect you to immediately turn around and break up immediately," Tom said instead. "That's unreasonable. You would need some time to get over the shock. So I think we have a little wriggle room."

"Since when has Mr. Agreste been reasonable?" Marinette asked, which- well, was a very valid point. She clung to his arm. "M-maybe we should break up, and then try again later- we can still be friends, Mr. Agreste didn't ban that."

"If this doesn't work, I would say stage a breakup and then date in secret," Tom told Marinette. "Keep Adrien in the loop, that's most important. Don't break up out of the blue without an explanation, that will just crush him. But I'm confident that I can get something worked out. Mr. Agreste can't be unreasonable and push you kids around like this without consequences, and it's about time he learned that."

Marinette considered that, then nodded and darted inside the bakery. Tom had a quick, hushed conversation with Sabine, and then retreated into a back room to make a call.

If Mr. Agreste thought that having Marinette and Adrien dating was somehow negatively impacting his company's image, then it was time to see how the company's precious image looked after Mr. Agreste got a visit from child protective services.

  The agent that Tom reached was very interested in what he had to say about Mr. Agreste. Apparently several of their agents had wondered what Adrien's home life was like after his mom's disappearance after seeing Mr. Agreste just straight-up vanish from public life, with his few public appearances making them no less concerned. Mr. Agreste was apparently not exactly giving off the image of a stable, reasonable parent, even to the largely uninvested bystander.

"We'll be over for a visit to see your footage," the agent told him. "And to talk to your daughter, as well, to hear what she knows. Threatening a healthy teenaged relationship like that, just to try to control Adrien...well, something tells me that that's just the tip of the iceberg."

"Yes, I thought the same," Tom agreed. "And Marinette said that Mr. Agreste has threatened to pull Adrien out of school for other minor perceived offenses before, and I've certainly heard plenty about the times that Adrien has suddenly not been allowed to go on outings with his friends, even if he had been told that he could go out before."

There was tapping at the other end of the line- the agent entering what Tom had just said in her computer, perhaps, or making note of more questions to ask. "All right. Do you think your daughter would be willing to answer some questions today? I know she must have just had quite a shock what with Mr. Agreste barging in and threatening her, but I'd like to move this case along as quickly as possible, before Mr. Agreste catches wind of what's going on and can start putting pressure on anyone to change their story."

Tom nodded, then remembered that there was no way for the agent to see that. "Of course. I think Marinette can talk today- she's a strong girl. She'll want to help Adrien right away."

"All right. We'll be there in a few minutes."

Tom thanked her and hung up.

"Any news?"

"They're coming right away," Tom told Sabine, following her back into the bakery front. "Threats to isolate kids like Mr. Agreste is doing are taken very seriously. And in Paris right now, they want to make sure that people aren't being abused, because of the threat of akumas."

Sabine let out a breath. "That makes sense. I'm glad they can work fast. Adrien and Marinette have been so happy together, so forcing them to break up, even for a little while..."

Tom nodded, quickly washing his hands before doing the rounds of the shop, rearranging things and making sure that there was enough stock in front. A couple of things needed to be refilled- a quick run to the back took care of those problems easily enough- and by the time everything was just how he wanted it, a pair of child protection agents had arrived.

"Tom Dupain?" the first one asked, sticking out a hand for him to shake. "I'm Sylvia Faye. We just talked on the phone?"

"Hi," Tom said at once. "Yes, I'm Tom, and this is my wife, Sabine. Marinette is upstairs- oh, I probably should have given her a heads-up," he added, wincing. Whoops. He had been so nervous about the agents coming that...well, warning Marinette had kind of slipped his mind. "I'll show you guys up, then give her a minute's warning once we're there."

"Fantastic." Sylvia and her coworker followed him at once, into the back and up the stairs. "Now, we'll be asking Marinette and Adrien as well, but can you think of anyone else who could truthfully vouch for what Adrien's home life is like? We're going to end up having to interview everyone in the household, of course, but we don't want to give Mr. Agreste too much of a heads-up and allow him time to rehearse excuses for everything by approaching someone loyal to him right away."

Tom thought about it. "Well, there would be the teachers at school- they would be able to provide a, ah, less biased view of Adrien and Marinette's relationship than Sabine and I might..."

Sylvia's lips twitched towards a smile. "You mean they wouldn't accidentally refer to Adrien as your future son-in-law."

"...yes." He wasn't good at being put on the spot, that was Tom's only defense. Also, he had once said something similar to Adrien, and it had since become a bit of an inside joke. "And Adrien's other friends- Nino Laffe and Alya Césaire, and then, ah, his friend from fencing- Kagami Tsurugi? I think her mom is friends of a sort with Gabriel, so Kagami has seen Mr. Agreste more often than some of Adrien's other friends. Adrien has private tutors for all sorts of things- piano, Chinese, probably some other stuff that I've forgotten- but I don't know how likely they would be to side with him over Mr. Agreste. And- oh! Adrien's bodyguard. Mr. Agreste's secretary has always felt somewhat off to me, but his bodyguard clearly cares for Adrien."

Sylvia jotted that down. "Fantastic."

"I don't know if he can speak, though," Tom added, remembering all of the times when he had seen Gerald- also known as the Gorilla, which (oddly enough) he didn't seem to mind. "I've never heard him talk. Adrien might be able to tell you more, though."

"Ah, that sounds like a good lead." Sylvia smiled as they reached the landing, and Tom pushed open the door to lead the two of them into their living room. "I take it we should wait here?"

"If you would." Tom gestured to the sofa, then headed up the stairs to Marinette's room. He tapped on the trapdoor, then stuck his head in. "Marinette? I called some people about Mr. Agreste's threats, and they'd like to talk to-" He cut off abruptly as his eyes cleared the floor and spotted Marinette on her chaise lounger, curled up with...Adrien.

Huh. How had Adrien gotten in? Tom had been downstairs in front of the door and in the hallway ever since Mr. Agreste's appearance, with the exception of only a very few short minutes. For Adrien to have somehow managed to slip in during that time...

"Chat Noir saw me trying to slip out and brought me over," Adrien volunteered at once. He cringed. "I- I wasn't planning on making a habit of this, sir, I swear."

Aha. That made sense. "I'll have to thank him the next time I see him, then." Tom climbed fully into the room, crossing over to the two teens and pulling up a chair. "Adrien, after the scene with your father earlier- Marinette has told you about it, right?"

Adrien nodded, exchanging a glance with Marinette. Their fingers were wound together tightly, curled up as though they didn't want to part. "Yeah. That's why I was trying to come over. I- I don't know what's gotten into him! He liked Marinette! She won his design contest, and was great about switching out the feather on the hat so that I wouldn't sneeze on the runway, and has come home with me for lunch before and it was all fine then. And it's not like anything should have changed since she was last over at my house! He's not talked to me about us at all." Adrien snorted, but it sounded sad. "Or at all, really. As usual."

Marinette wriggled closer to him, her legs pressed against his and practically in his lap, and the two of them exchanged a look.

"Yes, well... what he's trying to do- the way that he's trying to manipulate you and Marinette- that's not normal in any way, shape, or form, and it's not okay. I called child protection services."

Adrien's eyes widened. "Oh."

"And they're here right now. They wanted to speak to Marinette, but since you're here as well..." Tom studied Adrien, trying to gauge his response. Considering Adrien's acting training- something that he had told the Dupain-Chengs about over dinner one night- it was hard to tell exactly what the boy was feeling, but he didn't seem nearly as torn about that as Tom might have expected.

Maybe it was because their family had fully embraced him, accepting him as family, too, and so losing his father- well, he wouldn't be losing everything.

"I can do that," Adrien agreed. He paused. "So, ah, one at a time, I'm assuming? Or...?"

Tom glanced towards the open trapdoor. "Well, there are two of them so, ah..."

"May we come up?" Sylvia called. "I heard that Adrien is here?"

Both teens nodded, so Tom called back an affirmation. Moments later, Sylvia and her companion- oh, Tom should have asked for her name, where had his manners gone?- came into the room.

"Hi, Adrien and Marinette," Sylvia said at once, heading over to where Adrien and Marinette were curled up. Tom could see her professional gaze taking in the way they were curled up together and he winced, hoping that she wouldn't decide that Mr. Agreste's sudden, random decision to end his son's relationship might have some merit to it after all because of them getting too serious too fast. "I'm Sylvia Faye, and this is my colleague Alice Durand. We're both agents at France's child protection agency, and we'd like to be able to talk to both of you about your home life, Adrien."

"Together, or..?" Adrien asked, exchanging a look with Marinette.

"Separately, if we could. We don't want one person's answers influencing the other person." She glanced back at Tom. "And we'd like to be able to talk to you and your wife after this, Mr. Dupain. I know you have a business to run, but..."

"This is far more important," Tom assured her at once. "Everything else can wait."

  Sylvia and Alice talked to Adrien and Marinette for quite a while. Alice finished talking to Marinette first, and then came down to talk to Tom. He left the back bakery in the very capable hands of his staff, then sat down in the break room to tell her everything. Every interaction he had had with Mr. Agreste and his staff, what he had heard from Adrien and Marinette, all about Adrien and Marinette's friendship and relationship.

Tom made sure to wrack his memory for everything he had ever heard. Right before they wrapped up, he remembered the story of Marinette's gift to Adrien on his birthday, only a little over a month after meeting him.

"She made this scarf- hours and hours of work, with very fine yarn- for a kid her age, it was expensive, too," Tom told Alice. "And she brought it over to Adrien's house to deliver it. Her name was on the package at one point-" the fact that there may have been some breaking and entering to get Marinette's name on was irrelevant, really- "but Adrien showed up at school with the scarf the next day, under the impression that it was his father who had given the gift to him. Marinette didn't tell him that it was her, because he was so happy about it- apparently Mr. Agreste had just given Adrien a pen for his birthday for several years running prior to that, so a scarf was a huge deal. I still don't think she's told him."

Alice had frozen. "He stole a gift from- good lord." She was shaking her head. "The emotional manipulation that we're seeing here..."

She didn't continue. Tom suspected that she probably wasn't allowed to say much more. Anything that Adrien and Marinette told her was in confidence.

"We're going to talk to a few more people today," Alice told him. "Sylvia is still talking to Adrien, so I'll talk to your wife and then go get one of our other agents to help me do other interviews. If Mr. Agreste or his assistant come by again, let us know right away."

"Of course."

"And if you think of anything more to tell us- well, Sylvia will leave her contact info," Alice told him. "Just shoot us a message."

Tom nodded again, then ducked out to go up front and take over for Sabine so that she could talk to Sylvia. Marinette was up front as well, decorating petits fours for an order they had. She looked a lot better, steadier than she was before but still quiet.

"Do you think that they'll do anything about Mr. Agreste?" Marinette asked Tom after a few minutes, after the few people in the bakery had been served and had left. She had put her piping bag down, and he could see her hands shaking. "I mean, he gives Adrien food, and quality tutors, and a roof over his head, and he hasn't- well, as far as I know, he hasn't hit him."

"Hitting isn't the only form of abuse, sweetheart," Tom told her. "Emotional manipulation, at the level that Mr. Agreste does- well, even if Adrien doesn't get removed from his father's care, they're going to keep a close eye on the situation and check in regularly. That by itself might be enough to keep Mr. Agreste in line."

Marinette nodded, but her brow furrowed. "And- and if it doesn't? If he has connections- he's rich, he's friends with the Bourgeois family, who knows who else he knows-"

"And we have connections, too. I'd like to see how that-" Tom hastily reconsidered his word choice, no matter how angry he was he did still have to control himself in front of his daughter- "arrogant man would react if that footage got 'leaked' to Madam Chamack. He might be famous and connected, but public opinion can ruin those people."

Marinette's eyes flashed to him. "You- you'd do that, Papa?"

"Of course." He hoped that it wouldn't come to that, of course, but he had stood by and trusted that the authorities would do the right thing one too many times when it came to bullies at Marinette's school. "We want to keep you and Adrien safe, no matter what it takes. Maybe going on the news would be a little underhanded, but if it's necessary..."

The smile on Marinette's face was more than welcome as Tom watched her turn back to her petit fours, noticeably steadier. He turned his attention back to the store as a new rush of people came in, focusing on them and doing his best to not seem off at all. He didn't run the front of the store as often as Sabine did, but he could still manage well enough. Marinette finished up with the order of petits fours, boxing them up neatly and putting them to the side before cleaning up, clearly trying to focus on that instead of worrying about what was going on upstairs.

Tom was worried. Even more so after Alice finished up talking to Sabine and headed out to go collect another agent and do more interviews, but there had been no signs of Sylvia or Adrien yet.

Maybe it was just- well, Adrien had been in that household for years before they knew him. There were probably more things that he had experienced but never told them. Of course he was going to have more to tell the agent than they did. It was unfortunate that he had to talk about all of his awful experiences all at once, one after the other, without so much as a break, but hopefully it would all end with Adrien being removed from a toxic situation.

They could only hope.

  They got the news before the sun set and Mr. Agreste came looking for his son: Adrien was, at least temporarily, being removed from his father's household.

"We don't like to have kids stay in their homes when there's an ongoing investigation," Sylvia told Tom when she called with the update. "It can result in the parents lashing out at their kids, and that can turn really ugly, particularly since we have Hawkmoth looming over everyone's heads. Ah, about housing for tonight..."

"We do have a guest room," Tom told her. "Which, son-in-law jokes aside, we will insist that Adrien stay there instead of in Marinette's room. They're far too young for that."

"Ah. Fantastic." Sylvia sounded relieved. "Adrien indicated that he would prefer to stay with you guys for the time being. We'll probably look into a different placement long-term once the investigation has wrapped up- from what we've heard and seen today, I'm confident that we will end up charging Gabriel Agreste with emotional abuse and manipulation- but that has nothing to do with your household, I assure you. It's just that we prefer not to place kids with the families of the person they're dating. It can get messy if anything goes wrong."

Tom could understand that. "Right, right, of course."

"After today's interviews, we're looking at Adrien's current bodyguard as a more permanent placement, but again, things can change."

He knew that the man seemed trustworthy. And it was nice that Adrien would be able to stay in Paris and with someone he knew. If Adrien was taken away from his controlling, manipulative father, only to be sent away from Paris and Marinette and all of his other friends, he would be crushed.

"We'll keep you updated," Sylvia promised. "And someone might drop by tomorrow to check up on Adrien's sleeping situation. It's not that we don't trust you, it's just..."

"You have to make sure that kids aren't going from one bad situation into another," Tom finished. "Or staying in a household that's not equipped to handle them, I understand. It's no problem. Ah, will Adrien have a chance to get back to his house to grab his clothes and school things soon? We're willing to buy supplies for him, of course, but I'm sure he'd like some of his own things."

"We can arrange that," Sylvia promised. "Now, ah, we're going to be calling Mr. Agreste and letting him know soon. I would suggest, just based on what we've seen from him, that you lock down your house and business so that he doesn't try to barge in."

Ah, that was a good point. It wouldn't stop any akumas if Mr. Agreste flew into a rage and caught Hawkmoth's attention, probably, but it should deter Mr. Agreste if he decided to storm over. "Will do."

"And again, thank you for calling us," Sylvia finished. "We can only do our work when people act as our eyes and ears for the children of Paris. Have a good evening, Mr. Dupain."

"And to you as well."

Tom flashed a thumbs-up at Sabine as he hung up the phone, and she perked up. "Good news?"

"He's not going home tonight. I get the impression that they're pretty confident that Mr. Agreste will end up losing custody, but of course they're not going to call that for a bit." Tom was feeling quite triumphant as he headed to the front door, double- and triple-checking that it was locked. Then he triggered the security system, locking down their shutters over the windows and the door. Just in case. "They said to make sure that we're locked down, so that Mr. Agreste can't retaliate. So I'm going to do that before I help you clean up if that's all right?"

Sabine nodded, clearly anxious. "Of course. They're calling him soon, then?"

"Right after they called us." Tom ducked into the back hallway, making sure that that door was locked, too, before heading into the bakery. The delivery door had to be checked, as did the emergency exit, and the few windows, just in case.

Maybe he was just being paranoid, but... well, Mr. Agreste didn't seem like the most stable of people, and it was better to be safe than sorry.

By the time the last lock had been checked and double-checked, Sabine had finished up the cleaning and had headed upstairs. Tom set up the alarm system- he would have to put several notes in their room and on the stairs so that they wouldn't be alarmed by it tomorrow morning- and headed upstairs, where Adrien was actually smiling as he helped Marinette get dinner ready, circling around her like she was his sun and he was her earth like he always did.

Honestly, Tom, had been worried that Adrien would be taking this whole investigation harder than he was. Maybe having Marinette there and the support of their entire family was a bigger help than he had anticipated.

No matter the reason, Tom wasn't about to complain.

  It didn't take long for Gabriel Agreste to get declared unfit for parenting. He flew into a rage about it, of course, but the child protection services weren't about to budge.

Perhaps he hadn't abused Adrien physically, but the emotional manipulation and neglect were enough to throw up all of the red flags in the agents' minds. And as if that weren't enough, apparently Gerald had brought up some other concerns he had had about Mr. Agreste's behavior following the disappearance of his wife, suspicious activity that he had never really told anyone about before.

Apparently Gabriel Agreste had never really been investigated for his wife's disappearance, or at least the investigation that he had undergone was short and very much inadequate. Someone at the police station had been paid off, they suspected, and so no attention had been paid to if his story made sense, if it had been verified, if- well, anything, really.

So Mr. Agreste had been called into the police station along with Nathalie- apparently he had had to be told that so, he could not just call in via his tablet or get interviewed in his office at home, and that suggestion had been received none too kindly by the police officers who had been re-assigned the case. While he was out of the house, Adrien and Marinette were going over to get more of Adrien's clothes. Gerald had been able to smuggle a small bag of Adrien's things out earlier, but Adrien had more things that he wanted to pick up, too, and he wanted to have more changes of clothing.

Tom had offered to come along to help, but the two of them had insisted that they would be fine, and anyway the Gorilla was going to be there to pick up the suitcases and bring them over to his house afterwards, since Adrien was staying there now. So Tom let them be and went about his day, throwing himself into the bakery work and making sure that everything was running smoothly. He made sure to ensure that his bakers knew how to run everything without him, because if he got called away again to support Adrien throughout any other legal stuff that needed to be done, it would be better if the bakery could still stay open.

His staff, of course, were well-trained and experienced, knowing exactly where all of the books were kept with the lists of what needed to be made when. Tom beamed in pride, plenty proud of how well they had learned.

They were like a second family, really. Most of the bakers were people he had taken in as interns as the bakery grew, and he had brought them from floundering culinary school graduates to confident bakers and patisserie-makers.

Tom was bringing empty bread baskets back to the back kitchens to clean them out when the side doors banged open, and Adrien and Marinette came flying in. Adrien looked far closer to tears than he ever had before, barely holding himself together. Marinette was pale, practically green, as she clung to Adrien.

What had happened?

"We- we found some stuff," Marinette managed when Tom rushed over, leaving the baskets on the hallway floor. She pressed a fist to her lips, clearly trying to pull herself together. "Since Mr.- Mr. Agreste was out, and Nathalie, too, we explored a little bit, and we found- we found-"

"Mom," Adrien choked out. "I don't know what- what's wrong with her, b-b-but..."

...okay, they needed the police. Right now.

"We'll find out," Tom promised. He placed a gentle hand on each of their shoulders, guiding them upstairs. Some settling tea and a few cozy blankets was definitely in order. They didn't know when Hawkmoth could strike, so it was important to help as quickly as possible.

...but seriously, the police hadn't looked hard enough to find anything suspicious after Mrs. Agreste's disappearance, but Adrien and Marinette were able to find Mrs. Agreste while just exploring? That was- that really painted a really terrible picture of the police, honestly.

(Was Tom surprised? No, not really- disappointed, definitely, but not at all surprised.)

Adrien was shaking as he headed up the stairs, hard enough that he nearly stumbled several times. Marinette was steadier, clearly having had a huge shock as well but seeing Adrien so shaken was helping pull her back from the same sort of breakdown that Adrien seemed to be having.

If they had actually found Mrs. Agreste- well, heaven knew what kind of state she was in. If she had been dead this whole time, there was very little that would have kept her actually looking intact. If she was- what? Sick? In a coma?- then why hadn't Mr. Agreste gone to hospital experts to help?

This whole thing- it was weird.

"Should I text Gerald and ask him if Adrien can stay the night?" Tom asked, aiming the question largely at Marinette. She seemed the most likely to be able to respond, after all. "I know you're not left alone all the time like you were before, Adrien, but if being with Marinette would help..."

Adrien nodded, a jerky little move of his head. Tom mentally patted himself on the back. That was a victory, no matter how small.

"I'm going to put some water on for tea," he told them as they straggled up the last few stairs and headed for the living room door. He paused to head over to the linen closet and pull out a big, fuzzy blanket. "And then you two can snuggle up on the couch while I call the police."

Adrien nodded again, but he didn't look entirely focused. Marinette hugged him tighter, pressing her face into his neck briefly before moving back slightly.

Tom hustled them in, wrapping them up before putting the kettle on and rustling through their packets of tea to find the kind he was thinking of. It was good for helping with shock, and they had stocked up on it after the first akuma attack- after all, while they might have turned almost into background noise at this point, there were some particularly nasty ones that were especially nightmare-inducing, and it was best to be prepared. He had just found the box he was looking for when the sound of feet pattering quickly across the floor and the bathroom door slamming shut caught Tom's attention. He spun around, spotting Marinette sitting alone on the couch, looking startled. Seconds later, the sounds of retching from the bathroom told Tom exactly why Adrien had made such a hasty exit.

"Marinette, what happened?" Tom asked quietly, stepping towards his daughter. Her eyes had been trained on the bathroom door, but snapped to him quickly enough. "I need to know so that I can call the police. What did you find?"

Marinette worried her lip for a second before saying anything. "We- we were just exploring-" Her words trailed off, and she have herself a good shake. "Adrien had asked the Gorilla about what suspicious activity he saw, just out of curiosity. I don't think he told him everything, probably, but he had told Adrien about what he thought was maybe a hidden elevator in Mr. Agreste's office. So we went looking, and the buttons- they were hidden in this painting of his mom. And we experimented a bit, because you could kind of see the spots that had been pressed a lot, and it worked, and brought us to this underground chamber."

...Tom had so many questions. Why they couldn't just wait for the police to investigate definitely topped the list.

"There were buttons that we didn't push, though," Marinette continued with a frown. "Like they were part of a different combination, one that would make the elevator go somewhere else. And the tunnel that we went down- there was a split in it, a track that led up instead of down. He's got to be hiding something else."

Tom blinked, a little taken aback by both the hyper-focused look on Marinette's face and the fact that apparently, despite the (definitely traumatic) experience that she had just gone through with finding Adrien's mom in whatever condition she was in, Marinette had managed to notice, remember, and think about what the worn buttons and the extra tunnel might mean. If he had been in that position- well, Tom was pretty sure that he would have been all but useless to the police because of the shock, especially when he was Marinette's age.

"In the chamber- it had a metal walkway, and water running underneath, and the walls were rock. It was huge, like a church." Marinette's eyes went distant, and Tom wondered if he should maybe be taking notes so that he would know everything to be able to report it. "And there was this little garden at the end, and a- it looked like a glass coffin sort of thing, and there were machines tucked under it- they were beeping, so I think she's still alive, maybe, but if she's been down there over a year..."

Tom cringed. That was...not promising. Not at all- unless.

Unless there was magic involved. And the only way that there might be magic involved was-

Tom pushed the thought away. He wasn't going to think it, not now. They already had enough things to be concerned about, and if magic was involved...well, the police would come to the same conclusion soon enough, and then it would be Ladybug and Chat Noir's concern. Marinette and Adrien didn't need to get even more tangled up in this.

"There were butterfly cocoons, too," Marinette said quietly, and Tom startled. How had she noticed that when there was the practically-dead body (he was assuming, but based on what he had heard it was probably accurate) of her boyfriend's mom in front of her? "Little white cocoons all over the plants. We didn't look closer, because Adrien was about to be sick, but..." She trailed off as Adrien exited the bathroom, looking even more shaky than before. Tom was up at once, half-carrying Adrien back over to the couch and wrapping him up in the blanket with Marinette.

Shock was a hell of a problem to have to deal with. And if Adrien had been even half as observant as Marinette had and come to the same conclusion that Tom had...well, it was a miracle that he had managed to make it back to the bakery at all.

The teapot whistling was a welcome interruption.

Tom watched them out of the corner of his eye as he quickly prepared two cups of tea. Adrien was practically curled up in Marinette's lap, his head tucked under her chin as she ran her fingers through his hair. She was whispering to him, dipping her head down to press a kiss to Adrien's hair. He could make out the occasional word from where he stood, kinda-sorta-definitely eavesdropping.

Kitty seemed to come up pretty often, oddly enough. Maybe it was a pet name- Adrien and Marinette seemed to like using those fairly often. It was a little odd for a pet name, admittedly, but it might be an inside joke or something.

"Tea for you two- careful, it's hot," Tom told them after a couple minutes of steeping. He carried the two cups over, pulling their coffee table closer to Adrien and Marinette so that they could easily reach the cups. "And I'm going to step out and call the police. If you need anything...well, I'm not going far."

Marinette nodded, glancing down at Adrien in her lap. Tom waited for a moment to see if they needed anything, then headed out, pulling his phone out of his pocket as he did. It took a moment for him to pull up the non-emergency number- after all, nothing was on fire- and dial. Someone picked up right away.

"Hello, may I speak to a sergeant?" Tom asked, doing his best not to rush his words. "This is Tom Dupain, and I have some information regarding Emilie Agreste's disappearance...and possibly also Hawkmoth's identity."

  With Mr. Agreste already at the police station, it was easy enough for them to come up with an excuse to separate him and his Miraculous, and Nathalie from the Peacock Miraculous as well. Apparently they told each of them individually that they needed to go to a back room, and would need to remove any jewelry to go through the metal detector. They had both been irritated by the whole thing, Tom had been told- apparently Mr. Agreste had been deeply offended that anyone would even consider that he might do something to his wife- but had been acting outwardly cooperative, which meant that all jewelry came off and into the storage bins. Even the Miraculous.

Somehow Ladybug had heard about the discovery and showed up long enough to reclaim the Miraculous and thank the police for their clever work in getting the Miraculous off without a fight. She had also heard about the discovery of Mrs. Agreste and her condition, and promised to send an expert to the hospital where she had been transferred as soon as possible to see if there was anything that could be done.

Tom was of the opinion that Ladybug was actually superhuman. Like, not just a human with a Miraculous, like Gabriel Agreste had been, but a superhuman with a Miraculous on top. How else had she managed to hear about everything so fast, before things had even gone public? It was incredible.

And of course, with the evidence piling up against him, there was no way that Mr. Agreste was ever going to get custody of Adrien again. Not, of course, that he would be able to, not when he was going to end up behind bars for quite a while.

Whether or not Mrs. Agreste would wake up- and if she would pass the inspection that the child protection agents would no doubt level at her- still remained to be seen. Tom was hoping that she would wake up, for Adrien's sake, and that she was a better parent than his father. Gerald was a good guardian, from what they could see, but of course it would be even better if Adrien had a loving parent, one who would actually treat him right.

Adrien was clearly still reeling, but he seemed to be coming back slowly. Marinette was with him, of course, and Sabine had turned over the counter to Tom for the rest of the afternoon so she could go up and stay with the two of them. Gerald was going to be coming as soon as he had gotten Mrs. Agreste settled and her paperwork at the hospital completed, and then Adrien would have one more person who cared about him to help get him through his shock.

Tom couldn't help but smile, a hint of triumph dancing along the edges of his lips. He hadn't known, of course, that he would be setting in motion a chain of events that would end up taking down Hawkmoth and Mayura when he called the child protection agents- it was a very unexpected outcome- but he couldn't deny that he was maybe just a bit proud of that.

Soon enough, the news would be breaking to the rest of the city, and everyone in Paris would know who Hawkmoth and Mayura had been. The impact on the Gabriel brand would leave the employees reeling, probably- the one thing that Tom felt bad about, but it wasn't his fault, but Mr. Agreste's. If he hadn't turned to supervillainry...

Tom could understand wanting to do anything for his wife, because the thought of losing Sabine- well, it wasn't a thought that he wanted to entertain. But there were boundaries that had to be respected. Grief wasn't a fun thing to go through, but it was healthy to be able to remember those that had been lost but move on anyway, instead of becoming shut off from the world and manipulating others.

No matter what happened, though, with Mrs. Agreste and the fallout from Hawkmoth's reveal, at least Adrien and Marinette would be safe. There would be no threats from parents, no attempts at emotional manipulation, no unstable supervillains trying to target them. They could be happy together, just like any other teenagers. If any other threats came along...well, Tom would do his best to help get them through it.

After all, they had been through quite enough already.

#Miraculous Ladybug #my writing #oh look adults actually being useful #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #Tom Dupain

[scarlettrhettelizabethrichard]

Chapter 4. The Boutique Robillard, my GWTW fanfiction

Atlanta, May 1876

Scarlett stood on the pavement, checking the wrought-iron sign that had just been installed above the freshly painted storefront. "The Boutique Robillard", a simple name, a French touch, easy for the customer to remember. She had set her sights on this building, whose vast spaces had just been vacated. With its large display windows, ist Corinthian columns separating the exhibition areas, and four small private fitting rooms, the shop was reminiscent of the splendour of a plantation reception hall of the past. The lighting was provided by beautiful gilt bronze wall lights with cut crystal tulips. Three large, finely chiselled bronze and brass arms with gas spouts hidden under crystal cups, surrounded an impressive white milk glass lampshade. They enlightened the cream burlap-covered walls and made the flamed mahogany veneer of the shop furniture glisten. Elegance and femininity, that's the atmosphere Scarlett wanted to create in her new business. Clearly, the gamble paid off. "Mrs O'Hara, could you tell me where the fans should be placed?  "Emma Whising interrupted Scarlett in her contemplation. This dynamic young widow was delighted to have been hired. Another saleswoman, a seamstress, a retoucher and a delivery man completed the staff brigade. "The three glass cabinets are for fashion accessories. Place fans, umbrellas and parasols in the first cabinet. Highlight silk gloves and mittens. Hair accessories, brushes, silver combs, hairpins should also be displayed there. Devote an entire display case to leather purses, pearl reticules, and embroidered ball pouches. The largest glass cabinet is for hats, bonnets and capelines." Scarlett sighed with contentment. What a rebirth in her life since that fateful day in November 1873! She had decided to stop dwelling on the past. A few minutes of introspection would be enough for her to sweep away almost three years.     First the shock of the divorce. The clean and frank break with Rhett, the love of her life, well, of her old life. It is true that he had greatly facilitated her task to turn the page: by crudely mocking her physical appearance deteriorated by lack of appetite, alcohol abuse and the absence of her husband, Rhett had brilliantly succeeded in making her feel ashamed. She, Scarlett O'Hara, had become uglier than the least of the whores, he had made her understand. "What the hell !" The affront had to be addressed. Solange Robillard's little girl was going to straighten her head, and quickly!     The day after Rhett left, she ordered Dilcey to throw out all the liquor bottles in the house, the wine cellar and the kitchen. A strict schedule of meal times in the dining room with her children was put in place. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners were calibrated to ensure balanced meals with fresh vegetables and fruits. As in Tara during the war, there was no question of leaving the table before finishing one's plate. This had always been the rule for Ella and Wade. To the surprise of her children, this was now also the rule for their mother.

Thanks to this diet cooking, her graceful curves started to be restored and her figure slowly sculpted. To gain back her skin's elasticity, Scarlett took a daily walk with her children. Ella Lorena was reluctant the first few days, not being used to long walks. But soon the outing was a time of discovery, play and laughter. The O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy family was coming back to life. The two children's faces were slightly tanned by the sun. Scarlett took care to bring an umbrella to preserve her pearly complexion. Her cheeks were flushed with physical exertion and fresh air.     How sweet it was to take care of one's body again! The relaxing scented baths were followed by the application of regenerating creams and ointments. The texture of her skin became softer and smoother. The beautiful hair that Rhett used to like to wrap around his neck at night at the beginning of their marriage had become dull, the tips brittle. It took Prissy's careful handling to untangle the long tresses and massage them with castor oil. Her nails were treated in the same way to strengthen them. The physical discipline she had been practising for many months was eventually rewarded when, on a sunny morning, Scarlett gazed at her reflection in the large mirror in her bedroom. The young woman in front of her radiated health and beauty. Her first battle was won!

"Mrs O'Hara, should I sort the clothes by colour or size? "Emma asked. "Choose one of each item from the display shelves. You will carefully arrange the other sizes inside the drawers of the counters. Above all, don't forget to protect each piece with tissue paper. » Emma set about her task, marvelling at the quality of the interior design of the furniture, which was covered in bird's eye maple veneer. The rich purple hues of the sideboards and wardrobes contrasted beautifully with the golden sheen of the wood inside. At first glance, the clientele was assured of the presence of luxury in every detail. Scarlett resumed her rambling. Her biggest battle, of course, had been to fight the infamy of divorce. News of the Butler couple's scandalous separation had spread like wildfire through the good society of Atlanta and the surrounding counties. How could they not be offended? It was the first divorce to occur in this Georgia city. Two camps were facing each other: the ladies of the Sewing Circle - headed by Mrs Merriweather, Mrs Meade and Mrs India Wilkes - had welcomed Captain Butler's decision. „The good man had loved his little Bonnie so much! For years he had endured his wife's disgusting attitude towards Ashley Wilkes without flinching.“  "Serves her right," said Mrs. Easling. "This will bring the arrogant, pretentious Scarlett down from her pedestal. » These well-born ladies agreed that, sadly, her offspring could no longer be invited to their grandchildren's parties and birthdays. "It's a shame about poor Wade Hampton Hamilton and Elena Lorena Kennedy, but it's all about the goodwill of our society. » Yet a minority had sided with Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy. How could such a boor as Butler dare to abandon his wife and children? All of Atlanta knew of this vermin's degrading association with Belle Watling, the most notorious brothel keeper in the state of Georgia. If Ellen and Gerald O'Hara had been alive, they would never have accepted the misalliance of a Robillard with a banished man from his native Charleston. The first to be scandalised by the news was, of course, Scarlett's solicitor who had to deal with the formalities of the divorce. Henry Hamilton, Wade Hampton's great uncle, was incensed that this Scalawag could jeopardise the future of Charles Hamilton's heir by damaging his mother's reputation. A divorcee's son! How was this brave little boy going to endure the offence? "Butler gone? Good riddance! "Ashley Wilkes was the first to think so, and to say so loudly. He had taken the time to analyse his cowardly behaviour when India had created the scandal on his birthday. Instead of defending Scarlett and assuring everyone that nothing had happened between them two at the sawmill, he had taken refuge, as usual, behind the fragile figure of his wife. Melanie had proudly protected her dear sister until her last breath. Since the war, Scarlett had bravely helped the Wilkes family. When his beloved Melly died, she took charge, as she had in the past. She organized a funeral worthy of the greatest lady Atlanta had ever known. Today, it was up to him to protect 'his' delightful Scarlett who had had the misfortune to meet this sad sire at Twelve Oaks. Scarlett, so full of passion, whom this Butler had broken. Ashley's support warmed his childhood friend's heart. She had been delighted to find that he had defended her against her sister India at a meeting of the ladies of the sewing room in his house. "This is my home, India. In my presence and under my roof, I forbid anyone to criticise the sister my Melly loved so deeply. "His unexpected tirade and determined tone had stunned those present at the meeting. His words were widely reported among their friends and acquaintances. What had hurt the former Mrs Butler most was the disastrous impact of the divorce on Wade and Ella.  „Divorce". It was a word Wade had already heard spoken in hushed tones around him, like a threat hanging over Peachtree Street. More than once, the young boy had had to raise his voice at a classmate who had made fun of his mother. He had even come to blows, much to Scarlett's dismay. For Ella Lorena, the word 'divorce' meant nothing. She just noticed that her friends Bridget and Karen had not invited her to their birthday parties. Above all, they missed Uncle Rhett. He had always told them that he considered them his children. Finally, he had abandoned them, without any explanation, simply by bringing them presents in November. As if the two children were no more valuable than two packages. This drama brought the mother and the two children together. A valve had fallen off. The little girl with the red curls was no longer afraid to tell her mother about her daily activities and games, without her mother scolding her for being too noisy. As for Wade, he tried to anticipate his mother's every wish. He would bring her a glass of water before she asked for it. He would carry her parasol when she didn't need it in the street. And above all, he would hug her tenderly. In gratitude, his mother would stroke his hair gently, sometimes slipping a kiss in. Yes, the divorce was finally good for their family. For her children's sake, and because Scarlett O'Hara had never given up in the face of adversity, she put all her newfound energy into her "redemption" with the Old Guard. Oh, how hard it has been! The Merriweather ladies and other paragons of virtue blocked her first gestures of peace. Scarlett pretended not to notice. Remembering her past experience in Bonnie's time, she was aware that her money would not be enough to secure their good graces. She volunteered to buy and transport the raw materials needed to distribute meals to the needy affected by the financial collapse of 1873 which was beginning to distress the middle classes. She made a point of sharing the Old Guard Ladies’ long embroidery sessions to supply the charity stall at Christmas. Magically, some debts pending at Kennedy's shop disappeared from the shelves, 'through accounting errors'. At other times, prices of items coveted by the ladies were abruptly lowered, 'due to end of stock'. This was never openly mentioned.

Scarlett's good deeds combined with an apparent less stormy behavor slowly began to bear fruit. Until one day, a blue hand-decorated cardboard card invited Ella Lorena Kennedy to share the Merriweather grandson's birthday cake. The child was overjoyed. Her mother had tears in her eyes. Her biggest battle was won!

With a clearing of her throat, Emma allowed herself to interrupt her boss's reverie once again. "Peter arranged the rolls of fabric on the scroll racks. He placed the most precious silk textures high up to protect them from soiling. He did well, didn't he? On the other hand, I arranged the lace rolls, ribbons, buttons and thread spools in the beautiful haberdashery cabinet, as you asked me to. I love its little drawers with glass knobs!" Scarlett smiled at the enthusiasm of her young saleswoman. "Let's hope that she will show the same smiling look to the most reluctant customers!" said the new owner of "The Boutique Robillard". She had been dreaming about this shop for three months. When her body regained its beauty, when her reputation was restored, she finally took the time to think about her future. How could she continue to live without passion? Her bank account was now well filled. Thanks to the terms of the divorce settlement. As soon as the funds were transferred from Charleston, she opened two savings accounts for Wade and Ella. This would come in handy when they decided to embark on life's adventure. „"Uncle Rhett," who always boasted that he considered my children his own, will ultimately leave only a trace in Ella and Wade's lives, dollars to make them forget his abandonment." With her children's financial security assured, she could now move on from the Kennedy shop. It no longer gave her any excitement. Hugh Easling bought it. After many years, and thanks to the constant supervision of his boss Mrs Butler, he had finally learned to manage it properly. To please the Old Guard, she gave him her "first child" with easy payment terms. The land belonging to her first husband Charles Hamilton, including the houses she had built, was also sold at a comfortable price for Scarlett. She also sold the second sawmill. Her first sawmill, Ashley now owned it. It had hurt so much that she had given it up on Rhett's advice. It was her baby, the one that had allowed her to support her family. How long would it take Ashley to destroy what she had worked so hard to build? Poor Ashley, she would always have to be a protective and discreet support. She had promised Melly that. As for Beau, a third savings account was already reserved for him. Scarlett was amused that Rhett would finally contribute to the cost of raising his former rival's son. This money would be managed by Ashley, providing Melly's child with all the comforts a member of Southern society had a right to expect - a pony, Melly had made him promise on his deathbed - payment for his education, his future Grand Tour in Europe. Melly, from Heaven where she was watching her together with her dear Bonnie, could be satisfied. "Of course, theoretically I would not need to work anymore. But will I become a matron devoted to her good works? What a horror! I have to find a new passion that makes me want to fight every morning. » ********************** Fate was waiting for her in Savannah. Savannah, February 1876 In February 1876, she made an emergency visit to her mother's hometown upon learning of the sudden death of her grandfather Robillard. The same man who had broken young Ellen's heart by preventing her from marrying her cousin and only love Philip. Scarlett had no reason to mourn the death of the cantankerous old man who had refused to help her financially during the war, when they were struggling not to starve in Tara. She had visited him several times, accompanied by two of her children - not Bonnie, Rhett wouldn't have wanted her to deprive her of his father, even if only for a week. The meetings between the French aristocrat and the Franco-Irish descendant were... interesting. Two beasts gauging their strengths: Pierre Robillard, full of himself, a master of pithy phrases, scornful of those around him, and amusing himself by persecuting the two daughters he had left, Aunts Eulalie and Pauline. Opposite him was his granddaughter, Scarlett, the eldest daughter of his beloved child, Ellen. Ellen who had betrayed him by marrying an Irish peasant. Indomitable and fierce Scarlett, whose beauty and temperament reminded him with a twinge of his only love, his wife Solange Robillard. After several explosive confrontations, Scarlett had become convinced that her grandfather hated her. In a final "thumbing of the nose", he ended up leaving her his entire fortune - an opulent one - simply by giving his two daughters a comfortable monthly pension that would protect them until their death. This was fair, because until now it had been Scarlett who had supported her ungrateful aunts, even during the war, while she had struggled to keep everyone in Tara alive. Family had always been sacred to this Irish descendant. Pierre Robillard rewarded her for this. This unexpected generosity allowed her to reject Rhett's money out of hand. Her departing husband had carelessly boasted that he would 'generously' give her a pension for five years to thank her for getting rid of her. As soon as the Robillard estate was settled, Scarlett informed Rhett Butler's solicitor of her decision to refuse the pension. The money that had already been paid since the day of the divorce was returned to him in full. "Free, I am free, Rhett, and I don't need you!" The last link between the two former friends - spouses - lovers - was definitely cut.         On the last day of her stay in Savannah, she treated herself to a visit to the city's fine shops. The coquettish Scarlett suddenly stopped in front of an ocher painted antebellum shop, with the sign  "La Mode Duncan". In the display windows, wooden mannequins wore the prettiest dresses the elegant Atlanta woman had ever seen. She pushed open the sandblasted glass door, engraved with the sign "Duncan Vayton". The manager of the establishment greeted the beautiful young lady with respect, quickly understanding that she was not going to be satisfied with buying a single item. He explained that the owner was a young fashion designer based in Paris, Rue de la Paix. Back in his native South, he had decided to give the Ladies of Savannah the benefit of his best creations. "I am a business owner myself, back home in Atlanta. I have a hunch that the rich people of Atlanta would quickly fall in love with such quality clothing. Would it be possible for me to meet with your landlord to discuss my project? » "With great pleasure, Ms. O'Hara. Mr. Duncan Vayton will be delighted to meet you. » That day Scarlett knew that, eventually, she had found her new 'baby' - a fashion shop. It also marked the beginning of a the relationship between two enthusiasts, Scarlett O'Hara and Duncan Vayton.

"Yes, it has taken courage to get through the past 31 months. There have been many shocks, disappointments, pain and tears too. « I, Scarlett, had to show humility - Rhett would have laughed about it, in another time - courage and resilience. But it was worth it. Almost three years later, I have survived. Rhett, you didn't get me down! Scarlett O'Hara is up and ready to fight! »

#GWTW fanfiction, #GWTW, #Gone with the Wind, #romance, #Savannah, #Scarlett O'Hara, #Atlanta, #roman historique, #écriture, #littérature

[cinnbar-bun]

14 Unknown Lovers- Day 3: Nicole Ascart

Katarina hid behind a large rose bush and peered at her targets.

Aha, sitting alone together, this must be it!

She grinned mischievously and giggled at her ‘evil’ plan.

With this little get together, I can avoid a destruction flag while also seeing my ship sail! I always thought they had such good chemistry, and now that I’m here, I can finally see it happen!

She smirked darkly as she watched the prime minister’s son and the child of the esteemed marquess chattered quietly.

Just as she had planned, both were carrying letters with a heart shaped sticker and confusedly discussing its contents. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but with the way they seemed to laugh it off made her hopeful the two would click and confess.

“Katarina? What are you doing?” Gerald called. Katarina froze and dragged her betrothed to the ground beside her.

“Shhhh!!!!” She hushed him. He sighed and went with it as Katarina pulled up her binoculars to get a closer look at the couple. “Okay... Nicole is inviting them to sit with him... (Y/n) accepts... ooooo is this where their fated love confession happens?”

“Wait, you’re spying on Nicole and (Y/n)-“ Gerald cried, and Katarina shushed him even louder.

“Quiet down! You don’t want them to hear you!” She whisper-shouted.

“Nee-san, what are you-“ Keith frowned at Gerald before he yelped when Katarina also dragged him.

“SHHHHHH!!!!! CANT YOU SEE SOMETHING IMPORTANT IS HAPPENING????” Katarina growled. “Ah! Crap! I missed the good stuff! Nicole is looking at (Y/n)! Is he going to say something??? Or will they first???”

“I don’t even want to ask.” Keith rolled his eyes.

“Don’t.” Gerald said in a tired voice.

Katarina gasped and waved her hand wildly.

“Oh my god! Nicole just laughed! He laughed!”

“People laugh, Katarina.” Gerald said.

“No!!! You don’t get it!!! He laughed at his one true love!!! His future lover!!!” She cried.

“Future what now?” Keith questioned.

“You know? The Ascart house and (L/n) house will combine together and make way for the most disciplined and powerful couple!!!”

“Ah? What? Darling, did you hit your head?”

“No!!!! Huh??? He grabbed their hand and is putting to his lips!!! He’s gonna kiss their hand!!! Gah, so romantic!” She cried.

~

“Are they watching still?” Nicole asked as he brought your hand to his lips.

“Yep. I wonder whether they know how loud they are.” You chuckled.

“Well, it’s nothing we shouldn’t expect from our Katarina.” He agreed.

“It was a bit humorous she sent us these letters pretending to be us. I’ve seen your handwriting enough times to know it wasn’t you you. I wonder why she did so.” You murmured.

“Well, considering the letter’s contents as well as the day, I bet she wishes for us to confess.”

“Confess?” You rose an eyebrow before a devilish smirk appeared on your face. “Oh? Does the future prime minister have something he needs to confess?”

“It’s nothing you already don’t know, dear.” He smiled back.

“Maybe I just like hearing it with your own voice, Nicole.”

“As you wish, dear. (Y/n), I love you very much.” He said. “There? Happy?”

“Very much so.” You nodded.

“Well? I am expecting a gift too. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.” He smiled, the scary smile that made many fall to his whims.

“I am nothing if not prepared. Here, dear.” You said as you brought out a heart shaped box of chocolates. “Homemade. You already know I was ready for this. I also made some chocolates for your sister too. Do you know where she is?” You asked, holding a white box.

“No, I guess we should find her ourselves. I hope she isn’t too overwhelmed today.” He said as he stood up. He extended a hand out to you and you took it, the two of you walking off hand in hand when a loud scream burst through the quiet garden.

“KYAAAAAA!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!! I DID IT!!! I GOT THE TWO TOGETHER!!!!” Katarina yelled as she jumped up from her bush.

You and Nicole pretended not to notice as you two continued.

“Did she not know we were betrothed?” You asked.

“I guess not.” He laughed.

“Well, that’s Katarina for you.”

#event #14 unknown lovers #nicole ascart #bakarina #bakarina imagines #nicole ascart x reader #bakarina x reader

[gellavonhamster]

good people

gen || Montgomery Montgomery & Bertrand Baudelaire || pre-canon 

ao3 link eng  || ao3 link rus

Monty Montgomery learned about the deaths of Count and Countess *** somewhere about two in the afternoon, in the lobby of the Biology Faculty of Gerald Durrell University of Natural Science. He didn’t know them personally, and that day he could not even recall their faces when reading an article about their deaths, just as many years later he could not – unfortunately – recall the face of their son, whom he did know personally back in the day and had met as often as not. At the same time, he could remember in detail the moment he heard they were dead – the hum of voices in the vast corridors of the faculty building, sunlight glistening on glass in the frames of photographs and newspaper clippings hanging on the walls, the sound of his own footsteps. He was descending the stairs, almost hopping like a kid because he had just managed to talk a teacher into letting him submit the report a day later, and consequently was in a splendid mood. Few things can compete with the joy that a student experiences when the deadline for a paper that still exists only as a title page gets postponed for a later date. Immersed in happy thoughts, he went down to the ground floor, and was just heading for the exit when he suddenly saw a crowd of students and teachers huddled together and discussing something animatedly. One of the students was holding a widely unfolded newspaper, and several people at once were reading something over his shoulder.            

“Must be a change of government or something,” Monty thought as he approached them. Frankly, the prospect of writing a paper in two days concerned him much more at that time than a hypothetical coup. 

“Ah, Montgomery!” shouted one of those reading the paper, Professor Stein of the Herpetology Department. Stein was always shouting: he had hearing problems. Now, on the other hand, a raised voice was more than appropriate, for too many people were talking at once.  

“Good afternoon, Professor,” Monty gave him a nod of greeting as he joined the group. Getting closer to the paper was impossible – the crowd was too thick. “What’s the news?”

“A murder, Montgomery! A crime story at its finest; the whole city is going insane! Come read.” At that, Professor grabbed him by the elbow and pushed him into the middle of the crowd, so that Monty found himself right behind the left shoulder of the guy with the newspaper.

He took a look at the page, found the piece everyone was reading, and grew cold.

“Poison darts! With snake venom!” Stein exclaimed. Monty winced as if in pain. The loud noises around him were distracting; he wanted to read carefully, turn each word round in his head, persuade himself it was not what he thought it was. Coincidences do happen sometimes, after all. “And where – at the opera! Right during the performance!”    

“Yeah,” someone to the right of the newspaper chimed in, “straight out of Gaston Leroy.”  

“Leroux,” Monty corrected mechanically. He was suddenly overcome with fierce and helpless anger. He stepped back. “I’m sorry, Professor, I really have to go.”  

Walking quickly, even quicker than back when he was urged on by the unwritten report, he headed for the door.

Well then, La Forza del Destino. Poison darts. Snake venom.  

And his flatmate, who went to the opera yesterday and didn’t come back home.  

 ***

 Bertrand asked him to procure the venom about a week ago.

It might have been Thursday, or maybe Friday. Monty was writing a term paper then, one that he could not set about writing earlier because he was busy doing other things, from the tasks assigned to him by VFD to attending the parties organized by other volunteers, which in some cases seemed as important to him, even vital at times. VFD gave him time to deal with the exam period, relieving him from participation in any missions for the nearest future – the pursuance of science was highly valued among their ranks. Many volunteers flaunted some academic degrees, but not many of them got those degrees officially, even if they deserved them objectively. Some Doctors and Masters among them didn’t even hold a certificate of Bachelor’s Degree. Fighting the fires, both literal and figurative, took up a lot of time and energy, leaving virtually none of it for attending the lectures or even distance education. However, the VFD members had connections – Had Connections even, capitalized – owing to which many of them got the opportunity to call themselves professors or academicians, although all their scientific contributions, sometimes absolutely groundbreaking, remained hidden from the general public.      

At the Biology Faculty, VFD Had some Connections as well, and if Monty wished so, he probably could obtain the Master’s or even Doctor’s Degree without much effort, but he had no such wish. He desired recognition and respect from the people outside the organization, desired to make discoveries that he could tell the whole world about – desired for everything to be fair. That was why he had spent the whole previous week in a kind of a time loop. Every day looked like the day before: writing, writing, writing, leafing through the sources frenziedly after another bookmark gets lost, sorting the materials collected in the expedition, drinking gallons of coffee, and occasionally sleeping. And feeding Maturin, of course. As to Monty himself, it was Bertrand who had been feeding him, which was very kind of him, because Monty couldn’t even afford the time to heat some ready-to-cook foods. Bertrand simply used to come into his room, not even knocking anymore so that not to distract him, put a plate of vegetable couscous or spaghetti bolognese or something in front of him, and leave before Monty noticed that plate. The dirty dishes he used to take away in the same manner, unnoticed. Monty had to yell “Thank you!” for the whole house to hear, to which Bertrand yelled back “You owe me!” from his room or from the kitchen. He was joking, and Monty knew that, but still planned at least to stand treat at the pub after the exams were over.      

That morning, Bertrand knocked on the door again – first came in, then knocked. That meant he needed Monty to pay attention to him.

“Hello, hello, hello!” Monty exclaimed, turning on the chair, immediately knocked one his books off the table, and bent to pick it up. “I am listening to you attentively, o dearest neighbour.”  

“You’re going to the uni tomorrow, aren’t you?” Bertrand asked.

Monty nodded. “Yeah, to submit this Frankenstein’s monster. Only the bibliography left to do.”

“You’re a hero,” Bertrand praised him. Monty thought so too, in all honesty. “Could you do something for me while you’re at it?”

“Buddy, I would’ve wasted away without you here over the last few days. What exactly do you need?”  

“I need,” Bertrand felt for something in the pocket of his trousers, took out some scrap of paper, and gave it to Monty, “a vial of venom of this snake.”  

Monty’s heart lurched. He skimmed the note.

“Oh,” he said. “No problem. There are a couple of excellent specimens of this species at the City Herpetological Centre.”

“I know,” Bertrand replied. “I thought of asking N or S, but I don’t know them well. I wouldn’t like to shoot my mouth off in front of the people I do not trust completely,” he sat down on the edge of Monty’s bed. “Not these days.”  

Monty noticed that Bertrand was trying not to meet his eyes.

“I see. Tomorrow it’ll be done.”  

“Thank you,” Bertrand smiled slightly, still not looking at Monty. Instead, he was looking at Maturin, the turtle, which was chewing on a salad leaf in its terrarium. The turtle was undoubtedly remarkable, but it wasn’t hard to see that Bertrand was rather looking through it than at it. Sooner or later that was bound to happen, Monty thought. Sooner or later, each volunteer had to do something… like that. Not necessarily related to deathly poisons and what very logically results from their use, but still something that made it difficult to look one’s friends in the eye. Like it was now difficult for Bertrand.

“Who?” Monty asked in a hushed voice. “I’m not asking about the name, I’m asking if you know that person. Or were you just given a description?”

“A description,” Bertrand echoed. He smiled again, wider and brighter, but still somewhat stiffly. “Don’t worry about me. I am not a child, I’ll handle this.”  

 ***

 “And so he did,” Monty thought as he was unlocking the door to his flat.

Bertrand was already home; there was no need to call their acquaintances or go to Kit’s place. When Monty entered, his flatmate was sitting at the kitchen table and rubbing his knuckles on one hand with the thumb of the other. His face was calm, without any trace of either tears or smile. It reminded Monty of the kind of “Closed” sign that people put on the shop doors on Sundays.      

“There you are,” Monty said, peeking into the kitchen. Bertrand gave a start and looked at him.

“Hi,” he said, and offered Monty a faint smile. It didn’t look too convincing. “How did the report thing go?”  

“They let me submit it later,” Monty told him. He didn’t know how to ask Bertrand about what was really vexing him, so he asked another question that was, in his opinion, appropriate in any situation. “Would you like some tea?”

“That would be nice, thank you.”

Monty went into the kitchen, took the teapot off the stove, shook it and made sure it was empty, filled it with water, ignited the burner, put the teapot on the stove. Having been in a hurry to check if Bertrand was home, he didn’t have time to take his shoes off, and was now stamping around the kitchen in outdoor shoes. “Gotta sweep the floor later,” he noted to himself. It came with experience – the skill of not forgetting about the dull everyday things like cleaning and cooking while your entire world was in a whirl and threatening to fall apart.    

“I saw the article in the newspaper,” he began as he took teacups from the dish drainer. Bertrand was still sitting at the table in silence, still rubbing his hands absentmindedly. “About the opera.”

“Yeah, I’ve already read it, too.”  

“You lied when you told me you didn’t know who the target was, didn’t you? When you asked me to get you the venom.”

“I did,” Bertrand agreed. He leaned back in his chair. It wasn’t hard to see by his eyes that he hadn’t caught even a minute of sleep last night. “Do we have any lemons for tea?”  

“Um?.. I think there must be some. Check the fridge. Why did you lie?”

“You had enough problems of your own. And you still do. I didn’t want you to worry about me as well,” Bertrand got up from the table, walked up to the fridge, and took out a bowl containing half a lemon. Having taken a knife and a board, he started cutting the lemon into very neat identical pieces. Everything Bertrand did was neat.  

“Yeah, you can want whatever you like,” Monty muttered. The teapot was still taking its time to boil, and just standing empty-handed and discussing the murder committed by his neighbour was unbearable, so he took a cloth and started cleaning the sink aggressively. That was not the first time he procured poisons required by other volunteers. Perhaps he hadn’t killed anyone himself – yet – but he suspected that in a sense he already was partially responsible for a number of deaths. It was scary, it was weighing down on him, it kept him up at night and made him drink and dance and party with a vengeance in the hope of forgetting himself – but that was him, and when it came to Bertrand, it was a hundred times more of a shame. Bertrand was a good person. Bertrand didn’t deserve to be turned into a murderer. Monty was hoping he could express that all in such a way as not to make it seem like his heart is aching not so much for his friend as for his own hurt feelings, but the right words just wouldn’t come.        

“You are one of the best people I know,” he finally began. Bertrand made a strange sound, something between a laugh and a sob. Monty turned and saw that he had already cut the leftover lemon and was now standing with an absent look on his face, clutching the knife. “Don’t hold the knife with the edge toward you. Fucking hell, B,” he raised his voice when Bertrand didn’t react. “Don’t hold the knife with the edge toward you, and put it down anyway!”      

The knife fell on the table with a thud. Bertrand closed his eyes, leaned on the tabletop with both hands, and lowered his head so that Monty couldn’t get a good look at his countenance.

“I keep remembering that he hit O several times when boozed up, back when O was a boy,” he spoke quietly. “He used to drink, you know – not every day, but he used to go on drinking sprees from time to time. O’s taking after him in that respect. I keep thinking back on it as if it makes an excuse for me, but it really doesn’t, you see? And she was innocent – I mean, the rational part of me gets that she wasn’t, I know who she and her husband used to finance and what they used to cover up, but all I can remember is that she was usually nice to O, and to B after she moved to the City too.” Now his voice was taut, his face burning with indignation, his former numbness gone without a trace. “How come this task was assigned to B, of all people? After they had basically accepted her as family?”        

Monty knew, personally and by repute, several Bs among their associates, but this time Bertrand didn’t have to specify who he was talking about.  

“I am angry they made you do this, you are angry they made her…”

“Because she didn’t deserve this,” Bertrand interrupted him. “Because she’s a good person.”

Monty realized that Bertrand was basically repeating word for word what he had been reflecting on earlier himself, and smiled sadly.  

“How willing we are to assure the others vehemently that they are good people,” he spoke. He was completely in agreement with Bertrand about Beatrice. She was not just fun, but also reliable, which was much more important. She looked after her own. She was vivid and loud and incredibly brave and incredibly loving, and Bertrand was right: she did not deserve this. “And never as willing to defend ourselves the same way. Perhaps that is where our hope lies? In our inability to turn a blind eye to our own faults?”    

Bertrand took off his glasses, inelegantly wiped off the tears that had broken out after all, and put the glasses on again.

“Monty,” he said gently, “you’re a good person too, you know that?”

Monty blinked, then blinked again, feeling that soon he might have to wipe off the tears too. Bertrand was one of the best people Monty knew, and he didn’t deserve to be turned into a murderer, and didn’t deserve to labour under such grave delusion about other people either – but the fact that someone still considered him a good person gave Monty confidence that despite all his wrongdoings, he still wasn’t a lost cause.  

He reached out and ruffled Bertrand’s hair.

“Sit down,” he told him. “The tea’s about to be ready.”

#asoue #a series of unfortunate events #uncle monty #montgomery montgomery #bertrand baudelaire #snicketverse #not completely satisfied w/ this one but i like some bits so let it be here #yes the name of the turtle is a reference to stephen king's it #iirc they reference danny the champion of the world as early as atwq and it was published in the 70s #and time is a construct anyway (especially in the snicketverse) so i couldn't resist #talk talk talk #gella talks snicketverse #my fic

[marvelspookytoberprompts]

Click to see a better quality of the prompts!

Quick reminders of about Marvel Spookytober Prompts:

You don’t have to use every prompt that is given for each day, doing one prompt is perfectly fine (but big kudos if you do manage to include all five (5) prompts)!

If you don’t like a certain prompt for one of the days, feel free to swap it out with one of those bonus prompts.

If you would like for us to reblog your content, then please use the hashtags: #marvelspookytober or #marvelspookytoberprompts and please state which day and prompt(s) you have completed.

You can also include your content in our AO3 collection which can be found here. 

You are free to combine prompts with this event with other events, as long as the other mods are fine with it of course!

These prompts are free for everyone to use, but this blog will only be reblogging Marvel related content.

All prompts have been transcribed below the cut:

Prompts go in the order of: 

Scary Movies/ Kid-friendly Movies / A Costume / Halloween Words or Tropes / Sentences or Dialogue.

Day 1: Ready or Not / Halloweentown / Witch / Ghosts / “I’m not scared.”

Day 2: Scream / The Nightmare Before Christmas / Mummy / Haunted Houses / “Ghosts aren’t real.”

Day 3: Saw / Beetlejuice / Vampire / Corn Maze / “Who wants to tell scary stories?”

Day 4: The Blair Witch Project / Monster House / Werewolf / Skeletons / “Let’s go ghost hunting.”

Day 5: It / Hocus Pocus / Banana / Costume Party / “Why are you hanging out in a cemetery late at night?”

Day 6: Midsommar / Edward Scissorhands / Clown / Bobbing for Apples / “We’ve been listening to ‘Monster Mash’ for 4 hours now. Please, I’m begging you, play something else.”

Day 7: Halloween / ParaNorman / Pirate / Trick-or-Treating / “We all go a little mad sometimes.”

Day 8: Insidious / The Addams Family / Dinosaur / Pumpkin Carving / “I swear this house is haunted.”

Day 9: Us / The Haunted Mansion / Scarecrow / Playing in Piles of Leaves / “I’m not wearing that costume.”

Day 10: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark / Corpse Bride / Disney Character / Demons / “It’s your fault we’re in this mess.”

Day 11: The Babadook / Ghostbusters / Wizard / Witching Hour / “Have I mentioned, I fucking hate Halloween?”

Day 12: The Cabin in the Woods / Sweeny Todd / Mermaid / Goosebumps / “Don’t leave me alone!”

Day 13: The Conjuring / Dark Shadows / Queen or King / Horror Movie Marathon / “Do you believe in ghosts?”

Day 14: Annabelle / Hotel Transylvania / Power Ranger / Bats / “Are we lost or do you know where we are?”

Day 15: A Quiet Place / Warm Bodies / Bigfoot / Spiders / “Halloween is better than Christmas.”

Day 16: The Silence of the Lambs / Frankenweenie / Mothman / Webs / “I hate Halloween.”

Day 17: Carrie / Twitches / Video Game Characters / Black Cats / “I hate costumes, just get me a shirt.”

Day 18: House of Wax / Phantom of the Multiplex / Bee / Skeletons / “I heard a noise.”

Day 19: Hush / Don’t Look Under the Bed / Cat / Black & Orange / “I know they’re just stuffed animals, but doesn’t it feel like they’re watching us?”

Day 20: Gerald’s Game / Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire / Mouse / Candles / “I love you, but I’m terrified right now.”

Day 21: Paranormal Activity / Tower of Terror / Candy / Tombstones or Cemeteries / “Looks like we’ll be stuck here for a while...”

Day 22: A Nightmare on Elm Street / Casper / Flapper / Pumpkin Spice Lattes / “Oh my gosh, is that blood?”

Day 23: Friday the 13th / The Poltergeist / Fairy Tale Characters / Caramel Apples / “Please take off your mask.”

Day 24: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre / Sabrina, the Teenage Witch / Couple Costumes / Candy Corn / “Run!”

Day 25: Pet Sematary / The Mummy / Group Costumes / Bloody / “Scary movies are for chumps.”

Day 26: Jennifer’s Body / Coraline / Angel/Devil / Casket / “Who are all my candy?!” 

Day 27: The Witch / The Little Vampire / Crayon / Cauldron / “Why are you so determined to see this ghost?”

Day 28: Child’s Play / The Scream Team / Aliens / Owls / “Is this your way of telling me you’re a monster fucker?”

Day 29: The Grudge / Goosebumps / Cowboy/girl / Pumpkin Patch / “Mmm, I dunno. Corn mazes are kinda lame.”

Day 30: The Shining / Under Wraps / Cavewoman / Grim Reaper / “Your enthusiasm for this holiday makes me believe you fuck pumpkins... Do you?”

Day 31: Rosemary’s Baby / Monster Family / Dragon / Cabin in the Woods / “Where’s the originality for costumes these days?”

Bonus 1: Psycho / ‘9′ / Inflatable Costumes / Curses & Spells / “Who or what are you supposed to be?”

Bonus 2: Gremlins / The Witches / Ninja / Monster Under the Bed / “I want no part of this group costume you all have planned.”

Bonus 3: Rec / Return to Oz / Zombie / Evil Lairs / “That’s such a creative pumpkin carving!”

Bonus 4: Hereditary / Ernest Scared Stupid / Ghost / Broomstick / “I’m sorry but I can’t take you seriously when you’re wearing that.”

#marvel #fandom events #marvelspookytober #marvelspookytoberprompts

[khoicesbyk]

The Good Captain.

Author’s Note: This is my version of what book 2 of Distant Shores should be like. Y’know the book 2 that we readers of Distant Shores rightfully deserved! One more thing: in this fanfic, the MC’s last name has been changed to Bennett but; in the game it’s Carter. I decided to change it from Carter to Bennett; because Bennett sounds better to me. Also; her original occupation has been changed as well.

***Rated: Mature 18+. Contains sexual content, nudity, some violence and strong language.

***Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters.

***Characters: Captain Edward Mortemer (LI), Kyra Bennett (MC), Robert Finnegan (Main Antagonist), Charlie, Ginny, Jonas, Maggie, Samuel, Octavia, Henry, Axton, Adelia, Kendrick and Oliver Cochrane (Side Characters)

***Disclaimer: All character names (except MC) and some dialogues belong to Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 2,130 words.

Chapter 3: The Reunion.

Robert has returned, and he is hellbent on finding the lost island of Atlantis and Poseidon’s Trident. Meanwhile; Edward and the crew are trapped inside the tavern as it burns down.

After adjusting his eyesight to the smoke and shooting flames as best he could; Edward grabs the amulet, he puts Ginny who was closest to him when the roof collapsed on his back, calls out to the rest of his crew and leads them to safety via Tilly’s secret passageway.

“Is everyone alright? Are there any injuries?”, he asks as he looks everyone once over. Thankfully no one was hurt; just severely shaken by what had just transpired. “That cruel blackguard will pay for this!”, he says as he slams his fist into the stone wall.

“Aye he will! He will pay with his life! We will see to it!”, Charlie sneered. Rage written clear across her face. After safely making it back to The Jewel; the crew sets off into the night after Robert. The only thing is; they had no idea where he was headed next. Robert wasn’t going the traditional trade routes.

“Ye don’t know where he’s headed cap’n! We be sailing blind!”, Henry exclaimed.

“I don’t care! We WILL find him! And he will die! This time for good!”, he snapped at Henry.

“He’s right Edward. You don’t know where he’s headed. But I know who does!”, Charlie says as she points to the amulet around his neck. “Go to her Edward. We need her help. And you; need to make sure that she’s okay.”

“Charlie, I can’t just leave—“, he begins to say before she cuts him off, “I’m not asking you to leave; I’m telling you to! She’s having your child Edward, you need to go see her!”

In his heart; he knew she was right. He wanted to see her. He needed to see her. But he didn’t want to leave the crew behind.

“Charlie—“, he starts to protest before she cuts him off again,”We will be fine until you get back. I know where the second of The Seven Lords is. We’ll be fine as long as, we can beat him to the key fragment. Now go Edward! Go to Kyra. Send her our love!”

It was decided. He would go to the future to see her. Even though he had his apprehensions; he was secretly excited to see the future and to tell the crew what he saw. Remembering what Robert told her about using the amulet; Edward closed his eyes and envisioned her. And before he knew it; he was thrust into the future.

He was in a parlor of some sort he figured; but he wasn’t sure who’s parlor it was. It never dawned on him that; he was in her townhouse. Nor did he realize that his amulet was glowing.

While she was in her spare bedroom; she was going over scattered reports of the most recent accounts of Atlantis. With papers, books and the like laying all over the place. She was determined to find out everything she could about the legends of Atlantis and the trident. In the midsts of her research is; when the amulet that Robert “gave” to her started to glow ominously.

“That isn’t good!”, she said to herself.

Thinking that the glow meant Robert was coming to see her again; and knowing that he and his ilk would more than likely show up in her living room; she decided to arm herself.

So, she grabbed the metal baseball bat that she got after the last time she saw him and his crew, and went downstairs to see if her hunch was right. When Edward heard a door close; he looked for a place to hide. He was crouched down in her kitchen; ready to strike. When she descended down the stairs towards the living room; the amulet began to glow brighter.

“Alright ya stupid bastard! If I gotta go down; I’m at least gonna get a few Ken Griffey Jr. hits in!”, she says to herself as her couch came into view.

But when she turned a corner ready to fight for her and her child’s life; she didn’t see anything at first. But someone familiar saw her.

“Kyra…is it really you?”, asked a voice that was all too familiar. It startled her enough for her to drop that bat in her hand.

“No! It can’t be. He couldn’t be here. He’s not here! I’m hearing things because I’m paranoid. There is no way that he’s here…”, she said out loud; convinced she was hearing things.

“Kyra…”, he said to her. It caused her to start shaking.

“No! No! No! It’s not possible! He’s not here!”, she says out loud trying her hardest to convince herself, it’s not real. None of it is real. That was until, she felt his strong arms wrap tightly around her waist; and felt his warm breath in her ear.

“I’m here my love. I’m right here.”, he said to her.

It was indeed very real.

She couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t possible. It’s not possible. Even with his arms around her; she still struggled to believe it. That was until she turned around. It’s him. It’s Edward. He’s here. She was staring straight up at him. Those eyes, those beautiful brown eyes looked directly into hers. There he was. Her captain. The love of her life.

“Edward…”, she said as her voice cracked. She reached up and touched his face. He leaned into her touch. Oh how he missed it. That’s when she realized that it was real. He was real. That moment was real.

Overcome with emotion; she wrapped her arms around his neck. She just couldn’t believe what was happening. It wasn’t until her growing belly brushed against him; that she started to truly believe that it was real.

“I thought…I thought…that I’d never—“, she started to say something but; she was cut off by him kissing her. It was powerful. It was passionate. It was true love. It was Edward.

“I’ve missed my love. So much. I never stopped looking for you after you disappeared. And now, I’ve found you. I’ve finally found you!”, he told her.

He was just as emotional as she was.

“I missed you too! I didn’t want to leave you! I never meant to leave you. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Can you forgive me?”, she replied; as tears stung her eyes and stained her face.

“Shhhh! Hush! None of it was your fault. You did what you had to do. I could never find fault in that or you.”, he answered her.

She stepped back to truly take a look at him. He hadn’t changed at all. He was still as drop dead gorgeous as she remembered him to be. He placed his left hand on her belly, rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. She was really going to bare his child.

“Kyra…there is something I have been dying to tell you.”, he said to her.

“What is it Edward? Tell me.”, she replied, as her voice continued to break.

“I love you! I have loved you since the day we shared our first kiss. I have struggled without you by my side and in my arms.”, he admitted to her.

“I love you too! Now more than ever! You are the only man I will ever love!”, she replied before kissing him again.

They couldn’t get enough of each other. The only reason that they stopped; was because of Edward sinking to his knees and resting his forehead against her belly.

“I’m going to be a father. Your father. I promise you my child; that I will be a better father than the one I had.”, he whispered against her growing stomach. She draped her arms around his broad shoulders; and held him close.

“And what a father; you will be Edward. I’m so excited to have your baby. To have our baby.”, she quietly said to him as she rubbed his back. Tears of joy streamed down his face. He had her in his arms once again. He could touch her. He could taste her. He could feel her. When he looked into her beautiful brown eyes; he saw the love and the joy they shared.

“As happy as I am to see you Edward; I know that you have the amulet of Atlas. You’re because of jackass and his crew, aren’t you?”, she asks him.

“Aye, my love. He’s going after the key to Poseidon’s tomb. I must stop him Kyra. God only knows what havoc he will reek on my time and yours for that matter.”, he told her.

“You will stop him. I will make sure of it. Now come with me; so we can put a plan together.”, she tells him. He stands up then follows her upstairs to where she’d been doing her research. She explained everything she had learned so far. Especially what she had learned about Robert’s crew.

“This jackass here is his first mate; Gerald Pearson. But; I was able to find out their names. The names of the other members are Harold Perry, Donald Hunter, Quinten Jones, Frank Turner, Xavier Reynolds, Calvin Pierce, Shawn Winston and James Kenner. They along with The Sirens were all students in Robert’s Greek Mythology Class. “Now the women’s names are Tabitha Mills, Mari Rodriguez, Callie Wheeler and Beatrice Richards. They call themselves The Sirens. I’m still researching him and the crew.” she explained.

“This is a great start my love! Now, let’s work on the map.”, he told her.

Working together; they even found a way to make sure that the amulet of Orion, can never be used by Robert ever again. As they worked on a map of the seven kings; he noticed that she was starting to get tired.

“You should rest my love.”, he told her before placing a small kiss on the inside of her right wrist.

“I can’t rest yet Edward. We have to finish this map of where to look for the remaining keys. Besides; I’m scared to go to sleep.”, she admitted.

“Why?”, he asks her; as he held her close.

“Because; I’m scared that you won’t be here when I wake up.”, she admitted to him.

“I will always be with you my love. No matter you and I go, no matter what century we are in. I will ALWAYS be with you.””, he told her.

“That’s not the only thing I’m scared of. I have an appointment with Dr. Everett tomorrow, to find whether or not this baby is a boy or a girl. That’s why I’m scared to leave. I’m not saying that I don’t want to be with you. Because I do; God knows that I do. But; in terms of this baby, I have to stay here. But Edward I don’t want to! I want to be with you and the crew but I don’t know if I can risk it.”, she says to him.

“I know that you have your life and doctor here, my love. And I would never demand of you to leave if you aren’t comfortable. So if you must stay my love; then you should stay, Kyra.”, he replies.

“But Edward I don’t want to be alone! And I don’t want you to be alone either!”, she exclaimed as tears filled her eyes. He simply rocked her in his arms.

“Shhh…Hush my love…we will never be alone. I will never be without you and you without me, ever again. And when you are ready; I will bring you and our child home with me. Especially since we now have these amulets in our possession. We will make this work. I promise you that. But right now; you need your rest.”, he told her. His voice was soothing and calm.

She nodded in agreement. He smiled at her.

“Stay with me, until I leave for my appointment?”, she asked him.

“Of course my love. I am yours until the end of time, remember?”, he told her before placing a small kiss on the inside of her right wrist.

“And I’m yours Edward…I will always be yours…Until the end of time…”, she told him. He then kissed her with every ounce of fire and passion that he had in him.

She led him to her bedroom and as she fell asleep in his arms; he whispered to her, “I will protect you my love. Both of you…”

Edward was in for the fight of his life. But for the woman and the child that he loved more than life itself; it was a fight he was more than ready for.

***This was my most emotional chapter yet; so you’re being forewarned now. I’m gonna take a small break. But I will be back with Chapter 4!

😘

@txemrn @choicesficwriterscreations

K.

#choices #choices fanfiction #choices tna #fanfic #khoicesbyk #pixelberry #choices stories you play #distant shores #edward mortemer #captain edward

[aion-rsa]

Best Horror Movies on Netflix: Scariest Films to Stream

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Editor’s Note: This post is updated monthly. Bookmark this page to see what the best horror movies on Netflix are at your convenience.

Is it Halloween when you’re reading this? If not we’re still close enough with fall here and the month of October almost upon us! It’s the time of year where we like our drinks spiced with pumpkin or apple, our flannel light, and the movies we consume scary. And lucky for you there are more than a handful of worthwhile scary movies on Netflix.

There is nothing quite as fun as embracing the spooky, the creepy, the scary, and things that go bump in the night. Thankfully we have horror movies to help us down these paths. If you ever find yourself in need of a thrill or a chill, check out some of the best horror movies on Netflix, we’ve gathered here.

Enjoy your tricks and treats.

Looking for the best horror movies on Netflix UK? Click here!

As Above, So Below

We know what you might be thinking: a found footage horror movie? Yes, this was one of the later adherents to a genre craze that got run into the ground during the 2000s and early 2010s. However, As Above, So Below is the rare thing: effectively creepy. With a crackerjack premise about the real Catacombs of Paris being a secret gateway to Hell, the film casts an energetic Perdita Weeks as a modern day Indiana Jones in a Go-Pro helmet. She and her colleagues make the unwise choice to go off the tourist-guided path in the catacombs, which is home to the remains of more than 6 million people who died between the early middle ages and 18th century.

But once deep below the City of Lights, the film’s dwindling protagonists find themselves crawling beneath a wall with the words “Abandon all Hope Ye Who Enter.” And things just get bleak from there. This is a ghoulish good-time for those who are willing to indulge in the gimmick storytelling.

Apostle

Apostle comes from acclaimed The Raid director Gareth Evans and is his take on the horror genre. Spoiler alert: it’s a good one.

Dan Stevens stars as Thomas Richardson, a British man in the early 1900s who must rescue his sister, Jennifer, from the clutches of a murderous cult. Thomas successfully infiltrates the cult led by the charismatic Malcom Howe (Michael Sheen) and begins to ingratiate himself with the strange folks obsessed with bloodletting. Thomas soon comes to find that the object of the cult’s religious fervor may be more real than he’d prefer.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter

Some kids dream about being left overnight or even a week at certain locations to play, like say a mall or a Chuck E. Cheese. One place that no one wants to be left alone in, however, is a Catholic boarding school.

That’s the situation that Rose (Lucy Boynton) and Kat (Kiernan Shipka) find themselves in in the atmospheric and creepy The Blackcoat’s Daughter. When Rose and Kat’s parents are unable to pick them up for winter break, the two are forced to spend the week at their dingy Catholic boarding school. If that weren’t bad enough, Rose fears that she may be pregnant…oh, and the nuns might all be Satanists.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter is an excellent debut directorial outing from Oz Perkins and another step on the right horror path for scream queens Shipka and Emma Roberts.

The Evil Dead

1981’s The Evil Dead is nothing less than one of the biggest success stories in horror movie history.

Written and directed on a shoestring budget by Sam Raimi, The Evil Dead uses traditional horror tropes to its great advantage, creating a scary, funny, and almost inconceivably bloody story about five college students who encounter some trouble in a cabin in the middle of the woods. That trouble includes the unwitting release of a legion of demons upon the world.

The Evil Dead rightfully made stars of its creator and lead Bruce Campbell. It was also the jumping off point for a successful franchise that includes two sequels, a remake, a TV show, and more.

Gerald’s Game

We are living in a renaissance for Stephen King adaptations. But while there have been many killer clowns and hat-wearing fiends getting major attention at the multiplexes, the best King movie in perhaps decades is Mike Flanagan’s underrated Gerald’s Game. Cleverly adapted from what has been described as one of King’s worst stories, Gerald’s Game improves on its source material when it imagines a middle-aged woman (Carla Gugino) placed in a terrifying survival situation after her husband (Bruce Greenwood) dies of a heart attack during a sex game.

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The Shining: 5 Things Jack Torrance Taught Us About Social Distancing and Quarantine

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Handcuffed to a bed in their remote cabin in the woods, Gugino’s Jessie must face the fact no one is coming to save her in the next week… more than enough time to die of dehydration or the wolf prowling about. Thus the specter of death hovers over the whole movie, seemingly literally with a monstrous shade emerging from the shadows to bedevil Jessie each night. A trenchant character study that frees Gugino to show a wide range of terror, determination, and finally horrifying desperation, the movie delves into the shadows of a woman haunted by trauma and demons almost as scary as her current situation. Almost.

The Gift

Who knew Joel Edgerton had it in him?

The Gift is the Australian actor’s writing and directing debut and it doesn’t disappoint. Edgerton stars as Gordon “Gordo” Mosely. He’s a nice enough middle-aged man if a little “off.” One day while shopping he runs into an old high school classmate Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall). After their brief encounter, Gordo takes it upon himself to start dropping off little gifts to Simon and Robyn’s home. Robyn sees no problem with it at first. But Simon becomes disturbed, perhaps because of the unique past Simon and Gordo share.

Many horror movies understand there must be a twist of some sort or at the very least an unexpected third act. Even still The Gift‘s third act switch up is particularly devastating because it’s so mundane and logical. The Gift ends up being an emotional drama disguised as horror.

The Girl with All the Gifts

Just when you thought there was nothing left to be done with the zombie genre, in comes a shocking and original idea… one that has sadly grown only more scary in 2020 with regards to The Girl with All the Gifts. A brilliant little indie from Colm McCarthy, this underrated gem imagines a zombie apocalypse as something closer to a viral pandemic that lasts for generations…. and one where a vaccine is always just out of reach.

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Thus enters the class of Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton). Years after a fungal infection ravaged the planet, turning the infected into “hungries” (breathing zombies), their offspring have shown a creepy ability to retain the ability to think, learn, and love… even as they crave living flesh.

Hence the students in Helen’s class, including her favorite Melanie (Sennia Nanua). The child is special… too much so when it’s believed her biology could create a vaccine that would spare anymore humans turning “hungry.” But to harvest her body, the military will drag Helen and Melanie through an urban hellscape which has reduced London to an abandoned refuge for Hungries and feral children who likewise hunt uninfected humans for food.

The Golem

The Golem is such an awesome monster from Jewish mythology that it’s hard to believe they don’t make more movies about him. Well now they have. The Golem isn’t a straight-up remake of the 1915 movie of the same name so much as it is the next step in the evolution of this grim mythological beast.

During the outbreak of a plague, Hanna (Hani Furstenberg) will do whatever it takes to defend her community from outside invaders. Unfortunately, and in true fairy tale fashion, the creature she conjures up to defend her community quickly develops a murderous mind of its own.

Green Room

Green Room is a shockingly conventional horror movie despite not having all of the elements we traditionally associate with them. You won’t find any monsters or the presence of the supernatural in Green Room.

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Instead all monsters are replaced by vengeful neo-Nazis and the haunted house is replaced by a skinhead punk music club in the middle of nowhere in the Oregon woods. The band, The Aint Rights, led by bassist Pat (Anton Yelchin) are locked in the green room of a club after witnessing a murder and must fight their way out.

Horns

A horror vintage for a distinctly acquired taste, Alexandre Aja’s Horns is a bizarre fairy tale for adults. As much a revenge fable as a typical chiller, this movie which put “Harry Potter in Devil Horns” is actually something of a grim love story based on a novel by Joe Hill.

Daniel Radcliffe plays Ig Perrish, an outcast in his local community who wants nothing more than to forever be by the side of his lifelong love Merrin (Juno Temple). After her brutal unsolved murder prevents that, Ig swears he’d sell his soul to get revenge.

Funny thing is the day after he makes such a proclamation, horns begin growing from his forehead. The greater they grow, the easier it is to get sinners around him to confess their most hidden shames, and indulge in others. But with the clock ticking before he becomes a full-fledged demon, and his soul is presumably claimed by Beelzebub, there is only a narrow window before he can get revenge while raising a little hell.

Hush

In his follow-up to the cult classic Oculus, Mike Flanagan makes one of the more clever horror movies on this list. Hush is a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse within the typical nightmare of a home invasion, yet it also turns conventions of that familiar terror on its head.

For instance, the savvy angle about this movie is Kate Siegel (who co-wrote the movie with Flanagan) plays Maddie, a deaf and mute woman living in the woods alone. Like Audrey Hepburn’s blind woman from the progenitor of home invasion stories, Wait Until Dark (1967), Maddie is completely isolated when she is marked for death by a menacing monster in human flesh.

Like the masked villains of so many more generic home invasion movies (I’m looking square at you, Strangers), John Gallagher Jr.’s “Man” wears a mask as he sneaks into her house. However, the functions of this story are laid bare since we actually keep an eye on what the “Man” is doing at all times, and how he is getting or not getting into the house in any given scene. He isn’t aided by filmmakers who’ve given him faux-supernatural and omnipotent abilities like other versions of these stories, and he’s not an “Other;” he’s a man who does take his mask off, and his lust for murder is not so much fetishized as shown for the repulsive behavior that it is. And still, Maddie proves to be both resourceful and painfully ill-equipped to take him on in this tense battle of wills.

Insidious

Insidious is the start of a multi-film horror franchise and a pretty good one at that. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne star as a married couple who move into a new home with their three kids. Shortly after they move in, their son Dalton is drawn to a shadow in the attic and then falls into a mysterious coma from which they can’t wake him.

It’s at this point that the Lamberts do what horror fans always yell at characters to do: they move out of the damn house! Little do they know, however, that some hauntings go beyond mere domiciles.

The Invitation

Seeing your ex is always uncomfortable, but imagine if your ex-wife invited you to a dinner party with her new husband? That is just about the least creepy thing in this taut thriller nestled in the Hollywood Hills.

Indeed, in The Invitation Logan Marshall-Green’s Will is invited by his estranged wife (Tammy Blanchard) for dinner with her new hubby David (Michael Huisman of Game of Thrones). David apparently wanted to extend the bread-breaking offer personally since he has something he wants to invite both Will and all his other guests into joining. And it isn’t a game of Scrabble…

It Comes at Night

Surviving the apocalypse comes with a certain amount of questions. For starters, what do you do after you survive a global pandemic thanks to your secluded cabin in the woods…and then someone comes knocking? That’s the situation that the family consisting of Paul (Joel Edgerton), Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), and Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) find themselves in in It Comes at Night.

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When Paul and his family come across another family in the woods seeking shelter and water, they hesitantly welcome them in. But this soon proves to be a dangerous decision. Having guests in the real world is annoying enough to deal with and it only becomes harder when you suspect that any one of them could be sick with a highly-contagious, utterly fatal illness.

Paranormal Activity

Ignore the sequels. Yes, you know they’re bad and we know they’re bad. But long before “the Ghost Dimension” (whatever the hell that means), there was this eerie surprise hit that started it all. A movie which was estimated to be the most profitable movie of all time in its day–earning $193.4 million worldwide on a budget of $15,000–Paranormal Activity put Blumhouse Productions on the map and is still a supremely affecting piece of atmosphere.

Presented as the true story of a young, and not wholly likable, couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat), the film follows the pair as they attempt to document the bumps they’re hearing in the house at night–only to discover a demonic presence and some repressed memories for one party. A still brilliant exercise in sound design, tension, and the uncanny ability to trick audiences into believing what they’re seeing is actually happening, this remains the best found footage horror movie ever made.

Poltergeist

Before there was Insidious, The Conjuring, or a myriad of other “suburban family vs. haunted house” movies, there was Poltergeist. Taking ghost stories out of the Gothic setting of ancient castles or decrepit mansions and hotels, Poltergeist moved the spirits into the middle class American heartland of the 1980s. With a smart screenplay by no less than Steven Spielberg (and, according to some, his ghost direction), Poltergeist finds the Freeling family privy to a disquieting fact about their new home: It’s built on top of a cemetery!

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You probably know the story, and if you don’t you can guess it after decades of copycats that followed, but this special effects-laden spectacle still holds up, especially as a thriller that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Fair warning though, if your kids have a tree outside their window or a clown doll under their bed, we don’t take responsibility for the years of therapy bills this may inflict!

Red Dragon

The often overlooked other child of the Hannibal Lecter movie family, Red Dragon is no The Silence of the Lambs, no matter how much it wishes it was. Nor is it as visually evocative or luscious as Ridley Scott’s decadent Hannibal. Nevertheless, we find this prequel to both films to be at least worthy of association with the former, and ultimately more satisfying than the latter. A definite attempt to reshape Thomas Harris’ first novel to feature the Lecter character into a Silence of the Lambs clone, Red Dragon still has quite a bit to enjoy.

At the top of the list is of course Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal for the third and final time. Definitely his hammiest iteration of the character, even a campy Hopkins is impossible to resist given the not-so-good doctor’s droll wit or distinct taste palate. Director Brett Ratner’s framing around Lecter is competent enough, and he wisely gets a superb supporting cast who can overwhelm any shortcomings.

Edward Norton is a compelling lead FBI detective; Philip Seymour Hoffman is delightfully repellent as a tabloid journalist who suffers a terrifying fate; and Ralph Fiennes roars as the serial killer who inflicts that fate on Hoffman. It may be no Manhunter–Michael Mann’s first adaptation of the source novel–but Red Dragon‘s the one on Netflix. So love the one you’re with!

The Silence of the Lambs

If you are only going to watch one Hannibal Lecter movie, this is the all-time masterpiece which remains the sole horror movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture. An absolutely gripping thriller even 30 years later, Jonathan Demme’s movie is an all-time great because of stellar performances and a sharp screenplay told by an even sharper eye.

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Best Horror Movies on Hulu

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Here is the movie that kicked off the serial killer craze in Hollywood during the ’90s. Yet more than the gory details, what lingers in the mind are little things like an opening sequence that introduces Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as the lone woman on an elevator full of FBI ubermensches, or the way Anthony Hopkins breaks his unrelenting stare to mispronounce “Chianti” with dripping disdain for the Yokel sent to interview him. Every facet of this movie works, and thus it hasn’t aged a day. We do recommend watching it with a side of fava beans, though.

Sinister

One of the better Blumhouse chillers to come out of the 2010s, Sinister is the case of a brilliant elevator pitch meeting a superior pair of talents in director Scott Derrickson and star Ethan Hawke to bring it to life.

The setup of the movie is simple: There is a pagan demon god who will consume the soul of any nearby children whenever someone sees him. And not just him, but recreations of his image on walls. And wouldn’t you know it, true crime journalist Ellison (Hawke) just moved into a house with an attic full of home movies stuffed to the gills with Bughuul. And Ellison’s daughter is right downstairs. Uh oh.

Sleepy Hollow

As much a comedy as a horror film, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow should always be on the table when discussing October viewing options. After all, this demented reimagining of Washington Irving’s classic short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” never forgets the selling point is to have them rolling in the aisles. And more than a few heads do just that.

As a film with the most varied and imaginative uses of decapitation, Sleepy Hollow cuts a bloody path across Upstate New York. In fact, despite its American setting, we might as well confess what Sleepy Hollow really is: a modern version of a Hammer horror movie.

Burton incorporates all of his favorite tropes here: The intentionally stuffy faux-British acting (even though all the characters are of Dutch descent); the exaggerated and formal clothing; more than a few heaving bosoms; and lots and lots of gore. This film is so perfectly macabre and gleefully grotesque that you might even be forgiven for not noticing at first glance how dryly funny and deadpan a place this Sleepy Hollow tends to be.

Splice

What if Dr. Frankenstein banged his monster? That is just one of several creepy elements to Splice, a weird psychosexual sci-fi/horror hybrid. Directed by Vincenzo Natali and starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley as the world’s worst scientists, Splice follows two not-so-smart doctors who attempt to play God by creating an entire new species of creature they name Dren (Delphine Chanéac).

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Best Horror Movies Streaming on HBO Max

By David Crow and 2 others

At first a computer-generated child with alien eyes and a roping tail, Dren soon grows from girl to young woman, seducer to… well, something even more unexpected. Weird, unpleasant, and ultimately unshakable like that one bad dream, Splice plays with ideas of identity, gender, and parenthood.

Sweetheart

Don’t let the name fool you, Sweetheart is very much a horror movie. What kind of horror movie, you ask? Well, after a boat sinks during a storm, young Jennifer Remming (Kiersey Clemons) is the only survivor. She washes ashore a small island and gets to work burying her friends, creating shelter, and foraging for food. You know: deserted island stuff.

Soon, however, Jenn will come to find that the island is not as deserted as she previously thought. There’s something out there – something big, dangerous, and hungry. Sweetheart is like Castaway meets Predator and it’s another indie horror hit for Blumhouse.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a fantastic little satire on the horror genre that, in a similar fashion to Scream, is packed with laughs, gore, and a bit of a message. When a group of preppy college students head out to the backwoods for a camping trip, they stumble upon two good-natured good ol’ boys that they mistake for homicidal hillbillies.

Their quick, off-the-mark judgment of Tucker and Dale lead to these snobs getting themselves into sticky, often bloody, and hilariously over-the-top situations. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil rides a one-joke premise to successful heights and teaches audiences to not judge a book by its cover.

Under the Shadow

This 2016 effort could not possibly be more timely as it sympathizes, and terrorizes, an Iranian single mother and child in 1980s Tehran. Like a draconian travel ban, Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her son Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) are malevolently targeted by a force of supreme evil.

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This occurs after Dorsa’s father, a doctor, is called away to serve the Iranian army in post-revolution and war-torn Iran. In his absence evil seeps in… as does a quality horror movie with heightened emotional weight.

Underworld

No one is going to mistake Underworld for high art. That obvious fact makes the lofty pretensions of these movies all the more endearing. With a cast of high-minded British theatrical actors, many trained in the Royal Shakespeare Company, at least the early movies in this Gothic horror/action mash-up series were overflowing with histrionic self-importance and grandiosity.

Take the first and best in the series. In the margins you have Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen portraying the patriarchs of warring factions of vampires and werewolves, and a love story caught between their violence that’ shamelessly modeled on Romeo and Juliet. It’s ridiculous, especially with Scott Speedman playing one party. But when the other is the oft-underrated Kate Beckinsale it doesn’t matter.

The movie’s bombast becomes the movie’s first virtue, and Len Wiseman’s penchant for glossy slick visuals, which would look at home in the sexiest Eurotrash graphic novel at the bookstore, is its other. Combined they make this a guilty good time. Though we recommend not venturing past the second or third movie.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[eliza-bethpreston]

Stages.

Denial. ✓  

That first morning after the bad news had been broken Skylar had woken up wishing and hoping that this was all a dream, but the reality was her dreams were better than waking up. She had dreamt that she was still pregnant, about as far along as she was now, but after spotting Gerald in their back yard playing with a toddler in a little blue romped, she realized this was their baby #2. Everything was perfect, he seemed so happy and it was so easy to fall into the routine of being a mom for the day. But the dream ended all too soon and she tried to hide her disappointment when she woke up, taking a shower to have some time alone. In there she held her bump, talked to their little guy and begged for him to be okay. She pleaded into the steamy, empty air for him to surprise everyone when they got to that doctor’s office and live to see them be a happy family. She knew what today was and any hope that she could hold onto, she would. But there were no miracles when they got there and after about a half an hour, Gerald was taken to a waiting room and she was laying down, waiting for the local anesthetic to kick in before the doctor approached with a needle in hand - her sedative. “Ready?” Looking up at the ceiling tiles, Sky wrapped her hands around her stomach one last time as her face scrunched up as the tears finally returned. Her breathing was quickly becoming erratic and she shook her head at the question, knowing it didn’t really didn’t matter either way. “Nope.” There was a small pinching sensation in her arm and then she felt nothing. 

Anger. ✓

It was just before lunchtime when Skylar and Gerald made it home from her surgery and because her cramping was so bad, he carried her in and straight to bed. The tears had returned, waking up from anesthesia to hear that her baby was no longer inside her had triggered her emotions to flare up and boil over. This was a new emptiness she was feeling, a whole piece of her that was missing and future plans that were ruined. She couldn’t even think of what she should or needed to do, just curled up in bed and nodded as Gerald said he was going to make some lunch so she could eat before taking the pain medication. 

The two spent the whole morning and afternoon together when Skylar wasn’t asleep. She’d started bleeding pretty bad and every bathroom trip turned into a spiral. By about the fourth one of the day, she called Beth. Breaking the news made everything feel too real, but sobbing constantly to Gerald made her feel guilty, so she reached out to her non-pregnant best friend. Just after hearing the news, Beth took off to go check on her girl. The blonde knocked on the door and immediately pulled Gerald into a tight hug when he opened it, looking pretty worse for wear himself. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered as she held onto him, letting go after a few moments. “How is she holding up?” “Um.. well she’s back to crying again, I don’t know if that’s a good sign. She’s in some pain, so I was just making her some soup. Why don’t you head up and I’ll bring it up when it’s done. Take her water with you.” She nodded and grabbed Sky’s water bottle before heading upstairs and finding her in a little ball in bed, back turned to the door. “Hey honey.” She called as she stepped around the bed and sat on the edge by Sky’s knees. The brunette only looked at her in response, sniffling every few moments. “Gerald called me, honey, I’m so sorry.” She ran her hand back through Skylar’s hair, the gentle gesture  causing more sobs to break free. “Oh Sky..” Beth sighed and put her bag down. “Can I get you anything?” All she got was a little shake of the head from the brunette and Beth held out the water bottle. “Drink, I’m going to find your movie collection.” Skylar moved the mouthpiece and took a few drinks as she watched Beth from her spot in bed, giving her a little nod after she popped in Friends with Benefits, one of the many rom coms it seemed they were going to start rewatching as they had before the few times Skylar had been through a heartbreak. This time was different though, it didn’t feel like a heartbreak she would ever heal from, this was going to leave her missing a piece of her heart for the rest of her life. Beth crawled into the bed with her this time and Skylar found herself rolling over and resting her head on the blonde’s lap as the movie started. She closed her eyes and just let herself start to dose, only woken up once Gerald brought her soup and her medication. Taking her antibiotic and pain pill with a small sip of broth, Sky rested her head back down and let sleep take her. It was a lot of the same for nearly the next two days. She finally started opening up more and more after Gerald had found her sobbing on the floor of the shower, holding a much softer midsection and apologizing to steamy, empty air. He’d sat with her for a bit in that shower, letting the water hide their tears as the two finally started talking. She hated that they were back here again, she hated that she was nowhere near the level of acceptance she had been at this point the last time she’d miscarried. She hated that he was sad and worried. She just hated it all. “I just wanted it so bad, that’s the one thing my body is supposed to be good for and I can’t even keep my baby alive.” “Sky this is not your fault-” “Then whose is it? Who do I blame? Because I can’t believe this shit happens for no reason, that I just get the shitty luck of the draw because the world decided I never get to have a family. No, tell me who I blame?”  Beth was sitting on the edge of the bed, talking in the same pitied tone as the doctor had and Skylar wanted to hit her. She wanted to scream and punch and fight until everything became a little more unfucked, but realistically that wouldn’t happen. “It does.. Just happen. You’ve been fighting a war with your body for years now, but you did not just decide one day that you were going to doom yourself. The universe isn’t punishing you, it’s - I can only imagine what you’re feeling, but honey there’s no one to blame. Would you blame Gerald?” “That’s different.” “No it isn’t.” Beth sighed and watched the brunette move around in the closet, currently changed into pajamas after her almost hour long shower and now trying to find an outfit for Jessica’s gender reveal coming up. “You don’t have to go to this, I’m sure she’ll understand.” Skylar grabbed the black dress that Beth had picked out for her while they all went shopping and held it up. Was it too funeral-y for a gender reveal? Her body felt like a walking funeral, so she tossed it in the pile of possibilities. “If I stay in bed then he worries, if I go back to normal life then you worry, I don’t know what you two want from me!” She turned around and stood in the doorway of the closet, looking at Beth, eyes red and puffy and feeling awful all around, but angry, more than anything. “If I had a choice I would lay in that bed until I was with my baby again. No actually, if I had a choice I would have my baby back here with me, but I don’t, so I’m putting on a stupid diaper and I’m going to celebrate my best friend having two babies she doesn’t even want. Is that okay?” The bedroom door opened and Beth and Skylar both looked over to Gerald who was standing there, staring at the two of them. Beth gave him a soft shake of her head and sad smile and Skylar watched the two communicate silently, obviously about her, causing her to groan before walking back into the closet. She willed her attention to return to the mundane outfit picking, but when she couldn’t focus, she walked back out and straight to their balcony, needing a break from the tense air in the room. “Babe?” She called out, not sure if he’d still be there, but she eventually got a reply after some hushed chatter. Instead of telling him what she wanted, she just held her hand out, waiting for him to come out and join her, most of her anger focused on Beth still.    The blonde handed Gerald her soft blanket before he walked out and left the two to cuddle on the balcony in privacy and starting on some dinner for everyone. Skylar hadn’t been eating much, but something was better than nothing and she knew at some point they would find their old normal to return to, but for now, she let herself be the bad guy when that’s what Skylar seemed to need and the ear for Gerald whenever he had a question or wanted to talk. This was definitely not the same four days in bed road to recovery her best friend had been down before and she really hoped she could convince Skylar not to go to the party before it made things worse.

#OHKAY THIS BETTER BE IT

[gillockhart]

fresh meat

“... If all else fails darling, I’ll move into your guest house and become your badly behaved pool boy.” @sofiazabini

All else had failed, or so it had felt, and like a perfect storm of designer luggage and a magnum bottle of Moët, Gilderoy had appeared on the doorstep of Zabini Manor with a tale of woe, cow-eyes that even little Gerald’s farmer father might have marvelled at and the inherent understanding that neither of those things were at all necessary, for Sofia would never have dreamt of turning him away.

Never had turned him away, as was the case.

Two years later, and it had never even been a question.

Work trips were a mere page break in their accepted status quo, an occasional foray out of town that always ended with him returning as per usual, designer luggage and absurdly expensive gifts in tow to impress upon his best girl. Except, of course, that his usual sweeping grand entrance, a bag packed full of Lapis Lazuli and garnets and pearls and emeralds and his head full of grand stories of the skies and the sand and a bay of stars, were met with decidedly less fanfare than usual.

Insomuch as there was precisely none at all.

Gilderoy paused in the empty entryway, setting his bag down at his side and tipping his sunglasses atop his head to glance bewilderedly around the silent corners and to the House Elf staring at him with adoring eyes from beside the door. “Helena, sweetling,” her eyes glittered in the dim afternoon light, “What is going on?”

He didn’t have to voice the question that read so clearly upon his bewildered face; Why is nobody paying attention to me?

“Mr. Lockhart! Madame Zabini is entertaining her male suitor,” Helena whispered in barely more than a squeak, her large eyes wide and shining with adoration for him and Heavens had he taught her well, she was a most efficient little gossip. “They’re in the mast—”

Wednesday. It was Wednesday.

Well.

“Thank you Helena darling,” he assured her cheerfully, easing his jacket off his shoulders and tossing it to her directly before stooping to press a kiss to the top of her forehead, “I don’t know what I’d do without you. How many times must I ask you to call me Gilderoy?”

Helena fussed and twisted her little house elf dress, stammering, “I couldn’t possibly”s up at him and Gilderoy beamed, squaring his shoulders and eyeing the staircase ahead. Flirting with Sofia’s staff could wait.

He had a scene to make.

Taking the stairs two steps at a time he sailed through the upper floor, gracefully navigating the familiar halls that had become his home and pushing unceremoniously through the elegant double doors of the Master Suite. “Honey,” he announced himself grandly, delighting in the way that the couple entwined in the bed so quickly uncoupled at the unceremonious interruption and cheerfully sweeping across the room to throw himself into the middle of the bed, bouncing cheerfully in place before wiggling up towards the headboard, sending Sofia’s new and untested beau scrambling towards the outer edges, “I’m home.”

Sofia’s head emerged first, caught between exasperation and delight before veering towards the latter, meeting his eyes for a solid moment to debate silently with the mirth brimming in his eyes. He could see how badly she wanted to scold him, but her lips were already twitching vigorously against her attempts to hold back her laughter. At the outer edges of her monstress king bed, the damned soul she’d lured into her bed for the price of a glittering ring had the bad luck of gasping, “Who is that?”

Gilderoy’s head turned and a predatory gaze settled upon the man in question, assessing his bedhead and flushed face and objectively beautiful bone structure (Sofia would never settle for anything less than exquisite) before turning back to Sofia, pointedly ignoring the question as he clucked his tongue softly, “Oh, no, he won’t do at all, darling.”

“He’ll be a Duke,” she replied, a challenging arch of her eyebrows entirely swallowed by the wicked smile thrown his way as he wedged his way purposefully between the two lovebirds, crossing his legs elegantly at the ankles and ignoring the panicked way her beau was teetering near the edge of the bed now.

“That hairline,” he sighed.

“His Gringotts Vault holds a King’s ransom,” she contended, blatantly ignoring the protest that rose from the other side of the bed.

“Timid,” Gilderoy replied with a cutting glance sidewards, watching for a moment as this Duke scrambled with the sheets to cover himself, “It’s like watching a newly born deer try to find it’s feet. I can’t imagine any of that is at all satisfying.”

“I’m not a—” the man protested, burning with embarrassment, but was loudly hushed before Gilderoy’s eyes turned back to Sofia, amused.

She gave him a pointed look.

“I missed you, darling,” he offered cheerfully, leaning over to smack a kiss against her cheek before turning to repeat the process to her bewildered and decidedly mortified new groom. “I must insist on no more shotgun weddings whilst I’m away on business, you know how much I love to give a toast.”

With a wink he rolled off the bed, sauntering happily back towards the doors now that he’d established his dominance with a delighted, “Carry on. I’ll see the both of you at dinner,” he hesitated only a moment at the door, sticking his head back inside to add, “Don’t forget to warn him about the orgies, darling,” before happily swanning away to the charming peals of her laughter.

Fresh meat was always the most satisfying.

#& drabbles. #poolboy gil you mean the content we Deserve #here you go loz xoxo #(is this an au or is it just inevitable) #we don't revise or edit in this house we die like men #; sofia [ rulers make bad lovers; better put your kingdom up for sale. ]

[cecilspeaks]

142 - Ufo Sighting Reports

As abpve, so below. As for the middle, Well, who knows.

Welcome to Night Vale.

We start today, as we often do, with the latest UFO sighting reports in the community.

Friday, 5:20 AM. The staff of the Desert Spring Tuberculosis Research center and Medication Retreat reported a luminous object out over the neighborhood across the highway. The object resembled a straw hat and had an apparent speed of 150 miles per hour, and apparent altitude of 2,000 feet. The staff recalled that the object illuminated the ground brightly, as they could see Leah Shapiro at the window of her house, receiving a phone call and then collapsing to her living room floor with a hand over her mouth. This was perfectly visible despite the sun not having yet risen.

Friday, 5:28 AM. Leann Hart, editor of the Night Vale Daily Journal, was preparing for a day of hard-hitting journalism. She does this using a dummy that she has set up in the back yard and labeled with a sign saying “Pivot to video”. She was just about to launch into her usual routine of hacking at this dummy for two and a half hours with a pair of hatchets made from pure silver, while screaming in fury, when she was stopped by a sight in the sky. An object the size and shape of a bus, and also having all other characteristic of a bus, was soaring over her. It flew at an apparent altitude of 500 feet, making no sound at all, and Leann tracked it for several minutes before losing sight of it. She said that she reacted like anyone would: by flinging a hatchet at it and shouting: “You’re not welcome here.”

Friday, 5:34 AM. My niece Janice was up early, because it was finally time to take the pre-SAT, and she didn’t want to feel hurried. She had been with herself long enough to know that feeling hurried kills any sense of momentum or order for the rest of the day, and makes her feel like she’s trying and failing to catch up with herself. Better to force herself out of bed into the cold of a winter desert morning than to feel behind herself later on. She had gone out into the front yard to get a bit of fresh air, and had waved to Leah Shapiro who was rushing out of her house and did not seem to notice the greeting, when Janice saw the craft. A red ellipsoidal object rose from behind the line of houses. At first, Janice thought it might just be a particularly quick sunrise, but soon realized the object was only the size of a small table and was right above her. Remembering what Tamika had taught her during team militia camp, Janice grabbed a heavy stone from the yard, but the object was already withdrawing. Janice yelled to ask if Leah had seen it too, but Leah was driving away. So Janice went back inside and made herself a smoothie. She feels she did pretty good on the pre-SAT.

Friday, 5:41 AM. Dana Cardinal, no longer mayor, who carries with her what she has done, but now also carries the possibility of what she could do next, was driving around the city. She does this sometimes, an aimless circle of a town that once had been her responsibility, but now is not and never will be again. The town wihout a mayor. This is a problem, but it is not her problem. She had just been passed by Leah Shapiro, who was going some 20 miles over the speed limit, when Dana spotted three sparkling objects in an equilateral formation, approximately 20 feet from each other at an apparent altitude of 100 feet. She shrugged and turned back to her aimless driving. This was no longer her problem.

Friday, 5:53 AM. Sarah Sultan, who is the president of the Night Vale Community College and also a smooth, fist-sized river rock, was driving to work. She had to get in early because of an all-department meeting to address the lingering effects of the rabbit infestation the college suffered five years ago. And she was still fuming from yesterday when the DMV had threatened to take away her license on the ground that no one understood how a smooth, fist-sized river rock was even capable of operating a car. She had had to take the driving test all over again, and while she got a perfect score and retained her license, that had been time robbed from her that she would never get back. Leah Shapiro, ahead of her in the lane, slowed down to turn into the Night Vale Community Hospital parking lot, and Sarah swerved around her, unwilling to wait for the turn to complete. As she did that, she saw a spherical body in the sky at an elevation of about 1,000 feet. It was a dozen centimeters across in apparent size and whirled around in a small circle of 30 feet in apparent diameter before rising up into the clouds.

Friday, 8:09 AM. Nilanjana Sikdar stood just outside of the hospital. She was there for a minor procedure, but it didn’t feel minor to her. She didn’t like hospitals, didn’t like the implications of what might happen there, didn’t like the doctors that appear and disappear randomly from room to room, and didn’t like thinking about all that can misfire and misalign in her own body. She sighed, looked up at the building, and saw through the window Leah Shapiro with tears rolling down her face. She was holding the hand of someone in a hospital bed, and she was telling the patient a story, it seemed. Perhaps reminiscing about some shared event from much earlier in both of their lives. More importantly, Nilanjana saw two flying objects in the reflection of the glass. She turned to see them fly west by north to north by east, radiant blue in the center and red around the edges. Then, knowing that not even UFOs could save her from necessary medical treatment, she turned to the building and trudged inside.

Friday, 11:15 AM. High school senior Josh Crayton was in the Ralphs parking lot showing off to his friends by turning himself into any tree they named. “Oak,” they shouted and he was an oak. “Spruce,” another shouted. “Too easy,” he told them. “Reginald,” one said and Josh took the form of Reginald from the nearby Whispering Forest. When he was in that tree form, he could see all the way over the roof of the Ralphs, and he saw a luminous flying object that’s upper half was covered in a curling mist or smoke. It was 40 degrees in elevation above the horizon and approximately the brightness of a new moon on a cloudless night. “Whoa,” said Josh. “Man,” said one of his friends. “It’s so weird to see a tree talk like that.”

Friday, 12:02 PM. Lorelei Alvarez had been called into work. It was never good news when she was called into work. No one ever rang her phone and said, “Hello, is this Lorelei Alvarez, Night Vale coroner? We’re super happy to need your help!” No. It is always the same hushed tones and hushed pain, tight and business like. She was thinking all of this as she had her coffee and steeled herself for what she would have to go do, when she saw an object in the midday sky. It left a multicolored trail as it moved, going to the west slowly and finally disappearing. “That doesn’t help me at all,” she said and poured the rest of her coffee down the sink.

Friday, 12:10 PM. Tamika Flynn was on her way to the hospital to check in on 14-year-old Gerald Sanders who had been injured at teen militia camp while practicing evasive maneuvers, which is what they call dodgeball. He had badly twisted his ankle and even though Tamika knew it wasn’t her fault, she felt guilt all the same, and then felt guilt over her guilt, as she knew she should not feel guilt over things that were not her fault. As she entered the hospital, she looked across the lot back where Leah Shapiro was standing, tears covering her face. Leah was standing at the parking payment machine, her lips moving soundlessly, her eyes staring blankly at the screen in front of her, and her hands frozen at her side. More importantly, behind Leah, a silver star shining conspicuously in the day-lit sky, moving from east to west, passing in and out of clouds, and changing altitude constantly.

Friday, 1:20 PM. Deb, the sentient patch of haze, was on her way out of a meeting with her representation. She was unhappy with the advertising gjobs they had been securing for her, finding that nothing they were sending her out on caused enough harm to humanity. “Get me out there selling the really toxic and dangerous stuff, something with side effects or at least some carcinogens,” she told them as she pounded the table with her fists and stormed out. An action that was difficult due to her ethereal and fistless nature. As she left, she saw a cylindrical UFO, a greenish bronze with a three to one ratio of length to thickness. “Oh buzz off, buster,” she told it.

Friday, 2:27 PM. Amber Akinye was taking a break from her job at the Diego and Diego and Diego and Diego and Diego funeral home. The one that was opened recently on Araburus Road by those very nice quintuplets. Amber was exhausted after talking Leah Shapiro through all the options. The funeral would happen in just two days, and there was so much to do and to decide. Amber thought that Leah was holding on pretty well, but still, it was a lot for both of them. Maybe Amber was too empathetic to work a job like this. She hated to think of empathy as weakness, but she only had so much energy to give. As she was thinking this, she saw a golden colored oblong at a high altitude in the sky above, moving at a steady speed in a five-degree upward climb. “I just got this job,” Amber thought, “I should give it more. I’ll give it more time.”

Fridya, 5:15 PM. Lieutenant Regis of Unit 7 of the Local National Guard Station and KFC Combo Store was standing guard as usual, and witnessed an (anchor) shaped ring of light to the southwest, and at apparent altitude of 200 feet. He waved. “Enjoy the weekend!” he shouted. “See ya on Monday!”

Friday, 8:09 PM. Janice Rio from down the street was having dinner at the Moonlite All-Nite Diner. She had ordered a Greek salad with chicken on it and was feeling comfortably superior to Leah Shapiro in the next booth over, who was on her second plate of fries. As she sat with this great sense of self, Janice glanced outside and saw a yellow ball of light with a diameter of more than 20 inches hanging in the sky. It hung silently for two minutes and then disappeared. “Good riddance,” Janice muttered and returned to her salad.

We pause briefly from our UFO sighting reports to take in something far stranger: The weather report.

[“Color TV” by Answering Machine, https://answeringmachine.bandcamp.com/]

Saturday, 12:01 AM. Leah Shapiro parked in front of her house, but she didn’t find the will to go in. What was there for her but the echo of a daily routine that would see no more days? So instead she drove out to the scrublands. It was chilly, but that felt good to her. It felt like she had been uncomfortably warm for a long while, and this was the first time that the temperature had been right. (-) bit at her ankles, she didn’t have the right shoes for this kind of walk, but here she was, walking. The night was completely clear. The moon was a careful situation. As she walked, Leah tried her best to sort through her feelings. It was obvious to her which feeling she should have in this moment. Mourning, a wild grief, a sadness that would never be cured by however many decades of slow forgetting she had left. This was what others had assumed she was feeling and so those were the emotions they managed. “This must be quite difficult,” the doctor had said professionally. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure you loved her very much,” the woman at the funeral home had said empathetically. “Oh my god, you poor thing, you must be bereft!” said Laura at the Moonlite All-Nite Diner with a deep sincerity, and then she had taken Leah’s order of us many French fries as can fit on a plate. Laura had brought two plates.

But the truth is that Leah did not feel mourning, grief, or sadness. She supposed that those feelings would not come, she hoped they did, because she didn’t know what it would mean for herself if they did not. However, emotions are not domestic creatures that can be summoned with a whistle. They are wild and they move as they please. So try as she might to access her sadness, Leah couldn’t. What she could find, to her horror and shame, was relief. She felt so relieved, and she felt free. She felt absolutely free and completely relieved, and she felt that she must be the worst person in the world for feeling those things. “What is wrong with me?” she said, and nothing that heard her answered except a lone coyote, who started and fled to a warm groove in the earth, where he felt safe from predators. There was nothing wrong with Leah. She was free, and she felt relieved. Later she would feel sadness, sadness that’s vast shape would hardly be conveyed by such a simple word, but not now. Now she walked until she couldn’t see her car, until the lights of Night Vale disappeared behind the hill, until it seemed possible that no other person lived on the Earth. As she stood there, a silver craft descended from the sky. It rotated above her, brilliant, multicolored lights coming from windows on all sides. She watched it hover, and then watched as it rose back up into the sky, until it was indistinguishable from all the other wandering stars. “Huh,” she said, and began the long walk back to her car.

This has been UFO sighting reports.

Good night, Night Vale, Good night.

Today’s proverb: In Europe, instead of cell phone, they say mobile. Instead of arugula, they say rocket. Instead of letting you die because of lack of health insurance, they take care of you when you’re sick. It’s a weird place.

#welcome to night vale #welcome to night vale transctips #wtnv #episode 142 #ufo sighting reports

[kumkaniudaku]

Meet the Parents: Three

A/N: FINALLY finished with this. My midterm paper was taking over my life. I have a few more prompts to do before I start working on spooky stuff for Wednesday! I hope you all enjoy. Also, the face claim for CoCo’s dad has changed.

Word Count: 4488

The journey through post-secondary education has its ups and downs. As much as an institution can be a site for cultivating and molding the minds of tomorrow’s leaders, it also serves as an arena for young people to navigate life’s challenges and triumphs. From making friends, leaving with enemies, passing classes with flying colors and falling flat for the second time, college provides an opportunity for growth.

For you and Chadwick, not only had both of you grown as individuals but also as two souls forever bonded by the Howard University experience and the quiet beginnings of a long friendship.

Sadly, all great experiences must end. The freshmen that hit it off in 1996 by accident were now semi-adults preparing for their last hoorah before real life started.

Chadwick sat at the foot of your bed, engrossed in the basketball game on the television, while you flipped through your photo album and reminisced.

“Oh my goodness, look at Tanisha,” you laughed. “I don’t know who told her that dressing as a cigar was a good Halloween costume, but I’m glad they did. This shit is hilarious.”

“It was probably the girl standing beside her dressed as the most low budget Lola Bunny that I’ve ever seen.”

“Shut the hell up Mr. Too Cool to Dress Up for a Halloween Party. I was cute that night.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t cute. I said your hand drawn jersey and dingy bunny ears looked low budget.”

Using the fact that his attention was elsewhere as an advantage, you flung a throw pillow at the back of his head. “I really can’t stand you. Go home.”

“I want you to act just like that during graduation this weekend. Don’t let me see one tear or I’m clownin’ you at the celebration dinner,” he answered as he leaned back to lay on the bed. “Speaking of the celebration, your folks eating with mine or are we doing two separate things?”

You thought for a moment, using the fringe on your pillowcase to distract you from the brown eyes peering up at you. You’d passed the Mr. and Mrs. Boseman test with flying colors, and your family was all but ready to marry you off tomorrow after only a few meetings with Chadwick. Separately, you both got along with each other’s families. But, you weren’t sure how situations would play out once the Greene and Boseman clans united.

“You think they’ll like each other? Our families?”

“Why wouldn’t they? My parents like you and your parents love me. We’re extensions of those that raise us right? It should work itself out.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll go get carry out together and eat it back at my place. It’s no big deal.”  

“Everything is no big deal to you, Aaron.” Chadwick smirked and shrugged his shoulders. His nonchalant attitude about things not involving his work either infuriated or calmed your nerves. Today, it soothed your worries and helped you to make a concrete decision.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

Chadwick’s eyes shot from the television to your face to get confirmation of what exactly you were planning to do. “What’d you just say?”

“I said let’s do it!”

“Right here? Right now? I mean it’s kind of soon, and I was hoping it’d happen way different than this, but if you want, sure. Let’s do it!”

“Great! I’ll call my mom and dad and tell them we’re combining our parties! Should we match outfits? No, that’s too much. Red velvet or pound cake?” Your rambling became a background murmur in Chadwick’s ear once he realized how close he’d come to make an ass of himself.

After thanking God for saving him from an awkward mishap, he watched and listened to you plan the final get together before the inevitable separation occurred. You were taking a job offer to intern with the Hornets in Charlotte and Chadwick had long made the decision to pursue directing and writing in New York. For much of the Spring semester, the conversation about continuing the friendship long distance had been avoided. Neither of you were ready to think about life without the other.

Still, time can not slow down or be replaced. The days of the week began to blend together between parties, senior week activities, and graduation practice. Separate familial activities kept you and Chadwick away from each other Friday afternoon, leaving little room for serious conversation during a wild off-campus graduation party.

While you and Chadwick prepared for the grand entrance with fellow members of the Howard University Class of 2000, your separate groups of parents prepared for a meeting orchestrated by God himself.

“Where is Chadwick,” Carolyn asked, craning her neck around to look over the upper quandrangle housing the commencement ceremony. “First he wasn’t home this morning, and now I don’t see him here. The ceremony starts in ten minutes.”

“Then it makes sense why you wouldn’t see him out here then, right? The graduates aren’t just hanging around.”

Shifting her attention to her husband, Carolyn’s mouth opened to speak but closed as a family of three shuffled past her to take the last open seats in the area.

“Gerald, where is Tasha? The ceremony starts in eight minutes and she is nowhere to be found. She wasn’t at her apartment and she has yet to page me back. I will return that car to the lot the moment we get back home if she isn’t here.”

“Baby, the graduates don’t wait in the open before the ceremony,” Gerald answered. “C’mon, now. You’ve been through this before.”

Elaine’s mouth opened and closed, realizing that what her husband was saying was true.

“Don’t you hate when they’re right?”

Elaine whipped her head around to acknowledge the stranger, breaking into a small smile at the comment. “They never let you live it down. I guess that’s what happens when you’re wrong nine times out of ten.”

The women shared a laugh for a brief moment, helping each other to let go of some of the tension pent up from nervous energy.

“What’s your baby’s name?”

“Tasha Greene. She’s graduating from the School of Business.”

“So you’re the woman my son says I need to meet,” Carolyn laughed. “Now that I’m looking at you, I definitely see the resemblance.”

“I’m sorry, am I missing something,” Elaine asked with confusion taking prominence on her soft features.

“My son, Chadwick, talks about your daughter all the time. The beautiful ‘Miss CoCo’ is the topic of every conversation. Even when she doesn’t fit.”

The light bulb connecting names with stories illuminated Elaine’s mind, “Oh...my God! Chadwick is your son? Sweet little Aaron that ate my burnt meatloaf to be nice when everyone else criticized it? Girl, I owe you a thank you for checking in on my baby the way you do!”

“Owe me? I owe you! Lord knows my boy will eat you out of house and home if you let him. That week in Atlanta must’ve cost you a fortune.”

“Oh, girl, I’ve been raising two athlete daughters while married to a Marine. Trust me, he fit right in.

“So you know the struggle of keeping food in the house. I raised three boys and almost lived at the grocery store.” When the short bout of laughter subsided, Carolyn gave Elaine a small smile. “May I ask you a question? Mother to mother?”

“Absolutely. Unless it’s about Tasha’s manners. She takes after her father.”

Carolyn laughed and shook her head, “She’s been nothing but mannerable around me. My question is about our kids. Be honest with me, is Tasha...interested in my son at all? He thinks the world of her and I don’t want him to be hurt if she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“She is interested, but she’s afraid. If you ask her, he’s not looking to be in a relationship. I think she’s ignoring the signs to protect her heart. Again, she takes after her Daddy.”

“You know I can hear you right, Kitty,” Gerald interjected. “I’m sitting right here.”  

The beginning of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ sounded around the outdoor area, alerting the guests to the arrival of the honorees. Sharing a knowing look, the two women put their conversation on hold to prepare for the arrival of their graduates.

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

“Tasha Nicole Green, Magna Cum Laude. Chadwick Aaron Bose-,” last names and accomplishments were drowned out by the combined applause of both families despite the request to wait until all names were called.

“Look at our babies,” Elaine smiled through misty eyes. “They’re growing so fast.”

“Mhmmm. Growin’ and drinkin’ before they have to walk across the stage. I bet all the money in my husband’s wallet that Chadwick doesn’t think I can tell.”

“They never think we know anything. Tasha is wobbling in those shoes like a baby deer and it ain’t because I didn’t teach her how to wear a pair of heels. I’ll let her slide for now, though. It’s a big day and she’s grown.”

In the center of the action, you caught wind of the overwhelming hooping and hollering from the stands, tapping Chadwick on the bicep to pull him away from the moment and direct is attention to the section you were looking at.

“Looks like our mamas found each other without our help,” you laughed, pointing to their spot in the audience and earning a wave from the pair.

“I guess so. Saves us a lot of trouble. What you think they talkin’ about?”

“Probably how cute I look in these shoes. You can’t even tell I’m still a lit-tle bit drunk.”

“CoCo, everyone can tell you’re a little bit drunk. You haven’t walked in a straight line since we’ve been here,” Chadwick scoffed, stepping to the side to let you into the row to take your seat.

“Ah, shut up, hater.” A wobbly step before reaching your chair caught you by surprise and sent Chadwick into a fit of hushed giggles. He was right. You were still noticeably intoxicated despite your best attempts to eat and hydrate your body into sobriety. Turning to your best friend, you pulled your sunglasses down to reveal a horrified expression. “Oh my God, my mama is gonna kill me!”

“Relax. I’ve been drunk in front of my mama too many times to count, and she’s never noticed. Just follow my lead.”

“Last time I followed your lead I drunk four cups of hunch punch to chase the two beers you gave to me.”

“But, did you have a good time?”

You thought for a moment, the memories of the night prior making you smile. “Yeah.”

“Okay, then. Follow my lead. We’re all good.”

                                           -----------

Sitting in your apartment free from the stuffy graduation robe that held you hostage in the late spring sun, you were beginning to realize that things were not “all good.” For the one-hundredth time since your mother and Mrs. Boseman had teamed up to lecture you and Chadwick on the dangers of excessive drinking, you cut your eyes at the man sitting beside you.

“And I know you think we don’t know, but you two aren’t good at hiding anything. We know a lot more than you think we do,” Carolyn ranted with Elaine adding a “mhmm” behind her.

“Right now, you don’t understand, but you will when you’re parenting your own kids and have to deal with them acting a fool in public.”

“Their dad can handle that. I’m gonna be a cool mom,” you mumbled.

“Chadwick, are you ready to handle that since this one will be a cool mom,” Elaine questioned.

“Me!? What do her bad kids have to do with mine?”

“Woah, Woah! My kids will not be bad! Let’s not forget that I’m the one that keeps us out of trouble.”

Carolyn and Elaine watched their offspring argue about potential parenting styles with broad smiles and a twinkle in their eye. Mothers have a way of seeing beyond the current moment, and though neither of you were privy to the knowledge they possessed, their shared intuition confirmed what they already knew.

In the kitchen, Leroy and Gerald were dealing with headaches of their own as they listened to Kevin and Tiana argue over nothing in particular. Tired of the bickering, and the rumbling in their stomach from the thought of eating after the draining ceremony, both men were prepared to put an end to the commotion around them.

“Alright, alright.”

“Hey!”

Talking ceased at their separate outbursts as both men looked at each other with surprised expressions.

“You go first, brother. I wasn’t tryin’ to interrupt you,” Gerald insisted.

“No, no. You go on ahead. This is technically your house.”

Gerald nodded before turning to the group across the apartment. “Now look, we done sat here and listened to y’all lecture these two grown ass people about drinking, and I’m tired of it. I’m ready to eat and I’m ready to eat right now, Kitty.”

“So they’re supposed to be able to do what they wanna do? Is that what you’re saying,” Carolyn asked with Elaine offering her nonverbal support with a glare at her husband.”

“Let the kids have fun. That’s what college is about. We ain’t ate since breakfast. Let it go!”

You and Chadwick shared quiet snickers at the notion that the chastisers were now being chastised. In a way, Mr. Boseman reminded you a lot of your best friend. His stance, laid-back yet oozing authority, made you think of the times he had “put his foot down” in situations where you unnecessarily argumentative. Chadwick’s mind simultaneously took in your mother’s demeanor and smiled at the near-identical posture. Elaine’s knuckles pressed into her sides with all of her weight on one leg took him back to moments when you *thought* you were scolding him for not listening while you spoke to him of leaving his shoes in the middle of the floor.

An intense battle of glares made the air thick between the parenting duos on each side of the argument until the mother’s relented with exasperated scoffs.

“Fine, Leroy! Just let the boy do whatever, I don’t care. We got a reservation to makes anyway.”

Turning on her heels, Elaine took a look at her husband and shook her head, “You spoil her, you know that? I expect you to pay the bill since she can be a drunk in public.”

“Now, Kitty-”

“I don’t wanna hear it. I have your checkbook anyway. It’ll get paid.”

Leaving Gerald stunned and Leroy in a silent fit of laughter, Elaine followed Carolyn out of the door and to the car. Gerald found the presence of mind to figuratively pick his jaw up from the ground before turning to address you and Chadwick.

“Y’all owe me.”

“You owe both of us. It doesn’t stop here. We’ll have to hear it long after y’all are out and getting drunk. Again! C’mon and get in this car before your mama blows the roof off of it.”

                                                ---------

“To the graduates,” Kevin exclaimed as he thrust his red plastic cup into the air to begin his toast. “May your careers be fruitful so you can take me to Cancun on your dime.”

“Kevin!”

“Sorry, mama,” Kevin apologized before shooting a wink your way. “We’ll talk, T.”

A careful tug to his jeans by Carolyn brought Kevin down from his standing position on the picnic table bench and back to his seat.

When your parents told you they had something special planned after your graduation dinner, you weren’t sure what to expect. Your mother hated everything about the outdoors other than her beloved sunflowers in the backyard, so desert at a nearby park was the last thing you thought you would be doing. What you assumed to be a quiet after party with close friends and family turned into a carefully planned scavenger hunt to reveal one of your graduation gifts: a used, all black Jeep Grand Cherokee with heated seats and 10 disk CD changer. Your excitement could barely be contained, though you wondered how the car would factor into the news that you still needed to share.

“Alright, Mr. Cool, it’s your turn to make a toast,” Gerald laughed, directing his comment to Chadwick who was lazily leaning against your shoulder and using his spoon to pick the pecans out of your ice cream like he always did. He knew you hated them and would take the time to make sure they “didn’t go to waste.”

Smoothing out his t-shirt, Chadwick took a moment to stand and raise his cup into the air.

“Uh, I guess I’ll start with a toast to my parents, both biological and adopted. Thanks, mama and daddy for helping me get through this with all the prayers and encouragement.”

“And money. Don’t forget all the money you cost us,” Leroy added.

“Yeah, and money.” The table shared a healthy laugh at Mr. Boseman’s interjection before Chadwick could continue. “Mrs. Elaine and Mr. Gerald, thanks for looking out for me when you could. I really appreciate it and promise to at least send a Christmas card every year, Maybe even stop by if I’m ever in the area.”

“You can’t just DeeBo my parents, Aaron.”

“Oh, hush, Tasha,” your mother answered as she waved off your comment. “Stop by anytime, Chadwick. There’ll always be some biscuits for you if Gerald doesn’t get to ‘em first.”

Your mother had been smitten with Chadwick from the night she met him, so it didn’t surprise you that she had no issue with inviting him over despite being notoriously reluctant to have guest outside of family and a select few friends inside the home.

Chadwick mirrored the way you stuck your tongue out like a child before turning his full attention to you. “Last, but not least, I wanna say thank you to my best friend in the world, even when she’s trying to tell me what to do. Without you staying up all times to help me finish projects or just making sure I had food to eat when I couldn’t always afford it, you’ve been a big part of my journey, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything. Except for some Braves tickets.”  

After lightly shoving his side, you let Chadwick pull you into a hug once he took his seat. The heat of the late Spring sun paled in comparison to heat rushing to your cheeks. Your bronze skin prevented the scarlet hues below the surface from peeking through, but not enough to your feelings from the adults around the table. Parents and siblings shared knowing looks across the table, aware of the bubbling feelings between friends.

“Alright, alright, enough hugs, you two,” Gerald announce. “Pumpkin, it’s your turn.”  

The group watched you stand and nervously run your sweaty palms down the sides of your summer dress. Chadwick paid special attention to the way your legs seemed to run for miles and thicken in the right places. He needed to remember all of his favorite parts of you to hold him when both of you split up to chase individual dreams. Charlotte, North Carolina was miles away from Harlem, and he wasn’t sure when he’d have the chance to see you again.  Kevin clearing his throat and shooting him a playful glare brought Chadwick back to reality.

“I promise not to be long winded like Reverend C. Boseman over here,” you joked, earning an eye roll from Chadwick. “Thank you, Mommy and Daddy, for everything you’ve done to help me to this point. I love you guys so much. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Boseman, for being my parents away from home and liking me more than Chadwick.”

“Ma, tell her that’s not true!”

“Hush, boy. Don’t be rude. Continue, CoCo.”

Again, Chadwick rolled his eyes, earning a light giggle from you. “Aaron, even though you get on my last nerve, thank you for always being there when I needed you. I can’t wait to tear up the city with you in a few weeks.”

Chadwick’s eyes widened at your revelation, matching the bewildered expression on your parent’s faces.

“Is Chadwick moving to Charlotte?”

“He sure as hell better not be,” Leroy mumbled as he took a sip from his cup. “His ass is going to Harlem.”

“Leroy!”

“Leroy, hell!”

“Tasha, what are you talking about? Explain yourself.”

Taking a deep breath, you turned your attention to your mother, “I am...no longer taking the internship in Charlotte. I decided to take a paid entry-level position in New Jersey with the Nets. I’ll be 20 minutes away from Manhattan and closer to you.” Your explanation ended with a smile at Chadwick that he gladly returned.

You were two weeks away from packing your car in preparation for a new life in Charlotte. The lease was set to be signed in three days, and your parents had already reached out to family and friends in the area to provided you with a safety net for when they couldn’t be around. The plan was in motion, and up until a week before graduation, you were excited about the new journey. But, when the opportunity came knocking for an immediate opening with an organization in desperate need of new ideas and an entry-level assistant complete with an above average salary and a relocation package, you answered the call. The idea of being closer to the man you were secretly in love with was an added bonus.

Chadwick could no longer contain his excitement as he bolted up from his seat to wrap his arms around you and lift you from the ground.

“Oh my, God, Co! Are you being a jackass or really telling the truth?”

“I’m telling the truth,” you answered while giggling at the way he playfully tickled your sides. “I was gonna tell you this morning, but I figured I’d let everyone know at the same time. I hope you’re not mad mama and daddy.”

Elaine and Gerald stared at each other, occasionally looking across the table at Carolyn and Leroy who were just as confused.

“Well, I ain’t mad,” Tiana exclaimed to break the tension. “Can I come stay with you for Spring Break, T?”

“No!”

“Yes.”

Tiana looked between you and Chadwick for a concrete answer to her question. “Are y’all gonna do me like Mom and Dad? I’ll just stay home if it’s gonna turn into all that.”

“You can’t tell her she can stay at my place, Aaron. Let her stay at yours if you want her to come so bad!”

“Stay at home. Tiana. That nigga is broke already and he ain’t even moved yet,” Kevin answered.

Chadwick opened his mouth to respond before being cut off by your mother.

“Tasha, while I’m excited for you, I’m a little worried. Where will you live? You don’t have any family that far north. How will you adjust on such short notice? Do you even know exactly where you’ll work?”

“We just want you to be safe, Pumpkin.”

“I understand, Daddy, but I have it all figured out! The team has found me housing that I think you guys will approve of, and they’ve committed to five months of relocation. I’ve spoken to my direct supervisor and they’re excited to have me on board. As far as family, I have Chadwick and Kevin. They’re like family, right?”

Silence hung in the air as your parents attempted to process the new information. Reaching over the table, Carolyn gave Elaine’s hand a squeeze.

“We’ll make sure she’s alright. You don’t have to worry.”

“If it’s one thing I taught my boys, it’s how to stick together. They’ll take care of her.”

With reassurance from newfound friends, Elaine and Gerald turned to you with a smile.

“Well, alright! My Pumpkin is moving to the city. I don’t know how we’ll get a damn car that far North, but we’ll figure it out!”

The brief moment of commotion at the table allowed Chadwick to pull you away from the table inconspicuously to walk toward the nearby fountain.

Chadwick stole glances at you along the way, sporting a goofy smile that you didn’t notice until you turned to speak to him.

“What are you smiling about, Ashy?”

“You specifically told me the North was way too cold for you. Six months later, you’re moving to New Jersey. You were gonna miss me too much, huh?”

“What,” you exclaimed, feigning confusion. “I moved to work with my favorite team!”

“You hate the Nets. You called Scott Burrell a fucking bum the other day.”

“I did not!” Chadwick quirked his eyebrow at your blatant lie, waiting for you to come clean. Dropping the act, you let out a short laugh and looked away. “Okay, so, yeah, I would miss you a little bit. A lot, actually. But, this was also a better opportunity! Who knows the places I’ll end up with this type of experience?”

“You’ll go wherever you want, Champ. I’m happy for you.” Chadwick used his fist to nudge your shoulder before taking a seat beside you on the edge of the fountain. Extending his arm, he pointed toward the picnic table to direct your attention to the conversation between both sets of parents. “What you think they’re over there talking about?”

“Knowing my mama, she’s talking your mama’s head off about me and you being together again and all the trouble we might get into.”

“She’d be correct, then.” A sly smile slid across Chadwick’s face, worrying you with what was going on in his overactive mind.

“Oh, no. No. Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no.”

“C’mon! Give me a second to explain!”

While Chadwick attempted to pull you into one of his plans for a fun outing in New York, conversations of the future transpired between the Boseman and Greene families. In a way, Chadwick was right. They were discussing your futures together, but in a wildly different context.

“So, who do you think will be the one to own up to their feelings first,” Carolyn asked. “My money is on my son.”

“Really? I’m betting on Tasha. I’m surprised she’s gone this long with her feelings hidden. She usually wears her heart on her sleeve.”

“Whoever says it first, just know it’s tradition for the bride’s father to pay for the wedding.”

“Don’t remind me,” Gerald groaned. “Just make sure y’all tell us about every movie Chadwick writes or stars in so we can add to this wedding fund. If they’re both wealthy, we won’t have much to worry about.”

The table erupted in laughter before all four heads turned to look over at the spirited banter between old friends and budding lovers.

Raising his glass, Leroy proposed the last toast of the evening.

“To family. We’re happy to have y’all on board.”

Elaine and Gerald followed suit with raised cups and proud smiles. “To family.”

                                          __________

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#Chadwick Boseman #chadwick boseman imagine #chadwick boseman x reader #chad x coco #coco x chad

[austinshairbrush]

could you write something where you take nick to one of your family cookouts to meet your family for the first time

A/N: AHHHH!!! One for my Lil WhiteBoy!! I hope it’s ok I put a lil southern twang on it.  And for my Zion requesters I see you I will post them either really late or tomorrow morning cause I wanna get them perfect  

“Y/N IS HERE!!! And she brought some white boy?!”your cousin yelled your announcement to the whole family.

 And yes you brought some white boy: Nick Mara. You guys have been dating for almost a year, and he hasn’t met your family. You met him in Jersey, and you left knowing how to cook his Italian favorites. It’s not like you were ashamed, it’s just no boy was good enough for your family. But they would love Nick, because you loved him.

“Ok baby, are you ready?”you asked for the ninth time that day. ““Yes boo I’m ready! Let’s go inside?”he pulled your arm to the door. ““Wait! Before we go in so you remember the rules?” ““Yes baby: watch out for Auntie Angie, cause she loves men who are in relationships, Uncle Gerald will talk me to death if he’s off the henny, and your cousin is upset with white people callin the police on black people, so she’ll call the police on me if I look at her for too long. Are you ready”Nick joked. “Ooooh!! I’m so proud of my baby!”you squealed. ““You’re ready. Let’s go.” You guys walked into the house. ““Hey everyone!!”you yelled earning a few ““hey y/n! 

““My baby! She home!” Your mother wasn’t the first to hug you. ““Oh my God! Everything but that BOOTY had gotten small! Have you been eating?”your mother twirled you around.

““Aww hush Sharlene! And let me hug my baby girl!!” ““DADDY!!”you yelled. You gave your parents a big hug and answered your aunts and uncles questions. You were so caught up in 20 different conversations, you forgot about Nick. Your cousin Trevante, was the the first to notice.

““Uhh who the hell is this white boy? Baby the white family’s mailbox is 204 not 104!”he yelled. ““This white boy is my boyfriend Tre. Everyone this is Nick!”you introduced your family to the love of your life. ““Hey everyone.” Nick awkwardly stood there. It was quiet for a minute then greetments erupted the room. Everyone rushed over to hug Nick, and welcome him. “How long have you guys been together?” Your mom asked. ““Almost a year ma’am.” Nick proudly answered . ““And you haven’t brought him home? I outta whoop you!”your mom joked. ““Well Nick. Consider yourself home and fix you a plate. Everything is done.”your mom said  leading you two to the kitchen where Auntie Angie was sitting. 

“Is that my favorite niece?!”your aunt squeaked, running over to hug you. ““Hey aunt Angela.”you dry said giving her a church hug. She didn’t seem to notice though, her eyes were on Nick. ““And who might you be?” She showcase her cleavage. ““I’m Nick. Y/N’s boyfriend.” He put his arm around your waist. “I see you Y/N! Say Nick are you Italian?”your aunt asked. ““Yea how did you know?” ““I know my men.”she purred. “Oooooh! Y/N got her a spicy white!”your cousin Trevante interrupted. ““Angela sit yo drunk ass down and let them eat!” Tre was the only one to be rude to your aunt or any elders. He didn’t care if you were old or young; if you were a wack bitch he was gonna he disrespect you. ““Now come on y’all come fix you a plate!” The first thing Nick noticed was the Mac and cheese. “Y/N, what’s this?” ““Oh that’s Mac and cheese.” You answered. ““Are you sure? This doesn’t look like macaroni.” ““That’s cause it doesn’t come out if a box.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After you guys ate you went outside to the porch where there was music playing. You were comfortably sitting in Nick’s lap listening to the crickets when you heard the intro to “Back that Azz Up” you quickly jumped up with you other cousins and started throwing that ass in a circle. Nick just stared at you. You were wearing that yellow off the shoulder sundress that made it easier for him to slip his hand through. And the way that ass was moving! If he wasn’t in front of your family specifically your father, he would’ve taken you by the hips and-

““Whew! Haven’t heard that in a while! Daddy can you get me a bottle of water please?”you asked out of breathe. All of a sudden your father and Nick’s ass stood up at the same time. There was a stare off between the two to see who would move. The whole backyard was quiet to see if nick would be bold enough to move. Nick puffed out his chest and went to the cooler to get you your bottle of water. He didn’t break contact from you father the whole time. ““Here you go baby.” Nick kissed your cheek just to say “Yea I be blowin your daughters back out. Every. Night” “Oooh!! Y/N be gettin that lil pepperoni stick!” Your cousin tried to high five you. 

“Shit” is all you said. 

A/N: Comment and remember request are open!!