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scaraaamouche · 3 months

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trios dont work. // satosugu x reader (business AU)

test to see how people like this idea

✦ Pairing: satoru gojo x suguru geto x afab!reader (she/her)

✦ Summary: trios dont work, and nine years later consequences hit

✦ Warnings: alcoholism, mention of death (mamagumi), passing out due to alcohol consumption, abandonment, clubs dunno what else lmk

✦ A/n: this so far isnt done yet, ive been writing a mucchhhh longer version since october, but i wanna see if you guys like this idea so lmk in the comments if yall want more so i can post the whole thing

✦ Wordcount: 2905

✦ ATTENTION!!! do not copy. translate, remake my work, i do not give you permission to so dont do it. also GIF not mine, credits to the creator.

full post!!!

nine years. It had been nine years.

The first year felt unrealistic. It was strange. going from being side by side with each other almost 24/7 to no contact at all. [Name] didn’t know what she did wrong, just that one day Satoru and Suguru decided they didn’t want her in their life anymore.

She remembered everything of their last day together, every once in a while it would suddenly pop back up into her head, but in that first year, it replayed again and again; every day.

“Suguru!” [Name] had called out to one of the two teenage boys as she caught up to them “hi!”

Suguru flung his arm around the girl's shoulders, pulling her into his side as she greeted Satoru.

“Where have you been, doll? We were looking for you.”

[Name] laughed as she grabbed their hands and pulled them along. “Shoko and I accidentally forgot to sleep, so when I did fall asleep around ten I was doomed to wake up late.”

The two boys looked at each other and smiled, the little ball of sunshine walking in front still pulling them along.

“So four hours of sleep and already this energetic? you still gotta teach me that trick.” Satoru commented as he looked at her, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She replied with a ‘real magicians don’t explain their best tricks’

After they walked for a while, they finally reached the top of a mountain, looking down on the city below.

The beginning of summer break celebration was going on, kids from their private school and from public schools in the city came together to celebrate. Many people crowded the streets, there was music, and they could see everything perfectly.

“look who knows the best spots once again”

They had spent the entire afternoon on the top of that mountain since classes were canceled due to the celebration, their fellow students were down there, having fun.

But as they were probably dancing and partying; Satoru took on the challenge to chase [Name] around the hill, she yelped and ran behind the other boy, clutching to the back of his shirt for protection as she heard the two boys negotiate.

“Don’t you dare Suguru,” she warned, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. He placed one of his hands on hers and suddenly pulled her to the front. “Not you too please! ah!” she yelped, but the next moment she was giggling, she could never stand a chance against their tickle war. Ever since they found out she was very ticklish a few years ago it had become a thing for them to annoy her with. Whenever it was if she were sad, annoyed, angry, or if they felt like it, the boys would look at each other and [Name] would run instantly if she saw. (Which she most of the time didn’t and fell into their grasp giggling.)

Later at night they went back to the school, they had watched the sun set, then the fireworks, and then [name] and Satoru listened and looked in awe as Suguru pointed out constellations in the night sky. It was perfect.

At some point her eyes fell and she slept. The black haired boy looked down at her sleeping on Satoru's shoulder before giving a sad smile.

“She will never forgive us.”

“But at least we'll protect her.”

The next morning when [name] woke up in the room she shared with Shoko there was a little note on her nightstand.

‘you’re gonna be okay’ in Satoru’s messy and rushed handwriting. She got dressed and ran out of her room, looking for her best friends. what did Satoru mean with that she was gonna be okay?

She looked all over the grounds, the dining hall, library, common rooms, classrooms, the fields and gardens. Eventually she decided to also check their dorm. Girls and boys weren’t originally allowed in each other's dorm rooms, but since everyone was packing their stuff for summer the teachers didn’t care. So she followed the familiar path towards the boys their shared room. The posters were gone from their door, but they probably took those down first she thought. [name] knocked on the door, no reaction. She opened the door to find it completely empty except for the furniture that belonged to the school.

Graduation was next week, why were they moved out already? For the last few years they always did that together. Where were they? As she turned around and bumped into Nanami, he looked just as confused as he took in the empty room.

He looked at her, his mouth opening but no sound coming out. She knew what he was gonna ask, “They’re putting their stuff into the car or?”

She showed him the note in her hand and Nanami just got more question marks behind his eyes.

For a week she wondered where they were, she held hope they’d come knocking on her temporary apartment building her parents owned as she waited in the city for graduation. However; no knock came, no call, no letter or note, nothing. Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru disappeared from the radar.

When graduation rolled around word went round that Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru would not be attending. They had waited for this moment for she didn’t know how long. Plans were made to go out with their other friends after, they had plans for the future! But now, instead of her two best friends cheering on her louder than anyone else as she held her valedictorian speech, her other friends cheered double as hard. They knew she’d been struggling this week. Shoko had crashed at her temporary apartment since she didn’t want to deal with her parents. Nanami also came by daily, and if they hadn’t been there, no one would’ve known what would’ve happened to [name].

The second year was still unbearable. [Name] worked a lot, saving money, attending college, going out with her friends on the weekends. She often found herself looking to her sides, expecting to see one of her two former best friends walking there. She always looked for them in crowds, she looked everywhere, but they were nowhere to be found.

In the third year [name] finally figured out her future. She was in her third year but decided to drop out. She saved a lot of money, and she was relatively well off so she bought a building in the busy city and within six months the place opened to a magnificent night club and partially a cafe two times a week. It took a lot of promotion, and a lot of patience until the place blew up.

In just the first year that it opened, she gained so much she paid off the entire loan of the building. It hit off with people her age, and at just nineteen [name] was going to become one of the youngest millionaires of her time, she just didn’t know it yet.

Her friends loved the place too, and they were immensely proud of [name] after what she had gone through a few years prior. She proved to the world that the only person she truly needed was herself and that she could do whatever she wanted to.

The second year after opening the fourth without Gojo and Geto [name] opened a second location of her club across the world in Los Angeles.

And now nine years later, and six locations in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, NYC, Paris and London [Name] had in fact become the fastest growing self made millionaire at her age. She lived in Beverly Hills, had her own place designed and built and she was living the life.

Now; in her bathroom it was still a calm Saturday night but she knew that in an hour she would be in her own club, observing the people as she sipped on her drink. Saturdays were the busiest; first day of the weekend but that also meant a lot of money.

“Scarlett?” [name] called out to her assistant who walked towards the entrance of the bathroom. “Take two weeks off, alright? Paid vacation of course, take your wife anywhere you want, put it on my bill. It’s summer and you haven’t been on a break since last year. It’s not up for debate.” She was fixing the last strands of her hair before turning towards the woman in her doorframe who looked a bit ill at her words. “Now, how do I look?” she gave Scarlett a smile.

“As beautiful as always. And… Are you sure you’ll be fine? I mean… Two weeks is a lot.” Scarlett loved her job, not because it paid well, or because her boss was very generous. She loved her job because her boss felt more like a close friend rather than a boss.

“You’re right, make it three weeks. You deserve it, you and your wife both. I’ll be fine, I know how to start a washer and dryer, I know how to do the dishes. What else would I need? Now, have fun on your vacation, you better send me pics, and have fun! I gotta get going now though cause I'm already late.”

Scarlett still looked a bit sick as she bid farewell to her boss, but at least she could finally take a break, which she was too shy to admit she actually needed.

[Name] walked through the front door of the club, she didn’t pick favorites is what she told others, but the location here in LA and the one in Paris were definitely her favorites of the six she owned. The music was beaming, lights flashing and the scent of alcohol and sweat hung in the air. Security guards nodded at her in a silent greeting as she made her way to her office, one of them trailing her for her own protection. Tonight was going to be a good night, she thought as she poured herself a drink, quickly drowning it before taking a glance at the paperwork that had been assembled on her desk during the last few days. She’d take it home when she left tonight. The security guard opened the door again and waited for her to lock it, after she gave him the signal he didn’t have to trail her tonight.

She walked past the VIP area, making some small conversations with people she’d seen before. There were new faces too, there always were. All different types of ‘em too. It was a safe space as well as a club. She stopped at Toji’s table, how he and her met was a long story. Everyone at [Name] her boarding school knew of the Zen’in family and their generations at the school, same as the Gojo family, as well as her own. She’d seen him here at the club one day a few years ago, standing at the bar and damn he looked familiar she had thought. It soon clicked in her head and she walked up to him.

“Zen’in?” she had called as she stood behind him.

“Fushiguro now actually, took my wife's last name.” he said as he turned around, looking at the young woman in front of him. “Wait,” he had studied her face, until his eyes landed on the obvious giveaway of her family “[last name]?”. She nodded and smiled in response to his guess. “Never thought I’d see one of you all the way out here.”

“Well, someone has to be the millionaire of the family.” Toji’s eyes widened as he asked for more details, giving an impressed grin when he found out she was the owner.

“You got it good, girl. I wouldn’t have suspected you to be the type.”

“Hello again, it’s been a while.” She sat down on the couch next to him, observing the people as they danced to the music. There were some empty glasses in front of him but Toji seemed rather sober.

“[Last name], you look good tonight.” he gave her a grin, it had been a few years since his wife died, the first few years were a mess for him, he was in here every night drinking away his grief. But over the years he had come to accept her passing and actually started taking care of his son again. Now he came every weekend, mostly just Saturdays since that's when his son was at his friends’ or godfathers house. “Thank you,” she smiled at him, smoothing out the satin dress on her body. “How’s Megs?” She hadn’t seen either of them ‘cause they’d been residing in Japan for a while. Toji smiled at the mention of his son. It took him too long to realize that the little boy was his light in life, his wife lived on in him and oh he was amazing.

“He’s fine, great actually. He graduated from Jujutsu High a few weeks ago…” as Toji said that an old but familliar scent hit [name] her nostrils and she immediately turned her head around but didn’t find what she smelled. “It was amazing to see him receive his diploma. To be really honest, a few years ago I thought I’d never be back at that place again after I graduated years and years ago myself.”

“He’s so grown up already, I can remember when you told me he just started.” [Name] turned her head back towards her friend with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. “And to be fair, I don’t think I’ll ever return to Jujutsu High again, no matter the reason.” there was a reason- there were simply too many memories there that she had tried her hardest to forget. Those memories being the ones she just smelled.

The mixed scent of sweet floral yet strong cologne and a really overwhelming smell of pine and vanilla still hung faintly in the air.

It can’t be, she thought. Her mind was just playing tricks on her because Toji had her remember things she didn’t want to. There’s no way.

Yet when she bid farewell to Toji and walked towards the bar she smelled it again. The bartenders didn’t look up when she walked behind the bar and poured herself a drink, yet she overheard their conversations.

“That man's eyes… wow! I’ve never seen anyone with eyes that bright!”

It’s not him. They’re not here.

“But the other one! His shoulders… my god.”

[Name] walked away before she’d drive herself insane over this. There was no way they were here. If they were, she would’ve spotted them already. Even though a decade can change a lot about a person; Gojo’s bright blue eyes and bright hair and Geto’s long dark hair and muscled figure always stood out, especially when together.

She wasn’t even sure if they’d regcronise her. She cut her hair, the final stages of puberty hit her later so she got some more curves and flesh, her style had changed and so had her personality. Though deep down she knew that if she’d ever see those two boys again, she’d turn back into her old bubbly self if it took too long. She always had a soft spot for them, no matter what happened or how much she denied it, they would always be a part of her past. Toji had also once told her she walked around like she owned the place, to which she replied that she did. He’d given her credit for the remark and she’d told him to put things on her tab that night.

With a racing heart she went back to observing the crowds. Walking alongside tables, along the dancefloor, everywhere.

Theres no way these two fucks still wear the same cologne after years.

She sipped her drink, it burned in her throat, but it wasn't unpleasant. She walked towards the staircase for staff and security. All the way up it overlooked the layout of the building and she could spot things easier.

I’m going to drive myself insane by looking for people that aren’t-

Her train of thoughts stopped when she saw a mob of bright white hair, she stared at it for ten seconds before looking at the person's face and she felt her head get light, looking besides him she saw a familiar black haired man.

Fuck.

She turned around, not being able to look anymore. The top of the stairs wasn't lit, so the chance they would’ve seen her was slim, very slim. [Name] sunk to the ground and drowned her drink in one go, this time the burn lasted longer and she closed her eyes. A few years ago she had promised herself that if she’d ever find them in her club- her property, she’d get them kicked out. Yet now that she found them, that seemed impossible. She couldn’t just walk up to them and tell them to get out of here.

Why not?

Why not? There was no reason as to why not. As she said, it was her property, she could do whatever she wanted and before she realized it herself she was already making her way to the table they were sitting at.

The music seemed to dim, the world became clearer yet also blurrier as she stood in front of them.

“Get the fuck out of my place.” she said, there was anger and aggression in her voice as she looked at them. “Now.”

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lmk what you think of this in the comments so i can post the whole thing!!!! OH AND LMK IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED IN THE FULL THING ONCE I POST IT :3

#satosugu #gojo x reader #geto x reader #satosugu x reader #gojo satoru x reader #geto suguru x reader #geto suguru #gojo satoru #satoru gojo #suguru geto #gojo x reader smut #geto x reader smut #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jujutsu kaisen

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snaillock · 4 months

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prompt 1 and/or 6 w Shidou or Karasu x male! reader? i’m fine w gn! as well :)) thank youu <33

this was supposed to be a halloween themed fic since i got this in october but….. also can’t believe ive never written for shidou b4 holy shit

prompt 1: "what are you do-" "look, now we match!" (feat. shidou ryusei) tags: male!reader

event masterlist

you stood outside in the dark for god knows how long until you finally saw your boyfriend’s car pull up to the curb. you opened the door and quickly got in to escape the cold.

“took you long en- ah! oh god!” you yelped as you took in the sight before you. your odd eccentric little boyfriend, shidou, in the driver’s seat. not only was his face completely covered in face paint, making his usual tanned skin completely white, but it also had a red line of lipstick smeared across his lips, paired with dark smokey eyeshadow. all of that topped off with bright green hair worn down which was a very rare sight.

“jesus christ ryu… why do you look like that? why are you dressed as the joker?” you asked frantically, “don’t we have a party to get to right now?”

“chill out babe… it’s a costume party anyway,” he grinned at your startled reaction, “i didn’t tell you before ‘cause you would totally back out if i did.”

“yeah, you’re right. i definitely would,” you let out a resigned sigh before running your fingers through his now neon green hair. “did you really dye your hair for this costume?” you asked.

“don’t worry,” shidou said nonchalantly, slightly leaning into the touch, “it’s just a temporary dye. one wash and i’ll be back to normal.”

“right, ‘normal,’” you muttered before checking if any green got on your hand. which thankfully, none did. “well i don’t have any costume and i don’t wanna be that fucking guy who shows up to a costume party with no costume so i guess we just gotta cancel plans.” you said, in hopes you can finally escape the party you just didn’t feel like attending.

“wait! don’t worry, i got the perfect thing for that! just close your eyes,” shidou said before rustling through a shopping bag he had in the back seat.

“oh god,” you mumbled before hesitantly closing your eyes, “what are you do-“

you grunted when your words got interrupted by his hands slipping something onto your head and over your face.

“tada!” he said triumphantly as he released whatever hard plasticky material he just placed over your head, “look, now we match!”

you glanced at the overhead mirror to see a mask now on your face, specifically a batman mask. the hard black material stopping right above your nostrils. it suited the long black coat that you just so happened to wear tonight very well, too well actually.

“ryu… are we really going to this party as batman and the joker?” you said apprehensively as you stared at yourself in the mirror with a subtle scowl, unsure of going out like this.

“yeah, come on! it’s just another one of my genius ideas.” he leaned over and wrapped his arm around your shoulders while you glared at him, knowing how his “genius” plans usually go.

you rolled your eyes, though deep down his antics had you feeling slightly amused. you then sighed, “oh what am i gonna do with you, ryu?”

he admired the way you two looked in the tiny mirror with a large grin on his face exaggerated by his dramatic makeup. “god, we look fucking awesome. we’re gonna be the hottest couple in there.”

he then gave you a big and obnoxiously loud kiss on your cheek, leaving a red lip print behind, before starting up the car.

“woah ryu, you’re about to cause a big scandal if batman gets caught kissing the joker.” you let out a soft laugh, playing into his antics, as you wiped the makeup off with your hand. the crack in your unsure demeanor only makes him laugh along with you.

“oh we are so winning the costume contest i signed us up for.”

“wait, you did what?!”

i looked up batman masks on google images and i’m giggling why do they look so fucking goofy

taglist(sign up here!): @leosxrealm @lucas2060 @kiiyoooo @remy-roll @maochira @catmisu @stxxrboy

#★ snail.writes ★#blue lock x reader #shidou x reader #shidou ryusei x reader #blue lock x male reader #shidou x male reader #blue lock fluff #blue lock drabbles #bllk x reader #bllk x male reader

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brostateexam · 16 days

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Have not been saying much for a while because everything is hard.

I. My BiL has had c diff three times now and after the third time the oncologist decided to take a damn the torpedoes approach because they were wasting weeks that should have been devoted to chemo because he was too sick and too weak to withstand outpatient treatment. I haven't seen him irl since December but my mom says he looks rough and if his immune system is so messed up that he keeps getting c diff idk that I really want to visit him. What if I get him sick?

All of this is background to me, though, because mostly I'm invested in my sister. She wants to divorce him. He needs to be better enough that she won't face ostracization for doing so. I am invested in him getting better enough for that to proceed for her sake.

II. Something about my relationship with my mom has been bothering me and I finally figured out what it is: everything is equally important to her. She doesn't prioritize anything. If I am having a tough time and ask for help she'll say "well I'm busy every day this week but I can come over next week in Thursday for ninety minutes" and then when she comes over I ask her what she was up to, both to make conversation and because I'm nosy, and it's like... she volunteered for a clothing drive at the synagogue. She went grocery shopping. She went to a farmer's market. Thanks for fitting me into your schedule, I guess! Glad to know I am on the same level as farm fresh tomatoes.

III. I have been having a really tough time of it for the last few months. The vacation in Mexico was... Not restful. Shane had a seizure on the plane and I spent the first two days managing logistics related to that (and navigating the extra ~$2k I spent covering his medical costs while on the trip). His back is still fucked up almost two months later and so I get to do extra housework and chores because he can't lift or bend without being in pain.

IV. Resultant to III, I had a really awful period of about a month with an online friend who started being super short and terse with me because I've been around online less. It was really clear he felt like I was ditching him to go hang out with my cool friends or something, instead of the reality of the situation: I'm cleaning litter boxes and doing yard work and changing the sheets on the bed aka #livingthedream. I told him about all the stuff that was going on but it was clear he didn't believe me or resented my absence nevertheless. This came to a head with me basically texting him an essay about why he was being a bad friend. In a turn of good news, he listened, and apologized, and we mended fences. That was nice because I just don't know how much more bad news I can take right now.

V. I've been struggling with work but really it's just. My boss. My coworkers like me. My project sponsors like me. My skip level likes me. My exec likes me. It's just him. We don't have a good relationship and I don't know how to fix it. I don't know that it is fixable. This is a problem because this is the guy I need in my corner to advance my career and I don't know that he'll do that for me. The alternative is leaving my company, which sounds attractive on paper but in practice the job market is so so bad and it's just so discouraging. The idea of a new job sounds incredible. I wish I could do that. Maybe even a career change.

VI. Unfortunately, that's not gonna happen because of financial pressures. NGL, as much as I like my house (and I do -- I love its little windows, I love my pink dining nook and green bedroom, I love the mature fruit trees and pretty backyard full of wildflowers), I wish i had the cash in hand, instead. I feel trapped here, and like I'm making the most of it. That's a shit feeling to have.

VII. I've started regaining weight. Not a lot. Fifteen pounds since October. But it's scaring me. It's making me wonder if this whole surgery thing was pointless because I can't seem to stop myself from wanting to eat myself to death. So I'm trying to beat it back without resorting to "diet culture behaviors" (read: disordered eating) and that's tough.

There could be a separate post for things that are going well perhaps, but this is what's going not so well and it feels like a lot. Sometimes it feels like too much.

#*eating disorder #*cancer #*money

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girasollake · 2 years

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on my own | e.m.

pairing: eddie munson x fem! reader

type: angst lmao

requested: nope

summary: a fic based on the song dancing on my own by calum scott, where the reader is jealous of chrissy

warnings: pure angst, curse words, one mention of sex which is not that important

a/n: this was fun and this idea popped into my head like an hour ago, hope you guys enjoy it cause ive always wanted to write a fic based on a song

If someone had told her a few months before that at this moment she would be crying over a stupid boy, she wouldn’t have believed them. All of this was weird, one day she was in his room listening to some songs he wrote and the next she couldn’t visit him because of her. (Y/n) didn’t even register when all of that had happened. So there she was, laying on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks and smudging her mascara all over.

Somebody said you got a new friend.

It was October when she first had met Chrissy Cunningham. Colourful leaves were surrounding the group, they were all enjoying their break on a bench in the middle of the woods. That’s when he introduced her to them and (Y/n) tried her best to be nice, but it wasn’t hard, she couldn’t dislike the cheerleader. She was cute, nice, smart and so innocent. Well, not exactly innocent since she took away the closest person (Y/n) had ever had.

Does she love you better than I can?

Chrissy took a seat in front of (Y/n) and held out her hand.

‘Hi, I’m Chrissy.’ She said with the most adorable smile.

‘(Y/n), pleasure.’ She shook her hand and gave her a side smile.

She tried her best to not pay attention to them but it was hard. They were both lost in a conversation right in front of her, their soft laughs mixing together. (Y/n) was talking to Gareth who was sitting next to her in order to mute Eddie’s voice but she still found herself distracted at every movement she saw from the corner of her eye.

I know where you’re at, I bet she’s around.

(Y/n) had always been invited to their gigs, it was her favourite time of the week. She could spend time with the people she was closest to, especially Eddie. Watching him perform was amazing, he gave it all he had during the shows. Then, when Chrissy started coming to the Hideout, (Y/n) was kind of happy because she could talk to her and exchange opinions. That was still the time when Chrissy and Jason were a thing. Two months had passed and the whole school started talking about their breakup. (Y/n) saw that Chrissy wasn’t particularly moved by the end of her relationship, but she hadn’t paid much attention to that.

And yeah I know it’s stupid.

But I just gotta see it, for myself.

They had never announced if they were in a relationship, but (Y/n) knew. She saw how his hand sneaked around her waist some times, how he would kiss her cheek when he thought no one was around, how he would cancel their Sacred Saturday’s to be with Chrissy. Eddie hadn’t told (Y/n) that the blonde girl was the reason of his absence, but it was pretty obvious, at least to her.

I’m in the corner, watching you kiss her,

I’m right over here, why can’t you see me?

She didn’t understand why he chose her. She was there first, she was his shoulder to cry on, his best friend, his sword, shield, literally anything he wanted her to be. She would’ve sailed across the ocean if he asked her to. And yet, she wasn’t the one he had given his heart to. All this time when they were meeting up in a larger group, she tried her best to not glare at them and their intertwined hands. She wished so bad that it was her he touched, kissed, hugged, but she wasn’t.

And I’m giving it my all, but I’m not the girl you’re taking home.

Sometimes after their concerts Eddie had invited (Y/n) to his house for a sleepover. And so when he had asked Chrissy that question, with (Y/n) standing next to them, she had almost burst into tears.

‘Hey, you wanna come back to my place after we finish?’ She heard him say to Chrissy.

She just giggled and nodded her head. Eddie didn’t even look at (Y/n), it was like she had become a ghost.

And I’m all messed up, I’m so out of line.

When she was laying in her bed, Eddie and Chrissy were spending their two months anniversary with the rest of the gang. (Y/n) had went to the gathering but she had left just as quickly.

‘So, since when are you guys together?’ Jeff nudged Eddie’s arm and took a sip of his beer.

‘Um, actually it’s two months, today’ He smiled and took the drink from Jeff’s hand.

(Y/n) was next to Jeff and she was slowly sipping her own beverage, Chrissy was in the other room talking to one of her friends.

‘Tell me man, what’s it like to be dating the Hawkins Princess?’ Jeff chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows.

‘It’s amazing, she is amazing.’ Eddie whispered but it was loud enough for (Y/n) to hear.

‘Jeff do you have some weed?’ She asked suddenly.

‘Since when do you smoke?’ Eddie interfered.

‘Since when do you care?’ She hissed which took him aback. ‘So? Can I have some?’ Her head turned to Jeff.

‘Um, yeah, yeah, here you go.’ He said and pulled out two blunts out of his bag. ‘You need a lighter?’

‘Nah, I’m good. Thanks.’ She said and headed outside of Gareth’s house.

She didn’t want to come back there, all she wanted was to be alone. Her legs took her to the closest bus stop and she entered the first one that was heading in the direction of her home. The whole ride she tried her best to not break down right then and there. Her head started showing her images it came up with to make her even sadder. Eddie kissing Chrissy, Eddie touching Chrissy, Eddie fucking Chrissy. What was she better at than (Y/n)? She never understood that because Eddie was just like her, she had always thought they were made for each other. They had a similar style, music taste and they both played guitar. Her mind wandered to the first time she saw Eddie play, that’s when she had decided she wants to do that to. She had saved up for it and soon she had found herself in Eddie’s trailer, the boy teaching her how to play. She finally saw her neighbourhood which threw her out of her depressive thoughts. (Y/n) stood up and left the bus at the closest stop, she then ran towards her house.

‘Honey is everything okay?’ One of her parents asked when she entered the house. ‘The dinner is ready if you want some!’

But she was already running up the stairs, too sad to even think about food.

‘I’m not hungry, sorry!’ She screamed and shut her door.

She walked over to her bed and took a seat, then all of the things came back and hit her twice as hard which brings us to the situation at the very top. She finally sat up again and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She reached into her pocket and took one of the blunts, she then opened the window and searched for a lighter in her desk. When she found it she took a seat on her window sill and lit up the herbs. The first puff she took hurt her lungs and throat a bit, she wasn’t used to the feeling, but after a few she finally felt the relaxation. She contemplated smoking the other one but she decided to leave it for another day. She sighed and throwing away the rest of the joint she went to sleep not bothering to take off her clothes or make up.

I keep dancing on my own.

taglist: @r93339 @stvrdustalexx @cursedandromedablack @ccosmic-illusion @luvwanda @justice4lils @heizenka @wolfstarsimpxx @miss-bloodbath @screambih @lyntic @freeshavocadoooo @laracrof7s @naturalswifty89 @bvmbshell @alainabooks143 @squidwardsluverxx @phantomxoxo @insomniac-nerd-posts-things @stilesks @ilovedilfs32 @kaitlin-r130 @greengarsstuff @axen-gers @088i880 @ilovefictionalbrunettes

#stranger things #imagine #x reader #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson angst #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #joseph quinn

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lefetfritos · 1 month

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hi ive seen ur stuff pop up whenever i search for half-life things and the tags always make me throw my head back. im so curious. may i ask what the portal to hell au is about. i mean this in a positive way i promise.

HI! YEAH! THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG POST

The portal to hell au was orignaly meant to just be an au fully combing portal and half life instead of there just being a few refrences to each other like in the game, but i also wanted an excuse to use a specific g-man design i made

The main premise of the au is that chell replaces gordons role in half life two because portal 2 happens around the same time gordon would normally get out of stasis in hl2.

Gordon is fully working under g-man along side adrian and never fully gets let out of stasis. The only reason g-man even employed gordon was because he knew gordon was wallaces kid, and g-man hates wallace.

Gordon never takes up any role in the resistance, and the only reason hes fighting against the combine and wallace is for g-man. Chell does take up a role in the resistance however and completeley takes the role of what gordon does in hl2.

And for the final sibling, john, his role is similae to barneys except while alot nicer than the other combine, hes not undercover for the resistance in anyway, but does support them. He eventually does completeley stop working for the combine and joins the resistance after chell is able to convince him however.

I also wanted to give wallace a reason to become the representative for humanity. Instead of him just being the manipulative asshole like he is in the game (he still kind of is one but thats besides the point) i wanted to make it so he had someone pressuring him into taking that role, so i gave him a dad.

His dad , William Breen (not a permanet name) only wanted wallace to take his job and continue the “family tradition” of becoming a higher up at black mesa, but wallace didnt really want that, which is where g-man comes in.

Gene (G-man) and wallace had been friends since highschool, and Gene had always known how bad wallaces dad was, so while they were together one day, Gene had wanted wallace to run away with him and their friends to get away from their parents. Wallace had to think about it but that gave his dad time to manipulate wallace into killing Gene.

Wallaces dad made Wallace push Gene into a expieremental teleporter, since it was thought that going into it would kill the person inside of it, it didnt how ever.

The teleporter completeley ripped out Genes soul, making him take on a kind of shadowy figure with no real physical form. He spent years in what looks like just a black void until he eventually figured out how to give himself a physical form. Hes able to control how he looks, so he gave himself kind of an uncanny look. While hes in this form where he actually has acertain look, hes no able to show emotions, so almost every emotion he shows, he has to show through the shadowy form.

The only other thing i can think to talk about is rose and wallace. Rose met wallace in a bar in 1969, a year after the teleporter incident. Wallace immediately adored rose but was terrified to talk to her.

He eventually saw her again at meetings that black mesa and apeture science had (before that whole dumbass rivalry started) and only talked to her because judith pushed him to.

They started dating a few weeks later, and eventually got married in 1971 during september. Rose eventually ended up having gordon on may of 1972, then chell in october of 1974, and finally john in april of 1977.

Both wallace and rose were amazing parents, and wallace didnt start becoming absent until rose disapeared in 1985.

Wallace was in a horrible place after rose disapeared, she was the only thing keeping him together. He tried his best to provide for his kids but becuase he was barely getting paid by his dad, and was not at home 99% percent of the time due to being at black mesa working under his dad, his kids grew to not like him and resented him.

Wallaces dad took rose disapearing as a way to manipulate wallace even more, causing him to become more of an asshole. He eventually even manipulated wallace into getting “enhancements” that caused wallace to stop aging and not be fully human anymore like him in 1987.

Thats kind of all i can remember right now smiles

#half life #portal to hell au #gordon freeman #wallace breen #chell portal #portal #john freeman #rose freeman #roselace

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aria-ashryver · 7 days

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yooooo im SO tired, have a health update 💞

(which was going to be another video update but then a bird came and i got distracted and now im too tired to speak lol. also WOW imagine being so pale you create your own god rays slkdjf)

so, ive been feeling like hot garbage for some time, which is perhaps not surprising with the whole "was poisoned via chemo for a year, is still recovering" thing. Recently my heart has been feeling Not Good TM, and the fatigue waves are getting pretty extreme at times.

So, I followed this up with my doctor, very much expecting it to be a case of "no you're just out of shape / your asthma is playing up / you're just being super lazy, try harder, etc". He booked me a specialised heart test which I had last week.

Uhhh apparently I wasn't just being pathetic! (Which is somewhat gratifying to know that there is a reason things have been so hard lately and it's not just in my head)

There is a thing called your Ejection Fraction, which is essentially a measure of how much oxygenated blood your heart is pumping around your body -- its the factor that keeps you feeling energised.

Mine has dropped. Fairly significantly. When I had the same heart scan in October, mid-way through chemo, I was still retaining a lot of my heart health and muscle mass from when i was pre-chemo, so my EF was sitting at about 80. Which is a sign I was initially quite physically fit (or, to quote my oncologist: "giiiiirl, you a Boston Marathon runner or what?)

Since my last scan, my EF has dropped to 58. Which is still actually higher than average, most people sit at about 55, so I've dropped to an average range lol.

My heart is working, but such a significant jump is still cause for concern. My oncologist said that if I had been less young and fit, it would have been a case of dropping from 55 to somewhere in the 30s, to which he said "you'd struggle to even walk down that corridor at that point."

At this stage, I have a (hopefully reversible!) cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately, reduced heart and lung function can be complications of the two immune therapy drugs I am taking to prevent my cancer from coming back. So the current course of action is to put my immune therapy treatments on hold for 9 weeks to let my heart recover.

Yes, that is a tad spooky, but the drugs have a very long half-life, so I should be okay not taking them for that short period. On the plus side, this should hopefully improve my overall quality of life while my heart heals, and a break from immune therapy will be really nice anyway, because that shit hurts lmao.

Otherwise, the metastatic cancer in my spine and my hips remains stable and is still showing signs of healing because I am AWESOME AND COOL. Oh, and I also had a massive internal lesion (a chemo complication I never mentioned here bc like... if I told you guys every little thing that's wrong with me, we'd be here all day lmao) but that is now healing on its own too!! Woo!

So... ye. Gonna have a nap, knowing that medically my heart is broken and I have yet another reason to take it easy now haha.

Send me lots of "oi don't get cancer again in the next 9 weeks you absolute nugget" type vibes. I don't think I will, I'm not worried, but yk yk vibes are nice 🥰💝💖💓💕🩷💞 if you are still reading, I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

#aria pincushion tally:#complete #look how much hair i have now whoa #i have chemo curls

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i-fondued · 2 years

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Kinktober 2022 | Day 2 | Ghost - The Ritual, Part 2

A Sister of Sin get a little too curious about the sounds of music one rainy October night and get a little more familiar with Papa Emeritus IV than she was before…

Pairing(s): Papa Emeritus IV/Reader (Sister of Sin), Nameless Ghouls/Nameless Ghouls

Rating: M for Mature (That means sex kiddos)

Warnings: Voyerisum, slight dubious con (no explicit yes), religious undertones, M/M and F/F Scenes

A/N: Okay so part two, idk if I’m going to go any farther with this idea mainly because I HATE writing in this sort of viewpoint. If I do keep going with this pwp I’ll need to swap to another viewpoint ahaha. That being said, I think my ghost obsession is getting to the point that I’m going to end up making all my kinktober posts be ghost cause the next one I started on is also Ghost. Cardinal Copia/Popia has my smutty mind in a chokehold okay imnotsorry

** ONCE AGAIN, 18+ ONLY PLEASE **

Papa tugs on your hand softly, pulling you to the only empty spot in the room. You situate yourself in between his legs on the floor sofa. Around you are the ghouls that had broken off into couples, seemingly ignoring the presence of the newcomers to the ritual. Faintly you can still hear the storm raging outside but the music is still being played by the ghouls who aren’t actively participating in the debacharary around you.

There is the smell of the same incense you know that is burned in the main chapel during Sunday night mass, a familiar scent in this very unfamiliar territory. You feel as Papa Emeritus’s hands slide your robe off entirely, leaving you in just your nightgown.

“Papa…” You moan softly as his hands start to push the straps off your shoulders, you can feel his bare fingers brush against your skin and you wonder when he had time to take his gloves off.

“Yes, Sister?”

“C-can I touch you?”

He chuckles again, the sound shooting right to the pit of heat in your belly that is growing by the minute. “Yes of course, Sister.”

You look at him over your shoulder for a moment before you turn in his lap, hiking your nightgown to settle at your waist as your legs bracket his hips. You blush furiously at your boldness but you don’t want to lose your nerve now. You lean forward, head tilted slightly and press your lips against his softly. His hand slides up to tangle in the hair right at the base of your neck and you moan as you push forward against him. Your hands cup his face, fingers digging softly into his skin by his jaw. He groans faintly, his free hand settling on the small of your back as he pushes you against him and he grinds against you.

A shudder runs through you and you gasp; your hips following his push and pull as his lips part slightly and you feel his tongue slip into your mouth, brushing against your own and coaxing you to follow his lead. Your hands slip from his jaw to around his neck, sliding into his hair and tugging slightly. You hear him hiss quietly, hips thrusting up against you again. You can feel the texture of his robes against your thighs and you can tell you’ve soaked your underwear too. You pull back slightly and Papa takes this opportunity to take control, the hand in your hair pulls harder than before and he begins to suck at your exposed neck. Your moan comes out more like a whine as you rock against him. You are getting desperate for any sort of friction, your hips grinding down against him more urgently.

The smell of inscense and sex is in the air and it seems to heighten your awareness in the dimly lit room. Your eyes take a minute to focus on those around you as Papa’s arms wrap around your waist. The ghouls seem to be egged on by their Papa’s private ritual, a few of the male ghouls are watching you, their dark eyes behind their masks locked on yours and you can feel the flush return to your face as your Papa tugs at the top of your nightgown, exposing your bare breasts.

“Perfecto.” He mutters to himself, it's the first time you’ve caught him speaking Italian since he transformed from Cardinal Copia to Papa Emeritus IV. You are brought back from your thoughts by his tongue teasing your nipple, the other one isn’t forgotten as he rolls it between the rough pads of his fingers. You moan quietly, arching your back into him.

His hands wrap around your shoulder and suddenly your position has changed. You are laying on your back, looking up at him as he settles between your legs on his knees.

“Sister,” He growls slowly, locking eyes with you again. “Do not let the ghouls distract you.”

“Y-yes Papa.”

“Good girl.” He takes the opportunity to remove his outer robes, leaving him in a black blouse with billowing sleeves, vest and skin tight pants. Your eyes can’t help but glance at his hard cock, his trousers leaving next to nothing to the imagination. Your face flushes as your hands slide up his chest, slipping to tangle in the soft locks of hair at the base of his neck.

You tug him down to you, lips pressed firmly against his seeming allows you to take control of the kiss. His right hand is planted firmly next to your head to keep his full weight off of you while his left wanders from cupping the back of your head to run softly against your curves before sliding between your legs, brushing against your soaked underwear from the outside. Your hips buck against his hand, breaking the kiss slightly to gasp and he locks his eyes with yours. His fingers slip the thin cotton to the side, brushing softly against your wetness. Groaning, your legs open more and Papa pulled away from your lips. His papal paints smeared slightly from your kisses. HIs fingers tease you and you can feel the heat pooling in your belly, your mind feels hazy and you let the pleasure wash over you.

“Papa please…” You moan, his fingers still against your opening just slightly pushing against you.

“Yes Sister?” He purrs, fingers barely entering you as he grinds himself against your hip.

“I-I…” Unsure of what exactly you want, all you know is you want more. “I need more, please Papa.”

Your face feels like it's on fire, from the arousal or your confession you aren’t quite sure. Papa looks highly amused and pleased with you however; the two fingers he was teasing you with finally slip into you and for a moment you feel relief as the friction seems to soothe the burning deep in your belly. He starts slow, long and languid strokes as he seems to want to memorize the feeling. His thumb brushes against your clit softly for a moment and your hips grind down, your breath coming in pants as your eyes drift close.

“Look at me, Sister.” Papa growls as his free hand wraps around your jaw and he turns you to look at him, he’s laying next to you now on his side as his fingers slip in and out of you. His leg is tangled with yours and you can feel him grinding against you softly. “I want to see your face when you come.”

Your hand locks around his wrist as he picks up his pace and you can feel your orgasm coming faster every time his thumb presses against you, his fingers curling upwards inside you. Your eyes squeeze shut as he leans over and digs his teeth into your bare shoulder as you come undone, your cunt clenching against his fingers. Your hand flies up, gripping his shirt tight in your fist as he turns your face to look at him. In the low light his white eye looks like it's practically glowing, eyes hot as he locks your gaise and takes the fingers that were just inside of you and licks your juices off of them.

“Bellissima, Sister.” He murmurs, rolling over you and between your legs again. You feel his cock brush against you again and a bolt of desire slips down your spine.

“Papa…please.” Sitting up, your hands shake slightly as your fingers start to undo the buttons of his vest. “Please let me…”

He leans back on his thighs and you sit up, pressing your lips to his softly before beginning to trail soft kisses across his jawline, he practically purrs in your hands as you push the vest off his shoulders. He tosses it to the side, his hands caress up and down your arms softly and goosebumps break out on your skin. Your nipples harden slightly, the feeling of his silky blouse against your bare chest causing that now familiar heat to pool in between your legs.

You press your lips against his neck, feeling his pulse just barely beneath the skin, and you can't help but bite him. He gasps, hands coming to grip your hips as he grinds his pelvis against yours. Emboldened by his reaction, you pull his shirt to the side to expose his shoulder and you bite the taught muscle where his neck meets his shoulder, sucking slightly and letting the tip of your tongue trace the outline of where there will surely be a bruise. His forehead lands on your shoulder and you can hear him let out a shuddering breath, his hands slipping to cup your ass as he pulls you as close as possible.

Your hands slide down his chest, his loosely tied blouse barely staying together as your fingers reach his trousers. Tentatively your fingers softly brush over the very obvious arousal of your Papa and the figurehead of the satanic church does the last thing you would have ever thought. He whimpers.

Your hand presses against him more firmly, stroking him slowly, and he bucks into your hand. One hand is gripping your hip harshly, pinning you against him, the other slides up your bare back and tangles in your hair pulling your lips away from his exposed skin so Papa himself is able to run his tongue against your pulse, groaning against your skin. Your scalp aches slightly but the pain is pleasurable when paired with the filling of this powerful man groping at you.

He pushes you back and you lay back against the pillows again, his hand quickly unties the laces in his trousers. Your heartbeat ticks up its thunderous rhythm as you watch him tug at his trousers. He slips his cock from the tight confines of the fabric and a part of your brain isn’t quite sure if he’ll fit inside you. He spits in his hand, running up and down his thick length; a moment that would seem so obscene in your old life but surrounded by the sound of not quite human ghouls tangled in the same activity as you and Papa it doesn’t even register.

“Sister, will you allow me to..?” He drifts off for a moment, suddenly seeming unsure of the movement and you almost have to bite your tongue to prevent an almost hysterical giggle from tumbling from your lips at this moment.

“Please Papa.”

He doesn’t need much more encouragement than that, almost as quick as lightning he’s on top of you again. He pushes your panties to the side unceremoniously, pulling one of your legs to curl around his hip. He runs the tip up and down your soaked cunt, a shutter running through as he brushes against your clit faintly. Papa pushes just slightly into you and you let out a low hiss, a groan slipping from him as he tries to allow you to adjust to his size. His hand settles on either side of your waist and your right fingers curl around his bicep as he presses further into you, stretching you out more than you had been before. Your nails dig into his skin and he moans, bending down to rest his forehead against yours gently. He kisses you softly, such a 180 from the burning kisses you shared earlier.

He moves again, this time slipping all the way into you, and you moan deeply as you reach out to pull him down against you. He stills slightly before adjusting for the angle and begins to pull back, slowly and sensually rolling his hips into you. You lift your own to meet him, the wet sound of flesh sinking into flesh practically ringing in your ears. At first his pace is slow, a sensual and slow sort of trance falls over you.

Whether it's the low light, the incense, or the steady beat of the oddly haunting music you aren’t sure; but you are sure something is causing the slightly dulling of your senses. You can feel the building heat in your belly, the feeling of Papa’s hips grinding against yours as he fucks you slowly and almost lovingly. Your eyes lock with his and its all you can do to keep it together, his white eye drawing you in especially. His fingers tangle with yours and he pulls your hands above your head, his hand wrapping around your wrists with ease as his other hand drifts between your bodies to gently caress your clit.

You moan, an obscenely loud sound in your ears as he starts to move the pace from a languid roll to a sharper snap of his hips. Your legs wrap around him, pulling him against you to drive into you harder as you can feel your orgasam lingering in the back of your mind.

“Papa…p-please.”

“Please what principessa?” He chuckles darkly, his paints running slightly with sweat of his exertion. His hair is sticking to his forehead and you swear you’ll never get the image of this man above you out of your mind.

“I-I’m going to..!” You start to speak and before you can finish that thought, he pulls entirely out of you and grips your hips. He flips you onto your hands and knees, an indignant squeak spilling from your lips. He knocks your legs apart with his knee before thrusts back into you with a grunt.

You fall forward, moaning loudly as you fall from your hands to your elbows. Papa’s hand comes to press down on the small of your back, arching your hips up as he pounds into you. His cock hitting a deeper angle than before, he moans deeply and his free hand smacks your ass. You jump slightly at the sting before you feel him caress the pink skin, soothing the pain slightly. His fingers slip between your legs and you grind back against him as he softly runs his finger against your clit. The heat in your belly rolls, threatening to spill over.

“Ah, Sister.” Papa chuckled, leaning forward to curl on top of your body. He slammed his hips against yours and hit a spot inside you that made your toes curl. “We can’t have you finish just yet…”

His pace picks up again, a brutal fast pace as you writhe against him trying to get any friction you can. Lust clouds your vision and your brain as you feel his hand curl around your throat as he leans over you, his thrusts becoming more erratic. You moan his name as his grip on your neck tightens slightly, your breathing becoming more erratic. He groans as you start to push back against him, meeting each of his thrusts by tilting your hips to deepen his angle. Papa’s hand grips your hip bone tightly, you are positive you’ll have a bruise come morning, he leans over you his teeth digging into the soft flesh where your shoulder and neck meet and you see stars.

“Touch yourself, bellissima.” He groans, the snap of his hips faltering slightly. You can tell he’s close. You hand slides between your bodies and it takes two quick brushes of your fingers against your clit before you come undone.

Your vision falters for a moment, a deep moan coming from your lips incoherently as you rithe against him. A few more short thrusts from Papa and he too swears under his breath, his hands coming to brace himself on either side of your head. Your hand snakes up from under you and your fingers brush softly against his, and your heart skips a beat as your fingers intertwine. You can feel his weight move off of you and you lock eyes with him as he moves to lay next to you. Your heart rate is pounding in your ears, a blush creeping on your cheeks as you take in the disheveled look of your Papa. His paints smudged all over, his hair is ruffled, his clothes are slightly damp with sweat as he lays back against the pillow. Unsure of what to do now you start to sit up, hand slipping from his, and try to find your robe but you feel Papa’s hand catch yours again. An uncharacteristic look is in his mismatched eyes, he suddenly seems unsure of himself.

“Lay with me?” He asks, his voice soft as he’s barely able to look you in the eyes. Your heart thumps painfully in your chest and a flush spreads across your chest.

You nod silently and he pulls you down and against him, he pulls you close to his chest and practically curls around you. You can hear how fast his heartbeat is and you can’t help but intertwine your legs with him, his hand rubs soothing circles against your back. Your eyes drift closed, sleep finally coming back to you at the sound of his soft breathing and the rhythmic feeling of his fingers caressing your skin.

“Sleep, Principessa.” Papa commands softly, he didn’t need to though. You had already drifted off by the time he spoke.

#Ghost #the band ghost #papa emeritus x reader #papa emeritus 4 #cardi c #cardinal copia #cardinal copia x reader #nameless ghouls #Popia #Kinktober 2022 #ghostober #fanfiction #pwp #my writing

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karda · 7 months

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the tattoo looks absolutely lovely its feels like a nice memory!! its the softest and kindest way to remember a friend like that nd it looks so nice!! im so sorry u had to go through that but im also so glad you get to love him!! i havent sent u anything in FORVER nd it feels like a huge empty wooden brick in my head sometimes i miss writing letters like ur a pen pal :> but i was peeling oranges earlier n went “oh yeah mew’s the reason i love these” so.yknow! i miss u which is nuts cause that Feeling Feeling happens for me so rarely but more than that i Super hope you get another satsuma burst in ur heart n chest but i hope it happens when ur ready! im RAMBLING cause im a baby and you feel like such a foundational person for me so thank u for the oranges and i hope u can get like even a Little bit of a hug out of this take it easy n soft ^^ (lots of love from a silly bug)

thank u so much bug aughgh >_< ive been tossing this ask around in my head sorry it took me a while to answer it is just very sweet. i miss u to! its been a long time since ive actually been on here and sent asks/talked to people. i havent done much but post once a month lmao... .. i think about u a lot to! Everytime i hear i make sparks (from that playlist u made me) it makes me think of ur art and ur joy and it makes me very happy .... oh oh also! i am getting it tattooed! heres what its gonna look like :) first one is more updated i fixed his spots. but thr shading is gonna be like the second one .im getting it on his birthday (October 5th)

#getting it on my armmmmmm #im excited and scared and happy and oh so nervous #but hello i missed u to. ilysm #bug tag #asks

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vivelegalite · 1 year

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people moved on but mentally i'm still right here. what the FUCK did they mean?

so the message was partially solved by @\willescarf on twitter who guessed "but you mean... so much to me"

which i, like many other likeminded people who partake in delusion now and then, interpreted as a message by either mike or will, directed to the other. because it just makes sense.

for a long time, my favourite solution to the message was this one, by @\thmidfinch on twitter:

anyway i think you'll [like it] sorry i couldn't get it done [in time for your birthday], but you mean so [much to me] and it's been [great getting to catch up with you] i hope this is [enough to] last until [next time] love, [mike]

talking about a letter maybe (shoutout to lettergate enjoyers and truthers), or a mixtape? whatever this would relate to would be a sort of olive branch presented to will by mike.

another possible variation i could think of would be this one, inspired by @\dcbicki:

anyway i think you'll [get it] sorry i couldn't get it done [before/sooner], but you mean so [much to me] and it's been [a long time] i hope this is [going to] last until [then] love, [mike]/[i] love [you]

this one absolutely RUINED ME and i am 100% a truther now (by @\aurietissima):

I want you to know that I rebuilt Castle Byers. I'm so sorry about you wrecking it because of me, because of our fight. Very, very sorry. Anyway I think you'll like it. Sorry I couldn't get it done better, but you mean so much to me and it's been hard without you. I hope this is enough to last until you come (back) to Hawkins. Love, Mike.

another strong contender was this one, by @\lukacuzynot:

anyway i think you'll [like the painting] sorry i couldn't get it done [before we got to the airport] but you mean so [much to me] and it's been [a long time since we had seen each other] i hope this is [going to] last until [we see each other again] love [you]?

where the message talks about the painting will gives to mike in s4. my own variant of this one would probably be:

anyway i think you'll [like the painting] sorry i couldn't get it done [before we moved] but you mean so [much to me] and it's been [a long time since we talked] i hope this is [going to] last until [summer break] love, [will]?

but then, looking for interesting interpretations, i stumbled across this tweet:

so, the "no" can mean a lot of things, buuuuuut this tweet just so happened to be archived by the wayback machine, so here it is in its full glory:

yeowch. i was hoping it'd say something like "this is about byler", to which that response ("no") teeeechnically wouldn't be a lie — since byler is the name for them as a couple, and they said outright that this isn't about one.

but alas.

the little delusional byler in my head tells me that friends don't lie but showrunners do, and there is a bit of hope left there, but among other ideas one i like is that this could be a note from terry ives to el (x), considering the significance of the date outside of just will (it's the date of el's escape from the lab, i think).

but then there's the tweet i usually see omitted from posts i see about this message (and one i was going to omit myself but just now noticed before clicking post):

this is giving me phone call cutting out mid word rather than a written, redacted note, but who knows? certainly not me. i know nothing anymore tbh

another thing to mention is that these were posted in october 2019, so take them with a grain of salt, but then again — season 4 was announced with a teaser on 30th september 2019 (FLASH WARNING!!!). a teaser that included allusions to several plot points that made it to the final cut of season 4 (the logo recreated with vines resembling the creel house, the grandfather clock, the slogan "we're not in hawkins anymore" relating to the cali crew and el in nevada). it's pretty possible they already knew about the paintings, the letters, etc.

PLEASE let me know your theories on this, it's one of my favourite still unsolved st mysteries!! do you believe that it's not about byler? if yes, what else do you think it could be?

#st #stranger things #byler #<- target audience #st speculation #stranger things speculation #st theory #byler theory #byler thoughts #byler speculation #byler endgame #lettergate

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trulybetty · 6 months

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Sunday Week in Review XIII

Was it really Halloween this week? Because it feels like it happened like six months ago - that's how long this week has felt for me 🎃

It could also be because I finished my October prompts and now I'm wondering what I'm supposed to do now I don't have a daily deadline. Well, I know what I need to do (I hear you, Frankie) - I just can't seem to bring myself to sit down and write it right now. But luckily I've been given some great advice from some wonderful people and I hope to start posting it before the month is out!

I'm also trying to figure out how to get back into my reading - my TBR list has been all over the place since last month was nearly impossible to get much read. So going to slowly get back into the pace of reading a reblogging - which also includes all the lovely comments I received but haven't been able to get back to yet! 💕

But on with the 'condensed' Sunday Week in Review...

T R U L Y U P D A T E S . . .

oct' x 29 - stormy days (sequins!joel x f!reader)

oct' x 30 - seance (tim rockford x reader)

oct' x 30 - seance (chiffon!dieter x ofc!bryony)

oct' x 31 - trick or treat (marcus pike x reader)

strings part IV (series complete) (joel miller x reader)

W H A T I R E A D . . .

Are You on Mute? (Benny Miller) by @rhoorl Now Benny Miller is not my type, but with the way Jess writes him? He's slowly worked his way into my rotation of reads! This is a spicey read that will have you rethinking Zoom meetings at home 🫠

Broadcasting Live Tonight (Dieter) by @morallyinept This was just *chefs kiss* a delightful steamy read written on the back of Pedro's own appearance on SNL the other week. The tension between the reader and Dieter is palpable and the payoff is 🙌, smut be smutting here. Not spoiling anything, but I hope we get a part two!

A Month of Sundays (Various) by @gnpwdrnwhiskey My parallel play partner in a month of writing daily prompts, Lellen, completed her Month of Sundays and if you haven't checked them out you should! She totally knocked it out of the park and managed to fit so much into six lines a piece!

Working Title (Dieter) by @rhoorl Jess is back with another installment that does not disappoint! We've got some cameos, we've got some Jurassic Park references, we've got a wet-haired Dieter and sound the alarm, we've got some 18+ action with Belle and Dieter that I think about at least once a day because it was that hot 🥵

Steep Is the Mountain (Tim) by @sin-djarin This fic is still playing on a constant loop in my head since I read it the other day. Becca's coming home series is amazing (go read them all) and this is another excellent addition to it with our Detective Tim Rockford.

Headshots (Marcus) by @secretelephanttattoo This is a dreamy update to our reader and Marcus finding them in Ireland. I'm not going to spoil anything, but El makes a strong case for the canon behind Marcus' leather jacket!

Fall Apart Again (Joel) by @wildemaven Heidi treated us to an interlude to this series with a letter to Joel from Eve and much like the series, pulls at the heartstrings. It's a truly beautiful story and this interlude just adds another layer to the whole thing and I'm still thinking about it the day after.

Hope everyone has had a great week and enjoying their Sunday so far!

Here's to the week ahead! 💕

#betty's sunday in review #sunday week in review

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lifeofkaze · 6 months

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

A/N: This story is was written for @hp-12monthsofmagic October prompt. Happy Halloween. OCs featured belong to @whatwouldvalerydo (Victoria Summer... sorry for bothering her again), @the-al-chemist (Jim and Ethel Hexley), @endlessly-cursed (Nilüfer Sultan, in mention), @slytherindisaster (Gabriel Sapieha, Lysander Mercury) and @kc-and-co (Bradford Pendleton IV). Warning: serious Shakespeare blasphemy. I'm sorry.

The day had been overcast, and darkness come early over the Forbidden Forest. Swathes of mist rose from the moss and root covered ground, and the night was silent except for the rustling of fallen leaves, the soft sounds of the creatures that had ventured out under the cover of nightfall, and a resounding scraping sound as something heavy was dragged over a piece of stone, followed by a groan and the hasty shuffling of feet.

“How much further is it?”

“It can’t be very far, I daresay.”

“You said that ten minutes ago, Ethel. I swear I recognise this tree.”

“Hush, I believe I can see it from here. Quickly, now.”

Three figures stepped into an opening in the trees, in the middle of which the ground rose gently to a grass-covered mound. On it, bathed in the light of the full moon, six boulders of varying sizes had been erected to form a circle, in the middle of which a seventh stone lay on its side, forming what looked to be an altar.

It was there that the three girls, clad in skirts and blouses that marked them as students of the nearby Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, dragged the cauldron they had been pulling behind them. They were breathing heavily by the time they had made it to the top, and the faces of Ethel Hexley and Selene Fraser grew red as they hoisted the heavy metal pot on top of the horizontally lying stone.

Selene and Ethel had found the stone ring a couple of days ago while prowling the woods, and had been dying to return ever since. They had prepared diligently, but with the unsteadiness of the late October weather, it had taken them until the very last day of the month to make their way out into the Forbidden Forest again. They were chatting in hushed whispers amongst each other now, excitedly checking the contents of the bags slung around their shoulders.

Victoria, who had seen herself half-compelled, half-forced to accompany her dormmates, seemed less enthusiastic. She looked around uneasily, observing the shadows cast by the tall stone monuments. Wrapping her arms around herself to keep from shivering, she stepped closer to the stone altar.

“Are you finally going to tell me what this is all about?”

Ethel and Selene stopped whispering and shared a meaningful look.

“We have something special planned for tonight,” Selene said in a low voice.

“Something to mark the occasion,” Ethel agreed.

“We’ll do magic,” the two of them said in unison, the sable-coloured ferret that had appeared on Selene’s shoulder nodding his head as if in agreement.

Victoria looked between them sceptically. “But why come here? Why all that hustle? We could have just as well stayed at the castle.”

“Because, dearest Victoria,” Selene said and motioned at the stones surrounding them. “This place is special.”

“Most magical.”

“Of the utmost importance.”

Ethel paused, looking at Selene curiously. “It is?”

“It must be, must it not?” Selene shrugged. “Why endure all the hardships to set these stones up otherwise?”

“You must be right, of course.” Clapping her hands together, Ethel turned back to Victoria and pointed at the cauldron. “There is a spell that Selene and I have been wanting to attempt but Professor Sharp refuses to let us into the Potions classroom by ourselves after this most unfortunate incident with Carolyn Nyberg’s calming draught.”

“Which was not our fault, if I may say so.”

“Far from it.”

“The farthest.”

“And what did you need my help for?” Victoria asked patiently.

“See, the spell needs three wielders to succeed.”

“Three witches, to be precise.”

“And who would be more inclined, more perfectly suited to complete our trio than you?”

Victoria could think of a handful of people better suited; the matter of inclination was another one entirely but she chose to remain silent.

“Shall we begin then?”

Victoria was still at a loss for what was about to happen when she was directed to stand at the head of the stone, with Selene and Ethel facing each other on its side.

“You might want to take that,” Selene whispered to Victoria, producing a densely written note from the folds of her skirt. “We have it memorised.”

Victoria was just about to ask what she meant when Selene and Ethel began chanting, in grave, hushed voices that didn’t sound like them at all.

“Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. Harpier cries ‘Tis time, ‘tis time. Round about the cauldron go; In the poison’d entrails throw.”

They began moving to circle the stone altar with the now bubbling cauldron, underneath which Ethel had set fire.

“Toad that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Sweltere’d venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot.”

Selene reached into her bag and pulled out a stoppered bottle which looked suspiciously like the ones Professor Sharp had on display behind his desk in the Potions classroom. She held it over the cauldron and shook its contents inside. The slimy green something that had fallen out sank to the bottom, and Selene and Ethel continued to sing, in a much louder, almost gleeful voice,

“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

“Hold on,” Victoria cried out. “Did you drag me out here to enact a play?”

“We never would even think of dragging you.”

“You walked quite by yourself.”

“And this is not any stupid spell from any stupid play we are putting to the test here. This is Macbeth!”

“By the greatest poet of all times.”

“The master of words.”

“The bard of bards.”

Wearily, Victoria held a hand up and the stream of chatter ceased. “And does Professor Sharp know you stole… borrowed one of his cauldrons and ingredients?”

Ethel and Selene exchanged a glance that had the sinking feeling in Victoria’s stomach intensify. She stifled the sigh lodged in her chest.

“Go on then.”

Breaking into smiles, Ethel began rummaging through her bag again, while Selene reached across the stone to squeeze Victoria’s hand. The chanting recommenced as Ethel produced a small parcel. In places, moisture had already seeped through the parchment, and Victoria could only briefly glimpse something reddish as its contents were tossed into the cauldron.

“Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s legs and owlet’s wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, ike a hell-broth boil and bubble.”

They continued in that fashion as ingredient after ingredient made its way into the cauldron. Selene and Ethel seemed to have acquired everything the recipe listed, adding newts’ eyes and lizards’ legs with more and more glee as the potion boiled up and began changing its colour, bathing the clearing in an eerily green glow.

“Liver of blaspheming Jew, Gall of goat, and slips of yew Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse…”

“You didn’t actually put someone’s liver in there, did you?” Victoria asked with wide eyes.

“No,” said Ethel and sounded almost regretful. “A piece of someone’s liver is surprisingly hard to come by.”

Victoria chose not to comment on this. “Then what did you put in just now?”

“We got some calf liver from the kitchens. Did you have any luck with the Tartar’s lips, Selly?”

“No,” sighed Selene, “and not with the nose of Turk either. I asked Nilüfer Sultan if she cared to help out but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

“How rude.”

“Don’t you think so?”

“So can we go back now if you don’t have everything to complete the spell?”

“Oh Victoria, don’t be silly,” Selene laughed. “A good witch knows how to adapt!”

With pinched fingers, she pulled a tissue from her pocket and let it float into the cauldron, topping it up with something that Victoria could only assume to be a handful of ground meat. She and Ethel took up singing again.

“Cool it with a baboon’s blood, Then the charm is firm and good.”

Ethel produced a slender vial from her now empty bag, unstoppered it and poured some red liquid into the cauldron. She and Selene exchanged excited looks and stepped forward to peer inside. Victoria did not. The eerie green glow from before had vanished, the colour of the potion they had brewed changing disconcertingly fast. The soft sound of the bubbling had given way to a deeper rumble, too, making the metal pot shake on the stone altar.

“What exactly did you brew there?”

“We brewed a potion most potent and most fantastical.”

“Dare I say, the potion of potions.”

“I gathered,” said Victoria, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear and watching the quivering cauldron from the corner of her eye. “But what does it do?”

Selene and Ethel stopped in their tracks.

“What do you mean, what does it do?”

“What are its effects? What’s going to happen now?” Victoria paled as a thought struck her. “I’m not going to drink it if that’s what you intended.”

“Well, in the play, Macbeth is supposed to see apparitions telling him of his fate now.”

“There is no Macbeth here, though, and no apparitions either.”

Ethel and Selene looked at each other shrugging, as if the thought had only now occurred to them. Feeling suddenly more stupid than possibly endangered, she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“I can’t believe you two,” she sternly told her friends. “Every time I think you can’t get anymore silly you top my expectations. Not only that you drag me away from the Halloween feast in the middle of the night to clamber over sticks and stones with a stolen - yes, Ethel, stolen - cauldron, you didn’t even spent a thought at the purpose of such a doing, or what might possibly come off it!”

“But we did!” Selene protested loudly. She was barely audible of the rumble of the potion. It splashed higher and higher, and glowed brighter and brighter, coming up as high as if someone had thrown a stone into water. “In the play —“

“‘Play’ being the operative word here,” Victoria scoffed. “Did you really think I would fancy seeing a severed head and a bloody baby telling me about my doom?” She snorted. “Pray, forgive me if I do decline.”

Selene looked torn between feeling sorry to have upset her friend and the righteous urge to prove Victoria wrong, while Ethel geared herself up to defend their endeavour. Before it could come to it, however, the light changed yet again. With a resounding boom, the cauldron shot up into the air and came crashing down with a loud bang, bouncing off one of the vertical stones as it did so.

Victoria and Ethel gasped as they jumped away from the glowing drops flying their way. Selene shrieked and pressed Alan to her chest with one hand, rubbing at a stain on her skirt with the other. The formerly peaceful, moonlit clearing was reduced to chaos, but when suddenly a low, agony-filled moan reached them from the blackness of the trees, the three girls and one ferret froze.

Alan gave a whimper, clambering up onto Selene’s shoulder. Selene held him and stroked his fur, but her excitedly glittering eyes were trained on the darkness ahead. She started towards it with a couple of determined steps, but Victoria caught her by her sleeve and pulled her back. Reluctantly, she turned and followed her fleeing friends, quick footsteps carrying them away from the stone circle and back towards the castle.

When they were gone, the moaning and groaning stopped. A rustle sounded in the underbrush beyond the clearing, and from the darkness four figures emerged, three of them grinning broadly, and one not so much, slowly trailing behind the others. They approached the clearing, standing in the middle of the exploded potion with three of them on one side, and the remaining on the other.

“Pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen,” said Gabriel Sapieha, watching his vandalised surroundings with a look of profound satisfaction.

“Anytime, old chap.” Bradford Pendleton hooked the toe of his boot under the handle of the cauldron and pushed it back into a standing position. Curiously, he peered inside. “Who would have thought that my tempering with potion recipes would not result in failure for once?”

“Carolyn Nyberg would be proud of you.”

Brady chuckled. “I certainly hope not. Good aim, Mercury.”

“Thank you. Did you see their faces?” asked Lysander Mercury with a grin. He screwed up his face and it morphed into the features of Ethel Hexley, her eyes wide and her mouth rounded to a perfect circle as Ethel-Lysander waved his arms above his head in a hysterical gesture. He held his stomach as he laughed. “This was priceless, gentlemen, absolutely priceless.”

“If you say so,” Jim Hexley mumbled, watching as the hair on his friend’s head turned back to its original golden shade and he looked like himself again. “Are we quite done now? There are honeyed cakes at the feast. I’d be loath to miss them.”

“Not afraid of the dark, are we, old chap?”

Jim was spared a reply when something - or someone? - moved beyond the treeline. A low howl carried through the moonlit night toward them, swelling in volume and pitch. The boys in the clearing looked at each other uneasily. Jim swallowed.

“It hasn’t worked, though, has it? The potion?”

“Don’t be a fool, Hexley,” said Lysander, but he didn’t look away from where the howl had come from. “It is bound to be a wolf or something.”

“You sound like that wouldn't be a problem in itself.”

The howling took up again. The four boys looked up at the full moon hanging silvery above their heads and back at each other.

“I say we make for the castle,” Gabriel suggested in a light tone but his eyes never left the shadow of the trees. “My friends are eager to hear of our success, and we wouldn’t want Jim to miss his honeyed cakes, would we?”

They all agreed, and so left the clearing. One by one they stepped onto the path leading under the canopy of trees, which Jim could swear looked darker than it had upon their arrival. He was the last to follow, and he cast one look back at the stone circle across his shoulder. The cauldron still sat where it had fallen, now upright again, in a ring of glowing specks of potion, which shimmered ominously in the moonlight.

A shiver running down his spine, Jim turned away, hurrying his steps to catch up with his friends toward the warmth and safety of the brightly lit castle.

#hphl #hogwarts legacy #selene fraser #12mom #twelve months of magic

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jils-things · 4 months

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happy new year! ; my farewell letter to 2023.

last year, ive written a similar farewell letter to 2022 and i want to make this a little tradition - so here's my second one <3

okay, so - wow. first of all, just wow.

this might be incredibly bold to say, but i think this has been my best year to be alive (i promise you i do not want to sound corny about it, but i really think 2023 was amazing for me.) of course, many things happened. im at my last year of senior high before i go to college, which is very scary but i hope i can be brave for it. school has been actually very generous to me recently, despite a few minor setbacks that looked very major when i was going through it, but overall it was very generous to me. but irl rambling is boring, so let's talk about my selfshipping blog!

last year, i had a verrrry firm grip on a previous f/o that im 100% sure old followers know - though im a little sad I can't find that spark to focus on him again - the shift in media has helped me find new f/os that i can say has been incredibly memorable to me. as we all know, im in a very INSANE pokemon brainrot since november or october(?) of 2022 and it has still remained heavily active in my head right now - which i honestly didn't even know i had the full capacity of doing! I don't know what magic this game did to me but i promise you im so happy i revisited this game again.

i would talk about how grateful i am to everyone has been supportive and sweet about my romantic f/os but i think the best highlight of my blog is my newfound love for my familial f/os - before that, i never had a single one on my list because i was simply quite disconnected to the family love concept, but after indulging myself in pokemon - i would come to discover pokemon adve.ntures, or poke.spe for short hehe. i have so many fond memories of finding myself wanting to read more and MORE - i would have every chapter downloaded beforehand just so that i can read it in my spare time, not even school that demanded my attention would stop me from sneaking my phone to quickly read through the manga LMAOO - but consuming the media itself wasn't enough, i needed people to understand the ROLLERCOASTER of emotions i had while reading and well, i think its very clear who those people were, the ones who came to save my miserable ass from (insert shocking scene in poke.spe) AHSJHSHSJSJS you know who you are and i appreciate you forever and they - i kid you not, helped me create something wonderful!

but of course, the video games were just as amazing. would you believe me if i told you i played gens 1 to 7 in one year? that's how much i adore the game and i still have yet to catch up to other games like the spin offs :] im not sure how to end this statement but. im so happy appleshipping and memoryshipping exists 🥹 i usually don't like thinking that they'll be with me forever because i believe nothing lasts for eternity but i just wanna say that they were just ... im just so contented 🥹 again, all of this actually would not have been so impactful to me if it weren't for my awesome mutuals hearing me out about it and supplying me with even more ideas - these mutuals would also end up becoming such loving friends of mine that helped me get out of my comfort zone and im still happy they're around (hi guys!) 💚

oh! and, what a surprise, i never thought id have an oc f/o! i initially thought that this was so impossible to do but?!??;?! it just happened i guess!!!! i keep surprising myself this year 😭

ok now here's the obligatory art summary for the year 💥

literally the best thing i ever done with my art is try using csp and it actually really helped me change the way i draw, and i even managed to cross out a few items in my last year's resolution thanks to it! i still bounce between using ibispaint and csp but i certainly improved!

the last thing im forever grateful about are the people who has been consistently supportive of my art - especially the commissions, i can't stress it enough how much it has helped me outside and it allowed me to go beyond my comfort zone when it comes to my drawing skills :']] thank you all so much

and finally, big thank you to everyone who sent me nice letters to my tree 🥹💚 its a gentle reminder that im actually ... pretty cool ig 🥹 and if you didn't send one, that's also ok!! you're still cool for reading this mwamwa

again im so bad at ending posts like these but cheers to a new year and let's hope it'll be better for everyone. 💚🫡 goodbye 2023!

#~ misc #~ rambling

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rosemaidenvixen · 6 months

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October Slumber Party

Ao3

“Sup Jimbo, you ready to party until dawn?”

“Hey Tobes,” Jim shot him a fanged smile, this late in the year he changed early, as he shut the door behind him “You’d be better believe I am,”

Ever since the disaster that was their first attempted group sleepover last May, one thing or another had gotten in the way of the five of them having a sleepover.

Until now at least.

One weekend in late October the stars had finally aligned for the five of them to get together and they sure as heck weren’t going to waste it.

“I brought the goods,” Toby hollered as he stepped into the kitchen “Oysters,” he slung a mesh bag into the sink “And as much candy as I can physically carry, plus a little something else for an extra spooky activity,”

“You’re the best Tobes,”

Toby winked and shot him fingerguns “And don’t you forget it,”

Jim rolled up his sleeves and reached into the sink “I’ll shuk the oysters, you mind stirring the big pot on the stove?”

“Is that Chef Jimbo’s famous hot cocoa I smell?” Toby asked while stepping up to the stove.

Now it was Jim’s turn to flash him fingerguns “You know it,”

“I’ll take it from here if you want to focus on the oysters,”

“That’d be great, thanks,”

Toby might be the only other person on earth who both knew Jim’s recipe and Jim trusted enough to finish making it.

Grabbing the ladle, Toby gave the big pot a sniff, eyes flicking to the smaller saucepan simmering on the side as he did “What’s this other pot?”

“Oh, that’s not cocoa, that’s for…me,”

He’d been experimenting with making drinks for himself while he was blue, this particular concoction was one of his favorites, but he really didn’t want to explain to Toby that he was drinking apple cider vinegar mixed with garlic juice…among other things.

“Ah, want me to give it a stir every now and again?”

“Sure, thanks,”

Mercifully Toby didn’t ask questions and just stirred both pots.

Twenty minutes later, just after Jim finished the oysters and just before the cocoa reached perfection, there was another knock on the door.

Jim walked over, and after confirming it was Claire, Darci, and Mary at the door, opened it to let them in “Hey guys, come on in, cocoa’s almost done,”

Mary rushed in right away, making a beeline for the TV “Which movie do you want to watch first; Danger House IV, The Demon Queen, or Inheritance?”

“Danger House IV,” Claire said, stepping in after her “That one’s the goriest so we want to watch it before we get full,”

Mary gave a curt nod of acknowledgement and got to work putting the DVD in while Claire and Darci followed Jim into the kitchen.

“I brought sandwiches,” Darci said, patting the side of the cooler slung under her arm “Fresh from my favorite deli,”

“I brought sausage rolls, dipping sauce, and…” Claire pulled a carton out of her bag with a flourish “Pumpkin spice chai concentrate,”

Jim just stared, jaw gaping open, unable to keep the shock off his face.

“Oh my god,” Toby whispered, his expression one of pure horror “You’re one of them,”

Claire fixed him with a glare while to her side Darci let out a heavily disappointed sigh.

“Sorry guys, I tried to stop her, but once Pumpkin Spice hits the shelves it’s too late,”

A turn of the head and Clair’s steely stare landed on her “Don’t you start.”

“Oh hey is that pumpkin chai?” Mary stepped into the kitchen “I’ll have some,”

“Well the milk’s in the fridge,” Jim said slowly “But you’ll be enjoying that on your own,”

Claire blew a raspberry at him while Darci and Toby laughed. Mary stared daggers at him, not breaking eye contact as she poured the chai and the milk into a glass measuring cup and popped it in the microwave “Well if you’re all finished judging our beverage choices, the movie’s ready so we can–”

“Actually,” Toby cut in “Before we start with the movies there’s a game I want to try,”

Mary arced an eyebrow “What kind of game?”

Ten minutes later they were all sitting on the floor of the upstairs bathroom holding mugs of chai, cocoa, and Jim’s own concoction. The lights were off, curtains shut tight, and every flat surface dotted with glowing candles, filling the room with eerie light.

“Is that…” Darci sniffed “Lavender?”

“Sorry,” Toby set the lighter aside and took a seat on the floor, completing the circle “All of Nana’s candles are scented,”

Claire leaned forward, hands clasped around her mug “So tell us about this game,”

“I learned about this online, so how it works is we each take turns telling scary stories, and when we’re done we blow out a candle, and keep going until all the candles are out,”

“That’s it?” Mary said “That doesn’t sound too scary,”

“Well I think it sounds fun,” Jim cut in “Let’s give it a shot,”

“I’m game to,” Claire added “But let’s all agree on no phantom hitchhikers, hook hand killers, or ‘The call’s coming from inside the house’,”

“Agreed,”

“Done,”

“Definitely,”

“Hundred percent,”

“Great, I’ll start,” Claire set down her mug and picked up a candle from the counter.

“A long time ago, in a small village in Mexico there lived a young woman, who’s name was lost to time. She was poor but beautiful. Then one day a rich man came to town and saw her beauty, he wooed her with flattery and promises of riches, and the woman was so swept up she left with him. He took her back to his manor and gave her dresses and fine jewels, and in return she gave him two children, a boy and a girl. And for many years they were happy,”

Claire’s voice dropped, holding the candle directly under her chin, highlighting her face in shadow “Then one day the beautiful lady from Spain came to town. She was well cultured, her family old and wealthy, and as soon as the man saw her he forgot about all of his love for the young woman. He threw her and her children out on the streets, proclaiming he didn’t want a loose woman and her bastards tainting his home,”

Without even meaning to Jim found himself leaning forward.

“The young woman begged and pleaded but the man had his servants chase her and her children off. She ran to the edge of town, where the river ran past the road. Confused, terrified, and desperate; she saw her children as the only thing keeping her and the man apart. So in the depths of her despair, she grabbed each of them by the hand, led them along the path, and when they reached the deepest part of the river threw them in. Watching as they struggled and floundered in the cold water until the current swept them out of sight,”

Another pause, candle flames flicking in the silent room.

“Then the young woman made her way back to town,” Claire picked up again “Trying to seek out the man, only to walk in on his wedding to the lady from Spain. As soon as the man saw her he ordered his servants to throw her out again, chasing her out of town and threatening to beat her within an inch of her life if she ever returned. The young woman found herself standing back by the river, and as she stared down at the rushing water, she was hit by the true horror of what she had done. Letting out a wail of despair, the woman threw herself into the river and drowned,”

Claire clasped the candle with both hands “Legends say that the young woman’s restless spirit wanders the shores of all the rivers of the world, searching for her lost children. And if she sees you, she’ll confuse you for her children and drag you to the bottom of the river, forever trying to reclaim what she’s lost,”

With that Claire blew out her candle, setting the smoking wax stump behind her.

For a few beats there was silence, then a wide smile slowly cracked Darci’s face “Dang girl, when did you become such a good storyteller?”

Claire just shrugged, but gave a small pleased smile “Comes with the acting lessons,”

Jim found himself grinning as well. Sure he’d heard the story of La Llorona before, but something about Claire retelling it in a small candle lit room really upped the spook factor.

“I’ll go next,” Darci grabbed a candle and slid it across the tile until it was directly in front of her “A long time ago there was a man locked up in prison for murdering his wife and kids. He was in there for life, he was never going to be released, but he had a plan to escape,”

Darci flickered her gaze around at each of them and then continued “There was one prisoner who was allowed to go outside, old Ben, the oldest there. Every time a prisoner died, old Ben was tasked with going with the warden to take the horse and cart with their coffin out to the small graveyard. The warden would help him dig the hole and lower the coffin in it. Then the warden would head back and leave old Ben to fill in the hole and make his way back to the prison when he was done. The warden allowed old Ben so much freedom because he was well behaved and too old and frail to try to escape,”

“The murderer made friends with old Ben, and they came up with a plan. The next time there was a death the prisoner would sneak into the coffin. Then old Ben and the warden would take them out to the graveyard. Then once the warden left old Ben would let him out before he finished burying the coffin and the murderer would be home free,”

From the side Jim saw Toby edging closer, transfixed.

“Now all they had left to do was wait for a death. It took almost a year, but finally the prisoner heard the tolling of a church bell that let him know someone died. That night he pretended to be sick, and when the guard let him out of his cell he killed him, snuck into the morgue, and crept inside the coffin. It was uncomfortable being stuffed in their with a corpse, but the murderer consoled himself with knowledge of his imminent escape and settled in to wait,”

Darci’s voice was barely above a whisper but Jim had no issue hearing her in the silent bathroom.

“So he waited. Eventually he felt the coffin being moved and pulled along in a cart. Felt the steady clopping of the horse’s hooves. He had to hold himself back from laughing, his escape was so close. After a short ride the cart came to a stop, and the murderer heard the sound of shovels against dirt just outside the coffin. He could barely contain his excitement, freedom was so close he could taste it. Then when he felt the coffin being moved again he knew that any second now old Ben would open the lid and he’d be free he’d be free,”

“But that didn’t happen,” Darci’s voice abruptly jumped up, making Jim start a bit “What happened was the murderer heard and felt a shovelful of dirt being thrown on top of the coffin. At first he didn’t know what to do, but as more and more shovels of dirt were piled on with no one letting him out the murderer started to panic, screaming and shouting for old Ben to let him out. But if anyone could hear him through the layers of dirt they didn’t reply. Desperate, the prisoner pulled a match out of his pocket and lit it. And stared into the dead, gray face of old Ben smushed into the coffin next to him,”

Darci picked up the candle and blew it out with a near silent puff of breath.

No one said anything, the bathroom full of the reverent silence of bated breaths. Then before anyone could laugh or make a joke or do something to break the tension Toby picked up a candle beside him.

“My turn,” Toby pulled in a deep breath and then began “A long time ago there was a couple that lived on a farm on the edge of a lake. The wife was a hard worker, but the husband was a lazy bastard who spent all his time drinking and gambling in town, and cheating on his wife like the bastard he was,”

A pause as Toby glanced around at them “But the wife was smart, constantly stashing away money so she could ditch her loser husband one day. Then one day the husband’s girlfriend started whispering in his ear about how he should get rid of his wife and steal her stash of money, then he and the girlfriend could live the high life,”

“So that night the husband waited behind the front door for his wife to come in from working, then when she stepped inside he killed her with a single blow with an ax. He threw her body in an old trunk then rowed out to the deepest part of the lake and threw it in,”

Jim stayed still and quiet, listening with rapt attention, all of them did.

“The next day the girlfriend moved in and they started looking for the wife’s stash but they couldn’t find it. As the days went on the farm started falling into disrepair. The wife might have been a hard worker, but the farmer and the girlfriend were lazyasses, and it wasn’t long until they were almost out of food. So then, two weeks after the murder, the husband’s sitting on the porch watching the sun go down, cursing himself for trading a hard working wife for a lazy girlfriend when he sees something out on the lake,”

Toby’s voice lowered to a whisper “He looked out and saw that it was his wife’s corpse, all bloated and rotting, walking along the surface of the lake towards him. So he’s shaking in fear, but when the wife gets up to him she just laughs,”

“‘Don’t worry I’m not after you’ she says ‘I just want that scarlet woman out of my house, poison her coffee tomorrow morning and get rid of her for me and I’ll even tell you where I hid my money’”

“The farmer of course, is scared shitless, but glad his dead wife isn’t after him, and he really wants that money. So the next morning he comes down and sees that the girlfriend has already made coffee and poured him a cup. The second her back is turned he pours rat poison in her cup and the two of them sit down to eat. After a few minutes the farmer feels a sharp pain in his guts, when he starts clutching stomach the girlfriend starts laughing. Saying that his wife came to her and promised to show her where the money was if she got rid of her cheating bastard husband,”

Jim could see Claire leaning closer as Toby continued the tale, transfixed.

“So the farmer totally freaks and says the wife did the same for him, and that her coffee’s poisoned to, and the girlfriend starts to panic along with him. The two of them are sitting there, freaking out and clutching their stomachs and spitting up blood, when the wife’s corpse walks in the doorway. Still bloated and rotten from being at the bottom of the lake, but this close they could both smell the sickly rot of her decaying flesh,”

“She grins at them and says ‘A deal’s a deal’ then the old trunk the farmer dumped her in slides in behind her, the lid pops open and the lining busts apart, revealing money stuffed inside ‘My money is yours to enjoy for the rest of your lives’ then the last thing the farmer and the girlfriend hear is the wife laughing and laughing,”

Toby blew out his candle and set it aside.

For a moment the four of them just stared at Toby in silence.

“Toby that was…” Mary struggled for words “Wow,”

“Thank you thank you, I pride myself on being a man of many talents,”

“So who–”

From out of nowhere bright light blazed through the room, sending all of them shrieking and scrambling around. Candles were knocked over, wax spilling on the tile, screams bounced in Jim’s ears, elbows prodded him and fingers dug into his shoulders as his heels scrabbled against the floor.

Barbara blinked at them with wide eyes from where she was standing in the door frame, finger still hovering above the light switch.

“I’m sorry kids, I didn’t mean to scare you, but what were you all doing in the bathroom with all the lights off?” she glanced around at all the candles, some spilled and some still burning “....and what are all these candles for?”

“We were…telling scary stories,” Toby spoke up.

Now that the adrenaline was fading Jim could regain his bearings. He could see he had shuffled back nearly all the way to the wall. Claire and Darci were pressed into either side of him, Toby was practically sitting in his lap and Mary was huddled behind him peeking over one of his shoulders.

His mom raised an eyebrow “But what do candles have to do with that?”

“It’s part of it,” Jim said “You tell a story and blow out a candle,”

Jim didn’t have the words to describe the expression his mom was making right now. The only other time he’d seen it on her face was when they’d had a really bad drought one summer and he and Toby had tried to use the slip and slide with mayonnaise.

Barbara made to speak again but then sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose “I’m sorry I interrupted your game, but I just got off a twelve hour shift and I need the bathroom. I'll give you guys five minutes to pick this up. You can leave the wax and I’ll help you clean it tomorrow,”

Toby bobbed his head “Perfectly reasonable, thanks Dr. Lake,”

She gave a nod back in acknowledgement then backed out of the bathroom.

The five of them alone again, Jim turned and peeked over his shoulder “Were you hiding behind me?”

Mary blinked back unashamed “I was watching your back,”

“Sure you were,”

“Well I’ll always protect you,” Toby stretched out languidly in his lap.

Jim grinned down at him “Thanks Tobes, but I do need to get up now,”

The five of them climbed to their feet, blowing out the remaining candles and wiping up the worst of the wax.

Darci set the smoking stump of a lavender candle down “What do you say we wind down with oysters and Danger House IV?”

“Sounds good to me,”

“Let’s do it,”

“I’m game,”

“Let’s go,”

Jim grinned, following the others out of the bathroom “Hey at this point I’m just glad things are going better than our last sleepover,”

They all laughed at that.

#tales of arcadia #trollhunters #jim lake jr #claire nuñez #toby domzalski #mary wang #darci scott #halloween prompts #rmvwrites #arcadia quintet

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