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hysterialevi · 1 year

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Red Moon | Head Ending

Fanfic summary: In an AU where Jason contracts the vampiric plague, the lieutenant is forced through a series of experiments at the hands of CENTCOM, and held prisoner at Camp Slayer’s research facility. When he discovers that they plan to use Salim as their next subject however, he decides to go rogue, and turns against the US military before they can use his disease as a key to immortality.

Point of view: third-person

Pairing: Jason Kolchek/Salim Othman

This story is also on AO3 | Previous chapter

Author’s note: Before we get to the ending, I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s supported this fic. Red Moon means a lot to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the kind words y’all have sent since the very first chapter. Whether you choose this ending or the other one, I hope it succeeds in delivering a satisfactory close to this story. Once again, thank you. <3

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THE GARAGE

2103 HOURS

A veil of anguish laid itself across Salim’s face, providing a small window into the man’s inner thoughts. He said no words following the discovery of Jason’s true intentions, but his expression fell short of any ambiguity.

It was clear that Salim understood the gravity of this ordeal, and the threat HERA posed. He understood that the termination of Red Moon was necessary if they wanted to restore peace, but worst of all, he knew what it would take to achieve such a thing. And that... was something he didn’t know if he could sacrifice.

Salim was human, after all. And just like anyone else, he carried his own personal desires. It didn’t matter to him that Jason was infected, or that he barely resembled the man he once was. None of that erased the fact that he still loved him. Just the same as he loved him before.

But... regardless of any reservations he may have had, Salim knew one thing to be true.

HERA was a danger to everyone.

Not just Iraq, not just the United States -- everyone. If they wanted to eliminate the risk of this virus spreading any further than it already had, they would have to destroy it. Here and now.

And Jason would have to die with it.

“A-Alright.” Salim agreed. “We’ll do it your way. I’ll take the truck, and find my way home. In the meantime, you...”

Jason brushed a hand down the man’s cheek, stroking it in a comforting manner.

“It’s okay. You’re doin’ the right thing.”

Salim leaned into his touch, wishing he could stay there forever. “It doesn’t feel right. After all this -- after finally reaching the surface -- now I have to leave you behind? How could this be right?”

The marine showed a hopeful grin, trying to maintain a strong front. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. Life may not play fair, but neither do I. When I’m done with this place, CENTCOM won’t be able to hurt you no more. You’ll be safe.”

Despite his attempts to lift the mood, Salim remained in a sunken state. “It’s always about me, isn’t it. But what about you? Is this what you want?”

Jason’s front cracked a bit. “...What I want stopped matterin’ a long time ago. I’ll draw my dyin’ breath serving a cause bigger than me. It’s the life I chose. But until that moment comes...”

He slipped a hand into his pocket, taking out the photographs Salim found in Carlyle’s lab. A flood of nostalgia instantly hit him upon touching the frozen memories, and in doing so, Jason found himself reliving the life he once took for granted.

He could remember everything. His friends, his enemies, his accomplishments, his failures. All the people he ever loved, and the ones he hurt. His pride, his regret, his anger, his joy. He thought about the sins he never got to confess, and the goodbyes he never got to say. He recalled the days when he felt like he was on top of the world, and the nights where he hoped he wouldn’t wake up.

It wasn’t a pretty life, or even an admirable one. So much of it had been structured around actions that stemmed from either lostness, or fear. In fact, Jason hated almost everything about it.

And yet... he couldn’t bring himself to let it go. These memories were all he had left from his time as a human. They were the only thing keeping him intact. And so, with a silent gesture, Jason handed the photographs over to Salim, entrusting them to the man he loved more than anything else.

“Take care of ‘em for me, okay?”

Salim spared a second to browse through the photos before giving him an assuring nod, stowing the mementos safely in his pocket.

“...I will. I promise.”

Finally ready to bid farewell, Jason began chewing on his bottom lip in an attempt to keep himself together, not wanting to fall apart in front of his companion. Although he was hurting on the inside, he didn’t wish for Salim to see him suffering during his last few moments. That wasn’t how he wanted to be remembered.

He wanted to be remembered as a man who kept fighting till the very end; as someone who refused to succumb to HERA, in spite of all its efforts to kill him. He wanted Salim to be able to look back on this day and think of his valor, rather than his grief.

But most importantly, he didn’t want to spend his last day on Earth anchored by sorrow. If he was going to die tonight, he would do so without any fear.

Before Jason could even say anything, however, Salim suddenly stepped forward and pressed a hand on the back of his neck, pecking a loving kiss on his cheek. He remained there for a short while, pulling the marine into a tight embrace.

“I wish I could kiss you a proper goodbye.” Salim remarked, resting his chin on Jason’s shoulder.

The lieutenant wrapped his arms around his companion’s waist, cherishing this moment of intimacy before it would inevitably be swept away.

“Me too.”

Lingering in the warmth of his lover’s grasp, Jason found it becoming increasingly harder to let go as the seconds passed by, bringing him one step closer to the end of his journey.

He could hear Salim’s shaky breath echoing in his ears, and the rhythmic thumps of a heartbeat that knew it would soon face peril.

These were the sounds of life, Jason thought to himself. The sounds of a true, living, breathing soul. A soul that had experienced both the harshness and beauty of this world, and would, one day, be allowed to rest.

Such was the cycle of humanity. It was the wheel that kept the Earth turning. Some would try to escape it; others would even try to alter it. But today, Jason would die to preserve it. And no one would ever know.

Forcing himself to confront reality, the marine reluctantly separated the hug and gazed longingly into the other man’s eyes, exchanging some parting words as their time came to an end.

“...I gotta go now, darlin’.”

Salim ceased any further objections and stiffened his upper lip, prepared to do what was necessary.

“I... understand. Allah ma’ak, habib albi.”

“What does that mean?”

“God be with you, my love.”

Jason’s brow crinkled in heartache at the phrase. “...Good luck out there, Salim. You and Zain make sure to stay safe, okay?”

Salim displayed a tearful smile. “We will.”

Turning away from his partner, the lieutenant approached the control panel and reached an arm out, pausing for a moment as he braced himself for what was about to unfold. He then gripped the lever that operated the gate, and yanked it downward with a firm tug, prompting the mechanism to spring into action.

Accompanied by a loud metallic screech, a pair of lights started flashing near the garage’s entrance, signaling the rest of the camp of the upcoming departure. Within seconds, a commotion began rising in the distance as other soldiers closed in on their location, curious to see what was going on.

Jason, on the other hand, simply stayed in place and rested his palms on the desk’s surface, speaking to Salim with his back facing him.

“...Go.”

Rattled with guilt, the older man hesitated before rushing for the door, hurrying to get to his vehicle before the soldiers could arrive. Meanwhile, Jason snuck one last look at Salim and watched the fleeing prisoner from afar, unable to stifle his tears any longer.

He couldn’t tell whether he was crying out of ecstasy or sorrow. Life had been cruel to Jason for a long time now, that much was true, but today, he’d finally get the chance to kick it back. And to him, a death like that was considered a blessing compared to the other horrors he had witnessed in the facility.

Prepared to meet his fate as an equal, the marine pushed aside all thoughts of despair and picked up a rifle, moving with a reinvigorated resolve. He then marched to the garage’s entrance and planted a foot in the door, bashing it open just in time to greet the troops that were now approaching his position.

Due to his bright orange jumpsuit and striking green eyes, Jason stood among the darkness like a beacon, drawing everyone’s attention straight to him. Shocked by his appearance, they all gawked at his mutated features and exchanged glances with one another, trying to process the bizarre sight. Some of them were inclined to shoot him out of pure panic, but the others waited patiently for any commands.

“What do we do, sir?” One of them asked, their voice triggering Jason’s echolocation.

The commanding officer consulted his radio, keeping his gaze on the vampire at all times. “Colonel, we have an unidentified figure within the premises. Looks to be male, and is wearing a prisoner’s jumpsuit. He’s armed and in control of the eastern garage. He’s either incapacitated or killed the guards inside. His accomplice has also stolen a vehicle. Please advise.”

There was a lengthy pause, followed by a brief response. “...Kill him, and retrieve the body. As for his accomplice, track them down by any means necessary. CENTCOM’s orders.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jason sighed quietly in disappointment, already knowing where this was going. He took no pleasure in fighting those he once defended -- especially when he could recognize a few faces in the crowd -- but, as always, CENTCOM left him no choice.

“Fire at will!” Shouted the commander.

Cutting through the night like a meteor shower, a barrage of bullets instantly erupted from their muzzles, lighting up the camp with a flicker of golden fire. Some of them zipped right past the lieutenant, while others hit him in different parts of the body.

Regardless of where Jason was shot however, none of the bullets damaged him enough to make him yield. One after another, they simply pelted against him like a bunch of pebbles, leaving the soldiers in a state of utter confusion.

“What the fuck? Why aren’t our weapons doing anything?!”

“I don’t know! Just keep shooting it!”

Desperate to put him down, the troops continued raining hell on Jason as the rogue marine steadily pushed his way forward, firing back into the swarm. He stormed through the assault with an unrelenting persistence and carved a path to the elevator, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake. Occasionally, someone would abandon their firearm and attempt to best the lieutenant in close-combat, only to be hurled across the field.

With every corpse that hit the ground, the young vampire couldn’t help but ask himself if this was truly the right thing to do. Salim may have seen him as a hero, but would the United States agree? Would they paint him as an honorable veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good, or would they frame him as a terrorist who betrayed his own country?

...Would they hear of him at all?

Whatever the case, Jason knew it was too late to stop. Salim was still out there. If that man was going to make it home safely, Red Moon would have to be terminated tonight. No matter the cost.

Running into the elevator, the lieutenant let loose a few more shots before slamming the button on the wall, waiting anxiously as the lift lowered him into the facility.

By now, there was enough blood staining the dirt outside that he could see the moon’s warped reflection in the enticing liquid, as well as the shadows of the men pursuing him. Some of them had retreated due to Jason’s invincibility, but the rest were only more determined to kill him after all the havoc he had wreaked.

“He’s going down!” One of them yelled. “Stop him!”

Ducking his head, Jason shoved himself in a corner as the soldiers fired into the ceiling, causing a number of bulges to protrude on the other side. The sound of bullets ricocheting bounced all over the walls, but none of them actually made it through. Unfortunately for the marine however, his enemies weren’t ready to give up just yet.

In an attempt to trap him downstairs, the troops cut the cables hanging above the lift, sending it plummeting to the bottom of the shaft. Jason floated for a split second as the elevator fell through the air, only to slam against the floor once it crashed.

Shaken by the forceful landing, the vampire lay still for a couple moments, wheezing in pain. He felt as if his lungs had been knocked out of his chest, and his limbs ached with an intense soreness.

Before anyone could surprise him though, Jason quickly clutched his rifle and got up from the floor, ready to continue his mission. He could already hear CENTCOM’s forces gathering not too far away from him, and he sure as hell didn’t intend on giving them the upper hand.

Squeezing through the elevator’s bent doors, the marine retraced his steps through the facility at lightning speed, refusing to stop for anything else. He sprinted down the bloodied halls like a mad bull, returning to the point where it all began.

Up ahead, the familiar glass walls of his cell started coming into view, greeting him like an old friend. Both Tressler and Alvarez still lay inside, sitting in the exact same spot Jason and Salim had left them.

As for the lieutenant, he hurriedly took out the key he retrieved from Carlyle’s body and approached the back wall, searching frantically for the light Moreau described. He expected to see some sort of flashing signal like the one at the garage, but instead, all he found was the illuminated outline of a doorway hiding in the surface.

Trembling with adrenaline, Jason glanced down at the rectangular key and spotted a similar light radiating from its indentations. A circular button had revealed itself in the center, leading him to press it down with a soft click.

In an instant, the hidden door retracted from the wall and lifted off the floor, unveiling an entirely new section of the facility. Though, unlike everywhere else, it wasn’t coated in a layer of pristine paint, or polished to the point of perfection. Rather, it was constructed of cold, hard steel, and looked more akin to a giant cage than an actual room.

The lights were dim, the air was quiet, the shadows were thick, and in the middle, a single computer sat atop a hefty stand, welcoming Jason as if it knew why he was there.

Drawn to the docile machine, the lone vampire carefully wandered inside, shutting the door behind him. He examined the computer from top to bottom as he inched closer to it, observing the keyboard that sat below the monitor.

At the very bottom of the board, Jason noticed a small slot that resembled a USB port, except slightly thinner in width. In fact, upon closer inspection, it looked to be about the same size as the key.

Sticking the key inside the port, he pushed the gadget down and rotated it, causing a message to appear on the screen:

“Welcome back, Dr. Carlyle,” a robotic voice narrated. “What would you like to do today?”

Reading the list of options underneath the salutation, Jason’s eyes immediately locked onto one of them in particular.

He moved the cursor over the text, his heart pounding faster and faster.

“You have selected ‘Initiate Self-Destruct Sequence.’ Please enter the code.”

Holding a shaky finger over the numbered keys, the marine slowly entered each digit one-by-one, his ears ringing with a series of individual beeps.

“Code accepted. Explosives armed and primed. Please confirm that you would like to proceed with this operation. Warning: this cannot be undone.”

Jason suddenly froze.

Wait, what was he doing?

Was this... really the end?

What would happen to him after this? Where would he go, if anywhere at all?

Was this truly the best option?

Staring intently at the screen, the young man found himself paralyzed by a ferocious kind of fear, uncertain of what to do. He had spent so much time worrying about how to survive, that... he never really considered what it would be like to die. Now that he was face-to-face with his mortality though, he felt smaller than ever.

Even with all the death he had witnessed during his time in the military, Jason never really fathomed just how fragile human beings could be.

One button. One man. One choice. That was all it would take to end hundreds of lives, including his own.

Was it worth it? Over and over, he kept trying to convince himself that this was for the good of mankind, but how many families would suffer because of him? How many graves would have to be dug? How many years of trauma would he cause?

No. He couldn’t afford to think like that. Millions of people were depending on this decision. Even if it meant that his name would be tarnished forever, he had to destroy HERA. For everyone’s sake.

“God,” Jason whispered, “if you can hear me right now... I’m sorry. That don’t make up for what I’m about to do, I know, but please... just keep everyone safe. I don’t care if the world spends the rest of its existence hatin’ me, or even if it forgets me entirely. They can spit on my grave for all I care. Whatever they do, just let ‘em do it in peace.”

He held a hand over the keyboard, taking a deep breath. His voice was quivering by now, and he could feel the anxiety settling into him.

“And please, take care of Salim. Watch over him and Zain. That man deserves a better life than this. He deserves to find his son.”

Jason shut his eyes one last time and smiled, ready to face what was about to come.

“Who knows? One day, he might even find me again.”

~~~~~~~~~~

OUTSIDE CAMP SLAYER

2134 HOURS

Soaring across the desert under the moonlight’s guidance, Salim bolted away from the military camp as fast as he could, doing everything in his power not to turn back. He could see multiple helicopters tailing him in the rearview mirror, and accompanying them, it looked like there were other vehicles pursuing him on the ground.

He had no idea if Jason had reached his destination at this point, or if CENTCOM finally got their hands on him, but whatever the case, Salim’s mind was currently fixated beyond the horizon.

All he could think about was Zain. That boy had spent over two weeks wondering if his father would ever come home. For all he knew, his son may not have even been in Badra-Mandali anymore. He could’ve decided to take shelter with Tariq during Salim’s absence, or maybe, already left for London.

Regardless of where he was, Salim just prayed that the boy was safe. There was no telling if CENTCOM knew of Zain’s location, but if he had learned anything about them during his time in the facility, it was that they wouldn’t hesitate to use him as leverage.

Alarmed at the thought, Salim pressed his foot down even further and forced the truck to push against its limits, just barely evading the helicopters’ searchlights. They were no more than a few meters away from being within shooting distance now, and the only thing preventing them from gunning Salim down was the difficulty of getting a solid visual.

In just a few moments however, their efforts proved to be futile.

Shaking the ground with an earth-shattering force, a colossal explosion suddenly decimated the atmosphere, causing Salim’s truck to jolt in the shockwave. The impact of the eruption instantly swatted CENTCOM’s helicopters straight out of the sky, and the flames expanded so far that they nearly seared the clouds.

As for the vehicles following Salim, they were thrown off-course and flipped onto their sides, leaving them at the mercy of the bomb’s wrath. Within seconds, the Iraqi soldier found his enemies replaced by a dome of fire, and his truck riding on the edge of a scorching wave.

“Jason...!” He exclaimed, glancing at the rearview mirror.

He couldn’t believe it.

That crazy bastard actually did it.

He destroyed Camp Slayer.

HERA, Red Moon, the facility -- they were all gone.

Every scientist, every subject, every civilian, every soldier... all of them had been reduced to ash. Including Jason himself.

It was both a tremendous victory and a devastating tragedy; one that Salim would carry until his dying breath.

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it now. Jason had just given his life to ensure his safety, and he would be damned if he wasted this chance. So, with a broken heart, Salim simply let the truck carry him away from this horrid place, hoping that he would never lay eyes upon it again.

He didn’t know how he would live his life from now on; how he would pretend that everything was normal around Zain, or that he didn’t know who Jason was. But at least one thing was for certain.

Salim and his family were safe. All the files CENTCOM created on him were nothing more than kindling now, and the rest of their organization had no way of tracking him down either. Although Jason’s death would follow him around for a long time after this, he was finally free.

It was a sacrifice that Salim would never forget, nor be able to speak of.

He was the sole survivor of Camp Slayer, and his story would be buried under its ashes.

~~~~~~~~~~

BADRA-MANDALI

1017 HOURS

Scribbling a few more notes in his journal, Zain quickly skimmed through the last handful of sentences in the book he was reading, eager to take a break after an entire morning of studying. He had been preparing for university by absorbing every piece of information he could find pertaining to mythology, but so far, it was proving to be more tiring than he anticipated.

He enjoyed reading about the folklore from different countries -- the UK, specifically -- but even then, there was only so much he could take at a time.

Setting his pencil down with a yawn, the boy stretched his arms before shutting the book closed, feeling worn out for the day. His eyes stung from focusing on text for so long, and his fingers were stiff from writing multiple pages of notes.

It wasn’t even that late in the day yet, but Zain already felt inclined to take a short nap. He was planning to meet Tariq later, after all, and didn’t want to be a sluggish mess by the time they got together.

Scooting back from his desk, Zain grabbed the book and walked over to the shelf, finding a spot for it amongst all the clutter. He pushed aside some of the other books in an attempt to form a gap, but instead, ended up creating an even bigger mess.

One of the books stumbled to the floor due to the abrupt shove and landed right next to the boy’s feet. He let out an annoyed sigh and bent downwards to pick it up, only to halt when he realized what he was looking at.

...It was the book Salim gifted him for his birthday.

Zain found it on the kitchen counter about two weeks ago with a signed card. Originally, he planned to open it when his father returned home, but the opportunity never came.

The war took him first. At some point during Zain’s escapade with Tariq, Salim was whisked away by the fight with the Americans, and just... disappeared.

No one knew where his body was, or how he died. Worst of all, no one cared enough to find out. Most of the soldiers in the area were still preoccupied with remaining pockets of conflict, and none of them would hear Zain’s pleas to find his missing father.

Eventually, the boy had no other choice but to give up. He opened the gift on his own, and stuffed the book alongside the rest of his collection, determined to forget the memories that were attached to it. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at the first page, let alone read through the whole thing. At the same time though, he didn’t have the heart to get rid of it.

If Zain was being honest, he didn’t know what to do with it, period. It was a painful reminder of another parent he had lost, but in a way, it made him feel closer to them. And for that reason, he decided to keep it.

Right before he could do anything with it though, a series of knocks came from the front door, tearing him out of his thoughts.

“I’m coming!” Zain called out, tossing the book on his bed for now. He jogged to the living room, undoing the locks beneath the handle.

Who would visit him now, he wondered? Could it have been Tariq? They weren’t supposed to meet for another few hours. What if it was someone else?

Swinging the door open, Zain greeted his visitor with a curious glance. “Hello, is there something--”

His jaw hit the floor, and he could’ve sworn that his heart stopped.

Standing across from him in the stark sunlight, a dirty, fatigued, battered Salim gazed at him with a weakened smile, leaning on the wall for support. Albeit somewhat tattered, his clothes resembled the uniform of an American soldier, but the jacket had been discarded. In its place, a rifle now hung from his torso.

“Zain...” he said, clearly exhausted. “...My boy. You’re still here.”

Zain took a step forward, gawking at him incredulously. “...Baba? You’re alive?” He laughed in excitement, leaping into a hug. “Baba!”

Bringing the boy into his arms, Salim held him close and practically smothered his face into Zain’s shoulder, crying tears of joy. He was struggling to stay upright after hours of running from CENTCOM’s men nonstop, but when it came to embracing his son, he had all the strength in the world.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” He murmured, pulling away from him for a second. “Are you alright?” His eyes scanned Zain’s body for any possible injuries. “You haven’t been hurt, have you?”

“No, no. I’m fine, baba. Don’t worry. But what about you? I thought you were dead. What happened? Where have you been? What--”

Salim softly gripped him by the shoulders, speaking to him in a soothing manner. “Shh. It’s okay, Zain. I’ll answer all your questions later. Just... give me a moment to clean up, alright? Then we’ll talk.”

“Okay.” The boy agreed, helping his father inside. “Come on. I’ll get you something to eat.”

And thus, for the next hour or so, Salim spent some time washing up in the shower and getting a new change of clothes, all while pondering how on earth he was going to explain everything to Zain. He omitted the details of his escape to the best of his ability, and in the end, spun a tale that didn’t involve Jason or CENTCOM at all.

As far as the boy was aware, he had gotten trapped in some caves with American troops after a series of tremors caused the ground to open up. The majority of them starved to death while waiting to be rescued, including Dar, and the rest were forced to climb their own way out. In order to avoid the risk of being captured when he reached the surface, Salim stole an American uniform, and headed home once he was free.

Although a bit vague in some parts, the story seemed convincing enough to quell Zain’s curiosity. The boy still sensed that there was something else plaguing his father’s mind, but it was nothing that would arouse any suspicion. At least, not to the point of doubting his recollection.

Salim, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as satisfied as his son. For the rest of the day, he did nothing but replay the image of that horrific explosion in his head, thinking endlessly about the partner he lost.

Even now, as the sun began to set, Salim sat on his bed, looking over the photographs Jason gave to him. One by one, he sifted through them, wishing desperately that he could touch his lover just one last time. He longed for his warmth, and the comforting sound of his voice.

He remembered the jokes they used to crack, the way they would laugh about certain things, and that big, goofy grin Jason always wore. He recalled what it felt like to kiss him for the first time, knowing it would also be his last.

Jason might not’ve thought much of himself -- hell, he probably died thinking he was nothing more than a murderer -- but Salim knew that he would never find another person like him.

He was one of a kind. And the world took him far too soon.

Letting out a sigh, Salim averted his attention from the photos for a minute and rose to his feet, contemplating what to do next.

He was home. He found Zain. But now what?

Was he supposed to spend the rest of his life just sitting on these memories all by himself, forever bound by a vow of silence? Was he supposed to act like Jason never existed, and forget everything about him? How would that even be possible?

Jason was a part of him now, whether he liked it or not. Moving on from his death wasn’t going to be as easy as simply “getting over it.”

But, deep down, in spite of his grief, Salim knew that moving on was necessary. He still had a son who needed him. He had a family to take care of. Jason wouldn’t have wanted him to get trapped in the past, nor would he have wanted him to waste time chasing a ghost.

Death would always have a role to play in this world. Denying that fact was exactly what drove Carlyle towards the insanity that killed him. The least Salim could’ve done to honor Jason’s memory was ensure he didn’t fall prey to the same madness that infected so many of CENTCOM’s scientists.

It was the only way he would ever find peace, and the only way this ordeal would be laid to rest.

Through acceptance.

Walking over to his nightstand, Salim decided it was time to put the memories away and pulled open one of the drawers, granting himself a final look before leaving them behind. He laid the photos down individually, making sure that Jason’s portrait sat on top of the small pile. It brought him comfort to see the man as he was before HERA took hold, but for now... he would have to focus on the future.

Life waited for no one, after all. The Earth would keep turning regardless of the flock of souls that departed from its grasp on a daily basis, and carry on as it had for eons.

Jason, however, would always be waiting. When death eventually came for Salim one day, the marine would be there for him just as he was in life, ready to greet a long-lost friend.

It was a promise they both made to themselves, and one they looked forward to fulfilling.

No matter how long it would take.

“Thank you for everything, habibi.” Salim whispered. “I’ll never forget you.”

He gently pushed the drawer closed, smiling fondly to himself as he bid one final farewell.

“...Goodbye, Jason.”

#house of ashes #the dark pictures #hoa #jason kolchek #salim othman #jalim #jason kolchek x salim othman #hoa fanfic #vampire!jason

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aislinnsulien · 2 years

Photo

So, um. Jason loves vegetables.

FULL VERSION without veggies on twitter here: https://twitter.com/AislinnSulien/status/1534236861736050689?s=20&t=3Q5J61Jhxc-8tA6dKCE2Xg

#jalim #jason kolchek #salim othman #jason kolchek x salim othman #THE AMOUNT OF FUN I HAD WITH THIS #SALIM DRAWING YOUR DEEK WAS AN HONOUR OF THE HIGHEST TIER #tumblr please let us enjoy the vegetables #house of ashes

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hauntedcheesecakewizard · 5 months

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Jason: I'm a pure blooded American serving my country.

Salim: you do realise Kolchek is a Russian last name, right?

Jason: W H A T

I headcanon that Jason has distant Russian heritage from when they immigrated to America. I also find the image of Jason having an identity crisis with his patriotic nature funny, lol.

#house of ashes #salim othman #jalim #jason kolchek #the dark pictures anthology #dark pictures anthology #jason x salim #hoa #the dark pictures house of ashes #dark pictures house of ashes #the dark pictures #jason kolchek x salim othman #house of ashes headcanons #Jason kolchek headcanons

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writtenjewels · 3 months

Text

I'll Wait

Jason wished he could bundle all the anger, hatred, fear and longing into a ball and shove it deep down. It was a skill he once had mastered. But then he fell down into Hell, and the shield that uses to protect him was cracked in half. He tried to reconstruct it but it was no use. It scared the hell out of him.

"Jason!" Salim's voice called to him. His gaze automatically locked onto the older man, who was waving him over.

He was the one responsible for Jason's turmoil. It only took a few hours for them to go from enemies to loyal partners. Jason tried not to think about the choices he made down in the catacombs. He moved to sit near Salim, desperately wishing he could lie enough times to believe he wasn't feeling these emotions.

"You look so different without your hat," Salim observed. "I wasn't expecting freckles."

Jason's eyes snapped up to Salim's face--big mistake. His insides squirmed and fluttered, his heart raced. His counter down there was to get angry, but he couldn't anymore. Not after everything he and Salim went through.

"They let you talk to Zain yet?"

"No." Salim let out a sigh.

"Want me to have a word with them?"

"That depends." Salim caught his eye, a teasing smile on his lips. "How civilized is this word?"

"I can be plenty civilized, smart-ass," Jason insisted, matching the smile. Their banter had a way of relaxing him. He felt a tug in his heart and almost let it pull him closer. Jason jerked away as if he'd been burned. "I'll go right now," he announced.

"Jason, wait." Salim reached for him and he froze. The man's expression was gentle, searching. "Talk to me," he coaxed.

Except Jason couldn't find the words. How could he explain what he was feeling? He denied this part of himself for so long Jason wasn't sure he could.

"Later," Jason said. "I gotta have some civilized words with those assholes first." Salim pursed his lips.

"All right," he conceded. "I'll wait." It felt like he put more meaning into those words. Like he knew exactly what Jason was fighting through.

#house of ashes #jason kolchek #salim othman #jason/salim #jalim #jason x salim #jason kolchek x salim othman

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feldmanshome · 1 year

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I made some outfits for my HoA-AU.

(ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ

#house of ashes #dark pictures anthology #the dark pictures anthology #the dark pictures house of ashes #dark pictures house of ashes #jason kolchek #salim othman #jalim #jason x salim #jason kolchek x salim othman

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prvttystvr · 1 year

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Dating House of Ashes characters

what would it be like to date House of Ashes characters? Here are some headcanons, for both monogamous and polyamorous relationships, hope you like them!

— JASON KOLCHEK: to say he is jealous is an understatement. As soon as he sees someone hitting on you, he pulls you closer and kisses you passionately. He loves to leave you quick little kisses on the forehead. He likes to go out to the park or to his favorite clubs. You often go out with his friends, especially Salim. When you stay at home, you watch action movies while eating popcorn. Every now and then you try to get him to read books together, failing. When you go to sleep, he is always the big spoon and, until he falls asleep, he gently caresses your arm. If you're in a gay relationship, he won't be entirely comfortable at first (yes, I love the headcanon about internalized homophobia in Jason). He will deny his love for you, but he will be reassured by you. Over time, he will accept it more and more

—SALIM OTHMAN: having already been in a long and important relationship, he knows how to flirt, even if he's feeling a little rusty. He always writes you long letters which he leaves on your bedside table, along with breakfast if he has to leave early. Sometimes, he even brings you flowers. Your dates take place in museums, where you explain the works of art to each other. Love to hug and cuddle you, fill your face with kisses. On the street he always holds your hand, as if he's afraid you'll leave. After all, he was left with the scar of leaving his ex-wife, but you fixed it. When you met Zain, he did nothing but analyze you. He wanted to make sure you were a good fit for his father and that you didn't hurt him. After her "search" came back positive, you immediately made friends. You often go out together or play pranks on Salim

—ERIC KING: being cheated on by his wife was worse than facing vampires. It took a long time to recover, and even while you were dating, he couldn't fully trust you. At first he was arrogant and conceited, but it was a wall that he had built to "protect himself". Breaking down that wall was complex, but behind it you found a sweet and cuddly man. At first, in public, he won't hug and kiss you a lot. Later, he will become more affectionate, filling your cheeks with kisses. He is quite obsessed with his appearance and how he should appear to others. As a result, your dates are often to fine dining restaurants and you will both be dressed up. He will often ask you if you love him, and hearing you tell him will be very reassuring. He loves to hug you in bed and fall asleep while you are in each other's arms. Over time, he recovered from his divorce with Rachel. In fact, you two hang out with Nick and Rachel from time to time

—RACHEL KING: dealing with her is complicated. At first she will appear distant, not very present. This is all due to her old relationships with Eric and Nick. She doesn't say it, but she is convinced inside that she is the problem. Gradually, she will open up more, showing her loving and passionate side. She is often busy with work, both abroad and not, but as soon as she can she calls you and chats with you. In her office, she keeps a picture of you. When you see each other, you start talking about her missions (she complains about Nick and Eric) and what you've been doing in the meantime. She brings you gifts from abroad, especially jewelry. You wear them during your dates. You like going to quiet places where you can spend time just the two of you alone. For example, go to the park with a packed lunch or go for a run at dawn. She says she's not jealous, but she makes those who flirt with you pay dearly. From an affectionate point of view, she likes to put her arm around your hips and kiss your forehead

—NICK KAY: after breaking up with Rachel, he had a lot of self-esteem issues. Thankfully, you have helped him regain confidence in himself and in others. Slowly he started to open up. At first, he didn't talk about his relationship with Rachel, but after a while he told you. He would occasionally make comparisons between you and her, but eventually he stopped, thinking they were annoying you. During the dates, he took you places he hadn't taken Rachel, making them special just for the two of you. He likes to be alone with you, without too many people around. As a result, he prefers to stay at home, watching some documentary (after the events with the vampires, he began to read up on ancient history). He also often invites his best friend Jason over. Initially, he didn't trust you. Not because you were a bad person, but because he only wanted the best for Nick. In the end, you two get along perfectly. He loves to caress you, especially your arms and hair, and whisper how much he loves you

—CLARICE STOKES: at first she will show herself as a presumptuous girl, but getting to know her better you will see her softer side. Every time you try to organize "science" themed outings, such as museums or theme parks. She likes to explain to you how machines or formulas work. She likes to attend concerts and hang out at her favorite clubs, of course doing all of this with you. She doesn't really like physical contact, so she shows her affection with tender words and small gifts

—NATHAN MERWIN: silly jokes are the order of the day, as well as having to put up with his big ego. Despite that, he loves you more than he loves himself (so he really loves you). You spend your time working out at the gym while he flexes his muscles to impress you. Sometimes you even stay at home, watching some action movie while eating some food prepared by Merwin. Unexpectedly, he is a very good cook. In public, he comes across as the "macho" of the relationship, but in private, he loves to cuddle with you. Sometimes you fight because he seems to be flirting with other people, but he will try to make it up to you by buying you something you like

—JOEY GOMEZ: right from the first date, he will do nothing but talk to you about his favorite movies. In fact, your outings will mostly be at home, hugging each other under a blanket, watching movies and TV series. He prefers to stay at home, playing video games with you, but occasionally likes to throw surprise dinners at your favorite places. He loves physical touch a lot. In fact, he likes to hug you from behind, resting his head on your shoulder. Often you organize outings with Merwin, his closest friend (maybe you're the third wheel)

—JASON + SALIM: it seems to be between two opposites. On one side there is Jason, impulsive and lively. On the other there is Salim, thoughtful and moderate. Your outputs vary all the time. Sometimes you go shooting at a shooting range or drinking at a club, other times you go to a picnic in the park or visit a museum. You are the middle spoon or the little spoon. Jason will never admit it, but he likes being the little spoon once in a while. Salim, on the other hand, likes all kinds. However, he often prefers to be the big spoon, so he can embrace both of you. When you stay at home, you cook together new recipes taught by Salim. You and Jason often make messes, but Salim is patient and ready to clean up. At first, it felt weird for Zain to have "three parents" (what? Four parents? Does he have another mother? I don't see any other mother :) ), but eventually he warmed to both you and Jason. After he leaves for university in London, he often video calls the three of you. Jason and Salim are very protective of you, almost like they are your parents. Jason is also a jealous guy. As soon as he sees someone hitting on you two, he doesn't hesitate to put his arms around your sides, bring you closer and kiss you

—ERIC + NICK: sometimes you don't know if they hate each other or really love each other. Every now and then Eric and Nick fight and you have to act as intermediary or "messenger" between them. When they make up, they continually apologize for bothering you. Sometimes you go to the gym together and compete to see who is "coolest". After working out, go somewhere to relax. Eric occasionally takes you out to dinner at some fancy restaurant, arguing with Nick over the fact that he doesn't want to dress elegantly. When you stay home, Eric prepares delicious snacks for all three of you and you watch some TV series together. There are some ups and downs, like when Nick brings up the affair with Rachel while arguing with Eric, or when Eric gets arrogant around you and Nick. In the end, however, you always manage to talk calmly and resolve any quarrel. Eric and Nick often say "I love you", but between them the "I love you" is very different. We could consider them "love insults". As mentioned before, sometimes you don't understand if they love or hate each other, but in the end you give yourself an answer. Seeing how Eric and Nick support each other and support you makes you believe that they are truly in love

—RACHEL + ERIC: they took a long time to tell you about Nick and Rachel's history, but by then they were both comfortable with you. While there was a little bit of jealousy within your relationship at first, you all found yourself at ease in the end. Rachel is often away on business. When she comes back, you and Eric always throw her a surprise "welcome back." Although they look similar, they have their differences, especially in the love arena. On one side you have Rachel, more passionate and impulsive. On the other you have Eric, more romantic and quiet. They often tell you about how they met, the academy, their marriage, Iraq, the vampires. They have a bit nostalgic tone about those memories, but they are happy to be able to create new ones with you. Sometimes they look like your parents, protecting you against everyone and telling you how to behave

—NICK + RACHEL + ERIC: you feel like you are inside a book. What used to be a love triangle is now a great relationship. You are all different from each other, but in a way you complement each other. It's never quiet at home, but that's not a bad thing. You always have something new to do: Nick preparing something good, Rachel teaching new physical exercises, Eric reading a good book while you all embrace in bed. Even when you go outside there are different activities that you do. Rachel and Nick like to work out, so they will drag you and Eric to work out. Eric on the other hand will take you to nice restaurants, insisting on buying him dinner. Sometimes you also have nice picnics in a park or on a beach. If it's hot, you can even take a nice bath (lucky you, surrounded by two handsome men and a beautiful woman). There is no actual "big spoon" or "little spoon" in bed. Every night you change both order and position, especially Nick. Every time you, Eric and Rachel wonder how he sleeps in those weird positions

—CLARICE + RACHEL: they are both erupting volcanoes. With them you are never bored. Both always have great outings, like going to an interactive science museum or tree climbing. Even at home there is always dynamism: jump on the bed singing at the top of your voice, play with fake guns, experiment almost setting the house on fire. You look like three children. They are not very cuddly girls, but nevertheless they love to kiss you on the cheeks or on the forehead. You often travel together, especially to accompany Rachel on her missions. She always refuses, but in the end you convince her

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for the polyamorous relationships, I put the most popular ships, but if you want some more, you can ask me! <3

I think I’ll do also Until Dawn, The Quarry and The Devil in Me. For Man of Medan and Little Hope, I don’t have many ideas. I would like to do The Inpatient, but only to do Gordon😅 (I won’t do it also because not a lot of people know this game)

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hedgiestail · 11 months

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Two ideas I quickly sketched

1) Moment from my fanfiction with Jason being oblivious to the ghost presens

2) Salim bestowing wisdom upon his son and Jason is so done with excessive blabber

#salim othman #house of ashes #jason kolchek #jason kolchek x salim othman #jalim #zain othman #the dark pictures house of ashes #i think i finally going back to creative mindset #at least i hope so #not the best drawings out where #still better than nothing

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erzsebetrosztoczy · 2 years

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Night out Part 2.

Pairing: Salim x Jason

Summary: Jason offered Salim to show his local cinema but without any instructions, Salim’s left to figure out what the young american means with all this, and what does his own feeling thell him about this situation.

Words: 2200~

Genre: Fluff

Notes: Yes I finally set my butt down to write. Hurray! Funk off writers block😌💗 Part 1 if you wanna know the previous acts. Oh and by sandwichbars, I mean like Subway and such. Cause here we really don't have those, only in a few bigger cities, I think.

What should he do now? Is this just a sudden crush? Is he just embarrassed, flushed because of Jason? Or is it something more?

Salim nervously tapped on his knees as he stared at the road ahead, eyes fixed on the quickly moving white stripes in the middle. He should stop thinking about this. Thinking makes things worse, thinking only takes his ideas further.

Since the movie ended Salim calmed down to an acceptable level, even forgot about his tight situation for a short time, when Jason started to discuss the movie.

And then silence fell upon them, dooming his mind back to thinking.

Did he really want to watch Jason's lips as he spoke, or was he just curious about what the american's telling him?

Did he really think about sliding his hand over the cold leather of his seat, to feel the warmth of Jason's knees?

Did he really want to do this "going out together" again? It was nice to have a little time for himself…well for themselves. It felt so relaxing with Jason, Salim finally could relax and be himself around the younger man, sharing thoughts and ideas he wouldn't do with anyone else.

It came as a surprise to himself, that he wants to dig deeper into this…connection they have.

A relationship?

What if he's just totally oblivious, and only Salim reads signs into this?

"So…" Salim heard Jason's voice cracking the heavy silence between the two of them, with a curious and careful tone. "Are ya hungry? I feel like a starving dog on the streets after this film."

Salim snapped his attention back to the man beside him, catching Jason's amazing side profile as he looked back at the road. Salim had a more rounded nose with soft cheeks and round features, and so Jason’s prominent and sharp features, with his cheekbones and nose made a noticeably big difference between the two men, that Salim liked quite much. Opposites that make a whole.

Salim blinked, squinting his images and Jason’s face out of his brain. He didn’t even know what his younger partner said.

“I…I- yeah I would like to.” It sounded more like a question than an answer, but Jason nodded with a small smile, so Salim left it on the fact that he did answer correctly.

“And you really have those in Iraq too?” Jason raised an eyebrow, surprised, but amazed. Salim glupped - there was another question he did not hear because of his damn thoughts…?

“I–Uhhh.” He began, trying to come up with some short reply that could fit into any questions he might have gotten. Unfortunately, Salim wasn’t a man for made up lies. “Under we have them- you mean…?”

“Like in every city? I thought sandwich bars were only a thing here in the US.”

“Ah yes, sandwich bars!” He nodded. They have bars where you have…sandwiches? “I mean maybe in much larger cities, sure. I- I think I have been in one once…. Somewhere.” He bit his lips, trying to think of anything else that came into his scattered mind, that worked just fine when he needed to think about Jason. “But I’m not sure we had any around my city, I suppose.”

“Got it.” Jason chuckled, signaling for a right turn. “Then we gotta refresh your memories, Salim.” A shiver ran down Salim's spine – it was common for Jason to call him by his name - or either buddy and mate - but the way he said it… the softness; Salim literally could hear the smile as Jason said his name.

He wanted to hear it over and over again, only from him, and only like this.

It was late at night, maybe around midnight by the time they arrived at a little restaurant that stood out from the rest of the building complex with its red and bright yellow colors. It gave Salim’s the impression of an old… vintage building. Something he saw on postcards when he was just a boy.

It’s surprising it was even open at this late hour, but Jason explained quickly, there are few bistros that run in a 24hours period, closing for only just a few hours, early in the morning. Sitting down in the corner of the small bar Jason ordered two burgers for them, and while they were waiting for the food to arrive, taking his hat off, he gazed out of the big windows. Salim was nervously tapping on the floor, hands fidgeting on the table. Why didn’t Jason look nervous? Why did he seem just as perfectly fine as someone would be with just a casual friend to hang out? And again; the scary and hurtful thought came back with full force into Salim’s skull, pushing and scratching him from the inside.

“I'm gonna be honest with you” Jason’s sudden turn to face him spooked Salim, he flinched slightly, blinking into the American's warm brown eyes as he tried to collect himself for a conversation. “ I thought you were gonna head back home as soon as the film’s over.” He admitted with an embarrassed half smile scratching his neck, as Jason looked quickly to the side. “Guess I was wrong…”

Salim scoffed softly, raising an eyebrow, chin resting in his hand as he leaned onto the table. He wasn’t offended by any means, in fact, he would have gone home early, if it wasn’t for spending time with Jason.

“Oh? Do tell Jarhead, why thought so?” He said instead, with a teasing tone. It amazed him that no matter how nervous he was, if it came to the banter he and Jason had going on, Salim was all in for the fun.

“I dunno, just that you have Zain at home, waiting…” Jason coughed, shrugging his shoulders, looking anywhere but Salim. The older man started to catch on, wondering if the tables turned in this short period of time, from leaving the car and sitting in to this bistro, that Jason suddenly acted so giddy.

“Jason, “ Salim chuckled; under his eyelids he caught the bobbing of the marine’s Adam’s apple, that sealed his slightests of hopeful thoughts to be true at last – Jason was, in fact just as nervous in front of Salim’s piercing eyes as the older man was a few moments ago. “My son is eighteen years old, a grown up- on paper. I think he’s more than glad that his old man isn’t home for a few hours.” Jason admitingly nodded to this, a faint blush appearing on his ears, that he quickly hid with another set of nape scratching.

It’s funny how Salim partially could calm his nerves, while Jason got more and more flushed. Maybe it was because all the time he did not face Salim eye to eye; only speaking to him while Jason drove. Only getting stolen looks from the side, never able to linger his gaze longer than a few seconds? Finally the doubtful voices started to fade in Salim’s mind - thought the nervousness and the small lump in his stomach stayed.

“Besides, would you really describe me as such an old man, who would retreat to his couch after a few hours of driving and film watching?” His voice was taunting, but not in a harsh way. Salim could say the boldest lines, the most teasing words that he knew of, and he still could sell it with a gentle and calm, welcoming manner.

To this, Jason snorted, teeth shining up in a bright smile, his dimples deepened doing so.

“Not in a million year would I call you old. Not after what I witnessed with my own eyes. With those arms, I wouldn’t be the damned fool to call you out for a brawl.” The younger man protested, while the waitress finally brought out the ordered foods for them.

The two men quietly waited until the lady placed everything down, thanking her with a polite smile and a nod.

“You see, my friend” Salim continued, picking up his burger carefully, not to drop any ingredient from the bums, while Jason just sieged them into his hands, lashing down onto the sandwich like a starving man. “Age comes with not just wise words, but in my case, with a fine form.” He grinned down, biting into his sandwich, as he watched Jason clearing his throat.

“Yeah, well; I’m damn sure about that one.” He murmured into his food, but Salim heard it anyway; chewing with the biggest grin he ever had.

Being nervous and confused about his feelings was one thing for Salim, he could make out something about that after some time, with process and critical thinking. But seeing finally what effect he had on Jason, the possibility that the man he was developing feelings for, might have felt the same, or fairly similar; set his senses to another level of brainstorm. If there was a little, a slight, an itty- bitty chance that Jason might like him that way, Salim will try to inch closer and closer to the younger man, getting to know him as much as he lets himself, as he wants to know Salim, because…

He waited long enough. Salim was patient, and easy going until almost the very end of the day, always focusing on his career, to become a good father, and a roll-model that Zain can follow. In his entire life, until this moment he put his family, his reputation, and the necessities over his needs. But times changed, he cannot look after Zain for much longer, the boys soon starts to live his own life as he pleases, his baba will be placed in the background as a voice of reasons, and guide for thought times, but all in all; Salim will, eventually let go of Zain’s hand.

Those times of the past are over, war is not an aspect that Salim needs to consider anymore. Maybe, after all the hard work and putting-aside-himself-for-the-greater-good; maybe Salim will finally start something new, he would like to do. Something he would love to do and continue and cherish. A new life, with new ways and new faces. And Jason was someone he considered into this new part of his life.

Why not give it a chance? It’s better asking, then failing, than never even trying.

They stopped in front of the familiar white walls, and tall roof of Salim’s house, the colorful tv lights of the first floor shining out into the black night, through the windows. Zain better not peek from his room’s window, or Salim might need to answer some quite awkward questions from his son,that he rather wished to do the next morning, as Zain doesn’t know anything that happened.

Salim united his seatbelt, stretching out his back with a satisfying set of cracks, and he looked at Jason, like he would say something more, before saying their goodbyes.

The marine offered a shy smile, biting his lips as he tapped in the driving wheel, thinking any lines his brain would allow him to create.

“I– Well this was a fun night.” He finally spoke looking back at Salim, his gaze slipping to the older man’s lips for a second. “Now at least you tried out this lazy weekend fun…or like this going out- thing.”

“I enjoyed it very much, Jason.” Salim smiled with a reassuring nod. “ I kind of started to think about doing this more often.”

Jason’s brows twitched, he shot up his hand to quickly readjust his cap. “I’m more than happy to watch movies and go eating with pleasant company.”

“I hoped this was going to be your answer.” Humming, Salim leaned closer, gently placing a hand onto Jason’s shoulder, patting him a few times. “I better get going. Might look after what Zain left in the kitchen after his “dinner cooking”.

“Arright. Have a good night Salim.” Jason nodded, with the movement, shifting his head ever so slightly towards Salim’s.

“You too, Jason.” Before he could think otherwise, before he could withdraw his courage; Salim pushed himself further ahead, planting a quick kiss on Jason’s cheek, before turning away to open the car door. Salim wasn’t even sure, he wanted to see Jason’s reaction, but then, before he could close the door, Jason coughed.

“I… I’ll call you tomorrow… If you would… wanna go down the lake?” He stuttered, eyes searching for something on the ground, face red from ears to neck, with a silly little smile, almost unable to hold back.

Salim pursed his lips together before he could say the answer.

“You’re on it, Jarhead.” He agreed, closing the door with a rumbling heart in his chest.

#the dark pictures anthology: house of ashes #dark pictures house of ashes #house of ashes #the house of ashes #hoa #jason #jason kolchel #salim #salim othman #jalim #jason x salim #jason kolchek x salim othman #my writing

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