#or beat up by Alice who does NOT want rescue thanks

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Californian Dream (Pt. 04 of 11)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 3 K

Summary: Being part of one of the richest families of California doesn't mean you're happy. Your life is boring, and you're surrounded by meaningless people and their meaningless talk. Even during Summer, with the break you have from college, there's nothing good going on. Nothing but the new pool guy, Billy, the most handsome man you ever saw. You were successfully avoiding him, not wanting to act like an idiot in front of the guy until Billy accepts to be your date for a fancy gala you're forced to attend. The night was going well, even better when he sneaked you out to go to the beach. But a gang of criminals breaks into the party, kidnapping the heirs to the wealthiest families, which includes you. So, for your safety, your parents want you to stay with Billy, living in his apartment until the criminals are caught. And that could take weeks, maybe even months.

Warnings: Light violence

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{Stranger Things Masterlist}

{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

×

Distance

In the morning, you tiptoe to the living room, but everything you find of Billy is a small note left on the kitchen table. He's at work and must be back by 5 or 6 pm. He said you can make something for lunch, and that he'll bring dinner. So, now that you're alone, you can't help but think. The names of those who died to keep playing back, and Gisele's is the one that comes louder. You feel bad for all the times you were mean to her, when you left her talking alone, storming away. But it's useless to feel this way now. It won't bring her back.

You're pacing around the living room, the news channel on, as they repeat the same things over and over. When you put both hands on your head, out of desperation, you feel as Billy's shirt lifts a little, exposing your thighs. And you realize you'll need clothes. And all your personal stuff. “Ame.” You mutter, going to the phone and calling home. As usual, it's Amelia who answers, and she squeals, happy to know you're fine. After telling her everything that happened and where you'll be staying, you start giving the instructions. Well, she's the one to point out what you'll need and how to cover up who you are.

The goal is to remain hidden, but you won't be stuck inside the apartment. So you need to look different, and for that, Amelia advises you to buy new clothes, normal clothes, instead of using the ones you have. And she kindly offers to buy everything you'll need and bring them over later today. She'll also bring all of your personal stuff. And money. Amelia tells you to keep some money with you, in case you need it. You're not sure what for, but you agree.

She gets here after lunch, with three huge pieces of baggage, and she helps you drag them to Billy's bedroom. Then, after you change out of Billy's shirt, she shows off the last part of her plan. Amelia wants to dye your hair and cut off a few inches. You don't think it's necessary, but she's worried about the situation, and for the sake of the woman who raised you, you let her do it. Once she's done, she helps you clean the bathroom before leaving, giving you a tight hug and asking you to keep in touch and be careful.

Then the rest of the day is pretty boring. You do give some trips to the bathroom, just to check the hair. It's nice having your natural color back, but you never thought it would be in these circumstances.

You're watching the news again, seating on the couch, when the door opens. Turning your head, you give Billy a small smile. When his eyes find you, he furrows his eyebrows. It takes a while for you to understand why the confused expression.

“Oh! It was Amelia.” Quickly, you explain, standing on your feet and noticing the pizza he brought. “I called her and she helped me get some stuff done and well...” You gesture at your hair. “I've been bleaching it since Elementary school so I bet nobody will recognize me now. Amelia is probably the only one who remembers my natural color but... This is it.” You're speaking too much, and maybe a little too fast, but you're not sure why. “What do you think?”

He squints his eyes, moving to put the pizza on the table. “I think you're already planning on going out.” Well, obviously. He can't possibly expect you to stay locked up in here.

“I was talking about the hair, but ok.” Shrugging your shoulders, you gesture at the pizza. “Can I eat it?”

“Yeah. I'll take a shower.”

“I'll wait for you then.”

“Alright.” Billy stands there for a few seconds, awkwardly, before walking to the bedroom. “The hair is good, by the way.”

“Thanks.” You mutter, smiling a little.

“(Y/N)!” He calls out suddenly, startling you. “Why is there a bag full of money on my bed?”

“Oh!” Rushing to his bedroom, you find a very confused Billy. You left the dark blue bag on the edge of the bed, and you completely forgot about it. “Amelia said I should have money with me, just in case I need it.” Running a hand through your hair, you sigh. “But, uhm, if you need or want to buy something, you can, I mean... It's fifty-seven thousand dollars.” Reaching out inside that bag, you take one of the many piles. “Every pile has one thousand... So if I fall and break a bone you can use it to pay the hospital.

“Break a bone? Should I worry about that?”

“Just trying to light up the mood.” Giggling, you glance at him. “I won't jump from the window or anything. And those are my things.” You gesture, at the pieces of luggage. “Amelia got me new clothes. Normal clothes, not the expensive ones my mother makes me buy.”

“Amelia has everything figured out.”

“She does... I'll let you do your stuff.” Nodding to yourself, you walk away. You can't help but feel a little weird with all this, and the sensation of being nothing but a bother to Billy is starting to kick in.

You patiently wait for him, watching the news again. And the content of the tape was finally made known. And it's not good. Everyone was expecting a normal rescue. They'd say how much they want, get paid, and let the kids go. But apparently, that's not how it'll be.

“(Y/N).” The mention of your name startles you, your heart skipping a beat, and that's when you notice how focused you were. “Everything alright?”

“No.” You breathe out as Billy turns the TV off. “They have thirteen kids, right? It means they want thirteen parts. They'll let the media know how much, and when they get paid, they'll release one. Whoever they want. It doesn't mean that the Whaylands will get James out if they pay up.”

“These guys know what they're doing.” Billy looks down, thoughtful. “This will create chaos between the families.”

“Yeah... I'm even glad I'm stuck here because I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that mess.” Standing from the couch, you move to the kitchen table. “Can I?”

“Sure.”

Drumming your fingers on the table, you sit down, thinking about everyone they got. Alice, James, Daniel. Melissa, Candace. Michael, Antony, and Ryan. There are more... But you can't remember. Where are they now? Are they hungry? Are they being treated nicely? You doubt it. By the violence those men showed, they're not being nice. It could've been you, who knows where now, maybe starving, terrified... They're not your friends. They're just people you know, but still, you want them all back, alive and well. You want to hug them, to talk to them again, even if it means being part of their superficial conversations. You just want to have the chance to.

“Hey,” Billy calls, and you snap out of your thoughts, noticing you were biting your lip too harshly. “You ok?”

“Yeah.” Muttering, you take a slice of pizza, taking a bite.

“What did you have for lunch?” The question comes in a careful tone. Low and steady. He knows what you're thinking about.

But you can't answer it. It only hits you now that you haven't eaten anything all day, and the pain in your stomach is only surrendering because you're eating now. So you clear your throat, giving Billy a look. “Uhm... I haven't.”

“What?” He puts his slice down, a serious face on. “Couldn't you find anything you like?”

“That's not it I... I was watching the news all day and the police did next to nothing.” Gesturing at the TV, you sigh. “And I just can't understand how those big ass vans just disappeared into the night. It's just... One of the three people who were in the hospital died. Five of those working in the kitchens died in the explosion. They found the bodies today, and I just... I just wasn't hungry...” Maybe you should just say the last part. Billy doesn't need to know how desperate you feel.

“(Y/N), you gotta eat. What would your father say if he knew–”

“Billy, I need you to stop thinking about my father.” Cutting him off, you push some of your hair back, out of your face. He has to stop doing that. You don't want to be a job, you don't want him to see you as someone he has to look after. “What? Do you think I'll give him daily reports on my routine?” Making a pause, you take another bite, now a little annoyed. When you swallow it down, you stare at Billy again. “Day one. I woke up in Billy's bed, wearing one of his shirts. He left a cute note. I spent the whole day watching the news, freaking out a little, crying a little. Them Billy came back and brought me pizza.” You make sure to sound as annoyed as you feel. “Day two...”

“Maybe you should do that.” He says, those blue eyes locked on yours. Why is he staring at you like that, so intensely? Is he doing that thing again, trying to understand you? Because he always succeeds.

“Maybe you're crazy.” Shaking your head, you focus on the pizza again, silently finishing your slice. It might be so weird for him. Billy doesn't bring girls here, and here you are, invading his private life, stealing his bed. “The bed is yours today.”

“Alright.”

“Yeah...” As you take a second slice, you remember the gala. From the moment he picked you up until right before the explosion. It was easy talking to Billy, you didn't have to think before speaking. It was... Good. Effortless. You couldn't stop smiling, and you did wish you could hang out with him more. You felt free from all the rules and regulations, finally able to be someone genuine. Not the fake version you present to people.

But now... It's weird, uncomfortable. You did expect it to change as the days go by, but it didn't.

You started to count, obviously. Day three, day four... And it only got worse, if that's even possible. He always brings something to dinner, and you eat silently on the kitchen table, only to sit on the couch for a while, as far from the other as possible, and watch TV in silence. It's like two strangers sharing a roof, and you slowly give up the idea of this being something good. It isn't. Billy doesn't want you here, that's pretty clear. And it got even more obvious after the weekend. You told him he could go out if he wanted to, but he didn't. And it was just the same. Few words were spoken, a cold distance kept. He's like someone else entirely, not the same Billy from the beach.

And on the eighth day, you had enough. So you wait for Billy to go to bed, since it's his turn, and wait an hour before tiptoeing to the phone. Amelia is the only one you can talk to, whose advice you trust. So you call the private line she keeps in her bedroom, nervously biting your lip as you wait for her to pick up.

“Hello. Who's this?”

“Ame. It's me.” You whisper, giving the hall a look before turning around, leaning against the wall. “I'm sorry to call so late but I needed to talk.”

“Of course, honey. You know you can call me whenever you need.” When you were at the house, you used to bug her even late at night when you needed help, or just to rant about something. She was always there. “What's going on?”

“Uhm... Ame, this... This isn't working. Living with Billy is... Complicated.”

“Why?” You hear something in the back, maybe a glass being put down. “I remember you were getting along just fine since the day he saved you from drowning.” She giggles. “I saw you going around with him, laughing and chatting.”

Sighing, you shake your head a little. It was different back then. You don't know how, but you know it was. “Yeah, but he just... It just...” Damn it. Of all people you know, if you had to pick someone to do this, as crazy and insane as it is, you'd pick Billy. In any other house, those mansions, you'd have to act on your best behavior, participate in those formal rites for every meal, be always polite and kind. Here, you thought it would be better. You thought you'd have fun, as you used to on those days, with funny comments and quick remarks. Now... You don't know. “Billy doesn't want me here.” You burst out, keeping your voice low.

“Why do you think that?”

“He's just... Distant. Cold.” Why does it bother you so much? The Billy you met before was the one treating you as his boss. One of the owners of one of the houses he works on. What did you think? That he'd keep the act? “I'm an inconvenience. He's just doing that because my father will pay him in the end and no, I have no idea why it bothers me so much, but I just... I thought it'd at least be nice, but it isn't so...”

“(Y/N), Billy is a guy. I'm sure he's just making sure you don't feel uncomfortable.” She speaks slow, and you start bouncing your leg nervously.

“Amelia, I don't want him to fall in love with me, ok? I just thought we'd become friends or something like that.” The words come out fast, and you're a little pissed. “Billy doesn't want me here.” You repeat.

“Why does it bother you so much?”

“Because I had a nice time with him.” You burst out, throwing your free hand in the air. “He's so different from the idiots I'm surrounded by. I don't have to fake it, I can just say the stupid things that come to my head and I never had anyone I could be myself with. And God, I was so stupid to think this would be fun, or...” Taking a deep breath, your voice fades as you collect your thoughts. Moving from the wall, you start pacing around. “I'll just look for some apartment to rent, Ame. I don't want to be–” The sentence is cut short when you see a figure standing by the end of the table. Your eyes go wide, a hand on your heart as you recognize Billy, arms crossed, his eyes on you. “Ame, I'll have to go. Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Alright, honey. Try talking to Billy before making any decisions.”

“Ok. Good night.” You mumble before hanging up. Swallowing hard, you step back, leaning against the countertop. “Did you... Hear anything?” That's a stupid question, of course he did. He wouldn't be looking so pissed if he didn't. But it doesn't matter. This gotta be over soon, so you both will feel better.

“From the very beginning.” He says, tilting his head at the phone. “Heard you talking to someone and decided to check.”

“Ok.” Nodding to yourself, you look down at your feet. “I was thinking and I believe it will better if I look for some place I can rent around here. But don't worry, I won't tell my father so you'll still be paid.” As you speak, you make your way back to the couch, but Billy grabs your arm, forcing you to stop.

“So you think I don't want you here,” Billy mutters, his face lit up by the bluish light coming from the TV. He's gorgeous, so gorgeous that it's hard to say something to his face.

“That's crystal clear, Billy.” Giving your arm a pull, he let it go. “You said it yourself, you don't bring girls to your place and you were forced into having me here and I totally get that you don't like it.” Turning your back at him, you sit on the couch, eyes on the TV, but not paying any attention.

“You got it wrong.”

“I don't think so.”

“I just...” He makes a pause, so long it makes you look up at him. “I'm trying to give you some space.”

“Well, you gave me so much space it actually feels like I'm living alone.” Angrily, you move to lie down, fixing the blanket on your legs. “It'll better if I just move out.”

“Listen, I know you don't like this place.” Billy turns the TV off, and if it wasn't for the dim light coming from the street, you'd be in complete darkness. “It's tiny, your bedroom is bigger than this apartment.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Remember when the railing of your balcony was broken by a storm? I fixed it.”

You remember it. There was a huge summer storm, and a branch was ripped from a nearby tree, knocking down half of your railing. When you came back home on the next day, it was fixed. But you'd never guess it was Billy. “Thanks.”

“You don't have to thank me for doing my job.”

“Goddamn it, Billy.” Kicking the blankets away, you stand up. “Stop treating me like some rich chick! Stop putting words in my mouth and stop saying I can't thank you for doing something!” You're yelling, despite the late hour. The neighbors won't like it. “You never asked me what I think about your place so you can't possibly know if I like it or not. And yes, thank you for fixing my railing, thank you for keeping my pool clean, for cleaning the leaves, for... Hell, for sheltering me! But it's getting tiring. I thought you'd treat me like a normal girl like you did on the beach, but I get it now that it was just an act so I'll just leave.” That said, you're already in motion, not sure why. But you're unlocking the door and storming out, furious, easily finding the stairs and rushing down.

“(Y/N)!” Ignoring Billy, you don't stop, wiping some tears that escaped when you push the building doors open, the fresh night air making your breath in deeply.

You're overwhelmed. There's nothing new about the kidnappings. The criminals asked two million dollars for the first kid, but that was it. The police can't seem to get any closer to finding them, and the same goes to the many private investigators on the case. And the only good thing that came out of this shit, being with the only person on Earth with who you felt like you could be yourself, backfired. You feel stupid, deceived. Walking down the sidewalk, you roll your eyes when you hear the building doors banging, quickening your pace.

“(Y/N).”

“You wanted to give me space. Then give me some freaking space.” Your voice is cracking, which only makes you feel more like an idiot.

“Alright. I'm sorry, ok?” He raises his voice, and soon enough he's grabbing your arm. But you push him away until he let it go. “I shouldn't assume you would turn out to be like the other girls. You're not like any of the rich kids I met.”

“You don't have to do it now. You made everything very clear.”

“Would you listen?” Billy furrows his eyebrows, stepping back, a hand on his head. “I have this habit of expecting the worse, it always kept me from being caught with the guard down. But I'll admit I was wrong about you.” Avoiding his gaze, you pace around, not sure if you want to believe it. “I had a nice time with you too. That was the worst party I've ever been to, but it was good to know there's someone from their world who isn't completely rotten on the inside.”

You don't know why but the insult makes you giggle. But it's only because he's right. The fact that they're being held hostage doesn't change how some of those people are mean and rude. Their situation doesn't change who they are. And, being born into what Billy called ‘their world’, made you see the worst side of everyone. Money corrupts weak minds, you've seen it. The more they have, the more they want.

“Fine then...” Finally turning to face him, you sigh. “What now?”

Billy reaches out his hand, and you look at it, not moving yet. “First, let's get inside. You're in pajamas in the middle of the sidewalk.”

That makes you laugh, looking down and taking in the leggings and the baggy shirt you're wearing which leaves one of your shoulders exposed. “My mother would literally squeal if she saw me now.”

“She doesn't have to know.” That makes you smile even more, and you feel like you just got a glimpse of the Billy you were with at the beach. So you take his hand, breathing in, and letting him guide you back inside.

×

@multific @dontxfearxthereaper @nope-thanks @nikkixostan @shinydixon @clockworkballerina @infinitelycharmed23

#billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove fanfiction #billy hargrove x y/n #billy imagine #billy hargrove imagine #imagine billy hargrove #billy hargrove #billy stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things x you #imagine stranger things #stranger things fanfiction

[bibliocratic]

post-160, spoilers ahoy, Martin/Jon - Martin tries to rescue Jon from Elias

(This is an obligatory fix-it sequel to one of my earlier angst fics but you don’t need to read that first)

[CLICK]

JONAH MAGNUS [mid-conversation] …. rather find they show up by themselves. A curious if harmless side effect, I wouldn't pay them much mind. Unless you'd rather this little interruption was kept from him...?

MARTIN [shortly] I don't really care.

JONAH MAGNUS How boorish. Peter didn't do much in the way of teaching you any manners.

MARTIN He didn't teach anything worth listening to.

JONAH MAGNUS Oh, you were already an adept student of the Lonely before Peter decided to make you part of our wager. [as though noticing something] Forgive me. Would you like to sit down? Plenty of room at the table as you can see.  I was just finished eating.

MARTIN No.

JONAH MAGNUS Pity. I do relish the opportunity of a good conversationalist. My present company... as you can see, he's not exactly been up for chatting recently.

MARTIN [ignoring him, the steady tread of footsteps closer]

JONAH MAGNUS If you aren't going to be a hospitable guest, I think that's close enough. I'm sure you understand.

MARTIN [stops walking]  You're not surprised I take it?

JONAH MAGNUS To see you here? Not especially. I knew you'd end up here eventually. All brash, full of foolish righteous anger masquerading as justice, bolstered up on thoughts of my murder.

MARTIN Read my mind, did you?

JONAH MAGNUS Oh, I didn't think I needed to for that one. You can be very possessive about what you consider yours.

MARTIN Jon's not mine. He's not yours, he's not anybody's.

JONAH MAGNUS Jon hasn't been his own man for such a long time.

MARTIN You're wrong.

[a lull in the conversation, an impasse both are too proud to cross]

JONAH MAGNUS [deliberately, aiming to hurt] …. You can look at him, you know. See him alive, whole. But you won't, will you, or can't. Too many eyes in his head and none of them the ones you hoped you'd see.

[proud] I've moulded him. Shaped his becoming. And I watch my ruined world thanks to the words I pull from his dutiful throat.

MARTIN You stole him.

JONAH MAGNUS It was a fair trade. I took nothing that wasn't offered. And he pleaded ever so movingly for your life.

MARTIN [biting] And you're such the bleeding heart.

JONAH MAGNUS It was a business transaction. A life for a life.

MARTIN This?! T-this is no life!

JONAH MAGNUS Not as you would understand it. Oh, but, look.  Look at him, Martin. Isn't he magnificent?

[a roiling rumbling background sound of static]

MARTIN [whispered, almost fearful] Yes.

JONAH MAGNUS My Archives.

MARTIN [rallying, shaken] I – Jon – Is.... is he gone?

JONAH MAGNUS By which you mean, have I killed him?

MARTIN You know what I'm asking.

JONAH MAGNUS And yet I rather think you've not quite considered how much of a question it is.

MARTIN [sarcastic] Why don't you enlighten me if you're in sharing mood?

JONAH MAGNUS The Archivist has been dead before, has he not? You held his hand and said your little prayers over him as machines kept his body breathing, but I'm sure we can both agree that's not really a life. Jon was offered a choice, and he chose to embrace what he was becoming over death.

But the Jon who woke up is not the one who signed the contract to become my head archivist. Nor was that Jon the one who dragged himself and Ms Tonner out of the Buried. Nor, indeed, did any of those bear resemblance to the Jon who tore Peter Lukas apart to retrieve you from the Lonely. So many Jons, and maybe none of them still alive, none of them the man you want to find. Does that bother you?

MARTIN I don't.... I'm not here to discuss the bloody specifics of being a person. I want to know if he's still in there. His... I don't know, his choice, his emotions, his feelings.

JONAH MAGNUS Are you hoping to appeal to his better nature? How quaint. But to set your mind at ease, let me clarify that the role of Archivist would be poorly served by an unfeeling watcher. Jon's always had to, how did he put it, 'sit in his feelings'.

No, Martin, he feels everything. My Archive is a repository of knowledge. A catalogue of horrors I can collect and sample and observe and store, and they are kept perfectly preserved for me.

[a lip-curling smile obvious in his voice] Shall I have him tell you a story?

[the sound rises to audible, as though it's been playing the entire time but the volume has been turned down to a murmur.  An inflectionless rote recitation, tinged with someone else's voice overlapping like twisted signals interjecting over a radio broadcast]

THE ARCHIVES … and I was sure I'd told her to leave, and I turned around, ready to shout at her, to say anything if it got her to run, but the doorway grew toothed and grinning before my eyes and there was something broken-backed and crooked in that space where nothing should have been...

MARTIN [interrupting] Don't make him do that.

[there's the harsh horrifying sound of a jaw clacking shut, and it mimics the snap of a pause button]

JONAH MAGNUS You always liked listening to his voice. When it was the two of you in the Archives, all those late nights, you could hear him through his office door, and it would make you feel like you weren't so alone. We'll listen in on another one, shall we?

[a faint choking jerk, like a leash being pulled too tight, another snap of a play button, the dialogue restarting]

THE ARCHIVES [reciting flatly] … I had the oddest thought then and even as I backed away towards the stairs, I started to get my phone out. The daft thing was...

MARTIN [recognising, voice gone sharp] Stop it.

THE ARCHIVES … I wasn't even going to call anyone for help, I just wanted to take a picture of the thing. To prove to you that it happened – you're always so quick to dismiss these statements and I wanted proof for you....

MARTIN You've made your point.

JONAH MAGNUS Hm, I think so. And, remind me, what was my point?

[silence except for Jon's now-muttered static. Careful listening and it's not static at all, but an unceasing recital of horror, statement after statement pouring from his mouth]

JONAH MAGNUS You come into my home clutching that knife with such intentions of bravado. I imagine you wanted to swoop in, rescue him. But I possess him in all the ways that matter. And you know, surely, that you aren't going to be enough to save him.

[Martin's breathing is harder]

I wasn't lying before. I have truly enjoyed your visit, you can be quite distracting company. That's been the whole point of this, hasn't it?

MARTIN Wh – ?

JONAH MAGNUS [interrupting] Who is in the house, Jon?

THE ARCHIVES Martin Blackwood is in the dining room.

JONAH MAGNUS [indulgently, playing for effect] Who else is in the house, Jon?

THE ARCHIVES [a whirring, like the tape's stuck, the first sounds garbled, before a return to normal] Basira Hussain and Melanie King are approaching the east wing. Alice Tonner is patrolling the grounds of the estate.

JONAH MAGNUS You see? All the fear in this world and he can see all of it, every trembling terrified beat of a heart. You think they could approach unseen, hide when he can sense every firing neuron of their fear, the pulse and jump of their nerves? No one is fearless, not in my brave new world, and so he sees them all.

I underestimated you once, Martin. I don't make a habit of repeating my mistakes.

MARTIN I disagree.

JONAH MAGNUS [dismissive] Oh do tell why.

MARTIN Why do you think I came here? Huh? Flimsy knife in hand, having to listen to your gloating.

JONAH MAGNUS Likely a poor attempt at trying to draw my attention.

MARTIN And why do you think Basira, Melanie and Daisy came here?

JONAH MAGNUS To kill me, I should imagine.

MARTIN No.

JONAH MAGNUS No?

MARTIN All those eyes of yours, and they're always too busy focusing on what they shouldn't.

JONAH MAGNUS Tell. Me.

MARTIN No.

JONAH MAGNUS I had thought to spare you further indignities...

MARTIN [almost scoffing] Yeah, this sounds familiar.

JONAH MAGNUS Mart –

MARTIN How about no. H-how about not this time, how about you shut up for a moment?

[huffing sound, almost a disbelieving laugh] It's just so – so easy to distract you.

JONAH MAGNUS Not much of a distraction if I know you're coming.

MARTIN Who said I was the only distraction?

JONAH MAGNUS I –

[a small patter of careful footsteps across marble flooring, and then a grunt, a wet slicing noise that sickeningly sounds like metal through meat]

[Magnus howls in agony. His voice echoing like a wind tunnel, a guttural gusty howling of static, the scrape of a chair shoved back, cutlery and tableware disturbed and smashing]

[another grunt of exertion and someone hitting the table, silverware clattering, before a heavier slump of a body hitting the floor]

MARTIN You have to...!

GEORGIE I know! Just –

[sounds of a tussle for a few seconds, then a deep stabbing puncture, the noise like a punch. Magnus stops screaming]

GEORGIE Now. Now it's done.

MARTIN That is... eurgh, that's so nasty.

GEORGIE Let me have this triumphant moment, huh?

MARTIN Yeah. Sorry. When you said what you were planning, I thought.... it was a bit more  like popping a tomato than expected.

[pause, adrenaline fast breathing, the Archives' static]

He's... he's gone. Elias is really gone.

GEORGIE Finally.

Now, where's...? Holy f – Christ, Jon. Jon? Martin, is – that's not....?

MARTIN What Elias left of him.

GEORGIE What's –  What's he doing?

MARTIN [darkly] What he was made for. There's so many more statements to archive now. He's being kept busy.

GEORGIE [hand over mouth] God, that's... Christ. [despairingly angry] I thought –  I thought that would do it. That was the whole point of this, to get him back.

MARTIN The point was to kill Elias. He's.... Jon's not tied to Elias, he's tied to the Eye.

[creak of a door hinge, footsteps]

BASIRA [getting closer, echoing slightly in the space] He fell for it then?

GEORGIE [pulling herself back to the moment at hand] Yeah. Too busy monologuing at Martin.

BASIRA [creeping closer, sucking air through her teeth] Aim was perfect.

MELANIE She got him? Right across his eyes?

[Georgie makes a 'squish' noise as an affirmative]

Good. Fucker got what was coming.

BASIRA There's still the matter of Jon to deal with.

... Martin, you sure about this?

MARTIN [deep breath] As sure as I can be.

GEORGIE Can he... can Jon hear us?

BASIRA The rest of us, more than likely.

MARTIN [an agreeing 'hm'] He knew you were coming.

BASIRA I'd accounted for that. But being to all intents and purposes 'fearless'? Your invisibility cloak worked on Magnus. As to Jon, no idea.

MELANIE Look, we should hurry. Go, bring him back, Martin.

BASIRA And if you can't...

MARTIN [sharper] That's my call to make, not yours. We agreed.

BASIRA [a heavy pause] Just don't stay in there too long.

MARTIN Right. I'd... I'd stand back.

[there is a creaking static, like muted sound, a whip of rising wind. Martin makes a grunt of effort. Fading in to mix with the static is the rhythmic slosh of tide, the empty drone of wind over empty landscape.]

[a release of held breath]

MARTIN [almost wistful] Back again.

[footsteps digging into sand]

Jon? J-jon, we've... you're ok, Elias, he's....  I know this won't, it won't disconnect you from the Eye or anything, but you told me, you told me it was muted here.

Give you some space, s-so you can come back. I know – I know you're in there

[a crunching chewing sound like a tape spool caught]

[a manic and aggressive fast-forward]

MARTIN Come on, that's it. T-Try and talk to me.

THE ARCHIVES … she had shattered the glass of the horrid thing, its spindling legs made into a constellation of shards on the kitchen floor, but I couldn't move, I couldn't believe that it was over, not until there was a knock at the door. The police, finally. And even then she had to coax me to move, saying that it was finished, it was dead.... [cut off]

MARTIN He – he's gone, Jon. Really gone, he can't... you don't have to fight him any more. [a hopeful gasping exhale] Yeah, that's... that's it... yeah I know it's hard. [ harsh buzz of tape] Look at me, come on, yeah, good, you're doing it. You're out, you're... you're free.

THE ARCHIVES [a crunching whirr, then intoning, tainted with the over-lay of Magnus' intonation, smug and congratulatory] You do not administer and preserve the records of fear, Jon, you are a record of fear... [a sickening buzzing,  the sound of a tape recorder being forwarded] ... could be turned into a conduit for the coming of this – nightmare kingdom. Don't you see where I'm going...?

MARTIN I – Jon, I don't understand.

[garbling rewind]

THE ARCHIVES ...A conduit for the coming of this nightmare kingdom.

MARTIN [softer, sounding closer] He did that to you. He forced you to say those words. That wasn't... that wasn't you, that's not your fault.

Look, we – that's why we need you back. We can, Jon, we can stop this – we've... well, Basira's got a plan, and it's a small chance, but we could, with you and Georgie, we could change something. But we need you.

[empty static]

MARTIN [quieter] And I need you. I need you to come back.

THE ARCHIVES [wrenching, cracking, choked] Mar –

[buzz, like a fucked up tape that goes on for several seconds] …  I tried to explain, but all I could manage to say to get through the shaking sobs was 'I love you'.

MARTIN [throat tight] Jon, fight this, you can, come on...

THE ARCHIVES [a different recording tugged from his throat, a replication of Martin's own voice, shatter-hearted and Lonely, the faint echo of a hospital monitor] … but we need you, Jon. Please – just. Please.

MARTIN That's –  Don't, Jon. Don't use my voice like that.

I'm here. We weren't just going to leave you to him. So how can I... How can I stop this, how can I help you?

THE ARCHIVES [rewind] Please.

MARTIN I don't understand– I'm trying but... no, no, no, come on Jon, eyes on me, yeah, look back up, not....

[ripped and ripe with comprehension] Oh.

THE ARCHIVES Please [rewind]. Please [rewind]. Please.

MARTIN I can't. Jon, I –

THE ARCHIVES [more insistent] Please [rewind]. Please.

MARTIN [forcefully] I won't be your murderer, Jon!

I won't. I'm sorry, but – [makes a deprecating noise] It's not even sharp. It was for show, all part of the act.

[moves in closer, tread of feet in sand] Listen to me, Jon. I know. Sweetheart, I know. I know you're tired. I know everything, everything's wrong, it's been all wrong for so long, and there's only so much hope we can all bear.

 [quieter, almost ashamed] And we could stay here. It would be so so easy. Sit down together on the shoreline, let the fog take us.

I've been thinking, you know. [huff] Yeah, dangerous habit. I've had a lot of... I've had a lot of time to think, about Magnus and his 'grand plan' or whatever. He chose you, and let every horrible thing out there have their own pound of flesh from you. And the statements, they feed on you too, don't they? You live this sick repetition of other people's horrors, and that feeds the Eye, but it's too much for you to bear. And Elias, or bloody, Jonah or whoever, even he wasn't sure you'd survive, even before all this mess happened. He wanted you hurt, and scared but he couldn't be sure it wouldn't kill you outright.

[static, unbroken]

I read the statements too. Elias was very keen on giving me [dark laugh] well, professional development while you were away. And if that wasn't... wasn't enough –

[pause]

Jane Prentiss trapped and terrorised me in my home, and after that, Christ, all that time ago,  it all just kept happening.  The whatever-it-was that called itself Michael, I was in those corridors with Tim for weeks, and I've been, huh – if being pinballed between working for some – some evil eyeball and Peter Lukas doesn't count, I don't know what does.

[a low breath, gearing up. The static continues, an intent and intense sedateness]

I've got all of them now,  isn't that right, Jon? Whether it's the statements, or workplace collateral, or even just living in this horrifying hellscape of a world. That's all of them, leaving their mark. And Elias, I think you knew, [wry chuff] or Knew probably, that he would have made me Archivist. If you didn't make it. 's why he agreed to let me stay behind, while you all went to stop the Circus.

S-so my point is. I – I know. I know you're tired, I know you want this to stop. But we could end this, together. It's too much for you to take alone, s-so why don't you share it?

[gentler] You don't – You've never had to do this on your own. An Archivist always had Assistants, remember.

THE ARCHIVES [a break in the static, like signal breaking in and out, a furious dip and rise of disparate statements] – And I told her no –  […] He knew he could never ask that of – […] Please, please – [….] Martin – […]  – through the shaking sobs was 'I love you' – […...]

MARTIN You're not alone. Not now, not before. If we're to have any chance at all, you have to let me help.

[a staticky buzzing, low breathing, the distant call of gulls]

Look at me, Jon. Yeah, all those eyes of yours.

What do you See?

[the static rises like a wind swell]

[Martin gives an airless grunt]

MARTIN  That's it.... [gasp] Come on, Jon, let me in.

[Martin lets out a gasp that chokes into a clenched cry. He gags and swallows the sound, and it is dry and painful and crunching. The static over-washes the sound of the shore, and Martin starts making bitten-off hurt sounds, that soon devolve into screaming. This goes on for a long time.]

[He stops. The static stops]

[The loud sound of something heavy hitting the floor, Jon's breathing suddenly audible, mixed with Martin's panting. The scrape of sand, someone moving]

JONATHAN SIMS, THE ARCHIVIST [slurring and mumbled, his tongue numb and awkward] Martin... Martin... are you...?

MARTIN BLACKWOOD, THE ARCHIVIST [sucking in a harsh breath] Jon. [muffled, like he's embracing someone, or being embraced] Christ, thank god, Jon, you're ok, you're here, you're back.

[even more muffled] God, I thought I was too late.

ARCHIVIST Are you – Martin, tell me please, are you...?

ARCHIVIST I'm fine, I'm just... [wincing groan] It's just a lot.

ARCHIVIST R-right. Breathe through it. Look... look at me, that's it. The rest of it, a-all the noise, it's background. That's all. It doesn't have to drown you.

[For several long moments, they breathe in tandem as Martin calms]

ARCHIVIST I could hear you. B-back with Jonah. It was all so loud but I could hear you.

Thank you. F-for coming to get me.

ARCHIVIST Well, Basira gave me two options so it was that or murder [clearly responding to some visual expression] I'm – I'm kidding. Of course I wasn't going to just leave you.

[a surprised noise] Jon. Your eye.

ARCHIVIST What...?

ARCHIVIST The left one, it's not... It's different, it's not like – it's blue, it's blue, did something go wrong, is it...

ARCHIVIST [ever so softly, clearly a page ahead] Yours has changed too. Brown suits you.

ARCHIVIST I – Oh. Right.

So we've both.... Yours and mine....

ARCHIVIST I think so.

ARCHIVIST That's.... that's crazy.

ARCHIVIST Hmm.

[…]

[thoughtful] I forgot how quiet it was, here.

You really think we can stop this?

ARCHIVIST Basira seems to have a plan. You and Georgie, your abilities. And well, me to some extent now, I guess.  It could change everything back to the way it was, now Elias has gone.

ARCHIVIST What do you think?

ARCHIVIST I think we can stop this.

ARCHIVIST Then I believe you.

Martin, what you did –

ARCHIVIST Let's – We'll talk about it later. I promise. Once we're out of here. I'm... Today's been a lot.

ARCHIVIST OK. That's – OK. You should rest, when we get out of here. It's – it'll take a lot out of you, in the beginning.

ARCHIVIST I'm sure Elias wouldn't mind lending us his rooms. Not like he can complain.

ARCHIVIST We're in Jonah's house?

ARCHIVIST Well. More mansion. It's so ostentatiously gaudy, you'd hate it. Bet he has four poster beds and framed paintings of himself all over the place.

ARCHIVIST How charming.

ARCHIVIST Hmm. Melanie's probably started on slashing up the fixtures.

[quieter] Come on, then. Let's get out of here. I know the way back.

ARCHIVIST  [ever so softly] I've never doubted it.

[CLICK]

#the magnus archives #tma #fic #martin blackwood #elias bouchard #jonathan sims #cw violence #cw mind-control #tw suicidal intention

[someonefantastic]

Into the Unknown

Howdy! Can't believe we're roughly halfway, that's so exciting! One of the sub prompts of this was "magical healing" so you know I had to do more of the Powers AU. I really enjoyed writing this so let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading! Summary: He had to get there, had to save her, worried that she'd meet her end just like Scary Sherry met hers. Or 1x15 but with an AU twist Warnings: blood also on ao3 ___

They raced through the asylum, floorboards creaking with every step. The only thought that raced through his head was that Juliet was in trouble. For all, they knew she could be dead by now. His stomach twisted. No, she couldn’t be. She was Jules, she was strong and pretty and didn’t put up with his crap and she just had to be alright.

He could hear Gus yelling at him from down the hall and as bad as he felt about abandoning his best friend, they had to save her. She had to be okay. He slid to a stop beside Lassie as a distorted moan echoed through the halls. They called out for her in unison, their voices met by screams and grunts. He pushed Lassie forward, knowing that her partner would protect her better than he ever could.

As they approached the door, a shudder ran through him. Room 413. Scary Sherry’s room.

But now wasn’t the time to stop, to be paralyzed in fear of old urban legends. Racing into the room, he nearly fell over due to a mix of momentum and the sight before him. Juliet stood, axe in hand, over Alice Bundy, who lay terrified on the floor. She was yelling at her, anger spewing from her every movement, and blood dripped from cuts on her arms and chest. It was both terrifying and kind of hot.

“Detective!”

“Juliet!”

They both called for her in their respective manors, him always being a little less formal than the head detective, but their goals were similar. They both were worried for her. Worried for her safety. Worried for her injuries. Worried she had succumbed to the character she was playing. Worried she’d take it one step too far.

Her eyes flashed from them to Alice. He could see it. She was as scared as they were. She just didn’t know how to stop.

He motioned to Lassie to stay still, slowly approaching her. His heartbeat wildly in his chest while her eyes remained locked on Alice. Fear filled him, worry that if he moved too fast that everything would unravel around him.

“Hey.” Cautiously, he wrapped his hands around the axe, hands barely touching hers, the little contact sending an unexpected shiver down his spine.

Tension hung thick between them as he carefully pulled the weapon towards him. Her hands remained firmly in place, almost as if she didn’t trust him to take it away.

“I got it,” He reassured her, eyes flickering from the wood to her face. She let go, eyes wide and he repeated the statement, this time quieter, “I got it.”

Reality seemed to hit her as she began breathing deeply, eyes flickering around the room. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Lassiter hauled Alice to her feet, cuffing her on the spot. He never truly took his eyes off of Juliet, even as she stumbled over to the wall, sliding down it.

Wordlessly, he passed the axe over to Lassiter before joining her on the floor. “Are you okay?”

She didn’t meet his eyes, instead looking over the drying patches of blood that littered her clothes and nodding.

Swallowing heavily, he did the same. The sight of her hurt was not sitting well with him. “You sure? Getting sliced with an axe is probably not the best thing. I mean I wouldn’t know but if it can cut through wood, cutting through a human wouldn’t be great.” His stomach churned, his words serving to only make himself feel worse.

She shook her head, a small smile pulling at her lips. “I’m fine. Trust me, I’ve felt worse.”

“You sure?” He questioned again, “We can get you checked out by the paramedics pretty quickly, I’ll even carry you if you want.”

She rolled her eyes, “Shawn, you do remember I can heal right?”

“Oh.” That little bit of information had slipped his mind in his worry. He had found out pretty shortly after the department had hired the junior detective that she was metahuman. If the fact that the beautiful woman he had met at the dinner was a cop wasn’t enough, she just had to be a meta too. It was like everything he had grown to hate most about his father- his job, his abilities- now had to be thrown back in his face in the form of a captivating blonde.

But Juliet had drawn him in. Something about her made him want to stay regardless of her job or abilities. Sure she was pretty, he had thought so the moment he met her, but she was also so much more than that. She was incredibly smart and strong, empathetic yet knew how to hold her own. She didn’t put up with his crap which only made him appreciate her more. He was so drawn to her and that scared him.

He shifted so his back was against the wall, shoulder barely touching hers. He had never seen her heal before, the process both excited and scared him but he wasn’t about to leave her side. She gritted her teeth, fists gripping the fabric of her skirt and his heart lurched. Seeing her in pain sucked.

“Does it hurt?” He broke the silence once her jaw unclenched.

Head leaning heavily against the wall she nodded, “Sometimes more than others.” She gave a dry laugh, “Most people are shocked that healing requires hurting. This isn’t so bad though.”

His hand twitched towards hers. He so badly wanted to comfort her in some way but he couldn’t. They weren’t there yet- he wasn’t sure if they ever would be. Instead, he opted to pick invisible lint off of his pants. “I’m sorry.”

She gave a small shrug, “It’s just the way it works. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine in like five more minutes.”

Her eyes slid closed and he took the opportunity to study her face. He had seen her hair down a few times before- including the day he met her- but this time it was straight instead of its’ usual wavy style. It had captivated him this entire case, looked so smooth from afar but now, up close, it looked even softer. He just wanted to run his fingers through it or tuck it behind her ear, briefly wishing he could braid just so he could braid her hair.

It wouldn’t be a lie to say that usually when he saw a girl with pretty hair, his imagination would immediately go to how it’d look spread over his pillows. It would be a lie if he didn’t admit that he had imagined that a few times with Juliet, but this time it was different. All he really wanted to do was pull her into his lap and run his fingers through her hair, soothing her pain away.

He had to look away as an indefinable feeling began to rise in his chest. He had a theory from late-night musings as to why she always brought up such emotions within him but he was nowhere remotely close to opening that box.

She shifted and his attention snapped right back to her. He was always so drawn to her from the minute she entered a room to even hours after she had left. It seemed like she captivated his thoughts more and more these days. He’d spend hours just thinking about her, wondering what she was doing or replaying a previous conversation. She was a constant presence in his life and he never wanted that to change.

“Thank you.” Her soft voice drew him out of his thoughts and he realized that she was looking at him. His heart skipped a beat. Her blue eyes sparkled, their faces were so close that he could see the faint freckles across her nose and smell her strawberry chapstick. He wondered what it tasted like.

“For what?” He wasn’t sure how he was able to speak, almost paralyzed by her presence. His voice was low and his eyes flickered from her lips to her face.

“For everything.” She waved her hand ambiguously. “For helping me with his case, for coming to my rescue, for making sure I didn’t…”

She trailed off but he nodded, getting the gist of what she was trying to say. He wanted to tell her that he’d do anything for her, that if she asked he’d come running, that he could go to no end to make sure she was safe, but he settled for, “Anytime Jules.”

Smiling softly, she turned away from him. “I think I’m good to go now. Don’t wanna miss processing Alice or giving my statement.”

He jumped to his feet, extending a hand to help her up. She accepted it with a smile and he was reluctant to let go once she stood. But he did and immediately shoved his hands into his back pockets. “So, I think we should celebrate. What do you say to late dinner? You, me, and Gus?”

“Shawn,” She shook her head, “I don’t think so.”

He frowned, “Well how about we bring you lunch tomorrow? No strings attached. Just three friends celebrating the end of one friend’s first undercover case.”

She pursed her lips, considering his offer, and then smiled, “Okay deal. You and Gus can bring me lunch. I like Chinese.”

A grin burst across his face, “Great! Gus and I will see you then…” He trailed off, realizing that there was one person he hadn’t seen in a while. “Oh no! I forgot Gus!”

Her eyes widened and he turned to sprint out of the room, Juliet on his heels. He grinned, loving the way her laughter filled the previously terrifying hallways.

#whumptober2020 #no. 15 #into the unknown #magical healing #psych #juliet o'hara #shawn spencer #carlton lassiter #shules #blood tw #angst #jules whump #powers au #psych fanfic #skipps writes

[msjr0119]

One Temptation

Part 3

*This new series is based on The Royal Romance characters who belong to Pixelberry - AU Plot switch*

Riley Brooks moves back to New York after leaving five years prior- struggling to get by in life she wanted to go home. After getting mugged, a woman and man come to her rescue and offer her a job at their strip club. A rich business man Liam Rhys is forced to visit the club as part of his bachelor party. What will happen that night?

Warnings: Swearing, mention of assault.

Tags-if you want to be removed let me know 😊: @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @whenyourheartskipsabeat @jovialyouthmusic @nz1091 @yukinagato2012 @indiacater @seriouslybadchoices @rainbowsinthestorm @cordonianroyalty @dcbbw @qammh-blog @beardedoafdonutwagon @jared2612 @princess-geek

******

Riley and Max managed to watch a full series of Sex and City before both falling asleep on the couch. Neither of them had heard from Drake.

Maxwell woke up before Riley, sneaking off the couch attempting to not wake her- he immediately entered Drakes room, hoping he had returned. His bed hadn’t been slept in. Beginning to panic, Max continued to ring him- voicemail.

Drake where the fuck are you? You’re starting to worry me a bit now. Please just let me know that you are okay buddy.

******

Liam woke up the following morning, knowing he needed to go into work for meeting- but before that he needed to pay someone a visit. Arriving at the abandoned apartment, he knocked on the door - Bastien allowed him in.

“Mr Rhys- Come in.” Liam nodded, before walking into the bedroom.

“So you’re awake then?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I told you I’d fight for Riley back. If I have to play dirty to get that, I will Drake. Maxwell has text and rung you, I suggest that you text him back what we suggested last night.”

Drake arrived back at his apartment after his visit with Riley.

“What’s up with you? You’re smiling...” Maxwell said over dramatically- in the back of his mind he had an inkling as to what the answer would be.

Drake thought back to Riley’s words “I can’t stop thinking about you Drake.” “Yes really. I like you.” “Wait for me?”

“Riley likes me. I like her too. I know she’s Liam’s ex- but I can’t stop thinking about her Max. She’s coming here once she’s finished her shift.”Thinking about their time together a blush crept up on his cheek. Maxwell noticed- he was happy for the two of them.

“I’ll nip to the shop- do you need anything? Condoms? Lube?” Winking at his friend he was only pulling his leg- regretting having a joke as Drake’s face looked as if he could commit murder.

“Drake I’m joking! We need milk. I’ll be five minutes.”

“Okay, I’ll be in my room when you get back. Ask Riley to come in, I’m thinking about just watching a film with her. Getting to know her a better?”

“Is that what they say nowadays? Watching a film? I’ll have my ear muffs prepared again. See ya in a bit.”

Maxwell left, Drake sprayed some aftershave on him- not knowing why, but he was trying to make an effort for the girl who had won his heart immediately. Putting the kettle on, there was a knock at the door- he was about to berate Maxwell for forgetting his key again.

“Li? What are you doing here?”

“I saw you leave the strip club. Did you enjoy your time with Riley?”

“Liam, I went to tell her that you knew about us- but she had already spoken to you. I don’t personally see the issue.”

“Is Maxwell in?”

“Does it look like he is?” Drake sarcastically said. Before he knew what was happening- Bastien and some other men hit him forcefully. Drake couldn’t recall how long the beating had gone on for or how he had ended up in an abandoned apartment, only the final kick to the stomach was felt afterwards. His face wasn't too disfigured, there was a slight cut above his left eyebrow, whilst his right eye was swollen. Feeling defeated due to new knowledge that his own friend could do such a thing broke something inside of him- mainly trust. It was something that would remain long after his injuries had healed. Sadness in his eyes, he thought of Riley- hoping she would forgive him for not putting up a fight.

“You can’t drive me out of the city because I slept with your ex.”

“Oh I can, and I will. I’m sure your mother will be thrilled with the money that I’m offering your family.”

“If I had a choice, they would have beaten you more to a pulp Drake. I’m sorry for doing this- but now Riley is home, I’m not losing her. I heard that your mother is struggling keeping her ranch a float. I will pay her debts, and I will pay for you to leave New York. Text Maxwell that there has been an emergency and that you are needed back home.” Drake couldn’t believe the arrogance and impudence of Liam’s attitude. Remembering what Riley said to him “what if I said that you didn’t need to fight for me?”

“No liam. I’m not leaving.”

“Wrong answer Drake. Now I am going back to the strip club- and I am going to rekindle my relationship with my girl. Sleep well.”

“I have a job here, I have an apartment. I have friends. I will stay away from Riley.” Putting his own feelings aside, if he needed to lie he would to protect her.

“I don’t trust that you would stay away from her Drake.”

Drake had flashbacks from his night with Riley- he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away from her. Seeing Liam’s true colours, he was now unsure of what Liam was truly capable of.

*****

Riley slowly woke up, smelling the aroma of coffee. Looking over towards Maxwell- she noticed he was alone. Deep down she had hoped for Drake to return- Maxwell provided her with a sad smile. That was all she needed to know that her hopes were about to come crashing down.

“Morning blossom. I’ve heard from Drake.”

“Oh? Where is he?” Feeling hopeful- she had hoped Drake had a decent excuse for letting her down after she informed him that she liked him prematurely. It was hard for her to admit that especially after her poor relationship with Liam.

“He had to return to Texas, family emergency but he has promised he will be back as soon as possible.”

“Why didn’t he just let us know that then?”

“I don’t know. But we know he’s alive though.”

“Yes. I’ll see ya later. I better get back.”

“Are coming back here?” Maxwell asked with hope in his voice- they were close once up on a time, and he was grateful for her company in Drake’s absence.

“I don’t know Max? I’ll let you know.”

*****

Leo knocked on Liam’s office door, they hadn’t spoken since he dragged him out of the strip club the night that they first saw Riley.

“Come in.” Liam rolled his eyes at his brother’s attitude in his office. Helping himself to Liam’s scotch, he sprawled out on the Chaise longue.

“Hey little brother. I believe you have something to tell me.”

“Leo I don’t have time for this.”

“Just like you didn’t have time to inform me that I have a niece? Why couldn’t you tell me?” Leo narrowed his eyes at Liam, wondering what poor excuse he would use.

“I don’t know Leo. I love her, I do. I feel ashamed that Madeleine became pregnant after I cheated on Riley. I only imagined to have a family with her.”

“So what? You fucked up. You have to live with that mistake. But don’t hide her away from her family. As much as I hate Madeleine, I’d like to bond with my niece, and you stole that time away from me.”

“Fine! I’ll arrange something. She’s out with her nanny all day. If you wait here, I’ll ask her to bring her here for a bit.”

“And what’s Madeleine doing? Why isn’t she looking after her OWN daughter?”

“Because she cares more about using my credit card. I’m fighting for full time custody.” Leo stood up, scrutinising the paperwork on his desk- there was indeed paperwork regarding a custody agree. Leo wondered why all of a sudden Liam was breaking his family up- realisation hit him like a ton of bricks, Riley.

*****

Riley decided to go for a walk around Central Park- to clear her mind. Knowing something wasn’t right regarding Drakes disappearance. Not knowing about his family, if there was any truth in the story- he may not return. She was wondering if she should just put their time together in the back of her mind- leaving it as a distant memory.

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry sweetie. Are you okay?”

“Yes ma’am.” Riley looked into the little girls eyes, they reminded her of someone else’s. Picking up the little girl, the stern looking woman with her gave her dagger eyes. It was an accident, accidents happen, Riley wanted to tell the woman- but her priority was making sure the little girl wasn’t hurt.

“You’re hurt, here I’ve got some plasters in my bag.” Riley placed a plaster on the girls arm that was slightly grazed- Alice stared at Riley with awe- she had never had anyone that she didn’t know care for her.

“What do you say Alice?”

“Thank you ma’am. You are so pretty. You look like a princess.” Riley laughed, wondering if the little girl was a fan of Disney Princesses.

“Thank you Alice. My mom used to call me Belle when I was younger- as I always had my head in a book and we have the same hair. You are the most polite little girl I have ever met. Have a good day. Again, I am so sorry.” Riley headed back to the strip club, that short interaction with Alice in the park had kept her mind off Drake for a short time. She had the same eyes as Liam and Leo, no it’s just coincidence- she convinced herself.

*****

Alice knocked on the door, hearing her father’s voice bellow through the door her nanny opened it.

“Daddy!” Alice ran up to her father, ignoring the other person in the room.

“Baby, what have you done to your arm?” Liam checked all over her body, wondering if there was anymore injuries- he had wished he had more time to spend with his daughter where he could protect her himself.

“A pretty lady bumped into me. I fell over. She put it on me.”

“Oh really. She sounds very nice.”

“She was pretty Daddy. I wish I had brown hair like hers. She said her mommy used to call her ‘Belle’. She looked at me strange before she did this.” Alive continued to talk about the stranger- as if she was superwoman.

“Princess, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. This is your uncle Leo.”

“Hey kid.” Leo bent down, raising his hand for a high five- Alice nearly knocked him over.

“You look like each other.” The men laughed at Alice. Leo was furious that Liam had kept her from him- she had this fun attitude and she seemed to be bright, sweet, caring. Unlike her snake of a mother, Leo thought.

“Alice? Would you like to go out with uncle Leo tomorrow? I have many years to catch up on spoiling you?” Alice looked at her father for reassurance, Liam nodded and Alice provided a sly smirk for her uncle.

“I like ice cream- and lots of it.”

“I see, well I’m sure I can win the best uncle award and get you some ice cream. Maybe not too much though- I don’t want daddy to kill me for making you too hyper.”

******

Leo decided that he needed a drink, he usually just went to the local bar- but he thought about Riley. Thinking if she would like some company whilst she worked.

“Leo? What are you doing here?”

“Ri I need a drink. I’m so annoyed with Liam. I thought maybe we could complain about him together?” He winked, noticing a sly smile appear on her face.

“You not dancing yet?” Not wanting her to dance for him, he just believed that they would have thrown her into the deep end straight away.

“No. I did a private one for Drake last night before he disappeared to Texas?” Leo wasn’t as close to Drake as Maxwell was, but he knew the reason for him leaving Texas in the first place- the strained relationship with his Mother and Aunt.

“He’s in Texas?”

“Yeah, some family emergency apparently. He didn’t even tell anyone until this morning.” Shrugging her shoulders, she poured them both a drink.

“Must be bad then. He doesn’t even like his mom that much. Anyway, I met my mysterious niece today.” Riley’s face seemed to drop before Leo noticed that she slapped on a fake smile.

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell you. I think he told me before anyone by the sounds of it.”

“He’s a wanker, then again you already know that. I’m taking her out for the day tomorrow. Surprised I’m allowed to.”

“Where are you taking her?” Riley had no issue with Leo, she still classed him as one of her closest friends- seeming interested in Liam’s daughter was purely just because she felt bad towards Leo losing all those years bonding with his niece.

“I don’t know, it’ll be a spontaneous trip- see where it leads us.”

“You could take her to the zoo? Or the museum of natural history? Coney Island?”

“You are a star! Why Liam let you go I’ll never know? Do you still love him?”

“Excuse me?” Nearly chocking on her drink, she knew she couldn’t lie to him- he would see straight through her.

“Do you still love him? I’m surprised you’ve not bitten my head of for talking about his sprog.”

“It’s in the past. His daughter is his future, but yes I still love him- no matter how much he hurt me. I keep wondering if Drake left because of me and Liam.”

Leo started to think about her words and Liam’s words- I only wanted a family with her. I’m fighting for full custody. Knowing he was doing all that for Riley- could he be involved in Drake’s disappearance?

“If Liam is the reason behind Drake leaving, it’s a good thing that he doesn’t know what happened between us that week in Florida...”

******

Drake managed to move out of the room, considering breaking the window- risking breaking a limb to escape. Liam said he would return in the morning. Seeing Bastien asleep on the sofa, he noticed the keys on the side cabinet- creeping to grab them he opened the door slowly and quietly. Scrutinising the hallway- hoping that no one had seen him complete the great escape.

Limping a few blocks away, he had hoped that Maxwell was in as Liam had confiscated all his belongings. Banging on the door of his and Maxwell’s apartment with the lack of energy he contained, he was relieved when Maxwell opened the door- shocked to see Drake in the state he was in, his mind began working overtime.

“Drake!” Helping his friend stand up, he escorted him to the couch.

“What happened to you? I thought you was in Texas?”

“Liam... he... he saw me leave the strip club. Followed me back. Once you left they beat me up and dragged me into his limo. He wants me to flee New York...it was Liam texting you. Not me.”

“Why?” Drake had never witnessed Maxwell look angry before, he was always grinning like the Cheshire Cat- always smiling and thinking positive even in difficult situations.

“He wants Riley back. If I didn’t leave he threatened to kill me...”

#theroyalromance #choices trr #drakewalker #riley brooks #maxwell beaumont #liam rhys #leo rhys #maxwell x riley #riley x drake #riley x leo

[recentanimenews]

Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld – 17 – RGB

With Yuuna & Co. captured, the question this week was “who’s left?” to rescue them and stop PoH? That’s answered by Yui, who sends two characters from the Ordinal Scale movie…which I must sheepishly confess I’ve yet to watch. They are the idol Yuuna, whose singing buffs her partner Eiji’s stats. They dive in and fight PoH, and while they aren’t able to beat him, they do buy precious time for Higa to wake Kirito up.

As Eiji and PoH fight, we learn of PoH’s backstory and why he hates Japanese so much (he had a Japanese half-brother whom his dad valued more than him, and made him give up a kidney for him). When he learned of the SAO incident, he used a black market NervGear to dive in and commence killing players as part of Laughing Coffin, with the PoH handle standing for “Prince of Hell”.

Frankly I can’t quite care about a sadistic, unrepentant serial killer’s background; any injustices committed against him have long since been outweighed by the death and suffering he’s caused, and I truly hope he pays for it sooner rather than later.

On other fronts, Sinon loses her legs but manages to take one of Subtilizer’s arms (thanks to her Solus profile and Kirito’s pendant), while little sis Suguha gets impaled through the eye but keeps on ticking thanks to Terraria’s infinite regeneration.

Subtilizer ends up breaking off from Sinon, which seems odd considering he wanted to eat her soul and she’s pretty vulnerable. I guess he intends to group up with PoH? In any case, back on Ocean Turtle a well-thrown wrench from Rinko causes Yanai to lose his balance and fall off the platform, ending the standoff with Higa. I for one hope the dinner date they make doesn’t turn out to be a death flag.

No longer hampered by a mole, Higa proceeds with the operation, connecting Asuna, Suguha, and Shino’s STLs to Kirito’s. Their avatars glow red, green, and blue, respectively, combining into a golden light that surrounds Kirito…though he notably doesn’t quite open his eyes to reveal they’re no longer dead-looking. I’m hoping next week he finally does wake up for real and get to work—he can’t possibly ask any more from his girlfriend, sister, friends and comrades.

By: braverade

#Anime #News #RABUJOI – An Anime Blog

[lassluna]

Let the Stars Remind You (19/20)

“It’s ok Papa, you don’t have to worry. We can trust her, she’s just like me,” She says holding his hand. “She can hear the stars. She’s just like me.” she repeats, a look of wonder on her face, pure belief in what she’s saying. Killian looks down at her. His little girl, his Starfish, and isn’t sure. He still isn’t sure if rescuing Emma Swan is the best thing he’s ever done, or their undoing.

AN: As this is the last 'chapter' I'm going to ramble a bit. When I originally started writing this story, it was supposed to be 100% different. But honestly, I love how it turned out. I'm so thankful for all the people who liked it and commented, it means so much to me.

FN Ao3

Maybe he’s having another nightmare.

He’s had those before.

He’s had those on replay ever since rescuing his little girl, realizing that unless they run they’ll never be free of her, even after they did run, look at where they are?

In her clutches; all of them.

It leaves him feeling numb; feeling empty, like whatever they do it’s futile.

It is futile Killian. Her voice sneers. Just give me what I want and maybe I’ll spare them.

It makes him shudder that he debates it, especially looking out and seeing her furious expression. Eloise furious is never good.

Maybe he’s still there, old and frail and broken, the feeling of his daughter’s heart in his hand.

Maybe this was all another dream…

“Come on brother snap out of it.” comes Liam’s reply, jostling him slightly. “I know that bloody look on your face and I hate it.” He flinches at his tone. It makes Liam’s eyes soften considerably, but he still sees the fire.

He sees Emma bristling in front of her, her own magic hot and bright shimmering in her hands, up her arms, flickering in her emerald eyes. She looks ready to punch something.

He feels Alice reaching up to hold his hand, a gentle smile on her face. “Papa, we can do this.” Alice says.

Killian sees a flash of her. He sees the woman Alice grows up to be tall, beautiful and strong. He sees her belief that everything is going to be alright. He knows it to be true somehow.

“Gothel!” Emma calls out, furry radiating off of her. “It’s over! You lose!” He sees Eloise tense in front of them. She doesn’t look good, she doesn’t look pristine, her cloak is torn, her hair is messier than Killian’s ever seen it and she looks out of control; like her world is spinning out of control.

Eloise looks like something caged and desperate, ready to use every last trick to get out.

She looks dangerous.

“Not yet darling.” Eloise sneers, opening her hands head rolling back to face the sky. The ground beneath them shakes violently in response to her magic. “But soon. Soon I’ll have everything I need.” She says in a gasp.  

The ground beneath their feet, the very wood that made up the cabin began splintering, making way to bright green roots to reach up and grab at them. He moved his legs to try to kick at them, but his body was still sluggish and week after the foul concoction he’d consumed. Eloise’s laughter fills the air. If he said the way her voice echoed in his head didn’t add to his fear he’d be lying.

Thankfully Liam is there to help maneuver him out of the way. Emma however, started blasting the menaces; bolts of bright light burned the green roots. Robin picks up a stick and starts whacking her way through. Even Alice does her best to fight them off, her magic wrapping around the roots, making it attack the others, but even so they just keep coming.

“Everyone out of the cabin!” Emma orders; pointing towards the door and pushing the girls out first. Liam and he went right after. She must have seen that they were close to being overpowered by the sheer number of plants. As soon as they were clear of the building, the roots tore the cabin in pieces rising up and twisting among the wreckage as if they had a mind of their own.

“Bloody hell.” He curses, but is partly relieved to see the building destroyed. It held nothing but bad memories if he’s being honest. He turns around and notices that Eloise’s plants spread further than just in the cabin, they spread around them in a circle, growing larger and higher, darkening into brown as they rose, and created a plant barrier around them.

She never wanted to ensnare them in her plants, she wanted to trap them.

“You think a bunch of plants will stop us?” Liam calles. “Please.” But Killian shook his head.

“Her plants aren’t to defeat us, but to keep us in.” He explains, he tries once again to get his feet under him, to get some strength back in his weary body. They hear sounds, a cackling sound.

“Witch!” the voice snarls. “You think this will keep you safe? Give me back my daughter!” Green lightning flashes from just beyond the vines.

Robin pops her head up from besides Emma. “Mom!” She calls out, wanting to make her way towards where her mother waits, but he can see her turn to look at Eloise with her usual fire. “You just want to keep my mom from coming in here and kicking your butt!” She says pointing at the older witch.

“Robin! Just hold on sweetie! Mommy’s coming!”

“I can’t have a washed up has been ruin my plans.” Eloise hisses. “Once I get more power, I’ll flatten her.” She snarls at the hidden enemy, her eyes snap towards Alice.

No!

“You’re not getting anywhere near her!” Emma snaps, standing in front of his starfish. “You’re done, defeated. It’s time to just call it quits, do the right thing for once in your life. Put her first. She’s your kid! That’s what you’re supposed to do.”

There’s a pause, as if Eloise is thinking about it. “My mother once said that children were the future.” She says distantly. “That even the strongest plants could only grow so long, that we could only pave the way for our children.” She glances at Alice again, this time a predatory expression takes over, terrifying Alice as she clings tighter to Emma.

“My mother was a fool.” She snarls and attacks. Emma is blasted aside by a blast of red power, then appears besides Alice. She clutches the young girl’s wrist. Alice screams.

“Let her go!”  Robin shouts, grabbing something on the ground, a large rock, the little girl throws it hard, hitting Eloise in the face, making her lose her grip on Alice. By then Emma is back up and on her feet, and send her own bolt of power.

“Liam.” He says. “Go get Alice.” He says shrugging out of his hold. “I’ll be fine. Just protect her.” he barley manages to stand, but he does. He needs to so he does.  He’s standing watching Eloise recoil from the blast; ready with her own towards Alice, but Liam is there to pull his niece out of the way. He wraps his arms around her protectively, while Emma taking her place in front of her.

“You’re going to have to kill us to get at her.” Emma snarls back another bolt of light at the ready. “And I don’t think you have time to do that.” She nods towards the plant wall. They can see Zelena hacking her way through it. It’s only a matter of time.

Considering what Robin had said about her mother, he’s confident that once she’s through Eloise will have bigger concerns than Alice.

“Stop it!” Alice shouts, pulling away from Liam and going closer towards Eloise. It sends his heart beating frantically at the sight. “Just stop it!”

Eloise smiles. “Alice, look at them, they just want to take you away from you, your mother. Can’t you see darling? I’m the only one. I’m the only one who wants you, who cares about you, my darling daughter-“ But Alice cuts her off.

“No. You don’t. You don’t love me, you don’t care about me, and even if you did.” He eyes glisten and her lip quivers. “I already have people, I have my Papa, I have my Uncle Liam; I have an Emma and even my new friend Nobin…” She trails off. “I don’t want a Mama if it has to be you. You’re not a Mama, Mama’s give their children their best chance, and you never did that. You never will.” She says stubbornly.

“Maybe I’m not made to be your mother then.” She says in a sneer. “But I’ll have your magic regardless. It’s better with me, its better than being wasted by your soft hearted father.” She makes a grab towards her, but Alice isn’t messing around, the girl doesn’t even move and Eloise is repelled backwards, stumbling onto her knees in surprise.

He sees the realization dawning on her, the same realization that’s dawning on him.

Alice had nothing to fear from Eloise any longer, she was too strong; she was so much stronger than the two of them put together. He grins at that. Because if they had nothing to fear from her, perhaps things could be better, perhaps they could live in peace, have a normal life.

“Perhaps I can be a mother after all.” Eloise snarls. “Because Mothers give their children lifelong lessons.” His eyes widen as he sees her feral blue eyes lock onto him. He hears Emma shout but he doesn’t have time to even think of a response before he sees Eloise appear far to close for comfort. He tries to stagger back, tries to get away. But he can’t, he feels Eloise’s hand in his chest, holding him in place by his heart. “Disobedience has consequences darling.” The pain rippling through him, but he can’t stop it.

“Take care of her Swan.” He gasps as his vision swims. He must be dying, because when he looks over at Alice and Emma, shocked and terrified, he sees her.

Killian sees the 20 year old version of his daughter he saw die in her lover’s arms. She looks at him and smiles. It’s a soft timid thing, but beautiful none the less. He wonders if she’s an angel.

“Killian!” He hears shouted, breaking him out of the trance. He sees Alice lift her hands and sparkling magic swirls out, Eloise meets it with a blast of her own, the two similar magic swirling and fighting for dominance. Then Emma reaches down and grabs her hand.

“I’ve got your back kid.” Emma announces.

Older Alice places a hand on her shoulder as well. “Not this time Papa.” She says softly. She smirks power gleaming in her eyes. “Not this time.”

Alice’s magic explodes forward, blowing Eloise’s power away.

All Killian sees is light, all he feels is warmth, all he hears is a mangled scream.

He’s on his knees, his chest free of Eloise’s grip and he feels like he can finally breathe again. He wraps his arms around himself protectively. Even without looking he knows what happen.

They won.

He feels free. He feels like a weight has been lifted, victory flooding his veins. Smiling he looks up towards Alice, to tell her how proud he is of her.

Killian’s smile fades when he sees Alice swaying. Her eyes are closed. Her knees buckle. He moves before he can think moves to catch his baby girl before she collapses. Killian makes it, letting her crumble in his arms.

“Alice.” He breathes, cradling her. “Come on Alice, wake up for me Starfish, wake up baby.” She’s still for a moment, before her small body twists and mutters in her sleep.

“Papaaa m’tired.” She murmurs making him smirk.

“Is she ok?” Emma asks, standing above where he knelt. He nods in her direction. “Good.” She sighs, her own knees giving out seconds later, only to be caught under her arms by Liam before she too could hit the ground.

“Easy lass.” Liam says softly as the pair exchange a glance. “All that magic really took it out of both of you.” He observes.

“Mhm.” Emma agrees, allowing Liam to sit her down slowly. “Worth it to put that hag out of commission.”

It’s then that he gets his first view of Eloise, or what once was Eloise.

Standing where she once did was a large tree, bark a near black color, but the leaves were green and flowering, but the trunk was warped and twisted.

It gave the impression of someone screaming.

“It’s over brother.” Liam says sitting down beside him. “The witch is dead.”

“She isn’t dead.” Robin says softly, drawing attention back to the small brunette girl. “She’s just trapped. Magic can’t be destroyed, not like that, just altered or trapped or-“ She’s interrupted by a large cracking sound, the cracking of wood from magical electricity.

“Robin!”  He sees a flash of red and green before the girl is engulfed by a woman. The desperation and worry in her voice was palpable. “Oh Robin, I thought I’d never see you again.”

Robin hugs her back, in a gasp that turns into a sob. Her head pressed into the woman’s chest, hands gripping her shirt.

“Mom.”

“Robin I’m so sorry.” Her mother says, stroking her hair, holding her as close as possible. “I’m so sorry for not being a good mother, for letting my self-doubt cause this distance between us I’m sorry-“ But Robin doesn’t let her finish.

“Mom…” She says. “I just want to go home.” Words she’d said many times in the duration he’s known the girl. It brings him peace knowing Robin will get to go home.

Home…He thinks. Killian doesn’t even know what that looks like anymore.

He feels Emma shift besides him, edging closer to peer over his shoulder at Alice. He remembers the way Emma put herself between Eloise and Alice, refusing to back down, protecting her, protecting the both of them above all else.

Maybe…Home is making pancakes in a lighthouse laughing together…

“Papa?” Alice says softly, shifting I his arms ever so slightly. It makes his attention return to her. She looks to Emma next. “Emma? What happened?” She asks looking around confused.

“You don’t remember?” Liam asks her. Alice shakes her head.

“I remember meeting Nobin…” She says, squirming so she’s out of his lap, standing and brushing off the dirt from her skirt. “And I feel…like it’s over. Like the Stars…like my magic says it’s over.” Killian looks back at the tree, stealing a glance as if looking at it too much would reverse its effects.

“It is over.” Emma confirms, “That’s all you need to know kid.” She steals a sheepish glance towards him, making him smile at her.

“But-“ But Alice is cut off because around them all the witches Robin’s mom had taken down on her path towards her daughter were starting to wake up.

              He recognizes the blonde woman nearest to them as Elsa according to Robin. She sheds her black cloak revealing normal jeans and a blue shimmering blouse. The red head a bit farther away does the same, and soon everyone is shedding those horrible cloaks revealing their normal clothing underneath.  It seems like without Eloise here holding their fears over their heads, her coven wasn’t as eager to continue.

“I’m sorry.” Elsa says softly, holding her head down in shame. “I’m so sorry…” She looks around at the other girls. “We knew it was wrong, we knew they didn’t want to be here…we knew…” She trails off. “We just thougt it was the only option…we thought…

It’s Liam who moves first, Picking up the icy blonde. “It’s alright lass. We know. That woman was evil, it’s not your fault…” He looks over at everyone. “It’s none of your faults.” He says sternly.  “It’s Gothel’s. It’s her and her magic that made you do those things.”

The group looks around unsure.

“What do we do now?” Another asks, “This is the only home many of us ever had and now…it’s gone.” She’s right about that, most of the homes were destoyed by Zelena in the fighting. He knew many of them had been here for nearly a decade.

Liam turns to look back at Zelena expectantly. “Any idea what we should do now?”

Zelena, looks around with a frown on her face, but then it turns up to a grin.

“Actually, I know exactly where we can go.”

Tagging:

@hollyethecurious​ @therookshiningthrough @branlovestowrite​ @celestial-fire-writer  ​ @winterbaby89​​​ @kmomof4​​

#let the stars remind you #Captain Swan #knightrook ff #once fanfic #mentions of gothel

[heyyyharry]

Hand In Hand

(From the Flatmate Series)

...in which Y/N and Harry spend some quality time together, but only because they’re handcuffed (to each other).

Warning: too much fluff, kinky Harry, soft Harry, drunk Y/N.

Wattpad link

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It all started when Y/N found that 'object' on her bedroom floor.

A pair of handcuffs.

Her first reaction was plain shock because it was definitely not hers, and there were only two people in that flat. So it wasn't hers then, of course, it belonged to...

"HARRY!"

Y/N's scream nearly tore all the walls down and it took no time for her to show up at his bedroom door. Harry instantly hopped out of bed, looking extremely terrified as he started second-guessing what he'd done wrong this time. Without waiting for him to figure out on his own, the girl held up the pair of handcuffs with two fingers and a look of disgust, asking him to explain. The smirk on his face had already confirmed that he was in no doubt guilty.

"It must have fallen out from the laundry basket," her flatmate explained calmly, taking the thing back from her hand. "It was in my jacket, I forgot to take it out."

Hearing that made Y/N sigh in relief. She laid her hands on her chest, rolling her eyes upward. "Thank God. I thought you had sex in my room."

"Who said I haven't?" It was just a joke, which he immediately regretted after seeing the look on her face. "Never. I swear."

Y/N shot the brunette a death glare and was about to leave, but her eyes lingered on the object for a bit too long. When Harry noticed that stare, a playful smirk soon spread across his lips as he lifted an eyebrow at the girl.

"Curious?"

She cleared her throat, slightly shaking her head. With a bit of hesitation, Y/N pondered for a while before gathering enough bravery to question, "what exactly do you use them for? Handcuff your partner to the bed?"

Harry almost choked on air as he heard that. He tried so hard to contain his laughter so his innocent flatmate wouldn't feel embarrassed. Even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with her question, to hear her talk about sex, even just indirectly, was something very new and amusing to him.

"Yeah, I do sometimes," he answered casually. "But there are so many other things you can do with these."

Y/N's cheeks were burning up as she was almost hypnotized by Harry rotating one of the metal cuffs around his forefinger. His previous answer was echoing inside the walls of her brains and she was trying so hard to stop her imagination from getting a bit out of hand.

"Last night the girl I was with came up with an idea that I would handcuff my own wrist—"

Click. The cuff was now locked around Harry's right wrist, causing Y/N to widen her eyes in shock. She wanted to speak up but she was somehow unable to make a sound, still so bewildered, and at the same time, distracted by Harry's words.

"—to her wrist and see what kind of new positions we could come up with. It's a fun little challenge, when you're...restricted."

Y/N swallowed hard, sweating through her palms, heart beating out of rhythm when he took a step forward, but she was not even given time to question his intention. Once she heard that familiar 'click' and looked down, the other cuff was already closed around her left wrist.

"What are you doing?!" She literally screamed in his face. "Let me go!"

"I just want you to try it once. It's not like we're actually doing it." He laughed, clearly amused by her reaction which was completely expected anyway. He found joy in ticking her off, her anger was actually his reward.

"Okay...now I've tried it. Unlock me."

"Okay, okay. God, you must be fun at parties." Harry rolled his eyes, chuckling and reaching out to open the top drawer of his nightstand. As a look of terror flashed across his face, Y/N began to feel uneasy.

"Well, do you have the key, Harry?"

Harry stood up straight, running his fingers through his own hair as he said, "Of course I do...It's just...not where I thought it would be."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Calm down," he told her, holding up his other hand. "Let's split and look for it."

"How can we freaking split, genius?!"

"Can you stop yelling?! You're making me nervous! It must be around here somewhere. We have to work together to find it."

Y/N turned her eyes to the handcuffs linking her wrist to Harry's. Maybe she should listen to him and cool down so they could work together and find the key, which was most likely just lying somewhere in their flat. If she kept on freaking out, she'd stay in this situation for God knew how long.

"When I'm finally out of this thing, I'll kill you." She shut her eyes. "I swear, I will kill you with my bare hands."

"Okay, I get the concept," he exhaled sharply. "Now, why don't we start over there?"

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The search had gone on for almost an hour. They'd checked every single corner in their flat, and still, they found absolutely nothing. Somehow they'd ended up on the kitchen floor, backs against the cabinet, utterly hopeless.

Y/N was the first to speak up. "I have to babysit in half an hour. This is all your fault."

"Babysit who?"

"The kid upstairs."

"He's like fifteen!"

"Not that one, the other one."

Harry's eyes grew wide as soon as her words struck him like lighting.

"There's another key!" He cried out in joy and Y/N's frown was turned upside down in a heartbeat.

"Where is it?!" She asked

"I don't have it."

"Then wh-"

"No, listen, I don't have it but I know where it is. I need to make a phone call," he said fast, pulling out his phone and dialing the contact with the name 'Karen'. Y/N assumed it was the girl he'd slept with last night. Only the thought of it could irritate her.

"She doesn't pick up. I'll text her."

"What if she doesn't have it?"

"Then we have to cut off our hands." Y/N's eyes could just fall right out of her head.

As Harry was dying of laughter from seeing her reaction, his phone chimed to notified a reply from Karen. She watched his face when he read it and his frown let her know things weren't looking up for the two of them.

"She has the key but she's currently out of town." He stared at the screen a bit longer. "Wait, wait, wait! She'll be home at 6PM so I can still make it to Niall's birthday party tonight."

"What about my babysitting job?" She questioned in doubt as Harry rose from the kitchen floor, pulling her up with him.

"You're still going to babysit. I'm coming with you."

That didn't sound like a great plan, but they didn't have a plan, or a choice. So Y/N guessed it was the optimal solution for now. Great, she thought to herself, now I have to babysit two kids at once.

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"Y/N, my dear!"

The single mother couldn't be happier to see her babysitter. She'd been all dressed up and ready to leave for her date tonight. But the moment she saw Harry, the smile immediately fell from her full red lips.

"Uh, who is this?"

"My flatmate, Harry. He's babysitting with me today."

Y/N put on a smile and Harry did the same.

"But I only pay for one of you."

The flatmates exchanged worrying looks and at the same time turned back to their upstairs neighbor.

"Yes, of course." The girl chuckled. "Harry's only here because we're in an inconvenient situation."

Harry raised his right hand, and Y/N, her left, causing the handcuffs to make a clinking sound, which they'd already got tired of hearing.

"Oh..." The woman's lips formed a big circle when she realized the big problem here. "Well, I'll be back before 6PM. You know the rest." Then she handed the key to the babysitter and hurried to the lift without a single look back. That was easier than Y/N had thought.

However, unlike his mother, the six-year-old child just couldn't ignore the fact that his favorite babysitter was handcuffed to another person. He kept on asking about it, not giving up until she gave him a justifying answer.

"Harry and I were...role-playing. Harry was the criminal and I was the cop. I caught him and handcuffed him to me so he wouldn't run."

"Can't believe you're saying that to a kid..." Harry said and Y/N immediately smacked his arm.

The child, of course, fully believed in that made-up story. He clapped his hands with enthusiasm and asked if he could join their fun little game. "How about Harry has you as his prisoner and I'm another cop coming to rescue you?"

"Sure, Jamie, let's do that!" Y/N agreed, nodding her head.

"Why does Harry have to be the bad guy?" Harry looked at her, pointing a finger to himself but he didn't get a reply from either of the other two. It left him with no other choice but to accept his role as the bad guy.

Harry had thought this would be the worst day of his life, but now things were looking up.

If anyone had told him today he'd be babysitting some kid he didn't know with his flatmate and finding it enjoyable, he would've laughed in their face. Now half of him wanted to stay like this for as long as possible. The handcuffs weren't that bad, except for when one of them had to pee, the other person must be right nearby (with their face turned away and eyes closed of course), and they couldn't change their clothes or take a shower. As awful as it might sound, that was the closest he'd ever been to Y/N. He'd always thought that she wouldn't ever voluntarily hang out with him.

"Is it my turn yet?" Harry groaned, watching Y/N coloring the Cheshire Cat in the huge Alice In Wonderland coloring book, and Jamie humming a song while working on The Mad Hatter. Y/N had her tongue stick out from the corner of her lips, the thing she always did when she was concentrating on something. Though he might never tell her, Harry had always found it adorable.

"You're not getting your turn, Harry. You don't have a right hand."

"I can use my left."

"Then you'll ruin our masterpiece."

"Y/N, please?"

"Alright, alright. But you can only color the roses," said Y/N as she tried not to laugh and handed him the red crayon.

.

.

.

It was now 6:30 PM.

Y/N and Harry climbed into the backseat of the taxi as he told the driver the address. She had expected that they were going to someone's house to get the key, but it took her a moment to realize they were heading to a nightclub instead.

"Wait, I thought we're going to Karen's?" She widened her eyes at her flatmate who looked away to avoid eye contact. Y/N was sure that the look on his face couldn't be good news.

"She told me she'd missed the train so she'd be back late."

"Where are we going then?"

"It's Niall's birthday, so..."

"Oh no, no, no!" The girl shook her head rapidly. "I am not hanging out at some bar with your friends!"

"Too bad you are. It's not like you have a choice, Y/N."

"You do! You can just not go!"

"I can't miss this! It's my best friend's birthday!"

"Fine!" She furiously tugged hard on the handcuff causing Harry to wince in pain. She couldn't care less if she'd hurt him, he deserved that and anything worse than that for bringing her into this mess with him.

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "Niall's very nice."

Niall Horan was Harry's best friend. Him, Harry, and Y/N all went to university together. She had never actually spoken a word to him before even when he'd come over so often her flat was more like his second home now. She couldn't confirm how 'nice' he was but probably the nicest among Harry's friends. The people her flatmate hung out with didn't like her very much, probably because she didn't like them. So it was no surprise she only received unwelcoming stares from those people when she showed up together with Harry.

Niall looked at Harry and then Y/N and then Harry again, raising one of his eyebrows because he still couldn't explain to himself why those two were together. "I don't know if I should be mad that you brought Y/N or you came here so underdressed."

"I'm handcuffed to Y/N. We lost the key."

This time both of them raised their linked wrists perfectly in sync because they were used to it by now.

"Oh, I get it." Chuckling, Niall attempted to high-five Harry but his best friend only shook his head and kept his expression indifferent.

"Not what it looks like, Niall."

"It's okay, mate. I won't judge." The blue-eyed boy patted Harry on the back, still believing in what was far from the truth; but Harry knew there was no use trying to explain their situation to him. He and Y/N exchanged looks in silence as they both followed the guy.

Niall handed each of them a beer and told them to enjoy it because it was his birthday after all. As Harry happily complied, Y/N, on the other hand, was way too tense right now. She couldn't understand how her flatmate could be so untroubled by the fact that they were still in handcuffs. She wished she was half as chill as he was.

"Drink, Y/N. It's not poison."

"I don't think I should."

"You've been given a once in a lifetime chance to finally have some real fun. I guarantee that we'll get out of these handcuffs, but until then you're gonna have to stop overthinking." He nudged her hand with the cold beer, telling her to take it and flashing her the most gorgeous smile she'd ever seen from him. "Please? Just this once, for me."

That was all it took for her to think 'fuck it' and grabbed the bottle to gulp the beer all at once. Harry watched in awe as his flatmate finished the bottle in one go and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand when she demanded another one.

It didn't take too long until the amount of alcohol she'd consumed finally kicked in. The thing she did next really put him in shock. She climbed on top of a table, asking him to come along as if he had another choice. While the music was loud and everyone was cheering for them, Y/N told him to dance with her. And he did, without even a bit of hesitation.

He couldn't care less if his friends made fun of him the next day when they were all sober. He'd never had this much fun in such a long time and he was so proud to think he'd brought out this new side of Y/N, or alcohol had; either way it was amazing to see her let herself lose, and for just one night, stop thinking about what other people thought of her.

"This is so much fun!" Y/N jumped without warning and almost fell off the table as she missed a step. Lucky for her Harry was there to grab her just in time. She was laughing like an insane person now, and he knew for sure tomorrow she wouldn't remember anything starting from this point.

Karen eventually texted him to say she'd just got home and that he could come over to get the key now. So he told Y/N they had to go. Of course, she refused, but Harry had decided that she was not in her right mind to make a decision.

On the taxi leaving the club, she had nearly passed out. Her head was resting on his shoulder and her left hand found its comfort place in his right with no intention of letting go. Her hand was cold but it was the softest he'd ever touched in his life. Not until then did Harry realize that one so flustered from just something as innocent as hand-holding.

The taxi finally pulled over in front of a building. With a bit struggle, Harry still managed to get both of them out of the vehicle, telling the driver to wait and letting her stand with her back against the door. Her fingers were still intertwined with his and she was a little awake now.

"Harry I want to go home nooow...I don't want to be here..." She was pouting like a child and it was actually the first time he'd seen her so soft. If he must admit, Harry would say he wanted her to be like this all the time, all needy and clingy, just for him.

Using his free hand to stroke her back, he leaned down to whisper to the sleepy girl, "just be patient, love. I'll take you home but we need to get the handcuffs off first. Will you be a good girl for me and wait a bit?"

On spur of the moment, Y/N closed the distance between them and laid her cheek on his shoulder, face buried into the crook of his neck. Though her voice was muffled by his hot skin, he could still make out what she wanted to say.

"I'll be a good girl."

Those four words alone were enough to turned Harry to stone. He could never have imagined such words being said in a non-sexual way would ever make him weak at the knees. He should really be concerned. He might be, maybe later. Now he was just thrilled to bits.

"Why weren't you this sweet when you were with me?"

The voice caused his head to spin to the side and he spotted Karen walking towards them. The girl stopped and leaned her shoulder against the taxi with a big smile on her face.

"Who's this special lady? Your girlfriend?"

"No."

"You sure treat her like she is."

Harry chuckled as his left arm tightened around Y/N waist. "She just...means a lot to me."

Karen shrugged because what he'd said was pretty obvious. She didn't ask anything else and just took out the key from her purse, handing it to him.

Harry literally growled in relief as he took no time to unlock the handcuffs, releasing his sore wrist, as well as Y/N's. Once they were no longer attached to one another, he helped her slide into the back seat, and thanked Karen for her help before getting into the taxi as well. The girl waved goodbye to the two of them, knowing that was probably the last time she and Harry spoke. After all, they'd only had sex once, it didn't mean anything to neither of them.

As Harry turned away from the window to the sleeping girl in his arms, whose hand was still holding his as tight as before, he realized this was something entirely different.

.

.

.

Once they had arrived at their flat, Harry sat Y/N down on her bed and used her makeup wipes to clean her face, knowing she'd be pissed in the morning if he let her sleep in her makeup. When he was done, she was a bit awake.

She smiled at him with her hooded eyes and blurted, "you're so pretty."

That compliment let him know she was still very drunk. Harry thanked her still as he laughed and intended to leave the room, but she stopped him immediately. Y/N rolled over and patted on the empty side of the bed, telling him to lie down with her. At first, he was reluctant. They had crossed so many lines tonight already starting with them holding hand and her sleeping with her head on his chest. However, he agreed to stay.

It didn't take so long for Y/N to fall back to sleep, this time, with Harry's arms wrapped around her.

It was all so quiet here, nothing but the sound of Y/N's soft breathing. Harry was still wide awake, staring at the ceiling as he began to replay their entire day in his mind. While holding her in his arms and feeling her heart beating in sync with his, it finally hit him that he'd grown more attached to his flatmate each and every day they lived together. It was scary to think that there might come a day when he woke up and realized he couldn't live without her. He wanted to make her happy, he truly did, but his fear of having feelings for her was solid proof that he was incapable of doing so.

"Please forgive me if I'm not here when you wake up. I can't let myself do that to you," he whispered to her, knowing she couldn't hear anything he said. The young girl purred faintly when he kissed her hair and he could only hope she was dreaming of him.

When he left her alone in her bed and walked out, Harry finally learned that making the right decision didn't always feel so good.

.

.

.

Y/N woke up the next morning alone in her bed, still in the same clothes from the night before. Even though her recent memories were all blurred, she did recall herself dancing and singing and being an embarrassing mess in front of her flatmate and his friends. And as much as she would like to stay in her room for the rest of the day and skip all the classes to deal with her terrible headache, her stomach was growling for food, leaving her no choice but to drag herself out of bed and heavy feet to the kitchen.

When Harry walked in, he found her full of energy while making breakfast and singing that annoying song from last night at the bar, probably not even knowing why that tune was stuck in her brain.

"Good morning!"

"Jesus Christ! You scared me, Harry!"

"How do you still have so much energy left after last night?" He chuckled, pulling out a chair to sit down as she placed the eggs and bacon on two plates and carried them to the kitchen table to join him.

"Ooh, you made me breakfast!"

The excitement on his face got her grinning. "To say thank you for putting up with me last night." She paused a bit before finding the nerve to ask, "how bad was I?"

"I have the clips. Wanna see for yourself?"

"No, thanks." She immediately refused, yet nonchalant smile was soon displayed on her pink lips. "But I remember how fun it was. Had a nice dream too."

"Really? About what?"

"Nothing that would interest you," she simply replied. "But we should do that again sometimes, not the handcuffs! Hanging out I mean."

Harry was taken aback by that suggestion. "Hanging out? Like...just you and me?"

"Yeah...only if you want...We can do something, go somewhere...together, sometimes."

Oh little did she know, Harry was over the moon.

"Yes," he said with the happiest smile she'd ever seen. "I think I'd love that."

#soft flatmate harry for everyone #yes she still owes him a favor from the last part and no i haven't forgotten about it lol #flatmate!harry #harry styles #harry edward styles #harry styles fluff #harry styles angst #harry styles blurb #harry styles one shot #harry styles one shots #boyfriend!harry #harry styles smut #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles imagine #harry styles imagines

[thebibliomancer]

50 More Days of Comics! 46/50: The Wedding of Popeye & Olive #1 (1999)

This is weird beyond words.

Popeye has a full head of hair??

What other weird oddities are hiding beneath the poorly understood surface, what Deepest Lore does the sailor man hide, not know to the wider public?

A lot! Popeye lore is a little bonkers!

Lets get into it!

Here’s one. Popeye wasn’t Olive’s first boyfriend. There was a guy called Ham Gravy or Harold Hamgravy who was the main character of the Thimble Theater comic strip (which eventually became Thimble Theater starring Popeye and then just Popeye).

He was Olive’s fiancee but also a slacker who often had eyes for other women if they were rich because he wanted to get rich quick and easy without working for it.

But apparently during his absence from Olive’s life, he has hit it rich and now dresses like a Texan millionaire.

Ham: “Honest, Olive... I never understood what you saw in him... He’s not as good-looking as me, or as rich as me, or as successful as me, or as well-dressed as me-”

Olive, pausing from upending an entire box of chocolates into her mouth: “Wait! -- Back up! Did you say... ‘rich’? You’re... rich?”

Ham: “Oh, yeah! I made huge investments in the stock market!”

Olive, with $ for eyes: “They all paid off?”

Ham: “Well... no... They all crashed! But, my dad got so mad, that when he was yelling at me about ‘em, his brain exploded and I inherited his millions!

“So whattaya say, Olive? Let me do right by you. Marry me! It’s more than that one-eyed sailor ever did for you!”

Olive, still $ for eyes: “Ham, Ham! -- Thi$ i$ $o sudden! What el$e can I $ay but, of cour$e!”

-sees picture of Popeye- “Of... of course... -- NOTTT! I’m... I’m sorry, Ham... I can’t...”

Aww. She loves her sailor man.

Ham accepts this gracefully.

Because he preemptively hired a goon to kidnap her, expecting her to say no.

That’s gracefully, right?

Also, I didn’t really have many thoughts about Olive Oyl prior to this. I had this sense that she’s one of the archetypal gets-kidnapped-so-she-can-be-rescued characters. But she is a delight in this scene.

And yes, she does immediately get kidnapped. But she has a lot of character in this conversation.

Elsewhere, Popeye accidentally saves a Just Married couple when the brake in their car fails. Which he does by standing on the dock, not paying attention, because he found a Jeep (a weird magic creature) stopping to smell the dock flowers and was worried it would get into an ‘askidenk’ not paying attention.

Also:

Popeye: “Ya may be a Jeep, but ya ain’t no car!”

Hah.

The married couple thank Popeye for saving them, by standing on the dock not paying attention so that their runaway car crashed into him, which he didn’t notice, sending them flying safely through the air into the ocean. The bride tells him that he’ll make a wonderful husband for some lucky girl someday.

And this puts him in an introspective mood about marriage.

Popeye: “Marich! A man takin’ a wife... T’sa big step Eugene! Marich... Me an’ Olive, we kin be good t’gedder! -- But I dunno... she can be so... so Olive! Sometimes I wonder.. will Olive ‘n me ever gets t’be hitched?”

But he done introspected in the right location if he wanted answers for his rhetorical questions. Because Jeeps can tell the future! Just go with it! And when Popeye asks whether he and Olive will ever get married, Eugene the Jeep bends over and waves his tail three times which means “Signs point to yes.”

Being no dummy, Popeye asks follow up questions and learns that he and Olive are going to get married soon and not next year or next week but TOMORROW, THE JEEP IS NEVER WRONG!

Popeye: “Then I gots’ta propose, ‘cause if we gets married widdout me proposin’, it ain’t gonna be offiskal! I kin not waits t’tell Olive! I kin jusk hear her muksical voice sayin’ --”

Olive, being kidnapped: “NOOOOO!”

Popeye: “I wuz kinda hopin’ for a yes...”

Hah.

Before Popeye can respond to Olive being kidnapped, goon-napped, gravy-napped, Bluto bursts through the dock. Popeye tries to knock him out but even though he punches the guy many times, he can’t wipe the smile off his face.

Winded and having run “outta soks in me sok drawer” which is an amazing turn of phrase relying entirely on comic book sound effects, Popeye wonders whats going on here.

Bluto: “Things’ve changed, Popeye! Y’see... I found the Wiffle Hen.. and rubbed her head!”

Popeye: “No!”

Bluto: “YESSSS!”

Popeye Deepest Lore is so wild.

Anyway, Bluto punches Popeye across town and then swims out to Ham Gravy’s boat. Wherein he promptly takes over Ham Gravy’s evil plan.

Ham wanted to go to his hideaway in Malta but Bluto was only going along with the plan because Ham could get him the boat he needed. And instead they’re going to Spinachania, the Kingdom of King Blozo, where most of the world’s spinach apparently comes from.

Olive: “I thought his country was called Nazilia!”

Bluto: “Nah... they changed it ‘cause Nazis kept showin’ up!”

... Welp.

Anyway, Bluto is going to eat all the spinach he can, steal what he can’t eat, and then burn the kingdom down. And then he’s going to marry Olive.

Ham: “I’m... I’m sorry, Olive... This hasn’t gone at all as I had planned... I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me!”

Olive: -pounds him into the deck like a nail-

Ham: “-- I’ll take that as a maybe...”

Meanwhile, Wimpy tries to get free hamburgers by claiming that it would be a charitable act and thus tax deductible. Old Man Geezil has finally had enough of this nonsense and is about to stab Wimpy when Popeye falls out of the sky on top of him.

Popeye promptly tries to hire a crew to help him save Olive but since he has nineteen cents to his name, everybody turns him down. Everybody but Wimpy.

Wimpy: “In the interest of our long association, I will sail with you today for a hamburger on Tuesday!”

Awww, Wimpy!

So Popeye sends Wimpy to find a ship (who steals Geezil’s, geez no wonder the man hates him) while he rounds up the ‘fambly’ Olive’s brother Castor Oyl, Olive’s parents Nana and Cole Oyl, Popeye’s reprobate dad Poopdeck Pappy, Swee’ Pea, Alice the Goon, and of course Eugene the Jeep.

On the trip, Popeye explains some Deepest Lore to Wimpy and whoever in the audience. Spinach helps Popeye be strong but rubbing the head of the Wiffle Hen years ago is what made it so nothing can hurt him, apparently.

And he deduces that since Bluto is taking pages out of his book, that he’ll be headed to get all the spinach from Spinachania and then there might be no stopping him.

Meanwhile, Spinachania and the king is having an anxiety attack. He just knows something bad is going to happen. AND HE’S RIGHT, THE KINGDOM IS UNDER ATTACK.

King Blozo: “I knew it! How many attackers? A thousand? -- A million??!”

A general: “Two, sire... B-but they’re annihilating our army!! It’s kind of embarrassing, really--”

And Bluto and Ted the Goon are indeed just kind of stomping the entire army.

They arrive at the Royal Spinach Field but when Bluto goes to grab the spinach, it THWIP!s underground. Like in a cartoon when a mole or gopher or something yoinks a vegetable underground.

But its not mole or gopher or something, its Popeye and he’s eaten all the spinach he yoinked so he’s real roided out.

Popeye rips the bag off Bluto’s back, freeing Olive and the Wiffle Hen.

Bluto calls for Ted the Goon to assist him but Ted has gone and fallen in love with Alice the Goon off-panel and now they’re having a picnic.

So Popeye and Bluto punch each other in the same pose for hours. Yes, really.

And Olive has an idea how to break the stalemate.

Bluto, looking tired: “... I don’t get it... I’m bigger’n you! Tougher’n you! I ate the spinach... rubbed the Wiffle Hen’s head -- an’ as long as the magic of the Wiffle Hen exists, I’ll still be able to-”

Cue Wimpy wandering by with a drumstick remarking how delicious rare magical birds are.

And while Bluto is panicking about not being super-invulnerable anymore, Popeye socks him in the gut. And he tries to sock Popeye back but it makes a KLONG! like punching metal and hurts Bluto’s hand.

He panics that Popeye shouldn’t be super-invulnerable anymore either.

Popeye: “I don’t needs t’be!  ‘Cause I yam what I yam an’ thass all that I yam!”

And then he punches Bluto into the sky.

Popeye then finds out that the Wiffle Hen is fine and wonders what happened so that he was able to beat Bluto if they were both super-invulnerable.

Poopdeck Pappy suggests that confidence is the real super power and that Popeye always has confidence in all things.

Popeye: “Not all... not in th’ one t’ing I shudda had all these years! But I’m fixin’ that... right now!”

And then he proposes to Olive (with a cigar band in lieu of a ring) and she immediately accepts.

Awww!

For a comic titled the Wedding of Popeye and Olive, the actual wedding only takes up the last two pages.

King Blozo marries them. There’s a gag where after they kiss, Popeye’s pipe has wound up in Olive’s mouth. And then she throws the bouquet.

And the Sea Hag of all people catches it. And immediately starts chasing Wimpy to marry him.

The Sea Hag: “Wait! I caught the bouquet!”

Wimpy: “And I’m catching the next plane out of town! -- Happy honeymoon, Popeye and Olive! I’ll drop you a line from wherever I’m hiding!!”

So that was the Wedding of Popeye and Olive and it was funny and it was cute and it has given me a new appreciation for the characters.

Thank you, box of mystery. I never would have read this without you.

#50 more days of comics! #Popeye #Olive Oyl #The Wedding of Popeye and Olive Oyl #good times

[swanqueeneverafter]

What Dreams May Come, Pt.34

Henry's Dreamscape. (Tiana walks with Ella deeper into the forest.) Tiana: "My partner, Will, along with his sister, Alice, know all about travelling through portals. They've done it perhaps more than anyone alive. (Takes out a magic bean and throws it down:) This will take us to them." Ella: "You want us to take a portal out of here?" Tiana: "They're working on a plan to save Henry. If we go through there, I know we can help them." Ella: (Unsure:) “I've never been through a portal before. Where will it take us?” Tiana: “Well, their plan was to take them to Wonderland.” Ella: (Reverently:) "Wonderland. My mother... (Shakes her head, suddenly very eager:) No risk, no reward, right?" (Ella takes a deep breath and follows Tiana through the portal.) Underworld. Forest. (Hook walks alone through a forest when he hears a twig snap behind him.) Hook: (Spinning around:) "Show yourself!" Smee: (Stepping out from behind a tree:) "Captain, it's me." Hook: "Mr. Smee?" Smee: "Oh, am I glad to see you." Hook: "How did you get here? No, you know what, I don't have the time. I need all the help I can get, come on." Smee: "Where to, Captain?" Hook: "We're going to find a garden." Witches Garden. (A short time later, they enter through the gates of a garden.) Smee: “Ugh! This isn't exactly what I had in mind when you mentioned garden." Hook: “It's a witch's garden, Mr. Smee. And somewhere in here is the Golden Flower we seek. Find it, then we hightail it back out of here, before we come face-to-face with something more vicious than this lad.” (Hook kicks over a garden gnome.) Smee: “So, how do we find the flower then?” Hook: “Well, according to Morpheus, we, uh... We sing. Something to do with the power of music revealing the heart. Seriously, I think Lord Morpheus is obsessed with musicals. Anyway, here goes nothing. (Smee takes several steps backward as Hook begins to sing:) ♪ Fifteen men on a dead man's chest ♪ ♪ Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum ♪

Hook: “Doesn't appear to have worked. (Hook turns at the sound of scraping to see Smee transform into a large, angry looking garden gnome:) Bloody hell. (The gnome strikes at Hook, who rolls out of the way:) Might be more fearsome than I thought. (Draws his sword and slashes at the gnome’s leg, which does nothing. Running, he tries to make sense of things whilst being chased:) The song didn't work! Maybe if I try another one! (Ducks behind a tree:) Uh... ♪ My young love said to me ♪ ♪ My mother won't mind ♪ ♪ And my father won't cite you ♪ ♪ For your lack of... ♪ (A bright light glows up ahead and Hook runs to it as the gnome gives chase. Just as the gnome is about to strike, it explodes into dust. Hook grabs the flower and holds it up. Turning, he sees Maleficent standing there.)

Hook: (Holding the flower:) “It worked!” Maleficent: “What kind of sea shanty was that?” Hook: “It wasn't a shanty. It was a lullaby.” Maleficent: “A lullaby? Why do you know a lullaby?” Hook: “My mother used to sing it to me and my brother. And then she died, and my father abandoned us, and I didn't hear anything like it again. That's how I know a lullaby.” Maleficent: “Right. Why is it you can only open up to me when I’ve just saved your life?” Hook: (Chuckles:) “If I had any doubts that it was really you, I don’t now. What are you doing here?” Maleficent: “I came to rescue you, stupid. While most of the united realms are off trying to save the Charming grandchild, I took it upon myself to bring you home.” Hook: “Much obliged, love.” Maleficent: “Don’t thank me yet. I used the one magic bean I had in my possession to get to you. And although I was once technically dead, I never found my way to the Underworld. So I have no idea how we’re supposed to get out of here.” Hook: (Looking at the flower in his hand:) “Uh, I might have a way, and this flower is the key.” Wish Realm. (Watching Emma speak to Killian through the magic mirror, the Evil Queen is unimpressed.) Evil Queen: "I married that pushover?" Emma: "Hey, I was cursed, okay? That's how the Black Fairy wanted me. My strength and independence stripped from me. I was meant to be broken, physically and mentally. That brief time changed me in ways I am still not completely recovered from. And the longer we stand here, the longer my wife is being subjected to that very same fate. Now I can’t go there and rescue her myself because then we will both be trapped. But I believe you can. So, please, can we stop standing around and rescue Regina?”

(The Evil Queen nods, rolling up her fancy sleeves, she prepares to save Regina from the other realm.) Dream World. Wonderland. (Kneeling on the floor, Ella pushes open a tiny door and peers inside.) Ella: “This is it. The Infinite Maze.” Tiana: “You know this place. You didn't come just for Alice, did you? Ella, why are you here?” Ella: “I came for answers.” (Ella pulls a necklace out of her pocket and hands it to Tiana.) Tiana: “Answers about what? What’s this about?” Ella: “It's about my mother and the day she married my father. On their wedding day, she gave him a set of matching lockets. They were enchanted to glow so they would always find each other, just as their hearts would.” Tiana: “I know this kind of magic. That's a powerful promise.” Ella: “Yeah, one that she broke. When I was a girl, my mother abandoned us. My father searched for an entire year, and followed her all the way here to Wonderland.” Tiana: “She went into the Infinite Maze.” Ella: “Yeah, he was trying to figure out how to get through when his locket stopped working. She had stopped loving him. He came back home a broken man. He was never the same again.” (Suddenly, Ella turns and grabs a small bottle sitting on a nearby table.) Tiana: “Ella, what are you doing?” Ella: “I need to find out what happened, why she left us.” Tiana: “But there's only enough potion in there for one of us.” Ella: “I know. I'm sorry.” (Ella removes the stopper and drinks the potion.) Tiana: “No! Ella, wait! (Immediately, the potion takes effect, shrinking Ella down so she can fit through the door. Not looking back, she runs into the Infinite Maze:) Ella! (She crouches down beside the door:) Ella!”

Henry's Dreamscape. Gareth & Madelena's War Camp. (Aladdin and Jasmine make their way into camp, Aladdin waving the white flag.) Aladdin: “Flag of Truce! Nothing to worry about! Guaranteed safe passage! Really poor form to kill us!” Jasmine: “Will you stop it? You're making us look like tools.” Aladdin: “We are tools... tools that will be used to make the Valencian swords dull... with murder!” Jasmine: “Oh man up! We'll be fine. Sure, we can't beat the Valencians with the pitiful excuse of an army we have, but terms of surrender are always offered before a battle. Easy-peasy, pudding and pie.” Aladdin: (Nods:) “You’re right. I'll try and pull it together.” Royal Tent. (Gareth is seated as Madelena shaves his head.) Queen Madelena: “This was such a good idea. I think getting out of the castle was great for us, you know?” Gareth: “There's nothing like a good old war camp. Fresh air, sounds of nature. And the promise of getting to kill people. It just really gives a man a lift, you know what I mean?” Queen Madelena: “Yeah. It's nice. (Notices Jasmine and Aladdin walking towards them:) What?” Gareth: “Hmm?” Queen Madelena: “Flag of Truce? No, no, no, no, no, no, no! What are they doing here?” Gareth: (Stands:) “They’ve probably come to discuss terms of surrender.” Queen Madelena: “I don't want them to surrender. I want to kill them!” Jasmine: (Entering the tent:) “Please allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Princess Jasmine, and this is my husband, Aladdin.” Queen Madelena: (Motions to him:) “Gareth. (To herself:) Madelena.  Now what do you want?” Jasmine: “I thought we might discuss terms, avoid unnecessary bloodshed.” Queen Madelena: “Well, I’m kind of here for the unnecessary bloodshed.” Jasmine: “I’m sorry? The rules of war dictate that...” Queen Madelena: “God, you're going to be lame about this, aren't you? Fine. Here are my terms. Complete surrender. Hand over your castle, your gold, your jewels, your livestock.” Jasmine: “I think that's a bit extreme.” Queen Madelena: “Not done. All the men of fighting age will be conscripted into our army. Oh, and I want all the children to put their toys in a pile. Then I'm going to light it on fire. (Laughing:) Yay! I'm having fun after all.” Jasmine: (Hesitates:) “If I could have a moment. (Takes Aladdin aside:) These terms are impossible!” Aladdin: “What choice do we have?” Jasmine: (Sighs:) “You're right.” Jasmine: (To Madelena:) “Your terms are monstrous, but I think...” Queen Madelena: “Oh, and one last thing. I want Ella to be my new handmaiden. Her main duty will be cleaning my crown.” Jasmine: “The way I’ve heard things, that is not your crown. That is the official crown of the Queen of Valencia, and Ella is its rightful owner.” Queen Madelena: “Settle down, tiny tot. You're the one who came here to surrender.” Jasmine: “You're gonna regret calling me ‘tiny tot.’" Gareth: “Yes! Catfight! (Takes a seat:) Finally. I've been waiting to see some action like this.” (Madelena and Jasmine square off.) Madelena: ♪ I don't like you ♪ Jasmine: ♪ I really don't like you ♪ Madelena: ♪ I really ♪ Jasmine: ♪ Really ♪ Madelena: ♪ Really ♪ Jasmine: ♪ Really ♪ Both: ♪ Want you gone ♪ ♪ This won't surprise you ♪ ♪ But I despise you ♪ ♪ You want to see, step to me, 'cause it's on ♪ Madelena: ♪ I'm thinner, cooler, clearly much crueler ♪ ♪ And check out the bling ♪ ♪ I'm the kingdom's new ruler ♪ Gareth: “Boom!” Madelena: ♪ Got a jeweler to pimp out the crown ♪ Jasmine: ♪ The serf may be up but I'm taking you down ♪ Aladdin: “Ooh, yeah!” Jasmine: ♪ Enough pleasantry, you're queen presently ♪ ♪ But, hon, you're just one of the peasantry ♪ ♪ Kosher as bacon and fakin' the funk ♪ Madelena: ♪ You'll just have to deal ♪ Jasmine: ♪ Oh, I'll deal with you, punk ♪ ♪ The whole feudal system has paid you a visit ♪ Madelena: ♪ Yet it's you who's now royally screwed ♪ Jasmine: ♪ You think so, ho? ♪ Madelena: ♪ I know so, prude ♪ ♪ Let's see ♪ ♪ I've got the sharper weapons ♪ Jasmine: “Yeah, right.” Madelena: ♪ I've got the fiercer horde ♪ Jasmine: “Right, but...” (Madelena pushes Jasmine against a tent post:) Madelena: ♪ I've got your booty pinned against the wall ♪ Jasmine: “I've got the...” Madelena: “You've got nothing.” Jasmine: “I've got the... The Hero Sword!” ♪ That's right, the one king to unite them all ♪ Madelena: “You don't have the bearer of the one true...” Jasmine: “Oh, I most certainly do. Don't I, Aladdin? Aladdin: “Uh, yeah. Totally.”

Madelena: ♪ I don't like you ♪ Jasmine: ♪ I really don't like you ♪ Both: ♪ You really, really, really, really crossed the line ♪ ♪ And soon your castle and your ass'll be mine ♪ ♪ I don't like you ♪ Jasmine: “I will see you on the battlefield.” War Camp. Headed Back To The Castle. (Not quite believing what just took place, Aladdin tries to make sense of it all.) Aladdin: “You challenged this giant army to a fight, and you told them you have the bearer of the sword of the one true king, which, I might add, we don't. No one knows who it is.” Jasmine: “Don't get your knickers in a bunch. I lost my temper. You heard Madelena's terms. We have to fight. And we will win.” Aladdin: “How, exactly? Our army has no weapons.” Jasmine: “We'll improvise. Tell the people to gather anything we can use as weapons. And we will make our stand.” Aladdin: “All right. I just wish you hadn't riled up Madelena.” Royal Tent. Gareth: “Queenie, relax. Everything's fine.” Queen Madelena: “Relax? If the one true king is really on her side, that's bad news. The prophecy says he who pulls the sword from the stump will unite the kingdoms under his glorious rule. Prophecies are never wrong. That's just science.” Gareth: “Look, I trained this army. And they're more than capable of handling some stupid king with some fancy sword. Don't worry.” Morpheus: (Appearing behind them:) “Oh, you should worry. But luckily, we have a secret weapon on our side, and that secret weapon is... Moi.” Queen Madelena: “What?” Gareth: “Prat.” Morpheus: “Not only am I a literal God, a fact that you two seemingly fail to grasp, but I'm also a practitioner of the dark arts. A master of the D'Dew.” Queen Madelena: “What's that?” Morpheus: “The Dark, dark evil way... The D'Dew.” Gareth: “Why do you call it ‘the D'Dew’? Wouldn't it be simpler just to say ‘The Dew’?” Queen Madelena: “Good point.” Morpheus: “No, no, no. The way isn't just dark. It's dark dark. (Holds up two fiery goblets:) D'Dew is the most powerful force to ever exist. With it, you can control events, bend them to your will, and turn everything to your favor.” Queen Madelena: “So, all we have to do is eat this, and we have magic?” Morpheus: “No, no. Oh, sorry. Yeah, I see where the confusion lies. This is cherries jubilee. Something I was thinking about for your potential wedding, hmm? Imagine a darkened hall, hmm? Hundreds of these coming in at once.” Queen Madelena: “I'm in.” Gareth: “Yeah...” Morpheus: “Oh, wow!” Queen Madelena: “I meant with D'Dew.” Gareth: “Hold on a minute. I said I can handle this.” Queen Madelena: “Come on, Gareth. Let's do D'Dew.” Gareth: “Can I have a word with you for a minute?” Queen Madelena: “What? Why?” (Gareth pulls her aside.) Gareth: “Look, we've got a good thing going. Do you want to bring dark magic into this?” Queen Madelena: “I don't know. A little D'Dew might be exciting. Spice things up. (Gareth sighs:) This really bugs you, doesn't it?” Gareth: “Yes.” Queen Madelena: “And you're sure you can win the battle without it?” Gareth: “Positive.” Queen Madelena: “Okay. For you. (Kisses his cheek then turns to Morpheus:) Sorry, Morph. No D'Dew. (Morpheus bows and Gareth leaves the tent. Walking over to Morpheus:) I'll find you later.” Both: “D'Dew!”

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

[wishingforatypewriter]

Between Us

Summary: Sometimes the gap between the feeling of love and its manifestation in word and deed seemed insurmountable. (Prequel to “On Casual Commitments”)

Arato Hisako walked up the stairs to the Nakiri mansion in step with Erina, checking off items on the second seat’s to-do list as they went.

“Now that the alumni banquet is over with, all there’s left to do is organize your job offers into an Excel spreadsheet,” the sixth seat said. “Now will it be better for you if I categorize them by name, geographic region, or number of Michelin stars?” 

“Definitely by stars, but Hisako...” Erina paused to give her friend a long look, noting that she hadn’t removed her broad sunglasses since before they left that morning. “Are you really okay?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, although the answer was more than clear.

It had been four days since she and Akira officially broke up. The severance had been neat as a surgeon’s cut, on both of their schedules for months now.

In two weeks their class would graduate from Totsuki, and Hisako would be off to Switzerland to start her new position at the World Health Organization. Akira, on the other hand, had accepted a junior executive role at the Haubi Food Corporation, and would remain in Tokyo.

Hisako had known that they were doomed from the moment their plans solidified; she just hadn’t expected it to bother her so much. She shot her friend the brightest smile she could manage, despite the fact that her eyes were still puffy from the tears they’d been leaking all week. “I’m fine, Erina-sama. Really.”

“Hisako—”

“Why don’t we go over all the restaurants’ credentials one more time. We need to have everything in order before graduation, especially since—”

“Since you won’t be there to swoop in and rescue me?” Erina raised an eyebrow. 

“That’s not what I meant,” Hisako insisted. “It’s just—” The sixth seat trailed off halfway down the hall. She froze as she heard a spirited debate coming from the direction of Alice’s room. 

“You’re both being utterly ridiculous, you know! Ryo-kun, please talk some sense into your friend!” 

“It’s pretty unnecessary,” the fourth seat chimed in, sounding as lethargic as ever. “Just go to Switzerland. You’ll get a job.” 

“Exactly!” Alice continued. “You’re the third seat in Totsuki’s Elite Ten; any kitchen in the world would kill to have you, but you need to take your relationship more seriously than this!”

“We’re eighteen years old. It makes absolutely no sense to—” 

“What makes no sense is to just break up because you’re both too stubborn to admit that the relationship means something to you! I mean, you love her, don’t you?” 

Hisako turned around and bolted back down the stairs before she could hear anything else. By the time Erina caught up with her again, she was sitting outside in the garden, making a spreadsheet on her tablet. 

“Do you want to know how the rest of that conversation went?” the second seat asked, taking a seat next to her. 

Hisako reached beneath her sunglasses to thumb fresh tears away from her cheeks before glancing at her best friend, trying to read her expression. “I don’t think I do, Erina-sama.” 

“Then I won’t tell you,” she replied. “But can I at least ask why not?”

Hisako sighed. Because if he loved her, she was a dumb bitch for leaving, and if he didn’t, she was a dumb bitch for crying over a guy who didn’t love her. She didn’t know which would be worse. “It wouldn’t change anything, and it’s best not to harp on things like this for too long.”

Erina nodded. “You’re always practical about things like this,” she said. “But if you ever want to take an evening to complain and eat ice cream, I’m available.” 

“I might have to take you up on that later,” Hisako replied. “But for now we should probably get to our closing committee meetings.” 

By the time Hisako reached the Alumni Relations Committee office at Totsuki’s Parliament, Tadokoro-san had already printed all the necessary documents and set tea and snacks out on the coffee table. 

“Thank you for updating the database while I was away,” Megumi said as she took a seat on the couch. 

“No problem at all, Tadokoro-san.” Hisako was actually grateful to have a menial task like that to keep her mind off things. “How was New York?”

“It was amazing,” Megumi said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

Hisako smiled. Finally some good news! “Did you and Yukihira get everything settled with the apartment?” 

The dark haired girl nodded a few times. “We put down a deposit on place on the west side of Queens. It’s really a really convenient location because we both need to go into Manhattan for work.” 

“You took the job at the Ritz, right?” Hisako asked, recalling that a number of luxury hotels had been courting her for the past few months. 

Megumi nodded.“I got to visit the hotel while Souma-kun was meeting with Shinomiya-senpai. It’s right across the way from Central Park.” 

“That sounds nice,” Hisako replied. Tadokoro-san’s entire setup—moving clear across the world with her high school sweetheart, putting down roots in a brand new city—sounded almost too good to be true. And Hisako knew for a fact that it actually was. “Tadokoro-san, I don’t mean to pry, but...have you put any thought into Doujima-san’s offer?” 

At the alumni banquet, Hisako had overheard the legendary chef ask Tadokoro Megumi to be his second in command. It was clearly his intention to groom her into the next head of the Totsuki Tourism Division.

For a fraction of a second, Megumi’s smile faltered, and Hisako spotted a flash of longing in her golden eyes. But the expression was gone as fast as it came. “The Ritz was my best offer in New York,” she said simply. “And it this point, I’m more sure about Souma-kun than I am about anything else.”

Hisako had assumed that it would be something like that. As soon as Shinomiya Kojirou had announced plans to open his third restaurant in the heart of Manhattan, everyone knew he would offer the head chef position to Yukihira Souma. “Does Yukihira know about the offer?” 

Megumi shook her head. “I haven’t told anyone, not even my family back home. I’d really appreciate if it stayed between the two of us, Arato-san.” 

“Of course,” Hisako assured, thanking the gods that she’d been too grief-stricken over the weekend to mention it to Erina. “You are an amazing person, Tadokoro-san.” 

“I think you are too, Arato-san. You’re incredibly strong,” Megumi replied, and in that moment Hisako adored her for leaving the rest unsaid. 

As Nakiri Erina sat atop her desk with a handful of playing cards and a handle of whiskey, she wondered why she had made the mistake of assuming the annual report would get written today. That Yukihira Souma always had a unique talent for distracting her. Her lips curved downward into a frown as she realized her days would soon be excruciatingly productive. 

“What’s with that face, Nakiri?” the first seat asked her, grinning. “You realized that you’re never gonna beat me at spades?” 

“Please. You say that like you’ve actually won before.” Erina rolled her eyes, mentally berating herself for letting her melancholy show. “I was just thinking of how pitifully small that apartment you showed me was. Where on earth is poor Tadokoro-san supposed to put her dresses?” 

“Nakiri, most women don’t have half the dresses you do.” 

“And that ought to be a crime,” she replied. “Seriously, you better not screw things up in New York. It would be extremely embarrassing for me to have lost the first seat to a chef who crashed and burned in his first year out of school?” 

Souma gave her a long look. “Is that your way of saying good luck?” 

“A-absolutely not! My concern is solely for my reputation and the welfare of Tadokoro-san!” 

“Whatever you say, Nakiri,” he said before taking another sip from the bottle of Jack. Erina did all she could to keep from blushing over the fact that his lips were where her lips had just been. Why oh why was she still thinking this way about her friend’s boyfriend? “Have you decided what you’re gonna do with yourself yet?”

Erina shrugged. “All I know is that I want to leave the country,” she said. “I might try freelancing for a while like Saiba-sama.” 

“I could see you doing that,” he said. “Making restaurants all over the world that much more obsessed with that damn tongue of yours.” 

Erina’s eyes narrowed as she searched for something back-handed in the comment. After sensing nothing, she relented. “We should call it a night. I don’t trust either one of us to write a report in this state.”

“We can always delegate to Takumi,” Souma pointed out. 

“Takumi?” Erina’s brow furrowed. “Why would a task like that go all the way down to the seventh seat?” 

“We’re drunk, Hayama’s depressed, Kurokiba and Alice won’t do it, and Arato is probably busy with the rest of your work.” 

“Ah.” All of that sounded about right. When on earth had they become this bad at their jobs? 

“Can I walk you back to the mansion?” he asked, and she said yes even though there was a driver waiting for her outside. 

The air was warm and fragrant with the scent of dewy grass and newly-bloomed flowers. Perhaps for the first time since they met, they wasted no time bickering, both of them sensing the end of an era. 

“Night, Nakiri,” he said once they were in front of the Nakiri Mansion’s wrought-iron gates. 

“Yukihira-kun,” she said, just as he turned to leave. 

“What’s up?”

Before Erina could think better of it, she was hugging him, long and hard and just barely skirting the line between friendship and that which lied beyond it. Her eyes brimmed with tears as he returned the embrace, and she tried her best not to dwell on how well her face fit in the space between his neck and shoulder. The romantic in her wanted to believe it meant something, but she had closed her eyes to such thoughts long ago. 

“Take care of yourself,” she whispered through a boulder-sized lump in her throat. 

And then she was walking swiftly through the gates, up the ramp, and into the mansion. She didn’t turn back even once.  

#shokugeki no soma #sorina #soueri #akisako #soumegu #ryoali

[bigskydreaming]

Random bits of writing beneath the cut. Yo @russianspacegeckosexparty, these are scenes yanked from the 10 years ago manuscript I was telling you about, the magic I cannibalized to use for the magic system/worldbuilding in this series. 

Mostly just action scenes so the only thing you really need to know in order to follow is that the Cunninghams are a family of nine kids (yeah I know, look this was a very early book of mine), who each have magic that manifests via a specific medium. They can do pretty much anything they can imagine involving that medium, even if it doesn’t make any kind of physical or logical sense or just riffs off of symbolism - however it doesn’t always work the way they think it will. Its magic without instruction manual. They’re all just winging it.

Other key detail is that for most of the book they were all dealing with a curse someone’d put on their family years ago, where the sight of one another whipped them into a homicidal rage and thus they had to stay apart and take great care not to be around each other in ways that could trigger it. Eventually, they discovered that there was another magic family out there (well, several), and one in particular had put the curse on them for Reasons.

Anyway, of the Cunninghams, oldest was Serena, whose magic involved tears, Trent (shadows), Dennis (blood), Cam (art), Alice (mirrors), Rowan (coins), Katie (echoes), Megan (fingerprints) and Micah (dust). 

The other family in this had similarly distinct magic, with Paul (breath), Mina (light), David (music), Jonas (crossroads) and Teri (memories).

Oh and the last three scenes that don’t make sense chronologically are flashbacks of Micah’s (the narrator) from when he was younger, thanks to memory magic making him relive them.

***************

I spun to see the windows lining the side of the house that faced us – changing, for lack of a better way to describe them.  The glass folded out away from the walls, then grew together in a slick, sinuous movement that formed a bridge into the sky, snaking and curving back on itself.  It thickened until the bridge was a column that expanded towards the base, branching out with a thinner neck, wings, legs, arms.  The whole sight was painful to watch, trying to wrap my mind around the impossibility of it and just how many laws of physics were violated as Alice grew a glass dragon out of Mom’s prized windows.

“Oh, that’s just Alice,” I said.  “She and Cam are having a little spat.”

“I see.”  Teri sounded faint.  “Do we really want ring side seats for this?”

“Probably not.  Especially since Alice’s mirror magic can’t really do something like that on her own.  A stunt like that only works if she’s mirroring someone else’s magic, like, a kind of reflection of it.”

“Which means Cam’s probably test driving his new tattoo,” I added as a trumpeting roar shook the beach and a giant golden dragon crashed through the wall of my house.  “Also, run!”

I grabbed her by the hand and we tore down the beach, the sand catching at our heels and making us stumble.  The mirror dragon roared back, a strange tinkling sound somehow reminiscent of both wind chimes and nails on a chalkboard.  The ground darkened beneath their shadows as the two behemoths slammed together overhead, and then strange prisms of light danced across the dunes.  The sun was shining through Alice’s dragon as much as it was forced around it.  Her and her damn glass and mirrors.  She liked to mess with physics as much as possible.  You’d think she had a personal beef with Einstein or something.  

We reached the cliff and pressed ourselves up against its face.  I hoped the angle would be enough to protect us from sight.  I could never be sure how the logistics of Cam and Alice’s magic worked.  Alice could scry through mirrors, but could she see through her mirror dragon’s eyes?  And if so, would catching sight of me that way be enough to trigger the curse?  And what about Cam’s dragon?  Being a tattoo, I figured it probably had a closer link to him than Alice’s.

Ugh.  Fucking magic.  The headaches it gave were so not worth the price of admission.

“What do we do now?”  Teri panted.  I had no answer.  Instead we just stared up at the two beasts as they circled and dove through the air at each other.  The golden one caught the other by one leg with its talons, and with a crash and a ragged splitting sound glass rained from above.  The mirror dragon whipped its tail in response.  The shards at the ends of it ripped into the gold’s wing and blood fountained free.

******

“This is going to end well,” Teri muttered, but she followed me inside and up cracked hardwood steps.   We climbed three flights of stairs into the gloom of the seemingly deserted apartment building.  It wasn’t that late, but I heard no noises from the apartments we passed.  We made our way down a dingy hallway that sported dirty gray carpeting and stained green wallpaper.  The lights in the wall sconces were on their last legs.  A roach skittered out of our path.

I didn’t have to worry about ruining the locks on Megan’s door.  It was already ajar, and a Really Bad Feeling rose wailing from the pits of my stomach.  I batted it away and cautiously pushed the door all the way open.  It creaked on unoiled hinges as I stepped inside.

“Is it too late to go back to the car?”  Teri asked.  I raised a finger to my lips.  She hesitated and stepped across the threshold behind me.  The apartment inside was way better maintained than the rest of the building.  And my sister had been here recently, judging from the relative lack of dust lining the surfaces.  We ventured further inside.  I closed the door.

“Should I turn on the lights?” She wondered.  I shook my head and looked around.  It was sparsely furnished, with only the minimum of pieces.  A dining room table, a couple of wooden chairs.  A small TV stand beneath an even smaller TV.  A painfully bright orange couch probably rescued from some college dorm room, and a coffee table straight out of the Ikea catalogue.  There were two potted plants decorating a low, long set of bookshelves that stretched across one wall, beneath a window that opened out onto a fire escape.  Instead of books, the shelves were lined with dozens of glass jars.

“What are those?”  Teri wandered to the nearest jar and reached out a finger, just shy of touching it.  I pulled her back.  More jars crowded the kitchen table, the coffee table, the counters and shelves of the small corner kitchen.  They were all empty, just glass jars full of air, lids sealed tight and with tiny strips of masking tape to serve as labels.  Names and dates written across them in small letters.  Delicately printed in black Sharpie.

“Megan’s armory,” I whispered.  Couldn’t say why I felt a need to keep my voice down, but my Really Bad Feeling hadn’t fled far.  It still crouched behind my too-quickly beating heart, twined around my nerves, keeping them tight and coiled and ready to spring at the first sign of danger.  “Her magic is keyed to fingerprints.  She can find people with them, access their thoughts and histories.  Take on their shapes and skills and very identities.”

I picked one up, careful to keep my fingers around the lid, and raised it to the window.  Silver moonbeams spilled through the panes and shone through the glass of the jar.  Several fingerprints gleamed in the light.  Thumb, index, middle fingers of both hands.  “This is how she stores them.  So that even when she changes back to her real form and the person isn’t around anymore, she can still tap into them if she needs to use their shape or skills again.”

Teri drifted through the apartment, eyeing the jars with wide-eyed wonder.  “There must be hundreds of them.”

I shrugged.  “Megan’s always been more at home being other people than herself.”

It didn’t take a shrink to figure out that probably wasn’t that healthy, but we were Cunninghams.  Magic and issues came included, batteries sold separately.

“Micah, she has one of you.  And all the rest of your siblings, I think.”

I nodded and followed her into the kitchen, where nine jars sat by themselves right behind the sink.  “Yeah I know.  When she taps our fingerprints and takes our shapes, she can use our magic too.”

“Damn.  That’s pretty potent.”

“Yeah.  But it’s Megan.  She’s pretty much the only one of my siblings I’d trust with that kind of mojo.  I mean, Alice and Katie can sometimes kinda echo or mirror the stuff the rest of us can do, but they can’t tap into our power sources directly like Megan can.  Now if Rowan or Serena could do that – forget about it.  Time to run screaming.”

Teri chewed a strand of her hair, unconvinced.  “If you say so.  Why does she have one of her own fingerprints?”

“Oh.”  I frowned and looked back around the apartment.  I wasn’t even sure where to begin hunting for clues to her present whereabouts.  Maybe the dust could tell me something?  “She’s kinda paranoid about getting stuck in someone else’s shape and not being able to turn back into herself.  The magic’s – tricky like that, sometimes.”

******

“Micah, cover your eyes,” Trent yelled from somewhere nearby, and I obeyed on instinct.  It wasn’t that I suddenly trusted him again, it was just…I had no idea what the hell was going on anymore, and I was happy to listen to anyone who seemed to have some kind of grip on reality.

On the plus side, I was no longer convinced I was going crazy.  It was the universe I thought was going crazy, instead.

I felt the cold, slimy grasp of my brother’s shadows wind around me, and then there was a brief sense of disorientation, of the world falling away beneath me as he slipped me through dark nether dimensions.  I emerged into the cool humidity of the September New York night.

“Look straight ahead,” Trent directed then, coalescing from the shadows right next to me.  He reached out to grip my hand in his, and I jumped.  It took every bit of concentration I possessed, focusing intently on every nerve and muscle in my body as I fought the urge to glance over at him.  I may not have known what was really happening, but I knew triggering the curse was the last thing I could afford to do right now.

We were on the sidewalk in front of a traffic circle.  The tall bronze statue of a rearing horse and its rider loomed in front of us and its shadow stretched beneath the streetlights, landing at the shores of our feet.  Trent reached out a hand to caress the shadow of the horse’s back – I could see that much of him without anything happening – and with a restless shudder, it came to life.

“Cover your eyes,” he said, just before he grabbed the flailing hairs of the stallion’s mane and heaved himself up on its back.  “I’m going to pull you up, and then I need you to turn yourself around so you’re facing the other way from me.”

“Wait, you want me to ride your magic shadow horse backwards?”  I protested, even as I covered my eyes with one hand and let him drag me up behind him with the other.  I expected him to have to struggle a little, but he managed it with ease.  I’d forgotten how strong he was.  “Are you nuts?”

“Desperate times, desperate measures,” he said grimly, and I was reminded of a similar situation with Teri just a few hours ago.  It seemed like a lifetime already.  I settled on the horse and leaned back into my brother, wrapping one arm around his waist behind me and bracing the other against the muscled shadow flesh we sat upon.  Our steed pranced in place, aggressive and straining to be set free, but Trent held it back.  We were a block down from where Teri stood with Paul, Mina and the others, but they were racing in our direction, Paul gliding through the air while the other four sprinted down the block.  

“Trent, what the hell?”  I asked at last.  “Why is Teri with them?”

He didn’t answer at first, still consumed with the task of feeding some kind of directives to the shadow mount.  It reared up on its back legs, and I almost slid down its flanks before it landed on all four feet again.  Then we were off galloping down the street in quick, fluid motions.  The buildings whizzed by us.

“She’s their sister,” Trent said.  The winds of our passage burned my face and roared in my ears.  I had trouble breathing.

“What?”

“Paul, Mina, the other two, she’s their sister,” he said again.  “It wasn’t a coincidence that she was in the coffee shop this morning; she’s been following you for weeks.  Same with the other two guys…the one David, he’s got some kind of music magic, we think, he was tailing Cam, but could never get close.  The other one, Jonas, he was sticking by Alice.”

“How do you know this?”  It couldn’t be true, I mean, it couldn’t have all been a lie, right?  And yet, looking back behind us at Teri and her what, siblings, as they gave chase…I knew Trent wasn’t lying.  Paul rose into the air, climbing higher and higher into the sky.  He was arrowing towards the roof of a nearby apartment building.  From this distance I could just make out the outline of a woman…and then thunder crashed overhead and stormclouds gathered with supernatural speed, and I knew it was Serena.  Within seconds, rain came pouring down.  

“Let’s just say Serena and I had our own encounters with Paul and Mina,” Trent said grimly.  “Speaking of which, hang on.”

The stallion reared again and turned left onto a main street, still busy with traffic even at this late hour.  People leaned out their car windows to gawk at us, but at least the cover of night made it look like we were just randomly riding a horse through downtown Manhattan, rather than a physical manifestation of my brother’s shadow magic.  

The river of light that cascaded around the corner in pursuit of us was a little less easy to explain.  

Colors flowed down streetlamps and off flashing neon signs to join in the chase.  A serpentine length of red luminescence struck from the bulbs of a theater marquee, and we dodged just in time.  Blue and green ribbons split off from the gaudy sign of some high end night club, and the yellow beams of several cars’ headlights bent and swerved in mid-air to flank us on both sides.  

Strands of multi-colored light wove and twisted themselves around each other and across our path, looking like nothing so much as sparkling strands of DNA, complex double helixes that snapped at our heels and in front of us like tentacles or the arms of some demented, magical octopus.  Trent pulled darkness from rooftops and alleys and splashed them all around us, dousing the lights under buckets of black painted shadows.

We cut through a park and crossed a small man-made river, our horse running across the top of the water without making splash.  The other side led out into the heart of the concrete jungle, and curtains of light dropped down the lengths of skyscrapers all around us, gaining fast.

I realized we weren’t alone.  Alice was racing through the reflections alongside us, flashing briefly through one window before reappearing in the next.  She threw me a grin and then grew, until her reflection was one story high, and then two, and then three.  Giant sized Alice reached down with a hand that was six windows high and three windows wide, and grabbed a fistful of light like so many ribbons.  Despite everything, I laughed.  Silly Mina.  Don’t try and play with light when Alice and reflective surfaces are around.  My sister refracted the illumination through the windows of her body, and a thousand tiny golden threads shot back through the air at dizzying speeds, heading backwards along the trajectory that had led them here.    

Then space warped, and twisted.  My stomach tied itself in knots.  In the blink of an eye we were two blocks ahead and facing the other direction.  I’d never travelled so quickly or seamlessly with any of my siblings’ brands of magical transportation.

Space warped again, and a blink later the two guys I’d seen with Teri, Paul and Mina were standing in the intersection in front of us.

“Shit,” Trent cursed, but there wasn’t time for anything else.  One of the guys pursed his lips and whistled a sharp, vaulting melody.  David, I guessed.  His tune crescendoed up the musical scales and cracks raced up windows of the skyscrapers on both sides of the street in sympathetic harmony.  Alice opened her mouth in surprise and then the windows fell apart, raining down on us below.  The tinkling chimes of falling glass sounded almost like a scream as my sister’s reflection vanished.

“Alice!” I shouted and an answering screech echoed my cry.  Cam’s gold dragon dive bombed from above, plunging down the lengths of the buildings, jaws opened and ready to flame despite the rain coming down.  The other man grabbed handfuls of air and folded them.  Space twisted again, and a blink of an eye later and the mighty beast crashed into the street a block away.  “How is he doing that?”

“That’s Jonas,” Trent spat.  He threw a rolling wave of blackness hastily over Cam’s dragon like a blanket of shadows, and kept it advancing across the street towards the  other two men until Jonas just grabbed his brother and they blinked behind us.  “His magic’s something to do with crossroads, or intersections and doorways.  Can’t tell, it’s hard to pin down.”  

I nodded, feeling useless.  There wasn’t much I could do to help as long as Serena kept this storm up.  Any dust I could raise would just be beaten back down by the downpour.  Unfortunately, she didn’t have enough control over the waters she summoned to work around my magic.  She just turned storms on and off, she couldn’t control what they did or where they went once she’d conjured them.  Lightning flashed and Mina wrestled control of the jagged electric spears from wherever she was hiding.  A bolt crashed down into the street right next to us and the sudden burst of illumination extinguished Trent’s shadow stallion in a wash of white light.  We fell to the ground.

I think it was safe to say we were getting our asses kicked at this point.

*******

By the time it dissipated, Trent and Cam had vanished, and Serena was pulling a pouch full of small glass vials from her pocket.  Alice was several stores down from us, and every time she passed a window her reflection leapt out and joined her, until the far courtyard was filled with an abundance of Alices.

“Can Jonas come out and play?”  She called mockingly.  The target of her derision jumped to his feet and took off across the tiled floor.  But instead of sprinting towards her, he was headed in the opposite direction, running scared.  Space warped and he crossed the room in the span of a few blinks, jumping intervals of twenty feet at a time.  But then Alice stepped out of a window right in front of him, and slapped him in the face, fingernails hooked like claws.  Blood spewed from his lip and he blinked away.

Only to find another Alice waiting for him.  He blinked again, and she was there too.  Everywhere he jumped, there was a reflection of her waiting.  And for every reflection, she had a third, and a fourth, and a fifth, until he was mobbed by her in multitudes, no matter which way he turned.

A sound like nails on chalkboard scraped across the atrium and I turned to see a chalk outline sketching itself along the wall of the courtyard’s upper floor, overlooking us from above.  Stark white lines superimposed themselves across walls, windows and doors, the shape and imagery of crackling flames that sprang to life.  First they flickered two dimensionally, then they gained depth and volume, color and voice and fire ringed the floor above.  Cam appeared, leaning over the upper balcony as he scooped his hand through the flames.  Molding a perfect sphere he hurled it at David, raining down fire from above.

I’d totally forgotten how much of a pyro he was.  Freak.

Paul levitated straight up into the center of the courtyard, his winds sweeping up water from a large bubbling fountain in front of the nearest department store.  He flung a mini-typhoon at Cam’s inferno.  The flames hissed angrily when doused, but there were a lot of them and Cam didn’t need much to fuel for his fireballs.  He grinned and threw several more at David in quick succession.  The last Bradley brother sang a quick, discordant melody that slammed into the balcony beneath Cam, shaking it and tossing him from his feet.

Serena drew forth a vial of her tears and threw it to the ground in front of David.  The glass shattered and smoking acid bubbled forth, eating away at the tiled floor and spreading like a virus.  He cried out and jumped back, and Paul whipped up another wave to wash away the acid.  Then he caught Serena in a whirlwind and threw her into the fountain.

Mina crooked her fingers at me and multi-colored rays of light shot in my direction.  I dodged and a shadow hound hurtled itself from a corner behind her and knocked her to the ground.  I pointed my hand at the ceiling and rained debris down on her, burying her in a mound of rubble and then I was falling too, somehow gone from the floor to the ceiling in the blink of an eye.  Crap.  Fucking Jonas.

I hollered in a possibly slightly unmanly fashion and flailed arms and legs uselessly, but I couldn’t muster the concentration needed to turn myself to dust when falling from two stories up.  I jerked to a stop anyways, bobbing up and down in the air like I’d reached the end of a bungee cord, and I looked across the way to see giant sized Alice reflected in a window.  She held my T-shirt pinched between massive fingers.

She set me down gently, and then she was gone, racing through windows.  I caught sight of Teri behind me in a reflection, and I spun as she conjured more of her sister’s light shows in a riotous rainbow display that sparked and fizzled around me like fireworks.  I stumbled backwards, and Cam sketched himself into the scene between us, appearing first as lines drawn into the air, then fleshing out with color and dimension.  

Teri set her jaw and a wall of shadows surged forth from a shop behind her and poured into the shape of a pack of snapping wolves.  Cam swept his hand through the first shadow wolf and turned the memory into a photo, mashing it down into two dimensions bordered within a Polaroid frame, a snapshot of any of the dozens of times Trent had pulled that trick when we were kids.  

A silver and copper cloud of coins erupted from the fountains and came wailing our way with all the screeching fury of a banshee.  Cam made a picture of that memory too, and a snapshot of Rowan’s typical gaudy display of force fluttered to the floor.  Teri sketched fireballs from mid-air, cried tears of acid rain and drafted ghosts to animate the mannequins the department store windows.  They marched our way like so many toy soldiers, but Cam packed them all up in a small frame and banished the memory with just a photograph to keep in its place.

She yelled in frustration and turned and ran down a side corridor, headed for the escalators to a lower level.  I sprinted after her, Cam close behind me, but a harsh, grating melody cracked the ground in between us, forging a jagged chasm that left Cam on the other side.  He whipped off his shirt and his panther tattoo leaped free, bounding across the floor towards a wide-eyed David.  The other man ducked behind a potted plant and conjured a tune to soothe the savage beast.

*****

I rose to my knees, choking - but it wasn’t his grip on my neck that had me gasping for air. His magic was a sandstorm swirling in my lungs. Every breath I took stabbed the walls of my throat with shards of spells and broken glass. Paul grinned down at me through the white spots dotting my vision and I batted at his arm, trying desperately to break free. Dude was on steroids or I was really just that scrawny, but either way, I was still going to die here. Young. Virginal. Alone.

Epic fail, universe. Epic fail.

And then winter came early.

The sharp crackle of ice knifed through the empty food court like an overactive toddler popping bubble wrap without supervision. And if you don’t like my similes, blame my brain’s current lack of oxygen. Paul let his magic and me slip free and I slid bonelessly to the floor, wheezing and flopping around like a geriatric trout with asthma and a smoking problem. I raised my head in search of whoever had kicked the AC into overdrive and found my sister standing regally at the top of the escalator.

God. She was such a drama queen.

Serena was soaked head to toe from her impromptu swim in the fountains earlier, but if it bothered her you’d never know. A silent wind tossed her raven hair behind her, and an endless stream of water dripped from her t-shirt and jeans, pooling around her bare feet and cascading down the steps of the escalator in far more quantities than her clothes could have ever contained. Her face was pinched tight with cold fury, and a chill leaked from her bone-white skin. Frost coated the railing of the escalator beneath her hand and three frozen tears tracked slowly down her cheeks. Big Sis was pissed, and I was just glad that for once it didn’t seem to be at me.

I scooted out of the way just to be on the safe side.

“I think you‘ve been a pain in my family‘s collective asses long enough.” Serena announced into the vastness.  Only the rhythmic trickle of water rushing forth from her kept her voice from echoing like a bell.  Like a death knell.  “And no one gets to kill my baby brother except me.”

Now that was just unnecessary. I frowned. “Okay, see, stuff like this is exactly the reason Megan’s my favorite sister.”

They ignored me in favor of making angry eyes at each other. Serena started slowly down the escalator. One frozen tear dripped free of her cheek and fell into the water puddled at her feet, freezing it over in an instant. It spread forth from there in a river of blue-white light, rattling like dancing ice cubes. Unlike the glaciers they resembled, there was nothing slow moving about either her anger or her magic. The ice coated the escalator in seconds and raced towards Paul.

He swore and leapt higher into the air, twisting, shimmering until he was nothing but fog and mist. Pale smoke riding the wind. Serena smiled, showing teeth, and raising a hand to her cheek collected a second frozen tear on her fingertip. She flicked it at the rising fog and Paul crashed into a near table, all tangled limbs and solid, weighty flesh. He jumped upright but the ice reached him before he could take a step.  It locked him in place and kept climbing slowly up his legs.

“Bitch -” he snarled as Serena reached him. She silenced him, pinching his lips together between her fingers. His eyes bulged, furious, but the ice had reached his arms by then and locked them at his sides.

Paul tried to shout something between smashed together lips, but Serena just reached her finger to her cheek again and collected her last tear, placing it on the tip of his nose.

“No more talking now,” she whispered. His eyes widened but too late. The ice rushed over his face and down his chest, pale blue forks of frost burrowing deep beneath his skin and replacing his veins. In moments he was completely translucent. Not just covered in ice, but flesh become ice. Serena pushed gently and he toppled over backwards, shattering with a sharp screech like a single, stunted scream.

*******

We made it as far as the escalator before a song hit us full in the chest, knocking us both on our asses and sliding back along the floor.

“Murderer!” David shouted at Serena.  He whistled two sharp, high notes, and she raised her hands to her head, screaming in agony.  Whatever he did to her passed, and she glared at him through dripping eyes.

“Pot, meet kettle,” she coughed and brushed a finger across her face.  She flicked the moisture she found there at him and he stumbled back, hollering as her tears raised red burn marks across his skin.  They burrowed into his flesh, worming their way down to blood and bone.  David sang a song of agony and rage, and the ground erupted beneath Serena, plunging her into a hole that gaped open like a ready grave.

He turned towards me with red-rimmed and hate-filled eyes, spitting out sharp, staccato notes that hammered into the wall behind me, punching holes into the plaster.  One note caught me in the shoulder and I spun, thrown backwards by the impact.

“You people,” he rasped, standing over me and placing a hand above my chest, “have caused my family nothing but grief.”

David started humming and I gasped as I felt his magic wash over me.  His music matched the rhythm of my heartbeat, and then he twisted his song.  My heartbeat followed the lead of his music, angrily accelerating at a supernaturally rapid pace.  My heart rate tripled in seconds.  I grabbed frantically at my chest.  It felt like it was going to explode.  Was this what a heart attack felt like?  Or was this something else altogether?

******

I was eight.  Katie nine, Rowan eleven.  We were in the 7-11 nearest our house, which meant a three mile hike, basically.  Which also meant we were entirely justified in any trouble we got up to there as a result.  We’d earned it, after all.  

So Katie and I prowled the aisles of the empty convenience mart, snickering as we grabbed every bag of candy and oddly flavored soda that caught our eyes.  Rowan dutifully added them to his already overloaded hand basket, laughing himself each time a new addition made the mountain of junk food spill over the sides and onto the floor.  We scrambled to gather it all up off of the stained linoleum tiles and piled it in the basket.  And then Rowan would struggle to pick it up again, usually with a violent heave that made it all spill back to the floor.  We made a big production of it.  We had time to kill.

The lone clerk watched us with bored, jaded eyes.  He was red haired under the cheap visor they all wore here, and skinny and pale beneath even cheaper fluorescent lights that buzzed and flickered sporadically.  Freckles, acne and a sour disposition marred his face.  Peach colored fuzz that could use some grooming spotted his chin and his uniform shirt was wrinkled and dirty.  If ever there was a kid who hated his job more, I’d yet to meet them.  Judging from his frown, he definitely knew us.  But then, it was a small town in North Carolina, and our family had something of a reputation.  Everyone knew us.  

Restless fingers fidgeted with the scanner – probably itching for a cigarette, if his teeth were any indication, yuck - and every so often he would look up like he was about to say something.  Maybe yell at us to get out.  He definitely knew we were going to make his otherwise peaceful shift difficult.  He just hadn’t figured out how yet, or how to prevent it.

I almost felt bad for him.  But then, I was a total shit back then, so the feeling passed and I added some more M&M’s to the basket.

By the time we got up to the register, our basket was so full I had to help Rowan get it up on the counter.  The bell over the door tinkled as three more customers piled into the store and headed straight for the beer, talking loudly at each other and giving each other obnoxious shoves on the way.  The clerk sighed.  Rowan grinned.  Katie smothered giggles behind her hands.

It took several minutes to scan everything in our basket, and by the time the clerk gave us our total of fifty some odd dollars and change, the three men were waiting in line behind us and two more customers were wandering the aisles.  

“You sure you can pay for all of this, kid?”  The clerk asked.

Rowan made a show of digging around in his pockets, and nodded.  He looked up with an apologetic smile, his face as angelic as I’d ever seen it.  He was still capable of seeming innocent back then.  I attributed it to the baby fat still lining his cheeks.  “I only have change.  Is that okay?”

The clerk looked like he’d just swallowed a lemon.  “I’ve got other customers waiting, and I don’t have time for games, kid.”

Rowan bit his lip and seemed to give this some thought.  “Can I give you what I have and anything else you can just put back?”

He sighed.  “Hurry it up, then.”

“Cool,” Rowan said and pulled two big handfuls of change out of his pockets.  Dumping them on the counter, he started to count them out.  Slowly.  It was mostly nickels and dimes.  The customers behind us started to stir restlessly.

“Here, let me help you,” the clerk said, and tried to reach for the coins scattered all across the glass counter.

“Hey, I can do it!  I’m in fifth grade you know.”  My brother glared.

“I didn’t mean that you couldn’t.”  The kid behind the counter knew better than to lose his patience with any customer, even a little punk like my brother.  Especially with the two women who’d been browsing the store now standing in line as well and smiling indulgently at that same little punk.  Rowan knew how to run a con even before middle school.  He might be a dickhead, but he was as precocious as all of us, in his own way.

It took about five minutes to count all the change on the counter, and it came to a little over eleven dollars.  The clerk moved to take some of the candy off the total, but Rowan stopped him, digging around in his pockets again.

“Wait!  I think I have some more.”  He pulled another two handfuls from his pockets and dropped them on the counter.  This time there were almost twice as many coins.

The clerk stared, confused.  I could see him trying to figure out how my brother had all that change in his pockets.  There was no way he’d been walking around with twenty to thirty dollars in pocket change weighing him down just a few minutes ago.  Katie squeaked behind her hands and shook with silent laughter.  Rowan just beamed and resumed counting.

“Hey, aren’t you in my sister Serena’s class?”  He asked the clerk, seeming distracted by his math.

“What?”  The clerk was busy eyeing the men behind us nervously.  I took a peek behind us at them, and one of them scowled down at me beneath a thick salt and pepper mustache and squinting red eyes.  He wasn’t happy.  I smiled politely.

“My sister,” Rowan said.  “Serena Cunningham?  I think you’re in her class at school.”  He pulled another handful of change from his pocket and started counting it out.  All pennies this time.

“Yeah, I know Serena.  How much more change do you have, kid?  I really need to get to my other customers.”

“I don’t know.” Rowan gave him a withering look.  “That’s why I’m counting.  And I’m not ‘kid.’  I have a name.”

“Sorry, ki-“, the clerk started to say impatiently, before he caught himself.  He tried to smile in apology at the customers behind us, but they weren’t having it and he wasn’t as practiced at it as Rowan.

“And you shouldn’t call my sister a slut,” Rowan continued.  He was still intent on his counting, but when Katie and I looked at him, startled, we could see he wasn’t keeping his head down for any great attempt at concentration.  He was just trying to hide the smirk that played across his lips.

“What?”

“My sister, Serena?  You shouldn’t call her a slut.  It’s not a nice word,” my brother said.  He was the very picture of innocence.

The clerk swallowed, really nervous now.  His eyes darted around, but he found no support from the customers behind us.  Particularly not from the two women who were by now listening intently.

“I didn’t,” he started to protest, but Rowan cut him off.

“Oh.  That’s too bad.  Because my brothers think you did, and they’re kinda pissed.  You know my brothers right?  Trent and Dennis?  Trent’s on the football team.”

“Yeah, I know them,” the clerk said weakly.  His face was looking considerably paler now.  I wasn’t totally sure what was going on anymore, but I had picked up enough at this point to take some pleasure in that.  

“Serena doesn’t know you said that yet, though, so that’s lucky,” Rowan continued.  He pulled out some more change.  “Because she’s a lot worse to piss off than my brothers.  Trust me.  When she gets mad, oh man.  Look out, you know?”

The clerk swallowed.  His head bobbed up and down.

“Look,” he said.  “I’ve really got to get to my other customers.  How about I just take care of the rest of this stuff for you?  It’s on the house.”

“Really?  Are you sure?  I think I have enough change for the rest, still.”

“No, it’s cool, I’ve got it.”  He hurriedly piled our spoils of war into a few plastic bags and shoved them across the counter at us.  “And tell your sister that whatever she hears about Jimmy, from trig class?  Tell her he’s really sorry and he just was really drunk at that party and said some stupid shit – stuff, I mean, he just said some stupid things.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Rowan said, sounding a little doubtful as the three of us pulled the bags off the counter.  They were so heavy they almost dropped straight to the floor, but we managed.  “I don’t know if it’ll help though.  She doesn’t always listen to me, you know.  She thinks I’m just a kid.”

Weighed down by our bags, we tottered out the door.  One of the women from line had to help us with it and she beamed down at Rowan.

“Thank you ma’am,” he said politely.  The door chimed overhead and we made our way outside into the sweltering spring humidity.  Heat danced off the pavement, twisting the air in warped, waving ribbons.  I could still smell the smoke from the clerk’s last cigarette break and I looked back into the store.  He was staring after us while ringing up the next guy.

“Rowan, what’s a slut?”  I asked.  We crossed the street to the small shaded park on the next block.

“It’s a bad word nobody’s ever allowed to say about our sisters.  Got it?”

I nodded vigorously.  Katie looked thoughtful.  Then she clapped her hands and started to skip.  The sound of her handclap echoed back to the convenience store’s parking lot and a sudden boom erupted in the middle of the three or four cars there.  Two different car alarms started blaring in opposition to each other, off tempo and allowing no reprieve from their wails.  Still weighed down by our bags, we ran off through the park, laughing as customers piled out of the store to see what had happened.

It took us three hours to eat all that candy.  We were up puking most of the night.  Totally worth it.

*******

“Micah!  Katie!  Get back here!”

We laughed and ignored Serena, continuing our wild spins across the hallway.  Our sneakers squeaked across the stained white floor, probably accounting for a good half of the short black streaks that marred its surface.  Then we lost our balance and crashed together.  We fell in a tangled heap against the water fountain, but this only made us laugh harder.  And Serena more pissed.

“Seriously you two, enough!  We’re in a hospital,” she hissed.  Uncomfortable green chairs lined the hallway, but just because she was sitting in one reading her stupid magazine didn’t mean we had to.  Reading was boring.  Spinning was fun.  It seemed self-explanatory to me, but she reached down and grabbed me by the arm anyways, pulling me to my feet and steering me into the seat next to her.

“But why?”  I said.  I moaned and kicked my feet.  “We’re not sick.”

“Yeah,” Katie chimed, dancing out of reach of Serena’s grasping talons.  Her fingernails were long and pointy and they hurt.  “We never get sick.”

“Katie, sit!”  Serena snapped her fingers and got that dangerous look in her eyes.  Katie sulked but plopped next to me. ��You could only push Serena so far, after all.  “And you had your chance to go home with Trent.  You’re the ones who wanted to wait here until Mom got off work, well here we are.  Running around and acting like baboons while people are trying to get better wasn’t part of the deal.”

I rolled my eyes and slid down my seat like a snake.  Her arm lashed out like an even faster one and pinned me in place before I could squirm all the way to the floor.  “No, we wanted ice cream,” I clarified.  “Mom said we could have some when she got done working.”

Which nobody told me would take hours.  I felt lied to.

“Yeah, I changed my mind,” Katie said.  “Can we go home now?”

“No, we cannot go home now.  Trent has the car and I’m not ferrying you brats home in Mom’s just to turn around and have to come back and pick her up.  Now stay put, zip it, and stop pissing me off.”

She gave us a stern glare and whipped her magazine back up in front of her face.  Katie and I eyed each other.  Rowan would say she was being a B-I-T-C-H, and I mouthed as much to my sister.  She giggled, and Serena snapped.  “Watch it, Micah!”

I sat bolt upright and wiped the guilt off my face as best I could.  “I didn’t say anything!”

“Learn to be less predictable, baby brother.  And stop hanging around Rowan so much.  He’s a bad influence.”

She flipped a page and dismissed us.  I crossed my arms and joined Katie in sulking.  This sucked.  There was nothing to do.  Serena sucked.  She wouldn’t even let us get candy from the candy machine.

“Can I have money for the candy machine?”  I tried again anyways.

“No.”

“Then can I just use my magic – “

“No.”

“No, no, no, no, no,” started echoing up and down the length of the hallway, bouncing from wall to floor to ceiling and back again like someone was dribbling a basketball while paying no attention to gravity.

“Katie!”  Serena slapped her magazine against her leg.  

“I didn’t do it!”

Our oldest sister shook her head and rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes.  “Mom really needs to start paying me for this.”

The automatic doors at the end of the hallway wheezed open..  A nurse in flower-decorated scrubs slowly wheeled an old man past us.  For several minutes, Katie and I passed a century’s worth of commiseration back and forth via athletic facial contortions.

Serena ignored us.  I nudged her leg with my knee.  “Rena.  Rena.  Rena!”

“What?!”

“Now can I have change for the candy machine?” I grinned up at her.  She groaned and threw her head back.  It banged into the picture right behind her on the wall.  Katie laughed and wiggled out of her seat onto the ground.

“Katie. Off.  The.  Floor.”

“Yeah Katie.  Somebody probably threw up on there.”

“Eww!”  She shrieked and jumped to her feet, blond hair swinging wildly as she scrubbed herself.  It hit me in the face.

“Eww, puke hair.”  I howled and shoved her away from me.

“That’s it!”  Serena stood and pointed down the hall.  “Both of you!  Go find Dennis and Alice.  You can be their problem now.”

I looked at Katie.  She looked at me.  This sounded too good to be true.  It had to be a trick.

“Where are they?” I asked cautiously.

“I don’t know.  Why don’t you go find out?”

I looked back at Katie.  She shrugged.

“Okay!”  We took off running down the hall.

“And don’t go in anyone’s room,” Serena hollered after us.  We made no promises.

Instead we slid around corners and chased each other down halls, ducking into doorways and behind water coolers and crash carts any time we crossed paths with hospital staff.  Even we knew better than to make Mom look bad at work.  Well, not intentionally anyways.

“Where are they?”  I complained at last.  Katie stopped and squinted, sparking a speculative gleam in one eye.  

She cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered.  “Oh Dennis…”

Then she cocked her head and listened as her echoes travelled through every room in the hospital.  He must have answered in some way only her magic could hear.  Either that or my sister was really good at holding one-sided conversations.

“We’re looking for you.  Where are you?”

“What’s he saying?” I hissed.  Katie waved her hand at me, concentrating.

“Come on,” she said at last, racing down the hall towards a pair of heavy double doors.  She smacked the metal plate on the wall that opened them automatically.  “Follow me!”

We sprinted down another hallway and through a side door and up a flight of stairs, taking them two at a time and shouting “echo, echo, echo” down the stairwell in our wake.  The hospital was a maze of corridors that all looked exactly alike, and there were way too many people to dodge, even at nine o’clock at night.  Wasn’t everyone supposed to be asleep by now?  The only reason we weren’t was because Mom was still working.  And we hadn’t gotten ice cream yet.

Even following the course Katie’s magic laid out, it took us a good ten minutes to find Dennis and Alice.  We plowed to a stop just outside the doorway of a room on the third floor.  The lights were off and our siblings were hovering around the bed of a sleeping man around Mom’s age.  Katie and I looked at each other, debating the wisdom of defying an Edict of Serena and venturing inside the room.  For now we settled on just peeking around the doorframe.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked.  Dennis jumped and Alice glared.

“Shh!”

Katie threw up her hands in exasperation.  “Why does everyone keep saying that?  It’s not like we’re in a library.”

“Katie, he’s sleeping.”  Alice squinched her eyes at us through her new square-rimmed glasses.  She looked like a total dork, but Mom said she couldn’t have contacts again until she learned to take care of them properly.  Dennis didn’t say anything.  Just looked nervous.

Clearly, something very interesting was afoot.  Interesting enough, I decided, to risk the Wrath of Serena.  I ventured a cautious step into the room.  No lightning rained down on me from above, and growing bold, I walked over to my brother and sister.  Katie shrugged and followed.

“Are you sure he’s sleeping?”  I asked doubtfully.  “He looks dead.”

“He’s not dead,” Alice said.  “And you two shouldn’t be up here anyways.  Go find Serena.”

“Ugh,” Katie moaned and stamped her foot.  “Serena said go find you.  You say go find Serena.  I’m tired of finding people.  I want to stay right here.”

She folded up and sat smack in the middle of the floor with crossed arms and a defiant stare.  The room was silent save for the occasional slow and steady beep of a heart monitor.

“Puke floor,” I whispered at last.

“Oh shut up, Micah!”

Alice sighed.  “Fine.  You can stay, but be quiet.  Dennis needs to concentrate.”

“Why does Dennis need to concentrate?”  Alice ignored me and turned back to one of her boring textbooks, sitting on a nightstand next to the guy’s bed.  She flipped pages with purpose.  I felt neglected, and turned to my brother.  “Why do you need to concentrate, Dennis?”

My older brother licked his lips and darted a quick glance at me.  I’d never seen him so nervous.  He opened his mouth but instead only shook his head and turned back to the sleeping man.  Who still looked dead to me.  

“He’s not dead, Micah,” Alice said when I declared as much.  She never looked up from her pages of gross looking pictures.  “He’s just in a coma.”

“Like the guy from Sleepless in Seattle?” Katie asked excitedly, perking up from her seat on the floor.  It was this old movie Serena had acted a scene from for drama class.  She’d watched it like, a thousand times to study it or whatever.  Katie was addicted to it.  

“No, not like the movies.  He has a rare blood disease.  Dennis is going to cure it.”

“Wow,” Katie breathed, eyes wide.

“Huh,” I said.  I grabbed the railing on one side of the bed and stood on my toes for a better look.  Dennis was on the other side of the bed, staring down at the man.  He looked like he was about to faint, like Rowan did that time he woke up face to face with the snake Cam put in his bed.  “You can do that, Dennis?”

“No.  No, I can’t.  This was a stupid idea,” my brother blurted suddenly.  He ran for the door.  Alice grabbed his arm as he passed.  “Get out of my way, Alice.”

“Dennis, wait,” she said.  “You can do this.  You came to me, remember?”

Dennis hesitated, shaking his head.  His messy black curls flopped over his forehead and hid his eyes.  Alice jabbed a finger into his chest.

“You said you could feel it.  You felt the badness in his blood, and you wanted to know what it was.”

“I could,” he whispered.  “I mean, I can.”

“Well then you can take it away!”  Alice gestured triumphantly.  “Look, its just like the pictures in my book.  This is what the diseased blood cells look like, and this is what they should look like.  You just have to use your magic, change the bad cells to healthy ones.”

“I can’t.  I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“Well duh, that’s because you’re a wimp.”  Our brainiac sister rolled her eyes.  “You have just as much magic as the rest of us do, you just need to stop being so scared to use it.”

“That’s easy for you to say!  Your magic can’t kill people.”

Alice reared back, insulted.  “My magic could so totally kill people.”

Feeling neglected again, I piped up.  “So could mine!”

Katie bobbed on the floor, raising her hand.  “Me too!”  She frowned and wrinkled her nose.  “Wait, why are we killing people?”

“We’re not,” Alice said severely.  “Nobody’s killing anybody.  That’s the point.  Dennis, you can do this.  You could totally save this guy’s life.”

I really had no idea what was going on, but when Dennis still hesitated, rocking back and forth on his feet uncertainly, I supplied additional incentive.  “And then we can get ice cream!”

“”Micah!”  My brother snapped.  “Just, be quiet okay?”

I huffed and flopped on the floor next to Katie.  She leaned over and patted my leg sympathetically.  “You know how everyone’s always like, Micah why can’t you be more helpful?” I griped at her.  “See?  This is why!”

She nodded, sharing my pain.

Dennis took a deep breath.  His hands flexed at his sides, clenching and unclenching.  “You really think I can do it?”

“Yes!” I shouted.

“Oh my gosh, just doooooooooo it,” Katie moaned, rolling on her side on the floor.  Both our older siblings whipped out their soon-to-be-shouting faces again, and she sat back up.  “Oh.  They weren’t talking to us.”

“Well, I don’t think we should talk to them either,” I said.  “How is your day, sister Katie?”

“Very boring, brother Micah.  How is yours?”

Dennis and Alice stared at us some more, but we pointedly ignored them.  That’s when you put extra effort into ignoring someone.  I know because Serena said she was doing it to me all the time.  Alice put her hand on Dennis’ arm.  “You’ve so got this.  Just let the magic guide you.”

Despite their extreme rudeness Katie and I both watched, fascinated, as Dennis took another deep breath and with a shaky nod walked back over to the bed.  He raised his hands over the not-dead guy’s chest and looked at them, turning them this way and that as though he didn’t know what to do with them.  Alice peeked out the door into the hallway and checked both ways.

“The coast is clear,” she said.

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” Katie muttered.  Alice shot her a quizzical look.  “Even though noooooooobody will tell me what’s going on, I made it sound like everyone is sleeping up here.  You guys are really loud.  That’s how much I love you.”

She sniffed.  Pointedly.  “Just so you know.”

Alice closed her eyes and Dennis laughed, looking up for just a second.

“Thanks Katie.  I love you too.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Come on, Dennis,” Alice said, walking back to stand next to him.  She squeezed his arm.  “You’ve got this.”

My brother curled his fingers one more time and then spread them wide.  A warm, ruddy glow started in his fingertips and spread until a wash of red light bathed the bed beneath his hands.  I’d only seen Dennis unleash his blood magic a couple times before.  Like Alice said, it wasn’t something he liked to use a lot.  But each of those times it’d been an angry, violent color.  Hungry, almost.  But this was different.  Comforting.  A wide grin broke across Dennis’ face.  Alice made small approving sounds.

Then a small tendril of darker red wiggled up from the bed, swimming across the pool of light like a worm or small snake weaving its way across a field.  Panic chased the elation from my brother’s expression and he snatched his hands back.

“Dennis, no!  You have to let it finish,” Alice shouted, but it was too late.  The light had vanished as though someone had flicked off a switch.  We all knew our brother well enough to know he wouldn’t be touching it again anytime soon.  The steady beeps of the heart monitor changed to an angry, insistent whine and Katie shrieked and clapped her hands over her ears.  The man on the bed started jerking like a puppet dragged clumsily across the floor, yanking on the wires and tubes that connected him to machines alongside the bed.  Alice frantically tried to hold him in place.  “Dennis, help me!”

But Dennis just backed further away from the bed, looking anywhere but it as he put as much distance between himself and the man as he could.  Then he ran out of room, his back up against the window along one wall.  He clutched at the curtains, knuckles white around fistfuls of fabric.

Footsteps pounded down the hall outside, accompanied by urgent shouting, and a small mob of people in blue and green scrubs and white coats started to pour into the room.  Mom was in the front, and she pulled up in shock when she saw the four of us, questions and horror rising simultaneously in her eyes as she took in the scene and leaped to her own conclusions.

“I was trying to help,” Dennis said in a small voice.  He looked terrified.  Alice looked guilty, but couldn’t seem to figure out if she should aim it at him or our mother.  She bent and grabbed Katie and I by the arms, dragging us to our feet and propelling us across the room towards Dennis.  We piled into him and back into the window.  It opened up into new dimensions and the room fell away as Alice led us into the reflection and away from the mess we had made.          

***** 

Cam launched himself at Trent with an animal, inarticulate cry, crashing into the bigger boy and knocking them both back into the glass coffee table.  It shattered under their combined weight and glittering shards sprayed everywhere.

“Cam!”  Megan shrieked.  She and Alice jumped off the couch.

“Both of you, cut it out!”  Dennis snapped, pushing off the wall.

They ignored him as shadows massed into a line of leering wolves and poured in a wave at Cam, knocking him off of Trent and onto his ass.  They clawed and bit at him and he cried out before arching his back.  His skin bubbled, and his panther tattoo fought its way free of the two dimensional confines of his flesh.  Growling as it grew to full size, it leapt at Trent.

“Dennis, do something!”  Alice yelled.

“What do you want me to do?  I could hurt them both!”  He yelled back, panicked.  He paced at the edge of the fight, hesitant to step in the middle of the chaos.  Trent rolled across the ground, struggling with Cam’s panther.  Its jaws were inches from his face, snapping furiously as he frantically held it at bay.  Shadows flowed up the lengths of his arms, wrapping them in gauntlets ,and absorbing some form of strength from them he threw the great cat across the room.  It slammed into the wall and flipped back to its feet before leaping back into the fray, this time aiming for the dark swirling dogpile Cam was buried beneath.

“Now is not the time for performance anxiety!  Do your slow the blood trick and put them to sleep.”

“I can’t,” Dennis insisted, shaking his head.  His unkempt black hair flew wildly.  “Serena, stop them!”

Serena was standing with eyes closed and fists clenched tight.  Tears streamed down her face.  The windows slammed open, rattling in their frames and a warm breeze flowed into the room.  I inched back along the walls as the air grew thick and heavy with humidity.  We were all sweating, I noticed.

“I am,” she said, icily calm.  

“Well that doesn’t sound good,” Alice whispered.  She grabbed her book and scrambled to the door.  Rowan beat her to it.

“Stop it, stop it, stop it!”  Katie screamed at our brothers, now wrestling on the floor.  Cam slammed a fist into Trent’s face, and his nose erupted in a spray of blood that spattered across the white carpet.

Katie’s magic kicked in and the echoes of her shout multiplied.  Rebounding from wall to wall, they increased in intensity each time until they were a single, continuous high pitched whine that clawed through our ears and made straight for our brains.  I fell to my knees, clutching at my temples.  Beside me, Dennis and Megan did the same.  Caught in the grip of their own magic, Cam, Trent and Serena were afforded some protection.  Then the ground started to shake.

The far side of the living room was lined with a wet bar, Dad’s pride and joy that he insisted would come in handy for all the parties he wanted to throw.  This was before he realized he’d fathered a litter of freaks, of course.  It’s hard to pretend you’ll still be inviting company over after your eldest two toddlers have spawned thunderstorms and armies of shadow goblins whenever they felt neglected by their parents.  Now the wet bar was rolling as if it were caught in the epicenter of an earthquake.  The faucets in the sink vibrated in fury.  I looked outside and saw thick fogs weaving their way through the windows.  Every glass surface in the room was streaked with condensation.

Then the fog poured in, a single, rolling wave and it wasn’t fog anymore - it was a literal wave of crashing water that slammed into our midst.  The first crush hit Cam and Trent directly, but we all got caught in the backwash.  All save Serena, who stood calm and composed and utterly unaffected as the raging waters whirled through the room, hurtling us against the walls.  

The wave subsided as swiftly as it had been summoned, escaping down the hallways and probably out the side doors.  We all coughed and sputtered, spitting out mouthfuls of water as we dragged ourselves, sopping wet, off the floor.

“Damn, Rena.”  Rowan’s voice floated from above.  He and Alice were crouched at the top of the stairs in the foyer.  They peered down the length of the hall through the doorway.  

“Seriously,” Megan said, scowling and stomping her feet through puddles.  “Overkill much?”

Serena shrugged, unfazed.  “It’s not quite what I was going for, but can’t argue with results.  I trust I made my point?”

That last was directed at Trent and Cam.  They both grimaced at her and glared at each other, but the effect was somewhat lessened by the fact that they looked like drowned rats.  

Trent opened his mouth, no doubt for some smartass rebuttal, but it never came.  Instead we all followed his gaze past Serena.

“Uh oh,” Megan muttered.  “Mom’s home.”

 She stood in the far doorway, still in her hospital scrubs.  Her hair, streaked with gray, was pulled tightly into a bun and her mouth even more tightly in a frown.  Serena started to speak, looking guilty for the first time, but Mom just raised her hand.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she said.  I think we all winced at how tired she sounded.  It was always easier when she was angry.  Then we could muster righteous indignation at how parents just don’t understand us and all that.  But here, this, now….there was really no way to justify anything that had just happened.

[ll-again]

Peggy/Quinn for @tidalrace​ i have no idea what i am doing with these two but here goes

The perennial question:

"How does Eliot do this?" Quinn mutters to himself, scanning the interior of the small, country church.

The church is filled with bland, country people … mostly. There are at least three con artists sprinkled among the crowd.

Maybe four. Quinn can't be certain about the brunette standing next to Parker. She sure doesn't look like a grifter.

But… that's the point of grifters. Isn't it?

"Oh, there you are," Parker says shortly, waving him closer. "This is Peggy. Peggy, stay with…" trailing off, Parker squints at him, leaning in a bit too close.

"Quinn," Quinn says through gritted teeth.

"Yes, whatever." Parker waves a dismissive hand.

'Peggy' – because, really? Peggy? although, Quinn figures it fits the country setting pretty well – sticks out a hand, preempting his mounting rage with a beaming smile that leaves him a bit dazed. "Nice to meet you!" she chirps. "I think the service is about to start, should we take a seat?"

And before Quinn realizes what's going on, he's stuffed into a pew between Peggy and a lady who looks old enough to be Moses' contemporary. And just as a final kick to his nuts, Peggy's got the aisle seat and plenty of space to breathe, whereas Granny over here smells like old cheese and something Quinn really doesn't want to think about.

Fucking grifters.

But Quinn isn't dumb enough to want to get the wrong side of Leverage, Inc, no matter what anyone says. So he grits his teeth and stays put with nary a complaint.

"So," Peggy says under her breath, leaning in way too close for Quinn's comfort. She's more along the lines of 'cute' than the 'suave' he'd expect from a typical grifter, but he's sure she knows exactly what she's doing. "Are you, you know, like Alice?"

Quinn has no idea who 'Alice' is, but finally figures she means Parker when her eyes slide over to the blonde menace. "...Yeah?" he says.

Peggy's eyes light up, head bobbing excitedly, a bit like a happy chihuahua. "I won't tell anyone," she promises solemnly, hand pressed against his bicep.

Quinn can't really remember the last time someone's touched him like that. Just in a friendly way, without anything behind it. "Okay," he says after a beat, because she's clearly expecting something. "Thanks."

The reverend comes to the podium, and the time for talking is over. He's probably supposed to be paying attention to something – Parker's instructions had been pretty vague when she requested his assistance on this job – but Quinn finds himself captivated by the brunette at his side, doubly so when the singing starts. She's so charmingly awful that he doesn't even notice it when, halfway through "How Great Thou Art", the Deacon makes a break for it.

Peggy, on the other hand, is astoundingly swift on her feet, reaching out into the aisle and slamming her hymnal into the Deacon's face with enough force to knock him down. Eliot immediately leaps to the 'rescue' with his bumbling country bumpkin act that Quinn can't believe anyone actually falls for, all "oh wow, sir, you took quite a tumble, here let me help you" while he hauls the man away.

In the midst of the hubbub that follows, Peggy turns to him, still clutching her assault hymnal, and blusters, "Listen, I know you're probably really busy, saving the world and all, but, um, do you like cats?"

Quinn is generally indifferent to cats, but he still says, "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

He is, however, pulling Parker aside for a chat about this 'saving the world' misunderstanding.

Peggy beams at him again.

Later. Maybe.

Quinn smooths a hand over his hair and offers her an arm. "Who are you?" he has to ask. "You're not a con artist."

"Of course not!" Peggy sniffs, taking his arm and letting him lead her out of the tiny church. "I'm a caterer."

…

On the other side of the church, Hardison is typing one handed as he retrieves the funds the Deacon had embezzled. "You know," he says to Parker, "I still say we didn't need Peggy for this con, but dang, your girl got some moves."

Eliot flicks his hair out of his face, casually leaning against the door of the small antechamber, where he's temporarily stashed the Deacon. "And we really didn't need Quinn," he grumps, folding his arms over his chest.

Parker perches, cat-like, on the back of a pew, a tiny smile curving her lips as she watches the pair in question quit the church. "Oh, yes," she says. "We definitely did."

#leverage #peggy/quinn #a bit of ot3 because you know #brain reset prompts #the Parker Matchmaking Service is go #Parker is something of a menace but she means well I guess

[countessofsnark]

Snarky Recap - Thunderbirds Are  Go: ‘Rally Raid’

The One Where Lady P Flexes Her Petrol Head Muscles. Rawr.

Oh, a desert race. How exciting!

FAB One - more like Formula Fab One. VROOM VROOM. Also, dayum Penny, slaying it in pink as per usual. I bet if Gordon were here to see this, his hormones would shift into seventh gear ahahaha.

And looks like Parker is also sporting some pink accents in his suit. Team Barbie is go!

When Penelope asks a certain Mr Hunt what he thinks of FAB One’s race modifications.

‘I think this puffed up pink limo accelerates like a fridge and corners like a wheelbarrow. FAB One? You should call it Drab One.’

*cue Parker to have a little fit*

‘It’s Penelope, Your Ladyship, or Lady Creighton-Ward, if you prefer. But NEVER Treacle.’

OHHHH. I wonder how Gordon would respond to that nickname. Though I bet he has his own share of nicknames for Penny. You know, for that special me time he thinks his brothers don’t know about. *chuckle*

A tribute to Great-Aunt Sylvia! *SCREECHING*

Whether Parker and Penny like it or not, that professional loud mouth is going to help them win the race. 

Also Parker and Sherbert are still the cutest and most unlikely duo. 14/10 would hire them as their racing engineers.

Meanwhile, up on a hill nearby...

Your mission should you choose to accept it... is to steal that super advanced turbo computer and oh yeah while you’re at, cause as much chaos as possible. Like what else did we expect them to do, throw confetti and make daisy braids?

Sorry, damsels in distress. Space Trash is busy watching a race. He ain’t got no time for your situations.

The Chaos Crew catches up with their target and manage to neutralize it with a well timed shockwave bomb. Poor racing driver, she doesn’t deserve this.

John has plotted a brilliant shortcut but beating the BR2 takes a bit more power. Except, it appears to be in trouble and no longer alone out there in the desert. Penny finds that a little hard to believe. 

Parker: ‘Could be tourists?’ Yeah, right. TOURISTS. 

Penelope: Let’s go check it out.

Mr Hunt: LOL DO YOU WANT TO WIN THIS?

Like taking candy from a kid. Tsk.

Mr Hunt, when asked to pull over and help the BR2′s trapped driver: ‘I’m a racer, I win races.’

Parker: ‘And we’re International Rescue. And we rescue people.’

Getting the BR2′s driver out of the wreck will require a special kind of brutal force, seeing as the door is quite locked. 

Time for Big Alice to intervene.

Yep. That’s right. Big Alice is a crowbar. A very oversized crowbar. Ned Tedford has his Gladys, Parker has Alice. 

But even this impressive tool doesn’t do the trick because impact resistant glass. FAB One is about to go from race car to tow truck mode. All in a day’s work, that.

Once the driver is safely out of the wreck and diagnosed with an arm fracture, FAB One transforms into a big pink ambulance.

‘You’ll find that this pink monstrosity has some tricks under its bonnet. Prepare for flight mode.’

Eeeeeexcept these race wheels are a bit heavier than the regular wheels. No flight mode for you, Parker. 

Penny’s eagle eyes suddenly spot a familiar looking purple vehicle parked by what appears to be a petrol station of sorts.

Penny: ‘Parker, I believe this would be an ideal opportunity to stretch our legs.’

Parker: ‘Oh no thank you, M’Lady. I went before the race.’

That’s not what she meant, Parker. LOLOLOLOL. Oh the British and their euphemisms, eh.

Leaving a car unattended. ‘Don’t they know there are thieves about?’ Ehehehehe, I see what you did there.

Meanwhile, at the petrol station’s shop:

BYE, LOSERS.

Gawd I love it when Lady Penelope gets cocky. *fans Gordon Tracy*

That ‘Oh. Shit.’ feeling. 

FUSE TO THE RESCUE. Because you don’t rob the Chaos Crew and get away with it.

‘OHHH CANDY.’ *suddenly becomes aware of Havoc’s disapproving look* *is a good boy*

I’m in stitches, guys.

Chaos Crew don’t quit. Hence Lady P’s instructions to ‘take evasive action’. That’s code for ‘put the pedal to the metal.’

When Fuse drops shockwave capsules, Hunt instinctively gives directions to avoid the projectiles. Parker does not approve.

‘NO BACKSEAT DRIVING!’

Time for more desperate measures. Now THOSE are some headlights. Makes your xenon kit look like a flashlight that’s running out of juice.

A little detour of the train kind is called for.

Penelope: ‘I do love it when the trains run on time.’ Yeah, because that’s a rare phenomenon in most countries, eh.

FAB One and its passengers safely make it onto the train and into a tunnel, but the Chaos crew will simply be waiting for them at the other side. Desperate times call for even more desperate measures.

What would happen if we put this gizmo into FAB One’s engine? It would turn Fab One into a rocket. A pink rocket. 

‘And that’s exactly what we need right now. That and a hospital.’ Yes, because priorities.

Phew now that’s some speed! Except... 

Houston, we’ve got a problem.

Oh well, just a little gap, eh. What’s there to worry about when you’re literally driving a rocket on wheels ahahaha.

OH NO THEY DIDN’T.

Oh yes, they did.

*Dukes of Hazzard theme intensifies*

The Hood’s response to the news that their stolen turbo computer got stolen... by International Rescue... is kinda alarming. Poor fella. Are you... ok? *careful shoulder pat*

Oh, and in case we forgot, we have a race to win. Because that was absolutely not a theme this episode. *cough*

Xcuse me, passing, excuse me coming through, thank you.

But who cares about winning when you have a medical situation to tend to. Okay I’m shipping these two racing drivers, your argument is invalid. *squish*

Now this is something you wouldn’t find in the original series: it’s like a Penny and Parker mini series! With bonus!John as their personal sat nav. And yet there’s also a nice nod to TOS, what with the race theme. You can tell that the writers are feeling more comfortable exploring other paths. And this I approve of, hush.

#snarky recap #thunderbirds are go #rally raid #tag spoilers

[immortalpramheda]

Riverdale ‘Chapter Thirty-Four: Judgement Night’

And so we have come to the penultimate episode of the season, which promised answers and definitely delivered!

We left off the last episode with the Black Hood about to attack Cheryl. But who knew that she was Little Red Riding Hood/Robin Hood?? She managed to climb out the window, get her red hunting cape and archery set and showed no fear. I don’t know why I was even worried about her, she is more than capable of taking care of herself. She’s been learning how to defend herself, and now it’s paid off. She manages to shoot him in the shoulder, enough to wound him but not kill him.

After Fangs was shot there are riots throughout the streets. Of course, Hiram is responsible for it, for all of it actually. But that’s what he wants, he lives for drama that benefits him.

Reggie did not shoot Fangs. I didn’t think so, the angle wasn’t right. Someone else did, and Veronica is the one who figures it out. She finds Midge’s mother wandering the streets holding a gun. She shot Fangs, as revenge for the death of her daughter. Case solved.

Although not everyone seems to think so. The Serpents believe it was Reggie, they every reason to believe so, and they are hellbent on revenge.

Archie finds Reggie hiding out at Pop’s and wants to help him get somewhere safe. But then the Ghoulies turn up. Oh right, long time no see, I kind of forgot they existed. They lay siege to pops. Not again!! Pop does not need anymore problems, he just needs a break. They lock down the shop, and then Archie throws flaming bottles off the roof, which was a sight to behold.

They’re saved by the ‘Hot Riverdale Dads’, as Kevin says. Sherif Keller, Fred Andrews and FP Jones. Even through Sheriff Keller was fired, he still has his police car and a shotgun. They save the day, which I have to admit was pretty awesome!

Hiram is not pleased about that, his whole plan was to to stir up some drama. He is the one who contacted the Ghoulies and asked them to show. Plus, he told Reggie and co to mob Fangs as he was released. He caused all of this. Every single thing.

Hermione is offering a reward to find the Black Hood, one million dollars. Veronica thinks that it’s the money she got from the St Clair’s, and she is not happy about that. So she rummages through her fathers office, and finds something interesting. Photos of her mother and Fred’s affair. Hiram is going to leak an article about it, to ruin his campaign. And Hermione is well aware and on board. Okay… but those photos make it seem like it was very mutual, they both look just as agility as each other so I am not sure if it will benefit Hermione?

Small Fry, the son of the late (or rather, murdered) Papa Poutine comes to the Lodge’s apartment, wanting revenge on Hiram by killing his loved ones. He breaks down the door, and Veronica and Hermione run off and lock themselves in the study. Luckily, Hermione manages to get a gun and shoots him in the chest multiple times, and it’s all over.

He also killed Andre, which is sad. Hermione and Veronica are not pleased, but Hiram cleans the mess up and, acting disturbingly cheerful, covers everything up. How can he feel no remorse about what almost happened to his family? More and more he is seeming like a psychopath.

Betty discovers that her father was admitted to the ER, basically confirming that he probably is the person that Cheryl shot. But when she gets there, her father is nowhere to be seen, and a doctor is in his bed who has been murdered.

It’s all but confirmed now, but I’m glad we got a bit of backstory, a bit of a motive as to why he is doing all this. Betty comes home to find her father, and her very calm mother, settling in to watch some home movies chosen by Hal.

They are shown a video of a very young Hal, being told by his mother to manipulate the ‘Conway boy’, aka Mr Svenson, aka the fake Black Hood, to lie about who killed his family. He has to do this to protect his father, who was the real killer, the real Riverdale Reaper. He became the Black Hood because he believed that sinners needed to die.

And in another twist, it turns out Great Grandpappy Cooper was not killed by his brother, who was a Blossom, he was actually the killer. He became a Cooper to hide his true identity. Hal has a darkness inside of him, just like this father. And it has also been passed down to Betty. He reveals that he is the Black Hood.

Finally, we know the truth, and it makes sense with what we’ve been told previously. Although I think it was a bit underwhelming, as Betty has been suspecting him for a few episodes now, but it made sense and was a satisfying answer. Plus, he’s not the only Black Hood, because he wasn’t the shooter at the debate. There is still more to this story.

He’s gotten Alice to record their whole conversation, because he’s planning to kill them all. Murder suicide, so none of them would have to live with the ramifications of what he’s done. But Alice tells it like it is and I’d just like to give her a round of applause! She says he’s a lousy serial killer and can’t do anything right. And, the most burn of all, that FP is more of a man than he ever was. Alice Cooper everybody, the real MVP, the queen of belittling Hal! That gives Betty a chance to knock him out and he’s arrested.

While all this going on, Archie is attacked by the Black Hood at his home. Fred comes to his rescue, and is shot again. But thankfully this time, he’s wearing a bullet proof vest thanks to his ‘Hot Dad friend’ Sheriff Keller. And of course, in true Archie style, he runs after the Black Hood, but he’s already gone. Seriously, Archie has to chase after someone on every single episode it seems. So, that couldn’t have been Hal, which means that there is someone else.

I didn’t think we’d seen the last of Penny Peabody, surely there would be consequences of what Jughead did to her. She’s teamed up with the Ghoulies, and she’s taken Toni hostage. Jughead enlists Cheryl and her archery set to set her free. And then Penny gives Jughead a choice, either peacefully give up the Southside to her and her Ghoulies, or battle it out with them.

To make things even worse for the Serpents, Fang’s didn’t make it, which is really sad. That riles everyone up and everyone is behind FP to battle it out with the Ghoulies.

Jughead is not pleased with any of this, and he knows that Hiram is responsible for everything. That’s why he’s bought everything in Riverdale and has almost taken over the town. But there is one key thing he does not have, the Serpents. He needs them out of the picture to complete his takeover. Jughead knows that the Serpents don’t stand a chance against the Ghoulies, so he makes a deal with Hiram. Instead of all the Serpents against the Ghoulies, he’ll hand himself over. He will give his life to protect the lives of his loved ones.

He calls Betty and says goodbye, and then goes to Penny, and hands himself over. He lets them do whatever they want, with the knowledge that he has stopped a war from happening. They beat him, possibly to death, and I could not watch. It was to brutal, too painful.

Riverdale is going to be different once they’re done with him. Hiram will have gotten what he wanted and taken over over all of Riverdale. But Jughead’s family and friends will be safe and that’s all that mattered to him.

By the time FP figures out what his son has done, it’s too late. He finds his bloodied and mutilated body (Penny cut out his serpent tattoo just like he did to hers) and carries him out, to the horror of Betty and everyone else.

That ending horrified me. I don’t believe the Jughead is dead. He is the narrator of the show, he is the heart of it, he can’t die. Surely he’s not dead.

It was confirmed that Hal is the Black Hood, well one of them at least, which as I said I’m fine with. It all adds up, at least it didn’t come out of nowhere. But who could the other Black Hood be? At this point, it could be his twin. We do know that twins run in the Blossom family, but I really hope that is not the case. Another secret twin would be pretty lame. Or, considering all the shit Hiram has done, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s him, or if he hired someone to be the second Black Hood. After all, he has been ordering everyone around in this town, and we know how much he wants to tear down Fred.

Overall, this episode was amazing!! Cheryl was the highlight for me, her hunting cape was amazing! And Jughead’s sacrifice broke my heart, and although I’m 99% sure he’s alive, he is still going to be very traumatised by the ordeal he went though. Looking forward to see everything come together in the finale!

#riverdale #chapter thirty four #judgement night #archie andrews #betty cooper #veronica lodge #jughead jones #cheryl blossom #alice cooper #fp jones #hal cooper #black hood #riverdale spoilers #riverdale recap #fangs fogarty #hiram lodge #serpents

[nanyoky]

hey gang guess who’s sick in bed and therefore not drinking but is definitely getting Fever Weird which is the next best thing really

No it’s not i’m sick as a dog and fucking miserable and probably not going to be as much fun as usual, full disclosure. Instead of sushi and cider like my usual wednesdays, i’m having tang and saltines so.... cheers.

also i want you all to know there were no working links so i had to wait for the official cw stream to go up like a pauper come on team it’s 2018 we’re better than this

mayor mac and the lodges are still in cahoots and now v knows why but you know who doesn’t yet? ME THAT’S WHO

oh wow so that’s penelope’s deal now

this is- in a darkly hilarious way- the photo negative of season one keller boys “no cruising guys today kiddo” “good GAWD dad”. “i may be a widow but i can still fucking PULL” “good GAWD mom”

i should not be laughing but oh my god CHERYL’S FACE jesus h christ

it’s veronica’s job to keep next gen riverdale chill “when the news breaks” ruh-roh

did archie say he’s going to start a band “of redheads”? so just- him on guitar and cheryl screaming into the mic like a kraken? that’s the only possibility i can envision

“are you upset?” “upset? ronnie, i’m crazy about you” that is a suburban white mom level of non-answer, archie- stop hanging out with alice cooper

RED ALERT KEVIN READS CLIVE BARKER NOVELS AND MY LOVE FOR HIM GROWS EVEN MORE

awkward betty and archie eye contact is almost as obvious as veronica’s stilted forced “we should probably all stay calm....” to the room at large

((the saltines went over pretty well so i think i’mma try some chicken nuggest pray for me team))

“my home is a dickensian nightmare- i won’t have my school turn into one too!” there is just... so much here. short version: cheryl’s origin story is that of the classic highschool bully: not in control of her home life, so enacts violent control over her school. in this way she has not changed. also jesus christ she’s so fucking dramatic i love her like this is in any way her problem but she’s automatically FURIOUS about it. but also just: wow cheryl hates poor people.

“of course. we’re fine.” kevin’s skeptical face (tm) is mint. top shelf. the good shit.

“jones- this is very lovecraftian, which i’m sure was the intention.” toni has jughead Figured Out, and i’m not sure he’s comfortable with that. 

*jake peralta voice* toni- first off your insinuating voice is way too high you sound like meryl streep in mama mia

oh my god sweetpea and fangs are just so dumb. so pretty and so dumb. just because you two wear leather jackets and flannel doesn’t mean you’re not dumb jocks. i’m calling it: sweetpea/reggie. can you imagine the angry makeouts???? so much angry repressed sexuality.

toni’s face of “oh god why are you morons celebrating” is some of the best we’ve seen of her so far my hopes are high for next gen serpent characterization with this plotline

WHAT DOES HIRAM NEED ALL THIS LAND FOR?!?!?!?!?!

POLLY MY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh wow yeah actress must have gotten a better gig or something and is only available for a cameo or two if a show as drama loving as RIVERDALE is keeping the birth of twins offscreen

THE LEADERS OF THE FARM?????? NO. NO. UNACCEPTABLE.

“juniper and dagwood” *betty face*

also yes polly you are in a cult get your babies and LEAVE. go hang out with smithers and joaquin whom i command are safe and happy and healthy wherever they are

“that’s mine by the way” FUCKIN COLD.

FINALLY someone other than the sheriff’s office is getting involved in how fucking SHADY this “small” town is

“is this even legal, what you’re asking me to do?” SMART, REASONABLE ARCHIE IS HERE TO STAY I LOVE SMART, REASONABLE ARCHIE WHO HAS LEARNED NOT TO JUST ACCEPT EVERYTHING ADULTS TELL HIM AT FACE VALUE

oh nevermind one seed of doubt and he’s back. poor boy. sweet boy. dumb boy.

oh nooooo freddddd

fp in his adorkable pop’s uniform smugly nudging about betty is a great moment everyone deserves an in-law that loves them like fp loves betty

please tell me “doctor beeker” is their actual science teacher’s name

we all know that finding the lost cooper brother is going to do ANYTHING but make alice a happier, more stable person right this is not going to end well

i mean even if he wasn’t a minor and using him to get information from a dangerous criminal was a profoundly shitty thing to do, the fbi could have picked literally anyone in town that would have been a better double agent because this is.... not a subtle conversation.

GREAT SONG CHOICE FOR THE SERPENTS’ INTRO TO RHS ((my mom had a tape with this song on it that she’d play to get me pumped for kindergarten))

okay i’m only going to say this once and then probably once more in the scorecard but: how much better would this mixed school plot have been if JOAQUIN WAS STILL IN TOWN?!?!?! the joy and comedy if he and kevin got back together?? the ANGST IF THEY DIDN’T?!?!?!?!?! i am CHEATED. LAID LOW. BITCHSLAPPED.

THAT BEING SAID: this is so good already. serpents swaggering in. veronica’s stepford forced cheer. cheryl and reggie STRUTTING to create conflict.

toni’s face upon gazing at cheryl once more is just so very gay. angry gay. furious that she has to see those mile long legs again.

“no one invited facist barbie to the party” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "ragamuffins” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh archie. so pure. so ineffective. as always.

did jughead just sidehug sweetpea away from conflict are they there now

i haven’t been paying enough attention to outfits so far but the placement of cheryl’s iconic spider broach not over her heart like a normal broach, but ON HER SHOULDER LIKE IT’S CRAWLING was a topnotch choice by wardrobe

again this is some classic response to sexual assault in the category of “well that’s unfortunate” until it’s about someone close to you come on archie you’re better than this.

which of course reinforces cheryl’s “me against the world” attitude because NO ONE SEEMS TO FUCKING CARE that she was attacked except veronica and the cats

“of the park avenue lodges” juggie. not helping. although i’d like to think jughead has mentioned veronica enough that toni knows this is just mild teasing between unlikely friends

josie’s awkward “now just... josie...” BROKE MY HEART

“joaquin and i used to hang out. talked about you all the time” OF COURSE HE FUCKING DID THAT POOR BOY WAS *ELIZA SCHUYLER VOICE* HELPLLLLLEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS. also i’m so happy joaquin has FRIENDS that hopefully still keep in touch please just someone check on him i miss my gay biker leo

godfuckingdammit reggie

“no more serpent jackets” okay- okay- i really need to ask the writers to go to a real high school just once. once. in what world would they have not made this a rule already???? i got in trouble in middleschool for wearing a bandana okay and i was a weird horse girl and LOOKED IT.

is josie hanging out with the core four+kevin because cheryl’s weirdness was scaring her off and the cats have cut all ties? has she lost her entire support network??? i’m worried about alpha kitty guys include her in stuff

jughead is #worked up and toni is having none of it thank god for toni

“i just need to borrow one of jason’s blazers” thank GOD they haven’t abandoned creepy ties between jason and archie. please someone share my half baked conspiracy theory that they were switched at birth and archie is the real blossom twin

juggie. i love you. i genuinely do. but you are being a prime fucking asshole right now. 

i was rolling my eyes so hard at jughead’s bullshit i almost missed sweetpea’s turtleneck which would have been a TRAGEDY

this separation between jughead’s attitude and the rest of the serpents is finally bringing to light what has bothered me about his plot this season so far. he’s so fucking desperate to fit into his role as the heir apparent to the gang but he doesn’t actually know shit about being in a gang and being in danger all the time. for all he grew up poor his has this really privileged attitude and i can’t wait for toni and co. to just tell him to sit down and shut up because believe it or not his actions have consequences

OH MY GOD VERONICA’S SOLUTION IS MAKEOVERS BECAUSE OF COURSE IT IS

i was going to say “what they didn’t call ahead???” but of course not. cooper women do not call ahead

i mean we all knew this wasn’t going to go well and i think a lot of us thought it might be a possibility but...... umm.... heavens.... golly.... that.... that uh... looks like.... ayoungblondskeetulrich. .....jinkies.

oh god why do we have two prostitution plotlines in one episode why why is this a thing in riverdale now

on a lighter note they are hitting into my nostalgia funny bone hard this ep with the game in the whyte wurm being mortal combat ii it’s been years since i’ve gazed on those pixilated icons of my childhood

fp giving you advice on doing the smart thing instead of your kneejerk reaction to a shit situation is a real lowpoint i hope you realize that juggie

again, as heavy as it is, i’m glad they don’t shy away from the dreaded “R” bomb with this nick plotline. like characters seem hesitant to say it in a realistic way, but they do use it which keeps it from feeling like the creators trying to write around controversy

i like that they’re acknowledging it’s pretty shitty of archie to not care until it’s about veronica it feels like brewing #character development

BAHAHAHA TONI AND SWEETPEA LOOK ADORABLY HORRIBLE THIS PLOTLINE IS BLESSED

I mean don’t get me wrong, i love seeing nick get beat up as much as anyone else, but archie should have def talked to veronica before all that and she’s right to be upset

yess betty goin to rescue her bro and showing up in the suspiciously convenient nick of time i love it

archie being a good boy and clearing the air about the kiss before things get out of hand but also.... not mentioning the fbi agent after her dad is such a very riverdale thing to do

omg they’re making a d&d cover group i lied i’m bringing it up again HOW DARE THEY NOT HAVE JOAQUIN HERE FOR THIS WHEN HIS BOYFRIEND IS A CERTIFIED D&D NERD CAN YOU FUCKING IMAGINE THE BANTER

BLOSSOMS JESUS H CHRIST

god this poor lost cooper boy this is the most awkward situation ever because you know alice and hal are not going to handle this well and you know betty is going to try too hard to make it work and you know chic is probably involved in some stuff that will be Plot (tm) later on and this is just A Lot

archie.....

chic..... (we’re supposed to find this threatening, but psych, chic is noticing all the suspiciously different features they have almost like they might be half siblings instead of full siblings.....)

Episode Scorecard:

# of Sick Beat Drop Editing Sequences: None

Do I Still Miss Joaquin: Do i have to fucking elaborate YES okay goddammit someone better be working on a “joaquin never left” au to fit in with this serpents at rhs plot as we speak or i will be MOST CROSS.

Episode Hair MVP: Toni’s was looking particularly nice today

Episode Outfit MVP: sweetpea’s turtleneck. hands down. but with a close second being the placement of cheryl’s spider.

Episode Cast/Crew Shoutout: soundtrack was better than it has been this season- good choices there.

#nell liveblogs #long post #unsubtle highschool suburban gothic of my dreams #riverdale #riverdale season 2 #riverdale spoilers

[inky-animatronic]

BATIM General Headcanons for All Characters

Some general headcanons for all the characters. This will probably be updated every once in a while. I’m leaving out ages and appearances due to having a separate post for that.

Here is that post: http://regularpsycho13.tumblr.com/post/169404093757/batim-human-designs-headcanons

Sammy Lawrence:

- Sammy is a workaholic and is constantly working on his songs.

- He can be friendly once you get to know him.

- Can be happy and still be frowning.

- Cares about his friends and will stand up for someone if he has to.

- With all the distractions he has to deal with, he’s constantly getting headaches or migraines. Which make it harder to work.

- After a while of knowing each other, he and Susie got into a relationship. They were pretty happy and she saw his true self outside of work.

- He’s actually a pretty happy guy when he isn’t working and despite what people may think, is pretty fun too.

- In fact, when he drinks enough to get drunk he ends up being a funny drunk

- Sammy doesn’t actually hate Wally as much as people think he does. He just sees him as an annoying distraction. He doesn’t want him hurt or killed even. Hell, if something happens to him, he’ll go straight into a ‘big brother’ mode due to having a younger sister that’s roughly Wally’s age.

- His sister is 20-22 years old and is currently nameless. She has the same blue eyes as her brother but her hair is more blonde.

- He’s against smoking. Especially in the music department but anyone who does smoke never listens to him.

- He had a smallish mix breed dog that kept him company at home and was the light of his life before meeting Susie. Susie actually fell in love with his dog. And was always holding her when she was over. .

- When Sammy started having a sanctuary, it was at the same time that his mental health started to get bad due to the ink, pump, and other distractions. And he began to lose his mind. However, his memory stayed the same.  

- It’s possible that Joey was doing satanic things to him and making him hear voices a short time before he became a ink a monster. As a ink monster is where he was constantly hearing voices and screams in the ink and his head.

- After becoming a ink monster, his memory already started to get screwed up so he doesn’t quite understand why “Alice” is constantly yelling and attacking him. After being attacked so many times Sammy decided to just stay in the Music Department.

- Through his loneliness and quickly dwindling mental health and memory, he decided to pray to a ‘God’ to set him and the others free. At some point he decided Bendy was his Lord and began to worship him.  

- After so many years, the old Sammy officially died as he became too corrupted to care about others and began to sacrifice anyone he could. Anything to free him from that body.

Norman Polk:

- He’s the father figure of the group that everyone goes to. He’ll gladly listen and give advice.

- It’s a tie between him and Wally on who gives the best hugs.

- His family had a golden retriever and a fairly big fish tank.

- He smokes. And enjoys making Sammy hate it.

- Even though most of the employees find him creepy for ‘always watching and creeping around’, others still like and care about him.

- For the most part, he’s fine with his coworkers. It’s Joey that he doesn’t like but can’t quit the job.

- Loves the dark

- Dad jokes.

- As the Projectionist, he remembers having kids but their faces and bodies are blacked out with ink. He keeps a Boris plushie and a blanket with him in a room to make up for it.

- Unfortunately he also doesn’t remember his wife.

- Projectionist and Corrupted!Sammy are on okay terms and mutually decided to leave the other alone.

- He also can’t speak but can make clicking noises as the Projectionist and can hear perfectly.

- His lens can cry ink when he’s sad.

Wally Franks:

- Though he can legally drink, he’s still pretty childish and immature at times.

- Mostly everyone doesn’t mind. It’s nice having a ‘class clown’ so to speak.

- Except Sammy. He finds Wally annoying half the time and a big distraction.

- He had a beagle named Lucy.

- Before being killed by Joey in an attempt to become the ‘Perfect Boris’, Joey may have also done satanic things to him too. A few people noticed that he had suddenly became quiet and wasn’t his usual happy self. He even seemed afraid and jumpy.

- I like they theory that Wally is the perfect Boris and the reason he doesn’t talk is due to Joey threatening to beat him or rip his vocal cords out due to a mute Boris being better than one with the wrong voice.

- Due to being so scared already, Wally listened and remained silent. By the time he meets Henry, due to being 30 years later, he doesn’t remember him.

- Before Henry left, he and Wally were pretty close and Henry also saw him as a brother like Sammy did.

- After Henry left, he became best friends with Shawn who really made him happy again.

- He’s someone I will probably add more to later.

Susie Campbell:

- Usually she’s the sweetest person in the studio and is very friendly.

- But watch out when she’s angry or upset due to being pretty emotional and sensitive. Especially to certain things.

- Susie is wonderful to be around when she’s happy. She’ll also be there to help you with your lines and anything else.

- She had a cat and she and Sammy’s dog got along when Susie brought her over to see how they would act.

- After she and Norman went missing, her older sister helped Norman’s wife take care of their kids due to her being a housewife and not having a job. His wife was very thankful and their boys eventually became friends with her kids.  

- Her and Sammy always made great music together with her voice and his banjo. If he needed to test some songs, she was the one he asked to help.

- After finding out she was being replaced, she started to become unsure if Sammy still loved her and her voice. It got to the point that she started to distance herself from him.

- Not too long afterwards Joey killed her and Allison and kind of cut up their bodies and stitched different parts together since they were both Alice.  

- Susie is mostly in control of “Alice” with Allison being the other voice. She still holds hatred towards Sammy, thinking he betrayed her and her love. And constantly tried to attack and hurt him after he became a ink monster too.

- Him not remembering only angered her further.

- I’ll add more later for her.

Allison Pendle:

- She is actually a timid and shy person.

- Had no idea she was replacing Susie until she walked into the recording booth. She wanted to apologize and talk but Sammy told her to not bother, knowing how she gets when she’s upset and angry.

- And that she’ll likely make the situation worse.

- Meh. That’s it for now. We don’t know much about her other than she being Susie’s replacement.

Shawn Flynn:

- From ireland

- Is very friendly and bit of a flirt too.

- Laidback and chill

- Will give relationship advice

- He and Wally always joke with each other and even have inside jokes that no one can figure out.

- Actually, he and Wally are  best friends. Especially after Henry left. Shawn really cheered him up.

Grant Cohen:

- Is 10000% done with Joey and having to constantly make sure he doesn’t make the place go bankrupt. And struggling to keep the budget in line.

- Also not much to say about him, Shawn, and Thomas at the moment.

- Another smoker.

- He needs to when dealing with Joey.

Thomas Conner:

- Has a resting bitch face

- Might seem like a cold person but is actually pretty sweet and cares about his friends

- Joey is far from being his friend but he pays him so he sticks around.

- He smokes too.

- Literally everyone needs to smoke when dealing with Joey and his ideas.

Henry:

- Henry didn’t agree with most or all of Joey’s ideas but he knew there was no point in talking him out of it due to how stubborn Joey is.

- Joey overworked him and he rarely saw Linda anymore. Even just two weeks into the company which started in the early-mid 1930s.

- Boris was the first character they made before Henry made Bendy. After he left, Joey started to torture him so to speak and that’s why he was always getting scared and crying in the cartoons that we’ve seen so far.

- Henry may also be the one to be the ‘Perfect Bendy’ due to being the real creator.

- Was drafted during World War 2 and that was why he left.

- He was too traumatized from it that he stayed away from the studio until he received his letter from Joey. Though he did try and contact his old friends but found they had all disappeared.

- Linda is his wife and while they never had kids, they had cats and dogs. The dogs being mostly rescued mutts.They were a big comfort after Henry came back and was suffering from PTSD.

- After finding out his friends were missing they moved out of the city only to go back a little over 20 years later to their old home since Henry wasn’t suffering from PTSD as much anymore.

- When he got the letter, he thought it was a joke before finally deciding to go back to the old studio for good times sake.

Joey Drew:

- May of gotten Polio or some sort of decease at some point either before or after Henry left and that was what made him start looking into satanic things to make himself live forever and heal himself.

- He and Henry were best friends but he was angry at Henry before he left, not understanding that due to being drafted he didn’t have much choice. Plus Henry wanted to help his country.

- His anger and last conversation that they had was part of the reason Henry didn’t look for Joey right away and eventually found out that he ‘disappeared’

- He always changes the deadlines and pisses his employees off. Sammy is especially angry at this.

- Joey gradually started to do some satanic things and tested them out on a few employees. Sammy and Wally being two of them.

- Eventually he got one ink machine and when his employees came out as ink monsters, he got a second one to the disappointment of Grant, and this one made them come out almost (Alice and the Butcher Gang) or completely perfect (Perfect Boris)

- Sammy and Norman was forced into the first machine and got lucky to have a humanoid body.But Joey went a few extra steps more and forced a projector onto Norman’s head along with wires and a speaker.

- He used satanic stuff to keep his employees from leaving and killed them one by one (That’s at most 100 employees). Now the only way to truly escape is to destroy the second(main) ink machine.

- Joey is Ink!Bendy and wants revenge on Henry for never coming back.

#BATIM #Bendy and the Ink Machine #Headcanons #Joey Drew #BATIM Henry #Sammy Lawrence #Susie Campbell #Allison Pendle #Wally Franks #Shawn Flynn #Thomas Conner #Grant Cohen #Norman Polk