#( <- us saying these while we only watched the live action and been trapped in the EP3 anime adaptation for months )
Text
For Valhalla – Spencer Reid (smut)
Trying to pull myself out of my writing slump by writing history inspired stuff. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this, your comments keep us writers motivated! Enjoy my loves. xxx
Summary: Reader helps Spencer with understanding the medieval norse warrior mindset, which finally pushes the two friends closer together.
Warnings: 18+, smut, piv, spanking, dom!Spencer, some mirror action, friends to lovers, some history talk about medieval wars and fighting
Pairing: Spencer Reid x fem!historian!reader (2.3k words)
“Careful.” Her whispers filled the dimly lit training room, eyes concentrated on his nimble fingers. She watched Spencer tighten his grip on the hilt of her sword, knuckles almost white. “Widen your stance a bit.”
“Even wider?” Spencer’s eyes were burning holes into her skin, waiting for her next command. He wasn’t one for holding back, and could barely contain his information-dumping urges, but with her it was different. This was (y/n)’s field of expertise, the only one he could blindly trust with a situation this delicate.
“Can I touch you to show you how?” The two had known one another since their university days, sharing every break, and every meal with one another, until they had eventually shared an apartment for a while. Something had always buzzed between them, something both had been too scared to give in to back then.
Something that was still buzzing now, all these years later.
“Yes.” Their eyes met as Spencer spoke the word, leaving her to swallow heavily. (Y/n) was no stranger to Spencer’s struggles with being touched, and yet his willingness to be touched by her weighed heavier than either one of them liked to admit.
Slowly, (y/n) placed herself behind Spencer. With one hand placed on his right shoulder and the other on his waist, she gently kicked his feet apart. She felt him sink into the warrior stance, trying to make room for the mindset their current unsub was undoubtedly trapped in.
“Perfect,” (y/n) whispered. “Now I want you to close your eyes. If your unsub is thinking of himself as a Norðmaðr, a man from the North, or a Viking as others called them, he must protect his sword at every cost. Some believe a warrior could only enter Valhalla if they held onto their sword while dying. It’s an old lore we don’t have many sources on, but judging your unsub I’d say he is focused on things he saw in shows or games. Try to imagine yourself on a battlefield. It was loud, you’d hear cries, the sounds of horses, of swords and axes clashing. You’d smell blood, perhaps some rain depending on the month. Sweat would cling to you, and dirt, soil or mud.”
“That sounds like my nightmare.” Both broke out in chuckles as (y/n) let go of Spencer almost reluctantly. She watched him move, handling the sword like she had demonstrated for the past hour. He wasn’t nearly as graceful as she was, and yet he managed to copy her movements perfectly.
“What do you think he tries to live out with this?” Asking questions about his cases had always been a struggle, Spencer would either be very vague or simply tell (y/n) that he couldn’t share any information. But today it was different, today she was part of their team, at least for a few hours, as a historian, a consultant to try and help them find their unsub.
“Pent up anger, frustration, and yet he is trying to be honourable with his killings, he feels like a Viking after all.” A hum left her at his reply. This time (y/n) didn’t ask for permission as she stepped towards Spencer once again.
“Let’s try something.” She reached for the sword he was gripping. (Y/n) took her stance, making it seem all too effortlessly, “Stand behind me, place your hands on top of mine.”
It took Spencer a moment to snap into motion, he exhaled before he followed the command. Gently, he placed his warm hand on top of (y/n)’s, shooting shudders down her spine with the simple touch. An all too familiar electricity was binding the two closer together, wrapping itself around them as if it were some kind of invisible force managing to guide the two.
“It’s a simple movement, but it takes a lot of strength to make the sword move as effectively and quickly as this.” Spencer tried to focus on (y/n)’s words, but he couldn’t, too taken up by her unfamiliar closeness. His body was taken over by whatever he had tried to suppress these past years, forcing him even closer to her. “Spencer? Are you alright?”
No word left him as he tightened his grip on her hand. Spencer could almost hear her heart racing in her chest, pounding against her ribcage as if it was begging to be freed. And who was he to deny such a strong muscle such a strong wish?
His lips found the exposed spot where her shoulder met her neck, kissing it as if they had done this numerous times before. Both froze at the unfamiliar touch, giving the inferno starting to stretch itself through the two enough room to grow. She shuddered in his grasp, trying to stop herself from dropping the sword to turn around towards Spencer.
“Spence,” (y/n) choked on his nickname as he pressed another kiss to her soft skin. “What are you doing?”
“What I should have done years ago.” Perhaps it had taken some convincing from his friends, urging him to finally cross that invisible line between him and (y/n). And as much as Spencer had tried to ignore their pestering selves when it came to (y/n) and him, he hadn’t been able to drown them out completely, forced to accept his feelings for his friend.
(Y/n) pushed herself away from him, forcing Spencer to panic for a second. He watched her place the sword down, only to turn fully towards him. Their eyes held contact, wordlessly communicating with their hearts on their tongues and their adrenaline spiking.
Neither of them knew who moved first, but while their eyes held contact, their bodies crossed the small distance between them, letting their lips clash together. Their eyes fluttered close, hands holding onto one another while their lips moved in sync. They were eager, desperate to explore their newfound territory as if it was their only chance at doing this.
Their road to Valhalla, the last battle to fight before calmness could swap through them.
Spencer moved them backwards, pressing (y/n) against the wall as his tongue ran along her lower lip, begging for entrance. The kiss left the two drowning in their longings, forgetting how to breathe as they finally got to experience what they had been dreaming of. It felt surreal almost – if it weren’t for their racing hearts and their excitement flushing through them.
“Can I?” He mumbled his question against her lips, giving the two a moment to catch their breaths. Spencer’s fingers tugged on the fabric of her loose shirt, waiting for her consent before he got to explore her body. Ever since he had been forced to talk about his feelings to his team members, he had tried to picture this moment, praying that he wouldn’t mess this up, that his nervousness wouldn’t push him away from her. But now he felt awfully calm, set on touching her, on making her feel the same excitement he was held hostage by.
“Of course, Spence.” Their eyes met as he pulled the shirt over her head, sports bra following seconds later. (Y/n) felt exposed, fighting against the need to cover herself up as his twinkling eyes studied her soft skin, shooting her a gaze that made heat pool between her thighs.
Spencer was careful with his touches, cupping her breasts with his warm hands as his mouth found her throat. He kissed his way down to her chest as if he was mapping her body with his kisses, remembering every inch, every mark, forever ingrained into his racing mind. She was trembling against him, allowing her hands to move to his button up, needing to uncovering his body to distract herself from her nervousness.
“You’re so perfect, I should have done this before. I am sorry it took me this long.” His whispers left her gasping, arching against his hold as his mouth found her left breast, sucking on the hardening nipple.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you for that,” it was nothing but teasing, and yet the words got stuck in her throat as he let go of her, staring down at (y/n) with something dangerous twinkling in his eyes.
Spencer looked at her for a handful of seconds before he turned her around, allowing (y/n) to catch her reflection in the mirror he had pressed her against. Her pupils were dilated, she was heavily breathing, hair slightly tousled. But (y/n) didn’t get any time to speak up, to comment on what she was seeing.
His eyes found hers in the mirror as he pulled her sweatpants down her legs, letting his hand brush over her panties-clad behind. (Y/n) could only choke on her gasp as he raised his hand, letting it come down on her warm skin a second later. The sound of Spencer spanking her echoed through the room, followed by a soft moan clawing through (y/n).
“Let me promise you something, sweetheart,” Spencer murmured his words while his hand brushed over the spot he had just spanked. “I’ll fuck that attitude right out of your system.”
Another spank met her behind, and another, till her eyes fell shut and her sweaty palms struggled to stay pressed against the mirror. Arousal was dripping from her tightness, clinging to her inner thighs, telling Spencer everything he needed to know. She was just as desperate for him, begging to be finally fucked, pushed over the edge by the tall profiler who had always been her closest friend, the one she clung to, the one she dreamt of.
“I don’t have anything on me.” His words ripped her out of her hazy thoughts, having to blink a few times as she tried to find her words.
“I’m on the pill, and I’m clean.” (Y/n) watched his tongue dart out, licking along his lower lip as he pondered over her words. She knew Spencer got monthly tests, knew that she could blindly trust him, but knowing that she was about to feel him bare filled her with something raw simmering inside of her, something possessive almost. Only as the sound of Spencer undoing his trousers rang in her ears did she allow herself to close her eyes once again, having to collect herself. This was finally happening, something she had dreamt of, something she had never dared to even speak about.
“I want you to look at me while I fuck you.” His raspy voice buzzed through (y/n), forcing another moan out of her. They held eye contact as Spencer spat into his palm, lubed himself up, and finally pushed into her. A moan clawed through them in unison, needing a few moments to adjust before he began to fuck her from behind.
Spencer had a tight grip on her waist, set on leaving marks as he fucked her ruthlessly, hitting the spot that made her toes curl with every thrust. Both were a moaning mess, chasing their needs, the deep urges they finally got to live out, while studying one another through the mirror.
(Y/n) struggled to form words, struggled to comment on what she was seeing, fully entranced by the sight. She already looked thoroughly fucked out, close to giving in after only a few moments. But something was binding them together, a sensation so strong it felt as if they were fighting for Valhalla, fighting for entry into the afterlife they were oh so close to.
“Spencer,” (y/n) moaned his name, she tried to push herself further into his touch, needing to be even closer to the man who was about to push her orgasm through her aching body. “You feel so good, fuck, I never want to be fucked by somebody else.”
It was a sincere confession, words that left the profiler smirking in success. He leaned forward to press a kiss to her shoulder, letting his teeth graze her skin to leave another mark to remind (y/n) that she was now his, a part of his body and soul.
“As if I’d ever let you go again. No other man will ever get to touch you.” His words dripped with possessiveness, words that made her walls clench around his cock. (Y/n) couldn’t stop her eyes from fluttering close as his fingertips found her pulsing bundle, circling it with enough pressure to push her into her high.
She moaned for him as she came, unable to stop the sounds from leaving her while Spencer kept fucking her. Their bodies kept meeting, even faster than before, forcing (y/n) to realise that she’d struggle with walking for the next days. Only as Spencer pulled out of her to paint her aching behind white did she open her eyes again.
“That was,” she panted her words, not daring to move as Spencer kept smirking at her through the mirror. “Fuck, that was intense.”
“I love you.” The words clawed through Spencer as if he hadn’t given them much thought, speaking them all too effortlessly. (Y/n) froze for a second or two before she gave room to the soft chuckle desperate to leave her.
“I love you too, Spence.” Perhaps they were Valhalla-bound after all, set on living together in every life offered to them.
208 notes
·
View notes
Note
maybe the one piece is these one piece canned sparkling water that gives you one piece related dreams all along.
Maybe the One Piece is the friendships we made along the way.
#LUNARISDOG#///#//#/#𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ OOC . ›#𓁹 ༑ ࿐ྂ ⩇⩇ : ⩇⩇ ⚠︎ [ 𝙴𝚇𝙸(𝚂)𝚃 : 𝙶𝙾𝙳 ] * ‹ ANSWERS . ›#( <- us saying these while we only watched the live action and been trapped in the EP3 anime adaptation for months )#[ LKDJNKFBSDNLK;GSDLJBGNLSDM;GSDLGN ]
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
TADC: Thoughts on Jax in Episode 2
Thoughts on Jax after Amazing Digital Circus Episode 2 Dropped.
Massive spoilers below the cut. Just watch the ep before you read.
Amazing Digital Circus had an amazing second episode as we're introduced more to what the adventures are like, and what NPCs are like and ofc the existential horror of being a living AI only created for a source of entertainment.
Also, I love the dream sequence at the beginning, because we actually get some deeper insight into Pomni's thoughts on Ragatha. Feeling like her helpfulness is the guise of like "man, you're not cut out for this like the rest of us" which is typically something a lot of people who have been bullied in highschool perceive genuine acts of kindness and engagement. (which I kind of suspect Pomni might have been, or at least, been a shut-in and didn't have a lot of friends in her human life. )
Jax wasn't really the main focus of the episode, but it wasn't really until the end of the episode I understood his behavior and what this episode is foreshadowing overall.
Since while Jax isn't the focus emotionally, he is definitely the plot device to push things forward. And I mean, a plot device in a very active and quite literal way. He's the one that causes Pomni to clip out of the map, takes advantage of everyone and is just... genuinely an unpleasant person.
I actually really like this.
As, I know the first episode in the digital circus, many people (me included) could perceive or analyze Jax's actions as someone who is "helping" in a roundabout asshole way. Episode Two has none of that here. He just wants Bloodshed, And I love that we're getting additional context on his character.
It's hard to tell how much fan reception Gooseworx saw of episode one before episode two hit production, so I don't know how much of the fandom perception of Jax had an influence on the writing process, but I can't deny that might have been a factor in assuring us "no he's not secretly helpful, he's just an asshole" But I'm just going to assume that this has been part of his characterization from the start and it becomes way more clear as the episode goes on.
But there was something in his behavior throughout this whole episode that seemed off to me. Like Jax was taking up a majority of the B-plot, while Pomni had the A-plot. So I was wondering why Jax seemed to be the protagonist with the B-plot when Pomni was the A-plot when they seemed to be so disconnected with eachother in motivations and telling us things about the characters.
But then it hit me when the episode ended and the two plots merged together.
"who... knows... what could happen..."
And then it hit me.
Pomni finds comfort in an NPC who is going through a similar experience to her and can emphasize, despite their being other humans who have gone through the same thing, due to her self-admitting to being a loner in her human life. Well, she didn't admit it outright, but from how she perceives Ragatha's kindness as an act, or patronizing, it seems like she doesn't have a lot of friends...
Meanwhile... Jax... He treats the adventure like a videogame. Why shouldn't he? He's trapped in a videogame, right? But it really goes beyond that.
The fellow humans that Jax is trapped with, he treats THEM like they're NPCs, while Pomni treats the NPC like they're human.
Jax says to Gangle "Aren't you supposed to be the suggestible one?" Which you wouldn't typically wouldn't say to a person, right? That's something you would say more about a character that you maxed out the dialogue trees in.
He calls Pomni "His Bridge" even.
They're his objects. His tools, his own npcs he's exhausted the dialogue options on.
Jax dehumanizes the players in a way that Pomni humanizes the NPCS.
These are two opposite ends of the spectrum but what really sold it for me was Jax's reaction to the funeral.
And Jax is the one member out of the cast who doesn't even show up to the funeral. (aside from Caine and Bubble but they are AI.)
He does NOT want to think about the Players as real people. And showing that opposite perspective compared to Pomni I think is much as important going forward.
Jax was the plot catalyst of this entire episode, and served the thematic theme of the episode quite well, even if it didn't look like it on first glance.
I absolutely loved this episode and I can't wait for more.
Also... Poor Pomni can't have shit in Detroit
#the amazing digital circus#tadc#tadc jax#Jax#danachan's rants#digital circus#the amazing digital circus spoilers#tadc spoilers
2K notes
·
View notes
Text
The Sandman female characters - why are they buried?
I'm gonna make a series of my thoughts on the female Sandman characters, both critiques of how they're treated and appreciation posts for them. (These are just my opinions, everyone is entitled to their own) Hope you enjoy!
Also tagging @thesandwomen because I'm also very curious to hear your takes on her.
Part 1: Rose Walker
As a character, she gets an obscene amount of hate. Even her actress was bullied terribly when the show came out (which is a whole other issue).
The thing with Rose Walker is that she's strong, complex, powerful, but not in necessarily always visible ways.
She's making her own way in life, traumatized but loving, ambitious and creative. Her inner dialogue and workings is complex and tragic but not in always... I guess cinematic or traditional ways.
She shows the realistic side of someone, specifically someone growing up through tragedy.
She's endlessly creative but she's cursed as this Vortex which destroys and she can't escape that, unless she dies. While she's going through all this she's dragged for not being more dynamic or charismatic.
I found Rose Walkers character to be awfully realistic, because in my eyes, a way of interpreting her story is that one of a young woman, growing up, promising and creative, has been pushed down by society and other people's actions against her. She's creative, loving, ambitious, searching for her brother and making a life for herself. But then she's pulled down into this Vortex, this series of awful and inexplicable events where things are happening around her, she knows she's causing it, and she can't stop it, and the only way to solve it is to die and leave a life she has fought for so hard.
Strange people are telling her what to do, she doesn't understand it entirely, but she does it to the best of her ability. She pushes back at them (Dream and the Corinthian) at times, because what else can she do?
In the end, she ends up with one of her last living relatives dying in front of her and realizing there was no other way for it to turn out. And she's hated, because throughout these events, she isn't entertaining enough.
I'm not someone best suited to talk on the racism that undoubtedly impacted how the fandom impacted the character, but it's worth noting that racism certainly played a role.
Rose Walker shows the sides of a character, specifically a young, strong woman character that I feel like isn't often marketed.
Some of those who claim "girl power" dislike her because she isn't what they're used to seeing. I'm not claiming that she's revolutionary, I'm saying that she IS that type of character, portrayed perhaps more realistically.
She is powerful but she's not cocky and smiley and she won't punch you in the face. Female characters are only perhaps worth paying attention to if they have any qualities that are surface level beneficial or amusing to the audience.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Rose Walker is disliked because she's realistic, she has no amusing qualities.
Female characters often have stock marketable traits, such as humour, physical strength, or maybe magical. It's almost as if they're being paraded around, but not as a celebration but as a freak show. These are fake empowerment characters, and I feel like a lot of the basis for initial main female characters in big media pieces was written like this.
Rose Walker has marketable traits, but mixed in there are the real thoughts of a young woman, panicked and trapped and loving, and deeply honest. And it's honesty people don't like.
A young woman's struggle isn't fun to watch, it's not funny, there's no action, it's realistic.
I'm not trying to call her the female character of all time, I'm just trying to articulate my thoughts.
Rose Walker can make people uncomfortable. A female character not being pushed into the box of marketable, but real.
I think it's telling that we as a fandom dismissed her because of her lack of marketable qualities, because if you look deeper into the character, there's so much more.
Anyway, I hope this didn't come off as too rant-y, and thanks for reading!
#rose walker#the sandman#the sandman female character#deserve more appreciation#there are definitely places that discuss the characters#but i think overall#they hardly exist in fandom#some great mutuals who have amazing blogs about them tho
138 notes
·
View notes
Text
Love me, please
Pairing: dom!Max Burnett x sub!reader
18+ ONLY | MINORS DNI
WARNING - The following fic contains: SPOILERS, explicit smut, fluff, unprotected sex, hard sex, cumshot (facial), face fucking/deepthroat, needy!Max, Max is touch starved, daddy kink, family pretend (fake incest?), kissing/make out, slight degradation, pet names.
Summary: You and Max are a part of what other people would view as the perfect family. If only they knew…
3rd person POV
It was another morning at the Hobbes’ mansion. Max stood up around lunch like usual after spending a good amount of time at the bar the day before, fooling around for a bit until he got bored and returned home.
As he was leaving his room, he noticed the wide open door of the empty bedroom belonging to his mother and billionaire step father while passing by. He didn’t think much of it at first, until he got to the living room and heard a familiar sound - someone humming a song alongside the radio playing quietly in the background.
Still in his pajama shorts and t-shirt, he walks over to the kitchen where the sound came from, and was met by a glance from none other than his sister.
In a frozen state with her muzli filled spoon shoved in her mouth, she smiles, greeting him once she’s swallowed the spoon full. He laughs, returning the morning greeting.
“Where’s mom?” Max asks her, as he sits down across her by the kitchen island where she was finishing eating her cereal.
“She’s out with Richard.” She informed, unbothered. “Both left an hour ago saying they wish to spend the whole day catching up on their love or whatever.”
“Mhm,” Max responded with a simple hum. It was always quiet around the house, but with the knowledge of their ‘parents’ being away for the rest of the day, it felt more quiet and peaceful. More peaceful because there was no reason to pretend anymore. To be cautious. It was just her and him.
Unless…
“What about Tom? He around somewhere?”
“Nope,” she spoke, popping the ‘p’, “He’s at work, presumably doing nothing other than taking care of his books at his bookshop.” Her tone hinted to be condescending, and Max could hardly blame her.
He laughed, “Our stepbrother is a bit of a loser, isn’t he? And Richard’s wondering why we aren’t hanging out together all three. He’s just too different from us.”
She sighed with a chuckle, “He sure is…in more ways than one.”
Her wording sounded harmless, but Max knew the true meaning behind it. Anyone but them wouldn’t know a thing.
“And how are you, my dear sister?” Max spoke up again, trailing the sentence with humor. “How did you sleep last night?” He asked, as he stood up to walk over to her who was taking the last spoonful into her mouth.
She smirked, shaking her head. “Like a log.”
He kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her waist before he rested his chin on the top of her head.
“That’s good.” He replied softly. “How about we do something fun, hm? Let’s watch a movie, have a drink. Entertain ourselves. Bond with each other. Just like the good old days….”
2nd person POV
The TV was on in low volume, filling in as background noise while you and Max we’re doing something not so sibling like.
Empty shots and a bottle of brandey was on the table, the light coming from the TV screen illuminated through the bottle. The blinds were closed around the whole living room, giving the two of you secured privacy. Max was on top of you on the couch, trapping you beneath him while cupping your crotch as he made out with you.
In the eyes of everyone else and their knowledge, your current actions would have been deemed to be so wrong. But it wasn’t.
Because you were in fact not siblings. Your displayed sibling dynamic was a facade, - fake. Just like Madeline’s love for the Manhattan billionaire Richard.
It was nothing new.
Just regular business, - the ultimate con to get the money you were in the long process of stealing. You were stealing big, and there were no suspicions of it.
Not with how wholesome you were making out to be as the two siblings with a single mother who now have become a completed family with the widowed billionaire and his alone child.
But it wasn’t all business now, was it?
In the midst of your make out session, Max pulled you to get comfy on his lap, raising his hips to grind his bulge against your heated core.
Your tongues leave each other when you pull away for air, and Max decides to ask the question that he has pondered in his head for some time. Something he was already certain of knowing but needed reassurance of.
“This is real, right?” He asks, as he puts a hair strand behind your ear. “This… our relationship…you’re not faking it, are you?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I’m asking…games aside…you love me, right?”
Your guard was now lowered to the ground, with the reveal of your true nature coming to light as your eyes darken with lust. “Of course I love you, Max…you’re very dear to me. My dearest…”
Max smirked, his grip becoming firmer the more he let silence fill the moments.
“That’s good to know.” He muttered as he stared deep into your eyes. “I know how much you love me, but how about you let daddy know too? Show me.”
Nothing more had to be said. The two of you started to undress, exchanging a kiss for each piece of cloth that left your bodies. You eagerly dragged Max’s pajama shorts down, revealing his cock, fully erect and left twitching as he kept his gaze on you who was removing the last undergarment on yourself.
“Touch me, Y/N…” he ordered, and with a hum you complied. You sat on his lap again, touching his bare chest with sensual strokes while you sucked bruises on his neck.
You left his lap and got on your knees, presenting yourself between his legs. His gaze followed you intently when your kisses went further down from his stomach to his thighs, dangerously close to his cock.
Before Max could make an order, your lips met his angry red tip, kissing it teasingly before you sunk down further in for more.
“Good girl…always such a good girl for daddy…” Max praised you, and it made your lips quirk into a smile while still wrapped around his tip. Slowly you began to take him down your mouth, salvaging the salty taste of his precum.
Max groaned audibly, resting his palm on his face as he took in the pleasure of having his cock sucked. It felt too good, and he knew it was more than because of your excellent blowjob techniques - it was because it was you. He found you perfect in every way. Having your sweet cheeks hollow as you swallowed him whole was everything to him.
Even money aside, you meant everything to him.
He rasps softly, “Daddy wants his cock down your throat. Think you can give me what I want?”
Your head tilted slightly with glossy eyes. You had taken him halfway so far, but you knew you could take all of him like previous times. You had practiced with him and he had trained you well.
“Go ahead then.” He ordered.
He put his hand on your head, encouraging you to take him deeper, and you did. You bobbed your head slowly, the slick around the base of his cock helping the process go faster.
His breath hitched when you got to the base, your nose nudging his stomach telling him so without looking. Ignoring the slight pain in your throat because of his thick cock, you face fucked yourself harder, continuing a rough pace with Max’s hand pushing the back of your head, holding you firmly.
“Mmh, fuck! I’m not going to last long. Will you let me use you, sweetheart? Please? I know you’ll be so good for me.” You nod as best as you can before he bucks his hips eagerly, keeping your head shoved down as he used your throat to cum. With a strained groan, he spills his load inside down your throat, keeping you down before he lets go. You gasp for ear, slick running down your chin which Max gathers with the use of his thumb and into your mouth.
“Swallow it all, sweetie…it’s all for you.” Max coaxed. He heard the sound of your throat gulp down his sticky substance, and he smiled with satisfaction. “There you go. Got a nice fill in your tummy, hm? Daddy’s so proud of you, hon.” He praised, and you giggled shyly as he approached your lips for a kiss.
Max’s cock shines in your spit, perfectly lubed of it to pierce through you in one thrust. Max knows your body well, and based on the wet slick running down your thighs, he knows you’re ready.
He motions you to settle on the couch and to turn around with your ass up in the air, your face against the pillow as Max got himself steady on the limited space. “Gonna fuck you so thoroughly, you won’t be needing anything else for weeks. You ready for it, sweetie?”
“Mhm!” You hum eagerly.
“Beg for it nicely, sweetheart.”
“Yes, daddy! I need your cock inside of me right now! Please! Need it so bad!” You plead, and it’s all Max needed to hear before he takes you.
Max lines up his cock and pushes your back against the cushions before he shoves his cock inside your quivering cunt, making you yelp out loud from the sudden intrusion.
“Fuck,” He groans, slamming his cock in and out of you. “Such a dirty little slut for me, aren’t you? You want it harder? Want daddy’s cock ruining your pussy for anyone else?”
“Oh fuck...yes daddy, yes! More!” You cry out, pleadingly.
Max grants your wish by quickening up the pace immediately and sets a brutal pace. He rests his upper body against your back, entertaining your ears by whispering sweet nothings against them. His hands finds your breasts beneath you, and he cups them as he lowers his body, getting closer to you. He becomes more pleading by the minute, needing to hear those words coming from your lips again as he chases his high.
“Please, love me. Say you love me, sweetheart. Say it -“
“Ohh! I love you so, so much, daddy!”’ You moaned out as he kept fucking into you relentlessly. “I love you so fucking much! Aah, I don’t think I could ever live without you, Max!”
Your confession makes Max’s heart flutter with delight. He needed to hear that so bad.
“That’s good,…cause I don’t think…I could live without my sweet girl either…fuck!” He spoke, his out of breath causing pauses in his sentence. He felt your pussy tighten around him once more just then, making him undone. “M’gonna paint your cute face after you cum, okay sweetie? Want to fucking mark you.”
“Do it…” you permitted, before your eyes rolled to the back of your head as he ripped an orgasm out of you. “shit, daddy! I’m gonna - Mmmh -!!” You muffled your moan onto the pillow, and Max smirked at his successful doings of making you into an empty headed slut. Your eyes were dazed with your mouth agape, drool leaving your mouth as he kept taking what he needed from your body.
Eventually Max pulled out, making you whine from the absence of his cock filling your cunt, and he crawled over with his cock towering your face, stroking desperately to have his release. You rolled over to face him, the scenery in front of you being so lewd you knew you would be touching yourself to the memory until you find a moment to be together again like this.
His hips stuttered and he came all over your face, your eyes blinking from getting any of it in the eye. You poked your tongue out, hoping to taste more of his spunk as you were addicted to it. He stroke his length once more, directing his tip onto your tongue to get the last bead of seed on your tastebuds, and you moaned from savoring it.
Before any of you rose up, Max hunched over you once again, capturing your lips for a passionate kiss before you inevitably had to go back to pretend. Pretend like this never happened. That he hadn’t just fucked the soul out of you or used your throat like a fleshlight.
It was frustrating having to stay away from each other for weeks on end, but you knew you would be blessed with days like this once in a while. Where you could act out your pent up sexual frustrations. Where you could love each other.
It would all be worth it when you receive the money you were cheating your way into getting. Only then could you get your happily ever after.
But until then…
“Let’s get you cleaned up, sis. Don’t want any members of our perfect family to see what I’ve done to your pretty face.”
A/N: First S.S. character fic! Starting out with Max Burnett!
Hearts & Reblogs are very appreciated! Thanks for the support! <3
#max burnett x reader#max burnett x female reader#max burnett x you#max burnett x y/n#max burnett#sebastian stan x reader#sebastian stan#sebastian stan x female reader
314 notes
·
View notes
Note
hello hello my dear! My prompt for you is: Wilde bedhead. Do with it as you will <3 -shofics <3
sho honey i wrote this days ago and have been waiting for jerry so we could post together and treat you real good. but has jerry finished yet? nooooooo. no she has not. and i am impatient. so here's your ficlet without art
---
Zolf wakes first. The bed is softer than he’s used to, warmer too with Wilde’s penchant for excessive blankets and thick quilts trapping the heat from both of their bodies. Wilde’s snoring gently, drooling from the side of his mouth that used to be rough with scar tissue from years ago, from another life. It really feels like that, the time between last Zolf saw him this vulnerable stretching back like a chasm, a deep pit he doesn’t want to focus on.
No point dwelling, though. Zolf rolls over and gets up, wheeling his way through to Wilde’s kitchen.
Wilde’s a clever man, thoroughly deliberate with his plans and intentions. It doesn’t slip Zolf’s notice that Wilde’s bought himself a flat with wide hallways and low benches, something he doesn’t need for himself. Zolf coughs to himself as if the action would be enough to dislodge that fact from his heart, unstick it from where it’s landed.
The coffee’s exactly where Zolf’d expect Wilde to keep it, a small unlabeled tin near the back of the hob, and Zolf can just reach it if he pulls himself in close, leans right over the bench. Wilde used to live off the damn stuff, back when they were travelling, back when they were posted in the inn. Used to have five or six a day when he was working on something that really sucked him in. A memory comes to Zolf, and he puts the tin of coffee back, reaches instead for the loose leaf tea.
Sometimes they’d have downtime. Never for long, never very often, but sometimes there was no rush, no need for black coffees and sleepless nights. Those days Wilde would sit with the rest of them for breakfast, hands around a cup of milky tea.
Today’s a Saturday, and while Zolf hasn’t exactly figured out what it is Wilde does for a living these days, he doubts it would be as important as saving the world, doubts he can’t afford him this little break here and now.
He busies himself with the process of brewing a pot of tea, the familiar method a sure thing to focus on. Leaves, strainer, hot water, wait. Wilde’s usual mug is nowhere to be found, left behind at the inn in Japan, so Zolf chooses two at random, one for each of them.
The tea’s ready to be poured when Wilde gets up, that impeccable timing he’s mastered the art of only coming into effect for the most trivial things. Zolf can hear his footsteps in the hallway, and then he’s there in the door, smiling at Zolf like he never left him, like it hasn’t been five years and three letters, too long to really pass off as just a break.
Wilde’s in his robe, his favoured bright purple with slippers to match, and he leans into the doorframe, watching Zolf as he pours their tea. His hair is a mess, flat on one side from being slept on, the other half tangled haphazardly from where he’s shoved it off his face, behind his ear, over his shoulder. He’s been growing it out ever since they shaved it back in Damascus, but it’s never regrown with colour. Neither has Zolf’s, mind, but Zolf’s never cared much for his looks. Wilde, however- this is new. He’s certainly giving off the impression that he doesn’t care for his looks, or at least doesn’t mind. His eyes are bleary and his cheeks are flushed, and that damn hair is all over the place in a way Zolf’s never seen before, and he doesn’t know why it’s this that gets him, but his heart catches in his chest and he has to look away.
“Tea’s ready,” he says, and Wilde crosses the room to join him at the small kitchen table. He yawns as he sits down, back of his hand to his mouth to hide it, and he’s still smiling that damn soft smile.
“Welcome home, Zolf,” Wilde says, and for the first time in his life, Zolf knows it to be true.
#rqg#ask#shofics#zolf smith#rqg wilde#i actually made them this soft just for you. i wouldn't usually write something so sickly sweet. nope not me. not ever#this wasn't incredibly indulgent and a pleasure to write ha ha what#shhhh.#your fault. i am not responsible.
52 notes
·
View notes
Note
I think it's worth mentioning that if Stolas became mortal or lost his power: he'd hate it. I don't care what stans say, Stolas regardless of intentional or not treats everyone below him like shit and has no problem using his stasis to get what he wants. Not only that, him being Blue Blood gives him power over Blitzo and there's no doubt in my mind Stolas is gonna gaslight him into a relationship in the next episode and make it seem Blitzo is in the wrong because 'boo hoo I'm so sad' which is just...gross as fuck. And what happens after he loses that edge over Blitzo and doesn't have power over him anymore now that he's no longer a prince and mortal? He'll make Blitzo's life hell and honestly, I won't blame Blitzo if he kicks him out now the fact he doesn't have a way to threaten his lively hood.
At least Ozzie has positive qualities to him and can adapt if he chose to give it all up to be with Fizz (not saying that should happen or like the idea but I rather that than Fizz getting to live forever kind of thing if we MUST have the two being happily together in the end. Plus the whole 'jester to queen' thing you mentioned in your last ask gave me something to think more about because boy does it feel Viv sure enjoys taking away my gremlin's identity and agency). Stolas is everything Striker and Blitzo says he is and his actions show it. Doesn't matter how much you gaslight your audience Viv, you're running your show for this horrible ship and you have no one to blame but yourself if it keeps losing views.
Now if you excuse me, Trash Anon needs to write her self indulgent polycue fanfic before the Full Moon drops and have her true happy ending to the show.
Truer words have never been spoken Trash anon, can I call you TA?
He’ll absolutely hate it but at the same time, he loves being weak and pathetic enough to need Blitzøs attention. Like how he faked it in LooLoo Land and got really excited in Seeing Stars and Western Energy at the idea of being saved by him, it’s a glorified fetish. Plus the only reason I think Viv keeps weakening him is so we stop pointing out the weird coercive power dynamic that has not budged an inch, and will never move an inch while she claims it’s not a big issue. Despite it being the establishing scene of a character who was meant to be a villain until the end of season one, where the shipping art got really popular. Now any time someone brings up his behaviour in murder family, stolitz stans bring up The Circus, an entirely different set of events. Which, I will keep saying, doesn’t disprove anything or make the deal ok. Because once off of (guilt driven) “consent” by someone trapped in someone else’s bedroom, doesn’t include consent from then on or every month.
Not only gaslight him into a relationship, but move into his apartment, join his business, hell probably ask to watch when he’s using the shower. And given the leaks of Via abandoning stolas because of all of this, and stolas saying things to her like “you’ve been the one good thing in my life” and running away from Blitzø (only for him to follow up behind him, give him his jacket, and rest his head on his shoulders, like a pet) This is going to get so so ugly. And I feel like any decent writer would see this as the perfect trigger for stolas to become the Stella of Blitzøs life. Always tormenting him and reminding him of what he did. And stolas always abuses Millie Moxxie and doesn’t even know Loona exists (and if he treats imps this bad I can’t imagine hellhounds) so it’s an awful idea.
Everyone hated seeing stars, so they’re gonna make the entire show seeing stars from now on🫣 and I think Chai said the writing of the episode is even worse than that.
21 notes
·
View notes
Text
Let Me Go
2022 Month of Writing: Day 9
Pairing: Gally x reader {Part 1 of ?}
Prompt:
Word Count: 1,390
Warning: implied character death
Author's Note: please don't steal my work. you can choose to respond to the prompt as well, but don't steal my work
There is a chance of this turning into a series of some sort after the month of writing is done, so we'll see how I'm feeling about things 😅
“You really think I’m going to let Thomas back into the Maze after what he’s done?” Gally asked Teresa. He turned to look at his fellow Gladers. “Look around you! Look at our Glade. This is the only way. And when the Grievers get what they came here for, everything goes back to the way it was.”
y/n exchanged glances with Newt and Minho. The events of the last few days were horrible, of course. No one was doubting that. But things were changing now. y/n knew their lives weren’t going to be the same, whether or not Thomas and Teresa were sacrificed.
“Are you listening to this?” Teresa asked. “Why are you all just standing there? He’s crazy.”
“Will you shut up?”
“If you stay here, the Grievers are going to come back. They’re going to come back, and they’re going to keep coming back until you are all dead.”
“Shut up!” Gally shouted. “Tie him up.” He started to walk away, but noticed that the Glader he had spoken to wasn’t moving. “Did you hear me? I said tie him up!”
The two Gladers finally moved and began to lift Thomas off the ground. y/n watched as Thomas suddenly attacked the two boys and took their weapons. Newt, Minho, and Frypan jumped into action as well, taking their weapons and joining Thomas. Frypan freed Teresa from the pole as Chuck also joined them from the side. The small group stood at the Maze entrance, facing the rest of the Gladers.
“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” Gally said.
“You don’t have to come with us,” Thomas said, “but we are leaving. Anyone else who wants to come, now’s your last chance.”
“Don’t listen to him, he’s just trying to scare you.”
“No, I’m not trying to scare you. You’re already scared. All right? I’m scared. But I’d rather risk my life out there then spend the rest of it in here. We don’t belong here. Okay, this place isn’t our home. We were put here. We were trapped here. At least out there, we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that.”
Silence fell around them. Thomas and his friends stared down Gally, but also silently pleaded with the others. y/n caught Newt and Minho staring at her.
She knew they were right. She had been here for too long and never seen any progress. And while things were bad now, there was hope. She didn’t want to die in the Glade. So having the ability to be in charge of her own fate? She knew her decision.
Slowly, people started joining them. Winston, Jeff, multiple others. y/n stepped forward as well, smiling slightly at her friends.
Suddenly, Gally grabbed her by the arm. She whirled around to look at him, shocked.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice low.
“Taking control of my life.”
“You go out there, you’ll die.”
“And what would you care about whether I live or not, Gally?” she asked. She glared at him. “You’ve basically hated me since I got here, saying I’m some kind of freak for being sent to a Glade full of boys. You chose every possible moment to blame me for things going wrong, called me horrible names, and treated me like absolute crap. Now you want me to stay here with you? I don’t think so. Now let go of my arm.”
“I won’t let you go out there and kill yourself.”
“That’s not your decision to make. Now let. Go.”
She ripped her arm from his grip and went to join the others. She continued to glare at Gally, even when Newt quietly checked on her to make sure she was all right. Her small rivalry with Gally was no secret in the Glade.
“Gally, it’s over,” Thomas said. “Come with us.”
Gally was quiet for a long moment. He glanced over the group.
“Good luck against the Grievers.”
y/n sighed. As much as she disliked Gally, she didn’t want him or any of the others to die. But they had limited options and limited time.
Newt tapped her shoulder and gently pulled her into the Maze. She followed Thomas and the others. She had never been in the Maze before, but knew well enough the horrors that came from within the walls.
Everything was a blur soon after.
When they got closer to the supposed exit, Grievers started attacking. They dragged away Gladers, picking them off left and right. It was only by a miracle that she wasn’t dragged off too. They were able to get the door unlocked and hurried through, leaving the Grievers behind them.
They found themselves in a dimly lit hallway, with only one clear door. On the other side, they found machines destroyed and people lying on the ground. A video message played where a woman named Ava Paige explained the Maze Trials, the Scorch, and the Flare. Behind her, people were shooting one another before she shot herself.
“Is it over?” Chuck asked.
“She said we were important,” Newt replied. “So what are we supposed to do now?”
“I don’t know,” Thomas said. “Let’s get out of here.”
“No.”
y/n turned quickly, shocked to see Gally standing on the other side of the room.
“Gally?”
“Don’t,” Teresa said, stopping Thomas from going forward. “He’s been stung.”
It was true. Gally didn’t look good. He was covered in sweat and Griever blood. He dropped a Griever stinger, a gun in his other hand. y/n exchanged a look with Minho, who also saw it.
“We can’t leave,” Gally said.
“We did,” Thomas replied. “Gally, we’re out. We’re free.”
“Free?” He sounded like he was crying. He turned to look around him. y/n noticed the darkened veins on his neck. “You think we’re free out there? No. No, there’s no escape from this place.”
He lifted the gun, immediately setting everyone on edge. Thomas raised his arms.
“Gally, listen to me. You’re not thinking straight. You’re not. And we can help you. Just put down the gun.”
Come on, Gally, y/n thought. Listen to him. Don’t do anything stupid.
“I belong to the Maze.”
“Just put down the gun.”
“We all do.”
Everything happened so fast.
Gally fired a shot.
Minho threw his spear.
People were shouting.
y/n’s feet moved without thought.
She looked on with wide eyes at the spear in Gally’s chest. The spear Minho had thrown. He gasped for breath before collapsing to his knees and then to his side. Everyone watched on in shock as their fellow Glader went still.
At almost the same moment, y/n felt a burning in her side. She winced and lifted her hand to the sensation. When she pulled it away, she saw blood.
“y/n?” Newt said. At the same time, she faintly heard Chuck say Thomas’s name.
The two fell at nearly the same time. Minho was fast enough to catch her before she roughly hit the ground. She gasped in pain.
Everything was blurring around her. She could only barely make out the voices above her. She knew she was shot. She knew Chuck had also been hit. She was losing a lot of blood and was fighting for consciousness at this point. She could hear her friends begging her to hold on.
She barely managed to lift her hand. She felt someone grab it, which made her sob a little bit. She didn’t realize she had been crying.
“Hang on, y/n,” she heard them say. There was desperation in their voice. She could hear people crying, but couldn’t tell who. “Just hang on! We’ll get you out.”
She shook her head. Her vision was fading too fast. She wasn’t able to respond.
Through the growing fog, she could hear shouts. They couldn’t tell where they were coming from, if they were close or far.
The hand that was holding tightly to hers was ripped away, making her gasp softly. Her hand fell to the ground. The shouts became more distorted until they slowly disappeared.
y/n whimpered in pain.
This is it, she thought. I’m going to die alone.
She couldn’t fight it any more. She let go of whatever strength she was pulling from and surrendered to the darkness.
#month of writing#writing prompt#gally#gally x reader#maze runner#tmr#tmr gally#the maze runner#glade#grievers#angst
129 notes
·
View notes
Text
Spontaneous Headcanon #24
Okay- here me out. I know there’s only two available episodes of Buddy Daddies and I know we’re still super early in the show but I had this cute idea and now I wanna share it with you all.
Under the cut for length and also potential spoilers for Buddy Daddies! I’m gonna try to keep it Spoiler free though :D
Also TW: for gun imagery for one of the images!
So Rei Suwa
My Husband. I have a weakness for tired brunettes A man of Duality. No matter what the occasion is, he’s always wearing that same neutral if not somewhat apathetic expression.
Miri- sweetheart, and absolute bean of a 4 year old- starts to notice this no matter how Rei’s feeling. He always looks so tired and just...yeah. One day she turns to Kazuki like: “Papa Rei looks sad.”
Kazuki’s about to explain to her that he’s not sad, that’s just his face but then he starts to think about it and is just ‘...Have I ever seen Rei actually smile?’ The answer is yes, only in very...extreme circumstances.
Now he’s looking at Rei who’s spacing out at the table with his coffee, thinking if he should do what he’s thinking of doing. There’s a highkey chance he’ll get evicted; the threat of being kicked out has been a common theme in any and all attempts Kazuki’s done in the past. (At one point a knife was drawn- Kazuki had no idea where Rei even hid it. No one was stabbed.)
At the same time though...Rei never actually went through with said threats in the past four years they’ve been living together...and frankly- he kinda needed Kazuki to survive. (The man can’t cook and his sleeping habits are...odd- he kinda needs someone to watch over him.) Plus they’re partners in work so he should be fine right?
Also they have Miri now. That might soften the blow?
Now Kazuki’s gears are turning, he turns to Miri and does a exaggerated “Shhh” Gesture before beginning his slow ascent towards the unsuspecting man. Miri is giggling like a goon, but Rei’s used to it so he doesn’t think much of the matter.
“If you tickle me, you die.”
Okay- maybe he’s more suspecting afterall. So much for stealth.
Kazuki and Miri look at eachother. Then they look at Rei. Then they both silently decide they had lived a good life (or at least- Kazuki decides that) before both pounce on the tired man, Kazuki going right for the armpits while Miri’s kinda bouncing beside them, cheering him on.
And Rei finally, finally laughs! And it’s a pretty one too- lots of soft huffs of laughter and snickers. He’s trying not to curse out Kazuki because Miri’s literally right there. Now he can’t even fight back because she decided she wanted to be up close to the action and crawls into his lap, her own little hands tickling him too. He’s been effectively trapped!
“Haha, We got you now, Rei!”
“Hehe, Papa Rei’s laugh is funny!”
By the time they let him breathe, he’s flushed faced with his head against the table, arms pressing tightly into his sides as Kazuki and Miri do their celebratory victory dance.
Until Rei sits up with the scariest look in his eyes. The look he reserves for jobs involving hunting down bad guys. “Run.” Is all he says.
Miri and Kazuki are GONE. It becomes an impromptu game of hide and seek only if Rei finds you you’re getting tickled to near death (reserved for Kazuki. Miri gets more gentle tickles and the option to hunt down her papa).
#spontaneous headcanon#buddy daddies#rei suwa#kazuki kurusu#miri unasaka#tickle#tickle headcanon#they're a little family oh my god *ugly cries*#it had to happen#Two episodes in and my brain went WHOOOSH~
62 notes
·
View notes
Text
Trapped | Eddie Munson | Part 11
Prev Part | Master List | Epilogue
Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader
Word Count: 11.6k
Next and final chapter will be an Epilogue.
Warnings: It's the last two episodes of ST4...so you get the gist. A large talk of grief at the end with a slight tw for EDs (food restriction due to depression). I don't put all three story lines from Hawkins in. This one has 90% of only what the reader experiences. At the end there's a gap filler for what happens for her over the two days later bullshit that we all had to just...sit through.
Authors Note: Fun fact, as I make this draft it was a year ago that I published the first Part. Man I didn't think I would follow through for the full thing at times but I'm happy to have proven myself wrong.
Chapter Eight: Papa
Stagnant relief made a startling switch into action as the stakes reached into space. A fire is lit under your ass into Eddie’s bedroom, attempting the hopeless task to find any sense of music both Nancy and Eddie would own.
As someone who resided and listened to his music with him, the task was daunting to see if he had any of that Madonna he was once accused of singing in the shower after you had just gotten together. Your eyes switch to Max’s trailer next door, wondering if you could just snatch a tape from her collection. However, it was clear from the yelling and the chaos that there wasn’t enough time for that.
Erica bursts into the room after being on Upside Down watch claiming, “Steve says you need to hurry!”
“Yeah? No shit!” Dustin yelled, on the verge of a rampage.
“We’re trying. We can’t find anything.” Max yells, having gone through half of Eddie’s music yet finding nothing she could use.
“What is all this shit?” Robin yells out, clutching a handful of tapes of artists she’s never even heard of.
“What are you even looking for?” Eddie barks out, this point annoyed his tape collection has been made a mess of.
“Madonna, Blondie, Bowie, Beatles? Music! We need music!”
Eddie grabs a tape from her, pissed off. “This is music!”
“Okay.” You interject, attempting to de-escalate the already high tense situation. “Okay, Max lives right down the road, why don’t two of us go and grab one that would—”
“Guys!” A loud bark from down the hall comes from Steve, calling out. The collective group makes their way over to see what he was yelling about, met with the sight of Nancy scared yet still alive.
As Steve and Nancy both climbed the rope to make their way back, Dustin peers at you with a particular look on his face. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
“What?”
“Max’s house, when they get back, we’ll go meet over there so Vecna can’t eavesdrop as much.”
“That wasn’t—” You started, but realized there wasn’t much of a point. “Alright.”
Once Steve lands on the landing pad with a stupid amount of grace Dustin lets him know the plans. Steve rolls his eyes, implying they weren’t going to be able to stay with the gate being so close, anyway.
The plan is shared, and you make yourself comfortable at Max’s, while Nancy tells the story of what she had seen.
As it turns out, Vecna was Henry Creel, son of Victor Creel. He was the one who tormented and murdered his family and Chrissy, Fred, and Patrick. Apparently as an Orderly he murdered dozens more in the Labs when there were more numbers than Eleven. In fact, he was One.
Nancy explains everything she saw, and she starts to stammer when she reaches towards the end. Throughout her discussion, she is withdrawn and factual, an armour for her fear.
“He showed me things that haven’t happened yet. The most awful things.” She whispered, continuing her explanation. “I saw a dark cloud spreading over Hawkins. Downtown on fire. Dead soldiers. And this…giant creature with… a gaping mouth. And this creature wasn’t alone.” Her words rung out in a dead silence, no one even daring to breathe. It was truly a higher stake than any of you have ever faced, and it was terrifying. “There were so many monsters. An army. And they were coming into Hawkins. Into our neighborhoods. Our homes. And then… he showed me my mom,” Nancy chokes out, a tear running down her face. “And Holly. Mike. And they…they were all…” She can’t even finish her sentence, and she didn’t have to.
Steve, sitting to your right on the couch as you sat on the floor attempts to defuse the tension risen in the air. “Okay, but… he’s just trying to scare you, Nance.” He says, looking at his lap. You barely believed him and wondered if he believed himself. “Right? I mean…I mean it’s not real.”
“Not yet.” Nancy answers, not accepting his attempt. “But there… there was something else. He showed me gates. Four gates. Spreading across Hawkins. And these gates, they looked like the one outside of Eddie’s trailer, but…they didn’t stop growing. And this wasn’t the Upside Down Hawkins. This was our Hawkins. Our home.”
“Four chimes.” Max speaks up. Your eyes all flutter to her, as she stands leant up against the doorway. “Vecna’s clock. It always chimes four times. Four exactly.”
Nancy gulps. “I heard them too.” You switch your glance back to Nancy, and to say you were a fan of this connection would be a lie.
The air hangs heavy in Max’s house, your pulse racing despite you sitting completely still.
“He’s been telling us his plan this whole time.” Max says.
“Four kills.” Lucas adds, doing the math. “Four gates. End of the world.”
“If that’s true…” Dustin chimes in, hands on his hips and at a loss for words, “he’s only one kill away.”
Eddie speaks up for the first time in a while, and you love him even more for what he says. “Oh Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.” He grumbles into his hands, his hair dishevelled and his body tensing up.
“Try ‘em again. Try ‘em again.” Steve urges Max, referring to the many calls attempted to get a hold of the Buyers before Nancy started explaining what she had saw.
Max does so, running to her phone to give it another ring. She barely holds it before she hangs it up again.
“Anything?” Dustin asks her.
“No. Rang a few times, then went to a busy signal.”
“Maybe you punched it wrong. Try again.” Steve tells her, momentarily taking his hands off his face for it.
“I didn’t punch it in wrong.”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“I think she knows how to use a phone” Dustin interjects, sticking up for Max.
“I’m just saying, she could’ve typed it in wrong.” Steve argues.
Max punches in the phone again, hanging it up even louder after a few seconds. “Same shit.”
“How is that possible?” Lucas asks, his hands on his hips.
“Joyce has this telemarketer job. She’s always on the phone.” Dustin answers. “Mike won’t stop whining about it.”
“Yeah but his phone’s been busy for, what, three days now? That’s not Joyce. No way. Something’s wrong.” Max argues, and despite the telemarketing job being logical, she has a point.
“She’s right.” Nancy agrees. “It can’t be just coincidence. It can’t be.” She gets up, staring out the window. “Whatever’s happening in Lenora is connected to all of this. I’m sure of it. But Vecna can’t hurt them. Not if he’s dead. We have to back in there. Back to the Upside Down.” Nancy announces, and she’s almost an entirely different person after these last five minutes. There’s a conviction in her voice that didn’t feel earned.
The following response is simultaneous.
“Whoa, no, no, no. What?” Steve asks in his most incredulous voice. (And as you know, there are levels)
“Nope. Nope.” Eddie dismisses out of hand, waving his hands to demonstrate his exact disdain for her plan.
“The place we just spent 12 hours trying to escape?” You ask her, hoping she wasn’t serious. Because surely she’s not.
“Let’s think this through.” Steve argues, getting up off the couch to get to Nance.
“What is there to think through?” Nancy interrupts him, confronting him.
“We barely made it out of there in once piece.” Steve argues back.
“That’s what I’m saying.” You mutter, agreeing with him. You look up at your boyfriend as he continues to rub his face in pure stress. You sit up on the couch next to him, rubbing his hand in comfort. He indulges, placing his head into your neck.
“Yeah, because we weren’t prepared. But this time, we will be. We’ll get weapons and protection. We’ll go through the gate, we’ll find his lair, and we’ll kill him.” Nancy answers him, listing it off as if it were so simple.
“Or he’ll kill us.” Steve bites back. “The only reason you survived is because he wanted you to. He’s not scared of us.”
“And for good reason.” Robin pipes up for the first time in a while. “We were wrong about Vecna. Henry. One.” She stammers, losing her point. “Sorry. What are we calling him now?”
“One.”
“Vecna.”
“One.”
“Henry.”
“Right. We’ve learned something new about Vecna slash Henry slash One. He’s a number like Eleven, only a sick, evil, male, child-murdering version of her with really bad skin. But my…my point is, he’s super powerful. He could turn us inside out with a snap of his fingers. It’s not a fair fight.”
“Then why fight fair?” Dustin asks, his mind reeling. “You’re right. He’s like Eleven. But that gives us an upper hand. We know Eleven’s strengths. And weaknesses.”
“Weaknesses?” Erica asks pointedly.
“When El remote-travels, she goes into this sort of trance-like state. I bet the same is true of Vecna.” Dustin explains.
“That would explain what he was doing in that attic.” Lucas understands.
“Exactly. When he attacks his next victim, I’ll bet you he’s back in that attic, physical body defenseless.”
“Defenseless?” Steve bites out. “What about the army of bats?” He says, pointing to his neck to where he was strangled.
“Right. We’ll have to find a way past them. Distract them somehow.” Dustin admits to a flaw in his ever-growing plan.
“And, uh, how do we do that, exactly?” Eddie bites out, standing up.
“No idea.” Dustin admits, and Eddie sits right back down. What was brewing in that mind of his? “But once they’re gone, he doesn’t stand a chance. It’ll be like slaying sleeping Dracula in his coffin.”
“That all sounds great,” you say, standing up from the couch, “in theory.” You finish. “We don’t know when or who he’s going even attack next.”
“Yeah, we do.” Max whispers out. “I can still feel him. I’m still marked. Cursed. I ditch Kate Bush; I draw his focus back to me.”
“Max.” Lucas whispers. “You can’t. He’ll kill you.”
“I survived before.” She gulps, nodding her head. “I can survive again. I just need to keep him busy long enough so that you guys can get into that attic. Then you can chop his head off. Stab him in the heart. Blow him up with some explosive Dustin cooks up. I honestly really don’t care how you put this asshole into his grave. Just…whatever it is…whatever you do…try not to miss.”
The air hangs heavy, again.
But something about how a 15-year-old girl basically offers herself up for a potential sacrifice in the name of destroying the villain does that.
-
“Check this out. The War Zone.” Eddie says as he taps the ad with his index finger. You stand in-between him and Robin, staring down at the open phone book. “I’ve been there once. It’s huge. They’ve got everything you need for uh…well…” He pauses, catching your eye. “Killing things, basically.”
“You think fake Rambo has enough guns there?” Robin asks, commenting on the ad. “Is that a grenade? I mean, how is any of this legal?”
“Well, lucky for us, it is, so… This… This place is just far enough outside of Hawkins. As long as we steer clear of main roads, we oughta be able to avoid cops and uh, angry hicks.”
“If we’re trying to avoid angry hicks, maybe we shouldn’t go to some store called the War Zone.” Erica points out.
“Normally, I’d agree but we need the weapons. So I think it’s worth the risk.” Nancy states, crossing her arms.
“Me too.” Lucas agrees.
“But is it worth the time?” Dustin asks. “It’ll take all day to bike there and back.”
“Who said anything about bikes?” Eddie asks him, and his voice sounded…cocky?
“You uh, got some car I don’t know about?” You ask, your voice a bit flirtier than you had intended it to.
“It’s…not exactly a car, there sweetheart.” He says, flirting right back. Oh, how you missed this. “And it’s not exactly mine, but uh…it’ll do.” Before you have a minute to revel in how normal your boyfriend seemed, he turns around towards Max. “Hey, Red, uh, you got a ski mask or a bandana, something like that?”
Max smirks, an old favourite making its way to the forefront of her mind.
-
Eddie’s gleeful smile when she hands over the Michael Meyers mask brings out a certain twinkle in his eyes you missed more than words could say.
He leads the entire group across the grassy fields that maintained a permanent home in the park up against one of his neighbour’s homes. He clutches onto a small grey bag you’ve noticed in a messy corner of his room once or twice, grinning at you maniacally when you have an unsaid question on your face. He scopes around the corner, giving a go a head when it’s all clear. The whole group follows him, all looking over your shoulders as Eddie flies across the grass to a specific trailer his fingers have itched for.
He leads across their front yard, the trailer’s inhabitants distracted by something on the radio. He sneaks around the back to a window he very specifically scoped out and opens and climbs in without a second to spare.
If your heart wasn’t racing so much from trying not to get caught you it would’ve been racing by how surprisingly turned on you were.
As soon as Eddie lands on the couch the Michael Meyers mask is unceremoniously ripped off, “That was suffocating.”
With help from Steve, you climb in, internally swearing at Eddie for making it look way easier than it was. As you get to the front, you sit in passenger seat, drawing the window curtain closed. Steve was right behind you, watching curiously as you were as Eddie made rewiring a vehicle look like idle work for idle hands.
“Where’d you learn how do this?” Steve asks him, paying more attention to the actual rewiring process than Eddie was.
“Well, when the other dads were teaching their kids how to fish or play ball, my dad was teaching me how to hot wire. Now, I swore to myself I wouldn’t wind up like he did, but now I’m wanted for murder, and soon, grand theft auto. So, uh, I’m really living up to that Munson name.” He jokes, giving you a saucy wink as he does.
“Eddie, I’m not sure I love the idea of you driving.” Robin admits timidly.
Eddie smirks, a glint in his eye. “Oh, I’m just startin’ this sucker. Harrington’s got her.” Eddie leans into him, teasing. “Don’t ya, big boy?” Eddie turns and starts the engine, causing a backfire.
The inhabitants of the trailer scramble to their feet upon the backfire. “Hey!”
The door right behind you shakes. “They looked the door!”
Eddie smirks to you, a wild look in his eye. He looks back to Steve, moving to his feet.
For the last two days it felt as if you haven’t seen Eddie experience anything but stress. But here, now, the sounds of the trailer’s true owners yelling after them while they make a quick getaway, he was goddamn thriving.
Steve swears loudly, and before he could even tell Eddie to leave his spot he was already bumping into Steve to the back of the bus. You go right behind him, letting Nancy take the passenger seat.
“It’s just a car.” Steve mutters mostly to himself. “Everybody, hang on to something!”
“Oh my God! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Lucas practically panics.
“Drive, Steve! Drive!” Dustin urges him, mostly everyone having found a spot by now.
Steve drives, and the amount of pure chaos that surrounds both the outside and the inside of the van is at the very least, entertaining.
The radio turned on one of Eddie’s favourite joyride songs, a perfect fit. While the rest of the crowd is on edge and anxious, you are thriving in watching him headbang during one of the most inconvenient times.
The motor home turns the corners of the trailer park hard, yanking your body every which way as everyone seems to simultaneously be yelling at once. The inhabitants’ voices eventually fade, and Steve turns onto the main road.
Mission: Grand Theft Auto was officially successful.
-
Along for the ride into the War Zone, you found yourself sandwiched next to Eddie near the back of the motor home. The two of you sat in comfortable silence, his hand tracing yours absentmindedly. There was an aura of a calm before the storm in the motor home. As soon as the weapons were in your arsenal it was about making them and preparing for the final battle.
The blueprint to which you are still not the happiest about, but you weren’t given much choice in the matter.
“You don’t talk much about him.” You started, allowing your eyes to look up at your boyfriend.
He glances down to you, his face unreadable. “Not much to say. He taught me how to steal cars and how to be freakishly good at pickpocketing.” He looks off, scratching at the stubble starting to form. “He’s not my dad, though.” He says, leaning into you.
You don’t say anything, just silently encourage him to keep talking.
“My dad is Wayne. I’ve never called him that, and only when he’s truly worried or upset does he ever call me son, but I know. He’s my dad. Sure, the man on my birth certificate is currently serving 25 years in prison for a multitude of things, but thanks to Wayne I have a head on my shoulders and I’m not out stealing cars for money. If my old man wasn’t caught, I don’t think he would’ve let me go passed freshman year.” He gulps, shaking his head. Something was clearly on his mind.
“What?” You ask him.
“Say we get through this. We defeat Vecna, the Upside Down is done, whatever.” You nod your head, listening. “How are we still going to prove my innocence? No offence but if I walk in with the same group of people who ran away from the police, I don’t think my case would be helped much.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” You ask him leaning in.
Eddie nods, eager for the distraction.
“Do you think we covered our own tracks the whole time?” You ask him, your voice border lining on skeptical. Eddie’s brow furrows curiously. “God no. The FBI is scary good at covering these tracks. Every time in the aftermath I get guided away by people in FBI jackets who take over the jurisdiction and make sure no wrongly accused get thrown away for the crimes of people in lab coats ten years ago.”
“So, you think the FBI will clear me?” He asks, and there’s just this sliver of hope.
“I will fight someone if they don’t.” You say in all seriousness, and he laughs at your willingness to protect him.
Eddie kisses your head, leaning his chin onto it. Lucas passes you, going to talk to Max one on one, and you turn away out of respect.
“So, how much of your history with this secret dimension do I not know about?” He asks you, an eyebrow quirked.
“Considering this is my fourth encounter, a bit.” You reply, unfazed.
“Can you tell me about it?” He asks, leaning onto one of his biceps to get comfortable.
“Ok.” You answer, and honestly you thought it might take more than that to get it out of you. “But promise me one thing.” Eddie nods rapidly. “When I get to the Russians, try not to get emotional. If I think too hard about it, I can’t even tell the story.”
Eddie gulps, wondering what possibly could’ve happened to require such a disclaimer. “Rule number 3.” He says, and you roll your eyes and start telling him anyway.
From the very beginning.
-
As Steve pulls up to the War Zone, it is immediately known that your rag-tag band of misfits weren’t the only ones who wanted weapons. He stands up from his seat, stretching his arms out before looking to the crowd in the motor home. “Alright. We go in. We get what we need, we get out. Make it quick, we have a wanted fugitive who we cannot risk being seen in this crowd.”
Everyone nods their heads in agreement, and all but you, Lucas, Dustin, and of course, Eddie make their way to the front of the motor home.
“Hey, Harrington!” Eddie calls to him, and Steve lifts his brows to acknowledge him. “Could you, uh, get me some spare uh…” he drifts off, aware of an audience.
Steve nods in understanding and gives Nancy the go ahead to open the door.
As the motor home became less crowded you sat next to Eddie under his arm, watching as they disappear around the corner to the main entrance. Eddie is tracing your hand slowly, and it’s so soothing you nearly let your head fall onto his shoulder. You hear him inhale and look to him with a questioning look on your face. He shakes his head, mouthing the words It’s nothing.
You don’t accept his answer, wordlessly caressing his cheek. He melts into it, and you want to freeze time in this moment and never leave. “Tell me.”
“When this is over, we’re going far from this town as we can get. I’m taking you on a road trip, we’re going to go the beach.” He says, looking off wistfully.
“The beach?” You ask, a smile on your face.
“Hell yeah. I need to see you in a bikini and know that everyone wants you but you’re all mine.” He says casually, his thumb rubbing your shoulder as he talks softly to you. “I would pack us a picnic for the ride, and mindlessly drool while you eat some watermelon. I would purposefully forget napkins but its ok, because I can help lick the juice off.”
“You…you put a lot of thought into this.” You whisper to him, dreaming of hot days on the beach a few thousand miles away from Hawkins.
“Well, I had a lot of time.” Eddie admits.
“I just want to lie down with you.” You admitted, knowing you weren’t even hopeful enough to want the beach you had just wanted to be with him. “I want to fall asleep, with you, and wake up with college being my biggest stressor.”
He gulps, the smile on his face slightly faded. “God, I would’ve followed—”
You interrupt him, shaking your head. “No. Don’t. We’re planning. What are you going to do?”
Eddie smiles softly, biting back laughter. “Sweetheart it don’t matter, you already know.”
You nodded shakily, beaming at him. He grabs your face into a fierce kiss, and there’s a part of you wondering of the salt water you tasted were his tears or your own. You separate, brushing your hands against his cheeks. He pulls you in for a hug, and you giggle involuntarily as he squeezes you so tightly.
Behind you, a cough. It was loud and firm.
“Hmm?”
“You’re cute n’ all but—” Dustin gags, pretending to throw up. “Too much.”
“I expected less of this when we were partnered up, you know? Just a moment of peace?”
Dustin shoots a toothy grin, shaking his head. “Nah.”
Eddie shrugs, knowing better than to expect such from him.
Lucas’ attention seems far from this conversation. “They should’ve been back by now.”
“When did they go in?” Eddie asks, his face growing serious again.
“Ten minutes ago.” Lucas answers, suspicion thick in his voice.
“Shit.” Dustin swears, getting up to pace.
Dustin and Lucas go back and forth on reasons they could be taking longer as the time continues to pass. Dustin checks his watch for the umpteenth time asking, “What the hell is taking so long?”
On cue, Steve bursts through the door, tossing a bag to Eddie promptly.
“What happened?” Lucas asks.
“Gotta go.” Steve answers, sitting directly into his seat.
Erica bursts through, holding a big brown bag. “Your old friends are here.” She answers, staring directly to Lucas.
“Shit!” Lucas swears.
Robin, Nancy, and Max run into the motor home, and before everyone was sat down Steve was being urged by several people to start driving. He shouts back, “I’m going, I’m going! Sit down!”
Eddie puffs his cheeks out in a big breath of “Oh, shit.”
On your way out Jason Carver stares off in frustration, ignoring the large motor home that near misses them on the way out of the parking lot.
-
Somewhere down the road between the War Zone and Hawkins Steve took a turn off to stay out of sight but have the open space required to make the weapons. Hammers, gasoline, a shot gun with a saw, sticks to tie to dazzlingly sharp knives all emptied out of the brown paper grocery bags.
Not to mention several axes and two stolen garbage can lids.
As all the crap was scattered about, jobs were naturally delegated two at a time, having teams partner up to create each specific firearm. Lucas and Erica sat to make the spears for Eddie and Dustin. Eddie and Dustin make armed shields out of nails and metal garbage lids. Nancy with the help of Max, set up a place to saw off the long end of a shot gun. Lastly, Robin, you, and Steve sit in front of the motor home to create the literal fire on demand.
Any possible ‘seats’ you could’ve used were in the form of crates the motor home’s cluster of random junk they assorted. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but it still beat the itchiness of the tall grass in front of you.
As you sat down with Robin and Steve, both working on dowsing the gasoline cloths together, and you find yourself all too distracted. You watch absentmindedly as Eddie rough houses into Dustin, enjoying the smile you’ve seen back on his face. As much as Dustin tries to get Eddie on the ground, Eddie’s strength proves mighty in comparison.
You finally glance away from them, starting to prepare the other gasoline cans for battle. As you sit there, Robin and Steve finally tell you a piece of gossip they’ve been looking for a moment to share with you.
Steve didn’t seem to wrap his mind around Vickie being in a relationship with a boy, he was so convinced that her pause on Fast Times was evidence that she was also into girls.
You thought it was the way she dressed that gave it away, but Steve was unconvinced.
“It just doesn’t make sense.” Steve continues his train of thought from earlier, having picked up different conversations since then.
“What doesn’t make sense?” Robin asks, not caught up with him.
“That was Dan Shelter. He graduated, like, two years ago.”
“So?” Robin prompts him.
“So, he’s in college. Which means he was visiting on spring break. Fast Times was returned, like, I don’t know, a week ago? Right? Unless she’s got some horndog brother we don’t know about. Which is possible.” As Steve continues to ramble on to himself Robin keeps to herself, and Robin letting Steve ramble is not a common occurrence. “Or she’s just really into Judge Reinhold?”
“Steve.” Robin interrupts him, having enough.
“Nah…” he drifts off, then realizes Robin called out for him.
“I don’t care. I don’t understand why do either with everything that’s going on. Honestly, this feels like a perfect time for that little pull of the rug because…”
As Robin continues talking, a gut feeling that’s been sitting in the pit of your stomach comes to the forefront.
“…in the face of the world ending, the stakes of my love life feels spectacularly low.”
“Yeah, I mean, I get you there, but… I still have hope.” Steve responds, somewhat optimistic, it seems.
“Not everything has a happy ending.” Robin tells him, adding a new bottle to the growing collection. You hand over a bottle to Steve as he grabs for it, him acknowledging you as he does.
“Yeah, yeah, believe me, I know.” He says, somewhat bitter about his own.
With everything prepared for them, you sit cross legged by Steve’s legs, the only one out of the bunch who opted to sit in the tall grass.
“Y/N?” Robin asks, seeing the pinch between your brows.
You sigh, lifting your legs so they’re held up by your elbows with your hands clasped in front of you. “Robin?”
“Care to help me out?”
“She’s not talking about failed romance, Steve.” You answer, and Robin knows you’re on the same wavelength. You turn your head to look back at Eddie and Dustin play fighting in the field. “I can’t speak for anyone else, here, but I’ve been having this, terrible, mind numbing feeling that…” you gulp, you can’t even say it out loud.
“It might work out for us this time.” Robin finished your sentence, brave enough to admit what you couldn’t even find it in yourself to think.
“You guys think we shouldn’t be doing this?” Steve asks, his voice hosting a level of doubt you don’t often hear.
“We’re absolutely bonkers.” You add, and it felt like Robin admitting what you were afraid to outloud had created a tight anxiety in your chest.
“We’re mad. The lot of us.” Robin agrees, also looking out. “But…if we don’t stop them, who will?” She asks, and unfortunately that is the caveat. If you, the only crowd of misfits that has any idea what is behind all of this are the only ones who can stop him, how could you not? “We have to try, right?”
“Yeah.” You turn around to face them. “To killing Vecna,” Steve toasts.
“Slash Henry.” Robin adds, also holding a bottle.
“Hey.” You nudge, reaching for one across them. Robin hands you one, and you insert a bottle in. “Slash One.”
-
By the time Eddie finishes roughing it with Dustin, he’s a damn mess, covered in sweat. It might’ve been hot if he had showered in the last few days. Who’s kidding, it was hot regardless.
This brought up a question you had. “Uh, are we going into battle wearing the same thing we have been wearing for the last two days?” You ask out loud.
“Funny you should mention that.” Steve answers, and he runs into the Motor home to grab a last bag he had, something he asked Erica to help him with, Battlefield clothes.
It felt odd getting dressed because it meant you were really going into another battle. It sucked, because none of those times did you know it was the final battle, but this felt…final.
An air was just different in the motor home. Any jokes, any attempts to fuse the tension have long gone home. The weight of how much was riding on you to win and beat him is a stupidly large dark cloud over looming everyone.
Never necessarily felt like the end of the world before, just Hawkins.
This is world ending.
High stakes, higher risks.
No one says a damn word.
You pull up to the Creel House so Erica, Lucas, and Max can jump out. Max doesn’t even say a word as she turns to shut the door, and there’s a part of you that wished you didn’t see the worry on her face as you pulled away.
Your throat felt tight as you started the drive to Eddie’s trailer, and you look over your shoulder to catch his eye.
He glances at you, his eyes torn from Dustin’s face of utter worry. I love you, you mouth to him, Eddie blinks slowly at you, tilting his head. I love you, he mouths back.
You turn around, facing forward to see that they had arrived right behind Eddie’s trailer park.
Great.
Chapter Nine: The Piggyback
As the Motor home is placed into park, Nancy gets up by the door to go over the plan once more. There’s a small temptation to roll your eyes at it, but anything to procrastinate leaving the false safety net that is the trailer.
“Okay. I wanna run through it one more time.” Nancy starts to pace through the trailer. “Phase one.”
“We meet Erica at the playground.” Robin answers her. “She’ll signal Max and Lucas when we’re ready.”
“Phase two.”
“Max baits Vecna. He’ll go after her, which’ll put him in his trance.” Steve answers.
“Phase three?”
“Me and Eddie draw the bats away.” Dustin answers, and Eddie clutches onto Dustin’s shoulder fondly.
“Phase four.”
“We head into Vecna’s bat-free lair, and…we light him up.” You answer, your breath hitching. “Though I still don’t see why I—”
“You’re going with them.” Eddies interrupts you, jolting your attention to his soft eyes. “You’ve already argued this to death. Sorry, I know. But it makes most sense for you to go with them...two shields n’ all.”
You sigh, defeated.
“Nobody moves on to the next phase until we’ve all copied.” She continues like you hadn’t even spoken. “Nobody deviates from the plan, no matter what. Got it?”
“Got it.” You all answer, moving your way out the door one by one.
Your footsteps running to Eddie’s trailer were all light and fast, the last thing you needed was to be seen by one of his neighbours. As you walk into Eddie’s trailer, the rope still hanging, Steve is already getting ready to pull off somewhat of an acrobatic move.
“Be careful.” Dustin pleads, no ounce of sarcasm in his voice.
“Thanks buddy.” Steve says, patting him lightly. He hops to the rope, starting a climb. “Here goes nothing.” He sighs, mentally preparing himself.
As Steve reaches the threshold to the Upside Down, he pauses, taking a few deep breaths and using the gravity his body was in to lurch into a summersault. He lands gracefully, looking up to say ta da.
You stood by Nancy and Robin, all watching his pose. Robin leans into you both, asking “Wow, what does he want us to do, applaud?”
Steve pulls the mattress over in record time for a landing pad, no time to waste. “All right.” He calls out. “Let’s go.”
Yay. You get to go back in again. On purpose.
Nancy starts, taking her backpack off and Robin allows her to use her knee as a stepping stool. Nancy doesn’t waste much time, the climb fast and the drop sudden. You take off your bag, and Robin puts it to the side. “What, no stepping stool?” You ask her, and Robin rolls her eyes.
“Here.” Eddie offers, and you gladly take the offer.
Your climb is much faster this time, and the lurch onto the landing pad isn’t as new, but it still felt fucking weird.
Steve offers a hand up, and you’re only standing for a half a second when yours, Nancy’s, Steve’s, and Robin’s bags make their way across as well.
Eddie comes next, lurching himself into the Upside Down with as much force as he did last time, the wind visibly knocked out of him. He’s barely given a chance to recollect himself Steve offers a hand.
Eddie’s shield is sent, Robin decidedly coming next. As she lands after a quick climb, you and Eddie extend your hands to her, and she accepts.
Dustin is left to send one bag and the two makeshift spears before he makes the trip for the first time. As someone who’s greatest strengths aren’t exactly in athleticism it took him a minute to climb and get across, but as soon as he does, he sits up quickly to catch his breath.
No one gives him that moment, yanking him by the grey sweater to get off his ass.
All the gear is moved around appropriately, Nancy putting the gun on her back, Eddie taking some wires out of your bag, etc. As soon as everyone goes through a quick check list Nancy opens the door back into the red lightning, determined as ever. You follow behind Steve, a pit in your stomach as you know the moment is seconds away.
Eddie and Dustin follow behind, the door slamming behind them.
“Hey, guys, listen.” Steve starts, nearly stumbling into you as he turns around. You accept his apology and drift off to side to let him do his thing. “If things here start to go south, I mean, at all, you abort.” You nod next to him, your face serious. Eddie’s eyes drift to yours for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Okay? Draw the attention of the bats. Keep ‘em busy for a minute or two. We’ll take care of Vecna.” Dustin rolls his eyes at the dramatics, used to it by now.
“Don’t try to be cute or be a hero or something. Okay? You guys are just—”
“Decoys.” Dustin finishes the sentence with him, exasperated. “Don’t worry. You can be the hero, Steve.”
“Absolutely.” Eddie agrees, humour in his voice. “I mean, look at us. We are not heroes.” Eddie says, glancing next to him.
Steve accepts it, but you didn’t.
“Hey.” You say, pulling focus and ignoring your audience for a moment. “Listen. Don’t be a hero.” You emphasize to Eddie, swallowing the emotions that threaten to pour out to him.
Eddie nods like he already understood what you meant.
“No. I know you, Munson. You come back to me.”
Eddie gulps, his face losing any sense of humour it just had. You gulp as well, following as Nancy and Robin are starting to lead the group the other way.
You start to when Eddie calls, “Hey Steve?”
Steve turns around, and you can’t find it in yourself to face him again and still follow them.
“Make him pay.” Eddie says, and Steve doesn’t respond, but you could feel the tension from the nuance of what he had just said.
Their pace picks up and you’re right behind them when your body can’t seem to take another step with out doing one last thing. Nancy notices you’ve stopped walking, and when she’s about to ask you’ve already dropped the bag and the flashlight in your hand to sprint to him.
Eddie already knew what you were doing, as soon as you turned around he dropped his shield, preparing himself to catch you.
He does, effortlessly. You breathe him in as his arms engulf you, and this just made it ten times worse but all worth the while. “I love you.” You tell him, just loud enough that you’re not even sure he heard you.
“I love you.” He says it like a promise.
You couldn’t help yourself despite the inappropriateness of it. You kissed him. Just one taste. Just something. He kissed you just as fiercely.
As you separate, he opens his mouth to say something, but you don’t even let him.
No goodbyes.
You walk away from him, starting into a half jog when Steve is ushering you to hurry up. You fling your bag back on and pick up the flashlight, now matching the pace next to Steve as you make your way to the Creel House.
-
As you wonder through the forest towards the Creel House things are eerily quiet until Robin finally speaks up.
“Uh…I don’t mean to freak anyone out, but I swear we’ve seen this tree before.” She claims, pointing to specifically curvy little tree.
“That’s impossible.” Nancy answers her.
“That would suck, right?” Robin asks, rhetorical. “If Vecna destroyed the world because…’cause we got lost in the woods?”
“We’re not lost, Robin.” You tell her, and she bites out a sarcastic laugh. She starts running ahead, and you follow behind her.
“Robin, hey.” Nancy starts. “Watch out for the vines, guys! Hive mind! Remember?”
“Thank you!” Robin answers, and you follow just behind her to make sure she doesn’t lose her mind.
You end up following her, your lungs giving you shit for it. “Robin, slow down!” You call out to her. “Aren’t you supposed to be the clutzy one? How are you running this fast?”
“Fear.” She responds without missing a beat. “Mostly just the fear of being lost in the woods before we can save the world that keeps eating my brain.” She sounds out of breath, but she keeps trekking.
“Ugh!” You grunt in frustration but follow her anyway, despite a part of you begging to give your lungs a break.
Robin lets out a shout of accomplishment, and you see her coming back just as fast. “Found it!” She declares and passes right by you to run to Steve and Nancy.
You stop, finally, catching your breath. What the hell did you wind yourself before you got to the battle for? Hopefully Vecna wasn’t gunning for a on-foot chase.
“Hey guys!” You hear her voice echo. “You guys! Awesome news! Looks like we weren’t going the wrong way after all.”
You don’t a hear a response, and there’s a beat before Robin ushers them to follow her.
“Okay, jeez!” Robin starts running back towards you, and how is she not out of breath? “Ro…Show down! Ro…Robin!” Steve calls out to her as she starts to pass you.
As soon as she reaches you, you start walking again, having spent the last three minutes trying to catch your breath with your hands on your knees. Before long you’re navigating through some low and very prickly branches to view the Creel House in all it’s Upside Down glory. Damn, did those bats give you the chills.
Steve and Robin scanned the scene, looking for a specific orange glow. They spot it on the rocket on the outdoor playground. “Erica.”
-
Signal you give Erica is immediately met with a flashing signal. Feels like forever when Lucas finally signals back the message is copied.
“Okay, the lovebirds have copied, Max is Moving into phase two: Distracting Vecna.” Erica’s voice echoes.
“So far, so smooth.” Robin comments.
“Yeah, we’re not even at the hard part yet.” Steve adds on.
Nancy is busy like she has for the last ten minutes, dead focused on the Creel House. “Take the bait, you son of a bitch.” She urges quietly. “Take. The bait.”
It’s not like Vecna could particularly hear her, but it felt necessary.
It’s a waiting game. Max barely survived her last encounter with Vecna and this time she’s going in full throttle.
This is the worst thing to wait for.
“Okay, she’s in. Initiate phase three.” Erica’s voice echoes out of nowhere.
“She’s in. Move on to phase three.” Robin walkies not one second after Erica copies.
“Copy that. Initiating phase three.” Dustin’s voice answers on the walkie.
Less than a minute later you can vaguely hear a guitar rocking out in the distance.
You remain crouched down right by the play set, waiting for a hint of the idea that phase 3 is working.
“Damn, is….is that Master of Puppets?” Steve asks you, his brow furrowed.
You had a bit of a knowledge of Heavy Metal bands by now, but you could barely tell just from the guitar riff alone. “If it is, that’s definitely his sense of humour.” You mutter, listening with a half smile. “He plays a lot to himself, but I haven’t had a chance to see him at the Hideout yet.”
“Haven’t had a chance?” Steve asks, incredulous.
You shrug, not having an excuse. “We didn’t get out much.” You admit, and it suddenly makes sense why Eddie insisted you go to the beach.
A shrill sound suddenly catches your attention, no less than a few hundred demo-bats flying over you to protect against the source of the sound.
“Okay, it’s working.” Nancy mutters. “Let’s go.”
Nancy leads the march into the Creel House, your heart beating out of your chest in sheer anticipation. Whatever Eddie and Dustin were continuing to do after the sounds of the guitar faded seemed to work, not a demo-bat in sight as you open the door to a house riddled in Vecna’s vines. When you thought Eddie’s trailer looked bad, this seemed like nothing in comparison.
You, Robin, Nancy, and Steve go one by one up the stairs to Vecna, a sense of purpose in each step as you aim for the wood between the vines. Steve offers his hand as each one of you make the top of the stairs after him over a particularly wide vine. At long last, the weapons are coming out to play. Robin hands you a bottle and her lighter, Steve grabs his axe, and Nancy holds her incomplete shotgun.
As you attempt to move forward an earthquake rumbles, this one bigger than ever, causing all four of you to huddle up, clutching on to one another so none of you end up falling over, and God forbid, onto one of the vines.
There’s a moment of relief, looking at one another as it passed.
The moment is too short, Robin looking down to a vine slowly making its way around her foot. She barely gets any time to respond, the vine tripping her. She lands onto it, yelping and it pulls her up against the wall. She was up there, too.
The vines continue moving around her, pinning her extremities down and around her neck. Robin calls out, voice full of panic. “Nancy!”
Your attempt at running to her aide is cut short, despite her not necessarily calling out to you. Nancy leans in, beating the vines with the butt of her gun, and before you could even attack it one by your foot gets a hold of you, dragging you on the front of your stomach and legs across the hall and strapping you up against the wall directly facing Robin.
“Oh shi—” you call out, the breath stolen from your lungs. You couldn’t even finish, a vine wrapping itself around your mouth to prevent any yelling…or breathing.
Steve turns quickly to your aide, attempting to use his axe against the vine that attacked you. A vine retaliates by grabbing at it, causing a tug of war between Steve and the vine. The axe is yanked out of his grasp, and three of the vines forcefully tug Steve five feet off the ground by the neck and waist.
Nancy hears Steve’s struggle, turning up in horror as Steve is dragged up to the wall. The floor is stolen right from under Nancy, the vine yanking her by one foot, as she barely manages to escape another one slithers down and across her stomach, yanking her up by the wall at an angle.
Each one of you is now pinned hopelessly against the wall, the vines wrapping themselves to immobilize the four of you. As the vine wrapped around your mouth slowly suffocates you, you can only hear Robin, Nancy, and Steve audibly choking.
Is…is this it?
-
It only takes a few seconds.
From going up the stairs deliberately, to pinned against the wall with no oxygen to speak of, it only takes a few seconds.
It only takes a few seconds.
From running to safety to chopping his only way out, it only takes a few seconds.
Eddie ignored every call for him to stop from Dustin. He ignored the echoes of your voice telling him not to be a hero. He ignored the gnawing feeling at the back of his mind…
He looks up to Dustin’s distressed face, picking up the shield and his weapon. “I’m buying more time.” He says, and runs head first into the swarm.
He picks up the bike he once dropped and starts on it, peddling as fast as his legs would let him. He gets a good minute of biking in, looking back and letting out his war cry.
Dustin uses all his strength to come after Eddie, severely injuring his left leg in the process.
His bike loses its footing. Eddie scrambles to his feet, one hundred percent bent on making his way back.
Back to you.
Then…
I didn’t know what to do, so I… I… I ran away.
I just ran, and I left her there.
I mean, look at us. We are not heroes.
He couldn’t run away. Not again. Not when for once in his life he could confront it, head on.
He breathes, mentally preparing himself. It…only takes a second.
His shield is pounded by his spear rhythmically, egging the bats on.
They charge after him. It’s not long before they surround him in a tornado, and he watched in awe, his heart painfully and eerily still. A few dive in after him, and he successfully thwarts them.
It only takes a second before one gets its tail around his neck. Others follow suit, grabbing arms…and legs.
Others dive in for his torso.
Dustin yells out after him, watching the scene unfold.
As his flesh tears, Eddie can only yell in pain.
It only took a second.
-
As your vision started to blur the vines around your neck suddenly loosen, letting the four of you fall to your knees. You blink as oxygen returns to you, the other three coughing from the vines being wrapped around their necks. You watch in awe as the vines retreat.
“I don’t believe in a higher power or divine intervention. But that was a miracle.” Robin breathes out, her breathing wheezy from the constant choking.
“Then we better not waste it.” Nancy declares, determined as ever now that you somehow escaped the clutches of Vecna’s vines. She cocks her shotgun.
“Phase four.” Steve manages out, still catching his breath.
“We light him up.” You finish, grabbing one of the bottles from Robin.
You approach Vecna’s room, seeing him held up by his vines and in a trance, completely vulnerable. You hold up the bottle to Steve, he grabs it from you and you ignite it with the lighter you grabbed earlier. Steve throws the bottle to Vecna, it lands perfectly on his chest as his whole-body catches fire. Vecna screams aloud, and he falls directly to the floor amid these new flames.
Vecna only writhes for a fraction of a second before standing up and facing you head on, somehow intimidating while simultaneously burning alive. You passed the lighter to Robin, allowing her to light up a new bottle and thrust another one to his chest. He falters back, and while you watch him charge forward, Nancy takes the moment to step forward herself, gun aimed.
She shoots, the barrel hitting his shoulder.
She cocks it and she shoots again without hesitation, hitting his lower stomach and causing him to fall back. Nancy shoots again, and again.
Vecna attempts to come at her, but he falters back as the weight of the fire, Hop’s sword wielding, and Nancy’s shots all in one. He lets out a howl, something from the depths of hell.
Nancy lets nothing about it falter her. She snarls her upper lip, letting Vecna know he can go where to back he came from.
Her finger pulls the trigger a final time and it causes Vecna to fall backwards through the wooden panels up against the window to the attic. She lowers the gun, turning back to face all three as you attempt to catch your breath.
You all run to where he supposedly fell, seeing nothing but ash and an empty space where Vecna should��ve been.
What now?
-
I think it’s my hear, Henderson.
I think it’s finally my year.
I love you, man.
-
It’s silent. None of you know any of what’s happening…neither Dustin, Eddie, nor Erica are copying back on the walkie.
The clock chimes from in the Creel House, and you catch up to it on it’s last and fourth chime. “Four chimes.” Nancy breathes, and the air is sucked right out of your lungs when you understand. “Max.”
You, Robin, and Steve stare at one another with bug eyes, wondering if its real life when the ground shakes under your feet violently. It’s not just the Upside Down, this time.
Eddie’s trailer, the roadside, the lake, and Vecna’s house are all ripped apart, the earth falling into it from several feet away. The only thing you can do is hang on to the bottom of the stair well, shaking around like beads in a damn maraca.
After God knows how long the ground finally ceases.
You get grab a hold of the banister and start running as fast as your legs could carry you through the forest.
Vecna had disappeared, but had apparently succeeded in his mission to kill four people, to kill Max. These were important details, but none compared to the most important.
The mission failed, time to regroup, assess damages and go from there.
Namely, time to regroup.
They all called after you, following behind by a few feet as you ignored them. They finally realized where you were headed, the path clear to them.
As you reached the park, you head straight for the trailer but someone calling your name stops you.
It wasn’t Robin, Nancy, or Steve from behind you.
It wasn’t Eddie either.
You look to the source, facing Dustin hobbling slowly towards you, with what appears to be an injured leg. Your concern for the injury fades into the back of your mind when you see his face. The glossy eyes, the runny nose.
Panic is already invaded your chest.
“I’m sorry.” Dustin chokes out, his voice thick with tears.
“Where is he?” You ask, needing the proof yourself.
“There was nothing I could do.” He continues, attempting to keep you from taking a step further.
Your teeth clench like your life depends on it. You stride to where Dustin was hobbling from and the glimpse of what you see when you go around the corner unmistakably shatters you.
Steve runs up to you, now catching wind to the situation as soon as the broken sob escapes your throat. You attempt to run to him, but Steve holds you back, and the pain is so sharp you can’t even tell what he’s saying to you.
You fight him off, tears flowing down your cheeks like a water fall and you’re crying so hard you can’t breathe.
You find yourself on your knees, bent over, clutching your chest as someone, you don’t know who, attempted to give you comfort despite this being one of the worst times to break down like this.
You don’t recall actually saying much, but the word No seemed to run through your head like a damn mantra. You had half a mind to push Dustin and demand what happened and why did he let him do something so stupid, but the only thing that escapes you is more full throttle chest sobs.
He can’t be gone.
He was just here.
He was just here.
-
Your friends wished they could’ve said they let you calm down when they finally managed to escort you from the Upside Down.
Given they didn’t exactly have the privilege, nor was time theirs to give for the moment, Steve tugs you up and lets you sob into his shoulder as he walks you over to what is less of a snack-size gate. You crawl your way through the gaping hole of what used to be his trailer. It was all too much, seeing his home ripped to shreds.
As your blinders go down, you saw the entire town engulfed in flames. Your sobs became hiccups, the pain still unbearable but there was no room for your grief when so much of your down is absolutely ruined.
Steve uses the motor home to drive you and the rest of the team to their respective houses, the only thing to do was to go home, get changed and figure out what came next.
On the way to your house, Steve keeps looking at you in the rear view, and you barely notice as you watch the outside in shock. He pulls up to your house first, despite passing Robin’s on the way.
Steve gets up and walks to you, and takes a deep breath in. “He died a hero. He saved most of the town. That’s what you tell her.” He states, knowing whether he was gentle wouldn’t make a difference to your mood.
Not that you particularly cared for his tone for the moment. You look up at him, your eyes shrouded over in grief. “This town hat—” you manage out, your words barely leaving your mouth through the thickness of your voice. You just nod, tears leaving the pair of eyes that already hurt from crying so hard.
You get up from your seat, mindlessly walking to the door and down the steps.
You make your way up the path, refusing to let any memories of him bubble to the surface, despite him the only thing on your mind. Steve asked if you were gonna be ok, but you barely registered it.
Before your hand reaches the door knob your mom opens the door. And before she could even ask what was wrong, another broken sob leaves your chest as lurch into her arms.
You cried for an hour before she could even get a word in, edgewise.
-
The police eventually reach your door, stopping by for rounds to make sure your family was ok for supplies and then told its not mandated but it is suggested to leave town. As you walk around the corner from grabbing a piece of toast just to stop your stomach from begging for more food, the officer at the door takes note of your presence.
“Oh, Miss. L/N! We’ve been attempting to get a hold of you to ask whether whereabouts of your current boyfriend, but we have not been able to get a hold of you.” He asks casually, like he wasn’t going to go arrest him.
You gulp, looking him dead in the eyes and say, “He died. In the earthquake.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that.”
“Mmhm.” You mutter, and your body somehow carries itself upstairs.
Your body spends time either in full pain mode or none. You refused to sleep in your own room, it was filled to the brim of memories of him that you didn’t need a reminding of. You had even attempted to spend all your time watching whatever your father had chosen to watch, but the words ‘Munson Murders’ on the news sent you seeing red as you stomped up the stairs.
After lying in the spare bed for a good portion of the day your doorbell rings.
Your mom calls your name after answering. You didn’t even bother responding.
There’s a knock on the door the door opened after the third one, Steve and Robin walking right in with Dustin on their tail.
Dustin couldn’t even come through the door, and there’s a shred of empathy that understands how guilty he must’ve felt.
“Hey. We’re going to the school to drop off and help with donations. Come with us.” Steve says, walking over to bend to your level.
You squint at him through your watery eyes. You sniffed. “I don’t think I’m the best person to be volunteering for the affected, Steve.”
Robin comes up to the side as well. “We know you lost him. And that- there’s no words to describe how much it sucks. But there are a lot of people in Hawkins who lost everything.”
“Are you telling me that people have it worse, so I should just get over it?”
“That’s the opposite of what we’re saying.” Steve claims. “we’re saying they’ll understand loss. There are other people who died in this earthquake you won’t be the only one mourning.”
“It wasn’t an earthquake.” You whisper, going underneath your blanket. You almost don’t make it under your covers to hide the violet sob that threatened to leave your lips.
They let you breathe for a moment.
The blanket is ripped off you, Robin yanking you out of bed.
She places some clothes on the bed. “Put these on, meet us outside.”
If you could’ve, you would’ve laughed. As they leave, you request they send in Dustin.
Dustin walks in with the help of a cane. He doesn’t look you in the eye, only the floorboards.
“I don’t blame you.” You whisper, shaking your head. “At first, maybe. I don’t even remember you telling me what happened, but I do know. He chopped it and ran, yeah?” Dustin nods shakily. “That was his choice. His stupid, fucking choice that he made about his own life. Not yours. I don’t blame you.” Dustin shoots you smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “You don’t blame yourself either, right?” You ask him. “Cause it’s not your fault.”
A tear falls down Dustin’s face and he wipes it away hastily.
“Dustin. It’s not your fault.”
Dustin gulps awkwardly and tells you he’ll meet you outside. Somehow, the interaction with Dustin convinced you to go with them. You nodded, implying you’ll be right there. Before he leaves, he turns around awkwardly. “Uh, thank you. I needed that.”
You nod in response, slowly shutting the door.
You turn to face the clothes Robin has picked out for you, a pair of jeans with one of his shirts. You appreciated the sentiment but threw his shirt holding your breath to refuse the smell as you walk into your room to grab a different one.
You weren’t quite there yet.
As you run down the stairs you tell your mom you’re going to help at the High School. Steve and Robin promised you were only going to the gym and would be avoiding the real building for you at any cost.
On the way Dustin mentioned that El, Mike, Will, Johnathan and some buy named Argyle were in town, having made a long two-day trip from the middle of the desert. You gulped, watching outside as Steve drove to the school. You ask how Max was, having received the news from your mom after you had finally calmed down enough to talk.
You still hadn’t seen her, the guilt cutting through you like a knife. Not that you didn’t care about her, you just wanted to be able to stand for five minutes without the mere thought of him eating you from the outside.
She wasn’t any better or worse…which is good, you guessed.
You finally pull in and open the trunk to three boxes. Dustin attempts to carry one, but you take it from him instead, refusing his protests.
As shitty as you felt, seeing the gym filled to the brim with cots and people seeking necessities actually did put things into perspective for you. As long as you grieved, at least you grieved him in the privacy of your home. You see the missing persons reports posted, your throat tightening when you catch a glimpse of the graffiti on his.
You didn’t have it in you to take it down. Didn’t want to make a scene.
There were people in a med bay on oxygen, for Christ’ sake.
Robin greeted the volunteer kindly, pointing out each box and its respective belongings.
When the volunteer offers a tax receipt, Robin politely declines and in turn, offers the four of you for volunteer work. You’re ushered away into giving water with Dustin, Steve to the clothes, and Robin is making sandwiches.
As Dustin is making his rounds, he notices someone pull up to his poster and switch out the graffitied one for a new one. You’re talking with one of the affected about something when he calls out to you, nodding to him.
A pang hits your chest as you see Wayne holding a whole file of missing posters for him.
“I’m sorry, I just see someone I know.” You tell her, and she gracefully lets you go, seeing the gloss appear in your eyes as you do. As much as you didn’t tell her, she could tell you had lost something as well.
Dustin hesitates in approaching him, but you help cross the threshold for him. “W-Wayne?” You stumble out.
He recognises your voice, turning to face you as soon as your voice hits his ears. “Oh, bless the Lord.” He mutters as he pulled you into a hug.
You grit your teeth to stop a sob from leaving, a tear falling down each cheek as you involuntarily breathe in his cologne.
You are breathing heavy when he lets go, and he notices your disposition. “What’s wrong?” He asks you apprehensively.
You gulp, the words can’t even escape your lips. “Where is he?” He asks you, and the tears falling down your face is an answer in itself. He pulls you in again, this time you hear sniffles coming from him as well, the heat of his tears hitting your shoulders. This was someone who raised the person you have loved for five months. His pain must’ve been…unimaginable. “What-what happened?” He asks, pulling a way from you..
“He…” you gulp, “he died in the earthquake. I wasn’t with him.”
“I was.” Dustin chokes out, holding out the chain for him. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”
Oh. That’s why Dustin refused.
Of course, you fucking narcissist.
Wayne sits down on one of the cots, clutching onto the chain like his life depended on it, attempting to hide his grief in a sea of people that believed his nephew was responsible for the problem to begin with.
Dustin manages to hobble right beside Wayne on the cot. “I…I wish everyone had gotten to know him. Really know him. Because they would’ve loved him, Mr. Munson. They would’ve loved him. Even in the end… he never stopped being Eddie.” That was the first time you heard his name in over 48 hours. You wouldn’t even allow yourself to think it. “Despite everything. I never even saw him get mad.�� Your brow admittedly quirked at this, because could name five times you’ve seen him get mad in his last two days off by heart. The memories seem to cut through like a knife.
“He could’ve run. He could’ve saved himself. But he fought. He fought and died to protect this town. This town that… hated him.” A detail that still gets your anger phase of your grief revved up until you start crying in anger again, but you had to let it slide because this wasn’t technically about your grief. “He isn’t just innocent… Mr. Munson he’s… he’s a hero.”
A choked-out sob leaves your lips, same as Wayne. Your hand slaps across your mouth to mute it, trying not to draw any attention to yourself. Dustin leaves Wayne alone, letting him sit in his own grief.
After about five minutes Wayne wraps you in a tighter hug than before, and he whispers, “Thank you. You gave my boy life.”
By extension, by bringing him to Upside Down…did it mean…you took it away, as well?
You didn’t let out that part, let the tears fall as he continually embraced you. “Can I help with anything? You have a place to stay?”
Wayne shakes his head, refusing your help. You had a feeling he would, but knew he appreciated the offer regardless. “Sunshine?”
You turn around from where you were walking back for another volunteer position.
“Please call me every now and then, yeah? I need to know that you’re okay.” He asks, and you nod shakily.
Maybe you’ll break out an old t-shirt of his.
-
Funny how losing someone as close as he was does the end of the world compare.
However, the phone call you had received that night was enough to get you to drive a half a mile out of town and to phone call’s origin.
The cabin opens with El standing in the doorway, her hair all buzzed off and a smile sitting on her face. You walk in, the cabin crowded. Suddenly you felt foolish as you realized how much you were missing.
Hop was…there. Living, breathing. Thinner.
He looks like he went through hell to get back, but he was grinning on the couch, arm around Joyce.
When Joyce sees you, her face lights up. She gets up immediately, throwing her arms around you. Felt warm.
“Oh my sweet girl. I’m so sorry about him.” Her eyes full of sincerity as she looks into yours.
Tears come back, and you breathe through them. “I missed you.” You admit, and Joyce lets out a chuckle as she hugs you again.
“So is anyone gonna tell me how—” you point to Hopper.
“Long story.” About four or five people chirp out. Well, you’ll find out one day.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner.” You tell Joyce, noting everyone has already made their way back to sit down and enjoy the company of the Byers and the extras that came with them.
“Oh, sweetheart.” You gulp at the nickname. “It’s so okay. It’s only been two days. As far as I see it you’re so strong.”
God it was nice to have her back.
“Family Video is caput.” Robin says as you walk up to them.
“We seriously need to find new jobs?” You ask her, your eyebrow raised.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Steve asks as you scooch in-between them.
“If you asked me yesterday, I would’ve said no.” You admit, watching the grainy tv set in front of you. You look around at the people who all risked their lives to get to the point where Vecna was burning right in front of you.
“And now?”
“Still no. But it’s nice to have some company.”
-
Thanks for reading! Remember reblogging and commenting really means the world to me I read every single one <3
taglist: @emturtles @yourthebrokengirl @steeldaisies @skrzydlak @thirddeadlysin @sammararaven @bebe07011 @prettylovley
#eddie munson x you#eddie munson x y/n#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson fanfic#eddie munson fanfiction#stranger things#eddie munson
29 notes
·
View notes
Text
League Shenanigans
୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧
Where Heeseung is just trying to play League but Jake keeps bothering him. Jake quickly learns the consequences of interrupting his hyung's game.
Ler!Heeseung
Lee!Jake
1.6k words
AN: It's been some time since I've last written a proper fic so bare with my regarding its downfalls <3
୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧
It was one of those rare days when all the members had the day off. Most of the members decided to take this opportunity to go outside and do things. Whether it be shopping, sightseeing, or just anything to enjoy their time off. However, Heeseung and Jake were the two members who decided to stay back home and relax in their own ways there. Jake's excuse mostly being he wanted to sleep in and Heeseung just wanted to game.
At least Heeseung was trying to game. Roughly around 1 pm, Jake had finally woken up from his nice long sleep. Instead of deciding to do something productive he felt like seeing what Heeseung was doing. Since then, Heeseung has had to deal with Jake hovering over him from behind his chair both watching his game as well as hindering it.
Every once and a while Jake would shake Heeseung's chair to try and scare him or he would poke the older's side to distract the older. At first, Heeseung thought his attempts were funny, that was until he kept on doing them over and over. "Jakey if you don't stop you're going to regret it." Heeseung hissed as Jake poked his side once again. He could see the slight reflection of Jake smiling widely and giggling from his monitor.
"What? Are you not a good enough player for it to not bother you hyung?" Jake teased as he blew on the ear Heeseung didn't have tucked under his headphones, causing the older to flinch. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Jakey." His game was slowly coming near an end and he'd already been doing worse than usual because of Jake's antics.
Jake felt butterflies in his stomach at Heeseung's words. Would he regret his actions? Probably but right now he still had the upper hand. If he was going to go down at least he could go down with a bang. He quickly reached over and turned off Heeseung's monitor before making a run for it. He knew better than to stick around after pulling off a stunt like that.
Heeseung was stunned for a few seconds before he quickly jumped out of his chair "JAKE!" He yelled as he bolted after the younger. Unfortunately for Jake, Heeseung was a rather fast runner so he was gaining on him pretty fast. The shorter looked behind him to see how close Heeseung was and his eyes widened to find him so close. "Hyung we can talk about this!" He squeaked as he made his way to the living room, going on one side of the couch to try and use it as a form of protection.
While the couch did help with keeping Heeseung on one side while he was on the other, it also left him with no escape. Jake looked around trying to find somewhere to go. He could try and make it so he and Heeseung swapped sides but that was pretty unlikely. He was ultimately screwed.
"C'mon Jakey! We both know you're trapped~" Heeseung teased the younger as he stayed planted on his side of the couch. He knew he had the advantage in this situation and was not going to budge. Jake gulped as he watched Heeseung, making sure the older didn't make a move on him unexpectedly. "Hyuuung this isn't fair." He whined.
Heeseung only grinned at Jake "Neither was you turning my monitor off and messing with me throughout my entire match, but here we are." The younger had no way of getting out of this one. "You're better off just surrendering now and I'll go easier on you." Jake did not like the sound of giving up. Even if his odds were very slim.
"Ok fine.." He pretended to give up walking towards Heeseung, and as he got closer at the last minute he went to make a run for it. Heeseung however had predicted Jake's plan and easily capture the shorter in his arms. "Gotcha Jakey~" He maneuvered them onto the ground, easily pinning Jake's hands under his knees. Though he made sure not to put too much pressure.
Jake could feel butterflies swarming in his stomach as he looked up at Heeseung. He had done it to himself and he knew that but it didn't mean he wasn't dreading what was coming next. "Hyuuung-" Jake squirmed trying to get himself free. "I'm soooorry."
Heeseung raised an eyebrow "Sorry you did it or sorry you got caught?" He chuckled knowing the answer. He hovered his hands over Jake's stomach and wiggled his fingers playfully, causing the younger's squirming to intensify. "Noho hyung I swear I'm sohorry." He couldn't help the anticipatory giggles that managed to fall from his mouth.
"Aww giggling already Jakey? I haven't even touched you yet" Heeseung grinned and dropped his hands down quickly before raising them again. His actions causing a squeak out of Jake. "And a squeak? I don't even have to put in the work." Jake felt his cheeks heat up as light blush formed on his face.
"Dohon't be meheean-" Jake squirmed under Heeseung, there was nothing more he could do really. His only option was to wait it out until Heeseung decided to tickle him.
Heeseung only smiled at Jake's cute behavior "Is the teasing getting to you?" He giggled as he pretended to drop his hands down again, causing Jake to let out another squeak. "Your cheeks are all red~"
Jake shook his head as his cheeks only reddened, looking away from Heeseung to try and hide somewhat. Though it didn't do much considering he couldn't hide his face with his hands and arms.
"Don't be shy Jakey!" Heeseung cooed, "Your blush is absolutely adorable!" He finally dove in to squeeze at Jake's sides to get the younger boy to look back up at him. The reaction was almost immediate as well, giggles instantly falling out of Jake.
"NOHOhohoho IHIHim SOhohorry!" His squirming became more intense as he kicked out his legs. "IHIHIhill LEHehave you BEhehe!" Jake's negotiating ultimately did nothing at this point. Heeseung had already forgotten about his League game, now he just wanted to see his cute dongsaeng become a cute little giggly puddle.
Heeseung slowly moved his hands to Jake's stomach, scribbling away at the area. "I don't know Jakey what you did was a maaaajor offense and now you have to deal with the consequences that entail!" He loved teasing the shorter boy any chance he got. Watching the younger squirm around and squeal never failed to bring a large smile to his face.
It technically brought a large smile to Jake's face too, however, he didn't have much choice in that matter. "IHIhihim SOHOHOrry!" Jake squeaked as he gasped out from laughter. Heeseung only chuckled "I know you are Jakey but you still have to endure your punishment~" It was safe to say Heeseung was solely doing this for his own amusement at this point.
He had already forgiven Jake as soon as he'd done the criminal action - mostly because it wasn't ever serious in the first place. Jake, however, did not need to know that. "Hmmm, what do you think would happen if my hands found their way up to a certain sensitive spot of yours hm?"
Jake's eyes instantly widened at the suggestion "HYuhuhung NOHOhoho THAhahats NOhohot FAHahair" He pulled at his hands trying his best to escape (though he was failing miserably). Heeseung grinned and slowly trailed his hands up Jake's body. Momentarily stopping to prod at his underarms.
"HEE IHIhill DOHoho AhahahanyTHihihing!" Jake declared, though, of course, he didn't actually mean that. Heeseung just quirked his eyebrow up "Oh really? Anything at all huh?" He grinned as he continued to trail his fingers upwards to the younger boy's neck. There, the tickles stopped and his hands just sat in place, unmoving.
The giggles didn't stop though Jake twitching as phantom tickles remained throughout his body. "HYuhuhung cohohome onnnn." He felt a blush forming on his face as he waited for the older to just go for that spot which made him go crazy every time. If he secretly loved it that was between him and god.
"Yes, Jakey? Do you perhaps want me to move my fingers?" Heeseung slowly dragged his nails against Jake's neck causing the younger boy to jolt at the feeling. "NOhoHOHo!" Jake declared as the small movement already was driving him mad.
"Aww aren't you just the cutest," Heeseung cooed at the adorable boy, "didn't even have to try and you're already so reactive." He smirked as he quickly scribbled his fingers over Jake's neck.
The reaction was immediate. Jake let out a loud squeal followed by loud cackles as he squirmed all around like a fish out of water. "NOHOHOHO IHIHITS SOHOHO BAHAHAD!" He kicked his legs out as if it would ground him in some way.
Heeseung leaned down and blew soft raspberries against the sensitive spot. Jake snorted and his laughter only intensified. "HYUHUHUNG NOHOHOHO PLEHEHEHEASE!" He was practically begging for his life. "I dunno Jakey I feel like you deserve just one final little sendoff."
Heeseung took one long breath before blowing a long raspberry. Jake let out another squeal but shortly after his laughter fell silent as he gasped for air. Heeseung chuckled as he stopped his tickles and slowly started rubbing away the phantom tickles. "Soooo Jakey," Heeseung waited for the other boy to calm down some, "What did we learn today?"
Jake softly glared up at Heeseung "That you suck." This caused the older to quirk his eyebrow up and wiggle his fingers above Jake, causing the younger boy to squeak "I MEHEAN THAT I SHOULDN'T INTERRUPT YOUR GAME TIME!" Jake replied frantically.
The taller boy smiled at the answer "Perfect, now let's go cuddle on the couch I'm reaaaal tired after all that." Jake just scoffed at his words but happily followed him to the couch.
"If anyone should be tired it's me."
୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈୨୧
40 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Underlying Thoughts of Scar (Third Life Desertduo)
My head throbbed with the bloodthirsty thoughts that rested within my head often. I never thought my mind could become so intrusive, but the second I collided with the ground and took my yellow life to its early grave, I realized that my mind worked in ways I never expected.
When Grian looked at me with such disappointment afterward, my thoughts went to something so terrifying that I pleaded with him to stay with me for the ride. Grian told me that it was okay, that he had agreed for when he lost his first life. His green life felt secure; it held me safely, but I also felt threatened.
I know he watches me rest, breathing heavily with stress and clinging to me like I will wither way any second. I bet he thinks his actions are creepy. Grian was always an overthinker, expecting the worst to happen at any moment, so watching me sleep and petting my hair was never mentioned by him. I never needed him to mention that he did this. Surprisingly, it was the only thing that helped me rest at night; it was the only thing that helped to die down the thoughts of strangling him while he rested.
When Grian’s trap miraculously worked after seeming to fail, I felt so proud of the man I wanted to hold and wrap my arms around him. It was me and him against the world; how he looked at me with such adoration and excitement almost made my eyes water. I didn’t want to screw this up, but I knew I eventually would. There is a reason I’m not often trusted.
When Bdubs had gotten the paper, my heart shattered. I turned so quickly, so bloodthirsty, that I hadn’t realized the person I was turning on was the same person who gave me this opportunity. I loved Grian, and here I was, taking his yellow life. Once I had done this, with blood splattered upon me, I held my breath, waiting for Grian to return. Bdubs kept silent, sword held up, but his guard let down around me; it was a terrible mistake.
When Grian returned, I saw the same expression I expected but backed away. He was hurt but desperate for my carcass to be thrown aside. Grian screamed traitor at me, so I did the only thing to show my partner in crime that I could be the thorn he needed in his side as he killed me off, I took down Bdubs and took his life. Bdubs was surprised, to say the least, but I’m shocked he expected me to protect him when Grian was right here, Grian was all I needed. I needed this man to win.
I told Grian he could kill me, and Grian begged not to, so I played to the idea of the both of us living. I pushed a boat into the water, and we swam around momentarily, ignoring the moans and cries of our death coming from the people who hated seeing us thrive. I imagined they would have all been our friends some other time, and no hard feelings would come from the bloodshed.
Hiking up to our home was difficult. I’m not sure if it could even be considered a home anymore, with how my death would be the only thing to remember it as. I knew with the battle we planned out, I wouldn’t win, and I didn’t want to.
Grian quickly threw his fists at me as I held my arms out. He gripped my arms tightly with one of his hands, although I hadn't resisted, and pulled them away as he repeatedly slammed his fists against my face. I was struggling to breathe; everything was disorienting. And I remember pleading for death until I eventually told Grian his earned congratulations.
After all, the man deserved it, even if he threw away his win with his own death.
12 notes
·
View notes
Text
G-Witch Episode 13 - Second Cour Start
It's been awhile! I'm positively jittery to break down this episode. Let's start with that banger OP change shall we?
I love the imagery in this shot in particular. It's interesting that we see Suletta start in shadow, slowly moving to the light throughout. The symbolism is obviously framing Miorine as the light she seeks (edeleth flashbacks anyone?) Oh and the boys have a brief cameo. Yeesh Guel looks like a defeated wreck. 5lan has weird prominence so I wonder if he'll be something after all. Maybe a heel turn? Antagonist at least judging from the glimpse of Pharact. Shaddiq certainly will be.
Aerial Rebuild my beloved. I love her so much and she looks so stylish in action. But woof, I feel bad for Earth House. They're deeply affected by the terrorist attack, and cringe at the violence involved with duels. Great detail!
Meanwhile, Suletta's persistent cheeriness is a stark contrast. They're puzzled she can remain so blithe about it. Shame they don't know our poor little tomato head has been brainwashed by mother dearest. More on that later.
Miorine on the other hand is going through the wringer. We only see her briefly but it says so much about her mindset. She's dressed in a black business suit, as if already mourning her father and preparing to take his place at Benerit. It's not surprising she's neglecting herself while she watches her father, but you hate to see it.
Prospera: You did the right thing brutally liquidizing that guy, Suletta. Very smart. Another way? Don't be silly. Murder is always ethical.
Lol. Lmao. Ugly crying. You're going to need so much therapy.
I saw this in the promos but it's still crazy they just stroll into the episode like this. This episode humanizes them, which is nice. You glean nuggets of character from Sophie especially. She's an endearing terrorist if nothing else. The detail of naming her stuffed animals her family, the sister moniker for Suletta-- it paints a lonely portrait of a girl desperate for familial connection.
Norea is interesting too, stoic but blatantly disdainful of the luxuries Spacians take for granted. Clean air/water, plentiful vegetation, and even general happiness. All things Earthians lack.
And here comes the Benerit brigade to make their lives worse. I sense super fun times ahead ;-; I do wonder what the endgame for Dawn of Fold is though. They must know attacking Delling would result in violent retaliation. Hm, something to think about.
Good for Nika standing up for herself and Earth House! Sophie and Norea's simple school life might be over soon as it began. Rather audacious they thought murdering a girl on campus wouldn't be noticed lol. Suletta was so dashing protecting her friend 🥺 She may be highly impressionable but she's a good egg. Next episode, it'll be a duel for Nika's life! I can't wait~
And omg Miorine figured it out. This makes the quick fic I wrote canon compliant! Very pleased we solved that misunderstanding quickly.
This is worrisome though. What really is Quiet Zero and why is Delling convinced it'll bring peace? And what will come of Prospera using Mio to further it? Nothing good, I wager.
But enough of all that dire stuff. Let's discuss the phenomenal ED
The first thing that came to mind when seeing this is Utena. What we see here is Suletta and Aerial serving as the Duelist and Witch respectively. It's incredibly smart to have Aerial in the role of unwilling servant/collaborator both for Utena parallels but also for The Tempest. She can't break free from her servitude, trapped as Arial is as a servant of Prospero and Anthy to Akio. Utena/Suletta is the one who struggles against delusion and misguided beliefs. GOD IT'S SO GOOD Y'ALL
The ED is so romantic too, I'm going to faint. They way they look at each other, even Mio who visibly seems uncertain. And the way their joined hands tremble in the last shot? You can feel Suletta's desperation. That collection of Suletta's is so ominous and witchy too. Reminds me of PMMM. (Also confirms Eri clones in Aerial?? Maybe) This season is off to a rocking start <3
#g witch#gundam witch from mercury#g witch episode 13#suletta mercury#miorine rembran#nika nanaura#sulemio#suletta x miorine
31 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Barbie Bug Bit Me HARD And I Can't Decide What to Write
So as I mentioned near the end of this post, I want to start writing for Barbie (well, I say "start," but I have one up already, albeit a short one inspired by a song from a musical that I'm not super fond of and may rewrite) to break the monotony of only either writing Death Note or my novel. I watched and loved several of the princess/fairy tale Barbie movies as a kid and still think fondly of them today; finding out that some of the movies share voice actors with Death Note (a brainrot that has lasted for four years now) was a neat bonus and has helped renew my interest in Barbie, as did the live action movie that came out this summer. So I have a lot of ideas for stories I'd like to tell using the characters, some recent while a couple others have been marinating for a couple of years now. But with the new limit I'm putting in place to make sure stories will actually get finished, I can only pick ONE of these ideas to write for now and I can't decide what I want to write. So I'm going to tell you, who is reading this, a little about the stories without giving too much away about the plots and then ask you to pick which one you'd most like to read out of the choices.
Threads and Seams: Retelling of the Princess and the Pauper, but told from multiple perspectives and with things diverging heavily from canon as early as chapter one when Preminger's attempt to expose Erika as an imposter and blame her and Julian for Anneliese's disappearance backfires HORRIBLY. Will also be a little dark.
Untitled Changeling!Erika AU: Another Princess and the Pauper retelling, except Erika is a fairy who starts to learn more about herself and grow into her powers as she impersonates Anneliese. A lighter fic than the previous idea, but there is a small amount of body-horror planned and some other fairies introduced as supporting characters can be tricky.
From Violet to Fly Trap: A young woman wakes up as Princess Luciana from the novel "The Island Princess," which diverges heavily from the Barbie Roberts movie she enjoyed as a child and ends on a sad note since the author died before she could finish it. With her knowledge of what will happen, Luciana is determined to make sure Ro gets the happy ending she deserves...even if she has to outvillain her mother in order to do it. I've been reading a lot of webcomics where someone is reborn into a novel that ends badly and/or as a character that will suffer A LOT and, upon realizing this, does what they can to avoid this fate and ends up changing the entire story. And since I also have an evil part of me that wants to write bad endings to light-hearted things and make myself and others cry, I thought, "Why not combine the two? Create an angsty mess for the protagonist to clean up?"
Barbie In Danganronpa: Pretty self-explanatory, Barbie and her friends are trapped in a school and are told that the only way to get out is for someone to get away with murder. This is one that I've been thinking of for several years now, jotting down character notes, going back and forth on who should live or die, and I have the prologue and two out of the "six" chapters (if you've ever played Danganronpa, you'll know that there are two parts to each chapter, and the fanfics I've seen also have each game chapter last for several story chapters) outlined. This will utilize characters from My Scene to fill out the cast and I also have several ideas for alternate endings. May or may not try to incorporate visual elements, if I can either learn to do it myself or commission someone to do it.
Missing Scenes: My Scene Existential Horror AU. My idea is that it starts out light, showing literal missing scenes about things we know likely happened off-screen (stuff that could act as stand-alone one-shots), but then gets dark once the real world changes to the work (dolls being replaced or discontinued, personalities being rewritten, even changing styles) start to impact the fictional characters, particularly Barbie's replacement Kennedy. May make this a script and try to see about making this an analog horror, but considering my struggles with Death Note: Legacy that might not happen.
Survival Guide For The Vegetarian Vampire (title may change): My Scene Romantic Horror Comedy AU. River has hit rock bottom. He's struggling to find work as a musician, his girlfriend has dumped him, and he can now longer go outside during the daytime without his skin breaking out into horrible boils and he can't feel full no matter how much he eats or drinks. Thankfully, his roommate and long-time friend Chelsea is there to help him out, but will she continue to stick around when they both find out just how much he needs her? Crack idea I had at work that grew legs along with a not-crack ship attached (the diary entries said that long before River and Barbie got together, Chelsea had a crush on River before he let her down gently and she realized they were better as friends; I feel it'd be ironic if the tables were turned in adulthood, but Chelsea is 1. not ready for a new relationship [I'm not fond of positively portraying adultery/infidelity, so she and Hudson will have been apart for a few years, though I haven't figured out the specifics such as if it's because of a break up or death] and 2. unsure if River actually likes her now or is just on rebound or only interested in her blood or both).
So which of these should I focus on first?
#fanfiction#writing#barbie#barbie as the princess and the pauper#barbie as the island princess#my scene#alternate universes#horror#romance#drama#comedy#fantasy#thriller#tumblr polls
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
(There’s a fun exercise for expelling negative energy in bold font at the bottom if you don’t have the time or energy to read all of this)
I’ve been trying to live my life by the seasons more… such as shopping for seasonal crops, decorating my home festively, changing my altar with more regularity, following the moon and different celestial periods more carefully, celebrating holidays and practicing rituals instead of letting them pass me by, preparing myself and my space for upcoming changes, and fully immersing myself in different activities for the current weather… ✨so✨I decided to have a little Mabon celebration last night even though I’m in the middle of a chaotic move and torn between three places.
I spent all day methodically cleaning and preparing my new space, which was both coincidental and intentional because I’m unpacking boxes and cleansing myself of stuff I don’t need and organizing the things I do need in an aesthetically pleasing but functional way. And when I tuckered myself out I went into the backyard (yay, I finally have a yard 🥺🙏🏻) to commune with nature and eat wild apples while keeping an eye on my exploring housecat. Then I made an eggplant, cauliflower, bok choy, ginger, and green pepper stirfry to enjoy with my sister and her boyfriend (and he made onigiri which was so so tasty), and we drank witches brew and watched the live action One Piece and it was really cozy and cute. But now I’m getting to the part I’m really excited to tell you about! It starts out a bit sad but gets good, I promise.
I have a lot of old trauma that’s manifested itself in awful ways into my body such as chronic pain, chronic nausea, vagus nerve issues, and crippling anxiety, and all of this has recently culminated into the worst my health has ever been. Unfortunately, I was so deep in medical debt from surgeries, doctor appointments, medications, natural remedies, coping devices, therapy appointments, and disorder testing for almost 10 years (which sadly amounted to neither answers nor reprieve), that I couldn’t afford more care or to take time off so I could try to heal, so I was not only still suffering but feeling completely hopeless. On top of all of that, I just went through half a year of horror because I moved in with an old, dear friend who turned out to not be so dear as I thought and he was manipulative, moody, narcissistic, codependent, judgmental, filthy, and disrespectful of my boundaries, so my hair was falling out in clumps due to stress and I wasn’t taking care of my body because I was genuinely afraid to use the bathroom, kitchen, and other living spaces. This friendship loss was really discouraging because I’ve had to let go of both of my best friends this calendar year as well for reasons I don’t want to go into, but let’s just say that they were both habitually selfish, inconsiderate, and emotionally immature, so even though I love them and miss them terribly I had to move on. As if that were not enough, my job was taxing physically, mentally, and emotionally, and was not respecting my scheduling or disability boundaries, and because of staffing issues I felt obligated to work these ridiculous 12+ hour shifts because no one else could or would. All this to say that I felt like a broken-down, miserable, rotten, and weary version of myself and had lots of bitterness, hopelessness, negative energy, and old trappings to release myself from; so moving into a new space right at the change of the seasons would be a perfect time to do it!
What I decided to do when I went back home after dinner was write a list of things I wanted to expel, and I encourage you to do so as well! This can be bad habits, old mentalities, feelings of self-doubt, relationships that no longer serve you, just anything that’s holding you back from the life you want to live. I noted where I would experience sensations in my physical body as I wrote these things down (for example, as I was writing to you above about these friendships, I felt an ache in my chest and a burning sensation in my arms and throat), because that’s where the body is internalizing these feelings and where you’ll have to do extra work in the release process. Now it’s time for the fun part!
First, I played Shake it Off by Taylor Swift and danced, focusing on literally shaking off the old energy from parts of my body where I was experiencing negative physical sensations. I think this song is a great place to start because you can feel pretty silly doing this at first, but the whole vibe of this song is “who cares about looking silly and who cares about what the haters think”. I’m kinda my own biggest hater and have a ton of self doubt, so I actually had to go for a second round of this song until I started feeling comfortable enough, and hey, that’s okay!
Once I got into the grove, I played Dust Me Off by Tilly & the Wall and continued to dance, shake my body, and dust off all the sadness, fear, doubt, anger, hurt, and anxiety that I’ve been holding on to for so so so long. I’m allowed to forgive myself for old transgressions. I’m allowed to move on from ancient painful memories. I’m allowed to put down old habits, feelings, friendships, and places and open myself up to new ones!
Now that I was really releasing, it was time to get spiritual with Shake it Out by Florence Welch. I shook, I spun around, I flailed, until I cast off the “devil on [my] back” and let myself sway to the end of the song. It was cathartic, it was healing, it was soothing, it helped me work off that cookie I had after dinner, and afterwards I had a really wonderful sleep and woke up feeling more empowered to take on the day.
It was such a good exercise that I wanted to share it with everyone and I will definitely be revisiting it next time I’m feeling stagnated, overburdened, or depressed. I’m going to continue in the spirit of Mabon today with a little bit of tea, meditation, and maybe even decorating my altar with some early-autumn leaves, so don’t feel like it’s too late to try this just because Mabon was technically yesterday. 😊🍁🧡
And p.s. Feel free to message me other songs about shaking out the old or dusting off bad feelings. I’m inspired to make a playlist.
P.p.s. It’s in a little bit of a different vein but I just remembered Sweeping Spell by Faun Fables, which is about sweeping out old energies and cleaning up your home while you prepare for the dark season. 🧹🧹🧹
P.p.s.s. I first learned about releasing trauma through physical movement when reading The Body Keeps the Score, but that book is a bit tiresome and the author is a problematic old man, so I will post a list of better books to read on the subject soon 💜💜love yous and I hope you experience more peace after doing this!
7 notes
·
View notes
Note
now it's so hard for me to pretend it doesn't bother me when people say cucurucho is just a silly goofy guy full of whimsy and bubbles. that bear is sadistic, sinister, and now we know what it and the federation are truly capable of. will jaiden know the truth? does she even care? did she care at all back then when she first worked for them?
hii im late to this!
qjaiden definitely knows! she understands the things the federation is capable of besides the recent lore that she has missed. its fundamental to her character to understand that qjaiden’s belief is that cucurucho’s actions are less about him being sinister as a person but that his boss who is ordering him to do those actions is the true evil. she believes while yes cucurucho has done some alarming things he is under someones direct command and is still a living being who deserves a level of kindness especially since offering that kindness may assist her in learning more about the federation and his boss.
from how i view it qjaiden definitely cares i mean she was one of the ones who was quite adamant trying to find qq as she was the one who literally watched him get taken by cucurucho. and though she appears to naively go along with missions and what cucurucho says she is aware there could be negative consequences for her & others. she is willingly taking that risk hoping that it will only affect her. she knows full well she can get taken or harmed in any capacity and even perhaps be lied to about the egg safety but she feels she has to do something. as well as acknowledging that she cannot turn back at this point.
important to note she knows her path is completely dangerous & risky but she feels she doesn’t have anything to lose as well. and to speak honestly shes right. at least compared to the others on the island. she lost the one thing that held value & massive attachment to her. bobby. and of course she has friends and those who trust her but its not something the federation can use to easily harm her as easily as an egg would. i think the closest thing they could do is something involving qroier but even then I’m not sure how well that would work.
i think what’s interesting about jaidens connection with the cucurucho is that it’s a very honest approach. she doesn’t lie nor attempt to manipulate cucurucho. she has no greedy or secret intentions. she is in her most honest form trying to get to know and understand cucurucho. she acts like a true friend to him. she treats him like any other person on the island.
i see qjaiden as a person placed in a field of land mines. the chances of not hitting a landmine are low and the further she traverses the field the closer she may reach her demise but theres always the end of the field. the end is there despite how far and treacherous it may be. i wonder if when she reaches the end, if she ever does, will the danger have been worth it? only time will tell.
now the qjaiden we know is the one who cannot remember a past with the federation so it’s hard to speak for that federation worker version of her as it’s completely unknown to us. but i would assume if her memory was wiped then maybe she did realize there was something bad going on with the federation and cucurucho and they had to remove her recollection of it. but its hard to say. as again we don’t know much about that.
overall i think we as the audience cannot and should not trust the federation, cucurucho, or the code entity. but i think when it comes to the characters qjaiden is a special case especially when we consider how she views the situation of being trapped on the island. it’s different it’s interesting and it has a lot of potential at least to me. obviously there’s nothing wrong with characters like qcellbit who adamantly are against the federation but characters like qjaiden i feel have a lot more room to roleplay with the federation/cucurucho and in turn expand our knowledge about them. so i think jaidens path for this roleplay is excellent since it balances out nicely with characters like qmaxo qcellbit etc. and give us a different perspective on everything. we love a true neutral in this house.
7 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
clockserena
SuperstarClockserena
omgblau
Nutty photoshop
ag-box
AG-Box
sttx
STTX
choicesbookclub
Choices Book Club