#butcher shop buddies
Note
You know how ghost always has his mask on, what would be reader reaction seeing ghosts face for the first time but in a way she doesn't know its him and she goes like "who the fuck is that??? 🤨🤨🤨🤨"
🍒anon
butcher shop buddies (simon riley x reader)
i dont know why i laughed so hard at this. thanks for the ask!! oh can i call you cherry-berry anon?
warnings: fluff, ooc ghost, not proofread sorry, use of 'pretty' and 'cute', no use of pronouns but i may use them in future parts, dad joke, probably incorrect butcher information, i was hungry writing this.
please feel free to message me and let me know if i missed any warnings
----
maybe reader is a civvie and she frequents this one particular butcher shop so you can get meat packages for cheap. this is the first time you see ghost. he's standing in front of the case of meats trying to determine which cut of steak he wanted, while you were there seeing if the people on tiktok were serious about meat packages being cheap. groceries are getting too expensive and you wanted to try your hand at birria tacos.
while taking a look around, you didn't notice the larger man inching closer to you. "d'ya know which cut you're looking for?" naturally, you flinch an take a step back. what is this mammoth of a man doing bending down to your level to help you look for meat? but his accent is silly but pleasing to listen to, so you give him a vague answer. "kinda," you say with a shrug.
"i heard they do these packages of meats that can last me a while. and i've been craving birria tacos, so i need beef for that as well." he silently just leads you to the other side of the case and starts talking to the man standing there. it's like they've known each other for a while. you tune them out to make sure you have everything else checked off of your mental grocery list. when you tune back in, the butcher is slicing some meats up and the man was still standing there.
"thank you so much for your help." this was directed at both men, but only the butcher responded with a "you're welcome" while the other man just nodded at you, before taking his purchase and leaving the store. what a strange man.
this is how you guys started to see each other at least once a month at the same butcher shop/supermarket. he had introduced himself to you as ghost before telling you that you could call him simon. he was actually a kinda funny guy. easy to misunderstand his jokes if you dwell on it too long, but also easy to laugh at if you share the same sense of dry humor. he didn't have much to say at first, cracking jokes at the wrong times, but other than that, there was nothing else for him to say.
i feel like ghost doesn't stop yapping around people that he's comfortable with. like he talks about everything and nothing at the same time. this is how you came to find out that he was in the military, he has family but they're the men from his task force, he travels for work often, and knows every dad joke to ever exist. he's a simple man.
he thrives on routine and familiarity. he makes it a habit to meet you once or twice a month at the shops, go grab a coffee -tea for him- and have a good conversation before going about his day. you ask for his number so you can communicate with him outside of your mini meet-ups and he agrees. now you send whatever meme made you laugh that day and a picture of what you were doing, and he sends you a joke of the day and picture of what he was doing.
he liked getting your cute selfies showing your outfit of the day, or the puzzle you finally completed after losing a piece a month ago, or his personal favorite pictures of you cuddled up with your cat pawl.
i feel like simon is a dog person outwardly, but he didn't realize how much he actually liked cats because he never had one growing up. so seeing you all cozy and pretty with your cat trying to escape your kiss, simon felt like he finally had something to look forward to. now he wanted you to see him for him.
when you walk into the shop, you're expecting simon to be waiting at the counter like he always did, chatting it up with his butcher friend. but instead, you see a blonde man with a black medical mask on talking to the butcher. maybe he's just late.
you walk to your normal spot to wait when the man turns to you and speaks. "how ya doin' today, love?" it startled you. who is this man and why is his voice familiar and why is he so attractive. "who the hell are you?" you couldn't help the confusion on your face; why is he talking to you. he just laughs and laughs, obviously finding your confusion hilarious.
"what did baby corn say to mama corn?" you were more confused. who's baby and mama corn? "go on," you encourage.
"where's pop corn?" this set you off. laughing louder than you probably should. "simon, how are you, darling?" you both had endearing names for each other even though you were just friends. it just came naturally.
"hungry. wanna stop at this one diner i know? they have amazing burgers."
that's how you find yourself eating a cheeseburger with simon who has taken his mask off by now. he was a very attractive man, not that you doubted it before. sharp square shaped jawline, crooked nose from being broken too many times, beautiful honey brown eyes contrasted by his long blonde lashes. he had a mole on the side of his nose, and scars on his face but they only added to his ruggedness; his attractiveness.. it didn't help that he was 6"4 with big strong arms, nice sized pecs, and on the rare occasion he would send you a mirror selfie without a hoodie on, you could see through his shirt that he had a nice soft belly. (my personal favorite build)
you were glad he was comfortable enough with you to be willingly vulnerable with you. maybe this relationship could escalate so much more.
----
should i make more parts to this? i already have a few ideas.
#simon riley#simon riley x reader#simon ghost riley#cod fanfic#my writing#my work#cherry-berry anon#thanks anon!#anon ask#anons welcome#cod modern warfare#erensonly#vivis.blurbs#x reader#black reader#this went on so long#i love him#bsb!simon#butcher shop buddies#cod
236 notes
·
View notes
Note
In the new one shot, Dazai asking about Nikolai is just so sweet. It's like their relationship with one another is slightly improving while living together.
Also, is their any unexpected pairing or friendships being formed between the cast in general while living in the house?
To this fic.
Yes, BSD Cast's relationship did improve. Everyone became friends on some level.
Even Dazai and Fyodor, even if they won't call themselves friends, became friendlier towards each other.
Dazai even troll Fyodor from time to time, and Fyodor is fine with it.
As for unexpected friendships.
______
Ranpo, Poe and Ayatsuji became a detective trio. They spent time watching crime shows, or listening to true-crime podcasts. When BSD Cast finished settling in real world, they became famous detective group.
Ayatsuji, Tsujimura and Lucy became "coffee buddies". They often drink coffee together and discuss something, be it films or last news.
Goncharov, Fyodor and Fukuzawa became "tea buddies". They discussed latest news while drinking tea.
Nikolai and Dazai became an "annoying duo". They annoy Kunikida, Ango, Chuuya and Fyodor from time to time.
Fitzgerald and Kyuusaku became "shopping buddies". Fitzgerald loves sales, and Kyuusaku love chaos during big sales. Yosano joins them from time to time.
Yosano and Doc became medical duo.
Gide and Fukuchi became friends, because both knew horrors of war.
Gide and Verlaine became "searching for redemption" duo. Despite the fact, that Oda's kids, Oda and Flags are alive now, and Rimbaud forgave Verlaine, both Gide and Verlaine feel, that they should do more, to be forgiven and forgive themselves.
Kouyou, Yosano and Mitchell became friends. They liked to spend time together.
Kenji became everyone's friend. Seriously, even Fyodor and Gide like him.
Akutagawa siblings and Tsujimura often watch spy films together.
Tsujimura and Mushitarou watch paranormal documentaries and discuss them.
Chuuya and Steinbeck drink together from time to time.
Tsujimura and Higuchi became friends.
Ayatsuji and Kyuusaku talk about dolls from time to time.
Ayatsuji, Atsushi and Fukuzawa became a "cat lovers club". They feed all strays they can find.
Tetchou and Dazai became "catastrophe cooks" duo. The interesting variation edition. Tetchou is great in mixing spices and sauces. Dazai need to go overboard while cooking (punch dough, chop vegetables with butcher knife...) but his food are delicious.
Tachihara and Kenji plant flowers together.
Natsume and Poe created "writers' club". Twain joins them from time to time.
Katai, Ango and Fyodor discuss computers and programming.
76 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Butcher's Daughter [pt.1]
This is a multi-part slow burn with Thomas Hewitt cause I needed something to write on my off day. There will be spice at some point, and of course: general trigger warnings. Don’t like 18+ scenes/horror/blood/ etc.? That’s ok, just don’t read this one, friend. It will be rather upsetting to you.
Time-Line and Continuity: Sticks mainly to the reboot duology: Texas Chainsaw (2003) and Texas Chainsaw: The Beginning (2006). This story takes place pre-1969. The story will have elements of Texas Chainsaw: The Beginning (2006) and Texas Chainsaw (2003 Remake). The story takes place in the abandoned town seen in those movies, but is an hour drive outside of Harlow, Texas (as seen in Texas Chainsaw 3D) for purposes of plot.
Summary: After your mother's death, your father, driven down a bottle with grief, loses his butcher shop to creditors. Wanting to escape his debts, he chooses to move back to his hometown. Not wanting to lose your last family member and being hopeful of a new start, you go with him. It's a ghost town, but he appreciates the solitude and it allows for enough space to start a small cattle farm. He's happy his old drinking buddy Charlie Hewitt is still in town. His mother, Luda Mae is very happy to have 'neighbors' down the road and feels motherly towards the girl, hoping to take her under her wing. She also can't help but think of the potential for her boy to finally have the chance at a friend.
Note: Reader age is unspecified but reader is of age. I keep hair/skin/body descriptions vague [without sacrificing quality of writing] so everyone can see themselves in the story.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"This place is really out there." You say. Your father is taking his turn driving the old pick-up out to his hometown.
"Use to be farmers out here. Lots of space, no one in your business that you don't want there. You'll like it." He says, hoping you weren't regretting joining him. Though you had lost your job when the family business went under, you didn't have to come with him. "Besides, after a couple weeks I should be able to get a farm hand or two. You could move to Harlow or go finish that degree you were working on."
You smile. "A farm hand out here?" You look out over the dry fields of what used to be sunflowers.
"Sure." You dad says, a playful grin on his face, "I'm sure there's an armadillo or two that could use a steady job." The two of you laugh a little to ignore the weighted reality -- your father needed your help to make this work and there was no way you would be able to avoid the creditors if you moved anywhere else. You told him many times this was your choice, that you wanted to help, but you knew you really had no other option. At least not at the moment.
Your father was not a good man and was not often plagued by guilt for his actions, but he cared for you. The two of you spend the rest of the ride talking about the old house your father had inherited from his parents when they passed away. It's a classic farmhouse layout, a full upstairs you'll get all to yourself. A wraparound porch would be the perfect place to sit outside and watch the sunset. You knew he was painting a picture that was too good to be true, but he seemed happy.
It's mid-afternoon by the time you're pulling into the dusty drive of the house. It's far from the road and the yard surrounding is green and overgrown. The fence around the house has fallen down in several places and remnants of a vegetable and herb garden have grown unchecked and un-weeded in the back of the house.
You help your dad take boxes into the house, taking your things upstairs and your father's things into the bedroom on the ground floor. The house was big but needed cleaning. Everything was covered in a thin layer of sand-like dust and it was obvious no one had been in the house for years.
In the process of getting everything out of the truck, you notice the garden in the back had several, late-season vegetables. Once the boxes are all inside, you go about picking what you can while your dad works on the house's generator. It'd be nice to have something other than bologna sandwiches for dinner.
You found some old baskets in the kitchen pantry, you've already been able to fill two baskets with mustard greens and sweet potatoes and small green pumpkins by the time the sun starts to go down. As you pick up the last basket you watch the lights of the house flicker on and an excited shout from your father as you hear a generator come to life. A smile plays on your features. Perhaps this would be alright.
You go inside the house, setting the basket on the counter next to three others. You start washing the dirt off your hands in the old sink when you hear a car pull into the driveway. A door opens and you hear a gruff voice call your dad's name.
"Charlie! You old son of a bitch- you're still here?" You hear your father reply to the man and you peek outside the front room window. An older man with deep features gets out of a beat-up pickup and your dad walks towards him.
"Who the fuck you callin' old, you old cocksucker?" The old man laughs heartily and your father embraces "Charlie".
The two men talk for a few minutes. Your father comes back in, the old man "Charlie" getting back in his truck and leaving.
"Hey, you feel like going out for dinner?" He asks.
"Out?" You ask, confused. You're getting dirt off a basket of sweet potatoes when he comes in.
"That was an old friend of mine, Charlie Hewitt. He and his folks still live around here. Their house is a half mile down the road and his mama is doing a roast tonight." He goes to the sink to wash his hands, dark oil staining the fresh bar of soap by the sink.
You hesitate, but smile, "Sure, dad. Sounds great."
Your old man splashes water on his face and runs his hands through his hair before drying his hands. "Go clean up and we'll head over on that way. Gonna change m'self."
"Like Sunday dinner kind of clean up or just 'no dirt on my hands' clean up?" You set the basket aside and dust your hands off on your jeans.
"Nothin' fancy. His mama's just old fashion- likes dinner to be a little more proper. 'Specially if it's guests." He starts to walk away. "Let's leave in a few, alright?"
You wash your hands, fix your hair, and find an old, corn-yellow dress. It's modest, the hem going down to your shins and the collar buttoning up to the base of your neck. Linen and tailored at the waist, it ruffles in the light breeze as you stand on the porch of the Hewitt household in dusty, white canvas shoes. The air has cooled but you still feel heat coming off the wood of the porch when Luda Mae answers the door.
"Bill! It's good to see you, hun." Luda Mae smiles and opens the door wide and her eyes go to you. "My god she looks just like Beth." You're surprised to hear your mother's name out of the mouth of a stranger but smile politely. Luda Mae smiles, "Luda Mae Hewitt, sweetheart. You must be y/n. I knew both of your parents long before you were born. It's nice to meet you." She welcomes you into the house with a hug. "Come on in Bill. Charlie's having a beer on the back porch with Monty, why don't you join them? I need a little time to finish getting supper ready." She looks at you, "Would you mind? I need a little help getting the table set." She smiles kindly as she leads the two further into the house. It's modest, a little dirty, but everything around this town seemed to be a little grimy.
Your father nods and follows her, making sure you were trailing behind. "The house looks great, Luda. Your boy still helping you around the house?"
"Tommy mostly works at the slaughterhouse nowadays but he still does the heavy lifting around the house and the store when I need him to." She lets him out onto the back porch where he's greeted with friendly, though swear-filled jeers from Charlie and Monty.
"Um how-how can I help?" You ask.
"There're some blue and white plates up on the top shelf of that cabinet. Get them down and set the table for six, dear."
"Yes, ma'am." Luda Mae smiles at your manners. You do as she asks as she gets a roast out of the stove. You carry plates to the dining room and set them out. You hear the side door open and heavy footsteps in the kitchen when you walk back in.
"Excuse me, Miss Luda Mae? I set the plates out. Where do you keep the silverware?" You look up to see a very tall man in a leather, half-mask and slaughterhouse apron. He's splattered with blood and his hair is matted. You shrink back a little when he turns his head and see you. His eyes were intense.
"Y/n this is Thomas. Tommy, this is Y/n, Bill and Beth's daughter. Y/n and Bill moved in down the road. They're staying for dinner so go get cleaned up." She tells her son.
"Nice to meet you." You smile politely and he stiffens slightly before nodding to you and heading up the stairs quickly.
"Don't mind him, dear. Terribly shy." She laughs a little bit and hands Y/n silverware and napkins.
You get the table set and Luda Mae brings in the roast, mashed potatoes, rolls, and a few other things. You help with the last few preparations and Luda Mae calls the men into the dining room. Monty, Charlie, and your father were all different levels of drunk but Luda Mae scares them into acting pretty sober. Thomas comes down in clean clothes and his hair brushed and sits at the table. Luda Mae makes sure he sits next to you. He doesn't say anything the during dinner but Luda Mae is charming and talks to Y/n.
Your father, Charlie, and Monty ignore you for the most part, happy to jeer at each other, cuss, and make off-color jokes just tame enough not to get hit with Luda Mae’s wooden spoon. That’s not to say the two friends of your father don’t recognize your existence. Both men’s eyes wander every part of you, lingering for a little too long. But that’s as far as they go. Bill was a son of a bitch, that’s why they liked him, but he cared fiercely for you. Charlie and Monty knew a single stray comment towards you was a guaranteed ass beating.
“You work at the slaughterhouse?” You ask Thomas, not really expecting an answer. You were alright with a one-sided conversation, but you needed something to tune out the drunk laughter on the other end of the table. “That must be interesting. I’ve never been in a slaughterhouse. Dad and I used to do something similar, though it was just a small butcher’s shop we ran.” You smile charmingly, doing your best to be the kind guest. “Working in a slaughterhouse sounds more interesting, honestly. ‘Specially since you wouldn’t have to deal with some of the customers dad and I would have regularly.”
Thomas tilts his head towards you to listen better as you talk. He offers a confirming “huff” when asked if he works at the slaughterhouse. His eyes stay on you. You were small compared to him, and utterly adorable. You really were interested in his work? More than that, you’d worked in a butcher’s shop? You weren’t a weak build, you had some muscle on you from the work you did. But still, he couldn’t imagine the girl in front of him enjoying what he enjoyed.
Everyone finishes dinner and Luda Mae asks you to help clear the table so you do. All the windows in the bottom floor of the house were open to let the cool, evening breeze through. Your dress ruffles when a stronger breeze blows through and Thomas catches a whiff of your light perfume. He watches as you help his mother, not realizing he was staring until his Uncle Monty points it out, laughing drunkenly.
“Well shit, Bill. Better keep track of your daughter.” He laughs.
“ ‘Fuck you talking about?” Your dad laughs a bit, finishing another beer.
“Ol’ Tommy here can’t keep his damn eyes off her. Got a crush there big boy?” He slurs out and is met with raucous laughter from Charlie.
Bill takes a second and looks Thomas up and down. “Good luck.” He says, “She’d kick your ass.” He says through building laughter.
Luda Mae comes back in the dining room with a cake and you trail behind her with plates. You see the three men laughing and Thomas sitting silently. Charlie and Monty make a couple more cutting remarks towards Thomas and you realize they’re all laughing at his expense. You see your dad open his mouth to join in the jeering.
“Dad.” You say, voice low but firm. It catches his attention immediately and he looks at you. “Don’t.” Thomas looks at you again. Having anyone besides his mother be on his side… it was unusual, but it was nice.
“Sorry kiddo. We ‘ere just havin’ a bit of fun.” He slurs a bit, but he does looks genuinely sorry. Charlie and Monty start to jab at your father when Luda Mae puts them in their place.
Everyone enjoys dessert and you help Luda Mae and Thomas clean up the dishes.
“Dinner was great, Luda Mae.” You say, putting away the last of the dishes. “Thank you so much.”
“Anytime, dear. It was nice to have company over. I enjoyed myself.” She sets the dish towel down that was in her hand. “Do you need help getting Bill back home?”
“I can just drive him home, it’s not a big deal.” It’s then you realize that during the course of doing the dishes, the dining room had gone quiet. You peek back in and see all three men slumped at the table, passed out.
Luda Mae chuckles. “Maybe so but you might want some help loadin’ him up in the truck and dragging him into the house.” She looks at Thomas. “Tommy, get Charlie and Monty upstairs then help Y/n get Bill home.”
Thomas nods and goes and picks up Charlie and his uncle, one under each arm and hauls them upstairs. A few minutes later he’s putting your father in the back seat of the truck and sitting in the passenger side as you drive down the road towards your new home. You can feel his eyes on you, even in the dark of the cabin.
“…I’m sorry if my dad said anything awful.” You say finally to break the silence. “He’s not always like that.”
Thomas huffs quietly in acknowledgement.
“And thank you for helping me get him back to the house. It’d’ve been quite a sight if I’d tried to drag him into the truck myself.” You laugh a little bit at the thought, trying to make light of it all. Thomas feels the smallest twinge of a smile on his face when seeing you laugh.
Once at the house he carries your dad over his shoulder and into his bedroom setting him on the bed. He walks back out into the foyer where you stand, “Here, I’ll give you a ride back home.”
This surprises Thomas a bit but he nods. You really were one of the kindest people he’d met. He walks out to the truck with you but gets to the driver side first. He reaches and opens the door and waits, watching you. After a moment you realize what he’s doing.
“Ah. Thank you, Thomas.” You smile and get into the truck and he closes the door behind you before getting into the truck himself. Your smile causes his heart to tighten. Every smile he could get, he wanted.
You drive him back to his home, making a little more pleasant small talk, and Thomas listened contently. He liked your voice.
Once back, he waits for you to put the truck in park and gets out.
“Goodnight, Thomas.” You give a small wave and drive away. He watches you drive away, raising his hand in a small wave, a barely audible grumble coming from his throat.
“…y/…..n….”
#slashers#slasher x reader#thomas hewitt#slasher imagines#thomas hewitt x reader#slasher community#slow burn#texas chainsaw massacre
288 notes
·
View notes
Text
all the bells say
a pre-calamity zelink longfic.
[chapter 1 of 28 // Act 0 of 5]
>> Read Act 0: "Genesis / Heavy" on AO3
Summary:
Rating: M
Main Tags: canon compliant / angst with a happy ending / character study / romance / slow burn / all the goddamn tension. / mutual pining / self-doubt / following all the botw memories / Zelda is an unreliable narrator / Link is so hopelessly in love (until it's not)
What will you do with what you've been given when the story forever tolls the same way?
Link and Zelda, the Calamity, and their tale of inevitability and doom, and most of all, of love.
Notes:
Here I am, 7 years late to the party, 3 years after witnessing my boyfriend first play BOTW, with a Starbucks in hand and yet another pre-Calamity long fic that absolutely nobody asked for. But I have to do it. I have to bounce these two blonde elves in my head indefinitely and breathe life into my many, many headcanons.
All my love and thanks to my trench buddy and writing soulmate @1up-girl for all your invaluable beta'ing, brainrotting, and everything in between—I seriously owe you forever and ever. Thousands of thanks to the lovely @mustardcheesedog for your amazing energy and hype as an early reader and the daily zelink brainrot.
I also wanna to thank @milkywayes for doing the beautiful banner art for Bells; for understanding my vision and for all the conversations we've had about zelink—headcanons concocted in our DMs that I eventually adopted into this fic.
Fic title taken from the famous John Berryman poem, "Dream Song 29".
~~~ Please go to the fic page on AO3 and read the extended author's note in the beginning for warnings! ~~~
Anyway..... here's Act 0, y'all!
Act 0: Genesis / Heavy
There sat down, once, a thing on Henry's heart
só heavy, if he had a hundred years
& more, & weeping, sleepless, in all them time
Henry could not make good.
[…] Ghastly,
with open eyes, he attends, blind.
All the bells say: too late. This is not for tears;
thinking.
“Dream Song 29” - John Berryman
Link is no stranger to death.
At five years old, he’s already witnessed more than his peers ever would. Growing up at a farm can do that to a kid. Cows, lambs, cuccos—all to the slaughter for sustenance, for profit. He stations himself beside Father and Mother as they butcher them to sell at the family shop. He’s also seen Father shoot countless deers and elk during their leisure hunts whenever Father is back home from Castle Town. More often than not, Father would let him borrow his old bow, and Link would contribute to their hunt, too.
But then Link’s pet fish dies one afternoon—a fat white freshwater carp with gold and black splotches he named Goldie—and he weeps and weeps in Mother’s lap. Goldie was his friend. Goldie was always there in the morning when he would wake up, and was there at night before he’d go to bed. But now Goldie is floating in the pond, its tiny mouth agape.
Mother strokes his hair. “It’s okay, Link. Goldie is with the Goddess, now.”
“Can I be with the Goddess, too?” he asks. Snot runs down his nose.
“Well, no.” Mother huffs a laugh. “Where Goldie is… we cannot go there. But what you can do is pray.”
Link withdraws his head from Mother’s lap. He wipes the tears from his face with the heel of his palms.
“Can we pray together, Mom?”
At that, something unreadable passes through Mother’s face. Her blue eyes turn steely.
“You can pray, Link,” she says, something sad about her small smile. “I won’t join. But we can arrange a funeral for Goldie, if you would like that?”
So they spend the rest of the day gathering flowers from the brambles that surround their estate until Mother’s wicker basket is full of white roses, blue nightshades, and armoranths. Mother also allows him to use the small wooden box that sits atop her vanity—a coffin perfect for Goldie. Mother says that it’s a box that used to house a necklace she bought and gave to Father long ago, but that necklace is long lost, so she has no use for it now.
Link wraps Goldie in an old rag and lays it gently inside the box. Then, they dig a hole in their backyard and bury the box and Goldie in it. He cries again, but not as hard as earlier. He clasps his hands in front of his chest, shuts his eyes, and utters his prayers aloud.
“Goddess Hylia, please welcome Goldie in your loving arms, give it many, many worms to eat, and bring it back as a strong and healthy fish in its next life.” Let its next life start tomorrow, please, Link does not say aloud.
When they make it back inside the living room, Father is already there, sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee. He asks about what they have been up to, and Link answers honestly. Father doesn’t press on, and he looks rather exhausted, so Link goes back into his bedroom and closes the door behind him.
He climbs into his bed and crawls toward the far end of the wall, looking out from the window and into the backyard. He sees it—a small grave by the shrubs, complete with a rock roughly the shape of an oval as the tombstone, with flowers surrounding the little plot of land.
He hears voices from beyond his bedroom door.
“I don’t think it is best for us to go soft on him.”
“Wha— soft? He is five and his pet just died!”
“And you helped him throw a funeral. For a fish.”
“Because he’s just a child!”
There’s a grating sound—a chair being dragged on the floor. “Well, he’s always said that he wants to become a knight. Then we must prepare him for such an occupation.”
“Being a knight does not mean he can’t feel emotions.”
“Eleana, being a knight is not easy. He will see hundreds of deaths in his lifetime. The next death he’ll witness won’t be of a fish, but of a comrade. I just want to prepare him for when he eventually becomes one.”
“Well—” a pause, “—then I hope, for Link’s sake, he never becomes one.”
Link, however, doesn’t pay much attention to his parents’ conversation. Instead, he imagines Goldie wiggling its way past the layers of cloth and wood and soil, flopping around the backyard until it finds its way to the pond again. Once everybody is asleep Goldie will rise up from its grave, he thinks. He prayed to the Goddess, after all.
But come morning, the pond is still empty, and Goldie remains lifeless in its little coffin.
And he never sheds another tear after that.
****************
Link is no stranger to death, and no stranger to funerals, either.
A year after Goldie’s humble funeral in his backyard in Hateno Village, Father must attend one of the most important funerals in the kingdom for as long as Link can remember.
(Well, six years is quite long for him, anyway.)
So here he is, holding Mother’s gloved hand, in the congregation at the Grand Chapel of Hyrule Castle. It’s a sad occasion, of course—everyone’s wearing black, all the women have their faces obscured with a veil, and he can hear sniffles from the crowd. But Link also can’t wait to tell his friends back home of his first real experience in the castle.
There are speeches, sermons, hymns, and many, many other long-drawn-out processions that he has no choice but to zone out on. But once the burial is over, Link is rather excited, because the Royal Guards (and by extension, Father) must accompany the Prince Consort to the Sanctum for an intimate reception.
The Sanctum is grand—big, luxurious, grand. Red velvet is draped everywhere—the thrones, the floor, the curtains, the banners. There’s also a lot of gold, and streaks of blue here and there. Link likes the blue the most.
When Father makes his way through the crowd to find Link and Mother, Link knows it’s time. He straightens his back, draws his chin a little bit higher, and follows Father.
“This is pretty exciting, right, Mom?” Link whispers. “Meeting the Prince!”
“The King,” Father corrects him. “He was the Prince, and now, without the Queen, he has become the King.” He sounds annoyed. “Please don’t make that mistake in front of His Majesty.”
Link clears his throat. “Sorry, Father.”
He gazes up at Mother again, but she’s quiet, and it’s hard to look past her veil.
They climb the grand marble staircase leading to the floating dais above the room, and find a large man standing in front of the throne.
Father and Mother immediately drop to their knees. Link follows suit.
“Your Majesty,” Father says, his head bowed.
“Sir William! Please, no need for this,” the King’s voice booms. Father rises, followed by Mother, and then Link. “I am very pleased to see you again, Lady Eleana. It’s been too long.” The King sounds friendly, but there’s a lot of sadness at the edge of his voice. That makes sense, Link thinks. He just lost his wife.
Then, the King sets his eyes on Link.
Link’s hands feel clammy, all of a sudden.
“And you, young boy—how you have grown! It was not that long ago when your father brought you as an infant to the Castle to celebrate my daughter’s birth,” he says. Link can only muster up a nod and a shaky smile. “Speaking of—” the King turns around to shoo something from his back. “Don’t just hide! Introduce yourself.”
From behind the King’s robe, a little girl emerges, clad in a black dress and a black surcoat. Her face, however, isn’t covered with a veil like the other women, and the first thing Link notices is how golden her hair is compared to the rest of her outfit. It’s almost blinding.
The second thing Link notices is how green her eyes are. Very green. Like grass, like trees. Like the forests that he likes to spend time in.
The girl extends a gloved hand. Palm facing down.
“I’m Princess Zelda,” she says. “Nice to meet you.”
Link takes her hand in a gentlemanly way that Father has taught him when greeting noblewomen. His thumb pad rests on her knuckles. His left hand rises to splay over his right breast. Then, he puts one foot in front of the other and bends his knees, bowing his head.
“Nice to meet you, Princess,” he says. “My name is Link.”
As he straightens up again, Link finds it hard to let go of her hand. The Princess doesn’t, either; her forest green gaze is still piercing through his eyes. It feels like vines are growing out of his wrist and twining around his hand and the Princess’.
“Hello, Link,” she says.
Oh, his heart is racing.
Father lets out a cough, and the vines vanish. Link withdraws his hand as if shocked by a jolt of electricity. The Princess lets her arm fall limp at her side once more, but her eyes are still on him. Mother grabs him by his shoulders, pulling him back to stand next to her again.
“Your Majesty, once again, Eleana, Link, and I would like to offer our deepest condolences for your loss,” Father says. “For this kingdom’s loss. The Queen is—was—a strong and wise monarch, and as a people, we shall mourn her absence forevermore.” His lips are trembling a little, Link notes. He’s never seen that on Father before.
“Thank you, Sir William,” the King says. “You were a steadfast presence in her life, truly.” At that, Mother’s grip tightens. Link tilts his head up to look at her, but is met with that layer of veil again. “Well, I must be on my way. Duty calls upon us all, after all.”
With one last bow from Father, Mother, and Link himself, the King makes his way toward the other end of the dais and descends the opposite staircase. The Princess follows, her back straight and steps never once faltering.
She doesn’t turn back to cast one last glance at his family, but Link watches and watches and watches. He’s still watching as she disappears beneath the grand archway that leads further into the castle.
On the walk back to Castle Town where Father resides, Link feels something heavy settling in his gut. Like his little inconsequential life makes sense, all of a sudden. Like being six years old doesn’t really matter because, in that moment, he feels like there are hundreds of ancient men residing within the confines of his bones. And all those men are whispering the same name over and over.
The name he heard just a half hour ago.
So he speaks up.
“Father, I think I’m ready to really train,” he says. “I really wanna be in the Royal Guard.”
Father laughs.
Mother, beneath her black veil, stays quiet.
>> Continue reading on AO3
#my fic#zelink#zelink fic#breath of the wild#botw#botw fic#tloz#the legend of zelda#ao3 fanfic#bells tag
31 notes
·
View notes
Text
The main Narutos of Narutoland so far:
Landlord!Naruto: Looks like Gutsy. Househusband. Sentimental. Old school romantic. (You hear 90s Romantic movie soundtracks and Vance Joy whenever you're with him.) Service Top. Never has anything bad to say. Respects your independence. Hates long periods of time apart. Tries to not be clingy. Great gardener. Better home repairman. Deep Kissing Kink. Pure passion. High Compersion, but bad at sharing. Probably likes to watch but won't admit it.
Moving Company Foreman!Naruto: Looks like The Last/19yos. Street smart. Professional. A straight-shooter. Versatile. High body count. Likes people. Likes seeing them happy. Somewhat distant but highly compassionate. Lots of piercings, but keeps his face clean on the job. Got one of the teen Narutos into punk/emo music. Moved to the mainland and never looked back. Eye Contact kink. Looooves to watch you fall apart on his dick.
Postman!Naruto: Looks 25yos. Workaholic. Punctual but airheaded. Naive and earnest. Has never stopped to think about what he wants. Big 'Born Sexy Yesterday' vibes. Can only do quickies because his entire self-worth is wrapped in his work performance. This man needs a vacation. And a hobby. Secretly talented at slow-fucking when given the chance.
Farmer!Naruto: Looks 19yos. Smells like tomato vines and petrichor. Knowledgable. Unpredictably patient and impatient. Will fuck you in the fields and make you the dirty girl that you are.
Produce Hawker!Naruto: Looks 19yos. Sells the farmer's goods. Doesn't get enough business because very few Narutos buy vegetables other than the Landlord. Has all the time to fuck on the job. Lacks the good sense to fuck somewhere sane and private, like in his home above the shop. Has convinced himself he must man the stall at all times, leaving you to 'pay' for your vegetables right then and there in front of the other Narutos in the street market.
Menma/Emo!Naruto: Looks 15yos. Black hair. Individualistic. Looks up to Foreman!Naruto like a big brother. Wishes he could go to the mainland with him, or he would visit more often. None of the other Narutos in his age range understand why he likes 'that' music. Feels lonely living in this backwater prison of an island surrounded by mostly self-involved adult versions. Pessimistic but thoughtful and protective. Needs a lot of guidance during sex, but has very talented hips. Also is the most vocal. Praise Kink. Praise him. Pet his hair. Pet, pet, good boy.
Butcher!Naruto: Looks 35yos. Gruff. Crass. Dominating. Degradation kink. Daddy kink. Taker before a Giver. Just... the Daddiest. Has the good sense to make love to you in private. Will make you wait for him first, fuck whatever your plans were for the day. Will reserve you the best cut of meat. Best BBQ grill man on the island. Bit of a provider. There's rough sex and then there's the roughest sex. Will fuck you like he's ready to start a family. Will parade you and use you in front of his poker buddies, then give them turns with you after. Only one allowed to cum inside. Can be overly aggressive. Only willing to get violent with his 'brothers'. Plays rough with you often skirting the line of good taste, but has the most precise motor control of any of them. When he's delicate, he is delicate. Secretly the most vulnerable of them all.
The Hermit/Naruto: Looks 50yos. The second-most Daddiest. Currently in self-isolation.
27 notes
·
View notes
Text
Tumblr Fandom: A Year in Review 2023
i was tagged by @captain-hen, thank you! 🥰
i was tempted to skip the top five blorbos/fandoms/pairings section because let's be honest, it's really only been buck and eddie for the entire year, but i do have other interests even if i'm not as involved in them as i am in buddie. so enjoy learning more about my ao3 history, i guess? 😂
top 5 blorbos:
evan "buck" buckley (9-1-1)
eddie diaz (9-1-1)
roy kent (ted lasso)
clint barton (marvel)
billy butcher (the boys) (i literally started watching this show two weeks ago but y'know what? i'm adding it. butcher is just so blorbo shaped.)
top 5 fandoms:
9-1-1
avatar: the last airbender (for anyone who doesn't know, my atla sideblog is @zukkababey!)
marvel
ted lasso
teen wolf
top 5 pairings:
evan buckley/eddie diaz (9-1-1)
roy kent/jamie tartt (ted lasso)
clint barton/bucky barnes (marvel)
arthur/eames (inception)
billy butcher/hughie campbell (the boys)
shoutout to some new friends:
i've talked to so many new people this year who have really made me feel included in the 9-1-1 fandom, namely @devirnis, @colonoscopys, @shitouttabuck, @housewifebuck, @eddiebabygirldiaz, @vampbuckley and @buck2eddie. i love seeing you all in my notifications, and so many of you have been so encouraging, especially during my writing drought that's been persisting for months. y'all are great 🥹🫶
shoutout to some old friends:
i'm kinda new here but @eddiediaaz, i'm pretty sure you were my first ever 9-1-1 mutual that i talked to and you really made me feel so so welcome in the fandom when i posted my first buddie fic back in 2022. i will always be grateful for that and you!!! ❤️
favourite creation you posted this year:
it's definitely gotta be what a heart can do. i love dad buck so much, i had such a fun time writing it, and i think it's some of my best storytelling. it makes me really happy that so many people have read and enjoyed it!
favourite creation posted by someone else this year:
THIS VIDEO by @butchdiaz. holy fucking shit. i'm sure everyone reading this has already seen it, but ohhhhh my god. this video rearranged my molecules. i can't listen to ceilings without thinking about it. the way you edited it to match so many important buddie moments, it genuinely makes me feel so insane. i re-watched it last night and i'm still vibrating just thinking about it.
people who brightened your year:
so many people!!! @negansmiith made a graphic for hurt locker that basically made my whole year! it is saved in my camera roll and i look back on it frequently. 🥰 @housewifebuck made a beautiful hat that i am genuinely obsessed with. check out their shop!!! anyone who has ever read my silly tags on a post i reblogged and dm'd me to chat about it—i love you.
anyone else you'd like to mention:
everyone who has read my fics or commented on them telling me your thoughts, thank you. seriously. just know that when i read your comment(s), i was twirling my hair and kicking my feet back and forth and squealing and smiling so hard my cheeks started to hurt. every single comment made 2023 that much brighter.
five of your favourite authors this year:
@gayhoediaz - every time i get an email that you've posted a buddie fic, i know that i have a bedtime story for that night. i know it's gonna be a good one, every single time.
@devirnis - i read your fic about buck and eddie ring shopping and getting caught up in a robbery and i've never looked back. i've read so many of your fics this year (and tbh, thank god i still have more to read) and i'm looking forward to reading all the ones that you have in the works!!!
@colonoscopys - i’m pretty sure that i binged basically all of your fics this year and i don’t regret a single thing (except maybe going through them too fast). god, i love your writing.
@rewritetheending - gosh the way you’re able to get to the heart of emotions and describe them in a way that puts an ache in my chest makes me want to claw the ground until my fingernails break off. my fave fic of yours is still while we do what lovers do and i know it wasn’t posted in 2023 but i needed to shout it out here because goddddddd. i still think about it all the time.
@letmetellyouaboutmyfeels - i enjoyed reading your halloween fics this year so much, particularly your dark buddie au. sometimes you just gotta imagine your wholesome, already in love blorbos be absolutely unhinged and crazy about each other, and that’s perfectly normal. i actually remember looking for a dark buddie fic when i first joined the fandom and there were none, so i’m glad my wish was fulfilled, especially when it was done so damn well.
five of your favourite artists/gifmakers/podficcers/etc. this year:
@try-set-me-on-fire - you could have gone under fave authors too, but i fucking love your art style. i don't know art terms so forgive me, but something about the messiness and abstractness scratches this itch deep in my brain and they evoke such unnameable feelings that want to burst out of my ribcage. ugh!!!!!! if you sold prints i'd be checking out in two seconds flat.
@butchdiaz - i know i already waxed poetic about your ceilings edit, but i love your edits/gifs too, particularly this one. it's so simple but so beautiful and fucking devastating. the gif aspect is subtle but intentional (buck fading to black and white while the blood stays red?????? KILL ME!). i'd eat your gifs if i could.
@shitouttabuck - you could go under fave authors too (hello i love you like a dog fic) but i wanted to shout you out here because you are so fucking funny. every single edit you post makes me giggle out loud. tbh i didn't even realize they were all from you until i started scrolling through your edit tag looking for this post. i can't get over it. i literally laughed at it AGAIN when i found it.
@eddiediaaz - you are constantly feeding the 911 fandom. you make so many gifsets on so many different sideblogs that i'm sure no one actually knows how many gifs you're constantly making. and every single one is so goddamn good??? and they're so creative. like this one??? there are so many things going on, i can't even fathom how the hell you did it. gifmakers are magic, i swear.
@iinryer - YOUR ART FUELS ME. your style is so *clenches fist* fucking cool. the lines are simple but they still look like the characters?? i admire that so, so much because i know if i ever tried that they'd look so wonky, lol. i think about juice box chim all the damn time and i don't know where i've been lately but this one with buck and chris??? it's so soft and sweet and vulnerable, with the way buck is holding him and chris is nestled. GOD. everything you make is gold.
three (+1) things you're looking forward to in 2024:
getting my masters degree!
getting a job, maybe???
posting more buddie fic 👀
+ season 7 of 911, obviously.
i’m sure i’ve missed some people inadvertently but this was really fun to do! at this time of year, with the short days and cold weather (at least for some of us), i think we could all do with a little bit of joy and a brighter day. i really love this fandom and i'm so grateful to be a part of it!
tagging everyone i mentioned in this post, if you haven’t already done it and want to participate! ❤️
27 notes
·
View notes
Text
writing patterns!!
tagged by @honestlydarkprincess thank you, my bean!!
rules: list the first line(s) of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern!
(none of these are buddie so there's your disclaimer lmao)
1. God is a Bit of a Freak - Rated E, Meg Masters/Castiel/Dean Winchester
Honestly, if you ask Meg what she gets up to on a general Saturday evening, the answer isn’t what you’d expect. Yes, she’s single, nearly 30, and has… a semi-normal amount of friends. You’d think she’d be with them or on a date or something.
2. What Happens in Oz... - Rated E, Charlie Bradbury/Dorothy Baum
The way Oz works is that it’s every person for themselves. Charlie is learning this very quickly and sooner than she’d like. The body of someone she and Dorothy once considered an ally is now dead on the floor, courtesy of the latter. Blood seeps out on the tufted carpet of Oz’s version of the Men of Letters bunker. What once was the Bravest Cowardly Lion’s fur is now a stained and stepped-over relic of the past. Charlie suppresses the urge to gag. She glances at Dorothy, whose face is hardened with the stink of betrayal that hangs in the room. The air runs thick with it.
3. Holy Ground - Rated E, Castiel/Dean Winchester
Cas - One Week Before the Wedding
Coming back to a place you’d long ago given up on, feels a bit… bittersweet. Everything is nearly exactly as it was 15 years ago; the convenience shop on the corner, the church in the center, the Roadhouse. The only thing that has really changed is the people. It’s more or less the same crowd, only with more wrinkles and bigger bellies. The stores are more weather-worn, too – the paint faded on the signs and windows by the same sun that has chapped skin and dulled lined-dried clothes until the whole town seems washed out and pale.
4. enthusiastic consent - Rated E, Castiel/Dean Winchester
Dean has a shadow.
Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. Everyone has a shadow.
Dean has two though, he’s sure of it. He’s been sure of it since last week when the debilitating feeling of being watched was too much to bear and now he believes it. Because he’s seen the goddamn stalker ! Albeit, handsome stalker but stalker nonetheless.
5. Bedroom Hymns - Rated E, Castiel/Dean Winchester
The Impulse Purchase - 2014
Dean didn’t even think twice about clicking the order button on a value pack of men’s panties. If anyone were to look through his search history, he would vehemently deny it but that’s the perk of having his own computer.
6. close encounter of the fourth kind - Rated E, Castiel/Dean Winchester, Dean Winchester/Others
To say Dean was abducted is the understatement of the century.
His ass was literally taken out of his comfy memory foam mattress, shoved into a sac, and brought to… wherever the fuck this is: this Area 51 looking room, that’s for damn sure.
7. The Red Means I Love You - Rated E, Kaia Nieves/Claire Novak
An oak tree marks Claire’s first grave. She found it on a whim, adrenaline rushing through her veins trying to find an appropriate burial spot among the woods just behind campus. She dug feverishly until she couldn’t see the ground above her, paranoia growing higher by the minute. It was only when she scrambled back up and dropped the extremely disfigured body of her mother into the ground and covered it up did she feel the relief. That was the only thing she didn’t prepare for.
8. Butcher's Cut - Rated E, Castiel/Dean Winchester
Does Dean Winchester have a clue about what he’s doing?
No.
Is that stopping him?
Also no.
But opening a butcher/sandwich shop in town with his best friend — neither of them having any experience of running a business — may be one of the more stupid ideas he’s ever had. Not that he’s had any good ones but, here he is.
9. baby, it's cold outside - Rated T, Castiel/Dean Winchester
THUMP!
“Ow—son of a bitch! ”
Castiel whips his head up from where it’s buried in his book to find the source of the sound.
10. nobody cares this is the day i was born - Rated G, Castiel/Dean Winchester
Two days. That’s all he gets. Two days before his birthday, Lisa shoves a birthday card at his chest and tells him she’s breaking up with him and he’s left there with a crumpled gift and a broken heart. Two days. He’s fine. He can cope. Except it’s his birthday in two days and he had planned to spend it with Lisa and now? Well, he’s blown off every other attempt his friends have made to spend his birthday with him, so it’s definitely too late to ask if he can join in on plans they probably made without him.
---
no pressure tag list!! @underwater-ninja-13 @bigfootsmom @loserdiaz @giddyupbuck @gaylicense @spotsandsocks @devirnis @monsterrae1 @yelenasbuddie @buckaroosheart @snarkythewoecrow @dicklessthewonderclown @bleuzombie @malicmalic @cactusdragon517 @deancodedcastielenby @songliili
#the pattern is that i just throws these guys in situations#no context#just a situation#tag game#salmon writes fics#ao3#supernatural#destiel#charlie bradbury#dorothy baum#claire novak#kaia nieves#dean winchester#castiel
19 notes
·
View notes
Text
Tried out a new brush/style with some of the Bendy crew! It's nice drawing Sammys long hair and tail again, he feels naked without it even if no hair is his canon design.
I plan to do more after this, most likely the butcher gang, searchers, lost ones and maybe I'll even try Alice!
Design notes and character backgrounds (contains spoilers if you're going through my askblog! [i promise i'm working on the next part but animation is hard to get motivation for]) in the read more ^^
For Norman I made him a failed Bendy as he said he often lurked around the studio as a projectionist so he likely saw the demon or heard of him around the studio from Joey or Tom. Long arms, hands and legs reflecting that, he came out very animalistic and has a large bundle of thick wires from his projector and back gathering to make a tail. He was made soon after Buddy as Joey thought that after his success he'd get better results but Norman fought back and ended up dying before he could be put through the ink, a projector being knocked over and breaking over his head.
Buddy has a little less in common with cartoon Boris reflecting his different mindset from Boris and giving him more wolf-like legs and a tail. He is still mute but wanders the studio a bit more, trying to gather more for his bunker because he feels like something will happen soon, something bad.
An OC I made! His name is Edmund Murphey and worked in a gift shop that was added to the first floor of the studio. He resides in the city seen in the Dark Revival with a copy of his shop. A band of angry people stormed the studio one day and ended up killing Edmund, impaling him with metal rods found at the breaking down studio (pre arch gate) and his cash register bashed into his head. He now wanders his shop, docile to the player unless they steal items and food without first dropping some slugs on the counter where he will chase after them, angrily rattling his register and hitting them with projectionist-like strength.
The Ink Demon is the largest thing in the studio other than Bertrum and the hand in the ink rivers. Its long thin legs end in pig hooves, its imitation of a demon even failing to copy the usual goat hooves. His tail is long and thick, also failing to copy a demons tail. Machinery replace one of his ankles after Buddy and Dot cut part of his leg with an axe.
#bendy and the dark revival#bendy and the ink machine#sammy lawrence#the projectionist#norman polk#buddy boris#buddy lewek#batim oc#ink demon#batim bendy#Sandwich art#notacomic
79 notes
·
View notes
Text
companions work at a grocery store
Cait; Cart attendant and odd jobs. Does some cleaning, some stocking, gets paid for whatever she does. Nick's just happy she's staying out of trouble. If she were a worse person, she'd drink before driving to work. As if stands, drinks at work. She works with earbuds in, and it's a wonder she isn't deaf with how loud she blasts her music. Very grumpy, good luck getting help from her. Surprisingly doesn't steal. "Not from this store, anyway," she says. Will offer to walk lone women back to their cars if its dark out. Survives entirely off of Preston's reject cakes.
Curie; Pharmacist. Very fast, very knowledgeable. You won't spend more then 5 minutes at her counter. She'll notice things about you and recommend treatments which gets her in trouble. Some people get put off by her advice. Sometimes buys the other employees food when she thinks they haven't eaten yet. Buys veggies and makes a salad in-store for her own lunch. Always has an ice tea in her hand. Her coworkers are pretty sure she's won awards; not sure why she's there.
Danse; Loss prevention/security. When he first got the job, you would have thought it was a CIA position. But a few months into it, noticed that most shoplifters are stealing essentials. Had that moment of "hey, shouldn't this at least be cheaper, if not free?" and radicalized overnight. Nowadays, mostly throws out people throwing tantrums, makes sure Cait eats and sobers up before driving home, and keeps Hancock from getting them all sued. Takes migraine tablets like candy, will give you hugs if a customer is shitty to you. Mom to Nick's Dad.
Deacon; Cashier. Much like X6 and Curie, why is he there? He has a lot of money. Like...way too much. Trust fund kid? Porn star? He's very chatty and friendly, will remember you even if you only shopped there once. He'll show up to work dressed as one of his coworkers and try to take over their job when someone calls out sick or something. They appreciate it, because money, but still...creepy. 'Yes, and's angry customers, baffles them by becoming more belligerent than they are. Tries to fight Danse and Hancock in a customer's stead.
Gage; Butcher. Legend has it he went to prison for hacking people, and wants a way to legally get his fix. No. He bought a pack of deli meat for sandwiches, and was disappointed with the consistency of the slices. If you want something done right, do it yourself. Rarely seen outside of the deli or his car. He's pretty sure the bakery guy has a crush on him. Materializes out of thin air to egg on Hancock. Shockingly, pretty good customer service. Needs maybe three, four words before he knows what they're asking for. Has never been wrong. Judges you if you make a big deal out of buying leaner cuts.
Hancock; Custodian. Work buddies with Cait. He doesn't work with earbuds in, prefers to think. If you catch him when he's not busy, talks your ear off about history and politics. Will call customers out on the spot if they're...y'know, doing customer things. Danse comes in before it can ever escalate to a fight. He cleans slowly, but thoroughly. Also comes from money, and definitely sells on the side. Open about being here just for realistic, proletarian experience. Thinks its good for the soul. Keeps you humble. Has tested every brand of brownie mix for weed and will recommend the best one for 'his people'.
MacCready; Part-time bagger, part-time overnight stocker. Mac takes his kid to school, comes to work as a bagger, goes and gets Duncan, brings him home, and stays with him until bedtime. Then he comes back as a stock clerk. He studies for better jobs on his breaks. So tired. Drinks so much coffee. His coworkers all but throw free food at him. He hates it, but knows better than to turn something down for his own pride. Keeps things customers leave in the store. If it was, like, a phone, he'd give it back. It's never a phone. It's shoes, socks. A set of kitchen knives, once. They don't sell knives.
Nick; Retired detective turned store manager who thought running a store would be less emotionally taxing than crime scenes. He was wrong. Ellie, the assistant manager, handles the actual numbers and paperwork. Handles belligerent folks, will blacklist without a care. Would give everyone raises if the corporate higher-ups would let him. Older problem shoppers get sent his way—they can't 'respect your elders' him. Calls the cops when people sexually harass his cashiers, Piper and Deacon disguised as Piper. Feels like he had a better opinion of humanity when he was working in crime. Cannot believe none of his employees are felons.
Preston; Bakery. Wants Gage dead. He gives 'reject' goods to his coworkers (not Gage). Very tired man, takes out frustration on bread dough. Will offer free samples even if the sign isn't up. Won't charge extra for wedding cakes, mostly because the final product never lives up up to his own expectations. Has perfected the 'this isn't a stupid idea' expression. He's a chain store baker, not Cake Boss. But he tries, bless him. Best customer service, naturally helpful, just wants you to be happy. The only employee to actually fight a customer.
Piper; Cashier as well, does her own bagging. Quick with her hands. Also very chatty, but not to Deacon's extent. She prefers to get her people in an out quickly. Will talk politics based on what she can glean from her customers. Sends extreme couponers to Deacon, she's not paid enough for that crap. Will smuggle small candy packages from storage if they're damaged in some way, takes them more openly since Danse eased up. Nick doesn't care. Makes the best instant Ramen in the breakroom's kitchenette, will make it for coworkers she likes.
X6-88; Florist. He wears nondescript black clothing and sunglasses indoors. If you Google them, they cost more than anyone's annual salary. He conceal-carries. Freaked out Danse when he brought it up months after his employment. "I need to know these things!" "I just told you, sir." His bouquets are...unnatural. Like, geometric, too perfect. Tsks when a customer puts in a request he doesn't approve of. Very judgemental. If you order a bouquet for your spouse, and another for a side piece, will purposefully mix them up. He used to work at a government facility and drives a vintage hearse. 100% has killed people. Gives flowers to whoever buys him sugary frappacinos.
#fo4#fallout 4#paladin danse#preston garvey#nick valentine#piper wright#x6-88#robert joseph maccready#hancock#companions react
116 notes
·
View notes
Text
AXE + CLEAVER: Cast
Axe + Cleaver Butchery sits in the outskirts of Kencree— a small town on the coast, just between Ireland and Scotland. The town's primary religion is Boarstooth, under the Harlach Parish.
Agnes Laroche
Self || She/Her
A traveling theologian studying niche religions. She's come to Kencree to study Boarstooth and Harlach Parish, hoping to progress her current essay. In her bid to find more information, she stumbles upon the Axe + Cleaver Butchery in Rhodes District.
Agnes is a friendly and romantic woman. She swoons over her study of choice, and she often daydreams of stumbling upon the golden nugget of religion, something so out there that she's the first to write about it.
Elle Sinclaire
Axe + Cleaver || They/Them
The owner and butcher of the Axe + Cleaver Butchery. They function as a community leader within the Rhodes District, their shop's stoop a popular gathering place. The shop itself provides fine meats and more eccentric selections.
Elle is themself a bit eccentric; they're currently in possession of a dozen ghosts, each craving their attention. They tend to be a bit over the top with customers, trying to mask this; in privacy, they're rather quiet and morose.
Goliath Abernathy
Axe + Cleaver / Harlach Parish || He/Him
A hunter and woodsman who lives just outside of Kencree. He's an escaped clergy member from the Parish who makes his living bringing fresh meat to the Axe + Cleaver Butchery.
Goliath has made it a habit to be unpleasant and unapproachable, but he's a very genuine and shy person. Most of his rough exterior is a defense mechanism— he's a softie, especially for his small pack of hunting dogs.
Angus Reid
Rhodes District || He/Him
The Rhodes District's blacksmith and drinking buddies with Elle. When Elle isn't available, the community turns to him next. He's also the main one to lead the charge against any Parish members who try to convert the Rhodes District and it's residents.
Angus is extremely friendly with anyone from the District or outsiders, but suspicious of the more religious districts. He has very short patience with Boarstooth followers, and this extends to Goliath as an ex-clergy member.
Euan Harlach
Harlach Parish || He/Him
The lesser known twin of the Harlach vampires, and the least involved with the Parish. Looking to escape the Parish, he turns to Angus and Goliath for help.
Euan is shy, always looking to disappear into the crowd. For this reason the Parish followers have dubbed him The Demure, but they often forget about him. This is exactly how he likes it— the less he has to do with the church, the better.
Odelia Harlach
Harlach Parish || She/Her
The high priestess and founder of Boarstooth and the Harlach Parish. She keeps a clergy of 12, as well as one gladiatorial champion. Since Goliath's escape, she's been down to 11 clergy members and no champion; this irritates and haunts her.
Odelia is a deeply self-centered person, she wants nothing to do with anything outside her cult if it doesn't add to her prestige. She's also allowed her followers to gift her gruesome presents, making offerings of their body parts in hopes to receive her blessing. She keeps a room of reliquaries with these offerings.
22 notes
·
View notes
Note
If you're still doing the AU mixing: Sugar Daddy AU + Magic AU? 👀
-Okay so Reggie learns when he is sixteen that trying to do his potions homework and fix his amp in the rain at the same time is NOT a good idea because now every time he sneezes he turns into a cat. Also, he flunked his potions assignment.
-The free clinic basically shrugged and said: that's rough buddy here's some nose spray so for any seasonal allergies I guess.
-"At least you're a cute cat," Luke tries to comfort him. Which is true. He's fluffy and orange and he has little tiny white socks.
-There are actually a lot of advantages to being a cat. Besides the whole 'sneezing' part, but he gets better at controlling that as well. Cute girls and guys will give him attention. He can nap just about anywhere. Bobby is immune to his puppy eyes but somehow cannot so no to his Sad Kitty Eyes.
-It's not until they graduate and move in together that he fully optimises his Kitty Cat Experience. Because yeah, four guys crammed into a one bedroom apartment is a great band origin story once they're famous, but Three Guys and a cat who can comfortably curl up on the sofa is a lot easier to handle.
-And then one day, when he 's out Catting, being adorable at cute girls at the park, one of them offers him some of the meat on her sandwich in exchange for petting him (jokes on you, cute girl, he wanted you to pet him!). Still, it's like a lightbulb moment. He's a cute cat. People will give him food if he is adorable enough.
-He starts testing it. Being cute at people holding hotdogs, and fries, and donuts. He gets a bit of 'no kitty donuts are people food', but he's pretty successful all in all. The butcher loves him. The lady with the fish stall in Chinatown does too. The guy at the bodega on the corner tries to give him some meat but the bodega cat squares up with him and Reggie knows he's not going to win that fight. He's seen Bodega Cat send dogs twice her size running.
-Listen, they're barely scraping by between their shitty jobs and gig money, so when Reggie says: it's cool you can have my fourth of the pizza, the guys are suspicious but grateful when he explains.
-"Dude, you're thinking too small," Bobby says, after a while. "You should go to like, a rich neighbourhood and scam people out of salmon and caviar."
"I don't think that's..." Alex starts, but Reggie is already jumping up.
"Bobbers that's brilliant!" he says.
-Yes he gets Luke to brush him before he changes back to human, gets on a bus, and goes to the Fancy Part Of Town.
-He quickly finds that Fancy Restaurants and Cafés and Butcher Shops are mean. Even with his freshly brushed fluffy coat and his saddest cute kitty eyes, they chase him off. One of them even tells him to scram and calls him a street cat. Rude.
-He decides to try rich people houses instead. Surely there must be some kind of rich old lady who would love to pamper a pretty cat like himself? It takes a couple of tries, and a quick escape from a very well-groomed poodle, but he manages to get into a nice yard. He carefully sneaks across the manicured lawn, hoping to peek inside, when a delighted voice comes from his right.
"Well hello there!"
-There is a man lounging by the pool. A very handsome, very attractive, nearly naked man in just some very tight little swim shorts. And he looks happy to see Reggie. That's way better than a little old lady.
-He goes over, just out of reach, twisting his head just so to look cute and curious. This always works with cat people, and of course the handsome man carefully leans over, making beckoning noises, and holds out his hand for Reggie to sniff.
"Aren't you just the prettiest little thing?"
-His hands smell like Good Food, and Reggie goes in for the kill. He nuzzles the guy's fingers, lets himself be pet, and then flops down to expose his fluffy tummy.
Hello, I am indeed adorable, you should give me rich people food, he thinks as hard as he can.
-"Are you hungry, little guy? I think I have some nice smoked salmon in the fridge. Would you like some salmon?"
-JACKPOT.
-He spend the entire afternoon being pampered and petted and cooed over, and most importantly, fed bits of salmon and prosciutto. He falls asleep in a nice warm lap with a perfectly manicured hand petting him, and when he wakes up an hour later, the handsome man is still looking adoringly at him.
When Reggie gets up and stretches, he bumps his head against the guy's elbow in thanks, before setting off. The man waves at him.
-He comes home well-fed and smug, and Bobby just shakes his head and says 'I can't believe that worked' before dibs-ing Reggie's portion of the cheap takeout.
-He starts going over to Hot Rich Guy's house once a week. The man is just always so happy to see him, and always seems to know exactly what he wants, whether that's food or a snuggle or a scritch right at the base of his tail. Also he's really easy on the eyes, and Reggie won't lie, getting to curl up on that chest while they laze in the sun together is a special treat of its own.
-Hot Rich Guy is named Caleb, and it turns out he's a pretty powerful wizard. Like, one that's on Councils and stuff. Reggie has no idea what he actually does, but he loves to sit and watch when Caleb decides it's time to clean the kitchen, watching the dishes wash themselves, and fly through the air. He also likes the little magic toys Caleb makes just for him, mousies that zoom around, paper cranes that flutter until he leaps to catch them. He may not be an actual cat, but it's still fun.
-"You know, I started out as a street magician," Caleb tells him, flicking another magic paper crane for Reggie to grab. Caleb usually switches between talking to him like he's a human, and gushing 'who's a handsome boy' and other cutesy talk. "Sometimes I miss the simplicity of it. I just made people happy."
He sounds sad, so Reggie abandons stalking the crane to nuzzle at Caleb's chin, purring. You make me pretty happy, he thinks. He can feel the man smile against his fur.
-Okay, so maybe he starts going over even more, sometimes even spending the night with what the guys have affectionately started calling 'Reggie's Salmon Daddy'. (Which was unfair. Caleb also gave him crab, and shrimp, and even steak.) But well, Caleb had gotten him his own comfy little pillow to sleep on in his own bedroom, which is way better than the couch.
Though sometimes he still spends the night with the guys, sleeping on top of Bobby's face just to annoy him, or purring on Alex' chest to keep his anxiety from spiraling into thinking terrible things. It's pretty hard to think your friends hate you when one of them is literally on top of you, making the 'I'm so happy' sound.
-Still, Caleb has maybe installed a little magic catflap for him so he can come and go as he pleases. And gotten him one of those waterfall pet bowl things to drink out of. And a comfy cat bed. And a high end scratch post, even though Reggie would never put his claws into the guy's expensive furniture.
And okay, he also has his own little pillow in the bedroom. But he has been known to hop on the bed and snuggle up to Caleb. Listen, the man is really hot and way out of his league, and Reggie knows he'd never have a shot with him as a human. But he lets himself indulge in snuggling against the guy's muscular, sexy chest and dreaming sometimes. Cats are hedonistic little bastards, he tells himself, so he's allowed.
-He's curled up in the perfect patch of sunlight on Caleb's bed one morning when the man comes out of the shower, toweling off his hair and not wearing anything else. Steam billows out of the bathroom door, and the whole thing is so much like the beginning of a hot romance novel scene that Reggie finds himself having very explicit, very human thoughts about what he'd like to do with that naked man.
"Good morning, Kitten," Caleb says, and is it just Reggie, or is his smile bordering on a smirk?
-Yes he maybe makes sure he's there more often when Caleb gets ready in the mornings. Maybe he even swaps to the afternoon shift at his part-time job at the pet store some days of the week.
-So he's pretty happy. He's getting better meals, they have more breathing room because Reggie basically doesn't need to eat at home most of the time anymore, and when he's not with the guys, he gets to hang out with this hot guy who adores him. Well, cat-him.
-Until one morning.
One morning after he slept over, and hopped on to the bed and dramatically snuggled and made himself at home against Caleb's chest, while he chuckled and scratched that perfect spot at Reggie's ears. He fell asleep purring, comfortable and warm.
He also woke up comfortable and warm. There was a hand draped over his waist, and a nose pressed into his hair. Reggie sighed happily, snuggling back into the embrace, wrapping his own hand around the arm.
Wait.
Wait, hands! He wasn't supposed to have hands right now.
Behind him, a rumble. "Good morning, Kitten."
Oh no. Oh noooo. "I can explain."
"Oh can you now?" Caleb asks, sounding amused. He props himself up on one arm, looking down at Reggie, and man, he's just as handsome with human vision.
He runs through several semi-convincing lies, but Caleb just quirks an eyebrow at him. "Before you open your mouth, please do consider that I can literally hear your thoughts."
"You can?" Oh no, oh no, he was going to be turned back into a cat but like, forever. Or worse.
"I'm not going to harm you, Kitten," Caleb says. "But yes. They're quite loud. You really project them when you're a cat."
Oh.
Oh no.
"Even the ones I had when you got out of the shower?"
The smirk is back. "Especially those. They were really quite vivid."
-Turns out having a Salmon Daddy isn't so bad as a human either. Their first date? Sushi, of course.
#julie and the phantoms#AUs are awesome#calebxreggie#I wrote a thing#fanfic#not!fic#sugar daddy au#magic au#cat!reggie#shout out to yeo because we had a conversation a while back about how cat!willie would use his shapeshifting for crime and just steal shit#but cat!reggie would use it to con people into adopting him as their spoiled house cat#yes they start dating this is a sugar daddy au of course they do#reggie is not sure how he feels about caleb having known he wasn't a real cat from the start but also like... this is his dream come true#once they get very serious caleb gives reggie a magic collar that will shift with him#he can ring the bell whenever he's in trouble and Caleb will come find him#caleb covington#reggie peters
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
The One That Takes Place on an Adult Film Set
So if Grave Peril was where we really got to know the Red Court and really dig into one type of vampire, this is where we get the rest of the vampires. This book is a weird amalgamation of Harry breaking an entropy curse on a porn set and Harry LARP-ing the fast few chapters of Dracula. There is just so much weird mirroring in this book too, everything from Harry learning about the real nature of his relationship to Thomas, which mirrors Lara and Inari's relationship to Harry's "porn stars are people too" stance that gets really contradicted by the fact that the only non-Ex-Mrs.-Genosa casualty is the single mother of two who keeps a roof over their heads and food on the table by starring in porn films. Like...For all Harry's protestations of open-mindedness, the entire *premise* of the adult film chunks of this book are "we are punishing porn stars for being porn stars." So let's talk Blood Rites.
This is your SPOILER WARNING and also your CONTENT WARNING for discussions of sex, pornography, and mental assault.
There are three main thrusts to this book (pun sort of intended, but I feel bad about it). There's Harry's Family Stuff and the White Court, there is the Black Court, and there is Arturo Genosa and the adult film. Let's take those in reverse order, because that just feels easiest.
The thing that pulls Harry into this book is Thomas Wraith showing up and asking Harry to help a buddy of his who is cursed. Arturo Genosa apparently really likes sticking his dick in crazy, because he has three ex-wives who have banded together after finding out that he's planning to marry again, but the new bride does not have to sign the same prenup they did, which will screw them out of their shares of Genosa's estate when he dies. Unfortunately, because fax machines are not great, the name of the new bride is smudged to hell and back, so rather than trying to decipher it and target just one person, the ex-wife brigade adopts a spray-and-pray method (double entendre also intended, and I feel less bad about this one). So they basically curse the studio and every woman around Genosa is in the firing line, which is what Harry has been hired to stop.
This gets WEIRDLY slapstick at times, since someone tries to take Harry out with a blowgun, and a frozen turkey quite literally falls from the sky. What is decidedly not slapstick is the sheer level of catty woman-on-woman violence, pettiness, and vitriol. Like, yes, this bullying and violence dynamic exists and deserves page time, but the point is WILDLY undercut when you drop the whole conflict into a highly sexually charged environment and trip into classic horror tropes like the final girl, the brides of Dracula (which is absolutely the vibe in the Wraith Deeps), and punishing sex workers for sex work. You've just basically undercut any other point you're trying to make, because you haven't subverted jack shit and you are so buried in tropes and heteronormative sex that any sense beyond "women are literal monsters" gets completely eclipsed. Like, I'm genuinely shocked that Butcher didn't somehow work a vagina dentata or a sarlacc joke into this book.
Now, running in the background of Harry and the Porn Film is Mavra, a Black Court vampire who is full-on coming for Harry and working to rebuild her court. Harry decides that the best course of action here is to go old school: Find the nest and burn it out before the baby vamps can hurt anyone else. Which, frankly? I support. The Black Court can and should get wiped off the face of the earth. And for the most part, this section is just fun to read. Harry, Murphy, and Kincaid--with Ebenezer McCoy as their wheelman--track the scourge of vampires to their lair in a homeless shelter and proceed to wreck shop on them. Harry even manages to get a group of captured kids out of there in one piece. Well, the kids are in one piece. Harry gets his hand dry-roasted because his shields aren't designed for thermal regulation. That's going to be extremely relevant in terms of lore and character building for the next few books, until Butcher basically forgets about it. But in general, it's a kickass quest and is largely successful.
My only real beef with this scene is the five or so minutes where Murphy is traversing a set of lasers wired to claymore mines and Kincaid has to take her pants off to buy her a quarter inch of space. Which like, is fair enough in practical terms, but Kincaid, Harry, and the book itself sexualize this in a way that is just absolutely gross and unnecessary, and I'm pretty sure it was 100% just so that Harry could smirk about Murphy gunfighting in panties with a little bow on them. Which made me want to take his staff and clock him across the jaw. Multiple times. This was not required, and it just keeps adding to the pattern of sexualizing women in deadly situations...holy crap, did we accidentally wander into a Joss Whedon project?
This scene does set up Murphy and Kincaid's relationship though, which will be relevant for like...maybe one other book? So fine. It also highlights that Kincaid and the White Council DO NOT get along, since he and McCoy draw on each other on sight and Harry almost doesn't manage to talk them down. So we do get some interesting insight into who the White Council does and does not approve of.
I suppose I have to stop stalling now, and actually address the White Court and the Family Stuff.
For any of this book to make sense, we need to know a little bit of history. Mostly that Lord Wraith, Thomas, Lara, and Inari's father, had just the biggest boner for Harry's mother, Margaret Le Fay. Margaret spent a lot of time in the White Court, gave birth to Thomas, and then peaced out. On her way out the door though, she cursed Lord Wraith so that his hunger--the demon that makes him a White Court vampire--couldn't feed. So he hasn't been able to feed since before Harry was born, is dangerously weak--but somehow still strong enough to be STRONGLY implied to be grooming and assaulting his children--and is losing power internally. So yes, Daddy Wraith is a piece of utter garbage, and when we start the book, Inari and Lara are both working for Genosa. Thomas is trying to spare Inari from ever becoming a White Court vampire, while Lara is actively yeeting her AT HARRY to try to awaken her hunger. This is just a bad situation all around.
That said though, this is the book where Harry starts to really gather family--blood family--around him, because in addition to leaving a curse for Lord Wraith, Margaret left mental messages for both her sons that they unlock in this book, so they would know who and what they are to each other in case she wasn't there to connect them.
And as much as I hate to admit feels for anything in this book, the messages she left and the emotional rollercoaster of discovering that you HAVE a brother and that you actually LIKE that brother gave me feels. Harry and Thomas desperately need each other, and now they have each other, and they can trust each other. That's huge for both of them. They both have to play that information very close to the chest, but THEY know, and that's kind of the important thing.
That also makes the end of this book, in the Wraith Deeps, even more complicated because family plus politics is never NOT messy. Lara full-on stages a coup to take control of the White Court, thanks to Harry outing Lord Wraith's curse and utter disregard for any of his children to her. The way it shakes out though, is with Lara in charge, Inari free, and Thomas living with Harry because Lara banished his ass.
Again though, we have Murphy being mentally and physically assaulted in the Deeps, and no, Butcher, him being "the lord of the freaking nation of sexual predators" (p. 330) does not go any distance to excusing or defending it. Like...Perhaps we could STAHP assaulting women everywhere? For five minutes?
Overall, I think this is one of the more forgettable early Dresden Files books, and it falls into horror and vampire tropes way too easily, even when Harry himself is trying to insist that he's open-minded or chivalrous. Clearing out the Black Court hideout was fun, and Harry and Thomas knowing about each other was lovely, but honestly the rest of this book is SO WEIRD about sex and consent and lust that it really did out me off.
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT MOUSE!!! Mouse is the goodest boi, and the best thing to come out of the book. He is a Foo Dog who adopts Harry, and that's basically it in this book, but keep an eye out, because Mouse is the BEST.
#blood rites#the dresden files#harry dresden#thomas wraith#karrin murphy#the white court#the black court#vampires#urban fantasy
6 notes
·
View notes
Note
Noticed a reblog about getting your body covered in tattoos.
And as someone who adores body art and what people choose to put on themselves that represent themselves:
What tattoos do you have/want to have?
aw hell yeah, good question! i currently only have 7 and am on a bit of a hold for new ones since I'm going on a trip that I'm saving up for, but here are my current lil skin buddies
my first tattoo was my family crest from my mom's side on my left calf- my mom and sister got it too, because my family is cool and dope. (they got it on the shoulder though, because they were not wearing binders.) fun trivia, i chose the left calf because when my dad's motor skills started failing his left side started to go first, and i wanted him to be a part of this.
on my right thigh right above the kneecap is my little driftwood rainbow i got myself because i was sad i was spending my birthday alone. someday i hope to get a lot more flotsam and jetsam on that thigh, since i miss the ocean all the time. i have the species of seaweed i want on there next all planned out
my left thigh is the gay one. i got my grace petrie black tie piece on there- it was at the end of august, the shop did not have air conditioning, and both i and the artist were a couple months on t, so it was a pretty gross experience re: soaking through the butcher paper with sweat and sliding around on the leather bench. sorry, bud. i also got a little keith haring piece because last year i was originally not going to get any new tattoos in the summer because surgery, but then there was a fundraiser and i couldn't not.
on the back of the right calf we have my skull lava lamp, which i got because i knew i would be whiny and lonely after heading back from seeing my partner. also it's rad as hell. love green slime.
i have a little ghostlight on my left forearm because i'm that kind of theatre dude. i got it from an apprentice- the artist got super popular after she got full artisted, but ironically, most of her work since she stopped being an apprentice, i've been a lot less into. (am i opinionated about samefacing women? yes, yes i am)
finally, most recent and my birthday present this year from my mom and sister, top surgery dionysus. this dude fucking rules so hard. look at his lil smirk. best kind.
13 notes
·
View notes
Text
MALACHI HOWAHKAN , 57 , HE / THEY / ANY
— BASICS
Nicknames/Aliases: Mal (to those close to him), Hawk to most customers
D.O.B: January 17, 1966
Gender, Pronouns & Sexuality: Agender ish? He/They, ???
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Affiliation: Syndicate
Occupation: Butcher
Relationship status: Married to Mikala Seabrooke
Children: 2 children, Estranged
Positive traits: (5) Intelligent, Pragmatic, courageous, strong, honest
Negative traits: (5) Apathetic, blunt, cold, cruel, impatient
— BIOGRAPHY
tw // murder, prison, organ trafficking
Longmont, Colorado was a dusty wasteland that served as Malachi's playground for his entire childhood. He was there for too long, in his opinion - settling into complacency after graduating high school. No money for college and no intense desires for anything 'more'. So he saw the same people who had stagnated in the same town, working at some shitty gas station. He made enough money to pay for a small apartment, and he thought little of what he might 'want' for his future.
He meets Alice and things seem better. She has hopes and dreams of getting her nursing degree, settling down, having a family. Malachi wonders if that's what he wants. He finds a better job in insurance and it's boring 9-5 office work. They have 2 children and they eat family dinners and have friends over. Mal makes light conversation and cooks on the grill.
It's hell. And one day he can't take it any more. The pretending and the farce of a life is eating him alive. The kids are out of the house when Mal kills his wife. It's a bloodbath in the rustic little home in Colorado, and Malachi bolts before anyone can see what he's done.
He makes it as far as New York when he's apprehended. Sent to prison, 25 years for first degree murder. Prison somehow is where he feels the most alive - alone with his thoughts, talking to other inmates and, eventually, getting a penpal. Mikala Seabrooke. Someone to talk to who seems to have a weird penchant for the odd darkness that Mal does. They write, on and off, for years.
When he finally gets out, Mik is waiting for him. There's a warm apartment and a warm body, and Mal finds a job at a shady little butcher shop that doesn't ask too many questions. All the while, he kills when he wants to. Or when he's paid to- and Mik helps him find the extra work.
When the owner of the butcher shop dies, it's Malachi who takes over. A small and always serious-looking Lakota man, always chopping up something, slicing, or dragging things from the giant freezer. It's a perfect place to dispose of things. And with a husband in the Syndicate, bodies can easily build up. Perhaps there's a way to make them go missing, or someone with an expert hold on a knife who can cut out the organs for transport, collect items for online selling. Mal does what he's paid to do - and he does not care who he does it for.
He's been around too long, seen too much shit, and knows his way around a gang. He's been pulled in for-hire for various teams and organizations, anonymous or not. But now he only works for the Syndicate, following his husbands affiliations. He's good at remembering faces, and he's even better at holding a grudge.
— WANTED CONNECTIONS / PLOTS
Old prison buddies
Those who have hired him in the past
Regulars to the butcher shop
Syndies he works with
Anyone who knows he killed his wife
Flirtations? Dalliances? You can try. He's kind of a brick wall
His children. Preferably if unhinged and has a weird fascination with their father’s life & his murdering.
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
208: The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy // Distressed Gentlefolk
Distressed Gentlefolk
The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy
1986, Glass
The Jazz Butcher’s pretty new to me, but I can nearly always be convinced to give a hyper-literate, hyper-productive guitar pop guy from the British Isles at least a look in. Is Distressed Gentlefolk the best place to start? Buddy, I am currently both too old (47) and too deeply ensconced in a project that requires me to listen to different music all the time to get to the “make a fan site” level of listening I would need to give you, the faintly curious record listener, that kind of opinion. I started with Distressed Gentlefolk because I found a very clean copy of the LP (including the nine-track bonus 12” included in the Canadian edition) at my local shop. I’m given to understand principal Jazz Butcher Pat Fish wasn’t too keen on the record, despite it being his closest flirtation with notoriety. It’s certainly true that the album is less freewheeling than the stuff on the accompanying EP, which leans dancier, flirting with hip-hop a la Tom Tom Club (“Conspiracy”), at times almost anticipating baggy Madchester (“Rebecca Wants Her Bike Back”). I couldn’t blame anyone for sticking with the EP side of the band that brings you “Peter Lorre,” a work of slapstick surreality that wouldn’t be out of place as a sketch on Monkey Dust or Flight of the Conchords.
youtube
With that said, Distressed Gentlefolk is a better than respectable stab at whatever money there was to be had in the Orange Juice / Lloyd Cole / Pulp / Cherry Red Records kitty, music by jangly romantics with stuffy noses and springy but defeated hair who describe themselves as crap in bed so winningly they seldom have to sleep alone. Fish proves a deft hand with countrified sophistipop (“Too Much Falling in Love”), zany R&B (vore valentine “The Hungarian Song”), locomotive jangle (“Big Bad Thing,” “Nothing Special”), and, on the album’s best songs, shimmeringly sincere ballads (“Still in the Kitchen,” “Angels”). If a few songs succumb to their gimmicks (the jazz-ish “Buffalo Shame”), on balance Distressed Gentlefolk has charm for miles. Fish claims that the band’s general boozing at the time contributed to a disappointing record—me, I just think it’s funny that apparently the more he drank, the more normal he got.
208/365
#the jazz butcher#pat fish#'80s music#'80s indie#uk indie#indie pop#jangle pop#singer-songwriter#peter lorre#music review#vinyl album
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
Now that I am middle aged, it’s fair to talk about destiny. Though no destiny is necessarily final. There are, however, natural resting points.
At this moment, I am the unofficial favorite unmarried gay uncle to several children.
Yesterday, my buddy invited me over for a campfire in his backyard. He’s a union butcher who runs the shop at a big grocery store, and I used to play with him in a surf band. He’s one of my favorite people. He didn’t really talk to me for a few years because I quit the surf band, but now that I work for Carlene, his official best friend, he sees me now and then.
He’s married to an amazing woman, a school teacher. They have two children, with amazing names. Names that make you reflexively go, “I love this family.”
His children have absolutely no chill about me. They begin screaming as soon as I enter the house. They began calling me “Tony Danza” just…spontaneously, the first moment they met me. How do they even know who that is?
To be fair, I also begin screaming as soon as I enter the house, and will jump into the kiddie pool in my dress clothes kicking water at the children.
Yesterday, I came by, and could tell they were soooooo sick. The poor little girl had circles around her eyes like a zombie, and they were both coughing, sneezing, and retching all over the house. No way was I leaving that house without the sniffles. They climbed on me immediately. I had to sit on the dinner bench with them so they would eat, and they both just sat on my lap and covered me in food.
Amor fati.
I was pretty sure I’d be dying today, but I was congested for maybe an hour last night and it went away.
Favorite parts were when the girl called me Mr. Clumpy, and I was like… accurate. Then the little boy asked if I was a Mommy or a Daddy?
I’m a son.
Oh. Haha. The little boy ripped two huge loud farts on my leg. Hahahaha it was an attack well above his weight class. He’s like 3.
5 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
