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#can birds eat pancakes? Hunter is about find out
jellyfishinajamjar · 2 years
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Do you think Hunter understands the context of his palisman being named Flapjack? Does he know what pancakes are? I seriously doubt he had a stable food situation as a child, and outside of missions he didn’t leave the castle for the majority of his life. It’s entirely possible he’s straight up never even heard of pancakes.
That in mind consider Hunter coming downstairs to hear Eda and Luz chatting about how good these Flapjacks they just cooked are, and Hunter immediately choosing violence, followed by a very confusing conversation explaining the concept of food that tastes good for the sake of tasting good, Hunter not getting it, and Luz just shoving a bite of pancake into his mouth.
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missvifdor · 3 years
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At the request of @chimamire-no-sakura, MC OC YUU's reaction if she is constantly ill due to the overload of her work Crowley:
Dorm leaders:
Riddle : He would be very concerned. Let the principal ask for help a few times, that's okay. But pass everything on to MC without worrying about the fact that she has to manage school work and that she had to face several Overblots without Crowley pointing the tip of his nose to come and help them and abuse his kindness, that our red head will not be able to take it! Would be able to threaten Crowley to put a collar on him or find a rule that says this kind of behavior is seen as abuse and that he would report it if he didn't stop there!
Leona: Leona is the first to exploit people (* cough * Ruggie * cough *) to do his chores for Him. But unlike, he would never allow himself to make Ruggie work to the point of making him sick, so when you go after his herbivore the lion will roar! Would be able to go find Crowley in his office and threaten to make him disappear with his One Magic. He'll even convince Crowley to let MC have preset schedules so that she can rest and make up for missed hours of sleep with him.
Azul: Poor Crowley, our Octoman already has it in the palm of his hand. So when he sees how much the NRC Principal is exploiting our dear MC, he makes sure the birdman understands his pain. Will have no problem blackmailing him and threatening him to reveal his darkest secrets without forgetting the fact that he is left a student without magic to face Overblots in his place and to make her live in conditions of deplorable life. It would be a shame if the local press learned of these unfortunate events, wouldn't it? He'll make sure Jade and Floyd keep an eye on this birdman. In the meantime, he's going to give MC well-deserved days off and offer her some sweets to "try out what's new on the menu".
Kalim: He's worried to death! It's not right of the Principal to give so much work when MC is completely exhausted and sick! Would ask Jamil for advice and in the meantime take care of MC giving her rest and good food!
Vil: Vil is for hard work, but this is too much! Watch how that pretty face is now covered in dark circles, stressful pimples, those dry cracked lips and sickly complexion! It's absolutely shameful (Not for MC of course. It is for Crowley)! Vil would use his notoriety to manipulate Crowley, threaten to use his popularity to get him fired on the spot (and the Birdman knows full well that a dedicated Fanbase is very effective with petitions and mass reporting). Our Roi des Poisons will then take care of giving MC revitalizing potions and healing so that she can relax and rest, Vil will pamper her like a queen.
Idia: Would be very concerned about the situation! His favorite Waifu is not well and it breaks his heart! Then he remembers that he is a genius and that digging up secrets well hide in the interest and one of his many talents! Idia will certainly start digging up shameful photos of our dear bird man and posting them all over social media. He will also hack teachers' private files and threaten to sink the school if Crowley does not calm down, it would be a shame if the end of year exam papers were revealed to everyone for so little. is this not ? He would then certainly invite MC to come and rest in his room and they would eat lots of junk food while watching animated films.
Malleus: So there ... If the NRC doesn't end up in little ash heaps, Crowley will be lucky! Angry Malleus Draconia is not a pretty scene. Crowley still has enough savvy not to be in the bad graces of one of the most powerful wizards of Twisted Wonderland and what is more, a future king! Our Principal will certainly try to be forgiven from Malleus and MC by offering more pocket money to buy food, some small repairs to Ramshackle here and there and beg MC for mercy. After all, isn't she so nice? Meanwhile, while Crowley renovates Ramshackle and takes care of his own work, Malleus takes care of MC by letting her sleep in Diasomnia's prettiest room, passionately chatting about gargoyles, and improvising a little picnic in a corner of the forest that Malleus particularly appreciates because you can observe the stars perfectly.
The Vice-leaders:
Trey: He activates his "mother hen" mode! MC is no longer allowed to get out of bed until she is perfectly rested and regained her strength! Trey certainly wouldn't see himself threatened by the Principal, but he would take care of MC's work in addition to his own and enlist the help of our duo Adeuce so that MC can recover as soon as possible! He will cook good little meals full of vitamins and maybe soups too. No one is allowed to come and disturb MC while she is asleep and would certainly bring out his authoritarian side if he hears too much noise likely to disturb the young woman's rest.
Ruggie: Ruggie can understand what it's like to be exploited, but he gets something out of it. He's already very busy with Leona and her schoolwork, so he can't help her with that, but he's trying to cheer her up. An example, he shares with her her donuts (which is a great gesture of affection from her) and making her laugh. Sometimes he would drop one of his tasks to make one of MC's in its place and that she could rest. And maybe even let her stroke his hyena ears, it's a win-win combo, isn't it?
Jade: Well, well. The poor little thing here, does she need a little help? Jade would love to be his serving knight. While he distracts her from her extra work to show her her terrariums and slip a few drops of the sleeping potion into her drink to go to bed on the sofa in Azul's office, Jade thinks it would be very beneficial to go visit dear Crowley, it's been a long time since Octavinelle has done business with him. Our dear moray eel is quite up for bringing his dear twin with him, after all the crazier we are the more we laugh, right? Jade can assure you that after this charming, perfectly friendly visit, MC will be relieved of many obligations. Let our dear human rest and when she is well, let's celebrate with a long and exciting hike during which a lovely picnic awaits them at the end of the path. Jade has made her favorite chocolate fondant, it would be silly to waste such a great treat if she isn't fit enough to enjoy it.
Jamil: He's very worried even if he doesn't show it. Due to his own obligations, he cannot help MC but he can convince Kalim to describe a letter to his father to stop the donations that the Al-Asim family makes to the school. Kalim will not notice the "manipulation" and will think that the idea came from him and Jamil will not be in trouble. Once Crowley is bold enough to come to Scarabia to talk about the letter and the gifts, it's Jamil who takes control of the conversation without giving the impression. He convinces the Principal to stop giving unjustified and excess work to MC, in exchange the donations will come back. But this birdman must stop treating MC like his servant. Once the deal is done, Jamil cooks MC's favorite meals and makes sure she gets a good rest. When she gets better, a banquet will be organized to celebrate her recovery.
Rook: Oh Oh! But what happened to that graceful face? It has its charm, of course, but it lacks life and joy! Hmm? Oh, this is the job Crowley is supposed to do but has MC to do it for him? These are not manners, they are sorely lacking in elegance. Well ... The bird hunt is on. Rook is going to chase Crowley so hard and so viciously that our dear Principal will develop paranoia. Birdman nearly had a heart attack when an arrow brushed too close by when he was in the hallway giving MC even more work! And every time Crowley wants to give more work or blackmail him for money and essentials Ramshackle, a new arrow appears. Always closer, always more threatening. Our dear hunter said to himself that it would be nice to take MC to take his mind off things, why not have a barbecue? He will personally take care of the meat. Everyone loves chicken.
Ortho: Has already offered to destroy the school with his self-integrating weapons and threatened to reduce Crowley to ashes with his subatomic cannons. No one destroys the health of their Big Sister without impunity! From the day Wheat Robot Boy stormed into his office, the Principal has avoided the flaming haired child and MC like the plague.
Lilia: He will act like the responsible adult that he is and his fatherly side will immediately come out! Lilia would be able to walk into the Principal's office with the biggest and brightest smile in Twisted Wonderland. He would obviously be accompanied by a few agents from the Child Protection and Aid Service, these people would be delighted to have a little conversation with the bird man and he cannot flee because he is trapped. in his own office. While all these beautiful people are having this lovely conversation, Lilia is going to take MC to Diasomnia and he will make his special recipe for oyster and tomato pancakes, it will surely cheer her up! And surely taking a restorative nap in the company of Silver, that would be a charming picture to watch!
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usopp-writes · 3 years
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This is the true family
This is inspired from this prompt by @writing-prompt-s
It had been years since he left his home village and build himself a home deep in the forest, living of said forest. The first few years he'd been content and lived peacefully. Then one day, when he was on a hunt, he spotted a kid walking aimless around, crying. Putting his riffel away - there was no point in keeping it off safety, since the kid had probably scared off all animals - he approached the child.
At first the kid froze and the ran away, but stumbled over his feet and fell, makign him cry even more. The man calmly followed the boy and crouched down on one knee, as to appear less intimidating. "Now, now, don't be scared. Let me patch you up and help you back home." He spoke softly and pulled out a handkerchief, before gently and very careful dusting off the dirt of the boy's knees.
"I'm Edward, Newgate Edward." He formally introduced himself, as he vaguely remebered that a kid shouldn't talk to strangers. And to somehow break the ice. It'd been a long time since he had last talked to a human being, though he often had spoken to the birds and animals around his house.
The boy sniffed and flinched, when Edward dusted of most of the dirt from his knees. "I'm ... Fossa and ... I have no home. Mom and dad said it is my duty to be in this forest." The words made Edward stop and look confused, but the boy looked just as lost about this, as Edward did. The older man wondered what kind of parents would kick their own child out, especially at this age.
"How old are you?" Edward asked softly, as he put the handkerchief back into his pocket. Stuttering, sniffing and crying, Fossa managed to tell him that he was 7 years old. He was younger than Edward had first thought, which only made him angry at the parents and feel heartbroken for the child.
"Do you want to learn how to hunt and live in a forest? I can teach you and I can also teach you to fight." Edward felt a little lost on how to talk to a child - he'd never been good at communication, but he had a big heart and couldn't turn his back on a child. His first thought was to bring the child back to his parents, but since the parents had dropped him here, then he knew that the parents would just drop him off again. So there was no other option than to take him in and try his best to raise him into a strong adult, so he could go his own way.
Fossa nodded and grabbed the hand of the man, who was so kind to him. Smiling, Edward picked up the boy and let him sit on his shoulders. Then he started to tell the boy all he know about hunting. He took Fossa to the lake near his housee to hunt some ducks. Little did Edward know that this was the beginning of a whole new life style.
Every year - on the some date - Edward came across another child, kicked out from home. One year, however, he learned the harsh true. The children were an offering to the God for divine protection of the village. Edward didn't even want to think about how many children he hadn't been able to safe and take in.
With time - it was the third year after Edward found Fossa - some bandits had decided that the lake was now their territory and tried to force Edward and his now four sons out, to little success, as Edward wasn't one you could easily defeat. He'd lived at the lake for many years, so he knew where to hide and take out any bandits trying to get to him. He'd built the house and extended it on his own, so he was physically stronger than the bandits. He was alaso a skilled shooter, so he could easily take them out without much effort.
He taught his sons to protect themselves and their home. The bandits still keeps trying to take the Newgates down and cuht up on the abandoned children. They managed to 'rescue' a few themselves and so both side were in constantly conflict, though Edward never initiate a fight. He just stopped them.
--- Several years later ---
"How is it gong, Marco?" Fossa asked the yong boy, who'd come to live with them the year prior. Marco was only 7 years old, but already a promising fighter and hunter. He'd been the youngest of them all, when he was abandoned, but he had wuickly adapted to the new way of living and was adored by his brothers.
The blond looked up and pointed at the trap he'd just finished. It wasn't perfect, but definitely better than the day before. A pleased hum left Fossa. Marco wasn't mute, but he had a sore throat and had been told not to speak to much, which the boy had taken to heart.
"That's really ..." Fossa was interrupted, when he could hear the crying of children. Marco too turned his head where the sound came from and was about to move, when Fossa took his hand. "Stay with me." Then he started to move towards the sound, having an idea what it could be, but confused to why there were two children. It could be they were just lost.
After a few minutes, the two spotted two children, one around Marco's age, the other barely 4 years old. They didn't see the two others approaching them. the older was holding the younger, trying hard not to cry, but was clearly unable to.
"Are you lost?" Fossa spoke softly, knowing that he would startle them, no matter what. The older stopped crying, tightening his grib on - what Fossa assumed to be little brother - and amde a face as if he wanted to glare at them, but it didn't come off as intimidating, as fear was clear in those brown hues, as was the sadness.
Marco tilted hsi head and blinked confused, then tugged on Fossa's arm and pointed at himself, the boys and then at some random direction. Fossa had n idea what Marco was tryin to say, but then the little boy spoke up, sniffing. "You're ... the boy ... from last year?" At this Marco nodded and Fossa understood that the two boys were from the village that Marco and he were from too. That meant they were also an offereing for the God. It was the first time there had been two boys, as far as he knew.
"I'm Fossa and this is Marco. Do you want to live with us? We are a few more and Oyaji. He's the man adopting us, after we were dropped off like you." He smiled freindly and extended his hand towards them. It was then a bullet passed his face and he spotted some bandits rushing forwards them.
Letting og of Marco's hand, he stormed towards the two boys to be between them and the bandits. "Marco get them home. I'll take care of these morons." He commanded. Nodding, Marco grabbed the hand of the older and started to run, forcing the two boys with him. The younger started to cry in fear and ran with the blond.
Fossa knew the bandits wouldn't harm the children, they were here to recruit them after all. So all he needed to focus on was taking them out and get back home. Taking out his knife, he skillfully took out the bandits, though did get wounded and humped back home after an intense fight.
When Marco stopped, they were in a nice backyard, where some of his brothers were gardening and chilling. He got the attention of one and he came rushing to the young blond. "Marco, what happened? Where's Fossa?"
Panting, he pointed first at the two boys. "Abadoned like me, yoi." He huffed out, trying to catch his breath, his throat hurting more. "Bandits. Fossa fighting them, yoi." He didn't need to say more, before his brother rushed into the forest, while another approached the three children.
"Let's get you something to drink and eat. I'm Blenheim." The teen intorduced himself to the two newcomers and pointed at the large man now coming out of the house. "That's Oyaji. He looks scary, but he's a great father." Without further words, Blenheim nudged them all towards the house, Marco keep looking back at the forest with a worried gazed, though happy that one brother had run to help Fossa.
Edward smiled softly and went to make some pancakes for the boys. The two necomers stared confused, though also fearfully at everone and everything, though stayed closer to Marco.
"Do you know Marco?" Blenheim asked, as he placed some hot chocolate in front of all three of them. The older boy shook his head, but then also nodded it and looked uttely lost on what to say. It was the younger that spoke.
"Not really. Saw him getting taken into the forest last year. I'm Haruta, this is big bro Thatch." He was still clinging to Thatch, but at least not scared enough to speaks. Probably due to his young age and the kindness of the strangers.
Marco took a sip of the hot chocolate and love dhow his throat was feeling a little better. He listened to Haruta and then petted the young boy's head and held up his hands, showing 7 finger, then pointing at himselft, as to say he was 7 years old.
Thatch finally got his voice back. I'm 8 and Haruta is 4. They chose Haruta, thiking he would be far more innocent and pleasing to the God. I snuck after them and stayed with him when they left. I can't let them hurt my little brother." He was also holding Haruta on one arm.
"I'm sorry you had to experience that, son. Family should never abandon each other. You are free to stay here or I will help you get ot another village and help find you someone who will take you in." Edward placed a plate filled with pancakes in front of them and plates too. He'd given each of his sons the same option and they had stayed.
Haruta looked at Thatch, who shrugged and took a sip from the hot chocolate, before gazing at Marco, who already had started to eat. "I guess we can stay for a little while..?" Thatch was uncertain. All he wanted was to keep his brother safe and right now, this was here. Nt with those who'd shot at them. Speaking off that. "I want to see if Fossa will be back." He added after a few moments.
Edward nodded and urged the two to eat. Not long after did Fossa come back, helped by the brother who'd run to help him - who introduced himself as Speed Jiru. Thatch and Haruta was happy that the older man got home, though also worried about him, seeing his wounds. They were assured that it would be okay and they weren't at fault. However, it would take some time before Thatch got over it and felt like he truly deserved being part of the family, unlike Haruta, who only took a few weeks.
In the end, Edward ended up 'adopting' 14 kids, became a brother to a man, Oden, who also had adopted a few abandoned kids and had his own two children with his wife Toki. He also befriended Roger and his wife Rouge and became an uncle to Ace, who called him Oyaji like all other 'kids' did.
Thanks to Roger, Oden and Whitebeard, the village stopped offereing children for divine protection and no other child had to suffer. They still had trouble with the bandits, who kept growing, but it wasn't something the three men and their kids couldn't handle.
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I really recommend you listening to Lady Zamar - Sharp Shooter as you read this.
Sharp Shooter (ft Beerus)
A sharp shooter
My hearts ruler
Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you
_________________________________________
Its Valentines Day, the day every planet celebrates. The day for love, revealing your feelings, making single people feel bad, putting pressure on people in relationships and wasting money on things your partner will probably never use again.
Whis' left for planet Earth to go to the Love festival. I rejected the invite, I hated this holiday and Whis knew why though still tried to get me to go with him but he eventually gave up.
I sat on the stump of a purple tree with my legs crossed, eating some Valentines chocolates carved in my liking that Bulma had the top chocolatiers make. I hated the holiday but I loved the gifts. If only I could rub these chocolates in Champa's face. I bet no one got him something like this.
In the middle of my snacking I felt a presence. My eyes scanned the area, nothing but flowers, trees and a river.
I shrugged it off and resumed snacking. Thank you Bulma for the huge box.
I felt it again. Something was coming towards me. Without even a blink, my quick reflexes caught a golden arrow.
"There's a note."
"A sharp shooter
Your hearts ruler♡♡♡ "
"What?",I questioned to myself. I immediately had no idea what to think of it.
I closed the large, heart-shaped box of chocolates and placed the arrow under the red bow on the box. I jumped off the stump then scanned my surroundings once again. Thanks to my adorable, big ears. I heard someone from behind.
"I know you're there, I can hear you breathing. Show yourself."
For some reason I couldn't sense their energy. Unlike mortals, Gods can sense energy and power even if they hide it. I glanced at the box in my hand and noticed the arrow was no longer there. It vanished.
"Alright, I haven't got the time nor the patience for this. Get out here now!"
I felt a huge gush of wind and saw a blur speed past me. My hands felt empty. I glanced down again to find my box gone, that aggravated me. You can shoot arrows at me but no ones steals Lord Beerus' food and gets away with it.
"All right enough!!" I yelled as a dark purple aura surrounded me. "That's it, it's bad enough you're trespassing but now you've stolen a delicacy from my bare hands."
I suddenly felt someone's energy, not far from where I am. I toothy grin appeared on my face.
"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy watching you bleed after what you've done."
I flew in the direction of that...strangely familiar energy. I was so aggravated that I didn't even think logically that it could be a trap.
I ended up at my palace. I searched all the rooms till I came to mine. The door was open, which was weird because I never leave it open.
I opened the door as the creak echoed in the giant room. I entered and as soon my tail made it in, the door slammed closed. I quickly turned around and saw an arrow on the door with another note attached.
"This isn't what I pictured, hey
You're in the dark with me eh..."
As soon as I read that, the lights went out. The golden arrow started glowing and bright, golden ink appeared on the paper.
"And I can't see clearly they
Say you have nothing else to offer me babe
As the lighting beams
My heart goes dim"
I formed a small ball of light in the palm of my hand.
"Who the hell is this...and why the f**k does all this feel familiar!?",I questioned, feeling frustrated as I tried to think of who this trespasser could be.
I felt something warm. I touched my face but there was nothing on it. I opened my eyes to see a small beam of light shining from the top of the room. I made a bigger ball to shine more light into the dark room before finding and climbing the transparent steps that lead to my bed. I couldn't risk flying and hitting one of my atomic hourglasses. To be honest this chase was getting interesting.
Once I made it I saw a some red and white petals on my bed forming a heart. This isn't creepy at all. I felt something brush up on my shoulder. I glanced up to see some sort of fabric hanging from the wall as something blew making it gracefully flutter in the air.
Grabbing the fabric, I quickly realized it was my giant curtains and pulled them apart, letting the sunlight hit my face and bring light to the once dark room.
"As the lighting beams, my heart goes dim."I said to myself, thinking about what was written in the golden ink.
As I flew out the open window and heard something snap, I quickly turned around to see another arrow coming towards me. I caught it effortlessly. If only my reflexes could react that way whenever Bulma was about to hit me on the head.
I sighed at the number of times that woman has hit me on the head. Shaking the thoughts of the Saiyans wife I took another note from the arrow. On it read,
"A sharp shooter
Your hearts ruler
Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you."
"Sniper on the roof? Oh great, a psycho hitman wants to rape me on my roof.",I sighed before chuckling at my statement.
I flew to the top of my tree like mansion. Once my feet touched the surface I stood still and tried to listen for anyone.
Nothing.
There's no one here. I can't believe that pervert stood me up. The sound of light, sweet chirps brough me from my thoughts. I beautiful white bird landed on one of the giant branches. Wait...a dove!? I thought I killed all of them on this planet. They're rare to find but apparently on Earth they're everywhere.
It flew away and I decided to follow it because of my annoying cat instincts, plus I was hungry as fxck and I'd eat anything right then. Sure we had food in the kitchen but who has time to cook at that time with a perverted Sniper on the loose.
That dove was surprisingly fast but I managed to follow it to a large tree. To my surprise there was a golden dagger lodged in the tree that pinned another note to it. I took a closer look and saw that it was a Wanted Poster with my face on it.
"Now I'm concerned."I said as I slid it off the dagger, forming a rip in the paper.
At the bottom corner was written:
"Turn page."
I did what the mysterious ink told me, at the back of the Wanted Poster was more weird writing.
"There's a sniper on the loose
A head hunter on the move
There's a bounty out on you
I'm certain of that move
They catch me
I will lose
Can't go back there"
"There's a bounty out on me? Wait, maybe Champa and the other God's are plotting to kill me again.",I contemplated. "No probably not but if Champa is in on it then it's highly possible."
Plus this person is witty, sly, poetic and artistic. I feel like I need to remember something but it was completely wiped from my brain. I grabbed the dagger from the tree and felt it in my hands, feeling the carved design against my fingers. I figured I'd need it for something.
"Hmm, all this mystery is making me hungry, I'm gonna eat. Can't kill trespassers on an empty stomach."
I strolled into my kitchen and made myself a bowl instant Ramen. I sat at the island and enjoyed my food while trying to think about what that last note meant.
"They catch me, I will lose. Can't go back there. Can't go back where?"
Luckily I was stress eating so I didn't get frustrated and blow something up. After eating I kinda felt sleepy but I didn't wanna sleep in that creeps heart trap until I killed them and used their lifeless body as a pillow.
I mean come on, the jerk stole my chocolate.
I decided to go to the Oracle Fish to find out more about this trespasser but when I reached his pool room he was no where to be found.
"Hey Oracle!"I yelled but nothing except silence answered.
"They took the fish. This person is clever. Definitely not Champa."
I saw something glowing in the water, I assumed it was another one of their notes so jumped in. The Oracle's pool was beautifully designed and decorated by Whis. It had a real ocean vibe. I swam till I found a small gold and white chest with a heart-shaped lock.
I took it before swimming back up to the surface. I swam to the edge of the pool and placed the chest on the tiling. I tried to zap the chest open with my finger but it didn't budge. Next I tried using my strength to break it open but it stayed intact. It's like it was made by a God. Nothing can survive a destroyers attack.
"Hmm, so it is really another God. For a second I thought it was Whis and Goku playing a stupid game."
I got out of the water and decided to try something. I took the golden pocket dagger from my pocket and  placed it in the slot of the lock. Guess what...it didn't work. I was about to give up and lose it till I realised that maybe I need to turn it. So I did. I turned it to the left and surprise, surprise. It worked.
"Good job, me."
I opened it to find one of Whis' paint brushes. He found painting interesting ever since Bulma introduced him to dead artists like Picasso and Da Vinci. Those are the only two I bothered to hear before I took a bite of pancakes and transported to another dimension.
"I got myself wet for a paintbrush."
Then I realised...the garden. Whis loved to practice there. I rushed over to the garden and found a canvas and a isle in the middle of the garden which wasn't weird since Whis always leaves his art there.
I saw the same dove from before land on top of the canvas. I crept over there, trying not to chase the bird away...not because I wanted to eat it but because I wanted answers.
I was just about to pounce on it when it vanished, just like that.
"What the?"I questioned before viewing the other side of the canvas. A beautiful painting of me bending over and kissing a woman with light skin, though I couldn't see her face properly but I knew I've seen her before. We both had blindfolds on for some reason and her golden hair covered her naked breasts. Wow. So beautiful.
There was something written on the top, left corner.
"This isn't what I pictured babe
I didn't bring myself to wander alone
It should have been you all along
But in our age
People don't understand
Unconditional love"
I reached out to touch the painting and once I did, the painting changed. It showed the woman again but this time she hung her head so I couldn't see her face. She wore a crown of thorns and dark red roses and a beautiful wedding dress. She held out what appeared to be a real heart in her hands.
I don't know why but I found it attractive.
I jumped when I saw the heart move, it started beating three times before writing appeared on it.
"For better or worse
Or until one decides
It's the bittersweet end
Of the days of you and I
This thinking there's no way out."
I sighed,"Oh, Cupid, you're playing games with my heart." I gasped at my statement, it hit me, I realised that I've seen all this before.
"A sharp shooter
My heart's ruler
Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you."I said aloud. That's when I decided to go back to the roof.
I grabbed a black rose from the garden. I don't know why but I felt like should, that it'd be appropriate.
I landed at on the purple surface covered in white, yellow and lavender flowers. I saw a figure sitting on the edge. As I crept closer to the figure, I heard a tune.
"A sharp shooter
My heart's ruler
Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you."
"Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you"
"Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you."
"A sharp shooter
My heart's ruler
Sniper on the roof
I'll make love to you"
I found myself singing along until I spotted her with her back facing me. She had the same golden hair as the woman in the painting, wearing a crown of roses on her head, a white and gold dress with what appeared to be almost the same chest piece as mine. I immediately recognised her.
I placed the black rose behind her ear then leaned over, moving one of her golden streaks behind the other ear with the dagger.
"Hello, Aphrodite."
"Lord Beerus. Did you miss me?" She glanced over at me and grinned. Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, the reason for Valentines, the only reason I love the holiday. Would've loved it more if mortals dedicated it to her and not a false image of love.
"Yes but I miss my chocolates more."I said. She got up and turned to me with her hands behind her back. I stared at the beauty in front of me. Her long skirt, slit in the side showed off her firm thighs. A red floral belt matched the roses in her hair. Her chest piece red, with gold roses that matched her golden heels. She loved this look. But don't let her looks fool you. She may look like delicate flower but she can be dark and cut you like a thorn. Cupid is the nickname I gave her but as usual, mortals ruined that too. So I refrain from using it and only do to merely annoy the angelic devil.
She tilted her head and stared at me with her emerald eyes before handing me a heart shaped box.
"Oh, speaking of which, I got this for you."
I took it from her as my eyes slit. "This is the chocolate that was stolen from me. The ones I wanted."
A short cold, laugh escaped her pink lips. "Well I do give the best gifts."
I rolled my eyes before opening it and taking a bite of one.
"What, nothing for me?",she pouted. I chuckled and before she knew it, I had stuffed a chocolate in her mouth.
"I don't usually like to share but you, I can make an exception." I smirked. She slowly licked her lips, wiping away any melted chocolate from those soft, sweet, plum things.
"Mmm, delicious."
"Well it is me, after all."
She came closer and wrapped one arm around me. One of her hands trailed down to mine and snatched the dagger before I even reakised it was in my hand. She slowly placed it on the side of my neck with her free hand and gave me a wink. "Did you like my little game?"
"Yes because love playing your games.",I replied in a sarcastic tone. She moved her head closer to mine, our lips almost touching. "And I don't even get a little smooch for my hard work?"
"So you trespassed on my private property, stole my chocolate, waltzed into my home without any permission, kidnapped the Oracle plus you're holding a knife to my throat and you still expect me to kiss you?"
She giggled. "Oh, Beerus, you make it sound so bad but yes it's the least you could do."she said before licking my bottom lip. "I know you get bored easily, so I decided to keep you busy."
I dropped the box on the floor, not really caring if some chocolate landed on the floor at the moment. I placed my hand on her cheeks and pressed my lips against hers. Her lips parted slightly allowing me to slip my tongue in and taste her very godly being. My hands trailed down to her waist as I felt her tongue glide against my fangs. My hands got hold of her ass as I pulled her closer to my body forcefully resulting a soft moan escaping her lips. God, how I loved it. My claws got hold of her skirt, almost ripping it off as she deepened the kiss and our tongues pressed together in an intense open mouth kiss only we could manoeuvre in such a way.
I broke the kiss but that didn't mean I was done with her. No. I was going to make her pay by having her at my mercy, begging for more. The look in her eyes told me that she wasn't done with her little game either.
"Though next time if you want my attention don't make me go on mysterious chases.",I said with a smirk.
She gave me a playful glare. "No promises."she said circling my chest with her finger. "It was nice seeing your body all wet like that when you got out of the pool."
"What a pervert."
________________________________________
As spider survives
You'll lay your hand on mine
Heartbeat in golden chime
True love can stand the test of time
_________________________________________
Inspired by the song:
Sharp Shooter
By
Lady Zamar♡♡♡
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pilot-boi · 4 years
Text
Missing In Action: Chapter Two
Beautiful New Day
Breakfast is an ordeal with nine people living in one house. Should be easier with only eight then.
AO3 LINK
Mornings were nothing if not hectic. With eight teens of varying appetites, heights and speeds, all rocketing around the kitchen, along with with their one very tired guardian, it was usually best if Ren got up to start making breakfast before anyone else woke up.
There were usually three stages of waking among their group. The early risers: those people who grew up with siblings and knew to nab the limited bathroom space when it was still available. The middling crew: Those who would wake up in their own time, and would usually stumble into the kitchen just in time to nab the first few pancakes Ren made. 
And then there were the late risers. It was better for everyone involved if those two were just left to wake up and meander down in their own time.
Weiss was usually up first, brewing a fresh cup of coffee and refusing to talk to anyone until she’d had her first cup. Blake and Oscar followed soon after. Blake to go on a morning run, and Oscar who had just become far too used waking up early after many years of early morning farm chores.
Ren woke up to the sound of birds chirping sleepily. He breathed in deeply and heard the soft but rushed footsteps of one Ruby Rose on her way to the bathroom. Passing her in the hallway, he nodded and smiled in response to her quick morning greeting. 
He’d elected to let Nora sleep in, as she was likely to hit him over the head with her pillow if he tried to rouse her without a large helping of pancakes ready to placate her. Jaune had been missing from his room, but he’d heard their leader thrash his way out of bed sometime in the night, after what could only have been a nightmare.
It wouldn’t have surprised him to find out that Jaune had been training all night, and had crashed on the living room couch to avoid waking them a second time.
“Good morning, Weiss,” Ren said as he entered the kitchen. Weiss merely nodded in response, looking much more rumpled than she would normally be caught dead looking. But she was sipping from a cup of coffee, so Ren knew that she’d be ready for normal conversation before too long.
As Ren set to work on breakfast, Ruby bounced into the kitchen. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel, and she was wearing her cape, but other than that she was still in her pajamas. “Morning, guys! ” she called perkily, crossing and pulling a couple plates from the cupboard. Oscar waved nervously back at her from where he was seated fully dressed with a bowl of cereal. “Aw you already ate Oscar?”
“Well yeah I just… figured it would be simpler, I didn’t know-” he started, but Ruby waved him away.
“It’s all cool, food is mostly every hunter for themself,” Ruby explained, replacing one of the plates.
“Good morning, Ruby,” Ren said, transferring a few pancakes to a plate, which she quickly nabbed. He’d known this was going to happen, but he was hoping to have more than a few done by the time Nora woke up and stumbled her way down to them.
“Uncle Qrow been down yet?” Ruby asked through a mouthful of pancake as she put the kettle on for more hot water. Blake would want tea when she got back from her run, and it would be good for Qrow to have something other than alcohol this early in the day. And besides, she wanted her cocoa.
“Not as I’ve seen,” he responded, stirring the batter a bit more. “But Oscar and Weiss have been awake longer than me.”
“I haven’t seen your uncle yet, either,” Oscar piped up from the table.
“No Jaune yet?” Ruby asked, taking the shrieking kettle off the heat and pouring the boiling water into three cups. She put a tea bag into one of them to steep, and started stirring cocoa mix into the other two.
“He has been training all night and it wouldn’t hurt to let him sleep in a bit longer.”
“Yeah I guess…” she said, setting plates down on the table. “Still, he’s usually awake before I am.”
“Who is?” Blake asked, peeking in, looking and sounding winded.
“Jaune,” Ruby responded, passing her the tea she’d been making. “Nobody’s seen him yet.” She tugged the towel from her hair and tousled the red streaked hair a bit to have it dry faster. “You’ve been up longer though, you seen Jaune?”
“Mm,” she hummed noncommittally, one of her ears twitching as she took a sip from her cup. “No I haven’t, but nobody else was even awake by the time I left the house, sorry.” Blake passed her cup back to Ruby, nabbed a slice of bacon from Ren’s growing plate of cooked food, and exited the kitchen.
“Weiss might still be in there!” Ruby called down the hallway after her, and Blake waved in acknowledgement.
“Don’t shout so loud,” said a low voice behind Ruby. “I’ve got enough of a headache as it is.”
“Oops, sorry Uncle Qrow,” Ruby apologized as the man sidled past her into the kitchen. “I made you coffee!” 
“Thanks kiddo,” Qrow chuckled, and ruffled her hair, leaving it sticking in spiky strands pointing in all directions. Ren passed him a plate of pancakes and bacon. Qrow winced when Ren’s distraction caused the teen to knock the prepared coffee off the counter. “Aw hell, that’s on me-” Qrow started, putting the plate on the table before an accident could befall it.
“Don’t worry,” Ruby said, passing her uncle the back-up coffee. “I thought ahead this time.” Qrow took it gratefully and muttered his thanks.
“Now you don’t have one for Weiss though,” Ren reminded her, stirring a second batch of pancakes. A crashing sound from down the hall let him know that Nora was finally awake, and there would be hell to pay if there were no pancakes when she got to the kitchen.
“I can make my own coffee, thank you very much,” Weiss said, entering the rapidly crowding kitchen and stealing a mug from Ruby. “Not that I would want one with the obscene amounts of sugar that Ruby adds to hers,” the ex-heiress snarked, shooting a glance at Ruby who chuckled to herself from behind her cup of cocoa. 
“I. Demand. Pancakes!” Nora exclaimed, making her entrance into the kitchen at long last. 
“Good morning to you, too, Nora,” Ren chuckled, passing her the plate of pancakes that he’d been reserving for her. She was eating them before she even sat down, gulping down syrup in nearly equal measure.
“Where’s the kid?” Qrow asked, swirling his coffee in one hand. When nobody answered, he clarified a just a little bit more. “You know, the blonde one. Kinda tall.”
“I haven’t seen him yet,” Weiss replied, settling in a chair next to Oscar with her coffee. “Which is strange, because it has become nearly a routine to crash into him in the hallway.” She started combing her fingers through her hair and putting it into a braid down her back. “He’s probably just asleep.”
“I dunno, he’s usually up by now,” Ruby said, glancing out down the hall in the direction of Yang’s room. She could hear movement, so her sister was awake at least. “Are you sure that nobody’s seen him?”
“Blake was up first.”
“Yeah, she said she left before anyone was up though.”
“He’s probably just passed out on the couch,” Nora piped up, finally having eaten enough to enter the conversation. Her plate was now practically empty, and she was already bugging stealing the bacon off Ren’s plate. Ren paid her no mind. He wasn’t going to eat it anyway, but Nora preferred to steal his bacon rather than get her own. 
“I can go get him, I-I mean, if you want,” Oscar offered, putting his empty bowl in the sink. “I’m up anyways.”
“Nah, I’ll do it,” Ruby said, “Don’t worry about it, be back in a jiff!” And she zipped out of the room in a flurry of rose petals.
“Hey sis! Watch where you’re goin’!” came an annoyed shout from the hallway.
“Sorry Yang! There’s food in the kitchen, I’m just getting Jaune.”
Yang wandered into the kitchen, looking much more awake than Nora had. “She’s getting Jaune?” the blonde asked, nabbing one of the few remaining pancakes, and grinning at Nora when she squawked in protest.
“Nobody has seen him all morning,” Ren explained, pointedly not looking at Nora as she not-sneakily stole the rest of his food off his plate. 
 Ren might need to make more food after all. Which wasn’t a problem in itself, but he had been hoping to get to stay sitting. At this rate there wasn’t going to be any food left over by the time Jaune got here.
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The Daughter of a Righteous Man- Chapter 20
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*SEQUEL TO THE LOOK IN HER EYES*
After her husband is drug to Hell, Ava Winchester and her brother in law Sam try their best to do right by Dean and raise her daughter, only to find that good intentions aren’t always enough. Loving someone isnt always enough.
Chapter Twenty, I Am Yours
Ella
About 16 Years Later
He was sleeping. His arm hanging off the side of the bed. His forehead was wrinkled. I couldn't tell if he was having a bad dream or a good one, but his eyes moved rapidly under his eyelids.
I crawled onto the bed next to him, and crouched over his head. I ran my finger down his nose, tickling it. "Wake up," I murmured.
His eyes flew open and he grabbed for the gun under his pillow before he saw it was me. He exhaled slowly. "What're you doing here?"
"I know how hard today is for you, Dad."
He groaned and shook his head. "Nope. I'm fine, kid. Where's Claire?"
"On a hunt," I said with a shrug.
"I can't believe you're dating a hunter,” he groaned, rubbing his face. His green eyes looked dull and tired. He needed to shave. "Not exactly a fathers dream."
"They say girls alway date people who resemble their fathers," I said gently with a mischievous smile.
His eyebrows raised. He pretended to be offended, pressing his hand to his chest. "I am nothing like biker Barbie!"
"Can you stop calling her that?" I asked with a laugh.
"Nope." He grinned widely.
Good. A smile. That's a start.
"Is Sam up?" He asked with a yawn.
"Probably. You know how he is. Up with the birds."
"And Cas?"
I shrugged. "He doesn't exactly sleep. Last time I walked by his room he was binging Game of Thrones."
Dad groaned. "We need to put a timer on his tv. It's going to rot his brain."
The bunker had been surprisingly quiet all morning. I think everyone knew that today of all days we needed to be gracious. We needed to be kind. He shouldn't be rattled, especially with everything that was going on.
"Maybe, but he likes it."
"And Jack?"
I reached out and took his left hand in mine. "Dad what's wrong? Why are you so worried about where everyone is?"
He shrugged. "Curious,” he grunted.
We were the same, Dad and I. We were cut from the same cloth. He squeezed my hand weakly. Today was a bad day on top of a million other bad days. We were trying to find a way to keep Michael contained, but he was worried.
By we of course I meant Sam, Cas, and Dad. I wasn't supposed to know, but I'm not blind. I'm also a really talented eaves dropper, especially when there's yelling involved.
"Want to get pancakes?" I asked him.
He narrowed his eyes and glanced at the clock on his bedside table. "Eleanor Mary Winchester, you're supposed to be at school."
I groaned and fell backwards onto the bed. I never would've guessed, based on my Dad and Sams history growing up that I would've been required to go to school at all, but I was so wrong.
Dad enrolled me in a private school, plaid skirts and all. Uncle Sam helped me with my homework, and with all the books around the bunker growing up I easily skipped a few grades in elementary school. My reading levels were off the charts, and I was easily able to do math and computers from watching Uncle Sam hack. Not to mention all the chemistry involved in spell work. Rowena was a great science tutor.
I was an almost seventeen year old high school senior. I only had two classes to complete next semester, and I was opting to take them online so I could help with hunts. Even though I hadn't told Dad that yet.
"Come on, Dad. It's the end of the week. Next week is fall break, and I'm already ahead on my homework. We can rent monster movies and eat way too much chocolate. It'll be fun!"
"No way, kid. You're going to school,” he said, patting my knee.
He got up, stretching. He turned his head cracking his neck with a satisfying pop!
"Sam May have already called me in," I said, hiding behind his pillow. I was wearing one of Claire's leather jackets, and a Harry Potter T-shirt Charlie had gotten me from Comicon a few years back, paired with my favorite pair of jeans. I wasn't dressed for school, and I had no intention of going.
He crossed his arms and glared at me. "I don't like you going behind my back, El."
I shrugged, twisting my sandy brown hair into a bun. It was getting long, and I kept threatening to cut it, but Claire's favorite pass time when we were alone was braiding it over and over again. Well one of her favorite pass times.
"It's your fault for creating this Full House, three Dads lifestyle for me." I shrugged.
"I am not Danny Tanner if that's what you're implying. We need to be clear on that."
I grinned widely. "Sam is obviously Danny. Cas is unknowingly Joey, and you're obviously cool but stern Uncle Jesse," I said crawling off the bed. I stood on my tip toes to place a kiss on his cheek. "It's way too late for me to show up now. It'll seem weird. Can we just please have a day for just us?"
I turned on my best daughter charm, bottom lip pout and all.
He groaned and pulled me into a hug, placing a kiss on the top of my head. "Fine." I was irresistible to him.
When I went on my first date with a girl everyone joked that it had to be from all the men I was around. How could anyone possibly compare to my three fathers, to the constant love and support? That's just what people saw, though.
I joked that it was all the mommy issues.
"Alright old man! Get dressed, I have triple chocolate pancakes with my name on them!"
Dad grinned. "Yup you're my kid." He said flicking the bun on my head. "I'll meet you in five."
I shrugged and walked into the kitchen. Jack was leaning against the counter staring at the coffee maker. I raised an eyebrow.
I always wanted a younger sibling, but nothing could've prepared me for what it was like to be an older sister to Jack.
"Hey Jackie," I said eyeing him. "Whatcha doin?"
"I want to make coffee... because everyone drinks it, but I just can't figure this out." Jack sighed, looking defeated.
I couldn't help but smile. "Let me show you," I said, taking out the bag of grounds. "Okay take this." I grabbed a filter. "Put it here. Then take a scoop of the grounds and dump them in. Push this back into place and press the brew button! Easy peasy."
His eyes widened as the coffee maker gurgled to life and started spitting out brown water.
"You are so smart Ellie!"
I smiled.
I was the woman of many names. Mom called me Nel when I was a baby, when I was in trouble I was Eleanor Mary, Claire calls me Ella most of the time, Sam mostly calls me Kid or Dean Jr, and Cas has experimented with nicknames, but they're usually so awkward that he sticks with Eleanor.
Jack poured himself a cup and took a sip. He almost dropped the cup, and he met my eyes and softly said, "Ellie this is terrible."
I laughed and shook my head. "Let me show you my ways." I said, wiggling my eyebrows. I walked to the fridge and pulled out the plain half and half, and I grabbed chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
I took his cup from him and poured out half of the coffee, and replaced it with half and half. I poured in a ridiculous amount of chocolate and topped it with whipped cream. "Try now."
He smiled widely and took a sip. His upper lip was covered in whipped cream. "I think I like coffee."
"Me too," I said with a smile. "Don't ever drink it black. I don't even really think Dad likes it like that. He just wants an excuse to be grumpy."
"Oh I do?" Dad asked as he walked into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup and took a sip staring me right in the face. "Mm. Yum."
"Good morning, Dean," Jack said with a whipped cream smile.
"Mornin’ kid." He winked at Jack. "What're you doing today?"
"Reading about social norms," Jack said with a nod. "I'm working on my interpersonal skills."
"Sounds fun," Dad said dryly.
"Castiel said it's essential for me to be able to exist in this world."
"Cas doesn't really have room to talk about interpersonal skills." I laughed and Dad nodded at me knowingly.
"What about you two?" Jack asked eagerly drinking his coffee.
"Breakfast and a monster movie marathon." I grinned widely.
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Is your life not already full of monsters?"
Dad and I groaned in unison.
Sam never liked Halloween, but it was Dad and my favorite holiday. We would always dress up in matching costumes, and stay up all night watching horror films. I would always sneak into his room and sleep curled into his back because it was too scary sometimes. From what I hear, it was the exact opposite of what his childhood was like.
I think he worked hard to keep me from having to learn to shoot guns and be afraid of the dark. Knowing that he fought monsters, though, was enough to make me not afraid. How could I be with The Winchester's as my protectors?
So we played pretend in the fall. We let ourselves watch slasher movies and pretend we were regular people. We pretend that I didn't get an anti-possession tattoo at 15, and that we didn't live in a weird underground bunker.
Dad sat his mug in the sink. "Let's hit the road."
"Can I drive?" I asked when we walked into the garage.
He stopped, and touched my shoulder to stop me. "Maybe you should stay home."
"Why?"
"You've got to have a fever if you think you're going to drive Baby."
I rolled my eyes. "My bad." Shouldn't push my luck.
"Get in,” he said with a laugh.
Dad always looked his most relaxed when he was driving the Impala. When it started up he always took a deep breath and smiled. No matter what he was going through he was able to find peace in his vehicle. A lot of people think that home is a place, but for Dad and Sam... that car was always their home. It's been the only consistent thing in their lives besides each other.
"The Little Pancake?" He asked me as he opened the garage and pulled out.
"Obviously. What? You new here?"
He grinned at me.
The Little Pancake had been our breakfast place since we moved back to Kansas. It had ridiculous pancake options. There's no way they could be healthy, and that's exactly what we loved about it.
He took me there after my first period, my first break up, my first C on a test. It was something special for just the two of us. Sam asked if he could come once, and Dad told him no, because they don't have kale pancakes. I think he hurt Sams feelings.
We went to our usual booth in the corner. "Do you think it's too early for a peanut butter milkshake?"
"Never," Dad said.
"Hey Dean, El." Our favorite waitress Cami said as she walked past our table. "The usual?"
"Yeah!" I said with a grin. "Plus a peanut butter milk shake."
"You got it," Cami said with a nod.
"So," Dad started, leaning across the table to talk to me. "Do we need to get you a homecoming dress?"
"Please," I groaned. "No way.. Claire would never be caught dead at a school dance."
"She might for you." He shrugged.
"Would you have gone?"
"For the right girl, I would've done anything."
I smiled. "You're a softy."
"Claire is too,” he said knowingly. "When it comes to you."
"You're all soft when it comes to me. I'm your Achilles Heel. Princess Winchester heir to the great throne," I said dramatically.
"Who raised you to be this way?" He laughed shaking his head.
"You. It was literally you."
Cami brought my milkshake and Dad's coffee. She smiled at him and lingered a little too long like she usually does. She was maybe thirty five, and she had a huge crush on him. She was pretty, and other than the fact that she worked in a diner, she was pretty spectacular. "You know she likes you right." I whispered to him.
"Me? No way."
"Dad come on. All the girls at school talk about how I have the hot Dad." Technically they say hot Dad's, plural, but there's no need to upset him.
"You should ask her out," I said gently.
"What?" He looked genuinely shocked.
"Yeah. You've been unhappy long enough, Dad. Put yourself out there."
"Eleanor, I'm not going to discuss this with you,” he said sharply. Eleanor. That meant the conversation was over. "So, what case is Claire on? Tell me about it."
I frowned and sipped my milkshake. My dad was my best friend, and I know how that sounds. We were tight knit, and I grew up being taught that family is the only thing that matters. Seeing him hurting was physically painful for me, and he was hurting a lot.
"Haunted house," I lied. "Seemed like a milk run. She should be back in a few days." She was actually researching ways to help Dad with the Micheal situation, but I couldn't tell him that.
"You worried about her?" Dad asked.
"Always," I said with a weak smile. "It's hard to care about someone that's always going. Especially when you can't go with them."
"That may be how it always is with you two,” he said glumly, sipping his coffee.
I shrugged. "Maybe, but I'd rather have her part of the time than not at all."
He didn't know that I had an interest in hunting. How could I not? It would be a fight when it happened, so I avoided bringing it up at all costs.
Cami came with our breakfast. Dad got a slice of apple pie with ice cream, and I got my mess of chocolate masquerading as pancakes. The conversation was over.
"I love this place," Dad said with his mouth full of his last bite of pie.
"Me too." I grinned, wiping the chocolate off my chin.
"To the video store?" Dad asked as he sat down the cash to pay and a high tip.
"Well, I was actually thinking..." I chewed on my bottom lip.
"Spit it out, kid."
"I was thinking maybe we could drop by and see Mom for a few?"
His back straightened and he visibly swallowed. "I.. I don't know, El. Is that really a good idea?"
I took his hand. "I think it's time. Don't you?"
He sighed and shook his head. It was always hard to get him to go see her. He was very cut and dry. The past is the past and that's it. No need in dwelling. But she’s my mom. So of course I had to dwell. It's a kids dream to have their parents together in one place. I knew I couldn't have that, and it was fine. I never grew up missing much. Cas, Sam, and Dad did a great job making sure I didn't miss a thing. Before Charlie died, she would come by and help me deal with the stuff the boys couldn't. Then Rowena... I have a big family, but there's still things that no amount of love can fill. More than anything, though, I needed him to have that closure so he could move on.
"I know you miss her," I said quietly.
He sucked in his breath and blinked a tear away. "Yeah, okay,” he said, tossing me the keys. I caught them without fumbling, which was a huge deal for me. I didn't question him, I just walked to the car and got in. He didn't smile when the car hummed when it started up. He just stared at the landscape as we drove.
We parked after what seemed like an eternity of open road. I took his hand in mine to make sure he could move forward. Pain was obvious on his face as we pushed through the iron gate. The air was chilly, but warm for October. The leaves crunched under our feet as we made it down the path.
"Hey Mom," I said gently, crouching in front of the polished marble. I reached out and touched her name that was carved in. Ava Winchester.
—————
Chapter Twenty-One, A Way to You Again
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ask-chaos-kin · 5 years
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Chaotic Adventures in Babysitting Chapter 3
This is one of the longer chapters being over 5000 words. Co-written with @royalbabble (I only own Wolves Bane, Chaos Kin, and Roseflame)
Everyone was slowly waking up from yesterday, Intelligent Heavy having been woken up by Rose hoping they would be able to make breakfast. Ass Pancakes was jostled awake not long after by both Intelligent Heavy and Rose.
“Huh? What?” He woke up in a slight daze.
“Can you make breakfast?” Rose asked. He nodded and got up with a groan, he had been taught how to cook by Chaos before. The easiest thing he could make was given in his name, though eggs and sausage where also an easy breakfast meal. While he started to cook he heard the front door open. He looked back to see Roseflame enter the house with Brutal, he wasn’t surprised to see Brutal covered in blood again.
“Yo if you’re joining us for breakfast, take a shower first and wash your clothes,” Ass Pancakes stated simply, Intelligent Heavy kept Rose from seeing Brutal by using his larger frame as a barricade. 
“There was some spindly little piker lurking around out near Spypers van,” Brutal said, hooking his thumb back outside, “Thought I’d take care of ‘em for ya,” He remarked. 
“Yeah, thanks for dealin’ with him,” Pancakes said, flipping a pancake to impress and distract Rose. Brutal took off his hat to observe the mess he’d made on himself.
“Where’s the showers?”
“Down the hall, third room to the left. I’ll bring you a spare T-shirt and jeans,” Pancakes started on making a special shape pancake for Rose. Rose caught a quick glance of the bird shape and began climbing the oven to get a better look. 
“Nope, don’t need you burning your hands kid,” Pancakes scolded, setting down the spatula and scooping her and handing her over to Intelligent Heavy. 
“I wanted to see the birdy,” She protested.
“You’ll see them soon. In the meantime. Why don’t you go wake up the others?” He asked her.
“Okay!” She giggled. Intelligent Heavy set her down, letting her wander away to wake up the others.
“Watch her. Please,” Pancakes gave a worried look to Intelligent Heavy. Intelligent Heavy glanced back and gave a reassuring smile as he followed after the child. Brutal sauntered off to the showers, slapping his bloodsoaked hat back over his head. Ass Pancakes prodded the food in the pan, scooping it up to flip it onto a nearby platter. He looked back and saw Roseflame still standing in the doorway. 
“What up?” He asked going back to the food.
“Nothing, just. You know, social interaction isn’t my-”
“You’re going back to your home aren’t you?” Ass asked looking back at her after moving more pancakes to the other platter.
“Yeah… yeah I’m heading back,” She rubbed the back of her neck.
“You stayed yesterday, you’re good,” He turned the heat down to low and walked back to her, “Just keep in touch, you and me know Chaos well. She has anxiety about being a freak even nearly 2 years after being one,” She nodded.
“I’ll visit daily,” He nodded and returned to food as she left to return back to her home, as secluded as it was.
***
Deep in the woods a shadow was slithering to a corpse, engulfing it in it’s shade and shimmering, amorphous form, slowly piecing it back together. All the meanwhile it was taking a form on the nearby tree stump, shaking its head in disappointment.
“Well, That plan went horribly,” Knenus remarked as Wolves Bane gasped for air.
“You couldn’t have intervened! You’re a demon!” He kept coughing up blood.
“Yes, but he’s a demon hunter. So no, I couldn’t intervene until later. Anyways nothing should be broken anymore. My guess is to head back and plan another attack. We’re some of the only demons around here for now,” Wolves Bane gave them a questioning look before returning to coughing up blood.
“Who’s the others?” He asked once he was finally done.
“Writhe and his host, Dr. Grave. But right now they’re out of commission, Nightmare Medic, and a few others,” Knenus started to list. Wolves Bane stumbled up, only to topple back to the ground with a whump. He spit out some dirt and rolled over on his back, thinking about the first Freak Knenus had listed off. He’d never heard of a “Dr. Grave” before now.
“How Strong was that ‘Dr. Grave’ guy?” He asked after getting more dirt out of his mouth.
“Extremely. It took a whole gaggle of Freaks to take him out,” Knenus looked to him knowing where his mind was going. She helped him up and took the two back to their base using a portal. He could rest up, no use in him wandering around in his dazed condition.
***
Brutal finished his shower just as the others were getting ready to eat breakfast. Just as Pancakes had promised. There was an extra large T-shirt and a pair of jeans waiting for him. His actual clothes must had been thrown in the wash. He rolled out the clothes and slipped into them, each article just a bit too big for his body. As he got dressed, he could hear jingling coming from the other room.
“Oh boy,” Brutal sighed, “Jester’s awake,” He could also hear a young girl giggling, must have been why they were so pressed on having him take a shower and wash his clothes; Don’t scare the little kid. Though he admitted that sometimes it was fun to do exactly that. 
He came into the kitchen and was none too surprised to find Count Jester up to their usual antics, flying around the room while bringing to life inanimate objects and making them move about. And sure enough, in the midst of the chaos was the little ankle biter herself. He just wasn’t sure who she belonged to. The moment Brutal stepped into the kitchen, Jester grinded to a halt in midair and zipped over to Brutal, faster than the homicidal Freak could react. Jester threw their arms around Brutal and pulled him into a bone breaking hug, lifting him clear off the ground with an uncharacteristic strength. Jester quickly set him back down, making Brutal stumble for a moment. For whatever inexplicable reason, Jester had taken to viewing Brutal as a sort of father figure, along with Pure, Gentle, and RED. Pure waved it away as Jester imprinting on them somehow, despite Jester being an adult, so no one really thought about it further than that. 
“Hey Brutal,” Chaos gave a small hello as she gave the child the drink she choose. There was no way the kid was hers, despite clear similarities in their faces.
“Who’s Brutal?” The child asked, by the sound of the voice, had to be in the middle of single digits. Around five, if Brutal had to hazard a guess.
“That’d be me,” Brutal said, stepping around into the child's view. 
“You have a weird name,” Rose squeaked. Pancakes laughed, who didn’t here?
“Rose that was rude. We talked about this,” Chaos sounded slightly disappointed in the child.
“Ah she hasn’t even heard my full name. Christian Brutal Sniper,” Brutal said, pulling up a chair, grinning at the child's confusion. She wondered why someone would be named Brutal Sniper. Chaos shook her head, she gave him the look to say don’t tell Rose her freak name. Before Brutal could say anything else, Jester scooped her up and flew around the room with her. Chaos just smiled warmly at the scene then turned her attention to Brutal.
“So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?” She asked, sipping her morning cup of Dr. Pepper.
“I’ve been lookin’ for more people to kill. I was humiliated back in Grave Manor and Im not going to let that pompous asshole make a fool out of me. So I was walking by to see what blokes were nearby that I could get my hands on when I found this Scout Freak lurking around outside the base,” Brutal explained. 
“Wolves Bane? The guy who sent us to the Slender dimension?”
“Yeah that’s the bloke,” Brutal said.
“Guessing you chopped him into little bits?” She said, was keeping an eye on Rose as Jester flew her around the room.
“Yep,” Brutal snickered, “I’ve been itchin’ to get back my killin’ spree ever since Jester broke me out of that weird trance. Thanks for that by the way,” Jester gave Brutal a thumbs up as they flew by.
“Have you seen Roseflame by any chance? The girl we dragged here from that Slender Dimension? She was around here yesterday but I have yet to see her this morning,” Chaos asked him. She appeared to be worried for Roseflame, even though the newcomer has proven she can handle herself.
“She was here this morning. Don’t know where she headed to after that,” said Brutal, rubbing a crick out of his neck. 
“She headed back to her own base. Social overload,” Pancakes set down a bowl containing scrambled eggs.
“She has her own base?” Asked Brutal, leaning over to peer into the bowl. 
“She found an abandoned place and set up a home there. She says it has something to do with her not used to being out in the open with so many people,” Chaos explained. Everyone at the table promptly ducked as Jester flew by again, shaking the table and everything on it. Pancakes grabbed the bowls and platters to keep them from falling off the tabletop and huffed after the jovial Freak before they darted back into another room, Rose hanging onto their back. 
“I don’t blame her,” Brutal observed, getting back up and fixing his hat, “Especially with them around,”
“I’m half tempted to bring them down a notch-” Pancakes began, opening his hand to summon his warhammer.
“Hit Rose. Those eggs will be your grave,” Chaos snapped, her voice a harsh growl. Pancakes slowly backed off, mindful of the threat. 
After the brief exchange, Pancakes set up everything at the table, with Jester finally setting Rose down in a chair before hovering down to sit beside her. While everyone ate, Rose was curiously hanging around Brutal, trying to find out more about him. She reached up and tugged on his shirt to get his attention. Brutal glanced down to the small girl in the middle of eating a large portion of pancakes and eggs. 
“What?” Brutal asked, taking a napkin from the center of the table. 
“Where are you from?” Rose asked, Chaos knew that now that he’s responded he will never get away from the questions about him.
“Australia,” Brutal said bluntly, taking another bite of his food.
“Do you kill people?” Everyone went silent for a moment, worried she already knew about Brutal. Then again his name didn’t help in this current situation.
“Yep,” Brutal said so nonchalantly that one could be forgiven for thinking he was guilty of only some trivial wrongdoing. 
“Why?” Chaos was about ready to either leave the room or smash her head into the table. Pancakes was preventing either of them from happening however. Rose seemed genuinely curious of Brutal still instead of fearful of him.
“I just do,” Brutal said with a shrug, wiping his hands with a napkin. 
“He’s tried to kill me!” Jester piped up, grinning, “The only reason he can’t is because my body isn’t actually made of flesh like everyone else. The only way to really hurt me is to break my artifact,”
“Can we not give my niece nightmares!?” Chaos barked slightly angry at the two for being so nonchalant about it, “She’s not like us, she’s full human,” That’s when Rose looked to Chaos.
“What do you mean Aunt Lily?” She sighed, she didn’t know how to explain it to her. Spyper raised a hand, gesturing to Chaos to let him explain.
“We’re what are known as Freaks. We have powers and abilities that make us not entirely human. A lot of us have superhuman strength,” Spyper started, looking to Brutal, “Some of us have a heightened knack for inventing,” Spyper looked to Intelligent Heavy, “Some of us can alter the very fabric of reality,” Spyper looked to Count Jester, “Some of us have extremely powerful magic,” Spyper looked to Chaos, “And some of us can teleport,” Spyper pointed to himself.
“That’s my gimmick to Spyper,” Chaos intervened.
“What about him?” Rose looked to Pancakes.
“I’m unique, got quite a few powers. Including summoning weapons out of thin air-”
“Most of us can do that,” Chaos elbowed him in his side.
“He can go inside a can and jump around with it!” Jester added, “I can do something similar, but I can’t move my artifact around when I’m in it,” Rose seemed interested to see what all the others could do.
That’s when the phone started to ring. Chaos answered it and moved into another room.
“Can you guys show me some of your abilities?” She looked to everyone else around. Pancakes shrugged, he didn’t see any harm in it. Pancakes started by going into his can and hopping onto the table.
“See? I can move around in this thing,” He said as he bounced around the table. Intelligent Heavy was stacking forks, spoons, and knives to make a small tower.
“If I had actual mechanical parts, I could make something much more impressive,” He said, pulling his hands away from the utensil tower. Spyper pushed his chair out and got up.
“Watch this,” He grinned. His body began to shimmer, and Rose went wide eyed when his form became so translucent that she could see straight through him. Then with a loud hiss, Spyper disappeared. Rose gasped and looked around, standing up in her chair. Another hiss came from behind her, and Spyper tapped her arm, having teleported right behind her. She started to giggle as she came to realize exactly what was going on.
“Show off,” Ass Pancakes groaned coming out of his can of Bonk. 
“Oh come on show us what else ya got!” Brutal laughed, smacking Pancakes arm with the back of his hand. Pancakes summoned his warhammer not a second later.
“With pleasure,” He screamed and directed an attack at Brutal. Intelligent Heavy went over to Spyper who now had Rose in his arms. 
“This could get a little ugly.” Spyper commented as Pancakes missed hitting Brutal, there was about to be a fight for sure, at least everyone got some food in their system before this. Brutal rolled out of the way.
“‘I’ve been itching for a fight since mornin’!” Brutal cackled, pulling his Tribalman's Shiv out of nowhere and charging Ass Pancakes. Before the two could really cause damage a purple cloud of particles appeared and the mass inside punched Brutal directly in the jaw, making him stagger backwards. Brutal has plenty of brute strength, but not much physical toughness.
“Not in front of my niece!” Chaos rolled her arm before angrily glaring at Pancakes. His warhammer disappeared and he retreated to his can and went to hide on a high shelf, “Anyways,” She started, “Slight change in plans for today. My team found Nightmare Medic’s lair. Apparently a group of BLU’s have gone off the grid and that’s where they are. They requested backup. I know it’s only been 6 months since the whole Grave deal but you guys mind helping out?” She asked the rest in the group.
“What about Rose? You don’t plan on taking her with to take on Nightmare Medic, right?” Spyper asked with concern in his voice.
“No, god no. I’m gonna leave someone here I know can protect her from Wolves Bane while we’re out,” She explained looking to Brutal.
“Him? Are you sure that’s a good idea? You do know who Brutal is right?” Intelligent Heavy asked calmly, questioning her thought process. Brutal glared at him but shrugged either way. 
“What about Jester?” Brutal said, craning his head up to look at the flying Freak, “They’re pretty good with kids,”
“Jester was also the reason we were even able to have a chance against Grave in the first place,” Intelligent Heavy protested, standing up, “They were the one able to reverse the effects of Termination, they were the one that came up with the plan to even kill Grave in the first place, they were the one able to see inside his mansion. They had the magic and firepower we needed to take Grave down. If anyone’s going with us, it’s them. If Jester can defeat Grave, they can defeat Nightmare Medic,”
“Then who the Hell is staying behind?” Brutal asked indignantly, throwing up his hands. 
“I could if Brutal is too much of a pussy to stay behind,” Ass Pancakes stated getting down from the shelf, promptly being smacked upside the head by Brutal himself. He was shocked by the fact that it happened so quickly, not with an immediate retort. He sulked while Jester snickered at him. 
“I would do anything if it meant I could go back to massacring blokes like you,” Brutal snapped. He stormed off to the laundry room to fetch his clothes, “I’m comin’ with ya! I ain’t stayin’ around here and lettin’ you have all the fun,”
“I’ll let you show Rose how to throw a knife properly if you stay,” Chaos called out, hoping to persuade the murder happy Freak. She knew that if it worked she’d regret it but at least then she’d have Pancakes with her to help rationalize out a plan. Then again, Brutal was the one with the strength to pose a physical threat to Nightmare Medics host. Whether or not he could actually win in a fight was a different story however. 
Brutal came back in his usual black and red attire, brushing himself off.
“Nope, i’m coming with ya. I’ll probably get thrown around a lot because that seems to be a running thing with me these past six months, but I’m not letting you have all the fun,” 
“Looks like your stuck with Rose then Pancakes,” Chaos jested, patting his shoulder. He just shrugged.
“Oh well, I’ll keep an eye on her. Don’t get too hurt out there,” Pancakes said, shrugging off the gesture. “But fuck you,” he looked at Brutal with anger in his eyes. Brutal clenched his fists and stepped toward the smaller Freak.
“I could break you like a motherfuckin’ twig right now-”
“Alright that’s enough!” Jester shouted, punctuating their annoyance by slamming their fist onto the table, a surge of blue energy sparking up from them, shoving Pancakes and Brutal away from each other. Everyone stared at the Freak, a bit taken aback by their sudden outburst. Yellow sparks flew off of their body for a moment and their cape and the ends of their hat shook on an invisible wind. Jester took a deep breath and raised their hands to either side of their head  before angling their hands towards Pancakes and Brutal, as if to shout something at them. Spyper looked at the child in his arms, she had fallen asleep at some point during the arguments.
“You three are lucky the child is currently asleep,” Spyper huffed before handing her off to Pancakes. He brushed himself off and fixed his hat.
“I’ll go start the van,” He said, “We can stop by a scrapyard so you can grab whatever you need to make something that could help us along the way,” Spyper said to Intelligent Heavy. 
“You guys can catch up. I’m teleporting there. I’ll take Mr. Stab first ask questions later here with me,” Chaos said, grabbing her sword. She stepped over to Brutal and clapped her hand over the Freaks shoulder, concentrating on the location that her team had described. She craned her head to Jester and Pancakes, who were now the only other people in the kitchen. 
“Both of you be careful, I’ll see you there Jester.” with that her and Brutal were gone in a puff of purple flecks.
“Welp, since you’re gonna be the only one here, lemme give you a parting gift,” Jester said, pulling off their hat and reaching into it like a magician, their hair puffing up in the process. They pulled out a small cube and handed it to Pancakes and placed their hat back on their head. 
“What’s dis?” He looked at it, confused. Out of all things to be given, some random cube was Jesters thing. He swore he would never be able to grasp their mindset.
“Twist the top,” Jester snickered. Pancakes sighed. He swore to God, if this was another one of Jesters tricks… He tentatively opened it and peeked in. There was a bright orb inside it that glowed blue.
“It’s a little pocket of my own powers!” Jester cheered, “If you come across a problem that needs some finessing, just open that up and the magic will take care of everything else,” Jester explained.
“Huh, thanks Jester!” Pancakes closed it and put it in his bag, “Good luck against Nightmare Medic. Heard he’s pretty close in power to Grave,” He rubbed the back of his head. 
“Or is Grave close in power to Nightmare?” Jester asked with a doofy grin. Pancakes sighed and walked into the other room, “Who put you on the planet?” Jester scoffed.
“My Momma,” He responded while putting the sleepy Rose on the couch.
“Well, anyways, I’m off!” Jester waved and turned into a cloud of blue smoke and darted off outside. Pancakes heard an engine start up, and he peered through a set of windows, watching a van take off into the sky with Jester flying along beside it. He hated that he wasn’t going to be able to see the action first hand but then again, he’d rather not nearly die.
***
Wolves Bane watched as Spypers van took off with Jester flying right beside it. There was no way he could resist trying to mess up Chaos’ base while she was gone. Slipping into the underbrush, he snuck up to the house and peered through a window, watching Ass Pancakes lounging around the living room scrolling through TV channels, Rose was asleep on the couch.
“This couldn’t be any easier.” Wolves Bane smirked to himself. He grabbed the clasps of the window and pulled up, but the window didn’t budge. He then kneeled to his shadow in defeat, “Hey Knenus, mind getting in there to unlock the window?” He asked her, they rolled her eyes.
“Just get your shadow in there and I’ll take care of the rest., She sighed. He raised up just enough to get his shadow casting into the living room. The shadow shimmered and shook for a moment, and the latch holding the window came loose. Wolves Bane carefully opened the window and started to crawl through with a slight crash. He scrambled to get up and right whatever it was he had knocked over.
“What the hell was that?” Pancakes called from the living room. Wolves Bane scrambled to a hiding spot, if he was caught there was a very high possibility he’d never be able to get back in. Pancakes walked into the kitchen and looked around. He turned his attention to an overturned potted plant. He sauntered over to it and placed it back on it’s table, peering around the curtains near the window to check for anyone who was hiding. He frowned and closed the window, latching it again before returning to the living room. 
Walking into the room, Pancakes found that Rose was gone from her spot, leaving a small indention in the blankets. Pancakes ran over to the couch and looked around.
“Oh fuck I don’t need this shit now,” He groaned, sprinting off to Rose’s room. 
Wolves Bane peered from behind the sofa, Rose strapped to his back, still fast asleep. Wolves Bane looked to where Pancakes had run off to and back towards the front door. He booked it from his hiding place and violently jiggled the door to try and unlock it, waking up his passenger.
“PANCAKES!” She screamed from the living room, now kicking to wrench herself free. Wolves Bane tried to cover her mouth, but he was too slow. Pancakes came crashing through to the living room, his warhammer in hand. 
“HEY!!” Pancakes shouted, making Wolves Bane jump. The Freak stared at him for several seconds before Wolves Bane throw open the door and made a wild break for it towards the woods. Pancakes sprinted after him, waving his warhammer around with frenzied wrath.
“HEY!! BITCH GET BACK HERE!” Pancakes screamed, lunging at the other Freak.
“Nice try Pancakes! I’m off!” He spread his wings open ready to fly off.
“No you’re not,” A woman’s voice called from behind a tree. Not a second later a square shovel came out of nowhere and smacked Wolves Bane directly in the face with a solid whack. Rose was sent flying off his back as he fell backwards. Pancakes rushed forwards and caught Rose just before she hit the ground. Wolves Bane on the other hand was sent sprawling to the dirt, knocked out cold. That’s when Roseflame came out from the shadows.
“Troubles?” She asked stepping over the knocked out demonic freak.
“Fucker came into the base and tried to kidnap her,” Pancakes said, shaking his head. 
“Yeah, seems like the kinda low life to do that, You okay Rose?” She looked to the child in Pancakes arms.
“N-no...” She strained, starting to cry as the shock began setting in. Pancakes looked down at the crying child and bit his lip, unsure of what to do to calm her down. Then a lightbulb went off in his head. He slid his hand into his bag and felt around for the cube that Jester had given him. Pulling it out, he twisted the top off and let the magic do its work. A few streaks of sparkly blue and yellow magic twisted its way out from the orb, dancing around in the air in a spiral, slowly floating over to Rose. Pancakes and Roseflame watched as the magic condensed and puffed into a miniature, translucent version of Count Jester. The Jester clone came up to Rose and waved to get her attention. It raised its hands up and before their very eyes a stuffed bunny plush puffed into existence with a soft pop in the air. The tiny Jester handed the plush-which was larger than it-to Rose. Rose smiled and took the bunny, holding it to her face as she slowly stopped crying. The tiny Jester gave a slight bow before disassembling back into strands of magic that blinked out of existence.
“Now that’s Grade A magic,” Roseflame smiled as Rose fell back asleep in Pancakes arms. Pancakes clipped the cube close again and grinned at it.
“Jesters magic really can do anything huh? If only it wasn’t so damn inconsistent,” Pancakes remarked. 
“It’s Count Jester we’re talking about, I only heard about them until recently and everything points to them being a bit beyond all of us in the crazy side,” Roseflame chuckled as she looked to Wolves Bane behind them. He was slowly getting back up, took him a while to even become conscious,  “You got him or should I?” She asked, getting her bat out.
“Nah I got ‘em” Pancakes said. He handed Rose back to Roseflame and summoned his warhammer and began marching towards the gangly Freak, “Just stay down buddy this will only take a second. FORE!!” Pancakes drew his warhammer back and swung with enough force to send the Freak flying skyhigh off in the other direction. Pancakes put a hand over his eyes to keep the sun out as he watched Wolves Bane go, “Damn, I never get that much air,” Pancakes snickered. 
“Hole in one if he lands in a trash can,” Roseflame betted, walking over while keeping an eye on the silhouette in the distance.
“Either that or lands right in front of one of the other Freaks. How much ya wanna bet if he comes across Painis or Cakehole?” Pancakes joked, his warhammer disappearing. 
“20 he lands in trash, 40 He lands in front of Painis, 60 he lands in front of Cakehole, You owe me 80 he lands ass up,” Roseflame had her wallet on hand.
“How much for all four?”
“Add it up, I’d owe you 200,” She cou;dn’t see where he was thanks to the trees, “Think the mini jester can help out with this little bet?” She asked her partner in crime.
“Um…I don’t really know how much power Jester put in this thing, but I can try,” Pancakes said. He took out the cube again and twisted the top off. The orb inside glowed for a moment and the magical strands danced their way out and collided together to make another mini Jester, this one pink and orange. It grinned and turned to the trees and raised its hands to them. With a series of booming snaps, the trees shook and trembled and bent out of the way to give a clear view of where Wolves Bane would be landing. At the same time, two pairs of binoculars popped into existence right in front of Roseflame and Pancakes. The pair took their binoculars and looked forward.
“Thanks Jester,” Roseflame smiled to the mini Jester. The tiny replica smiled and bowed again, it’s small form deconstructing back into pure magic as it disappeared like the first tiny Jester, “I should get to know them a bit more, they seem like a nice person,” Roseflame thought aloud. She re-adjusted the napping Rose with her left arm while using her right to look through the binoculars.
“Yeah, they’re real nice. To be honest the only other Freak I can think of that’s even close to Jester in that way is Polite,” Pancakes remarked, watching Wolves Bane as he began hurtling to earth. Both watched in a mixture of anticipation and worry.
He landed ass up in a trashcan. It tipped over and Wolves Bane came tumbling out, right in front of two Freaks who had been walking by. From the looks of it, they were neither Painis nor Cakehole, but two other completely different Freaks. 
“Uh...Looks like he landed in front of Soupcan and....a BLU Vagineer, I think?” Pancakes queried. He snickered, “You owe me 100 bucks though,” Pancakes laughed. Roseflame groaned, handing Rose back to him to get out her wallet.
“Here, take your money like the bitch you are,” She took out one hundred dollars worth of twenties and stuck it in his shirt.
‘-EY! I have pockets! And a bag!” Pancakes protested struggling to both hold Rose and get the money out of his shirt. She snickered as she watched him struggle. After she had her fun for a second she took the money and moved it to his bag.
“I ain’t getting close to your thing to put it there,” She said, pointing to his pockets, “Anyways, we should probably head back to the base. A lot of people have tried to get the stuff in there from what I heard,” Roseflame suggested, walking back to said base.
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AMBITION Season 1 ♫ “Birds of a Feather” [ 1.10 ]
CREATED BY Esther (rapunzles) & Maggie (quincywillows)
IT TAKES TWO – A duet assignment allows for blooming partnerships to flourish. Angela must decide whether or not to leave Adams behind as fate offers her a second chance at her dreams. Isadora spends time with her starlet mother.
62 Minutes (16K words) || No warnings apply.
[ ← The Miserables ] [ S1 Synopsis ] [ Before the Storm → ]
( Follow along with the music on Spotify here! )
INT. AUDITION HALL - DAY
We’re following ANGELA MOORE, making her way through a narrow and winding backstage area. As she goes, guides point her in the right direction to make it to center stage. As she walks out into the bright lights, her appearance becomes more clear – polished, in a nice dress and character shoes, hair up and out of her face. Back to passing for one of the students in her class, rather than the teacher running it.
Across the way in the audience, a panel of two or three strangers ask her to introduce herself. She gives us the spiel, and then they instruct her to begin whenever she’s ready.
She takes a breath, holding it for a moment. Then she breaks into a dazzling show business smile, launching into her audition.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “All I Do Is Dream Of You” as performed by Singin’ In the Rain Original Movie Cast  || Performed by Angela Moore
As the song unfolds, Angela jumps from stage to audition hall to studio, running between multiple auditions. This is how she spent her weeks while the rest of the school was stressing over the musical, exerting herself in a completely different fashion.
Still, the sequence is boppy, with quirky dancing and all the charm of a starlet-to-be. It’s clear that all that talent the sophomore class is bursting with now, Angela once had it too. In fact, she still does, she’s just attempting to figure out how to get it back at center stage.
Coming to the end of the number, Angela hits her final mark. She’s breathing hard, still grinning so brightly she could blind them. Every panelist gives her the same removed, unpromising statement: “We’ll let you know.”
And she simply has to take it. Angela nods, peppering thank yous as she makes her exit.
Cue title sequence.
INT. BABINEAUX HOME - ZAY’S BEDROOM - DAY
Focus on the AAAC, which has been quite busy since Les Mis wrapped. Their latest post is a submission featuring a photo of Riley and Charlie during the rehearsal process, taken by the professional photographer documenting the dress rehearsal. It’s a charming photo of the two of them laughing, and the caption indicates that such chemistry onstage may mean that their love affair is continuing offstage as well…
ZAY BABINEAUX is looking at the page on his phone, obviously not convinced by the post and a little bit perturbed by it. He switches to messages and pulls open his thread with Charlie, starting a text about it. Then he hesitates, deleting it and starting over.
It’s clear from looking at their texts that they’ve had a drastic change in rapport in the last couple of weeks. As Zay scrolls back up a bit to look, it’s clear – they used to be exchanging multiple texts a day and having pretty full conversations. Now, it’s short responses from Charlie if at all, and the last two texts Zay sent have gone unanswered.
Zay is evidently frustrated by this development. Mostly, he doesn’t know what he did to cause it. He shuts off his phone, getting up to finish getting ready and forgetting it for now.
INT. RILEY’S BEDROOM - DAY
That’s not the only update our favorite Confessions page has made recently. Scrolling past the one featuring Riley and Charlie, another couple of posts have been made about Lucas with increasingly harsh sentiments. The rhetoric is getting more hateful the more posts about him that get made. Although it still seems as though they’re coming from the same obvious suspect, RILEY MATTHEWS seems worried as she reads it that morning.
She jumps to her messages as well, sharing a similar debate to Zay as she weighs whether or not to text Lucas about it. The difference, however, is that Riley and Lucas’s conversational thread is far more active than Zay and Charlie’s has been the last couple of weeks. Sure, the content is sort of weird – if Lucas asking her what her favorite kind of bread is at like 2AM followed by a detailed wall of text response from Riley rambling about the scones this bakery in Soho makes is any indication – but it’s consistent.
Riley opts for the more casual approach, sending along a greeting with a meme follow-up. Keeping it light and breezy. As she heads out…
Shawn, pre-lap: This must be love, huh?
INT. ANGELA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Now that she’s back from her audition cycle, SHAWN HUNTER and Angela are spending a leisurely morning together before school. Angela drops some pancakes onto his plate, and it’s clear the aforementioned comment was directed towards the food.
Shawn: I mean, I truly think there’s never been a romance more true than a man and his pancakes.
Angela: Uh-huh, just enjoy them while you can. That’s the only thing I’m capable of cooking, so don’t get used to it.
Shawn takes a bite, smiling at her and pinching her rib playfully. The two of them lean against the counters and eat, discussing how her auditions went and if she’s ready to go back to AAA. She honestly is ready to step back into normalcy for a bit, and doesn’t seem all that optimistic about her audition prospects. Shawn assures her that there’s no way they couldn’t love her, to which Angela pulls him into a quick kiss.
Angela: Egh, someone tastes like syrup.
Shawn: You say that like it’s a bad thing. [ after another kiss ] You know, Cory keeps complaining about how I’m never over for breakfast anymore. I might have some tough decisions to make.
Angela: [ another kiss ] Well, you can’t do that with Cory, can you?
Shawn: Well, I could, but I don’t think we’d have the dynamic that we do if that were the case.
Before they can get too caught up in each other, Angela reminds him that they need to figure out what the assignment for this week is going to be. With the chaos of her auditions and the musical taking precedence, it feels like they’ve fallen behind.
Shawn makes an offhand comment about it’s a shame they can’t show a movie like every other teacher, and that seems to spark an idea in Angela. She gives him an excited look as she finishes her pancakes, refusing to tell him anymore while her mouth is stuffed.
INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY
JACK HUNTER is meeting with ERIC MATTHEWS, explaining the full detail of information he got from Marly about the AAAC and how it operates. From what he understands, the moderator is definitely within the sophomore class as Marly was able to help him decidedly determine the rest of the school doesn’t seem to engage or follow it all that much.
Eric nods along, before asking what exactly he has to do with that. Although it’s not his first choice, Jack needs him to assist him in creating a psychological profile to track down who is running this account. If they can figure out who is behind it, they can get rid of it from the root. Who better to craft a psychological framework than the school psychologist and most connected faculty member on staff?
Eric feigns flattery, to which Jack rolls his eyes. But it’s true that Eric is the best person for the job, and he immediately launches into starting to piece together key traits.
Eric: I think our biggest core motivation here has to be a lack of control. People who do things like this, they like the decision-making nature of it since it puts other people’s feelings in their hands. The entire class is at their fingertips. They’re the center of attention, yet completely absolved of guilt or responsibility. That’s addictive for an adolescent who might feel as though they’ve never had a sense of control.
Unfortunately, that descriptor fits many students in the sophomore class, so they’re going to need to do more digging. In the meantime, Eric suggests that Jack sit down with the class gossips and see if he can get any additional intel out of them.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Riley is at her locker, keeping an eye out for students passing through the halls. She lights up when she spots LUCAS FRIAR, shutting her locker and jogging down the hallway to catch up to him. She slides up next to him as casually as she can manage, greeting him and starting up a tentative conversation with him.
Their morning chat is interrupted when DAVE WILLIAMS comes running up to them, claiming that they need to come to the booth ASAP. A major bomb has just dropped. Lucas and Riley exchange an apprehensive look before jogging after him.
INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY
Lucas enters the booth first, Riley right on his heels. They find ISADORA DE LA CRUZ seated in Lucas’s usual chair in a daze, ASHER GARCIA and JADE BEAMON attempting to get her to talk about it. DYLAN ORLANDO is sipping another juice box, there for support as well but mainly staying out of the way.
Lucas jumps into action, telling the rest of them to scram in so many words. The other three leave, Riley hesitating by the door and uncertain if that includes her or not. When Lucas glances over his shoulder and nods for her to come over impatiently, she gets the message and quickly scrambles over to join the two of them.
Once it’s down to the three of them, Riley and Lucas are able to get Isadora to speak. She explains, still in shock, that her mother will be staying in town for the next few days and essentially intends to spend time with her. This reveal elicits mixed reactions.
Riley: Oh, that’s great!
Lucas: That’s bullshit.
Lucas and Riley pause, locking eyes and uncertain how to proceed. Riley clears her throat, tilting her head at Isadora.
Riley: How are you feeling about it, Isa?
That’s just the problem – she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know how to feel about it. It’s evident that Isadora is just as conflicted as their initial reactions. Lucas points out that considering Valerie sort of sprung this on her, she has full rights to take her time and decide what she wants to do about it on her own timetable. If Valerie really is determined to make a connection – which he sort of doubts – then she’ll be willing to wait.
Placated for now, Isadora accepts this. Riley asks her to let her know if she needs anything.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
As Riley and Lucas descend from the booth, the others ask if Isadora is okay. Lucas assures them she is, but that they shouldn’t ask questions and just treat her as they always do. That fiasco aside, Dave turns his curiosity on Riley and highlights the latest post that the AAAC made about her and Charlie. So, are they an item, or what?
Riley is surprised by the question, and blankly responds in denial. But her delivery is less convincing than it could be with her shock, so Dave doesn’t look all that sold. Lucas tells Dave to stop reading the stupid page for the fifteen-hundredth time, but in this case his harsh tone sort of makes it seem as though he cares more than he is letting on.
Either way, Riley is growing increasingly tired of this Instagram.
INT. AAA - BLACK BOX THEATER - DAY
Angela presents the assignment for the week to the class – classic musicals on film! As she explains, sometimes your show business start may not be in live theater, and there is certainly boundless overlap these days between the film industry and the theatre. What better example is there than Singin’ in the Rain, the original movie musical and one of the greatest of all time.
Despite how enthusiastically she conveys the lesson, the class is decidedly unimpressed. FARKLE MINKUS asks if they threw this assignment together last minute, which Angela scoffs at in spite of the truth. MAYA HART states that the assignment might be more exciting if there were more contemporary options, which NICK YOGI immediately follows up on by stating what they’re all thinking.
Yogi: High School Musical!
Zay goes on to list a dozen others – Chicago, RENT, Legally Blonde – but Shawn and Angela aren’t hearing it. They’re like you’re gonna watch Singin’ in the Rain and you’re gonna like it! Stop arguing with us, we’re the teachers! NOW GO EAT YOUR LUNCH!
INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY
Jack meets with SARAH CARLSON and DARBY WINTERS individually, the known school gossips. As he chats with them, they give him lots of random tidbits of tea that aren’t really all that helpful, but perhaps in some way could be a lead in his mystery if he spins it the right way. It’s difficult to tell what is actually substantial and worth digging into and what isn’t.
Feeling as though he’s veering towards a dead end, Jack plaintively compiles the information from both interrogations before trying to deduce his next move.
INT. AAA - CAFETERIA - DAY
Maya is planning out moves of her own, discussing her plans of how to make reparations with people over her misbehavior during Les Mis. She laments how exhausting it is to clean up the damage from a diva meltdown, which Farkle knowingly seconds.
Zay points out that the two of them are just levels of dramatic all their own, which prompts Maya to ask him why he’s even bothering to sit with them. Shouldn’t he be sitting with Charlie, aren’t they best friends now or whatever? Where the hell even is Charlie…
Where, indeed. The group of them scan the cafeteria for their missing friend until Zay spots him at the other end of the room, already heading out. He gets to his feet and goes after him, Farkle and Maya exchanging curious looks as to what might be going on with them.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Zay calls after Charlie as he pushes out of the cafeteria doors, jogging to catch up to him. Charlie quickly searches for exits but realizes it would look worse to run, spinning and feigning friendliness as Zay approaches. Still, it’s clear that he’s weirdly nervous around him now.
Zay tries to spark a casual conversation like before, but Charlie searches for an excuse and escapes the chat. Zay watches him go, shaking his head and trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
Jack is pacing the floor of Eric’s office, complaining about the lack of useful intel from Darby and Sarah. He points out that Eric’s brilliant suggestion just wasted his time, but Eric calmly states that he never guaranteed they’d have much to offer. They’re teenage girls, not central intelligence agents. Jack rolls his eyes, placing his hands on his hips with a huff.
Angela storms in, evidently also wanting to vent. She hesitates when she sees Jack already present, wondering if she should come back later. They wave her off, inviting her in while Jack backs off further into the space and tries to regain his composure.
She launches into the conflict she’s having with the students over the weekly assignment, asking Eric for advice as to where this obviously perfect lesson plan could’ve gone wrong. He thinks on it before stating that the students might have a point, that Singin’ in the Rain might just be too distant for them in this decade. Jack and Angela both stick up for the film, stating in unison that it’s a classic. Angela glances at him, surprised.
Jack: What? I’m the principal of an arts school, I obviously have some appreciation for the basic foundation of the institution.
Eric agrees that it’s one of the greats, but this generation doesn’t care about that. You can make them care, but you have to sugarcoat it with something they’re already familiar with. In that regard, High School Musical isn’t a bad suggestion. If you spin the whole lesson as two dissimilar products that have more in common than you think, you can make both work.
Suddenly, an idea seems to strike Eric. He claims that if they twist the narrative well enough, they may actually be able to use this lesson to their advantage in narrowing down the moderator of the AAAC. It’ll also give the students a well-needed challenge, if that’s what they’re so interested in getting. Angela and Jack lean in, more than intrigued.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
The class has returned from lunch, bubbling with curiosity at the way Angela and Shawn have welcomed them back. They gesture them towards the audience while they stand on stage, a bowl with all their names between them. Dave says what we’re all thinking.
Dave: Oh my God, is this The Hunger Games? Are we getting Reaped? Is this how it ends?
Farkle: Why on Earth would we be doing that?
Dave: Don’t push me, Minki! If we get in that arena I WON’T HESITATE!
Once they’ve managed to calm Dave down, focus turns to their teachers. Shawn admits that perhaps their thinking on the original assignment was too narrow, and they’re willing to extend an olive branch to shake things up. Angela goes on to explain that they have agreed to allow High School Musical to also be studied – which the class responds to enthusiastically – only in return a new challenge will be added to the concept. Now, this assignment will be a duet.
Isadora hastily claims that she wants to work with Lucas, a statement that surprises nobody. Riley, seated a couple rows in front of them with Zay, does her best to hide her disappointment. However, Shawn states that they figured she would say that, in fact they know that each of them are probably already picking their best friend to master this assignment in their heads.
Shawn: And that’s too easy.
Angela: No, we’re letting fate determine the partners for this project. And may this be, as one might say, the “start of something new.”
The class chatters excitedly in response, most of them intrigued by this premise mainly because of the theatricality. Yogi nods approvingly at their use of a HSM quote. Thus, a fun little sequence ensues of Shawn and Angela announcing the duos, each alternating between picking names out of the bowl.
The first pair to be announced is Asher… and Dylan. They cheer and jump to their feet, hugging. Everyone else rolls their eyes or claps sarcastically.
Nate: Riiiiiiiigged.
Angela pulls Charlie’s name… followed by Shawn picking Zay. This seems to please Zay, who turns to find Charlie in the seats. Charlie’s expression conveys mild panic before he manages to pull it together, giving Zay a tight smile. He might have another aneurysm.
Next up for Angela is Lucas. Everyone is more than interested to see who is going to get this cruel sentence, Farkle crossing his fingers and muttering “please not me” under his breath. But no. Shawn pulls Riley from the bowl, sparing Farkle a premature death.
Riley straightens up and smiles, excitedly looking over her shoulder to lock eyes with him. Lucas is already smirking, meeting her gaze and offering her a casual nod. When she turns away, however, he does a subtle little fist pump to himself. So he’s not nearly as aloof as he seems.
Isadora is paired with Nate, and this seems like a relief to her. At least it’s someone she’s friends with and can work with. He offers her a fist bump which she accepts, although she does not do the “explosion” motion he does afterwards.
Angela pulls Farkle, followed by Shawn choosing Maya. There’s a tense beat as everyone waits to see if they throw another tantrum like “Under Pressure,” but in sharp contrast they actually respond diplomatically to such a partnering.
Farkle: At least there’ll be no mystery as to who will give the best performance.
Lucas, blithely: Will you ever shut up? Just wondering.
The other chosen duos are Yogi & Haley, Chai & Wyatt, Dave & Yindra, Nigel & Jade, Sarah & Jeff, and Darby & Clarissa. Shawn and Angela dismiss them all to meet with their partners, and start getting to work!
Riley floats over to join Lucas, giving Isadora a smile as she goes to meet with Nate. Riley ask how he wants to tackle the assignment and when they should get together to work on it outside of class – she vaguely insinuates going over to one another’s places and Lucas vehemently rejects that idea. Before she can take his refusal the wrong way, he searches for a way to cover.
Lucas: I only – we can just meet here. Easier that way. I’m usually around anyway.
Riley: … right. Totally, for sure.
INT. AAA - TEACHER’S LOUNGE - DAY
Jack convenes with Eric and Angela, trying to decide how to best utilize the time they have with everyone all mixed up. According to Eric’s plan, he’ll have sit downs with each student to “check in” with them, then report back to Jack anything that seems worth investigating so they can start piecing together potential prime suspects.
Angela claims she and Shawn can help come information dump. Jack questions if she has the time to spare and she assures him she does, in fact she could definitely use the distraction rather than just waiting around to hear back from all those auditions. Or, more likely, never hear back at all. So the time consumption and brain teaser is more than welcome.
Thus, Eric gears up to launch into his first set of thinly veiled interrogations.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
The next sequence passes by in a montage, each highlighted student occupying the chair opposite Eric as he casually engages them in conversation about how they’re feeling about their duet partner and the assignment.
Nigel takes the chair first, rather blasé about the whole thing.
Nigel: I mean, my costume is bound to be killer. That’s one good thing about working with Jade. Although she doesn’t talk much. I kind of feel like I’m working with a mute.
Eric: Well, have you tried… chatting with her?
Nigel: Oh, yeah, but she usually just says something brief or laughs awkwardly before focusing back on the sewing machine. But it’s no biggie, she’s nice. And since she doesn’t perform, I might actually get to sing a solo for once.
Isadora has taken the mantle, beating Eric to the punch before he can even get in a greeting.
Isadora: You and I both know you don’t care about this assignment. You just want to try and see what we all might let slip about the AAAC.
Eric: Well, now, I wouldn’t say –
Isadora: It’s fine, I understand. It’s getting messier by the day, so you’re desperate. But I don’t have time for this, so I’ll make it quick. I don’t know who it is, but I’m sure it’s a performer so when you find out who it is, can you tell me so I can kick their ass?
Eric: You’re positive it’s a performer?
Isadora: It’s not me. It’s not Lucas. Nate doesn’t have a smartphone. Jeff hasn’t used Instagram since seventh grade. Asher and Jade are too nice, and do you really think Dylan and Dave could mastermind something like this? I rest my case.
Farkle, similarly, is also onto Eric’s whole scheme. Contrary to Isadora, he claims he’s on board. He has his suspicions about Maya, and he is going to use this assignment to do some digging on their starlet Blonde Beauty. He’ll be sure to keep him updated. Eric is like… right. For sure.
Jade is uncertain in the chair across from Eric, stating that she’s not sure what she’s supposed to be talking to him about. Eric tells her she can say anything she feels like expressing about the assignment. Like, Nigel. How is working with him going?
Jade: Nigel is nice. I think we’ll be fine? He also has a very nice neck ratio.
Eric: Neck… neck ratio?
Jade: Yeah. It’s the ratio between a person’s neck length compared to their shoulder width. Some people have really long necks, you know? Or barely a neck at all. But Nigel’s is perfect. It’s proportionate. Complements his swimmer’s body, I know because he and Dave were both on swim team last year at the community center. [ a beat ] I’m stating all of this purely from a costumer’s perspective –
Eric: Uh huh.
Ironically, Maya tells him the same thing as Farkle. She states that she’s always had her hunch that Farkle was behind the stupid page, and even with some of the posts that have been made about him in the past he’s the only person batshit insane enough to allow negative posts about him to see the light of day just to keep up a grander operation.
Maya: I mean, in some ways I get it. Any publicity is good publicity, so I can appreciate the level of scheming that goes into such an elaborate ruse. You have to respect it, in some ways.
Eric: You do?
Kind of making herself seem just as batty, but Maya doesn’t think anything of it. She assures Eric that she’ll keep him in the loop, and he just lets it be. Smarter to let them keep an eye on each other than try to hold either diva back from a set goal.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Riley and Isadora are hanging out in the back section of the auditorium by the booth, waiting around for Lucas to show up. Isadora once again expresses her hesitation in hanging out with her mom, but after giving it some thought she thinks she may want to give it a shot. Given that she’s seriously considering it at all, she figures that’s a sign enough.
Riley is all for it, stating that there’s absolutely no harm in giving Valerie a chance and seeing where things go. What’s the worst that could happen? However, the two of them agree that she should probably not mention the experiment to Lucas. At least not yet.
Maya spots them on her way out to meet with Farkle, doubling back and stating that she’s glad she caught them both. She apologizes again for her behavior during the musical, reiterating that she doesn’t want to be a diva at the expense of her fellow ladies. She offers her assistance in both of their projects in whatever way they should need it as repayment.
Maya: Especially you, Riles. Since you’re with Lucas and everything… well, good luck with that. I’m here if you need to be saved.
A bit rude, but the sentiment is there. Both of them say they’ll keep the offer in mind, although Isadora doesn’t expect she’ll need it. She and Nate work well together, and there’s not much distracting her from the assignment at present. Once she gets this outing with her mother out of the way and she inevitably abandons her again, then she’ll have plenty of time to work on it.
INT. AAA - DANCE STUDIO - DAY
Maya arrives at the dance studio where Farkle is already set up, flipping through song books of both SitR and HSM. The two of them agree that the concept of their assignment is quite simple – there’s an obvious number basically built for the two of them, and they’ll knock it out of the park. So no worries there. Instead, Farkle offers his apartment to rehearse since there’s more stuff for them to do there while they’re not practicing.
Maya is a bit hesitant, but she can’t pass up this invitation into his space if she intends to properly investigate him. So she agrees.
INT. AAA - PRACTICE ROOM - DAY
Zay is in the practice room, obviously waiting for Charlie. He runs through some old routines to pass the time, until finally a message comes through on his phone. He slides over to the piano bench to grab it, reading it quickly.
It’s from Charlie, claiming that something came up and he has to change their plans. There’s an apology attached, but it’s brief. Zay sighs in frustration, gathering his things. He heads out alone, obviously wounded by the dismissal.
INT. MINKUS HOME - DAY
Farkle is giving Maya the tour of his home, the latter floored by the sheer volume of space the Minkus clan owns. She reaches out to play around with the custom-made refreshment dispensaries bookending the kitchen, before getting distracted by the amazing view of their main living area. The far wall is made entirely of windows, letting in a ton of natural light and boasting a gorgeous view of the city far below them.
Maya: I have no idea how you can live here. I think my head would explode. Especially with this view.
Farkle: Eh, after the fifth or so replacement head you get used to it. Oh, if we get bored we can go bowling later.
Maya: Ooh, totally. I know this great place in Chinatown –
Farkle: No, like, here. We can go bowling here.
Maya obviously has choice words to say about that, but their conversation is interrupted when JENNIFER MINKUS returns home with URI MINKUS and EZRA MINKUS. Both of the boys are stunned to see another person in the house with their loner older brother – let alone a girl. And a pretty girl!
Jennifer seems surprised as well, but more thrilled than anything else. She eagerly makes a point of introducing herself to Maya, jumping into hostess mode and asking if there’s anything she can get her. As Maya points out, seems like they have everything they could possibly want already. She doesn’t know what she could begin to ask for.
Ezra is all over that potential new friend business, darting over and throwing himself all over Maya. He launches into a dozen little facts about himself and states that Farkle is his favorite brother, so if Maya likes him too then he knows they’ll be friends. Maya seems slightly embarrassed by this notion, laughing nervously. Farkle gets Ezra to back off, telling him that they need to practice so he needs to buzz off for a hot minute.
Once Ezra is out of their hair, Jennifer insists that Maya stay for dinner. Stuart won’t be able to join them, unfortunately, but they’d be happy to have her. Farkle eyes her curiously, wondering if she’ll accept the invitation. She asks what they’re planning on having, and the response is something fancy, delicious, and far better than the microwave meal she’d make at home.
Maya: Hell yeah, I’m in. Can I take some to go?
INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY
Riley and Lucas are attempting to decide what the hell to do with their duet. They don’t even know which film to pick, as Lucas has never seen High School Musical nor Singin’. Riley is definitely a bit like… who even are you, and in an effort to actually get a grasp on him as a human being she asks to see his phone and look through his music. He hands it over, not exactly hiding anything.
Riley: This is so… depressing. This is like, all Fall Out Boy. Are you okay?
Lucas, deadpan: I’m trying to make myself go deaf, so. The louder the better.
Riley insists that she’s going to broaden his musical palette, but first they need to figure out this project. It’s more difficult than usual since him performing is well out of the question, so she’s feeling stuck.
CHAI FRESCO and WYATT LIVINGSTON show up, kicking the two of them out on the basis that they need to set up their lighting for their number. Lucas asks Chai if they got approval from Jeff, to which she rolls her eyes but presents a sheet of paper with Jeff’s express written consent for her to operate the lighting board on that day.
With no other arguments, they get up to leave. As they’re heading out, Wyatt asks Lucas offhandedly if he’s enjoying his treatment on the confessions page lately. Lucas states it’s funny that he thinks he’s braindead enough to follow the page at all, but Riley takes the comment closer to heart. She doesn’t like the sound of it, nor the way Wyatt so smugly said it. Something to investigate later…
INT. CHUBBIE’S DINER - DAY
Isadora meets with VALERIE DE LA CRUZ at the diner, sitting opposite one another at one of the window booths. Valerie is clearly elated to be spending time with her, despite sticking out like a sore thumb in her designer clothes amidst the plainness of the dive. She explains that she’s only got a few days in town before she has to fly back for a film shoot, but she’s so grateful they’re able to find some time together.
Valerie eagerly asks Isadora about her time at AAA, what her favorite classes are, and what it was like to perform in the musical. She hardly gives her the chance to respond, getting way ahead of herself and chattering about Isadora’s future in the industry. She even theorizes on where she could go to college – maybe in LA! – and how she can help coach her in performing if she’s closer to Hollywood.
Isadora, overwhelmed, cuts her off and claims that the musical was a one-time thing. Not the rest of her life or her true calling. Sorry to disappoint. Valerie is uncertain how to proceed in the conversation from there, offering a weak smile.
KATY HART brings their food over, happily greeting Isadora and asking her how school is going. Valerie pointedly waits for Isadora to introduce her, the latter doing so after a moment’s hesitation. Katy shakes Valerie’s hand enthusiastically, applauding her work and stating she’s a big fan before turning her focus back to Isadora. She saw her in Les Mis, and thought she did an excellent job. Valerie clearly feels a bit out of place, considering how familiar Isadora and Katy are with one another.
INT. JACK’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The four educators are assembled at Jack’s, eating a late dinner and going over the profile as they attempt to rule out potential suspects. They’ve turned the ordeal into quite the investigative operation, the traits and profile written up on the whiteboard while they pin up photos of the sophomore class or put them in the discard pile. They’re also going through each student record, looking for additional evidence.
Some student files are far heftier than others. Shawn is idly flipping through Lucas’s, by far the thickest of the bunch.
Shawn: Damn, I didn’t know he did that… kind of impressive –
Jack: Do I need to explain to you why this troubles me, or can you figure it out for yourself?
In the midst of this, Angela gets a call on her cell. She excuses herself and darts into the kitchen to answer, while Eric redirects the attention of the Hunters. He claims that the current class assignment is actually perfect, because it allows them to see who seems to fall out of step with others. “Birds of a feather flock together,” and the one who isn’t falling into line might just be their next clue.
Angela disrupts the brain trust, stumbling back into the room with a look of shock on her face. Shawn jumps to his feet and immediately asks if everything is alright, before she breathlessly announces that she’s gotten a callback. She’s gotten a callback for one of the Off-Broadway productions! The mood of the room instantly brightens, all of them gathering to congratulate her. Jack runs into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of champagne, popping it open and pouring the four of them a glass to celebrate.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Good Morning” as performed by Singin’ In the Rain Original Movie Cast  || Performed by Angela Moore, Jack Hunter, and Eric Matthews
After Shawn states that this feels like a lucky night, Eric corrects him and points out that it’s already morning as they’ve been working past midnight. It’s a brand new day, and seemingly a lucky one so far. Angela launches them into “Good Morning,” she, Eric, and Jack singing and dancing around his apartment.
Shawn doesn’t participate, but he’s fond as he watches them goof around together. It’s definitely charming, there’s no doubt about that.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Isadora is on her way to the auditorium when she gets a new text from Valerie. She claims she had a wonderful time yesterday, and wonders if they could do something else today? Whatever Isadora wants, something she’s passionate about or would want Valerie to see. Isadora is stunned, definitely not anticipating that there would be a second outing.
She tries to grab Lucas as he passes by in a flurry, obviously heading somewhere with purpose. He claims he doesn’t have time to stop so if she can keep up she can talk, so she jogs to match pace. She first asks where the hell he’s going that’s so important, but he weirdly dodges the question and instead turns the tables back on her since she said she needed to talk.
Isadora relents, getting into the problem and admitting that she met with her mom. Lucas assumes this is the problem in it of itself.
Lucas: You did what? Well, what did you think would happen? We know she’s not worth your time.
Isadora: No, that’s not – it actually wasn’t that bad. The thing is that she weirdly wants to hang out again, and I –
She doesn’t manage to get much out of the conversation with him, as she gets distracted by Nate when he catches her and asks what they’re planning to do with their assignment. Lucas slips out of her grasp, leaving the point moot for now. If she’s being honest with herself, in this particular scenario he probably wouldn’t have been much help anyway.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Outside the black box, Riley chats with Zay. He’s venting about how Charlie cancelled their rehearsal, and he doesn’t want to fail this assignment if he’s going to insist on being so weird about things. Especially since to him, it feels like it came out of nowhere. Riley offers him sympathy, but she doesn’t have any brilliant solutions. She wonders if maybe the continued posts about the two of them are making him act weird, as she knows it’s definitely starting to bother her.
As Zay heads off to class, Lucas swoops in and falls into step with Riley. He hands her a paper bag without much explanation, and when she opens it she finds her favorite pastry from the shop she rambled about in text the other day. She’s stunned.
Riley: Oh my God, what? You didn’t need to get me this.
Lucas: I was in the neighborhood. Anyway. Okay. See you later.
He disappears just as quickly as he appeared, leaving Riley a bit whiplashed. She glances over her shoulder and watches him go, her surprise shifting into fondness with a breathless scoff. She takes a bite of the scone, unable to hold back her smile.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
Eric is working through his next round of check-ins, the sequence unfolding the same as the previous one. YINDRA AMINO is the first one in the hot seat, commenting on how much drama there is at the school. She wishes everyone would just talk to one another about their shit rather than bitching behind each other’s backs. It’s not a bad point, but it’s also somewhat similar to the sentiment that the AAAC promotes. Eric takes a note of that.
Charlie is sort of out of it during his meeting. He doesn’t have much to say, and he really doesn’t have anything he wants to share about Zay. Sensing there’s something else going on, Eric asks if he’s doing okay. This snaps Charlie out of it, prompting him to rebuild his charming facade. Totally fine, all good here!
Clarissa seems pretty content with how the school year is unfolding. She doesn’t mind working with Darby, she’s mostly nice, but she talks a lot and it can be a bit overwhelming. She also never stops talking about the AAAC as if every single bulletin it posts is a hot take.
Clarissa: Like, is Charlie potentially dating Riley really all that interesting? It’s totally obvious that she’s into Lucas.
Eric: Seriously? You think so?
Clarissa: I mean, that’s just my opinion. But yeah. Lord knows why, but she definitely likes Friar.
Eric takes a note on that, but more for personal reasons than in pursuit of mystery-solving. When Yogi takes the hot seat, he turns the tables back on Eric.
Yogi: How are you doing, Mister Eric, sir? Are you having a good April? No one asks you that very often, do they?
Eric, touched: … no, no they don’t, Yogi. I’m doing pretty well. Thank you so much.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Farkle is at his locker, taking notes in a small journal about all the things he “observed” about Maya as if he’s some great detective. They’re all silly, and not useful at all. When Maya approaches it startles him, and he tosses the notebook haphazardly into his locker before shutting it with a flourish. When he attempts to compensate with a casual air and reclines against his locker, Maya eyes him as if she’s even more convinced of his insanity than ever.
She asks him if he’s ready for their performance today. Farkle admittedly forgot they arrogantly scheduled themselves early, but he’s like yeah. For sure. That’s fine. Let’s do it, then, chop chop. Their conversation is permeated with an oddly suspicious tone, the two narrowing their eyes at one another until they march off to go do the damn thing.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Bop To The Top” as performed by High School Musical Original Cast  || Performed by Maya Hart & Farkle Minkus
The duo performs the song basically written for the two of them, and while their vocals are perfect as expected there’s something off about the performance. They’re constantly eyeing one another and pushing the other into the spotlight rather than struggling for it themselves. It’s more reflective of their current undercover missions they think they’re pulling off than an actual collaborative duet.
It’s weird, to say the least. The reactions of their classmates make that very clear. Zay squints, evidently trying to figure out what the hell broke between the two of them. Lucas and Riley aren’t paying any attention, passing notes to one another. Dave and Yogi are enjoying it though, dancing in their seats.
When they wrap, the hesitation before the class applauds is telling. Maya and Farkle exchange a look, knowing they blew what should have been a simple win for them both. Angela approaches them tentatively, trying to figure out what the hell happened just now.
Angela: … you all want to try that again at the end of the week?
Maya / Farkle: Yes, please.
EXT. AAA - LUNCH COURTYARD - DAY
Isadora is with Nate at lunch, Asher and Dylan running through potential performance ideas in the background. Whatever they’re planning, it seems to include quite a bit of over-the-top movement. Either that, or that’s just the way Dylan dances.
Isadora details how she can’t hang around long for rehearsals, as she thinks she’s going to be having more meetings with her mother. Nate is more than understanding, telling her to take whatever time she needs as they’ve got the schematics down for their concept. They just need someone to perform it. Isadora states that she’s already taken Maya up on her offer to step in where necessary, and this seems to be the line in the sand for Nate.
Nate: I am not working with Miss Prima Donna. And did you see the way she bombed today? Nuh uh. No way.
Isadora: Oh, okay. That’s fine. You’ll have to practice 24/7 then, but if you’re good with that, then sure.
Nate: Good with what? Practice what?
Isadora: The dance. If you don’t want Maya to do it, you’ll have to. I could probably ask Zay to give you some lessons… when are you free?
Nate: … Broadway Barbie can stay.
Isadora: That’s what I thought.
All that aside, Nate wishes Isadora luck with her mom. He knows it’s a lot to process, so the crew is definitely here for her if she needs it. She continues to hold her chin up and shoulder on alone, but she tells him she appreciates the sentiment.
INT. AAA - DRESSING ROOM HALL - DAY
As Maya emerges from the dressing room, Farkle informs her that they’re going to have to change their rehearsal plans now that they’ve been granted a second chance. His parents have a major business meeting at their place, so that’s a no-go. He sort of invites himself over to Maya’s, which she refutes at first, trying to come up with an excuse. But she’s not quick enough, and it just makes her look like she’s got something to hide.
When Farkle posits that very question, Maya stammers before caving and stating they can work at her place. So he’s gotten his in…
INT. AAA - CORY’S CLASSROOM - DAY
Riley and Lucas’s practice has hit a snag again, the two of them now stuck in Cory’s classroom as the auditorium is occupied with people who actually know what the hell they’re doing for their project. There’s absolutely no creative energy in the space, and for Riley, it kind of feels like being surrounded by the reminder of her parent’s impending divorce.
Lucas isn’t getting very far either, a poorly drawn series of sketches of the divas fleeing various horror-movie-esque scenarios all he has to show for their hour of work. That decides it, then. Riley leaps to her feet and gestures him up. They’re getting a change of scenery.
INT. AAA - DANCE STUDIO - DAY
Charlie and Zay finally have their first meeting as partners. Charlie sort of apologizes for blowing him off earlier in the week, but it’s weak in its delivery. Zay disregards it, shrugging it off and claiming he’s still glad they got partnered.
Charlie: For real?
Zay: Yeah. I mean, I know there’s no better match as far as dancing, and we’re guaranteed to blow everyone else out of the water. Especially given how Maya and Farkle really stepped in it.
Charlie: Yeah, that was weird, right?
Zay: Also, I don’t know… gives us the chance to hang out. I like that.
[ Charlie can’t help but smile, even with his bouts of hysteria. He dips his head down, lightly pressing the keys on the piano. ]
Zay: Also, to be honest, I kind of got the feeling you were avoiding me.
[ Charlie slams on the keys accidentally, straightening up. ]
Charlie: What? No. I’m not – that’s… ha ha. That’s silly…
Zay raises an eyebrow at him, Charlie clearing his throat and averting his gaze again. Zay changes the subject, stating that whatever he’s got going on, they can just forget about it. They should focus on what they’re both good at. The assignment is going to be simple, so let’s just knock it out of the park.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Moses” as performed by Singin’ In the Rain Original Movie Cast  || Performed by Zay Babineaux & Charlie Gardner
Thus, transition into their rendition of “Moses.” Zay is right, as it’s clear that both of them are at the top of their game when dancing – even more so when it’s together. They’ve never had a duet partner quite like the other.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
The number continues from its early stages in the studio to the stage, where they’re performing it for the class. The tap dancing is next level yet seemingly effortless, and the two play off one another extremely well. The whole class is into it, cheering along and clapping at particularly impressive moves. They’ve even got the attention of Riley and Lucas, the former grinning proudly while the latter is obviously trying to figure out how anyone manages to do those things with their body and not kill themselves in the process.
They end the performance back to back, an homage to the original. When the class breaks into applause and they drop their stage stance, they double high-five and clasp hands. For just a second, Charlie allows himself to enjoy the thrill of a good performance with a friend rather than descending into panic. It’s the happiest and most natural he’s seemed in weeks.
INT. SVORKSI’S COFFEE - DAY
Isadora and Valerie are seated in the cozy chairs by the window at Svorski’s, discussing the classic film noir movie they just saw together at the vintage theater a couple blocks over. It seems like it may be something that actually connects them, as Isadora is excited rambling on about the cinematography and directing while Valerie is able to comment proficiently on the performances. How these all come together, both of them can discuss. It’s clear when Isadora is talking about film, she really lights up.
EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
Riley and Lucas’s search for a change of pace has taken them to Central Park, Riley leading the way as they enjoy the fresh air. The two of them also manage to actually carry on a conversation, sharing an easy rapport and their share of playful banter. Something across the way catches Riley’s attention, eagerly gesturing Lucas along behind her as she jogs across the sidewalk.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
A few other groups of students are messing around on the outdoor court, but an open hoop and spare basketball seem to be just waiting for the two of them to take advantage of them. Inspired, Riley goes and scoops it off the asphalt, suggesting that maybe getting energized will help them with their creative problem-solving.
Lucas doesn’t seem the least bit convinced, asking if Riley even knows how to play. She raises her eyebrows at him, questioning whether or not he’s scared of getting beat by a girl. She fakes him out by pretending to toss the ball at him, laughing when he flinches and raises his hands protectively.
Now she’s just being incendiary for the sake of it. Lucas hesitates, then takes her up on the challenge. He follows her with a shake of his head as she dribbles out onto the court.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Getcha Head In The Game” as performed by High School Musical Original Cast  || Performed by Asher Garcia (feat. AAA Sophomore Techies)
The perhaps sole musical tribute to basketball underscores Riley and Lucas’s 1:1 game, also the subject of Asher and Dylan’s project.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Intercut with their game, Asher takes the stage in a workout jersey and sort of half dances around with the basketball. Dylan and the rest of the techie boys act as his teammates, and while the performance itself isn’t all that impressive and sharing screen time it’s Asher’s vocals that are the star of the production. He can clearly sing, even if he never gets to actually do it.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Suffice to say, neither Riley nor Lucas are star athletes. She’s a klutz, and he hasn’t played sports since like fifth grade. It’s mostly just the two of them shuffling around each other and trying to grab the ball. But it’s fun, it’s a distraction, and it loosens them up around one another. Lucas calls Riley on her fouls for traveling like five times, and she’s constantly backing up against him on the basis of “blocking.” Lucas peels his dark sweater over his head so he’s down to his white tee, and in some ways that’s kind of break through all its own.
When Asher gets to the belting bridge (“My head’s in the game, but my heart’s in the song. She makes this feel so right…”), the ball is back in Lucas’s hands. Riley raises her eyebrows at him, basically daring him to try and get a shot past her. This level of playful comfort is new for him, and it feels like he’s playing more than one dangerous game with her.
But he goes on anyway. The two of them continue to play the game as the dance break unfolds, growing more and more physically comfortable around one another and willing to get a little rough to get the rock. Eventually they fully give up on actually playing the game the way it’s intended, more so just roughing around with one another. Riley keeps cracking up, and Lucas hasn’t smiled so much consecutively throughout the entire season.
When they get to the end of the sequence, they’ve switched gears to trying to just get one successful shot through the hoop. They manage this with Lucas grabbing Riley by the waist and essentially lifting her towards the basket, finally scoring a basket. Woo!
INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Maya leads the way into the small studio apartment, not bothering to wait up for Farkle and his predictably shocked reaction. He was aware she was on scholarship, but he had no idea what that actually entailed. Considering how glamorously she keeps her appearance, getting the full picture of how strained her finances are is a whammy.
Before he can comment one way or another, Katy emerges from the bathroom as she finishes dressing for another shift at the diner. Maya begrudgingly introduces her to Farkle, but Katy is more than happy to meet one of Maya’s friends. She expresses how much she enjoyed his performance in Les Mis, to which he’s grateful. All in all, he’s easily charmed by Miss Hart before she flutters off to work.
Farkle states that he had no idea the cool waitress at Chubbie’s was her mom. Maya sort of shrugs it off, pushing the fact that they should really get to rehearsing rather than spending any more time lingering on the status of her family wallet.
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
Lucas is crashed on the asphalt, Riley collapsing into a sitting position next to him after retrieving water from her backpack. She offers the bottle to him, which he initially refuses, but when she insists on the basis of staying hydrated he accepts it. He sits up on his elbow and they pass the water back and forth, agreeing that while the game was fun and a good distraction, it didn’t exactly fix their creative dilemmas.
Riley sighs, lamenting how it’s not as though they both don’t have skills to bring to the table. When Lucas makes a face she reiterates the statement, emphasizing that both of them have something to offer, they just can’t figure out a way to unify them into a production that highlights both.
Lucas, cynical as always, subtly posits that maybe some things just aren’t meant to work together. He’s referring to the assignment, but the other implications of the statement go without saying. Riley clearly wants to disagree, but Lucas’s phone ringing disrupts the conversation.
He expresses confusion when he states that it’s Asher, fully sitting up and answering the call. Riley listens curiously, attempting to catch whatever she can from the other end of the line. It’s evident that Asher is calling out of concern, and Lucas has to tell him to slow down and start over given that he’s talking so fast. He climbs to his feet, pacing as he attempts to figure out what the hell Asher is saying.
When he hangs up, Riley asks if everything is okay. Lucas shrugs, nonchalantly explaining that apparently the AAAC has really had a hyperfixation on him the past couple of days. Asher saw it and was worried about him seeing it, so he wanted to check in. Whatever.
Riley: What? What do you mean the page has a hyperfixation?
Lucas: I don’t know, I don’t check it. Guess people have lots to say about me.
Riley: That’s horrible. We should do something –
Lucas: I mean, I already knew they hated me. Now they’re just saying it anonymously online. If it makes them feel better to talk shit like cowards, that’s their choice.
Lucas can act as dismissive as he wants, but Riley isn’t sold. She frowns, the gears in her head already turning a mile a minute.
INT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Farkle is seated in the chair by the window, looking out at the lights and scenery of an evening in her neighborhood. Maya rejoins him a minute later, handing him a mug of cinnamon hot chocolate and claiming he better enjoy it, because it’s the only speciality dish they have here at the casa de Hart. He thanks her, taking a sip of it and assuring her it’ll do.
As they settle in, Farkle states that he likes her apartment. Their conversation walks a similar line to their exchange in GM Money, Farkle comparing the cozy and warm simplicity of her space to the vast and empty excess of his. He asks her why she works so hard to keep it a secret, and Maya states that she doesn’t want anyone to discount her or treat her differently. She works hard to make it clear she’s there because she deserves it, and she doesn’t want anyone getting the idea that she earns anything because of charity.
Farkle assures her that he won’t do that to her. He’ll be just as obnoxious and competitive as always. Maya rolls her eyes, nudging him lightly with her elbow. He promises her that he won’t say anything if she doesn’t want people to know, but if she chose to share it and anyone gave her shit, he’d come to her defense. She’s the only one actually challenging him, after all, so no one else exactly has the wherewithal to say anything.
It’s a true moment of friendship for the two of them, finally coloring their understanding of one another with something more human. Something true. Farkle offers his mug in mock cheers, Maya clinking hers against his before they both take a sip.
EXT. HOTEL - NIGHT
Valerie and Isadora arrive at her expensive luxury hotel, calling it a night. Surprising Isadora, Valerie expresses that she wants to meet her foster family. Maybe she could come over for dinner? In the next couple of nights? Isadora is uncertain, but she tentatively agrees.
EXT. MATTHEWS APARTMENT - NIGHT
Lucas walks Riley home, the latter insisting that he didn’t have to walk all this way. He claims he wanted to, and the least he could do would be to make sure she gets home safely.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Singin’ In The Rain” as performed by Singin’ In The Rain Original Movie Cast  || Performed by Farkle Minkus
As the opening tones of the classic Gene Kelly track fade in, Riley and Lucas exchange their goodbyes. The moment is reminiscent of Don and Kathy’s farewell in the film before the big title number, only we know Lucas isn’t going to be the one breaking into song.
Riley: Be careful getting home, okay? It kind of looks like it’s going to rain.
Lucas: Oh, fitting. Didn’t realize the universe was theatrical too.
Riley: [ tilting her head ] You can come in, if you need to. I mean, my dad might have a heart attack, but –
Lucas: No, no, it’s fine. I’ll survive. But I’m not dancing. I’m not Gene Kelly.
Riley: Ooh, very good. It’s almost as if you’ve been paying attention this week.
Lucas: Yeah, well, I have a pretty good partner. So.
The moment lingers between them, Riley unable to hold back her soft smile.
Lucas: Goodnight, Riley. See you tomorrow.
Riley: Goodnight, Lucas.
Riley hesitates, taking one last look at him before she steps into the building. True to her word, a light rain begins to fall just as she disappears. Lucas looks up towards the sky, shaking his head in disbelief.
EXT. MAYA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The rain has increased to a steady downpour as Farkle departs Maya’s for the night. He doubles back under the awning of the building for a moment, but his mood is so pleasant that he decides he doesn’t much care. Lucas may not be a Gene Kelly, but Farkle certainly is.
Thus, he launches into the song, light and upbeat from how his friendship has developed with his former arch rival. He dances around the city in the rain, paying true tribute to the film that started this whole lesson in the first place. Ah, classic…
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “Singin’ In The Rain” as performed by Mint Royale || Instrumental
Jamming to a remixed rendition of the tune Farkle just finished slaying, Maya performs the dance routine for Nate and Isadora’s techie spectacle. The lights and effects are super cool, and Maya’s skill for movement really pulls the whole concept together.
As they’re giving group notes, Wyatt says something shady about how Isadora didn’t seem to do much to contribute to the project. Lucas snaps back that he doesn’t seem to do much as a human being, but he’s hardly perturbed by the comment. No, in fact, Wyatt is having a grand time this week given how horribly the AAAC is treating Lucas, which he once again alludes to.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
Eric is down to his closing rounds of interrogations. Nate kicks us off, seemingly relatively chill about the whole assignment despite what’s going on with Isadora.
Nate: I kind of had to do all the shit, but it’s not a biggie. I totally get it, you know? Your bio mom coming back into your life, let alone a famous one… that’s tough, man. Makes me grateful for my boring, normal ma.
Jeff has even less to offer about Sarah, except that all she does is gossip. Haley talks about how weird Yogi is, like, just in general, before switching gears to how odd Charlie has been acting all week. He didn’t even talk to her at lunch, so now she’s worried that she’s ruining her chance with him that she’s been banking on for like two years.
Haley: Like, I don’t know, I thought we had a good thing going. But now I’m getting the feeling he might be into someone else?
Dave is antsy when it rolls around to him, as Isadora told him about how this whole check-in process is meant to help track down the moderator of the Instagram. He’s honestly the last person that should’ve been given this information.
Dave: Oh my God, do you think Yindra is running AAAC? Am I partners with a delinquent?
Eric: The page isn’t a criminal offense, Dave.
Dave: Just tell me. Am I fraternizing with a felon? Just let me down easy.
Dylan and Asher are there together, Eric gently asking if the two of them have done anything without the other in the last year and a half. They don’t acknowledge the query, instead taking the opportunity of meeting with him to express their concern over how harsh the Instagram has turned on Lucas in the last week.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
And the page speaks for itself, as we see while they continue their meeting. Riley finally checks it herself, disturbed by what she discovers. True to what she’s heard, the posts have essentially become a dogpile on Lucas, everyone empowered by the constant negativity of the last few posts to say whatever the hell they please about him.
Asher: We know he says he doesn’t care, and he doesn’t really check it anyway, but everyone keeps talking about it.
Dylan: That shit messes with you, no matter how tough you are.
Riley is obviously livid. She marches off, heading to her own check-in with Eric.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
She continues on the same train as Asher and Dylan, showing Eric the state of the page so he can see it for himself. She highlights how it’s simply become a trash session, and Lucas became the target because one person had a personal vendetta and made it their mission to get everyone else in on the game too.
She’s nearly choked up as she reiterates the fact that she went through her own period of bullying just last year, and it’s impossible not to care about it. Lucas can claim he’s indifferent, or that he’s not seeing it. But she’s seeing it, and she cares, and she wants something done about it. She wants something done about all of it.
Riley: I know he’s not the easiest person to deal with. He’s abrasive, and sarcastic, and puts such an effort into being aloof it’s basically like he’s exerting more energy than if he just operated like a normal human being. But he’s also clever, and… surprisingly sweet, and fiercely loyal.
[ Eric can’t look at the posts anymore, dispirited. He shakes his head, putting her phone back on the desk. ]
Riley: I know he’s a lot, but… he’s a good person. He’s good, and he doesn’t deserve this.
Eric takes in this speech, raising his eyebrows.
Eric: Wow, Clarissa was so right.
Riley: What?
Eric: Nothing.
He hears her, and he claims they’re doing everything they can to get this page taken care of. He circles back to what she meant when she said someone had a personal vendetta. Riley states that Wyatt has had it out for Lucas ever since the fight, and he’s been gleefully reminding Lucas about the page basically all week like he would know more than anybody what’s on there. She’s certain he’s enjoying it. Eric definitely takes this note…
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Still emotional, Riley confronts Charlie after running into him in the hall. She pulls him aside, starting to talk about the posts concerning them on the AAAC. Charlie grows flustered and defensive, shying away from her grasp and asking what makes her think he would know anything about who posted them. She claims she doesn’t care about that – what bothers her is that he’s not doing anything to refute the rumors, and that’s a problem too. If they were really friends, as he keeps saying they are, he would do something about it.
She leaves him to ruminate on it, storming off. Charlie blinks, obviously unprepared for such a direct confrontation.
INT. AAA - BLACK BOX THEATER - DAY
The class is watching the conclusion of Singin’ in the Rain, lights dimmed and “You Are My Lucky Star” filling the classroom. While Farkle, Maya, and Zay are engrossed in the film as expected, Dylan has dozed off in the back of class. Dave and Asher are picking at him, doodling on his arms and laughing over how he literally can’t stay awake during a movie to save his life.
Asher: Every single time.
Isadora and Lucas are paying attention, the former much more subtly engaged than the latter. Riley isn’t paying much attention at all, unintentionally spending more time watching Lucas next to her.
As the film wraps, Shawn hits the lights and takes the center of the room. Taking over for Angela as she’s off at her callback, he pulls the class into a discussion about what parallels exist between this film and High School Musical.
Dave: There’s music?
Shawn: Excellent observation, Dave. Spot on.
Zay gets the ball rolling on a more serious take, pointing out that both films share the central premise of shaking up the status quo. Farkle elaborates, explaining that there’s cases of identity crisis in both. Shawn agrees, honing in on one of the key themes not only to the films but also to what their class might be experiencing right now – not everyone is as clear cut or boxed in as they appear, and perhaps what is in front of the curtain isn’t the full story or true reality.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
School is dismissed for the afternoon, students filtering out of the building. Zay finishes up a chat with Yindra by the black box, the two of them exchanging their usual handshake before she bounces. He’s about to head out as well, but something catches his attention.
Across the hall, Charlie is hanging at his locker and chatting animatedly with Haley, Clarissa, and Yogi. For a second Zay thinks about joining them, but something makes him hesitate. Charlie seems so comfortable, lively, his usual upbeat tenor – far from how he’s been behaving around him lately.
Zay absorbs this, the realization stinging. All the more because they seemed to be clicking so well, and he has no idea what he did wrong. Isolating himself somehow, yet again.
He backs off, heading in the other direction.
INT. FOSTER HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Valerie has joined the Van Hersching clan for dinner, a majority of the foster family assembled. KAREN VAN HERSCHING and STEPHEN VAN HERSCHING (50s) are trying their best to impress her, being overly accommodating and far from natural. It’s not every day you have a celebrity over for supper, after all.
Most of the younger siblings, like JULIAN NORTH (12) and AVA MORGENSTERN (10) keep asking Valerie inane and invasive questions. Isadora can tell she’s not exactly comfortable, and the whole situation feels like a train wreck she can’t look away from. The distaste reaches its full strength when TESSA CHAN (14) excitedly flutters back into the room with her boombox, begging for the opportunity to perform her dance routine to one of Valerie’s greatest hits.
Although Valerie doesn’t decline, Isadora can’t take it anymore. She gets to her feet without excusing herself, marching out in an embarrassed flurry. Valerie hurriedly gets up to follow her out, after thanking the Van Herschings for a lovely evening.
INT. FOSTER HOME - ENTRYWAY - NIGHT
Isadora is making her way towards the steps to escape when Valerie catches up, asking her where she’s going and why she stormed out. Isadora tells her to drop the act, that she could see how uncomfortable she was in there and how she clearly doesn’t like what she’s seeing. She wanted things to be easy, for everything to just fall into place, but it’s not. This is the way things really are, regardless how much glossy Hollywood shine she wants to throw on it.
Isadora: This obviously wasn’t what you were expecting. And I can’t blame you for that, because how could you possibly know what to expect with absolutely zero perception to start? You should just go back to Los Angeles and forget it. Go back to the spotlight where you belong, and leave me here where I belong. In the dust.
Valerie is hurt, but she gets the message. She bids her goodnight, stepping out into the night with nothing more to say. Isadora stands on the steps for a moment, screwing her eyes shut and piecing herself back together.
It’s more difficult, this time around. Now that she’s gotten a taste of a good time with her mother, it’s going to be that much harder to retrain herself to live otherwise.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “When There Was Me And You” as performed by High School Musical Original Cast || Performed by Isadora De La Cruz
Isadora kicks off this solo ballad to heartbreak on the steps, making her way back up through the foster home as she retreats to her room. She delivers it with all the gusto that Gabriella did in the original rendition, only the sting of disappointment that she’s feeling goes far deeper than your first high school crush.
INT. FOSTER HOME - ISADORA’S ROOM - NIGHT
She makes back into her own space, the walls of her emotionally resilient facade beginning to crumble. She got her hopes up and saw them dashed, just like Lucas warned her would happen.
As the song comes to an end, she crawls into bed and pulls the covers over her head, willing herself to disappear. She shuts the light off, hiding in the darkness.
INT. MINKUS HOME - NIGHT
Farkle is working at the kitchen table on homework while Jennifer types away on her laptop, doing family budgeting. She eyes Farkle as he works, finding a way to broach the topic of his sudden new friendship. She explains how much she likes Maya, how she seems to be well-suited to him. She’s a spitfire, that much is for sure.
She digs – as only a Jewish mother can – about whether or not Farkle and Maya are like that, which Farkle adamantly refutes.
Farkle, disgusted: I am with Maya? You mean do I like her? I’d sooner woo the raccoon that lives in the attic.
Jennifer is amused by his blatant rejection – and clearly doesn’t quite buy it – but either way she claims she’s happy. She’s so happy to finally meet one of his friends, and see him getting along so well with them. She knows AAA is cutthroat, so it’s simply… nice.
She asks if he thinks Maya will come around to visit more often, because she’s more than welcome. Farkle hesitates, contemplating the question. Then, he smiles.
Farkle: Yeah… yeah, I think she will.
INT. AAA - HALLWAY - DAY
Charlie is at his locker, hiding behind the door as he types on his phone. He’s crafting a message to AAA Confessions, requesting that the recent posts about him and Riley be taken down. Although this sentiment seems noble, it’s visible that there have been previous messages exchanged between him and the account. Curiouser and curiouser…
He impatiently waits for a response, glancing both ways down the hall as the typing bubble appears on the other end. When it responds, it’s statement is simple at first – it’s a no can do. No posts are to be removed once posted, a risk of which he should already be aware.
Then the account follows up again with a slightly cheekier message. “It’s toothpaste, Charlie. It’s not going back in the tube. That’s the way the princely cookie crumbles…”
Charlie frowns, huffing before slamming his locker shut.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Farkle is in the auditorium alone, going over dance moves and meandering away his lunch hour. He jumps when the hall door slams open, Isadora storming into the audience. He watches as she marches up to the booth without a word, poking her head inside. When she pulls back, frustrated, he opts to speak up.
Farkle: Jackass isn’t in there. If that’s who you’re looking for. Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if he were.
Isadora: Well, where is he, then?
Farkle: Rehearsing with Riley, I’d assume. Considering I have no clue what the two of them could possibly pull together, I’m guessing they need all the time they can get –
Isadora: God, why can’t anyone just be WHERE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE?
Isadora lets out an angry groan, stomping her way down the steps. Farkle advises her to take a chill pill and she turns her frustration on him instead.
Isadora: Coming from you? That’s –
Farkle: Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before.
Farkle settles down on the edge of the stage, asking her what the hell she’s so riled up about. Normally she wouldn’t give him the time of day, but the emotions are so overwhelming at this point that she doesn’t know where else to put them. So she blurts them out, lamenting how everything is changing and no one is acting the way they’re supposed to and she just wants everything to stop. She just wants things to go back to the way they’re meant to be.
After a moment, Farkle ventures a comforting speech. He claims he’s not trying to sound like a theater nerd, before launching into how what she’s going through is kind of exactly the whole point of High School Musical. She wants things to stay the same, to stick to the status quo (Isadora rolls her eyes), but maybe the status quo isn’t the way they’re meant to be. She has to try to be open to change, or else they’re never going to know either way.
Farkle: I get it, believe me, I do. When the whole revolution was going on and then we had to do all your positions, I hated that feeling of not knowing how to handle things or be the undisputed best. I mean, really hated it, like I wanted to strangle the way of the world as I knew it in my ironclad grip until it wouldn’t ever try to shift on me again.
Isadora: Does this vaguely psychotic monologue have… a point?
Farkle: But even with all that, the class has actually sort of come together, and that’s made my life easier too. I actually can say I have friends now rather than rivals, which who knows how long that’s going to last, but it’s nicer than before. I shudder to admit it, but sometimes you have to relinquish that control and certainty that you know best and just let the universe… I don’t know. Do its thing.
Despite how it’s not what she wanted to hear, the conversation actually does have a calming effect on Isadora. She thanks him, hesitantly, clearly unnatural for the two of them. It’s probably the first nice conversation they’ve ever exchanged.
INT. AAA - CORY’S CLASSROOM - DAY
Riley and Lucas are back in Cory’s classroom after school, nearing their last chance to pull something together between them. Riley is pacing the floor, nearly rambling about potential ideas but constantly second-guessing them or vetoing them before Lucas can even comment. She expresses her frustration over how difficult this turned out to be. She can’t help but think about what Lucas said about some things just not being meant to go together.
She glances at Lucas, seated on top of one of the desks and gazing at the floor, lost in thought. God, she doesn’t want him to be right.
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “The Stage Is Set” as performed by Singin’ In The Rain Original Movie Cast || Instrumental
Suddenly, Lucas speaks. He murmurs something about how maybe they’re just not looking at the assignment from the right perspective. When Riley asks what he means, he lifts his head, obviously thinking.
Then, the ghost of a smirk passes over his face. He locks eyes with her, hopping off the desk and instructing her to follow him.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Lucas leads the way into the auditorium, darkened after the last rehearsal of the day. He claims that they haven’t had the chance to actually work in the proper setting. Their scene unfolds in an homage to Singin’ in the Rain, mimicking the exchange between Don and Kathy as he sets the stage for “You Were Meant For Me.”
Although Lucas is nowhere near as smooth as Don Lockwood, it’s evident from how he navigates the stage and starts piecing together a design that he has a natural knack for it. Even if he doesn’t consider it a talent himself, his eye for production and the technical side of things is impossible to ignore. It shines as he walks Riley through their potential set-up, so enthralled with the puzzle of it that he leads her along by the hand without thinking about it.
He turns away as he gets to setting up the lights from the wings, Riley commenting that maybe just dancing would be enough. She hasn’t exactly gotten to do much dancing this year like she had hoped. Lucas offhandedly agrees, finishing up and spinning around to face her.
The moment he actually looks at her–center stage, beautifully lit, exuding excitement and stage presence, he’s speechless. True to the SitR dedication…
Lucas: You sure look nice in moonlight, Riley.
Now that they’re in the proper setting with a semblance of an idea figured out, Riley states, does he still believe it’s not meant to be? Is there no possible way this duet is going to work out?
Lucas, softly: Guess we’ll find out.
And that they will. That they will…
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “You Were Meant For Me” as performed by Singin’ In The Rain Original Movie Cast  || Performed by Riley Matthews (feat. Maya Hart)
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Taking her up on her earlier offer, Maya covers the Gene Kelly vocals for their assignment. But she’s far from the focus of the production – no, that lays securely with Riley, who performs a ballet solo to the music of the track. It’s a true showcase of her ability when she’s given the chance to take it at her own pace, and she’s downright darling in her soft lavender dress.
So where does Lucas fit into all this? Well, the secondary star to the performance is lighting design, which responds and moves with Riley and the music almost as if it’s dancing, too. The lights are her duet partner, and Lucas is taking special care to operate them perfectly from the booth. It’s truly an effort combining both of their abilities, creating a delicate spectacle quite unlike anything AAA has seen before. Angela and Shawn are particularly impressed.
INT. AAA - TECHNICIAN’S BOOTH - DAY
As the number draws to a close and the focus returns to Riley once again, poised on stage, practically shimmering in the stage lights, we’re thrown to Lucas in the booth. Although he was concentrating for a duration of the performance, it’s in this moment that he allows himself to relax. He lets out an exhale, completely fixated on Riley so far away.
Front and center stage, exactly where he thinks she belongs.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
Farkle passes by Eric’s office before stopping, poking his head in with a curt knock. Eric greets him and asks if he wants to step inside, but Farkle turns him down. He’s just heading off to lunch with Maya, so he can’t stay long. Eric comments that their collaboration must not have gone too horribly, then.
That’s actually what Farkle wants to talk to him about. He informs him that he no longer holds suspicions that Maya is running the AAAC. His assumptions, it seems, were incorrect.
Farkle: Hey, just like the movies from class. How about that.
Eric: How about that.
Eric thanks Farkle for letting him know, sending him on his way. Turning back to his paperwork, we see that Maya was hardly one of their prime suspects at this point anyway. No, they’ve narrowed down their likely culprits to just four – Yindra, Chai, Wyatt… and Farkle himself.
INT. AAA - DRESSING ROOM HALL - DAY
Charlie emerges from the dressing room to head towards the auditorium, catching Zay heading in from the main hall. He blinks out of his daze and tries to catch up to him, but Zay marches past him without a word.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Charlie chases after him into the wings, asking what gives. Zay whips around and turns the same question back to him, obviously floored that Charlie has the gall to act like the indignant one of the two of them. Considering his behavior all week, Charlie doubles back and tries to begin explaining that he’s just been distracted because of some… things he’s had to take care of, alluding to his battle with the AAAC.
But Zay’s not buying that. His behavior has been cold towards him basically since Les Mis, and he’s sick of taking a backseat or being dismissed when it’s evident Charlie is his usual handy-dandy self when he’s hanging out with other people.
Zay: If it’s such an effort to like… exist when you hang out with me, then you can save yourself the trouble, okay? Don’t overexert yourself.
Charlie: That’s not true. You have no idea how far from the truth –
Zay doesn’t want to hear it. He starts to walk away but then doubles back, lamenting how much the situation sucks. It sucks, because he thought they had a good friendship going. They had something real, but he supposes that’s how things happen. This world is full of mirages, and the curtain always has to fall eventually. Whatever.
Charlie is stung, obviously regretful for having hurt his feelings when that was never his intention. As he’s heading towards the seats, Wyatt makes commentary on their little spat from where he could see it sitting with Yogi and Nigel.
Yogi: You couldn’t even hear what they were saying.
Charlie: Yeah, maybe you could mind your own business for once, Wyatt.
Wyatt: That’s hilarious, coming from you. Whatever you two were saying, it clearly wasn’t exactly a wanted conversation.
Nigel: Just give it a rest.
Wyatt: I’m just saying, you gotta watch what you say. Words are toothpaste, they can’t go back in the tube.
As Charlie is walking away, something about that statement gets to him. He frowns, warning bells going off in his head. It’s just a tad too familiar…
INT. FOSTER HOME - ENTRYWAY - DAY
Isadora makes her way through the house to answer the door, Julian calling over his shoulder that it’s for her. She makes some offhand commentary about how Lucas knows he doesn’t have to wait for her to come inside – but it’s not Lucas standing out on their front steps.
Isadora freezes as Valerie smiles at her from the doorway. She asks if she has a moment to spare.
EXT. FOSTER HOME - DAY
Valerie and Isadora sit out on the front steps, the former not wanting to leave without a proper goodbye. She assures Isadora that despite what she may believe, she had a wonderful time with her this week. All of their time was worth it. Isadora doesn’t quite believe it, but it’s clear that Valerie means every word.
She states that she’d love to watch one of Isadora’s short films one day. Isadora lifts her head from staring at the sidewalk, eyes wide.
Isadora: I never told you about that.
Valerie: Do you think you had to? Darling, the way your face lit up when you got to talking about the cinematography and directorial choices from that ancient film we saw the other day, you didn’t have to say anything else. I may be a classic Hollywood bimbo, but I’m no ditz. I do have eyes, at least.
Isadora clarifies, hurriedly, that she doesn’t think Valerie is a bimbo. Or a ditz. And she does appreciate that she took the time to come out and see her, but… she just isn’t sure she’s what Valerie wants her to be. She enjoyed performing in Les Mis, and she’s open to the possibility of more singing in the future – maybe – but filmmaking is her passion. Her dream has always been to be a director, and that’s just who she is.
Valerie emphasizes that whoever she feels she is, that’s all she wants her to be. And she’ll do whatever she can to help.
Valerie: In fact, as soon as I get back I’ll see if I can set up a meeting for you with one of my friends, Stevie. Spielberg? You’ve probably seen a couple of his films.
Isadora, blankly: Uh… yeah. I have.
Isadora tries to say that Valerie doesn’t need to do anything for her, but she’s happy to. She’s in full momager mode, ready to help her daughter’s career take off in her industry as well. Isadora is flattered but also embarrassed as any teenager would be, and there’s a charm to that.
There just may be hope for this dynamic yet…
INT. ANGELA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Shawn comes in through the front door, already rattling off some thoughts he had on the train ride over about what their next assignment could be. He also had some thoughts for next year, so it’s clear he’s planning ahead for the two of them. However, he stops cold when he finds Angela standing in the kitchen, seemingly in shock.
He runs over and puts his bag down, assuming that something is wrong. She’s got tears glossing her eyes, but they’re not necessarily negative – it’s complicated. When he asks her what’s going on, she explains that she got her first return call from one of her callbacks. Based on her reaction, Shawn assumes the worst.
Shawn, soberly: … no?
[ There’s a beat. Then, with a watery smile, Angela shakes her head. ]
Angela: I got an offer.
This seems like amazing news. She did it! Shawn pulls her into a hug, asking her if she’s going to take it. Oh, she has to take it, doesn’t she? Angela tells him to hold on a second. She hasn’t explained the full offer.
She states that the offer came from one of the touring companies. So it’s a part – and a great one, at that – but it means traveling. It means uprooting herself and leaving. It means, given how long the tour is, potentially saying goodbye.
Shawn absorbs this. He doesn’t know how to react, now matching her emotion. Angela doesn’t know how to react, really, either.
Suddenly, she has a major decision to make.
INT. AAA - ERIC’S OFFICE - DAY
Charlie is seated across from Eric, letting him know about the weird parallels between his conversation with Wyatt and things he’s… observed on the AAAC. He claims it could just be a coincidence, but he thought Eric should know. He thanks him, and immediately moves to pass the information on to Jack…
INT. AAA - JACK’S OFFICE - DAY
… who brings in Chai for a chat, Wyatt’s project partner for the week. Chai comments that it definitely seems as though the AAAC has gotten more reckless as of late, so she wouldn’t be surprised if he had something to do with that. He’s pretty pissed off all the time, ever since he got his clock cleaned for saying stuff about Isadora.
Chai: Like look, I get it, people talk shit all the time. Petty stuff is whatever, you know? Like do I care if someone makes some dumb post about me and my split ends – which, not true – because they’re jealous or having a rough week or whatever? Not really. But some of the stuff he says… it’s like, you don’t say that, you know? You have to have personal boundaries. Know the rules to the game, and all that. Be smart.
By the end of their conversation, all signs really do seem to point to Wyatt as the next step in the mystery. Whether or not he’s the operator is still up for debate, but he clearly has involvement one way or another, and it’s time to get to the bottom of it.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
Isadora enters the auditorium, still searching for the chance to catch up with Lucas. They’ve been out of each other’s orbit for what feels like the entire week, and it feels weird to not have him in her corner. She heads towards the stage, calling out for him.
He responds from somewhere above, informing her that he’s up in the catwalk. She takes the spiral staircase behind the prop loft gate to join him, suddenly traipsing dozens of feet above the stage below.
It’s a totally different view from so high above. Lucas is crouched on the main walk as promised, just finishing up adjusting one of the lights. Isadora makes some nonchalant commentary about how this is one of her favorite places in the auditorium, how she should spend time up here more often. Feels easier to breathe, so high above everything else.
The two of them settle on the base of the catwalk, Isadora’s legs dangling over the edge. Lucas props his elbows on his knees, settled in the silence for a moment.
Isadora: [ not looking at him ] Been kind of a weird week.
Lucas: Yeah.
Isadora: … not bad, though.
Lucas: No. No, not bad…
It’s clear that both of them have a dozen things they could say, lots of things they’re itching to say – but for whatever reason they’re suddenly shy. Like although they know could say anything to each other, there are now things they want to keep to themselves. Have something that is solely theirs to ruminate over.
Despite not having seen them herself, Isadora does check in with him about what conspired on the AAAC this week. She knows he claims he doesn’t care, but she wants him to be honest with her. Is he okay?
Lucas claims it’s fine, in complete honesty he didn’t even really notice. It’s all just the usual bullshit from the other side of the divide, and he doesn’t have energy to spare on it. Besides, he hardly had time to think about it. Too much other stuff distracting him this week.
Still, even for everything they won’t say, both of them know how the other spent the week. At least, the general concept.
Lucas: How’s your mom?
Isadora: [ after a moment of thought ] She’s alright. How’s Riley?
Lucas: [ fiddling with the light, not looking at her ] … she’s alright.
From the light smile on his face, Isadora can tell that’s an understatement. But she’s not going to push the issue for now. For now, she just wants to enjoy the comfort and peace being so high above it all – and in the company of her best friend.
Let the universe do its thing, or whatever.
INT. AAA - AUDITORIUM - DAY
The class is assembled for the end of the week, and the change in the atmosphere is palpable. They’re actually sitting as a full class rather than in their pseudo-segmented sides. The conversation is light and jovial, such a stark contrast to how the beginning of the year was.
Angela makes her way into the auditorium, glimpsing them from the wings. It hits her that if she takes this new opportunity, all of this might change. She may actually be leaving them behind.
She marches onward, pulling herself together as only an actress can and gathering their attention front and center. She applauds them for how they’ve handled the assignment, taking the challenge in stride and even challenging her to be better in the process. And they have come such a long way since the beginning of the year – all they have to do is look around.
Maya, Zay, and Farkle exchange looks, seated in the same seats they were at the beginning of the year but far better friends than before. Riley and Lucas are seated together, and with that the gap between the techies and the performers has become non-existent. She wants them all to remember this feeling, of how easy it is to break the status quo – the class groans somewhat at that one – before inviting them up for the final number of the week. And she knows they know the words, so they better belt it out considering they insisted on it…
Song Cue ♫ ♪ “We’re All In This Together” as performed by High School Musical Original Cast || Performed by AAA Sophomores
Angela isn’t wrong when she claims there’s no way these Generation Z kids don’t know this number. It’s a fun, goofy, energetic party on the stage as they bring the house down with this classic, finally a semblance of balance between performer and techie taking the stage. Some of that energy from 1.08 is present in the jam session, that’s for sure.
Charlie leads the school chant dance break, Asher and Jeff his main back up. All of our main players take a line or two for solos, but others do as well – Yindra, Nigel, Chai, Clarissa. Nigel dances with Jade, and it looks like she’s about to pass out.
As the last chorus kicks off, Riley even manages to pull Lucas into the revelry. Still with an eye roll, mind you, but no longer is he self-isolated to the sidelines. And the full class brings it on home with a flourish, breaking into laughter and in high spirits.
Still, one factor is noticeably absent…
INT. AAA - FRONT OFFICE - DAY
As the class rounds out the number, Wyatt remains seated in the front office. Jack emerges from his office, giving him a look and gesturing him into his office. Without a word, Wyatt rises and passes by him to enter the room.
As Jack closes the door behind him, we hang on that moment of uncertainty. Yes, this mystery may just very well be narrowing to its conclusion…
END OF EPISODE.
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emphasis-all-mine · 6 years
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Paper Skin Trivia/Headcanons
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Well, here’s my (abbreviated) Paper Skin headcanon/trivia lists for the main characters. Let me know if you have any questions or want me to expand any more?
Lance
Cuban and Spanish, raised by his Mom and Grandma, came to US when he was 4.
06/21 ETA: Born a werewolf, as were his brothers and sister (werewolf bloodlines in this AU are Matrilineal and he's descended of only wolfmothers, more on that soooooon).
Refers to Cindy as Mama Garrett and Henry by his first name because he is still a little detached (was raised without his dad present in Cuba so it feels weird)
Loves to climb trees and go up high, instinctively longs to climb mountains.
Didn't do that great at school so he decided to put off college and wound up becoming a jack-of-all-trades and a self-taught chef.
Cooking helps him remember his mother, makes him feel closer to her.
Is a cat person, doesn't like dogs and especially hates coyotes and jackals instinctively. (Will try to maul a jackal on sight. Coyotes just get angry growls.)
LOVES cats of all kinds. Will befriend mountain lions during full moon much to their surprise, or break into a zoo and make nice with all the big cats if left unattended.
Okay so one time when he was a teenager he got into the Bronx Zoo and first tried to chill with the leopards/black panther in the jungle exhibit but it was closed, then he tried to go see the snow leopards & the tigers but couldn't get into their enclosures. Somehow figured out how to get to the Lions.
He mauled a rare deer and dragged it into the Lion enclosure to present to them and become an honorary member of the pride. 
The Garretts and some other members of their pack had to break in and drag him away
The Lions were not happy that they lost their new pack member but got over it.
Whenever he visits the zoo as a guest you could SWEAR they recognize him and call out to him.
When he's a wolf he prefers deer or other hoofed mammals and second favorite is rodents. (Ends up eating birds just because of his natural tree-climbing instincts. Also he knows Hunk likes them so he brings him pigeons and quails.)
All time favorite thing he's eaten as a wolf was a Moose that he caught for Keith (will explain in a future chapter) with a very lost and confused Caribou as a runner up.
Least favorite is crow or birds of prey but he gets short-sighted when he's wolfy and sometimes just hunts for the thrill of it. He's taken down a red-tailed hawk and an Eagle owl.
Favorite music: Shakira (prefers her ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones?-era stuff), Gorillaz, TV on the Radio, Robyn, Rihanna
Keith
Was brought into the Shirogane clan at around age 12/13.
Identifies as Asian-American since his Dad was part Korean but does not know where his mom came from. Assumes she was of a mixed background as well.
His dad was sired by Akira Kogane, who was of Chinese and Japanese descent so he wonders if that filters down with vampire progeny?
Speaks very little Japanese, enough to answer Shiro if he uses a well-known phrase but not enough to converse
Has a recurring nightmare where tree branches start growing out of his throat and choke him
Really wants a motorcycle but will settle for a car of his own. Doesn't want Shiro to buy it, he's saving his own money.
He's actually a very good driver and Shiro will let him drive his vehicles.
Studied outside of school with help from coven members that were teachers as also some help from Pidge and the Holts so he was able to get his GED at 19
Very glad he has Umbra for a pet because she is very good at helping him figure out the time of day based on her behavior and feeding habits (yes he forgets that his phone will tell him the time and weather conditions because he is so used to living completely indoors)
Has a bug-out room in the apartment he shares with Lance. It's much bigger than the closet corner and has room for some emergency supplies and he's put up some corkboards on the walls.
Prefers type O blood and tries to avoid AB because it's like OJ with pulp (there's too much extra antigens in it). Loves pork blood when it's Lance's recipe.
Favorite music: Dolly Parton, The Cure, MCR, Siouxsie & the Banshees and PJ Harvey
Hunk
Born a werewolf, mostly Grey wolf but there's some Asian/Japanese wolf ancestry
Full name is Tsuyoshi Garrett (born Tsuyoshi Seido but had it legally changed when Henry Garrett adopted him)
His mom is Cynthia Tsukiyama-Garrett, and birth father is Tsutomo "Tommy" Seido
He considers Henry Garrett his Dad, hence why he took his last name instead of going by Seido or changing it to Tsukiyama
Henry gave Hunk his nickname after his half-brothers teased him about being a "runt"
Was great at school and did some undergrad at Hunter, then left to go to culinary school.
He finished culinary school and worked at his Mom's bar while trying to figure out if he really wanted to work in a fancy restaurant that wouldn't give him time away for full moon stuff
First time he met Shay he choked on his own spit because his mouth went dry and he nearly passed out
Second time was a better impression, his little sisters both caught the flu and were in wolf-form and was finally able to be his sweet charming self because he was so focused on his sisters' well-being that he forgot to freak out that the pretty veterinarian was smiling at him.
Had a full blown panic attack when he cooked for Shay without knowing she was a vegetarian and inadvertently won her heart with how caring and concerned he was.
Is practicing making Kushari because Shay's family is Egyptian and he wants to impress them. He already makes fantastic hummus.
His preferred food as a wolf is any kind of fowl (sparrow, chicken, turkey, etc.) Secretly loves peacock, but resists the urge to break back into St. John the Divine's Cathedral to snarf one up.
Least favorite food as a wolf is any kind of seafood or fish. Loves them as a human but finds them too bony and briny when wolfed-out.
Favorite music: Matt and Kim, LCD Soundsystem, Beck, The Hold Steady, Broken Social Scene
Pidge
Irish-Italian, her parents are very lapsed Catholics
Currently in High School and will end up at Columbia after timeskip
Needs to study an animal before trying to shift. Often pictures or online video is enough but really does prefer to be up close and personal so she can nail any vocalizations that the audio distorts or doesn't quite catch.
Her dad has a mastery of most animal forms and also can do inanimate objects. Pidge will work on that next. It takes a lot of concentration and holding her breath 
Keith is her favorite because he'll support her delinquency (he doesn't realize it) and she likes helping him figure societal conventions out. They talk or visit at least once a week if not more.
Pidge would make Keith do her homework as a way of home-schooling him (and it also reinforced whatever she was learning, meaning she'd ace every subject and test), it dropped off after Keith got his GED and started working. Schoolwork still is rather easy for her after so many years of teaching herself good study habits by tutoring Keith.
Shiro being ageless is a stable presence in her life, but she thinks of him as more of her brother's friend or like an eccentric uncle
(Pidge has many eccentric uncles and aunts due to her family being half fae descendants, and half metahumans)
Her favorite food is pancakes. Least favorite is eggplant.
Favorite music: Zoë Keating, Tricky, Portishead, Massive Attack, Modest Mouse 
Allura
Was introduced to the underground supernatural community of NYC by her godfather, Coran.
Born and raised in London. Westbourne Gardens area.
Came to the US on student visa and goes to grad school for biochem. Phlebotomy is a way for her to make money and help out Shiro, as Coran's family has known of his for years
No, she doesn't know why Coran has that accent even though he's lived in Brooklyn for as long as she knows
Her pet "mice" are actually Degus. She likes carrying them around in her pockets or purse, they are very well-behaved.
She's never going to bring them NEAR Lance because she knows how much he loves eating fuzzy little rodents
Her favorite food is Candy Floss, least favorite is tomatoes.
Favorite music: Nina Simone, Lana Del Rey, anything Stevie Nicks has done, Ms. Dynamite and Kylie Minogue
Shiro
Names all his businesses after vampire things because he believes in hiding in plain sight (Shuten-dōji was the yokai/vampire that turned him)
Didn't return to his hometown after being turned into a vampire. Was too ashamed and scared he would hurt them. His neighbors and friends assumed he died in the Great Tenmei famine.
Despite his issues with aging, he's tried dying his hair but it looks awful so he just leaves the white streak
Was a very good horseback rider in his youth. Joined the military and was a skilled fighter.
It took a while for him to adjust to motor vehicles. He hit Hunk's grandmother with his car, (but that's how he found the Tsukiyama pack so it worked out and she was fine.)
First cat was named Bobō, a calico. Current cat is Kikō, a tabby.
Prefers type B blood but will settle for O or AB. Type A makes him sneeze after he eats.
Not really a music fan, prefers quiet. He really liked jazz when he first heard it so he sometimes puts on very old, worn-out LPs.
He answers to Takashi or Shiro. Shi-kun or Shi-chan to friends that use his honorifics, later Shiro-kun or Shiro-chan, when he took the nickname referring to the white streak in his hair.
He still has a bad habit of not responding if people address him by Shirogane alone.
(Because "Shirogane-san" was his twin's preferred name)
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javocjovian · 5 years
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A Very Supernatural Christmas Party, Chapter Four
As you may know, I’ve decided to write a fic for million Christmas December Supernatural Prompt Challenges. The challenges include:
Gabriel’s Monthly Challenge @gabriel-monthly-challenge, @archangelgabriellives, @ttttrickster, @archangel-with-a-shotgun, @warlockwriter, @archangelsanonymous, and @revwinchester
spnfanficpond’s Weekly Episode Writing Challenge @spnfanficpond @mrswhozeewhatsis
Supernatural Amino’s Holiday Prompt List and their Hunters Writing Club Challenge - December.
You can find me and this fic on AO3 Archive of Our Own
I’m also on Ko-Fi
If you’d like to read this chapter directly on AO3, here’s a link: A Very Supernatural Christmas Party - Chapter Four
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
A Very Supernatural Christmas Party
Summery: Metatron’s annual Christmas parties are the stuff of legends. As in, no one has ever been able to stop Gabriel bitching about how terrible they are. This year, Gabriel decides to ask one of the Winchesters to go as his date. Guess which one. Castiel has a similar idea, but things don’t go as planned. Meanwhile, Sam, Dean, and Charlie discover the true meaning of Christmas. Spoiler: it’s shopping, and a lot of booze.
Ships: Destiel, Sabriel, the rest are surprises!
Characters: Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Castiel, Gabriel, Charlie, Metatron, and a whole lotta angels later
Chapter Four Summery: Sam suspects Castiel has asked Dean to the party, but HAS he??? Bonus: Castiel makes cookies and Sam and Gabriel bond.
Chapter Four
Effigies and Angels
The morning after the party occurred without incident. Sam had expected Gabriel to barge into his room during the night, especially after what Sam had agreed to, but no such thing happened. Sam didn’t wake until 8am, and it was because Dean was pounding on his door.
“Sammy! Wake up, I’m making pancakes. How many do you want?”
Sam checked his alarm clock, “Uh… just two.” He said groggily.
“Do you… want marshmallows on that?” Dean asked again. He sounded like he was trying to keep his voice serious.
Sam had to think about that one, “Did… Gabriel ask for marshmallows on his?”
Silence.
“Hurry up. Get some pants on and let’s eat.” Dean said.
Sam laughed to himself and got up.
Sam, Dean, Charlie, and Gabriel ate breakfast together at the Men of Letters’ table, while Castiel drank coffee and stole not so subtle glances at Dean. Dean looked a bit stiffer than usual, but maybe it was just Sam’s imagination. Sam hadn’t had time to think about what he’d heard last night, but if he was right, then Castiel was going to ask Dean to the party. Or maybe he’d already asked him.
Gabriel was regaling Charlie with tales of his shenanigans as Loki.
“What? He’s in Marvel comics.” Charlie said sheepishly, listening to every word Gabriel said, “So is that why you like sweets?” She asked.
“Well...” Gabriel stabbed a syrup soaked marshmallow with a fork, “You do something enough you start to appreciate it.” He said wisely, then ate the marshmallow. Sam huffed a laugh. He hadn’t seen Gabriel so carefree since he was the Trickster. Gabriel sneaked Sam a wink over his coffee and Sam nearly spilled his.
Charlie left after breakfast so she could beat the afternoon traffic. Sam and Dean saw her off, and shortly after that Castiel and Gabriel went their separate ways. Soon it was just Sam, Dean, and the palm tree.
Sam looked at it and laughed softly, “I can’t believe he ripped a palm tree out of the ground.”
Dean grinned, “Tell me about it. Can you imagine? Some couple’s laying on the beach on their honeymoon and a guy in a trench-coat shows up.”
Sam laughed.
“Ah… what a night.” Dean sighed, “You want more coffee?”
“No man, I’m good.” Sam sank into a chair at the table and opened his laptop.
Dean took the last of the coffee and returned to the table.
“Oh, hey.” He said, “Check this out.” He’d spotted the box of ‘X-Mas Shit’ on the floor and was grabbing something out of it, “I meant to show you last night, but...”
“We ended up having a Christmas party?” Sam said.
“Yeah.” Dean huffed. He handed Sam a beat-up old Christmas card. It looked like it came from a gas station convenience store.
Sam took it curiously. Slowly, his expression softened, “Is this from dad?”
“Yeah.” Dean sat down beside him, watching contently as Sam opened it and read.
“Ha!” Sam laughed aloud, “Oh man. Dad.” He said fondly, “I can’t believe you kept this.”
“It was in the box. I guess I forgot about it.” Dean sipped his coffee.
“Hm.” Sam smiled at it, “You should put it on the fireplace.” He handed it back to Dean.
“Yeah, alright.” Dean took it and got up, looking for the perfect place.
Sam watched him set the card above the homemade Christmas stockings, turning it until it faced the perfect direction, “Hey, Dean?”
“Mm.”
“Did Cas ask you anything last night? You know, anything weird?”
Dean stood back to look at the card on the mantle, “What do you mean, weird?”
“I mean, well. Before I went to bed...” Sam paused, “He just seemed a little out of it.”
Dean thought about it, “Nah, I think he’s just not used to drinking. I mean, I thought angels couldn’t get drunk but… obviously he can.”
Sam was staring at the card, too, “Yeah. Yeah, you’re probably right.” He looked back to his laptop.
Sam watched Dean out of the corner of his eye as he sat back down to enjoy his coffee. If Castiel didn’t ask Dean to the party, then Sam wouldn’t say anything. It wasn’t his business. Besides, the party was nearly a month away and Sam had his own problems to worry about: namely, how to tell Dean that he’d agreed to go with Gabriel.
“Hey.” Dean said suddenly, “Do you wanna build a snowman?”
Sam stared, “Did you just quote Frozen to me?”
Dean raised his eyebrows at Sam.
Sam laughed, “Uh… sure. Why not?”
“Awesome.” Dean finished his coffee with a single swig, “You’re doing down.”
“W… what?” Sam sputtered, “It’s not a competition.”
“Not with that attitude!”
Sam and Dean spent the freezing afternoon in winter coats and hats, not thinking about angels what so ever. It turned out that when Dean said ‘build a snowman’ he really meant a ‘have snowball fight’. Sam hadn’t even made the base of the snowman before he got pelted with a snowball so hard that his hat flew off.
“Oh, alright. That’s it!” Sam scrambled to his feet, scooping up snow.
For the next half an hour, Sam and Dean Winchester were at war. They threw snowballs hard enough to knock bark off trees, built up impenetrable snow walls, and at one point Dean dive bombed Sam’s snow fortress, crushing everything including Sam with an almighty shout, “Leroy Jenkins!”. Birds abandoned their nests in droves as their shouts and laughter echoed through the silent, snow blanketed woods.
Eventually, they really did build a snowman. They drank beer chilled in the snow, and added to the snowman until it looked so atrocious they couldn’t look at it without cracking up. It had an empty bottle for a nose, one of Cas’s old trenchcoats, Christmas lights around its neck, and moose antlers made of sticks Dean had to climb halfway up a pine tree to break off. Sam had abandoned his hat and gloves, so Dean added those, too. Finally, he gave it angry eyebrows made of tree bark.
“Sammy…check it out.”
“Wha...” Sam turned. He expression broke into a laugh, “Ha! It looks just like Cas.”
Dean grinned.
By the time they headed back inside, their faces were red, half of their winter gear was bundled under Sam’s arm, and there was a stretch of snow half a mile wide that was packed down and littered with destroyed snowforts and trenches. It looked like a war scene. The snowman stood sentinel in the center, guarding the entrance to the bunker. Sam had completely forgotten about Metatron’s Christmas party.
Dean showered while Sam made them hot cocoa and checked the news feed on his laptop. It wasn't long before Dean came out looking refreshed and joined Sam at the table.
“...Sam.”
“Hm? What’s wrong?” Sam looked at him.
Dean’s face was set, “What is this?”
Sam looked at the mug of hot cocoa Dean was holding, “What?” Sam held back a smile, sipping his own mug, “You said you wanted Christmas, so drink up.”
Dean lifted it to his nose and smelled it.
“Plus I added bourbon.”
Dean drank it.
Sam huffed a laugh.
Dean sat beside him, looking over the news reports while they both drank their spiked hot cocoa in silence.
“Sam.”
Sam glanced at Dean, “What?”
“Are those… little marshmallows?”
Sam looked at his mug, “Y...yeah.” He said nonchalantly, “Why? You want some?”
Dean eyed him suspiciously. Then, “Yeah. Load me up.” He held out his mug.
Sam pulled out the bag he’d been hiding in his lap. Dean snorted. Sam opened it, and overflowed Dean’s mug with mini marshmallows.
“Aw, come on!” Dean said as they bounced onto his lap and on the floor. Dean flicked marshmallows out of his lap and took a sip while Sam chuckled. When Dean looked up he had marshmallows stuck precariously to his cocoa covered lips.
“Now that’s festive.” Sam grinned.
Dean gave him a serious look, but it just made Sam laugh.
“You’re getting marshmallows in your underwear drawer later tonight. Just so you know. They’re gunna be everywhere. Watching you.”
Sam was red from laughing.
“Sam. Dean.” Castiel’s voice interrupted them. He was rushing down the steps looking severe.
Dean did a double take, and a couple marshmallows flew off of him, “Hey Cas.” He said casually.
Castiel paused, looking at Dean, whose lips were covered in chocolate and sticky marshmallow, then at Sam, who was laughing silently into his hand.
“What… are you doing?”
“Nothing.” Dean said smartly, “Why don’t you join us? Hot cocoa? Here, I’ll make you some. Sit.” Dean got up, doing absolutely nothing about his festive look.
Sam calmed himself as Castiel sat down.
Castiel glanced at Sam, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Cas.” Sam said genuinely, “What’s up?”
Castiel seemed taken aback. “Did you forget my phone numbers?”
Sam looked puzzled.
“Because… oh, thank you.” Dean had brought him a mug and sat back down. He was suddenly looking awkward again, “You didn’t have to build me an effigy, you know.” Castiel said, “You can just call me on the phone.”
Sam looked startled, “W...what?”
Dean blinked.
They shared a small glance.
“Cas… it’s not...” Sam started.
Castiel tilted his head slightly.
“You know what. I’m glad you like it.” Dean said.
“Yes, the uh… the tree bark was a good idea.” He said seriously, “But I don’t have horns.” He almost looked offended.
Dean broke into a smile, “Yeah, I know. That was for Sammy. Anyway, drink up.” He said, “Don’t worry, it’s a virgin hot chocolate.”
Sam looked at him, “You can just call it a hot chocolate.” He said, “You drunk.”
Dean gave him a quick look.
Castiel tried the beverage, “It’s alright. I guess. Tastes like… molecules.”
Sam and Dean were grinning.
“What?” Castiel asked, marshmallows now sticking to him as well as Dean.
“You’ve got a few… molecules on you.” Dean gestured to his face.
Castiel wiped his face with his hand and looked down, “Ah. Yes. That’s. Hilarious.”
The sole purpose for Castiel’s visit seemed to be addressing the ‘effigy’ in front of the bunker. So once the matter was settled, and once Sam didn’t find anything convincing on his news feed, he decided he’d give Castiel and Dean some space.
“Well, I’m gunna go do a check on the alarm system.” Sam got up, taking his laptop with him.
Dean turned slightly, “I thought we do that on Wednesdays.”
“Yeah, well, after last night I figured better safe than sorry.”
“Yeah. That is your motto, isn’t it?” Dean gave him a look.
Sam scrunched his face up at him, then left the room.
Silence.
Dean cleared his throat, “So uh… Cas.”
Cas looked at him suddenly.
“Is something up? You look like you’ve got a... tree up your ass.” Dean bit his lip.
Castiel stared at him, “No. Nothing’s up. There. Anywhere.” His eyes widened slightly, “But I uh… I made you these.” He reached into his trench-coat and pulled out a small package.
Dean’s brow furrowed at the brown-paper package. There was a card on top. He took it and set his mug aside. He picked up the card. It was just a piece of thick paper folded in half that said ‘Merry Christmas, Dean’ on the inside in scratchy, nearly illegible writing. Dean looked at Castiel.
“It’s customary to accompany your gift with a card.” Castiel said, sounding a little unsure. He nodded at Dean, “Open it.”
So Dean opened it. It wasn’t wrapped very well, but inside was a stack of plastic-wrapped… “Cookies?”
Castiel cleared his throat, “Christmas cookies. I uh… looked up the recipe on Pin-trest.”
“You made these?”
Castiel nodded quickly, “I did. Try them. They’re good. I think.”
Dean took one out of the wrapping, careful not to spill the rest. They were frosted, kind of, to look like candy canes, Santas, and… mules? Dean’s was a mule. He stared at it.
“It’s a donkey. The website said that it’s tradition to make them look like Christmas objects. You humans believe there was a donkey at the manger when Christ was born, but really it was a camel. I couldn’t...” Castiel watched as Dean took a bite, “...draw a camel.” Castiel watched apprehensively as Dean tasted it, “Too much cinnamon?”
Dean shook his head, holding the bite in his mouth. He blinked a few times, then swallowed determinedly, “They’re… good, Cas. Thanks.” Dean set the package on the table. He looked like he had something stuck in his throat. He swallowed again.
Castiel shifted in his seat.
“Cas...” Dean finally said.
“Well, Marry Christmas, Dean.”
“Cas.” He repeated, “Is there something you wanted to tell me? To ask me, maybe?”
Castiel’s eyes widened slightly, “No. Why do you ask?”
“Hm.” Dean eyed him, “No reason.”
There an awkward silence that Dean let spiral horribly. He watched Cas, his expression inscrutable. Castiel’s resemblance to his frozen effigy was uncanny.
Finally, “Well, I should go.” Castiel got up.
Dean didn’t stop him, so with a rush of air, Castiel was gone.
Dean stared at his mug of hot cocoa, looking stony. He finished eating his donkey cookie, chewing down each feeling that rose up and swallowing it into the pit of his stomach soundlessly.
Suddenly, Dean was plunged into darkness. All the lights in the bunker turned off simultaneously. Dean nearly choked. The emergency lights turned on, and then the sirens were back. Dean almost fell of his chair, slamming a fist into his chest.
Before he could even get up, the sirens turned off and the lights went back on.
“Sorry!” Sam’s voice hollered from below the study.
The rest of day passed without another visit from Castiel, Gabriel, or anyone. Sam and Dean kept to themselves after Sam sensed that the conversation with Castiel didn’t go well. Sam cleaned, ate cold pizza, read through a few Men of Letters’ files, while Dean did Chuck knows what in his room. It was late at night when Sam finally decided to go make sure Dean was still alive. He grabbed some left over pizza for him and was on his way downstairs when he heard something that made him nearly drop the plate.
“Sam! Sammy!” Dean’s voice was echoing through the hallway. He sounded injured, “Sam! Help.”
Sam broke into a run. He slid around a corner and landed right into Dean’s door, the pizza sliding to the edge of the plate. He grabbed the handle with one hand and threw the door open with his shoulder, “Dean!” His eyes scanned Dean’s room urgently, “Dean?”
“Sammy...” Dean groaned.
Dean was laying face down across his bed, one arm hanging off the side toward a plate of half eaten… where those cookies? The only light in the room was from the big-screen TV that was in the middle of another Christmas slasher flick.
Sam’s urgent expression fell.
“Get these away from me.” He waved his arm towards the cookies.
“Really, Dean?” Sam said tensely. He turned the lights on and Dean groaned. He dropped the plate of pizza on the nightstand by the bed, then stooped down to collect the cookies. “What are these?” He smelled them.
“They’re good, actually. Cas made them.” Dean grumbled, rolling over and clutching his stomach miserably.
“Did he use cinnamon?”
Dean belched, “Yep. They’re like cinnamon roll cookies, Sam. They’re… amazing. I can’t stop eating them.”
“Yeah.” Sam stood up with a huff, “You look amazing.”
“What’s that?” He nodded at the pizza, “Ugh, no.”
Sam rolled his eyes and took both plates, “Okay, well. Have you just been down here all day eating cookies and watching slasher flicks?”
“Yeah, I have. You gunna give me a time out?”
“No.” Sam sighed, “But, why did Cas make you cookies?”
Dean shrugged weakly.
“Mhm.” Sam said, looking at the state of Dean’s room. It looked like he hadn’t moved all evening, “You should give him a break. He’s just trying to...”
“Trying to what?” Dean looked at him upside down.
Sam took a breath, “Trying to be your friend.”
“Yeah.” Dean said, “Friends don’t try to murder you with cookies.”
“You tried to murder you with cookies.” Sam corrected him, “Jeez, you’re like a dog in sausage factory.”
“A what?”
Sam turned to leave, “If you throw up, use your own bathroom this time? Okay?”
“Okay!” Dean grabbed a pillow and threw it over his face, “Hey! Turn the lights off.”
Sam turned the lights off, leaving Dean to finish his movie in peace.
“Great coping skills, Dean.” Sam muttered. Although, this didn’t surprise him at all. He went back upstairs to put the cookies and pizza away.
On his way up, Sam’s curiosity got the best of him and he tried a bite of a misshapen candy cane that looked more like a like a life saver. He nearly choked. It was a lot of cinnamon. As he chewed, he understood why Dean liked them. They kind of did taste like cinnamon rolls. Kind of.
As Sam walked into the kitchen, he almost choked for real. He dropped the plate of pizza, but Gabriel grabbed it just in time.
“Hiya Sammy.” Gabriel grinned at him.
Sam caught himself on the kitchen counter, “Yeah! No! Don’t worry about me. Save the pizza!” Sam breathed.
“Damn straight. Aw, you made me pizza.” Gabriel took a piece, “You okay, Sam? Didn’t mean to startle you.”
Sam stood up and collected himself, “Yeah, right.” He snatched the pizza out of Gabriel’s hand.
Gabriel pouted at him.
“How did you get in here anyway?” Sam put the pizza back on the counter by the cookies.
“Oh, that. Right.” Gabriel began, “Well I wondered how Dean’s bff always got in here will all your fancy warding. So I looked around last night, and I found that little panel with a smidge of Cas’s blood.” Gabriel scooted around Sam and leaned against the counter.
“So you added your own.”
“So I added my own.” Gabriel said, sneaking a piece of pizza behind his back and taking a not-so-subtle bite.
Sam glared at him, “So that’s why you came by yesterday? To add your blood so you could spy on us?”
“No! No, Sam.” Gabriel assured him, swallowing, “I really did just come by to ask you to the party. But since you said yes...”
Sam sighed.
“...I figured it was best if I could come by every now and again to discuss it.”
“Discuss what?”
“You know, matching suits, ties. Do you wear boxers or briefs?”
Sam glared.
“Well, I go commando. So...” He raised his brow flirtatiously at Sam.
“No. No, okay. I take it back. I’m not going.”
Gabriel looked crushed.
“Castiel tried asking Dean, I think, and he said no, too. So we’re not going.” Sam said, finally voicing his suspicions.
“Dean said no?” Gabriel looked confused, “Well that explains why he’s been moping.” He collected his thoughts, “Sam, look, you have to! I said no funny stuff, and I meant it!” He put the pizza down.
Sam folded his arms.
“Sam, I didn’t ask you just for kicks. I really do want you to go with me. Come on. You’re my top pick. Numero uno. Sam Winchester, with all his hair and… shoulders.” He looked Sam over.
“Enough.” Sam clenched his jaw.
“Okay. But look...” Gabriel said seriously, “Sam. I care about you guys. I do.” He added, seeing Sam’s tired look, “I swear. No tricks. No funny stuff. I’m asking you to be my date.”
Sam considered him, “Like, an actual date?” He clarified.
“Yup.” Gabriel nodded.
Sam looked away for a moment, thinking, “You mean, like, you’re asking me out?”
Gabriel smiled in exhaustion, “Yes, Sam. I’m asking you out.” He eyed him, “Should I get down on one knee?” He offered, starting to crouch down.
“No! No no no...” Sam pulled him back up, “No, you’re short enough.”
Gabriel grinned, “Ouch.”
Sam glanced down, the smallest of smiles playing on his lips.
Gabriel beamed, “So what you do say? Go out with me?”
Sam glanced around, sighed, then said, “Fine. Why not?”
Gabriel cheered, “Yes! Oh, Sam, you’ve made me the happiest Archangel. You won’t regret this!” He grabbed the slice of pizza and took a huge bite, “Okay, so matching suits. Yay or nay?”
“Nay.” Sam took a slice, too, “Definitely nay.”
“Okay. Complimentary colors at least? Red and green? It’ll be Christmassy.”
Sam thought about it, “I thought you didn’t want to go to this thing. Why are you all excited about it now?”
“Cuz I’m going with you.” Gabriel said smoothly.
Sam huffed a laugh, “Alright. Alright. Red and green, then. I’m green!”
Gabriel sighed, “Fine. You drive a hard bargain, Sam. But that’s what I like about you.” He winked, “Red it is.” He hoped up onto the counter, sitting a bit closer to Sam’s height.
They talked and ate pizza, although Sam saved the cookies for Dean. Finally, Sam had to ask.
“So, what did you mean when you said Cas has been moping?”
“You know. Moping. Wandering around like his puppy just got hit by a car.”
Sam frowned.
“I caught him staring at cookie cutters for an hour at that shop downtown.”
Sam slowly hide the plate of cookies behind his back.
“But that’s what happens when you get turned down, I guess.” Gabriel said mournfully, “Honestly, I thought Dean would say yes.”
Sam stared at the empty pizza plate, “I don’t know.”
Gabriel looked at him patiently.
“He’s very… reserved about that kind of stuff. Never admits it when he really likes something. Or someone.” He said, remembering Cassie Robinson, “Plus, I don’t even think he’s, you know… into guys.”
Gabriel nodded thoughtfully.
“And Cas is, well, Cas.” Sam sighed, “So yeah, I’d say they were doomed from the start.”
“Well, that’s sad.” Gabriel said, “Never met an angel and a human with more promise. Oh well.”
Gabriel could tell that Sam was done talking about his brother’s social life, so Gabriel changed the subject.
Sam wouldn’t admit it, not yet, but when Gabriel wanted to, he could be surprisingly tactful. Suave, even. That chatted for a few more minutes, then Sam kicked him out so he could go to bed. Gabriel didn’t even make any jokes about joining him.
It wasn’t until Sam walked past Dean’s room and heard the TV still on that he felt bad for feeling so… good.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
Chapter Four Prompts:
Here are the prompts for this chapter.
Amino's Holiday Prompt List 3. snowman 4. hot cocoa 5. cookies 6. snow fort 7. snowball fight 10. holiday cards
If you’d like to read this chapter directly on AO3, here’s a link: A Very Supernatural Christmas Party - Chapter Four
Enjoy! And Happy Holidays!
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versegm · 6 years
Text
Soulbound
A renora soulmate au of sorts
On ao3
His parents were soulmates.
Ren remembers their tattoos clearly, as important as his mother's face or his father's voice; he remembers the sheep on his mother's palm, baaing silently as she tried to reassure him.
He remembers his father carrying him with short breaths, and more than the blood on his face or the smoke around them, it had been the eagle on his shoulder that had hit Ren the most. Limp, motionless; lifeless. Broken.
Sometimes, at night, when he has to keep watch, he wonders if his own soulmate had died in Kuroyuri, too.
He doesn't let himself dwell too much on it, though. He has other priorities during the day; find food, find shelter, survive.
He's bad at that. The whole surviving thing. His feet get tender when he walks for too long and he never seems to spot a solid enough roof when rain threatens to come. The change is too sudden and too violent, from home-cooked meals to moldy bread, from warm beds to cold bridges.
At least, Nora is here.
Nora is far better than him. She's faster, sneakier, more resistant to pain and cold. She doesn't hesitate where he cringes, his parent's voices ringing in his ears Don't eat that, Lie, it's dirty. Don't do that, Lie, that's stealing.
Nora doesn't seem to really understand the concepts of right or wrong. Or maybe she's just a long way past caring. But if Nora knows anything, it's promises. "We'll keep each other's safe." she whispers to him, handing over a full -full!- apple. "Follow. This way is safer."
Ren doesn't know for how long she's been doing this. He does ask, eventually, but she cannot answer. Nora is better than him in many regards, but she is terrible at everything else. Being human, she's terrible at it; she trips over her tongue and mixes up speech and ignores the most basic things in the world.
Granted, she doesn't seem to need them either. But Nora has been keeping him alive, has been teaching him how to live. The only thing Ren has to offer back is his culture and his knowledge, so he does.
Nora doesn't really seem to see the point, at first. But she's curious. Curious and hungry. At the beginning she simply listens, eyes wide, to whatever crosses Ren's mind- old legends, recipes, how to read, how to count. Ren wonders, a couple times, if he's being annoying, but when he stops she grabs his hand and stares at him until he picks his story back up.
A few days later she starts asking questions.
She fumbles with words and never uses the proper volume and sometimes Ren can't fish any meaning in a sea of approximate grammar, but she's speaking and it's the most friendly voice Ren has ever heard ever since the Incident.
"What's pancakes? What's write here? What's year?"
It occurs to Ren that his stories might be the most meaningful conversation she's had with anyone in a long, long time.
He explains at the best of his abilities. She asks more questions. They talk. They speak. They talk some more.
Ren finds that it's a little like breaking a dam. Nora speaks up more and more often, until eventually her voice rises whenever they're safe. And sure, sometimes she loses track of her thoughts and sometimes she repeats herself and Ren thinks people aren't supposed to speak like that, but himself can follow so he doesn't mind. She gets better with practice too, finally getting a hang on verbs and tenses. Ren has never felt prouder.
They talk and speak and joke, and laugh, right there in the sewers with two years worth of dirt under their nails. It's music to Ren's ears.
"What's a soulmate?" She asks one day. It's the one thing Ren never brought up, partly because it's hard to know what's common knowledge and what's Nora lacking, partly because the word still reminds him of the crippled eagle on his father's skin. The word is plastered on every ad in town though, so he doesn't have to think too hard about where she could have heard that.
"It's the person you're fated to be with."
Nora stares, blinks, once, twice, and speaks up.
"What."
Destiny, Ren has learned, is one of those concepts Nora doesn't quite understand. If she was predetermined to live this long, she'd told him, why did she have to fight so hard? How has she been so close to death so many times? If anything, she'd been destined to die, but has been too stubborn too.
Ren's father would have scowled at these kind of words, but Ren has to admit she does have a point. If things are set in stone, then at the very least the finest details are still up to him.
"It's the person who makes your tattoo move." Ren explains, stabbing a finger on her ankle for emphasis. It's a bird of some sort, but he's not nearly knowledgeable enough to tell what specie. "It's the person linked to you by it."
"Huh." Nora doesn't sound impressed. "And what does a soulmate, like... do? I mean... technically? What's the point?"
"They're supposed to be..." Ren pauses and frowns. How did his mother explain again? "Your... perfect match? Someone you can always rely on. That one person who gets you, even the weird feelings you can't word out."
"Oh. Oooooh." And there it is- that little spark in her eyes when she's learned something new. "So, like us?"
Ren wants to point out that the snake on his own skin has yet to love, that it doesn't quite work this way.
He says nothing.
He knows no words, to describe what they are. Best friends sounds too tame; partners not intense enough.
He loves her. That's a fact. He needs her. Not because she keeps him alive- he has learned, since, to find his own food, to climb on trees. He needs her like one need heat, like one need a home. Nora is the reason he keeps moving forward, his inspiration to become the best person he can be despite the circumstances.
"...Yeah. Like us." He says eventually. So fate didn't choose her. He did nonetheless.
They're twelve. At least, Ren is twelve, because he still remembers his birth year and he came across a calendar in the store. Nora doesn't know how old she is, but Ren supposes she can't be much older than him.
They're twelve, and it has been years since Ren has slept anywhere other than a cave or a tree, when Nora comes to him with a paper in her hands and guilt on her face.
"I'm going to hunter school."
Ren's blood freezes in his veins.
"They provide- well basically everything!" she explains. "Food, shelter, you name it- you can even earn some money later on, with like, missions and stuff!"
Of course they do. There is only one possible ending to hunter school. There is only one possible ending to being a hunter. They have to make a certain and painful death worthwhile somehow.
"I can handle it." Nora says, noticing the worry in his frown. "You know me, I'm tough!"
She really is. Ren has even seen her hurt adults once or twice, badly enough that they had time to run away.
(He sees his father screaming, bow in hand, as smoke and shadows surround him. Being tough is not enough.)
Softly, Nora sets a palm on his hand. She's rough by nature, rough skin and rough actions, rarely ever bothering with things like subtlety or delicacy. But she is always gentle with him. He has seen her snap bones and displays as if they were weak tree branches, but Ren has never once been afraid that she would use her strength against him.
"If you don't want to come with me, I'll understand."
She's trying, she's trying really hard to be brave, Ren can tell. She doesn't want him to leave. But at the same time, and the realization settles coldly in his bones, she means it; if he decided to leave, she would let him.
"I'll send you money," she continues. "You could build a good life around- maybe find a baker who could hire you? I'll write you everyday. Unless you don't want me too! I totally understand! You've done so much for me already."
She's being genuine. She really thinks- she's really considering the chance that maybe he wants to cut all ties with her-
And it hits Ren, that he could. If he wanted to, he really could- come back to the life he was supposed to have before his parents died. He could abandon every single Kuroyuri reminders he has and slips into the skin of a normal, honorable person. He could. He could.
It dawns on him, that this. This moment, this instant, this second, right there. This choice Nora is offering, this chance she's giving him, is the most important decision Ren will ever do. Kuroyuri has been beyond his control. What his life will be from now on- it all depends on what he decides, right now.
He grabs her wrists and holds firmly. Refusing to let her go.
"I'm coming with you."
He wants to tell her. He wants to tell her how much she means to him. He wants to tell her that he would rather be homeless with her than under a roof without her. He wants to tell her that she's done so much for him already, he owes her so much already. He wants to tell her that he loves her, simply. She's family. She's home. She's everything he has and the only thing he wants.
Maybe it's because of how long she's been without a proper vocabulary, but Nora has a way to jump on the first words she find that describe what she's feeling, as disjointed as the result is. Ren has the opposite problem; he cannot speak unless he already has a clear plan in his head of how to say it. He has so much to say, so much to convey, and Ren has no idea how to fit that in a single sentence.
So he doesn't.
He wraps his fingers around Nora's ankle, around the still bird sleeping on her skin, and he closes his eyes.
Ren doesn't know much about souls, aside from old fairy tales he's started to forget. But he figures if he tries really hard, if he wants it really hard, maybe Nora can catch a glimpse of it.
Ren closes his eyes, and he focuses. His hold is firm on her, unwilling to let go. He doesn't know what destiny has in story for him, if there is one at all. But Ren knows this: He chooses her. Whatever the universe says, he wants her in his life. He chooses her.
Nora gasps.
Her hand closes on his shoulder, right above his snake. Her nails dig painfully in his skin, and Ren wants to wince, except-
Warmth.
Home.
Love.
Ren feels full and whole and so very human, so much more than human, bigger than his bones and his teeth. It's you. It's me. I'm with you and you're with me.
Under his fingers, the skin stirs.
"Ren?" Water runs from his shoulder down his arm, a faint unnoticeable pressure tickling his skin. "Ren!"
His eyes snap open.
Nora is staring at his wrist, face halfway between wonder and fear.
His snake is staring back.
Oh. It wasn't water.
"Re-EN!" Her voice suddenly gains an octave, and Nora's leg kicks up in surprise, narrowly avoiding him. A flash of black ink flies under her pants legs, vanishing from view.
This can't be happening. Logically speaking. Ren ignores a lot of things, but at least this is something he knows: tattoos start moving upon meeting their soulmates. Not at random, not five years after spending every single day with them. This whole situation is, plainly, impossible.
Nora's bird trots off her sleeve, comfortably nesting as close as possible to his own mark.
"Ren?" Nora calls again. The initial shock seems to have passed, replaced by curiosity and that slight frown she has when she's unsure if she sohuld be worried yet. "What is going on?"
This shouldn't be possible. Fate didn't choose her.
...
But he did.
"We're soulmates." Ren says. Which might be inaccurate, because soulmates don't choose each other, but he knows Nora isn't a sticker for exact definitions anyway.
"Oh." Slowly, his snake closes its eyes, as if it were sleeping. It's a strange sensation; his tattoo isn't moving anymore, but he can still feel it like a armband under his hairs, breathing calmly. Experimentally, Nora pokes her bird. "Took them long enough to catch on."
They fill their forms to apply to combat school together, even though their handwritings are shaky and messy from years without a pen, and the new tingle of their tattoos make for easy distractions. Ren isn't worried about being rejected, though; the world cruelly needs new hunters, he's learned the hard way.
"I need a last name." Nora tells him. "Pick one for me?"
Ren thinks long and hard. About Nora, and himself, and the tattoos connecting them.
They say they pick who live or die in battle. His mother's voice is blurry, but the bedtime story is not. Mostly because he could tell Nora about one but not the other. They come with ravens or swans to bring the dead to their gods.
Ren is sure the bird is neither raven nor swan, but it has feathers and wings all the same. Nora is no death reaper, but she did pick him to live.
"Valkyrie." he says. "Nora Valkyrie."
She smiles. Her teeth are crooked and her face dirty. It's the brightest thing he's ever seen.
"I like the sound of that."
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wafflesetc · 6 years
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House Hunters International: Outlander Edition
Obviously a crack!idea that has come to life. Yes, I do spend a wee too much time watching House Hunters, but who doesn’t. We’re going to go with this being an modern AU for our Jamie and Claire. Two little girls, Faith and Brianna as well. As of right now, this is going to be a 4 parter story because in house hunters we always get the little background into the family, then they tour three different properties, and then we see them living happily ever after in the house that they chose. So, I am planning to stick to that format as well. Shout out to @futurelounging and @bonnie-wee-swordsman for this crack!fic idea and helping me spawn off some thoughts to get this plot bunny into motion.
To say I was tired was an understatement. I had not washed my hair in nearly three days, slept more than a consecutive 4 hours in a row in four days and had not seen my husband in the daylight in almost five. Residency was going to be the actual death of me. I had vomit from a two year old with a pneumonia on my scrub bottoms, some lady’s blood from bed 4 on my scrub top, and I had iodine stains on my *new* converse shoes from the trauma that had made me go over my clock out time, by four and a half hours. It was now nearing two AM and as I closed my locker in the resident’s lounge and sat on the bench. I put my hands in my face and heard the door open. *What I would do for five minutes alone.* I thought to myself, contemplatively.
“What are you still doing here, Lady Jane?” I heard Joe Abernathy ask me. With a sigh of relief, I looked up and smiled at my dear friend.
“A trauma rolled in just as I was about to clock out. Being chief resident is going to be the death of me, Joe.”
“Maybe so, LJ. But I have to admit, you’re the only one who was even remotely equipped with the skill set to take those nails out of that man’s head. Aren’t you off for the next few days?” Joe asked as he took off his lab coat and hung it on his locker, right across from mine.
“I am off for four, glorious days. I can’t wait to kiss my husband and get no sleep because of toddlers. And have a pager that is going to stay permanently off.” I replied as I turned my pager off. “But we’re finally going house hunting. I can’t handle a 1100 square foot flat with two toddlers and being on the third floor. Between strollers, diaper bags, groceries, and lack of sleep, both Jamie and I have decided we need to move to a bigger place.”
“Ah.” Joe laughed as he washed his hands in the sink. “I remember hunting for our first house. We thought we were on the same page with what we wanted out of a house and then we looked at the first three and well… The wife and I wanted very different things.”
I had to laugh, that was the feeling I was expecting to happen with me and Jamie as well. “I have a feeling that is what my experience is going to be like. And I don’t know who will back down first, me or Jamie.”
Joe sat down next to me, patting me on the shoulder. “Well, marriage is just a game of give and take, or being stubborn till you both get what you want. We found that when we walked into the house, it just felt like home. Don’t fret, LJ. You’l find the place you’re meant to raise your red headed Frasers. I promise.”
I smiled at him, standing up and grabbing my bag. “Thanks, Joe. Now I’m going home to kiss my husband and hopefully spend some time with him before one of my spawns decides to wake up before dawn.”
As I got home, I quietly peered into the second bedroom and looked at the girls, asleep in their cribs. I dropped my bag on the couch and crossed the room to our bedroom. I opened the door to find Jamie in his usual starfish position. I slipped out of my scrubs and threw on my pajamas. I pulled the duvet down and started to slide into my side of the bed, as to try and not wake Jamie up. I quietly gasped as I felt his cold hands on my the sides of my hip.
“Jamie!” I said, in almost a whisper.
“There ye are.” Jamie said as he pulled me on top of him, slowly undoing my pajama bottoms. “I have missed ye.”
Having seen not nearly enough of my redheaded husband, I kissed him on his bare chest. “Are you sure you want to do that, I smell like a sterile hospital and I haven’t washed my hair since I bathed the girls before my shift the other day, and I’m pretty sure you’re exhausted because—”
I was cut short by Jamie’s mouth overcoming mine. He kissed me slowly, shimmying my pajama bottoms off. I could feel his cold feet kick them off the bed and onto the floor. I smiled into his kiss, pushing my hips down onto his.  
“Eager as well, are ye?” Jamie said as I felt him grab my elbows and roll us over so he was on top. “Ye do smell like a hospital, Claire. But I havena seen ye in almost five days. I need ye and I need ye, badly.”
I grabbed the top of his boxers pushing them off his hips.
“You do need me badly.” I laughed as I pulled his head down to mine.
“I’m tired of sharing ye with the hospital. Tonight, it’s just me and you, mo nighaen donn.” Jamie said as he slowly started to slide himself home.
“Oh, GOD, I’ve missed you.” I squeaked as he pushed my hips down into the mattress setting the rhythm. Jamie was slow and steady, taking his time, throughly showing me how much he had missed me. And when he slowed himself even slower for a minute, he cusped my face with his right hand bringing my attention to him for a moment, and was holding himself steady above me with his left hand.
“Ye need to stop making so many squeaky noises, Sassenach. Yer gonna wake the lassies up. Drywall in the new house, these plaster walls are not going to cut it.” Jamie said sternly. I laughed and kissed the hollow on his neck. I reached up grabbing his ass pulling him back down so his full weight was on me.
“Yes, master.” I playfully replied. “Wait till we can christen every surface in what will be our home.”
I felt Jamie smile into my curls, but as he started to move at a more erratic pace I was blissfully sent into oblivion.
I woke up to an empty bed. Not surprising, I thought to myself, Jamie knew I needed the sleep and I figured he got up with Faith and Brianna. I walked over to the closet, grabbing my robe and wrapping myself in the blue fleece.  I quickly made the bed and tried to brush the birds nest on top of my head but settled for throwing it up in some sort of a messy bun.
As I made my way to the door, I heard the soft giggles of Bree and I heard Faith yapping some nonsense to Jamie. I smiled. *God it was so good to be off for a few days.* I walked down the hallway to the smell of pancakes and butter. I watched as Jamie flipped one over and then turned to settle Bree in her highchair, feeding her a scoop of something orange.
“MAM!” Faith squealed as she ran into my arms.
“Hi baby!” I muttered as I scooped her up into my arms. “What’s da making you for breakfast?”
“Pwancakes! With sprinkles today too. Da says we gonna go shoppin for some fin later today!” Faith said as she stuck her syrupy hands on my face.
“Faith.” I heard Jamie say as he took the rag from the counter and wiped her hands. “I told ye not to touch anything until ye washed that syrup off your hands.” 
“Don’t burn the pancakes, Jamie.” I said as I took the rag from his hands. “I’ll take the girls. Let’s eat and get ready. I told Joe we’d drop them off at noon and we’re meeting with Mrs. Crook at 12:45 to go over what we want and don’t want in a place.” 
Jamie huffed and smiled as he turned back to the stove. “As ye wish, Sassenach.” 
“I canna believe we are bairn free for a whole day.” Jamie said as he pulled into the realtor’s office parking lot.
“I can’t believe we’re both off and finally looking for a bigger place. If I step on one more teething toy when I get home from a shift, I am going to go bonkers!” 
Jamie laughed as he opened my door and handed me my coat. “Well, Sassenach, ye are already as ye say, bonkers. Ye married a Fraser.” 
“I sure did, didn’t I?”I said as I pulled him into the office.
Mrs. Crook’s office was warm and welcoming. A fair yellow on all the walls, a tiny desk with a computer and three big chairs. 
“Och! That must be the Frasers!” Mrs. Crook called from the back room. “I shall be with the two of ye in just a moment!” 
“Take yer time.” Jamie said as he took a seat in one the chairs. I quietly walked around the office, taking stock of all the pictures of families on the wall with their ‘sold’ signs. 
“That will be the two of ye verra soon!” I heard from behind me as Mrs. Crook showed up with a pile of folders. “Let’s sit down and go over your must have lists, aye? Then narrow it down from there.” Mrs. Crook led me over to her desk. “Och. And ye must be Mr. Fraser. I have heard nothing but good things, mister!” 
“James Fraser.” Jamie said as he stuck his hand out to Mrs. Crook. 
“Mrs. Crook.” She replied happily and then took her seat. 
Jamie smiled and took my hand in his. 
“First home?” Mrs. Crook asked. 
“Can ye tell?” Jamie asked with a large smile on his face. 
“Sure can, the two of ye look like yer in over yer heads a bit, but dinna fash. I shall find ye the home of yer dreams. But first, we must go over what ye want and what ye willna want.” 
Jamie let out a breath and sat back in his chair. “Claire’s commute has to be shorter than 30 minutes. I would like as much land as we can. Something around 7 or 8 acres, if possible. And weel, preferably something with dry wall over plaster walls because.” I felt Jamie’s hand tighten on mine and saw the red flare on the tips of his cheeks.  “Och, Claire likes to make squeaky noises when she’s in bed with me and Brianna is a light sleeper. You dinna want to wake a sleepy, cranky, red heided Fraser baby.” 
“Jamie.” I said as I took my hand from out his grasp. “Mrs. Crook probably does not need to hear about that.” 
Mrs. Crook laughed and smiled. “Dinna fash yerself, that is a verra reasonable request. And Mrs. Fraser what are yer requirements?”
I took a deep breath and gave Jamie a look. Two can play this game. 
“Something a bit modest. A bit bigger than 1100 square feet, maybe around 2400 square feet. I’m not too picky. Although, I do love some good oak floors. My absolute must haves though would be a three bed two bath place. That’’s the minimum.” I said as I took one of the folders Mrs. Crook placed in my direction. I smiled and opened it. “And definitely dry wall, not plaster. Jamie likes to say ‘Oh, God’ and I don’t want a cranky Fraser myself.”
Mrs. Crook handed Jamie a folder and laughed. “Weel, that means newer construction for sure, if ye really want the dry wall. If not, sounds like ye’d have yerself TWO cranky Fraser’s Claire, and I willna lie, a cranky Jamie might be worse.”
Jamie laughed as he took the folder from her hands and opened it. “Ye best believe it.” He muttered under his breath.
Mrs. Crook put her hands down on the desk grabbing both our attentions. “So, it sounds to me like ye need a 3 bed 2 bath place, minimum. A decent amount of land, newer construction and preferably as close as we get Claire to the hospital but not too close to the city, aye?” 
I smiled and reached for Jamie’s hand, intertwining our fingers. “That sounds exactly like what we need.” 
“Weel, I have three different properties in mind. What do ye say we go look at the first one today?” Mrs. Crook said as she grabbed her purse from off the desk. 
“Ye lead the way, Mrs. Crook. The Frasers are yers for the day.” Jamie said as he squeezed my hand in return. 
“We must be off then, this first one is the furthest away!” Mrs. Crook said as we all stood up, Jamie and me following close behind her. 
“You two just follow me in your car. It’s about a thirty minute drive from here.” 
“Sounds like a plan.” I said as I grabbed the keys from out of Jamie’s hands. “I’m driving.” I shouted to Jamie as he slid into the passenger seat. 
As sleep deprived as I was, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face and neither could Jamie.
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avyssoseleison · 6 years
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Part 2 of Pack Alpha!Cas x Young Alpha!Dean (3.3k words)
To have Dean sitting at his breakfast table, dressed in warm, woolen clothing a couple of sizes too wide but not too long for him, still sleep-ruffled and bleary-eyed, hastily eating all the food laid out before him, satisfies a deep, feral urge inside of Castiel. Considering Dean’s reluctance to so much as set foot into Castiel's home last night – because, apparently, Dean had expected to stay at some hut, motel or maybe even prison, instead of the pack Alpha's house – or accept food, a bath and a bed from him, the ease with which he now already inhabits a space in the house is surprising. Like this, Dean looks soft, for lack of a better word, and comfortable, in Castiel's clothing and at his table, and it only seems right to have him here and take care of him. Regardless of him being Alpha as well.
Because not only is he still young and non-threatening, he is also very obviously in need of help. Even in very strict and traditional packs, it is uncommon to simply exile any adolescent who presents as an Alpha and might challenge the pack Alpha one day, so for Dean to be out on his own, underfed and freezing, is puzzling. Unless he did something truly abhorrent to warrant expulsion, he should still be under the protection of his pack and parents. And Dean, with the scars now hidden under the turtleneck Castiel lent him and his pink tongue flicking out to catch every drop and crumble on his lips, feels more like the type to have had abhorrent things done to him.
Then again, looks can be deceiving – and particularly young Alphas tend to lack the inhibition or sense to rein themselves in. Just because he is beautiful and pitiful now does not mean that he did nothing bad before or does not deserve his current, worn-down state. After all, he did ask to be killed over nothing last night. To atone, perhaps?
“So,” Castiel begins, since he has to begin somehow, “how do you like the eggs?”
Apparently confused at being spoken to, Dean glances up at him and then back down to his scrambled eggs. Castiel made them for him – as well as some toast, hash browns, bacon, sausages, and a couple of pancakes – and added in a lot of herbs and butter, as Dean looked like he needed it, but they turned out runny and looking a bit funny. Dean had looked a bit overwhelmed by all the food set down before him, but then began wolfing down everything, as if he hadn't had a proper meal in weeks. Going by the slimness of his neck, he probably hadn't. If Castiel hadn't given him something light to eat and a few snacks the night before, he would probably be scared that Dean might get sick from this much food for breakfast. Really, he still is afraid of that. But when he started making breakfast, he did not think of that – in fact, he did not think much, except that he wanted to feed the young boy until he looked healthy again.
“They are pretty good,” Dean replies, stirring the eggs with his fork. “Though I'm not sure I can finish them.”
“It's fine if you don't. You don't have to eat everything I make, whether you simply don't like it or might be sick from it.”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks,” Dean says and only keeps stirring his eggs now instead of taking another bite, which Castiel takes as a sign that he only kept eating because he thought he had to.
Slightly disgruntled, Castiel takes a sip of his coffee. In the light of the morning and without the exhaustion of the cold clinging to him, the boy already looks somewhat healthier than the night before, and even more stunning. Castiel has no doubt that, were Dean an Omega, he would have been mated and impregnated long ago, if he comes from a pack that supports early matings. Or at least been mated for some time now or on headed that way. Because Castiel knows that even in his own, rather civilized pack, every unmated Alpha and Beta would have been vying for Dean's attention, showered him in gifts and sweet promises, trailed him like a bunch of lost puppies until he finally decided on one of them. Whoever Dean chose would have been considered to be the luckiest member of the pack, the most enviable one. And Castiel is neither too proud nor proud enough to admit that he, too, would have been one of Dean's hopeless little suitors – that he would have courted him shamelessly, probably gotten into fights with all the other admirers and tried to pathetically use his position as the pack Alpha to draw Dean's attention on him, even if just for a bit.
He would have been the king of the fools.
Castiel heaves out a sigh. What good does it do to draw up these kinds of fantasy scenarios and then berate himself for them? Maybe Meg is right: as the pack Alpha and still unmated at his age, he should have made more of an effort to find a viable mate. Even if no one in his pack or outside of it appealed to him yet – at least not to a degree at which he would consider anything long-term with them –, he should have set a good example and settled with someone by now. Certainly, he is not at an age that waiting a few more years or maybe even a decade would make him so old that he could not take proper care of a mate or any children, but the older he gets, the more time seems to just fly by. Whereas a year seemed like an eternity when he was younger, it now feels more like one more turn of the moon, the blink of an eye. If he is not careful, it might be too late for him to mate before he knows it.
Regardless, this is an issue to be dealt with at another time. Right now, all his attention should be on the young Alpha in front of him, who is by now doing nothing but sitting idly in his chair and breathing in that heavy, sluggish way that probably means he ate too much and is working on keeping the food down.
“Are you alright?” Castiel asks.
“Hm-mh,” Dean reassures. He strokes a hand over his belly, covered by the thick clothing Castiel has given him, and lets out a sound that is just so verging on a moan, both pleasured and pained.
Castiel feels his fingers tightening around the handle of his cup.
“Haven't eaten so much at once lately,” Dean all but slurs, “so it's a bit much right now. But it was good.”
“Yes?” Castiel asks, eyes perked.
“Yeah.” Dean confirms. This pleases Castiel immensely.
Castiel nods and makes a thoughtful noise. “I did notice that you look a bit... slim for your height. And the overall frame of your body. Which I assume is not just the result of any recent growth spurt?”
Dean tenses up at that, the previous laziness already leaving his body. Castiel cannot help but regret diving into the topic right away, but he has to. “Yeah, it's not like I've had any growth spurts recently.”
Which could either mean Dean is a bit older than Castiel assumed, or that he hasn't had proper nutrition for quite a while now. Maybe it's both.
“Is that why you were in my woods? To hunt?”
For a moment, Dean looks at him in a strange, undefinable way, then shrugs his shoulders. “If some rabbit was randomly crossing my path, maybe. I'm not a very good hunter, though.” He shuffles in his seat. “I was looking for some berries or herbs to eat. I thought there might be some since I've seen some thrushes in the tree tops, so I followed them. Until you pounced on me.”
The memory of which is slightly embarrassing, since Castiel has had a rather non-threatening Dean below him, begging to be killed, and now has him sit in front of him with a full belly, and satisfaction in his features.
“You did not enter the pack's territory on purpose, then,” Castiel resumes from Dean's story.
“Yeah,” Dean agrees, “I didn't know where I was, let alone whose pack the woods belonged to. All I knew was that there were thrushes, so there must be berries around.”
Castiel does not comment on the fact that for Dean to know so much about berries that he would be able to track them down by watching birds is a bit unusual for an Alpha. As are his apparently insufficient hunting skills. Instead, he nods as if he could ever make the same kind of connection between birds and berries, and puts his cup down on the table.
“How long have you been wandering then, when you did not even know whose pack grounds you were entreating upon? Our territory is rather vast, and any proximate pack would know where the borders lay.”
“Been walking for a while,” Dean says noncommittally, shrugging and picking at his fingernails. Castiel remembers how dirty they were just the night before; how dirty all of him was, at least whatever glimpses he caught of Dean’s skin when he began to undress as Castiel was still busy bringing him clothing, fresh towels and soap into the bathroom. His hands are clean now, but Castiel should probably still take a brush and clippers to his fingernails. Maybe even to his toenails? He could pull off Dean’s socks, roll up the hems of his pants, let his feet soak in warm soapy water and then go about taking care of his probably sore and abused feet as slowly and gently as he would take care of his fingers.
Exasperated with himself, Castiel pinches his nose. Forget wrong or inappropriate, these kinds of thoughts are just downright strange. Not just because of the sense of self-abasement and worship that is inherent in feet-washing, let alone since both of them are Alphas, but because the very idea of doing so shouldn’t warm him to his core.
So, he looks away from Dean’s hands and, just to be on the safe side, from his face and any part of his body as well, and stares out the window instead. Outside, the sky is gray and thick snowflakes are falling. Certainly no good day for anyone to be wandering through the woods.
“What does ‘a while’ mean? A couple of days? Weeks?” Castiel probes. “For you to be in such a poor shape, it must have been quite some time.”
“...since spring?” Dean estimates vaguely.
Castiel’s gaze immediately snaps back to Dean. “Spring? Dean, we are in the middle of winter!” He cannot help the rush of anger and terror -- not directed at Dean, but his circumstances. No wonder he looked and still looks like he was put through the meatgrinder. No wonder he begged for Castiel to kill him!
Castiel's scent must stink of his rush of emotions, but Dean’s doesn’t even waver.
Because Dean just shrugs once more and nods, as if more than half a year spent as a vagrant did not matter all that much. “I guess.”
“How?” Castiel asks, then corrects himself. “Why?”
Slowly, Dean blows out a breath and lifts his eyes just enough to catch Castiel’s. “Don’t wanna talk about it.”
But Castiel pushes on. “Who would allow something like this to happen? It would have been your pack Alpha’s duty to find you and return you to pack grounds. Someone as young as yourself should never be left to his own devices, particularly not for such a long amount of time.”
Dean’s eyes skip away again. He does not reply, just tenses slightly. Castiel’s eyes narrow at that.
“Or is there a reason your pack Alpha did not look for you? Did you run away -- or were you exiled?”
For a moment, Dean clenches his eyes shut. “Neither. Both. I really don’t wanna talk about it, okay?”
And Castiel wants to leave him alone, he does, yet it is more than simple curiosity for the beautiful young man sitting in front of him that is driving him, but also his pack’s safety. If Dean was indeed exiled, then it wouldn’t have happened without good reason. At least, it shouldn’t have. Hard as it is to keep pushing Dean and to do so much as assume that he might have committed a crime grave enough to warrant exile, Castiel needs to know the truth for safety reasons.
“Was there any kind of trouble?” As soon as he asks, he thinks of the second confirmation that Dean has given him: that, in the same way that he was and was not exiled, he also did and did not run away. “Did anyone cause you any trouble?”
Dean lets out a short, humorless laugh. Castiel straightens up.
“Did anyone hurt you?” The anger returns tenfold, turns into rage; the very idea of anyone touching Dean in such a painful way that he would flee his pack forces Castiel’s words to come out in a growl. “Is that why---? Is that where the scars came from? Dean, what---”
“Alpha,” Dean cuts in, and his voice and the expression on his face seem both to be warring between fear and anger too, settling on indignation. All of him is tense, and he bites his lip as he corrects himself. “Castiel. Please. I mean it. I don’t-- I can’t talk about this.” He slumps slightly in his seat, and Castiel hates himself for being the cause of this, for interrupting the serene scene from before, for distressing the boy who was so full and relaxed mere moments ago.
“I apologize,” Castiel says upon a deep exhale. “I recognize that you do not wish to talk about this, so I will not force you to. I have no right to your past, but some to your presence, as you are now part of my pack, which is why I need to know if what happened could have an impact on either your or the pack’s safety.” He shakes his head, tries to gather his thoughts. “No, this is not fair of me. I have already accepted your submission and your vow that you will not be a threat to my pack, so whatever you might have done in the past should not matter. Yet, as you are pack now, if there is still a threat to you, you should tell me, so that I can take the proper precautions. I cannot protect you if I don’t know that I need to -- if I don’t know what from.”
Dean appears taken aback by that statement. As if, upon admitting that he might pose a threat to the pack in whatever capacity, Castiel would grab him and drag him back to the woods. Which is ridiculous, given that right now, with Dean looking so small and unsure, Castiel would love to do nothing more than embrace him, stroke his hair and assure him that no harm will ever come to him again.
“I guess I do owe you as much,” Dean concedes, and he straightens his shoulders almost imperceptibly. “The truth is,” he breathes in deeply, “I don’t know for sure. I don’t think anyone would come looking for me, ‘specially since no one did ever since I left, or at least they didn’t find me, so I doubt they’d bother now. They’ve probably forgotten about me by now.” He curls his hands, where they are resting on the table, into fists. “So, I can’t give you any guarantee on that front. Just that I promise that I don’t wanna cause any trouble while I’m here, and that back there, I didn’t… murder anyone or whatever you might be thinking.” He is silent for a few moments. “So, if you don’t want me around as a potential hazard, I get that, really, and I’ll be out of your hair as soon as you say the word.”
“No,” Castiel decides, “as I said, you are now pack and under my protection, so as long as you accept my position as the Alpha and don’t harm anyone here. Since you have already done the first and just promised the second, there is absolutely no reason to refute this.”
Dean still looks somewhat doubtful, and all he gives as a reply is an unconvinced, “Alright.”
Castiel gets up from his chair with a sigh, and as he crosses the small space between him and a still seated Dean, the younger Alpha’s doubtfulness turns into wariness.
“Dean,” Castiel says in what he hopes is a soothing tone. Dean remains still and tense when Castiel comes to a halt next to him, and he lets him do as he likes when Castiel reaches out his hand and settles it on the side of his cloth-covered neck. On the spot that anyone else would present if they wanted to submit to an Alpha, and not in such a painfully absolute way in which Dean did the night before, all his scars on display, or where a mating bite would go, if Dean were not an Alpha.
Dean’s breathing turns short and shallow, but his smell does not turn sour in fear. Rather, its sweetness intensifies, picks up a notch, just like the pulse now beating against the palm of Castiel’s hand, pinkening his cheeks. Despite Dean’s designation, he does seem to take to submission rather easily.
“You are safe and welcome here. Knowing that you might be hurt if you leave, to say nothing of the harsh environmental conditions that would await you, fortifies my conviction that it was the right choice to allow you to join the pack. I won’t revoke that.” Unable to help himself, he strokes Dean’s warm neck, just once, twice, making the boy’s eyes go round and then flutter shut for a second. The urge to do more than just caress that vulnerable part of him suddenly overwhelms Castiel, and with regret and a soft brush of his thumb against Dean’s bobbing Adam’s apple, he retracts his hands. “I want you to stay here, where you are safe and can flourish. You deserve more than a life on the run, and if I can provide you with an actual future, then I am delighted to do so.”
“Yeah?” Dean asks, so quiet and intimate as if they were sharing a secret. His eyes remain barely more than half-open, apparently still weighed down by Castiels caress. “What’s the catch?”
Castiel chuckles and wishes there were a catch -- some ulterior motive that would help him justify this foolish decision beyond that his genuine wish to see Dean safe and happy.
“The catch,” he says playfully, “is that you will need to do the dishes after breakfast, and any other time I cook because I abhor doing it myself. You will also need to keep your room clean yourself and take care of your own laundry. And you will have to let me introduce you to the other members of the pack, so that they know that there is one more part of our family, and that you are as welcome as any of them.”
The corners of Dean’s mouth tick up in the tiniest of smiles, and Castiel is suddenly awash with an overwhelming sense of pride for being the cause of it.
“Deal.”
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VC TIPS MASTERLIST
@ The anon
Well, for collecting, I cant really help you in finding dead things, they kinda just find YOU. Although water sources in the woods and along main roads is always a good bet if you want to pick up your own deads. If you’re ok with buying from trappers and hunters there is an array of sites to order from. Heres a useful link for buying furs Alternatively, you can go hunt the things yourself - but that seems to be…an unpopular opinion. Its really just up to you.
Collecting Things you will need with you in the car at all times (if possible)
Trash bags\plastic bags\or even a plastic bin, whatever floats your boat. Be aware that corpses left in plastic bags in anything over 70F or 21c (I think) for more than a couple hours will begin to literally melt. I cannot tell you how long an individual corpse will last in a plastic bag in your car trunk, but if its hot, probably not more than two or three hours before it is ruined. Its gonna be gross, man. Do not be alarmed if the pelt gets damp, you only need to worry if the fur starts coming out in huge clumps when gently tugged on.
Gardening or latex gloves I don’t personally believe in using gloves, because there are very few things you can catch from the dead. BUT there ARE things you can catch - especially from raccoons, so, if you want 100 percent safety, and also maybe to feel less grossed out, bring these.
Knife\scalpel Vulture or not, I think its wise to keep a knife on you at all times   regardless, but you will definitely want one in the car in case you find something pancaked into the road but with bits you want. (IE: the top half might be gone but the tail is good, or the back half is gone but the head is good.). The knife should be sharp….derp.
Hedge clippers In case the knife doesn’t cut it or you find  deer or coyote you cant fit in your car. Pro tip - try to find the joints to make chopping less of a hassle
Air fresheners\febreeze\ anything you want to keep the car fresh Even if you keep it in a bin or bag - the smell WILL linger. I didn’t notice it, but other people sure as shit did - and they didn’t like it.
Theres probably more things Im missing, but this is just my personal list.
Processing
If you want the skin - I recommend watching some skinning videos , not only will it prep you for the gore, but in general they are very helpful.
Key words for vids you WILL need at some point - Fleshing. Fleshing is very important. This will probably take up a lot of your time tbh. It does mine anyway…
Once skinned and fleshed you need to put a generous amount of salt on the skin…like..an entire layer. Make it look like Christmas morning. The salt will get all mushy and eventually hrden as it dries the skin out. Replace the salt daily. When the skin is dry and kinda stiff - and the salt isnt getting mushy anymore. You’re done with salting phase.
Tumblr Skinning links
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162449711340/want-to-get-into-tanning-but-dont-have-the-time
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/159724525615/what-would-you-suggest-for-materials-for-a-first
Skinning out a coyote foot
Tumblr Taxidermy tips
Prepping a face for taxidermy
Reshaping  face
Mounting a face
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/136429479200/knuxtiger4-new-years-started-off-well-when-it
Tumblr Tanning links
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162774696970/i-have-a-squirrel-hide-that-was-tanned-using-the
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155639675180/excuse-me-but-would-you-happen-to-have-any
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/143505520810/hide-tanning-methods-pros-and-cons
Brain tanning
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/137298183735/hello-i-recently-skinned-a-mouse-and-ive-kept
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/136238239250/hey-sorry-for-this-question-but-i-havent-been
Processing for bones
Maceration: When you put the corpse in a plastic bag in the sun - or in a bucket or bin of warm water to melt down for bones. In either case you will want t make sure it is somewhere dogs will not get it. If you use a bucket, make sure to put a lid on top of it. This is the most effective way, but also the most smelly…Like…its bad. Its terrible. Chew some gum or a mint or just dont breathe around it, because its the worst thing ever.
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162182840065/tips-i-havent-seen-mentioned-maceration-edition
Burial - You can just wrap it in a sheet or whatever and bury it outside, or in a pot. May take a while, but its the least smelly, most discreet and you can care for flowers while the corpse rots down =3 If you want articulate the bones - or put them back together to form a complete skeleton later. Cut the corpse into sections and wrap them individually (again a sheet is best, but certain wire works too)
Open pit - This was my preferred method - Some bones get stolen but, eh. You just dig a hole and pile your body in there on top of a sheet or trash bag. Make sure to secure it by putting wire on top and weighing it down with dirt on the edges, or rocks. You can put leaves over top of this if you want to help the smell.
simmering or boiling - NOT RECOMMENDED. You put the parts in a pan or crock pot of water you will never be using outside of gross stuff ever again.I hear this is easier with a crock pot. Supposedly this is by far the fastest way - but youre very likely to ruin  the bones. You just…set the crock pot to simmer or boil the bones
Dermestids - You can get yourself an aquarium and fill it with corpse eating beetles! They require some basic tips and care sheets, but they dont seem difficult. The most worrisome thing is - that if they escape they may eat your collection…This is the most effective and safe way imo, but it can take time - and also you have to care for beetles.
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/163741647780/do-you-know-of-any-pets-insects-that-live-longer
If you have bones but they're a little dirty (dirt, grease, stains) and you ant them pearly white, you will want to soak them in a tin can, glass jar, or plastic tub with peroxide. Skulls will float, find a way to weigh them down (stuff em with beads, rocks, whatever. Tie a string to a rock then to the skull and let it sink. Arrange ther bones in a teepee or wedge to make them hold the skull down.
DO NOT USE BLEACH. UNLESS YOU WANT BONE DUST, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL BE GETTING IN THE END. IT MIGHT TAKES WEEKS, IT MIGHT TAKE YEARS, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BAD TIME.
If you mess up, its ok, this might help.
I advise cleaning the skull separate from other bones. ANd I recommend cleaning the teeth separate so you risk losing them less.
Dying bones
You can dye bones by boiling various plant leaves and berries with salt. Pokeberries make a deep purple-red, rose petals vary - the red makes a sort of maroon....ect - just experiment.
How to tell if the plant\berry can be boiled of its color - take a petal or part and rub it between your thumb and fore-finger, if it bleeds on you - it can make a dye. (at least in my experience.)
Crystalizing bones
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155195761070/hey-i-saw-that-you-specialize-in-crystallization
http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155154295705/diy-crystallization-with-borax
Dry preserving
Much like  wet preservation, but you drop the body part \ small animal into formalin or alcohol for a month or two and then take it out and let it mummify. Idk a terrible bunch about this - I just stuck things in a box and forgot abut them for months on end...probably not the best idea...I have some regrets.
Example and some tips:
Uuuuuh, I feel like im missing stuff, but, I did my best. Here have some ref links.
Misc Ref so you can see how traps work in case thats something you worry about
Making rawhide
Reshaping a face
The MBTA in case you live in the US
All birds UNPROTECTED by the MBTA in the US
How to tell if a skull is bleached
How to pack frozen deads to ship to others
Sorry this got kind of lenghty, and linked to a lot of other posts rather than TLDR giving my own takes, but all of these links have been insanely helpful to me at some point or other and they do a great job of walking through the processes imo =3. I hope this helps.
Feel free to IM me if you have a link you want added to this post
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mundaneapocalypse · 7 years
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Last Coon Recipe
I promise this is the last one because it is our last hunk of raccoon. We are almost out of everything, so I made it up, and it came out fine.
 1 quarter raccoon
1/3 cup dry beans that have been soaked overnight
1 pint tomato puree
1 crushed garlic clove
2 tablespoons molasses
¼ teaspoon mustard
¼ teaspoon chili
 Boil the raccoon for an hour. Strain the water and pick all the meat off the bones. Boil the beans. Add the molasses water, meat, tomatoes, and spices, and bring to a boil. Simmer for about fifteen minutes.
 Tomorrow, we have a couple sausages, a carrot, a couple scoops coffee, and a little salt, so thankfully there are more things preserved at home and we will be there sometime tonight. Mark doesn’t have a problem with store-bought food and we aren’t growing/raising the food anymore.
I’m almost always okay with store-bought food, but I always prefer not to use it. But I use baking soda and baking powder so regularly that I’m just used to it. Some days, I can eat anything anybody cooks, but on some days, it is very hard and most of the time, ultimately better not to. I know there is nothing wrong with the food, but that does not mean I believe there is nothing wrong with the food, and sometimes I think cooking will destroy whatever is in the food.
Getting used to it will happen with other foods and already has with eggs and milk, except for the price—$3 for a carton of eggs and $5 for a quart of milk. And they don’t taste good, and the milk isn’t buttermilk. We defrost our butter from home, but have to buttermilk-ify the milk (add a splash of vinegar and let it sit for 10-15 minutes). Now we only use eggs and milk for cornbread. For one thing, we cannot store enough of it to eat more than needed for cornbread, and for another thing, neither of us have jobs, and gas and kerosene are more important. Since we ran out of cheese, we haven’t had any.
Sugar, molasses, coffee, and tea are other things we will have to buy pretty soon. Yes, I grew my own sugar beets and made molasses, brown sugar, white sugar, and powdered sugar. Mom and Dad have been a huge help with the coffee and tea because they have been harvesting the beans and leafs and setting them out to dry for us. They have also dried the herbs, spices, and medical plants, which we also need. The medicine is not as important, but it takes weeks to make a tincture and we can’t in the VW and we need to be prepared.
Meat will be a bigger problem. Mark is a good hunter and trapper, but either he has to do it almost every day and target birds and small game only, we have to preserve big game in batches, or he does a mix. When we find a river, we can fish, catch crawdads, and gig frogs, but again, have to preserve the fish or fish every day. But, we don’t necessarily need meat, because we have beans, but we also have to get the beans.
Then there is the cornmeal, grits, wheat flour, and oatmeal, which were on track to run out right when the new harvest would be coming in, except now Mom and Dad don’t use them. We eat grits 4-5 times a week and oatmeal 2-3. Wheat flour is for pancakes or puddings I make about once a month, so we use about ½ pound of flour a month. We eat cornmeal in some form every day, some days twice.
We ate a lot of salad, but have been eating other vegetables instead, which means we will run out of vegetables long before normal. Also, we will not have fruits because we will not be at the trees and bushes to preserve them. We have been eating the jelly and things as treats, but are almost out of dried fruit, because they do not last as long.
On the other hand, neither of us eat lunch anymore. When Mark was a construction worker and I farmed, like a lot of Roanoke, we ate lunch because we needed the energy. Laborers eat lunch and other adults don’t, or if they do, not much. Because of this, we have reduced the amount we eat and I am having trouble figuring out exactly how much. When we work, too, that will probably increase the amount.
Daily, we eat coffee, grits and gravy and some fruit or some fruit, ham or bacon or sausages, and something cornmeal based or oatmeal for breakfast, and supper is meat or beans, 1-2 vegetables, and cornbread, but often the meat/beans and vegetables are combined into one dish because of limited cooking ability. We also have home-made candy, chips, and soda (but not many), and Mark sometimes wanders off to the gas station and comes back with them.
At least we can figure it out gradually, and we know how to forage. Now that it is almost April, we can find lots of wild plants and mushrooms and fish.
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