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raribella · 2 months

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To Say “I Love You” Right Out Loud | JJ Maybank

summary: JJ revisits his childhood and how he grew up with you through every side of life until he finally understands why this makes you so special

pairing: JJ Maybank x Routledge!reader

genre: fluff, a spark of angst

contains: a combo of “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell and Love Actually (2003), mentions of death and child abuse. John B and JJ are childhood friends in this. I don’t know how to write dialogue. Drug usage (beer, weed).

word count: 6k

author’s note: I was immediately triggered by Joni’s astonishing performance at the Grammy’s and by remembering that the song is in one of my favorite movies. This is my favorite fanfiction I’ve probably ever written and I put so much time and love into this I really hope you like it.

This is a work of fiction. I do not own the characters of Outer Banks nor any characteristic of the show. I am writing this story solely for my own entertainment and the marvel or comfort of any readers.

Rows and flows of angel hair, and ice cream castles in the air; and feather canyons everywhere. I looked at clouds that way. But now they only block the sun, they rain and they snow on everyone; so many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way.

College had finally ended. They had finally done it. Against all odds and contrary to the expectations of others, the pogues were finally free to embark on their own paths. And so, they gathered for one last celebration, a bonfire near the Cat's Ass, surrounded by shotguns, snacks, and reminiscing in the familiar feeling of just being together.

Spreading themselves along the space at the Chateau's yard, most of them ended up divided the comfortable water at the tub and the warmth of the fire, their laughter mingling with the sound of running water as they shared stories of what each of them could remember of their time roaming the Outer Banks as this fearless gang; the sentiment of each flashback was being intensified from the time they spent apart. As they were the pogues, it was not like their time together was abruptly interrupted, but the responsibilities and the minor distance happened during college, and they couldn't run away from it's effects; but the memories of those days seemed tattooed into their hearts and minds as they could recall every moment in lighthearted detail.

In a corner of the Cat's Ass, JJ found himself lost in a sea of memories, surrounded by the comforting embrace of his friends. You sat beside him in the water, the coolness soothing against your skin, while Cleo and Pope nestled comfortably at his other side. Outside, John B, Sarah, and Kie laughed and joked, their voices carrying on the night breeze. As he watched them, a faint, nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of JJ's lips, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared history, thinking back on how far they had come. They had started as a trio—himself and the Routledge twins, bound together by fate and circumstance.

The tree of you lay sprawled out on the sand for what seemed like hours, your eyes tracing the ever-changing shapes that danced across the sky. Castles, pirates, turtles—your imaginations ran wild, weaving tales of adventure and intrigue as you watched the clouds drift lazily overhead. At nine years old, you had joined your brother and JJ just a few moments ago, after spending the afternoon at a friend's house watching a Christmas movie, "Love Actually," with her mother.

As you settled into the sand, JJ couldn't resist a playful jab at the movie, dismissing it as a "dumb chick flick." his mind still floated between that child-like distaste of girls and the appreciation of you tagging along with him and John B back then. You swatted at him, your tiny arms barely reaching his chest, but it only elicited a smirk from the blond pogue. It was nice for you to actually share a moment with a nurturing figure at the absence of your own mom, who had just recently left for Colorado. Besides, you had eaten a whole bag of M&M's that she bought for you to share and you really liked the movie, even if it was funny how sometimes Mia's mom would tell you to close your eyes, your ears, or how sometimes you didnt really catch why she was laughing at some weird scene. You just rolled your eyes and brushed JJ's comment off, suggesting the sky gazing then relishing in the opportunity to spend time with him and your brother.

Your days were often filled with moments like this, carefree and full of laughter, the sound echoing against the backdrop of crashing waves. JJ's mother would eventually come to fetch the three of you, ushering you inside for sweet treats and cozy nights spent squeezed together in JJ's tiny room. Or you'd spend hours playing in the grass, watching as the river met the sea, until Big John's bell rang out, signaling the end of another day. You would get home covered in dirt, JJs hair color nearing yours and your brothers, so you would have a nice shower and come out to your dad telling treasure tales and making you hot chocolate.

One day, as Big John finished building a set of three swings for you, JJ's parents arrived. Standing side by side, the couple had brought beer and peanuts to complement what your dad already had inside for the night. That day, you were playing for hours, your small frame struggling to mount the swing until the duo stepped in to help. John B had made a mess while trying to help you hop on, and JJ stepped forward to push you, but in excited haste, he pushed too hard, and you tumbled to the ground, scraping your knee. As your first cry pierced the air, the adults rushed to your side, JJ's mother soothing your pain with stinging medicine and comforting words.

In the corner of your eye, you caught sight of JJ, guilt etched on his face as he watched you wince in pain. But your brother nudged him, urging him to shake off his guilt and claiming that this was just a mere blip in the larger scale of the adventure you lived today.

And as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the beach, Luke took charge, setting a bonfire ablaze near the ancient tree in the backyard. The flames flickered casting shadows that stretched out against the sand. You gathered around the fire, marshmallows in hand to be skewered and toasted, laughter filled the air and echoed into the night. The hours slipped away unnoticed, so as the night wore on and the fire burned low, reluctantly, you bid farewell to your blonde friend as he left with his parents.

The life you lived was simple; living in the less fortunate side of the island, you couldnt really enjoy much more than moments like these; the food wasn't fancy, the drinks weren't expensive, your houses weren't pretty and big, so you relied mostly in home made playthings and your own imagination, but you were happy that way; the youthful innocence made all the diferences between you and the kooks be seen with rose coloured glasses, and while in the company of your brother, your best friend, and the team of parents that you saw as guardian angels, it all just seemed warm. It seemed like it would be fine.

One day, though, just as the sky turns cloudy at the end of summer, signaling the onset of storm season, JJ's demeanor shifted, casting a shadow over his usual brightness. At fourteen now, he had been seeming distant and preoccupied at school for weeks, until one day after class, he reached out to you with a heavy heart. Fidgeting nervously, his hands clammy and cold, he confided in you about his mother's illness, the weight of the words hanging heavy in the air. Knowing how much his mother meant to you both, he sought solace in sharing his burden with you, trusting you with his vulnerability. "Mumma's sick, I think... been in the hospital for a while now," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't visit because I'm not sixteen yet... I- I wanted you to know, but you can't tell John B." And as you hugged him, you promised to keep his secret, the first one you kept just between the two of you.

And as JJ clung to you and John B in the solemn silence of the cemetery, the stark reality of their loss weighed heavily upon you, casting a shadow over your once bright and colorful world.. JJ's mother's absence lingered like a specter in their home, his father grappled with the weight of his grief, seeking solace in alcohol and spiraling into a downward spiral of despair. The once vibrant hues of their family life began to fade, replaced by the darkness of addiction and aggression. JJ watched helplessly as his father's temper flared more frequently, his outbursts leaving scars both physical and emotional. The sanctuary of their home became a battleground, each day a struggle to navigate the minefield of his father's unpredictable moods.

In the aftermath of his mother's passing and the turmoil within his home, JJ withdrew into himself, building walls around his heart that even his closest friends struggled to breach. He became increasingly unreachable, his once vibrant presence dimmed by the weight of his grief and the scars of his father's aggression. Some days, he would disappear altogether, only to reappear with a purple eye hidden beneath dark glasses, a silent testament to the struggles he faced behind closed doors. And when he did show up, his demeanor was somber, his face etched with a perpetual frown as he rejected activities he once enjoyed. Even cloudgazing at the beach became a source of frustration for JJ, as he lamented the impending rain or the end of summer, his words tinged with bitterness and resignation. As you and your brother looked on, helpless in the face of his pain, you could only watch as JJ retreated further into himself, the vibrant colors of his spirit muted by the shadows that engulfed him.

The tension crackled in the air as you confronted JJ, frustration bubbling to the surface like a storm about to break. "Why won't you just watch 'Love Actually' with me, like, once? It'd help distracting you, y'know!?" you demanded, your voice tinged with exasperation. "You can't keep avoiding fun, JJ. You can't lose hope and light just because things are tough."

But JJ's response was sharp, his tone laced with bitterness. "Those things are for kooks, y/n" he retorted, his words heavy with the weight of his pain. "Pogues can't afford to indulge in luxuries like love and hope. We have to focus on surviving you know."

Your heart sank at his words, feeling the distance between you grow with each passing moment. "If you really look for it, JJ," you countered softly, your voice barely above a whisper, "I've got a sneaky feeling that love is all around. Even for us Pogues." But JJ's expression remained hardened, his walls firmly in place as he turned away, the gap between you widening with each step he took.

John B stepped in a while later, his voice calm but firm as he defended his friend. "He's been through a lot," John B interjected, his eyes meeting yours with a mixture of empathy and understanding. "Give him time, he'll come around. I know he will."

But despite John B's reassurances, the weight of your worry and frustration bore down on you like a heavy burden. Unable to contain your emotions any longer, you sought solace in the arms of your father, tears streaming down your cheeks as you poured out your heart. "I didn't mean to be petty," you sobbed, your voice choked with emotion. "But I'm just so worried about how Luke has been treating JJ. I miss him, Dad. I miss the way things used to be." And as your father held you close, comforting whispers soothing your troubled mind, you cried yourself to sleep, longing for the comfort of simpler times and the warmth of JJ's presence by your side.

A few days after the heated exchange, JJ found himself drawn to the familiar solace of the beach. As he laid alone on the sand, the rhythmic sound of the waves echoing in the background, he cast his gaze upward, chuckling at the shifting shapes and colors of the clouds above. Yet, amidst the tranquility of the moment, a pang of longing stirred within him.

Reflecting on recent events, JJ realized that he had begun to see clouds from two distinct perspectives—from the highs and lows of life's tumultuous journey. But amidst the solitude, his mind drifted to an understanding; to how he seemed to have looked at clouds like this from two different perspectives now, from up and down, and still he would recall better colorful and elusive memory of your company. He remembered the joy of pointing out funny shapes at the sky with you and your brother, laughter echoing into the vast expanse. It was a memory painted in hues of warmth that contrasted with the darker shades of recent events. In that fleeting moment of recollection, JJ yearned to return to that moment exactly, to say sorry, at least. And alone at that same beach, he felt like he had a perspective of a future for the first time in a long time. He wanted to see if he truly knew clouds at all, or if there was a new side to it.

JJ was abruptly brought back to reality by Pope's punchline of a memory of his own; he was retelling the story of how he met Cleo at college, and how she wouldn't have passed half her subjects f it wasn't for him. As the group erupted into laughter, he did the same to mask the fact that he had zoned out for a minute, but JJ's gaze instinctively sought yours, his heart yearning for the comfort of your smile. And as his eyes met yours, a warmth spread through him, his thoughts drifting to another memory

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels; the dizzy dancing way that you feel as every fairy tale comes real. I've looked at love that way. But now it's just another show, and you leave 'em laughing when you go. And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

At sixteen years old, you had a full understanding of the dizzying, electric sensation that washed over you whenever JJ emerged from the sea, his board in hand. It was a feeling that stirred deep within you, igniting a spark that refused to be extinguished. Yet, despite the intensity of your emotions, uncertainty plagued your heart. You couldn't decipher JJ's true feelings for you; for every significant gesture or word he offered, there was an equal measure of aloofness or distance.

There were moments when JJ's actions spoke volumes, leaving you breathless with hope and anticipation. But just as quickly, he would retreat into himself, leaving you to question whether his affections were genuine or merely fleeting. And then there were the times when he would disappear into the crowd at a kegger, his attention captured by another girl, leaving you to grapple with the ache of unrequited longing.

Fearing the consequences, you kept your emotions hidden from your brother, John B, despite his keen intuition and suspicions about your lingering glances. Instead, you found solace in the companionship of Pope and Kiara, the only other pogue girl. Your friendship with Kiara blossomed rapidly, providing a safe haven where you could confide in her about everything, including the complexities of your feelings for JJ, seeking her guidance and understanding.

In December of that same year, a vivid memory remains etched in your mind—the day JJ was meant to pick you up from work and take you to the Chateau to meet up with the rest of the crew. Kiara had proposed the idea of a secret Santa, with the stipulation that the gifts could only be candy or chocolate—She herself aiming to guarantee that she'd get a bag or two of Sour Patch Kids. As you exited the souvenir shop, clutching your own "Paradise On Earth" cap, you spotted JJ waiting for you by the Twinkie—the van John B claimed would be safer than the bike. With both hands hidden behind his back, you shot him a questioning look. "Hello?" you greeted tilting your head slightly to the side, to which he responded with a playful smile, feigning surprise at seeing you. "Oh, hello ma'am, your carriage is right here!" he exclaimed, extending his arms towards the open door of the van, one hand tightly clutching something that piqued your curiosity. Hopping onto the Twinkie, you couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious object as JJ closed the door and took his place behind the wheel.

During the ride, JJ attempted to coax the name of your secret Santa out of you, but you remained tight-lipped. Upon parking the van at the Chateau, he sat in silence for a few moments, and you studied him intently. "Oh, before I forget," he said non-chalantly, reaching into his pocket and offering you the object he had been concealing—a ceramic lobster adorned with a tiny Christmas hat, clearly crafted by him. "This is for the nativity scene you keep in your room, I just didn't have time to make the other one..." he explained, a hint of nervousness in his voice as he confessed that he hadn't received your name for the candy exchange but couldn't bear to leave you without a gift.

You stood in awe for a moment, marveling at the thoughtful gesture and the evident reference it held. JJ's apprehension melted away as your eyes met his, a radiant smile spreading across his face. "Wait, wait, wait... Are you trying to tell me that there was more than one lobster at the birth of Jesus?" you quoted, teasingly. JJ rolled his eyes playfully, completing the reference with a loud "duh!" his laughter mingling with yours as you stepped out of the car into the moonlit night, making a lighthearted entrance at the Chateau and eliciting a knowing look from Kiara towards John B.

As time passed, you welcomed Sarah into the fold, introduced by John B with starry-eyed affection that spoke volumes of their budding romance. With the dynamic between her and Kiara settled, John B wasted no time in proudly declaring their relationship to the group—a declaration met with hugs, smiles, and lighthearted jokes about not hurting each other.

One day, Sarah suggested a surf trip to a lesser-known beach nestled between Figure 8 and the Cut, its pristine beauty a sight to behold with crystalline waters and powdery white sand. As you surfed the afternoon away, basking in the warmth of the sun, you found yourself sprawled on the sand along with the rest of the group, supporting yourself on your elbows and catching your breath as you watched JJ roll a joint with practiced ease. "I like this shit," JJ declared, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance. "We can be neglected misfits or whatever, but I love leading this life with you guys. I don't even care about what people think of me! "long as I have a board and you guys, 'm gonna be saying I'm rich... Especially if I have this!" He gestured towards the joint, his words met with cheers from the group.

Your smile started weak but grew as the group cheered. In that moment, you felt a sense of family, and your appreciation for JJ weighed heavily on your chest. Despite the challenges, he had found a way to see life in a positive light, even after Big John went missing. As the wind blew sea salt into your eyes, you turned your face toward JJ. "Yeah, yeah… you know, I keep saying it… but if you really look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that—"

"Y/n, if I hear that quote just one more time!" Sarah interrupted, and the others joined in with her lighthearted protest.

With time, JJ's behavior became increasingly perplexing since after sharing moments like this, he would leave you alone, retreating into the company of the other Pogues with a suddenness that felt jarring and awkward. His focus would shift, his attention consumed by their own banter, leaving you to wonder where you fit into the equation.

It was during these moments of isolation that doubts crept in, whispering of insecurities and unspoken fears that lingered just beneath the surface. Wondering if you did something wrong, you couldn't help but feel a pang of longing as you watched JJ immerse himself in the dynamics of the group, his laughter mingling with theirs as you stood on the sidelines, a silent observer to a world that felt increasingly distant and unfamiliar.

One morning, as you shuffled through the Chateau's corridors, the aroma of breakfast lingering in the air as John B shuffled through the kitchen, you noticed JJ's door ajar. You peeked inside with the intention of wishing him a good morning, only to be met with a sight that shattered your makeshift reality of him. JJ hovered over another girl in his bed, their closeness echoing a betrayal that left you speechless.

"Hey, whoa! Sorry!" His voice softened as he realized it was you, not your brother, at the door. The shock on your face was palpable as you hastily pushed the door closed, shaking your head to dispel the image burned into your mind. Stumbling down the corridor, you muttered a distant "morning" to Kie and Pope, who were still groggy on the couch, woken by the commotion.

Throughout the day, both JJ and yourself moved in a state of flustered avoidance, exchanging glances laden with sheepish guilt. JJ's eyes mirrored the remorse of a caught wrongdoer, but you couldn't summon anger; instead, you carried the weight of hurt and confusion, grappling with the realization that he wasn't yours to claim.

As the day waned and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Chateau, you found solace on the hammock. With the remnants of the day lingering, you confided in Sarah about the events, the words tumbling out as the weight on your chest grew heavier. The hammock cradled you in its gentle sway as another day ended, leaving you to confront the tangled emotions that now clouded the once-clear skies of your friendship with JJ.

JJ vividly remembered June of the following year, with your birthday fast approaching. Usually, you wouldn't stop talking about how much you loved having your birthday during the summer, and everyone would plan something special to mark the occasion. Kie and Sarah would always get you fancier gifts, like a new top or necklace, while the boys made sure there was a cake to share, probably under the tree lights at another night spent at the Cat's Ass, chuckling at the stupid name JJ had given to the tub.

But this year was different. You and the girls wouldn't stop talking about this idiotic touron, Jeremy, who had apparently flirted with you when you helped him at the store. Now, your attention seemed solely focused on him, much to JJ's annoyance. He rolled his eyes and huffed aloud whenever Jeremy's name was mentioned, with Pope nudging him to keep his cool.

"He's gonna take me to a summer fair," you grimaced, looking into the mirror as Kiara clasped a necklace around your neck. Sarah and JJ hovered on the kitchen counter, Pope sat on the couch, and your brother leaned against the doorframe of your room with a protective frown on his face. John B always believed you and JJ would end up together, and he felt safe with that perspective because he knew and trusted JJ. But that didn't happen with Jeremy.

Across from him, you, Sarah, and Kie giggled with scenarios and provocations, "What if he brings you a giant teddy bear and tries to win you a goldfish?" Kiara teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Sarah snickered. "I can already picture it!"

Meanwhile, JJ fought to keep a frown from appearing on his own face. He was unwilling to let you know how he really felt about the situation, and he avoided giving his jealousy away to his friends. As you exited laughing with the guy in his car—a godforsaken Jeep, for crying out loud—JJ was still unknowingly clenching his jaw, his mouth twisted in a disgusted frown.

Sarah, the only one still outside by now, smiled to herself and snuck up on him before reaching a hand to pat his back. The gesture was meant to silently convey far more than his poisoned mind could grasp at the moment.

He chuckled at that memory; you had to endure a girlfriend of his own during college, and he watched as two or three other guys broke your heart as well—he wanted to go out there and punch them every time, but preferred that only John B externalized that thought. From those memories, he realized he had looked at love from both sides of it with you, from give and take, but years later he wasn't so sure if you'd be keen on the idea of him ever again. JJ turned to you in the tub, whispering, "Where's that lobster I gave you that Christmas?" You were a bit taken aback by his sudden recall but smiled back, mimicking the tone of his voice, "Been keeping it on my bookshelf all year long now."

John B and Sarah were now playfully arguing about the two perspectives from when she joined the group, with Kie tagging along to remind them of how they had to make amends beforehand. It made JJ come back fully into the scene. As he looked around, he realized they were sitting in couples, at least Pope and John B, and he held back a nostalgic smirk at the thought of how his younger self would react to both his old friends now "pussy whipped," stuck in relationships and breaking the "no pogue on pogue macking" rule—he didn't know love at all.

He was different too, at least Kiara said so, coming at him a few days ago before graduation with a whole "you've changed, became more yourself and know how to separate what you went through from what you are, I'm so proud you're opening the surf shop—but please make it eco-friendly" speech. It was nice to look back and realize how his years and moments with the Pogue family kept balancing out all the rest. Now he would open a sick surf shop, Poguelandia flag above it and all, right in the corner from the souvenir one you worked since you were fifteen—he didn't know if you had bigger plans than that after graduating though, but that was an uneasy thought he preferred to ignore.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say, "I love you" right out loud! Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I've looked at life that way. Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange, and they shake their heads and they tell me that I've changed. Well something's lost, but something's gained, in living every day.

Kiara was the first one to leave, claiming that this was really good and that she knew that with the pogues there were never really goodbyes, but that she had an early morning tomorrow with a sea-turtle project. Then, as the fire died out and the minutes turned into hours, the two couples left as well. Pope and Cleo claimed that they still had to shower before going to bed, and John B only snuggled with Sarah, pushing her towards the house. As the couple giggled, JJ noticed from his peripheral vision when you jiggled your eyebrows at Sarah, but the blonde only winked at you, pointing at the both of you at the tub before turning back. You sighed, distancing yourself from him now that you had more space in the water, and JJ held back a smile as the tree lights illuminated your pink cheeks. At twenty-two, he felt just like a teenager in that moment.

There were a few quiet minutes then, you were looking intently at him, drawing each of his features with your eyes as if trying to tattoo the image of his wet torso on your brain, but JJ didn't notice; he was lost in thought, provoked by being alone with you again. JJ realized that ever since he could remember, even though your brother was his de facto best friend and even as the group grew larger, you were there. For every phase and every belief that each one etched into him, you were there. As he looked at both sides of life, at win and lose, you were right beside him, either winning and losing as well or just supporting him emphatically through it.

Somehow he could always just recall how his pogue life acquired a rose-colored filter with you in it; he'd recall life's illusions with you at his side. You were there. You were it. And he didn't know his next step at all, but he wanted you in it; ached for it even.

He feigned cold as an excuse to get you both out of the tub, grabbing the one towel thrown onto a chair and wrapping it around you as you exited as well. He threw a familiar, amicable smile in your direction to disguise how he was, again, lost in his own train of thought. A hand rested on the small of your back as he led the two of you to the Chateau. As you got to the front porch, the other reached for your pulse gently, trying to stop you from entering. JJ became conscious of how he was dripping onto the wooden porch, but he didn't care, calling you by your nickname in a low voice. He was acting fast, planning something but also acting instinctively, intending to speak just from memory.

"Hey, uhm..." he stopped himself again as your eyes locked onto his, growing a little bit nervous now. Your eyebrows shot up expectantly, and some of your hair was sticking to your wet face. You'd be the death of him.

"With any luck, by next year, I'll be going out with one of these girls..." Your brows pinched, and eyes flashed with recognition as JJ shuffled his phone, some drops falling from his hair onto the screen before he turned it in your direction with a picture of Kendall Jenner and sliding his finger so it would also show one of Giselle Bündchen. You laughed, gulping expectantly.

"But for now, let me say, without hope or agenda, just because we finished college— even though it's at Christmas that you tell the truth." You chuckled again, but felt like you were hyperventilating, unable to believe that this was really happening to you. Much less that JJ Maybank had memorized a scene from the "dumb chick flick" you obsessed with since you were a mere child. You battled with your own feelings as you tried to let him finish.

"To me, you are perfect, and my wasted heart will love you until you look like this..." He shuffled again with the tiny screen, a smirk on his face as he turned it to you. A photo of a very old and wrinkly woman made you chuckle. Under it, it read "former surfer lady turns viral as she advises to the risks of not wearing sunscreen." You couldn't hold the cackle that left you at that, not even worried about the rest of the group sleeping inside the house, which made JJ smile widely as well.

"Oh my God! Oh my God, I love you..." A loud sigh met a sob halfway as you looked up, feeling pounds lighter after saying so naturally something you had been burying for years, feeling absurdly proud of just that. "I love you so much, what the fuck! I've loved you forever." You beamed at him again, relief written all over his face as he said it back proudly. "I'm sorry for the wait; it wasn't on purpose—Swear it." He grabbed both your cheeks as you laughed, smiling from ear to ear as his face etched closer to yours by the second. Your noses were touching already when he whispered in a low tone, "fuck, y/n..." as your mouths glued together longingly.

The world seemed to fade away as your lips met, a rush of warmth spreading through you as if the sun had risen inside your chest. JJ's touch was electric, sending shivers down your spine as his hands cradled your face gently, his fingers tracing the curve of your jawline. Every moment felt like an eternity as you lost yourselves in the kiss, the taste of saltwater, beer and weed mingling with the sweetness of the moment.

For JJ, it was as if everything he had been holding back, every unspoken word and hidden feeling, was finally pouring out into this one embrace. His heart raced in his chest as he kissed you, his mind buzzing with the realization that he had found something truly precious in you. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss, a culmination of years of friendship and longing finally coming to fruition.

As you pulled away, breathless and flushed, JJ's eyes bore into yours, filled with an intensity that took your breath away. In that moment, you knew that nothing would ever be the same again. You had crossed a threshold together, stepping into a new chapter of your lives filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a future together. And as you stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, you knew that this was just what you wanted; like you were made for just that.

"I don't even want to come inside, I don't wanna-" you said, sighing mid chuckle, "don't wanna do anything right now, God, JJ, I'm like in a haze!" He clung to you, chuckling, his hands going to your arms, your neck, your hair—he wanted to touch all of you. "Always have the hammock..." he suggested, and you rushed your way there as if just walking would make you lose any time with him.

After you spent a while staring at the stars in the sky, listening to the chirping of crickets in between small, sloppy kisses, JJ sleepily muttered "I feel like I'm fucking high right now," you both laughed "like I'm floating—life accomplishment kind of thing." you swatted at his chest, lightheartedly telling him to stop being silly before readjusting in the wet towel that served as a blanket for the two of you.

Wrapped in each other's arms, you drifted off to sleep, the sound of the river running to meet the ocean lulling you into a state of contentment. In that moment, nothing else mattered except the warmth of JJ's embrace and the soft rhythm of his breathing. It was a moment of pure bliss, a fleeting glimpse of perfection in an imperfect world.

The warm rays of the morning sun gently kissed the faces of the sleeping pogues as they stirred awake, the sounds of birdsong filling the air. Stretching and yawning, they emerged from their makeshift beds scattered across the Chateau, the pull-out couch and matresses on the floor.

As they gathered outside to clean the space free of empty cans and wrapping paper, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, John B's gaze was the first one to fall upon the sight of JJ and you nestled together in the hammock, still fast asleep. He nudged Sarah first, but soon a collective smile spread across their faces as they exchanged knowing glances, a silent understanding passing between them.

"About time," Pope muttered under his breath, eliciting chuckles from the others.

John B grinned, looking at Sarah. "Looks like our boy finally made his move."

Sarah rolled her eyes playfully. "Took them long enough," she teased, but there was genuine warmth in her voice.

Kiara smirked, crossing her arms, she showed a satisfied facade even though she was jumping inside, bubbling with happiness for the both of you; the sparkle of her eyes being hard to hide. "Well, better late than never, I guess."

With a chorus of laughter and gentle ribbing, the pogues left JJ and you to enjoy your moment together, the feeling was that their little family had just grown a little bit stronger. You had woken up the moment the front door banged back against it's frame as it closed the first time, but feeling JJ's chest under your head, you decided to just keep your eyes closed, fighting a grin to show on your face at your friends' commentaries. You were home. And you only wanted to know life now if it was by JJ's side; especially if he'd be scratching your hair like he was doing just now, half a smile on his lips—"Did I take that long?" he questioned, jokingly.

"A lifetime."

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love, actually, is all around.

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tunglrsillyman · 9 months

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Dan Hays - Colorado Snow Effect (2008) - Oil on canvas

(Reposting this after the original poster [likeafieldmouse] of the original post has deactivated and the post itself got flagged as explicit, making it unlikely that Staff will reinstate the post, let alone be able to share it. Click the link and check the artist out. It's a whole series of paintings and there's more of them on the same concept!)

#Dan Hays #contemporary art #painting #snow #art #pointillism #image recreation #optical art #experimental #ok 2 rb if you need permission #I really do mean it when you should look thru them #the way he experiments and recreate the way pixels/dots are rendered #taking inspiration from printing to crt (the rbg lines)#feel like the webcore/cybercore folks would LOVE it

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theodork · 7 months

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Ticci Toby X Reader

A/N: there is no use of Y/N or any gender so yee..

Summary: You return after going away without saying goodbye to your best friend. You run into Toby and he is pissed.

Warnings: Girl Idk nothing to bad tho lmao, a little cursing and poor baby toby is mad asf. a little angst.

It was early January in Colorado; the biting cold nipped at my exposed skin, sending shivers down my spine. The frigid air felt like sharp needles pricking at my fingertips even with gloves, leaving them numb and tingling. Even through layers of clothing, I could feel the intense cold seeping into my bones, causing my body to tense up. Every breath felt like it was freezing my lungs as I exhaled, creating a visible cloud of vapor in the air. The sky was clear and the sun shone brightly. The snow sparkled and shimmered, outlining the landscape. It was a peaceful and beautiful sight. The snow and leaves crunched under my boots as I walked back to the Slender Mansion. It had been a full year since I left. I had gone to the city under Slender's orders and now I was back, even if it wasn't for very long.

A low whistling sound, like something metal and heavy was thrown at full force flashes past my head, barely grazing my loose hair. The heavy thud of a hatchet hitting a tree causes me to turn. Behind me stood a lifeless tree, its decaying branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. And there, lodged firmly in the rough bark, was a weathered hatchet. I looked back in front of me, a scowl plastered on my face. It was Toby, he stood about 50-ish feet in front of me. He looked different. He no longer had his raggedy brown and blue hoodie. It had instead been replaced by a grayish blue jacket accompanied with a trucker hat. One thing that did stay the same, or rather two was his muzzle and his orange goggles. I looked back at the hatchet, I hadn't even recognized who they belonged to. My scowl was quickly replaced by a smile.

"I missed?" his voice sounded, it seemed shocked.

I take off my mask, I had changed it since I last saw Toby. My new mask has little doodles and other graffiti all over it, making it fit my style more. "Is that any way to treat an old friend?" I chuckle, walking forward a bit. He walked forward, his eyes a bit wide.

"What? no welcome back?" I say, a small smile plastered on my lips. His initial shock of seeing me wears off. He glares at me, his eyes are like sharp daggers. "Why t...he hell are you back?"

"I missed you, Besides, Denver was boring." I say. I'm back at the behest of Slenderman, but I did miss Toby, and Denver did get boring when I missed him. Toby narrows his eyes, skepticism etched into every crease of his face. He takes a step closer, his breath visible in the freezing air, the vapor seeped through the open crevices in his muzzle. The chilly mist emanating from his mouth hangs in the air for a moment before dissipating, creating a ghostly effect. As he moves nearer, His gaze then sharpens, transforming into penetrating daggers that reflect his discontent. He huffed.

"Why? It’s not like we’re friends or anything.” He said in a harsh voice. I frown.

"We are" I said, titling my head a bit. I cant blame him. Afterall I didn't tell him I was leaving. Not even a goodbye. I deeply regret it, but I couldn't change that.

"I'm sorry for not telling you I was leaving or even telling you goodbye, I really should have" I said my voice was soft.

"yes...y..es you should have," He huffs again. He was angry and I did not blame him "actually it's whatever It not like I cared." I paused for a moment, my heart sinking at his dismissive words. It hurt more than I thought it would, hearing him say that. But I couldn't dwell on my own hurt feelings. I reach my hand out to touch his.

"It doesn't sound like you don't care." Toby recoils slightly at my outstretched hand. His eyes flicker with a mix of emotions.

"Don't touch me." He barked, slapping my hand away.

"Sorry-Right... sorry" I said. Toby is quiet for a moment.

"It was boring here without you." His voice and eyes soften.

"It was" I smile. As angry as he was he missed me. Toby let out a frustrated growl, his gloved hands gripping his hatchet tightly. His slender frame tensed, and it seemed like he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

"Yeah" He grunts, his tough guy persona comes back.

"I am really really sorry I didn't at least say goodbye" I apologize again.

“You’ve already said that” Toby rolled his eyes

“I tried to write to you when I was away.” I said, “I never sent them but I wrote a lot…I guess the gesture is useless because I never sent them” I spoke. My voice was a little sad

Toby's gaze softens, a flicker of warmth passing through his eyes. He hesitates for a moment before speaking, his tone losing some of its harshness, though it there laced into each word, "So?"

As I reach into the inside pocket of my jacket, my fingers curl around a bundle of letters. Pulling them out, I reveal a collection of folded papers, varying in size and color. The letters are neatly stacked, each one bearing the marks of time, with edges slightly frayed and corners softened. Some envelopes are worn and discolored, while others appear crisp and new. The sight of the numerous letters emanates a sense of both curiosity and nostalgia, hinting at the stories and emotions contained within each one.

His eyes dart to the letters, he looks like he wants them, but he's fighting himself.

"You can have them, read them if you want..." I offer them to him, His gaze lingers on the letters for a moment. He scoffs.

"I don't want them." I feel my heart sink once again, but this time it's a pang of disappointment mixed with resignation. I had hoped that he would take the opportunity to glimpse into my thoughts, to understand the depth.

"Alright" I put them back in my jacket "that's a problem , good, I wrote some pretty embarrassing and sappy stuff in those" Toby's eyes widened for a moment, his curiosity piqued by my sudden revelation.

He snorts. “You think I’d actually read them?" It's obvious he's trying to convince himself he doesn't want to read them.

"Yeah I forgot you can't read" I joke, playfully teasing him. Toby scoffs, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. He lightly slaps my arm "Who says I can't read? I just choose not to."

"I only jest, I know you can read" The tension starts to ease between us.

"Why did you come back anyway? Why did you really come back" Toby asked again, taking off his muzzle. revealing his mouth. The scar on his cheek looks a bit rougher and his chin has a bit more hair on it. I look down at his fingers to get a better look at them. They look a bit rough too. He must be chewing on them. Afterall I wasn't around to remind him to stop.

"Well it's like I said. I missed you" I answered. Toby's face contorts into a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. He shakes his head, clearly not satisfied with my response.

"That's it? You just missed me? Bullshit"

"I did."

He glares. “Like hell you did.”

"What the hell Toby, I did"

“And I don’t believe you.” He crosses his arms. “And why didn’t you say bye, anyways? Why’d you just disappear?”

“Goodbye are hard, I thought maybe I'd I just left it be less hard"

I sighed, feeling the weight of my past mistakes and the strain of the current conversation resting heavily on my shoulders. I had hoped that my return would bring some semblance of peace and understanding between us. Toby went silent for a minute. The silence was a bit deafening. Even the trees seemed to stop rustling as the air went heavy.

“Well, you were wrong.” Toby finally says with a huff.

“I know, I'm really really sorry.”

“Do you expect me to forgive you?” He scoffs, pulling his goggles off his face.

“No, I don’t, But I hoped maybe you could?”

“Well I am not.”

“That’s okay. Like I said, I don't expect you to,” Toby held grudges, and he was good at it, “But I promise when I leave again, I’ll tell you and I’ll say goodbye.”

"When you leave again?!” His eyes go a bit wide. His voice is more shocked than angry. “When you leave again?” He repeats.

“Is that a joke?” he asked.

"Why would it be a joke?" I ask and tilt my head to the side.

“You’re leaving again? I thought you were staying.” He’s disappointed, as much as he tries to hide it he wants me to go.

"I'm staying for a week," I admit.

“Why? Why bother coming back at all then?” He starts to pace. “No you know what, You’re not important to me. I don’t care. You’re just a waste of time, a burden you should have stayed in denver.” He spat, venom laced his words. I knew he was just talking out of anger and hurt, but it didn’t make the impact of the words any less harsh.

“You don’t mean that,” I said.

“Oh, but I do!” he barks.

“Well, don’t worry then. I’ll leave after I check in with Slenderman.” I shake my head. I start to walk in the direction of the Slender Mansion.

“Good” Toby mutters, another sharp thud hits the dead tree from earlier. Toby threw his other hatchet at the tree in frustration.

#fanfic #creative writing #ticci toby #slenderman #creepypasta #creepypasta fandom #creepypasta fanfic #ticci toby x y/n #ticci toby x you #ticci toby x reader #tobias erin rogers #toby rogers

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dirtcola · 9 months

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Dan Hays - Colorado Snow Effect (2008) - Oil on canvas

#dan hays #art #fine art #painting #oil painting #upload #traditional art

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bmyvalentin3 · 5 months

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holiday party

a/n" first tumblr fanfic! i'm originally from wattpad so bare with meeeee---also not really edited so yeah

details" au, no apocalypse, fluff, kissing, ... . .

pairing" customer!ellie x fem!reader

synopsis" after moving to colorado at the beginning of winter, you start a new job to pay all the new expenses. even though you were a newly hire, you settled quick at your job at the local coffee shop. turns out pretty women also came with the job.

¸.·✩·.¸¸.·¯⍣✩ let's begin ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸

your sleep was rudely interrupted by your buzzing alarm as you blinked sleep away. your eyelids weighed down, tempting you to just... rest...

you jutted awake as a message buzzed through your phone. groaning mentally, you turned over, unlocking your phone. it was from your friend.

sarah ❤

good morning, work bestie! 6:32 am

girl get up your new job is on the line 6:35 am

you smiled as you slowly typed a response

(y/n)

im up 6:37 am

thanks <333 6:37 am

the winter air bit at your exposed skin as you mustered the strength to slip out of your bed. you walked into the kitchen, pouring some cereal for yourself. continuing your routine, you got a message from your manager, abby.

abby (work)

if no one informed you, you're opening the store. dina is opening with you. she has the keys. i'll be there around noon. 7:01 am

you frowned slightly. you were hoping for... well, you didn't exactly know what you were hoping for. maybe a manager a bit less dry?

(y/n)

thanks, abby. 7:05 am

you finished up your mascara and grabbed your keys. you locked your door, walked down the hallway, took the stairs, and got into your car in the apartment parking garage. the whole way you were shivering. by now the sun was up as you pulled into the back lot of the cafe.

the snow stuck to your boots the whole way, getting it in your car. you didn't care much, just rolled your eyes. you took the keys out of the car and took a deep breath, touching up your lip gloss. you pulled the handle and stepped out of your car, shutting the door, and locking it. dina was in her car next to yours, and you stepping towards her passenger side, tapping on her window gently. you smiled.

dina smiled, rolling down the window.

"hey! sorry, i'm in a bit of a hassle, do you mind opening the store?" she asked.

"yeah, no problem." you responded, taking the store keys from her outstretched hand.

your breath puffed like a cloud of smoke in front of you. you walked around the side of the shop, and made it to the employee side door. you unlocked it, turned off the alarm, shut the door behind you, and began setting up the small shop. frost edged the windows from the outside, adding a cool effect. you turned the hanging sign on the door to "open" and unlocked it.

dina stepped in the side door, walking to the employee's room. appearing a few minutes later in full shoppe attire. she smiled and you smiled back.

"okay, today is a slow day. good luck, y/n." she joked, preparing the machines.

"thanks, you'll need some too." i sighed contently as i wiped down the tables.

.·✩·.

"hey, welcome in." you say without looking up from the register. when you did, you were met with beautiful layered green eyes. damn, she's hot as fuck! you thought. you blinked nervously and looked down slightly.

"what can i getcha'?" speaking quietly, you slowly look back up at her eyes. she was looking at the menu. freckles littered her face. a scar on her right eyebrow was badass.

"i'll take a caramel latte." she spoke. her voice was raspy yet smooth, somehow. she looked back at your eyes and your heart skipped a beat. you clicked in the buttons on the machine.

"size?" you asked.

"small, please."

again, you clicked in the button and rang her up.

"$2.48 is your total today." you patiently watched her grab a card out of her wallet.

your fingers brushed as you pinched the debit card from her hand. ignoring the butterflies, you inserted it. the buzzing of the receipt printing filled the quiet cafe. you wrapped the receipt around her debit card and handed it back to her. you grabbed a size small cup and retrieved a sharpie from your apron.

"what's a good name for you?" you smiled.

"ellie." she responded.

your fingers felt warm as you wrote her name in your best handwriting, daring to put a little heart by it. shit, why did i do that?

"okay, i'll call your name when the drink is ready."

ellie nodded and went to go sit down and scroll on her phone.

i think i like her.

her eyes...

that half bun is sooo hot.

is she even into girls?

many thoughts swarmed your head as you finished her drink with whipped cream and some grid-patterned caramel topping. capping the drink, you placed it gently on the granite counter slightly higher than your working counter.

"ellie!" you called, hoping your voice wasn't weird or unattractive.

"thank you." she grabbed her drink, acknowledged the heart and smiled, glancing at you. when you made eye contact, she winked. the bell jingled as she left the shoppe.

she winked. oh my god!

before you could get too happy, your manager walked in. dina walked behind you and whispered in your ear.

"boss's here." she continued walking into the back.

turning around timidly, you were met with your manager, abby. she was taller than you and way, way stronger. looking up into the blonde's eyes, you quickly glanced away and turned back around to face the future customers.

"good morning, abby." you said nervously.

what you missed was a sly smirk from your manager.

"good morning. how has your first week been?" she walked closer.

you didn't dare to look back.

"it's been... eventful. i've settled well, though." you sputtered out. obviously, you didn't bring up ellie.

"good...good." abby spoke slowly. she walked behind and past you to the employee's room, brushing you slightly. you got the butterflies from the slight touch.

.·✩·.

days blurred into the next... they all seemed to be the same. wake up, go to work, pray that ellie would come back, avoid abby, finish the day, go home, relax. repeat. repeat. repeat.

today was different, however. tonight, starting at 5:30 pm, was the small town's holiday celebration. they place a tree in the middle, light it, sell hot chocolate, and there's an ice skating rink.

basically, the perfect winter date.

to backtrack, ellie came in twice over the past couple weeks of working. thanksgiving ended and it's around the 1st of december. over those two precious days, you managed to talk to her. and she talked to you. and you couldn't stop; nor her. seeing how she watched and listened to you... the way she talked, got slightly embarrassed about small little things... she's so cute.

on the second day she visited, she said something that would repeat in your head every night.

"y/n, do you want to go with me to the holiday kick off? it's our community's tradition. and, it's okay if you don't want to, it won't hurt my feelings, i-"

you smiled seeing her get all blushy and embarrassed.

"yeah, i'll go. with you." as these words left your mouth, she started smiling.

"then we'll call it a date." she smirked.

now it was your turn to get all red.

...

fast forward to you closing the coffee shop early for the celebration, ellie would pick you up. she wanted to drive around early to look at rich people's christmas lights and decorations.

just as you were going to pick up your phone, a car pulled up. you saw ellie smiling gently and waving you in. placing your little work bag by your feet, you got in the passenger seat.

"hi, ellie. again, thank you for doing this. it's sweet of you."

you were a little nervous getting into her car after only talking deeply once, but you felt safe with her.

"hey, you look great. festive." she pointed to your dangly earrings.

"awe, thanks. I got them back in my old home." you sighed contently. she glanced over at you as she pulled away.

"okay, so," she began speaking at a red light, "i'm taking you to the richest neighborhood here. you're going to love it." she had a soft smile. the sun had set already since it's winter, so darkness was spreading quickly.

"you look pretty today." she spoke softly, looking ahead at the road. you blushed immediately.

"thank you ellie. by the way, i only let hot girls take me out, so..." you were suddenly interested in your nails. she blushed.

.·✩·.

"here we are." she slowed down as she pulled on the street. houses glowed magically. many had the moving lights that projected snowflakes and santa hats.

"it gorgeous." you whispered. she drove slowly, letting you look around.

"how can they afford all this?"

"no clue." she sighed.

as the pulled out of the neighborhood, she drove towards the square.

"have you ice skated before?" you look at her. she glances at you, then stares back on the road.

"i have. you?"

"damn, i haven't. maybe we can just... skip that event.." you smiled nervously.

"i'll make sure you're okay. okay?" she looked over at you full on, placing her hand on your thigh gently. you internally freaked out, heat pooling at the bottom of your torso.

"k." you said breathlessly. she smirked, turning to the road, knowing she made you slip up. to push you even farther, she started rubbing gently and slowly up and down your thigh. your cheeks blushed and tingles were left where she touched.

.·✩·.

"come on! we're going to be late for the tree lighting!" she hurried you along as she opened the passenger door for you.

"thanks, gentleman." you smirked, stepping out of the car.

"anytime, pretty woman." she smirked back, winking.

you let ellie drag you to the town square where the large tree was being lit. many other people were already. your nose and cheeks were red and your breath came out as smoke in the frosty air. ellie mirrored your cold looks.

"let me buy you some hot cocoa, yeah?" she brushed a piece of your cold hair behind your reddening ear. you blushed, but the frost camouflaged you.

"yeah, that'd be nice." you giggled quietly. christmas music sang from the multiple speakers around the gathering. she snuck her hand around your waist as you walked together. you were flustered, to say the least.

"hey, what can i getcha?" the employee asked you two as you arrived the stand.

"two hot cocoas, please." ellie smiled, her hand placement on you signaling you were hers tonight. and ellie hopes she can make you hers forever on.

ellie payed and soon the burning hot cocoa was in your hands. you bathed in the warmth. sipping it, you sighed.

"that's good. thank you so much, ellie. for everything." you thanked her.

"it's no problem, really. i was lucky enough to even get you free tonight. i wouldn't be surprised if you had girls in your dms, pretty lady." she smirked, looking straight on at you. you reddened, looking away while sipping your cocoa.

"no, i actually don't have any girls in my dms, much to your disappointment. i haven't gone on a date in a little bit, actually." you said quietly. her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"really? you're lying."

"no, i'm not lying." i responded.

"oooookay then..." she said in a jokingly distrusting voice.

"ho, ho, ho! look at these lovely girls over here! merry christmas!" a jolly person dressed in a santa costume boomed. he was old, but was a cute little guy. you giggled, smiling.

"so festive here." you look back over to ellie, and she's watching you.

"goddamn, you're so cute." she kissed your cheek, leaving you blushy and giggley.

"ladies and gentlemen, if you have children who would like to meet santa, his booth is open! these nice elves over here will show you through the process. thank you." a person on the speakers spoke happily.

"what next?" you yawned, covering your mouth. ellie brushed a piece of your hair behind your ear.

"don't get too tired, cutie. come over here, i wanna show you something..."

.·✩·.

"thank you ellie. this has been the best night since i moved here." you stood with ellie at the entrance to the event. she looked deeply into your eyes.

"of course. thanks for giving me a chance. now let's get in my car, i'm cold." she smirked. you nodded, shivering.

"yes, please."

the heat took a few minutes to warm up, but when it did, both you and ellie sighed in relief.

"want me to take you home?" she looked at you, glancing at your lips.

"i mean, yeah..." you say reluctantly.

"you look so..." she trailed off.

you looked up at her, confused.

"i look...?" you started getting a little self-conscious.

"kissable. can i?" she was practically burning holes into your lips.

you nodded slowly.

"please."

ellie leaned in, capturing your lips perfectly. she laid her hands on the sides of your head, guiding you gently. you both got in sync, letting your bodies take the lead. she licked your bottom lip, asking silently for access. you open your mouth a crack desperately. she tangled her tongue with yours, eventually taking dominance. she pushed into you slightly, exploring your mouth.

after a while of kissing and quiet noises, ellie broke away, smirking.

"you taste delicious." she licked your lipgloss from her own lips. you were trying not to take ellie's comment in a dirty way.

"cat got your tongue?" she held eye contact with you.

"uh, no." you blinked finally, a blush coming across your face as you touched your lips.

"that was.. really nice." you avoided eye contact with ellie. she just had a cocky smirk on her face.

"yeah, i know. now let's get you home, baby."

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bloogers-boogers · 1 year

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Kyle Brofloski/Eric Cartman (SP fic)

('What's up with the fatass?')

/Devious melancholy/ part 2

'Wait? You think I'm gay because I'm from south park?'

'Well duh, everyone from south park is gay'

Slight warning ⚠️ just warning yah that's all, these two deranged characters will get together somehow but they will trust me, they will.

~~~~

Cartman inspected the apartment his mother rented, it wasn't bad, not as spacious though, but it'll do for now.

He was grasping the place, the town.. everything seem so lame, he couldn't expect any less from North Park but he'll suck it up for money.

Once they have enough money saved he'll make his mother moved them back to South Park. That was his plan; receive the money, get rich and stop being poor finally living the luxury he deserves, and ofcourse, brag his success to Kyle.

He beamed as he looked at the window contemplating everything he needed to do, to get the plan going. He made sure his mom woke up early because he wasn't risking her to make herself look like a incompetent employee on her first day of work, because he knew she had taken some crack last night before getting out from South park the effects of it just hit harder before going to bed, he fucking hates it so much, he was damn lucky she didn't crash the moving van on the way there. Luckily she wasn't required to do any drug test or both would've been screwed.

He never understood why teens his age were into that crap neither did he understood the adults, or Kenny. He just knew they made everyone stupid afterwards, well, more stupid then they already were.

After pushing his mom outside, practically just shoving her outside before slamming the door and setting his game up on the tv.

He played for like an hour before he reluctantly decided to go outside and see what he'll have to handle for a couple of months.

Everthing seemed so— rich? South Park's biggest accomplishment was having a whole's food in town while North Park had state winning champions working at some McDonald's drive-thru.

In less words, everything looked so 'posh', one of the disadvantages there was its weather; it wasn't cold or atleast to a temperature he was already use to, it was the opposite. For what he had searched it was stated to be one of the hottest places in Colorado, it would only snow just at the end of the year, which is insane. He can't imagine not walking to a almost daily snowy white path, stomping hard on the areas that seem to be deeper in depth cause he just liked the feeling of being sunk in like some wormhole, or making snowmen with his friends.

So there he was, complaining as he walked in the heated weather, it was insupportable he felt himself dragged his feet as his sweat poured down like rivers up his face; like melting snow on a sidewalk, the irony.

Unnoticeable passing by some neighborhood as he craved for water, panting duo the excess warmth in his body and the heavy breathing he was making, maybe he should take off his winter coat? He grasped some air as he took it off sighing as he felt a pin of weight let loose, feeling dizzy he leaned himself against some bench near the crosswalk trying to avoid fainting, now sitting down while holding on to his chest.

Seconds later he was tapped in the forehead with a water bottle, he looked up to curse who ever did that but his mouth went straight flat.

It was a North Parker but seemingly his age, so far he's only encountered old folks, but this one, he was wrinkle free, full of youth and had that innocent looking spirit somewhat spread around him. He was blonde with green eyes, kinda handsome for a dude but looked like a total geek.

"You're not from around here aren't you?," He asked, gesturing his bottle for he to grab it.

He reluctantly grabbed it, crisscrossing he wasn't about to be mugged or something, but shrugging it off immediately as he began drinking it. Stranger danger his ass.

"I'm from South Park, I just moved here, nerd," he commented in his usual banter.

The boy wince seemingly annoyed by the name hesitated in just walking away or indulge further in the conversation.

"You're from south park?," he repeated with a cringed expression as he asked, "no wonder I didn't recognize such a fat piece of crap in our town," he retorted with a similar tone he had use when he mocked him.

"Aye! Who do you think you are!? gaywad pussy licker!," he screeched out, gripping on to the bottle he was holding.

"Everything alright, Jackson?," another boy chimed in as some other boy walked beside him.

"I just found ourselves a South Parker," he stated mockingly.

"No way," the jock looking kid said bewildered, "you come from that crappie ass town?," he laughed dryly.

Cartman frowned, "shut the fuck up you mother fuckin' no good pussy lickin' hippies!," he cursed out loud, pointing out the reggae lover looking dude.

"See? This is why Shart park always stays behind, so stuck up in that common bigotry of yours it doesn't let you guys evolve," the jock stated casually, with a smugly smirk. His group of friends laughing beside him.

"Apparently he just moved here," geek boy informed the jock cunt.

"Wooow," the boy said in a sarcastic way, "that'll mean you'll finally be able to evolve from a shit stain to a fart."

The group laughed as he finally got up and pointed accusing to them.

"This is why you're all prestigious little douches in our category!," he exclaimed before storming off forgetting he had left his coat in the bench.

He heard from behind a 'good thing we aren't looking to be categorized from undeveloped pigs,' and with that he went off home, regretting going outside.

It had become dark, now resting in his couch as he layyed in a bored exaggerated manner. He really wanted to play video games with Kenny but he knew that poor piece of crap was still working a shift at those hours and he knew Butters wouldn't be able to do so either as he remembered two days ago he had commented he was grounded for a week. He sighed heavily contemplating to call either Stan or Kyle bothering them to make himself laugh.

But he turned over to look at the door as there was some banging coming from it.

He groaned annoyed as he walked to open it, "what?," he immediately spat dryly half way opening the door.

And his gaze landed to those familiar green marbled eyes he had previously seen that afternoon.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Did you follow me you creeping stalker!?," unironically being a stalker himself, he questioned offended.

The boy frowned shoving his coat to his chest harshly, startling him.

"Just being a good civilian here, lardass," he commented before huffing, as he took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up.

"You smoke!?," he asked baffled, he's never seen a nerd smoke before.

"Yeah, so?," the blonde asked incredulously.

"Didn't know geek boys could smoke," He smugly teased.

The boy just huffed as he roll his eyes, mumbling 'South Parkers,' before eyeing him up and down.

"So are you going to study in North park middle-school?," he asked more curious, puffing his cigarette some more, purposely blowing the smoke on his face making the other cough.

"Kinda," Cartman shrugged in response, wincing by the smell emitted.

"I'm Jackson btw, just for you to remember who targeted you first," He remarked as he stomped on his cigarette putting it out, dragging his hands inside his pockets, "what's yours, fatboy?."

"Aye! I ain't fat you piece of shit!," he blurted out, feeling quite some familiarity in the whole ordeal, "Eric, I'm Eric Cartman."

°°°°

After that 'splendid' encounter with geek boy, his day went to an end, beginning the next day as he was preparing himself to be dropped off at his new school, he stopped in the new bus point he was given and waited to be picked up. He sighed contemplating the new possibilities, new faces, friends, teachers. It's gonna be hard to adapt. But he was Eric T. Cartman, nothing is impossible for him.

He spot the bus half way, heavily breathing he gripped on his backpack.

Entering, the students there just glanced at him indifferent and judgmental, as if he were some weird bug. He sat in some empty seat in the back and heard a couple of students gasped and whispering.

'What was all that about?'

He took out his phone, carelessly about the constant glances at him, texting Kenny about joining on a server that night to play some game.

"Hey, faggot, da fuck are you doing in our seat?."

('Fag' sp canon definition n. 1. An extremely annoying, inconsiderate person most commonly associated with Harley riders. 2. A person who owns or frequently rides a Harley.)

He glanced up from his screen and visualize the jock kid and his stupid hippie group.

"Oh? This seat yours?," he said in a mocking tone, "don't see your name on it whore cummers," he blurted out as he now rubbed his ass all over 'their' seat taunting.

"Tsk, this dimwit," the red head mumbled to his friends.

He then sat next to him intentionally pushing him against the window both other boys tagged in apparently trying to trap him and suffocate him as they squished him forward the window.

"Goddammit!," he winced out trying to loosen there grip. The group of friends just howled in laughter.

"Admit you suck and piss off, southie," the jock kid stated as he leaned his body on him more.

"Over my dead fucking body, dick head!," he screamed slamming his fist up his nuts.

"¡OWW!," he squirmed in pain, reddened face by the embarrassment and ofcourse the agony pain that raised in his nutcrackers, "we got ourselves a fierce one," he stated still holding on to his balls as he winced his eyes shut.

Both boys tried gripping on him but he moved forward scooping himself over to the front seat shoving off some other students as he was chased around the bus from both geek boy and hippie shit. Jackson grabbed him from the leg as he failed attempting to get out from a window gripping on his body against his.

"Got him," He said grinning, as he swooped his body left and right attempting to make him seem like he were dancing even though it was clearly forced. Like a puppeteer and his puppet.

"Let me go, asshat!," He whined trying to lessen his grip, but couldn't. His strength reminded him so much of Kyle's, looking like he wouldn't bat your shit but was totally the opposite when provoked.

"Hmm," He hummed in a fake contempt, nuzzling his perky nose against his neck causing him to shiver by the touch, "what do you think, Stewart?," the boy asked the jock.

As he was finally recovering himself, passing through the walkway up to him, he punched him hard in the stomach receiving a 'hmph!' In return.

"That he isn't as bad as we thought he'd be for some southie," he smugly stated making the trapped boy arched a brow confused.

°°°°

"This is Hershey," Stewart gesture the hippie, who just waved casually, "my best friend Jackson," he continued presenting themselves before stepping inside school grounds. The blonde geek acting like he hasn't already presented himself before.

"What's yours, south bitch?," Hershey now chimed in expectantly.

"I'm Eric," he responded unbothered, as he glance at the huge building. If you were to compare this school to South Park's you wouldn't even see his town as a school.

"We can show you around," Jackson suggested with his hands inside his pockets.

"And when he says 'we' he means 'him' I have to go see Gigy at cheerleader practice, peace," Stewart casually waved off as he joined a couple of other douchbags who were also heading to the gymnasium or field, he wasn't sure exactly.

"Me too, I have to meet up with Jeannie for cleaning the courtyard before class starts," Hershey waved off heading another direction, "don't get lost, dog park," he lastly said before running off in a mischievous manner.

"Aye!," he grumbled out, but was left unheard.

Well, Jackson still was awkwardly standing next to him averting his eyes to a building, then to some students walking by and then the ground.

"So— fatass, what's there to know about you?," he asked, continuously walking to the entrance.

He followed along him, "Aye! I ain't fat you stupid queermo!," he screamed out.

"How 'revolutionary'," he stated sarcastic, before glancing at him, "I'm the debate club leader, I like swimming and have two siblings."

Cartman contemplated his answer before nodding as he pouted out his own, "I was the team captain of the football team and was among the popular kids," he beamed out confidently.

"Haha sure you were," Jackson said taunting, immediately pointed out his bluff, "we know who you are, fatboy."

Cartman halted now looking at him attentively.

"You're the fat, narcissistic psychopath from town that feed his half brother his parents," he explained unfazed, "we know all about the shit that happens to your town on a daily it always becomes a huge fuss for all of us when it comes to you assholes," he shrugged, gesturing a locker.

"That's your locker, E-10 right?."

He nodded in response, uncertain if he'd be able to make friends after being so easily revealed, but why was he talking to him so casually if he already knew who he was and what he's capable of?

Neither brought that topic again as Jackson showed him around campus, it was quite big, the tour had to be cut in short until school ended. For his dismay the class he was assigned to didn't include either of the assholes he just met until third period being seemingly the class he shared Spanish with Stewart, beside him he either would had to wait until seventh period which he shared Biology with Hershey.

It's not like he gave a fuck but he wasn't familiar on being a 'new kid', not only that, but Jackson warned him about how people here weren't to found of people who came from South Park noneless people who were born there he called him a 'TP' at first he thought he called him toilet paper but apparently it was a slang of theirs to call South park visitors 'target parker'; which meant they'll trash them until they leave their town. He found it quite dramatic but then again, their own town has shooed city people away before cause they couldn't tolerate their kind.

It also made sense why the group of boys began trashing him when he first mentioned being from South Park, then reluctantly just acting normally once knowing he actually moved here. That still didn't give him a pass but they had gotten a liking to him very quickly for some reason he still can't grasp upon.

And as such he was targeted for being a complete 'southie' even the teacher bashed on him as he was the one to blurt him out to the class for coming from South park. The only friend he managed to make was in his second period, his name was Jamie Hutson; a seemingly naive freckled boy, brown hair with braces who was from New York. He was pretty chill with the fact he was a 'tp' actually he seem to have 'pity' of him for coming out from a town like that. But when he meant 'seemingly' it's because he looked like that, but was a complete jerk to everyone displaying a false attitude infront of teachers being a A+ student but immediately flipping switches bullying some classmates there like an bigoted.

He actually felt grateful that it seem he had been taken lightly being called slurs and some bigotry comments compared to a red head kid that hanged in some wall hanger by his underwear.

"So, what's your socials, shart-fart?," Jamie approached, resting his elbows in his desk as he beamed innocently.

He huffed, "call me shartfart again, asshole, I dare you!," he threatened almost falsely, cause he really didn't want to bother on doing anything.

"Oh? You're gonna do something to me?," He smugly stated, chuckling, "so?," he extend his phone twoards him expecting for he to write his number.

He reluctantly typed his number down before huffing as he heard the bell rang and dashed off.

Maybe it'd be convenient to befriend the bully of their school?

He bumped in to geek boy again, who had cuss him out for not watching his way as he had dropped his books, he didn't bother helping out cause that's just how he is.

"Thanks for shit, asswipe," he spat bitter, as he tried organizing them in his arms.

"You're welcome, dearest," he teasingly said eying him, batting his eyelashes in a innocent manner.

He won't deny he was very appealing for the eye, he like how he shot back instantly every time he taunt back, those fierce eyes hooked him up like a fisherman's fish hook and his sly smirk was dazzling, smug, knowingly. He clearly has that competitive attitude, he seem smart, hot-headed and calculated, he seemed rival material.

Before he could even speak back he stopped him with his palm, "what religion do you follow?," he asked now intriguingly curious.

Jackson arched a brow skeptical, "why do you want to know, fatass!?," he questioned knowingly, a deep annoyed voice.

Cartman couldn't help but to smirk by that, oh, he's perfect.

"Y'know just?," he shrugged smugly, "it doesn't matter I'll figure it out," he winked as he began walking to his next class leaving the boy speechless.

That day he stalked his new 'friends', and found everthing he needed to know about them. He also figured out Jackson Hu was a no good, annoyingly boring cult member of a jehovah witness.

He smirked as he watched a picture of the boy on his laptop, resting his chin on his hand now contemplating all the new insults coming his way.

His third day in North park seemed to be flowing well, now hanging out with the three boys he first met really helped the attention fade away from him. But ofcourse, being part of the gang had requirements.

"I looked up your medias, fatboy and I'm quite disappointed," Stewart shaked his head in disapproval.

"What do you mean?," He asked as he munched on some chips indifferent, he loved his profile it had everything he liked, his personalized feed and pictures of his annoying friends.

"Well, it's.. too— your 'kind'," he stated thoughtful, cringing lightly.

"Yeah, if you want to be one of us, you have to start from zero," Hershey nagged, as he snapped his phone from his jacket opening his medias.

"Aye! What do you think you're doing, hippie!?," he protested, trying to grab his phone but was stopped by Jackson who only extended his arm blocking him from going any further.

"We have an image to keep clean, fatass. If anyone knew we let a stinky south parker in our group no one will take us seriously anymore," he explained.

"Might aswell clean you up from that stank your douche town left you," Stewart added as he crossed his arms now looking at his phone along with Hershey.

"But the whole school knows I'm from South Park!."

"Yeah, but we figured if we take all that stank away we could cure you from your disease," Stewart explained disinterested.

"I ain't sick you motherfucker!," he blurted out angry as he watched how the ginger typed rapidly on his phone.

"Here," Hershey gave back his phone, "now just add your details and will add you back. No south parkers, man," he pointed out seriously.

"Not even Kenny!?," he screamed baffled.

The group looked confused unknowingly and shrugged indifferent of his protests.

"I changed your password and email from your previous so you can't get in, just security majors," the ginger added before taking out his phone, "done, added."

His other friends did the exact same thing adding him back.

He sighed as he looked at his now boring empty profile, all his years worth of work being drained back down, his followers, his posts his reels. This sucked ass.

The sacrifices he has to do for keeping up a few months in this hell of a shit town.

°°°°

A week in, and he's been blending well in the north park group. He was actually enjoying his stay and was ACTUALLY learning new things.

A requirement also to be seen as part of Stewart's group was to have atleast a average 8.5 grading in each class he took! So he forcefully had to pay attention and STUDY, another was to be atleast in a club and practicing a sport. 'Why not kick me in ball while you're at it, dickwad!,' is what he blurted out as he was told, 'Shut the fuck up, lardbutt! Those are the rules. You either follow or leave your pick!,' is what he had told him.

He thought it'd be impossible but he actually managed after three deadly dreaded days. Jackson even offered to help him out studying, which he found nicely convenient, alway offering himself to go study at his place or at lunch. He was okay with it cause he figured out the boy was loaded and had the best of snacks.

'That's not how the ginger gene works, fatass!' He remembered his previous arguments, 'It so is, you dumb jehovah witness! I know, trust me I'm an expert,' he defended his theories.

Kyle was ginger, Scott and his dad we're ginger, even, and as much as he hates to admit it, he was half ginger. So he knows damn well his people, unfortunately.

It was pretty much heated like that with Jackson, he liked it though. It turned a spark in him.

"So— is that Kenny dude your boyfriend or something?," Jackson asked outta the blue as they headed to his place.

"What? Kenny!?," he said bewildered, "why would you think he'd be my boyfriend!? I ain't gay!."

"You aren't?," he asked looking now incredulous.

"No!?," 'why the fuck would he think that!?' He thought offended.

"Well, you are from South park," he shrugged in a answer.

Did they really see them as some gay faggots?

"Wait? you think I'm gay cause I'm from South Park?," he asked baffled, eyeing him up and down.

'And they called 'us' stupid.'

"Well duh, everyone from south park is gay."

"I'm not gay, asswipe."

Jackson halted, shaking his head in disappointment, "you don't have to feel embarrassed to be yourself, fatass. We are all very accepting and very opened minded," he rested his hand on his shoulder, ignoring his claims.

"That's bullshit, you guys are hypocrites, since I got here I've just been ridiculed for being born in South park," he explained somewhat not continuously contradicting his 'suspicions.'

Jackson slide his arms on his, gripping him lightly, "look, being gay is highly different than being a tp." He added, now caressing his left arm, "I always thought you were cute," he said playfully in a sultry voice.

He was left bewildered, his brain short-cirquited for brief seconds that felt like hours. Did he call him 'cute'?

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#south park #eric cartman #kyle brovlofski #stan marsh #kenny mccormick #kyman #sp kyman #'What's up with the fatass?' fic #Cartman's 'first' little gay crush

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tabsters · 12 days

Text

SOMEONE LIKE ME (CHAP. 21) - A STARGLASS ZODIAC X ZODIAC EXPERIMENT CROSSOVER

*dances aggressively*

previous chapter is here

next chapter is here

masterpost is here

tagging @mythicalmagical-monkeyman @hyperfixation-tangentopia @maiawhimsicalt and @sweet-star-cookie

"Memory dives are not supposed to hurt, so please alert me if anything feels off, okay?" Centaurus asked, kneeling down and gently placing her hands over Cassie's. "This is going to feel sort of like hypnosis. Just focus on looking into my eyes and breathing evenly."

"Okay," Cassie whispered, finding it very hard indeed to look away from Centaurus' many eyes. She could see what Centaurus meant by hypnosis.

"At some point, you will fall unconscious, which is completely normal and a part of the process."

"Okay..."

And it seemed like no time at all had passed before Cassie was drifting off to sleep.

"Cassie. Can you hear me? Open your eyes."

Cassie's eyes sprang open, and she frantically looked around at her surroundings. It was exactly what she had seen a couple days ago—the snow-swept forest and the darkness of the night.

Which made sense, she supposed. These were her memories.

"Wow..."

The scenery, while mostly accurate, was distorted in some areas and was washed out and faded. Centaurus saw the look of confusion and hastened to answer.

"All of this," She waved her hand around. "Is derived from your sensory memory. Split-second stimuli that your brain briefly remembers before filing away. You remember the general picture, but not the minute details. This is why some of this may look strange."

"What we're looking for," Centaurus continued, holding her fist out. "Is for any clues about where you might have been. Sensory memories, though slightly inaccurate, will help with our situation."

The centaur flicked her fingers, and suddenly, the memory was in motion. It was like watching a movie from the first-person perspective—it was rather strange, to rewatch her own memories so clearly.

"Look for any signs or indications that depict where you were. We can rewind or fast-forward the memory if need be."

"Okay," Cassie inhaled, and then exhaled. "Let's go."

It took a while—and a lot of stopping, rewinding, and fast-forwarding—but they eventually reached a point in Cassie's memory that would give them a clue as to where she was before she crossed into the Astral Plane.

They had rewinded all the way back to the moment Cassie had left her own Astral Plane, and they had finally found an old sign that read "Silverton".

"Silverton, huh?" Centaurus asked, waving her hand. The memory zoomed in on that sign. "Interesting. Well, that certainly sounds like a town of some sort, but I'll have to double-check with Aquarius."

She snapped her fingers, once, and then twice.

And suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Cassie was back in Aquarius' lab.

"Oh—oh /wow/." She muttered, fighting the abrupt and overwhelming urge to close her eyelids and go to sleep.

"Here," Another constellation she didn't recognize said, holding up a glass bottle full of purplish liquid. "Drink this. It'll help with the drowsiness."

Cassie gratefully took the bottle and began drinking the liquid. When she was finished, the room still appeared a bit blurry, but most of the exhaustion had passed.

"Thank you," Cassie said, handing the glass back to the constellation. She had black and white hair, with a set of bird wings to match. She looked like some sort of witch—she was wearing a big witch hat, with a veil covering half of her face. "Who are you?"

"Aquila. Advisor to Aquarius." The woman flapped her wings once before folding them to her side. "It'll take roughly thirty minutes for the potion to take full effect, so I'd recommend you lie there for a bit."

"Aquarius, huh?" Cassie glanced over at Aquarius, who was talking with Centaurus—she briefly heard something about 'Colorado'. "That's funny, actually! The Auriga in my world is also Aquarius' companion constellation."

Aquila folded her arms and cocked her head. "Really? How fascinating. Tell me more."

"Well, Aquila and Aquarius both have lightning powers. They got into a lot of fights, but eventually, they agreed to share the skies and now sometimes, they work together."

"Interesting. I myself don't have lightning powers—that sounds more like Columba or Aquarius. But Aquarius and I did bond over a shared interest: chemistry."

"Really?" Cassie asked, looking around the lab. "I thought Aquarius was your tech person."

"Cetus is actually the person we go to for technology." Aquila gestured around the lab, pointing to things Cassie hadn't seen before—vials holding brightly colored liquid, arrays of test tubes, and bunsen burners. "Aquarius specializes in chemistry and biology. I assist with making different types of potions. I'm currently one of the only constellations that can actually brew potions."

"You're one of the only ones? Why?" Cassie asked, thinking. Potions sounded relatively easy to make, so she couldn't see any reason why others wouldn't be able to do it.

"In this Astral Plane, magic is expressed in specific ways for different people. You can't learn different types of magic—whatever technique you have when you arrive here is what you're stuck with." Aquila fidgeted with her dress ribbons. "It was especially hard for Ciara when she first arrived. For a while, she thought she was just an ordinary human."

"Wow. Yeah, I could see how it would be hard for her," Cassie said. Her eye was an integral part of her—she was born with it and nobody knew its purpose. She grew up with a feeling that it was related to something more—something greater. But she could never figure out what.

At least, not until she met the Zodiacs.

"Cassie! C'mere, we've figured it out!" Aquarius shouted, waving her over with a twitch of her pigtail. Cassie slid off the chair, waved goodbye to Aquila, and made her way over to the enormous TV screen.

"So, from what you've told us and from the weird sign we saw in your memories," Aquarius said as she pulled up Google Maps. "We believe you were in Silverton, Colorado. Why? No idea. But there's a likely chance that you ended up there."

"Which means that's also where Ciara was," Centaurus said. "A strange coincidence, that you both were drawn to this area at the same time."

"Well, now we know that this area contains one of your portals." Aquarius shut off the multitude of screens, her hair growing longer until it was long enough for her to sit on. "You may be able to go home soon, Cassie."

"Really?" Cassie asked, hope beginning to blossom in her chest. It'd only been four days, but she missed her friends and family terribly—she missed her Zodiacs as well. "That's fantastic news!"

She spun around in a circle, suddenly coming face-to-face with a new constellation—she hadn't even heard them show up. "AGH—!"

The new constellation, who had bright rainbow hair, wiry glasses, and a black face mask, cheerfully waved at her, not seeming to notice how she nearly gave Cassie a heart attack.

"Chamaeleon," Aquarius chided, the rainbow-haired constellation shrugging in response. "We've talked about sneaking up on people like that."

Chamaeleon made a flurry of hand motions, some of which Cassie could interpret. The constellation ended this barrage with a very rude gesture, which Cassie could definitely interpret. Aquarius sighed.

"'But it's fun' does not constitute as a proper reason for using your camoflauge skills to scare people." Aquarius waved back and forth between Chamaeleon and Cassie, turning away. "Cassie, meet Chamaeleon. Chamaeleon, meet Cassie."

"Oh—hi!" Cassie tried to remember the sign language Piscis Austrinus had taught her—it seemed like Chamaeleon could understand it when people spoke to her, but she wanted to be polite. "Um. How—are—you?" She signed out, hoping she didn't sign something horrifically offensive.

Chamaeleon's eyes lit up at Cassie's feeble hand motions, countering with more, slower, gestures. /I'm good! How are you? Are you enjoying your time here?/

"She says she's good, and she asks if you're enjoying your time here," Sagittarius translated, walking over to them. He bumped Chamaeleon on the shoulder with his fist, and she punched him back.

"Oh! Yes—I—am." Cassie signed back.

/If I might ask, what's the object inside your eye?/

"She asks what's in your eye."

Cassie unfortunately did not know how to put this information into signs. "Can I say it out loud and you translate?"

"Sure!"

Cassie put a hand to her face, cupping the fingers around the eye with the Starglass. "It's a magical object from my Astral Plane—it's called the Starglass. It lets me see and interact with spirits."

/What's it like in your Astral Plane? I've been looking through a lot of books in the library and I haven't managed to find anything about another Astral Plane. Could you tell me about it?/

"Jeez, Cami, slow down," Sagittarius whined as he watched her hands intently. "She asks what it's like in your Astral Plane because she's been reading a lot and she can't find anything about another Astral Plane."

"Well, um...the Astral Plane is above the mortal realm, with the Voidlands in between them. The Voidlands are—well I guess I have to explain Void and Light magic first." Cassie moved her hands around frantically as her words spilled out of her mouth. She paused for a second as Sagittarius translated her words.

/Take your time!/

"She says to take your time," Sagittarius said. "Whenever you're ready."

"Okay, okay. So in my Astral Plane, all spirits are made up of a mixture of Light and Void magic. When there's an imbalance of power between the Light and Void magic, the spirit becomes corrupted." Cassie waved her hands around some more, trying to articulate her words. "And then they fall down to the Voidlands, where the biggest amount of Void magic is. Sometimes they fall down to Earth. It's my job to rescue these spirits and help to un-corrupt them."

Chamaeleon's eyes lit up at the mention of corruption. /We have that too! I'm not a Zodiac, so I can't really explain it well, but maybe Sagittarius here could tell you more?/

"She says that we also have corruption in our realm." Sagittarius paused, and then made a face at Chamaeleon. "And that since she's not a Zodiac, I should tell you more about it."

"Ciara already told me some stuff about the corruption here. Uh, she mentioned something about your blood? She said it messed with your mind." Cassie waved her hands vaguely around Sagittarius' head. "And that it made you into monsters?"

Sagittarius furrowed his brows together. "Yep, something like that. Uh, we were created by this being called Eclipse. Did Ciara tell you about her?"

Cassie nodded. "She mentioned her. Gemini and Pegasus, too. Gemini said she was a bit of an asshole...?"

"Yep, sounds like Gem." Sagittarius looked up, over to where Gemini was doing loop-de-loops on her cloud, and shouting at Aquarius. "I'll spare you most of the details, but basically, corruption is a side effect of the Zodiacs' trauma. You are correct, Eclipse's blood does mess with our minds. It brings out the worst in us—it affects our minds and it multiplies the effects of our trauma. If we relive our worst memories, it takes control and sends us into a corrupted state."

"All that from blood?"

"It's called orichalcum, and yes, it's insanely powerful. In fact, it's what gives us the capability to even perform magic." Sagittarius unknotted the white headband wrapped around his head. His hair fell loosely around his shoulders, and he began to play with his headband. "Human beings were never meant to wield magic, so obviously there are side effects to trying to make them vessels for magic."

"Huh. So what exactly does corruption do?" Cassie asked. "Like, what happens to you, physically?"

"Oh. Well, it depends on the Zodiac." Sagittarius pointed towards Aquarius, who was now talking animatedly with Pisces. (Gemini was sitting on her cloud, apparently excluded from the conversation)

"Aquarius and Pisces could probably tell you more specific things; they're the oldest Zodiacs. But we all share some traits in common. For example, our skin will start to turn black, especially around areas where we have scarring. Our eyes will start to change color, either to red or purple."

Cassie nodded slowly. "That sounds a lot like my own form of corruption! Spirits that are corrupted in my world also lose a lot of their rational thought—they often grow bigger and become more aggressive."

"Fascinating!" Aquarius shouted from across the room, and Chamaeleon signed something probably similar to that. Aquarius all but ran over to give her opinion, Pisces and Gemini following behind her.

"That also happens in our world—when Zodiacs are stuck in a corrupted form for too long, they transform into what is called a Kaiju form." Aquarius explained excitedly—Pisces didn't look too enthusiastic about the topic for whatever reason. "Enormous monsters with no rationality or logical thought, powerful enough to wreck the entirety of the Astral Plane."

Pisces cleared his throat, and Aquarius amended her statement. "Luckily, all of our information about Kaiju forms are hypothetical—no Zodiac has ever succumbed to corruption enough to activate their Kaiju form."

Pisces cleared his throat again, and Aquarius glared at him before correcting her statement again. "There's some constellations that are more susceptible to corruption...we've managed to negate most of the worst symptoms."

Apparently whatever silent argument the two of them were having was settled, as Pisces nodded tersely and then walked away. Aquarius scoffed, both her pigtails growing up and wrapping around the ceiling beams, carrying her up and away.

"Good talking with you, Cassie!" Aquarius shouted, her voice echoing throughout her lab. "Gemini will talk to you about the proper procedures to send you back home!"

And with that, she disappeared somewhere into the ceiling. The sound of a sliding door opening and shutting could be heard, and Cassie knew Pisces had gone as well.

"What...what was that about?" Cassie asked Gemini, who was floating behind her on her cloud.

Gemini and Sagittarius glanced at each other, and then shrugged.

"Aquarius and Pisces are really close, they're basically siblings," Gemini explained. "But the one topic they're split on is corruption. Aquarius thinks corruption is fascinating and wants to study it, but Pisces is...really sensitive about corruption."

"It's cause Pisces is dating Scorpio, and Scorpio has suffered the most corruption episodes out of any other Zodiac." Sagittarius whispered, getting a sharp elbow to the shoulder by Gemini. "A lot of us used to view Scorpio as an outcast because of that—ow! Hey!"

"Shut it," She whispered, nodding towards Cassie.

"Aquarius and Pisces are actually married in my world," Cassie said, changing the subject. Sagittarius' face wrinkled up in disgust, probably thinking about what it would be like if his own Aquarius and Pisces were romantically involved.

Cassie kept thinking. It seemed that Scorpio was intrinsically linked to exclusion, or shame, or disgrace, no matter what form he took.

She wondered why that was.

check out @sweet-star-cookie's starglass zodiac lore if you liked this!! questions about my lore are greatly appreciated!!

#oc #oc lore #zodiac #zodiacs #zodiac sign #zodiac signs #zodiac lore #zodiac oc #zodiac ocs

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