Research says you are bound to like at least one out of four blondies

(source: me)

A Long Way From The Playground | Charlie Gillespie

Requested by @faithie-brock-gillespie01​: Can you make one where me and Charlie go out to hang out around the town and I get pinned to the wall by man who hasn’t left me alone all day (like he attacks me when Charlie just goes to the bathroom or something) and then all of a sudden Charlie comes back and saves me by pulling the guy off. They get into a small fight and he ends up growling “mine” and pointing at the guy as I pull him back and out of the place. After I pull him out and get him home. When home I patch him up (because he has a few cuts on his face) and he ends up confessing (after I ask why he did it) that he hates to see me get hurt so he saved me. We end up confessing to loving one another.*My name: y/nMy nicknames: sweetheart, sweetie, love, Princess, queen, angel, nugget (Or whatever you can think of. )*charlies nicknames: Char, King, Baby Boy, My Prince, My Prince Charming, My Love, Babe, Sweetheart, baby, love bug, sweetie, sweetheart,  my prince, baby, baby boy, sweet cakes, babe, sweetie, or even Troy (like I use it as a funny thing to mess with him, because he’s kinda like my Troy), real life Luke (because it’s again a funny thing in the relationship or like because he acts like a real life one hence the real life part), (Or whatever you can think of. )

Pairing: Charlie Gillespie x Reader

Warnings: angst, sexual harassment, fight,

Words: 3,426

You’ve been friends with Charlie for ages. The first day at Kindergarten, a mean girl had pushed you off the swing during recess, and when Charlie saw this, he came up to help you. He pushed the girl off the swing she stole from you and then rushed to your side to help you up. He accompanied you to the school nurse and even stayed after the wound on your knee had been taken care of. The nurse had given both of you a lollipop and allowed you to wait in her office until recess was over. Ever since that day, you and Charlie had been inseparable. You went through life together, supporting each other’s decisions and helping out whenever the other was in trouble.  It was really hard on you when Charlie went to LA to pursue his acting career, but you supported him nonetheless. This was his dream, and as a best friend, it was your duty to let him go and pursue that dream, even if that meant leaving you in Dieppe all by yourself. Your relationship never really suffered from the distance between the two of you. There were consistent FaceTime calls and constant texts, it’s almost as though he’s not even gone. The only thing that might cause disturbance is your feelings for him. You were eighteen when you first realized that you’d much rather kiss Charlie than hug him, when his otherwise platonic touches were felt everywhere. Everywhere. But, of course, you decided not to say anything because it might just ruin what you have, and what you have is really special. In 2019, Charlie asks you to come along with him to Vancouver where he’s going to be shooting Julie and The Phantoms, a Kenny Ortega project. You, being a big fan of the director and Charlie, decide to come along. You deserve a little break, and you’ve missed Charlie too much to pass up this opportunity. “Bubbaaaaa!” you shriek as you run up to him in the grand hallway of Vancouver International Airport, leaving your luggage somewhere along the way. He’s holding out his arms, ready to catch you as you jump up and into his arms, wrapping your legs around his waist, clutching onto him like a koala bear. Passengers leaving or arriving give you weird looks, annoyed at the disturbance in their day, but you don’t care. It’s been months since you’d last seen this man, and you’re way too excited to  be in his arms again. “Hey Nugget,” he mumbles in your hair, inhaling the fresh scent of  peonies, his most favorite. “Gosh, I missed ya.” He loosens his arms a little to put you back on your feet, but you don’t want to let go yet. A chuckle vibrates through his chest and travels all the way through yours. “I missed you too, Bubba,” you say back and then let go of him. You just needed a few more seconds in his arms. After grabbing your luggage where you left it, he takes you to the apartment he’s sharing with one of his cast mates, Owen, who’s sitting on the sofa as you arrive. The tall blonde man gets up and makes his way over to you with a wide smile on his face. “Hi!” he greets, opening his arms to give you a welcome hug. “I’m Owen.” “I’m Y/N, nice to meet you,” you say back when the two of you pull away. “I’m gonna show Y/N to their room and then we can maybe get some lunch together?” Charlie suggests to the both of you. After exchanging a glance, you and Owen nod agreeingly. Charlie then excitedly grabs your hand and leads you towards one of the rooms. “This is my room, but you can sleep here and I’ll sleep on the couch,” he explains softly. Your head snaps up at this, wondering if he’s serious about his suggestion of sleeping on the couch. He’s looking at you expectantly. He is serious about sleeping on the couch. “Dude… We used to sleep in the same bed during our sleepovers in Dieppe all the time. Just sleep in this bed with me, alright?” You almost sound angry at the audacity of him suggesting doing otherwise.  “Right, yeah! Of course,” he utters, his eyes lighting up, “I just-- didn’t want to force you to sleep in the same bed in case things… changed…” You let out an airy laugh, shaking your head in disbelief whilst throwing your luggage onto the bed with a dull thud. “Nothing could ever change things between us, Char,” you mutter, but in your mind know at least one reason that could change between you. You hear him chuckle as you grab an entirely new outfit from your suitcase, wanting to change out of your disgusting airplane clothes. “Can I take a quick shower before we go to lunch?” you ask, and he simply nods his head and guides you out of the bedroom and to the shared bathroom. While you shower, you think of all the possible ways this week could go. You want to tell Charlie how you truly feel. You can’t just be friends with him anymore. It’s been three years since you figured it out. You’ve spent three years trying not to scream whenever his fingers left a burning trail on your skin or when his glances made you tingle everywhere. But now you’re done trying to pretend nothing’s going on. You’re done pretending not kissing him isn’t killing you. Though the multiple possible scenarios make for a bad movie, you’re willing to at least try and see what he’s going to say or do. This could go either way. Little do you know Charlie’s having the exact same thoughts, only he’s saying them out loud to Owen, one room over. “You gotta tell them, man. There’s no way you’re gonna be able to hold out much longer,” says Owen to his distressed friend, “This is making you crazy.” Charlie doesn’t disagree. It is making him crazy. Maybe this week might give him some clarity as to what to do about this entire situation. Once you’re ready, the three of you head out into Vancouver to grab some lunch. While Charlie and Owen bicker about which restaurant would be best to take you to, you give yourself the opportunity to look around, rewarding your eyes with the beauty that is West End Vancouver. The difference between Dieppe and Vancouver is fascinating, to say the least. It’s funny to you because wherever you go or turn in Dieppe, there’s a natural flair to the streets, while everything in Vancouver is made of brick. Or at least this street is. “What about sushi, Y/N?” Owen asks you, making you snap out of your thoughts. “Ooh! I love me some sushi!” you reply, your mouth already salivating at the thought alone. “Told ya, Char,” he says to Charlie, “Who’s really their best friend, huh?” Charlie playfully punches the blondie in the shoulder, inducing a laugh from him. “All right, kids, where’s this sushi place? I am hella hungry!” you exclaim, interrupting their banter. They both point to a building on your right. You’re now looking at a townhouse, all brown bricks and teal framework around the windows and balconies at the top, whilst the ground floor has a black finish and black canopy with the sushi bar’s logo on it in big, white lettering. Before you can say anything else, the two have pulled you inside already, finding a spot near the back. Charlie slides into the booth next to you while Owen takes the opposite side. The waiter’s quick on his feet and brings you a menu and asks what you want to drink straight away. All three of you order some sodas, and then the waiter leaves you to choose. While you’re scanning the menu for something you like, you can feel a pair of eyes burning your skin. You look up for a moment, locking eyes with a guy that doesn’t look that much older than you. Awkwardly, you shoot him a smile before turning back to the menu. You look up again every now and then because you want to check if he’s still looking, and every time, he is. By the third time, he shoots you this disgusting smirk that sends physical shivers down your spine, shaking your entire body from head to toe. “You okay?” Charlie asks, feeling you shiver. “Yeah, just got the chills,” you reply, not wanting to make this a dramatic thing. It’s just a man staring at you creepily. Nothing you haven’t experienced yet. That’s what you get for wearing such extravagant clothes. “I’m ready to order, what about you guys?” you change the subject quickly, more for yourself than anyone else. You need to focus on other things so as to not feel too uncomfortable.  The three of you order your food, and you start to ask the boys some questions about their new project together, and you even ask Owen about his show Knight Squad. You did watch that with your younger siblings when it ran on Nickelodeon. All of it helps keep you occupied and not at all thinking about the creepy man that’s still there. “I gotta go in for a fitting, but I’ll see you guys at the apartment later, okay?” Owen says after lunch, scooting out of the booth. “Can you cover my part of the bill, Char? I’ll pay you back later.” The boy next to you simply nods his head. “Kay, thanks. See you later, Y/N,” he offers you a wave before leaving the joint and leaving you and Charlie by yourself. “Can we go?” you ask when you notice Creepy Guy again. “Yeah, sure,” Charlie replies and scoots out of the booth. “Are you okay? You’ve been fidgety ever since we got here…” Of course he’d notice your change of demeanor. The Creepy Guy’s eyes on you at all times has made you quite nervous. “Oh, no, yeah… I’m fine,” you try to smile as convincingly as possible. “I gotta go to the toilet real quick, I’ll be right back, okay?” You slowly nod your head, unsure if it’s such a good plan to leave you by yourself with Creepy Guy just a few feet away.  At first, you can keep your nerves at bay by pulling your jacket on and tugging at your shirt to make sure nothing’s on show. Then, you decide to take your phone out and aimlessly scroll through social media. It’s not like you’re actually picking things up from the things people posted since you’re trying to listen if there are any feet approaching. Your ears betray you today as there’s a tap on your shoulder. Hoping and praying it’s Charlie, you slowly turn around, only to find Creepy Guy in front of you with that disturbing smirk on his face. Chills run down your spine again as your thumb blindly finds its way to your contacts in your phone. You know Charlie’s name is at the very top of your recent calls, ready to be pressed in case of emergencies. “Hello, Gorgeous,” Creepy Guy says, “Noticed your two boy toys left you all by yourself, thought you could use some company.” He’s shuffling closer and closer, his breath hot and foul on your lips as you’re backing  away until you feel the wall behind you. You’re frantically looking around for someone to notice and help you. A waitress behind the counter has a phone pressed to her ear, and you’re praying she’s calling the police.  “What’s wrong, Angel Face? Are you n--” he’s cut off and pulled away from you all of a sudden. You have to blink your eyes a couple of times before you could properly see again. The whole situation made you black out for a couple of seconds. But now, your eyes land on Charlie, punching Creepy Guy in the face and getting hit a few times in return. For a moment, you’re frozen to the floor. Firstly because seeing Charlie fuming and punching a guy is kind of hot, and secondly because you’ve got no clue what to do. “Charlie,” you finally manage to bring out and place a hand on his shoulder. He turns his head at you, dark and angry eyes softening at the sight of your scared expression. “Let’s go,” you whisper, and grab his hand. “Hey, are you okay?” the waitress asks when you pass her, “I just called the cops, they’re gonna be here soon.” You glance at Charlie, his face all beaten up and bloody from the impact of Creepy Guy’s fist. “They’re gonna want you to make a statement.” “Fine,” you sigh. You wished you could forget about this whole thing quickly, but the girl just wants to help. “Could I get your first aid kit to take care of him first though?” You point at your best friend’s face, and the girl nods her head. “You can do it in here,” she says, beckoning you to follow. She hands you the small box and then leaves the two of you alone as though she knows you need some privacy. You sit Charlie down on the chair and perch yourself on the table next to it whilst going through the first aid kit. It’s silent for a while as you’re cleaning up the cuts on his forehead and cheeks. “Why’d you do that, Charlie?” you mutter, frustrated that his hot-headedness got him into this mess. He hisses as the disinfecting product you’re dabbing on his wounds starts stinging. “I hate seeing you get hurt, Nugget. Seeing that man practically groping you sickened me to my stomach. It hurt me as much as it hurt you, Y/N,” he exhales sharply and grabs your wrist to stop you from undeliberately hurting him some more. “Babe, I need to clean out these wounds,” you grumble, trying to wriggle your hand loose. “I’m fine, Y/N. They’ll heal,” he tells you, though you know those wounds are hurting. “No, Char. They’ll infect if I don’t clean them out properly,” you cup his face on one side, softly rubbing your thumb against his cheek. “You’re gonna have to grin and bear it, baby. Let me take care of you, okay?” His eyes soften as does the grip on your wrist. You continue cleaning up the wounds in silence, only Charlie’s soft hissing filling up your ears. “There you go,” you whisper when you’re finally done, “You’re as good as new.” Charlie offers you a thankful smile, which you return quickly before getting off the table to throw the used gauze into the bin in the corner of the room. When you turn around to return to the table, Charlie’s right behind you, making you jump out of your skin as you didn’t expect him to be this close. “Jeez, Bubba, I didn’t hear you sneak up,” you say in a hushed voice while clutching your heart. He’s staring down at you, his twinkling eyes flicking from yours to your lips and back. “What?” you ask softly. Your brain is going a mile a minute and your heart is pounding out of your chest. Besides hugging him, it’s been a while since you’ve been this close to him. You’d almost forgotten what that did to you. “I just--” he visibly swallows a lump, and then a smile plays at his lips, “Remember that first day we met? When Jade pushed you off that swing?” Though you’re confused as to why he’d bring that up, you can’t help but smile. “I still have a scar on my knee from that fall,” you reply, remembering the day clearly. “I thought you were super sweet to stand up for me. I even found it a little funny when you pushed Jade off the swing in return.” A chuckle escapes from him. “Yeah, Miss Edwards didn’t find it quite as funny,” Charlie adds. “But I knew from that day on that you were gonna be special to me, Y/N. Gossipping at the nurse’s office about who we liked and didn’t like, our mutual love for coca cola lollipops and The Rugrats.... I just knew I never wanted to be friends with anyone else in my life.” Your lips turn up into a tender smile at his sweet words. “But things have changed, haven’t they?” Your smile disappears at this. Where is this going?  “I’ve been trying to find the right words to say this, but I could never come up with anything that could even come close to how I’m feeling…” he lets out a shaky breath, his eyes scanning your face for any sign of help. “Charlie… What are you getting at?” you ask, the fear taking over your voice with a quiver. “I might totally ruin our friendship with this, but I have to tell you because it’s driving me crazy…” Your eyebrows furrow, worry growing within you. “Charlie, stop babbling and just tell me what you wanna say! This is kinda nerve-wracking!” you raise your voice a little as a nervous chuckle breaks up the words ever so slightly. “Y/N,” he scoffs, “I’ve been in love with you since we were eighteen, and no, I didn’t get that from a One Direction song, though I’m pretty sure that one would’ve been accurate to sing to you right now. So, I’m just gonna quote that…” Your breath hitches in your throat at his confession. The thing you’ve been so afraid of for years is something that’s been bothering him too. At the exact same time. “Long before we both thought the same thing,” he continues, still in his normal speaking voice until the musician in him comes up. “To be loved or to be in love. And all I can do is say that these arms are made for holding you, oh. I wanna love like you made me feel… When we were eighteen…” He stops singing and looks at you for any sign of reciprocation. You’re frozen to the floor in absolute shock. This is what you’ve been dreaming about for so long and now that it’s finally here, you’re not even saying anything. “Y/N? I-- I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I should’ve just kept these feelings to myself. I totally ruined everything now, didn’t I? I--let’s just forget about this whole thing, yeah? Just wake up tomorrow as if nothing ever happened. It’s okay, I--” You finally spring into action. But instead of saying anything, you simply grab him by his shirt and pull him into you, pressing your lips to his in a passionate kiss. He’s startled at first, but quickly melts into your lips and lets his hands find their way to your face. “I’ve been waiting for three years, scared you didn’t feel the same…” you whisper as you pull back, finally having found the words. “We’re both so stupid, Bubba.” He chuckles softly before kissing you again. “We literally could’ve been doing this for three whole years!” you exclaim, shaking your head in disbelief. “Yes, Princess, I know. Now, shut up and kiss me, we’ve got three years of this to catch up on.” A smile tugs at your lips as he removes the remaining space between your lips again. You’re a little too caught up into the kiss, you don’t even notice the knock on the door. “Guys, the--” you break apart, wide eyes staring at the door where the waitress stands with a sheepish smile. “Sorry… The cops are here,” she throws her thumb backwards. “Ugh, right…” you groan, but Charlie takes your hand and leads you out into the sushi bar again. During your statement, he stays with you at all times, holding your hand and watching you closely with a sad smile on his face. He hates the fact you have to go through all of that again as if you didn’t go through enough already. “That’s all we need from you, miss Y/L/N,” the officer says after a while. “You’ll hear from us soon. You can go home now. As for you, mister Gillespie, I’d do something about that anger of yours.” Charlie curtly nods his head before taking you out of the restaurant. The two of you head back home, and once there, you immediately head into the bedroom. There’s a lot of catching up to do from those three lost years. Your friendship has come a long way from the playground.

Taglist: @hannahhistorian92​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @thequirkybookaholic​ @bookdealer5​ @tenaciousperfectionunknown​ @hemmingsness​ @iainttakingshitfromnobody​ @ifilwtmfc​ @angryknightstatesmantrash​ @kiss-themoongoodbye​ @rudysbay​ @thedarkqueenofavalon​​ @caitsymichelle13​​ @calamitykaty​ @wiselight​ @parkeret​​ @lukeys-giggle​ @gingerxarmy​ @lovesanimals​ @lolychu​ @perfectlywrongformend3s​ @luckylouiebug​ @camiladelrio98​ @myfriendscallmebeans​ @kcd15​

Rupaul’s DragRace season 13 is almost here and I want to give my opinion on the queens based only on the promos and meet the queens. (Everything I am about to say is just my opinion and doesn’t have to be taken seriously. For no reason I want to discredit the work of any queen because all of them are fierce entertainers that have to be respected by all the public that watches the show). Normally my opinion of the queens based on the promos is not so far from what ends up happening in the show.(I want to apologize if my English is not that good, it is my second language and many times I don't know how to transmit my ideas very well).

I want to start with my top 4. Last season three of the four queens in my top ended up being the final three, only leaving Sakura out of the top. This season my top 4 are:

GottMik, Symone, Utica and Rosé.

I want to start with GottMik and Symone. From my top 4 (if I had to cut it to a top 2) they would be my front runners.

GottMik

GottMik's aesthetic in the promo stands out (which is something that almost all the winners have) she is very high couture mix with fantasy and sci-fi cinematography, his personality is interesting and somewhat enigmatic, his makeup is 100/10 the best in the promo and he is the first trans man to compete (it is important highlight the visibility of our trans brothers and sisters in the LGBT+ community).

Symone

Symone's aesthetic stands out a lot from the other participants (As Nina Bonina Brown said: Symone is serving us black girl high fashion couture). Her personality (in the promos) is one of the brightest among all personalities. With Symone it happens to me (and I don't know if it happens to you when you see someone) that I see her and it is one of those people that I immediately say: This person is a star, she was born to shine. And we also always have to remember the incredible visibility of poc in the LGBT+ community that queens like Symone bring.

Utica Queen

From Utica I also want to highlight her aesthetic (that outfit with the 3 hats gives me life). Her personality (based on the promos) is like a ray of sunshine that illuminates everyone's day. It is seen that she is an interesting and alternative queen with a very strong creative spirit. And always in all seasons these “kooky/weirdos” queens have a special place in my heart.

Rosé

I don't have much to say about Rosé, she gives me this vibe of a new york queen like Bianca Del Rio, Bob The Drag Queen and Aquaria (what I mean is that she gives me a vibe of a queen that is very talented in many areas) and her look is very blondie meets Barbie and the rockers, which is a concept that I am always here for.

Now I want to talk about the queens that are not in my top 4 for some reason but I am sure that they may surprise me and that I think they can do well in the competition, which are:

Tina Burner, Kandy Muse, Tamisha Iman, Lala Ri, Denali and Olivia Lux.

Tina Burner

Tina Burner looks like she's a talented queen, but something doesn't quite convince me. She reminds me a lot of Nina West but I don't feel that warmth and sweetness that Nina exudes. Her look is not one of my favorites (but hey, she said in the meet the queens that her taste is questionable, and I liked that). I think she's going to do very well in the snatch game and in the acting challenges, and also, she have a great personality. I hope to be surprised by Tina this season.

Kandy Muse

One of the hardest things about competing in DragRace is being part of a family that has already participated in the show. Aja (Kandy's mother) is one of the queens with a strong personality that has participated in the most recent seasons. Dahlia (kandy's sister), although she was the first eliminated, appeared in all episodes of the season. Kandy's look is very good, and although I think the judges are going to demand a lot of personality from her (comparing her to Aja) I'm sure that Kandy has personality to spare, I also think that it is very possible that she is part of the top 4 this season. The reason I didn't put her in my top is merely personal taste, normally queens who describe themselves as "loud" are not my personal liking (like Eureka or Silky). But I am sure that Kandy is going to be one of the strongest competitors this season.

Tamisha Iman

The main reason why I didn't put Tamisha in my top is her personality, and don't get me wrong, her promo attitude (a very serious and straightforward personality) I like a lot, I'm sure the narrative that the producers are going to give her it isn’t going to be very flattering. Her outfit looks like a typical pageant queen look (well executed but has nothing that stands out). And above all this, I'm sure the producers are going to put her in the bottom two with Lala Ri to give us this dramatic and heartbreaking mother vs daughter lipsync.

Lala Ri

Lala Ri (judging from the promo) looks like she has a very striking personality, which always helps a lot in the competition. Her promo look, which is a bodysuit (her signature outfit), isn't very strong. And we all know Michelle's opinion of the queens who wear too many bodysuits in the competition. As a second point, something that scares me is that Lala Ri said in meet the queens (I don't fully remember how she said it so I'm going to paraphrase): "I didn't get to this competition to leave because of hot glue" Putting that together with the fact that she said she doesn't know how to sew, gives me to understand that she is going to be eliminated in a design challenge. Another point is, like what is going to happen with Tamisha, is that the producers are going to putting her in the bottom two to give us the mother vs daughter lipsync.

Denali

Denali is one of the queens with one of the most striking and different outfit among all the competitors, which is very good. From everything that she said she seems very talented, and the fact that she is an ice skater is a skill that hardly any queen possesses. A personal point for me here (of why I support her) is her Mexican heritage (and as a queer Mexican person myself, I am proud to see a queen who can give that representation on the show). The main reason I didn't put her in my top 4 is: her personality. Her personality It doesn’t look as flashy as other queens and that always ends up eliminating talented queens who cannot steal the spotlight compared to other contestants (such as Jan in season 12 or Max in season 7).

Olivia Lux

In the case of Olivia I debated a lot if I should put her in this category or in the next category (queens that are going to be eliminated first). In the end I decided to put her in this category because (from what she said) she has a strong personality and I think that can help her a lot in the competition. Her outfit from the promo looks good (but she has nothing that makes her stand out like other queens). Her hairstyle is one of my favorites, the combination of afro with that color between mahogany and carrot, I really loved it. And that's it, I don't have much to say, I just hope Olivia surprises me this season.

And the last category in which I separate the queens is: contestants that I think are going to be eliminated first.

Kahmora Hall, Joey Jay and Elliott with 2TS.

Kahmora Hall

One of the things I always enjoy seeing on DragRace is: representation. I'm glad we have another Asian queen to join the DragRace family. The look Kahmora is using in the promo is very polished and the wig with crystals looks perfect (Did you stone that wig?). Having said that, I really don't think Kahmora will last long in the competition. Her drag daughter Soju (who was one of my favorite queens even before she entered the show) is incredible, but I think the mother is going to repeat the same situation as the daughter and be one of the first to leave. I think the main reason is that her personality can't get across the screen. When queens have trouble to transmit their personality across the screen they also tend to have the problem of not being able to transmit their personality to the judges and end up getting eliminated at first. But I hope that Kahmora manages to excel and advance in the competition. Sidebar: I am very upset that the face mask that Kahmora had planned to use had not ended up appearing in the promo because of the message it transmitted. My boyfriend is Asian and he has suffered a lot of harassment for the issue of the pandemic, where ignorant people accuse him of being the carrier of the virus. It was a very strong message that Kahmora had planned with the face mask and it should have been shown to the public.

Joey Jay

Something very strange happened to me with Joey, although she has an aesthetic that I really enjoy (very punk rock and edgy style) I feel that she does not stand out among all the queens. Her personality looks nice but also very difficult to decipher, something doesn't quite convince me with Joey. And I'm sure Michelle is going to criticize the fact that Joey doesn't normally wear wigs (even from the first episode as Michelle also criticized Crystal's makeup in season 12 or Dusty in season 10) and when Joey decides to change it she runs the risk of being eliminated in that episode (like Max in season 7 or Derrick in season 8). I don't know what it is yet, but something actually tells me that Joey is going to be one of the first eliminated contestants.

Elliott With 2TS

And finally we have Elliott. When I see Elliott’s promo I can only think of James Mansfield from season 9. His personality doesn't stand out much compared to the other queens. Elliott looks like she's nice but I don't feel like she commands attention like other participants. And the two negative points for me are: her name and her outfit. Her name just doesn't resonate in a nice way to say it (like Dax exclamation point from season 8) and her outfit, what do I say? Her outfit was the weakest of the entire promo. But I really hope Elliott can surprise me and advance in the competition.

That's it, just judging by the promo and the meet the queens this are my opinions of how the queens are going to do in the competition. But this is only the beginning, many things can change during the competition. And I want to emphasize again that this is ONLY my opinion, and should not be taken seriously in any way, all participants are talented and deserve to win just for the fact of being selected to participate. I am very excited for this new season of Rupaul's DragRace.

Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman WIN!

Ace VII [8 fucking 30]

pairing: bakugo x fem!reader

genre: humor, romance

TW: violence, cursing, angst, fluff

Summary:

Shifting into My Hero was a total mistake, all those tiktoks you watched on a daily about shifting somehow convinced your brain to take part. Now the question is how to wake up, and most importantly, DON’T GET ATTACHED TO STUPID DRAWINGS!

A/N:

Yuhhhhh i made a new chapter. Reblog and like for clear skin hotties! 

{ACE MASTERLIST}

Once you finished resting up, and once everyone cleaned up their appearance, you all decided to pay a visit to a certain superhero to see if they could help you figure out your little problem.

Well, not little problem. Big problem. Very big problem. 

“Hey Y/N,” Midoriya began as he walked besides you and Hiro. “Do you by any chance remember All Might? Or Mr. Aizawa?” 

You shook your head and looked down. “Sorry Midoriya, I don't really remember anything. I mean, the names sound familiar, but I can't exactly put faces to them. All my memories are blobby.” 

“What the fuck does blobby mean?” Bakugou asked as he stomped behind you. 

“You don’t know what blobby means, Bakugou?” You asked as a smirk covered your face. “Come on dude, catch up with the lingo.” 

“Shut up! No one know what you and your stupid vocabulary means half the time anyways. You always sprouting some stupid shit.” He scowled. 

“Yeah Bakugou,” Todoroki grinned. “Catch up with the lingo.” 

“Shut the fuck up, Teapot.” He growled. 

“Hey! Before you two get into another fight,” Midoriya intervened. “I suggest we get this problem fixed first.” He gave them a hard glare. 

“Whatever. The only reason why I’m here is because I don’t need Y/N’s dumbass making us look weak.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” You said rolling your eyes. 

Dear God, this guy was infuriating. 

“We get it dude. I’m weak and stupid and you’re the greatest Hero ever. Woopie.” You said pouring as much sarcasm as you could into your voice. 

“Hey, cut it out, you two.” Midoriya said. “We’re here. I overheard they were going to have a teacher meeting, so let’s just wait outside until they're done.” 

You turned away from Bakugou and turned to look at a huge door. You could hear slight muffles, but nothing too clear. As much as you wanted to eavesdrop, you couldn’t bring yourself to disrespect the people who are probably going to determine your future. 

The four of you decided to sit against the wall, with Midoriya to your right and Todoroki to your left. Hiro was being stiffly pet by Todoroki, while Bakugou sat in front of you. 

“So what was your life before you were morphed here?” Todoroki asked. 

“Nothing special,” you shrugged. “In my dimension, or whatever, there was this huge pandemic that pretty much took over the world. It's like, highly contagious, so we can't leave our house. I did school online and pretty much have stayed home. You can’t exactly come into contact with too many people.” 

“Sheesh, a pandemic?” Midoriya asked. 

“Yeah, it was pretty bad, a lot of people died. And it sucks. But I’ve stayed home a lot. Other than that nothing interesting’s been going on in my life. Literally go on tik tok everyday for like 3 hours everyday though.” You said with a small smile. 

“Tik what?” Bakugou asked with a furrow in his brows. 

“Nothing. Just a stupid app. But what happened here? Like I wanna get an idea of what part of the timeline I’m in.” You asked, looking around. 

“Villains attacked us at U.A.” 

“We fought villains at the train camp where Bakugou and you were targets.” 

“I beat Deku’s ass.” 

“Okay! Okay! Maybe I should’ve been more clear.” You said putting your hands up to get them to pause on the talking. 

“Wait, Midoriya, he beat your ass?” You said giving him a disappointing look. 

“Hey! I didn’t actually expect an actual fight! And just for your information, I for sure won that fight” He said giving Bakugou a slight glare, but still grinning from ear to ear. 

“Oh yeah? You wanna go again shitty nerd?” Bakugou smirked. 

“I’ll be sure to record when Midoriya beats your ass into the ground.” Todoroki chimed in.

“Shut up, Half-and-Half. I’ll beat your ass too.” Bakugou turned to look at him. 

“As much as I would love to see that, I don't need you idiots destroying anymore school property.” 

The four of you looked up to see a pale man with long hair. He had eyebags that could go on for miles. And he had a white scarf around his neck. Honestly, the man looked like he hasn’t showered or slept properly in years. 

“Mr. Aizawa!” The boys exclaimed. The three of them quickly stood up to give him a bow. 

“Hey.” You waved, clearly not getting the hint to stand up. Hiro, however, gave the man a friendly bark and also stood up. 

“I see you still have your rude American customs Y/N. How many times I gotta tell you to bow to your sensei.” He said giving you a playful glare. 

“You can take the girl out of America but can’t take the American out of the girl.” you said, giving him a smirk. 

He sighed, looking used to your snarky comments. “Well, get on with it. Why are you all here?” He asked looking towards Midoriya. 

“Well, we have a slight problem. You know how she had that accident last night?” Midoriya began. 

“She stupidly lost all her skill and any memories of how to work that idiot quirk of hers.” Bakugou chimed in. 

“What? Y/N, explain.” Aizawa said sternly. 

“Okay, well, I’m not actually from this dimension.” you stood up looking at the man nervously, hoping he doesn't kick you out for what you’re about to say. 

“I was transported here last night. Or was it this morning? Well anyways, I’m not actually from here and in my dimension we don’t have powers, or quirks, or whatever, and I don't even know what I’m doing here because I’m totally supposed to be in first period right now, or is it third? I don't know but I don’t know if this is a dream, because to be quite honest, I’m like totally freaking the shit out, and I have this super duper power, and I don't know how to control it, and my dog apparently has powers too but I don’t know what it is cause we haven’t had the chance to test it out, but I make people’s ears bleed, and-” 

“Alright, enough!” His eyes glared a bright read and his hair stood up. 

Immediately, you shut your mouth, hoping not to get him mad. 

“So you don’t remember how to control your quirk?” You shook your head no. 

He sighed looking much more stressed than when he first saw you. “Okay here’s what we’re going to do.” He began. 

“Everyday, for the next 2 months, you will be training with these three troublemakers in hope of getting your control back. I’ll talk to principal Nezu about this and see if there's a reason why another version you ended up here in this dimension. I will also be asking All Might to supervise you four just in case anything happens. We’ll monitor your progress weekly.

“I’m not sure if your memory affects your knowledge on what we’ve been learning so far, like Math. I’ll be sure to ask your teachers to test you on what you’ve been learning.” He concluded. 

“Oh come on! Tests? That blows.” You complained. 

“As for your dog,” He said giving you a glare to shut you up again, “We can go ahead and use Midoriya’s notebooks and the file we have to check him out. As far as I can remember, you two are a team, he helps you gain control, and at the same time provides backup.” 

“We can take a look at my notes later, okay?” Midoriya turns to give you a reassuring smile. 

“Okay, well for now, I suggest the three of you go back to the dorms, take a shower, and wait for the rest of your classmates to get back. I’m not sure if this is a one-day thing, but I want you to get to bed early, got it Y/N? And I’m talking Bakugou-bedtime early, got it?” He said. 

“Yeah, don't worry. What time do you sleep, blondie? 10? 10:30?” You turn to ask. 

“Try 8:30.” Todoroki said, rolling his eyes. 

“8 fucking 30 dude? Are you insane?” You yelled, widening your eyes at the new information. 

“If you don't like it princess, it’s not my problem. Teacher’s orders.” He said smirking. 

“Am I understood Y/N? Also no more use of your quirk until there’s a certified adult around.” He said. 

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.” you said dejected at the fact that you would be sleeping at the time you ate dinner. 

You turned to glare at Bakugou, silently promising to yourself that if you ever managed to get your control back, you were going to participate in that fight the boys were talking about earlier to beat the shit out of Bakugou’s ass. 

taglsit: lanaxians-2 soft-levi-girl-blog

episode origins p1

i was watching moriah earlier today and was wondering what the significance of the name moriah was, so i searched it up. i’ll explain it here in this. i wanted to learn which episodes have titles derived from pop culture, literature, etc. so i put together this list. it’s not complete, feel free to reblog with more!

why did i waste hours on my life on this, you ask? i don’t know. 

season 1

pilot: obviously, all the first episodes of shows are called pilots. nothing new here.

wendigo: they’re fighting a wendigo

dead in the water: the phrase means “unable to function, move”.

phantom traveler: the name of the demon they’re fighting

bloody mary: based off the legend

skin: shapeshifters, also there might be a meta about how it’s a metaphor for dean

hook man: they’re fighting a hook man

bugs: bugs

home: they go home

asylum: they go to an asylum

scarecrow: scarecrow

faith: the concept of god first comes into play here, i thought that was pretty interesting. that’s why it’s called faith, duh. dean + faith is explored.

route 666: racist truck yes

nightmare: sam’s visions

the benders: i think it’s based off of the bloody benders, a family of serial killers

shadow: meg’s stalkery?

hell house: it was literally a hell house

something wicked: originally chanted by WITCHES in shakespeare’s macbeth. the full line is “something wicked this way comes, open locks, whoever knocks”. obviously the shtriga is a witch and it refers to that.

provenance: painting provenances, it’s in the episode

dead man’s blood: they use dead man’s blood

salvation: being saved or protected, like the boys and john do with the family

devil’s trap: the devil gets them in a trap. and they built a giant devil’s trap too.

season two

in my time of dying: based off of the led zeppelin song [x]

everybody loves a clown: based off of the gary lewis song [x]

bloodlust: i think it’s for the vampires but they were also a band in the 90′s

children shouldn’t play with dead things: based off of the 1972 movie

simon said: the whole “you do what i say” thing with andy and evil andy

no exit: it’s a song by blondie and in the episode h.h. holmes captures blondes...? am i just clowning

the usual suspects: based off of the 1995 movie

crossroad blues: based off of the robert johnson song (fave!) [x]

croatoan: i like this one. okay, so you guys probably know about the whole roanoke/croatoan thing in the 1600′s. so there’s a theory that the settlers were wiped out by a disease (similar to this town). also, the town would disappear off of the map.

hunted: gordon hunted sam

playthings: dolls, but the little girl was the grandma’s sisters plaything

nightshifter: a shifter in the night

houses of the holy: based off of the led zeppelin song and album [x]

born under a bad sign: based off of this song [x] there are a bunch of others including jimi hendrix but...?

tall tales: yeah i think this one is self explanatory

roadkill: someone got killed on the road

heart: werewolf heart but also how sam gave his heart to madison aww also there’s a band called heart

hollywood babylon: based off of the book by the same name

folsom prison blues: based off of the johnny cash song!! [x]

what is and what should never be: based off of the led zeppelin song [x]

all hell breaks loose: yes it did

season three

the magnificent seven: based off of the pretty famous western go watch

the kids are alright: based off of the who song [x]

bad day at black rock: based off of the 1955 movie

sin city: there’s a bunch of songs but the city was sinning so

bedtime stories: they were bedtime stories

red sky at morning: the full phrase is “red sky at morning, sailors take warning”. with the theme of this ep it fits pretty well.

fresh blood: fresh blood yes

a very supernatural christmas: i’m not sure. i think it’s based off of a christmas album?

malleus maleficarum: a 1400′s book of witches. latin for “hammer of the witches”.

dream a little dream of me: i love this song! based off this: [x]

mystery spot: mystery spot

jus in bello: i can’t really explain it but here [x]

ghostfacers: g h o s t f a c e r s

long-distance call: long distance call

time is on my side: based off of the rolling stones song [x]

no rest for the wicked: a biblical quote that means “evildoers will face eternal punishment”. also, “one’s work never ceases”.

season four

lazarus rising: in the bible, lazarus is the righteous man, which makes dean the righteous man. and he rises. so. 

are you there, god? it’s me, dean winchester: based off of the judy blume book (maybe?), are you there, god? it’s me, margaret.

in the beginning: they go back in time

metamorphosis: with the rugaru but also sammeh

monster movie: monsters and movies

yellow fever: referring to the disease i think, but also there are a few songs

it’s the great pumpkin, sam winchester: based off of it’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown.

wishful thinking: yeah

i know what you did last summer: dean + hell, sam + ruby. is it based off of the shawn mendes song? i don’t think it is because this came out way before the song.

heaven and hell: opposite sides meet, dean’s hell experiences.

family remains: there are remains

criss angel is a douche bag: idk?

after school special: based off of the abc program? i think?

sex and violence: there was a lot of sex. and violence.

death takes a holiday: death took a holiday

on the head of a pin: i’m not sure but this article is interesting, maybe related. probably related. [x]

it’s a terrible life: based off of it’s a wonderful life? i love that movie btw

the monster at the end of this book: ughhh! yes!!! first of all there’s a sesame street book by the same title. also, chuck actually was the monster at the end of the book! that’s crazy. insane. 

jump the shark: “(of a television series or movie) reach a point at which far-fetched events are included merely for the sake of novelty, indicative of a decline in quality.“ probably the whole long lost brother thing.

the rapture: a belief that christians will rise to “meet the lord in the air”. kinda like jimmy does.

when the levee breaks: based off of the led zeppelin song [x]

lucifer rising: lucifer rose

season five

sympathy for the devil: based off of the rolling stones song [x]

good god, y’all!: cas goes to find god

free to be you and me: a marlo thomas album and the brothers split up

the end: yeah it’s the end

fallen idols: i think we get it

i believe the children are our future: a lyric from a whitney houston song

the curious case of dean winchester: based off of the short story, the curious case of benjamin button.

changing channels: channels were changed. the end.

the real ghostbusters: based on the 1985 animation

abandon all hope: the full phrase is “abandon all hope, ye who enter here” and that pretty much sums up this episode.

sam, interrupted: i’m not sure?

swap meat: meats were SWAPPED.

the song remains the same: based off of the led zeppelin song [x]

my bloody valentine: based on jensen’s movie. but also the band?

dead men don’t wear plaid: based on the 1982 movie

dark side of the moon: a pink floyd album

99 problems: that one jayz song whatever

point of no return: a 1993 movie but also the poto song hehe

hammer of the gods: based off of the 1985 book i think? it’s about led zeppelin so probably yeah.

the devil you know: means that it’s better to deal with a situation you understand than one you don’t.

two minutes to midnight: this phrase is commonly used as a countdown to a global catastrophe (i.e. the fucking apocalypse)

swan song: someone’s final performance before retirement (i think this is about both brothers because it’s sam last battle and dean’s last fight before living with lisa)

season six

exile on main st.: based off of the rolling stones album [x]

two and a half men: it was a sitcom? but idk if that’s where it’s from

the third man: based off of the 1949 noir thriller? maybe? but there were also three men so idrk

weekend at bobby’s: it was a weekend at bobbys

live free or twi-hard: based off of twilight and that bruce willis movie that i watched once way back when

you can’t handle the truth: truth goddess. soulless sam gets exposed ig

family matters: based off of the 1989 sitcom? maybe

all dogs go to heaven: based off of the 1989 movie? probably

clap your hands if you believe: i think this is an original title idk

caged heat: based off of the 1974 movie i think

appointment in samarra: probably based off of the 1934 novel of the same name

like a virgin: based off of the madonna song [x]

unforgiven: sam does unforgiven things

mannequin 3: the reckoning: not sure

the french mistake: just... just read this link [x]

and then there were none: based off of the agatha christie novel of the same name

my heart will go on: y’all all know what’s up [x]

frontierland: they went to yeehaw town

mommy dearest: based on the 1981 film? maybe?

the man who would be king: based off of the 1888 novel by rudyard kipling

let it bleed: based off of the rolling stones album/song [x]

the man who knew too much: shares a name with the 1956 film

season seven

meet the new boss: they met the new boss idk

hello, cruel world: sad sam

the girl next door: there’s a 2004 romcom with the same name

defending your life: a 1991 romcom! wow!

shut up, dr. phil: sam and dean became philanthropists idk

slash fiction: hahahahaha i think we know what it means but wHY is it called that?

the mentalists: they met a bunch of magic people wow!

season 7, time for a wedding!: more like season 7, time for a slightly r*pey episode and GARTH!

how to win friends and influence monsters: based off of the 1936 book how to win friends and influence people

death’s door: they were at death’s door idk

adventures in babysitting: based off of the 1987 movie by the same name

time after time after time: based off of the cyndi lauper song? [x]

the slice girls: prolly based off of the spice girls idk

plucky pennywhistle’s magic menagerie: yeah idk

repo man: it’s a 1984 film too

out with the old: they were fucking around with antiques

the born-again identity: obviously based off of the bourne identity which i haven’t seen in forever

party on, garth: hahaha

of grave importance: it was very important

the girl with the dungeons and dragons tattoo: probably based off of the movie/book the girl with the dragon tattoo. 

reading is fundamental: reading is fundamental. go read a book.

there will be blood: there was blood

survival of the fittest: everybody fought idk

okay i’m gonna stop here for this one because i’m tired asf and i’ll do part 2 later 

Ultimate Duo! CH. 2

Forgot to post it here.. oops

anyway chapter three is gonna come out.. probably today or tomorrow. i’m on a roadtrip with my family so i probably have more time to write now

AO3 Link

The car malfunctioned, giving the Japanese tourist some time to catch up with Giorno. Coincidence? Probably. Looks like he needs to get a new car. At least he was able to use Gold Experience and turn his luggage into a frog, he didn’t want to leave empty-handed. Too bad he lost money to the security by paying them to keep quiet. Of course, he could always get it back by pickpocketing some unlucky people.

The blond teen turned around to see a man dragging a shovel. One of his eyes was watery, and at that moment, he knew who that was.

“You’re Giorno Giovanna, right?”

So he knows his name.

Giorno nodded. The man turned around, gesturing to a bench with his head and walked towards it. “We haven’t met before, have we? Giorno, you have any clue who I am?”

“Leaky-Eye Luca. You were in a dispute a while back and when it turned ugly, you took a knife to the face but kept fighting and swinging despite your wound,” He replied. “The complications from that little scrap left you with a perpetually leaking eye, hence your moniker.”

Luca sat down while Giorno stood in front of him. “Here, take a load off and make yourself comfortable.”

The half-Japanese teen stared in silence.

“What’s the holdup? Pop a squat. Looking up at you is hurting my eyes.” He said, Giorno moved over and sat next to him.

“So, how old are you?”

“Fifteen and change.”

“What, really?! Haha! You’re a baby,” Luca grinned and laughed, but his face quickly changed. “Here’s the thing, Giorno, any true friendship has to be built on the firm foundation of the three T’s. You’ve heard of them, haven’t you?” He wiped his eye as he spoke while Giorno stared ahead. “In case you’re drawing a blank, the first one is truth, the second one is tolerance, last but not least you have the third T, tribute, and voila the three T’s of true friendship.”

Giorno turned his head to the older man and asked, “Was there something you needed?”

Luca quickly grabbed his shovel and pushed it right against the teenager’s cheek. “I wasn’t finished showing you the ropes so shut your face hole! Nobody said you could ask questions, as for what I needed, I hear you started a hustle at the airport, huh? Surely you can see how this would be confusing, after all, I don’t remember receiving any tribute from you-” Giorno could really use a distraction right about now. “-and without tribute, how could we remain true friends? Now hand over your wallet.”

“Signore, you’ve got it wrong. I’ve already paid your tribute. I don’t have any money,” Giorno said, only making Luca angrier.

“You talking about that guard?! You have to be a special kind of stupid to think I’m working with that old- huh?” He stared at the bizarre image in Giorno’s wallet of the one and only Dio Brando, but he didn’t know that.. “What the hell is this, a family photo?” He brushed it off and continued to shout. “I know you’re holding out on me, so fork over the cash right now blondie!”

“Signore Luca, I really hate having to repeat myself and as I’ve already said, I don’t owe you anything.”

“Huh?”

“Now please don’t make me say it a third time-”

Luca swung his shovel at Giorno, almost hitting him. A frog - the one that used to be that certain Japanese tourist’s luggage - appeared and was next to his foot. It then hopped onto his leg.

“Time out, kid. What the hell is that?” It’s… a frog… isn’t it obvious?

It continued to hop upwards on Giorno. “So he came back…”

“Flick it off!” The man shouted.

“No, the frog has nothing to do with this. Please don’t ask me to do that.” He responded.

Luca raised his shovel and pointed at the innocent creature. “That wasn’t a freakin’ suggestion, amico, and you still haven’t paid the taxes you owe! Are you seriously going to refuse both of my orders?! You’ve got some brass balls, kid! (more like steel balls haha am i right sbr fans) No one says no to Leaky-Eye Luca twice!”

“This frog is a living creature with the will of his own,” Uh, yeah, we know that. “He thinks and acts for himself. Let’s go our separate ways.” Giorno really wanted to go back to his place, even if that meant sitting in awkward silence with Kars. This guy was holding him up.

Luca swung his shovel at the frog despite Giorno’s warnings. The small green creature slipped out from underneath the tool. Unfortunately for Leaky-Eye Luca, he was dead, all because he tried hitting a frog. Should’ve listened, now the back of his head was caved in. The frog transformed back into luggage and Giorno walked away.

~~~

Kars tried on the clothes Giorno bought for them. To be honest, they weren’t that bad. Obviously, they could be better, the white collared shirt was too plain for Kars. He pulled out some other clothes that could be fitting. He examined a thin turtleneck sweater which was a wine purple color, similar to his hair color.

Good enough.

He already completed reading every book Giorno owned and he wasn’t planning on rereading them. Kars practically memorized every word written on the pages. Staying inside Giorno’s room isn’t something he’s going to do. If the blond teen returns before he does, he better be prepared for waking up in the middle of the night to see Kars entering his room by compressing his body to go underneath the door.

Obviously, it’s not going to be a pleasant sight, especially when you’re only half-awake.

As he walked through the streets of Italy, he received many stares from random humans. Kars either saw admiration or envy in their eyes and sometimes fear, he couldn’t blame them. After all, he was the perfect being. And he was pretty tall too, he towered over everyone else. Not only that, but the Pillar Man was also pretty intimidating, not that much of a surprise.

People scurried out of his way with their head down to avoid eye contact with Kars. If they looked up at him, he would send a cold glare and force them to quickly turn away. But not everybody was scared off. A few people politely waved and smiled, maybe even wink at Kars. Some humans were bold enough to ask him to dinner. Of course, he harshly declined their offer. It wasn’t the first time a human requested to have a meal with him. Kars is fully aware of how attractive he is compared to others.

Soon, the Pillar Man found himself near a beach, it was mostly empty. There was just one single person standing on the dock holding a fishing rod. Kars would’ve ignored them and continued walking, but a part of him wanted to go towards the person. He tried convincing himself that he only wanted to go near them because of their bizarre lime-green hair. Honestly, he wasn’t a big fan of it.

When Kars got closer, he felt the same kind of energy as Giorno’s Stand, Gold Experience. It caught him a bit off guard. This person had their Stand out… while they were fishing? Now he was confused, why would he need a Stand to fish? Did it help? Kars needed answers.

“You.”

The person shrieked loudly, dropping their fishing rod, turning around with a fearful expression and wide eyes.

“You’re a coward, aren’t you?” Kars sighed. “I can tell just by looking at you. Now, tell me your name.”

The person stumbled over their words a few times before blurting out “Pesci!”

By their appearance and the sound of their voice, Kars concluded that this human was indeed male. He stared at him for a while before asking another question. “Where’s your Stand?”

Pesci panicked, looking around to see if Prosciutto was nearby. He just left to go smoke, knowing full well that Pesci hates the smell. He probably needed to go buy more cigarettes and was now coming back.

...The blond man was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey! Answer me!”

“I-I, um, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The only option he had was to play dumb. It wasn’t working.

“What kind of fool do you take me for? I can feel its energy, tell me, what are you using your Stand for?”

Pesci couldn’t take it, the man was just too intimidating! Hopefully, he’s not from another gang, a rival one to be exact, the whole team would get angry at him for revealing information. Even if it was about his Stand, weaknesses would be exposed and he would get taken out.

“My Stand is Beach Boy, it's the fishing rod! I’m only using it to fish, don’t hurt me!” He shut his eyes and tensed up, unable to bear staring into the tall man’s eyes.

Kars blinked. The damn fishing rod was a Stand? Did Giorno seriously lie about how only Stand users could see Stands? He picked up the dark blue fishing rod and examined it. It certainly was pretty odd.

“I thought only Stand users could see Stands, was I wrong?” He hummed, poking the skull on Beach Boy.

“...Well, that is true but… only for most Stands… there are some exceptions I guess…” Pesci replied, wincing when Kars turned his head to him.

“Is that so?” A smirk appeared on his face. Looks like he learned something new.

Before Kars could ask any more questions, the sound of footsteps alerted him. A blond man with a dark-colored suit stood there, frowning. The Pillar Man returned the same look. Pesci felt relieved that Prosciutto finally came back, he was probably going to get scolded and punished but that’s better than answering any more questions about his Stand.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Prosciutto stepped closer, glaring into Kars’s eyes without a hint of fear. Despite the man being a foot taller than him, he wasn’t intimidated, or at least he didn’t appear to be. That’s something Pesci admired him for. The intense staring continued and Pesci started to get uncomfortable.

“Leave,” Prosciutto commanded. “Now.”

“Or what? What are you going to do?” He laughed. “You’re just a pitiful human. There’s nothing you could do that can hurt me.”

“Is that what you think?” The blond man hissed. “Fine, I’m sure The Grateful Dead will change your mind!”

Kars felt something grabbing onto his legs but didn’t look. He knew it was just his Stand, so why panic? He found amusement in Prosciutto’s bewildered expression. The Grateful Dead wasn’t working. Even though the Stand’s making contact with Kars, he isn’t aging. Was there some kind of Stand ability that canceled the effect? Prosciutto glared at his Stand as if doing that would start the aging process. Nothing happened.

“Well? I’m waiting,” Kars hummed, his smug grin grew wider which made the Italian man more frustrated.

“Impossible! You should be getting older, more weaker!” He growled, his Stand’s grip became tighter. “Pesci, do something!”

“O-Oh! Right!” He was about to summon his Stand before he foolishly realized that Kars already had it in his hand. What was he supposed to do, reach out and grab the damn thing?! The Pillar Man looked down at him, sending shivers down the young man’s spine.

...Surprisingly, he returned Beach Boy. Prosciutto eyed him suspiciously. Pesci hesitated, then quickly snatched his Stand back. He stared at Kars, trying to figure out if there was a hidden motive, but he wasn’t sure.

“Demonstrate your Stand’s abilities, I’d like to see how it works. Don’t keep me waiting, I can wait all day but I’d prefer not to.” He said.

The hook and fishing line was now inside Kars, he can feel it traveling up his arm. It was a strange sensation. However, he couldn’t see it moving. There was no outline of the hook and line in his skin. The hook found its way to Kars’s heart, but Pesci became hesitant. Was this all a trap? He glanced at Prosciutto, the man was silently encouraging him to use Beach Boy. Something was off about Kars. Instead of finishing off the two Stand users, he instead waited for their Stands to do something. Waiting for your foe to display their abilities can help with figuring out their weakness, but it can also put yourself in danger. Kars did not seem to care about that, he just seemed curious about their Stands. Prosciutto kept his guard up, you can never be too careful.

Pesci used Beach Boy’s hook to tear apart the beating heart, but again, Kars seemed to be unaffected.

...Or perhaps it just didn’t work.

There was simply no way to kill Kars. The sun was no longer his enemy, Stands were useless, even lava couldn’t do it. He was the perfect, undefeatable being.

Kars felt the hook desperately tugging on his heart as Pesci became more visibly anxious. Prosciutto was also getting quite upset. The Pillar Man has never been so entertained before. Chuckling, he walked away from the duo.

“That’s enough, I supposed. Pesci, your Stand has potential, you know that, right? However,” He glanced at Prosciutto with a bit of a frown. “What’s the point of yours? It doesn’t seem like it can do anything interesting.”

As he left, Prosciutto muttered curses and insults, not knowing that Kars could hear what he said. Pesci thought the compliment was rather nice, even though the man was strange.

If only he knew his name.

~~~

He ran into that Japanese tourist again, this time he found out he was no ordinary being. And he didn’t have to get a new car after all! Well, maybe someone took it after he ran away. But that didn’t matter, the tourist was a Stand user. He was the reason his car came to a stop. Luckily, Giorno got away again. The stranger didn’t seem so bad though. He had a good soul and Giorno felt a bit of pity for robbing him.

He opened up the window in the funicular and stared at the passing buildings. Before he could think about what he’ll do next, he heard a coin drop. A man wearing a white suit with oddly shaped black dots appeared and picked it up.

“This yours?” He asked Giorno.

the chosen daughter // colby brock - chapter one

A/N: READ FIRST!! AHH IT’S FINALLY HERE :) I’m so exicted for yall to read this story. I haven’t written a vampire story in a long time, so hopefully this goes well. That being said, it is similar to the one shot it is based off of, HOWEVER, you need to read this chapter. Things aren’t all the same from the one shot, so please read this otherwise you will be confused. I know it’s long, but that’s because there is a lot of backstory to give first. I’m posting the next chapter tomorrow and then I will be posting once a week. All right, without further ado, here’s The Chosen Daughter ;)

story description

taglist: @far-to-many-bands , @idfk-tbh-oops

trigger warning: backstory (but necessary), cursing, mentions of blood/fighting, mentions of sexual assault, death

word count: 3260

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGLIST :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought vampires would be real. Yet, here we are: 2019. The year of the blood sucker. Everywhere you turn, vampires were to be seen.

I relaxed back against my couch, watching the news while I ate breakfast.

A news anchor appeared on screen, a graphic next to them reading ‘Vamp News’. “Today’s top story involves another vampire killing. Last night, outside of the popular club Bloody, two vampires murdered a young female. Police have not released the name of the victim. Eyewitnesses say that the two vampires in question had been harassing the girl during the night. Police ask that if you know these two vampires, to please call in at the number on your screen and if you see them in public, call the authorities immediately.”

Two blurry images from a surveillance camera came on screen, showing the vampires in question.

“How the fuck is anybody gonna know who those two are?” I mumbled out loud, taking another bite of cereal.

I sighed, changing the channel. I hated hearing vampire killings first thing in the morning.

My whole life, as of recent, revolved around vampires. And I guess, a lot of other peoples did too now.

I stood up and walked to my kitchen, dropping my bowl into the sink. I glanced around my apartment.

Empty… very empty.

I’ve always enjoyed being alone. I’ve been alone my whole life. I was born into foster care, my parents dying right after my birth. The only thing I had left to remind me of them was a crystal necklace that I never took off. After bouncing around from family to family, I never got to settle down. When I turned eighteen, I was able to get away and move to Los Angeles. Now I live here in my own little apartment, working at a vampire bar called Vampiro.

Growing up, I was interested in the supernatural. I always liked the idea of vampires existing.

‘Be careful what you wish for’ was a bit of an understatement for me.

When I was in eighth grade, vampires came out to the public. It was… weird to say the least. At first, people didn’t believe they existed – chalking it up to some strange, elaborate prank. But it became apparent very soon that vampires were real. There was a lot of violence, but it calmed down after a while. A good number of ‘powerful’ vampires (celebrities, politicians… you get the gist) came out with a PSA letting everyone know that vamps were harmless, only wanting to be treated just like humans.

They were tired of hiding and wanted to be out and proud.

It took until now for things to feel normal, almost as if vampires always did exist in our culture. However, there was still animosity towards vamps. Some states, especially in the more ‘religious’ areas, hated vampires. They believed they were demons, dressed in the bodies of humans. But that wasn’t the case. But nonetheless, these states didn’t want them, so they banned almost all vampires. Because of this, other states took this as an opportunity to be the sanctuary for these tossed out vamps.

Enter stage left… California. In particular, Los Angeles.

LA was the hub for all things vampy. It was almost the vampire capital of the world. We had sections, stores, bars just dedicated to vampires and the tourism it brought here.

The bar I worked at, Vampiro, was a non-exclusionary vampire bar. Vampires and humans could mingle as they pleased, and no one minded. However, we weren’t the most popular out of all the clubs and bars. Because of this, our human-to-vampire ratio was a bit slacking.

But Bloody, the most prominent and well-known, catered heavy towards tourists and vacationers who wanted a ‘vampire experience’. It was extremely hard to get into, mostly because it was packed every night.

Another famous club, The Trapp Haus, was a ‘vampire only’ place. One night a month they would have a human and vampire night. Those were the nights our bar had its lowest patrons.

I had never planned to work in a bar that’s mostly filled with vampires. But it was one of the only places that would hire me. Originally, I was hired because I was human, which would attract more vampires. My best friend and coworker Ronnie and I were the only two humans in the whole place. I had planned to only stay at this bar for a bit, get enough money to be alright, and then find a better paying job.

But because of this place, I was able to learn something about myself.

One of the reasons I was never able to stay at a foster home for too long was because I was deemed ‘special’. When I look at vampires, I can see an aura around them. It’s always in a different color, and this color depends on the vampire’s power and how they use it.

Oh yeah… vampires have powers.

Vampires’ powers ranged all over the place: from the scariest (mind control), to the least frightening (super hearing). Depending on how old the vampire was, their power could be extremely strong or barely noticeable. This is why certain states believed vampires were demons. No one knew what powers a vampire had or how strong they were unless they told you. And none of them really ever did.

I was able to tell though.

When a vampire would use their power, an aura appeared around them. Every vampire had a different aura, even if they had the same power as another vampire. Their aura was based off them and how they used their ability.

Because I would see these auras, but didn’t know vampires existed, I thought I was crazy.

And so did my foster parents.

Years later, this all makes sense. But as an extra added bonus to me being able to see these auras is that vampire powers don’t affect me. Vampire powers work on everyone, except vampires. And me.

I’ve never told anyone this. Mostly because I don’t have anyone to tell. But also, because it would be too dangerous for me. I try not to let vampires know, but that can be hard when you work at a bar that vampires frequent at.

I get by… but I feel like that’s gonna change soon.

~ \/ \/ ~

“Jade, you’re late again.” Roger, my boss, berated me.

I groaned. “I’m sorry. I tried getting here early, but traffic getting into the city is crazy. The Trapp Haus must be having human night early.”

“Didn’t you hear?” Roger raised his eyebrows. “They’re changing it to two nights a month.”

“Cool… so I’m gonna be late twice a month.” I smirked.

He sighed. “Why did I hire you?”

“Because her blood smells good… apparently.” Ronnie chimed in, walking behind the bar with a tray of empty glasses.

“Veronica! Did you get to table two yet?” Roger asked.

She shook her head. “I thought Jade could get them.”

“Jade’s mending the bar while I go take a break. Go on now.” Roger stated, waving his hand and heading into the back of the bar.

Ronnie rolled her eyes. “I swear if he wasn’t a vampire, I would fist fight him.”

I laughed. “Even as one, I might still.”

She chuckled, grabbed her notepad, and walked over to table two.

The night slowly became a blur. Hours passed. I bartended while Ronnie waitressed, and when the night began to slow down, three vampires strolled in.

You could tell they were vamps. They had a certain confidence that only immortal beings could have. They were all dressed nicely, a little too nice for a bar. Each had different hair colors; black, brunette, and blonde. Blondie and Brownie went to a table, while the black haired one walked up to the bar.

I wiped down the counter as he called to me. “Yo! Can I get ten shots of jäger? And a pint of blood? B positive?”

“Of course. Since you asked so kindly…” I replied, a tight-lipped smile falling to my face.

I typed in the drinks at the register. Looking up at him, he waved his card at me, smiling with his fangs out. I swiped his card, glancing at his name for a second.

Cyrus Gladstone… interesting.

I handed it back to him with a nod as he went back to his friends.

Grabbing the jäger bottle, I poured out the shots. Going to our mini-fridge, I pulled out a bag of blood and emptied it into a cup. Placing everything on a tray, I glanced around for Ronnie. She was over with another set of patrons, talking and getting orders. I shrugged, picking up the tray and walking over to the vampires.

I set the tray down, sliding all the drinks onto the table. “Ten shots jäger, one pint B positive for Cyrus and co.”

“You know his name? She must have feelings for you.” The blonde haired one joked.

“Right... Anything else I can get you guys?” I questioned, my hands resting on my hips.

“Why don’t you relax, get to know us a little better? My name is Jasper.” Blondie smiled innocently.

“Lovely. Unless you guys need anything, I kinda need to go back to the bar.” I stated.

Blondie lightly grabbed my wrist. “You know, I’m not really into B positive. What blood type are you? You smell like O positive, maybe AB?”

“My blood type is actually super rare. You might have heard of it? It’s F.U.” I deadpanned.

He stood up quickly, gripping my arm tightly as I tried to pull away. “I think you should be a bit nicer to me. I am a paying customer.”

“I’m pretty sure Cyrus is the one that paid. Also, get your hands off me.” I grunted, glaring up at him.

“Why don’t you say that looking into my eyes, sweetheart?” He hissed, pulling me into him, making me stare into his eyes.

The way vampire powers work is first, the vampire must make you look into their eyes. It draws you in, making whatever power they have connect to you immediately.

I could see his pupils dilate and shrink. Suddenly, a deep purple aura appeared around him. It ended at his fingertips, where he was touching me.

In a split second I could tell what he was trying to do to me, an almost vision-like image came to my mind. He was manipulating me, trying to make me feel sexual feelings for him.

“I think you’re feeling apologetic for being a bitch to me. Maybe you want to say sorry to me by giving me just a bit of your blood. And of course, sex.” He whispered. He nodded his head to the rest of the boys at the table. “I think we could all have a turn. Don’t you agree?”

Oh my God, what an absolute douche.

In most situations like these, I would just go along with what the vampire wanted. I didn’t want anyone to know about my powers, but this was too fucking far.

Fuck hiding it.

I smiled, still staring into his eyes. “I... can’t do that for you. Besides, if I say I’m sorry, that would make both of us idiots.” I ripped my arm away from him and took a couple steps back.

His mouth was slightly gaped for a moment. He hid his surprise, immediately glaring at me.

I sneered. “Do anything like that again and I’ll call the cops on you. And let me tell you, they ain’t as nice as me.”

I rolled my eyes and walked back to the bar. I could hear the vamps whispering to each other as I got back to work.

“What was that over there?” Ronnie nudged me as she strolled behind the bar.

I shook my head. “Nothing. Just a couple vamps being dicks to me once again. I think I attract them like a magnet.”

“Sucks to be you.” Ronnie joked.

“That’s not a lie.” I mumbled, starting a new cocktail order.

~ \/ \/ ~

“Night, Ronnie! See ya later!” I yelled, exiting the back door of the bar. Ronnie waved as she walked to her ride, getting in and leaving.

I sauntered towards the employee parking lot, where my car was parked.

A chill ran up my spine. The air wasn’t cold; August in California never reached a temperature below 70. I could feel goosebumps rise all over my skin. I could feel eyes on me.

Suddenly, a gush of wind flew past me. And then another. Another. Another. I looked in every direction hastily.

What the fuck is that?

I ran to my car, keys in hand ready to unlock it. Right as I was opening the car door, it slammed shut, a hand pressing it closed. I was then spun around and pressed against my backseat side door.

“Hello bartender. We meet again.” Blondie smiled, holding me against my car.

“What the fuck do you want?” I snapped, trying to shove his hands off me.

He pushed me harder into the car. I could feel the handle press harder into my lower back, causing me to wince. “I want to know how you did it.”

“Did what? Make such a fine cocktail?” I jeered.

“How did you ignore my power?” He insisted, getting close to my face. “I can make anyone want me with just a single touch. Except you…”

“Guess I’m lucky. What type of asshole has to use his powers to get girls to fuck him? Must be small, huh.” I hissed.

He chuckled darkly. “Saying shit like that really isn’t gonna keep me from getting what I want…”

His hands tightened their hold on my waist. I started punching his chest, trying to shove him away. He just kept grinning down at me, not a single hit phasing him.

“Let her go.”

My movements stopped as Blondie turned around to the deep voice that spoke.

The man stood a few yards back. His body was relaxed, but his face was tense. He was dressed in all black; a fitted tee, ripped jeans, and vans. His hair fell over his forehead and almost covered his eyes. The front of his hair was an icy blue, almost matching his eye color.

He was beautiful.

“Who the fuck are you?” Blondie demanded.

The figure shrugged. “I don’t think that matters. Just let her go and there won’t be any problems.”

Blondie laughed. “Is she your bitch or something?”

“Fuck you.” I fumed.

He turned back to me. The smirk on his face fell. “You know, that is the exact reason why you’re in this predicament.” He opened his mouth and showed his razor-sharp fangs at me. “But you know what? I’ll do one better.”

Blondie grabbed my face, twisting it to the side and slammed his fangs into my neck. I screamed out in pain, feeling his teeth sink into my skin. But before he could drink from me, his mouth was yanked away.

The dark figure had grabbed Blondie and ripped him away from me. They began to fight. The dark figure threw punch after punch, blocking all of Blondie’s moves. Blondie might have been fast, but the dark figure was faster. Stronger.

The dark figure wrapped his hands around Blondie’s neck and snapped it, the loud crack echoing through the lot. Blondie’s body fell to the ground with a loud thud. Then, the dark figure pulled a stake out and slammed it into Blondie’s heart.

My eyes met the dark figure’s. I could feel myself get lost in them, almost like he had me entranced. I pulled myself away suddenly, pressing my body against the car, shaking.

His presence was suddenly behind me. I was turned around abruptly, the dark figure now directly in front of me. His hands rested exactly were Blondie’s had been. The gentle touch of him was surprising, given his overall demeanor. I glanced down at his hands. He noticed and pulled them away softly.

“Are you hurt?” He asked calmly, staring at my neck wound.

I placed a hand over my bite. “No. I… just like to casually bleed from my neck.”

He raised an eyebrow at me, smirking. “You don’t gotta be a smart ass. I did just save your life.”

“I had it under control.” I groaned, running my other hand through my hair.

“Right. My bad.” He chuckled, taking a step back. “So, being cornered up against your car was part of the plan?”

I rolled my eyes at him, not saying a word.

“What was his problem anyway? What did you do?” He inquired.

“Why do you assume I did something?! Motherfucker tried to assault me and I’m the one to blame?! On the news, there’s a new vamp attack every night. I highly doubt they’re all to blame too.” I argued.

He smiled lightly. “And they’re just the ones they tell you about.”

“How would you know?” I stared at him for a moment.

He cocked his head to the side. “Do you really think a human could have taken down that vampire?”

“…You’re a vampire?” I responded, leaning back from him.

I could see his fangs stick out while he talked. “Don’t I look it?”

“Without the fangs, I would just assume you’re emo.” I shrugged.

He bit his lip, hiding a smile. “You know, you’re not the first person to say that to me.”

“It’s because you look like you work at Hot Topic.” I smirked. “Who are you anyway?”

“I’m… X. What’s your name?” He stuck his hand out.

I shook his hand politely, our eyes meeting. “Jade.”  

A blue aura appeared the moment our hands touched. He stared at me for a moment, but suddenly his eyes widen. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held onto it.

“What the fuck?” He whispered, staring at me. The aura intensified in color.

“What?” I gasped, trying to yank my hand away.

X stepped closer to me, his eyes bore into mine. “How can I not see into you?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I exclaimed.

He ripped his hand away, the blue aura evaporating. “I’m able to read people. I can see their whole life by a single touch. How can I not see yours?”

“…Let’s just say I’m immune.” I answered.

X stepped back, stunned. “That’s impossible.”

I shook my head. “Not in my world.”

He backed away for a moment. “That’s why he was attacking you.”

“Not the only reason… I may have also said his dick was small which is why he had to use his powers.” I mumbled.

A light breath left X’s mouth as he shook his head. "Um... I have to leave now. As long as you're safe..."

"Yeah, I'm fine.” I bit my lip nervously, “Thank you, X... for saving me."

He nodded his head slightly, and then within the blink of an eye, he was gone. And so was the body of Blondie.

I sighed, finally somewhat relaxed as I realized I was alone. As I went to get in my car, I saw a white piece of paper on the ground, something that wasn't there until X had disappeared.

I reached for it, picking it up and looking at it. Scribbled on it was a phone number and a name of some sort.

 XPLR Services

(555-0157)

 “What the hell is this even for?” I wondered, gazing around at the empty parking lot.

CHAPTER 2 >>

1/2 You write god tier Greed/Ling stuff so I just wanted to share, was listening to youtube recommendations and Affection by Cigarettes After Sex started playing... Well, imagine a modern AU where Greed has a band, guess he plays either a guitar or bass idk, and Ling is applying to be a lead singer or something like that. Greed's naturally been all high and mighty, showing Ling around his shitty band quarters like it was The Best Place in town and Ling was Highly Privileged to see it,

[2/2 but the moment they finally start jamming and Ling opens his mouth to sing Greed’s absolutely enamored, so much so he plain forgets to play his part and just listens, mouth agape how someone can sound that good. Ling in turn slowly stops singing cause he’s not sure if he should continue now alone, and then they just stare each others for a second, both confused as to why the other stopped singing/playing. Ahah yeah, idk if this was going anywhere. Anywho, have a good one!! Love your works❣️]

Sorry it took me a couple of days to reply to this! I got inspired and threw something together, hope you enjoy it, anon! (This is a link to the song in question BTW)

“I still don’t think we’re going to find the right one, putting fliers in a place like this!”The bar they were currently in was extremely not their crowd, full of students and grads from the local uni.“Come on Greed, now you’re being stubborn just for the hell of it. After the stunt Kimblee pulled we need a new singer and, as a group, we decided where to search for them.”

To Greed it seemed like it was Martel who was being obtuse just for the hell of it, but it wasn’t like he was ever going to say that out loud, he somewhat valued his own life.

“Have you seen the people that hang in this place, they’re so not in tune with our… way of living our life”“And now you’re just saying things”“No no I mean it, look around you.” He waved his hands at the room, making some of the horrible bourbon he was drinking spill from his glass (it was almost a miracle they served bourbon at all). “They’re boring, they’re… normal… They lack our vibe… our aesthetic. I don’t want one of these people as a singer in my band.”“If you’re waiting for someone with your same fashion taste to get a singer, we’re literally going to perform for the first time In the actual Devil Nest.”Greed looked at her.“You know, like the name of our band…”Greed kept looking at her.“and we’ll be performing in hell…”….“… Because we’ll be dead…”…“…From old age…”…“…because NOBODY IN THE WORLD HAS YOUR FASHION TASTE.”She shouted the last part.“You know that when you have to explain a joke five times it means it didn’t land, right?”“You got it the first time, you’re just being an asshole about it. Anyway, if it makes you feel any better this place has the only person with an edgier and flashier sense of fashion than yours, look” She gestured toward a small blond guy that seemed to be really into red, leather, and skulls.“The only one? You’ve met my sibling Envy, right?”Martel smirked at him but didn’t respond, both of them looking curiously at the small guy in question that was now near their flier.Huh, maybe they would get someone with the right vibe to audition after all.The blondie picked the flier up and took it with him at the counter where he started talking to a guy in a neon yellow shirt that seemed for some reason incapable of buttoning. They talked for a while and Greed and Martel didn’t even pretend they weren’t snooping in what was going on over there. They showed the flier to the bartender and the guy pointed right at the table where they were sitting.Shit.They both jumped in unison and tried to cover it by gulping their drinks way to quickly and starting a random conversation without really saying anything (they were never so in sync with each other like the times they embarrassingly got caught staring at strangers…)

When they saw the shadow of a person standing in front of their table they looked up to find, of course, the neon hipster one, looking down at them with the flier in hand and a hopeful smile on his face.Of fucking course.————————————–

“I would have made you more like a parent’s garage type of band.”The neon hipster guy (that had introduced himself as Ling, a name that Greed was desperately trying to not remember because fuck no he wasn’t going to have a fucking hipster as lead singer in HIS band) was snooping around the room they rented as a rehearsal studio/chillout place/ their own personal bar.The guy hadn’t rested a minute since they met him twenty minutes before, talking and smiling and laughing and flirting which was all very annoying because he really seemed to belong in a boyband (okay okay he wasn’t that young, he seemed even almost a little too old to be a grad student, but still)Greed couldn’t stand genuinely cheerful people. Except for Bido, but he was a special case. Nobody could dislike Bido, come on!

“But man, this place is so cool” neon yellow kid sipped the fucking whatever hipster Aperol cocktail he brought from the bar. (Yes, they were *that* fucking close to that godforsaken bar).If it wasn’t that they were getting desperate he wouldn’t have even considered letting a guy like that even see this place on a map, let alone let him do this unofficial audition.How did he manage to convince them to do this right now anyway? Greed couldn’t even remember.“Is that a Marshall amp? Whoa, you people don’t mess around! And this Fender Bullet, wow!”Okay okay, at least he did have some kind of taste in guitars…“Man I can’t believe I’m going to start playing in a place like this.”“Wait, wait wait, you’re not going to start to do anything unless *I* say so.”“Yeah yeah, sure.”Did he just fucking dismiss him with a wave? Him? Oh, this guy was going down!He took his guitar, now knowing exactly what he was going to do.“Anyway, this one is mine, Martel over there” he gestured at Martel, that was chilling with a beer on the couch looking bored (which was fake as fuck because Greed knew how much this thing meant to her) “is our drummer and you probably never going to meet the bass player and second guitar so I’m not even going to go there right now.”“It’s your guitar? It’s first rate!”Greed felt a strike of pride in its stead for the praise (it really was his most treasured possession) and almost didn’t notice how his shade had been ignored.Neon Yellow was indeed still smiling like nothing had happened and Greed wanted to make it go away. Oh, so fucking much.“We need someone who can hold on their own, so you’re not going to play with the band, you’re just going to play with me. No drums, no bass, no backing. This is going to be entirely acoustic. Is that alright.”“Fine by me” He took the mic and switched it on, and Greed did the same with his amp.“Perfect, You said you knew the three songs from the flier, right?”“Yup”“Then let’s begin with the Cigarettes After Sex.”And he started playing.Greed oscillated between strumming his part away, letting everybody in the room understand how much he wasn’t on board about any of this, and giving the brat the performance of a lifetime, just to make him understand just how much of a different level they were.He decided for the former and not because he also vaguely had a wish to impress him, with his ponytail and his face.Anyway, he did the intro in that casual impromptu way he had rehearsed so many times.Neon Yellow looked incredibly impressed there for a minute (in his face) and ecstatic instead of crushed for some reason.Then he closed his eyes and started singing.And then Greed couldn’t tear his own eyes away. As if watching him could help him appreciate the experience of the song more.The experience of hearing Ling sing, more.Because that’s what it was. There wasn’t any other way to describe it.Every single part of it was an experience that Greed wanted to never end. From the voice lulling him, to the confident tone, to the way the words sounded coming out of his mouth, to the lights and shadows dancing on his face from the headlights of cars passing on the street below, to the fucking neon yellow shirt.Everything was part of it.Greed had heard the song so many fucking times sung in so many different ways, and this was the first time he felt it, really felt it.And in that moment all he could think was, “I want him” not even knowing he himself what he meant by that.Then everything stopped.Midverse, Ling stopped, opened his eyes and looked up at him… confused, for some reason?Greed wanted it back.“Why did you stop!?”Ling seemed even more confused.“You… weren’t playing anymore? I didn’t know if…”Greed wasn’t…?He looked down and saw that yeah, his hands weren’t on the guitar anymore.He was so fucking caught in the whatever the hell that was that he had stopped playing.Well, shit.“I actually thought we were doing fine”Ling looked sheepish for the first time that evening.“Yeah yeah no. It was… okay I guess.”A snort came from the sofa…where Martel was… right, they weren’t alone, why had he been feeling like they were alone?“Yeah right ‘it was okay, and I just had an ethereal experience because of it… because it was okay…”“Shut up Martel.”“I was being thoughtful of you, Greed, I could have said, ’ and I almost jiz…”“OKAY LING WELCOME TO THE ‘DEVIL NEST’ YOU’RE OUR NEW SINGER NOW!”Ling beamed at him and Greed wanted to… nope not thinking of that.“Yes! I am so psyched! I cannot wait to see what we can do together…” don’t smile like an idiot Greed, don’t smile like an idiot Greed, don’t smile like an idiot Greed, don’t smile like an idiot Greed, don’t smile like an idiot Greed, don’t… “I mean, if the others are half as good as you, Greed, being here is going to be awesome!”Fucking Martel was snorting again (why could she always know what was going on!? so irritating)Also, if Greed didn’t find a solution to what was happening in his… head… right now this was going to be fucking impossible to withstand!But being able to hear Ling sing every day was worth it. (Even with Martel’s knowing smirk accompanying every performance)“I cannot wait to meet them! I also have to say that I have other skills up my sleeve, something I can bring to the table to make us get to the next level.” He took Dolcetto’s guitar that was sitting near him.“Oh yeah? You’re a decent player?”“Oh no nothing like that, I know like five chords. I meant, because of my father’s job I was always traveling around the world when I was a kid, so I’m fluent in a lot of languages.”Confusing but okay?“And…”“I lived in Germany for over a year, meaning I can speak German pretty well…”Oh no, he wasn’t gonna.“… meaning we can do this.”He did.He fucking started playing 99 Red Balloons.How was this Greed’s life?

Dimension Wave   Chapter 23 — Frontliners

“… there sure are a lot of casualties.”

That was my first impression once I returned to the First. I’m not sure if the devs specifically made a post-Dimension Wave Lurolona, but all the buildings in here were damaged or in ruins. The town was completely unrecognizable. It’s a little weird thinking two weeks ago, Lurolona was my base of operations but now, it’s like this. Surprisingly, the people going in and out of town were very lively. Well, Dimension Wave was a pretty huge event. I guess in terms of regular MMO’s, it’d be like a major patch or something. People are probably excited about what’s to come.

“Why is it so cold here though?”

Perhaps because the first city is close to the sea or maybe because it’s the spawn point, but Lurolona is usually pretty warm. It felt like an Indian summer lulling me to sleep. But now, after Dimension Wave happened, it’s rather chilly. Now that I think about it, it’s neat how there are temperatures in games. It’s almost as if I’m in a parallel world or something. Now then, let’s go talk to some people and start gathering intel. First, I should talk to my sisters. Then maybe I’ll call Alto. He probably has lots of information from all his connections. As soon as I figured out my plan, I felt something strange about the air around me.

“… is it snowing?”

It was. Many people around me noticed it too and felt just as weirded out as I did. Snow isn’t anything special in a game, but this reeked of a cataclysm. It’s almost as if this were the beginning of Ragnarök.

“… thanks again, Shouko.”

I open my inventory and select the Powder Snow Haori. It wasn’t that cold at sea, so I didn’t need the coat, but I’ll definitely need it, now that it’s snowing. Just like how I worn it last time, the haori surely doesn’t match my Western-style clothes but at least it’s very warm.

I reached the square where I said I’d meet up with my sisters. I had a feeling that they chose here on purpose. Tough-looking warriors in full suits of armor and high-leveled mages with robes and towering staves were hanging around the square. They’re obviously frontliners. It was odd thinking how Shouko was with them just a week ago.

“Now, where are those two…”

I walk around the square in search of my sisters. Compared to our party members who are in regular clothes, these people were absolutely menacing with their swords and armor. But now that I think about it, that’s par for the course in MMORPG’s.

“Big brooo!”

Tsugumi called out from behind. Both of my sisters are using their natural voices in game, so I was able to pick them out instantly. … it’s a little unsettling to hear their real voices in another universe though.

“Hey, Tsumu—”

Before I could finish greeting her, she ran and dove at me—in armor, not to mention. It wasn’t a full set of heavy armor, but it sure wasn’t light either… medium armor, perhaps? In any case, she was a massive projectile that was flying my way.

“Whoa!”

I was afraid I wasn’t able to, but I caught her. Then, I swung her around three times as if we were in some sort of anime. She was lighter than I thought though.

“Hehe!”

Her flapping animal ears showed just how excited she was to see me again. I wanted to pat her on the head, but Tsumugi is taller than I am. Maybe it’s a little weird to pat someone taller than small little me. Gah! How lame!

“Hmm?” “What’s wrong?” “Mm… nothing. I’m glad you’re okay, big bro.” “I’m glad to see you safe as well… you seem really high-level though.”

Her armor was black with red accents. It looked like a long armored skirt, both cool and cute. Her weapon was tucked away, but I’m sure she’d look good with anything in her hand. I’m sure people must have lots to say about a regular citizen me with little sister who’s a knight. But hey, we have different objectives, so different equipment is totally normal.

“Ahaha, I just turned level 26!” “… 26?”

I didn’t mean to question her out loud. Sheryl is level 21 right now. Since Shouko and Yamikage took Naval Combat, Sheryl had gained quite a few levels too. It’s just a little odd that they only have a 5-level gap between her and Tsugumi, even accounting for how Tsugumi said it gets grindy after level 20.

“Something wrong?” “N-No, it’s nothing.”

I brushed it off, but what’s up with that? Like with any MMO’s, grinding must be tough. It’s quick to level in the beginning, but players probably need a lot of exp to level up later.

“You must be the brat’s older brother.”

A party of four drew near as I snapped back to my senses. A Human male spoke to me. Whaddya mean “the brat”? She has a name, y’know? Well, Tsugumi is a bit of a brat, but still. The man has brown hair with white streaks and a set of white armor—exactly what you might imagine a hero to dress like in an RPG. He’s probably the party leader. Behind him are a Human female in a robe with a two-handed staff in her hands; a young Jewel male with a magical tome; and a young Elven male clad in light armor. No Spirit? What a shame.

“Yeah, I’m Tsugumi’s older brother. My name is Kizuna.” “I’ve heard of ya. Tsumugi and her older sister turned you into their younger sister, right?” “… more or less. Well, I’m not exactly complaining either.” “Good to meet ya, Kizuna. I’m Rosette, but everyone calls me Roz.”

Roz extended his hand. No reason to refuse his handshake.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re a frontliner, right, Roz?” “Yeah, I guess. It’s all thanks to Tsugumi and Rei.”

I’m not sure who Rei was, but probably one of the three behind him. For some reason, my first impression of Roz was that he’s like the protagonist to a dating sim. Three guys and two girls—about average for RPG’s. It looks like the one with the big staff is Rei who wields light magic; the one with the tome uses four different elements of magic; and the one in light armor wields a bow. Roz is their tank then? Party leader matches his looks too. Oh, and I was correct in my assumptions. I can just tell. Well, it’s definitely good team comp for an MMORPG, so it’s easy to guess.

“So, how far are you guys with investigating the Dimension Wave?” “I heard that there’s a new location popped up between the First and the Second.” “… a special event map, eh?”

I wonder what’s there. Probably a fight though, I’m guessing. It’d be fitting if a boss monster came crawling out of that fissure in the sky.

“We’re guessing something’s gonna happen in three days.” “In three days, you say?”

—three days later would mark one month since we’ve spawned in this game. Yeah, that would make a lot of sense. It’s reasonable that the first big event would come after one month. Of course, we can’t be 100% sure, so we should investigate into this some more. But we’ll say it’s in three days for now. That means we’re assuming that there’s gonna be a raid three days later. … the first thing I can do to help is tell them about gutting weapons. If I let everybody know now, they’ll probably have time to prepare before the boss fight. I’ve earned a lot from keeping this secret already and these guys have been taking care of Tsumugi as well, so maybe I—

“Wouldya look at that? Sir Hero’s hanging out with a Spirit.”

As soon as I was about to tell them my secret, someone calls out to Roz from behind. It’s a good-looking guy with blond hair. Well, nobody’s really ever ugly in a game.

“… it’s you guys, huh?”

Roz seemed to be a pretty cool guy but now he’s got a frown on his face. Well, judging by how they spoke to him, he probably doesn’t want to get involved with those guys either. Behind the blondie was three other people, all dressed similarly to Roz. Probably around the same level and frontliners too, if I had to guess.

“Spirits may be a weaker race, but that’s nothing you should be saying to people in their faces.”

Roz snapped back at him. Was he defending me? I mean, I literally just met the guy and he’s standing up for me. What a good dude.

“They completely useless if they so much get sneezed on, am I right?”

The four of them were laughing among themselves. … oh, let me have at him, won’t you? These guys look like a bunch of thugs you’d see in a manga or something. I didn’t know people like them really existed. Why did a bunch of normies like them join this game anyway? That’s what’s odd to me.

“Did you forget how much she helped with unlocking the second city?!” “Spirits are supposed to have lots of HP!” “And without her, we would’ve lost.”

Roz and the blondie argued with each other. Frontliners sure are dramatic. Well, this much is expected in an MMO. High-leveled players just love to argue about experience, items, mobs, and the like. I’ve had my fair share of this before. Hmm? I turned around to see Tsugumi tugging at my sleeve.

“They’re people we usually compete with to farm monsters, since our parties are pretty similar.” “I see.”

Their party consists of a tank, a mage, another mage, and an archer too. A typical, effective team. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them hunting at the same area.

“What are they arguing about anyway?” “So, in the raid to unlock the second city, a Spirit really helped us out. We would’ve all been wiped out if not for that Spirit.” “Well, he’s not wrong in that Spirits do have lots of HP.”

To be precise, it’s Energy and not HP. But their conversation sounds kinda familiar.

“Speaking of which, what happened to her? I haven’t seen her around lately.” “Yeah. I haven’t seen her since about a week… a bit more than a week ago. Maybe she left the party.” “Huh, is that right?”

A bit more than a week ago? That’s right when I stopped fishing.

… wait, they’re talking about Shouko.

If I remember correctly, Shouko mentioned she there unlocking the second city. There’s a possibility that it’s someone else, but everything seems to line up perfectly. Shouko described them as a bunch of bastards before too. It seemed like her enemies weren’t just the monsters. Her equipment is all set up for avoiding getting hit. If she can’t block, then she’d dodge. That makes sense… since she needs her HP for her party.

“Well, Sir Hero, don’t get sucked in by a Spirit, hey?” “You can mind your own business.” “Smell ya later, then. I’ve got better things to do anyway.”

The blondie walked back where they came from. He was pretty pumped up for someone who has “better things to do anyway”. Oh, whatever. Right, I gotta tell them something.

“Thanks, you guys, for helping me find my good friend.”

I meant to shout louder, but they didn’t seem to have heard me. What do they call that? Selective hearing?

“Sorry about that. I apologize if I’ve ruined the mood for you guys.” “Well, that’s only normal in online games. Don’t worry about it.” “Thank you.” “It’s true that Spirits are kinda weak too.”

Other races are better suited to combat. You’d have to really know how to use Spirits to use them effectively.

“I don’t agree though.” “Is that right? It means a lot coming from a frontliner like you.” “They mentioned it too, but we would’ve lost the raid to unlock the second city if it weren’t for Spirits. You guys may be weak against mooks, but definitely the opposite against bosses.” “I see.”

Now that I think about it, Yamikage’s Drain did 3,000 per hit against that Lizardman Dark Knight. She did quite a bit of work there. No other race could’ve done that within two weeks of playing this game, right? And with our HP—or Energy—we don’t die very easily. Well, I know first-hand just how hard it was to get three weeks’ worth of Energy. Regular mobs aren’t all that bad though… and Shouko seems to like the experience gain at sea too. Whatever. I’ve got better things to do too.

“More important is Dimension Wave.” “Yeah. What are ya gonna do, Kizuna?” “I’ve seen Tsugumi already, so I guess I’ll check in with my older sister and other friends.”

I can’t forget that Shouko and them sent me on a scouting mission either. Alto can’t be far off from here either. We’ll learn a lot from Alto, I’m sure. If there’s gonna be a big raid in three days, then I probably should get new equipment too. We’ve got mountains of mats from the monsters at sea. I promised I’d give Romina dibs on special gutted items too, so I should head her way. Three days doesn’t seem like a lot of time to me now. I should be quick and careful with things.

“Then, I’mma go look into this some more, Roz. I’ll leave Tsu—I’ll leave my sister to ya.” “Bro-bro! I can take care of myself!” “You sure about that?” “What do you mean?!” “Hahaha. Tsugumi’s the strongest of us. She takes care of us more than the other way around.”

… that’s a prodigy gamer for you. I headed off on my own as I reflected back on how I treated my sister like she was some sort of dead weight.

contents: /prologue/ /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /ch007/ /ch008/ /ch009/ /ch010/ /ch011/ /ch012/ /ch013/ /ch014/ /ch015/ /ch016/ /ch017/ /ch018/ /ch019/ /ch020/ /ch021/ /ch022/ /ch023/ /next/

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Your Ginger Housemate - Part 13

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So I’ve been trying to create more of an idea of what I’m visualising through the pictures I’m adding. If you refer to Part 12, the picture of the alley is what I visualise behind the apartments. So that’s just something to link and think about. 

How could I do something like that? I almost lost control after all this time making sure all I would “behave myself”. Make sure I’m always in a good mood. Make sure I always rein in my anger. Make sure I don’t scare her anymore! That was the deal I made myself when I started living there.

Okay sure, I frighten her sometimes - like when I’m standing in the doorway for a while, but I’ve always scared people from time to time. I guess it’s because, ever since I was really young, I developed the habit of walking really softly. 

No one would hear me enter rooms, so they’d turn around and I’d just kinda’ be there. Funny though. Their fear fueled me. Still does, so I just let the habit become an advanced skill of mine. But that fear is reasonable. The fear I must have just given y/n was worse. A lot worse. 

How could I do something like that? Ugh! 

I kick a trashcan and it goes clattering down the alley for a good five, seven meters? I couldn’t care. The heavy throb in my toes signifies that I belted that thing pretty hard. I’m not gonna lie, it felt good. I feel so wound up, but why... Y/n’s parents! No wonder I wound up. 

Behaving “normally” is exhausting me mentally and physically. I have to be so careful all the time. I probably shoulda’ started with a more... cocky persona? That’s how she would define it anyway. Maybe Tyrone shoulda’ been a little less reserved? But then her parents wouldn’t adore me as much as they do. Well, her mom anyhow, her dad is a little trickier. 

That’s why I pestered y/n for as much information about her parents as I could get. I wanted to know what they were like so I could figure out the best persona to take on. Patricia, I figured - and figured correctly - would be the most susceptible to charm and modesty. Brandon seemed to be a typical dad. He likes a guy who is dedicated to his aspirations, career and is polite to the women in his life. Simple enough. Seeing and listening to them interact with y/n really set it in stone and told me exactly what to do. Unfortunately, it’s the most restricted I’ve ever been. Even at the circus, I wasn’t as reserved. Jeez, I woulda’ snapped years ago!

I’m striding down the alley, so deep in thought, I’ve just realised it’s drizzling. My hair feels dishevelled and strands keep getting in my eyes. I wrench the grey hood over my head to stop water running down my back. At least only the hood and end of the sleeves are cotton on this thing. The rest is leather. It’ll stand the rain for a while longer yet.

Jeez. What is wrong with me. It’s broad daylight... well it’s raining, but all the same. 

This alleyway is particularly unique because it’s like a separate, hidden street. Almost every apartment block connects to it through the fire escape. Y/n’s is special because her apartment has the lowest ladder. Few rungs up and I’m good. Easy to escape undetected, if dark enough. It usually is. That’s why I chose her apartment. It was a good choice apparently. I haven’t felt at ease like this since before... before he left. 

Bad thought. Shut up!

I’ve almost gotten to the end of the street-like alley and am becoming more aware of the piercing throb in a couple of my toes. I know it’s painful, it’d almost a searing pain if I wasn’t so ignorant towards the feeling. Over time, that sorta stuff had really just been covered in a layer of numbness. It’s as if my pain receptors have been covered with a heavy layer of fabric. Like a tarp. I know the pains there, it just isn’t a direct problem for me anymore. Some would call it a high pain threshold - and sure, that’s part of it - but it also comes from years of experience.

Just before I get to a legitimate street, I turn left into another small alleyway. Every time I enter this one, my breathing becomes heavy and it feels like all my muscles have tightened. I don’t know why, but I hate it in here.  It could be claustrophobia, but I refuse to admit I have such a feeble fear. 

It’s a darker ally, sheltered from the rain so you’d think it's dry. It’s not. There are numerous vents and drains that lead back here resulting in constant clouds of steam, mist and drips of water. This alley could only fit one person, there’s barely a gap between my shoulders and the wall. 

After manoeuvring under pipes, between vents and over grates, I arrive at my destination. The only abandoned apartment block in the neighbourhood. 

It’s a rundown piece of shit that can barely keep out a draft. However, it’s pretty handy when wanting constant entry whether this is scaling the broken fire escape, easing through a smashed window or picking the lock to the door. 

Yeah, I’m pretty equipped. This jacket has a fair few inside pockets. Perfect for a small collection of pocket knives, a standard revolver and a small lock kit. 

“C’mon now, daddy needs to get dry,” I whisper as crouch down next to the door. I prepare the two small instruments for the lock and get to work. There’s no need. The door creaked open. I roll my eyes. 

Terrific. Someone else is here. 

As I sneak through, I hear voices arguing. 

“Marty, shut up will ya? There was no noise.”

“Terrance, honey, it might be a good idea if he goes and checks hmm? Just in case.” 

Great, three people. And one with keen ears apparently. 

“Yeah. That’s right. Just in case. She’s right.” The guy who I’m guessing is Marty retorts. 

I dunno how I’m gonna deal with the trespassing trio. Maybe when the Marty guy comes round, I’ll kill him. Not with my gun, it’ll be too loud. Ugh, but a knife is too messy - even if it is an enjoyable mess, it’s not something I want to deal with yet. Maybe I’ll knock him out and tie him up. Same with the others? Might work.

“Deedee love,” - seriously? Deedee? - “we can’t keep being so paranoid. No one's there.” 

Time to make an entrance. 

I sneak around the corner, hoodie down and just to be theatric lean against the wall while a twirl a knife around my fingers. 

Yep, there’s three of them. The blond chick Deedee, and the two males. Dunno which is which, but they look pretty similar. Might be brothers.

It takes a while for anyone to notice me. They’re all too entranced by the fire they got going on. Great. Thanks for stinking up the place guys. At least put it near a vent. Sheesh.

Finally, the guy facing me looks up and goes stiff. His mouth opens to yell but I put a finger to my lips. Tellig him to keep quiet. But the other guy has seen gaper and whips around. 

“What the fu-”

“Uh-uh. Don’t swear. Not in front of the lady,” I grin as she too whips around. With bulging eyes, the trio watches me walk over and stop next to them. I swing back on my heels, hands behind my back just to mess with them. 

“You know, you're stinking out my crib. At least put the fire near a vent. Idiots.” I shake my head. They just stare. The dude with blondie starts to stutter.

“Well spit it out,” I mock.

“W-w-we don’t want no trouble man. We’ll leave. We didn’t know anyone else was using this place.”

“Oh really? So you didn’t go upstairs?” They all sake there heads. The girl is clinging on to guy number one for dear life. 

“Oh, goodie,” I say in a sing-song voice, and then drop my smile, “then leave.” I glare at him. He seems to wanna argue, but I start throwing my knife up and down. He gets the point. Hmm... can’t have them blabbering my whereabouts. They seem like the sort to shut up if I threaten ‘em enough.

Before they can react, I lunge at the dude who must be Marty, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pressing my knife against his neck.  Not enough to kill him, but enough to pierce the skin. I feel the small drops of blood trickle past my fingers.  A little more pressure wouldn’t hurt... 

Restraint Jerome. Restraint.

“Now you two better not leave just yet. I need to talk with, Marty was it?” I ask in his ear and wait for him to nod, I nod also, “Mhm. Because if two leave, then I kill this one and come after you. Got it?” They nod vigorously. I lean in and start whispering into his ear. Occasionally looking at the others with a grin.

“Now, I’m guessing you know who I am. And you know that I’m on a lay-low at the moment. And quite frankly, it’s nice. So I’m gonna’ let you leave. But you’re not going to tell anyone I. Because trust me, I know how to find people, and I will find all of you. But if you leave, don’t come back, and don’t squeak, you live. Yeah?”

He nods. Shaking violently, he tells the others that they’re gonna leave. I let him go, but not before cutting him a little more.  

So much for restraint.

**Later**

It’s been a couple of hours and no one has come to investigate. So maybe they did keep their word. I’m a little pleased, but some action would have been fun. I shoulda’ done more to scare ‘em. 

Turns out I dislocated three of my toes. I’ve had it happen before, so I knew how to fix ‘em. Hurt like hell, but nothing I couldn’t laugh off. They’re a deep purple, and too tender to put my shoe on comfortably. So I’ve just pressed them against the cold concrete and laid back. It makes me giggle. Gotham has such a gift for turning things into an ice pack.

 Laying down like this is really making me how boring my life has become. I’ve been cooped up too long. But any funny business now would give Y/n too much trouble with her parents.

I hope she deals with them properly. At least lies convincingly. I can’t help but sigh. It’s strange, but I think I’m feeling... remorse. Ha, yeah. remorse for scaring her. I can’t deny it. She’s driving me crazy! 

She seems so insecure when she talks about herself, but there’s a confidence in her eyes that she doesn’t let escape. Even though emotionally, she’s an open book, I barely know anything about her. We barely know anything about each other. But her smile and her laugh are intoxicating. 

Oh, her laugh. It’s so free and contagious. It’s so hard not to laugh with her when I’m trying to string her on. She makes no sense and yet it’s like I’ve known her forever. Not seeing her for days is gonna be hard, but it will be necessary. 

I hope she doesn’t stay too upset. I wanna be the one to make her laugh strangely enough. I’m gonna have to give her a good sorry present, and I think I know the perfect thing.

Taglist: @sp00der-m00n @unicornwitch870 @skellingtonarmy @rockyrocket15 @thegirlofwolvesandfangs @hahaha-141 @purexuncreative @aqswdefrgthzjukilop

chapter one—the price of gold

~~ read Swan Song here ~~

Ruby and Ashley are talking about boys. They are always talking about boys, I realize now that I am old enough to hang out with them. Problem is: the number of boys our age in town is very close to zero. So they always end up talking about Bob, Granny's hot janitor, or Sean Herman, the son of a skunk who has gotten Ashley pregnant before deciding they should go their separate ways.

Ashley is a pretty girl but very poor. She lives with a stepmother and two half-horrible-sisters. But the main thing about Ashley is—she's been pregnant for ages. No, seriously, ever since I was born. I don't know what it is she's been carrying in her stomach for almost two decades—in fact, I'm not sure I want to find out—but I do know that whatever it is it'll never be born. It is just one of the 'frozen in time' things around here.

However, no one but me is aware of that. To them it has only been nine months. It is only I that have grown up watching the longest-standing pregnancy in the universe. Ashley and I sort of look alike: we're both small with blonde hair, large blue eyes and that good girl face that means next to nothing around here since neither of us is considered a "good girl"; Ashley got into the train wreck category with her teenage pregnancy, while I'm still considered an unstable child.

Ruby must have a category of her own. Tall, slim and beautiful, she makes boys and girls crack their necks for a good long look. Black hair that goes down to her waist. Brown eyes and thick red lips that makes people crazy. With her boobs and her endless legs, she is considered somewhat of a homewrecker. But Ruby is funny and cool and she doesn't give a damn to what people in Storybrooke think of her. A total diva.

It's late now; definitely way past my curfew. Still, I've decided it is preferable to face Regina's wrath later than go home now while she's probably still up and waiting for me. I lean against the peeled wall outside the library, sharing a soda with the other girls, trying to ignore the boredom of the night, thinking about how much of the same my sixteenth summer will be.

Thinking about my upcoming birthday, it is impossible not to wish for something great to happen. Something special… something… unexpected...

The sound of motorcycles startle us. We move our heads to the right in synchrony, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever is coming our way. The noise has called a bunch of people to their windows, their faces mirroring the curiosity I feel. Mounting the bikes is two strangers in leather jackets and jeans. There really isn't anything all that special about their appearances except that they weren't expected—they are a surprise, they are new, absolute mysteries.

Ashley, Ruby and I are opened-mouthed.

The bikers come to a halt before us, slowly removing their helmets so they can speak to us. They both have dark brown hair, but one of them is larger, stronger, and looks to be about twenty years old. The slender, younger one is closer to us in age, and he sets his dark-green eyes on me when he says, "Hey there. Is this Storybrooke?"

Although he is clearly talking to me, the three of us nod together, our shock too great for words.

"Any place to get a room around here?" asks the other one, hiding a smile.

Ruby is the first to recover, as it's to be expected. "Uh… You're staying then?"

The two of them exchange a meaningful look before the older one answers: "That's the plan. Just looking for a bed." His words have a forced tranquility to it, as if he's trying to sound nonchalant about it. I wonder if they don't want to call attention to themselves. I feel sorry for them if that's the case—they might as well have announced their arrival in national television.

"Granny's Bed & Breakfast is just up the road," Ruby happily provides. She gives them that wicked grin she's known for. Of course she's glad to have them stay at Granny's—that's where she lives so she'll get to see them on a daily basis for as long as they stick around. "Another two blocks that way."

Talk about second intentions...

"Thanks," says the dark-green-eyed stranger. I notice he is still looking at me and I blush a little. Thank God is nighttime so he might not notice my embarrassment. The newcomers turn their bikes around, ready to go their merry way, when something urges me forward.

"Wait!" I call, not sure where my courage is coming from. "We didn't catch your names."

The larger boy looks over his shoulder and answers with a grin: "That's because we didn't give it." And they disappeared into the night without further explanation.

"Wow," Ruby breathes. I think she might be hyperventilating.

"Strangers don't come to Storybrooke," I mutter to myself, frowning. I mean, other than Lily that has never happened. People just don't wander here—something prevents them from finding this place.

Ashley and Ruby give me a funny look. "I'm going home," I decide wishing them a goodnight and starting to make my way back to the mayor's house. When people start looking at me like I don't make sense is when it's time to remove myself.

Of course Regina is waiting up for me when I arrive. Nothing gives her a good night's sleep like yelling at me before bed. But tonight, I barely hear her bickering. My mind is far away.

I want to know what those strangers are doing here. Does it mean something? Or is their presence fleeting, a teasing of sorts, like Lily's, showing me what's out there and then yanking it away just as I start to get attached?

I am sent to bed and gladly obey. I practically run upstairs and I cross my room in just a few strides to the window seat from where I look at the great clock tower on the horizon.

Certain as the sunrise, and for the first time in sixteen years, the needle moves.

Next morning, while I am getting ready for school, I hear the grinding noise of a motorcycle, too close to be anywhere but in front of my house. I run back to the window seat. There he is, yes, the dark-green-eyed stranger, looking up directly at me like he knew the noise would get my attention. I dash from my bedroom, through the corridor, down the stairs, across the foyer and out the front door, demanding to know what the hell he thinks he's doing here at this hour.

He climbs off of his bike, slowly, as if the short, blonde, angry teenager isn't a real threat to him. Calmly he pulls a screwdriver from his jacket pocket, knees on the asphalt and starts tinkering with something under his transportation. "Hey, blondie," he says without even glancing at me. "Just fixing my bike."

"You were not," I say, a little too defensively. "You were watching me."

That makes him look at me, a dark eyebrow slightly raised. "Someone has a big sense of her own importance."

I feel my cheeks coloring. "Shut up," I say quickly. "That's not what I meant. What are you doing in Storybrooke?"

"Just visiting," he answers convincingly, but his eyes are no longer on my face.

"That doesn't happen," I accidentally say aloud. He looks at me again, unresponsive, and I decide to change tactics. I point to a wooden box that's tied to his motorcycle, something I had not noticed until now. "What is that?"

"A box."

I grit my teeth. My hand is itching to slap that arrogant tone off his voice. He is utterly annoying and something tells me he's doing it on purpose to frustrate me. Confident, black-haired, easy-smile jerk. I decide I don't like him one bit.

"And what's inside the box?" I ask, making a big show of pretending to be calm.

"Something me and my friend need to do," he says as he brings himself up and puts the screwdriver back in his pocket.

"Didn't you say you were just visiting?"

"Doesn't mean we don't have something to do." He mounts his bike and gives it a start, just as Regina is coming out of the front door. She is already giving us her control-freak-stare. She calls my name. "You better go," the stranger says in what I classify as a patronizing tone of voice. I'm about to give a salty retort when he adds, in a much more natural tone: "Be prepared."

The warning makes me shiver like someone just poured cold water over me. I have no reply for that. I don't even hear Regina marching towards me until the woman is standing right in front of me. Luckily, the stranger has left.

"Who was that?" Regina demands, but she sounds different. Puzzled. I shrug. "He was talking to you."

"I never got his name," I admit, now feeling stupid for not having asked. I look at my mother. She seems concerned. "What's wrong?"

Regina glances down the street where the stranger has disappeared. "I don't know. He looks familiar."

"Hmmm. Maybe he was one of the victims in your path of destruction, mom," I jeer. She doesn't like that, but seems indisposed to argue.

"Stay away from him, Hannah," she tells me with firm, cold eyes.

"Why would I do that?"

"You'll do that because I told you to," she answers impatiently, and then Madam Mayor is off to terrorize the neighborhood.

Ruby, Ashley and I are having breakfast at Granny's as it's our custom. Ashley is a little down in the dumps which isn't her usual self. She is always so hopeful, so faithful. In fact, as I look around watching the known faces of Storybrooke I notice that everyone seems in a different mood today. They wear different clothes, talk about different subjects, try different food.

"Last night I felt contractions," Ashley says, breaking me of my reverie, when Ruby inquires to her well-being, "and Dr. Whale said the baby could come any day now."

I don't know much about babies, but I find that Ashley doesn't look as excited to give birth (after years of gestation) as one would expect. I know it's hard for her—being eighteen and pregnant—but as far as I know, babies are supposed to make your life better, not make you miserable. I wouldn't be so concerned if I were her, though, because her baby won't be born any day. Storybrooke won't let it.

"That's a good thing, right?" I try to lift her spirits. "You'll finally meet him or her." And I give her an encouraging smile.

That has the contrary effect I'm hoping for. Ashley's blue eyes fill with tears and she holds her breath as to not sob. Ruby puts an arm around her shoulders. "What is it, Ash? Don't cry."

"It's just…" Ashley gulps. "When the baby comes…" She shakes her head, unable to control her emotions. "No one thinks that I can do this. No one thinks I can do anything."

That hits home. I know very well how that feels. No one thinks I can do anything either.

"And maybe they're right…" Ashley lets out a sigh so heavy it shakes the table. "Maybe I'm not what's best for this baby." .

"No!" I say, a little louder than intended. "Screw that! Everyone loves to tell us what we can and can't do. But screw them. You have to do what you think it's best. It's on you. My mom once told me… She said that people are always gonna tell you who you are. And you just gotta punch back and say 'no, this is who I am'." It isn't something I do, quote Regina to people, but that is one of my good memories of my mom so I might as well cherish it.

Ruby smiles. "Yeah, Hannah's right. You want people to look at you differently? Make 'em, Ash. Show them who you are. Show them you can do this."

Ashley stares at her own hands for a long time after that. When she finally raises her eyes, her expression hides something I can't decipher. Like she is keeping something from me.

"Do you ever wonder…" Ashley stops herself, trying to choose her words carefully, I presume. "Do you ever wonder who your real parents are?" She says this softly as if she fears my reaction.

I'm used to this kind of questions by now. I get them all the time from Dr. Hopper. "The right term is biological parents," I tell her, almost automatically. "My mom, although a pain in my ass, is very much real."

"Of course. I'm sorry, Hannah. That's not what I meant," Ashley says quickly. "It's just… Well, if I give this baby away like everyone expects me to do… I don't want him or her to wonder who I am or… or why I didn't want… why I couldn't…"

"It will wonder," I say, eyes on my plate. I feel something odd inside of me and find I can't look at Ashley. I'm wondering if this is what my biological mother looked like just before she gave me away. "No matter what. It can have the greatest life and still it will wonder why you gave it away. I'm not judging you," I add, forcing my eyes to meet Ashley's horrified expression. "It's just a fact. The question is always there in the back of my mind."

I can tell this is the wrong thing to say. Ashley looks even more depressed. Ruby tries to change the subject, telling us about her misadventures with Bob, Granny's hot janitor. Ashley smiles a bit after that. My mind, however, is stuck in that unfortunate topic. Dr. Hopper brought it up a dozen times—do I really want to meet my biological parents? Of course I've always been curious, but Regina convinced me a long time ago that if someone didn't want you, they didn't deserve you wanting them. But after seeing Ashley so distraught… What if my parents had wanted me but couldn't keep me? What then? Did it change how I feel about them? Is it enough to forgive them? Do they even need forgiveness?

By night, I gather the courage to talk to Regina about it. I wait until she has finished eating to ask: "Do you know who my biological parents are?" I have the odd feeling I might have asked this question before, but I can't remember if Regina has ever given me an answer. "Did you ever meet them?"

Regina's face immediately turns sour like she has sucked on a particularly acid lemon. "No," she says briskly. "It was a close adoption. No interactions from either part." She stands up and starts gathering plates.

I need to take several deep breaths before asking my next question. "Would you… Would you help me find them if I wanted to?"

Regina drops a fork dramatically. "Why are you doing this today?"

"It's just a question," I say. "I'm curious. It's not a big deal. I'd just like to know if they—"

"They are the people who abandoned you," she finishes for me. "What difference will it make knowing their names? I'm your mother. Nothing can ever change that."

I look away so she won't see me cry. "I know, mom. I just think that it might be good for me to—"

Again, she doesn't let me speak. "Why don't you let me decide what's good for you, Hannah? That's my job." She sets the dishes inside the sink. "I'll clean this in the morning. I'm going to bed. I suggest you do the same."

Ashley doesn't show up for breakfast the next morning. She doesn't show up at work either. Nobody sees her the entire day. By 4 O'clock, I'm so worried I end up going to Ashley's house, but her stepmother says she hasn't seen Ashley since lunch. Apparently, she has packed her bags and left a little after that, which her stepmother considers a "good thing".

As I wander the streets trying to digest that, I bumped into the last person I expect to see in the sunny park of Storybrooke—Mr. Gold.

What to say about him? The guy is creepy. He has the face of an evil gecko and he always looks at me like he knows everything about me, things I'm not even aware of. Everyone is afraid of him. And worse of all: he owns the town. There is even a rumor going around saying he has more power over Storybrooke than Regina.

"Just who I was looking for," he says to me and then adds, before I can answer, "I have a proposition for you, Miss Mills. I need your help to find you little friend, Miss Boyd."

I guess we're waaaay past creepy now. Ashley has fallen off the face of the Earth and Mr. Gold, of all people, is after her? What can he possibly want with a pregnant, runaway teenager?

As if reading my mind, Mr. Gold says, "She's taken something quite valuable of mine." He keeps the accusation off his tone, trying to sound like a concerned friend. But he isn't concerned. He is a hunter going after his prey.

"Uh…" I try to step away from him. "Mr. Gold, why don't you just talk to Graham?" Graham is the sheriff of Storybrooke. If something has really been stolen from Mr. Gold, he would press charges, wouldn't he?

"Because uh…" he hesitates, measuring his next words "She's a confused young woman and she's pregnant. Alone. Scared. I don't have to tell you this, Miss Mills." He makes a pained expression that doesn't fool me one bit. "I don't want to ruin your friend's life. I just want my property returned."

This is getting weirder and weirder. "What is it?" I ask, frowning.

"Well, one of the advantages of you not being the police is discretion, Miss Mills," he says, his face contorting in a creepy smile (if you can call it that). "Let's just say it's a precious object and leave it at that. You're friends with Miss Boyd. Find her. Convince her to return what's mine and I won't press charges. See, she hurt me physically." He pulls his hair backwards so I can see a faint bruise on his forehead. "She could end up in big trouble."

That is crazy talk. Ashley can't have done that; she wouldn't hurt a fly. Yet he has physical evidence to support his claim. "When did that happen?" I gesture to the bruise.

"Last night," he tells me. "She broke into my store and attacked me. She was rambling about changing her life? It is so unlike her. Miss Mills, please, help me find her. She must've said something to you. Where she was going? Why?"

"No," I say, disappointed at myself. I can't help thinking that if Ashley neglected to tell me something is because I didn't make myself available to her. "She didn't tell me anything. But I'll look for her. Leave it to me, Mr. Gold."

He tries another smile (I wish he wouldn't, it doesn't make him any less bizarre). "Great. Send my regards to your mother. And good luck."

As soon as he is out of sight, I rush to the first place that comes to mind—Sean's house. Luckily—as Gold has wished me—Sean is the one who answers the door. "Hannah!" he exclaims, looking frightened. "What—What are you doing here? Did something happen?"

He must think his baby has been born or something, the poor bastard. "Actually, yes," I say, unsympathetically. "Something did. Ashley… She's gone. She's in trouble. I thought maybe she came to see you—"

"My son doesn't have anything to do with that girl anymore," a harsh voice says from inside the house. Mr. Herman appears behind his son in the hallway looking unfriendly. "Whatever trouble she's in, I'm sorry for, but there's nothing we can do to help."

I make a face. I really don't like this man. I'm pretty sure he is the reason Sean has broken up with Ashley in the first place. Well, him and Sean's lack of guts.

"Dad…" Sean starts to say. "Maybe we should help her look."

"It's a waste, son."

"If you want to help me, I'd appreciate it," I tell Sean. "If that's what you want. Stop letting other people make decisions for you. If Ashley runs away with this baby, she's gonna be in some serious trouble."

"She's—She's running away with the baby?" A glimmer of something crosses his eyes—something I can't identify, but it gives me hope for Sean.

"Yes."

"Sean." Mr. Herman puts a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. "Inside. Now."

After a brief moment of hesitation, in which I speculate as to what his reaction will be, Sean makes the weak choice again and does as he father orders him. I roll my eyes. Boys can be pretty pathetic.

Mr. Herman stares at me, arms crossed over his chest. "If I knew where she was, I would tell you, Miss Mills. You know that. I went to a lot of trouble to get her that deal."

I blink, confused. "Deal?" I repeat, the word sounding strangely forbearing. "What deal?"

"You don't know?" It's Mr. Herman's turn to frown. "Ashley agreed to give up the child and she's being paid very well to do so."

"She sold the baby?" I feel something awful clawing in my stomach. So that's what Ashley is keeping from me. She knows how upset I'd be.

"Oh, you make it sound so crass," Mr. Herman says. "I found someone who's going to find that child a good and proper home."

"And who are you to judge whether Ashley is capable of providing that?" I snap. There is a ringing in my ears.

"Just look at her—a teenager!" he scoffs. "She's never shown any evidence of being responsible. That's how she got pregnant. How could she possibly know how to be a mother?"

"You don't need much to be a mother," I say, although, I guess, I don't know anything about it.

"You say that because you aren't one, Miss Mills," Mr. Herman echoes my thoughts. "And when it comes to that, you've had a pretty good one that can give you anything you want. I found someone who's going to pay Ashley extremely well, someone who's going to see to it that everybody's happy."

"Except Ashley."

Suddenly it all becomes clear to me. The person who is behind all of this—Mr. Gold. I understand now the seriousness of Ashley's troubles.

They are great indeed.

For nobody has ever broken a deal with Mr. Gold before. Nobody.

I run all the way to Granny's looking for Ruby. I find her right away, waiting on some tables. I grab her by the arm (Hey!—Ouch!—Hannah!) and push her behind the counter.

"What the hell—?"

"Why didn't you tell me Ashley sold the baby?" I demand. The people in the nearest tables turn their necks to look at us.

"Shhh!" says Ruby. "You can't go around shouting these things, Hannah."

"So you knew," I accuse. I already suspected that she would, but it still hurts me a little bit to have been left out. "She told you and not me."

Ruby has the grace to look apologetic. "It's nothing personal, Hannah," she says. "Just that… Well, you're the mayor's daughter. And, uh, with you being adopted and all… She just didn't want you to think less of her."

"I would never do that!" I shout. More people look our way. I make an effort to lower my voice. "I'm trying to help her, Ruby. Do you have any idea… She can't handle Gold on her own."

Ruby sighs. "Trust me, I know." Ruby considers me for a moment before deciding to tell me what she knows. "She left town, alright? Said she was gonna try Boston. Thought she could disappear there. And just so you know, this is all because of you, okay, Hannah? Everything you told her yesterday? She wants to keep her baby now."

Inhale. Exhale. First things first. "How long ago did she leave?"

"A few hours maybe. I don't know. But if she thinks this is best who are we to—"

"No!" I shout. "She can't leave town. Nobody can. Bad things happen when we try, Ruby. We have to stop her before she gets hurt."

Ruby looks at me like I'm a lunatic, but agrees to come with me. She grabs her car keys and we are off. Ruby drives fast, way over the limit. When we reach the town line, we catch sight of Ashley's rented car by the side of the road.

"I told you!" I cry. "Bad things happen when we try to leave!"

Ruby steps on the break. I almost throw myself out of the car. Ashley is sitting on the grass, a little farther from the road, looking like she is in a lot of pain. She must have crawled all the way there after she crashed the car. From the look of things, she's—

"My baby," Ashley sobs, rubbing her stomach. Her next words don't make any sense to me. "It's coming."

Ruby and I half-carry, half-drag Ashley to the car. On the ride back, Ashley shouts, cries and moans, which only increases my anxieties. I don't understand what is going on. She has been pregnant for almost two decades. Why would she have the baby today? Why now? What has changed?

The answer comes to me almost immediately. The two newcomers. The clock tower. It is all connected, it has to be. If the clock tower moved—it must mean that time has finally started to move forward. Which means today is the first original, unexpected day we have. Which means from now on people are acting of their own volition. Which means… everything is changing.

"I can't go back there!" Ashley shouts between intakes of breath. "Girls, please, take me to Boston! I can't—"

"We don't have four hours to get to Boston!" Ruby says. "Your baby won't wait!"

"I can't go back there," Ashley keeps saying. "He's going to take my baby!"

"I won't let that happen," I promise her, knowing that I'm way in over my head. I look at my friend and I see that shadow of what might've been my own mother fighting to keep me with her, and I know that I will do whatever it takes to help Ashley keep her baby. "But you have to know what you're asking for, alright?" I say. "If you keep this baby, are you really ready?"

Ashley looks just as certain as I feel. "Yes," she says. "I want my baby."

And so it is decided.

Ashley gives birth to a healthy 6-pound girl. Ruby holds her hand the entire time. When I go to get Ashley some water, I find Mr. Gold waiting for me in the waiting area.

"Why didn't you tell me you were after her baby?" I ask wondering if my mom will understand if I kick Mr. Gold in the shins.

He doesn't seem affected by my accusation. "You know your friend," he half-shrugs. "The hard life she's got. Surely the situation must make sense to you of all people, Miss Mills. You are well aware of the good life adopted children can have."

I feel my heart beating in my ears. The nerve of the man! Maybe if I kick his walking stick he will fall face-first on the ground. "You're not getting that kid," I say. "It's not yours."

"We have an agreement," he says ominously, "and my agreements are always honored. If not, I'm going to have to involve the police and that baby is going to end up in the system. That's an experience you've never had, thankfully for you, Miss Mills."

I gulp. I don't like his tone. I don't like him—not one bit.

"Then make a deal with me," I offer, my tongue seeming to have a life of its own. I have no control over my next words. "Ashley gets to keep her baby. I'll do whatever you want."

For whatever reason, Mr. Gold seems very interested in my offer. His eyes widen and he gives me such a genuine smile he barely looks like the same person from seconds ago. It is as if me owing him something is extremely valuable, as if I can accomplish great things for him. He sees great profit coming from this.

"Deal," he says.

I feel my fate being sealed and I wonder if I have just made a grave mistake.

Berlinale Film Festival 2021, Industry Event, Day 1

We all knew the 71st Berlinale would be different, but who’d have guessed we’d be given a twofer? At this point, the juries for the Competition, Encounters, Shorts, and Generations sections have all handed out their awards. These juries got to watch the films in their respective categories on the big screen. Meanwhile, the press were given the opportunity to screen these movies at home, as well as the films in the Berlinale Special, Panorama, Forum and Forum Expanded sections, as well as the six films making up the Perspektive Deutsches Kino category and episodes from the six television shows included in Berlinale Series. (The always excellent Retrospective section is only screening during the summer.) Altogether, around 150 at-home screenings were made available to the press. We had five days to watch them. I was able to watch 22 of them. This is Part One.

———

I’m sure everyone covering the festival is hoping that the Summer Special, in mid-June, will go smoothly and we’ll be able to catch at least a fraction of the movies we weren’t able to see. (For geo-blocking streaming reasons, a few films in the lineup weren’t available at all in my geo-region. Including two in the Competition: the FABIAN adaptation and Daniel Daniel Brühl’s directorial debut NEXT DOOR.) Usually, the press is given a week ahead of the festival to check out the Panorama, Forum and Generations titles. One assumes it’s so that audiences may get some recommendations on these lower-profile movies in the inevitable situation when all the high-profile films are sold out. Will this happen in the summer? Unless I missed a press release, the details around the Summer Special are still a bit vague. Rightfully so, since we’re still living in week-by-week uncertainty as far as lockdown measures go.

All we can do now is cross our fingers and hope for a chance to get a look at some of the these titles, because when presented with the challenge of covering a 150-movie lineup over just five days, you have to make some obvious decisions. I suspect many people did what I did — try to watch all the Competition titles and get in a few Encounters, Specials, some shorts and hold out hope for one or two stray Panoramas or Forums. To make matters more heartbreaking, the press screenings went like this: every morning at 7:00 AM, you’d get an impossibly long list of films to watch until 7:00 AM next morning. You’d get a few Competition titles, a few Encounters and Specials, and a deluge of films from the other categories. For many films, all you could do is look at the title, nod, and say to yourself, hopefully we’ll meet again soon, because there’s no way I can fit a sixth movie in today without losing my mind.

(Now there was a wrinkle added to this plan. Over the weekend of March 6 - 7, the press could screen the award winners that got announced on Friday. But it was difficult to try and take this into consideration in any strategic way.)

———

Like most film festivals, Berlinale usually kicks things off with a star-studded opening night movie that’s usually too mainstream for the critics. With no red carpet to be concerned with this year, that wasn’t the case. Instead, on Day One, the closest to a big movie star name was Iain Glen (Game of Thrones). Glen isn’t the lead in Tim Fehlbaum’s TIDES, shown in the Berlinale Special program, but he does play a key role as an astronaut who’s landed back on Earth, generations after human had mostly left the increasingly inhabitable planet. Humans have been living in a space colony called Kepler, but everyone ended up sterile, so missions are being sent back to Earth in the hopes that they can once again live there and get their reproductive groove back.

That’s the underlying story of TIDES, and it’s just one element that will likely feel very familiar to anyone who’s well-versed in post-apocalyptic cinema. The color palette is stark, with muted colors. The landscape is barren, this one with lots of water, rather than the desert locales of Mad Max. In fact, the notorious WATERWORLD came to mind more than once while watching TIDES. There’s even a doll in the film that looks just like Dennis Hopper’s character in that film, eye patch and everything. That little detail may be one of the most interesting things about the film.

The main character of TIDES is another astronaut, played with a committed intensity by Nora Arnezeder. She crash lands on Earth, is held captive by central casting post-apocalyptic scavengers, and eventually tries to track down a McGuffin that will let her contact Kepler and report back that there are people reproducing on Earth. Meanwhile, she also suspects that something might remain of the previous mission that was comprised of her father and Iain Glen.

The main attraction here is Fehlbaum’s use of stunning landscapes and practical locations, like a beached industrial ocean liner that serves as inspiration for one of the primary sets. The art design and costumes are all exceptional, while the acting and photography are all decent enough. But it never does much with the conspiracy it tries to entertain us with. Its attempts at being thrilling look good, but can’t help but feel like pretty standard stuff at this point. It’s worth noting that one of the film’s producers is Roland Emmerich, a man who knows a thing or two about making generic high concept action pictures. Some things, like the art design and the pleasingly diverse and international cast, set TIDES apart. But the story is far less inspired.

Faring better were the Day One Competition titles. I started with MEMORY BOX, a lively picture wherein a daughter gets to better understand her mother when a box of the mom’s old teenage diaries and correspondence ends up on their doorstep. (This mother-daughter connection is essentially the same theme that Céline Sciamma’s PETITE MAMAN covers in a different, more sci-fi, fashion.) As the daughter, living in a nice house in Montreal, digs into her mother’s old journals, scrapbooks and tape recordings, the film travels back to 1980s Beirut through the eyes of her teenage mom. It makes these trips back in time through some pretty cool moments of collage-like animation — putting scrapbook pages into motion and diving into photographs and contact sheets that come alive. Plus, the soundtrack is killer, full of lively 80s post punk like Killing Joke, The Stranglers and Blondie.

There’s romance, the trauma of war, a strong refugee story, and a poignant tale of cross-generational understanding. The kicker is that it’s very autobiographical, with the film mirroring co-director Joana Hadjithomas’s own story of corresponding with her friend in Paris while Beirut was falling down around her. These journals are backed up by old photographs taken in Beirut from the other co-director, Kahil Joreige. Like last year’s fascinating BLOODY NOSE, EMPTY POCKETS, and this year’s A COP MOVIE, Berlinale movies are continuing to find success in blurring the line between documentary and narrative fiction. The movie has a little trouble maintaining momentum all the way through, but I loved the experimentation on display here, and the unique ways it tells its story. It helps that MEMORY BOX really sticks the landing at the end.

Next up was ICH BIN DEIN MENSCH, or I’M YOUR MAN — another film, like many in recent years, interested in the ethics behind artificial intelligence and robots with emotions. Think of it as a romantic comedy version of BLADE RUNNER, or an updated version of the forgotten-by-time Ann Magnuson and John Malkovich vehicle MAKING MR. RIGHT. This one, based on a recent short story by Emma Braslavsky, is directed by Maria Schrader, who recently helmed the popular Netflix series Unorthodox (she’s also a veteran film and TV actress, from Tatort and Deutschland 86 to AIMEE & JAGUAR). Schrader continues to prove that she has a good eye for framing and storytelling. The movie doesn’t always escape the problem that many German movies continue to struggle with, which is that they often feel like a good TV movie rather than a work of cinema, but it manages better than most.

The general idea is that Maren Eggert plays Alma, a researcher who is assigned the task of spending a couple weeks with a new personal companion robot named Tom, played by the dreamy-eyed Dan Stevens. Alma is, of course, a completely rational-minded person who is happy to just get through the two weeks with as little interaction with Tom as possible. In her mind, it’s an impossibility that a piece of technology could fulfill a human being’s needs. Of course, as each day goes by, Tom continues to surprise her and wear down her defenses.

It’s a pretty well-worn story by now. The issues that get raised over the course of the movie are some that Star Trek: The Next Generation was dealing with on a regular basis (Tom is similar to Data, though Stevens doesn’t need any special contact lenses), but there are some interesting wrinkles here. Few movies have looked at this subject from the female perspective. And if there’s one that that this year’s Berlinale truly excelled at, it’s offering a wide variety of movies by female directors and/or with female leads. We’ve covered three movies that fit that criteria already, and many more will come. What’s more, Maren Eggert gives us a character who’s at an age where she’s wrestling with the question of whether or not her child-bearing days are behind her. When’s the last time Hollywood dealt with that subject? So, while Alma starts off as a very emotionally distant, academic type, and the best thing about the movie is uncovering her past and getting to understand why she has put up so many walls. I’m not sure it does much with the subject of AI or robot companions, but it does provide a charming odd-couple story and I don’t have any complaints with Eggert winning the festival’s best actress award.

The nightcap on Day One was INTEURODEOKSYEON, or INTRODUCTION, the newest film by the prolific Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo. At last year’s Berlinale, Sangsoo was also in the Competition with the excellent THE GIRL WHO RAN, and he doesn’t disappoint with INTRODUCTION. Ironically enough, if you’re unfamiliar with Hong Sangsoo and don’t know where to start — understandable given the nearly 30 films he’s directed in the past 25 years — INTRODUCTION ain’t a bad way to start. It’s not his best work, but it’s pretty damn good, and a very accessible entry-point into the man’s style and thematic interests. And it barely cracks the 60-minute mark, so you’re not committing to much.

This one ping-pongs between a young man, Youngho, and a young woman, Juwan, both trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Juwan wants to study fashion in Berlin, Youngho wants to become an actor. Both run into problems with these pursuits — some of which are out of their control. In Youngho’s case, it leads to a hilariously drunken dinner confrontation with Ki Joo-bong, who may or may not be playing a version of himself, since he’s only credited as “Old Actor.” The esteemed Korean actor Joo-bong has appeared in Park Chan-wook films, SAVE THE GREEN PLANET, as well as few of Sangsoo’s other films and some 70 other movies. In INTRODUCTION, his character is revered by every other person he meets. And his advice to Youngho is an eruptive highlight in a movie that’s otherwise pretty subtle.

Subtlety is often Sangsoo’s thing, but the emotions he leaves you with tend to be pretty strong. This is his magic. He writes very realistic, dialog-driven scenes that, on their own, are nuanced and deceptively simple. But these quiet scenes build up to an ending that makes everything come together in a profound way. Even if you’re familiar with Sangsoo’s work, INTRODUCTION may come across as slight, or a minor work in the maestro’s deep catalog, but I found it’s pleasures to be more immediate than usual. To my knowledge, no one is writing screenplays like this. The way he reveals characters, develops them, and draws connections through casual lines of dialog, sometimes nested deep within a conversation, is practically his trademark move, and it’s never not remarkable. It demands your attention and then rewards it at the end. His technique is patient, confident and hugely sophisticated. The only problem I see is that, given his track record of releasing one or two movies a year, his talent is in danger of being taken. Don’t be one of those people.

Sarah vs The Life Unexpected Ch 22, Yippie Ki Yay

A/N: I'm sorry. I'm not saying some of you are standing there like Molly, hands on hips, more than a little upset that I've posted two straight Uprising chapters and no Molly…but I'm not saying you're not either. I apologize. I've learned my lesson.

A/N 2: It is cold here. There is snow, and a sheet of ice, and people are trying to drive 900 mph on it. Welcome to the "south". (It's Kentucky but we consider ourselves the south). Did you really think Jack's going to jail? Come on. It's me.

A/N 3: Serious fluff broke out in this chapter that I wasn't expecting but it kinda wrote itself. You have been warned. Shout out to Sound of Music by Quistie64 for Call of Duty making it in to this chapter. If you love fluff and haven't read that, I can't help you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, or Die Hard…but they are both great at Christmas.

Last time on Sarah vs The Life Unexpected

"General, I owe some men, some very bad men, two million dollars, and my daughter believes she has a plan to capture said men. General, for far too long I've put my family in harms way, and today that ends. I am surrendering. I am turning myself in." Sarah's jaw dropped and she turned to stare at her father. Chuck turned to Casey.

"I didn't see that coming," Chuck said. Casey just grunted.

And now Ch 22, Yippie Ki Yay

"Wait, what?" Sarah yelled. Jack turned to her.

"Darlin', I can't do it to you. Do you know what they'll do to me for two million, to my family?" Jack asked. Chuck put his hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Jack, I appreciate the sacrifice," Chuck said. Casey stared at Chuck. Chuck turned to the monitor. "General, I guess you'll need to send someone down to pick him up." The general looked confused.

"Wait, who was the sheik that you owe money to?" she asked. Chuck happened to be looking directly at Bryce when Jack answered.

"Sheik Ahmad," Jack answered. Bryce flashed, and Chuck saw it. As he watched Bryce's face, it was like he was looking at many pictures at once, and it reminded him something of his past.

"Professor Fleming," Chuck said softly. No one heard him, but Bryce saw his mouth say the word. He shook his head, and Chuck kept his mouth shut. Bryce told the general everything Ahmad was involved in. "It's obviously much too dangerous for my family, and Jack," Chuck said. Sarah stared at Chuck. She knew he had become very withdrawn, but this was weird. This wasn't Chuck.

"Charlie's right," Jack agreed. "I can't take a chance of my family getting hurt."

"Give me a moment," Beckman said and the monitor went off. Jack smirked at Chuck, and tapped his finger on the side of his nose. Sarah's mouth dropped.

"You…," she said to her father, and then turned to Chuck. "And you…" Her mouth was wide open in shock.

"Charlie, I didn't think you had it in you," Jack said softly. Chuck shrugged.

"I don't want to see my family hurt, what have I said that's untrue?" he asked. Sarah just shook her head.

"And he's family," she said softly.

"Five bucks says she does him right here in the next ten minutes," Carina whispered to Casey.

"I might take that just because I think she's about to drag him to the supply closet right now," Casey countered.

"How?" Sarah asked to her father. Jack shrugged.

"Lichtenstein," he answered. Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Really? That's what you want to go with?" she asked.

"Some one really wants to buy a building and rename it," Jack said, grinning. "The sheik really wants to buy the Fox Plaza building and rename it to something more appropriate."

"Nakatomi Plaza?" Chuck asked in a hushed tone. Jack nodded. Sarah looked confused. Chuck caught Bryce's eye.

"Yippie Ki Yay Mother-" Bryce began as the screen flipped back on.

"Father," Chuck finished looking at Bryce. "I know, it's weird calling someone a mother-father, but that's what they do so who are we to tell them they're wrong?" Beckman's eyebrow was raised, and Sarah was biting the inside of the cheek to keep from laughing.

"I mean who are we to tell someone what sounds weird or not, right?" Bryce agreed.

"If you'll excuse the interruption," Beckman said. Everyone turned toward the screen. "I have an offer. If you can get the Sheik's accounts, we can make…some deal." The last part was made as if there was a bad taste in her mouth. "First, Jack, your record will be cleared." Jack stuck his bottom lip out as he nodded. "Second, we can make sure that the adoptions are done within a week." She held up her hand before Chuck could cut in. "By not participating we will still do all we have previously agreed. Third, there are some new weapons we can provide for you, plus give special NSA status, you wouldn't be active agents, but it would help you get around some…things…shall we say should you need something working for Carmichael."

"Well, I don't know, what about Charlie's family?" Jack asked. Sarah glanced at Chuck. Chuck winked at her.

"State of the art security at his home, plus the two duplexes the other employees are looking to purchase," Beckman offered. Jack looked at Chuck.

"Come on, Bartowski, we could use the weapons," Casey said.

"Dear, this is your call," Chuck said looking at Sarah. She gave him a level look and extended it to her father when he looked over at her.

"Are you staying?" she asked. Jack looked her in the eye.

"I can't just stay here with your Mom here with someone else," Jack admitted. "It would kill me. But, I'll go clean, when I'm here I'll even work here, if you'll have me."

"That may be the most honest thing you've ever told me," Sarah said. She looked up at Beckman. "We're in, plus we keep any of the money actually get out of the Sheik." Beckman nodded. "The rest of the team is back later today, we'll gameplan tomorrow and call you tomorrow afternoon with our plans." Beckman nodded, and cut the feed. She turned to her father. "You could have let me in on it." Jack grinned.

"Nope, after what the schnook has been through the past few days with all of you, I figured he was perfect for the job," Jack said. Chuck grinned. Sarah shook her head and left.

}o{

The three met at Lou's. They sat in the back, trying not to draw attention, but who are we kidding, three of the most gorgeous spies that ever lived were sitting at a table and talking in hushed tones, men and women stared at them.

"I may have to pay you three to come in more often, I can't ever remember a time we were more busy," Lou said with a grin to Sarah, Carina, and Zondra. "Sarah, I want to apologize." Sarah waved it off.

"I'm aware most of that was Bryce's doing, what I really don't get is how no one put together Burton Industries and Jack Burton," Sarah replied. Lou shrugged.

"At one point Morgan mentioned it," Lou said. She took a deep breath. "And, to be honest, I kept noticing how good looking your dad is, and may have gotten distracted." Sarah had an amused smile on her face.

"Total hottie, right?" Carina said. Sarah shook her head.

"Please, continue telling me how good looking my dad is, Carina," Sarah said. Carina looked at her. "You're going to do what you want anyway, I might as well tell you to. Wanna join us Lou?" Lou shrugged and sat down.

"Okay, what are you three up to?" she asked.

"We took Jill away to Vegas to try to get the low down on her and Bryce," Zondra said.

"We're hoping if we get Bryce and her together, she'll lay off blondie," Carina explained.

"So, spill," Lou said grinning.

"Well, Jill thinks he's good looking," Zondra began.

"He is pretty," Lou said. Sarah nodded.

"Worse, he knows it," Sarah added. Carina snickered

"Who took longer to get ready, you or him?" Carina asked.

"Oh, him," Sarah said, shocked Carina would even asked. "That man would primp, and put product in his hair for hours." Zondra and Lou were rolling. "The thing is, I would catch him doing stuff like Chuck does, watching sci-fi shows, looking at a comic book in a store, or something nerdy like that, and he'd hide it, and act like I was wrong. Or he would say he was just getting info in case he ever had to go undercover in that scene again." Sarah shook her head. "He denied himself everything he really wanted, including Jill."

"Do you think if he were himself you two wouldn't have broke up?" Lou asked. Sarah thought for a second.

"Well, we wouldn't be together, but I wonder," Sarah began. The three looked interested so she plowed ahead. "What we had was convenient."

"Ain't nothing wrong with that," Carina said. Sarah rolled her eyes.

"What I'm saying is, we were both looking for something else, and neither of us was truly honest with the other, or ourselves. IF Bryce had opened up to me, then maybe I would have been more honest with him, and then we would have realized, we're friends. Great friends, and colleagues, but that was all," Sarah explained.

"You think he wanted Jill even when he was with you?" Zondra asked. Sarah nodded.

"So we're back to him being pretty," Lou said, grinning. "How does she feel about him?"

"She doesn't know, it's been a while, and frankly, she's beating herself up for losing Chuck," Carina said, glancing at Sarah. Sarah shrugged.

"She should be," she said, smirking. The other three laughed. "But what did they really have, her and Bryce I mean? What Jill thought they should be, or was there something really there?"

"That's what Jill is wondering," Zondra replied. "Spy life is not conducive for relationships." The three spies nodded. Lou just gave all three of them a look, and rolled her head.

"Oh wah," she said. The three dropped their jaws. "I get to be beautiful and go to glorious places, and have excitement, and danger, and good looking men buy me drinks. Try sitting here, waiting on some of the guys I wait on."

"You do know that some of the criminals we have to get close to aren't that attractive," Sarah said grinning. "And some of the good-looking men, are absolute disgusting pigs." Lou leaned forward.

"Okay, I have to know, when you do these missions, do you ever have to seduce a man?" Lou asked. All three grinned.

"Who said they're all men?" Carina asked. Lou's eyebrows went up.

"How far do you go?" Lou asked. Sarah sighed.

"There are missions, typically long term, get close to a mark or even get the mark to fall in love with you, where that is required," Sarah said. "But, an agent is never required to do them. Those are volunteer. The best seduction is flirting, teasing, and promising more. That's all I ever have done, others…" she said, looking at Carina, who shrugged. "Believe why waste the good time that is available."

"Hey, I'm a one guy woman now," Carina said, and then paused as she thought about that. "Walker, you ruined me."

"I think it was Casey that ruined you," Zondra said, batting her eyes at Carina. Sarah burst out laughing and Lou wondered if a fight was about to break out. Carina stared at Zondra for a minute and then shrugged.

"He gives me lady feelings," she said grinning. Everyone groaned and Sarah tossed a napkin at her.

"And my lunch is ruined," Sarah said. "Although I'm shocked I could ever eat again after catching you two in the supply closet."

"TMI!" Lou said. The door opened and they all noticed Chuck walk in. "Someone misses you." Sarah turned and saw him. He noticed all four women at the table, and got a strange look on his face. He waved, then reached in his pocket for his phone, he said something, waved again and left. Sarah raised an eyebrow, pulled out her phone, and called him, all while watching him through the window. He had already put the phone in his pocket, and pulled it back out.

"There is no way I am coming in there with the four of you having lunch," Chuck said. Sarah burst out laughing.

"Would you like me to bring you a sandwich later?" she asked.

"Nah, I'll find something, just tell me, did I do anything wrong?" he asked.

"No, you're good," she said. "Love you."

"Love you," he said and disconnected.

"Well, we cost you one sale," Sarah said, grinning.

"I mean do you blame him?" Lou asked.

"I'm shocked he works with all of us," Carina replied. "Back on topic, Jill and Bryce."

"So Bryce brought flowers, and they talked last night," Zondra said. "She said she wants to take it slow and figure out how she really feels about him."

"How are you with working with Bryce?" Carina asked.

"I'm fine with it," she replied. "I'm about out of my contract," she said, looking down and then back up at Sarah. Sarah reached over and put her hand on Zondra's.

"There's always a place here for you," Sarah said. The door opened back up and there was Chuck, looking defeated.

"Your man must love that sandwich," Lou said, and got up to go make him one. In a minute he walked over to them.

"I'm not trying to horn in on your conversation so I'll gladly go sit by myself on the far side of the room," Chuck said, hoping they'd let him go. Zondra patted the seat right beside her.

"Sit, Chuckles," she said, grinning. He sat and saw the grins of the other two.

"I should have gone fast food," he muttered.

"Pretty brave today, Chuck," Carina said. "Pulling that con on the general and not letting your wife know." Chuck shrugged.

"I just played along," Chuck said. "Can I ask you guys a question?" They all nodded. "You know that class that Bryce planted those tests in?" They nodded again. "Why is that class so important for the CIA?"

"Recall would be extremely useful as an analyst," Sarah replied. Chuck gave her a look. "Really, do you think you could do some of the things we did?" Chuck grinned. "I've seen you trap a spider and carry it outside." Chuck dropped his head. She reached across and put her hand on his. "It's one of the things I love about you."

"I thought it was my girlish screams," Chuck said.

"We're going to need you to quit insulting girls like that," Zondra said, shoulder bumping him.

"Watch it, Zondra," Sarah said. "That's my move," she said smiling, but a little serious. "Why the questions about Stanford, is this about Bryce?" Chuck bobbed his head around and glanced over at Zondra. "She's one of us."

"Today during the meeting with Beckman, when your dad mentioned the sheik, Bryce's eyes did something and then he started spouting of information," Chuck said. "It's like he saw a bunch of stuff really fast, it kinda reminded me of Professor Fleming's class at Stanford."

"What are you saying, Chuck?" Zondra asked.

"I'm saying, I think there is a reason Beckman keeps giving me those weird looks, I think there is a reason Bryce wanted me out of Stanford, I think there is more going on than we realize," he replied. "Think about it, we're civilians, yes, former agents, but civilians. When have you ever heard of one agent being partnered with all these civilians?" He turned to Zondra. "Before you came along of course, and I'm glad you're here." Zondra smiled at him. Sarah studied Chuck for a minute.

"She's hiding an agent," Sarah said. "Bryce is a good spy, but not that good, so why?" Chuck nodded.

"It's got to be something else," Chuck said, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"So, you think it's got something to do with the recall?" she asked.

"That's the thing," Chuck said. "Bryce wasn't anywhere as good as me on recall."

"You think whatever's going on, it was supposed to be you instead of him?" Sarah asked. Chuck shrugged.

"You said it yourself," he said to Sarah. "I couldn't do what you do. Why create something like we're talking about for an analyst?" Chuck studied her for a bit and grinned. "Is this what you were like in the field, figuring out the next move?" She bounced a shoulder with a grin.

"Easy, Walker, you don't want your nerd overheating," Carina said.

"It's Bartowski," she corrected. "And you're wrong. I like it when my nerd overheats," she said giving Chuck a wink.

"I bet you'd be a mastermind as a tactician in Call of Duty," he said.

"The three of us would wipe the floor with you, Bryce, and Morgan," she said, grinning.

"Oh, of course you would," Chuck said. "Bryce would go off and play hero, and destroy our gameplan." Sarah glanced over at Carina.

"Someone on our side does tend to go off by herself a lot," Sarah said, grinning. Carina shrugged.

"So me and Morgan against you and Zondra," Chuck said. "We wouldn't last a minute." Sarah grinned at him.

"We need to get back and figure out what we're going to do," Sarah said. Chuck nodded.

"I figure you'll just tell me to stay in the car," Chuck said grinning. Sarah had a twinkle in her eye.

"I'm thinking I might keep you nearby," she said.

}o{

"Zondara and Casey are obviously our security," Sarah said. Jack nodded. "You're the point man," she said pointing at her father. "Bryce is Lichtenstein, I am his business manager, and Chuck is my personal assistant."

"I don't know about Charlie," Jack said. "No offense, Charlie."

"None taken," he said. "I figured I'd stay in the car with Morgan and Alex."

"They're overwatch, I need you there in case we run into any problems with the money tracking," Sarah explained. "Bryce is the main guy, but I'm the one that gets everything done, so I need an assistant. It's not that uncommon, plus an assistant should be very good with computers."

"It does make a lot of sense," Chuck said. Jack turned to him.

"Whose side are you on?" Jack asked.

"Oh, no one's," Chuck replied. "I'm just as shocked as you that she wants me there, but she does make a lot of good points."

"What do you expect, she's my girl," Jack said. Chuck smiled.

"You raised a good one," Chuck replied.

"Okay, you both did great, one donated sperm, the other-" Carina began.

"STOP!" Sarah said, scared where that was going. Chuck and Jack both looked a little uncomfortable standing beside each other. "Chuck plants the tracer, we find the accounts, we're in and out, any questions?" Chuck raised his hand. Sarah grinned. "Yes."

"Will I have on a vest?" he asked.

"Why will you need a vest?" Sarah replied.

"In case there are bullets," Chuck responded. "These things always seem to go bad."

"It's not a bad idea," Casey said. Sarah nodded. She turned to Bryce.

"Can you speak German?" she asked. Bryce looked insulted. "You couldn't when we worked together."

"He can now," Chuck said, eyeing him. Bryce gave him a look. Chuck barely cocked his head to the side. "Vay' vIghel stanford nIS maH." (We need to talk about Stanford-Klingon)

"QaSpu'DI' Qu'," (After the mission-Klingon) Bryce replied. Carina turned to Sarah.

"Spałeś z nimi i poślubiłeś jednego z nich," (You slept with both of them and married one of them-Polish) Carina said.

"Czy to czyni mnie Królową Nerdów?" (Does that make me Queen of the Nerds-Polish) Sarah said, rolling her eyes.

"While I don't know exactly what you two are saying there, Carina," Chuck began. "Let me remind you that your boytoy mostly communicates by grunts." Carina gave Chuck a look and then looked over at Casey and winked. Casey grinned and grunted.

"Johnny, I told you don't grunt at me like that in front of others," Carina said. Sarah rolled her eyes.

"So we have the plan, we'll give it to Beckman, and go from there," Sarah said. "Any questions?" Everyone shook their heads and left the conference room except Chuck and Sarah. She walked over to him. "Chaq polish vaj ghojmoH SoH jIH?" (Maybe I should teach you Polish-Klingon) Chuck grabbed her hand and led her out of the conference room. "Where are we going?" She asked with a coy grin on her face.

"Supply pa'Hom Samta'meH," (To find a supply closet-Klingon) Chuck answered as Sarah laughed and happily came along.

A/N: Sorry about the different languages

Until next time

DC

Attention, flashes and fame

Day 7 - Free choice.

I made to the last day, just skipping a day and missing another but it’s here haha Why am I like this? =/

Anyway, this is an LA AU, based on the song Attention by Charlie Puth. I hope you enjoy it.

Special thanks to Emms @rowbrinaswift and Ellie @fangirlelliethings for killing me with your reactions and helping me. El is also the co-writer of it 💛

“The newest Ámbar Smith’s single is really shady, singing about a certain someone who did nothing but used her, even claiming he’s the third worst person in the world. Do you have any guess on who could it be? Send us your guesses.”

“Can we change the station?” I said, trying to make Nico change it. He just turns to me from the passenger seat, showing it wouldn’t that be easy to make him change it.

“Why don’t you want to hear about your ex’s news?” Nico mocks, I roll my eyes and set my forehead against the cold glass. “Is it about her success? Or about the fact that her last song is about you?” I just sigh deeply, then I hear him, giggling. “I told you she was a problem. Ámbar Smith has always meant only problems.”

“Can you shut up if you’re not going to change it?” I blurt out, knowing it’s atypical for me to be rude. Nico sometimes doesn't know limits and Ámbar is way out of his limits. He doesn't know her well enough to say anything, actually, no one knows her. She’s nothing like any of those magazines say and people still think they have her solved, that what they see is her. She got them well fooled.

Do I really know her? I’m just fooling myself into thinking this too. At least, I know she’s much more than what she appears to be. Ámbar isn’t doing it on purpose, she’s still finding herself. She’s also a lone lost girl, but too proud, she would never admit it.

“Let him be.” Pedro murmurs, gazing me through the mirror when he stopped at the red light. I could feel his worries, mixed with curiosity in his eyes, he kept eyeing me, when the light turned green.

“Greenlight,” I said to alert him. There’s no reason for him to be curious, he knows everything there's to know.

We fell in love during her last year in high school, it worked for both us well, we were one of that couples people take as relationship goals, we’ve been through all dramas fine - her lies, her plan of using me, Sol’s identity. Then came the phase of our life, future got hold of us, we thought it would be alright, nothing could tear us apart, silly kids, I came back to the Roller band and she got her soloist career, everything weighs more when your dreams are in focus. So we got the label's records, this was a dream come true though it all came at the same time, in a rush, we lost track of each other. For while, we tried to keep our relationship when we moved LA but everything is different here, soon our careers required more and more from us, Ámbar didn’t have time anymore, she also wasn’t herself - or the Ámbar I knew - and we fell apart, we struggled to kept in touch so it was better to break it up, set her free for follow her dream.

It hurst a lot, she stayed in me, her smile, her perfume, the rare case when she blushed, her blue hypnotizing eyes and every time hearing her name was friendly reminder of what happened. Six months later, and she still rocks me without even being around.

Now that her new song, where she sings about a guy, could be just another single and it could about any guy in the world... but it isn’t.

Every new photo of you

Leads me to these words

Those girls screaming your name should learn

How to feel the song

Not to fall for your lovely lies

'Feel the music' was our thing, when we first got close, It was for her singing classes and that was the main lesson Ámbar needed. According the song, she hates me now, I left her for fame.

I wouldn’t do this to anyone. I love her and fame would never be more important than her. But I guess if she believes I could do anything like that to her, our relationship was worse than I thought.

“How are you feeling?” Pedro asks, still driving.

“I don’t know how can she believe I left her for fame,” I answered, gazing the sky. The freaking dark blue - full of stars - sky that only reminded me of her eyes.

“It can be about any guy. It’s been six months since you broke up.” Nico suggests, earning a glare from Pedro. I kept my eyes on the window, not daring to look at Nico. “You know it can be true. Ámbar is Ámbar.”

“Stop talking about like you knew her.” I exclaimed.

“Relax. We’re heading to Downtown, so please leave your problems outside.” Nico says grinning. I roll my eyes.

We usually don’t go to parties but for the first time, since we moved to LA our agent allowed us to have a free night without him following us. A gift for our first hit in Billboard's top 10. Once Pedro parked, Nico was already gone.

“She doesn’t believe it, Ámbar has just wicked ways of showing her feelings,” Pedro says catching my attention.

“Then why she sings that I only lied to her?” I asked even though I don’t really want answers. They could be too hurtful. “We’ve been dating for almost three years, I couldn’t be lying the whole time. I've been with her through everything about her family, her plan against Luna, I forgave her for using me because she wouldn’t come close if it didn’t happen so I’m kind of glad I was used.” I stopped listening to what I’m saying. “What the fuck am saying?”

“It’s okay. I already knew that.” Pedro giggles and I shoot him a glare. “But with all seriousness... Ámbar feels lonely. You broke up with her, when we just moved here. She believed you, when you said you’re together through everything and then you walked away. There’s no wondering why she is feeling this way.” Pedro elaborates, being the oldest one, he is usually the reasonable one, although I would be glad if he was more sensitive today.

“Wow.. this made me feel so much better, Pedro. Thanks.” I grumbled turning my back to him.

“You need to see both sides and-”

“Pedro, I’m protecting her. Her career comes first.” I shouted, turning to him when I reached the other side of the street.

“Ámbar never needed your protection, she needs you..” He declares. I just run my hand through my hair and walk to the house. He doesn’t know the real Ámbar, he is wrong.

Walking into a party is always chaotic. We arrived and the party was already going on, meaning some people were already wasted enough to regret it tomorrow and a few people were faking being wasted so they can be seen as fun. A typical sight in an LA party or any party actually, and the fact that any photo of what is happening can turn someone’s life on a highway to hell isn’t that fun either. Nope, this can happen at any party too, the consenquences are just less destructive then at LA’s party.

Soon, I lost Pedro in the crowd. I’m not in the mood for a party, much less partying alone. Somebody pushes me to the dance floor. It's so crowded that I can’t take a step back without bumping into someone, without another option I was forced to “dance” with the crowd. I’m basically being pushed and pulled. The music gets me lost in the rhythm and I forget about everything... until I see a glimpse of a fabric I could never forget.

Silver and black tight short dress.

My eyes widens. I need to relax, it’s just a dress.

Please, just be another dress.

When I see the blonde hair, that hair couldn’t be any hair. I know perfectly well that hair, the dress, and the body.

I need air. I start rushing outside. But in the process I only get closer to the blondie and her perfume fills my lungs. It’s Ámbar, her Amor perfume, her dress, her hair, her body. I get so nervous that I bump into her when I’m trying to pass. I don’t turn around, but I can feel her gaze burning into my back.

I walk into the garden. There are people smoking and playing in the pool, plus of course the-laying-on-the-ground-possibly-too-wasted-to-walk people. Fuck, this dress is the same from the Catch Me If you Can open, the first time I felt I had a chance with her. I’m so messed up right now. Ámbar never repeats a dress. Why would she do it?

“Simón.” I hear her voice and a shiver runs on my back, only of hearing her voice saying my name again.

“Hi.” I answer, my breath shaking. Ámbar sighs, annoyed.

“Can you turn to me?” Ámbar asks and even if I don’t want to do it, it’s getting ridiculous, avoiding her.

“Hey.” I turn to her, forcing a smile. My eyes are traveling from her feet up, until they meet hers. Her face is hard but her eyes seem to be lost.

“I thought I would never see you at a party.” Ámbar smirks at me. “Welcome to my house!”

“Your house?” I say, completely shocked. We’ve been broken up for only six months. “Is this your party?” I look into her eyes. Her house is a huge mansion, so different than the small apartment we used to have.

“My agent threw it, so yes.” She rolls her eyes. We stand there in silence, my unspoken words are rumbling, begging to come out, but I can’t manage to speak at all. She has me locked in her eyes, they’re unreadable. She is puzzled and her eyes are the door for it. “What are you doing here?” Ámbar whispers and sighs.

“We made to top 10.”

“That’s so good.” She gives me a sincere smile. We’re so awkward around each other. “Now. Why are you here?”

“Do you want me to leave? I didn’t know it was your party and I feel like you don’t want me here... ”

“You didn’t? Don’t you know how my house looks like? It’s all over the internet.”

“I never saw it.”

“What? How?” She exclaims, annoyed, then pauses, sighing. “Did you avoid Instagram, twitter? You didn’t, I saw you...”

“I only avoid the news about you.” It slipped off my mouth without my consent, her body shakes and her eyes become unfocused.

“You’re really willing to forget me.” Her eyes come back to focus and there are tears in them. “Too bad that you came to my party.” Her voice is full of regret and sadness. I thought I knew what came after this: loud yelling, filled with rage. But Ámbar surprises me - turning back and leaving me alone. In the same second, I follow her back inside. When we reach the crowd, I instantly lose her, just to find her the next minute, going up the stairs.

The next floor is less crowded and seems even bigger than downstairs. It has so many doors. Ámbar bought a maze just for herself to live in. I look around, not finding the blonde hair I’m searching for. I decide to go down to the next floor, seeing Ámbar unlocking a door. I run to her.

“Bonita!” When she hears me, she rushes trying to unlock the door, failing and dropping the keys. I pick them up and unlock the door. She’s still trembling. She gets in quickly, trying to close the door before I come in, failing again. “Ámbar-”

“I need to be alone. Leave me alone.” Ámbar sits on the bed asking me in a low voice. “It’s not like this is the first time you leave.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Can’t you just leave?” She screams this time standing up. I don’t move. She shakes her head. “You left me alone when I needed you. We moved to LA and then you left me. It can’t be that hard to do it again. Now, please, leave my room.” I’m shocked, she doesn’t get it at all. “Leave my house. Leave my life.” I need to explain it to her.

“I didn’t leave you.”

“No? How do you call it then? Do mexicans call it different?” She rolls her eyes, not waiting for answer. “Because I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what is called in Buenos Aires, in LA, in Marrakesh.” I have to make her listen now, I’m not going to stand her madness quiet.

“You needed space, I gave you space. Time to work on your career.” I try to explain and her eyes become wide. “I was a weight. We didn’t even get to see each other;”

“What are you talking about?” She rants like I was insane. “You aren’t a weight for me!”

“Of course I am.” She needs to understand. “You were always exhausted and needed to work more and more on your career.”

“Simón, I needed you.” Ámbar shouts pointing at me, while more tears streaming down her face. I put my hand on her cheek and she leans in to my touch. I didn’t notice how close we were getting while arguing, my irregular breathing hits her skin. I can feel her heart racing through the fabric, mine beats at the same speed, maybe even faster.

“Your dream,” I mumble and she opens her eyes, and the whole the blue sky opens right in front of me once again. “I can’t be a matter... You deserve to live your dream.” A sob escapes her lips and my tears are also freely running down my face. “Ámbar...” She burries her head into my chest.

“I needed you.” Murmuring against my shirt, she sobs again. “I need you. I feel incomplete, I’m going crazy. I hate to write songs and not having you here, to give me an opinion on them. I hate the way I need to act. I hate those parties in our house, they shouldn’t be here, just me and you.”

Our house.

“Our house?” I tilt her head to make her look into my eyes.

“It was finishing when we broke up. It was a surprise.” Her voice is bitter and she’s looking down, pulling me away. I embrace her waist to make her stop, and she gives up. “Since we were having trouble to meet, I thought if we lived together, we could always get back to each other.” Her eyes show she is hurt. It’s my fault, Ámbar had plans to bring us closer and I tore us apart. “There’s even space for Nico and Pedro here.” She chortles sad.

I’m stupid.

I can’t hold myself anymore, so I lean down, softly kissing her. Just this small touch makes my whole body shivers. I’ve missed her so much.

“I’m so sorry. I’m stupid.” I whisper against her lips.

“No, don’t say that.” She replies.

“I hurt-”

“Not now.” Ámbar shushes me. “Shut up.” Then she pulls me for a kiss. The kiss is calm at the beginning, we are just savoring the taste we’ve both missed, even if it’s salty from our tears. But as the first seconds pass, the kiss gains speed and rhythm, our tongues caressing each other. I pull her legs around my waist.

For the moment, that is all we need. Each other. All we need is each other.

Living With You

Surprised? So am I! Thank you so much for 100+ reviews on this story! You guys are fantastic and I love you with all of my heart <3

read on ff.net and ao3

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen

rating: t+ for sexual joking, swear words, and violence

pairings: nalu, gruvia, gajevy

characters: natsu, lucy, juvia, gray, gajeel, levy

Lucy groaned as the bus went over the third bump during their thirty-minute trip, and Natsu’s stomach lurched. His motion sickness wasn’t as bad as it usually was, but that didn’t mean it was completely gone. Lucy grabbed her satchel from where it was sitting on the floor, afraid of what might happen if they went over a pothole and Natsu’s stomach was feeling particularly upset.

“L-Lucy, can you rub my head?” Natsu asked, his voice waning and weak.

“What? Why?” Lucy was confused for a moment, but when Natsu peered into her eyes with his puppy dog eyes, she couldn’t resist any longer. Sighing softly, she threaded her fingers through his locks. Natsu made a relieved noise and dropped his head onto Lucy’s lap before she could say anything.

Her face flushed as she felt his breath on her thigh, but she didn’t mind it much. She was pleasantly surprised to feel how soft his hair was. It was thick but not coarse, and it was softer than her own hair. What was this guy using as his shampoo?

Focusing her energy on looking out the window instead of how soft Natsu’s hair felt, Lucy saw many shops pass by that her friends raved about and entertained thoughts of going there one day. She and Levy really did need to take a girl’s day--being surrounded by men constantly was nice, but sometimes they needed a day to get pampered and feel at ease.

The bus ride soon ended and the two stopped to grab a snack at a nearby cafe before heading back to their apartment. Stepping inside, Lucy slung her bag on the coat rack and stripped her jacket off before saying hello to Juvia and Gray.

“How was Lucy and Natsu’s bus ride?” Juvia asked with a smile as she gave Lucy a hug.

“It would have been much better if someone would have picked us up,” Lucy said pointedly, directing a glare at Gray.

“Hey, she was sitting on my lap. I’m not supposed to move,” Gray said, throwing his hands up in the air. Lucy huffed but said nothing as she went into the kitchen to grab herself a mimosa-- after that bus ride, she needed a drink.

“So you took the day off, huh?” Lucy asked Juvia with a knowing smile. She knows that it’s because of Natsu’s well-being, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Gray had anything to do with it.

“Well, Juvia wanted to come visit, but Gray-sama said Lucy and Natsu would come home soon. So Gray-sama and Juvia watched a movie.

“I’d be up for a movie right about now. Sitting on a couch instead of a bumpy bus seat sounds good to me,” Lucy said, still slightly salty over taking the bus.

“Juvia brought over The Proposal. Would Lucy want to watch that?” Juvia inquired, tapping the movie case with her fingernail.

“Well…” Lucy began, but Natsu and Gray insisted on watching the movie. Why two men wanted to watch a romantic comedy, Lucy would never know. With a gulp, she nodded and told Juvia weakly to put the movie in. The woman complied, and the movie started quickly as Gray started to make some popcorn for the four.

As the two main characters began to argue about their fake engagement, a lump grew in Lucy’s throat as she knew what was coming. The two main characters would fall on each other naked, and it would be awkward as Lucy and Natsu almost did the same thing not too long ago.

She dreaded everything up to the moment where Kate couldn’t find a towel and drew her eyes to the floor when the actual scene took place. She avoided Natsu’s eyes deliberately even though she knew he was staring at her.

“Luce, when I saw you naked you didn’t fall on top of me like that,” Natsu said, and immediately Gray paused the movie and turned to the two sitting on the loveseat.

“Wait a minute, you saw her naked?” Gray practically shouts, and Lucy’s heart races in embarrassment.

“Juvia thought that only married couples got to do that,” Juvia said with a giggle.

“Does this mean you’re together now?” Gray teases, and Lucy jumps at the chance to retaliate.

‘No! Of course not! That’s ridiculous.”

But in her heart, she really wished that they would be.

“That’s what they call ‘friends with benefits’, Blondie,” Gajeel smirked, shedding his coat and hanging it up on the coat rack. Levy followed behind, snickering into her palm. Lucy flushed brightly, ready to shoot back a response at the chuckling duo.

She stayed silent for a moment when she realized Levy had a flower in her hair--a hibiscus, which could only be shipped in and bought from a store this time of year. They both had disposable coffee cups in their hands, and Levy wore a little more makeup than just the soft eyeliner and mascara she usually wore. And was Gajeel wearing a button-down?

“Well, well. Where have the two of you been?” Lucy teased, shooting Levy a knowing look. Levy gasped softly before looking away from her best friend.

“Nowhere,” Gajeel says, scratching the back of his neck. Lucy shook her head with a smug grin, knowing exactly where the pair had been. She just didn’t know how many dates they’d been on without telling everyone.

“Juvia, Levy,” Lucy grins, standing up from her spot on the couch, “let’s go get some coffee.”

“So what’s going on with you and Gajeel?” Lucy asks, blowing on her coffee. The three had stopped at the same shop that she and Natsu went to their outing, and it was colder outside than it was the last time she was here. Juvia had never been, and Lucy opted for somewhere she knew rather than somewhere that she would be unfamiliar with.

“Well,” Levy began, “my car broke down a few days ago on my way home from work, and everyone was at work and the only other number I have in my phone other than you and Juvia is Gajeel, so I called him practically crying and explained my situation. He came down and took the car back to his work and began fixing it. Before we knew it, it was around dinnertime and I didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I told him I would treat him to dinner as a thank you.”

Lucy nodded, and Juvia grinned softly before letting Levy continue.

“So we went to dinner and it was…nice. He wasn’t nearly as rude or gruff that I had seen before, and actually he was quite kind to me. We went to the restaurant downtown that I said I liked, and he paid for it because he said that he couldn’t let me pay. We had a good conversation on the way back, and he told me about being a marine. And then he asked me out for next Friday rather awkwardly and I said yes,” Levy grinned, taking a sip of her coffee while the other girls squealed.

“Juvia is happy for Levy! Gajeel was very unhappy until he met her. His life as a marine was hard, but Juvia thinks he needed someone in his life to cheer him up,” Juvia said, clapping her hands softly.

“We’ll have to go shopping so then you have something to wear! Where is he taking you?” Lucy could barely contain her excitement--she hadn’t gone shopping with Levy since she needed some work clothes, and it was time for a slight wardrobe update.

“Nowhere special, just Emilio’s,” Levy hid her smile behind her coffee cup.

“Just Emilio’s? Lev, that’s one of the nicest places in town! I’ve always wanted to try their orchid steak,” Lucy swooned, “If I had someone who would take me there, I would jump at the chance!”

“Well, you do have someone that would take you there. You’re just too chicken to actually admit your feelings,” Levy said before ducking at Lucy’s playful swing.

There was silence for a few moments before Levy spoke up again. “By the way, Lu, I heard that you and Natsu went on kind of a date.”

“What? Who told you?” Lucy asked with a glare, and Levy looked at her friend sheepishly.

“Well, Juvia told Gray and Gray told Gajeel, and Gajeel told me. We kind of have a tight-knit group, you know,” Levy told her, and Lucy turned to glare at Juvia.

Juvia threw her hands up in the air. “Juvia only tells people what is told to her.”

Lucy groaned, pressing her hand to her forehead. “So all of this was a ploy to get us to spend time together? What kind of friends are you?”

“Friends that care about your happiness. You’ve been happier around Natsu than I’ve ever seen you with a guy. And I like to see my best friend happy just as much as you do,” Levy replies, blowing on her coffee.  Juvia nods in agreement, and there is silence for a moment.  

Lucy begins to think about it. It is true, she was happy with Natsu. He hadn’t been a jerk or pressured her for anything yet, so at least she was okay with that. And she did kind of like him being around her…

Suddenly, a laugh bubbled up from Lucy’s throat. Levy and Juvia looked at her with confusion and then smiled. At least she wasn’t irritated at them anymore.

“I guess I really do like him, don’t I?” Lucy laughed, and the other two chuckled along.

“Yeah, if only you would admit it,” Levy grins, and Lucy shakes her head and sighs. She knows that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

After all, Natsu doesn’t like her.  

Doesn’t he?

“Focus on the game, idiot,” Gray smirked as his character knocked Natsu out of the game. Natsu growled, tossing his controller on the ground lightly. He knew he would lose.

After all, he’s got Lucy on the brain.

She looked pretty today. He had for sure noticed even though she was only wearing a simple outfit, but she looked gorgeous in anything she wore. The woman could wear a potato sack and look beautiful. And she knew how to rub his head quite well, and he knew that he could fall asleep at the drop of a hat if she pressed his scalp the right way.

Natsu realized it was time to go to bed, and he knew that the girls would be back within the hour. Lucy had texted him and told him that they were leaving the shop, and he was too tired to stay up any later. He had work tomorrow night, and it was destined to be quite an annoyance. Some old woman had gotten spam on her computer of the highest type, and he was the lucky guy to fix it.

“I’m going to bed. Night,” Natsu told the guys before heading into his room. Changing into his pajamas, he laid in bed for a moment and thought about Lucy.

He really did want to ask her out, he just didn’t think she liked him. She seemed...kind of annoyed by him, but also sort of interested. That didn’t exactly scream ‘go’ in his mind. He was used to flashing lights in his head that told him to go for it or someone actually telling him that a certain person liked him.

But with Lucy, it was hard to know. One moment she seemed really into him, and the next she seemed like she was going to yell at him for doing something stupid. She was difficult to read, especially when she was quiet.

But it didn’t matter if she liked him or not. She was someone who dated men who were on white horses and who were princes--actual ones. She was so different than him… why would she ever date someone like him?

After all, she was way out of his league.

Wasn’t she?

Once again, thank you so much for 100+ reviews on this story! I very much appreciate every single one I’ve gotten <3 

Next chapter will be up on Tuesday (3/21) like normal :) 

>>>Chapter 15>>>

Not-So-Drunk Confessions

Prompt: Hi! Could you write an imagine where Reader gets drunk af (although it's not what she usually does) and becomes really clingy to Jug cause she can't act this way sober and they have a moment somewhere no one can see them. And Jug confesses cause he thinks she won't remember but she does. Hope it makes sense 😂 Love ur work! You're amazing 🐰

A/N: Thank you so much anon and this honestly sounds good :3 Hope I did your request justice! I also made the reader sort of punk, so I hope that’s cool.

Fandom: Riverdale

Characters: Jughead Jones, Cheryl Blossom, Archie Andrews, Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Kevin Keller

Pairing: Jughead x Reader

Warnings: Underage drinking; swearing; depressed drunk thoughts

(gif not mine)

----

Cheryl’s latest party was in full swing when you arrived. Your classmates were holding beer cans and red solo cups filled with gin and fireball. You wandered around, trying to find your anyone you knew, and finally discovered them crowding in a corner. You were particularly a loner at Riverdale High School - you occasionally hung out with Betty, Archie, and company, but most of the time you enjoyed solitude where you could sketch in peace.

“Hi guys,” You greeted shyly, tucking a stand of hair behind your ear. Kevin sloppily put an arm on your shoulder, “Y/N,” he said sloppily, obviously drunk, “Glad you fucking came for once. You never come to these drab-ass parties anyways.” You stifled a laugh and tugged your skirt down to cover yourself better while Kevin ran off somewhere. You’d asked Veronica earlier in the week if you could borrow a dress, and she happily gave you one. However, the only option she gave you was a black bodycon dress that only went halfway down down your thighs, so you decided to tie a flannel around your waist so that you didn’t feel quite as bare, and give it a little flare. She’d also tried to convince you to take out your gauges and skip the black lipstick for once, but you denied that.

“Girly, I’m loving the dress,” Veronica commented with a wink. “All the hotties are going to want that ass tonight!” 

You rolled your eyes in response and said, “Yeah, I’m not counting on it, nor do I want that.” You saw Jughead leaned against the wall, laughing. 

Kevin returned with a second red solo cup and shoved it into your hand, saying, “Honey, you’re going to need this, ‘cause it’s going to be a loooong night.” You took a sip, figuring it would do no harm, but soon enough you’d downed the whole drink.

Stumbling a little bit in your signature white Converse, you giggled. Maybe you had one too many drinks. Or two. Possibly three. You’d lost count but thought everything would be fine because Veronica said that Betty was driving tonight so she wouldn’t drink. You went around, saying hi to random people from school, before you found the school’s antisocial king himself, Jughead Jones. He was still in the same spot as before, leaning against the wall, silently judging everyone around him.

Making a hasty decision, you went over to stand next to him and say, “So what’s a guy like you doing just standing around?” you asked, slightly slurring your words and twirling as if to prove your point. 

Jughead raised an eyebrow before responding, “Okay, Blondie, you’re drunk.”

Furrowing your brows in confusion you countered, “Nope. Not drunk. I prefer to call it ‘slightly intoxicated.’ It sounds better. Also, I have blue tips, and my hair is bleached. I’m not a real blonde.” Taking a deep sigh, you slumped down on the ground against the wall next to Jughead. He followed suit. “You know,” you continued, just reeling off your stream of consciousness, “Sometimes I wonder why people have parties like this. I’d much more like a party with alcohol but instead of just being crazy, doing cool things like talk about philosophy.”

Jughead gave you a look you couldn’t quite decipher in your drunken - no, intoxicated - state. All you knew was that you were tipsy and he wasn’t. Continuing with the never ending talk that could only be caused by your drunkenness, “I like you,” you thought about how to say it. “Like, you’re always so calm and collected and mysterious. Plus, you’re always typing something on your laptop, nobody knows what. You’re all around a mystery and I like it,” you concluded with a final nod.

Speaking for the first time in a bit, he asked, “You like me?” You sighed heavily before leaning onto his shoulder, causing him to stiffen, “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. That’s for me to know, and well, not you to find out.”

Stuttering, he asked again, “But... you just said you liked me. I quote, ‘I like you,’” he seemed confused. You shrugged. Nobody else was around you two, the party’s focus being near the kitchen.

Quietly, Jughead mumbled, “You’re not going to remember any of this in the morning, will you?” 

You thought for a second before saying, “Likely not.”

“Well then,” he said, rubbing him hands together in what seemed like a nervous fashion. “I might as well just get this out.”

Jughead took a deep breath before starting, “You’re so special. And I love it. You hide away but are so interesting. You are as a mystery to me as I am to you, and I think I’m in love with you. Every time you join us at lunch or Pop’s, I stare at you and wonder how someone so talented and amazing and kind didn’t have friends,” he paused, looking at you only to meet your gaze. “But I want to be your friend. Hell, more than friend. I want to be able to show my love to you.” It was as if he was looking for a reaction from you.

You smiled at his confession and confessed yourself, “That’s something I don’t want to forget. Will you remind me tomorrow in case I do?” you asked innocently, reaching out to tangle your fingers with his. 

He gave you a sad smile and said, “Regretfully, that’s probably not the best idea. It would be best if you forgot this happened altogether.” 

Interrupting, Betty came out of nowhere and said, “Y/N, come on, we’re going to leave now before Kevin goes to do a shot line and Veronica decides to do body shots,” and she pulled you away before you could even respond.

The next morning was truly awful. You’d never drank so much as to get a hangover. You sluggishly went to the bathroom to get pain killers and downed them as soon as you could. You grabbed a breakfast bar and pulled on your regular ripped jeans an a grunge t-shirt, and as soon as you felt good enough, you set out for the usual group Saturday breakfast at Pop’s. You felt slightly different but couldn’t pinpoint why. Maybe it was because you didn’t put on lipstick or something. Anyways, you felt off.

When you got there, all your friends were already in the usual booth. Strangely you noticed that as soon as you sat down, Jughead stared out the window and became quiet. Confused, the conversation still went on, and it dawned on you. Staring at your milkshake you mumbled, “Oh my God,” remembering the events of last night. 

“What’s wrong?” Archie asked, looking concerned. 

Trying to find the right words to answer you said, “I-I just remembered something from last night.” The table got quiet and you stole a glance at Jughead, who had turned pale, but still looked out the window. 

“Ooh, did you get some?” Veronica asked suggestively. “Which eye candy was it?” You silently continued to process what had happened. Jughead’s confession. It all hit you like a truck. 

You slammed some money down on the table before muttering, “He didn’t want  me to remember,” and leaving just as quickly as you left.

Once in the parking lot, you kicked a good-sized rock in anger. The memories flooded back into your brain. His words replayed in your mind - It would be best if you forgot this happened altogether. No. She didn’t want to forget. She liked Jughead too, maybe she didn’t realize the extent of it until last night, but she did. 

You heard footsteps behind you and turned to see Jughead Jones standing behind you. 

“What do you want?” you asked, making it clear that you were annoyed.

Jughead sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets, “They elected me to make sure you’re okay.”

You scoffed, “Oh yeah. Yep, I’m perfectly fine,” you gave him a wry smile. “Especially after you told me that you loved me and you didn’t want me to remember it.”

Jughead put his face in his hands before saying, “I’m sorry, Y/N.”

Quieter, you asked with a slightly broken voice, “Why, Jug? Why did you want me to forget?”

He moved a step closer to you and almost yelled, “Because I couldn’t say it at any other time! I figured then would be the best because that would be the only time you wouldn’t reject me.”

“What makes you think I’d reject you?” You yelled back with the same tone. “You know what,” you threw your hands up in an exaggerated shrug, “I don’t care. For all you know, Jughead Jones, I could feel the exact same way about you.”

Both of you were quiet for a beat before you sighed and said, “Look, I’m sorry for yelling. But, for your information, this hurts. Emotionally.” He didn’t say anything, so you moved closer so that there wasn’t much room between you two. “Jughead, I-”

He cut you off by pressing his lips against yours, only pulling away between words of, “I,” kiss, “Love,” kiss, “You.”

You were dumbfounded, and didn’t think he’d do it. You reached up to his neck and linked your hands behind it, and you softly said, “I think I love you too.”

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