just watched my comfort film my god i am feeling emotions

Soulmate Shenanigans

So, lucky me, I found this list of prompts!

Unlucky me, it was for a September event. Surprise, surprise, this is not September

That isn’t going to stop me from doing this, though!

So, without further ado, prompt number one!

Your Soulmate’s name is written on your wrist or palm

Warnings for death mentions galore and drowning, as well as something that isn’t drug use, but if drug use is a triggering topic for you I wouldn’t recommend you read

Not as angsty as these warnings would suggest, but there is still Angst

I don’t know how it got angsty I just work here

World building

The first recorded instance of a palm mark was when Lady Natalia of Venice nearly drowned in a canal

She’d been on her way home from a party alongside her fiance when she “tripped” (the word “tripped” here means “Was pushed by her fiance for financial reasons”) into the river. Her husband-to-be quickly exited the scene, leaving her to be weighed down by her skirts and die.

Angela (forger of swords and mixer of poisons, just happened to be in the neighborhood when she heard a scream and a splash) had other plans. She dove into the water, saving Natalia and cutting her hand in the process.

The two women spent a good deal of time together after that, the scientific Natalia claiming that she only wanted to know why her name was on Angela’s hand.

Some historians claim that the two were platonic soulmates. While this is possible, and platonic soulmates have a long and wonderful history, no one with common sense believes this to be the case

They exchanged love letters that were quite clear that the attraction was a romantic one.

Some historians also claim that there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that they killed the fiance.

Those historians are wrong.

Anyway, in modern days 97% of the population has a palm mark with the name of their soulmate

The tattoo industry has never had so many illegal opportunities

When your soulmate dies, the name doesn’t scar. It doesn’t blister, burn, or black out. All that happens is a thin, impersonal line crossing their name out. Some people don’t notice who they lost for days.

There’s a process to remove palm marks. However, it’s illegal and possibly fatal for the soulmate being removed.

Our Characters

Roman: Roman was confused by the name of his soulmate.

Who names their kid “Janus”?

Am I soulmates with a roman deity? The heck?? SO MANY QUESTIONS AND SO LITTLE ANSWERS

Roman was so excited to have a soulmate. He kept entire journals filled with things he wanted to tell Janus, part diary, part scrapbook, and part love letter. He would doodle hearts around his palm mark.

One night, in April, Roman went to sleep. In the morning, there was a line across his palm.

His soulmate had died, and he hadn’t even seen the line drawn. He broke a little.

Enough said.

Roman took the passion that he’d had for his Janus and channeled it into his acting. If he couldn’t get love, he’d get a fucking Tony Award.

Remus: Remus had been annoyed by his brother’s complaining.

“Oh, boo-hoo, my soulmate has a rare name. That means that as soon as I meet him, I’ll know exactly who he is! Roman, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NAMED LOGAN”

Remus was annoyed that his soulmate had the audacity to have a common name. In theory, he could date all of the 18,000 Logans in the country, but does he really have the time?

He and his brother bicker about this for a solid seven years, until the argument abruptly ends. Ever since then, he’s been on his brother’s side in everything he can.

Logan: It made total sense for Logan to not have a soulmate.

His soulmate would have been unlucky, being stuck with a know-it-all like him, at least according to most of the people he knew.

This was a simple solution to the puzzle.

It wasn’t helpful to waste time wishing for a different one.

Janus: Janus had a whole plan for when he met his soulmate.

He wrote it down in 10th grade

Step 1: Wear gloves

Step 2: Find Roman

Step 3: Say something witty

Step 4: Remove gloves, revealing palm

Step 5: This little mystery is over and done with, and hopefully my soulmate isn’t boring

This was how a lot of Janus’s plans would work. Solid ideas, but missing bits and important pieces. This includes his heist plan he scribbled out on a napkin on an April day.

Step 1: Find local con-artists

Step 2: Pretend to be a person with money (which I obviously do not have)

Step 3: Scam them

Step 4: Don’t get murdered on the way out

Step 5: Profit

He pulled off steps 1-3 with ease, but step 4 proved to be a sticking point.

As he escaped via the river, with money in his hands and a “so long, suckers!” on his lips for drama, he thought nothing could go wrong

Fun fact: It’s rather common for con artists to fatally give away their positions by yelling “so long, suckers!”. Just ask Odysseus as he sailed away from the Cyclops.

The con artists shot wildly at his boat, blowing it to pieces. As he went down with the ship, he barely had enough time to think this can’t be happening, and fuck this and I’m going to die at the same age as Philip fucking Hamilton and I really don’t want to go to hell before his lungs filled with water and his heart stopped.

And Janus died.

For a solid two minutes.

Technically, death is when your heart ceases to beat. Even though people have been revived after their hearts have stopped, it is death, and enough to draw a line across a sleeping Roman’s hand.

Janus, however, was saved by an old man, who dragged him out of the river and forced the water out of his lungs. The old man took one look at the teenager and decided that he needed better role models, which is how Patton took Janus under his wing and saved his life in more ways than one.

The Actual Plot

Roman is in a city production of Hamlet. His brother is in the audience, his friend is fixing the lighting, and he’s ready to go.

It’s a pretty good performance, by all accounts, but especially according to Janus.

He’d already been watching the main actor intently, smiling from the mezzanine, but he was even more intrigued when he read the playbill and realized his name was Roman. He could barely pay attention to act five as he planned out the lies he’d tell to get backstage.

Somehow, he didn’t get caught sneaking around, and managed to catch a glimpse of Roman’s hand in a mirror. Janus. He really is his soulmate!

Janus walks over to Roman, says something that isn’t as witty as he would have liked (but not as bad as it could have been), and removes his glove.

Now, he expected his soulmate could have a variety of reactions. He didn’t expect Roman to yell “Not today, ghost!”, throw a prop skull at him, and sprint out of the theater. Janus caught a glimpse of the line through his name.

He was reasonably sure that he wasn’t dead? He could see his reflection in mirrors, he could consume salt, people tended to notice his existence!

Jan didn’t have much time to mull over this, as he was about to be forcibly removed from the greenroom. Logan just wanted to fix the lighting and live his life, but when strangers break into the backstage and upset Roman...

Jan skedaddles as Logan chases him out of the building. The nerd has almost caught the intruder when he runs directly into a man in a green jacket holding a coffee cup full of ketchup

Why did he have a coffee cup full of ketchup?

Remus and Logan bicker as Janus escapes. When Remus realizes Logan’s name, he asks a few questions, but Logan quickly shows his two blank palms, and the matter is settled.

Everything seems over and done with.

Meanwhile, Roman is freaking out. His mind is essentially in a loop of The fuck? The fuck? The actual fuck? He’s completely unsure of what to do. Is he seeing ghosts? Does he only believe he’s seeing ghosts? Is he sane or not?

Remus checks up on his brother at around 3 am, only to find him, exhausted, and writing in his old soulmate journal. Roman tries to explain what just happened, but the narrative told isn’t exactly coherent. All Remus can gather is that

1. His brother thinks that his dead soulmate is alive

2. This is because some guy snuck backstage and told him that he was the dead soulmate in question

3. This was probably the guy Logan was chasing

Remus convinced Roman to go to sleep, and walked out of the apartment with blood on his mind. He was sure that his brother was being manipulated.

This guy might not be dead now, but he would be soon.

Meanwhile, Janus proves that he can, in fact, cross a salt circle, so he must be alive! Right?? He also can’t get a certain actor out of his head, and wonders what his next move should be.

Remus recruits Logan to help him do some investigation in case Shady Liar Dude shows up. They go on several stakeouts together, in equally improbable locations. Maybe the two of them got too far into the secret agent aesthetic. Logan had always wanted to be a detective as a kid.

They fall for each other, and fast

Roman is spiraling, and a chat with Remus has him convinced that he was wrong, and Janus really is dead. He curses himself for believing in the pretty fairy-tale. Yes, because love wins in the end and they all live happily ever after. He has a performance tomorrow.

And it’s really time he got rid of the old scar.

You don’t hang around Remus without knowing where the black market locations are. It’s relatively easy to find the cure for palm marks.

He paces around backstage, holding a journal in one hand and a small bottle in the other. The warning that destroying the palm mark destroys the soulmate causes terror to rise in his throat, even though he knows that Janus is dead and can never read his love letters no matter how many stars he wishes on.

He finally makes his choice when Remus and Logan visit him before the performance. They give him looks of pity. He doesn’t want to be pitied.

According to the label, effects should take place over the next several hours. So, he waits for Janus’s name to disappear from his hand.

Janus managed to hustle someone with orchestra seats for their tickets. Despite not getting off on the right foot with his soulmate, he isn’t going to let him go that easily. And Roman’s brilliant performance that night just reinforces that. If he was good weeks ago, he was a star now. Janus was transfixed.

When the curtain call came, Janus was the first on his feet for a standing ovation. Remus and Logan noticed him, and pushed their way through the applauding audience. Both of them almost hoped that he’d get away again so they could continue spending time together.

Roman notices him. They lock eyes. Janus waves as though to say Hi, I’m here, apologies for the awkwardness of our meet-cute, but coffee? Roman gives him a look of disdain, as if to say I can’t believe I thought you were my soulmate, you con artist. He intends to look away and bask in the applause, but before he can do that, Janus collapeses.

Roman is confused at first, and then it clicks. That’s his soulmate. That’s his Janus.

And he killed him.

Pandemonium breaks out. Roman leaps off the stage, Remus freezes in panicked comprehension, the crowd scatters, and several people try to reach the dying man.

Logan gets there first. His mind scans memories of hours spent in libraries, researching everything there is to know about palm marks. Why didn’t some people have them? How did you lose them? How could you get them back?

He instructs Remus and Roman to help carry Janus to the greenroom.

They race him there, everyone in a state of panic (including Logan, but more importantly he has a job to do). Logan tells Remus to run and get a few basic ingredients, and they wait. Time moves much too fast and much too slow, until he comes back.

Logan works chemical wonders, piecing together Roman’s hand until everything is stabilized.

A vicious scar, the type you’d except if your soulmate was really gone, forms on Roman’s palm, and it will stay there for the rest of his days.

Janus comes back from death’s door for the second time.

After The Drama

Logan and Remus eventually move past the “but I don’t have a soulmate” “and yet I still am in love with you” dithering and go on a date that isn’t for the purpose of stalking a supposed stalker.

They go to the aquarium.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot to work out between Roman and Janus. From “wow, you’re not dead” to “wow, I nearly murdered you”, we don’t have time to unpack all that.

But they do get coffee. And they talk.

Soulmate stuff! I really like soulmate aus, despite not liking to write straight up romance

It’s weird

Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

awesome! can i please request friends to lovers with cody boi and demisexual!y/n? 🥺👉👈

YOU’RE IN LUCK I’VE BEEN WORKING ON MY CODY LORE RECENTLY. hopefully I did alright- I’m kind of inexperienced with writing demi characters so I apologize if I got something wrong.

"Oh, sorry."

Your hand brushes against another as you reach for the chemistry book you need for your assignment. You grab it and look up at the other person. He's taller than you and has pale skin and honey-brown hair that hangs over one of his green eyes, which blink at you. He scratches at an old, jagged scar on his jaw. 

"You gonna read that?"

"Well duh," you frown at him. "I have an assignment to do." 

"Ah." He nods, glancing aside. "What's your major?" 

"Chemical engineering." You tilt your head at him. "You?"

"Pharmacology." He replies. You arch your brow. If he was studying pharmacology wouldn't you have seen him around campus? Then again- your college is pretty big so...maybe you just forgot his face. He steps back away from you, putting his hands in his hoodie's pockets. "Enjoy the book." He says in a bored tone before turning and walking away. 

------

"Hmm…"

Once more, you're looking for a very, very specific book. For another assignment. A group one. "Uggghhh…" you mutter to yourself. You do not want to be that one guy who doesn't do any work and drags the group down. You already have one of those. As you step out from behind a bookshelf your eyes absently scan the long reading table before-

Wait.

You turn back and squint. The book! It's right there! And being read by...a pale skinned boy with honey-brown hair and green eyes. You glance around for a moment before walking over and taking a seat across from him.

"You gonna read that?"

He looks up at you, seemingly surprised. His eyes widen with realisation, and the smallest of smiles curls up his lips. "...well duh." You smirk and laugh a little bit. He sets the book down and tilts his head at you. "You get that assignment done?"

"Barely." You reply. "Now I got a group project to do."

"Ew." He wrinkles his nose in disgust. He glances from you to the book his hand is resting on. The book you need. "...what're your plans for after college?" He asks, trying to sound casual, but the question sounds like he’s inspecting you.

"A bio engineer. You?"

He blinks in surprise. "Same, actually. Specialising in curing diseases."

"Huh! I was gonna do the same. I wanna help develop medicines."

He looks at you for a moment, then smiles a bit. He closes the book and slides it over to you. "Good luck on the assignment." He says before standing up and walking away. You watch him leave with a small, curious smile. 

----

"God that professor drives me crazy…" one of your classmates mutters as they walk past you. You can't help but agree. 

Stepping outside you wrinkle your nose. It's raining. Great. And all you have is a thin jacket with no hood. A breeze blows by, and it feels like it's going straight through your clothes. You shiver. 

"Hey." A familiar voice grunts beside you. You look up in surprise and are greeted by a taller boy in a hood wearing blue goggles. One of his eyes is obscured by honey-brown hair. He reaches up, grabbing the goggles and pulling them down. Green eyes blink down at you. 

"Oh, hey." You tilt your head at him. "Book boy."

He smirks a bit, tossing his head to the side like he's mimicking you. "Is that my name?"

"Well you never told me your name."

He blinks in surprise, like he hadn't even realised he'd never told you his name. Or forgotten. You suppress a laugh. "Oh." He says. "I'm Cody. But my friends call me X."

"Why?" You ask, smiling a bit. He opens his mouth to reply, then closes it again, like he's stumped. 

"It's my favourite letter?" He finally answers. You laugh loudly. 

‘’Alright, X,’’ you smirk at him. ‘’Did you need something? Another book?’’

‘’Huh? Oh- nah.’’ he scratches at the scar on his jaw. ‘’I saw you out in the rain and uh-’’ he pauses, reaching into the brown satchel thrown across his side. He searches around in it, the contents jingling and clinking until he pulls out a folded up umbrella. ‘’I brought you this.’’ You blink in surprise. You reach out and take it. ‘’But I want something in return.’’

‘’Huh?’’

‘’One, I want my book,’’ he toys with the strap of his goggles as he speaks. ‘’And two...I wanna take you for coffee.’’

You arch your brow. ‘’...why?’’

‘’I think you’re neat.’’ he shrugs. ‘’I don’t talk to people much. And you have a similar major so…’’

You hesitate. It isn’t the first time a guy you don’t know well has asked you for coffee under the pretense of ‘you’re just neat’. You pause. He looks at you, seemingly disinterested. Like it doesn’t matter if you say yes or no. 

‘’...sure.’’ you finally say. ‘’But you’re paying.’’

He wrinkles his nose. ‘’I’ll pay the tip.’’ he says. ‘’Sixty percent.’’

------

‘’Hey, y/n!’’

You look up as you step outside your lecture hall. Cody runs towards you, shaking his honey-brown hair out of his eyes. You smile brightly at him as he stops in front of you. Cody has been warming up to you over the past few weeks. He meets you after classes, walks you to your dorm or gets coffee with you, and always, always follows you to the library. He’s...odd. Initially he was standoffish, like he didn’t really care about your company all that much, but as you’ve spent time together he’s opened up a lot more. He’s excitable, and wildly passionate about all sorts of things. But mostly science- which suits you. He helps a lot with writing papers. 

‘’Hey X.’’ you greet him. You walk past him and he trails after you. ‘’How was your day?’’

‘’Fine.’’ he says. ‘’Professor Harrison is still annoying.’’

‘’Ugh- so glad I don’t have his classes till next week…’’ you sigh. ‘’Glad it’s Friday, huh?’’

‘’Yeah.’’ he smiles a bit. 

‘’You got plans for the weekend?’’

‘’Huh? Oh, uh...not- not really. Just- research…’’

You glance over your shoulder and smile at him. ‘’You wanna come over for a bit tomorrow?’’

‘’Co-come over?’’

‘’Yeah. We can hang out, watch a movie or something.’’

‘’...you want me in your house?’’

‘’Well it’s not really a house but- yeah.’’ you smile at him. ‘’What? I can’t invite my friend over to hang out?’’

His bright green eyes seem to shimmer. ‘’Friend?’’ he asks, excitement leaking into his voice. You nod, smiling a little bit. He’s funny when he’s excited. He beams wide. ‘’S-Sure! Yeah, I can postpone my research!’’

-----

‘’Knock knock!’’

You get up off your couch and move over to the door. Opening it, you’re greeted by honey-brown hair and green eyes beaming down at you. ‘’Hey y/n.’’ Cody chirps, shifting on his feet. You step aside to let him in. He walks inside quickly, holding coffee in each hand. He puts down the coffees and rummages through his satchel. ‘’I brought you snacks, and some books I thought you might like. Oh! I also bought you a spare USB, since you almost lost yours last week. You can back your files up on this one just in case-’’

‘’Cody.’’ you interrupt. He looks over at you. ‘’You...didn’t need to get me all of this.’’ you frown. You only invited him over for a movie- why all the stuff? 

‘’...I wanted to help.’’ he murmurs. ‘’I know you like coffee, so I thought you’d like some. Then I thought we’d need snacks for the movie, and then I passed the library and remembered the USB thing so I-’’ he fiddles with his hands. ‘’Isn’t that what friends do?’’

‘’...Cody,’’ you say. He stares at you. ‘’You’ve never had a friend before, have you?’’

He hesitates, then shakes his head. ‘’Not really.’’ he shrugs. ‘’Nobody was ever interesting enough to talk to,’’ he glances aside. ‘’But...you’re different. I dunno how but- you are.’’

You fold your arms, looking at him for a few moments, then exhale gently. ‘’...you’re really weird, X.’’

-----

‘’Hey y/n?’’ 

‘’Huh?’’ you look up from the cheap chinese takeout the two of you ordered. It has become a routine for the two of you to hang out on weekends. And during the week. Cody meets up with you almost every day, and the days he doesn’t he’s...completely impossible to reach. Like he dropped off the face off the earth. But you don’t mind too much.

‘’What do you think of human experiments?’’ his eyes stare into you. You blink.

‘’If they’re safe, then yeah. If it clears animal testing first I think human testing should begin, if the correct safety procedures are taken.’’

He nods. ‘’Yeah, yeah but…’’ he taps his fingers on the table for a second. ‘’Sometimes we need to disregard those protocols. That’s a fact, right?’’

‘’...yeah?’’ you tilt your head, confused.

‘’So what if we used bad people for those experiments? Like death row criminals. It would speed up the process.’’

You blink for a moment. ‘’I mean-’’ you think for a moment. ‘’I dunno…’’ you look away. ‘’Why are you asking me this?’’

‘’No reason.’’ Cody looks back at you and shrugs. ‘’The topic came up in class earlier and it just crossed my mind.’’

----

‘’Knockknocknockknocknockknockkno-’’

You yank open your door and glare up at the person in the doorway. ‘’It’s three in the mo-’’ you pause. The tall, rude person in your doorway is breathing heavily through a gas mask. Their head is lowered, their face obscured by honey-brown hair. They cough.

‘’Sorry for wakin’ you.’’ he grunts. He leans up off the doorway and stumbles forward. You catch him quickly.

‘’Cody?! What the fuck?! Is that you?!” 

"Yeah…" he coughs a bit and grips your shoulders for support. "I got in a fight…"

You pull him over to your couch. He collapses onto it and groans. You pull off his gas mask and goggles and look at his face. It seems to be okay- because of the gas mask probably. Good protection for his face. 

"Where does it hurt?" You ask quickly.

"They fucking kicked me in the gut." He mutters back. He coughs a couple times. "H-Hey, did I drop my baseball bat…?"

"Baseball bat?" You stand up and look over at your door, which is still open. A baseball bat with nails sticking out of the head leans against the doorway. You move over and grab it, closing the door. "Why do you have this thing?"

"Self defense." He grunts back. "Can you get me some ice?"

"Sure, sure yeah."

------

"So like…" Cody looks up from his cereal as you speak. He's been staying in your dorm for the past few days, recovering from getting beat up. "Does this happen...often…?"

He looks at you. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you have a weapon for self defense and you have a scar on your jaw." You point at him. He palms at the jagged scar on his jawline. 

"Oh." He says. "This one isn't from a fight."

You frown and tilt your head. "It isn't?"

"I was in a car accident when I was eight." He says. "My parents died in it. I didn't."

You blink, completely taken aback. "Shit- really?" You suddenly regret all the curious looks you've given that scar over the past while. "That's horrible- I'm sorry dude."

He waves you off. "It's nothing." He murmurs. It's quiet and awkward for a while before he speaks again. "I got a lot more scars from the crash. You wanna see?" He grins at you. You break out into a smile.

"...oh heck yeah I do."

-----

‘’Hey y/n?’’

‘’Huh?’’ you look up from your laptop and over at Cody, who’s laying on his back on your bed, staring at the ceiling through his blue goggles. He doesn’t answer for a moment. 

‘’How long have we been friends?’’ His voice is small and thoughtful. Maybe even sad. You frown.

‘’Like….six months. Why?’’

‘’That’s a long time.’’ he muses, sounding surprised. He turns and looks at you. ‘’...I trust you.’’

‘’You trust me?’’

‘’Yeah.’’ he looks at the ceiling again. ‘’I trust you. A lot. I’ve never really- had a friend before...but I trust you.’’ he turns to you again. ‘’I’m glad I met you, y/n.’’

‘’...what sparked that?’’ you ask gently. Cody shrugs.

‘’Dunno. Was just thinkin’ bout stuff…’’ he’s quiet for a while. ‘’You ever think about how chickens are descended from dinosaurs so technically dino nuggets are dinosaur meat?’’ he breaks the silence. 

‘’PFFFFF-’’

----

‘’Hey! y/n!’’ 

You look up just in time to see Cody sprinting towards you from the other side of the campus. His gas mask is on, even though he doesn’t seem to be coming from the campus’s lab, as are his goggles. His hood falls down, exposing honey-brown hair. You walk quickly toward him and he stumbles towards you, then doubles over gasping for air. 

‘’Uh- you oka-’’

‘’HEY! YOU!’’ 

You look up quickly and see a campus security guard sprinting towards the both of you. Your eyes widen and Cody grabs your wrist. ‘’Canttalknowjustrun!’’ he hisses before sprinting off again with you in tow. You yelp as you’re yanked across campus, in between buildings, and off the grounds entirely. Eventually, you’re yanked into an alleyway and the two of you lean against the wall, panting and gasping for air. You flop your head against your shoulder and stare at him. 

‘’Cody…’’

‘’Y-yeah?’’

‘’What the fuck?!’’

He gulps and looks at you. ‘’I...may have pissed off the security guard.’’

‘’How?’’

‘’I uh-’’ he pauses, looking at you. It’s silent for a few moments and he sighs. ‘’I’ve...been lying to you.’’

‘’Huh?’’

‘’I don’t actually attend your college,’’ he murmurs. ‘’I...graduated years ago. I’m just some- homeless dude who hangs around the campus sometimes for fun.’’

You stare at him. ‘’What...the fuck…?’’ he doesn’t say anything. ‘’Why would you lie to me?!’’

‘’Because I…’’ he shrugs. ‘’I didn’t want you to think less of me...I just wanted you to treat me like anyone else...like- a friend…’’ he sighs. ‘’...I’m sorry…’’

You stare at him for a few moments, then sigh gently. You lean off the wall and pat his shoulder. ‘’I don’t think less of you because of any of this,’’ you murmur. ‘’I’m hurt because- well...I thought you trusted me.’’ His head snaps to you, staring in surprise. ‘’It is weird that you hang around on campus yeah but- you’re not a creep. I know you’re not. You just- wanna be accepted. Right?’’

He pauses, staring at the ground. ‘’...yeah. I do.’’

‘’Then I accept you.’’ you hesitate for a second, then hug him gently. His arms cautiously and gently wrap around you. ‘’And you’re staying with me, okay? I don’t want you on the streets anymore. You don’t need to get hurt.’’

"...okay." he murmurs. "...thanks."

------

"I'm home!"

"Y/n!" Cody rolls over onto his stomach and grins at you from his spot on the couch, which is also basically his bed now. "How was your lecture? Learn anything interesting?"

You shrug off your backpack and walk over to the couch. Cody curls up to make room for you as you sit down. "It was alright." You murmur. Cody shifts around and leans against you, smiling up at you. He's cute, you'll admit. Like an excited puppy. Always happy to see you. You reach over and pat him. He moves his hand up and grabs your hand, squeezing it in his. He stays there for a few moments, staring up at you fondly before he withdraws his hand. 

"Here." he grabs the remote from the other side of the couch using his socked feet, then grabs it with his hands before passing it to you. You take it and lie back, flicking through channels idly. You glance at him. He's still staring at you. 

"You need something?"

He shakes his head. "Nah." He turns back to the tv. "I just like your face."

You smirk. "Thanks. Yours too."

------

"Uuuggghh…"

You sit up and bury your face in your hands. You're stressed. Extremely so. This damn assignment is impossible! You can't figure it out. At all. You're just about ready to give up. 

"Y/n?"

You look up and see Cody crouched near your bed where you're sitting. He looks up at you with his best puppy eyes. "I think you need a break." He murmurs. He reaches up and takes one of your hands in his, pulling it down and tugging it. You sigh, push your laptop away and lie down so you're facing him. 

"Fine." 

He smiles and reaches into his pocket, pulling something out. Your favourite candy bar. "Here," he holds it up to you. "To get your energy back."

You take it and smile. "How'd you know it's my favourite?"

He smiles. "Lucky guess." That's a lie. Definitely. He climbs onto your bed and lays down beside you. You look at him while munching on your chocolate.

"Cody," you ask tiredly. "...what do you do when no matter what you can't find the answer?"

He blinks, then frowns. "I keep going," he answers. "I try to change something every time and peace together the answer. I work outside the box, break the rules…" he frowns and looks down. "...four hundred and twenty three times."

"Huh?"

He looks up at you, surprised. "Oh! Uh- it's nothing. I just remembered this one experiment I did...heh...took me four hundred and twenty three tries to get it right..." he seems suddenly fidgety and- maybe even sad.

"Damn." Your eyes widen. "What was the experiment?"

"...nothing important." He smiles at you. He reaches over and pats your cheek a couple times. "Now, cmere. You're taking your break in cuddle-town."

You squint at him. "...cuddle-town."

"Yep!" He lifts his arm up for you. "Cmonnnn...you know you wannaaaa."

You give him a stern look. Then a smile curls up your face and you laugh. "Alright, alright. I'll bite." you scoot closer to him and let him hug you tight. He smells of chemicals and takeout. It's a weird smell, but welcoming. He hums happily. "...Thanks X."

"No problem." He chirps back, nuzzling his face into your hair.

-------

"You made a mistake."

"Huh?" You're curled up against Cody, doing your homework. Part of your course is a mandatory math class. Ugh. Your back is resting against his front while you do your work. His arms are wrapped around you, hugging you gently. Not the most conventional position for math homework, but a damn comfy one. 

His arm moves from around your hip and points at the paper you're writing on. "You need to multiply here. Not subtract. Then you'll get a minus, but you'll have to change the signs so your answer would be…" he pauses for a moment. "Minus X to the power of four over three Y to the power of six."

You blink and frown for a couple moments. "Oh!" You cross out your mistake and correct it. "Like that?"

Cody nods. "Exactly." His arm winds around you again. You smile a bit.

"How are you so good at math?" You ask. He shrugs.

"Studied my butt off in highschool and learned everything twice as fast as everyone else." He says with a laugh. You snicker.

"Why?"

"Wanted to prove that I could do it." He murmurs. He leans down and presses his face into your hair. He's probably sniffing it but you choose to ignore that because math homework is hard. "...why did you decide to become a scientist?"

"I wanted to help people." You murmur. He hums in thought.

"Why?"

You shrug. "It's the right thing to do, isn't it?"

He's quiet for a moment. "yeah," his hand runs up your stomach. "I guess it is."

-----

"I wanna take you somewhere."

You look up at Cody. "Okay," you say. "Where?"

"...dinner."

"Dinner where?"

"Downtown. Somewhere you like. Somewhere fancy." 

You smirk at him a bit. ‘’Alright...when?’’

‘’Right now. Today.’’

You blink in surprise and look at the clock on the wall, then him. ‘’We’d have to get ready like- right now.’’

‘’Okay.’’ he stands up like it’s nothing. ‘’Go get ready.’’

Cody’s sudden wanting to eat out is odd. He’s always been happy with takeout and your own cooking, so why he suddenly wants to go out is- odd. But you’re not complaining. The restaurant he brings you to is nice, and even though he’s suddenly fidgety and a little on-edge, he’s still his regular, cute self. Spending time with him is something you enjoy deeply. Why else would you have let him live with you? He’s like your best friend- maybe even something more. While the two of you are leaving the restaurant his hand brushes against yours and he ever so carefully entwines his hand with yours. Okay yeah. It’s definitely something more.

Instead of walking home, the two of you end up walking to a nearby park. It’s a peaceful night. A little cold, but Cody’s hand feels warm and comforting. He stops suddenly, and turns to you. You stare at him.

‘’y/n?’’

‘’Yeah?’’

He hesitates. ‘’Do you…’’ he glances aside. ‘’...do you like me?’’ his body language is nervous, but his tone is full of forced confidence. 

‘’Of course I like you.’’ you tilt your head at him. ‘’...you’re acting weird. What’s wrong?’’

He looks surprised for a moment. He quickly collects himself and gulps, glancing aside. ‘’I…’’ he fiddles with his hands. ‘’It’s...nothing, y/n. Just- forget it. I’ll take you home.’’

‘’Wait-’’ you stop and step toward him, grabbing his wrist. He stares at you in surprise. You yank him toward you, intending to pull him into a hug but- you yank too hard and Cody stumbles into you, making you, in turn, stumble backwards into a tree. You’re left leaning against it, with Cody leaning over you, staring down in surprise. It’s deathly silent for a few tense moments before a smile curls up his face. He snorts, then laughs, then falls against you giggling. You slowly crack up with him and reach up, gripping his arms as the two of you giggle at absolutely nothing. He lifts his head up and smiles at you. His face is only inches from yours. He’s so close you can see the lighter speckles in his green eyes and individual strands of his honey-brown hair. His features are soft. Welcoming. ‘’Cody,’’ you murmur. ‘’...I do like you. A lot.’’

‘’Huh?’’ he seems completely taken aback by this. ‘’Really?’’ he doesn’t sound like he quite believes you. You chuckle.

‘’Yes.’’ you smile up at him. Slowly, you reach up and cup his face in your hands. ‘’C’mere…’’ you murmur, pulling him down to you. You close the gap and kiss him gently. He tenses up, a quiet gasp of surprise escaping his mouth. Slowly, he leans into the kiss, kneading against you. He feels warm. Comforting. Safe. You shiver as he reaches down, grabbing your hip with one hand. The two of you pull away and stare at each other. It’s silent. You can feel his warm breath against your face. 

‘’y/n?’’ he breaks the silence. You look up at him. ‘’...I love you.’’

A smile curls up your face. You grab him and pull him down for another kiss. ‘’I love you too.’’ you giggle. He grins and wraps his arms around you, squeezing you tightly. He lifts you up in his arms and nuzzles into your shoulder. You giggle and grip his shoulders as he swings you around until he stumbles and falls back. The two of you yelp out in surprise as you fall onto the grass. Cody is still holding you tight, staring up at you with a wide smile. You smile down at him lovingly and comb your hand through his honey-brown hair. ‘’I love you too…’’ you murmur once more.

What Was Lost —  Pt 1 (Jaskier x Reader) || Witcher

A/N: Okay so i started writing this and it was superrrr long, so i decided to split it into two. The second part will come out tomorrow, don’t you worry. Anyway, this is yet another entry for @thewitcherbingo​ so I hope everyone enjoys! Also, this was based on a post in the witcher tag that is linked below :)

Summary: Y/N, a famous bard, is cursed by a sorceress and loses her voice, leaving her only hope to get it back with the famous Witcher and her rival, Jaskier.

(based on this post)

Bingo Square Filled: Rivalry

Warnings: mentions of loss, grief, death, sex, drinking all the good stuff lmao; also fluff and angst!!

Word Count: 2,257

Please Don’t Plagiarize My Work!

(Pt 2)

Loss was not something you were unfamiliar with.

The haziness of loss clouded over you throughout your whole life. One step after the other, you experienced what it meant to be disappointed and left behind — never really on purpose, but that didn’t mean you weren’t bitter about it. Bitter at the world, yes, but also at yourself.

Your mother died soon after she gave birth to you; her short, but wholly loving embrace was only a memory you had from what others told you. Not knowing what it was like to have a mother made the loss of her feel less than what it should have been; you felt complete with the life you had, though the curiosity of what a mother’s touch felt like barely left your mind. Still, being surrounded by the rest of your family kept your loss from overtaking your life, and for a while, you were a relatively content child.

And then, your father didn’t come home.

He had been attacked by bandits — any merchant was at that risk, but never did it cross your mind that your very own father could be a victim. Of course, your naive mind was flipped upside down when you went looking for him and found his cart ripped apart only a couple miles down the road from your village. Everything was taken, including your father’s life, and you were once again reminded of how heavy your heart could feel when something was ripped away from it.

As you tried to make it in the world, you felt loss tracking your every move. It was a cloud that was just on the brink of churning up a thunderstorm right over your head. But, as you grew, the cloud shrank, until it was totally gone. You were finally free of what it meant to lose because you had gained so much. But the freedom from loss never truly left a person, and you would soon realize that despite a large gain, loss would always be lingering around the corner.

—

You were a fiery bard. It was one of your famous attributes, one of the things that kept people coming to your performances. That, and your singing voice. It was an unusually unique thing — your father used to call it a gift that no one knew existed. Your voice was as fiery and passionate as you were, and bards from near and far envied you for it.

And you fed off of that, like a leech from the nearby river. You loved the way other bards watched you perform with a hateful glint in their eyes that could only be described as friendly competition. It was what kept you going — that, and the coin. You had made a name for yourself in your own time, but it was all worth it. You had people nearly begging to hear your voice, others begging to have your voice, and some wishing it was gone completely.

“Jaskier.” You emerged from the cheering crowd and smirked at the fellow bard; your set had just ended and happened to be preceding the young man in front of you. Though the crowd seemed overjoyed, he was quite the opposite.

“Y/N.” He practically seethed. “Quite the show.”

“It was, wasn’t it?" Your smile never left despite the man’s hateful expression.

Though you’d hate to admit it, Jaskier was your best competition. He wasn’t always — once you were almost an inspiration to him, despite you two being around the same age. But as soon as he met Geralt, the mysterious witcher, he finally found what he was good at performing. It was honestly quite sad when Jaskier would go out on adventures, as none of the other bards had the guts to challenge you.

Even though you two had quite the rivalry, you had a lot of respect for the bard. You had seen him rise in his career, seen the good and the bad from him, and in the end, you knew he was quite the talent. You weren’t sure how he felt about you, but that wasn’t something you needed to know — just like he didn’t need to know of your slight admiration of him.

You flashed Jaskier a bigger smile. “I can only hope your performance will keep the crowd excited.”

“Oh, it will, I can promise you that.”

“Your promises hold the validity of a drunken sailor.”

“And your voice the beauty of a Drowner’s bum.” This time, Jaskier smiled. Despite the vile words that escape his lips, he seemed happy to be back.

You rolled your eyes. “A Drowner’s bum is beautiful to someone.” You tapped underneath your eye. “The eye of the beholder.”

“More like the ear of the beholder.” Jaskier’s eyes purposefully ran down your body, then back to your face. “Did you ever think you’d be helping the world if your voice was…gone?”

“Of course not. If that were true, maybe you’d be the one the crowd was calling on for an encore.” You quirked a brow and his eyes flicked to the crowd that was chanting your name. He took his cup of ale and threw the rest of the liquid back into his mouth, letting out a frustrated groan as he slipped past you. “Good luck!” You called, and he scrunched his nose aggressively at you; you only laughed at his gesture and took his seat at the bar.

As you waited for your drink, your mind wondered about what Jaskier said. He was kidding, you hoped, but you thought — gods forbid — if you didn’t have your famously known voice, what would you do? What would make you happy?

You shook the thought away. Ever since you were a child, singing was a way to make the bad times okay. It didn’t cure all your pain, but it simmered it, and because of that you were here. It was silly to think of such events, so you decided to put your mind on more important matters.

The cup of fresh ale was on your lips when you heard the woman speak.

“The mind is a strange thing.”

You turned your head slightly — the voice was soft, but loud. Like a whisper only you could hear. It was especially surprising because Jaskier had already started his performance, where everyone was singing along and making as much racket as they could. Yet still, you could hear the woman’s voice.

She was quite young looking, but her eyes seemed even wiser than what her age inferred — something told you she lived longer on this Earth than anyone you had ever met; which, to be fair, wasn’t saying much. Still, the slight twitch in her smile sent a shiver down your spine.

You placed down your drink. “What was that?”

“The mind.” The woman slinked into the open space between your seat and the man next to you. “It is quite strange, don’t you think?”

“I think I’m too sober for this.” You laughed and took another gulp of your drink. After gritting your teeth from the strength of the ale, you turned to the woman. “Do you want an autograph?”

She kept a steady smile. “No. I want you to help you find what you are missing.”

Your eyebrows furrowed at the calmness of her statement. This woman had to be crazy; perhaps she was playing a joke on you. But the look in her eyes told you otherwise. You stuttered. “Ex-excuse me?” You watched as the woman took out a small jar. She opened the lid and gestured for you to look inside. You didn’t. “What the hell is this?”

Though before you could hear her clearly, now her words were just a distant whisper. It was another language, surely, and the longer she spoke the more uneasy you felt. As you opened your mouth to speak, a strong wince of pain burrowed in the bottom of your throat, making you grab your neck with a free hand. You looked back at the older woman, who closed up the jar and waved it in front of your face. Your eyes caught a small rune-like symbol on the bottle before she placed it back in her pouch.

“When you find me, you will know.”

In the blink of an eye, her unsettling smile was gone. And so was your voice.

Just like that, the cloud of loss had returned. Your heart felt so heavy that it weighed you down as you desperately clawed at the emptiness of your throat. You wanted to scream for someone to grab the woman, to help you, for anything — but you couldn't. You grabbed at the people around you, forcing them to turn and glare. But as you dropped to the floor, the people knew something was wrong — they crowded around, towering over you with their fearful eyes and loud shrieks of worry. As you searched the faces for someone who could help, you realized the only thing you could do in that moment was let the world around you go dark.

—

You woke up in a room that you knew wasn’t your own. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened (being a bard had its perks) but it would be the first time you saw a person waiting over you.

“Oh, thank the gods you aren’t dead.” Jaskier’s relieved face hovered over your own, only leaning back once you widened your eyes at his presence. “The crowd was worried. They would’ve had a riot if you didn’t wake up.”

You frowned and opened your mouth to speak. Did I faint? But your voice made no sound.

Panic rose in your chest as you sat up, your hand raising to grasp at your throat. So it wasn’t a dream. Your eyes watered almost immediately, both from the fear that banged against your ears and the scratches you were leaving on your own neck.

“Hey, hey — woah, woah, woah okay, calm down. Calm down, Y/N.” Jaskier sat on the bed next to you and grabbed your hands as they clawed at your skin — despite your silent protest, he held them down in your lap. His eyes scanned your face as you tried to scream the words you were thinking.

“Can you…can you not speak?”

You shook your head and, trying to relax your shaking hands, let out what would have been a long sigh.

Jaskier stared at you for a moment, squinting his eyes as he processed what was happening. He lifted his hands and placed one on his chin. “So you weren’t trying to sabotage my set?” You could only glare at him, but he was too busy mumbling to himself. “Yes, well, either way, it worked.”

You slapped him in the arm, bringing his attention back to you.

“Right. You can’t speak — or sing. Oh. Oh boy. This is not good for you.”

“What do you remember?”

The voice took you aback, and as you swiveled your head to the other side of the room, there stood the famous witcher from Jaskier’s songs. Geralt. You had never had a proper introduction, though you supposed now wasn’t the time.

You closed your eyes and tried to shake the memories back into place — after fainting, you were still feeling a little lightheaded. Still, your mind drifted back to the moment before, when the woman smiled all too politely in your face. I want to help you find what you are missing. But what you were missing?

You opened your eyes and looked at the men who stared back at you. With an eye roll, you made a gesture of writing.

“Ah, yes.” Jaskier snapped his fingers towards Geralt. “The notebook, by the table.”

Geralt picked up the notebook and quill and handed it to you with a nod. “Geralt, by the way.”

You nodded back, somehow getting used to the loss of your own voice. Without dwelling on it too much, you wrote what you were thinking.

Once you handed it to him, Jaskier read your note out loud, “‘She said something was missing.’” He looked up and blinked. “What was missing?”

You widened your eyes at him with a clenched jaw, as if to say ‘how should I know’. He shrugged.

Geralt huffed. “Anything else you remember?”

You closed your eyes and tried to think of the woman. Creepy smile, bright but aged eyes, the clear whisper of her voice, the jar—

You scribbled on the notebook and flipped the page towards Geralt.

Geralt frowned. “A jar with a rune. Looks like a rune for — oh.”

You frowned. Jaskier answered for you. “Oh?”

“It’s old — very old. The only sorceress I know of that uses it —“

“A sorceress?” Jaskier exclaimed for you. He jumped up from the bed, nearly hopping in his spot. “Now this is interesting.”

This time, Geralt spoke for you, “It wasn’t interesting enough with a lost voice?”

“Of course it was. But a sorceress? This could be the greatest tale of all the Continent. And beyond!” Jaskier turned to you with a grimace. “No offense.”

You flipped him the bird. Then, picked up the pen and wrote: Fix?

Geralt nodded at the writing. “I know where the sorceress lives. We can be there in under a week if we leave in the morning.”

“Wonderful!” Jaskier clapped his hands together and smiled way too brightly. “Tomorrow it is!”

You supposed you didn’t have much of a choice. You closed your eyes and let out a silent breath, wishing this nightmare would be over soon.

———————————————————————————————————

Tags: @trees-fanfic​

i finallyyyy finished the explanations for my tlb playlistttt so come get yall juice

if you haven’t already seen my first (official) post about this silly little playlist then you are still in luck !!! here is the spotify and the youtube links !!! oh yeah also all of the songs are in chronological order (maybe not by month but definitely by year) because i had to be organized like that sbjhshsjbs

———

❥ title

i mean. there isn’t much to explain about it but sbjshbsjhs it’s based on sam’s line “you’re a creature of the night, michael!” of course but i made it plural because this playlist is sort of a. general boys / movie playlist, if that makes sense??? but yeahhhh they’re all littol creechers who love the night >:o]

———

❥ paint it, black — the rolling stones

so !!! i was kind of trying to relate it to the boys vampirism and. love of black clothes sbhsjbshjs but no. similar to the title, they. literally live in darkness because of not being able to go into the sun and because of the few lights in the lair but there’s also a sort of duality where being vampires in an internal darkness??? like. each of the boys takes heavy advantage of the benefits of being undead but i can’t imagine it’s without its faults outside of the lack of sunlight and such. i’m sure there’s a kind of uh. monster complex that follows it, especially with the way outsiders view them, which certainly fits with the song’s vibe of being washed with this sort of sensory overload to color and earning weird looks for it

———

❥ riders on the storm — the doors

first of all, there’s a giant ass jim morrison poster in the lair therefore the boys definitely listen to the doors (if not idolize jim) so jot that down. but also !!! it has very Them vibes !!! i think the storm effects definitely relate to boys in how storms create a darkness that is soothing in its own way, and comes on strong, just like the boys’ presence. and. technically they Are killers on the road that Will kill a sweet family sbhjsbshjsb but no most of all the !!! “into this house we’re born // into this world we’re thrown” and !!! the found family that the boys have going. like, if you look at. vampirism as the house they have LITERALLY been born into it and been thrown into a whole new world, depending on each other for comfort and pleasure !!! oh also. they ride motorcycles so they’re also literal riders sbhjsbshjs (fun fact, according to genius lyrics: apparently it was the last song jim recorded before he died a few weeks later 😳)

———

❥ love her madly — the doors

whole jim morrison poster and listening to the doors reasoning is sustained. HOWEVER for the rest of reasoning… perhaps it’s more straight up 95060 than anything but sbhsjbsshj the whole woman walking in and out of the audience’s life is very symbolic of michael being in and out with the boys, never really deciding whether he wants to fully join them and straining. all of his relationships with that indecision and sitting on the picket fence (those who sit on the picket fence are impaled by it). although, it could also be partly symbolic of that indecision, as he does find Some charm in the boys’ lifestyle and keeps finding himself drawn back enough to even consider partaking in it. also, if you wanna go the parko route, paul loves marko madly enough to go after the frog bros personally for killing him <3

———

❥ walk this way — aerosmith

i am. blanking on how to tie it in other than being on the movie’s soundtrack (yes i avoided it and people are strange until the very end of making the playlist, but one of the evils got me clearly— have always ADORED people are strange though). but. i guess you can make the case that the song is full of innuendos and some scenes, like the feeding scene, are lowkey horny sbsjhbshjsbs and YES it’s the aerosmith version instead of the run dmc one because. i prefer this one and it’s my silly little playlist <3

———

❥ the boys are back in town — thin lizzy

technically the boys never Left town but !!! *christopher walken voice* Boys !!! them cast ARE crazy and they’re ALWAYS dressed to kill, ready to spill some blood and pick a fight !!! yeah no it’s just a very fun song that i think really works to. represent their crazy lifestyle and infamy around town due to causing trouble !!! and you can almost say that in this scenario star is the girl who used to dance a lot and slapped the shit out of someone <3 just girlboss moments <3

———

❥ xanadu — rush

hehehe… this started as the. desire to add more rush to the playlist for my own amusement but the more times i listen to it, the more i’m like “!!! it actually fits”… like. xanadu here is meant to a sort of utopia that’s long searched for, partly BECAUSE of the promise of immortality which !!! the boys have (unless. harmed in one of the ways at the end of the movie) because of their vampirism. like even if we don’t know the exact reasons they got turned, they all still, mostly indirectly probably, sought out that same principle. And the dining on honeydew and drinking the milk of ‘paradise’ is similar to their thrill-seeking tendencies and general enjoyment of being unable to die, leaving them to enjoy their undead lives to the fullest. not to mention, in [b part 2] (as genius refers to it) there’s talk of many, many years passing and waiting for the world to end, which we know there’s been quite a few years in between the boys getting turned and the movie, as well as i’m sure they sit back and wait on Some apocalypse, if not just to watch the world burn. in writing this, i’ve ALSO realized how it can be considered very Michael; he didn’t exactly seek this life out but he found it and indulged, only to be that “mad immortal man” towards the end of the song

———

❥ runnin’ with the devil — van halen

i just van halen is neat sbjshbsjsh and would definitely be something the boys would actually listen to hsjbshjsb i don’t Necessarily think vampires are in any way tied to the devil but. here it’d be more like a metaphor of “taking a walk on the wild side” if you wanna call it that; also, they all truly live their lives like there’s no tomorrow (not that they have to worry about death until the very end), have stolen a lot of things just to get by (probably in life AND death), don’t bode well with the ‘simple’ life (likely including the idea of a nuclear family like max proposed) because of it’s lack of pleasures, and don’t exactly have any “love [that] you’d call real” unless you read into the subtext 

———

❥ hot blooded — foreigner

originally this was going to be another joke about the. lowkey horniness of the boys and the movie as a whole but i’ve realized in writing these explanations thus far and rereading the lyrics that it’s. it’s just michael-centric sbshjsbsh sam is “at the mercy of his sex glands” and so is the audience of both the movie and the song sbhsjbshsj like. michael finds himself attracted to star immediately and tries for two secret rendezvouses, with only one working, and. can be said that he also finds a fever running within him when he’s around david and the boys sbhjsbshjs i just 🙈

———

❥ renegade — styx

renegade is my favorite styx song so i just said “fuck it” and added it sbshjsbshj but !!! you can say that, again, the boys live their lives on the wild side and. probably commit enough crimes to warrant dozens of sentences, some that would lead to death row (like, ya know, the. manslaughter) but they manage to get away unscathed. And the law man serving as an allegory to all of the people, including the frogs and grandpa, that want them dead for being vampires, with the bounty to be rewarded being the ridding of their trouble from santa carla

———

❥ big shot — billy joel

mikey :o) … ok yeah he isn’t the. silver spoon in hand (nose) type but he’s LITERALLY the type to open his mouth and get himself deep in enough shit that a fight breaks out, potentially bloodied his eyes, nose, and/or fists. i don’t have much of an explanation outside of he is a himbo jock who pulled a “i didn’t know how to talk to my crush so i wrote a note telling them to get out of my school” except he said it with his fist instead of his mouth sbjshbshsj

———

❥ boys don’t cry — the cure

pretty sure this is one of the ones i stole off of shovel (@/iswearimavamp) sbshjbshjs but i do love this song in a general sense too. in regards to the movie, like. none of the guys. obsess over masculinity or anything— and both david AND michael cry at different points— so that’s not necessarily an issue. but, there *is* still a lot of hurt and stepping on toes in many of the relationships in the film that can be stretched to fit, i would think sbjhsbshjs

———

❥ highway to hell — ac/dc

this and back in black were some of the last two i put on here because i. wanted to make an ‘even’ 35 sbsjhsbshjs BUT, like with runnin’ with the devil, it’s about a devilish lack of care for one’s own life or the “status of their soul” and just doing what feels right or like the most fun, no matter if it lands them in hell or not. and !!! “my friends are gonna be there too” fits with the friendship within the boys’ found family and how they’ll all always be together, no matter what !!!

———

❥ back in black — ac/dc 

i can’t really think of an explanation that differs from highway to hell so just reread the above sbsjhsbsh

———

❥ witch hunt — rush

OK !!! this is the song i’m the MOST excited to explain !!! right off the bat, moving pictures as a whole is an IMMACULATE album, absolutely love it. right so !!! this song literally SOUNDS like it belongs on the movie soundtrack; it has the same overtones and sounds as cry little sister and it’s just !!! and with the title, a witch hunt is BASICALLY what sam + the frogs went on in search of the lose boys, relying on little else but hearsay and catching glimpses at what was happening to michael, “confident that their ways are best” and moving along like a mob of three to get to the bottom of it. “features distorted in the flickering light // faces are twisted and grotesque” is very reminiscent of the faces the lost boys pull when they’re about to attack, and “they say there are strangers who threaten us” is symbolic of them being outsiders/outcasts that make everyone uncomfortable, even if You aren’t going to be their next victim. “the righteous rise with burning eyes” AND “quick to judge, quick to anger // slow to understand // ignorance and prejudice // and fear walk hand in hand” can apply to any number of characters, particularly the mains who are all pitted against each other, the humans fighting for their lives and the vampires fighting for their Right to live, neither taking into consideration the other’s perspective. i just… ADORE this song…

———

❥ red barchetta — rush 

this one was mainly just because of the car that grandpa keeps in the barn and both sam and michael’s fascination with it sbhjsbsshj and just to get more rush on here shjsbshjsbsh

———

❥ maneater — hall & oates

one of the first songs to hit the playlist !!! because the boys eat people !!! they’re the lean and hungry type that only come out at night !!! they’ll be sitting with you but their eyes are on the door and if you want love from them, you won’t get very far !!! the beauty IS there but there are beasts inside that can rip your world apart !!! they’ll chew you up but also leave you begging for more :o)

———

❥ hungry like the wolf — duran duran

the second song to have gone on the playlist !!! the boys are always on the prowl for fresh meat (in both the food AND turning senses) and they come alive while on the hunt, blood no doubt rushing through their veins (assuming it still can) !!! and in the movie, michael is the one they’re after for the turning connotation, all wanting a taste of him for themselves !!!

———

❥ subdivisions — rush

this rush song actually went on before the others shbsjsbshj but !!! it still fits just as well (certainly better than red barchetta)… the movie all takes place on the fringes of the city, “in between the bright lights // and the far unlit unknown”, and while it’s not exactly in the suburbs, there’s still little comfort to soothe the restless dreams of youth. there IS a drawing like moths into the city, for both the emersons and the lost boys, which is what ends up bringing all of them together, although it starts are cruising for action just to feel the living night. and just !!! NOBODY fits in !!! if you take the movie title as them being Lost instead of an allusion to peter pan, then you get slapped with thinking about what actually makes them lost and how they don’t conform in any way, shape, or form to just about. anything. and !!! the emersons are new, which immediately puts them at a social disadvantage, but they Also don’t seem too terribly great at making new friends in general so !!! “nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone”!!! 

———

❥ abracadabra — steve miller band 

i just love this song for whatever reason. and i think the allusion to magic to very fitting for the hallucinations that david gives michael, putting a sort of magic spell on him if you want to look at it that way. not a lot of silk and satin going gone but plenty of leather and probably some lace in there somewhere ( ;o] ) … also michael DOES heat up like a burnin’ flame whenever his name is called and the situation with the boys just keeps going round and round with no exact end in sight, only the calling of desire 

———

❥ separate ways (worlds apart) — journey

you would think i would have more journey on here ??? because i love them ??? but instead i stole this off of shovel too ??? it’s fine. time to be back on the 95060 bullshit sbsjhbsjhs we all know david Really wants michael to join them but. michael is reluctant, so that hesitance sets them worlds apart from each other— as if they weren’t already— and there’s still love between them, or at least the bgeinning sparks of it, even if michael refuses to act on them and only keeps pushing david away 

———

❥ cum on feel the noize — quiet riot

just some boys loving to party <3 some boys with evil yet dirty minds, out of time singing, funny faces, and that have a lazy time <3 yeah no this is one they’d rock out to and someone would probably pull a muscle over because it’s just such a banger sbshjsbsjh

———

❥ rebel yell — billy idol 

Another stolen off of shovel sbjhsbsjhs also ever since it’s been pointed out to me that david looks like billy idol i’ve just been losing it a little sbhjsbshjs Anyway. they’d definitely idolize him to some degree, even if just for looks, and it certainly fits the way that they. most Definitely let out a rebel yell at the midnight hour if you know what i mean— *taken out by a sniper*

———

❥ every breath you take — the police

would to believe to know i took it from shovel (i swear the last three where i say that will be rock you like a hurricane, livin’ on a prayer, and cherry pie sbshjsbsh) BUT !!! the watching every move is yet another. david keeping watch over michael and uh yearning from afar moment, heart aching the longer he’s away and the longer he keeps up this game of not knowing what exactly he wants to do 

———

❥ handsome devil — the smiths

ok THIS one was lent to me by ej (@/maybe-strawberry-blue) sbshjbshjsbs and let me tell you. this song (especially when paired with this charming man) is Very homoerotic, aka perfect for this movie shbjsbshjsbs like what got me first was “let me get my hands // on your mammary glands” and just. thinking about trans parko sbhsjbshjs but also in general the. “and i would like to give you // what i think you’re asking for” and “a boy in the bush // is worth two in the hand” and just sbhjsbshjs Everything. fits the ambiguous homoeroticism. And i think the boys would listen to the smiths (will elaborate more in the other smiths song explanation)

———

❥ panama — van halen

i Told you all i think van halen is neat sbsjsshjb what can i say. the boys like fast moving vehicles, hard partying, and tender loving sbsjhsbhsj also forgot to mention that i think they’d all be :eyes: about pre-1985 david lee roth and i cannot blame

———

❥ rock you like hurricane — scorpions

third to last shovel snatch sbshjsbh Here you can replace any one of the boys with the animals mentioned, as they’re always hungry and need to feed… they come out scratching and ready to win, willing to rock anyone who gets in their way like a hurricane— including with lust, depending on the situation 

———

❥ livin’ on a prayer — bon jovi

i actually can’t even manage an explanation for this one either just because of the song’s plot and how greatly it differs the movie plot <3 however it will stay because shovel said one of the boys (i forget which) would listen to it and friendship is more powerful than my small brain <3

———

❥ the queen is dead — the smiths

rightttt so here’s the deal, buds and duds. something in my gut just tells me that david would pull a me and. listen to this entire album on repeat, particularly bigmouth strikes again and i know it’s over when in dramatics bshjsbsjh BUT to make a case for the title track itself, breaking into buckingham palce— or really any major building— with only a sponge and rusty wrench would ABSOLUTELY be an endeavor the boys would get up to And they’d all pale (worse than normal) about finding out they’re the descendant of some royal. ���oh, has the world changed, or have i changed” and “life is very long, when you’re lonely” is quite fitting of their immortality, which i can only imagine would leave them questioning how the world has evolved and, although they have each other, i’m sure living forever still can get a Little lonely. And they’d certainly celebrate the death of a royal (because anarchy <3). mostly i’ve just been listening to this song on repeat for days sbhjsbshj but, i think it’s the most. generally related to all of the boys, whereas like. cemetry gates would be more solely 95060 

———

❥ need you tonight — inxs

my favorite inxs song… technically the 21st century Wasn’t yesterday when the movie came out nor when the song did sbhjsbshjs but there *is* a lot of sweating from desire and aiming to put that passion into use, very blatantly letting everyone know that sbjhsbshjs

———

❥ bad medicine — bon jovi

there’s just something so fun about this song… and while listening to it on the drive home, i was thinking about it from a 95060 perspective where. david’s a bit lovesick (hence the love like bad medicine) and the choir of voices in the bg, saying “that’s what you get for falling in love”, would be the other boys knowing he’s gotten himself in over his head over what was supposed to be a minor tease or a small fling (would be a real fun and poppy animatic i think)

———

❥ pour some sugar on me — def leppard

legitimately this started as a “haha what about my ‘what if the blood was kool-aid instead’ joke” and then i realized it was. a fair enough fit, especially with the feeding scene. except they’re actual vamps not just video vamps sbjhsbshjs anyway. sugar highs and red hot flames of passion for one another <3

———

❥ cherry pie — warrant

ok THIS is the last song i took from shovel and. my reasoning is pretty much the same as pour some sugar on me and. Friendship

———

❥ somebody told me — the killers

i wasn’t going to add any modern songs but. i thought it’d be funny if michael had had a girlfriend before leaving phoenix that looked a bit like david sbshjsbshj and then it only just added to angst sbhjsbshj

———

❥ you know what they do to guys like us in prison — mcr

i was reminded that vampires will never hurt you exists but. i went with my favorite mcr song instead because. vwnhy is more like ??? a vampire that fears themselves ??? so like. an edward cullen type ??? while ykwtdtgluip is more about the homoeroticism and community ??? i said what i said

———

❥ house of wolves — mcr

thank god this is the last song because i’m getting tired sbjshsjshb a little less homoeroticism, a little more general sinning and egotism <3

Trick or Treat Brandon.

A/N: I love Halloween so here’s a Halloween fic it is scary. I hope Im pretty happy with this fic and I hope you all are to, I hope it’s puts you in the scary Halloween spirit.

This fic is for @moonlit-imagines writing challenge

Tag list: @ahoy-stevieboy @thehair-ington @linkispink1995 @harringtown @violet-dahlia @gardeniasandwhiskey @lxvesickreality @bluebellbrooke @thenameishayley248 @pappydaddy @simplesammyx @didyouputyournameinthegob @lenassaviorsblog @wolphielautz

Wanrings: 18+, Gore, Blood, cussing, Graphic. So font read it easily scared, squeamish. Might get you paranoid idk 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Wordcount: 4,971

Please enjoy 😊

Steve was sitting on his couch, like usual his parents weren’t home. When Steve saw me he started to clam up, it immediately made my suspicions shoot sky high. He either was up to something or he did something he did without asking me. I guess I was about to find out which one it was.

“Hey Steve how was your day babe?”

Steve looked at me, smiled slightly, shrugging his shoulders at me.

“It was okay I just missed you at school today.”

I smiled, I walked over to him.

“Awe baby it’s okay I just had a doctors appointment, but I’ll be there tomorrow.”

I smiled at him, I plopped on the couch beside him. I leaned on his shoulder, he kissed my forehead letting out a sigh.

“So Babe I might as well tell you I told some of our friends we’d go to a party they are throwing on Halloween.”

I lifted my head up off of him, I let out a groan.

“Steve, why would you do that? You know how I feel about your friends. Are Nancy and Johnathan gonna go?”

He looked down at me, shrugged his shoulders. He ran his fingers through his hair, stood up from the couch, walked over to the phone then punched in the numbers.

“Hey Johnathan Y/N was wondering if y’all were going to the party tonight?”

“Oh okay well I’ll tell her. Yeah alright I’ll see you around bye.”

Steve hung the phone up, he turned to look at me.

“Sorry babe they can't, they already had plans.”

“It’s okay I’ll guess I’ll just go for you babe.”

He kissed my lips, then walked to the kitchen. I stood up, walked into the kitchen kissing his lips.

“You owe me Harrington.”

It was finally Halloween, Steve and I had woken up early enough to go get last minute pieces for our costumes. We had a party to go to tonight. It was at an abandoned farm, a couple of our friends were going, so we’re we. Now it was out of town, but Steve and I didn’t mind. Plus it was a weekend so neither one of us was worried about school, or homework. Steve and I were surprising each other with what we were going to be. I was going as Madonna, all I knew told me he was going to look hot. Which I already knew, I mean not that he needed to try to look hot. He was already hot well at least to me, every other girl at Hawkins.

So you can imagine the disappointment the girls had when they found out we were dating. Steve was currently in our bathroom changing, I was in the hallway bathroom changing. I heard footsteps go past the bathroom, stopping right in front of the door then I heard Steve's voice.

“Hey babe I’ll be in the living room when you get ready.”

“Okay Steve I’ll see you in a few.”

I finished my hair, I pulled on my skirt some. I then unlocked the bathroom door, I stepped out into the hallway. I walked into the living room, I saw Steve my eyes widen as the sleeves of his shirt hugged his arms, god it made me wanna hop his bones. I had more self control than that though, but Steve on the other hand his mouth was gaped open. His eyes were looking all around my body, he smiled at me and walked over to me.

“Y/N you look hot.”

My cheeks heated up, Steve kissed my cheek. Steve and I walked out the front door, he locked up, and we were off to the car. Something felt off, but I just shrugged it off. I mean a lot of bad things happened in Hawkins so I had to get used to not feeling completely okay anymore. As we drove closer and closer to the party I felt like we should be heading in the other direction. At the same moment a car sped past us, laid on his horn which made me jump halfway off my seat. Steve had looked at me, put his hand on my thigh.

“Hey Y/N are you okay?”

I looked over at him, nodded my head.

“Yeah Steve I’m fine I just… there’s just a feeling inside of me that we shouldn’t be going to this party.”

“Oh okay princess well if you want to go home we can.”

I looked at him, smiled and shook my head at him.

“No no it’s okay I’m sure I’m just being dramatic.”

He looked at me, raised his eyebrows.

“Are you sure cause I don’t mind turning around.”

“No no Steve it’s okay I promise I’m fine.”

“Okay if you insist Y/N.”

The rest of the car ride was pretty fun, it honestly eased my mind. It was like Steve was my anxiety cure.

I couldn’t ask for a better way to help calm me. When we pulled up to the barn my anxiety was back. The barn was a brick red like it had just been painted. The house was also kept in good condition I mean besides the grass. I’d love to live here with Steve one day but I honestly didn’t want to rush it.

College was in two years, I didn’t want to go to a different college as Steve I wanted us to be with each other. I gripped Steve’s hand tightly, he looked down at me. He smiled, kissed my forehead and I took a deep breath. The farm was beautiful except the grass which looked like it hadn’t been cut in a few months, It just looked abandoned. Steve and I walked into the back yard, we saw The huge corn field. It was really intimidating.

The only people I knew here were Emma, Josh, Tommy H, Carol, Jack, Ashley, Steve and I, but people sure did show up. If I had to guess I would say at least 500 students had showed up. I saw all types of costumes, I was excited but one guy held my attention. He was standing against the drink table, he was just staring at everyone. He wasn’t interacting, but he was probably one of the guys who thought they were too cool to party.

As the night went on the party had died down slowly but surely. Steve and I were slow dancing, he looked down at me, he smiled pushing some of my now deflated hair out of my face.

“I told you, you’d have a fun time Y/N.”

I looked up at him, let out a drunken snort.

“Did you basically just tell me you told me so Harrington?”

He cracked a smile, kissed my lips.

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.”

Steve kissed me again then pulled away, he got close to my ear and raised his voice so he could be heard over the music. I nodded my head. I watched him drunkenly stumble away, after he stumbled a little bit into the corn I felt eyes on me. At first I convinced myself that I was just over reacting, but then the feeling became stronger. Not only did I feel eyes on me but I felt tension. So I turned around and I saw him. It was the same guy who was leaning on the drink table. He was just staring at me. I smiled lightly, waved at him. He turned away from me, he walked into the cornfield.

*Killers pov*

I heard a car door shut, I walked to the side of the window. I barely looked out of it, I saw a group of teenagers walking towards the cornfield. I grabbed my knife, as the last kid went into the cornfield I followed them. They had walked about a mile and a half into the field. When they finally got to the party area I saw four huge speakers around the perimeter, the music was blaring. There were drinks being poured, food being eaten. I watch from behind the corn, I’d figured I’d show these kids how to party.

It took awhile for the other teenagers to separate from one another, I knew who my victims were going to be. A young guy who didn't look any older than 17 wandered off, I quickly followed him. It’s not like anyone knew I was here, I knew the paths in the corn maze because I lived here. I grabbed my knife, while he was peeing I walked up behind him slitting his throat from ear to ear. I watched his lifeless carcass lay there unable to move, I watched the life slowly fade out of his eyes. I drug his body where I knew no one would look.

After I knew his body wouldn’t be recovered I went back to the group, I hid the knife in my hoodie pocket. I walked over to the drink table, that’s when I saw a Y/H/C haired girl with a brown haired boy. The girl was staring at me. She smiled tightly, continuing with their night. Little did they know mine just started and it wasn’t going to end anytime soon. I drank a few drinks, I saw the girl that was with the guy I killed went looking for him. I knew she was going to be my next victim, I didn’t have any remorse about who I killed. I didn’t care who I was taking them from.

I can just say they all were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I had only one goal and that was to kill them all. There was a couple here who I knew would be my last victims, and that was the boy dressed as Han Solo and the girl dressed as Madonna. They looked like they’d be fun to torture, but the only question was which one of them would be my last victim? My focus was back on the girl who was dressed as some work out girl. I snuck up behind her, I covered her mouth stabbing her in the back. I slid the knife out, jammed it back in.

After her body went limp I let her hit the floor, I drug her body further in the shed. I cut off her hands, then I continued to dismember her body. When I was done I cleaned myself off, the knife when I rejoined the party, no one seemed to notice that two of their friends had disappeared. I noticed some of the kids started to leave as it got later, I was honestly relieved when I saw my planned victims still here. So I decided it was officially time to play. I loved playing cat and mouse especially with people who had no idea that they were the mouse.

As the night went on the more teenagers died. I made some of my own Halloween decorations. One kid was my official scarecrow, let’s just say he was definitely going to scare people away. His death was my favorite death so far. The way his neck cracked when I broke it gave me a thrill, the way I felt him struggle against me made my adrenaline race. I wanted more, I needed more and I was far from done. There were only six teenagers left. Four girls and four guys, but I had to be smart about this if I just popped out they could all take me on easily. So I went into the bar, I grabbed the knife. After getting that I circled around to the front of the house where their cars were parked, walked up to their cars digging my knife into all sixteen tires.

Now they were stuck here with me, the best part was they didn’t have a clue. I snuck back to the party, I noticed a couple was missing. I went to the bar, grabbed the Axe that was hanging near the handsaw, pitchfork. I walked out the back of the barn, came face to face with a guy. Before he could even think I swung the axe, his head went flying across the yard, near the huge oak tree. The girl which I’m guessing is his girlfriend came out from the other side of the shed, when she saw her boyfriend's head near the tree she screamed. I quickly walked over to her, punched her in the face striking her left temple.

I drug her body to the root of the three, and start stomping her head on the root. I could hear her teeth break as I stomped, I picked her head up by her hair, and started viciously beating her face against the tree. It was satisfying to hear her nose break. The more I beat her face the more her bones broke. Soon enough as blood trailed from her eyes, mouth, and ears her skull cracked, pieces of Brain went all over the place. At this point I didn’t need to hide the bodies anymore. They couldn't escape even if they tried, I picked up the axe I had, then I put more of the teenagers bodies up as decorations. I cut the guy's eyes out, I used him as a Jack O’lantern. I sat the girl at a table that was in another section of the cornfield.

I guess you could say it was like a maze, but these teenagers were smart. They knew their way in and out of an easy corn maze, but what they weren’t expecting was their friends to be so hands on with the maze. Now all I had to do was lure the last two couples away from my last two victims, I was good to go. I walked into the corn maze, back to the party. I whispered something, the drunk girl turned towards me, I backed up into the corn maze. Of course she followed me, the alcohol made her curious and it got the best of her.

As soon as she stepped into the corn I killed her. As I drug her towards the table with the good China on it I sat her in the chair. Sitting her up as a decoration, I fixed the fingers that I chopped off and put them on a plate, I used the other empty plate for their ears. Now we just needed “tea” to finish the decorations, so that’s what I intended to do next. As I snuck back to the cornfield a guy saw me, I was covered in blood. He immediately took notice. He told his friends, but they didn’t believe him in fact they laughed at him. The guy got mad, walked off.

As he walked off I heard my last two victims talking to my next two.

“Can you believe that guy Tommy?”

“Yeah I know Steve he really thinks we are that stupid to feed into his Halloween prank?”

I didn’t hear the rest cause I walked away. I knew the last two guys' names were Tommy, and Steve. I heard footsteps near me, I turned seeing the guy who had walked off immediately. He hit me, I tasted a rich copper taste in my mouth. I quickly wiped at my lip, struck him in the throat. As he was gasping for air I grabbed his head, I raised my knee slamming his face directly into the center of my knee. The force sent his body back, he was lying on his back. I grabbed his feet, drug him to the same exact spot I did the last girl, but when he started to wake up I punched him in his temple, I opened his mouth, cut out his tongue. I leaned him over the big tea pot, let the blood flow into it.

As soon as I felt his pulse slowing down I dressed him up in overalls, put a straw hat on him. I dressed the other two couples up to match him, I knew it was time to get this over with. I poured the blood in each cup, I put their hands on the tea cups. I walked back to the shed, grabbed a few weapons that would make this process faster, but how they died would still be on my terms. I grabbed the pitchfork, I hid it under some of the hay that was in the maze. After setting the next few traps it was time to reveal myself, I was near the entrance of the party. The first to see me was the girl dressed as Madonna. She grabbed the boy dressed as Han Solo, then he got the attention of the other two. As soon as they all saw me I pulled out the machet.

it took them a minute to figure out why I had a machete, but when they did I could see the panic set in. They split up, I couldn’t have been happier. My focus wasn’t on Steve and the girl, but it was focused on Tommy and his girlfriend. I walked towards them, they ran down the other opening of the maze, well I knew that was going to happen, I followed them. Tommy was running, I just stood there. I knew what was going to happen, sure enough it happened. Tommy had tripped on some fishing line I put up, his face met my pitchfork. His girlfriend let out a scream, I heard the other two calling For her.

“Carol? Carol where are you?”

Carol looked at me, wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Why are you Doing this?”

I smirked at her, I walked slowly towards her.

“Oh carol you think I need a motive? It’s scarier when you don’t have one.”

I smiled at her, she took off. I ran after her though. She was almost close enough to grab. so I pushed her down, but when I turned her around she threw dirt in my face, kneed me in the balls. I immediately dropped, wiped the dirt out of my eyes. As soon as my vision came back I stood up, and was on the hunt. As soon as I turned the corner Carol popped out, smacked me with a wood beam. This little bitch wasn’t going down without a fight, if it was a fight she wanted it was a fight I was going to give her. When she went to swing the beam again I ducked, and stabbed her in the leg.

She let out a scream, I stabbed her in the cheek. As I pulled the knife out she grabbed her cheek, spit blood in my face. I grabbed her by her hair, she was a fighter but she wouldn’t win against me. I brought her back to the shed, I lined her up with the hook that was hanging in the shed, I lifted her up then shoved her body on the hook. She let out a gut wrenching scream, I put the wood chipper under her. I went to look for the other two.

*Readers pov*

I ran with Steve, we hid behind the tractor. I heard Carol scream, I jumped slightly grabbing Steve's hand. Tears had formed in my eyes when I heard her scream. He was touring her. Steve had peaked around the tree, saw him going into the cornfield. Next thing I knew we were heading towards the shed. We saw Carol hanging, my hand flew over my mouth. I couldn’t imagine the pain she was in, Steve and I went over to her, she was limp. When we started trying to get her down she let out a scream. I jumped slightly, Steve was trying to get her to be quiet. As soon as Steve almost got her down the woodchipper turned on.

As soon as Steve had gotten Carol down she struggled and he lost his grips her body went into the woodchipper, blood flew all over me. I closed my eyes as her warm blood flew all over me. As soon as I opened them I saw pieces of her body all over the place. As soon as I went to say something the back of the shed was kicked open, there was the killer. Steve grabbed my hand, ran towards the cars. As soon as we got there we saw the tires were flat. Steve looked at me, I looked towards the house.

“Steve we need to get into the house.”

Steve looked at me, raised his eyebrow.

“Y/N are you crazy that’s the first place he’s going to look.”

I let out a sigh, then looked at Steve.

“Well Steve we don’t really have much of an option now do we?”

He sighed then nodded his head.

“Alright let’s go, quickly so he doesn’t know where we went.”

As we walked up the porch Steve had grabbed the door knob, the door opened. It felt too easy, I was right as soon as we opened the door the killer grabbed me. Steve looked at us both, then put his hands in the air.

“Hey, hey she’s an easy kill you don’t want her. If you want someone who’s going to give you a fight it’s me.”

As soon as Steve had the killer's attention I stomped on his toe, head butted him slamming the side of my head into him, when he let go I faced him, kicked him in the knee cap making him fall. His knee hit the step, his chin hit the top step. Steve and I rushed inside, shut the door. Steve ran into the kitchen, I was right behind him. Steve grabbed a knife, I couldn’t find a weapon. So I grabbed a cast iron skillet. As soon as the killer stepped into the kitchen I swung the skillet with all my might and hit him right in the face.

He stumped back grabbing his nose as it started to bleed. He grabbed the knife that was in his pocket, threw it at me. It hit my leg and it got stuck. I dropped the Iron skillet, quickly pulled out the knife. I let out a scream, I dropped the knife and limped over to the killer. He grabbed my ankle, I turned towards him and lifted up my leg. I swung my leg back, I kicked him right in the jaw. He let go of my leg, I limped up the stairs. When I turned around Steve was behind me, I started down the stairs.

When I got down to them I saw The killer trying to get into the pantry where I assumed Steve was. Let out a scream to get his attention which worked, then he was after me. I hopped up the stairs as fast as I could, I felt him grab at my costume, as soon as I went to get away from him he punched me in the back causing me to fall. He turned me around, I kicked him down the stairs. I scrambled to my feet, I limped down the hallway into a room. I walked into the room, I shut the door. The floorboards would freak the more weight I put on them.

I tried to walk as quietly as I could, but with this leg injury it was nearly impossible. I heard the door knob wiggle, I limped over to the closet. Walking in it but before I could get in it two skeletons fell out the closet, I let out a scream. The door busted open, I whipped around looking face to face with the killer. I took in a deep breath, looked at him.

“If you want me here I am mother fucker get it over with.”

He ran at me, tackled me out the door. We landed on the balcony, he leaned over me wrapping his hands around my throat, I started struggling against him. I saw a piece of the door on the floor, I reached for it but I couldn’t get it. I finally came to grips that I wouldn’t see Steve anymore. I wouldn’t see my little brother, I wouldn’t see my mother. I wouldn’t see another day again. This is how it was going to end and I was fine with it.

As soon as I gave into the idea of death his grip loosen around my throat, I opened my eyes to see him and Steve fighting. All I had to do was look at Steve to get that fighting spirit back, that was because Steve looked like shit. He had blood on running down his lip, his once white sleeve was now soaked red. I grabbed the largest part of the door and it had a rusty nail poking out of it. I picked it up, I swung as hard as I could. I heard a thump then I heard another thump. I walked to the edge of the balcony, I looked down to see the killer laying there. He wasn’t moving, Steve had put his arm around my shoulder, I looked at him then smiled.

“Let’s go home please.”

“Fine by me baby.”

Steve and I walked down the stairs, out the front door I walked to the car, I grabbed my purse out of it. Then I started walking down the driveway when it hit me. The other cars probably had spare tires in them. I looked at Steve, told him they probably had spare tires in the back. We walked back to the cars, I opened Steve’s trunk while he went to find something to get the other cars trunks open. As soon as I turned to get out the car the killer had grabbed my throat and began to choke me. I grabbed my purse, I got my pepper spray out, I sprayed him in the eyes. when he let go I gasped for breath, I grabbed the Jack I stepped out of the car, I hit him in his face with the Jack knocking him out.

When Steve came back he had rope along with a crowbar, I looked at Steve, he looked at the killer on the ground.

“W-what happened?”

I looked at him, took in a breath.

“Well I thought he was dead but apparently not so I knocked him out with the Jack, give me the rope so I can tie him up.”

When he handed me the rope I grabbed the jack to the car and hit him again. I turned him on his stomach, I tied up his arms along with his feet. After an hour or so of Steve opening the trunks and changing the tires. The killer finally came to. He started struggling, I walked over to him and I kicked him in the face.

“Steve I think I saw a gas station down the road when we came here. Drive down there and call the cops.”

He looked at me, he shook his head.

“Y/N I’m not leaving you here with him. What if he gets loose?”

I looked at Steve, I smirked.

“Then the cops will have another body to take to the morgue.”

He nodded then got in the car and started up. He put the car in reverse and took off. I let out a breath of air, I heard him laughing. I walked over to him, I turned him on his back.

“What the fuck is so funny?”

He looked at me, he spit on me. I stood back up, I kicked him in the stomach. He let out a groan, he started laughing again. I got pissed, I stood up and started kicking him. He continued to laugh as I kicked him but he started choking, When he coughed hard He coughed up blood.

“Not so funny now is it?”

He looked at me, he smiled.

I stood back up, I heard Steve pull back up. He got out of the car, looked at me.

“Y/N get away from him.”

“Yeah Y/N get away from me, be a good girl for Steve.”

I kicked him in the face again, just as I went to kick again Steve pulled me away from him.

About fifteen minutes later the police showed up. After they discovered all the bodies they arrested the killer, they started reading him his rights. They took us to the ambulance, I heard one of the officers say his name, I looked at Steve and he nodded at me. I called an officer over, I looked at him.

“Officer did he say why he did that to my friends.”

He looked at me and moved his hat some.

“Well miss Y/L/N Brandon escaped from the mental hospital and it took your friends and you to come here to hit a nerve.”

I nodded my head, I watched him walk back to the squad car. When they were pulling he looked at us smiling, I smiled back and then flicked him off.

“Happy Halloween Brandon.”

Three days after we got out of the hospital Steve and I had got back to his house Steve and I were sitting on the couch snuggled up watching a movie, I kissed his cheek.

“Thank you.”

He smiled at me then looked at me.

“For what?”

I looked at him, shrugged.

“For not leaving me.”

He smiled at me, kissed my lips.

“Y/N you’re the love of my life I couldn’t ever leave you.”

I smiled, I took in a deep breath. We would recover from this but it would take a while, but I knew with Steve by my side that would be completely possible.

A/N: thank you guys for reading this I’m really proud of it. I hope you guys liked it.

Chapter 2, The Neighbors

When I woke up, It was already the next day. The obnoxious sun glaring at me through the curtainless window. I groaned, sitting up, my back aching from sleeping on the floor. I looked, seeing Rambo pawing at the door, asking to be let out. I sat up, kicking my way out of the sleeping bag, opening the door for the massive dog, who shoved his way out the door.

“Jeff! Wake up darlin and help us with the boxes please!” I heard my mom holler from downstairs.

I smiled, hearing my mom’s voice first thing in the morning was the best. Even if it was her telling me to grab scratchy cardboard boxes and carry them back and forth.

“Coming mama!” I hollered back, running down the stairs so fast I nearly fell.

“Hey raggamuffin.” My mom chuckled, ruffling up my messy head of hair.

“Hey mama.” I smiled back, hugging her, my mom returning my embrace.

“Ok, now go help your daddy and your brother with the boxes. Your boxes have your name on it baby.” My mom told me, giving me a kiss on the head as she shooed me away.

I walked outside, taking a few good seconds to adjust to the bright sun. I couldn’t remember the last time I’ve ever been outside when it was so bright. It was probably a California thing, hell if I know.

I kept walking to the moving truck, walking up the ramp, seeing my dad pass by with boxes in his hands.

“Mornin’ champ.” He greeted as he passed.

I gave my dad a wave back, searching for the boxes with my name written on them. After digging a bit, I found one of them. I carried it into my room, doing the same with the rest of my boxes. Back and forth, up and down the stairs. I honestly couldn’t tell whether I was running suicides or moving. It kept me busy though.

I had scratches from the cardboard all over my forearms. My arms and back felt so strained from constantly crouching down to pick up stuff. The constant back and forth up the stairs also took a bit of my energy. But it wasn’t as bad as soccer and lacrosse. Those were honestly way worse with the constant running.

After I had set the last box down in my room, I heard my mom call me from downstairs.

“Jeff! Come down please we have some neighbors!” My mom yelled, to which I rushed down the stairs.

Once I was outside, we were met by a young woman and her son. She had a slim deer like face with freckles and big doe eyes. Her son was about five or six, he has scruffy brown hair with big hazel green doe eyes and freckles.

“Hey, I’m Barbara, and this is my son, Billy.” The tall slim lady smiled, her hand patting her young son’s shoulder.

“Hi Barbara, my name’s Margaret, this is my husband Peter, and these two boys right here are my sons, Jeff and Liu.” My mom spoke, a smile on her face, our father matching her smile as the three of them shook hands.

“Hi I’m Billy!” The little kid blurted out, shoving out his hand towards my twin and I.

“Hey Billy, I’m Jeff, this is my twin Liu.” I smiled, shaking his tiny hand, the kid’s jaw dropping.

‘Mommy! They’re twins!” He told his mom, pulling on the edge of her shirt.

‘Oh! Your boys really are so alike Margaret!” Barbara replied, my mom laughing.

“You should’ve seen Jeff when he had short hair, couldn’t tell one from the other.” Our mother chuckled.

The three adults talked for a while, discussing random stuff. The conversation drew on for so long I knew my mom had already made a new best friend. I remember when I had to literally sit in the candle aisle at Wal-mart for a whole hour because my mom couldn’t stop talking to a coworker of hers. I love my mom but she’s gonna be the death of me someday I swear.

“Nice meetin’ y’all, see y’all later!” Our mom waved, finally, alas, I didn’t have to listen to my mom ramble about my brother and I.

Once we were back inside, I saw our cat Chanel laying on the couch. I smiled, quickly scooping up the little kitty in my arms, he let out a surprised meow, but instantly started purring when he realized it was me. I scratched his ears as I held him on the couch. My parents were talking in the kitchen, while my brother was attempting to figure out how to get the TV plugged up and connected to cable.

“You know It’d be nice if you helped me instead of petting the cat dude.” Liu told me, shooting me a dirty look.

“Sorry but I’m not willing to get electrocuted.” I clapped back.

Liu rolled his eyes, “You’re not gonna get electrocuted you wuss-” just then, almost on clue, the outlet shocked. Liu making a weird yelp noise, holding his finger.

“See? I’m not finna play ding-dong-ditch with God’s door dumbass.” I told him, sticking out my tongue.

“Shut up Rapunzel-” He snapped, embarrassed.

I rolled my eyes, continuing to pet Chanel, who was almost half asleep. My mom returned, turning to help my brother configure cable wires. The TV eventually flicked on, Liu grabbing the remote, changing the channel to some random show. Probably some white trash rich people show, House wives of nobody fucking cares. I hated the shows, but they were also entertaining.

At some point, my mom had turned it to the news. The reporter talking about a grizzly murder that had happened the night before. The body of a convicted child abuser was found strung up and gutted in the woods. The body was mutilated in all sorts of ways. Apparently the murderers had also smacked him around like a pinata. That was gruesome. Like, being a human pinata sounded painful. It wouldn’t even be that exciting, I mean, you don't even get candy you just get teeth n’ stuff.

We had dinner, which was just door dash Steak Escape. I grabbed Chanel, taking the little siamese cat upstairs to my room, plopping the cat down on my bed. Quickly walking into my bathroom, taking a shower.

I sat, letting the skin boiling water rain down on me. I closed my eyes, leaning my head up, the shower water making my forehead numb. I heard static fuzz up in my ears, slowly getting louder and louder. Before I opened my eyes, it had completely stopped. I quickly washed my hair, making sure I got it all before I lathered myself up in body wash, watching the soap rinse down into the drain.

I noticed the water turning pinkish red, quickly putting the back of my hand up to my face. Only to see blood. Shit, I was having another nosebleed. I’d been having a lot lately, they’d bleed until I started to hear static again. I didn’t wanna tell my parents, they’d think I was lying. Who would believe something like that anyways? Like, ‘Oh hey mom I hear static and everytime I do my nose starts gushing blood.’ Like my mom would totally believe that. I stepped out, quickly pinching my nose as I leaned over the sink. The static became louder and louder. It hurt so bad, it was ringing in my ears like a siren. I moved my ears back, trying to drown it out by making the blood in my ears rumble. But it didn’t stop. That’s when I gagged, hacking and choking, before a slug of blood splattered into the sink. Yuck.

I let go of my no longer bleeding nose, My hands stained bright red from the blood as it began to dry up. I turned on the sink, running my hands up under the water. Quickly grabbing a towel to dry myself off. I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin pale and yellowish, I felt cold and clammy. The skin on my arms splotchy with red. I looked sick as a dog. The bags under my eyes a dark purple brown. I looked disgusting, like actually nasty. I thought showers were supposed to make you feel and look better. Clearly today’s shower decided to nerf me.

I walked out, Chanel meowing loudly as he waited outside the door. The needy bastard wanting to be given attention. I nudged him away, grabbing some basketball shorts and a random t-shirt, bouncing up onto my bed. Chanel jumping up. The small cat meowing as he walked on my stomach, shoving his forehead onto my hand as I pet him. Chanel cured up on my lap purring until I got tired of petting him and fell asleep. Tomorrow was gonna be one hell of a day.

The one with the hidden bruises. | Steve Harrington Imagine

An imagine of Steve Harrington and Hargrove!Reader where they both hate each other until a darker secret is being revealed.

Warning : Abuse/Violence/Slurs

Type : Sad.

Enjoy ♥︎

Your’s and Steve’s relationship had always come either with pure rage or jealousy with one another. Knowing you were Billy’s twin out a 100 the chances of you adapting the same attitude of your brother wasn’t even questionable.

Classes ended in a matter of hour and all of the students went home or somewhere they could get their desire distractions away from school for the next twenty four hours.

You on the other hand decided to go on a walk around Hawkins’s school and the park. You had warned your brother earlier about your absent once back home and to tell your father before he could get worried. Or worse angry.

One of your hand in your pocket another one holding your bag’s strap you were ready to start your little journey. You were fairly new to Hawkins and your curiousity took over you and you just had to adventure yourself out there.

After all Hawkins was a small village you weren’t so scared of getting lost anyway. During your little adventure you realized something very different. The citizens were welcoming and so calmed which was the complete opposite of California. Yet without your mother around Cali nor Hawkins nor anywhere it wasn’t the same.

You knew you had to get yourself lost on your own thought when you felt a strange car sound coming near you nearly scaring you to death. You knew it slowed down when your head looked over to see who could possibly follow you. Especially at this time.

It was Steve. His vehicle engine stopped once he parked next to you. He kneeled down his head a little to have a better look at you. “You know for a pretty girl like you, staying this late wouldn’t be good for your own safety.”

Shit. Have you been walking this long to realize it that the sun was practically down at this point?

You rolled your eyes. “Look who’s talking. For someone who isn’t creepy at all driving around the city to follow pretty girls. Yeah totally not creepy at all. Harrington.”

The way you had said his last name made him more irritated then he ever was and you liked doing so. “Don’t spill useless words out your mouth, Hargrove. Now come. I’m going to bring you home.”

Home? Crap. Knowing it was getting late your family has probably started dinner by now.

“No.”

He looked at you with disbelief. “Y/N, your parents must be getting pretty worried. Or do you even have any parents? Who am I kidding you two are such a piece of meat that I bet you, your parents disowned you both and made you move here.”

You were this close to punch him but he was Steve and you were.... you. “Suck it up dipshit, I bet Nancy left you because of that small dick of yours.”

Ouch. Steve acted as if he was shock or even felt humiliated at all. “Also let’s face it your brain could only hold a kid way younger than you to even keep yourself stable these days. How sad.”

Now you had pull the last strains of his patient. He started the engine of his vehicle and once you were fully settled in his car he drove not minding a shit at the speed limit he was driving on at this point.

You two didn’t say a single word when you finally arrived at your house. The lights were on and your father’s and Susan’s car were also parked. You were in some deep shit.

You got out of the car not even facing Steve due to the conversation you both had earlier before the drive until your father opened the door before you could do so. “Y/N, your late.”

You lowered your head, “I know, Sir...” Neil tried his best to remain the father he was meant to be and to educate his children professionally especially when Steve was still watching from a distant. “I didn’t quite understand.”

“Yes, Sir... and I—-“ You felt his firm fingers slapping the right side of your cheek. Being so use to it you didn’t even flinched. Once you lifted your head up you looked around like a lost puppy. Not only for something but for someone. “Your /precious/ Billy went to pick up dinner for you. Since we ate everything.”

Neil then grasp both of your arm and violently slammed your back on the wall near the door way. Steve couldn’t believe his own eyes.

The Hargroves he thought he knew from the start, now knew damn well why the two of you acted all tougher. Your attitude in school was a way to keep your broken pieces far away the from arch reality you had been living. Especially after your mother’s passing.

“If you weren’t such a whore 24/7. At least we could’ve shown you some respect.”

You just couldn’t believe, Susan on the other hand tried to rassure Neil and informed him that a gentleman with the name Steve Harrington has picked you up from your walk. And to as an excuse said that you had a rough day to make the situation loosen a bit.

She was trying her best you knew that. But when your father’s eyes darkened he said. “Who’s Steve?”

“One of Maxine’s good friend to. Apparently he’s some kind of babysitter...?” She chuckled nervously. Trying everything in her power to distract your father from this hell you now couldn’t escape from.

“Y/N?” A voice way too familiar was heard. It was Billy. He had picked you some food and with worried eyes looked at not only you but your father as well. Until his expression darkens. “Keep your filthy hands off her now.”

And with that your eyes looked up at Steve from across the street. You could only look at him not moving an itch until your father closed the door knowing damn well where you were looking to.

Steve on the other hand had watched the whole scene with his own two bloody eyes. You needed to get out of there not only yourself but Billy and Maxine. But for now he just couldn’t he had to let the life decide. Whether he liked it or not.

After the whole situation of embarrassment, you cried all night. Your father kept yelling at you to stop hanging with whoever this Steve was. You tried to resonate with him but as time went you realize you had been talking to a wall this whole time.

Now cuddled up in Billy’s arms. Billy caressed gently your fresh bruised your father had been giving you when Steve watched. “Since when..?” Billy couldn’t believe. How could he be so blinded by his father’s actions. Especially towards the person he cared the most out of this family. /You/.

“I want this to be over Billy.... Why can’t he just accept the fact that mom’s gone and I can never be like her....” You sniffed one of your last tears and wiped them up with your fingers.

“If he ever lay a hand on you tell me, if this happened ever since mom died I could’ve saved your ass, Y/N you know that.” You nodded and soon your eyes felt heavy and your were exhausted and sleeping was your only cure right now. “Rest now, tomorrow you and I on a long road trip far from Hawkins and a huge after care.... Sleep well.”

Maxine had arrived from one of Will’s D&D games. She was blinded by the situation the both of you had between you and your father. Susan tried everything to keep her daughter far away from the abuse. She would often be told “Go play with your friends and I’ll come pick you up.” After all Maxine didn’t complained at all socializing and making friends were her own way of surviving.

Once she step foot inside her home she felt the tension. Had Billy gotten into trouble again? She didn’t bothered to ask the game she had tonight had her so thrilled. As she walked towards your room she began to speaks. Like a little sister who’s exciting to share a moment of the day with her older one.

“Y/N? Guess what! You are welcome to play! Thought on the other hand, Steve will be there to. I know you hate his guts just as Billy does but—!”

She then heard the small cries of yours. She leaned on your bedroom door and opened slightly hoping she hasn’t got herself caught, yet.

“Shh....” Maxine couldn’t quite understand. She had never seen Billy like that. Nor Y/N. Did she had a break up? No... From what she remembered she was single. Her eyes soon then adjust themselves with the slightly dim of light from your room. Bruises on your arms. No.... How?

With surprise Neil closed the door soon as he sees his step daughter peaking into her older’s sibling’s room. “Time for bed kid.”

She didn’t argued and knew them well what was going on at this point. Billy and you didn’t had that though persona it was your father who both mentally and physically had turned you into this state. She wanted to do something but for now she had to just like Steve let what the life decides to give.

Ooooh M+O for LoVe please? 👀

Done and done! 😆

FFN II AO3

Summary: When the tabloids start hounding Logan over an interview for the 35th anniversary of the movie that made his father famous it stirs up some bad memories in the Mars-Echolls household.

Tumblr Prompt: M+O Panic attack + "I'm not leaving you like this"

Nightmares

Veronica hadn't been able to reach her boyfriend all afternoon, which wasn't entirely abnormal. It was a Saturday so Logan didn't have to be down in San Diego and, since she was deep in a case, there was a good chance he was catching a few waves with Dick. The only thing that made her pause was that it rolled straight to voicemail, but as Mac tapped on her office door to announce she'd found what they were looking for, it had been shoved to the back of her mind.

She had tried calling him again as the day was wrapping up to see if he wanted her to pick up dinner on the way home, but it rolled immediately to:

"This is Logan. It was Albert Einstein that said life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. I'm out keeping my balance. Leave a message or don't. Your call."

Okay. Usually he wasn't that hard to reach when his feet were on solid ground. Maybe surfing had turned into video games and his phone battery had died. Reasonable enough. If so, he was in for leftover pizza when he got back.

And yet she found his car parked on the street outside of their apartment, so he wasn't at Dick's new digs at the Neptune Grande. That meant his phone was intentionally off, which didn't make sense. Even though he wasn't working most weekends, he needed to be reachable.

Veronica played over the possibilities as she climbed the three flights up to their apartment and took notice of his surfboard leaning against the railing of their patio and Pony's leash hanging on the nail at the front door. As she opened the door, the sharp sound of artillery fire greeted her from their television and she found Logan on the couch with a game controller in hand. "Hey," she shouted over the noise, dropping to one knee as an excitable puppy started climbing her leg.

"Hey," he echoed without looking around, the single word hollow, but she thought he might have turned the sound down a little.

She shot Pony a questioning look, but the puppy just licked her hand before she stood again. "Your phone's been off," she ventured.

"It's broken. New one should be in tomorrow."

Ahh. Broken phone, irritable Logan, puppy that instantly wanted Mom's attention as soon as she walked through the door like he'd gotten the silent treatment all afternoon. Things were starting to add up. "Did you eat Daddy's phone?" Veronica asked the slobbering pup.

Logan finally paused his game and she saw more than heard him inhale deeply, unfolding off the couch and he looked more strained than she expected. "Don't blame him. Not his fault the wall doesn't have any give."

Okay. That was weird. She watched him cross the room and aim for the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. "What happened?"

He grimaced, the expression so subtle she almost missed it. "Threw it."

"For sport?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light. It wasn't like the nine years of maturity while they had been apart had magically cured Logan of his temper, but he had a much better handle on it. Not just anything set him off these days.

Logan snorted softly, setting his glass down hard on the counter to free his hand for a sarcastic little flourish that reminded Veronica of a much younger version of the man she loved. "Tabloids. Apparently they're doing a thirty-five year celebration of The Long Haul and they wanted a few words about dear ol' dad. I guess Trina wasn't available."

Yeah. Okay. The broken phone made more sense now. "Let me guess, they wouldn't take no for an answer?"

"They were very insistent."

Veronica swallowed the quip that almost escaped her about hanging up versus launching the phone across the room. He seemed at least a little calmer now and there was no need to re-escalate. Nor should she ask - no matter how much her curious nature drove her to want to - exactly what they'd said to initiate the premature death of his phone. Logan had a volatile relationship with the press at best. They'd spent the summer after his father's death hounding him for an interview. How did he feel about his father's death? Was it true that Aaron had cut him out of his will? Did he regret testifying against him - and some even went as far as to say lying about him - in the Lilly Kane murder trial? Was he in any way responsible for his father's death?

The questions went on and on. This was certainly not the first broken phone over them and he'd changed his number two or three times during that summer and the following school year, doing his best to fall off their radar, and he'd told her that it had worked for a while. Right up until Carrie's spiral became more public. Between his failed attempts to help her and her eventual death, the vultures had returned, and all they wanted was a piece of him. Veronica had seen it even in New York. Son of a movie star…. That's all he was to them. Never Logan. Never a living, breathing human being that could have been crushed by the weight of everything that they kept dredging back up. She hated it. She hated them.

"Sorry," he huffed.

"For what? Not your fault they're assholes."

That finally pulled the barest of smiles from him and Veronica stepped forward, her arms around his middle and she looked up into those soft brown eyes of his, hating how that old hurt crept in at the mention of his father. She couldn't fix it for him, even if she did what she could to help him put a few legal barriers between him and the press. The damage was done and there was no way to make Aaron Echolls pay any more than he already had. If she could, she'd do it in a heartbeat. She was good at making people pay, but not so great in knowing what to say to ease the hurt left behind.

Logan cleared his throat. "How 'bout dinner?"

Change of subject. That she could do. They were good at distractions.

"What do you say we walk down to the sushi joint with the teriyaki roll you like?"

"I thought you didn't like it?"

"No, I said they make us wait too long for a table and it's not worth it," she countered. "But you've eaten at a few places you're not crazy about when I've had shit days."

She found him staring at her like he was trying to find an angle that wasn't there before his smile returned, a little more real this time. "I love you. You know that?"

"That is the rumour." She tipped up on her toes and pecked a kiss to his lips. "Love you too. Go find shoes. I'll grab Pony. They might make us wait for a table, but not that cute little monster."

"True," he chuckled and disappeared down the hall.

-----------

Dinner was good. Relaxing. Veronica has been right about Pony snagging them a seat quicker than they usually got one there and the pup had curled up on Logan's foot under the table like a sleepy, floppy-eared guard. He and Veronica stayed and chatted, drinking sake and Logan picking his way around the dishes without shellfish. By the end of it, nearly all of the frustration from earlier had been worked loose, Veronica's smile and laugh easing the tenseness in a way few things could.

He could remember getting home, remember that laugh following them into their apartment as he had picked her up and spun her around. He remembered Veronica kissing him and they had stumbled and tumbled their way back to the bedroom, her fingers wrapped around the fabric of his shirt to drag it over his head. He remembered laying there with her some time later, comfortably curled together, her nails tracing patterns against his bare back as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, sleep pulling at him.

It should have been an easy sleep, and maybe it was at least for a little while. Somehow though, no matter how hard he'd fought against it, his mind dropped him into a place he didn't want to be. He stood outside a house that had burned down over a decade before and stared down into an empty pool. He could feel the dried blood from his nose, the deep ache in ribs that had been cracked by the fall. It made it hard to breathe, but he was rooted in place. Trapped and utterly unable to move.

"I didn't ask a lot," a voice that he'd have preferred never hear again said from behind him. "You're my blood, my legacy. You destroyed it."

Fingers wrapped around the collar of his shirt, finally breaking where his feet might as well have been glued to the concrete surrounding the pool and he felt himself falling. Down and down and down. Like ejecting without a parachute. He slammed into the unrelenting ground, his head bouncing and he found himself staring up into the rage-filled eyes of his father. "You'd have nothing without me! Be nothing!"

Logan struggled for words, but Aaron's hands were around his throat, cutting off his air. He could fight. The rational part of his mind that screamed at him that none of this was real anymore also reminded him that he would have been stronger than Aaron if the man were still alive, but that didn't seem to sink in deep enough to counter the vivid nightmare. No. He was eight years old with his father screaming and shaking him, so filled with rage that Logan was sure this was it. This was how it was going to end.

Another voice cut through, sharp and worried and Logan swung wildly even as he found himself flying up and out of bed. He still couldn't breathe as he reached trembling fingers to his throat.

"Logan?"

He spun, finding Veronica on the far side of their bed like she'd scooter away quickly. Her eyes were wide in the shadows and it took him a moment to realize he might have swung at her. No. No no no. He hadn't meant to. He'd been fighting for his life. He would never —

"Logan?" she tried again, inching forward this time.

"Did I….?" was all he could manage and she shook her head.

"It's okay. I'm okay. Are you?"

Something in his mind reminded him that he should tell her yes. Alway yes. If not there'd be consequences.

And there it was. The tightening of his throat again, just like Aaron was reaching out from the grave and choking the life out of him. If I can't live neither can you. It wasn't hard to imagine him saying it.

Logan felt Veronica's fingers on his arm and he flinched away, throwing the sheets off and stumbling out of bed, halfway to the living room before his eyes found their focus in the shadows. Pony gave a soft whimper off to the side, but stayed out from underfoot.

Everything was spinning too fast. Too fast to form words or even thoughts. He hit the far end of the living room and turned around, Pony scurrying again. Veronica met him before he could redirect and she caught his shaking hands, holding them firmly. "Hey," she coaxed, her voice strangely soft. "It's okay. Whatever you saw, it's not real. It's not here."

"I just…. I can't…. I don't…." He loosed a low, sharp curse and tried to meet her eyes. "I just need a few minutes."

"Okay," she said, but didn't budge.

Logan shook his head. "Alone."

He watched her lips tilt down at the corners as blonde brows drew together. "I'm not leaving you like this."

Like this. An absolute basket case. This hadn't happened in so long. He thought he'd moved past it. Figured it out. He shoved the fear under anger and it made things…. maybe not easier. That wasn't the right word, because the anger brought its own problems, but it was bearable. He felt more in control.

Veronica still hadn't let go of his hands, so when his knees gave and he sank heavily to the floor, she moved with him. Funny, she never broke eye contact. It was like an anchor, carefully reeling him in to sturdier ground.

"What was it for you?" He just stared at her and Veronica leaned down to kiss his knuckles, her voice still quiet. "It's the box for me. Burning hot and I know I'm gonna die."

"What?"

"When I dream about Aaron," she clarified.

"I didn't know that you did," Logan managed, finally shifting his grip so that he was holding her hands, not just being held.

"We don't talk about him," Veronica reminded him softly and squeezed his fingers. "For good reason."

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"He was my father."

"That doesn't make him your fault. Not for what he did to me or to you or…."

"Lilly," his first love's name slipped off his tongue.

"Or Lilly. You are not responsible for Aaron. He should have been better for you. Dads are supposed to protect you."

The words stung, even if she's meant them as affirmation of his own innocence in Aaron's sins. She had had Keith. Of course she would think dads were inherently good. Not his. And, if Aaron could be believed, not his father before him either. That didn't exactly bode well for him. Not that Veronica had ever shown any inclination to take that step.

Veronica loosed a breath. "Sometimes it's my dad outside, like when it happened, but I hear this sound and I know he's gone. Sometimes it's Lilly or Wallace or Mac. And sometimes -" she caught his gaze and held it - "it's you. And all I can think as I'm burning alive is didn't he do enough to him? Why does he get to take him from me too?"

Logan saw tears in her eyes and he reached one hand up to run a thumb along to wipe it away. "Tonight was the pool," he confessed softly. "I could feel every cracked rib. The bloody nose he gave me when he knocked me in. And him… demanding why I was destroying his legacy." He snorted, shaking his head at the stupidity of it all.

"He's gone. He can't hurt either of us," Veronica breathed and there was a long, thoughtful pause before she spoke again. "He threatened me once in the elevator at the Grande. I think he would have done it too. First chance he got. Whoever killed him probably saved both of our lives."

Logan swallowed hard. "Duncan."

"What?"

"Duncan hired somebody."

"How… how do you know that? How would he even know….?"

"I found out a few years ago, while you were in New York."

She made a small sound of acknowledgement. He'd always wondered if she knew, but from the look on her face he guessed probably not.

"He loved you and he was my best friend. Last chance to protect us, I guess."

"I guess," she echoed and looked up at him. She let go of his hand to press both palms to either side of his face, guiding him in gently until their lips met. He melted into the kiss until they rocked back. Logan leaned over her, hovering close enough that he could feel her breath and she let one hand slide to rest against his chest. "Now we protect each other, don't we?"

He nodded wordlessly and felt her other hand wrap around the back of his neck, pulling him back down. "Love you."

"You too. Think we can get back to bed?"

"Yeah."

He rolled off of her, his movements slow, but at least he felt steadier now. She took his hand again as they climbed to their feet, leading him back to the bedroom. It had been a long time since he'd found himself that deep in a nightmare, but it was the first time Veronica had been on the waking side of it. Strange what a difference it could make. On those nights that his father had haunted him over the last decade he had known he wouldn't see a wink of sleep the rest of the night, but now, somehow, he knew she'd protect him against Aaron's ghost. They'd protect each other.

New Year Love

((Since this is the true conclusion of 2020 despite of all the gun violence, pandemic, deaths, sadness and such. But now, everyone begins with a new chapter for 2021. For this story, humans and reploids are more prepared for the millennium of a lifetime, saying goodbye to the old year by making way for the true beginning of the future. While the two Maverick Hunters are, on the other, are enjoying their new year celebration by spending with each other in private at HQ, especially Zero's room. Before reading, it involves yaoi. So if you are not a fan, then you don't have to read this fiction. But, if so, you're welcome to enjoy this story. Anywho, without further ado, please enjoy reading and Happy New Year! 😊🎉🎉🎉🎇🎇🎇))

Midnight has slowly made its way by the appearance before the starting event of this evening's New Year extravaganza party here in Abel City, where the white diamond orb of light ascended into the middle of the dark sapphire skies, sided with a few stars twinkling beautifully like the precious gems or the clear oceans. Crickets created a quiet chirping sound for the soothing mood when it comes to nighttime, fireflies brighten their bottoms into the flashy shade of green for an even more peaceful atmosphere all across the earth. Humans, along with reploids, are surely hyped up for the conclusion of this previous year due to the endless cycle of maverick revolution ruled by the infamous king of all irregularities and former commander of the band of hunters, Sigma.

Few or many lives have been revoked into death, cities crumbled from certain attacks, and to cease the existence of all mankind to all the strongest robotic kind to rule the universe for eternity.

With every bit of hope have almost been decreased hastily, but thankfully, a duo of elite crime busting hunters have intervene the former mad commander's ambitions as well as to destroy his schemes in puny smithereens. One of them is the pure hearted B Class gun user who despises the unyielding feud between machines and man with the possessed potential. The other one is the serious, too cool for school A Class beam saber wielder with a non reckless strategy and lacks the practice of mercy towards enemies. Together, they're known as Maverick Hunters. Humanity's last hope for achieved freedom from disasters. Battling their paths throughout a horde of those who would follow their master's footsteps, especially the eight criminals that use to be hunters from before. Dueling against the arrogant rabble rouser in purple named Vile, and finally, ending the nightmarish nightmare by defeating the big boss himself. Numerous times in fact, no matter how many times he resurrected himself, but always dismantled by the irregular hunting crusaders. Peace has been restored at last, cleansed by the virus of villainy, where everyone began to applaud towards the hunters of foiling their enemies dreams. And this, where it all began, the true combination of both reploids and mankind living as one.

Meanwhile, back at the present time where everyone, as well as the Maverick Hunters, have began their special occasion at the Hunter HQ garden fields. Decorated everyone including the new year drop ball for the later countdown. While the guests are partying, having a wonderful time together, chatting, enjoying foods and drinks, taking turns with their speeches about others who made their lives even better if it wasn't for them during the crazy year, and lastly, telling of their new years resolution. Folks and reploids are remaining by having a blast. Even the rousing young prototype who is now a hunter, Axl.

Elsewhere away from the gang, the two droids, X and Zero, are relaxing in one piece alone inside of each other's room, enjoying their new year solo time in the dark. Mouth connected all night long without ever wanting to stop, caressing their backs smoothly, grinding on one's  armored bodies to force out the satisfy moans from the lower part of their stomachs.

"U...Unh~ Oh Zero~ Please don't stop yourself from polishing my body~ I... I kinda love it when you massage me~" Moaned the shy hunter of the 17th unit, intrigued by his crimson partner's soft touch across him. Letting out his pinkish tongue before panting, pleading for more.

"X~ You know I love it when you're enjoying my hands placed on your gorgeous little ass along with your body~" Aroused the blood colored mentor, kissing his lover's entire body with a starving attitude. "I want more of you, baby~ Your softness and nature have cured my cursed bloodlust from the past~ I lost control of myself, but now that you're here by my side, I felt peacefully comfortable around you~"

"Zero~ Zero~ I don't wanna live in this new year without you~ You're even more important to me that lifted my spirits~ Reminding me of your inspiration has made me the symbol of peace, helping others in need and beating Sigma with my full power and your courage that help me succeed~ It's all thanks to everyone who guided me, especially you, my love~"

"X~ You also done the same thing when I was acting too serious during my missions~ Refusing to accept anyone's help but to work on my own turfs, becoming stubborn every time someone wanted to help, and I'm very sorry for calling soft because of your emotions and sympathy towards your foes~ It really inspired me to be myself and still as cool thanks to you~ Nothing would put a smile upon my face more than your words of kindness which filled my cold broken heart~ So, thanks again, baby~ You really made my day~"

Influencing each other with the gallon of appreciation, sided along a plate of love, the cuddling couple resuming their enjoyment together by lip sucking like there's no tomorrow or next time. Making out all crazy on the bed, tongue kissing, giving one a naughty spanking for being a bad reploid. Comforting each others well beings or souls by their warmth, ignoring useless judgements by flushing them, along with hatred, down the toilet where it belongs. Living within their less colder shadows with full confidence, snuggle into one's shoulders without getting lost in the middle of nowhere but ridicules from anyone possessing a haughty personality. Watching out or got their backs when it comes to danger, filling in due their absence from missions or meetings.

"Zero~ What would be your new years resolution~?" He asked, but was already aware of that answer.

"It's obvious, babe~ To stay by your side for as long as it takes~ Cause I'm not going anywhere now that you're alone with me~" The upperclass hunter replied, pulling his cerulean closer to him for a deeper smooch as well as the desperate taste.

"I would think of doing the same thing~ I felt very strong hearted around you, Zero~" The kind spirited lower class smiled, responded with a kiss while being pulled towards.

"Mmmm~"

"Mmmmm~"

Their longing silent mouth connections have shut off the horrible memories that bother them, as well as their focuses, replacing all of it with each other's images to help them relax and regain control once again. Leaving everything in the past behind them or to never look back. For a harmonious year to come very shortly, two hearts have finally conjoined into one.

"Zero~ I love you~ With all my heart~"

"I love you, X~ Even if it means to sacrifice my life to protect you~"

"And I will always be your guardian angel to help you rise up when you're going to give up~"

"And I'll be your undying strength when you're giving out~"

Outside the Hunter Base, the entire crowd is completely prepared for the exciting countdown to be announced. Their hearts began to pump a rapid beat to helping the blood increase greatly. Even the teen shape shifter has felt this hyped up since his first promotion of becoming an irregular destroyer. They all have directed their attention upwards the skies for the fireworks to burst after the millennium ball has descended.

Inside, both the maverick stoppers wrapped themselves into each other's arms for a permanent embrace. Cherishing their hearts with tenderness and softness clothing their surroundings to form a private barrier around them without interruption from anybody.

"Thanks for being here with me all these years, Zero~ Having you by my side has really put a grin on my face~" X said gladly, feeling the endless warmth from his mentor's hand keeping him company.put

"Anytime, X~ You've done the same for me since we met~ Everything would be a living hell without you~ I'm glad that peace has been brought back because of you~" Replied Zero, smiling towards his young lover into his grasps. Happily being with one another forever, away from the densed insults showering them. But to be praised by those with positive traits around them that assist their mysterious potential to proceed further instead of stopping. Earning complements and friendships that never ends. Also, to be there for all reploids and humans.

"And mostly ~.... "

"But most of all~...."

And finally, the backwards counting has commenced as everyone joined in. While the two lovers would approach each other for a new year kiss.

The crowd starts to count: "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"

Both irregular fighters have reached into their faces saying this before the reunited lip mashing.

"You are my everything~"

"You are my everything~"

The entire audience have shouted "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!" as they cheer roaringly, while both lovers have kissed at last. Hearing the booming effects of the bursting fireworks into the air, lighting on their armors into the middle of a occasional deep smooch. All kinds have continued their fun during the beginning of the new millennium, hoping for it be far more better than this year. And as for the B and A Class heroes, well, everyone is already aware of their new year resolution: Staying by each other's side no matter, even when it means to sacrifice their lives.

"Happy New Year, Zero~"

"Happy New Year, X~"

"And... I love you~..."

"I love you too, baby blue~... Never forget it~"

"Oh Zero~"

"Oh X~"

"Zero~"

"X~"

"Zero~...."

"X~...."

"Zero~..... " Whispered the peace admiring buster bearer, proceeding his face towards his loving partner closely.

"X~...." Same goes for the scarlet swordsman, meeting his cute teammate's face for a preparing lip to lip sucking as well.

The duo are now continuing their holiday moment with each other alone by meeting lips once more, allowing the rest to enjoy their evening as well. Hopefully, this new and improved chapter will become much more tranquil than the unending disasters happening from the old year. Wherever there's trouble hidden itself out of suspicion without ever to become noticed, the inhuman hunting dream team will always get the job done quickly and over with. All humans and reploids will forever live as one, no matter the difference or appearances, everything will be possible.

The End

Happy New Year, everyone!

Daniel Ricciardo on Anthoine Hubert's death: 'It's an anger it's happened again

Last Saturday, Daniel Ricciardo went through what might best be described as a long, dark night of the soul.

Following the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert at the Belgian Grand Prix, the Renault driver went back to his hotel and questioned whether it was all worth it. The answer did not come easily, but in the end the Australian raced at Spa on Sunday.

Four days on, he sits down with BBC Sport at the start of the Italian Grand Prix weekend, and delves deep into what it takes for a racing driver to confront his fears and race on in such difficult circumstances.

"I certainly questioned it," the 30-year-old Australian says. "The reality is, weirdly, I do love it too much. Racing did feel right in the end. Even though I didn't really want to, once I did it, it was like, OK, this actually feels right and normal."

For a long time over last weekend, though, it felt anything but normal.

"When you're a kid and you see it on TV, and you're not present or not part of it," Ricciardo says, "it still seems like there is some form of distance, or a disconnection to what's happened.

"But when you're there and it happens to one of your colleagues, or it's in the same race, it seems more real, and it's like: 'OK, this actually can happen to anyone, and it's here, it's present right now.'

"The realisation of us not being invincible does set in. I know my parents stress enough for me already - you know, watching me race and travel the world and being on a plane every few days. You just question it: is it really worth putting not only myself but family under the same amount of stress?"

The aftermath of the accident

The night of the accident, Ricciardo says, he "didn't get much sleep, and for sure you're asking yourself questions, probably just fighting a little bit with some anger and some frustration of 'why,' you know?

"And then also fighting with a few of the emotions of should I actually get up and race tomorrow? Is it the right thing to do morally? Is it the right thing to do for me?

"And I kind of did also think: 'Let's see how I feel by lunchtime, and if I'm still having some doubts then maybe the safest thing for me is not to race.'

"I kind of wanted to play it by ear. Just running through all these scenarios: 'What if I feel like this? What if that?'

"By Sunday morning, I had a bit more clarity. I did manage to sleep a little bit and wake up preparing myself for race day. But it still felt cold and weird. It didn't feel right to be excited to race, just to be happy to be there. It felt like, tick off the minutes and get the job done.

"The lead-up to the race, I'd probably just describe it as not very fun in terms of just it was tough to try and go through the motions and go through a routine when that has happened less than 24 hours ago. And, you know, drivers' parade and all that, you're waving to fans, but you don't feel right smiling or being happy, I guess.

"It was difficult, just trying to get into the zone, just trying to find any form of rhythm.

"Getting in the car on Sunday was not easy, but it was more of a sadness than a fear and I think it was important I established that. If I had been getting in the car with a pure level of fear, then it wouldn't have been smart for me to race. I did understand that it was just a sadness."

'Just go as fast as possible'

"Once we kind of got going, it actually felt like pretty good release. It felt like a de-stress, just racing and competing. Just going at those speeds, it was like flushing out the system and that felt good.

"After the race, for sure I was still glad it was done but I did feel better than I did two hours before that.

"I'll be honest, the race was fun. It was good to be out there. And as much as I was looking forward to seeing the chequered flag, I did enjoy a pure race on Sunday."

The race, he says, acted as a form of catharsis.

"When something happens, you've just go to dive back into it, and that's the best way of overcoming it. And I think that's what the race was for us. I told myself little things as well: 'Just go fast as soon as possible. Leave the pits and just go, and try to get into that mode already. Don't tip-toe around. Don't over-think certain places on the track.'

"I remember I got out of the pits, drifted out, and forced myself to get into that mindset straight away."

This is a reference to his thoughts about going through Raidillon, where Hubert had his crash. It is part of the infamous Eau Rouge swerves, a left-hander over the brow of a hill taken flat out at more than 180mph.

"I told myself: 'Go full throttle, and just don't over-think this corner, don't over-think any of it.' Out of the pits... held it full. That was a relief but it felt good to get out there and do that. And that also told me that I was ready to go.

"I think if I was, big lift and scared, then that would be a sign that maybe I shouldn't be on the track right now. I guess I wanted to do that to test myself and then it all felt right."

Did he talk to the other drivers about it?

"I got to speak to a few. I only met Anthoine this year. The Renault Academy boys obviously spent a lot of time with him and I saw them Sunday morning. I spoke to a couple of them Saturday night as well, just over text.

"They had done training camps together. They're a little family. They're younger as well. That's where I felt I could try and be a little bit of, in some ways, a father figure to them and comfort them. I was feeling it, but they were more so. We basically gave each other all a hug on Sunday morning. We tried to chat over it a little bit.

"And then with the other drivers, I spoke to a few of them, but before the race you could see everyone kind of wanted to be on their own.

"Waiting for the driver parade, we were all just standing there. There were a few handshakes or hugs but you could kind of tell everyone was just trying to prepare for the race and it was a tough one. After the race, I spoke to mainly the French drivers, who I knew were closest to Anthoine."

The Bianchi factor

Hubert is not the first driver Ricciardo has known who has been killed. The last F1 driver to lose his life was the Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who suffered fatal head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Ricciardo had come up through the ranks with Bianchi and they were close friends.

"Jules' [death] hit me very hard," Ricciardo says. "In a way, not disrespecting it, I was quite surprised how hard it hit me. I didn't expect it to hit me so hard and for it to last so long - the sadness and the hurt from that extended over some period.

"With last weekend, you think time kind of cures everything, and it was like, OK, nothing's happened for a while and with good reason. The sport's got safer and we're in a good place. And then it happens. And it's a shock.

"It's an anger that it has happened again. We thought we'd moved on from all this. It's when it's refreshed in your mind again and it's there in front of you, it's hard not to take it with difficulty."

Has it changed his perspective on racing?

"Initially, it did change. Time does cure it. Those intense initial emotions did slowly fizzle out.

"With the Jules one, I felt like my purpose and intent after that was, 'OK, if we are going to strap ourselves into these cars, and if we're all aware of the risk, it doesn't make sense to go in half-heartedly. If we're going to do it, go all in, and make it worthwhile.'

"I felt like Jules' passing kind of made me embrace the racer even more so. And to be honest this will probably end up having the same effect.

"I didn't have that kind of fear in the race. And until that fear steps in, I'll just use it as a form of motivation. However many years I do it, at least I can say I did it right."

'I surprised myself' or how do drivers do it?

It can be hard to comprehend how a racing driver can compartmentalise their fears in this way, or the uniqueness of the sort of character required to do a job that they know can kill them, but to go ahead and do it anyway because they love it so much that they can't stop.

Can Ricciardo explain what makes F1 drivers able to live with that contradiction?

He pauses for a few seconds.

"Actually I get goosebumps," he says, "because I don't actually know why or how.

"On Saturday night, I felt in no place to drive a race car on the same track the next day. But then even getting out of the pits and going through Raidillon and all that, it was weird how normal and natural it felt. And I can't explain that.

"It's probably just when you have a deep passion and love for something, that's the result. To be honest, I surprised myself. And we probably all did on Sunday.

"I didn't expect to enjoy any part of the race, no matter where I finished. But I did enjoy being back out there, and that rush of racing. Yes, it was still in your mind, of course. But how we're able to put it to one side for a moment, I can't explain why or how. It does surprise me."

The approach to mortality

Ricciardo is known for his gung-ho style, and his attacking victories, often made possible by on-the-edge overtaking moves in which he throws the car down the inside of an opponent from an impossible distance back. How does he rationalise the risks, carry on knowing that an injury is always a possibility?

"You've got to always control the controllables," he says. "In my case, I guess never get reckless.

"After the race or at times you may see me give a driver the finger or show my kind of anger. But I've always tried to teach myself to not let the emotion take over the driver in the race and get reckless, basically.

"Yes, I've tried some late overtakes in my time and I've done some moves that might seem risky, but there's always a level of control and calculation in that and it's never done purely on emotion.

"So I'll not let myself get reckless or put myself in a position I don't need to be in. Yes, I want to take risks and be on that fine line. But be sensible enough not to over-step it and I think I am able to do that.

"From that point of view, I am comfortable hopping in the car. There's obviously the thing of failures and technical stuff that can go wrong. That's an uncontrollable from my side. Can't really think about those actually. And even if you know they're there and present at times, once you put the helmet on and get going, you don't think about it.

"It's one of those things that if it happens in the wrong place or the wrong corner, then what do you do? You've got to put that rationale in your head that it could have happened on the way to the circuit, it could have happened on the road."

It's rare for racing drivers to discuss danger and the risk of death so openly.

Safety is discussed every weekend in F1, but it's normally on an abstract level - what can we do about this gravel trap, or that barrier?

Hubert's death has brought it front and centre. Is it hard is it to talk about it?

"Of course it is tough to address something that's real and has happened," Ricciardo says, "but it does help to talk about it. Having the comfort of everyone else last weekend and being on the grid together, and talking to some of the other drivers... yeah, it's not fun talking about it, but it also helps relieve any feelings or emotions.

"I think just knowing that you're in the same boat with someone else, knowing that you're not alone feeling the way you do, that helps.

"So being part of a group or a community. That was where you realise, there are rivalries or whatever, but a rivalry on track doesn't express how much we all have in common and how much we do actually care and feel for each other.

"It's tough but it does feel nice to get some of it off your chest." (X)

Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster

Flight is garbage in the claim you rents what is so is it would somebody went there Alicia Countyand that’s the bad I’ll be only the people that were attached the place like that was doing it right limit memorializing all that brought you to comics in the pages of important she is important that you mean that scene led me to comics need to did have you do you are you you must make times of the remorse ghastlyand you told him about it is you guys Kikiand he said I knew where I is doing music really weird at the time glass that is mainstream now safely give to find new where shall I just discovered inflationand all these other pretty amazing things that I’ve never heard of before is also a Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster T shirt anywhere mental were suicide gasping like he’s been amazingly supportive personnel to the cellistand concerns Streetand we are importantand that’s a nature asking questions when you need to like from my training but cure you are your great creative great I like something really try to get the thing that’s good to me sound share your right Obama is a jolly good the things I commented that in the did you write realize that I work in this book I created this bookand somebody would you have to be lineage of comicsand this is a goodwill to the guys taking over after you had a wonderful AA like thisand this is unspoken is like saying you went over to somebody outside of London commission’s are you doing something radically like a faint getting his writing grant requests were for Pauland said that you message to mischaracterization furs are going to jump to wagerand I would be glad to do that for a writer that the wheel of comics continues to as it was done for you see somebody else the book is out if your request is on Monday tomorrow if you watch this any to do on Monday or Tuesday with make sure I first six issues on a diamond in keep that society can also brought us towels I like this flexand how beach town you are living the goddamn Marianneand John is probably is not to say your dreamand your earning it in your way can be like you’re doing right honorand trying to good heartand trying young animal line Gerard Way he’s in comics is in your headand heart felt very still carry Jeff said that before you send a thank you driveway Navy fat man on Batman I becomes Barbaraand he spent driveway come back next episodeand see the students say that on say that channels my guest. I year ago like this week with Elma’s anniversary has been even hyperactive instance like a urologic where Mary might think that is really touches on everything you just discuss the potential light on so when I first sat down with Andy Dioand we had that AEI we can any do we like each other timeout like things we can do in storiesand we told themand one penny he said to me because you is wanting an IDC shape DC has always been a struggle for me to be like 40 fictional organizations that basically do the same thingand actually very messy as a literary device it actually is difficult for some of the other writers now they’re all created out of good places all creator going on when I make a thing so I don’t bother the other thing is 516 so I he said story like I like a spy thriller where all these thingsand all urging yourand I seminoma your interest like knockdown about something something arises out of it dad that was kind of the the purpose of all of this that could be pretty cooland what has to push back against it. Injury resume displays there you where they left is obviously not the one Michael Silver in the NFL network that your golf because of the Cal connection but from a different perspective last year just cut to the chase why is it that part of the Cal offense really was install by Sonny Dykes but the offensive coordinator what is it that none of that was brought in you drafts of the number one like Mary O’Halloran James Winston or Tammyand you install parts raise their familiar withand approaches but the disaster didn’t do that why you think that was welland glad personnel you begin to get a on the opposite is knowledge that we may be short done that they were I think a private area that is a valid question in general why oh why you many Apple coordinators insist on you know not having to do with them of what is to live my life back to as you was the often lineand maybe still is developing that much you notice that it a lot of peopleand myself included potentially talk about the proposal in the trenches line installed outline we immediately revert back to the mentality with anything that we can’t do this is my quarterbackand allow you to be flattered of a negative I really have to do a lot of the lines the cowboy last two years or the raider last year are you taking the team nylon in 2017 I see what the line can do I reminder that while you really think that I think the render the Einstein to chance what concerns me is that I don’t think the line is all want to do so without a salon Dell I’m very curious to know what you think of the raider’s chances this year with your prediction or can you make it prediction about doing what we need a predation but I you I’m very you think I know many of the type of team that they could better than doing oneand in any given point out they were in that position but I think they are that good the incident concerning those are you there be better a table waiting 30 they should also be a hell I am excited aboutand you have to death the running back God the line is really really good the quarterback is getting betterand you Jericho to the tandem of Michael Crabtreeand Lori Cooper which is pretty specialand I don’t see him getting stopped regularly so I am really raters I think you played a very good team to be there they were obviously scary on paper even scarier than going to last year I really like better than a lot of people realize that I say to someone who lived our way because I would down going in the last

Source: Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster

Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster, Hoodie, Sweater, Longsleeve T-Shirt For Men and Women

Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster

See more: Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster

Premium Trending This Summer Season will Presents Who Love:

There is still a Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster shouldn’t stiffand rigid it is relax a little bit of your post is’s little slack to exert effort to correct Paul shows so that’s the balanceand third quality is the window still awareness is for keeping the back straightand of course your hands on the lapis balance gesture balance to be the spine straight is the is that what I know so when is present fireand theand so you well your checking the posture on the way upand downand when read the possible is slightly improved bullshit slow to do so while you’re at it in the back as you scan your Paul shoulder from the feed to the on the crownand then you have this is the fourth qualities awareness so that is all about LOL how long carefully Perez not harried not too slow all the way you scan upand then just into universal scanning the on so you’re doing the posture to know each Paul shows this symbol of the poll showsand check correct the poll showing the quality of stability of the balance of the world to the awareness of the fiveand inside of an element so in this way scan your body upand down for good six loops around I call that one batter insert after there is six surrounds take a shop short in a break after that Jane scanned the posture of the doing the knowing checkingand correctingand then feeling both show sewing this for you scan upand down up to see if every six surrounds take a short minute breakand then again sit in the Paul shows I leave you to it all for the first load of time keeping your posture in good order as you have all been guarding that from the last slow time though this time you keep old the stillness of the everything the body the days alliesand the bedroomand so on the third one live Brother is the stillness of attention this time your attention should be run abundantly for this on your breath so stillness means one point so you one point in ill knowingly in her see the oxygen coming old the healing properties all the goodness you can bring in rental is inspire in this with inhalation as the season goes into the chestand love just imagine permeatesand going to the bloodstreams it promotes a wellnessand healingand rejuvenates your whole mindand bodyand spirit with this mine hold the breath spread the breath in the chestand everywhereand then as you breathe out slowly bring up an intention in the body while these fears anything suffering of the world breathe out with the holding in your mind just breathe out also the sword carbon is releaseand this failure exile send this way to stay with inhalation when inhaling staying with his retention rented holding the breathand then stay with accelerationand breathing out each of them finally do them to inspireand him have two rejuvenated when you hold the breath to releaseand let go of an XL so do six surrounds theand after every six surrounds then take a minute break so the surgery the second slot of time he remained still in the Paul should get his do not forget to do the breathing know what is supposed to be thinking free effectand in this way keep your attention so Chrisand time your duration of the batter food no more than six rounds after every six to take a minute break don’t let the mind wonder all fall go doll the forgetful lazy to the Bolshevik stick the abiding in this really mindfulness on holding three stillness of the object environment the postureand the days allies know the full stillnessand this time is one pointedly focusing your attention not only doing would qualify round of breath but dutifully counting without losing the account without compromising the actual quantity so the quality of you all in breathand attention Brad accelerationand then count them at the end of each exhalation meant Tijuanaand to console up to say 21and it’s most likely to succeed to reach that without losing the Then take a minute break when you reach the 21 should you readand distractedand the whale somewhere without being distracted by the distraction just use to take a useful minuteand then started to succeed to reach the top of 21 000 account try to increase the sharpness resolution of the rebound breathand then tried those counting starting with 21 for the first round once finished the culture into theand then to the next swing in the next only do knowand seeand feel each effect all three segments around breath finish that been count night send this was still very focusedand attentive mindfully staying with the full were those counting of cold hole toand the do all the the home on all the old all so thank you for joining with the meditation of cruiser meditation is in Oakland is best done when you don’t have to look at the screenand someone leading your butt look at screen your own mindand but because this time we are doing this guiding this meditation as part of our regular tradition so that today’s topic of the talk is motherhood in Buddhism the mother in Buddhism so because today’s a Mother’s Day dinner when this was injured using internationally but to the role of mother in Buddhism this is very important so I will try to address this topic all for remembering all motherand her kindnessand how to go all develop a consignment of some people have difficulties with the mother the need to reconcile’s because if they don’t reconcile that is probably the many of the problems in life is the repetition of that is so in the context of I would like to draw give this dole in context of the four Noble truths to the suffering of the slides to the truth of suffering is the suffering that as we have faith to do with our mother colonial peoples so still suffering with the mother of the problem is to do with the motherand and the end I think her mother is the problemand so therefore that life is somewhat to somewhat damaged by that something else to do with the motherand parties shall mother has a role to do so that’s the truth of suffering the truth of origin of the South suffering that one has with the mother is not reconciling with mother not to the paying kindness not realizing how sufferingand not realizing how signifiesand all being selfishand the not to the seeing what all Mother’s Day but we only see what we didn’t get for my mother so this greedand self centeredness is the true origin of the suffering to do with one’s motherand theand then them so the then the remembering the kindness of motherand so onand wanted to practice a consignment with mother is of course the truth of the noble truth of the path that because you will be able to try to practice righteous to choose with lovingkindness so much of the tall gone thatand hopefully they will be the truth of cessation decision is that there is no longer the same problemand anger is a Zen man then our children to to do with the heavens above with the mother but in the in relation to that first I would like to just go back to the Godand his mother when the Buddha was the widow was born when he was better which is why we called the consumer with year old it was just one week old souland young his mother passed away’sand the so therefore Buddha was did not really have an actual lot of time to spend his time with his mother he probably knew that the chose to conceive of the timeand he did so nevertheless it is said that when Buddha was the meditating of the beach just before the couple maybe couple of weeks or days before his attainment of Enlightenment so the sum of the day was informed of the Buddha’s mother who she has been being reborn in the heaven of the threat through them God’s informed half saying that your son has deserted your palaceand deserve your husbandand he has not fulfilled her wishesand expectations of the per patternsand his wife that he has a abandoned the childand wifeand he’s now about to die of starvationand sold so therefore them in the mother from the accuses heaven the 33 rounds looks down he also could see the house the Prince about the is indeed the is a emaciated bodies become so thinand weakand sitting under a tree almost like a slug of minutes of Scott so she criedand wafted to sitand when she criedand said the teardropand blue those lapsand it is then the Buddha broke silenceand told his mother that her mom please do not to be ill informed by the day was but I’m about to win enlightenment in the very shortly so I would visit so that is the storyand thenand not so long after his attending enlightenmentand turning the wheel of domicile enough he actually then visited us he told her in on the end of his disciples that he has to go to teacher his motherand then he went to to the heaven of threaded throughout God for three months three months to repair kindnessand revenge of the people of the Dharmaand other teaching to the heaven of the interim goals including his mother so that’s example of how Buddha interrupted from his three months I wish Abbé Scholz know me from this worldand then he wentand talked to the dogma to his mother so that is the life of Buddhaand so also goes with the I can remember that this is such a pundit the antigen century so that heand his mother was very illand cannot go suffering while largely the illnessesand could not spend a good nights sleep all day since very longand so onand also he was as a celebrated Buddhist monkand teacher she wrote this special style Jim will rebuild this is the book was called demo rebirthing but actually it was a how to entertain his mother’s teaching other Buddhists a pathand status of Enlightenmentand the soulsand subsequently his writing has become a are damn all boardgame in Tibetan Buddhism then couple of American scholars of Tibetan Buddhist scholars have turned that bull right into text called demo report in order to teach his mother to repair kindness sold the gray masses have have done a lot of great work so today I’m going to really help you to focus on how youand I also as a as a as a child of our mother can best best learn to to approach the all all perception of motherand change by reflecting on heart kindness first for its it’s important to call my mother very lovinglyand very redand set my kind mother my kind motherand if you can say that you’re my kind motherand just try to see her face just try to see remember the times that she been very kindand does this remember the time that she had she she has she has become a very oldand then how much himand his suffering not from the day that she she conceive you all what must have how delighted Moshe have been as found a found a gem all all what ever so all mother from the very day that she conceive us in in in hot womb as she she was willing to forbear all hardships physical hardships emotional hardships as well as financial constraint is water whatever a professional kind of a risking to the sacrifice she had to make a lot of women when they become pregnant they basically have to have to give up their career or give up the positions than mothers or mothers have done that so therefore try to remember imagine old the what the what a physicaland emotionaland financial difficulties all mother would’ve gone through the G June 1 time June 1 ignition timing me when she considerately conceived in in a mouse in her womb almost should put up with a hard life at the online so to speak she did put half live online so that she can that usand bring up bring bring bring up in this world so so therefore it’s very important to remember what what takes to become the to what takes to become a biological mother just carrying the baby for nine monthsand 10 days to be exact according the third but also wrote a very beautiful all time about about her confessing all the sufferings of mother who he knows that is partly due to him being is said because childand he says my mother you carried me nine monthsand 10 days in your bodyand the ever increasing weight of my body has completely sort of sag your bodyand jeopardize your other activities in life but nevertheless you put your live onlineand are used voluntarily accepted all the sufferings on all full photos to me to be born into the world then from the moment that the you will bond be up on even though we were helpless but she completely is no embrace all body with hot warmth of our bodyand clean the dirtand filled inand the snoband the old old you know whatever we remix every Minnesota come out a waste of my Bob orders she would clean itand wipe itand the anything to put in her womb armsand look at look at with a kind eyesand called with a very sweet namesand theand the that she wouldn’t even even drink on warm food or drinks but instead she would rather she would rather delay them until we are totally comforted on Julia settle downand theand breast feed us old her physical needs into strength whatever strengthand energy she has even that she would rather let that do all the bodily energy of how she would breast feed usand that wasn’t just for today just for today or one night continues for 2 to 2 years she should continue to hold us she wouldn’t to go out even for a day even for couple hours is as we will be will more precious than hop on life what one of the debating places that we were treated as own piece of hot dinnerand the from which charcoal also ways to keep us from dangerand protect us from the coldand heatand it never would do to part from our all moment she would do all kinds of things so that the solid food could is not easy to swallow all the mashed with our fingers thingsand then try to feed us even though even though we are not corporative to to do that she fed us slowly you know that the that the weather whatever even though we can just lie down where reports she would not leave us alone she will constantly keep a watch so that she wouldn’t dare to do anything for Hamas should become the constant care constant God closed in sort of a poetical like a herder like it is animal you’re constantly hurting them to become the most helpless the thing that highlight has found but most preciousand she therefore has it just old half signifies all to how timeand enjoyment in activitiesand interest but completely giving us giving us the to the foodand clothes warmthand the not letting us to face any hardships what whatever she would shoot even though we couldn’t understand a single word she was still speak tirelessly many words our conversations one work one way conversation but she just just the way we look baby smile she would that were to the only comfort she has but she would constantly told conferencing constantly tell storiesand thenand not the mindand on hardships that she has brought us up in these ways that she doesn’t have any time to do spiritual things to do Mondayand things all of that she riskand put aside but the tirelessly not just one day or night so that she constant her whole life become totally busy just to give him to bring me up so how could possibly can we can we forget all the Titus title is word that our mother didst just to give us bothand itand it realized until as far as we could Kroll even though we could crawl that wasn’t enough though because she could she wouldn’t because we can call now she’s afraid that we may we may wonder off to those dangers placesand then stingsand therefore she would do she would not dare to part anywhere she would constantly keep an eyeand theand therefore make herself like a most dedicated’s most devoted companion terrorand the endand the one who loves theand the seizures she she she could not depart for us even for a moment so all of how they relate to saved wealth all property shouldand did you use junior high youth she may have to do do additional job more than two or three jobs over all those that is a savings that she didn’t day to spend she would buy everything that for our need for those clothes whether it’s a toys whether it’s us other necessities that we need for usand the whole body is constantly not losing strengthand energy to shapeand form what mention all the stress she would not remind us to the she would not mind to signifies any of that dispense to give to spell to us so that we we will not be the be called or hungry or thirsty or unattendedand and so on so all mother has has become basically oldand frailand and dependentand sometimes emotionally very depressedand tiredand sleepless but she still would not’s complaint are single word to us but she rather where all about those hardships willingly on on on ourselvesand theand the eventually she ourselves would have scored if some of us have for us all mother still alive then you would know she’s 20 3040 years older than you probably in a nursing homeand theand theand how much attention she did when she has become now helplessand oldand and the end themand lonelyand need company that how much of timeand companyand things are weand have been willing to do so that those of us who whose mothers’ just imagine she has completely partedand left everything behindand she had to go to the on net uncharted territory of next live in the bottles over having having to carry all the that she created on behalf of us just to bring us up to much physicaland emotional that she she would have she would have to go through all of that she she she herself was parted from this physical world but emotionally older that she has created to bring us up all she has to carry like a burden to to go to those difficult places placesand and spaces so what we doing about is is we need to remember all mother’s suffering mother sacrificesand mother’s kindnessand how much since our early days all mother’s physical bodyand how condition had deteriorated due to illness agingand later on by death that even when half of any precious body still wasn’t was a taken twos like symmetry or something you knowand andand all in those in the West because they they would put in a very shiny ball so you don’t see that in the in the traditional they were there would still a lot of take the body into symmetriesand a letter letter to be deposed to decompose all eaten by by bio Wawa animals like vulturesand so on because been out even if all sing all the has all the pieces of body become so strewnand taken away by means but there’s nothing she can do about that so that’s that’s that’s that’s our life so we have become rather like orphan who couldn’t do anything we we would we may we made love all mother but we do can do a thing in terms of risk to half from suffering of all digital signalsand yet we kindness when you think about it is safe is the truth of the responsibility fell on us which many of you will as a biological mother if you have been your self mother just of the same amount of physical care emotional careand the financial signifies you have made as a mother you your mother would have made same if not more some people may have some sad stories of not getting the same situation but but even that these cannot blame your mother your mother is a and how on stressand hardshipsand difficulty were largely due to having taken up the liberty to give all of that to to awes so therefore we should still remember my kind old mother my kind old mother thinking that my own kind old mother’s when she has to part when she has to about that from these life she doesn’t have any medics to take so much metal to take with us because of the all of the car and difficulties that she she she she she she went through are largely the note can be cannot be shared by you or shared with anyone else yet all the better that she created that are negative audit objects was largely her intention was just for the sake of all on alland all on being so therefore being able to think of mother is that in many send some of us would have no opportunity to to repair the kind his mother because she’s dead already others some of use if you have your mother is still alive it’s very important to going to consult with us part of the reason that you all she was still very negativeand miserable was because you have any consult with your mother if you have any consult your mother that is the part of the problem but you couldn’t really hold your your friendship with anyone else for very long is because you have is resentment to basically reflect everything as you did to to the mother to everyone elseand the certificate some goes with the father as well so those who consult with the veteransand the mother in particularand those who learn to be consult it’s never too late so so therefore today’s a good day to the two how to how to go to consult with your mother at least tell half of that you have you have you have come to the moon your own selfishnessand the not being so grateful I have not been very courteousand apologize halfand even apologize all for the sake of peaceand I’m not talking about a severe mother was a was was perfect but you didn’t see how that red doesn’t mean that your mother still was a human being every human being has has a lot of imperfect perfect characteristic as well as very good perfect a good characteristic so don’t try to idolize anybody’s mother anybody’s mother’s everybody every mother has has horn on opinion about how child as well so therefore the everybody every mother would be perceived differently accordingly those people who who have the goodness to to see the motherand hot amount of the graph hardshipsand signifies that all mother has enjoyed it should do we should grow up right nowand not’s not sit on this very awkward point of view oafs is smokingand reflecting to the motherand hard treatment oath towards oneself as being non acceptable disrespectful whatever it is but even then we should now to grow that life is so shortand let before she dies going to consultand say I’m sorry on I’ve grown to accept you a fix of you as you are rather than trying to make some negative comparison with others so therefore being able to remember all kind mothersand motherand see how much she’s passes become old become sickand become dependent of the committee sadand lonelyand put yourself in our shoesand try to therefore learn to repack kindnessand so his mother weptand even in the 7030 could not bear to to to stay in a mall but he promised to the visitand he did he visited half a member both of those mother in the have the heaven of that the roundsand then then Dave spent all this time giving teachings to half so what is it that you can do to to repair the kindness of mother himand Bullock could say you know my mother wasn’t there when I was young because she died a week beforeand after he was born so he had hardly known as a biological mother with this list onto your stepmother’s up to go to maintenance stepped in she did thisand it becomes a stepmother because she stepped in to take over the role of my undatedand and brought him upand so on even then brother was in the top of that deliberately took all the way time to go to the the Heaven of 33 roundsand spend the timeand give the teaching so hence we have this Buddhist festival cope with the descending from the heaven that’s is descending from heaven after having to spend time to repair the hot kindness in the know he could not repay kindness to his mother in the same life so you should not think it’s too late to repair the kind as her mother even say your some of your mother pasta way you can still goand do something because you read because we don’t know where your head hits of our mother is reborn but is possible that she is still wondering in some solderand and she has no no one to care for no one to remember how so therefore it your will never go astray if you as a as a as a child who has remember eyes orphaned by the mother’s absence even though we read helpless agreement we must still remember how kindness who all mother these how much older all weekand she might be in the systemand even though we want to go looking for hollow shucking when Buddha could see where he’s mother is we couldn’t not see how the could not call on themand she will hear so we are completely different vasectomy recording where the mother is couldn’t call a nameand where she went on since a but nevertheless we should still can do all memories I remember hot kindnessand see how helpless we are now but nevertheless feel indebted to to remember hot kindness when you remember some people’s kindness then you definitely feel grateful to gratitude that we are able to seal all will greatly so warm up loving feeling will come from all hotand you have a loving kind loving feeling towards all mother then you would no longer presentand develop brood it will all all all talk negative thing some people of you have seen that all the big window here Buddhist about you remember the kindness mother repair kind of thisand I forgot I remember of any kind is my my mother did become very very hostile to the whole idea that we have to be kind to her mother of course these are some people have that kind of karma of not having had any pleasant experience with’s mother and that is also to do with so therefore we do is we should picture the bed we should try to try to modify the by by remembering such as Mother’s Dayand tried to light a candle or remember kindnessand tried to bury your egoand try to be consult withand think of their great contribution inand get to the kind of that she bestowed upon us even though we do not have even though many loving motherand a son of a child’s will close our loving bell juju goalsand conditionedand no one has freedom to spend the time ever with the mother all this you have to go when you least want to go away from her mother she you go away from how she went away from your souls so therefore how much she but yet she gets almost like hot has been taken out of our love alive yet you know we we have left off motherand she has can’t see us say your mother is alive but she can see you because you are so busy you’re being successful or whatever but still what is success if you don’t have time for your mother to success is jeopardizing your well being so your material to weld is successful people don’t spend time with veterans old to seek all all on lonelyand then they leave it until last minuteand then they’ve been to have a lot of guilt of the colonial peoples depression is because they didn’t do that the right things to the parents to the mother while they need them why they most pertinent time to repack kindness when they seekand lonelyand old that time what is you your success means she can’t barely see you or spend quality time with how even when you spend time with our you don’t you you are you or you don’t do this Ted aspects to all speak courteously lovingly to the then then there is every reason for hard to be very upset so therefore we have to do to try to do the right thing to repair the kindness of parents while they are aliveand dead they are there one day you would be then when she’s died or what ever you would be depressed for a long time peoples depressionand anxietyand the volatility of the emotional instability the mind so emotionally we is because they haven’t really warmed up the heaven really done the real work will homework to do to to repair the kindness of one’s wedding loving mother them every single mother mother by nature biologically is kindand selfless in front of do a child enter not to remember that the kindness of all one’s mother is a great is a is of so therefore in Buddhist teaching emphasized motherand remembering the mother as the first practice not only the mother but see old singeing beings as mother not just from this life but from Paul’s life’s the difficulty that we have in certain people in the end in this lab is also buys lives mother’s beautiful witch with whom we have reconciled so therefore reconciling with all motherand and do not talk about how mistakes all hard wrongdoing but thinkable the sacrifice you made when you do that then you can see while someone else’s nobody will be able to do that like my mother did to me so therefore I should be able to have the goodness to forgive her even of hot mistakesand who hasn’t got mistakes in your sofasand also is a better window mother would have would have said if your sister for the same criticisms that you think about your mother what would you think say your son or daughter are all thinking having the same attitude as you have with your mother ones what would you think what you feel my children are so ungratefuland then she was completely it is same as your parent going through so the karma is very very escalating this off not reconciling with parents is very heavy it will really get you result it hasn’t got you up so that’s why the remembering the dryness of motherand and are doing something to her while she is alive make sure that your visit all the time that you spend is different than you really she really mixed to get to know that she have come to growand become strongand grown to become wiseand starting to really speak kindlyand lovingly to our small acts of kindness we should do a video visit to be very very sweetand short very very unimpeded by your normal behavioral reactionsand rebelliousness all over the child father tried to be very good consented to speak kindly thank how things give credit to offer all the things you areand you have actually that’s true your educationand knowledge just noise financial independence where you are in love you would be there have not been all the hard work you did your parents did in your life being able to thing these will make our students made us to grow in the heartand therefore have you will even when she dies all even in your old as you would never regret not having be consult the better you will feel all it was a long journey but in theand I’m so glad I be consult with my mother you always speak fondly of the mother might kind old mother you will speak to my Kino some people can’t even said so the mother my mother but is assimilated that the that they can’t even speak kind informed me the name of the mother so they don’t say my dear mother my kind old your mother they don’t it as they consider that they just they just have this only negativeand very vindictive identity is the associate that is a very heavy heavy and this will slowly not already what impact you all the behavioraland emotional problems if you have some emotional problems that rooted in that not not on the inability to do the conservative mother then it affected you with your husband over the wife all the gifts with whoever you are working with you always reflect them with that kind of resentment because that is what is is like a perpetuates negative perpetually negative things unnecessary guns of the positive if you create a positive to reconcile the negative was then slowly you will see the kind old mother even your own body your own nose you on our accent is exactly like your mother can see the how much of your bloodand your your muscleand your everything is the mother’s sweatand tears so therefore it’s very important to learn to repair the kindness to repay kindness constitute soon doing things lovingly speaking things respectfullyand feeling warm emotionand Mecca feel that youand us so therefore when you repair the kindness you usually do loving loving things you do generous things to do small things for hard on her own termsand don’t question about who is right is wrong what would she will do is make a happyand if she remembers you making a hot hippie few times before she pauses a way that is that’s going to be’s just so you knowand are feeling a remedy to all the problems in your self will also will it will latch to do the shift the amazing power of love part of kindness part of him even if you have referees in the Buddha for what doesn’t need you need you need your good hard to reconcile with your mother sent in a lots of people of all have a very warm feeling towards him but with their own home with her own mother over the only major familiesand most closes one that treating each otherand estranging each other with some resentment over small thingsand let that grow a huge problemand not even talking to each other for days years months this is the biggest problem in the mutualistic Western societies where they they don’t have the bond of loveand respect to the elderlyand barons for the hardship they have in Jordan that signifies the instant remembering them they remember few negative episodes in their life a childhoodand then lumber the bearand with that that is the true’s true origin of suffering so here the therefore her to to reconcile with that one needs to practice kindness generosity toleranceand compassion with all motherand even if your mother’s note around still you can start to check attitudeand change attitude about how not from negative to nonnegative from the negative to positiveand then from positive it’s very warmand and as a result of that you will you have ever feel indebted to your mother said you have a good husbandand maybe have a good wife all maybe a good job but where would you get those things without your mother has a heaven given breast fed you once you cleanse you just wanted to do for all those years until you are able to do your own thing how many years it took before you become grumbly independent who did all the hot lifting to to be where you are so not being able to remember the kindness of motherand barons is easy is a laudable obstacle to to your spiritualand emotional upliftmentand and contentment have just gone Denman in life you really bit unhappy in life show old people have some disheveled but much of them has completed folk will have stem have stemmed from your not reconciling with your mother so therefore remember your mother only once a year on Mother’s Day is of closes it is a is a really really really delicious at issue remember the mother every day every dayand every day we should to think of kindnessand compassionand all the contribution she has made to your lifeand all the speak kindly about howand a repair kindness of your mother to your mother did not try to do some other people who also mother of all to the elderly woman who doesn’t have children who doesn’t get much from them try to be kind to them as slowly much so how many mothers mothers have been misunderstood by the childrenand have been completely estranging the never get a they never get about that than it was a happy Mother’s Day it’s a really despicable so therefore it’s important to repair the kindness of our mother as best as one can watch if possible to hire while she’s alive to not at least someone who’s near his dears to her that tell how the day that you have a consult with halfand you totally forgive how apologize offand would never thinkand talk in the negative way that you normally do try to make up some shiftand change it into youand your attitude about how one how one one thing so once a mother because if you have change your thought about your mother then you will you will have the cessation of the suffering related with mother if you have a consult with your motherand make peace with hall make peace with all theand then you you you will you will be much kinder to yourselfand other mothers as well because otherwise there is is a business amazing kind of a home view that you continue to hold that the regarding your motherand you’re not therefore that’s that’s the true origin of your suffering is suffering is not because you have all of the problems who doesn’t but fundamentally not being able to having loving feeling towards your mother mother is is everyone’s soles of real joyand happinessand gratitude majority people’s also join happinessand gratitude is the motherand show your husbandand wife sure that you met them only when you’re going to do a whatever what but who brought it up to to be able to meet such a wonderful husbandand wife all job or whatever so be considerate of all where you all to be able to get what you are you where you figure someone is a wonderful new life but your mother isn’t you have not grown up at all so that’s why it’s very important to effectively utilize this Mother’s Day not only a look at your mother’s photoand the spent couple moments to in front of itand meditateand try to express your gratitude loveand and if the necessary forgivenessand the thing and if she’s alive give out a cold really do not wait anymore some of you have not called your mother you still think she’s wrong all you think it’s your fold either way it’s a waste of time but tried to kill the time by pick up the phone while he hold a whole holder phone or something like that in your life that you’re not reconciling with your mother so therefore the part of lovingkindness it tools your mother can make yourself doubly empowered to be able to consult with your mother with your mother so that’s why today’s talks is not only because his Mother’s Day but also I was thinking because this is of a soft week they suddenly according to Theravada Buddhist calendar which most Buddhists are terrifiedand in the country’s death celebrating they suckedand lost the tested is actually the full moon but some are still celebrating this weekand so therefore I was just reflecting on the Mother’s Dayand remembering about the Buddha’s life soand also today Okamoto Bliss are celebrating this out according to this calendar so it’s very good to remember on that ice I said I would try to try to respond to your comments or questions online so if I would just come up to here because I haven’t been able to do that in the past hello everyone a lot of you have joined the what British rider is my mother in this lie was not good mother did not show love is narcissisticand the now we are a strange area I’ve just spoken about Susie’s it’s a it’s in the mother that did that has been difficult to you the old half of physical suffering to bring you up to give birth to youand the amount of those time this should better than a half suffering was mainly many snowballed on top of not being whatever good mother we asked you but nevertheless she would have tried our best so do not to try to see her as someone who was meanand wasn’t really nice at all you may have seen that way because body you are selfish to not to remember how sector flies what she made this you tried to think of the what signifies she has made what you as a daughterand if you have become a mother yourself you will know how different you have been maybe you have been a remarkable motherand you you just resisted resenting that your mother wasn’t quite as good as you but how could you be such a good mother you have known to become good mother because her experience of not having had a good mother but that’s your your way of explaining to her to yourself but in theand through my your mother’s suffering of not being a good mother has actually given you the birth to be a strong woman to give good sort of love shows childhood to your childrenand theand us while you might still have something to consult with a but to you should not all do anymore speaking to her but all were said to speak to her quickly really take couple moments in your daily meditationand the visualizer mother look at a photoand say mom look I I have been presenting in exchange you from all these years this is not good for me all will all I’m I’m happy to comeand talk to youand try to make a really good contribution without further delay to to talk to herand phone all right a very nice messageand try to make peace with half because when you are able to do that then then the suffering that we have the suffering that we have to do with mother is because not because she has been scores of suffering to you but because so suffering of youand your mother is has turned you to meet with Obamaand look at the teachingsand try to turn to compassion so your suffering has become cause of your compassion so your mother sending beingsand overage your mother is the primary person is a great catalyst for you to become where you are now maybe have become much more kinderand compassionate not to be as aggressive all not got kind of notes generous as much as someone may have been but the but nevertheless it has it has taught you how to meet with the Dharmaand no longer waste anymore time we all empathize each other’s difficult. Welcome to be like a three podcast this episode is sponsored by the Clinton weekand Elder scrolls legends little after I sent my sponsor big Kelly area that does sound like I just a reminder which now number there we are also to get the pockets of their we are on spot if I went sound cloud keep that shit introducing our guest listen he’s my he’s frankly my favorite guest on this podcastand just their time on to joint privilege possible LOL thanks for coaxing thanks for having me again probably had in like you have your eye on the silencing elevate you not soirée your fall dealer that later I am the entourage’s been traveling the worldand its drinking Simon J it’s on the show that just shows adjusted to part two I like to consider the journey so the travels for the Bishop yeah this is the shows just happen you happen to be in Italy you like to do is I’m last I like that that the lab in the average out of the lot shit doneand it’s tiring I always think that touring looks so exhaustingand I look like shit now you a you on about I love that you just did the great thing is the use embrace your thinking that your who you are like you just fucking you just a guy that Gladys ago beautiful blue eyes I can send you are guide we cannot imagine that I’m really just a guy your eyes look like hamburger thank you so much love you more than just the icing guy with a couple hamburgers in his eyes can live but it is better since then you’ve just a little recap here but rockstar number one Billboard is still number one fuck me like two months Buffalo my mom’s been texting me every time explaining other play may hereand when you hear you monster met with my month to my mom got I could tell you a Muslim pit out of me I was super every time I go to friends as they like him on that when a guy that is mildly okay about the again nice to see a man momand a cigarette since last summer love our tradition just like trying to stop now I am I just not a smoker but I like to get where mild young women from you I like additionally their method or you big ideas for what it is a friendand because of its first live is is about the protocol on the lake got the Canon has to be that the negative booklets the first third have Marvin alliteration arriving not really come out to those candidates is a method think on that side of life in this pack will ship is billed as a backand had a like a camelbackand have a really a whole backlog at the top I talk about it yet so talking had to know when we first got on the street when this prop company building then we went out to Hollywood to fill in the moment put it on I swear got the 80 poundsand the moment put on all my fucking God how I can make it to this day I saw Dan come at the escalator to meet usand he was like holding it was this guy exaggerating how everything is I put it on other economic it to the state after five minutes the strap broke off our dates away is pretty dramaticand I went to go to like it was the height of the name LA while I was laying on the lawn that cheated you youand they know then yes that’s my by the way you should treat yourself yet I get I’m waiting I’m hoping honestly actually for us to go to Vegas I want to go aware that now that gets you really show me up the yeah I think I think Vegas is like my escape from the norm because I get to her fun stuff yeah I did have a time when I got I’m gonna buy a matching fit in with you I said if we rather have a kid red carpet event logo wearing matching Gucci checks it’s the super care he has a valid has a calendar the calendar that is forgiving as I’d say that story about I when I went like 95 grand you start with I think I have no case I was in Vegas like a nice anecdote I love now this is a niceand I’ve really added to this is great out from Vegas is a rare yeah yeah no it’s not nice Abby but it’s a great story of a nice story but it’s not nice items on because it is says shows a grandson of me I can do this I go in for the night using a like 15 grand ready go cash ready to playand so. Jesse Holmes of North Carolina pushing for years for anti gay restrictions in federal education law because the homosexuals are out to recruit in the schools in 1995 Congressman Pete Hoekstra’s committee convening hearings on parents schoolsand values hearings that impart investigated gas homosexual recruitment in the schools the proponents of proposition eight in California the proposition to rollback gay rights in that state making their case just last year as I fall down the slippery slope to make this argument Anita Bryant Jesse Helms random anti gay orator guy you make this argument they oppose gay people civil rights because the people are out to get them on facts like making the case were to save the children from the homosexuals who prey on them logical step to get the kids are going to protect the kids keep gays away from the kids keep gays from being declared normal protect people’s rights to fire people for being if they don’t work with them protect people’s right to pick something out of the housing for being if you don’t live near the children counteract the recruitment show homosexuality is wrong make homosexuality illegal sexuality have severe punishments severe punishment may be gay mind that is a logical fallacy the slippery slope if it really happens the arguments made by anti gay activists ultimately redound to serious legal proposals to kill people for being gay in October 2008 Uganda held its national prayer breakfast the national prayer breakfast is an event started by the family mostly known as the street here in the US powerful secretive religious organization in the US with ties to many members of Congress or the founders of Uganda’s national prayer breakfast a member of the familyand the idea of an event associated with that breakfast that you should have a gays law that homosexuality should be punishable by life in prison for the case of aggravated homosexuality should be punishable by death a few months later in March of last year’s the guy from the family who drafted the bill hosted a delegation of anti gay activists from the United States preachings of people are children right recruit in the schools also said nobody is stopped being a if they don’t want to be a learned behavior can be cured a few weeks after their visit to kill the case bill was introduced in while the anti gay populist pressand the country started campaigning this publication published a list of allegedly gay Ugandans along with in many cases their addressesand their photos is a small yellow banner underneath the word underneathand Uganda’s says because American connections to this the fact that the authors a member of the family which is tied a lot of American politicians thirsty streetand elsewhere because the result of publicity or criticism for the kill the case bill from our president’s secretary of state law to the politicians associated with the street is fairly widely believed because of the coverage of the Kelly gays thing is over it’s not its author expected to be voted on in a matter of weeks at its author is here in the United States promoting Anita Bryant’s old line that is only doing this to save the children the author of Uganda’s killed gays bill joins me at the bottom of the slippery slope next recently know basically anything about C St See Other related products: Sewing Tools That's What I Do I Sew And I Know Things Vintage Poster

Within You - Bloodbound AU - Chapter 12

Summary: One year after defeating Gaius, the gang has finally found peace… Until a tragic incident awakens the ultimate and most dangerous threat they ever faced.

Genre: Angst/Adventure/Romance

Rating: T - Warning for violence and language

Amy

Amy was standing on the VIP backstage of a big event, where she could hear a famous singer playing distantly, as well as the excited crowd, chanting her name. She smiled, being Kamilah Sayeed's wife had its perks after all.

That was Amy's favorite song. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. However, the music became distant as a whisper and all that noise became silence. All her ears could detected were all those heartbeats... thousands of them. The blood being pumped from their hearts and flowing inside their veins. Their lives... so weak and so fragile. And they all belonged to her.

"Don't fight it. Embrace the blood, Amy."

Amy felt a hand on her shoulder, turning around, she faced Rheya. She had the same familiar grin on her face.

"No!" Amy yelled. "I'm not like you. I won't..."

"Too bad, darling," Rheya shrugged. "I don't need you anyways."

In just one movement, she raised her arms, absorbing all those lives. Electric power irradiated through all her body turning her into something even more inhumane, even more deadly, as thousands of bodies fell lifeless on the ground.

"Goddess Phampira is reborn," she announced.

"Fuck!" Amy woke up, sweating and panting. That was the fourth nightmare in a week. Rheya would never leave her alone, even in her sleep. The dream though, was becoming more vivid and clear everyday. It always involved the death of thousands of people, what made clear her intentions were far from an era of vampires and humans living together, in peace.

They had been staying in one of Katherine's safe houses, properly secured by magic against unwanted visitors. She got up from the bed, where Kamilah slept peacefully by her side, and went to the kitchen for a glass of water and a snack. Inside the fridge, she spotted a pudding and smiled. Considering how many people had been visiting that place lately, finding it felt almost like a treasure.

"The label, read it," a female voice spoke behind her, "If it says Ryder or Lowell, you can eat the pudding. Otherwise..."

Amy let out a chuckle, before looking at Katherine.

"Apparently it's Lysimachus'."

"All in the family, so I guess you're allowed to eat anyways."

She sat down at a stool, next to the Nighthunter. They had became quite close in the last few days. While she was not an expert, Katherine helped her training her combat skills and psychic abilities.

"Amy," she spoke, "about yesterday, you're not telling anyone, right? Not even Kamilah."

"Of course not. Your secret is safe with me."

Until then, Amy had no idea how she could use her powers to stop or weaken Rheya. The process to fully develop and control them would possibly take years and they couldn't waste any more time.

During a sparring session with Katherine, Amy was having a hard time to disarm her, or breaking free from her complex moves. She needed more than combat stunts to win that fight. Or end Rheya's reign of terror. If she couldn't handle a highly-trained mortal, how could she have a chance against an Ancient Vampire?

"Use her own memories. Dive into depths of her soul. Into who she is... into what made her."

A male voice whispered directly inside her head.

"Huh?!"

Amy didn't recognize it or even knew where it came from, but the hint of familiarity was enough for her to know she could trust him. Taking his advice, she pulled Katherine into the void.

Suddenly they were both standing in the middle of a desert at night, where she could hear voices and giggles coming from a camping tent. Two girls, one of them being a younger version of Katherine. Her hair was still brown. There was no tattoo or leather clothes.

"W-What the hell are you doing?" The Nighthunter's eyes went wide in pure horror. "Stop! Get me out of here!"

Feeling her panic, Amy tried to comply with her command but it wouldn't work. Her powers couldn't bring them back to the real world. They tried to run, bumping into invisible walls that trapped them into that memory.

Katherine fell down on her knees, completely destroyed. Amy turned around, gathering courage to watch the scene happening in front of her. A monster emerged from behind a bush, chasing both of the girls. While Katherine made it safe back to her truck, the other girl fell behind. Succumbing to the creatures huge jaws.

"Kat-,"

"Ava?!" She called. "I... I'm coming... I..."

She started to unbuckle the seat belt to go back and help her friend but it was too late. The girl's screams were silenced and the creature's eyes were aiming to her next. Katherine stomped on the pedals and drove away as fast as she could, sobbing.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Amy took a deep breath, getting emotionally involved to that horrible situation. Katherine was right, bringing her there was cruel. That was her worst memory. The one that shaped her into who she was now.

"Please," she sat by her side on the ground, touching her shoulder, "forgive me. I didn't intend to bring you here. God, this is horrible."

"It was my fault," Katherine continued to cry intensely, "I didn't help her. I ran away like a coward."

"It'd have killed you too."

"She was my everything... she was all I had..."

The voice who first guided Amy into that moment returned, she understood the reason behind all of that, besides training her own powers. It wasn't about her. Not anymore.

"Katherine, you were just a girl," she told. "There was nothing you could do."

"I...I wish it had been me!" She grabbed Amy by the collar, pointing to her friend's corpse on the ground. "Me! Ava was the sweetest person. She was special! She... had an unique heart."

The corpse in front of them vanished into ashes, shaping into another scene, one where Katherine herself was lying dead on the floor.

"W-What..." she approached. The void teleported them to another location, a mental institution.

"It was my fault..." Ava repeated, non-stop, while shaking her body back and forth on the bed. "I killed her... I killed her..."

The doctors, or even her own parents, would never believe a monster was responsible for Katherine's death. The stories spreading around ranged from a possible animal attack to rumors that the girls were under the effect of drugs, causing Ava to murder her best friend. Inside her cell, after weeks of loneliness and hallucinations about that night, Ava took her own life.

"Oh god," Katherine covered her mouth. "No! Ava... H-How could them?! You didn't..."

"You're here for a reason, for a purpose," Amy wrapped her arms around her. "You're not a coward, Katherine. You're a warrior. She wanted you to be here. And she forgives you. I can feel it."

After that, she could tell something started to change inside that woman. A burden she had been carrying was being taken from her shoulders, bringing some peace to her tormented soul. Amy's psychic powers didn't defeat her, but they cured her.

"Thank you for that," Katherine gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. "I really needed it. To see what it had been like if..."

She stopped. Not comfortable to go further into that subject yet.

"Anytime. We all have our own demons to fight."

"Speaking of which, are you ready to fly back to New York tomorrow and face your... nana?"

Amy rolled her eyes, and sighed.

"No. Not even a bit."

----------

Kamilah

The plan didn't feel too elaborated, or even secure, but it was the only choice they had.

The group should return to New York immediately. Kamilah woke up with her cell phone ringing. It was Adrian, with the latest news from Rheya. In the following night, she would be attending an auction at The Metropolitan, where only the most wealth and influential people in the city had been invited to. How she made her way to the guest list was a mystery, but considering Amy's visions, that sounded like a perfect opportunity to commit mass murder.

She called up a meeting with the rest of the group to come up with a plan. Katherine and Nik managed to get into the security team, using as excuse an artifact rumored to be cursed. Being in the guest list, Adrian would attend the event as planned. Kamilah was surprised to not find her own name in it.

Lily and Jax were also contacted and included as part of the mission. While Lily would stay in a safe location, monitoring the place through cameras and pointing directions, Jax would stay outside with some members of his clan, waiting for a false warning to evacuate the building. No mortals should stay at the museum.

The only threat to Rheya's life was the blood of her betrothed, Demetrius, so Ivy cautiously extracted some drops from Lysimachus' blade and added to the tips of taser-like device. Once the building was evacuated, Nik and Katherine would shoot Rheya, temporarily paralyzing her.

Then, would come the hardest part. Amy would emerge from her secret location, one where only she and the Nighthunters would know, and attack Rheya with the bloodied dagger.

"You will need efforts," Katherine told her. "Kamilah and Adrian should be enough to hold her steady and then... you stab her. Right in the heart, as we've been practicing"

"Wait," Lysimachus protested. Kamilah knew it was only a matter of time. "Aren't you missing anything? I'm stronger than Adrian. What's my role in this?"

Kamilah sighed deeply. Before the reunion, she met Katherine in private. Considering how her brother had a previous confrontation with Rheya and how he became her target, they both decided to leave him out of the mission.

"What?! Have you two been plotting against me, behind my back?" Her twin brother protested.

Kamilah was about to patiently list the reasons why he shouldn't be joining the plan, but Katherine anticipated it, rolling her eyes and sighing in annoyance.

"Genius, hear it. Awakening the devil's wrath, right into her nest, wasn't the smartest of your decisions. If she spots you waltzing around The Met, you'll doom us all."

"What she means," Kamilah tried to ease her words, "Rheya would suspect it, if she suddenly see you back to New York."

"Let me take Lily's place," Lysimachus begged. "I'll stay hidden somewhere, monitoring the location and giving instructions. I can emit the false warning. Please, don't leave me behind."

And she agreed, wondering if that was the right decision. Lysimachus could be impulsive when it came to protecting the ones he loved. And three people he cared deeply about would be inside the museum, face to face with the First Vampire. She called Katherine, requesting some last moment actions.

When Kamilah was alone in her bedroom again, she opened her laptop and some news popped-up on her screen, making her eyes go wide in shock.

"Ahmanet Financial presents new CEO: Rheya Apostolous," the headlines said. Apparently, somebody sabotaged her company, causing the actions to plummet in only a few days. Due to Kamilah's absence, a boarding meeting was called and somehow they elected Rheya as the new CEO. She was able to reverse the damage immediately, gaining the respect of all employees and clients.

Kamilah's image was now painted as irresponsible and unprofessional, who refused to answer calls or reply emails. Calls and emails that never happened. Nobody ever warned her about what was happening at Ahmanet Financial.

"That bitch will pay for this," she shouted, slamming the laptop shut.

----------

Lysimachus

In a dangerous battle, where the lives of so many people Lysimachus cared about were at stake, he couldn't act like a simple beholder. He needed to think of a plan B, in case the main plan went wrong.

He lied to the others, saying he needed to pack his bags. Back to his apartment, he opened a hidden passage inside his closet, where he kept some of his most deadly weapons. His biggest surprise was to find it completely empty.

"What?!" Lysimachus punched the wall. The only person capable of opening his blood-secured devices was his twin sister. And Kamilah knew him enough to know he wouldn't stay put, when Rheya could kill everyone.

When he returned to the living room, Katherine was standing there with her arms crossed.

"You were taking too long," she said. "I came here to check if you need any help packing you bags."

"Katherine, where are my weapons?"

"Your sister gave me some of her blood to empty your closet. She imagined you could be planning something stupid inside this head of yours."

"Listen..." he ran his hand through his hair nervously, "I could do the security part too, under that outfit no one would recognize me."

"Right," Katherine smiled, sarcastically, "only Rheya. Who possesses power over your blood."

"I'm worried about you. I mean... all of you. She's extremely dangerous and manipulative."

"Facing her is the only choice we have to save the humankind. It's a risk we have to take."

"Not you, okay?! Then stay behind. Let us, vampires, handle it. We're her progeny. We brought her back. It's our problem!"

"I'm already involved."

There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Lysimachus wanted to find anything, any arguments that could convince Katherine to stay. There was a discourse prepared inside his mind, but somehow he couldn't say it. The words would lose themselves somewhere between his heart and his throat.

"So..." he broke the silence, changing the subject, "you went shopping with Amy this morning."

"What's the surprise?" Katherine shrugged. "Two women bonding over expensive shoes. Nothing weird about it."

"You don't do shopping. It's not you."

"I do, maybe not so often but... in case you never noticed, I need clothes too."

Another pause. Lysimachus finally noticed her hair. It was a couple of inches shorter, and the magenta color more intense than in the last few weeks.

"You also did..." he twirled a finger on her curls, about to comment it, but she interrupted him with a small velvet box.

"I got you something," they spoke at the same time.

Lysimachus took the box from her hands, opening it carefully. It was a necklace. The pendant was beautiful and quite unique. A blue light irradiated from a tiny vial inside it.

"But why?" He asked, furrowing his brows confused.

Katherine grabbed the necklace and standing in the tips of her toes, she wrapped it around his neck herself. She was so close to him in that moment that it felt extremely comfortable and scary at the same time. Lysimachus felt his heart thundering inside his chest.

"Only to..." she leaned back a little, facing him. Their lips were only a whisper away. "Make it easier."

She grabbed him by the new necklace, closing that distance. Her lips never felt so soft and warm before. Her tongue met his and he explored it as much as he could, knowing it could be the last time.

"I hope you know," he smirked when they parted, "I don't intend to take this off."

"You better not," she pulled him by the necklace again, pressing her lips once more.

"Does that mean..."

"We will be doing it more often? Yes."

- MxF Smut Alert -

In an impulse of joy and excitement, Lysimachus pinned her against the nearest wall, devouring her mouth all over again. Katherine responded by nibbling on his lower lip.

"We're gonna be late," she gripped tight on his hair. "We're supposed to be in the airport in ten minutes."

"Twenty?" Lysimachus brushed his lips on her neck, while his hands caressed her side, raising shivers.

"Fifteen."

They both nodded, removing each others' clothes in a frenzied mode. He lifted her up against the wall again and she wrapped her legs around his hips. Lysimachus could feel her warmness calling for him, inviting him... he decided to give her a little taste of what she wanted, teasing her and then pulling back.

"W-What..." she let out a muffled protest.

"Shhhh," Lysimachus silenced her, parting her lips with his tongue and kissing her fiercely.

He could sense how his slow and lazy movements were driving Katherine crazy. He grinned, thrusting a little bit harder. She responded by digging her nails on his shoulder blades, as pleasure started building inside her.

"What do you want?" Lysimachus stopped again, gazing into her brown eyes. "Say it. I want to hear you say it."

"You," Katherine whispered in his ear. Her legs tightened around his hips, attempting to bring him back to where she wanted him the most. "All of you."

As his mouth worked on her neck, scratching her sensitive skin with the tips of his fangs, he intensified his rhythm, thrusting faster and deeper. She arched her head back, moaning loudly. Feeling Katherine's climax, it didn't take long for Lysimachus to reach his own too.

----------

Kamilah

"Is everything okay?" Amy asked, noticing Kamilah's tension at the airport.

They were the first to arrive. Nik was picking up some weapons and she didn't want to imagine why her brother and his possible girlfriend were taking so long to arrive. One thought wouldn't leave her mind. She wanted revenge. Rheya used her company to gain status among the New York's society.

"It will be," Kamilah clenched her fists, "when we kill that snake."

"I'm sorry for what she did. Once she's gone, I'm sure they'll be able to see this misunderstanding and you'll have your company back."

"I don't care much about the company, Amy. I'm more angry about how she fooled me, how she turned me against my own brother and especially, how she tried to take you from me. I feel so guilty for falling into her traps."

"We all did. God, I completely opened up to her. I told her everything about my life, about us and our plans. All the time she was collecting information to use in her favor."

Amy went behind her, applying some relaxing massage on her muscles.

"Are you ready for this?" Kamilah placed a hand over hers.

"I have to be," Amy showed her their hands together and pointed to their wedding bands. "We have a future to build together."

"We do."

Kamilah placed a rushed kiss on her lips, as she noticed the others coming in their direction. Lysimachus had fewer less bags then she assumed, considering how long he took to pack them.

"Oh my god," Amy seemed notice it too. "You guys were totally doing it!"

Katherine blushed and walked away discreetly, to help Nik to carry their stuff to the private jet. Her brother stayed, choking on his words while he tried to explain how come they got so late. He blamed the traffic. Amy teasing and joking about their relationship was a nice distraction for a few minutes, until the plane took flight and they remembered where they were headed too. After that, a deadly silence made everyone too frightened to even speak. They'd only exchange some glances once in a while.

Amy rested her head on Kamilah's shoulder. She imagined what was going on inside her wife's mind, knowing she was destined to kill Rheya, after finding out they were related by blood. That girl had more strength and energy than any other person Kamilah had met before. She knew was capable of that mission, being the only one who could resist the First Vampire's influence. But at what cost? How she have to succumb completely to those dark powers again?

"Kamilah..." Amy whispered close to her ear, placing a soft kiss on the crook of her neck, "what are you thinking about?"

"You," Kamilah answered, running her fingers through Amy's hair. She was her main and only concern at the moment.

- FxF Smut Alert -

"Good, me too. Can you meet me at the back of the plane in a couple of minutes?"

"For what purpose?"

She didn't answer, she only grinned and raised a suggestive eyebrow, walking through the corridor until the very end of the airship. Kamilah looked around, Nik had his eyes closed in some kind of meditation. Katherine had earphones on, listening to some music. Lysimachus was focused on his laptop. She left her seat too, moving cautious and silent.

"Amy! What are we..." Kamilah asked puzzled, when she met her wife by the toilet's door.

"Shhh..." Amy silenced her with a kiss. Not any kiss. A powerful kiss that sent electric impulses down to Kamilah's spine. The way she glided her tongue against hers, made her knees tremble. Her back hit the wall, causing some noise. Luckly, nobody seemed to be alarmed. She pulled Amy closer by the waist with one hand, while the other unlocked the toilet's door.

"I figured out we didn't have a moment alone before we left," inside the toilet, Amy continued to kiss her, desperately. "And I wanted to tell you and show you how much I love you... how much I need you..."

"You could've said it back at the safe house. We could've find time for..." Kamilah stopped, watching as the girl unzipped her dress, exposing a new lingerie. Her eyes couldn't leave the perfect curve of her breasts. "This."

"I know. I just... I was so focused on Rheya, on my role in this mission and I forgot the most important."

"It's not like we won't have another opportunity."

Kamilah wanted to be sure of that, but she wasn't. She didn't spoke it with the confidence she was trying to appear.

"Will we?" Amy gazed deeply into her eyes. She was scared and insecure too. She desired the same as Kamilah. That they had more time and moments of peace.

"You know what?" Kamilah pressed her wife against the sink, positioning herself between her legs. Her fingers trailing up her tights. "Screw Rheya. Just be quiet, don't make any noises or..."

"Or?" Amy bit her lower lip in a provoking manner.

"I'll stop. And trust me, you won't want me to stop."

As her fingers moved up slowly, starting to work on her wife's center. Kamilah could feel her mouth against her neck, fighting to muffle her moans. She smirked, pressing in harder. Amy's back arched against her grip and she let out a gasp.

"What was that?" Kamilah stopped for a moment. Teasing Amy by pinching her inner tight's soft skin. "Was that a... sound?"

The girl shook her head in denial.

"As I thought."

Kamilah proceeded, going deeper into her. She could hear Amy's fast heartbeats, as well as her ragged breaths. Her fingers dug hard on Kamilah's back, as she tried to control herself.

"Good girl," she fastened her movements and as Amy's body started to twitch in ecstasy, she escaped a moan. Kamilah quickly silenced her with a kiss.

Amy was panting hard when they finished, but she had a mischievous smirk on her lips.

"Well..." her eyes turned red as she pushed Kamilah hard against the door, making it rattle. "Time for round two."

She went directly to Kamilah's neck, biting and sucking, while her hands caressed between her legs, over the fabric of her underwear.

The older vampire was able to control herself just fine. She was long used to those games.

Amy's fingers slid into her lingerie, stroking harder and faster. Waves of pleasure started to run through all her body. Kamilah's nails gripped tight on the door, as she fought her own sounds.

"What is that, Kamilah? Struggling much?" As Amy sank her fangs into neck, drawing some blood and licking it seductively. Kamilah couldn't hold herself anymore. She collapsed in absolute pleasure, letting out some noise.

"I love you, Amy. I can't lose you..."

"You won't. I love you too."

They both tried to recompose themselves before walking back to their seats.

"Well, now we've got a reason to live," Kamilah squeezed her hand on the way. Amy looked at her confused. "Our game is tied. We'll need a round three later."

----------

Amy

As the plane landed in New York, everything was set for the beginning of the mission. Kamilah and Amy were wearing their gala dresses, Jax and Lily were waiting to pick them up at the airport and drive to the museum.

Nik and Katherine were disguised as security team members. A van waited for them with high-technology equipment, where Lysimachus would stay, monitoring the place and giving directions. Everyone was wearing ear plugs, provided by Raines Corporation. Adrian was already in position. So far, Rheya hadn't arrived for the auction.

"Amy, do you have the blade with you?" Katherine asked through the ear plug. Amy confirmed, touching the plastic bag inside her purse. "We've arrived. Nik will be waiting for you in one of the side entrances. He'll conduct you to your hideaway."

"Okay," Amy felt her heart stopping for a moment as Jax parked the car. "I'll be meeting him in a few minutes."

"Right. And Amy... the most important, no one can know where you are. The only mind Rheya can't easily access is yours."

"Got it."

Amy said a brief goodbye to her friends. She considered embracing Kamilah and tell her how much she loved her again, but she didn't. Not only because she would start crying, but she feared it would jinx their mission.

Nik Ryder was waiting for her at the left side entrance of The Metropolitan. After conducting her to a closed session of the museum no one would have access to, he informed Katherine.

"What do I do now?" She asked the male Nighthunter.

"You wait," he told her. "Lysimachus will tell you when to enter. There's a passage that leads to the auction location right there on that wall. You put this password on the device and it shall open."

He didn't say anything else before vanishing, leaving her in the dark, completely alone. Her only comfort was to know Lysimachus was hearing and watching everything.

The Metropolitan had always been her favorite museum in New York. Her dad would always bring her to visit every Summer or Spring Break. Being a History teacher, he had his own manner of showing and explaining everything about the different sections, making the experience feel even more amazing. Now all that magic had faded away, it was simply... creepy. She looked around, feeling goosebumps all over her body. For some reason, she could feel Rheya had arrived. She felt her presence somewhere in the building.

"She's here," she spoke to Lysimachus on the ear plug. "I can feel it."

"Just a second," he answered. "Thanks, Amy. I spotted her. She's... uhh... being photographed."

Amy sighed and rolled her eyes in displeasure. Rheya had power not only over every living vampire, but over mortals too. It only took her days to become a requested presence in every VIP event. She also had her own Instagram account now, with thousands of followers.

"Listen, I need to keep focused her on her right now. I'll be calling you, at the right moment."

And she was alone again. She started walking around. The temperature seemed to have dropped, she suddenly started to wish she had brought a coat. The lack of news made her even more nervous. Was Kamilah okay? What about Jax and Lily? She was about to ask Lysimachus when she sensed a presence.

"Who's there?" She asked. There was no answer, but she could see a shape moving in the shadows. She went to combat mode, her eyes scanning all her surroundings. Her ears detected another heartbeat around. A vampire's heartbeat.

"Amy," a hand touched her shoulder from behind, making her jump, "ma cherie."

"Serafine," she pressed the button on her ear plug discreetly, forcing Lysimachus to hear the conversation, "what are you doing here?"

The female vampire's expression changed.

"I was searching for you. We must talk, urgently."

"What is going on?"

"Amy," she pressed her index finger on Amy's forehead, making her feel dizzy, "I saw as you left the car and met that hunter. If you're thinking about betraying Rheya, you'll commit the greatest mistake of your life."

"Serafine..." Amy squirmed in pain. Her psychic waves were causing a sharp pain in her skull. "She... She's the only traitor here. She's the... First Vampire."

"I know. This is why I've been helping her."

"What? How could you?!"

"Amy..." the psychic vampire forced her on her knees. "For centuries I lived in fear. Hiding in the shadows, running away to survive, changing my identity and habits. Now Rheya is back we will finally be able to live in peace. She'll grant us a new era and a safe world to live."

"She won't," Amy fought against her powers. She couldn't even hear what Lysimachus was saying through the plug. "She... she will exterminate the humankind for power. I can see it in my visions, can't you?"

She tried to show Serafine some of her visions. But it was useless, she refused to see what was right in front of her. Nothing seemed to change her opinion about Rheya.

"I'm sorry, Amy. I can't let you proceed with your plans."

"Well, then we'll fight."

Remembering all the lessons she had with Katherine, Amy focused on her emotions. Her anger, her pain, her fear... gathering strength from all of it. She could sense her powers emerging inside of her. As Serafine tried to get into her brain again, she entered hers instead. It was easy to control her. To put her on her knees, begging for mercy.

"R-Rheya, my goddess. I'm so sorry... I failed."

Amy approached. Touching and lifting up her chin. She could feel the French vampire's blood running in her veins. She could feel her heart beating inside her chest. And most of all... she seemed to have control over it. Not only she could make her suffer, but she could end her life at any moment.

"Ask your goddess to save you a place by her side... in hell."

She started sending a surge of electricity right inside Serafine's brain. She screamed in agony.

"Amy!" Lysimachus shouted on the ear plug, pulling her back to reality. "Are you alright? I couldn't hear you. There was only static coming from your plug."

"I had to deal with Serafine," she examined the vampire lying unconscious on the floor. "But I didn't kill her. She's only passed out."

"Leave her right there, we can solve this later. At this point, she must have told Rheya everything through their psychic link. We need to act right now."

"Okay."

Amy gripped tightly on the dagger, hidden inside her purse. She waited for a signal to type the code Nik previously gave her. Standing by the door, she feared what came next.

----------

Lysimachus

"Oh fuck!" Lysimachus punched the keyboard. How did they forget about Serafine Dupont? It was obvious Rheya had a servant. Someone that had been helping her in all her actions, being at places she couldn't be. No one better than a psychic vampire to erase memories and manipulate minds. He called Katherine on his microphone. "We've got a big problem. Serafine Dupont has been working for Rheya and she discovered us. She's a psychic vampire too. At this point... Rheya knows."

"Release the warning. Order Lily and Jax to evacuate the building."

"Sure."

He did as told. The speakers on the museum announced there was a bomb that could be exploding at any moment, planted in one of the artifacts for auction. People started to panic, heading to the exit and he spotted Jax and Lily, guiding them outside. In the middle of all that crowd, all that mess, he lost her. Rheya wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Damn it! Katherine, we should abort the mission. Everything went wrong. I lost her."

"I didn't," she replied. "I can see her from where I'm standing. It may be our only chance. We'll be shooting in 3... 2... 1..."

"No!" Lysimachus shouted, but it was too late. From the high-definition screens he watched as Rheya stopped the devices mid-air, preventing them from getting attached to her body.

She raised one hand, making Katherine and Nik fall on their knees in excruciating pain. Raising the other hand, all the other vampires joined her in the room. One by one, they all went down on their knees too. Including Priya and Lester.

"Tell Amy..." Katherine gasped for air, indicating she was struggling to breath, "to follow plan B. She's... the only one who knows."

"O-Okay. Katherine... I'm getting in there."

"You can't... I... locked the van's door... from outside."

Lysimachus passed Amy the last instructions, before uselessly trying to open the van, or break its bulletproof windows with his fists.

"Fuck!" While his broken and bleeding knuckles healed, he observed Amy had joined the others, pretending to be under Rheya's command too.

The First Vampire placed all of them in a circle, standing in the middle.

"I don't even know what the seven hells I'm doing here," Priya argued. "What bitchcraft is this?!'

"I'm scared," Lester added, "but kinda turned on too. Who's the lady?"

"She's the First Vampire," Jax told them with a scowl.

"And no one informed us about it?! Do you remember this is what this damn Council is for, Adrian?"

"Priya, I'm sorry," Adrian told. "But considering your history, I thought I could not be a good idea."

"Are you calling me a traitor?!"

"My children, silence," Rheya spoke softly and calm, with her usual devious grin, interrupting the argument. "Now we're all reunited, we can finally start our party."

"Rheya!" Kamilah angered. "Let us out! Now!"

"Why, darling? The fun is only beginning," the woman caressed his twin sister's cheek, before moving a empty champagne bottle directly to her hands. "Actually, I've learned from mortals a few games we could play tonight. This one is called Truth Or Dare, but... there are new rules. My rules. First, I'll place the bottle here in middle of the circle and... I'll spin it."

She demonstrated. The bottle stopped on Lily.

"Lily Spencer. You'll be telling us one truth, then you'll perform a dare. You cannot lie or refuse the dare. If you break the rules, you're out of the game."

Out of the game. Lysimachus could read in her face that was a death threat. The others could too, considering the glances they exchanged.

"O-Okay..." Lily forced a smile. "I'm good at this game."

"So tell us, Lily," Rheya placed her hand on Lily's head, as if she was extracting information and forcing her to speak. "Spill us some juicy secrets. Is it true you've got a secret crush on someone here in this room?"

Lily took a moment to answer, looking extremely scared and upset. She faced Amy with a mournful look.

"M-Me? I mean, it's a silly thing. No big deal"

"But who would be that person, darling? Your friends are curious to know."

Lily swallowed dry.

"Kamilah."

"Wow, kinky," Rheya let out a small laugh. "Now Lily, I dare you to show us your deepest thoughts about Kamilah. Unfortunately only vampires with psychic abilities will be able to see it, but I can describe for the others. Don't worry."

Being a psychic vampire and connected to the scene, Lysimachus was also pulled to Lily's memories and thoughts. He could see the night of Amy's debut party, when a drunk Lily accidentally hit on his sister. Or her many thoughts about how she wished to be in Amy's place. And also, her sexual fantasies.

When they got back, Lysimachus buried his face in his hands in desperation. Amy's expression changed. He could tell something had changed inside her. She was broken. Destroyed.

"I'm sorry," Lily muttered to her best friend.

Amy answered with a cold and hard gaze.

Rheya's intentions were clear, she was removing all barriers between the girl and her humanity. First, the Order attack, that unleashed the darkness within her temporarily. Now, by ruining her friendship with Lily.

"Good girl, Lily," Rheya returned to the center of the circle, after describing everything she saw, and spun the bottle again. "Let's see who's next."

"Oh my god," he feared what she was planning for his sister. The most significant person in Amy's life. She was the only one who could prevent her from succumbing to darkness completely.

The bottle stopped, pointing at Katherine. Rheya looked to one of the security cameras. At this point, she should already know Lysimachus was watching. She was provoking him.

"Katherine..." he tried to speak.

"I've got this," she assured him, speaking as low as possible.

"A mortal," Rheya crouched to be face to face with her. "Katherine, the Nighthunter. We finally meet."

She extended a hand. Katherine took it, confident and fearless. Unlike Lily, she didn't show any signs of distress. The only comfort Lysimachus had was to remember how she studied deeply every case she was hired for. She probably knew a lot about the woman in front of her.

"Rheya Apostolous. The legendary First Vampire."

"That's correct. What else do you know about me?"

"Goddess Phampira has granted you those powers when you were trapped in a cave, by an evil king," Katherine wasn't even a little bit intimidated. "You drank the blood from the Tree Of Eternal life and you were... reborn. After taking the king's place, you planned to create a kingdom where humans and vampires could coexist."

"Remarkable," Rheya smiled.

"I heard you have endless powers. The powers of a living goddess."

"Not yet, but I'm close."

Rheya stood up, walking around the circle pensive.

"Now, darling," she went back to Katherine, placing a hand on the top of her head, like she did to Lily. "Let's talk about you. I see... a potential inside you. You... you've been there too. Someone you loved was taken from you, correct?"

Katherine lowered her eyes, fighting off all the emotions Rheya brought back to the surface.

"She was my everything," she said. "And she was taken from me. I blame myself everyday, wondering how I could make things different."

"So this is why you hunt supernatural creatures. Tell me, would you do anything to bring her back?"

"I would."

Rheya seemed to be fascinated. Coming from her, Lysimachus couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad thing.

"Now it's time for your dare," the First Vampire announced. "I dare you to tell me... their plan," she pointed to the vampires on the circle.

"That's easy," Katherine smiled, keeping her posture. "They have a secret weapon against you."

"That's enough. It was a pleasure to meet you, my dear Katherine. You'll be rewarded by your honesty in the end of the game."

She looked at the camera again. Lysimachus felt consumed by rage. She was using Katherine to torture him. He knew it. He started banging at the van's windows again.

"Help!" He yelled. "Somebody help me!"

His attention went back to the screen. Rheya spun the bottle again, searching for her next target. It almost stopped, pointing at Kamilah. But a small force, a psychic force, moved it a little bit further, stopping at... Amy.

"Amy!" Rheya clapped her hands together. "My precious grandchild."

"Rheya," Amy tried to plead, "let them go. This... this is all my fault."

The First Vampire touched her head too. Her face only showed frustration, disappointment. She couldn't get into Amy's mind like she did with the others.

"Did you really want to kill me, darling?"

"I... I don't know. I like you, Rheya. I admire you. But you're scaring me with all these things you've been doing."

"Oh sweetheart," Rheya caressed her cheek, "I've told you I'd never do anything to hurt you. All I've done is for the best. To give you the world you deserve to live."

"Then let them go. I trust you and I'll help you in your goal. I promise!"

"If that's how you feel... I will grant your wish. But first, you must complete your dare."

"Of course."

"Where's the weapon, Amy? The one that is supposed to kill me. Show me."

Rheya made the motion of freeing Amy's hands, without knowing the girl was only pretending to be bounded. The girl opened her purse, revealing the bloodied dagger.

"Amy..." Lysimachus sighed. "What are you doing? That was certainly not the plan."

Rheya stared at the dagger in shock. Analyzing the black poisonous blood on its blade.

"Demetrius..." her faced turned from sadness and mourn to into a ugly snarl in a second. "How could you find him and try to use him against me?"

"I-I didn't," Amy tried to calm her down. "I didn't know about him or the blade until a few days ago, in New Orleans. But Rheya, he's forgiven you for all you've done. He said he loves you, and always will."

Lysimachus couldn't tell what the First Vampire's reaction was upon that revelation. Rheya's expression was unreadable as she kept looking at Demetrius' blood.

He heard police cars and sirens parking at the entrance of the museum. Somebody knocked at the door.

"Hey," he called. "Help me out. I'm trapped in here!"

"Sir, are you alright?" A police officer answered from the outside. "Be patient. We'll set you free in a minute."

They started working on opening the van's door, meanwhile Rheya continued her sick game with the group.

"Ungrateful whelp! You don't deserve living in peace. You deserve pain and misery, being hunted as the insects you are. I did not achieve perfection with my creation, I only faced betrayal!"

"Rheya, we're not going to hurt you," Amy insisted. "We were only scared. Let us go, please."

"Oh Amy..." she approached her granddaughter again. "Now I understand. This city is your kingdom, it was always meant to be yours."

"Rheya..."

"I'll let you rule. I should return to my kingdom in Europe, where I can try to make my creation perfect."

A loud bang from the outside made the van's door burst open. Before several cops entered, Lysimachus turned off the monitors and transferred the video to his phone. They checked on him and inspected the van, searching for evidence of the rumored bomb inside The Metropolitan.

Outside, he watched nervously the last events. Rheya continued her maniac speech with that lethal weapon in hands.

"You're so perfect, so pure. You could only descend from my Iola," she fondly stroked Amy's hair. "Everything I created was always so impure, so dirty... Gaius was nothing more than a brainless puppet and Xenocrates turned into a traitor. Like each one of them!"

"Then..." Amy swallowed dry, trying to get into her mind. "W-We can make them pure. In our New World."

Rheya let out a small laugh.

"Oh Amy, they can't be fixed. But I've always had this theory. I wondered what Demetrius and I could've created together after we were changed." Her eyes flashed red and she jerked her right hand. "And now I'm about to test it."

She pulled Katherine close to her body, holding her by the neck and forcing her to feed from her bleeding wrist. The Nighthunter thrashed and cried under her strong grip.

"No..." Lysimachus rushed straight to the museum's doors. They were sealed by Rheya's psychic powers. He closed his eyes, focusing on what he learned ages ago. That kind of protection was weak to other psychic vampires. Any of them could easily break it.

The doors opened, just in time for him to see Rheya about to stab Katherine with the poisonous blade. Like a blur, he moved across the room, landing on her and throwing her away from the group.

Katherine was free. But he rolled on the floor with Rheya, fighting for the possession of the dagger. Lysimachus held its hilt tightly, pointing it to her chest.

"You..." Rheya snarled. "I had a great purpose for you and you betrayed me."

"Go serve your purpose in hell, Rheya."

Lysimachus tried to move his hand for the final blow, but Rheya grabbed his wrist, crushing it into pieces.

"I gave you a gift... and now I'm taking it away!"

She turned the dagger in the opposite direction, burring it into his stomach. The effects of Demetrius blood instantly started to take effect. Lysimachus felt his entire body being consumed by darkness and pain.

As he felt on the floor, starting to convulse, the last thing he watched was Rheya vanishing across the sections of the museum. Into the darkness.

E C H O E S (AsraxGN!MC, brief Asrian) 

A/N: Includes spoilers for Asra’s route but I’ve barely started playing it myself so some things may be a bit off!

Rated: Teen  Genre: Angst Word count: 3,821 (haaa.... it was meant to be like 500 tops, oops)  Summary: Magic is alive, and an intimate thing between magicians, connecting them and their feelings. Asra’s magic and yours are tightly connected after years of friendship and partnership; when he leaves you back in plague-stricken Vesuvia, it becomes his only way to know you’re okay. Until you aren’t, and your magic screams just like you did. 

Magic was a curious thing. Ever-changing, evolving and pulsing with life. Unique to every individual, and despite its power, playful and curious. And it was all Asra ever really knew, the sole constant of his life, shining like a lighthouse, providing him with a home even though he lived in the streets when he was young. He was so familiar with it, and yet, few were the times where he had experienced his magic’s interaction with another’s. He knew that each magician’s magic was personal and different at an inherent level, but he had never met another magician in all of Vesuvia since his parents. Since them, never had his magic been touched by someone else’s, nudged playfully and hesitantly before getting familiar with it. Never, that is, until he met you.

Hailing from faraway Milova, you found your way to Vesuvia in search of a rumored magician in hopes that they would take you on as their apprentice, as Asra was informed by you from the other side of his shop’s counter when he first met you. It was truly a wonder he had even heard that back then. He had been too busy bathing in the warmth of your magic’s rawness. He had taken in a shuddering breath, marveling at how volatile and malleable it was. Hot and bright and powerful, it was ready to be bent into shape. It was the polar opposite of his calm, collected energy, a shining gold sun compared to a soft lilac nebula. 

It had taken a snap of your fingers in front of his eyes, but he had agreed.

He had taken you in at the shop and in his life, falling into a routine with you. And while later he would come across more magicians, like the one who gave him Faust’s egg, it had been the first time in his life that he had someone to share his wonders, his oasis, his knowledge with. Someone who could, too, hear the Arcana whisper to them. He slept a bit easier each night.

It took a long time, what with his regular travels, but he taught you all he could. Every trick, every spell, every symbol. Your magic was stronger than his though. Although it was not as jagged as when he had started with you, it still burned golden with the same intensity. You could learn more, he knew that by the spikes he felt coming from it occasionally, despite how refined it had become. But he didn’t know how to give you any more.

So when his grimoires and herbs stopped offering new knowledge, he focused on you more. He began to see you for more than your golden magic, more than just a fellow magician. You became tangible, a person he could touch and get close to, someone who made him laugh, someone he could hug and mess around with. Someone he could travel with. He stopped leaving you behind when he took to the seas.

On your first trip to Nopal together, he came to a realization as he saw you interact with desert’s dunes for the first time in your life. Your laughter was music to his ears and the look of absolute wonder painted on your face as you took off your shoes and dipped your feet in the now cool sand, only illuminated by the flame you held in your hands made his heart flutter and his breath catch in his throat. A spark had ignited in his chest after so many years of knowing you and teaching you and he hadn't realized until that moment that what he was feeling was more than just friendship. He felt your magic reach out to his. He wasn't sure if that had been a conscious choice since you never looked up. But he responded, letting his own touch yours. Warmth took over him and he couldn't help the fond smile from his face.

However long it took him to help you shape up your magic, it felt like it took him longer to confess his feelings to you. When he did, it was because Faust told on him, devious little familiar as she was. It resulted in a lot of blushing on both your parts, and Asra blurting out "I'm in love with you!" in a rare case of him losing his composure.

"Uh, erm… You do?" you said very smoothly. With a quick glare at Faust, Asra could only nod. You short-circuited for a moment, a stammering mess and Asra could swear his heart dropped out of his ribcage when his magic rippled with the after effects of your conflicted feelings your own magic was reflecting.

He was about to try and salvage whatever remained of your relationship when you said: "Okay."

He did a double take and tilted his head in question. His heart was back in his ribcage but now it was hammering against it more wildly than ever.

You looked at him, determination in your eyes. "I… really really like you. Maybe we could try this out and see what happens?"

Asra was no fool. He jumped at the chance and eagerly said yes, a choice that soon proved to be one of the best of his life.

It was shy at first. You would both think twice to touch as much as you wanted, hesitant because of the novelty of your situation. You had never fallen for anyone. He had never loved anyone the way he loved you. Soft and wholesome, but also deeper than any other bond he’d ever had. Magic-deep. He could feel his magic intertwine with yours, mingle and bond with it, become one with every day that passed. More often than not, he felt its warmth wash over him, and even if he wouldn’t tell you, it gave him a sense of euphoria unlike any other.

Whatever timidity held your relationship back had soon gone away, however. The closer you got, the more connected your magic became and that was the highest form of intimacy two magicians could possibly achieve. Wayward touches like forehead kisses and hugs from behind came much easier after that, until they became as natural as breathing.

The traveling became a norm too. Asra would take you to Nopal almost every time now. You had grown accustomed to the sand now, but seeing you watch from his house always put a fond smile on his face. He would sit behind you and lean on a wall, looking at you for a bit before coming over and kissing your temple. You would kiss him back with a smile and go back to watching nature. After a few weeks, you would come back to Vesuvia and open your shop again.

Those were nice days. Simpler days. And then the Red Plague came.

“The plague is spreading too fast, what’s so difficult for you to understand? We need to leave Vesuvia!” Asra shouted at you, desperate.

“And let all these people die? We can help them, Asra! We’re magicians, there has to be something-”

“We’re magicians, not immortals! Please, just come with me to Nopal. Please. I can’t risk losing you.” His voice was softer now. He was begging.

You sighed and shook your head. When you looked at Asra, your eyes were icy, and he felt your magic spike with hostility. It sent daggers through his heart, but he didn’t show it. He was too mad at your stubbornness.

“I’m not leaving if I can help. I went to Dr. Devorak’s clinic. I’ll be starting as his doctor’s apprentice tomorrow. If you’re so selfish and want to leave, go. But do not expect me to do the same when I can help people.”

A flame ignited in his heart where your daggers of ice had been plunged, and the words were out of his mouth before he even realized he said them: “Fine! If you want to throw away your life, you can go ahead and die for all I care!”

A flash of hurt crossed your face before you masked it through steely eyes. You picked up his bag and threw it at him.

“Enjoy your trip, Asra.”

With an angry puff, Asra forcefully put on his hat and, scooping up Faust, he walked out and slammed the door.

He didn’t know. He didn’t know that would be the last time he would see you.

He was in Nopal again when it happened. As more time passed, he had hoped you’d see reason and come join him, but you never did. The house remained horribly empty without your laughter filling it. He remained calm, though, whenever he felt your magic. Despite your argument, despite the horrible things said, your magic’s link to his remained strong. He would feel it pulsing with happiness, with sorrow, with excitement and disappointment. It was his insurance that you were still alive.

One day, he was swept by incredible fatigue through your magic. He bit his lip in worry. You were probably working yourself to death trying to find a cure. Was the doctor taking care of you? He shook his head, and soon after, the fatigue washed away. You were fine.

Only you weren’t. Next came pain. It was brief, only lasting seconds of it, but your magic was suffering, and he could feel it. There was no calmness anymore, and it was dimmer now. He choked on his breath. No. No, you had to be okay. You were among doctors. There were precautions. The pain was from something else, it had to be. Still, he thought about how he left things with you, and soon, he found himself packing to go back. Tomorrow. I’ll leave tomorrow. 

Too late. He was too late.

He woke up to the sound of screaming. He bolted out of bed and ran out of the house, his head snapping back and forth to find the source. No one was there. But the sound was still there, growing ever so loud. The screams turned to wails, and to words.

“Please! It hurts, it burns, please stop!” someone screeched, their voice broken, frantic, pained. That voice. Asra’s blood ran cold. No.

He reached for your magic. It was a mistake. His entire body was engulfed in searing pain that kicked him to his knees. He would have screamed too, had the pain not vanished and been replaced with your screams echoing around his skull. He clutched his head and folded himself until his forehead touched the ground, tears forming in his eyes. Your voice was cracked and strained but you kept screaming in pain. In between your wails, you called out to him.

“ASRA!”

Asra sobbed. ‘I’m here,’ he wanted to scream back, but he wasn’t. He was miles upon miles away, in another country, further away than he could even hope to be able to offer his help while you were hurting.

The screaming stopped eventually, and only then was he able to get up on wobbly feet and run to the beast that helped him travel, Faust around his shoulders.

“We need to get back to Vesuvia now,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He couldn’t reach out to your magic anymore. There was a void in him where it used to be. He didn’t know what had happened to you, but his suspicions were almost enough to make his heart stop.

His fingers were coated with black ash and crimson blood, and he couldn’t contain his sobs. They racked his entire body, hurt his throat as they ripped through it. His tears fell freely on the sound he had sunken into. Silence answered his sorrow; silence and the weak, almost extinguished thrum of your magic reverberating in your skull. The only thing that had remained of you. The rest had burned while you screamed.

“I’m sorry,” Asra whispered weakly, clutching his shirt, not caring that he tainted its white with black and red soot. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t-” his voice cracked and another sob overtook him. “I didn’t mean what I said, please-”.

He cut himself off, gulping erratic breaths. If he had just been here…

He kept looking at your skull, haunted by the empty sockets that stared back at him. An idea crossed his mind the more he stayed alone with the traces of your magic. With a dangerous newfound determination, he picked up your skull and started walking away, ready to put as much distance between himself and the Lazaret as possible.

To his horror, he soon discovered that his suffering didn’t end at the Lazaret. Your screams rang in his head again a few weeks later, while working at the palace. They shook him to his core, and they almost knocked him to his knees again. He froze as your wails drowned out any other noise out, his eyes wide and unblinking, staring into the void.

“-ra! Asra, hey! Snap out of it!” Dr. Devorak’s voice rang sharp through your pained voice, and Asra could finally breathe again when he looked in his grey eyes. Dr. Devorak took his hands off Asra’s shoulders giving him a careful, concerned look. He realized he must have been shaking him. He looked around and saw pairs of eyes peering at him curiously over medical masks. He looked back at the doctor, disoriented.

“Wh-,” he swallowed and brought a hand to his forehead. “What happened?” he croaked a second after. Dr. Devorak gave him an incredulous look. “You were doubled over and crying,” he said matter-of-factly. Asra touched his cheeks lightly and felt the half-dried tears. His hand was shaking too. He looked back at Dr. Devorak at a loss for words. He didn’t know what to say. Those were your screams. He shouldn’t be hearing them anymore. You were gone. So why was he?

“I…”

The doctors were still looking at him. Valdemar’s piercing stare unnerved him, and he couldn’t stop recalling the sound of your pain. Out of nowhere, he was shielded from view by an apron-covered chest, and a gloved hand rested lightly on his shoulder, pushing him gently the other way.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Dr. Devorak muttered.

Once outside the dungeon and the library and into the halls of the palace, Asra managed to finally take a deep breath that actually reached his lungs. His hands were still shaking as he ran one through his hair.

“What happened in there, Asra?” the plague doctor asked, concern in his grey eyes.

Asra took a good look at him, thinking in horror back on the echoes of your screams, his mind summoning images of fire licking your skin and destroying it. His eyes welled up again but he blinked the tears away. 

“Nothing important,” he said and tried to give Dr. Devorak a charming smile. “Thank you for your help though, Doctor.”

Dr. Devorak appeared to get flustered, instantly losing his composure and blushing furiously.

“I, uh- You’re welcome,” he stuttered out and looked to the side. Asra nodded, and with a fake pleasant smile, he moved to leave.

“Uh, Julian!” he heard the doctor’s voice yell out from behind him. He turned around and gave him a quizzical look with an arched eyebrow.

Dr. Devorak was still blushing and looking at his feet.

“My name is, uh, it’s Julian,” he muttered.

This time, Asra’s smile, albeit small, was genuine. “Thank you, Julian.”

He started spending time with Julian more after that. Your screams came to him often, always rendering him immobile and unresponsive, but he started to seek comfort in the hands of a certain steel eyed doctor, and suddenly he didn’t completely shut down when all he could hear was the pain and desperation in your wild voice. The void where your magic used to be was still there, gaping, but Julian made it easier to ignore.

“If I tell you something no one knows about me, will you tell me what is going on with you?” Julian said one day lazily, head buried in Asra bare chest, legs entangled under the sheets. Asra petted his auburn hair and hummed.

“Perhaps.” No. He wouldn’t. But he was curious.

Julian sat up and rested his weight on his elbow. “My given name is Ilya.”

Asra arched his brow.

“My sister was the last person to use it, before I left her back in Nevinon,” he explained with a thousand yard stare. His lips were curled in a smile, but his eyes were drooped, sad.

“You loved her?” Asra asked, his thoughts drifting back to you, and something wrung his heart. He tried not to wince.

Julian chuckled forlornly. He shifted his body to look better at Asra.

“More than anything. I would do anything for her, even though… I guess I’ve been quite a disappointing brother to her. Haven’t seen her since she was about yay high,” he said, gesturing to a height barely higher than that of the bed. He shook his head. “Haven’t been called that since then either.”

Asra took a while to answer. His mind was clouded with memories of you. How long had it been since he saw you? More than a year had passed since he had left for Nopal without you, like the coward he was.

“Ilya is a beautiful name,” he ended up saying. “It suits you.”

Julian hummed, pleased with himself but unable to hide a blush dusting his cheeks. He soon recovered and cleared his throat.

“I told you something personal. Now, what’s wrong?”  

Asra hesitated. He didn’t want to tell him. But he couldn’t leave him hanging.

“I lost someone. They were dear to me. Dealing with their death is… hard,” he settled for. It was the truth, if not all of it. Julian’s eyes darkened. He looked away, ashamed. Asra knew that the guilt of not finding a cure for the Red Plague gnawed on him. He felt a spark of satisfaction. There were times he still blamed him for your death. But it soon went away. “I’m sorry,” Julian whispered. Asra didn’t answer. That night, your wails were mellowed out by Julian’s company.

Julian soon became Ilya for Asra. And soon after, Ilya became past, your voice too deafening, too maddening for him to stay with the doctor. It haunted him, it stole his sleep and made him see your ash on his bloody fingers whenever he even looked at him. The resentment that cultivated couldn’t allow him to stay with him. He would hear you all the time, sometimes for whole days. Every time he did, he felt a small spark in the traces of your magic from your skull.

“I’m sorry, I already said I’m sorry… Why are you doing this to me?” he whispered between tears at the skull one day, barely even hearing himself over you. The leftover magic spiked and your screams became louder. He sobbed. This… this trace of your magic was all he had left of you and it was an echo of the last time you were alive and he was doomed to relive the pain again and again. He couldn’t bare to tether his bond to you.

Your screams were burned in his mind like a brand that never healed, always sizzling with pain.  He missed you and he couldn’t connect with you anymore. He remembered your screams better than he did your voice now, your voice that he had adored so much. Your magic was painful instead of comforting like it used to be. He was going insane. He couldn’t take this torture anymore.

You just wouldn’t stop screaming, so he pressed his hands firmly to his ears, not caring enough to wipe his tears anymore, only caring about stopping the screams, please just stop, please. You didn’t. So he did the only thing he could: he screamed with you, trying to drown out your voice with his. He screamed until his throat felt like it was being torn by talons and his head pounded. He screamed until he couldn’t scream anymore, choked by his sobs and tears, on his knees and doubled over himself, his hands never leaving his ears, even though it didn’t do anything, even though he just wanted to hug himself as he cried, wishing that were you.

He only let his arms fall from his head and snake around himself when your screams faded away. He kept sobbing softly in front of your skull and Faust finally dared to approach him and wrap herself around him in an attempt of comfort. “Faust… I need to do this quicker,” he whispered to his familiar when he could finally breathe again. Do what? She asked, tilting her head, tongue flicking.

“Bring them back,” he said, a dangerous fire alight in his purple eyes. His magic flared dangerously, and yours cowered. “Whatever the cost,” he said, and then softly, eyes downcast: “I can’t do this anymore.”

And bring you back he did. The days leading up to the Masquerade had been relentless. Your screams hadn’t stopped echoing around his own skull for days, and he thought he might snap, his skin crawling. But in the end, the deed was done and the deal was struck. The seal glowed over what was left of his heart, and you were back. The moment you returned, the screams vanished, and Asra could have collapsed with relief. For the first time in a long while, he smiled, and the smile was genuine. You were there. You were alive. He did it.

He had thought that the day that he would get you back, the day he so carefully planned, the day he sacrificed so much for, the day the screams would stop, would be the happiest of his days in a long time. But then, you opened your eyes, and where he expected recognition and love, he found only alarm and emptiness. You curled into yourself, away from him, as if you didn’t know him. Asra recoiled.

He called your name but you didn’t answer. He asked you if you knew who he was but was met with more silence. Moments later, when you opened your mouth, he dared hope that it had only been shock, but that hope got crushed when grumbled, wordless noises fell off your lips. It only took seconds for him to realize that you didn’t remember him. You didn’t even remember how to talk. He tried to bite back a sob as what was left of his half heart broke all over again. You didn’t come back as you were.

It was supposed to be a happy day for him. But all he could think as he put on a brave face and fought off tears was that the traces of your magic and the echoes of your screams seemed more welcome than your strong but reserved magic and the blankness that governed your gaze when you looked at him.

BNHA Rewatch: Season 1, Episode 1: Izuku Midoriya Origin

mysterylover123

First episode! I love this episode (well, the two-parter, anyway, as a whole. First chapter I guess). One of my favorite intros to a series ever.

First scene! My ship! And their terrible, awful, rocky starting line. I hope the final scene of the series is some kind of callback to this, with an ironic twist on it. But yeah, this is Deku and Kacchan at the start of the series, at their most flawed. Deku being all hero with no super, Kacchan being all super with no heroism. But that’s about to change!

(why are they so cute?!)

I think this scene is what cemented to me that I liked this series right off the bat. I love how they introduce the concept of what it’s like to live in a world where superhero battles are kind of mundane, with this guy on the phone telling his boss he’ll be late for work. Because of a super villain battle.

Deku! Precious smile that cures me of all my ills. I love his design, BTW - I’m not sure what it is, but the freckles, the green hair and huge eyes, he’s just so unique looking. I can’t think of another character who I think he looks like.

(First impressions were basically: I love this guy, he’s totally like me. No wonder I relate to a geeky kid who takes too many notes on comic book heroes)

So Deku’s class full of weirdos. How many pre-UA fanfics have these folks featured in, I wonder?

Ah, Kacchan. First impressions: Apparently, I think like Tomura, because I totally thought this kid was being set up as a villain first time around. And I loved him. I love villains who are cool and charismatic and loved by all! (I started changing my tune by the end of episode 2). Yes, I like Bakugo. So if that’s a deal-breaker, just a warning (he’ll always be second to Deku though. Sorry.)

Ooh, this ugly scene. I don’t remember what I thought of it at first, I just know that the fandom never stops bickering about it. Horikoshi has flat-out admitted that he didn’t mean Bakugo to come across this bad in the first chapter and feels he wrote him too evil though.

(BTW I think Horikoshi is the most “literally me” Mangaka of them all. I relate to him painfully hard. Ever commentary I hear from him about his experiences sounds like there’s some older Japanese male clone of me wandering around making manga.)

Better informed BKG meta writers than me have meta’d about this scene to death, and there’s about 50 billion fanfics out there where Deku tries it and turns into Yusuke Urameshi or something. I do wonder if this scene in particular will ever get a callback; I kinda doubt it.  

Baby Deku doing the headbang while watching All Might vids. Meanwhile I headbang while watching this scene. Headbang-ception.

Sad Baby Deku’s backstory. Rips my heart out every goddamn time they replay it. And they replay it a lot.

To get kinda serious, Deku being quirkless is sometimes interpreted as allegorical to being aneurotypical - I still remember how things were when my mom told me I had Asperger’s, and it was a lot like this scene (with less tears, because I was like 12 and 12 year olds don’t cry) - and I can totally see it. That’s one of the things I love about BNHA, btw - other superhero verses make having powers be analagous to being differently abled/LGBT/not-white/whatever, different in some way, not part of the privileged group, which just doesn’t make sense. Being gay does not equal shooting laser beams from your eyes. But being non powered in a world where most people have powers? That analogy works.

Sorry to get ya’ll down. Back to  cuteness!  

Deku being so considerate of Bakugo! (ilovehimhaveimentioned) And still keeping up hope, in the face of all this sadness.

Thought in hindsight, it’s interesting how this still reflects Izuku’s character flaws. I mean, he’s not perfect. He likes to talk about how he could do this, but until the Sludge Villain Incident he never really does anything to make it happen. He’s a dreamer, but that’s also a problem. Shoto points this out later on “You need to back up your words with actions”.

Deku gets attacked by the sludge villain. I love how they animated this, now having read the manga as well - his blurry vision really puts you in the scene.

This next bit is perfect. Deku is more excited about meeting All Might than nearly dying. He has to get his autograph - but he’s already got it! (All Might you treasure). 

The final scene on the roof is really interesting, it’s an odd place to cut the first chapter. But it does set up the big WTF twist at the start of ep 2. Episode 2 is one of my favorites of the whole series and I can’t wait to get to it tomorrow. As for Episode 1, it’s a solid setup and I’m so glad it hooked me in right away. 

BKDK Corner:

So since, like, every episode has a little BKDK and I love it, I just figured I’d shove it in a section at the end of each recap.

Episode 1, where they start off on terrible terms with each other. Bakugo is introduced as a stereotypical bully, Deku as your typical lovable hero. You don’t really get into their layers until Episode 2 (though it’s all the same chapter in the manga). I like how the anime added a small look of “huh?” to Baby Kacchan’s face in the first scene, where he’s like ‘WTF why is Deku suddenly acting tough’ for a minute. Deku also gets protective towards him, even protecting Kacchan from himself. I didn’t start shipping them until episode 2, and I didn’t want to at first because they argue so much, but I fell in love with it anyway. 

BEST GIRL OF THE EP: Mt Lady/Yu Takayama!

Check this link for info on her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOWPH4kLQ58&t=399s . Did ya know she was almost the MC?

RANKER: MY RANKING OF THE OPS

5. OP3 (S2OP2) SORA NI UTAEBA

4. OP5 (S3OP2) MAKE MY STORY

3. OP1 (S1OP) THE DAY

2. OP2 (S2OP1) PEACE SIGN

1. OP4 (S3OP1) ODD FUTURE

Tomorrow: Episode 2 “What it Takes to be a Hero”

“Good Ole Dacre Montgomery”

Chapter 5: 'Heaven help a fool who falls in love'

All of this story is located on my wattpad please go check it out! :)

https://my.w.tt/W8SZdPa4H5

Thank you guys for all the love! :)

@dreamin-of-dacre

_________________________________________________

Thursday morning, everyone was up and hustling around. A lot was going on today, they were filming some scenes and the rest of the cast was getting ready for the red carpet event on Friday. Myra wasn't needed on set until 2pm which was perfect, for the previous night her and Paisley finished off two bottles of wine. She was worn out and avoiding leaving bed at all cost. Myra sat up noticing Paisley still passed out on the pull out couch, snoring as usual.

Jane was out busy helping people get their outfits together for the event so Mary offered Myra the position to help her do the make up and effects needed for Dacre today. Her excitement was getting the worst of her, she rolled back and forth a few times before giving up and deciding to scroll through her phone. Facebook was the first thing she pulled up, she scrolled through the 19 notifications she had. Most of them being her grandmother tagging her in funny pictures, as she clicked through the different apps a text notification popped up on her phone.

Dacre: 'Mornin' :)  Getting an outfit for this event tomorrow and then I am all free if you wanna grab a bite to eat before we shoot!'

Myra: 'Morning! Paisley has been bugging me about seeing Joe again so you think they could tag along?'

Dacre: 'Of course, Joe did mention she was cute so maybe they'll hit it off! ;) Also this dress you got the other day, do I get a preview of it?'

Myra: 'No way you have to wait until tomorrow! :p'

Dacre: 'Just so you know I am rolling my eyes right now! I planned on leaving some shirt buttons undone for you! See you later! ;) '

Myra instantly started breathing heavily, accompanied by a racing pulse, she saw Paisley rise from her bed with a big smile. "How you feeling MJ?"

"Tired. How in the world did you convince me to drink two complete bottles of wine with you?" She groaned, rubbing her palm against her forehead. "You can never back down from a bet! It'll be the death of you someday!" Myra shook her head throwing a pillow threw her door way towards Paisley,  before flopping back in her bed in exhaustion. "Dacre wants us to get food with them later if you wanna go!"

"Them?" Paisley raised an eyebrow with curiosity. "Dacre and Joe, a little birdy might've told me he said you were cute!" Paisley stood frozen, "Joe-Joe Keery said I was cute.."

"Maybe." Myra shrugged, standing from her bed and walking to the fridge searching around for her iced coffee. "I need to find something cute to wear then, I had just planned on some leggings but this is serious jean stuff!" Paisley dug through the contents of her suit case searching for an outfit, while Myra poured the two of them a glass of ice coffee, dropping two ice cubes in each cup. Paisley always wore leggings no matter dress up or comfy clothes, so for her to want to wear jeans you knew it was serious.

"What about your closet? Anything in there I can steal?" Paisley sprinted to her bedroom pushing back the doors and diving in. "Go for it, just leave my outfit hung on the handle alone, that's my dress up outfit for set today!" Paisley pulled a long red sleeved baseball shirt, laughing. "I knew you brought this with you." She was talking about a shirt she had bought Myra right after season 2 came out and it instantly became Myra's go to bed shirt it was a large and very soft with the words 'Steve in the streets, Billy in the sheets' written across the front.  

"Please let me show Dacre this, he'll love it!" Myra swiftly took the T-shirt from her hand and threw it beside her bed. "No way in hell! Never!" She reached for her work attire hanging on the hanger and her small makeup bag setting beside her headboard. "I am going to get dressed you can raid my closet all you want and look for an outfit we just need to be leaving soon!" Paisley nodded in reply, continuing to search through her suitcase.

Myra was never one to wear such a professional outfit but this moment was important to her, she would be helping on set this time. Not just another person sitting behind the camera, she would be helping decide the make up and set up for this scene along side Mary.

Her dark red pants stopped right above her ankles the high waist of it meeting her black, cropped, wide strapped tank top, and a pair of matte black heels to match. Myra's curling iron put perfect small curls into the ends of her hair, she quickly sprayed them in place before joining Paisley in the living room. "Wow look at you, my best friend looks so fancy!" Myra struck a pose, laughing. "I feel so powerful in this!" She placed her hands on her hips, shaking them a little.

"You should, you look great! Also you ok if I wear your white lace top?" Paisley held up the top from the side of her closet. "Go for it, it'll look great on you!" Paisley instantly ripped off her bed shirt and replaced it with the new one. "Let me fix my hair and we can go!" She rushed into the bathroom closing the door behind her. Myra sat on the couch, taking out her phone to message Dacre.

Myra: 'Almost ready to go, waiting on Pais!'

Dacre: 'We are here waiting, see you soon ;)'

Paisley exited the bathroom buttoning her jeans, "I'm ready!" She reached for her phone and purse setting on the dining table. "Great, they're already there waiting for us!" Paisley swung the trailer door open with a bright smile, even though the air around her was gloomy and clouds above them grew dark.

The walk to the dinning area was filled with Myra telling Paisley her plans for this scene but her talking was cut short when Paisley mentioned the dreaded bed shirt again. "What are you going to do if you take this guy to your trailer and you two go to bed and he sees that shirt?" She bursted out into a gut wrenching laugh. "Well hopefully if that ever happens we aren't wearing clothes!" She interjected, mocking her voice. They both laugh harder, Paisley almost to the point of tears, when they approached the boys sitting at the table with questionable looks.

"Something funny?" Joe spoke, standing from his seat to greet Paisley. Myra shook her head covering her mouth to hide back anymore laughs. "Nothing it was just something funny we saw!" Paisley took in a deep breath, taking a seat next to Joe.

"Hi there, how's your morning going?" Dacre hung up his phone and smiled up to Myra, he patted the spot next to him and Myra obliged to his request. She noticed he looked a little off today and not his normal self. "It's good! How about you?" She adjusted her top hoping to receive a reaction from him. "Better now!" A forced smile grew across his face. "How was drinking last night?" Joe spoke to Myra and Paisley.

"Drinking? How did you-" Myra looked between the two boys with confusion. Dacre raised his phone to show her 6 different selfies of her and Paisley. "I assumed these selfies are the product of you two drinking!" Myra snatched his phone and looked through them. "Paisley, I don't remember this.." Paisley glanced over her shoulder laughing along. "I remember taking selfies I just didn't know you'd send them out!" Myra's stomach twisted in embarrassment, it had been awhile since she had drank that much so the entire night was just one big blur to her.

"I am sorry I sent those!" She handed the phone back over to Dacre, avoiding eye contact. "Don't be sorry they're cute!" He placed a hand on her leg, comforting her. Joe and Paisley were now off in their own little conversation when Dacre asked Myra. "Are you excited for this sauna scene?" Myra nodded, adjusting her posture. "I am, I've spent a lot of time thinking things over and I have some really good ideas!" She took a drink, curing the dryness that has occurred in her mouth. "I can't wait to see them!" He ran a hand across her back, tracing small patterns around her hips. Joe glanced over in a confused look mid-conversation before turning back to face Paisley.

An alarm Myra had set on her phone was going off alerting her it was time for her to head to set. She stood from the table they had been seated at thanking Dacre and Joe for inviting them. "I have got to get changed and I will meet you on set!" Dacre waved to Myra heading in the opposite direction. Joe gave Paisley a hug before thanking her for coming, "I have a couple scenes I am filming tonight, maybe if you find the time you two could stop by and watch?" Paisley glanced over towards Myra directing the question to her, she nodded. "Yeah we can stop by after I am done working on this scene! It would be nice to see the other story lines going on!"

"Great!," Joe spoke with excitement. "I will see you then,Pais!" He followed behind Dacre,quickly catching up to him. "Pais?," Myra raised a brow at her. "That's my nickname for you, he can't steal that!" Paisley pushed her in the direction of the studio. "It's a shortened version of my name, not sure that's really a nickname." She snickered.

They arrived on set, this time they would be filming at the same pool as before just inside the locker rooms. "I have never been in the guy's locker room before.." Paisley said walking around the bland looking area. "Nothing really special huh?" Myra shook her head, when Mary appeared through the doors. "No, nothing special except the faint smell of pee!" They all joined in laughing. "So M, you got any ideas for me?" Myra quickly takes out her notebook, flipping through a few notes she had scribbled down. "I'm thinking Billy is in the shower maybe after his shift, that could be how they lure him into the sauna with their CPR dummy." Mary nodded following along with her. "So a naked Billy?" She raised an eyebrow,smirking. Myra briskly shook her head. "No, no maybe he steps out and is getting dressed? The shirtless-ness will give the viewers a better look at his 'flayed' body and it will appeal to the Billy fans." She laughed glancing at Paisley shooting her a thumbs up. "I like it! Then we could do a complete flayed look head to toe on him." Myra's excitement grew knowing Mary liked her idea. "I will tell the special effects team and the director and let them know, when Dacre gets here you can inform him!"

Myra walked back to her seat next to Paisley, her smile still yet to have left her face. "That was great MJ, she loved it!" Paisley shook Myra's hand in excitement. The locker room door slammed behind someone coming inside. "Dacre!" Mary said, handing him over a pair of jeans. "Myra has a great idea so we are going to skip the lifeguard outfit and go right to you in the shower!" Dacre chuckled glancing in Myra's direction. "Your idea, huh?" He winked, taking the jeans from Mary's hand. "So Ms. Director explain to me what I am doing!" Myra rolled her eyes walking over to the shower stalls. "We can start here and the kids could start taunting, you head to your locker and start changing, then in nothing but jeans you go to find the kids that'll give us the ability to give you a full 'flayed' look once you get trapped inside the room..what do you think?" She stopped at the sauna door and turned to face him. "Well I think you're just trying to get me shirtless but I like it!" He glanced through the small sauna door then back to Myra.

"Maybe.." She smirked, before being interrupted by the filming crew filing in through the locker room doors. Dacre was taken to the side to discuss things with the director, the group of kids now joining them to be informed about the changes as well. "The director loved your idea, I think it's going to go great!" Mary gave her a confident smile. "Now we just need to get this boy to his boxers and into that shower so we can start filming!" Mary placed her fingers into her mouth, blowing out a high pitched whistle catching everyone's attention. "Dacre, let's go shower time!"

Myra laid her notes down in her empty chair next to Paisley, ignoring her adolescent faces. She turned, to be caught off guard by Dacre removing his shirt and jeans leaving him in a tan pair of fit boxers. "Get yourself in there let's go!" She joked, pushing him from behind into the small stall. Dacre turned the knob as the water quickly shot out onto the floor. "Get the wig soaked and we will fix your hair down in front of your face." Mary took out a small comb from her bag waiting for Dacre to follow her commands. "geez!" He quivered stepping into the cold water. "Mind flayer likes it cold, sorry!" Myra laughed,turning the warm water off completely.

Mary bushed down a few hairs in front of his face and laid his hair around his shoulders. "Ah perfect!" She stepped back looking at her finish project. "Ready whenever you guys are!" She spoke over to the director. He gave a thumbs up, moving the wheeled camera to face the shower. "Everyone in place!" He spoke, echoing through the small compacted area. Myra took her seat along with Mary and Paisley,holding onto the small tablet from before.

"Action!" He demanded from behind the camera. The camera slowly made it's way down the shower stalls, stopping at the end, turning in to see a soaking wet Dacre. The palms of his hands were placed against the shower wall, facing the water's cold stream. The water came to stop as Dacre turned to face the camera now peering in at him. The pieces of hair Mary had  fixed laid perfectly down his face. Myra sat up in her chair, feeling herself flush she couldn't look away her eyes were drawn to him, she fought to ignore how attractive it was.

The white towel was ripped off of the rack and Dacre walked to his locker, pushing the towel through his wet locks.  The camera now stood to his left side showing off his glistening body and the perfectly placed tattoo Mary had done this morning. The locker door was swung open while Dacre took out his jeans pulling them over his still damp legs.

He jumped a few times tugging them on, when a sudden clang caught his attention. "Pool is closed." He spoke lowly in the quiet room. More noises came from the other room,only louder this time. "Hey," He slammed the locker door closed racing around the set of lockers. "Do you hear me? The pool is closed!" He rapidly approached the locker room main door, slamming his hands against it. He shook at it a few more time, causing the lock that had now been placed on the other side, to jingle back and forth.

"Billy!" Mike's voice rang from the distance. Dacre quickly adverted his attention to the young boy. "Who's there?"

"Billy!" Mike spoke louder in a taunting voice. "Who's there?" Dacre asked in the same sing-song voice. Mike continued on, Dacre now charging through the locker room, ripping back shower curtains searching for the children. "You think this is funny,huh?" Dacre was on the prowl now, determined to find them. Mike's laughter now echoed throughout. "Billy come and find me!"

"I find you, it is your funeral." Dacre paced,slowly turning every corner. A teal door slowly closed while Mike spoke up again. "Come and get me. Come on!" Dacre came to face the sauna door and the figure of a boy stood in the small window, Mike's laughter continuing through out. "Got you!" Dacre says, just above a whisper. A loud cackle left him as he stepped towards the door, clapping his hands in success. "Come and get me, you piece of shit!" The voice spoke from the other side of the door.

A red CPR dummy, to Dacre's surprise, was placed on the other side of the sauna door. He stomped forward scooping it up by it's neck and slamming it to the ceiling of the small room. "Hey, behind you." A voice came from the small walkie-talkie attached with duct tape around the torso of the dummy. Dacre released the dummy from his grip,slamming it to the ground and turned to face, Millie who now stood behind him. "Hi!"

"Cut!" The director yelled. "Let's get Billy strapped up for the throwing!" Two men raced to Dacre's side putting a clear strap around his chest and hooking it to the back wall. "What's that for?" Paisley glanced across Myra over to Mary. "It's a device that will make him slam against the wall with Eleven's telekinesis, it attaches to the wall and it will pull him backwards at quick speeds. The wall behind him has quick break tile so as soon as he touches it they will shatter like he was thrown against them." Myra sat at the edge of her chair eager to see the contraption at work. "Everyone ready?" The director glanced around,everyone in a waiting position.  "Action!" Millie repeated her line, while the two men who had rushed on set, now stood to the side yanking on a device that pulled Dacre backwards against the sauna walls and then dropping him to the floor. Broken pieces of tile scattered all around him, Mike,Max,Lucas, and Will all rushed around the corner slamming the sauna door closed and putting a large lock around it.

Dacre continuously slammed his body against the door trying to get free. "Come one!" Mike spoke, hurrying Lucas to close the final lock. "Got it!" Lucas yelled as the two of them stepped away joining the others a few feet from the door. Dacre had a look of desperation on his face when he looked at the group of kids. "Max."

Max intensely starred back at him, before turning to Will. "Do it!" Will turned the dial all the way over to the hottest setting. "Max let me out of here!" Dacre slammed his fist against the small panel window. "Let me out!" He panted as the fog collected on the glass near his mouth. "You kids," Dacre looked over each of them. "You think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank,huh?" He spat on the glass, out of rage. "You little shits think this is funny?" Max looked to Will with worry. "What is this? Open the door!" His voice deepened as the temperature around him raised. "Open the door!" He screamed with a powerful slam against the frame. "Open the door, open the goddamn door!" He now had his face smashed against the glass.

A loud thud came from the sauna as Dacre dropped to the ground. "We're at 220." Will turned to face the group after checking the thermometer at the side of the door. Dacre grunted more, before beginning to sob. "it's not my fault. It's not my fault,Max. I promise you it's not my fault." Max peered in through the glass seeing her step brother curled up on the floor, pleading. "What's not your fault, Billy?" She questioned him. Dacre had a look of fear, real genuine fear. "I've done things,Max. Really...bad things. I didn't mean to!" His lower lip trembles as he cries out. "He made me do it!"

"Who made you do it?" Max's concern grows for him. "I don't know, it's like a shadow." At this point Dacre's entire body was drenched in sweat, actual real sweat this time. Mary had informed Myra and Paisley that the sauna was actually on, not at that exact temperature but warm enough to make him sweat. "Like a giant shadow. Please,Max." Dacre cried harder now. "What did he make you do?"

"It's not my fault,okay? Max,please." Dacre laid his head on the wooden bench, begging and pleading. Max took a few deep blinks as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please,believe me,Max, it's not my fault. I tried to stop him,okay? I did! Please believe me Max." Myra even felt herself tearing up, Dacre's acting was pulling on all of her heart strings. "Billy it's going to be okay."

Max placed a hand on the glass trying to comfort her brother. "Max, please!" The camera slowly moved in on Dacre's right hand reaching for a broken piece of tile that had been thrown under the bench.

"It's going to be ok. We want to help you! You just have to talk to us, okay?" The camera moved close up on the back of Will's neck, he ran his hand across it,he shuddered. "I feel him!" Will mumbled. "He's activated." Max still stood at the sauna door comforting Dacre. "Max, get away from the door." Mike yelled, becoming worried for his friend.

"What?" Max kept her eyes on her distraught brother lying on the floor. "Get away from the door!" Mike screamed from the top of his lungs. At that exact moment,Dacre lunged forward shattering the small glass window that stood between them. "Let me out you bitch, let me out!" Max ran from him fighting back the tears.

"I'll fucking gut you!" The rage in his voice, frightened the entire crew. Dacre pulled away the metal pole that had been shoved into the door handle and tugged on the chains trying to free himself.

"Let me out!" he roared as Lucas pulled back his slingshot aiming it in Dacre's direction. Dacre grunted as a make believe object slammed against forehead causing him to dramatically drop to the ground. "Max come on!" Lucas yelled, motioning her to join the rest of them. The lights flickered sporadically, the groups of kids looked around in absolute fear. Another camera moved to Dacre who was still lying on the tile ground, Dacre coughed up a small amount of water, staggering to get up off the floor.

"Cut! Make up get in there and touch up his face! Special effects get in there and touch up the green screen dots!" Mary took Myra's hand and rushed over to Dacre's side. "Hi there having fun?" She smiled down at him. "Oh a blast, you ready to do this?" Myra nodded reaching out for Mary's make up bag beginning to apply the stenciled make up to his cheeks and forehead. "You're doing a great job! Almost had me crying earlier!" Dacre shook his head laughing.

"It gets worse, trust me." He laid a hand on her thigh while she helped Mary cover his neck and chest with the stencils as well. Myra's entire body tensed up, trying to ignore his warm touch. Dacre brings his eyes up to meet hers, keeping a sweet smile. "After we are done here you have any plans,aside from taking Paisley to see Joe?" She shook her head, nothing came to mind.

"No plans, what did you have in mind?" Mary huffed a deep breath continuing to lay down the 'flayed' make up. "Well I was thinking a movie night?" Myra gave him a bright smile. "Sounds like a plan!" Myra patted his shoulder since they were now done with him. "Keep up the good work, Montgomery!" She strutted away joining Paisley back at their seats. "Dang, someone's cocky!" Paisley squealed.

"Here we go again guys!" The familiar voice spoke over everyone. "Action!" The camera moved up on Dacre pulling himself to his feet, grunting in agony the entire time. He fumbled around the room, reaching for the walls around him. A loud roar left his mouth as the camera came to face him,showing off the work Myra and Mary had just done.

Dacre charged at the door, slamming his shoulder into it. The chain jerked reaching it's breaking point, Dacre backed up slamming himself against it again. Eleven stood guarding her friends behind her arms. "He can't get out,can he?" Dacre repeatedly hit the door,screaming louder every time. "No way." Lucas shook his head in disbelief. "No way!" He repeated. One final charge at the door sent it flying off it's hinges, Dacre rolled to the ground, quickly coming to his feet to face Eleven.

A piece of equipment hung from a near by dumbbell, the equipment would help the dumbbell raise similar to Dacre being raised,Eleven raised her hand at the same time causing the weight to rise and pushed it against Dacre's chest slamming him against the brick walls. The metal bar was placed against Dacre's neck as he yelled out,successfully pushing it away from him. It was then thrown across the room, while Dacre snatched a hold of Eleven's hair pulling it back. Dacre looked over to the other terrified children, Max huddling behind Lucas, as he took Eleven's throat into his grip.

Eleven swung her arms gasping for air, another piece of equipment was strapped to Eleven now hoisting her up into the air as Dacre kept his grip around her throat. "No!" She repeatedly forced out, smacking his arm and kicking at him. Mike appeared out of nowhere with a foam fake piece of pipe he had been handed, swinging it into the back of Dacre's head. "Go to hell, you piece of shit!" Dacre dropped to his stomach, as Mike swung again he quickly spun around catching the bar before he could be struck by it again. He then threw the bar across the room, charging himself at Mike.

The equipment that had raised him up in the sauna was now raising him up again. Eleven held both her arms out, tears streaming down her face. Spit shot from Dacre's mouth as Eleven turned to face him and threw her arms in the opposite direction, the machine now pulling Dacre that same way. A green screened cushion had caught him, as Eleven clung to Mike, the two of them sliding down the wall to the cold concrete ground.

"Cut!" He shouted,catching everyone off guard. "That was incredible guys! Let's do a little touch ups and we will be finished with it!" Dacre was released from the machine and stood on the ground, examining the wounds he had received. "You doing ok?" Myra walked up, Paisley by her side. "Yeah just a couple little bumps and bruises, no where as bad as someone slamming my fingers in a door!" He raised a brow at Myra,laughing. "Are you going to hold that against me forever?" Myra flicked the small scratch on his forearm. "Probably! You two heading over to see Joe now?"

"Yes, yes,yes!" Paisley says eagerly under her breath. "We are heading there now! Just wanted to say good job and I will see you later!" Dacre waved as the two walked off the set and made their way to where Joe and the others would be filming.

Myra assumed it would be the ice cream shop, but they were actually filming in a small warehouse. Robin,Dustin, and Erica were all standing around waiting for their next directions, when Myra and Paisley walked up. "Hey!" Joe waved from inside the small area filled with boxes. Paisley waved back,as the two of them searched for empty sets. "Don't get too nervous, you did so good earlier don't screw up now!" Myra comforted Paisley, who was shaking with nervousness.

Joe was wearing his ice cream uniform from earlier, a little more messy but the shorts were still hiked up past his knees. While conversing with Robin, Joe pointed in Paisley's direction as if he was telling her about Paisley. "Let's get in places everyone so we can get started!" Joe moved to the corner of the room,sliding down to the floor and moving a box onto his lap. "Everyone ready? And action!" The camera moved in on the four of them.

"It fell on my groin!" Joe yelled trying to push the box away. "Dustin!" He strained,trying to get the curly haired boy's attention. "Get this off of me!" Dustin joined his side helping to lift off the box. "I can't move." Joe spoke out of breath.

"Is everyone ok?" Robin asked,rubbing a sore spot on the back of her head. "Yeah I am great, now that I know that Russians can't design elevators!" Joe shouted waving his arms around, he moved Dustin away from the front of a small panel on the wall,beginning to push buttons rapidly. "I think we have established that those buttons don't work."

"They're buttons. They have to do something!" Paisley giggled a little noticing the tuff of hair sticking out from under Joe's uniform top. Myra raised her hand to cover her mouth. "Shh!"

"Yeah if we had a keycard!" Robin pointed to the side of the panel, trying to explain to Joe. "A what?" He looked back in confusion.

"It's an electronic lock! Same as the loading dock door. If we don't have a keycard,- it won't operate,meaning-"

"We are stuck in here!" Dustin finished her sentence, Robin nodded in agreeance. "Just so you nerds are aware, I'm suppose to be spending the night at Tina's, and Tina always covers for me. But if I'm not home for Uncle Jack's party tomorrow and my mom finds out you three are responsible she's gonna hunt you down, one by one, and slit your throat!" Erica spoke in a meaningful tone.

"I don't care about Tina! Or Uncle Jack's party! Your mom isn't going to be able to find us if we're dead in a Russian elevator!" Joe said enraged, his hair moving around wildly as he talked. "Hey," Dustin cut him off, pointing to the ceiling. "What if we climbed out?" The camera panned to an air vent on the ceiling. The camera then moved rooms as they entered the air vent,putting them now on top of the elevator. "What were you saying about climbing?" They looked up to a large green screen above them.

Joe crawled back into the hole to start another scene while the camera moved positions. Paisley's eyes were glued to him and every move he made.

"Code red, I repeat,a code red! Does anyone copy? This is a code red,I repeat,a code red. This is a code red, I repeat, a code red. Does anyone copy? We are innocent children and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall." Dustin paced back and forth. "The Red Army has infiltrated Hawkins, and if we are found, they will torture and kill us."

"Hey," Joe popped his head up from the inside of the elevator. "Gotta take it easy on that thing. Gonna drain the battery!" He pulled himself up to join Dustin on top again. "The mall just opened." "So?" Joe shrugged. "So someone could be in range."

"What do you think, Petey the Mall Cop is gonna rappel down here?" Joe says in a dry reply. "All right, why are you such a cranky pants after getting to spend the night with Robin?" Dustin spoke in soft, barley audible tone. "Shh! Jesus Christ! Will you just give up on your creepy dream already?" Joe continues speaking in the same tone. "I heard you guys talking all night." Dustin responds.

"Yeah, we were trying to figure out a way to open up the door, while you children were asleep!" Joe now stepped out of the hole joining Dustin on top of the elevator shaft. "After eight hours,we're still exactly nowhere, which is, you know, probably just a little bit of the reason why I'm feeling just a tad cranky." Joe moved to the side of the room being handed a small water bottle under the camera, he unzipped his pants holding the water bottle in place.

Paisley and Myra shared an amused expression, trying not to laugh before looking back at the scene. "What are you doing?" Dustin stood behind him, in confusion. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking a leak. Look away." Joe pointed for Dustin to stare in another direction. "Look away!" He repeated again before squeezing the bottle pretending to 'relieve himself'

The stream of water was now pouring down the wall inside the elevator where Robin and Erica still sat. "Can you redirect your stream,please?" Robin yelled up at Joe. The stream now trailed over the wall to the opposite corner.

A loud clang from Erica echoed throughout the confined area. "Hey,hey! Be careful,careful,careful!" Robin rushed to her side taking the green canister from her grip. "We don't even know what that is."

"Exactly it could be useful." Erica reached out for it, Robin moving it away from her again. "Useful how?"

"We can survive down here a long time without food,but if the human body doesn't get water, it will die."

"I hate to break it to you, but this is not water."

"No, but it's a liquid,and if it comes down to me drinking that shit or dying of thirst, I drink." Erica quickly snapped the tube back from Robin. While a mechanical noise caught Robin's attention, she moved to the door pressing her ear against it.

"We have got company!"  Robin pushed her head through the small door, where Joe had just recently crawled through. "Cut!" A new voice yelled this time, the assistant director helping the Duffer brothers. "Great job! That's a wrap for today we will finish out the rest tomorrow!" Paisley checked the time on her phone it was almost 9pm. "Any news from Dacre?"

"No, but I am sure they either running scenes or he's getting out of that wig." Myra explains. The sound of squeaking sneakers approached the two of them,those sneakers belonging to Joe Keery. "Hiya!" Paisley smiled at him.

"I'm glad you two made it! How did the sauna scene go?" Paisley fumbled around on her words a little before pointing to Myra. "She did great, she had so many good ideas for them!" Joe gave a quick chuckle at her uneasy expression. "There's no need to be nervous, I'm just me!" He gave a wide grin, attempting to comfort her but only doing the complete opposite. "You wanna walk to the wardrobe trailer with me?" He smiled sweetly, taking a drink.  Paisley looks to Myra for an answer.

"Yes, of course go ahead! I'm going to head to Dacre's trailer and see if he's there!" Paisley hugs Myra goodbye before turning to face Joe. "Lead the way!" She smiles, taking his out reached hand. Myra watches the two of them walk away from her, she turns on her heels heading in the direction of Dacre's trailer.

Myra: 'Heading to your trailer, are you done yet? If not I can wait! :)'

A hour went by and still no reply from Dacre, she sat on the steps of his trailer eagerly waiting.

Myra: 'Waiting for you! Hope everything is ok! :)'

Maybe Dacre was still busy on set or he came home and instantly fell asleep, it was getting later and Paisley would be headed back to the trailer soon so she decided to make her way back as well. Myra scrolled through social media on her walk back noticing Dacre's instagram story post, it was a photo of his back after the Sauna incident, it had bruises and scratch marks all over. "He must still be in make up then getting cleaned up." Myra quietly mumbled to herself,opening up her trailer door to see Paisley laid out on the touch flipping through the channels on the small tv that sat on the counter.

Myra: 'It's getting late, I'm back at my trailer. I will see you tomorrow! :)'

"Anything good on?" Myra flopped down beside her on the couch. "Hey what happened to visiting Dacre? I assumed you would have stayed the night.." Myra shrugged laying her head on Paisley's shoulder. "Not sure..maybe he just got busy." Paisley patted her head,with a smile trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah,maybe he did. You wanna watch a movie?"

"No," Myra sits up crossing her legs. "I wanna know how things went with Joe!" She rocked back and forth a little waiting in anticipation.

"It went great!" Paisley bursts out. "He was so sweet and we had so much to talk about, plus his hands are so soft!" They burst out into laughter together. "I'm glad you two had great night!"