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blooeyedtroll · 3 years

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Home on the Range

Rated PG-13ish Lolz. For occasional cussing and maybe innuendos(?). Lolz. This can also be read on Ao3. Feel free to read it there if you prefer.

More art scattered though out this fic, hope you like it!

Hello friend! Welcome!

This is a One shot fic that takes place in mine & @messybitch802 ‘s :

Efflorescence AU.

This is the beginning of our tale, I hope you enjoy.

This is in Hickory’s POV. I thought this would be a fun way to introduce Bloo and Messy. It also seemed fitting since Hickory will play a larger part as our tale unfolds.

However, I’d like to think this could be enjoyed as a fun one-shot Hickory & Dickory fic as well. This fandom needs more Yodel Brothers content!

Big thanks to @jade-green-butterfly and her random ask that kicked my butt in gear, giving me the inspiration to finally start writing:

Anyway, let’s get to it. Enjoy!:

HOME ON THE RANGE

"Rock Trolls... no doubt about that.”

The rugged, orange haired Troll put down his hammer and stepped away from the task at hand. Fence work could wait. This needed his immediate attention. Around this time of day he'd expect to see, at most, a tumbleweed passing by the entrance to the Ranch. Maybe. Nobody ever came out this way. Not since he'd been here anyway. At a good clip, it was about an hour trek away from Lonesome Flats. Which suited his needs perfectly.

The perfect place to lay low and still blend in.

"Bist du sicher?" whispered a muffled voice behind him.

"Of course I am. Now hush, I'm gonna check it out. Stay in character. An’ be ready, just in case."

The orange haired Troll patted the front of his jeans, freeing them of a satisfying amount of dust from the day’s hard work and checked his reflection in a nearby trough. Grinning as he placed a straw of wheat that was kept in the brim of his hat; between his teeth.

Perfection.

Who would guess otherwise, that the reflection in that water, was anything but a genuine Country Troll?

It took a lot of work shopping, trial and error, but he did it.

Well, they did it. The four legged, rugged, handsome, Country Troll was in actuality...two Trolls.

Two brothers to be precise.

Yodel Trolls by the names of Hickory and Dickory.

The last Yodel Trolls by their accounts, and they happened to be the best damn team of Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries in all of Trolldom.

For good reason.

The best tool to their disposal was their ability to blend in. So much so, it was only until it was “too late” for their marks, by the time their true colors were revealed. And this disguise has been their best yet.

Hickory, though the youngest brother, was the much taller of the two. So he was the face to this particular get-up. Making Dickory to be left with the tail end. Literally. Understandably, this was not ideal for him.

And he definitely made it well known on many occasions how he felt about having to play a literal “horse’s ass”.

But by gum, was he the best ass you could ask for.

At this point, Dickory had mastered the art of synchronizing with Hickory's movements, in such a way, it was now practically impossible to spot anything amiss. It was as if they shared one mind while under the guise of this centaur-esk being.

And while Dickory was fairly sour about the whole situation, Hickory found himself more and more, fond of living day to day as a Country Troll. Very much so to his brother’s shagrin. The look, the music, the lifestyle...everything.

It had been two months now since the brothers found themselves here, in Country Music territory. However, last anyone on the outside had heard about them, was that they had "yodelled so hard, an avalanche fell on them"...or something? Which was just what they wanted. For the time being anyway.

The brothers had struck a deal with their last mark.

For his freedom, he was to spread said rumor, so the Yodelers could lay low for a while.

Queen Barb, of the Hard Rock Trolls, was no stranger to the two brothers. As a matter of fact, she was one of their most frequent clients for the past few years. Which suited them just fine. Well, almost. The last few jobs they did for the young Queen, left a bitter taste in Hickory's mouth. Not so much for the tasks she asked of them, but because of something she said and what he saw on their last few visits to Volcano Rock City. Maps. Marked up. Plans of some sort. Hanging everywhere. The young ruler, looking the most tired he'd ever seen her, yet looking as if ready to burst from being too tightly wound, at any moment.

"Hopefully next time I see you dudes, one way or another, we'll all be singing to a different tune. It's gonna be so Rad."

Whatever was going on, both Yodelers agreed that it was definitely not worth getting caught up in. They could just feel it. Deep down. They were hired to track Trolls down and do what needed to do, to get by.

Both of them could be shady characters at times, but they had decent moral compasses to live by. So they told themselves.

That's why the presence of Rock Trolls at this moment made Hickory's blood run cold. Could it be possible somehow, some way, they had been found out? That whatever Queen Barb was up to, she was looking for them? What is it that she’d need them for anyway?

No. Their plan worked perfectly. Blend in as a Country Troll, lay low for a while, only do the occasional "job" when the opportunity presented itself, just until the Queen of Rock cooled her head or went through with... whatever she is planning.

Not a soul knew about Hickory and Dickory being here.

Well.

Unless you counted, July.

Miss July, the owner of the Ranch. A rather interesting Troll.

A Pop-Country Troll. The only mixed genre Troll around these parts. Unlike her four legged, centaur, Country loving neighbors; she walked on two legs... well, hooves. Her appearance could be compared to a more "Satyr" like build, with a perfect blend of both genres in her appearance. The bright colors of a Pop Troll, but the sturdy build of that of a Country Troll.

A Tough, stern older lady-Troll, with a heart of gold.

Running this place all on her own, while tending to her extremely elderly parents.

That's one of the reasons he never expected any visitors here. Nobody in town wanted anything to do with Miss July or her family. Didn't much like associating with “their kind” if they could help it. Though you'd never hear them say it in polite conversation. But that suited Miss July just fine. That's how she liked it. Ever since Miss July and her folks suffered a terrible loss to their family, decades ago, she rarely went into town if she could help it.

Which on one such occasion, is when she stumbled upon the Yodelers, in their first attempts at putting together their “Country Persona”.

They had been camping not too far from her Ranch and the Town, when she found them both, struggling to even walk in time together, in a pair of poorly made four legged pants.

July took their word as Gospel. That they were just fulfilling a lifelong dream of wanting to, in some way, be a Country Troll. So she offered them a place to stay and to show them the ropes on what it meant to be a Country Troll. If they agreed to work for her at her family’s Ranch.

"Until you feel you can stand on yer own four hooves!' She teased.

It could be easily wagered that July being an outcast in her own community, could be a factor of sympathy she felt towards them, making her wanting to help any way she could, and possibly what made her not judgmental in the least. That, and as tough as she put herself on as, she was sweet as apple pie, through and through.

Which did make Hickory especially, feel guilty about not being more upfront with her. As much as he could be anyhow.

Especially so, when the occasional “job opportunity" presented itself around Lonesome Flats during the Yodelers free time. Turns out, there were plenty of Trolls who had a bone to pick with others, or needed matters settled around these parts. Not to mention, crooks-a-plenty to turn in.

But both brothers always repented. By being very diligent working for Miss July on the Ranch. Anything she needed done, got done. It was the least they could do for what she had done for them for these last two months. So the last thing needed was for anything to get ugly around here.

As Hickory approached closer and closer, he could feel his brother tensing up.

"Easy.” He whispered under his breath, smirking, patting behind him in attempts to calm his hotheaded companion. While still maintaining a nonchalant and calm demeanor.

Having spent a fair amount of time in Volcano Rock City for past jobs, and even on several occasions for other clients; needing to spend time incognito as Rock Trolls, it was fairly easy to recognize them from afar.

Upon closer inspection, it did come across as rather curious to see them wearing Country attire. They couldn't be trying to blend in, could they?

No. Not by the way these two held themselves.

One Troll in various shades of blue in appearance, the other in peculiar shades of green from toe to tip. Both faces, still covered by wide brimmed hats. The blue Troll's demeanor was nervous right from the jump. Their green companion, holding them by the hand, grounding them. As if to keep them from sprinting away at a moment's notice. Both looking tired from the trek they must have taken from town to get to the Ranch property and from the sun's unforgiving afternoon rays.

Nothing but what seemed to be electric guitars and simple backpacks on their backs. However, these were definitely the most impressive guitars Hickory had seen in all his life.

The blue Troll’s, from what he could make out, was sage in color and looked as if it was made of some large critter's battered wing. Almost bat or reptilian in nature. The green Troll’s guitar, an imposing, venomous violet, crafted by what could only could be guessed as being once the claw and stinger of some scorpion-type critter. One he certainly wouldn't want to tango with.

Lackeys of Queen Barb’s? No... couldn't be.

"Nobody knows we're here"

"We've been so careful."

He repeated over and over to himself. Almost mantra-like. He really had no reason to be this paranoid he kept reminding himself.

“Who are the most feared Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries in all Trolldom?”

“The Yodel brothers. That's who.” He smirked at that last thought. Puffing his broad chest a bit more, in response to his inner pep-talk.

And no Troll, no matter now--

"H--Howdy!" The blue Troll, clearing their voice, shakily called out.

"Right fine day, isn't it?"

The traveler seemed to ease into the drawl like putting on an old pair of comfy shoes, and with each word, their confidence seemed to boost. Stepping forward from their green companion, they removed their wide brim hat and gandered up at Hickory, with a small smile that damn near made his heart leap through his throat. In a good way?

That was...unexpected.

His usual quick witted mind and tongue, on the spot turned into a train that just left the station.

Those eyes. Absolutely pierced him right through. Large, inquisitive, pale, cerulean eyes. Staring right at him under dark lashes, and surrounded by a cascade of cobalt freckles.

The closest shade of color he could compare those eyes to were a color he hadn't thought of in ages. Snow. Snow that as a Trolling he played in. Usually when you found yourself making forts or laying in heeps that came up so high, you would look, and you'd catch the glimmering sunlight, shining through it. A shade of blue that just melted you to the core and drew out a smile, without you being the wiser.

"Right fine.” he responded. Recovering from his wandering mind.

No time to be side tracked by an adorable, freckled, blue-eyed Troll. With sweet, curvy features, who has solid looking muscles that look they could easily crush--

"How can I help you? You folks seem a bit far away from home. Don't get a lot of Rock Trolls around these parts.”

Thank goodness his voice seemed to be the one on track; at the task at hand.

“Oi! What’s that supposed to mean?”

The green Troll stepped forward, hotly, removing their own hat, as to glare directly at him. Sizing him up. Only a tad taller, but much more lithe in figure to their companion. Definitely much more fierce. Not just in attitude, but in appearance. Their eyes, deep as sapphires. Teeth, the bottom row protruding two large tusk-like lower canines. Ears, pointed back and just as sharp as their claws, which he found himself one the other end of, being pointed at. Just as he felt his hair prickle, preparing himself for what was bound to happen next, the tension was immediately neutralized.

"It's okay Mess” The blue Troll cooed, calming the green one.

"Sorry to just come on over uninvited, but uh, does a Troll named July still live here?"

"You mean Miss July? Sure does. Why, if You don't mind my askin’?"

"Well you see, she's my... can--can I please talk to her? If she's around here today?”

A good long pause washed over the three.

Hickory could feel the trepidation radiating from Dickory behind him as he swished "their tail' in annoyance. Normally, if this was any other situation, it'd be too bad for these two. He'd send them right on their way, or worse if it came to it. They seemed capable. They had guitars, they were Rock Trolls. Random Rock Trolls, showing up, asking for not himself or his brother, but Miss July. Out of all the Country Trolls in Lonesome Flats.

But the waves of anxiety radiating from this freckled Troll were massive; and when their friend wasn't staring daggers at his direction, they were gazing so tenderly and sympathetically at them. These weren't agents of Queen Barbs. These seemed like folks on a sad mission of delivering news, or something of the like. They looked as though this was the last place they would ever want to be.

Dickory always insisted that Hickory was too quick to let his heart think first before his head when it came to their line of work. He didn't see it that way though. Hickory thought himself a good judge of character. Hell, that's why they found themselves in this situation now. Tipping his hat in a friendly manner, he smiled at the two.

"Well, why dontcha follow me then. I'm sure Miss July is making lunch right about now. You folks are just in time. Name's Hickory"

"Messy." replied the green.

The blue Troll remained silent.

"Adorabull got yer tongue cutie?" he teased

Those freckled cheeks lit up in seconds, a flushed lavender. Too cute.

"Somethin' like that' They smiled sheepishly.

All the while, as Hickory walked with the two up to the main building on the property, they stuck to idle chit-chat. About the weather or the nearby town. They passed by many of the fences that housed just some of Miss July's critters. As well as a few stables, paddocks, a decent sized workshed, and the small house the Yodelers had been staying in since they arrived here. It was once they passed that particular building, the blue Rocker stopped in their tracks momentarily. Just staring. Almost trance-like. They only moved again once Messy had firmly grabbed their hand and they followed.

Finally, they reached the main building's porch. The family home. Without any prompting, the two travelers waited at the bottom steps of the porch. Hickory nodded, thinking that might be best. He walked up to the open door. The wafting aroma of today's lunch filling his nostrils. Chili with sweet rolls? If he wasn't mistaken, he could smell fresh squeezed lemonade too. Knowing better to barge in while she was in the Kitchen...

"Pardon me, Miss July?" he called out.

"Dammit Hic, I told ya once, I'll tell ya again. Lunch is on when I ring the damn bell, that's when it’s good and ready!"

Hickory couldn't help but chuckle. That July was a firecracker.

"It's got nothin' to do with that Miss. You see, You've got yourself some visitors."

"For the last time Hic, just call me Jul--"

July emerged from the doorway, holding in each hand a glass of lemonade with mint garnish. No doubt as something to appease the Yodelers until lunch was done. As soon as her eyes met the two travelers, she stopped dead in her tracks. Glaring at them something fierce.

"These two are the visitors I was talkin' about."

"Rock Trolls, huh? Here? Whaddya want?"

The blue traveler, clearing their throat, voice cracking; they smiled, eyes glazed and sparkling with unshed tears. Staring at July as if a secret wish had been granted.

"Aunty Ju-Ju? It's m-me. It's Bloo. I'm home."

Bloo? That Bloo? Could it really be? Hickory didn't need to dwell on that too long though. July suddenly yelped out loud, in such a way that it startled absolutely everyone. Including herself apparently because those glasses in her hands dropped and shattered to bits.

"You couldn't be-- w-what kind of game are ya playin’ at?!"

July at a loss for words. This was serious. There she stood, knees buckling, lip quivering, tail thrashing. Unable to look away from the Troll in front of them at the end of her porch. A look of torment across their face.

Slowly, the freckled Troll smiled sadly, and reached behind their back for their instrument. Hickory acted quickly, putting himself between the two. Staring intently at the Rocker. They stared back, as they slowly brought the instrument forward.

"Please. Let me play?"

Hickory's nostrils flared, biting down hard on the straw in his mouth. How was he so stupid? Well, he wouldn't be fooled this time.

*~strum~*

Though the guitar was imposing and electric, with a stroke of their hand, it played a long, twangy, unmistakable, Country cord.

Silence.

Laying a hand on Hickory's shower, July gently moved him aside, her attention almost trance-like on the player. Waiting.

As if they understood, they shifted and picked up their guitar in earnest. Strumming again, but to a much more upbeat melody. Much more upbeat than most Country music Hickory had heard around town that he grew to enjoy. This sounded more... Pop? Much more like something he'd hear July singing on a day she was in a particularly good mood. Or something July’s elderly mother, the Pop Troll of the family might hum.

That's when they began to sing along, starting off slowly and gaining strength with each note. A large smile on their face as tears cascaded down their round cheeks. As if putting on the show of their lives. It was raw, and beautiful.

"She loves rock ��n’ roll,

they said it's demons’ tongue,

She thinks they're too old.

They think she's too young,

And the battle lines are clearly drawn.”

“She's a wild one,

with an angel's face,

She's a lovely Troll in a state of grace,

When she was three years old on her daddy's knee,

He said you can be anythin’ you wanna be.

She's a wild one.

Runnin' free."

“She has future plans,

and dreams at night,

they tell her life is hard,

she smiles, sayin’ “that’s alright”, yeah!”

“She’s a wild one,

With an angel’s face,

She’s a lovely Troll in a state of grace,

When she was three years old on her daddy’s knee,

He said you can be anythin’ you wanna be.

She’s a wild one.

Runnin’ free.”

"She's a wild one”~~

"~~Runnin' free.” July finished and sobbed the last line.

"That was the song I wrote for your Mama... all them years ago..My Bloo. My little ‘Bloo-Jay’ came home!"

Hickory stood fully aside now, allowing the two to embrace, for what he now had realized had been the first time in more than two decades. An embrace that both warmed and broke your heart, all at the same time. This was July's pride and joy. Her niece. Bloo, the only child of July's older sister June.

June and July were extremely close sisters. Best friends even.

June was a very free spirited Troll who fancied herself a part-time singer at one of the local bars in town. On one of these trips to town, she met a traveling Rock Troll by the name of Ziggy. Busking for food and drink. Let's just say, it didn't take long at all until wedding bells were ringing and Ziggy was part of the happy family here on the Ranch. The couple waited a while before having a Trolling. The two were busy enjoying married life, Ziggy took June traveling, fulfilling her dreams of seeing life outside Lonesome Flats. And wherever they went, they were singing up a storm. When they returned home to settle down, at any bar or club, or bingo hall that would have them, they continued singing their hearts out. Occasionally even dragging July along. The three of them became inseparable. Especially after Bloo was born. The townsfolk even seemed to warm up to the entire, oddball family. It was all turning up roses for the family finally, after what felt like ages of trying to live in harmony. But it all came to a crushing end.

Shortly after Bloo turned five years old, a serious, contagious illness spread throughout Lonesome Flats. Most folks who caught it, eventually recovered, but there were eight fatalities in the end. June was one of them. The family was torn to pieces by June’s passing. Ziggy just wasn't the same Troll after. A year passed and just as they thought things might slowly start looking up, Ziggy and Bloo were gone.

Apparently he had packed himself and Bloo up one night, and just left without a word. July knew he had family back home in Volcano Rock City, and figured that is where he would take Bloo to raise them. But July dared not go there. For good reason. A Pop-Country Troll, travel to Volcano Rock City? Demand her niece back from a heartbroken father? While leaving her extremely elderly parents to fend for themselves? No. July would be turned away or torn to pieces. King Thrash at the time was feared for good reason in those days and most Trolls feared Rock Trolls the most out of all the other Tribes.

July and her folks basically moved on by learning to mourn the loss of June, Bloo, and Ziggy. They never expected to ever see Bloo or Ziggy again. Yet here Bloo was. Embracing their aunt, while Hickory and Messy looked on fondly. His smile grew wider as he realized how overjoyed July's folks: Clay and May, would be to see their grand-baby again. Something they thought they'd never live to see.

He could see it now that he got a better look at Bloo, as they were bombarded with kisses and hugs, that they did share a little resemblance to their Pop-Country Aunt. Though without a doubt, they took after their father Ziggy the most. No wonder Bloo wasn't easily recognizable at first glance, they looked so different in comparison to how they looked back then as a Trolling.

Who would have thought that he'd meet the Troll who's childhood pictures adorned the home he and his brother were staying in? Which happened to be Bloo's Old family home on the Ranch. The same house they had stopped to stare at on their way to the main house.

"Small world we live in!” He barked with laughter.

"Welcome home Miss Bloo, glad to meetcha." And he meant it, whole heartedly.

"Glad to be home again.”

END.

(Song used was Faith Hill’s ‘Wild One’. Tweaked for this story)

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courage-a-word-of-justice · 4 years

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HGPC 17 - 21 | Koi to Producer 2 - 6 | Appare 5 - 8 | Fugou Keiji 4 - 6

...only just realised I was missing some tags. They should be there now or soon.

HGPC 17

Why do I get the feeling the Sawaizumi family will be held hostage one day…? (Maybe I’m just being negative?)

The episode title mentions Chiyu by name, so I wonder why the translation didn’t…

Customer service! You can’t get away from it, even in COVID times…! (Impressive!)

Hmm…you can actually read part of the booking for the Smiths in the book if you know the kanji.

I thought the Smiths would speak in English, but they actually speak in fluent Japanese if the word “susume” was any indication.

Ah, Sukoyaka sweet buns! (from the other episode about the festival)

HGPC 18

Don’t burn down your house with scented candles, kids!

Also remember to use your knees when lifting heavy boxes! (<- says a charity store volunteer, who does this stuff on the regular)

These days the mascots usually have a human form. I wonder if this is implying that particular direction…? (I woke up today and was craving a certain oneshot I’d read during my scanlation days…if it is, it would fill that niche nicely.)

I wonder if the kids will recognise this Ashita no Joe parody…?

HGPC 19

“…since you were young?”

Oh! Element of Wind again!

Koi to Producer 2

This almost feels like Victor is assigning a school project to Protag-chan…it’s a bit sad, really.

It’s nice they let Protag-chan have a personality.

It’s fine if you can’t read the katakana, but Gavin’s name is Haku in Japanese, so it throws out the immersion somewhat…also, I know I shouldn’t be complaining – I’m the target audience here – but do these guys look kinda similar or what…? (partially kidding)

High school sweethearts, huh? “Childhood friends” is my favourite angle of a romantic relationship, but it gets so overused by harems it comes around to being boring…!

I-Is this Stand My Heroes…?! (LOL…?)

Can we not with 1st person cam…?

As cute and dorky as this stuff gets…how does Gavin never get found?! Does nobody ever look up in this city?!? (I thought Evolvers were meant to be a secret…?)

GPS tracker? That’s no better than large corporations using your location data…Isn’t that creepy…?

Hold on, when did she get his phone number? You would assume it was before this entire chase after the boy happened, but still…?

LOL, the English on the board.

This anime is gonna cause me some frustration, but it gives the good stuff in roughly equal measure. It seems to omit the fact you interact via phone with your bois for intimacy (in the game).

Koi to Producer 3

LOL, that’s so clearly Gavin…

By googling, you find out Uptown and Queens are in New York.

Ohmygosh! Did the creators know I love the trope where only people with superpowers can move in certain circumstances?!

Uh…his name is Kira in Japanese? Did someone read the katakana wrong?

Pictured: Depressed bishonen eating bad pudding. (…That joke sounds better in my head. I forgot what meme I was meant to be parodying there, but I had a meme in mind.)

Lemme guess…this man (I dunno if it’s one of the previous bishies with an identical face or a new one) is looking for MC-chan. *sigh* Update: Yep, just Victor again. To be honest, I don’t like anyone who calls harsh words “their sign of love” – love should be honest and upfront. That’s how it becomes heartmelting.

Koi to Producer 4

Okay, in order, it seems to be hexadecimals, Javascript (you can tell from the “const”), some kind of profiles which are apparently for human lab rats (which seem to have some kind of nonsense filler text), a DNA model and DNA bases (ACGT).

The text on the screen says something along the lines of this being an official broadcast of this man’s arrest and this man was a genetic researcher. Obviously, if I wanted to put more attention into what it meant, I would, but I won’t sweat the details this time (because it doesn’t seem to impact the plot).

The guy’s name is Minor because minor key (geddit?)…that’s my guess.

I started playing the game due to this anime, if you didn’t know, and I unlocked an expert in ch. 2. I thought he was Minor, but turns out his name is Spine (an older man).

The diary, true to form, contains details about either one case or several cases, two involving children. The bottom of the 1st page says “if it’s fake, I’ll laugh”.

Hey, I once told Crunchyroll I wanted an anime about hacking (so is this a dream come true? I reveal all in the next sentence!). Hackers don’t congregate like this…they’d be too conspicuous, even with the secret hideout!

The code in the top left appears to be…C? I think? (Note they declare “unsigned int”.)

Kiro sometimes reminds me of Masayoshi (SamFlam)…it puts a derpy smile on my face.

*blah blah blah I’m Key* - Wuh…? F*** you, Kiro!!! (There is such a thing as piling too much cool stuff on to a character, y’know – I’m guilty of it in my own writing.)

3684 isn’t a very safe password (says someone who once aspired to be in cybersecurity).

What bugs me is that Simon is a perfectly fine name…it’s just a bit boring. Kiro/Kira I get (a bit), but Lucien/Simon…? *shrugs*

Ohh! Based MAPPA! Thank you for making this adaption look great!

Koi to Producer 5

Oh, I got an SR in the game recently and it has a line like, “Only a fool stays up all night to do others’ work. Victor talks like that a lot…

The sign so obviously says “Renka”, meaning “love flower”. “Loveland” really is a step down from that…

Where’s Gavin’s guest badge…?

“Happiness Noodle Store”…?

“…the end of our first year…”

If this weren’t a Chinese work by origin (or Japanese work by translation), I’m sure Protag-chan would have gone after Gavin, despite being told the contrary.

Kanya = Minor. I’ll take a note of that.

One of the books behind Minor says “Gale Start”…hmm…

That GPS tracker is still unintentionally creepy, IMHO.

Koi to Producer 6

…oh. (dejected) Probably a beach episode or something.

What the actual heck was going on with Lucien…? It’s like he was having a tiny stroke there…

Lucien’s power is listed as “???” in the game. I thought he was an aura-reader when he said “show me your colour”, but that shield thing he did means he might just have various psychic powers…? *shrugs* We’ll find out eventually.

Running in heels is hard…

LOL, that’s so clearly recreating a CG from one of the cards.

This is the 2nd time this has gone pseudo-isekai. As much as I like to joke about it…I fully expect someone to be sent to another world at this point.

I couldn’t possibly see Victor on any kind of game show, come to think of it.

Appare 5

This guy’s middle name is “Rich”! That’s silly!

A boombox from the 19th century…makes sense, somehow.

I only just (?) realised Al has a tiny tie on his usual outfit.

Back to the beginning already…just start!

Appare 6

…I just realised Appare mouths “I got it!” in the OP.

Al Lion (sic…?)

Isn’t Sofia in that train…? Update: She might have been, she might not. Hard to tell when they don’t confirm.

This series seriously could’ve done with a dub…Even with weird hokey Hetalia accents, it would be good stuff.

These bunches of people at designated points…reminds me of the book I was reading while in Japan. The Long Walk by Stephen King (part of a compilation). It still gives me shivers down my spine when I remember it.

This “leave in the middle of the night” thing reminds me of the Amazing Race.

“Valley of Despair” is made-up, but Death Valley exists. It’s one of the hottest places on earth, hence the name.

LOL, Kosame scores himself one (1) prarie dog and two (2) Hototos.

I thought Appare was being inconsiderate at first…but he’s being considerate, in his own way.

Oh! I didn’t realise, but Saito Soma is Al.

Appare 7

“It’s not one plus one, but one times one!” – LOL.

Hybrid engine? In the 1900s? Hmm…

LOL, I think Al just did a hadouken.

This stuff’s like an animated Galaxy Brain meme! It’s amazing!

I managed to successfully predict – without watching ahead – Appare would catch himself with his traps.

Kosame with his hair down…is rare. Not exactly attractive because we have to care about the racers rather than lust after them (and the artstyle actually prevents me from doing so, because it’s deliberately quite cartoony), but it’s rare.

Appare is surprisingly childish…that’s what makes him more than a Sheldon Cooper, I think.

The spelling of the place is actually “Ely”, if Google-sensei is any indication. C’mon, subbers! You’re American (most likely)! Can’t you put in the legwork (or the Google-fu) to discover what place in Nevada this is?!

Subbers make characters say “shit” a lot in this show, hmm? (contemplative)

Now this evil guy here *points to screen*…that’s hair I like.

Appare 8

I just love this OP…don’t you?

I like how the steam/gas boat/car has Chinese numerals on its dial.

Kosame means “small rain”, so “heavy rain” is obviously to contrast that.

The Hototo joke never gets old.

I thought I just saw someone leave the saloon…

Nice hair + terrible face = bad equation.

I can almost imagine the wee-oo-wee-oo-ooooooo…wah-wah-wahhh…(You know the one sound snippet, right? The one theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - or whatever movie it is – that maybe involves a tumbleweed rolling across the screen, and then a huge shootout? If you don’t know it, play a sample on this Wikipedia page!) playing in the background.

It’s convenient the prarie dog didn’t appear when Hototo (old) had his revenge spree.

I noticed there’s a bit of a mark under Kosame’s left eye…it suggests that he’s been crying (or maybe it shows tiredness from the race…?), but it’s not that noticeable.

So that’s the real Gil…and tose were his henchmen that threatened to hang everyone bar Kosame. Got it.

(notes to self) So, for charting a course with Appare Ranman!, it’s Los Angeles -> Death Valley -> Ely -> Denver -> ??? -> New York. Got it.

Fugou Keiji 4

“Daisuke-sama” isn’t “Lord Daisuke”, it would be “Sir Daisuke”, I think…but “lord” has a proper translation in Japanese.

The truck has a Shinagawa licence plate. Anime really does like Shinagawa, huh? (Based on ID: INVADED and this.)

I think it’ll be interesting to see Kambe handle this without HEUSC.

The board for Sanchome (which is equivalent to a suburb…or a county, I guess?) has posters saying stuff like “take your dog poop home” and “let’s protect the environment!” (technically, it says “let’s protect the region/area!”, but that doesn’t translate right. There’s even a flea market. Still, those posters don’t have any big hints…not that I know of so far.

I kind of forgot that dude was the gardener for Kambe’s house…er, mansion.

I noticed a poster in the kouban says haru (spring) on it. That’s probably the same one that Haru’s name is signified by, assuming that’s not in combo with another character or few.

Oh great…the sister is an overbearing one.

Ahh…he doesn’t like natto. So that’s the problem. Daisuke is childish (like Appare)…Note I don’t like natto either, but I wouldn’t run away from home (or similar) because I was fed natto.

I noticed Kambe uses shinseki (which doesn’t refer to close family). “Relative” is a correct translation of that word, I just wanted to check that word was the right one for the context.

There’s a green tea bottle by the sink…I don’t think I’d mistake that shade of green for anything else.

LOL, I didn’t think we’d actually get to see Kambe with his hair “down”, so to speak. It’s…an interesting look, for sure.

Oh my gosh! It cost him (Haru) $15!!! (LOL, cheapskate…says the cheapskate…*suddenly droops and stops laughing*) Update: Sorry about the sudden downer there. I was having what the kids these days call a “woke moment”…at least, I think that’s how they use that term.

…I’d watch that crime drama. It’s funny.

Just realised Kato has an older model of phone than Kambe does.

This episode was kinda like a Tokyo Sonata kind of thing, huh? The sensational in the middle of the not-so-sensational…”sensational” for this show, anyway.

Those kids look like the ones from Erased.

*lightbulb goes off in brain* What if the dog went to Kambe’s…?

Can Suzue actually hear HEUSC while Kambe is using it…? $2.46 though…that is cheap, in comparison to the ham.

This was the cheapest episode so far (about $550)…probably because it was an insight into Kato’s life, more than Kambe’s.

Fugou Keiji 5

The flag seems to be based on Cameroon’s (which is in Africa, not America) and the “Arita Kinen” seems to refer to Arima Kinen, meaning this episode is set around Christmas-ish. Credit goes to Kambe Zaibatsu on this show.

I-It’s a Humvee!

Polyadoll (sic)…?

The Poliador guy speaks perfect Japanese…(?)

The star! It’s a key thingy!

I thought Kamei was the 1st Division dude with the reddish hair. Turns out it was the blonde…? Update: Redhead is Hoshino.

Ummmmmm…he was reading porn…? Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh…okayyyyyyyyyyyyy��

…oh, the costs for Kambe’s tuxedo are on there. So’s the cost for repairing the bike Suzue rode.

Fugou Keiji 6

I never knew there were so many money proverbs to be used as episode titles…

What is Kambe doing with his hands…? He’s not even using the computer.

Imura seems to use a Windows 10 with Cortana on the taskbar.

HGPC 20

What’s with all the Naruto running this episode…?

HGPC 21

(no notes, sorry!)

#simulcast commentary #healin' good precure #fugou keiji: balance unlimited #millionaire detective #Koi to Producer: EVOL x LOVE #mr love queen's choice #Appare Ranman!#Chesarka watches AR #Chesarka watches HGPC #Chesarka watches Koi to Producer #Chesarka watches Fugou Keiji

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polygamyff · 5 years

Text

7. Part 4

Stretching my body out as my eyes fluttered open, my eyes still hooded as I stared to the side of me. An empty bed, no sign of Maurice. Last night I went to sleep before him and wake up after him, clearly he had slept in the bed but no comfort in this, no comfort from his touch against me. The biggest sigh left my lips, I have the worst feeling that today is not what I seem it’s going to be like, I have only come to spend time with him but he’s just always doing something. I think he knew he annoyed me last night, that face he pulled when the word marriage came out from my lips, it was like he suddenly didn’t want to know. It was ok when he was making love to me but now the word marriage is scaring him, but what about me. He scared my ass when he did that, he has pissed me off with that and I am still just that. He plays himself off because of money, nobody fucking cares about money, I really don’t anyways. I wish I placed my phone close by because now I have to drag myself out of bed, annoying. Maurice is so much more loving in California then here, his mind is never mine and he’s always thinking or doing something. I didn’t want to be here to be his second shadow or even burden him, he should have just been upfront with this.

Picking my phone out from my bag, a text from mommy. I actually didn’t call her, damn. She is not going to be happy at all. Unlocking my phone to read the message.

From: Mommy

To: Robyn

Hope you have got there ok Robyn, your dad is blowing a fit. You said you would let us know, remember this is hard for us, you’re with a man we don’t know, so please be mindful. Love you x

Taking in a deep breath, I did really forget about it. I know my parents are not happy. They want to know this man, they hearing about this unknown guy and I am flying away to him. It is a lot for them, but my mom knows my feelings to Maurice is strong so that is why she has backed down, I do feel bad in texting her at least but let me reply back now.

To: Mommy

From: Robyn

I am sooooo sorry mom, it slipped my mind. As soon as I saw him it just got hectic but I’m fine, I’m with Kellen too so don’t worry and Tif is here x

I just want my mom to have a peace of mind because I don’t care about them two but she will feel more happier that I am with some people she knows, I hope she don’t get annoyed at the fact I forgot but knowing my mom she will be. Placing my phone on top of the table in the room, I am not about to wear this out there. I did bring Maurice’ hoodie with me so I can wear that, walking slowly towards my suitcase. Crouching down, grabbing my slides and placing them down. I am sure I placed the hoodie right at the bottom, shifting the clothes a little to the side. There we go, yanking it out of my suitcase, I would actually walk around like this but I have no bra on and my panties be riding up my ass too, there is other boys out there too. Placing my feet in the slides as I placed the hoodie over me, I can deal with my legs being out. I hope I don’t look too much of a mess, dragging open the bedroom door. It’s weird because in the bedroom you don’t hear shit, open the door you hear everything. They are even listening to music, and being rowdy.

Slowly walking the hallway that leads straight into the living area, I instantly see Maurice in a wife beater “hold the fuck still, seriously. Like I am here helping your ungrateful ass” that chick is here again, it’s early in the morning. I am not feeling her being crouched down right in front of Maurice “it’s just a small mark, it’s wiped off now. You out here complaining” she is wiping something off his black slacks he got on “cool, pass me my belt” Maurice said as he paced away from her, Shawn is even awake and Malik. He is smoking a blunt “Robyn, you awake” my eyes dragged to Maurice’ face, he walked towards me but I was quick walk around him. That shit is not it and it was not something I expected from him, I think I am so right. These rich men have sex with everyone, I am not about to start anything because I don’t know this chick “your belt….” the girl dragged out and stared at me, she is a girl. I don’t know her like that “Rob G in the morning” I wish the kitchen was in a different part but it’s literally here, they can see me still. I want food before I slap someone “you want some food? We can go and get some?” staring at Malik “where is the food?” I asked “we have pizza from last night, I was hungry. You have options, you can either order it here or we can go there or we get Ally to go, we have options. I am hungry too” I assumed this was a hotel, I thought wrong but I am not about to cook “Maurice already ate, Ally bought him his stuff. Perks of having an assistant” he didn’t even think of me, not only does he not want to marry me he is forgetting me “do I look ugly?” I asked Malik “no, it’s crazy you walk out looking fine no matter” I’ll take that “we can go and get some food” I need to eat.

Placing my shades over my eyes, these braided pigtails have lasted through the night but will be a pain to do later. We can be quick and get some food I guess, I just need some food “where you going with your shades on?” oh he comes now “ain’t you busy having some girl crouched in front of you or are you used to that position?” Maurice’ mouth fell open “wow Robyn, that is messed up. How you going to say that to me? She is my assistant, we work every day together. Why you being like this?” I ain’t being like shit, just stating the truth “assistance don’t be on the their knees ok? You may not be used to having a partner but shit works differently. I am going to assume you not used to having a girl around, I am a woman. I know this shit, don’t be play me. I am going to get some food” pushing by him, he really think I am stupid. Assistant my ass, I will keep making remarks and being pissed with him until he can admit it. Walking into the living area “Malik, come on” Shawn looked confused, he is too high to notice shit “I have a better offer now Ally, I don’t need you” Malik said to her but I don’t know what he was speaking about.

I am kind of regretting walking around with just a hoodie on in New York, I am mess. I ain’t even washed my ass, I am walking around this place “we could have got a SUV, you do know that?” this long ass line in Subway is not it, it’s the closest thing but even this wasn’t as close “so I have to speak to your brother” I was determined to not “oh, why y’all not speaking already?” Malik likes to not stand still, does he have ADHD “because I have a feeling he used to fuck with that girl, his assistant. I don’t want to see her in my face, or even in that position and then we was just talking and I said marriage. Maurice like brushed me off, he didn’t even want to know so that annoyed me “oh” Malik said, looking down at his hands and he is really scratching his hand, like there is an open wound already on there “are you ok?” turning fully to him “you’re like hurting your hand” grabbing his arm “stop it” he moved his hand away “I am fine, but yeah. My brother does like you, he wouldn’t fuck Ally. They just close, Maurice wouldn’t let me shoot my shot if that” grabbing Malik’ hand and looking at the wound “you’re making me want to fix that for you” squinting my eyes staring down at the wound “you burnt yourself? Does it not hurt? This is fresh, did you not disinfect it? Seriously stop poking it” looking up at Malik, he is sweating “we need to check on that” I am not going to question him on it.

I was going to bring this back to eat at the apartment but decided against, I will eat it here. Now that I am actually seeing Malik, I can see the difference in him. He was very much fine but there is really something odd with him, I don’t want to say anything but he is not eating either and I spent money on that “Malik” I said his name, he has been staring out of the window for the longest “Malik!” I half shouted, he looked at me “why are you staring at the guy? He is getting annoyed” every symptom is screaming drugs, I can see it all over him and know I am stuck with him “he’s after me, I know it” god help me “I doubt it” maybe we should go back “you got a problem nigga?” some guy said behind me, Malik stared at me like the fuck am I going to do “speaking to you nigga!? You got a fucking problem?” looking behind me “he doesn’t, there is no issues here. So please” this guy is so scary, my god “not speaking to you princess, you fine” I will just take that “we are going now, just please” getting up from the chair “you lucky she is here, don’t be staring at niggas like that!” he pointed at Malik, I felt like today wasn’t going to be good.

The moment where I have to hold Malik’ hand, he keep touching the wound and I don’t like it “we have to bandage that up for you” I got a few things from the store, you know what. I should stayed my ass in California, Leon would have been laughing at me if he was here and say this is what I deserve “sorry” Malik said “for what?” I said holding his hand as we got to the complex “I am ok, I mean I am trying to be” clearly he’s not, dragging open the door and walking into the building “I understand, you just need help” pressing the button the elevator “does Maurice know you are taking drugs?” I have to know “he said suck it up” he knows, still let me go with him. This is what I get for searching for food, my life. Tapping the keycard and pushing the door open, how am I even juggling things like this. Least someone is dressed, I would compliment how handsome he is but I won’t, Maurice mean mugged me so hard “why are you holding my brother’ hand!?” he shouted, I forgot all about that “it’s not about you ok? Come, let’s get your hand bandaged” I am caring, I have to see this through now so forget him.

I am just glad to have bandaged that up, he can stop poking it for whatever reason he is doing it. Maurice on the other hand cleared the living room, there was a few people here “now you can’t touch it” holding Malik’ hand up, he smiled at me “you nice” that is just me “the fuck is this!?” here he is “are you blind? Can’t you see your brother is suffering? He is coming down from drugs, he hurt himself” Maurice looks furious, he is so very mad. I have never seen Maurice mad, why would I. I always see the nice side to him “what did I say to you? This should have happened” Maurice reached over and gripped Malik from his top and dragged him straight off the couch, I gasped “Maurice” I said in shock “stay there!” he spat, he is dragging his poor brother “I would stay out of it Robyn” Shawn said, he is so calm about this. The door banged shut “but what is he going to do to him? Seriously?” I don’t like this “see what happens, he won’t hurt his brother. It’s fine, just let it happen” I want to know what, what is he doing.

I am not happy with Maurice at all, like what ever he doing to him is wrong. It just makes me wonder how bad his parents are, both of the kids like that. Broke my heart seeing Malik like that, Maurice finally appeared out of the bedroom and closed the door. Staring at the door waiting for Malik to appear out but he didn’t, looking back at Maurice’ face wondering what he did. His Tuxedo is intact “sorry you had to deal with that” Maurice apologised “don’t say sorry, I want to know if he is ok?” Maurice walked off and into our bedroom “come with me” he gestured, getting up from the couch and followed him to the bedroom “I would like to know what you did?” He acting all cool and calm right now but I want to know, closing the bedroom door behind me “where is your brother Maurice? There was no need to do that at all, dragging him off like that. He harmed himself” Maurice is the least bit happy but his brother needs help “I assumed he would have been ok but obviously not” Maurice turned to face me, I felt slightly awful because I can see the stress all on his face. This is what he deals with everyday, I am just seeing the bare minimum “you good though yeah? I shouldn’t have let you gone with him, I saw he was ok but he wasn’t. He didn’t harm you or anyone?” Shaking my head “do I look harmed? I held his hand to bring him home that was it” Maurice nodded his head “look, I did what I had to do. Until I have got the time to take him” raising an eyebrow “do what? Exactly?” Did he knock him out or something “I erm, I let him have some drugs to calm him and help him” my eyes bulged our “what!? Are you trying to kill him? He needs help, not the drugs, oh my god” this is stressful “I don’t need this, I don’t need him acting out right now. I am late and I need to go, you more than likely think what Kellen thinks of me but I got to do what I go to do” this is a mess, this whole trip is a mess.

I feel a little helpless, this is his family so who am I. I can only support him, no wonder he’s always stressed and like this. Maurice remained silent with me, with the huffing and puffing he is thinking “I just want you to get him help, please” I said in a whisper “I will, not just right now. I get it, it’s a mess. I’m sorry, I really wanted to see you and this is what I get, I am sorry my family is crazy I didn’t want to expose you to that but it’s too late” his phone started ringing, he didn’t bother to touch it but just closed his eyes and sighed out “Robyn I need to go, I’m sorry. I will be busy today, I will be at my hotel. Shawn will take you to the event, I am sad I am missing it with you. Please forgive me. Tonight I will be yours, I promise” I want to be mad with him, I want to scream out how dare you make me come here but everything is a mess in all ends “I’m so sorry” clenching my teeth together as I breathed out heavily through my nose, walking over to Maurice. Placing my hand over his clasped hands and moving them down, getting onto my tiptoes and wrapping my arms around his neck “you looks so handsome” I said in his ear, Maurice held my body close “I am embarrassed, like that shit actually happened. I will come back, please take a picture so I can see you ok?” Moving back from the hug “I will, you better be back for me tonight, I came here for you and right now you need me to hold you down so you better” Maurice nodded his head, he pressed a kiss to my lips.

I feel like shit is becoming a living hell, I didn’t think stupid over here would have done that with Robyn. I don’t even want to speak to Malik, I just want to get this thing over and done with so I can go back to Robyn, I think I need to make it up to Robyn after today. Even though Malik fees like shit he has not choice but to come here, I told him we doing this together “get out of the car” I said to him as I got out of the SUV, slamming it shut. Fastening up my button on the suit jacket, least Robyn says I’m handsome, that all that matters. I know last night I kind went off with Robyn, she said marriage I was like nope. I just need to get out of one marriage first before that, Robyn doesn’t know that though. Malik dragged himself out of the SUV “you can do this, it’s a couple of hours. We got this” I just want to get him in rehab now, staring down at Malik’ hand. That inner surgeon came out of her “I’m trying, I’m fine now. I just want to party now” he smiled at me, he will be sticking right by me so he can think again with that.

As soon as I got into my hotel Ally is already waiting for me “did you get dressed?” I pointed laughing “ha, ha, ha. Hilarious, your dad is here. I mean everyone is here” I wonder what she mean by everyone being here, the party ain’t until tonight here that is when I am running “ok, take me to them” following behind Ally “is that your new fuck buddy?” Ally openly asked “who?” I said confused “that girl walking around just half dressed coming out of what I think is your bedroom” Ally need to shut her mouth “you don’t need to worry about her Ally, and she’s not a fuck buddy” I corrected her with that, Robyn is not my fuck buddy she is my girl but I won’t say that just yet “then she is something to you, where you get her from?” Ally is asking too many questions “if you know me so well then you will work it out” Ally side eyed me “California, you spent enough time there” see she knows “there you go” walking into the ground floor meeting room “you’re such a whore” seeing Nalah, she is always here “oh, well. Look at this, the family are all together” it’s a sign of hell “and Naomi” I knew she would come “she bought her family, great. I need a drink” my mom shook her head at me “anyways, I am so proud of you my boy. You have so many hotels under your belt, now Santa Monica. I am so very happy” nodding my head feeling not good, I want the day to end already “if dad just maybe gave me them, life would be great” my dad just smiled at me “Malik, what did you do your hand?” my dad asked him, looking behind “I hurt him but it’s lit, we lit. We good, Robyn helped me” my eyes widened, is he stupid “who is Robyn?” my dad asked “she is my friend” clearing my throat “so anyways, y’all ready to just get to the events?” I want to drop kick his stupid ass.

My soul feels like it’s not here, like these events. I feel they are so tedious to me and I really just want to be back with Robyn, I only come here because Tina is a very good client and she invited us. We make a hell of a lot of money with the party alone at the hotel, she wanted us to come to her fashion shit like we do every year. I have got Robyn in the Gucci gig, Tome ford too and a few more but these a far from here. By the time we go back to the hotel she will be there, so it’s like a miss with that “come here you” Tina pointed at me, I ain’t about the camera bullshit “me?” my dad pushed me, walking onto the red carpet “in my dreams I am dating him” I mean if she was younger I would have but I’ll pass on that, placing my arm around Tina “he is a very close friend, treats me well. I have known Maurice since he was born” she said to the camera “come on” Tina shouted at my family to come over “Davenport family, we have all been in a hotel that your family practically own. Are you excited to see the fashion show?” nodding my head “as we do every year, support Tina the whole family. I am excited to see it all” I have no idea who I am speaking too “thank you Mr Davenport, take some pictures now” Tina laughed out loud “girl you don’t mind me stealing him” seeing Naomi right next to me “it’s ok Tina” Naomi said, I want the ground to swallow me right now. My heart is in my mouth right now, I just can imagine Robyn seeing this. Naomi placed her arm behind my back.

I am sweating my balls off, I swapped seats with my mom so I am now sitting with Nalah. I wanted to sit next to Malik but clearly my dad has got him “look over here” Nalah said at the side of me, looking over at her and then seeing her phone out. I smiled as she took the picture “you actually taking normal pictures, my little brother” my sister said looking down at her phone “you know” she paused mid-sentence “I always wanted to take that away from you” she locked her phone “take what?” I asked “this burden, not in a bad way but you take all the shit for us but it should be me. I am the oldest. We get away with it all, I do feel bad but I am proud of you. You have done so well with things, but I can so tell Malik has had something. He is so odd” rubbing the side of my face “I gave him a line, he was going crazy. I just wanted to get today done and Nalah. My life was written out for me as soon as I was born, I never had a choice. I was in diapers and travelling with dad, he was never going to leave it. I never saw mom, I was with dad. I had a carer that is how less I saw of you all, that time I was with you guys we near got taken away because of what happened. But it’s something that is happening to me, I don’t want you to feel bad. You still my older sister, even though you a bitch at times, you my sister” Nalah hit my arm “you an asshole still” I can take that because I am just that.

I am deadass staying away from Noami, I don’t want to be near that. Holding the care door open for my sister “we partying now?” Malik has been saying nothing but that “I swear to god, you annoying” Nalah complained, my smile grew seeing my hotel. It looks great, fit for a luxury party for the fit anyways. I don’t even think there is a single regular guest in here, it is just filled with the rich and famous “wine” sir the waiter outside of the red carpet asked “no for me but my sister will” I knew should have took a glass “help me got up these stairs” Nalaha hooked her arm around mine as we walked up the stairs “I hope to god I meet ASAP Rocky, I want his babies” scrunching my face up “you old though and you taken by some old man” my sister scoffed “you ruin everything, stay away from me” she walked off away from me, I am glad she gone. I can just try and just make sure things are going ok so I worm my way out.

To be sat at a Gucci fashion show is amazing but also to be sat next to Shawn and not my man hurts, I wanted him with me but it’s whatever. I didn’t know this place has assigned seats and Maurice got me on front row, like how does he do it. I have clocked Tif, she is in the back. My heart fluttered seeing someone point at me, that is so awkward “why is someone pointing at me?” I said to Shawn “maybe they like you, probably. This place is full of designers” he got a point “what you think though? There is a few things I like you know” shifting in my seat “I like the bags, that is a thing I may actually buy” Shawn’ eyes are so beautiful, they draw you in. That shit is scary “cool, you like it then? I don’t really come to these things but it was actually decent” I wish Maurice is here “thank you for coming, I wanted to be mad at Maurice but I couldn’t, you know. We really wanted to see each other and we did but he’s busy. He has so much going on” Shawn didn’t look fazed “honestly Robyn, I hate it for him. I see him stressed free with you, when he came back from Cali I was like you a whole ass new man, you are good for him” smiling a little “you think Maurice would move to California? I want to ask him” Shawn chuckled “you know what, you ask he will do it but he will always be going Texas once a week. But you could change that, I feel you can” Shawn thinks I can, that is crazy.

I actually want to see Maurice’ hotel, I heard it is like one of the tallest hotels in New York “we are close to Davenport hotel right?” I said to Shawn “just around the block why?” he said, I want to go there and see it “maybe we can go there and and then get Maurice to come home” Shawn paused not saying a word, he just stared ahead “why don’t we just go back to the apartment?” waving him off “you can follow me” I am sure he will, walking off. I want to see my man’ hotel so why not, he never took me there so I want to go there “Robyn, wait up” see I knew he would come, placing my jacket over my shoulders “you men are so predictable” looking over at Shawn “how so? I couldn’t let you walk on your now” I grinned to myself “such a gentleman” I hope I see Maurice there “just that there is an event there and it’s like an exclusive event” what is Shawn trying to get at with this “I will just tell them to get Maurice, I did that last time. He saved my ass from the doorman” Shawn’ smile grew “why?” Maurice is forever saving my ass “because I parked my car outside the hotel and he was like you can’t do that, he chased me all the way inside and I goes to him speak to Maurice he knows. He assumed I didn’t know him but obviously Maurice said it to him and he was quiet after that” I just want to spend some time with Maurice, I am being so calm about this.

The hotel is huge, it looks beautiful but wow “this was the second hotel that the Davenport family bought back then, Texas was the first hotel. I still don’t understand how his great great grandfather got it, they say the guy was a con artist but we will never know. But they are very much business men, they have a whole neighbourhood in New Jersey. It’s literally named their street, it’s an amazing business they are in but there is a lot of family politics. Back in the day they made that stupid rule, it has to be you first born son. It’s something that has been passed down, which to me sucks. Nalah would have been fine with it” Shawn should be a tour guide “ever thought of being a tour guide?” Shawn snorted laughing “perhaps but we can just see it, I did text Maurice and they are busy still” nodding my head “I just want to see” these doormen are bodyguards, scary ones too. Walking up the steps “names please” one of the guys said “Shawn, should be on their with the family” Shawn said behind me “what about yours?” the guy looked at me “are you asking for yourself or to check the sheet?” the bodyguard just busted out laughing “wow!” he shook his head “well it can be both ways, you funny” he pointed at me “get inside, I am guessing you’re with Shawn” shaking my head “not really but thank you” I winked at him.

Shawn is laughing so much at me “do you know you can use your face for everything? Got niggas just letting us come in” I can hear the music in this place “can we just have a little look, just one little peek. I will be good” Shawn slouched forward “you are a pain, just stay close” twirling around and skipping towards the music, I have no idea where I am going. Grabbing the wine as I made my way down the hallway, the music getting louder as I got close. The double doors opened up and the music is well and truly blaring out, that hall looks amazing “he’s such an asshole Shawn! I am so fucking done with him” looking behind me, wonder why she is upset “you’re here Naomi!” Shawn spat but that lady just pushed passed him, Shawn shook his head “let’s just go!” he shouted, I really don’t want to go though. Downing the wine, I think I have seen enough though. Staring down into the hall, I cam see Maurice from here “we should go, I want to get some pizza too” staring at Maurice with this woman, they are both laughing a lot. My hearts wants me to go in there and hug him, this makes me so sad. So close but yet so far, Maurice placed his arm around this woman “that is Tina, she is a client” Shawn said, dragging my eyes away “let’s go” I think I want to go back now.

These heels hurt like a bitch, placing the empty wine glass down on the reception desk “come again” the lady said, I didn’t even know she was sat there “complimentary for the business” she held out a magazine “thank you” taking it from her, smiling at her faintly walking off “come on then Shawn, let’s get pizza” New York pizza is supposed to be nice actually, walking out of the door “leaving so soon? That was quick” twirling around to the bodyguard “maybe I was never supposed to be here and you let me in?” he doesn’t know that “never thought of that did you?” his face dropped “why did you come here for? You’re out now anyways” I shrugged “to sight see, thanks for the wine boo” blowing him a kiss “you cali girls are crazy” I am just that at times.

#chrianna #chrianna ff #fanfic #fanfiction

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aleatoryalarmalligator · 7 years

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Life Story Part 35

Those miserable two and a half weeks of waiting for Zack to come back to school were gloomy and ridden with anxiety. I could barely breath, and I thought of nothing but him. I felt so low. Something seemed different now, some force outside of my control had stepped in and prevented what was happening from happening. There was a paradigm shift in my reality. Something felt very wrong, and yet nothing had really changed in any obvious way. And yet it had. I was frustrated all the time. I could not put my finger on what I was sensing. There was this different tone that my friends had in their voice when they spoke to me. Nobody would talk to me unless they had to. But nobody would tell me why. I felt like everyone knew something, but simply were choosing not to tell me.

One day in the girl's bathroom, Sarah came in, and without me saying anything to her at all said 'Renee, Zack doesn't like you that way. Okay?' I asked her if he had said something to someone about me. She hadn't heard anything. She was being honest, Zack had never said anything to anybody. I could tell that her reason for mentioning it was personal to her. She had problems with the situation with Zack and I. I didn't want to believe she was jealous. But it certainly looked that way. There was this desperate edge in her voice, like it was vexing her personally. I knew I couldn't be 100% honest with her after that. And Ava was straight out dismissive, and would pretend she didn't know what I was talking about. She would walk away if she could, and wouldn't look me in the eye at all. I felt like people were keeping some great terrible truth from getting to me. I tried to be upfront, yet I didn't want to appear crazy. And yet, when I tried to ask everyone, nobody seemed to know what I was referring to.

Zack wasn't sick. Maybe he had been for a day or two, but not for two weeks. Something was up. Did it have to do with what happened on the 17th of January? And if it had, then what had I really done wrong? Could life really be this easy to fuck up? I was able to borrow a Pablo Honey album of Radiohead's from someone that Samantha knew. At first, I skipped to Creep, but then I started listening to the whole album. I really liked Radiohead after all. I had disliked them so vehemently less than a year ago. Strange. So many things seemed different somehow. The sky didn't look the same. I had never seen the sky look like that. I seemed to notice subtle hues and microexpressions so much more clearly now, I could see now that there was so much more to life than what I had ever been told or had ever been expressed to me. The world was full of pain, but also full of beauty, and the bland sterile happiness in the smiles of the popular kids faces as they walked around me, the empty shallow pop tunes on the radio, all of it was meaningless. I didn't love Zack because he made me happy. So much of what people assumed about love was because it made them feel good or made them happy. He brought out a strange joy in me, but it was tinged with pain. It was a sort of pain that I needed though. It was recreating me into what I was meant to be, and I could sense that within myself.

After school, I would go home and sink into my mattress and disappear. It's strange to think about it now, but my world was rapidly and without warning completely falling apart at the seems. And I had nobody to talk to about it.

I ended up going home from school early one of the days. For some reason my pink finger began swelling up and became extremely painful in the nail area. Then the nail started to peel back over the course of just a few days, and green and yellow ooze began to drip out of it in large doses. I remember walking back home at noon, my pinky finger swollen and hot in the cold late January winter air. Eventually my pinky began bleeding this green yellow ooze and it would fall on the snow on the ground as I walked down the path despondent.

And then there was the fateful basketball game that I missed out on. Zack was there – somehow resurrected from the abyss, Tyeson was there, Jason was there. I couldn't go though. I was stuck at home cooking a chicken and babysitting. I felt confined. It was all I could muster not to freak out and cry. Had he shown up at his normal time I would have gone. But that night my father was running much later than ordinary. I suppose it wasn't his fault or anyone's. But Zack had shown his face somewhere, and I absolutely had to see him. I didn't realize it consciously, but I felt like I had to fend off my friends. Not Samantha, since she had a boyfriend, but Sarah and Ava. I knew something was up. I paced about the house. I listened to Elephant again and again. I cut my hair. I was looking in the mirror, and the lyric in the song Little Acorns 'your problems hide in your curls' came up and perhaps reaching desperately for some kind of meaning, I took this lyric to be a message telling me personally that it was time to chop a few inches off and straighten my hair.

I never ended up going to the game. My father was super late, visiting a friend, and didn't get back till the game had ended. During that game, Ava had made some kind of connection with Tyeson in unspoken body language. Zack had been there, but nobody told me very much. He had asked where I was. And sadly Jason was doing terribly. He had been high and drunk for days. When he was in school, he smelled so thick of vomit that it was hard to be around him. He was not in a good mood, he didn't smile. He talked about killing himself offhandedly. He asked Sarah if she would date him, written in a scribbling letter with the penmanship of an exhausted eight year old. He spelled everyone's name very wrong. It was sweet, but more desperate than anything. He wanted Sarah to chase his addictions away. And Sarah didn't feel that way about Jason. Before class one day, as I was sitting besides Jason in front of the school at the bench, he just started vomiting. He had taken a handful of pills that morning, hydros mostly. He could keep nothing down, and when you considered that he already had anemia, he became even paler, and even more ill. I could not imagine doing that to myself for months like he did. Addiction is a horrible thing.

That basketball game, he had tried to lay down in front of vehicles in the parking lot, so that as they were leaving they would run him over and crush him to death. People had to pull him out and set him straight. His sister Tanya saw this happen. She scoffed and walked away. I don't think Tanya was a cruel person by any means or that she wanted to see her brother commit suicide. I think what I was seeing was her reaction to years of Jason. When you are addicted or mentally unstable, if you have made some terrible mistakes and seem to keep making them, people give up on you. She had learned to harden herself to this kind of thing. It's not right, but it is something that does occur in families.

Jason had another set of friends. These kids were a year younger. Derrick Mitchel, April S., and this quiet redheaded boy I never knew the name of. We didn't hang out with them, I struggled to relate to them at all. April was extremely aggressive and emotionally unstable. She smoked a lot of weed made jokes about shitting, was really vocally against everything and everyone and yelled a lot, and had a worse homelife than I did by a long shot. Derrick Mitchel was gay, had a tendency to steal, and would run his mouth to men three times his size with a smile on his face.

Naturally neither one of them was popular at all, and even though they were enormously different, their commonality in not fitting in caused them to be a sort of mishmash group. They were constantly screaming at one another. Derrick Mitchel would call April a fat ugly bitch, and then April would get up and act like she was going to hurt Derrick Mitchel and the redhead. And Derrick Mitchell would laugh at her, and somehow it all would go back to normal. I never understood why they even hung out. Jason kind of became their ringleader for this time. He was able to provide them with weed, mostly. Jason told them about all his thievery, he gave them detailed accounts. And he must have shown them all where he hid the stuff, including Mrs. Gulke's laptop. Because when he failed to get weed to them, or when he became annoyed with Derrick Mitchel, Derrick got him back by turning Jason into the authorities.

Jason was in school that day. He was called to the office, and as soon as he got close to the office, he knew there were cops waiting for him, so he decided to make a run for it. He made it into the entrance room – a room that had the Kendrick Tiger trophies and age old class of 87' team pictures displayed, as well as a few pop machines. Mr. Bradley, our sizable history teacher barricaded the door on one side. The cops came in through the other side. Jason was trying to break through as they came in and arrested him. He had to be knocked to the ground. He didn't trust cops and he fought back. He had some reason to not trust cops, since they had once mistaken him for one of his relatives in the park, had knocked him down to the ground and began beating him before realizing they had the wrong guy. And then they drove off, leaving him bruised and knocked to the ground, him trying to explain to them that he wasn't Johnny. And that's how Jason was hauled away. He was gone from school for awhile, where he was charged and arrested and so forth. He came back to school only for the last month of 9th grade.

My father began dating again. I had first met her down at the daycare center. She was 28, had long blonde hair, she was fairly pretty but looked like she had it a little rough, had a cheery voice, a valley girl accent and a few of her teeth were blackened for some reason. Her daughter Jessica was best friends with my younger sister Allison already. She had a very young son named Troy, and another older daughter named Jasmine. Tammy was really friendly with me when I came into the daycare to fetch Allison one day, and I soon learned it was because she had her eye on my dad. I have learned to know this behavior when women are interested in my father. They generally come up to me, and they start hinting for information about my dad. They keep saying 'God, your dad is so wonderful huh?! Such a good dad!.. You guys must get along great!' This has happened to me several times. Each time, I always agree, 'oh yes, he hung the moon so he did.' I don't tell them that he forced me to sit in the dark for three months or that he beat me or psychologically abused me. I just smiled and agreed the best that I could. I didn't want to be chasing people away who could be potential distractions for him that would keep him off my book.

Tammy had it rough. She and her siblings had grown up in the San Fernando Valley in California during the 80's. Her mother had schizophrenia, she didn't really know who her father was, and her mom was selling her kids to do child porn to buy drugs for herself. Tammy was too young to remember if any of the sexual abuse happened to her. She and her brother and sisters had to scrounge through fast food garbage cans for food and they were eventually called into CPS. She didn't ever have a toothbrush until she was older. When they took her away, she was put in a group home, where she learned to draw and cook in her spare time. She got into partying, and based on a loose notion of who Tammy thought her dad might be based on something her mom had said once, she decided that this odd man in Kendrick Idaho was her father.

His name was Harvey. He was mentally handicapped. He had Elvis Presley's hair style. I think it was all that Harvey knew. He was small and tan. He had a little nervous voice and he stuttered when he spoke, and preferred to keep to himself. He took bicycles apart and put them back together in this beat up old shed behind his house. He ate his food outside by a burn barrel. He fed stray cats until his entire yard was filled to the brink with wild cats and kittens. He didn't know how to get rid of them, so he had to spend more and more of his government check on food for them. And he was definitely not Tammy's father. They looked absolutely nothing alike. But there was no loss in this arrangement however. Harvey was lonely. He had no friends or family, and people were scared of him for some reason. He lived most all of his life at the end of Kendrick. He could go twenty years without ever leaving the town. He would take a bicycle ride sometimes and I remember seeing him as a young girl.

But when Tammy found him, and assessed the situation, she did him a favor as well as herself. Tammy divorced her first husband, who was this insane meth dealer. She needed a place to go that was out of California. And Harvey was alone. When she chose to see herself as his daughter, he was immediately given three grandchildren to care for and build things for. He no longer was alone on Christmas. I am fairly positive that Tammy was using him, but it really was a harmless arrangement and did the both of them a lot of good, and I absolutely don't fault her for it.

I personally really liked having Tammy around. She cooked, and liked grunge music. She was really confused as to why my dad had me set up in the dark, so he bought me a lamp to please her, albeit a dim one. She was a little bit manipulative and sketchy at times, had elements to her personality that seemed a little off balance, and her relationship with my father itself was rather gross, but when it came to her and me, we were on good terms more or less. My father heated the house more efficiently tried harder to make things accommodating and kept on his best behavior, and most importantly, he no longer was concerned about what I was doing in any way.

My father decided that he now wanted to encourage my interest in music. He had painted me as some terrible teenager early on – siting my music as an example, but he seemed to be easing up somewhat. And more importantly, he wanted to impress Tammy in any way he could. He ended up buying us tickets to see a show in Spokane WA. Metallica was playing and Godsmack was the opening act. I was overjoyed. Metallica wasn't really my favorite band at all. I tried to like them, but generally failed. But a concert was a concert. I didn't even care. I did like Godsmack quite a bit more back then though. I think in my excitement I gave my father a rare hug. It would just be Tammy and I. That was the one piece of good news that came my way, in my otherwise broken state.

A few days after Valentine's day, Zack finally came back to school. I had hoped we could proceed where we had left off. But something about him was changed. For the first few days he seemed to avoid me altogether. He walked ahead of me to classes we shared. He sat a distance from me in FFA. He didn't talk to me much if he could help it. I didn't want to bother him, so I avoided intruding in his space. But I was silently dying a slow death. I called my friends, but they didn't want to talk about it. They told me that I had enough of his attention and I shouldn't complain essentially.

I remember this entire later part of winter as always night out. In a way it kind of was from what little I saw of the sun. It was still dark when I woke up in the morning. It lightened up a little on the walk to school, but when I went into Sarah's house, her house was so cozy and well lit, with homemade blankets and antique knick knacks. There were always curtains over the windows. It could be so cozy in her home, that you would look outside and it felt like an impossibly cold dark world. Inside we could listen to albums and drink hot cocoa, and sleep till noon on weekends. Even if it was light outside, it really felt like another world separated from the outside world.

And then in school, the window's blinds were always pulled up to prevent wind chill and student distraction. So for the entire time I was cooped up in the building, there was very little outdoor time to be had. By the time we got out at 3:30pm, the sun was already in the process of going down again. And if I did anything after school, it would generally involve walking in the dark. And then my bedroom, even with the lamp was extremely dim. It had the effect of about two candles.

On the night of February 20 (Kurt Cobain's birthday), I convinced Sarah that I wanted to go to a basketball game. I wasn't a fan of basketball games. They sort of required that you actually watch the games because they didn't want people haunting the hallways of the school. Basketball is not my friend. I don't understand it very well. There was very little space for people to hang out. There was actually nothing wrong with this. I wanted the latent qualities of outside socialization, but the games were actually sports related. A few times, we managed to convince Ms. Fiske to let us hang out in the art room, but that was mostly it.

I went to this game, because I had heard that Zack would be there. I thought maybe just maybe he would open up to me in a different environment and this could be our opportunity to begin again. Sarah and I waited for a few miserable hours, but there seemed to be nobody coming. So we started walking back to my house. I was disappointed, but I still hadn't given up. We might be able to spot him, I decided if we were to stay close to the highway. And for some reason I convinced Sarah that we needed to walk alongside the highway. We were standing at this pit stop for campers to get water and use the bathroom that used to exist on the outskirts of town, when suddenly a van drove up to us. Zack was in the van. His sister was driving. Cody (Ava's exboyfriend) was in there too, mumbling and so high that nothing he said was coherent. Zack had Whitney stop the van so he could talk to me. We started trying to get to each other through the van. Whitney explained to us that Zack had stayed home that day in honor of Kurt Cobain's birthday. They had baked Kurt Cobain a birthday cake, and then proceeded to get as high as they all could. They were a little late to the game, but had tried to make it. Zack was hyper and trying to get me to get into the van with him. I wanted to, but I really couldn't. It was totally incoherent as far as plans go, obviously on a lark. My father would wonder where I had gone. Whitney seemed slightly annoyed. And what about Sarah? I couldn't very well just leave her out in the limbo of the night on the side of the road like that. Whitney seemed slightly amused by Zack. She looked at me with all honesty and said to me 'I have never seen Zack act like this before. He's never like this at all. You have a very strange effect on him'. We foolishly flirted a bit longer, but Whitney couldn't stay there. So eventually I had to say goodbye to Zack as the white van carried him off into the night.

It's strange to think that this was thirteen years ago. Which feels very close to me – like in the grand scheme of things as far as human's inhabiting our planet, it might have as well have happened thirty seconds ago. But it also seems unreal to think like this could ever have happened at all. I was such a different person back then, But also feels like it never happened at all, it feels like I took a step into limbo and walked into a new frame at some point, leaving all of this behind me.

Zack started talking to me again after this, quite a lot actually more than he ever had. But it was quite a bit different than it had been before. He didn't flirt with me anymore, or tell me he loved me. Instead, he wanted to talk about his personal life. I had felt a lot more comfortable with flirting, and this new element made me very nervous. It was good for me, however. I think him revealing himself to be a real person made me understand what it meant to actually love and care about a real person. With Kyle, and to some degree with Zack early on I had idealized them to the point of not being able to reach up to them. And this was his way of coming down the pedestal and standing as my equal I believe. He began confiding in me a lot of personal stuff that was honestly hard to decipher and difficult to respond to.

He just came into FFA one day, sat down next to me, and started showing me all these personal writings he had done. He wrote in this scribbled fairly unstable handwriting, about his chronic stomach pains. He wrote about how the world was broken and nobody knew what love was. He wrote about feeling suicidal. Some of these writings mentioned a secret group of people who were after him. He seemed to believe that there was a group of elites who ran all the world governments. It was hard for me to tell if he meant this seriously or symbolically. He spoke in a lot of symbolism. I was sort of shocked, and didn't know how to take this. I had never had a boy confide in me like this.. He wrote about me a lot in his writings. He wrote about how I had an inner light that must go on without him as the light in him was going dim and he would die soon.

I was so confused. I really cherished everything about him, and I wanted to understand him better. I had never really recognized all the confusion and pain he was feeling. I had no idea his thoughts were like this. I felt honored that I was one of the few people he felt he could trust. And I wanted what he had to say to make sense. He wrote about me like I was a celestial light being almost. It never occurred to me that someone would see me like this. It was impossible for me to live up to this ideal. He wrote that I had magic powers. And why me? What had lead him to become obsessed with me? What made him think I was this special? Honestly, I had started into this journey, just assuming that we liked each other – hopefully, and we could run away together and insulate ourselves against reality somehow. Now I couldn't tell if it had really been because of these ideas he had about me being magic all along.

I eventually asked him about this secret group. He kind of told me it was the Illuminati, or the freemasons. I of course had never really heard about anything like this, or really had seriously given it a thought. His uncle had been this conspiracy theorist who wrote a book and then disappeared. The book was free on his website, but Zack didn't tell me where to look. He talked about this a lot, and in my naive mind, he sort of convinced me. With all the changes that had happened to me psychologically in the last few months, when I looked at the strange occurrence of us naturally having gravitated towards each other, when I even thought about the first day of school, and drawing the Nirvana smiley separately on our hands. I didn't really have any strong spiritual beliefs, but it really felt to me at the time like there was something in the universe that was making these things happen between us that was part of something much bigger. And Zack seemed to be able to look into my soul. I really did feel like he could, ever since he had stared me down on that first day. I was beginning to believe there really was something to this. I would stay up all night thinking about it, writing about it, and waking up in the morning anxious to get back to school to see him again.

My friends were kind of baffled, jealous and dismissive. In a lot of ways, I was insulated from outside influence. Nobody knew what to say. Zack seemed like he was losing his mind a little, but I think my friends all secretly wished he would lose his mind about them instead. But in a way, they also were just baffled since this betrayed their impression of who Zack really was. I was beginning to believe Zack too about the secret societies and such. He explained it to me in a way that at the time I felt suddenly made a lot of sense. He started asking me questions I had never been asked before. I don't remember it all, but he asked me if I had ever felt like people had intentionally been monitoring me and systematically knocking me down whenever I was at my most free? Yes. Had it seemed to be something that started as soon as I entered the school that took something away from me before I had even realized I had it? Yes. Did I remember the time before that, when the people I knew were children and were real, before they were brainwashed into mindless duplicates of one another? Yes.

As he asked me these questions, he was painting this tapestry in my mind that made me feel far more certain that nothing that had happened to me was really an accident. There was intention behind the need to brainwash people with television and empty shallow music. They intentionally kept people distracted, or working themselves to death so that they wouldn't stop and question authority. Many people were too far gone to even be reached. As far as Zack could tell, he said that it really was just him and I. Everyone else in the school was gotten, including my friends. He then confided in me that he thought Ava was free too, but she was an annoying and bad person and he just didn't like her very much. I was relieved to hear that. I was afraid he might have liked her, and strangely, even though I considered her to be a friend, I nodded in agreement. I told him that I thought Sarah was still good, and he seemed to make a little space of possibility that Sarah might also be one of us.

He wrote me letters almost every single day. Back then, I couldn't write. I mean, I wrote all the time, but it was in the only way I was emotionally familiar with, like a 'dear diary, … today I saw...' kind of thing. Or I would start off by saying Everyone hates me. I am fat, I am ugly. I used to write letters to Katie, but they were like OH MY GOD KATIE THIS SCHOOL FUCKING SUXXXX!!. This was fine and good for those circumstances, but this was not the time and place for any of these kinds of letters. I needed to not be so self focused. I needed to find a new way of seeing things that wasn't attempting to be something it wasn't but at the same time carried depth. Zack wrote with a strange nihilistic sense that I didn't know how to reach. Lucid pain, drugs and familiarity to song writing and lyrics in general gave him a much better idea of how to write. He wrote a lot of poetry, though I later discovered that he was stealing Pink Floyd and Radiohead lyrics for much of it. I also later realized that he was kind of copying Kurt Cobain's handwriting. But at the time, it seemed purely original, purely inventive and each sentence I would ponder on as deeply as a I could. And yet my mind simply wouldn't go where I wanted it to. And it was so frustrating. I wanted to write him back, and give him the letter he would deserve from me. But it just wasn't happening.

PART 34 - http://tinyurl.com/yc6y4p69

PART 33 - http://tinyurl.com/y87449dz

PART 32 - http://tinyurl.com/ycetanep

PART 31 - http://tinyurl.com/yae3o4rd

PART 30 - http://tinyurl.com/ybht9aul

PART 29 - http://tinyurl.com/ybfcr9j2

PART 28 - http://tinyurl.com/yagdlo47

PART 27 - http://tinyurl.com/ydcj5fgf

PART 26 - http://tinyurl.com/y73nvl73

PART 25 - http://tinyurl.com/y6v6pgoj

PART 24 - http://tinyurl.com/ycak5d8r

PART 23 - http://tinyurl.com/yac6sk3g

PART 22 - http://tinyurl.com/yat6cfnw

PART 21 - http://tinyurl.com/y783egno

PART 20 - http://tinyurl.com/y8jskymt

PART 19 - http://tinyurl.com/rfhbms8

PART 18 - http://tinyurl.com/ycrznrwk

PART 17 - http://tinyurl.com/y77unlng

PART 16 - http://tinyurl.com/yadpsv8c

PART 15 - http://tinyurl.com/yb3lt6k5

PART 14 - http://tinyurl.com/yb4cfedq

PART 13 - http://tinyurl.com/yalanq9s

PART 12 - http://tinyurl.com/yc79mw94

PART 11 - http://tinyurl.com/yc9qhj84

PART 10 - http://tinyurl.com/yb734w24

PART 9 - http://tinyurl.com/yc2t6vfw

PART 8 - http://tinyurl.com/ybl37utq

PART 7 - http://tinyurl.com/ybvo283g

PART 6 - http://tinyurl.com/kbc9dwu

PART 5 - http://tinyurl.com/msnz4am

PART 4 - http://tinyurl.com/k9x8esg

PART 3 - http://tinyurl.com/mwp9atx

PART 2 - http://tinyurl.com/lbt6xq2

PART 1 - http://tinyurl.com/l8xbvg8

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saiya-tina · 7 years

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Anything’s a Weapon if You Use it Right

So I promised @penbrydd fic on Anton using a peanut as a weapon and I’m going to sit on this forever, so here’s a ficlet about the same.

Working off a year’s debt with smugglers wasn’t the ideal situation Anton wanted to be in, but the regular visits to the Blooming Rose definitely made up for some of it. The workers were fun too, even if most of them turned their nose up at him the first time he made a visit. But gambling paid off and soon enough, he knew most of the workers by name or by the shape of their ass. Granted, the same could be said for him too.

“Don’t you get tired of losing, Jethann?” Anton clicked his tongue, counting the coins he’d just won from his partner. “If you’re this loose with your coin, no wonder you’re still working here.”

“Nobody likes a sore winner, Tony,” Jethann chuckled. “And I wouldn’t be losing if you weren’t cheating.”

“Slander and calumny,” Anton said promptly. “Another round?”

“I think I’m done for today. I think I spotted one of my regulars at the bar and I have to go seduce him. Give me five minutes and I’ll be flush with coin again.”

“Five minutes? You should give him a discount,” Anton said with a grimace. “For pity if nothing else.”

“Hey, his five minutes is thirty for me,” Jethann said, smoothing his hair out and straightening his outfit. “I’ll see you in a bit if you’re still here.”

“Well, I don’t know, I really want to get back to my uncle’s hovel with my mother and four siblings,” Anton said, rolling his eyes. The moaning and groaning in the brothel was a big improvement over Gamlen’s snoring.

Speaking of which, there was an underlying sound of shouting that was overtaking the more pleasurable sounds of the night. Anton peered through the bars of the banister down at the main foyer.

“Get back here, you skittish bitch!” one of the patrons shouted at the back of a woman who was fleeing in terror, ducking behind Madame Lusine as she moved between them. Anton may not have appreciated the snotty attitude when he’d come to the Rose the first time, but he had to admit she took care of the workers.

“Sir, you are disturbing the other patrons. What’s the matter?” she asked, looking at the man with a neutral expression.

“He won’t pay up,” the woman, Anton recalled her name was Cora, said.

“I’m not paying one copper until I’m satisfied with what I get,” the man said, obviously drunk.

“That’s not how it works, Sir. You pay upfront and then get the service,” Lusine said with a tired expression that spoke of the number of times she’d had to have the same encounter.

“Let me tell you how it works,” the man growled. He gestured at a table of men, “We get what we want or we trash your business. Maybe a few of your whores too. Now, give me the slut and get me a room!”

“Sir, if you don’t calm down, I will have to summon the city guard,” Lusine’s tone turned hard and Anton had to give her props for selling that lie. The guards never bothered with the brothel, not unless it was to make use of the services.

“We’re the ones who make the threats, woman,” the mercenary snarled, drawing his hand back to swing at her. A peanut pinged off his head, drawing his attention away from Lusine to the source on the stairs.

“Now what’s all this ruckus about?” Anton drawled, leaning against the banister like it was made for him to sprawl on. The thug sneered at him.

“None of your business, whelp,” he snarled, “get your nose out of it before I cut it off.”

“Now that’s not very nice,” Anton said, flicking a peanut up in the air to catch it in his mouth. “I could say the same about that pickle in your pants.”

The workers tittered behind fans as the thug’s face turned an ugly shade of red. He drew out his knife. “You must have a death wish, boy. MEN-” the shout dissolved into a hacking heave.

The ambient noise of the brothel went silent as the thug clawed at his throat, mouth open wide, great hacking sounds leaving his throat as his eyes bugged out. Anton watched on as the man’s choking sounds increased in volume while his men desperately tried to figure out what was wrong.

“Now, see what you did,” Anton said with a sigh, flicking another peanut into his mouth. “You’ve gone and pissed me off. Now, I may be well known for my daggers-” another peanut struck one of the encroaching men in the eye, making him yelp and drop his knife in favor of clutching it “- but I’m far more than that. Now, will you make like a nice piece of shit and leave the people in this brothel alone? Or would you rather choke to death?”

The thug’s glare would have melted glass if it weren’t for the terror in his eyes. He barely got a nod out before Anton hauled him up and punched him hard in the abdomen. The thug’s eyes bugged out followed by a loud hacking cough and then a peanut flying out of his mouth and landing on the ground. The silence was comical as the eyes of the patrons went from the peanut to the thug, who was now wheezing for breath for a different reason. Anton let him slump to his knees and patted him on the shoulder.

“Now, get out and don’t come back, hm?”

The thug didn’t even bother to retort, scrambling to his feet and rushing out the door as fast as he could, his men following, throwing wary looks as they went. Anton watched them leave, then sauntered back up the stairs to take his seat at the card table.

“Anyone up for a game?”

#penbrydd #maverikloki #rhapsody #anton hawke

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