Okay but if the thing with finding a mate for Tusk was actually something Halsin was seriously doing just for fun as implied in the new epilogue, I cannot stop thinking about Halsin playing matchmaker as something to do in his spare time.

https://www.deviantart.com/skekilla/art/Runaway-Train-Act-III-Scene-4-940199111

The way the dawn came up over the place the next day was quite like how it did over an army camp, Johnny thought.

With each passenger who woke, a sense of duty settled more and more in the room. They had a task to do, and they were soon to be sent out to do it as well as they could. The only thing stopping them all from beginning right then and there was waiting for the others to wake up. Johnny had found himself awake first, actually; he watched as one by one, his companions all roused from sleep, blinking awake with a steady determination in their eyes. Why, it almost made him blush! This was all for him, after all; their soldier-like diligence was for the cause of his leg. When everybody was awake and getting into their planned groups, he profusely murmured thank-yous to each person at least once.

Rather than replying to those thanks with words of his own, Curtis’ eyes had just met Johnny’s in that fathom-deep grim-soft way of his. A nod, and that was it; he was off to settle down the rest of his crew. Salem and Anne ran at each other around Ed. In time, Curtis got Ed to corral them all; the gravedigger had scooped Anne up and put her on his shoulders, then he handed his shovel off to Salem (which had their eyes sparkling and jaw dropped in awe). When that was done with, the sailor started away in a preemptively annoyed huff. The other three followed in happiness, the noise and yet more well-wishes from Johnny going with them.

Sally had approached after, answering Johnny’s thanks with a squeeze of his hand and a renewed warning: “We’ll be back soon as we can. Watch out for Lillian, now.”

Orla nodded with a grin, “Yes, take care of yourself, Johnny!” As he’d said his gratitude to her, she drew Sally away by her free hand, making the singer release her grip on his. They set out the door on their own end of the car, followed by BB, who had been roller-pacing around there the whole time in anticipation. Johnny had to admit a sort of angst lifted off him when the undead daredevil sped out of the car. That angst was only exchanged for another kind, though: worry for his friends.

Now Johnny was alone, all alone, with that one thing he was warned against most: Lillian. In perfectly languid fashion, she came over and sat in the seat across from him (or, rather, laid, as she was sort of draped over the armrests). “And then there were two,” she said. Johnny, pretty terrified, kept himself in silence. Her mask-eyes turned to him when he didn’t reply. “What, you’re not gonna say anything?” she asked. “I’m sure you have neat stuff to talk about.”

“I-I’d rather not,” Johnny stuttered quietly, looking down at his boots. When had they gotten all scuffed? He tried to think of that to distract himself.

It didn’t work because Lillian wouldn’t shut up. “Come on! It’s really boring of you to just sit there saying nothing, you know.” She punctuated that with a shrug. “It’s not like I’m going to kill you.” That wasn’t comforting at all. Lillian must’ve realized that, because, after a moment, she tried something else. “Okay, fine… how’s this: what year are you from? What country?”

Well, now she had certainly done the trick. Even despite his fear, Johnny’s eyes flicked up to look Lillian right in the face. “It’s really true, then,” he murmured. “We’re all actually from different… times.”

She tilted her head in a patronizing kind of way. “Wow, you figured it out then,” she said. “This train goes through all time and space. Picking up souls after they die and taking them to whatever end they want to go to, transporting spirits or reapers or demons—yeah, you know those last two at least—to wherever they need to be—that’s what this thing is for. I run all of it.” She was smug on that last thought, but Johnny was caught up too much in his own head to notice that. Ed had told them this in fewer words already, of course, but coming from Lillian herself…

“Really?” Johnny breathed. “Everyone who’s ever died—ever—has been on this train…?”

“Yeah,” Lillian said. “Well, you know, most; before trains were made, there were like, chariots or horses or whatever for the reapers. But yeah, now that’s all done through the train. That and more.” Her confirmation was all Johnny had needed; his feet felt as though they were resting on graves—the graves in the field beside camp, the graves that had been made of the battleground mud, the graves in his hometown, the graves in a hundred towns, the graves of all the world. It felt strangely as if he was in one of those very graves. For the first time, it really hit him that escape might not…

“Gosh,” he whispered.

“Yeah,” Lillian continued nonchalantly. “It was a pretty big shock for me too, but you get over it after a while.”

Those words of hers forced their way past Johnny’s more grim thoughts. His brow creased a little. Was. That meant Lillian hadn’t always been on the train. And what could that mean? “S-so… you were alive at some point?” he asked. “I would’ve thought those reapers weren’t—”

“Ugh, that doesn’t matter,” she sort of snapped. “All that does matter is Death made me a reaper. Tuxy liked me or whatever, so he did.” The sudden energy to her voice made Johnny shrink again.

“Then have t-the… the other reapers all been alive before, too…?” he murmured.

“No. They’ve all never been alive. I’m the only one like this. I’m special.” So that’s why she didn’t die when her mask was blown apart… she is something different from those other reapers. With that realization, though, he just couldn’t help but feel sort of sorry for her. All alone in half-death like this… and she’s only a kid. He looked over her rabbit ears, her masked face, the cheek that had been repaired by the hand of Death, the golden “I” emblazoned on her forehead. In death, she had become something else, not because of herself, but because of… was it for some cause? Was it just for the sake of it? Chance? Or, perhaps, was there some deeper reason for what had been done? Johnny didn’t know. He couldn’t guess at the intentions of Death anyway.

Lillian was the first to make any sound after that; a low hum left her. “Okay, I said enough and more. Now you have to tell me something about you,” she said, returning to her relaxed posture. “Something interesting, please.”

Johnny looked down at his boots again. What was interesting enough to follow that? He thought to himself for a moment. Well, there was one thing people tended to think was neat about him. His eyes raised back up sheepishly. “I’ve met Walt Disney,” he said softly. “That’s something, right? Do… people still care about Mr. Disney when you’re from?”

Lillian froze. Her ears pricked straight up and her black gaze was piercingly focused. “You… you’ve actually met Walt Disney? The Walter Elias Disney, right?”

Oh, I guess that means people still know him, Johnny thought, a smile growing on his face. “Y-yes, the same,” he answered. “I was just an animator at his studio before the war, but we all used to get to talk with him once in a while. The studio’s getting bigger so it’s a different story now, but…”

“Oh my god,” she said. “That’s amazing! I’m talking to a part of Disney history!” She was the most ecstatic, certainly the most energetic, that Johnny’d seen her yet. She swung her legs around to sit properly—well, as properly as she could in her excitement; she was on the edge of her seat. “Wait- you must’ve worked on Snow White then. Oh, did you go to that big party at the Norconian afterward?”

Now Johnny was quietly laughing to himself. It was surprising, really, to see Lillian like this. “You’re a fan of the studio, then?” he asked.

“Duh, obviously!” she said. “A fan of the studio, of the parks, of the whole thing—! oh, you must not know about the parks. Okay, tell me everything about what you do know. Everything!” This girl, with all her darkness, really was only a kid after all, wasn’t she? After all that death and terror, she was just like any other: enthusiastic about what interested her, loud, curious. She really was lonely, despite her mask of self-absorption, but now it seemed that what Johnny had done—what had come of his life, if it was really complete now that he was here—was some remedy to that. She wasn’t dangerous—not at her heart, anyway. She was just a child in an impossible situation trying her best to impress. There’s no need to be afraid of her. Maybe she’ll even be our biggest help. Maybe… maybe everything will be fine.

ok lets start with the things that could actually be considered making progress:

i've been exploring mostly north of where i spawned, and have met the loggers (conveniently located in walking distance of the mansion i've made my homebase) and the isherwoods who recently gave me a cow which randomly turns white for a day every so often. i also got some dogs just cuz i could, and rescued a couple companions from an overrun motel; an asthmatic idiot who steps on my traps all the time and an amnesiac who is really handy with the spear i gave her. made the idiot sit in a jumpseat in the bed of my truck cuz i was lowkey hoping she'd fall out and leave me alone, but felt like it would be too mean to abandon her in the middle of nowhere on PURPOSE...

later found a weirdly patriotic lady in a hotel i had previously cleared and took her with me, which required that i do a little impromptu vehicle construction in the parking lot in order to have enough seats to get everyone in the truck and back to base (i was NOT making another trip, and she kept complaining when she didn't have a seat).

took everyone back to my mansion base and decided to turn it into Babies First Faction Camp, which obviously is my first attempt at a faction camp. not loving that actually, seems basically pointless because when i send my NPCs on missions they don't actually do anything or bring any loot back but whatever.

at this point i decided to attempt to sort of edit my truck. i wanted to be able to take 2 NPCs with me when exploring, but have a spare seat in case i met anyone i wanted to keep and also have everyone inside the vehicle with me, not in the bed of the truck. i had also found a mini-fridge and installed that which was excellent for long explorations, but also took up some cargo space i wanted to get back. so i basically turned my truck into a crew cab, with 5 cargo space spots as well as the minifridge. i've since changed one of those cargo spaces into a livestock stall or whatever it's called (just in case someone else gives me a cow i guess) and i plan to add some other features later, but just haven't felt like doing it...

and since that went so well, i decided to try getting some solar power happening for my base so i could use a fridge and maybe a light. my first attempt appeared successful, but then the fridge drained the car battery i had used and i couldn't get it to recharge again or get power to the fridge at all so i took it all apart and tried again, this time with several more panels and a large storage battery, and now i have a working fridge and a little lighted crafting area next to my mansion's courtyard.

i also decided i hated the circuitous route the roads took to get back to where id been exploring, so i basically just....chopped a narrow driving path through the forest, which worked so well i did it 2 more times later on in other places lol

then found a guy just standing in a cornfield (said he was "guarding the location" which i know is the standard response, but it's funnier in this context) and i took him back to base too.

got bored and built a boat just to see if i could, turned out to be way easier than expected and anti-climactic...

anyway i've decided to go back down south again to the area i just wrote off at the beginning (ran into 2 mass burials on my characters 2nd or 3rd day and just noped outta there till i had better weapons) so ill update on how that goes later on

Relaxation

doing this thing | day 22 - massage

It's not often that Geralt and Jaskier have company along the path, so Jaskier takes advantage of every moment, doing his best to ensure their guest is comfortable. Not that sleeping on forest floors is comfortable, but when their companion is another Witcher, Jaskier can be assured he knows what to do. And he has plenty of time because Geralt and Eskel are off fighting a cockatrice and neither of them seemed to think it would be a short task,

Normally, Jaskier would be worried about their wellbeing having them gone for so long, but when there are two of them, he's significantly more relaxed. No one knows how to take care of each other like wolves. So Jaskier sets his worries aside and prepares to have two stiff, sore Witchers returning to him instead of one.

He starts by getting a fire lit because the sky is darkening rapidly and he'd still like to be able to see by the time the boys get back. It takes him longer than it would take either Geralt or Eskel, but Jaskier's hands have a much more important job than spouting fire. They still have rations left, but he sets up traps for rabbits nonetheless - his Witchers are likely to be hungry once they settle. He's just starting to lay out their bedrolls when he hears a grunt and looks up to see Geralt and Eskel coming toward the camp. Lucky for him, his oils and bandages are already prepared.

Jaskier lays his own bedroll out quickly and plops himself down. Geralt comes right over and sits down in front of him, crossing his legs and sitting up straight to let Jaskier get to work. Eskel gives them an odd look but says nothing about it.

"There are food and water in my pack," Jaskier says, "if you like." Eskel shrugs it off with a polite thanks and just sits down on the grass, apparently more interested in this routine of theirs.

Jaskier starts, unbothered by his audience, getting Geralt's armour unbuckled and off of him. Geralt is more than capable of doing it himself but there are times when his injured make it easier for someone else to do it for him. And Jaskier likes the little things he's allowed to do for him. And by now he's quick at it, removing each piece and setting it aside in only a matter of minutes. It's only when he reaches the thin linen shirt beneath does he get an odd look from Eskel. But Geralt lets him remove it like the rest, slipping it up over his head and folding it on top of the discarded armour.

Jaskier is relieved to find him entirely in one piece, the only wounds bad enough to potentially need tending to on his forearms. Jaskier slathers them with salve and wraps them gently before moving on to his favourite part of their routine.

Without fail, Geralt is tense when he returns from a hunt, so Jaskier picks out his favourite oils and ties Geralt's hair in a bun at the top of his head. Geralt used to complain about it, but Jaskier insists that it looks fine (it looks much more than just fine, but he doesn't tell Geralt that).

"Okay?" he asks and Geralt nods quietly, tipping his head forward. Eskel watches on intrigued or confused, as Jaskier drizzles oil onto one palm, rubbing them together.

There's a soft sigh from Geralt as Jaskier lays his hands on him and Jaskier smiles to himself as he gets to work. Geralt's shoulders are stiff - more so than usual - but Jaskier has worked with worse. He loses himself in the feeling of Geralt's bare skin beneath his hands. No matter how many times he's allowed to do this, he can never quite believe it.

Geralt makes soft little sounds under his breath, rolling his head out of Jaskier's way as he focuses on one side at a time. He drowns in those sounds, letting them wash over him like the rain. When he moves lower, there's a breathy fuck, and Jaskier stops immediately, looking up to make sure he didn't hurt Geralt.

But it isn't Geralt looking back at him. Eskel's eyes are wide, boring right into him, but when Jaskier blinks, he looks down at Geralt instead.

"Do you always do this?" he asks and Geralt gives a little nod and a noncommital mmhm. "Fuck, how do you keep your hands off of him?"

Jaskier freezes, hands curved around Geralt's sides. He doesn't know exactly how to respond to that or whether he should at all. Geralt huffs a soft laugh and tips his head up to look at Eskel.

"Practice," is all he says and Jaskier's breath catches in his throat.

"If you," he manages, "if you want to... you can touch." Geralt looks back over his shoulder almost nervously and Jaskier nods.

He doesn't know what to expected and he holds his breath, but Geralt's hands come to settle on his thighs and Jaskier relaxes. He continues, pressing his hands down Geralt's spine as thick fingers press into his thighs, thumbs rubbing gently on the inside. It's...distracting.

But Jaskier pushes through, ignoring the rising heat in the back of his neck or the way Geralt holds back just a little less. He presses into every touch and as Jaskier's hand slide back up to his neck a soft moan slips past his lips. Jaskier nearly groans in response, but he bites his lip to hold it in. And the longer it goes on, the harder it is for Jaskier to pretend it isn't having an effect on him.

Hearing Geralt like this is incredibly arousing and before long, Jaskier's cock is straining against his trousers and he has to shut his eyes to keep his composure. He doesn't want to stop halfway, but he needs to get closer and he can't do that without pressing his cock into Geralt's back. And the last thing he needs for Geralt to quit letting him help like this because Jaskier can't keep his body under control.

There's a grunt and a breathy moan and Jaskier looks up to find Eskel has come closer, practically sitting in Geralt's lap. His hands are on Geralt's thighs and when he shifts, Jaskier realizes he's hard and it almost knocks the breath out of him.

"Can I-?" Eskel asks and Geralt nearly whimpers in response. Eskel moves closer, slipping right up against him, and Jaskier can't see him, but he feels the shudder through Geralt's entire body as Eskel touches him.

Geralt curls a hand in around Eskel's collar and hauls him forward into a bruising kiss. And it's all well and good, but Jaskier suffers more knowing they're both aroused. He tries his best to avert his eyes, although if they wanted privacy, perhaps they should have thought of that ahead of time.

Then Geralt lets out a low moan and throws his head back against Jaskier's shoulder, pressing his nose into his neck, and Jaskier realizes Eskel's got his mouth wrapped around Geralt's cock.

"Fuck," Geralt breathes. He wraps an arm around the back of Jaskier's neck, tangling his fingers in his hair and panting against his neck.

"Do you-" Jaskier fumbles, "d'you always feel like this when I-"

"Yes," Geralt whispers, "didn't think you'd want it." Jaskier smiles and tips Geralt's head enough to kiss him, just lightly.

"You were wrong, darling."

Eskel's eyes flick up to his, smirking as he slips off Geralt's cock. "Maybe we should move this somewhere a little more comfortable, hm?"

Jaskier leans forward, slipping a hand around the back of Eskel's neck and guiding him closer. Eskel comes easily, straddling Geralt's hips and leaning over his shoulder as Jaskier pulls him into a kiss. Jaskier hums as he pulls away, sliding his other hand down Geralt's side.

"I have never wanted anything more."

Chronicles of Galar - Prologue 1: Taiko Hirebayashi

Some Info beforehand. This is going a pretty long fic with several chapters. But the chapters are somewhat different than normal fanfictions. Because they are just in chronological order but some of them are not actually connected to each other and some may have a greater timeskip than others. Imagine it like a readable diary of your adventures with just the mention worthy adventures added. But be careful, because this story is like a HELL OF A TOOTHROTTING-FLUFF fic. The main pairing is of course You x Leon. A side Pairing is Taiko(OC) x Raihan and a mentioned Pairing is Leiko(OC) x Piers Although, you won’t have to deal much with Leiko. But Taiko will get a bigger role since she becomes your best friend. Oh and if you wanna look for the Fic and it’s parts, make sure to follow the tag: Chronicles of Galar. Now enough Chatting, here is the introduction of the first character: My lovely tsun Taiko! And don’t forget: This is NOT proof read. English is NOT my first language. So please be gentle with mistakes.

[Prologue: Taiko Hirebayashi]

[9 years before  the timeline in sword / shield]

“Taiko, honey. Don't run too far away from the camp. The wild area is teeming with Pokemon. ”, a woman, around her late 20s to early 30s with purple hair that was tied in a pigtail, spoke in a warning tone. She wore glasses and petted a Flareon, her loyal partner Pokemon. "Yes, mommy.", a 9-year old girl with fiery red hair replied cheekily. "And stop using this word, please. Did you learn that here in Galar? Please just call me mother. ”, she corrected her daughter. Ever since the holiday in Galar began, the child seemed to have increasingly adopted the linguistic peculiarities of the inhabitants of this region. "Okay, mother.", Taiko muttered and rolled her eyes in slight annoyance. She didn't thought it was that bad, because she loved everything in Galar. Much more than at her home in Ecruteak City, in Johto. Her mother was one of the dancing geishas at Ho-Oh's temple, which was why Taiko was promised an Eevee for her 10th birthday as a starter Pokemon. Like all geishas, ​​she should learn the art of meditation dance one day, in order to command the awe of the holy phoenix pokemon. But now they were here, in Galar, enjoying a few days of vacation.

Taiko quickly got bored, however. In her tent, she started to felt shut in. Her toys were only entertaining for a short period of time. She wanted to explore the wild area and see Pokemon! No matter how much her mother told her not to.

The young redhead sneaked out of the tent, while her parents were talking to an employee of the Pokemon Rangers, because a wild Dynamax Pokemon attacked the Lake of outrage nearby. Therefore, a warning was issued to all traveling coaches and tourists to stay away from this lake in any case.

If that didn't sound like an adventure ..

Without even thinking about it, the girl simply ran through the wild area. Lake of outrage was relatively in the middle of the area and her parents' camp was quite far to the south, at a popular campground for out-of-towners. Because there were only weak Pokemon running around, which did not pose any danger to hikers.

So Taiko just had to walk south, right? ... But she didn't knew where the south was.

The extroverted redhead remembered her days in the scouts camp, which had taken place near Cianwood City. She remembered that moss grows  on the northern side of trees because they are often in the shade due to the rays of the sun on the other side and the moss can spread there. So Taiko examined the surrounding trees and based on the position of the moss, she quickly knew where north was. She nodded proudly and then strutted north, full of energy.

Meanwhile in another part of the wild area.

“Pokeball, go!” an 11 year old boy with dark skin, casual clothes and a red headband that hid most of his hair, shouted. The pokeball hit a small, white spherical pokemon, which was vaguely reminiscent of a slug. The dragon pokemon Goomy. The ball wobbled three times before stopping and trapping the Pokemon. "YES!" the boy smirked and put himself in a victory pose, which, of course, nobody could see because he was alone. Shortly afterwards, he took his Rotom smartphone out of his pocket and took a picture of himself and his latest catch. Then he opened a social media page that was similar to Facebook.

'Look, I caught a Goomy! The dragon tamer Raihan has struck again! : D Soon nobody can stop me, so take a good look @Leon! I will be champion before you!'

With a grin, Raihan tapped 'Publish' and waited for the many likes from his friends and “fans”, as he liked to call his followers. It took less than 5 minutes before his best friend and rival had already made a like and comment.

'Wow, congratulations @Raihan! This Pokemon is totally rare! Unfortunately I haven't seen one yet. But don't be too early! Who will be champion first is still to be decided! '

Raihan grinned and replied, in his cheeky way. 'You have to find the stadium for our decisive fight first! XD I have enough time to train my Pokemon. '

The young man put his smartphone back in his pocket, he knew that Leon never accepted his provocations and therefore it was a waste of time to wait for an answer. “Come on, Vibrava. Let's see if we can find more cool Pokemon! ”He said to his partner Pokemon. The green, dragonfly-like Pokemon nodded eagerly and flew over the area, while Raihan grinned and followed his companion. He just loved looking for Pokemon in the wild area.

Back to Taiko. The young redhead was already regretting her spontaneous ideas and had to admit: she was lost.

This part of the wild area was so heavily overgrown by dense forest that hardly any sunlight penetrated through the thicket and consequently the moss grew on all sides of the trees. So it was impossible for her to determine in which direction she had to go.

"...MUM? DAD? DO YOU HEAR ME? ”And then she gave up and called desperately for her parents. Why the hell was she always so .. stubborn and had to give in to her curiosity?

The girl fell on her knees and began to cry. She was just too spontaneous and didn't think about the consequences. Now she was here in an unknown area, far away from her parents and who knows what else was lurking in the dark thicket?

A bush near her began to jiggle and that frightened the little girl. She stopped her emotional outburst and looked frightened at the bush. She crawled a few feet back from her almost sitting position and shivered as the rustling increased. Taiko swallowed lightly, trying not to make a sound to attract the attention of this unknown creature in the bush.

Suddenly a small, white rabbit pokemon rolled out with some somersaults. It had a kind of red fur in the shape of a plaster on its nose and its long ears wiggled and twitched as it straightened up and looked around. Taiko looked at the little Pokemon, which noticed her now too. It looked back. Neither of them moved for a few moments until Taiko blinked several times.

"How cute ..", she beamed and crawled forward on all fours. The little Pokemon stopped and tilted its head slightly as it watched the humans movements. "Scor? Scorbunny!" the little creature said. Taiko knew that Pokemon could only say their name, so now she knew the species. So that was a Scorbunny! She had never seen it before. Was it a regional Pokemon from Galar?

"Mmm, I think I have some candy somewhere …" the redhead mumbled. At least the situation calmed her down enough to forget about her outbreak minutes before ... She searched her pockets and actually found some fruit gums made from red haban berries. A very sweet type of berry that was perfect for sweets. Taiko smiled and offered the Pokemon some fruit gums. "Little one? You're are hungry, aren't you? ”She asked.

Scorbunny bounced closer and sniffed the girl's hand. Probably a first approach as to whether it could trust the person. As it took a fruit gum on its paws, it sniffed the gelatine again and stuffed it into its mouth. Taiko giggled as the Scorbunny gleefully chewed the fruit gum and then happily hopped up. "Scor! Scor Scor Bun?"

Taiko didn't knew what the Pokemon was trying to tell her, but from it's hopping around and staring at the fruit gums, it was obvious. It wanted more candy. The redhead smiled and gave Scorbunny a few more fruit gums. This time the Pokemon was braver and patted Taiko's hand with its paws before pounding on the fruit gums. Taiko had to laugh gently when Scorbunny let 5 fruit gums disappear into it's mouth at once and chewed contentedly. "You remind me of me." Taiko giggled.

Scorbunny finished snacking and as a token of gratitude, leaned it with its head on her arm and cuddled up to her. Taiko blinked slightly in surprise. Who could have guessed that wild Pokémon would approach humans so quickly? So obviously love goes through the stomach. Taiko smiled again and ruffled Scorbunnys fur behind it's ears. The Pokemon let out a satisfied purr and closed its eyes.

After a while, the Pokemon hopped onto her lap. This action surprised Taiko and she put both hands around the Pokemon. "It's so trusting .. it definitely belongs to someone ..", the redhead sighed, disappointed. She would have liked to keep the Scorbunny to herself. The two lingered like this for a few minutes until Taiko noticed that she was still in a quandary. She still didn't know how to get back to her parents. And the Pokemon was certainly not a sign back.

Slowly, the girl got up and let Scorbunny on the floor. “Go, your trainer is probably already worried about you.“ Taiko smiled and gave it a few last fruit gums before she continued on her way.

For the next 10 minutes she already missed Scorbunny .. She sighed softly to herself and stopped to lean against a tree. "Scorbunny ..." Taiko's eyes widened when she heard the Pokemon's call and turned around. Scorbunny was a few meters away from her. Taiko didn't even think for a second that it might be another Pokemon. It MUST be the same ..

When the Pokemon saw the girl kneel down, it ran into her arms and snuggled against the redhead's chest. Taiko straightened up and hugged the Pokemon. "You probably missed me too ..?", She asked and as if Scorbunny wanted to answer, it's nose nudged her fist when she raised her hand in front of it. Taiko smiled. "Then let's find a way back together." Scorbunny nodded and climbed onto her shoulder, where it made itself comfortable.

Taiko went on for a while, she didn't know how long, but it was already getting dark. Her parents were probably worried ... Then suddenly a huge lake was before her. Scorbunny sniffed the new surroundings and then tensed up with a menacing growl. The redhead swallowed at this cautious behavior. "The Lake of Outrage ...", she realized then. She wanted to run in the other direction when suddenly a giant Pangoro blocked her way. Apparently she had invaded it's territory because it looked angry. And aggressive.

The redhead stepped back, startled, and tripped over a thick branch. She fell on her bum and held her aching foot after she fell on it with her weight and cried out in pain. Pangoro seemed angry at the noise and stepped closer. It's dangerous threatening gesture made the girl's blood run cold. Scorbunny growled loudly and jumped in front of the girl as if it wanted to fight Pangoro.

"No..! This is an evolved Pokemon ...! It's too strong .. ” Taiko warned, but Scorbunny tried to attack with a double kick and jumped on the evolved Panda Pokemon. Pangoro held up Scorbunnys leg with one paw and tossed it back so that it landed in the mud next to the girl. "Scorbunny!" Taiko shouted distraught and took Scorbunny in her arms when Pangoro came closer and raised his paw for a blow. The redhead closed her eyes tightly and tears ran down her cheeks. "I don't want to die yet ..."

"Vibrava, dragon rush!", a boy's voice penetrated her ears and Taiko looked up when something enveloped in a blue aura slammed into the menacing Panda Pokemon from above in full speed. Pangoro was staggered by the recoil and  Raihan jumped in front of Taiko, ordering his Vibrava to make further attacks. "Super power, now!"Raihan ordered, causing Vibrava to launch a wave of attacks on the Pangoro. The fighting Pokemon appeared to be extremely robust and put up with all attacks. "Damn it, well then we have no other choice. Vibrava, use sandstorm! "Raihan shouted. Then he turned to the girl behind him. "Cover your mouth and nose!"

Taiko nodded and pushed the scarf, that her mother had given her over, half over her face. Vibrava created a dense sandstorm that made the entire area so opaque that you couldn't see anything. It was only when Taiko felt someone put a hand on her shoulder that she recognized the outlines of the boy, who helped her. "Let's get out of here before the storm subsides," he said. Taiko tried to get up, but a strong pain in her leg made her fall back to the ground.

"Ouch .."

"Hey, are you okay?" Raihan asked, holding her to keep her from falling again.

"I must have broken my leg when I tripped earlier .. I can't step .." the redhead sighed in frustration. Raihan blinked for a moment and saw his Vibrava land on his shoulder. He knew the sandstorm wouldn't hold up the enemy Pokemon much longer. An idea occurred to him without further ado and he turned his back on the girl while he knelt down. “Climb on my back. I'll carry you. ", He said.

"T-I can't ask that of you ..", Taiko mumbled and shook her head vigorously.

“Come on, my tent is not far from here and the storm won't hold back Pangogo for long. We have to get out of here. ”, the young trainer explained and Taiko probably had no other choice. She sighed and climbed onto his back, the Scorbunny clinging on her shirt and holding onto her as the boy carried her away from the lake.

It really didn't take long, a maximum of 10 minutes, until the boy reached his tent and gently laid the young girl on his sleeping bag.

"Here we are. Uhm. What's your name anyway? ”The boy then asked with a smile.

"T-Taiko and what's your name?"

"Raihan. Are you a Gym Challenger too? " Raihan asked and saw how the Scorbunny had snuggled up with her and was sleeping. The redhead shook her head. “I'm not from here and I'm only 9 .. My parents and I are only here for vacation. I live in Johto. “, She then explained.

“Then why were you alone at Lake of outrage? It's not an approved campsite at all. On the contrary, it is strictly forbidden for travelers to enter here.“

"Uhm .. well .. I was curious because I was bored in the tent and .. then I somehow got lost ..", the redhead explained, embarrassed, and tugged on a strand of red hair. Raihan just looked at her before he laughed. This reaction offended Taiko now that she thought he was making fun of her situation.

"Hey, that's not funny, I was really scared!" She said with a pout and turned away with slightly flushed cheeks. Raihan wiped a tear of laughter from his face and grinned slightly before winking at her. "Sorry, I didn't laugh at you. Just .. I've done so much nonsense too. When I was 5, my father was camping here with me too and I saw a Trapinch and followed it to Lake of outrage too. My father had to save me from a wild Gyarados in the water. And I was just thinking that I was having a deja vu when I saved you, ”he admitted with a laugh.

Taiko blinked slightly.

"Uhm ..", she just wasn't quite sure what to say to that. "Thank you for the rescue ..", she said quietly, but still slightly offended, and turned her head away from him.

"You are welcome. But let's take care of your leg first. ", Raihan said and got a first aid kit from the corner of his stuff. Taiko lingered as quiet as a mouse, a rarity with her otherwise extroverted personality, when Raihan exposed the leg by lifting her pants up the affected leg and pulling down her socks to inspect the damage. “That looks bad. No wonder you can't walk. ", He said and took a rag that he moistened with a kind of disinfectant spray. "That could burn a bit now," he warned her.

The redhead bit her lip and squeaked softly as he placed the rag on the wound on her leg. Raihan smiled and praised her for how bravely she got through this action. She even had to laugh a little when he confessed that he had screamed like crazy when he was injured and his father wanted to treat him with the stuff too. She didn't know why, but somehow Taiko didn't feel so helpless anymore.

She watched spellbound as he expertly cleaned the wound and treated it with a bandage. "You don't seem to be doing this for the first time," she said then. Raihan blinked and then looked up at her as he kneeled in front of her to put his foot on his lap.

"Yeah. I have a clumsy best friend. His injury rate is pretty high when he's got lost. I don't even know how often I've been bandaged his falls and grazes. ", Raihan said thoughtfully and Taiko giggled. “Sounds like me. I am also at risk of injury. A miracle it was only the leg. ", She sighed. Raihan smiled and put her leg down again.

“You would certainly get along well. He exudes the same positive energy as you. ", Raihan said, whereupon Taiko went a little red in the face. However, she didn't know why. "I exude positive energy?" She asked.

"Sure, of course. You can see that just by how Scorbunny has taken you to its heart! I thought to myself that it wasn't yours when you said you were only 9 and not from here. So it's a wild Pokemon, but it behaves like you've been training it for years. ", The boy remarked, whereupon the girl's cheeks turned even darker. "Uhm .. I'll take that as a compliment .." she whispered, slightly embarrassed. "It was one." Raihan winked and was amused by the shy behavior of the girl. At the lake she had behaved differently. Then there was a short silence between the two of them until Raihan reached for his smartphone. For once, he wasn't interested in his social media activities. “Which campsite are you at? In the east or in the south? ”He asked.

"Uhm .. south?"

"All right." Raihan smiled and started dialing a number.

"Who are you calling?"

“Mr. Pascal. He is practically the lessor of the campsite. Your parents surely miss you. So I'll give him our coordinates so that someone can come and pick you up. Because I can't carry you the way to the campsite. ”At this comment the redhead blushed again and turned away slightly. “Your last name would still be helpful to find your parents more easily. "..Hirabayashi."

Raihan called and talked to Pascal for a few minutes until he had passed on all the informations. About the aggressiveness of the Pokemon at Lake of outrage, about the injured girl and also their whereabouts. Then he thanked him and hung up. “They can't send a rescue team out until tomorrow morning because they'd have problems finding us and transporting you. I told them that you can spend the night with me in the tent and that you are safe. ", Raihan said. "Uhm .. but you only have one sleeping bag." Taiko spoke. "But that doesn't matter .. I can sleep on the floor."

Raihan sighed.

“There is no way of letting a girl sleep on the floor. You sleep in my sleeping bag, I sleep on the floor. " He said.

"Never."

"Well, then we'll both sleep on the floor if you don't give in." Raihan shrugged his shoulders, whereupon Taiko rolled his eyes. "Then give in.", She said and shrugged her shoulders. Raihan grinned slightly and folded his arms behind his neck.

"Only if you sleep in my sleeping bag." Was the devious answer. "To what extent is that giving in for YOU?" Taiko asked now and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The two just looked at each other for a few moments before Raihan sighed in defeat. "Well, let's make a compromise.", He said, which made Taiko sit up and take notice. “It gets darn cold here at night anyway. If we cuddle up a little ... together, we can both sleep in the sleeping bag and the body heat prevents us from half-freezing to death. "

His suggestion made Taiko look shocked. He wasn't really serious, was it? She didn't know this boy at all. But now that he said it, it was actually quite fresh. "..."

"You can of course also become a living Vanillite if ​​you prefer that.", Raihan said and spread out the sleeping bag. "Okay, okay. It's only for one night. ", She gave in, whereupon Raihan had to laugh again.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The next morning, Taiko's parents and some of the wild area staff members went to the location of forest that Raihan had described for them. It wasn't long before they found the tent, which was guarded by a Duraludon. “This is Raihan’s tent. It has to be. " Pascal remaked, before Taikos parents ran to the tent. "Taiko ?!"

Taiko blinked, she was still half asleep when she yawned and snuggled into something warm. This warmth moved slightly, from which the redhead woke up. She wiped away the sleep on her eyes and then saw how she was snuggled up against Raihan, her legs tangled and his arms pressed her to his chest.

The girl quickly broke away from him and Raihan woke up too. "Woah?"

The redhead ignored him and let her mother hug her tightly.

"What kind of things are you doing?" Her mother scolded her. "I'm sorry .. really .." the girl apologized and was then pulled into a hug by her father. "Never do that again," he said then. "You're hurt, aren't you? I'll carry you back. ", He said then and wanted to pick her up. "Wait, dad ..!" Taiko stopped him and then turned to Raihan. She made a beckoning hand gesture that signaled him to come closer. "Thanks again for everything, Raihan. I hope to see you again. ", She smiled and hugged him goodbye. Raihan smiled and hugged back. “Well, if you ever want to visit Galar again, you are always welcome. Until then, I'm champion and you can visit me in my palace. ”He laughed. "The champion lives in a palace?" Taiko asked and her eyes widened greatly.

"I dunno, but definitely!", Raihan laughed then, whereupon Taiko had to laugh too. "Well, see you at some point, hopefully. And take care of yourself, you risk-of-injury. ", He said teasingly.

Taiko was then carried back to the campsite and was even allowed to keep Scorbunny.

And what should she say?

5 years later, she set foot in Galar again after her divorced mother wanted to start a new life over there and Taiko seized the opportunity and followed her to see the cute boy from back then again.

Here’s section 2, all wrapped up for you guys to enjoy!

1:      "What is she doing?" Keons asked from the control room. 

     "I'm not sure, but it seems she's up to something, she's not taking the drone with her. We should go check this out for ourselves," Nico replied. 

     "But what if she's doing it in order to not look suspicious to the rebels? She's a really smart girl -" 

     "And I'm not saying she's not, all I'm saying is that it's unusual. If she didn't want them to be suspicious, she could have told the drone to fly in stealth mode, could she not?" 

     "Well, I guess that's right... But can't we just wait a few more minutes for her to give us some indication if there are rebels in those woods?" Keons replied, starting to feel like he's been betrayed by the one whom he loves the most. 

     "Alright, we'll have it your way, Keons. I'll give her two minutes. If she doesn't turn up in that time, you will be the one to find her and execute her." 

     "Yes, sir." Keons replies, deflated, a knot welling up inside his stomach. 

2:      As I was walking through the thick woods, I began to think of what the people back home were saying about me. Were they proud that I went off in search of these "rebels"? What was my father thinking about behind those palace walls? 

     Does he even miss me?

     A few minutes into my walking around, I heard footsteps. Careful, soft footsteps, and I got excited. 

     They're here, they're here!!! Real Banditos, I get to finally see them, finally talk to them!!! 

     "Hello?! I know you're out there, I can hear your footsteps! Come out, please! I promise I won't -" 

     "Won't what, Savanna? Won't turn them in like you said that you would?" My father said, hurt encompassing his voice.  

     "Th- that's not what I-! Bu- But Dad! I- I wasn't- !" 

     "I'm sorry, Savanna, my daughter. I never meant for this to be this way. Just don't fight, and there won't be any pain." My dad said, a tear running down his face. 

     He's gonna kill me, feed me to the vultures, I thought, adrenaline pumping through my veins, I need to run. 

     And so I did. I ran at the fastest speed I could go, running through shrubs and prickly bushes, running for my life. 

3:      When I finally got to where I thought was a safe place, I collapsed. 

     I'm done running, I can't run anymore. I'm done. 

     I just sat there, thinking about my life, if I would make it out of this forest alive, and what they would do if they caught me. 

     Shall I be made to suffer the same fate as that man back in the city? Or will a worse fate await me? 

     I fell into a reluctant and fear-ridden sleep. A sleep in which I never wanted, yet needed immensely. 

4: Suddenly, I awaken from my nightmare sleep to find two people, Banditos, hovering over me. One of them has short, shaven hair while the other has somewhat curly hair and a pair of yellow drumsticks. I attempt to utter out the words "Who are you guys?", but nothing comes out of my mouth, and I'm stuck trying to speak and making no sound. 

     "It's alright, don't strain yourself. You're safe now," promised the one whose yellow duct tape was around him in an 'X' shape. 

      I nodded, and they helped me up. We started walking into the camp. 

     When we got into the camp, the Bandito beside the one with the mask suggested that I should have a tour of the camp, and his friend agreed. 

     "I'm sorry, we really haven't introduced ourselves, have we. My name is Tyler Joseph, this is my friend and head of the Banditos, Josh Dun," Josh waves and smiles, and Tyler motions towards the camp, "And this is our camp. Make yourself at home, please," 

     I nod my head. 

     "Do you have a name? I mean, if you're able to talk, that is. If not, we can get you something for that," Josh inquired. 

     Before I was able to try to speak, a flood of Banditos, young and old, came flocking towards me, Tyler, and Josh. All I remember of what happened next is that everything went black and I collapsed. 

5:      A young Bandito is patrolling the perimeter of the Bandito camp. As he walks, he scans the tops of trees and the edges of the beaten path below. Something catches his eye from the ground, beckoning him to take a closer look. As he stoops down, he finds a stranger's belongings. What lies there is a red robe and an identification card. The red robe smells of death and hurt. The name on the identification card reads Savanna Keons. The face seems familiar to the young Bandito. He knows this woman, but from where? He decides to put the red robe and identification card in his carrying sack and continue patrolling the outskirts of their small camp. He goes home and realizes who the young lady is and how he recognizes her. There will be a time to show this information, but now is not it, the Bandito thinks. 

6:      When I awaken, I seemed to be in an infirmary of some sort, and all I see in front of me is Tyler and something else. The "something else" was small and round, with a circular head, horns, and long ears. Its eyes were like deep chasms, vast and expansive. Its color was a silvery grey. At first sight, I was frightened. I'd never seen something like this before. 

     "What is that? What does it do?" I asked Tyler, frightened by the newness of the being. 

     "Oh, him? This is our little buddy, Ned!", Ned waved at me shyly, "He's a nice companion to have, not really used to new people though. I'm sure he'll grow to like you, though!" 

     "Oh, ok! Well, hi, Ned!" I said while sticking my hand out towards him. 

     Ned just takes a couple of steps back, like he’s frightened of me. 

     Tyler looks confused towards Ned, asking, “What’s wrong, little buddy? What is it?” 

     He turns to me, saying, “He’s not usually like this, I’m sorry, I just don’t understand why he’d be like this.” 

     I start to get nervous, “Is there any other times when he’s like this?” 

     “Yea, actually, he’s usually like this when there are Bishops around, but I don’t see any, and he’s doing it only towards you, oddly”, he says, scratching his head. 

     I had to make an excuse, and quick, “Uh, well, I got tackled by a Bishop, and I fought him and ran away,” 

     Tyler looked quite unimpressed, but just said alright and left it at that, “So, how was your day so far?” 

     “Boring, seeing as I have to stay in this hospital bed til you guys decide what to do with me.” 

     “Oh, don’t worry about that, we’re going to have a meeting tonight, that’s one of the topics we’ll discuss,” 

     “Alright. Well, stay safe!” 

     Tyler kind of chuckles and says, “Alright, I will, Logan. You stay alive now, ok?” 

     “Ok,” 

     “Promise?” 

     “Promise” 

7: “So, have we all came to a consensus?” leader Josh Dun inquires. 

     “Wait!” a young bandito exclaims, “I forgot about something important”. 

     “What is it, Jake?” 

     “I found this while I was walking the perimeter of our camp. It’s a Bishop’s cloak and a Dema identification card for a Savannah Keons,” 

     The entire crowd gasps, 

     “If you look closely at the picture, you’ll see it’s the newcomer”. Jake hands the cloak and card to Ned, who then hands it to Tyler. 

     Tyler and Josh take a while looking at it and debating what to do with the newcomer at this point, with all the new information that was presented just seconds ago. 

     “But Josh, she’s one of them! What if she came to spy on us? What if?” 

     “And, what if she was captured or found out the truth and is coming to start anew?” 

     “But, But what if-” 

     Josh puts his hands on Tyler’s shoulders, “Ok, ok, calm down, it’s all alright. Remember, my friend, everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what they’ve done,” 

     “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Tyler sighs. 

     “Now, go tell Logan to meet us at the bonfire tonight,” 

     “Alright,” 

8:      I was sitting on a stump fidgeting when Tyler and Josh came out. When I heard the flap of the makeshift tent door, I jumped up, terrified of what would come next. They already know, they already know, I’m gonna get fed to the vultures, or worse!!! 

     Tyler comes up to me while Josh hangs back, observing. 

     “Hey, Logan?” Tyler says when he gets closer to me. I start to get nervous and tremble 

     “Y-yes?” 

     “Uh, do you know what these are?” he shows me my past belongings: my cloak, badly damaged and worn, and my (former) id card, which insists on keeping me prisoner in my own skin. 

     I say, trying to keep the twang of fear in my voice at bay, to no avail, “Why are these here?” 

     “One of our Banditos picked these up patrolling the perimeter of camp. Are these really yours?” he inquired softly. 

     Terror runs through me as everyone’s eyes lock onto my frail being. I can’t keep it out as I yell, “It was never meant to be this way!!!” I fall onto the ground, my head forcing itself into my hands, curled up like a child. 

     I hear gasps, then silence. 

     After a while of this silence, I feel something touching my arm, like a kitten wanting affection. At first, I flinch at this new contact and yank myself up to a cradled sitting position, face wet from the salty tears that have striped patches of oil from my face, leaving them feeling like bandages. 

     When I look at what or who was touching me, it was Josh. He whispers to me, “It’s alright, we’ve accepted you into our crew. You’re safe from those who wish to do you harm here.” 

     Baffled by his actions, I say, “But I was one of them. I was sent to harm you guys,” I give a tear-filled inhale and exhale, “Why are you letting me in?” 

     He just smiles and says, nodding at Tyler at the end, “Because everyone deserves a second chance.” Everyone starts cheering and clapping, and Josh sticks his hand out to me. I grab his hand and he helps me up, “C’mon, we need to get you cleaned up, or else Ned’ll never warm up to you!” Josh says with a laugh. I laugh along, hearing everyone clapping and cheering me on. Me, not that dema kid who supported the murder of all those innocent people. That person was long gone, and I am what remains.  

9: After everything goes quiet and all the applause stops, I inquire, “Hey, Josh, where are we going, exactly?” 

     “East, to where your past wrongs will be righted, to where you can be free to start anew.” 

     “Alright,” I say, and continue following. 

     When we finally get to where Josh was taking me, all I can say is wow. The place looked magnificent, like the angels themselves carved this place from the earth and put their hearts and souls into creating it. 

     There was a shallow, burbling waterfall trickling softly into a pond lined with several light-colored rocks, some sparkling and some not. This wondrous sight was lit by the vivid green lampshade of the trees, the leaves deflecting the sun’s rays here and there. There was greenery and assorted berry bushes and shrubs around the pond, and the entire place looked like it came from the garden of Eden. 

     After I was done taking in the awe of this mystical and magical place, Josh turned around while I bathed in the healing waters of this pond. 

     When I was done, there was a towel and a pair of Bandito attire in the tree next to me. I say thanks and josh replies with, “Don’t worry, I didn’t look,” 

     When we got back to camp, Tyler and Ned were waiting on us. Josh went up to Tyler, did a secret handshake, and introduced me as the new member of the crew. 

     He started the bonfire, and for the first time in a long time, I was with family, with people who wouldn’t hesitate to die for my sake, and for who I would die for in an instant. I was with people of my own kind. At that very moment, I could care less about what they were saying about me in the city, cause they’re talking about someone who never was. 

10:      My first week at camp, and I already feel at home. I’ve gotten better acquainted with our leaders, Ned too, and found a couple of friends among the crowd. A couple of notable ones I met early on; one of them happened to be the first Bandito I ever seen, remember him? Well, it turns out his name is Rodney Garron, and he’s an aroace enby who’s in a platonic relationship with his straight adhd counterpart George Evergreen. When I first saw them both in camp, Rodney almost had a heart attack, shouting, “You’re that Bishop kid! Don’t take me back! You can’t take me!!!!” Now that I’m thinking about it, their friend had to calm him down. 

     Oh! I’m sorry about the confusion, Rodney likes to be referred to as he or they. Anyways, back to it then. 

     After their friend calmed him down, he explained everything about himself, how he grew up watching Good Day Dema, how they came to the camp in the middle of a snowstorm, and how seeing a Bishop take off their hood and offer their hand took several hours of heavy meditation to get over. I laughed and said sorry to that last one. 

     On another note, I got to see someone I haven’t seen since I was in training up in the city. he used to be my teacher, he was  my teacher for all of my training, and I was wondering what happened to him… 

     “I thought you were dead, teach?” 

     “Miracles happen, my young one,” 

     “But, they said you were exterminated! They said tha-” 

     “They say, they say, they say. They say one thing, but what does your heart say?” 

     I hesitate, give him a big hug, and demand him tell me how he escaped. 

     This is Logan Slife, and this is my story. 

Strangers

Part 1 - Losers (S1E1)

Nathan Young x Reader  Words: 4.4k Warnings: Swearing, mentions of sex, drugs  Songs:  Strangers - The Kinks  Bad Reputation - Joan Jett 

“So you've been where I've just come From the land that brings losers on”

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Masterlist | Ao3

--

    As bad days go, you’re having a pretty horrible one when you arrive at the Wertham Community Center. It’s the first of many to come, part of the court-mandated service that goes along with your ASBO. Your dad keeps telling you that you’re lucky the judge had been so lenient and should be grateful that he’s allowing you to stay with him and your stepmum again– even though you have no one to stay with and nowhere else to go. And he’s your dad. “In the future,” you tell him while getting out of the car, “I think I’ll walk.” 

     Striding through the frosted glass of the front doors, you continue on to the locker rooms to change into the orange jumpsuits you find waiting for you. You choose a locker on the far wall and dump your stuff there. You decide to leave your t-shirt on underneath, zipping the suit up most, but not all, of the way. Finished, you lean back to take a look at your designated companions for the 200 hours to be dispersed across the next few months. One girl has chosen her locker to be in front of the mirror. Her hair is short, curly, and pinned back on the side to form some cute bangs-like fringe. You notice an ankle monitor adorning her lower leg as she strips down to a pink lace pushup bra and panties and steps into her jumpsuit, rolling up the sleeves and bottom cuffs and adding a gold belt around her waist to complete the ensemble. The color of her earrings and bangle bracelets– both large, round, pink, and plastic– match her underwear. She steps back to take a look at herself and smiles. Another girl brushes her hair back into a high and tight ponytail. She looks curvier than the first girl, but just as confident, pairing smoky black eye makeup with shiny, pale pink lip gloss and gold hoop earrings. The guy who’d taken a locker near yours fishes a cigarette out of his pocket and sticks it between his lips. He looks equal parts cute and odd, tall and lanky with a mop unruly, curly hair framing his face. He wears a red and black checkered shirt and an air of swaggering cockiness radiates from him with a pungency usually reserved for uncommonly offensive odors. He smirks at you slyly. The guy with the locker across from the two girls looks vaguely familiar to you. He has two gold chains, one with a cross, and a grey tank top. His jumpsuit is only zipped up halfway, with the arms tied around his waist. He looks remarkably fit, and, not having much of an affinity for sports, you wonder where you recognize him from. The last person you see in the locker room is shadowy and reserved. His hair is short and neatly combed and his jumpsuit is buttoned up all the way to the very last button. He holds a small, black camera phone in his hand and shifts his gaze between people nervously. As you start to file out, one last person stomps in front of you, looking you up and down as he nearly bowls you over. You grimace as he winks. The first thing you notice about him is the immaculate green flat-brimmed baseball cap. You suspect that this hat and others like it are a large part of his personality. Once you’re all together, a man introducing himself as your probation worker, Tony, leads you outside and has you line up against some railing as he gives what you believe is supposed to be a rousing speech. From left to right is Curtis, Gary, Nathan, you, Kelly, Alisha, and Simon. You would learn their names later, but for the purposes of clarity, we’ll start using them now. Tony paces before you, attempting to assume the macho, fear-inducing demeanor of a boot camp officer. “This is it,” he barks. “This is your chance to do something positive. Give something back. You can help people, you can really make a difference to people’s lives. That’s what community service is all about. There are people out there who think you’re scum. You have an opportunity to show them they’re wrong.” He has the tone of someone who has given this speech before and is just barely holding onto their faith in its underlying message. The girl to your left, Kelly, looks mildly offended at the word “scum,” as if Tony had been speaking directly to her. “Yeah, but what if they’re right?” Nathan interrupts on your right. He looks around at the rest of you, “No offense, but I’m thinking some people are just born criminals.” You smile to yourself and try to hold back a chuckle as a look of anger flashes over suspected-douchebag-Gary’s eyes and he bursts out with “Are you looking to get stabbed?” “You see my point there?” Nathan asks, turning back to Tony. A phone rings and Alisha answers with a casual “Hey,” while twirling a curl between her manicured fingers. Tony tries to continue, but he’s becoming increasingly exasperated. “Doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past-” “Doin’ my community service,” Alisha speaks to her phone. “Hey!” He tries and fails to catch her attention. “Boring as fuck,” she continues. It was getting harder not to laugh and you glance at Nathan out of the corner of your eye, amused at the part he had to play in the deterioration of Tony’s speech. “Excuse me!” He tries again. “Hello, I’m still talking here.” “What, I thought you’d finished?” She didn’t care, evidently. “You see my lips still moving, that means I’m still talking.” He tries to assert something akin to authority but clearly doesn’t realize how poorly that approach tends to work on rag-tag groups of rebellious young offenders. “Yeah, but you could have been yawning, or chewing,” Nathan points out facetiously in a drawling tone. Tony ignores him, but you are full-on laughing at this point. “End the call! Hang up!” He shouts at Alisha to no avail. “My probation worker,” she explains to the person on the other line. “You all right there, weird kid?” Nathan leans past you to point at Simon, who stood alone at the far end of your lineup. Tony fumed. “Don’t be disgusting. I’ll call you later.” She finally hangs up, looking over at Nathan, who was approaching Gary and making kissing noises at him. “I’ll rip out your throat and shit down your neck,” Gary snaps back. He looks amusingly short in comparison, you now realize. Curtis grimaces and leans away from the touchy ball of anger standing next to him. “I shouldn’t be here, man.” Kelly gapes at his arrogance as Gary starts to scuffle with Nathan, grabbing at his jumpsuit. “We need to work as a team here. Hey, that’s enough!” Tony takes a few steps forward. “Can I move to a different group? This isn’t going to work for me,” Curtis continues, even though Tony is clearly otherwise engaged. You lean back, nearly bumping into Kelly as she steps to Cutis’ indirect insults. “Um… What makes you think that you’re better than us?” “What is that accent?” Nathan comments, drawn out of his conflict by the way her “us” sounded a lot more like “oss” “Is that for real?” Curtis scoffs, rolling his eyes. “What, are you tryna’ say something or yeah?” She speaks, the latter half her sentence mostly lost due to her lack of enunciation. “Its- you- that’s just a noise! Are we supposed to be able to understand her?” Nathan exclaims. You shake your head and raise your eyebrows at their audacity and Kelly’s incoherence. She sticks her hand out and flips him off, “Do you understand that?” Things escalate again when Nathan puts an arm around a violently unwilling Gary who responds by grabbing him and preparing to punch. “Hey, pack it in!” Tony lunges forward to separate them “It’s love, man!” Nathan yells. You double over, stepping back to get out of the way. Kelly meets your gaze and smirks at the growing scene before you. Alisha laughs, a high-pitched giggle. Tony stood between them now, pulling Gary further and further away from Nathan, who assumed a boxer’s stance and put up his fists comically. “Do it man! Do it! You’re a prick, man, look at you!” Gary calls, trying to push past Tony. “What the fuck are they doin’?” You say to everyone behind you as Kelly looks between you and Alisha. Simon looks like he’d rather be elsewhere, as does Curtis, but for different reasons. Nathan had taken to punch the air, which only served to further aggravate Gary. “You’re a fuckin’ pussy, bruv! He’s takin’ the piss, come here!” Cue the intro music. --     Tony eventually diffuses the conflict between Nathan and Gary and finally leads everyone to some benches by the lake, which you are told to paint white. Paint drips everywhere, from your shoes to the concrete sidewalk, but you hardly care. How different is this from the reason you were here in the first place? You were reprimanded for painting on someone else’s property and were told to instead paint on someone else’s property to pay for it, how is that supposed to work? The only difference is that the first time had been art, and this was largely pointless. They wanted to cover up the graffiti on these benches, but the new paint job would only make future acts of vandalism easier to see. You did it anyway, though, happy to peel off with Nathan and Kelly as Curtis and Alisha and Simon and Gary pair off to the benches on either side of you. You watch as Gary leans down to pick up more paint on his brush, his hat brushing dangerously close to the fresh paint before it finally touches, leaving a stark white smear on the brim. You poke Nathan’s shoulder and point as Gary notices, ripping off his hat in horror and stomping off in a huff, kicking a bucket of paint into the lake and leaving behind a violent burst of white. “Oh, man! There’s paint on my cap, this is bullshit!” “Ooh!” Alisha whistles as he walks past. Everyone turns and stares as he struggles with a shopping cart that’s in his way, kicking it at first before trying and failing to shove it into the lake as well when it simply falls in front of him, still blocking the path. “I know you,” you hear Alisha say to Curtis, perking up due to your own curiosity. “No, you don’t,” he brushes her off. “Yes, I do,” She continues, unphased. “You’re that runner guy. You screwed up big time.” That’s it. You’d seen him years ago at your secondary school’s track meets and races, and later in the news for his accomplishments and subsequent arrest. “You noticed, yeah? Thanks for reminding me.” He grew increasingly annoyed, and it was abundantly clear. Overhearing, Nathan glances up at Kelly and tries to strike up a conversation, “So I’m guessing shoplifting?” She ignores him. “No?” He was about to speak again when she cuts him off, “Don’t act like you know me, ‘cuz you don’t.” “I’m just makin’ conversation!” He motions to you and Kelly, “This is a chance to network with other young offenders. We should be swapping tips. Brainstorming!” He looks at you to continue, but you stay silent, also curious about Kelly’s infraction. You shrug and he looks back at her. “Come on, what did you do?” “This girl called me a slag so I just got into a fight,” she admits, slapping her paintbrush to the bench in annoyance. “Was this on the Jeremy Kyle show?” He jokes. “No, it was at Argos.” “Argos?” you ask, finding the store an odd place to get into fights. “You know what you should’ve done? You should have got one of them little pens and jabbed it in her eye.” He was referring to the pens for filling out the catalog cards at Argos and you smirk at the image, but Kelly just stares at him incredulously. It’s an odd thing to say to someone you barely knew. He turns to look at you, “And you? I need to know what we’re workin’ with here.” “Ah…” You glance between Nathan and Kelly before continuing, “Graffiti, mostly, and throwing a party that bugged my neighbors, breaking the peace.” You had broken the law, technically, but it was nothing compared to punching someone and getting into a fight in the middle of Argos. He raises his eyebrows curiously, “Is there a story behind it or was it just mindless vandalism?” “It was on the wall of my apartment, my landlord saw it when he went to break up a party that my friends were throwing and he said he’d report me.” “Oh, what a wanker!” Nathan exclaims. “The worst part is I lost the apartment and now I’ve gotta live with my dad and stepmum again and it’s a living nightmare.” You don’t want to exaggerate or sound like too much of a cliche, but your stepmother is one of the meanest people you have ever encountered. You could understand it to some extent, as she has two young children and you aren’t the greatest of influences. You call these siblings stepfuck and stepcunt respectively, case in point. “Well, I can sympathize with that. But at least yours is a stepmum, they’re, like, inherently kinda hot, amirite?” You glare at him and begin to understand some of Kelly’s annoyance. He redirects, turning his attention to Simon, who is now painting his bench all alone after Gary’s outburst. “What about you, weird kid? Don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but you look like a panty-sniffer.” He holds his hands up beside his face, mocking a disgusting sniff of some invisible panties. “I’m not a panty-sniffer,” he responds. “I’m not a pervert.” He tries to return to painting the bench, but Nathan begins walking towards him, pretending to jack off with his paintbrush still in his hand, grunting disgustingly. You sigh and roll your eyes, glancing at Kelly. He could be funny, sure, but you were quickly learning about his tendency to take things too far. Kelly shrugs at you. “I tried to burn someone’s house down,” Simon blurts out to get Nathan to stop. Everyone who’d heard snapped to attention, as arson seems considerably more serious than vandalism or a few punches. “Fire?” Nathan laughs and walks back. Kelly looks up at him, “What did you do?” You were still curious about the fire and arson, but you let the conversation move on regardless. “Me? I was done for eatin’ some pick ‘n’ mix.” “Yeah, right,” you scoff. “Bollocks,” Kelly agrees. “What is goin’ on with this weather,” Nathan muses, distracted, as thunder rolls down from overhead and you quickly noticed the growing dark storm clouds in the sky just across the lake. Huh, odd. That hadn’t been there just a few minutes ago. “How did that happen?” you hear behind you, looking around to see Tony returning, an angry look instantly plastered to his face. He points to the overturned paint can, part of Gary’s carnage, and holds his arms up in exasperation. “I mean, you’ve been here five minutes. It’s painting benches. How’d you screw that up? You tell me, because I’ve got no idea.” From out of nowhere, a giant white ball of something smashes down on the car behind Tony, completely caving in the roof and sending the car alarm blaring. Shocked, you jump back and duck amid the various screams and cries of “What the hell was that?” and “Oh, Jesus!” Nathan’s smug grin immediately falls and transforms into fear and wonderment. Alisha shrieks, crying out in a warbling tone, “What’s goin’ on?” Tony turns around slowly in disbelief and gasps, “That’s my car!” “Oh, fuck,” you mutter under your breath. But Nathan isn’t taking it as seriously. “Classic,” he chuckles, thinking it to be some sort of prank. But then another thing falls from the sky into the lake behind you, whizzing past your heads and spraying you, Nathan, and Kelly in an onslaught of lake-water. “Okay, so I’m a little bit freaked out!” he admits. “No fucking shit!” you agree. “What is that?” Alisha asks, turning your attention to the storm Nathan had pointed out just moments ago. It had grown, somehow, turning dark and dangerous as it travels at an unnervingly fast pace towards your group. Simon holds his phone up to film the storm and its effects just as another ball crashes into the dumpster beside him, knocking over the heavy, metal container and spewing ice at him as he ducks and runs from it. More and more ice falls from the sky, huge blocks larger than your head, and you don’t want to think of what could happen if one of them hit you. “Right, let’s get everyone inside,” Tony instructs as more and more of them fall all around you. “Move! Move! Run!” You sprint back to the community center at top speed, holding your head as ice shards rain down on you, pelting and stinging your face and arms. Your heart practically beats out of your chest. One ball of ice pummels into the sidewalk in front of you, breaking a concrete tile. Another falls into a phonebooth, and the glass shatters to the ground around your feet. The storm seems to get thicker as you near the center, and your hair is plastered to your face from the mixture of sweat and water that you were drenched in. You could barely hear Tony yell “Keep going!” over the crashes and booms that fill your ears as you run for your life. Curtis reaches the door first, pulling on the handles and banging on the glass before stepping back and yelling over the din to Tony, “It’s locked! Open it!” Tony groans, “Come on…” and fumbles with the keys. You throw yourself against the wall, as far away as possible from the mega hail storm, and scream, “Just fuckin’ unlock it!” “What is happening?” Kelly shrieks as another massive ball of ice falls onto the pavement beside her. “Open the door, come on!” Nathan yells as Tony grows increasingly frustrated. “I’m finding the right key!” he bellows back “Open the door!” Curtis yells again, and Alisha agreed. “Open the fucking door!” Tony whips around in a burst of anger, “Don’t speak to me like that!” You were about to berate him for his poor priorities when a bright white burst of cold lightning cracks in front of you and sends you flying backward in a chorus of screams. Time slows as you fly through the air and the electricity transforms from a chilling shock to a burning flare, searing and snaking through you as you soar and tumble backward onto the hard pavement. You hit the ground with a sickening thud, from which groans and cries of pain follow. A few remaining snowballs hit the ground around you, but the storm appears to have passed. “I feel really weird,” you hear Kelly say. Your vision is still black, which has you worried until you realize it’s only because your eyes are still closed. You open them and sit up, rubbing the back of your head, which is still screaming in pain. “That’ll be the lightning,” Curtis says to try and explain what just happened. “We should be dead,” Simon points out. “Well, that’s comforting,” you snap back. “A little reassurance might be nice, you know,” Nathan agrees, instead directing his comment to Tony, who is sprawled before the door of the center and has just started to sit up. “‘You’re fine!’ ‘Looking good!’” he elaborates. “Wanker…” Tony groans, pushing himself up onto his elbows. “Did he just call me a wanker?” Nathan asks, indignantly glancing at you and everyone else. He snaps his fingers at Tony, “Hey? Hello?” You see a quick look of anger flash across Tony’s face before he grumbles, “Is everyone alright?” “We could have died, you dick,” Alisha adds. “Are you alright?” Kelly asks tentatively as Tony shakes his head and coughs out a growl. “You’re actin’ like a freak.” He ignores her, “Maybe we should call it a day.” --     Tony finally manages to unlock the door, and you return to the locker rooms to gather your things. You feel like you should be annoyed, leaving early only means you’ll have to spend another day here, but you are too exhausted to feel anything. That was probably the closest you’d ever been to death. You can still feel your heart beating, a deep, steady drumbeat, and your lungs ache from the running and adrenaline. Beside you, Nathan closes his locker and leans against it before turning to you, “Do you think we’ll stick together now, bonded by our shared experiences?” “Dunno. I’d rather spend as little time here as possible,” you explain, closing your locker and stepping away to put on your hoodie. “Oh, you’re one of those types, are you?” Nathan smiles. “What type?” You glare at him. “The I’m-too-cool-for-this type.” “No, that’s Curtis,” you quip, knowing that he’d already left the room. “I just happen to not like community service.” Or any of these morons, all the other girls are total slags. “Hey!” Kelly snaps, swinging around to glare at you suddenly. “Oookay?” You turn away awkwardly and leave, you can’t imagine anything you’d said having offended her. Maybe she just really loves community service or something, but that is decidedly not the impression you’ve gotten from her so far. You walk out to the waiting area by the vending machines, where you find Curtis and Simon standing around in heavy silence. Nathan follows after you moments later. “Do we just go, then?” Curtis asks, clearly annoyed. “Where’s the probation worker?” “I think there’s something wrong with him,” Simon speaks up. “It’s like he was having a spasm.” “He was probably just faking it, trying to get some compensation. Cheap bastard,” Nathan scoffs. “I don’t think he was faking it,” Simon insists, looking back down at his phone. “And you know all about being… mental.” Nathan takes a few steps forward as he talks, leering at Simon and lowering his voice. Then he pretends to convulse and yells “Wanker!” You punch him in the shoulder. “Ow, what the hell was that for?” He sticks his head out at you almost comically. You stick your head out back at him. “Stop being such a prick, he might have a point.” Alisha walks in, already looking bored. “Are we waiting for something?” “Probation worker,” Curtis explains. She scrunches up her face in disgust. “I’m not hanging around for that dickhead.” She turns on her heel and leaves, which everyone else seems to take as their cue to leave as well. You can’t be bothered to be the only one waiting around, so you follow suit. Once outside, everyone pretty much goes their separate ways. Nathan, however, trots after you. “What’re you doin’?” You ask. “Thought you looked a little lonely, and, well, I’d like to recommend my own company as recompense.” He motions to himself like he’s all that, which honestly has you snorting to hold back your laughter. “You can’t be serious.” You raise your eyebrows. “Fine, I happen to live along this way, alright? I’m Nathan, by the way.” “Y/n.” You smile at him. “And I’ll have you know that to date, I haven’t had a single complaint.” He says it like you should be impressed or something. “Can’t have complaints if you haven’t been with anybody,” you joke, smirking. His jaw drops in mock surprise, “Oy! I have, too!” He keeps trying to impress upon you the depth of his sexual prowess, offering many stories as proof, all of which have you in stitches. He peels off when you were about halfway home. You say your goodbyes and wave as he walks away, grateful for the company. A few houses down from your own, though, you stop walking, contemplating what to do next. Home doesn’t seem like a particularly fun place to be right now, but it’s not like you have anywhere else to go. It’s still the early afternoon, so it would probably be only your stepmum at home, with your dad at work and your step siblings at school. It’s practically a worst-case scenario, as you doubt she would believe that they let you go early. You wish this day had gone differently. As you’re musing and trying to work up the courage to walk the thirty or so meters left to your front door, the skies begin to darken. You look up to see if a cloud had rolled in overhead, not exactly trusting the weather as of late, but as soon as you do so, it disappears and the sky goes back to normal. You think nothing of it, which is probably a poor choice on your part, but you are too burned out to care. You finally reach the front door, closing it gingerly behind you, but to no avail. “Y/n? Is that you?” You hear from the other room. “Yup.” You stand in the doorway to the kitchen, knowing you need to address this, but desperately wanting to leave. “They let us go early today.” She eyes you quizzically, “Really?” Now here’s the thing, the truth isn’t even remotely believable– There was a freak hail storm and everyone in our group got hit by lightning or something but now we’re all okay and our probation officer did too, he let us go early and then disappeared– so you have to lie. “Yeah, ‘cuz it’s the first day. They mostly showed us the ropes, got us started on something, and then let us go.” You wait, holding your breath. “Oh.” She looks disappointed. “I thought you’d be out today.” “Yeah, well I did, too,” you mumble as you walk away, not really caring whether or not she heard. “What’d you say?!” she calls after you. “Nothing!” you yell back as you walk as quickly as possible to your room. Once inside, you sigh and collapse onto your bed. You feel like a teenager again and it’s horrible, being forced to be somewhere where you’re treated like immature crap every day, living at home again, constantly having a row with your stepmum. You hope, but doubt, that the next day will be better.

Roles switched!

An AU for fun! It's probably gonna be another series updated once in a blue moon.

Today was super boring! It was summer break for BB, being in her second to last year of college she still got summers off from school. The purple-haired lady just sluggishly moved around her house that morning, a far cry from her normal chaotic personality. It's only been a week and she was done with all the things she felt like doing for that summer. Really, being such a hermit and just messing with people makes one not have very many friends.

Letting out a groan as she sees her younger sibling, Melty, going off to stalk that one teenager who's name starts with an R or something just made BB all the more annoyed. Lip was off doing who knows what, probably trying to pet the animals in the shelter she worked at, Violet was busy off at her office sewing or some shit, Protea attended a summer camp with some other children, and no one cares about Kazuradrop. The day just got even worse! BB didn't even have anyone to harass at home now! Though when in doubt of what to do you, bullying noobs in games was always fun.

Thinking about it a little more, that new MMO-RPG was came out recently. It was a full dive VR thing with crazy customization. Gaining a new plan in her mind, she quickly shot up and got to work. First BB needed to get the hardware and the game. Is she gonna buy it? No! Of course not! Breaking into the purchase history of the people within a 5 mile radius from her house, she quickly finds the perfect person to steal from!

After a small heist from a few streets over, the headset and game is now obtained! Putting a sticky note on the door to tell her siblings to fuck off. BB gets ready to dive straight in!

In her opinion the character creation section is stupid. Why would she want to look like anything other than her amazing, majestic, and devilishly cute self? After just recreating herself, it's time to pick a class! With out a though, BB goes straight to the mage classes and picks one that focuses on buffs and debuffs. What? It's the easiest way to break a game!

Making sure everything is all good, BB loads into the tutorial. From what she read before, this is when each player gets their own personal helper AI/party memeber. They actually function more like a pet from other MMOs. Quickly speeding through the tutorial BB finally gets to me her own personal AI to torment! Walking over to the humanoid form at the end of the pathway, she was internally cackling. Before she can even get to the end of the path, the humanoid figure is running over to her... that's odd. Aren't they supposed to be AIs with like rules and stuff? Eh whatever. It doesn't really matter! The woman, now that BB can see, runs but then slows and awkwardly shuffles closer towards her.

The woman has red hair pulled into two buns and wore glasses. For her outfit, it seemed to be kinda like a hunter with a long cloak and lighter armor. She did have a sword on her hip, so she wasn't completely useless. The woman did a shy bow towards BB and went to speak but was cut off.

"You're mine now! It doesn't matter who you are or what you are! Let's go fuck with some idiots! Kill steal and PK!" BB says while grabbing the woman's arm and running with her into the now open field. Little did the pure haired girl know, Quin the AI assigned to BB had a heavy blush on her face and was very happy.

This was the first player to actually accept her as their AI companion, the rest just threw her away since she looked weak or didn't have a good class combination. Even if what her player said was a bit concerning, maybe this adventure wouldn't be all that bad.

Social Distancing Book Recs

I’ve been getting tons of book recommendations from friends and family to help get through social distancing/self-quarantine, so I thought I should share some of my favorite books with everybody!

Horror/Apocalyptic: *all books are ADULT*

- The Stand by Stephen King “This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death. And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides -- or are chosen” (Goodreads Summary).

- Inferno by Dan Brown “Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disorientated and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings. With a relentless female assassin tailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee. Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno” (Goodreads Summary).

- World War Z by Max Brooks “The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, form decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years” (Goodreads summary).

- It by Stephen King “It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real... They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But none of them can withstand the force that has drawn them back to Derry to face the nightmare without an end, and the evil without a name” (Goodreads summary).

- The Shining by Stephen King “Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic locations feels ever more remote... and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old” (Goodreads summary).

- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski “[House of Leaves] focuses on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of the impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story -- of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of the unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams” (Goodreads summary).

Comedy:

- Good Omens by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett “People have been predicting the end of the world almost from its very beginning, so it’s only natural to be skeptical when a new date is set for Judgement Day. But what if, for once, the predictions are right, and the apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea? You could spend the time left drowning your sorrows, giving away all your possessions in preparation for the rapture, or laughing it off as (hopefully) just another hoax. Or you could just try to do something about it. It’s a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon now finds themselves in. They’ve been living amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse. And then there’s the small matter that someone appears to have misplaced the Antichrist... “ (Goodreads summary).

- Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan *PG-13* Dad is Fat is a comedic memoir that details Jim Gaffigan’s life growing up in a large Catholic family to his experiences as a husband and father (specifically parenting his five young children while living in a tiny walk-up apartment in New York). I highly recommend the audiobook (which is narrated by Jim Gaffigan), my family and I always listen to it during road trips. It never stops being funny. 

- Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings by The Harvard Lampoon *ADULT* “A quest, a war, a ring that would be grounds for calling any wedding off, a king without a kingdom, and a little, furry ‘hero’ named Frito, ready -- or maybe just forced by the wizard of Goodgulf-- to undertake the one mission which can save Lower Middle Earth from enslavement by the evil Sorhed… Luscious Elfmaidens, a roller-skating dragon, ugly plants that can soul-kiss the unwary to death-- these are just some of the ingredients in the wildest, wackiest, most irreverent excursion into fantasy realms that anyone has ever dared to undertake” (Goodreads summary).

Middle-Grade:

- Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan (book 1: The Lightning Thief) “Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends-- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena-- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods” (Goodreads summary).

- The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan (book 1: The Lost Hero) “Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for ‘bad kids.’ What id Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly? Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out. Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too-- like the curse everyone keeps talking about, and some camper who’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them--including Leo-- is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason’s amnesia, or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts?” (Goodreads summary)

- The Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo (book 1: Midnight for Charlie Bone) “Charlie Bone has a special gift-- he can hear people in photographs talking! The fabulous powers of the Red King were passed down through his descendants, after turning up quite unexpectedly, in someone who had no idea where they came from. This is what happened to Charlie Bone, and to some of the children he met behind the grim, gray walls of Bloor’s Academy. His scheming aunts decide to send him to Bloor’s Academy, a school for geniuses where he uses his grifts to discover the truth despite all the dangers that lie ahead” (Goodreads summary).

- Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements “Bobby Phillips is an average fifteen-year-old boy. Until the morning he wakes up and can’t see himself in the mirror. Not blind, not dreaming. Bobby is just plain invisible... There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to Bobby’s new conditions; even his dad the physicist can’t figure it out. For Bobby that means no school, no friends, no life. He’s a missing person” (Goodreads summary).

Science Fiction:

- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick *Adult*  “It was January 2021, and Rick Deckard had a license to kill. Somewhere among the hordes of humans out there, lurked several rogue androids. Deckard’s assignment-- find them and then... ‘retire’ them. Trouble was, the androids all looked exactly like humans, and they didn’t want to be found!” (Goodreads summary).

- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton * Suitable for Young Adults* “An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them-- for a price. Until something goes wrong...” (Goodreads summary). 

Fantasy:

- The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman *ADULT* (book 1: The Magicians) “Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A senior in high school, he’s still secretly preoccupied with a series of fantasy novels he read as a child, set in a magical land called Fillory. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the craft of modern sorcery. He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom. Something is missing, though. Magic doesn’t bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he dreamed it would. After graduation he and his friends make a stunning discovery: Fillory is real. But the land of Quentin’s fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he could have imagined. His childhood dream becomes a nightmare with a shocking truth at its heart” (Goodreads summary).

- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater *YA* (book 1: The Raven Boys) “What do you know about Welsh kings?” This incredibly atmospheric story centers on a seemingly random group of teens as they uncover the mysterious and magical secrets of their small Virginia town.

- A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab *Suitable for Young Adults* “Kell is one of the last Antari-- magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes-- Red London-- and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III  in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treacher lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive” (Goodreads summary).

- The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien *Suitable for middle-grade through adult* “In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord. forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken form him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom” (Goodreads summary).

- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss *Adult* “Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bit to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story” (Goodreads summary).

- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch *Adult* “An orphan’s life is harsh-- and often short-- in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But youge Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Loke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game-- or die trying” (Goodreads summary).

Fiction:

- The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich *ADULT mystery-thrillers/romance* (book 1: One for the Money) “You’ve lost your job as a department store lingerie buyer, your car’s been repossessed, and most of your furniture and small appliances have been sold off to pay last month’s rent. Now the rent is due again. And you live in New Jersey. What do you do? If you’re Stephanie Plum, you become a bounty hunter. But not just a nickel-and-dime bounty hunter; you go after the big money. That means a cop gone bad. And not just any cop. She goes after Joe Morelli, a disgraced former vice cop who is also the man who took Stephanie’s virginity at age 16 and the wrote details on a bathroom wall. With pride and rent money on the line, Plum plunges headlong into her first case, one that pits her against ruthless adversaries - people who’d rather kill than lose” (Goodreads summary).

- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown *Adult* “While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci-- clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion-- a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victory Hugo, and Da Vici-- and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Landon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle-- while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move-- the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever” (Goodreads summary).

- Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *Adult* Sherlock Holmes stories are always fun when stuck at home.

- 11/22/63 by Stephen King *Adult* “Life can turn on a dime-- or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family, Jake is blown away... but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession-- to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the ear of Ike and Elvis, or big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke... Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten... and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful” (Goodreads summary).

Non-Fiction:

- The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson *Adult* “In 1979 a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the U.S. Army. Defying all known accepted military practice-- and indeed, the laws of physics-- they believed that a soldier could adopt a cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls, and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them. Entrusted with defending America from all known adversaries, they were the First Earth Battalion. And they really weren’t joking. What’s more, they’re back and fighting the War on Terror. With firsthand access to the leading players in the story, Ronson traces the evolution of these bizarre activities over the past three decades and shows how they are alive today within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in postwar Iraq. Why are they blasting Iraqi prisoners of war with the theme tune to Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Why have 100 debleated goats been secretly placed inside the Special Forces Command Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? How was the U.S. military associated with the mysterious mass suicide of a strange cult form San Diego? The Men Who Stare at Goats answers these and many more questions” (Goodreads summary).

- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert *Adult* (I recommend listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by Elizabeth Gilbert) “To recover from [an early midlife crisis, divorce, and depression], Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world-- all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way-- unexpectedly” (Goodreads summary).

Entry 36: Chucking Infants into Pocket Dimensions

Before we go on to Conquest, I’m going to do the Birthright Paralogues. They all fit into a theme, in case you couldn’t tell, one that will cause three-four Supports per update to be centered on a new character.

So, between entries 20 and 21, Corrin and Kaze got married. That unlocked two new Paralogues. Now, for no reason in particular, let’s talk about how Paralogues worked in Fire Emblem Awakening. Halfway through Awakening, you learn that Marth, the mysterious masked swordsman who has been helping you out throughout the game, is actually a future version of Chrom’s daughter Lucina, who traveled back in time to stop her father’s murder. After the time travel sub plot is introduced, you can begin unlocking Paralogues by having the Shepherds marry one another. In each Paralogue, you meet one of Lucina’s companions, also a child of one of the Shepherds. In Awakening, the name and personality of the child was determined by the mother, but the father determined their stats, giving which units you pair up meaning. Now, the time travel children storyline wasn’t perfect, few things in Awakening were, but it at least made sense in the game. Awakening’s story revolved around two things: time travel and the bonds between units. And the child units fit in with that story and those themes, as well as giving important gameplay ramifications to the dating sim elements. Now that I’m done talking about the Fire Emblem game that heavily, heavily inspired the direction of Fates, let’s play the Paralogue that unlocks when Corrin gets married.

Paralogue 2: Dragon Blood

The chapter begins by showing us Kana, a mini version of Corrin with Kaze’s hair color, who talks about how his mother is going to visit today. Kana is attacked by spooky ghost men and Corrin, his mother, runs in to save him.

So, Corrin is a mother now. How, you might ask, considering the fact that she and Kaze got married mid-battle yesterday? Well, it’s simple. As the narration that played when Corrin and Kaze got married stated, Corrin and Kaze chucked their infant son into a pocket dimension immediately after he was born. And, because time flows differently in the pocket dimensions, he’s like twelve now. They also must have left Corrin there for nine months, unless pregnancies happen overnight in this world.

Now, this raises a few questions. Why weren’t these pocket dimensions ever mentioned or used in the story of Birthright? Why didn’t Corrin and Kaze stay with Kana to raise him? Who thought this was a good idea? And, sadly, none of these questions will ever be answered.

Kana transforms into a Feral Dragon and the battle begins. This battle features the gang picking off enemies in a large field. There are Dragon Veins to raise and lower the river levels, which may have made the map interesting, but I didn’t use them. Kana is a green unit during this chapter, but spent it stationary at the top of the map. On turn eight, two capturable bosses, a pair of idiot berserkers named Lloyd and Llewyn showed up; I captured one of them and killed the other.

Corrin gives Kana a dragonstone, Kana whines until Corrin takes him with her, and the chapter ends without me ever being given a reason to care about Kana.

Now, let’s go back to what I said about Awakening. In Awakening, the child characters worked because they were tied into the story. In this game, they’re tacked on in the laziest, most nonsensical way. I get why they exist, Awakening was a success and this game tried to replicate everything it did, but it just doesn’t work. In Awakening, the player has a reason to collect the children, to reassemble Lucina’s lost team. But, without that reason or any story significance, I am left apathetic at best and annoyed at worst towards these units. It especially hurts that this chapter gave me little characterization for Kana beyond “cute child soldier”.

Kana

Kana, Corrin’s child. Their gender is always the opposite of Corrins; because Kana actually has different Supports based on gender, I shall use the names Mana and Fana instead. Design wise, they where Corrin’s outfit, but with a blue scarf that looks like a collar. Both forms of Kana have terrible haircuts for different reasons. Kana’s personal skill, Draconic Heir, heals them if they have a dragonstone equipped; this makes Kana more dragonstone based than Corrin, who has an overpowered sword. My main problem with Kana is their personality, or lack there of. Kana is characterized as...cute. Cute and needy. Which is both boring, and again, kinda messed up. Worse, like Corrin, the game seemingly forgets their animalistic dragon form after this chapter, which is a waste.

Now, let’s talk about how child Supports work. All children have one Support with their father (or mother in Shigure and Mana’s case) and one with their mother. Because their mother is not set, the mother conversation is vague and rewritten with slight variations. I am not going to read the same Support ten times for each child, and will instead just read the Corrin version.

Support Fana/Corrin

C: Corrin finds Kana carrying boxes so she can earn money. Corrin asks what Kana needs money for and Kanna refuses to tell.

B: Kana buys Corrin a ring as a gift.

A: Corrin gives Kana a ring as a gift.

Review: I already didn’t like Kana and damn did this Support not help things.

Support: Kana/Mother

Odd thing I need to note about this one; Fana has a unique Support with Corrin but Mana just has the generic mother Support. It’s weird. I assume during planning the writers were told to have each child have one Support with Corrin, one with their mother, and one with their father, resulting in a Corrin Support that could only be used for one Kana. Still, it’s odd.

C: Kana picks their mother flowers. Their mother likes them, but explains to Kana that picking flowers kills them. Something Kana did realize, because child soldier.

B: Kana shows their mother pretty flowers.

A: The mother shows Kana the collection of flowers they've picked over time.

Review: The problem with Kana is that Kana is just cute. No other personality traits beyond “child”. This Support is fine, but it’s also dull and doesn’t make Kana a deeper character. Also, Corrin being a parent is weird because Corrin’s whole personality centers on them being naive, but Corrin as a parent acts calm and responsible.

Support: Mana/Father

C: Mana complains about Corrin always treating him like a child, when he wants to help her out more. His father tells him the thing he does to make Corrin happy. Kana suggests they have a contest on who can do the most things for Corrin.

B: Mana ties with his father in the contest.

A: Corrin tells Mana to stop doing chores and play with his friends who I haven't recruited yet. His father explains that Corrin just wants him to enjoy his childhood while he can. Mana insists his father relax to.

Review: I switched between Silas, Kaze, and Jakob while reading this one and had no problem following it, which goes to show that parents have all the personality of tofu in these ones. That said, Corrin wanting Mana to have a happy childhood is nice. Perhaps an attempt by her to ensure he doesn’t have a lonely upbringing like she did.

Mana and Shigure, Azura’s son, can also have a sibling Support. Not with each other, I mean, with other children.

Support: Kana/Sibling

C: Mana and his sibling start patrolling the camp.

B: Mana and his sibling continue patrolling the camp.

A: Mana asks his sibling to teach him to be stronger.

Review: I fell asleep while reading this one, causing this update to be a day late.

Now that I think about it, Man isn’t twins with his sibling. Mana is explicitly called younger in the B-Rank. Which means Corrin was pregnant for like two years between battles. Azura too, for Shigure to have siblings. Also, why were the kids placed in different Outrealms? Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep all of them, or at the very least the royal siblings and cousins, together?

Wait a minute. Did I just get through an entire update without a bad S-Rank Support? Is this what happiness feels like?

Someday (I love you in present tense)

I miss you folks! Here’s a little drabble I wanted to share while I work on other things, something short and bittersweet. Hope you enjoy  ♥ 

It’s the last good night before everything goes to hell. Not that they know it at the time. They don’t know sitting around the fire that evening as the sun’s colour drains from the sky, that this is the last night they’ll have with none of the injured, ill, stressed or scared. They’re closing in on Naraku, the threads are all pulling together, but they don’t know that.

Tonight is just a good night.

They’ve set up camp on the banks of a slow river, the water passing in a calm stream, the surface glassy, reflecting starlight and the glow of the fire. They caught fish, and even managed to get some rice and vegetables from the last village they helped – practically a feast. The five of them sit around the fire, bellies full and bodies relaxed from the day’s travelling. Shippo is curled up, asleep on Kirara’s larger form, burrowed into her long fur. Kirara purrs, a soft rumbling, as she snoozes by the fire, every bit as lazy and content as a housecat.

Sango is telling them a story about the first time she rode on Kirara as a young girl, how excited she’d been to finally fly with her family’s guardian. Kirara had been a constant companion and protector since she was a baby, and so young Sango had been entirely comfortable with her – and maybe a little too confident. She hadn’t been more than 8 years old at the time, and had practically jumped onto Kirara’s back, boasting to her father how she would master this on her first try, that of course Kirara would obey her. Kirara had taken it upon herself to put some humility in the overzealous young girl and had proceeded to fly so wildly that Sango was just barely holding on by a fistful of fur. On a harsh flip, Sango’s grip had failed and she’d started falling. Kirara had caught with ease, and gently returned her to the ground, before turning and flicking her tails in the girl’s face just for good measure. It’d been a lesson Sango never forgot.

And as she tells the story to her friends around the fire that night, all of them laughing along and jeering at her, Sango is bright and at ease. She rarely indulges the others in stories from her childhood, memories of her family often still too fresh and painful to recount. But tonight is a good night. So, she does. Kirara cracks an eye open and chuffs, gently flicking one of her tails in Sango’s face just to tease, before letting out a roaring yawn and napping again.

Miroku is staring at her all the while like her laughter alone could put a hault to the rampant wars. He has his arm around her, behaving himself, and she’d leaning comfortably against his side. Across the fire, Inuyasha as leaning back against a tree trunk in his usual cross-legged-arms-folded position, but even he has a relaxed posture. Kagome is sprawled out on her sleeping back, laying on her stomach with her pillow under her chest as she laughs along with Sango.

“I miss that,” Sango says with a content sigh as she snuggles in further against Miroku, who is all too happy to oblige. “Not the falling part, but just… flying with her. Just for the sake of it. On nights like these, we used to fly up to the mountains just to sit on the top and look at the stars. It was always so clear up there.”

“It’s not like there’s anything stopping you,” Inuyasha grunts from across the fire, though there is no noticeable malice in his tone. Even his voice is gentle in the quiet of the night. “Why don’t you just go back? Even just for a night.”

But Sango shakes her head. “No, there’s just been no chance to lately. And with how active the demon presence has been across the land… it’d be more trouble than it’s worth for such a silly little thing.”

“It’s not silly,” Kagome says earnestly. “It obviously means a lot to you.”

Sango offers her a smile. “Someday,” she says. “Someday I’ll go back, but not until our task is completed. Then, I’ll go up to the mountains near the Taijiya Village as often as Kirara and I want, and watch the stars. It’s like no other view in the world up there. On clear nights, you can see all the way to the ocean, and every single star moving across the sky.” Tilting her head back, she beams up at Miroku. “I’d love to take you up there.”

“I’d love nothing more to go with you,” Miroku smiles back, rubbing his hand up and down her forearm. The sky is clear tonight, but there were wisps of clouds floating across the stars, and the trees are tall and full. Beautiful, nonetheless. Miroku’s expression turns pensive. “It won’t be too long now,” he says, speaking aloud what everyone is thinking. One way or another, this will all be over soon, and none of them can predict what will happen, how and if they will all come out. They all know this – but Miroku doesn’t say that. Instead, he holds Sango a little closer. “When it is,” he says, “I would like to return to Mushin’s temple for a while. I will have much to be thankful for, and even more to pray for,” Miroku adds with a light, mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Monk,” Sango nudges him with her elbow.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Miroku surrenders with a laugh. “I wouldn’t want to stay for too long, though. Somehow, I cannot imagine living anywhere but in Kaede’s village.”

Sango’s smile only brightens at that idea, and the implications of it. “Neither can I.”

“That does sound nice,” Kagome sighs happily. She rolls onto her back, stretching her arms over her head and closing her eyes. The soft heat of the fire warms her skin, but the midnight breeze is cool and refreshing. “Once this is all over, I’ll finally have a chance to catch up on my school work. Maybe I’ll still be able to get into a good high school. But I’ll be honest,” she trails off for a moment, opening her eyes to stare up at the sky, “I think I’d just be… bored. After everything I’ve seen and done here, the thought of going back to a normal life just seems dull.”

“It sounds safe,” Inuyasha corrected, casting a glare down at her.

Kagome cracks an upside-down smile at him, reaching up to poke him in the thigh. “Same thing.”

Inuyasha scoffs but doesn’t say another word.

“Well,” Kagome shrugs, folding her arms under her head, long black hair spilling over her pillow, “hopefully, the Bone Eater’s Well will still let me through… I would miss you all too much. I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet.” Ever the optimist, Kagome smiled to herself and watched a cloud drift lazily across the full, bright moon. “But… at least it’ll all be over. The jewel will be whole, and Naraku won’t be able to hurt anyone else. A lot of people will be safe. If nothing else, that’s enough for me.”

“You’ve grown so much since we first started travelling, Lady Kagome,” Miroku says.

Kagome turns her head towards him and flashes a cheeky smile from across the fire. “Why, thank you for noticing,” she nods her head.

Sango lifts her hand to her mouth as she laughs, before looking to their only companion who hadn’t yet shared. “What about you, Inuyasha?” she asks. “What do you look forward to, when this is all over?”

But Inuyasha doesn’t reply. His arms seem to be held a little tighter across his chest, and his gaze into the fire is unwavering. The firelight makes the gold of his eyes glow brighter.

Sango frowns, thinking that he hadn’t heard her. “Inuyasha?”

“It’s late,” Inuyasha cuts her off abruptly. Feigning nonchalance, he stretches his arms behind his back and rises to his feet. His movements are sharp, his voice forced. “We have a long way to go tomorrow. Get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch.” With that, he turns and walks off toward the river bank.

The other three exchange looks – there is no mistaking it, they all know that Inuyasha had avoided the question. Still, he’s already stalked away, and it isn’t worth prodding. So, they gradually turn in for the night, letting the fire burn down as they settle down to rest. Inuyasha is right, they do have a long journey ahead of them, and it is already well into the night. Miroku and Sango end up asleep together, wrapped up loosely in each other’s arms as they recline against Kirara. Kagome, for her part, does drift off after snuggling down into her sleeping bag, perfectly comfortable and sleepy.

But she isn’t asleep for long. Or, at least, it doesn’t feel like long. It seems like she’d only closed her eyes for a second when she opens them to find the fire nothing but a pile of slowing embers. She yawns, turning over and sitting upright. It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust in the dark. Miroku and Sango are still sleeping, Kirara and Shippo as well. But Inuyasha is nowhere to be seen.

Not at first, anyway. As Kagome turns toward the river, she sees the outline of him, sitting at the edge of the water, illuminated by the bright moonlight shining off the river like a mirror. Slowly crawling out of her sleeping back, she stands and walks toward him.

He knows she’s approaching, though he makes no acknowledgement. Kagome can see his ears twitching in her direction. Kneeling down beside him, she lays her hand on his back and leans forward to see his face.

“Inuyasha?” she whispers. “Are you…”

She doesn’t finish. Doesn’t need to, she already knows the answer. Inuyasha looks back at her, and for the first time she’s ever seen, he looks… unsure of himself. Scared, almost, but that isn’t quite the right word. He looks lost.

That’s all it takes. Kagome understands. This is the look of a boy who never expected to get this far. Who never thought about a future beyond his short term goals, because he’d never figured there was a point. What had once been so clear to him was now… well, nothing close to what he’d thought it’d be. Inuyasha once believed that possessing the Sacred Jewel would solve all of his problems, that all he needed was to be a full blooded demon, and then everything would be okay – but at that time, he’d never actually thought through how that would work. He never thought about what he would do after.

And now that Inuyasha knows that becoming a full demon isn’t what he wants, his singular focus has been destroying Naraku. Everything will be fine after that, surely. But the part that comes after is somehow more unclear now that it’s ever been. Inuyasha doesn’t know how to deal with even the hope of a future he never thought he would have.

He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t move away when Kagome stares back at him, slipping her hand up to cradle his cheek. Maybe it’s just her imagination, but she can almost feel him lean into her palm.

Kagome does not say a word. She crawls into his lap, sitting between his legs and leaning back against his shoulder. Gently taking his arms, she guides them around her waist, and holds them there, holding her hands on top of his.

They really are an odd pair, Kagome things as her eyes shut. A girl who didn’t belong in the past, and a boy who didn’t have a future. Maybe that was why the present meant so much to her. Whatever happened next, they had right now. They had this moment, this night. If they held onto that, maybe the future wouldn’t have to be so daunting.

Eventually, Kagome feels her body grow heavy, falling asleep safe and content in Inuyasha’s arms. And, it may just be her imagination, but she can swear she feels Inuyasha press his lips against her head just moments before she drifts off.

MARILYN MONROE

June 1, 1926 - August 4, 1962

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) was an actress, model, and singer. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s and was emblematic of the era's changing attitudes towards sexuality. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her films grossed $200 million by the time of her death in 1962. More than half a century later, she continues to be a major popular culture icon.

"When I was five I think, that's when I started wanting to be an actress. I didn't like the world around me because it was kind of grim, but I loved to play house. When I heard that this was acting, I said that's what I want to be. Some of my foster families used to send me to the movies to get me out of the house and there I'd sit all day and way into the night. Up in front, there with the screen so big, a little kid all alone, and I loved it.” ~ Marilyn Monroe,1962

Lucille Ball never worked with Marilyn Monroe, but meet her in 1953 at Ciro’s Nightclub on Sunset Strip, along with Betty Grable, and Red Skelton. Monroe’s immense popularity permeated Ball’s work none-the-less. 

At the start of “Changing the Boys’ Wardrobe” (ILL S3;E10) the gang is heading to the movies to see “That picture we’ve been trying to get to for weeks with Marilyn Monroe.” The movie is likely Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which premiered in New York City in July 1953. On November 5, 1953, the same day the episode was filmed, Monroe’s new film How to Marry a Millionaire was released in the US. 

The November 1953 cover of TV and Movie Screen Magazine saw Lucy (in “The Camping Trip”) and Marilyn wearing the dress she wore on the May 1953 cover of Life Magazine promoting Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 

Also on November 5, 1953, the town of Monroe, New York (60 miles from New York City) was temporarily renamed Marilyn Monroe.

The film later inspired much of the plot of “Second Honeymoon” (S5;E14), Lucy’s failed attempt to make their transatlantic crossing to Europe more than just a working vacation.    

Monroe’s dinner companion turns out to be a seven year-old boy, just like Lucy’s ping pong partner turns out to be young Kenneth Hamilton (Harvey Grant). 

Lucy gets stuck in a porthole just as Monroe did, also draping a blanket around her shoulders so passersby wouldn’t know what was really going on.

The idea for the burlap potato sack dresses in “Lucy Wants A Paris Gown” (ILL S5;E20) comes from Monroe’s real life. 

In 1951 Marilyn Monroe took a series of high fashion photographs wearing a potato sack as a response to a journalist who said that she might look sexier in a burlap sack than her usual fashion choices. 

Lucy first wore burlap at the end of “Mr. and Mrs. TV Show” (ILL S4;E24) as her scary version of a Phipps make-over.

In “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5) Lucy and Ethel argue about who looks more like Marilyn Monroe. 

While Lucy has the facial features, Ethel has the blonde hair. 

Fred (hilariously) settles the argument!  

In “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E7) a long list of Hollywood names are dropped in anticipation of hobnobbing with celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe. 

In “Lucy and Harpo Marx” (ILL S4;E28) Lucy wonders if Ethel might pass for Monroe to a near-sighted Carolyn Appleby. After Ethel tries to walk like Marilyn Monroe, Lucy decides that “nobody is that near-sighted!” Fred says that he looks more like Marilyn than either of them! 

In “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13), the Appleby’s come over for a social evening that Ethel calls “the bore war” because the couples only talk about their children. As the scene opens, Caroline is in mid-sentence talking about a Marilyn Monroe film.

CAROLINE: “...and he picked up Marilyn Monroe, slung her over his shoulder and carried her off!”

Although the title is never mentioned, the film they are discussing is Bus Stop, starring Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray. It was released in August 1956, two and a half months before this episode was filmed.

When “Lucy Does the Tango” (ILL S6;E20), she stuffs eggs down her blouse and Ethel stashes a some in her back pockets. Lucy tells her, “Whatever you do don’t try to walk like Marilyn Monroe,” but the ‘yolk’ is on Ethel when Fred suddenly enters through the kitchen door! 

In “Lucy the Gun Moll” (TLS S4;E25), Lucy plays Lucy Carmichael and Rusty Martin. The name Rusty Martin was probably derived from Lucy’s hair color and the surname of Mary Martin, who introduced the song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” (music and lyrics by Cole Porter) in the 1938 Broadway musical Leave It to Me. Marilyn Monroe sang it in the 1960 film Let’s Make Love.  In that same film, Harry Cheshire, who played Sam Johnson in “Oil Wells” (ILL S3;E18), played Monroe’s father. Jerry Hausner (Jerry, Ricky’s Agent) and Joan Banks (Reporter Eleanor Harris in “Fan Magazine Interview”) played uncredited supporting roles. 

Lucy and Marilyn shared a leading man in handsome Keith Andes. Andes was Lucy’s male lead in Wildcat on Broadway, and later played was featured on three episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

In 1952, he played opposite Marilyn in Clash By Night, an RKO picture. 

In “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (1952), the June 3, 1952 of Look Magazine actually had Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe on the cover!  Monroe was promoting Clash by Night, and Desi had written a feature on his wife for the magazine. So Marilyn actually did appear on “I Love Lucy” - if only in a still photo. 

Some Like It Hot (1959) is arguably one of Marilyn Monroe’s most popular films. What does it have in common with Lucille Ball? In 1958, both Lucy and Monroe were depicted at San Diego’s famous Del Coronado Hotel. It is the hotel that the Ricardo’s and Mertzes stay at in “Lucy Goes to Mexico” (LDCH S2;E1) as well as the backdrop for much of the film. Although Desilu filmed establishing footage of the hotel, the cast stayed in Hollywood, while Monroe went on location (as seen above). In “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20), Mr. Mooney says he wouldn’t buy a second hand nightie if it had been worn by Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot.

The Irving Berlin song “There’s No Business Like Show Business” was sung on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”  Although it was originally from the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun (1946), it also served as the title and was performed (by Merman) in the Marilyn Monroe film There’s No Business Like Show Business in 1955. 

In 1952, Marilyn co-starred by Richard Widmark (”The Tour” ILL S4;E30) in the film noir drama Don’t Bother To Knock. The film also featured “Lucy” players Lurene Tuttle (Fine Arts League President), Verna Felton (Mrs. Porter), Gloria Blondell (Grace Foster), as well as Harry Bartell, Olan Soule, Robert Foulke, and Bess Flowers.

That same year, Monroe starred in We’re Not Married! opposite Lucy’s friend and former co-star Ginger Rogers, as well as Eve Arden (”Hollywood at Last!”), Paul Douglas (”Lucy Wants a Career”) and Eddie Bracken (Too Many Girls). 

One of Monroe’s most iconic moments came in March 1962 when she sang “Happy Birthday” as a birthday present to President John F. Kennedy in a public birthday celebration also attended by Lucy’s friends and co-stars Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, Henry Fonda, Danny Kaye, Shirley MacLaine and Elliott Reid. A year later, Lucy Carmichael also gave Kennedy a present, a sugar cube replica of the White House on “The Lucy Show” with Elliott Reid doing Kennedy’s offstage voice as well as playing a small on-camera role! 

"I never quite understood it, this sex symbol. I always thought symbols were those things you clash together! That's the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something I'd rather have it sex than some other things they've got symbols of." ~ Marilyn Monroe, 1962

Monroe was married (and divorced) three times: 

James Dougherty, Merchant Marine & Policeman (1942-46) 

Joe DiMaggio, Baseball Player (1954-55)

Arthur Miller, Playwright (1956-61)

In “Lucy is Enceinte” (ILL S2;E10), Fred gives Lucy a signed baseball for his future 'godson’. When he asks Lucy to read out the signature, she at first says “Spalding,” the ball’s brand name, but then finds it is signed by Joe DiMaggio.

In “Ragtime Band” (ILL S6;E21), Little Ricky asks his Uncle Fred: 

LITTLE RICKY: “Who’s Joe 'Maggio?” FRED: “'Who’s Joe 'Maggio?’ You talk more like your father everyday.”

In “Sales Resistance” (ILL S2;E17), Lucy compares herself to Willy Loman, the title character in Death of a Salesman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Arthur Miller first produced on Broadway in 1949 and made into an Oscar-nominated film in 1951.  

Speaking of husbands, Desi Arnaz has something in common with Marilyn Monroe, too. Both of their souses were accused of being Communists by the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s. Both Lucille and Arthur Miller were cleared of charges and their careers continued, although that was not true for many celebrities of the time. 

Monroe died on August 4, 1962. The toxicology report showed that the cause of death was acute barbiturate poisoning. Empty medicine bottles were found next to her bed. The possibility that Monroe had accidentally overdosed was ruled out because the dosages found in her body were several times over the lethal limit.

The character of Ginger, the movie star castaway on “Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67) was described during casting as a combination of Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe. Tina Louise had Lucy’s red (ginger) hair and Monroe’s shapely physique. The series also featured Natalie Schafer (Phoebe Emerson) as Mrs. Howell, and Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper. Hale performed on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy”. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz was a Lucy fan. His brother Elroy Schwartz actually wrote scripts for Lucille Ball. 

In the 2013 web-series “Ryan & Ruby” both Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe are given special thanks for their inspiration. The last name of star and creator Ryan Burton's character is "Carmichael", the same as Ball's character on the "The Lucy Show". In Ryan’s kitchen there are fridge magnets with photos of both Lucy and Marilyn.  

Lucy and Marilyn are street characters at Universal Studios theme parks, their iconic hair and costumes making them instantly recognizable.

The same day Marilyn Monroe was born in 1926, another Hollywood icon with connections to Lucille Ball was also born, Andy Griffith.  To read his birthday blog, click here! 

Rough Geraskier draft

Anyone want to make a proper fic out of it? It popped into my head this morning and I really like it, but I’ll never have the time to actually write it... *sigh*

Hurt/comfort Abuse tw

Jaskier and Geralt are on their way to some backwater where Geralt expects easy money. Some Sylvan is on the loose and the villagers are desperate to get rid of it, so they offer a reward for killing it. Jaskier really doesn’t want to go, but refuses to explain why. Geralt, of course, goes in spite of it and the bard gloomily follows.

They arrive late at night and manage to find a place at an inn. Geralt already senses that the villagers aren’t too friendly towards him, but he’s used to that. Jaskier goes unusually quiet, but the witcher doesn’t ask why. Honestly, he enjoys the silence.

Geralt starts his hunt early the next morning, leaving Jaskier, who is still asleep, behind.

When he comes back to the tavern in the evening, he bangs the Sylvan’s head on a table.

“I heard you were paying gold for a Sylvan’s head.”

Everyone eyes him suspiciously. It’s weird. Usually, at this point, Jaskier has them all twisted around his little finger. It has been a long time since Geralt has come back from a hunt to such open hostility. The bard is nowhere to be found.

“There’s another one.” The barkeeper is the one who breaks the silence

“Hm?”

“Another Sylvan. There’s two of them. There’s no money until we got both their heads, witcher.”

Geralt’s jaw clenches. Sure, Sylvans are an easy kill, but a bitch to find, and he didn’t plan on spending that much time in a village like this. Unfortunately, he devoted the whole fucking day to crawling through thickets, so he’s too tired to cause any trouble or even to argue his case. The villagers glare at him, all of them, so he nods, grabs the head and takes it upstairs to their room.

It’s dark in there, but Geralt’s eyes can easily pick out Jaskier who is sitting at the window and staring out in the night.

“You’re back.”

“Hm.”

The bard gets up and heads for the door, face turned away from Geralt. “I’ll run you a bath.”

Something is wrong, Geralt can almost smell it. It’s not like Jaskier at all to sit around in the dark instead of entertaining an audience, even if these villagers seem a hostile bunch. He reaches out his arm as Jaskier tries to weasel past him through the door and stops him.

“I’m good.”

Jaskier takes a step back, his face still turned away from Geralt, hidden in the shadows. “Well, you don’t smell good.”

His voice misses its spark. Geralt reaches for a lamp and turns the little wheel. A tiny spark explodes to lighten the wick and soft light floods the room. Jaskier wants to retreat to the shadows, but Geralt catches his shoulder and turns him toward him. Very gently cups he his companion’s chin to tilt his face into the light. His jaw clenches. There are cuts on Jaskier’s cheeks and upper lip. His nose is crooked. The bards’s eyes meet Geralt’s, then he lowers his gaze in shame.

The witcher keeps his chin cupped tenderly between his fingers. When he finally speaks, his voice oozes with suppressed anger. “Who did this to you?”

Jaskier doesn’t answer.

“Look at me. Look at me!” The bard slowly raises his gaze again and Geralt’s eyes search his. “Who?”

Jaskier breaks away and walks toward the window, turning his back on the witcher. “This is not your fight, Geralt. Leave it alone.”

Geralt doesn’t answer. Instead he takes of his gloves and his armour and puts away his weapons. Then he rolls up his sleeves and dips a piece of cloth into their washing bowl and walks over to Jaskier. Again, he takes his chin and tilts his face toward him. Jaskier half-heartedly tries to break away, but Geralt won’t let him. Ever so gently he washes the blood away from the cuts and from his nose. The bard watches his face, while Geralt concentrates on being careful, on not hurting his bard any further. Finally he pulls out a tiny silver box. Jaskier backs away.

“That is yours. It was expensive.”

Geralt doesn’t answer. He dips a finger into the salve inside the box that they purchased from a mage some weeks back. It is supposed to make wounds heal faster, but Jaskier always wondered if they might have been fooled. Anyway, it feels nice, the way Geralt gingerly spreads it on his broken skin. His hands are rough, calloused, but they are warm and they move as if they are handling a raw egg.

Much too soon the witcher packs away the box and takes a step back. But his golden eyes are still on Jaskier, searching for an answer. “Fucked the wrong woman again?”

The bard shakes his head but remains silent. It’s rare and it’s weird but Geralt is out of his depth. He doesn’t know how to handle a quiet Jaskier. So he watches helplessly as the bard nods his thanks, scrambles over to one of the beds and slides under the covers. His movements seem painful. He must have been hurt where Geralt can’t see it.

He hurries downstairs. The tavern is nearly empty now and the barkeeper seems bored. Geralt gets as close to him as the counter top between them will allow.

“Who beat up the bard?”, he growls.

The barkeeper shrugs his shoulders. “Not my business.”

Geralt clenches his fists, but decides not to try to beat it out of the cunt. Instead he reaches for a coin in his pocket and slams it onto the counter top. “Who?”

The barkeeper snivels and takes the coin. “Someone who has every right to do so. His father. Honestly, the queer little rat had it coming. You don’t abandon family and go off gallivanting into the world like that, you don’t. Coming back with a witcher no less.” He spits out in disgust.

It takes every ounce of self control for Geralt not to pack a punch. It wouldn’t help. He needs to finish the hunt, he needs to pocket the money and he needs to find the one who is responsible. Jaskier’s father.

In all their years together he never thought to ask the bard where he came from, how he had lived before it all. He always figured that every person’s story only belonged to themselves. But now… He goes back upstairs and finds Jaskier asleep. He lies down in the other bed, but he doesn’t sleep a wink.

In the morning, he wakes the bard grumpily.

“Get up.”

Jaskier blinks. “What?” His brain is still asleep. “What is happening?”

Geralt throws his satchel at him. “Get up. Hunt.”

It still takes a few second’s for Jaskier to process. “You want me to come?”

“Hm.”

“You never want me to come. You go to great lengths to not have me with you when you hunt.”

Geralt pauses his preparations for a second. “I’m not leaving you here.” He resumes his activities and actually leaves Jaskier speechless.

The bard still walks with a limp, but he follows Geralt down the stairs and to the stable, where Roach is waiting for them. The witcher looks at Jaskier and nods at the horse.

His companion is confused. “Geralt, please, use your words, because I could swear you just asked me to mount Roach.”

“Hm.”

“You… what now?”

“You can’t walk.”

“Are you sure about this? Absolutely sure? You never let me ride her, I…”

“Still wondering why I’m not overly fond of taking you on hunts?”

Jaskier complies, climbs into the saddle and Geralt gets up behind him. It feels unusual at first to be so close, to feel the witcher’s breath in his neck, to feel his arms around him as they take the reins. But it’s nice. It’s warm and safe and that is something Jaskier hasn’t felt since they arrived in this blasted village.

They ride in silence for a while. Geralt is fidgeting with the reins. He can face Strigas and Dragons and all that but what he is about to do now…

“So…” He clears his throat once, twice. “Your father.”

Jaskier closes his eyes. Of course he found out. Of course he did. “Son of a bitch”, he replies more nonchalantly than he feels. “End of story.”

“Hm.”

“He… I…” It’s not something that happens often, but Jaskier doesn’t seem to find the words. It takes him longer than usual to assemble them in a way that makes sense. It helps not having to look at Geralt. “I grew up here, but I never quite fit in. My mother died when I was seven. My older brother died, when I was twelve. It hit my father hard, but honestly, he always was an unfeeling bastard. And I… well, I never fit in. Always too flamboyant, always too loud, always too clever. And my old man, he… he thought that he could beat it out of me. I hoped he might have died in the meantime or that I could face him differently now at least, but… Well.”

Geralt doesn’t know what to say.

They ride to find the Sylvan, which turns out to be the other Sylvan’s son and just as mean. Geralt kills it and Jaskier looks at it’s body with pity. “It was bound to become like it’s father, was it?”

“It was not”, Geralt insists. “It made it’s own choices. And so can you.”

Back at the village they are confronted by Jaskier’s father. Geralt moves to protect the bard, but he fends for himself and tells his old man off. They cash in the second Sylvan’s head and get on their way, Jaskier on Roach, Geralt on foot this time.

They make camp, Geralt lights a fire, but it still gets cold, so they huddle closer than they normally would. Geralt gently checks on Jaskier’s wounds. He apologizes. He feels like he caused all of this, but the bard assures him that he’s not to blame. Finally, Geralt leans in and kisses him tenderly on the mouth.

New Vegas Companion Meme -- Contreras

Okay sure, he’s a canon NPC but I called dibs.

Link to the template here!

General

Name: Daniel Contreras

Location: Camp McCarran supply shack

How to obtain: Finished the quest Dealing With Contreras without turning him in to NCR.

Art by @yesjejunus​

Companion Wheel

I think we should travel together: “Sure, just have me home before 9.” / “Yeah I think I got a lunch break comin’ up.”

Use Melee: “Are you serious right now?” / “I’d prefer not.”

Use Ranged: “Were you expecting me to use something else?” / “Yeah, that’s what I’m trained in.”

Open Inventory: “You still have to pay for that.” / “I ain’t a charity, kiddo, you’re not getting anything for free” 

Stay Close: “You’re not gonna hold my hand are you?” / (if the Courier is female) “You making a pass at me?”

Keep Distance: “Fine by me.” / “What, you don’t want to be seen with ol’ Contreras?”

Stealth: “Not exactly my specialty” / “You’re askin the wrong guy for this”

Back Up: “Yeah, I like my space too.” / “Oh-kay, damn. No need to be pushy.”

Be Passive: “No complaints here.” / “Good, you handle the fighting.” / “That’s all you, kid.”

Be Aggressive: “Yeah I’m gonna have to pass....no? Damnit!” 

Use Stimpack: “Aaah that’s good.” / “Shit you couldn’t have used that sooner??” / “Think I might need another one....or three.”

Wait Here: “I can’t just sit here all day. MPs seem me loitering alone they’re gonna start asking questions.” 

Follow Me: “Yeah, that was the plan.”

Send to the Lucky 38: “Alright, paid vacation!.” / “You know, an empty casino is actually pretty boring.”

Send Home: “Good idea, Boyd’s probably wondering where I’m at.” can be found in Camp McCarran’s supply shack

Injured: “Aaah SHIIIIIT!!” / “Fuck this, fuck that, and fuck you.” / “I told you I was a noncombatant damn it all!” / “This is outside my pay grade!” 

Death: “Goddamnit--” / “This wasn’t...part of the plan--” 

Aggression: not aggressive

Confidence: cautious

Assistance: helps friends and allies

Karma: neutral

Perks

Contreras has a starter perk that will be built upon depending on how the Courier handles his quest line.

Man About Town: Contreras has connections all over Vegas, taking him with you now allows you to access them! Some NPCs with shops will now allow you to access special items they do not usually sell, while some non-merchant NPCs now have an accessible shop.

Should the Courier convince him to be more careful and selective on who he does business with, Contreras will gain the Customer Loyalty perk.

Customer Loyalty: Regulars are the basis to any good business. Not only do you get special shops from certain NPCs, you now earn a loyal customer’s discount and can request that special items be ordered in bulk.

Should the Courier convince him that business is inherently risky, and that taking chances is just part of the job, Contreras will gain the Traveling Merchant perk.

Traveling Merchant: Barter checks are now easier to pass and earn better bonuses when Contreras is in your party. All vendor NPCs can be negotiated with, lowering their prices on items. 

Drops

Big Book of Science, or one copy each of La Fantoma and Grognak the Barbarian, or Programmer’s Digest

One 9mm bullet - a single 9mm bullet. Why does he have this? Why doesn’t he have more....(becomes a miscellaneous item when looted)

Half the amount of caps he had before recruitment 

Quests and Recruitment

To recruit Contreras, one must first complete his main quest Dealing With Contreras in a way that doesn’t get him arrested. After this, he trusts the Courier enough to take on larger jobs. Recruiting Contreras also starts his companion quest, as he will request to join the Courier on the strip. Because his quest is tied in with How Little We Know, the Courier must NOT have completed any of Troike’s quest line.

Note: To keep Contreras as a companion you must maintain some good reputation with the NCR. Anything too low and Contreras will say you are too controversial to be seen with.

Contreras can and will leave the party if his health drops below 50%. To re-recruit him, just go back his supply shack.

Risky Business

“It’s the worst kept secret that Daniel Contreras is dealing arms on the side, however no one really knows just how far his business goes. You’ve helped him in the past, and now he’s asking for your help again. Take Contreras to Gomorrah and talk with his contact.”

When the Courier talks to Contreras after completing Dealing with Contreras, he will ask them if they are interested in another, bigger, deal. If the Courier says no, they can accept the quest at a later time by choosing the “So about that job...” dialogue option when talking with him again.

If the Courier says yes, Contreras will tell them about his business in Gomorrah with the Omertas, and that his contact requested that he comes to talk with them regarding their last shipment. If the Courier has exceptionally good reputation with the NCR at this point, he will mention that being seen with them will make the operation look like a regular night around the strip. If the Courier has the Black Widow perk, they may flirt with him.

When the Courier agrees to help him, the quest Risky Business will be activated and Contreras will join your party. Upon entering Gomorrah, Contreras will stop the Courier to talk with them, telling them that they need to find Troike and where he can be found (he will be located in the Brimstone party rooms.) The Courier can ask about Troike, in which Contreras will reveal how Troike was blackmailed into being the shipment runner between Contreras’ operations and the Omertas. The Courier can question him further, or wait til they meet up with Troike, and learn that Contreras was recently contacted about their most recent shipment not coming in. 

Upon meeting up with Troike, Contreras will ask him what happened to their last shipment and that he doesn’t appreciate being contacted by clients with complaints. Troike will then explain that it wasn’t his fault, and that he’s been working on getting it back. He will explain what happened to the Courier, in which they can ask him more detailed questions about the Fiends responsible for the shipment loss. When the Courier exits dialogue with him, Contreras will then talk to them, asking if they can do him another favor, and that caps would be included for a job well done. The Courier can agree, in which How Little We Know will engage if it hasn’t been started previously, or they can disagree, prompting Contreras to get frustrated, or they can say that they will think about it. If the last option is chosen, the Courier can proceed with How Little We Know in any way they chose. Any option taken will prompt Contreras to leave your party and wait back in his shack.

If the Courier agrees to get the shipment back, the location of the shipment will be marked and they can retrieve it or destroy the shipment. If the shipment is retrieved, the Courier can return to Contreras and he will thank them for their help and give them a hefty amount of caps. If they destroy the shipment, they can lie and say that it was destroyed when they found it. Contreras will be angry upon hearing this, and say that Troike’s luck is running thinner with each deal. He thanks them regardless, and give a small amount of caps for the trouble.

Although the Courier can ask Contreras about his dealings with the Omertas after they deal with the shipment, the quest will not continue until the Courier learns that the Omertas are working with the Legion. They can then ask him if he knows this, to which he will reply that once the weapons are out of his hands, he doesn’t care where they end up, and that business is business. The Courier can either agree with him, saying that he is right to take any business opportunity he can get and he will reply positively, reassuring the Courier that even if he wasn’t giving them the guns they would still find a way to get them. If the Courier disagrees with him, saying that he needs to be selective about who he deals to and be more careful about where his supplies end up, he will get irritated with them saying that they’re the dumb muscle of this operation and not the guy in charge. If the Courier has completed I Put A Spell On You, they can use this as an example of why he shouldn’t be giving the Legion any advantages in the war. Contreras will hesitate before admitting he had sold explosive ingredients to Curtis a few weeks prior. The Courier can also cite Clanden’s plans in How Little We Know to convince him that he should be more cautious. Either option will make him reconsider his business practices. 

Depending on what the Courier chooses, Contreras will gain a new perk to add onto Man About Town. If the Courier tells him to play it safe, he will gain Customer Loyalty and will indirectly thank the Courier for helping him see his recklessness. If the Courier tells him that he should take business wherever it crops up, he will gain the Traveling Merchant perk and tell the Courier that he appreciates having an agreeable business partner. 

Ending Slides

Contreras’ ending slides are based not only on how his quest is completed and which route the Courier takes with Vegas, but also depends on how the Courier handled Clanden in How Little We Know.

If his personal quest is never completed…

He does not get an ending slide, however he will default to whatever the NCR does.

If Contreras is killed after his quest is completed

Contreras, feeling hopeful that he had found another reliable business partner was betrayed in the end. Though he had seen many people come and go through his business deals, he had only placed such confidence in few. The sergeant was found dead in his bunk, and investigations into his murder turned up his own betrayals. With no family to inform, Contreras was dumped outside Freeside, forgotten by his unit.

If the Courier sides with Legion and…

Convinces Contreras to be more careful about who he sells to...

and DOES kill or make Clanden leave

Contreras, falling back with the NCR, put in to be transferred further west. Although the eastern front of the NCR’s territory brought good opportunity in illegal trade, the threat of Legion outweighed any benefit. Knowing that he could keep up his work in California, Contreras continued to live comfortably as quartermaster. 

and does NOT do anything with Clanden 

The Omertas, working for Legion, had devised a plan to spread the NCR’s attention before the Dam battle. Contreras, getting one last look at Vegas, became one of the many casualties in an attack on the Strip. He suffocated in the streets, dying without ever knowing what role he played in losing the eastern front.

Agrees that Contreras should sell to anyone...

and DOES kill or make Clanden leave

Not letting the NCR’s defeat deter his work, Contreras continued to do business indiscriminately. With weapons now harder to smuggle, he focused his efforts on moving chem supplies to the fleeing Fiends. Not keeping their demands in check, he was killed in a raid by an upcoming gang, the Coyotes.

and does NOT do anything with Clanden

The Omertas, working for Legion, had devised a plan to spread the NCR’s attention before the Dam battle. Contreras, getting one last look at Vegas, became one of the many casualties in an attack on the Strip. He suffocated in the streets, dying without ever knowing what role he played in losing the eastern front.

If the Courier sides with NCR and…

Convinces Contreras to be more careful about who he sells to...

NCR’s annexing of Vegas and its surrounding territories created a new wave of clientele for Contreras. Although he sold contraband to many rioters and Fiends none proved to be too large a threat for the Republic, and in turn kept his side business moving. Contreras continued his work, earning enough caps to live more than comfortably. 

Agrees that Contreras should sell to anyone...

Following the Courier’s advice, Contreras continued to sell to clients indiscriminately. Eventually his recklessness had gotten him noticed, and due to selling NCR resources to their enemies he was charged with treason and executed via firing squad. 

If the Courier sides with House and…

Convinces Contreras to be more careful about who he sells to...

and DOES kill or make Clanden leave

Despite NCR’s loss of Vegas, Contreras’ business continued to thrive. Where weapons became harder to smuggle, chem movement was at an all time high. With Fiends and junkies no longer welcomed in the city, Contreras made his living off them, exploiting their addictions for a comfortable life. 

and does NOT do anything with Clanden

The Omertas, tired of living under House’s rule, had devised a plan to take back the Strip. Contreras, getting one last look at Vegas, became one of the many casualties in the attack. He suffocated in the streets, dying without ever knowing what role he played in their rebellion.

Agrees that Contreras should sell to anyone...

and DOES kill or make Clanden leave

Contreras continued his business in arms and chem peddling. Though he reaped the benefits of a larger clientele, they could not protect him from the consequences: over confident, he didn’t expect an assassin hired as a result of a deal gone wrong. Contreras was murdered in his bunk, and though his death caused alarm among the troops, he was quickly forgotten.

and does NOT do anything with Clanden

The Omertas, tired of living under House’s rule, had devised a plan to take back the Strip. Contreras, getting one last look at Vegas, became one of the many casualties in the attack. He suffocated in the streets, dying without ever knowing what role he played in their rebellion.

If the Courier makes New Vegas independent and…

Convinces Contreras to be more careful about who he sells to...

Contreras, falling back with the NCR, put in to be transferred further west. Although the eastern front of the NCR’s territory brought good opportunity in illegal trade, the loss of Vagas meant business opportunity was elsewhere. Knowing that he could keep up his work in California, Contreras continued to live comfortably as quartermaster.

Agrees that Contreras should sell to anyone...

Contreras continued his business in arms and chem peddling. Though he reaped the benefits of a larger clientele, they could not protect him from the consequences: over confident, he didn’t expect an assassin hired as a result of a deal gone wrong. Contreras was murdered in his bunk, and though his death caused alarm among the troops, he was quickly forgotten.

November 2020: A Months of Familiarity

This November ended up being a month of me either rereading old favourites, exploring new books by favourite authors, or a mix of both.

…Be prepared for so much Terry Prachett, I found his audiobooks on Libby last month and since that I’ve been unstoppable.

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

The first of my Terry Practhett books to mention! I chose to include this one on my list because it’s a beautiful stand alone novel, perfect to read if you’ve never touched on of Pratchett’s works before, and is often overlooked.

The book is about Maurice, an “amazing” cat by his own admission, who has teamed up with a stupid boy and his very own plague of rats. The moneymaking scheme is simple: set the rats loose on a town and after causing a panic let the boy stroll in and offer to play his pipe and lead them away… for a fee. This is working well, until Maurice, the boy, and the rats arrive in the town Bad Blintz. Here the rats are beginning to question the morality of their work, the boy gets entangled with a young, mischievous local girl, and they’re all shocked to find out that the town already has a real rat infestation… or so the rat catchers claim. Things quickly turn sinister and deadly as the group is forced to confront not only the cruelty of humanity, but something even more sinister living in the small, dark, hidden place of the town.

This is a YA book, unlike some of Pratchett’s other novels, so it’s a quick, fun read, while still having all of his dry wit and heavy, complicated thoughts about society, morality, belief, and what it means to be a person. It’s a genuine delight to see Maurice and the rats, recently made sentient by wizards’ rubbish, struggle to come to terms with who they were and who they are now.

Black Pearl Ponies: Red Star & Wildflower

Y’all it ain’t a secret at this point that I enjoy a stupid horse girl book, right? I picked up the first two books of the Black Pearl Ponies books from the library on a whim and they were basically what they promised. Girl lives with family on ranch, father helps train horses, girl goes on pony adventures with ponies. A particular focus is given to horse welfare and care. Very mediocre but a nice thoughtless covid read if you, like me, get a craving for animals books written for seven year olds from time to time. Plus this comes with the added humour of it being written, as far as I can tell, by a British author who thinks all Americans are stetson wearing cowboys which I find unreasonably funny.

Crenshaw

I love Katherine Applegate’s work; I read the Endling series earlier this year and they are overwhelmingly good. Crenshaw was also an enjoyable read, though not my favourite by her. It read a little bit like a book I read last fall, No Fixed Address, which was also a very good read though not my usual genre. Crenshaw is about a boy, Jackson, whose family, though close-knit and loving, is experiencing financial difficulties and struggle with food scarcity, homelessness, and all the instability and stress that results from this. During this tumultuous time, Jackson is surprised by the reappearance of a tall, bipedal, snarky cat — Crenshaw, his old imaginary friend. This is a charming book that blends genuine, real world hardships with whimsy and magical realism.

The Enemy Above: A Novel of WWII

Since it was Rememberance Day this month, I decided to pick up a holocaust novel. This book is about 12-year-old Anton, a young Jewish boy who finds himself fleeing from his Polish farm in the middle of the night with his old grandma when a German raiding party that attacks their village in an effort to make the countryside “judenfrei”. The book is, perhaps, not the most well-fleshed out, but it’s fast-paced and exciting for a child/YA audience that’s being introduced to holocaust literature, without trying to downplay the absolutely horror and brutality of the Nazis. It manages to strike a satisfying balance between fear, tragedy, and hope.

“Everything he had heard was true. He was just a twelve-year-old boy and yet they hunted him. He had broken no laws, done nothing wrong. He was simply born Jewish. How could anyone want to kill him for it?”

Gregor the Overlander

Somehow I never knew that Suzanne Collins wrote anything other than The Hunger Games? I stumbled across this series at a used bookstore and was first taken by the cover and then shocked when I realized I recognized the author’s name. Well The Hunger Games was such a good read, how could I not pick up a book with people riding on a giant fucking bat?

Such a good choice. I’m almost done book two and bought book three today after work. It is exactly the sort of low fantasy that I live for, when a fantasy world lives so close to the real world that you can practically touch it. I also love the fact that while all the wild fantastical elements are happening, you still have the main character taking care of his toddler sister the whole time. It’s at times charming, hilarious, and nerve-wracking!

It’s about Gregor, a normal kid who’s doing his best to help his mom take care of his two younger siblings ever since his father disappeared years ago. Gregor expected months of boredom when he agrees to stay home over the summer instead of going to camp like his sister in order to watch his baby sister, Boots, and their grandma while his mom is at work. He never could have expected that a simple trip to the apartment’s laundry room would lead to both him and Boots tumbling miles beneath the earth into the pitch black Underland, a place filled with giant rats and bugs and people with translucent skin who fly through the massive caverns on huge bats. He also could have never expected that he would get wrapped up in a deadly prophecy that would force him to travel into distant, dark lands into the waiting claws of an overwhelming enemy.

Kings, Queens, and In-Between

A Canadian queer novel that I’ve seen trumpeted everywhere. Libraries, classrooms, bookstore, this book got so much hype (and has such a pleasing cover) that I had to get my hands on it. Now, I’ve got to admit that it’s not really my genre; I don’t love realistic fiction. But that being said, it’s a fun, heart-warming, queer romp through that explores gender, sexuality, love, family, friendship… there’s a lot of lovable, quirky, complicated characters that get thrown together in unexpected ways at a local summer carnival. While there’s tension and misunderstandings and mistakes, this is overall a very optimistic and loving novel, and would be a great read if you want a queer novel that reads like cotton candy.

Love, The Tiger

This book is the graphic novel equivalent of a nature documentary. There’s no text, but you follow a day in the life of a tiger as it moves through the jungle on the quest for food. The art is honestly beyond outstanding, and though it’s a really quick read it is so very worth it. I’ve also read Love, The Lion in this series (also good, though a bit more confusing imho) as well as one of the books from his other series Little Tails which is still very nature and education based, though for a slightly younger audience.

Making Money

More Pratchett! Making Money was the first Discworld book I ever read, and it’s one of my most reread ones — it’s an ultimate comfort read! This is technically the sequel to Going Postal (another book I reread this month), in which conman Moist Von Lipwig is saved from a rightful death at the noose in exchange for agreeing to work for the city. Going Postal sees Moist narrowly dodging death in many varied forms as he tries to get the Anhk-Morpork postal service back on its feet and get the drifts of dead, whispering letters moving again. In Making Money things at the post office have become… too easy. Moist is bored, restless, until he finds himself thrust into a new job: head of the Royal Mint. There he has been given not only charge of the biggest bank in Anhk-Morpork, but also a dog with a price on its head, a lethal family with all the money in the world out for his blood, and the fear that his secret past life may be on the verge of being exposed to everyone, all while he’s desperately trying to make money…

The Moist series is honestly an example of Pratchett at his absolute best imo, and the amount of humour, wit, adventure, and scathing commentary he can build around a bank is outstanding. Cannot recommend enough.

The One And Only Ivan

Another book I’ve been hearing everyone talk about, as well as another Katherine Applegate book. It’s been on my radar for a while, but with the sequel and a movie coming out, it had everything at a fever pitch and I finally picked it up. Fantastic read, I definitely enjoyed it more than Crenshaw. This book was based off the true story of Ivan, a gorilla taken from his home in the jungle and sold to the owner of a mall, where he spent years of his life growing from child to adult silverback in a small, concrete enclosure. In this fictionalized version, everything changes for Ivan and his friends, when a new baby elephant is bought to help revitalize the mall attractions and Ivan makes a promise he doesn’t know how to keep: to protect this baby, and keep her from living the life Ivan and his friends were forced to. This book made me very emotional. Applegate’s picture book that goes along with it is also a great companion read.

Ranma ½

I realized that our library had the 2-in-1 editions of Ranma ½ and honestly that was it for me. This has been a favourite series of mine since I was in middle school and realized that the creator of Inuyasha had written other things. It is unapologetically ridiculous and larger-than-life and you have to love the shameless joy it has at being ludicrous. It does start to feel a little repetitive the further into the series you go, but at the moment, with covid, I find I have a huge tolerance for rereading slightly repetitive things so long as they make me happy. And boy howdy does the vaguely queer undertones, endless pining, and relentless slapstick of Ranma ½  make me happy. This is classic manga y’all and if you’ve never read it you should!

The basic premise, for anyone that doesn’t is that of an bonkers martial arts comedy. It follows Ranma and his father who, while training in China, fell into cursed springs. Each spring has the tragic legend of a person or animal who drowned in it, and if someone falls in they inevitably turn into that creature any time they’re doused in cold water. Ranma had the misfortune of falling into “The Spring of Drowned Girl” and, indeed, turns into a girl anytime he’s hit with cold water. Things continue to spiral out of control when Ranma meets his arranged fiancée, Akane, who is as exasperated by this situation as Ranma. Both would rather be fighting people than worrying about things like romance. And don’t worry, there is lots and lots and lots and lots of some of the goofiest martial arts fights that you can imagine for a bunch of high schoolers.

Through the Woods

A beautiful and creepy Canadian graphic novel. I honestly really don’t even know how to describe it in a way that does it justice. It’s a collection of short horror stories, with beautiful, flowing art style that draws you in and sends chills down your spine. I’ll let the art doing the talk, and honestly beg you to go find a way to read this graphic novel:

The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner: And Other Stories

The last Terry Pratchett book on my list (though shout out to the others I’ve listened to this month: Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, Men At Arms, and Snuff) and one that I actually physically, rather than listening to the audiobook. I included this one because unlike the others, this was a Pratchett book I had never read before. It collects a number of Pratchett’s short stories that had been written for children over a number of years. These weren’t necessarily my favourite examples of Pratchett’s writing (I prefer his longer work that can really dive into social issues) but it was such a quick, easy, fun read that you can’t really help but be charmed by it. I liked the stories that took place in “the wild wild west (of Wales)” in particular.

Ceaseless Discharge

In which Cassandra gets stung by a monster. Also there’s quality Cass and Eugene brother-sister content in here 👌👌

Word count: 6414

TW: Blood, vomit

———————

A crunch echoes in the darkness. Cassandra freezes in her cot. The moon is full, but the night is overcast, so she strained to see in the darkness when she sat up. A small cluster of bushes lined the clearing she was sleeping in, along with gnarled old trees that cast needle-like shadows across the grass from the firelight.

When she listened, there are no bells or hoofsteps, so it can't be a carriage approaching. Besides, this doesn't sound like the clatter is wheels on a dirt path, but a rasping scrape over gravel.

Movement in one of the further bushes. The clouds part. A shaft of moonlight glints off something shining among the leaves and brambles.

It's nighttime. She’s the only one awake in the camp. She’s heard tales of a beast stalking the countryside: the Fen Lion. A ghost, a monster, a hoax, depending on who you ask. It'd make an awfully good story if she saw it. That was the plan of this excursion, anyway— The King wanted to rid the kingdom of the creature stirring terror, and Rapunzel’s answer to that was to find it and ask it nicely to leave, or at least settle down. Of course, that dragged Cassandra and Eugene into the “quest”, as well, which was why they were sleeping out in the middle of the woods in the first place. Rapunzel had said something about the creature possibly having answers to the Black Rocks, which was a horrible way to convince them to agree, yet here they were.

Cassandra stood up slowly. The dying fire only provided some visibility outside the perimeter of the camp, so she had to squint—not that it helped. She had to go check out the sound, though. It could be a threat or someone in trouble. Or maybe she was just really curious, plain and simple.

She liked to do things thoroughly, so she grabbed her sword and slunk out of the fire’s glow and into the woods. She made sure to keep low and in the shadows, hoping the crunching of leaves and twigs beneath her boots weren’t as loud as she was hearing them.

Silent as a ghost, Cassandra paused just at the edge of the brush where she swore she heard the rustling. If she listened very carefully, she could hear something breathing.

She wondered if it could hear her heartbeat, which seemed to thunder in her ears.

Instead, there is a whimper. And then, slowly, something poked out of the dense cluster of leaves. Cassandra’s breath catches.

It isn’t the Fen Lion, but it is a wolf. It’s yellow eyes seem to glow in the dark, but as it swings its head from side to side, looking up and down the road, Cassandra can’t help but think that it looks scared. The wolf just looks so sad. Her heart goes out to it.

She stepped a little closer. After hesitating for a moment, she extended her hand. The wolf sniffs it; it’s definitely a flesh-and-blood animal, not a ghost.

“What’s wrong?” She asked. “Can I do anything?”

She wasn’t actually expecting an answer, but it replied with a strange combination of yelps and rumbles. Suddenly, clicking fills the air, and it goes silent. It glances up and growls. Cassandra looks up, too.

Good news: She found the Fen Lion.

Bad news: She found the Fen Lion.

It was a lot bigger than she was expecting, as tall as the trees themselves, which made her wonder how it had taken them so long to find it. It was also a lot less lion and a lot more snake because it had a flat, serpent-like head and was covered in iridescent scales that glinted in the moonlight leaking down from the canopy of leaves overhead. A tail with a menacing barb at the end flicked back and forth in the dirt. Eyes a color Cassandra has never seen before narrowed and, suddenly, there’s a large paw pinning her to the ground.

Cassandra tried to yell, but had no choice but to shut her mouth when razor sharp claws pressed into her flesh. She clenched her jaw, feeling utterly helpless as the creature weighed her down.

The Fen Lion rotated its head like an owl would, which doesn’t sit well with Cassandra’s stomach. She squirmed again, but the talons press harder and she hisses in pain.

“What do you want?” She spat with as much ferocity as one could muster when pinned beneath a giant monster that could kill them with one swipe.

The Fen Lion tilted its head to the other side, then a giant frill opened up along its neck, bordering the skull like a mane.

Maybe that’s where the name came from, then...

Colors flowed through the scales like a waterfall- red, blue, green, purple, yellow, pink, orange, red again; Cassandra felt like she was being hypnotized. She struggled once more, but was halted when a sharp pain seared through her left side. She looked down and was horrified to find the creature’s stringer embedded in her flesh.

The Fen Lion tipped its head up and almost seemed to be smirking smugly at her. It made a series of clicking noises and wrenched the stringer to the side, causing Cassandra to whimper in pain. She began to worry if it was going to kill her or gore her with its tail, but then the tip pulled out with a small spurt of blood.

The Fen Lion lifted its claws from where they had Cassandra pinned and stepped back. Another animalistic smirk twisted on its snout until Cassandra can no longer see it when inky black spilled over the scales and camouflaged it with the night. She can only stare in shock at where it used to be and listen to its footsteps walk away.

There, Cassandra lays until dawn. By then, the bleeding has stopped and she can see the wound clearly- it’s a tiny little thing, only around the size of her thumb, but had a mouth of red flames and drooled pus down her waist. At least, she thought it was pus. It did look a little too dark to be such a fluid, but it also wasn’t red, so it couldn’t be blood. When Owl flew down at her weak whistle, he took one sniff and reeled back in disgust.

“Great,” Cassandra grunted. She tried to sit up, but her limbs felt like they were made of ten ton lead. “This is just great...”

Owl hops onto one of her arms and peers into her tired eyes with a hoot. She glowered at him.

“No, I don’t need you to go get Rapunzel and Fancy Pants.”

Another hoot.

“No, I’m not going to tell them!”

Another, this time with more skepticism.

“God, why do I even try talking to you in a crisis situation?” Cassandra grumbled. “I’m fine. It can’t even be considered a cut.” She abruptly pushed herself up, sending colorful stars bursting across her vision. She blinked rapidly to fend them off from consuming her. “See?”

Owl gave her an unamused look. She shooed him away before standing up, at least finding that a little easier. But then she takes one step forward and nearly keels over again. The “I told you so” hoot from her avian companion doesn’t help, either.

It was going to be a miserable day.

———

They saw the creature on a cliff. It was perched on a pillar of rocks further in the distance, hunched over like a lurking vulture. When it noticed the group gawking at it, it sat back on its haunches and raised its long neck and large frill.

“Oh, look at that,” Eugene said. “I wonder if that’s why it’s called a ‘Fen Lion.’”

His voice sounded a million feet away in Cassandra’s ears. She wanted to focus on his words, on Rapunzel’s amazed comments, on Max’s breathing, but she couldn’t think about anything but the colorful eyes boring into her very soul and the hole festering in her side.

———

Monday.

It’s been two days since the run in with Fen Lion, and Cassandra has cleaned up her wound pretty well, yet she woke up feeling like she had a fever. She moaned softly and lifted a hand quaking with tremors to press against her forehead; it was quite warm, much to her dismay.

“Ugh...” She groaned. “Fuck this...”

After wallowing in bed for ten more minutes, she finally hauled herself out to put on her damned lady in waiting dress. Luckily, the exertion from doing so woke up her muscles, and the feverish feeling diminished into mere warmth behind her eyes once she splashed her face with some cold water.

Perhaps the day wouldn’t be so bad after all...

———

Tuesday.

Three days since the run in with the Fen Lion, and Cassandra’s fingernails feel like they’re shooting out of her fingers. They only stop hurting when she grates them against a solid surface. Rapunzel deals with the sound it makes when she does so while cleaning her room until she can’t anymore and politely asks her to stop. Cassandra obeys and stops.

Twenty minutes later, Cassandra starts again without even realizing it.

Rapunzel doesn’t say anything this time.

———

Wednesday.

Four days since the run in with the Fen Lion, and Cassandra feels itchy and achy all over. First, it starts at the site of the injury and she accidentally makes it bleed when she rips off the bandages and scratches desperately, then it spreads to other parts of her body until it feels like she had rolled in poison ivy.

“Uhh... Cass?” Rapunzel said at dinner.

“Yeah?” Cassandra replied.

“Are you okay?”

Cassandra blinked at her. She lowered her hand from where it had been itching her neck for at least five minutes straight. The marks it made glowered a seething pink in the open air.

“Yeah.” She said again.

“Cassandra has fleas,” Eugene said helpfully.

“I do not have fleas.” Cassandra growled as she scratched behind one of her ears like an itchy dog.

She didn’t have fleas, but there was something under her skin, making its home in her body. She wanted to claw her flesh open and rip it out, and such a lust for that violent alternative scared her.

———

Thursday.

Five days since the run in with the Fen Lion, and Cassandra thinks she’s turning into it. Her insides are beginning to burn.

———

Friday.

Six days since the run in with the Fen Lion, and fangs are growing in over the teeth that are already there—flat teeth, human teeth. Those have to go.

Her joints ache from kneeling on the cold stone floor of her bedroom; even the thin cloth of her lady in waiting dress does not dispel the chill.

The scales don’t come in right, growing into her skin, itching and scratching. She rakes her long, hooked nails over her ribs until she rips her dress and draws blood and yellow pus.

New joints bristle beneath her flesh, as itchy as the scales.

There are bruises on her wrists and wasted biceps, purple and yellow. No fault of anybody- her skin has become so delicate that even the gentlest bump against a surface leaves a mark.

Fever chills, seizures, blood from her bitten tongue, staining her blankets and drying in a crusty mess on her face.

She bars the door to her room and tells a passing guard with the most human voice she could muster that she would not be turning up to work that day.

———

Saturday.

Seven days since the Fen Lion ran off to a new location, and Eugene was strolling the halls of the castle after third training with the guards. An oncoming storm caused them to end early, which was fine. That meant he could go see Rapunzel sooner than usual.

However, on the way there he finds Cassandra in a dark corridor that was lit only by the crackling torches thanks to the dark grey, nearly black clouds outside. She was clenching a basket of clothes she was supposed to wash, and leaning against the wall. Such a moment where she let her guard down was a strength for Eugene in their ongoing feud over who could insult the other the most, so he quickly slid into the opportunity at full force.

“Too weak to even carry some clothes, Cassandra?” He teased. “And here I thought you were strong! Here, let me.”

He took the basket of clothes without permission or waiting for a response, and found that it was way lighter than he expected. He internally laughed; this was too easy!

He opened his mouth to make another remark and essentially gain another point on his side, but stopped when he realized that Cassandra hadn’t snapped at him or yelled or even taken a swing. She showed no signs of annoyance or anger.

“Cassandra?” Eugene waved a hand in front of her face- no reaction. “Cass?”

Eugene set the basket down and leaned over. Cassandra’s cheeks have an odd color tinting them. He also notices her eyes are kind of glassy and she’s…hot. Like, fever hot. He bends closer and sets his hands on the girl’s shoulders to steady her, and he can feel her shaking slightly. She opens her mouth and pants like a tired animal, and her teeth look really sharp. Glinting.

Cassandra reached out and gripped his arms for some kind of grounding, and her nails start tearing his sleeves. But that isn’t normal, is it? No, because she has claws and there’s a tiny hole with black, root-like veins in her side that Eugene can see when her shirt lifts up slightly.

“I think something is wrong with me,” Is what Cassandra whispered hoarsely right before she goes unconscious in his arms.

———

Saturday.

Seven days since the run in with the Fen Lion- since the Fen Lion ran off to a new location— since the Fen Lion stung its prey, and there’s an unconscious girl in Eugene’s bed and claw marks on his neck and back.

The rumbling, fire breathing sky is pouring out rain, and the wind was howling as if the kingdom was falling beneath its elemental talons. Raindrops that had to be as big as oranges pattered against Eugene’s bedroom windows loudly, making him worry that they may break, but he quickly turned his attention to the bigger issue at hand.

Cassandra is struggling to stay awake. She’s breathing harshly and blinking her eyes rapidly, fighting to keep away black spots from her vision—or maybe it was to keep back tears. Eugene would have teased her for the latter option if it weren’t for the intense worry he was feeling. Cassandra looked like death itself. Her skin was paler than usual, except for her cheeks, which were dark red from fever. Her face was soaked in sweat, plastering tendrils of damp black hair to her forehead. Not to mention the obvious claws and fangs and seemingly-infected hole in her side.

“Cassandra, can you hear me?” Eugene called out. He sat down on the side of the bed, carefully brushed back her sweaty bangs, and placed a wet cloth on her forehead. Doing so elicits a small noise of relief through grinding breaths and feeble whimpers. “What happened to you?”

“F-Fen Lion,” Cassandra panted. Her eyelids flutter shut for a moment, but she forces them back open. “It-it stung me. During th-the night.”

Eugene grimaced. He wouldn’t say he was surprised, though; hiding a possibly-venomous and fatal wound was very in character for Cassandra.

“Geez, Cass...” Eugene muttered. “I should get the doctor and Rapunz-”

“No—” Cassandra reached out and grabbed Eugene by the sleeve. “I-I d-didn’t just let you c-carry me here for y-you to blow it.” It was impossible to see her as threatening when she was like this and her voice was shaking so badly her words could barely be discerned. Eugene gently eased her back into a lying position, but she kept talking. “Y-you can’t—you can’t—” Her eyes become very cloudy. Eugene quickly swipes up the rag, which had fallen off, and dabs Cassandra’s hot face with it.

“Easy, Cass,” He murmured. “Breathe.”

“You can’t tell anyone.” Cassandra finally forced out. “P-please. You c-can’t.”

Eugene went to argue, but then he saw the look in Cassandra’s eyes and broke. He looked away in defeat.

“Geez, don’t give me those eyes—” He sighed. “Okay. Fine. I won’t.”

Cassandra manages a weak, thin smile.

“Thank you.”

Moments later, she blacks out from exhaustion. Eugene tucks her back under the blankets, places the rag on her forehead again, then goes to see Rapunzel. He keeps his word, however, and tells her that Cassandra went on a last minute excursion with a battalion of guards that were short handed. It would take her a few days to get back, he said.

Rapunzel buys it.

———

Sunday.

Nine days since the Fen Lion ordeal, and now sometime after midnight. Cassandra is asleep in Eugene’s bed as Eugene sits by a lantern and sharpens a sword. He couldn’t help but constantly glance over at the girl he was harboring in worry, which nobody could blame him for. Especially when she began to writhe and whimper.

“Cass?” Eugene put his tools down instantly and went to the bedside.

Cassandra rolled over and stared up at Eugene with eyes he’s never seen the color of before. They looked almost like a mix between silver, red, and blue, and were filled with tears that Cassandra didn’t have the energy to hold back.

“S-something is wrong,” She croaked.

Something was wrong, Eugene knew, and not because of the illness. He, too, could hear the subtle cracks and pops of Cassandra’s bones.

The wings came first.

They started out as little bumps that Eugene saw bulging underneath Cassandra’s shirt, but then they grew out and out and out until the shirt ripped and the skin ripped and they burst free with a splattering of blood.

Cassandra was now rocking back and forth on her knees and elbows as the wings awkwardly flapped on her back, heavy from all the fluids and cocoons of flesh swaddling them. She made a pained noise no human could make, and scales began to devour her skin. Each part of her they tough gets reformed- muscles twisting and turning, tendons reconnecting, bones snapping like twigs and reshaping entirely. It was all too much for her. She lost herself to the pain.

—

Eugene clawed wildly at his face when his friend’s blood splattered into his eyes. He rubbed vigorously, trying to watch and see and monitor what was going on, but he was momentarily blinded. All he could do was listen to the cracks of bone and tear of flesh and squelch of blood and sobs of pain, and maybe even thank whatever deity that he couldn’t see.

Eventually, the noises died down, replaced by rustling and low, very nonhuman sounds. Eugene opened his eyes and stared at the creature on his bed.

It was...small. Small for a monster, at least. It had to be only slightly larger than Max and could comfortably fit in his room. Firelight glimmered against raven black and navy blue scales. Mahogany and amber speckled the folded mane of frills around the neck. The eyes were the same indescribable color from before.

“Cass?” Eugene called out cautiously.

It- the thing- Cassandra looked at him and blinked. Then, she looked at her talons and screeched. She scrambled off the bed in a panic, tripping over her own tail in the process, and smashing into the wall. Watching her stagger around and then writhe on her back with her legs flailing awkwardly in the air genuinely made Eugene laugh- he couldn’t help it! As worrying as it was to see his friend and little sister figure turn into a giant (well, moderately sized) monster, this was priceless.

And then a guard knocked on the door and ruined it all.

“What’s going on in there?” The voice demanded.

“Uhh— Nothing!” Eugene called out. He frantically tries to shut up Cassandra, but she was too caught up in her monster panic attack.

“Open this door!” The guard ordered.

Eugene obeyed, but just opened it enough to where he could just peek his head out. He attempted to reason with the guard, but the man stormed inside with his weapon drawn to find...nothing. Nothing but a trashed room, of course.

“I told you!” Eugene said after a moment of bafflement.

“What happened here?” The guard asked.

“I was training. And it got a little out of hand.” Eugene answered.

The guard looked at him like he was crazy and then sidled out without another word. Eugene quickly closed the door, locked it, then turned around frantically. In the corner, he saw a shimmer and, suddenly, Cassandra appears in a mishmash of pale green and purple scales.

“Neat trick.” Eugene commented.

Cassandra can only reply in a chirp.

———

Monday.

One day since Cassandra has become a scaly, color-changing, draconic creature, and Eugene was taking her through the forest where the Fen Lion had been, hoping to find some way to reverse the effects of being stung.

When they arrived at the spot where Cassandra’s blood was dried in the grass, Cassandra tipped her snout up and sniffed the air. Then, she clicked at Eugene and tossed her head towards her back. For a moment, the man is very confused.

“Do...you want me to get on?” He asked, slightly unsure.

Cassandra clicked again, so Eugene straddled her back as if she were a horse and not a beast that could kill him with one swing of her deadly claws if she wanted to. Before he could ask what this was about or even get a proper grip on her scales, the creature catapulted forward, nearly launching her friend off of her back.

Headed straight for a cliff side where the Fen Lion was last spotted, which dropped into another section of the woods below them, Eugene began to question Cassandra’s sanity, even if she had wings (which she didn’t know how to use just yet); however, she leapt at the last moment, although that still didn’t make this first time dragon-riding any less traumatizing.

Eugene gripped onto Cassandra’s neck with the tightness of a drowning man clutching onto the edge of a boat, and the quake that jostled through both their bodies assured him that they had landed on something. But Cassandra’s mobility did not last for long, for within the next moment, they were again airborne for another fleeting instant of terror. It seemed that, as Cassandra’s animal senses had been heightened, she could detect a grove better and far more secretive than she could have ever discovered as a human. And, Eugene had to admit, she did seem more agile and able within this state.

“I think you’re getting too comfortable in that body,” He had said mere hours ago. It seemed as fitting now as it did when he had first said it- after he woke up that morning to Cassandra relaxing in a ball in the corner of his room. But now, after being like this for just ten or so hours, her harmony with the body of the monster seemed complete, almost natural. Yet this time….this time things were different.

The jerk of the next landing sent Eugene’s thoughts and upcoming worried internal monologue flapping away with the rustling leaves Cassandra had disturbed upon her fall. Eugene looked about and saw an archway made of bark, where two branches of different trees had reached together and woven around the other. It was a magnificent sight, for the trees around them were of some mysterious species that he had never seen the like of before. Boughs twisting elegantly about themselves, and their roots jutting up and out of the ground to curl around those near. Their green leaves, shaped as majestic crowns, whistled in the gentle winds. Above, the trees sprang into a canopy, as if shielding its very existence from the outside woodland world.

“How did you find this place?” Asked Eugene, impressed with the girl (could she even be referred as such?), yet rather worried.

No chirp or growl replied. Instead, Cassandra moved onward, totally aware of all her surroundings- but was she aware of her own mind?

Indeed, Cassandra struggled, trying hard to concentrate as she propelled herself forward. She could feel her human consciousness slipping farther away with every step she took. If she could not soon learn how to muzzle the inner animal and be the alpha out of the two of them, she feared she would lose her sanity forever.

But when there came a faint odor upon the air, her mind fogged, and her last effort in fighting back the thoughts of the monster failed.

All at once Cassandra reared, and Eugene was thrown to the ground. Brown tumbled before his eyes, and he tossed back his bangs to watch in horror as Cassandra excitedly sniffed at the air, burnt orange and scarlet flickering through her silver and dark blue scales like fiery embers. Drool began to pour out of her mouth. He could see one of her eyes at his angle, and what reached out from Cassandra’s colored socket frightened him: an insane gaze of hunger, licking at the air it smelled.

He pushed back the fear, gaining his footing on the ground of the hidden forest. Slowly, he approached Cassandra.

“What do you smell?” He tried, hoping that his voice would force his friend’s senses to return to her.

But her reply came in an angry growl, and though every bone, muscle, and nerve within Eugene screamed for him to back away...he moved closer.

“Cassandra...it’s me. Eugene. You’re okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

And for a moment, the true eyes of the monster seemed to flash with Eugene’s answer, but a savage darkness regained the creature quickly, and it sped off under the archway of the trees.

“No, Cassandra! Wait!” Eugene cried, racing after the girl.

There were so many winding paths, closed in by the density of the woods, and Eugene soon found himself becoming lost. It seemed that the wood was a labyrinth, narrowing in some tunnels, others ending abruptly by rows of trees. Yet there were still few pathways for any visitor to stray through; though, as Eugene soon discovered, some of the roads twisted about into areas he thought looked the same as other places he had already passed. This forest...it felt like a place where humans should never roam.

Just as he thought he had lost himself completely within the woodland maze, Eugene heard the trickling of rushing water. He guided himself along by his ears until he spotted, between a patch of trees, a spring which filtered lightly along two small waterways. Along the muddy bank were talon prints far too big for a regular animal. His companion wasn’t completely gone yet.

Eugene did not have time to pat himself on the back for solving his missing dragon problem, however. He needed to find out what had happened to Cassandra- both with her being what she was now and what just happened. He doubted that the confusion of this place had bothered her ability to navigate, for it was in an animal’s nature to be able to sniff their way out of any dangerous circumstance. Yet, what was it that Cassandra had smelled on the air? Eugene could detect no odor other than the scent of the rain sticking to the leaves and bark in the cold morning air. Although, he had nowhere near the amount of olfactory cells she had, so it was no wonder he didn’t catch onto what she noticed.

Eugene no longer had to rely on his muddy path when he heard a shuffling noise coming from further ahead. In an upcoming clearing, the fire orange and caramel brown and ocean blue dragon was hunched over some object. Eugene approached slowly as to not startle her, but when he came to Cassandra, he was the one who was horrified.

Cassandra crouched over long dead travelers, the smell of their clothes and hair and flesh a putrid perfume. Eugene nearly vomited but he composed himself within an instant. What exactly did Cassandra think she was doing? Her jaws ripped at the leather armor and garments covering one ancient man, the rotting flesh exposed to the cooling rain that continued to drench their bodies.

“Do you know what you’re doing? Don’t you dare!” Eugene yelled, running up to her.

Cassandra turned and, lowered on her haunches, growled insanely at his figure. She rattled her stinger on some rocks as a warning not to come any closer. Deep red bubbled through her scales, and Eugene halted mid-step and backed away only a few paces. His friend had truly become deranged, he could see.

“Stop that right now! You’re not like this! This isn’t you!”

Cassandra ignored his presence and dug her maw back into the decayed flesh. She tore at all her teeth could reach, feasting upon the dead victim with a passion that scared Eugene. How would he ever….

“Cassandra, do you understand what you’re doing? You have to stop right now. If you don’t, you’ll just be another monster, just like the thing that made you into this.”

Eugene didn’t mean for his words to come out like shards of glass, but maybe the harshness of his tone would make Cassandra realize what exactly she was scarfing down and bring back her human mind.

It didn’t.

No, instead, Cassandra snarled like a wild dog with rabies. She flexed her claws in the dirt before rising up on her hind legs to her full height, easily towering over Eugene. She spread her wings and flared her ruff, letting dark red billow through her scales. Even in the dull, grey lighting of the rainstorm, her eyes still glinted with the ferocity and hunger of a feral beast.

For a long moment Eugene wondered who he was even looking at anymore. Was that Cassandra? Or was it the creature? Had she lost herself to the beast within? It seemed that way, with her claws primed for blood and her jaws dripping with gore.

And yet? He held out his hand. He held back a flinch as blood dripped to his fingers and palm, held tight to the ridges on her back with the other arm as red smeared up across the scales. He held her face, held his breath, and held tight to all the courage he could muster.

The beast he was clinging onto let out a long, guttural snarl that vibrates Eugene’s rib cage as he’s pressed against the thing’s softer underbelly. Hooked, barbed black claws raise up and hover mere inches away from his back. He feels blood and drool and maybe some foam drip onto his head and run in gooey trails down the back of his neck.

The deadly talons flex, just barely tear the fabric of his shirt, and then fall down limply to the monster’s side.

Cassandra, and Eugene was sure now that it was still Cassandra, stooped down to press her head to his chest. Though mute in this form, he could see the grimace on her mouth and imagine the words she was longing to say.

“I’m sorry”

Eugene gently strokes one of his quivering hands over the top of Cassandra’s head. He murmurs to her softly and it doesn’t matter how softly he speaks because he knows she will always hear him soothing her.

For a long time, man and monster stay tangled in an embrace. Eventually, though, Cassandra pulls away so she can revert forms and be free from this animalistic insanity that shrouds her mind.

The transformation is forced and as painful as the first one that day, but it leaves behind more throbbing and burning in her exhausted muscles. She blinks away black spots and then shook her head, like she was trying to expel the remnants of her feral thoughts. Her horns and webbed frill remain in this form, along with her tail, which is tucked in between her legs like a scared dog’s. Ironically, she’s not trembling in the form with flesh and no clothing. Eugene immediately shut his eyes and put his cowl on her, buttoning and tying it securely, seeing Cassandra was a bit too out of it to do it herself or even be embarrassed over her nudity.

“Are you all right?” Eugene asked. The rain is beginning to lessen its brutality as it lashed against their bodies.

Cassandra did not respond. Instead, her face became rather pale, which was impressive given that she was already ghost white. More concerned than curious, Eugene raised a hand as if to draw her attention up to his eye level. However, in that moment, Cassandra buckled to the opposite side, a line of vomit splattering from her lips. She sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. As she rocked herself, Eugene placed a hand against her forehead.

“I’m not feeling that great,” Cassandra gurgled through cringing lips.

“You’re not kidding.” Eugene said, “Must have been...”

He stopped because Cassandra retched again, so she most likely didn’t want to be reminded of what exactly she had done in her feral state. It didn’t help that she was still wet with blood, gore, and goop from decayed human flesh. She vomits once more.

“I’m just gonna...sit here for a moment.” She panted.

“That’s alright.” Eugene assured her, rubbing her back and quickly pulling her messy hair out of the way. “It’s okay, Cass, it’s okay. Just get it out.”

She was trying. She was trying really hard but it came to a point where her body felt like it didn’t need to throw up anymore and was ready to start feeling normal again. But she wasn’t ready. She became so desperate to purge the human flesh from her stomach that she half-mutated one of her arms and shoved monstrous fingers down her throat just to make herself vomit again.

“Cassandra!”

Eugene grabbed both of her wrists, feeling one of them shift back to normal beneath his fingers. Cassandra is crying, struggling to breathe over an oncoming panic attack that’s taking over her mind, just like the inner monster had.

“It’s okay, Cass. It’s okay. It’s over now. Nobody is going to hurt you, I promise.”

Cassandra whimpered and shook her head as tears spilled over.

“Other people aren’t going to be the ones doing the hurting.”

Eugene stared at her in disbelief as she sobbed below him.

“It’s like I was hallucinating,” Cassandra started softly, “I couldn’t control myself anymore. I smelled meat and thought I saw something, so I went after it. Eugene, I was hunting them.”

Cassandra put her head in her hands and shook it miserably. Her frill droops and fades into a mix between deep blue and pale green- sadness and fear, if Eugene had to guess.

“Oh god, Eugene, I’m a monster. I’m no different than the other creatures!”

“Don’t say that.” Eugene said firmly, “You are not them.”

“I chased the people I saw,” Cassandra whispers hoarsely, “I chased them to the ends of this place and they ran from me. They were scared of me.”

“You won’t be like that.” Eugene assured her. “It’s alright. I promise.”

“No,” Cassandra croaked, shaking her head softly. “No, no it’s…s’not alright, is it? For you to be-”

“Cassandra, honey,” Eugene interrupted softly with a sigh.

Suddenly, there’s hands cupping either sides of her cheeks and she flinches, then waits for her neck to be snapped. It’s the fate she deserved. But, instead, her chin is lifted and she makes eye contact with Eugene kneeling in front of her.

“Whatever you’re going to say, save it.” He said. “There’s no use, because you’re not going to get rid of me.”

“But-“

“But nothing.” Eugene stopped her. “If you think you being infected with some dragon gene that turns you into a creature is going to be the defining factor that ends the dynamic we have going on, then you must be crazy AND too weak to hold a basket of clothes.”

That prompts the smallest laugh out of Cassandra. She sniffled and leaned forward, collapsing into Eugene’s arms. He practically pulled her into his lap, but she couldn’t really care. She was dying to be held after all that’s happened, and Eugene seemed happy to comply with that need.

“Plus,” Eugene went on. His fingers stroked delicately through Cassandra’s tangled hair. “Okay, actually, first- we seriously need to get your a proper hairbrush. What is with this bedhead style?”

“Shut up,” Cassandra growled. She quickly shut her mouth when she felt her monster rumble within her and she buried her face against Eugene’s chest, trembling again. The arms around her hold her even closer, more securely.

“Anyway,” Eugene continued. “It’d be a huge bummer if I couldn’t tell people my little sister was a dragon...hybrid...thing.”

“Your...sister?” Cassandra echoed. She peeked up at Eugene, but whipped her head right back down when she saw that stupid smirk on his face.

“What should I call you? You’re clearly more than a friend.” Eugene mused. “Just not in that way. No offense, but I would NEVER date you.” He paused. “What about platonic significant annoyance?”

Cassandra snorted against his chest. She could scales bristling back up along her shoulders, but she couldn’t bring herself to care at that moment.

“No, I- I like sister.” She said shyly.

“Sister it is, then...sis.”

“Don’t wear it out.”

Eugene shifts her in his arms, but doesn’t let go. She feels him press a kiss to the top of her head and her ears flame red.

“We’ll get through this, Cass. I promise.”

“I’m just- I’m so glad you’re okay,” Cassandra whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do if I-“

“It’s not going to happen,” Eugene answered definitely. “I’m okay and you’re going to be okay too, Cass. You’ll see.”

If it were anyone else speaking these words to her, Cassandra would have never believed them. But Eugene, with all his frustrating flaws, was different. And maybe, just maybe, one day Cassandra would be able to see herself the same way he saw her.