Good thing Levi and Gortash become immortals and live for a long ass time, bc with the way these two behave, I have a feeling it would take them at least a century to actually mature enough to have a normal in-depth conversation.

Meet me at the Hanging Tree

Previous chapter: Chapter seven

Pairings: Peter Maximoff x fem!reader

Series Warnings: Murdering, described death and violence, suicide, death for natural causes such as starving, hypotermia, dehydratation and wounding infection.

Series Summary: Panem, governed by President Magnus, is getting ready for the 75th Hunger Games. It's in this Memory Edition that the reader will learn how far one can go for the loved one, even if that could bring her to certain death.

Chapter eight: Feelings

Summary: y/n has to made an important decision: following her instinct or her heart?

a/n: i know it's so short BUT i wanted to update, plus from next week (or so) if God answer my prayers, I'll have more free time to write (whitch i don't really have rn) and I'll be back with a serious update.

also i wanted to specify I'm writing Warren inspiring myself from the comics, not the movies, so he's actually nice here

Lorna Dane wasn't a sentimental person. Never was, never would have been one. 

So when she saw Petet running away chased by Bobby from district 6 her first thought was to let him die. Better for me. She thought. Still, she decided to follow them anyway.

Hidden behind a tree, she observed the scene. Bobby was giving her his back, as Peter had stopped for a break. Did he actually think he lost him?

"Well well well. I must say, I'm honored I'm the one who will get to kill the President’s son." 

She heard Bobby say. "Look, think about it. Wouldn't it be good to have me on your side? Imagine how many sponsors that could get." Peter answered after a few minutes. Smart move, she'd give him that. But not enough since she knew how Peter wouldn't survive more than one day in the Arena. What was happening in that moment was just the proof of it.

"Hm." Was he actually considering his offer of alliance? God, they were both idiots. She should just jump out and kill them both. She could, she knew she could. 

But she stayed still, hidden.

"No, thank you." He finally said. "Besides, I think I'd have more chances of winning with you out of the way." Woah. He really had no idea who he had in front of him did he.

 "Sorry for your sister, but you have to go, Magnus." And he threw himself on Peter. But in the same moment, Lorna ran towards the boys and stabbed Peter's attacker in the back. 

He didn't even have the time to realize what happened that Lorna's arms were around him, blocking him from doing any moves, and her knife was on his throat, slicing it right in front of Peter.

Blood covered Peter's face, who was literally petrified. Too scared to touch his face and feel the crimson liquid, too scared to run away because Lorna would one hundred percent catch him, too scared to check his hands, probably bloody as well. 

The cannon went off, and the President’s son was speechless. Lorna ignored him, moved the body away from where they were and started to look for wood to light a fire- he assumed. 

"Aren't you gonna ask why I'm not killing you?" She said, and honestly, she hoped he wasn't going to. Because she didn't know the answer either.

Lucky for her, he shook his head. "I'm just glad you saved my life." Lorna gave him a short nod and kept working on the fire. "You think lighting a fire it's a good idea?" She rolled her eyes. 

"I'm not lighting a fire. I'm making a trap for a rabbit or something. I suppose you're hungry?" Peter nodded slowly. "It'll get dark soon. Where did you sleep last night?"

The boy looked up. "I didn't. I climbed a tree but without rope I would have fallen." The other nodded, understanding. 

He was terrified of her. But he understood that for now, she was the best option he had of surviving. He didn't trusted her, that was sure- yet he didn't object when she said she wouldn't have slept that night -but he didn't had many other ideas at the moment. 

When the night finally came, they had caught a small squirrel which was barely enough for the two of them. When, during the national anthem, Bobby's face appeared in the sky, he had to admit he was feeling relieved. He knew he should feel bad about him, about his family. But a part of him couldn't help but feel glad that it was that boy who died, and not him. 

~~~ 

She harshly shook Darwin awake. "C'mon, get up sleepy head." He grunts. "You could be nicer, you know?" She didn't answer him and turned her back to him.

Truth was, she was angry. Angry because she was so nervous about Peter being dead, she almost passed out when she didn't see his face in the sky. 

She should be glad he's alive, and she is. But why does this boy have such a strong effect on her? She's not one who refuses her feelings, not one of those "I don't need boys in my life, I'm strong and independent" woman. 

Well, she kind of is. But she also knows her weakness. And she's just hoping Peter isn't one of hers. When she first arrived to Capitol City, she was terrified of murdering someone, she still is. But at least she knew she'd always choose herself over the others. Would it be the same now? 

A few minutes later she and Darwin are already back on track, off to nowhere in particular. Looking for water, probably. 

There is an unspoken tension between the two of them that she really can't understand and that, after two hours of pure silence, Darwin can't stand anymore. 

"Y/n?"

"Hm?"

"Are you going to look for Peter?" 

He doesn't know why exactly he asked this question- he sure as hell doesn't want to know the answer. He doesn't like y/n- not in that way -but he has to admit he's jealous of the Capitol boy. How she immediately trusted him, and instead it took him two days so that she could finally like his presence. 

And they're from the same district. 

Why was she so obsessed with him?

She doesn't answer, and just keeps walking. Again, he doesn't want to do this. But he has to. 

"Y/n, come on. Did I do something wrong?" He tries again, and this time she stops. She still doesn't speak though. "Hey, I-"

"Shh." 

He's taken back by her reaction. "Shh? No, we are talking about this right-" 

"Shut up Darwin!" She half-yell, and there he understands. She heard something. Or rather say, someone. 

She quickly looked around, maybe trying to spot said person. The steps and voices grew louder, and now Darwin hears them too. He grabs her hand and hides behind some thick bushes that hopefully will cover them.

They kneel and wait for the voices to manifest themselves, and they don't have to wait for long. 

"I swear Kurt, I can't believe you let her go like that." Scott Summers said, clearly annoyed by the other behaviour. "I didn't! She was just very smart- and small too!" 

Ororo rolled her eyes, and turned to face the boy. "Listen up, Wagner. I don't care if you're from district two or whatever. The only reason you're still alive is that Rogue here seems to care about you- for some reason- so try to make yourself useful. 

She raises her sword to his neck, threatening him with it. "So if we see that girl from 6 again, or anyone else, you kill them on the spot. Is that clear?" 

She observes him up and down for a second, then drops the sword and keeps walking, followed by a smirking Scott. Rouge doesn't express herself and follows right after, but y/n could swear she saw a hint of pity for her friend. Or, according to Peter, brother. 

The sadness on Kurt's face is evident, and she almost feels bad for him. 

"Don't worry about it." Another voice says, a deeper one. "They just want to win, like everyone else. And they just can't seem to understand that not everyone is a murdering machine, here." The voice belongs to Warren Warrington. 

Kurt doesn't know how to respond to that, so he just goes after his group, followed by Warren. 

Once they're sure they left, Darwin and y/n come out of their hiding spot. "Woah. That was close." She nods, and leans on a close tree. 

"You've done nothing wrong Darwin." She says, answering his previous question. "And yes, I want to find Peter. But I'm scared. What if I end up like him?" She asks, referring to Kurt.

"What if I won't be able to strike the final shot when it's time?" Darwin slowly approaches her. "You're strong. You can do it. But don't be ashamed to feel fear. Like Mr. Warrington said, not everyone here is a murdering machine." 

She surprises herself by chuckling at that, and quickly recompose herself. "I guess you're right. Let's find some water, shall we?" He nods and walks behind her as she starts to walk again. 

She doesn't know why she told Darwin the truth. But after, it didn't hurt that much to be honest about her feelings for once. Didn't it?

tags: @raincoffeeandfandoms @pappachismoth

Macaroon anon I love you and how can I resist writing for such a great idea? I really wanted this piece to take place as Ciel was stuck in twst in my previous au but since I mentioned dorm leaders there it couldn't be really done...Rip

A twisted path ✨

~ Black butler x twisted wonderland ~

Feat : Mey-Rin , Bard & Finnian

Poor trio stay away in shock of not only his unexpectedly loud shout but also...eh...his appearance .  Are they wrong or does this guy really look similar to master Ciel...?

Coming conscious still with his eyes closed , he hears some sounds around him:" He dead ?-""No I don't think he is, his chest is still moving" "Anyway what's this body doing hear at Phantomhive's mansion? If he's been stabbed or something it's going to be troublesome," "Na I guess this dude's just been really drunk y'all. Also...what's with the clothes ? Could it be that he's somewhat of an actor from nearby theaters ?" "Aye? Since when are the designs this messed up...- I guess we'd better get rid of it before mister Sebastian returns, maybe burry hi-"

Riddle freaks out as he hears this idiots wanting to burry him alive and immediately wakes up screaming at them to stay away.

Riddle on the other hand gazes upon what he just faced: a red haired haired maiden wearing a pair of glasses, a yellow haired boy with green pupils and a rather buff man with a toothpick in his mouth staring at him. " Ah- He a'live ! Man ya gotcha be more careful with drinking," the buff man chuckles. Riddle suddenly feels highly unsafe: Who are these people? And where am I? He's read NRC's maps enough to know that such a building is surely not a part of it , come along it's weird people. Was he kidnapped while asleep...?He pulls up his staff and starts threatening them with it , wanting them to immediately introduce themselves and explain what he was doing here- wherever it was-

Finnian tries to calm him down with a soft smile and a friendly attitude, but Riddle is strong at his point: He wants answers.

When he sees them all trying to calm him down with no explanations he gets mad : "OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!"

...What ? Wait-maybe try again:"Off with your-Heads!" ...Why isn't it working? Riddle stays still, the magic collars have to be around their neck but- they are not...?? There must've been a mistake: " Off with your heads - Off with your HEADS - OFF WITH YOUR HEADS DAMN IT-"

Mey-Rin, Finnian and Bard stare at their angry guest shouting nonsense and getting as red as a tomato, what is wrong with this guy..?

Riddle is furious and confused , what's the matter ? Is his magic blocked the same as that time Beans day?  He doesn't know , and he doesn't like it

Riddle starts shouting at them asking what they've done to his magic and the poor guys just go...Huh ? Riddle keeps on getting redder and redder as if he's about to explode . He starts threatening them from reporting them to the head master to giving them to the official policies for kidnapping and neglecting his picture 

Finnian then decides that maybe it's better to leave him to mister Sebastian and so : Picking up a huge branch and a striking it to his head , savage

Riddle passes out immediately whoops- maybe Finnian should have been softer-

They stay there gazing upon their... masterpiece . Finnian might have even broken his skull - Good god , what should they do now ? They must wait until mister Sebastian arrives ; But where is he now ?

Feat : Suma & Agni

"Pssssssst- Agniii...I guess he finally woke u-" " M- my prince , y-you sure that it was a good idea too bring a total stranger out of nowhere to our home ? I'd greatly appreciate it if you be more ca-"

Argh...what is with all noises around him ? He's told Ruggie a million times not to let anyone in his room whole he's taking a nap even if it's gonna be the grim reaper ; what are these brats doing here?

Leona rambles under lips and with a push he's awake : " Oi , you'd better know that I don't like having my naps ruined,"

Suma gasps at the sight of him being finally awake and tries to offer his unwanted guest a welcome hug which Leona rejects- Poor Suma

Leona isn't yet realizing what actually is going on , from not knowing that this isn't his room to the fact that he's now at more than 100 years ago in a whole different world ; ironic

Leona orders them to take this annoying conversation out of his room just to face Agni's locked expression : "Your room...?"

Taking a better look , Leona finally gets that this probably isn't his room and these people surely aren't from NRC

Sounds get echoed through his brain and he feels a small ache inside it . He rubs his head ...why does everything feel so strange ? Something is different ... could it be that he's still sleepy or..? Wait a second - Why can't he shake his tail ?

He immediately looks back to see if he's sit on his own tail but faces a terrifying scene : There is no tail . Is it cut off ????

and a newer fact flashes his brain : There are no ears either . But then how can he still here the sounds ? "P-please don't be", he begs . His hands shake as he brings them up to touch both sides of his head ; wishing not to find what he is looking for . And they are ! Human ears !A mild shiver is sent down his neck and he rushes to the mirror on the other side of the room just to face this nightmare with his own two eyes

He stares at the mirror with his eyes wide open and mouth as if he is going to shout . No...

Oh...nevermind . He has to calm down ; it's nothing but another fancy dream . He'll soon wake up and these will be all gone . Leona tries closing his eyes and cursing , wanting to wake up to sanity when he opens them again

Surprise : Nothing's changes . Two crappy brats still staring at him . Agni is now a bit suspicious but Suma on the other hand is really motivated : " Ahh~! Sorry if it's strange to sleep in the streets and wake up in bed- I just saw you laying there in a death like slumber and couldn't help but to bring you along ! Also , haven't we met before ? I'm pretty sure that I've seen your face somewhere before... Don't you happen to be from India ? "

Agni is really stressed out and keeps warning the young boy : " My prince ! He's now all conscious and fine , then I'd lead him out of he-"

"Prince , huh ?" Leona wasn't ever really interested in visiting ally kingdoms back at his home town so he barely got to meet any other princes , hm but to think that this cherishing child is actually a prince...man , the world has really changed

But he has no time for such games now , he has to find Ruggie or anyone else who may lead him out this insanity and return him his ears and tail

He asks for where he is - else than Suma's mansion - and the answer doesn't really do any help either . Where on the bloody hell is London ? And if these people found him laying in the streets when the heck did he even get here ? Well , doesn't really matter now , but where is NRC ?

Suma and Agni probably don't know where NRC is and Dire Crowley ? Suma wonders if this guy was the one who fooled him to buy a sick elephant which died a week after in india , but Agni is sure that neither him nor his prince have ever met a single soul named this

Leona is getting more and more pissed off wasting time chatting with these idiots so he takes his way out , ignoring Suma's begs for him to stay for lunch at least

He freezes just at the second he opens the exit doors and gazes upon the streets : Horses? carriages ? 19th century's clothing ? How long have these people been stuck in this lack of technology?

He feels like he now really needs to make a phone call but searching his pockets he finds both of them empty...those brats stole my-

He was close to getting hit by a carriage when someone shouts at him with a : " OUT OF WAY YOU SON OF A-"

He is now ready to get in a fight but a sound cuts him off : " LEONAAAA HELLP-!!!!!!" , this extremely annoying sound...what the heck is he doing here and : WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL HAS HE DONE NOW !!!????

Feat : Lau & Ran-Mao

Business tip nu 1 : Always keep calm , even if you end up losing all your magic powers in the surface without the possibility of returning to your original form or knowing where in the damn world you are : K-e-e-p-c-a-l-m

Thankfully , Azul's dope nature avoids him from going crazy during his stay in this...non-Twisted wonderland world

He had heard of theories explaining the possibility of other world's existence ; countless ones indeed . But to end up in one of them without any preparations ? He wasn't planning on that

Well nevermind , that cannot be helped now . let's look for a better way

Lack of facility , cultural deprivation and severe corruption ; is this how humans are ? No wonder the sea witch called them Poor unfortunate souls...

Enough with these people , he must now ignore all other disadvantages and take a look into beneficial sides of it...If he has ended up here , in this world and into this spot of the city there must be something linked to magic nearby ; even if he's surrounded by all these foolish people who haven't ever even seen real magic by their own eyes

Just as he's looking around , something catches his attention : a strange smell . Thanks to his family he's pretty good at following smells to their source and knowing what exactly they are : it's the pungent smell of Opium

He follows the smoke to its source and arrives to a bunch of stares going underground . A board is place next to the stares with something written on it :  Opium Den

Azul isn't one to believe in superstitions but he is sometimes interested to take ambitious  steps ; life sometimes brings you worthy surprises

Entering the shop , someone slightly grabs his arm . He turns his head to face a young, beautiful lady pulling his sleeve softly , eyes empty of any emotions . Without saying a word , Ran-Mao grabs his hat and coat and Azul thanks her , seems like he took the right path

His vision got a bit blurred as must of the air is filled with smoke , not that he isn't used to such atmospheres

" Why welcome to my place , sir . How may we service you today~ ? " a sound says from other side of the room . Azul turns back to face the source of all these smoke holding that young lady from before close , could she be her right arm woman or something ? She seems pretty obedient for one , which is nice

Azul introduces himself and takes a seat . He isn't going to get to his main point at the very first seconds ; he needs to make sure that he's come to the right person . He introduces himself as a businessman from a far away city , came to explore more of business tactics here in London . He offers Lau a small chat toward that , wanting him to give him more information on business if possible and return , he'd be given similar information about Azul's home town

While being considerably great at it , Lau isn't really interested in wasting time talking about business , all he ever cares in some sort of entertainment in whatever he does . Still , he agrees of playing this fake role for a short time . Although he knows that Azul isn't here for this either...

A few minutes pass and they both know that Azul doesn't really care to know how much a pork costs and either is Lau , so takes a serious step himself : " I see you're a man of business , Mr . Azul . I wonder what I you may be able to offer me in return ," Azul clarifies that he would get interesting information if he gives Azul good ones ; everything is clear and equal . "Then , I'm afraid that I've got not much to offer ," Lau sighs , but a small smirks appears of his lips : "But what would you say about some tea ? And maybe a small talk ? "

Lau isn't like others out there and that's pretty recognizable to Azul , but it doesn't make him the right person to trust either . He is continuing this conversation in hope of Lau leading him to the right person he is looking for , someone worthy of a greater contract . Lau lets out a sad sigh feeling sorry that he can't do much help , but he knows that who may do : A well-known friend , serving years working as a right arm man . Talented , well cultured , big on all issues including business : "I'm sure that you'll like him ,"

Well perhaps this thing's starting to work out for him : " Then by all means , lead me to this mister you speak of , Mr. Lau~" "With all pleasure . Bring him his coat and hat , sister " , Lau orders . Pleasure is always his first priority , but nothing would ever break rules of a contract ; He gives , he receives . Even taking him to Sebastian is counted but , he's already thought of that . This young man seems quite entertaining and when he first stepped into his shop Lau was expecting him , a spacial guest

Lau doesn't really care about superstitions , but still enjoys his ambitious steps  . This guy had came to him just as expected and now , something about him tells Lau that getting him to Sebastian will bring him as well newer faces to meet...what an entertaining day it would be

Feat : Tanaka

Jamil is... about to lose his mind . Caught in a whole other world without a meaningful explanation of how he ended up here or why . Magic doesn't work and there is no certain way to scape this situation and make a return to NRC . But the worst thing about it remained certain : He is caught with Kalim

Why in the bloody hell does he always have to be hooked up with Kalim ? Parents forced him into it at childhood , headmaster orders to it at school and now , the world suddenly decides to abandon him together with Kalim ? If it's joke , that's a pretty lame one . Why does he have to live in the shadows of Kalim being the unworthy dorm leader ?

Now lost in the streets , not knowing where to go or who to contact , what a wonderful way to start a day

Kalim isn't liking it at all : dirty streets , loud and short tempered people , street fight and drunk men everywhere , the smell of death filling the air , this is horrible . Kalim is well aware of poverty and deprivation lasting for so long and even remaining until the very present day , but traveling back in time and space to face one of the most terrifying levels of it just isn't his thing . He feels sorry and odd at the same time : Is this how life behind of the walls of his royal castle looked like ? He wishes he could help it . He probably could if he was any linked to NRC right now

He keeps on telling Jamil how poor they look and wonder if there is a way to help...The world Kalim knows has elegant and colorful nights and days but this world...was all caught in a dead gray mist

Jamil doesn't say a word because he doesn't want to listen , Kalim can keep on daydreaming but he has to find a way back a.s.a.p . They can't leave Scarabia just on their own and everyone (including Kalim's Dad) must be really stressed out by now . He continues to look , but there isn't really anything helpful around them . People yelling at each other and smoking the shit out of themselves . Young ladies flirting as young men offer them a carriage ride and tourists staring at each and every building like they hadn't ever seen a place to live inside as if they've been living in a cave so far , huh

Jamil can no longer take it next to Kalim and eventually goes feral : " WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP !!?" He has no control over his words now , he's nervous , furious and freaked out . If he were to compare his mood to something similar he'd say the time he overblotted , just that he had his magic back then

Now Kalim as well gets into a fight with him . What the hell does this have to do with him ? Jamil has to calm down and be realistic unless they'll never find a way out ! Jamil states that if he grew up just enough to realize how terrible their current situation is , he would've had something better to do than showing mercy over some bunches of street rats

The two of them keep on arguing until someone cuts them of : " Hohoho young men ! What's with all these loud sounds ?"

They stop and turn back to face the source of this old , chill voice . Facing a tall , old man dressed in all black clothes which high-leveled servants would wear and a monocle , giving them a soft , calm smile

" Aa- nevermind grandps ! It wasn't like it seemed we were just talking ! Right Jamily ? " he says , putting a hand on Jamil's shoulder and giving a big , wide smile . "H-hey... don't call me that..." , Jamil doesn't like Kalim acting this chill ; but it is embarrassing to see that they actually called attention

"Hoho , better . Now tell me young men , could it be that you have a trouble ? You look awfully down ," Tanaka asks ; sounding just like a grandfather guiding his grandchildren

Kalim takes a look at Jamil , wondering if it's right to do what he's thinking of and Jamil in return , nods as a yes " Well sir , there you see we actually don't belong here yet to another-" Jamil cuts him off before he could mess the whole thing up : " -Another state , indeed ! We came here for some sort of a business trip and were supposed to be on our way back home by now but sadly , ran into thieves . Our families must be really worried for now and I doubt them being sure of us being hooked up here . We lost everything and have no way to contact anyone we know... only if someone nice enough could be found to help us with it right now ," Jamil dropped his head , trying to act as natural as possible . Kalim wants to remind him that this isn't right to lie someone who is trying to help them yet he wonders if he should let Jamil take care of this now , after all he was much of a worthier leader than him to be honest...

" That's so sad to hear dear boy , I'm sure that young master as well would've been really frustrated if he were here ," Tanaka replies . Oh ? Young master ?  Jamil is now interested . Wherever this man came from , it can't be somewhere cheap , Jamil could tell . Leading them to a mightier source would be a better thing than just laying in the streets waiting for some miracle to save them right ? " Young master , you say ? " Kalim asks . " On the second thought , how about me introducing you to my master ? You're not much older than him I suppose , he as well needs to have more friends like you good men  ," Tanaka says with a sweet smile . " That'll be so nice of you um , Mr...? " Jamil asks " Tanaka is fine young boys . And you? "  " Jamil Viper ," " Kalim al Asim ! Glad to meet you Tanaka sir ! " Kalim says , bringing his hand for Tanaka to shake . Tanaka shakes hands with both of them and Jamil decides to make the process a bit faster : " I look forward to meeting this young master you say , Mr. Tanaka . It's always great to meet more men of culture ," Jamil sneakers . " Then by all means , follow me young men ," Tanaka says . With a sound of pop and some smoke , the tall man shrinks into a chibi version : " Ho , ho , ho ," " What the-!!!" Kalim panicks , no magic and yet this dude can shrink all of a sudden huh ?

" Ho ho," chibi Tanaka says before turning back and going to another direction . " I guess we should follow him," Jamil says . Kalim agrees and then , they're both following the chibi old man to the Phantomhive's mansion . Unaware of the two eyes watching them all this time : " Hihihi ~ they're quite interesting ,"

Feat : Grell Sutcliff & Ronald Knox

"Come oooon Ronald~ Shake your lazy ass and bring her along already..." " Oi senpai , that's mean ! This one's quite heavy-" "JUST SHUT UP AND DO THAT ! Don't you know it's rude to question ladies too much ? " " F-fine then , but at least give me a hand ! Have you even checked if she's dead !? " Heavy ? Dead ? She...? Vil isn't born to be disrespected like this . AND NOT A SINGLE SOUL GETS TO PULL HIM BY LEG WHEN HE'S ASLEEP

Vil immediately starts shouting at the Blondie , threating him that he'll regret it if he doesn't let go of him now . Ronald and Grell almost have a heart attack at Vil's chicken like screech which makes them jump

Vil snads up and glares at the two shinigamis : A really ugly female like one all dressed in red and a small blondie brat which looks like...eh..Azul ? Well nevermind ; doesn't matter now

What should he begin with ? Where he is ? Who these potatoes are and how they didn't recognize him being the leader of Pomefiore ? How perky they were to move him while asleep like this and ruin fabric of his overly expensive unforms ? Too many things to do

" Ah you're too loud ! My ears...Such an unexpected shout to hear from a man this hot I'd say..." Grell giggles . Vil's eyes widen , well of course he is beautiful but to be praised like that ? Ew , this is more of a insult ...

Vil decides to ignore Grell and get to the main point : Who they were and what they wanted . Grell smirks before preparing to give a 5 hour long opera show of shinigamis' romance but Ronald locks him on that point : They are shinigamis , they collect souls of the death , they had grabbed Vil because he looked a bit like the woman they were just going to collect yet didn't pay enough of attention to notice that they made a mistake , so they can all leave since they've got nothing to do with each other

Just before Ronald could get away Vil grabs him by collar , asking where they've brought him to . Grell clears that they just moved him by 30-40 meters from where they found him so it can't be really counted as bringing him to somewhere . Vil refuses to believe , wherever he is , it's way further than Pomefiore dorm or even NRC's accessable area ; that can't be . Vil threatens them one more time : " You refuse to tell , you'll end up dealing with the headmaster ," Grell and Ronald probably don't know who the headmaster is but Grell tries to take advantage : "Aaa? Is he one into punishing type ?" Vil is slowly getting annoyed by how weird this red one sounds to him ; To be honest he acts like an impatient porn star or something...

That's it , he's calling Crowley but uh , where is his phone ? Did he lose it ? Impossible . He'll never forget such an important thing to bring along ... Did these brats dare to steal his pockets....!? Vil asks them to give his phone and wallet back : now " Sir , you may like to know that human money brings no good for us and also , I'm afraid that I don't really know what you may mean by phone? " Ronald mumbles (Remember that phone isn't yet invited at their time ). Why don't this guy just let them go take care of their business ?

Vil hates it when people dare opposing him and doesn't ever take that lightly...who do these two think they are ? " Where is Night Raven College , answer or you'll face unpleasant consequences..." Is Vil challenging Grell ? Then Grell's more than ready to see what this human may have up his slave to speak to a shinigami like this : " And what may the consequences be...?" Vil gets tired , a small spell and this red ass bitch would be nothing but a toad , " I tried to warn you , you should've listened..."

Ahem , hello ? Magic ? Why isn't it working ? " Pffffffftttt- Lmao are you high or something man ? You just woke up !You'll be a great actor though I swear- You can drown in all that nonsense ," Grell laughs . " Well then hottie , I'm afraid we've got to go , see you when it's your time ~ " Grell turns to leave but Vil grabs him by collar . No one is leaving until they explain what the actual heck is going on : this place , the magic , everything

Grell on the other hand enjoyed flirting , but can't take being acted to like this . He pushes Vil back and gives him a psychotic smile , bringing up his chainsaw : " Wouldn't it be amazing if I cut those rushy tongue of yours at once ? fewer words , more of a male charm ," "Oh ?" magic may not work here , but they're not all Vil has got , he can still give this bitch guy a lesson without them : " Oi you two , this isn't really gonna workout-" Ronald mumbles but it's too late now -

Feat : Undertaker

At least he wakes up to a more suitable scene , or it seems so - His body couldn't move freely inside of this cage-like space . Is this a cuffin...? He has experience with them from his freshman year but to end up in one of them again ? Could it be that Crowley is planning on another fancy event like their first time ? Boy , he didn't like it anyway . He knocks the door trying to open it but if seems too heavy to be moved . Damnit- , he hears footsteps from the outside : " Someone there ? Why can't I open this ??" A sudden screech from out and the door slides open : " Ah thank yoUWAHAAAA- !!" Idia screams at the sight of the creepy stranger's smile at him ; he wasn't expecting this . Also , this place doesn't look like the mirror hall ? Who is this guy and where is this place ??

" Hihihi you weren't that dead I see , why waking up so soon though~ ?" , Undertaker giggles in his playful tone . Idia needs too many things to be explained to him but he just doesn't have the time , Crewel will burn him in acid if he gets any late for his class again and he doesn't care how weird his current situation is , he has to go

He gets out of the coffin and rushes to the door but Undertaker stops him there telling him not to show up out there so carelessly , which clearly confuses Idia . " Your hair...It is quite fascinating that curses remain strong even as magic gets blocked..." Undertaker adds . Idia is used to people judging him for his family misfortune but this one seemed quite...odd . He decides to ignore it and leave

" ~ Okies then I warned you , but you'll end up needing a real cuffin in a few minutes pwahahaaa-" , Undertaker burts into laughter and Idia leaves

" creepy ass old ma-" , Idia nags slowly before freezing as someone screams really-loudly right into his ears " HAIR ON FIRE , HIS HAIR IS ON FIRE !!" Before Idia can notice what is going on he's gained tens of gazes to himself , why are these guys all dressed so strangely...

" M-mummy is that a monster ? I'm scared..." " Stay away from our children you hellish creature ! " Idia freezes , critiques coming one after one : Demon , monster , Satan , Death . One option left : Run

Idia now has to run for his life , this world just isn't his thing : not at all . Even if it weren't because of being chased by a group of angry humans , do you think that he could last for even one day in this old fashioned zone ? No technology , no phones , no robots , no gummy bears , no wifi- He'd read about how different the world was before the invention of media and couldn't explain how thankful he was to never have to handle a second in the past world because he wouldn't last there for more than an hour- well he wasn't right about never ending up there but , he was 100% right about not lasting for more than an hour

Now there , he is running like he never has , begging his feet to help him this time out of any other time . Angry people screaming and bringing fire and weapons to destroy the evil

He tries to contact any possible source for help but : No magic - no internet . RIP Idia

Meanwhile Undertaker is chilling at his shop , his mind running over the cursed boy and now listening to the sound of the frightened people because of him , how pathetic , If only he had agreed to hide his hair through a safer way...sigh he should have listened to advises coming from someone who has been living within humans for years by hiding his identity as a shinigami as as his eyes... " My my , humans aren't the only fragile creatures I see..." creation can seem disturbing to him sometimes , and that's the best part with it

Back to Idia , he is slowly running out of breath . Well maybe this is the point where he has to give up ? He has long lived as a loser , bastard , procrastinator and wasted almost each and every second of his life ; well perhaps except Ortho , that was a nice work of him . Wish he was here too say goodbye .  He isn't sure if his prayers would be accepted or not but it won't hurt trying : " Good gods who're told to be somewhere up there , I know that I wasn't best that I could be and I won't try to excuse my sins ; just please let it end fast, Ame- " he forgets his prayers as his guardian angel is standing just a few meters away from him ; oh have gods sent an identical twin - human version of Leona for him to be saved ? Well whatever now , he has no time if he's the original furry or not : "LEONAAAA HELLP-!!!!!!"

And yes , he is the original one ! He curses as he sees the population after Idia , what the hell is wrong with this world ? Idia hides behind his back and Leona tries to take control before they end up burning the two of them together : " You people , chill ," " Why you defending that creature ? He a a misfortune ! A demon !" others shout at this words in agreement . Leona laughs it off . He says that Idia is way too dumb for a demon and even if he is one , he's the type to scream his ass off when someone says "hi" . Idia doesn't know if Leona's defending him or not but he doesn't dare saying a word . Leona seems too busy dealing with the crowd and slowly , the argument topic switches from Idia to Leona ; who isn't afraid of punching some faces . The argument slowly takes over and no one (even Leona) realizes Idia sneaking into an alley saving his life . He feels a bit guilty for leaving Leona on his own but he'll be fine , hopefully

Thankfully the alley is deserted and he finally lays down to catch his breath , still panting heavily . He almost got killed today and can't get over it , but things were getting a bit comforting : "Meow~" several cats show up from the corners and Idia puts on a small smile . A white kittens comes closer and allows Idia to touch and comfort him . Idia wonders , how does their lives as a cat here feels ? do they as well get as scared as he was just now?  . A few minutes later when Idia -and his cats- were chilling someone steps closer to them  . Before Idia gets to run away , a tall , black and familiar face shows up and gives him a pretty calm smirk : " My my , I see you as well adore cats, could it be some part of our hellish natures ?"

"...J-Jade...?"

Feat : Ciel Phantomhive & Sebastian Michaelis

Let us be honest , it isn't going to be that bad for him , is it ? His current lifestyle at Valley of the thorns is nothing less than London's late 19th century , just maybe it had more of a natural theme . Well , no technology can be good news since he never really get used to it after all . London's atmosphere as well seem to be just his thing : Sometimes savage but calm , filled with tea parties and great ceremonies , an interesting back ground toward the royal family and in summary , Malleus's ideal theme

Well maybe except some things : 1) HORNS-ARE-GONE . His family treasure , the great heritage that proved him coming from the all great and respected Draconia family , now is gone 2) No need to mention that there is no sight of his fairy ears either- 3) Having his magic lost in this unknown world , he is now nothing different from a fragile human being , just as weak , just as empty , just as disgusting . Oh but our prince isn't totally left on his own here...

Unexpectedly , Phantomhive's mansion is serving a mysterious guest today , even though Ciel was against letting strangers inside the house . Sebastian insisted on being aware of the importance of hospitality as the Queen's watch dog , specially with special guests

Everything seems odd to Malleus , this world , this time , this people and...this master and butler . He is no fool , not even the foolishest of these humans would treat and cater strangers without wanting something in return , therefore he needs to keep his guard up . They shouldn't be aware of his actual identity even if they look deprived of any magic

Ciel is feeling awfully uncomfortable , who is this man ? And what the heck about him might have caught Sebastian's eyes ? This greedy demon wouldn't easily be impressed , so what could it be ?

Sebastian insists that it's how he should learn to treat everyone else if he's willing to be well remembered after death ; he pronounces the last word in a pretty deep , dark tone . Making it clear that how he'll finally die in a sarcastic way which teased Ciel

He decides not to have any argues with Sebastian on that point since he can act pretty cocky with stuff he gets stubborn over , so let's see what he's hiding up in sleeve this time . Though Ciel is suspicious of other stuff as well , this Mr... -whatever he is since he doesn't give them a name- looks like a pale - greenish version of Sebastian . Could he be another demon..?

Malleus refuses to give them a name due to possible risks , yet he has to admit that he's being taken care of properly . The room he's given isn't as big as the one in his castle , but is still considerable for something a stranger would be given . Other than that , anyone else he's met here so far seemed to be pretty chill , oh except this tiny child with a blindfold and he gets to be called young master ? He has to admit that he's impressed . To be in control of all this property when you aren't yet even tall enough to pick your favorite book from the shelf on your own

And there is another guy who is really...how to explain , is it some feeling of deja Vu or he really does look like Silver ? The guy is always talking to the snakes just as Silver talks to the birds and animals . If it weren't because of difference in eye color , perhaps Malleus wouldn't believe that he wasn't Sliver himself . " Your stay won't last much longer master , your friends are on their way here , says Donne ," Snake tells him . Malleus doesn't really know how to feel about him but his words comfort him for some reason...

Ciel says that he needs to check on the trio since they've been calling him all day so he heads to the front yard , leaving Sebastian and Malleus alone

Sebastian offers him some tea and Malleus of course sees no reason to refuse . Sebastian doesn't sit beside him because it's arrogant of servants to sit beside the guests , so he remains stood up . He doesn't bother starting a conversation with Malleus and he does know how to get him to speak . Malleus doesn't mind answering to...some of his questions . How he likes it here in London , if he needs anything else during his stay , but the last question made his eyes widen : Does he do feel any uncomfortable under the terms of not being able to use his powers ?

Malleus doesn't answer , he pretends that he didn't hear him and stares at the window . He is hoping it to help him ignore Sebastian , but what he sees isn't any better :  Isn't that... Rosehearts laying there...??

Malleus has to go , not only because of getting rid of Sebastian at this point but to also check on his ally if he's alright or not :  Did the butler know he too was here all the time ?

Sebastian just knows what was going on in his mind and wants  better answers . Malleus stands up to leave but Sebastian takes grabs his arm before he could do anything : " No need to rush . We still have a lot to talk about , Mr. Draconia ,"

♦♥♠♣

Note for Idia's part : I was actually planning on Idea having his hair as well gone because , well , no magic no hair ? But that seemed too unfair for him lol

Fruits Basket - Vol 21

"What do you have there?"

"A knife!"

"NO-"

That's probably all I can say about this one lmao

Kyo's still thinking back to when he met Kyoko, and how he felt about her as a kid. It was strange to him, in a way, but very welcoming, because unlike the majority of people around him, she treated him like a spunky kiddo(that's what she called him because he never told her his name) who seemed to have a hard life, but still seemed nice. In other words, Kyoko treated him kindly, something that Kyo had only experienced with Kazuma, which is extremely heartbreaking, oh my god.

But that only made what happened later hurt that much more, when she died. He heard her say that she won't forgive him, and those words have stuck with him to this day. After Kyoko's death, Kazuma took Kyo to the mountains, "to train". There wasn't much training, honestly, because Kyo was thrown into the depths of just,, self-hatred, mourning, regret, all of it. The only way he could get out of it was to place blame elsewhere, and that elsewhere was Yuki. It was easy, to be expected, almost encouraged in a way. It's not even that Yuki did anything in particular (I doubt they were even around each other enough for Yuki to actually do anything to Kyo), it's just that it was easier. And that helped Kyo enough that Kazuma let him return back home, which is around the time that Tohru showed up at Shigure's house, and the start of the series. When Kyo first saw Tohru, he couldn't believe it. He just wasn't allowed to forget what had happened, was he? It was interesting, in a way, to finally meet the girl that Kyoko was always talking about, to finally hear her voice rather than a picture, anecdotes, and a lonesome dinner. But it also hurt. In the end, he says he won't forgive himself, and he doesn't expect Tohru to forgive him either, for holding all of this back.

Tohru doesn't like that though, only having those two options: to forgive or not. It's really not that simple. She doubts that her mom meant that, "I won't forgive you", because she wasn't that kind of person, and even if she did mean it, Tohru's going against it, because her love for Kyo overpowers her love for her mom. She screams at him that she loves him, regardless of all of that. It doesn't matter dude! He can't believe it though, and he runs off, with Yuki, who overheard a portion of all of this, chasing after Kyo, with the spirit of "jfc you fucking moron get back here".

Oh remember Akito? And how she was thinking about Tohru? And how she has a knife? Well, she just entered the chat. 🔪🔪

She enters the chat by vaguely saying that the curse is breaking, to Tohru, who at the moment is partially occupied with thinking how fucking miserable Kyo looked before he ran off, but now Akito's here. (That sounds bad, like a "now Tohru has to deal with Akito 🙄" thing, that's not really what I mean. Tohru's just going through a few things at the moment) She asks Tohru if she's happy now, now that Akito has became the outsider, the loner, the bad guy, after waltzing into her life (and the lives of the Sohmas) and completely disrupting it, without a speck of dirt on her hands. Tohru's putting two and two together and steps toward Akito, asking if she was there the whole time (at this point Tohru did not know Akito had a knife), and oh jeez Akito just slashed at Tohru. Despite Akito yelling at Tohru to stay back, Tohru starts thinking of things through Akito's lens, how this whole time, Akito must have been so lonely. She was marveled for being God, but because of that (and her lashing out but hush), no one ever wanted to be around her. She was told that she was above everyone else, and she treated them as such, and they did the same back to her.

Tohru mentioned how Akito always spoke of permanence, because it was the only thing that Akito ever had to hold onto. Akito lashes out at that (i don't think she cut Tohru, but Tohru does end up having two cuts, so i think this was the second, both times they were just on her arms), saying that Tohru doesn't know what she's talking about, she won't fall for Tohru's crap! She can't be won over by nice little words like everyone else (are you sure about that dude). Tohru doesn't really deny it, she agrees that she is dirty, and bad. She wished for her own permanence, to forever be with her mom, but that didn't and couldn't happen. She says that realizing this is very lonely, realizing that you can't make anything stay, you can't grab onto it with all your might and beg for it to stay, it will move on in its own time. This ends up further upsetting Akito, thinking back to Akira and what he said to her as a child. She screams that she doesn't want to be left behind, alone in this huge world of strangers who don't know or care about about, or need her. She's terrified, and she says there's no saying that someone could ever love her, she'll be all alone when the curse breaks. Tohru then offers to be her friend. (Honestly this scene is kinda heartbreaking for me, seeing Tohru all scuffed up with tears in her eyes, offering to be Akito's friend. This girl does so fucking much all the time, regardless of the fact that she just heard that the boy she loves was involved in some way to her mother's death, her personal crisis of Kyo becoming more important to her than Kyoko, and now she's cut up and bloody, probably soaked through by the rain, trying to console a thoroughly upset Akito, like,, jfc Tohru)

Akito smacks Tohru's outstretched hand, saying she's mocking her, that when Akito starts to get upset, she'll get irritated, when Akito complains, she'll get mad, she'll hate Akito, she'll abandon her, but Tohru just puts out a hand, offering to be Akito's friend regardless. And once Akito realizes that Tohru would totally be there for her if she needed Tohru, Tohru literally falls off a cliff. Kinda. Do you remember back in the beginning of the series when Shigure mentioned that the ground is kinda unstable, and that's why there was a landslide? This is the same kind of thing, the ground crumbled underneath Tohru, and she fell. The first time I read that scene, I wasn't entirely sure if it was a metaphorical thing or not. It was not.

After Tohru fell, Akito just started screaming (fair enough, honestly), screaming for someone to come help, anyone! Shigure and Yuki come (and off in the undisclosed distance, Kyo also hears the cries), and Shigure actually asks Akito if she pushed Tohru off. Akito manages to explain what happens, and Yuki calls an ambulance. Shigure takes Akito back to the house, and a little bit later Kyo comes back to the house, and overhears Shigure explaining things to Hatori over the phone, and fuckin bolts over to where Tohru is. She's unconscious, scuffed, with cuts and blood on her, and holy shit, remember that one dream Kyo had a while back? Yeah, well, this looks wayyy too close for comfort to that dream, and Kyo's pretty freaked out. Distantly, Tohru can hear him crying, and she's just like, "Don't cry, it'll be okay, there's no reason to cry." She thought about how she worried that her love for Kyo ended up hurting him, and she was sorry for that, but she couldn't help it. It's revealed that Tohru fell in love with Kyo around the time of the Dark Form/True Form thing was going down, I think when Kazuma first showed up. She wishes for Kyo to be able to live a full life, even if it's hard, even if they aren't together. (Very emotional stuff, really.)

The next day, Yuki sees Tohru's grandfather at the hospital (who is visiting Tohru as well), and he asks about "that orange-headed boy", and Yuki says he was just an idiot that has bad timing, and he made Tohru cry. He can make her happy better than anyone, and he did that. He stopped himself short, but Tohru's grandfather was like, "About that," and presumably told Yuki to fucking brawl with Kyo, because that's exactly what he did after hearing from Haru that Kyo didn't try to see to Tohru. Before the fists went flying, Yuki asked Kyo about it, and Kyo said it was for the better, that all he'd do was hurt Tohru further. He couldn't protect Tohru when she needed it, he didn't want to do further harm.

Now the scene has shifted to the hospital, with two people being stuck in bed: Tohru and Kureno. Kyo tries to see Tohru, to apologize, to talk, something, but Hanajima and Uotani are not having it. Hanajima points out that apologizing wouldn't even mean anything, because Tohru doesn't blame Kyo for anything that happened. Hanajima says that there's other things that Kyo needs to do before he can see Tohru. Certain Things, and honestly I'm not sure if she was just bullshitting and using her ominousness to her advantage or if she actually knew something, but Kyo agreed (internally, anyway): there was something he had to do before seeing Tohru again.

Yuki might as well have said that was complete and utter bullshit, who does Kyo fuckin think he is? A goddamn superhero, able to fly in the second Tohru's in trouble? Doesn't he see the way Tohru acts around him? The way she smiles whenever he's near? Kyo's shocked by that, but he doesn't like the way Yuki said it, so he asked why couldn't Yuki do it (this is actually out of order but shh), he's already so perfect and shit. Basically, he's finally saying that he has always envied Yuki, because it just seemed like he got everything that Kyo wanted, especially when they were kids. Through the flying kicks and punches, Yuki says the same thing, but in the end, he can only be himself, same thing for Kyo. Neither of them (or anyone else) can be anything other than themselves, and sometimes there are things that only one person can do. In this case, only Kyo can kinda,, make her happy, I guess. I think that was the implication, which is nice. Kyo then goes off to see Tohru at the hospital, but the visiting hours are over, but y'know it's the thought that counts, right?

(Meanwhile) (btw how many times do these kinda things wreck Shigure's house like can they not take these things outside or something)

On the part of Uotani and Hanajima (and really everyone else who is visiting Tohru at this time), there's another level to keeping Kyo out: it's that everyone kinda knows that Tohru might be a little messed up if she did see Kyo again so soon after that whole shpeal that happened before Akito showed up. Tohru had a bomb dropped on her, and then she helped Akito calm down, and then she fell off a cliff; she didn't have any time to process the things that Kyo told her, especially that last line of his, the whole, "I'm disillusioned" thing, which all the significance that I personally can find within it is that he said that he wouldn't be disillusioned when Tohru was telling him about her father, but there really seems to be a bigger thing here that I'm not getting, idk. Anyway, there's that whole mess as well. Besides from that, there also seems to be this idea, I guess, that once Tohru is around Kyo again, they won't really be apart, so this is kinda like the last few moments with just Tohru? Or something? Hanajima and Uotani were talking about how Kyo's gonna "steal Tohru away", and seeing as Tohru is their close friend, I suppose it makes sense, from a selfish perspective (but not in a bad way), that they would want to "have" Tohru as long as they could.

Meanwhile (y'know that 60s Batman scene transition thing? That's always what I imagine when I write that, with the music included. Imagine how annoying it'd be if I put in a gif of it every time), Akito is having a Struggle Moment. She's at the hospital, and holy fuck is she guilty about stabbing Kureno, which is nice she totally should be it'd be really concerning if she wasn't, and Momiji pops up and asks if Akito came to see Kureno or Tohru (oof that guilt it's now been doubled), and Akito bursts out with confusion: why doesn't Kureno blame her?! He could've (should've-- wait what) blamed her, gotten angry, something?? Momiji says that it's because Kureno and Tohru (because Akito also visits Tohru) are that kind of stupid: they just don't blame people for things, they're always allowing for forgiveness. So why question it, why not just accept that Kureno isn't angry at her, isn't blaming her, just accept the kindness.

Akito thinks back on when she visited Kureno, and he asked her if she was okay. She thinks that if she had said she wasn't, that Kureno would have gone back to her side, and stayed with her, despite what she had done to him. He would stay with her until she no longer needed him, because he just has that kind of unselfish kindness. This kindness, in retrospect, doesn't make Akito feel much better though, as she thinks (realizes?) that she's basically been killing him, this whole time (before the stabbing, of course). No apology could fix this, no matter what Kureno would say, Akito wouldn't ever stop feeling bad for what she had said and done, not to him but to the other Juunishi as well (I suppose the Sohma family as a whole, honestly). Momiji just says that Akito has to take care of Kureno from now on, and to make sure that she doesn't do something like this again. Then he tells Akito a story (i don't get to hear it and that makes me quite sad ngl) and later Akito visits Tohru. But that'll be talked about later. Now we're talking about

(60s Batman transition sound) Yuki! And the other people in the student council. Kakeru mentions how the school is abuzz with what happened to Tohru, and how rumor has it that Kyo's the one who got her in the hospital. (Yuki doesn't really deny that, btw) Unsurprisingly, it's not really something that he has talked about, seeing as it's not very casual conversation, and it is a bit of a downer, but he realizes that he's not too upset by it. (By that I mean the overall recent series of events, not solely Tohru's accident) I guess violence is the answer, sometimes.

Kimi then asks what Yuki's relationship with Tohru even is, and Kakeru, unfiltered as usual, just drops, "She's like his mom, in his mind" as if that wasn't something that Yuki was struggling with for a long time??? Whatever dude, but one day Yuki'll probably have his revenge. At any rate, there were a lot of shots to Machi doing her thing, so if it wasn't already clear from the story so far, Yuki likes Machi. If you hadn't picked that up, it's a whole thing.

Anyway, later on Yuki and Kakeru are looking for get-well gifts for Tohru, and Kakeru just straight up says, "If I don't know what to give to someone, I'll just choose something I like, so that if they don't like it, I can take it, and I'll like it," which, as it turns out, Machi does the same thing. (That comes later but it's the not most important thing so shh) After getting a gift, Kakeru says that he's going to visit Tohru, but he insists on doing it alone, and so Yuki wanders off, walking down the street (he's makin his way downtown, walkin fast, faces pass), and he thinks about how, when he was in big crowds, he used to wonder, if he disappeared, would anyone really notice? Now though, that's not really a worry. He knows that there is at least one person who would notice, who would be worried if he disappeared. And holy shmow, he just found the perfect gift for her! He calls up Machi, and they meet up at a train station, I think, I'm pretty sure it's a train station idk I've never been in one, and it turns out that she got a gift for him as well. (It's fertilizer, remember back to that scene, with the,, yeah. Ok.)

The gift is a big Mogeta doll (probably like a stuffed animal), like the one that Ayame had in his shop, except he had the gall to write on it? Machi said that it was a limited exclusive item, but Yuki managed to find it (for a fair price too, apparently), and she really likes it. She says she'd like to thank Tohru for what she's done to help Yuki become who he is presently, that she's really glad that she was able to meet Yuki, because without him, she definitely wouldn't be the person she is today. It was some super soft stuff, there were plenty of "aw"s when I read that whole interaction. They're so fucking cute, it's great.

Anyway, other than Kakeru asking Hatori what he ate to look that handsome (which is something I still can't get over), there wasn't much else to the book, so I'll finally end this (I took several days in between writing this it's inexcusable). Yay ✨✨

Stand By Your Gun Chapter Two

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑦 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐺𝑢𝑛 𝐶h𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑤𝑜: 𝑆𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡h𝑒𝑟

Finally, here is chapter two! I hope you enjoy it. As always comments and feedback are welcome. Chapter one

Warnings: mild swearing, brief mention of panic attack, nightmares, death, alcohol drinking (if anything else needs to be put here please let me know).

Amelia leans against the door of Tommy’s room and waits for the click of the latch before asking, “You know more about the robbery than you're letting on, don't you?”

Tommy is standing by the window, looking out with a blank stare not saying anything. Even though half of his face is turned away from her, Amelia can still read him like an open book, can practically see the wheels turning in his head. She has always loved his brain and how it seemingly never stops running, always being five steps ahead of everyone else. Sure he is a good-looking man, but then again, he always has been.

Moving to sit on Tommy’s unmade bed, Amelia spots Pride and Prejudice on his bedside table in the place Amelia left it a few days before. A forgotten betting slip acting as a bookmark sticks out so Amelia reaches down and grabs her beloved novel to fix the paper. She has lost count on the number of times she has read the book but each time gets better nonetheless. Some nights when she doesn't want to go home to her mother, she’ll fall asleep in the armchair reading, sometimes by herself or with Tommy not really listening but enjoying the background noise when sleep won’t come.

Finally, after a few moments of silence, Tommy turns around and sighs breaking the quiet that has enveloped the room, “I know enough.”

���That’s a shit answer and you know it,” Amelia scoffs. “The face you were making downstairs is enough to tell me that you know a lot more than everyone else.”

“Millie, it is none of your concern at the moment.” Tommy grabs a bottle of whiskey off of his dresser, takes a swig, and sits in the armchair crossing his legs. “Besides, I have everything under control. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

Amelia looks at him and can’t help but feel a bit hurt. Tommy usually tells her everything no matter the importance saying that he values her opinion and wants to hear the situation from a different angle, “If it has something to do with the family then I bloody think it’s mine and the whole family’s concern.” Amelia stands and moves to stand in front of Tommy with her arms crossed, “You saw what they done to Arthur for God knows what reason. What if it happens again to John or Ada or worse Finn—”

“It won’t happen again, Amelia. I’m making sure of it.” Tommy interrupts Amelia. His hands gripping the arms of the chair so hard his knuckles are turning pale.

Frustrated, Amelia starts pacing back and forth, “I just don’t understand what the problem is and what you aren't telling me.” She stops pacing and looks Tommy in the eyes hoping what she is about to ask isn’t true. “You have the guns, don’t you?”

Tommy’s face has the answer written all of over it, and Amelia can feel her blood heating. “Are you insane? Of course, you are because no sane person would be hiding the stolen guns the bloody government is looking for.”

“Will you be quiet,” Tommy snaps in a hushed tone, “All of Birmingham doesn't need to hear you.”

Amelia puts her hands over her face and lets out a frustrated sigh. She moves over to stand by the window taking the place Tommy was at before. She can see two small girls playing with rocks, dirt covering their already gray dresses. Amelia can’t help but miss the innocence of being a child in a moment like this. The only thing on your mind being games and wonder at the world around you. Having no idea that the world is dangerous and falling apart.

When she looks back at Tommy, he is looking at her the same way he has since they met when they were barely teenagers, a silent way of asking her to be on his side and to keep his secrets, no matter what. Normally she would never waver, but with this— “Why do you have them, and who all knows?”

“It was an accident. My boys were on a regular pick up, nothing out of the ordinary, and they must have been drunk or not paying attention,” Tommy exhales loudly and pours another whiskey. “They grabbed the wrong crate and brought it back to Charlie’s yard and that’s where it sits and holds Lewis Machine Guns, ammunition, semi-automatic rifles, and pistols with their shells. And the only people who know are the idiots who got it in the first place, Charlie, Curly, me, and now you.”

Amelia nods and doesn’t say anything, can’t find the words to speak them. She can’t decide if she is surprised something liked this happened, but ultimately, she isn’t. Everything was going seemingly well for a while, so of course, some problem such as this had to make its way into their lives, “You have to get rid of them, dump them in the cut or put them back where you found them. Campbell will hang you if he discovers you have the guns. You can’t do that to the family.” You can't do that to me. Amelia thought but didn’t say.

She wraps a loose thread from her dress around her fingers and pulls tight. The thread breaking with ease, leaving a red ring on her pointer finger. Amelia has always been a fidget, especially when she’s nervous.

Tommy sensing her uneasiness gets up and makes his way over and puts his hands on Amelia’s shoulders trying to get her to look at him and says, “It’s nothing for you to worry about, Millie. This isn’t women’s business; I’ve got it handled.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it became women’s business when all of you got on that train to France, Tommy. What’s changed now?” Amelia finally lifts her head and meets his gaze.

“We came back.”

Amelia looks at him and shakes her head. “No, you didn’t, you’re still there, Tom. Maybe not all the time, but sometimes I see that look in your eye. You might be here physically but mentally, you are back there.”

A shadow goes over Tommy’s face, and he moves back from her as though he is making room for his breathing, tugging at his collar to loosen it. Amelia didn’t move closer because if he starts panicking she doesn’t want to crowd him and make it worse. From working at the hospital, she knows different people want different things when they are having a bout of panic.

“At The Garrison, Danny had a fit and knocked over tables and chairs and shouting like he was still in the trenches. Freddie and I got him calmed down or at least we thought,” Tommy stammered still trying to catch his breath. He picks up his glass and downs it before continuing, “he then and went and killed an Italian waiter with two other Italians watching and now they want Danny dead for it.”

“What?” Amelia gasps, “There must be something we can do. You can’t kill Danny; it’s not his fault. Surely they will understand.” Amelia said this even though she knows there is nothing that can be done. The death of one means death for another.

“You know there’s nothing we can do. It’s either I do it or they do.”

Amelia wracks her brain thinking of a way out of this. Danny doesn’t deserve to die because of his past trauma from the war. No one does. “Tommy, what if there was a way to shoot Danny and make him appear dead, but in reality, he is still alive.”

Tommy leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He has a smirk on his face and light has returned to Tommy’s eyes. Scheming has always been one of Tommy’s favorite pastimes. “I’m listening.”

“You know that butcher shop down by my house?” Amelia asks and when Tommy nods she continues, “I happen to be friends with his son, he works at the hospital with me, so what if you get some sheep’s brain or something and find a way to shoot that so the blood goes everywhere, and the Italians think that Danny is dead. You said you had some business in London, send Danny there to do it.”

“Amelia, that might work.”

“I’m glad I may be of service to the cause, Mr. Shelby.” Amelia jokes and they both lightly laugh.

Tommy reaches for his cigarettes and matches but they are just out of reach, so Amelia grabs them and hands them to him, their hands lightly brushing. The contact making a tiny spark run through Amelia making her pull her arm away. It is something she always reads about in her novels, that jolt of electricity when the love interest and main character touch.

It is also something she always ignores when it comes to Tommy and herself, or she tries to forget about it, but it is becoming more difficult with each passing day. The glances, the touching, the secret whispers back and forth, and the familiarity with each other is sometimes too much for her, reminding her of old times the two used to share. There may have been a time and place for them but she is afraid that time may be over, so she never says anything and neither does he. Everything is too different now.

Amelia watches Tommy as he lights the cigarette in silence, her eyes following the smoke as it slowly dances its way up to the ceiling. The smell encases the room and it makes Amelia want to cover her nose but she doesn’t. She has always hated the smell of them but with Tommy, she doesn’t mind it. The smell of cigarette is something that is a part of him so much so that often she would find herself missing it when he was in France.

“How have you been sleeping?” Amelia questions, finally breaking the silence after a few moments. “Are you still having nightmares?”

Tommy doesn’t answer right away but when he does he murmurs, “Its okay, but the dreams are still there.” He shakes his head, his hair going in his eyes. The urge to move it out of his face is there but Amelia pushes it down like a cinder block. “Sometimes I wake up before the explosion and sometimes I don’t.”

Amelia nods understanding. “I still dream of my father. Sometimes they are a good and happy, but other times he will look at me and motion for me like he is beckoning me to come to him, but when I try to move I’m stuck and he then starts screaming at me to hurry up but it’s like I’m frozen to the spot; I never get to find out what is behind me. I only see the horror on his face.”

Every time she dreams of her father, it’s as though he is really there like when she wakes up he will be sitting in his favorite chair reading the paper or laughing at something Amelia had said; the sound still present in her ears long after she wakes. She knows it is a dream but she can’t help the disappointment that settles in her stomach when she remembers he is actually gone and will never come back—no matter how hard she wishes.

“Amelia there was nothing you could have done. You were only twelve and the doctors did all they could.”

“I know.” Amelia wiped a tear before it had a chance to escape down her face. “That doesn’t mean it can’t hurt.”

They were quiet for a few moments, the silence hanging in the air like a cloud of smoke and if Amelia breathed it would surely choke her.

Tommy coughs while stretching out his long legs, his trouser moving up around his ankles. “When was the last time you went home?”

Amelia scoffs. She did not feel like having this conversation about home and her mother. “I went home two days ago to get a change of clothes for my shift. I’ve been at the hospital or here since.”

“You need to go home, Millie.”

“Do you know that first thing my mother said to me when I got home?” Amelia asks not looking at Tommy only picking at her nails.”

“No.”

She laughs halfheartedly, “The second I walk in the door, the first thing she asks is if I paid the rent. No greetings or pleasantries, only a question about money. It’s as if I’m not her daughter anymore.”

Tommy comes to stand in front of her and lifts her head with his finger so she is looking straight at him, ice blue eyes meeting russet brown ones. Purple splotches stain the pale skin around them, proving his tiredness. She watches as he swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing slowly as if he is swallowing words he wishes he could say. “One day, you are going to get out of there and then you will be able to breathe and finally relax your shoulders and clear that head of yours, but for now, Millie, you need to go home.”

Amelia grabs his arm and removes from her chin, but she doesn’t break eye contact with him, “I’ll go home, but I want to help you the guns, or something. I can help you, please.”

“It’s going to be messy and could get dangerous. I don’t want you around that.”

I can handle it, Thomas.”

Tommy nods, never doubting it, “I know, I just don’t want you hurt.”

“Then I won’t get hurt,” Amelia responds and moves around him to go to the door,

“How did the horse charm go? Do you think it will work?”

“They did it and we’ll know on race day.” He shrugs making to follow her out the door, “and Amelia, just keep your eyes and ears open and tell me if you hear anything suspicious.”

“You got it, boss.”

~~~~~~

Amelia said she would go home, but she didn’t say she would go home sober. She slowly made her way to The Garrison, wanting, no, craving the drink that will send her into the sweet oblivion that is sleep.

Amelia’s walk was a short and quiet one, the only noise seemed to be the thoughts exploding in her head about the situation Tommy presented to her. She can’t help but have a twinge in her stomach that this is not going to end well, but she does know that will get through it no matter the outcome. They will always walk through hell together and make it to the other side.

The bar was loud but that was to be expected. The place is littered with people she knows and people who she has never laid eyes on in her life. People are dancing with their hands up to music that isn’t there. Some are gathered around tables playing cards with the money they just got paid. The whole place is chaotic but the craziness is what the bar was made for. A joint to drink booze and not think about your problems that hit you the minute you walk in your front door.

“Well if it isn’t Miss Hastings.”

Amelia spins around and is greeted by an older man who is looking at her with a smile. He has soot on his face from the coal job she knows he works tirelessly at. She matches his grin and stretches her arms out towards him. “George, long time no see, sir.” She pulls her old friend in and squeezes tightly and pulls back putting her hands on his shoulders. “I hope you’re well.”

George nods. “I could complain but why would I want to.”

“And the same goes for your wife and kids, I hope.”

“Yes, all thanks to you, Martha’s sore throat cleared up wonderfully.”

Amelia laughs, “It wasn’t me. Tea, honey, and good rest did all the work.”

After parting ways with George, Amelia finds an empty bar stool and even though she is sitting away from most of the patrons, she can still hear their conversations as though everyone is trying to be louder than the rest. Most of the talk is of work, failed marriages, on-the-side girlfriends, and the occasional whispering of the new chief inspector who has strolled into town thinking he owns the place.

Amelia leaned in closer trying to catch any information they might have but she misses what he says because of the roar of shouting in the back from some bloke who decided to wear whiskey instead of drink it.

“They are quite a loud lot aren’t they?”

“As loud as they come, I’d say.” Amelia looks up and meets the gaze of the girl she ran into earlier standing behind the bar wiping down a glass. “Hey, I’m sorry I about earlier, I can be a mad clutz when I’m in a rush.”

“It’s fine. I wasn’t paying attention to where my feet were headed.” The girl, Grace, puts down the glass and extends her hand out. “I’m Grace.”

Amelia shakes her hand noting the softness of it. Seemingly too soft especially to work in a place like this. “Amelia.”

Grace smiles and moves down a bit to pick up a gentleman’s glass to refill when she asks, “What can I get for you, Amelia? Harry said it’s on the house.”

“Irish Whiskey and you can leave the bottle.”

“Hard night?” Grace questions when she sits the glass in front of Amelia.

Amelia takes a swig before answering letting the amber liquid slide down her throat leaving a burning trail in its wake, “We all stress, some days are more stressful than others.”

“I understand that completely.” Grace replies twisting the rag in her hands seemingly catching her eye on something or someone, but Amelia doesn’t turn to look because Amelia is taking the chance to look her over.

Grace is very pretty with the blonde hair and blue eyes of an upper-class lady she would have met when Amelia was still in the class herself. At all the society parties her parents would drag her to when she was a young girl. She seems more like a girl that would work at the hospital with her not serving her whiskey at The Garrison.

Grace turns back to her and gives her a smile. “You wanna talk about? Your bad day I mean.”

Amelia pours another glass, “Can’t. Promised I wouldn’t tell a soul. Just know that I learned something that could be harmful to people I care about if it was found out.”

A light seemingly sparks in Grace’s eye and she looks down trying to hide it, but Amelia notices it immediately. She gave the vaguest detail she could just to see if her curiosity was going the right direction and it seems like it is. Watch out for the barmaid called Grace.

Amelia stands up and fishes out the money needed to pay for the whiskey and puts it on the table. “Well, I’ll be seeing you around then for more chats perhaps, when the bar isn’t as crowded. Us Small Heath girls have to stick together.”

Amelia gives her a warm smile, which Grace returns, and picks up the bottle and turns to leave when Grace says, “Harry said it’s on the house.”

“Harry says a lot of things besides he has a new salary to pay.”

Amelia walks through the double doors of the bar and makes her way home.

Edie, Buster & Rio

Edie: *It had been a while since club nights had done anything for her. Felt like years and years, but she'd not been going out underage for that long, had she? They always got chucked out before anything could happen, because they were trying to make something, anything, fucking happen in this shitty town. Scrapping, or using the toilets for one of two (or both) unapproved activities, it was always early doors for Edie and Kai. She was pouting into her double (or was it triple?) Eyes only moving away from him to give 'don't fucking try it' looks to any girl that came within a seven-mile radius. As she sent another bitch flying, she let her gaze follow for slightly too long to see her running into another cunt's arms, literally. Oh shit. Nah? It couldn't be, could it? Fucking hell. Looks like it would be time to go Home sooner than she'd even anticipated. Kai was already jonesing and it wasn't the first time she'd use that to her advantage if needed. The blonde shrank further into her oversized clothing, making herself more invisible, at least let her finish her drink, like. Her cousin had enough female attention to not look her way, didn't he?* Buster: *He couldn't make it up, this girl coming at him how she did 'cause it was exactly the kind of brag one of his bros would hit him with on a slow night, unable to compete. She was a 7 in what she had on and the way he'd clocked her moving before this, for some other try hard cunt. His eyebrow had raised, not the attention she'd wanted but all she'd earned. It wasn't her that had him 'shook'. The other blonde, proper hunted for whenever he found himself in Dublin, but he'd not found her yet. Until now. He was sure enough that this version of Edie was there, solid enough, being only a couple in himself, owing to barstaff that'd rather flirt than serve, so likewise. No blurring or swaying. And no need for a humble brag. One of the boys was all 'isn't that...?' as if he didn't have his phone in hand sending out where he was (and more importantly THEY were) and the quickest explanation that he could use for something this unexpected like. Time wasn't on his side, 'course if she'd let herself be seen she didn't know he was here, but the cunts he was with were less subtle. Liable to shout her name or some shit once they were done grabbing each other in triumph. Fuck's sake. Drink it in idiots, he thought with a sigh, daring to glance at his phone clock just once before draining what was left in his cup. At least let him finish that before she was done with this shithole. He'd need the courage when Rio showed up and to him empty handed in every sense. Shit. Edie: *Edie watched Buster now, Kai hunched up 'round his own drink, close to her side but barely there, no matter how hard she squeezed his hand, his thigh, hung on his neck, nuzzling and biting like their pup, screaming in his ear over the shit tunes that washed over with no effect, just like shit gear. She would always pale in comparison to that need, wouldn't she? She hated him when he was like this. Hated him 'cos she loved him so fucking much and he was giving her nothing in return. Those daddy issues would always be too raw, thanks a lot dickhead. At least Kai had a valid, chemical reason. What was your excuse, Dad? More interested in Rio than you were me. Wasn't that always the way? She couldn't compete with any of her siblings, not even Indie. Ha, fucking Indie. How had they not seen that? So obvious now, in retrospect. So fucking obvious. Couldn't have possibly raised her but just a few short months later, daddy's little girl. Even gave her a similar name. A slap in the face. Edie's blood boiled, seething barely under the surface, mood only souring further as her cousin pretended like he wasn't looking at her though he so clearly was, phone in hand. Fuck you. She made a big show of waving, ridiculously animated with a stupid 'OMG fancy seeing you here!' smile on her face, before sticking her tongue out and putting up both middle fingers.* Buster: *Buster couldn't ignore her after the display made it clear he wasn't as slick as he played it every other night. Fuck it. That was what had got the family in this mess in the first place. Pretending. Seeing only what they wanted.  Worked out really fucking stellar hadn't it? He moved soundlessly closer to the space she still occupied while she still did, not bridging the gap properly 'cause backing her into a corner wouldn't mean her back to the wall. He wasn't that stupid, and hadn't be that green as a kid first putting on the gloves. All the same he had to reach out, reckon against her immediately biting back since he'd stood so ready and so unprotected. Unprepared when their eyes met. Blue on blue but the similarities ended there. His anger couldn't touch hers then, and it'd be laughable to call it a contest now. His only challenge began and ended with what happened after the stare off. Buster smirked. Standard. Why would he be fazed by any of this?* What you drinking? * He was stalling harder than he had the night before Nancy caught the plane away from him that first time, knowing that rich as they were were he couldn't buy as much time as he craved. The same desperation caught in his throat trying to choke him out. * I'll get you one, yeah? Rio: *It had been a quiet night in, becoming more and more standard for two girls who were once so rarely Home, especially not on a fucking Friday night, are you having a laugh? Attempts at normalcy made, although for the younger of the two, 15, too damn young, a quick bowl of pasta and watching shitty telly wasn't all that standard either. A stabbing reminder, another blonde little girl they'd all let down. It hurt Rio to see her when she hadn't seen Edie in, how long now? Too long, any amount of time apart from her siblings was, but really this time. But it was all she could do, keep this little sister safe, best she could. The text from Buster, his name no longer that shocking to see popping up on her screen, but the content was. She was jolted into action, action without much conscious thought behind it, just that she needed to get there, now. She gently placed a blanket over Indie, her dark brows furrowed with bad dreams, Rio kissed her lightly there, as if to kiss away the thoughts too. Auto-pilot saw her throwing a coat over her short-shorts and tank top comfies, lacing up trainers and locking their door behind her, now sprinting fast enough to rival Janis. Luckily the flat was central, and she'd been treading the path to the clubs and pubs long enough to do it blinded by the fear as she was now. It was a dull kick in the guts, knowing in her heart of hearts she was about the last person Edie wanted to see, knowing she was likely going to flee before anything could be said. And what could be said, anyway? All she wanted to do was wrap her little sister in her arms and never let go again. Take her Home and make everything okay. But how could she? Who did she think she was? She'd been the one to uncover the wound, to open her own flesh and blood up to all this anguish and rotting and...death. It had always been there, but it was benign, lurking under the layers of love and family they all thought would hold back, keep out, the bad they all knew was there but pretended to be blind too. Didn't feel a thing, they were untouchable, safe, them, family. But she'd inadvertently, (keep telling yourself that, slut), let the bad guy in. Pretend you didn't see through his 'family friend' disguise one more fucking time, bitch. Feet pounded the cobbled streets almost in time to how her heart was punching out of her useless chest. The pain radiated, feet bloody from blisters, heartache made physical from never having moved so fast. Good. It was so far from being close to what she deserved anyway. It was a start. She flew past the bouncers, no doubt offended 'cos she knew them all by name, knew their fucking wives and kids too, why hadn't she taken that time to know her sister? Maybe then she could have saved Edie. Ha, dream on, the dread that was constantly within her now, mocked nastily, as she spotted her, at the bar. She barely registered Buster expect to note that her sister, (had she always been that small? oh my God), was mocking him herself, shaking her head no to something their cousin had said, offered. Rio felt frozen to the spot, giving literally no shits that she was in everyone's way, looking an absolute mess, feeling every inch of it. She didn't know what to do. And that was the problem. What could any of them do? When sorry's didn't cut it, when too much had passed, when they'd failed her. Shame and sorrow burned through her, thawing her statue impression, pushing her bloody feet forward to beg at her little sister's. Please come Home. Please. Please. Please.* Edie- *It was said like a spell, one of Billie's incantations, to make her be real, to keep her here, with her now, as if putting a name to the face she saw everywhere she went, but never got to really see anymore, would make her sister be happy to see her. Of course she wasn't. Why would she be? Too much to ask didn't begin to cover it now. But their eyes did meet. Rio: They locked, and for one perfect second, she saw her sister mirror her, freezing them both in this moment, together, like they had been from the start; because you can't just erase 16 years worth of memories, and love and themness you just can't, fuck you Drew Goldsmith, you aren't worth it. He wasn't worth it. And that was what killed the other girl the most, she knew it, she knew it so intrinsically that it fucking killed her too. She'd give anything to have her 'real' Dad be a noble Prince, like the stories she'd weaved when they were both little, unable to be with her because he was off saving the world. But that wasn't the truth. The truth was shit. The truth was killing Edie. But just like that, the moment was gone, and so was she. A flash of blonde hair, by the time Rio was out the door, the street was empty, just drunken revelers and other stupid, waste of space people who just weren't her sister. She could feel the tears falling, pathetic, all her reactions, her body, her mind, every fucking thing 'cos she was breaking, were again out of her control, propelling her away, out of sight of the bouncer's and their 'you alright rio?'s', to the river's edge.* Buster: *He followed her instinctively 'cause it was all he could do, they'd let him down up to the point of bursting out of the club doors into the night and there was less of a guarantee again that they'd lead him any closer to where Rio was than they done with Edie at the bar. He couldn't make anyone stay, not his little sister or his other, the twin who was meant to be bound tighter to him than anyone else. Who the fuck did he think he was? He'd need to be a better man than this not to fuck his kid over just like Edie's cunt of a bio dad the way things were going with Chlo, but here he was squaring off and ready to swear down he could save his cousin from something none of them could properly fight. Fucking hell. He should turn back, queue up for his coat and piss off out of all this, but he was stubborn enough despite the every failing to still take being a cocky cunt over a coward. To believe himself important enough to not only keep up with the girl's mad dash but to overtake, stop her from whatever it was she was about to do before she managed it. He wasn't dealing with Nancy or Edie now. This was Rio and each bouncer nodding the way, laughing him on, made it sound like she was about to chuck herself in the river. Normally he'd never believe such bullshit but tonight couldn't be less standard. He'd already seen his missing cousin drinking a few punters down with his own eyes like she hadn't been months gone and every step he took closer to where the other, who wanted to vanish, was added to how fucking surreal the night had become. His arms were bare and goosebumped past his t-shirt sleeves but he didn't feel it or much of anything else. No wonder he loomed up beside the water as a ghost in expensive jeans. What was there to say or do? He was grabbing chances he wasn't owed after fucking up the first so hard and fast, burning through luck and bravado even quicker by getting here and standing useless once he had. None of this is about you, pussy. He shook his head against the dark. Going one further and calling himself a limp dick snapped himself out of it for a second. All he needed to take a shot.* Let me take you home. Rio: *She was on the rails, literally. Precarious though she weren't close to being pissed, all too unbearably sober, numbing more than the drink or narcotics ever could, feet dangling above the Liffey. She weren't usually the type of silly melodramatic bitch to note, much less run towards, parallels; but wobbling between the 'safety' of the old familiar street and the freezing relative danger of the water below, well, it felt apt. Rio groaned out loud, shaking her head with no room for self-pity, forcing a bitter laugh at herself between her hiccoughing sobs. As if she wasn't showing herself up enough (but who gave a fuck about point-scoring with Buster McKenna at this point?) she snorted, turning round to look at him, incredulous.* Where?! *She laughed again, shaking her head over and over, really going in for the hysterical fucking bitch bit, Christ. Rio jumped off the rails, faltering on a loose cobble before righting herself, at least having enough dignity left to not look like a total suicide case in front of him.* No, nah, no. I don't want to go Home. I can't. Any better offers, McKenna? *She raised a challenging brow, standing up straight, hand on hip and a seductive smirk, lips quivering as she tried not to shiver and show how freezing she was. This was about all she was good for, everyone knew that.* Buster: *Buster knew it was a piss poor offer as he made it. Fucked to be honest that he was the one making it, though yeah, (Cocky cunt alert number 2) he was near glad when she spoke up herself. There was no challenge in offering her somewhere else to go. It was what he was good for. One of the only things on a night playing out this way like. He always had cash to splash and the amount of euros his wallet held opened doors in the city that didn't have skeletons stuffed into the corners of them. Enough of all this spooky shit. Jump scares were for little kids and neither of them had the luxury of that now. He was about to be a dad and Rio had been mothering everyone for years past. He was basically the only one she didn't try and pull that shit with, even Nance got it. Doing his job for him, wasn't she? He didn't take the bait from the inner voice, too busy trying not to rise to hers. It would've been easy to fall in line, wear a smirk and use it too, keeping it big enough to push everything else aside. Talk shit loud enough to smother what he didn't know how to say, or if it was even on him to say it. Buster lied to himself for that second, all he could manage as he got closer and finally stepped up right. Let her think it was about Chlo if she wanted, he'd happily pretend that far. He wasn't going to brag about knowing better this time, she definitely didn't need to hear that now. He took a deep breath, ready for this fight, but what proved to be easy was what he did next, acting on what he felt instead, giving her what warm he had as he wrapped his arms around her. Maybe she'd take her turn at running away from it herself, that was a chance he had no choice but to take.* Rio: *For one moment, Rio truly thought Buster was going to go there, at last. The place they'd been circling around for a while now, enjoying the flickering heat of the flames licking at their heels, dancing on the line without letting themselves ever be consumed by the sin, playing a deadly game of chicken, knowing if either lost, they both were. And there would be no coming back. Given over to whatever this was. And she was ready. In that same moment, where everything else in life felt fucked or lost forever too, why not? Why the fuck not. Do it. A final childish game before things got real, a dare in the form of pushing herself hard against him as he enveloped her. But nothing. As if he was telling her in no certain terms that all she was good for was another warm body, something to hold just to take heat from, in the most basal sense, not heat as in fucking passion or anything else worthwhile. A surrogate coat on a cold night. Fuck you. 'As if I have anything left to give now! And to you of all people, you've got enough, fuck you!' She wanted to scream at him 'til he understood but she knew he still wouldn't. No one did. The only thing she was good for, taking 'care' of people, (in whatever sense you fancied, that was the other's prerogative always, of course), she'd failed at so catastrophically that she couldn't ever be that person again. For better AND worse. She had wanted him to give her the chance, to at least try in THAT way, but no, couldn't even do that right, could he? Could they? No. It was sick and she was alone in the sickness. She pushed away, as hard as she could, giving him a look that conveyed a tiny fraction of what she felt, dignified stalking off being out of the question when he knew she had nowhere to go.* Buster: Fuck's sake. *It's muttered at himself as much as it is her. More. This whole night's been a failed mission from the start, lost to him long before he'd sent the text that dragged her into it. Why the hell did he ever reckon he could change any of this? There wasn't no running from his baby mama bullshit and it didn't edge anywhere near to the PAIN she was feeling. He wasn't his sister he couldn't mold any of this blackness into an artsy print ready to be hung onto the wall in triumph of beating it. He couldn't even make it something Rio'd be able to bear looking at. Beaten down, he breathed out. The absence of coat pockets to dig into for another temporary distraction stung worse than the cold. The absence of her close by. Being in the same city again, for once, meaning fuck all in how far away she'd become to him. His side. There'd never been a bigger division between him and his cousin. He'd lost a sister too, yeah but the only years between them had been time she was gone, dulling the fact he'd ever been anything other than just a twin. There'd never even been minutes. Goodbyes coming after. He told himself that's why he'd kept it that way with Nance too, that it was how he knew dealing with what wasn't golden, but it wasn't that. He'd been too pussy to try, knowing there was nothing he could give the girl that she was after. Same as now. Everything offered came too late and that caused him shame he wanted fuck all to do with and less of a clue how regardless. He shrugged, that pretense happening before it could be stopped, a bitter taste rising up in the same moment as the lie. Poetic. Maybe his sister could have lived for this, trapping Rio's look in her mind's eye, captured in a kind of mental gilt frame, where it deserved to be, but all he had the option to do was push it aside, break away. Buster started walking, slow enough that it was clear she was meant to follow. (She had to know he'd had more distance tonight than he could swallow, engulfed as she was, didn't she?) He couldn't chance a luck back if he didn't want to stumble harder than he already had, so he lets the words drag her along. If she's coming.* Lost society it is then. *It's a joke that barely is but fuck it, it's all he's got.* Rio: *The temptation to stay behind just as another fuck you to him, was easily overridden by how much she didn't fancy standing around on a Dublin street corner on her own, barely dressed, mostly cloaked in the shadows of the ominous dark. Known as she was in this town, she wasn't known for being a fucking fool, at least. Lets both pretend that's the only reason, she thought; meeting his shrug with hers to attempt to say as much without the need for words she didn't have energy for right now; catching up to him easily enough, despite the height working in his favour, this night had clearly floored him enough too to keep them on a more level pegging. She tried to meet his gaze, as if, if she could, she'd be able to work out why. Why he cared. She knew they were family, a relatively close one at that but Buster... Hadn't he attempted to distance himself from them almost as much as Edie was now? Hmm. A simple and sure 'no' sounded somewhere deep within her; instinct. He'd been playing at it, sure, but it seemed as if he was faltering under the pressure tonight, slipping, as unsure of every step and word as she was. Edie could have that effect. Vaguely endearing but also, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Somehow, she still had room for that. What a mess. And not his. She should let him go and drink about it, 'til he had enough bravado back in him to 'forget' about it, get his mask back up. The shit club coming into view, Rio hung back, just out of the doorway.* I won't get in any way... *She opened up her coat enough to show him, and only him (hopefully), her tiny PJs underneath. She waved him away, some attempt at a polite small smile fading before it began, pondering what she could do now. Hope Indie was still asleep and she could drink, a lot, 'home' all alone. Sounded pathetic and apt as anything could be right now.* Enjoy yourself with the other lost souls, like, McKenna. Buster: *For a minute he was set to smirk, near genuine 'cause he'd seen girls hitting the club in less and worse both, but it didn't come. Or the shock of seeing Edie, and dealing with it, hadn't hit him hard enough still to let it. He was a lot of things, all bad when he was on that hype, but still not fool enough to wholeheartedly reckon it was anything to do with the clothes on Rio's back. There was a wad of cash in his back pocket saying different, but as soon as he thought that he turned away from it, refusing to buy the girl's way into somewhere she didn't want to be. Not lost enough yet, clearly. Buster could've frozen out there waiting for her to admit it, and might've on a different night, but almost immediately had a better idea. He shook his head, forming it in the rejection of taking his cousin back to his. Fuck that. His parents weren't the sort to head to bed early, all slippers and hot cocoa, they could still be up and in the home office for all he knew. It was just as likely they'd flown off somewhere, doing something that hadn't registered to him when they'd announced it like, but he wasn't up for taking that risk. It was a big of a no to him as it would be to Rio. * New plan. *He turned on his heel, pulling her along by her coat sleeve before she could decide she wasn't down for that either. A hotel was on the cards, like it or not, twin beds or separate suites, and whatever else it'd take to get her over that threshold to stay. The mini bar was calling his name and no amount of denials would have had him believing otherwise about her. It was in her eyes, so apparent in that brief glimpse that it would've hurt a weaker man to look at her. Meanwhile his eyes and eyebrows rise in the challenge, daring her to bullshit him with a no, however she found it. * Rio: *She didn't shout out the obligatory 'Oi!' when pulling back her sleeve sharpish, instead settling for another look that could/was intended to kill. As much as she didn't appreciate his gesture, she'd appreciate a have-a-go-hero getting involved less. The night was already on a downer, like, no need to be owing favours to a self-proclaimed 'nice guy' and apologies to her Auntie and Uncle for fucking up their golden boy's face. She'd have to sate herself with that mental image of black eyes and bloody nose outta joint for now. It was just one of those nights. Full of 'what ifs' and 'imagines'. Nothing real, nothing worthwhile. Wasn't exactly McKenna's fault, he'd got her out here on a false promise, yeah, but it was a call she would have answered from anyone, any time and anywhere, so- Hey ho. Back to scanning every crowd, going down every alley and talking to all the wrong people, in the vain hope it'd somehow mean she'd come back. Truth was, the truth they were all struggling to keep down, Edie didn't want to come back, didn't want to be with them anymore, or be Edie McKenna. And no amount of searching, hoping and praying was gonna change that. It had to be her that called it, part of Rio, a big part, wanted to respect that, it made sense after all but...It was so fucking hard to let her go. Again, she'd console herself by saying at least her sister knew they cared, that they still wanted her, needed her. She couldn't bring herself to give her any more space than Edie had already put between them, sorry, but no more baby girl. Realizing she'd been following, so lamely and obedient, in complete silence, for too long, Rio tried to be present, force herself into the here and now 'cos there was no going back, and no way forward as of yet so- here they were. Like it or not, (and they'd pretend the jury was still out on that for old time's sake), they were spending the night together one way or another. On a normal night, she'd have at least told him to fuck off but as silently agreed, it was not a normal night. She settled for shaking her head, letting out an exaggerated sigh.* Need to get you a better girlfriend, McKenna. Get you off my dick, like. You're obsessed. *She blew a kiss, fake it 'til you make it always, making a point to stride out ahead of him.

"I'm real proud of you, You know. We didn't know who they were but we could have been real hurt," little Tiny Queen Girl just almost 4 years old, hands on hips just telling me how it was. How she felt.

My Little co-member in our Army of Two.

Lord Blesses us with the moat precious for such a short amount of time.

This idiot shot her and when he realized he had shot a small child and she was in the hospital on life support, he went and kidnapped her from the hospital.

Finished killing her and hid her body in a freezer at his house.

It wasn't for years later that he thought the coast was clear and he placed her body partially in a trash bag next to a dumpster in that Compton neighborhood.

He didn't want the body to not be found. He wanted it to so his message was clear -- "No ni**ers in his neighborhood"

She was labeled only as missing by the family, at least to me anyway. They didn't want me to get crazy and go on a killing spree. Her brother joked that was what little 3 year old Laquisha Antuana Jefferson would want.

After the Rodney King Trial, I took racism hard. I took it differently. No longer could I be on top of it and stop it.

It was here to stay and there was no changing it. I was glad I lived in a mostly white suburb because I felt i could talk to the few African Americans at my school and make sure they were doing okay, individually and not have to worry so much like i did in NYC.

There were less. So less could get hurt and i closed my mind off to the rest of the world.

7 weeks before i was called to Compton they found Laquisha Antuana Jefferson by that dumpster behind the 711 Chevron.

My mom thought it would be good because she was shot just 6 blocks from the race track.

Maybe I could do something.

I bought him a house in a white suburb. I got him transferred to a predominantly white neighborhood and made him promise his entire family and anyone he associated with would never kill or go near a black person again.

He just had to pay bills in a Beverly Hills home.

If he broke the rules he would be killed but i didn't tell him that. I just told him he would move out and it would be grave.

The house is still in my name and he never did break the rules.

But he hadn't killed just Laquisha Antuana Jefferson, he had killed over 700 others.

This i didn't know or understand or I would have had him killed.

He was black so I couldn't understand how he would say African American children were niggering up the neighborhood or "bone thugging the street" part of me didn't believe he killed Laquisha Antuana Jefferson but the whole of me couldn't deny he was capable.

Her whole death was horrific and hard to believe. Who would do such a thing and to such a precious child?! I loved her with my whole being, everyone did. There wasn't anyone i loved or respected more than that child.

I had a nervous break down for three weeks. I visited all the places she had been and I cried the whole time. I was miserable.

Queen Elizabeth II had to come fetch me and get me awake, see there was more life to live and Laquisha Antuana Jefferson wouldn't want me so upset and she believed what happened although I couldn't wrap my head around it, She could.

So she bugged his house and set speakers in it and we tortured him. Part of me thought it was wrong but it made me feel so much better, healed even and brought me joy.

Could you imagine Queen Elizabeth II egging and toilet papering a house!!?? Well we both sat in the car while Prince Harry and William and Princess Diana did it

I owned it and still do so it was alright with me.

Princess Diana painted a red bloody swastika on the door and Prince Andrew hung a white paper mache man made from reprinted newspaper clippings of the people he had killed from his garage.

It gave me a sense of pride. I knew that my little Royal Army did just what my co-conspirator in our Army of Two would had wanted. It was perfect retribution for Little Queen Laquisha Antuana Jefferson. The reincarnated Queen Nefertiti.

As Princess Diana returned to the limo, laughing, I said "thank you, I have never been more blessed than I am just right at this moment. I don't even want to leave. I want to sit and stare all night"

About an hour later, a patrol car with its lights on came up behind us and rapped his knuckles on the window. "Oh you're all white good. Does anyone know what happened here tonight or were you all just driving by?"

"Well see Its just..." Oh in the pit of my stomach I felt bad.

"Oh Sabrina you're all here. Good."

"Well see me and my friends were just driving past, I wanted to show the Queen the luxury of Beverly Hills and the good neighborhoods here and well we saw all this and thought we might want to stay and catch the vandals in the act in case they came back" I hung out the window and looked around "nope all good"

Princess Diana took to a snort of laughter midway through my speech and tried to cover it with a fake sneeze. Then a cough and a mere sound of strangling herself.

"Hey miss! Are you alright?!"

"Oh that's Princess Di"

"Too much champagne it went down the wrong way÷"

"Yeah I gotta laugh at her, sometimes she's much too silly"

"Well take a look at my house! That's serious enough for you!"

"Oh God! William help me! This is much to much!" And she leaped forward and buried her head in his chest so she could laugh freely.

"Oh is she crying?!"

"Oh she will be fine" I was relaxed and drunk myself and wow how easy i found it to lie! We could get away with anything! Even murder! Nope! I told myself we must'nt lie. I just got too carried away and didn't speak soundly enough. I said all I was supposed to but much too much so it was actually a lie! But I must'nt have to be tooo careful, After all I did just buy him a house didn't I? Even so that wasn't the right way to be and I felt surrendered to guilt.

"Well I say, I say do y'all want to come in?! I've said it three times but yet no one is to answer!"

"Oh yes. Please move. Lets show off this mini mansion bought just for you" I opened the door and Queen Elizabeth II slid out quickly behind me

"Oh it feels so good to get out and stretch! I haven't gotten out since well id gotten in it!"

I snorted drunk laughter "Oh yes we have been truly blessed to be in this limo"

"So shall we?" He offered the crook of his arm for my hand to take which I did "I don't want y'all stumbling all over, you ole drunk things!" The queen had rejected his arm and allowed Princess Diana to take it. And i felt suddenly less callous. I felt sober and somber. Walking up to the house we just destroyed wasn't the problem. It was his ability to take over the situation with peasantry and take two drunken women into his home. The "goblin" hung from his garage blowing in the wind, saying all that he was accused of. In the dark, suddenly I imagined myself as a black woman. I thought that soon i would be inside and i could puke and wash my face and still take a shit if i needed to. My nervous tummy did that.

"Here you two stand here and hold yourself up if you need to. I'll be right back. No no I meant each other. I wouldn't take my face off him but i peeked a glance at Princess Diana and she was pleasantly smiling as ever. Still having fun. Queen was patiently pleased as well. The boys seemed fine looking around at all the had done. "You know i didn't kill that kid. You know that right?"

"What?!?! What the Hell did you say?!?"

Princess Diana grabbed me and put her arm around me and put her finger to her lips and Queen Elizabeth II put on her black leather gloves

"Oh i suppose you didn't hear me, i said "let me get my key out" it will be just a moment" he bent at the waist "oh it seems someone put gum in the lock. Let me go out back and hopefully i can get in"

I watched him and heard the back gate click "did he say about the key twice?!" Princess Diana nodded solemnly. "He didn't say anything about killing a precious black kid?"

"NO!! SHH!"

"Hey you know i been praying to Jesus a lot ever since i put that girl out" the lights for the front porch turned off. I let out a giant terrified scream!! Princess Diana slapped her cupped hand over my mouth instantly. I nodded and breathed in. She removed her hand and wiped my germs away. On his wall. -.- good DNA to prove ive been here in case they aren't seeing the truth. Not that anyone would check that place though for sure.. Maybe i ought to pee in the bushes?? Thank God Shaquille O'Neal stayed in the car. Maybe i could light this house on fire and send him smoke signals before he gets stabbed in the neck!

The door suddenly swung open "WELCOME TO MY HOME!" he spread his arms and stood back. Like a Royal Butler "i will even bow!" And he did so. "I'm not drunk. Not yet. But I did take a couple swigs of this, to catch up you want?"

"No thanks I'll pass" princess Diana put her palm out

He pleaded

"No I've got the boys and mom's already drunk and so someone has to be able to watch them. She will drink tho. She's a real drunkard especially with guests. She swishes it between her teeth, says it gets her drunk faster" wow we were all gonna die. But hopefully we wasn't gonna feel it. "Sabrina i feel you and i hoped you weren't right, but it's all here. The writing is on The wall. This is a beautiful home."

He was towering over me "this is the nigger you want" and i was fuckonf terrified. He was staring into my eyes with possessive lust and i looked back in terror. I was trapped between the fireplace and him

"Uhm sir?" He tuned to her and slipped his flask into his pocket. Idk why but Princess Diana and I both saw Freddie Kruger instead of a police man in uniform. She stifled her scream better than i did. I played the fireplace scraped me. And i was told to sit and i did.

"Excuse me, i have to take this" Queen Elizabeth II had brought in her satellite phone and she went to the far end near the bottom of the stairs to talk to Shaq.

"Is it Snoop?"

"Oh no. The man in the car. Much better than smoke signals!!" I squeaked

"Oh are you hurt? Let me see that for a second"

"Oh uh sure" I let him lift my leg into his lap but kept it straight so it would not go to his crotch and put my hand between my kegs to hold my short party skirt down to protect my vagina.

"Oh a prude are ya?"I wondered if he said that out loud. NO one seemed to notice I felt alone and I felt scared. I wondered if he left a gaping hole in Laquisha Antuana Jefferson. I hoped she was dead when he did or at least the fear killed her... If she had any. I hoped she did for her sake

"Oh don't look sad! You'll be alright"

"Yeah because I'm old..." My eyes drifted to the Queen, "and big enough" i would take one for the team but i was gonna fight first. If i had to. Just keep my eyes open and my ears ---

"All i can tell you is that she is seeing truth and all is alright." She looked up at me "or was. I must go. Please stand by"

"Was that Snoop?"

Oh dear God i wish she would quit saying that. We were all gonna die. He grabbed my chin and stuck his tounge in with a French kiss. Okay let's die first. Much better on that.

"Uh yes. Was it Snoop?" I removed my leg and put my knees together and pulled my skirt to cover them both.

He reached down, grabbed my ankle and pulled up my leg again

"Oh you're so gentle!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you she has a fiancee" warned the Queen then she turned to check on the boys.

"Oh is he white?" He asked twice. In our culture we didn't speak of race so we all remained silent to his quest.

He turned to me "oh just one more" I pulled back

"Ouch! This thing is poking me!" I lied. I was scared. In my ways of life i didn't reject people. I distract. I dont like to be put in those situations. And the Queen had my back. We just needed to leave. "Queen please this house is attack-- guh ugh" somehow puke was on my breath although I hadn't yet, his tounge must had gotten my gag reflex as he kissed me rudely

"Ugh" I cursed him and had disgust in my face. "Im not into snoop. He's married and i am almost" he had fingered me during his kiss it seems or he was imagining it i wasnt sure but i seemed unaltered between my legs but the next kiss brought promises. I put my foot down and slid over.

"Snoop is? To who?"

"Shaquille!! I mean Shawntee!! You met her she came to this house with us!"

"What oh. Oh. Yeah get off. I guess i was jealous i thought you were fucking him. So who are you about to be married to, huh?"

I just kept seeing dead bodies and my heart was going to kill me. Inside i was screaming loudly we got to get out. It was as urgent as i had set a smoke signal. In my mind I saw the limo and I beat on the glass next to Shaquille's head. Maybe that would do the trick. I was sitting on the fire place after all. I saw a satellite view of the limo driver door opening and I resurrected back into Hell.

"Huh? What did you say?" I asked drowsily.

"Ah man! Y'all are drunk!! I gotta catch up! Now wait where is my flask?"

I saw in my mind Queen come to me and say "oh no she has a heart condition and touch my chest to gain a proper rhythm. I was dying and she knew.

That's what I get for pretending to be a drunk black woman alone in his home with him. I bent forward and breathed rapidly. Sweat dripping off me.

"Oh no Sabrina is coming down we must take her home"

"Here drink its bourbon" I did and felt hourly sick.

"Its sweet huh?"

The phone rang again "What is going on?!?! I got Sabrina beating on my glass and you two are all stand by?!?! Are you two in trouble?!?"

"Yes she is dearie. Every thing is fine. I'll see you... Next week? That all sounds fine"

"What is that nigger doing to you!?! I'll kill him! I've rang the phone twice already now!!"

"Oh yes. Please. The first. That sounds lovely. Soon. Soon. Yes i tell you the week will pass before you know it"

"Now? You want me to come now?"

"Absolutely! Of course!" She said angrily.

"Mom! You're drunk!!" Scolded Princess Diana. And nodded towards him

"Oh yes Please dearie you know just how it is --"

"Im coming now. Keep on talking. I'm killing this nigger!"

"Me first!" I rose the flask. "Oh here. I can't drink this shit"

"Oh yeah mixing liquor that may not be good. Who is she talking to? What y'all gonna have tea or something? Can i come?"

"Hey have you ever been to a hospital to see a little girl?"

His eyes looked at me in alarm

"About 6 weeks ago? She dead."

The doorbell rang while he looked at me in horror when i said the time frame. The bell rang again and he got up.

"And did you place her body into a trash bag?" I slurred.

"Shaquille! The greatest basketball player of all time! What you doing driving a limo?!"

"Oh you know. A favor to the Queen! Come on girls! Lets go! I got basketball tomorrow and i can't be out this late I still got to drive you all home then go to Vegas"

"No snoop I dont need no help i got this." I waved my arms drastically in the air and did not move my ass

"Come on girls Lets move!"

"Shaquille just pick her up, she's being a slut. Don't worry he's married too. To my -- mom! What in the hell get off the phone!! Come on let's go!"

"Shouldn't we call 911 to report this"

"Ah. No I am a cop and I don't mind as long as it was white people and I know it was because of the swastika"

"How many people have you killed with a plastic bag"

"Come on shh what is with you?"

"You're my legs! Lets move forth!" I announced then whispered "let's get away from this murderous uhhhh town" i got scared and kissed Shaquille

"Don't kiss me! What's going on with you?!?"

"Idk you!!" Was my reply.

"See? Slut" was Princess Diana's smooth comment as she passed. "Come along boys" she said beautifully

"Oh yeah and she fell -- by my fireplace isn't it exquisite?'"

"Oh yeah. You were being raped and all you could do was sit there? What's going on wit' you?!?!"

"Don't forget you belong in jail for killing that little girl!!" I accused and pointed as the door closed quietly. "He's drunk too he don't know. Come on Shaggy! To the Mystery va -- uh limo!"

"Who the hell is shaggy?! Which one of us?!"

"You Shaquille -- shaggy and he always has to carry scoobs the dog"

Princess Diana burst out laughing. "This is a conversation I expect to have with one of the boys! Not the two of you!"

"Well you get to carry the Royal Slut! Can you imagine the words that would be spoken at the police station tomorrow?!?!"

"Who gives a shit? Hes a piece of shit" stomped the Queen

"Well,from what he said to us. No one is gonna believe him anyway. He sounds like a complete doofus and a near rapist. Oh Sabrina that was brave asking those questions!"

"Oh I figured we would die anyway" i took off running to the car.

"What was with that shirt anyway? Didn't he really look like Freddie Kruger?"

"Was he really wearing that!?! I thought I was going crazy and your mom's black gloves didn't help at all i thought for sure we would all die!!"

"And you for real kissed me don't ever do that again. You know who I'm with"

"I panicked all I saw were lips and a face this close to mine and I thought it was him and I was scared too death!! I thought give in, it would go easier on me!! Its not my fault you're wearing a red shirt!! All I saw were lips!! But thank you for not kissing me back!! That was real gentlemanly of you like! And I can see why he just kept kissing me. I think he kisses allot of dead bodies as a matter of fact and he didn't even notice I wasn't responding. Like that woman that was strangled and had ligature marks all pink and he said. He said. Now you're all white and pretty like your vagina"

"Now You listen to me -- you get in this car this instant! He is standing in the drive way looking at you and me. In!" The queen just shoved me in the limo as i climbed blindly in and Princess Diana dragged me in the rest so the Queen could get in.

"Mom!!"

"Oh so nice to meet you!! Thanks again dearie!! Yoo hoo bye to you!!"

The Queen Elizabeth II relaxed as we got onto the freeway and further away from Beverly Hills. She rolled down the partition "to the ghetto, please sir" Shaquille stepped on the gas harder. "Then we will all feel a little bit better. Get away from this trashy ass place!"

We all looked at her like wtf

"I know! The irony of it!"

And we laughed joyously.

"Y'all were in there 45 full minutes now what did you find!?"

Velma? Queen Elizabeth II

Daphne? Princess Di

Freddy? Well half was Harry and the other Willaim since after all, they were just half pints in 1993.

Laquisha Antuana Jefferson died far too young.

3 days later i had a heart attack and a stint was placed in my chest which later failed in 1997.

I can't handle racism. I can't handle the pain and suffering of innocent people.

I'm not like all the rest of you. I talk to the dead. And sometimes I'd rather be there than anywhere.

My days are long and hard. And sometimes I don't want to live any more.

I'm tired of loving and I'm tired of caring and not receiving anything proper in return.

So for someone like me, just a white girl in a wheel chair. Black Lives Matter marches and people being out and saying it and being seen supporting it.

For little Queens like Laquisha Antuana Jefferson, they were everything. She was out in 1991, she would escape and run down the street sometimes naked in her little wooden sandals with white leather straps.

"Girl! You need a shirt!"

"´hey i know you! You're my Army of Two! I didn't have time to get dressed. I knew the door was opening and. I had to escape! They keep me locked in you know but i can't miss this! Im all about Black Pride and Beauty!"

"Well let's cover some of that up, Miss Queen Nefertiti, you want a pink shirt or black?"

"Oh no!! There he is!! Hide me!!" This tiny child grabbed a shirt off the table, slipped it over her head and dove under the table in front of my legs. "Is he coming?"

He was going straight... So i called him over "miss queen Nefertiti just ran off on me like she own me. Like i don't have my own friends"

"Well what are you doing?"

"Well looking for her now?"

"No i mean what are you supposed to be doing besides looking for her?"

"Oh just meeting my friends to go on the prowl. See?" He lifted his shirt and showed his Panther Pride most people hid in case of cops or white supremacist "i got one, too. He tapped the table

"I got one, too!" She piped up. She knew not to run and hide in the streets and had some hope if she had one she could attend like it was a licence to prooowl.

"Shh... Do you hear something? What's that scuffling? It sounds like her wooden shoes! Do you got her?!?"

I nodded quietly

"What?! Where?!?"

"So i mean if i see her do you think you or your parents i mean your ma would mind she sit here for a spell while you're out on the road?"

"Aw man! I want to prowl. Aw shit! I said it again!" Ahe grabbed my leg and held on tight

So i told him silently.

"I mean sure uhh if you don't mind!"

"Well i got two little boys over there having lunch. Thwyre on break but usually they are over in this chalk lined area."

"I want to prowl!! I want to go meow!" I could feel her jaw move against my calf.

"I can take them for a walk up and down the street"

"Okay that willl work!!" She jumped up excited. She saw her brother and tried to take off.

"Wait I'm gonna stop you!!"

"No way!" She zig zagged right behind me.

"You'll stay right there?" He rubbed his skull "uggggg you know what?! My friends can wait!"

"No! I'll stay! I'll stay! I swear I'm like her! We're an Army of Two!"

"Okay but you know what? Since you're no longer butt naked" he knelt down next to her

"I know! I got dressed fast!"

"She did and all goddess like i never seen someone so fast

"Really? Now what?" She put her hands on either side of his face

"Maybe ill take you for a walk instead. And let you meet my friends then bring you back Here where its safe. Then you can play with those two boys ew yuck icky and be a mascot? Hey? What do you say?"

"I think i will enjoy that. I will go with you." They both stood and she placed her tiny hand in his extra large one.

"Do you want a double layer?"

"No i think it will be safe. If I feel any danger I'll just pick her up and hold her close and hide her black panther. Okay? And you if you feel disgusted or moody or anger, you just come to me and tell me up! I don't want the white supremacy to see they might hurt us and that's not fair is it?"

She shook her head while looking at her toes and she looked up with sad eyes "okay you up?" He picked her up quickly

"Who?!!? Where?!?" He spun around wildly.

She laughed joyously "oh i just wanted a hug!! I didn't know you would protect me!! You are like her! An Army of One! Okay put me down! Lets prowl!!"

When they returned a short time later he looked disturbed "what? What's happening?"

"Turns out my friends are from the white supremacy! She would run around acting wild and when she would see a cop she would bolt back to me Then we would walk silently and she would be all calm then as soon as we passed she would bolt off again which was fine, that's what she do. But then once we got to my friend she didn't know him cause he was alone prowling and she ran to me all "up up" but do you think she knows instinctively that is who is taking m3 away from her at nights? And maybe she thinks they are trouble for me and her? Because we are reincarnated and I'm not her brother that is for sure! But do you think that is what it is? I sure hope so?"

"How about one night instead of prowling you just come over here and BBQ for me? You know it hurts me to stand and.."

"Nope I'm looking for the white supremacy because I have a feeling they're out to kill my Queen Nefertiti"

"Well the ones she is afraid of, have him or them play at the BBQ and then i can find out. I have a nose for it"

"But theyre black!! Is that even possible?!"

"Id have to call Miss Harriet Tubman for sure, But i think anything is likely."

"But can you see past his skin color? He is dark! Darker than me!"

"I don't see skin color I promise if it makes you feel better I can imagine him as white"

"Okay that will work. Come on Miss, lets go in"

3 out of 4 additionally including himself I could imagine as white. Which i could derive as only no racial prejudice between those.

The 4th was the only one she liked. Turns out he was most afraid of white people.

And none were like the man who killed her who was black and a white supremacist living in Compton when they went to go visit her grandmother.

Laquisha Antuana Jefferson

6 months after her body was found, he drowned himself in the Buttermilk Channel between Brooklyn and Governors Island. The Coast Guard attempted to resuscitate and even called me to see him to bring him back to life.

"Oh no. I know him. He wont come back." When everyone moved away from him, I knelt down next to him and prouncounced him dead in the language of the Egyptians. And i leaned over him in a hug and cried.

I kissed his lips, closed his eyes and placed two gold coins over them "in love may you always be. I am too sorry for you. You will be my friend" i picked up his left hand and placed it between his belly button and heart then picked up his right "always for me and for her always in love. I am too sorry for me. I will always cry" I gently folded his stiff cold fingers together. "And in silence you will bear the heart of a true man. May you always be beautiful, kind and unsuffering in her love. May you rest in peace. Ah man"

Laquisha Antuana Jefferson you were a wild one.

The world has suffered in your death. May you always be risen again. In true love and faith. May your heart always be bright and safe from us and all the world. I will love you again. Ah man.

Thank you for understanding why we have killed her killer tonight. June 8, 2020. It has been long awaited and her murderer has suffered plenty in his life in Beverly Hills.

Jack Hits Every Nail On The Head; so take need theists everywhere or I'll mock your arse big time! Over to you Jack I haven't posted this in a while. Occurrences lately have convinced me there's a need. ---- TIPS FOR CHRISTIANS WHO WANT TO DEBATE ATHEISTS. #1. Don't be stupid. Someone wiser than me said that arguing with an atheist is a bit like picking up a woman in a bar: You're 90% of the way to being successful if you can manage to avoid the stupid shit other people have already done. Most of what you have to do to successfully argue with an atheist is just do not be stupid. ---- #2. Never, ever quote the Bible at an atheist. Ever. Seriously, you're not going to convince them that way. Ask yourself, would you be convinced by someone who was quoting the Hindu vedas at you? Or was quoting the Tao, or the Koran? To an atheist, one ancient book of fairy tales is very much like any other ancient book of fairy tales and until the atheist decides to believe in the religion in question, that's all any scripture will ever be. ---- #3. Do not say things like "God is just" or "God is love". The Bible is filled with examples of God being a cruel, nasty, blood-soaked, murderous bastard. Saying these things will only make an atheist laugh at you (or else will make an atheist get angry at you), and it definitely won't persuade them you are right. ---- #4. Do not mention Creationism, and do not deny Evolution. Doing so makes you look like a complete and total moron, like those psychotic wackadoos who still believe in astrology, or that the Earth is flat, or that the Earth is the center of the solar system. Showing your own scientific ignorance will not convince an atheist that you know what you are talking about. The opposite is, in fact, true: this is the quickest way to show the atheist that you're not worth listening to. ---- #5. Do not pretend that Christianity makes you morally superior to the atheist. The atheist probably has his own sense or morality, and will be fairly clear on what is wrong and what is right. If you tell him he is morally inferior because he isn't a Christian, all you're doing is insulting him. Besides, the atheist knows that the history of Christianity is filled with violence and bloody atrocity, and that the Bible encourages this bloody violence and prejudice, whereas other religions (like Jainism and Wicca) lack any violent history at all. ---- #6. Avoid telling an atheist what he or she thinks. You'll find yourself wanting to say things along the lines of "How can you believe that the universe just appeared out of nothing" or "How can you believe we came from monkeys?" Don't do it, because the atheist, who is almost always conversant in modern scientific theory, knows that both questions are nonsense and doesn't believe those things at all. Let the atheist speak for himself and do not put words in his mouth. Likewise, avoid telling an atheist WHY he thinks. Do not pretend to know why the atheist believes what he believes. Saying "You just hate God" is stupid, insulting, and will absolutely win you zero points. Maybe the atheist doesn't believe in God because there is absolutely no evidence supporting his existence -- which is the same reason you deny the existence of Vishnu and Thor, by the way. ---- #7. Don't use a broad brush. Always remember that atheists have a wide variety of beliefs, hail from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are not one large monolithic herd of people. Just because they don't believe in God does not make them clones of each other. Likewise, just because Atheist A is also a lesbian socialist who works in a record store in Amsterdam, has a pierced nose, and hates Italian food does not mean Atheist B cannot be a heterosexual capitalist who heads up a Fortune 500 company in New York City, is a dedicated family man, doesn't even wear a watch, and loves him some tortalinni al fresco. ---- #8. Don't threaten them with Hell. The threat of Hell is useless because not only do atheists not believe in God, they don't believe in Hell either. Its like threatening them with Never Never Land... they'll just laugh you off for threatening them with a make-believe "punishment" that won't ever happen anyway. And don't be cute and use the backhanded "Its not me, its God" approach to the threat, because that's even more ridiculous. ---- #9. Do not ignore or evade questions that put your faith to the test. Don't evade serious questions that put your faith in a bad light. Do not tap dance and pretend the question does not exist, and do not bullshit about having "answered" the question when all you've done is dodged it. Atheists occasionally ask heavy questions like "If God is supposed to be all-loving, then why does he allow so many children to starve to death every year?" or "If God wanted to reveal himself to us, why did he do so through a self-contradictory and confusing Bible that has lead to thousands of splits in Christian theology, so that almost nobody -- NOBODY -- heard the alleged revelation correctly?" Do not avoid these questions by answering with "Who are we to question God?" or "God is mysterious." or "He has a plan and its not up to us to question it." Such answers are just another form of dodge, and it makes you look like you've got something to hide. ---- #10. Never make an assertion that you cannot defend with independent, verifiable, testable evidence. The truth is, Christians often will memorize and parrot points from an apologetics website, but won't actually bother to find out whether what they've memorized is actually true. They won't bother to even find out why they are supposedly true, even when they aren't. Atheists have heard most of these arguments before, know that these arguments are false, and usually have ready answers that point out how false they are. ---- #11. Admit when you're wrong. If an atheist can show that your argument is false, and you respond with "Um... well... You must just hate God!" or "You refuse to accept the truth when its given" (despite having just been shown that your "truth" is nothing more than a big fat lie...), you're only going to look like an idiot. ---- #12. Treat atheism seriously. Most philosophers and scientists are atheists. You know, the smartest people in the world? So don't just handwave it away as if its not worth your time to discuss. Go out of your way to understand the atheists point of view, especially why they are atheists in the first place. Do not brush aside the points they are making, and always keep one thing in mind: YOU MIGHT BE WRONG AND THEY MIGHT BE RIGHT. Since Christians almost never consider atheism seriously, you’ll win a lot of points with atheists if you do this. They’ll see you as a different breed of Christian, one actually worth talking with. ---- #13. If you're going to talk religion with an atheist, do so honestly. Do not begin such discussions from the assumption that your conclusions are automatically true. Rather, be honest and open and talk things out. Doing otherwise isn't discussion, its dictation, and no one likes being dictated to. Again, accept that the atheist might have good, rational, believable reasons for his atheism, and accept that your belief in God is a matter of faith, not fact. When an atheist makes a good point, acknowledge that he has done so. And always stay respectful, even if the atheist isn't. ---- #14. Admit when you are wrong. Yes, I know this is a repeat, but so what. This is simple: if you are wrong, and can be shown to be wrong, on a matter of verifiable fact, then just admit it and accept it. For example, perhaps an atheist points out where you employed a logical fallacy. Admit your mistake, and then restate your argument without using a fallacy if possible. This is huge. Atheists will respect you for this and will want to talk with you more often about your faith. Admitting your mistakes is very impressive. Hopefully you are not a Creationist or a Biblical literalist, because the truth is that a huge part of the original Christian doctrine was simply wrong. There are real, scientific and historical errors in the Bible. However, be aware that the presence of these errors in no way takes away from Jesus's message, and to a Christian it should be the truth of that message, and not the false "inerrancy" of the Bible that matters. ---- #15. Appeal to reason and evidence, not faith or personal experience or Scripture. Atheists don’t see any use for faith, which they often define as "believing in something without any evidence". To the atheist, “I believe because I have faith in God” sounds as silly as “I believe in astrology because I have faith.” Likewise, your personal mystical experiences with God aren’t going to convince the atheist. The atheist didn’t have those experiences, and can’t verify them. Besides, the atheist knows that billions of other people around the world claim personal experiences with contradictory gods and spirits and aliens, so he doesn’t see personal experience as reliable evidence. And we already talked about the problems with Scripture. ---- #16. Have a sense of humor. At some point, you might be mocked for believing in magic and illusion and having faith in an invisible sky man. Do not get angry, because all that shows is that you are immature, have a thin skin, and need to grow up.

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