#Wes Weston why are you so hard to find | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ctrlyomomma · 2 months

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★ connected in more ways than one ★

pairing: christian pulisic x footballer! oc! reader

summary: they’re both footballers in europe, going to international camp. a lil fight at the end between them.

author’s note: just wanted to write abt chris 🤨 clearly this gif isn’t mine and this is longer than expected 😋 also reader has a bit of hatred towards gio- the nepotism made sense for the story and the comebacks- sorry. also tons of foul language used in the argument. mistreatment of women and misogyny are mentioned. okay enjoy :)

*written really fast, so if you see any errors- 😀

it was quite odd how this relationship came to be between two americans. especially playing in different leagues in europe.

her from arsenal, him from ac milan. it was quite interesting how they were together but never in public.

they weren’t those types to have affection in front of others, mostly protective of those feelings.

mostly him anyways, but she felt the same way especially after her public romance of a few years back was revealed to the world.

it felt so weird but so well. they complimented each other, especially after meeting through weston mckennie, her old juventus friend.

so when kailani met christian on a cold night, weston had invited her to italy for new years of 2023.

she flew to turin, italy for the first time since 2022.

kailani loved turin, yet when she was having the greatest time, juve had called her letting her know they sold her to a five year contract at arsenal.

much to her dismay, she left turin and headed to north london, home of the gunners. making herself at home yet missing a certain american. her westy.

kailani missed that most of turin, yet when she entered wes’ apartment she wasn’t expecting anyone to be there.

christian pulisic, was there in all his glory sitting on the couch, talking and smiling with wes. it looked weak but still holding on.

guess the chelsea season wasn’t going so well?

she knew who he was but didn’t know him well enough to assume.

weston stands as kailani waves hi and speaks, “hi, westy.”

they begin to envelop into a hug. “kails, i missed you so much.” he tells her.

“yeah, me too.” she whispers, not wanting to fall apart.

he remembers again that chris was with them, before turning towards him. “kails, this is christian. he’s american too. one of my best friends.”

now kailani wasn’t sure whether wes thought she was an idiot or something but she knew who this guy was.

she leaned towards christian, over the coffee table and said “kailani, but everyone calls me whatever they want. nice to meet you, christian.”

he grabs her hand while looking into her eyes, “nice to meet you kailani.” he smiles.

they certainly had felt the connection, or she did at least.

it’d been hard finding new friends at her new club. it felt like the same way whenever she arrived at juventus from college with three years of eligibility left.

she smiled and enjoyed her ‘lonely’ new years with her best friend and a guy.

she left turin the day after, not realizing that her and christian had the same flight heading both to london.

they both arrived at the london airport, bumping into each other on accident.

finding one another’s instagram account, and even stalking one another before he sent a dm.

“so what do you do?” he asked casually, she assumed that he did know who she was.

“you might not like this answer,” she responded. “why wouldn’t i?” he asked innocently.

“i play football at arsenal,” she responds quickly. it turns into their little ‘fight’ due to his loyalty at chelsea.

boo gunners, he tells her

boo up the chels, she tells him. his contract was due at the end of the 24’ season. it was a matter of time before renewal or new club rumors started.

he smiles at his phone before he secretly likes the message.

they both subconsciously turn off their phones heading on their way to their respective destinations.

it felt different with christian than it did with wes. she felt understood by him, whether she admitted it or not.

there were feelings, waiting to be explored.

so that’s what happened, they explored.

those weeks they spent being friends, turned into seeing each other whenever they could.

and when they couldn’t, they’d facetime.

over the course of time, it was a slow burn kind of love.

sharing kisses in secret, being each others crushes.

before they’d even attend international camp, they planned out their ideas to hang out before arriving.

being called up after impressing coaches at their respective clubs.

he’d asked her out a week before they attended an nba game during july, even inviting weston.

christian had the idea of inviting her over to his hotel, scaring her texting, “come over, we need to talk.”

that text was one thing to make her pace her hotel room.

they were on a floor distance. they had to be especially being on the uswnt and usmnt.

she came and knocked.

he opened the door, swiftly and quietly. scaring her a bit before pulling her in quickly.

he looks at her before inhaling out and wiping his palms on his pants.

“i like you a lot, and i want to explore something with you. so will you be my girlfriend?”

her brows furrow. “sorry what?” she asks.

he’s confused now. “i thought you had the same feelings too- maybe i shouldn’t have assumed you liked- i mean we kissed. multiple times.” chuckling as he tries to finish before she realizes.

“no! i do like you. a lot. i will be your girlfriend” she smiles.

he sighs in relief. “thank god.”

she walks up to him before placing a kiss on his lips.

ミ★

they’re on the sideline, waiting for the lakers and warriors to start playing against each other. the jumbotron turns on before the game starts introducing the celebs.

“introducing stars from the world..”, he continued before finally introducing everyone “christian pulisic, and weston mckennie.” they waved as you just looked and smiled.

you weren’t mad about it- it was expected. after they showed their faces. you went and whispered in weston’s ear, “do you know the plan for next week’s training?”

he shook his head, “nah, all i know is that we’re getting new training kits. might have a lil media day too, if we get lucky.”

she smiled, “oh westy, you make me smile.” before he smiled.

“is it me,” he interrupts. “or does christian like you?” laughing as he whispers.

“i actually have no idea.” playing dumb.

“cause all he does is stare,” as you turn and look over at your new boyfriend.

“what?” christian asks as both of you stare at him.

you and weston had finished chatting before you turn and whisper in chris’ ear- “he’s onto us.” you let him on.

“what? how?” he’s confused, he for sure let weston know that he wasn’t into you days prior. “i literally told him i wasn’t into you days ago.” he told you.

you shrug, he just told me that. you smile before saying, “don’t worry about it, i’ll handle it.” winking.

you continue to watch the warriors v. lakers.

the game finishes and all of you go on court to speak with the players.

chris, westy, and you chat with steph curry.

he goes immediately to you, “kailani, so good to meet you!” he seems excited.

she smiles, “hi steph.” before going into a side hug.

you continue to chat all together before leaving in an suv all together.

she goes onto twitter.

“them not putting kailani smith on the jumbotron is crazyyy. like ain’t she scored double of what weston mckennie and christian pulisic scored combined?”

“k smithy deserved to be on that damn jumbotron. shame on the nba.”

she laughed as weston and christian lean on her shoulder as westy notices, “woah. why are you laying on her shoulder? she’s my friend not yours.” making you smile even harder.

“woah weston chill, you getting jealous?” she asked.

“yeah, some mans tryna get your attention so badddd.” he laughs.

christian shaking his head, westy opening his mouth wide.

“no way, he didn’t deny it!” he begins to laugh hard and point his finger at christian.

his eyes are wide now, before you speak. “chill weston, leave him alone.”

he laughs and turns to look at you, “no way, you’re dating. you’re already defending him. you did the same thing with fede.”

your jaw drops, it’d been more than two years ago since you had dated federico chiesa.

when the romance between the two was revealed, it wasn’t a pretty sight to see. the internet couldn’t stand seeing both of you in public anymore- throwing hate on you for being with fede, it was you deciding then it was time to call it quits with the italian baller.

you looked down before saying, “yeah well it’s different.” shaking your head.

seeing christian in your peripheral, he looked awkward.

while weston said, “how different?” all serious, no longer laughing.

“i want this to be private, i want the loving and caring parts of him to be private. i don’t like the outside world i don’t know of to know what its like. thats only for me.”

you continue to rant, “i don’t want to be hated for being with a guy i like a lot.”

he nods his head as i look over at chris.

“he wants the same, he doesn’t like the outviews of the world. he’s a shy guy.” you say placing your hand on his cheek, during the last sentence.

christian leans into your touch.

ミ★

a week later, you’re off sneaking kisses in his room before heading to training in california.

he no longer kisses you, stopping. “you know, i never thought that i would have a crush on you. i didn’t even know who you were.” he smiles.

you laugh, “now i’m your worst nightmare.”

he chuckles, before getting serious. “nah, you’re the best thing to me,” he looks into your eyes. “you’re teaching me what love is within a week or two of being my girlfriend.”

you smile, “good.”

the men’s national team was due to leave before the women’s team. christian decided it was almost time for him to leave.

“alright, i’m heading out. i’ll see you there baby.” he said before leaning down to pucker his lips for a kiss.

you look up from your phone, smiling. you throw your phone to the side before grabbing his face. “okay, have fun, tell westy i said hi.”

“oh i will,” he smirks, “he’s gonna be so mad about it.”

you laugh, “be nice please.”

“fine i’ll be nice, only for you. see you later.” he kisses your cheek before walking out.

you grab your clothes from your overnight bag and begin to dress.

placing sunglasses over your hair in a tight bun. you looked around seeing if anyone was looking before rushing.

you head downstairs into the bus. running into lynn and korbin.

“hey,” korbin smiled at you. “just got told that we have new kits today at practice.”

“nice, i’m so excited.”

lynn continues, “also supposedly we’ll be working with and against the men’s national team.”

you jaw drops, excitedly. “i’m so excited to go against westy.”

ミ★

the bus arrives at the fields in cali. uswnt admin is videoing, before saying “good morning!”

“good morning, how are you?” you asked

answering your question, “good, how are you?”

“great, ready to get the job done.” you smile as much as you can.

they take a picture of you smiling and thumbs up.

you skip hurriedly to the fields with mal and soph.

“someone’s excited to get playing.” soph says as a joke.

i smile, “duh, i mean everyone i love is here.”

she smiles, “aw i love you so much lani.”

she hugs me.

ミ★

we did drills and then conjoined with the boys.

we approached their field, “oh, yeah. now this is what i’m talking about.”

we did starting xi’s

ミ★

the game had started, giving the ball to you, trin, and soph.

the ball, passing through the boys.

defenders pressing on trin and soph.

trin passes to you, making most of the defenders starting to shift towards you.

you see a little passage way, running towards it and quick.

you try to cross the ball before running with no more space to go, and with the grass being wet. the accident was bound to happen.

trying to stop or slow down, you can’t with wall hitting your body.

you fall to the floor, “oh my god, kails!” hearing lindsey.

she runs towards you while you look up hearing her voice.

your vision seems a bit blurry, you think you’re hallucinating whenever you see weston and christian beside lindsey.

“you’re okay,” she tells you. “let’s get you on bench.”

weston and christian helping you up.

placing you on the bench.

you sit, leaning down on your lap. staring at the grass.

lindsey states, before walking away “stay here till the trainer gets here. we’ll be fine out here.”

weston pats your back, “better be well, or i’m gonna kick your ass.”

you hear his cleats walk away.

christian squats down to your face level, “so are you gonna speak?”

you look up, “i would but then i’d want to hug you to make me feel better.” sitting straight up and leaning back.

“oh really? do it.” he talks boldly.

you whine, “i don’t want anyone to know.”

“and that’s fine, but i just wanted to cure your pain.” he smiles.

you sigh, placing your right hand on his left shoulder. you tap his shoulder saying, “it was a nice try, go play. i have to be checked out.”

he chuckles before getting up and going to play.

the trainer checks you, telling you to rest for the remainder of practice, insisting not seeing symptoms of a concussion.

you’re let to go by an assistant coach, “twila said you’re free to go.”

“ok, thank you.” walking off the grass.

ミ★

you head back into the locker rooms, changing into your original outfit. heading out towards the gates for those who watch the practices. walking towards them, to sign things or just even chat. it meant a lot to you, sentimental, it just made you feel like you were doing just something little for those who believed in you the most.

you see most of your teammates out there signing, yet you’re the only one changed.

a little fan, probably 4-5 years of age asked if you’d sign her shirt.

you squat down speaking to her through the gate, “of course.” you smile.

you grab her shirt and a pen from her parents. signing it with pride.

you continue to sign before walking away, noticing the buses’ arrival.

you grab your bag from your locker, you head towards the bus.

sitting down, on your phone. waiting for it to leave.

☆ you finally arrive at your hotel room.

walking in, immediately getting a call from wes.

“are you good?” he asks.

“yeah, just really tired.”

“can i come see you?” he asks laughing, you sense his smile through the phone.

“yeah that’s fine, just knock and i’ll come get the door.”

☆ in a min or two you hear a knock.

you open the door, wes is there with his drink, slurping it down.

“hey! where’s chris?”

you rub your eye, “i don’t know, haven’t spoke much with him today.”

“trouble in paradise already?” he asks.

“no, just haven’t texted him.” you shrug.

he feels the somber energy, “what’s wrong kails.”

“i just don’t feel that well right now, heat is super crazy right now.”

he furrows his brows, “did you drink water?”

you shake your head, “not that i remember.”

he sighs, taking his backpack off. pulling a water bottle out with a pack of electrolytes. “take it, you’re dehydrated.”

you grab it with hesitation before sipping it down. feeling a bit better, “wanna go grab lunch downstairs?” you ask.

“yeah sounds good.” he replies as you both leave your hotel room.

☆ you’re downstairs talking with wes

you go through the line of food, sitting at a table with wes.

christian spots you, before heading towards you and squeezing your shoulder affectionately.

you smile weakly.

“what’s wrong?” he asked. weston answers quickly, “she doesn’t feel good.”

chris’ eyebrows furrow, “what- why?” he asks.

wes shrugs, “she was dehydrated just a while ago.”

chris grabs you, “i’m taking her to my room. would you bring her food up?”

wes nods his head, chris takes you into the elevator. hugging you, you smile.

“jeez, didn’t know you wanted me this bad.” you laugh softly.

“always do.”

you smile before letting go and grabbing your buzzing phone.

next thing you know, you’re answering your mom’s facetime call.

pushing chris, out of view.

“hi mama.” you answer, her blonde hair appearing.

“hi kails, how are you?” she asks while, wearing her reading glasses.

“good, just finished training and lunch, we have a break before heading out again.”

she nods her head, “oh i’m so excited for you my sweet girl.”

you laugh, as chris is persistent in meeting your mom.

“thanks, mama.” you smile.

chris finally appears in the screen, “hi mrs. smith.” he tells her.

“well hi, kails, who’s this?”

you blush, getting redder by the second.

“he’s my boyfriend.” you smile, shyly.

your mom freaks out a bit, “excuse me? honey, i didn’t know about this!”

“well it’s kinda new mama. you’ll meet him when you get down here.” you say.

“good.. alright i’ll leave you to enjoy some time by yourself. love you so so much kails.”

you smile before practically speaking, “love you more mama! take care!” you say waving in the camera.

you hang up, “why’d you do that?” you ask smiling.

“cause i wanted to meet your mom.” he smirks.

“well get ready for me to get spam calls.” you say as a call from your sister appears.

you decline. “see what you’ve started!” you say sarcastically.

he smiles before grabbing your hand and running out the elevator to his room.

“stop it!” you laugh.

ミ★

you’re laying down with chris in his bed when wes comes knocking.

“wake up, lovebirds!” he yells as he knocks.

you laugh before running to the door. you open the door and grab your food.

you place yourself on the ground, before westy sits on chris’ couch.

“i’m starving, you took so long. where’d you go?”

he laughs, “had a chat with g.”

chris laughs too, you feel confused.

“g? no fucking way, what’d he say?” christian sits up, excited.

wes chuckles, “he talked about how beating the girls in practice later would be so easy since kails isn’t ‘cleared’ to play.”

you furrow your brows as chris laughs.

“so hilarious right?” you sarcastically remark with attitude. dropping your fork in the food.

“kails, you know he’s joking.” chris states, while you turn your head to face him.

“yeah you’re right, he thinks that just because we’re girls and i’m not there, we automatically lose? yeah no, that’s misogyny.”

wes tries to cut in. “kails-”

you put your hand up, “don’t. i don’t even know why you brought it up. you know how i feel about this.”

chris looks at weston.

“you guys don’t understand how being a girl is and how underrated we are in this world of sports. as far as i know, gio fucking whines. if anything, he’s a nepo baby!” you freak out.

you sigh, “i need space. see you at practice.” you grab you phone, food, and keycard before heading to the door.

you throw your food away in the trash can in beside the elevator. you leave wes and christian speechless. confused.

☆ you walk into your hotel before realizing you need to leave anyways. you grab a water, a granola bar, and your backpack before heading out.

putting on your headphones to cancel the noise.

you get on the bus, wanting to leave. desperately

☆ you arrive at the fields, in a mentality to beat gio.

you dress in your training kit once more before heading to the field in your cleats.

the coaches start a scrimmage as soon as everyone arrives.

alex and trin covering the front. you, linds, and korb covering the middle intersection. girmy, crys, tierna, and emmy covering the back.

christian, balo, and kev covering the front. weston, yunus, and gio covering the midfield. miles, jedi, dest, and ream covered the back.

this was gonna be a fun game. the ball begins with the boys

you cover gio as yunus and weston are guarded by korbin and linds.

the ball goes around a bit, dancing between both squads.

you gain possession of the ball from girmy and gio pushes you as you have the ball. the ball continues to be at your feet until you push it towards trin.

he keeps grabbing onto your shirt, trying to stop you, while you’re trying to keep calm as much as you can.

trin passes to alex to leave an open space, it’s near you and you’re hungry. desperately trying to prove to gio that you’re not here to lose, not with your girls.

alex passes to you,

a right foot on the ball with a shot and score.

1-0

☆ the game continues.

gio continues to grab on you, desperately trying to challenge the defense, hitting your ankle as you pass to korbin. turning around, pushing him off. the game continues.

“get off me.” he gets up, angry.

he gets in your face. “don’t you ever push me again, you hear?”

“what the fuck are you gonna do? tell your mommy and daddy to not call me up?” you say putting your face up to his.

“i might.”

“yeah go ahead and try, i’m so scared!” you taunt.

he scoffs, “yeah i thought you’d say that.”

you remark quickly. “yeah, and you thought you’d win without me.”

he gives you a little push, or a shove backwards.

you stumble a bit, managing to keep yourself upright.

“wow, way to be intimidated by a girl.” you laugh. the whole team running towards the both of you.

“oh i’m not intimidated, you whore.” he states.

“oh i’m a whore? so why the shove back, nepo baby? oh wait you’re intimidated. thought you’d win in practice cause i wasn’t cleared?” his eyes go wide before he gets in your face once more.

“yeah and i think we’d still win.” he laughs.

you mumble, “yeah without you.”

he manages to hear you, pushing you harder.

this time to the ground. the team manages to get there but not on time.

you laugh before getting up. “see i told you, you’re scared.”

gio yells in your face, “oh yeah? am i? say it to my fucking face!”

chris gets in between the both of you

you begin to yell back, “as a matter of fact, i will. just quit being scared and say the facts to my face, you fucking loser.”

moving to grab gio as christian grabs you.

“get the fuck off me,” you say, shoving his hands off you. “next time, you tell your friend to show some fucking respect.” you say to him. walking away.

the coaches, end the game. they call gio and you over separately.

“so what the hell happened?” twila asked you.

“he called me a whore, told me he’d win against us if i wasn’t cleared, grabbed my shirt, kept pushing onto me. even fouling me. he even threatened me, saying he’d tell his dad and mom to let the board of the national team soccer not call me up ever again. i’m sorry but that sent me.”

she shook her head and let you go.

you change in the locker room, desperately trying to get to the hotel room.

☆ you head to the bus, as christian and weston stop you.

you scoff, as they cross their arms. eyebrows furrowed.

“what the hell happened?” weston asks you.

“get out of my way.” you say sternly.

he asks once more. “i’m not telling you anything.” stating, rolling your eyes.

he raises his hands in defense before dropping them, “fine. i quit.”

leaving christian by himself.

“kails what the fuck happened?”

“i don’t know you tell me?”

he scoffs. “i’m not gio so stop fucking with me.”

“well you’re on his side aren’t you?”

“i can’t control who i play with.”

“i don’t care who you play with, it’s whose side you’re taking and you thought it was a joke, meaning you liked it.” smiling sarcastically.

he drops his head sighing.

walking away. you yell out, “and when you’re ready to apologize for being an ass with weston. let me know.”

he turns around, walking towards you. “you’re being unreasonable.” he says.

“yeah and like i said, you were being an asshole about the joke.” you say.

he scoffs. “fine. whatever but i’m not apologizing.”

you challenge back, “then i guess we’re on a break.”

“fine.” he scoffs going on the bus.

ミ★

sorry bout the ending, i had to stop or i would go on forever 😌

also yayayaya on uswnt winning gold cup today!

#christian pulisic #football x y/n #footballer x reader #footballer!reader #christian pulisic x reader

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universitypenguin · 1 year

Text

Chapter XIII

The Princess & The Lawyer

Summary: A scare with her stalker causes Princess to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile in Idaho, Lloyd finds himself between a rock and hard place.

Word Count: 8,058

Masterlist

Warnings: Description of a physical assault with a blunt weapon, stalking, harassment, dangerous encounter with a semi-wild animal, cowboy/ranch work, illegal drug trade, and corruption. Minor foul language. Only appropriate for 18+ readers. No minors.

Author’s Note: I wish this installment hadn’t taken so long, but between going on interviews and then changing jobs, the past few months have been crazy. Thank you for waiting, encouraging me, and sticking with this story.

Chapter XIII

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You were counting down the seconds until you could end this call but Weston Tafferty was in prime form tonight. Even though you’d clocked out thirty minutes ago, he seemed to think your personal time was fair game for work-related conversation. He continued to fire off questions as you struggled to fill in your eyebrows and carry your end of the conversation. If he didn’t wrap this up soon, you’d still be on the phone with him during your belated family birthday dinner.

“Why wasn’t I cc’d on your emails to Detective Roth?” Weston asked.

“I’m not using my work account for those messages. Roth set me up on their encrypted server.”

“And this prevents you from emailing me how?”

“Wes, that information is too sensitive to share.”

“Hmmm. I’ll give you a pass for now, but next time, make sure I’m in the loop. I also noticed you haven’t been using my spreadsheet system. If you don’t comply with departmental requirements, I’ll have to write you up.”

You rolled your eyes. “Okay. Listen, I’m already off work and I have plans. Email me the details and I’ll take it up with HR.”

A while ago this sort of micromanagement would’ve sent you through the roof. Tonight, other stresses were taking up too much mental space for you to care. And thanks to Weston’s call, you were running ten minutes late. You tapped your phone to check the time and realized ten minutes had become fifteen. Great. Your Mom would kill you if you were late to your own party.

Another icon on the home screen caught your eye. There was no little red number hoovering in the corner of your message app to announce new texts.

There had been no new messages for a week.

Aiden had just… stopped. It should feel good, but your nervous system was screaming. An impending sense of doom settled over you and kept you trapped in the house all week. Your gut said this ceasefire was temporary and Aiden was biding his time.

You’d filed a complaint with the police and he'd gone no contact. It was disorienting. Just when you started taking Aiden’s threats seriously, he stopped making them. Filling out the paperwork at Metro had stripped away the delusion you’d maintained last week. Writing the incidents in black and white on police forms laid waste to your sense of security. As the silence had stretched from one day into two, and then into four, fear sank deeper into your consciousness.

Staying locked in Lloyd’s house forever wasn’t an option. If it were, you’d do just that. But your parents had already delayed your birthday celebration because of the Singapore trip, and backing out now would demand an explanation you weren’t prepared to give.

Checking your reflection in the full-length mirror, you frowned. Thanks to Aiden’s threats about your apartment, you’d avoided going home, so the only dinner outfit you had was the dress Lloyd gave you in Singapore. Unfortunately, the skirt didn’t cover your knees. Self-defense lessons with Landon and Jake had left them covered in ugly bruises.

There was no way Vivan wouldn’t notice and then your mother would make a fuss. You tried covering the marks with concealer. As you were applying setting powder, your phone buzzed. Hands full of makeup, you glanced at the screen.

A message read: Here.

You were expecting Jake and tapped ‘K’ in reply.

There was a noise from below as the front door opened, then the scuff of sneakers on tile. You tossed the concealer into your makeup bag and rinsed your hands before heading downstairs.

“Hey, Jake! Guess what? No new messages today. He’s gone from obsessed to silent. It’s crazy…”

You turned the corner and froze. The visitor wasn’t Jake.

“Zach!”

He removed his sunglasses, hooking them on the top button of his shirt.

“Hey. Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming by,” you said.

“I texted. Jake’s working late. He asked me to check in, said there’d been trouble with raccoons knocking over garbage cans.”

“Yes… Racoons.”

“Everything okay?” Zach asked.

“Absolutely.”

He cocked his head. “Yeah? Who were you talking about before?”

“Uh… I was scheduling a follow up with a witness. A witness in another case. He was responsive at first, like, obnoxiously, but suddenly… you know. He’s ghosting me.”

“You seem nervous.”

You needed to lie - convincingly.

“I’m fighting with Vivian, and my birthday dinner is tonight. It’s going to be interesting.”

“That’s all?”

“Yeah. Just family drama.”

“Hmmm. Jake’s been cracking his knuckles all week, which is never a good sign. I checked the location history on our work phones and saw Landon and Jake have been stopping by regularly. What gives, Y/N?”

“That sounds like an invasion of privacy,” you said.

“They’re my phones. Speaking of… give me yours.”

He held out his hand.

“No way.”

“Suppose the racoons aren’t just racoons, Princess. Give me your phone. I won’t check the location without cause.”

You hesitated.

Zach wiggled his fingers. “Give it.”

You handed him the phone. Zach tapped in commands as you collected your purse. By the time you’d checked your wallet and keys, he’d installed the app.

“When did you hear the racoons?”

“Ten-thirty.”

“Did the floodlights come on?” Zach asked.

“Ah… I don’t remember.”

You wished Jake had given you a heads up about the cover story. Zach passed you the phone.

“I’ll take a look. Don’t let me keep you, I’ve got my own keys.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Charlene, don’t be a bitch. Let’s talk about this before you do something crazy.”

Lloyd tried to make his tone as cajoling as possible. Facing down the bad-tempered female with death in her tawny eyes, he was willing to press any advantage he could, including charm.

The cow snorted and bobbed her head. He recognized that look and untethered his rope from the saddle horn in response. Through the act his eyes stayed locked on Charlene. She might be a Charolais heifer, but her temperament rivaled the most vicious Jersey bull. He uncoiled his rope and extended the loop to allow for her horns. While he understood his father had been sick, it was a crime not to have de-horned this monster when she was born. Her attitude was defense enough without having weapons attached to her head.

He swung the lasso a few times, getting it into shape.

“Charlene” – so named because all Charolais heifers were Charlene in his book – pawed the ground. Getting her out of the pasture hadn’t been easy and herding her through the corrals was an event he’d rather forget. But he hadn’t expected the sight of the narrow alley into the loading chute would turn her into a psychotic demon.

The rail-road tie fencing of the alley was six feet high and not much wider inside. Charlene had made up her mind about it in an instant, despite the fact she’d probably never seen such a thing before in her life. He’d found most of his father’s herd balked at the loading chute. Even in the pasture they acted half-wild, like they hadn’t seen a human in years. After that discovery he’d installed a series of gates in the alleyway for better control. The first was at the entrance and another positioned in the middle to prevent cows from backing up or creating a crowd-crush. The system worked, assuming the animal went in.

Charlene bellowed and raised her head, puffing herself up. Jane, the quarter horse under him, shuffled back a step. He hoped she had nerves of steel because the last thing he wanted was to snap his neck getting bucked off and finding out what the business end of Charlene’s horns felt like was equally unappealing.

“Can you hurry it up? We’re behind schedule!”

The semi-truck driver called to him over the fence and Lloyd ignored him. He adjusted the rope and turned it so the loop’s bottom strand flipped over his wrist. When he raised his arm, muscle memory kicked in. Without a conscious thought his thumb clenched and his fingers curled, while his elbow and shoulder rolled in a familiar motion. He stood up and put most of his weight into the left stirrup, preparing for the throw. When Charlene’s muscles rippled, he angled the lasso down and threw the loop, relishing the speed as it flew over his hand.

He was still focused on the mechanics of the action when Jane spooked. He’d leaned into the throw which placed his weight in the opposite direction of where she’d run. When she bucked again, he swore and lost a stirrup. Lloyd grabbed the saddle horn and fought to keep his seat.

The lasso sailed over Charlene’s horns despite Jane’s fit. He drew it snug and anchored the rope to his saddle horn. When the little roan under him felt the rope pull, she spun around, leaning back on her haunches. Charlene tossed her head, fighting the restraint.

“Good girl, Jane. You’re a roping horse, aren't you?”

The mare flicked her ears in appreciation. He laughed, surprised at his good fortune. His father hadn’t had many good traits but his taste in horses was impeccable. Lloyd twisted the rope back and forth. Charlene bellowed as it rubbed and moved forward. When he clicked his tongue, Jane backed into the narrow alleyway, dragging Charlene along.

“Hey, kid!” Lloyd called to the driver’s assistant.

“Yes, sir?”

“Shut that gate!”

This was the farthest he’d gotten her. If he lost his grip on the rope, he’d rather chase her in the confinement of the alley than around the corral. When the gate clanged shut behind her, the heifer kicked at it and made contact, causing the panel to clang against the chain fastener.

Charlene lunged at Jane.

The horse reared and Lloyd leaned into the movement just in time to avoid a tumble. Jane turned in mid-air and landed facing the gate that had just been shut. Lloyd yanked his rope over the saddle horn, and leapt off. He smacked Jane’s hind quarters, sending her galloping, and whistled at the heifer to keep her attention while the kid opened the gate for the horse.

Whistling really pissed Charlene off.

He turned and sprinted for the fence and felt her breath on his back pocket just as his foot hit the railing. He managed to climb halfway up before she slammed into his leg. Lloyd gasped at the burst of pain. When the pressure let up, he jumped down and rolled under the second gate.

“Holy shit, you’ve got a death wish,” the driver said. “I’m not taking this one!”

“She’ll calm down. She just doesn’t like trailers,” Lloyd said.

He had no idea if that was true, but he wasn’t about to keep her around to find out.

Charlene paced back and forth, eyeing him on the other side of the gate, dragging the rope he’d dropped through the mud. Lloyd stood up. She shook her head and bellowed, making the rope whip around. By a stroke of good luck he caught the end and pulled it under the gate.

As the alley narrowed, barricade posts set inside the high fence guided the cattle into the loading chute. He wound the rope around one and tugged, testing its strength. Charlene was big and this post wasn’t built to withstand that kind of weight. Lloyd wrapped the rope around again.

“If this cow kills me, I’ll sue you,” the driver said from the other side of the fence.

“I don’t think you’re the one she’s looking to kill.”

The assistant climbed over from the corral and landed beside his boss. He looked at Lloyd.

“You okay? Did she break anything?”

“No, I’m good. Do me a favor. Be ready to shut that trailer, fast.”

“What?”

Lloyd unchained the gate and moved to the far side of the alley. He glanced at the kid.

“Ready?”

The assistant ran to the trailer. Lloyd tightened the rope around the post, lashed it around his hand for good measure, and unlatched the second gate. He moved to the other side of the alley, parallel to the barrier post, and kicked the gate open, making it crash against the fence. This time the noise didn’t spook Charlene. She was too focused on Lloyd to care.

He stood there and let her charge. The barrier post served as a pivot point, creating a zig-zag that shortened the rope. Charlene was just a few feet away when she ran out of length and was swung around by the force of her own momentum. She stumbled into the loading chute and Lloyd shoved the metal panel into place behind her. He climbed up the fence and pulled the rope off her horns. When it was off, he whistled. She bolted in the only direction she could, straight into the trailer. The kid slammed the door shut.

Jane was waiting by the gate, exactly where she’d run after he’d jumped off. Lloyd led her out of the corral around to the cattle truck. The assistant watched him secure his rope to the saddle with obvious interest.

“Do you rodeo, sir?”

“Nope, never have.”

The kid’s expression was disbelieving. “Why?”

“My father preferred to train and sell horses instead of competing with them.”

“You could’ve made a killing at jackpot ropings!”

Lloyd chuckled, amused by the kid’s enthusiasm.

The driver scowled. “We’re behind schedule.”

“That’s the pleasure of working with animals,” Lloyd said.

“I’m charging you for the delay. You should’ve shot this one, she’s going to kill somebody.”

“She’ll be fine once you unload her. Do you have everything you need?”

The kid answered. “We just need your signature.”

The driver fetched the paperwork while Lloyd fielded the kid’s roping questions. It surprised him to find he enjoyed giving the advice.

When the livestock haulers were off, he walked Jane to the barn.

“You earned some oats for not breaking my neck,” Lloyd said.

Jane snorted and picked up her pace.

In front of the barn, he noticed marks in the dirt. He looped Jane’s reins through a hitching ring without bothering to secure them and crouched to study the boot prints. The mixture of clay and loam soil held its shape well, and the sun had baked the dirt into a detailed cast. He’d found similar impressions on Tuesday morning which had motivated him to spend the next few days herding cattle on the outskirts of the ranch.

The sneaky, unwanted visitor didn’t surprise him.

Settling the ranch’s affairs was his duty. Dealing with his father’s illegal side business wasn’t. He’d be insane to get involved in a drug running operation and risk a second strike on his record.

Lloyd studied the print. He knew it wasn’t from him. The first thing he’d done when he’d arrived was dig out his cowboy boots and start cleaning the barn. His boots were leather soled, designed to slide easily in and out of stirrups. They left a distinct heel and triangular forefoot print. The visitor’s boots had a tread pattern that was usually found on rubber soles. Whoever wore these shoes spent his days on city streets, not on a ranch. A sinking feeling settled in his chest. He had a strong hunch about the visitor’s identity, but hoped he was wrong. Lloyd dusted off his jeans, and went to untack Jane. He placed the saddle and blanket over the door of an empty stall.

He glanced toward the tack room and his stomach clenched. Inhaling sharply, he turned away.

After Jane was settled with a bale of grass hay and a bucket of oats, he walked to the small pen where a sick calf was bedded down in the straw. His eyes and nose were running with thick green mucus that left no doubt infection had taken hold. Lloyd checked his water. It hadn’t been touched.

“Whatever bug you’re fighting might not kill you, but dehydration sure will.”

The calf wheezed.

Lloyd shook his head. “You need a vet.”

His ears twitched at the words, but he didn’t raise his head. After changing the calf’s water Lloyd went to the house and used the landline to call Anderson’s Feed Store.

Henry Anderson picked up on the first ring. Of course, he not only knew the local vet, but promised he’d have them swing by around six. Then he started firing off questions with the zeal of a Spanish Inquisitor. How was college? Did he like Harvard, or did he wish he’d gone to Notre Dame? What had he enjoyed about England? How much did it rain over there? Did he know Coach Olsen had hung a framed picture of him receiving the Bushnell Cup in the gym lobby?

Lloyd sat down at the kitchen table and answered the inquiries. He noticed when Mr. Anderson skipped over questions about his post-college years and fast forwarded to current events. The effortless way he sidestepped the uncomfortable subject squeezed Lloyd’s heart. His unseemly history didn’t warrant such a tactful maneuver and because of it, Henry’s easy grace hit him like a three hundred pound linebacker.

“I knew that determination would take you places. I haven’t employed another highschool kid for four years straight since you.”

At that time, he’d done his best to stay out of Joe’s way which meant the long hours at Henry’s store were a perk. Later, their fully stocked breakroom fridge had allowed him to avoid going home for days at a time.

“How’s April doing?”

He finally asked about the topic he’d been expecting would come up, but hadn’t.

“She’s doing well. Married a boy from Portland and now we’ve got four grandchildren. The oldest is a senior this fall, and the middle one starts seventh grade. The second youngest is in kindergarten and the baby turns two in a month.”

“Wow… that’s a range of ages.”

“The baby is her Mama’s spitting image. It took four tries, but her genes finally hit copy paste.”

Henry laughed at his own joke while Lloyd tried to imagine it.

“I’m sure you’ll catch up with her, but I’ve got to let you go. A load of grain just pulled in. The vet says they’ll be by after 5:30, probably closer to 6.”

“Thanks, Henry.”

He hung up and tried to wrap his head around the bombshell that April Anderson was married with four kids. He wondered why Henry had suggested they catch up. It seemed to imply she still lived in the area. Lloyd shook off the curiosity and grabbed the truck keys. He didn’t have time for a social call. Already, it was mid-afternoon and his errands in town couldn’t be put off any longer.

Lloyd paused at the door and reached into the side table drawer. As expected, his father’s loaded .22 Sig Sauer was inside, encased in a leather shoulder holster that held two extra magazines in a pocket on the right strap. Being a felon, he wasn’t legally allowed to carry a gun, let alone a concealed gun. He thought of the boot prints and his suspicions about the night-time visitor, then removed his denim shirt and slipped on the holster. He covered it with the shirt and checked his reflection. The loose garment and compact weapon rendered the bulge under his arm almost invisible. He put on his sunglasses and grabbed a baseball cap from the shelf.

It was just a quick trip to town. He’d be in and out before anyone knew he was there.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You tugged at your skirt, trying in vain to shield your bruised knees. Even with setting powder, the concealer hadn’t provided the coverage you’d hoped for.

Vivian stirred her yogurt and watched you from the corner of her eye. Your birthday dinner had gone better than expected. For dessert you’d taken the family out for frozen yogurt and, at your Mom’s suggestion, walked down to the park so Alyssa could run around. She’d behaved well at the restaurant, but after two hours of sitting, she was getting antsy.

With the efficiency of a general, Mom had taken charge of Sam and ordered Juan to mind Alyssa. She had sent you and Vivian off to ‘enjoy the peace and quiet,’ which was code for ‘go make up because I said so.’ From a shady bench you watched Mom encouraging Sam to walk through the splash pad spray. She was bent over, letting him hold both her hands for balance, uncaring of the mist soaking the lower half of her linen pants. Hector, Caleb, and Diego were kicking a soccer ball in the grass and Juan was hovering nearby, watching Alyssa play in the landscaping.

“What’s Alyssa doing?” you asked Vivian.

“Playing with rocks. I don’t know why, but if you give her a rock, she’ll look at it for hours.”

“Huh. Interesting.”

“What happened to your knees?” Vivian asked.

“I fell.”

“Were you drinking?”

“Vivian!”

“What, you’re not uncoordinated. Were you drinking?”

“No!”

“Well, I have to ask. You’ve been acting super weird lately,” she said.

That was true. You cringed under her scrutiny and decided to change the topic.

“I’m sorry, Vivian.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“My reaction to your pregnancy was uncalled for. I overstepped, and I’m sorry.”

“I dropped it on you like a ton of bricks, so there’s that. You don’t handle change well and I should’ve known to break the news gently.”

“Hey! I’m great with change.”

“Absolutely, you just roll with the punches.” Vivian snickered, and dissolved into giggles. Then her gaze shifted to your frozen yogurt. “Can I have a bite?”

You held out the cup. She sampled it and made a face.

“Yuck.”

“First you insult my adaptability, then my taste buds.”

“Speaking of taste, congratulations on the break up.”

It took you a second to realize what she meant. “When did I tell you about that?”

“You told Caleb, which is like telling the whole family.”

“Right.”

“Does your boss live in the Historic District of Alexandria? By those swanky townhouses?” Vivian asked.

“Yeah. Why?”

Her eyes gleamed. “Last night I checked your location on Life360. Guess where you were?”

Oh, crap…

“Why were you at your boss’s house at three a.m?”

“I’m house sitting,” you said.

“For three weeks? Bullshit.”

“Damn it, I’m going to delete that stupid app. I thought I already did-”

“I stole your phone and reinstalled it. Before you ask, yes, I check your location every night. Are you dating your boss?”

“He’s not my boss. Technically, Weston Tafferty is my supervisor.”

“Lloyd’s last name is Hansen, right?”

You frowned. “Did you Google him?”

“I really should apply to the FBI someday,” Vivian said, grinning.

“Listen, you can’t believe everything on the internet…”

She was already opening a website on her phone.

“Have you seen this?”

You braced yourself to explain Lloyd’s escapades, but it was an article from the Boston Globe sports section dated 26 October 2001. The headline read “Harvard Beats Penn, Cinches Ivy Title” and the photo underneath showed a group of sweaty men in tight white pants and hulking shoulder pads. Lloyd was in the middle. He’d taken his helmet off, revealing a clean shaven jaw and hair three shades lighter than it was now, but there was no mistaking that bone structure.

“Look at that man. He is fine,” Vivian drew the middle vowel of ‘fine’ into a throaty purr.

“It’s not like that, I’m-”

“You’re sleeping with him, just spill.”

You groaned and covered your face.

“Y/N, please? It’s just us. And unlike Caleb, I can keep a secret. I can keep all the secrets, so tell me everything.”

Your sister was absolutely reliable as a confidant, but your relationship with Lloyd was so new and undefined. Then again, maybe you could use some outside perspective on the matter. It would probably go a long way toward repairing the rift between you.

“Okay. So, Aiden ended things-”

“Shut up! He broke up with you?!”

Her outrage was a delight. “Unfortunately. Lloyd took me out for dinner and you’ll never guess what happened then…”

By the time you left the park, dusk was falling. Talking to Vivian had settled your mind about the crazy twist your relationship with Lloyd had taken and confirmed that you were enjoying the new status quo, as tenuous as it might be.

There was a flier stuck under your windshield wiper. Assuming it was an advertisement, you grabbed it, slid behind the wheel and turned on the air conditioner, then unfolded the page. Breath froze in your lungs and your heart dropped like a stone as blood drained from your face so fast your vision blurred.

It was a photo of you and Vivian on the park bench. You scanned it for clues, trying to decipher the angle it had been taken from and realized the photographer must have been on the other side of the splash pad from where you’d been sitting. A shiver ran down your spine. You scanned the street, with its long shadows and fluorescent lamps. Aiden could be anywhere. Fragments of the messages he’d sent flashed through your mind, raising goosebumps on your arms. Your hands clenched into fists. This was no way to live. You couldn’t tolerate it.

Trying to calm your racing heart, you took several deep breaths. After the pressure eased in your chest and you felt clear-headed again, you evaluated your options. There was the obvious choice - contact Detective Diskant at metro and give him the photo. But hadn’t you already done that? Aiden had responded by stepping up his game. Not only had he followed you, he’d followed your family and been bold enough to leave behind photographic evidence of the act.

The message was clear: I’m watching, and you can’t stop me.

Reporting him had made things worse. You threw the car into reverse; it was time to show Aiden who he was dealing with.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

His errands took longer than expected.

The health district office was slammed, and he’d waited more than an hour for copies of his father’s death certificate. Paying property taxes in person was a bureaucratic nightmare, and so was settling the funeral home bill. His last stop was the priest, and he’d cut that visit short. To make sure they wouldn’t cancel Joe’s service because of his rudeness, he’d added a zero to his donation. With one eye on the clock, he made the final turn towards home. The clock ticked off another minute. Not wanting to miss the vet, he sped up.

Sirens wailed.

Lloyd hissed. He hadn’t risked speeding on the interstate after spotting the black and white vehicle tailing him, but he’d thought he had shaken them miles ago. Red and blue flashing lights followed him to the edge of the road as he pulled over.

Great. What a fantastic ending to an afternoon filled with unpleasant errands. He’d handed over a small fortune to the county and fucking donated to an organization that owned more land than Bill Gates. Like an ice cream sundae wouldn’t be complete without the cherry on top, this miserable day couldn’t be finished with anything less than a traffic stop.

He parked a few meters from the ranch’s front gate. The police truck didn’t pull in behind him; instead, it maneuvered around and turned into his driveway. It swung to the right and reversed into a parallel park, blocking the road.

The side decal on the pickup read ‘SHERIFF’ in bold print.

Lloyd watched the driver climb out. Even at a distance, he recognized the well-built man thanks to the distinctive outline of his Montana crease cowboy hat. This one was pecan colored instead of gray. It matched the tan uniform better than his old one, Lloyd noted.

He rolled down the window and propped his elbow on the ledge to hide the holster under his arm.

“Evening, Sheriff. Was I speeding?”

“License and registration.”

Lloyd took his time finding the papers and handed them over, one by one.

“You’re looking well, Holbrook. It’s like you haven’t aged a day.”

The jab made the Sheriff’s upper lip curl, but he didn’t bat an eye as he examined the papers. Charles Holbrook was his senior by twelve years, though the way he wore those years made it look like twenty. His bulky aviators didn’t cover the wrinkles around his eyes and what Lloyd could see of his hair had gone gray.

Holbrook tilted his hat back.

“Where were you headed in such a hurry, son?”

“I’ve got a sick calf and the vet’s due any minute.”

The Sheriff looked to the passenger seat where the file of tax papers lay.

“What’s in the folder?”

“If you’ve got a warrant you can look, but if not…”

“Where are you coming back from?”

“Town.”

Holbrook ran his tongue around his teeth. “You sure about that? Just town? Nowhere else?”

It seemed his instinct about being followed had been correct. He wished he hadn’t slipped their tail earlier, because it had given them the chance to set up this speed trap.

Lloyd shrugged. “I’m just trying to get home and take care of my animals, Sheriff.”

Knowing who he was dealing with helped Lloyd keep his temper in check. Thirty years ago, when he’d been a young deputy, Charles Holbrook had joined Joe’s drug running operation. Harsher sentencing guidelines made his father cautious enough to find an insurance policy and Holbrook fit the bill. He proved himself effective and ambitious, which was why Lloyd hadn’t been surprised to hear they’d had a falling out after he’d left for college. Rumor was, the Sheriff and Joe had spent the past twenty years at war, fighting over control of the intermountain west drug trade.

Holbrook grasped the butt of his gun. Lloyd tensed, then a blur of action drew his attention. The passenger door of the police truck flew open. A young man in a deputy’s uniform burst out with a pump action rifle.

Shit.

The .22 under his arm wouldn’t be any defense if the deputy was a good shot and given that Holbrook was nobody’s fool, especially in these matters… carrying illegally had been a colossal mistake. The tiniest infarction would be an excuse to throw him in jail. Lloyd’s jaw clenched as he appreciated that in this scenario, Holbrook’s definition of “jail” would mean “the bottom of Redfish Lake.”

“Watch your back, Lloyd. You know the rules in these parts.”

Rage bubbled in his chest at the threat. His nostrils flared as he took a sharp breath, struggling against the urge to fight. The Sheriff smirked.

“It’d be a shame if there were two Hansen funerals this week, Lloyd. Don’t do anything stupid. We need to have a serious chat about-”

Holbrook cut off at the sound of gravel crunching behind them. Lloyd saw another vehicle had pulled up behind his truck and scowled. He couldn’t decide if he should be amused or annoyed that he warranted backup. This was a run of the mill shake down, not… Damn it. His gaze swung to the rearview mirror. The white pickup had boxed him in. With the sheriff on his left, the deputy in front of him, and the newcomer behind, he was trapped.

It was a straight shot through the windshield with the pump action rifle. Lloyd figured he could shoot Holbrook and take cover behind the engine block, but that left him vulnerable to the occupant of the white pickup. By the time he got off a shot he’d have six rounds in his back.

“Luke! Put that away!”

Holbrook straightened up and faced the new arrival.

Lloyd didn’t blink, eyes tracking the deputy’s every move, while he complied with the request. His attention stayed on the rifle until it was out of sight. Only then did his attention return to the Sheriff, who wore a welcoming smile for the approaching woman. She wore a navy baseball cap, plaid button down, and Levi’s tucked into cowboy boots. There was something familiar about her that tickled the edge of his memory.

“Dr. Ward! Haven’t I told you it’s not wise to interrupt police business?”

Holbrook’s tone was the same one used to discipline golden retrievers - exasperated, but indulgent.

“Well, Sheriff, this time it’s you interrupting my business. I’ve got a sick calf to see and you’re blocking the road.”

She nodded at the police truck, and when she turned her head, he spotted the auburn ponytail. Lloyd’s jaw dropped.

“April? April Anderson?”

“It’s Ward now,” she said, grinning. “Dad mentioned you had an emergency, but this isn’t the kind of emergency I expected.”

“Nah, no emergency here. Sheriff Holbrook was letting me off with a warning.”

“That’s sweet of you, Sheriff. Do you mind clearing the road?”

Holbrook’s lips twisted into a sour pucker, but he touched two fingers to the brim of his hat and nodded.

“Yes, ma’am.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You sat in your car, gripping the steering wheel tight.

Just being parked on this street felt dangerous. Despite the risk, anger was more powerful than logic in your current frame of mind. You hung onto that fury. If the past few days had taught you anything, it was that living in fear wasn’t sustainable. Rage felt like a suitable alternative - it was certainly more pleasant than terror.

Thoughts of rage turned your mind to Lloyd. If he knew about your situation, he’d be apocalyptic. He’d protected you in Singapore with no consideration for himself and that recklessness worried you. If he flew off the handle there was a decent chance he’d end up facing a second round of felony charges. The prospect of Lloyd being sent to jail because of your mistakes was untenable. You needed to handle Aiden yourself.

From the spot you’d parked, on the opposite side of the street to Aiden’s house, you had a perfect view into the living room. He was inside and based on what you’d seen in the last thirty minutes, he was alone. Taking a deep breath, you gathered your courage and imagined you were Lloyd. You thought of the irritable man who’d stormed into the paralegal office and invaded your life. The image filled your mind, thrilling and comforting in equal measure. You remembered the boisterous, almost wild energy that version of Lloyd had carried into a room.

Thinking of his confidence helped ease the tug of caution that insisted you’d be safer turning around and driving back to Virginia. You twisted your neck, warming up the muscles and taking deep, steady breaths. In less than a minute, your shoulders relaxed and your jaw unclenched as the last clouds of doubt rolled away.

Moving with purpose, you stepped out of the car and stalked across the street toward the two-story brick colonial with an immaculate front lawn. Your heart was hammering, but the fear was buried under a thick fog of anger. You were going to demolish Aiden.

You rang the bell and waited. The door opened and Aiden looked irritated to see you. The sight of him made your lip curl into a snarl.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

You shoved the photo in his face.

“This, Aiden. I’m talking about this!”

“Huh?”

“I found it on the hood of my car an hour ago. You took this picture and left it to threaten me.”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Don’t lie.”

Aiden scoffed. “You’re crazy. It’s just a picture.”

“You’re harassing me. You’ve been texting me, stalking my building, and trying to make me uncomfortable. Well, guess what? I’ve already forwarded the texts to your father and filed a complaint with the police. Even with all that, you don’t seem to be getting the message, so here it is. Stop. Bothering. Me.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Trust me, Aiden. If you make my life hell, I’ll be happy to return the favor - in triplicate.”

“You’re a drama queen, you know that, right? I’m not the one who came to your house. You should be glad I’m giving you the time of day - it’s not like you’d do the same.”

“I know you sent the texts. You’re taking your problems out on me, and if you keep doing it, you’ll find out that I punch back. Stay away from me. Stay away from my family. This is the last time I’ll say it - next time you find out I mean what I say.”

He crossed his arms, straightening. “You should watch your mouth, bitch.”

“And you should watch your back. You’re going to leave me alone. If you don't, I’ll put you in a world of hurt.”

“See if I care.”

“You should. Because if you don’t, I’ll give you a reason to.”

“Whatever.”

You raised your chin.

“I don’t need you to believe me. Because whether or not you think I’m serious, I am. This is me giving you the chance to turn things around. Go very far away from me and stay there. If you don’t, you have no one to blame but yourself for what happens next.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The calf ended up with a prescription for long-term antibiotics, and he persuaded April to have a beer with him. He couldn’t help but stare as they sat on opposite sides of the small kitchen table. She broke the silence first.

“Nice mustache. It ages you, but somehow it suits you.”

“Thanks. I can’t believe you’re still here. I figured some city boy would sweep you off your feet and take you to Seattle or Boise.”

“He did, but I took him home instead of the other way around.”

“I guess your taste in men improved after high school,” Lloyd teased.

“Given my starting point, it couldn’t have gotten much worse.”

He laughed. “After Tyler, I was a step up.”

Tyler Claffey had been April’s first boyfriend. He played defensive tackle to Lloyd’s quarterback and they’d been on the same team since fifth grade. Their hatred of each other ran deeper than the traditional offense vs. defense rivalry every football team suffered. Tyler still held the distinction of being the most insecure person Lloyd had ever known. For his part, Tyler hated Lloyd’s sullen disposition, lack of regard for other people’s opinions, and most of all, for being a superior athlete.

When he was caught cheating on her the week before junior prom, April had asked Lloyd to be her date. He knew the goal was to twist the knife in Tyler’s side and had accepted the invitation. They went to prom together and ended up dating until graduation.

“Tell me about your husband,” Lloyd said.

“Michael. We met in college, but didn’t date until after. He’s a lawyer.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“Is he tall, dark, and handsome… with a mustache?”

April snorted. “No, no, yes, and absolutely not. I know you aren’t married, because no woman would tolerate that facial hair. You should grow a beard.”

“My girlfriend doesn’t mind it.”

Lloyd felt a ripple of concern at how naturally the word ‘girlfriend’ rolled off his tongue, but pushed it aside. He considered April - the first and last woman to hold that title - and shook his head.

“I can’t believe you stuck around.”

“I didn’t hate it here, you did.”

“I had to get away. You know why.”

April nodded. She picked at the label on her drink and lowered her voice.

“How did you feel, when they told you he was dead?”

“Shocked, disbelieving. More of the latter, to be honest. The hospital called and explained but I just… I thought he couldn’t die.”

“Are you okay, being back? Like, here, in this house?”

Lloyd shrugged. “It’s okay.”

“Have you been in touch with your family?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m it.”

April raised an eyebrow. “Your sisters?”

He looked away.

“You never searched for them? After all these years? I…” she broke off. “Lloyd? Did something happen to them?”

“I can’t say for sure. I didn’t look them up because I knew what I’d find.”

“What do you mean?”

“My mother couldn’t take care of them. Even back then, I knew.”

“She left the summer before fifth grade, right?”

“Yeah. My father was away, it was just me and the girls. The house was peaceful. That’s what I remember most about those last days.”

April’s brow creased in confusion, so he explained.

“She didn’t have any of her normal outbursts, episodes, whatever you’d call them. Looking back, she must have started on some kind of antipsychotic meds. A few days before Dad returned I woke up to an empty house.”

He looked out at the barnyard and saw it as it was thirty years ago. Almost exactly thirty years to the day, he realized with a jolt.

“Her car was gone. Josephine’s closet was empty and so was Ingrid’s. Only some of my mother’s things had been taken, but when I saw the suitcases were missing, I knew they weren’t coming back.”

“I’m sorry,” April whispered.

She reached across the table and covered his hand. Lloyd folded his fingers around hers.

“I hate remembering. I can’t go through the barn without thinking of Ingrid and that evil little Shetland who bit everyone. I taught her to saddle him, but I think I put on his bridle every time she wanted to ride.”

“Clever girl.”

Lloyd smiled. “She’d hunt for arrowheads with me. Josie used to go with us because if we didn’t take her, she’d cry and that would set Mom off. She liked to collect flowers and press them in parchment. The first night here, I went into her room and…”

Emotion choked him. A piece of wax paper had fallen from the pages of one of her story books. It was a bright, cheerful Black-eyed Susan. He’d stood there staring at it, as if it were a rattlesnake.

Lloyd shuddered.

“My mother may as well have driven them off a cliff, instead of off the ranch. I never looked them up… not knowing is easier.”

April squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“When I was in prison, the psychiatrist asked me if I’d ever felt love. The question made me furious. I couldn’t believe he’d think me incapable of such a basic emotion, but then I couldn’t remember a time when I’d felt love - no offense -”

“None taken.”

“I knew my reaction was genuine, but until Monday night when I saw the rocking chair, I couldn’t figure out where it had come from.”

Their eyes drifted to the pine rocker by the front window.

“That’s where they let me hold Josie for the first time.”

April squeezed his hand. “Is your girlfriend coming for the funeral? I’d love to meet her.”

“No. I didn’t want her to see me like this.”

Lloyd turned his hand, bringing hers to rest on top, and studied the impressive diamond ring on her left finger.

“Nice rock.”

“It spends most of its time on a chain around my neck. That’s what he gets for marrying a vet.”

He used his thumb to turn the ring left and right, admiring the way it caught the light.

“I knew we wouldn’t last, but I loved you, April.”

“Not really. We were good friends, Lloyd. But it didn’t run deeper than that on either side and you were turning bitter.”

She paused, eyeing him curiously as her tongue traced the edge of her upper teeth.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What happened between you and Coach Olsen?”

Lloyd slipped his hand free at the naming of his former football coach. “You don’t want to know.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s been decades and I’m still curious.”

“Olsen took bribes. USC paid him to make sure I didn’t sign with Harvard.”

“But you liked Harvard the most.”

“He was stringing them along, making it sound like I hadn’t decided so the money kept flowing. Obviously, that’s not kosher with the NCAA.”

“He put your scholarship at risk. I understand why you cut ties.”

His lips twisted.

“It was more than that. I got a call from USC in July, which was odd because I’d already committed to Harvard. Their rep let it slip about Olsen. I was livid. Mind meltingly furious, unlike anything I’d felt before.”

The memory made his stomach pitch. Something visceral had come over him and he’d felt his mind loosen, allowing the monster to emerge. The dam holding back years of rage burst and nothing could stem the tide.

“I’d worried I was like Joe, but until that night I wasn’t sure. Whatever had held me in check snapped. I don’t remember the drive into town, just walking across the field and seeing lights on in the shed. Olsen was in the office, working. The football shed wasn’t air conditioned back then, so the garage door was open.”

The scene played behind his eyes, undistorted by time. He saw the white cinder block shed and felt the thrill of finding his prey. Later, that feeling had become an addiction, better than cocaine and longer lasting than ecstasy.

“I snuck under the garage door into the storage area. They’d brought in the baseball equipment and there was a rack of bats beside the door. On my way through, I grabbed one. He turned when I stepped into the office and started to speak. I swung for his head but he ducked, so I only clipped him. He rushed me, and I struck his right knee, got him on the ground, and then…”

He remembered it in flashes. The sound of bones crunching, screams, then agonized cries.

When he’d snapped out of the trance there were blisters on his palms.

“I thought I’d killed him. That’s why I left for college a month early. When the team went to state a few years later, I read he was still their coach. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather.”

April stared at him. “That was you?! We thought there was a psychopath running around town!”

“There was.”

“I don’t agree with everything you did, but your reaction was understandable.”

“The only thing I regret is not saying goodbye to you.”

“I figured you wanted a clean break. Once I accepted it was what you needed, I got over it. But I worried about you. I figured we’d stay in touch, you know?”

He hadn’t wanted anyone too close to him, not after realizing what he was capable of. If he was a monster then the safest place for April was far away from him. Hence, why she remained his first and last girlfriend.

“Speaking of the past…” April frowned. “Have you spoken to Elliot lately?”

Lloyd’s eyebrows rose. “Elliot? No.”

The mention of his cousin surprised him.

Elliot Hansen was the illegitimate son of his father’s sister and some drug dealer from Boise. The drug dealer had vanished upon learning of the pregnancy and two years later, his aunt committed suicide, orphaning her young son. Joe refused to acknowledge him and Elliot became a ward of the state. Like his parents, Elliot got hooked on drugs early and by the end of highschool, he’d been a certified junkie.

“He went to rehab and was working down in Nevada. When your father took a turn for the worse, he came back to help. For the past few months he’s been on Sheriff Holbrook’s list.”

“Is he on drugs again?”

“No. I knew Holbrook was shaking you down when I saw the traffic stop because he did the same thing to Elliot.”

“Which earned you a warning to stay out of police business,” Lloyd said.

“I pay my taxes, I have the right to be nosy.”

“Damn it, April. I told you Holbrook was dangerous. Why would you put yourself in his line of fire for that lowlife?”

Her glare was withering. “He kicked meth without anyone’s help and re-built his life from nothing. Don’t call him names.”

“Fine.” Lloyd held up his hands. “No name calling. Please, continue.”

“I caught the end of their argument. There was something about the ranch and ‘mercury’ but I couldn’t hear anything more.”

“Did you ask Elliot about it?”

She shook her head. “No, because I haven’t seen Elliot in two weeks. I’m worried about him, Lloyd. I think something’s happened to him.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Next - Part XIV

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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catnek-reblogs · 11 months

Text

Chapter 2 of Loving You Is A Losing Game

Danny had, very reluctantly, joined his parents in their once-in-a-blue-moon family dinners. He had only done this because he had needed to figure out exactly how his parents had captured that shade. He would have preferred eating Nasty Burger takeout in his room, or going to Elmerton and eating at one of their breakfast-for-dinner places, or accepting one of the many, many dinner invitations Johnny and Kitty kept sending him now that they had finally agreed to keep property damage to a minimum whenever they entered Amity Park.

Duty calls , he thought to himself sourly.

“So, mom, dad,” he asked, “did you do anything interesting in the lab today?”

Jack Fenton immediately replied, “We created a device that can find ghosts and used it to capture one! It was invisible, of course - probably trying to evade capture. But never fear, Danny, because we caught it! It’s successfully contained in the Fenton Ghost Containment Device, and your mother and I are going to study it before ripping it molecule by molecule!”

Danny ignored the sinking feeling in his chest. “Right. Any chance I could take a look at your tracking device after dinner? I wanna learn how you guys make such cool things.”

It wasn’t even a lie.

“Of course, honey,” Madeleine Fenton said. “You’ll have to make do with the blueprints, however, as we need the device so we know where the ghost is. Unless it realizes there’s no point in hiding from us.”

You’ll be waiting a long time in that case, seeing as I sent it to the zone , Danny thought to himself.

Danny woke up to a blue mist rising above him, and mentally groaned. Why couldn’t he have just one night of peaceful sleep? That was all he was asking for, but noooo. He was exempt from pretty much anything even remotely normal.

He slipped out of bed and turned himself intangible, falling through the floor and into the basement, where the ghost was (hopefully) located, and found himself staring down a ghost vulture.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Danny groaned. “Why are you out, Nutty?”

The vulture’s name wasn’t actually Nutty, but Danny thought it was funny, and despite the fact that the vulture had protested the name before, he got the sense that they liked it.

“I got a new job, kid. Pays well, too. All I gotta do is find and kill this one guy. Apparently he got on a lotta people’s nerves.”

Hopefully it’s not Dad, he thought. Out loud he asked, “Yeah? Who is this mystery person?”

“Some kid called Wes Weston,” Nutty croaked.

Danny froze for a full five seconds. Then he moved. He slammed Nutty into the wall so hard the vulture left a crater.

“Who paid you to kill Wes?” He snarled. "̶̠̅̓Ẁ̸̢͔̻̘̍̃̈́̀͘h̵̡̘̥̠͇̒õ̵͙̰̬̦̻̹̂͗̌̈̐̏͑̊̓͝?̷̢̟̰̮̗̲͘"̵̝̂̿̽̓̒̑͐͑̓̆̊̄̚

“I don’t know!" Nuty squawked. Danny pressed them further into the wall, and Nutty seemed to panic. "No, really, I don't know! It was some person in a hood! I never saw their face!"

"You sure it wasn't Plasmius?" Danny asked. If Vlad had decided to go after Wes, for whatever reason, Danny wouldn't hold back. Not this time, not anymore. Not when the life of his only remaining friend was on the line.

Wes couldn't die.

"I'm sure!" Nutty croaked. "Now can you please let me go?"

“Not until you promise not to hurt Wes,” Danny growled. “Promise me that, and I’ll let you go.”

“I promise!” Nutty all but shrieked, and true to word, Danny released him.

Nutty squawked once, flapping his wings in indignance. “Forget this, I’m going back to the Ruins. Much less of a chance of getting your body slammed into a wall there.” He shot a look at Danny.

Danny sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about that, Nutty. I just - I couldn’t let you hurt him.”

Nutty snorted, then took off through the open portal. Danny watched him go before returning to his room. He sank back into bed hoping to finally get some sleep -

His phone rang.

Aggravated, Danny threw back the covers, snatched up his phone, and said, “What?”

“You left the portal open,” came Wes’s dry reply.

Danny stiffened, before falling through the floor and into the basement - again - and yes, he had indeed left the portal open. Danny groaned.

“Just one night,” he said into the phone, “all I want is one night I can sleep through without having to worry about ghosts.”

When Wes spoke again, he sounded tired. “I know. I don’t like it either.”

“Well, guess it’s time to die,” Danny chuckled. He took a deep breath. “I’m going -”

“Wait!” Wes exclaimed.

Danny paused. “What’s wrong?”

“The portal’s open. You could leave.”

All of a sudden, Danny was extremely aware of the glowing green tunnel in the wall (the tunnel he had died in). He swallowed.

“I don’t think I can, Wes,” he whispered, hating the words even as he spoke them, hating the weakness they revealed.

Wes was silent on the other end of the phone.

“Do you want me to be there when you do it?” he asked.

Danny released a shaky breath. “I think that would be worse, actually.”

“Danny. I know you don’t want to, but you need to leave. Amity Park isn’t safe for you anymore. Your parents have contracts with the GIW. Vlad is kidnapping you pretty much every week. Valerie hates you. Sam and Tucker don’t even care that you exist at this point.”

“I can’t leave you,” Danny whispered. His hands were shaking. “You heard what Nutty said. Someone wants to kill you, Wes. They could -”

“I can protect myself.” Wes cut him off. “And whoever wants to kill me hired Nutty from the Zone. If you want to find out who’s after me,

you’d have to go to the Zone regardless. Why not go there permanently?”

“Because you and Jazz are both here!” Danny shouted. “I can’t abandon you! If the GIW realize that you’re liminal, they’ll kill you both!”

“You wouldn’t be abandoning us, Danny,” Wes soothed. “The GIW are only after you and the other ghosts. They don’t even know that liminals exist. After you leave, if the ghosts attack again, Val, your parents or the GIW will scare them enough to send them back to the Zone for good. And when the ghost attacks stop and Amity Park settles down a bit, I’ll see what I can do to come visit. I have the blueprints for the portal. I’m sure I could convince Kyle to help me build it.”

With every word Wes spoke, Danny relaxed a bit more. Wes was right. Everything would be fine.

He’s lying to you, he’s going to turn on you and leave you just like everyone else as soon as he realises how worthless and insignificant you are

“Okay.” Danny said. “I’ll do it.” And with a click, he hung up. Bracing himself, and turned to look at the self-destruct button. He jumped forward and pressed the button, leaping back almost immediately.

The basement lit up in red. A siren wailed. A pleasant, robotic voice said, “Self-destruct mode activated. You have 60 seconds. Also, the ham is spoiled.”

Danny flew up, grabbed his parents, and flew out of the house. He left them on the front door of their neighbours, then flew back in. He hesitated in his room, before grabbing his model rockets and returning

to the basement. With a deep breath, he flew into the green, green, green portal, all the way to the other side. He flew till he was surrounded by the green, till he could feel the ectoplasm in the air, till he could see the Ruins surrounding him.

The Ruins are gonna get ruined , he thought, and chuckled.

Behind him, there was an explosion.

#dp x dc #danny phantom #danny fenton #wes weston #dead tired #braindead rejected soulmates au #loving you is a losing game

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callsign-foreigner · 2 years

Text

Ares - Part 1

* I reserve all rights to this writing. Please do not take my writing as your own. I made this all myself. *

“This mission will be different, Ares.”

“I understand that, Sir.”

“No, I don’t believe you do. This mission is one of, if not, the most dangerous mission you will ever go on. There will be 11 other pilots there, all of those pilots will be trained everyday for 3 weeks.”

“Sir, I understand tha-“

“No, Lieutenant Weston. You will be in close quarters with them. You will have to trust them with your LIFE. They must know everything. One of those things being your identity.”

Samara froze as Admiral Lowery finished his sentence. She flexed her jaw angrily and spoke a bit louder. “We had an AGREEMENT, admiral”

“Yes, and that was until we found out about this mission. Unfortunately the Navy is unable to keep up their end of the bargain for your safety. You will report to training at 0600 tomorrow on North Island. Maverick has been informed of you and your….situation. He is quite honored to have you on his squadron. He’s sure having a pilot such as yourself on the squad will push everyone else to be better. “

Samara kept her lips in a straight line as she nodded to the Admiral. She had fought for many years to maintain her identity a secret. Why? Because she had a sort of double life. When she was in the sky, she was Ares. Smart, calculating, determined and absolutely fearless. A perfect product of the Navy. When she was back on the ground, she was just another, semi-alcoholic, sex crazed naval aviator. One who jumped the bones of plenty of random aviators wherever she wanted to. And she always wanted to.

She liked being nobody. She liked that she could get completely plastered and be a total wreck, and not one person would bat an eye. She liked that no one gave her pity eyes when they heard of her parents and their tragic accident, many years ago. She liked being nobody.

It seemed as though her time as nobody, had run out.

Admiral Lowery put a hand on her khaki covered shoulder. “Use this to your advantage. If this mission goes well for you, you will be one of the most highly decorated Lieutenants the Navy has ever seen. I’m sure this will open many doors for you in the future with the Navy. Maybe even Lieutenant Commander.” And with that he left the office.

She knew her invisible wall of protection would give way soon. At least she had one more night of freedom. She exited the office and went to gather her things and get on a plane to North Island.

——————————————————————-

Samara Weston had landed a few hours later, deciding to blow off some steam at The Hard Deck. A place she had been to quite a few times during her time at Top Gun, years ago. She knew no one would remember her. Even if they did, they’d never find her. she always gave them made up names. She was always running around with different guys. She didn’t have a boyfriend, no real family, so she found her happiness in one night stands, local bars and in her work.

The Navy was her sole purpose in life. When she had enlisted, she had decided that she would give the rest of her life to The Navy, just as her parents had. To carry on their legacy and make them proud, wherever they were.

Ares never stayed in one place too long, and if she ever came back to a place, there would always be fresh meat for her choose from.

She never really had to do much for men to fawn at her feet. They just did it. She liked having it easy. Being pretty had its perks.

She sat herself at the very far corner of the bar, away from the other patrons. She had noticed quite a few other pilots dressed the same khaki uniform she had on earlier in the day. She had decided to go for a more civilian look and wore jeans and a very worn out t-shirt from some band. Though she wasn’t dressed well, Ares knew how men reacted to her presence. She was a looker for sure. And did she know it.

As she sat alone, watch the cool glass of beer slowly sweat onto the bar top, she felt a body sit next to her.

She only smirked and sipped her beer as she knew she would now be entertained for a bit.

She turned to her left and found a tall, handsome, tan man staring at her. “Hi there”

Samara smiled at him sweetly. He seemed like a nice guy, nervous even. He smiled a bit wider before speaking. “Hi, I’m Javy. I go by Coyote.”

“I’m Jenni Davis. “

Coyote smiled as Samara offered her hand for a handshake. He shook her hand and looked back to the table he must’ve just came from.

Samara looked over his shoulder and saw a few aviators, watching Javy with smiles. Her eyes wandered to every one of them before they landed on one that was leaning against his pool stick, smirking arrogantly.

He was a legitimate walking, breathing, Ken Doll. His teeth were perfect, white and straight.

His hair as perfectly styled back and his uniform seemed absolutely crisp. No creases or wrinkles. He caught her eyes and winked at her while he chewed on his toothpick. Samara raised a brow at him and looked back at Javy. “I’m guessing your blonde friend over there sent you to come retrieve me.” Javy blushed a bit before responding. “Uhm-“ Samara giggled and put her hand on Javy’s shoulder. “No worries, Coyote. I’ll play his game. “ Samara got up from her stool, grabbed her things and sundered over to the bar top where the group sat. Ken Doll watched her every move as she got closer to them. She sat her stuff on an empty stool and walked over to him. “Hm. Not even man enough to come invite me over yourself. “ Everyone at the table snickered and laughed at Ken Doll’s face turned pink. He was about to speak when he was interrupted by a short, woman with jet black hair. “He likes people to do the work for him. He’s got minions”

Samara smiled at the woman. Her attitude and fire seemed like something Samara saw in herself. She liked it. Samara offered her hand. “Jenni Davis.”

Natasha smiled as she shook her hand. “Natasha Trace. Call sign Phoenix. “

Samara raised her eyebrows. “I’ve heard of you. You became an Ace not too long ago, am I correct?”

Natasha seemed surprised and nodded.

“Yes, I did. On my mission to Asia just 6 months ago.”

Samara nodded with respect. “Well congratulations are in order then. Good to see a woman accomplishing great things”

Santa smiled as she spoke to Natasha. Natasha returned it and offered Samara the seat next to her. As Samara sat down, Ken Doll snorted.

Everyone turned to him. “Is something funny there, Ken Doll?”

Samara liked how he looked, but his attitude and body language towards many of the group made her think that he was certainly the least liked one.

He snorted again before speaking. “You said it’s good to see a woman accomplishing great things. What about men? They accomplish great things everyday. Where’s their congratulations?”

Samara was getting irritated quite quickly. Was this man really throwing a pity party for his gender? All because she congratulated Phoenix on her latest award?

What a dick.

“Hm. It seems as though I’ve struck a cord with you….”

She squints her eyes at his tag on his chest.

…Seresin. May I ask, have you become an Ace recently? Have you shot down an enemy plane? Have you?”

The Ken Doll squinted his eyes at her tone and had a smirk on his lips. “No I haven’t but-“

“But nothing. I give recognition when it’s earned.”

Jake didn’t know how only moments ago this girl, or should he say woman, had suddenly escalated the conversation and was now angry at him. He definitely shouldn’t have tried to make his a conversation regarding gender, that was his mistake. But he had already dug his grave so he had to stick with it. He didn’t wanna seem like an idiot. Especially infront of this beautiful woman. Who now seemed irritated at him. Though he wanted to stop talking, his arrogance was getting the better of him and it was only gonna get a bit worse.

Samara turned around and looked around the table at the other aviators who looked at her when slacked jaws. It seemed as though no one had spoken back to this, Seresin.

“You must be a pilot. With all this formality you’re speaking. “ Samara shut her eyes and sighed. Well looks like Cat’s out of the Bag. She turned back to Seresin and nodded. “I am. “ He seemed to wait for her to give her call sign to him. Which she didn’t. “You just be on the mission, same as the rest of us.” She nodded again. He grew frustrated with her now lack of response. “Well? Ya gonna tell ya your call sign? Wanna see if you’re good. Which you’re probably not. Considering you don’t wanna give us your call sign. “

Seresin was smirking widely now. His Cheshire Cat grin which didn’t look too bad at first, was not angering Samara.

He was Cocky. Arrogant. Selfish.

She could tell. By not only his body language, but that of everyone else around him.

She already decided she didn’t like him.

He was an asshole who seemed to only care for himself. She didn’t want that on her squadron. That’s why she worked alone.

Until now. Samara remembered that no one knew that Ares, would be a part of their squadron. She would use this to her advantage. Seresin saying she must not be a good pilot, all because she wouldn’t show off her call sign, was childish. But she liked playing games. Especially with sore losers.

Samara put her fakest smile on. “You know what, you’re right. I’m not a good pilot. You caught me. I’ll see you all at training tomorrow.”

She had enough entertainment for one night, so she downed her beer, waved to the group, and walked to close out with the bartender.

As she passed Seresin, she checked his shoulder and locked eyes with him before finishing giving cash to the bartender and stepping out of the bar.

“What’s her name?”

Rooster replied to Jake “Told Phoenix her name was Jenni Davis. Never heard of her. “

Jake nodded as he stared at her as she got in her car, and sped off into the desert.

“- but she’s a part of this mission. So she’s gotta be a good at something.”

Jake looked to the group. “I bet she’s nothing but a decent WSO. “

_______________________

WHAT DO WE THINK OF PART 1 OF ARES?????? BE HONEST! I’ve written like 19 different ways I wanted part 1 to play how. I feel like them being enemies at first, is absolutely perfect. It’ll make the story like so much more chaotic (in a good way) and I can’t wait!!

TAGLIST:

@peaches-1999

@mirandastuckinthe80s

@justanothermagicalsara

@kkrenae

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#jake seresin #jake hangman x reader #hangman top gun #top gun x reader #top gun #jake hangman seresin #pete maverick mitchell #top gun maverick #jake seresin imagine

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lexosaurus · 1 year

Text

The Truth to Light: Chapter 2

(oh my goddd this was supposed to be a drabble. why am i writing a three part fic? lexx, stop it, bad lexx)

Side Hoes Week day 2: Wes Weston, Revenge Characters: Wes, Tucker WC: 1494

[chapter one]

[ao3]

****

“What are you gonna do if he loses?”

Tucker turned around, trying to not let the annoyance show through. One of these days he’d be able to walk by Wes Weston without hearing a comment, but today wasn’t one of those days. Though interestingly, Weston was far less…gloat-y than Tucker thought he would be.

Maybe it was the video. Maybe finally seeing all the horrors on screen was enough to humble him. Maybe the stupid redhead was finally realizing how recklessly he had been acting, trying to expose Danny for the past two years.

But instead of shutting the hell up, Weston had now taken to lurking around and trying to have “secret” conversations with Sam and Tucker. As if he had been in on their trio the whole time.

Hah. As if.

Weston leaned against the brick wall and bit into the apple in his hand. His green eyes were steeled on Tucker, and the determination on his face was reminiscent of a cheesy spy movie. The situation itself was so stereotypical, Tucker would have found it comical a few months ago. But then again, it was hard to find anything humorous lately.

“So?” Weston said through a mouthful of apple. He swallowed, then continued, “You gonna go after the Ghost Investigation Ward?”

Tucker had to refrain from letting out his hundredth exasperated sigh that month from talking to Weston. “And how exactly would I do that?”

Weston, it seemed, had no reservations about letting out a huff himself. He pushed off the brick wall, tossing the bitten apple in his hand. “Foley, I’m not a fucking idiot. I know what your little side hobby is.”

“You honestly don’t know anything about me.”

“Oh, and so I bet that mechanical ghost just happened to hack his own system for a year? And all Technus’ world domination attempts just happened to get shut down by themselves?”

“I’ve heard Phantom was pretty good at his job. Maybe he got a lucky shot.”

Weston rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Because Fenton is known for being such a programming genius.”

Tucker folded his arms over his chest. Play stupid, just play stupid. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t?” Weston said lightly through his glaring eyes. He snatched the apple out of the air mid-toss and stalked over to Tucker, jabbing his finger into his chest. This close, Tucker could smell the deodorant Weston had sprayed on his body after basketball practice. “The rest of this school may think it was just Danny, but I know all about your double life too. You can’t fool me. I know you didn’t make the honor roll last year through any real academic merits.”

“Maybe I’m just smarter than you think, Weston.”

“Oh, I know you’re smarter than everyone else thinks. Trust me.” He took a step back and tore out another chunk of the apple. “And I know you played a bigger role in your little secret trio ghost fighting club than anyone knows.”

Tucker glanced around knowing that everyone had left the school property long ago. He would have been long gone too, had he not needed to make up this English exam. But it was worth it. He needed to appear in court for Danny. He had worked too damn hard to get his friend out of that hellhole, and he would never forgive himself if he let school get in the way of this rescue operation now.

With the assurance they were truly alone, he finally dropped his shoulders and hissed, “So what if I did? You gonna go tattle to the government?”

“No…” Weston’s gaze finally flickered away from Tucker. “But I’m just wondering what you’re going to do if he loses the trial.”

“He’s not going to lose.”

“He might.”

“He won’t,” Tucker said. “He can’t. I worked—I—he can’t lose. He can’t.”

Weston’s keen perception and ability to get under Tucker’s skin were all too annoying. “So you’ve already done something, then?”

“Yeah, Weston, it’s called spending weeks trapped in a room with lawyers being hounded by questions about my best friend. The fuck did you think I’ve been up to?”

“As I said, I’m not an idiot. You’re a hacker. What sort of revenge have you been planning?”

God, Tucker could scream. Did this moron actually think that just because he waited for Tucker after school, that suddenly meant all secrets would be revealed?

They weren’t even friends! They had never been friends! Just because Weston figured out who Danny was, didn’t mean shit!

But he forced his anger back down, he forced that urge to punch Weston in his stupid freckled face down, he forced his shaking fists into his hoodie pockets. “I haven’t planned anything, dumbass. Why would I risk Danny’s freedom like that?”

“Because you know the government is never going to give him up. He’s too powerful. You know this.”

He did know this.

“Judges don’t care what the stupid Guys in White want.”

“They don’t?” Weston said. “Huh, that’s news to me. I didn’t know the US Judicial system was so flawless. Better go correct the history books, then.” He made a big show of biting into his apple, chomping loudly as he said through a muddled jaw, “I guess the government will just have to give up a massive bio-weapon and unlimited source of ecto-energy when some random judge asks them nicely to hand Phantom over. I’m sure it’ll go over well.”

The urge to punch Weston in the face was growing stronger by the second.

“Whatever, Wes,” Tucker bit out. “If you’re just gonna be a dick, then I’m done talking to you. Unlike you, I actually have things to do. Like, you know, saving my friend’s life.”

“No, come on.” Weston grabbed Tucker’s arm, who didn’t hesitate to rip himself out of Weston’s grip. “Listen, I know you’re planning some sort of revenge against the GIW. Come on, I can help.”

“I’m not planning anything,” Tucker reiterated. Mentally, he noted that it was because he’d already done it by releasing the videos. “And even if I were, I’d never tell you.”

“I can be useful. Admit it, the fact that I figured out who Danny really was two years before anyone else did? That was impressive.”

Tucker snorted. “Sure, and we can forget the part where you stalked us trying to out Danny and sell him to the government. What’s wrong, Weston, feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse?” He whirled back around to face the other boy. “You got your wish, didn’t you? You spent years trying to sell him out to the Guys in White, and guess what? Eventually, they got him! And then the videos came out and it turned out, you were fucking right about Danny being a halfa. Wes was right all fucking along! So congrats, Wes, truly. You got your wish. Now go celebrate with someone else and leave me alone.”

When Weston finally said nothing in return, Tucker let the anger fade. The fists in his pocket uncurled, and the tightness in his neck released. He sighed and toed the patchy grass. “My best friend was kidnapped, dude. I don’t really care about your guilt or whatever it is you’re feeling. I’m just trying to get him back.” His voice cracked at the end, but he didn’t care anymore.

Tucker wasn’t some macho, tough guy. He was just a sixteen-year-old geek who liked to fool around with computer programs and play video games with his friends on the weekend. He didn’t want all…this.

But he didn’t have a choice.

“Just leave me alone,” Tucker said.

“Foley…listen, I’m sorry, okay? And—and you don’t need to recruit me. But you’re gonna have to think of something. The government’s never going to let Danny go. The videos were good, but they won’t be good enough. This isn’t the first time torture has been uncovered by the federal government.”

Tucker continued staring at the ground. He knew this…he really did…but…

“The public pressure,” he tried.

“It won’t matter.”

Tucker gnawed at his lip. “This isn’t about revenge, Weston.”

“Okay, fine. But you’ll still have to do something. And correct me if I’m wrong, but based on what you’ve already done, I don’t think this will be too challenging for you.”

Surprise flickered through Tucker, but before he could process what Weston was talking about, the taller teen had already grabbed his backpack and shouldered past him.

“Just think about it, okay?”

And then Weston was strolling to the parking lot, whistling with an ease that suggested nothing but pure innocence. Like he hadn’t just spent the past few minutes conspiring with Tucker.

Leaving Tucker standing there, alone, stunned.

Had Wes really…?

But no. No one knew about that.

Danny would be fine. Tucker had done enough. He had to have. What more could he give? What more could he do to get Danny out of there?

There was nothing else…right?

Right?

****

chapter 1 / chapter 3

#danny phantom #dp side hoes week 2023 #phicc #my writing #wes weston

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raaorqtpbpdy · 1 year

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Death by Exposure

Written for the Phic Phight Prompts: At first Danny had been worried sick that Wes had figured out that he was Phantom, but when no one believed him it had sort of become funny. Still, after the anti-ecto act, and the GIW, and his own parents very public very violently vitriolic screeds against ghosts, Danny had to wonder what he'd ever done to Wes that the guy would risk exposing Danny to all that. (from @hpwotters-blog, or at least I think that's you're tumblr.), and Wes Weston wakes up to find an injured Phantom on the fire escape. (from @half-deadmagicperson)

With how much time he spends on basketball and his delusional conspiracy theories, no one would ever suspect that Wes Weston has another secret hobby… (from @kadziduo)

Another prompt that will be included in later chapters but isn't as of this one:

And Wes has been spending more and more time around Fenton and Co. lately - hey! he’s only trying to get some much-needed evidence against them, not trying to get all buddy-buddy with them. And anyway, they’re an entirely annoying bunch, so he wholeheartedly blames them for the fact that he’s currently being monologued at by the ghost holding him hostage. (from @a-closet-emo)

Chapter 4: Expositor

AO3 Link

[Warning for mentions of blood and violence]

Danny used a damp washcloth the clean off what was left of the blood and ectoplasm from his skin before changing, first from ghost to human, and then, once he was back in his own clean clothes, into the pajamas. When he returned to the bedroom, Wes was gone.

Danny didn't really wonder where Wes had gone because he didn't really care. He was completely wiped from everything that had happened that night, and he just wanted to get some sleep. Crossing the room, he flopped face down onto the bare bed. Without any kind of sheet or comforter, the mattress was lumpy and not very comfortable. Danny hardly noticed.

He adjusted himself so he was laying near the edge to make it easier to breathe and was just about to drift off when his arm slipped off the mattress and brushed against something hard. Not wanting to open his eyes, Danny felt around blindly until his fingers closed around something flat and solid wedged between the mattress and the bed frame. It was a close race, but his curiosity one out over his exhaustion and he pushed himself into a sitting position to see what it was.

In his hands, Danny held some kind of journal. At first, he thought it was Wes' diary, and that he should put it back because even if it was Wes, Danny wasn't enough of a jerk to read someone's diary; then he considered the far more likely possibility that it was filled with Wes' evidence of Danny's dual identity, and he should check it out, for his safety. What Danny actually found when he opened the journal was the last thing he would have ever expected.

Birds.

Each page had a photograph of a bird, along with some writing, in Wes' own hand, about what the bird was, and where and when he had seen it. Danny stared at the pages in absolute shock as he flipped through them. Danny almost laughed out loud when he read a clearly very excited entry about a bird called the Red Knot which was apparently endangered in Illinois, but that Wes had spotted out at Lake Eerie over the summer.

"Sorry, it took longer than I thought to wash all that shit off my hands. They still smell like rubbing alcohol," Wes said as he came in. "Make yourself comf—why do you have that?" he interrupted himself when he saw what Danny was holding. He stomped over and snatched the journal out of Danny's hands, snapping it shut.

"You have a bird watching journal?" Danny asked incredulously.

Wes opened his desk drawer, tossed the journal haphazardly inside, and slammed it shut again. "I like bird watching. Is that a crime?"

"No it's just," Danny laughed at the absurdity of it all, "Between basketball and obsessively stalking me and trying to expose me as Phantom, I didn't think you had time for–" he snorted, and brought a hand up to his mouth to cover the amused smile there–"bird watching." He couldn't hold it in anymore, Danny burst out laughing, interspersed with winces as the action irritated his injuries.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Wes said, crossing his arms with a scowl. "I have a life outside of you, you know. You think I got binoculars with adjustable magnification just to watch you? Don't flatter yourself."

"Ouch! But, seriously, bird watching?"

"It's peaceful and relaxing!"

"You're such a nerd!"

"Well what do you do when you have free time?" Wes demanded indignantly. "Let me guess, you spend your time playing video games, right?"

"You mean a normal hobby that most teenagers engage in?" Danny pointed out. "Yeah, I do."

"You'll rot your brain."

"Whatever, nerd!"

"Shut up." Wes pouted. "You just got shot four times. Shouldn't you be resting or something? Go to fucking sleep." He crouched down to lay out his bedding on the floor.

"When do you even find time do go bird watching?" Danny asked laughingly.

"I thought I told you to go to sleep!"

"Alright, alright!" Danny laid down again and Wes got up to switch the light off before climbing into his makeshift bed on the floor. For a while, Danny stayed quiet, but he just couldn't help himself. "What's the rarest bird you've ever seen?"

"Shut up!" Wes groaned and whacked Danny with a pillow.

"Fine!" That lasted all of seven seconds. "But what is it?"

Wes sighed, but Danny could hear the smile in his voice when he finally answered. "I saw an island scrub Jay once, when my family took a vacation to Santa Cruz a couple summers ago. They're so pretty, and they're like, one of the rarest birds in the states; it was pretty awesome. They literally only live on Santa Cruz Island and nowhere else, because they're non-migratory. I spent the whole trip looking for one. Kyle and Easton spent the whole trip making fun of me for it."

Danny laughed again. "Nerd."

"If you don't wanna know, don't fucking ask!" Wes whacked him with a pillow again and he sputtered momentarily. "Go to sleep already."

"How did you even get into bird watching?" Danny asked. "That's not a normal hobby for a kid to have." Wes sighed again.

"If you're just gonna call me a nerd again, I'm not gonna tell you."

"I promise I won't call you a nerd."

Wes didn't answer right away, probably not trusting the promise, but just when Danny thought he'd decided to just go to sleep he answered.

"My mom's a flight attendant, so when I was little I used to watch the sky all the time and keep an eye out for planes, try to guess which one she was on, you know?" he explained. "Turns out, when you watch the sky all day, you end up seeing a some cool-looking birds, so when I was seven or eight, I asked for a camera for my birthday so I could take pictures of them, and it sort of spiraled from there."

"That's... kinda sweet, actually," Danny said.

"Whatever."

"You know, I do like video games, but actually, I'm also really into astronomy," Danny said.

"And you called me a nerd."

"Hey, bird watching is way nerdier than stargazing," Danny defended. "I mean ask literally anyone. Stargazing is, like, romantic and crap, bird watching is full-on nerdy."

"Sure, space geek," Wes said. "What's your favorite dwarf planet?"

"Haumea," Danny answered immediately, without even having to think about it.

"Knowing any dwarf planet besides Pluto is well into full-on nerd territory."

"Haumea spins so fast that gravity makes it oblong instead of round; tell me that's not cool!"

"Okay, it's a little cool, but you're still a nerd. Go to sleep."

They ended up staying a little later, swapping fun facts about birds and space, eventually falling asleep at almost five in the morning. Thankfully, spring break afforded them the opportunity to sleep in as long as they wanted. When they eventually woke up, Danny didn't leave Wes' place right away.

Wes brought him a sandwich for breakfast/lunch, and helped him change his bandages. Although, it unsettled Wes to see the difference in blood composition between Danny's two forms. It would be a couple more days before the wounds fully closed, but the bleeding had stopped. As long as Danny was still healing, his ecto-signature would be stronger, even in his human form, which meant going home was a no-go.

"What do you mean your house will attack you?" Wes asked, horrified.

"My parents have a very sophisticated anti-ghost security system," Danny explained. "I can pass through in my human form well enough as long as I don't use any of my powers, but if I so much as have my ghost sense go off, it activates and I have a dozen anti-ghost weapons in my face. It'll definitely target me with my enhanced healing working, but I can't exactly turn that off."

"Alright, fair enough," Wes said. "But you can't stay here. My dad's not that observant, but Kyle will definitely notice if you stay any longer, and neither of us wants that, trust me."

"That's fine," Danny said. "Tucker's house is empty right now, and I know where they keep the spare key. I'll camp out there for a few days. And, uh, once I can get into my house again, I'll bring you some of my parents' Fenton Detergent that'll work on ectoplasm stains so you don't have to buy new towels."

"Good, because I couldn't really afford to anyway," Wes said, his shoulders slumping in relief. "I'll come check on you at Tucker's, just in case."

"You will?" Danny asked, surprised.

"Of course," Wes said. "I won't be able to sleep if I don't know you're okay, not after, you know, everything." Ah, so he felt guilty. Alright, that made sense.

"Okay, well... thanks," Danny said, face splitting into a smile, "for, you know, everything." He started to climb out onto the fire escape, ready to leave.

"Yeah, no problem."

"And good luck with the bird watching," Danny tacked on as he transformed into Phantom and jumped off the fire escape.

"Oh, fuck off!" Wes shouted, running to the window to flip the ghost off while he laughed, turning invisible to keep the patrols off is tail as he made a beeline for Tucker's place to lay low.

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#phic phight #phic phight 2023 #fic #things i wrote #dp #danny phantom #danny fenton #wes weston #death by exposure

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yank-a-ton · 2 years

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I keep thinking how Michael gave the feds Trevor's name so he didn't have access to his savings. And Lester and the crew bailed on him right after. Michael telling him to run in Ludendorff was his guilt talking yet it was also a condemnation to a much slower death than just getting shot. Gosh I love these scumbags! How do you reconcile feeling bad for Trevor while also recognizing that he's terrible and kind of deserves it?

Hi im in love with you. that first half of your message means everything to me lol

Thats a hard question. I think the way I reconcile my overall view of trevor is in how much I respect the writing for his character. He's meant to be a horrible individual, absolute hell on earth. But they needed good reason for him to be terrifying rather than having us accept at point blank hes just like that. I think they just did too good of a job in the end lol

It really speaks to how fleshed out these characters are that when you see these glimpses into Trevor's background with abandonment and every type of abuse under the sun, you really feel for the guy. You have these events in the game framed like comedy where even the most diehard gta muscleheads came away from the cutscenes feeling gross or sad. That's a big achievement by r☆. Trevor sobbing on the floor of his trailer after his mother abandons him I think is one of those bigger moments where the majority of players had less of a "haha, Trevor is having another wacky day" response and more of a "huh. That wasnt very fun actually." You see this guy who just wants one person in his life to give a shit, who has these outbursts for attention not caring if its good or bad. It makes him really sympathetic. All while knowing hes a serial killer and probably definitely a cannibal. (And a shit ton of other things. Sorry cousin Floyd)

The first thing we see him do is curb stomp Johnny to death, and we still somehow find a way to enjoy his character by the end of the game. He was written well, and having a universe like gta where every character is a bastard in one way or another, it makes it easy to look past his atrocities for other moments. Little things like him refusing to kill Mr. K right after torturing him stand out especially. He has his own set of morals, mostly hanging on loyalty and honesty, and hes steadfast to them. Its funny cuz your brain sort of goes 'why focus on trevor murdering anonymous hitchhikers in his spare time, when Devon Weston is being a massive dick right now. I hate this guy'

#talkaton #sorry i took so long to answer this was a really good ask #it was hard not to just talk about the stuff you said in the beginning thats one of my favorite parts of the Michael trevor debacle lmao

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randomvarious · 6 months

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Today's compilation:

25 Hard-to-Find Motown Classics, Vol. 3 1986 R&B / Soul

Alright, folks, I can't tell you what next week will bring, but rest assured that this is my last Motown comp for this particular week. And while I've been having a whole lot of fun with some surface-skimming chart-toppers over the past couple days, today, to close out this little Motown stretch that I've been on, we change course by digging a bit deeper, and getting to know some much more underrated soul and R&B gems from the enormous catalog of this indispensable juggernaut of black popular music.

I really don't even know where to begin with this final and third dispatch from this 25 Hard-to-Find Motown Classics series, but I suppose we can start with the most well-known song of the entire bunch, one-hit-wonder The Contours' "Do You Love Me," a super catchy and dancy bit of R&B from 1961 that featured the infectiously passionate shrieks of lead singer Billy Gordon. Motown owner Berry Gordy actually intended for this song to go to The Temptations, who themselves had not scored a hit yet either, but when Gordy wanted them to come and record the song, he was unable to locate them. So, he enlisted the struggling Contours to perform it to his liking instead; and they obliged, managing to net a #3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with it.

A number of much less successful Contours singles would then end up following that one too, like 1966's terrific and uptempo "Just a Little Misunderstanding," which didn't appear on any of the group's studio albums, and was their first hit to not feature Billy Gordon on lead, either. Instead, they used Joseph Stubbs, brother of The Four Tops' own frontman Levi Stubbs, and it would turn out to be the only time that Joseph would actually lead a Contours single, as he'd vacate from the group and Motown altogether soon after. But did I mention that this song that only made it to #88 on the Hot 100 was also composed by Stevie Wonder and that he played drums on it too?😯

Now, there's so many other very high-quality tunes in this collection that I could extensively go on about here, from Kim Weston's underappreciated and heart-poured "Love Me All the Way," to a trio of songs that showcase the tremendous, high-pitched tenderness of Eddie Holland, to the Isley Brothers' "Behind a Painted Smile," which never actually managed to chart in the US; but I can't go anywhere today without gushing over this album's closer, "I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is," by the mononymously named Blinky. This lady's biggest claim to fame ended up being that she supplied the lead female vocal to the theme song for the 1970s sitcom Good Times, but this debut single of hers, which was actually written by none other than Ashford & Simpson, is really something else. It comes with wonderfully dramatic drum fills that accompany her own dynamic and very powerful voice. Blinky would unfortunately end up falling through the cracks at Motown, but she totally slayed on this underrated, rollercoastering soul nugget here 😍.

So, this is really one of the greatest Motown comps of all time, as far as I'm concerned. It's nowhere near being a cheat-code release that's made up some of the label's most popular hits, and instead digs into the vaults in order to assemble a batch of largely underheard gold.

Highlights:

Kim Weston - "Take Me In Your Arms" Kim Weston - "Love Me All the Way" Velvelettes - "A Bird in the Hand (Is Worth Two in the Bush)" Tammi Terrell - "Come On and See Me" Shorty Long - "Devil With the Blue Dress" Edwin Starr - "Agent Double O Soul" Edwin Starr - "(S.O.S.) Stop Her On Sight" Eddie Holland - "Leaving Here" Eddie Holland - "Just Ain't Enough Love" Eddie Holland - "Candy to Me" The Isley Brothers - "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" The Isley Brothers - "Behind a Painted Smile" Detroit Spinners - "Truly Yours" The Contours - "Just a Little Misunderstanding" The Contours - "Do You Love Me" Marv Johnson - "Why Do You Want to Let Me Go" The Elgins - "Stay in My Lonely Arms" The Elgins - "Put Yourself in My Place" Blinky - "I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is"

#r&b #r & b #soul #soul music #oldies #music #60s #60s music #60's #60's music #70s #70s music #70's #70's music

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johnnys-helmet · 2 years

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MASH: S10E10 Follies of the Living, Concerns of the Dead

My Thoughts

Seeing everyone gather to help Klinger makes me really warm inside. My favorite thing about this show is the found family and this hits it right on the head.

Klinger hallucinating and talking to a pole while the dog looks on in confusion is so funny

So is him just falling onto the cot

This is one of those episodes where I feel really bad for Father Mulcahy. To feel like the only thing you're needed for is sending off the dead...it must hurt so bad.

I also feel really bad for Weston. I know the implication is that Klinger is hallucinating but I believe in spirits and to see a spirit afraid of leaving the waking world is so powerful to me as someone with a fear of death.

The arbitrary things the doctors argue about while Weston is struggling with being dead and fearing what comes next is so sad and so funny at the same time. The juxtaposition is like getting whiplash over and over again. This show really loves juxtapositions and I love that they do.

Kario Salem does such a fantastic job as Jimmy Weston in this episode. He does a fantastic job at making you feel for this poor kid who deserved to live but had his life torn away from him by a war that none of them wanted to be in.

Getting to posthumously go over your final belongings and remember your life through watching other people discuss them is such an interesting idea to me. Getting to connect with people you never knew and never will know.

As someone that has had a 104 fever I feel for Klinger so bad because I had no idea what the fuck was going on at any given time.

Waking up after being torn up like a piece of paper to find out your best friend is dead is so horrifying. I couldn't imagine this.

"Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?"

Father John Patrick Mulcahy I need you to stop hitting me so hard with religious text that makes me feel things.

Trying desperately to convince your friends not to grieve you is too real.

Klinger: I see dead people vs Potter: Shut the hell up is a very funny moment

I could never imagine being invisible like this. No one being able to hear or see you...it's gotta be so scary and frustrating.

Weston talking about what he'd miss...god.

And Margaret being a badass and him telling her to "go get em slugger" god i will CRY.

"I've written a lot of these letters, son." someone please give potter a hug.

I want so badly to know how I will be remembered. In a way I envy Weston for getting to see that.

Margaret trying to get mad and just stammering god she's so neurodivergent I love her

Winchester, Hawkeye, and BJ drinking together and talking about rats and the plague and playing with clamps are also very neurodivergent and I love their characters so much

Weston starting to drift to the other side and not understanding what's going on while the members of the Swamp toasting to the horrors of war is such a surreal scene.

To Charles!

Hearing the trivial and serious arguments and struggles of the camp only to see Weston passing to the other side is so...whew.

I love that they leave where they're going open-ended. You can believe what you want to believe and they allow that.

I love everyone excitedly greeting Klinger and Klinger just caring about what happened to this kid he never met...I adore Klinger

If people listened to each other more this show would have been over in two episodes.

And that's all for this episode! It's a very memorable one but it's also very hard to watch because it's so sad. (Not nearly on the level of the finale, but sad.) I adore it, and I wish we got to see more surreal stuff like that (like Dreams). They were very good at portraying stuff like this.

#m*a*s*h #mash #s10e10 follies of the living concerns of the dead #mash episode analysis

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d-u-s-t-9379 · 1 year

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Chapter 57: I’ve Already Eaten

Eaten what? I don't think we want to know.

***

The Suggestion of Silence (162826 words) by d_U_s_t

Chapters: 57/?

Fandom: Grand Theft Auto V, Grand Theft Auto Series (Video Games)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationships: Michael De Santa/Original Female Character(s), Trevor Philips/Original Female Character(s)

Characters: Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, Franklin Clinton, Lester Crest, Original Female Character(s), Steve Haines, Devin Weston

Additional Tags: Kidnapping, Science Fiction, Romance, Slow Burn, Violence, Humor, Action, Non-Explicit Sex, Protectiveness, Possessive Behavior, Age Difference, Slow Build, Jealousy, Love Triangles, Older Man/Younger Woman, Sexual Tension, Canon Era, Canon Rewrite, Angst, Pining, Some Fluff, Whump

Summary:

‘Because that’s how you get people to stay. You tie them to you with strings of crime; drugs; violence; murder. And then they can’t ever leave, because they’re either like Wade – too addicted and useless to survive without you – or Floyd – too culpable in your insanity to get away clean.’

‘I don’t give a fuck about Wade or Floyd! I just want you…’

How does a rescue become a kidnapping?

Well, after encountering the unholy trinity Ashley Harding is about to find out. And with secrets in her past she would rather not be brought to light, there’s nothing that could be less conducive to the quiet life of her dreams than the sudden scrutiny she’s found herself under. So why does she find the lives of these three hot-headed, criminally inclined, completely psychotic men so alluring?

When the intelligent thing would be to run as far and as fast in the opposite direction – why is she finding herself drawn ever deeper into this strange, dangerous, and ultimately thrilling new world?

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squids-comics · 3 months

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Expedition Log Three: The Knowing (Part Four)

Expedition log three, Chief Officer Gray speaking.

It has been almost four hours since Lieutenant Volkov took Dr. Weston into the cave in search of life. I have not had contact with either one since they entered. Dr. Magna was able to find a sizeable water table beneath the surface, showing that a settlement will be possible if Weston comes back with positive results.

"Start the shuttle!"

Was that Volkov? It came from the cave... Magna! Get on the shuttle. Tell Mr. Winters to prepare for takeoff.

"Right away Sir!"

If that was Volkov's voice, he's signaling an emergency extraction. They must have found some sort of hazard. Looks like this planet isn't habitable after all...

"We need to get back to the ship!"

(Volkov appears to be distressed. I still can't see him, but I can hear approaching footsteps. One set. Running.) We will Lieutenant! Mr. Winters is starting the shuttle engine now!

(Volkov has exited the cave. He is holding Dr. Weston in his arms. The Doctor is unresponsive.) What's wrong with Dr. Weston? What happened?

"We need to get him to sick bay! The sooner the better!"

What happened in there?

"We found life. He tried to investigate it and got attacked."

You let him investigate it before assessing risks?

"I tried to stop him, but he ran off."

He ran off? He just... Ran off? And you couldn't stop him?

"Eugene's faster than he looks. He's hard to catch, like a deer in the woods."

This isn't a deer Lieutenant! This is a man! So help me, if another crewman died under your watch...

"Don't you dare bring Dr. Jones into this!"

Why not? You had a simple job to do, and you failed. What good is a security officer if they can't keep anyone safe?

"We don't have time for this! The creature is inside him!"

What?

"Some sort of worm jumped out of the flora. Burrowed it's way through his forehead."

Jesus... He doesn't have any wound on his forehead.

"No. It sealed itself shut while I was carrying him out."

It sealed itself shut? How does that happen?

"I don't know."

Of course you don't! And we can't ask our biologist because he's full of worms!

"You need to drop the attitude Sir. I may not have adequately performed my duties in your eyes today, but I am the most qualified security officer on the ship. I earned the rank of Lieutenant. I served-"

I don't care about your combat record Volkov. That's from Earth. The Earth is dead. And we'll all join it if you keep screwing up like this!

End of log.

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plumbingservicesinweston · 10 months

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24-hours Emergency Plumbing Services in Weston, Florida

Picture this: it's the middle of the night, and you wake up to find your bathroom flooded with water. Panic sets in as you realize there's a serious plumbing problem that needs immediate attention. But fear not! If you're in Weston, Florida, help is just a phone call away. Plumbers 24x7 are here to provide emergency plumbing services around the clock! From residential to commercial properties, kitchen plumbing to remodeling projects - we've got you covered. Keep reading to learn more about our services and why we're the go-to plumbers in Weston when things go wrong at any time of day or night!

-hour emergency plumbing services in Weston, Florida

Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time and often without warning. That's why it's comforting to know that Plumbers 24x7 provide 24-hour emergency plumbing services in Weston, Florida. Whether it's a burst pipe or clogged drain, our team of experienced plumbers is ready to tackle any issue you may have. Our round-the-clock service means that you don't have to wait until normal business hours for help. We understand the stress and hassle of dealing with an unexpected plumbing problem, which is why we offer our services 24/7. At Plumbers 24x7, we pride ourselves on providing quick and efficient solutions to your plumbing problems. Our team will arrive promptly at your doorstep fully equipped with the necessary tools and equipment needed to solve even the most complex issues. Don't hesitate to call us if you're facing a plumbing emergency - no matter what time it is! With our reliable and professional service available around the clock, you can rest assured that your home or business will be back up and running in no time!

Services include:

When it comes to emergency plumbing services in Weston, Florida, there are a range of options available to customers. One of the key factors that differentiates Plumbers 24x7 from other providers is the diverse range of services on offer. For those looking for residential plumbing services in Weston, our team has extensive experience dealing with common household issues such as leaky faucets, clogged drains and malfunctioning toilets. We understand how stressful these problems can be and we work hard to provide fast and effective solutions. In addition to residential plumbing services, we also offer commercial plumbing solutions for businesses in Weston. From restaurants and hotels to small offices and retail stores - we have the skills and expertise required to tackle any issue. Our kitchen plumbing services are designed specifically for homeowners who need assistance with installation or repairs related to their sinks, garbage disposals or dishwashers. With years of experience working in kitchens across South Florida - our team understands what it takes to keep things running smoothly. Remodeling Plumbing Services is one area where we excel at providing high-quality service at affordable prices! Whether you're planning a major renovation or just need some minor adjustments made - our team has got you covered! If you're adding onto your home or business premises - our team can help ensure that all new pipes are installed correctly so that they meet building code requirements while also ensuring optimal functionality over time.

Residential plumbing Services in Weston, Florida

Residential plumbing services in Weston, Florida are essential for maintaining the comfort and safety of your home. From leaky faucets to burst pipes, Plumbers 24x7 is here to help you with any residential plumbing issue that may arise. Our experienced plumbers provide a range of services including repairs, installations, and maintenance for all types of residential plumbing systems. We understand how important it is to have a reliable water supply and functioning drainage system in your home. That’s why we offer fast and efficient services at an affordable price. Whether you need emergency repair or routine maintenance on your plumbing system, our team has the knowledge and expertise needed to get the job done right. We use only high-quality materials and equipment to ensure that our work meets industry standards. At Plumbers 24x7, we pride ourselves on our commitment to customer satisfaction. Our friendly staff will work closely with you to identify the problem quickly and explain all available options for repair or replacement before beginning any work. If you’re looking for reliable residential plumbing services in Weston, Florida look no further than Plumbers 24x7!

Commercial plumbing services in Weston, Florida

Commercial plumbing services in Weston, Florida are essential to keep your business running smoothly. A plumbing emergency can quickly bring operations to a halt and cause significant financial losses. That's why Plumbers 24x7 offers commercial plumbing services that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our team of licensed plumbers is equipped with the latest tools and technology to handle any commercial plumbing issue. From clogged drains and leaky pipes to installation of new fixtures or complete system replacements, we've got you covered. We understand that every business has unique needs when it comes to their plumbing systems. That's why we take the time to assess your specific requirements before recommending the best solutions for your business. We offer customized maintenance plans designed to prevent emergencies from happening in the first place. At Plumbers 24x7, we prioritize efficiency and minimize disruption to your daily operations as much as possible during our work on-site. Our goal is always customer satisfaction, which is why so many businesses in Weston trust us for all their commercial plumbing needs. Don't let a minor problem escalate into an expensive disaster - trust Plumbers 24x7 for all your commercial plumbing needs in Weston!

Kitchen Plumbing Services in Weston

Kitchen plumbing issues can be a major inconvenience for homeowners. Leaky faucets, clogged drains, and broken pipes can all lead to costly repairs if not addressed in a timely manner. At Plumbers 24x7 in Weston, we offer comprehensive kitchen plumbing services to keep your kitchen running smoothly. Our team of expert plumbers is equipped with the latest tools and technology to diagnose and repair any issue you may have with your kitchen plumbing. From installing new fixtures to repairing leaky pipes, we've got you covered. We understand that time is of the essence when it comes to kitchen plumbing issues. That's why we offer fast and reliable service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our emergency response team is always on standby to help you when you need us most. Whether you're dealing with a minor issue like a dripping faucet or need major repairs like pipe replacement or sewer line cleaning, our skilled plumbers will get the job done right the first time around. So don't let kitchen plumbing problems disrupt your daily routine - call Plumbers 24x7 for fast and dependable service today!

Remodeling Plumbing Services in Weston

Remodeling your home is an exciting process, but it can also be stressful. One thing that should not add to the stress is dealing with plumbing issues during the remodel. This is where remodeling plumbing services in Weston come into play. When you are remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, you may need to relocate pipes and fixtures to accommodate the new layout. This requires a professional plumber who has experience with remodeling projects. Plumbers 24x7 in Weston offers expert remodeling plumbing services that will make sure your project runs smoothly without any hiccups. Our team of experienced plumbers will work closely with you and your contractor to ensure that every detail of the project is taken care of promptly and professionally. From installing new sinks, faucets, showers, toilets and tubs, our experts have got you covered for all your remodeling needs. We understand how important it is for homeowners to stick within their budget when they undertake a large-scale renovation like this one. That's why we offer competitive pricing based on each specific job we do - no hidden fees! In addition to providing high-quality workmanship at affordable prices, we also use only premium materials from reputable suppliers so that our clients receive top-notch service every time they hire us for their plumbing needs. If you're planning a remodel in Weston area, contact Plumbers 24x7 today! Our skilled technicians provide exceptional service throughout Weston Florida & nearby regions including Southwest Ranches, Davie, Plantation, Cooper City,Sunrise etc..

Additions

Additions are a popular renovation choice for homeowners who need more space but don't want to move. They can be added onto any part of the house, whether it's the second floor or behind the garage. One of the most common additions is adding another bedroom or bathroom to accommodate growing families. When planning an addition, it's important to consider factors such as permits and zoning requirements. Hiring a professional plumber is also crucial to ensure that all plumbing systems are properly installed and up-to-code. The cost of an addition varies depending on size, materials used, and complexity of the project. However, investing in an addition can increase your home's value and provide you with more living space for years to come. If you're considering an addition for your home in Weston, Florida – make sure to consult with professionals who have experience working with residential plumbing services. It will save time, money and give peace of mind knowing that everything was done right from start till end!

Cost of emergency plumbing services in Weston, Florida

When it comes to plumbing emergencies, time is of the essence. However, many homeowners and business owners in Weston, Florida may be hesitant to call for emergency plumbing services due to concerns about the cost. The truth is that the cost of emergency plumbing services can vary depending on a number of factors such as the severity of the problem and the time of day or night. While it may seem costly upfront, delaying repairs could lead to more extensive damage and higher costs down the line. At Plumbers 24x7 in Weston, we offer competitive pricing for our emergency plumbing services without sacrificing quality or efficiency. We understand that unexpected plumbing issues can cause stress and disruption to your daily routine which is why we strive to provide affordable solutions as quickly as possible. Our team will assess your situation and provide you with an estimated cost before beginning any work so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay. Additionally, we offer financing options for those who need assistance covering their expenses. Remember - investing in emergency plumbing services now can save you money in repair costs later on. Don't hesitate to contact us at Plumbers 24x7 if you're experiencing a plumbing emergency in Weston!

Why choose Plumbers 24x7 in Weston, Florida?

When it comes to emergency plumbing services in Weston, Florida, you need reliable professionals who can fix the issue quickly and efficiently. That’s where Plumbers 24x7 comes in – our team of licensed plumbers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle any plumbing emergency that may arise. But why choose Plumbers 24x7 over other local plumbing companies? For starters, we have extensive experience with both residential and commercial plumbing systems. Whether you need help fixing a leaky faucet at home or repairing a burst pipe at your business, we’ve got you covered. In addition to our expertise, we also offer fair and transparent pricing for all of our services. We understand that unexpected plumbing emergencies can be stressful enough without having to worry about hidden fees or surprise charges – that’s why we always provide upfront estimates before starting any work. When you choose Plumbers 24x7 for your emergency plumbing needs in Weston, you can rest easy knowing that we stand behind our work with a satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you’re not completely satisfied with the job we’ve done, simply let us know and we’ll make it right. If you want fast response times from experienced professionals who offer fair pricing and guaranteed satisfaction on their workmanship - look no further than Plumbers 24x7!

FAQ's

After reading about the 24-hour emergency plumbing services offered in Weston, Florida by Plumbers 24x7, you can see why they are a top choice for both residential and commercial customers. With their expertise in kitchen remodeling and additions, as well as their commitment to affordable pricing and exceptional customer service, it's no wonder that they have become a go-to emergency plumbing service for those living in Weston. If you still have questions or concerns about their services or pricing options, be sure to check out their FAQ section on their website. The team at Plumbers 24x7 is always available to answer your questions and help you get the assistance you need during an unexpected plumbing crisis. Don't wait until it's too late - contact Plumbers 24x7 today for all your emergency plumbing needs in Weston!

#Weston Plumbers #Plumbing Services in Weston #Plumber near me in Weston #Plumbing Contractor in Weston #Emergency Plumber in Weston

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tmisaccidentreportbook · 1 year

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MAG028, Skintight

Case #0161704, Melanie King Release date: July 6, 2016 First listen: Somewhere between the 20th October and the 5th November. On the way into work I think, I have vague memories of walking out of the cul de sac as Melanie was talking about cigarette smoke.

As someone who greatly enjoys the antics of The Ghoul Boys and BuzzFeed Unsolved and Watcher’s Ghost Files, I would subscribe to Ghost Watch UK in a heart beat. As an aside, starfleetrambo has an au within an au with Jon and Martin in the roles of Ryan and Shane in Ghost Files that sustains me.

- Once again, in the style of Grizzop drik acht Amsterdam around the 41minute mark of RQG 92 – Bringing Down The House LYDIA!… wait… ah, the introduction of Ms Melanie King, taker of no shit, giver of no quarter. I love her. I love this rabid terrier of a woman.

- The TMA to RQG pipeline is real fam.

- ‘People like a show. People like our show.’ Do I watch Ghost Files because I what proof of the exisitance of ghosts? No. Do I watch it to see two idiots, one having a great time and the other skirting the edges of self inflicted heart failure. Yes, absolutely. Melanie knows it’s a show, that it’s showbiz, at least at this stage of her understanding. And showbiz is a vicious battle for attention and survival. You’ve got to get the audience to like you as much as what you are presenting. She can be forgiven for P.T. Barnum-ing it up a little.

- ‘We are not ‘paranormal investigators’. We are researchers. Scholars.’ Hear as Jon clutches his Oxford degree to his chest like it’s his maiden virtue. I don’t think there’s that much between what Melanie and Jon do, just that it either the research is implemented or catalogued. Probably why they rub each other up the wrong way so much; they are some very similar in a lot of ways, one key one being the all encompassing need to appear in control and competent at all times.

- ‘…when you can just tell a story to the Magnus Institute!’ Stories. Stories man. We’ve being doing it since communication was a thing. I may be neck deep in The Sandman meta at the moment but in Rusty Quill Gaming, Alexander spoke of the team and said ‘No, we're not commoners, we're wildly unoptimized bards’ and I have taken that to heart my friends. Stories,. Songs. Let me drown in them. OK, gushing aside, it does come down to the stories for the Institute and The Eye. Jon finds himself tracking down stories from people on the street in series 4, just to make it thought the day. They’re not statements any more, not accounts of events for inspection and dissection. They’re stories, priceless as they are.

- ‘None of your ‘respectable’, paranormal investigators would believe you?’ That’s got to be hard though, when you know your own tribe won’t get it, won’t support you.

- Cambridge Military Hospital. Right, had no idea where this was going to be, I did not anticipate it being in Cambridge despite the name, and I was right there. It’s part of Aldershot Garrison town in Hampshire, population 10,500, which blows my mind a little. I mean, I knew garrisons are a thing, but it’s basically a company town… run by the army. Anyway, it’s a heck of a lot further outside of London than I anticipated. And I have a new level of respect that Ghost Hunt UK managed to talk they way into a MOD strong hold.

- January 2015, she’s been sitting on this for over a year at this point.

- According to the wiki, the hospital was closed on 2 February 1996 due to the high cost of running the old building as well as the discovery of asbestos in the walls. stares of into the middle distance with the knowledge of just how close I come to being in contact with the devil’s insulating candy floss on the regs. In 2014 permission was granted for the hospital to be converted to provide housing. The hospital building was given a Grade 2 listing and redeveloped at a cost of £60 million for residential use by Weston Homes in May 2019, 3 years after this statement was given. The main building finished in 1879 has been converted to include 74 apartments with large communal foyers and spaces in addition to a large penthouse incorporating the building's clock tower… And a part of my soul just died.

- ‘Illegal?’ ‘Unorthodox! And hey, the worst that we’ve ever got before was a fine.’ Ok, so you lose points you had gained when I thought you’d managed administrative and logistical wizardry, and Melanie, this is a site on an operational garrison town, the worst you could have gotten this time around could have been a lot more than a fine.

- I’m just saying, you need a Tim on your team. You need someone who can flirt you through the door.

- I wonder how hard Jon had to bite his tongue to keep from saying anything when Melanie mentions Georgie Barker. Ah Georgie, another TMA lady who I love dearly. I can only imagine Melanie isn’t looking at Jon in that moment because I imagine the face was doing something.

- Sarah Baldwin, pretty sure that’s a MAG001 Anglerfish name. Yup, disappeared from around Old Fishmarket Close in August 2006. So it’s been a little over 9 years she’s been part of The Stranger. Got into sound engineering, interesting, but The Stranger did always seem to come for the artistic types. I wonder how Georgie came across her, and if her ‘anti-fear’ vibes fucked with Sarah in anyway? Or was the ‘bit unsocial’ Sarah keeping out of range of Georgie’s magnetic field?

- ‘…but when we pulled up the building seemed dark. I don’t think it was abandoned or anything like that, but it certainly didn’t seem like anyone was home.’ Do all of The Anglerfish’s victims just live together now in one abandoned flat complex? I’d watch that show.

- ‘…because if we don’t have a sound tech, we don’t have a show.’ I’m looking at you Alexander Jalexander Newall. I see you and I love you, but sweet mercy man, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t you try to sidle out Jonny, you’re in this discussion too.

- ‘I was just about ready to scream in frustration,’ Melanie was such an easy target for The Slaughter, with rage so close to the surface.

- The close cropped hair, the seemingly temperature inappropriate clothing. I don’t think Sarah’s experiencing some things like she once did. Like, maybe, endothermic metabolism. If you keep your hair cropped close, probably going to be harder for folks to realise it isn’t growing.

- Smoking maybe something Sarah had retained from before she was ‘fished’, The Anglerfish asked for cigarettes after all, or it may be to mask the lack of a natural scent or the mustiness of taxidermy. It’s probably just Melanie’s word choice, but the fact that Sarah’s ‘puffing away’ makes it sound like she’d having to work for it. Or is this just another case of ‘Spike smokes in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, despite not needing to breath’?

- I was wondering if the ‘sharp and faintly floral’ smell may have been the result of taxidermy related chemicals, but the key one I found, Borax, apparently doesn't have a scent?

- ‘It’s a pretty imposing building, the sharp-tipped clocktower above the main hall.’ I suddenly flash forward 170 odd episodes to the tower in London.

- Yeah, from Sarah’s reaction, I’m sticking with my theory that The Slaughter and The Stranger really don’t like each other, even if they share some behaviour patterns.

- Give me the emotional angle, give me The Grey Lady’s tale. I want to go watch BBC’s Ghosts now.

- ‘…the shade of red they had used kept making me think that they were blood splashes…’ Might not be the surveying teams, might be The Slaughter not cleaning up after itself.

- ‘Silk will not stitch the butcher’s meat’. Erm… Ok I have thoughts. First off, raw ass line, wow. Next, are we seeing a commentary on the plight of veterans after conflict, how sometimes token and guilded efforts of support won’t fix what’s happened, fine silk to gussy up butchered flesh? Or am I seeing The Flesh and The Web poking in?

- Yeah, Sarah probably doesn’t require sleep and more than likely had just been lying there. Waiting.

- Melanie makes some interesting choices when she goes looking for Sarah; not waking the others, even just to have someone watching the equipment, not taking a torch instead using one of the cameras. Gives a little bit of an insight into her priorities that one, the work comes first.

- The unaccountable presence of the place, The Slaughter in the very bones of the building.

- ‘It smelled of copper, with another scent beneath it, acrid and sour, with the faintest hint of ammonia.’ Old blood and piss.

- Sarah speaking to whatever face of The Slaughter resided in the Cambridge Military Hospital in a ‘low, quick and desperate’ voice, ‘like pleading’. I wonder if Sarah went looking to make contact with The Slaughter, looking to treat and explain and apologise, rather than wait for whatever wrath the invasion might earn. She could have potentially have waited the night out, but the retribution may have come all the harder.

- ‘With her bag next to her,’ had she been planning on running?

- Whatever has happened to Sarah since becoming an agent of The Stranger, it appears to have left her human enough to leave ‘a smear of blood left on the wall’.

- ‘She shouted something into the room, this time in a language I didn’t understand’… Huh?

- Dear reader, when I heard the description of Sarah peeling her own arm, I had to stop and take a few fortifying breaths. I’ve kept horses for a lot of my life, and I had one idiot gelding de-glove his back leg. If you don’t know what de-gloving is, by the stars and all the little green planets, do not google image search it, just don’t. But yeah, my boy had a wound about the length of my forearm on him. That’s what I see when I hear Melanie talk about Sarah peeling her own skin.

- ‘…the recording is so distorted that you can’t really make anything out.’ The Entities once again fucking with digital media.

- I mean, Melanie’s quick to fly into a temper about the dreaming question, but Jon isn’t coming across great.

- With the reports of a nurse/grey lady figure and the stories of the apparitions being benign, how does that fact into the place being a strong hold of The Slaughter? Was it a tools that was to elicit conflicting feelings about comfort and care, making patients nervous of their carers at all hours?

- And just how did you go about contacting ‘Georgina Barker’ then Jon? Hey? How’d you do it? Did you have someone else call and made them promise not to mention your name?

- The name ‘Sarah Baldwin’ does set alarms ringing in Jon’s head, so it’s good to know he’s retailing information, even if he can’t do the old mind google yet.

- ‘The other figure is much taller, and appears to be pointing, though no features can be made out, it does not appear to be touching the ground.’ Jonny? Is there any significance to this description? Or is it merely to give us the heebiest of jeebies?

#the magnus archives #MAG028 #The Slaughter #The Stranger #The Web #The Flesh

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