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enavstars · 7 months

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More Cyberpunk au details + details of the RGB desings + earlier concept drawing

(Before that please let me know if you want more info on the au because I have a couple drawings planned but with school and stuff I can't draw much and Idk if I can stay motivated that long. So my next posts could be mostly au lore with maybe some sketches, tell me if you'd like that)

In general terms, to give the Cyberpunk aesthetic to all of their designs I try to avoid symmetry by adding belts or patterns to break it. And for the colors, I focused on darker hues and neon tones. This way, the designs have a “punk”/dystopian-ish vibe while representing the high-tech elements of their society (which is like Cyberpunk in a nutshell).

As for the young versions of RGB, each one has their own color palette: Kai's is Red and orange with shades of black; Nya's is Blue, pinkish red and light shades of gray; and Lloyd's is light Green and also dark blueish green. Kai and Nya get a few details (shoes, arm or jacket) of each other’s main color as a wink ;).

Kai's outfit is meant for moving around comfortably both in the city and outside, Nya's is like a mechanic uniform for tinkering, and Lloyd's is for running as fast as possible; he also has a puffy sleeve similar to Kai's (le wink again). All three of them have a letter of RGB in some part of their outfit and share a tech pattern, each positioned differently (Kai in his inside shirt, Lloyd in his sweatshirt and Nya in her leggins)

As for Kai's eye:

One day, when they were exploring around the danger zone of the outskirts of the city, Kai accidentally activated a trap set by one of the last survivors of the Outside that unexpectedly still lived there (a paranoid rancid sociopath). The violent trap had become infested with Red plants with time and made Kai get in contact with it too: it instantly dug its roots deep within his right eye socket and Kai was unable to pull it off. Since it was such a sensitive spot where the plant was sucking all the nutrients out of him, he was so weak that Nya had to slowly and painstakingly carry him back through the ruined suburbs to get help inside the city walls. After getting around the border control with the plant still stuck to Kai’s eye, all thanks to Echo’s help (who also carried the kid the rest of the way), they got to the doctor’s. Luckily, he was able to cure Kai, but he was forced to remove the affected area, which were his eye and part of the skin of his face; however, if he had waited any longer the plant's roots would have reached his brain and killed him.

Nya then started looking for a biomechanic while Kai rested with little Lloyd, who’d followed his sister all throughout the loaded trip back but could do nothing but keep her company due to his size. However, when the girl finally found one who agreed to make the prosthetic eye for them, a fellow demon named Ronin, he set them the condition to seek out a strange artifact for him as payment, giving them a total of eight years to find it. With no money and no choice, they were forced to accept, but Nya managed to get a picture of the prosthetic’s plans; this ensured that she’d be able to fix it and not depend on the guy too much, but four years later they were found out and their deadline was cut down to only another year.

In the end, Ronin will be Ronin, and the mysterious artifact was in fact a collectionist piece of

Garbage.

Apart from that incident though, as kids they don’t really spend that much time in the city, and they generally only come there to visit their friends/acquaintances and sell stuff Nya finds. For example, they do both of those things in Ed and Edna’s junkyard, where Nya trades her scraps for their more useful scraps while visiting their friend Jay. She and her siblings (who always need to stick together inside the city walls just in case) like telling stories about their adventures in the Outside to the oblivious inhabitants, so obviously Jay is no exception. The girl is very energetic and much more of a little unhinged rascal in this au, so her stories are usually really exciting and filled with funny acting for the little boy. Additionally, as they are both mechanics in the making, whenever the siblings come around his parent’s workshop, Nya and him show each other their latest creations and sometimes they even discuss how they could improve on their work.

But the one who most often talks to people, especially strangers, is Kai. Because even though they are feared as demons, the boy is much more chill and charismatic than his siblings, and is usually in charge of being the friendlier face (although he does like staring at the people who get scared of his dragon ears a little too hard hehe). In fact, they use that awkward fear to their own advantage: due to Lloyd’s much more obvious demon features (his ears are even pointier than the other two’s and his eyes are straight up red), he is often the distraction whenever they need to steal food, either in times of need or if they just wanna cause trouble. People just cannot stop staring nervously at the little boy, who is great at drawing the wrong kind of attention, and when the act is up, he’s so fast following his siblings that no one can ever catch him.

Overall, they don’t really give a single damn about society and think too many of them are just as parasitic as the plants in the Outside, so they don’t often bother as kids to get into the city. That, paired with the fact that they are just three tiny outcasts who somehow miraculously keep coming back from the “deadly” Outside, means that people in the city just tolerate and more or less respect them (out of being kinda spooked by them), so they tend to get away with their shenanigans without much repercussion.

But in the future, they do change their habits a little bit.

When it comes to their designs, they do keep the same purpose but with variations in their shapes. Kai still uses casual comfortable wear but his color palette changes a bit, with a more pinkish Red with blue highlights instead of orange, but he does keep the shades of black. His outfit now consists of a thin bodysuit cut at the chest and hips to make sort of a hexagonal fishnet pattern, trousers and boots, along with a ton of new accessories (more slutty in general).

Nya keeps the mechanic vibe but with more of the gray and blue colors and barely any red. She has huge trousers with bigger pockets and her tools attached under her belt, a sports bra (for the ladies ;)) and mech gloves. She keeps her goggles, which are a different color now.

Lloyd has a sports outfit similar to the previous one in the shorts and leggings. He keeps the puffy sleeve on his left arm, although it is now a standalone piece, and has bigger trainers. His color palette is black and white with neon/bright greens. He lost his arm in an accident with plants too: the affected area was on his upper arm so they had to remove the entire thing, and Jay made his prosthesis.

They all have more small details of their other siblings’ colors (for example Lloyd has the pins on his casual vest); also, and instead of having their respective RGB letters on a random part of their outfits they are now matching at the back of the three jackets. Some other details on them are the fire symbol in blue on Kai's bomber jacket and on Nya's military jacket, the label on the chest that reads "samurai", complete with its X on the arm sleeve.

Their more mature personalities make them live around more in the city, although practically nobody knows their true names still, while also not leaving behind the Outside or Echo (in fact, their expeditions tend to be longer now that they have more experience and overall strength and abilities).

Nya (still just known as “Blue”) actually works in her own workshop now, selling her works on her own. However, her stubborn, energetic and blunt personality has now matured into pure badass and she’s constantly looking for a fight, but nobody can touch her or at least seriously hurt her because she’s insanely strong.

Also, even if they do manage to actually harm her she has her brother Kai (“Red”) looking out for her, who can basically destroy anyone’s private life if they mess with any of their siblings through blackmail :). In fact, he’s usually seen hanging around in the Red district (they even mistake him for a prostitute sometimes lmao), which is where most of the juicy information is flung around, so he has no trouble getting sensitive information about anyone and anything in the city. In addition, he’s developed a calm and charismatic personality that lures people into their manipulative tactics to take advantage of virtually anyone he wants, but his temper can be frail sometimes, especially when his siblings are hurt in any way. But, when it comes to them, even though he is more protective of them as the older brother and can explode if they are treated badly, he still fully trusts them and their abilities and they all rely on and fiercely fight for each other like a team whenever necessary.

In contrast to his siblings, though, Lloyd tends to avoid conflict as much as he can: despite looking like a human neon sign with his jacket on, he always manages to scurry out of sight whenever he’s in trouble as the speedy, witty little monke he is. And the reason he gets caught up in so much drama is because he is extremely curious and, as they aren’t kids anymore, people now care about the demon trio’s meddling in their business quite a bit more.

In conclusion, as they grow, Kai, Nya and Lloyd become more intelligent and fleshed out in their own ways, and even though they still have no respect for society as a whole, they do keep some friends close to them. They love each other and Echo as the unique family they are, and always make sure they have each other’s backs no matter the situation.

Here is Kai's early design + scar (TW: gore)

#ninjago #ninjago cyberpunk au #sketch #ninjago kai #kai smith #ninjago nya #nya smith #ninjago lloyd #lloyd garmadon #rgb siblings

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notsowrites · 6 months

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i'll save you a seat

Summary: Alex has something important to tell Maria about Michael.

A/N: more from my "in a sky built before us" verse, which is basically my re-imagined S3/S4 and everything going forward.

[Read on AO3]

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“What was so important we needed to meet up here?” Maria asks as she approaches where he's sitting on the steps of the gazebo in the middle of town.

Alex doesn't reply right away, just pats the space next to him, and waits for her to sit.

“Alex-” she whines, glancing around before finally relenting, and falling into the spot next to him.

“I asked Michael to marry me.”

He knows he's dropping a bombshell on her, because they've technically only just started dating officially and publicly for the first time ever. No one really knows about the years of back and forth between them, and how hard they'd been trying to get to a place to be together. And Alex knows that part of that is his own fault, for keeping Michael his own closely guarded secret.

But he's never going to regret the things he's done to keep Michael safe.

He doesn't know what to expect in regards to a reaction from her, so the initial shock that crosses her face isn't a surprise.But as the words sink in, she hits him on the arm, her shock quickly morphing into something else.

“When?”

“While I was stuck in that alternate dimension.”

Her eyes narrow ever so slightly, and he immediately wonders if she's doing the math.

“That was weeks ago!”

And she's right, it was weeks ago. During that fit of desperation where for a moment Alex believed he wasn't going to survive whatever health issues the alternate dimension was causing him. It had been a dying wish at the time, to make sure he got to at least ask Michael to marry him before he died.

But as the black fractals burns receded, eventually disappearing completely, Alex had understood what an emotional and rash decision it had been. It wasn't that he wanted to take it back - he refused to see a downside in being engaged to Michael - but at least now they had time.

Time to date, properly. Time to do all the things they'd never gotten a chance before.

“It wasn't important with all that other stuff going on-”

“Yes it was!”

“-but I wanted you to know because I have a favor to ask.”

“I don't know,” Maria immediately replies, turning away from him. “I'm kinda mad at you right now.”

He knows she's lying.

“We want to get married here,” he continues, motioning around to the gazebo and the town square, “and have the reception at the Pony.”

She finally looks back at him, as if considering. “Did you talk to Isobel? She's the one with all the town events planning background.”

“Michael's telling her.”

Alex can't remember what made them decide today, of all days, was the one they were going to start telling people about the engagement and their plans for the wedding. There's been weeks now of dates to the Crashdown, and Planet 7, and even to the Pony. They've taken walks around town together, holding hands and letting everyone see. He's even pushed Michael against the bricks on the side of the Crashdown to kiss him when he's been overcome with the urge to feel his lips.

And then there's been watching Michael slowly move into the house. The way it was clear that he'd been trying in those days Alex had been trapped in the alternate dimension, but clearly still had trouble with moving completely out of the junkyard. It'd been slow - some clothes first, Alex making space in the closet and letting Michael choose which side he wanted. The slow appearance of Michael's textbooks and research materials from his trailer had Alex reconsidering the set up in the study. Quiet mornings waking up together, having breakfast on the terrace together or long showers after a round of slow morning sex.

But in the end, Michael agreed to break the news to Isobel, and Max. And Alex got Maria, Liz, and Kyle.

He knew Isobel would be the tougher work, because Michael would have to reel in her attempts at planning some big fancy event. Neither of them wanted it, they'd talked a bit about it already - Michael agreeing that small and simple was enough for them. He'd even made a comment that if Isobel wants to plan a big wedding, she can do it for Liz, or Maria - or even her own.

“I'm so happy for you,” Maria finally replies, leaning forward and wrapping him in her arms. Alex immediately relaxes into her embrace, feeling the tension that has settled into his shoulders earlier melt away. He can't explain why he was nervous to tell her, only that he worried she'd say it was too soon.

A fear that he knows is mostly unfounded - Maria has always been, and still is, one of his biggest supporters in life.

When she pulls back, he watches as she glances around, as if taking the gazebo in with a new perspective, turning back to look at him. “You really meant it, didn't you? That you wanted to get married here.”

Of course she remembered that day between them, Alex doesn't know why he's surprised.

“You know I didn't like to dream too hard about things,” he replies, knowing she understands his old good enough dreams, “but everything feels different now.”

She nods along as he speaks, taking hold of his hands, her attention turning to his fingers.

“No ring?”

Alex laughs at that, because it hadn't really crossed his mind that they'd need any sort of engagement rings. It's such a normative tradition - but then again, there is something that perhaps could mean the same thing.

Freeing one of his hands, Alex reaches up and pulls out the alien glass pendant necklace from where it's tucked beneath his shirt, holding it out for Maria to see.

“Michael gave me this, right before I left on the trip with Forrest,” he explains, holding the pendant in between his fingers. “I almost lost it in that other dimension, but Michael found it.”

Maria smiles, rolling her eyes just a bit. “Guerin really just became a jewelry maker overnight, didn't he?”

The question makes him realize she's not wearing her bracelet, which means the injections of the cure that Liz developed seem to be holding. He's heard Kyle talk about how there's been some small changes to her brain scans, perhaps an effect of the protein being reintroduced into her system.

But it means that he's not going to have to watch her slip away. That she's not going to become lost, like Mimi has.

“No more bracelet?” He asks, sliding his hand down to her wrist.

She shakes her head in response. “Doesn't seem to be a point now.”

He supposes that's true as well.

“So,” Maria says after a moment, smiling back at him. “Are we going to be strong arming Arturo to cook for this thing?”

Alex smiles back, because that's the next order of business today. But telling her, making sure she was the first one to find out, that mattered most to him.

#roswell new mexico #malex #alex manes #maria deluca #malex fic #notso writes fanfic

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travlersjoy444 · 1 year

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...Yeah. Friends.

ROTTMNT Donatello x Yokai!reader

A loose part four to The Junkyard at the End of the World, Midnight Comics, and The Aftermath (And Normal Blueprint-maker Math).

(Part five is here)

This takes place in the bad timeline, a bit after the Krang invasion.

Some more solid bonding between Donnie and the reader- the banter was fun to write in this chapter. And forewarning....the chapter after this might start to get....grittier. But this one is mostly fluff outside of this Y/N's usual end of the world angst.

4k words

***

“Ow.” I said, flinching involuntarily.

“Sorry.” Donnie replied sheepishly, setting down the screwdriver. “I guess it’s already tight enough.”

I smiled, pulling my arm off his work table to get a better look at the bracelet-looking-tech that mirrored his.

“This looks fantastic!” I grinned.

“You think? Well wait till you turn it on!” He said, bouncing in his chair in excitement. “It’s an upgrade from the model I made for myself, obviously, because I had to waterproof it for you. And of course, I changed the design to match your whole…vibe a bit better, but if Micheal tells you that that was his idea, uh…he’s lying.”

“Oh, right. Of course, Mikey had nothing to do with it.” I said, humoring him. “But seriously Dee, this rocks. Now I’ll stop losing my comm-link!”

“Oh, my dear dragon, this is so much more than just a comm-link.” Donnie grinned, leaning forward dramatically. “It is also able to keep you alert and aware of your surroundings by automatically scanning for creatures like the Krang. And it can chart maps of your locations. And it matches mine which makes us look like real lab partners, like the kind from movies. And you can use it to hack into any camera system in New York- except for the ones that I’ve put up that you don’t actually need to see from.” He took a breath, smiling smugly. “Boom! Cue applause.”

I grinned, tapping the device to bring it to life. “That’s brilliant! How’d you even manage that? Don’t answer, I’m bad with software and I probably won’t understand. But dang! This is amazing! Thank you!”

He nodded proudly, leaning back in his chair. “I know, I know, you’re welcome. I wouldn’t want to work in a lab with someone who doesn’t have awesome tech like me…lab partner.”

I fist-bumped him. “Boom.”

“Hey Donnieeee, (Y/N)..…” Said SHELLDON, hovering over us. “I finished loading the safe code.”

Donnie and I grinned and walked towards the ‘safe project’ section of the lab. It was still in beta, obviously, but we’d located a high-tech locking system in Manhattan that we planned on building off of for the final.

In the meantime, Mom’s spells were locked in a normal safe that we’d booby-trapped. Only Mikey and I were supposed to have access to them, although I had my suspicions that Donnie had altered it to let himself in too. Not that it mattered, since Mikey was the only one of us who was actually able to do anything with the spells other than stare at them in silent defeat…

I wished I knew how to make use of Mom’s magic. I had learned some of it as a kid, but the only skill I had mastered was the water summoning thing. Everything else had the unfortunate tendency to cause mass destruction, so Ma halted my training a year in.

There was some interesting biological stuff about how my 75% human DNA made my mental control over magic manipulation much more…volatile, and my capacity for the skill at all was questionable…obviously though, I needed more information to quote unquote ‘fully unlock my abilities’.

In fact, that was why I had come to New York in the first place. After Mum died, I moved here to learn magic from grandpa in the Hidden City.

Clearly, the best-laid plans of mouse, man, and Yokai-human hybrids have a tendency to go awry.

That was fine. I was still useful. Integral, even, if I wasn’t at least attempting to be modest.

“And now…voila, we have an operational laser system.” Donnie grinned, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Unlike the last one?” I said, picturing the mess from last week.

“Unlike the last one.” He confirmed.

“Excellent.” I beamed, looking at the lines of purple light. They would cause an alarm when touched, and/or slice right through you like a laser cutter depending on the setting.

It was a cliche trap, obviously, but the cliches were cliche-ed for a reason- it looked rad.

“A bit excessive, I know, but it has pizazz, which was really the goal with this.” Donnie said proudly, tossing a sheet of paper into the beams and watching as it was sliced in two.

“Lots of pizazz.” I echoed, flicking the main lights off to really experience being washed in the neon purple light.

“Oh this is great.” I grinned. “Like a really dangerous dance party.”

“Heck yeah. Another brilliant plan executed by yours truly!” Donnie exclaimed, doing a silly-looking victory dance.

“Heyyy, I helped! I tightened the screws.” I said proudly.

“And you drew the concept art. I mean obviously said art was not entirely proportional and not to scale, but it looked cool, and now it’s real.” Donnie smiled.

“Hm. I’m not gonna argue there.” I nodded, and did my own dumb-looking victory dance, smiling hard as I finished.

I was so glad that Donnie and I were really starting to feel like friends- in the weeks since our little heart-to-heart in the junkyard, I’d actually found myself having real fun working with him. Sure he was obnoxiously condescending at times, and yes maybe he wasn’t exactly a natural when it came to socializing with people, but he was genuinely fun to be around- even when we weren’t in the lab.

It was nice. Really nice. I hadn’t had an actual friend since I came to New York, so it was a feeling I had sorely missed.

And Donnie wasn’t the only one- in the months since the Hamatos had arrived at the base, I had befriended his siblings too! It was really… nice, yeah.

It was nice.

***

“Alright- Donnie, (Y/N), Mikey- you guys are on my team.” Leo said, standing on the table as he assigned missions.

“Question- why are you on the table?” I asked, raising my hand.

“Don’t worry about it.” Leo said dismissively.

“Follow up- what exactly is ‘your team’ doing?” Donnie said, not bothering to raise his hand.

“Bringing up the morale.” Leo said vaguely.

“Care to clarify, Leon?” Mikey frowned.

“Okay, okay.” Leo sighed. “Jeez. We’re…stealing microphones and speakers because I may or may not have promised a karaoke night this week.”

“And why, pray tell, is that essential?” Donnie sighed.

“Because- well, have you guys seen the state of everyone?”

Donnie and I glanced at each other and shrugged.

“They seem normal enough?”

“I mean, not really?” We said, talking over each other.

Leo shook his head. “Your opinions don’t count, you’re always in the lab. Micheal, what are your thoughts?”

Mikey nodded, glancing through the window to see multiple people crying. (I was positive they hadn’t been there a second ago.) “I guess I see your point. I’m on board with Operation Karaoke, baby!”

Donnie hummed. “I guess I do miss the joys of music…”

I shook my head. “I still think this is non-essential, but hey, I’m always up for proving I’m easily the best singer here.”

“Oh, ya think?” Said Leo, grinning. “Well I guess we’ll see how you fare up against Neon Leon.”

I grinned back, crossing my arms. “Hm, I don’t know, sounds a little too easy.”

“That’s the spirit!” Leo said, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “A karaoke Battle Nexus, what say you, men?”

“Sigh. I’m clearly gONNA WIN!” Donnie said, grinning maniacally.

“Oh yeah? I wouldn’t be too sure, Donald!” Mikey cackled, tossing his head back.

***

“Hey (Y/N), what music do you usually sing for karaoke?”

“Leon, I’m not answering that- that information is classified until the epic Karaoke Battle Nexus.” I scoffed, leaning over Donnie’s shoulder to read the map. “Uh…so what exactly is the plan here, Dee? ‘Cause it looks like we’re headed towards a school.”

“Well, schools have PA systems. Colleges don’t, but other schools do. So we’re just gonna dismantle the speakers while my brothers find microphones, okay guys?” Donnie explained.

“Actually Dee, I was thinking we should probably stick together this time.” Leo interrupted, smiling. “Obviously I wouldn’t want to deprave (Y/N) of my awesome face.”

I snorted and punched him in the shoulder.

“Scoff. Funny, Nardo. Now go get the microphones.” Donnie said.

“No, no, I meant it. Let’s stick together, okay?�� Leo said the last part in a whisper that he turned into a cough. “Just because…well, you know I trust you guys, but as the leader I’d just feel better if we kept groups to a minimum of three. It’s safer that way.” He sighed.

And with the look in his eyes, I couldn’t help the wave of compassion that washed over me. Leo was what, 15-16? Why weren’t the adults handling this?

Well…probably because the adults are stressed too. And confused.

I sighed slowly, looking back at Leo. “You’re right. Fair enough, Commander Leon.”

He smiled, poking Donnie. “See, (Y/N) gets it.”

Donnie sighed and shoved him off. “Okay, okay, Leo wins again. Fine.”

***

“Ooh.” Donnie muttered as we dragged the giant speakers back towards the tank.

“Oh no.” Leo groaned.

“What is it?” I grunted, glancing over at him.

“So I may or may not have had an ulterior motive for coming here! Er, surprise.” Donnie grinned, setting down his speaker to dramatically swing open the door behind us.

“Oh boy. Donald, what are you up to this time?” Mikey sighed.

“Observe, dear Angelo, a room full of computers that are just waiting there, free to be taken by yours truly!” Donnie said, his voice taking on that theatrical tone again.

“Uh…do you have enough room in the lab for that-”

“We definitely do not have enough room in the lab for that.” I said, cutting Leo off. “Bad, Tello. We have enough tech to last…well, a long time.”

“But imagine all the free microchips!” He said, still starry-eyed.

“No…although, I guess adding a few to storage wouldn’t be too bad…” I frowned, setting down my speaker. “Hm. Leon, what’re your thoughts?”

Leo sighed. “There’s like really no arguing with him in this state. At least not without-”

“Dr. Delicate Touch!” Mikey said, wiggling his eyebrows. (Eyebrow….muscles? Ridges? He didn’t draw them on like Donnie, so it was kind of up for interpretation…)

“I’m sorry, what?” I said, registering his words. “What the hell is ‘Dr. Delicate Touch’?”

“Oh, you’ll see.” Mikey grinned dangerously, looking over to Leo.

Leo gave a half-smile. “M’kay. Get our brother back.”

“Oi!” Yelled Mikey, grabbing Donnie’s shoulders. “Getcha mind right, boy!” He shook him back and forth.

Donnie shoved him off, scowling. “Fiiine. I’ll just take three, ‘Dr. Delicate Touch’. Which I say in quotes.”

“See? Always works.” Mikey said proudly, leaning on his speaker.

***

I spun around in the spinny chair and tried to embroider a print I had drawn onto my hoodie.

I hadn’t worn hoodies much back in The Before Times, preferring to dress nice. My main outfits were dripping with aesthetics and intention back then, but now…well…I didn’t have the time or energy anymore. My skincare routine had gone to shit- it consisted of smearing a makeup wipe across my face, and even then, I forgot to do that too more often than not…

Sigh. Anyways. I wore hoodies now.

But I did plan on wearing them in style. Thus, embroidery and patches and pins. It may not be as elegant as a turtleneck, but what was fashion in the apocalypse? That’s right- the comfiest clothes you can possibly find.

(And occasionally armor, but that was a different story. I was actually having a lot of fun drawing up concept art for my future armor, but I digress.)

“So…What’re you doing?” Said a voice by my face.

I jumped, dropping my needle. “Jeez, Dee, how long have you been there?”

He blinked. “Huh? Not long. I thought you knew I was here.”

“No?” I said, flicking his shoulder. “Damn dude, learn to breathe louder. And I’m working on my hoodie.”

He tilted his head. “Why does it need work? It looks pretty functional, clothing-wise.”

“It’s boring. Look at it. It’s just boring and red, and it needs some…wow-factor.” I explained, before glancing at his plain purple hoodie. “Uh…no offense.” I added in a quiet voice, but it was too late. His eyes were already wide with theatrical shock.

“Gasp, How could you say such things!” He exclaimed. “The hoodie is a garment that is perfect as is, it needs no embellishments, you- you witch!”

I frowned. “Considering your dislike of witches, that one is…more hurtful than it would be from literally anyone else, dude.”

“Scoff. It’s not my fault you have no fashion sense.”

I flicked him again. “I just wanted to show my personality through clothing, Donatello. And check it out- admit it, it looks awesome.” I held up the hoodie with the newly embroidered yellow eyes all over.

“Your personality is…eyes? Really (Y/N)?” He said flatly.

“It’s mysteriousness. And Gravity Falls references.” I said, smirking.

“What do eyes have to do with a cartoon from 2012?” He snorted,

“Everything. But more importantly, they remind me of the Krang’s eyeball-tentacle-organic matter stuff, which is significant because the Krang are ruining my life and I want something to represent that. Ooh, that got heavy. Quick, say something nerdy to distract us.”

“Ooh, I am so glad you asked me to say that. Did you know that the spiral pattern- AKA the Fibonacci Sequence- is repeated all over across organic things? The spiral is, for whatever reason, programmed in our minds to look appealing and balanced- and you see it in things from the smallest snail to the shape of our literal galaxy. The golden ratio is everywhere, (Y/N). Everywhere! It’s brilliant!” He grinned, spinning around in his chair excitedly.

“Woah. That’s actually really really cool.” I said, quirking an eyebrow. “Remind me to have you on my team for trivia night.”

He smiled, calming down. “Admittedly your hoodie massacre is kind of cool too, even if it is a bit barbaric.”

I scoffed. “You rarely wear clothes. Quit talking to me about fashion when I clearly have more experience in the field, Tello.”

“Um, gasp? I’m brilliant at fashion.” He said, looking genuinely offended.

“I’ve only ever seen you in that hoodie when it comes to clothes, unless you count those short-shorts and knee pads you and your brothers wear. Which I’m not counting.” I replied, unphased.

“Well obviously I haven’t needed to dress up now- it’s the end of the world for god’s sake- but believe me, my fashion sense is impeccable.”

“A scientist and a fashionista, huh?” I teased. “Fancy yourself a renaissance man, Donatello?”

“Yes, actually.” He said proudly.

“Hm. No surprise there.” I scoffed, but the sarcasm was lost on him. I softened as I watched him smile, and set down my hoodie to nudge him. “You should let me embroider your hoodie though, Dee- then we’d match. You know. Like lab partners.”

He smiled, rolling his eyes. “Oh. I suppose that is important…good point. I do appreciate uniformity in a workspace…” He tugged off his hoodie and folded it up. “But only if you add some purple to your hoodie. It’ll match the lab better.”

“But of course.” I nodded, smiling as I scooped up his hoodie. “I promise, I’ll give you a cool design.”

“You better. I only have four- if you screw it up, I’ll be down to three matching hoodies. And I’ll be mad.”

“Fair.” I said, reaching for a pencil to sketch him a design.

***

The hole in the sky was visible from the roof of Huo Hall.

Man, did I miss the stars.

“So….I guess, in a way, I am in the sci-fi film you guys would have loved.” I said aloud, picturing my parents.

I zipped up my hoodie- summer was quickly coming to a close, and the wind was growing colder day by day.

“It’s the apocalypse- aliens, not climate change, shockingly! And uh…my friends are all humans or mutant turtles! Bizarre, right? On the plus side, I haven’t needed to use my cloaking broach for months now- everyone is kinda used to this whole deal.” I said, waving towards my face.

“And people are dying, guys.” I said, ignoring the screams in the distance as per usual. “But there isn’t much we can do about that with our current resources…maybe a few months from now we’ll have the wherewithal to venture out on solid rescue missions, but right now, we’re just trying to keep morale as high as possible. That and housing as many humans and Yokai as we can manage…”

My wrist tech beeped, and I unlocked it to see a video call by Donnie.

“Hey.”

“Hey (Y/N)! Karaoke has started!” He grinned.

I smiled. “Cool cool, on my way over. See you in a bit, Dee.”

I hung up, glancing over the city again. I wondered how much longer New York would look like New York rather than just an alien wasteland…

And closer than the city was the village of tiny homes that we had constructed in July, where humans, Yokai, and mutants alike lived as peacefully and happily as they could manage. In fact, from my vantage point, there seemed to be a picnic going on by the campus fountain. Nice.

Closer to Huo Hall sat the gardens that Michealangelo tended to. They were full of produce of all sorts, from tomatoes and carrots to pumpkin and squash. We were working on building an orchard of fruit nearby, but it would be a few years before the little saplings would produce anything. That was okay. We probably had the time.

I clambered down the roof and onto my windowsill, from which I fell onto my bed.

Time to get ready to dazzle at karaoke night, I thought with a smirk.

I had one nice outfit left, which I threw on as quickly as possible. I was tempted to reach for my old beat up Doc Martens, but then I remembered that I didn’t need my cloaking broach. And without said broach, my claws would…definitely not fit into the shoes.

Cool cool. Lastly, I tossed on an old blazer and rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, and nodded at my reflection.

“That’ll do.” I decided, and swung my door open to meet Donnie in the commons.

The hallways were crowded as people talked and laughed loudly for the first time in months, and suddenly I believed Leo’s claim about ‘team morale’ a bit more. If I closed the curtains and hid the alien sky and wasteland outside, one could almost believe that we were at a fancy club or a music hall.

“(Y/N)! Hey, over here!” Waved April from next to the karaoke sign-up sheet.

“Hey April! Hi Sunita!” I grinned, scooting next to them. “You guys plan on joining the ‘Karaoke Battle Nexus’?” I said, doing finger quotes.

“Heck yeah,” April smirked. “We’re gonna take you all down!”

Sunita smiled. “We’re gonna do a duet.”

“Nice! What song?”

“Lovely Night from Lalaland- I love that film, and April is kindly indulging me.” She grinned.

“Oh, sweet.” I smirked, raising an eyebrow at April. She snorted and shoved me.

“It’s not like that, (L/N)!”

“I didn’t say anything!” I said innocently. (It was totally ‘like that’. I was sure of it.)

And with a final smirk, I signed my name on the queue. “Annnnd…I have officially joined the lineup, dorks.” I said, giving the duo finger guns.

“Ooh, you’re singing Bowie, eh (Y/N)?” Said Leo, sneaking up behind me.

“Ah! Jeez. Yes, of course I am. It’s the apocalypse, I can’t not sing Bowie.” I said, regaining my composure.

“Well I’mma sing Queen, because clearly I am one.” Leo smirked, writing his name on the list.

“Clearly.” I echoed, taking in his ensemble. “Is that…an old Lou Jitsu jumpsuit?” (Where did he even get that?)

“Uh, duh?” He grinned, striking a pose.

“Ah yes, of course, of course.” I nodded.

“Hey, (Y/N)!” Said Raph, waving at me. “You signing up for the open mic?”

“Already did, my good sir.” I smiled. “How’s Boss doing?” I added, referring to his cat.

“She’s doing great!” He grinned. “Mikey lent me some books about cats, which was really helpful.”

“Rad! I’ll have to visit her sometime.” I said, glancing over his shoulder to see Dee manning the projector.

“No fancy gadgets?” I said, sneaking up on him.

“Ah! Hello, (Y/N), you’re here!” He smiled.

“Nice clothes. I guess you do have some fashion sense sometimes.” I said, glancing at his outfit. It was shockingly nice looking, especially for someone who usually just wore a hoodie.

“I know,” He said loftily, tilting his head back. “I told you I could look good.”

“I admit, my doubt was misplaced. You win.” I shrugged, sitting on the bench next to the projector.

“You look nice too, of course, but you already know that.” He said in a tone that would suggest unfriendly bluntness from anyone but him. From him, it was a solid compliment.

“Thanks.” I said, trying to veil the slight surprise in my voice. Obviously I knew I looked hot, I just hadn’t expected him to acknowledge it. “So I take it you’re setting up the tech stuff?”

“Obviously. I’m almost done though- and I’m forcing Angelo to DJ. KJ, maybe, since it’s karaoke? Whatever.” He waved his hand. “Point is- I’m pretty much free to chill…aaaand take over the dance floor.”

“Ooh. Fun.” I smiled. “You think you’ll sing something?”

“I promised Rapheal I’d do backing vocals for ‘Dancing Queen’, so…yes?” He shrugged and sat on the bench next me.

“ABBA. Solid choice.” I nodded.

“And you?”

“I was tempted to ironically do ‘Be a Man’ from Mulan, but I decided to do ‘Five Years’ by David Bowie.” I answered.

“What’s that song?” He asked. “Obviously I know a few Bowie songs, I’m not an animal, but that one admittedly…escapes me.” He added quickly.

“It’s about a news broadcast where they officially reveal that there’s only five years left before the world ends.” I answered, smiling as I remembered the song…

“Oh wait.” I froze. “Oh shit. Maybe that won’t help team morale…shoot. Shoot shoot shoot- stupid sci-fi brain, this is exactly what Leo doesn’t want…ugh…” I groaned, scratching my scales in frustration. “What am I thinking- Ow!” I looked over at Donnie. “Did…did you just flick me?”

“No….? I…did. …n’t?” He said unconvincingly.

I glared at him, and he wavered. “Okay, yes I did, but in my defense, you were being crazy.”

“I don’t know if I’m more insulted by the fact that you thought flicking me would quell my emotional issues or by the fact that you thought you could convince me that my arm just randomly felt pain.” I smiled, but when his nervous expression didn’t change, I elaborated. “I’m joking, Dee. I’m not offended, I think it’s funny.”

“Well you’re kind of out of your league in that one, dear dragon, as I just happen to be the funny one here.” Donnie said, relaxing.

“Oh yeah?” I challenged, smirking.

“Uh, yeah. Easily.” He said in his usual monotone, and I felt myself relax a bit at the comforting familiarity of his voice. “But I admit, your song choice is pretty funny too. I am pretty sure Nardo will see the humor in it, and if he doesn’t, well…I do, and let’s face it, my opinions are usually right.”

I smiled, looking over to him. “...Thanks, Dee. Uh…weirdly, that does make me feel better.”

Donnie exhaled. “Oh thank goodness. Sincerity is not easy.”

I chuckled. “Hey, it’s the apocalypse and we’re weird teenage human-creature-things. I don’t think it was ever gonna be easy, Tello.”

“Touche.” He smiled, and I smiled too- I already was smiling. Yeah…it was nice to have a friend. Really, really nice.

And maybe it was the end of the world, but hey. We were surviving. Flourishing, even, if Leo’s admittedly excellent rendition of ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ was any example.

Too bad it couldn’t stay that way forever.

After all...it was the end of the world. And magic doesn't always last forever.

#rottmnt x reader #rottmnt donnie x reader #donatello hamato #rottmnt donnie #rise of the tmnt #rise of the tmnt x reader #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #leonardo hamato #donatello #donatello x reader #donnie x reader #rise donnie #rise donnie x reader #rottmnt #the junkyard at the end of the world

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lunarifie · 2 years

Text

Rewatching Ninjago

(With no context other than the episode)

Skybound 5-6

Jays showing Cliff Gs home to the ninja?? Isnt he afraid theyll think he made a wish to gain all this unexpected new stuff?

Okay but why is Jay LYING

I mean it’s understandable if hes not ready to tell them he’s adopted yet

But saying you saved up for a place like that while just not getting paid for doing your main job, which is being a ninja, is a bit unbelievable

I guess saying your Cliff Gordon the actor of Fritz donnegans biological son is kinda unbelievable too.

Nya: We need to look at that lantern. Jay, Hit the lights!

Jay: Lights! Right! Yes. Light. Uhhhhh lights lights lights… Where are the lights….

HFBDJSNFNDNR

Cole: You saved up for this place? Baloney. Every time you get money you waste it on junk food and video games.

HE KNOWS JAY SO WELL 😭

They’re best friends your honor

Also they definitely wanted Cole to say Bullshit.

Jay: and it turns out! My dads cliff gordon!

Cole:…

Cole: Who?

NCNDJFNFNSNR

GOD jay and cole are literally acting how me and my best friend act when the other drops some gossip or a secret

Theyre that tiktok sound that goes like:

Jay: I wont tell a soul. 🫡

Jay: COLECOLECOLE COLE I NEED TO TELL YOU A SECRET-

Wait wait

Its CANON that theyre best friends? I thought that was a fanon thing but Jay JUST said Coles his best friend

I love them sm :)

Please tell me Zane still has his falcon in newer seasons

Clancy my beloved

Hes doing his best

THE DESTINYS BOUNTY IS IN PIECES AGAIN

The ninja are going to the island for the venom to defeat nadakhan

Ok but how does Jay explain Cliff Gordons boat.

NO. THEY GOT ZANES FALCON.

Nadakhan: Take it apart.. until it talks.

IT CANT TALK 😭😭😭 YOUR GONNA KILL IT FOR NO REASON 😭😭😭

Zane: why do I need a canteen?

Lloyd: there may be no fresh water on the island.

Zane: but… Im a nindroid… I repeat, why do i need a canteen? 🤨

Shdjksnfjdbebd

Jay. Why are you reading Cliff Gordons wooing woman book OUT LOUD.

Jay, reading: tell woman what they want to hear…

Nya: watcha reading?

Jay: AAAAH. UM! Im reading, uh, discovering the power of your feminine side 😃

Smooth.

Jays acting as their lightning rod on the ship lol

Also its canon he can get electrocuted by storm lightning multiple times and still be fine

Jay really doesnt want anyone else to be taken by djinn :(

NO WAIT IS ZANE GONNA BE TAKEN PLEASE TELL ME HE ISNT

Holy shit Zanes smart.

He quite literally predicted that Nadakhan would come for him from Jays reluctance. AND ONLY FROM THAT DOES HE KNOW JAYS SPOKEN TO NADAKHAN BEFORE AND COMPLETED TWO WISHES

I wish they showed this analytical side of Zane more

ZANE. LISTEN TO PIXAL.

Hes still as self sacrificial as ever.

Zanes trying to outsmart nadakhan and trap the djinn away. But I know he wont be able to no matter how intelligent he is :(

It would have made so much sense for Zane to be the savior of this season. He made some really good wishes. Its also incredibly out of character for him to “wish for it all to go away” after Nadakhan deleted Pixal. Zane could have simply said for Nadakhan to bring Pixal back and he’d have used up his wishes. He wouldnt have captured nadakhan but Zane would at least be alive.

Aaand they crashed the ship.

Cole cmon man at least give Jay a chance to explain himself.

His anger is valid since Zanes capture could have been prevented if Jay said something

BUT STILL

Jay didnt wish for the boat and mansion he wished to not be born in a junkyard and to be able to give Nya anything she wanted

COLE. YOU DIDNT HAVE TO SAY JAY SAW NYA IN HIS FUTURE REFLECTION.

THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR.

Jay: IN MY DEFENSE! I JUST LEARNED MY PARENTS ARENT BY REAL BIRTH PARENTS!!!!

Dude just say your adopted.

Me looking at Nadakhans sky village: I want to go there.

Jay. let go of the lady wooing book. You dont need it. IT GOT YOU INTO THIS MESS.

Please Jay stop complaining 🙃 even though I feel sympathy for you, pleaaase just read the room.

Jays pissing me off rn 💀

Just APOLOGIZE and EXPLAIN Yourself.

JUST STFU AND GET THE TIGER WIDOW VENOM.

theyre all so done with his shit 😭

Jay: HOW DO I GET VENOM WHEN HIS FANGS ONLY COME OUT WHEN HE TRIES TO BITE ME?!?!?!!?

Cole: THEN LET HIM BITE YOU.

Jay: IF I GET OUT OF HERE, IM GONNA BITE YOU.

Cole: 😶

JFNDJDNFJSNTJNR

THATS CANON?!?!?!

I SAW A DRAWING OF THAT EXCHANGE AND THOUGHT IT WAS MADE UP DHFBSJFBSJBF

Nadakhan: Delara was filled with fire too...

Nya: Not fire. I'm a tall glass of water.

HELL YEAH THE WOOING BOOK IS DESTROYED!!!!!!

Lloyd: HURRY UP AND GET THE VENOM.

Jay: IM SORRY! I NEVER HAD TO MILK A GIANT SPIDER BEFORE!!!!!

Cole landed a hit on Nadakhan!!!

Good for him honestly

Love how the ninja just phase through Cole sometimes it's so funny

They didn't even know how big the spider was and then Jay comes running out with a creature bigger than a bear on his trail

Jay: (about to get eaten alive by a spider)

Nadakhan floating with a teacup on his hand: Now would be a perfect moment for that second wiiiish...

Jay: FUCK. OFF.

Honestly with how many times the spiders grabbed Jay with it's fangs, it's hard to believe he hadn't touched the venom

Ohhhh so THIS is when he kidnaps Jay.

When did they get duck-tape 💀

Damsel in distress trope but it's the girl as the knight and the boy as the damsel

Imagine how Jay must feel though. His friends hate him. he (thinks he) lost the venom. And now he’s kidnapped.

Nadakhan: I can see why she once like ld you… You’re stronger than you appear. But I know it’s all an act.

Nadakhan: Deep down, you’re scared… You know your weak. You make jokes to mask that your afraid…

Damn.

Usually stuff like that is hinted at but to outright say it is something

Jay: (hanging off the bottom side of the ship like a spider with a ball chain on his leg)

Nadakhan: your not afraid, are you funny man?

Jay (somehow repositioning himself and cleaning the bottom of the ship) I LOVE IT. 😤

Hes such a little shit I love him

Cole (giggling after learning that they cant get off the island with their energy dragons)

Nya: Whats so funny! 😒

Cole: Oh, I was just thinking about what Jay might say…

Cole (with a perfect Jay impression): YOUR TELLING ME?!?!? THAT WE WENT TO ALL THAT TROUBLE TO GET THE VENOM AND NOW WE HAVE NO WAY TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND?!?!?!?

Cole: haha… Gone one day and I already miss him spazzing out.

Hes literally in love with him

(Platonically, for ppl who dont ship bruise)

Nya, girl, honestly you had every right to be mad at him. Dont feel guilty. Jay didn’t even apologize!!!! He also dialed up his little shittiness to 100 after that!!!! Hes fine 🙄

Its sweet that Lloyd trusts Jay to be strong

Cole and Lloyd: We can build a raft! Whats gonna stop us!

Nya: AN ENDLESS SEA FILLED WITH UNKNOWN CREATURES THAT WANNA EAT US??!?!?

Nya: That was uh, my Jay impression…

Clancy is so nice

Ive never heard Jay ever be this silent on frame

Its surreal.

Jays actually so clever

How is he moving and jumping around like that with a whole ass bowling ball attached to his leg 😭

GO JAY GO!!!!!

Now I remember why he's my favorite character :)

He got the note in the bottle to the ocean!!!!!

Man skybound was actually so cool I hate that it was erased from the timeline

Nadakhan: Eat! Have dinner with me. It's no trick!

Jay: ...

Nadakhan: 😃

Jay:

Jay: (starts devouring every consumable thing in front of him)

Jay: Sorry man, I don't know who this lost love of yours is. But she's not Nya! Nyas too good for the both of us. She makes up her own mind.

Well at least Jays got her character down

Nadakhan: Everything that is mine... I've had to work for. This food, this ship, this crew.

Jay: That accent :)

Okaaay. So if Nadakhan marries someone, he can have infinite wishes?

That makes no sense.

Lloyd: she'll be ready to sail soon.

Nya: Why are all boats she's?

Cole: uhhh idk! Maybe because it's takes a bucket of paint to make then look good?

Coles in his misogynistic arc

Cole (after Lloyd leaves): you know, I think the real reason sailors name ships after women is because we name them after the most important people in our lives. Mother, wives, sisters.

Ok he's forgiven

It's sweet that Coles standing up for Jay to Nya.

He called himself Jays best friend 🥺

Cole (trying to avoid the sand monsters): don't move... I think they're attracted to noise...

Lloyd: HEY GUYS! LOOK AT HOW MANY PALM LEAVES I FOUND- 📢📢📢

Nya used airjitzu for the first time!!!

I genuinely like nadakhans crew

Clancy: I can keep swabbing the deck if I like it! 😤 It relaxes me and I get to choose how it I wanna spend my free time!

Jaaaaay. You were manipulating so well!!! You just HAD to come off strongly.

Is it manipulation if it's the truth though? I mean Nadakhan ISNT telling his crewmembers everything.

Geez. This is kind of depressing to watch. Jay getting pummeled in a fighting ring by Nadakhans crew.

Nadakhan: You could… wish it all away?

Jay (on the floor absolutely totaled): bring it on.

Jays surprisingly stubborn and resilient

Clancy: you should eat food. you-you fought really well out there… held your own like a real pirate. Heres an eyepatch, so you can look like one!

Clancy so sweet :)

I understand that lego ninjago cant show blood or bruises but the way Jays voice actor is slurring his words gives a really good impression that Jay was beat up real bad :(

Flintlocke: you always talk to yourself?

Jay: Only when I think im by myself 😒

Ronin and the Chief got Nya Cole and Lloyd off the island!!!

I still dont forgive them though.

#ninjago #lego ninjago #Rewatching Ninjago

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marley-flores · 2 months

Text

Age — 39 Originally from — Saint Louis, Missouri Community — 9 months Previous job — carpenter / craftswoman Community job— craftswoman Living Arrangements — lake house Family — Luis (husband), Kodi & Mila (kids), rest of the family -> all deceased

Headcanons

Marley doesn't speak about her past, if she's questioned about it, she will tell some crazy stories, too crazy to be believed.

She's always on a craft project, it can be a weapon, a trap, or some random useful (or not useful) day-to-day things. It doesn't always work and can end up in the junkyard.

She understands Spanish but speaks it only when it's really necessary.

Leaving Redwood is something she does quite often, she goes alone and sometimes disappears for a few days, not asking for permission to do it. She recently got caught and is now forbidden from trying again.

She's allergic to cats and dogs.

Marley looked more friendly than what she is actually, she doesn't care if someone doesn't like her, she'll move on and quickly forget it. Also, she looks like being unable to take something seriously.

Her hands are always with bruises, the real hands of a carpenter.

She wears comfy and handy clothes, with a lot of pockets, big shoes, tools, and screws in her pockets.

Her workshop is in her garage with the door always opened, making it easy to see her work on her different projects.

She takes a lot of naps at random places any time of the day.

What your character could know about her

Every headcanon listed above is easy knowledge. However, as said, Marley doesn't speak about her past, the following information is what your character could have guessed or extracted from her:

She was married but her loved one is now probably dead (she wore an engaging ring as a necklace).

She studied engineering and has a woodworking degree.

Before Redwood, she was traveling alone.

She killed a lot of zombies.

Wanted connection

Hunter (0/1) — They were a part of Redwood before her, living there and being authorized to leave town. 11 months ago, they met Marley by falling into one of her traps, Marley freed them and let them rest at her own camp. After this, they met every few weeks more coincidentally than anything else. They were the one who introduced Marley to Redwood after she fell sick.

Shenanigan's partners (0/?) — Anyone at Redwood chaotic enough to follow her with her random and funny (but stupid) ideas, games, or experiences. (examples: pedal car race, zipline, piñata...)

Complete biography

Marley grew up in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri with her family. A lot of brothers, a lot of sisters, a lot of cousins! It was nice, it was happy, with a lot of parties, activities and stupidity. This environment turned Marley into a funny person, open-minded and creative. She did pretty good at school and started building some random stuff when she was seven with the help of her older brother, starting with a custom bike. She never stopped after that, going for an engineering course with a degree in woodworking.

Her adult life went okay, obviously, it wasn't always easy but she knew she couldn't complain about it, she was doing good and she was mostly happy. She had a few relationships, she left Saint-Louis to have a country life and moved to Vandalia, Illinois, where renting a house big enough to have a workshop didn't ask for too much money. She met some locals there, made some friends, and this cute dude named Luis. Luis was nice, Luis became the chosen one. They were cute together, ridiculously in love and happy, enough to make Marley's sisters jealous as fuck and her parents more than reassured. A few years later she was pregnant, freaking out about this new life step but ultimately ready for it.

She was in her wedding dress when everything went to hell, her husband-to-be and her two kids were waiting for her next to the altar. Again, Marley was kinda freaking out about this idea of getting married, she wanted it and all her family was already sitting in the church to celebrate this union, but still, leaving her 'dressing' room asked a lot of courage. When she finally did it, she had a big smile on her lips, a smile getting even bigger when she spotted her two little kids in their little suits near their dad. It was cute, she loved it, but sadly this happiness didn't last long. A scream surprised everyone in the church, nobody really understood what was happening but before they could acknowledge the danger, three people were already bitten by one of the guests. Marley never understood how it could happen, she never knew that this one guest looked weirdly sick when he arrived, yet it happened. Panic and fear filled the room, Marley had no choice other than to follow her brother to a safe place, to the 'dressing' room, one of the infected guests too close to the front door to even try it. She yelled and struggled to have Luis with her, to have her two kids with her, but it didn't happen. Before she knew it, her brother locked the room and called 911 asking for help, but again, it didn't help. They could hear the screams and the chaos behind the door, they waited a few minutes before her brother decided to go out and check the situation, promising he would come back. He didn't. Minutes became hours, and when Marley tried to leave, she quickly canceled her plan when one of the guests tried to attack her. She barely escaped and returned to the room where she was safe. It took her days and a lot of tears to leave this hell. It destroyed her. She knew, she actually saw them, they were all dead, family and friends.

So she left the city, took a car, and drove east, processing what happened and what she was supposed to do to survive. She stayed alone the first year, met some people the second but finally left them after a few weeks and continued to walk east. Her attitude progressively changed during those years, after being depressed for months, Marley started to not care at all. She finally found a place she could secure in a small town in West Virginia. She built a lot of traps and found different ways to live there. Sometimes she would meet some other survivors, but she never really cared about them. Until 11 months ago, when someone triggered one of her traps and got stuck in it. For once, they didn't look like total morron, so Marley freed them and offered them some shelter, just enough to make sure they could return to their group in one piece. They did but came back, to find some useful stuff in town, so they met again, and again. For two months they sympathized, seeing each other every few weeks. One day, Marley knew she was sick, it was probably a cold or something like that, anyway, the raider/hunter/whatever offered some help, they said they had some doctors in her group, she could come and rest, that she would be free to leave after this. It was a nice proposition, and with this fever, Marley actually agreed to it, that's how she ended up at Redwood, that's how she realized staying with this community could be nice, so she did, and after almost a year there, she doesn't regret it.

#bio

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thegoblinjunkyard · 1 year

Text

The Eternal War: Do Systems Matter?

Many a soldier has fallen to this eternal struggle, lines drawn, brother and sister forced to fight one another on the weapon scattered battlefield of this question. The Lords of Order and Chaos bicker at each other in the lands beyond the end of the world. So what does a lone goblin trapped in a sea of trash known only as The Junkyard have to say on the matter that could possibly have any affect in this battle?

NOTHING

But thats not fun and I found this weird machine that connects to something called the Demon-webs that allows lost souls to communicate across the many worlds. It was locked away in a cursebox but im sure its fine.... anyway to answer the loaded question "do systems matter?" first I need to figure out what the fuck is a system is in the first place. It is just the mechanisms that drive play? all the words on the page? is art system? is layout? Well..... I don' know, im a simple goblin that lives in a junkyard so I'm just gonna say for this question that systems are the mechanics; roll 2d6, a 1d100, how much loot you can carry, etc.

With that question answered which side of this war do I join? Will I finally get one of those cool alignment languages I keep hearing about, so I can get some of that hot goss I keep hearing about?

My answer to that question is NO, well...…. maybe? but definitely not an enthusiastic YES, so its still mostly a no, even if its a soft no. So what about all that other stuff? The art, a funny joke that has no barring on the game, the dreaded Typo demons?

DO GAMES MATTER?

Well Im' still a simple goblin that asking more questions than having answers, so is a game the book or what happens at the table? When we sit down together and the veil between worlds thin, our collective revelries merge together, does the book still matter? if we didn't roll any dice or fight any monsters are we still playing DnD? One thing I can definitely say is that I don't like looking at that cursed tome during the euphoria of play unless its cool loot to look up. I think thats my befuddled answer, that games matter cause their ideas do. Its like conjuring the spirit of their creator whispering little ideas into my ear, even if it's just a small fragment of them doing so.

Games are like little toyboxes filled with sparks of potential. The plastic of the mutant frog samurai toy doesn't matter but the idea, the imagination, the little adventures I went on with him matters. The friend that dropped a brick on my favorite mech solider that was broken cause it was made from cheap plastic cause I was poor matters and yes im still a little bit salty about it even though its been almost 20 years. The tacos my mother made while we were playing matter.

WAIT!!! MAYBE....

If all those things matter; the ideas, the imagination, the friends, the food, the laughter...

If all that matters, then when we at the end of the world. Me and my friends are hanging on by an inch of our lives, it's the final turn before all is lost; all those adventures could end in sadness or end in a glorious mess of laughter and tears. Before that final roll is made, the Fates have already decided that sparkly twenty-sided polyhedral with a little duck on the inside will only roll a 1 or a 20. Deciding that regardless of success or failure it will be remembered.

I roll it and BAM a natural 20, the little duck I named Tom Bombabil is staring directly back at me as if it already knew. The final roll of the final battle of the final boss ends with that number that causes all that jubilee. Its been 5 years since that day and we still talk about it, remembering it as if it really happened. We save the world, defeated the one who dare claimed Invincible, we were heroes.

Do you think that excitement for the number 20 was first written down on some notes or was it created in the moment, being permanently etched into the laws of the game?

So I'm back where I started, maybe this machine was cursed after all. Before I'm trapped in an endless loop I will ask my final question......

WAS IT THE SYSTEM OR WAS IT US? DO SYSTEMS MATTER?

#ttrpgs #osr #dnd #goblins

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odd-birds-and-booksellers · 3 years

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Hiiii can you write prompt number 4 from the first list kinda need some Jolex rn

pick up the pieces & build a lego house

It’s only when she looks up from unpacking and notices how dark it is, does she realise how much time has passed. Disregarding the box she’d just ripped open she decides her husband had been far too quiet for far too long. She’s not sure when his gruff voice mumbling a string of curse words as he tried to assemble what felt like a never-ending amount of baby crap they’d decided to leave till the last minute had filtered out but it had definitely been a while since she’d heard him gain another self-inflicted injury.

“Alex?” She calls out, shifting up off the floor, one hand curled around her burgeoning bump. She lets out a deep breath as she waddles her way towards the staircase, calling out to her husband once again. The second they’d said goodbye to the loft she’d regretted it, space was overrated, having everything in one room might have seemed a little crowded but Jo would rather call it convenient. Her short temper begins to flare as she calls out for a third time with no response. Annoyed Jo makes her way up the stairs, feeling a little out of breath as she reaches the top, all courtesy of their big-headed baby getting all up in her lungs.

“Alex I swear if you’ve made me come all the way up these stairs and you aren’t dead I’ll kill you myself.”

As she rounds the corner of the nursery, it takes her a second to catch sight of her husband in between all the boxes, with all excess wrapping laid out...the room resembles a junkyard more than it does a nursery.

And there he was, in between all the chaos leaning back against the crib that she’d instead he put up now, he’d cushioned himself against an excessively large teddy bear his godchildren had picked out. His face scrunched up like he was almost in pain, mumbling faintly under his breath and Jo has to tiptoe closer to hear him.

“Babies don’t crunch like that...”

Jo has to stifle a laugh as Alex tosses side to side lightly mumbling utter nonsense about BBQ chips being less baby like then sour cream ones.

“I don’t wanna crush the baby like chips you know?” His voice sounds rough, half-asleep. Jo clamps a hand over her mouth as she makes her way over, she clears her throat, as she leans down in front of him, brushing some of his hair out of his face, it had grown a little unruly in lockdown and after her first attempt at playing hairdresser, he promised to never let her near him with scissors again.

“Sorry,” she whispers, a soft smile playing on her lips as she kneels down resting on the new plush rug as his sleepy eyes find hers, “I didn’t mean to wake you.” She can tell he’s a little disoriented as he sits up, rubbing his eyes for a moment.

His confused face only makes her smile brighter. She is not surprised to find him asleep up here, he’s been exhausted these last few weeks. Between her midnight cravings, the house move and the constant updates from both hospitals he really wasn’t getting the chance to rest much and no doubt that wasn’t gonna change anytime soon.

Before Alex even has a chance to respond she moves in closer, her lips meeting his, kissing him slowly as his hands slide up her body resting over her bump. They’d spent most of her pregnancy apart...not what either one of them had imagined but when the pandemic hit very little was known about its effects and so of course Jo was made to isolate and while Alex had wanted nothing more than to stay home with her, he was still the chief of a hospital unequipped to deal with the level of patients coming in and they both knew deep down he was needed elsewhere. They’d managed somehow, a lot of FaceTime at the baby scans and car park meetings from six feet apart. There were people worse off, they knew that. But when Jo had hit seven months Alex couldn’t keep away any longer, he was already battling with the guilt of missing so much. So home he came, home, however, was actually all their belongings stuffed into various cardboard boxes all just waiting to be moved across town.

“This is going to sound cheesy but… I love when you’re half asleep and talking nonsense...you’re adorable.”

He laughs and smiles against her lips as he begins to rub soft circles across her bump. “Adorable probably isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Really? What would you use?” Jo grins, as she settles beside him leaning back against the crib that wouldn’t see any use for a long while yet. See while Alex had been working Jo had been left feeling pretty useless, I mean if there was ever a time doctors need to step up it was now and yet here she was trapped at home, watching the news on a loop. Finding their new home had given her something to do, something that didn't make her feel useless.

“Oh, you know handsome...incredibly sexy?” Alex smirks, lifting her legs so they laid out across his lap, his warm hand resting on her thigh.

“Oh you’re right...you taking a nap on a giant teddy bear, mumbling about chips of all things is incredibly sexy.”

“Glad you agree...” Alex smiles, resting his forehead against Jo’s. Here it’s so easy to forget what's going on outside when it’s just the two...or three of them. No one’s sick or dying, here in these four walls they’re safe. They’re home.

Something Jo never really had before she met Alex. A place where their children would always call home, they wouldn’t drag their stuff in a rubbish bag from one crappy place to the next. No here is where they’ll take their first steps and get startled by the flash as Alex struggles to get in on video. Downstairs by the entrance is where they’ll mark their height as they grow and Jo and Alex will mark theirs as they shrink in old age. Outback will be filled with memories of badly burnt BBQs, water gun fights and snow castles. A home where no matter how dark and scary things get outside will always be filled with love.

I can’t remember the last time I did a request. I’ll be honest I’m too scared to even go through my asks but I saw this one and I really enjoyed writing a little fluff with no plot.

Thanks for reading.

#alex karev #jolex #jo wilson #jo karev #greys anatomy #greys abc #greysanatony #justin chambers #greys #camilla luddington #Jolex fanfic #Jolex fanfiction #Jolex oneshot

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ibelieveindragons141 · 4 years

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Protecting the Kids

Summary: You get hurt during the demodog attack in the junkyard.

Steve Harrington x reader

Word count: 1261

Max stormed up the ladder in a huff, leaving you, Steve, and Dustin alone. You were sitting beside your boyfriend, who was flipping his lighter on and off again.

“Exactly.” Steve said. “Just show her you don’t care.” Earning a sharp jab to his side with your elbow. “Ow,” he winced.

“I don’t.” Dustin pouted.

Steve winked at him, still flipping his lighter.

Dustin shook his head in confusion. “Why are you winking at me?”

Steve did it again. You giggled.

“Stop.” The younger boy glared at the two of you.

There was silence for a few minutes, all of you mentally preparing for Dart’s arrival.

You could hear Max and Lucas’ voices filter down from the top of the bus. “What do you think they’re talking about up there?” You asked.

Steve shrugged. “Maybe they’re confessing their love for each other.”

Dustin opened his mouth to say something, but the inhuman screech of a demodog ripped through the air. The three of you froze, staring at each other.

Steve sprang into action, turning around to look out the window.

Dustin leaned over Steve’s shoulder. “You see him?” he asked, squinting and trying to make out Dart in the dense fog.

“No.” Steve answered, eyes scanning the junkyard.

Dustin shouted up, “Lucas! What’s going on?”

“Hold on!” There was a scuffle, then, “I’ve got eyes. 10 o’clock! 10 o’clock!”

You glanced at Steve. “What’s he doing?”

Your boyfriend shook his head and said, “I don’t know.” Frustration crept into his voice, “He’s not taking the bait. Why is he not taking the bait?”

“Maybe he’s not hungry.” Dustin suggested.

“Maybe he’s sick of cow.” You added.

Wordlessly, Steve got up and grabbed his nail bat.

“Steve?” Dustin’s voice shook slightly.

“Steve? What are you doing- Steve!” You tried getting his attention, confusion and worry coloring your voice.

He made eye contact with you, and then Dustin and help up his lighter. “Just get ready,” he said, tossing it to Dustin.

You both realized what he was about to do. It was so stupid and so brave and just so Steve.

“Wait!” You rushed over to him and kissed him firmly. He cupped your face and ran his thumb over your cheekbone softly.

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I always worry about you.”

He smiled, then turned serious and said, “Protect the kids.”

You nodded, “With my life.”

He frowned at this, probably not thrilled about you risking your life- which was ironic coming from him- and left.

You and Dustin watched him cautiously go in the direction of Dart’s call. Steve began whistling, trying to get its attention and draw it over to the trap.

The sound of heavy footsteps behind you made you jump. “What’s he doing?” The redhead hurried over to you and Dustin.

“Being stupid, that’s what.” You muttered. Dustin grabbed and squeezed your hand reassuringly. You took a deep breath, knowing you had to be strong for the kids.

Steve looked like he was saying something, but you couldn’t hear what.

Max stared at your boyfriend. “He’s insane,” she said.

Dustin stared in awe at his babysitter who was about to fight a monster. “He’s awesome.”

Dart jumped at Steve who swung the nail bat at it to keep it at bay.

Suddenly Lucas’ panicked shout came from above. “Steve, watch out!”

“A little busy here,” Steve called over his shoulder.

Another cry from Lucas: “3 o’clock!”

You looked to your right and your heart dropped. More demodogs were creeping up on Steve’s blindspot.

You saw one crouch down, preparing to attack, and screamed his name, “STEVE!”

He whipped around and narrowly avoided it by rolling over the good of a car like he was in some action movie.

Dustin began shouting, “Abort! Abort!”

It charged Steve again, who this time managed to get in a good hit, stunning it just long enough to begin sprinting back towards the bus.

Lucas had come down by this point, and all of you were yelling Steve’s name in a futile attempt to speed him up. As he approached, you shoved the kids behind you with one arm, and slammed the door shut behind him with the other.

The demodog kept at the door, trying to claw its way in. Everyone was screaming.

Dustin tried sending a distress call using his radio. “Guys! Does anyone copy?! We’re in the old junkyard and we are going to DIE!”

No one responded. You were alone.

Max stared up the ladder and shrieked and the creature trying to climb in. Steve was busy trying to keep one form entering through a window, so you rushed over and pulled her out of the way. Grabbing a hammer you’d found earlier, you smacked the demodog on the side of its face. But it retaliated and brought it’s claws down on you. In a panic, you raised your arms allowing it to rake its claws across them. The wounds immediately spurted blood. You cried out in pain which brought Steve running. “Y/n!” He pulled you behind him and hit your attacker with his bat until it retreated. They all did.

You all stood breathing heavily in the bus. The adrenaline just starting to fade. Max and Lucas had death grips on each others’ hands.

Dustin slowly opened the bus door. They were gone. The five of you stepped out.

“What happened?” Lucas asked.

Max panted, “I don’t know.”

Dustin turned to Steve. “Maybe we scared them off?”

He shook his Head. “No, no way,” he said. “They’re going somewhere.”

You couldn’t help but notice how hot he looked with his hair all tousled and the bat held casually over his shoulder. These nice thoughts were cut short by another wave of pain. You groaned and winced slightly. Steve was at your side in an instant.

“Oh god, y/n,” He gingerly examined your arms. “We have to clean this.”

The kids came over with concerned looks on their faces.

“Relax, guys. I’m not dying. They’re just a few scratches.”

They didn’t look convinced.

“Hey, do any of you nerds have first aid stuff in your backpacks?”

“I think I do.” Dustin volunteered then rushed back inside. He emerged with some water and band aids.

Steve sighed. “It’ll have to do.” He turned to Max and Lucas. “Go keep watch until I’m done patching up y/n and we can go find the others.”

“Steve,” you said softly, “I can deal with this myself, you need to go.”

His eyes hardened. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

“Yeah, we nerds stick together.” Dustin agreed, bumping your shoulder.

You laughed lightly, “Alright, let’s get this done then.”

It didn’t take long for Steve to wash most of the blood off, and even less time to put some inadequately small band aids on the cuts which thankfully weren’t too deep.”

“Ideally, those would need stitches.” Max commented when she and Lucas came down.

“Well that isn’t really an option, max.” Steve placed his hand on the small of your back protectively, and kissed your forehead.

As you started your walk back, you leaned into his chest and murdered, “I love you so much, Stevey. But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will kill you.”

A chuckle rumbled through his chest. “I love you, too.”

A/n: This took forever to write because I tried to keep the dialogue the same from the show. Anyway, I hope y’all liked this :) pls send me a request I’m so bored 😂💖

#x reader #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #dustin henderson #max hargrove #lucas sinclair #demodog #stranger things #junkyard #nail bat #season two #kickass #badass

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thelostandforgottenangel · 3 years

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Zootopia Tarzan Moana Atlantis 101 Dalmatians Frozen Beauty and the Beast Hercules Aladdin

Zootopia – Would your muse enjoy living in utopia, or would they feel out of place?

Raven would completely and utterly probably hate it; sure maybe she would like a world where everyone got along and lived in peace and her family was safe from harm… but she lives in the sewers (Currently is up in the woods away from civilization with everyone) – she would feel way out of place

Tarzan – How did the place your muse grew up in affect them?

Strangely enough where as the turtles were eager to get to the surface she loves living underground and might prefer to stay there unless they are out in the open with nobody around for miles like up at the cabin, it gives her a sense of safety and security she only feels around her family if she is up top on patrol

Moana – Does your muse believe in fate or destiny? What is theirs?

Nope not really! Let’s put it this way she didn’t expect to see the late teenage years and truthfully she expects she will probably die so it’s a live by the moment kinda thing and accept there might be no chance of seeing next year much less 25.

If she does have a destiny it will probably be to kill her bastard of a sperm donor who has tried to kill her and her family one to many times

Atlantis – Is your muse adventurous or do they prefer to seclude themselves?

Both, but you gotta catch her on the right day! She loves exploring places she’s never seen wondering off too far from home sometimes getting herself into trouble other times finding somewhere for her and the turtles to hang out, other times she’s like a feral kitten with some violent tendencies meaning she hides either in her room or up in her crevasse within the pipes if there are people she don’t want to be around or trust in the lair *cough*Vern*cough*

101 Dalmatians – Does your muse have a large collection of any particular thing?

If you’re talking collections she has several but we’ll just do the bigger two; one is a box of the most random treasures she finds either in the sewers, through the grates, or up on the surface when she’s patrolling. Most she shares with the guys if they really like something but everything else is in this pretty box hidden under her bed

Pillows!!!

Her bed consists of a ‘nice’ queen size mattress they found on the streets then topped with about 50 *not exaggerating* of the plushiest pillows she could find while on junkyard supply runs crafted under her sheets into a nest, any stuffed animals she decided to keep from when she was a child sits along the back wall, and a giant knitted blanket Raph made her which she curls up in right in the middle of it all. Yes she has stolen all of her brother’s pillows before; Donnie’s not to many times because she wants him to sleep, and yes they had to physically go in her room at 6 a.m. when they had just got home from patrol and gotten cleaned up to drag them out from under her fake sleeping body or offer a new pillow so she will give it back… her bed is the softest so sometimes revenge is taken out on her for not giving them back in a timely manor by one of them climbing into her bed to just sleep there for the night being to tired to really work to get their stuff back

It’s a trap, this was her plan all along because she likes cuddles; Raph and Mikey give the best but good luck when she needs to get up, Leo is just fun to nestle up against cause he churrs softly in his sleep and it is soothing as fuck, if Donnie winds up in there it’s usually cause he missed his door or he couldn’t get comfortable

Or the lair is cold at that point they all nestle in the same room to keep from getting too cold

Frozen – What is your muse’s relationship with their siblings like?

It can be a rocky thing from time to time because they are still siblings and there will always be disagreements or rivalries… but no matter what she loves her brothers and their relationship is pretty good.

She is the baby of the family and no matter how mature she acts her brother’s spoil her rotten same as they did when she was tiny, she literally gets away with murder because of her big bright green eyes and innocent face (This is a lie don’t fall for it)

Leo although strict with her training because he would feel like a failure if she got hurt or died while in the middle of patrol or a battle pushes her harder then his younger brothers even gives her extra lessons if he feels she isn’t getting it but tends to let her goof off just a bit if she is doing great (Denies it to the highest power if called out by anyone)

Raph will act tough and argues with her either cause she’s bugging him or asking him to do shit (Will act like he hates her from time to time, they get into physical altercations, have at least one yelling match a day a real serious one every other week or so) but is the biggest teddy bear if close to the teen and thinks nobody is around, he still lets her ride around on his shell or his shoulder if it doesn’t hurt too bad because he does love her even if he will never admit it

Donnie no matter what always gives her his latest tech to try out since he believes she will tell him the truth if it needs work and updates her laptop before Mikey’s game system because he can and she never asks him for much

Let’s face it; she is Mikey’s best friend, baby girl, and partner in crime! Both of these babies can always be found in the kitchen cooking almost every day and when they are not they are causing hell by pranking the other three, putting graffiti on the walls, playing their music too loud while having an epic dance party, fucking with Leo while he is attempting to train or meditate until he gets so frustrated they can pull him out of that serious ‘Leader Mode’ he runs on or as Raph calls it ‘Pulling the stick out of his ass’

Beauty and the Beast – How has your muse changed as a person over their life? Have they changed for the better or for the worse?

As a young child she was the same as she is now nothing seemed to bother her only she was a lot more fearful of humans believing they could get her through the TV and the scary metal monster that haunted her dreams until she was almost 13…so we did get a lot of personal growth

It’s could be worse – she could have been raised by Shredder but nobody wants that!

Hercules – Is your must more physically strong, or emotionally strong

She tries to be both but she is 5’4½, 170 pounds soaking wet with all her gear on, and even though Raph tries to put some more muscle on her she’s still tiny … they all remind her of this daily

I think she’s more emotionally strong; it takes a lot to break her unless it’s about the guys being hurt or almost killed then she shuts down, stays by their side, and cries like a baby until they are better

Aladdin – If your muse had 3 wishes, what would they be?

Her family’s safety will always be her first wish no matter what

For her brother’s to be accepted by the world above because seeing them upset by some unappreciative asshat of a person that ran screaming after they saved them from harm when they may have risked their own lives hurts her a lot. She will sit and comfort them if she is allowed and has held a sobbing Mikey a few too many times

Last but not least you would think she would want Shredder dead and his head on a pike but actually all she wants is one whole day of silence, everyone getting along, and for Donnie not to drink all of the damn coffee before 9 a.m.

@betelgeusessonajblog

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allyvampirelass29 · 4 years

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Goodnight, Chris McQueen

A NOS4A2 Review By: Allyssa J. Watkins

I love you, Brat I hope you know that....... My biggest fear was becoming my old man Drinkin', philanderin', livin' for nothin' I wanted so much more for my little girl But Babe, I'm just like him A haunted soldier That never came back from the war I tried so hard to make you laugh Just so you didn't see me cryin' Funny names, and stupid jokes I guess, don't band-aid the holes Punched through the walls and in Your mother's heart Jesus, maybe this dad thing Was a cosmic hoax right from the start I love you like a big dog I'd die twice just to give you a hug Before I go, I want you to know I'm proud of my kid I could never do what you did It's like you told your ma You're made of steel, Vic You threw the bottle away You sure as hell didn't need me But you let your broken down dad save the day I ain't half the hero to you though As you are to Wayne Give 'em HELL, Babe Fight the good fight Don't cry over me I won't die as I lived A good for nothin' It's gonna mean somethin' I gotta believe Don't stay here, Brat, trapped in my death scene Remember the good stuff, when they say "Goodnight, Chris McQueen."

In the words of the illustrious Linda McQueen........ "Holy HELL." It's been days, and I've been in a morose fog, only just now emerging, shaking and fighting the tears, even as I write this, half numb, and half agony. I'm shocked, dismayed, and altogether fragile. The second I saw that this episode was going to be called, "Chris McQueen," I couldn't have been more thrilled, and my heart soared, excited! Chris McQueen has SHINED this season, our own resident white knight, slaying Vic's demons, both of the vice, and supernatural variety. It was no mistake, or random shuffle of fate, that her magic bridge led her back to her dad. He's been a gun-wielding, bomb-making, godsend!!! He helped her quit drinking, heartbroken that his little girl had inherited his disastrous coping mechanisms, refusing to let it drown her the way it did him. He's fought at her side, let her lean on him, he's become her safe place. He's given her the best advice about fighting for Lou, choosing her family, and oh yeah, he SINGLEHANDEDLY took on Bing Partridge, not just once, but TWICE!!!

If NOS4A2 has a CHAMPION, a dark horse in the game, it's hands down Chris McQueen. If anyone is deserving of their own personal, entitled episode, it's the vindicated father who did the work, fought like HELL for his redemption, made himself a better person for his daughter. That rush of flooding joy, cooled to wary concern, and hesitant dread, however, when I realized....... This honour could be his final tribute.......

Don't kill Chris McQueen........ I pleaded over and over in my mind, the frantic cry, resounding, even as I pressed play. I hadn't been able to shake that sinister, creeping feeling all day, and when we opened onto Chris at a funeral, my relief flooded in, graciously thankful to see him alive!!! Wait, he looked younger, like WAY younger, even younger than the first season, and oh my god, hold on, whose funeral is this!? Someone died........ my stomach knotting again, trying to figure out who, and we realize that this is Chris, decades ago, speaking at his Dad's funeral.

I loved, and I mean LOVED this opener. It's just so beautifully real, and one hundred percent Chris McQueen, as he muses about his father's life, and his own, and how the two came to mirror each other. He's funny, irreverent, vulnerable, and by the end, absolutely heartbreaking. It's a searing portrait of a broken man, and everything that caused his life to fracture, every death, that made him wish he was never born.

"When I came back from the gulf, I finally understood why he was pissed off all the time, because he knew there was no reason for him to born, and that nobody was going to give a shit when he died."

Chris' voice cracks, and my eyes sting, because I feel it, his greatest fear, and I know he's not just talking about his father, he's talking about himself, effectually delivering his own eulogy, and again I implored the fates...... Don't kill Chris McQueen.

Aaaaaaaaah, and HELLO Baby Vic!!! Oh my gosh, she's so precious, about eight years old, frowning as her father speaks, huddled close to her mother, and then when Chris becomes too overwhelmed with his anger and emotions to go on, tearing out of the church, she frantically chases after him, calling for him!!! Even then, she was her daddy's girl!!! Once again, I must COMMEND NOS4A2 for choosing the perfect miniature of our badass leading lady, because this girl is the very IMAGE of Ashleigh, and it was such a joy to see her fierce features, and resolve, in a dear little face!!! More Baby Vic, PLEASE!!!

Flashforward to the present day, and Team McQueen is ready and raring to hit the road. I loved this entire scene. The love between her and Lou as she tells him goodbye, and says, "I'm going to go get our boy." An achingly beautiful moment, these two give me life, and have become my FAVOURITE couple on the show!!! I may have been purely Team Drew Butler, Season One, but now I can't imagine our beautiful badass without her Teddy Bear Man, and I ship McCarmody so freaking hard!!! Vic revs the Triumph's engine, testing it, gearing up with her Dad, and it hits me....... She doesn't have to hide it, sneak away to go do her Creative Hero thing, he accepts her for exactly who she is, believes in her gift enough to go with her. For the first time..... Vic McQueen isn't riding alone........

Linda is an absolute rollicking delight, emphatic in her protest, and I have just come to LOVE her so much!!! "I don't know about this Vicki, taking explosives across a magical bridge IN THE RAIN!!!!" God BLESS this woman, she's so maternal here, and I love it, I see how much she's changed, becoming this mother and ex wife even, that isn't afraid to express her feelings and doubts, no longer shackled by the fear that she's destined to be alone.

"You're my only kid, Vicki, My Baby."

"You know me, Ma, made of steel, remember?"

Awwwwww oh my gosh, so freaking CUTE, and for the first time, they feel like a real family, The McQueen Clan on a Mission, slaying psychotic kidnappers, and rescuing lost children, becoming the family business. Linda's still unsure, hurrying after Chris and Vic, still thinking they're both CRAZY, when she sees it for the first time....... Her eyes widen impossibly, as a rickety, wooden, covered bridge, appears on the street in front of them, and her reaction is EVERYTHING we've been waiting for, I found myself, leaping off the couch, cheering as she says it. "Holy HELL!!!"

Chris' childlike wonder, as he looks up into the dark eves, and watches the bats flutter, the Triumph roaring through the beams of breaking light, weaving in and out of shadow, is such a joy to behold. He believed in it, believed in her, even without seeing, and it means that much more to Vic, you can tell. It's also symbolic, Vic sharing her world with her father, bringing him into her inscape, fighting the good fight TOGETHER, both soldiers. I loved it, every second.

Surprise, surprise, when they roll up to the junkyard, Bing Partridge isn't dead, because some cockroaches just won't DIE!!!! Like an AVENGING ANGEL, Chris McQueen is all of us, flying off that bike, and assailing Bing with murderous fury, backhanding his stupid face with the gun, over and over, impaling him deeper with the protruding rod, and I swear, I wanted to run to him, and HUG him so tightly, so freaking PROUD!!!! THANK YOU, CHRIS MCQUEEN!!!

"Where is he, you SICK, Son of a BITCH!?!?"

"HE CAN'T HELP US IF HE'S DEAD!!!!!"

Vic screams at her father, angrily chastising this good and proper beating that has been a LONG time coming!!!! I'm sorry, isn't that how ANY sane person would react to a sadistic, murdering, rapist whose made their life a LIVING HELL!? What gives, Victoria!? Chris falls back, as confused as I was, and then shakes his head, as he apologizes vehemently, which Vic is having none of. She's AWFUL to her father from this moment forward, rude and spiteful, blaming him for everything, and as much as I love the girl, in this unjust punishment, she REALLY lives up to her nickname, Brat.

This Kids Glove approach to Bing Partridge is MADDENING enough to make me PSYCHOTIC!!! BING. IS. EVIL. Say it with me, NOS4A2!!!! It's like they are hellbent on redeeming the ONE character that is beyond saving, a man that even God, himself, would look at reviled, and say, "Get thee behind me, SATAN!!!" Last week they failed, first through the deus ex machina epiphany, and then through the attempted murder/suicide, so they tried even harder, using a meeker approach, making him say manipulative propaganda like, "I wish I'd never met Mr. Manx, because then Vic McQueen would still be my friend." and "I'm all alone in here, and it's really scary." Ughhhh somebody, anybody, put us out of our misery, and put one right between his beady little rat bastard eyes.

I almost understand Tabitha's need to keep things professional, and speak to Bing, in a reassuring way that reaches his simple, monosyllabic mind. I get that beating the living hell out of him like he so obviously deserves isn't an option for her, but this man is a HEINOUS criminal, who's kidnapped kids, drugged and raped their mothers, KILLED both of his parents, not to mention TORTURED Charlie within an inch of his life, only just last week!!!! But by ALL MEANS, Vic, go HOLD HANDS WITH HIM, and see if that will help get your son back!!!! Cringe.

I HATED this, so, so, SO much!!! Bing was her friend, he betrayed her, violated the trust between them, became her worst nightmare, shot at her, traumatized her, duct-taping her to a chair, she should HATE him, despise the sight of him far more than Charlie Manx!!! I CRAVED a reckoning, even if it was just a verbal assault. But no, instead, Vic decides to play nice, and I get that most of it was an act to convince him to help her get her son back, but I could also feel NOS4A2's misguided hand in her actions. Look, see, even Vic can find the good in Bing!!!! Sigh. Not gonna lie, I was going to scream bloody murder if she said she forgives him!!!

Good Cop pays off, however, and Bing, desperate for Vic's forgiveness, reveals there is one more stop before Christmasland, one last chance to grab Wayne, when he gets out of the Wraith at Sleigh House to hang his ornament. It's a dawning revelation, intel quintessential to their success, and for once they know where Charlie is going to be, before he gets there, and can lay a trap for him and his indestructible car. I hate the way they arrived at the information though, I'd have much preferred to see Bing suffer for his sins, and the whole interaction is just so laughably implausible. I will say this however, there was a rather BEAUTIFUL line in this scene that Bing couldn't begin to deserve, but I LOVED it all the same. "I miss the person I thought you were." My god, that's powerful.

"Chris McQueen," is a STELLAR episode, full of beautiful lines like this, including my FAVOURITE thing that Maggie has EVER said to Vic, which perfectly exemplifies their eccentric friendship!!! "I'd shank a thousand assholes for your mopey ass!!!" YES!!! I LOVE THAT SO MUCH!!! I will say though, that I was SHOCKED at how cool Vic was with Maggie's scary new trick of hurting herself to use her powers, sans seizures. I thought she was going to kick her butt for that!!! I'm really worried, Guys, this is a dangerous addiction, that's going to be the hardest one yet for Mags to quit!!! The break-up with Tabitha was bittersweet, but it did not come as a shock to me. They'd been drifting apart for awhile now, and I feel like Maggie was so scared of losing her, that she was afraid to be herself. "I want to live in the real world all the time." For me, that was the nail in the coffin, having only heard it about a thousand times myself. Maggie will always be living in two worlds, and whoever she's with MUST accept that. They love each other, yes, but they just want different things. I do respect Tabitha so much for not demanding that Maggie give up her tiles, threatening to leave her if she didn't. She'd rather let Maggie go be herself, be happy, than try to stifle her, shove her into that hateful, constricting little box called normal.

Vic continues to be petty, and spiteful towards her father, treating him WAY too harshly, punishing him, when he's done nothing but fight for her, a literal action HERO, avenging Wayne, and kicking ASS!!! It hurt my soul, and I could see the pain in his eyes, thinking he'd failed her, apologizing again, just wanting her forgiveness. The second scene at the McQueen house is a far less fuzzy one, as she forbids her father to come with her, placing all the blame of every bad thing that's happened thus far on his shoulders, and she cuts him with razor edged words, saying the worst thing that she could have possibly said in that moment, something truly unforgivable, that I already know she will spend the rest of her life, regretting.

"I lived eight years of my life without you, Dad, and I can just as easily do it again." She sneers, and even Linda stares, aghast. "Vicki, no, you don't mean that!!!"

I felt the pangs in my heart, stunned that she could be that vicious to her own father, after all he's done for her, getting sober, changing his whole life, hell, getting HER sober!!! Linda is again so adorable, insisting she take Chris with her, like "Vicki let your father play on your magical bridge, if he wants!!!" not wanting him to feel left out, and while I want more father/daughter explosive awesomeness, I'm conflicted whether or not he should go. If he stays here...... he's safe. Eventually Linda's persuasion wins out. "Don't let your anger towards your father, keep you from getting back Wayne." With a frustrated sigh, Vic shoves a black helmet in Chris' hands, and we're off to the races again. "Bring them home," Linda whispers sweetly, embracing him tight, and as they hug, I get the most sinking feeling that it's for the last time. Dont...... Don't kill, Chris Mcqueen.

Vic and Chris work in silence, once they get to the charred foundation of Sleigh House in Colorado, burying the handmade bombs, and finally Chris can't take it anymore. "Is this how you want it, Brat?" He asks her, heartbroken, and Ashleigh's acting is PHENOMENAL, as she breaks down and reveals the truth behind her unprovoked animosity.

"It's easier to be mad at you, than to blame myself."

"None of this is your fault. Charlie Manx is not your fault."

"I want to forgive you, because if I don't, how can Wayne ever forgive me. But I can't just let myself off the hook!!!"

It's not entirely a make-up, but it's an important conversation, something she's been wrestling with for a long time. Chris is again AMAZING, consoling her, easing her guilt, even while she's the one that's been impossible. Again Vic, I love you, but your father did the absolute RIGHT thing, and he's the only one that did right by Bing, as far as I'm concerned.

Maggie and Lou join the dynamite father/daughter duo in Colorado, and I LOVED all of their scenes together, the two people in this world that Vic McQueen loves most, and there's something magical about it, something iconic, seeing all three of them together, the Creative Dream Team, united in their crusade against Charlie Manx.

"Every one of these ornaments represents a kid in Christmasland, lost forever. Do you think there's a way to get them back? The other kids?"

WHEN SOULS FALL.

Maggie stares down, perplexed at the tiles, as she arranges them, revealing to the oracle this cryptic, mysticism, and I myself, could NOT breathe. Holy SMASH. Ever since the end of, "Gunbarrel," where Vic wanders through the trees outside Sleigh House, frowning at them, the hundreds of glittering ornaments, swaying in the wind, glowing as she drew near, I just knew...... I KNEW the souls of the Lost Children, were trapped inside each and every one of them, and this suspicion was ever further confirmed, when she found Bradley's canoe ornament, broken open on the ground, after he burnt up in the Wraith. My prediction? To turn the kids back, they have to smash every single one of these ornaments, and only then can the escaped souls return to their vampire shells, and make them human again. The minute a child hangs an ornament, the transformation is complete.

I also LOVED the transcendent scene between Vic and Millie, a scared little girl, in over her head, calling, pleading through the static, and I couldn't help but MARVEL at how much has changed between them. Last Season Millie Manx was very much her father's daughter, cruelly taunting Vic, on her father's behalf, even appearing to her while she was awake, stabbing her with an invisible sword. Now, she calls out to her to be her saviour, her father's greatest enemy, the iron wrought armour of her inherited hatred falling away, and Vic sees her as she always was, not a hollowed out demon spawn, but just a frightened little girl that needs to be set free. I was also THRILLED that dear little Millie imparted the knowledge that Charlie CANNOT die, else all the children, including his daughter, will die with him. Vic abhors Charlie with a screaming vengeance, but now that she knows his death comes at the cost of every child he's ever taken, she won't kill him, she CAN'T kill him, because then all of this, everything she's fought so hard for, bled for, would be for nothing.

The final act is both the thrilling BEST and the incoherent WORST of the episode, as the chaotic music ominously heralds our man's arrival. Charlie Manx, cutting a dashing, imposing silhouette, dark against the hazy dusk, exits the Wraith, turning every which way, striking in profile, floating smoothly across the front of the car, to let Wayne out. I loved this aesthetic, Charlie moving swiftly through the mist and dying light, rising as the threatened dark, enclosing. It's beautiful, and serves two clever purposes. One, to shroud our debonair dark menace in all the more intrigue and mystery, and the other, to conceal just how bad Wayne's gotten. Charlie clasps his hands around Wayne's shoulders lovingly, the picture of paternal pride, and my heart caught, seeing Wayne in the cast light, his boyish curls, frayed and almost white, his skin covered in white blue veins, every one of his teeth, coming to a sharp point.

"Go on, My Boy, it's time to hang your ornament," Charlie chortles handing Wayne the CUTEST little gray, baby bat ornament, I have ever seen, urging him forward. "Choose any branch you like, just make sure it's a SPECIAL branch," Charlie crows, and my heart melts, so in love with both of them, and the way Charlie dotes on him, knowing that while this began as a revenge plot, Charlie has come to love and favour Wayne, like the son he never had. "Don't dilly dally," He warns adorably, with an eyebrow raise, and even this mild scold is too precious for words.

Charlie waits by the Wraith, already nervous, as little Wayne disappears into the grove of trees. I LOVED the Wraith's ADORABLE warning system, as it flashes danger, the car horn honking, and even more I loved Charlie's distressed reaction to it, hurrying over, brow knit, like a father racing to tend to and protect his frightened child. Can I just have this impossibly PERFECT man, that darling little curly-haired boy, and this pretty, shiny car, PLEASE!?!?

"Smart Car," I whisper to myself, as the Wraith senses Vic's presence, and the waiting bombs beneath the ground. Charlie, alarmed, jumps back into his car, to seek out what's got the Wraith in such a tizzy, racing away, and leaving young Wayne behind. If there was ever a time, to save Wayne, it is NOW!!! NOW, Maggie, grab him NOW!!!! Here's where things start to unravel for me as far as character motivation and realistic ability is concerned. Yes, I get that Wayne's appearance is terrifying for her, that she doesn't know what she's walking into as she approaches him, but there is NO WAY Margaret Leigh, Oracle Extraordinaire, Hourglass SLAYER, would just cower, and watch as Wayne hangs his ornament. Nope, sorry. Wayne isn't even all the way a vampire yet, he's in transition, and the FEARLESS girl that I know and love, would have grabbed him, reassured him, while she wrested the ornament from his hands, and SMASHED it!!! Wayne's soul flies back into his body, crying as he clings to his Aunt Mags, Charlie is thwarted, and everybody lives happily ever after. End Scene.

But no, Maggie, in an uncharacteristic move, waits until Wayne has ALREADY hung his ornament, and then approaches him fearfully. I will admit I was a little nervous too..... Wayne, Darling, NO BITING Aunt Maggie!!! Wayne bares his vampire teeth, and raises his vampire claws in an adorable scare, with the cutest little growl ever, laughing cheerfully as he chases Maggie through the trees, clearly thinking it's a game.

Meanwhile, Charlie bristles as he sees the glowing headlights of Vic's motorcycle up ahead, piercing through the descended dark. His annoyance is obvious, but you can almost sense his secret excitement, at having one last chance to kill her.

"Gunning for Mother of the Year?" Charlie scoffs, amused, looking hot as hell behind the Wraith, clenching the steering wheel, his head down, eyes narrowed and full of smouldering, black intent. It's a FANTASTIC face-off, as the Wraith screams down into the open field, Chris pressing HARD on the detonator, and the first bomb goes off in a spray of dirt and billowing smoke. Again here's where I found myself more than a little bit incredulous, wondering WHAT THE HELL IS THE WRAITH MADE OF!?!? I even giggled to myself, remembering what Chris had said. "I don't care if he's in a GOD DAMNED tank!!!" The Wraith remains unscathed, the gleaming black paint, not so much as scratched, as a second bomb, and then a third go off beneath it, to no detriment. Really!? The Wraith is NOT a tank, it's not even armoured, and while yes, it's a supernatural entity, it CANNOT DEFY THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!!! Baby, I'm sorry, I'm so don't want to see you harmed, but you put a blast beneath that undercarriage, it is going to send that car FLYING, flipping it over at the very least!!!

Back in the grove of trees, Wayne, still chasing Maggie, stops cold when Lou calls out to him.

"Dad..... is that you?" THANK GOD, I cry out tearfully, as Wayne recognizes him, and in a very human moment, runs and hugs his father so tight, snuggling his little head to his shoulder, Lou sighing relieved, as he holds his son at last. Happy tears become angry ones, however, and at first I was LIVID with Wayne, horrified as he sinks his tiny little fangs into Lou's shoulder, biting him hard. DON'T BITE YOUR FATHER!!!!! Why, Wayne, WHY!? But the second time I watched this episode, I noticed something soooo very important. Wayne doesn't show any signs of hostility, poses NO threat, UNTIL the first bomb goes off. This is NO coincidence. Charlie, you're too clever for your own good!!! I suspect, that once the transformation is complete, and the kids are connected to Father Christmas, they can sense when he's in danger, and their innate attack instinct takes over!!! Freaking brilliant, and yet also terrifying!!!

Vic curses under her breath, her foot slamming on the gas, helplessly, as the Triumph won't start, her knife failing her, as the Wraith, screams at her like a shot bullet, promising vengeance, and Charlie smirks, sadistic, knowing he's about to end this....... "Say Goodnight, Vic McQueen."

My heart clenches in my chest, barely breathing, the tears flooding my vision, watching through blurry eyes, knowing what he's going to do, before he even does it. Chris McQueen hurtles himself in front of Vic, selflessly sacrificing his life for hers, and the Wraith runs him over, crushing the back of his legs. as he collides with it. I screamed, I sobbed, and shook violently, stunned because my prayers had been answered....... Chris McQueen, has miraculously SURVIVED. He's alive...... he's alive...... I whisper, reassuring myself. While he's far from okay, surely suffering two crushed legs, unable to move, I'm just so happy to see him still breathing, still fighting.

"Perfect timing, Wayne," Charlie snickers, Vic screaming, "NO!" as Wayne hops back into the car. This is it, this is the moment, where it all goes so wrong. Charlie's holding all the cards, he's got Wayne in the car, he's subdued Vic and her father, neither of them can so much as move, and he listens, drinking in their anguished cries. All he had to do was drive away....... It was over. It was SUPPOSED to be over.

"Chris McQueen, a disappointment of a man, just like your father," Charles snarls, and I AM BEGGING him to stop, bawling, pleading frantic, my terrified voice shrill. "BABY NO!!!! BABY STOP!!! DON'T KILL CHRIS, PLEASE GOD, CHARLIE!!!!!" Tapping into a darkness, donning a heartlessness, unbecoming of our gentleman villain, Charlie looks Vic in the eye, as he does it, snapping Chris' neck with lethal force, killing him purely out of spite. The episode ends with her broken, mournful sob, and Chris' slain gaze, his eyes still full of tears, staring blankly at the camera.

My pain is deafening, my sorrow beyond all hope of any coherent expression as NOS4A2 suffers its greatest loss to date. It's an empty gesture, a callous act, uncharacteristic of the man that I love with all my heart, but who has hurt me something profound with this senseless murder. In what kind of CRUEL world, does an innocent man, who sacrifices himself for his daughter, who fought for eight years to be the kind of father she deserved, have to die, while an indecent evil like Bing Partridge gets to live!? Charlie, HOW could you!? This...... There's no honour in this. Charlie kills only as a last resort, and only in defense, he has a strict moral code, and is vehemently against violence without cause. This was unfeeling, unnecessary, and soulless. Yes, he knew Chris was a bad father from before, but surely in witnessing the valiant manner in which he'd flung himself in front of the car, with no thought for his own life, Charlie would have found him redeemed, he would have seen a father who'd do anything to protect his daughter, not so different from himself, and he would have felt SOMETHING!!!

Goodnight, Chris McQueen. You fought the good fight, you changed and made things right, and now at last you can find peace....... My heart is so heavy, I can't hold it, and crying here, I want him to know how wrong he was, thinking nobody would mourn him when he died. A thousand cry out, stricken with grief. Husband, Father, White Knight Redeemed, here lies Chris McQueen, a HERO who didn't die for nothing.........

#nos4a2 #nos4a2 review #chris mcqueen #vic mcqueen #linda mcqueen #wayne mcqueen #charlie manx #maggie leigh #bing partridge

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shadowthrone-ammanas · 4 years

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Ghost Kid Chapter Twenty-Eight: Epilogue

Being able to send Mu out for mechanical parts and related stuff was invaluable for building the space ship dock and resulted in Hat Kid being able to repair the ship a bit better. It took three whole months to finish with Snatcher’s help moving all the big pieces – he grumbled about it the whole time of course because he enjoyed being like that – which was quicker than Hat Kid had estimated. Though if it was actually fast or not, she wasn’t sure; the book about it in her library didn’t say how long it should take. But it was finally done even if end result looked clunky and nowhere near as sleek and pretty as the docks in Hat Kid’s former home or other planets she’d visited. But it was functional and had its own junkyard-esque charm to it so it was fine.

“Now what?” Mu asked from behind her. “It’s done, right? And that means I fulfilled my end of the contract. So what does that mean for me?”

Hat Kid turned to face her. She’d thought about this a lot over the last three months and hadn’t made a decision. If she wanted to be like Snatcher, she’d betray Mu now; kill her and then eat her soul. Which she was tempted to do. It had been a bit since she’d last eaten a soul – though really not that long because she may have occasionally also sent Mu out to lure Mafia goons into the forest for her to snatch their souls - and she still wasn’t fond of Mu after she’d gotten her killed even if being a ghost turned out to be not so bad. But also… they’d been friends once upon a time and Mu felt bad about everything she’d done and was rather miserable about it. Hat Kid pitied her a little, enough to maybe consider letting her live. But should she? … Ugh, she didn’t have any more time to think about it.

Did she want her first soul contract to end with letting the contractor go? That wouldn’t be any fun at all. But… did she want to eat a former friend’s soul? … Given the nature of their falling out and what it led to, she was indifferent about that. But did she want to eat a soul of another kid? … No, she didn’t. No one should die that young, especially in a way that allowed for nothing of them to remain. So…

She pulled out Mu’s soul. Warm and bright in her hand, it looked great, almost making her mouth do the ghost version of water. “Yep, the contract is complete,” she said as she let it go, banishing the temptation to change her mind. “So you’re free to go. Get out of the forest and never come back, I don’t want to see you around here anymore.”

Mu gasped as her soul returned to her body. “Uh… okay. Thank you.” She then turned and ran. “Oh and Moonjumper’s right, Snatcher’s totally your dad,” she shouted back over her shoulder.

As soon as she was out of sight, Snatcher slid out of the shadows he was hiding in as Hat Kid had suspected, she’d even guessed the approximate right location. “I’m surprised you let her go.” Was he not going to say anything about her departing words? Was he really going to pretend he hadn’t heard them? … Oh well, Hat Kid wasn’t sure what she thought about that idea either so she’d play along and ignore it as well.

Instead, she shrugged. “No one deserves to die when they’re still a kid. And eating her soul would mean she wouldn’t even get a chance to be a ghost. So I let her go. You disappointed?”

“No, it was your choice to make. But what are you going to do now that you dock is finished?”

“I don’t know. I can come and go as I please with little to no trouble now which is awesome. So I guess I should go out on a space adventure sometime soon. Would you be interested in coming with me?” She looked up at him with her cutest smile. “It’d be a short one of course because we can’t leave the forest unprotected for too long. But it could still be fun, right?” He was her mentor, he was teaching her a lot and showing her so much, she wanted to return the favor sometime and share a bit of her world and what she knew with him if he’d let her.

He hesitated, frowning a little. Which meant he wanted to say ‘yes’ but didn’t want to admit it. “Maybe.” Yep, for him that was a definite ‘yes’. “But only because I’m interested in seeing another planet. Only a fool wouldn’t be so don’t take it as me agreeing to go on an adventure with you or anything of that nature. Being trapped with you on a tiny spaceship sounds like an awful time but I might be willing to put up with it for a little while.” Yeah right, with how much time he spent with her these days, it wouldn’t be an issue at all especially if they brought some of the Subconites along for extra company. It’d be so much more fun and less lonely than the adventures she’d gone on before, she almost couldn’t wait for it.

***

Mu skidded to halt as Moonjumper appeared out of thin air a few feet in front of her. He’d come to talk to her multiple times since everything had been fixed, always when Hat Kid wasn’t around, so it wasn’t surprising to see him. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to offer a fast trip to wherever you wish to go and to offer you a final farewell if that is what you desire of me.” As if he’d actually listen to her if she said she didn’t want to ever see him again. That was all up to him, Mu didn’t really care anymore but she refused to ever let him talk her into doing anything ever again.

“Fine, I’ll take the free transport.” Because she wanted out of here as soon as possible.

Moonjumper opened a portal to the horizon, gesturing a welcome as she stepped through it. He slipped in after her and closed it. “Where to? The island? Or perhaps you wish to start a new life elsewhere?”

Mu had been planning on going back to the island, it had always been her home and she hadn’t thought of going anywhere else but now that Moonjumper mentioned other possibilities… she didn’t have to, did she? She could choose to live somewhere else, abandon the island to the Mafia, which she’d already done anyway since she couldn’t get rid of them. She could go somewhere entirely new and start all over. Or she could go back to the village just outside Subcon, the Doctor had offered her a place to stay after all… surely she would welcome her back, right?

“Need some time to consider?” Moonjumper asked.

“I uh… yeah, I suppose I do.” She suddenly had so many more options than she’d thought, it was a tough choice to be presented with.

“Very well, you have all the time in the world so consider carefully. I’ll wait. Remember it doesn’t have to be a permeant choice, you can always change your mind and go elsewhere at basically any time so don’t stress too much about it.”

And at long last, it's over! Yay!

Thank you so much to everyone who read and commented, I really appreciate it! This is my first successful long fic in like 3+ years, I've tried to write several in that time and they all ended up failing for one reason or another. I was beginning to worry that long fics weren't something I could do anymore. So I'm really glad I could finish this one and that overall it turned out well and that so many people enjoyed it. :)

It's possible I might write a sequel. It'd be one shots of stuff that happens after this, more of that Dadcher goodness because their dynamic in this fic was so much fun to write, Mu and Moonjumper stuff, Bow arriving looking for Hat Kid, and other such things. I can't promise anything though so don't hold your breath.

#My writing #ahit #A Hat In Time #ghost kid #ghost kid fic #Dadcher #hat kid & snatcher #Moonjumper & Mustache Girl

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ragingbookdragon · 4 years

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To Challenge The Flow Of Fate PT. 4

An Adrian Tepes (Alucard) x Reader Story

Warnings: Explicit Language Author’s Note: So, AO3 counts the words on your stories and stuff, and if you add up all the parts I’ve written so far plus this, it’s like 11K words. Which is impressive to me. Enjoy! -Thorne

She had just fastened the last belt when his voice reached her. “(Y/N)! Get over here!” She stuck her head out from the side of the shelf and called out,

“Gimme a minute, I’m still getting dressed Trevor!”

“Are you seriously taking the armor?” (Y/N) scoffed and attached the cape around her neck.

“Uh, yes? This armor is the greatest creation to ever be made.” She eyed the sword next to the armor stand before grabbing it and fastening it next to the other blade down her back. She walked over to where the others were, smiling at Adrian as he sat atop the bookshelves. Trevor glanced at her, examining the armor.

“It looks very…ostentatious.” (Y/N) narrowed her eyes before placing her hands on her hips.

“Trev, just say ‘showy’. Your brain will explode if you think about words that big.” Her insult drew a chuckle from the vampire, but she continued with, “The armor itself is made from dragon scales, and the accents are pure silver.” She turned, showing the silver armor lining her arms. Trevor crossed his arms and asked,

“I thought dragons went extinct?” (Y/N) shook her head.

“Not necessarily. While it’s true that a great deal of them were slain and harvested, a great deal more went into hiding. They’re still out there, you just can’t find them as easily as you could centuries ago.” Impressed, he nodded before acknowledging the sword strapped to her back.

“And the second sword?” (Y/N) grinned, pulling it out and showing it to him.

“It’s called ‘Starfang’.” He took it, admiring the runes carved into the metal. “It was forged from ore that fell from the heavens.” Trevor blinked, running a hand up the flat side of the blade.

“It’s…beautiful.” Her grin grew and she added,

“It’s deadly too.” She pointed to the runes. “The carvings are enchantments.” He handed the sword back, watching as she returned it to its scabbard. “What did you want me over here for?” He nodded at the shattered mirror.

“Do you know what this is?” (Y/N) momentarily glanced at it before looking back at him and nonchalantly replied,

“Seven years back luck?” He huffed a laugh.

“Probably…but what the hell is it?” Sypha looked up from a book she was reading.

“You two don’t know?” The siblings shrugged and shook their heads. “This is your house.” (Y/N) rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, that neither of us have been in for almost a decade and a half.” Trevor smirked as he wiped a hand across it, looking over his shoulder at the Speaker.

“Do you know everything in your house?” Sypha moved closer to the mirror, turning to him with a sarcastic look.

“I don’t have a house.” A voice sounded from higher above them.

“She doesn’t have a house.” The three looked up and Adrian. “She’s a Speaker. She’s a nomad.” Trevor glared at the vampire as he hopped down from the bookshelves.

“It was rhetorical.”

“Rhetorical house that she doesn’t have.”

“Just, tell me what it is.” Sypha glanced back at it.

“It was a magic mirror.” Adrian pointed at it.

“Also known as distance mirrors.” He ran his gloved hand down the side, feeling the runes. “Some of them even allow matter to pass through them, but…” He paused a moment. “No. No this is a simple remote viewing mirror. A little of the activating language is chipped.” He looked back at the trio. “A few of the runes need re-cutting but workable.” Adrian smirked at her brother. “You have the most fascinating family junkyard, Belmont.” (Y/N) internally sighed as her brother got in the vampire’s face and fired back,

“You’re a cock wart, Alucard.” Sypha pulled his hand down, tugging him away.

“Stop it.” She pulled Trevor around the shelves. “You are an adult. You do not have to rise to his every barb.” (Y/N) couldn’t see his expression, but she knew it was one of irritation.

“He’s pissing me off like it’s his job, Sypha.” Before the Speaker could get a word in, (Y/N) quipped,

“Oh no, someone else knocking my brother down a few pegs besides me. What ever shall we do?” The two ignored them, going off into their own conversation, leaving her next to Adrian. When laughter sounded from behind the shelves, she watched Adrian’s expression change, then he looked over his shoulder towards the noise; she gave him a sad smile. “You didn’t have many friends growing up, did you Adrian?” He turned his head back around, staring at her with careful eyes.

“What makes you say that?” (Y/N) hummed, running a finger down the mirror.

“Every time the two of them start laughing, you get this…confused expression on your face, like you can’t understand what’s so funny.” He continued to watch her with his guarded look.

“Maybe I don’t understand.” She huffed a laugh, turning to him.

“Oh, don’t even go there. You’re smarter than the lot of us, and you definitely know when someone’s making a joke.” (Y/N) paused, thinking of her next sentence, then she murmured, “It’s because you’re too guarded.” Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“Too guarded?” She nodded.

“You’re too cautious. You won’t allow yourself to get close to us because you’re afraid of what might happen.” Evidently, he didn’t like the way the conversation was headed, because he narrowed his eyes into a glower.

“And what am I afraid of happening?” (Y/N) gazed at him and challenged,

“You’re afraid that if you let yourself get close to people, what happened to your mother and father will happen to you.” She watched Adrian’s expression morph from anger, to shock, to realization, and she placed her hand on his arm. “You’re scared that something will take what you care about away, and you’ll be left alone.” He swallowed thickly and opened his mouth, but no words came out, and the sound of a tolling bell reached their ears. He looked up, listening to the chimes.

“What was that?” She moved her eyes to the ceiling.

“The tower clock. It strikes at twelve times at midnight.” (Y/N) looked back at him, leaning close to nudge him in the ribs. “Adrian Tepes, I’ve officially known and been your friend for four days now.” He looked down at her, golden eyes boring into hers.

“And that means?” She flashed him a smile, nudging him again.

“Means that no matter where we are, or what roads we take in these lives, I will always be on your side.” He blinked in stunned silence, and she reached down, taking his hand in hers. “Now come on. There’s a whole bunch of weird shit in here that needs to be seen by the two of us.” Adrian complied, letting her tug him around.

“Why does it need to be seen by us? We’ve both agreed that we’re not overly fond of what your family does.” (Y/N) nodded as she dragged him to a shelf full of things she didn’t even know how to name.

“Well yeah…but all the more reason for us to go see the weird shit my family hoarded and take the piss out of them. Like…that!” She paused, pointing to a plant that was lined with rows of sharp teeth. “The fuck kind of mutated Venus Fly Trap is that?” She then pointed to a stone head sitting on another shelf. “And that! Who the fuck keeps a stone head in a case? And over there!” (Y/N) turned to another shelf, starting to pull him along when he tugged her to a stop. She spun back around, looking at him with a questioning gaze. Adrian gave her a small smile and shifted their hands, lacing his fingers with hers. When she glanced down at their joined hands, then to back his face, she noticed a faint pink dusting his cheeks, as he murmured,

“So I don’t lose you.” (Y/N) grinned and squeezed his hand, pulling him along.

A Few Hours Later:

She rested her head along his arm, leaning her body against his as he flipped through the index. She had her own book in front of her, occasionally flipping through the pages, reading the various entries. “For a monster hunter that hates monster hunting, you sure do enjoy reading about them.” (Y/N) hummed, adjusting her head against his arm.

“It’s not that I ‘hate’ hunting per se. There are some creatures that cannot be dissuaded from evil or cured of their circumstances. Those creatures are dangerous to innocent life. Regardless, I might dislike hunting them, but it can’t hurt to be knowledgeable about them.” She turned the page and nodded at it. “Take the ‘Revenant’ for example. It’s a term that’s been used interchangeably to describe vampires and ghosts, but most agree that it’s the basic term for the undead. There are various descriptions of them ranging from the Nordic countries to all of Europe.” Adrian paused, looking down at the book.

“How so?” She flipped through the pages.

“See here?” (Y/N) pointed to a page with a drawing. “That’s a Revenant, but in the Nordic countries, they call them Draugrs or Aptrgangrs. It translates to ‘again-walker’, or one who walks after death.” She flipped back to the original page. “The entries are even different. In Nordic indexes, the Draugrs are emaciated, with their skin stretched out over their skeletons. But they still retain their strength, and are extremely difficult to fight and destroy, as they’re impervious to many types of weapons. Here in Wallachia and the surrounding countries, indexes describe Revenants as the corpses of the dead that have been reanimated by powerful demons, capable of killing entire squads of even experienced warriors. They’re…” (Y/N) trailed off, shifting her head so she could see his face. He looked at her, waiting for her to finish, and she laughed nervously. “Sorry…I talk a lot about stuff like this.” Adrian smiled, shaking his head.

“No, please continue. It’s interesting to learn the differences of the creatures of the night between countries.” (Y/N) nodded, moving her eyes back to the book.

“Okay, well…even vampires are considered different in other countries. They’re also mistaken for other creatures too. In Wallachia, the term ‘Strigoi’ was used until the term ‘vampire’ and ‘vampirism’ came into being. Others call vampires ‘Vrykolakas’ or ‘Pricolici’, but that’s incorrect. Vrykolakas, while sharing characteristics with vampires, engage more in cannibalism as they prefer to eat livers, and Pricolici are werewolf and vampire hybrids, living life as a werewolf, but once dead, returns as a vampire. Actually, that’s where the belief that vampires can turn into animals such as wolves, dogs, owls, and bats, came from. In other coun-” (Y/N) cut herself off as she raised a hand to her mouth, yawning. “Mmm, sorry. As I was saying-” This time, Adrian cut her off.

“How long has it been since you slept?” (Y/N) glanced up at him, shrugging her shoulders.

“Dunno. Yesterday morning, I think? A few hours before we left.” He frowned at her.

“You think? You didn’t sleep in the wagon?” She shook her head.

“I was trained to sleep only in places where there was no movement.” He arched an eyebrow and inquired,

“Why’s that?” (Y/N) pulled away, stretching her limbs.

“Sleeping on a surface that is immobile allows to hear and detect things that are approaching you. I get on wagons and I become too alert to sleep.” He gestured to a bookshelf, and they sat down next to one another.

“When we fought the night creatures after we left Gresit, you said you could sense them. You could also hear their footsteps.” (Y/N) nodded, reclining against the shelf.

“At Ravensguard, hunters and huntresses undergo extensive training and experimentation to enhance their bodies. As a result, we achieve the ability to wield magic, our bodies are stronger, and our senses are enhanced greatly.” Adrian glanced down at her and wondered,

“The processes sound dangerous…I can’t imagine that many survive.” With a grimace, (Y/N) nodded.

“Very few make it…even fewer are able to handle the stress it takes on the mind and body.” She paused then whispered, “…I almost didn’t.” For a moment, he didn’t respond, then he leaned close, gently taking her hand.

“What made you fight to survive?” (Y/N) sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“My brother.” Adrian grunted, but she smiled and added, “My parents learned at an exceedingly early time that I wasn’t going to carry on the Belmont name like Trevor was. And while they loved me, they couldn’t take me continually refusing to adhere to it. Our family has always had a tie to the Order, so as soon as they could, they sent me to the fortress.” She went silent, then said, “I don’t think my parents knew that only a few people survived coming out of there alive, so I know they didn’t send me there hoping I died.” Adrian squeezed her hand and asked,

“How old were you when they sent you away?”

“I was nine. I trained until I was eighteen, and when I left and traveled back home, I was met by a ruin.” (Y/N) clenched her jaw, trying to suppress her hurt. “The only thing that kept me alive during my training was the thought of coming back home to see my brother, the one person who respected that I didn’t want to be a supernatural hunter, and I returned to a burned down home and no family in sight. I travelled for a year and a half before I ran into him. And it was pure luck that I did.”

“What happened?”

“Hunters and huntresses aren’t exactly ‘given jobs’, we simply protect and bring justice where it’s needed. In my search for Trevor, I’d heard of a town that was being plagued by supposed dead men walking. I travelled there to see if I could help, and I was run into by a drunkard who was stumbling out of the inn.” She gazed up at him, a grin on her face. “Three guesses on who the drunkard was.” He chuckled, and she thought back to the moment she re-met her brother.

The militia seemed happy to see another fighter amongst them, especially one who was trained. She walked down the street after leaving the mayor’s home, intent on finding the inn so she could get a meal before going to search for the origins of the undead that plagued the town. She paused, waving over a young boy who couldn’t have been older than ten. “You there, young man!” He walked over, looking at her as she waved a gold coin. “Got a coin here for you if you tell me where the inn is, and any other news you’ve heard.” The boy’s eyes grew as he stared at the coin in her hand, and he nodded excitedly.

“Go to the end of the street and take a left, there’s the inn. I haven’t heard much, but I heard the militia saying that old man Thompson was the one making the dead come.” (Y/N) furrowed her brows.

“Why’s that?” The boy shrugged.

“I don’t know but Ma says he dabbles in the dark arts like the Belmonts did.” Her jaw clenched at the rumor, but she pushed it aside and asked,

“One more question and the coin is yours. Where’s old man Thompson live?” The boy pointed to a house far outside the town.

“He lives in that house over there. He doesn’t come out much since his wife died a year ago.” (Y/N) glanced at it and frowned, then turned and tossed the coin to the boy before heading off towards the inn. She’d just reached the doors when they slammed open and a figure stumbled into her. She caught him, holding him up right.

“Hey. You okay there?” The man nodded and rambled,

“Y-yeah…just had a few drinks.” (Y/N) tipped her head to the side as she stared into his face; the man frowned at her. “Somethin’ on my face?” Realization hit her and she whispered,

“Trevor?” His eyebrows furrowed as he stared at her, then his eyes went wide and he breathed,

“(Y/N)?” She smiled, laughing tearfully, and exclaimed,

“I can’t believe I’ve run into you! I’ve been looking for you!” A smile grew across his face and it held for a second, then he grimaced. She felt her heart sink as she asked, “Trevor? What’s wro-” Her words fell short as he bent over.

“And he threw up all over my feet, then went, ‘wow, I feel so much better now.’” (Y/N) watched Adrian cover his mouth as he laughed. When he calmed, she laid her head back against his shoulder and mused, “We’ve been together ever since.”

“You two are remarkably close for not exactly growing up together. And extremely protective of one another.” She nodded.

“We’re all the family we have…it’s our job to look out for each other.” (Y/N) grunted. “Other times I want to push him off a cliff because he’s the biggest pain in my ass I’ve ever had.” Adrian snorted and she yawned again, struggling to keep her eyes open. “Personally, I make it…my job…to…return the…favor…” Adrian felt her go slack against his side, and as he looked down at her, he realized just how exhausted she was. He smiled, gently placed his coat over her body, enjoying the way she snuggled closer, and closed his eyes too letting himself rest his head against hers.

#adrian tepes imagines #adrian tepes imagine #adrian tepes x reader #adrian tepes x reader imagines #adrian tepes x reader imagine #adrian tepes #alucard #castlevania #castlevania imagine #castlevania imagines #trevor belmont #sypha belnades #vlad dracula tepes

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ssincielo · 3 years

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in the mood to talk abt lourdes’ CHILDHOOD + HOME so hey. tw for: mentions of dr*gs, a lil’ light violence, and the fact this got kinda lengthy ‘cause i got carried away and couldn’t focus on one topic so i just talked abt everything.

lourdes grew up in a public housing complex in east harlem — a three bedroom apartment, floor seven door F, once occupied by lucia and her older sister elise, until elise moved upstate and gave the place to lucia when she’d gotten pregnant with ramone. plus, she clearly needed the space more anyway, considering how many times alonzo spent the night. or hid out at their place.

at first, it was just lucia and ramone living there after he’d been born. alonzo was in and out, super non-committal, had other girls he’d been entertaining and a street to run. it wasn’t until he’d gotten another fling of his, jennifer, pregnant with beatrice — then put jennifer in a situation where she took the fall for him during a drug raid, did lonzo actually take full responsibility for beatrice and move in with luce. talk abt trifiling.

by the time lourdes was born, albeit a few weeks early and after some time in the NICU (which, her birth story is a whole tale within itself. long story short, alonzo’s exes had bad blood and jumped a heavily pregnant lucia on her way home from the train station. cue early labor. cue luce sending her cousins to beat the bitches in question up in retaliation.), ramone was eight and beatrice was four. (and fully adopted by lucia, since she actually got alonzo to calm down and he actually decided to marry her.) for a while, ramone and bea had their own rooms and lourdes slept in a crib / toddler bed in lonzo and lucia’s room until she was around four or five herself. at that point, they just bought a cheap little day bed and shoved her in beatrice’s room since they were both girls and closer in age.

first and foremost, home was switzerland for alonzo. he never liked having people in and out of the house that he didn’t consider to be family, blood or otherwise. never conducted business where he laid his head, designated areas where he and his boys would meet and do drops. and since he was known to have an unpredictable ass temper in the streets, nobody dared to actually cause some shit where his kids and his old lady lived at. (that’s not to say that there weren’t a few rivals and enemies bold enough to try something, but they learned their lesson rather quickly and often walked away with a few fingers and teeth missing. if they were lucky enough to walk away at all.) so growing up, the santino kids had little to no exposure until they either came of school age hanging around other kids or happened to be out in the street with alonzo when shit popped off.

by the time ramone was about fourteen, he was fully aware of his father’s status and dealings, and decided he wanted to be the man just like him. there were efforts to sway him, obviously, but alonzo was still kinda trifling and didn’t try very hard to resist his first born son following in his footsteps. he still tried to get him to pursue other interests, but ramone knew that to actually get off the block rather than simply working nine to fives, you either had to trap or you had to ball. so he gets jumped in behind lucia’s back, made to be an errand boy for a little while, then started peddling dime bags of weed and some pills between school and parties. beatrice is ten and about to enter middle school cheerleading, lourdes is six and under her mother all the time after a few bad colds and hospital scares.

ramone is eighteen, fully immersed in making friends with the bangers who loitered in the courtyard of the apartment day and night, and has a few bands stashed in his bedroom. beatrice is fourteen & just entering high school, smitten by her older brother’s cute older friends, and gets caught up in pushing a (much older) boyfriend’s drugs that she gets cuffed at home and given house arrest. lourdes is ten, starting to come of age, and curiosity and nosiness is more or less her first exposure with all that goes on. she also develops her irrational fear of heights after beatrice tries (and nearly succeeds) to push her off of the seventh floor terrace. like, the siblings were great whenever they got along, but when one annoyed the other...yeah. usual sibling shit. just they would full on beat each other’s asses occasionally.

at a certain point, ramone up and leaves the apartment — he doesn’t exactly move out, because his bedroom still held all of his shit and he was always at the apartment come nightfall, but he’s pretty much in and out by the time he hits his twenties. only really came around for dinner, or to walk lourdes up the block on her way to school, or god forbid, when he needed a place to duck out until things cooled off. beatrice is coming up on sixteen and seventeen herself, and despite lourdes still sharing a bedroom with her into their teenage years, she’s...not exactly around much, either. still caught up in her boyfriends. still caught up in emulating her mother. lourdes, having already been made to properly fire a weapon by alonzo at this point, spends most of her nights going to sleep alone and being woken up in the middle of the night by either ramone sneaking home or lucia screaming at beatrice because she’d been gone for hours and she nearly called the police. (and while the santino kids were never explicitly kicked out or told they needed to leave at a certain age, there were still rules to follow under their roof! so every so often, their big grown asses would just be in and out of the apartment throughout late teens and twenties.) things start getting tumultuous, and it’s around this time that lourdes is hiding her brother’s drugs under her bed, coming home to beatrice curled up crying in her bed from time to time, lucia and lonzo arguing that they need to start backing away from this shit, and lourdes pretending that Everything Is Fine and trying to do normal high school girl shit to cope.

after ramone gets shot and killed outside of the building while on his way home, literally everything goes to shit. beatrice stops coming home, alonzo nearly goes to prison, lucia is trying to run her clothing shop and be a parent and mourn her only son at the same time, and lourdes is just. fucking angry — at her brother dying, at her father, at being made to actually shoot a person and having to wash someone’s blood off of her hands when she was supposed to be planning her prom dress and senior year. eventually she, too, falls victim to the lifestyle and gets herself jumped in because she thinks it would make everything go back to normal, and she drops out to stay at home, take up some job as a clothing store cashier, and trap full time. lourdes literally lives in her and beatrice’s childhood bedroom until she’s twenty, entertains then drops a few boyfriends that offer to move her in or some dumb shit, and when alonzo finds out she went behind his back to go work for the oversacces, he (completely against lucia’s word) gives her one bag to pack and throws her out for disrespecting him / not being loyal to family. cool cool cool.

aside from like...all of That, lucia and alonzo still live in that same apartment complex. beatrice comes around from time to time, having gotten engaged to her longtime boyfriend (again, an affiliated guy she met through ramone’s clique). alonzo bought out and owned a junkyard when lourdes was like, fifteen, so that’s his little hobby while lucia still owns her own tailoring & clothing store. there’s a huge mural for ramone on the side of the apartment building, because he was a social butterfly and often helped a few tenants out and old ladies loved him for some reason, and lourdes is literally on the proverbial ‘do not allow to enter’ list. i mean, the last few times she tried to get into the building, she’s getting her ass whooped by the rotation of old affiliates that still hang out and smoke in the courtyard. one of these days, alonzo might soften up and let her back in their life — but he’s stubborn. and a man. and often times, doesn’t even wanna listen if you were to bring lourdes up. so you can assume how that goes. lucia, however, mails lourdes some of her stuff and her old stuffed animals from time to time, and during christmas especially, sends her shit off of her amazon wishlist with a take out container of tamales and a slice of her famous dulce de leche cake. lucia > alonzo.

it’s worth noting that not everything was bad, though. there were birthday dinners, big parties for holidays like fourth of july and thanksgiving, lucia blowing money on giving the girls their quinceañeras, summers riding bikes and roller skating around the block, spending all their change on mister softy’s and coco helados up at the corner, getting lit up on the terrace and reminiscing with her siblings, sneaking in crushes (and eventually getting caught). lourdes has more good memories than bad, for what it’s worth, and they were actually a rather normal family unit most of the time. plus, her parents were overly affectionate as fuck, they were well fed and well clothed, moderately spoiled. like shit was all good!! so you’ll never catch lourdes speaking down on her family, or about the community she was brought up in.

#I THINK YOU LOST YOUR MORALS GIRL. — 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖈𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖓𝖘 #STUNTIN’ LIKE MY DADDY. — 𝖑𝖆 𝖋𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖆 𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖔 #4got i made a banner!!

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stayextrafrosty · 4 years

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I am Your Future, I am Your Past: Chapter 8

A Roswell New Mexico Soulmate AU

Note: Please don’t be mad at me at the end of this. Also, two weeks into classes and my free time for writing has gone down considerably.

Read On AO3 // Chapter 1

Michael sat with Isabel at a red light. The information they got was useful but still only surface level. What was that work he was still doing for the military? Something about it felt wrong and he wasn’t sure he wanted to learn the answer. For Alex’s sake.

“Hey cowboy, back to earth.” He jumped when Isabel poked him. Zoning out had become a regular part of his day.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. She shook her head.

“I swear you’re like a lovestruck teenager. I was just saying that we should go pick up your truck and clear out that bunker.” He shot a glare at her that she didn’t see. She tapped her fingers along to whatever was on the radio and he turned back to look out the window.

Everyone they talked to seemed to have nothing but good things to say about Forrest. How could Michael even begin to measure up? He used to be known as the town drunk. He sold old parts from the auto shop for extra money. Not to mention literally pushing Alex away on the first day he told him about the curse.

He glanced down at his scarred and busted hand. All that history and it was almost nothing but pain. And even now that’s all their relationship was about. Pain. He wished it could be different. He wanted to touch him gently. Say everything was going to be fine and mean it.

Images of the two lovers from the journal flashed through his mind. The two of them running. Holding each other. Touching…

Michael shook his head. He couldn’t get lost in that world. There were too many other things he needed to take care of.

Isabel pulled into the Evans’ drive. He hopped out before waiting for her to stop completely triggering a worried yelp that made him grin. He’d been doing that ever since she started driving. Waiting just long enough so he wouldn’t get hurt but still enough to startle her.

“One day you’re going to misjudge and I’m going to run you over,” she scolded. Michael laughed as he shut her door.

Hopping into his own truck he pulled out and followed Isabel back to Sanders Auto. His radio refused to play anything clearly. Certain sounds came through but nothing for very long. He tried changing the station but it was all the same.

Coming… this time… need help… the last… chance…

He shook his head and settled for just turning it off. He’d have to take a look at it later. The sun beat down on the steering wheel, making it difficult to hold. It seemed brighter than usual. Michael picked up his sunglasses that he almost never wore. Could this day get any weirder?

The houses spread out until they were nonexistent at the edge of town. Tumbleweeds blew about the cactus, dust kicking up behind cars. They turned off the main road onto the dirt and gravel path up to the junkyard.

Michael could see Sanders sitting in a lawn chair, watching over the place. Or maybe watching him pull in. He hadn’t exactly been the best worker the last week. He couldn’t even explain why. There were other mechanics he could call but part of his deal was that he could park there as long as he worked regularly. He pulled up next to his Airstream. Sanders stood from the chair slowly.

“Been missin’ ya boy. You wanna hang around, you gotta fix some’a these guys for me,” He said. Michael had heard the threats before but Sanders rarely followed through. Didn’t mean he wanted to test how far he could push him.

“I’ll get on it as soon as I finish cleaning some stuff up in the bunker, promise.” He narrowed his one eyebrow that was visible. He scratched his nose then turned to go inside his office trailer.

“It’s wonderful to see you Mr. Sanders,” Isabel called after him in her sweetest voice. He waved as he tried to hide the small smile that always snuck out when she was around. Michael didn’t understand why she made a better impression than he did but at least the old guy might be in a good mood.

Isabel followed him over to the lever on the back of his trailer. It groaned as it moved to uncover the top of the bunker. He pulled the lid open.

“Watch your step. Probably should have told you to wear more sensible shoes,” he said, gesturing to her boots with the four-inch heel. He moved down the ladder first. Figuring he’d be more help if she slipped. She just rolled her eyes at him.

“I think you forget who you’re talking to, Michael. I could probably kick your ass in shoes higher than this,” she taunted. Isabel followed him quickly. He sighed heavily, not knowing how to respond.

He left her to handle the rest of it by herself. He felt around for the light. He hadn’t spent much time here since he had shown it to Alex. Sure, he came to water the plants but the experiment seemed to have failed.

Michael found the switch that was farther in than it probably should have been and he flipped it on. The lights flickered a few times before dimly lighting the space. He walked over to his planters, examining the wilted leaves. He cursed under his breath. He would need to experiment with the dirt and fertilizer again.

“What are you even doing in here,” Isabel asked skeptically.

“Trying to make plants grow in harsh conditions. Make it easier to grow crops.” Isabel exhaled softly as she stared in awe.

Michael picked up the dying plants on one of the far tables, moving the planters to a different table on the other side of the bunker. He didn’t have anywhere to keep this stuff for now. Maybe he’d ask Liz if there was any extra lab space she knew about. The best he could do was move his experiments to one side of the room.

“Didn’t your mother used to work with this kind of stuff?” He paused in his movements. He hadn’t thought about her in a while.

“Yea. Found some of her old notes. That’s what I’m working off of,” he said, pretending like it didn’t hurt to think about. He couldn’t remember her in detail anymore. He had a picture of his parents but their voices were lost to time. Neither of them had been the recording type so there weren’t any videos.

“I’m sorry, Michael,” she said gently. Her hand rested on his shoulder.

“It was a long time ago now.” He shook her hand off and continued moving the planters around. She didn’t push the topic further.

The silence stretched as one side of the bunker began to look like... well... a bunker again. The light coming through the hole where the door was dimmed, sun setting. The summer was at its end and there wasn’t nearly enough light in the day anymore. He glanced at his phone. Not even seven thirty.

“Hey Iz, wanna pick up some food?” He looked over at her and watched as she made a face at some bug that she stomped on with her heel. Michael tried not to laugh as she did it again.

“Don’t laugh! Why don’t these things fucking die?” Michael raised an eyebrow and walked over to where she was standing. A scorpion ran around the leg of the table, surviving another assault from Isabel’s shoe.

Michael shook his head and grabbed her arm gently, pulling her away. These things would only die if you burned them. Or at least crushed them with a steel weight. Maria was never a fan of how many of them popped up around here either.

He grabbed an empty planter cup and set it in front of the bug. He waited patiently for it to crawl in before trapping it with a second one. It would be pissed when he let it go but he should be able to toss it somewhere it wouldn’t come back for revenge.

“Grab that tape, would you? Keep it sealed until I get outside.” Isabel hurried over to the table where they had moved a handful of things and pulled a long piece of tape from the dispenser.

“I will never understand why you always saved these things. There’s more than enough in the world,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself after handing him the tape.

He never really understood it either. And it wasn’t consistent. He’d kill certain spiders but save scorpions. Save snakes but kill mice. Maybe he should start just saving them all? As a child he always thought that maybe they were just misunderstood.

Michael wrapped the tape around the seam of the two cups. He could feel the thing moving around, probably looking for a way out.

“Alright, alright, just chill,” he mumbled to the scorpion. Weirdly enough, it stopped moving. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Isabel.

Climbing up the ladder was harder with only one hand. The extra strain on his arm made him flinch. The bullet wound had actually closed much faster than normal, though it still hurt.

Michael pulled himself out of the hole and stood slowly, wiping the dirt from his hands on his pants. He walked to a space behind the trailer, looking out at the expanse of desert. He just needed a rock or something this thing could dig under.

“You know. I’d really like to climb under a rock sometimes, too. Maybe we aren’t so different,” he said to the bug that had begun to crawl again.

He laughed at himself and walked out to a cactus about fifty feet away from the trailer. He pulled the tape off and opened the two cups slowly, trying to figure out which one it was in. He crouched down and dumped it as close to the plant as possible without poking himself.

The black scorpion hit the ground and curled into a ball. Once it was sure nothing was going to touch it, it opened up and buried its way under the edge of the plant. He stood and wandered back to the trailer.

He was about to start the climb back down when a strong wind whipped through the yard. He stumbled back and grabbed his hat, holding it in place. They hadn’t called for dust storms. So what was going on?

Michael looked around. The dust continued to spin and cover everything. He struggled just to stay standing. He needed to get back inside.

He crouched down but the wind picked up more, knocking him to the ground. He stayed curled up, waiting for the gusts to pass. He thought he heard Isabel call for him but he couldn’t open his mouth to speak.

Unsecured chairs blew across the yard like tumbleweeds. Papers were ripped off the bulletin boards. Michael squeezed his eyes shut. Dust storms were common. But there’s usually some kind of warning.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as lightning cracked. It could have been right next to him. Had there even been clouds? His ears rang.

If this was the apocalypse then he had a few choice words for whoever he met when he died. Most of them probably about how they screwed him out of the best thing he couldn’t have.

Then it stopped.

Dust fell back to the ground.

Wind slowing to a gentle breeze.

“Michael!” Isabel called to him from the bunker. He could hear her scrambling up the ladder.

Cracking his eyes open, a blurry figure stood in front of him. He coughed and brushed dirt and dust from his face. A pair of hands landed on his shoulder.

“Oh my god, are you ok? I heard the wind and the lightning and—” Whatever she was saying cut off. Michael pulled himself up, shaking his head to get some of the dust out of it. He looked up at her but she just looked over him. He turned slowly, heart racing.

A girl stood there. A plain t-shirt and black jeans. Black hair not as long as the picture he had seen. She just stood there and watched the two of them. That bad omen. The angel of death.

It was Tessa.

His heart pounded as she turned toward the sun. It was slowly dipping closer to the horizon. A smile found its way onto her face as she closed her eyes.

“The thing I always miss the most is the warmth of the sun. My celestial body doesn’t let me feel much of anything.”

This couldn’t be her. Everything in his body screamed to deny it. She wasn’t real. That was his first thought.

His second was Alex. She had saved him once, but he figured that wouldn’t happen again. Should he even tell him she appeared? He needed to keep her away from him but he also deserved to know that she was alive.

“Michael… she’s…” Isabel couldn’t finish her thought. He had shown the picture to both her and Max, making them promise to warn him if she ever showed up.

Tessa turned back toward them taking lazy steps closer until she stood an arm’s length away. She offered her hand to him. He flinched at the sudden movement.

“Sorry, was the wind and lightning too much? I’d always wanted to make a dramatic entrance like that but the others always said ‘no.’ But fuck ‘em right?” Was she really trying to pretend that this was somehow a regular occurrence? Her hand was still extended.

Michael shook his head and jumped up, recovering from the shock of her being in front of him. Isabel held onto his arm, fingers digging into the muscle.

“What are you doing here,” he demanded. She tilted her head and frowned.

“Really? No ‘who are you’ first?” She shrugged and scratched her head. When Michael didn’t say anything more, she sighed. “Fine. Guess I have to do everything myself. I’m Tessa, short for Theresa. I was there when the original curse was cast.”

Michael balled his hands into fists. What was the point of her telling them this? He knew she brought death with her so why would she bother trying to be friends?

“You’re an angel of death. Excuse me for being a bit hostile,” he snapped. Her nose scrunched and she crossed her arms, pouting.

“Why is it always ‘angel of death’ and not ‘well-meaning Nephilim who gets screwed over by her parent’s whims?’ I know how it looks but seriously, I’m here to help.” She looked around the yard, confusion settling on her face. “Where’s Alex? I missed him.”

“So it’s true. That was you in his platoon.” She smiled fondly and nodded.

“Told me all about this guy he could come home to,” she said, looking him up and down. “I only want him to be happy. Both of you actually.” Her face turned serious as she looked back at the setting sun. “This has gone on long enough.”

Alex talked about him? Why? He had pushed him away so much Alex didn’t even say goodbye. He supposed he didn’t exactly go find him either. They had seen each other a couple times after he left. But Michael had figured that second time would have been the last.

Banging on the door of his airstream forced Michael awake. He groaned and pulled himself up just enough to check his phone for the time. Almost noon. It was probably Sanders ready to scold him about how he needed to pull his weight.

His head pounded and he willed the banging on the door to stop. It did for a second but then it started back up again. Whoever it was, was going to get an earful. He pulled on a wrinkled white shirt he had on yesterday and stumbled over to the door.

He pulled it open, squinting at the sun that poured in through the opening. He blinked a few times and ran a hand over his face. He took in the green and tan camo uniform and followed it up to the face with the brown eyes he hadn’t seen in over a year.

“Alex.” He held himself back from pulling him close, not sure if that was what he wanted.

“Hey, Michael.” His heart flipped in his chest. Looking around, he didn’t see anyone else but this hardly seemed like a casual visit.

“When’d you get back?” Michael stepped out of the trailer, forcing Alex to take a few steps backward to maintain a professional distance.

“A few hours ago.” An awkward silence stretched between them. Michael sighed and opened the trailer door again. He signaled with his hand, inviting him inside.

“It’s too hot to just be standing out here,” Michael said. “If you need to talk to me, we can do it inside.” Alex finally met his gaze and nodded following him through the door. Michael leaned against the counter and watch as Alex looked around, fiddling with his hands.

“I um… just wanted to make sure you were doing ok,” Alex mumbled. He tried not to laugh but a small chuckle escaped him. This boy was going to be the death of him.

“Manes, when have I ever not been ok?” His eyes flickered down to his hand. It had been nearly three years and he still blamed himself. Michael shook his head and stepped up to him. “If you don’t want to go home, you can stay here,” he said quietly.

Alex sucked in a breath. Michael leaned forward slowly. He wanted it to be Alex who kissed him. Give him some confirmation that he still wanted this.

“Stay,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against his. Alex’s hands came to rest on his face. They stood like that, breathing in time with each other, for who knows how long.

Then Alex was kissing him. Or maybe he was kissing Alex. He couldn’t be sure. Michael grabbed at his waist, pulling him closer. Alex pushed him back against the counter, trapping him there.

Michael nipped at him, pulling a soft moan from his lips. He threaded his fingers in his curls, tugging gently. Michael ran his hands all over him, wishing he could just toss his uniform to the floor and have him all to himself.

Alex pulled away sooner than he wanted. Both of them trying to catch their breath but still brushing lips against each other.

“Michael… I… I want to stay. But I can’t. I’m leaving and… I don’t think I’m coming back.” He froze, the weight of the words setting in. It was as though a ball of lead had been dropped in his gut.

He lifted his hands to his chest, pushing Alex back gently. Why would he even bother coming? Giving him this hope that maybe they wouldn’t have to say goodbye anymore, then just ripping it away.

“Michael—”

“Just stop Alex. If you’re going to leave, then leave.” He turned away from him, hiding the tears that had built in his eyes.

“Please listen to me,” Alex pleaded, voice cracking.

“No. I’m not going to listen to you say goodbye anymore. Don’t bother coming to see me if you just want to be cruel.” Michael dug his nails into his palms, stopping himself from grabbing Alex and holding onto him so he couldn’t go anywhere ever again. “Just go!” He knew Alex would jump from the yelling.

Michael’s throat burned. He didn’t deserve that. Playing on his trauma.

Before he could apologize, the door to the airstream opened and slammed shut. And he never saw him again.

“So how exactly do you plan to be of any help,” Isabel asked? Michael blinked out of the memory, surprised to hear Isabel’s voice. Tessa straitened her shoulders and smiled.

“You must be from a side branch. Well, I can’t get in the way of the trials but I can give you a heads up. Tip one: they usually happen in pairs. One happens and within a week the second will happen.” Michael and Isabel shared a skeptical look.

Neither of them had time to respond as a car skidded to a stop next to his. Alex jumped out of the car, fear covering his face.

“Michael,” he called to him, voice breaking. His heart skipped a beat at his name. He shook himself free of Isabel and ran over to him. Alex pulled him into a tight hug. He stumbled forward a bit in surprise. They hadn’t hugged since that last time seven years ago.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you ok,” he asked gently? What was scary enough to send Alex running into his arms like this?

“Me? It was you, damnit. I could feel everything. The fear and then the pain… Fuck, I thought you were dying!” Alex pushed him back and looked over him, running his fingers gently over the injury on his arm.

“Not quite,” he said. Having Alex’s full attention made his heart race. He knew he would feel it too but he didn’t care. The concern on his face ignited the spark of hope that Michael had shoved away for the last seven years.

Alex sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Michael and raised his eyebrows.

“So what happened to basically give me a heart attack,” he asked.

“Alex? That you?” Every emotion drained from his face as his eyes shifted over Michael’s shoulder. He kept his eyes trained on his face, making sure he was ok.

“Tessa?”

It was as though his brain couldn’t pick an emotion. Should he be happy? She was his best friend. Should he be relived? At least she wasn’t dead. Should he be scared? Because she may very well be an angel of death sent to destroy him and Michael.

“I’m sorry about the vague note. I was being watched.” Alex opened his mouth to say something but no words came out. He glanced over at Michael, watching his eyebrows draw together.

“What note? You didn’t tell me about anything like that.” Alex shook his head.

“I didn’t think it was important.” Michael snorted.

“There you go lying to me. Jesus Manes, you have to come to me with shit like that,” he scolded.

“This is not the time, Guerin,” he snapped back, refocusing on Tessa. She just watched them with amusement. She shook her head, chuckling.

“Just like them…” she muttered to herself. Isabel appeared next to Michael, grabbing his arm gently. She leaned in to whisper something he couldn’t hear. He thought she glanced over at him but with the sky getting darker, it was hard to tell.

Alex took a cautious step towards Tessa. Was this really the person he had come to know in Iraq? She seemed so different now. Physically she seemed taller? And there was this glow. Maybe it was because she wasn’t covered in dirt and blood anymore. But it felt like it was more than that.

He had known she had heterochromia, but it was so much more obvious now. One eye a deep brown while the other a pale blue. She smiled sweetly at him. He wanted nothing more than to hug her. Fall into her arms and thank her for what she’s done for him.

He wanted to trust her.

“So if it’s really you, why’d you disappear? I thought you had died.” His voice shook, unsure if it was from fear or anger. She sighed.

“I’m sorry. When that bomb went off, I needed to save the others too. I couldn’t do that with you there because you would have been able to see it. And after that, I visited you while you were asleep. Acted as your guardian angel. Until that mark showed up.” He touched the spot over his heart, feeling an echo of Michael’s heartbeat.

“See what? How did you save the rest of the platoon,” he asked?

“Remember the barn?” Alex’s eyes shot over to Michael’s. Of course he did.

“So you’re saying that weird slowing of time was you?” Michael sounded almost amazed. Alex’s mouth hung open slightly. She had that much power?

“Why can Michael and I see it?” She raised an eyebrow, looking between the three of them. Was the answer supposed to be obvious?

“You seriously don’t know,” she asked incredulously? Alex shook his head slowly and glanced over at Michael again. Had he left something out of their little history lessons? But he and Isabel seemed to be just as lost as he was. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Well this is going to be annoying. I don’t have the energy to reteach your history right now. Let’s pick this up tomorrow yea?”

None of them had time to argue. A gust of wind and quick flash of light disoriented them and she was gone. As though she had never been there. The three of them stood in silence for a moment, staring at the place she had been standing.

“So tell me you guys saw that, too,” Isabel said. Alex and Michael both nodded. What did she mean ‘reteach history?’

The last of the orange faded from the sky. Stars suddenly appearing as the dark blue slowly took over. Alex stared at the sky, looking for some cosmic sign to tell him what to do.

He searched the starts for Pisces, just like Rosa used to make him do when he, Liz, Maria, and her all hung out. ‘It looks like an arrow’ is what she always said. Maybe one day it’d point him in the direction of the rest of his life.

He followed the path down, mostly out of curiosity. He never really took that astrology stuff seriously. He jumped when he looked down and found Michael standing in front of him, arms crossed. Guess the stars had a weird sense of humor.

“Whatcha looking for, captain?” He shook his head, letting out a soft chuckle.

“Waiting for the stars to tell me what to do,” he half joked. A small grin snuck onto Michael’s face.

“They seem to enjoy shoving us together from what I can tell. We’re cosmic, Manes,” he said, laughing. His heart skipped a beat and his stomach flipped. Damn him for saying stuff like that. Alex couldn’t deny it though. Isabel materialized next to them.

“Well I’m going to head out. I’ll update Max on the situation.” Michael nodded and saluted her. She looked over at Alex and smiled, resting a hand on his arm as she walked past.

They watched as she climbed into her car after complaining about how she had just gotten it washed. He chuckled at her annoyance. Keeping cars clean in the middle of a desert was an impossible task. She pulled away, a cloud of dust following her.

“Help me make a fire before it gets too dark,” Michael said. He turned to follow him but didn’t realized he hadn’t moved yet. Alex ran into him, hands shooting out to grab his arms for support. Michael’s arms wrapped around his waist, steadying him.

Alex felt the heat rush to his face. He was thankful the sun had set, hiding his embarrassment. He was close enough to watch a lazy smile settle on Michael’s face. The smell of rain was assaulting his senses. And his hands on his waist was not helping.

“At least buy me a drink first,” he teased. Alex looked away, stepping out of his arms. The warmth of him vanished. He felt cold even though it was probably still ninety degrees.

“Sorry. You said something about a fire,” he asked? Michael nodded, turning away from him.

“Yea. Otherwise we won’t be able to see.” He followed him to the pile of wood on the rack near his trailer. They carried a few pieces to get started. Michael offered him the one chair that had gotten caught on the fire pit. He jogged away to grab one of the others. Alex sat, watching the small twigs at the bottom catch fire.

He watched it slowly lick up the sides of the logs, growing brighter with every inch. Shadows played on the side of the trailer and walls of the workshop. When was the last time he was here at night?

Michael returned with a plastic folding chair and set it down, just out of arms reach from where Alex was sitting.

“How was your date,” he asked quietly? He hardly registered the question. He hadn’t even thought about Forrest since he came rushing over here. Where Michael was involved, it was the only thing he could think about.

“Fine,” he said, not really wanting to go into detail. He didn’t ask more about it.

“Listen Manes, we need to talk about some things.” Alex looked over at him. He expected him to be watching the fire but no, his eyes looked right at him. They didn’t even waver. Heat that wasn’t from the fire burned on his cheeks again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about the note. It was a weird day and I was exhausted and I didn’t think you wanted to see me after I walked out.” Michael stayed silent. The things that had been said that day stuck with him. The dream they shared refused to leave him alone.

“So I found a journal,” he began. Completely ignoring what happened at the hospital. “I think it’s from one of the early incarnations of the curse.” Alex’s eyebrows drew together.

“Didn’t you say there were a handful of them?”

“Yea but this one’s different. The couple is a pair named Samuel and Thomas.” The two names made him sit up, resting his arms on his legs. The same names from the vision he had. “The journal belonged to Thomas. And I don’t know how but—”

“Wait,” Alex cut him off. “I thought all the incarnations had been guy/girl pairings? That we were the weird ones in all this?” Michael shrugged.

“I don’t know. But that was the only explanation I could come up with.” Michael ran a hand through his hair. “Also, I think the journal triggered a vision.” So he had one too.

“Let me guess. Really old timey. Candles? Log cabin like? Forest surrounding the grounds?” It was his turn to look confused.

“Exactly… but how did you know that?” He took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous about telling him these things. Probably because of the nature of the feelings he felt while in the vision.

“I had a vision, too. The day I got the note. Came out of nowhere really. And Samuel looked just like you,” he said. Michael looked away from him, running a hand over his jaw.

“We gotta tell each other everything, Alex. That’s the only way we’re going to figure this out. It’s the only way I can protect you.” His heart fluttered again. It was tugging him toward Michael.

He was the one that needed to protect him. He wasn’t the one who was going to be hurt if he got into a car accident or kidnapped and tortured. He clenched his fists and stood from his chair, ignoring the complaint from his leg with the prosthetic.

“You keep saying that. But maybe it’s supposed to be the other way around.” He stood slowly, watching him with curiosity. Alex stepped forward and lifted a hand to rest on his chest gently. “I know you feel me, Guerin. You know that if anything were to happen to you because of me, I would be destroyed.” Michael lifted his hand to cover his, holding it against his chest.

They stood there. Alex stared at their entwined fingers over Michael’s t-shirt. As much as he hated to admit it, Michael had become his whole life too.

He cursed himself. He shouldn’t be here anymore. It was too much. Everything he was feeling was getting mixed up with Michael. His head was so full of him that even as he tried to think of Forrest, he just didn’t care.

He mumbled that he should leave but couldn’t bring himself to pull away. In fact he only found himself closer. Breathing the same air. His eyes traced his face, hesitating on his mouth.

No!

He scolded himself. He couldn’t do that to Maria. He couldn’t do that to Forrest. Everything about them was wrong but so was everything else. The world only made sense when they were together.

He pulled his hand away from Michael, turning to leave. He didn’t get very far. Michael grabbed him, pulling him against him. His hands found their place on Alex’s face, forcing him to look in his eyes.

“Stay.”

#malex fanfiction #soulmates au #malex soulmate au #malex fic #malex #roswell new mexico fic #michael guerin #alex manes #michael guerin/alex manes #feedback always appreciated

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