#and her characters name is BANGLES | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

me-uglypretty · 5 months

Text

the mistakes of love

Pairing: Carol Danvers x Reader

Summary: Carol accepts her mistakes, but she wasn't ready to accept the reality of the one she loves.

Warning: (18+), angst, mention of war, main character death, the marvels spoiler | 1k words

| C.D. Masterlist | Notify | Navigation |

I Fate appeared as though, muddled of sick jokes focussed on her existence and the ample of displease at mistakes she still regretted. It was her fault. She had accepted that fate countless of times before as her weary fixate on the unseen blood that stained her hands. It was a foolish act on her part. The belief that blazes within of how she was right, the act of power was proceeded by righteousness.

Thus, Carol Danvers stood there. A frown settled deep into her features, and the ache in her chest worsens at each harsh beat of her heart. Wishful thinking of those aspiring to save the world had aid her guilt to some extent.

"Captain Marvel, the annihilator.”

She hated that designated name for her. It wasn’t immoral at first like she had repeated to herself. Merely a deed driven by greater reasons and amiss was the aftermath. The repetition of such reasons hasn’t hindered the hatred spewed at her by the Kree or as Dar-Benn scowls, detesting her sheer existence for destroying their home.

“You took everything from me. And now I'm returning the favour."

Despite the evident of her life stolen under daylight and into the hands of the Kree. Her previous life was concealed with a forge identity. Memories stolen, only appearing as glimpse of something she couldn’t grasp between reality or fiction. It was wrong of them, and it was wrong for her to had acted that way.

Captain Marvel—powerful, strong, and vicious as she may be—was at fault. Perhaps, she deserved the guilt that drown her and hatred that threaten to ruin every little good in her life. She accepted her action wasn’t something that resolved a conflict. Carol Danvers accepted her fate.

“Don’t do this,” Carol had plead again.

Anger surfaced further as Dar-Benn spoke with gritted teeth. “Why must we stop now? Are you afraid? Where was your concern when you made my people suffer?”

Kamala tried appeasing Dar-Benn with reasons of danger if she was to use both bangles. A power that wouldn’t help either one of them. One wrapped around her arms while the other in the Kree’s possession. Similarly, Monica tried reassuring her that they would find a better solution.

It was then, amidst spoken wrath and a provoked battle that someone appeared behind Dar-Benn. Satisfaction flash in those angered eyes as silence emerged.

However, one reaction seemed to interest them more than the other. Monica and Kamala shared a puzzled look by the sight of Carol; mouth parted in utter shock, eyes wide and glossy as she stared ahead where the lone figure stood.

The physical reality of Carol differs from the trembles inside. Carol swore upon her life, the before and after, she must be dreaming of this or had dreamed of moments alike for far too many mourning nights. It was you just steps away from her. If she counted the seconds to reach you, it wouldn’t take her long as she would have soared towards you faster than light itself.

But you weren’t alike the euphoric persona she had experience before. You were there, surely, and your eyes appeared in their usual hues, however, those orbs stared vacantly into hers that glimmers of unshed tears. The stoic expression on your face and hallow eyes was devoid of the life she adored.

Carol was sure that you were there and yet, you weren’t.

“Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Dar-Benn proclaimed as her knuckles grazed your face in a jeering way. There wasn’t a distinct reaction on your face at her contact.

The concern gesture of a hand pressed on Carol’s upper back doesn’t reduce the tremor in her chest. “Who’s that?” Monica questioned seconds after, voice low and firm.

If she had asked the same question years ago, Carol would have beamed by the increasing emotions to speak of everything that revolved around you. A life that she couldn’t fathom losing and yet, she destroyed it completely.

Instead, Carol ignored the queries of her friends or teammates, the people that she must protect from facing the same devastation. She takes timid steps forward till she reached you. Two taunting steps away from you. Dar-Benn seemed to permit the distance with a chuckle of amusement.

The first warning she comprehend was the absolute indifference in your features. It was unlike you to remain so emotionless. She had expected for more. Words of anger spat at her face, an anticipated brawl between two, and the expression of such disapproval for her mistakes. The finality after the rapid reaction would have been followed by dreaded questions of her disappearance.

Carol was expecting everything that would have illustrate life, and never the flat silence that stirred a frightening ache in her heart for you. She feared the reasons that would reveal why you weren’t the same person she once knew. This wasn’t you. It’s a warning that perched dangerously at the stake of her heart.

Dar-Benn shared a wicked grin when Carol had glance at her. “I found out something about you and something about memories,” she explained vaguely. Her mouth lowered to your ear in pretend whisper as she spoke. “Remember Carol? The love of your life?”

Gasps echoed in the warship at the revelation, followed by confused murmurs between two. In contrast to the dejected look on Carol’s face when yours conveyed no such response. She would rather hear your anger, accompanied by the leader who radiated in vengeance or anything that wouldn’t sought with finality by Dar-Benn’s statement.

“Please,” Carol exhaled shakily. “Let me fix this. It’s my fault so let me fix this,” she said as her shoulder slumped in remorse. She stretched her hands towards Dar-Benn with her palms faced upwards, presenting herself without the glow of her strength. An act of peace than pledge of combat.

There was never a start or an end to the horrid things she had face. Before her truth, it was conditions formed by the Kree that she must follow and now, she was meant to protect the galaxy—and you.

It was you that she had promised as sole reason for her return. Then, the civil war was ensued by the assurance of freeing the occupants of Hala, and the destruction of your home. And yet, the last words of yours, echoed in her mind in tender affection;

“Whatever may happen, good or bad…I don’t think it would stop me from loving you, Carol Danvers.”

It was a mistake, Carol wanted to scream once she had figured out the truth. She had made many of them and still suffered through the ones she couldn’t fix. Like the promise of coming back home to little Monica, she promised the young child so much and felt shame at her failure to fulfil them. It was cowardly of her.

Now, she faced you in absolute danger. Her mistakes came back to haunt her. The evil she had done unto them and them—onto those she cared for.

“You want her?” Dar-Benn nodded towards you. “Or you want this?” she raised her arm, showcasing the glowing quantum bands.

At this moment, Kamala takes a rushed step forward. “Don’t do it, Carol.”

Monica agreed with mutters of a solution. It fades into sounds that doesn’t change the outcome of such faith.

It takes exactly five second. First second for the sound of disapproval at their pleas. Second was the blink of her eyes as she accepted defeat. Third that warned of a battle. Fourth had bleed into her heart of how death does follow her. Fifth was the fight which her body was obligatory to endure for them, especially when you had leapt forward with the emblem of unrecognisable rage.

It takes every throb of her aching heart for her to blast the glowing light that you deemed as the brightest, if not challenged by her smile. You had always spoken of such honied words that she couldn’t understand how her betrayal still rendered you emotionless.

How awful of a scene, how horrid it was to witness the fall of your body alike dominos collapsing to their doom. Then, for a fleeting moment, she had caught glimpse of those eyes she knew and adored, the emotions that bloom in those orbs as you witness the surge of energy directed at you—like you were there, you saw her at such a terrifying scene, you feared of her or something more—and it was empty again. Those eyes that she swore had glistened at the shout of your name from her miserable mouth.

It had happened in seconds. One moment she was reaching for your greying body then the other, she was rushing through space after Dar-Benn’s irrational act and the end, darkness engulf her.

It takes seconds, she thought. For Monica to haul her body from floating aimlessly in space and for Kamal to assist them back on the warship.

The worse was her trembling hands reaching for your body and cradling you in her arms. A cold body rested on hers as warm breath wafted at every apology that fell from her mouth. Tears fell woefully on your face by her grief.

Carol made a mistake. The worst of them had followed her spiteful shadow and cursed those who stood by her. It was unfair. You didn’t deserve the consequences of her action. It wasn’t fair to those whose life was endangered by her. It wasn’t fair to you.

Her bleary eyes stuck on your face, as if, trying to find a way for those eyes to flutter open and for a voice to carry through the eerily silent warship. Then, her mind deemed as the right time to reminisce the sweet moments shared with you. One of them was alike this, your head pressed soundly to her chest and her arms wrapped safely around your warm body. The gleamer of hope that glaze your eyes as you intently listen to her story of life on earth, and your attention doesn’t flatter, only growing with the smile on your face.

The love that blooms in your heart was for her. That, the scary truth, she was so afraid to admit. You had loved her, and she had failed you.

But Carol had loved you too.

She had loved you the first time your eyes had caught her attention. She loved you so, that her heart ceased to pulse by her accord as the truth settled in her chest. This must have been the ultimate consequence of her action. Maybe love wasn’t deserving for someone drowning in remorse by their own fault.

Nothing could change the outcome of this. The murmurs that soon surround her, doesn’t relief the infinite ache in her chest.

It was the end of you, and the end of hope.

hi! if you enjoyed this, do consider buying me a coffee 💜

#carol danvers x reader #carol danvers x you #carol danvers imagine #captain marvel x you #captain marvel x reader #captain marvel imagine

99 notes · View notes

autisticshadowthehedgehog · 11 months

Text

Guesses for which character will be associated with which dish in the upcoming Sonic cookbook.

Blue is confirmed, either through the preview pages or name-drops in the title; or, in Chip's case, "it showed up in his game"

Red is "most likely"

reasonings for a couple down here:

Eat n' Run definitely sounds like Sonic

"Future-proof" with "Egg" tarts is confusing. My main guess is Eggman but Silver/Nega aren't off the table

"Perfect Note" could, as @birdsareblooming mentioned to me, be a reference to Tails Music Maker. Other than that, Vector's the main musician of the gang

"Eat Red Spheres" is def a reference to classic gameplay

"Tornado" Chips is very likely for Tails's plane

"Royal" Roasted Pinwheels, huh? Blaze.

"My Daily Respite" is also very vague. Could be Eggman?

"Burrito Blasts" could really be anyone, considering we all blast a lot. Shadow's probably the most likely with his usage of chaos blast.

"Luxurious Light Fare" – Luxurious sounds like a word Rouge would use. Other than that, I got nothin

"Island's" Bounty Salad seems like an Angel Island thing

NO idea what "Sumptuous Salad" could be. Maybe Eggman?

"A Simple Deduction" is either Eggman or Tails, they're the only ones who talk like that

"Leaf Swirl Salad" could be Sonic swirling up leaves as he runs, or something Big or Sticks eat in the woods

"Bangle Bagels"– Amy's bracelets could be considered bangles? My main guess is Rouge because her main thing is Jewelry. Bangles are also v popular in south asia so it could be Blaze, but I've never seen her wear any.

"Unlimited Potential" is a chaos emerald thing, right?

"Simple Pleasures" sounds very Big, but I could also see Knux or Espio

"When a Flatfoot's Flat Broke"– "Flatfoot" is a term for a detective or cop, and well. Vector be broke

Anything with "Ninja" in the title is probably Espio

"West Side Island" Sandwich is prob Tails

The "Rival's" Chili Dog is def Shadow being annoying <3

"Villain" Sub and Perfect "Egg"dog being next to each other is interesting; it's possible they'll have two of the same character in a row but maybe we'll have another villain?

"Catch o' the Day" is def Big

"The Master Meal Plan" sounds like Master Emerald, so Knux

"The Garlic Collector" – I put Rouge for "collector" but I SWEAR that title is a reference to some old mystery novel?? I just can't put my finger on which. So it could be Chaotix if that's the case

"Tangled Leads" could be Tangle buuuuuut it's more likely to be Vector with the "Mystery" angle

"Hidden Truth" is also a mystery angle but the usage of "hidden" seems like they'll use Espio

"Timeless" Comfort Food makes me emotional like ok Silver

Blaze's kingdom is ocean-based so she's def the "Sea-Born Monarch"

Tails and his Mint Candy, man

"Seven Rings in Hand" def references Sonic and the Secret Rings. Whether it's Sonic himself or Shahra in here...

"World Uniting" sounds a lot like a Sonic Unleashed thing

"Edge of Darkness" is something a hot topic kid would come up with so it's Shadow

The "Family Cookie Recipe" and "Mother's Specialty" both sound very much like Cream. But again, two in a row? Family cookie could also be Robotnik fam maybe? And mother's specialty could be Rouge's unseen mom?

"Colorful Companions" seems to be a ref to Sonic Colors and the wisps

"Caffeine Control" is this one isn't just "eat the coffee beans directly" then what is the point

"Diamonds in the Sky" couuuuld be Rouge cause gem ref but that's DEFINITELY a ref to Sonic R

"Vim n Vigor" idfk dude it's probably Vector just for the alliteration

#sonic the hedgehog #sth #sonic the hedgehog: the official cookbook #mine

137 notes · View notes

stxrrynxghts · 6 months

Text

Styling in My Mahabharat

I am a person with wild dreams. And one of my wildest dreams is making my own Magnum Opus on Mahabharat, which focuses specifically on Abhimanyu & Uttara. The story is being written by me, and I am doing my best for all of it. Styling, is something that I am focusing on, as it makes me happy.

I am not the biggest fan of the clothing in Star Plus Mahabharat because:

The clothing was too simple. Only the borders had designs.

The clothing was repeated a bit too much, where was the variety?

The jewelry clearly seemed...phony. Rich n royal=/= heavy gold tbh.

So, I watched some styling videos of many period films, and here I am, with my ideas!

First of all, we need to incorporate materials like silk, cotton and muslin. These three should be the primary, and the difference b/w the three can clearly show a difference in hierarchy. Muslin can be shown to be worn during the night/summers.

We have Banarasi and Kanjivaram sarees, we have Bandhni and Patola prints, we have zari work. I would def include these in the costumes.

For jewelries, simple, but designs from various parts of the country will look good. One or two heavy necklaces are enough, IMO, to show the grandeur of the era. Plus other jewelries like hair ornaments, earrings, bangles, armbands and kamarbandhas are here.

Different designs of armor for the men are a must, probably modelled after what Arjun wore in Star Plus Mahabharat. His armor suited his body type, and looked very good on his figure, over all.

Hairstyles have to include flower ornaments like gajra. They are not worn on "wedding nights" pls, how do these ppl find flowery stuff romantic when someone else is wearing it?!

And now, I shall style my main characters, Abhimanyu and Uttara. If this is successful, I shall do the others too-

Abhimanyu

This is gonna be pretty short. What are the main things for styling a male?

I imagine Abhimanyu with long hair, not too long, but till his neck. Not completely straight, slightly wavy.

One thing I love about StarBharat is the tilaks they have done, for the Kuru men, with the moon and other designs. I will keep that one for sure.

Since Abhimanyu has lived majority of his life in Dwarka, some traditional prints/jewelry designs of Gujarat/Maharashtra will be a great inclusion.

As for ornaments, nothing particular is necessary, except two bracelets, one neckpiece, and two earrings. My headcanon has Abhimanyu wearing an armband, and a single ring.

And colors...hmm, purple is a good option, as that color is associated with royalty. The color blue is a great choice, since it symbolizes freedom and sensitivity, as well as faith and stability. Red is a must, as it is associated with bravery, and dark red means vigor, willpower, and rage. Abhimanyu is canonically short tempered, his name means "extremely wrathful". And red is associated with sacrifice as well, so it is def his color.

As I am going to show Abhimanyu be 21, his headpiece in the armor from StarBharat goes away, as it gives him a boy-ish look. Without it, however, changes his look completely, and I don't want anything in his outfit making him seem boy-ish.

Uttara

Uttara's details in my mind are far different from what is shown in StarBharat. I have kept the same cast as they look cute together in my story, yes, and I hate Uttara's styling.

Her clothing is exquisite, just like her mother's. Matsya is canonically rich, and her maternal side is from Kekaya, what do you expect? Uttara's clothes are flowy, to allow easy movements.

The material of the fabric will be silk, with Kanjivaram, Zari and Banarasi type of embroideries on them. I am showing Matsyadesa to have a riverine trade route, so she should have access to all types of fabrics. Some traditional Rajasthani prints have to be there too.

Jewelry is not too much, but well made and designed. Uttara is interested in dressing up, and it is obvious that she shall have a large collection of ornaments.

The colors shall be pink, as it symbolizes innocence and softness, off white and yellow, which symbolize purity and joy respectively, and blues, lemons and greens as well. Her color scheme rarely has dark shades, as it is symbolic.

Her hairstyles range from a braid, to a bun and a bun with a braid coming out of it (kind of like the typical dance hairstyle).

Sindoor is a must, and there are no veils here. Uttara does own various mini-chudamani style ornaments, which she wears from time to time. Blouses are strapless mostly, some times some of them have straps.

@ambidextrousarcher

#mahabharat #mahabharata #abhimanyu #uttara #hindu mythology #styling #costumes

31 notes · View notes

casketjones · 12 days

Text

I'm not sure how to info dump for a bunch of character concepts in a way that's digestible but eh whatever

Concept work for a group of mafia hitwomen and their long suffering handler. They're likely going to be used in a underground illegal wrestling ring arc because that's all I really want in my media.

This post plus additional sketches and more background info will be going up on my patreon and kofi tomorrow.

more under the cut,

They're all vampires that I really cooked up to test a concept for vamps for my comic project. Based on a blood sucking animal and a historical anti-vampire burial method, some of the burial methods are gonna be pushed and fibbed because there's not that many of them. so yeah incidental vampires will have a cage motif even tho I know good and well that cages were to prevent resurrection men getting in not vampires getting out. I feel that's thematically close enough. There's so many really good sanguivore animals out there these are maybe too safe even.

The other thing I really wanted to accomplish with these designs is targeting lesbians, hey ladies these are for you. How am I doing?

going left to right here we got

Flea- She's a Flea I tried taking a lot from Blake's Ghost of a Flea but I don't think it comes through. Her grave-shackle is that scythe coming out her shoulder, it's maybe a bit of a stretch, the real thing was buried in the ground next to the corpse so if it rose it would decapitate itself but I didn't really want to complicate the design with a bunch of dirt or something. Regardless I like her design a lot. Short hairy goblin of a woman, someone stop me from naming her Puce.

Mosquito- Her hair took a little bit to sort out, it used to be real bad but this mess is perfect. Horrible 90's stylized part call back, reminiscent of boxer braids while being ostentatious enough to work in any setting. That cool bangle is her grave-shackle, an actual shackle this time. Her build was immediate, huge arms, weird long butt, perfection. She's the easiest to dress which isn't that surprising considering shes thinner but usually big arms are really difficult in women's wear. Flea is actually the second easiest to dress. There's gotta be a better name than Malaria, but i could call her Mal.

Geo(?)- small mafia man, constantly put upon, constantly behind the 8-ball with upper management; you know the type. The other guys definitely tell him he's lucky all the time but they'd never switch assignments with him. Why is he so small? because I can do whatever i want. His name might be Geoffrey.

Lamprey- Went through the most iterations, was very hard to piece together a woman this disaster lesbian. The spike through the heart, traditionally meant to keep the alleged vampire pinned to the ground was always part of the design, so was the long neck and heart lipstick, the hook earring came and went. Everything else was difficult; general build was pretty similar but i didn't actually work until I gave her a gut and dropped her waist. I used to have gill markings on her neck that looked like vampire bite marks and that took a while to give up but that hair is too good. She probably will end up being named Nakkila, it's a Finnish town with lamprey on their crest.

Leech- Took just two stabs to get her hair, body and face where I wanted it. Those bright red eyebrows work so well to subtly mimic leech markings, her hair shapes are perfect and I love drawing them. It's hard to tell at this size but her lips are sewn together which works almost too well for the theming, the cartoon jack'o lantern shape just sits right on a leech. Being built like a brick shithouse with fantastic fat rolls really gives the body diversity in the group the punch it needs. But dear god in heaven she is so hard to dress! I'm liking this dress a moderate amount right now and I really love the shoes but it's not perfect. I've tried suits instead, I've down active wear, all crazy difficult. It's like fashion doesn't want to accentuate horizontal stripes on large bodies or something? I gotta keep trying on it. I've almost convinced myself to name her Annelid.

#ocs #artists on tumblr #vampires #chicken legs #character design #character concept #vampire #vampire concepts #character art #character illustration #creative process #leech #flea #mosquito #lamprey #mafia #underground women's wrestling

11 notes · View notes

nerdieforpedro · 2 months

Text

Do you know that hippo?

Part Three of the Rock & Doc Series

Tim Rockford x plus size OFC - Doc

Rating: Explicit for ending

This blog is for readers 18+ MDNI

Word Count: about 5.5k (things are moving along)

Summary: The engagement party of Doc and Kim's friend leads to some surprising discoveries. Gold it seems is Doc's color and keep an eye on those hippos. They've got major clues. Big things are happening at the precinct.

Warnings: disco, drinking, hippos, family dynamics, mutual pining, swooning, bad pranks, panic/anxiety, trench coat mention, blood, fatal injury, murder

Notes: We've got the more to the plot in this one! Keep an eye out for a mention of a Pedro character and the introduction of another. I've gotta thank @lady-bess (on Tumblr) for beta reading for me. Bouncing ideas off of @maggiemayhemnj always leads to good things. I hope everyone enjoys the twists. 😘

Main Masterlist/ Tim Rockford Masterlist / Rock & Doc Series

Saturday of the engagement party:

You already want to go home. You’ve just been dropped off by Tony, Kim’s beau of two years. She’s wearing a blonde wig, orange star shaped shades to match her orange strapless dress that she’s pulled up at least the fourth time after complaining that she doesn’t have enough to keep the dress up. The orange complements her mocha skin and since her dress is strapless, she was happy to show off her rose tattoo she had on her right shoulder. The heels of her white thigh high boots click as you both make your way to the large double doors of your mutual friend’s home. Samantha had gotten engaged to some producer who was filthy rich or had enough money to rent a space like this.

You didn’t need a wig. Your hair, when not slicked down with grease and tied with two different scrunchies, expands enough on its own to look like a seventies wig. It’s just not curly, your hair never did hold a curl to save its life. Kim thought it would be a good idea to pin a gold disco ball in your hair and wear tiny gold disco ball earrings to match. She also did your makeup which included gold eyeshadow, soft pink cheeks and a vibrant red lipstick. You wore a shimmering gold dress that tied behind your neck and had a gold chain that connected from the tie in the back down to where the dress hit your shoulder blades. The back of the dress was longer than the front with it hitting the back of your ankles. The front stopped mid-thigh and your gold bangles that donned both wrists jingled each time you attempted to pull it down. Thankfully, the dress wasn’t bunching anywhere that you felt. Kim told you to stop fiddling with it and to let the people see since you wouldn’t let your cherished detective see anything. You pinched her arm and the two of you bickered until you met the guests of honor.

Sam and her producer fiance were happy that you came and that you brought gifts, though you weren’t sure if they really needed a stand mixer since you were sure Sam didn’t know how to boil water. Maybe the producer…whose name you did hear three times but it never stuck, cooked or baked. The party ended up being fun though, there was delicious food, excellent music and the other costumes were a sight to see. At one point there was a disco ball that came out of the ceiling and everyone did the electric slide.

After the dancing when things took a weird turn, you stepped outside to get some fresh air. As the night went on, you started smelling weed and some other substances you usually tested for. You thought maybe you inhaled too much of the air inside but it called you miss a few times ... a man-sized hippo.

“Hey Miss! Lady! Ma’am!” The hippo keeps trying to get your attention and you scan the area to see if there's anyone else out here and if there’s anyone else they could be talking to. You see no one. Just you and this hippo, at least you can tell that it’s a costume. This has to mean you don’t have more than a contact high right? You’re just slightly dazed you hope.

“Yes sir? Or ma’am? How can I help you? I specialize in humans and not animals.” The hippo fails their arms and groans at your answer. You weren’t sure how else to put it without coming out and saying you’re an ME. You don’t know this hippo, they don't need to know that.

“You’re not too high right? I’m not an actual hippo. I need help getting this damn head off. You’re the first person I’ve seen who isn’t high as balls. Help a guy out, yeah?” You nod and watch as the hippo bends forward so you can reach the head. You pull and it comes off with some force with you stumbling back but thankfully not falling. The owner of the hippo head has fluffy brown hair and is shaking his head. “That feels so much better! Thanks! Fresh air! I missed it!” He has a beard that’s patchy but it doesn't quite have the gray that you like. He looks like he could be Tim’s younger cousin. The mischievous grin is one you’re sure you’d never see of the detective’s face though.

“You look familiar. Do you know-”

“Now just because you helped me get this head off, doesn’t mean I’m going to give you an autograph. You seem nice but you gotta pay for those. I have back taxes.” You cackle at the last part of his sentence and he raises an eyebrow. “That's not funny. It’s why I have a new manager and accountant. I hated that my damn brother was right. He’s always right, damn perfectionist. Like his shit doesn’t stink sometimes. That’s why his wife left and all he has is murder. Whatever lady.”

“No, no. I was going to ask if you knew a homicide detective, you look like him. A lot. I work with him so I was curious.”

The Tim-look-alike runs his eyes up and down, a fuzzy mitt on his chin. He seems to be thinking something, you're not exactly sure what. Some people just look like others and they’re not related. You could be wrong.

You adjust your glasses nervously and he points at them. “They’re blue! He mentioned a woman with blue glasses! So you’re her…he’s mentioned you quite a bit. You do the autopsies right…medical…specialist…something like that? Mentioned something about pens and menus. I didn’t really get that part.” You close your eyes. He told someone about the pens? Who was this guy? “You’re sexy. My brother’s an idiot or maybe he’s not. He loves his job too much is the damn problem. You’re already a lot nicer than his ex-wife, you single pretty lady?”

Blinking is your initial reaction. So this man…is Tim’s brother?! Your hunch was correct and he was related. You were thinking of a cousin maybe but not his brother. “Did you just ask if I was single? You’re wearing a hippo costume and couldn’t get out of it.” Your hands are raised like you’re pushing away the very idea of him hitting on you. The man in the hippo is not amused.

“That was a design flaw in the costume. Wait, I’m Dieter Bravo, I don’t need to explain myself. I see why he likes you, the sense of humor matches up. If you’d ever like to get to know the more fun of the two Rockford brothers, you should look me up. But definitely watch my movies, I need those royalties. I might paint about what happened here tonight. Thanks again sexy MD. My brother is a bit of a stick in the mud, but he is very nice to the ladies. Wait, what’s your name?” A fuzzy arm wraps around your shoulder and it’s not bad considering the cool night air. You tell Dieter and he comments that it’s sexy for a sexy lady. Your eyes roll as the pair of you decide to head inside where there’s heat and grab some punch. It’s warming you both from the inside out. Dieter and you chat about Tim and Dieter’s lives when they were both younger. Dieter took to the arts early while Tim focused on police work like their dad.

A fun fact you did learn about Tim: he enjoys photography.

Dieter explained it’s a hobby he enjoys because he can’t paint like he can. But he also admits that if his brother wanted to, he could have been a photo-journalist, but the call of shield was too great and it went on the backburner. Apparently one of the many reasons Tim and his ex-wife split was due to him wanting to make one of the half baths into a darkroom and expand it a bit. Bravo also informed Doc that his ex-wife was about as fun as putting on a wet blanket while you watch grass grow on a cool spring morning. That made Doc give Dieter a solid belly laugh.

You mentioned that you’d heard rumors of how this woman was but never really asked about her directly to Tim or anyone else. Bravo shrugged and sipped his punch taking stock of what you’re saying. It appears you don’t just like his brother but you respect him by leaving his personal business alone. As smart as he knows his brother is, he’s kind of an idiot. The fact that he knows something his brother doesn’t is a wonderful feeling. Bravo will make sure to remember this.

Dieter explains that he took his passion for art from their mom. She also taught English part time and loved Greek mythology especially which led to his legal first name. He didn’t believe it fit him until he became older and really leaned into the latter part of the Greek god of wine and revelry’s purpose.

“I’ll tell you pretty lady if you agree to do something fun.”

You squint your eyes at the younger Rockford brother. “What do you consider fun for me?”

“I think you should send Tim a picture of yourself in your outfit. Show him what he’s missing out on by sitting at home in his boxers or sleeping in his office gazing lovingly at his murder board.” This elicited you to choke on your punch and put a hand to your chest.

“I-I- who is that fun for exactly?! What is wrong with everyone this week?!” Knocking back the rest of your drink and pouring yourself more, you’re holding onto the table to keep yourself upright. “First the damn notebook, a bone song, now I find out and meet…”

“Name’s Dieter. Don’t say my real name.”

“Tim’s brother Dion and now you’re telling me to…to…why won’t anyone just let me fantasize?!” You take out your phone and shakily text Kim but she isn’t answering. You want to leave. NOW. Dieter pats your shoulder.

“Hay calm down. I dunno what set you off, but I was half joking. I think you might wanna call someone to take you home. You’re a bit too drunk.” He suggests as he guides you to a quieter room with a couch. You’re able to sit down and call Kim but she’s still not answering. You lean your head back on the soft fabric of the couch and close your eyes. Who else could you call? Just an Uber? No…you’re not alert enough for that. You could doze off at any moment. Alcohol tends to make you sleepy. Your phone slips out of your hand and Dieter grabs it before it falls on the floor.

Bravo has a bad idea. A very bad idea and maybe a bit mean. He texts Kim who has sent four texts asking where Doc was, that she’s okay and she had liquid courage to call Tim. He’s going to pick her up. Kim then sent various emojis with eggplants, bones, water drops and peaches. The second part of his plan had Bravo texting Tim from his phone that:

Hey bro, I met a very nice lady, maybe a few years older than me. She seems a little shy but the punch is very good. She might want to hang out a bit more after a Power Nap. She’s got some full lips and thick thighs, who knows? She might make a pretty third wife, third time's the charm after all.

Dieter snapped a picture of a dozing Doc and sent it to Tim. He waited. Maybe the text was a bit over the top but based on her outburst, his older brother has likely been a huge closed off idiot. Sadly he’s been like that since he divorced his ex-wife, he should have put more laxative in that woman’s coffee the one time he made it for her.

Rockford was in his office finishing up reports. Did he want to be? No. But it was this or do it Monday and Mondays sucked enough without extra paperwork. Plus he didn’t have anything else going on, only that his small black notebook was missing. He’d turned his trench coat inside and out three times and searched his desk, office, car and where he thought it might be in his house. He was going to do another sweep of the office before he left tonight.

His phone lit up but he paid it no mind and kept typing, putting the finishing touches on the fourth report of the night. A small smile crossed his face when he saw Doc’s name for the autopsy of the victim. His mind is drifting to thoughts of you again. He remembers meeting you when you first came. Hands cup the back of his head as he leans back in his chair. Tim’s eyes drift to his murder board and his ear itches. That’s odd.

He hadn’t been sure about getting a new medical examiner three years ago after Old Loaf, the previous ME had retired. His nickname came from his van which he put bread stickers on (not ever the identifying ME logo though) and he usually played classic rock and his favorite artist was Meat Loaf. Weird man, but ME’s usually are. When Doc arrived, it was an adjustment. The precinct had been used to that old bread van riding around and arriving to crime scenes. When Doc started she was first confused for an intern and not the new medical examiner, to be fair, they weren’t told anything about gender or appearance. But they could have at least asked, Tim happened to hear about Doc from the Captain and his wife over dinner. They had him for dinner from the times he used to double date with them along with his then wife.

Tim interceded between a senior detective and Doc because he kept calling her ‘young lady’ and Rockford could tell with Doc’s hands on her hips and her in his face, something was going to happen. He was pretty confident it would be the senior detective hitting the pavement as she wasn’t budging an inch. Slowly she started winning over the officers with her humor and knowledge, she even kept the loaves on the ME van and added stars, a mermaid and a catfish decal to it as well. They enjoyed the new flair of the van.

Rockford had thought her to be confrontational from her interaction out in the field but quickly grew accustomed to spending extra time in the autopsy room and office. Asking her questions, bouncing ideas off of her and at times, watching her work gathering evidence in the field and her lab. Tim had long reasoned that he spent time with Doc because of work. Over the years they worked together, however, he denied that their relationship was changing.

They’re colleagues obviously, but he knows the times you’re most likely to be in your office, learning about your music, trying to make you laugh, maybe doing a quick check of a few databases to see if you had any skeletons in your closet. There was some threat you made against your medical preceptor which is why he knew the detective was in more danger than you were. That didn’t bother Tim though, he can have a violent streak in him too if pushed. It was comforting that you’d understand some of the darkness even if it wasn’t quite in the same context. The pen thefts were weird but he enjoyed your eyes on him, watching him to see how he’d react. Now you’re in his car half the nights a week and he should ask you on a proper date but… you seem wary of him and not in the same way he is of you. Rockford could be reading into it too much, he tends to do that a lot more now. Maybe you’re actually wary of him in the same way? He could review his notes he took if he could find his damn black book.

“Rockford! What the hell are you still doing here? Go home!” Tim sits up and looks in his doorway. His balding Captain is there with his crooked toupee. He should just shave it off. Now that he thinks of it, he could dress up like Kojak. His wife would need to pick out his suits though, the Captain puts too many patterns together. The man is wearing a zebra print button-down, red pinstripe pants and a yellow tie. That’s what the Captain wears when not in uniform. His wife might be helping her sister with her baby again, he clearly picked his own clothes again. Tim finds himself thankful that he can match his own clothes without help.

“Sir, I’m almost done with some reports. Didn’t want to leave them for Monday.” Rockford responds. He picks up his phone to snap a quick picture of the Captain’s outfit, knowing Doc’s eyes would go wide before ending up face down on her desk in tears from laughing so hard. Tim swallowed. A quick flash of another thought flashed in his head of Doc face down in an entirely different situation. “Shit.” He muttered. The Captain nodded and left as Rockford saw some text messages from someone he didn’t expect. “He better not be asking me to stream any more of his movies. I’ve seen all of them three times. I told you to fire those two con-artists….” Rockford has finally opened his messages and it didn’t have to do with any movies.

Tim’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. He called his brother, seething and confused. When Dieter answered, he didn’t allow him to speak. “You tell me right now where Doc is. What the hell have you done…” The detective growled, making Dieter reconsider his plan. He knew Tim might be mad but had only heard that tone come out when he broke a guy’s arm for stalking Dieter early in his acting career before he blew up and thankfully before Tim graduated the police academy.

“Now see…what had happened was…I had a bad idea. Which I realize the full extent of now.” Bravo paused. “Your lady friend is fine. It seems she’s a sleepy drunk. I was going to poke fun at you but you’re clearly not in the mood-,”

“Dion. Stop. The. Bullshit.” Tim stated each word in the same simmering tone. He shut down his computer, put on his coat, and headed for the door to his office. “Address. Now.”

“Ahh…Okay let me just ask someone real quick. I was dropped off, you know.”

“Two minutes Dion.”

“Yup. On it.” Dieter is fully aware that per his request Tim calls him Dieter even when it’s just the two of them. The last time Tim called Dieter ‘Dion,’ he may have had one dumpster full of compost dumped on Tim’s ex-wife’s lawn. It was a gift since she liked to garden and constantly prune his brother’s dreams. His card had said so. Tim did not appreciate the gesture at the time. He did later though.

Bravo sent Tim the address and he plugged it into his phone. He knew the neighborhood, on the richer side of the county. Why was she there? How did she meet his brother? Why is she drunk? Now he knows she’s a sleepy drunk, and that picture… He’d seen it. How could Tim not think about it, sure she was asleep but she looked radiant in the gold against her skin. It would be a lot better with one of his cameras he had at home instead a stupid phone camera. Not now Tim you need to drive. Dieter can barely care for himself, how is he going to look after Doc? He can’t fight at all, no matter how the stunt team tried to work with him. Let’s just hope she’s only drunk. What kind of party would she go to where he would be there too?

Your head is spinning a bit but you see the fluffy hair and the hippo suit. You’re sitting…that’s right! You fell asleep. With all these people, at a party.

“I'm an idiot.” You groan sitting your head up, your body still feels heavy.

“Sleeping beauty is awake, your trench coat knight is coming. Could you tell him not to maim or murder me? Please? I gotta go to Milan to meet this screenwriter who might be able to get me in a Nic Cage movie he’s doing. It helps if I’m not dead.” Dieter gives you very pathetic looking eyes, but you’re not sure why.

“I don’t know who my knight is. What did you do?” You’re not entirely sure what Dieter is talking about. The room is still spinning a bit. You’ve sat up but you’ve hung your head to help with the dizziness.

“Why did I have to do something? You don’t even know me Doc.”

“Doc? You don’t call me that. It doesn’t sound right.” Your entire face contorts and Dieter holds his arms out whining.

“Tim calls you that. That’s your title, you’re a doctor. Or is it like a weird pet name between you two? I’m gonna ask him when he gets here. If he doesn’t harm me.” You pay no attention to his head tilt. Your body goes rigid, you’re hoping Dieter is just talking out of his ass.

“Wait…Tim is coming here? No, no, no,no,no!! What did you do? You insane weirdo hippo! Why haven’t you taken that off? You’re wearing something under that right? You’re not one of those….I mean. I’m not into it, but you do you Dieter.” Your surprise masks your panic for a few moments before it returns and to shoot to your feet. “Forget that, I’m not…I can’t see him like this. This isn’t…wait there hasn’t been a murder here has there?” A second wave of panic sets in, if Tim is coming here, there’s been a murder. You’re at a scene of a murder while drunk, wearing less clothes then you might wear to bed most nights and you’d have to explain not only to Rockford but the other detectives and officers why you’re here. Not a bad reason, but they don’t need to see you dressed like this. You’ve finally got everyone to call you ‘Doctor’ or ‘Miss Doc’ instead of ‘young lady.’ They’d never let you live this down.

Bravo rocks himself up off the couch and places his hands on your shoulders. You can’t take him seriously in that hippo suit. “You spun pretty fast. I sent him a picture of you while you were dozing and he’s coming to pick you up. Your friend Kim knows you’re going with him. He’s not happy that I took a picture of you so could you just, make sure I live? I mean think of it as doing your brother-in-law a solid.” You’ve closed your eyes while he’s talking and are shaking your head.

“This is…a nightmare…a damn nightmare…” You start laughing at the absurdity of it all. You almost wish Kim was here to sing her bone song and it would be a perfect nightmare. Dieter mentions that you should meet Tim out front, that way he won’t need to look for you and it may earn him a point or two. He also put the hippo head back on. If all else fails, he tells you to pretend to not know him as a hippo and he’ll just watch and then waddle away. You decide it doesn’t matter what Dieter decides to do, this is going to be so weird.

On his way out, Tim went down to Doc’s office where he got a spare key from the maintenance guy Joe six months ago. He had told him at the time it was for when Doc was off and that had a sub-ME come in who he had to double check behind. Or course, that’s not at all what Tim does, but Joe bought it because like his younger brother, Tim might be able to pull off some acting when he needs to. Based on what she was wearing, she needed something to put over herself. It’s way too cool for her not to and despite the alcohol she drank, she’d feel it when she got a cold later. On the drive over, he tried to plan what he would say, sure he was pissed at Dieter and he’d yell at him later about that. Would Doc be weirded out that he’s coming to pick her up? Should he have called Kim? She's Doc's friend but he can’t stand her. Kim’s good at her job and keeps things organized, but she’s a damn…well he wouldn’t say block. Just, she always interrupts with that smug look like she knows how he feels about Doc and makes little comments. Doc’s oblivious but eventually with enough of Kim’s words, she’ll understand that he likes her as more than a work friend. He’s sure he can’t have that conversation with her, especially if she didn’t feel the same.

Dieter leads Doc through the house, getting lost in a few rooms before they finally reach the main entrance. In full hippo costume, Bravo waits near the double doors, just in case Tim comes at him, he can hide behind one. He knows the stairs will slow him down. Doc stands in front of the stairs and holds her breath as she sees the brown Crown Victoria she consumes large amounts of Chinese food in pulls to a stop next to her. She walks toward the passenger side door, but Tim puts down the window. “Hey Tim.” Your voice is hushed.

“Wait. Don’t get in yet.” Something unexpected happens. It’s not that he gets out and opens the door for you or even that he has your lab coat, though you are curious how he has it since you lock your office before you leave every night. Tim says your name softly before helping you put your arms through the sleeves and he pulls on the collar so it’s a bit snug around your neck and by extension your chest. You’re left to look up at the man you’ve admired for the past few years, the same one you keep lying to yourself that it’s only admiration you feel for him.

“Tim…I’m sorry you had to come. I-I’m not usually… Thanks for coming. And don’t kill Dieter, just rough him up a little.” You give him a weak smile, you’re ecstatic that he’s driving out to pick you up, but feel horrible that you’re hungover and in a flashy gold skimpy disco dress when you see your detective outside of work. You wanted to have seen him in a more elegant outfit or at least something that didn’t have all your thighs and breasts out. Why couldn’t you have heard him say you name over a nice dinner? Hell even some Chinese food in your office would have been better than this, you’ve got the beginnings of a hangover and it’s not how you wanted Tim to see you outside of work. You’re not sloppy, messy and a tad obsessive sure, but not sloppy.

“Don’t apologize Doc. You’re entitled to fun after-hours. Just keep it safer next time. I was worried.” Rockford tells you quietly. His hands are still on your collar and run down to pull the lab coat snug around your middle which you flinch from his knuckles grazing your stomach. He calls your name again in the same soft tone as he smiles, “I’ve got one too. Not as soft as yours, mine’s a hard spare tire. Um…” Tim realizes he may have said something odd. He shouldn’t be referencing your body in any way but he has now. He feels like he put his own foot in his mouth, it’s not what he meant to say. “I..the gold looks perfect on you.” Rockford is making an effort to focus on your face, but his eyes drift to your lips, a bright shade of pink and even though he’s pulled your collar tight, he can still see your cleavage. There was more of it than he assumed was under those scrubs of yours. “I didn’t mean to mention…You’re a beautiful woman. You look good in anything, let’s get you home.”

If you could melt and fade away you would, where is this tender side of Tim Rockford coming from? Is it from pity? You could care less. It’s clear that he was looking at you, seeing past your usual scrubs, his eyes had scanned your form. Maybe this outfit wasn’t as bad as you thought and he’s seeing a fair bit of the goods as Kim would put it. Tim’s staring at them in fact after calling you beautiful. Does he… Is he attracted to me? I don’t think I ever thought this far ahead…dammit I’m thinking of that stupid bone song again. But I mean…

As Tim motions his hand for you to get in the car, the hippo who supposedly was worried about life and limb has a sudden outburst, “For the love of..?! What is this? You suck Tim!” A waddling hippo is coming toward the both of you continuing to berate his brother, “You’re going to do all that with her coat you damn tease? You didn’t even hug her or kiss her! No wonder Doc drank so much punch!” Dieter then turns to you, his large stuffed head bobbing about. “Is this how he is all the time?! I thought maybe you were being dramatic but I see you weren’t. This is swoon-worthy but you need to make it count big bro. Like she’s right here!” He points his gray mitts at you, your face feels like someone has put it under a lamp and it’s burning.

“Dieter, Shut up! Now!” You scream and get in the car, slamming the door. “Tim, we should go. Take me home please.” You’re mortified looking straight ahead in the car, hoping that he won’t ask. Tim’s a detective, of course he’s going to ask. What will you tell him? He ruined the moment…can I get another take without the damn hippo?!

Rockford shakes his head and pushes Dieter’s hippos head enough so he stumbles back but doesn’t fall. “Go back to the party, dumbass. This isn’t one of your movies.”

Dieter regains his footing and yells at Tim as he gets in his car, “You’re right it’s not! In one of my movies, she’d be a lot more satisfied than she is right now!” Tim flips the bird toward Dieter out of his driver side window and over the hood of his car.

As Tim drives off he sighs and turns on the radio. He has questions, but knows you're way too uncomfortable to answer any of them now. ‘I’m In Love’ by Evelyn “Champagne” King plays and Tim mumbles under his breath, “Of all the times…” Any other time I’d enjoy this song. It’s way too on the nose.

“Tim, I don't want to go home.” You’re watching the houses pass by as you speak. It could be the rum you drank, the fact that you spoke at length with a hippo who said he’s your ‘brother in law’ or that you’re now aware of how Tim sees you, at least in this outfit. “Can we stop and get something to eat? To soak up the alcohol, unless you’re not hungry?”

Rockford squeezes the steering wheel tighter, “Yeah we can. You feel up to talking while we eat at the usual place or you have somewhere else you want to Doc?” He’s keeping his eyes forward. If he looks over, his eyes will linger again and he needs to focus on driving. Supposedly.

“Where we can get a burger and milkshake.” Is your request and Tim agrees, making a few turns toward the diner you’ve both talked about going to but haven’t been yet. It was supposed be for when another big homicide case came through but, well this could be considered a large case of a different nature.

Back at the precinct, there are a few officers on the night watch milling about and taking calls. Things are calm, they’re looking forward to eight in the morning when their shift will end. One officer notices that the mascot for their precinct, ‘Sergeant Roderick Hipops’ named and gifted to the station by the Captain’s daughter when she was four, isn’t on the podium in the command room where the Captain will give updates and assign cases for the day. A couple of the officers decide to track the hippo down so they won’t be the ones that lost it. Their search leads them to the corridor outside of the morgue, where they find Sergeant Hipops, but he’s dipped in red paint. He’s wearing a navy police coat and a small hat in his permanent seated position. One officer points out that it’s too thick to be paint, it’s blood. Their search expands and crimson drops on the floor lead them to the morgue, where they discover a body.

Stevenson, Detective Tim Rockford’s partner, had a gunshot wound in the middle of his forehead on the slab where Doc normally performs her autopsies.

Part Two Part Four

Peeps who would let Tim take their photo 📸: @alltheglitterandtheroar @sin-djarin @morallyinept @yorksgirl @bitchwitch1981 @heareball @megamindsecretlair @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @magpiepills @yorksgirl @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @avastrasposts @clawdee @pascalsanctuary @readingiskeepingmegoing @rhoorl @inept-the-magnificent @pamasaur @agentjackdaniels @pedroshotwifey @tinytinymenace @anoverwhelmingdin

#pedro pascal characters #fanfiction #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #tim rockford #tim rockford fanfiction #Tim Rockford x plus size OFC #Rock & Doc #trench coat #A Nerdie fic #pedro pascal characters x plus size

9 notes · View notes

thecandywrites · 2 months

Text

Monster March 2024- Day 6- Doppleganger- Adjacent- Spring Fling

So what makes this Prompt Adjacent is- I actually commissioned @momolady for a modern- Short King- Goblin Boyfriend. Because I had this idea but my brain- at the time went- "nice idea, I have no dialog for that". She has not released the commission to Tumblr yet (it's coming, Matthias is EPIC and everything I never knew I always wanted) And OF COURSE, the moment I commission her? My brain went- 'Oh yeah, here you go'. So, obviously different characters, different names, same idea and concept which is close enough to a doppleganger in my opinion. And what better way to share "versions" of the same story than through something like this? And of course, I want to be clear- this is not being released because I wasn't perfectly happy with my commission, that's not true, I'm always 1000% satisfied. This is just what my brain gave me while I waited on a *Professional* because plot bunnies have a way of breeding and growing.

So, as always, huge thanks to @borealwrites for their amazing Monster March 2024 Prompt List. You have brought order to my chaos. lol. Enjoy.

Spring Fling

Gabe stopped and froze when watched the most beautiful woman he had probably ever seen in his life- walk into the hotel lobby as he was trying to push his kid and himself and their luggage cart into the elevator but stopped and rubbernecked the lilac night elven hybrid beauty that walked in.

“Hello Gorgeous.” Gabe breathed to himself as he felt his eyebrows raise into his hairline and his cock twitch against the leg he had put his cock next to in his pants. Hot damn.

She was gorgeous and practically a goddess. That perfect, pastel lilac with a soft ballet slipper pink undertone skin, paired with long, platinum blonde hair that reached that bodacious derriere, hanging in curls he wanted to wrap around his finger. Those hips that were hypnotizing him. He nearly fell over, trying to crane his head around as he watched her walk through the lobby.

And that jiggle of her ample cleavage and even that heavenly soft belly? Oh, he was done for. And then to see her in a sports miniskirt, with those long legs, with her large and in charge thighs that jiggled ever so deliciously from her steps, that he wondered would snap his waist off if they were to wrap around him? He could dream. Especially to see those tattoos snake up her legs and disappear under that skirt? Oh he wanted to see just how high up they went.

She was already nearly statuesquely tall, made even more exquisitely so in her wedge sandals with those bangles around her ankles the charms delightfully jingling with each step, accentuating her beautiful, pedicured feet in them.

Granted, Gabe was half goblin and half verdan, so he was already short, and he already knew every other woman was going to be taller than him. Which, he had made his peace with, a long time ago. Then he looked past her to see that the affect that she had had on him- was the same affect was on every other guy in that lobby as they seemed to part for her and let her walk right up to the desk since they had already checked in themselves but seemed to linger to watch her appreciatively, from orc, to elf, to tiefling, to minotaur, to human, every single kind of guy stopped to stare, some of them even whistling which made her head duck down and a pretty fuchsia blush dust on her cheeks as she pressed those full lips into a thin line and those heavenly lashes flutter as a worried frown cross her features before the protective side of Gabe came roaring to life.

He owned a coffee shop, and employed a lot of baristas and he knew that look all too well. But this wasn’t his establishment and, as much he wanted to step in, he was clearly outnumbered and most of these guys were at least two to three times his size and ten times his strength.

“Hi, I have a reservation under Thorne?” She offered to the receptionist before the elevator dinged.

“Dad?” Tristan asked and that finally pulled Gabe out of the spell Miss Thorne had seemed to cast over him.

Right, he was here with his son. He probably shouldn’t go chasing tail while he was with his son. He needed to refocus.

“Yeah, sorry, let’s go.” He finally said before he pushed the cart into the elevator before a few more passengers boarded the elevator with them to go up to the various rooms.

Meanwhile, Tatianna kept her head down as she walked into the hotel as she felt anxious that she felt that everyone was staring at her as she tried to walk quickly from the door to the receptionist’s desk and hated that the lobby was full because of course it was full of other dad’s whose wives and kids were in the car as they waited for their dad’s to check in. But being a single mom, she had to do this and to see a guy rush from the back- to dismiss the receptionist so he could stand proudly at the check in desk and smiled brightly at her as he got into position to wait on her as he even gestured to her and called her over.

"I can take care of you right here Miss." He pleasantly called out.

“Hi, I have a reservation under Thorne?” She asked as she had her phone- in it’s wallet case in one hand and got the credit card she was going to use to pay for this trip- in the other.

“Yes, hello Miss. Thorne, welcome to Starlight Suites. My name is Nathan, I’ll be checking you in today. I see you have booked a Little Dipper Suite, however, we are actually overbooked for that class of suite. So could I get you a free upgrade to an Aurora Suite instead?” The manager asked hopefully as he had seen her from the office and immediately got up out of his chair so he could check her out himself.

“That would be wonderful, thank you.” Tatianna smiled as she seemed to pull her phone down just out of sight as she silently put the phone to record this interaction.

“And you said that’s a free upgrade to an Aurora Suite right?” She repeated for her own record as she tucked her arm under her cleavage but kept the phone placed in such a way so as to record him too.

“Of course. You won’t be charged anything, not even the smallest of fees for the free upgrade to the Aurora Suite.” He repeated with a charming smile.

"Oops, overbooked on those too, Let’s get you into the Grand Celestial Suite.” He quickly offered as he clicked like crazy on his mouse to move her reservation up through the various tiers of their system- straight to the top.

“And also, for the inconvenience, I’m going to throw in fast passes for the park as well.” He informed her as he went ahead and gave her every add on he could in the computer and using his managerial code to comp it all too, as if Tatianna had been a five diamond award inspector he was trying to schmooze his way into getting a five diamond rating. But he was going to do his best to give her a five diamond experience nonetheless as the other receptionist slowly turned her head to give her manager an incredulous look before she just turned back to what she was working on and subtly shook her head.

“Oh, that’s very generous of you. Thank you.” Tatianna simply smiled pleasantly as she had hoped that this wouldn’t happen. But, at the same time, this would enhance her daughter’s Natalia’s vacation too so she shouldn’t complain as she chanced a look at the other receptionist and saw how she was just shaking her head and Tatianna was sure she was blushing from her chest up to the tips of her ears as she feared all the other guests were about to contest that perhaps they didn’t get the same treatment. But thankfully that didn’t happen.

“I’ll be right back.” Nathan offered before he had to go into the back to get the packages that were technically supposed to get all kinds of upcharges to access, but that he was freely giving to the hottest guest he had had in years as he avoided the irritated glares of the receptionist who was on duty but who had instead made herself busy clearing out the room cards from other guests and putting them into the basket that was used to recode for new rooms.

Nathan came back only a moment later with everything he had eagerly grabbed from the back to make a custom “welcome package” for his guest. And when he printed out practically half a reem of paper of all the coupons and vouchers and passes to her, he had to instead put it all into a folder to keep it all organized as he even gave her a discounted rate on her actual reservation. So that she essentially got half of her original reservation for free, but with the value of everything she now had, was really at a huge discount as he made sure to use his best pen- to write down all his phone numbers with, especially his personal number on the back of his best business card for her.

“Will you need any help getting your luggage from your vehicle? Also, feel free to park in priority parking. Just in case.” He insisted as he made sure to give her a special placard that she could park there without getting towed or anything before she took that as well.

“No, we packed light, we can carry it ourselves. Thanks.” She waived off before she waived by with her left hand, trying to subconsciously flick her left ring finger with it’s wedding ring still there on her finger the most- to hopefully catch his attention and give him the subtle signal that she wasn’t “on the menu” herself before she walked out of the line of sight of the receptionist desk and past the elevators, just as Gabe was there, with his now empty luggage cart.

“Oh, are you returning that?” She asked as she pointed to it.

“Yup, you need it?” He asked as he gently pushed it towards her.

“Yes, thank you so much. Have a great day!” She thanked him brightly with a smile that shamed the sun and that made him swoon as she took it and pushed it herself as now Gabe could really oggle that amazing ass and those powerful thighs in that flouncy work out mini skirt with shorts underneath- as she walked away from him. But not for long before the elevator doors closed and he found himself simply sighing in defeat as he went ahead and pressed the button for his floor.

“Down boy.” He sarcastically chided his own cock as it had seemed to instantly get hard and wanted out of his pants and instantly into her. He was practically a dirty old man at this point, there was no use lusting after a sweet young thing like her.

He went back to his room and unpacked and then went to go get some ice and nearly dropped the ice bucket when he saw Miss Gorgeous walking down the same hallway he was staying on with that luggage cart with quite a bit of luggage on it.

“Natalia, could you please get the door for me?” Miss Gorgeous asked a young girl who was wearing a hoodie with her shorts and headphones and still nose deep into her phone before the girl murmured and put the key card to the reader and opened the door for her mom.

“Thank you Sweetheart.” Her mom cooed as she maneuvered the luggage rack into the room from the hallway before the door shut behind her and Gabe practically engraved the room number onto his brain before he decided not to be a nosy stalker and continue to get the one thing he knew he needed to get- ice. And at this rate, a very cold, ice cold shower.

Then, once he had to practically dive to scrape the remains of the ice from the ice machine and he got the ice and was on his way back to his room, he noticed the manager outside of her room, knocking.

“Is there a problem?” Tatianna asked worriedly once she came to the door.

“No! No problem at all, Miss Thorne, you just forgot this at check in. And I wasn’t sure if your drink bar was fully stocked or not, so I brought some complimentary items, just in case.” He offered her another folder and a bunch of gift bags, practically bursting with goodies and even a flower arrangement and two bottles of wine in wine gift bags, dangling from his fingers, one red, one white, along with a bottle of champagne, the best they had- from the bar downstairs.

“Oh, thank you so much.” She managed to say in a forced polite, pleasantness that Gabe caught onto once again as his instincts suddenly planted his feet right where they were as he stayed at a respectful distance but still in full view as his own ears seemed to train on Miss Gorgeous and this manager, who was clearly making her very uncomfortable.

“And of course, my card, feel free to call me at any of those numbers if you have any needs that I can fulfill.” Nathan tried to say as he pointed to his personal number he had written on the back of his business card for emphasis as Gabe frowned deeply as she seemed to want to hide as much of herself behind the door.

“Oh, ok, I still have your card that you gave me downstairs at check in, but thank you. Now I really have no excuse to accidentally lose your number. But really, the room is very nice, quite luxurious, thank you so much for the free upgrade, my family and I really appreciate it and it’s really making our family vacation from good to great.” She tried to compliment.

“Oh, yeah, um, sorry, did I need to add more passes or something? Did I miss someone?” He asked as he distinctly remembered that there was just one adult and one minor at check in, both feminine names.

“No, it’s a girls weekend this weekend, we left the boys at home. And it isn’t Miss Thorne, it’s Mrs. Thorne actually.” She tried to waive off after she put the things down behind the door instead of letting him come into the room himself.

“But we really appreciate your hospitality and generosity. Have a nice day.” She tried to politely say before she shut the door and Gabe’s gut and instincts screamed at him that this asshole was going to be a problem. Gabe got a good look at the manager’s name badge so he could have half a mind to write corporate about this as he changed his course to walk right up to this guy as the manager made a single step away as he had turned away from Gabe to head to the elevators.

“Can I have your card too? Just in case I should need anything either?” Gabe asked loudly before Nathan seemed to jump a little that he got caught before turning on him with an irritated scowl that he quickly tried to cover up in a pleasant smile.

“Unfortunately that was my last card, I’m sure if you go down to the receptionist desk, they can give you one there. If you’ll excuse me, other guests need my attention.” Nathan politely offered before he walked off and rounded the corner at the elevators before the door creaked open and Mrs. Thorne peeked her head out.

“Is he gone?” She whispered.

“Yeah, he’s gone. Sorry about that, you should complain to corporate for harassment.” He offered to her as he backed away from her door, so as not to appear to be crowding her too- as she poked her head out further to make sure that manager wasn’t lurking anywhere before she heard the elevator ding and the doors open, thanks to her large, beautiful ear inclined towards the elevators as she faintly heard him huff as he went on and then the doors closed, bringing him back to the main lobby.

“Here.” She offered the card that the manager just gave her and gave it to him.

“Are you here with your family too?” She asked as she eyed him appreciatively as she recognized him from the elevator earlier as now he was closer, she could take a moment to really appreciate more of his features. Those big, beautiful sage green ears, combined with that very distinctive nose, that had been just a touch crooked from his fighting youth she imagined and she of course, noticed how a few gray hairs peppered his otherwise dark brown hair as it slicked back over his head with a few pieces, defying it and curling back over to hang in his face as a few wrinkles seemed to frame his eyes and make a pair of laugh lines around his handsome mouth.

“Yeah, granted that family consists of just me and my son, Tristan. But yeah.” He offered.

“That’s wonderful. I take it you’re here for the Spring Fling?” She asked hopefully as she nodded out of the window that showed the amusement park, with it’s world renowned and world record holding roller coasters piercing the skyline since this hotel was considered one of the many resort suite hotels of the park.

“Yes.” He confirmed with a nod.

“Us too, maybe we’ll see each other again at the park. Here, he gave us free vouchers for fast passes at the park this weekend. If they’re tied to my room, just use my room number and my name. Tatianna Thorne, in room 1553 and you can claim you’re my guests if need be. Here let me write that down for you.” She grabbed at her purse behind the door and got a pen out and wrote them down on the paper before she just handed him the new folder of new coupons and vouchers, another set of the ones Nathan had already given her at the receptionist's desk.

“Oh, we’re ok. You don’t have to.” He tried to refuse her.

“Did you have all of this already? Because if you did, you could use this instead and get a refund for yourself.” She tried to insist as she took a step out of her room and practically pushed the folder into his hands.

“You don’t owe anyone anything, me most of all. If the manager is going to be like that- the rest of your stay, I’ll happily bear witness to his harassment as an objective witness to it. Just in case.” Gabe insisted.

“I know, that’s why I’m so grateful for you stepping up and stepping in. He insisted that all of this was free at check in and I’m afraid that if I say anything now, he’ll end up charging me for all of this. And I really don’t have that kind of money. And I really don’t want it to be a ‘he said- she said’ kind of thing.” She offered in a low, hushed murmur, as if she was afraid that if she said it too loudly, the manager would jump out of a room at any moment as she gave the hallway another worried glance to see a family head towards the pool as the dad gave her a longing glance before he refocused on his family.

“So what exactly did he say at check in?” Gabe asked as he felt himself slip back into protective manager mode.

“Actually, if you don’t mind, could I get your email address? I actually recorded the conversation, just in case. I could send you the audio file, it’s too big to send in a text.” She offered as she pulled her phone out of her pocket on her shorts under her skirt.

“Yeah sure, it’s…” Gabe gave her his gmail address before she gave him her phone as he traded his ice bucket and the folder for so she could save him as his contact as Gabe felt like he must have slipped and hit his head because this felt so surreal.

But the poor woman was scared because she was being preyed upon. And obviously this had been done to her so many times that she knew she had to do things like this to protect herself and he would not be that asshole to take advantage of this, or her before they traded it back and she sent a quick text to him, so that he would know who the new message was from so he could save her in his phone.

“Dad?” Tristan asked once he poked his head out of his room to wonder where his dad was.

“I’ll be right there.” Gabe offered.

“Thank you so much for doing this. I hope you have a good weekend with your son.” She offered.

“Thanks, and I hope you have a good girls weekend. You should call those boys in your life to come if he tries that again.” Gabe offered.

“Oh, that. Yeah.” She blushed and looked away guiltily and moved her side swept bangs behind her pretty ears that had blushed a dark violet.

“White lie to keep the creeps at bay?” He guessed.

“That obvious?” She asked with a wince.

“Nope. Sounded like the gospel truth to me and it is- as far as I’m concerned. I own a coffee shop, the things my baristas have to tell all their customers, I’ve heard it all.” He waived off.

“Oh! That explains it then. I’ll let you get back to your son. Thank you so much for your help.” She offered.

“Yeah, and if you ever need mine, I’m just a few doors down the hall, in 1575. Don’t be a stranger ok?” He pointed to where his son was standing and watching curiously.

“Only if you won’t be one either.” She grinned happily.

“For sure Mrs. Thorne- enjoy your evening.” He offered as he used the folder in his other hand to salute her off and walked away, feeling a whole foot taller.

“You too.” She returned before she slipped back into her room.

“So what happened?” Tristan asked his dad.

“You know how I, very rudely and disrespectfully, ogled at Miss Gorgeous when she walked into the hotel?” He asked with a wincing grimace.

“Yeah. And now you’re talking to her. Did you get her number?” Tristan asked his dad hopefully.

“I did, but not for that reason. The manager of the hotel was coming on to her and she was very, understandably- uncomfortable. So I made it a point to stay and witness the interaction, just in case the manager tries anything else. And because I took that stand of solidarity, she got my number and my email address so she could send me the recording of the interaction as proof of what the manager did, just in case he doubles back on either her or us. And, he already gave her a set of fast passes and so she had these extra ones that she felt obliged to share with us. So if we see her, and her daughter, be nice and say thanks ok?” He urged as he gave his son the folder and put the ice bucket in it’s place before he fished his phone from his pocket to smile at the new number and save it as Tatianna Thorne.

“Holy cow! She got…everything! He hooked her up!” Tristan gasped in astonishment as he took the folder to the table and took out everything and organized it before Gabe wiped his hands off and came over and sat down to see it all.

“Tatianna Thorne.” Tristan read off of the pretty name written across the paper.

“Pretty name.” Tristan grinned at his dad.

“And an even prettier woman with it.” Gabe blurted as he just looked at all of this stuff and knew he was holding vouchers for hundreds, if not at least a thousand dollars worth of stuff as he got on the app and used the codes already printed off on the papers to add what he could to his digital tickets on the theme park’s app and grinned when all of it was added flawlessly and seamlessly.

“So what’s her daughter’s name?” Tristan asked.

“I have no idea. I didn’t ask and she didn’t tell. But I’m sure you’ll see her around, probably at the pool if not in the theme park.” Gabe shrugged.

“Got it all?” Tristan asked before they double checked it.

“Yup. Got it all.” Gabe nodded.

“Can we go down to the pool now?” He asked.

“Yes.” Gabe caved before they got changed into their swim trunks and went down to the pool and swam around for a while with the other kids before Tatianna came down, both her and her daughter in bikinis and bath robes as nearly every guy and several women with a pulse seemed to stop and stare to see them there.

“Ugh.” Natalia glared at everyone who was gawking at her and her mom.

“Let’s just go.” She urged her mom as she pulled the bathrobe around her tighter.

“If you feel unsafe we can go. Do you feel unsafe?" Tatianna asked.

"...no..." Natalia grumbled as she practically had to stamp 'fuck off' all over her face as her dirty glares finally got the others to look away and stop staring at her or her mom.

"Well, if any of them dares to approach you or makes you uncomfortable, let me know and we will deal with them and we'll leave. But otherwise, I would really appreciate at least a little soak in the hot tub. The younger kids are still safe, I'm sure most of the moms are too. And there's other girls here who look to be about your age. Maybe you can make a friend or two while we're here.” Tatianna encouraged as she put her things down and put her hair up into a messy but still gorgeous bun before she shirked the bathrobe off and walked over to the hot tub and slipped in just about the time, all the dads seemed to want to get into the hot tub too.

“Hi, I take it you’re Mrs. Thorne’s daughter?” Tristan asked as he came up to Natalia and gently tapped on her upper arm before she turned on her heel to start cussing this guy who had the audacity to know her mom's name- before she turned and frowned and closed her mouth and then looked down to see Tristan there, staring up at her with a friendly smile. Aw, he was just a little kid. Ok, false alarm. She reeled her knee jerk reaction back and dialed down her intensity a bit and tried to remind herself that not every single man she saw was not out to get her or her mom. That there were still some good, and innocent people out there. And with him being so much smaller than her, and appearing to be so much younger than her, she happily slipped into 'big sister' mode.

“Oh, hi, yeah. I’m Natalia Thorne. Nice to meet you.” She offered as she sat down on the sun chair so she could be more or less eye level with him and smiled warmly as he looked about at least a year younger than her, but because he was clearly a goblin hybrid himself, made him a lot shorter than her, but only helped her feel more at ease with him.

“I wanted to come and say thank you for the fast passes and the drink cup vouchers and the funpix.” He cheerfully offered to her.

“Aww, you’re welcome. I’m happy you get to use them. So what’s your name?” She asked as she offered her hand for him to shake.

“Tristan, Tristan Black. That’s my dad- Gabriel Black. But you can call him Gabe.” He said as he pointed over to his dad who was still in the water, trying not to get jumped on by the other kids jumping into the pool as Natalia connected the dots from the earlier conversation her mom had had in the hallway that she had overheard.

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Tristan. So you’re here for Spring Fling right?” She asked.

“Yeah. I won this trip in a book reading contest at my school over the whole school year.” He smiled.

“Awesome! How many books did you read?” She asked.

“One hundred and thirty eight!” He beamed.

“Holy cow! Wow! That's a lot. I probably only get to read a few a month. Which ones were your favorites?” She asked.

“All of the Lord of the Rings.” He smiled.

“Ooh! I've seen the movies, never got a chance to read the books.” She offered happily.

"Well did you like the movies?" He asked hopefully.

"Yeah, granted they're a bit typecasted. But yeah." She nodded.

"Well yeah, unfortunately, it is. That's the way it's always been in Hollywood." He had to nod in agreement with a more dissappointed expression.

"Well you never know, there's a lot of actors and actresses that try to break all those typecasting molds. Besides, with Netflix and Amazon and Disney, new types of media are being produced all the time. Maybe a new mini series will come out that will break all the molds and make us look at everything and everyone differently." She encouraged.

"Well what kind of books do you like to read?" He asked when he saw a corner of a book peek out from her pool bag.

“Oh! It's a ‘laws of the universe’ book that discusses how gravity, electromagnetism, along with strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force can orchestrate how different solar systems work and we can use them to chart courses through star systems one day.” She answered as she pulled it out and showed it to him.

“Woah, I know about gravity. I don’t know about any of the other things.” He offered sheepishly as he stared at the different diagrams and things in the book.

“It’s ok. Very few people do. I just really like science. But did you know that most of the rides that are in the park- run on electromagnetism? Every single steel coaster uses electromagnetism…” she began before she slipped her robe off and walked with him from her chair back to the pool to talk about how and why they used it to mimic jet propulsion without having to use the engine of a jet or the mechanics of a big hill to gain speed and momentum.

Gabe hung back as he was sure Tristan was learning more in this moment than he had his whole life in school as soon other little kids, overhearing Natalia talk about the coasters came to join in on the conversation and listen to her with rapt attention as she sat on the steps with all the little kids around her as the older kids seemed to hang back and then regroup with each other and left her alone.

“Did you invent the roller coasters?” One kid asked.

“No, it's just an interest of mine." She shrugged off before the other families came down to the pool as the older teen guys immediately perked up at seeing Natalia there with the other littler kids as their dads seemed to immediately notice her mom as Tatianna immediately put her guard up with the older guys as Natalia did the same with the older boys.

Meanwhile- Tatianna felt like she batted away every advance from every other guy, even ones clearly there with their families as she used that time to make sure each and every single one knew and understood that her daughter was only 14 and way under age and off limits and that if their sons tried anything, they would be dealt with accordingly with the proper authorities if need be. Granted she got a bit of flack for her daughter dressing like "jail bait". But she could easily and readily defend that the problem was with them- sexualizing a child. Not, what that child was wearing.

That seemed to shut the dads of the boys up and get them to pull their sons aside and let them know that Natalia was off limits. But that didn't stop all the other guys who didn't have a son to pose 'a threat' to Natalia to just close in tighter as they were eager to run all the other guys through the dirt and mud for practically being pedos. So while Tatianna got to win Natalia some breathing room by getting as many as she could off of her daughter's trail in a sense- it only made her feel more hunted herself.

The wives seemed to congregate together and watch on jealously as Tatianna wished her bikini top covered more of her bountiful chest, even though it was cut modestly, her bountiful chest could make a nun’s shroud look sexy as sin. She felt like her breasts were liable to float right off her chest and into the eager hands and mouths of the others in the hot tub with her as the rest of her body was not even close to relaxing, if anything it was even more tense than it had been before she ever slipped into this hot tub.

But then, Gabe got out of the pool and Tatianna found herself practically staring to see, even cold, the burmese python of a cock in his swim trunks as she subconsciously licked her lips and wanted nothing more than to see just how big and girthy it could get when it would get hard. He was like a well seasoned steak among fast food burgers, and she was starving and sick of fast food.

“There’s room for you to sit here Gabe.” Tatianna offered as she moved so that he would be between her and all the others in the hot tub.

“Oh, thanks.” He grinned as he came to her rescue and spread out to give her more room and space as she practically wedged herself into a far corner.

“So how are those boys of yours doing? Hopefully not getting into trouble while you get a girl’s weekend with Tali are they?” He decided to ask her before she beamed a happy smile for him that he would refer back to that little ruse she had used earlier.

“No, they’re on a motorcycle trip up north- doing the Tunnel of Trees because the trees are blooming and it’s really pretty this time of year. But much chillier.” She offered.

“Nice, and they ride…?” He ventured.

“Oh Matty got himself an Indian Pursuite Elite. So he and Jake are quite comfortable on that ride.” She beamed as Gabe whistled as the corners of his mouth quirked up into a big grin.

“That’s a nice bike.” He nodded.

“That’s a forty five thousand dollar bike.” Another dad balked.

“Well My Steve had an Indian Chief before and for our anniversary this year, he went ahead and got himself that early anniversary present.” Tatianna divulged.

“How many years have you two been together again?” Gabe asked.

“Fifteen. Natalia is 14 already. I can’t believe it, we’re getting so old!” Tatianna laughed, her own lines and wrinkles on her own beautiful face seeming to really make her look that much more like a masterpiece in Gabe's eyes.

"Nah, just better with time. But I know Steve still counts himself lucky to have you faithfully by his side." Gabe offered and the look of adoration and happiness that practically made her glow.

"You bet your sweet ass he does. He's never had to worry about that from me." She proudly proclaimed.

"Because you've never given him a reason to worry." Gabe smiled as she nodded.

"And I know he trusts you to keep an eye on his girls while he's away." She winked at him which made him crinkle his nose and laugh and nod.

"A trust I don't dare betray." Gabe nodded before the others took that as deterrent enough for them to lose interest and get out of the hot tub before Gabe slid away to afford Tatianna more breathing room before she finally felt safe enough to relax.

"Thank you so much for that." Tatianna thanked him as she melted into the hot waters.

"I take it, that happens to you a lot?" He asked.

"Yeah, I keep forgetting how much Stephan shielded me from all of that. Now, it's just easier to wear the ring and have everyone assume the idea of him as deterrent enough." She muttered.

"Divorce?" He guessed.

"Nope. He died. He was a firefighter. He got caught in the California wildfires when he volunteered to help fight them. His helicopter crashed when he got stuck in a fire tornado." She revealed.

"Yikes." He grimaced.

"Yeah. What about you? Please tell me you don't have a tale of woe greater than mine." She tried to offer in a slight teasing tone.

"Nope. Not even close. Tristan came from a one night stand. But his mom and I are friends but obviously it was a one and done. Simple joint custody. She moved on with another guy. And I have tried to as well. But every woman I try to date, thinks that every young batista I employ is a threat to her. But they are just college girls in a college town just trying to survive each semester. And I have no interest in girls in that age group. Especially when I'm right at that age where I'm not quite old enough to be their dad but not quite young enough to be a big brother either." He tried to explain as he used the water to slick back his hair again before it would fall back in his eyes and disrupt his view of her.

"What's the college and what's the town?" She asked curiously.

"Oxford." He answered.

"Oxford… Ohio?" She asked.

"Yeah…" He answered as she started giggling then laughing.

"Oh no way. Eaton." She offered.

"Oh my gosh. Wow. Small world." He had to laugh with her because that was practically 25 minutes away from home.

"So what's the name of your coffee shop?" She asked.

"Coffee, Black. Because my last name is Black and that's how I like my coffee. And I also own the adjacent bar Black and Tan." He offered.

"Nice. I'm a trauma nurse at Kettering Medical, Preble. I'm the trauma nurse stabilizing patients when they get care flighted from our little rural Medical Center to Dayton or Richmond Indiana." She offered.

"Wow." He blinked in surprise.

"Matthew was a helicopter pilot for Med Flight when he wasn't a firefighter or when he wasn't in the airforce, flying choppers for them. And we met when the Preble County Medical Center got a set of helicopters and a group of helicopter pilots. And after I showed a lot of aptitude for it, he got me on his crew and we got on the same work schedule so that we always worked together. But since he died, I've been on the swing shifts with the other pilots when I'm not the triage nurse." She confessed.

"Did he really have that motorcycle?" Gabe asked.

"No, he had a Suzuki, his brother got an Indian though and he got to ride it a few times when his brother broke his ankle getting his bike into a motorcycle trailer. That Indian was the most comfortable bike I had ever ridden and we had agreed that for our anniversary, we would upgrade to that. But when he died before we could do that, I used a portion of his life insurance policy and I upgraded to an Indian Elite. I got it in royal blue, my favorite color. But the way Tali and I pack - we needed the SUV for this trip and it's only supposed to be hot today and get the cold snap tomorrow. You know how spring is, a lamb one day and a lion the next." Tatianna murmured lowly so that only Gabe could hear her as she leaned in and cupped her hand around his handsome and distinguised ear before she sat back up as he could only hope and pray that these bubbling waters would distort the fact that his cock was practically trying to swim into her from there. God, it had been practically a lifetime since such a heavenly sound went into his ears as her face brushing up against it, almost made him shudder instead of just lightly shiver as all the hair on his arms tried to stand on end.

"So what about you? Is it just you and Tristan? Do you have any pets?" She asked.

"Two cats, and two dogs." He answered.

"Alfie, Lucie, Bugger and Trix." He listed off on his fingers as Tatianna got to appreciate he had four fingered hands and those fingers were bigger, and stout and strong and long. Long enough to probably reach her G spot just right if he fingered her she mused.

"Three cats, 1 dog." She answered.

"Jasmine, Contessina and Roxanne for the cats and one big chonkous humongous dog - Buddy." She listed off.

"Sounds like a full house." He said.

"It is. But that's only because Steve and I never got to have more kids. Because by the time Natalia was 4 and in preschool, and we were already so happy to be done with nursing, weaning, and diapers and potty training, and I was wanting to jump head first into flying helicopters, I couldn't do that and have a baby on the tit at the same time because I took those four years off to be a stay at home mom, which was fun, but I missed work and I didn't want to get just to the point of flying just to be grounded again for another four years. But then, just as I got my pilot's license, just for Steve to die in a helicopter crash trying to fight those wildfires that burned most of the state, and for him to be gone and now it feels like I wasted all that time learning to fly when I could have been a mother to more kids, but, still, can't change anything now. And now that Tali is getting older, it's nice that it's just the two of us and every weekend gets to be a girl's weekend." Tatianna tried to justify.

"Woman, you're gonna make me cry." Gabe tried to tease as he wiped a stray tear from his eye.

"Sorry, sorry, sad backstory over." She shook her head.

"So tell me about all those baristas in that coffee shop of yours." She instigated.

"Oh you mean the walking disasters that think common sense in a special kind of change in the cash drawer?" He remarked before she barked a loud laugh before he did everything in his power to make her laugh as her peals of laughter soon echoed in the pool room.

"Mom? I'm hungry." Natalia said as she came over and sat next to her mom.

"I'm hungry too Dad." Tristan said as he did the same.

"What sounds good for dinner?" Tatianna asked.

"I don't know, let just get dressed and see what's around." Natalia shrugged.

"Ok, see you at the park, you guys have a good night." Tatianna offered before she slipped out of the hot tub and picked up her things, slipped into her flip flops and left with her daughter out of there as Gabe resisted the urge to follow them.

"So how did things go with Mrs. Tatianna go?" Tristan asked.

"Really well, how did things go with Natalia?" Gabe asked as he noticed his son was practically vibrating with excitement.

"She's so cool! And wicked smart!" Tristan gushed before he spent the entire walk back to their room to talk about it.

"So why did you stay so close to Gabe?" Natalia asked and she and her mom got to their rooms and stripped out of their bikinis to get changed into something for dinner.

"Because he heard me tell the manager it was a girl's weekend and that we left "the boys" at home." Tatianna prompted.

"And?" Natalia nodded.

"And Gabe was there, in the hall and witnessed that. And he stayed until the manager left. And at the pool, he brought that up to the other guys, and we pretended to know each other and with him playing along with the little white lie that Dad is alive and that you have a brother who is currently having a boys weekend with Dad, he was essentially a cockblock for me. And saved me from more and more aggressive flirtations. And he owns a coffee shop in a college town and he deals with aggressive patrons trying to flirt with his baristas so he's used to running interference without also having an ulterior motive. And so far he's the first one on this trip who hasn't tried to flirt with me. And he just made me feel... safe and relaxed while he shielded me." Tatianna tried to explain as she stuffed her boobs into yet another minimizing bra to try to contain her bountiful cleavage.

"So the first gentlemen among pigs." Natalia grinned as she slipped into a sports bra and then another outfit for dinner before she grabbed her little makeup bag.

"Yes, very much so. But now, thanks to this little white lie that got spun into this whole thing and with Gabe practically swearing I'm a good little faithful wife who would never dream of infidelity, now I can't pursue him while we're here without appearing like a huge hypocrite and then open myself up to the masses. And to make it either worse or better, he lives in Oxford. Like 20 minutes away. And he's actually my age! And he wears his age so well and he's actually, genuinely funny. But this is still our vacation and I should be focused on you." Tatianna tried to console as she touched up her own makeup in the mirror.

"Hey, if you want to get dicked down while we're here, I'm cool with that. And if a weekend fling ends up being a little more permanent, I don't mind. Plus, Tristan and I got along pretty good. He's still at that "most girls have cooties" stage. Which is actually kind of nice.” She praised.

"So what would you like for dinner?" Tatianna asked.

"Steak, and shrimp." Natalia answered.

"So that's either Outback, Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse, Logan's…" Tatianna listed off.

"Let's invite Gabe and Tristan, see what they want." Natalia offered.

"Really?" Tatianna asked as her eyes lit up and her ears perked up.

"Yeah, if your ears perk up that high at the thought of it. Yeah." Natalia grinned happily, happy to see her mom happy too.

"Ok." Tatianna beamed before she shot Gabe a quick text. Oh this trip officially had the potential to go from good to great if Gabe said yes.

To be continued….

#Monster March 2024 #Monster March 2024- Day 6-Doppleganger-Adjacent #Spring Fling #Goblin Boyfriend #Short King Modern Goblin Boyfriend

7 notes · View notes

feroluce · 1 year

Note

On character death: Coming to Hisui went very, very wrong. Ingo comes across Emmet's body and. He can't place a name, who this person was to him (is it even the same man from his faint memories? why would that person be in hisui?), but, looking at this stranger(?), he still feels himself fucking s h a t t e r

SO I HAVE. SOME THOUGHTS.

It happens in the coastlands. Palina and Iscan are just kinda sitting around at the top of the cliffs, up by the previous Lord's grave, and suddenly Palina looks horrified. Iscan finally manages to see what she's pointing at and shit, shit, that doesn't look like just debris floating out on the ocean. Iscan goes diving off the cliff, blowing into his Celestica Flute on the way down, Basculegion catching him right before he hits the water, and they get out there at top speed, but. Yeah. It's already too late. It was already too late well before they'd spotted him.

Iscan brings the body back with him, of course. He figures he'll have to ask the Ginkgo Guild if one of their merchant ships have lost any crew, even if this doesn't look like their usual blue and yellow uniform. Except.

As soon as she gets down to the shore with him, Palina looks stricken, and it takes Iscan a few minutes just to calm her down and get the words out of her. He knows she still has a lot of trauma related to drowning after the previous Lord of the Isles, but he can tell there's something different this time, something's off. Palina never cries in front of anyone but him, but even then, this is way way worse than usual. And it's not until he picks out a name between all her hiccupping little sobs that Iscan realizes oh, no, Palina knew this person.

He'd never really met Warden Ingo, but he's seen him from afar, and now that he looks, yeah, this body definitely seems to be him.

Even if his coat does seem to be a different color than usual.

So Iscan carries Palina home, sends out a message via Starly, and waits.

((Irida, looking up from a letter in her hands: Warden Ingo, apparently you've been found dead in the coastlands.

Ingo: Ah, alright, My Lady.

Irida: ...

Ingo: .....

Irida: .......

Ingo: .........No, wait, what???))

The next day, Irida shows up...with Ingo in tow?! Iscan says something about ghosts and nearly faints haha. Palina is so relieved she nearly faints, too. She's still upset that someone drowned, but. She's at least glad it wasn't Ingo.

Irida doesn't look as relieved. And neither does Ingo, to a much greater extent.

Irida keeps glancing at him, hovering near him, fidgeting with the bangles around her wrists, and it's been so long since Palina has seen her act this way that she almost can't place the behavior.

Irida is nervous.

She shouldn't have any reason to be nervous. If the body isn't Ingo, then it's not anyone else in the clan either. It shouldn't be anyone they would be upset over. But as they make their way through the rest of the coastlands, the air starts to feel thicker, darker, more oppressive, Palina has to all but hold onto Iscan to keep herself from running ahead just to escape it and get it over with, because it feels like waiting for the other shoe to drop, like the suspense of waiting for the blade of a guillotine to come down.

Iscan leads them to where he'd safely placed the body, but before closing that last bit of distance, Irida suddenly grabs Ingo's hand. His eyes are locked dead ahead; Ingo isn't looking at her. Irida isn't looking anywhere but him.

"That's- I can- Do you want me to look? You don't have to."

"No thank you, My Lady. I need to see for myself."

And still she hesitates, but Irida drops his hand. She lets him go, stands there with her fists clenched around nothing but their emptiness.

Ingo finally gets a good look at the body, at the man dragged under and brought in by the tides, at his face, the white of his hat and his coat, his upturned mouth, something tugs at his insides, pulls loose, the knot he'd been working to tease apart for so long, for years, it's vanished into thin air, the thread let loose, nothing to hold it steady, nothing to keep it anchored and taut anymore, part of him is gone now, just suddenly gone, and that absence aches-

Ingo's knees hit the ground first. Then his palms. Then his elbows, and finally his forehead.

All sound seems to disappear, the world is as quiet as a wake. Ingo tries to remember how to breathe.

His vision fades out, then back in, then out and then back in again. He doesn't remember sitting up. It seems like it should have been impossible for him to do, with how unbearably heavy his body feels. Palina and Iscan are gone. His aching hands are covered in grit from clenching his fists. When he hears sniffling, it seems to come to him from the bottom of a deep, dark well.

"It is him, isn't it." Irida's hands are clutched in his coat.

"It...it is." Ingo has no idea who he is, but he would know him from anywhere. He can feel it in his leftover half of a soul, in his ripped red thread.

Ingo sits there, on his knees, in the dirt. He doesn't know for how long. He doesn't move. The sun starts to set. He doesn't move. The man's coat all but glows white under the silvery moonlight. He doesn't move. Irida's head lolls. She's been sitting flush against his back the entire time. Ingo moves, if only to find his voice.

He asks if he can have some time alone. Because Irida doesn't need to be out there in the elements with him, she hasn't even eaten this whole time. Irida tells him he can, of course he can, he can have whatever he needs. But not just yet.

Not until Ingo stops looking like he'll walk right out into the ocean to join him.

Gaeric shows up the next morning with a sheet big enough to wrap a body and a cart to bring the man in white back with them, surprising Ingo. Usually people that don't belong to a clan or settlement are simply burned and then the ashes buried where they're found. Hisui is no stranger to shallow, hastily dug graves.

Irida declares that the man in white is to be given all the same burial rites as any Warden's spouse. Ingo is one of hers now, and that extends to his family, too. She had always planned to take in anyone who showed up looking for Ingo, she just...hadn't wanted it to be like this...

Ingo nearly cries again right then and there.

Iscan helps Gaeric with the cart and pats his shoulder when they go to leave. Palina promises she'll be there for the rites and hugs him goodbye so tightly that Ingo wonders if she's trying to squeeze all his broken pieces back together into one jagged, misshapen form.

They set off, and at first Ingo walks alongside Gaeric and Irida. And then alongside the cart's front wheels. And then its back wheels. And then almost behind it. Gaeric keeps pulling it forward as he tells Ingo that he can sit on the back of the cart if he's tired. If he wants to. He's strong, he can pull them both the whole way.

There's no verbal answer, but the cart dips under its new additional weight, two bodies laid side-by-side.

Irida takes up one side of the handles so that she can squeeze in next to Gaeric. She hangs her head and grits her teeth, fits her smaller hand into his. He lets her, grips back just as tight.

And neither of them says a single word of protest the entire way back to the alabaster icelands, as Ingo quietly breaks down behind them.

(Technically, everything goes back to the same afterwards. Technically, Ingo's life is the same as it's ever been; nothing has changed. The man in white had never lived with him here. Ingo still doesn't even know who he is. Technically, he should be fine.

Ingo gets up. Takes balms to Sneasler and her kits. Eats breakfast. Scares off any predators. Clears the arena. Fishes in the river. Eats dinner with Melli. Reads the book Calaba lent him. Goes to bed.

Ingo gets up. Walks to Jubilife. Eats breakfast. Puts the aspiring trainers through their paces. Makes small talk with Zisu. Coordinates matches. Eats dinner with Akari. Goes home. Goes to bed.

Ingo gets up. Delivers balms. Protects the territory. Eats the food Melli brings him. Goes to bed.

Ingo gets up. Drags himself to Jubilife. Battles. Picks at the food Akari treats him to. Goes home. Goes to bed.

Ingo gets up. Does his work. Goes to bed.

Ingo gets up. Does his work. Goes to bed.)

((When Ingo passes of illness some amount of time later, he isn't found at the main settlement, or at the training grounds in Jubilife, or even at his own home in the highlands. Instead, he's found huddled against a nameless grave, protected from the elements by a white coat, matching white cap still clutched in his hands.))

#blankshipping #submas #pokemon ingo #pla ingo #legends arceus ingo #been thinking about this one for a looooooong time #anon i love you #love thinking about what a strange process grief must be for Ingo in this kind of situation #he knows he loves Emmet but he doesn't know who Emmet IS #in some ways it's like hearing a stranger died- it shouldn't have a lot of impact #but it does. regardless of what Ingo does or does not remember- it does #and I have a lot of Thoughts about how Ingo reacts to grief too #i might? put them into a separate post sometime?#anyway did you guys know that there's a thing called Heartbreak Syndrome? I associate it with Ingo a lot.#Ingo loses his soulmate and his body just kinda. gives up.#he gets sick more often and for longer. it hits him so much worse than it used to.#and eventually it just kinda becomes more than what can be dealt with #ask #answer #anon #emmet #ingo #Warden Ingo #nobokai #ingirida #irida #palina #iscan #gaeric #my fics

56 notes · View notes

theladybarnes · 2 years

Photo

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? : CHAPTER ONE

“You wanna know the worst thing that's ever happened here in the four years I've been working here? Do you wanna know the worst thing? It was when an owl attacked Eleanor Gillespie's head because it thought that her hair was a nest.”

▸ summary: first day of school, how weird can it get? ▸ characters: dustin henderson, steve harrington, and jonathan byers ▸ word count: 3.7k ▸ warnings: none ▸ series masterlist

The moment you stepped off the plane, the stale smell of Indiana viciously attacked your nose. You had been dreading this day for weeks. It was unfortunately inevitable.

It had been only three months ago that you were practically kicked out of your home. The punishment your parents seemed to see fit was to take you away from your sunny California home and relocate you to Hawkins, Indiana. Where you were to live with your Aunt Claudia and cousin Dustin. The two would hopefully “humble” you down enough to behave and become a respectful member of society.

Which was completely bullshit in your opinion.

The long bus ride into town only cemented your fear of living here. It wasn’t your first time around the town, having come there to visit early on when your cousin was born. But the dull and seemingly stuck in the past town was not ideal for you. There would be no thriving here, no living, just going day by day molding into the rest of backwards idiots that lived there.

At least this would be the way till you saved up enough to move out on your own and leave. Something you were terrified of considering you’ve spent the majority of your life in your father’s care. Where money wasn’t a problem and you could practically get away with anything.

Well, almost anything.

Filing out one by one off the bus, you were happy to set foot on the ground again. Letting the evening sun shine an orange glow over your skin and warming you up from the different weather.

You were barely grabbing your luggage from the driver when the loud sound of feminine voice called out your name. Cringing at the attention, you quickly step away from the bus to look for the person causing the noise.

“Over here sweetie!” Yelled your Aunt Claudia as she rushed over to you. A forced smile tugged at your lips as she pulled you into a tight hug. Despite the fact that you were imposing in her life, she seemed excited to see you. Making you feel worse about the situation. “My gosh you’ve grown so much. You’re taller than me now!”

“Yeah, well it’s been a couple of years now since you’ve last seen me.”

It was sort of unfortunate to have the only other family leave so far away growing up. Your Dad and Aunt weren’t as close growing up, despite the later efforts of Claudia later on. He didn’t bother giving back the love she seemed to seep.

“We’ll have plenty of time to catch up now.”

Her arm wrapped around you tightly, causing you to huff out a bit of air as she tugged you close. Leading you over to her car, taking one of your bags in her hands so that she could keep an arm around you. “Have you eaten?”

“Had a bag of chips on the bus ride from the airport.”

Her eyes widened, staring at you in shock before she tutted. “That simply won’t do. It’s good that I thought ahead. Got a big roasted chicken dinner waiting for you back home.”

Home

Though her words were meant to be comforting, they only reminded you that Hawkins had to be your new home for the year. Putting a heavy ache in your chest. “Home it is.” you mumbled.

It wasn’t till after dinner that you managed to finally settle in. Your Aunt had been kind enough to practically set up your room for you. Going as far to make your bed up and put away the clothes that had been sent before your arrival. The act of kindness being one of the few things that eased the ache in your chest since arriving.

You were debating on where to hang up your poster of The Bangles when a harsh knock came at your door. The clock showed the late hour, making you frown a bit before you set the poster down and walked to the door.

“You’re here!” Dustin cheered, barreling inside the room. He did a quick look around, admiring some of the additions you added to the design before he rushed to wrap his arms around you.

“I’m here.” You confirmed with a small laugh. It was kind of nice to see your baby cousin again. Having been the only other young family member in the Henderson clan. “And you smell like sweat!” The whiff of the outside seeped off his clothing, making you push him away as you patted at your clothes.

“Oops, sorry about that. Just got back from Mike’s.”

It finally gave you both a chance to give each other a once over. Dustin was still the same. Only having grown a few inches more since the last you saw him. Missing the front of his teeth as usual. But looking at his wide eyes, you could only assume that you looked more different than he remembered.

“You look..different.” He said bluntly, moving over to plop down on your desk chair. His hands reached out to play with one of your pens as he watched you resume back to hanging up the poster.

“Is that good or bad?”

“It’s both?”

Glancing over your shoulder, you gave him a look before pinning the material down against the wall. “Well it’s been four years, Dustin. I think it’d be weird if I didn’t look different.” You stepped back to make sure it was a good angle before sitting down at the edge of your bed, looking over at the young boy again.

“Yeah, but you used to dress cooler.”

“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed now?” Scanning over your outfit, you tug at the end of your blouse. Back at home, you and all your friends were widely known for having great taste in clothes.

“You look like one of those girls that are on Knight Rider or Brooke Shields.” He frowned, chucking the pen behind him. “It’s not how you used to dress.”

Trying to think back on how you used to dress, you couldn’t help but scoff at the memory. You were always one to be dressed in oversized sweaters, pants that did nothing for your figure, and converse. Now you have style. It was something that was important to you. Not because it gave you attention from others, but because it made you feel better about yourself.

“Well, I hate to break it to you. But times have changed and so have I.”

Crossing your arms you watched as he twirled on the desk chair, making a small pout as he nodded his head. “I was hoping you wouldn’t.” He mumbled, sounding a lot younger now.

“Look,” you started, getting up so you could crouch to his level. “I may look different and like different things. But you’re still my favorite cousin right?”

“I’m your only cousin.”

“Exactly! So you don’t have anything to worry about.” You smirked, watching his confused face grow. “Now get the hell out of my chair because it’s late and I have to bike over to the stupid school tomorrow.”

“Your dad didn’t send your car?”

“No, the asshole is making me work for it.” He makes his way to the door, raising a brow at the comment. You waved your hand at him, urging him to continue on. “Meanwhile I’m stuck biking around like a total loser.”

Dustin shrugged his shoulders, pulling the door open before he looked back at you. “Don’t worry, just shape up and you’ll be cruising around in no time. Maybe even give me a lift now and then?”

His optimism pulled an amusing huff from your lips. “You sound so sure of that.” You muttered, playing with the hem of your shirt.

Your young cousin gave you one last sympathetic glance before making his exit. But not without some parting words.

“Well one of us has to. Otherwise, you’re screwed.”

Luckily, the next morning your meeting at the school wasn’t as bad as you thought it’d be. Yes, you were sort of forced to start seeing the school’s guidance counselor; Ms. Kelley. But she seemed to understand that you weren’t exactly as thrilled about it and stated that you would be taking things slow and that everything was confidential.

Despite the fact that your incident took place over the summer, the sudden move was told to your old school and quickly told to your newest school. Meaning, even though you barely caused any trouble before, the staff at Hawkins would have a reason to watch over you now.

Glancing at your wrist, you check the time, noticing that pretty soon kids would be starting to arrive in bigger clusters. A very unusual feeling of anxiety built up in your stomach. For years you had a steady place in the chain at your old school. Having grown up with most of the “cool” or “popular” kids made it easy for you to slip in their crowd.

Especially with your ex being the leader of it all. But all that was gone. Now you had to calculate and figure out your place here with kids that seemed behind on just about everything.

Ignoring the pain in your gut, you made your way down the row or lockers. Trying to find yours when you noticed him. The first tell sign of the boy was his insane hair. It was possibly the biggest head of hair you’ve seen on a guy but he seemed to pull it off. The second was how preppy he seemed to dress, a usual sign of a popular kid.

Slowly you made your way over, looking as he frowned down at the locker. Trying to force a paper between the slots on the front. Even from the side he was noticeably cute, with pouty lips and long lashes. This wasn’t really a bad way to meet someone your age.

“Wow, my first day here and I already have someone putting notes in my locker.”

The boy jumped a bit, not having realized you were beside him. “Shit.” He chuckled, looking at you with wide eyes. “You’re new.”

“Yup,” you nodded, pointing at the metal door behind him. “And I’m trying to put my stuff away if you don’t mind moving.”

For a second his gaze scanned over your body, possibly trying to see if he recognized you or not. “This is your locker?” He frowned, checking the number again.

Waving the slip of paper given to you from the secretary, you allow him to take a peek at some of the details. “According to the school it’s mine.”

Chuckling again he stepped aside, extending his arm out so that you could move forward. While opening up the locker you take a quick glance at the boy again and notice him focusing on another paper.

“Having trouble there?” You inquired, raising a brow up at him.

“Yeah, the relic at the front desk wrote out the number on here and I swear this shit is chicken scratch.” He grumbled, making you chuckle before you peek over to look at the paper. The writing was terrible but you could see the problem right away

“That would be because you’re mixing up that zero for one. I believe you’re looking the next one over.”

Pointing to the one next to yours, you use your nails to tap lightly against the metal before finishing putting away things in your locker. This time he managed to successfully get the note in before he looked over at you again.

“Do I have something on my face?” You mused, slapping the door shut. You leaned against the locker, mimicking his pose as you stared back.

“You’re new.”

Rolling your eyes you let out a small laugh. “I thought we established that?”

“Sorry, it’s just, we don’t usually get anyone new. Especially around the middle of the year.”

You adjusted the strap to your bag, giving the boy a shrug. “Must make me really special then.”

The boy seemed to find that funny before nodding his head slightly. “I’m Steve, by the way. Steve Harrington.”

For some reason the name throws you off a bit. It reminded you of one of the glam rich characters from one of those day time soaps some girls would watch at school. “Quite a name.” You smirked before giving him yours. It’s weird to hear your name from him, making your heartbeat a bit faster.

Glancing down at your paper, you read over the name for your next class. Ignoring the way you’ve become slightly flustered over a simple name exchange. “If we’re done with the niceties, I’ll head over to Mrs. Click’s class now.”

Spinning on your heel, you don’t really pay him any mind as you make your way down the hall. It isn’t till he’s grabbing at your elbow gently that you stop walking.

“Miss Click's that way.” He smiled pointing in the other direction.

Cocking your chin out, you nod your head and move towards that direction. Again, the mysterious Steve is at your side again. “I would assume the girl you’re leaving that note for wouldn’t like to see you following me around.”

“I’m not following you around.” He objected, nose scrunching lightly before his brown eyes were back to you. “I’m just showing the new girl to her first class. Some might say that’s a pretty decent thing to do.”

Your eyes rolled again. But the small charm that lingered on his teasing tone was kind of getting to you. “Well, I suppose it’s alright you helped me out since you needed my assistance with finding the right locker.”

“Exactly!” He grinned, “it’s the least that I could do.”

A couple of students passing by gawked as the two of you passed by them. Making you wonder if being new really was such an oddity. “Sorry about the stares.” Steve coughed. He kept his gaze forward, acting as if people weren’t looking. “They kind of do that from time to time.”

“You’re telling me people openly stare at you?” The two of you slowed down as you walked towards a short hall. Giving you enough time to glance at him again.

“When you’re king of the school it tends to happen.” He said as a matter of fact.

Crossing your arms across your chest, you couldn’t help but let out a small scoff. For a moment, it almost sounded like he was proud about that.. “And you’re so humble about it.”

He raised his hands up defensively, giving a small sly grin. “I didn’t ask to be King, the people just pick who they want to love. Happens to be me.”

It’s hard to disguise your unimpressed face. A second ago, Steve really seemed like a pretty cool guy, a bit of a flirt but still cool. But now in front of other people you could see this shell start to form on him. You’ve seen it on people before. Hell, you’ve dated someone like that before.

But it didn’t stop from the slight disappointment forming in your mind. “Alright your highness, thanks for the walk.” You waved, not needing to hear him continue to talk about himself.

“See you around, newbie!” He yelled, not noticing you shake your head as you entered the classroom.

Eventually the day passed, you had to mostly skip out on lunch to confer with a couple of teachers on work you might need to rush on to catch up. But it wasn’t anything too hard. Soon enough the final bell rang and you ran out of your last classroom.

Students buzzed by, making plans to hang out, or discussing projects as you walked down the hall. Some eyes followed you, watching as they tried to figure out what kind of person their school’s newest student would be like. If you were being honest, you weren’t so sure yourself.

There was no plan on what you were going to do here, but you knew for sure you were going to try and stick out of trouble. It was just going to be hard considering you had no idea who amongst the sea of people were considered good news or bad.

“Can I just say that I absolutely love your outfit?”

A girl with bright blue eyes and brown eyes gushed as she approached you. She was a little on the shorter side but her eyes were wide and gleaming as she took in your appearance. “Where did you get that look?”

Smiling a bit, you glance down at everything before smiling back at her. “The pants are Guess, the top is from Benetton and the shoes are Reebok.” Her eyes lit up more, seeming to know some of the brands you wore.

“You seriously have quite some taste.” She smirked, extending an arm out. “I’m Carol.” Giving her hand a quick shake, you give her your name back. Seeing out of the corner of your eye a boy across the walkway looking at you curiously. It wasn’t like you weren’t used to boys staring, but in this case, he seemed wary of you.

“You’re new right?” Carol asked, drawing your attention back to her.

“That seems to be the consensus.”

She looked back at you confused, not seeming to understand. “Yeah, I’m new.” you confirmed, holding back an eye roll. “I was a bit busy today since I’m still getting adjusted.”

“Right! Then tomorrow we should definitely meet up and get to know each other!” she gushed, flipping a curl with her hand. “I gotta meet up with my boyfriend Tommy, but maybe we can..” Her words die off from your focus the more you notice the boy across the hall staring at you. His eyes were dark, giving his stare a piercing chill.

“Uhh Carol, right?” The girl nods her head enthusiastically. “Let’s meet up by the front entrance tomorrow. I’ll answer any curious question you have then.” Getting her smile of approval, you waved goodbye to the girl before turning your heel towards the boy.

He seemed nervous now to have your attention, moving towards the back exit. “Hey creep!” you yelled out, catching up to stand at his side. He seemed to get embarrassed by your words. It isn’t till you’re gripping at his sleeve that he stops to look back at you.

“Look, sorry for staring. I didn’t mean to.”

You couldn’t help but laugh a bit, finding his reaction a bit amusing. “Really? Because prolonged eye contact didn’t deter you from doing that?” A small shade of pink flushed on his cheeks before you waved it off. “Why were you staring?”

He huffed out a small breath before he shrugged a shoulder lightly. “Your last name. It’s Henderson right?” Nodding your head, you watch him collect his next question. “By any chance, are you related to Dustin Henderson?”

“Yes, he’s my little cousin. I’m staying with him and my Aunt for a while. Why?” you crossed your arms. Unsure how this random kid knew who your family was.

“He’s friends with my little brother, Will.”

Mouthing an ‘o’ you nod your head at him again. “Right, well I haven’t exactly met any of his little friends yet.”

A noticeable look of disappointment washed over his face before he looked down at his feet. “My little brother hasn’t been seen since last night..” he said softly. “I’m just trying to cover all places that I could possibly find him.”

“I’m sorry.” It was all you could think to say. The thought of someone your cousin’s age disappearing made your stomach twist up. It probably had to be nerve wrecking to be in his position. “I’ll be on the lookout? What’s he look like?”

The man reached into his pocket to pull out a photo. It was a school year book copy and you couldn’t help but smile a bit at the fresh boy’s face. Doe eyes and smile wide as he posed for the picture. “His name is Will.” He extends a hand out for you to shake, which you do. “I’m Jonathan by the way.”

“I’ll be sure to have Dustin call if there’s anything. This town’s not so big, I’m sure he’ll come out soon enough. Probably just having a bad day?”

Jonathan seemed slightly skeptical of your answer. Possibly seeing it as too optimistic for whatever his mind was thinking this was. “Yeah, I hope so.” With a small nod to you, he adjusted the strap of his backpack and made his way to the exit. Bringing an end to your weird first day of school.

Your Aunt was quick to update you further on the case of Will Byers. Telling you all she knew about the bright boy. He was friends with your cousin the moment they all met up in grade school. Coming and going to each other’s houses for years now. She mentioned that while Will was shy, he was very much a happy enthusiastic boy. Making his sudden disappearance out of character.

It all made you feel worse for the boy you had met today.

Despite the plaguing thoughts about the missing boy, you continued to attempt to settle in your new home when the house phone began to ring. The sound of the loud ringing echoed all the way into your room. It wasn’t till the sound of your Aunt calling out for you that you found out it was for you.

Unsure who would even be able to reach for you out here, you picked up the handle, bringin the receiver to the ear before your cousin’s panicked voice came through.

“Whoa, Dustin, why the hell are you yelling?”

“You need to come to the Wheeler house!”

“What’s wrong?” You asked, worried why of all people Dustin needed you to come. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine! We just need you to come see this..”

The sound of your Aunt humming from the living room as she picked up the place caught your attention. It wouldn’t be good if something happened to Dustin like his friend. “Dustin, I don’t have time to be playing your games. Besides, should you be out right now? You know your-”

“Will you just trust me and get the hell over here!?”

“Watch the tone, brat.” you hissed into the phone.

“Fine! Fine, I'm sorry. Please. I need you. Mom can’t know.”

Sighing, you looked back at your Aunt, figuring that looking out for Dustin was one of the things you could at least do while imposing yourself in her home.

“Fine, give me an address.”

A/N: Well! It’s the start of a new series. i wanted to write for Steve so much since I read a lot of stories while sick. I hope you guys enjoy my newest character. Don’t really have a nickname for her like I usually do with my series. But maybe one might come along later on. Anyway! I hope you enjoyed chapter one~

#steve harrington x henderson!reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fic #steve harrington imagine #stranger things imagine #stranger things fanfic #sisosig #slow burn

269 notes · View notes