#and then neil is like 'NO YOU GUYS YOU CAN TRUST ME !!! I SWEAR TO GOD I AM HELPING *fucks up*'

[burgundybmw]

Red: A Stranger Things SMAU

MASTERLIST

Paring: Eddie Munson x Mayfield!Reader

Warnings: Mentions assault (Billy sucks), Abusive sibling relationship (Not physical), and unfortunately we haven't seen the last of him in this series...

Summary: Y/N Mayfield likes her life, she has good friends, an amazing sister (a not so amazing step brother), and an intense love for music. The only thing missing in her life is a love life, but that could all change soon.

Author’s Note: I swear y'all have no faith in me hahahaha ENJOY!! ❤️❤️❤️

Part Twenty Two

Eddie:

Hey...

Y/N:

Oh thank God, Eddie I've been trying to call you for the past 15 minutes!!

Eddie:

I was driving. Stopped for gas.

Y/N:

Oh... I thought you were mad at me.

Eddie:

Why would I be mad at you?

Y/N:

Because of the Billy thing. Steve told me some stuff and it freaked me out.

Eddie:

What did he tell you??

Y/N:

That you think, that I think you mean nothing to me. Which is so far from the truth it's insane. I mean, Christ Eddie, you're my best friend!!

Eddie:

No, I know that...

Y/N:

Then why would you say that to Steve??

Eddie:

It's not what you think it is...

Y/N:

Okay? Then what is it?

Eddie:

...

Y/N:

Eddie?

Eddie:

Sorry... Yea I'm here.

Y/N:

Can you tell me what this is about?

Eddie:

The kiss Red.

Y/N:

Oh...

Eddie:

Yea, I don't know... I was just hurt that it meant nothing to you. That you could kiss me like that just for a dare. I know you don't like me like that, but we're still friends? It's kind of a big deal.

Y/N:

It is a big deal, and I'm so sorry I hurt you. You need to trust me when I tell you that you mean the world to me. What I said to Billy, it was just because I'm afraid of him.

Eddie:

What do you mean?

Y/N:

Billy has made it his life goal to make Max and I's life a living hell. He's... he's hurt guys who got too close to me in the past... I don't want that to happen to you.

Eddie:

You don't need to protect me Red, I'm a big boy I can take care of myself.

Y/N:

He almost put Steve in the hospital, and he beat the shit out of my first boyfriend so badly he broke his nose. He knows he can't touch Max and I, so he goes after people we love to hurt us. He was gonna hurt Lucas before I ripped him a new one, and the only reason I won that one was because I got Neil to agree with me. Billy can't stand you, I had to lie to him so he wouldn't go after you.

Eddie:

If he hates me so much why did he trade me his Metallica tickets?

Y/N:

What?

Eddie:

Shit.

Y/N:

What did you trade?

Eddie:

Nothing worth more than the experience of going to see our favorite band together Red.

Y/N:

Don't avoid the question.

Eddie:

...I traded my B.C. Rich.

Y/N:

YOU TRADED YOUR GUITAR?!

Eddie:

This is why I didn't tell you...

Y/N:

Why would you do that?! You love that guitar more than anything else in the world!!!

Eddie:

Not as much as I love you!

Y/N:

What...

Eddie:

I gotta go.

Y/N:

Eddie? Eddie! Don't you dare hang up on me right-

End.

Tag list:

@kikis-writing-world , @sweetpeapod , @cevans-winchester , @hopingforromanoff , @nativity-in-black , @esoltis280 , @celestialsxturn , @forsaken-letters , @ali-r3n , @galaxiasy , @mrs-billyrussooo , @shenevertricks1831 , @ems-alexandra , @thatlonelypieceoftoast , @magicmunson , @lediskogirl, @bratckerman , @mn2222222 , @teenage0jealousy , @trashmouth-munson-things , @eddiesbirdie , @mimischaos , @fangirling-4-ever , @theloveablesociopath , @inej-twilight-ghafa , @streamafterlaughter , @livslifeonline , @grungegrrrl , @mente-sindescanso , @youcanstandundermyamberella , @celestair , @plantfey , @yeswhatever33 , @efvyqrs , @cherrycolas-things​ , @guilty-gay , @soclover3000 , @levylovegood , @pistachoz​ , @lily-sinclair-2006 ,​ @goldenharrysworld , @mvnsons-slvt , @pinkdaiisies , @riddles-diary , @error-home-not-found , @clincallyonline17 , @coltonthekanima , @sighbuckybarnes , @coryisagee , @lem0nb0iii , @nojamsonmytoast , @redheadedfangirl1 , @givemeeverything 

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x mayfield!reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fic #eddie munson social media au #eddie munson smau #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanficton #stranger things fic #stranger things fluff #stranger things x reader #stranger things social media au #stranger things smau

[sweetbloodthirstygiraffe]

How it’s going so far

Well so far Joi is working out ok. As I said before I love playing monks best. In the pen and paper version I have one I played 3 years ago that I got up to level 18. Hmm I wonder if BG3 will let Joi run on the walls…

Anyway I decided to mix it up this time. I lost “Us” in the battle, but got the bad guy at least.

Then when we landed I skipped over SH and went straight for Astarion (of course 😉). And… I learned a few things from our encounters.

First, it’s kinda funny camping with just 2 people. Second, we can camp without using supplies? Hell yeah!

I made a point to camp with just him a few times in a row, only using supplies once so I could refresh her Illithid powers. On the first night we talked about roughing it and that I trusted him to keep watch. For the second, we talked about how we’d like to die and that night he stalked off to hunt. And then on the third night he tried biting me.

Side note - “I swear I wasn’t going to hurt you!” this is one of the few times Neil Newbon sounded more like himself rather than Astarion. It’s interesting to see when the snarky charm is dropped for something more “real”.

After that we picked up Gale, Lae’zel, Wyll, & SH.

But anyway, seems Joi is on the right track. At least with her planned “best friend” haha. And despite the fact my earlier regrets are for going too fast… I am planning on slowing them down for a little bit. I mean sure I’m going to work on his approval, but I don’t want to rush things either - especially if I end up missing fun stuff.

For example, when I left off they were having a supply-free long rest and the “cave-gazing” scene spawned. I’m not ready for that yet. I’ll likely go back to an earlier save and wait to get the actual stargazing option instead.

#bg3 #bg3 astarion #dark urge #dnd monk #neil newbon

[budderball]

I FORGET TO POST ALL THE TIME ok uhhhhh since butterball is sorta... in a supercoma atm... I'm playing a new temporary character in motw!! His playbook is the flake and his name is Neil Liddle :)

I expected to have mixed feelings about playing him (since he had to replace butterball) but I accidentally made him really fun to play kjbdvkjbs

bonus conspiracy theory board that he made :)

#i have lots od doodles of him but almost no complete drawings bc PEOPLE HARD TO DRAW #but hes SO fun to play bc hes has the opposite playstyle of butterball #butterball is like 'i am polite and kind :) my arms are very strong and i will use my unholy strength to give you a nice hug :) we are frie #and then neil is like 'NO YOU GUYS YOU CAN TRUST ME !!! I SWEAR TO GOD I AM HELPING *fucks up*' #he panics and swears so much oh my god #I also love that his first introduction was literally him stealing butterballs stuff for research. like. it was so good #last episode was his second ever episode and it was him having a panic attack the WHOLE time it was great #HE CALLED KOTAL AN ASSHOLE SO MANY TIMES IT WAS WONDERFUL #butterball could never #but hes also the opposite of me in that hes. NOT chill #so everybody in the group loves hearing me yell and swear bc they think its really funny #i need to embrace his conspiracy side more tho. it needs to consume all his thoughts #anyway this man is horrible <3 #motw #neil #neil liddle #my art #digital #doodles #the flake #monster of the week #anyway im gonna go start an animatic of butterball as a little break from comms brb

[gemstone-roses]

Hi, I was the one one who requested the Neil fic, I don’t really mind either of the categories. If you want you can do whichever one you feel most comfortable writing, I’m not picky or anything cause I know it’s going to be fabulous no matter the category 😉

okay nonnie, first I'm sorry this took so long but I'm behind on uni and I have tons of other things to do. Second I hope you like this!

Warnings : tooth rotting fluff, like it'll give you toothache reading this.

Reminder : this imagine is SFW however my blog is not and if I find anyone under 18 interacting with this or any other work or my blog they will be blocked.

Neil Melendez x reader

it starts so cliche.

Your rushing and your not looking and of course you've got four coffees in your hand for your team and your rushing until something stops you.

Or more like someone.

"Oh shit I'm so -

The person clears his throat before chuckling

"It's okay" he smiles genuinely

You look up from the floor to see his white coat stained brown and you look back down cringing because could this day get any worse?

"Hey" he causes you to look up

"I'm having such a bad day and this is so embarrassing and it's not even 8.30 and my boss is gonna kill me and oh my god I'm late" you tumbled out before abruptly getting to your feet and sprinting down the hallway.

"sorry!" you yelled down the corridor

Leaving the Dr chuckling to himself, forgetting he was drenched in coffee.

You make it only slightly late and your boss is only slightly pissed off thankfully. Working in the legal department, you had to run up 5 flights of stairs because of course the lift was out of order.

After dealing with the fallout of a doctor telling a rude patient to essentially fuck off you shut your computer down and rubbed your temples.

Coffee you thought

You opened your door to almost knock out the person about to walk in

For the second time today

"what do you want" you said huffing

"well I was-

"what did you do? Because I swear if I have to turn back that computer on then your not going to want to stick around because I have not had my coffee yet and it's 3pm and I'm not getting out of here for at least 4 more hours so I swear doctor if you have done anything to cause me a headache then ill show you what a bloody headache is! "

He stood there with a smirk on his face

"what?" you whined, folding your arms

"I brought you coffee, you know, for earlier" he hands you the cup you'd failed to notice.

"Oh" you whisper

"You wanna take a walk"? He questioned, holding out his arm for you

"I really should be getting back and -

"You need to get out of this office, this stress is not good for your heart and trust me, I know, I'm the heart guy" he winked before leaning into you and your head spun because what was he doing for him to reach the door handle and pull it shut, whilst smirking obviously.

"Come on darling, let's get some air" he whispered and your heart sped up and shit because he's the heart guy what if he could hear it? No of course not.

You wandered round the hospital gardens for a while, you could feel the tension leaving your body and you geniunley enjoyed his company.

"So, heart guy, you gotta heart girl?" you questioned

"Nope, not yet" he said

You smiled inside at his answer

"I don't have anyone either, I did, but they broke my heart and I don't think I'll ever get some of the pieces back" you said, a bit sad

"well, y/n" he stopped and twirled you around holding your waist

"Dr melendez what are you doing" you laughed

"I'm the heart guy, remember? so, how bout I mend that heart of yours hey?"

Your eyes went wide before he leaned in for a kiss and you gladly kissed him back. One arm around your waist while the other held the back of your head.

Eventually, he broke the kiss.

"is that a yes?" he whispered, leaning his forehead on yours.

"mhmm, yes" you smiled.

#The good doctor imagine #neil melendez imagine #neil melendez x reader #The good doctor fanfiction

[niamhinei]

You guys don’t event know you don’t even realize how much love I actually have for Izzy and how much I want him to get better. Yeah he’s a dick yeah he turned ed into an emo again but like… he’s just so DEEPLY FLAWED and repressed and nobody ever taught him how to be himself! He spends his days thinking that he’s less than everyone around him because they can all have fun and share their lives with the person they love and be quirky and unique and he thinks he’s just unable to and because of that he needs to act tough and repress all his emotions and be a dominating lil bitch to everyone all the fucking time he’s such a cunt but it ain’t his fault the only man he ever wanted to serve and protect up and abandoned him and he is too damaged to realize why! I swear to god this fucking show will send me into a spiral because Izzy hands is literally me when I was like sixteen before years of self love and work made me realize that I can be better than that WHICH MAKES KIMDA SENSE CONSIDERING THAT HISTORICALLY IZZY HANDS DIED WHEN HE WAS LIKE SEVENTEEN OR SOMETHING! I will NOT shut up about this and I trust in David and taika to give us Izzy characters growth in season two but like a good character work him realizing his mistakes and slowly apologizing to those around him and becoming a decent lil bitch boy ALSO Con O Neil is the weirdest motherfuckers I’ve seen on medias for the longest time I love him and it’s not helping

#izzy hands #con o'neill #ofmd izzy #ofmd #our flag meets death #our flag means gay #david jenkins #taika waititi #blackbeard #ed teach #edward teach #lucius ofmd #stede bonnet

[propaganda-for-poets]

🩹 poets at the beach poets at the beach

i know i've talked abt this before but cmooon it's summer

neil's family has a house on the seaside. it's a whole empty house. right next to the beach. the boys are 17 years old, they're old enough to be trusted to to there by themselves (or at least that's what their parents like to think)

so they go spend a few days there during the summer!

neil and pitts will wake everyone up at like 8 in the morning just to go swimming

they're excited

meeks is pissed

he insists he doesn't like the beach

"look it's not that i hate it or anything but we spend an unreasonable amount of time there. it's boring, it's way too hot to be outside and the sand is weird and sticks on everything"

"k :) now get up we're going swimming with all the fish"

neil has a volleyball but no one wants to play with him

"oh come on, guys! todd?"

"i love you but i'd rather die"

eventually they agree, charlie keeps making up his own rules and insisting that yes, cameron, of course you're allowed to kick the ball, but overall it's fun

pitts takes advantage of his height to throw everyone around

especially meeks who refuses to get in the water

"pittsie, no, pitts, i swear to god if you throw me in i'm breaking up with you right here, i don't wanna get my hair all salty- piTTS, PITTS NO-"

cameron will stay in for like 10 minutes and then get out again to go sit with todd who's usually out and read

until he's dragged back in, of course, along with todd

oh, cameron also has a water gun to chase down anyone who's not reapplying their sunscreen

he's the sunscreen police

he gets sunburned easily and he takes it very seriously

knox brings snacks

no one knows where he even puts them he'll just whip out a bag of chips every 3 minutes and be like "anyone want some?"

he'll always forget to bring water though

oh they have a peacock floatie

like one of those bitches

why peacock? i don't know charlie picked it.

it can fit up to three of them if they don't move a lot and they always fight for a spot on it

charlie just tries to push everyone off to have it to himself

usually meeks or todd get to sit because it's the only way to convince them to come inside

well, not really, todd would probably just get in if neil asked him

but meeks wouldn't. he's very adamant on hating the sea

he actually thinks it's kinda fun, he just gets bored easily

cameron gets eight tons of seawater in his nose every time because charlie constantly tries to drown him

when they go home they'll ways spend like 39 minutes arguing over who gets to shower first

"why am i last again?? there's no way i'm going last again!"

"oh, come on knox you take a billion hours to shower! we're not waiting for you again!"

the night before they leave they decide to spend the night at the beach until dawn

they get pizza and light a bonfire and listen to music and all that stuff

charlie has the fantastic idea to dive in at like 3 am, and the water's actually really warm, but when he gets out he's freezing and he hogs all the beach towels

dalton burrito

knox accidentally almost steps into the fire multiple times

meeks decides he likes the beach a whole lot better at night

they go back to the house and fall asleep around 5 and wake up near noon, and they start driving back home

todd took a nap at the beach as well and neil didn't have the heart to wake him up, meaning he slept the most, so he's the one to drive the most out of all of them

cameron's their usual driver since he's the only one guaranteed not to crash into a tree but he's exhausted, he's asleep for like three quarters of the drive back

pitts is kinda disappointed that he didn't get to feed any seagulls

you'll get em next time, pittsie

#🩹 jace's hcs #dead poets society #dps #richard cameron #stephen meeks #steven meeks #charlie dalton #gerard pitts #neil perry #todd anderson #knox overstreet

[shayesinterlude]

Ready as i’ll ever be from Tangled but it’s the Foxes

Aaron’s Varian. Aaron is V a r i a n. Forgive me bc i’ve never watched the series entirely but he looks like a chemist? Or some kind of scientist. But point is bro is smart and so is Aaron. And Varian’s whole thing was being overlooked, ignored and under appreciated. That’s why he lashes out on them. Cough cough, Aaron?? I think so.

Oh oh oh and did I mention that Varian’s dad is literally frozen in a giant crystal and he’s trying to get him out? Hello Tilda. And for fun let’s have Andrew be the one who put Tilda in there.

“Any moment now your highness.” Literally the first line of the song.

Varian kidnapped the queen as a hostage. So you know that has to be Kevin right?

“I’m the bad guy? That’s fine. It’s no fault of mine and some justice, at last will be served.”, Varian/Aaron

“Please listen.”, pleads the Queen ofexy.

Renee as Cassandra right? Okayso-

I think on the show the actual captain of the guard (which I feel would be Dan), was sick/injuried and couldn’t lead the guards for an assault.

So when one of the guards is all like “uH hOw aRee YoU gOnnA leAD tHe AsSaULT??” (aka NICKEYYY) And the Captain’s like “I’m not. She is.” and in comes Cassandra, ready rally Flynn and the boys up and she’s all like-

“And I swear by the sword, if you’re in get on broad! Are you ready?”

Sword? knives? Sword? Knives. Um this is Renee. And the rest of the foxes are her guard. And i’ll just have Flynn as Allison for now since he has her back through all of this.

And finally you have Andrew and Neil. Who i’m placing as the King and Rapunzel. (Ofc never in a dad/daughter dynamic. This goes for everyone else too, but you know what i’m going for.)

They’re going in alone and undercover to save the queen, aka Kevin

In the episode the King walks up to Rapuznel with a frying pan and says “I’ve heard you’re good with these.” cause yk, and Rapunzel’s like “Hehe sure am.”

This could be Andrew giving Neil one of his knives, if he’s comfortable with that. Or maybe just own pair of wristbands like in the books?

And the King, aka Andrew goes, “Are you quite sure we can do this?”

Neilpunzel replies, “Together we will, guaranteed.~” and it’s just like 🥺

And then, Guys.

“I’ll make them hear me.”, Aaron. Our overlooked fox who’s just tired of being put last.

Renee, “Prove they can trust me.” Who’s working to become someone better everyday.

Neil, “I’ll save my home and family.” TEARS. TEARSS. Neil saving his home? his family ?????

#i’ve gotten carried away lol #this is so niche but i kinda love it #i haven’t thought abt tangled for abt a year and a half and all it took was for me to hear the song on tiktok again #also the foxes doing musicial numbers >>> #aftg #all for the game #neil josten #andrew minyard #the foxhole court #renee walker #the foxes #dan wilds #aaron minyard #matt boyd #kevin day #nicky hemmick #shut up kevin #allison reynolds #twinyards #aftg hc

[jingerhead]

Jinger babe! I’m loving your new in-progress andreil works. unfortunately for us readers you’re only one author. so I was wondering if you have any new andriel works you wanna share with us desperates?

Hello lovely anon, I hope I'm understanding your question correctly in that you're wondering about anything I'm working on instead of fic recs? Both of which I'm more than happy to give!

In regards to what I'm currently working on, I have a couple of WIPs I'm bouncing between! If you want you can check out my most recent work I'd Never Want to Complicate Your Heart, a Heartstopper AU that was both a gift and 100% self-indulgent. I also have my fake-engagement AU You've Begun to Feel Like Home that I had planned to update weekly but had to take a quick break from to look at other projects. I'm planning on returning to the regular updating schedule this upcoming week! And I also have my incomplete work I Have a Prom-Posal that is my longest running incomplete work that I swear I'm going to finish soon just trust me.

Other upcoming works I have include my 2022 Big Bang fic that will be released sometime this August when posting starts, so keep an eye out then! I really want to write something for mermay, but have been having so much trouble trying to think of something for it ;-; I'm thinking something with Mer-Andrew and Neil who is some sort of half-breed that can be human or a mer, but he's never gone in the ocean before because of...reasons. And then he ends up stranded in the ocean and Mer-Andrew has to teach him how life under the sea works or something.

If you want to see a list of other WIPs I have, you can check this out! You're more than welcome to ask about anything in particular, I even have some snidbits I'd love to share.

I also have an original story I'd always love to talk about if you're interested! And if I completely misunderstood this question and you'd like some fic recs, I have a lot I'd love to rec to you guys, just send me another ask! Thank you so much for your support lovely!

#jinger answers #aftg wip #andreil wip #jinger's works #aftg fanfic #andreil fanfic

[kevindayscrown]

The one where Kevin Day falls in love with an ice hockey player.

Part 1 The lost bet

Anything included in this head canon takes place the semester after the Foxes won the championship against the Ravens.

Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about varsity teams in the United States so excuse any false information. If you haven’t read the Introductory post, you are adviced to do so or you won’t understand shit. 

It started with a bet.

A lost bet.

Of course, the Foxes of the Exy team are used to placing bets amongst themselves over the smallest and silliest things. It’s when they include others that it gets complicated.

Ask any of them, and they will not be able to tell you how it started, probably to avoid the embarrassment. Ask the ice hockey players, and they will gladly fill you in.

It started in the athlete’s dining hall. The unhealthy featured option for the day was pie. Nicky, of course, had left class early just so he would be able to get a piece for himself and his cousin with the sweet tooth. Pie ran out early if you weren’t from the firsts to wait in line.

It just so happened that a group of hockey players were behind Nicky in line. Nicky, with the remarkable ability of not being able to shut up, started blubbering about how sweets were not allowed in the dorms after Kevin kept bitching about it.

One of the ice hockey players – Bryce Matthews, left defenseman – dared to make the following statement:

“Bet you that Day wouldn’t even dare eat today’s dessert. That guy has his racquet stuck up his ass. Doubt he would ruin that freaky diet of his.”

Of course, that was a challenge, a bet. Nicky wouldn’t dare not accept it. Especially from their ‘sworn enemies’.

“Oh, really? Bet you I can get Kevin to eat the entire thing.”

The two of them agreed to it after also discussing the terms for the winning and the losing side. Nicky knew he had to get Kevin to eat from the pie.

He didn’t.

“Kevin, I’m telling you, we will all regret it.”

Kevin gave him a blank stare and pushed the plate away, thinking that Nicky was messing around, trying to annoy him. He soon realized that wasn’t the case.

“Seems like we are going to have guests at the rink today,” a voice said from behind him. Kevin turned around, finding none other than Jiang Eric, standing there with his two lackeys at his side, grinning.

It was unusual for the Ice Hockey Captain to take pleasure in such stupid bets his own team usually engaged in.

But this involved Kevin.

And if there was anything Eric was more passionate about than Ice Hockey, it was annoying Kevin Day.

“What did you do this time?” Aaron snapped at Nicky.

“I may or may not have placed a bet.”

“See you there after practice!” Eric called and fist bumped his teammates as they exited the dining hall, their laughter echoing around the room.

Turns out, these were the terms that Nicky had agreed to:

The losing side’s team would have to come over to the winning side’s facilities and spend the entire evening after afternoon practice playing the other team’s sport.

Which meant that the Exy team now had to put on skates and spend two whole hours balancing on ice.

“Hemmick, I swear, I’m gonna murder you.” Kevin was furious. Of course, they couldn’t just not go, it was a matter of pride.

They were in the lounge when afternoon practice was over, discussing how they would manage to not make fools out of themselves. Allison was the only one who was having fun with this, seeing as she already knew how to skate.

Andrew was munching on that piece of pie from earlier.

(Neil may or may not have smuggled it for him after it was left untouched.)

“Look, I just think we should all be blaming Kevin for not trusting me,” Nicky said, holding his hands up in defense. The foxes let out exasperated sighs of frustration.

“Why are y’all sitting on your asses?” Heads turned as Wymack spoke. The coach wouldn’t admit it, but perhaps seeing his foxes on skates was the most amusing thought he had had in a while. “Get going. Or they will think you are all a bunch of cowards.”

The Foxhole Rink was as big as the university’s Exy court, though there had been talks of reconstructions, seeing as the team had been climbing up the ranks. The Ice Hockey team – all six players of the starting lineup – were waiting for the Exy players.

Eric’s grin from earlier was still plastered on his face as he held up a pair of skates and threw them at Kevin, who caught them just in time.

“Welcome to my domain, Day.”

The Exy Foxes were led to the locker rooms and were given spare equipment that would fit them best. It was rather similar to their own equipment so they easily slipped into it.

Then the ice hockey players came in with the skates. Spares of all sizes that the Foxes could choose from according to their size. They passed them down one by one and helped the exy players tie them properly.

“Need help Day?”

Kevin had managed to squeeze his one foot in but it was harder than expected to figure out all the laces and the straps. Admitting he needed help, however, would be just another blow to his confidence.

Eric kneeled down nonetheless and picked up Kevin’s foot. He secured the skates and then held the blades up, attaching them as well. Kevin grumbled something under his breath but Eric doubted it was a thanks.

They only exchanged a glance before Kevin tried getting onto his feet.

“Hey, this isn’t that bad,” Matt said. Indeed, balancing on the blades while on a stable floor wasn’t too bad. It was tricky at best, but the foxes knew tricky.

It was when they slid on the ice that they realized exactly how tricky it was.

The first one to fall on his face was Aaron. The Foxes rarely heard him curse so colorfully.

Dan was clinging onto the side of the rink with wobbly legs that threatened to give out at any moment. Matt was easing into it slowly. Allison gracefully skated past them with a small flick of her hair.

Kevin was also holding onto the ledge, deciding there was no chance he would let go.

That was, until he saw Eric glide in, looking surprisingly graceful for a six-foot five guy with all this heavy equipment on him.

Kevin slowly pushed himself off of the ledge and slid across the ice, holding his hands out for balance while also holding onto the hockey stick. He couldn’t understand how Eric could move around, block hockey packs and coordinate his team at the same time.

“It’s not as hard as it looks,” Eric said, which somehow annoyed Kevin more.

“At least it explains why you are all such thickheads,” Kevin snapped back.

Kevin noticed Eric’s eyes narrowing underneath the helmet. The goaltender moved to him in a way that made Kevin try to move backwards. His left foot slipped and he lost his balance.

A hand around his waist stopped him right before he hit the ice. He looked up and saw Eric, his hockey stick dropped as he had moved to catch Kevin from falling.

Eric wasn’t sure why he had done it. The first lesson to ice skating was that you would fall many times before you’d even be able move. It was mostly harmless.

He told himself he had just felt responsible for startling Kevin and immediately pulled him upright.

“Part your legs.”

“Excuse me?” Kevin asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Part your legs. Keep just the right amount of distance between your feet. Lean your body slightly forward and find your balance.” As Eric talked, he pressed one hand on Kevin’s stomach and the other on his back, adjusting his upper body properly.

Kevin was too stunned to push him away.

Thankfully, Andrew had not been in the first six to enter the rink or he would had probably tried to stab Eric with the blade of his skates for touching Kevin.

“Ready to try playing? I promise I’ll be gentle.” Eric said and winked as he picked up his stick. Kevin convinced himself it was a trick of the light as he moved forward.

#all for the game #kevin day #aftg #the foxhole court #the raven king #the kings men #neil josten #andrew minyard #nicky hemmick #matt boyd #dan wilds #allison reynolds #renee walker #aftg oc #aftg headcanon #andreil

[chellestrash]

Care for You

Neil x reader 

warnings: none really :) just bad writing and some dyslexia typos I probably missed during proof reading so...

summary: friends taking care of each other...or more?

authors note: okay so I apologize for how long this is im not sure why it is...like t I didnt plan for this to be very long. I haven't written in a bit so if something feels a bit off...yeah I wouldn't be surprised. I hope I still managed to write Neil well enough that some of you will enjoy this. if you do, please let me know I love reading that you guys think about my lil...things I write. If you didnt like it let me know as well, so Ill know what to work on in the future. Anyways, thats it for now, thats for reading!

“You should’ve gone to the hospital wing with these.”

 You mumbled under your breath as you carefully inspected Neil’s face and neck. You knew it wasn’t his fault and you couldn’t just blame him for getting injured during a mission but at the same time, you wanted to wack him in the back of his head for not being careful enough.

„No it’s alright, it's nothing. Just a few cuts and scratches, I’m sure I can live with that.”

„Right.” You frowned a bit looking at the bigger wound going across his right eyebrow. A few inches lower and he could’ve lost an eye…or worse.

„You should've been more careful.” You spoke again and he chuckled.

„Careful is my middle name (y/n), you know it.” He lifted his arm to press his sleeve to the, still bleeding, cut above his eye but you slapped his hand away.

„Neil, that’s so dirty! You might get an infection..christ okay, come with me.”

You grabbed his wrist and lead him to the small couch in the middle of your flat.

„Wait here.” You instructed him and left the room to grab the first aid kit from the bathroom and quickly came back into the living room area. When he noticed you coming back with the kit he shook his head slowly and stood up.

„(y/n), I told you its okay, I'm alright its not a big deal.”

„Neil I swear to god.” You cut him off while picking out all the bandages, cotton pads, and other things you thought you'll need to clean him up at least a little bit.

 „Just let me clean them, okay?” You looked up to make eye contact with him again, you could see he didn't want to impose himself on you, but then why did he come to the flat in the first place? You thought.

It's not like he missed you and wanted to make sure you were still here when he got back from the field right?

Right?

„Its either me or the hospital wing so you know, choose your enemies wisely.”

„Alright!” He gestured an „I give up.” motion. before he walked over to the couch and sat down next to you.

„I trust you with this… I think? Should I?”

You rolled your eyes with a small smile and moved closer to take a look at the scratches on his face again.

„Probably not.” You joked with a concentrated expression as you poured some hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton pad.

„Well, that's very reassuring isn’t it?” He turned to face you and you huffed out a little laugh.

„I mean if you’re not sure about my provided services I don't understand why you wouldn’t just head to the hospital facility when you came back, and choose to visit me in my little single flat instead. Now shush.” You turned his head, careful not to touch any of the cuts, and proceed to slowly clean them off one by one.

„I've missed you.”

He what?

You gasped softly as you felt butterflies in your stomach. Did he mean it like, that? Surely he didn't… Your relationship with Neil was… bizarre, to be completely honest. He used to be your mentor when you got assigned to join his team shortly after you first joined Tenet. You trained under his eye, he watched you grow as a person an agent a soldier but also as a friend. As you got closer and closer together a very firm bond blossomed between you two. You were able to find comfort, peace, relief, and just simply joy in echo other companie. But almost everyone at Tenet could say they were in fact friends with Neil. He was just the type of people person who gets along with almost everyone without having to try particularly hard. It was just something that came easily to him. You on the other hand were quite the opposite, especially that despite having finished the basic and advanced training you were still quite new in this whole operation. Maybe that's why he stood out to you so much because he didn't mind where you stood in this hierarchy as some other people did. He just seemed so genuine, so interested in you,  so sweet and so-

„Hey! Earth to (y/n)?”

You blinked a few times and looked at him confused for a moment.

„.. I zoned out” You admired embarrassed.

„Oh, I've noticed. I remember you used to do that during training too.” He chuckled and you could feel the heat on your cheeks.

„Right okay, shut up. I won’t do it again!” You pushed him playfully hoping he’d just change the subject and you could move on.

„Oh please be my guest.” He smirked, „I was just admiring the beautiful faces you we're making.”

You hid your face in your hands embarrassed and plopped down onto the couch.

„I hate you.” You chuckled, looking at the ceiling.

„Nah, you know you love me.” He winked the moment you looked back at him.

Fuck.

 You sat back up on the couch and cleared your throat. As you were contemplating whether or not to try and express the way you feel for him you realized you haven't even properly starter what you promised to do.

„Oh…shit I should…” You looked at the first aid kit set out on the little coffee table 

„I was supposed to…”

„Oh…” It seemed like he also somehow forgot the main goal of this „meeting” as he gestured to the bandits and nodded 

„Right you… you go ahead please I’ll try nor to distract you too much.”

You rolled your eyes again at his little joke and moved closer to get a better view of the cuts and bruises on his skin.

You placed your palm on his temple and softly dabbed the cotton pat on the little wounds. Focusing hard on trying not to cause him any more pain, you worked on his face and neck as carefully as you possibly could. He tilted his head back to make it easier for you and closed his eyes, you watched as his breath became slower and steadier, he had to be exhausted. You placed your hand on his cheek preparing to clean the biggest cut on his face, the one going across one of his eyebrows. He unexpectedly leaned into your palm and groaned so softy, he was asleep at this point. You bit your lip and mumbled, 

“This might sting a bit.” Even tho you were certain he couldn’t hear you anymore. 

„Ah, shit!” He jumped back when you pressed the pad on the open wound. He instinctively pushed your hand out of the was and shook his head. „What happened?” He asked confused and you chuckled.

„I didn't want to wake you, you look very tired.” You explained.

„Ah thanks, guys love hearing that.” He rubbed his eyes and yawned heavily.

„Neil, the germs.”

He moved his hands away from his face quickly and held them up.

„Ah right right…the germs.”

He could be such a kid sometimes.

„Right I should… I think I should take a look at your chest now.”

He raised an eyebrow at you with a smirk.

„You think?” He run his hand through his hair.

„Oh, I can’t with you. Your shirt has holes in it so I'm assuming some of the…shards or waterer it was, got your chest too.”

„Yeah yeah, for sure.”He noodled with a small smile. 

You sighed heavily and got up from the couch.

„I'll go get you a cup of tea and you take it off oaky,?  ill look at your chest, clean what needs to be cleaned and then you can take a nice hot shower. I think you need it.”

„Oh so now you’re telling me I stink?”

He called after you as you walked to the kitchen. You rolled your eyes and smiled to yourself.

...

A few minutes later you came back with a cup of tea in one hand and a plate tuna sandwich in the other.

„I thought you could be hungry.”

You looked up and almost dropped the plate at the sight of Neil sitting on the couch, casually waiting for you with his chest completely exposed.

Fuck

You swallowed hard as you looked down and tried to get yourself together as fast as possible. Bitting the inside of your cheek you sat back down on the couch and set the thing down on the coffee table.

„…here you go.”

„Ah, you didn't have to.” He said but reached for the teacup. 

„See that's why I prefer to come here instead of the hospital wing. Better food, better tea, nicer nurses.”

„I'm your friend Neil, not a nurse.  The nurses would probably treat you much better considering how most of them have a thing for you… and I mean they're also professional trained in that filed so they’d know what they’ll have to do.”

„You don't?”

„No idea. I'm just winging it. Like everything else in my life.”

Neil laughed and shook his head.

„Well, I have to say you seem to be doing just fine so far.”

Even tho it was just a response to your silly joke, the compliment feelt sincere and honest, you couldn’t help but smile. Neil smiled back at you.

„What?” You asked.

„Nothing I just like you!”

You felt the heat on your cheeks and quickly got back to cleaning the wounds on his chest.

God hive me strength. You thought,

...

After about an hour spent on carefully taking care of every cut and scratch on Neils shoulders, chest, and back you were almost done. It was difficult to focus, with him sitting… like this the entire time but what were you supposed to do?

„Done!”

You finally said not wanting to risk getting lost in your thoughts again.

„You are?”

„Yeah, I'm pretty sure I got everything. I should talk to Ives, ask him to take better care of you when I'm not around.”

„Oh, I can take care of myself perfectly well thank you very much.”

„…and the hour and a half I just spent cleaning you up is a perfect proof of that.”

You finally relaxed as you sunk into the couch and yawned heavily. You did even realize how late it got and how extremely tired you were at that point. Neil seemed to notice because he picked his shirt up and was about t put it back on.

„I should probably head back.” He started but you quickly stopped him.

„Neil! You can’t just put this back on now. Look how dirty it is.”

„Well… I can’t just walk back to my place…like this.”

You could just stay here. You thought to yourself but didn't say anything.

„You can take a shower here.” You offered. „You can take a nice hot shower and ill look for some spare clothes. I'm sure i’ll find you something.

You liked to keep some extra clothes around in case any of your friends or family came to visit or had to stay over unexpectedly.

„You’re an angel.”

He smiled softly at you and you smiled back.

„Well, I try.” You chuckled.

You could swear he looked down at your lips and quickly back up at your eyes. For a moment you thought he was about to kiss you but he cleared his throat and got up.

„Right so…ill just.” He pointed to the bathroom over his shoulder. „I'll be in there.”

You nodded with a smile „Sure.”

...

You managed to find a black t-shirt that looked to be about Neil’s size and a pair of gray sweatpants that you thought would fit him okay. You couldn’t provide him with any clean boxers but you figured he’d be okay with the ones he had on. You shouldn’t be thinking about Neil in boxers, right?

You waited for him to turn off the water and knocked on the door gently. After a moment he opened the door a towel wrapped around his hips, his hair wet and chest still wet from the shower.

„I emm.. I got you some clean clothes I thought might fit you.”

„As I said, you’re an angel.” He smiled softly at you, run his fingers through his hair, and took what you brought him. „Right, ill be out in a second.”

Neil left the bathroom after a moment, watering the clothes you provided him with. The black t-shirt was a little tight on him but not enough to make it look bad or frill uncomfortable, the basic gray sweatpants somehow fit him perfectly. You thanked yourself in your head for picking them out and smiled at him.

„I don't think I’ve ever seen you without your suit or the filed gier on.”

„Really?”

„Yeah! I think so…”

„Well, how do I look?” You laughed at his little pose.

”You like it?”

„It suits you.” You looked him up and down. 

„It looks a lot more comfortable!”

„Oh, it certainly is.”

He walked over to the couch where you were waiting for him and sat down next to you.

„Thank you, for everything. It's so late, I shouldn’t have bothered you earlier I just wanted to see you I didn't know you were gonna do all that.”

„Yeah I know I know, don't worry about it.” You said quietly as he put his head on your shoulder and yawned. You smiled softly to yourself and rested your head against his while softly brushing your fingers through his hair.

„Someone’s tired.”

He shook his head slowly „Just a tad. I don't feel like…walking.”

„Well, you can always stay here…if you want.”

He frowned at your offer. „Oh, I’ve already caused you enough trouble tonight love.”

Your heart jumped at the little nickname.

„Oh shut up. I like having you here.”

He looked up at you.

„You do?”

You threw your hands in the air. 

„No, I don't that's why I took care of you and am now offering you my bed to sleep in.”

„Wait.” He sat up 

„Your bed?”

„Yeah?” Its better, bigger, more comfortable, ill take the couch I’ve napped on it many times before I know how to fit myself into its shape perfectly. It's a good offer!”

„(Y/n), I would never sleep in your bed!”

„hey! What is that supposed to mean.” You smacked his shoulder slightly.

„Wait! I mean, I can’t sleep in it if you’re gonna be here on the couch!”

„Right… I thought you just disrespected my bed.”

„Oh, I’d never do that.” You chuckled at his serious expression.

„You're my guest so you take the bed.”

„But” He started but you cut him off quickly.

„End of discussion! Now ill go get ready for sleep and you go and make yourself comfortable.”

Not letting him disagree with you again you quickly left to the bathroom.

...

You took a quick shower and changed into your pj's. Until this point, you weren’t even sure what time it was but your phone clearly said 2.45 am. You exhaled heavily, slowly starting to feel how extremely tired you were. You didn't blame Neil, you were so happy he wanted to see you after the mission, you enjoyed his presence, and maybe, just maybe, he enjoyed spending time with you too?

You exited the bathroom and your eyes instantly landed on Neil. He was laying on the couch under some blankets with his back turned towards you.

„Neil, what the hell?” You walked over and poked his shoulder.

„I'm sleeping.” He explained without opening his eyes.

„Neil I told you to take the bed. Your too tall for this couch.”

„Shhhhhh. I'm the guest so I decide what I want.”

You rolled your eyes.

„Fine, have it your way.”

You walked straight into your bedroom grabbed a pillow and stormed back into the living room.

„Right.” You started. „Move.”

„Sorry?” He opened his eyes and looked at you confused after he turned to face you.

„I'm taking the couch and if you’re not gonna move, fine, that's your choice.”

You lifted the blanket and placed your pillow next to his. Laying down you realized how to tint the sofa was and how close to Neil you’d have to be if this thing was gonna work.

„I'm…just gonna…emm if you could, move your leg a little.”

„Oh umm, of course. Is that-”

„Yeah, yeah that's better thanks.”

You were facing each other only inches apart, this was a bad idea. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest and your cheeks getting hotter, You tried to relax your body but minutes passed, Neil wasn’t saying anything and you just felt more and more awkward. Was that too weird? Did you make it weird between you two now?

„You're gonna fall off.” He said quietly and you snapped out of the train of thoughts.

„Sorry?”

„You’re…about to slid off the edge I-„

He quickly wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you closer so you wouldn’t fall. His lips were almost touching your forehead now, your whole body pressed against his chest.

„Is it okay if I��hold you like this?”

He asked politely not wanting to cross any boundaries he didn’t know.

“`Neil I can go if you want, this was stupid I'm sorry I was so petty I can just go sleep in my bed and you'll have the whole couch for yourself, you’d be much more-„

„No, I…I'd like you to stay if thats alright.”

You're heart felt like it was about to explode, you shut your eyes close and forced yourself to ask him.

„Why?” This short quite question left your mouth and you froze hearing your own voice.

„Because I care for you. More than you think I do, more than you’re allowing yourself to believe.”

In that very moment, your whole body relaxed into his touch, you moved closer and hid your face in the fabric of his shirt, you gently wrapped your arms around him and he tightened his grip around you, holding you close tenderly. You exhaled loudly into his chest and you could heard him chuckle softly.

„You alright?” He asked quietly, running his hand up and down your back.

„I'm processing.” Your muffled voice made him smile softly at the sound.

„If you need time, we can just, romantically fall asleep in each other's arms and talk about it some more in the morning?” He suggested and you huffed out a little laugh.

„Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Now just hold me close and kiss me goodnight.”

__________________

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!

#neil tenet #neil x reader #neil tenet x reader #tenet #neil #neil tenet fanfic #neil tenet imagine #the protagonist #the protagonist tenet #john david washington #robert pattinson #robert pattinson x reader #robert pattinson character #christopher nolan

[dastardlydandelion]

So...what kind of horror movie would you write featuring the Hargrove/ Mayfield family? (That you haven't written already lol)

oh boy, u may regret asking me this bc i am indecisive af and i can’t pick just one!

two that i'm actually writing are max as (g is for) ghostface killer in the abcs of neil’s death and also the max + tory nichols werewolf movie fic outlined here. also some more misc gorror junk bc i’m a demon and esp horny for susan wearing blood splatter. but more ideas commence below:

horror movie #1: another creature feature! awhile back @lucdarling sent me an ask abt max + billy hiding smth from susan and her like, playing along, pretending she doesn't know, and one of the scenarios that popped in my head was them keeping a baby bat as a pet. max finds it and she’s only like six or seven, and she thinks it’s going to turn into a vampire. so here is that scenario except horror edition: baby bat is actually a vampire type creature. not rly a vampire like, what’s prolly popping into ur head, like an undead human like dracula or smth, but like a bat monster that sucks blood.

billy being a lil older doesn’t actually think the bat is going to turn into a vampire. he makes fun of max for believing this, but he helps her take care of it anyway bc he thinks it’s cool. susan, like in the non-horror version, knows abt the bat but plays dumb bc she’s feeling a lot of guilt abt max’s difficulty adjusting to the blended fam (as of rn tho, neil has yet to reveal his abusive nature. the red flags are not yet red, more of a brownish maroon, and he is on his best behavior almost all the time, showering susan + max with affection and keeping the swears out of his mouth when he scolds billy in front of them) and knows the lil furry baby makes her happy. she tacitly cleans up after the bat whenever the kids miss a spot (bats poop a lot, dude) and distracts neil, deterring him from discovering it whenever he gets close.

baby bat gets rly big rly fast. and the older it gets, the more it starts to look monstrous. it still has bat features but it’s just like, different. its fangs grow suspiciously long, its hooks grow suspiciously long. its feet are elongated. a dorsal ridge emerges from its spine, spikes at first just flesh but soft fur rather like peach fuzz eventually sprouting. billy catches on that smth is strange abt this animal when it's as long as his forearm after two wks and still growing. he nearly shits a brick when the bat is clinging to his sweater one day and he steps in front of a mirror and only his reflection looks back at him— no bat.

max laughs at him all like, “stupid brother, ofc there’s no reflection. nosferatu is a vampire, vampires don’t have reflections.” 😂

susan catches a glimpse of the thing when nosferatu crawls out of the home max built it in her closet the same wk billy realizes it doesn’t have a reflection, and also almost shits a brick. she doesn’t know what it is, but it’s NOT a fucking bat. not a normal one, anyway! cue a comedy scene where she’s chasing it around the house with a butterfly net and it’s always one flap *ba dum tss* ahead of her, flying just out of reach. she suddenly regrets not getting rid of it sooner, scolding herself for ever allowing her daughter to keep a wild animal.

she can’t catch it. max comes home, susan tells her she needs to get rid of it. max cries, flips her the bird, refuses. billy tho…billy has mixed feelings. he loves nosferatu but he’s worried it’s going to get dangerous. he loves his dad and his dad is dangerous too. he’s stressed out enough, always on edge, knowing that one way or the other, neil is going to hurt him again. he’s already waiting for his dad to hurt him, he doesn’t need the added stress of waiting for nosferatu to hurt him too. and while max is 100% nosferatu’s favorite, it likes billy too. billy’s been handling it since it could fit in the palm of his hand, it trusts him much more than it trusts susan and doesn’t know any different when billy takes it out of the closet when max isn’t around.

billy frees nosferatu at an abandoned farm. there are always bats flying out of the old silo adjacent to the dilapidated barn. while he knows nosferatu isn’t a *normal* bat, it’s still bat like enough that he thinks it might make friends and be happy here…

yeah, that doesn’t stick. before long, nosferatu is feasting on that colony. leeches the blood out of a couple bats nightly. the number of bats increases with nosferatu’s size. meanwhile, max mourns her missing friend. she’s sullen af and won’t speak to susan at all. she thinks susan is the one who got rid of nosferatu. billy never fesses up and susan doesn’t contradict max’s assumption bc she wants the step-siblings to get along.

neil, meanwhile, is getting more comfortable. those maroon flags are slowly but surely brightening to scarlet. he starts sabotaging susan’s plans with her friends, trying to keep her around the house more and more, quietly but steadily eroding her relationships with other people. he’s getting more visibly aggressive when he disciplines billy. he curses him out with a virulent venom that dunks susan’s stomach in ice water and scares max so badly, she runs to susan and hides behind her even though she’s still so mad that susan got rid of her beloved baby vampire.

nosferatu’s appetite surpasses what the bat colony can offer. it’s like the size of a ten yr old human child now. fucker’s big. it doesn’t just have fangs on top, but tusks on bottom. it can’t go out in the sunlight anymore, the sun sears its flesh. it misses max a lot and before, it wasn’t strong enough to fly back to her house. but now it is. it’s extremely strong, actually.

so bc it's hungry, nosferatu grabs a snack along the way. some nameless rando, it swoops down and sucks dry. nourished and much happier, nosferatu makes its way back home. patiently waits outside of max’s bedroom in the moonlight, tapping its hook against the window until she wakes up. initially max is a lil startled— nosferatu looks so different, there’s a beat before she recognizes it— him?? yk, ig it’s male, the og nosferatu was a guy. sure, why not, nosferatu is a boy now.

once she realizes who it is, she is so! happy! max opens the window and embraces her friend. she isn’t freaked out by the blood on its fangs. she’s always known nosferatu is a vampire, albeit, she was thinking he’d look more like dracula than this bat-monster-thingy.

nosferatu moves back into max’s closet. it hangs upside-down from her rod by its weird, elongated feet. we get more shots of nosferatu sucking rando ppl dry at night, tho he remains gentle with max. when max drags billy in to show her he came back, nosferatu is less friendly with him. he’s not aggressive with billy, but he is standoffish. nosferatu’s thought process is somewhere between human and animal. he doesn’t quite cognitively understand that billy took him to the farm with the intent of getting rid of him, but he does understand that the last time he clung to billy, billy left him alone and never came back. max puts two and two together, and realizes it was billy who “stole” her friend. she yells at him a lot, he yells back, she then ices him out.

billy acts out bc he’s upset. runs away, thinks he’s going to find his mom…the cops find him first and call neil. neil is rly embarrassed and pissed abt the whole thing. he breaks down and beats billy in front of the mayfields for the first time. nosferatu smells the blood and it’s time for the main event! we love dead!neil, yes, we do.

nosferatu flies out the closet and right into the living room where billy’s bleeding and teary but biting his lip so they don’t actually fall. susan’s covering max’s eyes but so shocked and tbh, FRIGHTENED, she doesn’t move a muscle beyond that. neil’s got the belt raised, preparing to bring it down again, and nosferatu smashes right into him. neil stumbles, turns back to see this freaky monster looking thing. proceeds to whip the belt at nosferatu. tries to fight him off with the belt and it doesn’t accomplish much beyond pissing him off more— nosferatu, like most classic vampire types, has a healing factor!

max rips her mom’s hands off her face in time to see her pet sink its fangs into her stepdad’s throat. nosferatu sucks neil dry. billy’s a little dazed, not quite frightened. susan is just dead ass frozen, too scared to scream, even. nosferatu crawls over to billy and nudges at him, making sure he’s in once piece and forgiving him in the same go. max darts over and that snaps susan out of her stupor, but she isn’t as fast as our blood-sucking bat monster.

nosferatu stretches his wings out and with a truly impressive wingspan, hugs both of the kids. <3

horror movie #2: a haunting! this one opens with a bang. it’s a tragic horror, beware. we’re in hawkins post s3. billy died at starcourt mall. neil’s obvi had a longstanding abusive mindset and abusive behavior, but he rly takes his grief out on susan and max. mostly susan. she does her best to protect max however she can, whether that means shielding her w her body, sending her out of the house, getting neil’s goat to inspire his ire in max’s place, etc. but sue simply isn’t around all the time and when she isn’t, but max is, well. yk.

one day neil comes home early (bc he lost his job for a violent outburst, tbh) and discovers susan packing a suitcase.

sue fights hard. she rly does. but neil is bigger, heavier, crueler, and to boot, he caught her completely unawares. he kills her. and no, no it’s not some accidental thing where neil makes one bad move rage-blind. he strangles her with his belt. she’s clawing at his arms and making these horrible choked, trapped animal noises. thrashes and twists her body with everything she has trying to get him off but he’s so strong, his grip is unrelenting, and she's growing weaker, lightheaded with the lack of oxygen. strangulation can induce incontinence and when susan blacks out, her piss streams to the hardwood— neil hears that as much as he felt the clawing and heard the noises, even now he could stop, but he doesn’t. he just. doesn’t think his wife has the right to leave him, esp not after his son just did.

neil burns the body and the suitcase in the woods while max is at school. max has been spending as much time as she can (and often with sue’s prompting) outside of the house, so it actually takes her about two days to realize her mother isn’t around. neil tells a pretty convincing story about how susan abandoned them, voice saturated with apology and sorrow. he takes her out for a fancy dinner and promises he’s going to be a better father-- that being a better father is the least he can do now that her mother abandoned her and they are alone in their grief.

max doesn’t know what to think. she’s been preoccupied with her own grief and pain. she finds it hard to believe her mother would just leave her to neil’s wrath. she has a lot of hangups with susan and anger toward her for marrying neil and not getting them out sooner, but she’s also old enough to realize there would be risks involved with that. it’s hard to reconcile the memory of her mother just last wk pinning max to the wall to protect her from neil’s blows with her own bod just abruptly taking off without a word in the middle of the night. but hey, maybe that’s why susan left. maybe she got sick of protecting her, maybe the pain got to be too much and she turned tail.

but also…it’s early october now, abt three months after billy’s death but still fairly warm outside. yet neil is wearing long sleeves. neil never used to button his collared shirts all the way up, and yet. every collar is buttoned. also, mom’s car is still here. why would mom leave without her car?

that ceramic pelican she loved so much is still here too, on the mantle in the living room. it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing she would leave behind, she's had it since max was a baby.

max almost wants to believe neil because she’d rather her mother abandoned her than be dead somewhere, rotting in a storage locker or a hole in the ground. under the earth with the worms, just like billy. max has the worst feeling low in the pit of her gut. she thinks she knows the truth. she thinks abt going to hopper and hesitates bc she’s not sure she could handle it if he actually found smth. or what would happen to her if he did, where she would be sent, who she would end up with.

this movie would be more on the ambiguous end of things. an arthouse horror, if u will.

the days turn into wks and neil is crawling in his skin. the viewer isn’t sure if the shadows he’s seeing, always, always susan-shaped shadows, are of a ghostly nature or if he’s just hallucinating out of guilt. but the signs gradually point to the former— that smth paranormal is indeed going on. bc those scratches and bite marks susan left in his skin?

they do not heal. they do not get infected. they do not become necrotic. but they do not heal, either. days turn into wks and the wounds still look fresh, like she just left them moments ago. neil can’t wear light colors anymore because his wounds weep red into the fabric. he isn’t just seeing susan’s shadows either, he’s smelling her.

he washes his sheets and pillowcases a dozen times and the scent of her shampoo, her lotion, it’s like it’s woven into the fibers. he walks into the hallway and chokes on the aroma of susan’s perfume. he wonders if max is screwing with him, if max figured it out and she’s trying to torture him into a confession. one day he stomps off to max's bedroom, furious, adamant on confronting her. he grabs her doorknob, prepared to yank it open and then lets out a yelp, jerking his hand back with a sudden sharp pain.

it feels like a bee sting (which would be esp bad for this fucker in anything i write, bc i headcanon him as being allergic). but there’s no stinger. no injury. nothing. neil is freaked out enough that he backs down.

max, on the other hand, is getting gentler signs. when she turns the radio dial in the camaro, it’s somehow always her mom’s favorite songs that come thru the speakers. when she goes to pull clothes out of her drawers in the morning, she discovers that the things she’d just shoved inside in wrinkled balls are perfectly folded, neat as a pin, exactly like how susan always folded. susan was always fond of cardinals and suddenly max is seeing cardinals, pretty red cardinals, in just abt erry tree and shrub.

neil wakes up one night to his wife’s voice whispering “boo” right in his ear. he throws the covers off and discovers ashes in the bed. he doesn’t smell susan’s shampoo or lotion anymore, he smells the kerosine he’d poured all over her body.

his wounds still won’t heal. whenever he looks in the mirror, he catches a glimpse of susan walking past behind him, peering at him from her peripheral. he whips around, heart hammering, but there’s never any tangible person there.

max is almost certain her mother is dead at this point. neil’s been so bizarrely nice to her lately. she never believed in ghosts but her experiences with the upside-down broadened her perception of reality. she doesn’t know how else to explain the songs, the cardinals, the folded clothes. the way that these days, whenever she does feel fear toward neil, it just fades away. her fear melts like popsicles in the sun, immediately replaced by the sensation of a warm, maternal hug, as if arms she can’t see are trying to reassure her she truly doesn’t need to be afraid of him anymore.

in fact, max feels so unafraid of neil and brave, that one night she calls him out on it. he’s grizzled and unshaven in his recliner, beer in hand. she steps in front of the television he’s vacantly fixated on and folds her arms across her chest.

“you killed my mom, didn’t you?”

quick as a flash, neil leaps to his feet. he brings his arm back like he’s going to strike her and susan’s ceramic pelican on the mantle explodes into shards. the lights flicker, the television program cuts to snow with a static roar. every other knickknack on the mantle rattles and framed photos tumble off the wall.

neil very wisely lowers his hand. he slumps, boneless. he doesn’t say a word. max sees the answer in his eyes. it’s the dead of night and she snatches the camaro keys off the hook, marching out of the house, slamming the door behind her. it’s the dead of night and she doesn’t care. she’s going to blow past every stop sign and pound on the chief’s door until he opens up. and fuck, i just realized if this is post s3 he’s supposed to be in russia. shit. i don’t watch this show, but i know abt russia bc i DID watch the clips of that demogorgon that i rly hope isn’t stuck in captivity!! okay, but let’s pretend that didn’t happen?

it’s an au?? i mean, errything i write is always technically an au anyway, bc when i write stuff susan has an actual personality and billy isn’t *completely* abhorrent. okay, so it’s an au and mr. hopper didn’t blow up and un-blow up in russia. he’s still here. so max drives to his house.

she pounds on the door so hard this guy snaps outta bed, thinking someone’s trying to bust it down. she tells him neil confessed to killing her mom. it isn’t true, exactly, but he didn’t have to. so it’s a helluva grim drive back to cherry lane, this time in the cop car.

but when they go inside, chief prepared to arrest neil, no need. neil’s hanging from the belt he strangled susan with, shirtless for the first time since that night, erry seemingly fresh furrow and bite mark on full display. below his dangling feet is a map, the area he burned susan’s corpse in circled in red marker. did he kill himself or did the ghost do it?

up to u, we soundlessly cut to credits without a concrete answer to that question.

horror movie #3: crossover special! stranger things meets the chilling adventures of sabrina. sequel to that fic i wrote where susan makes out with lilith, queen of hell, and lilith kills neil for her. sue officially joins the church of lilith. bc in this ‘verse the church of lilith actually happens after caos s2 instead of the nonsense that was s3 and the inconceivably godawful migraine-inducing shit-fest that was s4.

killing neil was lilith’s only freebee. susan isn’t a witch, she’s a mortal, so in order to reap the other rewards of worshipping the one and only mother of demons, she has to fornicate with the witches and participate in the sacrifices!!!

this is, uh, well. it’s p much a porno, dude, sorry. 😅

this is just an excuse for susan to have sex with lilith, zelda, marie, hilda, big witch orgies + susan. witches bathing in the blood of their sacrifices, susan so nervous and timid but unable to deny her desire. the witch’s dressing her in their gothic garb.

how does the rest of the fam get it on this?

max joins the church too. she has more age-appropriate conduct with sabrina and the weird sisters, and what have you. just smooches and over-the-clothes groping, and whatnot, even tho the weird sisters, at least, would be interested in going further if given the opportunity.

billy dies in starcourt again, so he gets revived in the cain pit! hilda is the one who goes to him after bc she’s been in the cain pit many a time (i am still BIG side-eyeing zelda for repeatedly murdering her sister since childhood). hilda understands how jarring it can be to come back. suddenly alive!billy is freaking tf out but she brings him inside the mortuary, wraps him up in a big blanket burrito and they have a talk. hilda explains that he’s going to be okay and rubs his back while he tentatively sips the hot chocolate she made.

after billy’s calmed down, she brings max and susan in. max and susan can’t do as much magic as the caos witches— they’re mortals, after all, it’s not in their nature —but they’ve gained some abilities thru being in the church, following the rituals, and being carnally involved with the immortal witches. max happily shows him some of her new magic tricks.

horror movie #4: another crossover with caos. heavily inspired by creepshow episode s2e1, model kid (which i already v blatantly referenced in the last axe snafu update and i’m not ashamed, bc it’s a good series i love v much).

billy picks max up from the byers’ place rly late one night. it’s dark and the weather is bad and okay, yeh, he might be a little high. and a little concussed. he pissed neil off pretty bad the other day and okay, actually he’s defo concussed bc he doesn’t even remember what he did wrong!

needless to say, they take a wrong turn somewhere. they end up in greendale. at first max is pissed. she yells at him a lot! yells so loud hilda can hear them thru the walls of dr. cerberus’s comic shop/diner. she goes outside to see what all the fuss is abt, hilda never rly ignores youth in need. we love hilda, she deserved so much better…i’m getting distracted, okay, back to the story.

hilda ushers them inside. max is like, “ooh, comics? horror junk and comics? nvm, i’m not mad anymore.” she pats billy’s arm and wanders away to go check stuff out! hilda makes billy sit down. caos canon established that she’s psychic, at least when she wants to be. she smells the weed but she also sees his life, his trauma. billy doesn’t remember what he did to piss neil off or the abuse that followed, but hilda sees it clear as day.

he’s rude and cranky w her when she probes a little too much for his liking. hilda gently but firmly reprimands him and gets him a milkshake on this house. then she goes to check on max. she steers max to a v particular section of the shop, the one that sells model kits. now, max isn’t *huge* into model kits BUT they are p neat and she enjoys them well enough. more so when the weather is nasty and she can’t go outside. or when she needs smth to do with her hands (a trait she shares w susan) to distract herself and ease some of the anxiety when she hears her brother being beaten or her mother being shouted at.

max is actually rly impressed by the array of models. vintage ones and newer ones. monsters, slashers, final girls, tiny accessories like knives and bloodied heads. but when she gets to the paint-your-own shelf, her jaw drops to the floor.

there’s one that looks just like neil. unpainted, plain gray vinyl, but undoubtedly her stepdad. the expression on the five inch figurine is one frozen in fear.

“i think that one’s calling to you,” hilda prompts her, with the softest smile.

max blinks away her bewilderment altho she still can’t speak. she turns to hilda and turns her empty pockets inside out. hilda just waves her hand. she tells her it’s on the house. that it wouldn’t be fair if she gave billy smth on the house, but not max.

speaking of billy, when he finishes his milkshake, he’s suddenly totally sober and healed!! no more high buzzing in his blood. no more pounding headache or concussion fogging his mind. he doesn’t feel his bruises anymore, rolls his sleeve up, and realizes they simply aren’t there anymore. like they dissolved off his skin.

albeit it’s muttered under his breath, but billy does thank hilda. then he and max are on their way. max shows him the suspiciously familiar figurine in the box. this night cannot get weirder.

max knows what to do with the model kit. she does. she isn’t sure how she knows, but she does. she grapples with it for a long time. neil’s the closest thing she has to a dad these days. and things aren’t bad all the time, ofc.

sometimes neil gives max a ride when mom and billy aren’t available. sometimes he brings her ice cream entirely unprompted. neil’s the one who picks max up off the sidewalk when she wipes out super bad on her skateboard, carries her inside and then later to the car when her cut doesn’t stop bleeding and she ends up needing stitches.

but most of the time he sucks. she can’t rly be herself around him. he's indifferent to her interest at best, scornful at worst. he would hate all her friends. he scares the shit out of her when he’s angry. he doesn’t have a problem belittling her mother in front of her, tearing susan to shreds and making her out like she’s lower than dirt, the most worthless person on the planet. doesn’t have a problem beating billy in front of her or glaring at her with the promise that she’ll be next if she dares to voice her dissent.

max doesn’t always want to do what she knows she’s meant to do with the model. bc she's kind at heart and bc on the good days, she genuinely does have mixed feelings toward neil. never enough to hope he'll be better, he's proven he won't...but maybe enough to hope he won't get worse, either.

then comes the night neil breaks ribs. bad, like we’re talking, a-sharp-spear-of-broken-rib-punctures-billy’s-lung-and-he’s-coughing-up-blood-bad. that’s a trip to the emergency room. in the days that follow, at her next dnd meeting w the party, max places the fully and attentively painted model of her stepdad on the table. normally her pals would protest her derailing the intended game, but they can sense it, yk, that smth is different.

max takes over as dungeon master to the protest of no one, all other mouths sealed as if bewitched and spellbound. she narrators a scene where the demogorgon devours neil and uses the demogorgon piece and the model for demonstration.

when max returns home, neil is strewn across the house in gory chunks and torn wallpaper curls around massive claw marks.

#writerwhowritesao3 #susan hargrove #max mayfield #billy hargrove #neil hargrove #crossover #hilda spellman #my scenario tag #i may have gotten carried away #my bad #it's october! #i'm in big horror mode

[whats-rambled-rambled]

Smoke & Mirrors - part 3

Neil x Reader

Chapter 3: You know me too well

(see chapter 2, 1)

summary: The mission. And some blowing off steam after that.

warnings: alcohol mention, some violence, language and other explicit things, 18+ and I MEAN IT EVEN MORE THAN BEFORE

author’s note: I need to thank @vaneilla​ for planting the karaoke scene into my head. I found her choice of song absolutely glorious, and it evolved into... oh, see for yourselves.

As for everything else - I don’t even know.

4k words, bloody hell.

Anyway, enjoy and let me know what you think, please?

___

“Thanks for nothing, Wheeler.”

She looked up from her tablet only to see a completely resigned Ives faceplanting on the couch in front of her. As she raised a brow, her glance drifted to The Protagonist pacing back and forth next to the window. 

When TP noticed the question in Wheeler’s eyes, he sighed. She realized that Ives must have filled him in already.

As if he could read her thoughts, the boss said, “Apparently, they’ve been at each other’s throats all day”

“You’re both damn lucky you don’t have to deal with their bullshit out there,” groaned Ives into the pillows.

Wheeler shook her head and a corner of her mouth curled into a knowing smile. 

“A little patience, guys. It's all going according to plan."

Ives muffled huff was enough of a comment, but TP stopped his pacing and shot her a confused look.

"How so?"

Wheeler bit her lip. It took her one minute around them in the canteen to guess what had happened. But if that somehow wasn’t obvious to her colleagues, she was in no place to share the information.

Of course, for a second she was tempted to say “oh, they fucked”,  just to watch Ives’ and TP’s reaction, but she knew better than to do so. Moreover, she had a weird feeling that those two morons would start being weird around them, and that wouldn’t help in the slightest. 

“Trust me, they are close to figuring it out. And then-...”

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

You rushed to the next cover, sending a round into a merc running in your direction. As you slid behind a crate and started reloading your rifle, the rest of the squad slowly made their way through the abandoned apartment complex. How all those mercenary groups kept getting their hands on inverted materials was beyond you, but as the boss was trying to figure it out, it was up to the ground teams to secure the cargo. 

"What's with the silent treatment today?" Neil’s voice rang in your earpiece. 

Your eyes quickly located him at the other side of the corridor. Even from a distance, you could see his raised brow as he glanced at you right before heading into the next room. 

"I'm focused on the mission,” you scoffed, checking out on the team before moving further ahead. “You should try that one day." 

As soon as you entered a new location, a bullet whizzed past you and your reflexes kicked in. A quick shot and you spun on your heel, hiding behind a pillar. 

Meanwhile, Neil glued his back to the wall. As another merc walked past him, he disarmed them in one swift move, tossing the gun away.

"Nah, I’m good,” he said casually. You watched him as he ducked under a fist flying at his face and threw a kidney punch himself. “Multitasking." 

You snorted, quite amused, jumping out of your cover to down two more men coming in. You caught Ives’ murderous glare as he moved past you, motioning you to keep up the pace. Nodding, you followed him into a staircase.

"I must admit, not hearing your voice almost made me forget how annoying you are,” you huffed through comms to Neil. Ives shot the merc waiting for you around the corner and you moved up. “And as I don't believe you can actually stop being annoying,” you continued, taking a position at the door, “but how about you don't talk to me ever again instead?" 

You heard footsteps behind you and as you looked over your shoulder, you saw Neil standing right there with his pistol cocked in his gloved hands. He leaned in, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"And lose that spiteful edge to sex we have going there?" he teased quietly and chuckled as your eyes widened at the audacity.

Wishing you could just shoot him in return, you turned away and entered the corridor. Ives waited for you at the door to another unfinished apartment and as soon as you reached him, he blasted through it, while Neil and his team took the door at the other side of the hall.  

"We, and I cannot stress this enough, do not have anything going there, blondie," you uttered through gritted teeth, sweeping through the rooms.

Sharp laughter resonated in your earpiece. 

"Sure sounds like someone needs round two, though."

Your mind involuntarily wandered back to the events of that late evening in the locker room. Neither of you has mentioned it for the last couple of days, and you kinda hoped it would stay that way. Not that you could ever erase it from your memory. And the worst part was, there were moments you were no longer sure you would ever want to.

A movement in the corner of your eye. 

That confusion might keep you up at night, but with daylight, you came back to your senses, and a little remark was not enough to cloud your lightning reflexes while you held a gun. A shot echoed through the room and another merc dropped to the ground. 

"In your dreams," you scoffed on your way back to the corridor. 

"Funny you should say that…" 

You noticed Neil walking into the line of fire in the last second.

“Watch out!” you shouted, grabbing him by the vest and pulling him back inside the apartment. You shoved him against the wall and pressed your forearm to his chest to keep him in place as the round meant for him cut through the now empty hallway. While the rest of the team returned fire and pushed forward, you caught a glimpse of fear in the blue eyes just before Neil managed to compose himself. The corner of his lips twitched into a nervous version of his usual half-smile.

For fuck’s sake...

“Well, this brings back fond memories,” he panted, raising an eyebrow.

You flashed your teeth and pressed him to the wall even harder. 

“Shut up and focus, goddamnit, or I swear I will let you walk straight into the next rain of bullets,” you fumed. 

Your serious glare made Neil gulp and nod slowly. You took a step back as you exhaled shakily. 

Readjusting the rifle’s strap, you shook off any remains of panic from your system. Neil watched you with an indecipherable expression on his face as he reloaded his pistol. You met his eyes, just to make sure he was good to go. Finding there what you were looking for, you smacked his arm lightly and ran towards the sounds of combat.

You joined your squad, focusing on providing support as you closed in on the final location. Neil rushed to the front of the action, and even from afar you could see his moves got more vicious, every blow and shot landing now with deadly precision. For a second you wondered what exactly got triggered inside of him back there.

Whatever that was though, it wasn’t enough to hold his tongue for too long.

"Hey, at least now you had a chance to slam me against a wall."

You rolled your eyes and sighed dramatically, already regretting saving his infuriating ass. 

“You know, I daydream about strangling you more and more often every day.”

A few shots later, the all-clear sounded through the earpiece. You moved to secure the exit as Ives checked the contents of the crates in the back of the room. 

Neil took a position right next to you, eyeing you curiously.

“Is it a threat or a promise?”

Seeing the familiar roguish sparks sent your blood boiling.

You narrowed your eyes, letting a sly grin on your face.

“Do you really wanna find out?”

“You two either kill or fuck each other already,” huffed Ives, walking by you with the most done expression you’d seen on him in years. “Whatever you decide, please keep it off comms, eh?”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying not to blush furiously. Neil’s failed attempt at stifling an amused giggle wasn’t helping in the slightest. 

As you finally looked back at the bane of your existence, he tilted his head, biting his lip before speaking up again, and somehow you knew exactly what he was about to say.

“I’m up for whatever.”

You groaned.

...yep, that was it.

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

One of the teams’ unwinding rituals included going to the nearby pub for drinks and karaoke. You weren’t the biggest fan of singing in public yourself and no amount of alcohol could change that, but you never skipped the opportunity of watching your squadmates getting shitfaced and pouring their hearts out through the mic. That night was no different, and even though you were taking it easy with drinking, the rest of the crew was already deep in the party mood. 

You watched Wheeler singing Black Velvet from your spot at the counter. You used to spend much more time together, but she’d got designated to leading inverted teams and you got stuck at Ives’ squad. Not that you were complaining. 

You always had good banter with him, and even the unfortunate beginning of your relationship wasn’t enough to change that. You ended up being good friends and you knew he always had your back no matter what. Even when he was absolutely tired of your bullshit. 

You cringed at the memory of his comment earlier that day. 

And because the universe wasn’t done with tormenting you just yet, you felt Neil’s presence next to you. You turned your head and glanced at him, ready to meet his aggravating stare. To your surprise, you found him standing there with his eyes fixed on his drink instead, evidently having an internal battle with himself. 

Neil noticed your puzzled expression and took a big sip from the glass before looking at you. A sheepish smile on his lips was something new, and it only made you even more confused.

“Hey,” he said, raking the fingers through his hair. “Thank you. For earlier.”

“Don’t mention it,” you huffed, frowning slightly.

“It’s nice to know you have my back, just in case.”

You were annoyed that he was making such a big deal out of it. But there was something in the blue eyes that softened your gaze and you gave Neil a reassuring smile.

“Of course,” you said and cleared your throat. “Besides,“ - a corner of your lips twitched - “I couldn’t let you get killed in such a stupid way right under my nose, I wouldn’t want it to taint my next eval’.”

“Sure,” he shrugged. “No other reason?”

“Like what?” 

You regretted asking the question as soon as it left your mouth. Because of course, Neil’s eyes lit up in response and he smirked.

“You would miss me.”

"Ah, there it is," you snorted, fighting the urge to punch him. "For a moment I was scared I was starting to like you, thanks."

He chuckled. “Oh no, we wouldn't want that now, would we," he teased, leaning your way with a roguish smile.

You clenched your jaw, trying to ignore the heart fluttering in your chest.

Neil hummed and downed his drink. A mischievous spark in his eyes suddenly made you nervous. 

“What now?” you asked, dreading the answer already.

Neil’s expression was nothing but innocent. 

“I believe it’s my turn.” 

You watched him make his way to the mic. Letting out a deep sigh, you shook your head. 

That man was going to be the death of you one day.

You finished your drink and joined the rest of the team in the booth right in front of the makeshift scene. As soon as you sat down, a familiar song started and your widened eyes darted at Neil, who was just casually adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of his striped shirt. 

...it must have been a mistake.

His wicked grin as he met your horrified gaze was enough to tell you he knew exactly what he was doing.

He started singing with no hesitation, smiling to himself.

Under the lovers sky

Gonna be with you

And no one's gonna be around 

Neil’s eyes fixed on you and he raised a brow. A small incoherent noise escaped your mouth, luckily drowning in your squad’s encouraging whooping.

If you think that you won't fall

Well just wait until

'Til the sun goes down 

You met Wheeler’s amused look over the table.

“Why is he that way?” you whined, hiding your face in your palms. 

Underneath the starlight, starlight

There's a magical feeling so right 

You could hear the smile in his voice and you forced yourself to glance back at Neil. 

it will steal your heart tonight 

Catching your eyes again, he winked, making you exhale sharply in response.

You can try to resist

Try to hide from my kiss

You thought about the way you evaded his kiss at that locker room and your chest tightened at that memory.

Don't you know, don't you know

That you, can't fight the moonlight

He knew the song by heart, and you couldn’t wrap your head around that fact.

Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart

But you know, but you know that you

And by the way he commanded everyone’s attention, you saw it wasn’t his first performance. 

Can't fight the moonlight. No

His voice was clear and he was definitely having fun up there.

You can't fight it

...too much fun, if anybody asked you.

It's gonna get to your heart

He walked up to the booth and a spike of panic flashed in your brain.

There's no escaping love

He made his way to Ives, a mischievous grin lighting his face.

Once the gentle breeze

Neil ran a finger along your friend’s bearded jaw, leaving Ives frozen in shock. 

Weaves a spell upon your heart

Neil turned to you and your breath hitched as you realized what was about to happen.

No matter what you think

A few steps more.

It won't be too long

He stopped right in front of you.

'Til you're in my arms

He leaned your way, putting a finger under your chin and tilting it up gently.

Underneath the starlight, starlight

He moved even closer, his eyes wandering along your features.

We'll be lost in the rhythm so right

The emphasis on the last words combined with the look on his face made your mind go blank.

Feel it steal your heart tonight

...that was clearly his plan for the night, huh?

You forced yourself to start breathing again as Neil chuckled through the next line. 

Bloody hell, you hated the effect he had on you. 

You caught a glimpse of a smug smile before he turned away. Leveling your breath, you watched as he stepped back on the stage, hoping he wouldn’t have any other stupid ideas.

But Neil seemed to be satisfied with what he’d put you through and just continued the song. 

He even aimed for one of the high notes, scrunching his nose and giggling as his voice wavered for a second, and you couldn’t stop your lips from curling at the sight. There was something endearing in his joyful demeanor out there, and you wondered how many sides to him you had yet to discover.

Before you had a chance to get too soft, he finished singing and looked at you again. The dark shade in his gaze sent a shiver down your spine. 

You needed another drink. Stat.

At least he had enough decency to let you collect yourself before he joined you at the bar. Neil ordered a vodka tonic and leaned his back against the counter, eyeing you curiously.

“So?”

You stifled a giggle, shaking your head. “For a second I thought you might start dancing on the counter."

He laughed at the reference.

"And for a second, I thought about doing that,” he said, reaching for his drink. He smiled slyly at your amused snort and continued, lowering his voice slightly, “but I didn't want you to lose your mind. Or faint, for that matter… I want you conscious for later."

Neil took a sip from the glass, savoring the effect of his words on you as you stared at him with a slack jaw.

"You want me--"

"Yes." 

You blinked rapidly, composing yourself. The last thing you needed was to give him the satisfaction of making you flustered so easily. 

But you couldn’t resist playing his game even for a moment. 

Just to see if he would back down.

"And what is it exactly that you think it's gonna happen later?" you said, taking a step in his direction. 

Neil raised a brow, turning your way. His gaze flared up as he searched your eyes for your intentions, moving even closer to you.

"Spoilers.”

"Riiight,” you smirked. The rising temperature between the two of you was slowly hazing over your mind, making your breath shallow as you taunted, “Or maybe you're all talk."

The throaty chuckle sent the heart racing in your chest. 

"Want to try me?" he teased, grazing his knuckles against your bare arm, and it took all your resolve not to tremble at the sensation. 

The pulse pounded in your ears as you took his drink from his hand, finishing it in one swing. You looked into his eyes, dark and yearning, and a corner of your lips curled.

"Well, no need to wait 'til the sun goes down', anymore."

“Blimey.”

A few moments later, you found yourself in an empty restroom, tugging at Neil’s shirt until your back hit the cold wall. His wicked grin widened at your eagerness as he grabbed your waist with one hand, running the other one through your hair. You splayed your palms on his heaving chest, moving them up to his neck to pull him closer. 

Neil tilted his head and leaned in to kiss you, but just as your lips were about to meet, your whole body tensed and it was enough to make him stop instantly. He pulled back to look at you, concerned.

"What's wrong?” he asked in a husky voice. 

You huffed, frustrated. At your own reaction. At him suddenly being all gentleman about it. And at yourself again, for not appreciating his concern. 

But it wasn’t the right moment to talk about it, and you were pretty sure he would be all weird about it if you didn’t say anything. 

"It's just--... “ you hesitated, your mind rushing to find any plausible excuse. As you finally found one, your face lit up and you nibbled at your bottom lip, staring at him challengingly. “Don't you get all soft on me now, blondie." 

You almost squirmed under his predatory gaze. Neil brought his hand to your throat, and as his fingers wrapped around it, he leaned to whisper to your ear.

"Suit yourself."

When his teeth grazed your earlobe, you gasped, feeling the feverish heat rushing through your veins. His mouth trailed down your neck as he moved his hand higher, tilting your chin with his thumb just before he brushed it against your lips. You shut your eyes and bit back a moan, feeling Neil smiling and then he ran the tip of his tongue along the crook of your neck.

All of the sudden, you heard voices on the other side of the door. Before you could react, Neil grabbed your hand and pulled you into the stall at the farthest corner of the restroom, turning the lock and pinning you to the wall again with your wrists above your head.

You exhaled sharply as you spotted the roguish sparks in his eyes. 

As some people entered the restroom, Neil stroked your temple with his nose and breathed, “Looks like we need to keep quiet.“ 

You swallowed hard and shuddered, the pulse thumping in your ears.

Still keeping his fingers wrapped around your wrists, his other hand wandered down your body slowly. He studied the way you melted into his touch, taking pleasure at the sight of the animalistic need that clouded your eyes. The last coherent thought left your mind when you felt his hand sliding under your dress, grazing against your thighs, higher and higher, and you bucked your hips, silently urging him to keep moving. 

Neil’s lips parted slightly and he leaned in, kissing your neck just as his fingers trailed under the hem of your panties right to your pulsing core. You threw the head back against the wall and your thighs tightened involuntarily as if to prevent him from backing away now.

“Christ, I’ve barely touched you and you’re already this wet,” Neil chuckled breathlessly to your ear and yanked your underwear down your legs in one swift motion. Securing the grip on your wrists, he palmed over you again, moving his hand back and forth, his digits pressing against your folds firmer with every stroke and you let out an inaudible gasp, feeling the fire at the pit of your stomach growing by the minute. 

But when his thumb started rubbing circles over your clit, you buried your face in the crook of his neck to stifle a cry ready to escape your mouth any second now. Without skipping a beat, Neil gently tapped his foot on the side of your shoe and you instantly followed his suggestion, spreading your legs for him. He hummed in approval, slipping one, then two, fingers into you, and you sank your teeth in your bottom lip as the sudden bolt of pleasure seared your every nerve. 

Neil picked up the pace, curling his fingers inside you just right, and a quiet moan built in your throat and you nuzzled your face into his neck even further; the spicy scent of his cologne ingraining in your hazed mind with every shaky breath you took. 

Feeling you getting closer to the edge, Neil let go of your wrists and pushed you back on the wall. Cupping your face with his free hand, he pressed a thumb against your mouth firmly. You panted heavily as he kept tracing your parted lips in almost the same rhythm as his fingers slid in and out of your throbbing core. You closed your eyes as the fire from the pit of your stomach almost consumed you. 

And just when you thought that you couldn’t take much more, you felt the pad of his thumb grazing against the tip of your tongue at the same time the other one flicked your clit. Your mind went blank and you sucked on his finger, trying to muffle a whimper.

“Good girl,” Neil breathed into your ear. “Now come for me.”

And so you did, your every particle dissolving into a blissful pleasure roaming through your body wave after wave. 

When you regained your senses, you were greeted by the self-satisfied grin you knew all too well. You scoffed and shook your head, too much of a mess to form a coherent comment. You listened for a second, trying to figure out if there was anyone outside, but it seemed that you two were alone, at least for now. Then your eyes wandered down and your mouth watered at the sight. 

Without thinking twice over it, you palmed the bulk in Neil’s trousers, looking up to meet his gaze. 

The hint of surprise mixed with the sheer hunger in the dark blue eyes made your racing heart skip a bit.

"Are you sure?" he rasped, placing hands on your waist.

You nodded, your fingers already fighting with his belt. 

"Stop talking."

Neil raised a brow, amused. 

"Maybe you should ask nicely."

You looked at him in disbelief and turned towards the stall’s door, huffing, "Maybe I should leave you like this."

Neil wrapped his arms around you.

"Mhm," he murmured into your neck as he squeezed your breast, his other hand sliding down your body.

"Fuck--" you gasped as his fingers pressed to your clit again.

His throaty chuckle vibrated on your back.

"What was that?" 

You moaned, rolling your hips to brush against him.

"...please."

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

You dampened a paper towel to clean your smudged makeup.

"Wanna grab something to eat?"

You glanced at Neil’s reflection in the mirror, watching as he tucked the shirt in his pants.

"You're reading too much into this,” you tried to make your voice as casual as possible.

"I wouldn't dare," he laughed, joining you by the mirror. "What if I promise not to talk to you unless you ask me to?" 

You mused over it for a moment, staring at Neil’s attempts to fix his messy hair.

"And if you break the promise?"

The blue eyes met yours and lit up.

"I'll let you punish me however you see fit."

You scoffed. 

...but then a corner of your lips twitched into a half-smile.

(next chapter ->)

#neil tenet x reader #neil tenet #tenet #robert pattinson #neil tenet fanfiction #tenet fanfiction #the protagonist tenet #ives tenet #wheeler tenet #neil tenet imagine #neil x reader #smoke & mirrors #tags hate me

[itsthemysterykids]

Family Madrigal with... I guess Dib singing Mirabel's lines?

Dib: Drawers! Floors! Doors! Let's go!

This is the town Here for generations! A real enigma An anomaly of its own design So full of Mystery A total contradiction A town with a group, and each one truly shines

Whoa! But let's be clear, on who runs this show, whoa The Pines brought us here some time, whoa But one girl is in charge and tells you how things go There's just a lot you've simply got to know, so

Welcome to the town of Gravity Falls The home of the Mystery Kids(we're on our way) A group of people so fantastical, a spectacle I'm part of the Mystery Kids

Oh my gosh, it's them!

What do they all do?

But I don't know who is who!

Alright, alright, relax!

It is physically impossible to relax!

Tell us everything! Do you have powers?

Just tell us what everyone can do!

Dib: And that's why coffee's for grown-ups! Oh, there’s Lili She’s got all sorts of powers When she's unhappy Well, then you better avoid the flames Hey, I just remembered Cipher-

We don't talk about Cipher!

Dib: … Whenever tragedy falls, you-know-who is easy to blame. Oh! And that's Wybie there, here's his deal, whoa The truth is, he can fashion stuff from steel, whoa His inventions are all just surreal If you're impressed, imagine how I feel, Wybes!

Welcome to the town of Gravity Falls The home of the Mystery Kids (Hey, coming through!) A group of people so fantastical, a spectacle I'm part of the Mystery Kids

This guy and gal come in a pair with the Mystery Kids Been together since before the Mystery Kids So yeah, Razputin, he met Lili And Coraline, she met Wybie That’s only half of the famous Mystery Kids (let's go, let's go!)

We swear to always Help each one of us And defeat any evil That somehow finds us Cryptids that are prowling Supernatural forces invading But trusting one another will definitely keep us from dying Seriously, I'm not joking. We keep almost dying.

Wait, who's the psychonaut, and who beat the witch?

There's so many people!

How do you keep them all straight?

Dib: Okay, okay, okay, okay So many kids in the shack So, let's turn the sound up, you know why? I think it's time for an M.K. round-up!

(M.K. round-up!)

Dib: First, there’s Norman, he’s our medium Neil’s his best friend And you know the other four Oh, then the twins

Dipper and Mabel Pines

Dib: Such polar opposites But they’re close kin Sews a sweater nowhere near mild She’s the textbook 'wild child' And Dipper is the smarts The laughter and the brain play their parts

That's our life in Gravity Falls(whoa) Now you know about the Mystery Kids (whoa) A group where people are fantastical, a spectacle(whoa) That's who we are as the Mystery Kids, gotta go!

But what about you?

Dib: Ha! Well, I gotta go, the life of a Mystery Kid(whoa) But now you all know the Mystery Kids(whoa) I never meant this to get autobiographical (whoa) So just to review the Mystery Kids Let's go!

It starts much like this So there’s Lili Zanotto, she can burn you to a crisp (but what about you, Dib?) Oh and Wybie Lovat can make your old car look like new (but what about you, Dib?) Coraline Jones, well she defeated a witch out to get her soul(but what about you, Dib?) Hey, you said you wanna know what everyone did

I know them all and (Dib!) Mabel Pines won't stop until she makes you smile today (Dib!) Norman Babcock can meet with ghosts and spirits any day (Dib!) Look, it's Dipper Pines, hey He’s one of the brains of our group (Dib!) And between you and me, Neil is the best human shield

Yo, I've said too much, and thank you but I really gotta go (Dib!) They’re all really amazing (Dib!) And I'm in the group, so (Dib!) Well-

Dib!

#mystery kids #coraline #paranorman #gravity falls #psychonauts #the mystery kids #Invader zim #Encanto #answered ask #ask me stuff

[platypanthewriter]

Secrets and Butterflies

Harringrove April prompt day 5, “Butterflies”--Max and Billy friendship, abuse depiction

At first, after the trailer showdown where Billy got his ass kicked by his little sister, he kinda wished she’d just tell his dad, and get it over with.  Tell Neil Hargrove his son couldn’t be trusted not to punch a child, or beat a guy half to death, and let Billy take what was coming.  

It was grating, knowing Max didn’t fear him anymore.

She made him wait picking her up, and she brought friends over, and if he turned the music up too loud, she just stomped into his room and turned it off, or reached right over the gearshift and turned it down.  Billy snarled, and clenched his fists, and twitched every time she cleared her throat at dinner, waiting for her to triumph, but she mostly just ignored him—until she walked in on Billy and his dad.

Neil didn’t usually say anything much to Billy with Max in the house, was the thing.  He’d make sideways comments—point out a mess, or a project Susan needed help with, or compliment the neighbor kids—but he didn’t lean in and clench his fingertips in the meat of Billy’s shoulder with Max there.  He didn’t shove Billy into anything, with Max around, or twist Billy’s arm behind his back like this, while Billy swore, his face mashed into the hood of his car. 

“Why did the cashier at Bradley’s Big Buy tell me you were good friends with his son?” Neil asked, in the impatient voice he got when the mail was late, or Susan burned dinner, or he was about to dislocate Billy’s shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Billy gasped.  “Sir.  I don’t—”

“What did she see, Billy?” his father asked, and Billy tried to think—he’d made so sure not to throw his arm around anyone, or spend too much time with a guy—“Did you hear the question, Billy?” his father asked, tightening his grip, and Billy’s boots scraped against the cement floor of the garage as he forgot himself and tried to squirm away.

“I don’t know,” he panted, his eyes tearing up with the twisting pain in his wrist and shoulder, and he blinked hard, gritting his teeth.  “I don’t—I didn’t do anything, I swear, I didn’t—”

“Is that how you address your father?” his father asked, more softly, leaning harder, and Billy grunted with pain.

“No, sir,” he gasped.  “I’m sorry, sir, I’m sorry—”

“I had thought we were past this,” his father said, and Billy heard a creak of hinges, and looked up to see Max glaring at them from the door of the garage, her mouth falling open.  “I thought I was perfectly clear,” Neil said, and Billy nodded, swallowing, and trying to offset his crying like a fucking child by mouthing fuck off at Max.  

She mouthed back something he couldn’t parse just as his dad shook him, forcing all his joints a little further, and Billy bit his lips on a yelp, his tears dripping sideways over his face, over his nose and across his cheek to smear against the hood of his car.

“I’ve been—I’ve been good, I haven’t done anything, I don’t know what the hell she thought she saw...sir,” Billy gritted out, and Neil sighed.  Billy’s fingers were going numb.

Max turned on her heel and walked off, and Billy hated her, for a moment, for not giving a flying fuck.  All the time Neil had spent making sure she didn’t see, and when she did see, she was fine with it.  

Probably getting some popcorn, Billy thought, forcing down a laugh as more tears leaked out of his face, and snot dripped off his mustache.  Off she went, glad her shitstain fag brother got what was coming.  Neil took another breath—Billy shut his eyes, his breath catching in his throat—and then all of a sudden Susan screamed in the kitchen.

Billy’s dad slammed him down against the hood and walked quickly out of the garage, leaving Billy to swear under his breath, work his fingers, and push himself unsteadily to his feet.  He kept a hand on the wall as he crept out, and down the hall to his room, laughing a little at his own idiocy as his heart pounded like he was escaping enemy soldiers.

He opened his window and leaned out, lighting a cigarette, and drawing deep breaths of the fresh air.  “Shit,” he whispered, rubbing his forehead, and then his door opened, and he scrambled up, smacking his head hard on the edge of the raised window sash.

It was Max.

“Fuck you,” he muttered, sticking the cigarette in his mouth to hold his head with the hand his dad hadn’t been twisting, because that one was half pins-and-needles, and half numb.

“You sure about that?” she whispered, shutting the door.  “I told Mom I saw a mouse so she’d scream.”

Billy’s brain kinda hit a speed bump with that one, and he stared at her, touching the spot where the window had hit, gingerly, and grimacing at the tenderness.  “...the hell d’you mean,” he hissed.

“That’s what you meant,” she said, a little shakily, walking over and sitting on his bed like she owned the goddamn place.  “You—you kept saying it was my fault, and I could tell he was pissed at you—that’s why, isn’t it.”

“The hell are you talking about,” Billy asked, his head pounding, and his shoulder feeling like it might snap right off like an action figure’s arm.  “Actually, I don’t give a shit, get out—”

“When I told him you were parked with Matt Greeley,” she whispered, and Billy twitched.  “I just…” she whispered, swallowing hard.  “I just thought it was weird, you lying, you said you were on a date—”

“Shut the fuck up,” Billy grated out, his throat hurting.

“It was a date, wasn’t it,” she said, dropping her voice until it was barely audible.  “You weren’t lying.  It was a date with Matt Greeley.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Billy snarled at her, and she glowered back.

“And then he made you go outside to talk,” she whispered, “—but I didn’t—I th—I thought it was such a little thing.  That’s why we moved out here, that’s why we live in the asscrack of nowhere, isn’t it.”

Billy took a long, deep drag on his cigarette, his heart thudding in his chest knowing she had more to hold over him, now.  

“I’m not gonna tell anyone,” she whispered, laughing a little.  “I—I’m good at secrets, actually.  See?”  She sniffled wetly, and rubbed her nose with her sleeve.  “You didn’t even know I had any.”

“Why the fuck would you help me,” Billy asked flatly, glaring at her freckled, tear-streaked face.  “You wouldn’t piss on me if I was on fire—”

“I didn’t know!” she hissed back, through bared teeth.  “I didn’t fucking know you were queer, okay, jesus, I mean…” she groaned into her hands.  

“...what,” he growled, tossing the butt of his cigarette out the window, and lighting another.  

“You don’t tell me anything,” she muttered.  “The hell was I supposed to know I was doing...that.”

That, he though, snorting a laugh.  Upending his life.  Making his dad go from barely tolerating Billy to hating him.  Oh, that.  There was a time, Billy thought, he’d have wanted to throw Max out a goddamn window, but he was too fucking tired.  “Whatever,” he grunted.

“...one of the girls in my class’ older sister kissed another girl at this nun camp,” Max reported, eyes intent, and Billy snorted a laugh so hard he choked.  

“What the fuck,” he said, between coughs, and wiped his eyes.

“And there’s David Bowie,” she said, glowering earnestly.  

“...there is David Bowie,” he agreed, sitting back against the wall, and taking a long drag off his cigarette.  Billy had read and reread the interview in Melody Maker over and over, unable to comprehend that somebody else had the same fucked-up feelings he had, and didn’t mind. 

Billy blew out a long trail of smoke.  “What’s your point, shitbird.”

“I don’t care if Steve Harrington gives you stomach butterflies,” she said, her eyes narrowing, as Billy sputtered and coughed some more.  “And I swear I won’t tell.”

“I don’t—fucking—butterflies—” Billy spat, snarling, and her mouth quirked, dangerously close to a smile.  “I don’t,” he growled.  “Why the fuck would you bring Harrington up—”

“No reason,” she said, with a smirk, and he burned all over, with humiliation, but also because she’d lowered her voice again and glanced warily at the door, like she honest-to-christ wasn’t gonna tell Billy’s dad.

“...you tell anyone and I’ll end you,” he growled, letting himself slump back against the wall, just a little.

“...he didn’t use to pull that shit, did he,” she whispered, frowning at him again.  “When we were kids.  Before—before I snitched.”

Billy remembered getting slammed into walls, shoved around so he staggered, and the bruises from getting yanked around by the arm.  He concentrated on the feeling of smoke in his mouth and lungs.

In the silence, Max whispered, “It’s worse now.”

“Shut up,” Billy hissed, on reflex.  

She sighed heavily, and let herself flop back on his bed, like it was her fucking room, and Billy scowled over.  “...it’s something, with Harrington,” she sighed.

“I don’t get butterflies,” Billy hissed, his face heating, and she started snickering.  

“Whaddya get,” she whispered, propping herself up on her elbows to snigger at him.  “Something tough?  You get Death's-head moths?”

She was still laughing, so he glared harder, even though the name sounded cool.  “The fuck is that,” he muttered.

“Roaches are tough,” she whispered, cupping her mouth with a glance at the door, and he snorted a laugh, and leaned to kick a leg of the bed, so she squeaked.

“I don’t have bugs, Maxine,” he grunted, and it felt...good, hearing her muffle cackles in his blanket, like it hadn’t felt since she’d sliced open his deepest, darkest secret, letting it spill out in front of everyone like a slashed vein, red and unmistakable.  He took another deep breath, and leaned his head back, listening to the sounds outside the window—cars, and the wind in the late Indiana spring.  

“We hang out with Harrington, sometimes,” she said, to the ceiling, with a sigh that sounded as tired as Billy felt.  “You can gimme a ride.  See if they’re roaches or butterflies or whatever.  Stomach slugs.”

“Fuck you,” he told her, and she laughed, softly.  “...it’s not butterflies,” he said again.

The other Harringrove April prompts I’ve done

#Harringrove #Harringrove April #Max and Billy #Missing scene of sorts #Neil's abuse #Teasing

[kuroopaisen]

fireflies. (kuroo tetsurou)

➵  there are people who fall between the cracks, finding themselves stuck in a world halfway between this one and beyond. kuroo doesn’t want you to face it alone. 

wc: 4.7k

warnings: gn!reader, yokai!au, soft angst? 

a/n: somewhat inspired by neverwhere by neil gaiman, and after dark by haruki murukami. somewhat. also, big thank you to ren once again for her support and her beta’ing. and moo, i can’t write a kuroo fic for a celebration week without dedicating it to you :’) thank you for your constant and motivating support!

The city is ageless. It’s a visual cacophony of neon and ramshackle, a collection of buildings tightly packed along skinny alleyways. A wide asphalt road runs through it all like a great river, often glittering under streetlights on rainy evenings. Human beings don’t walk this in-between world that exists between the cracks. But the otherworldly do.

Kuroo used to be afraid of the dark. These days, the night brings him comfort. The night means he gets to exist, slipping through alleyways and hopping across rooftops. The moonlight touches his skin in a way the sun no longer can, whispering him into life on the asphalt. 

It’s not the life he wants, but he makes do. He’s not sure how long he’s been here. He knows next to nothing of his life before this endless night. Just whispers.  

But he’s certain he couldn’t produce these little fires back then. They gather around him like the loose clouds that blot out the stars. 

He enjoys his little cloud, specks of light so small and inconsistent they look like fireflies, hovering around him like he’s the centre of their world. 

These little fireflies dance around him as he watches you across the street.

It’s not the first time Kuroo sees you. He has no grasp on time — not truly — but he remembers your face. He remembers how sad you looked, pacing around the street of an evening, hood pulled over your head. He remembers the apathy hiding underneath. 

It’s an apathy onset by exhaustion, more than anything else. An apathy that’s the result of caring too much for too long, from losing yourself to the dread.

It is only his second time seeing you, but your expression struck him so deeply that he couldn’t help but remember your face. It has been a long time since he’s seen such raw, human emotion. A long time since he’s seen anything sincere. That evident misery of yours carries more significance than you could possibly know. 

Kuroo sees himself in you. The numbness lying beneath your melancholy is as familiar to him as the streets and alleys of this city. What is the purpose of being so numb? He wonders that often. The answer is always something about survival; to be numb is the only way you can live with yourself in the face of unending insignificance. If this truly is purgatory, then it would be wise not to feel anything at all.

Maybe you’re like him. Or, maybe you’re more human. 

Perhaps he’s reading too much into it. It could be the boredom getting to him. There’s not much to entertain himself with out here, as much as he makes his own fun. Maybe it’s best to leave you alone.

But ah, the curiosity is too much.

He waves a hand through his cloud, catching some fireflies in his palm. He blows them your way as a little greeting. Only a handful, a little embassy of light reflecting on the barren asphalt. He can’t control them very well — they always seem to go the opposite direction of where he wants them to go, always sink a little too close to the ground — but with the sheer force of his will they float towards your chest. 

It’s hard to see from the other side of the street, but he swears your eyes follow them. 

But he wonders. He hopes. He follows. 

Not too obviously; he knows he’s a tall guy, and that makes him scarier than most. And truth be told, he’s not sure how human he looks these days. There were no mirrors in the city; only reflections found in windows, half-whispers of the truth. 

“Stop following me.” Your voice is low, as if you’re not sure your words would reach him. 

Kuroo raises his eyebrows, perfect, delighted surprise on his face. 

You can see him. 

“Are you okay?”

“Go away,” you say, your voice slightly louder this time. 

You can hear him. 

“Please,” he murmurs, reaching a hand for your shoulder. “Tell me—”

You turn, slapping his hand away. The feeling echoes through his arm. 

You can touch him. 

“I said, go away.” 

Kuroo stares at you for a moment, trying to take in as much of you as he could. You look young. Maybe just younger than he had once been. Your skin is dull, your eyes distant, your hair lifeless. You look like someone who hasn’t slept in a very long time. You’re clad in a hoodie about three times your size, paired with jeans and ragged trainers. You look like the sort of person one would expect to find wandering the city at night, inoffensive to the point of being forgettable. Kuroo almost believes he’s made a mistake and that you’re not like him at all. 

It’s your scent that gives you away. You smell like burnt toast. It’s not the most pleasant smell, but he won’t knock you for it. He smells much the same, after all. 

“When was the last time you went home?” He asks, looking you straight in the eye. It’s not the best conversation starter, but he hopes it’ll strike some chord. 

You frown. “Fuck off.” You turn around and begin to skulk off. 

“Please,” he swallows, catching up to you with a few long strides, “it’s important.” 

Scowling, you pull your hood over your eyes, hands digging into your pockets as you pick up your pace. 

Kuroo curses, speeding up as well. “I can help you.”

Your step falters. 

He gulps, slowing to a stop. “I know that you can’t find your way home.”

You take another step down the street. 

He doesn’t know what to say. But he wants to get through to you. To offer a hand. 

“You’re probably scared, and, and… overwhelmed, and…” 

A deep breath. And then, words he wishes someone had said to him. 

“You don’t have to do this alone.”  

✧ ✧ ✧

“I can’t sleep at night,” you say softly, “but as soon as the sun rises, it’s like I fall into some sort of coma.” You shiver as you speak, wrapping your arms around yourself. “Nothing can wake me up.” 

Kuroo resists the urge to put an arm around you. 

“That happened to me, too,” he nods, biting his lip. “Eventually I got evicted, but it didn’t really matter at that point. I couldn’t remember sleeping, let alone paying my rent.”

Kuroo realises how silly that statement sounds, but the look you give him tells him you understand. 

The only memories of his life before are braided with the city, with the feeling of losing himself. There are no names, no details, no dreams. There are some faces, but they’re transparent as ghosts. 

“I just…” You take a deep breath, squeezing your eyes shut. It’s hard. He can tell. “I just don’t know what to do.” 

He looks at you, tired and sick as you are. You’re afraid. Lonely. Directionless. 

He knows. He’s been there. In many ways, he’s still there. If there is comfort to be found in this strange underworld, he has not yet found it. But, perhaps he can offer it. 

“Just stick with me,” he smiles at you as best he could, hoping the warmth reached his eyes. 

You gaze at him for a long moment, your eyebrows slightly pinched. He understands if you don’t trust him; it’s smart not to, given the circumstances. You were alone, somewhere you didn’t understand. He wouldn’t begrudge you for that. 

“Where am I?” You ask. The words are frail, the question one you’re afraid of. 

Kuroo swallows, unable to meet your gaze. “I don’t know, actually. I just know it’s… strange. And that the people here aren’t human.” 

“Are you human?” You’re quick to ask that question. 

He grins at you. “As far as I know.” 

You bite your lip, looking up at the sky. It’s paler than it was when the two of you first sat down in this little alleyway. He knows there isn’t much time left this evening. 

“That’s enough for me, I guess,” you sigh, closing your eyes. 

He hopes that, at least, brings you some comfort. 

✧ ✧ ✧

“Those cats are walking on their hind legs.” 

“Uh huh,” Kuroo nods, a smile playing at his lips. “Because they’re not cats.”

You turn to him, frowning. 

“I know,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “I don’t know what they are, to be honest. I just know they’re not cats.” 

You sit on the roof of a convenience store, elevated just high enough to see a little clearer. A few nights ago, you wouldn’t have been so bold. 

The not-cats move across the powerline like it's a tightrope, one paw in front of the other as they skitter along with perfect balance. They are too far away and the night is too dark for you to see them clearly, those vaguely feline shadows against the purple sky. The flashes of red that you guess to be their eyes don’t frighten you. Not while Kuroo sits next to you. 

You still don’t know if you trust him. That’s half a lie; you do trust him. You just don’t know if it’s wise to. But it didn’t take you long to realise that this is the world you live in now. 

You had once believed that nobody else existed here in this strange half-awake place. You’d thought it was just you and him. But others flit by now, both frightened and frightening. Even if it’s against your better judgement, you feel safe with him. 

One of the not-cats pauses on a pole, its tail straight as an arrow. It holds an upturned paw in front of its little snout and blows air across it. 

A ghostly little fireball swirls in the air, illuminating the not-cat’s face for the first time. 

You straighten up, tilting your head at this new peculiarity. 

“Look!” You gasp, patting Kuroo’s arm. “They’re like you.” 

He grins. He’s glad for the curiosity in your eyes. “Not quite.” 

He waves his hand and a scatter of fireflies burst into life. They envelop the two of you, a gentle swathe of light falling across your bodies. They’re only little, like white candle flames floating through the air. 

“Yours look like the stars,” you murmur, reaching out to touch them. Your fingertip brushes against one, its warmth spreading through your finger as it disperses. 

“Mhm,” Kuroo nods. Sometimes, if he is lucky, he gets a glimpse of the real thing in the blackest of nights. Most of the time, the sky plays host to nothing but the moon; a pallid, hollow-cheeked watcher, who never waxes nor wanes. 

No, those little ghostly fireballs look something like the moon. Or perhaps the sun. 

You can’t quite recall what the sun feels like. 

✧ ✧ ✧

“Shouldn’t we help him?” 

A small, scrawny child stands in the middle of the road, a straw hat drawn low over their eyes. You and Kuroo stand in an alleyway across the street, huddled together for warmth. 

Kuroo grins. He should’ve expected you’d react like this, your eyes all wide and full of compassion as you watch the child. “Just watch.”

You look up at him, eyes betraying both concern and confusion. He nods at the child, reaching to ruffle your hair. 

You blush, looking away from him quickly. 

The child approaches the bottle shop, each step taken with great deliberation. It glances over its shoulder, and you catch a flash of its eyes. Bright, clever, sharp. A bit like Kuroo’s. 

The child slips through the glass doors, tottering up to the attendant at the front desk. 

You watch through the glass, poking your head out of the alley. 

The child holds its hand out, standing on its tiptoes to be more level with the attendant. The man in question looks deeply unamused; an exhausted replica of a scowl lines his face, and he crosses his arms over his broad chest. 

The man peers at the child, eyes narrowing. He says something. 

Poof!

Where there once stood a child in a straw hat now stands an otter in a straw hat that is far too big for its head. 

It turns on its tail and flees, the man shouting after it. But, he does not pursue it, letting it skitter off into the night. 

The otter scampers down the asphalt road, the sound of its claws scratching against the rough surface.

Kuroo whistles. The otter skids to an abrupt stop, whipping its head around as its whiskers twitch. 

Kuroo grins, holding out a flask you didn’t even realise he had. The otter scuttles forward on all fours. You realise, perhaps with more surprise than is warranted, that it’s rather cute. 

“Where were you keeping that?” You frown, tilting your head at him. 

Kuroo grins, ruffling your hair. You blush. You’re still growing used to this close proximity between the two of you. 

“Why give it to an otter?” You scoff. 

“Not an otter,” Kuroo smiles. “But, think of it as payment. For the entertainment.” 

You smile, shaking your head. 

He’s relieved. It’s the first time he’s seen your face soften like that. 

✧ ✧ ✧

The streets are full of ghosts. 

And yet, it’s the first time the city has felt truly alive. 

You watch them pass with wonder. 

There is a woman, donning only a blood-stained skirt and an expression of anguish. Another boasts the same look of despair, only this one has no feet, drifting above the ground with arms held out and wrists limp, long blcack hair trailing behind her. Men stalk the streets in golden Heian robes with nothing but pure vengeance in their eyes.  

There are others too. Red trolls roam the street, clad only in tiger skin loincloths and weidling iron clubs. A group of the otters from before totters down the street, straw hats balancing precariously on their heads. Those bipedal cats bolt across rooftops and hop along power lines. 

All these spirits mill about, some mingling, others avoiding everyone else with a certain perseverance. A few slip through doorways and windows, and you wonder if they’re visiting their descendants. You hope that’s all they’re doing. 

“What’s going on?” You ask, dodging a demon as it barrels down the street. 

Kuroo shrugs. “Not entirely sure. But I think it’s some kind of festival.”

“A festival?” You look up at him, your hands dug deep in your pockets. You can’t imagine just how scared you’d be if he wasn’t with you. Honestly, you’re not sure what would’ve happened to you. If you’d even be standing here. 

Kuroo nods. “I think so.” 

He looks up and down the street, a bemused smirk on his face. “Although, they could’ve organised some stalls.”

“I don’t think ghosts have much use for street food,” you hum.

He chuckles, ruffling your hair. “I guess we have to make our own fun, huh?”

You huff as you raise an eyebrow at him. “I’m not giving any more whisky to those otters.”

“Oh, come on.” He nods back at the street with a grin. “What else are we gonna do? Tie that guy’s robe up?”

You look at the man in question. It was one of those men, the ones who look as if they’re devoured by vengeance.

“I don’t think that’s the greatest idea,” you shake your head, shuddering at the thought. Could ghosts hurt you now, in this in-between world?

“What about that guy?” He says, pointing at one of the red trolls. “We could steal his club.”

“I do not want to get on that guy’s bad side,” you say, looking up at Kuroo with a hint of fear in your eyes.

“Live a little!” He grins, poking your cheek.

You pout at him. That only makes his grin grow wider. 

He turns his attention to the procession in front of you, his grin turning devilish. “Do you think ghosts have money?”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“I’m just saying,” he groans, stepping into the procession without warning. You dash to keep up with him.

“What would you even buy with it?” You ask, falling into step with him – which is easier said than done, considering the length of his legs.

He shrugs. “I dunno. Might be nice to give the guy at the bottle shop real money for once.”

“But it’d be ghost money,” you consider. “Wouldn’t that be cursed?”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“Like you don’t know for sure that it’s safe.”

He laughs at that, shaking his head. “How have I managed to stay on my own two feet without you, huh?”

You blush, your face suddenly feeling very hot. “It’s a miracle you haven’t gotten yourself killed.”

“I’ve still got time.”

“Don’t joke about that!” You hiss, elbowing in the side. “That’s a bit insensitive given our companions, isn’t it?”

He laughs again. It might not be the prettiest sound, but it’s one you’re rather fond of. “Glad to know you’re that concerned about me.”

There are things you want to say, sitting at the back of your throat. Things like, ‘I’d be so lonely if it weren’t for you,’ and ‘I don’t know if I would’ve been able to find my way if it weren’t you,’ or ‘I don’t know if I would’ve ever smiled again if it weren’t for you.’

But you say none of that. You keep those close to your chest. Maybe you’ll tell him, but not tonight. 

You merely gaze at him. 

He looks different. Sharper, maybe. Or perhaps, you just haven't paid enough attention to him before. 

“What?” He grins, catching your eye. 

You look away quickly, heat rising in your cheeks. 

“Nothing.” 

He grins, leaning down so his face is level with yours. “You sure?” 

You glare at him, hoping your cheeks won’t betray how flustered you really are. 

“Just teasing,” he chuckles, ruffling your hair. 

Your instinct is to roll your eyes, even if that’s not what you really want to do. But you won’t think about that. Not right now. 

Kuroo’s already heading down the street, looking over his shoulder at you with a wild grin. “You coming?”

You tilt your head at him. He nods at the sky, a familiar glint in his eye. You scamper after him with your hands dug in your pockets. The two of you thread through the alleyways, finding your way towards your typical route to the rooftops. It’s almost second-nature now, but you could swear that Kuroo has a more natural talent for it. Perhaps it is just because his legs are so damn long. 

As always, he hops onto the rooftop of the convenience store before you, grinning down at the street below. You pout at him, trying your best to tug on his heartstrings; just like you always do. 

He offers you a hand. You take it, and he pulls you up. The two of you clamper across the rooftop, sitting yourselves down on the edge. Your legs dangle off the side as you look down at the informal procession thin out below you. 

You sit in comfortable silence, letting the world pass the two of you by. You can feel it, in this rare moment; peace. That sense of relief in knowing you’re not alone. In knowing there are still things to smile about. 

You know it’s because of the boy sitting next to you. Of the warmth he brings you in this city of ghosts. 

There is so much you want to say to him. So much you can’t put into words. But as you look up at the pale sky, you know that now is not the time. 

The moon is setting. You think you’ll always dread this moment. 

“Kuroo?” You murmur, laying your head on his shoulder. 

“Hm?” 

“Can you make some fireflies, please?” Your voice is so gentle, carried away by the light that bleeds across the horizon. 

He nods, holding a hand out. These days, he can’t say no to you. 

✧ ✧ ✧

You hadn’t expected to build half a life. 

And yet here you are, sitting in an abandoned apartment, next to something of an apartment. 

It’s a life half-lived, harbouring in abandoned places, rifling through the trash for scraps of this and that. People throw out perfectly good furniture, you discovered. Perfectly good food, too. 

At the end of the day, you’re just grateful for the shelter. Grateful for the comfort he brings you in this strange underworld. 

Kuroo is grateful for the fantasy. He’s grateful for the fact that sometimes, he can let his mind wander, take him on a journey through the life you could have shared together, should things have been different. A life spent in the sun, full of people and laughter and purpose. 

He wonders, most of all, about what you would look like, under the sun’s gentle warmth. How breathtaking you would be. 

He tells you none of this. He harbours those feelings for himself, for the most part. But he suspects that you feel the same. 

You hold hands, now. He can’t remember when it started, but he’s glad it did. 

The two of you sit at the window, rain pelting against fractured glass as the sky bellows. 

Light splits the sky, and for a second Kuroo almost believes it's daytime. 

A creature springs to life on a rooftop. It’s wolf-like, its pale blue fur crackling with white light. There’s something majestic about it, gleaming amongst rundown rooftops and dodgy power lines. 

Another crack of light, and a second creature joins the first. They glance at each other for a moment, bowing their heads low. And then, they sprint off. 

He chances a look at you. You’re enamoured, eyes bright and full of curiosity as you watch the wolves bound across the rooftops. 

He smiles as he watches you, unable to hold back his fondness. You’ve brought him such joy, such comfort, without even knowing it. No matter how frightened he is, how matter how much he feels like things are slipping away from him, you bring him solace. 

You look at him, tilting your head to the side. There’s such tenderness in your face, such sincere affection. Maybe, just maybe, you feel the same way he does. 

He leans in, pressing his lips to yours. You freeze, but you’re not afraid. It’s soft, and its warmth spreads through you much like his fireflies do. 

He pulls away, eyes unbearably fond as he looks at you. 

You laugh, a new, welcome feeling beating in your chest. “Why did you do that?”

“It felt right,” he says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

You laugh again, shifting to face him properly. 

He thinks it’s a beautiful sound. One he wishes he could hear more often. One he wishes he could hear for a long time coming. Longer than he would, at least. 

You kiss him, hands coming up to cup his face. He relaxes into it, much like any human would. 

He wants to lose himself in this. In you. In this little moment of human intimacy. 

But he’s changing. He can feel it. He’s been dreaming. How, he’s not sure. But in each and every one, he’s a fox. 

He doesn’t know what the dreams mean. But he feels, deep in the part of him that will always be human, that these dreams are a warning. An echo of what’s to come. 

He’s only just found you, only just begun to love you. 

He doesn’t notice the little fireflies popping into existence around you, punctuating the dark with each beat of his heart. They’re bigger than before. 

✧ ✧ ✧

The stars are out. 

It’s a rare sight in this city, which is so bright and vibrant that it tends to blot out the night sky. But tonight, you can see it in all its glory. 

The two of you sit at the window of your apartment, faces turned to the sky. 

“Do you know any of the constellations?” You ask, turning to him with bright eyes. 

Kuroo smiles and shakes his head. “None of the official ones. But it’s fun making them up.”

“Yeah?” You tilt your head at him. 

He looks tired. He’s been acting it, too. Quiet. Reticent. Distant. There’s something unreachable about him that’s never been there before. 

“Point some out to me,” you ask, desperate for anything to fill the silence. 

Kuroo leans closer to the window, running a hand through his hair. 

“Well, that’s a cat,” he says, pointing to one cluster of stars.

If you squint, you can almost see it. 

“And that’s a dick,” he chuckles, pointing to something on the other side of the sky. 

“Very mature of you.”

He ignores you, dragging his finger across the sky to point at the brightest star of all.

“And that’s you,” he grins, turning to look at you. 

“Shut up,” you huff, knocking him with your elbow. 

“Aw, are you all embarrassed?” He snickers, reaching over and ruffling your hair. 

“You’re so cheesy.” 

“I thought you liked it when I was cheesy.”

“When have I ever given you any indication of that?” 

He answers your question with a kiss. His lips smile against yours, and you believe, for a moment, that everything will be okay. 

He pulls away from you too soon, an unreadable look in his eyes. 

“Hey, Tetsu?” You murmur as you bring a hand to his cheek. 

“Hm?”

“Are you okay?” You ask, smoothing your thumb over his cheekbone. 

“I’m fine,” he smiles at you as best he can. But even he knows it’s not enough. 

“I’m worried about you.” 

A horrible silence thickens between the two of you, and the fear rooting itself in your chest is starting to blossom. 

“Is there anything I can do for you?” You know there isn’t much you can do in this place between the cracks. But whatever you can do, you will. He’s done so much for you after all. 

His gaze is distant, as if he’s looking at something just beyond you. 

You want to say something — anything. But you don’t know what. You don’t know how to reach him. 

He spreads his legs, patting the floor between them. 

You frown, but you sit on it nonetheless. You turn your back to him for comfort’s sake, wondering what on earth he is getting at. 

He wraps his arms around you, propping his chin on the top of your head as you fall back into his chest. 

“Can we just… stay here a while?” He asks, something very strange, very unfamiliar in his voice. It sounds a bit like regret. 

“Okay.” You comply. 

He’s warm, his arms firm as he holds you close to him. He holds you like he never wants to let go; like if he did, that would be the end. 

That, more than anything else, frightens you.

This wonderful boy, this man who has done all he can to bring you light and joy, is scared of something. Something he doesn’t want to admit to you. You try to glance up at him, but you can’t see his face. 

You bite your lip, casting your eyes to the window once more. 

The moon is setting, and daylight is bleeding through the sky. 

There is no way to know what the next evening will bring. 

✧ ✧ ✧

You’re alone. 

All that’s left are the fireflies, stronger and brighter than before. 

You can’t find the tears. 

But you cry anyway. 

✧ ✧ ✧

The city is ageless. It has changed much, and yet it hasn’t changed at all. It writhes with something deeper, something darker than what meets the eye.   

Someone new is here. A girl, afraid, alone, frightened. 

But she is not alone. 

On the other side of the street, a figure is bent over, hand held flat with an inarizushi sitting in it. A fox eats it eagerly, its fur glistening with something otherworldly. 

The girl wonders if she should approach, if she should ask something, anything. 

You don’t notice the girl on the other side of the street. You are far too focused on the kitsune in front of you, your mind cycling through the same few thoughts. 

You wonder how long it will be until you see the fireflies again. 

You wonder if you’ll still remember him.

#kuroo x reader #kuroo tetsurou x reader #kuroo tetsurou x you #kuroo tetsuro x reader #kuroo x you #kuroo tetsurou imagines #aaaaaa this took forever but i hope you enjoy it! #i think i'm happy with it? #fantasy week #haikyuucreations #forgot to tag that one hhh

[propaganda-for-poets]

🩹 the meeks siblings

alr alr alr alr!! in case anyone isn't aware of priscilla meeks

little sister. her name is priscilla, she's abt 14??

yeah let's say 14 at the time of the movie, when meeks is 17

i haven't actually decided on an age for her but that's around where i see her

but we've been over her and you're all here for chaotic sibling content, i know, so let's get on with it

ok first of all, stephen already calls her cil because she doesn't like the name priscilla but kids at school also just call her meeks???

which can be very confusing-

"oh hi mrs sylvia is meeks home?"

",,,,,,,,,which one?"

one time she replied with "original flavor or new and improved?" and stephen just gasped and looked up from the couch where he was sitting

"SHE'S IMPROVED????"

"THIS IS FAVORITISM I'M LEAVING THIS HOUSE"

" 'improved' smh. improved from what, a pile of shit?" "well for starters she doesn't say shit in front of her mother." "look i know we're joking right now but i can name numerous times she's said shit in front of you. like, date and time and everything."

cil goes to henley hall becauseee yknow

no girls at welton

she briefly mentioned the play to neil like a few days before his mind processed 'open tryouts' and he went wait,,,

the boys really love her, keep joking about how they should trade charlie for her

"i mean, they're similar, right? but she's,,, better" "oh my god i am literally right here stop discussing kicking me out of the group for meeks' little sister"

meeks isn't usually that much of a Protective Older Sibling (TM) but he will go full on big brother mode when she's around the dps

like, when it's just them he'll casually barge into her room like "nolan can literally go suck a big dick i swear to fucking god this bitch gave me fuc king demerits again and i don't get to do shit, this is on purpose, it's totally on purpose he just hates me, he can go shove a fork up his ass" and then knox says "fuck" around her once and he's like "OH MY GOD KNOX DON'T SAY THE FUCK WORD IN FRONT OF MY LITTLE SISTER SHE'S LIKE EIGHT"

"i'm fourteen"

",,,,,,, she's, like eight, dude."

cameron is the only one who's genuinely concerned about how this child will grow up to be

"guys please,,"

they're actually pretty close and they mostly fight as a joke, but little siblings are little siblings so she can get annoying sometimes and a lot of those times meeks deadass ends up leaving the house

just fuckin walks out. goes to pitts, or goes to see some trees and regain all the mental strength he just lost or sum

and she totally just does it because she's bored and it's funny when he gets mad

despite that, they are Disaster Siblings

cover up for each other doing questionable stuff, pull random pranks at people, scheme against kids who annoyed either of them at school

meeks and pitts totally sneak her out of the house at like 2 am and they go on random drives in pitts' car

their moms know but they also know pitts is there and they trust him to not do anything stupid

probably more than they trust the two of them

so they let it slide and pretend they didn't hear anything

oh btw!! i've mentioned pitts has dyslexia, that's totally canon, right?

and meeks helps him study, that's actually canon

wow for once i say that something's canon and it really is, achievement

anyways, cil also has dyslexia and it's the 50s so schools don't get that, and he's been helping her study since she was little

which is why he's actually able to help pitts

i'm pretty sure that's all i had

idk i lost my notes, rest in peace

the end

#🩹 jace's hcs #i love cil #i love them #they're the best #dps #dead poets society #steven meeks #stephen meeks #priscilla meeks #gerard pitts #should i tag them all #i will lmfaoo #charlie dalton #neil perry #todd anderson #knox overstreet #richard cameron