#there’s a mouse loose in a hospital

[micewithknives]

Ok who bought back the archaeology nemesis post and why did I wake up to 99+ notes for it

#why has this post once again been released into the internet #and more importantly why are you all relatable and hilarious #archaeologist problems #there’s a mouse loose in a hospital #archaeology

[himbos-hotline]

There's a chance I have my pancreatitis back.

#there is a mouse loose in the hospital

[angellayercake]

There was a mouse in the house

Haarlep x Female Tav and Raphael x Female Tav (kind of) | NSFW

Warnings: cunniligus, p in v sex, voyeurism kind of? So I have not been able to play this game yet but this man has possessed me and something happened and yeah. I am going purely off a couple of youtube videos, vibes and horniness. It all started when Haarlep said that the host of they body they use feels everything they are doing which obviously means Raphael was well aware of what was going on in the boudoir.

He felt it the moment she set foot into the House of Hope. His fist tightened around the glass of wine he was holding and his artfully designed smile turned brittle at the edges as he felt the not unremarkable wards around his sanctuary open for an unauthorised portal. The potential client he was currently entertaining was none the wiser to his sudden inattention but he had hardly been paying attention to their prattling to begin with. His little mouse had decided to bite the hand that would have so willingly fed it, if she had only agreed to his generous offer. He hated to admit it even now but her continued refusal to work with him, even when he had already offered her so much had stung. He had allowed his ill advised affection for this particular client to cloud his typically impeccable judgement and as he should have foreseen, it was now being thrown back in his face. 

There was only one thing she could possibly be after, that which he would have freely given, well not freely but for such a reasonable price. But his house was not so hospitable to intruders. There was time yet to finish his business here. It may not be the soul he wanted but it was a soul nonetheless. He refocuses his attention on the task at hand, carefully choosing his words as he weaves his web around the man sitting before him. It’s easy work so he has to try that little bit harder to temper the simmering rage that is growing inside him. But then it is done, business concluded and he can see to his little thieving mouse.

As he is preparing to travel he feels the first shiver run down his spine. Surely Haarlep was not entertaining when there was a little thief on the loose and yet there was no mistaking that feeling. He pauses in the doorway of his rented room, uncharacteristically affected by his Incubus’ antics but something tells him to wait. There were only a few plausible possibilities for who could be the target of his servants attentions but before he can squash it his traitorous mind informs him exactly who he wants it to be. As soon as her name flits across his mind his body begins to betray him. 

His desperation for her to sign his contract, become one of his souls, well deep down he had been aware that this masked a much deeper, more primal want. How he wanted to own her body and mind as much as he craved ownership of her soul. Better not to dwell on those things, he had told himself, over and over. His needs were simple and really he could only rely on himself so why even risk letting anyone else close. But as he succumbs to the ghostly feeling of his body being touched by another he knows he is at the brink of his undoing. 

With a snap of his fingers his clothes are gone and as he falls back onto the suddenly convenient bed in his rented rooms, he concentrates on the vague tingling caresses in a way he hasn’t indulged in such a long time, until they begin to feel almost tangible. It seems his incubus is taking his time with this one, feeling and tasting as much as he can. He feels soft warm skin against his tongue, the taste unfortunately alluding him but he can almost imagine it as he recalls the spicy earthy scent that lingers around her every time they meet. In his hand he feels a soft breast cupped in his palm, a pebbled nipple circled by the pad of his thumb. He yearns to pinch it between his fingers, pull and twist it until she was gasping her pleasure into his mouth but he is restricted by whatever it is Haarlep choses to do next and when he feels her other perfect nipple against his tongue he can’t suppress a groan.

The floodgates were opened as his phantom teeth nibbled at her, every thought he had buried about her ample bosom, always so perfectly displayed in her coquettishly revealing armour, situated just so to tease and tantalise. He had never allowed the thought to linger previously, as well as any potential attraction she may have had towards him but now, knowing that she had requested Haarlep to take his form was confirmation enough. He could picture her as easily as he could feel her, she would be completely nude, the incubus would have insisted, spread out against his crimson sheets, her skin glowing in a beautiful contrast. He would find every mark and blemish on her left by any other inferior being and cover them with his own, made by his claws or his teeth until there was no doubt who she belonged to. He only hoped that Haarlep mapped her body as carefully as he needed so he could explore them all at his leisure. The smooth expanses of skin passing over his hands and lips filled him with hope that that was exactly what was happening at his house. 

He was more aroused then he could remember but he needed more even as he was hesitant to take things further himself. His cock even in his human shell stood erect between his legs, untouched though it was, and he had to fist his hands into the coarse sheets below him to avoid ending this encounter before it had truly begun. He felt his tongue trace what he only could guess was her belly button and his heart began to race at the destination the incubus was journeying towards. He settles back against the pillows as he imagined himself settling between her legs, his fingers spreading open her sweet cunt which would be already glistening with the slick evidence of her arousal just tempting him to taste. He feels her folds against the flat of his tongue, his own watering mouth simulating her wetness for him. He doesn’t need to but he finds himself simulating the movements he can feel, rolling his tongue against thin air as he would if he had her there to feast on himself.  

His hands must leave her thighs because he is all of a sudden blindsided by the vice like heat around his fingers. How excited she must be for the incubus’ thick fingers to sink into her with so little resistance although her cunt doesn’t seem to want to relinquish them as she clenches tight around them as they slide out of her. So close, she must be so close to cuming for him and he writhes, desperate to hear the sounds she would make as he pushed her to the point of oblivion. How her laboured breathing might feel against his heated skin, how she might moan or gasp or scream his name in her ecstasy. The feel of her around his fingers and tongue is suddenly gone, ripping him gasping from his fantasy and he feels bereft, sucking in heaving breaths as he remembers where he is but he is not left adrift for long, his hands finding contact with her soft skin once again. The feel of her grounds him even as the real sensation belongs to his incubus. In his fevered arousal he struggles to catch up with the pair of them, heated hands grasping at his shoulders, frantic lips biting at his own, a strong leg hooking over his hip pulling him in as close as he can get.   

It’s only when he feels the head of his cock lining up to her entrance that everything comes back into focus. He knows Haarlep and he knows exactly how he will tease her now he has her exactly where he wants her. He feels the drag of her folds over the head of his cock coating himself in her slick and stroking against her clit. He hopes she is begging now, begging to be filled by him. He would keep her waiting too, until there were tears falling down her cheeks and she could do nothing but whimper his name. He feels the tip breach her and then stop. He can’t bring himself to move as he waits with bated breath for her to be forced to take him fully and he waits and waits. He feels the spasms in his abdomen as everything is pulled taught and he spares a thought as he often does for his incubus’ impossible will power as he resists the temptation of her clenching hole. 

He begins to move so slowly, easing his thick cock into her inch by inch. Every time he thrusts he pushes a little deeper. She opens up for him so beautifully and he yearns to feel how wet she is for himself. He can’t help thrusting in time with Haarlep as he imagines her there with him now, riding his needy cock and having to work her way down his length until she could take all of him. He is straining against his horribly empty bed when his cock is finally sheathed in her soft wet heat and even the ghost of the sensation is enough to finish him. His climax hits him like a wall, muscles clenching as the pleasure shudders through his body. He arches off the bed as he spills his seed across his own chest, too high on his pleasure to even begin to feel shame at finishing untouched.  

He should move, he knows this but his limbs feel heavy and light simultaneously and he wishes to bask in this feeling for a moment longer. It is as he catches his breath he realises that the portal his little thief had used to breach his walls has closed. How curious. He acknowledged that he had lain here perhaps a little too long but surely not long enough for them to fight their way through the house and claim their stolen prize. Perhaps this little adventure of hers needn’t be the end of their game. He sits up preparing to rebuild his composure and return to assess the damage her and her party of misfits had left in their wake but he can’t keep the smile from his face. ‘Oh little mouse, you know not what you have started.’

#my writing #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #raphael bg3 #raphael x reader #raphael x tav #haarlep x tav

[thefreakandthehair]

a collapsing star with tunnel vision.

@steddielovemonth prompt, day one: love is stealing an RV together (@shares-a-vest)

rating: t | wc: 650 | cw: smoking weed | tags: getting together, love confessions, idiots in love, come hell or high water I will make them stargaze, title from a fob song

Smoke curls out of the joint they share as Steve and Eddie lay in the grass just beyond Steve's pool. It's chilly, the cool breeze that takes the smoke into its wispy fingers and pulls it up towards the sky a harbinger of pending autumn. Summer has been fun, but Steve's grateful for the change of seasons.

A new season means more time between them and Vecna, between them and angry mobs, and hospital visits, and physical therapy.

Just a few months ago, he'd thought that his time was up so while summer used to be Steve's favorite season, he's thankful now to watch time pass. Especially when it crawls like this, slow and syrupy as the night blankets he and Eddie.

His friendship with Eddie had been a surprise, but all the more surprising is how it's easily its evolved from friendship to something more. Or, it has at least on Steve's end. Eddie is naturally touchy, always bouncing into Steve's personal space, poking him, calling him things like big boy or sweetheart. It's hard to tell with him if it's just how Eddie is, or if it means something.

Steve wants it to mean something. Probably has since the first time Eddie leaned in, close enough for Steve to feel his breath against his skin, and called him big boy back in the RV.

The RV that they stole. That Steve watched as Eddie deftly hot-wired, berating himself for knowing how to all the while. But for Steve, stealing that RV together told him a lot about Eddie, things that he still hasn't forgotten. Like how Eddie has hopes of being something more, how Eddie's known how to steal cars for years and only pulled it out of his arsenal when it was for good, how Eddie could've been picking locks and torturing those who've tortured him but he decides not to. Well before actual evil, Eddie had looked some of the worst the world has to offer directly in the eyes and didn't let it make a monster of him.

Stealing the RV together, oddly enough, lands Steve knee-deep in love with the man laying beside him, one hand on his stomach and the other point towards the sky, tracing imaginary constellations.

"... kinda like an evil mouse, right? You see that?"

Steve grins and stubs out the joint, saving the rest for later as he turns slightly to gaze at Eddie, not whatever weird evil mouse he thinks he sees among the stars.

"Yeah, definitely. Totally an evil mouse."

Eddie's head rolls to the side, cheek pressed against the grass, and furrows his brows. "You're not even looking."

"Eh, there's more important stuff to look at down here."

"Shut up." He watches as a pink hue colors Eddie's neck and cheeks, a blush creeping up from his collarbones. It's rare that Steve stuns Eddie these days, but when he does, it's his favorite thing in the whole world.

Maybe it's the joint, maybe it's the promise of a new season, or maybe it's just the safety he feels under the cover of night, but Steve scoots closer.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Steve asks, voice barely above a whisper. It doesn't need to be any louder, not with his mouth now so close to Eddie's.

Eddie nods, rolling over to his side to quick to be smooth.

Bravery is a term used loosely these days, but Steve feels brave in this moment. Feels untouchable.

"I think I kinda love you."

Silence rests loudly on the grass between them for one, two, three seconds before Eddie closes the distance, responding without words. Every nerve ending in Steve's broken but healing body lights up, electrical as the concept of new beginnings shivers down his spine.

The wind blows again as they kiss, reminding Steve of the seasons changing in his life, this time, in more ways than one.

#steddie #steddie fic #steddie fanfic #steddie fanfiction #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson x steve harrington #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #stranger things fic #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #steddielovemonth #st fic #my blurbs

[scotianostra]

An oldie but a goodie and surely the greatest Burns joke of all time......

A newly qualified doctor arrives for his first day at a hospital, deep in the Welsh valleys. He is met by one of the sisters, who has been given the task of showing him around the hospital and introducing him to the staff and patients.

It is a large hospital and it takes the whole day to get round. By late afternoon they are working their way through the psychiatric block and as the time approaches for the evening meal they arrive at the last ward. They follow the dinner trolley into the ward and wait while one of the nurses lifts the lid on the food tray. To the doctor's surprise there is but a single haggis on the tray to feed a whole ward.

One of the patients moves towards the trolley in a purposeful manner addressing the haggis,

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy of a grace

As lang's my arm.

Before he can reach the haggis another patient sprints forward, grabs the simple repast and dashes up the ward. He proudly holds the haggis aloft and cries out in a commanding voice,

Some hae meat and cannae eat.

Some cannae eat that want it:

But we hae meat and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be thankit.

At this, a kilted dervish leaps from his bed, whips a skien dubh out of his sock and lunges at the haggis carrier. With a deft movement the haggis bearer fend off the flashing blade with the haggis. Although this prevents any injury it does result in the top of the haggis being hacked off. A small mouse obviously waiting upon this event dashes out from under a bed, grabs the loose piece of haggis and scampers up the ward, running the gauntlet of slashing claymores and hurled dirks from various patients. At the end of the ward stands a bent and wizened old man with a wild fire in his eyes. He screams at the mouse,

Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,

O, what a panic's in thy breastie!

Thou need na start awa sae hasty,

Wi bickering brattle!

I wad be laith to rin an chase thee,

Wi murdering pattle!

And then dives upon the poor little mouse. With a left dummy and a right feint, the mouse dodges between the old man's legs, through a hole in the skirting board and to safety with his prize. The doctor turns to the sister and asks, "Why is this psychiatric ward so full of Scotsmen?"

"Oh no, doctor, these are not Scotsmen, they are genuine valley dwellers born and bred", she replies, "and, anywa, this is not a psychiatric ward, it is the serious Burns unit"

#scotland #scottish #joke #burns day #lol

[deliciousbasementtrash]

Playing Nurse for the Batfam

Artist: Dexter Soy

Summary: you are a nurse working for Gotham General Hospital. Batman has offered you a job. You are now a nurse for the entire Batfamily. You have been asked by Bruce if you are working with the very people he fights against.

Pairing: Slowburn Jason Todd x Female!reader

Warning: Adult language, mentions injuries, sexual language

Word Count: 1.5k

Masterlist

Note: These characters are not my own they belong to DC. The only character that is 'mine' is the reader. I am going to be as nondescript as possible for the reader as well for physical attributes. This is a continuation series; I’m not sure how long it will be. Also for some reason, my replies to comments are not showing up. I’m not ignoring your comments Tumblr won’t let me respond :( But please, please comment I live for it

Part 11: Honesty

“How many villains have you helped in the past? And are you helping them now?”

Everything for me stopped at that moment. Having Bruce’s eyes on me, a certain type of panic filled my chest. I had to mentally remind myself that he was not my father and he was not going to hurt me. That didn’t stop my pulse from racing. It didn’t stop my mouth becoming dry. It didn’t stop the fear that ripped into me so brutally that my hands shook. I picked at the skin around my nails, the stinging pain made me focus. 

I could play dumb, but there was no way Bruce fucking Wayne wouldn’t see right through that. I could deny the accusations and demand to know why he would think that. I could quit and save myself the trouble. 

Or I could do the scariest thing of all… tell the truth. 

Gotham City: 14 Years Ago

I looked across the table at a man who didn’t feel human. He felt closer to a demon, a devil, a monster. He felt truly vile. His eyes were dark, empty, and joyless. He had a smile carved into his face, but I knew it would never meet his eyes. It took everything in me to remain neutral and heal him. 

He had several cuts along his arms, but they were in various positions, various angles, and various lengths. They were random. 

The creature must have noticed me staring, “Little girl, ask me how I got these cuts!” His voice was shrill, and he cackled when he noticed I flinched. When I didn’t say anything he laughed harder. His hand snaked out faster than I could pull away. He gripped the nape of my neck and pressed his forehead to mine. His skin felt loose and cold. It felt undeniably wrong. His dead eyes stared into mine. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, or blink, or move, or scream. I couldn’t do anything. I was at his mercy, and I knew he had so little of it. 

“I said ask me!” He screamed at me and pressed his forehead harder into mine. 

“H-How d-did you g-get those c-cuts, sir?” I asked, unable to keep my voice from trembling. 

The creature released me. I had to fight the urge to turn around and run away. How could my father leave me alone with this man? He had to know I wasn’t safe. I knew he didn’t care about me, but I thought he would want to at least keep his golden goose alive. 

“The Bat gave me these cuts! He and I, we have a repertoire you see. We enjoy playing cat and mouse. And you see little girl, we like to play rough. It was my turn to be a mouse! Gotta keep the relationship fresh! Would you like to be the mouse or the cat?” 

The question felt like a trap. If I answered mouse he would treat me like prey. If I answered cat he would demand I perform violence to prove myself as a predator. The longer I took thinking about it, the more impatient and angry he got. 

“Neither,” I answered honestly. I willed my tired body to heal him faster. 

“Ah ah,” he tsked, reprimanding me, “that is not part of the game. Pick one.”

I have played mouse my whole life. I was sick of being weak. I was sick of being used. 

“I’d want to be a fucking dragon. Not a cat. Not a mouse. I want to breathe fire so I can tell men like you to fuck off and leave me alone. I want men like you to be scared of me,” the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. 

The Joker tilted his head like he was seeing me for the first time. He smiled at me and began laughing so hard he wheezed. 

“You have a lot of work to do then, little mouse.”

With that, the clown got up and left. The second he was out of the room it felt like I could breathe again. I swallowed hard. 

Tonight was the night. I couldn’t do it anymore. Despite everything the Joker was the one to finally spur me into action.

I ran to my room and lifted up my loose floorboard. I grabbed the cash I had stolen from the safe. I grabbed my go bag. And I ran. 

Gotham City: Present Day

I told Bruce everything. I told him every minute detail. I told him about my mom, my dad, and everything that happened in my life. 

“So, to answer your questions: I don’t know how many there have been, but it has been a lot. And no, I vowed the day that I ran away that I wouldn’t heal another villain again. And that I would never be– I will never be a pawn for someone else.” I would never be a mouse again.

Bruce stood quickly and moved around his desk. He stood before me large and brooding, and then he knelt. 

“I am so sorry, Y/N. You don’t deserve what has happened to you,” his dark voice became surprisingly soft. “And I am sorry for doubting you.”

I felt my eyes start to burn, and I roughly blinked to rid myself of the potential tears. 

“Does this mean I still have a job here?” I laughed weakly. 

“Yes. I value honesty and loyalty above all else.”

I nodded and rose on shaky legs. I left the room without another word. 

I took the elevator down to the Batcave. My nerves felt frayed and split open after reliving my past with Bruce. I needed a distraction. I needed to hit something. 

The elevator doors split open and revealed that I was not the only one who wanted to get a workout in. Dick and Jason stood in the middle of the training mat. Both were shirtless and sweating as they swung fists at each other. For a moment, all I could do was watch like a wide-eyed pervert. 

Jason’s body was riddled with a myriad of scars. I saw evidence of burns, lacerations, gunshots, and of course… the autopsy scar. Dick also had his fair share of scars but it was about ¼ the amount that Jason had. 

Dick had the body of a gymnast. His muscles were lean and lithe. He was built for fluidity and speed just as much as strength. 

Jason was built like a fucking brick house. His shoulders were impossibly broad, and every inch he was covered in thick roped muscle. His physique looked like he had been carved from marble. He was unforgivingly hard and defined. I couldn’t help myself as I stared longer. Despite his size, he kept up with Grayson. For every punch or kick Dick threw at him Jason ducked or blocked accordingly. When he moved to hit back he put his whole body behind the punch. I could see it in the way his thick thighs and hips rotated.  

Jason landed a particularly hard hit on Dick’s shoulder. Dick winced and held up a hand. 

“First: owe that hurt, jackass. Second: I want a break,” Dick said in a sassy tone that made me snort. 

Instantly, both of the men swiveled their heads toward me. I tried pretending like I wasn’t watching them, but something in the gleam of their eyes told me they knew it… and maybe liked it.

Jason smiled at me so brightly that it made my heart clench. 

“Hey, you. Where did you go?” He asked. 

I approached both the boys, “I had to have a meeting with my boss.”

Dick winced, Jason straightened up. “What did the old bastard want?” Jason asked. 

“Information, as per usual,” I replied. It was hard to focus. Jason was dripping in sweat. A bead had run from his forehead, down his face, and ran over his Adam’s apple. I had to force my eyes back up, so I wouldn’t watch it trail lower. 

Jason smirked at me and took a step forward, “Are you ogling me, Y/L/N?”

I could feel my cheeks heat, “Not at all, Todd. I’m just taking in the physical condition of one of my clients.”

Jason laughed, and leaned forward, “Such a good little nurse, aren’t we?”

I rolled my eyes, “Don’t worry I assessed Grayson just as thoroughly.”

Jason’s eyes darkened slightly, “Oh, I doubt that–”

“Okay well, I feel like an awkward third wheel. I’ll leave you guys to it,” Dick said, as he practically ran into the elevator. Before I could rebut his claim the doors were already shut. 

I returned my focus back to Jason and I saw his eyes trail the burn on my cheek and the bruises on my throat. His demeanor completely changed. He became ramrod straight. Every muscle in his body was tense. Even a muscle in his jaw tightened. 

He ran a finger parallel to the burn, “How are you feeling?”

Like I got my ass kicked, “Fine.”

“Be honest,” he practically growled out. 

“Sore,” that was an understatement but I didn’t feel like voicing my pain. Every time I did that with my father he would just tell me to suck it up and stop being a complainer. 

“You’re more than sore. I know you are.”

I shrugged and that seemed to anger him more. I ignored it and redirected the topic. 

“Spar with me?” It was more of a demand than a question.

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If I missed anyone please let me know <3

Author's note: You guys are so slay, ily all <3 Thank you all so much for your kind words, comments, messages, and interactions!! They inspire me to keep writing. I hope you guys continue to enjoy the story, thank you again <3

Hashbrown Cam!

#batman #batfam #batfamily #jason todd #dick grayson #barbara gordon #duke thomas #tim drake #damian wayne #bruce wayne #alfred pennyworth #jason todd x reader #jason todd x you #jason todd x y/n #nightwing #red hood #red hood x reader #red hood x you #x reader #female x reader #whump #whumptober 2023 #whump writing #dc comics #dc universe #dc fanfic #fluff #angst #jason todd x injured reader

[scvrmqueen]

His Final Girl - Danny Johnson

Pairing: Danny Johnson / Ghost Face x Reader

Warnings: Violence, stabbing, blood, gore, trauma

Premise: You survive a brutal encounter with the Ghost Face. After revealing himself as Jed Olsen, your former coworker, Roseville is finally free from the killer’s grasp. Little do they know his work is far from over - and he doesn’t leave survivors. 

AN: Hi y’all! So pleased to introduce my first Danny Johnson piece. This was loosely inspired by the song The Perfect Girl by Mareux. Please like / comment / reblog if you enjoy, your interactions keep me writing! 

They tell you it's a miracle - a true blessing to have survived. To be a final girl.

Final girl. At least that's what the articles have painted you as, no one dared utter the blood-soaked moniker to your face. You became headline news, a gruesome tale reminiscent of the finest slasher movies. "Ghost Face Unmasked," the Roseville Gazette headline read, "Killer Disappears Leaving Only Surviving Victim."

You clenched the newspaper tighter, head swimming as the droning tone of your heart monitor continued to climb. His mask taunted you from the front page and the fresh wounds littering your abdomen throbbed incessantly at the sight.

Five stab wounds to the abdomen - those had been his killing blows. A jagged slice on your throat just beneath your chin. That scar had been incidental, a result of your futile struggling against his unyielding hold. Whispers of astonishment floated around the hospital, shocked that an otherwise meticulous killer completely missed your jugular vein and carotid artery. They didn't understand that it was a calculated move on his part.

"Can't have you bleeding out on me yet, doll face. We haven't even gotten to the good part yet."

You shivered at the memory, fingertips ghosting the gauze on your neck.

Prior to his deliberate unmasking, the Ghost Face was more ghoul than man. He was transcendental, a horrific concept derived from the most sinister ghost stories. He was the dread that permeated moonless evenings, spreading paranoia like wildfire in the inky depths of Roseville. He was the smooth, sultry whispers that promised death and suffering over static-laden phone lines.

But just as Ghost Face had been an entity, Jed Olsen had been just a man. A charming, carefully crafted persona - all effortless grins and placating quips. Roseville adored Jed, hanging off his every word as if the city would collapse without him. Perhaps that was why his enthusiastic interest in the Roseville murders - in Ghost Face - had been overlooked.

Unlike the rest of the Chronicle staff, something about Jed's amiable disposition perturbed you. His wide smiles never quite extended to to his eyes. Those chocolate irises always seemed to conceal something sinister, a darkness that you couldn't quite grasp.

Once when Jed was still shiny and new, before the murders, you had mentioned your strange observation to a coworker. You were met with eyerolls and condescending coos that Jed practically embodied good old American values.

If only you had trusted your instinct.

You had kept Jed at arms length until you couldn't. After the first handful of victims sent the city into a frenzy, the chief editor informed you that the star headliner required some assistance. Evidently, Jed had requested you as a partner specifically. After all, your previous coverage of the Night Stalker conviction had earned you the reputation of an excellent profiler at the Chronicle. 

The phone calls began shortly after your first article with Jed was published. Unlike his other victims who expired within a week, your game of cat and mouse had been dragged out over the span of several months.

“Oh, I like you, kitten,” he had said, his dark low chuckle still echoing in the recesses of your mind. “Let’s see how feisty you still are when I spill those pretty guts.” 

You were a shell of your former self when you returned to work. Though medically cleared, your coworkers seemed to share the sentiment that your recovery was too expedited. 

“You know, Y/n, you can take more time,” your editor had quietly advised, voice barely raised above a whisper as if his words would shatter your fragile existence. “No one will blame you if you’re not ready.” 

Fuck that. Fuck Jed Olsen. You’d be damned if he took this away from you. 

So here you sat, poised at your desk, alert eyes carefully scanning the outline of your latest article. Your coworkers had long since departed, an eerie silence coating the office as the natural light dissipated from your cubicle. Despite your can of mace and pocket knife, a staple of your wardrobe these days, you never felt safe alone anymore. But you couldn’t go home now. You had a deadline to meet, and you worked better without the sympathetic glances of your peers weighing you down. 

And yes, you were aware that working late in the desolate building wasn’t the best decision. In your defense, it had been a month since the incident. What paranoia lingered in your chest was quietly sated by the reminder that Jed was gone. If he wanted to finish you off, correct his unusually sloppy execution, he would have done so by now - your survival was headline news for Christ’s sake. 

Still, you recalled the note he left at his desk following the attack: Don’t worry, I’m not done. 

I’m not done. 

I’m not - 

The shrill ring of your desk phone swept you from your apprehensive trance. There was that familiar sense of dread. It coated your tongue and lingered on your lips, stinging your wounds and clutching your rapidly beating heart. 

It’s just a phone, you reminded yourself, it’s not him. 

Taking a moment to regulate your breathing, your hand paused over the white receiver. You could let it go to voicemail, you reasoned. The small defiant fire that still raged within you, the flame that refused to be snuffed, argued that he would win if fear controlled your every action. 

“Hello?” You answered, sounding more tremulous than you cared for. A familiar static responded. Attempting to compose yourself and appear unaffected, you asked a bit more firmly, “Hello, may I help you?” 

“Hiya, Y/n.” Click. You slammed the phone down, nearly hyperventilating. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him. The authorities had expressed with finite certainty that Jed had skipped town, a hypothesis only further confirmed by his pattern of sporadic relocations. 

When the phone sounded once more, you were determined to ignore it. Sure, it would infuriate him, but if death was knocking at your door, you refused to play his sick game of cat and mouse. Still, a growing rage melded into the tendrils of fear curling around you - a wrathful affliction that accumulated venom in your throat. 

“What the fuck do you want, asshole?” You spat. The phrase ‘seeing red’ suddenly made perfect sense, as if your fury had extinguished your survival instincts. 

A mirthful chuckle followed in response. Before he could retort further, you ground out through clenched teeth: “We’ve played this little game before, Jed. Couldn’t think of something more original?” 

“Oh, dollface,” he sighed, “keep talking like that and I might just reconsider slicing you from chest to sternum.” 

Your breath hitched, an involuntary reaction at the memory of his steel blade. Like a shark sensing blood in the water, he added, “Ah, who am I kidding. Leaving survivors isn’t really my style, Y/n.” 

“Guess you’re not as good as you thought,” you sneered, determined to give him a taste of his own twisted medicine. Experience reminded you that Ghost Face was protective of his meticulously designed reputation - he had to be taken seriously, feared like the boogymen before him. If he was going to get under your skin, then you would be damned if you didn’t do the same. 

“Oh, I think you’ve felt just how good I can be, kitten,” he hissed, voice dripping with a suggestive venom. “Maybe I should refresh your memory? Remind you of just who you were screaming under, begging-”

“Fuck you.” Your interruption lacked the bite you intended, dimmed by the hot tears cumulating over your flushed cheeks. “Fuck you, you psychotic piece of shit,” you rasped, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. 

He groaned - groaned, and the sound churned the pit of your stomach. “So mean, kitten, and after all we’ve been through together.” The spiteful remark you prepared died on your tongue as he continued, “but try as you might to wound me, not even you can ruin my good mood tonight, Y/n. Because I get to watch that pretty blood spill again, I get to hear those delicious little cries of terror again.” 

“Oh, and Y/n?” His voice dipped impossibly lower, his words caressing your ear and sending waves of chills through your body. “It’s Danny, not Jed. Be a good girl and scream that for me while I’m gutting you like a fish.” 

Ice coursed through your veins as the dial tone wailed in your ear. There was no time to spare contemplating the harrowing Deja vu that washed over you. Danny hanging up only meant one thing - 

He’s here. 

But this time, you were prepared. You moved to dial the authorities, reasoning that you could remain put and hold Danny off until their arrival. The police station was only ten minutes away. And if you didn’t bleed out in 30 minutes previously, ten minutes was child’s play. 

That was the plan until the phone line went dead, promptly followed by the office lights cutting out. 

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Well, Danny certainly hadn’t lost his flare for the dramatic. 

Fight or flight was a fickle thing. You had always been more inclined toward flight, reasoning that overpowering a killer who had managed to subdue men twice your size wasn’t feasible. Remaining in your cubicle awaiting a gruesome fate was out of the question, you had to at least attempt an escape. 

More knowledgeable after your first brush with the reaper, you knew Danny was out there, poised with that gleaning hunting blade. Concealing the canister of mace in your palm, you stepped out into the darkness.

Death didn’t frighten you anymore, you decided. If anything, death would be a reprieve from the horror he afflicted. Still, you were starved for revenge, determined to tear into Ghost Face just as he had you. Any hope for survival was minimal at best. But if you were going down, well, you would drag Danny to hell with you. 

“Come on, Danny,” you cooed, impressed with the smooth, taunting lilt of your voice. “Come fucking get me.” As you approached the entrance to the stairwell, eyes flittering around each shadowed corner, an inky figure emerged. He nearly would have blended into the night if not for the white of the phantom mask. 

Panic briefly seized your chest, though you remained rooted to the linoleum tiles. His head tilted, a mocking wave greeting you as his other gloved hand raised the signature knife. You were certain a gleeful grin was concealed beneath that damned mask. 

“Hi honey, I’m home.” You were briefly jostled by the lack of his voice modulator, taking a moment to soak in the previously comforting voice of Jed - no, Danny. 

There was no one coming to save you this time. The devastating realization nearly strangled you, burned your lungs with a vicious rancor. Danny stepped forward slowly, as if testing to see if you would flee. He was close enough that you could smell the thick leather of his gloves muddled with the coppery waft of previous victims. 

Cautiously, you raised the hand not preoccupied with pepper spray, extending it toward his mask. Further closing the already miniscule distance, your hand grasped at his hood, tugging it down when he made no move to stop you. Holding your breath, you pulled off his mask. A tense silence permeated the air as your gaze scanned his sharp features, heart fluttering at the reveal of those dark, hooded eyes and crimson lips. 

“Why?” You asked, voice barely a whisper. He cocked a perfectly manicured brow, chocolate orbs piercing through you. His face twisted into an expression that reminded you of a lion prepared to devour its prey - a sort of ravenous hunger that made your scars pulse. 

“Because I can,” he responded simply, as if that were all the justification required. You didn’t flinch as he wrapped an arm around your waist, pressing you impossibly closer. He towered above you, head dipping lower so his breath could ghost along your jaw. 

“Because you’re mine.” As if possessed by the intensity of his confession, you didn’t struggle as his lips claimed your own. A guttural moan vibrated through his chest, hips digging into you. The slow ache building in your core prompted you to contemplate that perhaps if things had been different, if you weren’t the final girl of this story, you would willingly follow Danny to the depths of hell. 

Your reverie was interrupted by cool metal piercing the scar tissue of your abdomen. Blinding pain enveloped your senses, a strangled gasp escaping you as those crimson lips continued their bruising course. He allowed you a brief reprieve if only to lower you gently to the cool tile, moving to straddle your waist. The blade retracted before slowly digging in, once again targeting a previous wound. You couldn’t prevent the tormented scream that slipped from you. 

“That’s it, kitten. Let it out, let it all out.” He was taking it slow, dragging out your torture as if punishment for surviving. His knife remained embedded in your stomach, the sting becoming unbearable as a strained giggle tumbled from your lips. Danny’s eyes briefly widened before narrowing, his hand moving to the twist the blade. Hysterical laughter bubbled within you, hand clutching around the mace he had yet to notice. 

“See you in hell, Danny,” you chortled, teeth stained with blood. Sporting the psychotic expression, crimson smeared on your torso and lips, Danny couldn’t help but acknowledge that you had never looked lovelier. His amusement quickly faded as you raised the canister, releasing the toxin into his uncovered eyes. 

“You fucking, bitch!” Taking advantage of his temporary blindness, you gripped the handle of the blade, tearing it out of you with an animalistic scream. Before he could recover, you plunged the blade into Danny’s chest. It took the remainder of your strength to push through the taut muscle, your opposite hand clutching the back of his shoulder to lodge it further in. 

Twin crimson streaks pooled on his lips, a harsh cough spewing the liquid over your face. Ripping the knife from his heart with renewed ferocity, you rolled Danny off you, reveling in the way he slipped to the floor beside you. Blood descended freely from the wound, staining his suit and dripping languidly to the ground below. 

He laughed, the sound fading into a gurgle as blood pooled in his lungs. Unable to move from your spot, you turned your head to bask in the gory scene. Danny was already staring at you, lips upturned in a twisted grin as his hand reached for your own. 

“I always knew you would be my final girl, Y/n.” You smiled, real, genuine, pride swelling in your chest as you lay bleeding out. You did it. Though you would die for this victory, you relished in the knowledge that it would not be in vain. 

You prepared for the ebony tendrils of death to consume you, welcoming the endless expanse of eternal slumber. As your eyes fluttered, consciousness fading, a thick fog enveloped the office. It creeped steadily toward you, wrapping around you and Danny in a suffocating haze. 

You gripped his hand tighter, heaving your final breath. Unprepared for the inevitable realization that your story with Danny was far from over. 

#danny johnson #jed olsen #ghost face #danny johnson x reader #danny johnson x you #danny johnson x y/n #jed olsen x reader #jed olsen x you #jed olsen x y/n #ghost face x reader #ghost face x you #ghost face x y/n #scream #dead by daylight #dbd #scream dbd #final girl #final girl reader #slasher fic #ghost face fic #slasher x you #slasher fandom #dbd ghostface #ghostface #danny jed olsen johnson #Danny Jed Olsen Johnson x you

[herri-writes]

少女レイ

Eichi Tenshouin x Reader (F) (!)

Note: I am shitting tears writing this. I need my angst demons so bad for this. After hearing Eguchi's cover, this made me think of him singing this song and looked for the lyrics. Should I make a WataEi version of this? Hm... It's an absolute mess but EichiP's and fineP's, please prepare tissues for early preparations.

A script written by Wataru Hibiki, as what the author's name was written on the cover. He opened it and flipped the pages of the script he had on his hand. He cleared his throat and read a few lines.

"It's that time of the season again..." Eichi muttered as he gazed at the window from the music room of Ensemble Square. He could only reminisce the memory of the war, where he is the only witness of everything you were involved in.

"Summer finally arrived. The emperor sat on his new throne at his new kingdom."

"Summer finally arrived. He remembered that it was nearly summer when finally fell down from his own tyranny in the past year."

"Summer finally arrived..." He paused, and continued.

"And his memories haunted him— his memories of his past." From two years ago. He continued in his mind.

"Thus, a tale of the emperor and the lost has been uncovered and told! Let the curtains arise to reveal the truth!" He ended it quietly and read it silently as he let out a small chuckle. "Classic Wataru..."

What he didn't know that it was meant to be written for him, for the one who reigned till this day.

And the main reason you disappeared.

(Your) instincts start to go crazy, like a cornered mouse

The memories of the war remained fresh and it made him unable to sleep on those nights. Even in the hospital, he became restless even if his body screamed and begged for him to sleep.

Now, standing in an abyss of despair, you jumped into the railway crossing

And he remembered how you disappeared that summer and never returned.

He is someone you knew in the hospital. You were there due to your chronic illness. You knew him because you met him there once. Your time is ticking to a stop soon but you tried to prevent it from stopping the hands of the clock. You aren't ready to leave.

It's because of him, because of Eichi Tenshouin.

"Eichi, are you really my friend?" You asked and chuckled in response.

"Yes, you’re my friend, so take my hand," Eichi said. But behind the true meaning of those words are: "Yes, you’re alone, you've got nowhere to go, do you?"

He remembered the time when the war is still there. He knew how broken you were when he knew you're attempting to meet your end.

He remembered that you're always alone.

"—But with things like this, we’re able to love each other." He thought of the words you once told him. Was it really love when he never felt such thing? Was your love between him one sided? Was this love fake? Yes.

Eichi remembered what he exactly had told Wataru about what happened to you back then when he is in the infirmary.

It repeats again;

A flashback, which Eichi clearly remembered. "The buzzing cicadas… And you, who will never come back." Eichi muttered.

He clenched his hand and held it closer to his chest, where his heart is. "Our matching keychains are being torn apart for all eternity." And he opened his hand, where it revealed two keychains, matched and meant to be paired for you and him.

He remembered the day when he saw your bag near the railway crossing. The keychain hanging on the sling of your bag and the colors faded. The cardigan and your uniform blazer placed on your bag, telling that you left it there on purpose.

"The girl with her pale white skin that the summer got rid of..." He broke down and shed tears. "I find myself wanting to be possessed by her so much it brings me to tears..."

My true nature starts to break loose at the start of September, marked by the ringing of chimes.

Eichi confessed everything what had happened. "A flower vase placed on the next target, and the one who started it..." He tried not to say it and failed to do so. "...was me"

"I never wanted to do it but instead, I still did. I know they hated me and will always hate me."

"It’s true, you’re to blame—" Wataru said and was followed by mere silence.

Eichi repeated his words whenever you looked down in the past. "Just look at me and me only."

"It’s true, you want someone to help you, don't you?" Is what he had told you back then. He indeed helped you to recover and became a student of Yumenosaki. He is the reason why you're alive.

But in the end, you're gone.

He remembered the day when you told him that you'll take him to see the ocean on the other side of the railway crossing. A change of scenery won't hurt, you say.

But you left before him.

He was too late to reach you. He ran towards the other side of the railway crossing and never cared if his illness attacks him like a predator. As he reached the shore, he saw your shoes close to the drifting waters of the sea. The footprints that was washed away by the waters were evident that you were gone for long.

"Going to the sea makes you feel alive. How about going there together. You'll love the water."

The sea took your life and you are gone forever.

I gently place a kiss on your drowning hands

He remembered how cold your hands are. And it was even colder after he found your cold body they fished out of the sea. He touched it carefully and held it gently.

He remembered how loud the alarm of the railway crossing is when it's faint to hear from the seashore, the constant buzzing of the cicadas, and the calm waves of the sea. He never cared about anything around him since all he could think is just you gone on that day.

Those faintly smiling beasts dig their nails into (you) until their hearts are refreshed, and now your skirt is uneven.

When he first saw you in a complete mess, you cowered yourself at the corner, like a cornered mouse. He knows that you were ruined by them, completely ruined by the system in life.

A scream that seemed as though it cut off the silence of summer echoes through the classroom, in the window was the first time he once heard from you before all of those traumatic incidents that made his heart beated rapidly that caused him to faint. And the last thing he saw before he fainted is the blue sky that you once loathed in the past.

"You're my friend..." Is the last words he had heard from you before you disappeared.

Your words that he vividly remembered, will always haunt him in his nightmares.

The ghost of his past showed up in his dreams and his reality. Whenever he walked at the halls of Yumenosaki, all he could see is you anywhere, haunting him. He felt safe in Ensemble Square but not for long. He will always be haunted at the sight of your gone like the wind.

That ghost, is you.

"Of course, you're my friend, so take my hand..." He remembered what he had told you and continued, "Of course, you’re gone, and I’ve got nowhere to go..."

You crossed the border between life and death— the world you called transparent over and over.

"If we were able to love each other in that transparent world—" Your voice remained in his memories. He, who know nothing about love always remembered these lingering lines of yours in his deepest memories.

Eichi knows the narrative lines will come to an end. And yet, he still read it.

He let out his hand and continued, "The words of the emperor repeated that the jester will remember for eternity; It repeats again;"

A flashback, which it deeply frightens him to the core.

The buzzing cicadas… And you, who will never come back

"The day the lost bade them their last untold farewell to the emperor was forgotten by all but remembered by him and him alone. The cicadas who deafened their farewell signed that they'll never return."

Our matching keychains are being torn apart for all eternity

"A piece remained in their own history remained intact yet broken. To which the emperor kept it safely in his hands."

"He lamented, "The girl with that pale white skin that the summer got rid of... I find myself wanting to be possessed by her so much it makes me sad..." and was never written in history for it was burned and left forgotten."

"The emperor found his happy ending but the lost will never find peace till the end of time." And he closed the script like nothing had happened.

You were just transparent, and pointed at me

There he saw your transparent form, clear and vivid. The sight of your pale skin and bluish lips frightened him to the core. Your finger pointed directly to him, which that made him weak in his knees out of sheer fear.

W/N:

Haha. Tangina. *hip thrusts*

Neways I made this yesterday and I'm in crack mode. Haha he died/j

#written by herri #ensemble stars #enstars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #eichi tenshouin #eichi tenshouin x reader #tenshouin eichi #tenshouin eichi x reader #haha bye #my impulsive ahh wanted me to make a written fic ver out of this🫶✨🏃

[inane-aosfan]

ART OF SURVIVAL SEASON 4 MEMBERS IF THERE WAS A HORSE LOOSE IN A HOSPITAL

Hiding from the horse: Val, Se, and Ivory The Reporters on the Scene: Charm, Lops Trying to befriend the horse: Hermes, Dionysus Trying to fight the horse: Screeb Actually fighting the horse: Nao Blissfully unaware of the horse: Gecck, Beef Running from the hospital: Mouse, Echo, Emotional The Horse: Mikey

#The Horse Bit #art of survival #art of survival smp #aosblr #aos smp #the art of survival

[micewithknives]

I leave my post unsupervised overnight and it now has notes what are y’all doing to me

#I’m going through like fifty million different reblog options #everyone’s got such good archaeology nemeses #great job everyone #archaeology #archaeologist problems #there’s a mouse loose in a hospital #also I have like 10+ new followers #where did y’all come from #why are you here #I mean welcome I guess #but why

[phantomoftheorpheum]

pll: os - summer school (new random thoughts)

*spoilers for 2x01 of summer school

I feel ridiculous for not noticing this sooner, but in 2x01 when A kills all the bullies, we actually see two of the deaths within moments of each other. Is it even possible that A actually committed both of those murders? I mean, obviously we see someone wearing the A mask on screen, but is it even possible those were both Archie? Faran calls her ballet teacher and we hear her phone buzzing before she's stabbed. We see Noa's mom's drug dealer already dead, so that could easily have been earlier. But Mouse calls Steve (presumably only moments after Faran's phone call) and then he's killed by A almost as soon as he answers the phone. The first time I watched, I think I kind of mentally wrote this off as a stylistic choice, and didn't think too much about it. Also, because this part of the episode felt like it was "wrapping up" season 1, I just kind of accepted it. But... idk. Which leads me to...

Was the opening of 2x01 really just there to wrap up some loose threads, or is there more to it? I definitely initially just felt it was closing out storylines from season 1, and maybe the only reason they had Archie escape was to kill off those other characters, but honestly did we need it?

A theory- Okay, I won't say it's really a theory, because it doesn't have any particular supporting evidence, but it is something I'm thinking about. Is it possible Archie did not escape and was actually let loose? And who might do that...? Mrs. Beasley, if she snapped. There's no mention of her facing legal action in season 2, so does anyone other than Kelly know that she intentionally stabbed her husband?? (I can't remember the end of season 1 well enough, obviously. someone let me know if you know, please) If not, is it possible she murdered her husband in the hospital, then let Archie loose to cover for it? Since she's one of my top "Bloody Rose" suspects, it would fit into my suspicions of her character. And it would be another connection point between season 1 & 2.

Anyway, just some thoughts. It may be that my original gut instinct that a lot of that opening stuff in 2x01 was just about tying up loose ends.

#pll summer school #pretty little liars #pretty little liars summer school #pretty little liars original sin #pretty little liars os #pll os #pll original sin summer school #pll os summer school #pll spoilers #pll summer school spoilers #pll original sin spoilers #mine #long post

[herrmannhalsteadproduction]

The Centre Must Hold (Chapter Seven)

Summary: This is Part Fifteen of my series A Herrmann/Halstead Production. It is an AU where Christopher Herrmann's mom had an affair with Pat Halstead resulting in a baby. The series follows this OC character (Rebecca "Bex" Herrmann) as she grows up and gets to know her brothers and the various Chicago teams. It is very much an AU, just to underscore that. It doesn't follow the same timeline and characters will follow different paths.

Click here for the Series Rundown where you can find the links to read all of the previous installments (which I highly recommend you do so that this one makes sense.)

Rating: Teen and Up

Relationships: Christopher Herrmann & Original Female Character, Christopher Herrmann/Cindy Herrmann, Jay Halstead & Original Female Character, Will Halstead & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Will Halstead, pre-Greg 'Mouse' Gerwitz/Original Female Character, pre-Will Halstead/Connor Rhodes

Warnings: This loosely follows the arc where Chris is stabbed by Freddie Clemente. There will be discussion of his injuries, but not in extreme detail. Also: Hospitalization, Near Death Experience, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Arguing, Swearing, lots of stress

A/N: To underscore my previous note, this is an alternate universe so things have unfolded differently. This will not follow the canon arc exactly by any means. But I hope you'll still enjoy it!

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Bex

Bex barely remembered saying hi to Will and giving him a hug before faceplanting into bed and passing out until the next morning.

She emerged from her room around ten a.m. to find muffins and a little note from him saying that he’d pick up supper on the way home. Her only job for the day was to take it easy. ‘Doctor’s orders’, he’d scribbled at the bottom.

Bex chuckled to herself, deciding to follow his advice and have a lazy morning. She flopped onto the couch with two muffins, a cup of tea, and her phone. A quick scroll showed a large number of unread messages.

Check-ins from Cindy, Jay, and Will were answered first. Yes, she’d slept. Yes, she was eating.

Cindy sent her the requested proof-of-life pic of Chris who was frowning at a bowl of what was possibly oatmeal in front of him. No matter what it was, his frown was understandable. It looked disgusting.

There was another text from Chris asking her to bring him ‘real food’ when she came back. Bex shook her head with a laugh. Cindy was right—he was going to be a nightmare patient when they were finally allowed to bring him home.

A problem she was more than happy to have.

Mouse’s text popped up next. She smiled softly at the phone as she read his message. He’d been checking in periodically since he’d dropped her off, wanting to let her know he was there if she needed anything. She blushed remembering how sweet he’d been the day before.

She was going to make him so many cookies.

Clicking through the rest of her messages, Bex answered texts from her 51 and 21 gang, plus her school friends, all checking in to make sure she was doing okay and to see if she needed anything. She grinned to herself as she read through them. The Herrmann family Mama Chicken tendencies seemed to be rubbing off on everyone these days. She really did have the best family in the world. Not a bad feeling to be surrounded by, if she was being honest.

There were a couple of nice messages from Maggie, Nat, April, and Connor too which was lovely. Although, it was stressing her out wondering how Connor might be faring. She hoped he was getting some rest too after the past couple of days they’d had, sending him a message to that effect. She sent one to Will too asking that he check up on him. Bex didn’t get the sense that Connor had as many people to look out for him as she did.

They’d have to work on that.

Her eyebrows raised at the next message. A check-in from Beau. He’d heard about Chris from Devon and wanted to know how they were all doing. She’d have to let Chris know his new best friend was worried about him.  Bex texted Beau an update and he answered back right away, sending his love and asking more questions.

She kept texting with him while she trolled through her various social media sites frowning when she got to Tumblr. There was a message. She never got messages in Tumblr. Her friends on there just used it to share dumb memes and fics, endlessly reblogging from each other.

Bex clicked on it, sure it was going to be some kind of spam, then blinking in surprise when she recognized the account.

Emery.

Bex had been messaging her through every method she could think of for weeks, but it had been radio silence in return.

Hesitating for a moment, she finally clicked on the message.

Hi, Bex – I ran into Isaac and he told me about Chris. I hope he’s okay.

That was it.

Bex sighed. It was still something. She wasn’t going to ignore it when she’d been begging Emery to talk to her for so long.

She wrote back and gave her the highlights, letting her know that Chris was on the mend and asking how Emery was. Fingers crossed she heard something back.

Weird that it was Tumblr that she’d reach out through though. Bex sat back when a terrible thought occurred to her. Knowing what she did about Ty, he probably had never even heard of Tumblr. Emery had most likely used it because she knew a message there could fly under the radar—a spot he wouldn’t think to check.

Feeling a little sick, Bex sent a follow up message with her cell and email and address, telling her she could call, message, or come by any time. It was all info Emery had, but Bex had a feeling it would be good to have it in a safe place she could access.

Maybe this time, things would go differently.

Finally caught up on her messages, Bex set her phone down and stretched. She had just enough time for a deliciously long shower before heading back to the hospital to see Chris.

***

Will

He found Connor snoozing on the couch in the doctor’s lounge.

Trying to be quiet, he set the food on the table, moving to back away when Connor woke up with a start. He blinked blearily up at Will.

“Hey,” he said, voice gravelly with sleep. “Do they need me out there?”

“No, you’re good,” Will said softly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I just brought you some food for when you’re up.”

Connor rubbed at his eyes as he sat up and smiled down at the spread laid out on the table in front of him. “Wow, thank you, Will.”

They both laughed when Connor’s stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly.

“Clearly, I needed it too,” he quipped.

“You can thank Bex,” Will said, waving his phone at Connor. “She sent me an extremely detailed text message with instructions to check up on you.”

“Really?” Connor sounded pleased, but there was something else there too. A little bit of surprise. And maybe a note of disbelief?

“Yeah, man.” Will flopped down on the couch beside him. “I wasn’t joking before. I think she’d already mostly adopted you before you saved Chris’s life so it’s a sure thing now. Get used to it.”

Connor picked up the water bottle and slowly rolled it in his hands, thinking that over. Will waited him out. When he finally spoke, it was so quiet, Will almost missed it.

“Feels weird.”

Will paused, trying to read Connor’s face, but the man was staring determinedly down at the bottle in his hand.

“What part?” Will sat up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees to mirror Connor’s pose.

“Having a fight, talking about it, and then having things be okay—” Connor huffed out a breath. “I keep waiting for one of you to…” He trailed off and Will felt his heart ache as he started to understand what the problem was.

“Keep waiting for one of us to drag it out?” Will guessed. “Make you pay for it? Punish you?”

A small nod at that.

“One thing I’ve learned with the Herrmann family is that fights aren’t about…scoring points or tearing each other down,” Will said. He explained Chris’s new path philosophy to Connor who scrunched up his nose adorably.

“Move on with a better understanding of each other?” he scoffed. “Sounds fake.”

“Took me a while to wrap my brain around too,” Will agreed.

Connor frowned. “It pisses me off,” he said. “I thought I’d moved on, moved past it, but all it took was one moment of thinking that you were trying to undermine me—” His head shot up. “Which I know you weren’t—”

“I know you do.” Will waved off his concerns. “Keep going.”

“The whole thing put me right back to that same mindset I had before I left home.” Connor buried his face in his hands. “Having flashbacks of my dad sounding so goddamn reasonable as he’d tear me down piece by piece. Listing why all of my choices were wrong. How I was screwing up. How I couldn’t be trusted to make decisions.”

He heaved out a sigh. “I’ve been going over everything and waiting for the other shoe to drop. For things to spiral and blow up in my face. For Jay to come back with more accusations. Or for you to be pissed that I got upset or for Bex—”

“Hey.” Will reached out and squeezed the back of Connor’s neck gently. “You’ve been sitting on all of that? For days?”

Connor’s heavy silence was answer enough for that.

“I know it’s hard,” Will said. “You know enough of my past to understand that I do. And your dad’s style of shitty behaviour was somewhat different from mine, but I get that it comes with its own baggage.”

A bitter laugh sounded at that.

“What I’ve learned this past year is that letting that crap fester is even worse,” he continued. “If you’re worried or stressed, please talk to me. You’ve listened to me often enough. Let me return the favour, okay?” He slid his hand around to grasp at Connor’s shoulder and gave him a tight hug. “It’ll take a lot more than that to make me not want to be your friend.”

A little bit of tension bled out of Connor’s shoulders at that. Will bumped his knee gently against his, waiting for him to look up. When blue eyes finally met his, he smiled. “Same goes for Jay and Bex. Especially Bex because she puts up with me and Jay.”

Connor laughed softly and Will clapped his back once before standing up. “Want to go and grab a beer after work? Talk some more? Doesn’t have to be about family bullshit, but it can be if that would help.”

“That would be nice,” Connor nodded.

Will pointed at the food on the table as he started walking backwards out of the room. “And eat all of that,” he said. “Seriously. Bex wants an itemized report so please don’t make me deal with her disappointment, Rhodes.”

“I’m on it,” Connor shot off a salute before reaching for the sandwich.

Satisfied that the man was actually going to eat, Will headed back onto the ED floor. His phone beeped and he laughed at the photo Connor had just sent him titled Proof for Bex that showed him taking a gigantic bite of his sandwich. He forwarded it to her with a little thumb’s up and jumped back into work.

***

Bex

Her phone dinged as she headed down the hallway to Chris’s room and she pulled it out to check the message. A truly atrocious photo of Connor scarfing down a sandwich greeted her with a thumb’s up from Will.

Good job, she texted back.

It was really starting to feel like things were getting back to normal. Oh, jeez. She knocked on her own head in lieu of wood since she seriously did not want to jinx them with that thought.

Turning into Chris’s room, she was happy to see him sitting up with a bit more colour in his cheeks since yesterday. Cindy was sitting beside him looking marginally less exhausted as well.

“Hey!”

“Hey, yourself,” Chris said with a smile before narrowing his eyes to give her a once over.

“What?” she asked when the staring moved from a once over into suspicious inspection territory.

“You look good,” he said. “Better than you did yesterday anyway. Glad you took a break.”

“It was such good timing that Mouse was here to take you home,” Cindy piped up.

“Oh, yeah, that was—he really—I needed, uh—” What the heck was wrong with her. Finish a dang sentence, Bex! “It was nice. Of him. Um. Helpful.”

Chris muttered something under his breath and Cindy started giggling. “What?” Bex frowned, looking back and forth between the two of them which only made Cindy giggle harder and Chris groan. “What?”

“It’s nothing,” Cindy said, still giggling and patting Chris’s hand. “Just ignore us.”

“You guys are so weird,” Bex said, smiling despite them being mildly annoying. Maybe smiling because they were being annoying? For awhile there, she thought she might never get to see them like this again.

It made her heart feel that much lighter to see it.

Everything was going to be okay. No jinx precautions necessary.

***

Six weeks later

***

Mouse

Mouse took a deep breath before he entered the door leading to the basement of the community centre. He’d made the decision to talk weeks ago, but work had been intense and he’d kept putting it off. Now that things had calmed down and he was back at a meeting—

The idea felt more than a little overwhelming.

His panic receded a bit when everyone greeted him warmly as he joined the circle. They’d had a few people in and out of the group over the years, but the six of them were the constants.

Chuck, their unofficial leader who always had such a calm air about him as he sat there with his knitting, listening to every word they said and offering sage pieces of advice.

Ada who always cut to the meat of things with brutal honesty. Something they’d all needed from time to time when it got too easy to keep up the façade of everything being fine.

Frank who never failed to follow up Ada’s bluntness with a tissue and a kind word.

Lucy who had an uncanny way of hearing everything someone carefully didn’t say when bringing a problem to the group.

Ed who always asked the right questions.

And then there was Mouse. He was never sure if he brought enough to their little group. Comic relief only went so far. No one had kicked him out yet though so he wasn’t about to question it out loud.

He’d tried one on one therapy first, but the pressure of being the only one sharing made him shut down. There was something about being in a group and talking with people who had been through the same shit as you that made it that much easier for him to open up.

And the other members of his group had definitely been through it all. When Mouse first started with them, sometimes the only thing that kept him going was the knowledge that they’d made it through lows just as low as his and they were still standing. So maybe he could too.

Jay had been amazing with how much he’d tried to support Mouse when they both got back, but there were certain things he’d never been able to talk about with him. Things only another addict would understand.

Once a week, he got that understanding and made sure he provided it in return.

They finished off their greetings and went around the circle, sharing their news and their struggles from the week. Mouse listened and nodded and asked questions and gave encouragement, but didn’t offer up his own story.

Every time he tried; it was like the words stuck in his throat.

Of course, soon enough, everyone had had their turn and Ada chose that moment to look him over with a critical eye. “Mouse,” she said. “You’ve been awfully quiet tonight. What’s up?”

“No one has to share if they’re not ready, Ada,” Chuck said quietly. “You know that.”

“I know, but look at him,” she waved a hand at Mouse. “He’s like five times twitchier than normal. You can’t tell me there’s not something on your mind, dude.”

“She’s not wrong,” Mouse admitted with a little chuckle before the rest of them could jump all over her for that. He looked around at the faces staring back at him—filled with a mixture of care and concern. They weren’t family, not like Jay and Bex were, but they were his people. And if he could trust anyone with this…it was them.

Mouse took a deep breath as he tried to figure out how to begin. “Have you guys ever been in love?” Oh, shit. That was not how he meant to start. “And uh, been totally freaked out about it?”

Yeah.

That wasn’t any better.

Five pairs of wide eyes stared back at him.

“This about Bex?” Ed asked quietly and Mouse jerked back in surprise.

“How did—I mean, yeah, but—”

“Mouse,” Lucy cut off his rambling mercifully. “The way you talk about her…how could it be anyone else?”

Oh.

He couldn’t really argue with that.

Chuck set down his knitting needles and pushed up his glasses as he gave Mouse a sympathetic smile. “Why don’t you start at the beginning,” he said.

The other four nodded encouragingly and Frank pulled some snacks out of his bag to distribute. Mouse felt a little knot of tension in his chest release. Okay. He could do this.

“A few weeks ago, one of her other brother’s, Chris, he got hurt,” Mouse said and then shook his head. “Actually, I should probably start earlier than that. Uh, so a few years back, I was waiting for Jay at his apartment and Bex showed up. She has this thing with cookies…”

***

Erin

She stood in the doorway of Intelligence and watched her former team working away, oblivious to her presence. Everything and everyone looked totally the same and somehow totally different all at the same time.

Trudy, having brought her upstairs, shot her an understanding glance. “Feeling nostalgic?”

“…maybe a bit,” Erin said with a reluctant smile.

“Wait until they start talking,” Trudy said. “It won’t last. Hey, knuckleheads!” She called out to the room at large. “You’ve got a visitor.”

The team looked up and soon the room was filled with excited talking and surprised exclamations as Erin was pulled into the room. She was grabbed up in one hug after another before Burgess was hauling her over to introduce her to their newest member, Hailey Upton.

Ruzek and Atwater started in on telling her about their first meeting with Detective Upton when she tried to kick Intelligence off of a crime scene—the story quickly devolved into a lot of ribbing back and forth and the usual smartass cracks.

Upton was giving as good as she got though. Definitely a necessary skill with this crew.

Erin caught Jay’s eye from where he was hanging out at the back of the group. He jerked a nod at her and she made her way around the group to give him a hug. It felt way too good to sink into his arms again.

“Glad you could make it,” he murmured.

“I was coming whether they gave me the time or not.” Erin pulled away to peer over his shoulder at Voight’s office. “How’s he doing?”

Jay’s grimace said everything. “Olinsky’s been doing what he can,” Jay said. “But I think you being here is better.”

Erin nodded and patted his shoulder in thanks. “Catch up later?”

“Count on it.” Jay stepped back, letting her pass by to head to the office. Al and Voight had to have heard her arrival, but they were still seated, talking quietly. Probably wanted to let everyone else get it out of their systems.

She knocked on the door before stepping inside. Both men stood up and Al came over to give her a quick hug. “Perfect timing, kid,” he whispered in her ear before leaving and shutting the door behind him.

Hank looked her over for a minute before cracking a smile. “Pisses me off to say it,” he grumbled as he stepped over to pull her into a hug. “But New York agrees with you.”

That startled a laugh out of her as she hugged him back. “Missed you too.”

They broke apart and settled down into their seats. Erin took her own moment to look him over and bit back a sigh. He looked like shit.

Understandably so. But still.

The last few weeks had been rough as more information came out about this Dr. Reybold and the women whose lives he’d destroyed.

Including Camille.

She wished she could have come back sooner, but things with her own work had been intense and this was the earliest she could get away. Right in time for the trial.

Hank had been pretty close-lipped about things every time they’d talked, but even over the phone she could tell he was struggling. Hell, she was struggling.

“What’s it looking like?” she asked him. “Do they have enough to put him away?”

“In my book, yeah, but…” Hank trailed off with a distant look, tapping his fingers over the drawer she knew held a bottle of whisky.

“I’m not leaving until we get him,” Erin said and he finally met her eyes again at that, seeing the promise there. She was staying to help him see this through. For him. For herself. For Justin.

For Camille.

***

Chris

Chris was exhausted.

Not physically—not like he’d been while at home recovering and working toward being cleared again for active duty.

No, he was tired in his soul. He’d been trying so hard to put all of this Freddie business behind him, but talking to the kid’s father had him all churned up again. Anger. Sadness. Pity.

Anger again.

It was a freaking mess.

Everyone was giving him a wide berth in the lounge; probably picking up on his crappy mood. At least they were until all of a sudden a hand was waving in front of his face and he looked up to see—

“Bex?”

“Hey.” His little sister was smiling down at him and then grabbing his arm to gently urge him out of his seat. “Come with me.”

“What’s—”

“Just come with me!” She steered him through the back door and out to where to Severide and Casey’s folding chairs were set up. “Sit,” Bex directed.

He sat.

“Take this.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a KitKat bar.

He took it.

Bex sat down beside him and huffed out a breath when he just sat there, chocolate bar in hand. She took it back and opened it up, breaking it to give him half, before sitting back to munch on her half. “Talk.”

“I feel like I wasn’t this bossy last time we came out here,” he said, letting himself relax a little into the seat and taking a bite of the chocolately goodness.

“I don’t want to give you a chance to wiggle out of this before a call comes through,” Bex said, levelling a look at him. “I was planning on talking to you tonight anyway, but the amount of texts I’ve received today made me think sooner was better than later.”

“Who was texting you?” Chris demanded. “What are they saying—”

“They’re worried, Chris,” Bex said. “No one expects you to be okay—not after what you’ve been through. But I heard Freddie’s dad asked to talk to you? And you went?”

“…yeah,” Chris admitted with a sigh. She watched him with sympathetic eyes until he continued. “We talked. About Freddie. And…jesus, Bex, the kid’s never had a chance. And I’m—I’m still so mad at him, but my heart breaks for him too. But then I get mad all over again because I don’t want to feel bad for him. I want to hate him. But that’s…”

“Exhausting?” Bex finished for him.

“Yeah.” Chris nodded. “It really is.”

They sat in silence for a bit while they finished their chocolate.

“I don’t want to keep being this angry,” Chris finally admitted. “I don’t want to be around the people I love, feeling like this. I don’t want to live with it inside me.”

“I think that’s a step in the right direction,” Bex said softly, reaching out to wrap a hand around his. “What do you want to do? How can I help?” She sat up, brightening as an idea hit her. “Want me to bring stuff to the alley behind Molly’s for you to smash? Hulk out a little and try and get it out of your system?”

“Hulk out—” he sputtered out a laugh. “No, I don’t want to smash stuff, Bex. Thank you for the offer though…I think?”

Bex narrowed her eyes at him thoughtfully. “You already know what you want to do.”

“I do,” he said. “I was just…working through my mad about it. But I know it’s for the best.” Chris sighed deeply. “I have to forgive him, Bex. If I have any hope of moving on, I can’t hold onto this so I think it’s the only way.” He looked over at her, trying to gauge her reaction, finding only understanding in her gaze. “I’m gonna ask to speak to the judge,” he continued. “Try and give him a chance to turn things around.”

“You’re a good man, Chris,” Bex said, squeezing his hand. “We’re all going to be here for you and support you in this. I’m—I’m really freaking proud of you.” She swiped at her eyes with her free hand.

“No, don’t start with that,” Chris cried, feeling his own eyes tear up. “You’re getting me going.”

She stood up and pulled him into a hug that turned more than a bit teary.

“You know, you and Cindy and the kids?” he whispered. “You guys are why I made it and the only reason I can do this.”

“How is this helping us not cry?” Bex sniffled into his shirt and he laughed.

“I love you, kiddo.”

“I love you too, Chris.” She hugged him tight. “Think you’ve got time to eat the other KitKat I brought?”

“Oh, hell yeah.”

***

Jay

Jay sat at his table, nursing his beer as he watched Erin joke around with Bex and Otis at the bar, chatting with Mouse and Burgess and Nadia, and then floating over to hug Dawson. She looked a thousand times more relaxed than she had when she first arrived.

The court case was finally done and that asshole Reybold was going away for awhile.

Of course, that also meant Erin was leaving soon.

Leaving again.

He’d been doing okay. Missing her, but…surviving. Moving forward.

And then she was back, right there in front of him—with her laugh and that voice, the way she looked, the way she smelled, the way she fit right back in as perfectly as she had before.

It was a shock to his system. Tearing loose all of the torn edges that he’d carefully been shoring up since she’d left. He should go home. Say goodnight and get out of here instead of sitting there sifting through all of their what could have beens.

But then he’d have to say goodnight. And goodbye. Again.

He wasn’t ready to do that yet.

“Hey,” Erin sidled up to his table.

“Hey, yourself,” he said, tipping his drink in greeting.

“Thought I’d get one last visit in before I have to head out tomorrow morning.”

Jay couldn’t stop his eyebrows from raising in surprise. “That soon? Bex is going to be disappointed,” he said. “She’s throwing a surprise birthday party for Chris this weekend and I know she was hoping you could come.”

Erin laughed ruefully. “I definitely heard all about that,” she said. “Bex already gave me an earful.”

“So why don’t you stay a few extra days?” A few extra days. Forever.

“I want to,” she said, in a voice he could barely hear above the din of the bar. “But I think I need to go back.”

“Need to?”

“I have a life there now, Jay.” Erin fiddled with the label of her beer bottle, not quite meeting his eyes. “And I didn’t realize what it would be like…coming back here.”

Jay cursed himself, knowing it was stupid to pick at this scab. But he couldn’t stop himself from asking anyway. “What’s it like?”

“Come on, Jay,” Erin scoffed. “I think you know.”

“Tell me.”

She finally looked up at him at that. “It’s really fucking hard, okay? Part of me—part of me wants to stay and you know you’re a huge part of that, right?”

He couldn’t even nod. He could only sit there, letting himself get stripped bare again.

“But I can’t stay,” Erin said, mouth set in a determined line. “I can’t. And none of that has anything to do with you. It’s—you have to know that.”

And he did. She’d said it the first time around and it was as true now as it was then. He’d seen how great being in New York had been for her. Erin was exactly where she needed to be.

Didn’t mean they both couldn’t be gutted over it though.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. “Every day.”

Erin reached out, slowly, like she was unsure of her welcome, so he met her halfway, grabbing her hand in his. “I’ve missed you too,” she said. “Every day.”

“Do you want to get out of here?” The question popped out before he could stop it. Which he should have because that was a horrible idea. The look on Erin’s face said she felt the same way.

“Jay—”

“No, forget I said that,” he said, straightening up and patting his jeans to make sure he had everything. “I should get going anyway.”

“Jay—”

“It was really good to see you, Erin,” he said, holding his arms out for a hug which she gave him. “And I might miss you, but I’m so damn happy that you’re finding what you needed.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, squeezing him once before stepping back.

And then he left, walking out the door before he could make it any harder on either of them.

By the time he got home, his phone had already gone off enough times that he was sure Bex and Mouse and who knew who else had witnessed his exit and were checking in on him. He didn’t bother answering.

What could he say?

The woman he was still in love with was leaving again. Shattering his heart again.

But no worries, all good here.

He sighed at the knock on his door.

“Bex, I swear to god, if you’ve left the bar just to—” The rest of his words dried up when he swung the door open to reveal not Bex, but—

“Erin.”

“I realize this is dumb,” she said pensively, arms crossed tight around her middle. “Seriously a terrible idea, but you just left and I know I’m leaving tomorrow—I know that—and this would make things so much worse, but—”

Jay reached out and pulled her close, cutting her off with a kiss.

“Tell me to leave,” she whispered when they broke apart.

But that was something he would never do.

He bent down to kiss her again, ignoring the voice in his head that was screaming at him about what a bad idea this was and kicked the door shut behind them.

***

Mouse

Molly’s was clearing out, but Mouse stuck around, enjoying the company.

“Otis has the music covered,” Bex said as she wiped down glasses and started getting the bar ready to shut down. “So, I think that’s everything handled?”

“You think this surprise party is, uh, going to stay much of a surprise if you keep talking about it out in the open like this?” he asked, laughing at the face she made in response.

“He’s not even here tonight!” She said, gesturing at the nearly empty bar. “Listen, I know how to be stealthy. He doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“Well, I am also well trained in stealth so let me know if you need any more help,” he said before finishing off his beer.

“Big mistake, dude,” Otis piped up. “You’re in for it now. Bex in party planning mode is terrifying.” He squawked when Bex swatted at him with the towel and moved further down the bar.

“Yeah, you just stay over there, buddy.” She turned to beam a smile at Mouse. “Thank you. That’s really awesome of you and Otis...isn’t totally wrong. I will probably take you up on it.”

“Let me know and I’ll be there,” Mouse said, leaving cash on the bar to settle up his tab. Better to get out of there before he made any other offers.

Let me help with the party.

Let me take you on a date.

Let me love you.

He said his goodnights and headed out to his car. None of that could happen until he’d had his talk with Jay. He’d had a lot of pep talks from his group and he felt as prepared as he could be.

The plan had been to talk to him this week, but then Erin had showed up for the trial and Jay was completely distracted by that.

But she was leaving tomorrow.

Mouse would give it a couple of days and see how Jay was, but then for sure, he was going to bring it up.

Maybe at the party this weekend. Everyone would be in a pretty good mood then. Have a couple of beers in them.

Yeah. That could work. Mouse smiled to himself as he walked down the street.

And it would all be worth it in the end.

To be with Bex.

Click here to read Part 16: Congratulations on Not Dying (Happy Birthday, Chris!)

Click here to read The Centre Must Hold on ao3:

And here is the tag list (let me know if you wish to be added or removed): @sorry-i-spaced, @iunnowatuwant, @lexhalstead3, @multifandomgrl08, @thegirlwhowishedeveryonelived, @ivyalmighty, @thewannabewriter

#chicago fire #chicago med #chicago pd #one chicago #christopher herrmann #jay halstead #will halstead #halstead brothers #oc character #rebecca 'bex' herrmann #halstead sister #sibling bonding #found family #team as family #alternate universe #not canon #not beta read #A Herrmann/Halstead Production #angst #hurt/comfort #a herrmann/halstead production

[catinfroghat]

There's a mouse loose running around somewhere in the hospital I want to know whereeee I want to make friends with it

[killjoyhistory]

“Stay Tuned…”: A Follow-Up

girlautomatic:

Alright, boys and girls, here is what we’ve come up with so far, loosely organized by channel and then a MISC section for everything else. I know this whole thing might not add up to any super-special mystery, but it’s fun to talk about, no? And, as one of the commenters brought up, Gerard did say he wanted it to be something fun.

So! What’s been guessed at so far:

Channel 0: I’m referring to the blank yellow channel that appears to be off, but still shows some kind of signal. It’s like the “home” channel.

RFDD: Looks like your standard issue NTSC Test Pattern or Test Card, down to that annoying single high-pitched beeeeeeeeeeee… No idea what the acronym/abbreviation might mean, though.

BLND: Screen also looks like a Test Card, but more in the style of the Indian Style Test Card, except it’s got a smiling mouse-like creature that appears to have a bullet hole through the head. (I could be wrong?) Tumblr User Leedek suggested that BLND might stand for “Bland”, as in elevator music. The song is likely in the bossa nova style (and decidedly not that bland) but nobody’s been able to figure out what the name of it is yet. It also appears to start out loud but progressively fade as the song continues.

WKIL: Thermal imaging of a man seen from the profile view. If you stay on this screen long enough, the man will change various colors, eventually looping back to the starting point. There’s also a lot of static noise going on, but underneath it one can ear the sound of a drumbeat similar to “Cemetery Drive”, along with possibly the sound of horns or someone singing. User Clarev raised the question that perhaps it has to do with announcing the arrival of a new drummer. Personally, I think it’s more about announcing their return to their more punkish roots after the huge theatrical performance that was The Black Parade. It could be both. It could be nothing. Who knows? Also, no idea what the acronym/abbreviation might mean.

KLSK: Leedek suggested that perhaps this stands for “Classic”, and it rather makes sense. The screen features what is either a radioactive symbol or one of those old-school recording reels. It’s also got “KLSK” written on one of the yellow “rays” while the other two look either muddy or bloody. Also, I feel kind of old for knowing this (though I’m only 23), but the song playing is America’s “A Horse with no Name”. It’s actually a pretty cool jam.

HRBT: Another Test Card screen! I’ve got no similarity equivalent for this one, although I did think for a while that it looked a bit like Test Card F. (If you’ve seen the British show Life on Mars, you might recognize the girl and doll in the middle.) They don’t really look that much alike, though… A couple of you suggested that this abbreviation is for “Heartbeat”, especially since it features what appears to be a lifeline barely visible in the middle of the Test Card, and the beeping sounded perhaps like a heart monitor. Others of you suggested that it probably wasn’t a heart monitor, since that would be so 2006. XD I initially thought it might’ve been Morse Code, but I quickly tossed that out when it only produced gibberish. My history of spending time in hospitals says it does sound familiar, especially since real electrocardiograms (aka, heart monitors) tend not to sound the way they do on TV. (No patient would be able to sleep if they did!) It makes me think of those machines that measure pulse, blood pressure and the body’s oxygen level. The name of it escapes me right now.

MISC: User Eric Lee pointed out that the counters go up to 59 and then restart. Does that mean it’s a clock? (There was also a comment about Halloween, but I didn’t quite understand the connection. I’m sorry. D:) There’s also the fact that the counters are counting up, at various speeds, as opposed to counting down to something. There’s also still the acronym/abbreviation of PTTP on the bottom…

Questions: - What exactly is the machine? Is it a portable television? A radio? Some futuristic alien scanner? - Why are they delighting in melting our brains? - Has anyone thought of scouring the internet to see if any side sites have popped up? I remember during The Great TBP Mystery of 2006, that in addition to the main MCR site, there was a side site for The Black Parade that was all sorts of weird for a while. (It’s since gone down completely, along with the creepy variation that was just a dead flatline around the time that The Black Parade is Dead! came out. Maybe there’s something hiding out there? I’ve got the Disqus comment app enabled, and it has OpenID, so you can probably sign in with your Tumblr. (Plus, it offers more word/character space! :D) Don’t pay too much attention to the question at the end of this long post; I just needed a way to enable answers again for those more comfortable using that. (But if you get the reference, you win an internet cookie.) ETA: I was skimming other Tumblr posts and found this take on the WKIL channel from user Wind-Addiction: WKIL - a very strange one: there’s a heatscan-looking image of the silhouette of a man’s head along with a bar of colors. the man changes colors/heats up and cools down over the course of a few minutes. someone suggested the cooling of the body means he’s dead. someone said that the channel is the name of an old pirate radio station called WeKill from the 80s. another said the man was alfred Hitchcock. idk. audio is radio static fading in and out, beeps, possibly some music in the background, which would confirm the pirate radio theory.

You can read the full post here. Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Some of this information is now outdated, but it still offers a great description of the mysterious transmitter and the different images and recordings. It’s also a perfect example of the mystery and scrutiny that defined the beginning of the DD era.

#mcr website

[katsukikitten]

Ooh ooh! For the prompt game, 31 and our boy Katsuki? Just that line already has my heart racing and if you give me more context oh my… but of course, only do this one if you want to!!

On another note I hope you’re having a fantastic summer and are taking good care of yourself!

A/N : Great minds think alike I see 👀 my summer has been rainy but good. Lookin ta be sun all next week so I'll be in the POOL

PROMPT : I think you're in love with me.

Large hot palms have you pinned to the cracked training mat. Keeping your thrashing movements to a minimum as he hooks his feet into the back of your knees, keeping all of his weight onto your pelvis.

Asshole.

What was with him anyway? Constantly choosing you as his partner. Constantly taking you to long and boring meetings making you write down each and every word, VERBATIM just for him to toss the paper with your tightly looped font into the can with a hiss. "Don't need em"

He was picking and singling you after your first year at this agency and he didn't once let up.

Especially not during training.

And especially not after the incident, of the close call you had brushing shoulders with Death.

As if getting electrocuted by the villain while you were holding up a falling building was your fault. When someone was meant to watch your flank.

But that was all under the bridge now, you were perfectly healed thanks to your secondary quirk that let you bounce back from almost anything.

Still you find yourself pinned under the brutish ash blonde who snarls more than he does frown. Glaring down at you with poison bromine eyes as his grip tightens on your wrists as they groan in protest. He leans closer to you, nose close to yours.

"Again." And with a roll of your eyes you indulge your boss once more.

Throwing a dirty sucker punch before he's ready, still his agile body moves with quickness as he dodges your mighty fist, only to catch it in his own. Pulling you quickly into his chest, so harshly that you bounce off of his hardened muscles before he pulls you back into his chest. Sharing mingled breath before a moment in time slows down, his free hand coming down to squeeze your hip with an intensity that matches his burning ember gaze.

It dawns on you then, when his eyes flicker to your parted, panting mouth for a fraction of a second, exactly what's going on here. This is explains it, explains the rumor of him staying in your hospital room after visiting hours were up. Explains how he your favorite lunch order shows up on your desk with his paper thin excuse that the place fucked his up at first. How your chap stick never runs out and just how your water bottle is always, always full.

As if it were some type of magic.

Although you didn't know him totally, you know Bakugou Katsuki well enough to see that he only did things like this to people he liked.

A devilish cat smile forms on your lips as if you were finally the big bad cat that caught the sad little mouse.

"I think you're in love with me." It comes out sanguine, eyes twinkling with mischief in the harsh lighting of the basement agency gym.

Confirmation comes in a deep blush that rushes up his thick throat and burns brightly at the tips of his ears, eyes widening. His mouth flounders open to retort but before he can you rear your head back.

Slamming your forehead into his causing him to loose his footing and falls on his ass onto the mat.

He props himself on his elbows as you've earned a nasty glare as you laugh loudly watching a giant bruise form on tender skin. Shocked to finally get down to the bottom of his hot and cold nature.

Before he can rise you straddle him, for once allowing yourself to feel him beneath you. Shoving his shoulders into the mat and leaning over his face closely.

Lips brushing his with the same cat smile on your face as you send a shiver down his spine with one spiced honeyed word.

"Again."

#kitten games 🖤🐈‍⬛ 🎮 #kitten writes 🖤🐈‍⬛🖋️ #bakugou drabble

[nightingaleflow]

Violet and Lotus, Part 1

AO3 Link

Fandom: Naruto Pairing: Rock Lee x Nezumi Chisaki (my OC) Rating: T Word Count: 3.2k Warnings: None for this chapter

Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven

A/N: I've hinted at how Lee and Nezumi got together in my one-shots with them, but now I've decided to tell the whole story. I think this will end up being three or four parts, but we'll find out when we get there.

This first part is entirely from Nezumi's perspective but we'll be getting things from both in later parts.

Hope you enjoy. <3

~~~

Ever since her Academy days, Nezumi had always been an early riser. She loved waking up while the light outside was still dim and eating breakfast while the sun crept over the horizon. It was a rare moment of peace in her day, one that she sorely needed between all of the training, classes, and missions. Once she started at the hospital, her mornings became even more critical, because it was the one time of day she was guaranteed a moment of sanity.

This morning was no exception. The clock read 5:32 am, but Nezumi happily sat up and turned off the alarm that would have gone off in half an hour had she somehow slept in. She stretched, then slid out of bed and moved through the motions of her morning routine. Usually, she had breakfast - fish, miso soup, rice, egg, and green tea - which she ate while sitting at the little table by her window. She took a quick shower, then dried and styled her mousy brown hair into her usual pigtails. She made sure her outfit - a pink sleeveless turtleneck, black pants, and a silver mouse necklace - was ironed and stain-free, then dressed before heading to work.

This morning, however, as Nezumi buttoned up her blouse, a firm knock echoed on her door. Her head snapped up, eyes going wide. She rarely got visitors at all, not even to say hi or borrow a cup of sugar. To have one so early in the day was unheard of…unless…

Guessing who was going to be on the other side, she opened the door to find Shikamaru. “Good morning,” she said, idly fiddling with a loose splinter on the doorframe.

“Morning, Nezumi,” Shikamaru said.

“Um…what can I do for you, Shikamaru?” Nezumi asked, her nervous tongue already tripping over itself.

“Lord Kakashi’s requesting you,” Shikamaru said, stifling a yawn. “It’s a drag, but you need to head over to the Hokage’s office immediately.”

Nezumi sighed. “I had a feeling,” she said as she straightened herself. “I have a shift this morning at the hospital. Will you let Sakura know?”

“That was going to be one of my next stops,” Shikamaru replied. “Don’t worry about that, just head on over.” He paused. “The mission is top secret, by the way. Don’t even mention to anyone else that you’re going. Kakashi will fill you in on the rest when you get there.”

Nezumi nodded. That was usually how it was.

She walked down the road towards the Hokage’s office. She looked up at the early morning sky, studying the red streaks painting the clouds as the sun crested the horizon and hoping they weren’t an omen.

Once she arrived, she knocked softly on Kakashi’s door.

“Enter,” he called from inside.

She pushed the door open. “Good morning, Lord Kakashi,” she said. “You wished to see me?”

Then she froze.

Standing in front of Kakashi’s desk was someone she knew all too well. Black bowl cut. Large eyebrows. A standard Konoha flak jacket over a green jumpsuit. Orange leg warmers. Bandages wrapping his hands and wrists.

She supposed the scarlet clouds had been an omen after all.

Rock Lee’s gaze met hers. He gasped, his eyes growing wide. “It is you!”

“H-hello,” she stammered, her eyes lowering as she wrung her hands.

Kakashi looked between them. “Do you two already know each other?”

“N-no, not really,” Nezumi replied. She took a deep breath, then stepped up and offered her hand to Lee. “Nezumi Chisaki.”

His calloused fingers wrapped around hers. “Rock Lee.”

“Very good. Now we can cut to the chase,” Kakashi said.

Grateful for the distraction, Nezumi focused her attention on Kakashi as he set a map on his desk.

“We’ve received intel that Yugakure may be planning an invasion of our village,” Kakashi said, pointing at a spot just on the other side of the border. “However, we haven’t been able to confirm this one way or another. Nezumi, we need you to infiltrate Yugakure and find out anything you can about this supposed invasion. Lee, your role will be to provide Nezumi backup. She’ll explain in more detail once you leave here.”

“Yes, sir,” Lee said with a salute.

Nezumi frowned. “Sir, did I hear you correctly? You said Yugakure was planning this?”

“I did,” Kakashi said.

Nezumi folded her arms. “But, they’ve been a peaceful tourist village since even before the war. What made them change their ways now?”

“We don’t know,” Kakashi replied. “Truth be told, I hope this intel is completely wrong. They’ve never given us any reason before this to doubt them or our alliance. But that’s why we need you, Nezumi. We need you to find out exactly what is going on and why.”

“Ok,” Nezumi said. “I won’t let you down.”

Kakashi looked between them both. “The name of the game for this mission is discretion,” he said. “Neither of you are to discuss the nature or objective of this mission apart from the people currently in this room and Shikamaru. Even if it’s the best case scenario and this intel is false, it could jeopardize our relationship with Yugakure if word got out that we were investigating at all.”

Lee and Nezumi both nodded.

“Do either of you have any questions before you depart?” Kakashi asked.

“No, sir,” Lee said as Nezumi shook her head.

“Then best of luck, and I look forward to seeing you upon your return.”

~

Nezumi waited anxiously at the gate, her fingers fiddling with the straps of her pack. She paced back and forth between the posts, glancing back toward the village.

Of all the ninjas in the village, why had Kakashi chosen Lee to be her partner?

She knew perfectly well who he was. There wasn’t a ninja in the village who hadn’t heard of Konoha’s top taijutsu specialist, and even if she hadn’t, she’d heard enough complaints from Sakura about him over the years. He’d wound up in the hospital a few times from injuries sustained during missions, and Sakura always yelled at him about training instead of resting and letting his body heal.

Nezumi hadn’t encountered him herself until a random day when she happened to pass by the training field nearest to the hospital. He’d been out there skipping rope and loudly counting the number of reps. She hadn’t thought anything of it at first. Then she realized the numbers he was yelling were over 700. She’d stopped and hidden off to the side, watching in awe as he made it to 1000.

Then, without even a moment’s pause, he’d started punching the nearby training post, aiming for 1000 more reps.

She wondered, how on earth was he doing that without hurting himself? Then she became worried that he would hurt himself by pushing himself to such extreme lengths. She thought about asking him if he minded her staying and making sure he was ok. But talking to people had never been her strong suit unless they were her patient. The mere thought of just walking out and starting a conversation with Lee already had her tongue tied in knots, so she stayed concealed off to the side until he finished training.

He hadn’t needed any healing that day, but that didn’t stop Nezumi from thinking about him. Was his training that intense every single day? If it was, that meant he would probably need medical assistance at some point. But would he want it even if she was able to offer it?

She didn’t know, and she was too scared to ask. But she was also too worried to just let it go.

After that day, she started a new routine. Whenever she was off, she returned to the training field to check on him. She continued as she had the first day, making sure he didn’t need any medical assistance before he left, and staying hidden without saying a single word.

Over time, she came to admire him - his strength, his willpower, his enthusiasm. She had treated many of the village’s strongest ninjas at the hospital, but as far as she was concerned, none of them held a candle to Lee, who pushed through rep after rep with a smile on his face.

As days turned into weeks, her fondness for him grew. Whenever she saw him, her heart beat a little faster, her face a little hotter. His kind smile and impressive muscles filled her thoughts during the day and her dreams at night. But she also felt guilty about spying on him, and wished she was brave enough to just talk to him instead of sitting off to the side like a coward.

In the weeks she’d been watching over him, he hadn’t injured himself once. He probably didn’t need her help, and she was just wasting time and intruding on his privacy by being there. But she couldn’t bring herself to just leave - what if she did, and that was the time he did need her help?

Nezumi had managed to keep her surveillance a secret until yesterday, when she’d finally made one mistake. During Lee’s training, he misaimed his kick and his foot bent back at an alarming angle. She’d let out a noise of dismay, worried he’d broken or sprained something.

And then he’d been right in front of her, demanding to know who was there.

Her face burned at the memory. She’d fallen over into a bush, stammering as she tried to explain herself, but all she’d managed to get out was a garbled version of her name and that she was a Konoha shinobi.

To his credit, Lee had taken the intrusion remarkably well once he understood she wasn’t an enemy. He’d even asked her if she was all right after and offered her a hand to help her stand up. But, much to her shame, all she’d managed to do after that was run away. She hid in her apartment for the rest of the day, wondering as she lay on her bed if it would be too much trouble to change her identity and move someplace far away. That way, she’d never have to face him again after such an embarrassing display.

Now, as she watched Lee running up the street towards her, she wondered if it was too late to go back to that plan.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to keep you waiting,” Lee said as he came to a stop.

Nezumi shook her head, feeling the familiar burn returning to her cheeks. “Are you ready?” she managed, looking out at the road.

“I am!” Lee replied. “Lead the way, Miss Chisaki.”

With that, they leapt into the trees.

Nezumi kept her focus ahead, trying to think only about the mission. She ran through what she knew about their destination.

Yugakure, also known as the Village of Hot Water, called itself the “village that has forgotten wars.” As she’d told Kakashi, they had become a peaceful, pacifistic village in recent years, focusing on tourism and trade. They had some of the best tourist attractions in the world, from hotels to onsens to casinos. They still had ninja, but they were used for maintaining security for the tourists rather than fighting battles.

That such a village was plotting to overthrow Konoha made little sense to Nezumi. What did Yugakure have to gain from threatening to overthrow a powerful ally like Konoha? She couldn’t think of any reasonable explanation.

She glanced back at Lee. He easily kept up with her on the branches, though he stayed one step behind, letting her lead. Nezumi’s mind drifted, wondering why he’d been chosen for this mission. Holding affection for him didn’t mean she knew how he operated apart from being skilled with taijutsu. Would he still follow her lead once they arrived? Would he try to take over? Would he be reliable, or unpredictable? Kakashi knew his ninja well and wouldn’t send her with a partner she couldn’t work with, but she still hated uncertainties.

Lee noticed her looking at him. “Miss Chisaki?”

Nezumi blushed and snapped her head forward. “What is it, Lee?”

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, everything’s fine,” she said. “Just…trying to think through some things.”

“Like what?”

“Like…” she thought quickly. “Our cover when we get to Yugakure.”

“Ah yes, of course,” Lee said. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, since Yugakure is a tourist village, I think that once we get closer we should approach on foot as if we were also tourists,” Nezumi said. “That way it won’t be a big deal if people see us around the village. We’ll just blend in with all the rest.”

Lee nodded. “That is an excellent strategy. But what about getting the information that Lord Kakashi is seeking?”

“I’ll figure that part out once we get there,” Nezumi replied. “I need to look around and get the lay of the land first.”

“I understand,” Lee said. “What about my role, then? Kakashi said you would explain more after we left.”

Nezumi sighed. “I’m sorry, Lee, but I can’t tell you yet. We have to wait until we’re somewhere where I can guarantee we won’t be overheard.” She attempted to smile. “It’ll make sense when we get there, I promise.”

Lee nodded. “Ok, I understand.”

The conversation stilled. As the miles flew by around them, the silence grew awkward as each of them tried to think of something further to say. Then Lee’s expression grew slightly more serious. “Miss Chisaki,” he said. “If I may ask you something…”

Nezumi tensed.

“Why…were you at the training field yesterday?” Lee asked, his brow furrowed. “I have been trying to make sense of it, and I cannot.”

She let out a nervous squeak as she tried to figure out how to answer. “I…um…”

Lee scratched the back of his head. “I am sorry, you do not have to answer if you do not want, but…”

“N-no,” Nezumi said, swallowing hard. “Y-you’re entitled to an answer…and we need to be able to trust each other on this mission. We can’t do that if you’re wondering about me.” She took a deep breath, her fingers fiddling with the silver mouse hanging around her neck. “I was there because…I was worried about you.”

Lee blinked. “You were worried…about me?”

Nezumi nodded, fighting to keep her voice calm. “That…wasn’t the first time. I noticed a while back how hard you were training and was afraid you were going to hurt yourself. And you were always alone, so I was worried that if you did, there wouldn’t be anyone to help you. So whenever I could, I hung around so I would be there in case you needed it.”

Lee’s expression was genuinely stunned. He stopped on a branch, and Nezumi paused next to him.

Tears flooded his eyes. Nezumi straightened and stepped back with alarm. “Lee?” she asked.

“Miss Chisaki,” he said, sniffling loudly. “That is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me!”

Nezumi stared in bewilderment. “What?”

Lee bowed to her. “You are so kind, Miss Chisaki. I promise, I will repay you!”

“T-that’s not necessary, Lee!” Nezumi said, putting up her hands. “If anything, I should be apologizing. I intruded on your training without permission.”

“It is no trouble at all,” Lee said. “I am truly honored. You do not have to hide, though. Next time, please feel free to join me.”

Nezumi’s cheeks flushed pink. She shook her head and leapt to the next branch. “Come on,” she called. “We need to keep moving.”

Lee gave her a brilliant smile and a thumbs up before following.

They didn’t stop again until they were near the border and the sun was low in the sky. They found a secluded spot near a river and started setting up camp. “Can you start a fire for us while I set up seals?” Nezumi asked, setting her pack down.

“I would be happy to,” Lee assured her, already gathering a few sticks from the base of a tree.

Nezumi made her way around a small perimeter, placing sealing tags on a few trees to suppress their presence. Once the tags were in place, she made another loop to make sure she hadn’t overlooked any spots. Only when she was completely satisfied at their security did she return to their camp.

Lee looked up from the small fire he was nursing and smiled. “Welcome back,” he said. “I trust all is well?”

Nezumi nodded as she pulled a set of scrolls out of her pack. “I’ll make us dinner,” she said. “Do you like curry?”

Lee’s face lit up. “I love curry!”

For the first time since they’d started their mission, Nezumi’s smile was genuine. “Mild or hot?”

“As hot as you can make it!”

Nezumi raised an eyebrow. “You sure that’s what you want?”

Lee nodded eagerly. “There is no curry in this world that is too hot for me. The hotter, the better!”

Nezumi shrugged, then unsealed a pot, a canister of water, dishes, and a container of dehydrated curry. She filled the pot with water and set it over the fire. Once the water was boiling, she carefully funneled it into the curry, filling the air with a spicy scent.

Lee bowed his head as she passed him a steaming bowl. “This looks wonderful, Miss Chisaki. Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome, Lee,” Nezumi said, grateful that the fading daylight was now hiding her blushes.

Lee took a bite of the curry. His skin flushed a dark pink, and he let out a sound that sounded like steam escaping from a kettle.

Nezumi’s eyes widened. “Are you ok?”

“This…is…so good!” Lee said, his eyes shining. “I cannot remember the last time I had curry this wonderful!”

She watched him wolf down more curry in disbelief. “Really?”

He nodded eagerly.

Nezumi fiddled with her necklace. “Thank you, that’s really nice to hear for once.”

Lee looked at her curiously. “What do you mean, for once?”

“The few times someone’s eaten my curry, they accused me of trying to poison them because of how spicy it is,” Nezumi said.

Lee looked indignant. “How rude of them,” he said. “This is truly the best I have ever had. If someone said that, then they have no taste buds whatsoever!” The wheels turned in his head. “Wait, did you make this curry from scratch, Miss Chisaki?”

Nezumi nodded. “I was never completely happy with the curry I got from the store, so one day I decided to figure out how to make it myself.”

“Remarkable. You truly have a gift,” Lee said.

“T-thank you, Lee,” Nezumi stammered. “That’s…really nice of you to say.”

He beamed at her, and Nezumi busied herself with her own curry.

Once they both finished eating, Lee bowed to her. “Miss Chisaki, thank you so much for a wonderful meal.”

“You’re welcome,” Nezumi said. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Nezumi returned everything to the scroll as Lee extinguished the fire. “You should go ahead and get some rest, Miss Chisaki,” Lee said. “I will take the first watch.”

Nezumi blinked. “Oh, all right,” she said. “I was going to offer, but if you’re sure…”

Lee waved his hand. “I am. Do not worry about a thing. I will not let anything happen to you - and that is a promise!”

A tiny squeak escaped Nezumi’s lips, which she disguised with a small cough. “All right.” She unrolled her bedroll and tried to get comfortable on the hard ground. “Good night, Lee,” she called, not feeling the least bit tired.

From behind her, she heard his warm voice respond. “Sleep well, Miss Chisaki.”

~

Tag List: @justmyownreality @therantingfangirl @mrsbakashi @starnightcat @anchy-bananchy @mal-the-konohoe (if you would like to be added to the tag list please let me know)

#Rock Lee #Rock Lee x OC #Naruto #Naruto fanfiction #fanfiction #nightingale writes #writing #my writing #Violet and Lotus #Nezumi Chisaki #NezuLee #my babies