#touchofpotw

[blythewonder]

It’s not like I even always listen to public advisories but I hope everyone is remaining indoors until the whole fog situation is resolved. Just - don’t be stupid. Please.

#touchofstarter #// the first bridget starter i have done in forever #(or rather starter in general) #touchofpotw #i hope this makes some sense

[leo--chimaira-blog]

New Face of Fear

Leo wished he’d been a little smarter with the whole letting Noah out of his cage at the request of Reza, Cahill, and one unknown werewolf. The Family finding out about it was inevitable, as Dharm always knew about problems before they even happened, yet he felt like he could’ve played up his part a bit more. They could’ve thrown him around a little more (though he still had a colossal, massive hand-shaped bruise on his face from that highly dangerous alpha, Cahill, which definitely helped), or threatened more creatively to make it feel more like he had no choice in the matter. The way things went, he all but rolled out the red carpet for them and sent them away with goodie bags, which the Family certainly wouldn’t be happy hearing.

Here, there weren’t secrets (or, he wasn’t allowed secrets of his own, the hypocritical snakes), or so much as the whitest of fibs, there were sins that were temporarily overlooked by Dharm until they built up enough to warrant punishment. Today, Leo realized as his phone buzzed with an ominous Meet me in the basement, was the day he reached the end of his chain.

Well, freedom was nice while it lasted. A small, weak part of him was looking forward to having things like personal agency locked back away by the Gift, because really, he didn’t even know how to begin to process that their whole group murdered nonhumans without so much as letting them say goodbye to their families. The Family dismissed them as a liability, something to be exterminated, but in reality, every creature was different, and even if they were evil through and through, it was still insanely cruel to let them all starve to death, or keep them in cages like he’d done to Noah, or shoot them in the head like Maryse ordered of that intruding man. Leo didn’t know how to go about living with that on his shoulders, couldn’t begin to fathom.

Going against Dharm was already a strain on his poor mind, as he suffered from feeling insect legs up and down his spine and bat wings all through his guts and his neck muscles were so tense from it all he’d probably have knots in them until he died. The link was too faint to do anything except hum unhappily and occasionally make him spout propaganda when he was trying to talk to people. He didn’t want to continue to act in a way that made those effects continue, plus Dharm probably had a lot to say about responsibility and consequences.

More than anything, Leo wished he didn’t know. He wished he was capable of returning to Dharm’s arms and accept whatever fate was planned for his insubordination. And with the Gift backing his dad up, he may have no choice but to bend to his will.

That in itself didn’t scare Leo. It’d been the dynamic since day one. Everyone else, however, the ones outside their control, all running around directionless and loveless that he found off-putting. He had purpose with Dharm.

But after everything he’d seen… it was all a lie. How could they have everyone’s best interest at heart when that involved promising to rehabilitate nonhumans and then neglecting them until they died in agony? They knew it was wrong enough to hide.

Leo wasn’t supposed to know. His role was to struggle, to be a gentle, malleable prince who’d only toughen up when Dharm died and it came time for him to inherit the Relics, keeping his faithful aunt and uncles by his side to advise, lofty positions safe even as the crown changed heads. Certainly none of them expected him to find out about their sick little setup, much less start developing opinions of his own on the matter.

At the point, he didn’t have a choice. Leo couldn’t just go back to being ignorant, as appealing as it was, no matter what he faced in the basement.

He puttered around the kitchen for another minute, drinking a cup of water to stall for time and prepare.

Already, the old letters branded into the small of his back throbbed in anticipation, as they were a favorite target of Dharm’s when it came time to be physical. Leo wished he’d pick another place to torment; the scars healed slow, flesh so ruined from the initial fire and all the times it’d been reopened, toyed with, or scorched again that it scarcely closed up anymore. Follow, it once read, inflicted with love and the desire for Leo to take its meaning to heart, but the letters were now warped almost beyond recognition.

Despite his numerous reservations and growing sense of dread, Leo’s instinct to be a dedicated son won out as he finished his water, placed the used glass in the dishwasher, ruffled his hair, and made his way to the basement. Its eerily creaky door paired with stairs that sounded like dying cats under his feet let Dharm know he was on his way down to the earth-scented room.

The space was circular in shape with a faded creamy brown wallpaper that peeled up around the edges, a wooden floor upon which was carved a number of commands (they may have summarized the speech from his seminars, but Leo’s head spun too hard when he tried to read what they said, too slippery and elusive for him to absorb), enough ancient rugs to cover the words up, and Dharm’s rocking chair, similarly marked. For now, it also contained Dharm himself, seated sagely with his lantern propped up on his knee, watching his son pad off the final step with disappointment already fresh over his pointed features.

“Hey, dad. You called me?” Leo tried weakly, like he wasn’t aware of exactly what this little meeting was about. “What’s up?”

“Leo,” Dharm sighed, “don’t play this game today. You know what you did.”

“What did I do?”

His blue eyes glinted in the dim light, unreadable. “I’ve been hearing some pretty strange stories. People are saying there was a werewolf on the property who wasn’t initiated. Have you heard anything about that?”

Leo shook his head innocently.

“So you don’t know he got busted out a few nights ago?”

Another head shake.

“Say it out loud.”

“I had no idea he was here.”

Dharm laughed, cold. “Boy, you are a hoot. You realize what you’ve done, right? You just confirmed your role in his release. And you lied to me.”

The accusation was clear in his voice. It was one thing to keep a secret, but quite another to speak slander to the face of the man who controlled all Gifts. Leo should be compelled to tell the truth at all times, but instead was sticking to his false guns with only mild efforts. It was under Dharm’s skin, too, fingers curled too tight around the handle of the lantern, leaning forward in his chair with interest, icy eyes appraising.

He was gearing up to tear the prodigal son down into his rightful place, under his heel, too obedient for deceit, but Leo didn’t want to go along anymore. “I never lied to you.

“But you did. Just now.” Dharm’s lips pulled back over his teeth. “This game you’re playing, Leo, it’s making you weak. Working against your own family? That’s a sin. I can feel it eating away at you.”

Leo’s skin crawled. The remnants of the spirit linking him to Dharm was beginning to thrum alive from where he’d pushed it down, weakened after the trauma of discovering the legion of dead. He wasn’t going to bow to its will. He knew better. But he couldn’t quite form the words to tell the man no.

“Obey,” said his dad sternly, stepping into the center of the room and jerking his head in a ‘come here’ motion.

Leo guiltily allowed himself to be moved, less from the desire to continue down this road and more out of habit. He was bent over backwards at the knees, shoulders supported by Dharm’s thigh, kept from sliding off with a firm arm looped around his neck. The position was reminiscent of being baptized, but instead of crashing to the floor, Leo was suspended there, helpless to his dad’s will, nothing to break his fall if he were to wriggle away, head left to dangle awkwardly. Dharm’s free hand came down like a vice, heel resting just between his brows, palm flat and fingers clawing to keep him still. From here, he couldn’t run, or speak, or even struggle. Not that he would’ve, since Dharm hated being interrupted.

“It’s my fault too, of course. I’ve let you run wild without consequence for too long. I saw this malice growing inside you and did nothing.” The voice was cold and husky and came from everywhere.

Leo thought that was a load of manure. Behind his eyes flashed the dozens of dozens of nonhumans which lay without graves, mangled and forgotten, without allowing them even a goodbye to their families. He could imagine all too clearly what it must’ve been like to sit there, still as death, docile, and silent as hunger and thirst raged in their bones, surrounded by rot, yet having complete faith that any minute, an initiate would come with the secret to enlightenment, setting them free from their terrible affliction, which was, obviously, their nature. Or worse, they might’ve just sat there fully aware that nobody was coming, and being perfectly okay with it. Their lives were putty in the hands of the Family, falling through their fingers to splat on the sidewalk and cook into clay under the sun.

And on top of all that, how many times had they fabricated this pretense? How long were they watching, laughing at him and his rosy blindfold, preaching about their superiority when they knew full well that they were just as ugly as anyone else? No, Leo wouldn’t bend his will so easily. Not when Noah was the only living soul to escape death’s greedy claw.

He was glad the kid free, because he was safe and with his own weird family, and Leo could accept his part in the whole thing and move on. It was strange that he of all people, who lived and breathed for his family, who knew better than anyone else how family kept each other sane, played a part in keeping the guy from his werewolf pack and Reza. They were pretty damn happy to have Noah back. Dharm was just mad that Leo wasn’t acting according to his dictation any longer.

“Consider this my apology, boy. I’ve let you suffer too long in chaos. When I rip it out,” here his hissing voice became like gravel, pronouncing the rest with awful leisure, “you’ll be empty enough to fill with fear.”

With the force of the Relic to back him up, Dharm’s palm seared against Leo’s scalp. The vision blurred, morphing into something darker, corpses turning monstrous, growing fangs, skin purpling, yellow eyes rolling around dully as if they were all intricate puppets springing around with an unseen hand pulling at their spines, tickling their dead nerves into spastic motion, spewing maggots and liquefied intestines at every twitch from their gaping mouths and spots where flesh flaked clean away from the bone. But more than that, more than disgust, more than panic, Leo’s link had lit up, helpless to do anything except experience the terror that echoed wildly between them.

“We fight monsters for a reason.” Dharm leaned down and whispered so close to his ear, he could feel his stale breath on his cheek. “Fear brings order, isn’t that what I’ve always told you? From the state you’re in, removing all that chaos will hurt. I expect you to bear it proudly. It’s for your Family.”

Leo’s mouth fell open in horror, brain kindling beneath his skull. He tried to jerk away, and was met with a harsh squeeze of fingertips into his temple. This wasn’t right, it was the Family who wallowed in chaos and deception, not Leo, but the thought melted away like dew through the rising temperature.

“I’ve got you, boy.”

Dharm’s entire body rumbled with the words, but Leo didn’t hear, eyes rolled back in his head, ears beginning to bleed, leaking steadily down his neck. He was paralyzed with the movement of the Gift. It was writhing like a squirrel was trapped there, caught between using its contents to build a nest and trying desperately to escape, gnawing and clawing, making room by any means possible. Dharm told him to be composed, so he didn’t make a single sound, biting his tongue even as his body arched.

What was the point of his rebelliousness? What good did free will do when all it got him was dragged into his place with all the ceremony of a spider waiting for its venom to still its tangled dinner? Was it worth it? In that moment, webs tangling up his mind, Leo decided it wasn’t. He surrendered, blacking out.

Time passed.

He couldn’t think, couldn’t feel, couldn’t move, and if it weren’t for the swollen, satisfied thing behind his ears, he’d have suffocated. He was the same as those awful dead beasts. Disobedient. Chaotic. Straying from the path of enlightenment.

He didn’t deserve his own breath as long as he worked against Dharm.

Swimming closer to awareness, his eyes fluttered open, he recognized that he was laying on his front, neck just beginning to ache from being turned at an uncomfortable angle. Maryse had joined them, standing against the wall with her arms crossed, sorrowful as she watched Dharm, who knelt over Leo’s back with her borrowed knife. The superheated blade following the same old path along the ruined skin and shot nerves. He thought he’d be sick, hurting worse and worse with every pass.

Follow. He intended to. Whatever conflict- its exact nature eluded him currently- wasn’t worth fighting with his family. This was where he belonged.

He must have made some noise- already going back on the resolution to stay silent- because immediately both eyes snapped to him, and momentarily, the pain ceased. Like a comforting blanket, the refreshed link jumped to follow some unspoken command from his dad, smothering Leo back into oblivion so he didn’t have to feel the sharp, ever-burning point return to his spine.

#touchofsolo #touchofpotw #potw the long arm #body horror tw #gore tw #domestic abuse tw #emotional abuse tw #new face of fear #tldr; leo gets his flat ass re-brainwashed so he's loyal to them again #>: ]

[veronicatheslayer]

Wake And Bake Sale || Reed and Veronica

When life gives you lemonbars, don’t eat them.

Veronica couldn’t remember the last time that she had been to the high school. The truth was she had been fourteen at the time and her parents had been considering taking her out of private tuition and placing her in public school. However they had quickly decided that it wasn’t for her. Being here on the common, for an event surrounding said high school and the other schools in Ashkent Creek was certainly odd. To be perfectly honest, education that wasn’t supernaturally related was hardly Veronica’s biggest concern. But Reed had invited her and she had reluctantly agreed. Bridget was always reminding her how she needed to get out more, and she was sure that she hadn’t meant her nightly patrols. Parking her car by the side of the common, she did her best to leave most of her weapons in the car. She kept her daggers tucked comfortably into their sheaths at the base of her back, but everything else she left. After all, surely nothing would happen in broad daylight? Stepping out of her car, she sent Reed a quick text. “Where are you?” Hopefully he’d respond soon, there was already a woman with a stall full of cakes that was practically waving her over and Veronica wasn’t about to allow saturated fats and sugars back into her life.

With all of the surplus in activity, work was spiking more than it should for the early start of November and Reed’s head felt like it was floating from being pulled this way and that by colleagues and people in town. Based on everything he read online and heard about, there wasn’t as much vocal pushback towards the school-related fundraiser compared to the neighbourhood watch; he had a few guesses as to why. Still, he wanted to check it out, maybe see this Helen person and he had shown up not too early because he didn’t want to appear too eager (or, odd). A single text from Veronica made him stop his search for the apparently very elusive Helen and hasten towards the other end of the common. Mid-rush, he shot a quick text back: Coming. Will find you. Red hair, that’s what he kept a look out for, that and a certain air of presence that she carried with her. Thinking that he spotted her, Reed called out a, “Hey! Right here!” And waved both of his arms, careful of the people around him as he continued towards her. “I am so glad to see you!” He blurted when he was close enough, “It feels like so many people are backing out on me these days, so— uh— thank you. Means a lot.” He grinned brightly at her then gestured around and looked back towards the row of stalls, saw the woman waving them down. “Anyways...” He looked back at her, gleaming still, “You ready to get this party for two started?”

The ‘blood drive’ and the bloodmobile practically had the vampires in the town chomping at the bit and Veronica’s kill count had risen by more than she could have anticipated. Obviously it wasn’t anything that she couldn’t take into her stride, especially now that she had stopped holding back. But this was a part of her job that she felt was necessary, after her ball she had become all too aware of how vulnerable public events like this were. Checking her phone once more, she saw his text and decided that it would be best to stand still and wait for him. Finally, she found him. She’d managed to avoid the gaze of several mothers who were obviously far too keen about their roles in this fundraiser. “Reed,” she purred as she glided over to his side and placed kisses on either side of his face in the traditional french style of greeting, “it is a pleasure to see you, I’m sorry that it has been so long but the summer was a very pressing time for us all and I’ve been busy with the vampire problem that this town has.” She noticed the strange look that someone gave her, but she didn’t particularly care. Discretion had come and gone in this town without anyone batting an eyelash, it was obviously too late for this lady to receive the memo. “You don’t have to worry about me backing out of anything, I am as good as my word,” she promised with a smile, before looking down at the chocolate covered everything that was offered at the first stall. “I am ready, well, as ready as I’ll ever be, is there somewhere specific that you want to start?”

“Oh— Wow— Okay.” Reed’s body froze entirely briefly, surprised by her chosen greeting then tried to make up for his reaction by offering his hand to shake before quickly changing his mind and raised his arms for a hug. Moving on from that, he found that he was still taken aback — she definitely spoke with the same air that she walked with. Formal and proper. She was always so nice too, he liked that. Nodding in understanding and appreciation, “No need to apologize, I’ve been pretty busy myself and this town can be one hell of a handful at times. Or,” A sigh, “All the time.” Then a pause to look around once more at everyone nearby before he said, “Never a dull day in Ashkent Creek.” And there was a chance this one would be no different (and for what it was worth, he hoped it would go smoothly). People, mostly of the mom variety, were definitely keen on eavesdropping and throwing twisted looks at any mention of foul language and questionable phrases — the latter of which was more likely for them both than anything else. Reed turned his body as if inviting her to join him on a stroll through the area and presented his arm to her, and hummed, “Everything looks really good up front but I’m more interested at what’s going on towards the back.” He began walking, “I think I saw some tart cookies over there—” He pointed high over the heads of hyperactive teenagers and children rushing passed, “All the boring and too-healthy looking stuff looked really good to me.” He glanced over at her, wondering what interested her, “You?”

Raising an eyebrow gently at Reed’s reaction, Veronica did her best to indulge him by hugging him, she even patted him on the back gently. Honestly, she didn’t understand how people could go through their lives without learning the proper etiquette, however she wasn’t about to question him on it. She knew that she wasn’t exactly the easiest person to talk to, not to mention she was sure that there were a number of people that felt intimidated by her status as a slayer. Regardless, she took Reed’s arm and allowed him to show her around the stalls that were scattered about the common. “I think you were right with your second attempt,” she commented with a smile, “there hasn’t been a dull moment in this town in the last thirty years, at least that is what I hear. Perhaps that is what is driving these people to suddenly become proactive about their safety.” She smiled gently at a mother who was giving them an odd look, she wondered what it was that concerned the onlooking parent. As a gaggle of minors zoomed past them, Veronica found herself being taken through the common towards the stalls at the back, “There was a stall that sold home made honey and barley cakes that I thought looked intriguing, otherwise the fruit punch takes my interest…” she shrugged, “even though I don’t work as a personal trainer anymore, it is difficult to give up the habits of checking the nutritional facts in everything, which makes me wonder how much sugar is in each one of these reasonably priced treats. Not to mention the condition of hygiene in their kitchens…” she bit her lip, doing her best not to be a judgemental bitch, “what about you? Do you have a preferred poison… so to speak.”

Reed nodded, flicking his eyes towards one direction and another as he waved and tipped his head at anyone that made eye contact with him, “I think it’ll be good,” He mused with an optimistic tone, “They— We need it.” Everyone here appeared as they were to him, what they knew, what their skills were, what they thought about the new changes — there was an underlying vulnerability, a certain level of unknown. “I was told some odd months back that if I wanted to survive and live a life here, I’d have to be armed with at least the basics,” Reed admitted, lowering his voice whenever shoulders got too close as strangers brushed by. Telling Veronica that felt like some kind of political move across the chessboard for him but she had always been easy to talk to, so he didn’t mind despite it being a free for all for anyone else that was listening. “I think that could benefit everyone else too.” Slowing his pace down even more, Reed looked around and all over heads and hats for the booth, “Wanna go there first?” He asked her with a gentle nudge to her side as if telling her to take the lead and added, with a teasing smile, “Consider this a cheat day and you can blame all the bloating on me afterwards. As for me, my only goal is to stay away from cakes and cookies, the last time I went all out at a festival like this, I...” He stopped, thinking of how to say it given his profession, “Got high... And gave a lot of the same thing to my colleagues too, so... The lemonbars looked good.” Then with a firm nod, “Healthy and safe.”

“If I knew that everyone was seeking knowledge to survive, like you are, then I’d agree with you, but I don’t trust the neighbourhood watch movement for one second, not after the liberation and everything that followed that…” Veronica trailed off as she considered the point that he was trying to make. “Have you ever considered moving?” she suggested, “I’ve got a reason to stay, my family and the fact that this is my home, but you could just as easily set up your life anywhere else. Not that I’d want you to move of course, but you’d certainly be safer.” She did her best to avoid everyone’s gaze. After all, she didn’t want to cause a scene and there were people who wouldn’t take kindly to a Babineaux being here. There were still fools who thought that vampires weren’t dangerous. “Besides, not everyone is ready to be made aware of everything that you’d need to be aware of to survive, many of them outright reject the fact that they’ve been attacked by a vampire and that is after I’ve saved them and put a bandaid on their neck where a vampire’s fangs had previously been…” she trailed off as she felt her slaydar go off, but it was still far away, implying it was someone in a house looking onto the common. That wasn’t enough for her to get involved, at least not just yet. “I’ll follow your lead,” she said with a smile, “although I’ll abstain anyway, I have something much more interesting in mind for my cheat day, something that will taste better than these home made attempts at desserts.” She looked up at a mother who had heard her say that. “No offense,” she said with a shrug before continuing browsing. “Somehow, it doesn’t surprise me that you got high, although I suppose a lemonbar can’t do too much harm…”

Reed listened, his only knowledge of the liberation was limited to what people told him and whatever he managed to find through newsletter and police archives. He understood the concern and was wary as well but still hoped this could had good intentions and wouldn’t turn out like anything they experienced in the past. Sometimes, he had to remind himself frequently as involved as he was in the supernatural community, some things that happened were just normal too. He chewed on his bottom lip in thought, decided to save that portion of their conversation for a later time, and said, “I did for a while after...” An uncomfortable chill ran down his spine as he revisited that point in his life, hesitated for a little bit to explain before nodding, “My mom wanted me to too after— but...” He shrugged then, “I can’t bring myself to leave and I don’t think I’d want to, I care about everyone in this town, I love my job and I don’t want to abandon ship just because I have a higher chance of dying here.” He noticed the wide-eyed look from a mom passing out gumdrop sugar cookies, another one froze momentarily too and all that did, along with what else Veronica said, was reminded of the brief conversation he had online with someone and being left with the impression that his suggestions were more or less brushed off. He was sure he had incidents similar to Veronica’s as well but talking about his starter kits was the most recent. His easygoing smile fell down into a frown, “A lot of them may not be,” He agreed albeit feeling more like a disappointed father when he did, “But my strategy here is to market it differently so it appeals to them.” Nearing the lemonbar stall, wondering what the more interesting thing would be for her cheat day and if it was anything like the deserts Adrien mentioned before, Reed waved his hand at her, “No offense taken.” Then made a beeline for the stall, Reed pulled out his wallet and made small but polite conversation with the vendor as he picked out three center-piece lemonbars (one was for his mom). “Oh— No— You don’t have to do that, keep the change, please.” He murmured to the gentleman as soon as Reed saw him open the cash box to make change for a twenty dollar bill, being here was in the spirit of supporting the school district and raising money. After thanking the vendor, Reed turned his attention back to Veronica, offered the extra lemonbar he bought despite her pass before before grinning, “The most harm it’ll probably do is be a touch too tangy.” Taking a corner bite and chewing, he remarked after swallowing and being pleasantly surprised, “Not bad, has a pretty good amount of lemon flavouring too. I like it.” Had a smidge weird taste to it but it wasn’t so offensive to make him toss the treat (and if it did, he’d wait until he got home to discard of it anyway). Looping his arm with Veronica’s again, he motioned with his elbow towards the crowd of people, “I’m ready for stop two whenever you are.”

“Well, I wouldn’t ever presume to judge you Reed, but I sometimes wonder whether you’re giving this town a bit more credit than its worth. Besides, no one would judge you for trying to save your own life.” Veronica wondered whether he realised how easily this town could chew him up and spit him back out. Sighing gently, she tried to keep her reservations to herself. Reed didn’t need anyone else being down about what he could or couldn’t do, after all, it was hardly her place either. “Well, market it all you want, as long as it keeps people safe then who am I to complain…” she just hoped that people kept it for defense and didn’t start going out with more nefarious schemes in mind. As Reed offered her a lemonbar, Veronica could feel the eyes of the mothers still on them. How many of them were witches or werewolves who understood exactly what they were discussing? As Reed held her snack, Veronica decided that it would have been rude not to take the snack. Holding it delicately, she broke a small chunk off and chewed on it, brushing the crumbs from her lips. As the zesty taste spread through her mouth and settled on her pallette, Veronica had to admit that she was pleasantly surprised. “Well, that is surprisingly pleasant,” she smiled at the man behind the stall who seemed somewhat offended by her honesty, although he did seem a bit confused about whether she’d meant it as a compliment or not. Her vision almost seemed to swim before her eyes as she chewed, and despite the fact that she blinked several times, she couldn’t help but stumble backwards slightly. “Yeah,” she said, regaining her footing, “stop two, do they have a bar? I could use a drink.”

“Maybe I am but I have to have hope,” Reed shrugged. It can’t all be bad, that’s what he kept telling himself even on the days when he was least convinced of its truth, even now with so much resistance about the neighbourhood watch. Nigel told him a couple of years ago that this town would kill off that bright light in his eyes; and he realized he probably ran out of fingers and toes to count how many times he has had this kind of conversation. The old-age question being why would anyone move and willingly stay here? Reed didn’t have that answer but sometimes it definitely felt like there was a draw pulling him deeper, like curiosity was the thing that was what was really making him stay. Perhaps it was that way for everyone else that wasn’t born and raised here too. Without saying it, he understood the risks of living here, knew that the statistics were higher than even cities like Detroit and Chicago, knew there would be a tray variety of loss too, and Reed knew he also sounded less grounded in reality with his mention of hope. Fair chance. Helen could be good or bad or somewhere in-between, but which one that was has yet to be seen. “Thanks. As long as we look out for each other and keep each other safe, we can weather everything Ashkent throws at us.” A glimpse at Veronica turned into him trying to, somehow, brace himself to catch Veronica in case one wrong step back sent her falling when she stumbled. “Hey—” are you okay?, “Yeah, you said there was—” He began looking around for the stall she mentioned earlier again as he spoke, “—some fruit punch somewhere.” His eyebrows crinkled downwards just as the effects claimed ahold of him too. It felt like his mind was twisting around itself and his vision was getting caught up in that as well, it was disorientating. Everyone looked askew and duplicated. “Um—” Reed was paused for a really long time, like he were looking for the words and what to say but it escaped him so he began tracing their steps back towards the other stall. “I hope there are chairs.”

“Hope isn’t going to keep you alive, pragmatism is. Don’t let stupidity kill you. Especially when you’re so obviously not stupid.”  Veronica bit her lip thoughtfully. Reed was too much of a good guy for this town. She used to be idealistic like him, she used to kill vampires when she could prove they’d done something wrong. Now she didn’t take the chance, it wasn’t worth it, especially when it could potentially kill you not to take every precaution. “You’re welcome, and yes, I like the optimism, I am sure that we’ll be able to survive if we can stick together.” She smiled gently as she regained her footing, placing a hand on Reed’s shoulder she tried her best to reassure him. “Don’t worry, I shouldn’t have worn heels for walking through grass, I think it was just my heel sinking into the dirt…” she never finished her sentence, because just as she thought that she had gotten over the shock of the hallucinogenic effect that these lemon bars apparently seemed to have, it hit her several times harder. The world seemed to fold in on itself in a bright swirl of colours, at least for a moment, and then suddenly everything was swirling in front of her eyes and she was struggling to keep herself upright. “Chairs seem like a good idea,” she admitted, looking around her for somewhere that they could sit, “if we could make it to my car we could sit there, or maybe there is a bench or something…” glancing around her she finally spotted it. Smiling gently at her own great work she pointed. “There,” she said, the colours of the grass all but leaping out at her, “that should work….”

Squeezing her shoulder when she did the same to him, Reed nodded once with half of a grin, “I know how to read a situation.” He knew better than to let hope totally blind him. Reed swallowed and blinked several times, trying to keep focused by looking into Veronica’s eyes, uncomfortably aware of his attention drifting away from the moment. “I won’t give anyone the chance to kill me. Not again.” And speaking of nixies, a pale blonde head in his peripheral caught his attention and made him snap his head in that direction. His heart began pummeling hard against his chest while he stared wide-eyed and in a trance at the woman. Azul. When she whipped around, cones with fluff on top in hand, Reed jerked reflexively back. “Fuck,” He blurted and felt his face flush with heat as he saw a countless amount of pairs of eyes glaring intensely at him, “Crap— I mean crap. It’s a no brainer.” Their faces look distorted, almost melting or slipping off, and less convinced that he meant that so he stammered out, “I- I’m PG.” It felt like an infinity of time passed by the time he thought he got his bearings together and he forgot what he said just seconds ago. Then his gaze dropped to where Veronica was pointing and brought his hand up to shield his eyes, “Christ, that’s bright.” Facing Veronica, he cupped both sides of his face with his hands and asked after sucking in air through his teeth, “...Are they still staring?” He stopped talking after someone walked passed with a cup of pomegranate-looking something. Fruit punch, some tiny part of him that was sober realized. “Hey!” He pointed, struck with a repeat idea, “Let’s go get something to drink.”

Veronica’s mind went into overdrive. The lemon bars must have been spiked and anger overtook her at that moment. Biting down on her lip to try and focus through the blur of colour and swirling lights. Normally she didn’t rely on emotions, they were a weakness that caused her to focus to shift and people had capitalised on that before, Heath, her father, too many people had taken advantage of her emotions. But for once they actually helped her gain a little bit of clarity. As she leaned against one of the stalls, she wrapped her slender fingers around a wooden beam that held up a tent, it was only when she heard the cracking noise from it that she realised that the wood was splintering beneath her fingers. “Make sure that you don’t, I would hate to have to go after someone because they hurt you, I’d much rather just avoid that altogether. If that is okay with you of course.” Stumbling towards the stall of fruit punch, Veronica pulled a splinter from her palm and watched as it spun away, growing in size before her eyes before it was a stake plunging through a vampire's heart. Blinking several times she found herself staring at the ground before stumbling towards the fruit punch. “I’m not convinced this is going to fix whatever is going on.”

Nodding determinedly, Reed rushed as best as he could towards the stall while simultaneously completing a warped obstacle court from his days in police academy. “It’ll help us,” He said automatically still bobbing his head up and down, eyes focused on the gallon of fruit punch, its colour a bright fuchsia though the closer he got, the darker and redder it appeared and the more hairs across his forearms and nape stood on end. Barely a couple of feet away, Reed watched another clear cup be filled halfway with the fruit punch, its viscosity looked closer to blood than fruit punch to him now. To the vendor, he asked, “Actually— Do you have water?” A shake of the head was followed up with a sorry and suggestion on where to find bottled water, and Reed watched in horror as their face twisted into a flesh-coloured spiral. Defeated, he turned around, “Well, I’m not going to drink whatever that is.”

As they stumbled over to the vendor who was selling a punch that had something bobbing in it, though Veronica had to admit that she wasn’t sure whether the things bobbing in said punch were cherries or eyeballs, it was almost as if every time she blinked something changed. The thick punch swirled in front of her and she was immediately put off by it. “Y’know,” Veronica said, reaching for her phone and tapping the uber app, which she was pretty sure grew teeth and snapped at her, “I think that maybe we should just go home, there was obviously something in those lemonbars and they are really fucking with me…” she rubbed her eyes exhaustedly, the colours of everything merging and jumping out at her. Whatever the hell was in those lemonbars was killing her. “I’m getting a cab home, you can crash on my sofa or in one of the spare rooms if you want, at least until this wears off, I don’t think we should be on our own.”

Reed just stood there, believing he got the best results by keeping his weight and balance even on both feet. Everything was still shifting around for him, taking on different forms while certain colours grabbed his attention. Hues of red and silver burst out and all he could do was connect it back to his work and Azul. It upset him, really. He wasn’t high but he was definitely experiencing some kind of trip. Turning slowly back around towards the vendor, Reed wondered if the fruit punch was really fruit punch or whatever it was he was seeing. He wondered if everything here was just like the lemonbars. Did Helen know about and approve that or was someone trying to give her a bad name? “You can go,” Reed said, “I should probably go have a talk with that other guy who sold me the lemonbars...”  It was a challenge trying to see passed the demonic things going on in front of him and trying to think clearly. Weren’t trips supposed to be...not mortifying? Or did that just mean he had a lot of skeletons in his closet? “He shouldn’t be selling that here.” It explained the weirds they got before.

Veronica paused for a moment, before rolling her eyes. Reed had to take such pleasure in doing the right thing, couldn’t he just be a real person for once and do something that was selfish, something like going home and riding out this trip. Her finger hovered over the confirm request, before she sighed and tucked her phone back into her pocket. “Well, I can’t let you do that on your own, if they’re not above spiking cakes that could end up with children then they’re almost certainly not going to just give it up because you asked them to do so politely.” She sighed and cracked her neck and her knuckles. “Come on, lets get this over with,” she turned and took a moment to compose herself before making her way back towards Mr Lemonbar, which was easier said than done considering she was pretty certain that the ground was melting away beneath her feet, not to mention the fact that her legs were jelly. Not a helpful combination when you’re trying to get somewhere, especially in heeled boots.

Reed looked back at Veronica, halfway shocked that she was truly committed to sticking by his side while halfway wishing she would take that cab home, though his actual facial expression must’ve looked exaggeratedly different from how he felt. His mouth quirked up into a small and forgiving smile. “I’ll confiscate them,” He assured her as he tried yet struggled to walk with brisk purpose, “He’s not taking those bars home or anywhere else for that matter.” Each step sent a vibration up into his body that made his vertigo chime like the church bell. Though it was only movement, it felt so loud and the effort it took to focus was incredibly crowded in his head. “After that’s done, we’ll get you home and off your feet.” And Veronica looked to be struggling a lot more than he was which resulted in Reed wrapping his arm across her shoulders and offering her his free hand up to her as a form of stabilizing support. They weren’t in the best mind to deal with this and Reed wasn’t volunteering on behalf of the station. Biting the inside of his cheek for a moment, Reed reconsidered what his mission was here against how well their bodies and minds were reacting to whatever was corrupting them. “On second thought, I’ll get security to confiscate it and we’ll get that cab.”

The ringing of the church bell in the distance was enough for Veronica to lose focus again, she felt a slight surge of panic as the bell tolled loudly, the sound seemed to engulf her in an echo chamber and suddenly she was almost certain that she could see the waves of sound cascading down towards her in a cacophony of noise, as Reed wrapped an arm around her she acted on instinct, her leg swiping out from underneath her. It was basic self defence. Knock your opponent off your feet. But as she made contact with Reed and watched him begin to tumble backwards, her mind suddenly cleared and she reached out and grabbed his hand. Normally she would’ve felt embarrassed or at least amused, but she couldn’t say that she felt anything other than annoyance at the fact that they’d been spiked. She was sure that this didn’t happen anywhere else. “Sorry,” she confessed though she didn’t feel particularly sorry but etiquette was important to her, “that was habit normally when people do that it’s not because they’re trying to help, but I am starting to agree with you.” In this state she could easily act on instinct and get someone hurt, not that it would bother her but she didn’t need the hassle. “Let security handle it, I’m going home.” She called an Uber, which headed for the wrong side of the common much to her displeasure. “You can tell security on the way,” she said as she began to make her way across the common.

“Whoa, shi—” Reed felt the ground be kicked out from beneath him like the tablecloth during a magic trick; tuck and roll, outcried his mind as he tried to brace for an inevitable faceplant but as quickly as the ground looked to be approaching him, he was pulled back like a featherweight at once. He didn’t register her hand on his, didn’t really mind so much this time around as he focused on steadying himself; his legs felt like jelly, they felt wobbly and like they might give out beneath from him at any moment now. Feeling overwhelmed, Reed pressed the palm of his hand against his forehead as if that would stop the dizziness, “It’s fine. I really just wish I wasn’t...high.” His voice was layered thick with disappointment as he came to terms with the current condition he was in. He huffed and looked for faces he knew he would recognize before waving down a volunteering officer and pointed back towards the lemonbar stall. Afterwards, he caught up with Veronica as best he could.

#p: reed #para #touchofchatzy #touchofpotw #wake and bake sale

[cecebishop-blog]

Old Habits Die Hard (POTW) || Cece & Reed

Reed and Cece both show up at Shelley Song Portal, but neither knew the other was going to be there.

Cece pulled up to the curb of Shelley’s house and was slightly disturbed by how eerily quiet the place was. Her last memory of the place was particularly unpleasant and incredibly loud. Cece still felt like her ears were ringing from the gunshots and screaming of the officers and Juarez and Cece and Reed trying to yell over them. “This your place?” the voice cut through the quiet and immediately pissed Cece off, but for the moment she still needed to keep him following her blindly, so she tried flirting. “Well I wouldn’t bring you to a stranger’s house now would I?” She laughed softly and pressed the palm of her hand against his cheek, ignoring the nausea rising in her throat. She had picked this guy specifically. He was one of the regulars at one of the bars she frequented. Always drunk off of his ass and always hitting on any girl that walks through the doors. She didn’t find out until a couple of months ago that he had been acquitted of two separate sexual harassment charges. Perfect fit. “Well let’s get inside then” he laughed. His breath stunk of whiskey, the same kind she had been drinking before working up the nerve to actually drive over here. “Let me just grab my bag.” She was playing drunk too and hopped out of the car, stumbling to her trunk and pulling the heavy bag out of it. “Want me to take that for you sweetheart? Looks heavy.” He could barely walk in a straight line, yet still deemed himself more suited to carrying a bag. “No thanks.” Cece answered flatly, losing some of that drunk, flirtatious charm she had been faking. She led him up to the house and through the front door, once again walking in on the portal and… Reed? “Reed?” She called out to him, not exactly surprised that he was here but still unhappy about it. The drunk guy behind her had been staring between the portal and Reed before finally resting his eyes on Cece, “Woah. I don’t know how I feel about a threesome. With a guy anyways.” Cece actually groaned this time. “Seriously? A giant portal in the house and that’s what you’re worried about? Ew.” She grabbed the man by the wrist and led him into the living room towards one of the chairs. “Sit down,” she shoved him down into one of the chairs before reaching into one of the pockets of her bag and fisting a pile of dust she had prepared earlier in the night, “and shut up.” She blew the dust across his face and his body language immediately began failing him. His eyes fluttered shut and his body began sagging before he eventually lost the battle entirely and passed out. Now she just had to deal with Reed. “Hey there” She smiled widely at him. 

Since talking to Blanche and a few others about closing the portals going only by the solutions given to them in a Strange Times article, Reed believed there was some sliver of a chance he could close the one in Shelley Song’s home. More importantly, without death — without sacrifices and bloodlettings and property destruction. He hadn’t stopped feeling appalled since reading the article after he got home from the hospital Monday evening; a majority of Ashkent’s population would laugh it off and believed it to be some kind of hoax, those not in the majority would take those words by some faceless Scribe representative as encouragement. It disgusted Reed as much as it alarmed and ticked him off. So he returned to Shelley Song’s house, stepped over charred snake monsters and ducked under sagging caution tape to get inside. The house was completely quiet and still. The plus side, as far as he could tell so far, was that there were no snakes around; as if their presence was only activated by a warm-body brushing against the iridescent wormhole. Officer Juárez had gotten too close and it cost him his entire left leg; a harsh shudder ran down Reed’s back at the memory. That all only happened less than two days ago. He stepped up close to the portal in the kitchen and stopped short of its vacuum pull, gaze transfixed on its opal surface. It was bright like a white light and it shimmered still like glitter swirling around in water, but whatever was on the other side of it had to be more terrifying than mesmerizing. Standing there, he didn’t know what he could give up to close it. He didn’t know how to transfer power or memories, didn’t think tricking it would work, didn’t really have anything of sentimental value. His first car succumbed to the ravenous appetite of a wendigo and his two dogs were somewhere in Ashford River hopefully still alive, and... All that was really left was the pride he put into his work at the station and his friendships. With a look down at the tan bandage wrapped around the length of his forearm bite and sucking marks the snake devils left all over, Reed sighed helplessly, wishing he could do and give more. He thought about arresting James and wondered if that was even possible or if he would end up in a situation like he was in now. Stuck. Unable to help. But all of that went away, soon replaced by the redirection of his attention to the front door opening behind him and two muffled voices. One suspiciously familiar. He turned around just as Cece said his name and his entire body froze at the sight of someone behind her. Threesome? What? He watched Cece go out sight with the stranger for a moment before coming up to him with a smile that looked more pressed on than real. “You’re not happy to see me, are you?” Reed asked, dumbfounded. “Look—” He heaved out a breath, “If this is about me not inviting you out to the hashtag—” Start finger quotes, “Portal Is Over Party—” End finger quotes, “I’m sorry— I really have no excuse.” 

Cece really didn’t want Reed to be here. If this were any other normal spell than Cece wouldn’t have minded so much. In most cases having extra bodies, even if they were regular humans, could help empower spells and make them stronger. But in most cases Cece also knew what she was doing for a spell long before arriving on scene. Or at least had a general idea. She had no idea what was going to work with this portal and her last case scenario was currently asleep on the couch in the other room and she really didn’t want Reed here if it came to that. The last thing she wanted was for anyone in Ashkent Creek to see her do anything like she used to do for the coven. Reed maybe most of all, he would probably have a funeral for a fly if he swatted at it too hard. “Damn straight you have no excuse.” She swung her bag off her shoulder and set it on the ground, unzipping it and starting to pull objects out of it. A set of those small candles, a mason jar filled to the brim with blood, a knife. She began setting up candles in a large circle surrounding the portal. She made sure she kept her distance, just as Marley had warned. She had seen what had happened to Juárez when he hadn’t. “I know you’re not going to listen to me, but you should really go home and let me handle this by myself.” Obviously Reed wasn’t going to leave, he was too stubborn to. But it was at least worth a try. “But since you’re going to refuse you might as well help me.”

“Why—” Reed’s question was clipped, immediately honing in on the glass jar filled with... Was that blood? It was too dark to be ketchup and honestly, he learned to assume the worst in Ashkent. It didn’t take much for things to escalate to really extreme points. Flippantly, he commented, “I hope that’s spicy ketchup.” He was tempted to grab the mason jar and test its weight out in his hand but something told him Cece wouldn’t let him get as far as brushing his fingertips against it. Then his gaze flicked back up to Cece momentarily, his eyes going back and forth while he followed her movements. “Well, you’re not wasting any time at all,” Reed said out loud, a little impressed by how quickly she was placing things albeit concerned, left with open-ended ideas on what exactly she planned on doing with everything she pulled out of her bag. She told him to leave and before Reed could reject the notion and insist otherwise, Cece was already miles ahead of him. Reed’s mouth screwed up and he crossed his arms over his chest. She was right though. Reed’s eyebrows pressed down, confusion, really having no solid ideas on what she planned on doing and why she had all of those things with her and why that stranger was even here. She was going to close the portal, he could surmise that much. But the method of which lended itself to being a riddle. “The article mentioned something about healing magic,” He said with no clear direction of the point he was making, “You healed one of my wounds before. Are you gonna do that?” That prospect made him feel hopeful, reminded of when an undead entered her laboratory and tried to attack them both. He watched her heal the opening on his hand in a way that looked so effortless to him. It was amazing what she could do with magic, beautiful even — like the portal mere feet from them.

Once everything was set up and ready Cece turned back towards Reed, “Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself to feel better.” The coven had a common practice of bloodletting and storing each other’s blood for use in spells. Blood was a powerful ingredient in spells, but supernatural blood of any kind was an automatic enhancer. Cece made sure that she had stored plenty of blood from the other witch’s in the coven before she left, just in case of a rainy day. She had never assumed that hell portals would be the thing that caused her to break the jars out, but she wasn’t surprised either. How the portal would know that the blood was of her enemies Cece couldn’t be sure, but assuming that the coven had worked out exactly who had thrown them under the bus and gotten them all arrested she figured that she could count on them to hold a grudge. She mixed a small amount of blood from each jar she had at home to fill this one up which currently held a mixture of about thirteen different blood samples. Magic was all about the numbers, and thirteen was about as unlucky and supernatural as a number could get. “I’m going to try a healing spell, but healing magic isn’t my specialty. I don’t know any spells that I think are going to be powerful enough.” If Cece had known that someday magic would actually come in handy for something like this maybe she would have been a little more motivated to learn. But obviously it was too little too late for that. Cece stepped into the circle of unlit candles and waved Reed into the circle also, “Let’s get started. Ignium” Cece waved her hand in a wide arch and the candles all around the circle immediately lit. “Sit down and I’ll start the spell.” The strongest spell that Cece knew was healing semi-serious wounds. She figured that an appropriate spell for this portal would be some sort of spiritual cleansing spell, but that was way more advanced than Cece knew. Regardless, she closed her eyes and started chanting, holding the palms of her hand out like a wall up to the portal.

Reed sat down, mindful of the candles as the wicks burst into flame, and looked back and forth from Cece to the wormhole as she began the spell. He didn’t know what to expect really, he felt clueless. And redundant, like a rag doll just hanging around without any specific purpose. While he waited in silence as she performed the spell, speaking in tongues and using her hands, Reed wondered if getting blood from the hospital would be a viable option (explanations for why he needed thirteen packets aside). Would it count if thirteen people willingly donated the blood? Or could the portal somehow distinguish between all of that? Sitting on the ground, Reed only wished he tried that method. He’d have to try that next time — if, god forbid, there ever was a next time for these portals. Shifting his eyes back onto the wormhole, Reed waited, expecting something to happen but not sure what it was he was meant to look out for or hear. It didn’t seem to budge, not a lot anyway. The edges wavered like a ripple but nothing else happened beyond that. “I don’t...think it’s working,” Reed guessed with a grimace. Not entirely. He looked to Cece again, waiting to see her next course of action, before he turned around and pointed towards the direction of the living room where the stranger was. “Who— Why is he here? Was this a pitstop for you guys or something?”

Cece heard Reed but was hoping that it was just a delayed reaction and by the time she actually opened her eyes the thing would have closed. Finally, she peeked one eye open and saw the giant glowing death trap still there just feet from her. “Well, shit.” She sighed and pushed herself off of the ground and stepped out of the circle to reach for her next attempt, the blood. “Oh him? He’s my date for the night.” She joked, hoping that she could distract both of them with humor and roll right into her second attempt without ever getting into a deeper discussion. If things worked as planned Cece would be dropping him off in a gutter somewhere on her way to the hospital. Next was the stone that she had picked up from Bridget. Unknowing what she should actually be doing with it, Cece just grabbed it from the floor and chucked it into the portal. Nothing. “No luck with that either apparently.” Cece picked up the jar of blood, and headed towards the portal, unsure of the safest way to pour it in. “Reed, you have longer arms than me want to help a girl out?” She handed the mason jar of blood out to him, “Just pour it directly into the portal.” He did as he was told, but as the last drop hit the portal and it hissed and the blood steamed Cece thought they were actually getting somewhere, but nothing more happened. “You didn’t happen to bring in magical swords of legend with you, right?”

Reed made a facial expression caught between ew and oh as he reached for and grabbed ahold of the mason jar. As curious as he was, he didn’t ask. Later. If there was one. Pouring the blood into the portal was nerve-racking for Reed, half-tempted to just throw the entire container into oblivion rather than feed it blood like he were flying a spoon with mushed peas and carrots into a baby’s mouth. His heart hammered against his chest, the whole of his body feeling the pull become stronger the nearer he was. “Please don’t send any snakes out,” He muttered repeatedly under his breath as he tipped the jar forward, feeling offset by what he was doing. The blood didn’t work either. His shoulders fell forward before he turned on his heel and quickly created as much distance between him and the portal as possible. “I didn’t really have enough time to rob a museum on my way over...” Reed quipped before stepping to the edge of the kitchen, at the halfway point between them and where the man in the living room was passed out. “So... All that’s left is thine.”

Cece sighed. Because the blood was sort of her last ditch effort. She figured if anything was going to work it was going to be the blood of thirteen witches who probably wanted nothing more than to see Cece dead or shoved into one of these portals. If those weren’t enemies, Cece didn’t know who was. And if that was the case, than Cece knew exactly what had to come next. She had fiddled with the idea of sacrificing her own power or whatever the Scribes had insinuated in their choppy newspaper article. Cece had no idea where to even begin learning how to sacrifice one’s own power or nature or whatever bullshit. She also hadn’t looked very far into it. In part because she was trying to look at the bigger picture. Her magic had done good in this town, she couldn’t risk losing it when whatever else went wrong inevitably went wrong. But the more selfish part of her also knew that she was more willing to kill that man in the other room than give up her own magic. It was all she had at this point. “Reed.” Cece began, her entire tone of voice changing. No longer was the playful Cece here, the kind that tried to get him to leave but knew he wouldn’t. “You need to leave. Right now.” She hoped that he would be able to tell from her demeanor that he needed to go. That she wouldn’t have to force him to leave or put him to sleep as she did to the other guy. No matter what, she couldn’t have Reed watch this. She didn’t want him to see her like this.

This was it. The turning point. Somehow, Reed felt that he expected this more at the beginning than now. It made sense to hear her say those words again and insist that he leave with a firmer tone. It became obvious to him that she was up to something more than what they just did, like before was merely child’s play, or futile attempts to avoid what now appeared to be the inevitable. The only option left was thine — and god knows what that exactly was to a portal. To Reed, in the moment, it seemed like another way of sacrifice yourself. Give up a part of oneself or everything. Reed had nothing to give of himself, nothing to throw in or come back out with. And looking at Cece, well, he assumed she was in the same predicament as him. Which left the guy in the other room. Reed didn’t want to jump to conclusions but the tunnel at the end was narrowing and so were the possibilities. That’s where all of this was leading to: a sacrifice of some kind. Had she originally planned on doing that when she got here? Would she have done that already if Reed wasn’t here? He wondered, remembered how easy it had been to set the risen on fire when they were cornered in an alleyway, remembered what she told him about her time with the coven. He reached towards her, intending on passing some reassurance onto her that everything would be alright. “We’ll find another way to close it,” Reed told her like it was a promise he could find some way of fulfilling. There was plenty of subtext beneath what he said. I’m not leaving, I won’t let you do anything rash, were just some of what went unspoken. He still believed death and sacrifice was avoidable. And perhaps that was a naive, unrealistic mindset to have.

God damn it. Why did Reed always have to be so optimistic? Like this portal was just going to get tired and go to sleep eventually, or that they had enough time to leave the place and come back in a few days after they found some magic sword or whatever. No. Their time had run out. Cece didn’t know much about portals, but she knew when dangerous things had a clock that was quickly running out. Neither of them knew when those snakes were going to start slithering from the portal again, and god knows what else might come out of it if given the chance. This right here was the only option, whether she wanted to or not. And god she hoped that Reed knew that this is the last thing she wanted to do. She felt the tears running down her cheeks and used her arms to wipe at them. “Reed. Please don’t make me force you out of her. Because I really don’t want to do that.” Maybe if she lied to him then the two could move on from this. Or even if Reed hated or and didn’t forgive her, at least he would be alive and safe from this portal. “I cannot do this power and nature stuff with you around. I need you to get out.” She eyed her bag. The sleeping dust was still in it. Worst case scenario she would have to use that on him. “Please.”

He stared at her, trapped in a daze again for several seconds before he scoffed. Don’t make me force you out of here. There was a lot going through Reed’s head — thinking he could get her to leave too, knowing she had magic on her side and could probably get away if she wanted, knowing it would be no use even if he tried. Their friendship had a purgatory standing more and more these days, rocky and hesitant yet still chipper and going on with life like there weren’t several elephants in the room with them. There was a lot about Cece he still didn’t know and he was sure that he didn’t need to know any of it, the here and now is what mattered to him, but there was always something to be said about the past wasn’t there? The past spoke of someone’s character, where they had been and what they could go back to. The past didn’t necessarily always make mention of how someone changed though. And, from what she told him about herself, Cece changed. She was capable of terrifying acts — his own experiences with her was a testament of that — but she had good intentions, he believed that. So did James. Yet, something was different. James was wrong to Reed. Bad, evil, nefarious. No matter how James meant for things to be before — no matter how good his intentions were. Reed was caught in-between, not sure if this was a last option for Cece or if it was a first. He felt that he should know but he didn’t. Did that make him a bad friend? “If you kill him...” Reed was afraid to speak those words aloud, afraid to acknowledge how incredibly grey living in Ashkent made him, afraid to acknowledge his own confusion and conflict with these kind of situations when confronted by them. Before, his feelings of disgust were just that — feelings, in his head, based on his beliefs and morals. Now... This was reality, not ideals, not a narrative that went his preferred way. It made him a hypocrite. I don’t know. “There are other ways, Cece.” Reed tried, weaker yet still stubbornly set in his own conviction. Then he spun around, facing the man. He thought about it some more, stalling for time really. Was it necessary? Could it be justified to take away one life to save the many? Could he excuse this and live with it, simply just turn his cheek the other way and pretend he never saw it happen? Was that what that man’s life was worth at the end, was that all he really amounted to? Having death forced upon him. It was so cruel thinking about people’s lives like that, like the collected thoughts of a judge, jury and the executioner. It was selfish — to not want to die only to then offer up someone else. Reed’s legs were stiff, unwilling to move. His only option was to leave, of his own will or of Cece’s. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to. “I’m not going,” Reed was adamant when he looked back at Cece before he closed his eyes. The portal’s light burned through the skin of his eyelids. It wouldn’t be fair — judging her for this. “I’m not going to let you do this alone,” He said flatly with a heavy heart, eyes still closed, before he started towards the unconscious man in the living room. Standing beside him, Reed elaborated, “You can force me out or you can let me help you and we can do this together.” Strangely, he felt better with that as being their compromise. In a way, he supposed this was the sacrifice he was making. His own thine.

Cece was not going to cry right now. Those stray tears were a fluke, just to serve as a reminder that things were not the way they used to be. Cece always knew that what she was doing was wrong, but she had never shed tears over her actions. To her, she was surviving. First and foremost Cece had always thought of herself and what she was willing to do to survive after getting kicked out, while in the coven, and after getting to Ashkent Creek. But now she was thinking about others. Herself too, but she was still thinking of others. This portal needed to be eradicated and the world could live without another lowlife taking advantage of any girl unable to fight off his advances. Ten years ago Cece wouldn’t have batted an eye for this, she might have even enjoyed being able to rid the world of some scumbag like the man currently passed out on the couch behind them. “Fine. Fine. Don’t go. But I need to set up then.” Cece couldn’t do this. Not with Reed here with her. It wasn’t fair to him. “You’re a good friend Reed, the best anyone could ask for.” She started ruffling around in her bag, pulling out a book that was in actuality useless to her, but it made her feel better to be focused on something other than Reed at the moment. “I wish I could be the same for you.” She reached into her other pocket and grabbed out the dust, standing up and gesturing for Reed’s hand. “You’ll need this.” She poured the dust into his hand and smiled the gentlest smile she could force onto her face. “I’m really sorry.” Then she blew. He would be out in seconds. “You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met in my life. You don’t deserve to have this weight forced on you. I can’t let that happen.” Then she grabbed onto his body, towering over her and tried as much as she could to guide him gently down to the floor. She had work to do.

Reed stood there beside some unknown man, willing to help carry this burden and share moral judgement, confused. He had made his peace with this in a very short time knowing the only other alternatives were to leave or just watch, and neither of those options made him any better of a person than her. In this situation, they had to be the same. He couldn't judge her for this, it wasn't fair, it wasn't right. But she refused his help all while looking like she was close to tears herself. Reed was as frustrated as she was that this wasn't easy, even though he wished it was. But then fine particles were blown into his face and his eyes squeezed closed. He was stunned, not sure what was going on or why she did that before he felt his entire body give away beneath him, going limp within seconds. The last sensation was her hands catching his body, melting into him, but Reed wasn't really sure that even happened. He was passed out, laid gently onto the ground by Cece.

That hurt a lot more than Cece thought it would. But she didn’t have time to worry about Reed right now, or the fact that this act may have been the wedge that finally split her and his friendship apart. It wasn’t like the thing wasn’t already cracked. Things had been on edge since those dead people rose from the grave swearing on it that Cece had been the one to kill them. She pushed Reed’s unconscious body far away from the portal and clear of any danger that might come from it before swinging back around to grab the guy still unconscious in the chair. She dragged at his arm until he fell forward and onto the ground with a loud thud and then Cece tucked her arms underneath his shoulders to drag him across the floor, temporarily rearranging the circle of candles so that she could get his body inside of it. She grabbed the knife from the spot she had laid it after taking it out of her bag. The thing was old and rusted, a ceremonial knife that the coven had used for some of their sacrifices. Just another reminder of the girl that Cece once was. Still was apparently. Another memory from her past that she knew she would never be able to escape, so she stuffed it into a duffle bag four years ago and dragged it along with her. She positioned him as close to the portal as possible without him being pulled it and began chanting in Latin. The candles turned a deep red color, casting an even more eerie glow over the room. The magic in the air knew what was happening. The magic from the portal seemed to welcome it, feed into her own energy until the flames from the tiny candles she bought at the dollar tree were rising several inches into the air. Then she heard the snakes. Slithering out from the portal and beginning to wrap around the man’s legs. That was a perfect time for the man to wake up. “What the hell is going on?” he asked, he was groggy, but coherent. “What the hell are you doing to me? Why can’t I move?” She had wasted too much time trying to close the portal using other means and fighting with Reed about leaving. “You’re paralyzed. Makes this portion of the night a little easier for me.” Cece could tell that he was beginning to struggle against the invisible chains, but his body refused to move. “You crazy fucking bitch! Let me go! What the hell is wrong with you? And what the fuck is that!?” He was screaming now, obviously he could feel the snakes crawling up his body even if he couldn’t move his head to see them. “Shh. It’s a lot easier if you don’t struggle. It goes quicker.” Obviously he wasn’t listening to her, and she realized that the snakes were slowly starting to drag him into the portal. She needed to finish quickly. She began chanting again, ignoring his pleas to be set free and his screams of protest, she finished right as his legs disappeared into the portal and she plunged the knife into his chest. He gave one final squeal before falling silent and a rush of magical energy pushed out in all directions. The candles went completely dark and the only light bled from the portal as the last of the man’s body was dragged into it. Cece sat back on her heels, wiping the mix of sweat and tears from her face, unsure where one ended and the other began. But then, the portal was shrinking. Soon it was completely gone and the room fell completely dark. Gathering her things in complete silence, Cece kept herself busy so she wouldn’t have to think. Once her bag was packed, she stood and hooked her arms under Reed’s shoulders and dragged him over to the chair the drunk man once laid. It was difficult, but she got him up there. She couldn’t get him to her car by herself, or home before the spell wore off. All she could do now was hope that he was at least semi-comfortable and remind herself that regardless of how he felt about her in the morning, at least he was safe.

#c: reed #chatzy: reed #touchofchatzy #old habits die hard #touchoffinale #potw #touchofpotw #one minute to midnight #chatzy

[hawaiianhalfwolf]

Here We Goat Again | Noah & Lea

Date: Sunday - August 27, 2017

Summary: On Sunday Noah decides to take a relaxing visit to the zoo, but as always Ashkent Creek and its giant pile of weirdness has different plans for him.

****No goats were harmed in the making of this Chatzy, though one mutant werewolf human hybrid might have been harmed... so you have been warned. 

Sliding the last twenty he had in his wallet over to the attendant Noah tried to hold back a sigh. It had seemed like a good idea this morning, you know going to the zoo and walking around by himself. But now that he was here he couldn’t help but feel a little, well broke for one thing, and maybe well. He didn’t really know the other feeling but he guessed he’d figure it out later once he had an ice cream and looked at a few cute sea lions or something. Nodding a polite thanks Noah walked through the turnstile a girl in full hockey uniform catching his eye. That was interesting zoo outfit, but considering how adamantly she was talking to the man in the zoo uniform he guessed she may not be an average tourist.

Lea had chosen to stop by the Aquarium & Zoo briefly after her practice field hockey scrimmage. It always did her good to spend time here, and though the hours she worked would have to decrease once she went back to school and had more work and practices, it didn't mean that she didn't want to spend a ton of time here, even right after practice when her hair was done up in two french braids with strands of hair coming loose. She'd run into a man who had worked there ever since she was born - or if not quite that long, quite a decently long time. He'd pulled her into a hug (like he always did, even though she'd just seen him three days ago) and gave her a big smile. "Nice to see you too, Simon." Lea grinned. "We're gonna miss you, Lea. It's been a great time actually having you around, even though maybe I will have to bug your father into letting you actually come into the zoo part more than just the aquarium." She grinned again in response to him. "Well, if there's anybody who could convince him, you might be the one." She glanced over her shoulder, watching a few visitors come in - the height of the summer rush had mostly died down by this point, but she was glad to see that there were quite a few people still making their way in.

Glancing over toward the girl again as he put his wallet back in his pocket Noah stood toward the side pretending to look at his park map. She kind of looked familiar, like in the sense that he knew he hadn’t met her before but he might know someone related. Taking a few tentative steps with his map Noah kept his ears pricked wondering what the hell she could be here for. Hockey with the chimps? And while he knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping a part of him couldn’t help it. He was a dog with a bone now, sitting in front of a juicy mystery. "We're gonna miss you, Lea.” the older man said and Noah raised an eyebrow well at himself. Lea, that name sounded familiar though he couldn’t remember if he knew any young Leas. But his thoughts were cut short by a weird sound coming from the path up ahead.

Simon pulled her in for another hug before Lea heard an odd (and quite loud) sound and whipped her head around, braids hitting her back. "Sorry..." Her voice trailed off. "It's just - there was something." She glanced back over to Simon, chewing on her lip. "You heard that too, right?" She fiddled briefly with the ends of her braids. "I'm going to go and make sure - well, let's just hope that it's no new random animals again, huh?" Simon nodded, noting that he'd go and check in in the information booth. Lea darted up to a nearby man - one who looked vaguely familiar - and gave him a tap on his arm (after all, he was almost a foot taller than she was). "You heard that noise, right? Wasn't just me?"

Lowering his Map Noah listened intently to the new sound cursing the mutant werewolf gods that he didn’t get the supernatural hearing part of the job too. Not that that would have been helpful in this case, as the noise just, well, it didn’t sound like any noise he’d ever heard in his entire life so it was hard to wrap his head around. Feeling a tap on his arm though Noah tried not to jump clear to of his skin mind returning to the present. “Uh yea, I heard it” Noah replied with a nod to the girl he had totally not be eavesdropping on. No not at all. Opening his mouth to say something more Noah instantly shut it as the sound of a high pitched scream ripped through the air.

Her whole body felt weird. Almost tingly, though not in a way that she could quite place. Lea glanced back up at the man. "Okay, good. So I'm not, like, hearing stuff or anything. That's good." How many times could one say 'good' before it stopped even sounding like a real world. Lea dropped her field hockey stick, letting it clatter to the ground as she covered her ears at the sound of a high pitched scream, only letting go of them once it subsided. "I - " She began, the uncomfortable feeling moving throughout her body, "I need to go and see what's going on." She quipped, trying her best to not allow any tremor of doubt to interfere with her statement. "I do work here, though I know I've got no proof of that right now. I just -" She took a few steps forward. "I need to make sure people are okay, that whatever that was," and whatever this feeling is "isn't anything too much."

Clutching his map tightly in his fist Noah just endured the scream, body tightening as it went on. This was not good, not good at all, and he could feel it in his bones. Looking over at the girl and the dropped hockey stick Noah nodded at her. It was probably a dangerous plan going to the noise but, something in him knew he needed to stay with her, he needed to go and join, if anything to just put this extra werewolf strength to good use. So steeling himself Noah shoved the map into his pocket.  “I’m coming with you” he said picking up the stick she had dropped, heart already pumping adrenaline in his veins. Realizing though he hadn’t given much information to go along with that though Noah turned toward the girl “I have first aid knowledge and am good in a fight.” He quipped trying to clarify that he was doing this more because he wanted to help the people in trouble and like not because he didn’t believe in her own abilities to handle a situation. “You know this zoo better than I, where did the scream come from?” He asked taking a few steps forward with the girl.

"My mum's a nurse." She replied to his remark. "...and fine." Lea resisted rolling her eyes. She didn't need someone coming to help her, it was just a reconnaissance mission. But she sucked in her lower lip and gave a sharp nod, braids hitting against her chest. She brushed a stray piece of hair from her face and found herself wishing that she had at least changed into leggings and a shirt before coming here. But she couldn't change that right now. "It's by the pygmy goats. I think." She glanced back at the man, wondering if she was supposed to ask for her hockey stick back. If someone else would make it dirtier than the field already had. But she gave a small huff and took off, darting around the few visitors to the Zoo.

Noah took in the remark but didn’t say anything, because yea typical teenager being just teenagery in a time of crisis. Glancing down at the stick he’d instinctively picked up though the older boy blanched a little. “Do you want this back?” He asked her gently wondering if that’s what the whole issue was about. But that when he heard the sound again, louder this time and fell back into his rescue mission vibre. Pygmy goats. Ok he could work with that. “Alright lead the way” He said as she took off his long legs following her to the enclosure easily. But once they got there he was taken aback by what he found.

"I don't care. Just," Lea tapped her fingers against her thigh, "please try to not dirty it up too much." She'd have to wash it anyhow, as it had fallen onto the ground. But right now she had other things to focus on. She made it to the enclosure for the goats without too much trouble, but skidded to a halt once she arrived. There was a large, shimmery, glowing space where the newly-acquired zebras had stood previously. "Shit." Lea said, backing up a few paces. "There's - what is that?" She turned to the man. "It looks like somebody smooshed up a galaxy and brought it here real close. Or... not even quite that. I don't know."

Jogging alongside her to the enclosure Noah eyes blew wide, the image of the giant sucking swirling hole in the goat cage causing him to stop still, the stick clanging to the ground next ot him. “Holy fuck” He whispered to himself ears picking up on the rest of the patrons nearby. Babies were screaming, moms were fleeing, and both he and this girl had just run straight into the weirdest shit he’d ever seen. And he’d lived in Ashkent all his life. “Don’t know.” He shook his head. Because he didn’t really know, what it was or what he needed to do now and just. It was all a little much. But the one thing he could focus on was mitigating the damage. Yup. Take the problem and make it less of a problem Noah you could do that. Looking around Noah Identified the first of their long list of problems “The goats.” he breathed out looking at the girl.

Lea turned her head over her shoulder to look at the man. "Well, that's not good." Lea sighed, turning back to the goats at his remark. There were only two of them, a few others had disappeared right around when Aria had shown up, but her father and the other higher-ups in the Zoo had decided to keep the two in the enclosure. "They're not doing anything." She said, chewing on her lip. Though perhaps she ought to not have said such a thing, because just as she did, the shimmery hole seemed to almost make a noise and some stones from the outside of the goat enclosure fell into it. "Um." Lea practically squeaked, and before thinking anything through, she jumped into the enclosure and picked up and goat, rubbing between its ears to stop the excessive bleating. "You're okay. It's fine." She raised an eyebrow at the man. "Um, do you wanna grab Cherry?"

Jumping into the cage after the girl Noah headed towards the other goat, this one a few feet closer to the shimmering rainbow window thing. “Hey baby girl,” Noah whispered crouching down next to the other goat. It was clear Cherry was scared yes, but she had yet to start panic bleating which Noah found endearing. She kinda reminded him of the Captain, the UMAC barn goat. Though The captain probably would have noped the fuck out of there way before this point. “Ok got her” Noah informed the other girl as he gently picked her up. But that was when he heard it, the large screeching scraping noise. Turning back to look at the giant swirling portal thing Noah’s eyes widened a claw like hand reaching out through the hole. Something inside of the portal was trying to get out. And that’s when Noah started running full speed at the fence enclosure goat in tow. “Get out of the enclosure NOW” He yelled at the girl, knowing they both would have a better chance of survival from whatever the fuck that was if they weren’t boxed in.

Lea looked at the man, who was now holding onto the goat. "Good." A strong sense of tingles and pins-and-needles shot through her body again and Lea scrunched up, taking care not to drop Gumdrop. "I know!" She called back and darted over to the edge of the enclosure, quickly climbing up and over it. Once she'd made it over, she glanced back at the shimmery and glowing mess of a blob. "Can you watch her?" Lea placed Gumdrop on the ground. "But don't touch her, she's skittish as hell." She ran over to one of the zookeepers. "You've gotta get everyone out!" She called, just as a few plants and a (thankfully empty) pretzel stand found themselves sucked into the galaxy-like blob. "Page Tyler, tell him to make an announcement saying that - I don't know, that we need to have everyone leave asap and -" She sucked in a deep breath as he nodded. Lea darted back over to the man. "I should've introduced myself before. Hi, I'm Lea and my dad's an exhibits coordinator here. That's how I know a lot of people around."

Ignoring most of the remarks Noah scaled the wall with his goat easily, placing her down on the ground one he landed. “That’s a good girl” He crooned softly rubbing her forehead as she bleated a bit. Looking around though Noah was a bit confused as the girl left him with the other goat instructions on not to touch her.  “Alright” He said to no one in particular as the other goat started frantically bleating “Its ok Gumdrop” Noah tried soothing the goat with just his voice but to no avail. And if he was being honest Noah was starting to feel a little bit like old gumdrop here, especially as he watched the demonic hand reach out again, stopped lightly only by the pretzel stand and a few plants. Watching as the girl dashed back over Noah took his eyes off the portal “Cool. I’m uh Noah.” He said noting the way the name sounded familiar, but he didn’t have time for that really right now “And Um. I don’t want to alarm you but there’s some sort of shit coming out of that thing over there so um-” Noah stopped the portal making the worst noise it had made so far. Looking back the older boy couldn help it was his eyes widened again, the portal opening and now instead of just the clawed black hand a large black leg was stepping out a body not far after it.

Lea made her way back to... Noah, his name was. Didn't she know a Noah? Lea shook her head, not focusing on that right now - but moreso on the goats. She bent down to scratch Gumdrop between the ears again when Noah made a remark and she stood up quickly, whipping her head around, eyes growing wide at the sight of the creature emerging from the shimmery-almost-galaxy looking space. "What's..." she began, eyes growing wide, "what's that?" She took a few steps back, almost tripping over her hockey stick that had fallen to the side. "What the hell is that?" She took in a sharp breath, her voice shaking.

“No fucking clue” Noah breathed out, all manner of politeness out the window, as his heart started to race. Nope, This was not good, and here he was in the middle of it. The middle of the zoo with a large black creature coming our of god knows where, his mouth (or at least what Noah thought was his mouth) dripping with blackened saliva. Hearing a the clutter of a hockey stick though Noah was brought back to the present, and the fact that he had a very young girl practically shaking beside him. He couldn’t let himself feel right now, for her safety and his. Putting on his game face Noa tried not to think anything of the large blackened mass practically sniffing the air before them and instead tried to think of a few ways “Stay behind me.” He said quietly maneuvering so Lea’s body was not in the creatures line of sight  “I’m thinking if we just walk quietly away maybe it won’t catch on that we’re here” But of course it was then Gumdrop decided to bleat again, and the Monster’s head turned straight toward them body tensing as if it was going to pounce.

Lea felt her whole body tense up, and all she could think was that she hoped her father was somewhere else, that he hadn't decided to run to where the chaos was. Or perhaps he was on a late lunch break. Simon also had to be okay. Simon who smelled vaguely of spearmint and who Lea had climbed all over as a little girl when she visited her father. "Um." She coughed out, glancing around. "Okay." Agreeing, for once. Not protesting, for once. Dustin wouldn't believe her. Dustin - she thought, panicked. She hoped that he was okay, she was glad that he'd not come to the Zoo, for once. "Shhh!" Lea bent down, grabbing the bleating goat and hugging it against her chest, trying her best to take deep breaths. "What are you gonna do?!" She tugged on Noah's shirt.

While Noah commended Lea for her swift thinking in trying to shut up the goat, the damage was already done, the lumbering giant coming straight for them. Doing the only thing he could do Noah rushed forward hoping to take the monster thing off guard. “I’m going to FIGHT” He replied as he punched the black demon thing right across the big gaping jaw. And it was good that he’d had some werewolf strength left in him, because it knocked the creature back further than he’d expected, the claws of one of its weird claw like foot things only coming across to across to rip a small patch at the skin of his shoulder. Fuck. Yea that was going to sting a little when he got home, but it definitely could have been much worse without the werewolf god smiling down on him. Backing away though Noah didn’t really know what to do next, none of his training with this uncle had ever had him up against well, an actual monster. He’d only been trained to take down people for pete’s sake. Hearing it shriek a mighty ear piercing shriek Noah tried not to cringe knowing he was probably in way over his head, werewolf juju or not. But that’s when he remembered.  “Lea Stick!” He called out to her hoping she wasn’t in so much shock that she couldn’t slide or throw him her field hockey stick.

Lea wanted to tell Noah that yelling 'fight' was probably not the best of ideas, and that fighting whatever this creature - it had to be a hallucination, right? - was, was a very poorly constructed idea. But she kept her mouth shut. "I -" She began again, "fine." Still keeping a steady hold on Gumdrop, she bent over and grabbed the hockey stick, her hands shaking. She'd have to buy a new one. It was okay, if it helped at all. "Here you go." She handed it over to him. She was supposed to be able to do something, not just stand here looking helpless and weak. She was far from a damsel in distress, even though that appeared to be the exact role she was playing right now. "Don't get hurt." She managed, giving Noah's shirt another small tug.

Catching the stick with relative ease Noah was glad that he could be useful in this way. Because fighting and defending was his forte, and while the girl was far from being a damsel in distress it sure felt good to use some of his natural talent. Centering the stick in his palm though Noah grinned. He had always been told he had a great baseball swing, and as soon as he had the stick in his hand he knew knew it was game time. Planting his feet Noah swept the stick in an arc with as much strength as he could muster sending the monster actually flying backwards this time. Yea hows them apples demon shit. Looking at the girl though as she told him not to get hurt Noah felt a little twinge of like, well a feeling he hadn’t felt in over 8 years. “I’ll try not to” He replied gently to her before running into the cage where the monster was now laying. He needed to hit it where it counted and now, while it was down. Bringing the hockey stick up Noah rammed it into the side of the thing the toe getting caught in a rib or something and breaking off. Oops. Hearing it shriek Noah readied himself for the next attack his jagged stick at the ready. But it never came the big lumbering demon deciding to ‘fuck this shit’ to put it lightly and climb back into the shimmering portal hole thing. “”Well that was easier than I thought it was going to be” Noah murmured to himself hand coming up to the gash on his shoulder, it wasn’t bleeding too bad but it still stunk like a mother. Hopping back over the fence towards the girl Noah held out her stick before realizing “Oh shit, your stick.”

Lea watched him carefully. Part of her wondered if she should race after him, but given that she weighed only just over a hundred pounds and was not trained very extensively in any form of self-defense (something she might need to rectify, she mused) standing with the goats and comforting them was probably best. While Noah was fully distracted she bent down to pet them, only looking back up when Noah returned. Lea bit down on her lip when he showed her the stick. She'd need it for practice - but that was okay. The creature was gone, possibly. If it had even been real. "It's - it's fine. You fixed it, right?" She glanced over to the shimmering hole. So not totally fixed, but the creature was gone.

Glancing back at the swirling hole Noah bit his lip slightly “I’m not sure how to really fix it” He commented with a shrug, wincing slightly as the move jostled his cut up shoulder. Holding the stick between his legs, Noah took off his shirt, wrapping the fabric the best he could around his wound, a small deja vu flashback of that kid in the woods coming back to him. “At least that thing isn’t coming for us any more, though.” He said looking around in case there was another one hiding in the shadows. But it was just him and the girl and the goats now. And that weird swirling shimmering hole thing. “But um yea thank you for letting me use this.” He said gesturing with the sick “I promise I’ll pay you back, or like get you another one.”

"It's okay. Better the stick than you or the goats or anybody else." Lea gave a small shrug. Her gaze shot to the injury on his shoulder but no, she'd done enough damage for one day, and healing a straight-up injury would lead to too many questions. "I mean, I won't say no to people buying me stuff." She took in another shaky breath. "But right now, I'd advise getting out of here asap. I'm going to head home I think, and I'd say that you should too, though you're a grown-up grown-up I think, so I can't really tell you what to do." Lea grabbed Gumdrop. "I'm going to drop her off near the info booth, though - can you get Cherry or should I just try and get her to follow me?"

“Well there is that” Noah replied with a small smile, chuckling slightly as she pulled the typical teenage move and admitted she was ok with him buying her a new stick. It was the least he could do though so he figured he make good on his promise. Looking around at the goats though he nodded when she said it might be time for them to go. “Sounds good to me. And yea I’m a full fledged grown up and everything, but fortunately for you I don’t like leaving a mess in someone else’s house” He teased leaning down to rub a pattern on Cherry’s fur. Walking with the goat in tow though Noah realized he had no way of really contacting this girl about her new stick. “Here though,” He said grabbing his phone from his pocket and handing it to her “Put your number in. Or like add me on tumblr or something, so I can text you about the stick.”

Lea couldn't help but smile back at him, despite everything else that was going on. "Messes don't do anybody any good, ever." She shook her head. "Trust me." At his comment, she paused in her walking and nodded. "Oh, yeah. Right." She grabbed his phone with one hand while holding onto Gumdrop with the other and plugged in her number and tumblr username, just for the heck of it. Then she shot herself a quick text with a string of ocean animal emojis. "There we go, all set." For now, at least. The zoo would have to close until whatever was going on could be solved.

Taking his phone back Noah looked at the ocean animals she’d sent with a bemused smile. Well that was one way to go about that. “Cool.” he said slipping the phone back in his pocket, and setting the goat down at the entrance. There were a lot of employees around the turnstiles trying to direct panicked people and make sure no one got hurt and Noah took that as his queue that he should probably follow. Glancing over toward her though Noah gave in to that small little nagging feeling in his brain and said words he’d didn’t really say much any more“So if if you’re ever in a dangerous situation feel free to text me ok. I’ll be there no questions asked alright” He said with a nod Because he would be, he really would. But she didn’t really need to know the gravity of it all. Giving Cherry one last pat though Noah stood up straightening his makeshift bandage a little “Well um I guess I’ll see you later then” He said with a small wave before walking towards the Zoo entrance. Saying today was a wild day would be an understatement and It would probably be a good long while before he came back to the Zoo.

 Or so he hoped.

#touchofchatzy #touchofpotw #potw #1 minute to midnight #leaparrish #//don't know if there needs to be any trigger warnings on this #since its pretty tame all things considered #but let me know if you need one!

[dustin-parrish-blog]

A Conversation | Solo

Date: July 21st, 2017

On a mission to get milk, Dustin meets someone unexpected.

It was shortly before his curfew that Dustin found himself in the convenience store closest to home, browsing the milk section. After a long day of work, Laura Parrish had insisted that she had to cook her children a warm dinner, and so she had started the process of preparing a meal without checking all her ingredients. Which led to Dustin being forced out of his pyjamas and into his jeans and a white shirt to make his way to the store to get emergency milk. He’d tried telling Laura that it was already late and wasn’t she always insisting that it was dangerous outside late in the day? But Laura had just rolled her eyes at him. “Can I remind you of your words the next time you’re trying to convince me you want to stay out late? It’s only half past eight, go!” He was then swatted out of the house with the help of a slightly damp dish towel.

So here he was, at half past eight, reading the labels of the milk cartons, trying to figure out which one would be the best quality for the least amount of money. He wasn’t in any hurry – this was the only time that he could be outside late without having to worry about curfew. If he missed it, then clearly that would be the store’s fault. Or his mother’s fault for making him go grocery shopping so late. He took one of the cartons of milk before moving over to the candy aisle. If he was made to go grocery shopping when he could be doing something else, anything else, well, he damn well deserved some tasty treats. He scanned the selection for a while before settling on something. Taking the packet of skittles, his eyes met another set of eyes through the now empty space on the shelf. They were hazel, and soft, and his gleaming gaze bore right through him, as if he was trying to find his skeleton inside. Dustin could feel the container of milk slipping from his grasp, the skittles soon following. He knew these eyes, although his own had never laid eyes on them.

The boy’s lips curved upwards into a grin. Without saying a word, he walked around the corner of the shelf that had been separating them. He was tall, taller than Dustin. He had to lean his neck upwards just the tiniest amount to look into his eyes as he walked closer. Dustin’s breath caught in his chest. He couldn’t look away. This wasn’t real, was it? Maybe this was another memory. They did feel real, after all. But not this real. What the hell was happening?

Jordan was looming over him now, and being so close, he seemed even taller. This was not real. The other boy didn’t belong in this world. Physics was failing, and so was Dustin’s mind to comprehend this all.

Fingers were grazing along his cheek, along his jaw, and then two hands were holding his face as Jordan pressed his lips against Dustin’s mouth. What. What what what what what.

Part of his brain told him to run. But the other part, the bigger part, made him close his eyes and practically melt against the pair of lips belonging to this stranger – although technically, he wasn’t.

A thumb traced downwards along the line of his jaw. The touch was careful, deliberate yet sensual, just like the lips pressing against his own, between his own. Dustin could feel goosebumps appearing on his arm. The smell of Jordan was familiar in that way that you suddenly caught a whiff of an unknown smell but you were suddenly reminded of something from your childhood, something that had happened years ago. Dustin opened his mouth. Was Jordan always kissing Dustin in the middle of a store like this? It was hard to believe they never got into trouble for this.

Trouble. Yes. This was very much trouble.

Putting his hands up against Jordan’s (firm) chest, he pushed at him, and Jordan got the hint. He pulled away from the kiss, slowly. His eyes were questioning as he glanced down at him. “You’re not Dustin.” It wasn’t a question. His voice sounded so familiar.

“How did you-“

“You don’t kiss like him.”

Dustin wasn’t quite sure how to take this. Was his alternative self’s boyfriend insinuating that he was a bad kisser? “Jordan…” It didn’t matter if Jordan thought he was a bad kisser. This shouldn’t have happened at all. Because he was dating Quinn and if he would have witnessed this… fuck. How the hell had he gone from happily dating his boyfriend to cheating on him with a boy from a parallel universe?

Jordan’s eyes widened. “Wait a second.” He looked even more surprised now. “I didn’t tell you my name just now and I have never met you before. Not you-you anyway. And you didn’t completely freak out you were just kissed by a stranger, so that means that you know other-me.” A smile appeared on his face, radiant and bright like the flash of a camera. “Wait. You’re dating him, aren’t you? I can’t believe it.”

Dustin was lost for words. Jordan looked so happy. As if the thought of other-Dustin and other-Jordan dating was the best thing to happen to him in all of 2017. He didn’t want to burst his bubble, but he had to. “Jordan, we can’t talk here.”

The older boy nodded. “Let’s go outside then.”

When he grabbed his hand, Dustin forgot all about the milk that he was supposed to buy, and he simply followed Jordan outside, the store bells chiming as they exited. Fuck the milk. This was more important. Somehow, Jordan Greene had turned up in his store, but it wasn’t the Jordan Greene from this universe, the one who apparently had gone to AC High a couple of years ago but did not live in town any longer. No, this was the Jordan Greene that was familiar, whose voice he’d heard about a hundred times in the memories. He knew what he sounded like when he whispered, when he was elated, when he was serious, when he was annoyed. The boy who had pushed him down into the backseat of his car and had kissed his neck, the boy who took Dustin’s virginity. He looked so much different standing right in front of him, and even different outside in the dim light of the approaching sunset than in the store with the overhead industrial-strength lighting.

“How do you know that there are multiple Dustins? You know about the parallel universes?” Dustin questioned him, trying to get out of this state of chaotic confusion.

“First of all, there’s the mirrors… which caused lots of talk about this among us warlocks and witches.”

Dustin flinched at the casual mention. He wasn’t used to anyone talking about magic in such a nonchalant way.

“And then, a few days ago, I travelled here for the first time,” Jordan continued. “I quickly figured out what was going on. But I never thought about finding another version of my boyfriend… and I never thought about the possibility that he would know me and-”

“I have a boyfriend,” Dustin interruped him. “And his name isn’t Jordan.”

First, Jordan looked taken aback. And then, Dustin could see the hurt and disappointment flash across his face. He didn’t even bother hiding it from him. “Oh. Wow. Maybe I should just travel back now… I mean, before your boyfriend comes and punches me in the face.”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “He isn’t the punching type.”

“What type do you think he is?” Jordan asked.

“The understanding type.”

Jordan smiled. “I’m glad. And I’m sorry I kissed you – I thought you were him. That leaves another question though: if you’ve never met me and you’re also not with this universe’s Jordan, how did you know my name and why weren’t you totally freaked out by a stranger planting a kiss on your lips?”

Dustin let out a sigh. This was going to be a pain in the ass to explain. “Let’s sit down somewhere.”

 A couple of minutes later, Dustin had more or less successfully recapped everything that had been happening – the smoke monster and the weird memories and then Adrien telling him that he had talked to the other Dustin in the mirror. When he wasn’t throwing in questions, Jordan had listened intently. They were sitting on an old bench close to the convenience store parking lot, close, but not touching.

“I can’t believe that you could see all of that,” Jordan said quietly. “Get a direct view into our lives.”

“Yeah, me neither,” Dustin practically whispered. It had been hard to try to explain this in a way that did not make him sound like a creepy stalker, and all things considered, he wasn’t sure he had succeeded.

“It’s okay, though.” Jordan tilted his head to look at him. “I love you, so it’s okay.”

“You don’t even know me,” Dustin protested, shivering at the words. No one but his family had ever said that, and despite all the memories, it felt wrong to hear the words from Jordan. Like they weren’t meant for him.

“You’re Dustin Parrish, and I love every possible version of him.” Why did Jordan have to sound so damn sincere?! “You’re the boy I ran into in the library when he was only thirteen.”

Dustin frowned. He didn’t know anything about a library. “I’m not, though. We never met here. I – I searched for you online, you don’t even live in this town anymore, I don’t think. That day when I was thirteen – that never happened to me.”

“Do you wish it had, though?” The look Jordan gave him was too damn intent.

Dustin could feel his hands began to sweat. All he wanted to do was move closer, maybe. Because there was something about Jordan that just drew him in, made him want to wrap his arms around him. Because in a way, looking at him felt like home. He swallowed. “I know that you’re like family to Dustin,” he started. “That you pretty much are his family. But that doesn’t mean – if I could save my mother and my sister from that fate, I would give up anything. No matter how good things are for me there otherwise, nothing could make up for them.”

“Why not?” Jordan lifted his eyebrows. They looked soft, elegant.

“Because I have a boyfriend.”

“Do you think he would get mad at you if you tried to find me?”

“No, but it wouldn’t exactly be fair to him. Or to the other Jordan. He’s never even seen me before, he’s not caught up in all this shit.”

“Give me your phone,” Jordan told him, and almost out of instinct, Dustin reached into the pocket of his jeans and handed it over.

“What are you doing?” Dustin wondered out loud, frowning.

“Address and full names of my parents. I know you didn’t succeed in finding me, but maybe this will help. They still live in the same place in this town, I checked. They’re not the most caring people, but they act friendly most of the times so they should help you.” Jordan looked down at his hands.

Dustin wanted to say that he knew about his parents, and that he was sorry they were such dicks lots of time. But he didn’t. “I just said, I don’t think I should-“

“But you should be able to if you ever choose to. If you ever get into trouble. If you need help and there is no one else you can ask. Then you should go to him for help. Of course, I don’t really know him, but he is me, essentially, and I’d like to believe that I’m a good person in every universe.”

Dustin didn’t have the heart to tell him that he had proof that this wasn’t always the case. Judging by the memories, Quinn was completely different. There wasn’t one mean or violent bone in his boyfriend, but still, his alternate self was a serial killer. He could never tell Jordan. Even if he despised what the other Quinn did, he couldn’t be responsible for whatever it was that Jordan might choose to do to him. “Do you really think he would help me?”

“Definitely.” Jordan gave him a nod. “And if not out of human decency, then because he’s going to feel the pull. To you. Call me crazy, but it’s in our genes. It’s gonna be the same feeling that made me talk to you that day in the library, that needed me to befriend you and care about you.”

Dustin looked at him sceptically. There was nothing in someone’s genes that made them fall in love with one specific person; it made absolutely no sense. But then he remembered that Jordan was a Psychology student, and he took back his phone without further protest.

“Anyway,” Jordan continued, as if he had sensed that they wouldn’t find common ground. “I might not be here for much longer. The last time this happened to me, I was thrown back home completely out of the blue while walking down the street. Must have really freaked out a couple of people.”

Dustin regarded him quietly, swallowing. There was so much more he wanted to ask him, but the thought of Jordan disappearing in the middle of a question was daunting. “Do you know how long you’ve got?”

Jordan shook his head. “No idea. Not too long, by my guess, but it’s just a guess.” He let out a small sigh, looking down at his hands.

Dustin wondered if maybe he should hug him. He kind of wanted to hug him. But he also didn’t want to make things more awkward.

It was Jordan who broke the silence. “I’m going to tell Dustin about you, by the way. My Dustin. He needs to know.”

Dustin could feel himself shiver slightly at the words ‘my Dustin’. “Yeah. Okay. I’m probably going to tell Quinn, too. My boyfriend,” he clarified as Jordan shot him a quizzical look. He was not looking forward to that conversation. Because there was no way that he would not include the kiss. Quinn needed to know about- about this. About what he’d done. Or rather, what he’d let happen.

“Is there anything you want to say to Dustin?” Jordan asked, and the way he made the words come out made it sound as if this was a significant question.

Dustin bit his lip. What the hell. How was he supposed to come up with a message to this other Dustin right on the spot? Especially after Dustin had relayed such a weird message to him via this guy called Adrien a while ago.  “I don’t know,” he finally said truthfully. Despite getting a full view into what it was like to be Dustin Parrish, resident of Ashford River, Dustin really didn’t know the guy. It certainly felt like he knew Jordan much better than the other Dustin. He just knew that he grew up with his dad because his mum had died, but they didn’t get along so well. It wasn’t that they fought much, no. They were just distant. Like they didn’t know how to talk or what to even talk about. So the other Dustin grew up without Laura or Lea Parrish, and honestly, Dustin hated those memories that were somehow connected to that loss. One night, he’d even woken up with tears in his eyes and a strange feeling of missing someone who was actually sleeping in the same house. Instead, Dustin’s family was mostly Jordan. He was all he had. “Just tell him,” Dustin started, sincerely hoping that this was the right thing to say. “Just tell him that mum really, really loves him.”

He startled when Jordan leaned forward. Half-expecting another kiss, Dustin let out a small sigh of relief when Jordan wrapped his arm around him instead. He knew that this time, he wouldn’t have kissed back.

“I’ll tell him,” Jordan whispered, arms tightening around Dustin’s back. It had gotten cold, but the other boy was warm. “Fuck, I love you.”

Dustin shivered, but didn’t say it back. He didn’t love Jordan. At least, not in the way that the other Dustin loved him. He loved him for taking care of Dustin, he loved him for protecting and loving him, but despite all those memories, he knew he didn’t have feelings for him himself. Hugging him didn’t feel like hugging Quinn – although Jordan smelled nice, too.

It wasn’t like hugging a stranger though. Because this wasn’t. This was the boy he had been seeing in a lot of his dreams during the last half year. This was the boy he’d kissed goodnight and practised spells with. This was the boy who undressed him in the backseat of a car and made him feel things so good and strange and scary.

“I know you think you’re all different from Dustin,” Jordan continued quietly. The leather material of his jacket felt soft against Dustin’s palms. “But you’re not. In a way, you are the same. And it’s not just the way you look. Trust me.” He pulled away.

“Okay,” Dustin just said, because he was not sure what else to say in this moment. He knew people weren’t the same in all those universes, but he also did not know Dustin the way Jordan knew Dustin. Then again, Jordan had only met him this evening for the first time. Somehow, he wished he could travel to Ashford River for a while to meet Dustin. He couldn’t help but feel curious about what it would be like to look at himself – and not in the mirror.

It was getting late, and as a breeze of evening air travelled across the parking lot, Dustin’s whole upper body started shivering.

“Here,” Jordan said, taking off his leather jacket and draping it across Dustin’s shoulders.

He gave him a look. “You’re already dating me in your universe. You don’t have to act all gentleman with me.”

Jordan smiled, then shook his head. “Actually, no. That’s not what I meant. I want you to keep it, you know? It suits you. Really gives you an edge.”

Dustin frowned. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Say yes before I change my mind. Dustin loves that jacket, he’s gonna be so pissed at me.”

“Yes. Okay.” Dustin pulled the fabric closer around his shoulders. It smelled a little like Jordan. He could already tell that Quinn wasn’t going to like it – if he didn’t break up with him for the kiss. Which was a possibility. One that he’d have to face, because if there was one thing he would never want to do to Quinn was to lie to him about something like this.

“I’m sorry if I kissed you when you might not have wanted that,” Jordan said quietly. “I had travelled to this town before recently, but when I saw your face I just thought it was him. I didn’t think.”

Dustin shook his head. “You don’t have to be sorry. I know you didn’t mean to cause any trouble for Quinn and I. I’ll just have to tell him somehow…” He was not looking forward to it.

“Tell him that your parallel-universe boyfriend said that he’d be a fool for being mad at you.”

Dustin snorted. “I imagine that’s going to go over really well.”

There was a small smile playing around Jordan’s face. Despite being a few years older, he did look young in this moment. “Well, then-“  

Mid-sentence, he was gone. And so was the jacket around Dustin’s shoulders. Dustin shivered. And everything felt several degrees colder.

#touchofsolo #touchofpotw #touchoffinale #potw: 3 minutes to midnight

[theforestwarden]

So um, has anyone lost a really uniquely colored and friendly cactus cat? I asked my neighbors but no one around here owns a cactus cat. 

#touchofstarter #touchofpotw #//he's like #IF NO ONE CLAIMS IT I AM KEEPING IT #YOU CAN'T STOP ME HUNTER

[fifthmanifold]

Iteration One || James and Subject 201

"I'm terribly sorry, but I promise you I couldn't have chosen a better man for the job. I have every confidence you will be fine, and it hardly hurts. Just a little motion sickness." Iteration 2 subject 201, slowly stirred in his restraints, eyes flickering open as he looked around, taking in the contraption around him and the sleeping young lady by the wall. Poor, sweet, Jenna. It hurt him every time she hurled abuse at him, every time she cursed him and accused him of the most heinous of things. She'd understand soon, she was his world. All of this chaos for her. Most fathers would give their daughters the world - James had given her two.

"The fuck?" James' concentration flicked back to his other guest with a smile.

"Good, I'm glad you're awake! I was concerned about the dosage given your mass and I've never tested this on an unconscious person before." James replied, clasping his hands together earnestly, if a little anxiously. His test subjects so far were invariably hesitant and uncomfortable, and often rude. He watched Roger Hawthorne's eyes narrow, looking around, calculating.

“And what, precisely, are you testing?" His voice silk smooth, Roger had a slight southern drawl to it. Unthreatening. For once, someone with genuine curiosity.

"My Can Opener. My second one, anyway, I'm returning you to Ashford! I am conceiving a more creative name for when I publish, but for a common name it's quite-"

"Your second?" Roger interupted raptly. "Did you build one to come here?"

"Yes! It's rather brilliant, isn't it. There was some collateral damage, something I believe was more from this end than mine, but it achieved what it was meant to, and I'm rectifying some of it by sending a few of you back before I go, starting with you." James adjusted his glasses and started adjusting the flux anomalies parameters to his destination.

"Have you factored in my mass to your experiment? You and I are quite different," Roger commented casually.

"Yes, yes, of course. I sent over a wide variety of individuals here, as long as you stay within the alotted space then there will be no issues." "And the restraints to keep people in that space, smart." "Indeed! When I tested on livestock without restraints it was like they were sliced cleaning in two. Most disturbing" Sensibly, subject 201 leant into his restraints, rather than resisting them. "How many other subjects have you found?" James' brow creased. "Because I am attempting to send people back, rather than just accross, I have struggled to find others-" "I know of three thousand." James looked over pensively as Roger spoke, adjusting the spectroflickometer carefully. It was a tempting offer, but... "I also know several people who wouldn't bat an eyelash at this kinda work," Roger continued convincingly, "You're a one man operation, and given you bein' a bit further along than I am, getting people to wherever we are must be hard work."

James considered it. His back ached just from carrying this subject in, and days of manual work had left him aching in places he hoped never to ache again, to have a reliable source of test subjects and help with all this. But his eyes fell on Jenna's sleeping form, and he knew this wasn't fair on her. Sleeping in this dank room, in fear of her life. He needed to get this moving sooner rather than later, and getting another subject to this point would take another week, regardless off assistance.

"It's a gracious offer, but I simply don't have the time," he said, flicking off the safety switches.

"I'm not some goddamn guinea pig," Roger hissed, his face changing from curiosity to disgust in a second, accent dropped and his face angry. One moment he was a pleasant companion, the next he looked like he'd murder James in his sleep. James swallowed.

"Surely you wish to return to your old life? That's all this is. All my previous subjects here were fine." James said reassuringly, double checking the wires for the last time. He'd had to adjust the straps a little but everything was secure and in place. Practically looked identical to his old one, he thought with a smile.

"Don't you dare, don't you bloody fucking well dare! I'll fucking gu-"

James threw the switch. The floor rumbled with a deathly crack, the air hissed like paper burning, and several bangs echoed around the warehouse like firecrackers going off. The Can Opener burned white and James shielded his mouth as a spray of goop  covered him from head to toe.

Screams pierced his ears and a thick stream of blood pooled at his feet. James gently removed his glasses and  wiped away the sliver of bone off the frame, smearing spinal fluid all over the glass. He stared at his creation emptily, the world around him ringing, then violently emptied his stomach onto the visceral mess. It hadn't been supposed to go like that.

#:----) #solo #touchofpotw #gore tw

[marvelousevelyn-blog]

One Last Time || Solo

Her home was still, with the faint scent of lemon from a candle in her bedroom.

There was a knock at the door and Evelyn pushed herself off of the couch, breezing over, her loose sweater draped around her body. She opened the door and before she could turn and see who it was, the figure had moved into the house and turned around to face Evelyn. Involuntarily, Evelyn felt her eyes grow wide and she let out a small cough, almost as though she were choking on something, though she hadn’t been having anything except for tea this whole afternoon.

“Jeez, Evie, I know we can see ghosts but you don’t need to look like you’ve seen one just now. I should be offended!” Melanie, huffed with a smile -

(the way she somehow perfectly managed)

- bright-eyed and in her purple lace dress. Right in front of her. Evelyn reached out her hand, ran her fingers across Melanie’s shoulder. She was very much real - which was impossible. Evelyn had seen her body, dead and destroyed, a mere few feet away from where she stood right now. She smelled of cherry blossoms and Evelyn took a few steps back.

The last time she’d seen that dress, it had been stained blue.

She sucked in her bottom lip.

Not scared - never scared.

But her stomach clenched and she squeezed her eyes shut for a few moments before opening them again. Melanie - or whoever she was - was inches away from Evelyn’s face, and she brushed her fingers through Evelyn’s hair. “You’ve redecorated in the few hours I’ve been out, holy shit, Evie, how’d you manage that? Special order all the way from England?”

“Do not do that!” Evelyn exclaimed, moving away from her friend and back to the couch. Her friend - whoever or whatever exactly she was - followed. Evelyn turned her head over her shoulder and flashed whoever this was a glare.

However, as if it were Melanie, she did not seemed fazed by Evelyn’s mixture of moods. Unbothered, taking things in stride. Which made it all the worse. Her Melanie was gone. Dead, murdered, ripped straight out of her life.

How dare this - whoever it was. A hunter - slayer - warden - someone who’d figured out what Melanie looked like and decided to replicate that in the cruelest of ways?

But she smelled exactly like her.

“Do what?” Melanie skipped past Evelyn and sat herself on the chair to the left of Evelyn’s couch - plush and exactly where she’d sat many years ago -

it was nearing on two years that she’d been gone, now -

two years since Evelyn had seen her there.

“You can’t sit there.” Evelyn found herself saying, her red-colored lips drawn into a straight line. That’s my Melanie’s seat. You’re not her. Disregarded the fact that Saskia had sat just there not too long past. Saskia was something different. Important, surely, but not on the level of Melanie. Not even Wren came close to being what Melanie had been.

“Fine, Ev, whatever your pretty little heart desires.” Melanie stood up and moved to the couch, mere centimeters away from Evelyn, who found herself visible tense up. This wasn’t happening. Moreover, this couldn’t be happening.

“So, what’s with the new carpet by the door? I liked the cream-colored one. This one’s so grey.” Melanie wrinkled her nose. “But whatever, it’s your house, I’m just glad I can live here off and on.”

“No.” Evelyn replied, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. She stiffened, pulling her knees towards her chest. Looked up at Melanie, at the way her lips had fallen from a smile - looked almost concerned, now. Genuine concern. Evelyn bristled at the thought of it - Melanie was dead. Dead, gone, killed.

Dead, gone, killed. A nightmare she’d wanted no part of. 

Except that she was sitting right next to her, exactly as she had been, two years and one week ago.

“I’ll be back - soon.” Evelyn stood up, tears falling down her cheeks as she turned away from Melanie. Opened the door, shut it, and made her way out to her car, driving straight to the causeway without breathing.

Parked her car, got out, and stared at the ocean, hardly blinking. This cannot be real circling around in her mind, again and again.

#touchofsolo #touchofpotw #c melanie #solo #one last time #// hope this is okay and that i understood the potw :3 #happy to change as needed #also :-------) #also there is brief mention of finding her friend dead but not v graphic #let me know if you want triggers on this

[ashkentradio-blog]

Law! What is it Good For | 5.4.17

[transcript of radio broadcast, the recording of which has found its way onto social media throughout Ashkent Creek.]

Good evening, Ashkent, are you listening? You should be. I’ve got a few interesting stories to tell you today, so pull up a seat and make yourself comfortable. Some of you may recognize the events that will be told today. Some of you may have hoped these sorts of things would say quiet. Where’s the honesty in that, though? It’s always better to get everything out there.

It’s been an interesting week in Ashkent. Unless you live under a rock, I imagine you might have seen some of these strange events. The dead, that is. Bodies rising and reuniting with their family. Or, a version of them, if nothing else. Has anyone else noticed that the old dearly departed don’t belong to their dimension? Really makes you wonder about what’s dragging these bastards back from across planes of existence. Makes you wonder what brings others, alive and dead.

Things like that don’t just happen. A coincidence is finding out your favorite food is on sale the day you go shopping, or ending up at the same concert as your best friend without talking about it first. Scores of people, living and dead, suddenly arriving from Ashford River is intent.

Maybe it’s not malicious. Maybe whoever is causing this is real friendly about it. Enlightening the masses with new, unexpected experiences. A Good Samaritan, if you will. What happens once we’re enlightened? Do we go back to where we came from? Will the dead return to their graves while everyone carries on with their happy lives?

That’s all speculation, though, isn’t it? You came for facts, and I have some to share. Shall we start small?

The lack of questioning in this town is really quite astonishing. I enjoy blindly following authority figures as much as the next person, but it might be time that we take closer look at some of their actions.

Let’s talk about rules. Rules that some people seem interested in breaking. For some, it’s running around outside without clothes on. Harmless to most, fun for anyone that gets to witness young Noah Kalani streaking through a parking lot. But some find reason to break more important rules.

We’re supposed to look up to law enforcement, aren’t we? The trustworthy boys in blue and all those that serve to help them? So what are we to think when we witness them breaking the laws they’re supposed to uphold?

I’m not talking about speeding a little too fast or shortchanging a clerk at the 7/11. Hardly. Wouldn’t it be so easy to ignore those sorts of things?

No. But it wasn’t any of those things, was it Cece and Reed? Maybe you thought no one saw or no one heard the screaming. Maybe you thought no one saw you do it. I did. And as far as being truthful with the fine people of Ashkent Creek, I think they should know that those sworn to protect them are often times the ones inflicting the most harm. Tell me, how did it feel to kill those people?

Be careful, Ashkent. The wolves are out there, but you’ll never see them if you keep your eyes closed. Good night, I’ll see you around.

@hawaiianhalfwolf @cecebishop @reedhan

#5.4.17 #touchofpotw #are you listening ashkent #ashkent radio #law! what is it good for? #ep2 #potw: grave mistake #cecebishop #hawaiianhalfwolf #reedhan #day late and a dollar short but have some straight up call outs

[blythewonder]

Half the World Away || Solo

Discoveries, with the help of an unlikely source.

Research was crucial to solving any problem.

It had been, back when she’d been up late at night (even when her fathers had thought she was asleep) researching everything there was to find about Beatrice’s OCD.

It had been, when she’d discovered the reality of dragons and had held steadfast onto that belief, not allowing herself to waver.

It had been, with the Herculean Labours.

It was, now. No matter what the reasoning behind so many animals disappearing, she needed to figure it out. Maybe, as with the Herculean Labours, this had all happened before. It has all happened before and will all happen again. Because history did repeat itself, even when it came to the supernatural.

But thus far there was nothing. Bridget paged through a book, yawning against the back of her hand. Maybe, she thought, maybe this is just normal absurd levels of pet-napping. But another (far greater) part of her told her that it was ridiculous. This wasn’t some normal town. A mass exodus of animals not on their own volition was too much (even on their own volition), unless it was the work of a large group of criminals. But that idea seemed off - even though it was undoubtedly the one passed around by the majority of the town’s residents.

Pet-nappers extraordinaire, who stole animals right out from their owners’ noses, right out from impossible locations with never-before-seen speed. She scoffed internally.

The majority of this town who managed to remain blind to what should have been right in front of them. Bridget huffed, flipping a page in one of her notebooks with too much energy - and it tore out. “Shoot.” She muttered, rubbing her fingers against the page as she glanced down at it. A partial listing of missing pets signs she’d found around town - with an occasional sketch of the poor cat or dog or fish, even. A fish didn’t just get up and run away. Especially not if its tank was left behind. A dog or cat could get out (even if the cat was normally indoor), but a fish? Or turtle, or ferret, or other seemingly endless list of creatures? Highly improbable that it was anything but supernatural.

Bridget adjusted herself in the plush chair of the Scribe Library and glanced up from the books that surrounded her, before jumping and letting out a yelp that was far above proper ‘library voice level’.

For all that she’d looked at the oddly-behaving mirrors any number of times, she’d never seen herself on the other end. Herself, in clothing unlike Bridget would ever dare wear, looking at her nails in apparent boredom.

(A look she’d likely exhibited before -

but never, not once in a library, the Scribe Library, of all places.)

Other-her looked up, then - perhaps just by some stroke of luck. In the same place at the same time. She rolled her eyes and Bridget took a few steps backwards. She’d rolled her eyes in the mirror any number of times - but somehow seeing it done when she wasn’t the one physically doing it was bizarre. Even though, in all technical terms, she was sort of doing it.

Bridget shook her head, and waved her hand in an attempt to gain the attention of her other self.

‘Hello.’ She signed. Had to hope that other-her knew at least passable signing - and that other-her was willing to talk to her. ‘A-S-H-F-O-R-D R-I-V-E-R, yes?’ She signed, receiving a flippant ‘yes’ in response. One that was surely followed by an unspoken ‘duh’.

Don’t get into a fight with yourself, for the love of all that is good. She reminded herself, taking a deep breath. Bridget looked around - but luckily the library was relatively empty. Small blessings.

‘Question.’ She signed. ‘But can write if easier.’

‘Don’t bother.’ Other-her replied. ‘I’ve been fluent in sign since I was twelve.’ One-upping her, but that didn’t matter. Not when she had someone from Ashford who she could just ask about animals. Research with all the Scribe literature had brought her seemingly nowhere, and Reed and she had hypothesized that the disappearing act could have had something to do with Ashford River. Those turtle-rat-pidjean-whatever-they-were-called had come over from Ashford, which meant... other animals could, too? Buildings had, other individuals had, why not animals? Only Bridget didn’t know quite as much about animals appearing. Only that the number of missing signs on telephone polls had risen exponentially recently.

‘O-K,’ Bridget began, before her gaze zeroed-in on something behind other-her. Small, otherwise likely to go without notice. But she’d seen a missing poster just a few hours ago. It was a chinchilla, and if Bridget’s eyes weren’t deceiving her, it had a white spot on its back, and a darker grey covering one of its eyes. ‘Can I see?’ Bridget asked, pointing to the chinchilla. Other-her must have let out a sigh (not that she could hear it), and got up to go and get the animal. Bridget took the time to take in what other-her was wearing. Nothing at all - or at least not properly at all - like what she would have chosen. But that was far from the point. Other-her returned and held up the creature to the mirror, and Bridget ran her tongue over her teeth and gave a small nod. Unless there was a twin of it over in Ashford, it was the same one she’d found a missing poster for just before arriving at work. It belonged to an eight-year-old in her and Beatrice’s building.

Which meant -

- that yes, animals had, for some reason, all (or not all, she corrected herself) poofed into Ashford? Suddenly, too. Not like the other individuals who seemed to have shown up over the course of some months. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Bridget glanced back up to see other-her staring at her with a raised eyebrow. ‘The animal there,’ ‘C-H-I-N-C-H-I-L-L-A?’ ‘Yes.’ Bridget rolled her eyes. ‘Missing from A-S-H-K-E-N-T - not too long ago.’

‘Showed up in H-Q not too long ago.’ Other-her rolled her eyes again and plopped the chinchilla on her lap. At least, Bridget thought, at least other-her wasn’t cruel to animals.

Or could truly put on a good act. But she soon shook the thought from her mind.

But if the chinchilla had end up there, was it too much to assume that all the animals had somehow ended up over in Ashford? If the Ashkent residents - like Roger, for example - were unable to come back, would it be the very same for the Ashkent pets? It was just as unsettling a thought. Animals and other beings trapped in another world, away and unable to return. At least so it seemed.

It was not as though other-her could hand the chinchilla through solid glass, when they couldn’t even hear one another. Bridget felt a twinge of pain for everyone who’d lost an animal - for some it was as close as they must have had to family - which meant that this revelation could cause a lot of pain. But maybe some small sense of comfort. At least they seemed safe.

‘Just showed up?’ She repeated to other-her. Other-her, who she had so many questions for, but she held back. Grilling her about why she sold information, why she loathed the Scribes - Bridget was not in the mood to deal with the answers, and so it was best not to have any further confirmation than what Margo had already given her.

‘Yes.’ Other-her replied. ‘Others too. Including some I have never seen.’

It was confirmation enough - or, at least - the best she was likely going to get.

Now only to get others to believe her discovery.

That was always the hardest part.

#touchofsolo #touchofpotw #half the world away #solo #// for the animal potw :) #i hope this is okay!! #it feels a bit weird but yay for discovering things about the animals?

[leo--chimaira-blog]

House of the Rising Sun|| Cassie & Leo

She couldn’t wait an hour. She was already half way out of the door by the time she sent her last message. She took out her cell from her pocket again and read it. What the hell was she thinking? She wasn’t, couldn’t. She just peeled out of work and drove without hesitation to the destination across the other side of town and out by the woods. As she grew close Cassie idled the car a little away from the house, just enough to give herself time to think. Enough time to go back the way she came, get her head straight before she did anything stupid. She soon talked herself out of that one. No, she needed to be there. She needed to see for herself. He wasn’t gone. He couldn’t be. If he was gone she would know. She’d see him. Cassie pulled the keys out of the a ignition she stepped out of the car before she could change her mind. She stopped for a moment to get herself together before she took a breath, closed the door over and shoved her keys down into her jacket pocket. After a quick wander around the grounds a little away from the house she steeled her nerve. It really was in the middle of nowhere. Nothing around for a mile at least. She’d have to be quick. Get in, make an excuse and comb the place. Saying and doing were two different things she realised when she made her way up to the front of a building that just screamed ‘last known sighting’ and hesitated before knocking.

After his... less than ideal chat with the strange white-haired woman who'd shown him pictures of her dog and then of an unconscious man on the path to the Commons, then lied about it and disappeared before the service ended, Leo was more than a little wary about the next one asking to come by. The way she disagreed with everything he said and then turned around asking to be shown the place was reminiscent of Mr. Han, but he'd take another doubter with a camera over that evil-eyed girl any day of the week. This time, he wouldn't isolate himself, wouldn't spill secrets, wouldn't show her the grave of the so-called wolf, he'd be pleasant and polite and keep focused on the seminar. After all, that was why she was here, wasn't it? To be shown what she was missing? That's how he had to treat it, no matter how she acted. Early enough that he hadn't yet joined the others outside, there was an insistent pounding at the door, each knock ringing through the halls of the house and through his chest, filling it up with an urgent sort of anxiety. Taking a breath, he made his way to the foyer, combed a hand through his hair, and prepared a big, welcoming, only slightly fake smile as he swung the door open. As promised, she was there. "Hey, welcome! I hope you found the place okay. You can call me Leo." She didn't look predatory or unsafe, much to his relief, just flinty and braced, which she couldn't exactly be blamed for. There was still a red stain outside on the gravel where they murdered that innocent man (they put down a wolf), and it wouldn't go away no matter how he scrubbed at it. But with any luck, she'd soon find this place more welcoming than her own home. Coming through the door and shutting it behind him, he offered her a friendly handshake. "Now, would you like a tour of the place, or are you just looking to hear about what we do? What's your name, by the way?"

The wind whirled her hair around her face as she stood brushing it away from her face when the door swung open. Cassie took a step back out of instinct, half expecting some masked madman to lunge out and pull her inside never to see the light of day again. Instead the man on the opposite side of the door just smiled down at her. If she didn’t know better he could have passed for a normal person. He was tall, at least a foot taller than she stood, lean and dark haired she could have walked past him in the street and not have thought anything of it, but she knew better. Wolves liked to hide in sheep’s clothing, she knew that. He offered her a warm welcome before inviting her inside. Passing the threshold she spotted a dark red mark the man had inadvertently drawn attention to. She stopped momentarily and looked, her eyes going cold as they darted from it and back up to her host for the evening before she stepped over the threshold. Taking his hand she swallowed her feelings down and put on a smile as genuine as she could manage and shook it. “This place is hard to miss,” she answered, her tone flat. Neither was Bates Motel she mused humourlessly. “Leo, right,” she gave a curt nod. “It’s uh,” she wasn’t about to give him her first name, “it’s Megan. Hey.” Her mind was elsewhere then as she took in her surroundings and opened herself up to whatever ghost radar or whatever she was supposed to call it she had. If he was there, if he was gone she’d feel it. Underneath all the general tingling in her libs telling her to turn and run the first chance she got. She fought that feeling and pressed onwards. “All of it I guess. Sure. I mean I’m early, right? Big place you got, wouldn’t mind taking a look around. Just for a while, you know, before this seminar thing starts, wouldn’t want to miss it. You didn’t seem all that surprised I decided to stop by,” she looked away from the examining the foyer around her and up towards him, “not complaining,” she held up a hand, “I’m just wondering” she questioned as a distraction as she walked, taking in the rest her surroundings and eyed any exit routes on the way to calm herself.

He saw her look at the old blood and swallowed weakly, leaving the door ajar. Now was the time to feed that same excuse and hope she didn't detect it. "We had to put down a wolf here the other night, you'll have to excuse the stain." There. It didn't sound believable in his ears, more like a line from a script that someone read using his voice. The words weren't his. But it wouldn't do to be so morose when there was someone right in front of him, looking to buy what he was selling if he could just act the part right. "Megan. It's great to see you in the flesh. And yeah, I'll show you around." Slightly more enthusiastic, he turned to the house, motioning towards the shut doors and maze of hallways branching sporadically from the entranceway. Sound traveled easily in here, but people, not so much; in the first year he arrived, it had felt like a death trap, and he was always getting lost, thinking he was going to die of starvation like a rat in a race. Dharm told the others to quit rescuing him when he did that, so he could learn his lesson and get himself out of trouble, but if he was really stuck, sometimes they'd shout directions or commands to help him free himself. "This is where myself and the Family stay. It's actually off limits unless you have one of us with you, but if you want any refreshments before we go, we can take a trip to the kitchen." Despite what he offered, he laid a guiding hand on her arm, turning her back towards the front door and leading the way outside and back onto the path. "Oh, we get plenty of people who want to come have a laugh, or get curious, but don't really trust in what we do." Here Leo leaned in, grin sharpening just the slightest. "You're looking around an awful lot, so I don't think you're here to see Dharm. But don't worry, nobody leaves a nonbeliever."

Cassie kept her expression blank, as she took in his story. “You get a lot of those, a lot of wolves out here?” she asked looking over towards him again out of the corner of her eye. “Great, you too,” she kept any trace of nerves or distrust from her voice, she wasn’t sure how, but she did, thankful as all hell. As Leo gave her a tour she took in the hallways that split off in half and scattered themselves like the branches of a tree as she tried to map them out in her head. If she’d have though ahead—if she’d have thought at all-- she would have brought something to mark the way like chalk. Leo led her through the house towards a section of the house that was reserved for family, whatever that meant. Literal or otherwise. The way he was talking he thought she’d be staying here in the house with them. It made her skin crawl but she shoved it down. “Got it, noted,” she gave a quick nod. His hand was on her arm then. What was meant to be a friendly guiding gesture caused her to suppress a flinch away as he directed her back out towards the foyer where they began. It was almost like he was sizing her up, giving her an out to see if she’d take it. “Don’t think any of this is anything to laugh at, just curious. You really sold it online. Wanted to know what the fuss was about since you wanted me to see the place so bad.” She didn’t flinch as he grinned down at her, it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m out in the middle of nowhere alone with a bunch of people I don’t know,” she answered matter of fact. “For all I know you could be axe murderers. Can’t exactly blame me for being a little edgy here,” she shoved her hands deep into her pockets. “It’s a big place is all, probably full of secrets,” she leaned in slightly with what she hoped passed as a playful smile. She was so close to the door. Part of her did want to reach her hand out and sprint headlong to the car but she turned her back to it and took a deliberate step away and back towards the rest of the house. “I’m going out on a limb here. Guess we’ll see. After you,” she gestured for him to go ahead.

"We get enough of them. This is the first one that's come so close to the house." This, at least, was true. He directed her away from the house, back down the gravel footpath, turning right at the fork, which would lead them to the commons. The area was flat and held a small concrete platform where Dharm spoke, plus a podium, a table for refreshments, and a smattering of lawn chairs set up on well-manicured grass. In time, a crowd of 30 or 40-odd people would be gathered there for the seminar, but for now, Megan, the Family, and himself were the only souls on the property. He laughed at her comment before he could think better of it, axe murderers, that was funny, but in reality, it wasn't so far off from the truth. "That's a safe assumption to make, but we're not a group whose purpose is to cause pain. We prefer peace, order, and happiness." Of course, he knew she hadn't bought what he said online, but if she wanted to see them- see Dharm- in their element, doing what they did best, it'd be her own fault if she got ensnared. He paused before they could actually walk onto the lawn, turning so he could see her face more clearly. "This is the Commons, where all the magic happens. Dharm speaks there," he pointed at the aged podium, "and people sit in chairs or in the grass." No members were currently there, but in the distance, Rowan's shining bald head and bright beard could be seen carrying a few extra chairs into the area, his sheepshead mask bound to his belt and bouncing with every step he took. Good. Rowan always helped people be more truthful, Leo reasoned as he waved him over. There was no other reason for him to want to not be alone with this Megan. None at all. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Cassie listened and gave another nod keeping her breathing even and her hands in her pockets to hide her nerves and the unease that was building the longer she stayed. She was led outside again and down a gravel footpath that let out towards a fork splitting off in different directions. Leo escorted her down the path on the right hand side that led out to an open patch of ground with a slab of concrete placed in the center. Cassie scanned the grounds. There was nothing out there but earth and sky. Like he had mentioned to her in passing before, there it was; a damn picnic table, with it was a podium and a section of seating big enough for a shotgun wedding out in in front of her like it was some kind of Manson family cookout. Leo twisted to look at her properly then, like he was trying to read her. She kept her face blank. “And Dharms’s your…leader?” she offered uncertainly. Her attention was taken suddenly by movement out of the corner of her vision. A figure crossed his way towards where the two of them were stood while Leo waved him over towards them. Leo had been tall, but the figure in the distance looked like they would tower over him as he loomed closer. His head was shaven, bald maybe, she couldn’t tell from a distance. The sun broke through the clouds then. She scrunched her eyes till a cloud passed over again to find he had closed the gap by some distance in little time. For a split second Cassie thought he was carrying an actual sheep’s head around his hip, but as it came into focus she was it for what it was, but it did nothing to ease the unpleasant chill that travelled up the base of her neck. It wasn’t a head; it was a mask. Her limbs stung with the need to take off and run, she fought it, turning her head away from the mask and turned to face Leo again. “What if I change my mind, decide I’m not into it, after? Unlikely, I mean, I won’t,” she looked behind her and around, “but what then? Just trying to cover all the bases,” she added, her voice steady.

“If you want to assign someone the role, then yes, Dharm is leader. But he's more of a teacher than anything else, as I'm sure you'll see later. As for changing your mind, you're welcome to leave at any time. Although I do encourage you to see the seminar through." Leo waited for Rowan to come closer, fixing him with look over Megan's head that said, ‘this one needs two people to watch them, please come help,’ and though the giant rolled his eyes, he set the stack of chairs down and lumbered up. Rowan's face didn't change, nor did he speak a greeting, just nodded his head gruffly and folded his arms. Leo's grin widened substantially, and he patted the large man's bicep. "This is my uncle Rowan. As you can see, he's helping to set up the area. Rowan, how many intruders have we had lately?" Rowan grunted. "That's right, too many," Leo translated, "and remind me how many had good intentions?" This time, Rowan stayed silent. "None. What a shame." Leo turned his attention back to this Megan, touching her shoulder in an incredibly friendly, nonthreatening way. Something tickled and writhed in his skull like a physical reaction to Rowan, who caught onto his game, grasping the sheepshead mask in his hands before sliding it onto his head. In an instant, he was calling on its power, still silent and still as it oozed thickly towards her, pooling around her hair, her eye socks, nose, and mouth. Though it was invisible, Leo could feel every move, sense its eagerness to bring yet another soul under the command of it and its fellows. Like a radar, his head followed its jerking movements, turning slowly and then fixating directly at Megan as it pulled at her skin. He didn't blink. "Forgive me if I don't trust your word, my dear, but I must ask again. Why did you come here?"

Cassie knew a thinly veiled threat when she heard one. “Alright, guess that’s everything” she answered, her voice cracking slightly. “I’ll just wait out here for that, let you get set up.” She’d excuse herself without notice some point and look for something, anything. Any sign that Reed had even been there. She prayed she wouldn’t find him there, that he wouldn’t be the only one to see. That he wouldn’t be like the others she saw every day, the ones she tried to ignore. She shut that thought down as soon as it appeared. No. She just had to wait till she had a chance to be alone. From the look that passed between the two men that wasn’t happening. She was stupid to think otherwise. Time to leave. At that Leo reached out and took hold of her shoulder as the other man, Rowan came into view properly and she felt nerves catch light. There was something very wrong with him. Every cell in her body was now screaming at her to get herself as far away from him as possible. She got her ghost, but not the one she was looking for. This was something else. Something warped and unnatural. As Rowan loomed over her, now masked tendrils leaked out from the mask itself as Rowan’s gaze bored down at her. They snaked around the waves of her hair, curling around it and stung where it glided across the skin of her face. God, was this what he meant? She batted them away and tried to twist to get away, “I—,” she blurted, out of control. She struggled against it, whatever it was. “--I told you—” she tried to back away again waving it away from her face and batted ineffectually at her hair. Her head started to feel like air. It clouded over everything as she struggled against it she couldn’t even lash out. She felt unsteady and weakened. Her wrist felt like it had caught fire, the skin underneath her hair ties , half drawn white ink flaring white hot. “-What did you do with him?” the words were pulled from her and she covered her mouth as if she could take them back.

Leo's grip around her shoulder tightened as she twisted and struggled away, slapping at air like Rowan's Gift was just a harmless mosquito that could be waved away or killed with enough effort, but ultimately, it was useless. The spirit was already pouring itself into her, making itself a home within her head to linger and whisper even when she was gone from here and it had returned to the mask, and as she swam to orient herself with the new passenger, Leo's eyes own nearly rolled back completely from the overload of energy to his link, but he kept Megan steady as she swayed and stuttered. Rowan was panting, wild and thrilled. The spirit kept at her, more slowly than normal- what was it with these people and their anti-possession bullshit?- but unlike with Mr. Han, it was breaking her down piece by piece and forcing its way in. Whatever charm or ward she had must be flawed. She was unlucky. However, her response to his question wasn't what he expected to hear, and he paused. Was she looking for some relative who'd joined the Family? They didn't typically keep people here since the Relics and sermons meant built-in control, and personalities didn't change either. Unless... his heart froze. Was she looking for the nonhuman they shot? "What are you talking about?"

Cassie’s wrist continued to seer and burn as Leo spoke to her. Her head dipped, and he struggled against it all. Leo stepped towards her, holding her in place. “Bite me,” she looked up at him and snapped. She lashed out in his direction again feebly as his grip on her tightened, but there it was again, that pull to answer. “He was here, days ago,” the words tumbled forth again. “He--he was here and now he’s gone. What did you do?” She demanded her voice sounding far away. Like it wasn’t her own. “What did you do?”

So she did mean the nonhuman, the short one whose head had been blown clean off just because he'd dared to come into their home with a camera and not allow himself to be possessed. His mouth twisted. He knew he should say exactly that, but all that came out of his mouth was, "The one who came here with a camera? He was a danger to himself and others. We put him down." Rowan had the gall to laugh, a short-lived hearty chuckle which wracked his large frame, and Leo glared at him to shut him up. All the gore, the chunks of brain matter and skull flashed as bright behind his eyes as if it'd happened yesterday. It wasn't funny. He felt faint as the Gift finally found a hold, wrenching itself into her brain with agonizing finality. Good. At least it was done now. Still, he kept a hold of her, knowing that a few hours of unconsciousness, euphoria, and drooling were all common reactions to being initiated. Satiated and smug, the Gift lounged back to the mask as Rowan removed it, tying it back onto his belt. "Well," Leo sighed, rubbing his temple, "Dharm is going to want to see this."

Leo’s mouth twisted into a near and in that moment she wanted to rip it from his face. Camera, what camera? Her head swam until it dawned on her in sickening clarity. The phone, the pictures he sent. We put him down, she heard one of them laugh and felt the breath leave her in a yell, “no, bullshit. No,” the sound carried out across the empty space around them and she felt her legs give out. “No.” The fight gone, she let go. Leo kept his grip as she fell, but she was unaware. The world fell away around her until there was nothing.

#touchofchatzy #touchofpotw #potw the long arm #cassidydanvers #blood tw #death tw #house of the rising sun #!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[veronicatheslayer]

Reza and Veronica’s Not So Excellent Adventure || Reza, Veronica and Veronica [AR]

Reza and Veronica have a dimension shifting mis-adventure.

Reza was bored to death. Or undeath. Hanging around in a cramped up basement with a very limited selection of books to read had gotten real old, real fast. Going out to buy a crummy pack of cigarettes that really, he could barely afford, was the best and only thing he could come up with to relieve his boredom. After a year spent doing nothing but drinking, trying all sorts of illegal drugs and getting dragged into ridiculous situation by a murderous vampires, anything else was bound to feel dull in comparison. Still, Reza felt mildly pleased as he left the store, a single pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He still hadn't shaken that particular habit but it wasn't like lung cancer was going to kill him now. Reaching for the pack, fingers itching to hold one, he only halted when his ears picked up on footsteps falling just a second out of beat to his. More than wary after his incident on Harris Island, Reza quickened his pace and then immediately took off on a sprint, not even daring to look over his shoulder. If there was no threat, he'd just get home quicker, right?

It wasn't exactly like Veronica had tried to be particularly stealthy or anything like that, which was something that she immediately regretted when the lanky vampire shot off in front of her. Moving only as fast as a vampire can, she sped after him, accelerating into a sprint as they hurtled down the street. The night rushed by them, lights whipping past her peripheral vision. She hoped she was quick enough to keep up with this one, because him sprinting off was the only thing that had stopped her from ripping his throat out. At least, she assumed that it was a him, from his general build and height. It could just be a woman, the hoodie was somewhat confusing on that front though.

Apparently, being a non-homicidal vampire didn't matter to slayers at all, which really didn't come as a surprise to Reza. At least, Reza assumed that it was a slayer who was currently sprinting like crazy to catch him. A marathon athlete mugger seemed less likely but either way, Reza wasn't keen on stopping to check. The wind suddenly whipped his hood off and Reza freaked; a slayer knowing his face was bad news. Desperately, he made a turn into a side street, almost banging into a large dumpster as his speed made him skid on the pavement. He just needed to get someplace with more people -- more witnesses-- and he should be... fine? Where the hell was he? Slowing to a walk, Reza looked around, dumbfounded. It was Ashkent but then it... wasn't. Like an alternate dimension. "Holy shit," he breathed, throwing his hood back up as a heavy stone settled in his stomach.

Veronica vaulted over a line of bins and sprinted after him. Most vampires wore out pretty quickly and she hoped that it would be the same here. She was trained for this, she had the stamina to keep up with him. His hood went down and she caught sight of the back of his head, but he was off down a side street that she recognised. It should branch out into an alleyway that was behind a dive bar she'd often find vampires preying on humans in. But, the alley way looked different and as she rounded the corner she found herself in unfamiliar territory. Which was something that she never really expected to hear herself say. Not in Ashkent Creek, she thought she knew the town better than the back of her hand. "What the hell?" she muttered as she rounded a corner. But, before she could really investigate she spotted the vampire, lunging after him, she clawed at his hoodie, hoping to grab him.

Before Reza could even begin to consider what this meant, that there was another Reza Burki strolling around here somewhere, hands were violently grabbing at his clothes. So he was still being chased by a slayer, and a very stubborn one at that. Thinking on his feet, Reza zipped down his hoodie and manoeuvred his arms out of the sleeves, once again sprinting. He really didn't have the training or stamina for this much running, vampirism or not, but there was no other choice. He wouldn't stand a chance against a slayer either. With the hoodie gone, he couldn't even risk a look back at his would-be killer. These streets were different and unfamiliar and Reza hoped it would give him an advantage as he turned another corner and luckily, spotted people. Still, in an alternate universe, there was no reassurance that the slayer would let witnesses stop them. Reza really didn't want to get dusted. Maybe he just ought to run into one of those bars...

It didn't take Veronica long to realise that she wasn't in Ashkent Creek anymore. Everything here seemed different and as her yellow eyes shone in the dark, she took her environment in. She was in somewhere unfamiliar now and she was determined to come out of this alive. Somehow, she would have to make it back to Ashkent Creek, not that she was quite sure how she was going to manage that. But, for the moment, the vampire was getting away. She was left with his hoodie hanging from her hand and as she sprinted after him she could see that he was indeed male. At least, he looked like that from the back. As he ran out onto the street, she too spotted people, more importantly someone who looked like a very dull and very drab version of herself? Except she wasn't wearing any makeup (seriously, going outside without contouring? Who did that?) and a silver cross hung from her neck. She seemed to notice the vampire running towards her, though she looked confused about what she was meant to be doing now that she was in this situation.

Reza slowed his sprint just so as he approached the small group of people, listening to the pounding footsteps of the slayer behind him. He needed someplace to hide, and fast; he couldn't risk the slayer killing these people and... no way. The mop of red hair seemed as mocking as ever and now, with the added benefit of a shiny cross hanging around her neck, Veronica looked more insufferable than ever. Running into two slayers in one evening, while getting thrown into an alternate universe? Where in the actual fuck was his luck... Recoiling away from Strange-Veronica and her friends, Reza found that he was backing up against a wall, drawing a blank for any ideas that didn't include running until he passed out. Unsurprisingly, he'd caught the group's attention while running down the street like a maniac and of course, he still had the first slayer's attention, creeping in from the side. And that slayer was... also Veronica? What? Oh no...

The other Veronica seemed confused by the appearance of the other teen, but as soon as they had appeared in Ashford River, they were gone. This time they were returned to the exact same spot in Ashkent Creek and the crowd of people that had been surrounding the vampire dissolved into nothing more than thin air. Veronica stormed over to the vampire and without thinking pinned him to the wall he was in front of. It was only at that moment that she recognised the face of a teenager that she'd spent so long trying (and not to mention failing) to help. "Reza?" she asked, confused. He was definitely who she had been chasing and that would mean that, "you're a fucking vampire?" she asked in a shrill whisper, "what the hell?" she asked, "who turned you?"

Reza was struck dumb, his feet lead, bolting him to the ground even as everything around him faded and shifted until the familiarity of Ashkent Creek surrounded him once more. Still wondering if he'd failed at his sobriety and was currently high as fuck on some very effective drugs, Reza barely reacted when a sharp and muscular forearm pressed against his chest, holding him hostage against the wall. It was Veronica; the one he recognised and not the one with the confused and almost scared gaze. Thankfully, this Veronica recognised him, too. "Veronica," he replied, somehow lacing his words with an amount of sass his shellshocked brain had somehow mustered. "Does it mattered who turned me? Or even why? Aren't you just going to slice my head off, anyway?" His tone grew more aggressive with every word, the final question practically spat at the slayer as fear and shock morphed into harboured anger.

Veronica considered doing it. The part of her that was remorseless, despite the fact that was a part of her that she was hardly aware of, but subconsciously she considered it. She could decapitate him with her bare hands, tell Bridget that she had nothing to do with it. In the end, it was Bridget's love of Reza that stopped her from doing what she would have done to every other vampire. She didn't want to see her beautiful girlfriend cry, not over someone who was barely a blood bag, less than that now that he wasn't even human anymore. She sighed gently and loosened her grip on him, looking down at the ground, she stepped away and shook her head. "It matters because someone who makes a habit of turning someone who is barely out of their teenage years isn't a good person, and they're the type of people I deal with." She paused, it was true that usually she would've just sliced his head off. "No," she lied, "I told you, I have a code, I don't kill vampires when they haven't broken my code. You've yet to break it, so I'm not going to kill you."

"They did it as a favor to me, so no need for another obsessive manhunt," Reza muttered, holding out a hand for his hoodie. He wasn't cold and it wasn't even one of his favorites but no way in hell was he letting Veronica of all people, take it from him. "You sound sure that I haven't," he retorted, not really sure why he was taunting her. Presumably because he was angry, feeling like he still had every good reason to be. "Not saying I have but I didn't take you for someone who sees the good in people. Especially not vampire scum like me."

Sighing gently, Veronica shook her head gently. "You wanted this? Why-why would you want that?" She could understand Reza being turned, he didn't exactly have a great track record of hanging out with people, hell he had a terrible track record of actually hanging out with actual people. "Well, at the very least I hope you haven't done anything wrong, not in that way at least, because deep down, I hope you're not a bad person, I hope you're a good kid who has had a lot of terribly shitty things happen to you." She shrugged gently and handed his hoodie over to them. "I know why you hate me Reza, really, I get it, I expect if I was in your situation I'd feel the same as you. But you're stereotyping me down to every other slayer, which is exactly what you accuse me of doing to vampires."

Reza scoffed, even as he felt some of the anger slowly seeping out of him. Being angry all the time was hard, and usually just made him feel like shit afterwards. Didn't mean he was forgiving Veronica, though. "I don't need to explain why I did it, it happened, end of story." Reza shrugged the hoodie back on, arms crossing over his chest defiantly. "I'm not stereotyping! You almost killed me back there, without knowing who I was or whether I was dangerous, which is exactly what every other slayer--" Behind Veronica, the... Veronica, the one wearing the cross and non-Veronica outfit seemed to, simply put, appear out of thin air. Reza fell silent, really at a loss for words now. Blinking, he looked between the two slayers, stance now defensive.

Veronica watched Reza argue with her, though she thought that she could see the fight in his words draining from his eyes. Yet she said nothing. "Whatever kid, just don't get yourself into as much of a mess as you did last time." She shrugged. "I just ran after you kid, how do you know I wasn't trying to return your wallet, besides, I didn't kill you. Did I?" Then he slipped into a fighting stance and Veronica whirled round and saw herself. She had to be honest this was probably the most confusing thing that had happened to her to date. But that didn't change the situation. This could get messy, the other Veronica might well try and kill Reza if her parents had anything to do with it.

AR Veronica had to admit that she was confused. She had seen and sensed the vampire and the red head before, but they had disappeared not long after they had ran into her life. Then she hand done her best to follow them and she found them, apparently arguing. Confused, she sighed gently before striding towards them. "You're a vampire and by all the rules they put in the treaty that means I've got to challenge you to a duel," she smiled sweetly, hoping that this duel went better than every other duel before this point, "so ple-" she then noticed that the red head looked exactly like her. "Woah, you're, me?" she was so confused, maybe the other her could help her find her parents, after all they were still missing. "We'll have to talk in a minute, I plan on duelling this vampire first."

The treaty? What? For a moment, Reza's presence was ignored as strange-Veronica noticed her... alternative self, before the apparent 'duel' was apparently back on track. "Yeah, fuck that, I'm not duelling anyone, lady," he gritted out, fists clenching all the same. "Just wanna go home, alright." His eyes shifted back to the Veronica he knew, the one who was apparently not going to kill him. At least not yet.

Veronica had to admit that she was confused by this situation. They were being faced down by herself? She wanted to try and kill Reza. As much as Veronica wished that she could just kill Reza and forget about him, she knew that Bridget held the young man close to her heart. That was the only thing that made her do what she did. "Reza," she said quietly but firmly, "I think it is time that you go home. I'll handle, well ... I'll handle myself." She smiled briefly at Reza. "Run along now."

Reza was unnerved by the smile, taking a step back away from the doppelgangers. The second Veronica looked rather displeased at this turn of events but Reza was just relieved to skip any and all fighting. Another step back and it seemed like he could actually leave without a hitch. "This doesn't make us even," he declared to Veronica as he turned on his heel, running back home on weary legs without looking once over his shoulder. Yeah, he was never going out for a pack of cigarettes again.

#touchofchatzy #touchoffinale #touchofpotw #para #p: reza #[ar] #reza and veronica's not so excellent adventure

[djerinyes]

This may sound a little weird but, did anyone get a family member or two back today? And they’re not yours from your dimension but at this point you’ll take what you can get

#touchofstarter #touchofpotw #potw grave mistake

[openbook-izel]

Visitor’s Day || Solo

Izel was a nice person. Mystery loved Company was an open place, welcoming of people regardless of the skeletons in their closets or the monsters under their skin, or the awful things they’d done to her in the past, like threaten to murder her and paralysing her with fear. Izel was definitely not the kind of person to slam the door in anyone’s face. Not even that of a man who wore her dad’s face too well but wrong.

She told herself that right until the door bounced off his perfectly polished black shoe.   

“That’s no way to greet a guest,” he growled, the strange lines that stretched from ear to ear looking like a smile up until his actual, stony mouth.  

Open your eyes or I’ll tear your heart out. His voice echoed in her mind, from the last time they’d met. Izel swallowed, rolling up one sleeve to reveal the icy iron underneath, the sanctorum spell pressing close around both of them. He couldn’t hurt her here.

“I don’t remember inviting you.” Oh, that was almost good, if it hadn’t been for the tiny tremor in her voice. The muscles on his face shifted, tightened, and her hands became fists. Then he sighed and backed down, raising his hands in a sign of peace.

“Look, I brought a message. You remember the strangeness with the mirrors? The views into my home,” he continued, his words stilted and carefully reviewed. She nodded, tersely. “I saw... I communicated with a man who looked almost identical to myself. With a woman with sharp brows and eyes as dark as yours, a human. They were your parents. They want you to know they’re fine, they’re safe. They’re just... there.”

Izel stilled, her lips curled into a sneer of disbelief, softened by the desperate desire to believe him. But he’d seen her worst fears. He’d reached into her soul and ripped it raw. It was so easy to see him using this to hurt her too, to give her hope only to feel it be replaced by fear. “Right. Message received. -Raspberries- Why are you still here?”

“Raspberries?”

“Why are you still here?”

“Uh, because of me.” The voice came from behind him, and her fake dad stepped aside. The boy - man - behind him was as tall as a pole, with black, hair that her mom would have loved to cut. Olive skin with colder undertones than hers, eyes closed with a hollowness behind them. He wore a jacket that was a size too big and pants that were pinned up with a belt. No shoes. No aura. 

Her courage vanished down her throat like a mouse and her chest became a cage. She knew where his eyes were. Back in a small, glass bottle full of preserving alcohols, one pointed at the wall, one pointed at her.

“Found him at the edge of some forest. Sensed something was up with him, said his name was Andris Evans. That he was murdered. That he was looking for you.”

“He’s telling the truth,” was supplemented. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t understand it, but Izel, he didn’t do anything, so stop looking at him like you’re about to kill him.”

“You don’t know what I look like,” Izel said, then tried to take it back. But he, he just smiled, that wide, toothy grin he’d always had, the typical little sibling one of I know something you don’t want me to know.

“I know you. Look, Izel, I don’t know what’s going on, but please, please trust me and let me have this, for however long it lasts. I swear it’s me. Just me. A little less of me, sure, but still me.” He reached his hand out, promptly bumping it against a narrow wall before she grabbed it. And like that, there wasn’t a space between them. 

His hair tickled her ears and she could feel his breath against the back of her shoulders. He was as strong as she remembered, not a muscle out of place. Not that muscle could ever beat salt. That didn’t matter now, it didn’t, not incomparison to his arms pressed around to his waist, his smile against her neck, his cool skin under her fingertips. His himness.  Izel held her youngest brother tight and smiled, and hoped this wouldn’t make it harder when she would have to eventually let go all over again.

#touchofsolo #touchofpotw #:-----)

[hawaiianhalfwolf]

SOOOO in light of recent events. If you or someone you know needs help removing or treating an injured animal from your home or yard, please message me or call the Animal Sciences Department at UMAC. We’ve been working with the local Animal Control services all night and because of the heavy influx of animals we’ve deiced to also open the department to animal related inquires and request. 

So if you need help please call [phone]. There will be local control officers along with vet tech students and staff on call to assist with capturing, treating and housing these animals. 

Thank you. 

#touchofstarter #touchofpotw #//if you;ve got an animal problem hit a sleep deprived highly caffinated Noah up #potw: infuriating incident