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havenoffandoms · 3 years

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Man’s Best Friend

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29786457/chapters/73307826#workskin

Summary: When Eskel can’t stomach any human interaction, Lambert brings in the big guns.

This is just an excuse to write some Lil Bleater and Eskel fluff. Check out the link on AO3 for the series @creativwit and I have created (titled the Eskel Fluff Dump, to go with our Eskel Whump Dump, because we’re creative like that).

Lambert knows that today is not a good day for Eskel when he sees his brother trudging into the kitchen, hair still tousled from where it rested on his pillow all night, and still in his cotton braies and shirt he always wears to bed. Eskel isn't in the habit of not cleaning up before breakfast. In fact, on most occasions when Lambert came down for breakfast Eskel will have been awake for hours already, either getting a headstart on his chores or reading in the library. Not today, it seems. Today Eskel looks like shit.

And Lambert tells him that in the nicest, most caring way possible.

"You, brother, look like you've been dragged by a zeugl through the shitty sewers of both Novigrad and Oxenfurt."

Lambert's easy banter, meant to lighten Eskel's sour mood, only earns him a raised middle finger in response. Which is strange in and of itself, because Eskel is not one for rude gestures. Eskel can destroy a man's reputations using only his words and wit. Lambert knows because he's witnessed it once in his lifetime and to this day the innkeep in Ard Carraigh will let anyone who mentions the name Eskel sleep and eat for free in his establishment.

"Okay, tough crowd," Lambert clicks his tongue once, wrecking his brain for a way to engage Eskel. The latter picks up an apple and a jug of water (at least Lambert hopes it's water and not ale… or vodka) before shuffling out of the kitchen again without sparing Lambert a glance or a word.

Strange. Lambert really should investigate.

__________

"Hey Geralt!"

"Lambert."

Lambert finds Geralt in the stables mucking out Roach's stall. Lambert makes sure to pat his own gelding on the nose in greeting before addressing his brother again.

"Seen Eskel this morning?" Lambert asks casually, as if he's not still internally freaking out at just how terrible their brother looked this morning. Geralt glances up at Lambert briefly, and if Lambert wasn't as well-versed in Geralt's body language he would have missed the concern flash in his yellowish eyes.

"Briefly as he was heading down for breakfast."

"Alright. So maybe you can tell me what crawled up his ass and died there?"

Geralt shrugs his shoulders and resumes his shovelling motion.

"He didn't speak much."

"Exactly. Usually he at least spares a good morning. Not even that! He flipped me off this morning," Lambert adds for emphasis, because if Geralt is unwilling to see the severity of the situation then Lambert will make him see it.

"You probably had it coming."

"Beside the point, as usual, pretty boy. Eskel doesn't do shit like that."

"He's only human. Every man has a breaking point."

Lambert throws his hands up in the air dramatically and rolls his eyes at Geralt in an exasperated manner. How does the bard do it, Lambert wonders! It's like Geralt is doing his best to be dense.

"Fine! If you're no help, maybe papa Vesemir will know."

With those words, Lambert leaves the stables and heads straight for the library where he's sure to find the old man.

__________

"No Lambert, I haven't seen Eskel this morning," Vesemir informs him without looking up from the book he's reading, "though I heard him toss and turn all night."

"Probably why he went back to bed this morning after I saw him," Lambert muses. Vesemir looks up then, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Eskel went back to bed?" the old witcher asks, worry barely noticeable in his tone but Lambert just knows . "That's not like him."

"Exactly what I thought."

"Did he say anything to you when you saw him?"

Lambert describes their encounter to Vesemir and watches the man's frown deepen when Lambert mentions that Eskel didn't even bother to get dressed. So Lambert isn't crazy. It is odd seeing Eskel this way.

"This is peculiar," Vesemir comments when Lambert is done, "very peculiar. Did you three drink last night?"

"Nope." Lambert probably takes too much pride in that single statement. So what? He's not drank a drop in two days, where's his medal? "Nope, we all had an early night. Unless Eskel hides a stash of secret alcohol and fisstech from us. If he does, then Vesemir can you please tell him that it's rude not to share with his brothers?"

Vesemir rolls his eyes at that statement, but the worried frown doesn't subside. Lambert is starting to feel agitated himself. If Eskel isn't willing to talk to any of them, if he's intent on avoiding all of them, then how is Lambert supposed to help? Suddenly, an idea hits him. He manages a quick "Be right back!" in Vesemir's general direction before he leaves the library. He takes the steps two by two and jumps down the last five before dashing to the stables once again. Geralt is long gone, but that doesn't matter. Lambert doesn't need pretty boy's help to carry out his plan.

__________

"Come on, you stupid son of a bitch," Lambert curses as he tries to tie a leash around Lil Bleater's neck, "your dad needs some goat loving!"

Lil Bleater bleats indignantly, then hisses and coughs at him. Lambert didn't even know goats could do that! Creatures from hell they are, he thinks to himself as he grabs Lil Bleater by the horns when she tries to headbutt him in the family jewels.

"You little shit! How are you so tame around Eskel? What does he do to earn your love, she-devil?"

Lil Bleater manages to dislodge her head from Lambert's grasp and once again aims straight for his nuts. Lambert is quick enough to dodge, the Goddess be blessed, and the goat catches him in the thigh instead. Behind him, Lambert hears Scorpion huff and nicker at his predicament. Lambert glares at the stallion over his shoulder.

"I swear to the Gods, you're no horse! Admit it! You're a person trapped in the body of a horse."

Scorpion whinnies in response, then turns his back on Lambert to eat his oats in peace. Lambert will maintain that Scorpion is no regular horse until the day he dies. That horse is far too clever for his own good! Lambert puts those thoughts to one side for the time being. He's got an angry goat to tame. Maybe he should get Geralt to help?

Lambert heaves a sigh. The things he'll do for his brother.

__________

Lambert resorts to using Axii to get the she-devil inside the keep, past Vesemir's attention and up the stairs to Eskel's room. Whatever it is that's troubling Eskel, Lambert is convinced that a cuddle from his faithful Lil Bleater will chase all the dark thoughts away. At least Lambert hopes it will. He's not sure how easily he can sneak a horse into the keep. Yes, Scorpion is his plan B. Your point?

When Lambert reaches Eskel's door, he lifts Axii and tightens his grip on the leash in case Lil Bleater attempts a flash escape. The goat takes several seconds to gather her wits and get her bearings, but to Lambert's surprise she doesn't bleat, or scream, or cough or hiss, when she sees him standing so close to her. Instead, she stares at Eskel's bedroom door and her little tail starts wagging furiously. Aha. So she's been here before, has she? Eskel, Eskel… what would papa Vesemir say?

Lambert knocks on the door, a small smile gracing his lips when he sees the goat bounce around him in excitement. Alright, even Lambert has to admit that the thing is cute when she's not trying to headbut him in the nuts.

"Eskel?"

"Go away," comes the muffled response.

"Alright I will, but first there's someone here who wants to see you."

Lil Bleater chooses this exact moment to let out a heartbroken bleat. Her human is right there, behind this very door, so why isn't she getting to see him yet? Lambert's grin grows when he opens the door and lets the goat run inside the room, heading straight for Eskel's bed. She leaps onto the mattress easily, like she's probably done countless times before. Eskel, who is currently buried under the covers, shifts when he feels Lil Bleater lick at his face. A large hand comes to pet her behind the ear, causing Lil Bleater's tail to wag even more energetically than before.

"Hey girl," Lambert hears Eskel greet her, the gravel in his voice completely gone, "hey, watcha doin' up here?"

"Let's just say uncle Lambert knew that her dad wasn't feeling up to human interaction today, so he thought he'd bring in the big guns."

Eskel peeks at Lambert over his shoulder and his expression softens. He still looks like shit - dark rings under his eyes, hair sticking out, and the funky smell in the room tells Lambert Eskel hasn't opened a window in, oh, probably decades. But despite all of this, there's a smile tugging at the edges of Eskel's lips when Lil Bleater insistently licks at his scars.

"Thank you," he whispers sincerely, "for understanding."

"Hey brother, what is family for? If you need us we'll be about the keep somewhere."

Eskel nods before curling up under the covers again. Lil Bleater finally settles as well and plops down next to Eskel, nestled in the warm spot created by Eskel pulling his legs halfway up to his chest in a foetal position. Lambert's smirk softens into a smile at the sight. Eskel and Lil Bleater, friends for life. Lambert gently closes the door behind him and gives the two some well-deserved privacy.

As Lambert heads downstairs again, whistling a happy tune on his way, he can't help but feel grateful that he doesn't have to resort to his plan B.

#eskel #eskel the witcher #the witcher eskel #lambert #lambert the witcher #the witcher lambert #geralt of rivia #witcher geralt #lil bleater #fluff #eskel & lambert #lambert & geralt #lambert & vesemir #eskel & lil bleater

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lalainajanes · 3 years

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17 + 43 for the prompts!! so happy to see that you're accepting prompts

Okay, these are from a list I reblogged awhile back thinking writing would be done (but then 2020 decided do continue to be 2020 - aka a series of awful awfulness). I’ve missed writing and I’m getting back into the habit so I decided to finish up a short-ish thing that was already in progress.

#17 was meeting at a party whilst drunk au and #43 was falling in love with their best friend’s partner au. But I didn’t get to drunk and I’m cheating a little bit with the definition of partner – my brain is an angst free zone these days!

That Perfect Stranger

As much as Caroline hates surprises, she does take a certain amount of joy in surprising other people. When she’d gotten an invite to Bonnie Bennett’s 50th birthday party, she’d immediately started investigating flights to New Orleans.

She hadn’t RSVP’d. Rude? Probably. Caroline had rationalized that, based on the invites (champagne cardstock embossed with a shimmer so subtle it had to be stupidly expensive), whoever was throwing the party wouldn’t skimp on food or drink, so an extra person wouldn’t be an issue.

It’s been about ten years since she’d last seen Bonnie, and she’s never visited Bon’s adopted home town.

Weaving her way through the thick crowds on the streets, carried along by the music and the energy, Caroline’s kicking herself for not making the trip sooner. She has a general idea of where she’s going, has the address memorized, but she’s content to take a meandering route.

That might be the slight buzz she already has going – either the drinks from the bars here are really heavy on the booze, or there’s something in them designed to affect vampires. She’s getting a few appreciative leers in her short metallic dress, but given the vast array of attire on display – from ratty jeans, to sparkly costumes, to the tiniest club skirts – she doesn’t feel out of place.

She might have to stay a few extra days and do some exploring.

Caroline’s not entirely sure how her oldest friend had ended up in New Orleans. They’d reconnected long after Bonnie had made the move. Bonnie’s never been one to brag though Caroline’s heard whispers from other acquaintances. Something about evil witches coming back from the dead, mortal danger, a showdown of supernatural species, then Bonnie showing up to kick ass and take names.

At the time, Caroline had still been committed to pretending to be human. She’d fled Mystic Falls when it became clear that far too many people wanted to kill her, had hitchhiked across a few states before her cash had run out in Chicago.

Luckily, she’d mastered compulsion easily. Chicago was home to all sorts of easy marks – business bros who genuinely thought hitting on a seventeen-year-old girl was a thing they should be doing. Typically, such a man’s only redeeming quality, which Caroline had been happy to take advantage of, was the lack of a limit to how much money he could withdraw from the ATM at once. It had taken a little trial and error, but she’d mastered feeding enough to sustain herself without leaving a pile of bodies behind.

She’d built up a nice little nest egg, had even gotten her first college degree. She’d optimistically sent her parent’s an invite to her graduation. Her mother hadn’t shown; her dad had. He’d just been armed with a stake and a jug of vervain.

After that, Caroline had given up on blending in.

She’d been flitting around the globe for about a decade when Bonnie had found Caroline on Instagram and sent a DM. At first, Caroline had been leery about another trap. Bonnie hadn’t been too thrilled to make Caroline a daylight ring, and she’d kept her old email address for years, hadn’t heard a peep from anyone she’d grown up with. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she’d replied.

Stilted text conversations got longer, more fluid. Eventually, they’d progressed to phone calls. Caroline had carefully planned their first meeting, in a city where she had connections and witches were thin on the ground.

They’d had some hard conversations on that trip. Ended up spending way too much time ugly crying indoors, considering they’d been in freaking Porto in June. They’ve made up for it in the years since.

Caroline sidesteps a pack of probable frat boys – cute, she notes idly, probably tasty – twists her head a bit to make eye contact (she’s not hungry now, but who knows how the night will go). She smiles, a little flirty, only to stop abruptly as the noise disappears as if someone had pressed the pause button.

She can still see the street behind her, jam-packed with people and lit up by streetlights and neon bar signs. In front of her, however, it’s quiet. Still. Caroline jumps when a throat clears, her head whipping around to see a man in a white tux who definitely hadn’t been there before. “What the crap?” she squeaks, fangs dropping.

His face remains smooth, not even a hint of shock or fear evident. He’s blandly handsome, nonthreatening, but she’s learned not to trust outer appearances. “Miss Caroline Forbes, correct? You’re here for Miss Bennett’s birthday?”

Warily, Caroline nods.

White tux smiles, friendly now, “Excellent; she’ll be pleased you’ve made it. Can I see you inside?”

His head tips, and Caroline almost jumps when a stone staircase freaking shimmers into view. White Tux pretends he hadn’t noticed her shock, jogging up the steps. He pulls a gleaming door open. It lacks a doorknob, is instead marked with half a shiny M (probably real gold, she decides).

He waits patiently while Caroline makes her way up the steps. She’s careful, given the fact that they’d appeared magically. Between her high heels and her short skirt, even her vampire reflexes won’t save her from humiliation should she take a fall. When she’s at the top, she peers inside curiously.

She hears music again, the clink of glasses. Laughter. “Do you need to see my invite?”

Caroline’s got it in her purse, but the man shakes his head. “Not necessary. You wouldn’t have seen me if you weren’t on the guest list. Welcome to The Abattoir. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

“Thank you,” Caroline murmurs, biting back her questions about the impressive magic this place obviously holds. No need to seem like a total yokel if she’s wrong, and cloaking gigantic buildings in the middle of a busy city is in every witch’s bag of tricks.

The lights are low, and most flat surfaces are covered in candles, lending a warm glow that bounces off ornate framed paintings and crystal chandeliers. The click of her heels is lost under the sounds of the party, louder now that she’s crossed the threshold. She follows the noise easily, walks through a set of double doors into a packed ballroom.

Caroline lifts on her toes, scanning the room, notes the party spilling out the far side, where several sets of French doors open onto what looks like expansive grounds. “Well,” she mutters, snatching a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, “Bon, you’ve been keeping some secrets.”

“I have not,” Bonnie says, and Caroline whirls, narrowly managing to avoid tipping her glass.

“Bonnie!” she squeals, shifting forward and throwing an arm around Bon’s shoulders. “Great dress.” It’s teal and short, with dramatic sleeves and a deep neckline, just a tiny bit witchy.

“I’m so glad you came!” Bonnie says, returning the hug enthusiastically.

“I am too, actually. Why have I never come to New Orleans before?” She sways a little to the music, drains her champagne, smiling when Bonnie laughs, “Seriously, I had a better time on the walk here than I have in ages.”

“We do like to hear that,” a low voice replies, just behind Caroline. She startles, dropping her glass, though it’s neatly caught by long fingertips, just next to her bare thigh, before it hits the floor.

People have got to quit sneaking up on her.

A hand lands on her hip, nudging her away from a potential collision with a nearby couple, and Caroline whirls, ready to remind Mr. Sneaky Feet that it's rude to interrupt a conversation.

The words don’t come. Caroline hadn’t realized just how close he would be.

Or that he’d be really attractive.

Her eyes dart to the champagne glass clutched in his hand, to a bare wrist, then a crisp white sleeve that’s already rolled up. His tie is askew, and his eyes are downcast, in the middle of giving her person an equally thorough perusal.

She can’t even be mad about it.

His thumb toys with the sequins that cover her dress, flicking one absently back and forth. She opens her mouth, unsure of just what is going to come out. There’s a 50/50 chance it’s either snippy – because hello, personal space – or flirty because she’s got excellent eyesight and fully believes in shooting her shot.

Thankfully, Bonnie interrupts, tugging on Caroline’s arm until she has the personal space that she’d been slow to take back for herself. “Klaus, this is my very good friend Caroline.”

There’s a definite warning in her tone. Caroline glances at Bonnie’s face, finds her expression is pleasant enough, at least to a person unfamiliar with Bon’s moods. Caroline is, however, so she studies Klaus a little more carefully. She shifts, boxing him out, and waits until Bon meets her eyes. A quirk of an eyebrow, then a tilt of her head, and Bonnie gets the message. “No, ew.”

So he’s not an ex, or someone Bonnie’s interested in. Good news, Caroline thinks, because that would be awkward considering how much she hadn’t minded his hands on her.

However, Caroline can’t help but look at Bon like she’s nuts.

Bonnie sighs, “It’s a long story. Klaus and I are…” she trails off, like she’s struggling for words.

“Partners,” Klaus supplies, smoothly shifting so they’re a circle once more. Caroline’s pretty sure he’s unused to being ignored.

“Eh, more like coworkers.”

A flutter of Klaus’ fingers and a new tray of champagne appears. He waits for Caroline to select a flute before taking one for himself. Bonnie declines with a shake of her head. “I feel like there’s a story here,” Caroline says, nudging Bonnie not so subtly with her foot to let her know that she’s a little peeved she hadn’t heard it before.

“Klaus is the one who first… invited me to New Orleans.”

Caroline doesn’t miss the hesitance. She narrows her gaze, shifting her weight to widen the distance between her body and Klaus.’ A smirk tugs at his full lips, but he sips his champagne, doesn’t press forward again. “I’m sensing the word invite is doing a lot of work there.”

He grins at that. “Truth be told, it was more of a coercion. A bit of blackmail, a few threats. But it all worked out for the best.”

Dubious, Caroline looks to Bonnie, only to find grudging agreement. “I will never admit Klaus is right about anything. But New Orleans is home now.”

Klaus’s smile turns taunting, and he lifts his glass, tipping it in Bonnie’s direction. “You’re welcome.”

Bonnie’s lips press together and Caroline feels an odd crackle of energy but then two other men, one familiar, one not, are at Bonnie’s side. The man she doesn’t recognize is taller and cups the back of Bonnie’s neck, pulling her into a kiss that’s so not appropriate for company. Enzo’s mouth brushes the side of Bonnie’s neck and Caroline knows she’s gaping at the scene like an idiot. Bonnie melts into Enzo though, her hands tugging the other guy closer. When he pulls back he tosses Caroline a salute, before spinning Bonnie onto the dance floor. She just catches his words before they’re swallowed up by the crowd, “No aneurysms on your birthday; you can torture Klaus at family dinner on Sunday.”

Enzo’s towed along, managing a wink at Caroline, “Hello, Gorgeous. We’ll catch up later, yeah?”

“Enzo, what…”

But he’s gone and Caroline resists the urge to dive in after them and start asking questions. “When did that happen?!” she exclaims, forgetting she has an audience.

Klaus leans closer, “Kol and Bonnie have been off and on for decades. They’ve been consistently on since Enzo arrived… about two years ago now.”

“I cannot believe they didn’t tell me,” Caroline grumbles. Enzo she kind of understands, he’s not the best at texting or emailing, is forever losing his phone. Bonnie should know that getting into a polyamorous relationship is the kind of juicy dirt that needs to be shared, damn it.

Klaus lifts a shoulder, “I’m not entirely sure your friend views it as serious. I expect a blow up once Kol presents her with the gift he bought for her. Possibly why he’s attempting to institute a no aneurysm rule.”

She’s dying to fish for more details, has to bite the inside of her lip to keep from immediately peppering Klaus with questions. He’s watching her expectantly though, his lips curled in amusement, and she knows that’s exactly what he expects.

Caroline would hate to be predictable.

She looks at the people near them, notes that most of them avert their eyes, as if they’ve been attempting to eavesdrop. “Klaus,” Caroline says again, letting the name roll off her tongue slowly.

“Mikaelson,” he supplies, with just a hint of a sigh. She supposes she has to give him a point for not attempting to deflect. “I assume my reputation precedes me?”

“That you’re an evil megalomaniac that’s prone to violent murderous rampages when things don’t go your way? I might have heard a whisper or two.”

He carefully avoids her gaze, sipping his drink calmly. “I’ve mostly cut down on those,” Klaus mutters.

Caroline hums noncommittally. But she doesn’t leave. “Bonnie leads the witches here, that much I know. What is it that you do?”

He moves closer, until she can feel the heat of his arm pressed against hers, skin separated by only his shirt. “I built this city.”

Caroline’s eye roll is automatic, too used to similar bragging from men who are trying to impress her. She reaches out, straightens his tie. “Sure,” she drawls, rubbing the obviously expensive fabric between her fingertips, “you seem like you build things all the time.”

He takes no offense, presses her hand flat against his chest, a laugh rumbling out of him. “You long are you planning on staying in my city, Caroline?”

His touch is light, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. It feels like an invitation, not a threat. Still, one can’t be too sure when playing with dangerous hybrids. “I assume that’s not a ‘be out before dawn if you don’t want your head on a pike’ hint?”

He circles her wrist, lifts her hand to his shoulder. He sets his glass aside, Caroline does the same. “Correct. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”

“Good to know,” Caroline says, letting Klaus lead her onto the dance floor.

She had already been contemplating a few extra days, hadn’t she?

#klaroline #klaroline drabbles #i don't remember why I didn't make this one ah to be honest #also am on my bonnie/enzo/kol bullshit #bonnie deserves nice things damn it

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 4 years

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Riverdale should have been a Disney show

Riverdale should have been a Disney show. There I said it. I'll admit the first season was fine Great even. Self-contained with an intriguing mystery and you waited at the edge of your seat for what will happen next. But then... Part of the problem for me is because I've read the original comics since I was a girl. I still do get some from my mom, and the way they have changed the characters just bug me.Betty used to be the girl next door, always hopeful, smart, trying to figure out the mystery. And it was perfect that she was a reporter because Betty was always someone who valued honesty so her being the roving reporter was perfect. And her taking pills for anxiety or some sort of disorder was also a nice take because she does take on so much, and tries so hard to help and be good and nice and perfect. All the stress. Archie was also great in the first season. A bit horny, but he means well, and he truly is an average American boy so his big trouble of choosing between music and football. He's a klutz and sometimes his plans go sideways but he means well, he's all for family and Riverdale and school spirit. None of this whole Red Hood/semi mafia/wrestling nonsense. I actually really liked their take on Veronica, she still a bit materialistic and thinks she can depend on her wealth to get her out of trouble but I do like their take on trying to be enterneauripal and working to act less high class society girl as she was used to.

Jughead, I'm conflicted with. Because he's good I guess as a brooding, investigative journalist he's good. It fits the setting of the show. But I do have a soft spot for him as the sane man to Archie. Going about his business, surprisingly philosophical. And you can't forget the most important attribute to him. His love of food! I miss that. Like the one scene in season 1, I forget what exactly but basically he ordered burgers and when Cole Sprouse just protectively held the burger to him...such a nice touch. That sort of guy I can see as a DCOM. The genius ditz I guess it's called. But he's not dumb. He just prefers napping to being awake.

Now the others...omg.I have a bone to pick when it comes to the other characters in Riverdale. Josie and the Pussycats-- they are such lively musicians who solve crimes, sometimes in space. ABsolutely wasted here. Melody barely had any lines. And they didn't have Alex or Alexandra Cabot which was such a shame. I know, I know they're in the new Katy Keene show but having them be step-siblings who used to date is wrong and weird and bad and no! Stop having the twins in these shows with vaguly incesteous feelings. It's weird!

Kevin Keller, all his storylines revolve around his bfs or lack of bfs or how much he wants a bf. The Kevin of Archie comics was so much more well-rounded. He was head of ROTC, he was class president, he ran marathons, he was Veronica's bff, he was a reporter. He had an appetite to match Jughead's. He even had a brief crush on Jughead! He was so much better than this sham. He was confident in who he was and did his best to help others feel good about themselves too because he knows not everyone is lucky to come out as LGTBQ in a supportive environment.

Reggie. I think not giving him enough of an arc in season 1 really backfired because if he appears, it's only as Veronica's arm candy. Which is a shame because he is a good contrast to Archie. A bit richer yet a cheapskate. Thinks he's a casanova, loves being the class prankster. A modern day politician with his sweet words when all he cares about himself. Basically like

Yet he has his hidden depths with his neglectful workaholic parents and jealousy of Archie's popularity. Cheryl. Omg Cheryl. They have ruined you here. I'm sorry, I do NOT find any of her lines iconic. It's like she swallowed urban dictionary and a gothic novel and came out all jumbled in a google translate. She may be abused but the way she still treats others like shit and gaslights her gf and makes everything about her is just...ugh!!! OMg, comics Cheryl is actually fun and iconic. She's as rich and pretty as Veronica and unafraid to use it. She wants to be a star like a modern day influencer. She's a red-haired Sharpay Evans basically.

Also Jason, her twin whom they sadly killed off. He was also fun like a meaner, snobbier version of Reggie. But with a huge crush on Betty which I think could have been used to milk such drama.

Polly also got hit badly. She was a good older sister. She was a reporter, and inspired Betty's enviormental-feminist activities. A sane person. Not a cult worshipping cuckoo. Toni Topaz, ah she was so good in season 2 and then they made her Cheryl's arm candy. Alas. I liked her as a friend to Jughead. In the comics, she was his equal in food contests. That's no small feat. She was cool, and joined Betty's band and... she was her own person. Remember when Toni used to be a photographer for the South Side paper. Yeah. Basically Toni as a 3d character with personality. Please return.

Dilton. Oh Dilton. Once the smartest person in the Archie universe and they turned you into a survival freak to get killed by the gargoyle king. Or whomever. I just remember he got killed somehow. Honestly, they should have stuck to smart Dilton. They need a smart scientist there, cuz no one is using their brains in Riverdale.

Chuck. They have done you SUCH A DISSERVICE! So so bad. Chuck was a good person! He was a cartoonist, and a basketball player and Archie's friend. (Yeah, that's right Archie has friends in the comics. Even though Riverdale makes some effort to show Archie and Jug's bond, they're mainly consorting with their gfs. In the comics, they had guy nights. Reggie, Chuck, Kevin, Dilton, Moose. Come on show. Friendships are just as important.) And what did they do, make him a lying scumbag, turn him good and then have him arrested because of what Cheryl did! No, no no. Bad writers. Just no. Ethel Muggs. You have also been wronged in season 3. Making her a crazy freak. Ethel in season 1 was nice. Ethel in the comics is nice. Plain but with a good heart even though she had a slightly obsessive crush on Jughead. Here, making her cult worshipper.... smdh. Okay at this point I know I sound like a bitter, bitter person complaining how it'S nOt liKE tHe cOmICs. But hey, I admit season 1 was good even if they changed the characters a bit. It’s just that I watched Riverdale because of the property it derived from. Because of the comics. At the least I expected some faithfulness to the characters. Not make them all so inconsistent and crazy.

It's just the writing is so inconsistent! The plots hop around and so do their moods. Bughead and Choni broke up for one episode and then they got right back together. Even though they had VALID reasons to break up. Nope. That made fans mad. So they had to get back together. Ugh. And Archie got attacked by a bear and was so traumatized that he broke up with Veronica because "he's changed" for like two episodes before forgetting about it and going back to Veronica. Oh which brings me to the ridiculous "love triangle" of Archie/Reggie/Veronica where she couldn't choose. Please, Archie and Veronica were reuniting and planning to go run away for a weekend together. Reggie was completely forgotten until he walked in on them. And Veronica couldn't decide because she loves them both? No, she didn't. She may have felt bad to tell Reggie but it's not because she loved him. Forgetting a guy so quickly...yeah great proof of love. Horniness maybe. But her indecisiveness makes her look bad. Don’t tease a will they, won’t they when the answer is so obvious. If you're going to do something like that, you should have there be something called CONSEQUENCES! They can get back together but at least wait. Wait 8 episodes at least so they can have character development. But who am I kidding. Character development is not the goal of this show. The character's just move because the writer's want them too not because it fits their personalities. Such as Archie's grieved reaction for baby Teeth in season 3.

Not only do I have no idea when (the ridiculously named) Baby Teeth appeared, much less why Archie or I should care about his death. But sometimes the show juggles too much. Too many characters. Too many plots. It's all so ugh!!! So my final thought on this is... Riverdale should have been a disney channel sitcom. Archie comics are about family friendly entertainment and sometimes imparted lessons... well so does Disney. I get the appeal of having Riverdale reach a new teen generation, but from what I can see the only big thing Riverdale on CW is that it allows alcohol and gartituous sex scenes.

Which is another small gripe of mine. I can handle sex scenes (hello Magic Mike XXL) but so many at such inappropriate moments too It's like that scene in an action movie where they suddenly kiss when they should be running for their lives. No teen is that horny all the time. Plus there's always less is more. If one kisses so much it loses the meaning. If you think your shirtless Archie is going to distract me from lack of plot haha. No. Plot and consistency still sucks and shirtless Archie does not make it better.

But Riverdale as a Disney show can work. After all the comic stories are a bit formulaic. It's all high school hijinks. And all the characters fit an archetype. Archie, the protagonist. Veronica, the fashionista. Betty, the reporter. Jughead, the slacker. Reggie, the class clown/bad friend. Cheryl, the Sharpay, Kevin, the sane one. And if people want a season long story arc with dramatics, Disney can actually handle it too. After all they had the mysterious "threat' lurking in the background of My babysitter's a vampire season 2. Or the Juliet and Mason saga of Wizards of Waverly Place. And if people want adult situations, look on to Jessie. Rewatching an episode now, there were so many adult jokes and references that flew over my head so they could sneak those in. Heck, Disney channel is infamous for all the innuendos they manage. And they handle consistency. Cody and Bailey broke up in Suite life on deck, they actually stayed broken up for a good half season. Gabe matured from a prankster tween to teen in love in Good Luck Charlie. Actions have consequences, characters grow. Storytelling 101

And the best part is they don't even have to think too hard for the plots of the week. They literally can build on stories from the comics. All 80 years of it. And I have put some examples right here from my own Archie comics. Like Veronica literally being the fashion police.

Veronica and Cheryl teaming up + rolling around in their money.

Cheryl changing the Cherry Blossom Festival to the Cheryl Blossom Festival

Archie doing his classic Valentine's Day mix up

Veronica and Betty buy Cheryl’s maid service when her father forces her to get a job.

Jughead and Trula (Jughead's nemesis & psychoanalyst in training) get amnesia and become friends.

A boy dares to change Veronica

Jughead falls in love with the lunch-lady

Betty and Veronica pretending to be distressed damsels to get Archie's attention (it backfires)

Toni and Jughead foil each other in a food eating contest.

Betty's cast causes more pain to other students

Reggie dates Cheryl (for real)

Reggie helps Kevin dress for the dance and his mystery date

Riverdale Shore.

Cabot vs Lodge

I think all this pretty much illustrates my point. Archie comics equals Disney sitcom all by itself.

#Anti Riverdale #my opinions #random musings #salty rant #archie comics

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bumblesimagines · 4 years

Text

Sharing Is Caring

Request: Yes or No

Summary: (Y/N) Keller never believed in true love. He did hookups but nothing serious. It broke Betty's heart since she had fallen for him the moment she met him. Her hurt and jealousy intensifies when Veronica Lodge joins the picture but Veronica has the perfect idea.

Betty turned the page of the book, feeling the edge of the paper as she read the lines. Her line of thought was disrupted as someone put their book down infront of her. She looked up, seeing light green eyes and slicked-back hair. She smiled gently.

"Kev.." She greeted softly. Kevin grinned in return, sitting across from her.

“You won’t believe who asked me out on a date!” Kevin took off his bag, placing it on the table. Betty giggled at his excitement, feeling happy for her friend.

“Remember Joaquin?” Betty nodded. “Well, he said that he’s free later tonight and asked if I was up for a date at Pop’s and added that I could bring a friend and their partner as like a double date type of thing. So... I was wondering if-”

“Kev, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Betty reminded. Kevin pouted, nodding.

“I know, Betty, but you can always come with a friend. Maybe Archie?”

“I don’t think Valerie would like that.”

“Jughead?”

“Jug doesn’t do ‘dates’.” Betty closed her book, sliding it into her bag. “Why don’t you ask Arch? He’ll happily help.”

“Yeah but I want my bestie to be there.” Kevin placed his head on his fist, eyes distant as he tried to come up with something. Betty watched his eyes light up and a grin spread across his face. She frowned. That grin brought nothing but trouble.

“Hey, (N/N)!” Kevin called out. Betty straightened her back and quickly smoothed out her pink sweater. Kevin chuckled quietly, watching his friend silently freak out.

“What’s up, Kev?” (Y/N) asked, hand gripping his backpack strap. The hood of his jacket was up, making his face pop out more. His lips were stretched out into a smile, showing off his pearly whites.

“I’m going on a double date and Betty here needs someone to go with her. I was wondering if you could tag along? Unless you have practice?” Kevin stared up at his brother with puppy eyes. (Y/N) rolled his eyes.

“Kev-”

“Please?” With a defeated sigh, (Y/N) nodded.

“Okay, fine. I’ll go on this.. double date with you. I’ll finish practice early, alright?” (Y/N) ruffled up his brother’s hair, glancing at Veronica as she sat down.

“Sorry, I’m late! Mrs. Jefferson held me back.” She explained, giving them all smiles. Her eyes landed on (Y/N) and her smile grew wider. She stuck her hand out.

“Veronica Lodge, pleasure meeting you, handsome.” She purred. Betty dug her nails into her palm, watching them shake hands.

“(Y/N) Keller.”

“Kevin’s brother? I’ve heard so much about you!” Veronica tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear.

“All good things I hope..” (Y/N) glanced at his brother with a cocked brow. Veronica giggled, nodding.

“He brags about you a lot. I see why now.” She said, finger toying with her pearl necklace. Betty licked her lips, heartbeat picking up. Of course, Veronica just had to come along and insert herself. Kevin cleared his throat.

“As much as I’d like to see where this goes, I’m afraid my brother has things he needs to do,” Kevin said. (Y/N) rolled his eyes, saluting them as he walked away.

“He’s a walking snack. The genes in your family are crazy.” Veronica said, watching him. Kevin chuckled, nodding.

“We get that a lot. But in other news, (Y/N) does not care about love. He wants to focus on his grades and ice skating. He does hookups but absolutely nothing serious. He’s a notorious heartbreaker, even though he doesn’t mean it.” Kevin told her, glancing at Betty. Veronica hummed, picking up the green apple.

“There’s nothing a Lodge can’t fix.” She smiled, biting into the apple. Kevin swallowed.

“Uh, another thing is... Betty has had the biggest crush on him.”

“Oh..” Veronica chewed on the apple piece in her mouth, nodding slowly. Betty shifted her gaze onto the table.

“It’s not a big deal or anything... If you like him, you should go for it. I won’t stop you.” Betty mumbled. Veronica reached over, hand grabbing her wrist gently.

“I’m not gonna fight with my new bestie over a guy! We can... Share. After all, sharing is caring.”

“You guys do know I’m still here, right?” Kevin questioned playfully. Betty gave a small smile.

“And where are you going, young lady?” Alice questioned, arms crossed as she watched her daughter get ready. Betty glanced at her as she tied her hair back.

"I'm going to Pop's with Kev."

"Just Kevin?"

"And his brother." Betty stared at her reflection, fixing her off-shoulder navy blue sweater and jean skirt. Alice raised an eyebrow.

"(Y/N)? Hmph." She tapped her finger against her arm. Betty looked at her mom.

"What?" She asked softly.

"Nothing, Betty, I just think it'd be better if it was you and Kevin alone-"

"Kevin's boyfriend's gonna be there and he didn't want me to feel like the thirdwheel so he invited his brother. Plus, mom, you know (Y/N) is more focused on skating and school." Betty said, pulling two strands out of the ponytail to complete the look. Alice sighed, nodding.

"But I want you home by 11. Sharp." Betty nodded, watching her mom walk away. Betty put on some gloss before grabbing her bag and flats. She put the flats on and headed downstairs. Betty opened the door, closing it behind her once she stepped outside. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Betty!" She opened her eyes, looking at the boys. She smiled, getting off her porch and approaching the car. (Y/N) was driving, considering it was his precious car, while Kevin was in the passenger seat.

"Hey, Cooper." Joaquin greeted.

"Hey, Joaquin." Betty gave him a smile.

"Oh, wow, I think this is the first double date I've ever gone on with my brother." Kevin said.

"And it's gonna be the last." (Y/N) replied playfully, smiling at his brother. Betty giggled, glancing out the window. Her eyes slowly moved from the passing trees to (Y/N). He kept his gaze on the road as Kevin quietly hummed along to the music. Joaquin gazed lovingly at Kevin making Betty smile. They were total opposites yet the perfect couple. Betty thought about her and (Y/N). He was the nice, sporty guy while she was the sweet cheerleader. A typical couple but everyone loved it. Betty blinked as the car stopped and everyone began to get out. She got out of the (F/C) car, watching as Kevin and Joaquin held hands when they entered Pop's.

"How are we gonna compete against that?" (Y/N) joked, locking the car. Betty smiled.

"I don't think anyone can beat them." She replied, walking with him. Pop's was a bit empty, a few couples and random people sitting around, some working while others chatted. Betty slid into the booth Kevin and Joaquin were in, (Y/N) following. Betty stayed mostly silent, listening to Kevin tell funny stories. All throughout, (Y/N) would chime in while Joaquin just watched Kevin, pecking his cheek and causing the bubbly boy to swoon. Betty flushed when (Y/N) propped his arm around her casually but she told herself that it wasn't romantic. (Y/N) was just comfortable around her.

"So, how long have you two been together?" Joaquin asked. Betty felt her ears heating up.

"We're not a couple." She said with a shy smile.

"We're friends." (Y/N) removed his arm from around her, leaning forward and drinking from his milkshake.

"Oh, well, you two would make a cute couple." Joaquin said. Betty shrugged.

"(Y/N) is keen on not finding love until high school's over." Betty said. Joaquin cocked a brow.

"You only experience-"

"High school once.. Yeah I know. Everybody tells me that. I mean, I have my whole life to find love, why start now?"

"Why not? At this rate, you'll join the Olympics and that'll take up all your time." Joaquin wrapped an arm around Kevin.

"I don't mind. I'll probably leave this town after high school... Go off and compete professionally... Probably find a girl and marry her-"

"Have kids and come back to this tiny town to live off the rest of your years." Joaquin finished for him.

"Happens to the best of us." (Y/N) shrugged.

"What about you, Betty?" The blonde played with the sleeve of her sweater.

"I'll probably stay here.. Take up a job as a reporter or teacher." Betty replied, swirling her straw around the glass, watching the milkshake mix together.

"I always saw you as a housewife." Joaquin said.

"Everyone seems to think that." Betty watched as Kevin and Joaquin paid the bill before getting up. They left the diner, going over to (Y/N)'s car. Kevin and Joaquin got in the back, making Betty sit in the front.

"Keep your pants on until I drop you off, alright?" (Y/N) huffed at the couple making out. Betty laughed softly, staring out the window as (Y/N) turned up the music. He dropped Kevin and Joaquin off at the trailer park.

"What time do you have to be home?"

"11."

"It's only 9, mind if I stop by the rink?" (Y/N) asked. Betty shook her head.

"Course not." She smiled. (Y/N) hummed, driving to the ice rink. He parked the car, getting his skates and entering the cold building. Betty followed him, looking around the empty building, apart from the man renting out the skates. (Y/N) changed his shoes into the skates, getting on the ice and skating around. Betty watched him, noting how graceful and concentrated he was. She had seen him compete a few times before. He was definitely going places. Betty stood, going over to the shoe area and renting a pair. She slid them on and wobbled onto the rink.

"Ever skated before?" (Y/N) asked. Betty shook her head, stepping onto the ice. She grabbed onto his shoulders and tried balancing herself.

"The key is not to freak out." He cooed, hands grabbing her waist. Betty smiled nervously, gripping his jacket as she stood straight. (Y/N) slowly skated backwards, pulling Betty along.

"I've rollerskated before but never skated on ice." Betty said, moving her hands from his shoulders to his arms.

"Then you'll learn quickly." He assured, grabbing her hand and slowly skating. Betty eventually relaxed and let go of his hand, skating by herself. Nothing impressive but at least she hadn't fallen yet. (Y/N) smiled, reaching out and grabbing her hand.

"It's relaxing.. Keeps your mind off things." (Y/N) said, tilting his head up and sighing. Betty held both of his hands, the cold and fear of falling long gone.

"Yeah.." (Y/N) looked down at her. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up. Betty laughed softly, placing her hands on his shoulders. She let out a soft sigh as he placed her back on the ice.

"I see why you like it so much." She said, slowly realizing how close they were.

"Alright, lovebirds! We're closing." (Y/N) chuckled, looking at the man.

"Alright, Tom, we'll be out of your hair soon!" (Y/N) called back. He led them to the exit and got out. They changed out of the skates, Betty returning the ones she rented. They left the building, heading back to the car and getting in. The drive was silent but peaceful.

"Right on time." (Y/N) smiled, watching the time turn to 11:00 PM. Betty chuckled, getting out of the car.

"I'll see you on Monday, (N/N)." She said.

"Mhm, see you later, Bets." He replied. Betty closed the door, heading up to her porch and unlocking the door as she heard the car drive off.

"How was it?" Alice asked, approaching her as she cleaned her hands with a rag.

"It-"

"Jesus, Betty, you're freezing!" Alice said, touching her daughters face.

"We went to the ice rink, mom." Betty chuckled, taking her hands off. Alice sighed, watching her head upstairs. Betty entered her room and collapsed on the bed. So close. She heard a buzz and picked up her phone, looking at the screen.

"Heard about the date! How was it? Remember I only want to share, not compete! Xoxo"

Betty sighed, wondering how to respond to Veronica.

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

Text

Survey #380

“so tear me open, but beware: there’s things inside without a care”

What do you want more than anything else? Good health, on both fronts. Have you ever tried coconut water? No, but I've heard it's gross. Who was your first love? My first "real" boyfriend, Jason. Have you ever been to a convention? (comic, YouTube, etc.) I've been to a reptile convention. Have you ever done a first aid course? No. What internet browser do you use? Well, I typically use Google Chrome, but because it hasn't been loading webpages for me, I've been using Microsoft Edge lately. Are you addicted to any energy drinks? No; I don't like energy drinks. How often do you see your mother? Every day, because I live with her. Do you like croutons in your salad? No. Are you the one who vacuums your house? Mom and I both do it. When was the last time your living room furniture was rearranged? It hasn't been rearranged in this house, but arranged when we moved in. What company do you get your internet through? Suddenlink. When you were little, did you like watching Cartoon Network, Disney, or Nickelodeon more? Disney tops 'em. I didn't watch very much Cartoon Network. If you have siblings, when was the last time you saw them? I see Nicole usually every Wednesday because she eats dinner with us. I haven't seen Ash in a little while. Misty and Katie both visited the house pretty recently, and I haven't seen Bobby for a few years. I really miss him and his son. How many cars does your household own? One. What’s your favourite meat? Chicken or pork. What’s the best amusement park you’ve ever visited? Disney World. How old were you when you got your first car? I've never had my own car. What colour is your shampoo? White. Are you listening to music right now? If so, what’s the theme of the lyrics? "Pet" by A Perfect Circle. Manipulation of a child would be my guess. What was the last thing you had to eat? I had cookies 'n cream yogurt. Are you picky about brand name for anything? Probably for some things, but nothing's coming to me right now. Do elevators freak you out? Yes. The idea of getting stuck freaks me out. Are you still in touch with your best friend from high school? No. Have you ever visited any celebrity gravesites? No. How do you feel about archaeology? I think it's very fascinating. How do you find new music to listen to when you want it? YouTube recommendations, usually. What is your favorite thing to do on The Sims? I only played the animals one, in which case I loved breeding them to see the babies, haha. Do you have any tattoos? Ye boiiiii If yes, is there any meaning behind them? All of them. If no, do you want any? What would you like? N/A Have you dyed your hair more than once (and different colors)? Oh yeah. Which hair color you’ve had has been your favorite? Red. Your favorite place to be aside from your home? Sara's house, haha. If you were stupid-rich, would you ever actually want a mansion? Nah, I don't need that much space. And I'm not really into hiring a maid or something to clean the place. Did you ever sit alone at lunch in school? Yes. I was usually too shy to "force" (as I saw it) my way into other's space, so I really only sat down with friends or acquaintances if I was asked. What is your least favorite beverage? Probably cranberry juice. Do you shave up past your knees (if you shave your legs)? If I shave, yes. Any old home remedies you use when you’re sick? Just sipping ginger ale. Do you like fruits or vegetables more? Fruit, definitely. Who was your last text message from? Sara. What was your first job? Sales associate at GameStop. Do you live near any volcanoes? Nope. Where does your best friend live? Illinois. How many people have you truly fallen IN love with? Two. Has anybody ever called you a tease? Yes, but only by my then-boyfriend, and he only meant it playfully. What about kinky? No. What’s your favorite bird? Probably barn owls. Have you ever been high? No. Who did you last confide in? My mom. How many keys are on your keychain? One. Where was your mom born? New York. Do you know how to tap dance? I took many years of clogging classes, which is very, very similar; the shoes are just a bit different to create a unique sound. Have you ever seen your siblings naked? My little sister and I used to bathe and take showers together as little kids, plus she is literally shameless and has walked into the living room looking for a towel after a shower on many occasions, haha. I actually don't think I've seen my older sister naked. When eating string cheese, do you dive right in or just peel it? I don't like string cheese. Do you have your own personal water jug? If so, where did you buy it? No. Well, Mom bought me one, but... we did NOT realize it was HUGE. We returned it, so now I don't have one. How do you get rid of your hiccups? Just wait it out and suffer. I've tried every trick in the book, and none work for me. Do you know how to take screen shots on your computer? Yes. When you sneeze, do you sneeze into your hand or the inside of your elbow? Into the crook of my elbow. What’s your ultimate favorite bagel? I really just enjoy a plain 'ole bagel with cream cheese. When you have chocolate, do you eat it room temperature? Or are you like me and stick the bar into the fridge first? I like it at room temperature. Are there any constellations you recognize just by looking at them? Well, I know either the Little or Big Dipper when I see 'em, but idk which is which. I just know one's upside-down. Which insect do you find the most beautiful? Butterflies. Moths can be gorgeous, too. What was the last thing you got very excited about? Someone is FINALLY adopting the dog this weekend. Mom and I have lost every ounce of patience with her. The family that wants her though came to visit, and they all adore her. Which Disney villain is your favorite? Probably Scar. I think he was pretty sly, plus he had a bangin' song, lol. Have you ever had a bedroom with a specific theme? Not really. Just filled with stuff I like. If you had to design a room with a theme, what theme would you choose? I would love to make a like, woodsy sort of room, if that makes any sense. Maybe like pine green walls with wooden accents and realistic decor. It'd be SUPER cool if I could build like one of those catwalk things along the walls that look like branches for my cat to maneuver along. Have you ever given money to a homeless person? No, I'm too distrustful. Have you ever designed your own Facebook timeline cover? Yeah. What is one site that closed down that you wish would come back? I used to really enjoy Dragons of Atlantis on Kabam! or whatever it was called. It transferred to a phone app that I have, but it's just not as fun. The dragons were super cool, and the artwork in general was just dope. If you have a partner, have you ever had to sleep in separate beds? If you don’t, how would you feel if a future partner wanted separate beds? I sometimes worry my future partner and I will have to have separate beds because of my nightmares/terrors that frequently cause me to lash out and basically attack the air. Sleeping separately would feel weird to me, but I'd far rather not hurt my partner. Hopefully, getting a CPAP mask really will help me. Though I don't imagine cuddling with one is comfortable. ;-; Or does having a partner even matter to you? I mean I want a partner someday, so I wouldn't say it "doesn't matter" to me, but it's not something I'm currently pitching a fit over not having one. How many languages can you count to a hundred in? Two. What is something you are skeptical about? The government lmao. What is something you find absolutely unethical? The meat industry, honestly. You look into it and it's just... disgusting, what they do to animals. I wish I could go without meat, I really do. What is something unethical you would not mind doing? Uhhhh? Is there a murder case you find absolutely fascinating? Okay so have you ever heard about or seen that video of a woman acting all strange inside an elevator at some hotel? Well, she disappeared after leaving that elevator, and some time later, residents complained about the water quality. They found her fucking body in one of the water tanks (I think that's what they're called?), and no one could explain how someone could have 1.) gotten up there and 2.) gotten the tank open to put her corpse inside. It's fuckin weird and creepy. What is an unusual item somebody you know owns? No idea. What’s the oldest TV-show you like? When was it made? Uhhh I don't know which is older, but I love I Love Lucy and The Munsters. Have you ever won a trophy for something? If so, what was it for? Yeah, sports and academic stuff. Have you ever been interviewed to a newspaper? If so, what was it about? No. Do you have a mug with your name/initials on it? No. Have you ever designed your own mug? No. Have you ever gone mud riding? No, that is not my definition of fun. I don't like being dirty. Have you met somebody that you want to spend the rest of your life with? Yes. Who was the last male you talked to? Does he have facial hair? My psychiatrist, and he does. Have you ever dressed up as a Disney character? Which one? Not to my recollection. Have you ever played chess? If so, are you good at it? No. If I wanted to buy you a chocolate bar, what kind should I NOT get? Don't get anything with coconut.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''until it sleeps'' by metallica

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 4 years

Text

Once bitten, twice stupid prt.42

Dinner was loud. It was chaos. And it felt like a weight off of Lance’s shoulder once they were done. No one had stabbed anyone. Nothing was broken. Matt and Rieva ate like civilised people, with Rieva even offering to help with the dishes. Sending the group off to relax in the living room, Shiro picked up the tea towel and Lance knew he was about to get “the talk”.

Filling the sink with water too hot for a normal human to withstand, Shiro at least let him get through the plates before breaking the silence

“So you and Keith?”

Lance cringed. He understood Keith didn’t want to lie, but with things so new, he’d kind of hoped he would... for a little while

“Yep”

“How did that happen?”

“I’m not really sure...”

“He didn’t see to know either”

Lance felt the dig. Shiro almost asking that question

“I guess it really changed when he drove me to Platt. My mother, well, you know she’s old. I was in... I was pretty upset and he drove me there. That’s when I turned into a bat”

“I remember that. He was freaking out”

“I gathered. I don’t remember what happened, but Coran made him see I hadn’t turned him. He looked after me for three days, then took me to see my Mami again. I know he’s your brother, but did you need to raise him to be so damn stubborn?”

Lance attempt at humour fell flat, much like he wanted to do. Kind of drop to the floor then crawl away from the conversation

“He was like that when I met him. I don’t know if he told you...”

“That he hasn’t had the greatest life because kids are cruel and he never felt wanted? There’s a lot Keith says, and a lot in the things he doesn’t say. He’d frustrating, stubborn, and quick to act before his brain catches up. His people limit is pretty much two, and if he doesn’t have his coffee he can’t human... but he’s got a big heart”

“I thought you’d bring him out his shell... I didn’t think this would happen”

Shiro didn’t have much right to complain. He had left Keith there

“Neither did we. We both thought Coran and Allura were daydreaming. Then Curtis started calling us soulmates... I’ve tried avoiding relationships all my life, then he comes in with his mullet and bad mood..”

“I don’t approve. And I’m not impressed that you didn’t take him to Coran when he started complaining about chest issues. Coran would have said something if he’d noticed anything during the checks he did on him... I haven’t been allowed to help him that much...”

“Yet you took him down an abandoned mine”

“In my defence, he climbed down after me. After I told him not to. He took plenty of photos down there”

“You really bought him a camera?”

Why did Shiro sound so shocked? He not only had a lie to sell, but Keith’s identity to protect and the man had been a lost puppy without his brother.

“Keith’s been stuck out here with nothing to do, and nothing of his own. It wasn’t fair he was left behind, so I wanted to do something nice for him. Coran told me I shouldn’t be training or pushing myself, which doesn’t give him a whole lot to do. He’s been doing plenty of normal human things. We went to movies in Platt. Hunk finally asked Shay out. Pidge roped him into one of her planning afternoons for a hunt that was not fun at all. We went drinking and he actually sang karaoke. He also tried to get into a fight, then threw up everywhere when we got home... but he’s been doing better. He’s not as angry when he first got here”

“No. I can see that... He’s my family...”

Lance cut Shiro off. Yeah. He got it

“I know. That’s why I told him that you two needed to talk. That he didn’t have to return my feelings and he should talk to you before we decided to date. I don’t have a good relationship with my siblings, so I’m not always going to get what goes on between you. But I don’t want to see him hurt. I don’t want him to feel obligated or pity because his blood triggered this change in me. I want him to live a good life and die old and happy. We’re not rushing things. We don’t want to rush things. But I’m serious in supporting him the best I can. He’s a grown man. He has his own job, money, and life. I don’t want him to be some pet kept on a short leash. All I want is for him to know he can be himself when he’s here and that I’m not about to judge him for it”

Shiro sighed, placing back down the plate he’d picked up to dry

“I need to know. Will having Matt and Rieva here endanger him?”

“Vampires have an evolved sense of smell. That’s why we don’t mix much. The same goes for werewolves. We have egos. A vampire who’s out of control is a vampire who’s let his ego go. I’m not in any hurry to start anything with Matt or with Rieva. Pidge is like a sister to me. You’re vouching for them, so I’m taking your word that this won’t become something. For his safety and yours, don’t come around when it’s a full moon, not the day before or the day after. If something happens, I can protect one of you, but I don’t know about both of you. Not from two werewolves, especially in a new environment. Curtis... it’s complicated. We didn’t get off on the best foot, but Coran sent him. I suppose because I’m closest thing to cursed and don’t want to harm anyone if I can help it. As for dating, we already know my teeth get in the way. We’ll treat it like anyone with a contagious blood disease does. If things cool off, then we’ll have an answer to what’s between us”

“And what if you lose control?”

“Even when I do, I seem to know Keith. I don’t remember anything from turning into a bat the first time. But it seems I clung to him. I’m sure Coran would say it’s due to our quintessence. I know when I shouldn’t be around him, and when to distance myself. I don’t know how many other ways I can swear I don’t want to hurt him”

“Accidents happen”

“I know. That’s part of the reason I didn’t want to admit how he makes me feel”

“And how’s that?”

“Almost alive... You should go join the others. Keith’s going to come marching in here expecting the worst. He gets a bit protective”

“He does that”

“One day it’s going to get him hurt”

“That’s why I can’t give you my full blessings”

Shiro wouldn’t be much of a brother or hunter if he simply rolled over on his human brother dating a monster

“I get it. I really do. Still, for Keith’s sake, I don’t want to fight with you. He loves you, and he needs you. No matter what he says”

“Keith’s isn’t like most people. When his heart breaks... he gets hurt ten, twenty, times worse than normal”

“I know. Like I said, there’s a lot in what he doesn’t say”

“I would prefer you waited before your relationship turned physical”

“We are. My body is going through changes and he respects that. Just like I respect him and nothing happened that night he was drunk, no matter how handsy he got”

“Drunk Keith is a bit...”

“Drunk Keith is a slut. Those are his words. That’s why I won’t do anything to break the trust he has in me. I don’t want him to live a life of regrets”

“I keep forgetting you’re older than us”

“Don’t remind me. I don’t enjoy looking barely legal”

“Coran can’t help?”

“Even if he could, I’d rather he help Curtis first. He’s struggling with his curse and it’s so cruel that he can’t control the things he says. His life’s been put on because of it. I’m sure he’s happy to have you here because he finally has someone who can reach out their hand to him. More importantly, do you know when Matt intends to reach out to Pidge? I’d like to let Hunk know so he can be there to support her”

“Matt was thinking of waiting a few days”

Great. He didn’t want to keep lying to his friends for that long... Pidge also wanted to go back and explore under the pub...

“Alright. I’ll work things out with him. I’ll finish up here”

Lance nearly didn’t head into the living room when he’d finished the dishes. Keith hadn’t come to check on him, he could hear Shiro attempting to draw his boyfriend into conversation with the others. Keith’s poor people skills must have been at their limit. Being the amazing host he was, Lance made up a batch of Hunk’s hot chocolate, making sure that Keith’d have enough milk for his morning coffees as he did. Feeling a little fancy, he got out his Mami’s favourite serving tray. It’d been a gift from all of them as kids. Well loved and well mended. All their names scrawled across the back. The “L” in Lance’s name drawn backwards. The “I” in his older sister Veronica’s name had a heart instead of a tittle. Rachel had a smiley grave. Marco had always had a flare for the dramatic, his name taking up nearly the whole back. Luis name was the neatest of all. Lance wasn’t so much of a dick as to scratch Luis name off... Not when Mami still loved the serving tray.

Loaded up with the twin jugs, cups, and cookies, Lance carried the lot into the living room. Rieva and Matt were cuddled on the rug. Keith had Blue in his lap, with Curtis and Shiro taking up the rest of his sofa. Hearing his voice, he found the group were watching Pidge’s videos. Lance felt more than a little embarrassed. Strangers watching were one thing, a group of people in his house watching him... was something else. Carrying the tray to the coffee table, Lance set it down carefully

“Thanks, Lance. It looks good”

Lance gave Curtis a thin smile, pained at hearing his voice droning on

“Hot chocolate made with lactose free milk and Hunk’s recipe. Help yourselves”

Nervously pouring a glass, Lance backed away, standing by the arm of the couch so he wasn’t in the way. Matt shot him as thanks as he got two glasses organised for him and Rieva. At least Matt didn’t think he was trying to poison him, not like a certain mulleted hunter the first time he gave him coffee

“Lance, wanna sit?”

Lance turned too look at Keith over his shoulder. Blue had been passed to Shiro, not looking happy about giving up Keith’s lap

“I’m good”

Keith might have told Shiro they were dating but they didn’t need to rub it in his face

“If Shiro moves over there’s enough space”

Now that Keith’s lap wasn’t offer, he felt strangely rejected. Warmth started creeping up from his belly... Now was not the time

“Actually, I’m going to head to bed. Yep. Goodnight all, see you in the morning”

Fleeing the room, the cup of hot chocolate made the trip up stairs with him. Slamming his door a touch too hard, Lance rushed to place his cup down on the bedside table. Downstairs Matt was making a comment about something sweet in the air, Shiro joking about it being the smell of the hot chocolate. Rieva agreed with Matt, adding how the smell made her hungry... Her tone saying what kind of “hungry” she meant. Lance seriously doubted they’d do anything to him, but the idea of two horny werewolves scared the fuck out of him. Striding across to his window, he opened it as wide as it went. He didn’t understand why these heat flushes had to keep happening. He’d made up with Shiro, and he’d made up with the others over dinner. Werewolves and meat was kind of a no brainer. Now he was supposed to be relaxing and getting to know them all better.

Stripping himself down, he was too hot for a pyjama shirt and opted for pants only. Given his naturally cold state, and the cool wind through the window, he should morgue slab corpse cold. He’d spent years witching his body would be warm, now he cursed it. The sun had barely been down the better part of an hour, and here he was going off to bed like a loser. Climbing into bed, didn’t help. Keith’s scent cling to his sheets, but the man himself wasn’t there.... and his stupid body want okay with that. The aching throb between his legs drew a whisper from him as wetness dribbled from his arse. Even with the distance, Matt could smell him. Matt colour smell him and the damn stupid mutt was growling over it. If he dared lay a finger on Keith, Lance was going to snap off the insulting digit, force it up Matt’s urethra then snap his dick off and feed it to him like some kind of “fingdicken”, operating on the same principle as a turducken. Maybe he could use bacon as an outer wrapping... kind of borrowing the spirit of “what’s in the box?”.

Slightly horrified by his own thoughts, he curled up up. He didn’t necessarily hate Matt. He just didn’t want Keith to be hurt. Shiro wouldn’t let Keith be hurt. Meaning his twisted thoughts never needed to form. Keith could take care of himself. An involuntary whimper escaped as the first cramp of need hit. Covering his mouth quickly, he listened for a response downstairs. Rieva was busy scolding Matt, the sound seemed to have escaped their attention. With his body like this, he was going to be forced to have a conversation he really didn’t want to have. They whole “hey, I’m not a werewolf but I kind of go into fits of heat” thing was going to make it complicated. Right now he wanted it to piss right off and never come back. He wanted to be downstairs with everyone else, getting know them and not seeming like a dick. Now he was hiding in bed too scared to jerk off in case he was heard. This vampire thing sucked.

#once bitten twice stupid #oncebittentwicestupid

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heartofether · 3 years

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Episode 12 - Bicycle TRANSCRIPT

[You can listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts, or go to our “Listen” page if you’re on desktop.]

AUTOMATED VOICE

[GROWING SLOWER THROUGHOUT] Please state your message.

[THEME MUSIC AND INTRODUCTION PLAYS.]

VAL

Three-Eyed Frog Presents: The Heart of Ether.

[THEME CONTINUES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.]

[PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. THE OPEN EYES BOOKSTORE, UPSTAIRS.]

[PHOEBE AND HOLLY ARE HEARD GOING UP THE STAIRS TO THE APARTMENT.]

PHOEBE

[RUSHED] I’m so sorry I called you on such short notice, it’s just—oh, I have a bird by the way, her name is Michelle, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you, but I, anyways—it’s just that it all happened really fast, and I just need to talk about—

[AS SHE TALKS, PHOEBE IS HEARD OPENING THE DOOR TO THE APARTMENT AND CLOSING IT BEHIND HER AND HOLLY AS THEY WALK INSIDE. IN THE APARTMENT, THE OCCASIONAL CHIRPING OF MICHELLE IS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND.]

HOLLY

[OVERLAPPING] Dude, it’s chill. Really.

Oh, and uh, I got you something. It’s from that super pretentious place around the block. I know you don’t like coffee, but I hope matcha is okay?

PHOEBE

…oh! Oh, my gosh! I didn’t even realize you were carrying anything, um—thank you! Wow. Thank you so much, er—matcha’s great! Wait, how much was it, I can—

HOLLY

[SHE LAUGHS.] No need to pay me back. It’s a gift.

PHOEBE

[A BEAT, THEN, SINCERE] Thank you.

HOLLY

No problem, I’ll just set it on the table here—?

PHOEBE

That works, yeah.

HOLLY

Cool.

[HOLLY IS HEARD WALKING TO THE TABLE AND SETTING THE CUP DOWN.]

HOLLY

…so, is your friend okay?

PHOEBE

...what?

HOLLY

The one you said got attacked.

[A BRIEF PAUSE.]

PHOEBE

Oh, right. Sorry, sorry, I er uh, heh, got distracted. But yes, they’re okay.

HOLLY

[SHE CHUCKLES.] I gotta hand it to ‘em. Of all the things I expected to hear about when you called me, sentient mold was not on the list.

PHOEBE

I’m still not sure how it works, honestly. I’ve been trying to go through Grandma Doe’s notes, see if she had anything about the mold. At the very least, Valencia knew about it, because he had big jugs of lemonade saved in case of an attack—which I didn’t even know lemonade lasted that long.

HOLLY

He must have had some way of preserving it. Maybe more spooky weirdness?

PHOEBE

[SHE GIGGLES.] I doubt it. I mean, I suppose the lemonade doesn’t have to be safe for human consumption, so long as it works on the mold.

HOLLY

[UNSEEN NOD] Mm, sure.

PHOEBE

I still haven’t found much about the mold itself, though. I’ll have to keep looking.

HOLLY

Gotcha.

So, shouldn’t we be down in the backroom looking? ‘Cause you brought me up to the apartment—

PHOEBE

There’s a reason for that.

HOLLY

…oh?

PHOEBE

Er, can we, sit down?

HOLLY

Oh, yeah.

[THEY ARE HEARD PULLING THE CHAIRS OUT AND SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE.]

PHOEBE

[NERVOUSLY RAMBLING] Look, I, I don’t know what’s going on. All this stuff, what, with my grandma’s research, whatever Valencia was doing—I mean, he has even more research apparently, which, wow.

And I’ve been really stressed about it, what with all my already existing shop worries, now I’m facing this unknown, inhuman power without any—

HOLLY

[OVERLAPPING, COMFORTING] Hey, I understand. That shit out there? It’s pretty terrifying. You’re allowed to be worried about it.

[THERE’S A PAUSE.]

PHOEBE

Why do you care?

HOLLY

What?

PHOEBE

[GUILTY] …oh, gosh, I’m so sorry, that was so rude of me, I mean, uh—about all of this. You said you were looking for, like, monsters or something, when you came in. Why do you care so much about helping me? I mean, evidently, it’s really dangerous. Seriously, someone I know was nearly killed today. So, why are you so, um, I guess, invested?

[A BEAT.] If you don’t mind answering, that is. I know that might be, er, kinda personal. Sorry.

[A LONG PAUSE.]

HOLLY

Did you know that owls are my favorite animal? That’s why I was so enthralled by that wicked statue your grandmother put out in the shop. They’ve been my favorite for a few years. And you wanna know why that is?

It’s because they’re so, I don’t know, calculated. They’re silent killers. Widely respected. People associate them with wisdom, and mystery, but there’s also a hunger there. A need to survive, and they know damn well how to do it. It’s not even uncommon for them to eat other owls.

PHOEBE

Um, I—

HOLLY

[SHE LAUGHS.] Sorry, I just, owls are super fuckin’ cool. I promise I’m going somewhere with this. Hang tight.

PHOEBE

[SHE GIGGLES.] Okay.

HOLLY

So, owls. They’re calculated, but they’ve got, like, a fierce hunger in their eyes.

And I…I’ve got a hunger. I mean, I’m not eating owls, obviously, no, it’s a metaphorical hunger. A need to…to act. To protect. I used to be so good at standing by silently, watching, unnoticed, but unlike the owl, who hunts, I never did anything. I was frozen in place.

[SOFTER, SHAKILY] And then, when I needed to protect someone, I failed. I watched silently, but I never struck. I walked away…empty-handed.

[SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH.] I’m not doing that again. If people are in danger, and there’s any way I can help, I’m going to step in. Whatever I can do.

[ANOTHER LONG PAUSE.]

PHOEBE

I’m sorry, Holly.

HOLLY

[SHE LAUGHS IT OFF] Don’t worry about it. It’s all in the past. Just, I want to make sure nobody suffers at the hands of whatever monstrous forces we’re dealing with.

PHOEBE

That’s really admirable.

HOLLY

Thanks.

[FLATTERING] I mean, I’m no braver than you. You’re kinda diving head-first into all of this. That’s badass.

PHOEBE

[FLUSTERED] Oh, um, thank you! Heh.

[MUTTERS] I mean, I didn’t really have a choice, it was this or burn the shop down…

HOLLY

What?

PHOEBE

D—Don’t worry about it! Um, sorry. Thank you again.

HOLLY

Of course.

[SOFTLY, SINCERE] You’re really special. You know? You and this shop.

PHOEBE

[A BEAT, THEN, SOFTLY] You seem so certain about that.

HOLLY

I am.

PHOEBE

[REALIZATION] Oh.

[LONG, GAY PAUSE.]

PHOEBE

[SHE CLEARS HER THROAT.] Sorry, sorry, um…There is one way you can help. Not just, um, you know, carrying boxes. It’s a big thing, um, and also why I brought you up here.

HOLLY

Oh, alright.

PHOEBE

I said my grandmother didn’t leave any guide behind to help me? Well, I lied.

[A BEAT, THEN, RUSHING TO REASSURANCE] I promise that’s the only lie I told you, though, and I had a good reason for it.

She…she left a box. Full of super secret letters. You’re the only person I’ve told. Irene doesn’t know anything about it.

HOLLY

I mean, you don’t have to tell me about anything you’re not comfortable sharing, Phoebe—

PHOEBE

[OVERLAPPING] I need help with something, and I don’t know how you’re gonna feel about it because I don’t know how I feel about it yet.

HOLLY

[WARY] …I said I’d do anything to help. Whatever it is.

PHOEBE

Do you promise? To keep it a secret and not, um, freak out, I guess?

HOLLY

[A BEAT.] Cross my heart.

PHOEBE

Okay. Okay! I actually don’t think I should record this next bit, so I’m gonna turn it off, but in order to actually read the research, I have to—

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

[ANOTHER PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. CAROL’S APARTMENT, NIGHT.]

[THERE IS THE CREAKING OF A PULLOUT MATTRESS.]

CAROL

Hope it’s not too uncomfortable for ya’.

IRENE

Honestly? I’m just glad to have a place to sleep. Thank you.

CAROL

Not a problem, Irene. You’re always welcome here.

[THERE IS A LONG PAUSE. IRENE IS HEARD ADJUSTING HER BLANKET BRIEFLY.]

CAROL

Right. Well, I’m guessing you have questions, and it’s been a hell of a day. If you’ve got ‘em, now is the best time to ask.

IRENE

[SHE THINKS FOR A MOMENT.] What was that?

CAROL

[A SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH.] I wish I had a good enough answer for you, Irene. We’ve just been calling it the mold. Well, those I’ve talked to about it, that is.

IRENE

So, you don’t exactly know what it is, but you’ve heard of it.

CAROL

More than that, I’ve seen it myself before.

IRENE

[TAKEN ABACK] Before today?

CAROL

Mm. [GRIM] A while back, I was visiting a real close friend of mine. We were, ah, having tea out on her patio. It was a nice day. Didn’t seem like a catastrophe was gonna happen. We talked for a while before she said she had to go to the restroom and went inside.

I’m a patient woman, Irene, but after about twenty minutes, I knew something was wrong. I opened the back door and called out to her, but got no response. When I went inside to check on her, she didn’t answer when I knocked on the bathroom door. I was worried something had happened to her, but…man, I never could have seen it comin’.

The mold had spread out all across her bathroom. She laid dead in the center, just like that ol’ inspector. I haven’t been the same since then.

I tried my best to move on, but I didn’t get the time to. About a week later, that same mold started growing in my own house. I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do. I knew I shouldn’t touch it. So, I did all I could think to do: move out. I got this here apartment as soon as I could. I’m lucky I got out in time. After I moved, it didn’t come after me again, and I hadn’t seen it since. Until today, that is.

I’ve hardly told anyone about this. I mean, hell, I was worried people would think I’m crazy. I told Aden about it ‘cause I trust him and care for his safety, and thankfully, he believed me. I would have probably told you eventually if it hadn’t gotten you first.

IRENE

[DEFEATED] So you don’t know what causes it.

CAROL

[SHE CHUCKLES DRYLY.] Hell, until today, I didn’t even know there was a way to kill it.

[IRENE SIGHS.]

CAROL

Look, I know there’s something going on in this town, Irene. I’m not blind. I’ve seen things that can definitely be classified as strange, and in fact, I’d count Valencia under that category even before I saw his research.

I’ve never gotten any answers, though, just glimpses into something I know is there, but don’t understand yet.

IRENE

[A WEAK CHUCKLE.] Like some big secret the whole town is keeping, but they don’t actually know the secret.

CAROL

I’m sorry I can’t offer you more than that.

IRENE

It’s fine. I can’t expect you to know everything.

[THERE’S A PAUSE.]

CAROL

Well, I’m gonna go take a shower.

IRENE

[SHE CHUCKLES AGAIN.] I don’t blame you. My skin is crawling after spending so much time around the mold.

CAROL

It’s open to you next if you want it.

IRENE

No. [SHE YAWNS.] I’m going to try to get some work done.

CAROL

Well, make sure you get some rest soon, alright?

IRENE

Sure. Goodnight, Carol.

CAROL

Night, Irene.

[THERE’S FOOTSTEPS THAT TRAIL OFF BEFORE CAROL CLOSES THE BEDROOM DOOR. IRENE SHIFTS.]

IRENE

Right. Where do I even begin?

After we found out it was weak to lemons, we poured the jugs of lemonade Valencia had over all the mold we could find. It wasn’t enough for the whole house, obviously. We had to go to the store and buy more.

[SHE CHUCKLES.] I have no right to judge the meat lady anymore. Imagine the look on the cashier’s face when Carol and I went up with twenty bottles of lemonade.

Luckily, it didn’t spread anymore while we were at the store. I think our initial dousing weakened it—or, however that works.

I called Phoebe about it, and she said she’ll look into it. Aden was worried that the sugar contents in the store-bought lemonade would render it ineffective. [SHE LAUGHS WEAKLY.]

Honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to repay Aden. While we were cleaning up the mold, not only did he check in on us constantly, he brought us food once we were done. We never did get lunch like we planned, obviously. Even if he didn’t help with the mold itself, I’m still thankful he was there. As overwhelming as his worried spam can occasionally be.

[A BEAT, THEN, IN A GUILTY AND ALMOST SCARED TONE] The mold inspector…we tried to do something with him. His body just deteriorated, though. We could barely even pick him up without his flesh falling apart—and no, we didn’t use our hands, of course we didn’t.

We had to use garden tools to put his decomposing remains into several layers of garbage bags. Carol said she disposed of it as best she could. I hope she’s right.

The van is still there, though, which is part of why I’m spending the night here. [mutters] Also, because lemonade is incredibly sticky, and right now, my entire house is covered in its gooey residue.

I know his death is going to come back to haunt me. I’m not stupid. At least the guy worked independently, I guess? He probably had a family, though. I have no idea what to do. I mean, I wish I could have prevented it, but—

[SHE STOPS HERSELF. THERE’S A PAUSE.]

IRENE

I’m trying not to think about it right now. [TRYING TO JOKE, BUT FAILING] I mean, this town seems to be all for covering up people who disappear without a trace, right?

I guess I should be happy I got answers, right? Got a whole attic full of them. I’m not, though. I’m the most terrified I’ve ever been. There’s something out there, something that isn’t human—maybe multiple somethings—and as far as I know, it’s shown that it wants to hurt me.

What if the mold comes back? [A BEAT.] What if something more powerful than the mold comes after me, now that I’ve proven to be a threat?

Look, I should get some work done. I’m sure I’ll be up all night thinking about this, but right now, I have a schedule to keep. Clearly, I didn’t get anything done after around noon, so I have some work to catch up on.

[THE MATTRESS CREAKS AS IRENE GRABS HER BAG AND BEGINS TO LOOK THROUGH IT. IT STOPS AS SHE PULLS OUT HER LAPTOP.]

IRENE

Thankfully, along with some spare clothes, I was able to grab my laptop. We’ll see how long that occupies my mind.

[THERE’S CLICKING NOISES AS IRENE TURNS ON HER COMPUTER. A BRIEF PAUSE.]

IRENE

[HESITANT] There’s another new audio file on my computer. It—it’s labeled as the date of the incident.

[A BEAT.] You know what? I could just close my computer. I’ve been through enough today. I don’t have to put myself through more.

...who am I kidding? I’m just going to keep worrying about it otherwise. Might as well get it over with.

[SHE CLICKS IT.]

[PHONE BEEP.]

[INT. ROSE’S BEDROOM, THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING.]

[ROSE IS HEARD FRANTICALLY PACKING A BAG.]

ROSE

[PANICKED] I think she—it—I think it’s gotten back up.

My name is Rosemary Quinn. Rosemary Quinn. If you’re listening to this, don’t come after me. Don’t—

[A VASE IS HEARD BREAKING IN THE BACKGROUND. ROSE GASPS.]

ROSE

It’s my mom. She did something. I don’t know what. Some sort of ritual? Not a traditional one or anything like that. I don’t know what it was she was doing.

I just—I walked in on her screaming, and there was blood coming from her eyes, and then she just—she just started changing! I can’t describe it! It’s like her body was morphing into a different body, like, like clay, I don’t—

[THERE’S A LOUD BANGING AT THE DOOR. ROSE YELPS.]

GRACE?

[IN A DISTORTED, INHUMAN VOICE, MUFFLED BY THE DOOR] Rose, dear, won’t you open the door? What are you so afraid of?

[A BRIEF, EERIE INSTRUMENTAL ECHOES IN THE BACKGROUND.]

ROSE

[WHISPERING] No. No, please no.

It tried to attack me, but I hit it over the head with a candleholder. That incapacitated it for a bit, but now I think it’s just angry.

[SHE ZIPS THE BAG SHUT.]

ROSE

Whatever that is, it is not my mother. I know she’s not a good person already, I know that, but that’s not her, it’s—

[ANOTHER BANGING AT THE DOOR.]

GRACE?

Rose. Open the door.

ROSE

Stop, please stop!

SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD

Meow.

ROSE

Sir Griffin the Third? Were you, were you hiding under the bed this whole time?

[THE DOORKNOB JINGLES. CREEPY, DRAMATIC MUSIC BEGINS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND.]

GRACE?

Rose, dear, my patience has run very thin.

ROSE

[DISBELIEF] That voice. It sounds like…no. No.

GRACE?

I warned you.

ROSE

Stop. I’m begging you, stop! Mom? Mom, are you still in there? Mom, I’m sorry, please listen—

[ROSE’S MOM IS HEARD BREAKING DOWN THE DOOR. ROSE SCREAMS. THE DOORKNOB FALLS TO THE FLOOR.]

SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD

Meow!

ROSE

Oh, I can’t just leave you here. Come here.

[SHE GRABS SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD. SHE IS HEARD OPENING HER BEDROOM WINDOW. THE SOUND OF WIND AND CRICKETS OUTSIDE IS HEARD AS SHE DOES THIS.]

GRACE?

Don’t think you can get away from me, dearest.

ROSE

[MUTTERING IN PANIC] No…no, no, no!

[ROSE IS HEARD CLIMBING OUT OF THE WINDOW ONTO THE GROUND AND RUNNING FOR HER BIKE.]

SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD

Meow.

[ROSE IS HEARD LIFTING THE BIKE UP, ITS BELL CHIMING, AND CLIMBING ONTO IT.]

ROSE

[TO SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD] Come on, come on—I know you don’t like the basket, just—

[SHE IS CUT OFF BY A GLITCHING NOISE. THE MUSIC ENDS WITH THE CHIME OF A BELL. THERE IS BRIEF STATIC BEFORE ANOTHER GLITCHING NOISE.]

[ROSE IS HEARD RIDING HER BIKE FOR A FEW SECONDS, BREATHING HEAVILY. THE SAME NIGHTTIME AMBIANCE AS BEFORE IS STILL PRESENT.]

ROSE

...no, Sir Griffin the Third, stay in the—!

[SHE IS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER GLITCHING NOISE.]

[THE BIKE IS HEARD COMING TO A STOP. ROSE BREATHS HEAVILY AS SHE GETS OFF. SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD MAKES A CHIRPING NOISE.]

ROSE

I think…I think I’m far away enough now.

SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD

Meow.

ROSE

[DISTRAUGHT, TO SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD] Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.

SIR GRIFFIN THE THIRD

Meow.

ROSE

I’m sorry, but I can’t bring you with me. I didn’t even get to grab your food. I’m sorry. I’ll bring you somewhere where you’re safe, okay, baby? I promise.

[THERE’S A PAUSE.]

ROSE

I, um…I can’t go home. I don’t even think I can stay in Seattle. I don’t know if my mom will ever go back to her normal self, or if whatever that thing was is who she is now.

Regardless, I believe that the demon will continue to hunt me down, no matter whose body it has to use. It did not seem like a being that goes down easy.

[SAD YET BEAUTIFUL MUSIC PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.]

ROSE

[GRIM] My mom. I never got along with her. She was an awful person. I know that wasn’t her, though. I don’t know what she did, or what kind of forces she tried to harness, but it is not a kind or benevolent force.

I’m not quite sure what to do now. I mean, I suppose I wanted to run away, but not like this. How could I even tell Irene—

[A PAUSE.] Oh. Irene.

[SHE TAKES A SHAKY BREATH.] I can’t tell her. It will put her in too much danger. I can’t risk her getting involved with whatever it is that is chasing me.

[THERE’S A PAUSE.]

ROSE

[SHAKILY] Irene...Irene, if you’re listening to this, don’t come after me. I, I don’t know how you could ever be listening to this, but still. Don’t look for me. Not yet, at least.

I promise, when it’s safe, I’ll find you. I won’t abandon you. [SINCERE] Of course I wouldn’t. I just, I need to go away. Just for a little bit.

I love you, dear. So much. Wait for me.

[THE MUSIC AND NIGHTTIME AMBIANCE FADES OUT.]

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

[INT. CAROL’S APARTMENT, PRESENT DAY.]

[THERE’S A PAUSE AS IRENE PROCESSES WHAT SHE HEARD.]

IRENE

[QUIETLY] I love you, too.

[IRENE BEGINS CRYING.]

IRENE

I love you, too. [SHE SOBS.] Of course I do.

[SHE SOBS FOR A FEW MOMENTS LONGER.]

IRENE

[DETERMINED, BUT SHAKY] I don’t care what you said. I’m going to find you, Rose.

I’m going to find you.

[PHONE BEEP.]

[RECORDING ENDS.]

AUTOMATED VOICE

Today’s quote is: “Perhaps some day I'll crawl back home, beaten, defeated. But not as long as I can make stories out of my heartbreak, beauty out of sorrow.”

Sylvia Plath, as published in The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath, 1982.

[A STRANGE, EERIE, ALMOST HOLLOW SOUND SLOWLY BUILDS IN THE BACKGROUND.

AUTOMATED VOICE

[SLOWING DOWN GRADUALLY] You are the outlet. We are the light.

[THE EERIE SOUND IS CUT OFF BY A LOUD WHOOSH.]

VAL

The Heart of Ether will return in Season Two.

[OUTRO MUSIC AND CREDITS PLAY.]

#heart of ether transcripts

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seasonofthevvitchiii · 4 years

Text

On the subject of the 7th Division being completely inept with daily tasks, I truly do not believe that the Super 5 would be any better and may actually be worse in some aspects.

Shimazaki is the worst offender on doing dumb shit. Half the things he does the others are convinced that he knows better but he does it anyways just to piss people off. They’re probably right.

He’ll stick spoons and shit in the microwave when he tries to warm up food and then say he “forgot” to take it out. He puts all his colored clothes in the wash with Minegishi’s white clothes and turns all their stuff pink.

He throws away used plates and forks and shit and claims it’s because he thought he was putting them in the sink. Everyone knows it’s a lie and that he does it so he doesn’t have to wash his dishes.

Hatori leaves his laundry piled up all over his room and in the bathroom. He says he doesn’t know how to work the washer. He’ll leave his drones and other machines sitting all around HQ and the other Super 5 members are constantly tripping on his stuff. He doesn’t know how to work the oven and has almost burned down HQ by putting frozen foods in there with the plastic or packaging still on. And he’s constantly drinking directly out of the milk jug.

Minegishi will experiment with growing new plants and will then leave them all over the base, even if they’re huge, even if they’re poisonous. When they catch Shimazaki putting his clothes with theirs, they’ll throw his stuff away. Like, straight up into the trash can. They’ll spill soil and fertilizers all over the floor and refuse to clean it up; they’re too busy and a lackey can do it for them.

Poor Serizawa really tries his best. But his mom took care of all the stuff around the house so he’s not really sure how to do a lot. He’s tried to do his own laundry before, unfortunately he overloaded the washer so badly that it broke. He tries to use the dishwasher and somehow every glass item inside ends up broken. He tries to dust a shelf and knocks everything off. He tried to make tea, once. He literally burned the water.

I feel like Shibata is a little older than the other Super 5 members. That being said, he actually knows how to do a lot of the things that the other 4 don’t. He just won’t do it. Or one of them will ask for help and he’ll tell them to do the opposite of what they should do just because he thinks it’s funny.

Hatori starts a grease fire on the stove and screams to a passing Shibata for help. Shibata tells him to get some water and dump it on there.

Suzuki tells Shimazaki he has to start cleaning his dishes instead of throwing them away. Shimazaki asks Shibata how to work the dishwasher. Shibata responds with, “lol, nope.”

One of Minegishi’s plant books gets put on one of the higher parts of the book shelf, they tell Shibata to get it for them. He looks them dead in the eyes and moves it to the top shelf.

Serizawa sets off the fire alarm by putting something in the microwave for 20 minutes instead of 2 minutes. He’s freaking out in the kitchen and Shibata walks by like, “.....yikes” and keeps walking.

He’s basically like an older brother who likes watching his shitty younger siblings suffer for their own stupid mistakes.

Suzuki is literally no better though. His wife used to help him with a bunch of basic tasks because he was always so busy “working”. So once she leaves him and he’s alone and in control of all these other idiots who don’t know what they’re doing, he has no one to ask for help. His dress shirts are full of wrinkles because he left them in the dryer all day. The rug in his office needs to be vacuumed but he’s not even sure which button turns the thing on. Serizawa and Hatori ask for help making a frozen pizza but he’s got literally no idea if he should put it in the oven, on the stove or try and force it into the microwave. Eventually he starts recruiting lackeys purely based on how well they can perform simple housekeeping tasks.

#mp100 #mob psycho 100 #super 5 #psychikos writing

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lover-of-midnight · 3 years

Text

Long life the queen

Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning

Major Character Death

Category:

F/M

Fandom:

Merlin (TV)

Relationships:

Merlin/Morgana (Merlin)

Merlin & Morgana

Merlin & Arthur - Relationship

Characters:

Merlin

Morgana

Arthur

mentioning Uther

Gwen

Mentioning Gaius

Additional Tags:

Dark Merlin

Dark Morgana

Poision

I am not telling who is dying

reddit dark prompt

prompt: convince

Prompt: Bloodflower

One-Shot

Wordcount: 1.000-5.000

Language:English

Summary: Morgana and Merlin were tired of this. Day in and day out Uther was killing there people, Arthur just stands by and watch. Until one day that they had enough.

Morgana felt like she could scream. Another person to be executed with flames, just because they were going hungry.

They weren’t hurting anyone, they didn’t steal. They just tried to make it to the next day. Why does it matter that they had used magic? The woman had three children, small children. How should she have kept them alive?

With a slight groan, she turned away from the window. Her frustration was starting to climb out of her.

She almost jumped when there was a knock on her door. The only one who would want to come and talk would be Uther. And he was mad at her, for speaking up against the woman’s ruling.

“Who’s there?” Her voice was icy.

“Merlin, my lady.’ There was something in his voice that made her rush to open the door. The look he had in his eyes, gave her cold heart a warmth, that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“What is it?” Her voice was clipped but she allowed him to enter the room. Both of them stood on attention almost. She could see Merlin biting his lip slightly.

For a moment she started to think that Merin wouldn’t answer her. When he started to speak, his voice was low and there was a dangerous hint to it.

“We need to do something, to stop these unnecessary killings.”

Morgana agreed with him, but something was bothering her. “Why did you came with this to me?” Her eyes were ice-cold, her back rammed straight. She wouldn’t allow just anyone into her games.

“Arthur…” Merlin trailed off. He was surprised that Arthur hadn’t thrown him into the stocks when he had tried to talk about this with him.

“Arthur doesn’t care. He only wants what Uther wants. If Uther tells him that he needs to kill the whole kingdom as fast as possible, well he would do it. Since it means he would get daddies approval. But you Morgana, you care. I have seen you fight time and time again, against sentencings that was too harsh.

“I had seen you begin thrown in the dungeons time and time again, and still you keep trying to get it overruled. You fight for these people Morgana, whether they have magic or not.” Merlin fell silent again.

He could see Morgana eyes warming up slightly. “We are like them, we have magic and we need to hide it, day after day. We are betraying our own people so that Uther can have a comfortable life.” Morgana’s voice hardens on the end.

“Arthur sees this every day, and still he tries to get his father’s favour, no matter the cost.” Morgana could feel her nails digging into her hand palms. Tears were burning behind her eyes.

“And the worst part, we know that in the end, Arthur would be a ruler like his father. He would continue in the old ways that were already set. Soon that will end as well.” Morgana turned to look at Merlin properly.

She was silent for a long while. Just watching him. Merlin didn’t move forward and just kept eye contact.

There was a tension around them, that drawn them closer to each other, but at the same time pushing them in different directions.

“You will make a great Queen, Morgana.” The silent meaning behind it didn’t go over Morgana’s head.

The only way she would be able to become queen is if both Uther and Arthur are dead.

“Merlin, what are you suggesting?” Her voice lowers slightly as she moved into Merlin’s personal space.

“I’m suggesting that you are entitled to the crown. You are the oldest born daughter, you have just as much right to that crown as Arthur.” Merlin kept his eyes firmly on Morgana’s.

“And how would you want to do it?” Morgana was now firmly intrigued with the idea. If they could give the people better lives, why shouldn’t they go for it?

Sure if the attempt to kill Uther and Arthur doesn’t work out, they would need to flee to keep themselves alive, but it might just be a change they would need to take.

“There is this weed, that with just a little bit in their drinks, and bam, we will have a new ruler. You Morgana.” There was a small light in Merlin’s eyes.

Morgana could see a future like that, where they would be able to practice there magic freely. They would be able to help the Kingdom more than they are able now. They would be able to break draughts and when there are floodings, keep people save.

“What do you say, Morgana?” Merlin was confident that he would be able to sway Morgana to his side. He knows how deep her hatred lays for Uther.

He had seen her organise a killing on the king himself, but she was still so innocent many, many moons ago. Now is the time. It is time that Uther’s rain came to an end, to be usher into a new era.

“You have swayed me, Merlin. Where would we find the weed?” Morgana’s eyes darkened slightly at the grin Merlin gave her.

“Trust me.” With those words, he grabbed her around her waist, and the next moment, the only sensation she had was as if she whooshed and fell.

But there was ground beneath her feet and she was still upright. She could feel a light breeze playing through her long locks.

Her heart was beating faster as she looked at Merlin. The amount of power he holds in his hands amazed her. She knows that he would be the kind of person, only a fool would go up against him.

She could feel her cheeks redding slightly. Merlin’s eyes darken. With a small smile, he took a step back and crouched down.

There was a blood-red flower covering the ground.

“This is a bloodflower, it is a type of weed. Don’t get it near your mouth, for it will cause irritations, an high enough dosage and well death.” Merlin's voice was hard, he didn’t bother telling Morgana what the symptoms would be, since he knows that it would more than likely freak her out.

“How will we make sure the Uther and Arthur get it?” There was a note of curiosity in her voice.

“Uther has a remedy he drinks every night, it is foul-tasting so after the time he drinks something else. And Arthur is easy, I will just add it to his morning water.” Merlin could feel his heart almost running away with him.

In the time he had worked for Arthur, he had developed a small crush on the prince. But the last few years had only shown him, that Arthur is like his father. He knows Killghar had told him about some destiny, and how Arthur would unite the five lands.

But at the moment, all he could see was how Arthur was allowing the killing of innocent people, and Arthur doesn’t try and stop it. He just watches silently as Uther continues to do it.

No more, now is the time.

Morgana watch as the emotions run over Merlin’s face. The sadness in his eyes made her pull him close to her. For a moment she just wants to breathe in his scent and ground them both.

“You love Arthur.” It was a mere statement. Nothing had to be done with the information. But the wonder in her voice made Merlin lookup.

“I do. And there is nothing worse than becoming a monster to keep him save. I had betrayed my people, for some destiny to make sure he is safe. I can’t anymore.” Merlin fell silent.

Morgana reminded him of wildflowers and earth. He could feel magic radiation from deep in her core. She might be only an oracle now, but with time and training her magic will grow until it reaches deep down into the earth.

She would be a force to reckon with, and hopefully, she would lead them into a time of peace.

“It is time to go.” Merlin easily grabbed her again, and before the sensations could have paced properly where they back in her chambers.

“I will see you tomorrow my Queen.” With a bow, he left. There was a lot of work to be done.

Merlin knows that the king and Arthur were going to dine together, maybe it would be better to target them both at dinner. Then he could make sure they get the right dosage in. A small part of him didn’t want Arthur to suffer.

But he knows that if there is any way it can be traced back to him and Morgana that he would be executed at once.

With a sigh, he made his way to Gaius chambers. He knows the physician would be out for the day. So it will give him time to extract the milk.

It was slow work, but an hour or so before dinner, he finished up with the last one. The jug was filled with the milk. Merlin couldn't help but feel a shiver of dread running down his shoulders.

His heart felt like it would shatter, but this, in the end, would be for the best. Camelot needs fair and wise. Arthur was neither.

Merlin was silent as he made his way to the kitchen, he could hear the servants laughing about something in the kitchens. With a small spell, he made it so that they wouldn’t notice him when he came in and poured the jug of blood flower milk, into the jug that would be served at dinner.

He could see some light colour change and smell, but with a whisper, the jug of sweet mulled wine was ready for consumption.

Merlin was silent the whole time through dinner, he listens as the king and prince laughed and talk about political affairs.

When both had drunk two cups of the wine, he could feel satisfaction burning through him. But he knows that tonight he would stay with Arthur as he suffered through the poisoning. He would keep a watchful eye on him, and well the king's chambers were already soundproof.

As soon as George had left for the evening nobody would be able to enter or hear the king if he calls for help. If Uther tries to leave, well how unfortunate that there would be no way out.

Arthur had started to loos colour to his face, just after dinner. Merlin fluffed his pillows again, as he moaned slightly. He could feel his stomach growling angrily. Merlin just runs his hand through Arthur’s hair.

He was slightly feverish. “I’m sorry.” Merlin’s voice was soft. And he truly was sorry for this. Of all the shit of destiny, he never had thought that it would be him that betrayed Arthur in the end. Uther he could understand.

But Arthur was his friend, he might be a pig head but he was still a friend.

“Why?” Arthur’s voice came out croaked.

“Because I had to do what is right for Camelot.” A silent tear slipped down Merlin’s face, landing almost on Arthur’s cheek.

Arthur’s eyes widen slightly. “You had poisoned me.” The statement was filled with hurt. Arthur tried to sit up. But Merlin easily pushed him back down onto the bed.

“It won’t help. You will die tonight. And your sister would be crowned queen. Everyone might know it was an assassination, but they won’t know that it was me.” Merlin’s voice was soft as he said it. His hand was running through Arthur’s hair.

The strands were silky and smooth.

Arthur fell silent, his body didn’t have enough strengths to sit up and try again. He knows that he needs to try and get to the guards, but there was a way Merlin was just holding him.

He could feel his strengths leaving him second after second.

Merlin was crying slightly, just cradling Arthur close to him. He knows this wasn’t the way it was meant to go.

“If you only had listened, how many times were you warned not to become like Uther? You would have made a great king, could have united the five kingdoms. But you wanted your father’s approval. That’s what has ruined you, Arthur.” Merlin gently traced Arthur’s face with his fingers.

Arthur didn’t bother to answer Merlin. There was nothing left to say in either case. Merlin had turned on him in the end. At least he had an answer as to why Merlin did it. Not just laying in bed wondering what was going to happen.

Merlin watched as Arthur’s eyes started to lose their glow. “May we meet on the other side again, my king.” Merlin pressed his lips to Arthur's head.

This was the end of their story.

With a flash of gold, Merlin slipped from the room. He just needed a few minutes to try and gather his thoughts.

The track to Gaius chambers was silent, and Merlin pulled himself together. There is no need for him to give them any thought that he was involved with their deaths.

Sleep evaded Merlin for most of the night. His eyes felt puffy when he did wake up. Today the kingdom would be thrown into upheaval.

With heavy steps, he made his way down to the kitchen, grabbing Arthur’s breakfast, he saw George doing the same. There was as always spring to his step.

Merlin felt a little bit of shame and guilt. He would walk in on the king dead. Hopefully, it would be something he could come over.

Without saying a word both made their different ways to different masters. One knowing full well that this is all a ruse.

When Merlin stepped into Arthur’s room. He did what he always did. Making sure that the guards outside will think everything is normal.

Without smiling, Merlin turned to the bed. Arthur was laying like he was left the night before.

Merlin raised his voice a little bit. “Arthur?” He crouched down in front of the bed. He took a step back, a smile slowly bloomed around his lips. He knows what needs to be done now.

He rushed to the door. “The prince is dead!” His eyes had widened slightly, and his cheeks were pale.

The guards rushed into action. One checking on the prince. He closed his eyes for a moment. Knowing that the death of the prince would ruin the king.

Merlin just stands in the corner, unsure of what he should do now. Before they know it, the other guard was back, two more were following him.

“The king is dead.” His voice was rough. “Check on Lady Morgana, if she is safe, inform her.” With a bow, the two guards behind the main guard left.

Gwen was helping Morgana getting ready for the day when there was a knock on the door. When Gwen opened the door, she could see that something bad has happened.

“Is Lady Morgana here?” The guard was strick.

“Yes Sir.” Gwen’s voice was soft. She easily allowed them to come inside, when she saw her mistress giving a hand signal.

The guards' eyes softened slightly when they saw that Morgana was alive and well.

“Sorry to bother you so early my Lady. The king and prince were found dead in their beds this morning. We just wanted to make sure you are alright.” The guard gave a slight bow.

Everyone in the royal household knows that Morgana would have been the successor after Arthur.

Morgana’s eyes widen. Her hand went to her heart. “You do realise it is unbecoming of joking about such matters.” Her voice was firm.

The guard felt his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. “I’m truly sorry my Lady, but it is the truth.” He gave another bow and then left.

Gwen was biting her lip slightly. Tears were burning behind her eyes. She had seen the way the guard was relieved that Morgana was still alive.

He was telling the truth.

“Leave.” Morgana’s voice almost broke Gwen’s heart. It was sad.

With a bow, the guard left the room. Morgana took a deep breath. “Get my black dress please, there would be a few announcements to make today I see.” She forced herself to hold back from cackling like a mad witch.

Her rule had come, soon Camelot’s people would be free.

Gwen could only bit on the inside of her lips, with a nod she started to get the other dress ready. She could see that Morgana wasn’t bothered about the fact that they are dead.

The day went by in a flurry, the people were running around. For a moment Morgana just basks in the chaos. Merlin was like a silent shadow behind her. His eyes were almost dead.

Just after midday, the bell tolled. Calling all the people to the inner part of the palace. Morgana stood on the balcony Uther usually stood.

Her back was straight and the air around her made it clear that she would be the next ruler.

“This morning, King Uther and Princ Arthur were found dead. Examination of the bodies showed that they died of poison. We have entered a stage of mourning. We will search for the culprit, whoever they may be. Rest assured that Camelot is safe.” With those words, she took a step back, allowing Geoffrey to step forward.

“People of Camelot. Lady Morgana’s coronation would be held tomorrow. As she is next in line to the kingdom.” Geoffrey watches the people.

There was a mummer under the crowed before there was the first one: “Long live the queen.”

Morgana gave a small smile behind her hand. Her eyes were cold. Today is the start of a new rein.

#Merlin(bbc)#Merlin/Morgana #merlin&Morgana #Merlin &Arthur #Merlin #morgana #arthur #mentioning Uther #Gwen #Mentioning Gaius #Dark merlin #Dark morgana #poision #reddit dark prompt #prompt convince #prompt bloodflower #one-shot #wordcount 1000-5000

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xserpentlife · 5 years

Text

Woah

Requested: @louistwinslover Hey, Love! I was wondering if I could send in a request with Sweet Pea where the reader is dating him and is Fangs' sister and she wants to get initiated in but knows the boys won't approve of her doing the dance. So she doesn't tell them she's doing it and they walk into the Wyrm ready to see a girl dance and realize it is her and freak out and go into a protective mode? Thank you!! You're the best and I love your blog layout.

A/N: I love this, thank you to my beta @wayward-river as always check her out she is incredible

Warnings: Dirty talk kind of? That’s it I think

Summary: What happens when you wanna do the dance but your brother and boyfriend say no? What happens when you do it anyway and they catch you?

Y/N POV

“Hey, babe so I’ve been thinking…”

“What are you up to Y/N?”

“Well, you and Fangs are Serpents and I…”

“No, hell no”

“And why the hell not!”

“It’s dangerous baby, and to get initiated I don’t want you to do that”

“But Pea”

“No, Y/N and Fangs won’t say yes either”

“But initiation cannot be that bad”

“It is and even if I said to join, Fangs would never let you anyway”

“Fine”

“So you won’t join”

“No I guess not, but I am still going to talk to Fangs and see what he says”

“Alright, but he is going to say no”

“I guess we’ll see”

“Alright, baby I gotta run class starts in five I’ll see you later okay?”

“Bye babe” Pea leaned over pecking you on the lips quickly before getting up and walking to class. You made your way to the student lounge where Fangs would be during the free period you both shared.

“Fangs!”

“Y/N what the hell are you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“What do you mean why you burst in here yelling what’s going on”

“I wanna join the Serpents”

“No”

“No?”

“Your not joining, that’s final we have talked about this before”

“You said I could join eventually I’m 19 now”

“Yeah and you asked me last year when you were 18 you’re too young”

“Fangs we are literally the same age that makes no sense, just let me join”

“No baby sis”

“I am not a baby again, same age”

“I don’t care your still not joining and that’s final” Before you could say anything else Kevin came in grabbing Fang’s arm and dragging him out of the classroom.

“UGHHH!”

“Girl what’s got you so mad”

“Fucking Fangs and Sweet Pea”

“Why what’s going on Y/N”

“So much Toni, so much”

“Tell me, maybe I can help”

“You know what maybe you can…”

“So what’s going on”

“I wanna join the Serpents but I asked both of them and they said no. I mean I get they don’t want me to get hurt during initiation I remember how they were when they came home from it but I don’t care I want to be a Serpent”

“You don’t know do you?”

“Know what?”

“The girl initiation isn't a beating like the guys is”

“What do you mean Toni?”

“The serpent dance”

“The what now?”

“That is initiation, the Serpent Dance. It is misogynistic. Girls dance and guys get beat”

“Your kidding right”

“Nope you have to dress skimpy and dance on a pole for like a minute or two and then you get your jacket”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah”

“So you're telling me Fangs and Pea are not scared of me getting hurt they just don’t want me to show my body”

“I guess… they probably just don’t want guys gawking and catcalling you, the dance is stupid anyway”

”Yeah I get that it is stupid but how the fuck can they tell me no and act like they control my body that’s bullshit. I am doing that fucking dance, and I am getting that damn jacket Toni”

“If you wanna do it I’m with you girl, how soon do you want to do it?”

“As soon as possible I guess, I am tired of being under Serpent protection I want to be a full Serpent I basically have been for years, I just want to be official”

“Well how about tonight”

“Tonight!”

“You said you wanted to do it as soon as possible tonight is the night than”

“What about Fangs and Pea”

“I’ll talk to Jug and I’ll get him to give them a job”

“Alright thanks, Toni, I’ll see you tonight” You listened as the bell rang and Toni left. You walked out to Sweet Pea’s bike waiting for him to come out.

“Hey baby girl”

“Hey Pea, we hanging out tonight?”

“Can’t baby me and Fangs have a job and then we are going to the Wyrm, I’m sorry”

“Don’t be I’ll just get some homework done, see you later tonight yeah?”

“Yeah” You walked to the shared trailer between you and Sweet pea and dug for an outfit to wear. You decided on a black bra with a pair of black underwear. You thought the outfit was too simple so you took a black t-shirt you had and cut it up wrapping the material up your leg. You grabbed the only pair of heels you owned which were black and luckily matched slipping them on. You hated heels and never wore them but you were glad you had them at the moment. You looked your self over in the mirror realizing your outfit seemed a little too simple for a Serpent dance so you grabbed a belt Sweet Pea never wore off the table and wrapped it around your body letting it hang loosely. You then grabbed a bandana. Everyone knew you as the girl that wore them. If they ever saw someone with a bandana in their pocket or hair it was always you. It was like a signature you had. You threw on one of Sweet Pea’s hoodies before locking the trailer door and heading to the Wyrm.

“Hey, Toni!”

“Hey girl you ready”

“I think so, the outfit may be a little much but I guess we will see”

“What do you wanna dance to”

“Pour some sugar on me, we gonna go coyote ugly up in this bitch”

“You’re insane”

“Gotta get in the mood right?”

“I guess so, you're going on in ten okay?”

“Alright”

“Go backstage when you hear the song start come out, there's a girl in front of you then it’s your turn”

“Okay” You went back behind the stage and watched the girl before you dance. She did everything right. The way her body curved to the music and the fluidity she had around the pole was almost mesmerizing. You hoped you would be that good. She walked off stage after being handed her jacket and you knew that you would be up soon. You heard your music star and walked out beginning your dance. In the distance you saw Toni clapping and cheering you on, you got more and more into it.

Sweet Pea’s POV

“Fangs get in the truck I wanna get going”

“Me too dude thank god we got done early, I’m excited”

“Why?”

“We’re going to the Wyrm right?”

“Yeah”

“Well dances are tonight bro, and we’re gonna get back early enough to catch some of em”

“Eh I don’t really care about them too much ever since Y/N and I started dating, but yeah I’m down to go watch only for like an hour ago I wanna get home to spend some time with her”

“Is my baby sister making Pea soft!”

“I’m not soft I just love my girlfriend, okay, plus I'd rather watch her sexy ass than those girls dancing anyday”

“You are vile Sweet Pea, that is my sister your talking about!”

“Just be glad you live a few trailers down”

“OH MY GOD, thank god we are here I can’t deal with you any longer, let’s go” It was always fun to tease Fangs about his sister. Fangs and I walked into the Wyrm hearing the familiar song that Y/N loved playing. We walked to the bar waving to Toni.

“Hey Toni two beers please”

“Sure thing Pea, Hey Fangs”

“Hey Toni” I took a sip of the beer turning around before it split directly out of my mouth and onto the floor in front of me. I punched Fangs making him turn around and I pointed to the stage.

“Fangs!”

“Is that…”

“Woah!”

“No way”

“I’d know that ass anywhere”

“There’s no way, we told her no”

“You act like she listens”

“But still that isn’t her”

“Dude I know the body, also what other girl wears bandanas it’s like her call sign, that ass is definitely Y/N’s and damn does she look good in that outfit holy shit”

“Sweet Pea! That is my sister! Shut up! We need to get her down” I looked to my left hearing a guy moaning about Y/N’s dancing

“Hold that thought Fangs.” I walked over to the guy tapping him on the shoulder.

“Talk about my girlfriend like that one more time and that beer bottle is gonna end up inside your ass got it, I suggest you get out of this bar before I change my mind” I walked back over to Fangs. He tried walking up to the stage but I grabbed him first.

“You can’t the song is almost done anyway, if we take her down now, she doesn’t get initiated and she’s just gonna do it again”

“She has 30 seconds exactly”

“25 is all she needs, and I’m gonna enjoy the view for the time being” “Sweet Pea!”

“Shut it, Fogarty, not like it’s the first time I’m seeing that much of her”

“Oh my god Toni, give me a shot”

“On it Fangs” The song was slowly coming to an end as Y/N got off the pole. Fangs and I running up to the stage. I stripped my jacket off before placing it over her shoulders and blocking her view from all the guys and girls that were gawking at her. I dragged her backstage.

Y/N POV

“Y/N what were you thinking” Oh god they were not supposed to be here. They were supposed to be on a job so they missed your dance

“Fangs, Pea. I didn’t think you would be here, I-”

“Y/N how could you be so crazy, I had to stand here and listen to Pea saying how hot your ass was”

“Look Fangs I wanted to be a Serpent I was going to do it with or without your permission regardless, and there is nothing you can do about it now” You were worried that Sweet pea was mad at you considering that he hadn’t said anything yet.

“I’m going to get a drink Y/N, Sweet Pea keep her covered” You looked to Sweet Pea staring at you mouth agape.

“Pea… are, are you mad”

“Woah. That was hot baby girl”

“You liked it?”

“Of course I did, I mean the guys and girls looking at you not so much, but the dance, you looked hot as hell”

“Really, so your not mad?”

“I never thought you were going to listen, when have you ever listened”

“You weren't supposed to see it you or Fangs”

“Baby girl if you didn’t want us to know it was you try to not wear your call sign, the bandana was a dead giveaway, plus your ass I’d recognize anywhere” He brought his lips to yours pecking them quickly before pulling away. “Wait is that my belt?”

“Maybe”

“Oh so you stole my belt too, what do you say we put that belt to a different use when we get back to the trailer, you know I really should punish you for not listening”

“Let’s go”

“The only sad thing is we can’t leave your brother” You let the jacket slip off your shoulders as an “accident” and you bent down slowly to pick it up. “Oh fuck it we are definitely leaving your brother, Toni can bring him home later” he grabbed your hand walking out of the bar before Fangs stopped the both of you.

“Where are you two going”

“She has to be punished Fangs, See ya” You were dragged out of the bar shocked as yous topped in your tracks.

“Why would you say that to my brother”

“I’ve been teasing him about you all night, it’s funny”

“Plus he would've kept talking if I didn’t shut him up, now let’s go before I have to punish you more, you barely have any clothes on and we are out in the open”

“what if I want to be punished”

“Maybe dress like this more often baby girl, get in the truck”

“Okay, Noah” Using his real name was always a way to either make him very angry or get him riled up. In this case, it at least worked to your advantage. You placed a kiss to his serpent tattoo as you stood on the step of the truck before sliding in.

“Oh now you're going to get it”

303 notes · View notes

tcswritings · 4 years

Text

MASTER DUMP.

Just a whole lot of very rough scribbles that were in my drafts. Some are lengthy, some are very short, some are super old (and partly outdated), others are somewhat recent but they all got one thing in common - I probably won’t go back to them, at least not any time soon. I really just wanna clear my drafts for now, and hey, why not share these bits? I kind of enjoy them anyway after all. xD

***

I. Untitled

(Declan tries to talk to Mick during the time of their big fight.)

***

“This is so stupid, man. We'll keep crossin’ paths after all, whether you like it or not and you don’t really wanna keep this up for all eternity, do you?” Declan asked, crossing his arms while he and the others watched Ryan unpacking the next box.

“Why are you talkin’ to me?” Mick mumbled out of the corner of his mouth. He didn’t even bother to look at Declan.

“This is bullshit, Mick!”

Mick merely took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and focussing on Ryan instead who currently struggled with the wrapping of his gift.

“I mean, I know you love actin’ like a petulant lil’ arsewipe but you could as well as just use that energy to try and forgive me?”

“Do me a favour and drop dead.”

“In sixty years, maybe. You’re gonna have to put up with me for a few more years, I’m afraid.”

“Fuck you.”

“Guys! Shhh!” Jessie hissed at her two fighting friends.

*****

“Can you please tell me what’s so funny?” The least Declan expected from Lauren was a laughing fit.

“I’m sorry!” she chuckled, doing her best to pull herself together. “It’s nothin’ personal, just the thought of my son’s father and his best friend - two grown up men - bitchin’ at each other like sum’ pre-teens would.”

____________________

II. Untitled

(Charlie and Kieran and that one evening in the O’Leary’s.)

It’s Summer 2016 and Charlie realises that her feelings for Kieran have taken a somewhat different turn as she finds herself smitten with him when they have a talk at her favourite pub in Boston.

*****

He looked thinner than the last time she had seen him, and he looked worn-out and very tired.

Not the kind of tired that a few hours of a good night’s sleep could fix, but the kind of tired that someone who had seen and endured too much within a short time would look like, someone who was silently suffering and who was bad at taking care of it.

When Charlie had met Kieran O’Connell for the first time a little more than six years ago, he had acted like an unnecessarily rude brat and there was no other way to put it. He had the questionable charm of a guy who was well aware of his good looks and who knew he was quite the catch, so to say, and she could still remember his overly confident swagger, the arrogant look on his face, his deep and penetrating voice as well as how his pale blue eyes had pierced hers when he had looked into her face for the very first time.

Despite his rudeness (and the apparent lack of manners), Charlie had thought of Kieran as a force of nature from the very beginning and it turned out that she was right - once she got to know him a little better, it became more and more obvious to her that he was actually a very passionate and spirited guy with a heart as big as the entire world and that had impressed her so much more than his cocky behaviour and she couldn’t help but grow really fond of him over the years.

Not much was left of the cocky and lively guy today, though, and while it ached Charlie to see her friend in pain - he tried his best to cover it up but he couldn’t hide it - she had felt a strange wave of affection overwhelming her right in the moment they had greeted each other with a heartfelt hug. There was sympathy, of course, but it was mixed with something else and it took her a little while to figure the feeling out.

Charlie was nervous. Anticipating. And she had been ever since they had sat down at one of the tables. Charlie had been listening closely and her heart ached for him and yet she couldn’t help but notice a little spark despite the gloomy subject. There was nothing in this world she wanted more in this moment than to be close to him and to fix the things going wrong in his life so he would smile at her again, like he always had.

“I just wish there was something I could say.” Charlie sighed. “I don’t have too much to offer aside from ‘I know how it feels.’”

“Y’ do?”

“Yeah.” she nodded. “I lost my aunt when I was 15.”

“That’s rough. You never told me about it.”

“Yeah, it’s not really a subject to keep a mood up, right?”

“Fair enough.” Kieran laughed. “What happened to your aunt?”

“Well, to be fair, she wasn’t really my aunt, not by blood at least. She was the wife of my dad’s best friend.”

“Blood or no blood, it no longer matters after a while.” Kieran said with a faint smile. “How did she die?”

“Same. Car crash. She had her little daughter with her, they both died. She was only 31, her daughter was three.”

“That’s horrible.”

“Yeah, it was. And it wasn’t even just the pain of losing them, y’know? Seeing dad hurt, seeing Adrian hurt - all of a sudden, our entire life was nothing but sadness and grief.”

Kieran let out a dry chuckle. “I know what y’ mean. Watching Ma and Pa, and also my siblings, is the worst. Like a punch to the guts. I try to come an’ see them as often as I can these days but truth is that I dread it every damn time. Sometimes it’s - I dunno. It’s-”

“Too much?”

“Too much.” Kieran nodded. “I mean, how do you even comfort the people who have raised you? What do you tell ‘em? That it’s gonna be alright? I don’t know what losing a child feels like. Gave ‘em nothin’ but grief myself for the better part of my life, I just don’t know what to do or say most of the time.”

“Do you think you have to do or say something?”

“Yeah, it’s what I think. It’s what I think any damn time I’m at home, any time my sister looks at me with her big sad eyes, like she’s at a loss at how t’ move on and any time my brother snaps at us, somethin’ he’s never done before, not like that at least. Someone has to keep this fuckin’ bunch from fallin’ apart after all-”

Kieran fell quiet as Charlie reached over the table and took his hand. It was a spontaneous reaction and Charlie already feared that she could come across as intrusive but Kieran didn’t even flinch at the gesture. He even closed his hand around hers. She squeezed it a little and a few moments later she could tell that he was starting to relax.

“I‘m sorry. Fuckin’ nerves.” he smiled.

“Couldn’t tell.” Charlie smiled back. “Relax. Breathe. You’re here for vacation. You can go back to saving your folks once you charged up.”

“I dunno, I think it takes a lot more to charge up than a few weeks away from home. Actually, I even feel like I’m running away.”

“No. It’s good you’re here. And maybe you won’t charge up right away, but you can get your mind off things for a little while. You gotta do that, y’know?”

“You think so, eh?”

“Yes, I do, and it has nothing to do with running away. You gotta take care of yourself every once in a while.” Charlie squeezed Kieran’s hand once more.

“You’re cute.”

“Well, it’s obvious that you’re not really good at taking care of yourself so I’m just trying to be the person who does it until you learn it.” Charlie cocked her head and smiled at him.

Returning the smile, Kieran brushed a strand of dark hair out of his face with his free hand. He looked at Charlie for a few more moments before he gently pulled his hand back, adjusting himself and looking around the pub. “Alright, how ‘bout we order a jug of ale, get roaring drunk and we’ll go wherever you wanna go?”

“I don’t do ‘roaring drunk’ too well.” Charlie chuckled, suddenly remembering the first and only time he had seen her in that exact state.

“Me neither. We’re already halfway there, though, and we’ll be fine, c’mon.”

“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m nowhere near roaring drunk and neither are you?”

“We could be. Anything you want, love. Let’s get our minds off things, as you put it.”

Charlie couldn’t tell what exactly caused the flutter in her stomach - the little spark in Kieran’s eyes as well as his playful smile or the term of affection. He had addressed her like that before but it meant more today than it ever had before and she felt herself all too willing to respond.

(...)

____________________

III. Untitled

(Orla yells at Mick for getting married in a fever.)

***

“You. WHAT?”

Orla’s outcry was followed by the distinct noise of shattering glass, causing Mick to flinch and jump back a little. He looked at the mess at his feet and then back at Orla who merely stared at him, her eyes wide, before she looked to the ground and slowly took a crouching position, proceeding to swipe the little shards together with her bare hands.

Mick could see that she was trembling and hunkered down as well. “Be careful, you’re gonna hurt yourself.” he said, but Orla merely batted Mick’s hand away as he tried to keep her from touching the glass.

“NO, don’t touch me!”

“Orla-”

“Look me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t do what I think you just said you did!” Orla’s voice cracked.

“Orla, there’s no need to freak out-”

“You can’t be married!?”

“I am, I jus' told you!”

“Oh my god.” Orla closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Still in her squatting position, she propped up her elbow on her knee, wiping her face with her hand and eventually pinching the bridge of her nose with her finger and her thumb.

Mick raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you a bit dramatic right now?”

"Shut up!” she hissed back at him. “Don’t you dare calling me dramatic!"

“Aye, sorry, I-”

“Are you out of your mind? I mean, more than usual?!"

Mick ignored the little remark. “I don’t even know why you’re makin’ such a big deal of it-”

“Because it is a big deal! It is a Big. Fucking. Deal, Mick! You got married!” She glared at him and realised that she still had a few shards of glass in her left hand. “Ah, fuck this!” she hissed, tossed the few shards to the ground and stood up again, eventually stomping out of the room.

Mick looked after her for a few moments. Granted, he hadn’t really expected Orla to be thrilled, but he hadn’t expected her to be so furious either. Feeling a little helpless, he bit his lip, before he stood up as well and followed her into her living room. When he opened the door, he almost bumped into her. Orla swiftly turned around on the spot.

“Orla, c’mon, let’s just-”

She cut him off once more. “I don’t believe this, Mick. You come here and tell me that you just got married to this total nutcase-”

“Oi, watch it!”

“- and expect me to be, what exactly?! To be cool with it? Like it’s no big deal at all, like it’s the most natural thing ever that my best friend disappears for a weekend and comes home married, to a woman he hardly knows, without letting any of us know-”

“Orla, what the fuck is your problem?”

“You! You are my problem! For years I was the one,” - Orla pointed at herself - “who always stood up for you when anyone called you stupid or idiotic and whatnot but it’s true. They’re all right, you are an idiot and you have always been!”

Mick let out a little laugh as he now faced Orla, his eyes narrowing. “Is that all y’ have to say? That I’m an idiot?”

“Well, you must be!” Orla went on. “The only other explanation I have for this bullshit is that she must do some really amazing things in the bedroom. Does she?”

Mick let out another laugh but it wasn’t a friendly one. “Fuck this, I don’t need to justify myself.”

“No, of course you don’t. Go off, be happy, do what you want. You never cared about filling me in about this but hey, as your best friend I couldn’t be happier for you!” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“How many times do I have to tell you that-”

“- that it was a spontaneous thing? Oh, don’t worry, I got that!”

“Orla-” Mick tried again after a few moments of silence, his voice soft, but Orla wasn‘t done yet.

“I mean, it is not quite what I meant when I told you a while ago that you need to work on being more spontaneous again. You could’ve started by, dunno, going on a road trip or buying a new couch or gettin’ Sasha a friend but hey, why not marry a woman you have known for six minutes? You exceeded my expectations, congratulations!”

All of a sudden, a thought crossed Orla’s mind and as it did, her heart skipped a beat and she could feel the colour rushing from her face. “Oh dear lord. She’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

Mick now closed his eyes and groaned. “Oh god, oh my fuckin’ god.”

“Answer me!” Orla spat out.

“I dunno!” he shot back.

“Wrong answer!”

Mick groaned. “I mean, I don’t think so, no?! Even if she was, it wasn’t the reason why we did this.”

“Oh my god, I would even get that, considering how you were raised and-”

“Shut up! Just shut. up!” Mick eventually interrupted her harshly. He was done being patient. “Stop psychoanalysing me, stop buggin’ me, stop doin’ whatever y’ doin’. You insulted me in every possible way within the last ten minutes and I don’t need that shit from you, not from you!”

“Well, did you expect me to be happy for you? Like you didn’t just ruin your entire life?”

“I didn’t ruin my life and no, I didn’t expect that.” Mick replied wearily. “I dunno what I expected, I just didn’t think y’ would be that much of an arsehole about everything.”

“I am not being an arsehole-”

“You’re bein’ the worst arsehole I’ve ever known right now and I’m done talkin’ about this unless you tell me what the real problem is.”

“I don’t have a problem?”

“You most certainly do. And I wanna know what it is, goddammit.”

“You’re throwing your life away for a woman you hardly know! You keep falling for all those wacko women who are terrible for you and it’s beyond me how you fail to see that-”

“Wait, just so I get this right... you can date whomever you want, for as long or short as you want, no matter how much of a fuckwad the guy is, but once I pick someone, I need your approval?”

“That is not what I’m saying.” Orla groaned and rolled her eyes.

“So what are y’ sayin’ then?”

Orla blinked and took a breath as she put her hands to her hips, shooting Mick a harsh look.

“Has it ever occurred to you that you make the worst choices, Mick? That you’re complete and utter shit at getting your damn life together? You just outdid yourself! First Leila-”

“That was different-”

“-and now Mina. Why can’t you just pick a nice and stable one for once? Why can’t you just-”

“Stay alone so I can be your last resort?”

Startled, Orla looked at Mick, her lips parted in shock.

“What did you just say?” she whispered.

“I dunno, I’m merely gettin’ the impression that you like keepin’ me on a short leash but once I go off and do my own thing-”

“You have some nerve-”

“Obviously hit a nerve.” Mick mumbled.

“You’re so full of shit! Why would I want to keep you as a last resort? What kinda fucked up thought is that even? You’re my best friend!”

“Hell yes, I am, and I wouldn’t want it any other way but right now y’ bein’ the world’s worst bitch-”

“HEY!”

“And don‘t tell me that you wouldn’t have ran off with that fuckin’ Australian if he’d asked you to.”

“Yeah, maybe, but I’m glad I didn’t. All relationships start out great, you know that, but things can blow up so quickly. Even worse, sometimes one part just runs away when nothing at all happened, just like James did.”

“Just like you did.”

“What are you even talking about?”

“You ran away from me, just like that.”

“Oh my god, why are you bringing up age old stories again?”

Mick ignored the question. “Y’know what? I don’t even care. I care about makin’ this work, I can do that all by myself and I don’ need your support anyway. How about y’ just leave me be, alright?”

____________________

IV. Untitled

(Declan and Lauren face some unexpected trials of life.)

***

September 2014

“What about Marshall?”

“What, like the guy from that terrible sitcom?”

“Nah, like the amplifiers. Or, y’know, like Jimi Hendrix’s middle name.”

Lauren pursed her lips as she pondered the suggestion for a few moments. She eventually shook her head. “Don’t think so, no.”

“Aw, c’mon, why not? It sounds badass.”

“But I will know that the poor baby was named after either a drug addict or a huge black... block. Thanks, I’ll pass.”

“Just think about this, though: he’ll love us for the name when he eventually becomes a guitarist?”

“We don’t even know if he��s a he, Dec. Let alone whether he becomes a guitarist.”

“Come on. ‘Course it’s gonna be a boy. I mean, “ Declan shrugged, “two brothers, two nephews? We have strong genes.”

“Dear lord, no, I really don’t wanna raise a... you.” Lauren groaned as she leaned back against the wall, struggling to find a comfortable position. She was in the eighth month of her pregnancy and some things became a little tricky - such as finding resting positions that didn’t leave her sore or in pain after ten or less minutes.

“Aw, will you ever stop pretending that you can’t stand me? I mean, we both know how that came to be?” Declan gently patted Lauren’s belly before he reached over to grab one of the pillows that were piled up next to the little cupboard that he had helped her build up earlier. “C’mon, take that. You probably shouldn’t be sitting on the floor anyway, eh?”

“Ugh, it no longer makes a difference anyway. I feel and look like a whale, everything hurts and nothing is comfortable anymore. Not ever.”

As he put the pillow behind Lauren’s back, trying to make sure that she felt at least a little more comfy, Declan grimaced. He felt pretty guilty all of a sudden. “... sorry you feel like that.”

“That, uhm, was actually the part when you were to say ‘You don’t look like a whale, Lauren!’, y’know.”

“Ah, shit.” Declan laughed. “You don’t look like a whale, Lauren!”

“You’re a horrible liar but, y’know, points for trying and such.” Lauren smiled back. “It’s alright, I’m kidding, don’t worry. Looking like a whale is kinda like my least problem these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“Okay. Can I be completely honest for a second?”

“Sure.”

Lauren took a heavy breath. “I’m freaking out, actually.”

“What? Now?”

“No, not now. I mean, yeah. Also now! All the damn time! I mean, aren’t you freaking out? Not at all?”

Declan looked at Lauren and when he pondered the question in his mind he realised that, at least right now, he was quite far from freaking out. “Not really.” he replied. “I mean, I used to, yeah?”

“I know you used to. You freaked out right in the beginning and now, with due date ‘round the corner, it’s me... I dunno. I kinda don’t want this.”

“Bit late for second thoughts, I’m afraid.”

“I know! I know how horrible that must sound to you now, oh god.”

“Nah, it doesn’t.”

“I’m just wondering how on goddamned earth I thought I could be a good parent. I mean, I took the risk of getting pregnant just so I - so we could- oh god. So what’s next? Huh? Tell me.”

“Uhm-”

“I tell you what’s next. I’m gonna put Baby on the changing table and leave the room, just like that, because hey, what’s the worst that could happen, eh?”

“Okay, what are you talking about-”

“And I sure won’t bother reading about nutrition and food?! Oh hell no, I’ll just give Baby some rubbish I find in the back of my refrigerator ‘cause, I mean, it works for me, right?!”

“Oh god, Lauren, what the fuck is that about now?”

“I am stupid, Dec! I don’t think things through, I can’t possibly be a parent!”

“So what, I’m stupid, too? Kinda played my part in this, y’know.”

“Oh my god! Yes, you are stupid! We’re both stupid!”

Declan snorted. “So let’s just hope this all maybe works out like multiplication, eh? Minus times minus equals plus?”

“We’re not at school!” Lauren moaned.

“Yeah I’m kinda grasping at straws here.” Declan admitted and bit his lip. “Honestly though, it’s what I do all the time. I just hope for the best. And somehow it works?”

“But you can’t just ‘hope for the best’ when a baby is involved?”

“Huh! Just think about all those weirdos in this world who manage to raise a kid. It somehow works? My parents raised us and they’re pretty much the worst weirdos I know.”

“Is that supposed to reassure me now?!” Lauren raised an eyebrow.

“C’mon, we really didn’t turn out all too bad! ... okay, Orla is a bit weird, I’ll give you that, but three out of four is still a good rate?”

“Oh my god!” Lauren laughed.

Declan smiled at her for a few moments before he eventually put his arm around her shoulder, scooting a little closer and pressing a kiss to her temple.

“I’m not even saying that everything will be fine, I’m just saying that it’s gonna happen, no matter what, and we just kinda... have to do this.”

“My parents offered any help I need...” Lauren murmured, resting her head on Declan’s shoulder.

(...)

September 2019

(...)

“Oh man, for how much longer are they even going to be in there?!”

“Shh. It’s all good, it’s been only five minutes.” Lauren whispered.

“I don’t understand why they have to keep doing all this, it’s not like it changes, y’know... what it is.”

“They need the x-ray to check his lymph vessels, so they can eventually figure out the best way to treat him.”

“They’re clueless.”

“They’re thorough. He’ll be fine, you know they won’t harm him.”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, you already sound like them.” Declan scoffed.

“I don’t. Unlike you, I listened to what they had to say! Stop using that tone on me already!”

“What tone?”

“Like I have no clue what you’re going through.”

Declan could hear the bitterness in Lauren’s voice and it was when he knew he had gone too far. He couldn’t let it out on her. Of all people in his life, Lauren was the one who understood exactly how he felt and she was also the one whose company he longed for most these days.

“I’m sorry. God, I- I know I’m awful. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. I get it.” Lauren rested her head against his shoulder while they held each other close.

“He’s all alone in there.” Declan’s voice broke and he wiped his tired eyes with the palm of his hand. “I hate it when they take him away.”

“I know. Me too.”

“I’m freakin’ out, Lauren.”

“C’mon, let’s sit.”

“Don’t wanna sit, I want him back.”

“I know, I want the same.”

“Don’t know how it happened but I’m strangely fond of this kid.” Declan now let out a little laugh. It was a nervous laugh, one that happened because he was too scared to let out anything else at this point. Lauren knew him well enough.

“Go figure.” she replied faintly. There was silence for a few moments until Declan spoke again.

(...)

____________________

V. Text Messages, part 1.

Declan has created the group ‘concert shit’.

Declan has added you to the group.

Declan has changed the group image.

6:43 - Declan: Lady and Gentlemen, this is the long overdue group chat to plan our concerts and open airs. I’m sick of talking to you individually and organise shit all by myself.

6:44 - Jessie: Like you ever did that or are remotely good at that kinda stuff 😆

6:44 - Declan: Quiet Jessica.

6:44 - Jessie: No. 😂 😂 😂

6:44 - Declan: Suggestions to change the group title are not welcome btw. Concert shit is a grand name for this kind of group

6:45 - Mick: why cant we change the title

6:45 - Mick: it’s shit

6:45 - Mick: literally

6:46 - Declan: Because we can’t Michael.

6:46 - Declan: I’m the admin, I say what’s to be done.

6:46 - Mick: ya do shit man

6:46 - Mick: like I let ya tell me what to do

6:47 - Daryl: I already hate this group dynamic.

6:47 - Jessie: It’s like in real life. 😆

6:47 - Jessie: Dipso always tries to be the one who decides shit. And we just don’t let him so it’s all good? So, Clockwork Fury in Dublin? I’d be up for it!

6:48 - Daryl: When?

6:48 - Daryl: And why Dublin, why not Athlone? Aren’t they playng in Athlone this time?

6:48 - Daryl: *playing

6:48 - Declan: I didn’t even know they are touring. Found them kinda lame last time tbh.

6:49 - Mick: they ARe lame

6:49 - Mick: Im out

6:49 - Mick: road trip to dublin tho

6:49 - Mick: like 2017

6:49 - Mick: for gojira

6:49 - Mick: I WANT a noTHER ROAD RIP

6:49 - Mick: TRIP lol

6:50 - Daryl: I still have nightmares and flashbacks from that trip. How much are tickets for CF, Jess?

6:52 - Jessie: 30ish, I think. I’ll order next week, I’m definitely gonna go and I’m taking Harper.

6:53 - Daryl: You guys are serious now?

6:53 - Jessie: I dunno. Yeah? I guess? 😂

6:53 - Jessie: The woman needs some good taste in music HONESTLY. And, I mean, she agreed to come and to be open about more future concerts and planning stuff together kinda means we’re in relationship land!? I mean, is that even a good sign?

6:54 - Daryl: How would I know? I’m shit at that stuff. 😂

6:55 - Jessie: Does Patti know you’re shit at that stuff? xD

6:55 - Daryl: She’s had first hand experience for three months now so yeah, I assume she does. She kinda seems to like me enough. 😂

6:55 - Jessie: Yeah why she’s a KEEPER?! 😜

6:55 - Jessie: Told ya that if you mess it up, I will gladly take her.

6:56 - Declan: what the fuck??

6:56 - Daryl: Thanks Jess but I think I’m gonna keep her myself. :D

6:56 - Declan: last time I checked this chat was called ‘concert shit’

6:56 - Declan: NOT ‘RELATIONSHIP SHIT’

6:56 - Declan: y’all are annoying with your relationship shit.

_________________

VI. Sailor Man

March 2020. The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer and Orla just met a handsome sailor from overseas. Her friends are very, very curious.

***

“So, who was that guy last night?”

“Can we maybe not talk about last night? I still feel horrible.” Orla sounded tired and as she rubbed her temples, she let out a faint sigh.

“Ah, sweetheart, don’t worry. You got tipsy, so what?” Rosamund waved off. “All I could complain about is that you didn’t spend your money here at my place, as usual.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know what happened.” Orla groaned. “I was at the tattoo studio, and all of a sudden this incredibly sexy guy in a sailor uniform comes in. Tall, broad, dark hair, gorgeous tan, tattooed all over, bright smile, cute dimples... and that’s when I, well. I kinda stopped thinking.”

“A sailor uniform?” Patti asked. “You’re dating a sailor?”

“We’re not dating, we have met only yesterday! He wanted to get a little tattoo that would remind him of his stay here. I think Harper noticed that I was... , well, that I was a bit into him and pointed him in my direction and I told him that I was only the apprentice but he didn’t care, he wanted the tat anyway so I did it.”

Orla looked around. Rosamund, Declan and Patti all stared expectantly at her. She frowned but eventually shrugged and went on.

“Well, we went out afterwards, we had a snack, I showed him around, he told me he was from Detroit... annnnd we hopped some bars, I got tipsy, and at some point he kissed me, and I got even more tipsy.... and then we got here and I said some really terrible things to Mick and... oh god, Mick.” Orla groaned, closing her eyes and burying her face in her hands. “I somehow need to sort that out.”

“Ah, not now, though.” Patti interfered. “A sailor, wow. I mean, is he a sailor or just some weirdo who likes dressing up as one?”

“Oh, he is a sailor, darling. Such a sailor.” Rosamund closed her eyes and smiled, still charmed by the cheer memory of the guy.

“And he’s definitely an upgrade to Pizza Pete.” Declan nodded.

“Don’t call him Pizza Pete!?” Orla snapped.

“He referred to himself as Pizza Pete?! Don’t try to cover that he was the unfunniest... blandest boyfriend you ever had.”

“It’s the way you said it. Don’t be so condescending. Pete was cute and... well, I got fifty percent off my next order after any time we, uh... we met.”

“Ugggh...” Declan wrinkled his nose and looked away.

“Fifty percent? You were screwing that guy and all you got was lousy fifty percent? What a cheapskate.” Patti exclaimed, clearly appalled.

“It’s better than nothing- what, no, I don’t wanna talk about Pete now? My head’s still spinning, y’all need to leave me suffer in silence, please.”

(...)

_____________

VII. Untitled

(I don’t even know what this was supposed to be, lol. Sean turns 53 and the family celebrates?!?!?! Also, this must be set in 2013 since Orla and Mick are a thing here, haha.)

***

“I still don’t know how y’all convinced me to celebrate my 53th birthday.” Sean O’Connell laughed. “It’s not an even number or somethin’ after all.”

“Well, we need some kind of excuse to stuff our faces and get drunk during daylight?” his daughter suggested, rasing her glass to her father. “Cheers, Da!”

“Cheers, sweetheart. Like you ever cared about that.” Sean replied and he nearly lost it at Orla’s dumbfounded expression.

“When did I ever get drunk during daylight? I don’t do that!” Orla seemed appalled.

“You did. With Ma.” Declan chimed in. “Like, two weeks ago.”

“You did what?” Next to Orla, Mick raised his eyebrow, suppressing a smile.

“Uhm no, that was just-”

Sean laughed heartily now. “No no no, no need to justify yourself, kid, that was hilarious. I loved how you two sang along to- what was it again?”

“Daaaad!” Orla moaned.

“The Moulin Rouge soundtrack! After all those years it’s still wonderful!” Sarah noted.

“Oh yeah.” Declan noted with an eyeroll. “So wonderful.”

“Glad I wasn’t around for that.” Malachy mumbled next to him.

“You should be. It was ugly. Very, very ugly.” Declan mumbled back at him. “Earshattering. Frightening.”

“Oh god, can you just stop being arseholes and-” Orla interfered but Sarah just shook her head.

“C’mon, sweetheart, it’s not our fault that all these lil’ fuckers here have no idea how to spend a good time, eh?”

Orla pursed her lips for a bit and eventually nodded. “You know what? Right you are, Ma. Y’all are just boring. We should do it again, I think. Right here. Right now.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, don’t.” Malachy spat out. “I don’t need any nightmares later.”

“You are a nightmare.” Orla shot back. When she saw that her boyfriend was still looking at her with his eyes wide in apparent confusion, she groaned. “Don’t look at me like that? I promise, I won’t burst out singing songs now.”

“Whatever,” Mick answered. “There could be worse after all.”

Malachy snorted. “Jesus Christ, congrats!” he said into Orla’s direction. “Apparently love ain’t just blind, it’s also deaf.”

“I mean, Mick, you know she can’t sing, don’t you? ‘Course you do.” Declan added.

“Ugh, c’mon, Dip, what am I supposed to say now? She’s sittin’ right next to me.”

“At least he’s not blatantly lying!” Sarah chimed in. “I like that! Very promising!”

“Y’gotta learn that, tho.” Declan said. “Relationships are all about sugarcoating and tellin’ each other weird cute-sy shit just so the other one ain’t pissed all the time.”

“Aye, I’m, uh, not gonna take that note, don’t mind me.” Mick raised an eyebrow.

“Good boy!” Sarah nodded. “You two will do just fine, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, just don’t take any tips from Declan.” Malachy added.

“Hey!” Declan protested. “I give great advice.” He turned to Mick and Orla again. “Mark my words, man, in a few years, when the two of you have three weird kids and are miserable all the time, you’ll be longing for my piece of advice.”

“No one is having weird kids!” Sarah chimed in. “Hopefully.” she added quietly, but still loud enough that both Mick and Orla now shared a startled look.

(...)

__________________

.... that’s it, I guess. Sanne out. :’D

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archendrws · 5 years

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* ⟡ ⋮ ❛ 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐒 , 𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝒾𝑒 .

☆ﾟ*·ﾟ┊ kj apa , he / him + 20 , cismale ┊ ❝ isn’t « ARCHIE ANDREWS » totally tubular looking ? they seriously remind me of a character from « JUGHEAD : THE HUNGER » . i started seeing them at « BENNY’S BURGERS » a few « MONTHS » ago , humming to the tune of « JUKE BOX HERO + FOREIGNER » when they think no one’s looking . also , they’re like totally known as the « GOLDEN BOY » of town , so i’d keep my eye on them . seriously . ❞

alright , so i know a lot of people don’t know much about jughead : the hunger ( which , omg . it’s so good . pls read it . i love u ) , so i’ll do a run down of arch’s history in the comic ! otherwise , you can read the series HERE for free , or read about the series HERE .

* ⟡ ⋮ ❛ 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 .

archie’s story picks up like any other day in riverdale --- he’s in a booth with the gang , they’re grubbin’ on some burgers , fries & milkshakes , and all seems to be well ! it’s just ... a killer known as the riverdale ripper is at large , and so the gang’s got a newfound curfew forcing them home a little earlier than usual .

little ol’ archie will walk himself home that day , but ... he doesn’t want to be alone that night , not after the news of yet ANOTHER victim falling prey to the riverdale ripper . so , regardless of curfew , he’ll walk to jughead’s house . it’s in this moment that he’ll watch his BEST FRIEND of NINETEEN YEARS transform into ... a fucking WEREWOLF . archie proceeds to watch as jughead murders one dilton doiley .

this ... obviously leaves arch in hysterics . he runs toward home that night with SOBS choking him , his mind racing , unable to even BEGIN to form a cohesive thought . before he knows it , he’s racing past his house , trying to make sense of what he’s seen . he wants to believe it’s his imagination , but ... it was real . it happened . jughead jones was the riverdale ripper ... but it wasn’t just that . he was a WEREWOLF , of all things .

of course , archie doesn’t sleep that night . just , runs it off until he feels like he’s able to muster SOME type of plan and accord . the following morning will find archie andrews sat on the steps of the andrews household , in the same clothing as the night before , eyes fixated on the pavement in front of him , tears still staining his cheeks .

it doesn’t surprise him when jughead shows up that morning , & the first thing arch does its tell him that he knows . it’s just ... he hasn’t quite worked out WHAT jughead is , nor is he really given the time to process it before his next closest friend , BETTY COOPER , shows up , punching jughead straight in the face . archie does his best to stop betty , but she’ll push him back , & fucking hell is archie even more confused than before . when betty pulls out a gun , archie will draw a line . archie will step between his friends , declaring that if she wants to kill jug , she’ll have to kill him FIRST . in this moment , archie finds some sort of clarity . he announces that , despite betty’s notion that archie has no idea what he’s dealing with , he believes knowing he’s dealing with a FRIEND is enough . he’ll ask betty to let him in on what’s up , and a long line of jones werewolves & cooper hunters is revealed .

that’s right , archie’s two best friends are sworn natural ENEMIES , & the worst part ? betty reveals she’s always known jughead’s secret , & that it’s the reason she became friends with them in the first place --- to play a part , befriend jughead’s group , & spy on the werewolf boy . she claims it’s grown beyond that --- that she cares for them , which is not what she planned , but ... archie can’t help but feel hurt . he wonders if any part of her was ever real , but in the moment is more concerned with finding a compromise for his two friends . this is when he’ll find a solution --- wolfsbane , from the riverdale botanical garden , to subdue jughead’s werewolf persona , & thus save their group from ruin .

of course , the wolfsbane works . it’s just ... archie supposes jughead is never truly the same after everything , because one minute , things are back to normal , and the next , they’re just not .

as for the rest of his story , long story short is that betty will train archie to fight like a hunter --- from teaching him to shoot a gun with silver bullets , to hand-to-hand combat via her uncle’s help . in no time , arch is ready to kick ass , it’s just ... he doesn’t exactly want to .

archie & betty will only find jughead after they hear of another gruesome murder at a traveling circus nearby riverdale . they’ll tack jughead down , finding him with ANOTHER werewolf by his side ( jug’s cousin , bingo ) and both betty & archie will attack with the help of some fellow cooper hunters .

during this battle , archie somehow shoots jughead enough times to nearly kill him , & this is where he finally draws a line in the sand for himself . after some long , hard thinking , he’ll confront betty . he’ll spew tales of nostalgia & the good ol’ days , where all the gang had to worry about was prom dates & essay grades . now , he may have killed his best friend . and that does it for him . he doesn’t truly believe betty misses those days like she says she does , and while she might be alright with this life , he is NOT . he’ll slide his gun over to the girl , & though he has to talk himself into it a thousand times over , he turns his back on betty cooper that night . at least , for now .

* ⟡ ⋮ ❛ 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 .

the unfortunate truth is that betty’s facade was not the only thing archie andrews fell for . he fell for her , for the memories they made together , for the girl next door who was supposed to be one of his best friends . now , he’s left wondering what was ever real in all of this , & it freaks him out . the girl he thought he had figured out was not that girl at all --- and it’s not that archie doesn’t accept how things are , now . as the series goes on , he’ll tell himself she’s always going to be the same betty he fell in love with . it’s just ... the issue is he DOESN’T know the truth , & it seems like neither of them are in the business of confronting it . at least , not yet .

for the time being , archie’s just looking at the swap to hawkins as a gift from god . he can avoid his problems a little longer while he’s here , and maybe earn some semblance of the life he’s missed so dearly . this is encouraged after meeting one SABRINA SPELLMAN . there’s something familiar about her attitude , about the way she carries herself ... they’ll start a fling in no time , & archie will settle with the notion that he’s happy this way . ( it’s just ... archie andrews is naive as FUCK . he’ll never be satisfied without jughead , or betty , or pretending things are fine . it’ll always be him , alone at night , left wondering what exactly the truth is , & there’s nothing more powerful than that ) .

more to come , i’m just ... tired & this comic is a lot to explain ok . hopefully this gives a good base of where things currently are , tho !!

#1986:intro #ok heres something

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sophiainspace · 5 years

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Fandom: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Characters: Zari Tomaz, Mick Rory (other Legends briefly) Words: 3048

Tags: Friendship, writing, team feels, nightmares, light angst, all stories have happy endings, Zari is Mick’s beta reader and you can’t change my mind

For DCTV Gen Valentine’s event 2019, Day 1: I’ve Got Your Back. Thanks to @bold-sartorial-statement for beta reading a story about beta reading...!

Summary:

“Telling your story doesn’t change what happened. You know that.”

He looks back into the light of the time stream, his face still cast in shadow. “It’s not… stuck inside you anymore,” he says, slowly. “You bring it out into the light. Maybe it still haunts ya, but it can’t hurt so much.”

She grabs another donut, passing the box back. “Yeah,” she says softly. “And not just for you. For everyone who hears it, too.”

---

There Was Happiness (And They Did Live)

ZARI

She’s in the kitchen with Mick. Editor’s pen in hand, brutal red tarnishing the new white of his rewritten manuscript. Mick glances over her shoulder occasionally, grunting at each new red mark, but not complaining.

“The changes are good,” she says, scratching a line through another section. “Just a bit too much, sometimes. You write best when you keep it snappy.” She grins up at him. “Your words, not mine.”

Mick grunts. “Guess I did say that.” He waves at the manuscript. “Well? Keep going.”

He’s quiet while she scribbles. Smiley faces for sentences that work. A line through purple prose that doesn’t. A scrawled ahhh! of delight, here and there, when he’s damn near perfect.

“Why d’you care about this stuff so much?” he asks, shattering the comfortable silence.

Zari pauses, page half-turned. It’s not like she hasn’t been expecting that question. But it’s Mick. He has trouble expressing what he wants to. He tries to do the friend thing, in his own way, but misses the mark a good fifty percent of the time.

She shifts in her chair, folding her legs underneath her. “I’ve done some writing.” She’s hedging. But she looks up into Mick’s curious face, and she can’t lie to him, not about this. “I used to write anti-ARGUS zines.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Real zines? On paper?”

“Yup. Internet was monitored, and I was on their most-wanted list. So, yeah, paper.” She purses her lips. “A friend did a lot of the work, but I wrote too. Discussion articles, intelligence info... Even lighthearted stuff sometimes. To give the troops a break, you know.”

“Nice,” he says, watching her for more.

A memory twists her mouth into a proud half smile. “Why Is ARGUS Afraid of Metas? It was my pièce de résistance, literally. People in resistance movements all over the world were talking about it for, like, a year.”

He takes a swig from his drink, eyes narrowing in real interest. “A friend, huh?”

She feels her smile soften. “Yeah. Claire was... pretty cool. Meta.” At the tiniest of raised eyebrows from Mick, she adds, “Empath.” Zari’s fingers trace red lines etched into the manuscript. “She wrote fiction too, under a pseudonym. I helped her out with publicity and stuff.” She feels her shoulders shake with a little laugh. “Even her ghost stories were political. She had a lot of fans among the dissenters.”

“You still in touch?” His eyes shift away. He already knows the answer.

Not everyone on the ship... gets it. They don’t all have insight into life on the run, the fucked-up system, how it takes people from you. Mick, from his very different but strangely familiar perspective, sometimes does.

“She died,” Zari says quietly, pretending to focus on the manuscript again. “ARGUS raid on the resistance.” She forces her voice into her regular snarky tone. “Nothing more dangerous to mundanes than a meta who knows what’s going on inside their heads.”

Claire. Zari hasn’t said that name aloud in a long time.

She’s drifted so far from 2042 and the resistance and ARGUS. Sometimes, life on this strange ship, surrounded by these cheerful freaks with their chore wheels and their bathroom schedules and their irritating, irrepressible joy… It makes the past feel like a dream.

No, not the past—the future. It all still has to happen.

Or maybe it doesn’t, just as long as she doesn’t say their names out loud.

Claire. Neela. Jacob.

…Behrad.

Mom.

Don’t break the illusion. No one here needs to know how those short, precious writing sessions with Claire became the highlight of Zari’s weeks—an escape from brutal reality, something good that wasn’t tainted with terror. How, together, they wrote a better world into being.

How she was too afraid to tell Claire how important she was. How she didn’t, and then it was too late.

Mick’s expression has shifted. “Ah,” he says, a simple note of understanding. He doesn’t say he’s sorry. This is still Mick. There’s a glint of something in his eye, though.

There’s a moment of quiet while he gets up, and she splays a hand out across his manuscript. “You should share it.”

He’s already got his head in the fridge, of course, but he looks back over his shoulder. “Huh?”

“The novel. You need to put it out there.”

He scowls at the beer in his hand. “Why? Didn’t even put my name on the last one. And this one’s… no good.”

She doesn’t argue. He already knows what she thinks of his novel. She answers his question, instead. “Because writing can change the world.”

He snorts. “Not mine. Not my shit.” But he stands up slowly, and his gaze is intense, as though he can’t tell if she’s kidding or not.

Zari closes the manuscript, holds it out. Offering it back to him. “You don’t have to share it with the team, but you should let someone see it. You never know whose world you might change.”

“Huh,” he says, again, regarding his manuscript with narrowed eyes for a minute. Then he gently reaches out and takes it from her.

He’s nodding slightly, his eyes distant, as he heads for the door.

MICK

Sometimes he wakes in the night, images dissolving around him with sleep. The echoes of timelines he shouldn’t remember. The shadows of others he wishes he didn’t.

A gun in his hand, a bullet in another man’s head. A brown hood and the crackle of a cattle prod. A scream over the noise of shattering ice. A flash of red lightning. A blast of blue at the edge of time. A single spark, tiny and beautiful in the dark, that lights the fire that will end his world.

He wraps his blanket tighter around himself and gets up. Heads for the corner where, lit up bright blue by Gideon’s low-rising lights, his typewriter waits.

The only place where the monsters always lose.

---

He goes to see her in the engine room.

“Why?” he demands.

Zari emerges, blinking, from under the engine. “Why what?”

“Why do you want me to tell everyone?”

She pulls herself up, frowns at him. “You’re even more chatty than usual today, Mick. At least give me a clue.”

He sighs. Loudly. “About my book.”

“Oh.” She turns back to the engine, does a distracted wave at her work instead of answering.

After a minute, she turns around again. “You gonna keep standing there?”

Mick shrugs. “Yup.”

“Then you can pass me the wrench.”

He reaches down to the toolbox for it. Keeps it tight in his grip as he holds it out to her. She meets his eye with a question in hers.

“It’s shit, Zari. Monsters and spaceships and alien queens with three jugs,” he blurts out, all at once. “Who fucking cares?”

She smiles, a touch of sadness to it. “Mick, I’ve told you it’s good. Why don’t you believe me?”

“When was anything I did ever…”

He ducks his head as his grip on the wrench goes slack. She grabs it from him, raising an eyebrow at his comment. But he just shakes his head, and she goes back to her work.

Through the next stretch of quiet, the echoes keep playing out in his head.

He remembers to breathe when Zari’s voice silences the noise inside. “Why do you do it?” She’s leaning on the side of the engine cylinder, watching him.

“Writing, yeah?” he asks, and she nods. She never complains if it takes him time to figure anything out. It’s kind of nice. “Lots of reasons.”

And I no longer have to fear what was locked inside my head.

He pauses, eyebrows cutting furrows into his forehead. Words are hard. Two novels later, and he still can’t say what he wants to.

He turns away.

Freezes at the hand on his shoulder, a spark of old rage inexplicably catching light inside him.

“Mick,” Zari says.

“You even know how long I’ve been doing this?” he snaps. He sees her face fall, and regrets it. He shrugs her off, but not hard. Starts towards the door—

“Mick,” she says again, and fuck it, why can’t she just leave him alone? Why does she have to… care?

He whirls around. “More than thirty years. That’s how long I been writing. You know how many people I ever told about it?” He holds up one hand in a mockery of a salute. “Less ’n I can count on here.”

Aiden, with his shaggy curls and delighted smile at his big brother’s stories. “You gotta write these down, Mick.”

Len, looking up from a page to give his partner a rare smile of approval. “Still think it’s a waste of time you could put to better use, but you got a true Romeo ’n Juliet tale here. Just the kinda crap people’ll lap up. You’ll make money like—” A snap of cold fingers.

She shakes her head. “How’s that even possible? You’ve published—”

“Rebecca Silver’s published.” The anger’s flaring down as fast as it sparked. It leaves emptiness in his gut, an old companion. “Not me.”

“I don’t understand,” she says, softly, like she really wants to.

He lets go of the fists clenched at his sides. “Just leave it, Zari.” He slips out through the door, silent as his ghosts.

ZARI

It takes some exploring of the ship, and she’s too proud to ask Gideon. But eventually she finds him in one of the lower level viewing rooms, staring out of a window at the swirling green eternity just beyond.

“Peace offering.” She slides the tray of donuts across the window seat.

He takes one without looking at her. She’s reassured by the grunt, one of his friendlier ones. She’s learned to tell them apart by now.

She wriggles in next to him, crossing her legs. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Mick snorts. “Nah.” In the shadow of the window frame, the lines on his face stand out like inscriptions on a page, fragments of stories he’ll never tell. “It’s a war zone. A—”

She folds her hands together, leans her head against the edge of the window, giving him time.

“A nightmare,” he finishes.

“Funny thing about nightmares...” She keeps her eyes firmly fixed on the window, but she can just see him turn his head to look at her.

“You just gotta tell someone about them and they’re gone, right?” he says, on a weirdly sarcastic note, for him. “They were never real? You get your happy ending?”

There’s a sudden tremor in her hands where they sit in her lap. The view ahead blurs with tears.

He doesn't say a word, but she feels him shift a little closer to her.

“No,” she says, when she can speak again. “The monsters were always real, and they don’t go away.” She blinks hard, turns her head left to look at him. “Telling your story doesn’t change what happened. You know that.”

“Then what’s the point?”

Zari chuckles. “That’s what I asked you.”

She grabs another donut, passing the box back. “Yeah,” she says softly. “And not just for you. For everyone who hears it, too.”

Silently, he nods.

It’s all there is left to say.

---

The party is loud. Of course.

Nate gets up on a table at some point, while Ray helpfully bangs a spoon against it until the rabble shuts up. “Distinguished Time Agents and honoured Legends, I present to you, on the publication of his second novel…” Over Ray’s mock drumroll, he finishes, “The Legends’ resident author: Mick Rory.”

Mick graciously keeps his responses to limited grunts and no violence, while this goes on for a few minutes. Then Sara tells Nate to cool it before their pyromaniac explodes.

A few of the team find themselves loitering at the back of the galley. Zari’s eating a slice of cake the size of her head, so she’s as happy as she’s ever gonna get at one of these things.

“So,” Ray says, an oblivious arm around Mick, whose face is threatening a punch. But Zari’s never seen him actually throw one at poor, blundering Haircut, so he’s probably safe. “Are you going to show us the novel?”

Mick shrugs. “You know my pen name and where to find it,” he mutters. He shrugs harder, trying to shake Ray off, who just grins at him.

“We were hoping for, y’know, maybe…”

Mick gives him a shove. Ray lets him go and just manages not to fall over.

“Spit it out, Haircut.”

“Any chance of a public reading?”

Sara jostles past them on her way to the food. “Oh, hey, that’d be great, Mick,” she says, voice encouraging and fond.

Nate actually squees. “We can set you up a microphone in the lab. Maybe a stage…”

Zari lets the chatter fade out, frowning at Mick’s downcast eyes.

“Hey,” she says, interrupting Nate and getting a glare in return. “If Mick wanted to do something like that, he would have. Go read his novel somewhere else.” At Mick’s raised eyebrow she adds, “And maybe don’t talk to him about it after you do.”

Mick shrugs, grunting. But, as the conversation moves on to the Time Bureau and whether Ava would approve of some of the other Legends’ hobbies, Mick grins at her.

“I can’t write a word,” Ray is saying, his mouth full of gluten-free vanilla cake, baked by Mick for the occasion. “Even my PhD thesis made my advisor cry.” He grimaces. “A lot.”

“I love writing,” Nate says, spraying donut crumbs everywhere. “History’s basically just telling a story. I couldn’t do a novel, though.” He nods at Mick. Then he catches Zari’s eye, just as she’s trying to avoid his. “What about you, Z? Done much writing?”

She takes a quiet sip of her lemonade.

Glances up at Mick, who’s watching her.

“Enough with interrogating the new girl,” he snarls. “Get me a beer, Pretty.”

Nate sighs, but follows orders.

Zari smiles at Mick, aiming for a thank you.

He doesn’t quite smile back, but it’s close.

MICK AND ZARI

Much later, they’re the only ones left in the kitchen. Zari’s making coffee, and Mick picks up where he left off in the book he's had in his hands this whole time. Means the others will leave him alone. He's on the final chapter, and all is looking bleak in the valiant battle for Earth, but that’s how it goes in a story. The good guys will come out on top, by the end.

As Zari sits down with her coffee, he glances at her over the top of his glasses. She’s watching him with that determined glint in her eye—the dangerous one. “…Yeah?”

She gets a sly smile. “You know you don’t have to put your name on your books for them to matter, right, Mick? Rebecca Silver can change the world too.”

He sighs. “That right?” He doesn’t even bother to glare. Zari wouldn’t even notice. Pretty might still jump when Mick comes into a room, years after they first met, but New Girl was never freaked out by his grunts and glares.

She’s still grinning, and he sighs again, puts his book down. He waves at the manuscript lying between them on the table. “And whose world is this crap gonna change, huh?”

She hums, clearly enjoying herself. “Let’s see. Old man in sub-Saharan Africa. He never discovered sci-fi before he stumbled across your book on a friend’s shelf. He’ll be cosplaying Buck before the year is out.”

“Uh huh?” he says doubtfully.

Her eyes twinkle at him some more. It’s irritating. “Ooh. Dyslexic teenager in Australia whose teachers are about to despair of him ever enjoying a book. Till he finds a dusty copy in the back of an old bookshop and can’t tear his eyes away from the cover art of Garima.”

“Yeah. I bet he loves her for her brain.”

“Mmm. Or maybe…” She leans in towards him, chin resting on her hand, and her eyes take on a tinge of something more serious. “Or maybe a little girl living in a near-future dystopian nightmare who already believes that there aren’t any heroes left in the world, and needs to learn that even the worst monsters can be defeated.” Her smile is so sincere, for her, that he has to take a breath. “But don’t worry. She will.”

He scowls, trying to work out if she’s joking. She’s still wearing that mischievous little half-smile, but she’s looking at him like—

Like she’s looking at her hero.

Well, that’s weird.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Am I?” Her smile broadens, dark eyes twinkling just a little more. “Was I a huge fan of Rebecca Silver growing up? Or do I just live to torment you, Mick? You decide.”

He stares at her. It doesn’t help. She just grins back at him.

At last he gives up, sits back in his seat and picks up his book again. “Guess I’ll never know.”

“Guess you never will.”

There’s an odd note in her voice that makes him look back up at her. But, no, she’s still not giving anything away.

“Well, this was fun.” She claps him on the back as she slides out of her seat. “And now I’m off to annoy our Dr. Palmer.”

“Yeah? Good.” Any torturer of Haircut is a friend of Mick’s.

“Think I might force-feed him candy while he complains about the sugar.” At the door, with a glance back, she adds, “There’s… something I want to tell him about.”

They share—not quite a smile, but something close, and then she’s gone.

Mick settles into the familiar, almost-imperceptible whirr of the engines. It’s just futuristic enough to make a good soundtrack to War of the Worlds.

As expected, the good guys win on the last page. That’s what he likes about a book. Things always end the way they should.

Sighing in satisfaction as he slams the book shut, Mick heads back to his room, and his typewriter.

#dctvgenvalentines2019 #zari tomaz #mick rory #legends of tomorrow #fanfic #my fic #gen #none of us can queue this alone

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barchiefanfiction · 5 years

Note

Archie and Betty through the years (from teenagers to middle-age?) being each other's support systems when things get a little tough in their relationships with Veronica and Jug.

Anchor

by keiraknighted

AO3 // ff.net

“Ronnie, you have to talk her out of it,” Archie begs forthe third time that day. Veronica slides her deep purple dress on and turnsaround, waiting for Archie to zip her up. A bridesmaid dress, for all intentsand purposes. Archie drags the zip up and Veronica turns around, placing herhands on his shoulders.

“Like I said, Archiekins,” she says. “If you think it’s sucha bad idea, then you should talk themout of it.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bad idea?”

Veronica laughs. “Of course I do. But it’s their life.”

“So as Betty’s best friend—” Archie starts, until Veronicacuts him off.

“You’re Betty’sbest friend, remember? And Jughead’s,” she reminds him. Archie looks pained. Veronicastraightens his tie. “You know they won’t change their minds now. They’ve beenplanning this ever since Betty became the so-called serpent queen,” she rollsher eyes.

“But what if they’re making a huge mistake?” Archie presses.And he’d try to convince them himself he would, it’s just—to talk to Betty outof it would feel like betraying Jughead, and to talk Jughead out of it wouldfeel like betraying Betty. And to try and talk to them together is just alosing battle.

Veronica shrugs. “It’s only marriage. And no one knowsbetter than the four of us how well that canlast.”

Archie still has his doubts. But to Veronica, it’s caseclosed. She puts her heels on and heads for the hotel room door.

“Come on,” she says, tilting her head. “The bride and groomare waiting for us.”

At a chapel in Vegas, two weeks after graduation, Betty andJughead tie the knot, with Veronica and Archie as their witnesses.

Alice had forbidden it, and FP had warned against it. Thathad only made Betty want to do it more. She’s queasy as she walks down theaisle in a dress she bought months ago, not exactly a wedding dress, but it’swhite. Her serpent tattoo is fresh on her hip.

She gets through the vows, and Jughead through his, and thefour of them head to the hotel bar. They’re only eighteen, but they get servedanyway.

Four drinks in, Betty is on top of the world. Surrounded byher friends, married to the love of her life. She’s pretty sure things couldn’tget more perfect.

Six drinks in, she’s outside, desperate for fresh air,feeling claustrophobic, her white dress too tight. Archie’s hand grazes herback.

“Hey,” he says softly. Her head spins. “Are you okay?”

Betty nods. “Too much to drink.” A light breeze tousles herhair, and she closes her eyes, grateful for the coolness of the wind on herface. Archie stays beside her.

“Perhaps it’s time for bed,” Archie suggests. “Mrs Jones,”he adds. A joke probably, but she doesn’t laugh.

“Did I make a mistake?” she whispers, so softly she’s sureArchie hasn’t heard, especially since he doesn’t respond right away.

He takes a deep breath. “Of course not,” he finally replies.“You and Jughead were bound to get married eventually. What difference does itmake if it’s now or in a few years?”

Betty nods. She leans against him, and he wraps his armsaround her.

“Let’s get you to bed,” he says.

The last thing she remembers is him pressing a kiss to herforehead before she drifts off to sleep.

Moving to New York was always the plan. Archie never thoughthe’d be leaving Betty and Jughead behind in Riverdale. But Jughead says heneeds to get things sorted with the Serpents before he leaves, and Betty, ashis wife, is staying to support him. They both swear they’ll join him andVeronica in New York next year.

Archie loves living in New York, but the thing is, it’sfreaking expensive. He manages to get a job waiting tables, but he kind ofsucks at it, so the tips aren’t great. Veronica, on the other hand, is alreadya successful business owner, and she’s even thinking about turning Pop’s into achain. She’s currently studying business while Archie studies music on ascholarship.

It’s not exactly how imagined it. He lives in a dorm with aroommate he doesn’t particularly like, instead of the nice apartment hepictured sharing with Veronica or Jughead. Veronica refuses to spend any timein his dorm, and he’s always travelling back and forth across the city to seeher. Her apartment is nothing fancy, but the fact that she can afford to livein it alone is impressive enough.

“We should go travelling in the summer,” Veronica saysdreamily, playing with Archie’s hair as they lay in her bed on a Saturdaymorning. “Europe, maybe. Or Australia.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be possible, Ronnie,” Archiesighs. He’d love to give her everything she wants, honestly. But he doesn’thave the money.

Veronica pouts. “Why not? Haven’t you always wanted to go toParis?”

“I’d love to see it with you,” Archie says. “But I’llprobably be working for my dad over the summer.”

“Does he really need you?” Veronica complains.

Archie tries not to sigh again. She just doesn’t get it. “Idon’t know, Ronnie. But I need the money. New York is expensive.”

“Oh,” Veronica says, understanding finally dawning. “I’llpay for your flights.”

Archie groans. He pulls away from the hand twirling in hishair and sits up. “I don’t want you to do that.”

“Archiekins, come on,” Veronica coos, sitting up beside him.“It’s just money.”

Archie tries not to be frustrated with her, but he can’thelp it. “Of course it is, to you,” he huffs. He throws himself out of bed andgets dressed.

“Don’t be such a proud man,” Veronica snaps. “Does it reallybother you that I make more money than you? That I’m more successful than you?”

Her words sting. “Of course not,” Archie says. “I’m proud ofeverything you’ve done. But I don’t want to have to rely on you to pay forthings for me. If you want to go to Europe, that’s fine. But I can’t affordit.”

He thinks he’s explained himself well, that she’llunderstand. But she gives him a pained looks and says, “That’s ridiculous,Archie. I’m happy to pay.”

Archie shakes his head. “Forget it,” he says. “I’ll see youlater.”

Veronica doesn’t bother trying to stop him as he leaves.

On the train home, he calls Betty.

“Hey,” she says brightly. Archie can feel some of thetension drain out of him at the sound of her voice.

“Hey,” Archie replies. “What’s up?”

“I’m just doing the dishes, nothing interesting,” Bettylaughs. “What’s up with you?”

“Veronica and I kind of had a fight,” he says.

“Oh, what happened?”

“She wants to go to Europe this summer and I told her Ican’t afford it. She said she’d pay but…” he trails off. Maybe he’s being dumb.Maybe Betty will tell him he’s being an idiot and he should take a free trip toEurope from his girlfriend.

“Of course she did,” Betty snorts. “I love V, but she reallyhas no clue what it’s like to not have any money.”

“So you don’t think I’m being stupid?”

“I completely get it, Archie. I’m the same, I don’t want tofeel like I owe someone something, even if it’s someone I’m in a relationshipwith. You want to stand on your own two feet. It’s perfectly understandable.”

Archie breathes a sigh of relief. Someone gets it. Someonegets him. “Thanks, Betty. You always know exactly what to say.”

“Anytime, Arch.”

Betty is pretty sure she shouldn’t be feeling this anxiousright now. Archie is home for the summer and he’s coming over in an hour fordinner at the little unit Betty and Jughead have been renting this past year.She can’t wait to see him. She’s missed him a lot this past year. They spoke onthe phone a lot, and he came home a few times, but it’s not the same as seeinghim every day.

She’s been working for her mom all year at the Register,while Jughead works on his novel and leads the Serpents, doing odd jobs forpeople or writing a story for the Register every now and again for some extracash. But it’s not what she wants to do anymore. She’s ready to get out ofRiverdale, go to college, see the world. She keeps seeing Veronica’s Instagramposts, in a bikini in Greece, or on top of the Eiffel Tower, and she can’t helpbut feel jealous.

She’s got a million things she wants to do in her life, andthe truth is, now she doesn’t know if she’ll ever get to do them.

Her hands shake as she opens the little box containing thepregnancy test. The cashier had congratulated her when she bought it. Betty hadsmiled like she was excited, when in fact she just feels sick. Sitting on thetoilet, she reads the instructions, and follows them to the letter. Now all shecan do is wait.

Her stomach churns. This could be a good thing, right? It should be a good thing. She’s married tothe man she loves, possibly pregnant with his baby. This isn’t some teenpregnancy like her mom or Polly. This is different.

Except she knows she’s not ready. Kids are for after she’sfinished college, after she’s travelled, after she’s had a career and a life.Not now. Jughead will probably bethrilled. She’s beginning to suspect he’s not that interested in collegeanyway, and would rather stay here and lead the Serpents. And a baby would makehim so happy.

She watches the test, praying for a negative. Her prayersaren’t answered.

She decides not to tell Jughead yet. It can wait until afterdinner. She throws the test in the trash and covers it with tissues, then getsto making dinner. She usually cooks, Jughead isn’t that great at it. He alwayssays he’ll do the washing up, but he rarely gets around to it. There’s alwayssome gang issue he has to resolve. Betty had been excited to be part of theSerpents at first, but she’s already bored of it, skipping most of theirmeetings in favour of reading a book on the couch.

The doorbell rings just as Betty is dishing up the chicken.Jughead gets it, and Betty listens as he greets Archie, and then the two ofthem join her in the kitchen. She turns around, and before she can even sayhello, Archie is pulling her into a hug. She laughs, squeezing him tightlyback, forgetting for a moment the worries on her mind. But then he pulls awayand Betty glances at Jughead and the churning in her gut returns.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” Betty tells Archie. “Dinner’sready, go sit down and I’ll bring it to you.”

Archie obeys, grinning, and Jughead follows, leaving Bettyto bring the plates out.

If either of the guys notice that Betty isn’t quite herself,they don’t say anything. Betty is pretty quiet the whole time, letting Jugheadand Archie keep the conversation. It’s not that she doesn’t want to join in,it’s just that she can’t seem to take her mind off the revelation she’dreceived in the bathroom earlier.

They discuss Archie’s college life, the Serpents, Betty’sjob, and Veronica being in Europe. Archie swears he isn’t jealous, and thathe’s not worried about Veronica hanging around those hot European guys.

“She can flirt as much as she likes,” Archie shrugs. “I knowshe’d never cheat on me.”

It’s at that moment Jughead gets a message, and he’s alreadystanding up before Betty can ask who it’s from.

“Sorry guys, gotta run,” he says. “Emergency Serpentbusiness.”

“Seriously, Jug?” Betty pleads. “Can’t it wait? We have aguest.”

“No, one of the new recruits thought it would be a greatidea to graffiti one of the Ghoulies’ cars, so I have to go and deal with that.Besides, it’s just Archie.”

“Surely Toni, or Sweet Pea—”

“I’m the Serpent king, Betty,” Jughead huffs. “It’s my job.”

“Fine,” Betty mutters. Jughead gives her a kiss on the headbefore running out the door. Betty looks to Archie, who looks a littleembarrassed at having witnessed the argument, pushing his peas around hisplate. “Sorry about that,” Betty says.

Archie looks up. “You don’t have to be sorry,” he assuresher. Betty watches him gingerly put a pea in his mouth before she snorts withlaughter.

“I forgot you hate peas,” she says. Archie laughs. “Youdon’t have to eat them. Here.” She stands up and takes his plate, stacking iton top of hers and Jughead’s, then takes them to the kitchen.

“You want me to wash up?” Archie calls after her.

“It’s okay,” Betty says. “I’ll do it after you go.” She putsthe plates in the sink. She stands there a moment, trying to gather herselfbefore she goes back out to face Archie. She won’t enjoy is company properly ifshe keeps dwelling on her pregnancy.

She doesn’t hear Archie enter the room, but then he’s besideher, his hand on her shoulder. “Hey,” he says softly. “Is everything okay?”

Betty squeezes her eyes shut, trying to will the tears shecan feel forming to retract back into her tear ducts. But then they’re spillingout, and she lets out a sob, shaking her head. Why did he have to ask? Shecould have held it together if he hadn’t asked.

He immediately wraps his arms around her, pulling heragainst him tightly. Her shoulders shake as she cries into his chest, unable tostop now that she’s started. He rubs her back, and he lets her cry until shepulls away, wiping her eyes.

“You want to talk about it?” he asks, eyes full of concern.

She isn’t planning on telling him, but somehow it just slipsout. “I’m pregnant.”

He stares at her, not sure what to say. Betty keeps talkingso he doesn’t have to say anything.

“I haven’t told Jughead yet. I just found out before you gothere and I—” she sobs again. “I should be happy. But it probably means I won’tget to go to college next year, or join you in New York.”

Archie pulls her into his arms again. “Hey, hey,” he sayssoothingly. “You have other options. And whatever you choose, I promise I’ll bethere for you. And maybe you can still go to college.”

Betty nods, and somehow, she’s comforted, even though shedoesn’t really believe what he’s saying. She could never afford a baby and college. And if she gives the babyup, or gets an abortion, Jughead will hate her forever.

But for now, she lets Archie let her believe everything isgoing to be okay.

Archie has had the ring for a while now. He’s been carryingit around in his pocket, waiting for the right time.

But he and Veronica are both finished college now, and hehas a bit of money saved, despite buying the ring. Veronica now owns a Pop’sand speak easy in three locations, and Archie is getting gigs almost everyweekend, plus his day job selling furniture.

They’re in Riverdale for the weekend, for theirgoddaughter’s fifth birthday. Archie can hardly believe little Matilda Jones isready for school already. Betty and Jughead throw a little party for her atAlice’s house, and afterwards, Archie and Veronica take a walk along SweetwaterRiver.

And suddenly Archie can’t think of a better time or place todo it. In the town they fell in love, where Archie hopes the can raise childrenand grow old together someday.

“They looked so happy. I’m going to be honest, I didn’tthink Betty and Jughead would even last this long,” Veronica is saying. “I’mhappy to be proven wrong—” she cuts herself off when she sees Archie loweringhimself to the ground on one knee. “What are you doing?” she asks, eyes wide.

“Ronnie,” Archie says, pulling the ring box out of hispocket. “From the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of mylife with you. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but there is no one I’drather have by my side than you. Will you do me the honour of becoming mywife?”

Veronica stares at him. She stares so long, and without asmile, that Archie begins to feel anxious.

“Ronnie?” he prompts, nervous. He swallows.

“Archie…” she starts, her voice soft and sympathetic.Archie’s stomach sinks. He stands up, trying not to let his eyes betray thehurt he feels. “I’m sorry,” Veronica continues. “I just… I’m not ready to getmarried yet. I don’t want to break up, and I still love you… but marriage?” she balks. “I… can’t give youthat kind of commitment.”

Archie nods, clenching his jaw. “I get it,” he says, thoughhe’s not quite sure he does. But what else can he say? He doesn’t want to breakup either. But he really wants to get married one day. And what if Veronicanever gets there? He doesn’t voice his thoughts out loud though.

“I’m really sorry, Archiekins. We should have talked aboutthis, I should have realised you would want to propose soon.”

“Ronnie, it’s okay. I’m just… I just need a minute.”

Veronica nods. “Should we go back to your dad’s?”

“Yeah,” Archie says. “Yeah.”

He goes up to his old room when he gets back, and Veronicastays downstairs with Fred to give Archie some alone time. He shuts the doorbehind him, and when he looks up, his eyes lock with Betty’s through thewindow. She seems surprised to see him, but she smiles and waves. Archie wavesback, but he can’t bring himself to return the smile.

Betty reaches for her phone, and moments later Archie gets atext.

Everything okay?

Archie looks up. He shakes his head. Betty turns back to herphone, and then his phone is ringing, Betty’s name on the screen. He smiles tohimself as he answers.

“What’s wrong?” Betty asks immediately.

“It’s too embarrassing,” Archie sighs.

“You can tell me anything.”

“I proposed to Veronica and she said no.”

Betty winces. “Ouch.”

“I’m such an idiot.”

“Don’t say that,” Betty scolds. “She’s the idiot if shedoesn’t want to marry you. Any girl would be lucky to have you as a husband.”Archie snorts. “I’m being serious!”

“So you’d marry me if you didn’t already have a husband?”

“You know I would.” Betty chews her lip. “She’ll change hermind.”

Archie nods. He hopes Betty is right.

“Love you,” she says.

“Love you too, Betty.”

Betty is pregnant again. This time, it’s planned. Eightmonths ago, it had seemed like a great idea. Matilda wanted a sibling, Bettyand Jughead were both ready for another child. Jughead had just finished hisnovel and was sending it off to publishers. The Serpents had been drama freefor a year.

But Jughead had received nothing but a string of rejectionletters. It hit him hard. And at first, he was just having a drink or two tolet off some steam. But now…

Well, it’s 2am and Betty hasn’t seen him in hours. And sheknows there wasn’t a Serpent meeting because Cheryl has been posting picturesof her date night with Toni on her Instagram story. Betty hasn’t been a part ofthe Serpents since she gave birth to Matilda.

Betty can’t help but worry. He’s been drinking more andmore, and it’s getting harder and harder to hide from Matilda. She was askingfor her dad when Betty tucked her in earlier, and it made Betty’s heart ache.

There’s a crash at the front door, and Betty sits boltupright in bed. The front door slams, and she can hear Jughead banging around,making no effort to be quiet. She winces when he kicks open the bedroom doorand flicks the light on.

“Would you be quiet?” Betty hisses. “Your daughter isasleep.”

“I’m going to wake her up,” Jughead says, turning around.

“Don’t you dare!” Betty snaps. “I don’t want her to see youlike this.”

Jughead stops in the doorway, turning just his head to lookat Betty. He’s wearing a cold sneer on his face. “Like what?”

“You know what.”

“Like what, Betty!” he growls.

Betty flinches. She hates him like this. He never getsviolet, but he gets mean. “Drunk,” she snaps. “You’re awful when you’re drunk.”

“Oh, I’m awful, am I? Well excuse me for trying to have agood time now and again.”

“Now and again?” Betty repeats, incredulous. “You’ve beenout late drinking every night for the past two weeks! Do I need to remind youthat you have a daughter and a pregnant wife at home waiting for you?”

Even in his drunken state, Jughead has the decency to looksheepish at that.

“You have to stop, Jug,” Betty pleads. “Don’t become thefather you hated when you were growing up.”

Those words seem to trigger something inside him. Hesoftens, walks towards her with apologetic eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, kneeling on the ground beside thebed. He puts his hand on Betty’s swollen stomach. “I’ll quit, I promise.” Hekisses Betty’s stomach. Then he stands up and crawls into bed beside her, noteven bothering to undress. Within minutes, he’s snoring beside her.

She picks up her phone and continues her conversation withArchie.

He’s home. Thanks for keeping me sane. Xx

Archie wants to think he’s crazy, paranoid. But he’s beensuspecting something for a while now, and every time Veronica tells him she’sworking late, or she’s out with friends, he can’t shake the feeling that she’slying to him. That there’s someone else.

He hasn’t said anything, because he keeps convincing himselfhe’s wrong. It’s just his imagination. He doesn’t want her to think he doesn’ttrust her. And even if it’s true… well, he’s not sure he’s ready to face thatyet.

But she’s not here again, and he’s lonely, he’s been lonelyfor months, so he picks up the phone and calls Betty. He doesn’t want to say itout loud, but he can’t bear the thoughts inside his own head anymore. And Bettywill talk him down, reassure him that everything is fine. Veronica can’tpossibly be cheating on him.

“What’s up, Arch?” she answers.

He hesitates. He doesn’t want to burden her with hisproblems if she’s having problems of her own.

“How’s—how’s Jughead?”

“He’s good,” Betty says. “It’s been two months since hislast relapse, and he started writing again. Something new.”

“That’s great, Betty. And the girls?”

“They’re great too,” Betty says. Her voice always growsfonder when she talks about her daughters. She loves them so much.

“I’m glad.”

“Arch?” Betty says, and she sounds a little concerned now. “Iseverything okay?”

Archie shakes his head, though Betty can’t see him. “I think—Ithink Veronica might be cheating on me.”

Betty doesn’t say anything.

“I’m just being crazy, right?” Archie asks.

“I don’t know, Arch,” Betty whispers. Not what Archie wasexpecting. “I mean, if you feel like something’s wrong… maybe something iswrong. Even if the thing that’s wrong isn’t that she’s cheating. But you shouldtalk to her about it.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, I mean… don’t like, accuse her of cheating. But lether know you’re unhappy. That you feel like something is off.”

Archie swallows. “I really thought you’d tell me I was beingparanoid.”

“Trust your instincts, Arch. They’re usually pretty good.And you know I’m always on your side, right?”

“I know.”

The talk ends in a fight. And the fight ends in Veronicaadmitting it. She’s cheating on him. And even though Archie has suspected itfor months now, the truth kills him.

He feels like a complete fool. He should have ended it whenshe said she didn’t want to marry him.

Veronica apologises over and over, tears in her eyes.

“I never meant for it to happen. I never meant to hurt you,”she tells him.

“But you did anyway,” Archie says bitterly.

She doesn’t stop him when he leaves.

Betty loves having Archie back in Riverdale, though shehates the circumstances that brought him back. He seems sad about Veronica, buthe also seems happier in some ways too. She knows he always saw himself comingback here someday.

She sees him a lot now, and he loves looking after Matildaand Alison so that she can have a bit of a break from her ten-year-old and her five-year-old.She loves them to bits, but to say they’re a handful is an understatement.

The four of them, Betty, Archie, Matilda, and Alison, are ontheir way back from a trip to the movies. Jughead had been supposed to come,but last-minute Serpent issues had arisen. Betty has long since stopped caringabout anything Serpent related.

They’d had to drive a couple hours, to the closest cinemathey have these days. It’s way past the girls’ bed time, and they’ve bothfallen asleep in the back seat. Betty and Archie talk quietly in the front, soas not to wake them.

When Archie drops them back at Betty and Jughead’s, Jughead stillisn’t home. Betty’s stomach sinks. She tries not to think the worst. Shecarries Alison to bed, while Archie carries Matilda.

“Thanks, Arch,” Betty whispers.

“I’ll see you… tomorrow, probably,” Archie laughs. Heglances to the door. “Do you want me to stay until Jughead gets home?”

Betty hesitates. She shakes her head, even though she doeswant him to stay a little bit. But if Jughead has fallen off the wagon again,it’s probably best if she deals with it alone. Archie nods, and Betty gives hima goodbye hug. It’s at that moment that Jughead chooses to make an appearance.

The front door swings open, and Betty can already smell thathe’s been drinking. She tenses, and Archie is stiff beside her.

“What are you doing here?” Jughead slurs, glaring at Archie.

“Just dropping your wife home.”

“You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with my wifelately.”

“Jughead, stop it,” Betty snaps. “Go and take a shower. Don’twake the girls.”

“Fuck off, Betty,” Jughead snarls. “Don’t tell me what todo.”

Betty flinches, and she can feel Archie get his hackles up.

“And you can fuck off too, Archie,” Jughead adds.

“I’m not leaving her with you like this.”

“Get out of my house, Archie!” Jughead yells. He goes toshove Archie, but Archie doesn’t back down, and Jughead stumbles back.

“Betty,” Archie says. “You and the girls should stay with metonight.”

“That might be best,” Betty agrees. She goes to move towardsthe girls’ bedroom, and Jughead grabs her by the arm, squeezing tightly,pressing bruises into her upper arm.

“No,” he says.

“Jug,” she says. “Let me go. You’re hurting me.”

“Let her go, Jughead.”

Jughead glares at Archie. He takes a swing, stumbling overhis own feet, hitting Archie, and elbowing Betty in the face in the process.

“Fuck!” he yells, shaking out his hand. Betty clutches herface. “Betty,” Jughead says. “I didn’t mean to hit you. I’m sorry.” He soundsweak and pathetic now. Tears form in his eyes, and Betty can feel herselfcrying as well. She stares at him in shock. He hadn’t meant to hit her, sheknows that. But she can’t trust that we won’t accidentally do something worseone day. Like hit one of the girls.

She knows this is it. With one glance at Archie, he knows ittoo.

“Are you okay?” Archie asks. Betty nods. “Get the girls.”Betty nods again, hurrying to the bedroom. She wakes them quickly, and theyfollow her sleepily out of the house and to Archie’s car.

“Betty, wait!” Jughead calls after them. “I’m sorry. I swearit won’t happen again.”

Archie slides into the driver’s seat.

“Betty—”

“Just drive, Archie,” she says, swallowing her tears.

She’s awake early, in her old bedroom at her mom’s house.Archie had dropped her off last night, and she’d cried into her mom’s armsuntil three in the morning.

She gets up, glancing out the window to see that Archie isawake too. She gestures for him to meet her outside.

They stroll along the street, no destination in mind.

“Are you going to go back to him?” Archie asks.

Betty shakes her head. “I’ve tried too many times, Arch. Ifhe can sober up, I’ll let him see the girls. But he and I are done.”

“I’m sorry.”

Betty shrugs. “I think it’s been coming for a long time.”

“Did you ever think this is where we’d be at thirty? Back inRiverdale, living with our parents?” Archie snorts.

“God,” Betty laughs. “Not at all. I guess life doesn’talways work out like you planned.”

“It’s not all bad though,” Archie muses. “At least I’vestill got my best friend.”

Betty smiles. “Yeah. Thank you, Arch.”

“What for?”

“Being my anchor. No matter what I’ve been through, you’realways there to ground me.”

Archie grins. “Back at you.”

He slips his hand into hers and gives it a squeeze.

“Pop’s?” Betty suggests.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

#barchie #barchie fanfiction #fanfic #prompts filled #ratedt #future #canon divergence #blughead #verarchie #short onehot #angst #hurtcomfort #friendship #t:anchor #a:barchiefanfiction #a:keiraknighted #Anonymous

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sgtbuckyybarnes · 5 years

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1-15 for louie harper lola noelle aaaaand stella thanks!!!

I thought this said 1-5 but you tricked me! 😂

1. Have they ever brought home a stray animal? If so, how did that go?

Louie - She’s brought home Alex if that counts?

Harper - Harper isn’t really an animal person so I don’t think she’d bring one home but she’d defo give up her sandwich if she saw a stray dog on the street

Lola - Prefic Lola would never but the Lola who has broken away from her parents and responsibilities is learning all about this kind of stuff ends up adopting a stray cat (who lbr actually is the one who adopts her)

Noelle - Noe would bring every single stray home if she could - including Fangs and Sweet Pea! Her and her mum could never afford to get their own animals so she’d bring any that she saw back home...to the point where when she was younger her mum had to explain it was normal for cats to be out even if they had owners. Dogs are defo her weakness although she was known to even bring injured birds, mice etc home

Stella - If there was any possibility Noe and Stella could meet they’d start an animal sanctuary together because she’s as bad!

((more below))

2. What is something that your OC and their best friend knows about one another that no one else would know?

Louie - Louie and Lexie know that the other still suffers from nightmares. Obviously Mark and Alex know they can have trouble sleeping but they don’t know the contents of the dreams whereas the girls are constantly telling one another to get them off their chest

Harper - Harper doesn't really have a best friend tbh! If her and Mal were canon Mal would be the one who’d know about her fears of her past...she’d feel too bad dumping that on Bucky when he’s been through enough himself

Lola - Lola isn’t a sharer. She has had friends who were only her friend because she had money so there’s nothing someone knows about her no one else does

Noelle - Noe and Fangs know pretty much everything about each other!

Stella - Her and Michael know how overwhelmed the other is with their new life in the big city. No matter what fronts they put up they still have that terrified streak.

3. How does your OC greet their best friend in public?

Louie - Hugs, hugs and more hugs!

Harper - I think Harper would get to the stage with Mal where she’d greet her with a hug, every one else gets a smile and a wave, Steve gets a blush

Lola - Her and Toni greet one another with fist bumps

Noelle - Sickly sweet nicknames most people hate (Fangs gets ‘my love’ a lot for example)

Stella - She beams every time she sees Michael, just her entire face lights up

4. How does your OC greet their partner in public?

Louie - Once they’re together Louie and Alex are aaaaaaaall about the PDA

Harper - She reaches out and squeezes Bucky’s hand

Lola - She likes to wrap an arm around Sweet Pea’s waist and lean her face against his chest

Noelle - Like Louex once her and Fangs are together they’re all about the PDA. With Jug she’d be more shy

Stella - With a kiss

5. Your OC meets a magical talking frog with a quest, what is your OC’s next move?

Louie - She’d think someone had spiked her drink

Harper - She’d probably kill the frog 😩😂

Lola, Noelle & Stella - Would immediately be up for the challenge

6. What song does your OC go absolutely wild to? Describe how they get wild.

Louie - Louie loves anything pop music, especially nineties stuff! She’d be all hair flipping, dancing on tables kind of wild

Harper - As wild as Harper gets over music is a tap of her foot. She’s more into old school rock like ACDC and Guns n Roses

Lola - Idk if this is bc of her fc but Lola loves Andante Andante by Abba, she loves to get up onto the Karaoke to sing it

Noelle - She hates to admit it but in a total cliche way Noelle adores Mr Brightside, jumping up and down and singing at the top of her voice

Stella - I don’t really know any 1920s tracks tbh but if she were around nowadays Stella would love Shoutout to my Ex by Little Mix, she’d be dancing around her room and jumping on her bed

7. Your OC is running from the guards, why are they most likely running from them?

Louie - For helping when she wasn’t supposed to, she’s too caring and can never leave someone behind

Harper - Oh god where do I start with her, she’s probably acted on her instincts by mistake over something

Lola - For being rude

Noelle - A sarcastic comment gone the wrong way

Stella - Helping to protect her family the Shelby way

8. How would your OC describe their best friend using three words to a stranger?

Louie - (About Lexie) Hard-working, Kind, Scatty

Harper - (About Mal) Trustworthy, Badass, Kind

Lola - (About Toni) Badass Tiny Person

Noelle - (About Toni) Nosey, Bossy, but-I-love-her-a-lot (she has to add that last bit or Toni will kill her)

Stella - (About Michael) A Massive Nightmare

9. Your OC decides they can dye their own hair, with their very little knowledge about hair, how does this go? Do they have their friends with them, supporting them? Do they do it when they are alone? Do they do it before a big and upcoming event?

Louie - Louie would have Lexie there and they’d try their best but she’d end up in the hairdressers the next day

Harper - She’d be good at it, having had to disguise her appearance more than a few times

Lola - She wouldn’t have a clue!! Toni would end up stepping in and fixing it for her

Noelle - Even though she would never have done it before Noelle would be surprisingly good, there’s a gifset of Zendaya with red hair and it looks amazing so I think that’s where she’d go. She’d be the one to do it just before a big event no matter how many people told her that was a bad idea

Stella - I don’t think she’d even try, she’d be too scared that it would be ruined!

10. Your OC accidentally becomes a vampire for a day, what is the first thing they do with their new found powers?

Louie - If we’re taking TVD vamps she’d use her blood to heal people

Harper - Her humanity would be switched off immediately and Bucky would have to bring her back

Lola - She’d freak out that she looked ugly with fangs

Noelle - She would be an amazing vampire she’d just revel in the power

Stella - She’d scare off all the Shelby’s enemies

11. Your OC decides to dress as their best friend for Halloween as a joke, what do they do to look like their best friend?

Louie - She’d be more likely to dress up as Mark and be extra annoying and say she was him

Harper - Harper would go full on Captain America and she’s not even sure if he’s her friend let alone her best friend

Lola - Her and Toni would dress up as each other, raiding each other’s clothes and just doing over the top impressions

Noelle - She’d stick a pair of vampire fangs in her mouth and be like “Guess who? Eh? Ehhhh?”

Stella - She’d just be a dick to everyone and say she was Michael

12. What is something completely random about your OC that even you, as the writer, find confusing?

Louie - She doesn’t like pineapple on pizza?? Problematic tbh

Harper - How she can be so organised but such a mess at the same time (sorry girl xoxo)

Lola - A lot of stuff confuses me about Lola, it’s due to her upbringing in such a well off family. She can be such a brat and sometimes come across uncaring even though she actually really does care with every fibre of her being

Noelle - The fact that she even wanted to become a serpent. Part of me understands she wants a family around her but her mum was so against this gang mentality and Noelle would usually go with whatever her mum thought

Stella - Why she stays with boys who don’t seem to care about her and definitely don’t deserve her

13. How does your OC celebrate their birthday? What is their wildest birthday story?

Louie - She has all of her friends and their kids round to eat cake and watch movies. Her wildest was probably when she was still at home, her parents were away and she had a party at the house, police were called and she ended up arrested for being too noisy

Harper - She doesn’t really celebrate birthdays

Lola - She likes to be the centre of attention on her birthday, everything is about her from morning until night...and probably for the entire month tbh. Her wildest birthday is probably to come in the fic, partying barefoot on the beach with three gang members

Noelle - She is a Princess on her birthday, she absolutely loves it (and not just her own she loves everyones birthdays and always tries to make them special). Her wildest was probably when they were young and they (her, Fangs, Toni and Sweet Pea) snuck out to go and camp at the quarry. All of them ended up being reported as missing until they strolled into her place the next morning smelling like campfire.

Stella - She likes a lowkey celebration for her birthday, again her wildest is probably to come. I can imagine the Shelby's have a wild time for birthdays

14. Your OC and their friends decides to go to a restaurant at 3am, what restaurant are they going to, and why are going to a restaurant at 3am?

Louie - They’d be at Joes because they’d probably have been having a lock in. The owner would trust her with her key as well so her, Alex, Lexie, Mark, Meredith and all the others would have the run of the place

Harper - Her and Bucky would be in a local take away because they couldn’t sleep

Lola - They’d be going out for ice cream after a night of partying

Noelle - Pops, especially after Veronica takes over, and because they’d hate sleeping in the tents and would need cheese fries to help them get over it

Stella - It’s not a restaurant but they’d still be drinking in The Garrison pub

15. Your OC now gets to strut around in a cape, what colour is the cape and what do they accessorize the cape with?

Louie - Light blue to match her scrubs

Harper - Black, Shuri would add it to her uniform and Harper would lowkey adore it

Lola - White and it’d be with whatever summer dress she’d be wearing, cropped so it was just a little longer than them but didn't drag on the floor

Noelle - Noe would love a cape omg. Hers would be black with the serpent logo on the back and she’d wear it everyday in place of her jacket

Stella - Black with red inside, she’d wear a suit underneath

#this took me ages but I loved doing it a lot #Louie Donovan #fic: Bulletproof #Harper Rhodes #fic: As I Was #Lola Davenport #fic: Break Free #Noelle Bamber #fic: Homecoming #Stella King #fic: Gathering Storm #answered #isaaclahys #have you reblogged this?

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