dnpdnsgtfo

[longbeard stinkypants]

Plane rides had never really been something Elias Kripkey particularly enjoyed - which made absolutely no sense given the fact that every year he dressed up as Han Solo for ComicCon. The fact that one flew through the air at such high speeds, nothing between you and your doom but a bit of metal really bothered him. All of the places he had ever wanted to go were in driving distance... but it wasn't exactly possible to drive to Hawaii. Unless of course, he was Aquaman - how cool would that be? - but infortunately he didn't have the ability to breathe underwater. So he was stuck suffering through the lines at the airport with quite a number of other contestants and woorying his way through a few hours aboard a flying death machine. It hadn't been too unbearable though. He had been smart enough to grab a few comicbooks on his way ouot of the door that morning and thankfully, he hadn't been sitting by someone who felt the need to talk the entire trip. It was bad enough that he was barely able to keep from vomiting the entire trip but had he been forced to make small talk with a complete stranger... well he would've ended up perspiring a lot more than he had. Although the ride had been bumpy and Elias had nearly squealed like a little girl at the slightest hint of turbulence, he had made it to Hawaii in one piece and was fairly proud of himself upon exiting the plane. He hadn't thrown up, his shirt wasn't soaked through with sweat and he hadn't made a complete mockery of himself... yet. He knew it was only a matter of time though and the mere thought sent his mind reeling. Why on Earth he had agreed to a television show was beyond him now. Being taped twenty four seven wasn't going to be something he enjoyed but he needed the money. Unlike some of these people who wanted the money so that they could buy a new car or go on some extravengant trip, he wanted the money for something worthwhile. Start-up for his company which, as of now, was being run from his living room.

Upon exiting the plane, Elias made sure his comicbooks were put away properly - none of the pages bent because god forbid anything happen to them while he was here - and threw his Galactic Alliance emblemed messenger bag over his shoulder. He wasn't exactly sure whether or not the show would allow him to bring his items to the campsite with him but just in case, he brought quite a bit of reading material. Elias had done minimal research upon entering the show, never thinking the producers would see something in him that the show needed. Obviously they had picked him for his wit, he was sure of it. Not to mention his phobias and lack of social skills would make for good tv, which was really all the network cared about in the long run. Elias wasn't farfetched enough to think that his little quirks weren't amusing to onlookers. He knew that people found his squeemish attitude quite hilarious - mostly because he had spent many of his childhood years watching his classmates laugh when he got red in the face just from a girl smiling at him - and he planned on using it to his advantage in this competition. Being a man who was gifted with brains instead of braun, he knew exactly how to spin everyone's opinion of him to his favor. They'd underestimate him, think him weak and thus not a threat at all. Of course he'd show them just how much of a threat he really wa sin due time. He might be scrawny but he played ddr almost daily and he had more brains then quite a few of the people he had met so far, combined. If he played his cards right and didn't let his nerves get the better of him - which they always did - then he'd be golden.

The wait at the airport had been pretty short thanks to the fact that they were on a pretty tight schedule. Elias barely had enough time to pee before he was being ushered onto the bus with the rest of the contestants. Upon getting on the bus, he found two empty seats and peered out the window, hoping no one decided that sitting next to the geek in the heart gauge t shirt was a good idea. The less social interaction he had now, the better. By the time everyone was on the bus - or at least what he thought was everyone - Elais had grown tired of staring at the bland building the bus was parked next to and instead let his eyes roam around to scope out the people around him. Behind him was one of the few people he had actually talked to before boarding the plane to Hawaii. His name was Al-something and beside him was a girl who looked like she stepped right out of the eighties. As his eyes made their way around to the front of the bus, only stopping on a few people - mainly scary looking girls he really hoped weren't on his team - on the way, he noticed a girl in a red shirt climb aboard. Once his eyes focused on her, it was like everything began moving in slow motion. His eyes bugged out his head and he watched as she flashed a dazzlingly white smile and flipped her hair back over her shoulder. He heard himself swallow hard, a loud gulp echoing off the walls of the bus and he quickly began pulling at his collar. He watched in horror and fascination as her eyes locked onto his and felt all the blood drain out of his face when she sat down beside him. Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. He yelled inside his head as she slowly turned to him and smiled.

Ack! She's talking to me. Elias thought frantically, doing his best to keep the distress he was feeling from showing on his face. As his eyes locked onto the gorgeous brunette he now knew to be Izzy though, he couldn't help the exasperated look that came over his face. Bad idea! Eye contact was definitely a bad idea. Quickly Elias tore his panicked eyes away from the girl and swallowed hard, feeling his Adam's apple struggle as he did so. Taking in a deep breath, he knew he had to respond or else she'd think he was a total mental case. "E-elias..." he stuttered under his breath, giving her a quick wave and a nervous smile before turning his attention back to scenery just outside the window of the bus. He wanted to do a victory dance; high five himself for actually speaking with an attractive woman without making a complete fool out of himself or having his voice go up an octave. Just as his nerves began to calm down and his heart rate returned back to normal, the goddess beside him spoke up again and he found his eyes growing even larger than before. "What?!" He asked as his head spun around to look at her, his voice a high pitched squeak that he wasn't even sure she'd be able to understand. His mouth hung agape from shock and he couldn't help but feel the intense need to be anywhere but beside her at the moment. It wasn't that he found the idea repulsive or anything... but he hadn't so much as touched a girl as pretty as her before. He really didn't think he could massage her without having a heart attack... or worse. Before he could inquire any more about the massage she wanted, Elias found himself staring at the back of her head. Following her gaze Elias locked his eyes onto the boy behind her that she was asking to do the same thing. He commended the boy for not reacting as Elias had, on actually acting like a real man instead of a virginal puss like him. Before Izzy could turn back around though, Elias made sure he locked eyes with Alex and sent him a pathetic look. He didn't really know the boy, other than a few words they had exchanged earlier about Zelda but he was definitely the type of guy Elias could see himself bonding with on the show. After mouthing a quick "please", Elias straightened himself out and waited for Izzy to turn around.

When her long hair finally twirled around and her gaze met his again, he found his mind go completely blank. She really was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Her eyes were big and brown with a hint of gold in them. Her tanned skin looked completely flawless and her hair... well Elias would give anything to just run his hand through it. Of course, he'd probably hyperventalate before he got halfway through it. She had a perfectly straight row of bright teeth and a long neck leading down to... As soon as Elias realized that he was sitting there checking her out while she watched him, waiting for him to speak his eyes became saucers and snapped up to her face. In a moment of panic, he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. "You know tanning can give you skin cancer." He said quickly, his words running together. As soon as he realized what he said though, his face fell into a painful expression and he covered his eyes with his hand. Of all the things to say. Of all the random facts to spew. He had to pick one that was completely stupid. Out of all the knowledge he had stored up in his brain, he had to bring up cancer as if she wasn't aware that over exposure to the sun wasn't good for the skin. "Not that you should stop tanning... because you look good with a tan." He babbled, moving his hand from his face only to want to smack it back there when he realized his verbal diarhea wasn't stopping. "I just... uh, nevermind." Elias mumbled, cheeks hot with embarassment as he turned his entire body away from her and rested his forehead against the window. He wanted so badly to bang his head against it but he knew that would only add to the oddness of his already awkward display. So he refrained and prayed that there was a rock he could crawl under and die wherever it was that they were going.



"Egad!" "Balls." "Heavens to Betsy." "Merciful Zeus."
"speech"
thoughts

[longbeard stinkypants]

into each generation a girl is born fillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfillone girl in all the world, a chosen one
fillerfillerfillerfillershe alone will wield the strength and skill
to fight the vampires demons and other forces of darkness
fillerfillerfito stop the spread of evil and the swell of their numbers

fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillshe is the SLAYER

[longbeard stinkypants]

Life in the Smoke wasn't easy for most, but given it was the only way of living that Tobias had ever been introduce to, he found it fairly simple. He wasn't use to all of the high tech gadgets that the other uglies raved about and the only time he ever encountered one was if it was brought from town with the new horde of uglies. Although technology seemed nice in theory, Tobias much preferred the task of making the things he needed himself and not relying on a faulty government to give him what he desired. Unlike quite a few of the uglies, Tobias didn't have any desire to venture to the city and blend right back in with everyone else, pretty-free. Sure, he wanted the pretties back to normal as much as the next person but even after they figured out how to distribute the cure to everyone, he doubted he'd be able to leave the Smoke and make a life for himself in the city. Although he had never actually been to a city before - or seen a pretty for that matter - he had heard plenty of stories from his parents and uglies around the camp. They were monstrous towns with buildings lining every block and more people than Tobias could really handle. The Smoke just seemed... simpler than all of that. He liked the simpleness of it and the fact that it was predictable and practically unchanging. It was safe and it was his home but that didn't mean the moment his parents mentioned a raid in the city, designed to capture a few pretties for testing, that he didn't jump at the chance. While he might love the Smoke with all of his heart, he wasn't about to turn down his one chance to experience something he had only heard of before. Even if his mother wasn't too pleased with it, he was finally going to see what all the hullabaloo was about. It was dangerous, sure... but he was a Smokie and the uglies needed him. Who was he to say no when he could help change the world?

To say that Tobias was nervous would be quite the understatement. While the thrill of finally experiencing something he had only imagined before coursed through him, there was still the ever looming presence of nerves that told him just how dangerous all of this was. If he was caught he could kiss his mind goodbye. He'd be turned into one of those pretties he heard so much about and if they failed, it might take them even longer to distribute the cure. They didn't need anymore hiccups in their plans.



"speechhere"
thoughtshere

[longbeard stinkypants]

i have a dream, a song to sing
to help me cope with anything
if you see the wonder of a fairy tale
you can take the future even if you fail
i believe in angels
something good in everything i see
i believe in angels
when i know the time is right for me



Bunkers didn't exactly provide much in the way of luxury. They were practical and stocked full of nonperishable items and medicine kits but when it came to a nice place to rest your tush, they lacked considerably. There was a choice between cold, hard concrete and slightly elevated cold, hard concrete... neither of which made one's backside very happy. Elsie Harper, never being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, was more than happy to endure a sore backside given the alternative was being outside the bunker's walls, unable to breathe and on the brink of death. Sure, it was a somber notion and time's had become more depressing than happy as of late but Elsie was still managing to find the light in everything she did. She was still managing to strike up happy conversations about what they were all going to do when they finally got out of the bunker, she was still able to find entertaining ways to pass the time and she was still able to eat their tasteless food supply with a smile etched on her features. While everyone else grumbled and groaned over the plain tasting food, wishing for something fatty and full of salt, Elsie was more than grateful just to have food. After all, things could be a lot worse. At least they still had more than enough food to sustain them. So during meal times she was one of the few who didn't sit around complaining about how uncomfortable they were or how disgusting the food was. She left that to some of the more vocal members of the group who seemed to feel the need to voice their distress every time it crossed their mind. It made things difficult in the bunker, living with a group of individuals who were so unlike her... but Elsie wasn't anything if she wasn't able to adapt. She liked meeting new people and she was thankful that she hadn't been the only one in the bunker when it closed. Her sketching cold only keep her company for so long before it drove her mad. Having people around, even if it was nearly impossible to get alone time with so many others lingering around, was a welcome discomfort. So what if they didn't agree on every little thing? They were still alive and that's all that really mattered.

Tonight was bean night, which was always a special treat for Elsie. It wasn't that she particularly liked beans because in reality, she didn't have much of an opinion on them. Her happiness towards bean night or any other night in which they ate out of cans - which wasn't as often as you might think since there were quite a few MRE's stocked up - was directed towards the fact that after everyone was done, Elsie got to wash out the cans and do with them what she liked. After all it wasn't like they could do much with their trash anyway, aside from just setting it to the side or throwing it out the bunker door. Bean night paved way for Elsie's creativity though. In a world where there really wasn't much to do when it came down to entertaining one's self, having a wide imagination helped quite a bit. There weren't very many people who liked her craftiness though, Adam McCreedy being one of them. She had already been banned from drawing on the walls because her pictures reminded people of kinder garden finger painting, according to a select few... but that didn't deter Elsie one bit. Instead of the walls, she had resorted to drawing on the maps that laid around the bunker, unused and not useful at all, as well as any piece of trash that wasn't too disgusting to use. In the face of the apocalypse, she was finding it easier than ever to let her inner artist come out and play. She knew that the moment they were rescued, the moment all the radiation disappeared and a new empire formed, her creations would stand for something. Long after she was gone, when people came by their bunker to see how people survived when all hope seemed lost, her silly little drawings would show them that even when death's knocking there is always a way to find beauty.

Taking a big bite of plain ole beans, Elsie leaned back against the cool wall behind her and let her eyes roam around the bunker. It looked the same as it did every day, lined with people who obviously didn't share her enthusiasm at finding good in every situation. She hated the fact that everyone was so somber, that they all seemed to be slowly fading away. It sad to think about so naturally it wasn't something Elsie Harper dwelled on very much but with every passing day, her companions moods seemed to be getting sadder and sadder. No matter how many smiles she flashed them or how many times she tried to lighten the mood, most of them never even budged. Heck, most of them usually just got angry about it. She really wasn't even sure what was worse. Watching them all wallow in their self pity and not do anything about it or try and help only to have half of them chew her face off just for trying to make things a little better for them. Getting chewed out never really deterred her though. She knew that most of the people around her just needed to get their anger out in some way and if she could be that outlet, making them feel better even if it wasn't exactly the way she wanted to, then she was perfectly happy doing so. Which is why she never snapped back when Adam was particularly hurtful. She knew he, along with everyone else, just needed to lash out every now and again to keep from going insane. If hating her made him happy in some little way then she'd take the verbal beating. Shoveling another spoon full of beans into her mouth, Elsie let her eyes roam over the two individuals closest to her. At mealtimes, it wasn't unheard of for the group to split off into smaller ones. They didn't have a table to sit at so they usually just broke off into little patches of people scattered across the common room floor.

As her eyes landed on the brunette opposite of her, Elsie couldn't help but let a smile come across her lips. Lia was one of the prettiest and nicest women she ha ever met and while Elsie didn't exactly get along with her husband, she commended the woman for dealing with him day by day. It took a strong woman to deal with a strong man like Adam and Lia wasn't lacking in the strength category. Beside the gorgeous brunette was a sickly looking boy that Elsie had grown pretty fond of. Now a days she rarely went anywhere in the bunker without Scott right by her side and she was pretty comfortable with that fact. He was the one person in the bunker that made her feel better on those rare occurrences when things got a little too much for her and her optimism faded into something less bright. It killed her that the one person who was keeping her sane had to go through so much pain and was on the brink of death, but he had survived quite a bit longer than he was meant to with his cancer so what was to say he wouldn't make it out of the bunker? Elsie was sure the moment they stepped foot out and into the helicopter that would be waiting to rescue them when the time came, Scott would get his treatment and he'd go into remission. He deserved to get better but Elsie wished that his treatment would come a little sooner. That people would find them just a little quicker. After all, it wasn't like they could go out themselves and find rescue. They didn't have gas masks from what Elsie knew and one foot outside of the bunker door meant death, so searching was out of the question. Still, she knew without a doubt that soon enough things would be better. They just had to bide their time until then. Many of the other survivors didn't exactly share her opinion but Elsie was use to people not agreeing with how she felt. They'd see she was right soon enough when a knock came on that bunker door and rescue personnel took them to their new home.

Being so caught up in her own thoughts of rescue, Elsie had barely been paying attention to the people around her until one of them spoke loud enough to tear her from her thoughts. Elsie's face seemed to light up the instant Scott's words filled her ears. A purely giddy smile took over her lips and her eyes crinkled a bit at the side's from it's intensity. Kittens. Only Scott knew exactly how to make her smile so genuinely. He got her, that was the only way to explain it. He just got her. They had the strangest conversations but they always seemed to end with her fighting off a fit of giggles as her cheeks ached from too much smiling - as if one could smile too much. As the blond man beside her continued his thought, Elsie's smile grew wider and wider until she just couldn't smile any bigger. The mere thought that kittens - one of the best things in the entire world - might've survived this as well was more than Elsie could bear. She had to fight off the urge to go in search of one, preferring the feeling of being able to breathe to becoming yet another corpse in a sea of millions. Listening to the man's story, Elsie's pursed her lips slightly and made a soft coo of a noise one might reserve for babies and small fluffy animals. It took everything she had not to interrupt and go on her own rant about the all around cuteness of kittens and how there had to be at least one left in the world, as Scott had said. But this was a rare time when Scott was going on all by himself in a room full of people. He wasn't the most social of people and any time he felt like chatting, Elsie tried to milk it for all it was worth. When he was finally finished, his eyes almost sparkling at the thoughts his words provoked, Elsie let out a small laugh and set her beans on the floor.

"You're really-" She began, only to be cut off by a slew of groans and a few less than pleasing exclamations. Adam was swearing, most were groaning and Jay was just being downright rude. While Elsie wasn't exactly the fighting type, the one thing she didn't take lightly was people picking on the less fortunate... especially when that less fortunate person happened to be Scott. She didn't quite wield the mother hen complex when it came to him though she did try and protect him when the others were being particularly mean. They could pick on her all they wanted, that she really didn't care about... but Scott was different. He didn't deserve that. Reaching out beside her, Elsie let her cold fingers clasp Scott's wrist softly in a display of comfort before her eyes sought out Jay who was sitting a few feet from her. "You can't possibly know what's going on out there Jay." She said in her usual chipper voice, smile spread on her lips but a sliver of annoyance ever present in her eyes. "The cat population could easily outweigh the human population now and we wouldn't have a clue." It was true. They didn't know anything that was going on in the outside world. Of course, that didn't mean she wasn't absolutely convinced that they would be rescued soon enough. "So it isn't too far fetched to think that somewhere, little kittens are prancing around just waiting for us to come and scratch behind their ears." By the end of her small monologue, her usual giddy smile was back on her face and her eyes were emitting nothing but their usual happiness. Jay was just stressed out like everyone else. He didn't mean to snap and she knew that, so she forgave it easily. After all, being angry with someone never did anyone any good. She wasn't about to convert to that way of thinking over a small disagreement about kittens anyway. It would take a lot more than that to break Elsie Harper of her optimistic ways.

While she had been going on about kittens though, it seemed that everyone else in the bunker was focused on something that Daphne had said. Elsie had been far too caught up in her own dialogue to pay much attention to anyone else's but now that her conversation was over, she noticed the tension and aggression that was filling the room. She tightened her grip on Scott's wrist ever so slightly and watched with wide eyes as the room erupted in chaos. These were the few times when Elsie actually got scared for the survivors. It only took one person t set it off and then everyone was yelling and being completely unruly. It was times like these that Elsie often found herself slinking away and going to her bunk for a little peace and quiet. She didn't like arguing and while she could usually do something to lighten the mood when a few people argued, she never knew what to do in situations like these. It was scary, living in a bunker full of ticking time bombs just waiting to explode... but it was a line of thought she didn't visit very often. As the conversation went from religious banter to random insults, Elsie shook her head and leaned over closer to Scott. Her eyes were darting through the people around her, watching as a wildfire of anger erupted around her. It was mainly the boys who were doing it which almost made her want to laugh. They acted just like animals did, trying to prove they were the dominant male in the pack via aggression. It was like watching her own personal animal planet special coming to life right before her eyes... though it wasn't nearly as entertaining to her as it would be others. She just wished they would get over it and find some safe conversation to start up. How about that weather really didn't seem to do much good these days though.

"Why is it that males always try to assert their dominance via profanity and shouting matches?" She asked Scott softly, her eyes darting from his face to the uproar around them. She knew better than to say it loud enough for anyone else to hear. She wasn't the type to get into these sorts of scraps. She was the one who sat in the background and waited for it to die down before she changed the subject to something a bit more pleasing. Fighting was never her thing and even if she tried to lessen the tension in the room during one of the bigger fights, she often just found herself talking to hear herself talk. Everyone was so wrapped up in their own worlds that even if she voiced something to distract them from their rage, they wouldn't hear it. "You would think that after this long, they'd realize it doesn't do anything but put everyone in a sour mood." She said, speaking of course about everyone else. She'd bounce back the moment all the yelling stopped. She was never one to really dwell on negative things and she knew once everyone had their fill of yelling, she'd be perfectly content once more. Now it was just a waiting game, trying to stay out of the line of fire. It was easier said than done with this bunch but if she kept her mouth shut and didn't draw much attention to herself, she'd be perfectly fine in a matter of minutes.





"words"
thoughts

[longbeard stinkypants]

- - - - - - introducing, the sensible school teacher


☻ went from the happy go lucky to sensible school teacher
☻ known for staying in graham
☻ using #b89f9f and used by longbeard stinkypants
☻ I suppose you could say I turned out like everyone thought I would. Instead of getting the heck out of Graham after graduation like everyone else, I decided to build a life in the small town I grew up in. After all, my family is here and I'm not really one of those small town girls with big city dreams. My dreams came true right here in Graham. I got a job at the local elementary school, teaching kindergarden and I've fallen in love with an amazing guy. We're engaged and I'm happier than I've ever been. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm finally where I want to be.

✎the real label, ramsey elizabeth sinclair

»»_ ramsey elizabeth sinclair
»»_ the happy go lucky x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x the sensible school teacher

although i prefer plain ole ramsey, i'm use to being referred to as miss sinclair but i guess soon that'll be mrs. larouche. it's a scary thought but after twenty eight years i think it's about time i settled down.

To be completely honest, I don't really think I've changed that much from when I was in college. I mean I've grown up but that's to be expected. I'm less self conscious than I use to be. I don't feel like I need people to like me, though I still have a hard time dealing with people who don't. I'm still the girl you'll see helping Mrs. Johnson carry her groceries to her car and I'm still the girl that's the first to try and turn someone's frown into a smile. I don't like seeing people upset, especially not if I can help it. I've been told I'm very motherly which coincides with the fact that I'm always trying to protect people. I have a nasty habit of treating people like they're kids from my kinder garden class though. I tend to try to resolve conflict the same way as I would with my students. Timeout in the corner or hugging each other for five minutes and apologizing. It's frustrating I'm sure but I have a hard time getting myself out of that mind frame. Of course, when half the populace acts like they're in kinder garden anyway it gets a little difficult to separate the two. I'm still the same ole Ramsey I was at Bell Hope though, just minus the teensy rebellious streak I went on. I'm older now and I'm wiser, more level-headed than before. Of course, like everyone else I'm still prone to my moments of insanity. We're all human.

I'm not going to pretend that after BHC life just fell into place for me. There were a few months where I really had no idea what I was doing. The moment I got out things were really stressful. Tyler and I had been dating for two years by then and he had just gotten drafted to play for the Packers when a job opened up for me in town. He wanted me to go with him and I wanted him to stay in Graham. Obviously neither of us relented and I haven't seen him since. Life just kind of went on without me for awhile. I started training for my job and avoided any mention of the word foot or ball. By the time term started of my first year though, I was back to chipper ole Ramsey.... at least on the outside. I guess I have Tuck to thank for that. He was there to pick me up when I needed it and I don't think I'd be as happy today if it wasn't for him. I dated a bit, mostly guys I had known almost all my life but none of them really intrigued me. It wasn't until a man named Mark Larouche marched into town that I felt anything akin to the way I felt when I was with Tyler. He was a big time author set for an interview with Caleigh, who was constantly trying to set me up with losers she thought might be good for me. He was charming, had a way with words and wooed me on the spot... but then he was gone. Off to finish his book tour and then back to New York. We went on a few dates before he split, nothing terribly world shattering... but something about the town brought him back. He says now it was me but I can't really bring myself to believe that. But unlike Tyler, Mark actually did come back... and now we're planning on getting married. As the date grows closer, I get more and more worried that I'm not marrying the right guy. I mean, I love Mark but I have a feeling some of that love might be a result of him actually sticking around. My mind is a slew of doubt at the moment and I'm not really sure what to do anymore. I'm sure I'll figure it out before our wedding day comes. It's just nerves, right?

longbeard stinkypants x x x x x x x x x x

[longbeard stinkypants]

you can hold any girl that you like fillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfillfall in love when it's easy at night
fillerfillerfillerfillerbut you'll wake up wondering why she ain't ever something better
when you're lost and run out of road find what i already know
fillerfillerfiin the end close is all there is

fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillbut you won't find this

Ramsey wasn't so use to being forward with people and downright rude when it came to talking with them. She had never been the type of person to be particularly vengeful so the way she was treating Tyler - however calm it might seem to more open individuals - was completely surprising to her. She hated the fact that he made her feel so bad and for the first time in her life, she wanted to make sure someone else felt the same agony she was going through. She wanted him to feel awkward and wanted him to realize what exactly he had missed out on by leaving her all alone in Graham. It made her sick, feeling this way for him but it made sense. Tyler had always been the exception to the rule in everything he did. He was the only man who seemed to be able to infuriate her and make her head spin at the same time - even though Mark was slowly learning to do that as well - and he was the only person in her life that she had ever let her walls completely down for. Sure, she had her friends which she trusted (current situation not withstanding) and adored but Tyler was the first person she was ever completely close to. It just bothered her that now, when she had been so convinced back in college they'd actually make it, they couldn't so much as look at one another without getting angry or feeling uncomfortable. A part of her that never really existed before Tyler - the part that cursed his name the moment he left Graham as well as her own for not having the nerve to stop him - hated him for the feelings he conjured up inside her. But when she truly thought about it, no matter how much she truly wanted to hate him she knew she never really could. After all, he had his reasons for leaving and she was a big factor in that. The only thing she really had any room to speak on was the fact that he never called her, or even wrote a letter. It was like when he left Graham, he completely forgot it existed and every person he knew there faded into the back of his mind.

To be completely honest, Ramsey wasn't surprised in the least bit when Tyler finally spoke up in a perturbed tone, spitting out what he obviously felt was the truth. As much as she hated letting him see what she was feeling, the moment his blue eyes - god, those eyes - locked onto hers and she noticed just how cold they were, matching his voice perfectly, she couldn't help but show just how much it hurt to hear him speak to her like that. She wasn't foolish enough to think he would leave the conversation where it had left off though. He was Tyler Childress, he never backed down from a challenge. Knowing him he was probably enjoying making her completely miserable. This was probably just some big game to him, all about scoring points and who got the most once the buzzer finally rang out. Letting her eyes fall back to the road, Ramsey listened and felt her heart swell painfully at the words that were leaving Tyler's mouth. They weren't true, not entirely anyway... and it killed her that his opinion of her now was so skewed. He had spent the last few years hating her and that hurt more than anything she had ever experienced; more than him leaving, more than seeing him again. It was enough to make a fire ignite in her belly, one that belonged solely to him. He was wrong and he really had no idea just how wrong he was. Even if he hated her, she still wanted him to walk away knowing why she did what she did. It wasn't because she hadn't cared about him... it was the complete opposite really. "You really don't understand anything, do you?" That wasn't exactly how she had meant for that to come out but there was no taking it back once it was said. He'd probably get upset over it but there was no helping that. He was already upset so what was a little more anger added to the mix? "You asked me to choose between keeping you and letting you live out your dream, Tyler." She informed him in a tight voice, as if he didn't already know that. "Either decision I made would've been the wrong one. It was either lose you or spend my life with you resenting me for not letting you go be the star everyone knew you were going to be. It was the hardest decision of my life," she admitted softly, clenching her teeth and turning her sad eyes towards him before she finished. "So don't you dare say I didn't care about you. I did all of that because I knew you'd become something great and I just couldn't take that away from you."

Things were more tense in the car than they had been thus far, which was quite the accomplishment since they had been quite tense before. Ramsey felt sick to her stomach and just wanted to pull over and calm herself down but they weren't that far from Applebee's and she really wanted to get there before she got too upset. At least once she was at the restaurant, she'd have Mark to make her feel better. In the car it was just her and a man who was confusing the hell out of her with his flip-flop personality. One minute he was joking around like the old Tyler and the next he was making her want to cry like a little girl. It was frustrating but Ramsey contained herself. She had gotten use to controlling her emotions since he left. She had to. No matter how angry or sad his absence had made her in the first year or so after he left, that just wasn't baggage that she could bring into her classroom. Her kids deserve more than that and she liked to think she was better than that as well. All be damned if along with Tyler, she was going to lose her teaching job as well. With her hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel before her, Ramsey listened as Tyler gave her a half-assed apology. Had he been one of her students, she would've made him say it again only with more feeling. She wasn't about to push her luck though. Getting Tyler Childress to push away his pride for a moment and admit he was wrong was a rarity in and of itself; she wasn't about to make him take it back. Ramsey found herself agreeing with him as he spoke. No matter how annoying Tucker could be at times - did he really expect this to go well? - he was still one of her best friends and she wasn't about to bring her baggage into his wedding party. He and Mickey deserved better than that. Especially Mickey, who really had no idea what kind of drama the little group of BHC graduates use to cook up. At least it was only Tyler who was coming back. If there were more of the old crew than she might'e been worried for the wedding. At least with Tyler she knew they'd be able to contain themselves.

Nodding her head, not really trusting her voice at the moment, Ramsey agreed with Tyler and was willing to put it all to rest right there. As long as he didn't go back to Green Bay thinking that she had sent him away because she didn't care, she was perfectly content. Or as content as one can be when faced with the love of their life hating them for the rest of their life. "Once you get done with him?" She asked suddenly, finally finding something she could comment on that wouldn't show just how upset she really was. "I don't think there will be anything left for you once I'm through with him." She stated truthfully. Tucker was in for it. Ramsey was the master of scolding when it came down to it. She could make someone feel completely guilty for the most menial things with just a few stern words and an "I'm disappointed in you" tacked on to the end. She wasn't a kindergarten teacher for nothing. She had picked up quite a few tricks in dealing with unruly children in her day and more often than not, those tricks worked perfectly well on adults as well. True, Tyler could do more damage than she'd ever allow herself to do when it came to Tucker but Ramsey knew that even just giving him the silent treatment would make him feel worse than any slew of angry words Tyler could produce. Yet another frown made itself prominent on Ramsey's face when Tyler finally spoke up again, letting her know he had in fact heard her phone conversation. With wide eyes, she watched the road and wondered just how much he had heard. She hadn't meant for him to hear any of that, let alone the part about this being completely unbearable for her. She might not be entirely happy with him but it didn't mean she truly wanted to hurt him. After all she was still Ramsey Sinclair, town sweetheart, and even if he might piss her off quite a bit she still wanted him to be happy.

As quickly as her mood changed to uncomfortable, it changed just as quickly to slightly amused. Tyler always had a way of turning everything around and a knack for making her laugh but with the melting pot of emotions coursing through her, laugher just wasn't something she was capable of at the moment. So she just shot him a quick glance and let the makings of a smile come across her features. The best experience of her life, he had said. She wasn't even sure if she could pick one instance that had been better than all of the others, or if she could even say they had all been with him for that matter. She had some pretty good times with Mark as well... and he was stationary. There weren't teams scouting him, just waiting to whisk him away across the country to play ball. He had his own practice in town and from what he said, he planned on spending quite a deal of time in Graham... maybe even the rest of his life. He was constant and that in itself was good for Ramsey. She didn't want to move. Graham was her home and hopefully, it always would be. The half smile on Ramsey's face soon faded into an embarrassed expression once Tyler brought out a story from their past though. As soon as he said Mrs. Johnson her mind when exactly where she was sure he intended it to go and she felt a flush travel up her neck and across her cheeks. While she had to admit her time with Tyler was probably the most exciting time she ever had in her life, he managed to get her into trouble a lot more than a boyfriend really should. He was so adventurous, always the type to test the limits and Ramsey had been so smitten with him that she'd do just about anything to see him smile. And that included making out rather heavily on the Johnson's couch while she thought the children they were babysitting were asleep. She caught hell for months thanks to that, not to mention Mrs. Johnson still didn't let her children anywhere near her.

"Uhm..." she began, not really sure of how to respond to that. She was at a complete loss, red in the face and her head wouldn't stop playing the scene over and over again. His hands, his lips, his... it was all making her skin heat up and she had to take a few deep breaths just to calm herself down. Even though she wasn't anywhere near as innocent as she had been when Tyler met her, she still got very flustered when talking about things like sex. Heck the first time Mark so much as mentioned it, she spit her wine out all over one of his nicer Oxford shirts. Thankfully she didn't have to say anything because before she could form so much as one coherent sentence in her head, Tyler spoke up again. He seemed pretty flustered as well for a moment, remembering things she really didn't want to think about at all. "It's fine." She said suddenly, her voice sharp and her eyes wide and focused on the road. She could see the sign for Applebee's now and a sense of calm engulfed her for a moment. They were in the homestretch, nearly done with all this awkward tension. Soon enough he'd be busying himself with Tucker and she'd be chatting with Caleigh and trying desperately to keep her boyfriend from acting like a rabid fangirl over Tyler. That was definitely going to be interesting. Ramsey wasn't exactly thrilled by the fact that Mark's favorite football player happened to be the man he also hated for breaking Ramsey's heart, though he had no idea the two were in fact the same person. Out of all the men in Graham, she had to fall for the one that worshiped the Packers. The irony definitely wasn't lost on her.

Biting her lip, Ramsey pulled into the Applebee's parking lot and quickly found a space near the front. It was lunchtime on a weekday so not many people were crowding the restaurant, aside from a few businessman and people who happened to be off of work. Once she was parked, Ramsey turned off the ignition and reached back into the backseat to grab her purse. For a moment she just sat there, wondering if maybe she should say something. Tyler seemed to beat her to it though and his words caused her stomach to knot up at the mere thought of him thinking of her half as much as she had thought of him over the past few years. Letting her blue eyes flow over to him she caught his eye for a moment and frowned. "Tyler," she began but he was already stepping out of the car so instead of finishing, she just let out a heavy breath and opened the driver's side door. After climbing out, she sent Tyler one more mixed look and headed towards the door with her purse on her shoulder. She could feel his eyes boring into her from behind but she tried to ignore it and instead painted on a happy expression for everyone inside the restaurant. Once she was inside the front door, she quickly spotted the group and her fake smile spread into a wide grin. Her eyes locked onto Tucker first and she had to fight the glare that threatened to show itself. As soon as his eyes met hers though, she quickly turned her attention to Caleigh and took a few steps towards her. "Thank you so much for finishing up those nameplates. You're a life saver." She said, ready to reach out and hug her friend when a tall figure came to stand beside her. Looking up she caught Mark's eye and practically beamed up at him. Boy was she glad to see him. All she wanted was to go back home and curl up next to him on the couch for the rest of the day, but they had stuff to plan out with Mickey and Tucker during this lunch so they couldn't exactly leave yet. Turning her body towards him, Ramsey leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his torso before she nuzzled her face into his chest. "Hey stranger," she voiced softly as she felt his lips on her forehead. As much as she enjoyed finally being in his arms, she had to fight to keep from looking over at Tyler. A battle in which she lost. The moment her eyes locked onto him, she could see just how shocked he was to see that she had someone new. The fact that he even seemed to care made her want to pull away from Mark but instead she opted for sending Tyler a sad smile and pulling back to look up at her boyfriend.

"Promise me you'll behave. I don't want you to be excluded from the wedding because you got a restraining order put on you." She teased in a low voice before pulling away entirely and nodding her head towards Tyler, as if saying she was fine with him ignoring her so that he could chat with his favorite football player. She didn't mind really. As long as the topic stayed on football, Ramsey didn't care in the least. If they began venturing off into other categories or heaven forbid, became a little too buddy-buddy than she might have an issue. For now though, letting Mark go off and be a little fanboy was fine with her. She had things to discuss with Mickey anyway. After sending Caleigh an exasperated look - was Tyler really hitting on her with Ramsey standing right there? - Ramsey moved around the table and shot a smile towards Mickey, who didn't seem particularly pleased at the moment. "I take it the fitting didn't go so well?" She asked in an amused tone, not once letting her eyes stray towards Tucker. He was getting the cold shoulder and she was going to make sure he knew it. After a beat, Ramsey found another pair of arms engulfing her and before she knew it Mickey was rattling on about her trip to the tux place with Tucker. Truthfully, Ramsey wasn't at all surprised that there had been a complication at the shop. It seemed that the closer they got to the wedding, the more problems arose. Thankfully Mickey had taken care of it and Ramsey wouldn't be expected to clean up the mess for her a few days down the road. After a few moments, Ramsey was out of Mickey's hug and making her way to a chair beside where Mark was sitting. Of course, he wasn't actually sitting down now that his attention had been shifted to Tyler... so it was more like she was sitting by Caleigh instead. Once she was seated, Mickey spoke up again and Ramsey's smile widened. "You don't need to thank me. I'd be offended if you didn't ask me to help." She replied just before Mickey switched her attention to yet another guest. The group seemed to be in a mini-uproar so Ramsey used the idle moments to flag down the waiter and order a water.

Ramsey's attention was brought back to the group the moment Mickey motioned towards the chair beside her, claiming that someone needed to sit there so that she could get to know them better. Looking up, her wide eyes caught Tyler's looming stance and she looked panicked for a moment. This hadn't been the plan. The plan had been to avoid each other by all costs, meaning they'd sit at opposite sides of the table and not so much as look at one another for the duration of the meal. Now avoiding him was going to be next to impossible. She could only hope that Mickey kept him entertained enough that it didn't seem odd that Ramsey refused to look to her right or engage him in conversation. It was going to be more than awkward sitting in between her current boyfriend and her ex, especially when her current boyfriend had no idea she was ever involved with her ex. She didn't like the thought of sitting in the middle of them while they both spoke around her, catching odd glances from Mark and knowing ones from Tyler. Letting out a panicked breath, Ramsey focused her wide eyes on the table before her. She took in a few deep breaths, for once quite thankful that her boyfriend was obsessed with football since it helped to distract him from how odd she looked at the moment. Swallowing hard, Ramsey shook the worry from her head and put on a less panicked expression. When Mickey spoke up again though, she couldn't help the way her chest tightened and her breath came out in a very low huff. Tyler, getting married? She hadn't so much as thought about that. Had he moved on? Was he seeing anyone at all? Was it serious? Did he love her more than he had her? Letting her gaze focus back on Tyler, she waited for his answer like everyone else at the table. Just because she had moved on didn't mean she was going to be ecstatic that he had. Sure, she'd be happy for him but a part of her also hoped that he didn't have anyone back home. It was selfish of her, wishing that he had spent his time since college thinking of her and only her... but she couldn't help herself. The thought of him with another woman, telling her he loved her and acting like the perfect boyfriend he had been with Ramsey made her skin crawl. She just couldn't deal with that, at least not right now.




"words"
thoughts

[longbeard stinkypants]

filler

you have a way of coming easily to me fillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfilland when you take you take the very best of me
fillerfillerfillerfillerso i start a fight because i need to feel something
and you do what you want because i'm not what you wanted

When she first began her assault on her husband, Adeline had been convinced that it wouldn't work in the slightest. He was far too grumpy from the flight and he wouldn't even look at her straight on but the moment her eyes caught his and she saw the fire burning in them, she knew she had him right where she wanted him. Miles might be able to talk big and he might act like he had no feelings at all half of the time, but Adeline had spent the last five years finding out what exactly made him tick and what she could do to turn him on in an instant if she needed to. And risky lingerie plus acting like a horny little vixen really seemed to get his blood pumping. She could've pulled the costumes out - Miles always lost his mind when she dressed up like a catholic school girl and played innocent - but she felt that would be more appropriate later, if her initial plan didn't work out that well. So far her plan was working. Miles was putty in her perfectly capable hands and he seemed to be enjoying himself finally, if the way he was pressed up against her and almost smiling into the kiss was anything to go by. All those walls he had put up were down now and he was finally enjoying himself, which began to make her hopeful that this whole vacation might end up saving their marriage after all. The big problem between them was that they didn't talk about it very much. Whenever she brought it up, Miles made sure he remembered some paperwork he left at the office or a dinner date with a client that he hadn't mention and on the rare occasion that he brought it up himself, Adeline got too upset and it just ended in more fighting. If they could just sit down and discuss what they wanted to do and how all of this really made them feel without ripping each other's throats out... they might actually have a chance at saving their crumbling marriage. of course that was much easier said than done since neither of them were too keen on picking at that newly closed wound.

Adeline found herself getting lost in her husband's touch in a matter of moments, relishing in the way his slightly calloused fingers ran across the area just above her waistline and the lips that were pressing insistently against her neck. It had been so long since they had been together and actually enjoyed it. The first time they had sex after the most recent miscarriage, Adeline had gotten so emotional thanks to the sudden change in her hormones that they hadn't been able to finish... not to mention Miles was completely upset too. He never cried, at least he hadn't in front of her even though she had seen him with bloodshot eyes and wet cheeks more than a few times. He always got the same look when he found out the news or Adeline got so upset that it transferred over to him. His lips formed a tight line, his eyes dropped to the floor to study his shoes and he ground his teeth. She knew he didn't like showing too much emotion in front of people since he was such a private person but just once she wanted to be able to return the favor. She wanted to hold him while he cried and tell him that everything would be alright. For once she wanted to know he depended on her just as much as she depended on him. Maybe then she'd stop feeling so selfish. Maybe then she'd actually feel like h gave a damn because now, she wasn't so sure. He played the part well for other people when they were out, never the type to want to rouse suspicion in his colleagues or family... but the last time he said "I love you" was, well she couldn't even remember. He had stopped saying it even before the most recent miscarriage and with it, she had stopped as well. That didn't mean she didn't love him, she was just tired of saying it when all he did was give her a grunt in response and go back to what he was doing.

Suddenly the body under her stiffened and Adeline's mind came back to her, realizing a little too late that Miles was thinking too much when he should've been focusing on her. It was her fault, for letting her mind wander so much, as it often did at the most inopportune times. When Miles finally pulled away, Adeline sat up with a bewildered look etched upon her features. She was sure she had him, was sure he'd finally let her show him how exactly they'd save their marriage. If they could be intimate on a physical level than soon enough, they'd be intimate on an emotional and mental level as well. It all started and ended with sex. If they weren't having sex than they weren't bonding normally. Sure, they could bond without it... but Adeline didn't see that happening. It was much easier to gain that bond by physical contact than trying other, more difficult methods. Of course, Miles didn't seem to want anything to do with her physically. When he finally spoke up, his voice a little lower than usual thanks to how close they had gotten to doing the deed, Adeline's eyes widened dramatically and she let a gasp escape her lips. Had he really just compared her trying to make love to him to some drunken one night stand in the world's sluttiest spring break spot? She didn't even know how to respond. First of all the fire she knew all too well was beginning to rise up in her, threatening to cause her to ruin whatever progress they ha made by tearing Miles apart right there... but she knew better. Instead of taking the hormonal b***h route, she went with a more calmer approach... even if it still came out a little catty on her part."This is a couples resort, Miles. It's expected." She said suddenly, turning around on the bed so that she could sit against the headboard once he got up. It was true what she said. Heck, it was practically encouraged what with all the candles in the bedroom and champagne delivered upon request. There were probably plenty of couples having a quickie before dinner. What was so wrong with that?

Was it too much to want her husband to want her? To want to be close to him again? To want to actually try and fix their failing marriage? Apparently it was for Miles and apparently the thought alone disgusted him to the point where he needed to shower. This relationship of theirs - if it could even be defined as such with all the emotional abuse tacked onto it - was beginning to take it's toll on Adeline's confidence level. If she couldn't even get her husband to want her than how the hell was she going to find someone else after him... not that she even wanted to. Sure at times it seemed like it would be easier, but she had married Miles for a reason and she was still with him for the same reason. She loved him to pieces, more than she loved anything on this earth and she wanted more than anything to give him what he wanted... which was why she tried to hard to have babies and why she was trying so hard to hold onto him. But he didn't seem to care about all of that. No matter how tightly she held onto him, he still seemed to get free of her hold and make her feel like there was no way in the world she'd ever fix this. And really, there wasn't. Not unless he decided he wanted to fix it as well. Letting the edges of her mouth sag down into a frown, Adeline regarded Miles with sad eyes as he spoke to her in a cold, emotionless tone. How could he be so mean to her? She'd never treat him the way he treated her. If he really loved her and wanted this to work, he'd be making some sort of effort and the reality of it all was, he wasn't putting for any sort of effort at all. "Do you even want to fix this?" Adeline asked in a tight voice, remaining in her position at the head of the bed but slowly pulling her knees to her chest. She was embarrassed, felt completely stupid for putting herself out there like that. Rejection wasn't something she was entirely use to though it was growing more and more common for her as the days went by. "You say you do but every time I try to get close to you, you find some reason to push me away." As she spoke, her eyes shot down to her pained toes and she slowly began picking at them with her fingernails. Anything to keep from seeing his emotionless expression. It killed her, seeing him so void of everything when all she wanted to do was disappear. "Do you not find me attractive anymore?" Her tone was laced with sadness and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. she knew she sounded like some insecure teenager but that's how he made her feel when he did things like this. He made her wonder if she just wasn't good enough for him now... if maybe he just wanted a younger woman. Maybe she was just too old for him.

Suddenly Adeline's sadness and embarrassment was pushed aside to make way for a new emotion, anger. How could he just stand there so nonchalantly while she was bearing her soul to him, not even giving an inkling that he cared? Maybe he really didn't. Maybe Adeline was holding on so tight and trying so hard to make it work that she was missing the one thing that was right in front of her. Miles wanted a divorce because he didn't love her anymore, didn't want her. That had to be it because if he loved her, he wouldn't put her through this... not when she was trying so hard to fix everything. She was torn between sorrow and rage, not sure which to focus her energy on so she used both. "I just don't get it. I'm trying so hard and you.. you don't seem to be wanting to try at all." She admitted, tears still caught in her eyes but not quite ready to fall yet. Her voice was louder than it had been previously, but it didn't show how angry she was at the moment... how foolish she felt for thinking a little sex could fix all the problems they had. Just because she wanted them fixed didn't automatically mean that Miles did. He had made that very clear when he rejected her flat out. "I throw myself at you and you tell me to stop acting like a slutty teenager!" Now she was getting upset, her voice becoming even louder as she moved her legs down from her chest and glared in Miles' direction. How dare he do that to her. How dare he bring her on this trip, telling her this was their last chance to fix everything before he pushed the divorce through and then not even try! Who did he think he was? Where did he get off treating her like that? Oh he was so frustrating. She didn't even know what to do with herself anymore.

For a few moments, Adeline just fumed. It didn't last very long but her anger (and her pain) was evident on her face. She wasn't really the type to stay angry very long unless Miles kept provoking her, but since he was staying particularly quiet it wasn't long before her glares turned into painful stares yet again. She wasn't ready for this to be over yet. She knew that if she voiced that, saying she loved him too much to let him go so easily, he'd just bring up the fact that he was the only man she had ever been serious with... that she was young and would find someone better for her out there. But she didn't want anyone else. She had exactly who she wanted... or rather, she had man who use to be what she wanted. At the moment the man standing before her was more of a stranger than anything else. He looked different, he spoke different and he sure as hell act different from the Miles she had met at the charity she had crashed with her college girlfriends. The Miles that swept her off her feet and couldn't seem to stop smiling whenever he was around her. The one that made her melt when he kissed her and spent hours upon hours mapping out every part of her body. She wanted the old Miles back, the one that actually loved her, but she wasn't sure if that was even possible. "I don't know what to do anymore." She voiced in an exasperated tone, scooting to the end of the bed and swinging her legs off the side. She didn't stand up, just sat there quietly for a few moments and looked down at her hands which were clasped tightly together. She could feel her husbands eyes on her but she just couldn't bring herself to look at him just yet. She was afraid of what his eyes might hold... or what they might be lacking. It was all just so much. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.

After quite the pregnant pause, Adeline finally stood up off of the bed and turned towards her husband, glancing at him through teary eyes. Taking a few steps towards him, Adeline stopped once she was standing about a foot in front of him and peered up at him through her wet eyelashes. "I feel like I don't even know you." She had never admitted that out loud before. She thought about it quite a bit but the words had never left her mouth before. But she didn't know him, not the Miles he was now. He was a stranger to you, barely even came home most of the time. He drank more than she had ever seen his drink before and sometimes he'd go an entire week without so much as speaking to her. "Where's the Miles I fell in love with?" She inquired as she inched a little closer, raising her hand up to cup her husband's cheek. With a frown evident on her lips and a few tears finally cascading down her cheek, she rubbed the pad of her thumb against the smooth skin of Miles' cheek and waited for him to answer. She needed to know where that person was, so that maybe... somehow, she'd be able to find him again.



"words"
thoughts






oh what a shamefillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfiwhat a rainy ending give to a perfect day
just walk away no use defending words that you will never say
and now that im sitting here thinking it through fillerfillerfi
fillerfillerfillerfilleri've never been anywhere cold as you

[longbeard stinkypants]

Life for Jo Harvelle hadn't exactly been ideal as of late. Sure, she didn't have just about every demon and angel on Earth looking for her and she hadn't died and gone to hell as of late... but she still had a few issues of her own. Of course, Jo had never really been the type to sit around and mope about things she had no control over... lately at least. After a few tears were spent, she was back up again and hunting like usual. Her most recent setback though, wasn't exactly as easy to get rid of. It was like her father's death all over again, only this time she witnessed it and this time she had no one to blame but herself. The hell hounds that had attacked her mother, successfully ripping a hole straight through her stomach, had been meant for her. It was her fault, her mother's blood on her hands and a few tears and a night of drinking her worries away just wasn't enough to quell the ache in her chest. She had lost her father to demons which had in turn caused her to set out and kill as many demons as possible, thinking that might even the score. Now that her mother had been met with a similar fate things were different. She use to hunt because it felt right, because helping people and riding the world of those evil ******** was the right thing to do. It was what she was born for. Now though, now she fought for different reasons. She fought because she had nothing else. She fought because she wanted to see Lucifer pay for making her mother yet another casualty in this war over humanity. She fought because it was the only thing she had left to do. After all, if she didn't fight than it was all for nothing. Her father, Ash... her mother. She couldn't live knowing they had all died for this cause and not do anything about it herself. So she fought instead of crying. She hunted instead of grieving and she avoided any possible mention of her mother for fear it might actually break her down.

Since hunting seemed to be the only thing that made sense lately, Jo hunted as if nothing had happened. The moment her mother was lowered into the ground, she was off again. Hunting ended up being a little more difficult when you didn't have someone around to help you out when you got into a particularly sticky jam though. It was pretty easy at first, convincing herself that she could do this all by herself and not have to rely on someone else to help her out. The feeling was short lived though and before she knew it, she was calling on the Winchester boys for a little assistance. A particularly difficult poltergeist here, some banshee's there... enough to keep her in contact with them more than she had really hoped to be. But as strong as Joanna liked to think she was, there were times when those boys really helped her out. Like now, in Oregon. Just like every other job, Jo had heard about this one in one of the many bars she frequented now-a-days. The Roadhouse was long gone and Ellen had always been the one of the two who got calls about hunts, so bars were Jo's only means of finding work... especially since she just couldn't bring herself to do anything with her mother's phone but throw it away. After hearing quite a few mentions of a little town in Oregon Jo had decided to check it out herself, having been itching for a good hunt for about a week. It wasn't until she showed up that the thought of calling the Winchesters up even crossed her mind. The town was downright weird, causing a chill to run down her spine the moment she entered it. It looked dead and the people in it didn't seem like they cared about much at all. They walked around with blank faces, like all of the happiness had been sucked out of their world. Jo knew that feeling all too well but it was a little odd seeing an entire town acting that way. Then again, she had seen quite a few things lately that she hadn't ever expected to see. The apocalypse really brought out the worst in people, even if they had no idea it was even going on.

Dull residents and creepy vibes didn't seem to be the only problem plaguing the little Oregon town. Jo hadn't been told much of anything before she arrived in town, just that quite a few of the residents had been found in sewage drains and in the local lake, all without an ounce of blood in them. That only meant one thing and the moment Jo snooped around town a bit, her suspicions were confirmed. There was a nest, a pretty big one at that, full of vampires in the heart of town. They were using the sewer system to get around during the day and dumping bodies left and right, obviously with no regard for keeping their existence hush hush. The only problem with the scenario was that there were over half a dozen of them and only one of her, which really didn't bode well in her favor. Thankfully though, before she even had time to call, the Winchesters showed up in town and she was sparred the grueling task of calling up Dean Winchester and asking for his help. That in and of itself was worse than facing a full coven of vampires without so much as a wooden chair lying around. Jo wasn't exactly the type of person who liked to look helpless, especially not around the likes of Dean and Sam Winchester - who already seemed to think of her as an innocent little sister who needed protecting rather than a woman who could hold her own. Still, Jo wasn't stupid enough to think she could take on a nest full of vampires all by herself. She might hold quite a few surprises in that little body of hers but taking on six or seven opponents at one time just wasn't one of them.

From what she knew, Sam and Dean had only been in town for a day or so and still weren't entirely sure what they were up against. It wasn't surprising seeing as the town gave off more than the usual freaky vibe. There was definitely something else going on in town but for now, Jo was focused on getting the boys up to date and getting rid of these vampires before any more of the townsfolk got drained. And that of course meant that she had to meet up with the boys to talk strategy. Just like the previous day, Jo woke up around nine and made her way into town from her motel. She spent hours scoping out the place and talking to the residents to try and get a feel of where these creatures might actually be nesting. She had a pretty good idea but since she had been by herself so far, she hadn't gone to investigate. The last thing she wanted was to get caught by a bunch of hungry vampires and become dinner. The day had passed by fairly quickly and before she knew it, she was headed towards the Winchester's hotel in her beat up truck.




With her back towards the door and her eyes flowing slowly across the seemingly abandoned parking lot before her, Jo used her knuckles to scrape lightly against the door before she knocked once. Her eyes wandered, looking for any sort of abnormality that might mean danger was afoot. You could never be too careful these days, especially when dealing with the Winchester's. They both had marks on their heads from demons and angels alike, and anyone caught in the crossfire was just another casualty of war. Frankly Jo didn't feel like getting her head blown off today by some bounty hunter looking to cash in on the biggest job around so even as she heard rustling inside, her eyes stayed glued on her surroundings and her hand gripped the mossberg hidden away in her bag.




"speech"
thoughts

[longbeard stinkypants]

fillerfillerfillerfiller █ █ █ █████████ █████ █ █ █████ ████████ █ █ ██



fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller i don't know what i've done
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller or if i { like } what i've begun
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller but something told me to run
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller and honey you know me, it's all or none
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller there were s o u n d s in my head
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller l i t t l eXXv o i c e sXXw h i s p e r i n g
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller that i should go and this should end
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller oh and i found myself listening

At first Jo just smiled down at the girl in red, surprised by the fact that she seemed so well mannered. There weren't many kids, from fairytales or LA, that had good manners now-a-days. She and Tristan did their best to make sure Jackson acted like a proper young man but even they couldn't prevent him from seeing the way other kids acted... and she knew good and well that children were led by example. Of course Joanna's smile faded once Red continued, going on about how Jo had killed Aurora. Hearing such a small child say it outloud made Jo's stomach flip and her face contorted in slight disgust at the memory. She wasn't like Tristan, she couldn't just kill and justify it. No matter how vile Aurora was, she was still a human being... or at least Jo thought she was. Really she wasn't even sure what to think anymore. Everything was so confusing and so overwhelming. She just wanted to go back to bed. Maybe everything would look better after a nice long nap. Arching an eyebrow at the mention of her looking like a "feral beast", Jo turned her eyes towards Tristan and scoffed. "I think feral is a bit of a strong word. It was more like... slightly perturbed." She defended, though she didn't sound very sure of herself. Had she looked that way when she stabbed Aurora? After all, it had been so simple. One minute they were punching and kicking one another and the next there was a fire poker sticking out of her chest. There was certainly a possibility that Joanna had looked like a complete mad man. Tristan was the only one who had seen her so he was the only one who knew for sure. Still, there were plenty of other things to worry about besides how she looked when she killed Aurora. Like the fact that this little girl knew all about it and how Tristan grimaced and paused uncomfortably when he referred to Aurora. From a man who had killed in her name so easily, he sure was acting weird whenever Aurora's name was mentioned.

Pushing the thoughts from her mind, Joanna brushed a piece of hair behind Red's ear before she shot the little girl a weak smile and turned back towards her husband. Regarding him with a wide eyed look, she let the sides of her mouth pull downward in a worried expression. It seemed like way too much was going on all at once for this to be a coincidence. Only yesterday she had killed Aurora and today here she was listening to this little girl speak of it as if it hadn't just happened. Obviously time had been different there than it was here. A few hours in the real world had been nearly two weeks in... their time. Of course this was all reliant on the fact that what this little girl was saying was actually true. While all of the signs pointed to yes, Joanna was still trying to convince herself that it just wasn't true. After all, there had to be a logical explanation to all of this. There had to be. Moving a little closer to Tristan, Joanna fought the urge to reach out and grab his hand. She really didn't want to be hearing all of this, it only made her remember all the things she wanted to forget but she knew she had to. She also knew that Tristan had to be feeling the exact same way. Like this was all needed but it reminded him of things he still couldn't believe he had actually done. As her husband pressed on, Joanna stared down at the floor and waited. According to Red, their praises were sung everywhere. Everyone knew who they were and while she didn't know how many people everyone entailed, she had a feeling it was quite a few. If this was all true than they had done much more than free one kingdom from Aurora's rule... they had freed an entire world. that was proposterous though. An entire world? That no one knew about? It was just too far fetched to believe. Still, Joanna found herself being won over with every word the small girl spoke.

Joanna was flattered at Red's sudden praise but it was short lived once she realized what she was being praised for. What she was being called when all she really was, was a murderer. Jo had been called many things in her life - most of which she wasn't terribly proud of - but never before had she been called a hero. She didn't see herself as the heroic type at all, no matter what she managed to do in that fairytale land. In the real world, in Los Angeles she was just another adulterous woman hanging onto the last thread of her crumbling marriage. There was nothing noble about the things she had done, the hell she had put her husband through. They weren't deserving of that title just because they had killed a few bad people. Here, where murder wasn't smiled upon, they'd be put in jail for killing Aurora and her goons. Here there wouldn't be people coming up to them and thanking them for being so brave and ridding the world of evil. No, they'd be labeled as sick human beings and that would be that. Red wasn't from Los Angeles though, a fact that Joanna was becoming sickeningly aware of as the minutes ticked by.

"Oh honey, we're no heroes. We were just..." she began, locking eyes with the beaming girl a few feet away from her and stopping short. They were just what? Saving their own asses? Trying to get home for their own selfish reasons? That would be like Spiderman walking into their home and telling Jack that he wasn't really a superhero, he was just saving New York from the Green Goblin because a girl he liked lived there. He hadn't actually cared about any of the other occupants. "In the right place at the right time I guess." Joanna finished, sneaking a glance at her husband as she began chewing on her lip, a nervous habit she hadn't been able to kick since she was a teen. Letting out a slow breath, Joanna moved to make her way around the counter to get a glass of water when she heard the same noise that made her husband stiffen. It seemed like it was coming from the foyer which was a couple of rooms away from them. They didn't have an pets and none of Tristan's work lackeys were scheduled to stop by from what she could recall, so Joanna had no idea who it could've been. Instead of hiding behind Tristan like any normal woman would though, she quickly put her index finger to her mouth to make sure the kids knew they needed to be quiet and began sneaking off towards the front rooms. As she passed Tristan though, she felt his hand grasp her wrist and she paused, turning her attention back to him. "I'm a hero, remember?" She whispered sharply, a small smile playing at her lips. "This is what heroes do," and with that she pulled her arm away from him and began sneaking off towards the foyer once more. Thankfully Tristan was smart enough to stay put for once, guarding the kids just in case she did find something a little less than friendly in their house. She wasn't really expecting anything deathly scary but it never hurt to err on the side of caution.

On her way through one of the many sitting rooms - really, Tristan use to have so many dinner parties that they needed more than one - she grabbed the closest thing she could find to a weapon. That happened to be a silver cake cutter off of one of the trays in the sitting room. Not exactly her weapon of choice but she had killed Aurora with a poker, she was sure she could at least stun a burglar with a cake cutter. Sneaking around to the main hallway, Joanna paused with her back to the wall right next to the open doorway and took a deep breath. Slowly she peered around the corner, cutter grasped tightly to her chest and heart beating at a mile a minute. When she finally realized there was no one in the hallway or the room across the way, she let out a soft sigh of relief and let her eyes roam freely. The door was wide open and the small window beside it was smashed in, something Joanna had warned Tristan about when they built the house. Obviously she had been right. Just as she was about to take a step forward and examine the door though, it creaked open further and she quickly ducked behind the wall in hopes of not being seen. "Check upstairs first. Aurora said they'd still be sleeping." Came a raspy, slightly accented voice that caused goosebumps to raise all over Joanna's body. She heard the click of shoes and a soft "yes sir" from another man before everything seemed to go quiet. The sound of a door shutting echoed in her ears and she waited until she was sure there was no one behind her before she ran off towards the kitchen again. Being extra careful to avoid all doorways leading into the main hallway, Joanna moved as quickly as she could on the balls of her feet until she was next to the kitchen. To get into the kitchen though, she had to dart right through a doorway that put her in full view of the landing upstairs. With one man upstairs looking for them and another wandering around downstairs, there really wasn't much time for her to be pausing thanks to her nerves. Of course, if she was seen then it would all be over.

Pushing away the sickening feeling in her gut, she peered around the corner and saw no one. With a sudden bout of courage she quickly darted across the hallway and into the kitchen where Tristan and the kids were waiting for her nervously. The moment she darted inside though, she watched in horror as her husband opened his mouth and began asking what she had found. With wide eyes, she launched herself at her oaf of a husband and slapped her hand over his mouth before he was able to get more than two full words out. "No talking," she hissed suddenly, looking around like a mad woman and straining her ears to make sure no one had heard them. When she was certain they were safe - well, not safe but at least not found out yet - she turned back to Tristan and let go of his mouth. "There are two men in the house. They're looking upstairs right now but when they don't find us there, they're going to come back down. We have to be gone by then." She continued, keeping her voice low enough that only Tristan could hear. He didn't seem convinced though. Why would he? This was his house so it made sense that he wouldn't just want to leave it. He didn't know though. God, she didn't want to tell him. "Tristan, one of them mentioned Aurora." She said suddenly, her stomach flipping at the realization. She watched as the blood seemed to drain from her husband's face but they didn't have time to stand there and think it over. They needed to move and they needed to do so fast. Hearing the sound of voices upstairs was enough to make Joanna pull out of her mental coma and set the cutter on the table. Turning from her husband, Joanna quickly made her way over to the kids and tried not to look as scared as she had with Tristan. They didn't need that. They needed to think everything was alright. "Okay guys, I need a favor." She began, kneeling down and letting her eyes dart from one child to the other. "I need you both to go out to the garage as quickly and quietly as you can. Do not stop for anything and once you're there, you climb right into the car and crouch down in the floor board. Got it?" She said, noticing a look of confusion and fear come across both of their faces. She wanted to hold their hands and take them out there herself but she had something she had to get. She'd be with them most of the way, she just had to grab something before she got in the car. Running a hand over Jackie's head, Joanna watched as he opened his mouth to speak and quickly shook her head to stop him. "Not a word from either of you. I need you to be as quiet as mice. Can you two be mice for me?" She asked, smiling slightly at the way both of their little heads nodded in unison. Good, that took care of the kids... now she just had to get them all out of there before--

A loud slam of a door echoed throughout the house and Jo's eyes widened at the possibilities of what it might be. It could've been the front door where even more people were headed in or the door to their bedroom upstairs, meaning they were finally making their way downstairs to find them. Whichever it was, neither option was good for them. So quickly Joanna raised up to her feet and spun around to look at Tristan. He seemed torn between fighting and fleeing but she hoped to god he wasn't foolish enough to stay out the house when it was much safer to just run. After all it wasn't like this was just some random break in. They had said Aurora, clear as day. That should've been enough to light a fire under his a**. Looking over her shoulder towards the kids, Joanna motioned them forward with her hand. Once she had her large hands grasping both of their small ones, she shot Tristan a look and nodded her head towards the small hallway leading to the garage. "Let's go," she hissed before quickly making her way towards the hallway. Once she reached it though, she let go of Jack and Red's hands before she pointed towards the door and placed her finger over her lips to remind them to keep quiet. Feeling Tristan behind her, Joanna paused for a moment as she watched the two children open the door and scurry out. Had she been at any other house she might be worried that the burglars, whoever they were, had already broken into the garage. As it was, the garage was probably the safest place to be in the entire house - aside from the panic room but that was all the way upstairs. Once Jackson and Red were outside and Joanna heard the car door open and close, she let out a sigh of relief and turned her eyes back towards her husband. "Go on ahead. I just have to grab something," she said softly before she turned towards the closet just beside the laundry room. Tristan didn't seem to be moving though, his presence still quite evident behind her.

Biting her lip, Joanna turned once more to look at him and raised her eyebrows in a quizzical manner. "We don't have time for this." She stated, her voice growing heavier as the tension and her annoyance grew. When he didn't move again, Joanna just rolled her eyes and stepped into the closet. She quickly reached up to the shelf at the top and grabbed the large duffle bag they kept there for emergencies. It held everything they needed and then some. Of course they hadn't planned on having another person with them when they packed it so if they needed anything for Red, they were kind of screwed. With the bag hanging from her shoulder, Joanna shot Tristan a quick look before she shook her head and reached back into the back of the closet and closed her hands around her shotgun. Pulling it out, she propped it up against her shoulder and looked over at her husband who seemed a little surprised to see her handling suck a large gun. As if he didn't already know that her daddy taught her how to shoot a gun before she could ride a bike. "Just in case," she mumbled in an uncertain tone before she watched him reach into the closet and pull out his own gun. Suddenly a smile came across her lips and she couldn't help but take a jab. "Mine's bigger." Joanna teased before the severity of the situation hit her full force in the form of some loud voices making their way into the kitchen. With wide eyes she quickly made her way out of the door leading to the garage. she watched as Tristan came out after her and shut the door as softly as he could. "Alright, we're taking the Escalade... so do me a favor and put the bag in there while I go grab the garage door opener out of the Mustang." She said a little louder now that they were outside before she set the bag down and headed over towards the Mustang. Hopefully for once Tristan would listen to what she said because they really didn't have time for him to second guess her. Aurora's men were in the house and in about two minutes, the garage would be swarming with them. If they didn't act now, they'd be toast.




"blah"
blah


[ ooc ] -- outfit

[longbeard stinkypants]

fillerfiller

how can i explain the isolated rain that follows you fillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfillbut wouldn't you agree running always slows you down

so w e l c o m e the pain fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfilland stop stop yourself from delaying it
fill'cause the real life never goes away

The last two days had been a blur, full of fists to the gut and insult slung from his father's lips. He had found out about the little party in the Huntzberger's garage - though Duke still couldn't figure out how, he had been so careful - as well as Duke's consumption of alcohol which ironically didn't seem to stand too well with Nathan. It was hypocritical of him to go on about how Duke was far to young to drink - he had only had one beer, barely enough to even get a slight buzz going - when he constantly boasted about the keggers his frat house hosted when he was in college. Duke wasn't stupid enough to bring up logic in a fight with his father though. He knew that even if he was right, even if he could prove without a doubt that Nathan was in the wrong, he'd just get pummeled for even attempting to talk back to him. So he just kept his mouth shut, taking the blows as they came to him and carefully shielding his face from his father's fist. The last thing he needed was another busted lip or black eye to have to explain away. Honestly, that night had been well worth a punch to the ribs and the painful bruise it left behind. He had actually gotten to talk to Cailyn and Celena, something he didn't do very often. After gulping down a little liquid courage he had been much more talkative than he would've ever been otherwise. As if the mere fact that he had spent quite a couple of hours in the presence of girls without having a panic attack wasn't enough, he had spent most of it being Cailyn's shoulder to lean on since she had drank far too much for her little body to absorb. After a face plant to Duke's lap though - it was sad that was the farthest he had ever gotten with a girl - the party quickly drew to an end and as a result, so did the kids little soiree. It had been one of the best parties of his life though, as sad as that sounded and if Cailyn meant even one of the things she said to him while she was drunk out of her mind, than he was definitely up for some more fun times in the future. That's if he could even handle looking at her again without turning bright read and running the other way.

As of right now, Duke didn't seem like he was going to do either of those things - as long as he kept his mind off of that night of course - but there was no telling what would happen once he was actually sitting a seat away from her in the cab of his truck. If Duke had it this way it would be at least a week before he had any sort of contact with Cailyn. He had done good so far, avoiding her when he was working on his truck in the driveway by bolting inside the house before she could make it halfway down her lawn. But this he couldn't run away from. She needed his help and all be damned if he was going to leave Cailyn Hart on the side of the road with a smoking car just because he's afraid she might actually remember what she had said to him. So of course, the moment she called him sounding as if she was on the verge of tears and asked for his help, he practically leapt at the chance. Luckily for him, his boss was an understanding guy and since Duke spent as much time as he could at the shop fixing up the cars, he had been allowed as much time as he needed. After all, it wasn't every day that Duke O'Donnell got so worked up over fixing a car on the side of the road. It wasn't just any car though. It was Cailyn's and while he had never actually admitted it outwardly, he had soft spot for her and her sister. He had lived across from them long enough to get to know them, or as best as Duke could get to know a girl, and the last thing he wanted was one of them stranded on the side of the road somewhere. He wasn't the type of guy to leave anyone like that, especially not as petite and pretty as Cailyn. She was the prime subject for some creepy trucker looking to get some high school tail. The thought alone was enough to make Duke glad he had come out to get her as his eyes roamed over the engine of her car, one hand holding up the hood and other waving smoke out of his face. Cailyn's car was in bad shape. All of the smoke was coming from a busted radiator hose which could easily be remedied for the time being with a bit of duct tape, but the screeching sound it made upon start up and the way it clanged when it was on was enough to make chills run down Duke's back. When was the last time she had checked the oil? Had she even looked under the hood since she bought it? There was no way she'd be able to drive away in such a death trap. It would take him at least a week just to figure out everything that was wrong with it. Cailyn didn't seem too put out though, at least not after convinced Duke to give her a ride to wherever it was she was going - like he'd refuse anything she asked of him anyway.

Shooting one last almost pitiful glance at the mess of metal before him, Duke shut the hood carefully and took a few steps back as Cailyn grabbed her things from the car. Apparently she had skipped school for some audition and the reason she called him was because her parents wouldn't approve of her skipping and he was the only person she knew that wasn't in school right now... a fact that lessened his glee at being the person she called when she needed help. Maybe all of those things she had said weren't true at all. Or worse, maybe they were meant for someone else... Like Robby. Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Duke's eyes followed Cailyn as she slowly made her way towards him and thanked him for the umpteenth time in the past five minutes. "It's no problem, really." He said softly, doing his best to ignore the slight pressure of her hand grasping his wrist. Of course, there wasn't much he could do to ignore it when it was all his mind seemed focused on. With a shudder of a breath, Duke tore his eyes away from Cailyn and waited for her to let him go before he made his way towards the driver's side door. He checked for a clear spot between cars and quickly jumped inside the old truck before slamming the door and shooting Callie a half smile. He quickly buckled his seat belt and turned the key in the ignition, which caused his truck to purr to life. Although his truck's exterior was a rusty shade of red and looked as if it was about to fall apart at any given moment, the motor was in almost perfect shape and he had just redone the interior. It actually gave off the illusion of being a nice, new truck from the inside; a stark contrast to it's raggedy outward appearance. Pulling onto the road, Duke let his eyes shoot sideways for a moment just in time to see Cailyn begin to touch up her make up. The sight itself made him smile and shake his head minutely before he turned his attention back to the road.

"You really don't need any of that, you know." Duke voiced suddenly, feeling her eyes on him the moment the words left his mouth. Maybe he should've kept his mouth shut because out of his peripheral vision he was pretty sure he caught a shocked expression. Then again it was just out of the corner of his eye so it could've been anything. Swallowing hard, Duke waited for a moment before he tacked on another comment in hopes of making the air in the truck a little less tense. "I mean, next to me you look like a goddess regardless of what you wear," he said nervously, running an oil stained hand through his mess locks as a small smile spread over his lips. The truth was, at the moment, just about everyone in Bridgeport looked better than he did. He had just come from the garage and he hadn't had any time to change, so he was covered from head to toe in black smudges. He had tried his best to get most of it off of his face but seeing as there didn't seem to be one clean rag in the entire shop, he hadn't had much success. The smoke and such from Cailyn's car didn't help either. In short, standing next to him definitely made her look far superior in appearance... not that she needed that comparison to turn people's heads anyway. She was effortlessly gorgeous and there was no possible way she hadn't noticed that. He noticed it every time he saw her. Clearing his throat out of nervous habit, Duke gripped the steering wheel tightly as he weaved in and out of traffic on his way to the talent agency. He had been passed it a few times and the only reason he knew where it was exactly was because he had seen Cailyn leaving it once and immediately asked his stepmother what it was. He had never actually been there so it was pretty exciting that he'd finally get to see where Cailyn spent a good part of her time, even if the circumstances were less than ideal. He hated the fact that the first time he got to hang out with Cailyn by himself was a result of her car breaking down on a day where she couldn't call anyone but him for fear of getting in trouble. Oh well. If it was Robby in the truck, he'd stop complaining and just enjoy it already. Of course, Duke wasn't Robby... he'd never be Robby.

As Cailyn spoke up again, Duke found himself darting his eyes from the road towards her as he pulled off of the highway. They were fairly close to the agency and according to the clock on his dashboard - which was five minutes fast just in case - they'd make it just in time for her interview. Listening to the way Cailyn practically swelled with excitement as she spoke, Duke couldn't help but let a small smile come across his face. she seemed to notice it though because immediately afterward, she made a statement that wiped it clean off of his face. Pulling to a stop at a red light, Duke watched as Cailyn's cheeks flared a bright shade of red, almost matching the flaming locks framing her face. It was mesmerizing how she could still manage to look so flawless even when she was embarrassed and flushing from head to toe. Duke spent a moment or two just looking at her, foot pressing down on the brake pedal and eyes paying attention to nothing but her. It wasn't until the car behind him honked their horn that he looked up and realized the light had turned green. Pressing his foot down on the gas pedal, he sped through the intersection and felt his own flush climbing up his neck and assaulting his ears... though his was nowhere near as attractive as Cailyn's. "No," he said softly, finally responding to her comment about sounding like an idiot. "No, you don't." She didn't sound like an idiot at all. In fact, Duke kind of admired her for her passion. He'd give anything to be that fearless, to want something so bad that he'd do anything to get it. "I'd give just about anything to have that sort of passion." He muttered softly, his eyes refusing the leave the road in case he happened to get distracted once more. The last thing either of them needed was for his truck to get messed up as well, especially since they were so close to the agency.

Letting out a soft breath, Duke tapped his thumbs on the steering wheels before him an let his eyes quickly dart to the phone sitting up in the cup holder in front of him. He wasn't so good at small talk and keeping conversations going. Hell, he was proud of himself for talking as much as he had so far, especially since he hadn't stuttered once. This was his first time actually dealing with Cailyn while Robby or her sister weren't around and while he was doing a lot better than he thought he would, he still had the feeling that it wasn't very memorable. He had texted Robby right before he arrived at Cailyn's car, telling him what was going on and practically pleading with him to help him out since he didn't have much experience with being alone with women but his best friend hadn't sent him anything back yet. While it bothered Duke a bit, it was understandable. Robby was in school so he probably had better things to do than pick up his phone and give Duke advice. He was probably busy with a girl, seeing as Robby was the type of guy who could easily get two or three numbers in the expanse of a few hours whereas Duke got flustered just looking at a female. After a few idle moments, Duke cast a side along glance at Cailyn and spoke up. "What's the audition for anyway?" He asked, figuring that having her talk about her audition would probably take up the entire time they had left in the car together. After all he could almost see the agency up the street... which was both a blessing and a curse. He wanted to spend more time with Cailyn but at the same time, he really wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. Not to mention he really hoped she got this part. She deserved it.




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fillerfillerfill

fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfiller michael pardue
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfill you speak to me in siren song
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfilleroh, anyone would drown

He wasn't, by any stretch of the definition, ready for this damned party. These were the type of people Michael had fled Europe in hopes of getting away from, only to find they were even worse in America... and all with dreadful accents to boot. It was no daunting task to figure out that Michael Pardue wasn't exactly thrilled with his new address, even if he wasn't awaken in the middle of the night by planes flying overhead. New York had been exciting at first, a brand new adventure for him and his dear Delysia but once the novelty wore off and the rose tinted fog cleared out, it was easy to see that New York was no different than London. The people were just as ambitious, if not more, always willing to do whatever it took to see their name in lights... and of course, that carried on to his Delysia as well. For awhile things had been calm and she had been ever man's dream. The type of woman who didn't mind spending the entire day in bed if Michael so desired. But once she had gotten tired of being Michael's personal plaything, she had gone right back to that ambitious actress she had always been. Frankly Michael had been expecting it. He had asked far too much of her to give up her life in London as well as change her entire person just to be with him... and while she was downright frustrating at times, it was what made her so appealing to him. He could never quite figure her out. Of course, the endless flirting with nameless men and constant need to have all eyes on her was something he could definitely do without. He wasn't exactly the happiest camper when it came to Delysia's affectionate personality. He wasn't the type of man who liked sharing things that were his and while he hadn't exactly claimed Delysia as his own in a legal sense thanks to a few money problems, he still liked to think of her as his. His Delysia... his to put his hands on and his to keep all for himself. She didn't seem too keen on that idea anymore though. Not if her recent actions were anything to go by.

It hadn't taken long for Delysia to find herself a new production to obsess over, a brand new part to make all her own. Nights at the club up the street just weren't paying enough to keep her happy and old habits obviously die hard. There was a brand new show in town with a brand new producer, eager to find new young blood for it's leading lady... and Delysia fit the bill perfectly. But just like with every other production in town, there were plenty of other women just dying to get their hands on such a career making role. Desperate times called for desperate measures... and desperate women often used desperate means. Before Michael even knew of little Delysia's new obsession, the rumors were flying. Stories of her and this producer fella, rumors of just how close they were getting. It was enough to make Michael's blood boil, because of course it had to be true. It sounded far too much like Delysia for it to be false. She had done this to him in London, played him for a fool while she had her merry little way with whomever she chose. He wouldn't have it this time. He had asked her here under one stipulation, that she love him in all his povertious glory and only him. That she be his wife. Granted, that wasn't exactly in the cards for them at the moment since they didn't have enough money to spare for a marriage certificate, let alone a wedding like Delysia wanted but Michael was slowly working on it. The fact that she was returning to her old ways made him skeptical in taking her hand though. If she did this now, before any true commitment was made than how could he trust her once it had been done? Would one piece of paper really keep her from doing what she wanted when nothing else had worked so far, not even Michael himself? These were thoughts that seemed to plague his mind constantly as of late and he really had no honest answer to any of them.



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[longbeard stinkypants]

bethany grace walker


known as the eager virgin
personality meticulous, naive, amiable
code name longbeard stinkypants

approximately 1 paragraph blurb about character here. it should be about this long, don't make it much longer. approximately 1 paragraph blurb about character here. it should be about this long, don't make it much longer. approximately 1 paragraph blurb about character here. it should be about this long, don't make it much longer. approximately 1 paragraph blurb about character here. it should be about this long, don't make it much longer. approximately 1 paragraph blurb about character here. it should be about this long, don't make it much longer.

bethany grace walker


who do these roses go out to?

beth

what does the tag say?

the eager virgin

how many valentines days have you had?

twenty-six

who do you spend your v-days with?

heroines

what color do you like your roses?

#CD5C5C

so who's your valentine?

longbeard stinkypants

[longbeard stinkypants]

_______________________________________________________

butt's getting bigger do you think he'll notice maybe?
that's okay don't worry about it baby
cause everybody knows he pumps you for your money
that's alright don't worry about it honey
in your itsy bitsy teenie weenie riding up your butt bikini
keeping on the heels cause you're sagging just a teenie bit more
than the girls he pretends he doesn't thrill
rubbing on the lotion, and rocking on the horse size pills

"I don't think you realize that yelling like a madman in the Malone house is ind of a normalcy," Jesse began with a smile, though his statement wasn't exactly true. At their ranch in Tennessee - which Jesse missed terribly - yelling had been the way to communicated through the big farmhouse they owned or the big red barn where Jesse spent quite a bit of his time. Here though, the house came equipped with an intercom system and there wasn't much land for him to need to yell on. Still, old habits die hard and more often than not when he was home his father would yell up the stairs for him instead of using the intercom. "Plus, my parents already think you're a diva." Letting his smile stretch into a wide smirk, Jesse pushed himself off of the door frame he was leaning against and standing up straight. It wasn't entirely true that his parents thought him a diva. It was really only his mother who was surprised that Jesse was hanging out with anyone in Dalton since she knew he hated those sort of people. She didn't know Jack well enough to have an opinion on him, having only met him the one time she had been home when Jesse had brought him over. Still, like Jesse, she was convinced that everyone in Dalton was after one thing and one thing only; power. Whether that power came from having the most money or the shiniest car, the biggest house or the prettiest woman on their arm it didn't matter. They were all out for the same thing which was quite a vast difference from their neighbors back in Tennessee. But Jack was different, as was Esther, and they were the only reason Jesse came home as much as he did now-a-day... so his parents didn't think that poorly of them. Honestly he'd be surprised if, with their new hectic social life and his father's new job, they thought about Jesse and his friends at all.

To be honest, Jesse didn't quite understand why Jack's mom was forcing him to go to this little soiree. It wasn't like he was even needed or that he had any sort of friend there. This party was going to be full of people Jack hated, people he complained about constantly in Jesse's company, more often than not after a few beers and while he was kicking his a** in CoD4. While it would be nice to finally put some faces to the names - namely Nate, the a*****e cousin and Shiloh, the b***h who broke Jack's heart - he really wasn't looking forward to dealing with a moody Jack. Jesse knew that being around Dalton's elite wasn't going to do anything good for the boy's attitude and he just hoped he was able to drag Jack out of the party before things got a little too heated. The last thing he wanted to do was punch some guy in the face for insulting Jack or just being his normal upper east side self. Letting his mind wander back to the conversation at hand, Jesse watched as the younger boy perked up at the mention of video games. It was one of the things he and Jack had bonded over in the past month; their love for any sort of mind numbing video game. He couldn't remember how many hours he had wasted in his dorm room with Jack and Esther, barking out commands on his headset while his fingers worked their magic on his Xbox controller. What made those hours even better was the fact that not only was Jack as obsessed with playing as he was, but Esther wasn't so far behind. She had kicked his a** on many an occasion, which only served to further his infatuation with the brunette. What hot blooded gamer wasn't turned on by a woman could kick his a** in any fps she pleased? It was like Esther was completely perfect, her only flaw being that she was with Jack instead of with him. But hopefully that would change soon... if everything went his way.

"Yeah," Jesse said halfheartedly, his mind focusing on the fact that he had a plan in the works that might break his best friend's heart instead of the fact that he was suppose to be happy little Jesse, ready to drink free alcohol and make fun of some elitests. He felt as if his little plan made him no better than the people he preached about hating. He called them vindictive swine, ranted about how selfish they were and how they'd do anything in their power to get what they wanted, no matter who it hurt... in yet he was planning on doing the same thing. His plan was different though. This was different. He was planning on making Jack happy in the process of making himself happy. He saw the way Jack talked about Shiloh, as if she were the one who got away. And he definitely noticed the way Esther visibly deflated whenever the girl was brought up, as if she knew Jack wasn't entirely over her. Still, just because he was helping Jack while hurting him didn't mean he was any better for it. "Let's go." Jesse let out in a low grumble, grabbing his coat from the coat rack and making his way out the door behind Jack. He needed to suck it up, needed to stop acting like a baby and start acting like Jesse. Not the broody lameass he was being at the moment. As he walked slowly behind Jack, his eyes locked onto the car in the street before his house and he couldn't help but shake his head. He hated chauffeurs and being driven around. He much preferred driving himself, which was why he refused to use his parent's driver whenever they offered. Sure, traffic was hell in the city but he usually found himself walking places unless he was making his way back home. Being driven around by someone else just made him feel like an a*****e, like he was trying to say he was better than everyone else. Of course, if he was planning on getting hammered at this party - which he was - having someone else drive was probably a good idea.

After a short fifteen minute ride filled with Jack's claims of just how much he was going to kick Jesse's a** when they got back and half assed rebuttals from the college student, Jesse found himself peering out the window at a house that looked exactly like all of the others lining the streets. It was a pretty house, no doubt about that, but Jesse wouldn't be caught dead paying boatloads of money for a house that looked exactly like his neighbors... not to mention, was located in the heart of the upper east side. once he got out of school, it was straight to LA for him. New York was fun but he had more of a chance to get noticed in LA. Letting out a huff of air, Jesse followed Jack out of the car, closing the door behind him when he was finally out. "Stop being so dramatic," he chastised before making a few long strides towards the house. Once inside, he sent Jack a wide-eyed look matched with a toothy smile and let his eyes wander around the party. "See, there's nothing beastly here at all." Jesse commented in an amused tone as she scanned the party, wondering if there might actually be someone he knew. Well, other than Scarlett. He knew the moment Jack invited him that he'd run into Scarlett, something he wasn't particularly looking forward to. While he absolutely adored hanging the night they spent together over her head, she was an absolute b***h every time he was around her. Really, how could someone be that annoying? She really hadn't been anything like that when they had spent all of those nights together. Then again, she hadn't said much other that yes, Jesse and more.

A soft voice sounding beside him tore Jesse from his amusing thoughts and as he turned to look, his attention was caught by a petite blond girl who was staring at Jack as if he were some a ghost, obviously trying to hide her shock by painting a fake smile on her face. Long blond hair, bright blue eyes, legs that went on forever and big pouty lips? Yep, this was Shiloh Dawson-Potter. Just looking at her, Jesse understood why Jack was so hung up on her. She was completely breathtaking and that cute little voice of hers only added to the appeal. Darting his eyes back to Jack, he noticed the panicked look that came across his face and how he just stood there for a few moments staring. Smirking, Jesse jutted his elbow out and nearly knocked the writer over but succeeded in breaking his little trance long enough for him to return the blond girl's greeting. Oh this was definitely going to be interesting. The awkwardness alone was enough to make Jesse want to tear Jack away but if Jesse's little plan was going to work, Jack needed to warm up to the idea of Shiloh again. If he couldn't even have a conversation with the girl, how were they ever suppose to get back together? "I'm going to go get a drink," he voiced softly, locking eyes with Jack before he turned to the girl before them and shot her a friendly smile, completely ignoring the man beside her. Slapping Jack on the back, he turned on his heels and began making his way towards the kitchen. When he arrived he found quite a few people scattered around, one of which looking as if she had already downed more than enough booze to satisfy the entire party. Smiling to himself, he darted around people in search of a beer but just when he came across it he heard a familiar voice outside. Letting his eyes wander over to the door, he noticed Scarlett Crayford in all of her glory, chatting with some scrawny guy Jesse had never seen before. He fought the urge to go out there and break up their little lovefest, knowing Scarlett wouldn't dare say anything snappy towards him for fear of what he might do with the information he held. Instead he just stayed inside, opting for pouring himself a glass of something stronger and leaning up against the wall counter, facing the party. He'd get his chance to mess with Scarlett soon enough. For now he just wanted to sit back and see how Jack handled himself with little Miss Shiloh.




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[longbeard stinkypants]

fillerfiller

as strong as i seem to think i am fillerfillerfillerfill
fillerfillerfillmy distressing damsel comes out at night
fillerfillerfillerfillerwhen the moon's filled up and your eyes are bright
fillerfillerfithen i think i simply ought to

fillerfillerfillerfall over, fall over, fall overboard, overboard
fillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillerfillfall overboard just so you can catch me

It felt like they had been underground for eons with no way out in sight. In reality it had only been a few hours but Andy was more than ready to be done with all of this. She was sweating up a storm, her feet hurt and her dress was completely ruined. Not to mention her phone had died about an hour ago so they were all depending on the light strapped to Mikey's head to see. Mikey had long since lost his excitement about finally having another Goonies adventure and the group had been wandering around tunnels that looked exactly the same, completely unaware of where they were on the map. Everything looked the same from the wet walls to the dirt covered ground. They were lost but Mikey wouldn't admit it. The moment anyone even brought up the fact that he was reading the map wrong, he shut them down and tried to act as if he knew what the hell he was doing. Even Brand couldn't seem to get the map from the youngest Walsh's grasp. He was dead set on finding his way to that big x and Andy was sure he wouldn't rest until he did so. At least he wouldn't rest outside or the tunnels until he did so. She just hoped that they got to it soon because her stomach was beginning to growl like Chunk's was and that was never a good sign.



It was the first time since she had gotten back to Astoria that she actually felt useful. At school she knew her place and she knew what people needed her for. Here she was lost, no longer able to find solace in the older Walsh boy and nowhere near as important there as she had been in her younger years. It was nice to be good for something other than complaining and pointing out that this was a very, very bad idea. It gave her a pang of relief, like maybe this adventure thing wasn't so bad after all. But that feeling was quickly wiped from her mind when she realized she was still underground in a hot, wet tunnel that could fall on all of them without a moments notice. She'd much rather be useful up on solid ground rather than down in some mysterious tunnel but it wasn't like she had much of a choice now. The decision had been made for her and she just needed to suck it up and deal with it, which was easier said than done. But with Mikey keeping a constant eye on her, Stef's constant reassurance and Brand's all around presence was reassuring. At least if she was stuck in a cavern of death, she had a few people she knew she could count on. Brand was iffy but something deep down told her that if she needed his help, no matter how much he might hate her, he'd help. He was just that type of guy and the thought just made Andy even regretful about her decision to break things off with him. Of course, caves were no place to be thinking of such things even if the group was at a bit of a stand still at the moment. She had the rest of the summer to kick herself for the break up. Now just didn't seem appropriate.




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[longbeard stinkypants]

It had been four years since that night. Four years, two months and some change... and Mary was definitely counting. The first few months had been sheer hell. She had tried her hardest to pretend it didn't happen, that her parents hadn't died because of her and that she hadn't made a deal with Yellow Eyes about some uncertain event in the future. It hadn't worked though, because every time she looked at John... every time he said her name or even appeared in her mind she was reminded of how easily he had been taken from her and just how easy it was to get him back. Just a simple yes and he was back in her arms.



Life for Jo Harvelle hadn't exactly been ideal as of late. Sure, she didn't have just about every demon and angel on Earth looking for her and she hadn't died and gone to hell as of late... but she still had a few issues of her own. Of course, Jo had never really been the type to sit around and mope about things she had no control over... lately at least. After a few tears were spent, she was back up again and hunting like usual. Her most recent setback though, wasn't exactly as easy to get rid of. It was like her father's death all over again, only this time she witnessed it and this time she had no one to blame but herself. The hell hounds that had attacked her mother, successfully ripping a hole straight through her stomach, had been meant for her. It was her fault, her mother's blood on her hands and a few tears and a night of drinking her worries away just wasn't enough to quell the ache in her chest. She had lost her father to demons which had in turn caused her to set out and kill as many demons as possible, thinking that might even the score. Now that her mother had been met with a similar fate things were different. She use to hunt because it felt right, because helping people and riding the world of those evil ******** was the right thing to do. It was what she was born for. Now though, now she fought for different reasons. She fought because she had nothing else. She fought because she wanted to see Lucifer pay for making her mother yet another casualty in this war over humanity. She fought because it was the only thing she had left to do. After all, if she didn't fight than it was all for nothing. Her father, Ash... her mother. She couldn't live knowing they had all died for this cause and not do anything about it herself. So she fought instead of crying. She hunted instead of grieving and she avoided any possible mention of her mother for fear it might actually break her down.

Since hunting seemed to be the only thing that made sense lately, Jo hunted as if nothing had happened. The moment her mother was lowered into the ground, she was off again. Hunting ended up being a little more difficult when you didn't have someone around to help you out when you got into a particularly sticky jam though. It was pretty easy at first, convincing herself that she could do this all by herself and not have to rely on someone else to help her out. The feeling was short lived though and before she knew it, she was calling on the Winchester boys for a little assistance. A particularly difficult poltergeist here, some banshee's there... enough to keep her in contact with them more than she had really hoped to be. But as strong as Joanna liked to think she was, there were times when those boys really helped her out. Like now, in Oregon. Just like every other job, Jo had heard about this one in one of the many bars she frequented now-a-days. The Roadhouse was long gone and Ellen had always been the one of the two who got calls about hunts, so bars were Jo's only means of finding work... especially since she just couldn't bring herself to do anything with her mother's phone but throw it away. After hearing quite a few mentions of a little town in Oregon Jo had decided to check it out herself, having been itching for a good hunt for about a week. It wasn't until she showed up that the thought of calling the Winchesters up even crossed her mind. The town was downright weird, causing a chill to run down her spine the moment she entered it. It looked dead and the people in it didn't seem like they cared about much at all. They walked around with blank faces, like all of the happiness had been sucked out of their world. Jo knew that feeling all too well but it was a little odd seeing an entire town acting that way. Then again, she had seen quite a few things lately that she hadn't ever expected to see. The apocalypse really brought out the worst in people, even if they had no idea it was even going on.

Dull residents and creepy vibes didn't seem to be the only problem plaguing the little Oregon town. Jo hadn't been told much of anything before she arrived in town, just that quite a few of the residents had been found in sewage drains and in the local lake, all without an ounce of blood in them. That only meant one thing and the moment Jo snooped around town a bit, her suspicions were confirmed. There was a nest, a pretty big one at that, full of vampires in the heart of town. They were using the sewer system to get around during the day and dumping bodies left and right, obviously with no regard for keeping their existence hush hush. The only problem with the scenario was that there were over half a dozen of them and only one of her, which really didn't bode well in her favor. Thankfully though, before she even had time to call, the Winchesters showed up in town and she was sparred the grueling task of calling up Dean Winchester and asking for his help. That in and of itself was worse than facing a full coven of vampires without so much as a wooden chair lying around. Jo wasn't exactly the type of person who liked to look helpless, especially not around the likes of Dean and Sam Winchester - who already seemed to think of her as an innocent little sister who needed protecting rather than a woman who could hold her own. Still, Jo wasn't stupid enough to think she could take on a nest full of vampires all by herself. She might hold quite a few surprises in that little body of hers but taking on six or seven opponents at one time just wasn't one of them.

From what she knew, Sam and Dean had only been in town for a day or so and still weren't entirely sure what they were up against. It wasn't surprising seeing as the town gave off more than the usual freaky vibe. There was definitely something else going on in town but for now, Jo was focused on getting the boys up to date and getting rid of these vampires before any more of the townsfolk got drained. And that of course meant that she had to meet up with the boys to talk strategy. Just like the previous day, Jo woke up around nine and made her way into town from her motel. She spent hours scoping out the place and talking to the residents to try and get a feel of where these creatures might actually be nesting. She had a pretty good idea but since she had been by herself so far, she hadn't gone to investigate. The last thing she wanted was to get caught by a bunch of hungry vampires and become dinner. The day had passed by fairly quickly and before she knew it, she was headed towards the Winchester's hotel in her beat up truck.




With her back towards the door and her eyes flowing slowly across the seemingly abandoned parking lot before her, Jo used her knuckles to scrape lightly against the door before she knocked once. Her eyes wandered, looking for any sort of abnormality that might mean danger was afoot. You could never be too careful these days, especially when dealing with the Winchester's. They both had marks on their heads from demons and angels alike, and anyone caught in the crossfire was just another casualty of war. Frankly Jo didn't feel like getting her head blown off today by some bounty hunter looking to cash in on the biggest job around so even as she heard rustling inside, her eyes stayed glued on her surroundings and her hand gripped the mossberg hidden away in her bag.



err on the side of caution
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