Emily (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iluvroadrunner6) wrote2020-12-12 01:57 pm
iluvroadrunner6) wrote2020-12-12 01:57 pm
Entry tags:
- canon: from dusk til dawn,
- canon: leverage,
- canon: original,
- canon: teen wolf,
- canon: vampire diaries universe,
- fdtd: kisa,
- fdtd: richie gecko,
- fdtd: seth gecko,
- leverage: jim sterling,
- leverage: sophie devereaux,
- prompts: get your words out,
- ship: caroline/tyler,
- ship: cora/stiles,
- teen wolf: cora hale,
- teen wolf: stiles stilinski,
- tvdverse: caroline forbes,
- tvdverse: freya mikaelson,
- tvdverse: hope mikaelson,
- tvdverse: josh rosza,
- tvdverse: josie saltzman,
- tvdverse: lizzie saltzman,
- tvdverse: tyler lockwood
get your words out { 2021 } challenge tracking
Directory:
PERSONAL GOALS:2021 Year Goals TEQ Edit List TV Watchlist GYWO Yahtzee COMPLETE
OFFICIAL CHALLENGES:1/14/21: Stop, Drop, Write Challenge COMPLETE 1/23/21: January Challenge: Tarot Prompt COMPLETE 2/16-17/21: Roll the Dice Challenge COMPLETE 3/1/21: February Challenge: Masked/Unmasked COMPLETE 3/15/21: Five Minutes Challenge COMPLETE 3/27/21: March Challenge: It's a Date COMPLETE 4/28/21: Challenge: Roll a Prompt COMPLETE 5/10-12/21: Time Management Challenge COMPLETE 5/23-29/21: 7 Days, 7 Stories COMPLETE 6/21/21: Five Minute Challenge COMPLETE 6/28/21: Challenge: Senses COMPLETE July 2021: Mid-Year Marathon COMPLETE 7/13-16/21: Roll the Dice Challenge COMPLETE 7/15/21: Challenge: Playlist COMPLETE August 2021: Mid-Year Marathon INCOMPLETE 8/1/21: Christmas in July Challenge COMPLETE 8/11-12/21: Time Challenge COMPLETE 8/21/21: Random Challenge COMPLETE 10/12/21: September Challenge: Dressing Up COMPLETE 10/15-19/21: Nano Prep Challenge IN PROGRESS 10/18-31/21: 2021 Spoopy Word Crawl IN PROGRESS 10/26/21: Halloween Prompts COMPLETE 12/27/21: Stop, Drop ... Write COMPLETE 12/30/21: November Challenge: What's in a Name? COMPLETE 12/31/21: December Challenge: Auld Lang Syne COMPLETE
2021 PERSONAL GOALS
THE EMPATHY QUOTIENT EDIT LIST
LINE EDIT (JULY-SEPT 2021):
TV WATCH LIST 2021
1/14/21 | stop, drop, write challenge | 411
“Where’s the boss?”
“He and Becka are out talking to someone she thinks might be connected to our ghost.”
“And TJ?”
“All-day conference call.”
Bryan nods as he slowly begins to smirk. “So we’re alone?”
Holly nods as she hops down to make her way closer. “Now, I still have a lot of coding to do, so we can’t really go anywhere. But we do have the entire office to ourselves.”
“Well,” Bryan grins. “You know what this means.”
Thirty minutes later, they’ve ordered a stack of pizzas. Holly pulls up the music player on her phone and starts blaring the Pina Colada Song. Holly is supposed to be coding, but that turns into dancing instead, moving in time to the music and each other. Bryan certainly doesn’t mind the close contact, but he does lean in to smirk at her.
“Aren’t you supposed to be coding?”
“This is part of my process,” she smirks as he turns her, extending her outwards before pulling her back in again. “I dance until I solve the problem and then I write it.”
“Ahh,” Bryan nods. “It’s funny, because that kind of sounds like procrastination to me.”
Holly pulls back, mock-offended as she rests a hand against her chest. “Mr. Salazar. Are you accusing me of a dereliction of duty?”
He laughs, before pulling her in close for a warm kiss. “I would never.”
She laughs into the kiss, running her fingers through his hair. “I know you wouldn’t. That would be very rude of you.”
“I’m simply suggesting that this could be a lot more fun if you were finished and we could be somewhere not here.”
Holly nods slowly, looking around the room and considering. “You mean having real pina coladas, rather than just singing about them.”
“It’s certainly a good start.”
She smirks, before nodding her agreement. “Alright, fine. I’ll get to work.” She releases his hand and begins retreating back to her work station. As she goes, she eyes the pizzas on a table nearby. “Can I still eat?”
Bryan laughs. “Of course. I wouldn’t dare take your pizza away from you.”
1/23/21 | january challenge: tarot prompts | original | 1,425
Justine’s head snaps up at the sound of her name, clutching the book she reads to her chest. Immersed in the text, she lost track of time. Her oil lamp is running low, casting dark shadows across the disapproving librarian’s face.
It’s not her fault that spending her time in a very comfortable chair, in the company of an excellent book happens to sap the time away. It’s also not as though she has much else to do, given the third wave of the flu sweeping through New York City. Local officials recommended avoiding crowded rooms like parties, so most of the events on her social calendar have been canceled.
A tragedy.
“My apologies, Mr. Burnham.” She offers a conciliatory smile in return. “Have I overstayed my welcome again?”
Charles Burnham is not an unpleasant man as a general rule. Justine has known him many years, as she has been entertaining herself with Thomas Sheffield’s library since she was young enough to read. Hired as an apprentice to the previous curator, Justine knows that Charles takes his work seriously, and he disapproves when Sheffield’s niece from the next town over happens to stay for too long.
Honestly, it’s a fair concern. Were it not for the attention of the librarian; she might waste away in the throes of good books. As it stands now, she can already feel her stomach rumbling. She likely skipped lunch, if not dinner, given the light coming through the windows.
“Hardly, Miss. You know Mr. Sheffield welcomes you to stay as long as you like.” He glances to the windows. “However, I did not realize you were here, and on account of the blizzard, the last streetcars have already left for Brooklyn.”
“Oh.” Justine weighs her options before waving a hand. “That’s fine. I’m sure my uncle wouldn’t mind having a room made up for me.”
“Mr. Sheffield isn’t here, Miss. He went upstate this morning, before the storm. I’m terribly sorry. Had I realized you were here, I would have ensured that you made it home, but …”
“Well, it seems to be too late for that, doesn’t it.” Justine sighs before pushing up to her feet and stretching her cramped legs. “Don’t worry, Mr. Burnham, I won’t be in your way. I’ll see if Martha can fix up the guest room for me and have some dinner.”
There’s a moment when she feels as though he might interrupt her, insist that what she says is factually incorrect. Whether that’s because she is never in the way, or because he doubts she could ever be not, she can’t tell. But she’s contradicted him enough to see the spirit of contradiction in his features. Yet, he doesn’t confirm either way, merely withdrawing and returning to his desk.
“Of course, Miss Carrington. Enjoy your evening.”
“You as well, Mr. Burnham.” And with that, she turns and heads into the manor in search of Martha.
A fire crackles in one of the common room fireplaces as Charles does his best to wind down for the evening. He’s halfway through his latest volume and hopes to finish before he retires for the evening. Blizzards are always best for reading, with a warm fire and nowhere else needing his attention. He stretches back in the armchair, doing his best to get comfortable and not let his mind wander to the lovely yet frustrating countenance of his employer’s niece.
Mostly because she’s his employer’s niece, yet something about her knocks him off balance. That thread of thought tugs him deeper into a sea of questions that not even the jungles of Africa can save him from, so much so he almost misses the footsteps moving to join him in the small lounge.
“Well. Seems as though we both had the same thought, Mr. Burnham.”
Speak of the lovely devil.
His head snaps up, brow furrowing as he registers which part of the manor she’s currently standing. She seems unbothered by his surprise, winding her way around to perch comfortably on the couch. He turns to face her, eyes narrowing.
“Miss Carrington, you are aware this is the servants’ quarters.”
“I’ve been running around this house much longer than you have. I know quite well where I am.” She settles comfortably on the couch before glancing back at him. “I insisted Martha place me here. There’s no point in trying to heat the whole of this drafty old house poorly when you can heat one part well.”
He wouldn’t deny that it’s a good idea. “I’m sure polite society would have other ideas.”
“Well, polite society isn’t here, is it?” Justine looks up from the pages of her book before raising an eyebrow at him. “Why? Are you going to take advantage of me, Mr. Burnham?”
“I would never.” He would be offended by the question if he weren’t aware she was teasing.
“Then polite society will never have to know.”
Justine returns her attention to her book, and he lets his eyes linger on her. She seems different, and it takes him a moment to realize that it’s because her long dark hair is currently hanging around her shoulders. A deep, dark part of him can imagine winding it around his fingers, but he pushes the thought to the side for now. She’s no more dressed down than she would usually be – Justine’s shed the jacket she was wearing earlier and perhaps her belt and other accessories, but the hair makes this feel more intimate all the same.
She seems quite content in her book, so he takes the opportunity to go back to his, trying to refocus his attentions on the adventure story rather than the alluring woman next to him. An hour passes, and the fire dims, and he takes the opportunity to get up and stretch. As he reaches forward to restoke the fire, he can feel the other pair of eyes in the room on him.
“What are you reading?” she asks, and he blinks as he glances over to her.
“Me?”
“Who else, Mr. Burnham?”
He huffs a laugh before shaking his head. “Jungle Tales of Tarzan.”
“Tarzan!?” She’s delighted by the revelation, getting up herself to check the book. “Why, Mr. Burnham. I never took you for the type. I always thought you preferred stuffy academic texts.”
“Of which you have read aplenty, Miss Carrington.”
“I said they were stuffy. I didn’t say the books weren’t worth reading. The information is important for an educated man to know; I wish that the narrator were not so self-important.” She shifts to rest an elbow against his chair. “I didn’t realize you were the type for an adventure.”
“I think we all could use a little adventure every once in a while.” He smiles before glancing away. “Even those of us who believe that educational reading is important.”
She smiles, and she leans closer, as though sharing a secret. “You aren’t the only one who enjoys a good adventure.”
He glances over and sees the worn cover of The Scarlett Pimpernel. “You know he released a sequel this year.”
“I know,” she makes her way back to the couch and drops into it, obviously verklempt. “I’ve been trying to convince my uncle to add a copy to his collection for months, and he has yet to indulge me.”
“Why not buy a copy for yourself?”
“Because my mother is not one for indulging me. If I spend my money on books or she oft insists that it be something appropriately ladylike. I am fortunate that Uncle Thomas has always been so willing to share his collection. I only hope that when I marry, my husband will be equally indulgent.”
Something drops into the pit of his stomach as he picks up his book, moving to sit next to her. He doesn’t know quite what to say, but he turns to face her after placing a bookmark between the pages.
“Then I think perhaps when considering your prospective suitors, perhaps choosing someone who appreciates that voracious appetite for knowledge more than your more … amorous qualities would serve you best.”
She looks up at him, tipping her head to the side curiously as she studies him. “I will take that into consideration.”
“Good.” He takes a deep breath before stepping backward again. “If you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time I retire for the evening.”
“Of course.” She smiles and nods as she returns to her book. “Good night, Mr. Burnham.”
“Good night, Miss Carrington.”
2/16-17/21 | roll the dice challenge | goal: 4,763 | COMPLETE
DAY 2:
GRAND TOTAL: 6,527
3/1/21 | february challenge: masked/unmasked | 732
“There’s someone here that wants to talk to you.”
Freya shakes her head before knocking back the shot. “I’m off the clock.”
Josh makes a face. “I would normally let you continue to drink yourself into oblivion, but these are out of towners who look pretty serious, so I would at least dismiss them yourselves before you do.”
Freya rolls her eyes because as much as she adores Josh, his tendency to default to the most powerful person in the room, despite being a faction leader in his own right, is annoying. However, it’s also kept him alive through all the years he’s been in New Orleans, so she can’t say she blames them. Instead, she pours herself one more shot before glancing to the rest of the room.
“Which ones?”
Josh points, identifying two men flanking a woman, all of them wearing masks. From where she is, she can make out the snake-like scale print. That is curious enough, and she nods as she slides off her stool to make her way closer. It isn’t until about halfway there that she senses it:
Power. Power she felt once before, a very long time ago.
She makes her way over, ignoring the men for now before settling on her stool. “It’s not very often we get culebra in New Orleans.”
One of the men seems surprised, also a culebra. The other is human, which is curious. The only human of the bunch, yet he seems quite comfortable in the presence of a creature who is much, much more powerful than him. Still, the woman holds her attention, the one calling the shots.
“I thought I would make a special exception.” The woman pauses before lifting the mask and revealing the face underneath. Freya’s eyes widen before a smile crosses her face. “It’s been a long time, Freya.”
“It has, Kisa,” Freya nods in return. “Though I did hear about your run on the Lords. Well done.” The human snorts, and Freya raises an eyebrow. “You disagree?”
“I don’t think revenge is the road best taken,” he snarks in return. “But that’s just me.”
Freya shrugs. “You must not have known them very well.”
The human continues to be unimpressed and leans in to address Kisa directly. “What the hell are we doing here?”
“You were the one who wanted to help Kate. This is how we help.” Kisa gives him a look in return before addressing Freya. “We may have a small possession problem.”
“How small?”
The culebra speaks up this time. “Should we be talking about this out in the open?”
“Where would you prefer to discuss it?” Freya raises an eyebrow. “Though I should warn you that this bar is full of vampires, werewolves, and witches who have been walking you since you walked in the door.”
The culebra looks uncomfortable, glancing around to the rest of the room. Those who have enhanced hearing stare the culebra down as though to prove the point. When the culebra’s eyes finally return to Freya, she smiles.
“I’m a Mikaelson witch. People are always watching my every move.” She then turns back to Kisa because the men have proved themselves to be useless. “How big is this possession problem, Kisa?”
“Do you remember Amaru?”
“The Queen of Xibalba? I thought the Nine Lords consumed her.”
“She was,” Kisa nods. “That’s part of the problem.”
Freya nods slowly before finishing off her drink. “Perhaps we should take this back to my place.”
Kisa nods as she rises to follow suit, and the two men look confused before turning to follow after them. “Do we have to worry about your supernatural friends following us back?” one of them asks, and Freya glances back over her shoulder.
“If you didn’t want to be part of the supernatural, maybe you shouldn’t have followed a culebra to New Orleans.”
2021 | gywo yahtzee | goal: complete all sets (8/8) | COMPLETE
3/15/21 | five minutes challenge | 435
Diana turns and squints towards the spot in the distance as they stand on the beach, fighting against the midday sun as she did. It takes a few moments of getting her eyes to focus before the plane’s wings, and propellers come into sharper view.
“Oh. It’s one of those advertising plans.” Diana waves a hand as she turns back to the water, shifting so that the waves better washed over her feet.
Todd frowns, shifting uncomfortably on his feet as he watches her. Diana knows her boyfriend well enough to know that something was on his mind – something that he wanted to get out but didn’t quite have the words to say. She looks back at him curiously, raising an eyebrow, and then he takes her by the shoulders, directing her back towards the plane.
“Just—keep watching.”
Diana’s brow furrows, but she does as she’s told, turning to watch as the plane continues to fly past. It’s the kind of aircraft that tends to promote something along the lines of LADIES NIGHT AT HAGEN’S or FREE BEER IN THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF HAPPY HOUR. It’s intended to promote local businesses in the LBI area. But that wasn’t the case with this one.
This one reads: DIANA, I LOVE YOU. WILL YOU MARRY ME?
“What?”
She turns to face her boyfriend, spinning wildly and one hand catching his as he extends a small black box. They both watch, eyes wide in horror, as the velvet jewelry box goes flying through the air in a wide arc, tumbling until it splashes down into the surf. Todd stares after it, stunned before he goes running after it.
“Holy shit, that was half my salary for the month.”
There’s a few moments of anxious splashing, but in the end, there’s nothing to be done. The ring has already washed out into the ocean, never to be seen again. Todd keeps looking, but Diana jogs into the surf to pull him out.
“Todd, Todd. Stop. … I think it’s gone.”
Todd huffs but lets her pull him back towards the shore, resting his hands on her hips. “The ring was going to seal the deal.”
“I’m sure it was,” Diana grins, looking up at him, eyes shining. “But you don’t need it.”
“What do you mean I –” The realization hits mid-thought as he turns his eyes to meet her, a smile stretching across his face. “—does that mean yes?”
Diana nods, matching his smile with her own as she pulls him closer for a saltwater kiss. “Yeah. That means yes.”
3/27/21 | march challenge: it's a date | legacies | 328
Lizzie makes a face as she stands between Hope and Josie, looking exhausted. Most of the witches out at this particular hour of the night look exhausted, and it’s hard to blame them. When they’re all getting tested on a spell that requires casting at the witching hour, you have to be prepared to feel a little sleepless, especially if it’s one on a full moon.
All the witches can feel the itch of power under their skin, the static that comes with the pieces of the world aligning into something powerful. Something that feeds the magic within them. Even Lizzie can acknowledge that casting now feels different. That doesn’t mean she wants to be awake until four AM while all of them take their exams.
Hope raises an eyebrow as she looks up at her friend before smirking. “It’s only midnight, Lizzie. I think you’ll survive.”
“Sure. It’s midnight now, but you’re M, and we’re S. You know Ms. Tig always goes in alphabetical order.” Probably to avoid some favoritism, but Lizzie isn’t sure about that either way. “Tomorrow is going to suck.”
“Relax, Lizzie,” Jose rests her chin against her sister’s shoulder. “We’ll make it through. We have to be patient.”
Lizzie thinks people should know by now that patience is not one of her virtues. She huffs before settling in next to her fellow witches. Ms. Tig steps up and reads the first name off her list, and Alicia Chang steps forward to start the row of witches ahead of them.
Great. Time to wait.
Lizzie sits quietly for ten minutes before glancing over to her sister. “The least they could have done is let us bring something to read.
Josie rolls her eyes. “Just watch, Lizzie.”
Lizzie huffs as she crosses her arms in front of her chest. Fine. That’ll be fine. Let’s hope that she doesn’t fall asleep before the hour is up.
4/28/2021 | challenge: roll a prompt | original | 564
Still, the door is propped open to provide the wafting scents of sugary frosting and light and fluffy cakes. Larry rubs his hands together as he eyes the selection of delectable treats, trying to determine which would be his choice for the day.
Marian comes up from behind the counter, featuring three shelves that you can see through the glass. Flashing him a smile, she leans one elbow on the tall display case. “What’ll it be today, Larry?”
He muses for a moment, before taking another deep breath of the scents of cinnamon, fruit and sugar. “I think I’m feeling fruity. Got any of those blueberry cupcakes?”
“Whadaya know. We just got a batch out of the oven. You might have to wait a couple minutes for us to frost it though.”
“That’s fine,” he smiles as his eyes glance around to see if there are any small tables and chairs available for him to wait. The tiny setups are twisted from white wires that wind and curl their way to the table or seat they hold in place. Along the walls are painted spring-like floral scenes that can be quite the boon in the cold of winter. “Finally starting to get warm out there.”
“Wouldn’t know,” she smirks. “I spend my whole day in front of an oven.”
“You know, you should get out every once in a while,” Larry grins, resting an elbow on the table. “Get some fresh air.”
She raises an eyebrow at him, before blowing a strand of curly hair out of her face. “Are you asking me out, Larry?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as all that.” He would absolutely go so far as all that. Marian is lovely, and as far as he’s aware, she isn’t wearing a ring. “But if no one else were around to take you out, I would certainly love to pick up the slack.”
“Mmm, unfortunately I do have someone to do that.” She reaches over, placing a blueberry cupcake on top of the counter, with a swirl of vanilla buttercream on top.
“My loss is their gain,” he says whole heartedly.
After paying for his dessert, he lifts the cupcake by the side and tips the icing away from him, taking a big bite of the cake first. The tart sweetness of the blueberries explodes on his tongue, mingling with the light texture of the cake. If he were to die right then and there, he would die a happy man.
“Mmmm.” The sound comes out of him like a moan as he chews. When he finally swallows, he looks over to her with a nod. “Whoever you do go home to, Marian, they must be a very happy man.”
Marian laughs as he turns to leave, resting her arm on the display case again. “I’ll be sure to let my wife know you think so.”
Larry’s eyes bug briefly, before shrugging as he continues on his way. “Lucky girl.”
5/10-12/21 | time management challenge | COMPLETE
GRAND TOTAL: 1,900
5/23-29/21 | 7 days, 7 stories | running count: 7/7 | COMPLETE
GRAND TOTAL: 7,838
july 2021 | mid-year marathon | goal: 21,333 | COMPLETE
WEEK 2:
WEEK 3:
WEEK 4:
GRAND TOTAL: 25,930
6/22/21 | five minute challenge | original | 503 | COMPLETE
Sherry’s hand reaches out and takes his arm, gripping tightly as they make their way through the park. Roman can’t help the smile that slips over his features as he pulls her in closer, enjoying the closeness.
“If you wanted to get closer, all you had to do was ask.”
Sherry glances back to him before rolling her eyes and swatting her hand against his shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. I could have sworn I saw something.”
“Don’t worry,” he teases. “There’s no one else out here but us.”
“You don’t know that. They always tell us not to go into the park at night.”
“They do. And in my personal experience, I have never seen any kind of murderous bandit or vagabond creeping around looking for trouble. We’ll be fine.”
Sherry still looks uncertain, not knowing what to trust, but eventually she straightens, lifting her chin, and waving a hand. “You’re right. It’s likely just a story they tell kids to keep them out of trouble.”
“There you go,” Roman smiles before draping an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, I think we’re so alone that we could probably get up to a little mischief.”
“Roman.” She can tell the mischief he means from the way his eyes wander over her, and she shakes her head. “You flirt.”
“You knew what I was when you agreed to go out with me, darling.”
He pulls her gently off the path and towards a nearby shaded area, far from the view of prying eyes. When she reaches the edge of the path, she hesitates, unsure if she should step into the unknown. Roman waits for her on the other side, keeping her hand in his gently.
“Come now,” he murmurs. “What do you have to lose?”
Almost as though charmed by the ease of the sentence, she steps out of the light and allows him to draw her into the shadows.
Twenty minutes later, only Roman emerges from the brush, straightening the front of his suit. As he rounds the corner to the entrance of the park, a boisterous voice calls from the corner. “Roman, good man. What are you doing in the park this late? You never know what could float round in there.”
“Oh, only passing through on my way home, Henrik,” he smiles, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
Henrik shakes his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were courting trouble.” He then peers closer at Roman as the man crosses into the spotlight. Henrik frowns as he reaches to pull out his handkerchief. “Forgive me, but you seem to have something there.” He gestures to the corner of his mouth before handing off the small patch of cotton.
“Thank you,” Roman takes it, swiping as indicated and frowning at the reddish-brown substance against the white linen. He then smiles before handing it back to him. “Forgive me. It must have been left over from dinner.”
6/28/21 | challenge: senses | original | 1,129
Wind whips through the slightly cracked windows as we drive down the open highway towards Stillwater University. Justine, after spending most of the trip perched in the passenger’s seat with her gaze focused on her phone, looks over at me with a skeptical expression.
“Did Mom want you to ask that, or did you come up with that one on your own?”
I roll my eyes before turning back to the road. “College isn’t just a thing you do, you know. Hopefully, there’s something you want to get out of it beyond a degree.”
She shrugs, taking on that disaffected teenage look that she’s perfected since turning fourteen. It’s hard, being the bookend siblings where you want to be closer to your sister but not knowing how to bridge the gap between you. But we have an entire day to make this work.
“Not according to Mom.”
“Well, Mom isn’t here.” I reach down to the cup holders and pull out my soda that we’d picked up for the road. I take a long sip, the tart taste of Coca Cola exploding on my tongue before I swallow and put it back. “And Mom isn’t the one who’s going to have to be there for four years. This is your life. You should make sure you’re getting the most out of it.”
“But we’re Stillwater legacies.” Justine looks up with a sigh. “It’s where she wants me to go.”
I turn my eyes back to the road, two long black corridors stretching out ahead of me. The green highway signs indicate our exit is coming up, and I transition to the right lane, ready to pull off and get this trip on their way.
“Just really think about it,” I finally reply, not wanting to put too much pressure on her, but at least letting her know she has options. “I want you really to love the place you go. This is the start of the rest of your life.”
“Whatever,” Justine sighs as they pull into the parking lot. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Stillwater University sits away from the city, full of sprawling green hills criss-crossed with paved pathways. Students wander between buildings, chatting with each other as they go, accompanied by the smell of fresh green grass and slightly stale coffee. Justine and I wait outside the student center with the rest of our group, and Justine’s eyes wander carefully over the faces. After a few moments of silence, I lean forward, nudging her shoulder gently as I do.
“Why don’t you go talk to some of the other kids?”
“You say that like you actually think they want to talk to me.”
“Everybody’s new here. Gotta make friends somehow.”
“Are you going to keep bugging me until I go over there to talk to them?”
“Maybe.”
“God, you’re the worst.” And with that she stalks off to find a group of girls her age to attach herself to. Satisfied with my progress, I perch in an uncomfortable metal picnic chair outside the student center, letting the sounds of student chatter wash over me and take me back to a more pleasant time.
“Mind if I join you?”
I look up to see one of the fellow older siblings joining me with their own cup of stale coffee. I raise my cup to him with a nod before extending a hand. “Alyssa.”
“Brian,” he smiles. “I take it you’re on babysitting duty too?”
“Eh, I didn’t mind. My mom’s kind of got her heart set on Justine going to Stillwater too, but I want to make sure it’s what she wants.”
“A legacy, huh?” Brian smirks. “What about you?”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head with a teasing smile. “I broke her heart by deciding to go to NYU.”
He laughs. “You’re right. You’re clearly the family disappointment.”
I shrug. “It worked for me. Justine’s my mother’s last hope, but I don’t want her to just give in to my mother’s whims.”
“Charlie’s the same way. Not used to his life being his own yet. Just gotta give him enough leeway to figure it out on his own.”
“Yep,” I nod. “And occasionally nudge them so that they get out of their own way.”
“That too.” The tour guide returns from lunch and rounds up the kids again, brushing a few stray crumbs off the front of their college t-shirt.
“Alright, if you’ll all follow me, we’re heading this way, towards Greek Row.”
Brian smirks as we get to our feet. “Looks like things are about to get real interesting.”
I laugh before turning to fall in step next to him. “Isn’t it just?”
“Thanks,” Justine says as we pull into the dark driveway, golden lights glowing from the windows. “For pushing me to get out there today.”
I can feel the tired ache from a long day of being on my feet, so I hang back in the car for a moment, glancing over at my sister curiously. “I take it you got something out of today?”
“I don’t know if Stillwater is going to be the school for me,” she admits, sheepish. “I want to look at some other campuses. But I can see why mom really wants at least one of us to go there. In a weird way, it almost feels like home.”
I reach over and take her hand gently, giving it a firm squeeze. “Whatever choice you make, I know it’ll be the right one. And Mom will back your play.”
“I just don’t want to let her down.”
“At least you can tell her you had fun. That’s important too.”
Justine nods in return before giving a heavy sigh. “We should probably get in there before she accosts us in the car.”
“Probably,” I laugh as I get up to follow her in. About halfway up the front steps, she turns to face me curiously.
“So who was that guy you were hanging out with today?”
I blink at her before shaking my head. “No one. Just someone to pass the time with.”
“Uh-huh.” She grins. “Did you get his number?”
I roll my eyes and pull open the door, basking in the scent of fresh-made food, the familiar Italian spices of a well-made meal.
“So?” Mom pops in from the kitchen, flashing us both an eager smile. “What did you think?”
Justine sighs. “Can we eat and talk at the same time? I’m starving.”
I laugh at the exasperated look on our mother’s face as I make my way inside. “Don’t worry, Mom. It didn’t go as bad as you think.”
But full thoughts can wait. Right now, we eat.
7/13-16/21 | roll the dice challenge | goal: 1,764 | COMPLETE
RUNNING TOTAL: 4,117
7/15/21 | challenge: playlist | COMPLETE
GRAND TOTAL: 3,618
august 2021 | mid-year marathon | goal: 21,233 | INCOMPLETE
WEEK 2:
WEEK 3:
WEEK 4:
GRAND TOTAL: 17,892
8/1/21 | christmas in july challenge ~ leverage ~ 1,483
She has half a mind to cancel it. The romantic trip to the Poconos that Nate had planned for them shouldn’t see the light of day without him in it. But going away and being somewhere new, possibly even someone else for a little while, seems more and more appealing. Each time she picks up the phone to cancel, she pauses and puts the phone down again.
Maybe it would be good for her. Maybe she should take a break. Besides, Nate wouldn’t want her not to take it.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Eliot asks as she helps him wash the dishes after their yearly Christmas dinner. It’s one of the few times a year she sees him, Parker and Hardison these days, with them being so busy with Leverage, International. She’s proud of them and all the hard work they’ve put in to turn their little crew into something so much bigger.
She’s briefly tempted to take him up on that offer, but in the end, she shakes her head. “No, not this time. I’m going to have to get used to doing things on my own, eventually.”
“You’re not on your own, though.” Eliot stops her, taking the dish she’s finished into his muscular hands to dry. “You’ve got us.”
“I know. I know I do.” She reaches for the next piece of china on the stack as she nods. “But that’s not the same.”
Eliot nods once, because he gets it. Eliot, Parker and Hardison, as much as they may love her, weren’t her partner of eight years, the love of her life. The man who isn’t there anymore. She needs a change of scene, but she needs one that will help her reestablish the force of nature that is Sophie Devereaux.
“I won’t be long,” she says with a soft smile. “Just staying through the New Year. I want to get it started on the right foot.”
“Alright.” Eliot nods as the last dish comes into his hands to be put away. “But if you need something—anything—you call, alright?”
“I will,” she smiles. “I promise.”
She doesn’t know how well she intends to keep that promise, but she’ll try.
Arriving at the upscale New England resort is fine, at least for the first few days. The small vacation isn’t as upscale as her previous adventures, but it’s quiet, cozy enough that she can settle into the ski lodge and lightly put on one of her personas, slowly test out who Sophie Devereaux is now without Nathan Ford.
So far, she’s not sure she likes the person, but it’s nice to get out of her own sorrowful rut for a little while.
Skiing shuts down after those first few days, however, when a nor’easter comes through, dumping almost a foot and a half of snow on the surrounding hills. The storm traps all the vacationers in the resort, eyeing the disappearing tree trunks of the evergreen trees nearby and partaking in more and more of the alcohol.
Part of her wants to fall back on old habits. Sneak some wallets while the other guests are too drunk to notice. But the thrill simply isn’t there, and she keeps enjoying her stay with no extracurricular adventures. New Year’s Eve brings a fresh rash of festivities, but Sophie keeps her distance. After claiming a table by the window to herself, watching the swirling snow around them with a glass of wine, she hears the voice of the last person she expected to see.
“Sophie?”
She turns at the sound of her name and smiles softly. “Sterling. Fancy seeing you here.”
“Was working on a case, then got caught in the storm.” Sterling steps up and gestures to the empty seat across from her. “May I?”
Sophie nods, watching as he settles into the seat across from her with his whiskey. “Nate and I planned this before…” She waves a hand, and sees the sadness in the other man’s eyes. As much as he and the other man were rivals in most things, she knows that he and Nate cared for each other, in their own way. Perhaps not the most traditional friendship, but enough for their purposes. “Anyway, I didn’t have the heart to cancel it, I suppose. Seemed like a better idea than staying around the house.”
Sterling nods, taking a sip of his drink. “I’ve been meaning to call. Things have just been so busy.”
“Mmm,” Sophie smirks. “You know you don’t owe me anything, Sterling. Being at the funeral was enough.”
“I know. But I suppose in some ways, it feels strange to miss him. And given our history…”
“You mean the many times you’ve tried to arrest me?”
“Yes, that exactly. I thought I might not be the most welcome face.”
“Maybe.” She thinks of the weeks that Eliot slept in her guest room. The tropical vacation that Tara booked to get her out of the house over the summer. Distractions that kept her from wallowing in the sadness, fully adjusting to her new normal. And those things were nice, truly they were. “But I think I could have benefited from someone who…just wanted to talk about him.” Sophie rests her chin in her hand. “I think they think I might fall apart, even if I hear his name.”
Sterling’s head tips to the side curiously, before a thin smirk crosses his face. “You know, I have more than a few delightful stories from our IYS days. Though, I’m sure he told you all of them.”
Sophie’s eyes briefly light up, intrigue coloring her features. “Oh, no. Unless I was in them, I can’t say I know them.”
Sterling’s flat-out grinning now, finishing his glass and signaling the server for another round for them both. “Well. Then do I have a treat for you.”
“—And then Nate, in his infinite wisdom, goes diving into the pool after it.”
Sterling’s hand rises and falls to mimic the arc Nate likely took into the pool after the artifact in question, and Sophie can’t contain her laughter any longer. It bubbles up out of her chest freely, not forced or faked, and it feels good. She can’t say she’s laughed this hard since she lost Nate, and it’s a relief.
She’d wondered if she ever would again.
“Did he get it?”
“The pool was ten feet deep, and the artifact sunk like the rock it was. And your husband was not a swimmer.” Sterling shakes his head as he finishes the latest glass of whiskey with a sigh. “He made a very valiant effort, but in the end, we needed to leave it to the professionals.”
Sophie nods. “Probably for the best.” Then, there’s a deep sigh as she looks at her own empty glass of wine. “I miss him.”
“So do I.” Sterling shakes his head. “I love what I do. I always have. But it was always more fun with Nate. No matter what side of the law he was on.”
“Agreed,” she sighs. “I don’t know if putting on a con will ever be the same, honestly.”
“As an Interpol agent, I know I should encourage that line of thinking.” Sterling leans in to her, a conspiratorial smirk crossing his features. “But off the record? I think you’ll find your way again. Maybe not for the art, or the jewels, or the thrill—but because it’s what you do. You con the people who need to be conned and help the people who need to be helped.”
Her eyes lift briefly, studying his face curiously, and he shrugs.
“The job was always more fun when you were in it too.”
Her smile turns fonder. “You always forced us to up our game.”
“Likewise.” A countdown begins in the main ballroom where they had gathered most of her guests, and he glances down at his watch. “That time already?”
“Must be,” she sighs, pushing herself up into a sitting position. The servers come around, passing out complementary flutes of champagne, and they each take one, leaning forward in their seats as the seconds tick closer.
“… Five! Four! Three! Two! One… HAPPY NEW YEAR.”
The roar of cheers fills the ballroom, and Sterling leans forward, clinking his glass against Sophie’s gently. “Happy New Year, Sophie.”
She smiles in return and nods. “Happy New Year, Sterling.”
Hopefully, the coming year would be a little brighter.
Re: 8/1/21 | christmas in july challenge ~ leverage ~ 1,483
Re: 8/1/21 | christmas in july challenge ~ leverage ~ 1,483
8/11-12/21 | time challenge | goal: 2,000 | COMPLETE
8/12/2021:
GRAND TOTAL: 2,262
8/21/21 | random challenge (sasha + 4) | original | 708 | COMPLETE
Lenny turns and moves towards the window of the construction site they’re working on. Robbie squints, before following him over to the window, looking down and trying to see what had gotten his friend’s attention. It’s his first day on the job, and while she’s sure
“What? Who’s coming?”
Lenny points to the street below them and smiles. “Sasha.”
Walking below them, arms laden with plastic bags full of sandwiches for lunch, is a tall woman with long dark hair that flows behind her like she’s a model on a shoot. She’s dressed in jeans that are so tight they might as well have been a second skin, and a jewel toned top that cuts just low enough to be enticing, but not be too aggressive. When she stops by the supervisor to pass off the food, he can see that she also wears an impressively high heel.
“Who is Sasha?” Not that Robbie thinks that matters. Just knowing that she is Sasha could be the best of it. But, he feels like he needs more context. Lennie isn’t a shy guy. Not bad looking either. If he were really interested in a girl like that, this isn’t how Robbie would meet her.
Lenny glances back at him with a smirk, and Robbie braces himself for the bomb to drop. “Sasha is Derek Wollerman’s daughter. An actress, you know. She works in the office sometimes when she’s between gigs.”
And there it is, going off like an atom bomb. Wollerman, being their boss, would probably not take too kindly to the idea that his crew spend their time ogling his daughter when they should be working. Robbie winces in return, clapping his friend on the shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“Tough breaks, man.”
“Eh, it’s not so bad.” Sasha turns to sashay her way back down the street again. “She’s probably better from a distance, anyway.”
Robbie blinks as he goes to pick up his tools again, before looking back at his friend in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know how actresses are.”
Robbie raises an eyebrow. “Sorry. Can’t say I’ve ever had the pleasure of dating one. Why don’t you please enlighten me?”
“Nah, it’s girls really. See, you look at them from a distance and they’re gorgeous. The hair, the body, the makeup—perfect from a distance. But when you get up close, you deal with things like personality and drama and inevitably disappointment. So for me, I’d rather just keep the pretty picture. Appreciate her from afar, but not get too close. Then you can’t see the cracks, you know?”
Robbie nods as he considers that statement, and the twists and turns in the logic. And in a way it makes sense—kind of like don’t meet your heroes. “So you’re basically saying that they might have the disadvantage of being human?”
“Yeah, something like that.” There’s a beat before Lenny glances back at him in return. “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Means nothing.”
“No, that definitely met something. I know the look on your face when you’re being snide.” He turns and points at the other man. “Explain.”
“I’m just saying, have you ever considered the idea that a woman might be more than her looks, and that by getting closer and getting to know her personality, she may in fact become more beautiful?”
“What?” Lenny blinks at his friend in confusion.
“I’m just saying that perhaps a girl is more than the sum of her physical parts.”
Lenny looks, for a moment, as though he’s truly considering the validity of that statement. The man seems entrenched in deep thought, heavily considering the pros and cons of this view of women and their role in the world. And then he shrugs it off.
“Eh. I think my view of things is better.”
So close to an epiphany, and yet so far.
“You know, you’re going to die alone with an attitude like that.”
“Maybe.” Lenny shrugs as turns to head towards the edge of the scaffolding to head to lunch. “But at least I won’t die disappointed.”
Robbie shakes his head before turning to go back to work. “Why am I not surprised?”
10/12/21 | september challenge: dressing up | original | 550
“Look.” Emery takes Wyatt’s hands as she steps into his closet, going through his clothing. “If you want to be the next tech genius—don’t know why you do, but this is what you tell me you want—then you need to brand yourself well. And part of branding yourself is how you look.”
Wyatt groans as he flops back against the bed. All he wants to do is make stuff and bask in the glory of the stuff he made. He never thought that being a tech genius would be so much work, but apparently, he was wrong.
Emery’s head pops out from the walk-in closet again, and she gives him a look. “Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.” He takes a deep breath before propping himself up on his elbows. “But I don’t have a head for this stuff. I’m gonna fuck it up.”
“You pay me the big bucks to make sure you don’t fuck it up.” She steps out of the closet, a few shirt options in hand. “Tell me the kind of CEO you want to be.”
Wyatt sighs as he pushes himself up further, considering. “Cool. Young. Just super-causal and chill.”
“Typical tech bro.”
“That’d offend me if you didn’t work in PR.” He pouts at her, and she rolls her eyes before tossing one of the band t-shirts in his closet towards him.
“You have a ton of these in your closet. We’re going to make them work for you.” He looks down at the fairly new shirt. The ton he has in his closet is not in this great condition, but he has a feeling she has a fix for that. She studies the rest of his outfit. “Those jeans are decent, just change the shirt.”
And then, she disappears into the closet again. He stares at her retreating form before doing as he’s told, pulling off the sweater he’s wearing and sliding on the t-shirt. When Emery reemerges, she places a pair of dress shoes down in front of him, before holding open a jacket. He slips his arms in before putting on the shoes as she steps back to admire her work.
When he looks up, he’s not sure he recognizes the guy in the mirror. He stares at himself for a moment, before smoothing down the front of the jacket and turning from side to side. “Whoa. I look like an adult.”
“See?” she grins, before moving to rest her arm on his shoulder. “Professional, but chill. You like it?”
“I think I can live with it,” Wyatt admits, before looking over at her with a smile. “But not all my band shirts look this good.”
She waves a hand. “That’s alright. We’ll get you a fresh stable of newer ones that are specifically for public appearances.”
“You really think I can do this?”
“I think you’re going to kill it.” She gives his shoulder a squeeze. “You’re charismatic and you’re funny and you know your shit. I’m just dressing up what’s already there.”
Wyatt turns back to her with a smile before nodding. “Thank you.”
“What’re friends for,” she admits. “Also, you’re paying me a stupid amount of money.”
“That is very true. Good to know you’ve earned every penny.”
10/17-21/21 | nano prep challenge | goal: 8,335 | IN PROGRESS
GRAND TOTAL: 5,161
10/18-31/21 | 2021 spoopy word creep (12/13) | COMPLETE
10/26/2021 | halloween prompts | COMPLETE
fall/autumn: burning leaves (411 words)
Melissa squints at him, uncertain of this plan. It’s not that they lack the materials. Piles of drying leaves sit around them at uneven increments. “Isn’t burning leaves bad for you?”
“We’ll keep it contained,” he replies with a smile. “And it will involve less hauling, and your yard will be just as clear.” He then rests a hand on his hip. “Do you want it done or not?”
“This isn’t about what I want done,” Melissa huffs. “I don’t want us to make ourselves sick by burning dirty leaves.”
Jordan makes a face at her before reaching for the rake and shovel. “Fine. Then you stay far over there and start raking. I’ll transport and burn.” He flashes her a smile. “Relax, Mel. It’ll be fine.”
She takes another deep breath before nodding as she takes the rake. “Fine. But if we get in trouble, I’m blaming you.”
An hour later, a column of black smoke emerges from the metal barrel and the yard is full of the scent of burning leaves. It almost smells like burning paper, but there’s something almost rancid to it. Her nose wrinkles as she hangs back, watching as Jordan feeds more leaves into the barrel.
He put a mask on to protect himself. She’s glad he listens to her that much.
She runs a hand through her hair as he comes back closer to her, draping an arm around her shoulders before gesturing to the patches of green grass that they can now see. “See? Not too bad, is it?”
Melissa shakes her head. “I’m still not sure this was a good idea.”
“Relax, babe.” He presses a kiss to the crown of her head. “Everything’ll be fine. We contained the fire, we’re being safe as we do it—”
The sound of sirens rings out in the distance. They both stop and turn, eyes widening as the police car and fire truck pull to a stop in front of their property.
“Did you check if it was legal to do?”
Jordan runs a hand against the back of her neck before looking at her uncomfortably. “Yeah, I may have forgotten that part.”
She groans, burying her face in her hands as she does. “If you get me arrested, I am never speaking to you again.”
“But we’re married.”
“Never again!”
halloween: creepy voices (430 words)
The word escapes like a hiss through the eaves of the ceiling, though Lenore couldn’t say for sure whether that’s where the spirit is choosing to reside on this day. As the spirits have no physical form, she can never tell where she should look to talk to them, or how big they are, or where their eyes reside, but she’s learned over time, while living in this rickety old haunted house, that they don’t particularly want her to meet their eyes, anyway.
“Yes, I’m having a cookie,” she replies. Immediately, she finds herself swarmed by a cacophony of voices, each of them chanting:
“Cookie…cookie…cookie…cookie…cookie…”
A heavy sigh escapes her lungs as she takes her plate and moves to the chair where she left her newspaper. Living in a haunted house requires having roommates that won’t lift a finger to help beyond scaring away intruders and impeding her ability to have a pet. They like to believe that they can take part, which doesn’t really lend itself to being helpful. Case in point, the slow slide of her plate across the table and tipping towards the floor.
“Cookie?”
“Darling, you know you can’t eat,” she says softly, pulling her cookie away from the edge of the table and out of reach. “This is my cookie.”
An unholy screeching noise accompanies that declaration, and she feels the room itself rattle. One of her thankfully less expensive decorative plates rocks off the edge of a set of drawers nearby, and were it not for a quick grab, her coffee would have done the same.
Irritated, she strikes her heel against the floor and stands up with a snarl. “Now you listen here. We are not in the habit of being wasteful in this house. And you all know that if I gave you that cookie all it would do is draw mice.”
The rattling stops, and the screech turns into a pitiful whine.
“Am I wrong?”
Eventually, the room falls into silence again, and she nods as she settles into her chair. “That’s what I thought.”
Slowly she finishes the cookie piece by piece as she reads the paper, and once the plate is nothing but crumbs, she hears the voice return, hissing out a question.
“Good cookie?”
“Yes. It was a very good cookie.” A pleasant rumble fills the room, and she smiles. “If you had a corporeal body, darling, this would be much easier. I would give you all the cookies you want.”
Little does she know that a creative ghost might take this suggestion a little too far.
12/28/21 | stop, drop ... write | teen wolf (love and monsters au) | 542
And as he gives a sign of life, Malia comes from above, slamming her hand down on either side of him.
“You? Are a dumbass.”
“Nice to see you too, Malia,” Stiles comments, before slowly shifting to his feet. Cora moves to take his arm, being far gentler with him than she should be.
“Easy. We don’t know how long it’s going to take for the poison to work its way out of your system.”
“Poison?”
“You were hallucinating,” Peter says. “Vividly, if what you were muttering has anything to say about it.”
“I was not hallucinating.” He turns to Cora, giving her a firm look. A confused look. “I wasn’t.” And when she doesn’t confirm what he was hoping she would: “Was I?”
She gives him a sympathetic look. “You kissed Peter.”
Stiles’ eyes widen, before his head snaps towards Peter. “No.”
Peter looks incredibly amused. “I have to say you have very soft lips.”
Stiles groans before flopping back against the table. “That was not how that was supposed to go.”
“Obviously.” Derek makes his way over and reaches for Peter, pulling him up and nudging him towards the door. “Good to see you, Stiles.” His head jerks and Malia goes to follow, not before clapping him on the shoulder as she goes. Soon, all the Hales filter out but leave Cora behind, sitting next to him.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“Hi,” he responds, before his confused look fades into a smile. “It’s been a while.”
She laughs. “Yeah, sure. A while totally means seven years.” She reaches over for his hand and gives it a small squeeze. “It was really stupid, you know. Trying to travel above ground like that.”
Stiles knows he could have been smarter. But after being stuck alone, without his pack, and seeing a sign of life so close, he had to take it. His thumb brushes over the back of his hand as he turns to face her more. She’s just as pretty as he remembers, which means he could probably chalk it up to her werewolf genes, but it’s still comforting all the same.
“I know. But I missed you too much not to.” He gives her a smile. “You know, I thought I was kissing you, right?”
She smirks as she moves one hand up, brushing against his cheek gently. “I figured it out.” He leans into her touch, his hand coming to cover hers.
“God, I missed you so much. You’re still the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Cora’s face softens as her thumb brushes over his cheekbone. “It’s been seven years, Stiles.”
“I know. And I know things might not be the same, but… I just had to see you. I was tired of being alone.”
Cora nods and pulls back to rest her hand on his shoulder. “So. Planning on sticking around, then?”
Stiles grins. “As long as you’ll have me.”
“Good.”
12/30/21 | november: what's in a name challenge | original | 486
“Shelley! Oh, Shelley, do you have a minute?”
She turns to the side and sees Ethel Sanders, one of the nosy neighborhood mothers from her daughter’s class, and she sighs. She waves, before pointing toward the side street near the school so she isn’t holding up the line. Ethel waves in acknowledgement, meeting her on the corner as Shelley pulls up to the side and rolls down the passenger side window.
“Well, hey there Ethel. What can I do for you?”
“Hi, Shelley. Just wanted to touch base with you about the upcoming bake sale leading into the Christmas pageant.”
“Has there been a change to the order? I thought we agreed on a two-hundred count batch of the gluten-free nut-free soy-free vegan chocolate chip cookies, and Desiree was going to handle the cupcakes.”
“No, that still stands,” Ethel nods. “And I’m glad you remembered—we can just never be sure with allergens these days.”
“Well, it’s only fair that all the kids should get to take part without getting themselves sick,” Shelley smiles. “Don’t you worry, I’m on it.”
“Good, good. But for the night of the pageant, do you think you might bring some extra healthy snacks for the kids back stage? Nothing too fancy. Just enough to get some of the little ones through the longer parts.”
“Oh sure. I’ll just throw together some chopped veggies and dip, and they’ll be right as rain.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Shell. See you tomorrow at the PTA meeting.”
“Will do, Ethel. See you then.”
She continues to drive off down the street, through the rows of perfectly matching houses and manicured lawns. As she pulls the mini-van into their neatly trimmed driveway, she hits the button for the garage door and pulls her car inside. As the door closes behind her she stops the car, gathering her purse and ventures back into the house.
The door opens to greet her with a kitchen that looks like a hurricane ran through it, a living room covered with kid’s toys, and a shaggy dog, waiting eagerly for his morning walk. She lets out a sigh, relaxing some of her tense posture, and shakes her head.
“All that matters is what everybody sees.” She reaches down to give Tiger a few pats on the head. “Isn’t it boy?”
Tiger yuffs in agreement, and she smiles.
“Alright, buddy. Time for your walk.”
december challenge: auld lang syne | tvdverse | 1,109 | COMPLETE
The words wrap around her like a warm blanket, the familiar voice welcoming her home. It’s been almost a century since someone said her name like that. She’s tried out a few different last names over the years, when the time passed and fewer and fewer people who knew her as she was remain in her life, but none of them ever seem to stick. But hearing her name, said with warmth and understanding and knowing, has her turning around in the tiny liquor store in a tiny town and meeting the familiar gaze of one Tyler Lockwood.
“Tyler,” she grins as she throws herself across the aisle, her arms around his neck and a warm hug for an old friend. “What are you doing here?”
“Same thing you’re doing,” he grins as he hugs her tightly. “Picking up a case of booze for a solo New Year’s celebration.”
She pulls back with a mock gasp. “Rude of you to assume I’m solo.”
Tyler raises an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?”
“… No.” She turns up her nose. “But still rude.” She then flashes a smile. “I meant more what are you doing here in Vermont.”
“Well, I had a date who wanted to get away for the winter holidays,” he admits. “But just before we were about to leave, she dumped me. Wanted a fresh start for the new year.”
Her face softens. “Tyler, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Wouldn’t have worked out, anyway. I kept thinking of how to break the hybrid thing to her, and it never really felt like I should.”
Caroline nods, understanding crossing her features. “Yeah. That’s always the hardest conversation to have.”
“What about you?”
“A fund raiser trip for the school.” She makes a face. “I stayed out the week, just to have a break, but apparently it’s super lonely when you don’t have someone to share it with. Shocker.”
Tyler nods as he eyes her cart of whiskey. “Well, if I don’t have any New Year’s plans, and you don’t have any New Year’s plans… maybe we can hang out together? I’ve got this whole cabin to myself and plenty of food.”
If this were years ago, she might have said no. She remembers how rough things between her and Tyler had been after they broke up, but so much time had passed between then and now, and the idea of spending time with an old friend on New Year’s Eve sounds almost perfect.
“I think sounds like a fantastic idea,” Caroline grins, before looping her arm in his. Tyler smiles, nodding as he squeezes her arm.
“Good.”
Fun updates about Tyler Lockwood—apparently some time in the last century, he learned how to cook. Normally this would have been Caroline’s role, but she’s content to sit back and watch him work, nursing a glass of wine from the first bottle they opened.
“So. See any of our old friends lately?”
Caroline shrugs. “Kol’s the one I see the most, oddly enough. Between watching over both Rebekah and Hope’s families, he’s been contributing a lot to the school.” She tips her head to the side as she considers. “I ran into Enzo in Sydney, which was nice. I hadn’t seen him since Bonnie’s funeral.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Well enough, I guess. It’s hard to lose the love of your life, especially when you’re immortal. But they had a good life, and he was telling me about all the places he’s taken her since.”
“Good. I should see if I can track him down.” He gives the food another stir. “Is it weird that Enzo is basically family now?
“It is. It’s very weird. But it also makes so much sense?” She shakes her head. “He was the great love that she always deserved. He earned being family.”
“True enough.” He tips his head to the side. “I saw Stefan about a decade ago.” There’s a beat. “Is it weird to talk about Stefan?”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. I’m way over it.”
“‘Way over it’ really doesn’t make it sound like you’re over it, Care.”
She laughs. “I don’t think we were ever going to make each other as happy as we hoped we would. It’s better that we never actually made it to the altar. But how is he?”
“He’s good. Teaching history at a high school in San Francisco. It suits him.”
“Good. Next time I’m out there, I’ll have to swing by and see him.”
He slides the plate of food in front of her, and she lifts the fork before taking a tentative bite. She knows he’s watching her expectantly, so she tries to keep her face as blank as possible. But as the flavors burst across her tongue, she can’t help but respond.
“Oh my god,” she looks up at him in surprise. “This is amazing.”
He grins, smug. “I did an apprenticeship under this amazing chef for a while. He taught me a lot.”
“You learned very well.” She picks up her plate and glances at the dinner table. “I also hope there’s dessert.”
“Oh, there is absolutely dessert.”
After dinner, they take their drinks to the living room, where they watch some New Year’s celebration on TV. Caroline settles in close, letting her head rest against his shoulder, and enjoying the familiarity of it, just for a moment.
“Can I ask you something?”
Tyler turns to her in surprise, raising an eyebrow. “Of course.”
“Would you mind sticking together for a little while?” She straightens to look at him. “I’ve been really feeling the years, lately and… it’d be nice to be around someone who really knows me for a little while.”
Tyler tips his head to the side curiously. “Really?”
Caroline nods. “I’m getting why the Originals always stuck together, even when they hated each other, same with Damon and Stefan. Sometimes, you really just want someone around that remembers you before—”
“Before you became a vampire or a hybrid,” Tyler finishes with a nod. “Yeah, I get that too.” He’s quiet for a moment, his hand finding hers and his thumb brushing against the back of her hand. “And I think I could use a bit of a reminder myself.”
Relief floods her, and she flashes him a small smile. “Thank you. Really.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he nods, as the countdown clock starts behind them. When it hits zero, he leans in, pressing a warm kiss to her forehead. “Happy New Year, Caroline Forbes.”
She smiles as she leans into him again. “Happy New Year, Tyler Lockwood.”