Coffee, French Kisses, and a Mockingbird

"And now people Talk to me, but nothing ever hits home
 People Talk to me, and all the voices just burn holes"
-Yellow Flicker Beat(Lorde)

"Jim! Jim! Here take a look here!"
The camera flashes blared in every direction as Jim Lore stepped out of his car. It was hard, being an actor. He fell into the career when his friends made him come to an audition to the T.V. Series 'Roland's Locker", a then-underrated Neo-Noir Teen Drama. Jim liked detective novels and mysteries and had even aided in solving a Student Council election corruption back in his high school days all from watching one episode of Veronica Mars from his cousin, Cassie White's house. So when he read the script, he was like, Why the hell not? He initially auditioned for the main character's best friend who only floats in and out of the series. But apparently, he had natural talent. He was cast as the lead, Roland Moore, with his friend, Lionel Roberts, getting the Best Friend role.
A year later, the series is a cult hit and Jim had become a big star.
But sometimes he longs for a nicer, quieter life.
He had hoped that Roland's Locker, despite being popular, would faze out after three seasons and be cancelled, like the aforementioned T.V. series that helped him with the school corruption thing. But the producer was just so good that they've been into 4 seasons of Roland's Locker and it's still getting good reviews.
Roland sighed as his bodyguard pushed through the Paparazzi.
When he reached his apartment room, he took off his suit that he had worn to the Teen's Choice Awards (Roland's Locker won over Pretty Little Liars) and tossed it to the laundry basket, replacing it with casual clothes.
He stared into the ceiling, thinking what he should do for the night.
Then, he grabbed this brown trench coat he likes to wear and put it on.
He wanted to be a Private Detective before he got into acting. Being an actor is a creative, but sometimes frustrating job. His love for mystery went so far as to wanting to solve them himself.
That's the only reason why he still sticks around for Roland's Locker. So he can live it without really living it. It was all so fake, but it felt real.
Then...There's his little sister. With his father bailing on them and his mother too weak to continue working, he had to support his family by himself(He used to bus tables though and also had his own stints of looking for missing things when he was in high school. He had a sharp eye so he charged a little cash for it. Refundable, of course."
His little sister only had him since he's the only one that pays for her education.and expenses. This acting job has a big inflow of money, so he's happy that his sister's happy.
Jim went through his stuff for something to do. He found his old beanie and shades.
Then, he had an idea.
He grabbed the fake ID machine Lionel gave him last Christmas and made a fake P.I. License.
"Keith White... How inconspicuous."
He put on his hat and shades, grabbed his old wallet from his box of stuff and stuffed it with about 458 Dollars, grabbed the Taser his other friend, Erica Sein, had gave him last week. Private Investigators do need weapons.
He strolled out of his apartment complex, thinking how people may see through his disguise. Surprisingly, it had worked.

~Coffee~
"Mr. Keith?" The barrista called. "One Mocha Cappuccino?"
"Oh. Thanks!" Jim donned green eye contacts he got as a gag prop so he didn't have to wear his sunglasses all day.
As he sipped his coffee, he saw the T.V. playing Roland's Locker.
Jim sighed. "Can't even escape my job here." He muttered
In the screen was the penultimate episode of season 1. Just after Roland had saved the leading lady, he had given her a kiss that had been wildly popular to the fanbase.

Jim remembered it too well. It was his first kiss after all. It was so fake... And minty for some reason. 

Jim strolled out the streets. He didn't want to keep watching it.
Especially when people have dubbed him The Man with the Perfect French Kiss. He hated the nickname.
As he walked the cold streets of New York, he found himself attracted to a continuous guitar beat going on from the street.
A girl, who was on an acoustic guitar was doing an excellent cover of We Used To Be Friends by the Dandy Warhols.
The only reason why Jim knew the song was because of Veronica Mars.
He grinned and thought, I can't seem to shake this show off.
As she ended her song and collected all her earnings, Jim approached and handed her a crisp 100 dollar bill. He didn't even bother trying to look like a random stranger.
"You were great."
She smiled. "Thanks." Jim took a few seconds to see if she would recognize him. But no... The usual You're Jim Lore! People seem to shout at him when they see him.
She must not watch TV much or not care about the series.
The girl took out a CD from her guitar case. An album she made, he thought.
"Here's my first album. It's unofficial though. It's just covers and a few of my original songs. I'm still Indie. It's the best I can give you for a hundred dollars anyways." She says.
Jim takes the CD.
More Than A Step by Angel Rue
"Thanks. Angel Rue" Angel picks up her guitar case with a smile, but stumbles when a man runs into her and grabs her stuff.
"Hey! HEY!!" She ran after him and Jim trailed behind.
The Guy wasn't even wearing a mask, Jim Thought. What a lousy thief.
Then, the guy turns around and pulls out a gun. The people in the area gasps in horror. Angel stops, but her hand was on her backpocket. Jim made out what looked like a pager sized shape. A Stun Gun.
Load of good that would do to the guy with a gun.
But Jim notices first. The thief's gun was on its safety. And NOT only that. It was a prop gun used in theaters. Jim knew because he's had the pleasure of working with them every season of Roland's Locker for a lot of episodes. And he really meant a LOT.
"The Guns A fake!" He shouts. A trickle of sweat creases on the thief's eyebrow. He tries to turn around and make a run for it. Before Angel could run after him with the Stun Gun already on her hand, Jim presses her back, takes out the Taser from his pocket, and shoots.
A direct hit. To The neck.
It looked painful.
The people around the area claps their hands. Jim keeps his head low to avoid being recognized. To his surprise, he saw Angel run to the guy with her Stun Gun in her hand. She takes back her stuff and presses the Stun Gun to the thief's neck and zaps him.
"Nice try you Fucking A." She stands up and kicks the man to the gut. He moans as she walks back to Jim.
"Hey...Thanks. I'm a total stranger but you still helped me."
Jim blushed. "I-It's what any decent human being would do." He said.
He remembered an episode of Roland's Locker where he had done something similar for a female friend. But this felt more... natural.
She smiles. "Aww, don't be so stiff and embarrassed. At least let me take you out to some coffee one day. Give me your cell." Jim hands her his Iphone 6.
"Oh. Someone's got some cash to burn. Careful not to bend it."
"Ha Ha. I'll have you know, this hasn't been damaged. Not once."
She gives a cocky smile and pulls out a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and exchanges their numbers.
"Oh... I forgot. What's your name." Jim felt sweat trickle on his neck.
"I'm..." He lowered his voice a little. She didn't know who he was, so he thought he'd be safe. "Jim."
"Well, Jim, give me a holler and I'll bring you somewhere neat." She gives him a flying kiss and walks away.

~White Residence~
"Oh, hey 'Roland'" Cassie White, Jim's maternal cousin, was holding a cup of coffee when she opened the door.
"Teen Sleuth saves Little Brother." Jim retorts. "Come here" And he pulls her into a hug.
"So. What brings you here?"

Jim sighs and sits down on the couch.

"I dunno. I just wanna be somewhere I can feel like a normal human being."

Cassie grins and enters the kitchen. She reemerges with another cup of coffee and hands it to Jim.

"Well, in that get up, I doubt people would notice you. Here."

"Two times in a row." He says.

"Take what you get, man. Its what non-celebrity humans like me do." He smiles and grabs the cup and drinks.

"I met a girl today." Jim says. He didn't really know where that came from.

"On set?" Cassie asks. "I'm dying to know if you'll end up with Nancy Atwell."

He chuckles and removes his hat.

"The girl's nice enough, but I just don't feel her." Cassie shrugs and lets him continue. "No, this time, this girl Is the first human being in a long while that I've met without some sort of intervention or staged event. This was pretty coincidental."
"Well what do you want from me?"
"I need... Advice."
Cassie flipped her hair and set down her coffee mug.
"Well, I AM a girl. And a real person. Let me see this girl."
Jim took out his new copy of Angel's Album and handed it to her.
"Hmm. Pretty. Didn't think your type would be the musical type." She grabbed her phone and began typing in the girl's name in Google.
"Uhh... What are you doing?"
"The girl has a decent following. She has a show tomorrow at 3:00 in the Local Cake Store."
Jim laughed at Cassie's 'Sleuthing' skills. Though it hadn't really crossed his mind to Google her for a SoundCloud account or something.

~French Kisses~
"Hurry! Get out of here!" Cassie insisted Jim to hurry.
"Too late."
The flashing of cameras began. He tried his hardest to keep his family out of the Hollywood scene.
"Who's the girl Jim!" Jim tugged at his beanie to hide from the flashes. Cassie was stunned as the cameras blinded her.
"Are you dating the local Teen Sleuth?" Jim laughed at that thought. And just when he couldn't take it anymore, he turned from his car door and smiled.
"She's my cousin you Fucking Ass. I'd appreciate it if you leave me or anyone related to me ALONE."
He got in the car to speed off to the Cake Store Angel was playing in. But the paparazzi were doing their utmost best to block his way.
Jim honked but none of them backed off. He considered getting out of his car and shooting his Taser at one of them, but he didn't want to go to court.
He banged his head at the steering wheel in anger. Cassie, who was watching by the porch and backing some people away, couldn't take it anymore. She ran back into her living room, barely bumping into her little brother, and grabbed her Stun Gun from her backpack.
"Ok!" Cassie didn't worry about HER name. She was a nobody to these people. She may be related, but she wasn't an actor.
She cackled her Stun Gun to the air and made a few run from fear. But the more persistent ones didn't go away. She grabbed one by the shoulder and jammed the Stun Gun at his neck.
"Merry Christmas." He was down. He faced another.
"Happy Holidays!" Down again!
The last one was still persistent and decided to attack her. She kicked him in the shin and placed the Stun Gun at his chest. "Feliz Navidad, Bitch."
He was down. The other ones around ran away.
"Go." She mouthed. "Good Luck." She added.
He was gone.

"Thank You! Merry Christmas"
She took in the small array of applause and collected her things. Before she could exit, a hand rests on her shoulder.
"That was awesome." The mystery guy who saved him. Jim, she thought.
"Oh. Thanks. You know, I think I remember just asking you to call me for coffee. How did you even find me here?"
"Eh, Google?"
"Hahaha. Well, we might as well go now." Jim did his best to hide himself from public eye and Angel wondered why he looked down every time someone passed by.
"Reclusive?"
Jim chuckled and looked at her. Her eyes were really pretty, he thought. "No. Just avoiding attention."
Angel didn't want to ask why. He could be a murderer, or a local rapist. It should have really shaken her, but she really likes him. So she just went along with it.
They reached a cafe, not Starbucks, that was barely full of people. It was back near that fancy Apartment building she recalled housed some stars from TV series. She wasn't a big fan of TV, but she watches occasionally because her sister enjoys them. Also because she listens carefully for soundtrack.
"No one knows this place that much, but they serve REALLY good coffee!" Angel eyed the price. Well no wonder there were barely any people. They were slightly expensive. And there was that weird bouncer like guy outside who let Jim in without any hesitation.
"So. Why music?"
"I went to a Flyleaf concert when I was young and I started enjoying music. It was pretty simple, really. Music... Is my life." Jim gave a small laugh. He thought about his job career. It WAS his life too, but mostly for financial reasons, but the lack of privacy was an annoying liability.
"So, what do you do? Are you some sort of Private Detective?" Jim opened his mouth to answer, then his friend Lionel appeared out of nowhere."
"Girl, do you even watch TV? He's not just a P.I., he's Roland from Roland's Locker!"
Angel stared at him with a blank expression. Roland's Locker...
She had heard of that show from her sister countless times. She watched ONE episode of it. Though she had to admit it was good, she didn't want to immerse herself and be like her sister.
Then it hit her. Jim really did look like that Roland guy.
"You're... The actor from Roland's Locker? I don't really watch that, but my sister talks about it nonstop." Her face was flushed. She didn't know how to respond to going on a date with a famous actor. It might increase her publicity, but she wasn't that shallow.
"I... I don't know what to say." Jim sighed. He didn't really want to her to find out because the information of his career is enough to drive people greedy... Or away.
He gave Lionel a look of disappointment. Lionel raised his hands in apology and told him he was going home.
"I hope that doesn't really compromise things." Jim expected one of two things. Angel becomes giddy and be THAT person. A user. OR Angel stands up and walks away.
Instead..."Are you kidding?" Jim expected the giddy part. "You think I'm that shallow? Why do you think I don't watch TV?"
That was what sealed the deal for Jim and smiled. He was going to pick up his coffee and accidentally brushed her hand. In a long time, he hasn't felt that hot, breathless feeling of attraction because of his fake life on TV. Angel giggled at Jim's blushing face.
It didn't really take them that long to start talking about things. Normal things. They continued this talk on their walk out when Jim offered to take Angel home in his car.
They did their best to avoid the topic of acting, but Angel was a little curious. Not in a paparazzi way, but curious.
"So why'd you become an actor anyways?"
"I was curious. I liked the story, that's all. I didn't really expect things to kick off. Truth be told, I really wanted to be a REAL Detective. I didn't want to end up a cult hit like Veronica Mars or something."
"What's Veronica Mars?"
"Ask your sister. From what you've told me, She must know."
"So why don't you go do it? I mean, even a normal teenager like that Cassie White girl could do it."
"Funny story about her..." He said and explained his relationship with her. Angel laughed at the coincidence.
They arrived at her Apartment complex and stopped.
"We're here." Angel blushed.
"Want to come down? It's room 239." Jim refused.
"I'm sorry. I don't want people to start hounding YOU because they'd see me." She nodded. She stared at him, longer than she meant to, and she just felt like... She was complete with him.
As she held his gaze, they didn't notice that they were both getting closer to one another. Then it just happened.
They shut their eyes and their lips interlocked. Jim was happy. This was the realest kiss he'd given. He maybe a French Kissing prince on TV, but here in real life, it was perfect.
"Merry Christmas." She smiled.
"Merry Christmas."
And she exited the car.

~Mockingbird~
In the span of 3 months, Jim and Angel's dating life were as perfect as possible. Jim made it his mission to keep her a secret from the TV life.
They'd rendezvous at small, unknown stores and cafes and did everything possible to enjoy company. Soon, they'd met each others friends and families.
Jim's actor friends were kind enough to keep Angel out of people like Perez Hilton's sights. Jim's family was far away, so he brought him the closest to family he could. Cassie. The two were very fond of each other.
Angel's friends(Rather, Her BEST friends) were excited to meet Jim and promised, crossed their hearts, and barely hoped to die, that they'd keep it secret.
Her family? Her sister hyperventilated. She was THIS close to glomping Jim and full out kiss him.
Angel made her swear to keep it a secret.
Secrets.
All the secrecy didn't last though.
A month later, a sneaky Paprazzi had followed Jim out from set and spotted him dating Angel in his favorite Tea House.
They were surprised to find Angel's in Hollywood Lifestyle papers.
"Celebrity dates Local Musician!" They were THAT quick to find out everything about her.
Though it gave her publicity, even a record label contract with Fueled by Ramen, she would shake her head at the way she bloomed. She didn't want to use her own boyfriend.
With everything, Jim decided to just keep holding her hand everywhere.
It was a nice gesture, but the next months got really painful.
Shippers from Roland's Locker sent hate mail to her.
It was mean, she admitted, but Jim was really pissed.
"Leave my Girlfriend alone. Fans? That's just awful." He tweeted. That divided some fans.
It went too far when a crazy fan approached Angel in a shop and slapped her.
"You're just using him! USING HIM! SNAKE! BITCH!" Angel refused to cry. She stood her ground. Though she had a body guard, she insisted that she'd deal with her.
"He's just a person too. That's what you crazy people do now. Generalize. Well, I hope you'll enjoy generalizing this!" She took out her Stun Gun and scared her away.
That night, she sat Jim down to talk.
"I can't do this anymore."
"But... I love you." He'd said it enough. And she as well.
"I do too... But this. This crazy life. It's not for me." A tear ran down her cheek.
"Angel."
"I love you too, Jim. I do. So much. But I can't deal with this chaos."
She ran out crying that night.
Jim broke down. He had broken into an echo of himself.
As Roland's Locker got better, so did Angel.
Her career flourished and she was standing at stages beside the likes of Hayley Williams and Patrick Stump.
Jim felt his heart  break each time he saw her tweets, her face in the news. But he never stopped loving her. He'd buy her album and he could tell she loved him too. Every album, there were always 3 songs for him.
But his favorite was "Mockingbird."
It detailed their first meetings and their fondest memories.
He'd listen to it for hours.
Then one day, he went out and told his producer to end Roland's Locker. To his surprise, Roland's Locker was to end in one more season.
So he did his best. 6 seasons in, Roland's Locker ended with Roland getting the girl and living the dream.
Now it was Jim's turn to get the girl and live the dream. If his fake life had that opportunity, so should he.
He took a P.I. exam and surprisingly passed. He still took to acting, but only in movies and small part shows. He didn't want to have a long alternate life again. Never.
A month passed and he found himself sitting at the park where he met Angel. A mockingbird perched at his hat.
"What a nice coincidence." He said to himself. The lyrics to the song entered his mind.
"A Pathetic Thief, A Graceful Savior" He had sung out.
"A Fake Gun, A Real Taser." Another voice sounded.
It was Angel.
The Mockingbird flew away.
"Now... THIS is a coincidence."
"I heard you're a P.I. now."
"Just call me Detective Jim Lore. Not Roland."
It didn't take them a second to relight their old fire and let sparks fly.
They sat in their spot, their past overlooking from beyond, kissing as the clouds parted and the Mockingbird taking flight.

~There is a pretty interesting story as to why I made this story. My mom and dad kept mispronouncing Mockingjay and another French store I don't remember.
This just came into mind when I watched videos of paparazzi bugging actors everywhere in youtube. Terrible, TERRIBLE, scums of the earth, by the way.
This is my excuse for a Christmas story. It's long, I know, but bear with it :) Enjoy
Oh, and, Merry Christmas :D
-Thanos Venge.

Eidenross: Gust

"Are you a God!? are we supposed to live beneath you!?
 Kick someone enough and they will NOT GET UP"
-Human Target Practice(Hail the Sun)

Eidenross Castle
850 A.D.

"All lies and trickery!" High Guard Markus Flynn said. "There is no such thing as magick!"
"Silence." said King Onroe Danzel "Magick is very real, my liege."
The High Guard wondered if it all came down to their old king's age for he had sworn allegiance to a king, who had saved him from the depths of death, not a king who dabbled in such rubbish.
Then the king stomped his stave.
Time has come to a halt.
"Wha- What is this?!"
"Have you lived in a cave for the majority of your life? This is magick. The practice had been ongoing for years. Why do you think such things like Dragons exist? Or why I would have a High Wizard?"
Upon those words, the High Wizard Crowley Aberath appeared out of thin air. "You called, my king?"
Markus flinched. First time stopped, then a person appears out of nowhere. He had always thought Crowley was just a jester that the King liked to have around.
"I told you. Very real." said the King.
"Is this all you need me for, my lord? To prove the simpleton of such fascination?"
The king shook his head and a worried expression came over him.
"I have called you two here for a very important matter. I have told you about the happenings upon Eidenross, correct?"
"Keeps suddenly on fire, creatures of the night appearing more often, and the city of Emberlash becoming frugal with power and rebellion."
"Yes. Magick is very important to our nation of Eidenross and we have done so well to keep it at minimum, evident as to how you, High Guard, has believed that such thing did not exist. There has been a dabble of the darker arts and mysterious creatures begin to manifest here... And into the future." The High Wizard stood astonished.
"My King, how could you know of the Future? Even we, those who dabble in the arts, have no jurisdiction upon Time and Fate's flow."
The King stood and tapped his stave. They had teleported to a dungeon. The King's secret room, Markus recalled. King Onroe strode to the cauldron in the room and inserted a muck of some greenish powder.
The powder swirled and created a clear image of cities full of risen buildings and expensive cars.
"What is this?!" Markus exclaimed.
"The very distant future..." Crowley said. "My lord, could you possibly be a..."
King Onroe nodded. "Yes, Crowley. I am a Time Mage."
"But the Time Mages have long been extinct! Practicing the art of Time magic is a tedious effort. And even then, all one could manage is to stop the flow for as long as your Mana can hold on or turn the clock back. Nothing of the future."
"Time Mages have never been extinct. Just hidden. My lineage have all been that of the Time Mage's blood. So have many others. So have my son and daughter... And to the magick, I have Blue Wizard blood in me. Its amplified my strength." said the King. "Now, on to business."
Then, screeching sounds emit the cauldron and creatures of darkness and horrible power have appeared and set upon destruction to the city.
"This will happen soon. With what strength I have, I know that another Time Mage is aiding the one causing all the mishaps upon our kingdom. We must find the perpetrators. But I don't have the strength left and my children are far long away from the business of Time Magicks."
"What do you propose we do, my king?" says High Wizard Crowley.
"I want you to find my descendant."
He hands a ring with crosses etched on it. "This will help you find my blood in the future. It will glow a faint should you cross paths with her."
Markus stood astonished. "How... How do you expect us to travel upon the future, my lord?!"
With those words, the King Grinned.
~Eidenross~
"My father has instructed me the task of sending you off." Jared Danzel, Royal Prince of Eidenross, stood proud in front of Crowley and Markus. "Travel to the future is a very tiring and limited process." Those words incurred fear on Markus. If time travel was limited, what would happen if they were stuck in a world they didn't belong to.
"This portal will take you to one timeline and will be up for just 15 seconds. You will have to be quick once I open it. Here."
He hands them 3 emerald necklaces.
"Once you've done your task, just break one and a portal back shall open."
The two place them in a bag with their gear.
"Good Luck." He said.
The Portal was open.

~Eidenross~

Verum Investigations, Detroit, Michigan
December 10, 2014

"Thanks Mili."
"No problem Reese. Just try not to get caught."
"When have I ever been caught?"
Mili Verum set the phone down and arranged her paper work. Ever since she was a kid, she's always been one who loved the law. She wanted to be in the FBI or the Force at first, but realized how much corruption they all lead to.
So she got her P.I. License when she was 21 and opened up her own agency. She was good, More than she would admit. But the P.I. business was a pretty slow way of raking in cash, so she uses her abilities for another profession. Being a journalist.
As a P.I., finding information was cake. Using her badge was a pretty easy way to gather more info than what a regular journalist would normally resort to.
So with her jobs, she didn't really had a lot to worry about cash.
"Oh, Ian." Ian Fringe entered her office with donuts.
"Hey, Couz. Mom told me you were around so she had me deliver these."
"Thanls. I can't wait to carbload." Before Ian could leave, she stops him.
"Here." She tosses him a notebook. "It's everything I could find on that bitch who's been putting gum on Heather's backpack." Ian grinned and exited her office.
With donuts, Starbucks couldn't hurt, She thought.
She put on her trench coat and slung her bag full of various amounts of P.I. Gear and weapons on her shoulder and departed for Starbucks.

~Eidenross~
"Mommy! Look at the funny men!" The little girl ushered her mom to try and look at the ash blonde stranger wearing a set of armor and the silver haired one wearing blue robes that accompanied him.
"Don't disturb them Callie. They must be performers of some sort." The mother said. "Freaks."
They walked away as the two wandered around the public area.
"Where are we?" Markus asks.
Crowley stared at a sign by the road. "It seems we are at this... Detroit place." Their English Accent was thick and seemed to gather stares at people.
Some just assumed they were filming for some sort of Game of Thrones special.
Then, a nerd with purple rimmed glasses approached them.
"Are you perhaps promoting a new AQ Worlds theme?" The nerd asked with giddy delight.
Markus gave him a strange but scary look. The nerd was unfazed.
"Oh come on. Spill it already!"
"What is this... AQ Worlds, of which you speak?" Markus asks sincerely.
"You can't trick me. I know what you're doing!" Markus was alarmed and drew his sword. "What business do you have with Eidenross?! Answer!"
"Aha! I knew it! Whatever this Eidenross is is going to be a new story isn't it! No point denying it now you idiot!"
"You dare call me an idiot you vile, wretched, fool?! I shall smite your blood upon my-"
"Stop!" Crowley hisses. "Remember, this is the future. We cannot make any hasty actions. Certainly not murder in broad daylight."
Crowley turns around and places a hand on the nerd's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, we are not part of AQ Worlds... We are merely part of a play called Eidenross. My friend is just very... in-character." The glow in Crowley's eyes was unmistakable. Magick. Or, Magic as it is spelled in this era.
The nerd nods and walks away.
"I've read as much as I can about this time from the boy. It's a very advanced world... Also his brain was so full of pop cultured things and obsessions with women. It was, as they say, creepy."
"We do not have time for such trivial things right now. We must find King Onroe's descendant."
"But Markus, Do you not wish some knowledge of this world so you do not make a mistake? My magic can share to you the things about this era. You-"
"It can wait." Markus took out the ring and walked on with the slightly annoyed Crowley trailing behind.
Then the ring glowed, It was headed north.
So were they.

~Eidenross~

Mili had always enjoyed Starbucks. You could almost call it a vice.
She sat at by the window and enjoyed her donuts and the coffee.
She was about to take her camera out to take pictures of people for future use when a pair of hands cover her eyes.
"Guess who?" Mili giggled and moved the hands away from her face.
"Hey, Oz." Osmund Virtus, Mili's long time boyfriend, had practically been what Mili described as 'The One'. 7 years ago, when she was just a sophomore, she'd have probably just laugh at someone who says that the probability of them going out was high. Oz was reckless and a jackass as a teenager. Mili, who always lingered on justice, had detested Oz and his antics. But after saving him from his Big Brother who she found out was the one who had been kidnapping and killing girls from their school(Including Oz's former lover), he had been considerate and nice. Mili lost her disgust for him, but it didn't really amount to anything but friendship. Until Senior Year, that is. Finding out that her Physics teacher and a student had caused the fire that killed the former Math Teacher for destroying their lives and a couple of students, the teacher and student had attempted to kill her too. Mili subdued the student with a Stun Gun and Mace, but her teacher had her trapped in the teachers lounge. Disarmed, she had hoped that her text about the revelation and chaos would reach her Older Brother. Instead, Oz appears with a pipe and knocks the teacher unconscious. She had texted Oz in her panic. That was a deal breaker.
They started going out a month later.
She wrapped her arms on his neck and kissed him. The way that made single people hate themselves.
They ate the food and left for her office to watch a movie. On the way out, they had missed the weird guy who wore armor as they arrived to Starbucks.

~Eidenross~
"Damn it. We missed."
Markus sulked at a table as Crowley arrived with two cups of coffee. It was pretty simple to swipe 20 dollars from that moron who kept his bag open in front of him.
"Cheer up. We'll find this descendant." He hands the coffee to Markus. "Coffee?"
Markus takes the cup with curiosity and examined it with careful precision.
"You... You sip it from the little hole on top." He says, trying his hardest to not laugh.
Markus took a gulp and went red. "That is very hot!"
"I told you to sip it."
Markus expels a sigh and smiles. "It does, however taste like a million sunbursts of energy."
Crowley didn't want to explain the burnout he'll experience later.
"Are you sure you don't want-"
"It can wait!" Cheered up, Markus stands and drags Crowley out in search of the descendant.
They had followed the ring for as long as they could until they eventually reached Verum Investigations.
"Hold on." Crowley produced his staff and tapped the ground. Markus felt lighter.
"I put on a glamour to make it look like we're normal people."
They entered the office and was greeted by a cheery brunette. Her features were similar of that as of Prince Jared's wife and daughter, Markus thought. The boy beside her, however, were unfamiliar.
"Welcome to Verum Investigations. How can I help you." The ring glowed at her
Markus began to speak, but Crowley put a stop to him. Giving him a look that said 'I got this' Crowley dug deep into the info he has gained on this place and finally spoke.
"We're here... for a case."

~Well? How'd you like my new story?
This popped up after watching my sister watch Game of Thrones.
I was like, "Why don't I ever make stories about knights and that stuff?"
I argued that it must have been from my distaste of rather old English or something.
Then I remembered a plot I was going to use for a Skyrim Fanfic.
And then I thought, Why don't I add the future to the story? So I did.
This is the outcome! Eidenross is inspired by The Elder Scrolls and My Sister Watching Game of Thrones. It will be a 4 part short story series. I hope I FINISH it this time though. Hahahaha XD
I hope you enjoyed! Tune in for the next chapter of Eidenross.
-Thanos Venge

Intuition: Flint

  Intuition:
      Flint

                                -Gallows Road just beyond Mile Turn-
                                          Friday, September 14, 2034

The rain at night didn’t seem to matter. Marty Smith wanted to live his life like another face in the crowd and he didn’t care what other people had to say. As he lit up a joint by his favorite alley, he found himself staring deep into the watery night sky.
It was quite beautiful. Then as the last raindrop fell, the faintest green light radiated.
“What the hell?” Soon, flames enveloped his mind. The flashes of green fire did not stop and as Marty writhed in pain trying to fight off the phenomena he couldn’t fathom, he felt his mouth twitch. From his slowly muffling screams, his lips slowly curved into an undeniably creepy smile.
All individual thoughts by him slowly locked into the deepest parts of his mind as the fire overtook.
His last cigarette butt fell as he walked away with his contorted, new smile.

                                                   -Fort Residence-
                                                     The Next Day

My sleep was abruptly ended as my parents swung open the door. It was Saturday, and usually my parents would still be asleep at this hour, but they were oddly up anyways. They wore incredulously wide smiles. I only ever saw those kinds of smiles for surprises, and I usually love surprises, but their smile today was off.
“Goooooood Morning!” they said strangely in sync and monotonously.
“Its time to get up! Up! Up!” They didn’t even let me register what happened and just grabbed me by the hand, dragging me downstairs, and sitting me down firmly to a chair. In the table before me lay a bowl of cereal.
“You must eat your breakfast.” Dad said, which was REALLY odd. He never said anything when eating.
“A plain bowl of oatmeals?” I said. “This is what you woke me up for at 7 in the morning?”
Silence strayed, then mom spoke.
“Breakfast! You must eat!” She stares at me intently. “Eat!”
“Ok! Ok!” As I scoop up my first bite, I stop at the sight of a mysterious white grain and a mechanical like tip.
“… I think I’ll pass.” I said and set the spoon down.
“But, Kyle Fort! You must eat this food. You must! Son!” I didn’t want to believe it since I doubted those Science Fiction shit would be real, but these people aren’t my parents right now. I stood up, backing away from the table. They followed. Slowly at first.
“You must! Obey! You Must!” And the crooked smiles became scarier.
I dashed to the living room, but tripped over my mom’s lamp. I’d be dead by her wrath if she were in her right mind right now. She loves that lamp. But I’d rather not be dead by her wrath right now with that sick smile on her face! I struggle up, but mom grabs my leg. I trip and fall over, grabbing and dropping her handbag from the couch in the process. The contents spill and I find her can of Tear Gas laid out. As she begins to drag me to her, I notice a small, silvery object in her hand. A butter knife. Without second thought, I claw for the Tear Gas just inches from my fingertips. As I hear my mom give out a triumphant cry as she begins to bring the knife down, my fingers reach the can and I turn around.
The orange spray that comes out instantly backs my mother off. The knife glints and falls away from her direction. The smile is momentously covered by her hands as she tries to wipe away the Tear Gas from her face.
“Sorry about this, mom.” I say and kick her in the face. She's out cold.
I slowly get up, but stop as I hear a click.
I forgot about dad.
He was pointing his Desert Eagle that he had bought in case the family was in danger at me.
I shut my eyes as he slowly squeezed the trigger. But the shot doesn’t come. Just a spasm from my dad and the buzzing of electricity.
Dad is also out. On his back were probes attached to wires leading up to a Taser. Holding the Taser that saved my life was my best friend, David Urch.
He unhooked the Taser cartridge holding the shot that was attached to Dad.
“We gotta run. There’s more of them.” He says.
Before I can leave, I take the gun from Dad and Mom's can of Tear Gas on the floor. Better hope that they don’t kill… or be killed.
“David, what’s going on?!” I said as we dashed out of my house.
He lingers on words, but finally he answers.
“I don’t know.” Just not the answers I want.
“Don’t block the road!” Old lady Sally from across the street was coming at us with a pipe. Her smile… was just like the others.
David takes out the cartridge on his taser and uses it’s Drive Stun function. It kind of like turns into a Stun Gun, but is used more for pain and not for incapacitation. I roll to the side and David ducks as Sally swings her pipe. David jams the Taser to her gut and Drive Stuns her. She was on the floor, clutching her gut.
David kicks her in the head and she stops moving.
Was she dead?
“David… You-”
“She’s not human anymore.” He says, almost a little coldly. “We have to go.”
A man from the sewers rises from the manhole just beyond David. I pull David away before the man could grab his foot and drag him under.
I pull out the can of Tear Gas and spray the man’s eyes. His grip on the sewer’s ladder loosens and he falls. A distinct thump was heard… Along with a crack.
David didn’t hesitate with more words and just grabbed my wrist and made a run for it.

                                                        ~Intuition~

We arrived at the foot of a large tree. This was…
“Our tree house? The last time we went here, we were 4^th graders. How on earth are we safe here?” I ask.
He motions me inside a small opening via a slightly uprooted root and kicks off a suspicious, dusty rug. There was a square door of steel.
“Where did you…”
“I found it 2 months ago. I was supposed to tell you about it once I was finished refurbishing it, but the situations changed.”
David climbs down and tells me to shut the door when I follow him.
I do as told and my mouth is left open.
It was like a nuke bunker in here! David had managed somehow to put in a sofa, a TV, a PC, two Laptops, a mini-fridge, and other furniture and appliances you wouldn’t think would fit through that door.
“Welcome to Casa Urch Fort. I managed to rewire the electricity and save all the food I found in here. The mini-fridge are for snacks and drinks. There’s a real fridge just over that room.”
I wondered at the place, reveling on David’s work. I almost forgot we were in some sort of Smilepocalypse for a while.
Almost.
“No one knows where this is. I mean, the tree house was pretty hard to find by itself. I doubt people would know about THIS.”
David sat in front of a laptop and booted up a sort of camera.
“And don’t worry, I’ve rewired the area so we can check in if ever someone discovers this place. I’ve placed a few… Defensive measures out.” I checked outside. All I could see where a couple of slightly hidden bear traps, a few tripwires, and water balloons that David said he filled with Mace spray.
“I’m just a teenager. I know I may sound amazing for being able to put this old bunker to use, but I don’t have a lot of resources and I can’t say I have enough experience to make more complex traps… Besides, we don’t have a lot of weapons.”
He had a point. It made me check what we DID have to defend ourselves. David brought out a box of things he took from home that we could classify as weapons.
We had his Taser, A crowbar, a few knives(Kitchen and a few utility ones), a firepoker, a few cans of pepper spray and mace, the Tear Gas I took from home, a boxcutter, a Stun Gun, Slingshots, a cleaver, and the gun I took from dad.
Say someone did manage to get in, the gun had about 8 bullets. 8 saving graces and we’re to struggle. And what’s stopping them from using guns themselves? We need weapons. Real weapons.
And David knew that very well. I could tell from the look in his eye after looking at me as I rifled through the weapons.
"It's not much... But they're better than nothing." He says.
"Yeah, until one of them comes at us with an AK-47 and start shooting us." I reply. "We need real weapons. Guns, David. This isn't like a zombie apocalypse. These things are smarter." And creepy. And I thought Miley Cyrus was creepy.
I'd take her licking my face to the being smothered with a pillow by these smiling freaks.
Even if four of these smiling freaks were our parents. Speaking off...
"How are your parents, David?" He fell into a short silence. Then, after holding back a sniff, he answered.
"Mom was fine and got away with my little brother. Dad wasn't so lucky... He turned into one and tried to kill me with a fork. That was until my big brother came in and shot him. He was dead. Then, my big brother was shot too. I hid in a closet and then came to your place after the killer left."
A lump appeared on my throat. Mrs. Urch and his little brother, Alex Urch was fine. Mr. Urch was shot by David's big brother, Patrick Urch... Then he was killed himself. I know I sound annoying for rehashing these things but... Mr. U was cool. And Patrick was cooler.
I had fun just being David's friend when I was around their place. I could only imagine the pain he's going through. And the pain he's taking to hold it all back.
"I'm sorry..." I say.
"Let's go look for weapons." I'm glad he was the one that decided to change the subject. I always sucked at that. "The Police Station should have some weapons."
I nod, but I felt myself getting heavier and tired.
Constantly trying to avoid death by smiles was a pretty exhausting job after all. Much worse than trying to avoid those annoying little kids from Three Streets down whenever I try to go to 7-Eleven.
Now those were some people I wish wore the smiles.
"Maybe we should take a break first. Let's go later." I say.
"Alright." He takes off his vest and lays down on the couch. "Set the alarm to thirty minutes. That should probably enough." Ok. It's a fair enough rest time. Any other NORMAL day, I'd have told him to stop being a fucktard and let me sleep in. But how could I complain? We were living under a tree with the entire city was overrun with... with...
"Hey, what should we call those freaks. Smiles?"
He remains in thought for about a minute before turning his head to look at me.
"Giggles." I nod.
Giggles. The entire city is overrun with Giggles.
I don't know how long we were gonna survive with whatever food we had, or how we could defend ourselves with what we currently have.
But it's better than dying out.
If i have to conform and let those freaks kill me or worse, turn me into one of them, I'd off myself first.
I just hope whoever else is sane enough are still alive.
We'll live our life fighting before we die to this.

~Author's notes
So! This was the original(Albeit revised since the original one was lost)
I hope you like it! This is origin of Kyle Fort and David Urch. Their story starts here. But things will take an unexpected twist in the next story... So stay tuned >:)
Read the first story, Guts, here:
Guts: Ignition