another mystery

Fred Jones | 21 | Criminal Justice major on Corona

[freddyrickjones]

Fred didn’t really even look where he was collapsing dramatically, he just knew that he was doing it somewhere near Daphne, and that was fine. “I know I almost have my degree, but am I allowed to drop out? That test killed me,” he informed her, voice probably muffled by the fact he was face first on whatever furniture was available.

@daphblakexo​

[freddyrickjones]

xx-janee‌:

Jane shook her head. “Now, they’re risky and not the brightest on their tactics to avoid doing the work, but they’re a little clever. It’s a good mix of bad sourcing and just full copy and paste as if it was their own words.” With a sip of her tea she just hummed. “I know they don’t have some of the vocabulary being used, as awful as that is to assume and say.” 

“Ohh. Sounds about right, then.” Again, he wasn’t going to give a strong opinion, because he really...didn’t mind. He just sort of wished people would be smarter about it, because there were ways. “You must be pretty good at picking stuff out, I know I use thesaurus stuff to find smarter words for papers all the time.”

[xx-janee]

Running a hand down her face she let out a soft laugh. The poor innocent person sitting beside her in the coffee shop was going to get an earful on topics they probably cared nothing about. “Do students truly think they can get away with just copy and pasting others works in their papers? The books and articles they’re reading I nearly have memorized.” 

[freddyrickjones]

Fred considered the words for a moment before shrugging. “Guess they do,” he answered carefully, fully knowing some kids from his classes that had done just that and not gotten caught. “Are you getting...full papers like that, or just bad sourcing?” Bad sourcing he could really understand from people like him. He sucked at sourcing.

[freddyrickjones]

It was lucky for Fred that his best friend loved to eat and the person he was supposed to be a Secret Santa for was apparently a culinary major. That didn’t make everything super easy, but he at least knew how to use his money to get really, really strong hot sauce. And also actual spices she could use in cooking. He wasn’t just going to mess with someone for the holidays.

“You’re Tiana, right? I’m Fred. Hope I picked the right thing...”

@tiabenedita​

[freddyrickjones]

daphblakexo‌:

Daphne stood up straighter, not because he said something weird, but because she wanted to make sure she looked like she was giving hi his undivided attention, which she certainly was. She was hyper aware. And that was on her since just five seconds ago her plan was to kiss and run. But now? She couldn’t just not know what he was writing about!

“I um…I just wanted to see you. Isn’t that silly? Whatcha writing about?”

He saw her stand up a bit straighter, and it made him wonder what he might have done, or what she had in mind. Usually, Daphne saved that for when she was trying to be extra impressive, which...he didn’t know if he wanted to warrant that or not.

“No, not silly. Just trying to rewrite notes, not getting very far.” This first part was the truth. The second was a lie, but not one he was very good at giving. And if he needed to, he’d just throw his whole trashcan out the window, or set it on fire, or any number of stupid things.

[freddyrickjones]

✉ dipper

(1 unsent message)

Fred: So if I just disappeared from the island would you end up doing a video about it because I’ve considered it but I don’t want it to be a big thing

[freddyrickjones]

✉️ daphne

(1 unsent message)

Fred: Daph, would you still like me if I wasn’t what we’ve been thinking I am? Like...not about the powers, but other stuff?

[freddyrickjones]

✉ (velma)

(3 unsent messages)

Fred: I wanna talk to you, it’s pretty important.

Fred: Velma, you’re smart, do people like more than one person a lot??

Fred: I kinda like all of you. The gang. I’m sorry.

[daphblakexo]

@freddyrickjones​

Daphne was ready. She had been tiptoeing around her feelings for Fred for years and she was ready to make her move. She deserved this. She had to let him know because it was driving her crazy. Little brushes against the shoulder, hands brushing; she was too romantic for this tension! So she marched over to his dorm, knocked on his door, and was planning to just….kiss him and run. But when he opened the door she found herself getting cold feet and she stood frozen in place. 

“Erm….What’s up?”

[freddyrickjones]

He’d been writing notes, because it was easier to leave one somewhere and get rejected than to deal with stuttering through a face-to-face conversation about emotions and ending up rejected and embarrassed. None of them had been working, all barely two words in before he’d toss them, and the knock on his door was a vaguely welcome distraction. When he opened the door, he didn’t know if the fact it was Daphne was helpful.

“Hey. Not much, just trying to write some stuff. What’s up with you?”

[freddyrickjones]

like-weirdo‌:

The fond smile that grew on Shaggy’s face in response felt more private than it should have, perhaps, but it was right all the same, perfect for this almost private moment. The music fading away in whatever feel-good coming of age film he’d somehow managed to walk into, and he wasn’t upset about that. Not even a little. “I’m always up for some more,” he murmured through the haze, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. He watched Fred glance and look away, unsure of what it meant, but pressed further. “Best company I’ve had all night.”

Well, he’d gotten a smile, at least. It felt like forever since he’d made Shaggy actually smile. The only thing that bothered Fred was that Shaggy probably didn’t know it was him. Would he get mad when he found out? “More dancing, or something else?” he heard himself asking before he could stop himself, and god that had been obvious, Jones. “Best? I haven’t done anything yet.”

[freddyrickjones]

like-weirdo‌:

Shaggy bit his lip before he realized that that was absolutely not covered by the mask, but by the time he figured that out, the voice and the man he was speaking to was taking form, a name appearing where questions marks had been, and maybe that was why his response was so fast, so distinct. Maybe it was better to leave it unsaid, though. That was where the magic lied, after all, wasn’t it? “This isn’t a bad spot,” he murmured as Fred sat on the stairs, resisting the wave of an urge to rest his head on his shoulder, his knee. “Definitely. Don’t mind being up here and watching, though,” he admitted, eyes flashing back to seek out the other’s. “Company helps.”

Fred could only really manage a glance before he was staring back out at the crowd. It wasn’t...like him, not to be able to hold his own like this, but right now, everything felt so damn different. He didn’t feel like Fred right now. “Thought I saw you dancing earlier, I guess you’ve been having all kinds of fun,” he remarked, and maybe he would’ve sounded bitter, if he was still himself. “Yeah? Been a while since I’ve been company.” And again, eyes met and he couldn’t hold it. Like it would hurt.

[freddyrickjones]

like-weirdo‌:

Shaggy’s attention shifted easily, from mesmerized to more so, if that was possible, eyes slowly dragging from the dance floor to the man beside him, to his chest first and seeking out a face, finding, of course, a mask. The magic was far from over just because he’d been pulled from his daydream; now it was here, close and paralyzing. “Yeah…” He wanted to blame the Four Loko in the flute glass or the vape box he still had in his pocket, but Shaggy knew himself well enough to be aware that that wasn’t the case. He’d always tended to like them tall. “Am I, like,” Shaggy swallowed, “Holding you up? You on your way out?”

Well, if the voice hadn’t been enough to tip Fred off on who it was, that look would have done it. Maybe he should’ve been embarrassed that he could recognize any other guy that easily, but he couldn’t seem to find it in himself to care. Didn’t matter right now. Probably didn’t matter at all. “Nah, just needed somewhere a  bit less crowded,” Fred answered honestly, sitting on the stairs next to Shaggy and looking out at the crowd of people. “It’s something else, huh?”

[like-weirdo]

@freddyrickjones​

There was something magical about being at a masquerade, a real one, one where Shaggy hadn’t come with friends or coordinated with anyone, really, and where the air of mystery was tangible, auras alight and the people intoxicated by the sheer fun of it all. There were so many people, so familiar and so foreign and Shaggy was just drunk enough to smile at it all, excited beyond anything. He was stopped on a set of stairs overlooking the floor in awe, amazed by the spectacle and scene before him, musing aloud as someone walked by, “This is so fuckin’ rad, man. Are you seeing all this?”

[freddyrickjones]

Masks hadn’t really been Fred’s thing, at least, not literal ones. Being in a room full of people who hid their faces felt...strange to him, like they weren’t permanent or real. Like they could make him think anything, then the mask would come off and he’d be in for a shock. But as he started upstairs, to get some distance, he heard a very familiar voice. And suddenly, Fred understood the masks. “I see it,” he answered, and even his voice didn’t feel like his own. That, combined with the fact Shaggy had been drinking, pretty obviously...well, if Fred wasn’t Fred, this would be a whole lot easier, wouldn’t it?

[freddyrickjones]

like-weirdo‌:

Shaggy cuffed Fred’s upper arm as he moved to stand, shuffling around for his wallet while he yelled, “One sec!” out in the general direction of the door. He was pretty loud; they probably heard him. It took a tad longer than he’d wanted it to for Shaggy to find his wallet, but once he had he was at the door in a few languid steps, opening it to–

“Oh, hello there,” Shaggy beamed, shifting over and glancing back towards Fred, opening it up just in case because this guy was stupid hot. Shaggy kept up the small talk while he paid up and shifted his bills, gave him a not so subtle once over but he wasn’t trying too hard. This was his Freddy night. Once he was gone Shaggy brought the boxes back to the table, grinning mischievously. “All paid for, and potential bang denied ‘cause I like spending time with you, bro.”

Fred chuckled under his breath, mostly tuning out whatever Shaggy was doing in favor of getting his mess cleaned up. He wasn’t a neat freak in any sense, but he knew his brain wasn’t going to like this mess, pizza mess, and the whole whatever-it-felt-for-Shaggy mess all at once. He did glance at the pizza guy, though, and...huh, he was definitely on one of the school teams, though Fred couldn’t exactly place him.

The way Shaggy was acting, though, had a bad clenching feeling settle in Fred’s chest, and he busied himself with literally everything else, making sure things were mostly in their place and there were drinks and he wasn’t going to feel like shit. Except Shaggy said that and he sort of did. “Gee, thanks,” he half-sighed, sounding strained even to his own ears, and turning to go grab drinks. Maybe he could chill out in five seconds, or at least make an effort to keep his face neutral, if his voice couldn’t be. “Usual?”

[freddyrickjones]

glittcrpines‌:

As she waited, Mabel almost spoke up, wanting to say they didn’t have to talk about it, never wanting to make other’s feel like they have to share anything with her if it made them uncomfortable or they just weren’t ready to talk about it yet, but once Fred began to explain himself, the brunette let out a small squeal, quickly covering her mouth with her hands and trying to apologize bashfully with her eyes, not meaning to let the excitement get the best of her. Of all the things that this could have been about, this was the last thing she could have thought up, but once her brain finally caught up again, the girl felt this sense of pride well up in her chest at the thought of the other having the courage to speak up about any of it at all. She stayed quiet, though, wanting to let him finish before throwing an unsolicited party, and softly drew her brows together in thought. “…Well, first of all, being brave enough to say anything about that sorta stuff at all is hard on its own, so like, I just wanna say that I’m really proud of you, ‘cuz that was really rad. Second…there’s never really like, a right or wrong time to figure out or explore your sexuality. It’s fluid, yanno? And different for everyone. Like, I kinda realized I was into girls in junior high but that doesn’t mean that’s how everyone else’s experience is gonna go. There’s people who kinda grow up already recognizing who they are and other people who question and explore in their twenties or even older than that and that’s okay. It’s all okay. You don’t gotta have it all figured out right now, I guess, is what I’m…tryna say with all this rambling.” She lightly snorted out. At his next words, the brunette’s features hardened just a bit, remembering how she had found her brother upset at pride just a little bit after they had split up for the night and he didn’t seem to want to talk about it so she didn’t pry, but now it was all starting to make a little more sense, slowly trying to connect the dots, as she just silently nodded, also remembering how mad she had gotten herself on his behalf. “Uh, y-yeah. I can…I can pass it along.”

That had been a lot, and Fred would have regretted it if Mabel hadn’t immediately gone in with nice things to say. Every time that Fred was reminded the majority of the world wasn’t like his parents was a good time to him, and though he didn’t relax entirely, there was at least one more person in the world that he didn’t feel as heavy around. “Thanks. And yeah, like I said, it’s not like...I don’t know, it’s just I had everything else figured out and this seems like a pretty big thing to have missed?” Other people not realizing until they were even eighty was fine with him, but he was supposed to know what he was doing. It was his thing. “Thanks...You guys are pretty cool, I don’t want either of you to be pissed at me ‘cause I’m too hard on myself.” And pride had just been...the worst. Fred Jones having a panic attack for the first time in his life worst. “Guess it’s kinda weird I told you, huh?”

[freddyrickjones]

jvnkves‌:

“Well, it all depends on how weak of a stomach you have. We could start with food, but then the rides would be a bust. And we shouldn’t do anything where we can win prizes until after we do some rides so we don’t have to worry about where to put our stuff. So I’d say rides, food, then go through games and booths?” they thought that was a logical way to do it, but they didn’t want to be controlling the whole thing. “Or did you have something else in mind?”

Fred grinned as he listened, and shook his head as soon as Velma asked if he had thought of anything else. “Nah, you did exactly what I would’ve picked, honestly,” he told them with an easy shrug. “You want first pick of the rides, or should I?” Honestly, Fred was hoping for something like bumper cars, but he wasn’t picky. Everything here was pretty fun.

[freddyrickjones]

glittcrpines‌:

Hearing his response caused the girl’s face to fall a bit, quiet as she listened to him explain himself, and taking a moment to think over what she could say back when she wasn’t entirely sure what there was to say. She and Fred weren’t necessarily the closest, but she appreciated the friendship he had offered for Dipper when she sometimes worried that her brother didn’t have enough people in his corner, and she herself, also enjoyed his company whenever she had it, so she only hoped that she could lighten his burdens even if just for a little bit. “….I’m sorry ya feel that way. Stuff can get hard, I guess…if ya don’t mind me asking, what exactly is ‘it’? I mean like, who knows, maybe I’m a genius when it comes to it and exactly the type of person you should go to about it.” She tried to lighten the mood a bit.

Fred paused at her question. He’d hesitated to explain stuff to Dipper at pride, but...he’d told Poppy. For some reason, telling girls about his problems didn’t seem hard. Stupid masculinity, apparently. Or maybe it was just because most girls probably had experience with having crushes on guys. So he sighed, and took the lollipop out of his mouth as he thought about how to word it. “It’s okay...It’s just like...It feels like I’m too old to be questioning my sexuality but...I sort of have a crush on a guy?” He said it like it was a question, but it wasn’t. “So it’s weird, because I’ve never...known that was a thing with me. And then I’m kinda panicked about it because it doesn’t line up with what I thought was going to happen so I think I made some people mad.” A little embarrassed, he finished by shrugging and putting the lollipop back in his mouth, before having another thought. “Uh. I guess if your brother is still...upset about how I acted at pride you can tell him that. Might make him feel better.”