king of the castle

tina: nothing too exciting. just a couple of errands after work and then a nice little night in.

tina: i'm boringgggg.

puck: throw in some horror movies and that's about the kind of night that i was gonna have

T: lines like that and I’m gonna expect you between my legs all night.

T: you’re picking me up. I hate driving down your road at night.

P: yah and that's a bad thing ?

P: k when and where

[ . . . ]

mercedes: you act like I won't offer some of halloween's best candy choices.

mercedes: i've even got a bottle of blue raspberry jolly rancher vodka hidden in my mini fridge. if you want food that's not the double c you're gonna have to go dutch with me though.

mercedes: so it is a party out there?

puck: im just sayin so u kno what ur getting urself into. no surprise at the end ya feel ?

puck: candy and booze. aight, lets go halfsies on a pizza then and u got urself a deal, ms jones

tina: i'll have it ready and waiting for you.

tina: why did i even ask? but i'll get you stocked no problem.

tina: aww. i won't, i promise. just so long as you don't either.

mercedes: ey, I might be in the market for a big strong body guard, you down?

mercedes: I got invited to some think at Castle House and walking the north woods at night gives me the heebie jeebies.

puck: i'm not cheap ;)

tina: i'm just about to close up, but yeah, i'm here.

tina: and sure. should i be asking what you need /4/ cups for, or do i not want to know?

tina: you have mentioned that, but it never hurts to hear it again.

puck: thank b there in 3

puck: got a halloween thing to crash and need some joe flowing in my veins so i'm not a buzzkill ya feel ?

T: both. you bring the alcohol, I'm the treat.

who: jake ( @jpdoubled ) & puck

when: all hallows eve 2018

where: castle house

Armed with a few joints and the 6-pack of beer he had planned to enjoy that night, Puck stood in front of the mansion that never failed to shoot a shiver down his spine. Castle House wasn’t new to him; when he was a kid, they’d visit the place at least once a year on a field trip. All for the sake of teaching the impressionable youth about Castleport’s rich, local history, blah blah blah. That was all fine and dandy. But the thing that Puck really loved about the creepy, old house was the all the ghost stories; stories that he’d grown up hearing all his life. Spooky legends that encapsulated Castle House like a heavy blanket of fog. 

Puck wasn’t sure what to expect as he slipped through the heavy front door. The weird invite that he’d gotten in the mail, unaddressed and stampless, didn’t give any actual hints as to what kind of ‘game’ he was getting himself into. But, if he had to bet on anything, he was going to put money on this trend of escape rooms. Someone had turned Castle House into a stupid escape room, invited some Castleport High alumni -- most of Glee club, from what Puck could surmise from the people who’d gathered. Then, the doors would lock, they’d have to partner up, follow the clues, and wouldn’t be able to get out until they solved the puzzle. At least he’d have a good story to tell his crew tomorrow. 

His attention migrated to the small tables that were scattered around the room, displaying note cards and small packages. After a closer look, Puck realized that there were names on the note cards. He found the note card with his name on it next to a note card with a name he didn’t recognize. 

puck: yo t r u at the diner rn ?

puck: bc could i have 4 cups of coffee 2 go?

I mean… fuck ‘em ain’t quite the solution I was looking for. But it kinda fits? So thank you of sage one. 

It’s a great motto. Real tombstone level shit. But, no problemo, ‘Cedes. All in a day’s work.

It was a skill she would brag about if it wasn’t embarrassing, but the moment Puck entered an area, she sensed it. She had to fight her eyes from not-so-casually checking him out; it made easier though to replace the wondering eyes with a middle-finger, or more recently, nods. When he approached, the usual lethal amount of glares were substituted for a mild glare that may have had a twinge of a welcoming glare. “Loving it, and being the best little heater a girl not dressed for the weather could ask for.” She patted Puckfasa on his head, smiling down at him and pursing her lips to give him an air kiss. He wasn’t focused on her though, far more interested in playing hard to get with Puck. 

He scooted closer, smelling his finger like he wasn’t familiar, and his gigantic hands weren’t perfect to be petted with. Finally, he abandoned Santana’s lap for his. “Although, we need to work on his loyalty,” she snickered, getting out her last resort, the itchy blanket, to cover her lap. “Enjoying the prowl around the park?” She asked, coming off mildly interested, for the sake of not caring, and she was distracted by the movie. Trying to anticipate the next scene that would make her jump out of her skin.  

Puck wasn’t gonna lie. It was pretty cool to see this dastardly clever cat, the one that Puck had given Santana for her birthday all those years ago -- back when they’d dated in high school -- creep towards his outstretched hand. Puckfasa was just a kitten then, a little mewing thing with sharp-as-fuck claws. And from what Puck had been able to observe from afar in the last 10 or so years, from just your run-of-the-mill gentle-stalking over Facebook and Instagram, the feline was a perfect match for his mistress. 

As Puckfasa settled on his lap, Puck chuckled and scratched the furry dude behind the ears. “Nah, this boy knows who his daddy is. Huh, buddy? Yeah, who’s yo’ daddy?” A satisfied smile grew on his face as Puckfasa headbutted his palm; a warm, gentle, welcoming purr rumbled from deep within the cat. Never in a million years would Puck admit out-loud that he was a cat person... but there’s just something about petting a clawed demon and having a senses overload just from feeling and hearing the cat’s purrs. Puck’s attention shifted back to Santana as he watched her pull the blanket over her lap. “Yeah, somethin’ like that. Better than last year anyway,” he said, nonchalantly, trying to match Santana’s own laissez faire demeaner; though, his eyes told another story. Even though the movie was worth his undivied attention, he couldn’t help but look around at the company gathered around them, a mischevious twinkle in his wandering gaze. 

“What ‘bout you? Gotten into any trouble yet?”