#“goodbye bernie.”

[haveihitanerve]

Maybe it’s no wonder I love the trope- adorable dork of a man who thinks she is the Sun and the sky and drools when he sees her, and a strong independent woman who is exasperated by him but still laughs at all his jokes and blushes at every compliment

I grew up with these two-

Mary “a lady needn’t fear when you are near”- “oh honestly Bert” Poppins

And

Bert “when Mary holds your hand you feel so grand, your heart starts beating like a big brass band” he never got a last name 

[rolloroberson]

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

[mitjalovse]

I would dare to claim that the number of tribute albums can also define a musician. For instance, I'm not shocked Elton John had many of them, where you can find some gems. For instance, Revamp contains this cover by Queens Of The Stone Age, which might cause you to pause – how could they even tackle Elton John? However, listen to their version to notice how all these genre purisms, such as rockism, are nothing more than pretentious posturing. Good music is good music and I'm sure Josh Homme would've agreed with that. He noticed how Elton John's pieces function to find the overlap with his group's modus operandi. Actually, they share one thing with Elton, i.e. they're both classicists of their styles who are willing to go beyond that.

[eriksangel666]

New podcast episode is up! This week, we step off the yellow brick road with Elton John and discuss the music of one of his most iconic albums on its 50th anniversary.

[gaybonnets]

goodbye yellow brick road. i will never forgive that album for having the most influential, life-changing, inventive and incredible songs i've ever heard in my life next to 'Jamaica Jerk-Off' (it's exactly what it sounds like) and a song about a girl who doesn't shower

shoutout to almost no-skip albums. like everything would be perfect if it weren't for one bastard in the mix

[filosofablogger]

♫ Candle in the Wind ♫ (Redux)

I first played this in 2018 and reduxed it in 2020, so I think another redux is due for it is a song that I do love.  Now, I originally played the Elton John original, the tribute to Marilyn Monroe, but in 2020 when I reduxed it, our friend Jim Borden offered another version, the one that Elton sang at Princess Diana’s funeral as a tribute to her, whose candle was also snuffed out too early.  So…

[sweetpaintedladie]

Helloooooooo! Today is 50 years of [my favorite album] Goodbye Yellow Brick Road soooo I wrote about it for my blog and I’m gonna link it here incase anyone is interested!

Thank you if you read [or if you don’t lol]

https://www.timeisonmysidewriting.com/post/throwing-yellow-bricks-through-emerald-houses-50-years-of-goodbye-yellow-brick-road

[also embarrassingly obsessed with my title 🫡🫡]

[onceuponatimeinthe70s]

Rocket Man

Paul Fitzpatrick: June 2023 It was February 1973 and Elton Hercules John and I didn’t get off to the best of starts.I had finally gathered up enough courage to ask out this girl at school and to my wonderment, she said yes. As a 14 year old she was all the things I wasn’t – articulate, smart, mature, but she was a little bit indulged by a protective father who delivered and collected her (and…

[politijohn]

Distractors when discussing Kamala’s loss

I'm frustrated by liberals and Democratic strategists blaming voters, racism, and misogyny for the election loss instead of the candidate and party. Dems will lose forever if their analysis remains this shallow. It shows they still don't understand how this game works.

Perhaps this is a hot take to some…

Kamala’s key reason for losing wasn’t because she is a woman or because she’s black or because of Jill Stein or non committed voters. These excuses are distractions to a deeper underlying issue.

Kamala lost because the Democratic Party abandoned their base, swung right, and catered to their donors rather than the American people. Look at this embarrassment:

Kamala lost because she ran on a radically pro-Israel stance despite a majority of voters disagreeing with that approach. Say goodbye to the Muslim vote (MI). Look at the staggering difference in Dearborn, MI, a significant Muslim district when you campaign for your constituents:

Kamala lost because she backtracked on fracking and the environment. A majority of Americans want to see more done on the environment and this status quo agenda was uninspiring.

Kamala did terribly with young people (who are significantly more left leaning) because they saw a mediocre centrist platform, students saw classmates tear-gassed during pro-Palestine movements on their campuses, and no real messaging that spoke to their needs.

Americans want to hear how the candidates will improve their livelihood. Trump makes a lot of empty promises. We knew that since 2015. But Kamala barely even tried. When asked how she would have governed differently than Biden the last four years, she said nothing except put a Republican in her Cabinet. Voters aren’t to blame for this pathetic response when we know Biden's popularity and the economy are incredibly bad! Differentiation, where? Solutions, who?

The good news? We can fix these things! Focusing on misogyny, racism, third-parties, etc is NOT a winning strategy - they exist and can’t be fixed in four years. I know, groundbreaking. You need to bring people in, not turn them away like the Democratic Party has for years. I mean, on a surface level did you think the condescending comments about uneducated Americans, men, non-voters, third-party voters, and Latinos was going to win them over, bring them into the fold, encourage them to vote for Kamala?

Where is the camera?

There is so much to be learned from Bernie’s stump speeches that captivate all kinds of voters.

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Elton John - I Want Love 2001

"I Want Love" is a 2001 song by English musician Elton John, co-written with Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from his twenty-sixth studio album Songs from the West Coast. The song reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. In the US, "I Want Love" reached number 10 on the Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart and number six on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also featured in an advert for Royal Mail, in which John starred. It was nominated for a Grammy award in 2002 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

The music video was shot with the actor Robert Downey Jr. walking through Greystone Mansion and lip-syncing the song. It was Elton John's idea to cast Robert Downey Jr., who had recently suffered a series of misfortunes stemming from substance abuse and was out of jail on parole. John feared that the lyrics were so close to home that Downey would turn down the offer, but once he'd heard the song, the actor enthusiastically took the part. According the biography Robert Downey Jr: Blockbuster Movie Star, Downey was at a drug treatment centre in the time before shooting the video, and this was his first job after his stint in rehab. Downey was not on the top of movie studios' lists of people to work with, but Elton John reached out to him and Downey left the centre for the shoot, which took place in France. The music video received huge acclaim as a departure from John's previous work, and it sparked the beginning of a new chapter for Downey, which saw him gain more roles until eventually, in 2008, he appeared in the first Iron Man film.

"I Want Love" received a total of 36,5% yes votes. :'( Previous Elton John polls: #22 "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

[totaly-obsessed]

Rory

Leah Williamson x reader

-> A teenage squabble over a plant turns into a heartwarming symbol of family as two best friends prepare to embark on the journey of motherhood together.

-> Happy (a little late) Birthday @alotofpockets!

➳ Masterlist

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

“What the fuck is that?”

“Leah Williamson, Language! Or I will call Amanda!” Your mum’s voice was shrill as she scolded a thirteen-year-old Leah for her cursing. Leah just had a smug smirk on her face, she got her potty mouth from her mum, who always acted outraged when her eldest swore in front of other people.

“That is my favorite plant, Lee! My sister gave it to me.”

Your best friend didn’t even have the audacity to look guilty or lie. “Well that’s fucking hideous thing, I’ll tell you that.”

“Leah!” Oh shit. She just got first-named.

“W- Well you can’t tell me that’s a pretty plant! What is it even called? Tree Tumbo?

Now that she saw the tears brimming your eyes she knew she had fucked up. Her hand that had flown, trying to defend herself slowly sank.

“No, it’s called Dracaena. But I named it Rory, short for Aurora.”

Just last week Leah and you had talked about names for future children, or rather your future children. The blonde was already sure that she liked girls, so kids were out of sight for now. Aurora was a name that stuck with her though, and you had promised to name your first kid Aurora if your husband would agree.

“Oh… Darling, I’m so so-”

“I think you should go home now.” Your teary eyes nearly killed the teen, but with one last kiss on your forehead, she left the room, saying goodbye to your very confused mother.

—

“No way.”

“Yes, Leah! I am not leaving her behind!”

The blonde defender tried to barricade the door and deny you access, but with just a gentle nudge she moved, even picking up the heavy plant for you.

“I can’t believe you’re taking that fucking thing with you.”

After that eventful first day of having Rory, Leah had properly apologized with chocolate, flowers, and a hand-knitted little sweater for a plant pot. She obviously didn't make it herself. God, that would have been a disaster. Her Granny, Berny, had made it for her.

“Well she’s my daughter and as long as I am alive I will take her with me. Either deal with it or go.”

Leah was stunned standing in the hallways “OH! You wouldn’t dare, darling! What would you do without me? Who carries the grocery bags for you?”

“You haven’t carried anything yet!”

The two of you had just signed your first senior contract with Arsenal for a year - and to live closer to the facilities you were moving into a house with Emma Mitchell and Emma Byrne. Both of them were experienced players and filled with excitement they had agreed to take two young talents in.

But seeing you call a plant your daughter, and Leah hating it with such passion surely was a sight to see and just a teaser for the coming year.

—

“You can’t be serious?”

Leah had been busy over the day, doing media stuff. So with having the new house all to yourself, you brought Rory back in, much to your girlfriend's demise.

She had just re-signed her arsenal contract for the foreseeable future while you had signed with the London City Lionesses last year, working part-time as a librarian at your closest school - a dream of yours.

After multiple failed relationships with men, you had come to the realization that the real thing was right in front of you, in the form of your best friend.

Now you had moved out of the old, small apartment into your very own first home, and Leah apparently liked to ignore the time plans you had made. So now you stood there, Rory still in your hands as your girlfriend got out of the car.

“I thought we talked about this Darling!”

Quickly she had walked over, taking the now huge plant out of your hands, and carried it into the house.

“Where do you want it then?”

She already knew that you couldn’t leave Rory behind, you had looked so sad when you promised her not to take the Dracaena with you.

“Next to the couch please!”

“Of course darling…”

—

The nerves picked at you as you made a little sign with ‘big sister’ on it. It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise to Leah that you are pregnant, the road here was long after all. But you would never know.

Rory would officially be a big sister in the making, in just a few more months, and then a little baby would share the place with your loved plant.

After leaning the sign next to the ultrasound and the pregnancy test you sat back down at the dining table, now you just needed to wait until your wife was home.

It was as if you were in a trance, looking at your book but not actually taking anything in from it when the blonde entered your home.

“I’m home darling!” Her first act of service once entering was greeting you with a kiss - but she was a little taken aback by your nervous expression. You had been home the entire day, what could have happened?

“I’m gonna shower, my love. I’ll leave the door open for ya!”

Hastily you stood up, pulling Leah back by her arm, ignoring the cocky smirk on her beautiful face. “Can you water Rory please?”

Her nose scrunched up in confusion. You, letting her near your beloved plant? unheard of, but she’d take it any day if it would make you happy.

“Yeah! Sure!"

Your wife nearly skipped through the living room, a half-full watering can in one hand, a müsli riegel in the other. 

“How much does she need?”

No answer.

“Darling, What’s up? You’ve been we- Oh.”

She saw it.

the watering can and food forgotten she picked up the hints you had positioned, looking at the positive test and the picture.

“It worked! We’re gonna be mothers!”

[sedoretu]

Curious — how many are you familiar with? 🔥

Defined however you want, but ideally more than “have heard the name before”:

Harry Truman

Doris Day

Red China

Johnnie Ray

South Pacific

Walter Winchell

Joe DiMaggio

Joe McCarthy

Richard Nixon

Studebaker

Television

North Korea

South Korea

Marilyn Monroe

Rosenbergs

H-bomb

Sugar Ray

Panmunjom

Brando

"The King and I"

and "The Catcher in the Rye"

Eisenhower

Vaccine

England's got a new queen

Marciano

Liberace

Santayana (goodbye)

Joseph Stalin

Malenkov

Nasser

Prokofiev

Rockefeller

Campanella

Communist Bloc

Roy Cohn

Juan Peron

Toscanini

Dacron

Dien Bien Phu falls

"Rock Around the Clock"

Einstein

James Dean

Brooklyn's got a winning team

Davy Crockett

Peter Pan

Elvis Presley

Disneyland

Bardot

Budapest

Alabama

Krushchev

Princess Grace

Peyton Place

Trouble in the Suez

Little Rock

Pasternak

Mickey Mantle

Kerouac

Sputnik

Chou En-Lai

"Bridge on the River Kwai"

Lebanon

Charles de Gaulle

California baseball

Starkweather homicide

Children of Thalidomide

Buddy Holly

Ben Hur

Space monkey

Mafia

Hula hoops

Castro

Edsel is a no-go

U2

Syngman Rhee

Payola

Kennedy

Chubby Checker

Psycho

Belgians in the Congo

Hemingway

Eichmann

"Stranger in a Strange Land"

Dylan

Berlin

Bay of Pigs invasion

"Lawrence of Arabia"

British Beatlemania

Ole Miss

John Glenn

Liston beats Patterson

Pope Paul

Malcolm X

British politician sex

JFK (blown away, what else do I have to say?)

Birth control

Ho Chi Minh

Richard Nixon (back again)

Moonshot

Woodstock

Watergate

Punk rock

Begin

Reagan

Palestine

Terror on the airline

Ayatollah’s in Iran

Russians in Afghanistan

"Wheel of Fortune"

Sally Ride

heavy metal suicide

Foreign debts

Homeless vets

AIDS

Crack

Bernie Goetz

Hypodermics on the shore

China's under martial law

Rock and roller cola wars

I can’t take it anymore (free space)

[unclewaynemunson]

It's a little past two AM when Wayne opens his lunchbox and finds himself unable to stop the smile that's creeping onto his face.

He's met with a note, in neat handwriting:

My dear Wayne, I hope you're having a good day/night at work. I made you some extra healthy sandwiches because of that cough you were worried about – I hope you like fresh tomato and lettuce. (Please don't get mad at me for trying to make you eat vegetables on your bread.) I also hid some clementines in your bag. I'll be thinking about you when I go to bed, and I can't wait to see you again in the morning. Love, S.

'Munson!'

He startles when he hears his own name and looks up to find his colleagues looking at him with various degrees of amusement.

'Who woulda thought?' John McMillan laughs while some of the younger guys let out wolf whistles. 'Wayne Munson got himself a lady?'

'We've been working here together for almost ten years and I don't think I ever saw you smile before,' Bernie adds. 'So she wrote you a love letter to go with your sandwiches, huh?'

Wayne rubs a hand over his beard, trying to hide his inclination to hide away from all those eyes staring at him like he's something funny. He has never liked being the center of attention.

'Don't act like y'all know somethin' you don't,' he grumbles.

'Who is she?' asks Logan. 'Can't be someone from the trailer park, you never were interested in any of 'em. Found yourself a more classy one? Someone from Loch Nora who gets the hots for a working man?'

Wayne suppresses the urge to roll his eyes at him.

'You got it all wrong, boys,' he says, hoping they'll back off soon.

'Do we, now?' With a taunting smile, John McMillan plucks the note out of Wayne's hands, and starts reading it out loud to his little audience in a high-pitched, faux dramatic voice.

Wayne isn't ashamed, and he knows the teasing is mostly meant in good fun, but he feels an overwhelming relief about the fact that Scott had been smart enough to not sign the note with his full name.

'S, look at that!' McMillan exclaims triumphantly, putting the note back into Wayne's lunchbox. 'So he got a mystery lady... Guys, who do we know with names starting with an S? Any girlfriends or wives we should get worried 'bout cheating?'

There's laughter, some guesses thrown around by people thinking they're funny, but Wayne mostly lets it glide off him, the same way he'd endure their comments about Eddie back in March. Granted, this teasing is much less mean-spirited than the so-called banter back then, but he still doesn't like to get involved. The less these men know about him, the better; that's a lesson he learned a long time ago. So he eats his bread – and even a clementine – while he lets them guess and pretends to laugh with them.

When the break is over and they get up to go back to their job, Bernie matches his pace to Wayne's.

'Look, you know we've been teasing you, but we're happy for ya, man, you know that, right?' he says.

Wayne pats him on his shoulder. Bernie is a good guy. He was one of the few men around here who actually seemed concerned about Eddie when all that shit went down. As far as Wayne knows, he never chose a side back then, never came for his nephew like those guys like Logan or John McMillan, with their big mouths and narrow minds.

'All good, Bernie, thanks,' he says.

'Does she make you happy?'

The question catches him by surprise; it prompts his lips to curve into the second unexpected smile of that day.

He thinks about the way Scott looked at him before they said goodbye this evening. He thinks about the sparkle in Scott's eyes whenever he talks about his students. He thinks about the way his hands held Wayne all through the night they spent together last weekend. He thinks about his neat mustache, his soft sweater vests, his long fingers cradled around one of Wayne's mugs. He pictures the private smile that must've surely been on Scott's face, a smile nobody saw, when he filled Wayne's lunchbox with fresh veggies and a surprise note.

'Very,' he tells Bernie, before slowing down his steps to be left alone with his thoughts about the man who will be waiting for him in bed after his shift, asleep and with his hair a mess, but waking up for a second to kiss Wayne's lips like he always does.

There is nothing that makes him happier than that one hour they get to share in bed together before Scott's alarm goes off in the morning.

[billyjoelmutt]

United Universes Tour 2024!- We Didnt start the Fire!!

Dodger- “Oh somethings burning!! Burning!!!! Come on lets try to fight it!!!!” 

The song then began!!!! And Dodger looked like he was ready to fight it!!! 

Dodger- Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio

Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom Brando, “The King and I” and “The Catcher in the Rye"Eisenhower, vaccine, England’s got a new queen Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye!!

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it

Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc!

Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron Dien Bien Phu falls, “Rock Around the Clock"Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn’s got a winning team Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland

Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Krushchev Princess Grace, “Peyton Place”, trouble in the Suez!!

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, “Bridge on the River Kwai"Lebanon, Charlse de Gaulle, California baseball Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide

Buddy Holly, “Ben Hur”, space monkey, Mafia Hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-goU2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy Chubby Checker, “Psycho”, Belgians in the Congo

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it

Hemingway, Eichmann, “Stranger in a Strange Land” Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion"Lawrence of Arabia”, British Beatlemania Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson

Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say?!!

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it!!!

Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline Ayatollah’s in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan"Wheel of Fortune”

, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz Hypodermics on the shores, China’s under martial law Rock and roller cola wars, I can’t take it anymore!

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire But when we are gone Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on

We didn’t start the fire!

Triple D-(It was always burning!! Since the world’s been turning!!) We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it

We didn’t start the fire It was always burning Since the world’s been turning We didn’t start the fire No we didn’t light it But we tried to fight it

Everyone was singing along!! Like crazy! the end was near but the energy is high!

(All credits to original creators! Video belongs to Edit Carrel on Youtube and all characters belong to there respected hosts!) 

(I must say this video is still awesome!!! :3 It never gets old! Thankyou! You know who you are!! :3)

@thelittlemermaidfan1989

@mellowwpopper

@mellowwpuphub

@teen-lyoko-fan7777

@goldmudder

@andy-squirrel-and-friends

@askdj-timelord2

@keirastarlightdraconequus

(Credits to Disney, the Beatles, JFK, MLP, Billy Joel, and all blogs tagged as well as creator of video!!!)

[froggybrainz]

Part 3 of my au It Stalks!

The rest of lunch was spent with me reading a book while Bernie occasionally showed me a meme off her phone or spilling to me about the newest internet drama between two makeup influencers. Not one second of our time together was wasted, even if we did just sit together under a tree, we would still something to talk about.

Both of us seemed to lose track of time. When I went to pull out my phone, I was greeted by the missed messages from my brother, wondering where I was.

"Crap!"I panicked, realizing that I should have been there to pick him up a whole hour ago. Forgetting to turn or do not disturb has been both my weakness and strength. It comes in handy to not go off while checking out a book at the library, but it sure has its downfalls.

In a hurry, I grabbed my bag and tossed my barely touched lunch into a nearby trash can and went off. My mind was racing, trying to figure out what would be the fastest way to exit into the parking lot. Lost in thought, I was brought back by the sound of feet rapidly getting to me.

"Tag!" A tap on the shoulder from Bernie as she swiftly moved in front of me.

"Hey....No fair....you're used to running compared to me....besides.....my knees hurt..." I panted. It hadn't been but a few feet before I felt my heart pounding. It's kinda embarrassing to say that despite my slim physic that simply running would wear me out so fast. Who knew getting older, ment my body would ache so much. "Besides, I'm older than you. My joints hurt...."

"That's cause you spend most of your time off wasting away in that cave you call a room. Trust me on this one Alex, if you start your day off with me just casually jogging a few laps around the block, you'll start noticing your body bounce back much easier." She responded, only stopping to fix her bra strap. "And hey, who knows, you might end up with legs like mine!" Berine proclaimed, stretching her leg out to bug me.

"Nah, I'm good on that one."

"Come on, the boys will like it or or girls in your into that~"

I rolled my eyes at this comment, and we continued our jog into the parking lot. A final wave of goodbye before we went out own ways. The roads were always busy at this time of day, so I had no problem taking the back roads into the other side of town. It's a bunch of back and forth for me to do to go pick up Zachary from school, then drive all the way back into the other side of town, back near the campus for work. Well, I can't leave him there, so....

Pulling in, I found Zachary sitting near the steps of the school with who looks like one of the older ladies from the front office. Hoping it wasn't about anything negative, I parked my car and rolled down my window.

"Is everything all right, Mrs. Courtney?"

"Oh, nothing too bad for once, just having to stay and wait till yall kids are picked up by their legal guardians. A bit late today, aren't we miss Corbin? Is your doing alright? I haven't seen her here at pick up in a few days. Didn't know how those new meds were treating her."

Zachary got up from the step and ignored the conversation. Not a word heard from him as he clicked his seat belt.

"Surprisingly, that little man was acting just peachy today." She pointed at him.

"Oh really?"

"Oh yes! It was like someone had talked some sense into him for once, and I didn't even hear him talk back to any of his teachers today. Just smooth sailing all day today!"

Hearing such good things about my brother was certainly a surprise, to say the least, and for once I don't feel the urge to make jokes about how he's adopted, I snickered to myself.

The car ride to work was quite but not like this morning with the occasional side eye from Zachary, but more like he wasn't there.

"Hey, so how did today go for you?....learned anything cool?" I tried pry at him but nothing. "Hearing such compliments from Mrs. Courtney was for sure refreshing... you might have earned yourself a treat later!...maybe a slice of Manny's famous Key lime pie!" I teased.

He ignored my offer at first when suddenly he jerked his arm away as if something had pinched him. A frightened look flashed on his face before turning to look at me.

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry..." he replied in a fashion I only see him act in when our grandparents are around. His change in behavior from this morning to now is almost worrying for me. Makes me wonder what really happened at school today.

Pulling into the parking lot behind my job I sneak him in through the back door, it's not the first time I've brought him here but not every customer appreciates seeing an under age kid sitting in a booth at a bar. My boss Manny understands the situation of needing to watch him after school, and he tells me I can bring him as long as he stays in the break room. Don't need him wandering off back into the kitchen. The next health inspector might not find humor in seeing an unexpected kid hiding in the stock room, sneaking chips.

Time seemed to drag on at work, with most of the traffic being only a few friends coming in for a chill night and some beer. For what felt like the 5th time, I wiped down the tables and pretended to be busy "organizing the freezer" I was on my phone....when the night really started to feel like it was going in slow motion, a group of rambunctious frat boys made their way in as they crammed themselves into the booths near the tvs. Hearing their conversations about last nights party and how this girl did that and what not. The loud groups weren't my favorite to deal with, but the tips usually made up for any headache they caused. I signed clicking my pen. I made my way over to take the guys' orders, the smell of weed and alcohol now more prominent the closer I got to them. Knowing the law requires me to refuse service to those already under the influence, and especially drugs, I have to kindly ask them to leave.

"I'm sorry to say this, fellas, but I don't think I can serve yall tonight. I'm unfortunately not allowed to serve bar hoppers, especially if they're under the influence of any possible drugs. It's not good for business here -" Before I could finish, I felt a hand grip my waist.

"Oh, don't worry about us, sweet cheeks. Now, what's your name?" Disgusted. I smacked his hand away from me and backed away. The man persisted and got up from the booth, but before he could close the gap between us, Manny placed himself between me and him.

"Hey! Hey! Hey now, what the hell are you thinking here boy, now sit your drunk ass back down or better yet. I think you should leave after that stunt!"

"Now who the fuck you think you are you old fat fuck?! Now stop cockblocking me this has nothing to do with you now piss off!" The man raised his voice, but Manny didn't move, nor was he intimidated by this scrawny kid. Manny was a older overweight man, but don't let his calm nature fool you, he had seen his fair share of bar fights and has a crooked nose to prove of it! He wasn't gonna let a guy like him show him up.

"Yknow what fuck this! If you're gonna act like this boy then there is only one way to take care of an ass like you!", Manny gestured his hand at me. "Alex, there should be a gun hidden under the counter, go grab it for me." This threat seemed to had worked for the guy and all of his friends scattered like cockroaches out the door. They were all gone as fast as they arrived, Manny chuckled at the sight as it seemed to had made his day. Oh what a hell of a way to have my night go just 3 hours in, what a shame I could of really used the tips....

Shocked from the whole experience, I made my way behind the bar counter and laid my head down into the palms of my head. What the fuck, was the only thing I could muster to myself. The embarrassment from the whole thing just made me wanna drop dead in my spot. Drinking on the job Oh how it tempted me...

The sound of slow paced and heavy feet waddled over to me as I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. It was Manny.

"Hey"

"Hmmm..."

"You okay? I know it was a lot earlier, and I'm sorry you had to deal with that...working at a bar near a college campus isn't for the weak. If you want, I can let you go home early. I'm not gonna keep you here if you're not up to it. Besides, I think you should get your brother home... I'm pretty sure he was done pasted out by the looks of it , drooled all over the napkins in there, too." He joked, nudging me with his elbow.

I wasn't too keen on leaving then first three hours in but who am I to deny getting to go to bed early for once. I hug Manny for protecting me and I after one last trip to the bathroom to wash my face, I find a to-go container containing a slice of Key lime pie sitting next to my purse. I smiled looking at the small plastic container before picking it up and ,making my way over to the break room, where Zachary had buried himself under his jacket, catching some z's. I gently nudged his shoulder to wake him up and I escorted him back through the parking lot and into my car.

I helped carry his backpack into the backseat, where he decided to lay his groggy head back down. Maybe he's getting sick? I thought a bit worried. Lord knows if one gets sick, then the whole house gets sick! Like the rats carrying the plague. I thought. looking back at him in my rear view mirror, I turn the heat on a warm 75 just to keep him comfortable if he was really getting sick. But I digress...

The ride home was calm and quiet with the most noise I heard was the hum of the heat blowing through the vents. Turning into my mom's driveway, I pulled up to the carport to park when my headlights showed the absence of my mom's car not being home, and my stomach sank a bit. Maybe she meant she'll be home after dinner....I parked my car and pulled out my phone, hoping to see a missed message from her. Nothing....

Sitting there in the driveway, I anxiously refreshed my messages before making the decision that I needed to call her. Still no answer...."Come on, mom, the hospital kept you late before, but never this late!" The time read off 8:20pm.

The voice of my therapist reminded me to take deep breaths and to not let my anxiety get the better of me. Slowly, I held my breath and exhaled to help ease my nerves when all progress was lost when a familiar yet haunting beep screeched from my phone....

*BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

*BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

*BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

"A civil authority has issued an amber alert emergency for the following counties -"

I didn't let it finish. I kicked it into reverse and sped off like bat from hell. I didn't care that Zachary fell into the floor of my car. I only had one thing on my mind, and that was to find my mom.

And that concludes this page. Now I swear I'll be bringing in Jack real soon. In fact, he's already here! :)

[randomnameless]

Why did KT go out of it's way to state that Clout wiped out all the houses that tried to leave the Alliance only to ignore it for the rest of the route

Literally what does it even add other than making Clout look like an evil, power-hungry dictator whose cruel actions are never acknowledged by the story or characters

Maybe it was to paint Fraud as bootleg copy of Best Dad, who also erased Hrym when it wanted to say Adrestia goodbye and join the Alliance?

Of course, actions having consequences is a concept alien to Fodlan, except when it's to bash some Northern barbarians, or to give more fuel to "Church BaD".

Fodlan's plot is... foggy at best, which is why some people earlier theorised that we have a lot of fanworks about it, whenever fans are unhappy or not satisfied with plot threads, they tend to write fanfics/come up with HCs, and that's how we got 5 years of Discourse (tm).

Did Hans 2 exist? Did Supreme Leader have agency? Why Supreme Leader never offered the same offer of service she offered Leopold to Ludwig? Is Bernie dad an asshat for beating up the assassin who wanted to murder his heir? Is Rhea keeping Colonel Sanders locked in the Abyss? Why Uncle Thales didn't target Enbarr with Javelins in Tru Piss, or pulled out Nemesis from his tupperware?

We will never know.

I joke a lot about the 10k years of lore, but let's be real, any game with plot threads as vague and weirdly hanging as the ones existing in that verse would have been roasted to oblivion if it didn't benefit from the same "circumstances" Fodlan did.